Our Social Media

Facebook-f Jki-twitter-light Globe-americas
  • Meeting Minutes

General Meeting – May 25, 2026

Published on:

October 2, 2026

Share This:

GREENSPACE ALLIANCE OF CANADA’S CAPITAL

Greenspace Watch
Monthly General Meeting
MINUTES

Meeting:
Online
Meeting date:
May 25, 2026

Members present: Paul Johanis (chair), Nicole DesRoches, J.P. Unger, Arto Keklikian, Judie Garbo    

1. Adoption of the agenda

The agenda was adopted.   

2. Administrative items

a. Minutes of April 20, 2026 (for approval)

Moved by Nicole, seconded by J.P. Approved.

b. Treasurer’s report  

Upon completion of the design phase, the second installment of the Poets Pathway website redevelopment is due, in the amount of $3000.15. This expense is covered by the Community Environmental Projects Grant we received from the City for this purpose. Upon review of the grant and regular operations balances, payment of this invoice was approved. Moved by Judie, seconded by Nicole.  

c. Plan for 2026 AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Greenspace Alliance is usually held in May or June.  It was agreed to hold this year’s meeting in person, on June 22, 2026, at a central venue to be confirmed by the Chair. It was also agreed to invite a keynote speaker. A presentation by Nick Stow, Program Manager for Natural Systems at the City of Ottawa, on the topic of the current state of greenspace in Ottawa was suggested as something that would be of interest to members.  

Action: Chair to make the arrangements for the meeting and prepare and distribute the agenda, minutes of the last AGM and the Annual Report.  

Policy Instruments

3.

  1. Official Plan 2026

    Due to uncertainties regarding anticipated new legislation by the Ontario government, work on the review of the City’s Growth Management Strategy has been deferred to early 2027. The GA has participated in two stakeholder meetings, through which some positive results were achieved, such as ensuring that a no urban expansion scenario would be one of the options under consideration. We will now await the new provincial bills, which will likely run counter to our desired outcomes.

  2. Tree Protection By-Law

    A notice of motion brought by Councillor Lo at the Environment and Climate Change Committee, if adopted, would have completely eviscerated the City’s Tree Protection Bylaw. The GA delegated at the Committee meeting of April 21 against the motion. The Committee approved a watered-down motion applying only to a small area of Barrhaven with marine clay subsoil. This nonetheless establishes a precedent, which was quickly taken up by homeowners elsewhere in Ottawa. See delegation here: from 10:40 – 10:44

  3. Urban Forest Management Plan

    The City’s Natural Systems and Forestry departments jointly held an evening workshop on the management of the Urban Forest. Delegates representing stakeholders at many points in the urban tree lifecycle and supply chain were invited to discuss the future evolution of the Urban Forest Management Plan and set priorities. It was a well run and facilitated workshop, in which y City staff and senior management took part. This forum may be constituted on a permanent basis, with a second meeting planned in 2026.

  4. 2026 Municipal Election

    The Greenspace Alliance generally gets involved in the municipal election through the vetting of candidates for election as Councillor based on the strength of their platforms, and in the case of incumbents, their record, on greenspace and environment issues. It was agreed to repeat this exercise for the 2026 election.

  5. Greenbelt Master Plan

    The second meeting of the Public Advisory Group for the review of the National Capital Greenbelt Masterplan was held on May 4. It was well attended, online and in person. The focus of the meeting was on the vision and guiding principles for the Greenbelt Master Plan. Members had the opportunity to review and provide feedback directly to the authors on the concepts and language of these texts. Members also saw a preview and provided feedback on the information boards that have been prepared for the public Open Houses to be held from May 20 to May 26. Overall, it was a good meeting, but members are concerned that no future meetings or interactions with the project team are scheduled until early 2027. The Chair of the GA was selected as community co-chair of the PAG and was tasked by members to maintain open communications with the group over the summer months and seek earlier engagement with the project team in the fall.

Threats and Opportunities

4.

  1. RURAL

    Leitrim Wetland

    Good news regarding additional wetlands being protected. Two sections of the Leitrim Provincially Significant Wetland adjacent to the Findlay Creek development have been donated by the developers to the South Nation Conservation Authority.

  2. Goulbourn Wetlands

    In Ottawa’s west end, Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation (RVCF) made a major acquisition of a 250-acre parcel of conservation land, that includes 210 acres of wetland, from landowners. The acquisition was made possible through financial support from the City of Ottawa, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and Scout Clean Energy, the collaboration and generosity of participating landowners, and with ongoing program support from partners such as Modern Niagara and Friends of Stittsville Wetlands.

  3. Chalk River

    It has been reported that spent fuel and high-level nuclear waste from the decommissioning of the Chantilly nuclear reactor the site of the proposed NSDF is now being transported to Chalk River for temporary storage, increasing the risk and elevating our concern for nuclear contamination of the Ottawa River. See story here.

  4. MAJOR URBAN

    POETS PATHWAY

    The Merivale-Prince of Wales section of the Poets’ Pathway was the site of a Jane’s Walk on May 2. About 20 walkers attended and learned about the pathway. The design phase of the new website has been finalized, and development should be completed by the end of June.

  5. OTHER

    Canal Woods

    Local residents have been put in touch with the Ottawa South Environmental Action Network and the Friends of McCarthy Woods, both of which are also dealing with proposed NCC dispositions of greenspaces for residential development. Local councillors and federal MPs have been engaged. Social media campaigns have been launched and the GA has posted a video of Canal Woods on its Facebook page.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:25.