The April 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!
We finally have some good news about Somerset House!
Councillor Troster says that she’s getting far too many calls from tenants being renovicted, and she wants to try the same bylaw remedy that’s being introduced in Hamilton. And we have more details on what’s covered in the Hamilton bylaw, because we actually read it.
The Nature Girls were an Elgin Street standby for 25 years – but no more. We tell you where and why they’ve gone.
The raised beds in front of Centretown United Church are not only beautiful, but feed many people. We tell you how you can help keep them green.
The Orthodox Church on Somerset West is expanding and its building and supporting a new wave of refugees. Roger Butt tells you more about the building and the church’s interesting history and hopeful future, and why it decided to stay in Centretown.
Robert Smythe explains the latest office to apartment conversion downtown – which will mean some lawyers losing their offices opposite the courthouse.
Another mass removal from the city Heritage Register, this time in Somerset Ward, because of a provincial fiat. And this time it includes 140 buildings and one bridge.
A new memorial will be installed in Chinatown by this fall; we tell you what it will commemorate. While we can’t show you the design, it appears to be made of metal, not fibreglass.
Ottawa Community Housing has two huge construction sites in the west end of Somerset Ward, which will eventually house thousands. We tell you the plans, the expected completion dates, and OCH’s effort to improve the projects’ energy efficiency and to keep some rents affordable.
If you’re downtown on a weekday, consider taking a break with one of the less-visible art galleries. We tell you where and what they’re showing. Free admission.
Learn how to make best use of rainwater on your gardens, and how to garden with native plants and trees: a report from the latest Coffee House on Sustainability.
We’re still trying to find out more, but it looks as though 816 Somerset, the site of a tragic fire in 2005, may finally get a new building.
According to OC Transpo’s own stats, the route 6 bus was tops for cancelled trips in March. Are you surprised? (We’re only surprised that route 11 wasn’t also in the top three.) We have the full list, and some explanations.
Marit Quist-Corbett reflects on numbers, starting with the odd street numbering in Centretown.
Stephen Thirlwall contends we learn a lot from foreign films, and celebrates the recent International Film Festival of Ottawa and another film shown at the Mayfair.
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.
Our News shorts and our Community Calendar also have interesting events (some even free) starting as early as Saturday morning. And don’t forget the CCA Earth Day events on Saturday as well!
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.com.
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 May 17, 2024. Tell us your feedback, ideas, and news tips at editor@centretownbuzz.com or 613-565-6012 x2! Our deadline for letters, articles, and ideas is Monday, May 6, 2024.
And if your business would like a boost from advertising in The BUZZ, we’re happy to talk: ads@centretownbuzz.com or 613-565-6012 x 1. The deadline to confirm ads is Monday, May 6.
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