Living the dream: Ottawa songwriter keeps a promise to himself with release of new track and video
Ottawa-based musician Victor Gabriel-Hanson, also known as Victa, has kept a promise he made to himself, releasing a new track early in the new year, followed by a music video. The track, “Promises,” was released Jan. 6, while the video came out on March 13. “The vision behind it was just to create a fun dance song,” Gabriel-Hanson said. He...
Ottawa’s first Brazilian bakery seeks to be a cultural hub
Ottawa has just gained its first Brazilian bakery. "That's Bananas" seeks to be a cultural hub serving authentic Brazilian food for Ottawa's Brazilian community.
Just Food is sprouting food sovereignty in Ottawa
Urban agriculture in Ottawa is building skills, strengthening communities, and reshaping local food systems beyond the grocery store.
Local food businesses build community and profits with the help of social media
The Great Canadian Poutinerie sits in the heart of a kilometre-long commercial stretch of Bank Street in Ottawa’s Centretown. Mustard-yellow crossing signs along its bustling sidewalks match the restaurant’s retro storefront. A small black sign outside the entrance frames a cartoon of Patrick Morin, who recently went viral online for his General Tso -flavoured poutine — a testament to the...
Ottawa entrepreneurs test demand for New York-style bagels with pop-ups
Small business Baci's Bagels is bringing New-York inspired bagels into the capital city. The couple behind it talks about their plans and popular bagel pop-ups.
Bearing damage means full LRT Line 1 service won’t return until at least late May, says OC Transpo
OC Transpo says it will take at least six weeks to fully restore O-Train Line 1 service, but that there is no longer a risk of a long-term shutdown.
OC Transpo finds more damage on LRT cars, delaying a return to full service on Line 1
OC Transpo says full service on the LRT may not resume until late May or early June, after additional damage was discovered in the cartridge bearing assemblies of the cars.
As coffee prices climb, Ottawa roaster works to keep cups affordable
Gord Fitzpatrick has had seen the spike in coffee prices first hand. “This is the highest the prices have been,” said the owner of Kafia International Coffee and master roaster. “It peaked around September or October and has dipped slightly, but still high.” Fitzpatrick imports “green bean” coffee, the unroasted crop bought from wholesalers that finds its way to local...
Data shows hard-hit Ottawa topped Toronto in per capita rate of flu cases
Like many who had the flu last winter, Piper Long was fighting off feverish hot flashes and shivers that left her bedridden for a week in November. At first, Long said she thought it was a cold. But when her fever topped 100 F, she said she knew she had taken a turn for the worse. “It was just awful,...
Right-on-red inquiry: Councillor finds more questions than answers on pedestrian safety priorities
A downtown councillor is questioning Ottawa’s policy on red light right-hand turns after what she describes as a very dangerous summer for cyclists and pedestrians.
Ottawa secondhand bookstore starts a second chapter
Ray and Trish Tropiano have opened a second location of Re-Read Used Books in Riverside South.
Numbers illustrate how public money is helping build NHL arenas
Despite not paying NHL players directly, Canadian governments have recently been dipping their toes more heavily into professional hockey funding by way of arenas.
Councillors push for more transparent real-time tracking of transit reliability
Long wait times, delays, ghost buses have plagued some 300,000 daily OC Transpo users in 2026. Low operator and bus availability, extreme weather and mechanical problems only exacerbate the problem. And real-time tracking tools meant to help OC Transpo users make decisions about their commute have become unreliable for some. On Jan. 5 alone, for example, more than 800 scheduled...
Trans Library nourishes community spirit with soup, snacks and socializing
The Ottawa Trans Library recently brought together dozens of members of Ottawa’s queer community to share a meal and the love of soup — all part of the Hintonburg book hub’s mission to serve as a safe and welcoming social space. OTL hosts numerous events aimed at the city’s transgender population, including poetry night and music jams. There’s a board...
Ottawa police say translation system in body-worn cameras already helping in the community
Ottawa police are touting the success of their body-worn camera pilot project so far, saying the technology in the systems is helping them respond more quickly to community needs.
AI in body-worn cameras major time saver, Ottawa police tell board
Ottawa police say they are already seeing benefits from the Artificial Intelligence system built into the body-worn cameras, a system the force plans to continue expanding in the coming years.
Skin cancer in Canada: Experts urge sunscreen use as warmer weather approaches
With warmer weather approaching, health experts are reminding Canadians that protecting their skin from the sun is more important than ever.
LGBTQ2+ activists, police say drop in hate crimes not accounting for large number of unreported incidents
The number of reported hate-motivated crimes directed at the LGBTQ2+ community is declining in Ottawa, which would be good news if there wasn't so much uncertainty around the numbers.
