NCC envisions 9,000 homes as Tunney’s Pasture aims to cut federal office space
On a bright winter day, the wind howls across Tunney’s Pasture, the federal government campus envisioned seven decades ago as a way to move federal government buildings some distance from the downtown of the National Capital. In Tunney’s Pasture, the roads are narrow and the campus buildings are far apart. Government employees huddle for a smoke against buildings, while others...
Ontario young adults still struggling from COVID effects on the industry, latest labour force survey results found
Simerdeep Dhaliwal looked for a summer co-op placement in his field for a long time before he finally found a spot. The 20 year old Algonquin College information and technology student says he was lucky in another some aspect of his overall job search, such as finding a part-time job at a MacEwen gas station fairly quickly. But with the...
‘Stage, not age’: Ontarians over 65 challenge outdated retirement norms
Dave Williams had only just retired from his job in sales when he turned the key on a new career behind the wheel. At 67, he laced up his shoes, combed his silver hair and fastened his seatbelt as a school bus driver. What was meant to be a part-time job evolved into five years of driving buses, trucks, limousines,...
Money museum aquires ancient Roman coin, other ‘once in a lifetime’ items
What do a 1,700 year old Roman coin and a Canadian penny worth thousands of dollars have in common? They’ve just been added to the collection of historical currency held by the Bank of Canada Museum in downtown Ottawa. Some of the museum’s most significant artifact acquisitions in 2024 were recently highlighted in a curator’s blog post detailing the latest...
The searchers: Young Ontarians struggle to find work in current economy
Young men and women are having a challenging time searching for jobs- here's why.
Choice, no choice: More young women finding themselves in part-time jobs, data shows
Last fall, Carleton University student Kate Yoshida was juggling her studies with a part-time job. The 20 year old media production and design student was working in the communications department of the Canadian Forces Housing Agency. “I took the job just because it was my first full-time summer job that was related to my field of study,” she said. Yoshida...
‘It’s been anxiety-inducing:’ Ontario youth unemployment rate among the highest in Canada
In February 2025, 15 to 24 year olds in Ontario experienced the third-highest rate of unemployment in the country, according to a Capital Current analysis of Statistics Canada's labour force survey.
Canadians are cutting back on car travel to the U.S., data shows
The number of Canadian residents visiting the U.S by vehicle dropped by about 25 per cent in February compared with a year earlier, a sign that Canadians are cutting back on U.S. travel in response to threats of tariffs and annexation from American President Donald Trump.
No matter the weather, the City of Ottawa urges vigilance behind the wheel to limit collisions
With Ottawa’s weather constantly fluctuating and the new daylight hours in effect, city officials are urging commuters to be careful on the roads. On March 7, Ottawa Police responded to 36 vehicle collisions over four hours following a thaw-freeze weather event. Heidi Cousineau, the Manager of Traffic and Mobility at the City of Ottawa, says many factors contribute to the cause of...
The Beaver turns 50 as a Canadian symbol: Why we should give a ‘dam’
Before Canada became analogous with our beloved beer, hockey, and maple syrup, there was another emblem that captured the nation's heart and spirit 50 years ago: the beaver.
Watershed watchers issue flood alerts along swelling Rideau, Ottawa rivers
Flood season has arrived in the Ottawa Valley and conservation officials are warning local residents to prepare for the springtime swelling of the national capital’s waterways. After record-breaking mild weather — including a high of 16.3 C on March 16, the highest temperature for that date in Ottawa — heavy snowmelt and rain are rushing over frozen ground and gushing...
One in four struggle to afford food: How Ottawa’s Parkdale Food Centre is managing demand
The Parkdale Food Centre is barely able to keep up with the demand as amid rising food prices.
One person, two votes? What would the Ontario election look like with a different voting system?
The vote also exposed some of the oddities in our electoral system, as the Progressive Conservative majority came despite the party winning only 43 per cent of the popular vote. In an election where only 45 per cent of eligible voters showed up to the polls, the party won a strong majority with only 19 per cent of eligible voters....
Canadian voters prioritizing economic stability, incumbency amid Trump tariff threats
A perceived ability to protect Canada’s economic interests against U.S. President Donald Trump is one of the primary ballot questions uniting Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative success and Mark Carney’s popular rise with the federal Liberal party, according to one pollster.
Carleton Ravens starts USports women’s basketball championship with a big win over Bishop’s
The Carleton Women's Basketball team scored their first victory in the USports National Championship tournament against Bishop's University March 13.
Neighbourhood health hubs playing key role in city immunization efforts
Any Ottawa parent with a child who’s missing immunizations should be expecting mail soon — if they haven’t already received it. Since December, Ottawa Public Health has mailed about 11,000 incomplete immunization advisory letters to families with children missing one or more vaccines on their health record. Soon, the agency will send school suspension notices to those who have not...
