Urban Naturalization & Pollinators Webinar – April 22

Via Kris…

Urban Naturalization & Pollinators Webinar

This webinar will teach you everything you need to know about how important urban naturalization is. You also won’t want to miss the launch of our first ever Spring Pollinator Plant Fundraiser! We’ll be going over the native plants that will be on sale and how you can start your very own pollinator garden.

Speakers:

  • Natasha Jovanovic, our very own Living City Program Manager
  • Jess Karafilov, a graduate of Masters of Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph and one of Ecology Ottawa’s lead volunteers

The webinar will take place on Zoom. The recording of the webinar will be sent to all RSVPs for those who are unable to attend.

Thursday, April 22nd from 6-7 pm EST

https://2020-ecologyottawa.nationbuilder.com/webinar_pollinator_garden

Community Association Board Meeting Final Agenda – April 19

Agenda

Champlain Park Community Association (CPCA) Board Meeting

Monday April 19, 2021
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 – final agenda

  1. Approval of minutes of November 25 2020 – Liz
  2. Report of interim motions – all
    1. Rink expenses above grant amount $393.19 on behalf of Dan and Matt
    2. Submit CPCA Chalk River Letter on behalf of Dan and Heather
    3. Submit TD Parks People Grant Night Sky on behalf of Adrian and Don
    4. Submit Nomination for Dave Adams Order of Ottawa
  3. Spring Cleanup – Kris
  4. FCA update – Roland – 5 minutes
  5. Membership Drive Options – Dave
  6. Rink Volunteers Recognition – Liz
  7. Update on Fieldhouse Garden – Laurie
  8. Financial Update – Lynne
  9. Insurance Update – Lynne/Liz
  10. Environment Committee proposal for tree nursery/planting project (“Urban mini-forest and Plant Caretaker Network”) – Daniel
  11. Next Meeting

Community Association Board Meeting – April 19

Agenda

Champlain Park Community Association (CPCA) Board Meeting

Monday April 19, 2021
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.

If any neighbourhood resident would like to officially add an item to the agenda for discussion, please submit your request to the secretary:

  • Detail the item to present.
  • Provide a brief description and the goal of presenting the item.
  • Length of time for agenda items is normally 5 minutes unless otherwise specified.
  • The Chair will discuss additional time at the beginning of the meeting if that is requested.

Open session – draft agenda

  1. Approval of minutes of November 25 2020 – Liz
  2. Report of interim motions – all
  3. Spring Cleanup – Kris
  4. FCA update – Roland – 5 minutes
  5. Membership Drive Options – Dave
  6. Rink Volunteers Recognition – Liz
  7. Next Meeting

Clearview and Island Park Drive Traffic Light News

From our city councillor Jeff Leiper’s newsletter today:

Island Park/Clearview crossing

Last year, we’d been told that construction of the pedestrian crossing at Island Park Drive and Clearview was proceeding, but then the work was paused apparently because of covid-related supplier issues. Indications to my staff are now that work should proceed in May. We’re all impatient for that and I appreciate your patience.

Tunney’s Pasture Redevelopment Survey

Subject: Tunney’s Pasture redevelopment plans, history, update on current status and a survey
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2021 19:26:47 -0400
From: Heather Pearl

After years of silence, we may soon know more about the redevelopment proposals for Tunney’s Pasture.  Here is some history:

  • Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) presented a draft plan to local community associations and the West Wellington BIA in 2012.
  • The CAs and BIA responded that the site needed to be redeveloped as much more than an attractive employment campus.
  • Our MP, Paul Dewar held a public meeting, attended by a large number of residents from the adjacent communities, to discuss what the Tunney’s Pasture Master Plan (TPMP) needed to address.
  • The resulting TPMP Community Report (attached) was posted on Paul’s website.  In-house negotiations began, to which the CAs were not privy.

In 2013, PSPC held a public consultation to gather comments on their new, very different proposal, for a substantial mixed-use development, that responded to most of the issues raised in the TPMP Community Report.

Current status:

  • Jeff Leiper has regularly asked for updates, but has learned only that the 2014 TPMP is being, for the most part, followed.  Recently, he heard that more information should be coming soon.
  • The Wellington Village CA (WVCA) recently heard from PSPC that more information may be available by late spring.

A survey:

  • WV is inviting all interested residents of Champlain Park to respond to their survey questionnaire on the Tunney’s redevelopment plans.  The survey can be found at https://forms.gle/mEWU8BTBj2Rg3oZ6A

Their intent is to:

  • Gather preliminary information on awareness, concerns, and priorities associated with the coming redevelopment.
  • Gather information for a mailing list of keenly interested residents.
  • Take the first step in a series of steps as they attempt to obtain more information, and participate in public consultation.

Based on the survey responses, they hope to form a small working group amongst neighbouring CAs to keep the ball rolling.

Please consider completing the short survey and staying current as this issue matures.  Whatever happens at Tunney’s Pasture has a direct impact on Champlain Park.

Heather

TPMP Community Report.pdf

Trees, Birds and Money

Subject: Trees and birds, oh the joy of it
Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2021 11:27:16 -0400
From: Daniel Buckles <dbuckles@sas2.net>

Trees help make Champlain Park a special neighbourhood in this part of the city, and no doubt add to the property value and enjoyment of residents (studies show generally a 10-15% increase in property value due to trees, and many direct human health benefits as well).

Native tree species are particularly important because they harbour native insects that recognize them as food sources and good places to lay their eggs. The Norway Maple and Japanse Lilac, while lovely in their own way, confuse insects looking for food and habitat, making them less desirable tree species for a healthy ecosystem. The same logic applies to shrubs and herbaceous plants: native is better for insects.

Anywhere insects go, birds follow. If you enjoy birds, Champlain Park and the nearby woods have lots to offer, including a recent visit from a flock of Bohemian Waxwings and perennial sightings of the solitary Pileated Woodpecker (among many others).

It now seems that birds make us as happy as money, in fact, an extra $190 a month according to a study of 25 European countries. Check out a media report on the study here: https://nationalpost.com/news/world/birds-make-you-as-happy-as-money-study-finds

Farmer to Gardener Webinar – April 1

Subject: Farmer to Gardener Webinar with Ottawa Farm Fresh
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2021 11:51:02 -0400
From: Ottawa Farm Fresh Admin <info@ottawafarmfresh.com>

[Farmer to Gardener Webinar Poster]

Hello,

I am writing to you today from Ottawa Farm Fresh, Ottawa’s newest family-run organic vegetable farm. We are located on an NCC farm nestled in the Greenbelt, just 12 minutes from downtown Ottawa.
Continue reading “Farmer to Gardener Webinar – April 1” →