One might say that Paul Brandt could be the star of a modern-day Western. The bravado and mysterious picture of a Western’s protagonist certainly isn’t representative of Brandt – an approachable country music veteran, family man, devoted humanitarian and influential songwriter 16 years into his solid career.

As part of a global contest in YouTube and Lenovo’s project called Space Lab, youths aged 14 to 18 had an opportunity to compete for a prize that would get them – or at least a video of them – onto the International Space Station. Of the over-2000 teens that submitted entries, Ottawa’s sixteen-year-old Katie Gwozdecky was one of the fortunate few to get into the final 60.

When local wedding planner, Lynn Lee thinks back to her wedding day in the late ’80s, she laughs. “Back when I was planning my wedding I certainly didn’t think I was going to be a wedding planner. It was not an affair to remember,” she said. Stephanie Vizi interviews professional wedding planner, Lynn Lee to get the inside scoop on how to plan a wedding!

In her latest book, Room for all of Us, Canada’s former Governor General, Adrienne Clarkson, shares her poignant views on immigration, displacement and belonging. Recently, our web editor, Katarina, had the chance to sit down with Ms. Clarkson and discuss the motivation behind her work.

“Why have a scene when you can have a community?” This is the Ottawa Rock Lottery’s mantra, one fitting in regards to its latest friendship with the Ottawa International Film Festival (OIFF). Now that 2012 has graced us with its presence, let’s look at the last significant film event to take place in Ottawa in 2011.

It was a pleasant surprise for Ottawa to see Keshia Chanté perform in Bayshore’s E-Style lounge as a part of the Candlelighters event, a non-profit organization that provides support to young cancer patients and their families. From the performance, it is clear that Chanté has been in the spotlight for a long time and loves what she does.

Massimo Capra is one of Canada’s most recognizable chefs. The Toronto-based chef is the host of Travel+Escape’s new original series Gourmet Escapes. The viewer follows Capra as he travels the world seeking the best food, most interesting people and the finest chefs to cook with. OLM’s Laurent had the chance to sit down and chat with this culinary expert.