Community Initiatives Guide-July 2013

ECOLOGY OTTAWA Community Initiatives Guide 24 June 2013
Community Initiatives Guide

Ecology Ottawa Community Network
Table of Contents
I WHAT IS THE ECOLOGY OTTAWA COMMUNITY NETWORK? II GENERAL ROLES AND PROCESS: ECOLOGY OTTAWA, COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS AND INITIATIVE-SPECIFIC TEAMS DEFINITIONS ORGANIZING YOUR TEAM WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT AND RESOURCES CAN YOU EXPECT FROM ECOLOGY OTTAWA? INVOLVING YOUR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION USING THE WORKSHEETS III OUTREACH AND MEDIA 3 3 4 4 5 6 6 7
IV BUILDING A GREENER OTTAWA ONE NEIGHBOURHOOD AT A TIME: ECOLOGY OTTAWA COMMUNITY INITIATIVES 7 TREE OTTAWA COMMUNITY INITIATIVE INTRODUCTION PROCESS AND TIMELINES: HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE IN TREE OTTAWA? KEY ACTIVITIES PLANT-A-TREE ADOPT-A-TREE HARVEST-A-TREE RESOURCES TREE NURSERIES AND OTHER SOURCES OF TREES TREE OTTAWA CHAMPIONS FURTHER READINGS AND INFORMATION LIST OF TREE OTTAWA APPENDICES HEALTHY WATERSHEDS 8 8 9 10 10 13 14 14 14 15 16 17
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INTRODUCTION ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. PROCESS AND TIMELINES: HOW CAN YOU PROMOTE HEALTHY WATERSHEDS? 19 KEY ACTIVITIES ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. ADOPT-A-STREAM MONITORING ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. CREEK/STREAM CLEAN-UPS ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. DOWNSPOUT DISCONNECTION/REDIRECTION ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. RAIN BARREL INSTALLATION 22 RAIN GARDENS 23 PERMEABLE PAVEMENTS 24 FOLLOW-UP 24

RESOURCES ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION INTRODUCTION PROCESS AND TIMELINES: HOW CAN YOU PROMOTE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION? KEY ACTIVITIES EVENTS TO CELEBRATE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ASSESSMENTS FOLLOW UP ADDITIONAL RESOURCES LIST OF ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION APPENDICES ECO TEAMS APPENDICES 25 26 26 27 28 28 29 30 31 32 33 35
COMMON APPENDICES 35 WORKS SHEETS 35 VOLUNTEER AGREEMENT 39 SAMPLE LETTERS AND MEDIA RELEASES 40 TREE OTTAWA APPENDICES 46 TREE OTTAWA APPENDIX I: NATIVE TREE SPECIES 46 TREE OTTAWA APPENDIX II: TREE CARE GUIDE 52 TREE OTTAWA APPENDIX III: HOW TO PLANT A TREE 56 TREE OTTAWA APPENDIX IV: TREE CARE TRACKING FORM 57 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION APPENDICES 58 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION APPENDIX I: ECOLOGY OTTAWA ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION CHECKLIST 58 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION APPENDIX II: BUILT ENVIRONMENT & ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION (B.E.A.T.) NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSESSMENT 61 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION APPENDIX III: LONG LIST OF RESOURCES 62 ECO TEAM APPENDICES 64
Community Initiatives Guide

Ecology Ottawa Community Network
I What is the Ecology Ottawa Community Network?

Ecology Ottawa is a not-for-profit, grassroots, volunteer-driven organization working to make Ottawa the green capital of Canada. We believe that Ottawa residents are concerned about issues such as climate change, pollution and waste, and that they want sustainable communities where clean energy, air, and water, public transportation, recycling, and green space protection take priority. The Ecology Ottawa Community Network is made up of neighbourhood organizers and volunteers working in their own local communities. Together neighbours who think our environment is important can send important messages to decision-makers in a strong and coherent way. Through the Community Network, neighbours can also organize activities across the city to make their neighbourhoods better places to live in by caring for trees, protecting our watersheds, promoting active transportation, and improving energy efficiency. The objective of this Guide is to help Community Network Organizers and their Teams to implement the following four Ecology Ottawa Community Initiatives: Tree Ottawa, Healthy Watersheds, Active Transportation Audits and Eco Teams. Guidelines for each initiative are provided in part IV.
II General Roles and Process: Ecology Ottawa, Community Organizers and Initiative-specific Teams
This section provides definitions of some of the terms used in this guide and explains the relationships and processes common to all of the neighbourhood initiatives.
Definitions
Community Organizers These are the key organizers that link neighbourhood volunteers with Ecology Ottawa's campaigns. There may be one or more of them in any given neighbourhood and they often work together to coordinate local improvement initiatives, door-to-door petitioning, and other information and outreach events in their neighbourhood. Tree Teams These are a collection of volunteers, in touch with the Community Organizer(s) that are engaged in adopt-a-tree projects, tree planting, fruit and nut tree harvesting and promoting treatment for the Emerald Ash Borer on private property. Healthy Watershed Teams These are a collection of volunteers, in touch with the Community Organizer(s) that are engaged in adopt-a-stream projects, river bank and stream side clean-ups, neighbourhood water conservation and education projects. Active Transportation Teams These are a collection of volunteers, in touch with the Community Organizer(s) that are organizing active transportation events and performing active transportation audits, walkability surveys, etc. Eco-Teams These are a collection of volunteers, in touch with the Community Organizer(s) that are working to reduce their own and perhaps their neighbourhoods greenhouse gas emissions.
Organizing your team

