Numbers illustrate how public money is helping build NHL arenas
Despite not paying NHL players directly, Canadian governments have recently been dipping their toes more heavily into professional hockey funding by way of arenas.
Skin cancer in Canada: Experts urge sunscreen use as warmer weather approaches
With warmer weather approaching, health experts are reminding Canadians that protecting their skin from the sun is more important than ever.
Ottawa homeless shelters, forced to adapt in a long, cold winter, thankful for public compassion
Data from the City of Ottawa shows the average number of individuals staying in temporary shelters has nearly doubled since 2022, reaching more than 3,800 shelter stays across the city in January 2026 alone.
Craft breweries must find ways to adapt to declining beer consumption in Canada
As consumers continue to turn away from craft beer and amid closures of microbreweries, one craft brewer says he still optimistic about his industry.
Fitness influencers promote risky, unproven fitness products called peptides online — and health experts are ringing alarm bells
Fitness and wellness trends are nothing new to social media. Influencers promote and sell items to their audiences and their messages often convince consumers the products are safe. The latest social media buzz is around peptides being peddled online to buyers looking to build and heal muscles — and experts are warning about risks. Michael Osborn, a university student in...
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.
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...
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.
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.
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...
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.
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...
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.
Environmental groups support Ottawa’s landfill purchase, but caution more needed on waste diversion
Some advocates call the purchase of a new landfill in Ottawa environmentally beneficial as the city develops a new waste management plan.
Ontario’s $7M arts funding promise ‘using scotch tape to fix a leak,’ writers say
A recent $7 million pledge from the Ontario government has left some in the literary sector divided on whether it will meaningfully address the realities facing the arts.
Experts warn of rising Xylazine-linked overdoses in Ottawa and nationwide
Experts warn the surge in Xylazine-tainted drugs is part of a wider national pattern that is threatening the lives of addicts and users on the streets
Clothing prices fall, but experts say fast fashion’s human and environmental costs are rising
The fast fashion industry may allow consumers to pay less for clothing, but the production of these garments results in lower quality, perpetuates unethical labour practices and damages the environment, experts say. Countries such as Bangladesh have hosted fast fashion factories for two decades. The industry is also underpinned by online sites such as SHEIN and Temu and chain stores such...
It’s mainly because of the meat: Rising prices are changing how Canadians shop
Rising prices for meat are shifting the choices presented to Canadian consumers.
The Ottawa Hospital bringing ER care to the home
The Ottawa Hospital is running Ontario's first Hospital at Home program.
Budget prioritizes defence, but Canadians may not support huge long-term investment, experts say
While Canadians appear to support the significant investment in defence the Canadian government is planning, one security expert doubts that this support will be maintained in the longer term.
Support for local farmers on the rise even as produce prices at grocery stores fluctuate
Produce prices at the grocery stores are in constant flux. Meanwhile, local farmers' try to keep their prices relatively constant, and seem to be gaining more community support.
Internationally educated nurses are untapped assets in solving nursing shortages
A recent Statistics Canada report explores how many internationally educated nurses are underutilized even in the midst of a national nursing shortage.
University students under ‘stress’ as rent prices increase rapidly
The cost of rent in Canada has risen 5.2 per cent since October 2024, well above the overall inflation rate of 2.2 per cent, Capital Current’s analysis of data Statistics Canada data shows. That is hard to manage for anyone who rents but for university students it can been very difficult. For this cohort, low-cost, short-term rental units are vital....
Families on standby as child care costs plummet, while waitlists hit record levels
Child care is cheaper but that lower price is driving more demand leaving many families waiting for access.
Ottawa public charging station use surging despite slumping EV sales
Ottawa residents are using public charging stations for their electric vehicles (EVs) more often. Meanwhile, Canada’s overall EV sales dip for the first time in years.
Surveillance society? Ottawa police use of AI technologies concerning civil liberties experts
Civil liberties experts are expressing concern about use of AI technologies by Ottawa police.
Federal push toward AI translation threatens French and jobs for public servants, critics say
The federal government's increasing use of Artificial Intelligence for translation services will "1,000 per cent" affect jobs in the Translation Bureau, and may have impacts on French.
Support agencies hope Ottawa’s food security strategy will ease demand on them
A City of Ottawa food insecurity strategy aims to engage the provincial and federal governments to advocate for better funding for assistance programs.
A cure for health care: Ottawa doctor, Alykhan Abdulla, has a mission to fix the system
Dr. Alykhan Abdulla cares for more than 5,000 patients in his family practice. He still has time to work of a fix for the ailing health-care system.
Warming weather delays fall colours in Gatineau Park this year — and beyond, expert says
Fall Rhapsody was delayed by warm weather, says a University of Ottawa scientist, but drew crowds when the leaves began to change in October.
Federal government should pay more attention to public service concerns on AI, says union president
The head of a major federal public service union says “it feels like we’re not being included when we actually have a lot of great ideas to help the government.”
