Suzanne Obiorah offers leadership in improving access for all to public health in Ottawa
Suzanne Obiorah, CEO of the Somerset West Community Health Centre, works to minimize racial and social disparities in Ottawa.
Ottawa galleries are hard at work making art accessible
Ottawa artists and organizations are bringing a fresh and accessible approach into the local art community.
“All of us have lost”: Sudanese Canadians build community at a time of war
Sudanese-Canadians are turning to each other to foster community and help their loved ones in Sudan as violent conflict rages on.
Flourishing street art prompting important conversations in the Glebe
Eighteen pieces of art can be found on the sides of buildings in the Glebe. And people agree it makes the area more attractive for all.
‘Maama Watali’ aims to build 14-unit transitional housing for victims of gender violence
Maama Watali: How a mother’s death led to the building of a Non-Profit Organization helping rebuild people’s lives
City Builder: Sarah Onyango’s mission: to honour the story Black veterans in Canada
Who is she? Sarah Onyango is a fixture on the Ottawa television and radio landscape, and a driving force in Ottawa’s Black community. She often lends her voice, global fluency and support to telling the often forgetten stories of underrepresented communities. Onyango told Capital Current her life’s objective is “building community, by facilitating connections for the good of the wider...
Meet some of the Black women pursuing and building community in Ottawa
In the city of Ottawa Black women are working to find and create spaces for engaging in Black sisterhood.
ANCHOR away: Centretown alternative crisis hotline sees high community engagement in first six weeks
The Alternative Neighbourhood Crisis Response, or ANCHOR, has already responded to over 100 calls, anticipates demand increasing
A Capital Current conversation: For Richard Lee, filmmaking is ‘storytelling in all its complexity’
Filmmaker, theatre creator Richard Lee is working to bring the stories of diverse people to the screen and stage.
The 25th Hour: These Aunties offer care for Indigenous youth in need
As an Indigenous full spectrum doula, Jackie Tompalski considers herself and other 'aunties' to be 'agents of transformative' justice by culturally supporting young Indigenous families.
Enforcement overhaul: Ottawa Police Board members set to study how to recognize systemic racism and more
Members of the Ottawa Police Service Board are set to undergo new provincial training on topics like multiculturalism and systemic racism.
Colourful parade hosted by Chinatown BIA ushers in Year of the Dragon
The Chinatown community marked the Lunar New Year with the first parade since the pandemic ended. This year is the Year of the Dragon.
Living under the Taliban: Afghan women call for more international support to fight gender-based violence
Carleton University invited Afghan activists to Richcraft Hall’s resource centre to share their experiences of resistance and resilience as women living under the Taliban. This event marked the 16th day of a global movement to tackle gender-based violence.
‘The Honest Talk’ podcast created to support women entrepreneurs
The Honest Talk digital platform and podcast is committed to forging female-focused conversations around entrepreneurship.
City builder: Susan Love helps prevent convicted sex offenders from re-offending
For more than 20 years, Susan Love has worked to help convicted sex offenders keep from re-offending. CoSA uses restorative justice principles to try to create both support and accountability for those they work with.
Bear Grease: An Indigenous take on an American musical classic comes to the NAC
As Bear Grease comes to Ottawa, the audience is not just Indigenous people. However, for those who do come from Indigenous communities, the show's meaning is palpable.
City builder: Karla Briones is teaching immigrants the dance of Canadian entrepreneurship
After seeing how her father struggled to open his own business when he immigrated to Canada, Karla Briones has been helping immigrants become successful entrepreneurs through mentorship and consulting.
City builder: Paula MacDonald builds cultural connections in her role as a deaf Indigenous advocate
Paula MacDonald, who is half Cree from Treaty 4, is a deaf Indigenous youth advocate, who is working hard to help deaf Indigenous connect with their communities.
Conference seeks to provide a Black lens on coping with climate change
Carleton conference gives a voice to a BIPOC perspective on climate change.
‘You’re improving the quality of life of somebody’: Diversifying blood and stem cell donations saves lives, experts say
With blood diseases like sickle cell anemia disproportionately affecting people of colour, diversifying the blood and stem cell donors can make a difference
Warm weather, veterans’ tribute mark Army Run’s in-person return
For the first time in two years, the 15th Canada Army Run returned in person this past month to Ottawa’s downtown. Participants enjoyed a new route that spanned the centre of the city, starting on Laurier Avenue near Ottawa City Hall and ending at the National War Memorial. Thousands of competitors ran, walked or rolled past some of Ottawa’s most...
