Democracy Watch Unloads on Harper Government for Chronic Lack of Accountability in Series of Cover-ups

 According to Democracy Watch, "biased, lapdog investigations mean cover-up of Senate scandal most likely outcome and public inquiry will be needed – Wright, Duffy should be found guilty of violating ethics rules, and possibly other laws "Ethics Commissioner has covered up twice already for Nigel Wright, Senate Ethics Officer is

Calling All Artists: Belleville Plein Air Festival … Where the Light Is Best

 Downtown Belleville, its Riverfront Trail and Old East Hill will come alive with artists painting "en plein air" from Friday, May 31 to Sunday, June 2. Up to $4,500 in prizes will be available to the winning artists. The Belleville Plein Air Festival is a three-day event where artists complete their works

“Look at me, not my chair”

 Peter Mackay, Justin Trudeau and Martha Hall-Finley participating in Chair-Leaders, a nationwide campaign with events taking place all across Canada. Life isn’t easy for people living with spinal cord injuries. One of the main issues has been and remains to be their mobility. Several things in today’s society make it harder for

Ease Cancer Stress, Anxiety with ‘Emotional Wellness Toolbox’

 Pioneering Psychotherapist Shares 3 Strategies that Work A not-so-surprising new study shows stress reduces the effectiveness of drugs on prostate cancer, and even accelerates the disease’s development. :More than 1.6 million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year and how they deal with it can have a

Weber’s Portable Grill and Accessories Make this Father’s Day Unforgettable for Canadian Dads

 With Father’s Day nearly a week away, procrastination may have gotten the best of many Canadians as they scurry around Ottawa in search of the perfect gift that their dad will love. Despite being ill-prepared for this upcoming celebration, Canadians no longer have to succumb to the traditional Father’s Day

FIFA failures and Olympic triumph mark an erratic track record for Canadian soccer

                     One of Canada’s most recognized comedians, Russell Peters, has an interesting take on Canada’s participation, or lack thereof, in the FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup. Peters claims that Canada’s absence in the famous global competition is obvious:

And the Tiara Goes to Miss Caledonia at the NAC

 It is endearing, entertaining and very humorous. The play is Miss Caledonia and it follows the dreams of 1950s’ Southern Ontario farm girl Peggy Ann Douglas, who longs to become a movie star.  She pins her hopes on winning a local beauty pageant to get her started --- but not

Another Spanish Kiss

 I know I promised you some New Zealand wine this week, and I now promise you that next week I will deliver… but last week I gave you a little kiss from Spain and just a day after I wrote that piece, someone reminded me of an even deeper kiss

Hydro Ottawa and Christie Lake Kids Collaborate on Leadership Centre

 Christie Lake Kids is going green. Today, Hydro Ottawa and Christie Lake Kids announced their partnership to establish the new Hydro Ottawa Sustainable Youth Leadership Centre. At the new facility, to be built at Belle Island on Christie Lake, near Perth, Ontario, kids will have the chance to learn about

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction”: Zeppelins and Airships

 The zeppelin – also known as the blimp, dirigible or airship – is a common vehicle in science-fiction. The steampunk and dieselpunk sub-genres are especially known for a love of zeppelins, with science-fiction series like Airborne and Leviathan being set primarily aboard these vessels. Unlike most other science-fiction technologies, the

Tips On Cleaning Your Grill

 Grilling season has finally arrived in Ottawa; hamburgers, hotdogs and steaks are all on sale at the local grocer, along with potato salad and fresh corn on the cob. As the season gets underway, avid Canadian grillers diligently search the hardware stores for the newest grilling accessories, while the seasonal

Ottawa Photographer Wins Premier Canadian Photographic Artist of the Year Award!

