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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.
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: 
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.
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.
Snowpeople are now distancing themselves from controversial tar sands funding of the Museum of Civilisation from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). This morning a Snowperson protested the funding arrangement with a sign saying ‘CAPP pollutes snow’.
The Council of Canadians, Ecology Ottawa, and the Polaris Institute organized the action to raise concerns about the $1 million contribution to the museum from CAPP, and were on site sharing leaflets with museum visitors. The organizations argue that while CAPP includes tar sands producers that literally pollute snow, air and waterways in Alberta, increased corporate sponsorship threatens to pollute precious cultural institutions like the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
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Keith Egli, Chair of the Transportation Committee, Ottawa City Council, receiving the Complete Streets petition from Trevor Haché, Policy Coordinator, Ecology Ottawa[/caption]
Ecology Ottawa Policy Coordinator Trevor Haché went to City Hall on Monday to hand over the Complete Streets petition to the Chair of city council's transportation committee, Keith Egli. There were over 3200 signatures on the petition calling for City Council to adopt a Complete Streets policy into the Transportation Master Plan.
With the 2014 budget pending approval at next week's City Council meeting, the Environment Committee's focus during their November 19th meeting was the draft operating and capital budget for the upcoming year. Councillor Maria McRae, alongside of Staff, began with a presentation highlighting some of the key investments that will be going towards the environment. Most notably, the investments into forestry services, McRae says, will aim to replenish Ottawa’s trees at a 2:1 ratio to combat the emerald ash borers, leaving the city in better shape than it was before the invasion. She assured that the money will go towards tangible projects with real benefits for residents, and will contribute to a safe and cleaner city. Staff presentation later also highlighted the investments into the city's sewer system ($12.6 million), the Ottawa River Action Plan ($65 million), and other clear initiatives designed to minimize our city's carbon footprint, such as a gas collection system expansion, tree renewal program and Smart Energy ($8.7 million).
Read the full version of this newsletter on-line here.
November 2013
NEWS & NOTES from the Community Energy Network of Eastern Ontario
Greetings Community Energy Network members!
The Community Energy Network of Eastern Ontario (CEN) has had a busy summer and fall, and we wanted to share some of the important work we've been engaged in!
Thanks for all you are doing to help make Eastern Ontario a leader in renewable energy and energy conservation. We love to hear from you, so please feel free to contact us about your events and other great things you're working on!
Sincerely,
Trevor (Ecology Ottawa), Kristina and Brenda (Sustainable Eastern Ontario), Laura and Kara (Tucker House Renewal Centre)
Prime Minister’s Office ‘sandbagged’ to stop Harper’s tar sands flood
Ottawa residents participate in ‘defend our climate’ national day of action
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150 people show up to sandbag Stephen Harper's office.[/caption]
November 16, 2013