Councillor calls for ‘holistic’ urban planning amid province’s housing push
College Coun. Laine Johnson is advocating for the province to stop undermining municipal governments and let city planners do their work to help create as much new housing as possible in liveable neighbourhoods. Citing 53 recommendations that the city has made to accelerate housing development, Johnson said the provincial government is ‘punching down’ on the city’s ability to build housing....
Residents of fast-growing Barrhaven critique planned civic centre, library
An Aug. 10 open house for a sprawling new civic centre and library branch in Barrhaven gave local residents a chance to see plans for the community complex and give feedback directly to municipal staff and city councillors. The open house for the civic complex was held at the Minto Recreation Centre with Barrhaven East and West councillors Wilson Lo...
Citing popularity of River House, Dow’s Lake, NCC opens two more swim sites
Two new swimming docks opened in July on both shores of the Ottawa River, giving visitors additional places to cool off in the water. One is located on the shoreline at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, while the other is directly across the river at East Wharf, near the Rideau Canal locks at the foot of Major’s Hill...
Riverkeeper panelists say ‘swimmability’ emerging as key quality-of-life indicator in major cities around the world
The head of the Ottawa Riverkeeper advocacy group says it’s time to change the public’s longstanding perception that the Ottawa River isn’t clean enough to swim in. Riverkeeper CEO Laura Reinsborough — who also holds the title “Riverkeeper” — hosted a recent panel discussion at the NCC River House that highlighted how a city’s “swimmability” is emerging as a key...
Nighttime river boat cruises highlight tourism funding for after-dark Ottawa
Ottawa has gained a nightlife boat cruise series this summer, partly thanks to an Ottawa Tourism funding initiative to support after-dark activities in the capital. Th Ottawa Boat Cruise’s “Sunset Party Cruise” series brings Ottawa in line with other Canadian locales, such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, that offer evening party events on the water. Nightlife cruises are being hosted...
Poet’s ‘Forest Teachings’ workshop brings Indigenous ways of knowing to forefront of Ottawa’s 200th anniversary
Ottawa’s former English poet laureate and Indigenous cultural leader Albert Dumont hosted a film screening and art-making workshop on July 14 at the Diane Deans Community Centre in Greenboro. The event was facilitated by the School of Never-Ending Learning, a local intergenerational education initiative that secured grant money from the city’s 200th anniversary fund. The workshop series — titled Forest...
Industry shines light on city’s music talent with 2026 award nominations
Dozens of nominees were honoured last week as the finalists for this year’s Capital Music Awards were announced during a ceremony at the National Arts Centre. The awards, organized by the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, will cap the annual Capital Music Week celebration in October. The 2026 nominees, unveiled May 20 at the NAC’s Peter A. Herrndorf Place, recognize the...
Fair brings showcase for creative, accessible ‘artist books’ to the capital
An exhibition at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre in downtown Ottawa was brimming with creative energy on May 8 as the second Object/Project Art Book Fair, hosted by Possible Worlds, showcased the work of 62 artists and publishers. Two rooms at the centre were set up like a flea market of artists’ tables, while a third was reserved for artist and panel...
Capital Coun. Shawn Menard celebrates park victory, confirms re-election bid
Capital Coun. Shawn Menard led members of the Ottawa East community in celebration Saturday after a beloved patch of parkland was recently saved when a 50-year-old plan to build a freeway through the green space was scrapped. Menard also said the neighbourhood’s victory in the battle to preserve the “People’s Park” has helped convince him to run for re-election as...
Canada’s next GG has been a Supreme Court judge, war-crimes prosecutor, inquiry leader — and film subject
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s pick for Canada’s next governor general, former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour, has a very accomplished backstory — including one phase of her life that was even dramatized in film. Arbour was appointed chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda at The Hague, Netherlands, in 1996, and she set...
Gas prices remain high compared with other costs, leaving Ottawa residents scrambling to cope
Despite overall inflation falling, gasoline prices are still consistently higher than all other essential goods in Ontario, putting financial strain on Ottawa residents.
Ottawa teen Kevin Tobin’s determination takes him to kayak bronze at world championships
Despite living with ADHD and autism, Kevin Tobin is dismantling stigma around disabled youth athletes by proving with tenacious determination that he can achieve his goals.