“The Shawshank Redemption” Breaks Out at The Ottawa Little Theatre

 Widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, The Shawshank Redemption is a powerful story of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. The tale of a man sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife and her lover—despite his claims of innocence—has resonated

Comedy or Controversy? The CBC, Danger Cats, and the Fight for Free Expression

 As one of the main sponsors of the annual Mike MacDonald Summer Comedy Competition at Yuk Yuk’s Ottawa—where our writers also serve as judges—we know better than anyone that comedy isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Audiences vary; a comedian who kills one night might get crickets the next. But while

When a Tree Falls, Capital Timber Makes Furniture

 Headquartered in Carp, Ontario, a rural community on the northwestern edge of the City of Ottawa, Capital Timber is built on a vision of sustainable craftsmanship. Brothers Greg and Andrew Clifford have built a business that transforms what was once seen as waste into beautiful, functional products, blending their skills

At best, Minister of Health Mark Holland is Blatantly Ignorant. At worse, he is lying to Canadians with Diabetes

 Canadian Government’s Universal Access to Diabetes Medications Falls Far Short. Type 1 diabetes, also commonly referred to as Juvenile Diabetes, is a disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas, halting insulin production. It can occur at any age, with no cure available. Managing the

Councillor Ariel Troster Triggered by the use of the Word Vagrancy at Council Meeting

 Ottawa City Council’s Tuesday, June 25 meeting began with a presentation on Hydro Ottawa’s annual report. The utilities Chair, Bernie Ash and President Byrce Conrad provided a comprehensive review of the past year, including acknowledging the challenges faced in 2023—a three-month strike, multiple extreme weather events, and a turbine failure.

Mādahòkì Farm Welcomes Everyone to their Sommer Solstice Indigenous Festival

 Celebrate National Indigenous History Month by participating in the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival, a dynamic celebration of the heritage of the original inhabitants of the Ottawa Valley. This year, the festival is back at Mādahòkì Farm, featuring new attractions for an incredible weekend-long celebration of First Peoples, starting on June

Ottawa Police’s CORE Strategy for ByWard-Rideau Area Receives Delegate Support

 The May 2024 meeting of the Ottawa Police Services Board (OPSB) focused primarily on reviewing the progress of implementing the new Community Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE) policing strategy in the ByWard and Lowertown areas. Unlike last month’s meeting, which saw the participation of three delegates, this month’s session drew

Environment and Climate Change Committee hears report on Organic Diversion and Garbage Fees

 The City Of Ottawa’s Environment and Climate Change Board Met on Tuesday. The meeting revolved around waste management and two separate garbage disposal programs developed by city staff. The committee first discussed the implementation of an organic waste diversion program in multi-residential city buildings. Multi-residential buildings are defined as having
Signage alerting drivers to the use of Municipal Speed Cameras in Ottawa

Are Speed Cameras Exploiting Ottawa Residents Under the Guise of Safety?

 Property taxes are always a municipal election issue. During the 2022 Ottawa election campaign, then-candidate for mayor Mark Sutcliffe defended capping property taxes at 2.5 percent while his main rival, former Councillor Catherine McKenney, openly stated they would raise taxes.  It is unclear whether McKenney’s transparency accounted for her defeat.
LRT leaving Pimisi Station

OC Transpo Suffers $1 million Revenue Shortfall Due to Low Ridership

 The Ottawa Transit Commission convened on Thursday, April 11, for its monthly meeting. OC Transpo head Renee Amilcar and OC Transpo staff began the presentation by giving an update on the performance. The most notable statistic presented was that "happiness" with the transit service remains stagnant at around 45 percent,

Exploring the Yangtze Golden Belt: China’s Economy on Display

 Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, there has been a seismic shift in how Western countries view China. Many portray the country as closed off to the world and at the precipice of an economic downturn. Anecdotally, Western countries could make this case with the icing over

Chef Anjali Pathak Continues the Family Tradition of Delicious Quality

 In 1958, Britain was decolonizing most of its overseas possessions. Countless people in the empire to the other were on the move. The Pathak family was one of them. The family of Indian origin moved from East Africa to London. As many migrants do, they brought their family recipes and

