Find us at the annual Carleton Heights and Area Residents Association Community BBQ!

Please contact us for meeting location and/or the Zoom link. Visit our Meetings page to see notes from past meetings.

About our meetings

We meet for 1.5 hours the last Wednesday of most months. You are very welcome to attend a meeting to get involved, learn about us, or share your own idea.

Our meetings are usually hybrid. The Zoom link is sent in our newsletter at least one day in advance. We don’t publicly share the address for the in-person location because we meet at our member’s houses. Please contact us to ask for the address.

You’re invited!

If this is your first time joining OSEAN, you should know that we are an enthusiastic and productive group, which is reflected in the pace of our meetings. If you would like an orientation in advance, an OSEAN member would be happy to meet individually with you beforehand (in person or online) to give you an overview of our current projects and answer any questions you might have. Just send us a message to ask to get set up.

Find OSEAN at the Wild Pollinator Appreciation Day!

Please contact us for meeting location and/or the Zoom link. Visit our Meetings page to see notes from past meetings.

About our meetings

We meet for 1.5 hours the last Wednesday of most months. You are very welcome to attend a meeting to get involved, learn about us, or share your own idea.

Our meetings are usually hybrid. The Zoom link is sent in our newsletter at least one day in advance. We don’t publicly share the address for the in-person location because we meet at our member’s houses. Please contact us to ask for the address.

You’re invited!

If this is your first time joining OSEAN, you should know that we are an enthusiastic and productive group, which is reflected in the pace of our meetings. If you would like an orientation in advance, an OSEAN member would be happy to meet individually with you beforehand (in person or online) to give you an overview of our current projects and answer any questions you might have. Just send us a message to ask to get set up.

OSEAN has been gathering lone mittens all winter (learn more here). On May 31, we will sort through the collection to create pairs to be distributed through community groups next fall. Many groups faced a shortage of mittens for their clients last year.

Volunteers needed

Join us to become a mitten matchmaker! Come for the morning shift (10 am to 12 pm) or/and for the afternoon shift (1 pm to 3 pm). Feel free to contact us by email or Facebook to let us know you’ll be coming or ask a question.

What the day looks like:

☕ There will be coffee and snacks. 

🧒 Children are welcome! There will be a play area for younger children. Older children (i.e. teenagers looking for community service hours) are welcome to help with the sorting.

Still collecting…

Feel free to drop by to drop off lone mittens or other winter items in good condition (hats, jackets, boots).
We are also looking for elastic bands of various sizes, as well as moving boxes.

Curious to learn more about cloth diapers and how you can help keep disposable diapers out of the landfill? Find our volunteers at the annual Great Glebe Garage Sale. Come to see

• Samples from our cloth diaper trial kits

• Information about the loan program

• Lived experience about the wonderful world of modern (and not so modern) cloth diapers

Please contact us for meeting location and/or the Zoom link. Visit our Meetings page to see notes from past meetings.

About our meetings

We meet for 1.5 hours the last Wednesday of most months. You are very welcome to attend a meeting to get involved, learn about us, or share your own idea.

Our meetings are usually hybrid. The Zoom link is sent in our newsletter at least one day in advance. We don’t publicly share the address for the in-person location because we meet at our member’s houses. Please contact us to ask for the address.

You’re invited!

If this is your first time joining OSEAN, you should know that we are an enthusiastic and productive group, which is reflected in the pace of our meetings. If you would like an orientation in advance, an OSEAN member would be happy to meet individually with you beforehand (in person or online) to give you an overview of our current projects and answer any questions you might have. Just send us a message to ask to get set up.

Find us at Councillor Brockington’s annual Earth Day event!

OSEAN will be giving away free native plant seeds and will be accepting sign ups for our 2025 Pollinator Patch Program. We will also be collecting lone mittens and gloves as well as socks as part of our Lone Mitten Project!

Bring your e-waste as well as your Earthub items for repurposing. There will be a free BBQ, bike tune-ups, an upcycling workshop, and two park clean ups (9 am at McCarthy Park and 10 am at Paul Landry Park).

