General Meeting – December 16, 2024 – Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital

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Meeting Minutes

General Meeting – December 16, 2024

Published on:

January 27, 2025

GREENSPACE ALLIANCE OF CANADA’S CAPITAL

Greenspace Watch
Monthly General Meeting
MINUTES

Meeting:

Online

Meeting date:

December 16, 2024

Members present: Paul Johanis (chair), Nicole DesRoches, Jason Kania, Erwin Dreessen, Arto Keklikian, Iola Price, Tony Keith, Terry McIntyre, William van Geest (guest)

1. Adoption of the agenda

The proposed agenda was agreed upon, with the addition of item 3b. Right of Way Bylaw.

Moved by Iola, seconded by Nicole. Approved.

2. Administrative items

a. Minutes of November 18 2024 meeting (for approval)

Moved by Erwin, seconded by Nicole. Carried.

b. Website report

Paul reported that the new website was now operational, with the issues previously reported largely corrected so that the thematic and chronological order of the content was restored and coverage expanded. There will be ongoing review of the content to pick up any remaining problems. Changes will also be made to the ordering of the entries in the Readings section to restore the chronological order as before. Paul thanked Jason for the extra work and support he provided during the development and implementation phase of the project.

c. Association reports

Nicole gave a report on the November 27 webinar she attended at which she presented on behalf of the GA. It was organized by Les Amis des Parcs (Park People). This national organization is trying to extend its reach into the francophone community. Nicole asked members for assistance in identifying francophone networks and community contacts in Ottawa in this regard.

Policy Instruments

City Budget 2025
In this round, the GA did not make any submissions on the budget but noted that the funding slightly increased for the Natural Systems group, which is now under the new Strategic Initiatives branch. This group is our main interlocutor at City Hall and it is good to see it supported in the budget. We also noted an entry in the Capital budget of $2 million for acquisition of greenspace, which, in the words of budget documents, “builds resiliency of the natural environment to changing temperatures and precipitation, and provides important spaces for physical, mental and spiritual health.” This seems to be new money and members raised questions about whether it replaces or supplements a previous reserve established for this purpose.

Action: Paul to follow up with City staff regarding this new allocation.
Right of Way By-Law
A few years ago, this bylaw was amended to permit growing non-food vegetation in the strip of city land adjacent to city streets, within certain limits and conditions. In the context of a renewed Community Garden Action Plan being developed by the City in conjunctions with the community, the issue of permitting the growing of food stuff in the right of way has arisen. It is the subject of a consultation questionnaire on Engage Ottawa open until December 31, including questions on whether raised beds or permanent structures should be allowed. Members made observations regarding proximity to the road and exposure to contaminants such as salt and airborne microscopic tire and brake wear, whether permanent structures would present obstacles for snow clearing and whether some kind of formula taking into account front yard setbacks should be considered. The GA took no definitive position on these questions but encouraged members to respond to the questionnaire.

Threats and Opportunities

MAJOR URBAN
POETS PATHWAY
Thanks to new contacts from members of the Rideau Trail Association and following our walking the complete circuit around this time last year, there is renewed interest in the Poets’ Pathway. A preliminary meeting with these new contacts and members of the original Poets’ Pathway team was held on November 28 to revisit the status of the trail based on our collective observations last year and since and to map out a way forward to further develop and promote the Pathway. Following the meeting, a timeline was developed for the full completion of the project through to the end of 2026. Future meetings are planned, including one with Beechwood Cemetery, which is one of the anchors of the pathway. It seems they are again very interested in promoting the pathway was well.
Centenary Elm, Parliament Hill
Seeing a notice of the commencement of the next phase of the Centre Block restoration project, Paul reached out to the contacts we made while advocating in 2019 for the preservation of the centenary elm that stood just east of the Centre Block. Even though the elm was lost, a plan was made by the project team to take cuttings from the tree and to send them to the Guelph Arboretum to attempt to propagate this seemingly Dutch Elm disease resistant specimen. We received an update a year later that some grafts had taken but have received no news since then. No response has yet been received.
Ottawa Greenbelt
An editorial appeared in the Citizen on December 9 based on new information obtained through Access to Information that the Greenbelt is indeed the subject of discussions between Parks Canada and the National Capital Commission as a possible new Urban National Park. No new announcements have been made, however.
Pinesi Portage Trail
The Greenspace Alliance partnered with Kichi Sibi Trails in 2021 to develop and promote the Chief Pinesi Portage Trail. The first Chief Pinesi Day, celebrating this trail and the Algonquin presence in this area of the country, was held on July 1, 2022. Since then, this event has been held yearly at New Edinburgh Park on July 1. In 2024, the celebration included a weeklong paddle from Oka, Quebec to Ottawa, with paddlers arriving on site on July 1. A trailer was just released for the documentary film that is being made of this epic journey. For 2025, a similar paddle from Deep River to Ottawa is planned for Chief Pinesi Day.
RURAL
THREATS
Nothing to report.
OTHER
THREATS
Nothing to report.

The Meeting adjourned at 8:31.

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About Greenspace Alliance

The Greenspace Alliance works with community organizations and individuals to preserve and enhance natural areas in the National Capital area, including public and private green spaces, wetlands and waterways.

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Mailing Address:

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contact@greenspace-alliance.ca

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Tel.: (613) 513–8372

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