Kitchissippi Times February 2026

Making the most of winter

BY CHARLIE SENACK

Winter has truly arrived in Ottawa. After weeks of steady snowfall, the city feels wrapped in white. The world is softer and quieter. Streetlights cast a warm glow against the night sky, and there’s beauty even in the darkness of shorter days. Children glide across local rinks. People of all ages make their way along winter trails. Ski hills are open and packed with eager visitors.

I’ve never been much of a winter person, and that’s unlikely to change. I can’t wait to see the grass again and get my hands back in the garden. But Ottawa has a way of reminding us that winter isn’t just something to endure — it’s something to step into.

One of the best ways to get through these months is to get outside. Whether it’s strapping on skis, lacing up skates, or simply heading out for a brisk walk, fresh air and movement have a way of lifting spirits when the sky feels a little too grey. And in this city, access to winter recreation has never been easier. Trails, rinks, and pathways are woven right into our neighbourhoods, waiting just beyond our front doors. The good news is this should be a strong year for the Rideau Canal. It opened before New Year’s, briefly closed during a January warm-up, and is now fully open again — with bitter cold on our side to keep it that way long enough for your annual Beavertail.

It’s also shaping up to be a busy year in Kitchissippi. Development news continues to unfold, we’re nine months away from a municipal election that will bring a new councillor to the ward, and yes — Olive Garden is coming to Westboro.

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES

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Ottawa ON K1W 1K0

The Kitchissippi Times is an award-winning newspaper that has serviced Westboro, Wellington West, and surrounding communities for the last 20 years. The word Kitchissippi, meaning “great river” in Algonquin, is the former Indigenous name for the Ottawa River.

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EDITOR

Charlie Senack charlie@kitchissippi.com twitter.com/charlie_senack

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CONTRIBUTORS

Amanda McLeod, Keito Newman, David Cummings, Lily Mendes, Madonna Garang, Anita Grace, and Bradley Turcotte.

PROOFREADERS

Until next time — stay warm, stay active, and enjoy Ottawa’s winter.

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AROUND TOWN

Events to make your life a little less boring through February

BY CHARLIE SENACK

For many, February can be one of the toughest months of the year.

We are well over halfway through the winter. The days are cold, and in years like this, it can feel like it never stops snowing.

Whether you are a winter lover or not, there are many ways to make the month much more exciting. Here is a list of events taking place through the urban Ottawa area through the month of February.

www.byward-market.com/ barbegazi-2026

INDIGENOUS EXPERIENCES –WINTERLUDE MINI POW WOW

FEB 1 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Canadian Museum of History, 100 Laurier St

Experience a mini Pow Wow featuring a Grand Entry or opening ceremony, intertribal dances, and performances by invited drum groups, along with dancers of various styles and ages. The event is free.

www.historymuseum.ca/events/ indigenous-experiences-mini-pow-wow

THE PIANO TEACHER

FEB 3-15

Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC), 1233 Wellington St. W Erin, a renowned classical pianist, experiences a devastating family tragedy. Because of this, she finds herself unable to play music or even touch a piano. As she navigates the loss of the life she knew, she begins taking in-home piano lessons from Elaine. Elaine reacquaints Erin with the instrument, giving her new hope for the future. In Erin's own home, a

reconstruction project brings new light and life to the space, and a new relationship. Tickets are between $30 and $58. www.gctc.ca/2526-season

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY

FEB 4-14

Gladstone Theatre, 10 Gladstone Ave

A Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, August: Osage County is a darkly comic and unflinchingly raw exploration of family dysfunction at its most explosive. When the sharp-tongued, pill-addicted matriarch and her estranged daughters reunite in the sweltering Oklahoma heat, what begins as a tense gathering quickly unravels into a brutal battle of wit, resentment, and long-buried secrets. Regular tickets are $42, or $39 for seniors 65 and over.

thegladstone.ca/shows/august-osagecounty/

ELMDALE BOOKFEST 2026

FEB 5-8

Elmdale Public School, 49 Iona St

Browse a vast selection of secondhand books at BookFest, one of Ottawa’s most anticipated annual book sales. Thousands of titles span every genre, mixing recent releases with well-loved classics, alongside a curated assortment of games, puzzles and DVDs that invite leisurely discovery.

elmdalesc.schoolsites.ca/fundraisingevents

BARBEGAZI

FEB

6-8

ByWard Market neighbourhood, 6 York St

This event is part of Winterlude 2026 and will transform the ByWard Market District into a high-energy winter arena. Expect a weekend with sky-high levels of adrenaline from February 6 to 8, 2026, with ice-cold freestyle snowmobile performances reaching up to 40 feet in the air.

JADE EAGLESON

FEB 10 8:00 p.m.

Bronson Music Theatre, 211 Bronson Ave At just 31 years of age, Jade Eagleson has made quite a mark on the international country music scene. Boasting 335M+ global streams and 130M+ views on YouTube since the debut of his selftitled album (2020), which holds four GOLD-certified and two PLATINUMcertified singles (“Got Your Name On It,” “Count the Ways”). In addition, it earned the title of most globally streamed debut album by an internationallysigned country artist in history. Jade has also landed five #1s at Canadian Country Radio (“Lucky,” "All Night To Figure It Out," “More Drinkin’ Than Fishin’” feat. Dean Brody, “She Don’t Know,” “Telluride”), three GOLD and one PLATINUM-certified track (“She Don’t Know”) from his sophomore album as well

as another two GOLD-certified tracks and one PLATINUM-certified track on his third album Do It Anyway. Tickets range between $41.50 and $144.

admitone.com/events/ottawa/pro/ concerts/the-bronson-music-theatre/ jade-eagleson/jade-eagleson/689e086faf 6c8b1db0762d19

IGLOOFEST GATINEAU

FEB 12-14

Place des Festivals Zibi, 60 Jos-Montferrand St, Gatineau

Get ready to light up the night in your brightest snow suits and show off your best dance moves. With heartpounding beats and the iconic Parliament building as your backdrop, this is the ultimate winter party you won’t want to miss. Tickets range in price and

billets.gatineau.igloofest.ca/mul/ go/ebc6ff26-7f3e-46c5-877848d38a795ccf/shop/custompack?fac=IGLOOFEST&locale=en-

National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St

Jazz up your day with three extraordinarily talented musicians who will bring the legendary African-American pianist and composer Thelonious Monk back to life in a spectacular concert at the NAC coupled with unbelievable video animations! Tickets are $15. nac-cna.ca/en/ event/38340

HARBOUR HARVEST

Nepean Sailing Club, 3259 Carling Ave

Join the excitement at Harbour Harvest, a community ice fishing derby supporting local charities! Perfect for all ages and skill levels, this event offers a full day of fun on the ice. Enjoy the Harbour Harvest Pancake Breakfast, sip on free hot chocolate and coffee, and catch live ice safety and rescue demonstrations. Volunteers will be on hand to drill holes, and equipment is available — no fishing license or experience required. harbourharvest.ca/

PLATYPUS THEATRE'S MUSIC UNDER A MIDNIGHT MOON

FEB 15 3:30 p.m.

National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St

Magic, music, and wonder abound as two wanderers discover beauty in unexpected places. Prepare for a heartwarming symphonic adventure where magic, music, and imagination shine bright! Join the NAC Orchestra and the internationally acclaimed Platypus Theatre for Music Under a Midnight Moon, a whimsical journey that reveals the beauty of sound in the most unexpected places. Tickets are $15. nac-cna.ca/en/event/38383

HERITAGE DAY

FEB 17

12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave

Celebrate Ottawa’s rich and diverse history on Heritage Day at Ottawa City Hall. Explore exhibits from local museums, historical societies, and heritage organizations, and engage with heritage professionals and volunteers to learn more about the city’s cultural past. The noon ceremony will honour those working to preserve heritage, showcasing traditions and stories — from historic buildings to traditional storytelling — that shape the community and inspire future generations. The event is free. capitalheritage.ca/heritage-day-2026/

SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE LOCKED ROOM

FEB 18-28

Gladstone Theatre, 10 Gladstone Ave.

The great detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. Watson wake up to find themselves locked in a strange room, but not alone. Lying alongside them is Holmes's greatest adversary, the Napoleon of Crime, Professor Moriarty.

But who has brought them there, and for what fiendish purpose? When escape proves impossible, the mortal enemies must join forces and, using only the clues left in the room by their mysterious captor, find the answers to these questions. With time running out, the three men must uncover the secret of the locked room, or they may not live to see tomorrow. Run time is about two hours including intermission. Regular tickets are $39, or $36 for those 65 and over. thegladstone.ca/shows/sherlockholmes-and-the-locked-room/

OTTAWA BOAT AND OUTDOORS SHOW

FEB 19-22

EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Dr

A showcase of the latest boat models, fishing gear, powersports, paddle sports, accessories, and much more. Tickets are $14 to $16 when you purchase online, or $45 for a family pass. www.ottawabos.ca/

FEBRUARY UPDATES

REGISTER NOW FOR:

• 2026 Summer camps and summer swim lessons

• 2026 Aquatic leadership, Home alone/babysitting and First Aid.

