Commuters: Consider alternate routes to avoid traffic delays

This morning, the Ottawa Police Service monitored traffic flow at a number of Government of Canada locations with picket lines or large demonstrations. 

Tunney’s Pasture, Montreal Road, and Centrum Boulevard were subject to traffic congestion during the morning rush hour, and we can expect similar delays in the foreseeable future. 

Ottawa/Gatineau commuters who travel these routes are asked to be patient, continue to obey all traffic laws, and consider an alternative route when possible.

The Ottawa Police Service will continue to monitor traffic around identified picket sites and will keep the community updated on any major traffic disruptions.

Our policing role during legal strike action is to keep the peace and ensure public safety. We ask everyone participating in or impacted by the strike action to be patient, respectful and courteous at all strike or protest locations.

For the latest traffic updates, follow @Ottawa_Traffic or visit the interactive traffic map on ottawa.ca.

Paper about Champlain Park Forest Diversity Efforts Published!

Published in Trail & Landscape 57(2) April-June 2023

Community Stewardship and Biodiversity Enhancement of Public Greenspaces

Daniel Buckles1,2, Catherine Shearer1, Kris Phillips1, Adrian Bradley1, Chieu-Anh Ta3, Braydon Hall3 and John Thor Arnason1,3*

1. Champlain Park Environment Committee, Kitchissippi, Ottawa ON
2. Sociology and Anthropology Department, Carleton University, Ottawa ON
3. Biology Department, University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON
* Corresponding authors: dbuckles@sas2.net, john.arnason@uottawa.ca

Abstract: Plant biodiversity in urban woodlands near the Ottawa River was assessed and found to have low native biodiversity. Community volunteers responded by planting native trees using various techniques (Hügelkultur mounds, Miyawaki or “Tiny Forest” plantations, terracing) and establishing several native pollinator gardens. Biodiversity enhancement included both native Great Lakes and St. Lawrence forest species and Carolinian species, with attention to ethnobotanical and forest food species as well as herbaceous plants supporting native pollinators. The experience suggests that community stewardship of public greenspaces offers an efficient and effective means to achieve meaningful conservation and public education outcomes.

Keywords: Native plants, Carolinian species, biodiversity enhancement, Hügelkultur mounds, medicinal plants, food forest, pollinator garden.

[First page of the paper]
Get the PDF of the whole very well illustrated paper from Community Stewardship and Biodiversity Enhancement of Public Greenspaces.pdf

Spring Cleanup 2023 – April 29

Nope, nope, way too rainy this final weekend of April (April showers?). We’ve decided to move spring cleanup to the following week. Sorry for the confusion. See the new post for the new dates.

Time to limber up and to get ready to stoop, scoop, lunge and squat our way to a cleaner community!

It’s a great way to get some exercise and help make our neighbourhood beautiful at the same time.

When: April 29th (in case of rain April 30th)

Where: meet outside the Champlain Park fieldhouse at 10am and pick up a garbage bag and gloves. We’ll also provide snacks to tide you over! Children should be accompanied by an adult.

What: Choose a part of the neighbourhood and pick up any garbage you see and make our neighbourhood clean and beautiful. Dispose of the garbage bag with your normal household garbage/recycling/composting.

[Poster for 2023 Spring Cleanup]
Spring cleanup CPCA 2023 poster.pdf

Tips for Disposing of Branches

From https://ottawa.ca/en/storm-cleanup-april-2023 via Jeff Leiper:

What to do with debris and waste

Debris separation:

  • Household waste: Place at the curb as part of regular garbage and recycling collection
  • Organic waste: Spoiled organics can be stored in the freezer then place at the curb for weekly green bin pickup. For those with more urgent need to dispose of food waste, a large bin will be available at the Trail Waste Facility at no charge from Monday, April 10 to Saturday, April 15. Trail Waste Facility hours of operation are below.
  • Tree cuttings, branches and brush: Place at the curb separate from non-organic, storm-related waste. To allow collection, we encourage branches to be tied with twine in bundles of less than 1.2 m (4 ft.) in length and 60 cm (2 ft.) in width, and that bundles or containers weigh no more than 15 kg (33 lb.). Individual branches should be less than 10 cm (4 in.) in diameter. Larger tree cuttings, branches and brush may be brought to the City’s Trail Waste Facility at no charge until further notice. Otherwise, these may wait, curbside, for chipping or collection by specialized City and contracted crews. There is no need to call 3-1-1 at this time.
  • Household hazardous waste: Visit the Waste Explorer on ottawa.ca for disposal information

Do not stack or lean: Do not place debris near or on trees, poles or other structures as this makes removal difficult. This includes fire hydrants and meters.

If you don’t have a sidewalk, ditch, or utility line in front of your house, place debris at the edge of your property before the curb.

Trees
Continue reading “Tips for Disposing of Branches” →

Vehicle Theft on Carleton

Neighbourhood Watch Update – Vehicle Theft on Carleton Ave

“Dude, Where’s My Car?!”, became more than just a ‘90s movie title in Champlain Park recently. On March 29 a Toyota Highlander was stolen from a driveway on Carleton Ave. Video footage of the incident was captured, and has been provided to the police. If you see a crime in progress, please call the police immediately from a safe location.

Here are some suggestions to help protect your property:
Continue reading “Vehicle Theft on Carleton” →

Community Association Board Meeting – April 11

Agenda

Champlain Park Community Association (CPCA) Board Meeting

Tuesday April 11, 2023
7:30 PM via Google Meet
Everybody Welcome

Board meetings will have an open session for community residents to observe business discussions. Non board community members will also be invited to participate at certain times by the chair and there will be “in camera” topics for the board members only. Please contact the secretary via champlainpark@gmail.com to request a link to join the meeting.

Open session

  1. Approval of minutes of Feb 28, 2023 – Liz
  2. Report of interim motions – all
  3. Planning and Zoning Fund Parameters – Heather – (Decision, 10 minutes)
  4. Insurance and Fieldhouse Contract Updates – Lynne – (Info, 5 minutes)
  5. Finances Interim Plans – Lynne
  6. Membership updates if available – Lynne
  7. Spring Clean-Up – Nick – (information, 3 minutes)
  8. Other Business
  9. Next Meeting

Agenda last updated on April 6. Please contact the secretary to add topics.

Signs of Spring Continued

via Kris…

And here, Groomer Peter of the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail can be seen hauling away the bounty of former Christmas trees that had been stacked in Champlain Park. These trees will be recycled one last time as they are chipped and put to use on the winter trail network.

Thanks again to everyone who contributed to the more than 80 trees that were repurposed around the Champlain Park rink, and along the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail this season!

[2023 Spring, Groomer Pete Loading Christmas Trees for Recycling from Champlain Park]

Signs of Spring

It looks like we’re finished with the rink (despite -10C nights and snow squalls, the +5C days and sun are melting the ice and snow), and now it’s time for cleanup. Here, many of the Christmas trees have been moved to the road for collection. Thanks to the rink team for a good season!

[Stacks of Christmas trees on their side beside the road in the park]

Scott Street Connector Winter Trail Summary

Just a note to let you know that Kris Phillips (our environment committee lead) has a nice end of season summary video of the Scott Street Connector which connects neighbourhoods south of us to the Kìchì Sìbì Winter Trail. Have a look on Twitter at: