Town hall critics rail against Ottawa’s troubled transit system
Concerned citizens criticized the City of Ottawa’s transit system at a recent town hall meeting.
Ottawa’s anti-racism secretariat to push for more minority representation
The City of Ottawa has a new formalized and funded anti racism secretariat led by Councillor Rawlson King. What are the aims of this unit and what will it accomplish in the city of Ottawa?
Diversity in hockey starts with youth and has a long way to go
In light of recent news, the state of hockey culture in Canada has been brought into the spotlight. Youth leagues are grappling with the question: is hockey really for everyone?
“The city needs to accommodate us”: Sidewalk snow an annual roadblock for people with mobility issues
Local residents and advocates in Ottawa are highlighting the lack of sidewalk maintenance on behalf of the city, specifically for snow removal.
Ottawa groups brace for a tough winter helping the homeless
With winter on the way, several groups across Ottawa are working to help the city's homeless population.
Feminist fair-goers explain what feminism means to them
We asked people at the Feminist Fair why feminism matters to them, and they gave us their answers.
‘Democratizing’ zero waste: Can waste-free living be for everyone?
From Vancouver to Ottawa, stores like NU Grocery are dispensing a variety of food and cleaning products free of plastic packaging in an effort to cut waste. But some are saying that a zero-waste lifestyle is a privilege not everyone in Ottawa can afford.
“I just want a roof over my head,” says tent city resident
As winter approaches, about a dozen homeless citizens living in a 'tent' city' next to Bayview station are preparing for the challenges awaiting them.
Ismaili Muslims combat stereotypes with acts of volunteerism
The Ismaili Muslims of Ottawa give back to the community in the form of volunteerism, working together to diminish common stereotypes of their religion.
Ottawa’s affordable housing crisis needs more federal help, experts, activists say
Low-income activists are continuing their fight against the federal government as Ottawa's housing crisis persists.
Where there is smoke: The pros and cons of vaping
First some history For the past decade, e-cigarettes have grown in popularity since they were first introduced in the mid-2000s. As an example of their popularity, the BBC has reported that the number of vapers worldwide rose from seven million in 2011 to 41 million in 2018. The invention of the first e-cigarette dates back to the 1960s. It was...
Ottawa LRT accessibility good –– but could be better, say disability groups
Advocacy groups in Ottawa are saying that while the LRT is good for them, accessibility services could have been much better.
Neighbours help neighbours at the HighJinx antique store
A small brick antique shop located on Kent St. seems to be a magnet for artifacts and oddities from across the city and around the world. It has also attracted something else...
Seniors struggling to find affordable housing, group says
A local housing organization is saying that landlords are targeting low-income households including seniors, an act that violates their human rights.
International student crowdfunds for tuition to stay in Canada
Henrique Arkanjo's friend set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Arkanjo's college tuition.
Ottawa facing full-blown “cat crisis,” warn animal welfare advocates
Ottawa is in the grips of a "Cat Crisis," which local animal welfare advocates say is only going to get worse this spring with annual Kitten Season.
On the same page: Ottawa school board seeks the path to reconciliation with Indigenous students
Students and experts say that including more Indigenous literature in classrooms is crucial for reconciliation in schools.
Scrappy meal: Notorious Rideau Street McDonald’s ends 24-hour opening
The McDonald’s restaurant in the ByWard Market is notorious as the home for fights, disorderly functions, and bizarre incidents.
Ottawa experts skeptical of numbers in the Liberals’ poverty reduction report
Ottawa anti-poverty experts are skeptical of the Liberals' new Opportunity for All report because of 2016 changes to how the federal government measures poverty rates. They said the numbers are not accurate.
Ottawa march on Parliament reminded public of need for national autism strategy
Three days before world autism day, people from across Ontario marched from Barrhaven to parliament hill to request a national autism strategy.
Building bridges: Indigenous traditions revived through maple syrup production
Indigenous peoples are reconnecting to the traditions of maple syrup production and collaborating with other producers.
Build new or renovate old: Ottawa housing advocates debate how to spend extra $15M from city
Affordable housing advocates discuss a pleasant problem: What to do with some extra funding for housing in Ottawa.
Indigenous leaders are developing strategies to protect traditional knowledge in the digital age
Indigenous leaders are developing strategies to prevent the appropriation of traditional knowledge and culture.
Gift from the heart: Maximizing the blood supply in Ottawa
Rain or shine, there are different challenges to maintaining a national blood supply throughout the year. Organizations like Canadian Blood Services and blood distribution organizations are central to ensuring its availability to those in need.
Winter conditions hinder accessibility in Ottawa
This is Ottawa's worst winter in years for accessibility, advocate says.
