water

Archived Posts from this Category

April 23, 2013

Nature Night and Nature Hike

Posted by denisedeby under flora and fauna, Ottawa, water
Leave a Comment 

Written by Denise Deby.

Mud Lake photo by D. Deby

Mud Lake photo by D. Deby

One of the wonderful things about living in Ottawa or Gatineau is that it’s not hard to reconnect with nature. There are hidden, and not-so-hidden, green spaces all around us.

The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society-Ottawa Valley chapter (CPAWS-OV) is helping people get to know some of these areas better.

If you didn’t know (I didn’t!), Ottawa is home to the Lac Deschênes Important Bird Area. On Thursday, April 25, 2013, Alexander MacDonald of Nature Canada will speak about this area at CPAWS-OV’s Nature Night, 7 p.m. at the Mountain Equipment Co-op Community Room. Lac Deschênes is actually a lake within the Ottawa River right in the city, and it’s an important stop for migrating birds. (Here’s a link to the Lac Deschênes Important Bird Area website if you’d like to find out more.)

On Sunday, April 28, 2013, you can test your new knowledge or just enjoy a walk outdoors at CPAWS-OV’s monthly “Get Outside” Hike which will explore Mud Lake and the Lac Deschênes bird area. It starts at 10 a.m. (See website for details.)

Both events are free with donations appreciated ($5 suggested for the hike).

CPAWS-OV runs regular Nature Nights and Nature Hikes, usually every month. Groups can also contact them to arrange guided hikes.

I also see that CPAWS-OV is having its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, May 2, 7:00 p.m. at Ottawa City Hall. At 7:45 p.m., special guest Clive Doucet will talk about the Capital to Capitol voyageur canoe trip that travelled 1800 km from Ottawa to Washington, D.C. last year to raise awareness about the need to protect waterways. Should be inspiring.

 

March 2, 2013

Skeena River Swim and Film with Ali Howard in Ottawa

Posted by denisedeby under energy, media, Ottawa, water
Leave a Comment 

Sent to Green Living Ottawa by Frances Ann Smeaton.

Poster courtesy Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition

Poster courtesy Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition

Ali Howard, originally from Ottawa, swam the Skeena river from the Sacred Headwaters all the way to the Pacific Ocean (610 km) to raise awareness about the potential impacts to this special area by Shell.

A film of her journey will be shown at St. Paul’s University Amphitheatre on Main Street in Ottawa at 7:00pm on Saturday, March 2nd. Ali will be present to talk about her experience and answer questions. Ali is a passionate, energetic person cares deeply about our planet and our country.

The Sacred Headwaters is the birthplace of the Skeena, Nass and Stikine Rivers. These three rivers are among British Columbia’s greatest salmon rivers. The Skeena is the second longest river in British Columbia. In 2004, Shell Canada (now Royal Dutch Shell) was awarded a 400,000 hectare tenure to develop coalbed methane (CBM) in the Sacred Headwaters in northwest British Columbia. This movie documents Ali’s swim raise awareness and help protecting this pristine region.

Please visit the websites below for more information about this event, Ali’s swim and the Skeena Watershed Coalition:

http://skeenawatershed.com/swim

http://skeenawatershed.com/events/detail/awakening_the_skeena_screening_ottawa

Film Preview: http://video.patagonia.com/video/Awakening-the-Skeena

 

February 17, 2013

Ottawa Riverkeeper’s Wild and Scenic Film Festival 2013

Posted by denisedeby under arts and culture, climate change, flora and fauna, health, Ottawa, water
Leave a Comment 

Written by Denise Deby.Ottawa Riverkeeper logoWild and Scenic Film Festival banner

I’m impressed with the work of the Ottawa Riverkeeper. It’s a small organization with talented staff and volunteers who look out for the health of the Ottawa River. The river is a major waterway and a key source of drinking water and recreation for those of us who live in Ottawa and Gatineau.

Part of the challenge of keeping the Ottawa River healthy is that no one jurisdiction looks after it. Responsibility is spread among two provincial governments, several provincial and federal agencies and conservation authorities, and numerous municipalities, so Ottawa Riverkeeper’s efforts to monitor the river’s health and advocate for the watershed as a whole are important.

To raise funds for its activities and awareness about the value of our waterways, Ottawa Riverkeeper is holding its first Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Thursday, February 21, 2013.

