Wild Parsnip, Rural Clean Water Program, Cleaning the Capital & More

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With spring on the way, By-law & Regulatory Services (BLRS) would like to remind residents that not all small wild animals found alone without an adult are orphans. It is very common for mothers to leave their babies in the nest or den while they forage for food. In the majority of cases, these mothers will return to their young. If you find a baby wild mammal on its own (skunk, raccoon, rabbit, squirrel, etc.), please contact the Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary first before calling 3-1-1. Please do not attempt to move the animal from its den/nest or to feed it. If a resident has already touched the animal, please return it to where it was found. It is a myth that the mother will reject her babies if they have been touched. In addition, please note BLRS only responds to calls about injured or sick small wild animals .

With spring on the way, By-law & Regulatory Services (BLRS) would like to remind residents that not all small wild animals found alone without an adult are orphans. It is very common for mothers to leave their babies in the nest or den while they forage for food. In the majority of cases, these mothers will return to their young. If you find a baby wild mammal on its own (skunk, raccoon, rabbit, squirrel, etc.), please contact the Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary first before calling 3-1-1.

Please do not attempt to move the animal from its den/nest or to feed it. If a resident has already touched the animal, please return it to where it was found. It is a myth that the mother will reject her babies if they have been touched. In addition, please note BLRS only responds to calls about injured or sick small wild animals.

With Spring possibly upon us, I am hopeful that I will not have to cancel any of our rescheduled Town Hall meetings due to snow. As you already are aware, our Rideau-Goulbourn team has hosted a number of town hall meetings throughout the ward since the start of 2019. Unfortunately, due to the less popular Lionel Richie/Diana Ross collaboration, Endless Winter, we had to cancel a few meetings.

Our rescheduled Town Halls will be held on the following dates:

  • Monday, April 15th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the Kars RA Centre (1604 Old Wellington Street)

  • Tuesday, April 23rd from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at St. Philip’s Parish Hall (127 Burke Street)

  • Saturday, May 4th from 10:00am to Noon at Christ Church (8948 Flewellyn Road)

  • Saturday, May 4th from 1:00pm to 3:00pm at Munster Community Centre (58 Dogwood Drive)

Drop in to Chat in Goulbourn

Our inaugural drop in session last week in North Gower was very successful. Our next "Drop in to Chat" session will be on Wednesday, April 17th at the Goulbourn Town Hall (2135 Huntley Road) from 10:00am to 3:00pm. We host "Drop in the Chat" sessions on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month at different locations across the ward. On these days, you are invited to stop by to chat about any concerns or issues that you have. Our following session will be on Wednesday, May 1st, tentatively scheduled for the new Morning Owl Café in Manotick.

If there is a specific location you would like us to hold one of these sessions, please let us know! We are open to suggestions. The only requirement is that we need Wi-Fi.

Wild parsnip management

Wild parsnip is an invasive plant that is increasingly common within the City of Ottawa in areas of uncultivated land, roadside ditches, nature trails, as well as on and surrounding rural and residential properties. Wild parsnip may pose a health risk to humans. The plant sap contains chemicals that may cause skin and eye irritation and make the skin prone to burning and blistering when exposed to the sun.

While the Public Works and Environmental Services Department has been proactively mapping out and controlling wild parsnip growth on public property, By-law & Regulatory Services would like to remind residents that they are responsible for removing invasive weeds on their private properties.

In accordance with the Property Maintenance By-law, the owner or occupant of a residential property must clear the lands of heavy undergrowth, long grass and/or weeds so that it is consistent with the surrounding environment.

Section 3(4) of the By-law also requires yards be clean and free from objects or conditions that may create a health or accident hazard. If a property owner fails to comply with an order to remove wild parsnip, the City is able to contract out the work at the expense of the property owner. In addition, the Ontario Weeds Act requires residents to destroy any noxious weeds, including wild parsnip growing on their properties.

We appreciate residents' help in managing wild parsnip! 

Apply Now for Grants through the Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program

The Ottawa Rural Clean Water Program (ORCWP) provides funding to landowners and non-profit organizations for projects that protect surface water and groundwater quality. Grants of up to $15,000 are available for 18 kinds of projects related to nutrient management, soil protection, water management, land stewardship, and education and innovation.

The next application deadline is May 1, 2019.

Farmers from rural and urban Ottawa along with landowners within rural Ottawa are eligible to apply. Approved applicants must complete a 3rd or 4th Edition Environmental Farm Plan (farm projects), or Healthy Home Guidebook (non-farm projects). Canadian Organic Certification is also accepted for some farm projects. Non-profit organizations can apply for education and innovation projects.

Applications will be accepted through the LandOwner Resource Centre, which works in partnership with the Mississippi Valley, Rideau Valley, and South Nation Conservation Authorities and the City of Ottawa. 

Contact the LandOwner Resource Centre at 613-692-3571 or toll free at 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1136. Visit www.ottawa.ca/cleanwater to see a full list of eligible projects and to download an application form.

Cleaning the Capital Spring Campaign

After the winter snow, frigid temperatures and ice, you can now turn your attention to the City of Ottawa’s 2019 GLAD Cleaning the Capital campaign, taking place from April 15 to May 15.
 
Registering is quick and easy:

Visit ottawa.ca/clean or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) to register your cleanup. Our interactive map will show you which locations have already been claimed, and our online registration form will allow you to choose your own project site and indicate the cleanup supplies that you need. Select a location, such as a park, ravine, shoreline, bus stop or pathway – any public area that requires litter pickup or graffiti removal.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in the past and helped Rideau-Goulbourn win the Cleaning the Capital "Ward Award" for the greatest participation based on project participants per capita two years in a row!

Community Dancing in Manotick

Join the Ever Hopeful Stringband and caller Pippa Hall for a family-friendly, alcohol-free evening of community dancing, including circles, squares and contras on Friday, April 26th, from 7:00pm to 9:30pm, at the Manotick United Church. Each dance is taught and the whole family is invited. The evening begins with simple dances, followed by dances that build on skills as the evening progresses.  Admission for adults is $10, $5 for those aged 12-18 while kids under 12 are free. There is a family maximum admission of $20. For more information, call 613-692-4576 or visit http://dance.manotick.net.

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If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.