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...
Volunteers combatting homelessness set to take plunge in ice-cold fundraiser
Funds are being raised this weekend for local Ottawa community centres to help provide support during the colder winter conditions. Volunteers are braving the cold on a whole other level and submerging themselves in cold water tubs for the cause.
Ottawa will soon allow shelters anywhere in the city, despite concerns about consultation raised by some councillors
City council is taking the next step in allowing emergency and transitional shelters, despite concerns about a lack of public consultation from some councillors. Council has passed a motion by Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper, which directs city staff to amend a bylaw to allow shelters to be built in any part of Ottawa without a rezoning application. Leiper said he...
Ottawa skaters welcome a good season but experts say prepare for tougher years to come
Skaters in Ottawa have enjoyed the best conditions in years on the Rideau Canal Skateway thanks to cold temperatures and limited snowfall, but that hasn't stopped work on ways to mitigate the effects of climate change by researchers, who warn that this year could be an outlier.
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...
Fare increases and empty seats: OC Transpo has yet to regain pre-pandemic ridership
Low ridership is a multi-pronged issue for Ottawa. For some residents, lack of reliability is the main deterrent for their participation. For public workers, remote work options mean there is no reason to take transit. For some Ottawa residents like Max Patton, a part-time line cook, declining service quality and increasing fares have been enough to make him abandon OC...
‘Daddy’s Issues’ to tackle transphobia, grief at undercurrents theatre festival
Written by Merlin Simard, now based in Toronto, and directed by Montrealer Lior Maharjan, a reading of Daddy’s Issues is set to run at Ottawa Fringe’s undercurrents theatre festival Feb. 14 and 15.
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...
Ottawa councillors push to allow shelters is all areas of the city
Ottawa councillors approved an accelerated plan to allow shelters in all areas of the city, allowing such use months ahead of wider zoning changes.