Hilary Thomson

Investigative Features Writer

Hilary is a freelance writer and journalist based out of Kemptville, Ontario. After graduating with honours from Carleton University’s school of journalism in 2014 Hilary began working with a small community newspaper in Kemptville called The North Grenville Times. Over the past four years she has written hundreds of articles on various topics ranging from municipal politics to arts and culture. Hilary has also written for several other publications including the Career Options Magazine, The Kingston Whig Standard, the Ottawa Citizen and, of course, Ottawa Life MagazineWhen she isn’t madly typing away, she can be found at the park with her dog Hank, practicing yoga or socializing in one of Ottawa or Kemptville’s many coffee shops. 

of 3

Naturally beautiful: the art of Nicole Allen

Naturally beautiful: the art of Nicole Allen

All photos: OLM Staff As I walk up the steps of the old Standard Bread Company building at 951 Gladstone Avenue, I wonder if I’ve come to the right place. The only reason I press the bell for the third floor buzzer is the sign above the door marking The Loft Art Studios and the note telling me [...]

Read full story

“Cop Connects”— Tow truck drivers allege more Police involved in scam

“Cop Connects”— Tow truck drivers allege more Police involved in scam

ABOVE (LEFT TO RIGHT): Constable Andrew Chronopoulos, veteran Constable Hussein Assad and Constable Kevin Putinsky. On April 23, 2020 three Ottawa Police Service (OPS) officers were charged by the RCMP with breach of trust in relation to an alleged tow truck kick-back scheme in Ottawa. Constable [...]

Read full story

Jesse Reynolds making a splash on the Ottawa comedy scene

Jesse Reynolds making a splash on the Ottawa comedy scene

Local personality Jesse Reynolds is making a name for himself as a stand-up comedian. Reynolds says he has wanted to be in entertainment for as long as he can remember. As a 17-year-old just out of high school he was determined to be an actor on Broadway, despite advice from every adult in his life. [...]

Read full story

Five small Ottawa-area towns to visit this summer

Five small Ottawa-area towns to visit this summer

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a damper on many people’s travel plans this summer. Road trips have been postponed, flights have been cancelled and hotel reservations have been refunded. Despite the fact that many Ottawans are itching to leave the house after several months of isolation, many may [...]

Read full story

New Rogers Cable 22 program showcases Ottawa artists

New Rogers Cable 22 program showcases Ottawa artists

Look for a new program next week showcasing local musicians. The Ottawa Music Video Showcase was local musician and host Joel Elliott’s (Jumpin’ Joel Flash) idea to help Ottawa musicians who have taken a hit because of COVID-19. With a background in marketing and entertainment Elliott knows [...]

Read full story

Unique Almonte distillery responds to COVID-19

Unique Almonte distillery responds to COVID-19

A unique distillery in Almonte has pivoted their business to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. But that’s not the only interesting thing about it. The Dairy Distillery was the brainchild of Omid McDonald, an entrepreneur whose past start ups range from medical devices to software for DJs. A visit [...]

Read full story

No refunds allows Ottawa Race Weekend to continue

No refunds allows Ottawa Race Weekend to continue

About six weeks ago Run Ottawa made the difficult decision to cancel the 45th annual Tamarak Ottawa Race Weekend due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the event cancellation should not have come as a surprise, what did get people talking was the organization’s decision not to give the option [...]

Read full story

Menard lane closure moving ahead despite business concerns

Menard lane closure moving ahead despite business concerns

Councillor Shawn Menard says that after consulting with businesses along Bank Street he will continue his push towards closing a lane in the Glebe to allow pedestrians to physically distance while accessing essential services. Menard’s proposal is to close the southbound curb lane from Glebe Avenue [...]

Read full story

Alyson Reid-Larade: A teacher with a passion for education

Alyson Reid-Larade: A teacher with a passion for education

Alyson Reid-Larade never thought she would become a teacher. In fact, if someone would have told her when she was a teenager that she would end up dedicating her life to teaching, she wouldn’t have believed them. “If anybody told me back then that I would become [a teacher] I just would have [...]

Read full story

Author Diana Beresford-Kroeger speaks for the trees

Author Diana Beresford-Kroeger speaks for the trees

Diana Beresford-Kroeger invites readers into the world of trees and the ancient Celts in her new book To Speak for the Trees: My life’s journey from ancient Celtic wisdom to a healing vision of the forest. The book is unique in that it is part autobiography, part reference book. Diana starts by [...]

Read full story
of 3