Thanks to statistics compiled by the Ottawa Public Library, we now know the titles of the most popular reads in Canada’s capital in 2022. According to statistics released by the OPL’s Content…
The Mystery of a 19th Century Ottawa arsonist
It was around 2am on April 4, 1880, when the first of three false fire alarms occurred. The fire department was busy checking them out, not realizing that the fourth alarm was…
In search of the spare
I was perusing books this afternoon at Chapters in Gloucester when a man in a hushed voice asked a clerk behind me if there was a way to purchase a certain memoir…
A ring of three kings
Last night I celebrated Epiphany at my place in Ottawa’s east-end with two friends. They brought a Rosca de Reyes — a Ring of (Three) Kings, a traditional sweet bread in Latin…
A Christmas Eve Reflection
For a child, the anticipation of Christmas is a time of excitement and joy as they count down the days for the up coming feast. All of this excitement slows down to…
A bilingual and ecumenical Thanksgiving in Ottawa
On Friday evening, St. Joseph’s Parish, Paroisse Sacré-Coeur across the street from us and the Christian Reformed Chaplaincy held a bilingual and ecumenical Thanksgiving Dinner for students — many of whom were…
Snapshots of the 2022 Spencerville Fair
Among the good things about living in eastern Ontario are the country fairs this time of year. I usually visit at least one each year; I’ve been to Russell, Renfrew and this…
Discovering The First Lady of Manawaka
The First Lady of Manawaka is an excellent 1978 documentary on Canadian author Margaret Laurence, available in full on the NFB website. I only discovered it recently — and along the way…
It’s time to make Library and Archives Canada more welcoming and accessible
Library and Archives Canada was a good resource years ago when I was conducting research for my PhD dissertation. I could show up without reservation, present my card, order unrestricted library material,…
Ottawa Catholic parish provides financial support to Kateri Native Ministry’s reconciliation program
On February 1, 2022, Donna Naughton, Executive Director of Kateri Native Ministry in Ottawa, visited St. Joseph’s Parish in Sandy Hill to receive the church community’s financial contribution to the Kendaasawin Learning…