By CBC News Ottawa, April 25, 2017
A wild turkey is turning heads in downtown Ottawa.It's perched in a tree in front of the Place de Ville building on Albert Street.
People who work in the area say the big bird has been there since Friday morning.
"I was thinking maybe it was a falcon, but then as I got closer, I realized it was a turkey," said Linda Rowley, who first noticed it on Friday.
By Ron Elliot and others, Ottawa Citizen Letters to the Editor, April 25, 2017
Bike lane debate is about safety
Re: Residents upset over bid to swap parking for bike lanes, April 22.
I am quoted in your article as saying I was shocked and thought to myself “what the hell kind of sense does this make?” upon learning last November that Spencer Street is slated to have on-street parking removed and bicycle lanes painted on both sides of the street. That was definitely my reaction, but I’m afraid many readers will misinterpret why I reacted the way I did.
What alarmed me that day was not the fact that on-street parking spots were going to be lost. The road had just been narrowed to allow for widening the sidewalk along its north side and it seemed to me just too narrow to accommodate bicycle lanes and vehicles safely. I have not been persuaded otherwise since then.
By Vito Pilieci, Ottawa Citizen, April 25, 2017
The opening of the Confederation Light Rail station will lead the construction of residential homes along its route, according to a new study released Tuesday by RE/MAX.
The real estate giant said in the study that it is seeing increased interest from homebuilders who are eager to start construction projects near LRT lines which would allow families to access downtown areas through public transit.
The real estate brokerage’s study on real estate trends in Ottawa for the first three months of 2017 showed the nation’s capital has set a blistering resale home pace, with more than 3,156 homes sold over the first 90 days of the year, and 18-per-cent increase over the 2,666 resale homes sold during the same period in 2016.
By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, April 25, 2017
There will be no bike lanes on Spencer Street now that the area’s councillor has decided there isn’t enough support to swap street parking for the marked cycling zones.
Kitchissippi Ward Coun. Jeff Leiper wrote on his website Tuesday that there isn’t enough backing in the community to replace street parking with painted bike lanes between Western and Holland avenues. He says 55 per cent of the 160 emails he received oppose the plan.
By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, April 25, 2017
Lansdowne Park could rock until 1 a.m. on weekends if the city approves recommended changes to the noise bylaw for events.
The city has been studying several elements of its noise bylaw since 2015 and it’s getting closer to making suggestions to council.
One of the proposals involves noise created during special events, and specifically the activities at Lansdowne Park and the Canadian Tire Centre. An online public consultation is ongoing.
By StittsvilleCentral, April 24, 2017
The City is seeking feedback on the park plans for a park to be constructed in the new Mattamy Homes Abbottsville development located at 570 Hazeldean Road. This site is part of the Fernbank community and is located south of Hazeldean Road, east of Iber, west of the Carp River and north of the Trans Canada Trail.
The parkette is located at the intersection of Malahat Way and the extended Abbott Street within the first phase of the Abbottsville Crossing development. The parkette is 0.4Ha and features a puddle rink, junior playground, sand play area, and swing set. There are open spaces and native seed areas, with a small berm.
By Drew May, Ottawa Metro News, April 24, 2017
The Main Farmers’ Market will be moving back to its Main Street home after a two-year stint at the Museum of Nature.
The market moved because of ongoing construction but will be setting up in the parking lot next to the Green Door Restaurant starting May 6, according to Christine MacIntyre, vice-president of the market’s board of directors. She said the move let the market’s vendors sell to a new group of people in Centretown.
By Ted Raymond, CFRA News, April 24, 2017
When photo-radar returns to Ontario, you won’t see the devices popping up in Ottawa right away.
River Ward councillor Riley Brockington and five other city councillors made the trip to Queen’s Park Monday to discuss the topic.Councillors Jeff Leiper, Catherine McKenney, Keith Egli, Matthieu Fleury and Tobi Nussbaum were also there.
The Liberals’ Bill 65, the Safer School Zones Act is currently before the standing committee for consideration, after passing second reading two weeks ago.The bill would give municipalities the power to install photo radar cameras (or other “automated speed enforcement systems” as they’re defined in the bill) in school zones and other “community safety zones.”
By Ted Raymond, CFRA News, April 24, 2017
An Ottawa 2017 Signature Event is under construction in the Byward Market, but it already has people talking.
But it’s not so much about the event, which is still a month away, but about the land it’s using: prime, downtown parking spaces on York Street.“Inspiration Village” features 41 shipping containers that will be transformed into mini-stages with interactive displays that highlight all of Canada’s provinces and territories. The Village will be open from May 20 to September 4. It will take over a stretch of York Street, from Sussex Drive to the Byward Market Square.
The Byward Market BIA is expecting a boost in tourism because of Inspiration Village.
Some businesses, like the Urban Barn, tell CTV Ottawa they’re hoping to cash in on the increased foot traffic.
By Idil Musa, CBC News Ottawa, April 24, 2017
A group of Syrian refugee children in Ottawa helped clean a park near their home this weekend as a way to say thanks to the community that welcomed them a year ago.
About 30 people gathered Sunday morning at Ogilvie North Park with gloves and garbage bags to pick up litter left around the grounds. The green space is located near two highrises at 1240 and 1244 Donald St. where approximately 400 Syrian refugees live.
By Wabaubgeshig Rice, CBC News Ottawa, April 24, 2017
If you're thinking of canoeing around Ottawa this spring, you should always beware of potentially cold and dangerous water conditions and make sure you have the gear and skills required for river paddling, according to safety experts.
An Ottawa runner rescued two men from the frigid and swift waters of the Ottawa River Sunday after their canoe tipped. Neither man was wearing a life-jacket, according to the man who saved them.
While they all made it out safe, the incident presents a good opportunity to remind canoeists about the potential dangers of spring paddling, says Cameron Taylor of BOATsmart Canada.
By Joanne Chianello, CBC News Ottawa, April 24, 2017
Ottawa residents won't know the exact date that light rail service will launch until sometime next year, Mayor Jim Watson said Monday.
"Part of the exercise in 2018 will be to come with a more specific date when we're going to open," Watson told CBC News.
"We want to make sure that when we send out a date, that we don't have to come back to three or four times and change [it] because the date has changed or circumstances have changed."