Centretown BUZZ

09/17/2025

The BUZZ is on the streets! The September issue of the Centretown BUZZ is now being distributed by volunteers around Centretown. You should be able to find it soon at the main library, the Plant Recreation Centre, or at some businesses on Bank Street.

Outside our delivery area? You can read the PDF and individual articles online right now at https://centretownbuzz.ca/2025/09/read-the-september-2025-centretown-buzz/

In this issue, you can read about the proposed bubble zone bylaw, improving the tree canopy, Chef Ric's new location at the Y, the new grocery store downtown, the Centretown BIA's proposed expansion, major changes to Gladstone Avenue near Preston, the walk for the food centre, whether return to office for the city will have much effect on downtown, a preview of classical concerts this season, what's happening in the arts locally, how to meet city climate targets, and much more!

08/23/2025

The BUZZ is on the streets! The August issue of the Centretown BUZZ is now being distributed by volunteers around Centretown. You should be able to find it at the main library or at some businesses on Bank Street.
Outside our delivery area? You can read the PDF and individual articles online right now at https://centretownbuzz.ca/2025/08/read-the-august-2025-centretown-buzz/
We are adding material (photos and text) to the online stories (as we put them up) that didn't fit in the print paper.
In this issue:
- what issues need to be resolved before an arena is built on LeBreton Flats? We ask the local community assn and BIAs.
- the organizer of one of the movie nights at the main library wants to ensure the Mon-Thurs free nights continue when the library moves to Adisoke and explains their value
- The BUZZ was at court hearings for several of the convoy organizers and gives you the scoop
- we tell you what BIAs are doing to improve safety downtown and animate the streets
- a local OCDSB trustee contests the reasons the province gave for appointing a supervisor for the board and its effects on parents and students
- learn why one of the artists in a new exhibit at SPAO focused her photographs on parrots
- and much more about life in Centretown

August 2025, News Read the August 2025 Centretown BUZZ August 20, 2025 • 0 Comments Click on this image to read the paper in PDF form The August 2025 issue of The Centretown BUZZ is out! We hope you’ll enjoy reading it. Our volunteer team will be distributing the paper around Centretown in the...

06/20/2025

The BUZZ is on the streets! The June issue of the Centretown BUZZ is now being distributed by volunteers around Centretown. You should be able to find it at the main library or at some businesses on Bank Street.
Outside our delivery area? You can read the PDF and individual articles online right now at https://centretownbuzz.ca/2025/06/read-the-june-2025-centretown-buzz/
We are adding material (photos and text) to the online stories (as we put them up) that didn't fit in the print paper.

In this issue:
We have photos: of the widely varied vendors at the Minto Park sale, and of the happy crowds, musicians, and more at Italian Week (more online!).
There's a huge pothole in the Percy Street cycle track - but someone's found a way to make it prettier!
Public school trustee Justine Bell resigns this month. We have a story and her public resignation letter.
Councillor Troster tells us about her concerns with the replacement safe supply clinic in Chinatown.
The city has walked back some proposed maximum heights downtown.
Dinah Robinson explains the city infrastructure gap - and how it will affect you.
The BUZZ was in the courtroom as Christopher Barber testified for the first time in an effort to have his guilty verdict for leading the 2022 convoy dismissed.
Stephen Thirlwall pays tribute to local artist Christopher Griffin.
And we have lots of suggestions of what to hear and see - and a preview of the upcoming chamber music festivals.
And lots lots more...

05/25/2025

The BUZZ is on the streets! The May issue of the Centretown BUZZ is now being distributed by volunteers around Centretown. You should be able to find it at the main library or at some businesses on Bank Street.
Outside our delivery area? You can read the PDF and individual articles online right now at https://centretownbuzz.ca/2025/05/read-the-may-2025-centretown-buzz/
We are adding material (photos and text) to the online stories (as we put them up) that didn't fit in the print paper.
In this issue:
Starting Monday, you'll have to pass through security to get into Ottawa City Hall - even just to use the washroom or visit the cafeteria or the art galleries or Service Ontario. We compare that to the original vision for the building.
Next week, Ottawa City Council will vote on whether to have staff prepare a "bubble zone" bylaw. We give you the background and arguments for and against.
The Crown has made an application to have convicted convoy organizer Chris Barber's truck forfeited as part of his sentence, while Barber's lawyer is trying to have charges against him stayed. We explain the rationales, and have an update online.
The OCDSB approved its elementary program review May 13. We have comments from disappointed parents and one trustee.
It's been 2 1/2 years since the last city election and the audits coming out of those elections are still ongoing.
We review the urban design book _Soft City_ which will be discussed at the Ottawa Urbanism Book Club on Monday.
Is Ottawa meeting its climate plan goals? Dinah Robinson says we don't have the numbers.
C.T. Campbell explains the importance of World Migratory Bird Day.
Tomorrow is the last day to object to Ottawa Hydro's proposed increases in its fixed rates. We explain the proposal.
We have lots of photos of the happy crowd at Centretown's Earth Day festival.
Councillor Ariel Troster and MPP Catherine McKenney call for more evidence-based solutions to the opioid epidemic in Centretown.
And lots more news and things to do...

05/08/2025

With the Tulip Festival set to start Friday in Ottawa, read the Centretown BUZZ interview with the landscape architect who designs all the tulip beds! It's far more than plunking bulbs in the ground...

https://centretownbuzz.ca/2025/04/painting-ottawa-with-the-colours-of-a-million-tulips/

04/15/2025

The BUZZ is on the streets! The April issue of the Centretown BUZZ will be distributed by volunteers around Centretown in the next few days. You should be able to find it at the main library or at some businesses on Bank Street.

