Carleton’s gender support hub expects backlash after Trump’s ‘two sexes’ edict
Advocates and members of Carleton University’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community say they’re bracing for the possibility of “more abuse” and discrimination in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proclamation that the American government will only recognize “two sexes, male and female.” Following Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, he swiftly rescinded 78 of former Democratic president Joe Biden’s executive orders and began...
Three years into war, English classes key for Ukrainian newcomers to Ottawa
Every Thursday afternoon at Ottawa’s Café Ukraine, behind the “Quiet Please – Class in Session” sign, Lisa Hrynuik and Mariia Baziuk are practicing English. Hrynuik, Baziuk’s tutor, plays the part of a patient describing her symptoms, while Baziuk intently listens to piece together a diagnosis. For Baziuk, this isn’t just role playing. Having completed her medical training in Ukraine and...
Artists spotlight housing insecurity in ground-breaking SAW exhibition
Ottawa local gallery, SAW's Give Me Shelter exhibit highlighted the ongoing homeless and housing insecurity issues in the country and internationally. While it was a successful exhibit, participants and officials alike say more needs to be done still.
Ottawa photo exhibit captures moments in the iconic Zapatista movement for Indigenous rights in Mexico
In 1994, the Zapatistas began an armed uprising against the Mexican government as a protest against the North American Free Trade Agreement. Many important moments from the movement are preserved in photographs now on display at the Mexican embassy in Ottawa.
Harmony and Home: Persian music event unites local Farsi speakers
On a bitterly cold Sunday night in downtown Ottawa, Shirin Ghodrati stepped through the doors of Bronson Centre, her breath curling in the frosty air. Just four months into her new life in Canada, she had more than the weight of winter on her shoulders; she carried a longing for connection. Drawn by the soul-stirring melodies of a Persian music...
Ottawa commuters frustrated by fare hikes as city seeks transit funding
Kari Glynes Elliott, co-founder of Ottawa Transit Riders, remembers one particularly memorable conversation with frustrated commuters. A family of Syrian refugees “living on the poverty line” approached her advocacy group after purchasing a second-hand car “because they couldn’t trust the transit system,” she said. As Glynes Elliott recalls it, one of the family members, a senior, told her, “I can...
Volunteers combatting homelessness set to take plunge in ice-cold fundraiser
Funds are being raised this weekend for local Ottawa community centres to help provide support during the colder winter conditions. Volunteers are braving the cold on a whole other level and submerging themselves in cold water tubs for the cause.
Ottawa skaters welcome a good season but experts say prepare for tougher years to come
Skaters in Ottawa have enjoyed the best conditions in years on the Rideau Canal Skateway thanks to cold temperatures and limited snowfall, but that hasn't stopped work on ways to mitigate the effects of climate change by researchers, who warn that this year could be an outlier.
Ottawa artist Ciaran Head-Smith brings his Indigenous voice to Casa Loma exhibit
Ottawa-based artist Ciaran Head-Smith’s artwork is featured in Red Visions, a first-of-its-kind Indigenous art exhibition at Casa Loma, celebrating cultural heritage.
Organizers brave Ottawa cold, raising $28,000 for homeless youth in 24-hour challenge
Volunteers stayed outside in downtown Ottawa for 24 hours to raise awareness and money for homeless youth.
‘They’re saving money on the bill:’ How Canada’s GST break has taken a bite out of tips
Jeff Rheaume works the Monday night shift on Feb. 3 at his restaurant, The Broadway Bar & Grill Ottawa. [Photo by Mia Parker/Capital Current]
Tariffs could worsen Ontario rental market, expert says
Carleton University student Grace Rhodes hasn’t bought new clothes in two years. “I definitely don’t do stuff because I don’t have the money,” said Rhodes, who rents a home with five other students. Rhodes said the “crazy” state of the rental market makes it hard to afford student life and has already quashed her hopes of home ownership. “Absolutely not...
