New York’s urban revolution comes to Ottawa

Cities across North America are in the midst of an urban revolution, and we’re inviting you to a special evening to learn from one of the acknowledged leaders in this field.

RSVP for a special evening event with New York City’s Janette Sadik-Khan before it’s too late. On April 27, join us for a reception at Lansdowne Park’s Horticulture Pavilion at 6:00 p.m., followed by a special presentation at 7:00 p.m. We haven’t even begun advertising this event and there are already over 100 RSVPs!

Over the past decade, New York City boldly re-imagined its streets and public spaces to make way for pedestrians and cyclists. It spearheaded new approaches to making its streets healthier, safer and more dynamic while reducing pollution and fighting climate change. Former Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan was at the centre of it all, and will share the compelling story captured in her book Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution.

Ottawa is increasingly positioning itself to be an emerging North American leader in the movement for safer and more livable streets. City Council’s new Complete Streets Implementation plan has the potential to re-shape Ottawa’s urban fabric to benefit all transportation users, ages and abilities.

Read about Ecology Ottawa’s take on the Complete Streets Implementation Plan here. Janette Sadik-Khan will share tips on how to rethink, reinvigorate and redesign Ottawa, and her book will be available for purchase and signing.

This is a rare occasion to hear directly from a leader in urban sustainability, and spaces are limited.

To RSVP, click here now. In the meantime, check out Sadik-Khan’s inspiring TED Talk here.

Event details:

LOCATION: Horticulture Building in Lansdowne Park, 450 Queen Elizabeth Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1S 5J3
RECEPTION: 6:00 p.m.
PRESENTATION: 7:00 p.m.
COST: Free

We hope to see you there!

Graham, Neil, Velta, Jeremy, Alex, Tamsin, Jillian, Camilla, Robb and the Ecology Ottawa team

P.S. We’d like to thank the many organizations working together to make this event a success. They are, in no particular order:

Citizens for Safe Cycling
Nobel Women’s Initiative
Ottawa Centre EcoDistrict
Council on Aging of Ottawa
Sandy Hill Community Health Centre
Hintonburg Community Association
Healthy Transportation Coalition
Old Ottawa East Community Association
EnviroCentre
Riverview Park Community Association
Lowertown Community Association
Green Communities Canada – Active & Safe Routes to School Program
Jane’s Walk
Local Eco-Action Families
Dalhousie Community Association
Vanier Community Service Centre
Action Sandy Hill
Greenspace Alliance of Canada’s Capital
Urban Forum
Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association
Sustainable Living Ottawa East
Centretown Citizens Community Association
City Councillor Mathieu Fleury
Tooker Gomberg Greenspiration Fund
City Councillor Catherine McKenney
Lowertown Community Resource Centre
Centretown Citizens Community Association
Rockcliffe Park Residents Association

Safe Streets Ottawa Petition

From: kevino@kevino.net
Subject: Safe Streets Ottawa update: over 400 signatures!
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2016 12:13:35 +0000

Hello,

Thanks again for taking the time to fill our the http://safestreetsottawa.ca/ petition. So far, we’ve received the support of more than 400 Ottawan’s from across the city. We’ve also attracted a tremendous amount of media attention, including from the Ottawa Citizen, CTV, CFRA, 1310 News, and Metro Ottawa.

The support so far has been tremendous, but there’s still more to do before Council votes on this . We need your help!

Please consider sharing the petition with your friends, family, and other followers through facebook, twitter, email and word of mouth. If everyone that has signed up so far can get just one more person to sign, we will double our numbers.

Here’s some sample messages you can just copy and paste:

I believe Ottawa police need the best tools to combat speeding. Tell your councillor at safestreetsottawa.ca! #ottcity (tweet it!)
I told my councillor that I want more action on speeding in my neighbourhood. You should too! safestreetsottawa.ca #ottcity (tweet it!)
Does speeding make you feel unsafe in your neighbourhood? Tell your councillor! safestreetsottawa.ca #ottcity (tweet it!)

Thanks again for your support!
Kevin and Mike,
http://safestreetsottawa.ca/

Cowley Family History now In Print

Subject: Hot off the press! – Cowley family history now in print
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2016 00:06:30 -0400
From: Christine Jackson <cfjackson@sympatico.ca>

The articles I have written previously on the Cowley family history and which are posted in the history section of the CPCA website have been compiled into a new booklet, just published by the Historical Society of Ottawa.

The family’s history in the Ottawa Valley has been expanded upon somewhat, while a little less space is devoted to their English origins.

If anyone is interested in reading more about this family, which was responsible for establishing the Champlain Park neighbourhood (formerly known as Riverside Park), information is attached on how to obtain a copy of this booklet — From Steamboats to the NHL: The Ottawa Valley’s Cowley Family.

Thank you
Christine Jackson

PamphletPromo_16mar2016.pdf

Petition to Support Effective Speeding Enforcement – by March 23

From: an Michael Powell <president@ottawadalhousie.ca>
Sent: Sun, Mar 13, 2016 11:00 pm
Subject: Petition to Support Effective Speeding Enforcement in Ottawa!

Hello,

I apologize for the mass email. I’m president of the Dalhousie Community Association (Chinatown/Little Italy), and wanted to highlight a petition tool that we’ve helped launch to encourage councillors to support an upcoming motion at council that would help improve speeding enforcement.

On March 23rd council will consider a motion by Councillor Brockington (seconded by Councillor El-Chantiry, chair of the Ottawa Police Board) that would see the city officially ask the provincial government for the ability to deploy photo radar, or other technologies, as an additional tool for enforcing speed limits.

To support this an email-your-councillor tool has been set up at http://safestreetsottawa.ca/. It lets individuals select their councillor and send a short note indicating their support for the motion. Our hope is to provide grassroots support for those councillors already planning to support the cause, and a bit of a nudge for those on the fence or that might currently be opposed.

