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A past year’s Marvest performance. Photo/Gilles Vezina. Although it doesn’t officially end until Sept. 23, summer is already over in most people’s minds. The kids are back to school and pumpkin spice lattes are back on sale at Starbucks. Also, Ottawa Porchfest and CityFolk are happening soon. ...

Bayview Station for Line 2 LRT in June 2019. Starting Wednesday August 28, the O-Train Line 2 platform is moving to the lower level of new Bayview Station. Use the north underpass entrance access the platform. You will find fare gates and ticket machines at the entrance. ...

Mayor Jim Watson receives the ceremonial “key to the train” from Peter Lauch, CEO of the Rideau Transit Group. (CBC Ottawa video screengrab) Mayor Jim Watson has announced the Confederation Line will be open and running for the public starting Saturday, Sept. ...

The Panda Game is one of the most anticipated of Canada university football events. (Submitted image) A tradition like non-other in Canadian university football, the annual Panda Game, powered by Insurego, in which cross-town rivals the Carleton University Ravens and the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees meet for a thrilling battle of athletic prowess with school pride on the line, is set for October 5 at noon (12:00 p. ...

The City of Ottawa is developing a new official plan. (Photo/Devyn Barrie) The City of Ottawa this week released the draft broad directions for the next official plan, the key document that will guide development from 2021 through 2046. There are five of these directions, outlined in a “Five Big Moves” report. ...

Ottawa City Hall (Photo/Devyn Barrie) The third phase of the Inspire555 series to engage the public and gather input on the new Ottawa Public Library (OPL) and Library and Archives Canada (LAC) joint facility is online now at Inspire555.ca. In a short questionnaire on Public Art and Landscape, Canadians from coast to coast are invited to share their thoughts on the public art they would like to see at the new Ottawa Public Library (OPL) and Library and Archives Canada (LAC) joint facility, and how they would like to use the surrounding exterior spaces. ...

A shot from the city’s cartoon video explaining the R4 zoning review. (City of Ottawa) What’s R4 zoning and how will the City of Ottawa’s review of it help people find more affordable homes? That’s the question this cartoon video the city’s planning department has put out seeks to answer. ...

Approximate extent of Highway 417 closure for Aug. 10–11 weekend. (OttawaStart.com) Highway 417 between Carling Avenue and Bronson Avenue will be fully closed to traffic from Saturday, August 10 at 6 p.m. to Sunday, August 11 at 11 a.m. Significant delays are expected during the closure. ...

A Confederation Line train being tested. (Photo/Devyn Barrie) Two major LRT-related news items this week… The first is the LRT builder, Rideau Transit Group, achieving “substantial completion” of the Confederation Line. Final testing for 12 consecutive days is underway before the city takes over the system and it’s possible for the line to be open by September if all goes well. ...

On the left, a view of Sparks Street as it existed in 1901, decorated for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (Photo/William James Topley/Library and Archives Canada). Get a glimpse of Ottawa’s past by scrolling through some of these then-and-now composite photos. ...