Ottawa Public Library says cost for new Bookmobile has doubled — thanks, in part, to Trump
The Ottawa Public Library plans to use almost all of its $1.8-million budget surplus from the past year to replace an aging Bookmobile, one of the city’s two travelling mini-libraries for underserved communities. According to a staff report, the city’s next Bookmobile will cost $1.5 million to put into service by 2026 — double the cost of the last one....
Music Week to boost capital’s bid to be ‘Nashville North’ nighttime hotspot
Ottawa band Whiskey River played a live show at the Lowertown Brewery in the Byward Market on March 8. . [Photo © Gavin Ramnauth
Cozy reads and romantasy: Ottawa library users increasingly turning to fiction
Ottawa public library users are increasingly turning to fiction, according to data from the Ottawa Public Library.
Intersectional art exhibits showcased resilience in Black History, Winter Pride
Black and queer communities flooded Arts Court in downtown Ottawa last month to celebrate intersectionality with two multidisciplinary art exhibits. The early February vernissage, an ode to Black History Month and Ottawa’s Winter Pride festivities, spearheaded the undercurrents theatre festival organized by the Ottawa Fringe Festival. In one room, Capital Pride and the Ottawa Trans Library curated a colourful display...
Crépu celebrates the creativity of Black hair in Ottawa
From a young age, Charifa Labarang had a fascination with hair. Long before she mastered her craft, the Gatineau-based hairstylist and designer spent hours experimenting, using her hair as a canvas for creativity and self-expression. As she taught herself to cornrow, braid, and twist, she discovered that hair could be more than just a style—it was a medium for innovation...
Ottawa artists celebrate a ‘deep’ and ‘nuanced’ culture during Black History Month
As Black History Month winds down, many artists are gratified for the opportunity to celebrate Black contributions to the arts and to reflect on the work of those who came before.
NAC Orchestra plans landmark spring tour to South Korea, Japan
The National Arts Centre Orchestra is to embark on a monumental tour this spring, including its debut in South Korea and a return to Japan for the first time in 40 years. The orchestra has performed in every Canadian province and territory, but it is also known as one of the most accessible and collaborative orchestras in the world. This...
Family of renowned muralist petitions Ottawa library to save two public artworks
In 2015, Denise Trottier emailed the Ottawa Public Library’s main branch expressing concern over the protection of two mosaic murals designed by her late father, the renowned artist Gerald Trottier. Ten years later, Trottier still hasn’t received a definite answer from the library and she is still advocating for the preservation of her father’s art. She said public art plays...
Artists spotlight housing insecurity in ground-breaking SAW exhibition
Ottawa local gallery, SAW's Give Me Shelter exhibit highlighted the ongoing homeless and housing insecurity issues in the country and internationally. While it was a successful exhibit, participants and officials alike say more needs to be done still.
Ottawa photo exhibit captures moments in the iconic Zapatista movement for Indigenous rights in Mexico
In 1994, the Zapatistas began an armed uprising against the Mexican government as a protest against the North American Free Trade Agreement. Many important moments from the movement are preserved in photographs now on display at the Mexican embassy in Ottawa.
Harmony and Home: Persian music event unites local Farsi speakers
On a bitterly cold Sunday night in downtown Ottawa, Shirin Ghodrati stepped through the doors of Bronson Centre, her breath curling in the frosty air. Just four months into her new life in Canada, she had more than the weight of winter on her shoulders; she carried a longing for connection. Drawn by the soul-stirring melodies of a Persian music...
‘Daddy’s Issues’ to tackle transphobia, grief at undercurrents theatre festival
Written by Merlin Simard, now based in Toronto, and directed by Montrealer Lior Maharjan, a reading of Daddy’s Issues is set to run at Ottawa Fringe’s undercurrents theatre festival Feb. 14 and 15.