Centretown BUZZ

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Centretown BUZZ

At the heart of Centretown since 1995. The paper supports one part-time staff member; all other writers, board members and contributors are volunteer.

First published in October, 1995, the Centretown Buzz is a not-for-profit community newspaper covering the news for Somerset Ward, Ottawa. We accept articles and photos from residents and community groups: visit https://www.centretownbuzz.com/contact/ for contact information and submission guidelines.

20/06/2025

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...

25/05/2025

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...

08/05/2025

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/

15/04/2025

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...

13/03/2025

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...

23/02/2025

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/

12/02/2025

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.

22/01/2025

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.

05/01/2025

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.

22/11/2024

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/

16/11/2024

The BUZZ is on the streets! The November issue of the Centretown BUZZ is being distributed by volunteers around Centretown this weekend (some places have already got their BUZZ even!). 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/2024/11/read-the-november-2024-centretown-buzz/

In this issue: why many people are upset at Bill 212; the search continues on how to extend the life of the Rideau Canal; the unexpected and maybe unwanted reach of the proposed "bubble" bylaw; why Centretown had a higher % of vacant units than anywhere else in Ottawa (or Toronto or Vcr); photos from the Plouffe Park Hallowe'en celebration; what's happening with St. Luke's and Belong Ottawa post-fire; which candidates are lining up to run in Ottawa Centre in upcoming elections; and lots, lots more Centretown news.

We'll have further updates on the city budget and more next week.

23/10/2024

The BUZZ is on the streets! The October issue of the Centretown BUZZ has been distributed by volunteers around Centretown. You should be able to find it at the main library still 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/2024/10/read-the-october-2024-centretown-buzz/

We have stories on the 1927 Senators, the new arena in LeBreton, a public washroom that's been closed for 19 months, an update on the elementary school review, news on bus route changes & people who want to improve transit, zoning bylaw changes, recreation fee changes, theft-proofing your home, the climate emergency, office->residential building conversions, the revamp of the east end of Albert/Slater, what's happened to the Dominican College, the new bike lockers, construction at the main library, giving the city your ideas, and much more...

Featured this month (pages 7 to 9) is Neighbourhood of Ghosts, our feature in honour of Remembrance Day next month. Dave O'Malley has tracked down every serviceman/woman from Centretown who died in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War and placed the home location of their relatives on a map. The map is heartbreaking.

Address

101-210 Gloucester Street
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