By ERIN HOOD The Glen Ames Senior Public School robotics team, known as 458 Guardians of the Deep, are gearing up to attend the FIRST Lego League (FLL) qualifying tournament on Dec. 7 at David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute in Scarborough.  The theme of this tournament is FLL SUBMERGED which focuses on how to explore the ocean better, through science and technology. The FLL is an international alliance which challenges students from schools around the world to come up with solutions...

By ERIN HOOD St. John Catholic School on Kingston Road has wrapped up its 2024 cross country season, not only cleaning up on team and individual medals, but finishing as the city champions for the 21st year in a row.  Leading up to their first meet, more than 160 St. John Eagles in Grades 2 to 8 practiced daily from the beginning of the school year until the day of their last race on Oct. 23.The Eagles first meet was on Oct. 1 at Ted Reeve Park where the school hosted its annual St. John E...

FEATURED RETAILER STICK AND STONE CANNABIS CO. by Erin Hood Stick and Stone Cannabis Co. located in Fernie, British Columbia is one of three cannabis stores in Fernie. Dennis Schafer, the founder, opened his first store in August of 2019 driven by his lifelong passion for cannabis. “I have always been infatuated and intrigued by the plant ever since I was a young lad,” says Schafer. Stick and Stone Cannabis Co. is known for carrying mostly craft growers from BC but has put efforts into carrying...

FEATURED RETAILER THE BAKEDERY by Erin Hood The Bakedery, located in Bashaw, Alberta opened its doors in February 2022. Jodie Brokopp, 54, decided to open The Bakedery after cannabis was deemed an essential service at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Brokopp is very hands-on and only has two other employees at the store. One is 30 years old, and the other is 70. “We cater to everyone. It's very diverse,” Brokopp says. Due to the surrounding campgrounds and golf courses, The Bakedery Court...

As post-secondary students in the final year of their degrees scramble to finish assignments or prepare for exams, many are likely suffering from a kind of burnout that researchers at a U.S. university have coined ‘senioritis.’

With “vaccine passports” and some other COVID-19 restrictions now no longer required in Ontario, many restaurant owners say they are relieved they can stop checking vaccination documents, a task they say they weren’t well prepared to perform in the first place. But some others are keeping the requirement, saying it’s still an important safety measure.

Enough is enough, Jim Watson says. After three days of loud truck horns, Nazi and Confederate flags, public mischief and snarled traffic downtown, Ottawa’s mayor wants the remaining members of the so-called “Freedom Convoy” to go home. “People have had the opportunity to voice their frustration against government policy, but as the old saying goes, they have worn out their welcome,” Watson said Monday afternoon. The “Freedom Convoy” protests began in Ottawa on the weekend when about 10,000 pr

Bryanna Arnold puts on her running pants and slips into well-worn shoes for a run along the Rideau Canal, where the trees are blossoming. After tying her laces, she grinds some cannabis, packs the bowl of her crystal pipe and lights up to get in the zone. This is her most impactful ritual she has before she heads out for her daily run.

Some Ottawa grocery stores that aim to minimize waste have been torn between saving the environment and protecting the public during the pandemic.While they would normally let customers bring in reusable containers, or offer open food bins, they’ve had to compromise their green-friendly policies.And it’s not clear when they’ll be able to return to their pre-pandemic practices.

As COVID-19 continues, tourism in Ottawa continues to face a decline while relying on locals for support.

When Canada went into lockdown in March, many feared the impact it would have on Ottawa’s unhoused community. But despite initial predictions, Ottawa’s homeless population has seen few cases and no community transmission of the virus. Wendy Muckle, executive director of Ottawa Inner City Health (OICH), attributes this largely to the organization of Ottawa’s shelters and service providers, who met at the start of the pandemic to create a unified strategy. Their main concern was community transmi