Rolling my way Through the School of Hard Knocks

 Rolling my way Through the School of Hard Knocks In part one of my four-part series about my origins story, I wrote about my early years living at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa. Despite being given a year to live, I was determined to prove the doctors

Ottawa’s Ronald McDonald House is About to Get Bigger

 Sadly, children are not immune to life-threatening illnesses requiring medical treatments. Often their conditions require hospitalization that forces families to travel long distances within Ontario. Cornwall might not seem far in the summer months, but once winter arrives, it can feel like a world away. Now, imagine if you had

27 years later and how things have changed

 On March 16, 1994, I left the Children’s Hospital Of Eastern Ontario after living there for nineteen years, and I moved into my own place. For most, being nineteen years old and moving into their own place wouldn’t be a big deal. Many people have done it and for the

Logan Hussein’s special twelfth birthday

 Above: Logan Hussein with his parents, Sue Mackey and Wael Hussein, at his 11th birthday fundraiser. Photo: Grace De Castro Logan Hussein was born on Nov 26th, 2008 at the Queensway Carleton Hospital. It was a complicated birth, and Logan struggled to survive after being born with pneumothorax, a collapsed lung. Logan

Introducing OLM’s new contributor, Ryan Lythall

 My name is Ryan Lythall. This is my first column for Ottawa Life Magazine, so I wanted to introduce myself. My story is a bit different than most. In 1975, I was born with a rare Neuromuscular condition called Nemaline Myopathy. NM causes muscle weakness, speech impairments, and respiratory problems.

Hair Donation Ottawa’s 9th annual event set to take place during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

 Since 2011, Hair Donation Ottawa (HDO), together with their volunteers and supporters, has raised over $570,000 for cancer research and has donated over 25,000 inches of hair to empower kids with hair loss by providing them with free wigs. On Sunday, September 22, 2019 from 9:30AM – 4:30PM at the Algonquin College

Meghan and Sally Tibbits Spin New Adventure Tale For Kids

 Photo credit: Meghan and Sally Tibbit (used with permission) Following their recent return from New York City where they won a bronze medal at the 23rd Annual Independent Publisher Book Awards, mother-daughter duo, Sally and Meghan Tibbits, sat down with Ottawa Life to discuss their book, Badger Tales ~ The Teacup Fliers.

Bill please! Canada’s kids need the government’s support before costs grow

 Op-ed by Alex Munter, President and CEO of CHEO, the national capital’s pediatric health centre. If you have ever watched the hit TV series “Mad Men,” one thing you will remember is that everybody smoked. Everyone. Everywhere. It was a great show, in part, because it was like a trip

How diabetes hurts all Canadians and what you can do about it

 By: Kimberley Hanson, Executive Director, Federal Affairs, Diabetes Canada  One January night in 2018, Sheila Malcolmson lived every parent’s fear: she found her 4-year-old daughter barely conscious and rushed her to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Emma was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes – an incurable autoimmune disease that would

Florals Are In Fashion This Week at Bayshore Shopping Centre

 Photos by Isabel Payne Fleurs de Villes has made a return to Ottawa! Marking their second year in Ottawa, Fleurs de Villes combines floral art with high fashion, showcasing the work of each city’s top florists, stylists and nurseries to exhibit the best each city has to offer. This year’s

J & J’s Gibberish: Wonderful Insight from Spectrum Insights

 Photos by John Anderson As a parent of an autistic kid, I am always looking for new ways to help my son integrate better into society and to learn important life skills he will need to survive. Parents can’t do it alone.  While nobody else knows our kids like we

Ottawa Preteen’s Sugardrop Sweetwear Co. Fashionably Fighting Diabetes

 Kate Beaulieu, it could be said, was your usual pre-teen girl. She played basketball, loved to dance and hang out with her friends for sleepovers. Then came the Christmas where she could barely get off the couch. There was nothing usual about that. When she said she felt she wasn’t

The Host with the Heart of Gold

 Confession: I am a great admirer of Trisha Owens, her work and who she is as a person. You can’t help but be taken aback by this wonderful woman. She has been a staple in Ottawa media for years. From working on The New RO (yes she is old school)

Ottawa Boy Battling Leukemia Gets Chance at Dream Toy Dash

 Photos by Emily Cordonier There was no hiding the excitement on the face of Gabriel Munante when he arrived just as the sun was rising, at the Toys “R” Us location in Orleans. The 11-year-old Ottawa boy is one of eight Canadian children who was randomly selected to receive a

J and J’s Gibberish: The Journey Begins

 Feature image by Jennifer Hartley Here we are. Day one. Welcome to J and J Jibberish (short form for Jacob and Jen’s Jibberish), a new Ottawa Life weekly blog that will focus on life in Ottawa (and beyond) with kids with special needs. Survival skills, tips, services, and lots of

The Dynamix Difference

 Photos courtesy of Dynamix Productions It simply isn’t a party without Dynamix Productions. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Dynamix sets the standard as Ottawa-Gatineau’s top professional DJ companies. For Stephan Gonthier, founder and owner of Dynamix Productions, music has always had a significant place while he

Yuks For CHEO

 They say that laughter is the best medicine and while I’ll hotly contest that Ben&Jerry’s Cherry Garcia should be included in that accolade nobody can argue a good yuk goes a long way at curing what ails you. It’s something the fine folks at Yuk Yuk’s Ottawa take to another

How a Close Shave Can Benefit Childhood Cancer Canada

 Smiling Over Sickness, a non-profit student-run organization that directs community volunteerism and student energy with the goal of contributing to the lives of sick children fighting cancer, continues their fundraising intuitive Shave for a Cure. The event, now in its 14th year, has volunteers shave their heads to raise money and awareness for Childhood

A Month in Ottawa with Justina McCaffrey: October – November, 2016

 Feature Image: Derek Reidle, Justina McCaffrey, Senator Rick Santorum, Scotty Greenwood and Michael Barrett at the Canadian American Business Council Event. PhotoCredit: Giovanni Join Ottawa Life's Justina McCaffrey as she showcases events around the city each month. Highlighted with pictures of some of the city elite, you'll feel like you

Festive Family Fundraising Shines Bright For the McGregors

 Welcome to Day 11 of our 25 Day Ottawa Life Christmas Calendar.  We’ll be updating with a new treat daily so be sure to keep checking under the OLM Tree to see what’s new. And don’t forget our big Light Up Your Ottawa Life Contest! Every holiday season the little town of

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 Council of Turkish Canadians (CTC), the proceeds of which were donated to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). The CTC has been organizing this commemorative event

Rocking for Rogers House

 Do you like music? Of course you do. How about music for a great cause? From Friday June 3rd to Sunday June 5th, the charming La Piazza restaurant is putting on its 7th annual, 3-day rock concert as part of Manotick’s Dickinson Days Festival. The event comes about every year

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

Statement by the NDP on the passing of Max Keeping / Déclaration du NDP sur the Déces de Max Keeping

 NDP candidate for Ottawa Centre Paul Dewar made the following statement on the passing of Max Keeping:   “It is with great sadness that I learned today of Max Keeping's passing. Max Keeping was a trusted voice for our community and a strong advocate for the people of Ottawa, particularly youth. As

Be Spellbound with the Magic of the Arthritis Society

 Do you believe in magic? The Arthritis Society is hosting an evening of wonder and awe at the National Gallery of Canada with Spellbound, in support of childhood arthritis. On Thursday, March 12, the National Gallery’s Water Court will be magically transformed into a spellbinding street fair. Featuring the entertaining