Gatineau nurses strike, fed up with Quebec’s ‘mismanaged’ health system
Nurses in Gatineau are striking for better work conditions as members of a union representing 80,000 Quebec health-care workers.
Nail file: Ottawa salons failing inspections at high rates
As the numbers of health inspections fell, the numbers of failing inspections at nail salons in Ottawa have risen.
Sweet Movember: Buying a pint of ‘manly’ ice cream from The Merry Dairy can help cause of men’s health
The month of November is dedicated to men's health initiatives. In Ottawa, people are raising money and awareness — including a popular ice cream shop.
Ottawa’s emergency shelter task force is only a “band-aid,” says shelter CEO
The task force's first move was to shut down the Heron Road Community Centre for five months and turn it into an emergency shelter.
Musical goosebumps: McGill study finds evidence chills produced by favourite songs may lessen pain — but it’s complicated
New research conducted by the Roy Pain Lab at McGill University helps to answer the question of why music can help reduce physical pain. While preliminary results imply musical "chills" are the underlying cause, experts debate the merit of this research for improving music-based pain therapies.
City builder: Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah works to protect and advocate for trans and queer youth
Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah is a queer Ghanaian-Canadian activist and the executive director of the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity.
City builders: Derick Fage — from theatre kid to news host and advocate
Derick Fage is a television host and motivational speaker who has shared his experience of a chronic condition willingly with others.
The 25th Hour: Hitting the Ground Running
After surviving a near death experience in 2020, Brandon Peacock saw the death of his old life and the birth of his new life he could have never imagined.
The 25th Hour: Conquering cancer through running
When Cheryl Kardish-Levitan was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000, she kept running. Today she's a top fund-raiser for Ottawa's Run for the Cure.
Delayed start: Even though it’s bad for us, dropping the annual time change is on hold
Ontario passed a law to end the annual time change but the province needs New York State and Quebec to do the same for it to come into effect.
Where there’s smoke: More education needed about disorders and poisonings caused by cannabis use, experts say
Since the legalization of cannabis for recreational use in Canada, there has been an increase in cannabis-related hospitalizations, particularly in young university-aged people.
CHEO says it’s prepared for a bad respiratory illness season, with ER visits rising
This respiratory illness season is predicted to be similar to the last where a surge of multiple different respiratory illnesses pushed the limits of the health-care system.
Surge in COVID-19 infections sparks call for more measures to protect those in Ottawa’s long-term care homes
The anticipation of a new surge of COVID-19 is causing some family members of people living in long-term care to call for change.
Ottawa community organizations face urgent need for volunteer drivers
Community support organizations are facing an urgent need for volunteer drivers to assist with their medical transportation program for seniors.
Non-police emergency response in Centretown should make those in crisis feel heard, not criminalized, organizations say
In summer 2024, Centretown will be the site of a non-police emergency service pilot program to respond to mental health and addiction crises in the community. Social services in the area said the service is essential for saving lives and instilling trust in the public.
‘I have started to buy only the necessities:’ Food inflation threatens students’ ability to consume a balanced diet
High food inflation in Ontario has forced students to cut back on essential food groups.
Canadian Museum of Nature embraces prescription program for mental health
The PaRx program is allowing doctors to prescribe patients passes to the Canadian Museum of Nature for the first time, in order to boost mental health.
Rising food prices prompt higher demand for Ottawa School Breakfast Program
The cost of food is not only impacting households, it has spurred a concerning increase in the use of Ottawa's school food program.
Disability advocates expose gaps in NCC River House’s accessibility
Audit reveals gaps in the NCC River House's accessibility. Advocates say this reflects a broader struggle in the city.
American and Canadian sororities and fraternities struggle with lack of inclusivity for disabled students
Fraternities and sororities have come under mounting pressure in recent years to diversify their ranks. So far,: people with disabilities have been largely ignored.
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: Dr. Gail Beck is a champion of mental health and new police board chair
Dr. Gail Beck is a child psychiatrist at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and now chair of the Ottawa Police Services Board.
Flu shots for kids key to avoiding surge in hospitalizations this fall, Etches says
Ottawa Public Health is warning parents that getting a flu vaccine for their children will be key to avoiding the high rates of hospital and emergency department visits that Ottawa experienced last year.
Ottawa to post drug supply test results, part of education campaign amid worsening overdose numbers
Ottawa Public Health says new drug-testing machines will be installed in consumption and treatment centres — also known as supervised injection sites — and that the agency will post drug test results online, measures meant to help address the rising rates of drug use and overdoses in the city.
City builder: Wendy Alexis proves sprint championships can come at any age
Wendy Alexis proves that age and injury cannot hold you back from becoming an internationally competitive sprinter.