1. What are you starting with? Do you have a strong team of two or three volunteers that can help you do the foundational planning for your local improvement initiative? If so, you are probably ready to get started on one of the four projects highlighted in this guide. If it's just you preparing to kick-start a local improvement initiative, then you might have to step back and contemplate recruiting a few other volunteers. 2. How can you find a few keen volunteers from your neighbourhood? Invite a speaker (Ecology Ottawa can help you with that) to talk about the importance of urban trees, or the adopt-a-stream program, or reducing your greenhouse gas emissions, or active transportation in your community. Publicize it broadly and pass around a volunteer sign-up sheet at the event. Put a note in your neighbours mailboxes signed by you, inviting them to help with a local initiative. Perhaps invite them to a meeting at a local coffee shop. Use Ecology Ottawa's database to locate other Ecology Ottawa volunteers that might live in your neighbourhood. Look at the possibilities for collaboration with a local group, like your community association, the scouts, a school, a business get creative.
3. Picking a project Perhaps you have a local initiative in mind. If you are set to pursue this initiative, be clear about your objectives as you recruit volunteers. If you hold a meeting to see what neighbours think about each one of the possible initiatives, you will likely need a process to decide where the group will focus its efforts (Ecology Ottawa can help with this). Your decision may be based on neighbourhood priorities, engaging a collaborator that may be beneficial for future initiatives, or a crisis intervention (like dealing with the Emerald Ash Borer). 4. Developing a work plan It is important to come up with a plan to execute the initiative you want to implement in the best way possible for your neighbourhood. Ideally, you should develop the work plan with the whole neighbourhood team that will implement the initiative. The work plan should include: - The activities and strategies that you think are right for your community. - A calendar of the activities you plan to carry out (including date, time and place). - A strategy to advertise the activities and involve the rest of the community, if needed. - The equipment and materials you will need to implement your plan. - Your budget. - The follow-up or reporting activities you will carry out. Each initiative section has a flow chart that will help you see the flow of your project.
What kind of support and resources can you expect from Ecology Ottawa?
There is a small budget to help with equipment and communications for our local initiatives. There are some funds to purchase trees and other planting materials. The tree chapter will provide greater details of how to source trees. Relevant chapters will provide lists of sources for materials. Contacting these sources will give you an idea of costs. We suggest that at the start of your local initiative planning you create a rough budget, and then meet with Ecology Ottawa's Community Network Coordinator. For clean-up initiatives we have a box of rubber boots, gloves, sunscreen and garbage bags. We can also provide refreshments for volunteers at any outdoor events. Ecology Ottawa has put together this guide to inspire you and to provide examples, information, tools and additional resources to help you implement a green initiative in your neighbourhood. If you have any questions or suggestions, or require additional support, you should not hesitate to contact Ecology Ottawa's Community Network Coordinator at karen.hawley@ecologyottawa.ca or the office 613-860-5353.
Involving your Community Association

You neighbourhood Community Association (CA) is a powerful ally. Regularly attending these meetings is a long-term investment for Ecology Ottawa activities in your neighbourhood as well as City-wide campaigns. As you build a relationship with you CA, and gain an understanding of their process you should be able to present your initiative at various times throughout your planning process, as an update, to ask for opinions and input, or to ask for something specific: Collaboration Can they contribute some funds? (This is why drafting a budget is important from the beginning.) Promotion Can they help you spread the word through their website, mailing list or newsletter? Endorsement Would they attend the event and endorse the initiative? Political pressure Would they bring Ecology Ottawa's campaign related to this local initiative to the City Councillor that represents that neighbourhood? Ecology Ottawa's Community Network Coordinator can help your team sketch out a strategy for engaging your CA, if required.
Using the Worksheets

At the end of this handbook you'll find a number of worksheets. Letter requesting permission to plant Letter requesting permission to adopt-a-stream Contract from private land owner Sample Media Release Planning your initiative worksheet Participant sign-in for event day plus an hours log Team hours log These worksheets are to support you in your planning, but they also serve to collect the data that will allow Ecology Ottawa: To report back to our funders on volunteer numbers, hours, and other metrics for each local initiative. To assess our progress and understand our challenges and successes. To keep track of all our friends across the City that may support us on other campaigns. (Building our support-base is key to making our capital the greenest City in Canada.)
III Outreach and Media

Outreach Engaging with your community and finding other people who are interested in a green local initiative can be accomplished in a variety of different ways: 1. Going door to door telling people about what you are hoping to do. 2. Creating a Facebook group. 3. Organizing a community meeting (and using some of the tools mentioned here and below, to promote it). 4. Contacting local environmentally focused groups and associations to see if they would be interested in collaborating. 5. Through your Community Association an announcement at their meeting about Ecology Ottawa and your proposed project, a formal request for funds or support, a meeting call-out or article in their newsletter. Media Advertising It may not be possible to contact every person in your neighbourhood, and going door to door is hard work. There are other ways to get the word out about a community meeting or event you are planning on hosting, or to share the work youve already done: Does your community have a local newspaper where you could place an article? How about a local radio station that broadcasts in your area? Every community has a local hotspot where people meet-up and talk like a coffee shop. Ask the manager if you can put up an informal booth to help you interact with the people who come into the shop. There are also often other pre-organized events happening in your area. You can contact the organizer and ask if you could attend to promote your Community Meeting. Most of the suggestions above are free, but if you have a budget for advertising you can advertise on Facebook, OC Transpo, or a traditional ad in the print media.
IV Building a Greener Ottawa One Neighbourhood at a Time: Ecology Ottawa Community Initiatives
As mentioned earlier, Ecology Ottawas Community Network will be implementing four local initiatives throughout the city over the next three years: Tree Ottawa, Healthy Watersheds, Active Transportation and Eco Teams. The following sections provide detailed guidance to help implement each one of these initiatives.
Tree Ottawa Community Initiative

Introduction
Trees are an essential feature of vibrant communities and resilient economies; offering precious habitats for connecting to and revelling in nature. Tree Ottawa consists of three major programs; protect trees, plants trees and promote tree habitat. Tree Ottawa shall engage Ottawa residents, private companies, public organizations and other stakeholders to be a part of a greener community through their active participation in protecting, planting and celebrating trees in neighbourhoods and nature. The Tree Ottawa Community Initiative is part of the broader Tree Ottawa program. Within the Tree Ottawa Community Initiative, Tree Ottawa Teams will be working within the context of the Ecology Ottawa Community Network. These teams can organize tree-planting events in their community, engage residents to adopt and care for stressed trees, and help to harvest fruit and nuts from existing trees through Hidden Harvest Ottawa. Why we need Tree Ottawa Trees in the city of Ottawa mitigate the effects of climate change, contribute to water retention, add beauty to our urban landscapes and provide us with food, shade, recreation, and noise barriers. Trees reduce the amount of dust and pollution in the air and replace them with sweet fragrances and fresh oxygen. Urban trees are homes to a multitude of animal species, supplying food, shelter and habitat year round. Trees are significant and integral components of our urban ecology. Indeed, caring for our existing trees and planting more trees will benefit us all. In recent years, however, trees have been under attack by invasive pests like the Emerald Ash Borer, by the effects of climate change, drought and severe storm events, as well as by the increasing number and scale of urban developments that replace natural, treed landscapes with pavement and buildings. In fact, the Emerald Ash Borer threatens to destroy 25% of Ottawas existing tree canopy in only a few years. It is more important now than ever before that we value the trees in our urban landscape and work to increase their numbers and prevent further degradation of this valuable natural resource. What is Hidden Harvest Ottawa? Thousands of people in our area are reliant on food banks. The Food Bank serves 43,000 clients on an average month. And yet, more than 20,000 fruit and nut trees accessible in the National

Capital Region frequently go unpicked or even represent a burden to the tree owner. Through organized harvest events we can help share this urban abundance. Hidden Harvest Ottawa (HHO) seeks to connect tree owners with volunteer harvesters. The fruit or nuts from a harvest event are split four ways: to the tree owner, to the volunteer harvesters, to the nearest community agency in need (such as food bank or soup kitchen), and to HHO for processing. As a community organizer you can use this guide to help you implement the Tree Ottawa initiative in your neighbourhood. This guide provides an example of how to organize your project and hands-on information and resources you might need, but you can always take a different path.
Process and Timelines: How can you participate in Tree Ottawa?

