_ (press release) _ ** OTTAWA-GATINEAU ** - The Ottawa REDBLACKS announced Wednesday that defensive back Antoine Pruneau, a key piece of the club’s run to a Grey Cup championship, has signed a two-year contract extension. The new deal will keep the 27-year-old Montreal native in red and black through the 2018 season. ...

_ (press release) _ ** Ottawa ** – Rideau Street from Sussex Drive to Dalhousie Street will re-open to bus and taxi traffic on Thursday, December 15, beginning at 5 a.m. Cars and cyclists are still not permitted on this portion of Rideau Street until the O-Train Confederation Line begins operating in 2018. ...

_ (Via Ottawa Public Health ) _ Ottawa Public Health has been promoting and distributing free condoms for decades as part of its sexual health programming. This programming is part of Ottawa Public Health’s mandate as per the provincial Health Protection and Promotion Act and mandated by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Ontario Public Health Standards. ...

(Via Province of Ontario) Ontario is investing in a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Complex at the University of Ottawa that will better equip students with the skills they need for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Ottawa-Vanier MPP Nathalie Des Rosiers was joined by David McGuinty, MP for Ottawa South at the University of Ottawa today to announce funding for the new facilities. ...

Olympic bronze medalist Joannie Rochette said she doesn’t usually skate outdoors, so her performance Sunday on the Rink of Dreams outside city hall was a special treat. Rochette dropped by during the afternoon skate around 2:30 p.m. and briefly cleared the ice for her performance. ...

The National Arts Centre Orchestra thanked their fans for support of charity with a free concert at city hall Sunday. The concert, called FanFair, is held every year in honour of the orchestra’s favourite charities, the Snowsuit Fund and the Ottawa Food Bank. ...

_ (press release) _ ** Canada’s Capital Region ** ¾With this week’s snowfall, the cross-country ski and snowshoe season will officially open Saturday, Dec. 10 , 2016, in Gatineau Park, the Capital’s conservation park. Outdoor enthusiasts currently have access to 30 kilometres of ski trails and 43 kilometres of snowshoe trails. ...

_ (press release) _ (Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service West Criminal Investigation Unit is requesting the public’s assistance in solving a possible cruelty to animal case. A dog, described as a 9 month old Pomeranian, was found kicked and beaten by a passerby in the area of Navaho Drive and Woodroffe Avenue, police were called. ...

If you created a Venn diagram of symphonic music nerds and space fantasy nerds, the intersection between the two sets was out in all its glory Thursday night at the National Arts Centre. The NAC Orchestra performs _ The Music of Star Wars _ this week as part of its Pops series. ...

_ (press release) _ Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) were advised at 8:10 a.m. that a collision had occurred in front of 6178 Mitch Owens Road between Manotick Station Road and Bowesville Road. Early reports indicated that the collision involved a dump truck and a car. ...