Monday, August 16, 2021

OTTAWA 
Protesters let their singing voices be heard about Dow's Lake location for Civic

"We're here today to protest the destruction of over 600 trees for the Civic hospital."

Author of the article: Staff Reporte
Publishing date:Aug 15, 2021
 
A large group gathered in the Experimental Farm on Sunday to sing in protest against the removal of mature trees to make way for buildings and parking for the new Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital. Chris White led some of the songs on Sunday afternoon. PHOTO BY ASHLEY FRASER /Postmedia

A large group put voice to their protest on Sunday, congregating in the Experimental Farm near the Arboretum, singing to let it be known they oppose the Dow’s Lake location for a new Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital.

Almost 700 mature trees would be removed during construction of the hospital.

“We’re here today to protest the destruction of over 600 trees for the Civic hospital,” said Val Swinton, a member of Reimagine Ottawa. “Anybody who wants to sing was here, and we (had) a little ceremony about the trees, just to say please don’t build the hospital here.”

Another group had gathered at Dow’s Lake in early July, protesting in an effort to have the Dow’s Lake site re-examined, with the aim of returning the new Civic to its original planned site at Tunney’s Pasture.

“I think it’s silly to cut down the trees and make a parking lot,” said Jacqueline Ellis, a retired University of Ottawa nursing professor who attended Sunday’s rally. “Underground parking, more public transit, anything but cutting down the trees. Ottawa, in my opinion, has a very tenuous relationship with trees, and it takes a long time for trees to get large in Ottawa because of the short growing season. So, cutting them down, to me, seems very short-sighted.”

A large group gathered in the Experimental Farm on Sunday to sing in protest against the removal of mature trees to make way for buildings and parking for the new Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital. PHOTO BY ASHLEY FRASER /Postmedia




 
 

\



 

No comments: