Residents fear mercury contamination as Kanata golf club redevelopment begins
Kanata residents are ringing alarm bells over mercury contamination at the former Kanata Golf and Country Club, an area that will soon be redeveloped for residential housing. “It is documented – there is mercury contamination across this entire site,” said Kanata North Coun. Cathy Curry during a planning committee meeting on March 4. “The city’s response was that ‘no, the...
Beer festival a reminder of the quality of local suds as U.S. booze ban hits one year
It's been exactly one year since the Ford government pulled U.S. liquor from LCBO shelves and one local beer maker says he's worried more about American suppliers than he is about his own business.
Westboro community steps into cold in support of Cornerstone Housing for Women
Westboro-based Cornerstone Housing for Women raises funds for their emergency shelter as housing insecurity rises.
City rebuffs owner, grants heritage status to ‘rare’ Orléans farmhouse
Over the objections of the building’s owner, Ottawa city council has granted heritage status to a “rare and unusual remaining example” of a century-old farmhouse in Orléans. Located at 6654 Notre-Dame St. in the east-end suburb, Lauzon House is described by city heritage experts as an important link to the history of the early Franco-Ontarian farming community while exhibiting “a...
Carleton students split on proposed compensation for transit failures
Carleton University student Atisa Khalaj says she often outwalks city buses — even when it’s minus 20 C. “I have never had to spend this much money on Uber until I moved here,” said Khalaj. “I keep deleting that app and then have to re-download it because I’m stranded.” The second-year student at Carleton, says she’s frustrated and disappointed with...
Famed fossil marking ocean-land shift grabs spotlight in new Museum of Nature exhibit
More than 20 years after its discovery, a 375-million-year-old fossil creature called “tiktaalik” has crawled into public view at the Canadian Museum of Nature in downtown Ottawa. Tiktaalik roseae is a well-preserved fossil discovered in 2004 by a team of American paleontologists on Ellesmere Island in Nunavut and is a highlight in the McLeod Street museum’s new exhibit “Life Onto...
More than murals: Paint It Up! builds youth skills and neighbourhood pride in Ottawa
Tucked away on Wellington Street West, a vibrant peafowl fans its feathers across the side of a barbershop, a splash of colour that serves as a point of pride for area residents. Since its completion last year, “The Proudest Plumage” has drawn visitors, sparked conversations and helped community members see themselves reflected in the public space around them. The mural...
Adventure film showcases ice climbing in Rockies as climate-change sentinel
Ottawa audiences got a front-row seat to the thrill of extreme ice climbing at the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour, recently screened at the ByTowne Cinema. Hosted by Trailhead Paddle Shack, the 50th edition of the festival paired athletic feats with climate-focused documentaries, showing how high-altitude adventure offers a window on our warming world. “That mix of spectacle and awareness...
Council approves heritage study for Kanata’s Beaverbrook neighbourhood
City council has approved a comprehensive heritage study for Beaverbrook, the Kanata neighbourhood designed in the 1960s as a planned, nature-oriented community. The study could lead to Beaverbrook’s designation as a heritage conservation district, the first in Ottawa outside the Greenbelt and one of the few in Ontario recognizing a mid-20th century suburb. The proposal had earned support earlier from...
Carleton gallery fosters close-knit feeling with textile exhibit, fibre-art workshops
The Carleton University Art Gallery recently welcomed students with an interest in fibre arts – knitting, crochet, visible mending and more – to come together to create and celebrate its new exhibition, Material Journeys. The gallery held a third installment of its “Art + Friends” series Feb. 8, this time with a focus on textiles. Around 50 students sat around...
‘Don’t shut down the program:’ Students, industry fight to save Algonquin College music training
The sound of guitar solos, drums, bass lines and vocals fill room N124 at Algonquin College. The music recording lab class is covering a song with added elements of creativity to showcase their learning over the term. But next year, room N124 may be silent because the Music Industry Arts program is one of dozens that could be on the...
Over DND’s objections, city approves heritage status for old RCAF mess hall
An abandoned three-storey brick building in downtown Ottawa — its windows boarded up — once bustled with activity and used to make history. The century-old building at 158 Gloucester St. was designed and built in 1919 by Robert Holmes, a well-known figure in Ottawa’s architectural history. It first served as the headquarters for the Orange Order, a Protestant fraternal organization...
‘Tell the truth’: Algonquin poet urges ‘Ottawa 200’ to fully acknowledge Indigenous history before colonization
Ottawa’s former poet laureate is urging the city to acknowledge the “oppression” suffered by the Indigenous inhabitants of the region — where they have lived for thousands of years — during this year’s 200th anniversary of the founding of Bytown. Albert Dumont, the city’s English-language poet laureate from 2021 to 2023 and a spiritual guide from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg —...
