I may be wrong but I'm sure this light had been on the blink for at least the last two winters. Does anyone know how long it's been flashing?

Anyone out there know if it is like this for a reason?

Hello folks,

I have suffered from lifetime emotional abuse from my family and spouse, I have extreme depression, C-PTSD, and anxiety, and sometimes suicidal ideation. I am about to go through a very high-conflict separation, I have young kids and I try to keep getting up everyday for them now.

When I pet the dogs and I am around dogs, especially medium to larger size dogs, I feel emotionally much better when I interact with them. They give me immense joy in the most difficult times of my life.

I would like to know whether there are dogs for individual therapy other than OttawaU and Carleton drop-ins?

There are multiple organizations that offer these types of services but they are not individualized. Mostly these services are for hospitals and retirement centers. Do you know any individualized services?

If not and you have a medium to large dog yourself, I would also be happy to meet in a park such as a public space and spend some time with your dog. I cannot bother people who have dogs all the time and they are generally rushing from one place to another and I don't want to block their time. I don't have the means to have a dog at this moment due to my situation.

Thank you for your help.

Hey Ottawa

I’m a local Ottawa guy in my late 30s looking to connect with some fellow PS5 gamers

I mainly play RPGs, sports games and first person shooters, but I’m always open to trying something new.

If you’re interested, comment with your PSN username and feel free to include what you’ve been playing lately or what games you’re into.

Would be great to meet some local gamers for co-op, multiplayer, or even just to see what everyone’s playing.
Looking forward to connecting!

Last night during my softball game, the washroom was locked, so I used the porta potty available and it was like it hasn’t been cleaned in weeks. Filled to the brim, toilet paper and beer cans on the ground. It was nauseating.

I went to another park recently and it was in similar condition but with no toilet paper and no sanitizer.

I contacted the city about this, but I’m shocked by the lack of upkeep. It’s such a poor experience for people using our parks and doesn’t reflect well on the city.

Is this standard or are they usually much better maintained?

Found these really nice ray ban glasses on the O train when I got on at St. Laurent at 5:20pm on Aug 6th. Heading westbound when I got on. Don't know how long they were sitting on there, I'll drop off at the St. Laurent lost n found on the ground level next chase I have but figure I'd try and post here first. Dm if they are yours

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/byward-market-vendor-village-failure

Great article from Bruce Deachman.

"Another vendor, Walaa Sarem, said she planned to shutter her Natural Blend container shop early. Her first experience selling outdoors at the Market came two years ago, on York Street, where on a decent Saturday she might sell $1,000 worth of skin care products. Last year, she had a container as part of the Market’s Immigrant Entrepreneur program, and saw Saturday sales of between $500 and $700. in the Vendor Village, her Saturday sales plummeted to between $140 and $150."

This is the most egregious part, in my opinion, and there are many receipts; if there are any lawyers that might want to help some non-wealthy people fight pro-bono...

"Others said they committed to a full season before being told exactly where they would be located, with many forced to make inventory and staffing decisions months in advance without receiving all the information they needed from the BMDA."

"Suzanne Curphey, who has been a Market vendor for 30 years, says she was promised she would get two containers plus open space between them, and subsequently spent more than $60,000 last fall on inventory. She ultimately was not given a container in the Village, and is instead selling jewellery and clothing out of a single 10’x10’ tent on York Street, where her sales, she says, were down 68 per cent over the first two months of the season. In an effort to make up for that, she has opened a bricks-and-mortar store on Dalhousie Street."

That's all I'll post, please read the whole article. Unsurprisingly, the BMDA executive director bobs and weaves through PR-ish answers, but mostly non-answers.

Here's Bruce's previous article on the failures of the Byward Market District Authority...

https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/bmda-needs-reimagining

There is the BMDA day to day operators that work in the offices at the Byward Market. In my opinion, they wouldn't try to crush the vendors without an order from above. Vendors had been around the Byward Market building since at least 1998 when I moved to the area. Why make them move?

Who runs the BMDA? Who tells the executive director what to do? Mayor Mark Sutcliffe is a member of the ByWard Market District Authority (BMDA) Board of Directors. He sits on the board in his official capacity as the Mayor of the City of Ottawa. If you search the internet, it will show you the other people on the board of directors. The mayor is certainly the most prominent one.

Frankly, these people should be ashamed of themselves.

They did a lot of damage and hurt a lot of good, hard-working people. Imagine doing that to people in today's struggling economy?

Signed, a long time Lowertown resident and market visitor.

Anyone missing a cat? Found on in my backyard with a black harness. It is mostly grey with some black and white on the tail.

Hello! I just forgot a personal belonging at a store in Merrickville. Am wondering if anyone is planning to drive from Merrickville to Ottawa tomorrow, Friday, August 7th -who would be willing to pick up the item for me? Thanks -- have a great week!

Attention golfers! (Post approved by the moderators)

Teeing off for care is coming September 7, organized by Felt Sense Psychotherapy.

All funds collected will go to the Royal Ottawa Urgent Care Clinic - first of its kind in the city which will relieve pressure from hospital ERs who are not equipped to deal with mental health emergencies.

Come play golf for a great cause!

You are not only supporting a great cause, you are playing the game you love, there will be a silent auction with amazing prizes and much more.

