OC Transpo spotlights Route 11 data to address service reliability issues
Facing widespread public dissatisfaction with the reliability of Ottawa’s transit system, OC Transpo officials gave city councillors an overview of its performance standards at a transit committee meeting on June 12. The review focused on data from Route 11, which runs from the west-end Bayshore Shopping Centre to Waller Street in the downtown core, a key stop for University of...
‘A big shift’: Centretown business owner hopeful as city proposes façade fund
Historic buildings in Centretown may soon be eligible to receive funding from the city for something that’s often relegated to the bottom of a business owner’s to-do list: Beautification. On Tuesday, Ottawa’s built heritage committee unveiled a $500,000 Centretown Heritage Façade Improvement Pilot Program. If approved by council, it could allow property owners of buildings along Bank and a small...
Debate delayed on fossil fuel ad ban as city targets ‘greenwashing’ instead
Members of the city’s finance and corporate services committee have delayed debating a staff recommendation against banning fossil fuel advertising on municipal property. Instead, staff outlined a plan in a memo presented to the committee on June 3 to ensure ads on city property would comply with new provisions under the Federal Competition Act targeting misleading environmental claims, also known...
Review: Metric delivers intimate, high-energy performance at Bronson Centre
Canadian alternative rock band Metric took to the Bronson Centre stage on Monday night to play their most iconic album for Ottawa fans. The show was part of a retrospective tribute to the band’s Polaris-nominated, Juno-award-winning 2009 album Fantasies. The record was Metric’s best-selling release ever and included some of their highest charting songs. Ottawa wasn’t originally a stop in...
Pilot program allowing alcohol consumption in parks heading to council
Ottawa residents of legal drinking age appear likely to be allowed to crack open a cold one in a city park this summer — but not without a few restrictions. On Tuesday, councillors on the city’s community services committee approved plans for a pilot program that would permit alcohol consumption in select parks as part of a revamped Parks and...
King Charles and Queen Camilla mingle with ‘thrilled’ Lansdowne royal watchers
What might have been a sleepy Monday afternoon at downtown Ottawa's Lansdowne Park was transformed into a historic spectacle as King Charles III and Queen Camilla made their first public appearance in the nation's capital during their 2025 royal visit.
Afrobeats jazz quintet aims to bring people and music together in a happy blend
The John Dapaah Quintet is sharing their unique fusion of African music and jazz with Ottawa this summer. “With every song we do, we try to mix it up in a sense. We kind of throw a popular song in there that the audience might not be expecting,” said John Kofi Dapaah, director and pianist of the quintet. “An example...
City waters down proposed ban on smart-consumption monitoring devices
The City of Ottawa is aiming to strengthen regulations around smart-consumption monitoring devices on water meters, which could include working with the private company Alert Labs. On Tuesday, members of the city’s environment and climate change committee discussed changes to the Water Bylaw, which regulates municipal water services. A report released on May 8 outlined a potential ban on renters...
City’s e-scooter program set for spring rollout with new rules, expanded service
Ottawa residents will soon see e-scooters roll out across the city once again for the spring and summer, but this time with 24-hour availability and in more neighbourhoods. City council has unanimously approved a five-year extension for the scooters on Ottawa roads. Additionally, councillors supported continuing to contract Bird Canada and Neuron Mobility to manage e-scooter rentals from April 30...
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.