[caption id=“attachment_53145” align=“aligncenter” width=“720”] His Excellency presents the Member of the Order of Canada insignia to Laura Brandon, C.M. in Ottawa on Sept. 23. Credit: MCpl Vincent Carbonneau, Rideau Hall, OSGG[/caption] _ Ottawa, Ontario, October 6, 2016 _ ...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/138767563@N08/29526701230/in/pool-ottawastart/ _ Photo: First Autumn falling down leaves by Luc D Seguin. Via the OttawaStart Flickr group. _ Looking for something to do in or around Ottawa this Thanksgiving long weekend? _ ** OttawaStart.com ** _ has you covered! ...

_ (Press release via Ecology Ottawa) _ A spill from the proposed Energy East pipeline could have catastrophic impacts on the Rideau, Mississippi and Ottawa rivers, and put the region’s drinking water at risk. These are the findings of a new report by the independent Montreal-based technical firm Savaria Experts-Conseils Inc. ...

_ ** Editor’s note: A wave of job cuts hit city hall Wednesday. A total of 75 managers and 102 unionized employees were given pink slips. City Manager Steve Kanellakos says the cuts will save $14 million and increase efficiency by eliminating extra levels of management. ...

A Centretown board game cafè may have closed, but their doors will reopen Wednesday to sell off its game library. Monopolatte announced on Facebook Sept. 19 they would close at the end of September. Owner David Narbaitz told the _ Ottawa Citizen _ his business did not generate enough business to pay his employees livable wages. ...

_ (press release) _ ** Ottawa — ** Today, Mayor Jim Watson, along with the Chair of the Transit Commission Councillor Stephen Blais, announced that a low income transit pass will be included in the City of Ottawa’s 2017 budget. ...

Here is an interesting interview in this week’s edition of Maclean’s magazine. Peter Clewes, the principal architect behind the proposed expansion for the Château Laurier, discusses the hotel’s historic design and explains the context of his design. Considering how much we lambasted him, it’s worth a read! ...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/xiaozhuli/10200734283/in/pool-ottawastart/ _ Photo: [ Island Park Drive by Zhu, via the OttawaStart Flickr group ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/xiaozhuli/10200734283/in/pool-ottawastart/) _ ** _ Try the free shuttle service to access Gatineau Park’s scenic lookouts _ ** Over the next few weeks, the fall foliage will brighten the Capital Region’s parks, pathways and shorelines with a spectacular display of colour—making this the perfect time to explore Gatineau Park and the Greenbelt. ...

[caption id=“attachment_52906” align=“aligncenter” width=“720”] Via City of Ottawa[/caption] The city released its proposed new water rate structure Monday and it could mean a small increase to your bill. The structure would add a flat connection fee to your bill on top of the existing rate based on water usage. ...

_ (press release) _ ** Ottawa ** – Today, Mayor Jim Watson, Councillor Keith Egli, Chair of the City’s Transportation Committee, and Orléans Councillor Bob Monette unveiled a new red-light camera at the intersection of St. Joseph Boulevard and Old Tenth Line Road, making it the first of five new red-light cameras that will be installed throughout the city in 2016 with 15 more to be installed in 2017. ...