On Monday, June 30th, 2025, CAFES' Executive Director, Angela Keller-Herzog, spearheaded a rich feedback submission with the Peoples Official Plan Coalition (POP) to the City of Ottawa on the draft Climate Resiliency Strategy, known as Climate Ready Ottawa (CRO).
The City’s draft CRO provides a critical opportunity to reduce risk, protect health, and strengthen community wellbeing in the face of the climate crisis. The POP feedback document highlighted opportunities to make the CRO more actionable, inclusive, and community-informed. Our detailed feedback submission dove into several strategic outcomes surrounding flood preparation, extreme heat, the economy, resilient buildings, protecting drinking water, stormwater management, tree canopy, wetland conservation, parks, power outages, and more. We additionally addressed suggestions for implementation, best-practice benchmarks, and performance metrics.
Many of our comments, recommendations, and ideas were pulled from the CAFES Climate Resiliency Community Dialogues from 2023, in which we led 11 dialogue sessions with over 300 participants in collaboration with community groups and the City of Ottawa.
Ultimately, CAFES and POP commend the City for its leadership in climate resilience planning. We recognize this climate strategy builds on years of foundational work and cross-departmental collaboration and we look forward to seeing how our recommendations contribute to a more climate-ready Ottawa.
This item is expected to be coming to the October 21st, 2025 City Environment and Climate Change Committee (ECCC). Stayed tuned!
CAFES had an excellent day at Fletcher Wildlife Garden on Saturday, June 7th at Pollinator Appreciation Day! Organized by Wild Pollinator Partners, this event was a wonderful opportunity for community members to come out and speak to local organizations, researchers, gardeners and plant nurseries about actions we can all take to make our homes and environments more pollinator-friendly.
CAFES was there selling our pollinator perennials plants, as well as worm castings from the Box of Life. We had a lovely time speaking with attendees about our trees and greenspace advocacy work, and our collaboration with Carleton University in fall 2024 on community engagement for pollinator gardening.
Be sure to visit Wild Pollinator Partners for some excellent resources about how you can make a difference for the many critical species on which we rely for a healthy ecosystem. Thanks to all who came out to support this event! Special shout-out to CAFES board member Harry Fischer - thanks for all your organizing!
CAFES' Executive Director, Angela Keller-Herzog, met with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe on June 19th, 2025 as part of the second instalment of the Mayor’s Round Table on Environment. Also present were William van Geest from Ecology Ottawa and Laura Reinsborough from Ottawa Riverkeeper.
The Roundtable meeting discussed key issues to make Ottawa a greener, more sustainable city. A key topic discussed was the need for greater investment and improvement in Ottawa's public transit system. Other subjects on the table were water quality, salt overdoses, renewable energy, and not least, the urban tree canopy and rural woodlands and wetlands.
Overall, CAFES believes it was a very fruitful and substantive meeting.
Invasive plant species are a serious issue threatening Ottawa's biodiversity and ecosystems. Invasive plant species are classified as non-native plants that have been introduced, whether intentionally or unintentionally, from other geographical regions that outcompete native vegetation.
Invasive species are problematic not just because they outcompete native plants, but because native wildlife - including pollinator insects and birds - do not naturally use them for food and habitat. Since native wildlife evolved to feed off plants that naturally grow in this region, non-natives that have only been introduced relatively recently do not provide the same nutritional value or key characteristics that many wildlife species need to thrive. This threatens the stability of our ecosystem and further endangers at-risk species, such as Bumble Bees and the Monarch butterfly.
On Friday June 27th, Erica Shardlow, the CAFES' Trees and Greenspace Coordinator, was pleased to attend an excellent walk with members of the Ottawa Field Naturalists Club (OFNC) and the Rideau Trail Association. Guide Alan Smith led the group on an informative hike through the Lime Kiln trail while pointing out invasive plants on the rise, some of which are featured below.
Phragmites are a major invasive in Ottawa, reproducing through roots and often seen spreading along waterways. It is being actively controlled in Ontario through conservation authorities, mainly by spraying, as infestations are often extensive. Research has begun to examine biological control methods via two species of moths whose larvae can damage and kill the plant.
Buckthorn is a massive concern due to its aggressive spreading. The two problematic species in Ottawa are Glossy Buckthorn and Common Buckthorn. They are native to Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia and have veiny leaves with round berries that are enjoyed by birds. Interestingly, the seeds in its berries pass through birds' digestive systems unharmed, allowing the seeds to spread widely and rapidly. Several community associations/organizations in Ottawa have been leaders in removing Buckthorn, including Friends of Hampton Park and Action Sandy Hill.
Dog Strangling Vine (DSV) is yet another huge concern due to its ability to spread rapidly and its difficulty to kill. DSV can grow to be 4-5 feet tall by mid-summer, suffocating understory plants and young trees. DSV is actually related to the milkweed family, at times confusing Monarchs who may lay eggs on its leaves, only for the caterpillars to be unable to feed on the plant after hatching. DSV is a priority species that is seeing active removal efforts by the City of Ottawa and Ontario conservation authorities.
This photo below is of Coltsfoot, another invasive that loves gravel and stony areas and is often seen at the edges of car parks. These plants have bright yellow flowers that resemble dandelions. They are native to Europe, and were likely cultivated by settlers for medicinal properties to treat cold, flu, gout, fever and respiratory illness.
Check out the photos below for some of the other invasives we came across on the walk. Other invasives not seen on the trail but discussed on Friday included Norway Maple, Garlic Mustard, Goutweed, Periwinkle, Russian Olive, Wild Parsnip, Japanese Knotweed, and Giant Hogweed.
