History society ‘tour guide’ explores how street art enlivens city neighbourhoods
Street art and graffiti were the focus of a presentation by the president of the Historical Society of Ottawa
Decriminalization, more funding key to saving lives, say drug reform advocates
Decriminalization is a good first step, but advocates and experts say bigger leaps must be taken to address the overdose crisis.
Ottawa Turkish community grateful for donations to earthquake survivors
Ottawa's Turkish community is collecting essential items for earthquake survivors with hundreds of contributions from across the city.
Two drinks a week? Not realistic for many but some welcome a rethink about booze
New alcohol consumption recommendations warn Canadians of higher health risks after only two drinks a week.
Lots secured for greenery as building boom pushes city’s parkland fund above $40M
The City of Ottawa's parkland fund is helping neighbourhoods find new greenspace.
Speaking up: Bid to stop Peterson’s Ottawa talk strengthens activists’ solidarity
Local activists banded together in a bid to block controversial author and speaker Jordan Peterson from holding an event at the Canadian Tire Centre.
De-streaming high schools won’t solve deep-rooted divides in education
De-streaming high schools in Ontario is a step in the right direction, but isn't the solution.
End of government supports will likely push up poverty rates, experts warn
A new Statistics Canada report suggests poverty will likely increase past the 2019 levels as even lower-middle class people struggle with inflation.
Women’s walkathon aims to create safer neighbourhoods and battle violence
The walkathon encourages Ottawa residents to take pictures of community safety concerns.
The Ottawa Paw Pantry adjusts to keep helping low-income families feed their pets
Ottawa Paw Pantry provides pet food to low-income families. Operations have been rethought because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Religious show and tell: Ottawa’s Islamic Heritage Month helps educate, but some say more is needed to combat hate
Since 2007 October has been designated as islamic Heritage Month by the Federal Government. across Canada every October Muslim congregations hold events showcasing the true history, teachings and image of Islam for the public to see.
Trans ID clinic reopening in downtown Ottawa this month
Kind Space, a 2SLGBTQIA+ community centre in Ottawa, is reopening their Trans ID clinic this October.
Waiting for the dough: One Ontario family’s life in limbo on the list for autism services
There are just more that 53,000 places in the Rogers Centre for eager baseball fans supporting the Toronto Blue Jays. Replace each fan with a child on Ontario’s waitlist for autism services and there still wouldn’t be enough room. The Durand-Shea family of the Durham region occupies three of those seats. As the mother of seven-year-old triplet boys who are...
Shawn Menard campaigns for ‘progressive change’ this municipal election
Capital Ward councillor Shawn Menard said he's campaigning for himself and mayoral candidate Catherine McKenney.
Celebrating Indigeneity in person: The Asinabka film festival returns to roaring applause
The 11th annual Asinabka Film and Media Arts Festival launched with a cheering audience.
Hate on the rise in Ottawa, police say and victims are bearing the brunt
The number of hate crimes reported to Ottawa police continues to rise for a third year in a row.
Remembering a hero: The first Chief Pinesi Day honours life of Algonquin leader
The Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation celebrated their first ever Chief Pinesi Day on July 1st.
Most Ontarians pessimistic Ford government can fix health care, lower cost of living, poll shows
At least two-thirds of people in Ontario are pessimistic four more years of Ford will improve health care, cost of living following record low voter turnout.
Ottawa protestors condemn U.S. abortion decision and note concerns about access to the procedure in Canada
Protestors gathered in downtown Ottawa on Friday afternoon denouncing the U.S. Supreme court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Winnipeg motion to dismantle bus shelters illustrates need for safe consumption sites, say activists
WINNIPEG — Winnipeg City Council is set to hear a motion Thursday to dismantle bus shelters along a major east-end street after the proposal was jilted at the city’s Executive Policy Committee meeting last week. The idea is being pushed by Transcona Coun. Shawn Nason, who recommended the removal of glass, doors, and benches at two bus shelters on Regent...
Cancer and alcohol: Advocates push the need for warning labels to help consumers choose safely
The debate is now on about the efficacy of warning labels about health risks on alcohol products.
UOttawa’s Asya Bartley selected for U Sports female apprentice coach program
Asya Bartley, of uOttawa, has been selected for the U Sports female apprentice coach program.
Ottawa’s e-scooter program returns despite opposition from disability advocates over sidewalk hazards
As the e-scooter pilot program heads into its third summer, accessibility issues persist despite approval from City Council
Fighting Islamophobia: Ottawa Centre MPP says it’s time for non-Muslims to step up
Ottawa Centre MPP Joel Harden says non-Muslims need to ramp up the effort to end Islamophobia.
Community activists, police unite at kitchen hub to bring food to Toronto’s vulnerable
Kitchen24 alongside other community organizations worked together to combat one of Toronto's most pressing issues, food insecurity.
Push is on to ‘rewild’ Ottawa and promote native plants, greenspace protection
Ecology Ottawa is pushing the City of Ottawa to consider a program of 'rewilding' the urban environment.
