Media Releases

Details - A pre-Olympic evening with Olympic ski and climate heroes

You’re invited to a thought-provoking evening with Olympians, snow experts and ski professionals in the run-up to the Olympics, the Canadian Ski Marathon and the Gatineau Loppet. Ecology Ottawa is hosting a free event entitled The Future of Snow and Skiing in a Warming World.

WHEN - Wednesday February 5, 2014, 7:30pm to 9:00pm WHERE - at The Canada Aviation and Space Museum - 11 Aviation Parkway [NEW LOCATION]

Neil Young and friends to launch tour Sunday in Toronto to raise awareness for First Nations legal defence against oil sands development

Neil Young and Diana Krall will be touring this week, starting today, in support of the the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations legal defence fund. Here are the details:

Neil Young and friends to launch tour Sunday in Toronto to raise awareness for First Nations legal defense against oil sands development

TORONTO -- Neil Young will launch a four-city tour this Sunday in Toronto to raise money and awareness for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Legal Defense Fund, which is challenging oil companies and governments that are obstructing First Nations’ rights as they attempt to expand development of the oil sands.

The "Honor The Treaties" concert dates will be preceded by a 1PM press conference at the venue (1) featuring Mr. Young, environmentalist David Suzuki, representatives from the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (AFCN), including Chief Allan Adam (2), and members of the science community. Diana Krall will also perform on each of the following dates.

Sun Jan 12 Toronto, Massey Hall
Thur Jan 16 Winnipeg, Centennial Concert Hall
Fri Jan 17 Regina, Conexus Arts Centre
Sun Jan 19 Calgary, Jack Singer Concert Hall

“We are honoured that Neil Young and Diana Krall are standing with ACFN during this crucial time. Our struggle to preserve the Athabasca Delta isn’t about us but for all Canadians who care about protecting our lands,” said ACFN spokesperson Eriel Deranger.

Chief Adam will join Mr. Young throughout the week and is available for interviews. He will be blogging about his tour experiences and ACFN's legal challenges at drawtheline.ca.

ACFN is raffling off two tickets to the January 19 concert in Calgary to anyone who donates $75 or more to the ACFN legal defense fund. The winner will be selected on January 16 and donations are being accepted at www.honourtheacfn.ca.

Background on the ACFN

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) is situated on the frontlines of tar sands industrial development – perhaps the largest-scale industrial development in human history. ACFN members are witnessing the rapid and wide-scale industrialization of their traditional lands – lands that have sustained ACFN communities, their culture and distinctive way of life for countless generations.

The ACFN's legal challenges will ensure the protection of their traditional lands, eco-systems and unique rights guaranteed by Treaty 8, the last and largest of the nineteenth century land agreements between First Nations and the Government of Canada, are upheld for the benefit of future generations.

Current legal issues

The ACFN is one of the leading participants in the regulatory hearing process for Shell Oil’s proposed Pierre River Mine (200,000 bpd mine) which would significantly impact lands, water, wildlife and the First Nation’s ability to utilize their traditional territory. It is also challenging the approval of Shell Oil Canada Ltd’s Jackpine Mine Expansion project (300,000 bpd mine) and have recently filed for a Judicial review of the federal decision to approve the project.

The ACFN have also filed a statutory review of the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan, an Alberta land use plan that prioritizes “bitumen recovery” allowing to industry to continue business and does nothing to include nor protect Treaty Rights and tradition uses.

Promising Practices: Non-Profits – Ottawa Centre EcoDistrict to encourage sustainable urban development

Ecology Ottawa, on behalf of the Community Energy Network of Eastern Ontario, is engaged in province-wide research on emerging promising practices related to energy efficiency and renewable energy. Many influential local business and community members are working to officially designate an area in downtown Ottawa an EcoDistrict in an effort to make it a leader in energy and water conservation, sustainable transportation, and taking action to reduce carbon pollution.

