Paddling in-city
on the Rideau
A watery wilderness
close at hand
BY SHEILA ASCROFT
Ever
since he moved to Chestnut Street (right between the river and
and Rideau Falls. The most common is rock
bass. For more info on river wildlife, check
the canal) five years ago, Rick Burrows has been carrying his
out www.nature.ca/rideau/index-e.html.
canoe through Springhurst Park to the Rideau River. He’s not the only one. I’ve
DOcks Or muD banks?
often hauled my canoe over the grass and through the shore weeds to the
Rick says it would be nice to have a boat
river. Lee Blue, another Old Ottawa East neighbour, only has to walk past a few
storage area, perhaps at Brantwood Park field
houses, kayak under her arm. We all come, one by one, at any hour of the day,
house, which is being expanded, so residents
would not have to carry their boats back and
without fanfare to the water.
forth from home. He also thinks Springhurst
I know there are many others; I see them south of the Queensway sometimes have Park (just west of Hurdman Bridge,
come silently round a river bend, a splash a strong current so he usually turns around sandwiched between the highrise apartments
of colour, sunlight glinting off dripping oars. there and heads back upstream, sometimes on Lees Avenue and Saint Paul University)
We all recognize the Rideau for what it is – a all the way to the Bank Street Bridge, where deserves a dock like the one the City installed
fluid avenue of freedom flowing through the there are more shallows. at Windsor Park a few kilometres upriver.
heart of a big city. We come for its solitude “It’s a pity there aren’t more kids out Lee Blue says a Springhurst dock would
and nature, and to exercise. here on the water in nature. I’ve suggested be terrific: “Then there would be less bank
“Canoeing here is so nice and it’s good to Sustainable Living Ottawa East (SLOE) erosion from putting in and taking out the
exercise,” says Burrows, 52. “I have a foot about having a summer canoe camp at boats.”
problem and can’t run, so I cycle, which is Brantwood Park.” SLOE has several projects She knows what she’s talking about; she
good for the legs, but paddling is great for on-going, and Rick hopes this becomes wears rubber boots until she’s on board.
the upper body.” another. In May, SLOE planted trees and did “You don’t know what’s in the water,” she
He uses a kayak paddle with his one- shoreline management and cleanup as part says pointing to the muddy current. “I
person Old Town canoe. “I find it easier on of its Rideau River Nature Trail project. know part of the chain link fence (from the
the arms and wrist than doing a J-stroke, Rick’s two children sometimes come out Oblates property) was tossed in here last
and it gives me an equal workout on my for a paddle as he has a kayak as well as year. Others tell me that they’ve pulled out
upper body,” he explains, before launching the canoe. “It’s so quiet out here; so good parts of a bike and other polluting stuff.”
his canoe. for kids. You can see muskrats and mallards Still it doesn’t deter her. Lee’s been
and mergansers.” paddling ever since she moved here a few
almOst wilD
The river is home to a wide variety of years ago. “A paddle on a bright sunny day,
“It’s almost like being in the wilderness,” plant, bird, fish and animal life. I’ve seen a with a light wind lifts my spirits,” she says.
he says. “There’s a lot of vegetation and pair of wood ducks, a sandpiper, a little green Her commitment is remarkable. She has a
wildlife, with the high banks you can’t really heron and a kingfisher, as well as a beaver, tattoo of the river on her arm, and keeps a
see many buildings except past Brantwood turtles, panfish and huge carp. According to journal of her kayaking. One item from July
Park,” in Ottawa East. the “Nature of the Rideau River” website, 23 4, 2007 reads:
He says the shallows around the of the 30 Canadian native freshwater fish Went out at 8:20 p.m. It was overcast.
Hurdman foot and bicycle bridge just species can be found between Hogs Back There was no sunset due to cloud cover.
www.OttawaOutdoors.ca OTTAWA >> SUMMER/FALL 2008 5
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