Rolling the Dice: The Rich History and Future of Casinos in Shaping Entertainment

 Casinos have long been synonymous with entertainment, glamour, and the thrill of taking risks. From their historic origins as gathering places for games of chance to their modern-day transformation into luxurious resorts, casinos continue to captivate millions around the world. Whether you’re a casual player or a seasoned gambler, the

The David Baazov Museum of History of Jews of Georgia: All You Need to Know

 The David Baazov Museum of History of Jews of Georgia stands as a testament to the rich and enduring heritage of the Jewish community in this remarkable region. Founded with a specific mission in mind, the museum bears the name of a prominent figure in Georgian-Jewish history, Rabbi David Baazov. 

“I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” – Why Our Sleeping Habits Need to Change

 Do you get enough sleep? A study released in 2017 found that a quarter of Canadians get less than 7 hours of sleep per day, and that this costs the Canadian economy $21 billion in lost time at work. Even more injurious are the effects that loss of sleep has

Local History Gets Musical with Paul Weber’s Ottawa Song Project

 Photos by Brian Cote August, 1870. The smell of cedar is in the air. It’s been a dry summer. Rain hasn’t fallen for months. Not terrible news for the men working on clearing the brush for the Central Canada Railway. The dry spell meant they could spend their days on the

Canadian History Sings with Sir John A. Macdonald: The Musical

 If the musical theatre world has taught us anything, it’s that pretty well any topic is ripe to have suddenly burst into song. We’ve had singing plants, dancing cats, shows on Mormons, the final days of Christ and even one about Spiderman. However, how would Canadian history fair if given

Irene’s Pub, The Legacy of Live Music in Ottawa for Over 30 Years

 All photos by Andre Gagne. There’s a 100-year-old piano in the corner of Irene’s Pub, still in tune and awaiting melodies. Behind the bar, connected to the kitchen, is one of the original clear-com phones that used to reside back stage at the National Arts Centre, a relic of the

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

Rocking with ‘Boom’ at the NAC and Orpheus’ ‘A Chorus Line’

 A scene from 'A Chorus Line.' Photo courtesy of Orpheus Musical Theatre Society.  There are only two days left to catch Boom at the NAC and three days to catch A Chorus Line, Orpheus Theatre’s latest show now on at Centrepointe Theatre. Time is of the essence. In Boom, award-winning

Before Bytown – Part 1

 Sketch of the Ottawa River and Rideau Falls in 1826. At this point, they’re still untouched, and looked pretty much the same as they did when Champlain passed them. (Archives of Ontario, I0002118)  Ottawa’s story starts with the river that gave it its name. Of course, it wasn’t always called the

The ‘Ugly’ History of LeBreton Flats

 By Philip Charlebois   Most of us know LeBreton flats as that big, ugly, empty piece of land right next to downtown, where we go for Bluesfest. It hasn't always been so empty, in fact, the story of the flats is an ugly one, headlined by scandal, fire and government

Unforgettable Edmundston

 If you’re planning a Maritime adventure, historic Edmundston is the perfect place to start. Settled right between Quebec and Maine on New Brunswick’s left side, Edmundston is exactly the sort of greeting you want to find when entering a new province. Edmundston has far too much great history for a

San Diego Baby

 For this year’s winter escape, get a hit of culture, history and, of course, warmth, by heading to the birthplace of California: San Diego. Despite the fact that it has roughly 3.2 million people milling about, the city has a chill pace to it. San Diego is both relaxed and

Great Britain and Ireland, A Contiki Adventure – Part 1

 Above: Ruins of Hadrians Wall, England Great Britain and Ireland are popular destinations for travelers from all around the world. These two European islands, settled in the North Atlantic Ocean, have so much to offer both for tourists seeking out popular destinations and off-the-beaten-track travelers. Great Britain is made up of four

The Heart of Wild Labrador: Adventure Canada Style

 All photos courtesy of Don MacLean. Once in his life a man ought to concentrate his mind upon the remembered earth. He ought to give himself up to a particular landscape in his experience; to look at it from as many angles as he can, to wonder upon it, to

Brief History of a Young Republic

 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons. On Tuesday, October 13 the Embassy of Kazakhstan to Canada is celebrating the Kazakh State’s 550th birthday with a round table seminar at Carleton University. The event is called ‘Kazakhstan – A Young Country with an Ancient History,’ and that’s an appropriate name, since despite

A Street of Their Own

 Laurier House. Photo by Claire MacDonald. Laurier Avenue East may have a new name when Canada’s 150th birthday rolls around. A grassroots organization hopes to turn part of the street into ‘Prime Minister’s Row,’ an interactive street museum that will explore the stories of Canada’s nation-builders. The affected section of Laurier

Remembering the Past to Look to the Future

 This year  holds  special  significance for the world, as it marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the creation of the United Nations as well as the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. In May, a special plenary

Discover the Hidden Secret of the Dominican Republic at Casa De Campo

 If you are looking for first class hospitality, gracious service staff, luxurious accommodations and a Caribbean resort experience like no other, Casa de Campo is the place. Located on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, this spectacular 7,000-acre resort, residential community and tropical playground is a golfer’s paradise and

Lanark County Connections is a Nostalgic Walk Through Memory Lane

 In her latest collection of short stories, author Arlene Stafford-Wilson remains loyal to the past; faithfully reconstructing the rural Ontario of her childhood. She has crafted these stories, once again set in Lanark County in the 1960s and 70s, with attention to detail. In Lanark County Connections, people and places,

Former PM John Turner and the Arctic Youth Corps

 Should Justin Trudeau’s Liberals revive a 1965 Throne Speech promise? "I really became a Canadian when I got to know Canada north of the 60th parallel... I have never felt more Canadian than when alone with my thoughts in the remote northern vastness." —Former Prime Minister John Turner Former Prime

A Slice of Equality for All

 Photo Credit: Ashley Buttle Written by Michael Coren Let them eat cake but don’t, whatever you do, actually bake it for them. In May, a Belfast court ruled that a young couple who owned a bakery and refused to make a cake decorated with a pro-gay marriage slogan had broken

Politics, Perogies and Celebrating Ukrainian Heritage

 Photo courtesy of Lemon Bucket Orkestra. This weekend, the first ever Capital Ukrainian Festival is bringing a handful of amazing bands and about 16,800 perogies to Ottawa. Aside from celebrating Ukrainian arts and heritage, the events will shine a light on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the country’s long struggle

What Exactly is a Mustard Sommelier?

 OLM chats with Maille mustard sommelier, Harry Lalousis “Sommelier comes from the ancient Gaelic word for ‘someone who knows’ or ‘someone who has knowledge of,’” explains Harry Lalousis, Maille’s mustard sommelier. Although we usually associate the word with wine, Lalousis explains that the term can apply to a variety of

History, Religion, Geography and Great Food: Majestic Israel Has It All

 To even attempt to adequately describe Israel is, to put it mildly, a daunting task. While well-known images of the country abound, absolutely nothing can prepare you for the complete amazement or the unexpected emotions you may feel as you explore this magnificent country. Whether you are religious or not,

Win-Win Cooperation

 Dan Donovan, Publisher of Ottawa Life Magazine, sat down to chat with Chinese Ambassador to Canada, Luo Zhaohui after his first year in Canada. OTTAWA LIFE: Ambassador Luo, you’ve been in Canada for one year now, what’s your impression of Canada? Ambassador: I have four general impressions. First, Canada is a