• March Break Camps Mar. 16-20

• Winter programs including swim lessons, specialty fitness programs, arts, sports and more.

FAMILY DAY WEEKEND

Friday Feb. 13: sign up for our PD Day Holiday schedule Feb. 14-16. We are closed Monday Feb. 16.

FIT PASS MEMBERSHIP

Enjoy exclusive access to 55+ weekly group fit, spin and aquafit classes, the Fitness Centre, Euchre Club, Pickleball and access to drop-in Swims with your monthly Pass.

PERSONAL TRAINING SERVICES

Our trainers will motivate and guide you towards your health and fitness goals. We have many different personal training packages to meet your needs. Email fitness@dovercourt.org  for more information.

DROP-IN SWIMS

Our pool is a great place to be when the weather gets cold. Book your space online ahead of time up to 7 days in advance at www.dovercourt.org.

REC

PROGRAMS FOR EVERYONE

New programs for winter session: arts, music, drama, sports, playgroups and more. Also, be sure to check out our monthly one-session workshops!

INCLUSION DANCE

Feb. 14, 7-9pm

EMPLOYMENT

SAVE THE DATE

Spring 1 swim lessons - registration begins Tue. Jan. 27, 2026.

• Aquatics: We are always on the lookout for staff 15 yrs and up with lifeguard & swim instructor qualifications. Please send your resume to Lis Drouillard at edrouillard@dovercourt.org

CITY

Joanne Chianello to run for city council in Kitchissippi

BY CHARLIE SENACK

Joanne Chianello has spent more than a decade holding Ottawa’s municipal politicians to account. Now, she wants to help shape the decisions she once scrutinized.

The longtime former CBC journalist has announced she plans to run for city councillor in Kitchissippi ward, becoming the first candidate to publicly declare in a race that will bring guaranteed change to the area’s representation.

Jeff Leiper has served Kitchissippi ward for the past three terms, but he announced last summer that he would run for the mayor's seat against incumbent Mark Sutcliffe, who is a resident of Wellington West.

For Chianello, the decision to run is rooted in both professional experience and personal connection. She spent 12 years covering City Hall, including the Jim Watson era, significant transit controversies, including the launch of LRT, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2022 truck convoy occupation.

“I really understand how the place works. I understand procedure and process and the people — my own P3, if you will. And that’s kind of what you need to know to get things done,” she said. “If the people of Kitchissippi were to send me to City Hall, I could hit the ground running to work for them immediately.”

Chianello pointed to some of the investigations she led or helped drive during her journalism career, including scrutiny of Ottawa’s light-rail procurement, the transit inquiry that followed, and sexual harassment allegations against former College ward Coun. Rick Chiarelli.

“Frankly, it is my reporting that led directly to the province having a first-ever public inquiry on a transit infrastructure project,” she said. “I’ve never worked harder in my life than from 2019 to 2022.”

I know intensification and development are a challenge for some people. But welcoming more people into Kitchissippi also brings vibrancy. — JOANNE CHIANELLO

But while her professional life kept her inside council chambers and committee rooms, Chianello’s personal life was firmly planted in Champlain Park. She has lived in the ward for more than a quarter of a century, raised her daughter in the community, and built her routines around neighbourhood streets and public spaces.

“My daughter would take the bus — even in Grade 5 — after school. She’d take it to her piano lessons or to Ottawa School of Speech and Drama. She could get there on her own and then phone us

greenspace, housing, and affordability, she said. Chianello said those shifts make local representation more critical than ever.

“I know intensification and development are a challenge for some people. But welcoming more people into Kitchissippi also brings vibrancy. More people in the shops, more people on patios, more people to say hello to,” she said.

“I understand the balance between welcoming growth and making sure we have the amenities to support it. I’m in favour of intensification, managed properly,” added Chianello. “But it has to come with public space. Most of the homes being built now don’t have backyards. So, where is our outdoor space? Where are our gathering places? How are we protecting green space?”

That work begins by consulting the community, said Chianello. For example, if a large tower were being built and would take years to complete, she recommends installing art on the scaffolding to make it look more appealing.

Though she spent decades interviewing elected officials, Chianello said running for office was never a childhood ambition.

“Even though I’m pretty nerdy, I’m not such a nerdy person that as a kid I thought, ‘Oh, I hope I grow up to be a city councillor,’” she said. Journalism had always been the goal, and she took pride in pursuing difficult questions and mastering complex files.

Chianello described loving “the really boring part of the job — dry reports and digging into it,” and said persistence became a defining trait. “If I don’t really like the answer or I don’t think it’s the answer to the question, I ask it again.”

That same persistence, she suggests, is what she hopes to bring to public office.

when she arrived. You could do that here,” said Chianello. I don’t know a lot of other neighbourhoods where you have that kind of freedom and independence — where the things you want to do are right there, not halfway across town. It’s a really liveable community.”

That said, Kitchissippi has changed a lot over the last 25 years, said Chianello.

The Westboro and Wellington West neighbourhoods have seen rapid development, growing density, and increasing pressure on transportation,

After leaving CBC in 2023 following more than 30 years in journalism, Chianello spent about a year in municipal consulting, where she worked on governance and policy projects, including contributing to Toronto’s long-term financial plan. The experience gave her insight into how cities plan for the long term, beyond the daily political cycle, she said.

Still, stepping away from City Hall only reinforced her interest in civic affairs. “I have a deep interest in City Hall. Covering it every year, it became deeper,” she said. “It is interesting to be on this side of an interview. That’s for sure. It’s harder, for sure.”

Matthew Jackson, vice-president at real estate firm CBRE in Toronto, believes Olive Garden is poised for success in eastern Canada.

Olive Garden to open Westboro location this summer

BY MARISSA GALKO

Recipe Restaurant Group, the Vaughan, Ont.-based company behind eateries such as Montana’s, Swiss Chalet and East Side Mario’s, has announced Olive Garden is coming to Westboro.

In July 2025, Recipe acquired the eight existing Olive Garden restaurants in Canada from U.S.-based Darden Restaurants Inc., agreeing to expand the brand across the country.

The first Olive Garden restaurants to open under that agreement would be located at Vaughan Mills in Vaughan and in Ottawa’s Westboro neighbourhood. The restaurants are expected to open in summer 2026,

though no specific addresses were given.

“With these upcoming openings, we’re taking an important step in expanding Olive Garden’s footprint into new Canadian markets,” Frank Hennessey, CEO of Recipe Restaurant Group, said in a news release. “This expansion reflects our confidence in the brand, the strength of our partnership with Darden, and our ability to execute thoughtfully and strategically across Canada.”

The company said the new restaurants mark an important milestone in growing Olive Garden’s presence beyond western Canada, adding that other locations are in “various stages of planning as Recipe

The spring market often starts earlier than people realize... Let’s talk about the timing that’s right for you.

continues to build a long-term, sustainable development pipeline across the country.”

Darden had expanded the Olive Garden brand into Ontario in the 1990s, with two locations in Ottawa. But, by the end of the decade, Darden had shuttered its 11 Ontario locations.

“There’s a huge market to tap into in Eastern Canada, where the population is large and has general familiarity with the Olive Garden brand, if not fond memories of the restaurant itself,” Jackson said in a blog post on the CBRE website last September. “There’s pent-up demand and nostalgia for this type of restaurant so it’s a good time for Olive Garden to make a comeback.”

He added that the chain’s emphasis on value will give it a competitive edge. “The value segment is thriving right now because people want to get the most bang for their buck.That’s also why we’re seeing chains like Dollarama, Value Village, Maxi and No Frills do so well.”

Jackson added that Olive Garden will see more success if it targets locations in the suburbs, rather than in city centres.

“Going urban would be unlikely because the lease rates are high and that’s not where the key Olive Garden customers are,” he said in the post.

Bay Ward councillor fights to keep Regina Street school open

By Charlie Senack

As concerns grow that the province might eventually decide to close alternative schools altogether, Bay Ward Coun. Theresa Kavanagh has written to the province to keep Regina Street Alternative open as a community school.

In a letter to Bob Plamandon, the supervisor appointed to oversee the OCDSB, Kavanagh said parents were “shocked” to learn that no new students would enter the school next fall.

Kavanagh called it “a slowmotion closure” and such a move “runs counter to the province’s stated intention of fostering thriving, local community schools.”

This is not the first time Regina has been at risk of closing.

In 2016, the education facility faced the same fate, but trustees voted to keep it going.

Parents of children at alternative schools are urging the province to turn them into

community schools and say they could then be used to help address overcrowding at nearby schools. Regina has a capacity of around 300 students, but has recently been hovering between 200 and 190.

“I understand that the board is working on addressing the challenge of overcrowding in some schools, and underenrolment in others, and I firmly believe that Regina Street School could provide a solution to overcrowding in some of the neighbouring schools,” Kavanagh said.

“I strongly encourage you to work with the board to expand program offerings at this school, and to reinstate kindergarten enrolment for the 2026-27 school year, to avoid a further decline in enrolment, and eventual closure,” she added.