The chart below is an example the main steps involved in implementing the Tree Ottawa initiative in your neighbourhood. Getting your community involved is one of your first priorities.
Community Leaders
Community Meeting
(e.g. Janes Walk, EAB info meeting, HHO, etc)
Tree Ottawa Teams
How to engage your community?
Ecology Ottawa programs
Adopt-a-tree
Plant-a-tree
Identifying people that are interested in participating in this project is the key to success. Below are several ideas on how to encourage people in your neighbourhood to be involved in this initiative: Participate in a Janes Walk, an excellent way of getting to know what trees are found in your neighbourhood and identify people that may be interested in your Tree Ottawa project. Organize your own Janes Walk focusing on trees. Attend a tree walk with Hidden Harvest Ottawa. Organize an information meeting in your community on issues facing Ottawas trees (e.g. Emerald Ash Borer). Organize a heritage walk Find an expert to tell you more about the old(er) and special trees in your neighbourhood. Organize a Name your tree event an interactive tour around your neighbourhood identifying all the trees and tagging them.
Key Activities
Once you have identified people that want to be part of your Tree Ottawa Team, you can use the following activities to engage those people further. You can pick either of these programs or choose to combine them: Plant-a-tree Adopt-a-tree Harvest-a-tree through Hidden Harvest Ottawa
Plant-a-tree
The plant-a-tree program consists of two components: 1- Plant your own tree in your neighbourhood; or 2- Participate in a tree planting event. If you want to plant a tree in your own neighbourhood youll need to follow several important steps to ensure the successful planting and establishing of your tree. The most important aspect of planting a tree in the city is finding appropriate land and obtaining permission from the owner of the land in which you wish to plant a tree. In addition, you need to give notice to the City of Ottawa well in advance of your planting (the deadline for notifying of fall planting events is AUGUST 1st). Another important thing to keep in mind is that there are preferred times to plant trees (spring and fall). It is therefore recommended to schedule your planting event accordingly. A more detailed guide of the step-by-step process for planting a tree is given below: 1. Find appropriate land o Walk around your neighbourhood and find a good site. Consider the following constraints when choosing your site: Is there enough space? (Other trees or obstacles must be a minimum of 7m away.) Are there overhead or underground utilities? Are there any conflicting uses on the planting site? Is there an obvious conflict with traffic safety requirements or City maintenance (i.e. Sight lines or snow removal operations)? 2. Verify that the land is appropriate for a new tree: o Get an expert to check whether the soil quality is acceptable for tree growth. o What species will have the greatest chance of success? 3. Find out who owns the land: o The City of Ottawa has created an online map in which property zoning is given. You can easily check whether the potential site will be on private land or on city owned
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land http://maps.ottawa.ca/geoOttawa/ Call the City of Ottawa on 3-1-1 and ask to speak to a Development Information Officer. In case of private ownership you can call the Ottawa Carleton Land Registry Office on 613 239-1230 to get the name of the landowner (for a fee).
o o
4. Get permission from land owners: o You will need to approach businesses and private landowners differently; for both situations you can use or adapt the draft letter attached the Common Appendices Section at the end of this guide. 5. Give notice to the City of Ottawa by contacting 3-1-1: o The Forestry Services of the City of Ottawa will need to check the possibility of planting new trees in the proposed location. To ensure that they have enough time to check this it is requested to submit your proposed location for a fall planting before August 1st. 6. Secure approval for your proposed location. In order for you to be certain you can plant the tree on someones land you would like to have a signed agreement between both parties. A sample agreement is provided in the Common Appendices Section at the end of this guide. 7. Pick your tree. You should plant a species that is native to our region and well adapted to our climate. Tree Ottawa Appendix I contains a Native Tree List, or you can also consult the Native Tree Atlas of the Ministry of Natural Resources at: (http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/ClimateChange/2ColumnSubPage/STDPROD_0857 82.html?region=nativeSpecies
8. Attend a tree steward information session. Upon request, Ecology Ottawa will organize a tree steward information session to inform people on the procedures related to planting a tree. 9. PLANT YOUR TREE! 10. And care for it (see suggestions below).
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Do you want to plant a tree but are you not able to find appropriate land? The City of Ottawa has provided us with a forest in which we can plant trees as well. If you are not able to find enough sites for the trees you have or want to plant, you can participate in a tree-planting event we will organize in this forest.
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Adopt-a-tree
The first two years after planting are crucial years in a young trees life. Whether you have planted the tree yourself or have chosen to adopt a tree, caring for a tree means monitoring the health of your tree to make sure that it has enough water and that it is free of disease and pest problems. As well, you should evaluate the trees growing structure and consider whether or not any pruning of branches is required. By looking after a tree in its early life, you will ensure its health and vigour in the long term (from Trees for Life booklet). A step-by-step process for adopting a tree is given below: 1. Select a tree: o Walk around your neighbourhood and look for the trees that look like they can use some nurturing, this will include recently planted trees. If you have recently planted a tree, you may want to adopt this tree and take care of it. 2. Find out on whose property the tree is standing: o The City of Ottawa has created an online map in which property zoning is given. You can easily check whether the tree you want to adopt is on private land or on city owned land http://maps.ottawa.ca/geoOttawa/. o Call the City of Ottawa on 3-1-1 and ask to speak to a Development Information Officer. o In case of private ownership you can call the Ottawa Carleton Land Registry Office on 613 239-1230 to get the name of the landowner (for a fee). 3. Get permission from the landowner to care for the tree you want to adopt. 4. Pledge to take care of the tree and sign a mutual agreement with the land owner - in order for you to be certain you can take care of the tree that is not on your property you should ideally have a signed agreement between both parties. A sample agreement is provided in the Common Appendices Section at the end of this guide. 5. Attend a tree steward information session organized by Ecology Ottawa and read the Tree Care guide book (Tree Ottawa Appendix II) 6. Document your tree: o Take pictures of your tree at the beginning of your caring season. o Map your tree and let us know where it is. 7. Tracking form: o To keep track of what you have done to look after your tree, we strongly encourage you to use the tracking form we have developed (see the Common Appendices Section at the end of this guide).
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Harvest-a-tree
As part of the adopt-a-tree program within Tree Ottawa you can decide to adopt a fruit or nut tree, and harvest it under the Hidden Harvest Ottawa program. In addition to the tasks described above as the caretaker of your tree, you can be trained to be a Lead Harvester with Hidden Harvest Ottawa (ottawa.hiddenharvest.ca). An important aspect of your project is to bring your successes, lessons and potential complaints to your local councillor and community. See section III above for ideas on how to share with your Community Association and others.
Resources
Tree nurseries and other sources of trees
Where Connaught Nursery Contact details Address: 1671 Micksburg Rd RR5, Cobden, K0J 1K0 phone: 6136462386 e-mail: Dorothy@connaughtnursery.com www.connaughtnursery.com Address: 275 Country Road 44, Kemptville, K0G 1J0 phone: 6132580110 e-mail: info@seedlingnursery.com http://www.seedlingnursery.com/ Address: RR#2, Dalkeith, K0B 1E0 phone: 6138742662 e-mail: gottard@glen-net.ca Address: 4590 Bank Street, Ottawa, K1T 3W6 phone: 6138220383 e-mail: info@knippelgardencentre.com http://knippelgardencentre.com/plantguide/ Address: 1000 Clouthier Road, Chalk River, K0J 1J0 phone: 6135899909 Address: 64 George Street, Brockville, K6V 3V5 phone: 6133454714 e-mail: devra1957@hotmail.com $ Prices upon request Notes
Ferguson Forest Centre
Gottard Farm & Nursery Peter Knippel Garden Centre
Between $0.80 and $3.00 per tree, depending on species and quantity. Upon request
Minimum order is 50 trees
Wholesale only
Range between $29.95 $299.00
Corry Lake Nursery Devra Rayvals
Catalogue on request Online ordering
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Forget-me-Not Herbs 'n Wildflowers Gardens North Address: R.R. #2, 1920 Beach Road, Oxford Mills, K0G 1S0 Phone Number: 613.258.1246 Email: forgetmenot@cogeco.ca Address: 5984 Third Line Rd. N., North Gower, K0A 2T0 phone: 6134890065 e-mail: seed@gardensnorth.com http://www.gardensnorth.com/site/ Address: 6986 McCordick Road, RR#2, North Gower, K0A 2T0 phone: 6134890396 e-mail: swinter@cyberus.ca www.rideaunursery.com Annual native plant sale at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/waterand-environment/trees-and-communityforests/trees-trust or call 3-1-1 http://ottawa.ca/en/cityhall/funding/environmental-programfunding/schoolyard-tree-planting-grantprogram or call -Kendra Labrosse (east wards) on 613580-2424 extension 15232 -Jennifer Shepherd (west wards) on 613580-2424 extension 13771 Pick up only
Between 8-50 seeds for $4.25
Online orders seeds only
Rideau Nursery
Upon request
Pick up at nursery
Ottawa FieldNaturalists Clubs City of Ottawa Trees in Trust
Schoolyard Tree Planting Grant Program
Tree Ottawa Champions

