City builder: Dulcie Clark is the mentor behind Ottawa’s animation success
The CEO of PIP Animation Services, Dulcie Clark, has been celebrated for her contributions to Canadian children’s programming.
City Builder: GCTC’s Sarah Kitz amplifies under-represented voices
Sarah Kitz champions IBPOC, female, trans, non-binary and other voices while trying to reflect Canadian society on the threatre scene.
Tenants at Bank and Lisgar fear for their future as ‘demoviction’ date approaches
Time is running out for the tenants at Bank and Lisgar Sts., who face a February 2025 deadline to leave their homes, which will be demolished and replaced by a midrise apartment building.
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...
Aboriginal Coalition hopes to secure funding soon for Ottawa’s first family healing lodge
The Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition (OAC) says it’s hopeful it will soon obtain the funding for Ottawa’s first family healing lodge, one key project that’s part of Ottawa’s 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan.
So far, so good: Person-centred care pilot program in Ottawa long-term care deemed success
Person-centred care is an integrated health-services approach that relies on a variety of factors to strengthen resident comfort and safety.
Ottawa to study ‘bubble bylaw’ that would restrict protests at schools, hospitals and other locations
Despite objections and concerns brought up by some councillors, City Council voted in favour of a study examining whether a ‘bubble bylaw’ is necessary in Ottawa.
Ottawa homeowner dismayed to find high levels of radon, a potentially deadly gas
A 2024 Health Canada statistic showed that radon exposure may result in as many as 3,200 deaths annually, more than car accidents (1,898), carbon monoxide (300) and fire (109) deaths combined.
Some downtown Ottawa convenience store owners say it’s not worth the risk to sell alcohol
Weeks after the Ontario government allowed convenience stores to sell beer, wine, and coolers, many store owners in Ottawa are taking a cautious approach, saying they have concerns about the impact on safety and the potential for increased shoplifting.
Transit commission asks OC Transpo what it needs to fix bus reliability
Members of Ottawa’s Transit Commission are concerned that bus reliability is far below where it needs to be in advance a major overhaul of bus routes across the city planned for next Spring. New Ways to Bus, is to begin in April, some months after the opening of the LRT Lines 2 and 4, expected in November. The bus plan...
Ottawa’s new garbage restrictions could have gone further, say waste reduction advocates
Ottawa's new three-item garbage limit aims to extend the life of the Trail Road Landfill but has divided residents. Some say it's too restrictive, while others fear it may lead to illegal dumping or difficulties for larger households.
Ottawa students, teachers see positive impact of new cellphone rules
Many Ottawa teachers and students say the new phone rules in classes is making a positive difference this school year.
More than a year after Oct. 7 attack on Israel, debate remains fraught
More than a year after the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks by Hamas against Israel, reasonable dialogue about the long-standing conflict seems as difficult as ever.
Indigenous homelessness plan ambitious but needs to succeed, Ottawa councillors told
The Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition (OAC) gave city councillors an update on its plan to address Indigenous housing and homelessness, which the coalition acknowledged is ambitious and requires systemic changes.
Help stray cats as winter approaches, Ottawa rescue groups plead
Ottawa cat rescues urge residents to take initiative in helping stray cat populations as winter approaches.
From Billings Estate to Château Laurier: Haunted Ottawa is ready for Halloween
Ottawa is home to several haunted attractions. Many organizations invite locals to learn a little bit about the history of these places.
Dark Fork: Ottawa’s new dining experience ‘pulls out all your senses’
Dark Fork, Ottawa’s first dine-in-the-dark restaurant, invites customers to explore a unique experience.
Sparks Street BIA set for huge expansion among Centretown businesses
Ottawa's Sparks Street BIA is about to grow far beyond its namesake, following approval from City Council.
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...
Ottawa set to require new licensing fees for vendors selling vaping products
Ottawa’s Emergency and Protective Services Committee approved a new licence for retailers that sell vapour products on Thursday, Oct. 17, which would impose additional licensing fees on vape shops if adopted by City Council. Staff said licensing fees collected through this new regime will be used to hire more enforcement officers to help reduce youth access to vapour products. According...
Disability advocates welcome plan for Lansdowne 2.0 but transportation a sore point
Members of Ottawa’s disability community say Lansdowne 2.0’s plans for accessibility at the proposed event centre are impressive but say transportation is the Achilles heel of the redevelopment project.
Disability advocates welcome plan for Lansdowne 2.0 event centre but transit remains a hurdle
Ottawa’s disability community says Lansdowne 2.0’s plans for accessibility are impressive, but not enough, as the lack of adequate transportation to Lansdowne continues to draw criticism from residents and advocacy groups. Sean Moore, the Director of Lansdowne 2.0, and Marnie Peters, the project’s accessibility consultant, presented plans to Ottawa’s Accessibility Advisory Committee On Oct. 15, for their feedback. Plans for...