Kavanagh said Regina is a “gem” in the neighbourhood and noted its proximity to Mud Lake, where students can take learning outside the classroom.

‘We’re making decisions blind’:

Churchill parents face uncertain school future

BY CHARLIE SENACK

When Allison Hanvey began planning where to send her youngest child to kindergarten, she always assumed it would be Westboro’s Churchill Alternative School — the same school her oldest child already attends, just steps from their home.

But one day before students were sent off for Christmas break, the OttawaCarleton District School Board issued a memo stating junior kindergarten would be eliminated from alternative schools come September, with no new enrolment

permitted. Long-term plans were not immediately made clear.

Hanvey said even during the highly controversial elementary program review last year, it appeared the school would stay open, despite the removal of the alternative program.

“It has left us with hard decisions to make. We could keep our oldest at Churchill, which has been an incredible school and a really welcoming environment, and then put our younger child at another neighbourhood school like Hilson or Elmdale. But that would mean two drop-offs,” Hanvey told KT.

“The other option is we move our oldest to the same school as her younger sibling, but then we are moving her out of the alternative program that has been so beneficial thus far,” she added.

What makes the decision more challenging, said Hanvey, is the board's lack of information sharing. Hilson's French immersion program will be leaving the school, and it is unclear what will be offered in its place.

There is also uncertainty over whether the alternative program will be scrapped altogether, and whether their oldest child would eventually need to move schools as a result. Parents worry that if no new enrolment happens at the school, it will be forced to close.

“Will Churchill eventually get enrolment again? If that’s the case, maybe we’d put our youngest somewhere for a year and then move back to keep our oldest in an alternative,” said Hanvey. “It feels like we’re needing to make the decision a little bit blind.”

Amy Cada also has concerns over what the future holds for Churchill. She has two daughters, including a six-year-old in Grade 1 at the school. Her youngest was set to be enrolled there in the fall.

Like many parents, Cada said her family initially chose the school for her oldest because of what they saw during kindergarten information sessions.

“We had three options: Hilson, Broadview, and Churchill for the OCDSB. And we went to all of the information sessions, and we were honestly just blown away by Churchill. We didn’t know anything about the alternative program or the school before,” she said. “But the teachers were so passionate, and the parents also just had wonderful things to say.”

Like Hanvey, Cada said the prospect of moving her daughter to a much larger school is unappealing.

“We walk into the school, and everyone says hi to my daughter by name. And I just don’t think that’s something that you would get at a large school. And it’s been really good for us,” she said.

Ottawa is currently home to five alternative schools, including Lady Evelyn in Old Ottawa East, Riverview in the east end, Regina in the Lincoln Fields area, and Summit in Hampton Park.

Last spring, trustees voted to phase out the program over about 10 years. In the fall, Bob Plamondon, the supervisor appointed

by the Doug Ford provincial government to take over control of the board, said the elementary program review would be scrapped. As part of that, proposed boundary changes would not take effect.

There was hope this might save alternative education, but the board has not said what comes next. The board had previously stated that it was looking for surplus buildings that could be sold to help address budget pressures.

Cada and Hanvey worry that this could happen to Churchill.

“It does really feel like it’s leaning that way at this time, just with the fact that they said they have no plan for future enrolment,” Hanvey said.

Plamondon has not given any interviews since taking on the supervisory role in the spring, and many parents say it has been difficult to speak with him or any school board officials since the elimination of trustees.

Cada said Plamondon spoke with her after she interviewed with CBC, and that it was a positive interaction.

“He seems like he is willing to listen and to try to come up with a solution. But he needs some sort of evidence that there is a viable catchment for Churchill between Broadview and Elmdale, which are the two big schools where students go,” she said.

In her December memo, new OCDSB director of education Stacey Kay said the board is actively working on accommodation challenges and managing overcrowding as it establishes boundaries for schools currently under construction.

Kay said the board is also “discussing timetables, including an anticipated timeline for decisions regarding these schools and schools that surround them.” That is expected to come at the end of this school year.

Parents worry that it may be too late and believe the solution lies in opening Churchill as a French immersion school for new enrolment only. That would allow other schools to retain their current student populations.

Hanvey noted Broadview is already over capacity, with 869 students in a building designed for 806.

“It would start with a new kindergarten cohort, which is a new group, a new age of students. This would also alleviate the pressures other schools are facing,” she said.

Westboro’s Grand restaurant brings winter gondola dining to beach

BY LILY MENDES

Anew, Swiss-inspired dining experience is a smash hit with diners at the Grand Pizzeria in Westboro.

“We're always looking to do something different, especially for the community,” says Dennis Mysyk, assistant general manager for the restaurant. “Winter is usually a little slower for the rest of the industry, so we wanted to have a reason for people to come out.”

While most restaurants dread the cold of the low season, Westboro’s the Grand, which opened in October 2025, has decided to embrace it with a dining experience inspired by the Swiss Alps. Customers can enjoy the view of the Ottawa River from the comfort and heat of retrofitted gondolas sitting on the restaurant’s patio. There are five gondolas in total, each ideal for about four people, and each includes a heating unit, blankets, and cozy decor. The experience comes with a cover charge of $20 per person at lunchtime and $25 per person for dinner.

Gondola server Trista Montgomery has to bundle up to deliver restaurant-togondola service.

“People are really liking it in there. It's pretty cozy,” says Montgomery. “It's different. There's nothing really like this in the city, so I think people are happy about it.”

Montgomery explains that customers can enjoy the winter experience by ordering from a QR code inside the units. Sliding windows on the gondola doors allow customers to receive drinks and small plates while minimizing time spent in the cold. The dining experience has kept business booming since its launch this winter, and the gondolas have been booked weeks in advance.

David Mangano, one of the owners of The Grand, says the gondolas found their

way to the restaurant by a matter of luck.

“It was by chance,” says Mangano. ”My business partner has a friend who wanted to buy one for his home, but they only come in sets of six, so we took a look at it and thought, 'That's not a bad idea.’”

The gondolas are from a company in Switzerland that upgrades vintage gondolas and distributes them across Europe. “That's something that's used in Switzerland as a dining experience, but we're the first ones in the region to bring it here, so we chanced upon it, and here it is now,” says Mangano.

The gondolas were shipped from Switzerland to Montreal, then were driven by truck to Ottawa and carefully forklifted into place. This experience was quite an investment for the restaurant, each gondola costing about $10,000.

“We weren't afraid to spend the money because we knew that it would garner some good advertising for us,” says Mangano. The owner was keen on investing in this

experience for its Instagram post-worthy quality. “That's one of the ways to really spotlight your business these days – find something unique and find something that's going to attract people via social media.”

The restaurant is perfectly placed as a final stop for cross-country skiers along the Kichi Zībī winter trail, with ski racks for customers to park their skis while they enjoy the menu. Mangano recommends scheduling your visit around 4:30 p.m. to admire the view just before sundown. “The sunsets here are spectacular,” he says.

Since it opened last fall, the Grand Westboro has become a popular spot for its signature wood-fired pizzas and Italian entrees. The Grand in Westboro is the second location in Ottawa, with the flagship location in the heart of the ByWard Market.

The Grand is offering a Valentine’s Day package where couples can enjoy a four-course meal from the intimacy of

a romantically decorated gondola. The Valentine’s Day gondola menu is valued at $325 for two people, or $600 for four people, which will be available on February 13 and 14. The four courses consist of a shared appetizer, shared salad, two mains, a dessert, four beverages of your choice, or a select bottle of wine and Valentine’s goodies.

The gondola dining experience will be seasonal, open until March 31, when the restaurant’s patio will get rid of the gondolas for the warmer weather. The restaurant plans to launch its large patio this spring, which seats 125, offering a stunning view of the Ottawa River all year round.

FOOD AND DRINK

Valentine’s Day dining guide from Westboro to Chinatown

BY CHARLIE SENACK

Love is in the air with Valentine’s Day fast approaching, but don’t worry: you don’t need to go far if you’re looking for a cozy or romantic date night with your significant other — or perhaps a fun dinner out with friends.

WESTBORO

Gezellig has become something of a neighbourhood institution for date nights. Its name means “cozy” in Dutch, and that philosophy carries through from the warm wood interior to a menu built around thoughtful comfort food.

Known for creative small plates and elegant mains, Gezellig often leans into seasonal ingredients. Previous Valentine’s menus have featured multi-course tasting options, giving couples an easy dining experience with variety. Signature dishes like slow-braised beef, delicate fish preparations, and rich house-made desserts make it ideal for lingering over candlelight.

Fratelli Westboro brings a livelier, upscale-Italian energy. Sleek décor, an open kitchen, and a long bar make it popular for both dinner and pre- or postmeal cocktails.

The menu highlights classic Italian flavours with a modern twist — fresh pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and beautifully plated mains. Sharing a burrata starter or splitting a tiramisu feels tailor-made for Valentine’s Day.

For couples who prefer something more casual but still elevated, Lexington Smokehouse & Bar offers warm Southern-inspired cooking.

