Past projects

Invasive species program

2022

As part of OSEAN’s initiative to protect green spaces and wildlife, Ottawa South Eco-Action Network ran a 2022 Invasive Species Program in the River, Alta Vista, and Gloucester-Southgate wards, thanks to a microgrant from the Invasive Species Centre.

The program consisted of 4 events that provided education on the most common/problematic invasive species in our yards and parks of Ottawa South: buckthorn, dog strangling vine, garlic mustard, and periwinkle. Experts Iola Price and Sandy Garland joined these events where they discussed why invasive plants are a problem, how to identify them, and how to remove them properly.

The first event in April was an educational webinar held virtually over zoom, and you can find the recording of the webinar here. The following 3 events were in-person where residents gained hands-on experience identifying and removing invasive plants.

  • Riverview Park: Dog Strangling Vine and Garlic Mustard Removal on Saturday May 14, 10am

  • Brewer’s Park: Buckthorn Removal on Sunday May 29, 1pm

  • Brookfield High School: Dog Strangling Vine Removal on Monday July 4, 6pm

Front yard garden contest

2021

As part of OSEAN’s initiative to help our pollinators and to promote food sustainability, Ottawa South Eco Action Network ran a Front Yard Garden Contest in the River, Alta Vista and Capital wards over the summer from June until September. And what a success!

Residents from across our three wards submitted photos of their gardens which showed how they are increasing the habitat for pollinators and combating food insecurity, one front yard at a time. We were inspired by gardens both big and small. We know not everyone will be able to convert their entire front yard to a pollinator paradise, but the great news is, we don’t need to.

Imagine the impact we could have if every front yard transformed just a small patch of plants for pollinators. We could create a connected pathway of food and shelter from garden to garden.

Read more about our contestants and winners.

Anti-plastics pamphlet

2019

A sub-committee of OSEAN developed this anti-plastics pamphlet to help our neighbours reconsider how they use plastics and simple things they can do to reduce and refuse plastic in their everyday lives.  We encourage you to share our pamphlet and whenever you are in a store, ready to make a purchase, ask yourself, “what would Betty the gull do?” (WWBD).