Small businesses prepare for wage hike
By Patrick Barrios Small businesses across Ontario are scrambling to adapt as the provincial government’s proposed minimum wage hike – the steepest increase in the province’s history – looms. But…
‘Living statues’ celebrate Sparks Street’s 50th birthday
By Aidan Chamandy Elvis, Marie Antoinette and other “living statue” performers were miming all over Sparks Street on the weekend of Sept. 16−17 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the…
Ottawa hair salon debuts gender-neutral pricing
By Courtney Buchanan A Centretown hair salon says it has seen a wave of new clients since it changed prices by introducing gender-neutral charges for haircuts. Hair Junkie, located at…
Viewpoint: Gender-neutral haircuts are just the beginning
By Rosa Saba The news that Centretown salon Hair Junkie is no longer charging customers according to gender has made many people, including myself, very happy. But we should be…
Viewpoint: Ottawa has a good chance in the race to host Amazon
By Sarah Newman E-commerce giant Amazon is searching for a place to put its brand-new “HQ2” — and Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has been on the move. Watson was in…
Mad Radish salad bar opens cashless eateries
By Mazen Abouelata Customer responses to cashless transactions at Centretown’s ground-breaking lunch spot Mad Radish are “overwhelmingly positive,” says owner David Segal. When it came to running the business, Segal…
Florist to the stars shuts Silver Rose
By Spencer Van Dyk After a four-decade career of private enterprise and public service — including gigs as the florist-in-chief for prime ministers, governors general, royal visitors and a pope —…
Viewpoint: Confusion reigns with raids, reopenings of marijuana shops
By Veronica Newbury Over the last few weeks, there’s been a curious chain of raids carried out against Canadian marijuana dispensaries by law enforcement. Cannabis Culture, brainchild of Canada’s own so-called…
Taco spot expands to Market
By Michael MacKinnon El Camino, a popular taco restaurant on Elgin Street, is opening a second location in the ByWard Market on Clarence Street. The location is opening up where…
Glowfair impresario set to light up Bank St.
By Sarah Togman A full weekend of music, art and glowing entertainment is in store for Ottawa’s annual Glowfair Festival in mid-June — and with an all-Canadian lineup to mark…