The restaurant opened in 2018 by a group of men who wanted to share their

love of North Carolina with Ottawa. The menu includes a variety of BBQ platters, sandwiches, and starter options.

Petit Bill’s Bistro is another longstanding Westboro favourite. With French bistro classics, generous portions, and a lively dining room, it offers a romanticbut-unpretentious setting. Steak frites, escargot, and crème brûlée are the kind of timeless dishes that never go out of Valentine’s fashion.

The Westboro eatery has been a staple on Richmond Rd since 2007 when it was born from family values and memories the owners have from growing up in a house where family and friends gathered. Rounding out the neighbourhood, Pure Kitchen Westboro is a strong choice for plant-based couples or anyone seeking lighter fare.

Colourful bowls, creative cocktails, and shareable plates make it easy to build a fun, modern date night — proof that Valentine’s doesn’t have to mean heavy food or white tablecloths.

WELLINGTON WEST AND HINTONBURG

Union Local 613 remains one of Ottawa’s most beloved neighbourhood dining rooms.

Its mission centres on showcasing Canadian ingredients in inventive ways, blending rustic flavours with fine-dining presentation. The candlelit heritage building and attentive service give Union an unmistakably romantic atmosphere. House-made charcuterie, braised meats, and elegant desserts lend themselves to

sharing courses over a slow evening.

Nearby, Supply and Demand delivers Italian influence in a modern minimalist space.

With a strong focus on handmade pasta and carefully sourced ingredients, it’s a favourite among food lovers. Their tasting menus — often offered around special occasions — make Valentine’s planning easy while still feeling bespoke.

For a slightly more casual but still dateworthy option, Hintonburg Public House provides craft beer, cocktails, and comfort food in a lively neighbourhood setting. It’s perfect for couples who want a festive atmosphere without the formality.

And for those seeking something intimate and understated, Bar Lupulus blends a Belgian-inspired beer list with a refined food menu. You can start your meal off with a charcuterie board and end with a main course such as wild boar, duck, or BC black cod.

LITTLE ITALY

Giovanni’s Snack Bar & Pizzeria is practically a rite of passage. The café-bar is modelled after the classic Italian snack bars of Italy.

“Giovanni's has been the cornerstone of fine Italian coffee in the heart of Ottawa since 1965, a unique gem conveniently located on Booth Street,” its website reads. “We use the best Italian coffee beans to ensure that each guest receives nothing but the very best that Italy has to offer. Whether you're in the mood for an

espresso or a macchiato, we guarantee you the best quality coffee in Ottawa.”

For a more refined experience, Dreamland Café is often at the top of the list. It brings a “fresh spin” to classic Italian recipes, per its website, with an evolving menu each year. There are plenty of pastas to choose from including some vegan options.

La Roma offers contemporary Italian in a stylish, modern setting. It has been in business for over 30 years and makes all of its sauces, breads, vinaigrettes, jams and pastas in-house.

If Italian isn’t your thing, EVOO Greek Kitchen brings Mediterranean flair to Preston Street. Shareable platters,

grilled meats, seafood, and dramatic presentation make it a high-energy Valentine’s option for couples who love big flavours and a lively atmosphere.

CHINATOWN

Mekong Restaurant has long been known for its expansive menu of Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Thai dishes. Rice paper shrimp rolls, ginger-green onion seafood dishes, and fragrant noodle plates make it a relaxed but flavour-packed date option.

Just a few doors down on Booth St, New Mee Fung is a Chinatown classic for Vietnamese comfort food. Known for pho, vermicelli bowls, and grilled meat dishes,

Scott didn’t receive an organ transplant, but an organ transplant saved his life

Because thanks to an organ donor, his wife Katie received a lifesaving transplant.

it’s simple, satisfying, and deeply familiar to neighbourhood regulars.

For classic Chinese comfort dishes, Jadeland Restaurant has been a longstanding Somerset staple. Its menu leans toward Cantonese-style stir-fries, noodle dishes, and seafood plates, with portions that invite sharing. Live fish and crab are brought to the table for the customers inspection.

Le Poisson Bleu is a seafood restaurant on Somerset that is known for fresh, well-executed seafood dishes and thoughtful wine pairings.

“We age each whole fish as a butcher would a fine cut of meat, and treat it with the same distinct respect,” the restaurant's website reads. “Our ever-changing chalkboard menu allows us the unique joy

Birling’s indoor skate program faces uncertain future

BY MADONNA GARANG

Every winter in Ottawa, skateboarders face the same problem: where to go when the streets ice over and outdoor parks fall silent.

For most, the answer has long been nowhere — until a small skate shop on Somerset Street began hauling a handful of obstacles into a century-old pavilion to create something temporary, affordable, and wildly popular.

That experiment — a weekly indoor skate session at Lansdowne’s Aberdeen Pavilion — has grown into one of the city’s only consistent winter skate programs. But funding constraints and upcoming changes to the pavilion’s availability in 2027 mean Birling’s solution may soon be without a home.

“There’s a handful of obstacles on a shoestring budget that we put together and built. We drag them out for two hours a week, people enjoy it, and then we tuck them away, and our space can be used for other things,” said Birling co-owner Adam Wawrzynczak.

Wawrzynczak emphasizes that the model comes at minimal cost for both Birling and skaters.

“We as skateboarders, when we’re looking for a place to skateboard in the winter, we are not looking for an expensive, large indoor area with concrete ramps and hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in it. Absolutely not.”

Suitable locations — like the Aberdeen Pavilion — provide exactly what skaters need: a multi-use space with a smooth, flat surface and enough room for cruising and tricks.

“We’re just looking to participate in an

activity we enjoy. The spaces that they’re skating in? It’s just flat ground. That’s all we need. And if we can bring some obstacles out and then tuck them away after, that’s a bonus.”

UNSTRUCTURED PLAY

In 2021, Wawrzynczak expanded Birling’s work to include hosting weekly skate sessions at the Aberdeen Pavilion, keeping winter skating accessible to the community. Every Wednesday, for a $15 admission fee, the pavilion is rented out. Rails and obstacles are set up to create a makeshift skate park for two hours of what Wawrzynczak calls “unstructured play.”

The program has seen strong demand and consistent success. For the past three winters, the pavilion has been in steady use.

“There was absolutely no issues throughout the season. Every single time, there was a line-up at the door. There’s really nothing else to say. It was just awesome. The Ottawa Skateboard Association helped fundraise some of the money we needed to build some of the obstacles. And we did what we could, but like I said, skaters probably would have been kind of happy to just have it be empty,” Wawrzynczak says.

The initiative is built on collective effort and shared passion. Kids, teens, adults, and parents have come together to foster an accessible, uplifting, and fun outlet for exercise and self-expression.

The business behind the program, Birling, is a skate shop and café that opened on Somerset Street in 2017. It began when four friends who grew up skating together decided to carry on the legacy of Antique

Skate, where some of the current owners once worked.

Over the years, Birling has organized events and initiatives focused on accessible, safe, and inclusive skating opportunities. Their work has included free lessons, gear donations, fundraising, support for organizations like Girls Skate 613, events for at-risk youth, and programming for skaters and non-skaters of all ages. To further advance skatepark development advocacy, Birling has also partnered with the Ottawa Skateboard Association (OSA).

Skate shops like Birling play a role beyond retail, helping build community and sustain local skate culture.

PROGRAM DELAYS

The program — similar to On Deck, an indoor skatepark and shop — is among the first of its kind in Ottawa to establish a consistent winter skate space. But it has not come without challenges.

“Indoor skateboarding programs have tried and failed over the years, much like any other city in Canada. The most obvious reason for that is usually when you like to commit to renting a space, you can’t commit to just the winter

months, you have to commit to a year,” Wawrzynczak says.

Multiple attempts at finding spaces, emailing, and contacting city officials shaped the long process of building the

initiative. With persistence, the pilot program was eventually approved.

“After about a year of asking, they randomly, I mean, and it was a massive bonus and positive thing that they were like, yeah, we figured you can run a skateboard pilot project at the Aberdeen Pavilion, which is just like, I couldn’t have asked for a better space. It was absolutely fantastic,” Wawrzynczak says.

Facing these barriers has helped forge a resilient and unified skating community. Alongside Birling, skaters have participated in surveys and attended council meetings to advocate for better skating infrastructure.

According to a 2025 public survey by the OSA, up to 400 responses indicated high demand for public skating facilities on suitable and accessible land and infrastructure.

The data reinforces Wawrzynczak’s hope that reliable indoor facilities can keep skateboarding active through the winter months.

“Otherwise [skating] fizzles out. But the Aberdeen Pavilion or any other indoor program could help stop that, and instead help continue that passion, and help grow more skateboarders and the activity.”

ANCHOR program expands after successful first year

BY DAVID CUMMINGS

The Alternate Neighbourhood Crisis Response (ANCHOR) is the City of Ottawa’s new answer to a longreported social crisis. One year in, data shows the experiment is working.

