Senators reach agreement to build new rink downtown

 It came down to the final hour, but the Ottawa Senators are on their way to seeing a new arena being built at LeBreton Flats in the downtown core. The new facility won’t see shovels hit the ground for quite a while as several hurdles need to be dealt with

LeBreton Flats. Where dreams go to fizzle out.

 Above: View of LeBreton Flats (PHOTO: c.1892, photograph: silver gelatin, Bytown Museum, P752) Ottawa is the only G7 capital that features a gigantic ghost town within sight of its parliamentary precinct. This peculiarity is not the result of some natural disaster, but rather the good intentions of the Diefenbaker government to

LeBreton Flats part deux, the Château Laurier and a ‘let them eat cake’ attitude by public servants

 Photo: RendezVous proposal for LeBreton (supplied by RendezVous LeBreton Group) After managing and overseeing the LeBreton Flats debacle, The National Capital Commission (NCC) sent out a notice in June in what appears to be LeBreton Part Deux. Apparently, it will “be open to a flexible real estate strategy to increase

Hits and Memories Straight From the Heart, Bryan Adams Looks Back with Bluesfest Crowd

 All photos by Andre Gagne Hey HOTtawa, any weather buffs out there? On July 5, back in the summer, the summer of ’69, a ten year old Bryan Adams would have been basking in a balmy 26°c as opposed to today’s shirt soakin’ ten flaming points higher 36°c. I mean,

Security a Concern for Bluesfest Attendees

 Photos by Andre Gagne / Feature photo: Gatecrashers stopped by Ottawa Police at RBC Bluesfest, 2017 You would think that, given the country of origin, larger beer selection might top the list of wants for the thousands of music-loving Canucks that descend upon RBC Bluesfest each July. However, when over

NCC and RendezVous Reach Agreement in LeBreton Flats Redevelopment

 After much waiting and speculation, plans to move forward on the redevelopment of Ottawa’s LeBreton Flats were made today in what some are calling a milestone announcement for Canada’s Capital. Both The National Capital Commission (NCC) and RendezVous LeBreton Group stated they have reached an agreement in principle on how to

World-Class Sports Complex Coming to Orleans

 Photos by Andre Gagne / Designs provided by BlackSheep Developments As talks trudge onward to bring a new sports arena from the west to a more centralized LeBreton Flats, one group has staked a claim on the East. In fact, you could say they tumbled into it. Tumblers Gymnastics, one of

Monsters Walk Among Us

 Ottawa Life’s Festival City Series is back! We'll provide a unique look at some of your favourite events. We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.  Your city! Your festivals and events! Like a good sunscreen,

Flume Blooms in the Shadows of Migos & Lil Yatchy

 Ottawa Life’s Festival City Series is back! We'll provide a unique look at some of your favourite events. We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.  Your city! Your festivals and events! Like a good sunscreen,

Five Tips to Keep Your Bluesfest Rockin’!

 Ottawa Life’s Festival City Series is back! We'll provide a unique look at some of your favourite events. We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.  Your city! Your festivals and events! Like a good sunscreen,

Tom Petty, P!NK, Muse, 50 Cent, Melissa Etheridge and More Set for an Epic 2017 Bluesfest!

 Ottawa Life’s Festival City Series is back! We'll provide a unique look at some of your favourite events. We’ll go beyond the music with artist interviews, volunteer profiles, concert reviews and spotlights on the tastes, sights and sounds of the festival season.  Your city! Your festivals! Like a good sunscreen, Ottawa Life

After 20 Years of “Dithering” Library Finally Ready to Book It

 Photos by Andre Gagne The central branch of the Ottawa Public Library is heading west! Yesterday city council approved LeBreton Flats as the site for what is being called a "super library" set to replace the aging main branch currently at 120 Metcalfe Street. The 21-1 vote to partner with

Remembrance Day Across Ottawa

 Photos by Andre Gagne. This Friday, as we do every year, people from across Ottawa and the country will come together to stop and remember. To remember those who have fallen, remember those who served, and remember those who continue to defend our freedom. We have put together a list

Algonquin College is Making Built Heritage Hip

 Photos by Alex Mazur. With Canada’s 150th anniversary fast approaching, the face of Ottawa has been quickly evolving. The new expansion of the Rideau Centre, the LRT system and the plans for LeBreton Flats will transform the façade of the capital, proving that Ottawa is moving towards the future. But

Bluesfest Act 2: In Pictures

 All photos by Andre Gagne. It may have been a wet one at times but another RBC Bluesfest has come to a close. It was a record breaking year for the festival which saw over 40,000 patrons pack LeBreton Flats for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and thousands attending on any of

Time Travelin’ Band! Fogerty brings us back to Woodstock and beyond

 All photos by Andre Gagne. Note: Images are from John Fogerty's 2011 Bluesfest performance. “Who’ll Stop the Rain?” Who else but John Fogerty? As the ponchos came off and the umbrellas went down last night at RBC Bluesfest, it was perhaps no surprise to one of this festival’s biggest crowds

Melnyk’s Sens-backed RendezVous Group Chosen by NCC for For Future of LeBreton Flats

 Courtesy of LeBreton RendezVous. The National Capital Commission decided yesterday who would win in the bid for the long-vacant, and much sought-after LeBreton Flats lot downtown. Senator's owner Eugene Melnyk backed the RendezVous LeBreton Group's plan, which seemed the easy winner of the two bids, and it turns out it was. Although

The Lebreton Flats Fiasco and Why Melanie Joly Must Reform the NCC

 For years the National Capital Commission (NCC) has been the most inept, closed, secretive, elitist and incompetent organization in the federal government. Their tagline should be “The NCC—We Never Miss an Opportunity to Miss an Opportunity”. The NCC board of directors has 15 members, including the chairperson and the chief

Before Bytown – Part 2

 Watercolour of Wrightstown in 1830. (Archives of Ontario C10006) On the 18th of June, 1812, the United States declared war on British North America, leading to a two and half year conflict and indirectly to the founding of Ottawa. The City was formed alongside the Rideau Canal, as the British

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

The LeBreton Flats fiasco: Why Melanie Joly must reform the NCC

 A concept image for Rendevous LeBreton.  For years the National Capital Commission (NCC) has been the most inept, closed, secretive, elitist and incompetent organization in the federal government. Their tagline should be “The NCC- We Never Miss an Opportunity to Miss an Opportunity.” The NCC board of directors has 15

RBC Bluesfest Announces 2014 Lineup in Celebration of 20 Years

 For many of us diehards, we awoke this morning to a gift in our inboxes: an email detailing this year's musical performances at Bluesfest. Facebook and Twitter were already crowded with posts of excitement (or in some cases, disappointment) and what made the announcement particularly special was the fact that

The Renaissance of Downtown Ottawa Is at Hand… but the Federal Government Is Still a Hindrance to the Process Rather than a Help

 Downtown Ottawa is undergoing an architectural renaissance. Unsightly parking lots are gradually being replaced by gleaming condos and office towers. Ottawa Life Magazine spoke to city councillor Diane Holmes, who represents Ward 14 Somerset. "When I first was elected in '82, I thought I'd never see people from the suburbs

Ottawa International Children’s Festival Celebrates 28 Years in the Capital

 The Ottawa International Children’s Festival (OICF), the largest children’s festival in Ontario, is gearing up to celebrate its 28th year in the Capital, May 28-June 2, 2013 at the LeBreton Flats Park and Canadian War Museum sites. Each year, the OICF proudly presents some of the finest visual and performance

Crazy for Condos in Canada’s Capital City!

 Take a look around our city. Condos are sprouting up everywhere,  rejuvenating older, traditional neighbourhoods and filling in vacant lots. New condo sites will forever change a district’s character – specialty retailers, exotic or down-home eateries and unique hole-in-the-wall attractions that are emblematic of an area’s particular ambience and style