We have now entered the third week of recovery efforts following the April 5 significant weather event. Public Works remains in activated operations and work continues across the City.
Here are the latest numbers provided by our Forestry staff:
- 4,467 total calls
- 2,064 completed Notifications
- 1,309 Notifications assigned to crews and that have been triaged by Inspection Staff (Most of these have been attended to by crews but have follow up action i.e. brush, wood pick up, stump grinding.)
- 426 Notifications outstanding (awaiting assessment)
- 668 Notifications in progress by Inspection staff
Staff are making progress but there is still much to do and efforts will continue well into the weeks ahead. This week some teams have begun wood chipping operations while the focus remains on ensuring that our pathways, curbsides, and parks are made safe and free from hazards.
Free Woodchips Available
Some of the debris that’s been collected as part of recent recovery efforts has been turned into woodchips and is available to residents – free of charge – at the following locations:
- Recreation facilities
- Navan Memorial Centre, 1295 Colonial Road
- Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Avenue (Minto sports field parking lot, between Minto field and Hamilton baseball diamond)
- Sandy Hill Arena, 60 Mann Avenue (southwest corner, on the fenced-in side of the property)
- Kanata Recreation Complex, 100 Charlie Rogers Place
- Yards
- 2145 Roger Stevens Drive
- 4244 Rideau Valley Drive
Please note these woodchips will be available while quantities last. Staff are asking anyone coming by to please bring your own shovel, gloves, and container for easy transport and to abide by the safety instructions posted at each site.
While staff will try to replenish some sites as required, it is their goal to set up new locations where crews are chipping to make operations as efficient as possible. These locations will be posted on Ottawa.ca and publicized through the City’s social media platforms.
Safety is always our priority. In addition to wearing gloves, choose appropriate footwear and be aware of other individuals and vehicles at the yards or facilities.
We appreciate everyone’s patience as we continue working on restoring areas that have been impacted by the storm.
Cleaning the Capital
More than 23,000 volunteers have already registered for this year’s Cleaning the Capital Campaign. There are several things these volunteers must remember while doing their work:
- If you cannot move debris without tools, please leave them for City crews.
- Bring tree debris out of parks and close to the curb – away from sidewalks and roadways – and keep them separate from other garbage and waste.
- Please do not place debris near or on trees, poles, or other structures. Leave a 1.5 metre perimeter around fire hydrants to ensure that in the event of an emergency, Ottawa Fire Services has enough space to work.
Let us know that storm debris is ready for pick up!
- For debris in parks, submit a request to Parks.
- For debris on the right of way along the curb, away from parks, submit a request to Roads.
Things to Note
- We are actively working on restoring properties across the City, work that will take weeks to complete. Until then, you can support our efforts by making use of the City’s Leaf and Yard Waste Program. Here’s how you can help:
- If you have a fire hydrant on your property, please ensure to keep a 1.5 metres perimeter around the hydrant to maintain access for Ottawa Fire Services in the event of an emergency.
- Until end of day Friday, April 21, larger tree cuttings, branches and brush may be brought to the City’s Trail Waste Facility free of charge. Standard rates will apply starting Monday, April 24.
- With curbside removal set to begin, we would encourage residents to use this approach so our Trail Road facility can be used for waste and not tree debris. There is no need to call 3-1-1 at this time.
- Councillors and their staff can stay connected during this emergency by sending inquiries or service requests to the Public Works dedicated inbox by emailing pwcouncilinquiries@ottawa.ca. Hearing from you is critical as we continue working towards identifying trends and coordinating efforts effectively.
- The City is continuing its commitment to re-establishing the lost tree canopy by re-planting lost City trees. Residents who would like a tree replacement on the City’s right of way are encouraged to request it through the Trees in Trust program. Staff will continue to assess the loss of trees in City-owned parks before planning for their replacement.
Look Ahead
Staff are planning on entering the next phase of our operations on Monday. This will see 10 to 12 crews of Roads and Forestry staff focusing on collecting debris from residential curbsides. The teams will complete a single pass to collect the debris. Residents will be notified through social media and the City website about when their neighbourhood will be targeted. We will also be notifying all affected Councillors before we enter their wards. As of Monday, residents in the Urban Core, Alta Vista and Osgoode will begin to see Roads and Forestry crews in their neighbourhoods collecting tree debris. The teams will complete a single pass. Residents are asked to have their debris on the curb by Sunday night. These are older neighbourhoods and with that comes many mature trees, and their cleanup will take time. We will continue working safely and as efficiently as operationally possible to get into a neighbourhood near you.
We recognize that there is a lot of work that remains, and the encouragement you have shown Public Works since the start of this event has not gone unnoticed. Thank you for your unwavering support as we continue responding to yet another weather event.