Visit the Councillor’s website for details of all the other activites and groups who will participate.

Workshops offered at 1:30 pm and 3 pm

Come and learn all about regular sewing machine maintenance during our April Community Mending Circle. Workshop will be led by Coco Creates Art.

Supplies to bring:

• Sewing machine

• Brushes

• Tiny screwdriver

Come learn from our volunteer Mending Mentors, who will show you how to repair or hem your favorite garments, give advice on simple sewing projects, and help with sewing machines. All skill levels are welcome.

This family-friendly event will feature snacks and kids activities as well as a chance to chat with community members about your favourite way to reduce textile waste and help our planet.

What to bring:

• Item to work on such as a garment, cushion, curtain, blanket - see below for details on the types of projects with which we can assist you.

• (Optionally) Sewing supplies such as needles, thread, or cloth for patching. If you do not have your own supplies, you can use ours!

• (Optionally) Your sewing machine. If you do not have a sewing machine, you can learn hand mending or use one of our machines.

• A willingness to learn.

What we offer: We can coach you on making simple repairs (e.g. seams, small tears, buttons, darning of socks, opened seams, patching), visible mending, repair of knitted or crocheted garments, hemming, and answer basic questions about using sewing machines. If you have something to patch, please either bring some cloth for the patch or contact us in advance with the colour and material type required.

While we are here to help, some projects may be outside our abilities. In particular, we are not able to help with leather or zippers, significant clothing alterations/big sewing projects/clothing re-designs or broken sewing machines. If you are unsure, please contact us with the details in advance (pictures encouraged!).

We are still looking for volunteers to help with general logistics during the event, photography and kids activities.

Please contact us for meeting location and/or the Zoom link. Visit our Meetings page to see notes from past meetings.

About our meetings

We meet for 1.5 hours the last Wednesday of most months. You are very welcome to attend a meeting to get involved, learn about us, or share your own idea.

Our meetings are usually hybrid. The Zoom link is sent in our newsletter at least one day in advance. We don’t publicly share the address for the in-person location because we meet at our member’s houses. Please contact us to ask for the address.

You’re invited!

If this is your first time joining OSEAN, you should know that we are an enthusiastic and productive group, which is reflected in the pace of our meetings. If you would like an orientation in advance, an OSEAN member would be happy to meet individually with you beforehand (in person or online) to give you an overview of our current projects and answer any questions you might have. Just send us a message to ask to get set up.

Please contact us for meeting location and/or the Zoom link. Visit our Meetings page to see notes from past meetings.

About our meetings

We meet for 1.5 hours the last Wednesday of most months. You are very welcome to attend a meeting to get involved, learn about us, or share your own idea.

Our meetings are usually hybrid. The Zoom link is sent in our newsletter at least one day in advance. We don’t publicly share the address for the in-person location because we meet at our member’s houses. Please contact us to ask for the address.

You’re invited!

If this is your first time joining OSEAN, you should know that we are an enthusiastic and productive group, which is reflected in the pace of our meetings. If you would like an orientation in advance, an OSEAN member would be happy to meet individually with you beforehand (in person or online) to give you an overview of our current projects and answer any questions you might have. Just send us a message to ask to get set up.

Throw it away? No way! Fix it at the Repair Café!

From clothing to small appliances, keep household items out of the landfill with the help of a Repair Café.

These FREE, events aim to reduce landfill waste by fixing items, teaching new skills, and providing an opportunity to enjoy coffee and snacks while meeting your neighbours.

Practical information:

• Drop in (no registration required). If you would like to receive a reminder email before the event, please sign up here

• Please only bring ONE item to be fixed, as time and space are limited. If your item is missing a piece or needs a replacement part, please bring that as well. We ask that if you bring in textiles that they are clean.

• Children under the age of 14 need to be accompanied by an adult when getting an item fixed.

• There is free parking at the site.

• Everyone is welcome at this free event; there will be coffee and snacks and lots of people to meet and chat with!