Launched on August 15, 2024 in collaboration with the Community Navigation of Eastern Ontario (2-1-1) as well as the Centretown and Somerset West community health centres, ANCHOR is a 24/7 police alternative. Calling 2-1-1 contacts ANCHOR’s mobile communitybased team which is specifically equipped to handle mental health and substance use crises.

Initially, the ANCHOR program’s catchment was mostly limited to Centretown. But the city approved the program’s first expansion on Nov. 13, extending its reach westward from Preston Street to Island Park Drive and south from the Queensway to Carling Avenue.

“It's worked from a lot of different perspectives,” said Centretown Community Health Centre’s (CCHC) director of Mental Health, Caroline Cox. “We knew that this was a community need, but the call volume was higher than even we had anticipated.”

In just its first year of operation, the program received 4,464 calls, 92.7 per cent of which were calls made directly to ANCHOR.

“I think that it also shows that people have an appetite to call the community for help and not even go through 9-1-1,” Cox said.

The remaining 7.3 per cent were calls transferred from Ottawa Police. ANCHOR has proven that not every crisis needs to be a 911 call.

“People know, and they know anecdotally as well when we talk to them; they can recognize when someone is not committing a crime,” Cox said. “It's not a criminal justice issue, but they need help.

“We need to be sending the most appropriate resource to a situation.”

Calling 2-1-1 during a social crisis triggers a notably different procedure from a 9-1-1 dispatch, where the ANCHOR team brings a variety of deescalating factors and techniques to respond to a situation.

As CCHC’s director responsible for ANCHOR, Cox said the program’s approach – without lights and sirens, without police uniforms or weapons –already goes a long way to alleviate the typical stressors that might compound a mental health crisis or social situation during a typical police response.

“We've also been very intentional in our hiring that we want to hire people from a diversity of cultural, religious, racial, linguistic backgrounds,” Cox said. “And so if someone can speak your language or looks like you, that also starts to decrease the anxiety.”

Coming from a variety of professional, educational and lived experiences, the ANCHOR staff bring skillsets for suicide prevention, de-escalation, motivational interviewing and more to calm a victim and connect them to appropriate social resources across the city.

“Our teams are highly networked, so they kind of start going through their mental rolodex,” Cox said. “We'll provide transportation if folks need it, we'll provide some practical assistance like food or water or warm clothes.”

While the program launched in the summer of 2024, there have long been public calls for an alternative to police response.

According to Cox, local activism for

that cause ramped up after the death of Abdirokman Abdi, a Somali-Canadian man with mental health struggles, following his violent Hintonburg arrest in July 2016.

She said the city finally committed toward a solution with the Black Lives Matter movement’s global surge in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Shortly after, in 2021, the Ottawa Police Services

Board established the Guiding Council to research alternatives to police response.

In June 2023, the City approved an initial $2.465 million in funding for the alternative response program which would materialize as ANCHOR one year later.

While no small fee, it’s remarkably little for a service that looks to be an alternative to police response. Compare that sum to the Ottawa Police Service’s operating cost of $414.9 million in the 2026 Draft Budget, an increase of $26.1 million.

When an Ottawan calls 2-1-1 as opposed to 9-1-1, it saves city money and police resources. In its first year, 92 per

cent of ANCHOR calls were conducted without police intervention.

Moreover, in the program’s first year, only 3.8 per cent of calls required paramedics and 3 per cent ended up in a hospital emergency room. In fact, 52 per cent of all ANCHOR calls were fully resolved over the phone.

“Either they're diverting away from a more costly resource or they're accessing a resource where they would have accessed none before,” Cox said. “So either way you look at that data, I think it's a win.”

Data shows the ANCHOR program has proven itself as a successful alternative to

police response. Cox attributes much of that to the team’s empathetic approach.

“If you've ever supported someone in a mental health crisis or you've been through one yourself, you know that people need to be treated with dignity and respect and compassion and met where they are,” Cox said. “I think people deserve that, but I also think that if you don't meet people there, you're going to get more resistance.”

But the reality of this early experiment is that 2-1-1 is not an accessible service to much of Ottawa’s footprint. Even with its Nov. 13 expansion, ANCHOR’s reach will remain limited, at least for now.

“I think there's a lot of indicators that point to the fact that it needs to be city wide,” Cox said. “I know from conversations with the city that's their desire as well. It's just a matter of how we make that happen.”

Until then, ANCHOR will continue to operate as a 24/7 alternative to police response in its second year with an expanded Centretown catchment area, making effective use of its uniquely empathetic approach.

“That approach is what people deserve,” Cox said. “But it's also what works in terms of de-escalating and not escalating a crisis.”

COMMUNITY

Gatineau joins Ottawa’s growing winter trail network

Kichi Sibi Winter Trail organizers help Sentier Blanc Val-Tétreault find its path

BY CHARLIE SENACK

In the summer, Ottawa’s River shoreline is populated by cyclists, dog-walkers, and people looking to take in the breathtaking view of the natural corridor. But when winter arrives, its beauty is temporarily hidden beneath deep snow, making it difficult to access.

That changed when volunteers started grooming the river’s edge along the Kichi Sibi Mikan Parkway, carving a smooth, continuous winter pathway where none had existed before. The shoreline, once a seasonal barrier, became a winter destination.

Now, that idea is spreading across the water.

This winter marks the second season of Sentier Blanc Val-Tétreault, an urban winter trail running 3.7 kilometres along the Gatineau shoreline. The name translates loosely to “Val-Tétreault White Trail,” referencing the neighbourhood it serves.

Like its Ottawa counterpart, the trail is groomed for cross-country skiing, walking, and snowshoeing — a new piece of winter infrastructure built not by governments, but by community volunteers.

Dave Adams, manager of the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail, has watched that evolution firsthand. He describes Sentier blanc Val-Tétreault as part of a movement that began on the Ottawa shoreline and is now spreading outward.

“The Sentier Blanc is following along on the inspiration of the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail, which was the first urban winter pathway in

winter activity directly into the neighbourhood.

Michel Chénier, who initiated the project through the Val-Tétreault community association, says the trail was built to make winter feel approachable rather than forbidding. He explained that the trail fills a gap between city streets and the more rugged terrain of Gatineau Park.

“Our objective at the beginning was to provide an environment, a safe environment for the citizens of Gatineau and specifically Val-Tétrault to get outside in the winter and to enjoy it,” said Chénier

“It’s an opportunity for people to socialize, to get out in a family setting. And at the same time… this is more of a very flat trail that provides a safe environment for those who are a little bit sometimes daunted by the conditions of Gatineau Park.”

Ottawa,” said Adams. “Since then, six other trials have been born. What’s unique about Sentier Blanc is that it’s on the Quebec side. But Ottawa and Gatineau are really one big community.”

Though the two trails sit on opposite shores, they already share a conceptual link — and possibly a future physical one. Adams points to the dormant potential of the Chief William Commanda Bridge, which closes in the winter.

In a memo sent in the late fall, the city said the bridge would close again due to safety fears. But it did note that if enough snow fell, it would “consider conducting a test grooming.”

When the Chief William Commanda Bridge opened in 2023, it was branded as a multi-season attraction. But the city later said that, due to the bridge’s steel structure and timber-plank surface, it would be unable to plow or salt the surface safely.

Adams said he believes their operations would not harm the bridge. Snow grooming does not involve salt or plowing; instead, it is “press and play.”

That long-term vision is shared by the volunteers who built the Gatineau trail. Marc La Fortune recalls that the idea of interprovincial connection was present from the beginning.

“That will be the original plan. The vision was to have the bridge as the connector to be able to use both sides and create a really urban cross-country center,” he said.

Even without that connection, the immediate goal has been simpler: bring

The setting itself is part of the attraction. Unlike the more exposed shoreline on the Ottawa side, much of the Gatineau trail winds through a forested corridor, naturally sheltering it from wind and helping retain snow.

“I think this side of the river is a little bit more natural. We have quite a bit of bush and tree corridors. I’m going to call them the green tunnel.”

Early users are beginning to discover the trail, though its growth has been gradual. For now, that sense of discovery is part of its charm. La Fortune sees the same pattern.

“It’s just the beginning. Yesterday, I was skiing and met some people for the first time. First question is, is it free? Who’s grooming it?” he said.

Behind the scenes, the work required to keep these trails open is far more complex than most users realize. Adams says managing funding and coordination has become the hidden backbone of the wintertrail movement.

“Urban Winter Pathways are complicated things. We get a little bit of public funding, but primarily we have to seek a revenue source other than public funds. So that means donations, that means sponsors. I spend more time chasing money than I do actually on the operations side,” he said.

In Gatineau, the operation remains small but functional, relying on ingenuity as much as equipment.

“We have a small team of volunteers… We get organized and groom the trails after it snows,” Chénier explained.

Above: Michel Chénier, from left, Marc Lafortune, and Dave Adams pose for a portrait along the Sentier Blanc Val-Tétreau in Gatineau Que. on Friday, Jan. 9 2026.

Right: People walk along the Sentier Blanc Val-Tétreau in Gatineau Que. on Friday, Jan. 9 2026. ALL PHOTOS BY KEITO NEWMAN.

