Safe, Secure and Affordable Housing is a Health Issue: Why Canada Needs a National Housing Strategy Now

 "Social factors, like housing, income and wealth, educational background and race are more powerful determinants of health outcomes than our behaviours, genes or even the healthcare system." When you're feeling unwell, whether from a minor cold or a devastating terminal illness, the feeling of home, the desire for a safe

Turkish Canadian Community Raises Money for CHEO

 On Saturday April 23, distinguished guests gathered to celebrate Turkish National Sovereignty and International Children’s Day at a fundraising gala organized by the Turkish Cultural Canadian Association (TCCA), the proceeds of which will be donated to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). This yearly event, organized by the Turkish

Ottawa Welcomes the Colourful Alt Hotel to the Nation’s Capital

 You would never guess that the Alt Hotel in Ottawa was having their grand opening Tuesday; dozens of guests were already staying at the hotel and enjoying some of the amenities offered in the café and lounge. In fact, the Alt Hotel Ottawa has been accepting guest for the past

Aim for a Safe, Secure Move

 Photo by Nicolas Hulk. Creative Commons.   When you move your home or office, of course you want your belongings to arrive at their destination safely, with nothing broken or misplaced. But there are other forms of safety and security that are also worth important consideration, whether you are moving

It’s Not Just the Law That’s an Ass Mr. Dickens

 Charles Dickens at his writing desk.  The 19th century novelist and author Charles Dickens, who is famous for such great books as David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol and Great Expectations, once wrote that the ‘Law is an Ass’.  Dickens had a valid reason for saying this because in

Killing the Goose

 What continues to puzzle me is the human compulsion to ruin a good thing by wanting too much, pushing too hard, poisoning wells and destroying resources. Among the root causes are recklessness, opportunism, arrogance, greed and folly. An unfortunate aspect of human nature is that, often, enough is not enough.

Keeping Science Safe

 It’s time to close the gaps governing human participation in scientific research in Canada The disturbing announcement recently that a man died and four others were seriously harmed in Rennes, France as a result of participation in a research study is a timely reminder of the importance of protecting those

A US Waiver: A Canadian’s Ticket to the Land of the Free

 Having a criminal record in Canada can be a serious roadblock in many areas of life, especially when it comes to travelling to the United States. If you have a criminal record in Canada, you will be denied entry into the United States.  Even if you are only stopping on

Astana Emerges: Expo 2017

 The most important green energy Expo of the decade takes place in Astana, Kazakhstan in 2017. Nursultan Nazarbayev President of the Republic of Kazakhstan is inviting the world to attend Expo 2017 in Astana, one of the world’s most modern and green cities. The Expo 2017 global gathering will showcase developments

One World Kitchen Makes One Great Announcement

 Get your forks ready! We are proud to announce that Ottawa’s own Gusto TV’s One World Kitchen is a Taste Awards finalist and it has been nominated for Best Food Program: Web in the Viewer’s Choice category! One World Kitchen has been also named as a finalist in the Taste Awards General Awards

A New Health Accord Needs to Include Better Planning

 Why a new health accord needs to include better planning for health human resources. There is growing talk of a new Health Accord between the federal government and the provinces and territories. This is such good news -- great news, in fact. If I were asked to have one thing

Ottawa Expertise on Display In Kazakhstan/Central Asia

 Downtown Astana, photo by Ken and Nyetta. Kazakhstan is a country on the move. Kazaks are the ancestors of the great Genghis Khan. Today, their diverse multicultural society, with its historical tribes, numerous languages and religions and their international outlook in global affairs has made it one of the most compelling countries

Why it’s time for a National Autism Strategy

 Over a year ago, I was invited to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day on Parliament Hill.  It was attended by a dozen or more Senators from both major parties, political staffers and invited guests mostly from autism non-profit organizations.  I expected a predictable ‘feel good’ event about how far we’ve

Five Ways We Can Reduce Suicides in Canada

 Why a suicide prevention strategy needs to include injury prevention Despite recent headlines, Canadian rates of suicide and attempted suicide have remained largely unchanged over the last several decades (11 per 100,000).  What has changed is that we’ve seen increasing rates of suicide in the Canadian military recently, after stable

What Should be Covered by our Publicly Funded Healthcare System?

 Patients and doctors need to learn the difference between ‘need’ and ‘want.’ All across Canada provincial governments are grappling with ever growing healthcare demands in the face of shrinking resources.  Our enviable publicly funded health system is now well into a downward spiral of unenviable disrepair.  As patients are becoming

Canadian Commissionaires Go Beyond Security

 You probably see a Commissionaire or two every day. You may even spot one when you’re travelling through an airport. They stand out with their white or blue crisp button down-shirts, sweaters and epaulettes, and you may notice that some are wearing military medals too. That’s because Commissionaires are primarily

Rising Rates of Kidney Failure Signal Need for Public Health Strategy

 As many as 40 thousand people in Canada are affected by kidney failure – a problem that is increasing across the country, with significant consequences for our health system.   A report released this month from the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy projects an increase of 68 per cent in

Putting children’s health and resiliency on the national agenda

 By Chris Harper Last year, at a camp in southern New Brunswick, I met Evan. Before turning eight, he had bounced from foster home to foster home. He was sent to camp without a bathing suit or sufficient lunch. Regardless, Evan smiled constantly, excelled in school and had a striking sense of compassion.

Get Acquainted With Ottawa’s Top Sports Teams

 Photo by Craig Dow. When it comes to sports, Ottawa is spoiled rotten. Our city is home to numerous professional and amateur sports teams, making Ottawa a four season sports destination. From professional soccer and CFL football in the summer to the Ottawa Senators in the cooler months, there is an array

Ottawa Legal The Big Picture: Ottawa Law Firms are Amongst the Best in the World

 It is the trade of lawyers to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour. — THOMAS JEFFERSON From international media coverage of gripping court cases to the dramatic portrayals of lawyers on television and film screens, we love to watch the law. As a city that is home to some

Speaking the Language with Julie Corrigan

 Photo courtesy of Jen Squires Born and raised in Shawville, Quebec, to a family of musicians, it’s no surprise that Julie Corrigan took easily to strumming the guitar. With a fiddle-playing grandfather, a guitarist for a father and a mother who’s a natural on the piano and mandolin, music is in Julie’s

Justina McCaffrey: How I got my name back

 By Justina McCaffrey For me, fashion is a journey that defies the constraints of the runways around the world. It’s an industry to which I have given myself for over twenty years. However, my journey as a designer and entrepreneur has not always been easy, and like fashion, I too defied constraints to find my way to where I

A Corporate Stay is a Cozy Stay

 Whether you're travelling for business or for pleasure, homesickness is out of the picture with Corporate Stays. With multiple options in every major Canadian city, as well as locations in NYC, Miami, Mexico, Europe and South America, a Corporate Stay’s executive apartment provides you and your family with a comfortable, luxuriously furnished and

CIBC Banks on New OAG Expantion

 This week the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) and longtime supporter CIBC announced a new and considerable Art Now – L’art ici Capital Campaign gift of $100,000. CIBC has become a lead sponsor for the gallery and it’s events during the past decade, including le pARTy Art Auction and the Partners in

The Planet is Dying of Consumption and Only Citizens can Halt the Process

 At the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, COP21, the focus has been on promises countries make to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These macro level commitments are always made with varying degrees of sincerity because few political leaders will be willing to cause real or even perceived damage to their