Project Profiles

Community Partner: North West Goulbourn Community Association (NGCA)

Location: Goulbourn

CEPGP Funding: $1,324

Community Contribution: No other contributions

Year(s) Awarded: 2012

Environmental Benefits: Protect natural systems

About the Project

The Aquifer Monitoring Program tested two community wells to check for groundwater pollution as part of a benchmarking exercise.

Residents in the rural community are encouraged to carry out regular testing of their wells for bacterial contamination.  Given the proximity to two area golf courses, farming activities, and other commercial operations, the NGCA wanted to test two area wells to establish a benchmark for potential pollutants in the aquifers.  Types of pollutants being tested for included herbicides, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds (organic chemicals found in a variety of products such as paints, cleaners, and fuel oils).

Project Results

• Results of the tests indicated the range of substances in the test wells were within provincial guidelines.
• With this benchmark established, future tests of the area’s wells can now be used to assess incremental changes in the range of potential pollutants.

Community Partner: Manotick Culture, Parks, and Recreation Association

Location: Manotick

CEPGP Funding: $4,230

Community Contribution: $800 funding

Year(s) Awarded: 2011

Environmental Benefits: Reduce environmental impact

About the Project

The Manotick on the Move project was created to encourage residents to take more trips on foot or bicycle within the Village of Manotick and to encourage visitors from neighbouring areas to travel to Manotick on foot or by bicycle.  The project included:

• A presentation by Active Transportation consultant Michael Haynes on successful initiatives from across Canada.
• A one-day Manotick on the Move Forum facilitated by Michael Haynes to discuss ways to improve walking and cycling in Manotick.
• A ‘pop-up’ crosswalk painted by families and children during “A Taste of Manotick," a festival celebrating local eateries and held on a closed portion of Manotick’s Main Street.  
• A Manotick Village Pathway Map to show pathway connections within the village, and how the village connects to other communities via the multi-use pathways.

Project Results

• The temporary crosswalk created awareness for the need to establish a crosswalk on Main Street.
• 3,000 copies of the Manotick Village Pathway Map were printed and distributed to Manotick and area businesses, as well as libraries and community centres in the larger City of Ottawa. 
• More than 30 people representing 20 different village organizations, schools, and community groups, as well as City of Ottawa staff, participated in the one-day forum.
• The forum identified a top 10 list of short-term priorities to improve walking and cycling in Manotick, based on participant feedback.  The list included actions to: improve pedestrian and cycling connections and infrastructure, and increase awareness for local business and residents.

Community Partner: Biodiversity Conservancy International

Location: Nepean

CEPGP Funding: $1,000 (2012); $4,000 (2013); $3,000 (2014)

Community Contribution: $5,000 in-kind, $200 donations (2012), $25,100 in-kind, $52,500 provincial funding (2013), $25,400 in-kind, $55,000 provincial funding (2014)

Year(s) Awarded: 2012, 2013, and 2014

Environmental Benefits: Enhancing and protecting natural systems

About the Project

The Pinhey Sand Dunes Restoration Project is a multi-phased project to restore Ottawa’s only inland sand dune complex, the Pinhey Sand Dunes.  The project is being undertaken in collaboration with the National Capital Commission and local volunteers, and is being supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, TD Friends of the Environment, and the City of Ottawa.

Phase 1 of the project was completed in 2013 and included the removal of encroaching vegetation and debris. Phase 2 was undertaken in 2014 and continues into 2015, expanding the core dune area and restoring the natural habitat.

Project Results

• Project successes include restoration of approximately 6,000 square metres of dune area, successful removal of invasive plant species, reintroduction of four native dune plant species, and the return of dune organisms such as the ghost tiger beetle and the velvet ant.
• Increased awareness and understanding of the Pinhey Sand Dune’s unique habitat and ecosystem through a specially designed youth education program.

Community Partner: Projet Karyne - École Secondaire Gisèle-Lalonde

Location: Orléans, ON

CEPGP Funding: $9,500 (2009), $7,449 (2010), $7,000 (2011)

Community Contribution: $1,000 for coffee, snacks, and materials; fenced ditch for boat races (CEPEO); race track and ramps for car races (Sobeys) and 120 volunteers over 3 years

Year(s) Awarded: 2009, 2010, 2011

Environmental Benefits: Environmental education and renewable energy

About the Project

Projet Karyne is a renewable energy project created in partnership with École Secondaire Gisèle-Lalonde. The project was established in memory of Karyne Maisonneuve who died of cancer in 2006.

Project Karyne brought students together from across Ottawa in a friendly competition using model solar-powered boats and cars. The challenge for grade 6, 7 and 8 students was to design and build solar-powered model boats using recycled materials, while high school students designed and built solar-powered cars.

Project Results

• More than 500 students and 30 schools took part in the events between 2009-2011.
• The project increased student understanding of renewable energy through hands-on learning.
• Members of the community and local businesses got involved.
• The project established a full-time funding partner.
• Extensive media coverage has been received including Macleans magazine, CTV, Global, and the Ottawa Sun.

About the Project

The Terry Fox Park Monarch Butterfly Garden is a highly successful, native wildflower habitat that supports monarch butterflies and other pollinators.

The garden was established to protect and enhance the status of monarch butterflies in a pesticide/herbicide free area and compensate for milkweed depletion and wildflower reduction.  Examples of plantings in the garden include the common milkweed, butterfly bush and butterfly weed, red aster, and red sedum. 

Located in Terry Fox Park adjacent to Terry Fox Elementary School, the garden involved the neighbouring community and school children.

Project Results

• The garden attracts butterflies and a multitude of bees on a daily basis. It also provides shelter to bees from frost in the fall.
• The project increased awareness of the monarch and other butterflies.
• The Monarch Teacher Network was approached by a local school and a local community group to do a presentation about the garden.

About the Project

The Stonebridge Community Association is undertaking a multi-phased project to inventory and map trees in their community. This project is being undertaken with support from the City of Ottawa’s Forestry Services Branch and the use of the City’s tree inventory database. The initiative measures the urban tree canopy and the impact of the Emerald Ash Borer. 

Phase 1 of the project, undertaken in 2013, mapped trees in three City parks: Kilbirnie Park, W.C. Levesque Park, and Golflinks Park.  Phase 2 was undertaken in 2014 and mapped street trees in the east section of Stonebridge.  The final phase will be undertaken in 2015 and will map street trees in west Stonebridge.

Project Results

• Worked with the City’s Forestry Services Branch to establish a standard methodology for inventorying trees.  Results of the inventory were shared with City staff to be entered into the City’s tree database and to determine next steps.
• Raised awareness in the community about the City’s Trees in Trust Program and about tree maintenance.