“The National Capital Commission donated Skidoos. We bought a groomer from a farmer at a sugar shack,” said La Fortune.

Support from Ottawa’s established trail network has helped the Gatineau project find its footing.

“Dave has been very helpful in terms of getting this project off the ground… he provided a lot of advice and mentoring,” said Chénier.

For Adams, that mentorship is part of the broader mission.

“The reality is, every one of these trails is community-run and initiated. So the neighbourhoods that have the wherewithal to make it happen are going to get one.”

With files by Keito Newman

Tom Caldwell | Senior Portfolio Manager Samantha Caldwell | Investment Advisor samantha.caldwell@rbc.com 613-783-9594 Caldwell

summer camps 2026

An early look ahead to summer in Ottawa

By Charlie Senack

Summer never feels like it lasts long enough in Ottawa, so when the sun and heat comes, it’s important not to waste it. The good news: We are already looking ahead to all of the exciting endeavours the Capital has planned in a few months.

Here is some important info and dates to remember when reflecting on how you want to spend this summer in Ottawa

BEACHES AND RIVERFRONTS

One of the perks of living in the National Capital Region is the vast open spaces of greenspace and riverways that connect the area.

While Gatineau Park is only about a 30 minute drive for those who really want to escape city limits, there are also many beaches in Ottawa that can do the trick.

Westboro Beach has become one of the city’s most talked-about summer spots — especially since re-opening last year with many upgrades including a new pavilion and children’s play area.

The Grand Pizzeria has opened on-site at Westboro Beach, offering indoor seating and a patio with river views — models for a romantic date out or for a family-fun meal.

Wilderness Tours has launched water-based programming operating out of Westboro Beach, which

introduced locals and visitors to the waterway in a new and historical way. After enjoying your time tubing or paddle boarding, you can visit its Westboro Beach Club restaurant for a light snack and refreshments.

Not far away, Britannia Beach is also a staple. One of the city’s oldest and most popular waterfronts, there is plenty of room to go swimming, play volleyball, or lounge on the rocks.

If you're looking to go a little further, Mooney's Bay is always a good option along with Petrie Island in the east end.

MARKETS TO SUPPORT LOCAL

There is perhaps never a better time

than in the summer to support local business. And with so many farmers markets, there is no excuse not to.

Parkdale Market is perhaps the biggest community staple. It starts by selling a wide variety of flowers and plants in the late spring before pivoting to fruits and vegetables later in the summer.

The Parkdale Market runs from May to October, with the Parkdale Night Market running seasonally on Wednesdays from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Westboro Farmers’ Market in Byron Linear Park is a perfect way to spend your weekends. It includes over 60 unique vendors.

More on page 22

Shine all summer long

Make this summer one to remember with Elmwood Discover y Camps, where girls aged 4 to 13 explore bold ideas, build lasting f riendships, and grow through joyful, hands-on exciting weekly themes, exper t-le and a warm, joyful environment, ev creativity, conf idence, and connec your daughter is diving into scienc masterpiece, or racing through challenges, she will be suppor ted, c inspired, all summer lon

Spots are limited—register and give your daughter a of discovery, growth, a

Continues from p.21

If you’re heading downtown, the ByWard Market is not only for tourists. It began as a farmers’ trading post during the building of the canal about 40 years before Confederation. Celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, the ByWard Market is one of Canada’s oldest markets continually in operation.

THE RIDEAU CANAL AND BOAT TOURS

The Rideau Canal is also a perfect way to spend your summer. You can walk or bike from Hog’s Back past Dow’s Lake to downtown, or can experience it on the water.

Last summer, the National Capital Commission launched a dock with swimming at Dow’s Lake, which might make a comeback this year. At the site you can also rent paddle boards or canoes.

If that sounds like too much work, how about a boat cruise? Electric boats operate from May to October, and depart from Elgin Street downtown. The entire experience lasts about an hour and a half.

When visiting Dow’s Lake, Preston Street’s Little Italy is just a few streets away. It houses over 100 businesses, with many restaurant options to choose from.

SUMMER FESTIVALS AND BIG EVENTS

It can be difficult to call Ottawa a boring government town during the summer. Every year, it seems like more arts and culture events are taking place.

Ottawa Fringe Festival, the

Capital’s longest-running theatre festival, takes place from June 18 to 28. More details will be available soon.

Ottawa Jazz Festival will be held at Confederation Park and the National Arts Centre (NAC) from June 19 to 28. Hollywood star Jeff Goldblum will headline the event, as will Willow Smith, the 25-year-old daughter of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith.

At Mooney’s Bay, the Tim Horton’s Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival promises a high energy weekend of racing, food vendors, and concerts from June 19 to 21.

Ottawa’s major EDM weekend will be hosted from June 26 to 28 with the Escapade Music Festival. A full lineup is expected soon.

Closer to home at LeBreton Flats, Ottawa Bluesfest will rock the stage from July 9 to 19. As fans eagerly await a full lineup, The Guess Who will take to the stage on the final night for a special event tied to Ottawa’s 200th anniversary celebrations. The band will be on a Canadian tour this summer with Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman touring together for the first time in 23 years.

If you’re looking for something a little quieter but still stunning, Chamberfest runs across multiple venues from July 23 to Aug. 2. As the city celebrates its bicentennial year, artistic director Carissa Klopoushak said it will “honour the waters that shaped our city and celebrate the confluence of music and community – where every performance makes waves and every note moves with purpose.”

NEW FRIENDS, BIG SMILES, ZERO BOREDOM AT RA CAMPS!

Imagination runs wild at RA Camps! With each day comes new challenges, exciting opportunities, and thrilling adventures!

At RA Camps, children are encouraged to discover, create, and play to their hearts’ content! Through a variety of activities matched to their interests, they will laugh, learn, and make lifelong friends along the way.

The RA is home to numerous Canadian sports organizations, offering top-notch facilities for athletes of all levels to compete and connect.

With such valuable resources at their disposal, the RA Youth team is able to host a variety of highquality, year-round Day Camps and Sports Camps – creating an inclusive, supportive environment where all kids can feel confident, and comfortable!

RA Summer Camps feature a mix of outdoor and indoor fun, plus a daily swim in the RA Pool –a fantastic way to beat the heat and wrap up each day with a smile!

A personalized camp experience is also available, featuring 1:1 support for children who require additional assistance. This approach ensures all campers receive the proper care, guidance, and encouragement they need to fully participate and enjoy every part of their camp experience!

“I appreciate how the support for my child is customized to his needs - he’s been accommodated without judgement, and accepted for who he is,” says an RA 1:1 Camps parent. “This program allows my son to participate, feel safe and most importantly, have fun!”

But RA Camps don’t just shape unforgettable childhoods. Oftentimes, campers and members of the community are eager to return as a part of the Youth team.

“I adore working with kids,” says Maria, Counsellor-in-Training. “I hope to work in pediatrics one day, so this experience will help me with my work, especially since there are kids of so many different ages.”

Play! Create! Discover!

Check out the lineup of action-packed Summer Camps, March Break Camps, and PA Day Camps at racentre.com/camps and register your child for an experience they won’t forget!

16-20, 2026

SUMMER CAMPS

SJCC Summer Camps: Exciting New Specialty Camps!

Looking for a summer full of fun, friends, and unforgettable experiences? SJCC Summer Camps have something for every camper, with Day Camp, Sports Camp, and 19 exciting one-week Specialty Camps designed to spark curiosity and creativity.

New on the Specialty Camps roster is Mad Science, featuring hands-on experiments in chemistry, physics, and electricity; Paddle Palooza, a daily on-the-water adventure on the Rideau River in partnership with the Rideau Canoe Club; Survival Squad, a Survivor-inspired experience packed with teamwork and outdoor challenges; and Capital City x JCC Dance Jam Camp, bringing high-energy dance to centre stage. All camps begin and end at the SJCC and include a daily dip in the outdoor pool. SJCC Day Camps for children ages 2–10 include engaging weekly themes, special guests, and daily swim lessons in the outdoor pool. For kids who love to move, Sports Camp ages 7-13, combines instructional and recreational sports, three field trips most weeks, professional coaches and athletes, instructional swim and a daily free swim.

Summer

Camps ½ Day Camps Ages 4-5 yrs - $225/week Full Day Camps Ages 4*-12 yrs - $415/week

Gymnastics, Trampoline, Weekly Themes/Outings, Crafts, Swimming, Outdoor Play, Games and much more!

Learn more at jccottawa.com or email camps@jccottawa.com. Be part of the summer fun! 21 Nadolny Sachs Private, at Carling and Broadview!

After 25 years of amazing summers in Orleans, we are officially expanding to Westboro for Summer 2026!

