Raise a glass – it’s the holidays!

 However you deck the halls, here are someholidays tips & recipes that will make everything brighter. Pop those corks! It’s always a nice touch to serve bubbly when your guests arrive. We do this at every Savvy Event. The sound of popping corks sets the mood and the rush of bubbly

A Genuine Candy Land

 The victory of winning a board game has never tasted so sweet. Just in time for the holiday season, Gamesformotion has released your favourite childhood board game in unique chocolate editions. Some of the classics updated to become edible include Monopoly, Battleship, Scrabble, Candy Land and Clue. With the same

How to Make the Holidays Truly Magical for Kids

 We’ve all felt the pressure to attend every holiday movie, try every sweet goodie, and pile up all of our presents under the tree. Yet many parents find that it’s not the gifts their kids remember. Children most enjoy the traditions, the time spent together and the moments of connection

Private Delivery of Healthcare Can Work in a Publically Funded System but Comes with Risks

 What the rest of Canada can learn from Alberta’s experience If you look at an old map of Canadian healthcare policy, just near Privatization Island is a big warning: “Here be dragons.” So it proved for Alberta Health Services last month when a seemingly innocuous decision—to swap the tender for

5 Tips for Moms Struggling with Work-Life Balance

 Despite the many monumental glass ceilings that have been broken for the equal rights of all citizens in the United States, unique challenges persist for many, including, potentially, half the population, says Jennifer Carroll, the first female--and first black--elected lieutenant governor of Florida and a retired U.S. Navy lieutenant commander.

Canada Relying too Heavily on Unpaid Caregivers—At a Cost

 Almost half a million Canadians go without necessary homecare. The unexpected and largely unreported good news about homecare in this country is that the vast majority of Canadians who receive home help or homecare for a chronic health condition are getting all the services they need. According to a recently

The city’s kindest chauffeurs

 Photos courtesy of Wheels for the Wise If you or a loved one struggle with mobility issues, take a word from the wise and contact Ottawa’s driver-companion service. Launched in 2011 by 27-year-old entrepreneur Jana Mitchell, Wheels for the Wise Inc. is a form of safe transportation for senior citizens

Ottawa Strong

 Yesterday marked a confusing time in Canada’s history. Today we are thinking of everyone in Ottawa as the news continues to come in. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and loved ones of Corporal Cirillo and everyone else in Canada’s Capital. Thank you to the officers

Is it Time to Allow Assisted Suicide?

 Most Canadians do not have access to comprehensive palliative care This week, the Supreme Court of Canada has been hearing an appeal by the B.C. Civil Liberties Association that could grant terminally ill Canadians the right to assisted suicide. With this impending ruling and the passing of Bill 52 in

The Art of Russell Noganosh

 “Finding himself through art and using it to heal” Russell Noganosh set off for Plains Indian Cultural Survival School in his early twenties—but the skills he learned didn’t come from his studies. Noganosh’s life lessons came from friendship and art. Noganosh enrolled in school after fleeing from a foster home

Wood Construction Drives Down Cost for Mid-Rise Buildings

 Finding a way to save on major purchases without compromising on quality is a top priority for most consumers, especially on big ticket items such as a home. Enter mid-rise wood construction. Driving down the costs for homebuilders and buyers alike, wood mid-rise encompasses buildings that are five and six-storeys

Food Frenzy in the Capital

 When the average Canadian thinks of Ottawa, they think of the national hub of power and politics. However, our great city is more than just that. Don Chow and Jennifer Lim’s new book Ottawa Food: A Hungry Capital is a feast for your eyes. In it, they explore all things

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Profile: Sarah Burke

 In honour of the upcoming Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame 2014 Induction Celebrations presented by Canadian Tire on October 22, OLM will be featuring inductees—recent and historic—in a weekly Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame Profile piece. Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame aims to share the stories and achievements of Honoured

Customize Your Clothing: Fiore Apparel

 Screen printing, custom clothing and embroidery—the options are endless at Fiore Apparel. The quality custom-made clothing Fiore is known for tells clients, “You design it, we will create it!” Edy Alan, manager at Fiore Apparel, started customizing clothes many years ago from home. “He had about ten sewing machines in

Support Lung Cancer Canada with an Evening of Hope

 My friend and colleague, Philip Clarke, a seemingly healthy and vibrant individual, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer on November 12, 2012. Fourteen months later, on February 7, 2014, at the age of 48, Philip lost his battle.  The diagnosis was a shock to Philip, and to his family, friends and colleagues. But the shock soon turned

Mayor’s City Builder Award Shines Light on Vulnerable Youth

 Bill Robinson receives his Mayor's City Builder Award from Mayor Jim Watson and Councillor Marianne Wilkinson. Image courtesy of City of Ottawa.  When Bill Robinson meets me for coffee, he talks youth at-risk. Who are these children? Robinson replies: It’s a baby born into poverty. It’s a kid facing family

You Belong Here: Carlingwood YMCA

 Now that fall is officially here, the days of frisbee in a wide-open field or stepping up to the plate for a game of baseball are gone. With the brisk air setting in, families can look to the newest YMCA at Carlingwood Mall for indoor family fun. The YMCA offers

Brutal Farm Killings in South Africa: How do Victims Carry on?

 Statistical analysis shows South African farmers are three times more likely than ordinary citizens to be the victims of violent crime. They also show it is twice as dangerous to produce food than it is to be a policeman. Approximately two thousand farmers and farmworkers have been killed or injured

Get Cooking, Ottawa!

 Whether you live alone or with a large family, life never seems to stop. Between yoga, work and soccer practice, it is no wonder planning out meals and cooking at home has taken a back seat. Moulinex wants to change that! It is introducing the Get Cooking Challenge to help

Enjoy Some Digital Family Time Together

 No negative behaviour associated with kids’ use of video games in households with strong parent-child bond We live in a digital age. Technology has become an integral part of how we see, learn about and interact with the world. From computers at the office, to televisions at home, to smartphones

Why You Can’t See a Psychiatrist

 And why adding more psychiatrists to the mental health system may not be the answer. We are talking openly about mental illnesses and addictions now more than ever--and that’s a good thing. Efforts to address the stigma associated with mental illnesses have made it easier for people who have been

The Hidden World of the First World War

 Imagine exploring the French countryside only to discover underground cities belonging to the soldiers of the First World War. Well that is exactly the situation Jeffrey Gusky, American doctor, artist and explorer, found himself in—and now he is sharing it with you! In conjunction with National Geographic, Gusky shows his

Dinner at Your Door Courtesy of Chefx

 What do you get when you pair up top-notch Ottawa chefs, seasonally-inspired recipes and local ingredients? You get a delicious meal. Now imagine you could create this masterpiece in the convenience of your own kitchen, without having to stop at the grocery store on the way home from work. It

Burger of the Week: Crunch Burgers

 Chips and burgers make us think of summer barbeques with family all around. Nothing could be better, or tastier--unless we married the two! This week's Burger of the Week is the ultimate in summer-time flavour. Pile the chips on top of your burger and hear the crunch as you pack

Healthy Tips: Cottage Getaway

 With many of us escaping the city on the weekends for the tranquillity of cottage country, the phrase TGIF gains a new meaning. While I’m certainly not one to pass up an afternoon of lounging on the dock or a trip to the local ice cream shop, it’s always a