The price drop: Cheaper alcohol boosting family-owned convenience stores
Meet and Yashaswy Patel, two brothers living in Ottawa, have owned a convenience store called Our Neighbourhood Store for the past six months where the Patels know all about fluctuating prices for groceries, snacks and now alcohol. The presence of alcoholic beverages for sale in convenience stores started last fall when the province of Ontario increased the market for selling...
Fare increases and empty seats: OC Transpo has yet to regain pre-pandemic ridership
Low ridership is a multi-pronged issue for Ottawa. For some residents, lack of reliability is the main deterrent for their participation. For public workers, remote work options mean there is no reason to take transit. For some Ottawa residents like Max Patton, a part-time line cook, declining service quality and increasing fares have been enough to make him abandon OC...
‘Daddy’s Issues’ to tackle transphobia, grief at undercurrents theatre festival
Written by Merlin Simard, now based in Toronto, and directed by Montrealer Lior Maharjan, a reading of Daddy’s Issues is set to run at Ottawa Fringe’s undercurrents theatre festival Feb. 14 and 15.
Making ends ‘meat:’ How an Ottawa deli is managing rising costs
For Paolo Di Rienzo, slinging hearty sandwiches and homemade cannolis has been the name of the game for decades now. Di Rienzo’s Deli and Grocery, on the corner of Beech Street and Champagne Avenue in Little Italy, has been a staple for many since 1973. Despite being a fixture of the authentic eats in Ottawa for more than 50 years...
Rising hate crimes targeting LGBTQ2+ community in Ottawa has many concerned
Hate crimes against the LGBTQ2+ community in Ottawa have been rising rapidly over the last six years, according to data from the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) putting many in the community on edge.
The 25th Hour: Culture versus safety
There is data that shows Guardian Caps help reduce head injuries. Despite this youth football players refuse to wear one because they don't want to look like a "wuss".
The 25th Hour: Is Carleton one of Canada’s most accessible campuses?
Journalist Caelan Monkman investigates the physical accessibility of Carleton University's campus.
The 25th Hour: Beadwork – Buying with purpose
Journalist Ely Pittman wants to discover what gets lost when consumers don't buy authentically sourced Indigenous beadwork.
The 25th Hour: Fall 2024, Episode 2, Doing Better?
In the second Fall 2024 episode of The 25th Hour, our journalists explore the worlds of knockoff artwork, heart and brain research, campus accessibility, and Ottawa's nightlife.
With football season over, Carleton Ravens athletes get back to work for a chance at the CFL
While the U Sports football season officially ended with the Vanier Cup game on Nov. 23, a number of Carleton athletes are returning to the gym to get ready for a shot at the Canadian Football League draft combine.
Affordable housing advocates demand action on rising ‘renovictions’ and ‘demovictions’
Housing activists in Ottawa have been deploring the use of bad-faith N13s by landlords who want to force out their renters to increase rent for the next ones and make more profit. They call this phenomenon “renoviction” or “demoviction.”
Vendors welcome a longer-running Christmas Market at Lansdowne Park
The crackle of fire under joyful Christmas music meant one thing for visitors to Lansdowne Park on Nov. 22: the annual Ottawa Christmas Market had begun.
Pressure to tip more is starting to annoy Canadians
With tipping expectations on the rise, the pressure on service industry members and customers alike is creating tension.
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.
Wicked the movie draws raves from many Ottawa filmgoers
The film Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu, was released in November and is already a cultural phenomenon.
It might be more politics than economics, still one small business owner welcomes sales tax ‘holiday’
The GST ‘holiday’ that is about to kick in might not be solid economic policy and it may be too late for those who do their holiday shopping early, but one local business owner says she welcomes the move, mostly.
“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.
In Ottawa, staving off the winter blues is getting harder
The winter blues are common in Ottawa — and the rest of Canada. Here's how some of the locals are combatting the annual phenonemon.