Ottawa homeless shelters, forced to adapt in a long, cold winter, thankful for public compassion
Data from the City of Ottawa shows the average number of individuals staying in temporary shelters has nearly doubled since 2022, reaching more than 3,800 shelter stays across the city in January 2026 alone.
Indigenous group aims to help small businesses thrive in the digital economy
Ashley-Rose Machendagoos, an Ojibway woman who owns a business selling beaded earrings and beaded kits, says she struggles with all the technology required to have an online store.
ByWard Market William Street pedestrian project delayed over fears of impacts on businesses
The plan to transform William Street into a permanent pedestrian-only street is on hold and Ottawa city councillors are questioning why that decision was made without council’s approval.
Ottawa Senators partnership to support Gatineau’s elite young players
Elite youth hockey players in Gatineau will be in contact with more people from the world of professional hockey than ever before, starting next year. The Ottawa Senators have announced a new, five-year partnership with Hockey Outaouais to rebrand its three boys’ AAA teams to the Sens’ name, logo and colours. The Senators say that one part of the partnership...
Atlético Ottawa plays historic ‘home’ Concacaf game in Hamilton, sending fans scrambling
Atlético Ottawa fans travelled to Hamilton, Ont. for the club's continental debut after it was relocated due to Lansdowne 2.0 construction.
Fitness influencers promote risky, unproven fitness products called peptides online — and health experts are ringing alarm bells
Fitness and wellness trends are nothing new to social media. Influencers promote and sell items to their audiences and their messages often convince consumers the products are safe. The latest social media buzz is around peptides being peddled online to buyers looking to build and heal muscles — and experts are warning about risks. Michael Osborn, a university student in...
As welcoming ‘third places’ decline, Rough Draft Events is building a community for young adults in Ottawa
When she started her online stationery business in 2024, Cara Loop never thought she’d become an event planner. Two years later, she’s the creative mind behind a rotating calendar of trivia nights, themed events and affordable craft workshops across Ottawa. Rough Draft Events, founded by Loop, hosts workshops at community-oriented businesses such as Arlington Five, Equator Coffee and Manor Park Brewing (formerly Small and Local Beer co.), with a focus on accessibility and low-cost participation. In a...
Creating space to move: A dancer’s mission to make dance accessible in Ottawa
A Carleton University student is bringing affordable, pay-what-you-can dance classes to Ottawa focused on accessibility and community.
Residents fear mercury contamination as Kanata golf club redevelopment begins
Kanata residents are ringing alarm bells over mercury contamination at the former Kanata Golf and Country Club, an area that will soon be redeveloped for residential housing. “It is documented – there is mercury contamination across this entire site,” said Kanata North Coun. Cathy Curry during a planning committee meeting on March 4. “The city’s response was that ‘no, the...
Beer festival a reminder of the quality of local suds as U.S. booze ban hits one year
It's been exactly one year since the Ford government pulled U.S. liquor from LCBO shelves and one local beer maker says he's worried more about American suppliers than he is about his own business.
Westboro community steps into cold in support of Cornerstone Housing for Women
Westboro-based Cornerstone Housing for Women raises funds for their emergency shelter as housing insecurity rises.
City rebuffs owner, grants heritage status to ‘rare’ Orléans farmhouse
Over the objections of the building’s owner, Ottawa city council has granted heritage status to a “rare and unusual remaining example” of a century-old farmhouse in Orléans. Located at 6654 Notre-Dame St. in the east-end suburb, Lauzon House is described by city heritage experts as an important link to the history of the early Franco-Ontarian farming community while exhibiting “a...
More than murals: Paint It Up! builds youth skills and neighbourhood pride in Ottawa
Tucked away on Wellington Street West, a vibrant peafowl fans its feathers across the side of a barbershop, a splash of colour that serves as a point of pride for area residents. Since its completion last year, “The Proudest Plumage” has drawn visitors, sparked conversations and helped community members see themselves reflected in the public space around them. The mural...
Council approves heritage study for Kanata’s Beaverbrook neighbourhood
City council has approved a comprehensive heritage study for Beaverbrook, the Kanata neighbourhood designed in the 1960s as a planned, nature-oriented community. The study could lead to Beaverbrook’s designation as a heritage conservation district, the first in Ottawa outside the Greenbelt and one of the few in Ontario recognizing a mid-20th century suburb. The proposal had earned support earlier from...