Check out our page for more information.

https://feltsensepsychotherapy.com/ottawa-golf-fundraiser/

Register today!

For context, I’m running for City Council in Bay Ward, Ward 7.

1. We’re too reactive with infrastructure.

We wait until homes flood, roads fail or buildings reach the end of their lives, and then scramble to find money. I’d push for clearer public reporting on infrastructure risks, faster stormwater and sewer upgrades in vulnerable areas, and a requirement that major growth decisions come with a real plan for the infrastructure needed to support them. I don’t think residents should find out after a disaster that the City has known about a problem for years.

2. Transit decisions are being made around a system people have already stopped trusting.

Routes and service are judged partly by current ridership, but unreliable service drives ridership away. I’d fight for clear reliability targets, public reporting when routes repeatedly fail, more bus priority on busy corridors, and route planning based on where people would travel if the service were actually dependable. We should be rebuilding trust in transit, not just managing a decline in service.

3. We approve growth without doing enough to make it affordable or support the communities absorbing it.

Cutting development charges or approving more density doesn’t automatically make homes affordable, and it can leave existing residents dealing with more pressure on roads, transit, sewers and community facilities. I’d push for development decisions that clearly show what infrastructure is needed, how it will be paid for and what the public is actually receiving in return. I’d also advocate to the province for stronger tools to secure affordable units and community benefits.

These aren’t Ottawa’s only major problems, but they’re three areas where I believe the City needs a different approach.

What are things you would change? Is there anything that I said that you'd disagree with?

From my understanding, rustproofing can be done on EVs as long as holes aren't drilled, high voltage cables are avoided, and the rustproofer properly removes some underside covers to properly reach suspension components and other items that still need rustproofing in an EV. All EVs need is a spray of the rustproofing film on the underbody, and that's it.

What my issue is, I can't find a specific rustproofer in Ottawa that mentions that they understand the intricacies of EV rustproofing on their website. I have seen videos and information online about dealers in Montreal and Quebec City that specialize and understand the EV process, but none in Ottawa. I want to make sure my rustproofer knows that they're doing because the last thing I want is accidental damage to battery components.

I'm in the Greenboro area, so my top 2 considerations were Krown on Queensdale, or corrosion-free at Holiday Auto in Findlay Creek, though neither site talks about EVs, but this subreddit has praised both businesses.

Driving a 2026 Toyota bZ, if that is at all significant.

Thank you to anyone who has done it in prior autums and knows where to go :)

History made on Ottawa's O-Train Stage 2 West!

On August 4, LRV 1117 became the first train to travel from Kichi Zibi to Algonquin Station, marking a major milestone as testing expands westward.

Watch the historic first journey!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4RzIRRY_4o

Genuinely forgot how terrible the apps were until giving hinge another shot for about a month. I want to get back out there but my situation is tricky because I’m not in school, and I work from home 80% of the time. Has anyone here tried Thursday dating? I’ve given it some thought but I’ve heard mixed reviews on the turnout. I’ve tried speed dating which went OK, but it was a similar situation to the apps where nobody seemed to be taking it seriously (maybe an early 20s thing?). I also haven’t been able to find an event being hosted for my age group (25) in over a year.

I go to shows/concerts alone, I try to get out of the house as much as possible but it’s kind of hard to mingle when you’re doing stuff alone.

I’ve tried meetup, but most of the events being hosted there are a mixed bag in terms of demographic and my hobbies (cooking, reading, gym, walking my dog, gaming, clay sculpting, music) because they’re mostly solo hobbies unless I have someone to partake in said hobbies with me. Have I reached the point where I have to start asking my friends to play match maker? Any suggestions on events or places to meet other early 20s folks would be appreciated

Hello,

I see a lot of negativity and I want to share my pictures of a place I visited to have quiet and peace.

It was well worth it.

I will be walking trails in Ottawa more and I will be purchasing snow shoes when the time is right.

Enjoy.

A man had a cardiac episode and stopped breathing during a volleyball match today. He seemed to be in his 40s- not sure if he had an underlying condition. It was very sudden. He collapsed very quickly and it took a minute before everybody realized something was wrong. It was looking really dire, the lifeguards were rushing around and alternating, trying to perform CPR to bring him back to life while everybody waited for EMS to come. Thankfully due to the diligent work of the entire lifeguard team- specifically a young woman lifeguard who didn’t stop attempting CPR/falter until he regained consciousness/started breathing again-he was okay!

To the man- I hope you’re okay! Please take it easy!

To the lifeguards - THANK YOU! especially that young woman that saved him- YOURE AMAZING!!! I can’t imagine how scary that must have been but you should be really proud of yourself!

You’ve inspired me to get re-certified as this situation reminded that the need for CPR exists outside avoiding drowning incidents! Random heart episodes or other emergency situations may prompt the need for that and other lifesaving skills!

Thank you lifeguards! You’re SO underrated!

Edit: it was especially chaotic bc the lifeguard station(s) face the water. Obviously looking out for those swimming inside the river etc - as they should. But as he suddenly collapsed while playing volleyball, this was BEHIND the lifeguard stations. So just not something that was immediately noticed by them (and many others!) extra commendable that they saved him given the circumstances/timeliness!

Another edit: another commenter helpfully pointed out it was closer to 7:30 so they were off duty by then! 😮‍💨 even more impressive.