“*The Gift of Jazz*”, a tribute to Black History Month showcasing music from Africa to New Orleans to The True North Strong and Free, by Ottawa-based Odyssey Showcase. Every February, people across Canada celebrate the honour and legacy of past and present Black Canadians with events throughout the month. ...

(Via Ottawa Public Library) There it is. The Ottawa Public Library – Library and Archives Joint Facility. After 10 years of work, it is with tremendous pride that we share the design of this future landmark destination. This incredible space will connect us, inspire us, and bring us together in new and unimaginable ways. ...

First day of the Rideau Canal skating season (2015). Photo by James Peltzer via the OttawaStart Flickr pool. Check the most up-to-date conditions for the Rideau Canal in the 2020 skating season by visiting the NCC’s ice conditions webpage.

Cross-country skiing along Ridge Rd. Photo by James Peltzer from the OttawaStart Flickr Group If you’re a downhill ski fan, you have plenty of hills to choose from nearby. We’re also within a day’s drive of some great hills further north in Quebec, or in the Eastern United States. ...

Public domain photo Working out is an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only does it help keep you in shape, but exercising is great for your mental health too because it simulates chemical activity in your brain like dopamine and endorphins, according to Healthline. ...

On the Rideau Canal. Skating is a great way to get a cardio workout. (Photo by Matthew Fournier via Unsplash) Next month is Heart Month, and there is no better way to celebrate your heart than to ensure it’s as healthy as possible. ...

#throwbackthursday OC Transpo tweeted this on Thursday with a question: “Can you guess the year of the system map seen here?” A couple of people were pretty close, with some guesses for the 1960s or late ‘50s. Kudos to Andrée LaFontaine who correctly guessed 1954 or 1955. ...

Monsters and Music at the National Gallery By Lisa Wall Christmas may be over, but “You better watch out” if you visit the National Gallery of Canada on January 25th, 2020. Why? Because… there be monsters. In fact, Monsters are already on display at the Gallery, in a special exhibition titled Beautiful Monsters in Early European Prints and Drawings (1450–1700), which runs until March 29th, 2020. ...

A map of current bushfires in Australia. (MyFireWatch/Government of Western Australia) (Press release) Skrub Home Cleaning Services, an eco-friendly home and office cleaning company located here in Ottawa, announced today that they will be pledging 1⁄4 of their gross profit in the months of January & February 2020 to aid in the relief and rebuild of Australian Wildlife by donating half to the Australian Red Cross and half to the RSPCA New South Wales. ...

Photo: The O-Train in testing during winter 2019. Train roofs on Line 1 will see improved cleaning after an accumulation of filth on them caused a power issue that held two trains up on New Year’s Eve. Ken Woods, who works in OC Transpo’s train control room, tweeted that trains have been getting pulled off the line and into the maintenance yard for chemical-based cleaning on their roof. ...