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