By CBC News Ottawa, January 7, 2016
Pedestrians, cyclists and motorists who use Scott Street will see traffic disruptions in the coming days as the City of Ottawa prepares to embark on the next stage of its light rail project.
On Jan. 8, crews will begin rehabilitating a "critical sewer line" that runs underneath Scott Street and is more than 100 years old, the city said in a release Thursday.
By Drake Fenton, Ottawa Citizen, January 7, 2016
It might look like winter outside, but as a pair of snowmobilers found out Wednesday night, conditions on the trails in the Munster Hamlet area are less than ideal.
Shortly before 10 p.m., Ottawa police received a call that two snowmobilers had gone through ice in a location in the vicinity of 3602 Kettles Rd.
By Emma Jackson, Ottawa Metro News, January 6, 2016
Dust off that old crazy carpet, because the city has opened its 59 approved sledding hills.City staff wrapped up safety inspections on Wednesday before officially opening the hills a week after 20 centimetres of snow announced winter's arrival.
Before the hills can officially open, city staff must inspect each site to make sure there’s enough snow, and that hazards like trees and boulders are wrapped in protective padding, according to parks and recreation manager Dan Chenier.
By David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen, January 6, 2016
A major insurance company is about to start offering add-on insurance for ride-sharing drivers, aiming to make money and close a loophole that could leave drivers and passengers unprotected if they’re in crashes.
Starting in February, Aviva Canada plans to let its own car-insurance customers add extra coverage if they want to work part-time for a service like Uber, whose app lets riders summon freelance drivers online.
By Don Butler, Ottawa Citizen, January 6, 2016
It’s not a mirage. Ice has indeed started to form on the Rideau Canal Skateway. But it remains “dangerously thin,” the National Capital Commission warned Wednesday, and far from safe for would-be skaters.
NCC spokeswoman Jasmine Leduc couldn’t say how thick the newly formed ice is at present, but it’s well short of the 30 centimetres required to accommodate the weight of the public on the skateway.
By Haley Ritchie, Ottawa Metro News, January 5, 2016
Ottawa residents looking up on Tuesday morning were treated to an unusual weather display: a very bright sundog – or “phantom sun” – that lit up the sky.
Sundogs, also known as parhelia, look a bit like a winter rainbow. They only appear in very cold weather, according to David Phillips, senior climatologist with Environment Canada.
“It’s really a textbook example,” he said, adding that clear conditions on Tuesday morning made the ‘dogs especially vibrant.
By Kate Porter, CBC News Ottawa, January 5, 2016
The City of Ottawa has laid six charges against private contractors for illegally dumping snow on public sidewalks or blowing it into roadways, and is investigating more complaints, said the chair of the transportation committee Tuesday.
"Every time somebody does that — puts the snow in the sidewalk or on the median — that just means more work for city staff, more costs for the city, more costs for the taxpayer," said Coun. Keith Egli, following a debrief on the city's response to the Dec. 29 snowstorm.
By CBC News Ottawa, January 5, 2016
Ottawa's outdoor rinks remain closed despite frigid temperatures — caused by a mild start to winter and the heavy snowfall last week — forcing the cancellation of the Ontario long-track speed-skating championships.
The outdoor oval at Brewer Park in Ottawa was scheduled to host the competition on Jan. 16 and 17. On Boxing Day, though, organizers decided to cancel the event.
By Giacomo Panico, CBC News Ottawa, January 5, 2016
A new law intended to make Ontario's roads safer for pedestrians is instead causing confusion among both motorists and those attempting to cross the street in front of them.
As of Jan. 1, drivers stopped at a crossover must wait until pedestrians have stepped completely off the road before driving through the intersection.
A crossover is a pedestrian crossing where signs — and in many cases overhead flashing yellow lights — alert drivers to come to a stop. A crosswalk on the other hand is used at stop signs and traffic lights in Ontario. Crosswalks often have a white walking symbol and a flashing orange hand.
By CBC News Ottawa, January 4, 2016
Nearly a week after Ottawa's first major snow storm of the season, complaints continue that many side streets are still reduced to one lane and many sidewalks remain clogged with snow and ice.
Staff at the Centretown Community Health Centre said clients, including seniors and people with physical disabilities, are forced to take a risky route into the building on Cooper Street just west of Bank Street.
By John Curry, Ottawa Community News, January 3, 2016
The goal was 25 acts of community service. The result was over 30 such acts completed in year.And the last of these acts of community service happened last Friday, just in time for the holidays, as staff from Amsted Design-Build of Stittsville delivered a truck full of over 20 boxes of gently-used clothing including winter jackets and work boots to the Ottawa Mission. The clothing was donated by Amsted Design-Build staff.
(...)
Organizations supported through these acts of community service over the past year have included Westwind Public School, The Ottawa Hospital, A Chance Animal Rescue, Algonquin College, Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, Camp Smitty, Cardinal Creek Community Association, Ecology Ottawa, EnviroCenter, Glebe Community Centre, Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group, Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association, Hopewell Avenue Public School, Habitat for Humanity, Hospice Care Ottawa, Jewish Youth Library of Ottawa, Kanata Artists, Kanata North Community, Kanata South community, Old Ottawa South Community Association, Ottawa Community Housing, Ottawa Food Bank, Ottawa Mission, Prostate Cancer Canada, Ronald McDonald House, Royal Ottawa Women for Mental Health Program and Special Olympcis Canada.
By Alison Sandor, CFRA News, January 1, 2016
City officials plan to meet next week to discuss the way the clean up from Tuesday's storm was handled.
According to the City's own Maintenance Quality Standards, sidewalks should be cleared within 12 to 16 hours following a snowfall of 5 cm or more, but that did not happen in many parts of the city.
"We haven't met standards on the sidewalks," Transportation Committee Chair, Keith Egli told CTV Ottawa.