I was walking my dog on Saturday night, and I stumbled upon the most beautiful thing – a “Superhero Pizza Party” being hosted by some families on McLeod Street.
A bunch of parents were making fresh pizzas for anyone who passed by. A pack of kids were tearing around the closed street on bikes and scooters. A DJ was spinning tunes on someone’s porch, while residents socialized at a long table or on the sidewalk. A neighbour named Bob told me that it was his kid’s birthday, and that his family decided to share the celebration with the whole street.
A certain DIY ethos is baked into the DNA of any great city. Whether it’s a garage sale, a porch hangout, or an impromptu driveway charity concert (which I witnessed on Flora Street last Saturday, featuring CBC children’s singer Jeremy Fisher), some of the best and most exciting city-building initiatives happen because we do them ourselves.
That’s why I am so excited that the Street Seats program is back this summer, with pop-up event spaces on Waverly, Frank and MacLaren, as well as in Chinatown on Cambridge Street. The “if you build it, they will come” philosophy proves to be working as intended. The city built these spaces for the public to use and we are inviting people to come up with great ideas for programming.
Here is some fun stuff happening this week:
Tonight at 6pm there is an Art of Fitness event at Bank and MacLaren that combines an outdoor workout with creating public art, and then at 8pm on Cambridge Street, there’s a drumming workshop.
Tomorrow between 12 and 5pm, there is a workshop on Chinese acrylic painting on Cambridge, an Art Jam at 5pm on Waverly, and a Chess Hive meetup at 5pm on Waverly.
On Sunday at noon on MacLaren, Mādahòkì Farm will be bringing Indigenous artisans, storytelling and cultural programming to Centretown. At the same time on Waverly, there will be an art workshop focusing on documenting city experiences. And on Cambridge, there will be a change to learn more about Tai Chi and play Ping Pong.
On Tuesday, you can try Pilates at 12:15 on Waverly, or take part in a woman-focused fitness class on MacLaren at 5pm.
Have an idea of your own? You can apply to use any of the Street Seats spaces for free public activity, or pitch the city about a paid programming opportunity through the submissions page.
I am excited to drop into as many Street Seats events as I can – a great chance to meet more neighbours, learn new skills, and see our beloved downtown communities from new perspectives.
Because after all, streets are for people.
Warmly,
Ariel
Ariel with Catherine McKenney at 613 Day at FONO, celebrating APT613's coverage of local arts and culture
Have your say on renovictions
Did you experience an unfair eviction due to renovations? Are you a tenant who would not be able to afford an apartment at market rates if you were to lose your current home? We want to hear from you! Planning and Housing Committee will be debating a new Rental Renovation Licence Bylaw on July 8. You can sign up to give a five-minute delegation at the meeting (either virtual or in-person) and we encourage you to do so – especially if you have been personally impacted by a renoviction. Please email [email protected], and we would be happy to help you sign up.
Canada Day road closures
Canadian Heritage is hosting a nation-wide celebration for Canada Day, with special events in downtown Ottawa! Returning again this year, the main event sites in Ottawa are at Parliament Hill, LeBreton Flats Park and in front of the Supreme Court of Canada. For full details, visit Canadian Heritage’s Canada Day website.
Downtown Ottawa will be very busy on Canada Day, with significant parking and traffic impacts expected. Planned travel restrictions in the downtown core will be shared on this page. For the most up-to-date information, visit our interactive traffic map for road and parking impacts or OC Transpo’s Alerts page for transit impacts.
Have your say on Dundonald Park renewal
Dundonald Park is one of our oldest and most-used parks. Like many well-loved public spaces, it's in need of some repairs. I am excited to share that we are working with staff to plan a park renewal project, with the aim of starting work in Summer 2027.
What does Dundonald Park mean to you? Fill out our survey to let us know how you use the park and what you'd like to see added.
Sunday, July 28: Free community BBQ & arts sale in Westboro
Are you looking for a unique arts and craft sale in Westboro this June? Join Cornerstone Housing for Women for our annual Community BBQ & Arts Sale at our Princeton Supportive Housing Residence in Westboro.
Everyone is welcome!