Privacy concerns at the Ottawa Hospital prompt questions from the federal Privacy Commissioner
The Ottawa Hospital has taken down a camera that was filming people in a radiology waiting room in the General campus. The placement of the camera has come to the attention of the federal Privacy Commissioner.
Ottawa woman raises awareness about autoimmune conditions one sock at a time
An Ottawa woman has started an initiative to give out socks to raise awareness of autoimmune diseases.
Experts remain concerned despite small drop in opioid related emergency visits in Ottawa
Recent data shows no increase in emergency department visits for suspected overdoses for 2018, but experts warn the opioid crisis continues.
Number of police-reported sexual assaults soared in 2017, Statistics Canada says
Ontario ranks fourth among provinces and territories to experience an increase of sexual assault reports following the #MeToo era.
Fillings or finances: Changes to OSAP are worrying students in Ontario
Will the Ontario government's changes to OSAP make university more affordable? This story breaks down what these changes will mean for students.
Century-old Parliament Hill elm tree awaits the axe
A “heritage” white elm tree on Parliament Hill is coming down, to the dismay of a local environmental group.
Breaking barriers: New Ottawa study aims to empower those battling addictions and homelessness
People experiencing homelessness are facing barriers entering the workforce. A new study aims to find solutions from within the community.
Ottawa’s first winter cycling map shows many bike lanes face difficult conditions
Ottawa's winter cycling community says Bike Ottawa's new interactive map highlights gaps in the City's winter bike path maintenance.
New program to help Ottawa police and paramedics identify potential tissue donors at scene of a fatality
Ottawa police officers and paramedics have been trained in recognizing a potential tissue donor.
The Gift of Life: Pets and the holiday season
Inside the Ottawa Humane Society during the holiday season.
Installing child car seats correctly saves lives, experts say
The Ottawa Safety Council offers weekly car seat installations to teach proper techniques to the 70 per cent of caregivers who don't know how to install their child's seat properly.
‘It gets overwhelming’: Accessible parking abused most at Ottawa’s shopping centres
Capital Current tracks the abuse of accessible parking spaces by people are not disabled.
Architecture students hope to bring a “spark of energy” to Château Laurier addition
Third-year architecture students at Carleton University will be sharing their visions for the Château Laurier addition at an exhibition on Dec. 8 and 9.
High school activist aims to eliminate plastic straws in Ottawa
High school student Maelyn Kaya, founder of No Straw Ottawa, is on a mission to eliminate plastic straws from Ottawa.
Allsaints announces a healthy partnership with Mealshare
The Allsaints event space is joining with a charitable organization to provide meals for young people in the 118-year-old former Anglican Church in Sandy Hill.
Ottawa Police Service forum Dec. 6 to tackle signs of hate in community
The Ottawa Police Service is hosting their fourth annual Human Rights Learning Forum focusing on hate in the Ottawa community.
Ottawa’s Housing First strategy not working for homeless Indigenous people
The City of Ottawa's first Point in Time homeless count makes it clear more Indigenous housing and services are needed.
Ottawa’s supervised injection sites worried about cap on new Ontario facilities
As the opioid crisis continues to impact Canadian cities, Ottawa's supervised consumption sites describe how new provincial regulations will affect them.
Group calls for automated pedestrian signals for Bank Street
Old Ottawa South citizens may no longer need to rush to make the light.
Ottawa couple including food waste concerns on tour of Hintonburg
The creators of the Food waste: how do you tr(eat) your food? tour, Michael Melvill and Sarah Chelchowski, have set out to underline the overwhelming amount of food being tossed in the garbage when it could be composted or redirected to other members of the community.
You go, I go, we all go: Toilet talk with Lezlie Lowe
there are many factors that decide whether one has equal access to public bathrooms including gender, ethnicity, mobility, health, socio-economic status and appearance.
Ottawa post-secondary institutions are doing more to prevent sexual violence on campus
Most victims of sexual assault in Canada are in their first year at post-secondary schools. Ottawa’s campuses are now working to create safer schools through prevention.
Pressure builds to protect endangered Indigenous languages
A look at Canada's disappearing Indigenous languages and what Bill S-212 is trying to do to help keep them alive.
The last straw: Ottawa businesses lead way with plastic ban
Our obsession with plastic is choking the planet. Learn how small businesses are leading the way towards a more sustainable future with green initiatives like the Straw Free ban.
After the tornado, Bruce Pit dog park will never be the same
When tornadoes swept through the Ottawa-Gatineau region in September, one left sections of Bruce Pit and its pet memorial destroyed in its wake.