Input from a group of notable tree and environmental leaders can be accessed through Ecology Ottawa to share expertise and ideas about increasing Ottawas treescape. Diane Beresford-Kroeger is a botanist, medical biochemist who brings together ethnobotany, horticulture, spirituality and alternative medicine to reveal a path toward better stewardship of the natural world. A resident of the Kemptville area, she is among the most prominent tree thinkers on the Planet. Her books include The Global Forest, Arboretum Borealis and Arboretum America: A Philosophy of the Forest. Michael Rosen is the President of Tree Canada, responsible for securing private and public partnerships, overall project management, governance and chief of Board and stakeholder relations. Michael has more than 20 years of experience and was Vice-President of Tree Canada since 2002. Previously he was a Stewardship Coordinator and
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Forester for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources where he received the Amethyst Award for his work especially during the 1998 ice storm. Mark Cullen is Canada's best-known gardener connecting with over one million Canadians weekly through his many varied media outlets. Whether it is through his weekly CTV morning show Sement, his many on-line postings or his numerous books, his personable style and topical information has captivated audiences and continued to garner him fans across Canada. Cullen not only helps everyday Canadians grow organic, healthy produce but, due to his well-known sense of social responsibility, actively participates in local, provincial and international developmental and educational programs. Chris Henderson is an Ottawa-based eco-entrepreneur. He leads two of Canadas most forward-thinking companies in the domains of clean energy, climate change, environment and sustainability. Locally, Chris has headed most of major business organizations in the City and is very active with environmental initiatives from 1000 Solar Rooftops to the 3i Summit. Chris will play a role connecting Tree Ottawa Champions with the initiative. Head gardener to a 30 year succession of Canadian Governors General and Prime Ministers, for more than two decades Ed Lawrence has shared his encyclopedic knowledge of the horticultural world with callers to CBC Radios weekly noon-hour phone-in gardening show, one of the longest running and most popular segments in Canadian broadcast history. This veteran Gardening Guru has compiled the best of those queries and answers into practical, hands-on books about horticultural peril and redemption.
Further readings and information

Books: Diane Beresford-Kroeger - The Global Forest Diane Beresford-Kroeger - Arboretum Borealis Diane Beresford-Kroeger - Arboretum America: A Philosophy of the Forest Websites: City of Ottawa - OFGAC Native Trees and Shrubs Database http://www.ofnc.ca/ofgac/displaytreelisten.php Ministry of Natural Resources Native Tree Atlas http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/ClimateChange/2ColumnSubPage/STDPROD_085782.ht ml?region=nativeSpecies Ottawa Gardening and Plant links: http://www.ottawahort.org/links.htm City of Ottawa trees in trust program: http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/water-and-
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environment/trees-and-community-forests/trees-trust Project Partners: Project partners for this initiative will include: Hidden Harvest Ottawa, Permaculture Ottawa, City of Ottawas Forestry Department, National Capital Commission, Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, Sierra Youth Coalitions Sustainable High Schools Project
List of Tree Ottawa Appendices

