The “Bratification” of Kamala Harris: Gen Z at the intersection of internet culture and politics
Bright lime green, simple font, Charli XCX’s hit album “Brat” is everywhere these days. It’s even put its stamp on Democratic presidential candidate and current U.S. vice president Kamala Harris’ social media accounts. “Brat” is a dance-pop album defined by a gritty authenticity, capturing the vulnerability of the cool-girl aesthetic. But it’s more than the music. Charli herself says Brat...
In wake of changes to alcohol market, Ottawa brewers urge province to consider dedicated shelves for their beer, incentives and tax cuts
In the wake of the LCBO strike settlement, Ottawa breweries say they welcome Ontario’s plan to allow grocery and convenience stores to sell beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails, saying it is an encouraging, but long orverdue move for the local market. But without financial incentives for small breweries, dedicated shelves for local products in sales outlets and a re-evaluation of...
Review: The Art of Time Ensemble kicks off Chamberfest with heartwarming Beatles tribute
The energy was high in the Carleton Dominion Chalmers Centre Thursday night as the Art of Time Ensemble warmed up ahead of their performance of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, kicking off Chamberfest’s 30th anniversary. The group, led by concert pianist Andrew Burashko, offered a classical and jazz inspired arrangement of the iconic Beatles album, hailed as one of...
Faculty for Palestine urges uOttawa to respect ruling by International Court of Justice
The uOttawa chapter of Faculty for Palestine (F4P) is urging the school to honour the recently released advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that found Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian Territories violates international law. In a statement, F4P uOttawa called on the university to divest from all corporations directly involved in the occupation and cut ties with...
Most Canadians fear Trump re-election: poll
A new survey by the Angus Reid Institute (ARI) shows two-thirds of Canadians dread another term in the White House for Donald Trump. Some 28 per cent polled say another four years of Trump would be “terrible news” for Canada, while 38 per cent say a Trump win would be “bad.” Fifteen per cent say it would be good or...
A Capital Current Profile: Ottawa’s John Kofi Dapaah finds meaning and faith in the intersection of classical and jazz music
For John Kofi Dapaah, music is more than just a career. It’s a way of connecting with his faith and family. Dapaah is a well-known pianist and music teacher in Ottawa who will perform at Chamberfest on July 30 alongside his teacher and friend Nicole Presentey. Dapaah comes from a musical family and his first experience with music was in...
Convenience store owner praises liberalizing alcohol market in Ontario
When Premier Doug Ford announced plans to allow Ontario convenience stores to sell beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails, Biruk G. Medhin received the news with enthusiasm and optimism. For 30 years, Medhin has run the A&M Confectionary in Ottawa’s Heron Park neighbourhood. He told Capital Current he had worked closely with community members in the past to sign a petition...
WHO says low vaccination rate driving measles outbreaks
Global childhood immunization against deadly diseases such as measles declined in 2023, leaving millions of children at risk, according to data published this week by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The data shows low vaccination rate against measles last year left nearly 35 million children with no or partial protection. About 83 per cent of children worldwide received their...
The silence is damaging: Society’s denial and ignorance of sexual assaults on men and boys only enabling the abusers
In one of our calls, Dr. Kelli Palfy told me about a personal and professional frustration she has endured for years. Once people find out that she helps sexually abused men, they change the conversation, or avoid the details. Palfy is an Edmonton-based therapist works with male survivors. She retired from the RCMP, as an officer who specialized in sex...
Ottawa police using force against black and Middle Eastern individuals in disproportionately high rate: report
Black and Middle Eastern people were more likely to be subjected to use of force by Ottawa police officers in 2023, with no improvement over numbers from 2022, according to a report by the police made public by the Ottawa Police Services Board. The report revealed that police used force against 310 individuals last year, including 81 perceived as Black and...
A Capital Current profile: Nicole Presentey’s musical journey has deep roots in Ottawa
Nicole Presentey is an Ottawa native and while she is certainly one of the most talented pianists and music educators to come from this place, she has remained in the region even though the world beckons. One of her deep local connections as a supporter and as a performer is Ottawa Chamberfest, one of the city’s best known classical music...
Neo-Nazi organization run by Canadian teens promotes racial violence, watchdog group says
In a recent report, the Canadian Anti-Hate Network is drawing attention to a small, but growing neo-Nazi group in Canada that has emerged onto social media platforms and is apparently run by teenagers. The group is an offshoot of an organization founded in the U.S. in 2013 as the Atomwaffen Division. There are now active cells in Canada, the United...