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Photo: Residents enjoy cycling in May, 2020. Photo by Farah Kahn/OttawaStart.com. In addition to the existing weekends-only closure of the Queen Elizabeth Driveway, the National Capital Commission will now close the Sir John A. MacDonald and Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkways to cars this weekend to enable active use. ...

The City of Ottawa would like to remind residents of the following schedule changes for the Easter holiday, from Friday, April 2 to Monday, April 5. Client services Client service centres, including the Government Service Centre at 110 Laurier Avenue West and the service centre at Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive, will be closed. ...

The City of Ottawa’s 2021 Cleaning the Capital Program returns for the spring campaign, from April 15 to May 15. Registration has begun. Registering is quick and easy**:** Visit ottawa.ca/clean or call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) to register your cleanup. Our interactive map will show you which locations have already been claimed, and our online registration form will allow you to choose your own project site and indicate the cleanup supplies that you need. ...

That’s one way to interpret this message. This photo of a board on Wellington was posted to Ottawa Reddit this week by u/Meduxnekeag. I’d say the warning has fallen on deaf ears.

Photo: Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson (Devyn Barrie/OttawaStart.com) Ottawa’s police chief says the service’s Hate Crimes unit will investigate after homophobic graffiti was found near Mayor Jim Watson’s home on Sunday. Peter Sloly announced the investigation on Twitter, adding that such incidents should always be reported to police so they can be investigated and prosecuted. ...

The goddess Mut (“Mother”), wife of the Sun god Amun-Ra. One of the queens featured in this exhibition, Nefertari, was called the “beloved of Mut.” On the back of this statue, the donor prays to the rising sun, represented by the scarab-beetle god Khepri. ...

March 11, 2021 marks one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The Government of Canada is designating March 11 as a National Day of Observance to commemorate the people who lost their lives and the significant impacts felt because of COVID-19. ...

Bookings will be available for COVID-19 vaccinations for more Ottawa residents today, and for more residents starting Wednesday, March 10. Starting Monday, March 8, residents who were born in or before 1941, or who are adult recipients of chronic home care, and who live in the following communities are eligible to book an appointment to receive their vaccine through a pop-up clinic. ...

(Via NCC) The National Capital Commission (NCC) is saddened to report that the Rideau Canal Skateway will not reopen this winter, marking the end of its 51st season. Following a temporary closure on February 22, 2021, along with three subsequent warmer days of weather, in addition to a snowstorm and warmer temperatures in the forecast for early next week, continued maintenance efforts would unfortunately not return the Skateway to safe conditions. ...

(Via Ottawa Public Library) Starting Monday, February 22, twenty-five of the 28 open Ottawa Public Library branches will welcome customers inside for returns and holds pick up, with additional services,such as browsing and use of public computers. Due to provincial regulations, branch capacity will be limited, and masks must be worn both inside the branches and in lineups outside. ...