• The venue is wheelchair accessible. The washrooms are on the same floor as the event and are also wheelchair accessible. Participants may be required to wait in line; some chairs will be provided. There will be vapours in use from glue and other solvents.

• Special for this event: we will offer interpretation services for people speaking Arabic

About Our Café

Repair Cafés are an international concept that has come to the National Capital Region with the goal of reducing landfill waste, teaching new skills, and building community!

Repair Cafés in Ottawa are run by the Ottawa Tool Library, who have been very successful with volunteers fixing dozens of items and sharing their knowledge around everything from darning socks to re-wiring kettles.

With thanks

This event is made possible due to the support of the City of Ottawa and Councillor Marty Carr. Onsite electronic recycling for irreparable items is being provided by the Electronic Products Recycling Association.

Please contact us for meeting location and/or the Zoom link. Visit our Meetings page to see notes from past meetings.

About our meetings

We meet for 1.5 hours the last Wednesday of most months. You are very welcome to attend a meeting to get involved, learn about us, or share your own idea.

Our meetings are usually hybrid. The Zoom link is sent in our newsletter at least one day in advance. We don’t publicly share the address for the in-person location because we meet at our member’s houses. Please contact us to ask for the address.

You’re invited!

If this is your first time joining OSEAN, you should know that we are an enthusiastic and productive group, which is reflected in the pace of our meetings. If you would like an orientation in advance, an OSEAN member would be happy to meet individually with you beforehand (in person or online) to give you an overview of our current projects and answer any questions you might have. Just send us a message to ask to get set up.

Come learn from our volunteer Mending Mentors, who will show you how to repair or hem your favorite garments, give advice on simple sewing projects, and help with sewing machines. All skill levels are welcome.

What to bring:

• Item to work on such as a garment, cushion, curtain, blanket - see below for details on the types of projects with which we can assist you.

• (Optionally) Sewing supplies such as needles, thread, or cloth for patching. If you do not have your own supplies, you can use ours!

• (Optionally) Your sewing machine. If you do not have a sewing machine, you can learn hand mending or use one of our machines.

• A willingness to learn.

What we offer: We can coach you on making simple repairs (e.g. seams, small tears, buttons, darning of socks, opened seams, patching), visible mending, repair of knitted or crocheted garments, hemming, and answer basic questions about using sewing machines. If you have something to patch, please either bring some cloth for the patch or contact us in advance with the colour and material type required.

While we are here to help, some projects may be outside our abilities. In particular, we are not able to help with leather or zippers, significant clothing alterations/big sewing projects/clothing re-designs or broken sewing machines. If you are unsure, please contact us with the details in advance (pictures encouraged!).

Please contact us for meeting location and/or the Zoom link. Visit our Meetings page to see notes from past meetings.

About our meetings

We meet for 1.5 hours the last Wednesday of most months. You are very welcome to attend a meeting to get involved, learn about us, or share your own idea.

Our meetings are usually hybrid. The Zoom link is sent in our newsletter at least one day in advance. We don’t publicly share the address for the in-person location because we meet at our member’s houses. Please contact us to ask for the address.

You’re invited!

If this is your first time joining OSEAN, you should know that we are an enthusiastic and productive group, which is reflected in the pace of our meetings. If you would like an orientation in advance, an OSEAN member would be happy to meet individually with you beforehand (in person or online) to give you an overview of our current projects and answer any questions you might have. Just send us a message to ask to get set up.

The entire event is FREE!! For those that have the means, donations to the Brookfield Community Food Cupboard are welcome. Both Non-perishable food items and financial donations are accepted.

Join us for:

🎨 Face painting and kid's activities

🕵️‍♀️ Scavenger hunt

📷 Photo backdrop and photographer

🚒 Section 34 Firefighters, pumper truck, and Obi the Dalmation at 2 p.m.