Come enjoy a free BBQ, meet your neighbours and shop one-of-a-kind hand-made items created by residents who have experienced homelessness and now a place to call home. Over the past year, residents have worked alongside our good friends at Minwaashin Lodge to create beautiful art and handmade goods. For many residents, art has been an important part of healing and rebuilding their life after trauma.
Items available for purchase include, but not limited to:
Beadwork
Paintings
Hand made lotions
Self published poetry books by a resident
Tarot readings
When: Sunday, June 28, 2025 – 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Where: 373 Princeton Ave, Westboro, ON
(One of Cornerstone’s four supportive housing residences)
This event is a wonderful opportunity to support local artists, connect with community, and celebrate the creativity and resilience of Cornerstone residents.
A special thank you to Westboro Village BIA for sponsoring this community event.
We hope to see you there!
Thursday, July 23: Trivia For a Cause at The Royal Oak Bank at Gloucester
Join us for an exciting evening of Trivia For a Cause at the cozy The Royal Oak! Located at the intersection of Bank and Gloucseter, at188 Bank Street. Get your friends together and test your knowledge on a variety of fun topics, all while supporting a great cause. It's a perfect chance to hang out, enjoy some friendly competition with prizes, and make a difference in person.
Learn more and buy tickets online here.
Introducing Gather Berry, a new signature flavour brought to you by the City of Ottawa, City Seltzer and The Birch Bite for Ottawa 200
Developed in partnership with the City of Ottawa and The Birch Bite, an Anishnabeg-led food organization based in Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg (KZA), Gather Berry is a limited-time flavour created in celebration of Ottawa 200.
Inspired by the region’s natural landscape and Indigenous food traditions, Gather Berry reflects themes of connection, renewal and shared stewardship. It also recognizes the Algonquin Anishinabeg people, whose presence on this land long predates Ottawa and Bytown.
In Anishinabemowin, Strawberry is known as the heart berry, symbolizing love, connection, and the beginning of life. Cedar is a sacred medicine used for protection and grounding, often incorporated in ceremony and daily wellness practices. Together, the flavours carry both sweetness and strength.
Gather Berry is named Baie de Cœur in French and Mawansowin in Anishinabemowin. It joins other City Seltzer flavours, including Orange Cream, Berry Whip, Cool Melon, City Citrus and more, all sugar and calorie free. A portion of the proceeds from every City Seltzer sold supports the Ottawa Riverkeeper.
This flavour will be available at select Ottawa 200 events throughout 2026. You can also buy Gather Berry online at cityseltzer.ca, and at various locations throughout Ottawa.
Don’t miss out on all these upcoming Ottawa 200 events
Ottawa turns 200 this year and there are so many opportunities to celebrate! We are confident there is something for you, regardless of your age, interests or neighbourhood.
The City and Ottawa Tourism have provided Ottawa 200 funding to community groups to host local events for Ottawa’s 200th anniversary. These are in addition to signature Ottawa 200 events coming up, like Ottawa Day at Bluesfest on July 19, the SoundScape Festival beginning in August and the Block Party at City Hall on September 26. Follow us on social media to stay in-the-know.
Visit the Bytown Museum to explore the stories and values of an evolving city and its residents – from its First Peoples, through the early days as Bytown and on to present-day Ottawa.
Here’s a sneak peek at what’s happening over the next few weeks in your neighbourhood.
Visit Ottawa Tourism’s Ottawa 200 events page for more information on upcoming events in your community!
Healthy greenspaces: community action on invasive plants
The City of Ottawa is exploring a community-led approach to managing invasive plants.
This initiative aims to reduce the spread of non-noxious invasive species on City-owned lands and increase public awareness of invasive plant issues.
Residents are encouraged to complete a short survey to share their knowledge and experiences with invasive species. Your input will help shape the strategy and guide future education and management efforts.
Complete the survey and learn more here.
One of the most frustrating things about being a city councillor is when bad decisions by other levels of government have negative impacts on our community.
Community advocates and legal experts say that a renovictions by-law is still urgently needed, despite recent changes made by the province to the Residential Tenancies Act.
Councillor Ariel Troster and community advocates say that a renovictions by-law is still urgently needed, despite recent changes made by the province to the Residential Tenancies Act.