Changes in Chinatown

Chinatown, which stretches along Somerset Street West from Rochester Street to Preston Street, was officially designated as the Somerset Street Chinatown Business Improvement Area in 2005. Since then, improvements have been made to the area. Most notably, a highly publicized archway was built that marked the cultural importance and expression of the community. The area continues to improve as new buildings are added and streets and repaved. (more…)

The other side of Overbrook

By Aaraksh Siwakoti, Algonquin College Journalism student The community of Overbrook is a small community in the east end of Ottawa with a population of around 10,000 residents.  The densely-populated area has had a history of being a low-income neighbourhood, with a higher-than-normal crime rate from the rest of the city of Ottawa. (more…)

Polishing Ottawa’s gem: a ByWard Market Community Profile

The ByWard Market is floundering and the rest of the world is noticing. Popular travel guides and blogs are warning travelers to avoid visiting the ByWard Market, the area of Ottawa we regard as our major tourist attraction. Homelessness, drug and gang activity, and prostitution are problems that any downtown core faces, but what’s unique about the Market’s problems is that business owners and residents feel they’re being neglected by city hall. (more…)

The Village: It takes a rainbow to build a community

What more is there happening along that little strip of Bank Street, with rainbow flags in every window? Who are the people working to foster an open and safe community? What is the history and significance of the murals scattered throughout the area? I plan to write an unforeseen perspective, with a kaleidoscope of voices and viewpoints. This is a story about the village and it’s people.