This aerial photo shows how poorly the Colonel By Drive side of the Rideau Canal (top) is treed compared to the Queen Elizabeth Driveway side. The NCC and MP Yasir Naqvi agree with the Old Ottawa East Community Association that more trees should be planted on the Colonel By side. Image by City of Ottawa
Mainstreeter Staff
Improvements to the tree-barren stretches of Colonel By Drive will be made, MP Yasir Naqvi told Old Ottawa East (OOE) residents at the recent OOE Community Association (OOECA) annual general meeting.
OOECA President Bob Gordon had earlier written to National Capital Commission CEO Tobi Nussbaum that “(t)he Colonel By Drive (CBD) side of the Canal has always been less treed than the Queen Elizabeth Driveway side, but the impact of the emerald ash borer and severe weather events like the recent derecho has made the contrast starker.”
“[T]here are now few trees between the Canal pathway and CBD north of Highway 417,” noted Gordon. “Indeed, it’s almost bleak at certain spots and grass rather than trees dominates. South of Highway 417, there are limited and anemic trees between the parkway and the pathway. There’s lots of room for additional trees that would enhance the beauty and contribute to more comfortable cycling and walking.”
Naqvi, who meets regularly with Nussbaum, commented that Nussbaum had also noticed the problem. Naqvi says the addition of new trees will provide an opportunity for OOECA to be involved.
