Our Successes

Climate Emergency Declaration (2019)

On Wednesday April 24th, City Council passed a resolution declaring Climate Emergency in Ottawa, and in doing so joined numerous other Canadian municipalities in committing to climate action in our community with renewed vigour and determination. Ecology Ottawa powered the local movement, organizing the community around this important vote. You came out and were heard, and now the City has the beginning of a policy framework that can really move the needle on climate.

1 million trees and counting (2013-present)

In response to the Emerald Ash Borer crisis, we launched the Tree Ottawa initiative to raise awareness of the need for a healthy, city-wide urban canopy and to promote action to counter tree threats. The public’s reaction to this initiative was more than we could have hoped for and, together, we achieved numerous successes. These include garnering over 11,000 petition signatures among Ottawa residents demanding the City of Ottawa to develop a strong Urban Forest Management Plan, engaging 9 communities and 7 schools in tree planting and greening projects, sprearheading Ottawa's Million Tree Initiative, distributing over 30,000 saplings across Ottawa, and much more.

TarFree613 – Stopping the Energy East Pipeline (2013-2017)

Ecology Ottawa mobilized nearly 10,000 Ottawa residents and demonstrated the broad-based public opposition to the proposed Energy East Pipeline. We’ve collected 8,800 signatures on a petition opposing the pipeline, distributed 200,000 loonie stickers and lawn signs across Ottawa and beyond, built partnerships among national and regional organizations, organized film screenings, panels, demonstrations and rallies, and intervened the review process through the National Energy Board. On October 5, 2017, TransCanada announced it abandoned the project.

Streetfight: Janette Sadik-Khan's Urban Revolution Come to Ottawa (2016)

On April 28, 2016, Ecology Ottawa hosted the New York City’s Transportation Commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, in what became the largest event in Ecology Ottawa’s history. Ms Sadik-Khan talked about how she re-imagined public spaces and helped transform the streets New York – one of the world’s greatest, toughest cities – into dynamic spaces for pedestrians and cyclists. At the event, Ecology Ottawa also launched our Street Restoration Map, outlining streets in Ottawa up for redesign until 2019.

100% Possible March (2015)

In the lead up to the federal election in 2015, Ecology Ottawa and its partners organized 100% Possible: Marching for Climate Solutions and Justice on Parliament Hill. With 25,000 participants, it was the largest climate mobilization in the history of Ottawa.

Complete Streets Adopted (2013-2015)

Ecology Ottawa called on the City of Ottawa to adopt the Complete Streets policy through citizen mobiliziation. The City adopted the Complete Streets policy in 2013, and came out with an implementation framework in 2015. We continue to mobilize residents in neighbourhoods where streets are up for redevelopment and demanded a wide-scale implementation of the policy.