Ottawa ministry trying to restore hope, one homeless youth at a time
Eight years ago Jason Pino founded Restoring Hope Ministries, an emergency overnight shelter for Ottawa's homeless youth.
Black parents in Peel urging schools to include Afro-Centric books in libraries
A group of Black parents is pushing a Toronto-area school board to combat systemic racism in the selection of library books available to students.
Quebec’s COVID curfew exposed strain on shelters, vulnerability of homeless, say advocates
When Quebec Premier François Legault announced an 8 p.m., province-wide curfew to help combat the spread of COVID-19, it forced many sectors of society to readjust. In particular, homeless shelters in Quebec — already struggling to accommodate those in need of shelter before the pandemic — came under even more pressure. And that pressure continues after an uproar over the...
Girl Guides ‘shine spotlight’ on gender equality as Canada marks International Women’s Day
March 8 marks International Women's Day. The Girl Guides of Canada have chosen to focus on the theme of "Choose to Challenge" while the Government of Canada has chosen #FeministRecovery.
Too many Black children are in Ontario’s child welfare system because of systemic racism, critics say
There is an overrepresentation of Black children and youth in the Ontario child welfare system.
City parks and recreation officials tap public for input on future of Ottawa’s play spaces
From dog parks to sports fields and arenas to pools, all parks and recreational facilities are extremely well used and deeply enjoyed by Ottawa residents. And citizens who provided feedback to city officials during the bilingual online consultations ending Feb. 25 made it clear they care about these spaces — and their future. The sessions were held to get residents’...
A system turned upside down: Immigration process faces growing backlog during pandemic
The efficiency of processing immigration applications has deteriorated dramatically because of COVID-19, and it is affecting prospective immigrants as well as the future of the Canadian immigration system.
Pandemic highlights need for more Canadian-based breeding for guide dogs
COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on Canadian guide dog organizations' funds and dog supplies.
Teaching Black history and culture needs to be a mandatory part of the Ontario curriculum, advocates say
Experts say education about Black history and culture is an essential part of combating racism both inside and outside of the classroom.
Pandemic rise in domestic violence mirrored in increased animal abuse, warns Ottawa Humane Society
The Ottawa Humane Society reports an increase in animal abuse linked to domestic violence over the course of the pandemic.
Noise complaints in Ottawa surge to seven-year high during COVID-19
Stay-at-home measures may be helping fuel a rise in noise complaints during the pandemic.
Lookahead ’21: Centre 507 cooks up a plan to remodel kitchen where 35,000 meals have been prepared since 1983
Officials with Centre 507, the adult drop-in centre in the heart of Ottawa, say they’ll be working hard in 2021 to deepen their connection with the community and step up the centre’s effort to improve services for those in need. This effort will be highlighted by a renovated and upgraded kitchen where some 35,000 meals have been prepared over the...