Eligibility for arts awards revamped in nod to wider circle of ‘creatives’
Arts Ottawa has revamped its eligibility criteria for the capital’s annual awards, a move organizers say, widens the circle of recognition and reflects changes affecting the local arts scene. The awards also acknowledge the impact artists and arts leaders have on the community. “The Arts Ottawa Awards celebrate the artists, cultural workers, organizations and community builders who make Ottawa’s arts...
Ottawa curling stars Homan, Miskew spark change to Hall of Fame eligibility
The Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame has changed the way it welcomes active athletes to the ultimate club of excellence for local athletes. The move was sparked by the international success of Ottawa curlers Rachel Homan and Emma Miskew, three-time world champions and five-time winners of the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Homan and Miskew won the bronze medal game...
Ottawa set to expand community grants program to include waste diversion
A plan to expand Ottawa’s community grants program to include projects designed to reduce or reuse waste has the support of the city’s environment committee, though some councillors question whether the funding amount is adequate.
Ottawa plans to seek bird-friendly designation under Nature Canada program
The City of Ottawa is advancing an application for designation as a Bird Friendly City under a national program led by Nature Canada.
Navigating a new world order: Canada has a treacherous path ahead as it boosts defence spending
The government of Canada has a difficult task ahead for its national defence upgrades, from a new aggressive posture from the Trump administration, very negative attitudes towards that posture among Canadians, the geographic reality of sharing the longest undefended border in the world with the U.S., and an increasing sense that Canadians are under threat.
Transit group shows why official OC Transpo numbers don’t match reality for most
A new website from a volunteer transit advocacy group shows why Ottawa’s official bus reliability numbers don’t match the actual experience of most riders.
Gotta go? Stand-alone public washroom promises downtown relief — at long last
A stand-alone public washroom planned for the corner of Somerset and Bank streets in Centretown will be the first of its kind in the capital when it opens this fall. Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster said the facility will be 400 square feet and believes it will have two stalls. Troster said she was “shocked” to learn there were no stand-alone,...
Some fans say they bet on sports responsibly, but acknowledge it’s a dangerous game
How the growing popularity of sports gambling in Canada has affected business.
Coming to Canada: Migrants seek opportunity for a better life as doors start closing
As Canada scales back its Temporary Foreign Worker Program, Youssef Bouderbela reflects on joining before obtaining legal status.
Confederation Heights master plan impresses River Ward residents
A master plan to turn surplus federal land in south-central Ottawa into a bustling community has been introduced to residents. The plan envisions turning the Confederation Heights area — with Canada Post’s headquarters at its heart — into a campus with high-density housing, parks, retail space, stronger transit infrastructure and an upgraded RA Centre recreation complex. The plan has been...
‘We are not packages’: Riders with disabilities decry transit failures, push for better service, more taxi training
A “culture of fear” and systemic failures within OC Transpo’s Para Transpo services — which includes contracted taxi trips — have pushed riders to a breaking point, says Ana Maria Cruz-Valderrama, a member of the city’s accessibility advisory committee. During a recent committee meeting, participants detailed a troubling list of problems ranging from contracted taxi drivers watching YouTube while operating...
Heritage Ottawa talk highlights Indigenous influence at Kìwekì Point
A recent Heritage Ottawa lecture on Kìwekì Point — the National Capital Commission’s reimagining of what was once called Nepean Point in downtown Ottawa — showcased the central role of reconciliation-oriented design and Indigenous collaboration in the $45-million project. Garry Meus, a senior landscape architect with the NCC, guided attendees through the vision for the landmark during his Jan. 21...
Ottawa Sport Council urges city to invest more in basketball courts
This story includes voices from OSC and OBN board members and local youth basketball coaches on why Ottawa needs to invest into indoor basketball facilities.
Natural wine tempting drinkers looking for a healthier option
Natural wine is on the rise in Ottawa offering consumers healthier alternatives.
City plants seed for Ottawa community gardens to bloom
Ottawa gardeners hopeful new City program promising increased garden space bears fruit.
Ottawa Rapid FC’s first signing of the season can’t wait to get started
After signing with Ottawa Rapid FC of the Northern Super League, Sadie Waite can't wait to kick off her professional career.
How’s your New Year’s resolution? Gym owners have ideas for keeping on track
People start the new year full of plans to keep their resolutions, only to see their resolve crumble by late January.