Promising Practices: Businesses – Windmill to turn former industrial lands into eco-neighborhood

Ecology Ottawa, on behalf of the Community Energy Network of Eastern Ontario, is engaged in province-wide research on emerging promising practices related to energy efficiency and renewable energy. A 37 acre shoreline area of the National Capital Region is about to improve dramatically thanks to Windmill Developments’ plan to revitalize old lands there, previously used for industrial purposes, into "a 21st Century eco-neighborhood". A sampling of Windmill's development intentions is impressive:

Promising Practices: Municipalities – Toronto Home Energy Loan Program

Ecology Ottawa, on behalf of the Community Energy Network of Eastern Ontario, is engaged in province-wide research on emerging promising practices related to energy efficiency and renewable energy. This Promising Practice focuses on the City of Toronto's new Home Energy Loan Program, which is launching early in 2014. The $20 million pilot program will help property owners retrofit their homes and buildings to save energy and money.

Ski Event Poster

With all these extremes in the weather these days are you wondering what is going on? So are a lot of people. Ecology Ottawa has brought together Olympians and snow experts will discuss the future of snow and skiing in a warming world to get you some answers.

The panel will convene on Feb 5, 2014 at the Canada Science and Technology Museum. Admission is free but you have to register. Please come out to find out about these changes that are going on around you and what you can do about them — and you can do something!

EVENT - the Future of Snow and Skiing in a Warming World

Join Olympians Sara Renner, Patrick Biggs & other experts for a discussion on today's challenges and the future of snow sports.

February 5 at The Canada Aviation and Space Museum [NOTE NEW LOCATION] - free admission

This event has taken place - see video here

More details here

Bur oaks, Samuel de Champlain, and the Cowley family!

[caption id="attachment_1906" align="alignleft" width="257"] Bur Oak cross-section mounted on the Champlain Park field house.[/caption]

Dozens of people gathered at the Champlain Park Fieldhouse to celebrate the unveiling of two historical installations. Beautifully designed and mounted, these displays recognize the significance the stately Bur Oak, Samuel de Champlain, and the Cowley family have for Champlain Park residents and indeed the history of this part of the Ottawa River.

Community Initiatives Guidebook

With the generous support of the Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund (Ontario Ministry of the Environment), the Crabtree Foundation and the Ontario Trillium Foundation; Ecology Ottawa has created the Community Initiatives Guidebook.

The guide has been divided into 4 sections:

What is the Ecology Ottawa Community Network?
General Roles and Process: Ecology Ottawa, Community Organizers, and Initiative-Specific Teams.

Funding for Orlando Park Naturalization Project

The National Capital chapter of the Friends of the Environment Foundation TD, have awarded Ecology Ottawa and the Alta Vista Neighbourhood Team more than $5000 to continue planting in Orlando Park.

With the City of Ottawa's forestry department help, neighbours, members of the Alta Vista Community Association and Ecology Ottawa volunteers got together to plant 100 native trees in the first phase of planting on October 19th, 2013.

Glashan Public School Greening Project Update

Ecology Ottawa is a partner with the Glashan Public School Green Team.

Angela Keller-Herzog gives us an update on the work so far....

We now have an enthusiastic Green Team composed of school, parent and community volunteers supporting this initiative. We’re looking for more help and talent – join us to make this happen!

In connection with a funding application the Green Team submitted to the City of Ottawa Better Neighbourhoods Program (cross your fingers please!), the project has also received endorsement from City Councillors David Chernushenko, Diane Holmes and Mathieu Fleury (whose wards cover the Glashan catchment), as well as our schoolboard trustee and chair of the OCDSB Jennifer McKenzie.

New Video: Nobel Prize Winner Visits the Proposed Energy East Pipeline

Nobel Peace Prize winner Jody Williams spent a few days visiting Ottawa in October of 2013, during which time she made a special effort to reach out to local residents who would be impacted by the proposed Energy East pipeline that TransCanada wants to build through the city to ship tar sands crude from Alberta to New Brunswick.

The following video was put together by Ecology Ottawa volunteer Kathleen Black to document her visit.