We know how busy Ottawa parents are, so we’ve designed our camp to be the most convenient part of your summer. Our registration price is all-inclusive—no hidden fees for the “extras” your kids want or the childcare you need. What’s included for every Westboro camper:

n EXTENDED HOURS: Drop off as early as 7:30 AM and pick up as late as 5:00 PM (Included in the price!).

n FRIDAY PIZZA LUNCH: No packing lunches on the last day of the week!

n MEMORIES: A Capital Camp T-shirt and a printed photo of your camper included.

n HIGH-ENERGY PROGRAMMING: Expert-led sessions from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

Whether your child is an athlete, an artist, or a performer, we have a specialized week for them:

• SPORTS CAMP: High energy, teamwork, and skill-building. July 27-31 and Aug 10-14

• ARTS CAMP: Creativity, hands-on projects, and self-expression. July 13-17, Aug 4-7 and Aug 17-21

• DRAMA & DANCE CAMP: Confidence-building and stage presence!

July 6-10 and July 20-24

are the only accredited camp in Westboro

Dovercourt Camps: An Exciting Summer Awaits!

Dovercourt is recognized throughout Ottawa for providing camps that offer safe, memorable, and fun experiences for children and youth across the region.

Camps are known for their exceptional staff, wide variety of options for children aged 4 and up, convenient central locations, partnerships with expert instructors, flexible payment plans (pay half now and half on June 1), and the added value of inclusion support and extended care for early and late drop-off.

While many camps are hosted directly at the

In addition, Dovercourt is expanding its satellite offerings to better serve families across the city. A second Culinary Camp and Kinder Camp will be offered at Accora Village, located just minutes off the highway at the Bayshore exit, providing a convenient option for families in Kanata, Stittsville, Barrhaven, and surrounding communities.

For many years, theme camps have been a hallmark of Dovercourt’s

grouped by school grade to support friendship-building and positive social experiences.

In addition to theme camps, Dovercourt offers an extensive lineup of more than 60 specialty camps, catering to a wide range of interests and skill levels, including culinary arts, performing arts, visual arts, sports, science and technology, and outdoor adventure.

For parents of tweens who may be outgrowing traditional summer camps, Dovercourt also offers programs designed specifically with older kids in mind. Youth Zone Camps, created for youth entering Grades 6 and 7, strike the right balance between adventure and downtime. Each week includes exciting out-trips such as zip-lining, trampolining, and water parks, along with more relaxed experiences like enjoying ice cream at the beach or taking a photography lesson.

engaging locations. Theme campers are

Older campers may also be drawn to specialty camps tailored to their interests. Options range from fishing to band camp, equestrian to parkour, or white-water rafting to pastry making—offering engaging, ageappropriate experiences for 10- to 13-year-olds.

Registration is underway, and some camps, particularly those for younger campers, are already full. Families are encouraged to join waitlists, which often move quickly as summer approaches.

Learn more and explore all camp offerings at  www.dovercourt.org/camps.

Ottawa’s urban neighbourhoods falling behind on tree canopy targets

BY AMANDA MCLEOD

In May 2022, the City of Ottawa and parts of Ontario and Quebec were hit by a powerful weather phenomenon known as a derecho.

With wind gusts of up to 150 kilometres per hour and numerous tornadoes across the region, resulting in weekslong power outages, and was linked to 15 fatalities. The 2022 derecho is among eastern Canada’s most devastating natural disasters.

Cleanup efforts stretched on for

months, with the Insurance Bureau of Canada ranking the storm as the sixthcostliest weather event in Canadian history.

In a statement, Ottawa Hydro said the restoration effort was “so massive in undertaking that it was the equivalent to doing four years’ worth of construction work and emergency repairs in 14 days.”

The statement added that “further complicating matters were the many downed trees, branches tangled in overhead wires and fallen debris in customers’ backyards…”

Tree canopy by municipal ward

In 2017 and 2022, Somerset Ward had the lowest tree canopy in the city at 14 per cent. That was followed by the two Barrhaven wards, Stittsville, and Kanata North, which were all at 20 per cent or lower.

Kitchissippi’s tree canopy was at 27 per cent in 2017, but went down to 25 per cent in 2019.

Neighbouring River Ward went from 26 per cent to 25 per cent during the same period.

Results were slightly better in Bay Ward, where the tree canopy has held steady at 35 per cent.

Only College Ward, Rideau Jock, and West Carleton March are at or above the city's 40 per cent tree canopy threshold.

While the damage to infrastructure and the loss of life were both devastating and widely reported, the impact on urban and rural forests received less attention, compounding what experts say is an already limited understanding of the value of maintaining and restoring tree canopy, particularly in urban areas.

Ottawa contains almost every imaginable style of neighbourhood. From a densely packed urban core, to the suburban landscapes ubiquitous across North America of single dwelling houses and big-box stores, to farmlands on the rural outskirts, Ottawa covers a wide range of environments. Forests, both urban and rural, are an integral part of that landscape.

William van Geest, executive director of Ecology Ottawa, says a healthy tree canopy is critical.

“We know the critical importance of our tree canopy and we know all of the huge benefits that trees offer,” he said.

“Whether it’s cooling - and with extreme heat that’s going to be important - stormwater absorption with extreme flooding that will occur, or whether it’s supporting biodiversity - and we know biodiversity numbers are plummeting.”

Trees Canada, a “national non-profit

organization dedicated to planting and nurturing trees in rural and urban environments” lists additional benefits, including food production, reduction of noise pollution, prevention of soil erosion which affects water pollution, and the role trees play as natural carbon sinks that help reduce the greenhouse effect.

Ecology Ottawa has been critical of the City of Ottawa’s efforts to meet its stated goals of 40 per cent tree coverage across the city’s twenty-four wards.

In April of 2019, the City of Ottawa declared a climate emergency and the following year City Council approved the Climate Change Master Plan as a roadmap for the City in addressing and dealing with the realities of climate change.

“The vision of the Climate Change Master Plan is to take unprecedented, collective action that transitions Ottawa to a clean, renewable and resilient city by 2050,” the plan states.

In September of 2025, van Geest addressed the City Council’s Environment and Climate Change Committee following the release of new data on the city’s treeplanting efforts.

The data pointed to a failing in the city's treeplanting effort. While the

five-year period prior showed an overall increase throughout the city from 34 per cent to 36 percent between 2017 and 2022, the findings for a number of individual wards showed considerable decline.

Fourteen Ottawa wards lost tree canopy during that time, with only three wards being above the 40 per cent goal, and the urban area experienced a decline from 21.5 per cent to 20.6 percent.

One of Ecology Ottawa’s recommendations was to include funding for community groups already working to support the plan’s goals, particularly those focused on planting native trees and plants.

“We have repeatedly gone to council to say ‘Accelerate your tree planting strategy,’” van Geest said. “At the the last update on the urban forest management plan, the city itself cited ‘lack of resources’ for why they could only take on one new initiative at a time.”

“And we keep saying, every budget we say ‘Give them more money.’ We know the return on investments for trees is very good - but we’re not seeing that urgency.”

The following month, the city released Climate Ready Ottawa, a five-year action plan beginning in 2026 that outlines how Ottawa will adapt to climate change and build resilience.

One objective of the plan is to “plant, grow, and preserve the urban tree canopy in parks and along roadways, with a focus on neighbourhoods with low tree canopy cover.”

Kitchissippi ward Councillor Jeff Leiper said achieving that goal comes with challenges.

“One of the key challenges - besides the more frequent storms we are seeing that bring trees down, and it will be interesting to see what the effects of this year's drought will be - but development is

greenhouse gas reductions,” he said, “[and] the reason it’s better for achieving climate change objectives is that when people are to live in 15-minute neighbourhoods, they drive significantly less.”

“So the intensification is having a very hyperlocal effect in terms of tree canopy, but it is good overall for the city’s attempts to achieve climate change objectives.”

Van Geest acknowledged the complexities the city faces, noting that trees face a number of threats.

“Pests and disease are just part of being a tree. And we had the derecho go through, and there are other storms, and certainly there’s always a bit of conflict with power lines - you need to trim a tree or cut it down. That’s the reality of urban trees.”

However, he cautioned against unchecked suburban development.

We know the critical importance of our tree canopy and we know all of the huge benefits that trees offer.

— WILLIAM VAN GEEST

also one of the key challenges,” he said.

Leiper said Kitchissippi was historically characterized by single-detached homes on large lots with significant tree cover. Increasing intensification has changed that.

“Single detached homes are demolished and then those are frequently replaced by a lot of severance and [rebuilt with] detached homes that oftentimes

have accessory dwelling units in them.”

“We are seeing intensification in respect to the population, but the trees come down in the course of that…and in our ward, the tree canopy has gone down in great part to development.”

Still, he remains optimistic about the city’s broader climate strategy.

“We have intensification goals that ultimately are better for achieving

“The real factor we need to keep our eye on is suburban development,” he said. “The bulldozers [get] on the land and then bulldoze the heck out of it, regardless of what’s there. If there’s a forest, it gets cut down. If there’s a wetland, fill it in.”

Meanwhile, efforts to replace trees lost in the 2022 derecho are still underway in Ottawa.

In July 2023, the Eastern Ontario Derecho Storm Reforestation Program was launched in partnership with the South Nation Conservation Authority.