The Festival is showing seven documentaries, including:

  • White Water, Black Gold, on the effects of the tar sands on the Athabasca watershed;
  • Chasing Water, about a man who follows the Colorado River from its irrigation of his family’s ranch to the sea;
  • The Craziest Idea, an account of two dam removal projects in Washington state;
  • Weed War, the story of a rancher who uses goats to control invasive weeds.

The emcee is CBC’s Alan Neal, and the evening includes beverages, a silent auction and the chance to win cool prizes (think Stand Up Paddle lessons or a learn-to-sail camp weekend). All proceeds go toward Ottawa Riverkeeper initiatives including the purchase of water quality test kits for its River Watch program.

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival will take place at Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St. from 7-10 p.m. (doors open at 6:30). Tickets are $12 general admission, or $50 for a VIP pass that includes a reception and reserved seating. You can purchase tickets at ottawariverkeeper.ca or at Delilah {in the Parc}, Delilah {in the Glebe}, Mountain Equipment Co-op or Trailhead.

The Wild & Scenic® Film Festival, which runs every year in California and across the U.S. and Canada, uses film to engage people and encourage action on the environment.

 

December 24, 2012

‘Tis the Season

Posted by denisedeby under flora and fauna, Ottawa, water
Leave a Comment 

Written by Denise Deby.

South March Highlands - Beaver Pond - D. Deby photo

The holiday season means a lot to me. It’s a time for family, friends, warmth, comfort and joy. At its best, it’s a time of delight, wonder and magic.

It’s also an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate what’s important. So I’ve been mulling over possible topics for a post, like positive stories from this year, or how to shop less and support more handmade, fair-trade and gifts of time. But what’s inspired me is something that’s happened in the last couple of weeks: the #IdleNoMore movement.

Idle No More started as a call by four women in Saskatchewan for Canada to respect Indigenous sovereignty, in the face of the federal government’s Bill C-45 which weakens protection of lakes and rivers and changes land management on reserves. Its message has broadened and spread, through social media, “flash mob” Round Dances in public places, rallies, and people from all walks of life who are sharing the information.

In Ottawa, hundreds of people came out on December 21 to Victoria Island on the Ottawa River, where Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence is on a hunger strike to press the Canadian government to meet with Indigenous leaders.

As an inclusive grassroots movement, Idle No More calls on people whether Indigenous or not to come together to protect the environment and the rights of future generations. It calls on us to respect our obligations, treat each other with dignity, and require our governments to be accountable. It’s also about people speaking out to protect rivers, forests, green spaces and many of the other things I’ve blogged about on Green Living Ottawa in the past year and more.

Supporting it seems like a fitting way to celebrate what’s important this season.

For more information and updates on Idle No More, see http://idlenomore1.blogspot.ca/.

 

November 19, 2012

World Toilet Day 2012 in Ottawa

Posted by denisedeby under health, household, Ottawa, reuse, water
Leave a Comment 

Written by Denise Deby.

Today, November 19, is—ahem—World Toilet Day. A delicate subject, but an important one, since almost 40% of people around the world don’t have adequate sanitation, and water-related diseases kill thousands of people every day. That’s EVERY DAY.

The point of World Toilet Day is to shed some light on a taboo subject that needs more attention. The University of Ottawa’s Health Services team is joining in to help raise awareness by holding a “squat-off” this month, with prizes for the top squatters. They’re also inviting people to share stories on their Facebook page on the theme of “a toilet saved my life,” and to sign a global petition asking the international community to keep its promises on improving water and sanitation.

Here in Ottawa, most of us don’t have to worry about where our next flush is coming from. But we do send a lot of our precious clean water down the toilet, literally. In Canada, toilets account for 30% of household water use. Installing low flow toilets or toilet dams, repairing leaks, and checking out technologies for reusing reclaimed or “grey” water to flush toilets can help conserve water without jeopardizing our health.

It’s not just about technologies, though. It’s about being mindful of where our water comes from and where it goes, and how much we use. It’s also about calling on leaders at all levels to act, here and abroad, to ensure access to sanitation and improve how we manage the wastewater we create.

Safe, accessible sanitation for health, sustainability, equity and dignity. Sounds like something to celebrate.

 

Next Page »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 65 other followers