Category: Environment

Local 100 Debates on the Environment – September 8

As part of the nation-wide “100 Debates on the Environment” initiative, Evidence for Democracy is organising a debate in Ottawa-Centre on September 8 at 6 pm. RSVP here, and share the Facebook event here.

The 2021 Federal Candidates for Ottawa Centre:

Ecology Ottawa is co-hosting three election debates as part of GreenPAC’s nation-wide “100 Debates on the Environment” initiative.

The first is in Ottawa West-Nepean, on Wednesday, September 8 at 6pm with First Unitarian Congregation. RSVP here, and share the Facebook event with your contacts here.

The second is in Kanata-Carleton, on Thursday, September 9 at 6pm. RSVP here, and share the Facebook event here.

The third is Ottawa-Vanier with Lowertown Community Association, Vanier Community Association, For Our Kids Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario Committee of Canadian Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) on Thursday, September 9 at 8 pm, RSVP here, and share the Facebook event here.

Photo Opportunity

Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2021 19:11:57 -0400
From: Daniel <dbuckles@sas2.net>

Are you a photographer, looking for a local subject? The Champlain Park Community Association Environment Committee invites you to create one or a series of photographs of our new pollinator garden at its seasonal peak (now and for the next few weeks). We would appreciate your talent to help us showcase the garden and the community initiative, in our community and more broadly in the city. Photos selected for the purpose will earn you bragging rights and be a gift to the neighborhood! Send your selections to Daniel Buckles (dbuckles@sas2.net) who will compile and convene a local show in September.

Daniel Buckles

[Pollinator Garden June 24, 2021 - Should be more spectacular by now (August)! Maybe somebody could get a photo of that...]

Ecology Ottawa Air Quality

Subject: Fwd: Improving Ottawa’s Air Quality
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2021 19:36:38 -0400
From: Heather Pearl <hptek20@teksavvy.com>

[…] Of particular interest is the Ecology Ottawa Breathe Easy campaign. I borrowed one of EO’s air quality monitoring units in late May-early June, long before the wildfires started making Ottawa’s air quality toxic. It was an eye-opener to see how high the PM 2.5 particulate counts were on a few occasions (PM 2.5: the tiny particles that contribute to development of and exacerbate heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma etc. etc…. and even cross the placenta to wreak havoc). During a period when we still were pretty much locked down, the Transitway busses, traffic on IPD, plus heat and humidity, cooked up poor air quality in the south end of our neighbourhood. Now that IPD is almost back to being its usual linear parking lot self, the levels of dangerous particulates are likely to be more consistently high, even when we aren’t being affected by wildfire smoke.

For those who are interested in volunteering for the Breathe Easy Campaign: To join the team of nearly 100 volunteers taking part in Ottawa’s largest community-led science project, click here.

Thanks, Heather
Continue reading “Ecology Ottawa Air Quality” →

Caterpillar Voracious Appetites

Now is the time to protect trees from caterpillars with voracious appetites.

Heritage bur oaks in our neighbourhood are being attacked by the gypsy moth caterpillar. In fact, all deciduous trees are at risk from the caterpillar. So are conifers.

Here’s what you can do to protect any tree in your yard (or in the park):
https://www.champlainoaks.net/post/copy-of-protect-your-bur-oaks-from-gypsy-moth-caterpillars

[Oak tree with burlap sack circumference guard]

Plants Need Help

Tom Sawyer’s Life Lesson

Mark Twain’s brilliant story about the Adventures of Tom Sawyer shows that “to make someone covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain.” Tom Sawyer, when his friend asked why he was not distressed about having to paint his Aunt Polly’s fence, simply said, “I don’t see why I would be, you don’t get to do this everyday.” Within a few hours, every one of his friends was vying for the opportunity to paint the fence, even paying him in kind (apples and precious pieces of string) for the privilege.

Well, we have some difficult things to challenge you that are also important enough for you to want to take on the challenge.