Tree Ottawa Appendix I: Native tree list Tree Ottawa Appendix II: Tree care guidebook Tree Ottawa Appendix III: Plant a tree Tree Ottawa Appendix IV: Tree Care Tracking Form Available in the Appendix section at the end of this guide.
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Healthy Watersheds
Introduction
Water makes up over 50% of the human body, and covers over 75% of the Earths surface. It is part of our everyday life, and is an essential aspect in most peoples leisure activities. Although water covers the majority of the Earths surface, and is a major component of our atmosphere, very little of it is in a usable form. Only about 2.5 percent of the worlds water is fresh water and the total usable freshwater supply for ecosystems and humans is less than 1 percent! In Canada we have one of the worlds most ample supplies of usable fresh water, but we can readily see the impact we have had on our watersheds. In almost any local waterway we can see signs of human influence: sewage, garbage, bridges, over-eroded shores, invasive species, etc. The pollution you see may not have originated in your area. Pollution has no borders, and what we do to our streams and rivers influences others down the watershed. However, with little effort a small group of people could drastically improve the health and vitality of a local stream. Something as simple as a stream-clean-up day could improve the ecosystem for wildlife and humans alike! Through the Healthy Watershed Initiative, Ecology Ottawa volunteers can help clean up and better protect our local watersheds. This Healthy Watershed Initiative will support the work of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) by enabling community teams to Adopt-aStream in their neighbourhood and then take things a little further! Over 23 creeks and streams run through communities across Ottawa and to date only 2 of these 23+ streams have been adopted. The `adopt-a-stream idea came from the RVCA`s City Stream Watch program. The City Stream Watch program was implemented as a project focused on gathering data about RVCA streams in-between their 6-year monitoring cycle. Generally speaking, this involves walking, wading, or boating the length of the selected stream at least once a year and observing its condition relative to the last survey. Results are documented and communicated to the RVCA`s City Stream Watch Coordinator. In addition to this, neighbourhood teams can carry out clean-up and other activities to enhance the protection of their local watershed. As a community organizer you can use this guide to help you implement the Healthy Watersheds initiative in your neighbourhood. This guide is meant to provide examples of how to organize your project and hands-on information and resources you might need, but you can always take a different path.
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Process and Timelines: How can you promote Healthy Watersheds?

Below is a flow chart of the general process of how to organize an event in your local community. It is a multi-step process, and each step will be explained in more detail.
Relationship with RVCA The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority will be a key member in the Adopt-a-Stream process. It was their idea to engage communities and inspire them to become stewards for their local streams, and they are the experts on what needs to get done. Your relationship with the RVCA is well explained in the CSW Adopt-a-Stream Form Agreement that they have drafted specifically for this process. You will need to sign this agreement, and any questions that you have pertaining to its contents can be explained. The first step you need to take is to engage with your community and find people who are interested in helping save your local waterway. This can be accomplished in a variety of different ways;

Going door-to-door to talk to people about what you are hoping to do and inviting them to join you at your community meeting. Creating a Facebook group around your local waterway and its health status. Contacting local environmentally focused groups and associations to see if they would be interested in helping your efforts.
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Ideally, you want to organize a Community Meeting to discuss your and your neighbours ideas on how to green-up your waterway. Community Meeting This is where you will have the chance to recruit more volunteers. It is therefore important to have a well-planned and organized meeting. At the meeting it would be good for you to have guest speakers that are relevant to your community, and relevant to the cause: a local politician, an expert on local water issues. Someone from Ecology Ottawa would most likely attend as well. Your meeting can follow any format you choose, but be sure to state your objectives clearly and take notes. Identification of Team members At the Community Meeting you want to identify those who want to join the cause and become your Healthy Watersheds Team. As a group you will become stewards of your local waterway, and help restore and protect your stream. Develop Work Plan It is important to come up with a plan to execute the Healthy Watershed Initiative in the best way possible for your neighbourhood. This can happen at the Community Meeting or afterwards. Your work plan should include:

The type of healthy watershed strategy that is right for your community. Date, time and place of the activities you plan. How you will advertise the activities and involve the rest of the community, if needed. The equipment and materials you need to implement your plan. A budget.
Key Activities
Below are some of the many ways in which you can positively influence your neighbourhood streams and waterways! It is important to know that you do not need to be next to a waterway to make a difference in your local watershed. For communities that cannot Adopt-a-Stream due to lack of access, do not fret! There is much that you can do to improve your waterway without having to directly improve the stream. Much of the pollution that enters into your local waterway comes from polluted rainwater run-off. Healthy Watershed Teams will organize hands-on demonstrations of installations of rain barrels, permeable pavements, or community rain gardens. In the resources section you will find specific websites and approximate prices for these strategies.
Adopt-a-Stream Monitoring
For this program all that is required is for you to either walk, or boat along your adopted waterway and record your observations. During this time the Stream Watcher (you and your team) shall observe the stream and banks and document any instances of significant change, such as increased erosion or pollution, from the previous year. A simple report/form, supplied by the Stream watch Coordinator, shall be completed. If you see any litter, it is hoped that you would pick it up OR enlist the aid of Ecology Ottawa to help organize a Stream Clean-up day!
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Creek/Stream Clean-ups
An easy and fun way to have a huge impact on your local stream is to remove the litter in it. For this type of stream restoration all you need is garbage bags, gloves, and enthusiastic people! If you already have a group of people who are willing to get their hands dirty for the sake of Healthy Watersheds, then planning a stream clean-up will take little time to organize. This may not be the case in every situation. If you want to plan a clean-up but are not sure where to find the people, there are a few ways that you can go about locating willing and enthusiastic members of your community. Do some research into finding outdoors clubs, local Scouts or Guides groups, and outdoor enthusiasts like cycling, kayaking, canoeing groups, or an environmental committee in your area. These associations will usually have a website where you can post your event, or you will get in contact with a key member and ask them when their group meets so you can talk to them about your event. Once these relationships have been established, the rest comes easily! If you want to reach out to more than local associations and groups please see the OUTREACH AND MEDIA section on Page 6 of this manual for instructions on how to get the word out to the greater masses. Ecology Ottawa will help advertise this event to get people of your surrounding community to come and help pick up trash for the greater good of your stream. After the clean-up is over there is still work to be done. For example: where does all the trash you have collected go? You must call 311 and inform the city of your clean-up, they will give you directions from there. You may have found some hazardous waste like needles, or razors. If this happens, again, inform the city and they will instruct you further. If you have any questions before the clean-up starts you can always contact Ecology Ottawa, and we would be happy to answer your questions or assist you in trying to answer the question together!
Downspout Disconnection/Redirection
What is a downspout? If you look on the roofs of houses you will see something that looks similar to the picture to the right. This is a downspout, and by improving how you use the water coming out of it, you can drastically reduce the amount of storm water reaching the treatment plant! When it rains, buildings and houses that have eves troughs will have a high volume of water discharging from their downspouts. This water will drain directly into the storm sewer system and increase the volume of water attempting to reach the wastewater treatment plant. Instead, this water can easily be disconnected and redirected to your lawn or a more pervious area, where it can be
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absorbed. In addition, you can use a splash-guard to drain the water evenly and slowly over your lawn or the pervious substrate. Below is a diagram showing how easy it is to redirect your downspout so it runs over your lawn instead!
Alternatively, you can create a more pervious area for the water to dissipate. A pervious area may be a rock patch that leads to a flower, herb or vegetable garden and water it. A rock garden on the side of your house also has an aesthetic appeal.
Rain Barrel Installation