Carleton gallery fosters close-knit feeling with textile exhibit, fibre-art workshops
The Carleton University Art Gallery recently welcomed students with an interest in fibre arts – knitting, crochet, visible mending and more – to come together to create and celebrate its new exhibition, Material Journeys. The gallery held a third installment of its “Art + Friends” series Feb. 8, this time with a focus on textiles. Around 50 students sat around...
‘Don’t shut down the program:’ Students, industry fight to save Algonquin College music training
The sound of guitar solos, drums, bass lines and vocals fill room N124 at Algonquin College. The music recording lab class is covering a song with added elements of creativity to showcase their learning over the term. But next year, room N124 may be silent because the Music Industry Arts program is one of dozens that could be on the...
‘Tell the truth’: Algonquin poet urges ‘Ottawa 200’ to fully acknowledge Indigenous history before colonization
Ottawa’s former poet laureate is urging the city to acknowledge the “oppression” suffered by the Indigenous inhabitants of the region — where they have lived for thousands of years — during this year’s 200th anniversary of the founding of Bytown. Albert Dumont, the city’s English-language poet laureate from 2021 to 2023 and a spiritual guide from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg —...
Eligibility for arts awards revamped in nod to wider circle of ‘creatives’
Arts Ottawa has revamped its eligibility criteria for the capital’s annual awards, a move organizers say, widens the circle of recognition and reflects changes affecting the local arts scene. The awards also acknowledge the impact artists and arts leaders have on the community. “The Arts Ottawa Awards celebrate the artists, cultural workers, organizations and community builders who make Ottawa’s arts...
Ottawa curling stars Homan, Miskew spark change to Hall of Fame eligibility
The Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame has changed the way it welcomes active athletes to the ultimate club of excellence for local athletes. The move was sparked by the international success of Ottawa curlers Rachel Homan and Emma Miskew, three-time world champions and five-time winners of the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Homan and Miskew won the bronze medal game...
Ottawa set to expand community grants program to include waste diversion
A plan to expand Ottawa’s community grants program to include projects designed to reduce or reuse waste has the support of the city’s environment committee, though some councillors question whether the funding amount is adequate.
Ottawa plans to seek bird-friendly designation under Nature Canada program
The City of Ottawa is advancing an application for designation as a Bird Friendly City under a national program led by Nature Canada.
Transit group shows why official OC Transpo numbers don’t match reality for most
A new website from a volunteer transit advocacy group shows why Ottawa’s official bus reliability numbers don’t match the actual experience of most riders.
Gotta go? Stand-alone public washroom promises downtown relief — at long last
A stand-alone public washroom planned for the corner of Somerset and Bank streets in Centretown will be the first of its kind in the capital when it opens this fall. Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster said the facility will be 400 square feet and believes it will have two stalls. Troster said she was “shocked” to learn there were no stand-alone,...
Eating local: Restaurants seek the perfect mix of social media presence and influencer content
Food businesses and influencers are using social media platforms to reach new customers.
Coming to Canada: Migrants seek opportunity for a better life as doors start closing
As Canada scales back its Temporary Foreign Worker Program, Youssef Bouderbela reflects on joining before obtaining legal status.
Heritage Ottawa talk highlights Indigenous influence at Kìwekì Point
A recent Heritage Ottawa lecture on Kìwekì Point — the National Capital Commission’s reimagining of what was once called Nepean Point in downtown Ottawa — showcased the central role of reconciliation-oriented design and Indigenous collaboration in the $45-million project. Garry Meus, a senior landscape architect with the NCC, guided attendees through the vision for the landmark during his Jan. 21...
Ottawa Sport Council urges city to invest more in basketball courts
This story includes voices from OSC and OBN board members and local youth basketball coaches on why Ottawa needs to invest into indoor basketball facilities.
Natural wine tempting drinkers looking for a healthier option
Natural wine is on the rise in Ottawa offering consumers healthier alternatives.
City plants seed for Ottawa community gardens to bloom
Ottawa gardeners hopeful new City program promising increased garden space bears fruit.
How’s your New Year’s resolution? Gym owners have ideas for keeping on track
People start the new year full of plans to keep their resolutions, only to see their resolve crumble by late January.
A fowl tale: Secondhand Stories sanctuary brings chickens compassion
Liz Wheeler is the proud owner of Secondhand Stories chicken sanctuary, the home to 22 chickens. And it all started with some decluttering.
Aberdeen Pavilion vendor laments impact of ‘Cattle Castle’ repair work
The Aberdeen Pavilion, the landmark heritage building at Lansdowne Park, is to be shut down for a major roof rehabilitation as early as this spring, city officials say. The upcoming construction is raising concerns about the closure’s impact on public events held inside the building, including the popular 613Flea market, which operates inside the building twice a month, hosting up...