Spend Valentine’s at the Movies

 If you’re anything like me, seeing a good film is the highlight of your day and, dependent on the film, a highlight you will carry with you always. And so it follows that the perfect Valentine’s Day, and week leading up to it, is one in which I get to

The European Debt Crisis Decoded

 If you’re tired of hearing about and the European sovereign debt crisis, you’re not alone. It has been hanging over the global financial markets for well over two years now and progress on developing a comprehensive solution to address it has been painfully slow. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, one of

Book Review – Civilization: The West and the Rest

 The combination of economic stagnation and political paralysis in both America and among European Union member countries makes any book about the fate of the West timely reading. The potential for western civilization’s slow demise is one of the themes of Niall Ferguson’s latest book, Civilization: The West and the

The New Hub is the Mill St. Brew Pub

 Marching through the snow on Wellington Street, making our way to the riparian Mill St. Brew Pub, mirroring a small castle with limestone walls, it was clear this route is off the beaten path. Perched on the banks of the Ottawa River, the new Brew Pub awaited conquering by our

Celebrate National Sweater Day!

 Winter can be the toughest season for those of us trying to maintain a green lifestyle. Daylight is limited, the vegetation is buried under snow, and it’s uncomfortably cold. While it can be tempting to simply turn up the thermostat and be done with it, today marks the day you

Schad: A Family Affair

 Sussex Drive is not only home to the Harpers, but also the Schads. In the 1980’s, Andre Schad sold western wear under the moniker Schadillac Ranch. In 1995, when cowboy chic was dying out, Schad and his wife, Chantal Biro-Schad, opted to sell designer denim on Elgin St. Today, the power couple

DVD Reviews: My Bloody Valentine ~ 1981 & 2009

 Even though it is one of Canada’s first slasher films, I haven’t the heart to recommend the Special Edition of MY BLOODY VALENTINE (in which all the gory scenes excised from the 1981 feature were restored without digitally enhancing their image quality). If you’re going to restore a “cult classic”

Canadian Country Superstar Begins The Busy Next Chapter

 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. But the megastar’s

Natives Indigenous to All-Star Game

 Once again, Carey Price represented the Montreal Canadiens at the All-Star Game in Ottawa last week. Not only was he the only Habs there (excluding the rookies), and with reason, but he was also the only Native NHL player there too. According to Greg Horn, editor-in-chief of Iori wase, news

Let There Be (non-toxic) Light!

 With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, many of us will be buying candles. Luxurious, calming, and exotic, it might appear to be the perfect gift. But the burning question is - do candles harm the environment and our health? The short answer: yes! The seemingly innocuous candle can be

Ottawa Senators Monthly Report: January

 Entering their toughest stretch of the NHL season, the Ottawa Senators sat on the fringe of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Their performance in early January against each of the conference’s top teams would go a long way in determining the club’s final record and position inside or out of

DIY: Hemp Bracelets

 Remember the friendship bracelets back in grade school? While we may not see those colorful bands much anymore, the idea of it is still around. Hemp bracelets are the new friendship bracelet of 2012. They are easy to make and can be customized in so many ways, and who could resist

Niagara's Best Comes to Town

 We are less than 2 weeks away from one of the premier Ontario wine events to hit the Ottawa market.  This February 6, 2012 at the National Gallery of Canada (380 Sussex Drive) between 6:30 and 9:00pm 46+ Ontario wineries will be pouring their wares from diverse vintages ranging from

Niagara’s Best Comes to Town

 We are less than 2 weeks away from one of the premier Ontario wine events to hit the Ottawa market.  This February 6, 2012 at the National Gallery of Canada (380 Sussex Drive) between 6:30 and 9:00pm 46+ Ontario wineries will be pouring their wares from diverse vintages ranging from

Adventures in Gluten-Free Baking

 One of the most challenging things about switching to a gluten-free diet (which I started about 18 months ago after discovering a gluten allergy) is giving up those old family recipes that I have enjoyed for so many years.  Recently I have been experimenting with adapting older recipes to accommodate

Northern Lights, Spies and the Bright Light – Georgiy Mamedov – Russian Ambassador

 Today, some of the most influential voices guiding the social and economic development of Canada’s North are women and the ones gracing our cover  will attend the second Northern Lights conference in Ottawa – a business and cultural showcase celebrating Canada’s North and the eastern Arctic, including the regions of

Toque Tuesday: Buy a Toque, Help a Youth

 On Tuesday, February 7th, buy a toque and help homeless youth in Ottawa. Toque Tuesday is part of Raising the Roof's National Toque Campaign. Raising the Roof is a national charity whose mission is to bring about long-term solutions to homelessness in Canada. The Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa’s Charitable

Ottawa Teenager Reaches For the Stars in YouTube Space Lab Competition

 Sixteen-year-old Katie Gwozdecky has her head in the clouds. But though her aspirations are very much grounded in reality, they’ve also taken flight in the most unique way. As part of a global contest in YouTube and Lenovo’s project called Space Lab, youths aged 14 to 18 had an opportunity

Yoga: On and Off the Mat

 Yoga is a discipline that has existed for millennia in India, and more recently has become popular in North America. While many people are initially drawn to the practice in search of a ‘yoga butt’, they commit to the practice once they experience physical and mental well-being. The traditional system

Warm Your Soul this Weekend with Atlantic Voices

 Feeling the after-effects of a few too many 'wee drams' after Robbie Burns Day? If so, you are likely hunting for other ways to lift your spirits this weekend. There is no better way to feed the soul than with the sound of music. This coming Sunday afternoon, January 29,

If Your House Could Talk…

 If your home could talk, its wall would tell you much more then just the history of the people whom inhabited its premise, it would ask, beg and nag for the attentions it deserves. "I am envious of you," it would tell you. "You go to the doctor, you heal

Whistleblower Claims Public Opposition Being Silenced by PMO

 Earlier this week whistleblower Andrew Frank  released an open letter to Canadians alleging that the Prime Minister’s Office threatened to withdraw Tides Canada’s charitable status if it did not cease funding to the environmental group ForestEthics. The allegations stem from an apparent bullying campaign in which the PMO allegedly characterized ForestEthics

This Valentine’s Day, Green is the New Red!

 When it comes to being eco-friendly, Valentine’s Day has a pretty ugly reputation. Millions of flowers are sold in Canada in the days leading up to the holiday, the bulk of them grown using toxic pesticides. Likewise, we buy vast amounts of chocolates, greeting cards, wine, candles, and jewellery, many

A Dragon’s Persuasion: Book Review

 Back in November, Arlene Dickinson was in Ottawa to launch her new book, Persuasion: A New Approach to Changing Minds. Although I unfortunately missed the book signing event, I did rush out to buy a copy and devoured each page. A mother of four who values family above all else,

Recipe: Spicy Lentil Soup (Dahl)

 With the freezing weather, wind and snow, our bodies yearn for something warm, especially in the winter. Nothing says 'comfort' better that a steaming hot bowl of Dahl.  Dahl is a thick lentil soup that originated from India and has amazing depth and flavor. Usually served as a vegetarian option, this recipe