What are we talking about? Keeping 180 trees and a pollinator garden alive and thriving during a dry spring and summer is both difficult to attain and important to beautifying our neighbourhood. We are also trying to recover the abandoned former parking lot at Pontiac and the Park as a future tree planting site. Your contribution can make a difference, by taking on responsibility for a few hours in our watering schedule or by doing other tree or earth moving care. We have a pretty good system in place, but need more helping hands.

[Saplings with Stakes on Pontiac where there were parking spaces]

If this amazing opportunity to bring biodiversity into the neighbourhood is something you want to be part of, contact Daniel Buckles (dbuckles@sas2.net) for a brief orientation and access to the online schedule. The project is an initiative of the Champlain Park Community Association.

Forest Artists with Don Monet

Are you a struggling student artist? Work with a pro and help your neighbourhood too by documenting the amazing green transformation going on right here in Champlain Park.

If you have been down to the river you will have seen the pollinator garden at the end of Carleton, and the “Tiny Forest” that has popped up along Pontiac.

[Black Walnut Way - tree planting along Pontiac Street]

There are other delights in the woods too that are the fruit of local volunteers with the Champlain Park Community Association.

We would like your help (photographers, painters, sculptors, etc.) to showcase the plant biodiversity and volunteer spirit we are bringing into the neighbourhood.

Don Monet, painter and owner of Ottawa’s CUBE Gallery, lives here too and would be happy to mentor or otherwise support you in a local art project focused on the green transformation. If interested, contact Daniel Buckles (daniel.buckles@gmail.com) for a virtual introduction to Don.

Calling all High School Students! – Reminder

Looking for a fun place to volunteer?

[Pollinator garden with pots of new plants waiting]

The Champlain Park Community needs your help caring for plants and tiny forests (watering, weeding and maintenance).

“It is really nice to spend some time outside in the forest, and you get volunteer hours too! If you love to be outdoors and help out your community, this is the place for you!”

says student volunteer Natasha L.

You can expand your knowledge about plants and trees and species of bugs, and meet new people, all while getting volunteer hours. It is all outdoors, so there is plenty of space to social distance and stay safe!

If you are interested, please contact Daniel Buckles (daniel.buckles@gmail.com)

Busy as Bees

Yesterday was World Bee Day, raising awareness about the contributions of bees to pollination of plants (including food crops). The Champlain Park Community Association volunteers have been busy planting the pollinator garden at the end of Carleton Avenue, and planting a mini-forest in the empty space east along Pontiac Avenue to Northwestern. Some 170 trees have gone in there. Beginning Saturday, we will be breaking up the gravel shoulder to the former Pontiac roadway, along the north edge of the woods, in preparation for fall planting of shrubs, trees and butterfly plants currently in backyard tree nurseries. Each of our 7 planters are being cared for by volunteer gardeners.

All activities are designed to beautify the connection between our community and the “Kitchi Sibi” (“Great River” in Algonquin), and are permitted by the NCC and the City.

Are you able to help? We need help watering plants, weeding in some locations, building chicken wire cages to protect saplings, etc. so please contact CPCATrees@gmail.com for details. Donations to the Association are also welcome as they help buy what volunteers can’t make (e-transfer to FinancesCPCA@gmail.com). Everyone can pitch in by bringing water to fill the rain barrels set up on a direct “bee line” to the beach.

[Pollinator Garden Area before and after Garden Created]
Pollinator Garden Area before (top) and after (bottom) Garden Created.

Calling all High School Students!

Do you need to log “volunteer hours” in order to graduate?

Would you like those hours to be spent outdoors, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air?

If so, then the Champlain Park Community Association is the partner for you. We need volunteers to help with greening of our neighbourhood (care for plants, digging gardens, maintenance in the Champlain Woods, etc.).

If interested, contact Daniel Buckles (daniel.buckles@gmail.com).