Canada: Apartheid Nation in Review

 Faced with extreme poverty and a harsh climate, the remote, decaying and polluted northern Ontario aboriginal community of Attawapiskat has become a national cause célèbre, one month after the Ottawa premiere of a 26-minute documentary entitled Canada: Apartheid Nation, which depicts the plight of the inhabitants of this depressed community on the desolate western shore

Monterey, California – Part 2

 Hopefully you have all read part one of my tour through the Carmel Valley in California.  This second part took place after lunch at a place called Will's Fargo in Carmel Valley Village - we visited another four tasting rooms but this time we had to do a little driving,

Family Welcome Centre Helps Newcomers Adjust to Ottawa’s Educational System

 The Ottawa Catholic School Board Family Welcome Centre (FWC) for Newcomers first opened its doors as a pilot project in February 2006. “That year, we welcomed 29 newcomer students,” recalls Nicki Dunlop, an educational consultant with the FWC. “Since then, we have supported and registered just over 1,300 newcomer students.

Three Extraordinary African Women to Share the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize

 Norway is known for many things but its most visible trait is being the country that awards what has been called “the world’s most prestigious prize”. The Nobel Peace Prize is an international award given annually by the Norwegian Nobel Committee according to guidelines laid down in Alfred Nobel’s will.

Family Vacation Delight: A Week at RIU Paradise Island, Bahamas

 Every year, just after Winterlude, I start to get irritable — like every Ottawan! I am pretty well fed up with winter and want to go south. We have three teenage children so travel destinations south becomes key. For a stress free vacation the best bet is always an all

Cyber Monday Shopping

 Did you skip the lines on Black Friday? Many stores in the Ottawa region took part in Black Friday sales in hopes of swaying shoppers to shop locally instead of crossing the border. Many Canadian retailers offered one-day-only deals similar to the deals found state side. For many, the annual

Giving while You’re Getting – or Vice-Versa

 Ottawa Valley-area high-school sweethearts Sydney and Matt Miller are newlyweds and entrepreneurs looking to make a difference. In December, the young couple is launching GettingGives.com – an online fundraising platform that uses the power of group buying to raise money for charities and causes. For every deal bought, a portion

Arctic Series: Business Goes North

 The North is open for business and it’s helping the South to get there. From airports to seaports, improved transportation infrastructure is easing the way for businesses to cash in on Canada’s North. That’s the message of the Labrador North Chamber of Commerce and the Baffin Chamber of Commerce, two

Urban VS Suburban Life in Ottawa

 Before children, I lived in Vanier and loved it. Despite my former neighbourhood being reputed as a rougher one in Ottawa, I enjoyed being close to the center of town without the expense of living in one of the more coveted neighbourhoods. But, as many couples do, once I was

Book Review: Winter ~ Five Windows on the Season

 Winter: Five Windows on the Season, by Adam Gopnik • Anansi Press, 2011, 256 pgs. Some of the finest days occur in the month of October. Warm, golden days are typically followed by cool nights. Green landscapes are transformed into beautiful combinations of red, orange and yellow. But the beauty of

Grey Cup Preview: BC vs. Winnipeg

 The hierarchy of the Canadian Football League, dominated in recent years by the Montreal Alouettes and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, underwent a significant transformation in 2011. After two consecutive Grey Cup showdowns, neither the Als nor the Riders stood as one of the CFL’s final four teams, with Montreal falling in

The Power of a Pillow

 When it comes to decor, the effect of a pillow or pillows is greatly underestimated. Most often, they are an afterthought. However, if you think about it, pillows are one element that can dramatically alter the overall mood in a room, not to mention increase the quality quotient. The pillow

Thirst Impressions: To Give and/or Receive

 It's holiday season and I've sipped and slurped on quite a few more (than usual) drinks to give you the low down on good holiday packs, gift ideas and other goodies that help make the holidays joyful. I can definitely tell you that there's not a lot of innovation or

Around Town: Absinth Cafe

 Named after the anise-flavoured drink that was made popular by French artist and writers in the late 1800s, Absinthe Café has a well-deserved reputation for its die-hard loyalty to local farmers from Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec, since opening its doors in 2003. It’s one of the first few restaurants

Note from the Publisher: Leaderless

 I consider myself to be a law and order guy. I have always been a proponent and big supporter of the police. My dad was in policing for 38 years. He trained military police and was on duty in Canada and in Europe and dealt professionally for his entire career

Flaunting it all for a Friend

 Underwear models, pole dancers and eyebrow threading; Flaunt is not your average charity event. Flaunt is the brainchild of Stacey Bafi-Yeboa, local fashion designer of the brand Kania. Bafi-Yeboa was inspired to throw a fashion fête, now in its third year, in support of Ovarian Cancer Canada after a friend

Versace for H&M

 After months of buildup and hype, Versace for H&M finally hit the sales racks across the world.  The Versace for H&M line is the latest partnership between the Swedish retailer and a luxury designer that boasts high fashion at low prices. The buildup had Canadians occupying the stores with overnight

Supporting Our Youth

 Growing up is not easy. As adults, we sometimes forget how many challenges youth face on a daily basis. Since the tragic suicide of 15 year old Jamie Hubley on October 14th, many questions have been raised. How could this have been prevented? Where could Jamie have turned to for

Monterey, California – Part 1

 For those of you who think about touring California (or any other) wine countries, but find the task too daunting, here is some advice: take it slow,  you'll never get all of California done in a week but you can get a good overview of a region or two if

Restaurant Review: FRATELLI’S

 There are various restaurant hubs in Ottawa: Byward Market, Elgin St., Richmond Rd. (Westboro), Preston St. (Little Italy), Somerset St. (China Town), Bank St. (The Glebe), just to name a few. Some of these locales come with a deep history and have a strong reputation which they seek to maintain

The Moral Failure of Penn State

 After the initial wave of damage had taken its toll, after the coach had been fired, the president forced to resign, the athletic director indicted and the former defensive coordinator arrested on 40 counts of sexually assaulting young children, there was still a game to be played. This story is

FrogBox: An Alternative to the Traditional Cardboard Moving Box

 A new company has “moved” into Ottawa this fall, providing savvy consumers with a new convenience-oriented and eco-conscious way to move house. FrogBox, which originated in Vancouver in 2008, began with a simple yet effective idea – provide environmentally friendly, affordable, and convenient reusable plastic boxes for home owners and

Gold Medal Plates a Winner

 Ottawa’s luminaries came out in force last night at the National Arts Centre for some competitive eating at this year’s Gold Medal Plates culinary competition held to raise funds for Canada’s Olympic athletes. The three day event involves the top chefs in nine major Canadian cities preparing samples of their

Tea, Tranquility and Tradition

 As the cold weather rushes in, many of us will reach for a steaming cup of tea. The inaugural Ottawa Tea Festival taught guests about culture, tradition, and hospitality through the history of the hot drink. Kimiko Uriu, the festival's organizer, said over 600 people attended the event, which opened

Police State or State of Police? Part 2

 A few other notable Canadian cases involving allegations of misconduct against the police: Fredy Villanueva, Montreal, QC – August, 2008: Over three years after Fredy Villanueva was killed, no answer has been offered as to why police opened fire on the 18-year-old teenager. Villanueva , who was playing a game