Cleanup continues at Conroy Pit following May 21 storm
The clean-up continues three weeks after a devastating storm tore through Ottawa. The extent of that destruction is still being discovered in the city's south end at Conroy Pit, near Hunt Club Road.
The area is part of the largest forest in the Greenbelt and hosts a number of nature trails as well as a popular dog park.
Homes that back onto the escarpment are also severely damaged.
"It’s going to take three, four, five or six months before we can get back into the house," said Lyndon Smith, whose home was damaged.
Smith’s Blossom Park neighbourhood home had a roof ripped off. He found pieces of it down the street and in the forest.
"We got no power and we have a bedroom ceiling that’s got to come down," said Smith.
Debris is still scattered, hydro wires down, shingles are on the street, and trees are cut up.
Maurice Forgues has been cleaning up his yard every day for weeks.
"I’ve been out here since 6:30 a.m. cutting up branches," said Forgues.
The properties are adjacent to the Pine Grove sector, a large forest south of the city.
It is where you’ll find the Conroy Pit, which has trails and a popular dog park. The NCC closed off the entire area because of the storm devastation.
"Thousands of trees down because the storm had a pretty extensive impact," said Marc-Antoine Poitras of the National Capital Commission.
There’s so much to survey that staff haven’t been able to safely check out all of the destruction.
"I cried," said Celine Caron, "You could see the canopy, the landscape, like the trees that’s lots of fallen trees."
It’s not clear when the area will reopen or the cost to repair with many risks to consider.
"Assessing the threat of fire and fuel for fire after so many trees falling," said Poitras.
The NCC has reopened other conservation areas, including part of the Bruce Pit.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
As storms moves across Texas, 1 child dies after being swept away in floodwaters
A child in Texas died Sunday after being swept away in floodwaters as storms swept across the state.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.