Outside our delivery area? You can read the PDF and individual articles online right now at https://centretownbuzz.ca/2025/04/read-the-april-2025-centretown-buzz/

We also added material (photos and text) to the online stories that didn't fit in the print paper.

In this issue:
It's important to get out and vote in the federal election by April 28 - we tell you how to do that in Ottawa Centre. And there's an all-candidates' debate on TONIGHT - we have the details.

Ever wondered how the tulip beds that are about to sprout at at Dow's Lake and elsewhere are designed? We have the full scoop.

80 years ago, a Centretowner was one of the soldiers who helped liberate Holland. Learn all about him.

The proposed OCDSB boundaries for central Ottawa elementary schools have radically changed because of parent backlash. Learn what's changed & how you can still have input (story expanded from print version).

The biggest support you can give to Canada in tariff wars is by buying from local businesses, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. We explain the study and how it's been implemented in BC.

Can we improve bus service on Bank Street? An op-ed says a resounding YES and explains how.

And those who organized the convoy occupation of downtown in 2022 have received their deserts: guilty verdicts for Tamara Lich and Chris Barber. And more courtroom time for Pat King. We have the judge's full reasoning in her ruling and more.

And lots more news and things to do...

03/13/2025

The BUZZ is on the streets! The March issue of the Centretown BUZZ will be distributed by volunteers around Centretown in the next few days. You should be able to find it at the main library or at some businesses on Bank Street.

Outside our delivery area? You can read the PDF and individual articles online right now at https://centretownbuzz.ca/2025/03/read-the-march-2025-centretown-buzz/

In this issue: why some parents are unhappy with elementary school changes; an exclusive interview with new Ottawa Centre MPP Catherine McKenney; supporting the Centretown, Ottawa, and Canadian economy in the face of tariffs; why the Ontario Court of Appeal strongly rejected a request by convoy organizers to stop the downtown residents' class action; Pat King's sentence; snowclearing issues and possible improvements; a petition against road salt overuse by OC Transpo; a new name for the DCA; and much more...

02/23/2025

Want to know more about the provincial candidates in Ottawa Centre? We sent 10 questions to four of the candidates. Three responded, and you can read their uncut responses at https://centretownbuzz.ca/2025/02/ottawa-centre-provincial-election-candidates-in-their-own-words/

02/12/2025

The BUZZ is on the streets! The February issue of the Centretown BUZZ will be distributed by volunteers around Centretown in the next few days. You should be able to find it at the main library or at some businesses on Bank Street.

Outside our delivery area? You can read the PDF and individual articles online right now at https://centretownbuzz.ca/2025/02/read-the-february-2025-centretown-buzz/

In this issue: three of the four major party candidates in Ottawa Centre responded to the BUZZ's questions about issues important to Centretown. You can read their responses as a separate article or in the PDF of the paper.

We let you know where, how, and some reasons why to vote in the Ontario election on or before February 27. There's also an all-candidates debate Feb. 20.

We also have lots of local news: the Sparks Street BIA expansion to cover downtown, the NCC's ideas for upgrading the core of Ottawa/Gatineau, transit funding, renovictions, consultation on the OCDSB elementary program changes, a new French public high school in central Ottawa, and a cold plunge for charity this weekend.

And there's a city hall art show you should visit by next week. And we have lots more suggestions for concerts and events.

01/22/2025

The BUZZ is on the streets! The January issue of the Centretown BUZZ was distributed by volunteers around Centretown in the last few days. You should be able to find it at the main library or at some businesses on Bank Street.

Outside our delivery area? You can read the PDF and individual articles online right now at https://centretownbuzz.ca/2025/01/read-the-january-2025-centretown-buzz/

In this issue: we tell you about proposed major changes to both
French immersion & English education in the public school system, the growing demand at local food banks, and how LRT stations are encrusted with salt. We also summarize a new report that proposes solutions to the homelessness crisis. And we tell you about films, play, and concerts to see, and we have personal columns on the love of family and trees.

We'll also have updates on the website to several stories.

01/05/2025

The holidays are always a busy time, so you may have missed the December issue of the Centretown BUZZ.

You can read the PDF and individual articles online right now at https://centretownbuzz.ca . The articles are still relevant coming into January, and we updated some articles online to reflect City Council decisions.

In this issue: how Plouffe Park will be affected by the new French public school near Somerset & Preston is still up in the air as the city debates whether to transfer land for a bus road to that school board. The city will be asking you where to put new downtown toilets - and GottaGo! has other ideas for improving toilet access. Residents are trying to protect the trees on James Street. The Public Food community pantry has reopened. We tell you why a famous Ottawa entrepreneur has his name carved in stone. We review a fascinating book about the trees of the Central Experimental Farm which tells you how to view them in person.

And we pay tribute in a longer piece on Robert Smythe and what he meant to so many people and to this community.

11/22/2024

The Ottawa Urbanism Book Club's next meeting is at 6:15 p.m. on Monday, November 25 at the Sunnyside Branch of the Ottawa Public Library. They'll be discussing the book _Better Buses, Better Cities: How to Plan, Run, and Win the Fight for Effective Transit_ by Steven Higashide.

We have a review of the book: https://centretownbuzz.ca/2024/11/book-review-better-buses-better-cities-offers-solutions-for-ottawas-transit-failings/