EnviroCentre

We’re thrilled to see momentum continuing from Connecting the Dots on Transit—an event designed to shift the conversation from limitations to possibilities and showcase the strong support in Ottawa for bold, innovative transit solutions.   In this op-ed, Neil Saravanamuttoo of CitySHAPES shares ideas for rethinking how we fund public transit—a topic he led group discussions about at our event in March.   Thank you to Neil and to everyone who joined us in advancing this important conversation. Stay tuned for our upcoming report capturing more insights and outcomes from the day.

Trees play a vital role in our city—absorbing rainwater, improving air quality, capturing carbon, and helping to keep our neighbourhoods cool in the summer. That’s why we’re proud to be partnering with the City of Ottawa / Ville d’Ottawa to launch a new residential tree-planting program. This spring, 1,200 free trees will be distributed across Ottawa to help grow a greener, more resilient city. Hear more from Tracey-Lee Schwets, Program Manager of Forest Management at the City of Ottawa, in this CBC interview [direct link to the program in the comments]: https://lnkd.in/d29vmgfg

On April 3, Green Communities Canada will release their 2025 National Progress Report on Retrofitting Canada’s Homes — and we’re proud to be part of the conversation. Our Executive Director, Sharon Coward, will join the panel alongside Brendan Haley, Kai Millyard, and Ralph Torrie to discuss what the report’s findings mean for the future of home retrofits in Canada, and how we can accelerate action across communities. Don’t miss this important conversation on the path to healthier, more energy-efficient homes. Register here for free: https://lnkd.in/gu7pTgCE 

🌿Our General Manager, Renée Amilcar, gave opening remarks today at the EnviroCentre Transit Symposium. Together, we can make a difference by choosing public transit. When we ride together, we reduce emissions, ease traffic, and help create cleaner, greener communities. ------- 🌿Notre directrice générale, Renée Amilcar, a prononcé aujourd'hui le discours d'ouverture du symposium d'EnviroCentre sur le transport en commun. Ensemble, nous pouvons faire la différence en choisissant le transport en commun. Lorsque nous nous déplaçons ensemble, nous réduisons les émissions, nous facilitons la circulation et nous contribuons à créer des communautés plus propres et plus vertes.

What does the future of transit hold for Ottawa? We're looking forward to finding out tomorrow at Connecting the Dots on Transit, our annual symposium. We’re grateful to the speakers, panelists, moderators, and community advocates who will help shape the conversation and inspire us to rethink (dare we say dream?) what transit could look like in our city. A special thank you to Renée Amilcar, General Manager of OC Transpo, for opening the day, and to international nondriver advocate Anna Zivarts who will be delivering the keynote address. Our panels will guide us in thinking about timely topics in urban mobility: Innovative Approaches to Increasing Funding and Ridership With: Emily Becker, ENV SP, TDM-CP (Project Manager at AECOM), Kari Glynes Elliott (Co-founder of Ottawa Transit Riders), Cassie Smith (EnviroCentre). Moderated by Councillor Glen Gower. Deploying Data Pilots to Ignite Change With: Michelle Babiuk (TransLink), Dan Hendry (Get on the Bus), Jennifer Armstrong (City of Ottawa / Ville d’Ottawa). Moderated by Sheryl-Ann Simpson (Carleton University). Finally, thank you to the community advocates who will be hosting table discussions: Better South Keys, Carleton University Student Association (CUSA), Carp Road Corridor BIA, CAWI City For All Women Initiative: une ville pour toutes les femmes IVTF, Ecology Ottawa, Get on the Bus, Mobycon, and Strong Towns. See you tomorrow! https://lnkd.in/gqKC6nyF

What if transportation planning wasn’t built around cars — but around people? In an op-ed by EnviroCentre’s Cassie Smith and international advocate and author Anna Zivarts in the Ottawa Citizen, we argue it’s time to give non-drivers a real voice in how our cities move. Because when we design for walkers, wheelers, cyclists, and transit riders, we design better communities for everyone. https://lnkd.in/gqH_3ZQi

The future of bus transportation is here and it’s parked right outside our venue! Before joining us for the keynote with Anna Zivarts tomorrow evening, come and explore one of the 12 zero-emission buses now in service with OC Transpo. It’ll be parked at 200 Lees Avenue and open for visitors starting at 6:15pm. There are still a few tickets available (link in the comments)— don’t miss the chance to hear Anna speak live. She’s truly inspiring!

What does a more connected, accessible city look like? For the sponsors helping bring our annual Connecting the Dots on Transit symposium to life, it means investing in bold ideas and supporting real collaboration. We’re grateful for the support of Ottawa Climate Action Fund, OSEG - TD Place, The Energy Mix, Glen Gower, University of Ottawa, and JJ McNeil Commercial Inc. as we come together to reframe the conversation on transit and imagine what’s possible for Ottawa. Thank you! To learn more about the symposium: https://lnkd.in/gqKC6nyF

If you have ideas about the future of transit in our city, now is the time to be part of the conversation. Next week, we’re hosting two events that we hope will shift the way we think about transit in #Ottawa, and we invite you to join us. We kick things off on March 27 with a thought-provoking public talk with Anna Zivarts that will challenge how we think about transportation. By focusing on non-drivers, she shifts the conversation from "it can't be done" to "it must be done." The conversation continues the next day with Connecting the Dots on Transit, a full-day event where advocates, experts, decision-makers, and community voices will come together to share fresh perspectives and spark actionable ideas. Some highlights include: Speakers such as Renée Amilcar (General Manager, OC Transpo), Anna Zivarts (Author and advocate for non-drivers), Dan Hendry (Get on the Bus), Emily Becker, ENV SP, TDM-CP (AECOM), Michelle Babiuk (TransLink), and more. Discussion tables led by organizations including Better South Keys, Carleton University Students' Association, Inc., Carp Road Corridor BIA, CitySHAPES, CAWI City For All Women Initiative: une ville pour toutes les femmes IVTF, Ecology Ottawa, Get on the Bus, Mobycon, and Strong Towns Ottawa. Join us and be part of the conversation that moves transit forward in Ottawa. Spaces are limited—learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/gqKC6nyF

What if transit worked for everyone? To help us answer this question, we’re bringing Anna Zivarts to Ottawa for an inspiring Keynote Talk and as a guest at our full day event, Connecting the Dots on Transit. A leading advocate for nondrivers and author of When Driving Is Not an Option, Anna challenges car dependency and pushes for a more inclusive, accessible transit system. Learn why her ideas matter for Ottawa in our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/gpfaNdkE Join us for her Keynote Talk on March 27! Tickets → https://lnkd.in/gMWsKSfj Want to be part of the conversation? Apply to participate in Connecting the Dots on Transit: https://lnkd.in/gqKC6nyF