In these pivotal times, how can we put our skills and energy to work for a better world? What would we like to contribute — and what’s stopping us?
Join us on Thursday, October 15, for Green Drinks Ottawa with Peter Blanchard, founder of GoodWork.ca.
Peter walked away from an unsatisfying corporate career, gave up his apartment, packed his belongings into his parents’ basement, and set off to explore other possibilities. He eventually returned to build GoodWork, connecting Canadians with opportunities to work for a better world.
Peter will briefly share his story, then it’s over to you. Around your table, you’ll exchange ideas and possibilities for doing more “good work”—whether through a career change, volunteering, starting something of your own, or finding ways to contribute where you are.
You don’t need to be looking for a job or have your next step figured out. Come with your questions, experiences and curiosity, and meet others who care about our communities and the planet.
When: Thursday, October 15, 2026, 5:30–7pm Where: Sala San Marco, 215 Preston St., Ottawa Details:GoodWork.ca/greendrinks
Green Drinks Ottawa is hosted by CAFES Ottawa, with GoodWork as its new sponsor.
Climate March • Climate Action • Volunteers & Participants Wanted
🔥 Stop the Burning. Defend Our Climate.
On Saturday, September 19, 2026, people from across Ottawa-Gatineau will take to the streets for the Ottawa Climate March, organized by Fridays for Future Ottawa.
Following a summer of severe wildfire smoke and extreme weather, organizers are calling on Canadians to push back against climate-policy rollbacks and demand faster, stronger action on the climate emergency.
The march begins at 9:30 AM at Jacques Cartier Park in Gatineau, crossing into Ottawa and holding rallies at key locations along the way. An Ottawa meeting point will be held at 10:30 AM at Major’s Hill Park, with the march culminating at Ottawa City Hall around noon.
Why march?
Organizers are calling for governments to:
End fossil fuel subsidies and public funding for fossil fuel infrastructure
Stop climate backsliding and enforce climate policies already adopted
Treat climate change as the emergency it is, with policies aligned with urgent emissions-reduction targets
Respect court rulings concerning climate action
Accelerate local climate action in Ottawa, including implementation of the City’s Energy Evolution plan
Volunteers needed
Want to do more than march? Volunteers are needed to help with marshaling, logistics, sound, art creation and outreach.
You can also support the march by donating, spreading the word, sharing your experience of this summer’s wildfire smoke and extreme weather — and, most importantly, showing up on September 19 and bringing others with you.
📅 Saturday, September 19, 2026 📍 9:30 AM: Jacques Cartier Park, Gatineau 📍 10:30 AM: Major’s Hill Park, Ottawa 📍 12:00 PM: Ottawa City Hall
“An impassioned generational perspective on how to stay sane amid climate disruption.”
Climate and environment-related fears and anxieties are on the rise everywhere. As with any type of stress, eco-anxiety can lead to lead to burnout, avoidance, or a disturbance of daily functioning.
In Generation Dread, Britt Wray seamlessly merges scientific knowledge with emotional insight to show how these intense feelings are a healthy response to the troubled state of the world.
BOOK LAUNCH — Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an age of Climate Crisis
Britt Wray on Generation Dread — On CBC Ideas, Thursday, May 26, 2022 In a world of climate crisis and inaction, the kids are not alright. Neither are many adults, including those considering parenthood. Science writer and scholar Britt Wray was one of the latter when she made a 2018 IDEAS documentary on the topic. Now she is a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University, specializing in the mental health impacts of the ecological crisis. Her new book details her work and conversations, and synthesizes her insights. It shares productive ways to cope, think, and act while facing an anxious ecological present and uncertain future. At an event recorded at the Toronto Reference Library, Britt Wray talks to Nahlah Ayed about Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Crisis. — CBC Ideas | Schedule (May) | Radio Schedule | Podcast
When you look out your window, it is common to see neatly maintained grass lawns fronting the neighbouring properties—this is all part of the long-standing “American Dream.” But, as aNative Plant News article explains, the ideal lawn grass is native to Europe rather than North America. This grass species is poorly suited to our climate and usually requires fertilizers, all the while risking being overrun by other plants (such as clovers or dandelions).
But before you bring out the herbicides to remove these broad-leaf plants, let’s take a look into these chemicals.
Herbicides
Herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides—these “icides” can get quite confusing. Pesticides are known for their general removal of pests, and as a result, they are considered the overarching family name. While herbicides, insecticides and fungicides are pesticide subsets—each with specific targets to remove (plants, insects and fungi, respectively).
The use of pesticide chemicals has long been debated over, and while there are some benefits to their use, there are also many drawbacks. For example, pesticide use increases food production in the agriculture industry by negating insects or aggressive plants, but decreases the local biodiversity of plants and insects (both targeted and unintentionally targeted species). They also increase the likelihood of human health complications.
Bringing pesticides to the home for cosmetic uses (aesthetics and visual appeal) increases the interactions between people and the chemicals. While the Government of Ontario regulates cosmetic pesticides, organizations like the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) have expressed health concerns over their allowed use.
According to Dr. Jane McArthur, Toxics Campaign Director at CAPE, “Children are especially vulnerable during the early stages of physical development and periods of rapid growth.”
Depending on the mother’s exposure during pregnancy, there is an increased risk of childhood cancers and premature births. And in adults, there is an increased risk of cancers, lung complications and Parkinson’s disease.
“A need remains for public education on achieving beautiful, healthy landscapes without harmful chemicals”
But if we stop using herbicides, won’t the lawn be overtaken by weeds?
Let’s talk monocultures
Everyone knows the struggle each spring to remove all weeds from our lawn before they go to seed and stay indefinitely, and then the upkeep throughout the year. Together, this is what creates a monoculture (single species) lawn. While the uniform look may be pleasing, did you know this maintenance is harming your lawn’s health? Polyculture (multiple species) lawns are different, as you can see from the comparison below.
Monoculture Lawns
Intense weed control
Lack of resilience to environmental factors
Often require additional fertilizers
Polyculture Lawns
Less (or no) weeding
More resilient to environmental factors (such as drought)
The mix of species help maintain/cycle nutrients in the soil
In your lawn maintenance, get rid of a couple of weeds that annoy you, but consider leaving some other ones like clover, violets and wild strawberries that will help keep your lawn healthy!