👻 Capital Ghostbusters

☕ Hot chocolate

🎃 Piles of creative Jack o'lanterns who will be travelling to farms on Tuesday Nov 5th thanks to 1-800-GOT-JUNK? (You can also drop off your carved and intact pumpkins too so they can find enjoy a second home after Halloween)

🤝 Community booths from our partners and colleagues working addressing poverty, food security, food waste and community building: Brookfield Community Food Cupboard, Lionhearts, Andrew Fleck Children's Centre, Ottawa South Eco Action Network

With thanks to The Awesome Foundation for making this event possible!

Please contact us for the Zoom link to attend online.

You are more than welcome to attend in person (just drop in! No RSVP required). As part of a new collaboration, we will be using the Mooney's Bay Intergenerational Early Learning Centre located at 2826 Springland Drive (between Holy Cross School and Holy Cross Parish).  We hope this public space will encourage more people to come join us!

The topic for October's meeting will be Pumpkins!  The Pumpkins for the Planet Project as well as our new outreach event this year: Pumpkin Alley Fun Day on Sunday November 3rd.

Visit our Meetings page to see notes from past meetings.

About our meetings

We meet for 1.5 hours the last Wednesday of most months. You are very welcome to attend a meeting to get involved, learn about us, or share your own idea.

Our meetings are usually hybrid. The Zoom link is sent in our newsletter at least one day in advance. We don’t publicly share the address for the in-person location because we meet at our member’s houses. Please contact us to ask for the address.

You’re invited!

If this is your first time joining OSEAN, you should know that we are an enthusiastic and productive group, which is reflected in the pace of our meetings. If you would like an orientation in advance, an OSEAN member would be happy to meet individually with you beforehand (in person or online) to give you an overview of our current projects and answer any questions you might have. Just send us a message to ask to get set up.

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library, Butterflyway Rangers and Mike's Garden Harvest Farm, we will be hosting one last native plant and seed giveaway.  Once you have selected your plants/seeds, check out the yummy organic vegetables at the farm store!  (I'm attaching the poster incase you want to make an event on the website (but not necessary)- you can find more details on the facebook event: 

https://www.facebook.com/share/zELSGKxiQujKbxYE/

Please contact us for meeting location and/or the Zoom link. Visit our Meetings page to see notes from past meetings.

About our meetings

We meet for 1.5 hours the last Wednesday of most months. You are very welcome to attend a meeting to get involved, learn about us, or share your own idea.

Our meetings are usually hybrid. The Zoom link is sent in our newsletter at least one day in advance. We don’t publicly share the address for the in-person location because we meet at our member’s houses. Please contact us to ask for the address.

You’re invited!

If this is your first time joining OSEAN, you should know that we are an enthusiastic and productive group, which is reflected in the pace of our meetings. If you would like an orientation in advance, an OSEAN member would be happy to meet individually with you beforehand (in person or online) to give you an overview of our current projects and answer any questions you might have. Just send us a message to ask to get set up.

In the spring, we offered a Jane’s walk which explored different approaches to re-wild urban residential spaces. This Fall edition will explore the same spaces, showing how they’ve changed over the growing season.

We will begin this tour by visiting the back yard of a home which is in the process of converting the majority of its turf grass into a diverse habitat for pollinators and native wildlife. We will discuss how to get started, the things to do (and not do) in May. We will move to the front yard and discuss the how’s of gardening in the city right-of-way (the city-owned portion of front yards) so that you can maximize that space for native habitat while remaining compliant with the new bylaw rules.

We will then walk around the neighbourhood to showcase the many ways neighbours are changing their yards to be more eco-friendly and resilient to a warming climate. Along the way, we will identify some common invasive species that you may find in your own yard and we'll share how best to remove them. Questions will be welcome throughout the walk.

Drop by our table at the HCAA’s Fall Festival. We’ll have native plant seedlings, kids activities, and information on our other ongoing projects.

For more information about the Fall Festival please visit: https://hunt-club.ca/event/fall-festival-2024/

OSEAN invites you to join this tour being organized by Wild Pollinator Partners.