U.S. withdrawal from Paris Agreement may disrupt Canada’s climate push, but shouldn’t stop it, experts say
As wildfires raged across California in January, U.S. President Donald Trump lit a match on his country’s commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change with one of his first executive orders. The move came as the World Weather Attribution, an international research consortium that tracks the impacts of global warming, says elevated carbon emissions in Earth’s atmosphere have intensified...
More government funding needed for Ottawa food banks, advocates say
Advocates say current levels of funding for food banks and services are no longer enough to address food insecurity in Ottawa.
‘At the tip of your fingers’: Survey points to growing plague of health misinformation, experts say
Nearly one-third of Canadians have taken medical advice they found online over recommendations from their doctors, according to a new survey. Conducted by Ottawa-based polling firm Abacus Data and commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association, the survey found 51 per cent of this group appear to be “highly susceptible to online misinformation.” As well the survey found that more than...
NAC Orchestra plans landmark spring tour to South Korea, Japan
The National Arts Centre Orchestra is to embark on a monumental tour this spring, including its debut in South Korea and a return to Japan for the first time in 40 years. The orchestra has performed in every Canadian province and territory, but it is also known as one of the most accessible and collaborative orchestras in the world. This...
As Canada’s big banks leave Net-Zero alliance, young people think about alternatives
The move by Canada’s biggest financial institutions to walk away from the UN-backed Net-Zero Banking Alliance has many Gen Z young people pondering a breakup with their bank, though some admit that the convenience is a major stumbling block.
NCC approves sinuous ‘Motion’ design to replace iconic Alexandra Bridge by 2032
The Ottawa-Gatineau's Alexandra Bridge has had its new design approved. The new design, called "Motion" is set to replace the current bridge within seven years.
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...
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...
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...
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...
Furious with Donald Trump, Canadian hockey fans take aim at the U.S. anthem
Hockey, often seen as a unifying force in Canada, became a stage for political expression on Feb. 1 when Ottawa Senators fans booed the American national anthem before a game against the Minnesota Wild.
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.
Kebaowek First Nation benefit concert raises $14K to help fight nuclear waste facility
Members of the Kebaowek First Nation are buoyed by a successful concert fundraiser they say will help them continue their fight against a proposed nuclear waste facility that would be located near the Ottawa River.
Tax experts question Canada’s expensive and overly broad GST ‘holiday’
As the holiday season approaches, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's GST tax break promises to provide some financial relief to Canadians, but critics argue it’s a short-term solution with political motives.
Small businesses struggle with costs, loss of business as Canada Post strike continues
As the Canada Post strike drags on, small businesses are struggling with higher-cost alternatives for shipping while they try to retain their customers.
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.
Weak currency meets rising costs: Nigerian students struggle for affordable housing
As the value of Nigerian Naira continues to tank and housing scarcity increases in Ottawa, Nigerian students struggle to find affordable housing.
Talking turkeys: Development bringing the big brown birds into more contact with humans
While the turkey population is stable, there's a reason Ottawans are seeing them more often.
“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.
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....
Lagging disability supports in Ontario just trap people in poverty, say advocates
Navigating the daily challenges of life, individuals on social assistance in Ontario find themselves struggling within a system that many feel traps people in poverty.
Ottawa EV drivers navigate shift to battery-powered vehicles as charging infrastructure slowly improves
Ottawa is getting greener by shifting to no fuel emission vehicles. EV drivers say the battery range on their electric vehicles can be worrisome.
Ottawa cyclists fear for bike network after passage of ‘Reducing Gridlock’ bill
Cyclists worry that Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s recently-passed Bill 212 will hinder the ability to get more Ottawa residents out for a ride.
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.
Health experts urge Ottawans to roll up their sleeves for a flu/COVID-19 double vaccination
This year, many Ottawa residents are rolling up their sleeves to get a flu shot in one arm and an updated COVID-19 vaccine in the other. At Whole Health Pharmacy on Bank Street and Fifth Avenue, owner and pharmacist Renu Pillay says he’s been busy preparing appointments for people getting their COVID-19 and flu vaccines. “[We need to] stem the...
Victims of Communism memorial fenced off as Nazi revelations complicate the inauguration process
For now, all that’s visible to the public is a black fence—a barrier around what should be Canada’s Memorial to the Victims of Communism.
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.
Unveiling of returned Roaring Lion portrait underlines its importance to Château Laurier, Ottawa and ‘free world’
Ottawa’s Fairmont Château Laurier threw a homecoming party Friday to celebrate the return of a famous Winston Churchill portrait by renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh that was stolen in 2022.
Lest we forget: Canadians commemorate the sacrifice of those who served in wars
The solemn sounds of bugle horns, bagpipes, cannon fire and moments of silence echoed across Ottawa on the grey morning of Nov. 11, 2024, as thousands of Canadians gathered around the National War Memorial to honour and remember those who sacrificed their lives serving the nation.