If you are interested, we’d appreciate if you could forward the site you your members and through social media channels to help drive participation. We’ve had a good response so far, and our hope is that we can get great representation from all wards.

Thanks for your support,
Michael Powell
President, Dalhousie Community Association

Rosemount Library – Let Champlain Park’s voice, YOUR voice be heard!

Rosemount Library is the second most used library per sq/ft of all 32 branches AND has been the #1 branch priority for the Ottawa Public Library for three years. Yet, other libraries lower on the list have had expansions and redevelopments. Now is a critical time for Rosemount, especially with all the surrounding development that is occurring.

READ (Rosemount Expansion and Development) is a group of local volunteers throughout Rosemount’s catchment area that want to support Rosemount Library. We are working closely with library staff and with politicians at various levels of government on this issue.

We encourage you to have your voice be heard in a few key ways:

1. Have your say in the vision!

Participate in the community consultation upcoming in March and April –

Absolutely EVERYONE is welcome!

What would you like to see in a redeveloped Rosemount Branch?
Dates, times and Details available at http://www.readrosemount.ca/read-rosemount-library-community-consultation/

2. Sign the Letter of Support for Rosemount

Every name on the letter of support matters. Take two minutes to add yours at www.readrosemount.ca.

3. Spread the word

Tell your neighbours, friends, and community connections about Rosemount’s current status and the consultation process.
· Facebook: www.facebook.com/READRosemount
· Twitter: READRosemount
· Website: www.readrosemount.ca (this includes why the library needs updating!)

For more details please view the PDF flyer version for this great cause!

Fantastic X-Ski, snowshoe trail open along Parkway!

The trail is in excellent condition, suggest you give it a try if you haven’t already done so.

The “Sir John A. Macdonald Winter Trail” runs from the Canadian War Museum to Westboro Beach. You can access the trail at the Champlain Park – Carleton Avenue entrance to the NCC Forest.

For more details click here:

Many Thanks for your community spirit!

We would like to send out a huge thank you to all those involved in this project, for their hard work and dedication in making this become a reality.

Thanks to the Westboro Beach Community Association, the National Capital Commission, Kitchissippi Councillor Jeff Leiper and especially Dave Adams of the Nakkertok Ski Club for making this happen.

Granite Curling Club Open House – March 14

Our local curling club is having an open house for women. Here’s their poster:

Granite Curling Club Open House Poster.pdf

Barn Swallow Survey

Subject: Barn Swallow Survey – Participation Request
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2016 15:24:24 +0000
From: David Caughey <dcaughey@naturecanada.ca>

Dear Community Association representative:

Nature Canada, a national charitable organization based in Ottawa, is currently leading a project focused on Barn Swallow conservation and stewardship in the Ottawa region. One of our project objectives is to identify key local nesting and feeding areas for Barn Swallows, a species listed as Threatened under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act. To help us achieve this, we would like to invite the members of your community association to participate in a short survey on their local observations of Barn Swallows.

The survey is available here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Ottawa_Barn_Swallows

We are particularly interested in Barn Swallow nesting and feeding activity over the last 2 years within a 20 km buffer around the National Capital Region’s Lac Deschênes-Ottawa River Important Bird & Biodiversity Area (IBA), one of the most significant local wildlife areas we boast. The 300 km² IBA (map on reverse) is internationally recognized for the birds and other wildlife that use the site throughout the year.

As your community falls within, or is close to, the 20 km buffer around the IBA in Ontario, we are sending out this request to engage residents in your area. The results of this survey will help us at Nature Canada better understand how Barn Swallows – formerly a very common species – are doing in the Ottawa region.

This project is part of our local NatureHood program to connect people to nearby nature through celebration, greater awareness, stewardship and wildlife observation, which you can learn more about at http://naturecanada.ca/what-we-do/naturehood/.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me, David Caughey, or Alex Macdonald (contact info in the letter) at Nature Canada with any questions or comments you might have.

Sincerely,

David Caughey

Conservation Policy Analyst
dcaughey@naturecanada.ca
613-562-3447 x300 | 1-800-267-4088
300-75 Albert Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 5E7

Celebrating 75 years as Canada’s voice for nature. Join us today
Une voix pour la nature au Canada depuis 75 ans. Devenez membre aujourd’hui!

Community Associations Barn Swallow Survey Invitation.pdf

Local Birds and Bats Talk – March 9

On Wednesday, March 9, 2016 the Westboro Beach Community Association (WBCA) will host an evening about the birds and bats of Ottawa.

Well known birding expert and Ottawa Citizen bird columnist Bruce Di Labio will talk on the birds of Ottawa and Alex MacDonald of Nature Canada will talk on the bats of Ottawa. All are welcome to come and learn about our feathered and furry friends, WBCA’s bat conservation project, and the internationally significant Lac Deschenes Important Bird Area adjacent to our community.

Admission is free but donations are requested to offset costs and support WBCA’s environmental initiatives. The event will take place from 7 to 9 pm at the Churchill Seniors Center at 345 Richmond Road.

For further information, contact us at infowestborobeach@gmail.com

Cowley History Talk – February 22

Subject: Upcoming talk on the Cowley Family – founders of Champlain Park
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2016 09:28:05 -0500
From: Christine Jackson <cfjackson@sympatico.ca>

Some residents may be interested in the talk I’m giving at 7pm Monday evening (22nd) in Arnprior about the family behind our neighbourhood of Champlain Park – the Cowley Family. (See attachment)

Arnprior is a relatively short drive west of Ottawa and the weather forecast for driving is good!

Thank you
Christine Jackson

CowleyTalkPromo.pdf