Indigenous Monuments and Reconciliation

 ABOVE: Canadian Rangers stand as honour guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during the first National Day of Reconciliation. (ALL PHOTOS: Dan McCarthy) Amongst the 94 Calls to Action contained in the 2015 final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada was that the federal government

Neighbours Don’t Continually Steal From Neighbours — ByWard Markets Need Mayor to Act

 Before Ottawa City Council recessed for their five-week summer break, they announced that the newly formed ByWard Market District Authority would replace the lacklustre performing ByWard Business Improvement Area, better known as the ByWard BIA. S The BIA had become a punching bag for the increasing dysfunction in the ByWard

Report Says National Capital Commission Recklessly Squanders Taxpayer’s Dollars

 Behind Closed Doors: Unraveling the Truth of Canada’s Official Residences A saga of financial incompetence, lavishness, squand, excess and contradiction by the National Capital Commission (NCC) has come to light as the nation’s official residences come under scrutiny. The NCC narrative of “underfunding” for these residences has been cast aside

NCC and Senators CSDI reach agreement over LeBreton stadium proposal

 The National Capital Commission (NCC) and Capital Sports Development Inc. (CSDI), a group led by the Ottawa Senators, have signed a memorandum of understanding regarding an entertainment centre located at LeBreton Flats. The announcement comes after years of speculation over whether the Senators would move from their current Kanata location. CSDI

GottaGo! calls on NCC and Ottawa Public health to make public washrooms available in Ottawa

 by  Reuel S. Amdur It was at the height of the corona virus lockdown. I was shopping for sausages and cheese in the ByWard Market when my guts began to growl.  Where to go?  ByWard Market Square, with its toilet facilities, was locked tight. I tried the building housing Le

Laurier’s “Washington of the North” is a crumbling disgrace

 Above: The disgraceful state of Ottawa's ByWard Market. “The Washington of the North” was how Sir Wilfrid Laurier described his vision for Canada’s capital. The ramshackle lumber town of his time lacked just about everything needed to make for a noble seat of government for a country whose 20th century

Reign in the NCC to save Canada’s built heritage

 Above: Canada's six official residences are: (Clockwise from top left) Rideau Hall (Home and workplace of the governor general of Canada), 24 Sussex Drive, (Home of the prime minister of Canada), Harrington Lake (Country residence of the prime minister of Canada), Stornoway (Home of the leader of the Opposition), The

Anatomy of an accident

 A first-person account of patient-centred care at The Ottawa Hospital La cour Jeanne-d’Arc Court is a charming place tucked away in the ByWard market. There are two entrance alleys off of York Street and one off Clarence. The site was renovated in 2006 according to a National Capital Commission call

Ottawa Architecture Week raises awareness about affordable housing

 Ottawa Architecture Week (OAW) is an annual week-long festival exploring architecture, urbanism, art and design in Ottawa. With the support of local volunteers and businesses, it is presented by the Ottawa Regional Society of Architects (ORSA). This year’s OAW ran in September, with the theme of ‘Affordability’. OAW explained that

Ashcroft Homes Announces Key Sparks Street Development in the Heart of the Capital

 It was over a decade ago, back in 2006 that Ashcroft Homes began discussions with the National Capital Commission (NCC) about developing a prime Sparks Street property, one block south of Parliament Hill. The RESIDENCES project was finally announced October 26, 2016 as Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, Ashcraft Homes President

Controversial Contemporary Expansion Proposed for Iconic Château Laurier

 All photos supplied by Larco Investments Ltd. Anyone walking into the Fairmont Château Laurier Ballroom is wowed by the splendour of the renaissance-styled room. High ceilings and elaborate chandeliers take one back into a time of opulence. Peep through the tall arched windows and see… a parking lot? Larco Investments

A Refreshing Response – The National Capital Commission Does the Right Thing for Lemonade Kids

 Over the years Ottawa Life Magazine writers have been critical of the NCC on many occasions. So we were a little indignant (like everyone else) when we heard the news this past weekend that that seven-year-old Eliza Andrews and her five-year-old sister Adela's lemonade stand was shut down by what appeared to be

Ottawa’s Tulip Festival Kicks Off With a Bang

 All photos by Arizona Lanceleve. The 2016 Tulip Festival kicked off yesterday at Lansdowne Park in a big way. Guests were invited to come see a spectacular bout of fireworks to celebrate the 71st run of Ottawa's famous spring festival. People flocked to the opening festivities last night to see

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

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

The Memorial to the Victims of Communism: It’s Complicated

 There seems to be a general agreement that the Memorial to the Victims of Communism—Canada a Land of Refuge is a worthy project. However, controversy surrounds the current proposed location and design. Canada, a Land of Refuge— More than a Memorial “People are trying to make this political,” says Ludwik

Past Its Expiry Date: Time to Get Rid of the National Capital Commission

 Ottawa is changing in a good way. The increased urbanization of the core has re-energized communities like Westboro, Kitchissippi, Sandy Hill and parts of Lower Town. The renovation of Lansdowne Park proceeds apace, soon to breathe new life into the Glebe and the downtown core (much to the delight of

Political Power Brokers of the National Capital Region

 "It would not take long for a future tax-and-spend government to imperil the economic stability Canada enjoys": An Interview with Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre (Nepean-Carleton) As told to Harvey F. Chartrand Pierre Poilievre is the 34-year-old Minister of State (Democratic Reform) and four-term Conservative Member of Parliament for Nepean-Carleton. After

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

Is this the end of the Prince of Wales Railway Bridge?

 I fear for the future of the Prince of Wales railway bridge that crosses the Ottawa River a mile upstream from Parliament Hill. You've probably seen and admired it many times, without knowing its name. Just a short walk from the new Canadian War Museum, the old railway bridge crosses

The master plan for the growth — A Plan for the Capital

 By Katharine Fletcher Capital cities are fortunate entities. Their unique role is to symbolize a people's concept of nationhood. As such, they present particular challenges to planners. Ottawa is no exception. Does Ottawa and the National Capital Region (NCR) embody a sense of Canadian-ness? Marcel Beaudry, chairman of the National

Citizen Cain: Claudette Cain on the campaign trail

 By Kate Heartfield Claudette Cain has been scrutinized by the media, the public and her peers for 20 years. Yet after all this time in politics, she is not an easy woman to pigeonhole. Her office at Gloucester City Hall is trimmed with flowered window treatments and a crocheted doily,

Ottawa’s grand boulevard: Vision or nightmare

 By Jeannie Dempster In the mid-1800s, Parisian architects redesigned the entire city, replacing the twisty medieval streets with long, wide boulevards. Given the many violent uprisings of that era, the military favored the new roads, for they provided a much better view down the gun barrel at the angry mobs storming

Hidden surprises in Gatineau Park

 Above: Hiking the trails of the MacKenzie King Estate in Gatineau Park. (PHOTO: OLM STAFF) By Katharine Fletcher "I hereby bequeath to the Government of Canada as a public park in trust for the citizens of Canada . . .  my several properties at Kingsmere, in the Province of Quebec,