Media Releases

Ontario political parties and funding to stop sewage dumping into Ottawa River

It isn't often that I'm happy to announce that I was wrong, but I'm glad to say that the email I sent out this morning about where the Ontario parties stand on the dumping of sewage into the Ottawa River appears to have been inaccurate. So I'm sending out another one and posting it here.

According to communication today with local area candidates, the Ontario NDP, if elected, would also provide the $65 million in funding that the City of Ottawa needs from the provincial government to stop the dumping of untreated sewage into the Ottawa river (which means the NDP, the Liberals, and the Green Party are in agreement on this issue).

Experimental Farm to build aMAZEing Labyrinth

This weekend on Saturday May 31st and June 1st from 9 am til dusk both days, the Experimental Farm will be beginning their Beyond the Edge: Artists Gardens at the Farm exhibit. This project will begin with the building of a labyrinth under a 100 year old red oak facilitated by Barbara Brown. The public is welcome to join and help out with the building of this project either of these two days and well as enjoy the project for the rest of the summer. Other events to be hosted at the finished labyrinth northern-red-oak are a blessing and walk ceremony in celebration of National Aboriginal Day and the Summer Solstice on Saturday, June 21st (more information to follow) and the official opening of Beyond the Edge: Artists Gardens at the Farm on Thursday June 26th, 5-7:30.

Pratt & Whitney Canada: Ten Years of Planting Local Trees

For the tenth consecutive year, Pratt and Whitney, a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, has made a huge donation to help the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation plant their annual total of 300,000 trees. The Pratt & Whitney Canada trees- young, vigorous, native Canadian seedlings such as white cedar, white pine, white spruce and red oak - will provide huge environmental benefits during their 80-year lifespans. Like all of the other tree planting projects going on in the Rideay Valley, the trees planted will help reduce soil erosion, absorb greenhouse gases and filter water, helping to build the resilience of the Rideau Valley ecosystem.

Glashan Schoolyard Greening Project

[caption id="attachment_136" align="alignleft" width="300"] The grey Glashan schoolyard[/caption]

Glashan Public School currently looks like what some students describe as a 'jail'. The Glashan Schoolyard Greening Project aims to change this. Instead of the pavement, and lack of trees thanks to Emerald Ash Borer, this project hopes to completely overhaul the schoolyard around the school to include trees, walkways, and friendlier, more serviceable area for the students. The first part of the project is underway this spring, with the City of Ottawa pitching in to plant trees on the tree allowance area around the school and the depaving just starting to get started. Glashan will continue the project in the schoolyard upon securing all the funding for the project, a goal which they are well on the way to. The project recently won second place in the Majesta outdoor classroom contest and won 5,000, along with 3,000 for most creative project but are always looking for more help. If you would like to learn more about this project check out their website or their Facebook page and help them go from 'grey to green'.

Stittsville Cedar Grove Stewardship Project

[caption id="attachment_125" align="alignleft" width="300"] OCS Because many of our old grove forests have been forested in Eastern Canada it is important for us to protect the ones which still remain[/caption]

The Ottawa Stewardship Council (OCS), in partnership with the City of Ottawa, is working to care for a city-owned cedar grove in Stittsville that is well over 100 years old. The OCS will be conducting a variety of programs and activities surrounding the forest during 2014-2015 including partnering with a high school for environmental monitoring, replanting open areas and constructing informal trails. On Sunday June 15th between 9 am and 3pm, they will also be hosting a bio-inventory to catalog flora and fauna and are currently looking for volunteer experts to help. If you have expertise in identifying plants, insects, birds or animals, or soil/geology sampling and would like to volunteer, contact the OCS at [email protected].

MEDIA ADVISORY - City's first all candidates debate will focus on the future of transportation in Centretown

May 29, 2014

When: Monday, June 16, 2014 6:30 - 9:00 pm Where: Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar Street

Over the next four years the Confederation LRT Line will change the face of downtown Ottawa, taking thousands of buses off the streets and offering a once in a century opportunity to build a walkable and cycling friendly Centretown. That's just one topic Somerset Ward candidates can be expected to address at the first all candidates debate of the 2014 municipal election season. Other key issues at the debate, which will focus on transportation, will likely include cycling lanes, accessibility, parking and sidewalks.

Promote A Tree

1 Million Trees!

There are several ways you can promote trees in Ottawa

1. Plant Trees

If you'd like to plant a tree (or trees) on your own property check out the Tree Nursery on this site for a listing of various suppliers. If you're specifically interested in a fruit tree, we recommend Hidden Harvest for a wide variety of trees available at modest cost. If you would like to put a tree in front of your house on city property, the City of Ottawa runs the Trees of Trust program.

Fruitful Tree Planting in Blackburn Hamlet

[caption id="attachment_107" align="alignleft" width="300"] The team celebrating their achievement with Councillor Bloess and MP Galipeau[/caption]

Phase 1 has been completed to re-tree Blackburn Hamlet. Ecology Ottawa contributed 30 fruit and nut trees to volunteers that showed up for the recent tree planting in the Hamlet on Saturday May 24th. This planting means that we should have a terrific fruit grove in 5 – 7 years that will produce fruit for the nieghbourhood. A fantastic organizing team was joined by Councillor Bloess and MP Galipeau in the planting.

New Trees for Blackburn Hamlet

Phase One has been completed to re-tree the Hamlet!

[caption id="attachment_3133" align="alignleft" width="300"] BBHamletTreePlanting Tree planting organizing team joined by Councillor Bloess and MP Galipeau for the planting on Saturday, May 24th, 2014[/caption]

Ecology Ottawa contributed 30 fruit and nut trees to volunteers that showed up for the planting. We should have a terrific foodOrganizing team for Blackburn Hamlet tree planting - plus Councillor Bloess and MP Galipeau join in the planting. forest in Blackburn Hamlet in 5 - 7 years!!

Attend the City's Upcoming Water Roundtable!

As part of its commitment to develop a comprehensive Water Environment Strategy, the City of Ottawa has announced that it will be hosting a Water Roundtable on Saturday, June 14^th, from 9:00 am until 1:00pm.

The Roundtable will be a way for the City to engage its citizens on a variety of issues related to water in Ottawa. This event will bring together hundreds of residents from across the city who care about the health of our watersheds, to raise awareness and share knowledge about what is currently being done to manage, protect and preserve these precious resources.

Global Warming Health Notes

Tomorrow, Wednesday May 28, 2014 Ottawa's city council considers the Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan 2014 that passed Environment Council last week. In the runup to that meeting we saw the following Op-Ed in the Ottawa Citizen:

The City of Ottawa should approve its new climate change management plan and get on with implementing it. Our health depends on it.

Tree Ottawa Champions

We are grateful that a number of noteworthy Canadians are supporting Tree Ottawa by agreeing to be Tree Ottawa Champions. Learn more about these great people below: