Parkwood Hills
Encyclopedia
Parkwood Hills is a neighbourhood in River Ward
and Knoxdale-Merivale Ward
, located in Nepean, Ontario
. It is notable for the thriller Parkwood Hills (2002) which was filmed on location in the area by Kolin Casagrande, and for being a typical and illustrative example of town planning and development
by Minto in the context of its position as the property manager
for the National Capital Commission
.
is the street, Meadowlands Drive, bounded to the east by Fisher Avenue and to the west by Merivale Road. Image. It is in River Ward
, and also in Knoxdale-Merivale Ward
which was expanded in 2006. The councillor for River
is Maria McRae
, and for Knoxdale Merivale
it is Keith Egli
, replacing the perennial incumbent, Gord Hunter
, who retired prior to the 2010 Municipal Election
.
, animal predationCity of Ottawa website: wild animal control. and fire risk.
known as Nepean
. One possible source for the name is Parkwood Hill, the fictional suburban setting for the 1948-1969 UK radio series Mrs Dale's Diary
.
It is a mixed-dwelling suburb
, having apartment block
s, townhouse
s and an assortment of single family houses. The development
is largely the work of the building company, Minto, which maintains ownership of many of the multi-residence buildings. The tract has been developed over the past half-century and is largely complete. The development was planned by architect John Russell in 1959. He was influenced by Californian community layouts and house models, but see Ottawa urban planning. The building took place between 1959 and 1972.
, made as part of a project that assigned filmmakers to make short films with a horror theme," and was shown as part of a Halloween
entertainment in Ottawa
in 2007. Since the plot centres on the fears of a babysitter, it possibly falls into the horror-of-personality
sub-genre.
are administered by Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
. Catholic schools are administered by the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board. Amalgamation of some schools has been recently recommended, due to a fall in student numbers.
Des Laurier High School has an active basketball
team which played a friendly against the local police in May 2009. Parkwood Hills Public School won a Health Pennant from the Ministry of Health on 4 May 2007, and took part in the Who is Nobody program in 2009.
building where it will cater for 47 children. St. Luke’s Child Care Centre also caters for 47 children. This centre operates various childcare
programs and outside visits.
was formed in 1965, and the Mulvagh farmhouse - at the corner of Meadowlands and Chesterton - became the manse
, with the congregation's first full-time minister. Between 1965 and 2009 there have only been three resident ministers. Fundraising then provided for the new church building.
Due to further growth of the congregation, an expansion fund was set up in the early 1980s. The old manse was renovated to become the Fellowship Centre in 1989, with a wheelchair ramp added in 1990. In 1996 the church building was expanded, and the congregation was involved in various missions in 1996 and 1998.
This is a church-going community which is surrounded by other neighbourhoods, so that the only church in Parkwood does not have a monopoly on the local faithful. For example, those with a different outlook can attend Trinity United Church in a neighbouring neighbourhood, which mentions open minds and inclusivity on its website.
.
.
General Burns park, named after E. L. M. Burns
, contains an outdoor public swimming pool
, 4 tennis court
s, baseball
field, soccer field and a children's play area. The General Burns Community Centre is in a 1950s log cabin
, and offers recreational and community programs, which include pilates
, taekwondo
, 117th Company Pathfinders, 115th Parkwood Hills Scout
group, Duffer Doo and Parkwood Hills Softball
Association. In winter from mid-December the park operates an outdoor ice hockey
rink and children's ice pad.
Parkwood Hills Softball Association operates youth and adult softball
leagues, and holds charity tournament
s. They award various trophies
: the Neil Cohen Memorial Trophy, the Ron Potvin Memorial Trophy and the Junior Umpire Achievement Award.
Raoul Wallenberg park is named after the humanitarian Raoul Wallenberg
.
Gardens on Viewmount comprise 200 plots.
, and discussed at the Public Transit in Ottawa site.
Buses run mainly on Meadowlands Drive, consisting of the regular routes, 86 and 111, the commuter route, 57 and the seasonal route, 117, which runs to serve mainly the student population of Carleton University
. Image.
weather forecast here. Canada climate data is here. Mini snowplough
s are a not-uncommon sight. Image.
's efforts to reinstate some of the native flora
and wildlife habitat
which has been displaced due to development. Domestic gardeners are encouraged to plant native species
such as Solomon's seal
and bloodroot
, although many of them are already doing their bit to discourage invasive alien species
(also described as non-indigenous, non-native, invasive and exotic) such as dandelion
, Queen Anne's lace, buckthorn
, garlic mustard and emerald ash borer
.
an neighbourhood
s in this zone, Parkwood Hills is rich in gardens, shaded by mature trees and beautified with a wide variety of shrub
s. This has created a habitat
favoured by many species
of birds, particularly those less nervous of living in close proximity with humans. In consequence, backyard birdwatching
can be most rewarding for the suburb
an enthusiast. Birds to be found regularly in the area are grackle
s, cardinal
s, hummingbird
s and chickadees. Image. Recently the Townsend's Solitaire
was found and photographed in Parkwood Hills by F. Ouellette-Streeting.
s. There are two ways in which wildlife might be viewed here: as a control
issue and as a recreational issue with conservation
and education in mind. Deer can wander onto roads and into suburbs, so there is an annual Speeding Costs You…Deerly campaign for safe driving.
River Ward
River Ward is city ward located in Ottawa, Ontario. Located in the central west/south central portion of the city, the ward includes the communities of Carlington, Skyline, Parkwood Hills, Fisher Heights, Mooney's Bay, Riverside Park and Hunt Club/Uplands which are located on both sides of the...
and Knoxdale-Merivale Ward
Knoxdale-Merivale Ward
Knoxdale-Merivale is a city ward in Ottawa, Ontario. Located in the city's west end, the ward is bordered to the east by the Rideau River and Fisher Avenue, the northern boundaries of the community of Barrhaven to the south, Ontario Highway 416 and Cedarview Road to the west and to the north by the...
, located in Nepean, Ontario
Nepean, Ontario
- Recent quantity of snow :- History :Nepean Township, originally known as Township D, was established in 1792 and originally included what is now the central area of Ottawa west of the Rideau River. Jehiel Collins, from Vermont, is believed to have been the first person to settle in Nepean...
. It is notable for the thriller Parkwood Hills (2002) which was filmed on location in the area by Kolin Casagrande, and for being a typical and illustrative example of town planning and development
Subdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
by Minto in the context of its position as the property manager
Property manager
A property manager or estate manager is a person or firm charged with operating a real estate property for a fee, when the owner is unable to personally attend to such details, or is not interested in doing so...
for the National Capital Commission
National Capital Commission
The National Capital Commission , is a Canadian Crown corporation that administers the federally owned lands and buildings in Canada's National Capital Region, including Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec.The NCC was created in 1959, replacing the Federal District Commission , which had been...
.
Location
Central to this developmentSubdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
is the street, Meadowlands Drive, bounded to the east by Fisher Avenue and to the west by Merivale Road. Image. It is in River Ward
River Ward
River Ward is city ward located in Ottawa, Ontario. Located in the central west/south central portion of the city, the ward includes the communities of Carlington, Skyline, Parkwood Hills, Fisher Heights, Mooney's Bay, Riverside Park and Hunt Club/Uplands which are located on both sides of the...
, and also in Knoxdale-Merivale Ward
Knoxdale-Merivale Ward
Knoxdale-Merivale is a city ward in Ottawa, Ontario. Located in the city's west end, the ward is bordered to the east by the Rideau River and Fisher Avenue, the northern boundaries of the community of Barrhaven to the south, Ontario Highway 416 and Cedarview Road to the west and to the north by the...
which was expanded in 2006. The councillor for River
River Ward
River Ward is city ward located in Ottawa, Ontario. Located in the central west/south central portion of the city, the ward includes the communities of Carlington, Skyline, Parkwood Hills, Fisher Heights, Mooney's Bay, Riverside Park and Hunt Club/Uplands which are located on both sides of the...
is Maria McRae
Maria McRae
Maria McRae is an Ottawa City Councillor. She represents the River Ward covering some of the city's southern suburbs. Born in Sudbury, Ontario McRae has an undergraduate degree in biology and a law degree from the University of Western Ontario. She moved to Ottawa in 2000 working as a legal...
, and for Knoxdale Merivale
Knoxdale-Merivale Ward
Knoxdale-Merivale is a city ward in Ottawa, Ontario. Located in the city's west end, the ward is bordered to the east by the Rideau River and Fisher Avenue, the northern boundaries of the community of Barrhaven to the south, Ontario Highway 416 and Cedarview Road to the west and to the north by the...
it is Keith Egli
Keith Egli
Keith Egli is the Ottawa city councillor for Knoxdale-Merivale Ward. He won the ward in the Ottawa municipal election, 2010, which was vacated by the retiring Gord Hunter....
, replacing the perennial incumbent, Gord Hunter
Gord Hunter
Gordon Hunter was an Ottawa City Councillor. He represented Knoxdale-Merivale Ward. On January 31, 2010, he announced that he would not be running re-election to city council in 2010....
, who retired prior to the 2010 Municipal Election
Ottawa municipal election, 2010
The Ottawa municipal election was contested on October 25, 2010 to elect the mayor of Ottawa, Ottawa City Council and the Ottawa-Carleton Public and Catholic School Boards...
.
Before 1959
It is known that at least some of this land was farmland, since the Mulvagh farmhouse was here. The farmhouse was later taken over by the Parkwood Presbyterian Church.Parkwood Presbyterian Church: History. Farming was challenging in some respects, due to the DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, animal predationCity of Ottawa website: wild animal control. and fire risk.
Development from 1959
Parkwood Hills is the name given to a residential development to the east of the section of OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
known as Nepean
Nepean, Ontario
- Recent quantity of snow :- History :Nepean Township, originally known as Township D, was established in 1792 and originally included what is now the central area of Ottawa west of the Rideau River. Jehiel Collins, from Vermont, is believed to have been the first person to settle in Nepean...
. One possible source for the name is Parkwood Hill, the fictional suburban setting for the 1948-1969 UK radio series Mrs Dale's Diary
Mrs Dale's Diary
Mrs Dale's Diary was the first significant BBC radio serial drama. It was first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme on 5 January 1948, and subsequently transferred to the newly formed Radio 2 in 1967, where it ran until 25 April 1969...
.
It is a mixed-dwelling suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
, having apartment block
Tower block
A tower block, high-rise, apartment tower, office tower, apartment block, or block of flats, is a tall building or structure used as a residential and/or office building...
s, townhouse
Townhouse
A townhouse is the term historically used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and in many other countries to describe a residence of a peer or member of the aristocracy in the capital or major city. Most such figures owned one or more country houses in which they lived for much of the year...
s and an assortment of single family houses. The development
Subdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
is largely the work of the building company, Minto, which maintains ownership of many of the multi-residence buildings. The tract has been developed over the past half-century and is largely complete. The development was planned by architect John Russell in 1959. He was influenced by Californian community layouts and house models, but see Ottawa urban planning. The building took place between 1959 and 1972.
Suburban development flourished in the 1950s and '60s, with Ottawa companies, including Minto and Campeau CorporationCampeau CorporationCampeau Corporation was a Canadian real estate development and investment company founded by entrepreneur Robert Campeau. It was infamous from its ultimately unsuccessful acquisitions of American department store holding companies Allied Stores in 1986 and Federated Department Stores in 1988...
building slews of suburban singles in Elmvale Acres, Parkwood Hills and similar areas, many of them in the 1,200-square-foot range.
Movie
The movie Parkwood Hills was made on location here in 2002 by Kolin Casagrande, who later produced The Walkers in 2004. It is a "short horror filmHorror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
, made as part of a project that assigned filmmakers to make short films with a horror theme," and was shown as part of a Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
entertainment in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in 2007. Since the plot centres on the fears of a babysitter, it possibly falls into the horror-of-personality
Horror-of-personality
Horror-of-personality is a specific sub-category of horror and thriller genres; as opposed to excessive violence or the presence of malevolent supernatural beings, such stories evoke horror and/or suspense through villains who are perfectly human, but possess horrific personalities. They usually...
sub-genre.
Schools
Public schools in NepeanNepean, Ontario
- Recent quantity of snow :- History :Nepean Township, originally known as Township D, was established in 1792 and originally included what is now the central area of Ottawa west of the Rideau River. Jehiel Collins, from Vermont, is believed to have been the first person to settle in Nepean...
are administered by Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board refers to both the institution responsible for the operation of all English public schools in the city of Ottawa, Ontario and its governing body. Like most school boards, the OCDSB is administered by a group of elected trustees and one director selected...
. Catholic schools are administered by the Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board. Amalgamation of some schools has been recently recommended, due to a fall in student numbers.
Des Laurier High School has an active basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team which played a friendly against the local police in May 2009. Parkwood Hills Public School won a Health Pennant from the Ministry of Health on 4 May 2007, and took part in the Who is Nobody program in 2009.
Childcare
Huron Towers Preschool/Kindergarten Child Care Centre caters for 44 children. In 2010 it will move to a new, environmentally friendlyEnvironmentally friendly
Environmentally friendly are terms used to refer to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies claimed to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment....
building where it will cater for 47 children. St. Luke’s Child Care Centre also caters for 47 children. This centre operates various childcare
Childcare
Child care means caring for and supervising child/children usually from 0–13 years of age. In the United States child care is increasingly referred to as early childhood education due to the understanding of the impact of early experiences of the developing child...
programs and outside visits.
Recreational
115th Parkwood Hills Scouts meets weekly from fall through spring, and holds meetings for Beavers, Cubs and Sea Scouts.Churches
Parkwood Presbyterian Church in Chesterton drive was built in 1974, but its first service was held in Parkwood Hills Public School in 1964. Due to expansion in attendance, a congregationLocal church
A local church is a Christian congregation of members and clergy.Local church may also refer to:* Local churches , a Christian group based on the teachings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, and associated with the Living Stream Ministry publishing house.* Parish church, a local church united with...
was formed in 1965, and the Mulvagh farmhouse - at the corner of Meadowlands and Chesterton - became the manse
Manse
A manse is a house inhabited by, or formerly inhabited by, a minister, usually used in the context of a Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist or United Church...
, with the congregation's first full-time minister. Between 1965 and 2009 there have only been three resident ministers. Fundraising then provided for the new church building.
Due to further growth of the congregation, an expansion fund was set up in the early 1980s. The old manse was renovated to become the Fellowship Centre in 1989, with a wheelchair ramp added in 1990. In 1996 the church building was expanded, and the congregation was involved in various missions in 1996 and 1998.
This is a church-going community which is surrounded by other neighbourhoods, so that the only church in Parkwood does not have a monopoly on the local faithful. For example, those with a different outlook can attend Trinity United Church in a neighbouring neighbourhood, which mentions open minds and inclusivity on its website.
Amenities
This community includes parks, playgrounds, tennis courts and retail areas. A neighborhood bonfire takes place at HalloweenHalloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
.
Parks and sport
Parkwood Hills Recreation Centre is in Meadowland Mall, on Merivale RoadMerivale Road (Ottawa)
Merivale Road is an arterial road in the western part of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It starts at Island Park Drive just north of Highway 417 and continues south until it ends at Prince of Wales Drive in Rideau Glen...
.
General Burns park, named after E. L. M. Burns
E. L. M. Burns
Eedson Louis Millard "Tommy" Burns, was a Canadian Army Lieutenant General and diplomat.-Early Education:...
, contains an outdoor public swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
, 4 tennis court
Tennis court
A tennis court is where the game of tennis is played. It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center. The same surface can be used to play both doubles and singles.-Dimensions:...
s, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
field, soccer field and a children's play area. The General Burns Community Centre is in a 1950s log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
, and offers recreational and community programs, which include pilates
Pilates
Pilates is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates in Germany, the UK and the USA. As of 2005, there were 11 million people practicing the discipline regularly and 14,000 instructors in the United States....
, taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
, 117th Company Pathfinders, 115th Parkwood Hills Scout
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
group, Duffer Doo and Parkwood Hills Softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
Association. In winter from mid-December the park operates an outdoor ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
rink and children's ice pad.
Parkwood Hills Softball Association operates youth and adult softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
leagues, and holds charity tournament
Tournament
A tournament is a competition involving a relatively large number of competitors, all participating in a sport or game. More specifically, the term may be used in either of two overlapping senses:...
s. They award various trophies
Trophy
A trophy is a reward for a specific achievement, and serves as recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are most often awarded for sporting events, from youth sports to professional level athletics...
: the Neil Cohen Memorial Trophy, the Ron Potvin Memorial Trophy and the Junior Umpire Achievement Award.
Raoul Wallenberg park is named after the humanitarian Raoul Wallenberg
Raoul Wallenberg
Raoul Wallenberg was a Swedish businessman, diplomat and humanitarian. He is widely celebrated for his successful efforts to rescue thousands of Jews in Nazi-occupied Hungary from the Holocaust, during the later stages of World War II...
.
Allotments and gardening
The Nepean AllotmentAllotment (gardening)
An allotment garden, often called simply an allotment, is a plot of land made available for individual, non-professional gardening. Such plots are formed by subdividing a piece of land into a few or up to several hundreds of land parcels that are assigned to individuals or families...
Gardens on Viewmount comprise 200 plots.
Public transit
This is run by OC Transpo on the OC Transpo routesOC Transpo routes
OC Transpo is a public transit authority that operates about 139 bus routes in the Ottawa-Gatineau region of Canada. It also operates the O-Train.-Route Colours:...