An excellent way to use the water from your roof, and decrease the amount of water entering the sewage system is to catch the water for later use. A rain barrel is a phenomenal way to gather water for your garden, plants, vegetables, or even washing your car and bicycles! The idea is very similar to the pervious downspout redirection, but you attach a rain barrel to your downspout to store the water. This will require you to have a few items in order for this to work including a hack saw and a rain barrel. It is important to note that if you will be catching water and let it sit, then you have to consider how you will deal with mosquitoes. Sitting water is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, so you must make sure that your rain barrel has a
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mosquito mesh covering. Below is a diagram of the final product, and to the right is a photo of a rain barrel in practice.
Rain gardens
A rain garden is a planted depression or a hole that allows rainwater from impervious urban areas, like roofs, driveways, walkways, parking lots, and compacted lawn areas, the opportunity to be absorbed. This reduces rain runoff by allowing storm water to soak into the ground (as opposed to flowing into storm drains and surface waters which causes erosion, water pollution, flooding, and diminished groundwater). A rain garden will also help reduce pollution because certain plants and flowers take-up heavy metals from the environment, and make the local area look aesthetically pleasing. Rain gardens can be designed for specific soils and climates and can cut down on the amount of pollution reaching creeks and streams by up to 30%! Not only do they look beautiful, but they also attract wildlife such as birds and other pollinators. Having a local rain garden next to a community keystone like a Church or School is a great way for everyone to work together to reduce run-off and green the community.
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Permeable Pavements
When it rains on a concrete or other non-permeable surface the water runs right off and is directed into the sewer. On its way to the sewers this water picks up pollutants like gas, oil, heavy metals and transports them to the sewage treatment plant. This high volume of water and pollution stresses the water treatment plant, but it is avoidable. The natural ground is a great receptor for water and can act as a filter. If we replace the concrete and impermeable asphalt with permeable surfaces, some of the water would be stored in the ground below and retained in the natural hydrological system. Unlike traditional asphalt or concrete, permeable pavement is porous; it allows water to run through it rather than pool on top or run off it. Water percolates, as in a coffee pot, when it seeps through the permeable pavement to a cleansing layer of gravel. The gravel or stone acts as a natural filter, clearing the water of pollutants. There are three types of permeable pavements: 1. Traditional asphalt/concrete -- This is the standard mix without fine particles to make it more porous. 2. Plastic pavers -- These plastic grids have a honeycomb shape. Once installed, grass or other vegetation can grow through the holes. 3. Concrete pavers -- Concrete blocks with spaces in between them. These spaces allow for better drainage and water permeability. When installed as part of an overall system, permeable pavement can even eliminate the need for curb gutters and storm sewers. Flooding concerns lessen, as rainwater soaks into the ground. Permeable pavement has many applications. Common uses include driveways, emergency access lanes, public parks, alleys, parking lots and bike or walking paths.
Follow-up
An important aspect of your project is to bring your successes, lessons and perhaps complaints, to your local councillor and community. See section III above for ideas on how to share your experience with your Community Association and others.
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Resources
This Guidebook is by no means a comprehensive information package. There is tons of information out there about different ideas, strategies, sample projects, success stories and failures. The internet is teeming with these kinds of information so if you have any further questions about your particular project you can look it up! For the specific strategies that we have outlined in our Guidebook we have some local resources for obtaining goods! Below is a list of the local suppliers of the tools and materials required to carry out some of the Healthy Watersheds projects described in this guide.
Splash Guards: Canadian tire sells these for around $10, but other retailers will sell them as well for a similar cost. http://canadiantire.ca Rain Barrels: This website is for a local supplier of rain barrels and rain barrel products for around $50. This particular company supports local scouts groups by supplying the rain barrels to them to sell to citizens. If you purchase your rain barrel from them, you support your community! http://rainbarrel.ca/ Rain Gardens: Website for a local nursery that grows native plants of the Ottawa area, the price depends on what size garden you wish to plant and which plants you wish to plant! You can have a small garden for $50 that covers 120-160 ft2 (11-15m2). If you have the funds you can double/triple the square footage to suit your needs. http://fullerplants.com/index.php Permeable Pavements: The cost of installing permeable paving is influenced by the homeowners choice of materials. For example, for ground reinforcement grids made of a strong durable concrete, the cost will rise for the material and also for the installation. Permeable paving can be installed by do-it-yourselfers, but it is vital that the homeowner has a good understanding of what material will work best for the site, the type of soil and the ideal depth of layers. Installing permeable concrete can be a difficult task depending on your site conditions and the area. Website for a local paving company: http://www.permacon.ca/home.html Contacts: RVCA City Stream Watch Coordinator: Chelsey Ellis, 613-692-3571 ext. 1180, citystreamwatch@rvca.ca
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Active Transportation
Introduction
Active transportation refers to any form of humanpowered transportation walking, cycling, using a wheelchair, in-line skating or skateboarding, ice-skating, skiing, etc. There are many ways to engage in active transportation, whether it is walking to the bus stop, or cycling to school or to work. Walking, cycling and other active modes of transportation promote healthy households and contribute to bustling, complete communities. Active transportation provides an opportunity to be physically active on a regular basis and increases social interactions. It helps to reduce stress. Transportation choices also have a significant impact on the environment, with fossil fuel engines of cars and trucks contributing up to 34% of Ottawas greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Active transportation reduces GHG emissions and other pollution directly by taking cars off the road, and also by reducing road congestion and the extra emissions it causes. Active transportation saves money on gas and parking. Public transportation has many of the same advantages and can be combined with active transportation. For example, making routes to reach bus stops more walkable or ensuring all buses have baskets for bikes are ways to encourage people to use public transportation. The Ecology Ottawa Active Transportation Initiative seeks to promote healthier and safer transport in Ottawas neighbourhoods. As a community organizer you can use this guide to help you implement the initiative in your neighbourhood. This section provides examples of neighbourhood assessments and other activities to promote active transportation in the community, but you can always take a different path.
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Process and Timelines: How can you promote Active Transportation?