Citing tenants’ rights and low-cost housing crisis, ACORN appeals city approval of Herongate redevelopment
ACORN is appealing Ottawa city council's approval of redevelopment in Herongate Village.
Fight against ‘anti-homeless architecture’ part of struggle to combat Ottawa’s affordable housing crisis
The battle against anti-homeless urban architecture has been joined in Centretown led by Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney.
Rising costs, slow pace of affordable housing development paint a dire picture in Ottawa
Ottawa's housing crisis continues to escalate as housing prices rise and the impacts of COVID-19 cause dangerous lasting effects on residents.
Volunteers help ease food insecurity in Alta Vista seniors building but often it’s not enough
Cathy Hamilton, a resident of the Clementine Towers in Alta Vista, started a food pantry in September 2021 to address food insecurity in her building.
Winnipeg scraps adult-business licences as sex workers, anti-trafficking advocates unite — for different reasons
Sex workers and anti-human trafficking advocates urge Winnipeg city council to end licensing of sex work.
The dark side of Instagram: Fake accounts and hacking in the pandemic era
Experts are warning social media users to be hyper-vigilant as hackers continue to disrupt the space.
Critics frustrated with OPS reluctance to back non-police handling of mental health crises
Advocates say that the city’s street-involved youth, homeless people and others who may become distressed and in need of help should often be attended to by mental health professionals rather than police. [Photo © Reanna Julien.]
Public washroom shortage leaving many vulnerable populations in the dark and out in the cold, advocates say
The lack of available washrooms in Ottawa's downtown core and beyond is creating barriers for already vulnerable populations.
Shining a light: Trans youth group opens a door to discussion of inclusive sex education
Local transgender youth group SAEFTY recently hosted an online workshop to teach the basics of sex education for trans folks.
Graduating as an international student in Canada: struggle and heartbreak amid unfair obstacles
International students in Canada are struggling to find jobs and pursue their dreams in Canada and immigration policies don't help.
On a roll: Cycle Salvation aims to bring refurbished bikes to those in addiction recovery, newcomers to Canada
Community members will receive refurbished bicycles this spring, thanks to a new initiative launched by not-for-profit Cycle Salvation.
New scholarship aims to support uOttawa’s Black and Indigenous student athletes
A fund created by two former uOttawa Gee-Gees aims to help Black and Indigenous student athletes who are juggling school, work and sport.
UOttawa Black students’ advocacy group gives back to Boys and Girls Club with holiday fundraiser
The Black Student-Athlete Advocacy Council formed at the University of Ottawa in 2020 celebrated Christmas at St. Louis Bar and Grill and collected donations for the Boys and Girls of Ottawa.
Students and teachers hope Carleton’s signature on the Scarborough Charter will improve inclusion on campus
Carleton and Nipissing have joined 40 other colleges and universities across Canada in signing the Scarborough Charter, a document that vows to end rhetoric about combatting racism and promoting action.
The COVID-19 puzzle: Job seekers flock to some positions while others remain unfilled
While a local retail store booms with employee applications, other sectors are experiencing a candidate shortage.
Retying an old string: Immigration challenges, looking to the future and reconnecting with the past
Every immigrant knows what it’s like to be caught between two worlds. But sometimes, the costs can be heavy.
Ontario nursing shortage could worsen as many young nurses now say they want out: survey
A survey shows that many young nurses in Ontario are fed up with their profession and intend to leave, something that would dramatically impact an existing shortage of qualified care-givers.
This year’s Hanukkah festivities were a “light into the darkness” amid rise in anti-Semitism in the city
The menorah lighting at City Hall on Nov. 28 marked the start of this year’s Hanukkah festivities in Ottawa, as a symbol of light and hope for the Jewish community after several instances of anti-Semitism rocked them earlier this fall.
Canadian Uyghurs bring their fight against China’s genocide to Parliament Hill
Canadian Uyghurs continue to raise awareness of the plight of the people enduring a genocide in concentration camps in China.
Quebec searches for answers to its growing labour shortage
Quebec is wrestling with a labour shortage as the economy emerges from the pandemic lockdown.
Crossing the digital divide: Affordability is key to connecting all Canadians to the Internet, advocates say
Drums and cheering could be heard outside Ottawa City Hall on Nov. 16 as ACORN members and other activists advocated for the recognition of internet access as a human right. As the world moves into a digital sphere, internet rights advocates say many people are being left behind in the transition. ACORN Ottawa led the rally at Marion Dewar Plaza,...
Witness to Beirut’s tragedy: A Canadian immigrant describes what it’s like to watch the horror from afar
On 4 August 2020, a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored at the Port of Beirut in the capital city of Lebanon exploded, causing at least 218 deaths, 7,000 injuries, and US$15 billion in property damage, and leaving an estimated 300,000 people homeless. And I was here. In Ottawa.
Netflix series Maid a rare example of media offerings that capture complexities of intimate partner violence, experts say
Experts say Netflix's new limited series, Maid, captures complexities and offers new perspective on intimate partner violence in the media.
Community members push for better internet accessibility for low-income households in Ottawa
Community groups are calling on the City of Ottawa to provide accessible internet for low- and middle-income families and individuals.