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: 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.
City Builder: Michael Wood advocates for small business and 911 services in Ottawa
Michael Wood, a professor at Algonquin College and business consultant, is widely recognized in Ottawa for his advocacy for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and his efforts to improve emergency services across the city.
City Builder: Empress Nyiringango is a musician on a healing journey
Empress Nyiringango is an Ottawa based Rwandan-Canadian singer and song writer who embarked on a "healing journey" in response to genocide.
City Builder: Jennifer Stewart’s mission is to make an impact in business and her community
Jennifer Stewart, CEO of Syntax Strategic has built several thriving businesses. Despite being an "accidental entrepreneur," today she is a "serial entrepreneur."
City Builder: City Fidelia is more than the music
City Fidelia’s contributions to the city of Ottawa go further than his musical career.
City Builder: Bobby Brown leading way for independent baseball in the capital
Bobby Brown has been leading the Ottawa Titans since 2022. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the team, thanks to his many years of baseball experience.
City Builder: Neil Saravanamuttoo of CitySHAPES wants Ottawa to reach its ‘terrific’ potential
The economist, CitySHAPES director, and community advocate says Ottawa has "great bones," but needs work to reach standard of a G7 capital
For Ottawa poet Natalie Hanna, hope and some soothing are essential
Natalie Hanna is an Ottawa-based poet and lawyer who works with low-income populations. She says her work in both areas comes from a feminist perspective and though each area is different, she sees intersections.
City builder: Stuart MacKay advocates for a better Ottawa
Stuart MacKay is one of the co-founders of Ottawa Transit Riders.
City builder: Carla MacLeod brings golden experience to role leading Ottawa’s women’s pro hockey team
Carla MacLeod brings a wealth of experience to her role the first head coach of PWHL Ottawa.
City builder: Broadcaster and fundraiser Sam Laprade inducted into Order of Ottawa
Sam Laprade, a 52-year-old veteran radio and television show host, has just received the Order of Ottawa from Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.
City builder: From India to Ottawa, Bill Malhotra has created one of city’s largest development companies
In a series of short profiles, Capital Current introduces some of the people working hard to improve life in Ottawa. Who is he? Bill Malhotra is the founder and CEO of one of the largest real estate developers in Ottawa, Claridge Homes, which he started in 1986. What’s his background? Malhotra was born in India, and studied civil engineering at...
City builder: Ottawa’s Kate Heartfield finds inspiration in curious places
Ottawa's Kate Heartfield is an award-winning fantasy author and a former journalist at the Ottawa Citizen.
City builder: Charlie Senack connects with Kitchissippi as the editor of a community newspaper
Charlie Senack is the editor of the Kitchissippi Times and a hard-working journalist delving into issues that affect the residents of this part of Ottawa.
City builder: Sueling Ching is a voice for local Ottawa businesses
Sueling Ching advocates for the needs of local Ottawa businesses in her capacity as president and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade.
City builder: Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah works to protect and advocate for trans and queer youth
Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah is a queer Ghanaian-Canadian activist and the executive director of the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity.
City builder: Susan Love helps prevent convicted sex offenders from re-offending
For more than 20 years, Susan Love has worked to help convicted sex offenders keep from re-offending. CoSA uses restorative justice principles to try to create both support and accountability for those they work with.
City builders: Derick Fage — from theatre kid to news host and advocate
Derick Fage is a television host and motivational speaker who has shared his experience of a chronic condition willingly with others.
City builder: Rae Landriau uses passion for nature to fuel volunteer work in Ottawa
Activist, volunteer, author and master's student Rae Landriau was awarded the 2023 Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award from Volunteer Ottawa.
City builder: Alice Irene Whittaker leads the charge on environmental issues in Ottawa
Alice Irene Whittaker is a writer, environmental leader and the executive director of Ecology Ottawa, a not-for-profit dedicated to engaging the community on the environment.
City builder: From snowboards to Shopify, Tobias Lütke is a tech titan
Tobias Lütke is the current CEO and a co-founder of Shopify — a billion-dollar powerhouse in the e-commerce industry.
City builder: Tony Bui works hard to forge communal bonds in Ottawa
Tony Bui uses his personal journey of identity to offer tangible solutions for communal 2LGBTQIA+ safe spaces.
Local artist “J Positive” brings compassion to the canvas
Meet Joel Jamensky, the Ottawa creative illustrating the joy that comes alongside living with Down syndrome.
For Ravens veteran Madison Reid, juggling basketball with podcasting was the ultimate balancing act
Ravens basketball star Madison Reid talks to Capital Current about juggling her sport, her education and her podcasting job as graduation looms.
A poet’s progress: Award-winning Ottawa poet Deborah-Anne Tunney reveals her winding path to success
Ottawa area poet Deborah-Anne Tunney talks about Archibald Lampman Award win and her long road to being a published author.
Inside the blue paint: Dave Stathos brings life lessons learned in his hockey career to school for young netminders
After a point where he wouldn't even watch a hockey game, former pro goalie Dave Stathos now teaches young netminders to take initiative.
