It Only Takes One Minute to Make a Difference on World Refugee Day

 Can you imagine fleeing your home to escape violence, persecution and conflict? You have to move, yet have no promise of food, shelter or medical help. This is oftentimes the day-to-day reality of 10.4 million refugees around the world. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been working

Canada Welcomes the 2013 International Triathlon Union Duathlon World Championships

 By Hank Rearden Athletes from across the globe are set to gather in Ottawa to participate in the 2013 ITU (International Triathlon Union) Duathlon World Championships running from August 8 to 10. Qualified men and women from 40 countries will lace up to compete in the Elite U23, Elite Junior,

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction” – Hydrogen Power, Part 3

 I have discussed the potential benefits and limitations of hydrogen power in my two previous blogs, showing how the transition to hydrogen power shows great potential for the creation of a greener future and the issues that will need to be overcome in order to allow a hydrogen economy to

Let The Magnetic North Theatre Festival Draw You In

 When it comes to unique theatre festivals, Magnetic North is definitely on the list. Truly Canadian, as the name implies, its eclectic, diverse theatrical offerings move around the country from its home base in Ottawa to a different Canadian city every other year. (Over the past decade, the festival has

No More Mudslinging: Deeper Focus on Accountability Needed on the Hill

  Senate spending scandals shouldn’t be an excuse for pointing fingers, but an opportunity to improve accountability across the board in the Canadian government.  The latest investigations into the expenses of Conservative and Liberal Senators Mike Duffy, Patrick Brazeau, Mac Harb and Pamela Wallin, have proven troubling. After being reviewed by

Time for Toronto’s Media Elites to Take a Look in the Mirror

 By Joanna Plucinska All journalists should be concerned about recent decisions taken by the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail concerning the standard of evidence they require in reporting. In their quest to “investigate” the actions of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and his Councilor brother Doug Ford, many in

Michelle Valberg’s Excellent Arctic Adventure

 By Julie Beun In Michelle Valberg’s airy photography studio on Sherwood Drive, the silence is punctuated only by the gentle fizz of champagne bubbles in four tall flutes sitting on a coffee table. It’s the Friday afternoon before the Earth Day launch at the Canadian Museum of Nature of her

Feed Your Soul at the 2013 Folk Festival

 Feed your soul and quiet your mind with the blissful beats of today’s best folk, roots, blues and pop-rock artists at the 2013 Ottawa Folk Festival. Presented by TELUS, this year’s folk festival will run from September 4 to 8 at Hog’s Back Park. Festival organizers added an extra day

The Two Faces of Grigio

 The buzz-grape in the world of wine over the past few years has been Pinot Grigio... but Grigio is a style and one that has been bastardized in favor of the trend. Pinot Grigio is Pinot Gris in an Italian style, which means crisp and citrusy. Pinot Gris is a

Gas Grilling Made Easy with Weber’s Spirit Series

 Last summer, Weber conducted a survey to uncover the truth about Canadians and their love for grills. Weber discovered that 20% of Canadians owned two or more grills and preferred Weber as their number one grill of choice. With Weber’s wide variety of 2013 gas and charcoal grills out for

Singer/Songwriter Justin Hines Launches the Vehicle of Change Tour Campaign

 Justin Hines' Vehicle of Change tour is now underway and is heading for Ottawa. This is Justin's chance to give back to his fans and help contribute to amazing local charities with 100% of the funds raised from his shows going back to the organization. In support of his recent studio

A Snack that’s Good for You!

 A simple strawberry and Greek yogurt parfait can be very refreshing during the summer months. Some studies show that Greek yogurt has twice as much protein as regular yogurt. Fresh locally grown strawberries are very popular at this time of year.  They are high in vitamin C and antioxidants. Some

City Must Put Western LRT into Underground Tunnel: Partially Buried Trains Won’t Save Parkway Greenspace

 The City of Ottawa must ensure that the Light Rail Transit (LRT) it proposes for the Western Parkway is moved to an underground tunnel, said Lesley Taylor, president of the community group Underground Solution.  “The City of Ottawa’s proposed trenched LRT route will drastically reduce access to the parkland of

Magdalena Tello: Ethnic Jewelry to Watch for This Summer

 Inspired by ancient treasures and the simplicity of modern architecture, the jewelry designs of Magdalena Tello are organized into six collections and feature quality materials from the world over.  Born in Spain, Tello's love of traveling, fashion and crafts influenced her to study design and gemology in London and Jaipur,

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction”: Hydrogen Power, Part 2

 In last week's blog, I talked about the many possibilities offered by using combustible hydrogen as a power source for cars and other vehicles. Hydrogen holds a great deal of promise for use in this manner, but there is another entirely different way of drawing energy from hydrogen. This method

The Enduring Art of Tricia Sellmer

 By Heather Seftel-Kirk British Columbian Tricia Sellmer is a multi-layered, multi-medium artist. Focusing primarily on painting and drawing, she also uses collaboration to share her work with people in innovative ways. Her most recent exhibit involves a video. Woven together with pieces crafted by seven other international artists, it will play

Ultimate Guide to Grilling the Perfect Burger

 Burger aficionados from across the globe have spent years searching for the secrets behind grilling the perfect burger. From the proper technique of shaping the patty to the correct amount of time the patty cooks on the grill – these are among the troubling questions grillers have contemplated when grilling

Classy & Cool

 Easy and breezy is the way to dress for summer in Ottawa. Head to BGGO boutique in the Glebe for the latest hot fashions that will keep you looking cool this summer. While you're there, spend $200 or more and you'll automatically become a VIP member. Members receive 15 per

Q and Alex

 Q: I’m a woman in my fifties and I’m trying to navigate the new styles. I’m hearing that white & black is going to be popular and that it’s appropriate for all ages. Is this true? A: You can rarely go wrong when opposites attract. The black and white trend

EarthTalk: Why Are Wetlands So Important to Preserve?

 By Doug Moss Wetlands serve a variety of important ecological functions including feeding downstream waters, trapping floodwaters, recharging groundwater supplies, removing pollution and providing fish and wildlife habitat. Credit: Bo Eide Contrary to popular myth that most ocean pollution is oil spilled from ships, most of it is land-based litter.

The Most Beautiful Beaches to Discover on Ibiza

                       Whether you’re heading to the White Isle to experience the world-famous clubs, or enjoy a relaxing escape on the quieter areas of the island, you’ll need to know which Ibiza beaches are the very best. The Balearic Island is

Great Big Sea: “Ottawa Is Like Coming Home”

 On the 20-year anniversary of touring the band’s East Coast folk music around North America, Great Big Sea is happily bringing the show back to the capital at Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest – one of the many seasonal festivals that have welcomed the legendary Canadian band with open arms. Whether the

The Things that Summer Brings

 Nothing says summer in Ottawa like the smell of barbeques, strolls along the river or crowded restaurant patios. Bring on the burgers, wine and long summer nights in which to enjoy them Of course, for many, there may be no better place to soak up summer than in the comfort

Privacy and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario

 What started out as a simple privacy commissioner complaint has turned into a constitutional challenge of the validity of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) – and this time the Board has only itself to blame for the brouhaha, proving once again that Ontario’s LCBO is so far out

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction”- Hydrogen Power, Part 1

 Most science-fiction series show a world with easy access to all the energy it needs to run its devices, but the situation in the real world is far from that ideal. Over the past decade, growing numbers of people are becoming concerned about modern society's reliance on fossil fuels –