Jurassic Quest is a Dino-score Experience for the Whole Family

 Have you heard? Dinosaurs are invading Ottawa! From November 17-19th, North America’s biggest dino show will be in town to transport you back to the prehistoric era. The event coming to the EY Centre features tons of attractions and has become beloved by millions of visitors. At the centre is

Good Cigars for the Budget and Palate 

 There’s no getting around it. Cigars are considered a luxury item, something enjoyed by the upper class. From Mr. Monopoly to Michael Douglas’ portrayal of Gordon Gekko in Wall Street, a cigar is often a stereotype of the rich. They reflect a certain amount of refinement, as Yosef Karsh captured

The City of Ottawa Tables 2024 Draft Budget

 City Council tabled the draft 2024 budget for the City of Ottawa. Despite his customary hand-off approach, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe gave a long speech on the city’s financial master plan for the next year. He began by noting that in the months leading up to the budget, he took the

Sip, Shop and Savour at Signatures Handmade Market at Lansdowne this Weekend

 In 1983, Signatures Handmade Market launched its artisan market in Ottawa. Since then, Signatures has grown to become Canada’s premier handmade exposition, expanding to over 16 different municipalities across the country, from British Columbia to Ontario. On Thursday, October 19th, Signatures will launch its anniversary show at Lansdowne's Aberdeen Pavillion

Team Rubicon – Cleaning up Nature’s Chaos at Home and Abroad

 When a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, it was among the most devastating natural disasters ever recorded. An estimated 160,000 people were killed, and hundreds of thousands were left homeless. In the wake of the catastrophe, American veterans made their way to the island nation to assist with

Five Cigar Pairing for the Budding Aficionado

 A good cigar is a great sensory experience with everything from the changing taste profile as the cigar burns to the texture of the smoke to the sociable buzz it creates, making the cigar an enjoyable experience for those who choose to partake. Every cigar has a unique profile and

City Council and Mayor Support Motion to Revamp Vacant Unit Tax

 Marking the end of summer break, Ottawa City Council met for its first meeting since July 12, 2023. Despite experiencing an event-filled summer of record-breaking rainfalls, rising crime in several wards, and a month-long disruption in LRT service, to name a few, today's Council meeting dealt with mundane issues. Zoning

Stop Focusing on The Small Fixes

 After a month of LRT service shutdowns, earlier this week, the City of Ottawa proudly announced a return to service, advertised as some behemoth triumph rather than what it continues to be, a colossal embarrassment for the National Capital. With only a single car per train, the system does not

Overflow Brewing to Host Focus Benefit Concert for Photographer Sean Sisk

 If you read Ottawa Life Magazine or have seen photos of any of the city’s great musical events like Bluesfest, Jazzfest, and CityFolk, chances are you have seen the work of Sean Sisk, one of the capital’s most talented photographers. Sean’s love for photography dates to his childhood when his

A Beginners Guide to Appreciating Cigars

 Cigars get a bad rap, but much of the negative sentiments come from its distant cousin, the cigarette — the two products have almost no similarities. Cigars date back to the 15th century. Much like a good glass of wine or fine whiskey, the flavour profile of a cigar differs

City Council Imposes Garbage limit but no cash for trash

 At the previous May 24th sitting of Ottawa City Council, Councillors David Brown and Alan Hubley had a motion successfully passed asking the City of Ottawa to explore other methods of garbage disposal to offset the use of the city’s landfill that is set to run out of space within

Photographic celebration of culture “Take Your Seat Together: Korea” opens June 15th

 Father and son duo invites cultures to come together through photography There has been a Korean influence on Canadian affairs and culture dating back to the 1950s. Canadian troops fought alongside the South Korean military as part of a United Nations contingent against Chinese and North Korean forces during the

The top three mayoral candidates squared off during a CTV-hosted debate

 The frontrunners in Ottawa’s mayoral race, Bob Chiarelli, Mark Sutcliffe, and Catherine McKenney, met last night in a debate hosted by CTV News. With the remaining 11 candidates not included, the trio had time to share their visions for the city and why they are the best candidate to take Ottawa into the