Ottawa Biosphere Eco-city

Founded 2010, Ottawa Biosphere Eco-city (OBEC) is a charity and non-profit volunteer organization that works with communities to plan their path to sustainability.

Vision

OBEC enables Ottawa residents lead their communities to be more sustainable by supporting them identify their needs in relation to community sustainability, develop and implement projects to address them.

Who does the work?

Volunteers, who lead in the community, with coordination and support from OBEC board and staff.

What is the work?

  • Bringing communities together to identify their needs and propose solutions to their issues
  • With the communities, developing Community Sustainability Plans that address those needs
  • Holding community educational sessions to inform residents about sustainable solutions to community issues and to enable communication among residents around these issues
  • Providing funding and logistical support to Ottawa communities that allows them to undertake sustainability projects relevant to their needs.
  • Maintaining a community communication network, website and social media presence to support these activities
  • Working with other organizations whose goals are consistent with OBEC aims.

Members of OBEC can vote at the Annual General Meeting, become board members, access the OBEC Google Workspace including document archives, current project development work and meeting agendas and minutes. 

OBEC has a history of working with Community Organizations, Schools and other climate-active organizations to promote sustainability in the city of Ottawa.

Current Projects

Electrical System Simulation — a way to focus community discussions of new technology for the Ontario electrical system.

My Sustainable Business Path — a collaboration with SmartNet Alliance to help small businesses take action now to prepare for Net-Zero. The process started with the creation of a Small Business Community Sustainability Workbook and Report in 2021.

Map of households interested in FireSmart.

FireSmart Westwood — a collaboration with West Carleton Disaster Relief to bring FireSmart to a neighbourhood in West Ottawa.

Adopt-a-Ditch — a pilot to identify weeds and their frequency on roads in rural Ottawa based on the Adopt-a-Road Pollinator project in Lanark County. With information on the frequency and types of weeds, it is possible to reduce brush-hogging and pesticide use, save money, and help create pollinator pathways throughout the city.

Biggest Tree Adventure — a way for families to explore nature and its diversity in their neighbourhoods.

Recent Projects

What do we owe the earth? — a collaboration with Ottawa Public Library on an exhibit in the Beaverbrook Library in Kanata based on Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass to help build a new understanding of our relationship with nature, based on indigenous knowledge.

South March Highlands Eco Tour — a self guided tour of the South March Highlands Forest, with Ottawa Eco-Talent Network. Throughout the guidebook you will find a range of information on the forest, like specific highlighted species, ecosystem assets, maps and trail information. This guidebook aims to raise public awareness amongst Kanata residents about the ecological importance of their local landscapes, to promote stewardship and conservation of those sites, and to protect local biodiversity found within them

Community Sustainability Plans (CSP):

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Ottawa Biosphere Eco-city
108 Equestrian Drive
Kanata, Ontario K2M 1H6
Contact [email protected]
Donate to support OBEC’s community sustainability projects 
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/ottawa-biosphere-ecocity/