The chart below is an example the main steps involved in implementing the Active Transportation initiative in your neighbourhood. Getting your community involved is one of your first priorities. The overall process is as follows: 1. Create an Active Transportation Team by recruiting volunteers in your neighbourhood. 2. Decide as a team what activities you want to carry out 3. Plan the activities: select date (and rain date), place, tools or materials needed, resource people; assign tasks among your team. 4. Publicize the activities you are organizing, if applicable. 5. Carry out your activities. 6. Share your experience with Ecology Ottawa and perhaps others.
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Key Activities
We have explored two main types of activities you can carry out to promote active transportation in your community: celebratory events and neighbourhood assessments. Examples of each are provided below, but remember you can always choose a different approach.
Events to celebrate active transportation in your neighbourhood

Active Transportation Teams can organize events in their communities to celebrate active transportation and create awareness and interest among residents. Examples of celebratory events include: Participate in Janes Walk Ottawa, a pedestrian-focused event that improves urban literacy by offering insights into local history, planning, design, and civic engagement through the simple act of walking and observing. This event is usually held in early May. http://www.janeswalkottawa.ca/view/?home. Organize similar neighbourhood walking, cycling, line-skating, ice-skating or other active transportation tour around your neighbourhood. Encourage your community to participate in Car-free Day on September 22: http://ontario.sierraclub.ca/en/car-free-day. Organize an Active Transportation Week in your community to promote a better mix of transport options and showcase ideas and success stories (for ideas and inspiration, see European Mobility Weeks at http://www.mobilityweek.eu) and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55yhNqMtdxA&feature=player_detailpage ; as well as Equiterres Transport Cocktail initiative at http://www.mouvementcollectif.org/en/gestes_verts/cocktail-transport. Set up a walking school bus to encourage kids to walk to school in a safe and fun environment. See http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/walking_school_bus/; and watch this video on the London, ON project:
http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=237&rid=9&gid=82293
Organize or participate in Clean Air Day, normally celebrated the first week of June. Organize a community group to participate in Ottawas cycling festival on June 1-2, starting in your neighbourhood: http://www.capitalvelofest.ca Organize a Fix-your-bike workshop/day. Organize a family bike chase. Promote bikes as vehicles, not just as a means for recreation. Conduct a neighbourhood active transportation assessment (see details below). Get people to sign Ecology Ottawas Complete Streets Petition by organizing a petition drive, a meeting on complete streets, etc. http://ecologyottawa.nationbuilder.com/complete_streets_for_ottawa_petition
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Neighbourhood Active Transportation Assessments

A persons ability to choose sustainable methods of transportation such as public transportation, cycling, walking, rollerblading, etc. depends on the nature of the built environment or the area and on whether the right infrastructure is in place to ensure the safety and accessibility of active transportation. Neighbourhood assessments are a relatively simple tool to evaluate how accessible for active transportation a neighbourhood is. An assessment is normally conducted by taking a walk or bike ride through a planned route in a neighbourhood while taking notes of the positive and negative aspects of the walk or ride and of things that might improve it. Improvements that the City of Ottawa normally has resources to carry out may include: signage (speed signs, school signs, share the road, etc.), painting (lines, bike lanes, pedestrian crosswalks, etc.), visibility issues (tree trimming, etc.) and alterations of traffic light cycles to facilitate pedestrian crossing. The city also welcome feedback on sidewalk improvements, speed bumps, potholes, and bike lanes, which they will take into consideration when planning more comprehensive projects. You can team up with cycling groups to carry out an assessment that covers walking and cycling. You can also carry out a simple survey in your neighbourhood to identify the perceptions of your neighbours about active transportation possibilities in your community. Do they practice active transportation? What kind? How often? If not, why? The main steps to prepare for a neighbourhood assessment are: 1. Self-identify the boundaries of your neighbourhood and the area you want to assess. 2. Define what your objectives are: what do you want to accomplish with your assessment? 3. Think about the time of year, since conditions may vary considerably. You may want to repeat your assessment in different seasons. 4. Review the different tools that exist for carrying out a neighbourhood assessment and choose the one that best fits your needs. The main objectives you can have for your neighbourhood assessment, could include: To encourage active transportation in the community by making residents aware of the opportunities and challenges of moving through the city without their cars. To identify areas where sustainable transportation choices would be enhanced through small upgrades to infrastructure (like signage, painting, light cycles, visibility issues, sidewalks, bike lanes, speed bumps, and potholes) and to communicate your suggestions to the City. There are many resources available to assess a community from the perspectives of walkability and active transportation. Ecology Ottawa reviewed many walkability audit tools and we put together our own checklist. The 2 tools that follow are our preferred options and other suggestions are included in the resources section further below.
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The Ecology Ottawa Active Transportation Checklist The 2 tables Ecology Ottawa put together capture the minimum suggested information for Active Transportation Teams to collect during neighbourhood assessments in order to better understand how suitable their neighbourhood is for active transportation and to identify possible small infrastructure upgrades that the City of Ottawa can carry out to facilitate active transportation. (The checklist is available as Active Transportation Appendix 1) Built Environment & Active Transportation (B.E.A.T.) Neighbourhood Assessment This tool is more comprehensive than the Ecology Ottawa checklist. It was prepared by BC Recreation and Parks Association and the Union of BC Municipalities and it is designed to help communities, local governments and individuals understand how the built environment impacts active transportation in their neighbourhoods as a starting point to identify healthy and not-so-healthy elements of their neighbourhoods and to support better decision-making. It provides a detailed checklist to assess a neighbourhood through a straightforward ranking of the different elements that impact active transportation in the neighbourhood. It also includes good tools to understand the results and suggestions for follow-up. (Active Transportation Appendix 2)
http://www.physicalactivitystrategy.ca/pdfs/BEAT/B.E.A.T.Neighbourhood_Asse ssment.pdf
Consider using or adapting one of these tools for your own neighbourhood assessment. When planning your neighbourhood assessment, think about how you will record the variations in the conditions you find along your route. For example: lighting or sidewalks may be very good in one section and terrible in another. Make sure you have additional notepaper or some other way to record these and other variations, in addition to your checklist.
Follow up
After conducting the neighbourhood assessment, Active Transportation Teams should consider getting together to discuss their findings. They should also contemplate what actions could be taken to address the issues identified, and how to continue monitoring and improving active transportation in their neighbourhoods. Others in the community can be invited to this discussion as well, by organizing a community meeting, etc. Follow up actions may include, for example: Sharing the findings and recommendations with the local Community Association (if they havent already taken part in the process). Sharing the findings and recommendations for infrastructure upgrades with local councillors. http://ottawa.ca/en/city-council Planning follow-up or additional assessments, for example during winter when active transportation issues will be different. Reporting the following sidewalk and path maintenance issues to the City, online at
http://ottawa.ca/en/serviceottawa/roads-and-transportation/sidewalk-andpath-maintenance:
Pathways not plowed or sanded
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- Slippery or icy surfaces - Sidewalks in disrepair - Blocked or flooded sidewalks or pathways - Litter or debris on sidewalks or pathways Reporting problems on the Ottawa walking problems website at http://ottawawalkingproblems.ca/report Sharing the findings and recommendations, through posters or presentations, at other Active Transportation events organized in the community.
Additional Resources
Active Neighborhood Checklist: This checklist was developed at Saint Louis University School of Public Health, 2006. The Active Neighborhood Checklist is an observational tool designed to assess key street-level features of the neighborhood environment that are thought to be related to physical activity behavior. This tool goes beyond walkability and transportation, but the checklist provided on these elements is comprehensive. This tool may be best for teams that want to carry out a more comprehensive assessment of their neighbourhood.
http://www.activeforlife.info/generations/Resources/Toolkits/Active%20Neighborh ood%20Checklist.pdf
How walkable is your community?: This is part of the Walkfriendly Designation program being run by Canada Walks Walk Friendly Ontario Green Communities Canada. This tool is a very simple checklist for ranking the walkability of a neighbourhood. It isnt geared towards identifying infrastructure improvements, or to assessing the community from a broader active transportation perspective beyond walkability. If the city of Ottawa decides to participate in the How walkable program, this would be the tool communities would be asked to use and submit.
http://icanwalk.ca/files/upload/brochure_ENG_withlogos_cover_Rev.pdf
US Neighborhood Walkability Checklist: This tool is focused on identifying obstacles to walking that residents might face and has a good section with suggestions to improve problems, short and long term. It is not focused on the broader active transportation concept.
http://www.walkinginfo.org/library/details.cfm?id=12
Walkability Checklist from Australias Heart Foundation This tool is also focused only on walkability. It a straightforward but complete checklist that enables users to rate their walking experience in their neighbourhood and identify specific problems. It includes a template letter to the local council to share the results of the audit.
http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/active-living/Documents/Neightbouthoodwalkability-checklist.pdf
Walk Ottawa: This website by a group of citizen volunteers provides a venue to discuss walkability and map problems throughout the city. http://ottawawalkingproblems.ca
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City of Ottawas Pedestrian Plan http://ottawa.ca/en/ottawa-pedestrian-plan adopted in 2009. Ottawa Neighbourhood Study: This is a comprehensive study of how Ottawas neighbourhoods impact health in which walkability is but one aspect. The website contains an interactive map that shows the walkability scores given to each neighbourhood under this study and allows comparisons between neighbourhoods.
http://neighbourhoodstudy.ca/?page_id=3209
List of Active Transportation Appendices