Music students have a message: Female classical composers matter
In concert halls around the Western world, classical music remains overwhelmingly male-dominated, but a concert held at the University of Ottawa is a reminder that female composers have also made important contributions to the art and must not be ignored.
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
City Builder: Allan Reesor-McDowell changes leadership roles, from refugees to released prisoners
On Sept. 6, 2024, Allan Reesor-McDowell became the new Executive Director of the John Howard Society of Ottawa.
City to hand transit riders worrisome fare increase in 2025
Despite Statistics Canada indicating slowing inflation for public transit fares, the City of Ottawa is considering significant fare hikes, increased property taxes and service cuts as it debates the budget for 2025. Those impending increases concern Ayesha Khan, a fourth-year student at Carleton University. She lives in Orléans and uses public transit to get to school. She is worried about...
Land removed from Greely despite objections that more housing development needed in the village
The Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee (ARAC) passed a motion deciding that a new subdivision will not be part of the village of Greely.
As Ottawa considers more boundary expansion, councillors fear more sprawl
Ottawa is one step closer to a new urban boundary expansion application process, though councillors expressed concerns that the new process could add to the city’s sprawl.
Councillors approve plan for city expansion despite fears over more sprawl
Ottawa City Councillors approved a new city boundary expansion plan despite concerns among some that the move could just lead to more sprawl. The new Urban and Village Boundary Expansion Official Plan Application Process was approved Oct. 8 by a special Joint Planning and Housing Committee and the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meeting, with some councillors saying the move...
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...
Ottawa concert series celebrates female artists, who remain under represented
A female concert series in Ottawa is a reminder to popular music fans that women still have a long way to go to be considered ‘equal’ to men in the music industry.
“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...
Ottawa’s new bike locker project spinning its wheels in first few weeks
Ottawa's new Bike Locker initiative is off to a slow start.
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?
City Builder: Altea Active is Ottawa entrepreneur Jeff York’s new passion project
Many people know that Jeff York's brother, Jason York, played for the Ottawa Senators, but not everyone knows that Jeff played hockey for Princeton University in the 80's and is now one of the owners of the Ottawa Senators.
GCTC marks half a century of boosting Canadian theatre with an eclectic 50th anniversary season
The Great Canadian Theatre Company is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary in the 2024-25 season.
City Builder: Renée Amilcar embraces OC Transpo leadership amidst transit turmoil
Renée Amilcar, General Manager of Transit Services at OC Transpo, welcomes the challenges that arise while striving to improve Ottawa's public transit.
City Builder: World Cup athlete Aidan Kirkham balances research and skiing
Aidan Kirkham is an Ottawa native, a PhD candidate and a nordic skier who has competed in the 2024 FIS World Cup and the FISU World University Games in 2019 and 2023.
ByWard vendors finding creative ways to stay afloat after the outdoor market closes for winter
ByWard Market has been the heart of the Ottawa community since its establishment in 1827. As the outdoor market prepares for closure this year, vendors reflect on the declining state of Ottawa's downtown sector.
City Builder: Ottawa lawyer Paul Champ battles for justice and human rights
Paul Champ is an Ottawa-based litigation lawyer focusing on labour, human rights and constitutional law.
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.
Child-care workers frustrated by low pay and long period with no contract
95 child-care workers across four Ottawa day-care centres are fighting for what they say is a living wage.
Trudeau’s support for Ukrainian long-range missile strikes in Russia launches domestic debate
Canadian experts are divided over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent statement of support for the United States and Britain to provide Ukraine the ability to launch missile strikes against military targets deep within Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned such support for Ukraine would draw NATO countries into direct war with his country, which began an illegal invasion of...
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
More Ottawa commuters are carpooling, cycling, walking or taking transit as traffic backs up in Ottawa
Since the government’s Sept. 9 return-to-office mandate, Ottawa’s streets have become much more congested, pushing commuters to seek alternatives in order to avoid long delays. As public transit struggles to keep pace and traffic worsens, cycling, carpooling, and walking have come in-clutch as popular solutions among commuters.
Ottawa’s newest poets laureate aim to make their art form more accessible to all
Ottawa has two new poets laureate. Véronique Sylvain, the French poet laureate, and David O'Meara, the English poet laureate, are looking forward to the next 2 years of promoting the poetic arts in Ottawa.
As Ottawa’s film industry continues to grow, more local talent opts to stay in the city
Despite a global pandemic and several industry strikes, the Ottawa Film Office has reported record-breaking profits in 2023.
Ottawa councillors push for review of bylaws amid increase in dog attacks
Some Ottawa city councillors are pushing for better enforcement and a review of bylaws following a reported increase in the number of dog attacks. From 2020 to 2023, the city saw nearly a 20 per cent increase in the number of reported dog attacks, according to statistics provided by city staff in response to an inquiry by Stittsville Coun. Glenn...