Many of these species were introduced by European settlers, and many more continue to be spread as a result of globalization and transportation of goods. Invasives can also be spread by everyday human activities - like hitching a ride on the bottom of our hiking boots or by transporting fire wood when we go camping. Boot cleaning stations at trailheads - which include boot brushes to remove mud, seeds and brush, complete with informative signage - are gaining traction in Ontario as one way to minimize spread.
Many community organizations in the CAFES network are actively engaged in invasive species awareness, advocacy and removal - pushing for more community/volunteer stewardship opportunities with the City of Ottawa.
In fact, CAFES is once again partnering with Carleton University for our annual Community Engagement project, and our topic this year is on invasive plant species! If you are from a Community Association and interested in learning more / sharing your knowledge, consider participating - see here for info.
Also be sure to check out the Ontario Invasive Plant Council for a comprehensive species list and in-depth guides on how to remove key species. You can also find information on what's being done, and what you can do.
On Saturday May 10th, the Hintonburg Community Association (HCA) hosted a wonderful spring tree give-away in partnership with CAFES Ottawa and the Hintonburg Community Centre. With one of the lowest canopy cover percentages of Ottawa's urban neighbourhoods, the HCA successfully distributed 80 free tree saplings to residents living directly in the Hintonburg neighbourhood for planting on private property.
The trees given out were entirely native to this region, and came in either 2 gallon pots or bare-root. Planting instructions were given out with each tree to guide recipients on best planting practices. Species included Yellow and Grey Birch, Maple, Pussy Willow, Red and White Oak, Red Osier Dogwood, White Cedar, White Spruce and Pin Cherry.
The HCA is continuing to work with recipients to ensure the trees have the best chance at survival. Please feel free to contact freespringtree@gmail.com is you have any questions, and visit the link here for a great resource on tree care.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this fantastic initiative to grow the neighbourhood's canopy!
Mark your calendars - Wild Pollinator Partners will once again be celebrating Pollinator Appreciation Day at Fletcher Wildlife Garden on Saturday, June 7th, and CAFES will be there! Come on out between 10am - 2pm to meet with others who have created pollinator gardens, learn from scientists who study pollinators, and connect with organizations that support pollinator projects.
This year’s theme is "EVERY BIT MATTERS". Simple actions like adding native plants to your garden, removing a hard surface, or waiting a couple of weeks to tidy up your yard in spring and fall can help preserve biodiversity and increase natural habitat.
You'll be able to learn how to plan your own garden to provide flowers for pollinators, find out how to start a pollinator garden at your local school or park, learn to identify invasive species, and tour the Fletcher Wildlife Garden to see pollination in action. Games and crafts will also be available for kids.
A variety of experts and volunteers from local organizations will be there to share information, answer questions, and tell you everything you need to know about helping pollinators.
CAFES will be selling perennial plants and herbs!
CAFES is excited to be in attendance to sell some of our native perennial plants, which attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, other important insects and hummingbirds to your garden. We will have Black-Eyed Susan, Wild Blue Indigo, Wild Bergamot, Purple Coneflower, New England Aster, Joe Pye Weed, Oxeye (False Sunflower), and Swamp Milkweed. We will also have some herbs available for purchase including Lavender, Oregano, Parsley, Tarragon, Sage and Dill. Visit our table on June 7th to get yours, or pre-order HERE to pick-up in advance at 166 Glebe Avenue.
Wild Pollinator Partners are also holding a free raffle at the event to give-away a little something for your garden. They are offering pollinator favourites that are sure to attract bees and butterflies to your yard: Serviceberry tree (small), Red Osier Dogwood, Figwort, Flat-topped Aster, Heart-leaved Aster, and more.
More information about the event is available here. No registration is required to attend. See you there!
Volunteer Call Out - we are looking for a couple volunteers with a vehicle to help with the set-up for the event including loading up supplies starting at 8am, and to stay for the morning of the event to help sell plants and speak to attendees visiting the CAFES table. Please contact eshardlow@cafesottawa.ca if interested.
CAFES spent a lovely Mother's Day morning giving out 67 trees to local community members for planting on private property, as part of our third annual Mother's Day give-away!
This year our event was hosted in Laroche Park in Mechanicsville, in partnership with the Mechanicsville Community Association. The purpose of this initiative is to increase backyard planting and overall tree canopy by supporting kids and families in gifting a tree to their parent for Mother's Day. Trees are intended to be planted in the urban neighbourhoods of Ottawa to ensure we are increasing tree canopy where it is especially needed.
Planting instructions were provided with each tree, and many community members spoke with us about how to plant, water, prune and care for their new trees. We had a wide variety of native species this year including Silver Maple, Yellow and Paper Birch, Red and White Pine, Spruce, Cedar, Pin Cherry, Butternut, Pussy Willow, and McIntosh Apple.
We were thrilled to have seen such great uptake this year, and were especially pleased that many of the trees went to homes directly in the Mechanicsville neighbourhood. As Mechanicsville is among the neighbourhoods with the lowest canopy cover in the city, trees are needed more than ever.
A huge thank you to the volunteers who helped at our event, and thank you to the tree recipients - coming out with your bikes, scooters, and wagons - for taking initiative to green our city!
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Stay tuned for our community tree planting event in October at Tunney's Pasture! We recently filled our site's water tote and are very excited to return for another great planting event this year. More details to come.
For more information about this tree planting event, please contact Erica at eshardlow@cafesottawa.ca