 Ottawa Photographer Wins Premier Canadian Photographic Artist of the Year Award! Ottawa Photographer Randy Shaughnessy, owner of Shaughnessy Photography, recently won the premier Canadian Photographic Artist of the Year Award from the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) Association!  The 2013 National Image Salon Competition of the Professional Photographers of Canada

Canadian Red Cross Celebrates World Red Cross Day

 Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson helped celebrate World Red Cross Day by officially proclaiming May 8 as World Red Cross Day in Ottawa. Also in the photo is David Fraser, chair of the Ottawa Branch Council of the Canadian Red Cross. The Canadian Red Cross hosted its 2nd Annual Open House on May 8

An Actor’s Life — The Trilogy

 The lovely and talented crew! – Guillaume Arsenault, Mathieu Coderre, Marc-Olivier Guindon, John Koensgen, Johny Hendricks, Alex B. Carrière, Christian Roy, Pete Dillon, Luigi C. Saracino, Chris Newton and Pierre Beaulne (Photo Credit: Marilou Simard) Disc 2: Fight For Your Life Club or Just What Do You Talk About When

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction” – Kang the Conqueror

  Kang the Conqueror is a character from the Marvel Comics universe who hails from the 30th century. He is a genius with machinery and military tactics, and has access to the most advanced military technology that his age offers. Of all the devices at Kang's disposal, perhaps the most impressive

Cottage Opening Tips from Saniflo

 With the days getting longer, the breeze a little warmer and the sunshine a little brighter, everyone’s thoughts are turning towards summer and that means cottage season. Opening the cottage is one of the most exciting times of the year and the perfect opportunity to do some renovations, such as

Spicy Tex-Mex, Meat Loaf and Grilled Veggies

 My family loves meatloaf dinner nights. This time, I decided we need a change from just regular meatloaf, so I spiced it up with some flavorful seasoning and half an apple to tame the spices and give it a moist sweet taste. The best part is if you make a

Don’t Forget to Buy Tickets for Friends With Benefits!

 Bid, eat, drink and dance to support mental health research at Friends With Benefits Friday May 10th presented by the Ottawa Sport and Social Club! Tickets are $25 and can be purchased on-line by visiting wearefriendswithbenefits.eventbrite.ca.  Your ticket includes entrance to the silent auction, appetizers, live entertainment, a sweaty dance party and a

The Winners of the Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year Contest

 The Canadian Museum of Nature and Canadian Geographic are proud to present the winners of the fifth edition of the Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year contest. This exhibition presents the winning photographs of this contest, in its fifth year in 2012. The contest and resulting exhibition promote the beauty,

Putting the “Science” in “Science Fiction”: The Stargate

 In my last blog, I discussed the ideas of teleportation, and some of the issues that are preventing that much desired technology from becoming feasible. Although there are many hurdles that would need to be overcome before teleportation becomes possible, if it ever does, science fiction offers another idea of

The Beautiful Game Has Its Ugly Side Effects

 By Martti Lahtinen It's a beautiful part of the game: proud soccer parents on lawn chairs, coolers brimming with refreshments at the ready, cheering on their budding Christine Sinclairs and Dwayne de Rosarios as they swipe at the elusive round ball bouncing somewhere in the gaggle of moveable feats. Lurking

Bringing the Comforts of Home Outdoors

 The trend of bringing the inside comforts of home to the outdoors is quite popular. More people are inves-ting in home renovations, including improvements to their backyards. Outdoor kitchens, barbeques, fireplaces and water features, which all add that extra “room outdoors” feeling, seem to be the current trend, says Jamie

The Azure: Live Life Beautifully

 Azure Urban Developments Inc., Ottawa’s newest developer, has partnered with prominent London firm PLP Architecture, a world-class architecture and design company, to create The Azure (www.theazure.ca), the latest entry into Ottawa’s residential condominium market. The Azure will be a 93-unit condominium building situated at the corner of Richmond Road and

Light Rail Transit Western Extension: Either Build It Right or Don’t Build It at all

 When one thinks of all the money spent on foolishness by the City of Ottawa, their efforts to keep a lid on LRT costs are baffling. To reduce costs, the City wants to build the western extension of the LRT through an area west of Tunney’s Pasture where few people

Healthwise: The quickest way to fatten a rat is to feed it MSG

 A doctor told me that the quickest way to fatten a rat is to feed it MSG. Given that the majority of humans consume MSG on a daily basis, logic would dictate that MSG is also fattening us. MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is the sodium salt of a naturally occurring