Seasonal businesses consider a virtual Christmas as COVID scuttles in-person traditions
With the Holidays right around the corner, Christmas small businesses are potentially opting for COVID-safe virtual options to continue to spread Christmas cheer.
New U.K. High Commission overlooking Ottawa River aims to reach sustainability ‘gold standard’
The new British High Commission building in Ottawa will be one of the greenest such buildings anywhere.
Battered by COVID, Ottawa retailers hope for ‘buy local’ bump during holiday season battle with online giants
Small-scale Ottawa retailers, already struggling to survive crippling COVID-19 restrictions, are raising alarms about pre-Christmas competition with online shopping giants and urging consumers to “buy local.” Because of the pandemic, Canada Post is anticipating delays this holiday season as more people skip in-person and shop online. Earlier this year, because of pandemic shopping restrictions, Canada Post had a weeks-long backlog...
In a downtown park torn up by construction, dedicated volunteers help flowers bloom amid pandemic gloom
Sarah Lozowski smiles through her floral-patterned face mask as she explains what she’s planting. Today it’s tiger lilies, which she has donated more than once from her garden at home to begin filling the bare plots in tiny St. Luke’s Park, tucked away just off Ottawa’s busy Elgin Street strip of bars and restaurants. “They tend to spread everywhere!” Lozowski...
Affordable housing, safety among the priorities in Ottawa’s Women and Gender Equity Strategy
The City of Ottawa is preparing to move forward to the next phase of its Women and Gender Equity Strategy after a delay because of the pandemic. A brief report updating city councillors on the two-year-old initiative was issued Oct. 30. It included a summary of priorities for action — including more affordable housing and improved safety — that were...
Ribbons of remembrance: Ottawa church dedicates COVID tree to honour victims, soothe community’s grief
A small tree beside a church in the Glebe has been transformed into a memorial for local victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hundreds of pale blue ribbons — the colour of the disposable masks so commonly worn since the global health crisis began in the spring — flutter among the tree’s branches, each knotted strand dedicated to an Ottawa resident...
City waives 2021 patio fees, allows road closures in business zones to combat COVID-19’s economic impact
As struggling restaurants brace for a winter of pandemic restrictions certain to curtail customer traffic, the City of Ottawa is exploring ways to help keep businesses afloat during the COVID-19 crisis. At a Nov. 2 transportation committee meeting, councillors voted to waive patio fees until next year and to allow restaurants in Business Improvement Areas to apply for road closures...
Remembrance, remotely
In the midst of a surge in second-wave COVID-19 cases, Canadians paused on Nov. 11 to remember the sacrifices of soldiers who died and veterans who survived the First and Second World War, conflicts in Korea, Afghanistan and peacekeeping missions around the world. The pandemic made Remembrance Day 2020 a mostly virtual, physically distanced commemoration — a very different kind...
Heritage committee approves major Bank Street development but seeks design change to relieve ‘cliff wall’
The Built Heritage Sub-Committee of Ottawa City Hall voted to redevelop 390-394 Bank Street to have a new residential and commercial building.
Ottawa museums commemorate Remembrance Day virtually
Museums in Ottawa find ways to virtually honour Remembrance day this year.
Remembrance Day in COVID times: Watson pays city’s respects at smaller, safer local ceremonies
This Remembrance Day has been a different one for veterans and the public.
Air-quality project discovers no ‘hot spots’ in Ottawa – so far
The Breathe Easy campaign from Ecology Ottawa is a community-level project allowing volunteers to test and track the air quality in Ottawa.