Physicians sounding the alarm (again) over health misinformation as disease cases rise
Earlier this year, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) published findings from a joint survey with Abacus Data on health and the media. The report notably suggested that encounters with health misinformation have been on the rise, and respondents are increasingly recognizing the prevalence and harm of misinformation.
Gender-based violence support groups criticize planned federal funding cuts
Support services and organizations may face significant challenges because of a proposed 80 per cent budget cut towards their federal funding.
Getting vehicles off Wellington Street could revive downtown, some businesses say
The future of Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill remains a topic of discussion at the federal level. Some Ottawa businesses endorse the idea of closing three blocks to vehicles.
Uncertainty about federal funding cuts raising concern for women and 2SLGBTQIA+ Ottawa programs
As the federal budget fast approaches, women and 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations demand funding levels for Women and Gender Equality Canada be maintained.
Ottawa’s multicultural cuisines: How immigrant restaurants shape the city
Immigrant restaurants and cooking classes are redefining Ottawa’s culinary identity and that matters as intolerance rises.
Crafting combat: How veterans turn memories into models and help ease mental concerns
After facing challenges on and off the battlefield, veterans are using model building as a way to find community support.
Advocates call for sustainable climate solutions in wake of federal election
As some vote as still being counted in the federal election, environmental advocates are highlighting a gap between public concern about climate change and the need for action, emphasizing the need for more effective communication and stronger proposals from all federal parties to bridge this divide. A recent Angus Reid Institute poll indicated that nearly 70 per cent of Canadians...
Children’s mental health appears poorer than parents think, study indicates
Children are more likely to perceive their mental health negatively than their parents, according to data from the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth.
‘Influencers’ a major source of election information for young people, report says
A new report from researchers at the University of Ottawa finds that social media influencers are becoming a central source of political information for young voters.
Group calls on federal candidates to support ceasefire in the Middle East
A grassroots organization representing some 250 groups across Canada is putting pressure on candidates in the federal election to support the Palestinian people and end the violence in the region.
Local literacy advocate ALSO hosts annual ‘celebration of banned books’
A local literacy organization celebrated “banned books” with readings from high-profile Ottawa-area authors and a silent auction fundraiser. Alternative Learning Styles and Outlooks, better known as ALSO, organizes the yearly event to highlight the harms of banning books. ALSO is an adult and family literacy group that works with students who require extra support for youth because of mental health...
Groups push to shape election debate around Middle East conflict, protests
As Canadians head into the final 10 days of campaigning ahead of the April 28 federal election, a pro-Palestinian advocacy group and B’nai Brith Canada — the leading voice of the country’s Jewish-Canadian community — are attempting to shape the discussion around the Israel-Hamas conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Vote Palestine says its “goal is to pressure all...
Election 2025: Observers say high stakes could offset voter fatigue
For Bella Arsenault, one word defines her feelings about the upcoming federal election: exhaustion. “It’s so sad to see how much the news and election in the United States are affecting our election,” the Ottawa resident and Dalhousie University student told Capital Current. “Everything is focused around the States, and that’s annoying and frustrating to see.” She has other grievances...
Liberal incumbent aims to hold Ottawa Centre against high-profile NDP challenger
Yasir Naqvi said he is “feeling the same sense of support” as he attempts to hold onto the riding of Ottawa Centre in the April 28 federal election. He does face a serious challenge from former NDP MPP Joel Harden, who has already defeated Naqvi once in the 2018 provincial vote in Ottawa Centre. The riding, which encompasses much of...
Battles in Ottawa Centre, Carleton highlight quest for local seats in federal vote
Campaigns are in full swing across the nation’s capital as federal election day — April 28 — is now just two weeks away. The parties’ local machines are humming across Ottawa’s nine ridings meaning signs are in the ground, boots are on the pavement and faces are at the doorstep. Some riding boundaries have been changed and a few ridings...
With fate of 24 Sussex unclear, experts extoll historic value of official residences
With the future of 24 Sussex Drive in doubt and Canadians two weeks away from electing a new prime minister, local heritage experts are urging protection of the historic home and turning a spotlight on the capital’s rich history of prime ministerial residences. Years of neglect have put the official residence of the prime minister at risk. In one of...
Ottawa Centre pits Liberal Yasir Naqvi and NDP’s Joel Harden in election re-match
Along the streets of Ottawa’s trendy Glebe neighbourhood, election signs are out in an Ottawa Centre rematch between incumbent Liberal Yasir Naqvi and NDP Joel Harden.
NCC envisions 9,000 homes as Tunney’s Pasture aims to cut federal office space
On a bright winter day, the wind howls across Tunney’s Pasture, the federal government campus envisioned seven decades ago as a way to move federal government buildings some distance from the downtown of the National Capital. In Tunney’s Pasture, the roads are narrow and the campus buildings are far apart. Government employees huddle for a smoke against buildings, while others...