GST tax breaks aren’t earning great reviews from some Ottawa businesses and consumers
Small businesses are not sure they will see positive impacts from the federal government's GST/HST cuts during the holiday season.
Breaking new ground: The Lookout Bar crowns it’s first king as Ottawa’s Next Drag Superstar
The Lookout Bar, Ottawa’s 2SLGBTQIA+ bar and nightclub, has crowned BJ Stroker as the winner of Ottawa’s Next Drag Superstar: All Stars, making him the first drag king to win the eight-week long competition. BJ, along with other drag artists in Ottawa, calls it a big win for drag kings because they are often overlooked and underrepresented in the community....
A question of space: Jazz in Ottawa needs more and better venues, performers and fans say
Ottawa's need for dedicated jazz spaces is apparent to local artists, who find it 'disappointing and sad' that there are so few places to hear and be heard.
Noise complaints climb in September as academic year begins, data shows
A Capital Current analysis of data using the City of Ottawa’s 311 data portal, shows reported noise complaints for music and shouting in wards surrounding the University of Ottawa and Carleton University increased significantly in the month of September.
Ottawa graffiti artists say more legal spaces, better education could lead to fewer complaints
Graffiti complaints in Ottawa have risen in recent years, but local artists argue that providing more legal spaces for street art could reduce negative perceptions of graffiti.
Carleton University provides historical context on issues about Indigenous identity
Last month, Carleton adopted two policies focused on verifying Indigenous identity for hiring, admissions and awards.
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.
Members of Nightlife Council eager for a community approach to promoting Ottawa’s culture
Recently-announced volunteer members of Ottawa’s Nightlife Council say they are looking to highlight and promote the city’s cultural and artistic diversity, as well as safety, in their inaugural term.
‘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
Federal government’s $3.7 million for homeless veterans in Ottawa a start but more needed, experts say
The federal government has announced $3.7 million in funding over four years to help Canadian veterans dealing with homelessness in Ottawa. Veterans House Canada, an organization supporting homeless veterans, will receive over $2.6 million as part of the initiative.
The Papery finds its way back home, two years after a fire drove it out
The Papery, a staple of the Glebe's business community, returns to their original location. Their return comes two years after a fire displaced them.
City Builder: Najia Haneefi advocates for Afghanistan women and girls’ liberation
Najia Haneefi is a long-time advocate for the educational freedom of Afghan women and girls. She is a co-chair of Right to Learn Afghanistan Ottawa, which is responsible for educating young Afghan children via online libraries and classes.
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...
Local influencer Carla Salazar wants to prove Ottawa isn’t such a boring place
Have you ever thought that there isn't much to do in Ottawa? A local influencer may change your mind.
City Builder: Sheena Brady builds ‘something big’ with Tease Wellness and the Founder’s Fund
Sheena Brady is the Founder and CEO of wellness brand Tease Wellness, along with starting the Founder's Fund to support other entrepreneurs.
State of Indigenous languages worse than it appears, but hope is not lost, expert says
Data from Statistics Canada paints a bleak picture of Indigenous languages in Canada but a linguistics professor says the picture is even worse than it appears, due to the self-reporting nature of the Census.
City Builder: Mark Monahan’s musical road has built an important legacy
Mark Monahan is the visionary behind Ottawa's very own Bluesfest.
City builder: Meet David O’Meara, Ottawa’s voice of English-language poetry
Known for his evocative language and exploration of contemporary themes, the Canadian poet has published multiple award-winning collections.
City Builder: Chef Ric Allen-Watson cooks up some hope with the Ottawa Mission
Ric Allen-Watson is the Ottawa Mission's Director of Food Services. He started the Mission's Food Truck in 2020, now serving 10,000 meals weekly, and founded the Food Services Training Program in 2004.
City Builder: Carlos González works to give Atlético Ottawa a winning tradition
Carlos González is the head coach of the CPL soccer club Atlético Ottawa. González has just completed his third season with the club.