June 2026

Longer days, flourishing gardens, and a full calendar of community gatherings across Ottawa.

Nasha Choudhury
July 01, 2026

June 2026 PEN Newsletter

Welcome

June brought longer days, flourishing gardens, and a full calendar of community gatherings across Ottawa. As summer officially arrived, the month offered opportunities to celebrate local environmental leadership, reflect on important conversations around peace and justice, and enjoy the many ways our city comes alive outdoors. In this edition, we highlight local climate initiatives, community advocacy, seasonal events, and a look back at an important moment from PERC’s history.

Feature Story: Ottawa Celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day

On June 21, communities across Ottawa came together to celebrate the 30th National Indigenous Peoples Day through ceremonies, performances, cultural demonstrations, and educational events. The day served as both a celebration of the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and an opportunity to reflect on the ongoing work of reconciliation.

Across the city, organizations emphasized the importance of building respectful relationships, supporting Indigenous leadership, and protecting the lands and waters that sustain all communities. Events throughout the day encouraged learning, dialogue, and community connection.

https://www.cjme.com/2026/06/21/communities-across-canada-celebrate-indigenous-peoples-day/

Partner Spotlight: Ecology Ottawa Features

David Suzuki & Tara Cullis Inspire Local Climate Action

This spring, approximately 150 students, community members, and environmental advocates gathered at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orleans, Ottawa for the final stop of David Suzuki and Tara Cullis’ Stronger Together Tour. Following a performance of their play What You Won’t Do For Love, the pair hosted a community dialogue focused on what meaningful local climate action can look like in Ottawa.

The event featured conversations with local leaders, including representatives from the City of Ottawa, and invited audience members to share the work happening in their own communities. The overwhelming response demonstrated the strength of Ottawa’s environmental movement and reinforced a simple but powerful message: while climate change is a global challenge, lasting solutions begin with local communities working together.

https://www.ecologyottawa.ca/david-suzuki-dialogue

Ecology Ottawa Applauds Progress on Ottawa’s Solid Waste Master Plan

On Tuesday, June 16th, Ecology Ottawa attended City Council’s Environment and Climate Committee to delegate on the City’s second Solid Waste Master Plan Update. They recognized the progress being made through Ottawa’s Solid Waste Master Plan while encouraging even greater investment in community-led waste diversion initiatives. The organization highlighted the growing success of programs that support repair, reuse, and circular economy projects, emphasizing that local communities play a vital role in reducing waste and extending the life of Ottawa’s landfill.

Ecology Ottawa also called on the City to continue strengthening funding for community environmental projects, improve data on waste diversion impacts, and prioritize zero-waste solutions over costly waste-to-energy incineration. The delegation underscored that building a circular economy not only benefits the environment but also strengthens community connections and resilience.

Peace & Environment News Around Ottawa in June 2026

1. International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding Comes to Ottawa

The University of Ottawa hosted the Fourth International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding from June 16–19, bringing together researchers, policymakers, Indigenous leaders, NGOs, and practitioners from around the world. The conference explored the links between climate change, biodiversity, conflict, displacement, Indigenous knowledge, and peacebuilding, positioning Ottawa as an international hub for conversations at the intersection of environment and peace.

2. Ottawa Riverkeeper Raises Concerns About Proposed Salmon Farm

Ottawa Riverkeeper, alongside environmental organizations and Anishinābeg Algonquin communities, raised concerns over a proposed land-based salmon farm along the Ottawa River in Pontiac, Quebec. The groups are calling for greater transparency and stronger environmental review, citing potential impacts on water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and the long-term health of the watershed.

3. Environmental Organizations Call for Stronger Federal Climate Protections

Representatives from sixteen environmental organizations gathered on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to urge the federal government not to weaken environmental laws in the name of accelerating development. Advocates expressed concern that proposed changes could undermine environmental assessments and protections for species at risk, arguing that strong environmental safeguards remain essential for Canada’s future.

4. World Refugee Day Recognized Across Ottawa

On June 20, local organizations marked World Refugee Day by celebrating the resilience and contributions of refugees while raising awareness about the importance of creating welcoming and inclusive communities. Events highlighted stories of hope, belonging, and solidarity.

5. Pride Month Celebrations Across Ottawa

Throughout June, Ottawa joined communities across the country in celebrating National Pride Month, with events, programming, and community gatherings recognizing the voices, histories, and contributions of 2SLGBTQIA+ people. The City highlighted Pride as both a celebration and a moment of reflection acknowledging progress made toward equality while recognizing that ongoing work remains to ensure safety, inclusion, and belonging for all community members.

Programming across institutions and community spaces included discussions, educational events, and gatherings focused on queer joy, mental health, and community connection, reinforcing Pride Month as a city-wide moment of visibility and solidarity.

Fun Community Feature

Summer Solstice in the Capital

June marks the arrival of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year and the official beginning of summer. With nearly sixteen hours of daylight, Ottawa residents embraced the extra sunshine by enjoying parks, patios, trails, festivals, and evenings along the Rideau Canal and Ottawa River.

The solstice has long been celebrated by cultures around the world as a time of renewal, gratitude, and connection with nature. It serves as a reminder to slow down, spend time outdoors, and appreciate the beauty of the season.

Discover Ottawa’s Community Gardens

Across Ottawa, community gardens continue to flourish as neighbourhood spaces where people grow food, build friendships, and learn sustainable gardening practices together. These gardens not only provide fresh produce but also strengthen community resilience, biodiversity, and local food security.

Whether you’re an experienced gardener or simply curious about getting involved, community gardens offer welcoming spaces to connect with both nature and neighbours throughout the summer.

PEN Archives

Looking Back: PERC’s Community Environmental Education

For decades, the Peace and Environment Resource Centre has helped connect Ottawa residents with environmental education, community organizing, and grassroots action. Through workshops, publications, volunteer opportunities, and partnerships, PERC has supported individuals and organizations working toward a more peaceful and sustainable future.

Looking back reminds us that lasting change often begins with local communities coming together to share knowledge, support one another, and imagine a better future. Many of the conversations taking place today around climate resilience, social justice, and community wellbeing continue to build upon this long tradition of civic engagement.

Please check out our archives to learn more: https://pen-newsletter.beehiiv.com/

Community Corner

Have an event, project, story, or volunteer opportunity you would like featured in a future edition of PEN? We would love to hear from you. Community initiatives, environmental projects, peace-building efforts, and local stories help make this newsletter a space for connection, learning, and inspiration.

Thank you for reading and for being part of a growing community committed to peace, environmental stewardship, and collective care.

PERC appreciates all of our readers for giving us this chance to connect with members of our community, and we love being able to provide you with a forum to discuss pressing environmental and social justice issues.

We also rely on your support to make this work possible. If you are interested in helping our organization continue using storytelling, education, and networking to empower individuals, non-profits, and community groups working toward a greener and more peaceful world, please consider making a donation to the Peace and Environment Resource Centre.

But we also rely on your support to make this happen. If you are interested in helping our organization continue to use storytelling and networking to help individuals, non-profits, and community groups work locally for a greener and more peaceful world, please consider making a donation to the Peace and Environment Resource Centre.

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