Aimed primarily at private landowners, the program focuses on restoring damaged woodlots in preparation for tree planting.

The program was recently extended through 2026 - welcome news, advocates say, given the time it takes for trees to mature and the increasing frequency of severe storms.

Theresa Kavanagh

Ottawa City Councillor Bay Ward

110 Laurier Ave. West

Ottawa ON K1P 1J1

Tel: 613-580-2477

bayward@ottawa.ca 3-1-1 for City Services

Theresa Kavanagh

Conseillère municipale d’Ottawa, Quartier Baie

110 av. Laurier Ouest

Ottawa ON K1P 1J1

Tél: 613-580-2477

bayward@ottawa.ca 3-1-1 pour services municipaux

Field House named after former Ottawa Centre MP Paul Dewar

BY ANITA GRACE

At an understated ceremony on January 12, the field house on Van Lang Private was renamed in honour of Paul Dewar, a well-loved local politician, leader, and educator.

Approximately 50 guests, ranging from elected officials to soup kitchen volunteers, attended the afternoon event. The ceremony started about half an hour later than expected, which meant that for more than 30 minutes people mingled and chatted in the field house. This seemed fitting for the commemoration of a man remembered for bringing people together.

“Paul was about small conversations,” said Julia Sneyd, Dewar’s widow. She added that he was always invested in getting people together and said he would come home smiling after hosting community meetings on topics like cycling or housing. “That was what inspired him.”

Later, speaking to the room full of attendees, Sneyd again commented on how fitting it was to have everyone together in a community space. “This small gathering could have a big impact,” she said. “Often we don’t know what that

impact will be, and that’s the mystery.”

“He would want us to gather. He would want us to share our ideas.”

“Of all the different ways to remember him, this really fits with who Paul was,” she said.

A WELL-RESPECTED POLITICIAN Dewar won the Ottawa Centre riding in the January 2006 federal election, taking over from former NDP leader Ed Broadbent. He held his seat through the 2008 and 2011 elections, winning a reputation as an engaging, down-toearth leader and earning the respect of politicians of all stripes. He died in 2019 from brain cancer at the age of 56.

“Paul served with his heart,” said current Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi prior to the ceremony. “A lot of us miss him.”

“Paul was a unifying force,” echoed Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. “He got along with everybody, even if he didn’t agree with them.”

Kitchissippi Councillor and event host Jeff Leiper remarked on the Dewar’s outsized influence. “He approached his job with empathy, with generosity, and with decency. He was a man of incredible integrity. He was a voice of reason and compassion.”

The idea to name the field house in Dewar’s honour was spearheaded by the Westboro Beach Community Association. Mari Wellman, the Association’s Past president, worked for Dewar while he was an MP. “He was the best politician,” she told the Kitchissippi Times before the

A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE

The building now bearing Paul Dewar’s name is fittingly a vibrant community hub.

“This is a place for people to come together,” said Heather Mitchell, ViceChair of the Westboro Community Association and another driving force in the initiative to rename the field house.

Stephane Giguere, CEO of Ottawa Community Housing, described the space as an anchor for a community of lowincome residents, where they can find a sense of belonging and engagement. Activities include homework help, a weekly food truck stop, book mobiles, and a soup kitchen. “This is what Paul was about,” Giguere said, “making sure people have the dignity and respect they deserve.”

In their remarks during the ceremony, Ottawa Centre MPP Catherine McKenney said places like this field house are the

Other page: From left to right: MP Yasir Naqvi, Mayor of Ottawa Mark Stucliffe, Julia Sneyd, wife of the late Paul Dewar, Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper, MPP Catherine McKenney.

Insert: Canadian Singer Songwriter Jim Bryson performs at the naming ceremony for the Paul Dewar Field House.

Above: Mayor Mark Sutcliffe talks about the legacy Paul Dewar left on Ottawa.

Left: Julia Sneyd, wife of the late Paul Dewar, former member of parliament for Ottawa Centre, speaks at the naming ceremony. ALL PHOTOS BY KEITO NEWMAN.

type of spaces Dewar knew we needed to invest in. He believed housing and opportunities should be for everyone, be accessible to everyone.

It is also fitting that the Paul Dewar Field House is in a community where many newcomers to Canada have settled, including refugees who fled Vietnam in the 1980s. Dewar's mother was former MP and Ottawa mayor Marion Dewar. She spearheaded Project 4000 in 1979, a campaign that over several years brought close to 60,000 refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos to Canada under private and government sponsorship.

In the ceremony’s closing comments, Julia Sneyd thanked all those involved in honouring Dewar’s legacy.

“Thank you for giving Paul a voice,” she said, reminding everyone that Dewar believed it was through understanding and care that change can happen.

When the artistic meets the scientific

Hintonburg based artist Cindy Stelmackowich digs up influential botanist’s work

BY BRADLEY TURCOTTE

Some may view art and science as mutually exclusive but Hintonburgbased artist Cindy Stelmackowich has crafted a career combining her two passions. These interests mirror those of historic Central Experimental Farm (CEF) botanist Faith Fyles, and Stelmackowich co-curates an upcoming exhibit detailing Fyles’ life and work at the Ottawa Art Gallery opening March 7.

As an art student who straddled the artistic and scientific disciplines, Stelmackowich says her electives were subjects like cell anatomy and biochemistry.

“I was not the typical art student,” she laughs.

When choosing a masters thesis as a PHD student at Binghamton University, Stelmackowich met an art historian who specialized in realism and “talked about the visual cultures of science in an interesting way.”

history of Grey and maybe use one or two pictures as illustrations but they weren’t really analyzing the art.”Stelmackowich’s disaster series combines nineteenth century atlas drawings superimposed with images of disasters. One triptych from this series is featured in the Canada Council Art Bank collection.

Drawn to the beauty of the atlas images, Stelmackowich notes they are brightly coloured, lacking blood and fat, and looking like “superhero bodies.” The faces can be expressive and the hair is often coiffed. She describes this as “fake realism” as that was the type of realism the profession needed at the time.

Concurrently during the time period when the first atlases were illustrated the industrial revolution began in North America. There were massive ship wrecks, gas explosions in cities, and fires in anatomical medical theatres.

“It hit right for me,” Stelmackowich says. “There is the hygienic beautiful body but inside there are these disasters going on. If you know someone going through trauma or a hard time their body is kind of sickened as well. It’s their physical anatomy, not just in the brain,” Stelmackowich explains. “It was a way for me to see art and science as a reflection of the culture. It is constantly shifting. Just when we think there are universal norms, it is shifting and having to prove itself, and reprove itself. Then a whole new set of truth comes out. That was the way I was picturing art and science.”

Her chosen topic, nineteenth century anatomical atlases, with Grey’s Anatomy being a notable example, were initially produced after dissection became legal in Europe and visual representations were required for training.

“There were also big portfolios, some of them life sized, of the inside of the body. I was finding them in medical archives, both in North America and Europe. I realized no one has done an in-depth analysis of the visual imagery. They will talk about the

Born in Cowansville, Quebec in 1875, Faith Fyles pioneered the combination of art and science. Fyles studied botany before becoming a seed analyst at the Department of Agriculture in 1909. Fyles joined the CEF in 1911 and eventually headed the arboretum. In 1920, she became the first artist employed by the horticulture department where she painted many water colours, notably depicting the harvests of apples and raspberries. The book Principal Poisonous Plants of Canada is solely attributed to Fyles.

Presented by the Ottawa Art Gallery in partnership with Ingenium: Canada Science and Technology Museum, the exhibit includes specimens from the Canadian Museum of Nature, the CEF Herbarium and Archives, and Canada’s Royal Botanical Gardens.

In addition to Fyles’ illustrations the exhibit includes pressed plant specimens and the tools of early botany, “to tell

her wider story of how she did what she did” Stelmackowich explains.Co-curator William Knight, Ingenium’s curator of agriculture and fisheries, says this is the first time there has been a retrospective exhibition dedicated to Fyles as an artist who worked as a botanist.

“These are two very distinct roles” Knight says. Many of Fyles’ works depict apples as orchards were once a prominent feature of the CEF.

“They are standard paintings showing an apple in vertical format, on the upper portion it’s the apple in a whole, and below it’s cut through. We wondered why this form. Imagine a huge orchard blossoming

in the spring. It’s kind of recovering a lost feature of the CEF’s landscape through Fyles’ apple paintings. There are other types of works in the exhibition but there is going to be a real focus on the apple.”

Co-curated by OAG’s Rebecca Basciano and Meghan Ho, the exhibition will also feature art by Marie-Jeanne Musiol, Barbara Brown, Deborah Margo, Stephanie Tenasco, and Susan Geraldine Taylor.

As a expert on Fyles’ work, Knight praises Stelmackowich’s contributions to the project.

“She is knowledgable about women in science, gender and representation. She brings all that skill to the project,” Knight says.

It was a way for me to see art and science as a reflection of the culture. It is constantly shifting. Just when we think there are universal norms, it is shifting and having to prove itself, and reprove itself. — CINDY STELMACKOWICH

Anita Vandenbeld