, and discussed at the Public Transit in Ottawa site.
Buses run mainly on Meadowlands Drive, consisting of the regular routes, 86 and 111, the commuter route, 57 and the seasonal route, 117, which runs to serve mainly the student population of Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
. Image.
Climate
The weather for Parkwood Hills is included in the NepeanNepean, Ontario
- Recent quantity of snow :- History :Nepean Township, originally known as Township D, was established in 1792 and originally included what is now the central area of Ottawa west of the Rideau River. Jehiel Collins, from Vermont, is believed to have been the first person to settle in Nepean...
weather forecast here. Canada climate data is here. Mini snowplough
Snowplow
A snowplow is a device intended for mounting on a vehicle, used for removing snow and ice from outdoor surfaces, typically those serving transportation purposes...
s are a not-uncommon sight. Image.
Native plants
This area is included in OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
's efforts to reinstate some of the native flora
Native plant
Native plant is a term to describe plants endemic or naturalized to a given area in geologic time.This includes plants that have developed, occur naturally, or existed for many years in an area...
and wildlife habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
which has been displaced due to development. Domestic gardeners are encouraged to plant native species
Native plant
Native plant is a term to describe plants endemic or naturalized to a given area in geologic time.This includes plants that have developed, occur naturally, or existed for many years in an area...
such as Solomon's seal
Polygonatum
Polygonatum , King Solomon's-seal or Solomon's Seal, is a genus of about 50 species of flowering plants. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae...
and bloodroot
Bloodroot
Bloodroot is a perennial, herbaceous flowering plant native to eastern North America from Nova Scotia, Canada southward to Florida, United States...
, although many of them are already doing their bit to discourage invasive alien species
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
(also described as non-indigenous, non-native, invasive and exotic) such as dandelion
Taraxacum
Taraxacum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. They are native to Eurasia and North America, and two species, T. officinale and T. erythrospermum, are found as weeds worldwide. Both species are edible in their entirety...
, Queen Anne's lace, buckthorn
Buckthorn
The Buckthorns are a genus of about 100 species of shrubs or small trees from 1-10 m tall , in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae...
, garlic mustard and emerald ash borer
Emerald ash borer
The emerald ash borer is a green beetle native to Asia.In North America the borer is an invasive species, highly destructive to ash trees in its introduced range. The potential damage of this insect rivals that of Chestnut blight and Dutch Elm Disease...
.
Birds
Like many similar suburbSuburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an neighbourhood
Neighbourhood
A neighbourhood or neighborhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition...
s in this zone, Parkwood Hills is rich in gardens, shaded by mature trees and beautified with a wide variety of shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s. This has created a habitat
Habitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
favoured by many species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of birds, particularly those less nervous of living in close proximity with humans. In consequence, backyard birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
can be most rewarding for the suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an enthusiast. Birds to be found regularly in the area are grackle
Grackle
Grackle can refer to any of eleven black passerine birds native to North and South America. All are members of the Icterid family but belong to multiple genera.* Genus Quiscalus** Boat-tailed Grackle, Quiscalus major...
s, cardinal
Cardinal (bird)
The Cardinals or Cardinalidae are a family of passerine birds found in North and South America. The South American cardinals in the genus Paroaria are placed in another family, the Thraupidae ....
s, hummingbird
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
s and chickadees. Image. Recently the Townsend's Solitaire
Townsend's Solitaire
Townsend's Solitaire is a medium-sized thrush, the only solitaire native to America north of Mexico.-Range and habitat:...
was found and photographed in Parkwood Hills by F. Ouellette-Streeting.
Wildlife
Common animals are eastern grey squirrels and skunkSkunk
Skunks are mammals best known for their ability to secrete a liquid with a strong, foul odor. General appearance varies from species to species, from black-and-white to brown or cream colored. Skunks belong to the family Mephitidae and to the order Carnivora...
s. There are two ways in which wildlife might be viewed here: as a control
Pest control
Pest control refers to the regulation or management of a species defined as a pest, usually because it is perceived to be detrimental to a person's health, the ecology or the economy.-History:...
issue and as a recreational issue with conservation
Wildlife management
Wildlife management attempts to balance the needs of wildlife with the needs of people using the best available science. Wildlife management can include game keeping, wildlife conservation and pest control...
and education in mind. Deer can wander onto roads and into suburbs, so there is an annual Speeding Costs You…Deerly campaign for safe driving.