Ottawa first responders bring the heat in fundraising event for epilepsy
First responders and more pulled a 12 tonne firetruck 100 feet to raise money for epilepsy Ottawa.
Muslim voices urge embrace of Islamic heritage beyond October celebration
October is Islamic month in Canada but it means much more than that for those seeking to educate Canadians about the history of Muslims in this country.
Caring community: Café Ukraine opens a welcoming door to newcomers fleeing war at home
The local Ukrainian community has opened a drop-in centre for newcomers to Canada.
Back in person, the NAC Indigenous Art Market fosters a sense of community
The NAC Indigenous Art Market allowed culture and community to meet during National Indigenous History Month.
After virtual events, Vanier Sugar Festival looks ahead to in-person celebration — and rebuilt shack — next year
As April brought warmer (and muddier) days to Ottawa, it also brought an age-old Canadian tradition that one urban sugar shack has been continuing in the capital for 37 years now: the production of maple syrup.
Women forge friendships as pen pal program matches Carleton students, retirees to counter pandemic isolation
Women in Leadership, a new Carleton University club is helping Ottawa creating new connections with their pen-pal initiative.
Algonquin elder, Muslim women build bridges through ‘experiences of racism’
Ottawa Muslim Women’s Organization and Algonquin elder Claudette Commanda are building bridges of understanding among marginalized groups.
As 401,000 newcomers reach Canada in 2021, members of immigrant families reflect on their experiences
Ontario is the most popular destination for immigrants coming to Canada. Four individuals from immigrant families discuss their experiences with belonging to this country.
‘Rebel Reads’ book club raises awareness for criminalized women in Ottawa
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa is tagging on to the pandemic-influenced revival of reading through hosting a book club that discusses books all about social justice.
Bank Street BIA’s app project augments the reality of exploring downtown murals
Beyond the Art - Augmented Digital Experience allows Ottawans to explore Bank Streets arts and culture while learning about its murals and interacting with them.
COVID-19 has opened a digital doorway to the community for Ontario libraries
Public libraries in major Ontario cities are seeing a sharp increase in digital media circulation, which librarians say is because of COVID-19.
City hall exhibit showcases Muslim culture as Ottawa declares Islamic Heritage Month
Mayor Jim Watson has proclaimed October 2021 as Islamic Heritage Month in the City of Ottawa.
Dunbar Bridge has become a pillar of city’s vibrant graffiti, hip-hop scenes
As a place for legal grafitti, Dunbar Bridge has become a centre of urban art and culture in Ottawa.
Innovative Indigenous-led housing project set to rise beside Vancouver’s Burrard Street Bridge
Known as Senakw, the 12-tower housing development will mark a major milestone for Indigenous urban planning in North America.
Pakenham’s Five Span Bridge stars in local culture
This one-of-a-kind bridge in Canada is a local wonder and is spotted in flags, logos and an R-rated Christmas movie.
Outside the box: New community fridge aims to feed those in need
Ottawa’s first outdoor community fridge had its grand opening last Friday. The fridge, and an accompanying pantry shelf, was installed outside the Parkdale Food Centre on Rosemount Avenue last week in partnership with the Ottawa Community Food Partnership and the Hintonburg Community Association.
Political issues and COVID-19 fuelling rise in hate crimes in Ottawa in 2021
Ottawa police statistics show a 33 per cent rise in hate crimes so far in 2021.
Canada Day 2021: A time to reflect
This year, attitudes toward Canada Day were affected by recent revelations of the unmarked graves of Indigenous children on land near former residential schools and by the shocking attack that killed four members of a Muslim family in London, ON. Across the country on July 1, there were celebrations of Canada Day and rallies calling for the cancellation of the...
Grassroots group helps people navigate Ontario’s complex vaccination appointment system
An organization in Toronto is trying to get vulnerable people in the community vaccinated by helping them overcome the confusion many are facing while booking appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Vanished Sappers’ crossing is Ottawa’s forgotten arch of conciliation
Though most of us may not have seen the Sappers' Bridge in all its glory, it played an important role in Ottawa's social history.