193 Keyworth Tree Removal on Citizen Front Page

On the cover of this morning’s Ottawa Citizen paper edition, there is an article about the recent loss of an ancient oak tree in our neighbourhood.

The online version of the article (and not too surprisingly, a few comments too) is available at:
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/urban-forest-champlain-park-residents-mourn-oak-tree

it starts out…

Champlain Park residents outraged after massive bur oak cut down

By Joanne Laucius, Published Oct 28, 2024.

The residents of Champlain Park were shocked on Oct. 21, when machinery moved in to remove a pre-Confederation oak tree on a building site on Keyworth Avenue.

By the end of the day, even the stump of the massive burr oak was gone, said Catherine Shearer, whose lot backs onto the building site.

[… lots of background info and stories, see the surprisingly comprehensive newspaper article …]

“This tree was there in the days of Confederation. It had 150 years left to live,” Johanis said. “There has to be something that can be done to protect this kind of tree.”

[20241029 Ottawa Citizen Front Page with Keyworth Oak Tree Article]

Leaves Wanted for Forest – Update

Here’s an update from Facebook on where they want the leaves dropped off. Also I don’t hear anything about picking up leaves…

Catherine S. says:
The ONLY place we need leaves is the Carleton to Northwestern section.

Ann L. says:
Hi there is there need for bags of leaves for the pollinator garden at the end of Carleton

Catherine S. says:
We would LOVE leaves on the stretch between Carleton and Northwestern … toss the leaves over the fence or leave bags near the ‘tiny forest’ sign.
We will spread them around the trees

Leaves Wanted for Forest

From Facebook…

Ann L. says:
Hi there is there need for bags of leaves for the pollinator garden at the end of Carleton

Ottawa’s Climate Change Team at Westboro Farmer’s Market – September 28

The city of Ottawa invites you to attend the Westboro Farmers Market on Saturday, September 28 from 9 am to 3 and visit its information booth to learn more about the City’s climate change initiatives and learn how you can contribute to a greener future with the Rain Ready Ottawa and Better Homes Ottawa programs.

Our knowledgeable City of Ottawa staff will be on hand to answer all your questions and guide you through the steps you can take to make a difference.

Garden Tour – Reminder

Just a reminder that the biodiversity garden tour is this Monday evening.

We meet at Pontiac Street and Carleton Avenue at 7pm to start the tour with the Environment Committee volunteer team of Champlain Park, who are our resident gardeners. Everyone welcome!

Biodiversity Restoration Garden Tour – July 29

Visit to the Champlain Park Biodiversity Restoration Gardens on Monday July 29

The Champlain Park Community Association environment committee invites residents and friends to visit our local biodiversity gardens on Monday July 29, 7-8 pm at Carleton and Pontiac. There will be a guided tour of the gardens and chance to meet volunteers. A presentation to a special volunteer will occur.

Tribute to Daniel Buckles

Thanks Daniel! From Your Neighbours in Champlain Park

Today, Champlain Park is saying a heartfelt thank you and best wishes for the future, to our neighbour, Daniel Buckles, who has made exceptional contributions to the community and to the residents of the City of Ottawa. In May, Daniel will move to Toronto.

For several years, Daniel was a member of the CPCA Board. As Environment Committee lead, and later, participating as a non-board member, he and his teams of dedicated volunteers oversaw a number of exciting and successful projects. Some are:
- The historical installations inside and on the outside of the Fieldhouse
- Neighbourwoods in Champlain Park: Daniel engaged experts in urban Forestry to train residents to do a tree inventory for CP. An analysis of the multitude of benefits provided by the trees in one area of CP is posted on our website: https://champlainpark.org/ticp/ticp-home/
- Replanting neglected land on the NCC and City properties with native trees, shrubs and plants, some of which originated in his back yard native tree nursery.
- Depaving Pontiac between Carleton and Cowley Ave and creating terraced gardens and a rain garden in and around what used to be a stony parking area: community-stewardship-and-biodiversity-enhancement-of-public-greenspaces.pdf
- Working with the City to have diverse species of trees planted on the Northwestern median and, just last fall, around the perimeter of the Park.
We who live in Champlain Park can see and directly benefit from Daniel’s contributions, but many may not know that Daniel has made major contributions not only to our community but to Ottawa’s communities as a whole.
- Daniel founded the very active People’s Official Plan volunteer organisation, which has brought a much needed holistic view to City planning in Ottawa. https://popottawa.ca/
- He worked tirelessly with volunteer organisations, the universities and City Staff to advocate for sustainable development in the face of a changing climate.
- He helped disparate organisations to work together to achieve the common goal of a greener more resilient, more inclusive City.
- I firmly believe that City Planners eventually will be referencing and adopting many of the POP’s recommendations.

Daniel, you might be leaving the ‘hood, but the good that you have done remains to inspire us. This plaque comes with a huge measure of our respect and gratitude for all you’ve achieved.

We wish you happiness and success in your coming endeavours, as you take on the challenge of a well-deserved career upgrade. The new job title? Best. Grandpa. Ever!

20240424 Tribute Daniel.pdf

Spring Naturehood Bird Walks – April 26+

Upcoming Naturehood Outings

Friday Morning Spring Bird Walks

Date: Friday mornings (April 26 – early June)
Time: 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Location: Champlain Park Pollinator Garden (Carleton and Pontiac)
Leader: Jennifer Neate

Description:

As the natural world awakens from its winter sleep, our feathered migrant neighbours are slowly beginning to arrive. Eastern Phoebes and Song Sparrows have added their voices to the morning chorus, and they will soon be joined by a colourful kaleidoscope of warblers.

Come out and meet some of the resident and migrant birds of your naturehood on this family-friendly outing. We will see who we can find together, and practice some basic skills that will help you to locate and identify the birds around you. Bring your curiosity, a set of binoculars and a bird field guide or the Merlin bird app, if you like.

Registration is not required but if you would like to be notified of cancellations due to weather, feel free to send an email to jen@spiritwalkers.ca with the subject: “Naturehood Outing.”

Christmas Tree Recycling

Oops, with the lack of snow I forgot to repost this, but yes, Christmas trees are still welcome. Also see the related tweet from the Winter Trail people.

– Alex

Recycle your 🌲 Tree at the Champlain Park Baseball Diamond, anytime in January!!

Give your old Christmas tree a ‘second life’ by donating it to the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail. Trees will be used to create wind breaks and safety barriers/cordons at various locations along the Winter Trail at Remic Rapids. Trees can be brought to the North East corner of the Champlain Park baseball diamond or to Remic Rapids anytime in January, 2024. The Winter Trail team will then make sure they get to where they are needed.

Thank you from the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail Team, and happy skiing!

Leaf Drop Done!

From: Daniel Buckles <dbuckles@sas2.net>

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Neighbours collected and dropped off more than 130 bags of neighbourhood leaves at the community gardens and tiny forest along Pontiac. That is all we need for this season. Anyone can complete the cycle by picking up and reusing the empty leaf bags from the stash in my front driveway (Daniel Avenue).
Continue reading “Leaf Drop Done!” →