Active Transportation Appendix 1 Ecology Ottawa Active Transportation Checklist Active Transportation Appendix 2 Built Environment & Active Transportation (B.E.A.T.) Neighbourhood Assessment Active Transportation Appendix 3 Long list of resources Available in the Appendix section at the end of this guide
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Eco Teams
Introduction
Wasting energy undermines the local economy and helps drive air pollution and global warming. Recent research shows that applying some health promotion and prevention strategies and behaviour change models can contribute to more successful environmental stewardship programmes, and that indeed changing environmental behaviour can improve not only the environment but also human health. This project is based upon a successful model established by the Empowerment Institute. Over the past two decades the institute has been developing behavior change programs and managing community empowerment projects throughout the world. As a result they have built up a substantial and rigorously tested body of knowledge and experience about how to empower individuals, neighborhoods and communities to adopt pro-environmental behaviors, including the Low Carbon Diet. Through Ecology Ottawas Eco Teams, working within the context of the Ecology Ottawa Community Network, we will promote simple but effective ways Ottawans can reduce their carbon footprint and foster more energy-wise communities. Project Description First, we will produce a Project Guide that clearly outlines the various project components and provides step-by-step instructions on how Ecology Ottawa Neighbourhood Eco Teams can calculate the carbon pounds lost due to their participation in the Low Carbon Diet program. Second, we will systematically reach out to our current and emerging volunteers to invite them to join an Eco Team. Third, Ecology Ottawa will work with interested volunteer leaders (mainly our Community Organizers) in specific neighbourhoods to develop a draft project work plan. The work plan will include initial objectives and timelines for each of the project components. Fourth, Ecology Ottawa will support our Community Organizers and their Neighbourhood Eco Teams to do the following: 1. Reach out to the community: Ecology Ottawa Community Organizers, in cooperation with other interested volunteers, will reach out within their community to describe the Low Carbon diet program, seek feedback, and
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invite people to join an Eco Team. This will include meetings with local institutions and leaders such as community associations, city councillors and staff, community centres, other local organizations and faith-based groups. This will also include direct public outreach in the community through door-to-door engagement, local newspapers, newsletters and social media. 2. Establish a Neighbourhood Eco Team: During the initial outreach period people will be invited to attend a meeting that will establish the Neighbourhood Eco Team. Participants will review and reassess the draft project work plan for their neighbourhood and those that remain interested will be invited to formally join the Neighbourhood Eco Team. The Eco Team will then assume overall responsibility for the execution of the project in their neighbourhood and will plan to meet periodically throughout the life of the project 3. Organize training days: Ecology Ottawa will organize three trainings bringing together people from the Neighbourhood Eco Teams and others. The trainings will be hosted by Greg Searle, Executive Director of BioRegional North America, who will guide participants through a workbook that will allow them to calculate the carbon pounds lost due to their participation in the Low Carbon Diet. Mr. Searle has participated in a six-month certification program led by the Empowerment Institute to qualify him to lead the Eco Team/Low Carbon Diet trainings. 4. Adopt a low carbon diet and communicate the results: The Eco Teams will reduce their carbon footprint themselves, and Eco Team Leaders will then spread the word throughout their neighborhood and will recruit more people to participate in taking the Low Carbon Diet.
More to Come!
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ECOLOGY OTTAWA Community Initiatives Guide 24 June 2013