"RURAL CONNECTIONS" Newsletter - September 2008
Ottawa TREE Program
The Trees, Reforestation and Environmental Enhancement (TREE) Program is a four year initiative that aims to enhance the City of Ottawa’s urban and rural forests through the planting of 100,000 trees between 2007 and 2010. The TREE Program empowers Ottawa residents, businesses, community groups and schools to participate in planting trees to enhance and maintain the city’s forest cover and combat climate change. There are a number of ways you can take part in the TREE Program:
- Plant your own tree! Green your own corner of the city by registering for a tree to plant on your own property. Trees will be available every spring and fall, based on a first-come, first-served basis, while quantities last.
- Suggest a location to plant a tree. Help enhance our city parks, facilities and streets by working with us to find appropriate locations for trees within your community in rural or urban Ottawa.
- Learn about the Community TREE Planting Grant Program, which aim to improve and enhance Ottawa’s existing urban and rural forest cover by creating partnerships with the community for tree planting initiatives.
- Become a TREE volunteer - help us plant 100,000 trees!
- Green your neighbourhood through the TREE Program’s Community Tree Distributions, beginning spring 2008.
For more information about the TREE Program, visit www.ottawa.ca/TREE, contact TREE@ottawa.ca or call 613-580-2424, ext. 1TREE (18733).
Fall Cleaning the Capital - September 15 to October 15, 2008
Show your community pride and join the more than 60,000 volunteers who take part each year in the City’s Spring and Fall Cleaning the Capital campaigns! Clean up public property where you live, work or play and help keep Ottawa clean, green, graffiti-free and litter-free.
Each year the Spring and Fall Cleaning the Capital campaigns encourage and support community involvement in the City’s cleanup and graffiti removal efforts. Entire communities - including schools, neighbourhood organizations and associations, businesses, families, friends and individuals take up the Cleaning the Capital challenge. Last year, close to 60,000 participants completed 1,031 registered cleanup projects. With your help, we can be bigger and better in 2008!
Register early and win. Register on or before Sunday, September 14, 2008 and you and your team will be eligible to win one of our Early Bird prizes donated by our generous sponsors. Projects can take place until Friday, October 31st, 2008. Visit www.ottawa.ca/clean to register or for more information.
Savour Ottawa - get involved
Savour Ottawa is a joint initiative by the City of Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism and Just Food to promote local culinary products and experiences. The initiative aims to bring together food producers, vendors, the restaurant industry and the tourism sector to develop and promote products, experiences, events and venues that will brand Ottawa and area as a culinary tourism destination.
Savour Ottawa, among its other goals, is working to increase economic opportunities for all of its members. This is accomplished primarily through facilitation of business relationships between producers, microprocessors and chefs / restaurants. Savour Ottawa also promotes its members and the Savour Ottawa brand throughout Ottawa and area.
Consumers are being told to watch for the Savour Ottawa logo - for whenever they see it they can be assured that what they are buying has come from a local producer; whether it is directly from the producer, at a restaurant, a retail store or in a value-added product.
If you are a farmer, producer, microprocessor, chef, restaurant owner, or grocery store that wants to get involved, contact Heather Hossie at heather@justfood.ca, or call 613-236-9300 ext.305. For more information, visit www.savourottawa.ca.
Planting the seeds for more Agri-food innovation - Ontario Premier's Innovation Awards Program Invites New Applications
Innovators in the province's agriculture and food industry are encouraged to apply for awards under the Premier's Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Award program, now accepting applications until December 1, 2008. The $2.5-million, five-year program (currently in its third year) was established to recognize innovators who contribute to the success of Ontario's agri-food sector. The awards program includes the Premier's Award (up to $100,000), the Minister's Award (up to $50,000) and up to 55 regional awards of $5,000 each.
Program applications must be received by December 1, 2008, and will be reviewed by two independent panels made up of representatives from across Ontario's agri-food industry. Additional information and application forms are available on the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs website: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/index.html
Note: The City of Ottawa Rural Affairs Office can assist with your application. Contact us for more information.
Fall Fair Season in rural Ottawa
It's fall fair season in rural Ottawa with upcoming exhibitions across the City.
Richmond Fair - www.richmondfair.ca - September 18 to September 21
Carp Fair - www.carpfair.ca - September 25 to September 28
Metcalfe Fair - www.metcalfefair.com - October 2 to October 5
To learn more about other great events in rural Ottawa or to submit an event of your own, visit Rural Connections at www.ottawa.ca/rural.
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