The March 2024 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 next few days. If you’re in Centretown, you should have the choice of reading the 16 pages on newsprint or here as a PDF.
How to read this paper online
Read this month’s newspaper online here, or as a flipbook. We also have a high-res version for printing your own copy.
In this issue
The BUZZ is again packed full with news this month. We have 16 stuffed pages!
It’s been a rough year for making ice on local rinks, but Sean Oderkirk has risen to the challenge at the Jack Purcell rink. Read how he did it in Jack Hanna’s article.
The tenant organization ACORN did a deep dive into the notices landlords can use to make good tenants leave – and found a huge increase in Ottawa and other Ontario cities in the numbers that have been issued. We have the renoviction numbers from its report.
What happens when a bike shop moves into a former fur shop, and also takes over an older bike shop? They find tons of stuff – and we tell you what.
The new exhibit at the SAW Gallery explains how the gallery started five decades ago, with a fire.
Nick Sikkuark’s art begs for a second glance, as you keep seeing new aspects of each piece. Jack Hanna reviews Sikkuark’s first major exhibition, on now at the National Gallery until March 24.
An office building right downtown is being turned into temporary housing for refugees. We tell you what this will mean for city community centres and as an example of office conversion.
When the federal Health Minister announced the first steps in pharmacare recently, it was at the Centretown Community Health Centre. The CCHC explains why that was particularly appropriate.
The trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber for their roles in organizing the Freedom Convoy occupation of downtown continues this week. We tell you why the judge has left open the possibility of their being convicted as co-conspirators.
The Ottawa Urbanism Book Club will discuss the book Curbing Traffic at its March meeting. We reviewed it, and learned some less-obvious consequences from controlling car traffic.
Thieves recently broken into the Centretown charity Dress for Success. We tell you how they’ve rebounded, but could still use your help.
Architect Toon Dreessen looks in detail at how the derelict Ottawa Board of Education building at 330 Gilmour could be preserved for its heritage value and provide needed housing.
The city auditor-general examined how much affordable housing the city has built. The report card’s pretty bad, although it is improving, and it’s made worse by the fact the city doesn’t have a consistent definition of “affordable.”
We asked the city when it would reopen the Chief William Commanda Bridge after the winter. See their answer, and also the news on the much-delayed and almost-completed Rideau River pedestrian/cyclist bridge.
The new group Trees613/Arbres613 is working to make it simpler to plant trees in Somerset Ward. We tell you how, and how you can take part.
Stephen Thirlwall suggests ways you can get involved in greening Centretown, and learn and make new friends at the same time.
Marit Quist-Corbett reflects on positive changes in our lives.
Monarch butterflies are not doing well across North America. Dinah Robinson explains what’s at stake, and how you can help build a Pollinator Pathway in Centretown.
Bugged by snow plows (even this winter)? The City of Ottawa is looking for your input: see our News Shorts column.
We have many suggestions in the What’s On column for films, plays, and music to enjoy, mostly in Centretown venues.
And we have news from Councillor Troster, your MP and MPP, and the Dalhousie and Centretown Community Associations.
We need your ideas, feedback, and ads
Please let us know what you think of this issue: which articles did you enjoy most? Is there anything we missed? Email us at editor@Centretownbuzz.ca.
As always, this newspaper is a community effort. Thanks to everyone who contributed articles, photos, ideas, tech support, and proofreading to this issue.
We also appreciate the financial support of our advertisers who enable us to bring you this community newspaper.
Our next issue will be published April 19, 2024. Tell us your feedback, ideas, and news tips at editor@centretownbuzz.ca or 613-565-6012 x2! Our deadline for letters, articles, and ideas is Monday, April 8, 2024.
And if your business would like a boost from advertising in The BUZZ, we’re happy to talk: ads@centretownbuzz.ca or 613-565-6012 x 1. The deadline to confirm ads is Monday, April 8.
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