Hate crimes increased by 25 percent in the first quarter of 2021 and this follows a 57 percent increase in such incidents in 2020. Last year, Ottawa Police Services logged 182 hate crimes in the city. The issue was brought to the forefront again this weekend when the Ottawa Citizen’s Matthew Lapierre reported on the… Read more »
Jewish Family Services established its StreetSmarts outreach to the homeless twenty years, in 2001, thanks to the initiative of Pete Cassidy, who at the time was a recovering addict and a passionate member of the community. The programme’s volunteers journey through the streets of downtown Ottawa, handing out refreshments, toiletries, emergency clothing and sleeping bags.… Read more »
Established in 1985, the Ottawa Book Awards has a long history of showcasing local authors and often serving as a springboard for emerging talent. This fall, the City of Ottawa announced a total of 19 finalists for 2021, featuring authors of both English and French-language books. The publishers of these new books range from small… Read more »
This Sunday, as we gather and open our hearts to the Word of God, we continue to reflect on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. A few weeks ago, we heard that to be a disciple of Jesus, one needed to deny themselves, pick up their cross and follow him. An invitation… Read more »
St. Joseph’s Parish in Ottawa marked the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th with a display of Indigenous art and a special reflection and prayers at noon Mass, celebrated by Father Jim Bleackley OMI. In praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased children found at former residential schools,… Read more »
Ward 21 is a sprawling area in Ottawa’s southwest that happens to be named after a nineteenth century British politician and slaveholder. Henry Goulburn (locally, his name appears to be spelled more commonly as Goulbourn), an undersecretary of state, was very much the unrepentant sort of slave owner; even after Great Britain abolished slavery in… Read more »
The Catholic Bishops of Canada, gathered in Plenary this week, took the opportunity to affirm and acknowledge to the Indigenous Peoples the suffering experienced in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools. Many Catholic religious communities and dioceses participated in this system, which led to the suppression of Indigenous languages, culture and spirituality, failing to respect the rich… Read more »
The Book of Wisdom Chapter 2 reveals the way in which scheming minds work. Look at the “Just One,” they say. He thinks he is so wonderful. He accuses us of breaking the law. Well, let’s take his high opinion of himself and test it. He thinks he is so holy. Let us see how… Read more »
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is a Roman Catholic religious order based in Ottawa that ran 48 Indian residential schools in several Canadian provinces during the twentieth century. With the discovery of unmarked graves on the sites of several former residential schools once operated by the Oblates, and profound public anger at the Catholic… Read more »
Vanier residents who are enthusiastic about learning about our community, its history and its future, joined what has become known as “Jane’s Walk” recently and explored Montreal Road through a free walking tour. Last year, 3,000 people joined one of more than 60 free walking tours celebrating the work of late urban thinker Jane Jacobs.… Read more »