The ‘shoppertainment’ trap: As social media apps blur line between socializing and buying, the risks to users soar
Shopping online through social media platforms is expanding exponentially but it also carries serious risks, experts say.
Feeling the heat: Are Canadian doctors ready for the rising tide of eco-anxiety?
Amid soaring rates of eco-anxiety driven by climate change, Canadian health-care professionals have been pushing for more support in addressing this new mental-health challenge. A growing number are also calling for a significant rethink of how medical education is delivered, arguing that the new field of “planetary health” should be an integral part of medical training and residencies – a...
Ottawa business coalition urges extension on COVID loans payback
Small businesses in Ottawa are hoping for an extension on the deadline for repayment of pandemic loans to the federal government.
Soaring cost of living has food bank use in Ottawa rising to record levels
With rising grocery costs locking more people out of a nutritious diet, rates of food insecurity are soaring across the country.
Echoing convoy, 50 anti-vaxxers return to Parliament Hill to decry jab
About 50 protesters proclaimed their distrust of vaccines in an April Fool's Day protest in downtown Ottawa.
‘Backlash’ documentary provides a front-row seat to gendered cyberviolence
Cyber misogyny is an alarming trend of the digital age: community members are calling for increased awareness and education through intentional events, like the screening of Backlash.
B.C. leads the way with free contraception: Will other provinces follow?
With the B.C. government set to implement their free contraception plan this April, reproductive health activists are leading the push for free access in Ontario.
Advocates draw attention to healthcare barriers facing women of colour
After the University of Ottawa’s latest annual professional development conference on women’s health, advocates say more needs to be done to break down the barriers that women of colour face in Canada’s medical system. The one-day conference, held on March 31 at the St. Elias Banquet Centre in Riverside Park, was designed to provide family physicians and healthcare professionals with...
The 23rd Ottawa Indigenous Children and Youth Pow Wow welcomes everyone back to celebrate First Nations culture
The annual Ottawa Indigenous Children and Youth Pow Wow is back after a three-year hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Event organizers stress the importance of fostering community between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Cutting consumption? Ottawa microbreweries have you covered with non-alcoholic options
An in-depth look at how microbreweries in Ottawa are adapting to changing trends, new health recommendations and tax hikes.
Ottawa council, police acknowledge ‘epidemic’ of intimate partner violence
On International Women’s Day, Ottawa city council passed a motion and declared intimate partner violence an epidemic.
Fitness tax credit would motivate Canadians to get active, say gym owners
Joining a gym and getting fit should be supported by a tax credit, argues the Fitness Industry Council of Canada.
Ottawa Jazz Festival recovering but more international travellers would help
Ottawa Jazz Festival is slowly recovering from the pandemic, but a lack of international tourists is stifling growth.
Decriminalization, more funding key to saving lives, say drug reform advocates
Decriminalization is a good first step, but advocates and experts say bigger leaps must be taken to address the overdose crisis.
After season of stumbles, ‘youthful’ Ravens back to No. 1 as playoffs begin
The Carleton men's basketball team holds a dynasty that no other team in USports or NCAA has ever seen. With almost half of the roster being rookies, will the team still be able to prove their dominance in the sport?
Two drinks a week? Not realistic for many but some welcome a rethink about booze
New alcohol consumption recommendations warn Canadians of higher health risks after only two drinks a week.
Primary care crisis sparks urgent push for solutions locally, nationally
Two reports are underling the urgency of the primary health-care crisis in Canada and locally in the Ottawa area.
In the mix: Dry January and new guidelines stirring debate about alcohol alternatives
With Dry January coming to an end and new alcohol recommendations, some people are reaching for zero-proof drinks.
Ecology Ottawa praises plan to buy 350 electric buses, but urges more action
At an emergency meeting last Friday, Ottawa's Transit Commission voted in favour of the electrification of 350 diesel buses by 2026. While this number is lower than initially expected, Ecology Ottawa says the 350 buses will be a significant step toward cutting greenhouse gas emissions from Ottawa public transportation.
Make pleasure part of healing, sexologist advises assault victims in campus talk
Assault survivors needs to find a way through their trauma and one tool they can use is pleasure, says a sexologist.
‘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
Ottawa’s low-income neighbourhoods more likely to suffer from air pollution: report
A recent report reveals Ottawa's low income areas suffer from some of the poorest air quality in the city.
Home for the holidays, amid enduring childhood triggers for my OCD
Capital Current's Emma O'Toole has obsessive-compulsive disorder. She explains how it affects her life especially this Christmas.
Study outlines top strategies for ending pandemic
A multinational study from Barcelona consulted hundreds of experts to determine the top recommendations for ending the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide.
‘It’s going to take a lot of effort’: Fight against vaccine hesitancy ramps up for holidays
Breaking through to convince vaccine hesitant Canadians to get the jab against viruses such as COVID-19 won't be easy, experts say.