In late October 2022, the Friends of Riverview Park Green Spaces and a group of volunteers planted over 370 seedlings of 25+ species of sun-loving, mostly native, perennial flowers and grasses in a 6 by 12 metre oval garden. The Riverview Park Pollinator Garden was funded as part of a 2021 Healthy Communities grant from the federal government. It’s located on City of Ottawa land that our community association stewards near the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa Hospital – General campus.

Seeds came from the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library, the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, and some local volunteers and were mostly started under lights.

We were amazed at how well the plants came through their first winter and how full the garden was, even in its first year. Lots of pollinators visited flowers blooming from June through October, and birds visited seed heads in the fall.

At this tour, learn about the challenges of planting a garden on City land, the various permissions required, and the timeline. Read our blog post about the project. 

This monthly meeting is open to all who are interested in learning more about the OSEAN and our projects. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with members of the organization, learn about our work, and join in the discussion about our upcoming projects in Ottawa South.

Please contact us for meeting location and/or the Zoom link. Visit our Meetings page to see notes from past meetings.

We hope to see you there!

This monthly meeting is open to all who are interested in learning more about the OSEAN and our projects. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with members of the organization, learn about our work, and join in the discussion about our upcoming projects in Ottawa South.

Please contact us for meeting location and/or the Zoom link. Visit our Meetings page to see notes from past meetings.

We hope to see you there!

This May, OSEAN is giving away a limited number of Pollinator Patch kits to selected residents of Alta Vista, Gloucester-Southgate, and River Wards. Visit our Pollinator Patch page for more information.

If you were selected to receive a kit, you will receive the location and additional details by email. Please contact us if you have any questions.

This May, OSEAN is giving away a limited number of Pollinator Patch kits to selected residents of Alta Vista, Gloucester-Southgate, and River Wards. Visit our Pollinator Patch page for more information.

If you were selected to receive a kit, you will receive the location and additional details by email. Please contact us if you have any questions.

We invite Ottawa residents to join us on a walk exploring different approaches we can use to re-wild urban residential spaces using examples of residential yards in Riverside Park South.

We will begin this tour by visiting the back yard of a home which is in the process of converting the majority of its turf grass into a diverse habitat for pollinators and native wildlife. We will discuss how to get started, the things to do (and not do) in May. We will move to the front yard and discuss the how’s of gardening in the city right-of-way (the city-owned portion of front yards) so that you can maximize that space for native habitat while remaining compliant with the new bylaw rules.

We will then walk around the neighbourhood to showcase the many ways neighbours are changing their yards to be more eco-friendly and resilient to a warming climate. Along the way, we will identify some common invasive species that you may find in your own yard and we'll share how best to remove them. Questions will be welcome throughout the walk.

Registration has closed due to high demand

Join us for an enlightening guided walk around the Sawmill Creek Stormwater Management Pond in Ottawa South. The tour will be led by City of Ottawa staff from the Stormwater Management Unit and the Climate Change and Resiliency Unit. This tour offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of urban nature, community, and environmental stewardship.

• Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024

• Time: 11am-12:30pm

• Meeting Point: South Keys Transitway Station entrance (between the Walmart and Cineplex)

Accessibility: tour involves a 1.5km walk on level ground

Discover natural parkland: Learn how the pond functions both as natural parkland and a key piece of stormwater infrastructure, as it supports community recreation and fostering connections to nature, while at the same time filtering and cleaning stormwater. Unlike conventional city parks, the wetlands offer a unique ecosystem that benefits both people and wildlife.

Learn how homeowners can help with stormwater management: Explore how property owners can positively impact stormwater management. Discover practical takeaways for retrofitting green infrastructure on your property with the help of the City’s Rain Ready Ottawa program, contributing to cleaner and healthier waterways in Ottawa.

Come prepared to explore our hidden local wetlands, gain insights, and leave with actionable steps to make a difference in your own community. Let’s celebrate nature and sustainability together! 

This walk is being organized in partnership with Better South Keys Centre.

Location of the pond

Map of the pond