TikTok Thanksgiving: Concerned Byward store clerk makes a difference
An Ottawa man uses TikTok to rally followers to help the disadvantaged in the Byward Market area.
First time Ottawa South NDP candidate fights for an equitable Canada
First time Ottawa South NDP candidate wants to fight for an equitable Canada, tackle systemic-racism and build an affordable future.
Trans Canada Project gives transgender and non-binary people a platform to share their stories
The Trans Canada Project was started by Kelly Schwab and Cary Scott earlier this year to share stories of trans and non-binary Canadians.
Sobey shortlist: Removing age limit on 2021 award opens an important door for Lorna Bauer
Lorna Bauer says the lifting of an age limit on the 2021 Sobey Art Award better reflects the time it takes for an artist to find their place in the world.
‘A magical place’: Grammy-nominated songwriter sings Ottawa high school’s praises
Grammy-nominated songwriter and musician Kaan Gunesberk fondly remembers his formative experience at Ottawa's Canterbury High School.
Faces of change: Farhia Ahmed calls for a restructuring of the criminal justice system
Capital Current continues its occasional series profiling some of the people who are making a difference in our community: When Farhia Ahmed first heard about the death of Abdirahman Abdi, a man from Ottawa’s Somali community who died after an altercation with Ottawa police officers in July 2016, she joined the community in mourning. Mourning quickly turned to outrage as...
Faces of change: Wise Atangana works to empower Black youth
Wise Atangana hopes to open a cultural centre to empower young Black artists in Ottawa.
Faces of change: Arielle Contreras combats loneliness among long-term care residents
Letters to Elders is an initiative to connect residents in long-term care homes to the outside world.
Faces of change: The path of Claudette Commanda
Commanda Claudette became a professor and currently is a special adviser to the dean of law on reconciliation at uOttawa.
Ottawa artist, musician keeps creating even as COVID-19 threatens his safety
Chris Binkowski recently celebrated his 40th birthday, something few people with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy achieve. He is also an artist and musician dealing with COVID-19 from an assited living facility.
Faces of change: Ottawa photographer Katherine Takpannie uses her camera to raise awareness
Capital Current continues its occasional series profiling some of the people who are making a difference in our community: Katherine Takpannie says her journey with photography started when she was 15. “I have an uncle who gifted me a little point-and-shoot camera, and I had started a project called 365, when you take one photo a day for an entire...
Faces of change: Nimao Ali, a ‘friend, sister and mother’ to Ottawa’s Somali community
Nimao Ali has worked to bring justice for Abdirahman Abdi with the Abdi family and local members of the community.
Faces of change: Kai Dean brings LGBTQ-friendly auto services to Ottawa
Kai Dean is a Merrickville-based mechanic offering services geared towards LGBTQ people and allies.
Ottawa’s 2020 Brian Kilrea Award winner is so much more than a football coach
The story of Jean-Sorphia Guillaume goes beyond the football field and into the community where he has helped many succeed in football, but more importantly in life.
Faces of change: Rev. Anthony Bailey hard at work for social justice
Parkdale United Church Reverend Anthony Bailey has been awarded the Order of Ottawa for his exceptional contributions to the Ottawa community.
Faces of change: John Medicine Horse Kelly brings communities together through music
Capital Current continues its occasional series profiling some of the people who are making a difference in our community: John Medicine Horse Kelly has spent the better part of the past three decades working to preserve and revitalize Indigenous culture through music. Nowadays, he works to create bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities at Carleton University. Kelly, from Skidegate, Haida...
Faces of change: Renée Michaud works to connect people during the pandemic
Local artist and entrepreneur Renée Michaud has adapted her community-based art events to keep people connected during the pandemic.
Faces of change: Nathalie Maione uses furniture to fight for inclusion
Nathalie Maione's charity Helping With Furniture furnishes the homes of international and domestic immigrants in Ottawa. They go far beyond furniture in their fight for inclusion.
Faces of change: Richard Sharpe wants sustainable policies to counter anti-Black racism
Richard Sharpe is a first-generation Canadian looking to make a long-lasting impact on the Black community both here in Ottawa and across the nation.
Faces of change: Peter Sloly’s complicated first year as Ottawa Police Chief
Peter Sloly's first year as Ottawa's first black police chief was full of contention and the prospect of change.
Faces of change: Sahada Alolo is building bridges to tackle systemic racism in Ottawa Police
As co-chair of the Community Equity Council, Sahada Alolo is working to close the gap between marginalized communities and Ottawa police.
Gatineau’s ‘Butterfly Girl’ nominated for 2020 Nature Inspiration Award
A young Gatineau girl who is trying to save the endangered monarch butterfly is among the finalists for the Canadian Museum of Nature's Inspiration awards.
Faces of Change: Amira Elghawaby fights for labour rights – and voices often overlooked
Journalist and human rights advocate, Amira Elghawaby speaks on her career and platform in a multicultural Canada.