The cleanup lasted three weeks after a devastating storm blew Ottawa away. The extent of this destruction is still found at the southern end of the city in Conroy Pit, near Hunt Club Road.
The area is part of the largest forest in the Green Belt and hosts a number of nature trails as well as a popular dog park.
Homes returning to the slope are also severely damaged.
“It will take three, four, five or six months before we can return to the house,” said Lyndon Smith, whose home was damaged.
Smith’s house in Blossom Park had a torn roof. He found pieces of it down the street and in the woods.
“We don’t have electricity and we have a ceiling in the bedroom that needs to come down,” Smith said.
The debris is still scattered, the water mains have been removed, there are tiles on the street and the trees have been cut down.
Maurice Forges cleans his yard every day for weeks.
“I’ve been here since 6:30 in the morning and I’m cutting branches,” Forges said.
The properties are adjacent to the Pine Grove sector, a large forest south of the city.
This is where you will find the Conroy Pit, which has trails and a popular dog park. The NCC closed the entire area due to the devastation of the storm.
“Thousands of trees fell because the storm had a big impact,” said Marc-Antoine Poitras of the National Capital Commission.
There is so much to investigate that staff have not been able to safely inspect all the damage.
“I cried,” said Celine Karen, “You could see the canopy, the landscape, like the trees that have fallen a lot.”
It is not clear when the area will reopen or the cost of repairs with many risks to be considered.
“Assessing the threat of fire and fuel for fire after so many trees have fallen,” Poitras said.
The NCC has reopened other protected areas, including part of the Bruce Pit.
UPDATE Bruce Pete is partially open again.
Frequently used trails in the dog area without a leash and areas have been cleared and reopened.
⚠Avoid denser forests as they are not yet safe.
We thank our colleagues @OttawaCity for their hard work. #OttNews #Otawa https://t.co/C3NEyUwKCD
– National Capital Commission (@NCC_CCN) June 10, 2022
Add Comment