Rights, resilience and radio helping Ottawa’s Iranian-Canadian diaspora navigate Iran’s crisis
As Iran struggles under economic collapse and the aftermath of a brutally violent crackdown, Iranian-Canadian families in Ottawa anxiously await news of loved ones trapped behind closed borders. Support has been visible especially when more than 100,000 demonstrators poured into the streets of Toronto on Feb. 1 to support anti-government protests in Iran and to condemn the religious regime’s violent...
For Ottawa renters struggling to keep up, could tenant unions be a solution?
Market pressures and a lack of support from the provincial government is pushing more Ottawa renters to explore the idea of tenant unions.
Ottawa councillors opt for a pedestrian bridge over LeBreton instead of Preston extension
Ottawa city councillors have rejected the idea extending Preston Street through Lebreton Flats, opting instead for a pedestrian and cycling bridge over the area.
Agreement aims to keep artists working in Gladstone high-rise development
A high-rise development appears set to proceed on Gladstone Avenue west of Preston Street, a project that will see the renovation of the historic Standard Bread Company building while maintaining a place for the artists who work there. The building, constructed in 1924 and designated as a heritage property in 2020, is home to the Enriched Bread Artists collective of...
A fowl tale: Secondhand Stories sanctuary brings chickens compassion
Liz Wheeler is the proud owner of Secondhand Stories chicken sanctuary, the home to 22 chickens. And it all started with some decluttering.
Aberdeen Pavilion vendor laments impact of ‘Cattle Castle’ repair work
The Aberdeen Pavilion, the landmark heritage building at Lansdowne Park, is to be shut down for a major roof rehabilitation as early as this spring, city officials say. The upcoming construction is raising concerns about the closure’s impact on public events held inside the building, including the popular 613Flea market, which operates inside the building twice a month, hosting up...
After anti-AI rally, Carleton TAs and RAs reach tentative deal with university
Local 4600 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees has reached a tentative agreement with Carleton University after 13 consecutive hours of bargaining, according to a statement released on Jan. 27.
Increased density coming to Ottawa as council passes major zoning changes
Ottawa city council has signed off on a new zoning bylaw, marking the city’s first major overhaul of its planning rules since 2008. The newly approved bylaw is intended to boost housing supply, reduce the city’s dependence on cars, limit urban sprawl and promote intensification.
Ontario universities face funding crisis causing some to see tuition increase as better than program cuts
“Ontario’s post-secondary sector is on the brink of a financial meltdown,” according to a recent editorial in the Toronto Star. The crisis has one student thinking a tuition increase would be better than program cuts.
Technology and inclusive storytelling driving growth of Canadian museums
Interest in Canadian museums has grown rapidly thanks to the adoption of digital technologies and inclusive storytelling.
Coordination key to smooth renewal of Glebe Community Centre, residents, staff say
The Glebe Community Centre is undergoing renovations, but so far their programming has not faced major disruptions.
Meeting the public where they are, a fifth-generation Ottawa butcher shop thrives on social media
The Butchery in Ottawa gaining social media traction is a "big deal" says expert.
Bird flu battle: Ottawa protestors outraged over B.C. ostrich cull as experts watch danger posed by virus
Farmers are protesting the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's culling of more than 300 ostriches at a B.C. farm.
Ottawa’s ‘King of Christmas trees’ returns to parking lot of iconic Merivale Dairy Queen
Ottawa's King of the Christmas Trees is back in his kingdom at the iconic retro Dairy Queen parking lot on Merivale.
Sports car owners prepare for winter season amid early snowfall
With snow finally here, Ottawa sports car owners are deciding whether or not they are keeping or storing their cars away this winter.
Bracing for impact: Landlords and tenants wonder whether new Ontario law will improve access to rental housing
Experts not sure that Ontario's new law governing landlord-tenant disputes will solve affordability problems for renters.
The Arctic is alive and some rare extinct rhino fossils tell us how
It has four toes, rather than the usual three. It is around one metre tall, small, like a carnival pony. And it has no horn. Some 23 million years ago, the creature roamed the High Arctic, crossing between North America and Eurasia — a feat researchers previously thought impossible. “It” is a recently discovered, extinct rhino. Epiatheracerium itjilik, the Arctic...
OC Transpo steps back from its electric-bus plan
City staff can now, once again, consider purchasing diesel and diesel-electric buses after a recent motion at the transit committee.
AI and GLAM: Emerging tech is changing museums and libraries
Pressure to apply AI tools to museum and gallery work is making professionals worry about how to preserve information they’ve been entrusted to protect.
Crime-preventing AI could soon watch over OC Transpo riders
OC Transpo plans to look into using artificial intelligence to monitor its closed circuit TV system on buses and in stations.