The way people move and work in the core is changing. We explore the possibilities by talking to industry leaders and engaged residents about how to build a great downtown
DOWNTOWN OTTAWA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PUZZLE. The needs of the city's biggest employer don't always result in a thriving downtown. This quandary has only become more acute with the rise of work-from-home lifestyles. In a decade or two, things could look very different because our collective perspective has changed so much in the last few years. We set out to figure out how the convergence of many factors will shape the short-term future.
Housing is a key concern, but how viable is it to transform vacant office towers into bustling homes? It's not straightforward, but there are ways to make it work.
The core is home to more than just a few office towers full of public servants. It is a living, breathing community made home by thousands.
We speak with people who live in our area of interest east of Bronson, north of the Queensway, west of the Rideau Canal - about what they love about living downtown and what improvements they'd like to see.
In pursuit of a vision, we look to another capital: Canberra, Australia. We learn how planners there have embraced the waterways and made downtown a destination of residents and tourists alike. We also take the temperature of the hotel industry, which was hit hard by the pandemic but is bouncing back with new projects.
But to start, is this The City that Fun Forgot? A filmmaker looks back at her work of the same name, made 10 years ago, to see what has changed. What could we do better? Read on to find out.
WITH FILES FROM KATHLEEN BARR, MATT HARRISON, DAYANTI KARUNARATNE, HATTIE KLOTZ, AMEN JAFRI, AND NICKIE SHOBEIRY
DISPELLING THE MYTH
Filmmaker Amen Jafri considers the moniker "the city that fun forgot"
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Esta historia es de la edición Spring - Summer 2023 de Ottawa Magazine.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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Voice - Hope on the horizon
\"I JUST CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY.\" Jackie, a 60-year-old mother of two, is describing her experience at a new community mental health clinic opened by the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group.
Drink - The low and no trend
Experts agree: a world of benefits and flavours come with reduced alcohol consumption. Yvonne Langen surveys the scene - and offers a refreshing recipe
Food for Thought - Exhibits with taste
While Ottawa may not be a sophisticated metropolis that compares with London, Paris, or Rome, it is still the national capital, and as such is blessed with excellent museums and galleries, as well as some really good food. But as Hattie Klotz learns, it can be difficult to find the two under the same roof
Working with the grain
As demand for artisanal bread and craft beer continues to grow, Hattie Klotz meets the people building Ontario's small-scale grain sector from the ground up
Found - Working with the grain
As demand for artisanal bread and craft beer continues to grow, Hattie Klotz meets the people building Ontario's small-scale grain sector from the ground up
Design Insider
Upcoming projects, recent awards, and new openings in the city's dynamic design and build sector
THE WINDS OF CHANGE
Storms that knock down trees and cut power are becoming increasingly common. A snapshot of the May 2022 derecho offers a glimpse of what city hall and small businesses are doing to prepare for the next big one
THE HOTEL FACTOR
As tourism returns, new hotels are opening - and many have their sights set on locals
THE FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN
The way people move and work in the core is changing. We explore the possibilities by talking to industry leaders and engaged residents about how to build a great downtown
Opinion - Counselling change
It's been 20 years, but the effects of amalgamation are still being felt. Drew-Anne Glennie argues community councils could reconnect us with city hall and our neighbours
