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.
The desert blooms: Old Hull residents welcome the first grocery store in 25 years
The neighbourhood of Old Hull now has it's first grocery store since 1999, and neighbourhood residents are pleased.
City of Ottawa’s new focus on person-centred, long-term care a welcome shift
Francis Dixon says the City of Ottawa’s shift toward person-centred care has enhanced his sense of independence and dignity at Carleton Lodge, a long-term care home by the Rideau River — one of four run by the city. “I can wake up when my body allows, and the staff genuinely care about my needs,” the 87-year-old retired clergyman told Capital...
Fuelling the Strain: Rising gas prices force students to rethink budgets
With gas prices fluctuating wildly in recent years, students have been feeling it at the pump and some are having a hard time managing their budgets. Finley McHattie, 18, drives to school almost every day from his parents’ house in Stittsville to Carleton University. On a good day, it takes him 30 minutes, but often, with traffic, it takes him...
Invasive buckthorn: Ottawa volunteers call for more support to remove it from local parks
Sharon Boddy and Nora Lee are working to remove invasive buckthorn from Ottawa's forests.
‘A lose-lose situation’: Upcoming closure of Somerset supervised consumption site weighs heavily on the community
Problematic drug use likely to increase with loss of Somerset West's supervised consumption site, say community members
Young immigrants finding it tougher to land a job than their Canadian-born counterparts
After uprooting his life in Saudi Arabia and relocating to Canada, Omar Hussein spent two years of his teenage life handing out resumes anywhere he could. Hussein arrived in Canada with his family in 2018 at 15. By 2020, 17 year old Omar got his a permit and was ready to search for work. Hoping to find a source of...
“It’s worrying:” Unemployment rate for young immigrants more than doubles in past year
It took eight months for Abyssinnia Abebe to find a job. Abebe, from Ethiopia originally, is now a permanent resident in Canada. Even with that status, the 20 year old immigrant university student, says she applied to more than 150 jobs within that eight-month period. The struggle to find a job is not a unique problem. Unemployment among immigrants aged...
Climbing rents in Ontario have tenants feeling stuck
With the cost of rent increasing in an already competitive market, tenants face mounting hurdles to secure shelter that fits their needs and budgets. According to Capital Current’s data analysis from Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), rent prices in Ontario rose by 7.1 per cent in August 2024, compared to the same time last year. The increase for all...
One month later, convenience store booze sales are making many customers happy
How has the booze business been affecting convenience stores?
A Quiet Crisis: Limits on work taking toll on international students
International students in Ottawa are struggling with mental health issues and financial stress because of a new 20-hour work limit set by the Canadian government, making it hard for them to balance school and high living costs.
Ottawa councillors want more provincial help as police crack down on stunt driving
City councillors are pushing for updated provincial legislation to help police efforts to combat stunt driving
Most Canadians believe financial cost of hosting Olympics outweighs benefits, survey shows
Although Canadians are very proud of the country’s accomplishments in the Olympics, most don’t want to see Canada host the Games again, new data from the Angus Reid Institute shows. Canada has had an undeniably successful summer games, earning an impressive 23 medals thus far with more to come. Canada’s top achievements in the Paris 2024 Olympics include swimmer Summer...
Lebanese Canadians say Canada needs to do more the help end Gaza war before conflict escalates in Middle East
Lebanese Canadians are raising concerns over the Liberal government’s stance on the Gaza war after Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly urged Canadians in Lebanon to fly home. Several airlines have already suspended service to Beirut as fears over a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified. “If tensions escalate, the situation on the ground may not allow us to...
Letter demands removal of Liberal MP as point person on Jewish community and antisemitism
A letter signed by hundreds of Canadians is demanding the prime minister replace Anthony Housefather as the federal government’s special advisor on Jewish community relations and antisemitism. The letter accuses the Montreal MP of pushing “anti-Palestinian racist and Islamophobic narratives” for months. Addressed to MPs and Senators, the letter asks for a full re-assessment and evaluation of the appointment. and...
In wake of changes to alcohol market, Ottawa brewers urge province to consider dedicated shelves for their beer, incentives and tax cuts
In the wake of the LCBO strike settlement, Ottawa breweries say they welcome Ontario’s plan to allow grocery and convenience stores to sell beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails, saying it is an encouraging, but long orverdue move for the local market. But without financial incentives for small breweries, dedicated shelves for local products in sales outlets and a re-evaluation of...
Most Canadians fear Trump re-election: poll
A new survey by the Angus Reid Institute (ARI) shows two-thirds of Canadians dread another term in the White House for Donald Trump. Some 28 per cent polled say another four years of Trump would be “terrible news” for Canada, while 38 per cent say a Trump win would be “bad.” Fifteen per cent say it would be good or...
Convenience store owner praises liberalizing alcohol market in Ontario
When Premier Doug Ford announced plans to allow Ontario convenience stores to sell beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails, Biruk G. Medhin received the news with enthusiasm and optimism. For 30 years, Medhin has run the A&M Confectionary in Ottawa’s Heron Park neighbourhood. He told Capital Current he had worked closely with community members in the past to sign a petition...
WHO says low vaccination rate driving measles outbreaks
Global childhood immunization against deadly diseases such as measles declined in 2023, leaving millions of children at risk, according to data published this week by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The data shows low vaccination rate against measles last year left nearly 35 million children with no or partial protection. About 83 per cent of children worldwide received their...
Neo-Nazi organization run by Canadian teens promotes racial violence, watchdog group says
In a recent report, the Canadian Anti-Hate Network is drawing attention to a small, but growing neo-Nazi group in Canada that has emerged onto social media platforms and is apparently run by teenagers. The group is an offshoot of an organization founded in the U.S. in 2013 as the Atomwaffen Division. There are now active cells in Canada, the United...
Down on the farm: Despite serious concerns, Canadian agriculture remains surprisingly hopeful, survey shows
A new Angus Reid poll finds while farmers and the agriculture community have concerns about the sector, there is hope too.
The Mushroom Chronicles: The magic in the mushroom has spawned a spiritual debate
A debate is raging about the spiritual value of magic mushrooms. Some advocate for only a medical application while others believe it should be more widely available.
As many as one in four males in Canada experience a sexual assault: experts say
The number of males who are sexually assaulted is much more than is currently thought, experts believe.
The Mushroom Chronicles: Side effects of psilocybin use offer a cautionary tale
Despite the positive results from some clinical trials, there should be controls over how psilocybin is used in treatment and more widely in society, some experts say.
The Mushroom Chronicles: Psilocybin on the prescription pad
Demand for medical psyilocibin in treatment for mental health disorders is increasing.
The Mushroom Chronicles: Psilocybin sales outlets popping up everywhere
The push to purchase psylocibin is creating a new wave of desire for legalization.
More Canadians say they may leave their home province, especially new residents, survey shows
New data from the Angus Reid Institute shows that three in 10 (28 per cent) Canadians are considering leaving their province of residence due to housing affordability.
Blue skies and warm temperatures make a beautiful backdrop for Canada Day 2024 in Ottawa
Thousands gathered in downtown Ottawa under blue skies and warm temperatures to celebrate Canada Day 2024
Museum of History looks at career of architect Douglas Cardinal as his building turns 35
Museum of History honours the career of architect Douglas Cardinal.
What to do on Canada Day in Ottawa
Canada Day in Ottawa will be hectic with events downtown and across the region.