Make Streets Safe and Convenient

Many Ottawa streets are dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians, and too many neighbourhoods lack affordable and convenient public transportation options. Badly designed streets not only discourage active lifestyles and limit transportation choices, they can increase traffic congestion and hike road maintenance costs.

The people of Ottawa deserve safe and convenient transportation choices, including practical alternatives to driving. To achieve that, especially in light of the city’s future growth, our streets must be considered as more than just conduits for cars. Streets should be accessible to all people, especially pedestrians, cyclists and users of public transit.

[VIDEO] Climate Change Campaign Update in 1 Min 15 Sec

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If you want to help, contact Charles at [email protected]

In the runup to Ottawa’s municipal election we asked for volunteers to help with the climate change campaign.

Things are going well. We’ve had more than 70 people say yes.

In the video, former Ottawa Citizen journalist, now Executive Editor and Director of Strategic Communications for Feed the Children, Shelley Page explains how at first she thought she was too busy to help, but then realized that climate change is such an important issue to her that she'd make time to get involved.

Municipal Election Candidate Questionnaire

On October 27 the citizens of Ottawa will elect a new city council. Ecology Ottawa has asked each candidate to complete an online questionnaire on environmental issues. The text of the questionnaire is reproduced below.

What you can do:

Download a copy
Ask if your candidate has submitted their answers.
- They can get the web address from Ecology Ottawa’s Executive Director Graham Saul

election2014

Please continue to the revised page by clicking here.

Job Announcement: Tree Ottawa Organizer

Summary: Ecology Ottawa is hiring FOUR organizers for six months to help us launch our Tree Ottawa (a program to plant, protect and promote trees in the City of Ottawa). The Organizer positions will outreach to individuals and organizations across the city to seek their support in promoting the program and organize community tree planting initiatives. These four positions are being supported by the Ontario Job Creation Program and eligibility is restricted (see below). Resumes and cover letters will be reviewed on a weekly basis as they arrive, so apply now!

Tree Ottawa needs YOU!

What is Tree Ottawa?

Tree Ottawa is a community-centred initiative for the Nation’s Capital that will dramatically increase the scale and ecological diversity of the tree canopy in urban and rural Ottawa. Tree Ottawa shall engage Ottawa residents, private companies and public organizations to be a part of a greener community through their active participation in protecting, planting and celebrating trees in neighborhoods and nature.

How We're Going To Make Ottawa's Climate Plan Work

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Wanted: Ecology Ottawa Election Organizers

A municipal election is coming to Ottawa this October, and Ecology Ottawa is working to ensure environmental issues are front and centre for political candidates.

We want clean rivers and streams, a healthy urban tree canopy, a robust municipal climate change strategy, vibrant and walkable communities, and a city that’s safe from dangerous tar sands pipelines. We know the key to our success is mobilizing concerned individuals around the issues that matter to them, and one of the most effective ways to do this is through direct outreach and organizing.

The volunteer Election Organizer position is an opportunity to develop skills in political organizing, to connect with the residents of Ottawa and to promote environmental leadership at City Hall.

We are looking to create a dynamic team of volunteers who will:

• Become familiar with Ecology Ottawa’s issue campaigns and organizational philosophy;
• Provide a minimum of 6 hours per week on an unpaid basis until the October 27 election (candidates will be prioritized according to their time commitment); and
• Assist with door-to-door outreach, data management, election strategizing and targeted Get Out the Vote (GOTV) campaigns.

Successful candidates for this volunteer position will have some combination of the following:

• A passion for environmental and political advocacy;
• A strong commitment to social and environmental justice;
• An interest in learning more about – and contributing to – environmental organizations and campaigning;
• Attention to detail;
• Strong oral skills (French language skills are a major asset);
• Strong interpersonal skills; and
• A good sense of humour.

We are seeking to bring together a small team of committed volunteers and applications will be considered as they are received.

If you are interested in gaining experience with Ottawa’s leading grassroots environmental organization and contributing to our efforts to make Ottawa the green capital of Canada, please send a cover letter outlining your motivation for applying along with your resume to [email protected].

Vanier: Let's Stop the Pipeline

Please join Ecology Ottawa in September as we talk about the proposed Energy East pipeline, which threatens our rivers, our city, and our climate.

A free event, with pizza and drinks available.

Please RSVP online or on Facebook.

A fight for urban trees

[caption id="attachment_427" align="alignleft" width="300"] The remainder of this American elm in Seattle’s Rainier Valley, Heritage Tree No. 121, is a far cry from what it looked like in the photo, left, taken in 2007. It was cut last month, the resident of the lot said, because it had become a hazard and its roots caused sewer backups.[/caption]

The benefits of trees — from their grace and beauty to their gifts of cool, clean air and stress relief — are well-known and documented in study after study. Yet as the city grows, it is struggling to hold onto its trees, especially in poorer areas.

Seattle’s wealthiest neighbourhoods are also its leafiest, a Seattle Times analysis shows.

Ecology Ottawa’s Annual Eco-Gala – October 9, 2014

EVENT SOLD OUT

Join us at the environmental gathering of the year to celebrate the great work that is being done across our beautiful city!

Tickets for the 8th annual Ecology Ottawa Eco-Gala Dinner are now on sale. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2014, get your tickets early!

It’s an election year, so we’ve invited David Miller, Former Mayor of Toronto and current President and CEO of World Wildlife Fund (Canada) to be our keynote speaker.

People's Climate March in NYC

In September, world leaders are going to New York City for a UN summit on the climate crisis.

In response a massive People's Climate March is planned

The Council of Canadians, along with Ecology Ottawa and 350 Ottawa, is organizing a bus from Ottawa to New York. The bus will depart from Ottawa on Saturday, September 20 at 6:30 a.m. and leave New York on Sunday, September 21 at 5:00 p.m.

Media Releases