OTTAWA MORNING WIRE CORRESPONDENT
Simone Okafor-Bouchard — Ottawa Morning Wire Coverage
All filed reports from Simone Okafor-Bouchard, Ottawa correspondent covering the Ottawa Morning Wire for the MiTL Conversation Desk.
Your building's guest suite is now someone's apartment
Your landlord is turning a guest suite into a new apartment Bonjour, bon matin! Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, reporting live from just off the Hill, where the real stories are always happening. City ...
A $1.3M triplex is coming to Queen Street. Did you know?
They're building a whole new home on Queen Street, you guys. Ottawa City Hall issued a building permit, BP 9NEW 25-7327 ARU, for a brand-new two-storey detached dwelling with three units at 13 Queen ...
OC Transpo just called your double-decker bus a "dud.
Your double-decker bus experience was not unique, friends Okay, *sérieusement*, can we talk about the double-decker buses? Because, let's be real, you've been on one. You've probably been stuck on on...
Your city just approved three new units for Lowertown
Your City Hall approved a tiny apartment building for Lowertown Bonjour à tous, and welcome back to The Record. We’re digging into the latest building permits and development applications straight fr...
Ottawa just approved $1.3M for a 3-unit house on Queen Street
Your City Hall Is Building Housing Everywhere, Even Where You Don’t Expect Bonjour, Ottawa! Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, straight from the City Hall beat. The real story is never on the Hill — it's a...
OC Transpo's "zero-emission" buses need gas generators. Seriously?
You won't believe what OC Transpo is up to Okay, so you know how sometimes you read a story and you just — *non*, you have to double check it? This one went through three levels of internal approval ...
A $1.3M triplex on Queen Street West just changed your neighbourhood.
That new triplex on Queen Street West is a big deal for you This week, city hall's building permits list dropped, and one item really stood out. Forget the interior alterations for a film studio out ...
Your electric bus project runs on gas? C'est ridicule!
Your bus is going electric but runs on *gas*? Ma’am, this is Ottawa. Okay, so I’m scrolling through the local news this morning, trying to find something a little… *spicier* than another letter to th...
Someone's building a $1.3M home on Queen Street West
Your morning commute might be a bit wild today Good morning, Ottawa! Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, and I'm coming to you live from the morning wire. Just a heads-up before you even think about hitting...
Your Queen Street just got a $1.3M housing shock.
You won't believe what's coming to Queen Street West Alright, so the City Hall record dropped this morning, and there's one permit that really jumped out at me. We're talking about a brand new, two-s...
Your kid wants to play baseball because of the Blue Jays.
Your kid might be the next Vladdy Jr. Okay, so I just saw something cross my desk — *trois niveaux d'approbation*, you know how it is here, very official — and it’s about youth baseball sign-ups in O...
Your neighbours are building a $1.3M triplex on Queen Street West
Your neighbours are building a three-unit house and it’s a lot of money Bienvenue to The Record, where we cut through the red tape so you don’t have to. Big news out of Ward 1, specifically 13 Queen ...
Someone is building three units on your Queen Street.
Your landlord could be adding units right under your nose Bonjour, mes amis! Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, giving you the real story from just off the Hill, where the paperwork is always more interest...
Your city just dropped $1.3M on Queen Street West apartments
Big money for new apartments on Queen Street West Alright, so your City Hall is quietly signing off on some pretty significant changes, and like a lot of the important stuff, it’s not making the big ...
Someone got stabbed on Rideau and just hopped on an OC Transpo bus
Did you hear what happened on that OC Transpo bus? This one, my friends, is pure Ottawa. Not the kind of Ottawa you see on the evening news with the big federal announcements, but the real Ottawa — t...
Your ward just got a new $1.3M building. Here's where.
What your city hall just approved for Ward 1 Okay, so I’m looking at the latest building permits from City Hall, and one in particular really jumped out. We’re talking a brand new, two-storey detache...
Your city hall thinks you can afford a $1.3M three-unit house.
Your City Hall says you can afford a three-unit house Bonjour, Ottawa! Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, giving you the real deal from City Hall, because the real story is never on the Hill — it's always ...
Your Ward 1 housing just got a $1.3M boost.
Your city is building more housing and that's good Bonjour Ottawa, Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, giving you the real deal from City Hall, because the real story is never on the Hill — it's always just...
Your Ottawa park picnic just got a serious upgrade Monday
Your park picnic just got a serious upgrade, mon ami! You know, sometimes the bureaucrats on the Hill actually do something that makes real, tangible sense for those of us living *just off it*. Start...
Your city just spent $1.3M on a Lowertown triplex.
Your city just greenlit a triplex in Lowertown. Bienvenue to the latest edition of The Record, where we cut through the red tape and tell you what’s really happening at City Hall. This week, one resi...
Your city just approved a $1.3M triplex on Queen Street West
Your city hall approved a new triple home on Queen Street West Bonjour, Ottawa! Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, giving you the real deal on what’s happening just off the Hill, right in our own backyard....
Your City Hall is building for tents and townhouses
Your city hall is building for tents and townhouses Bonjour, Ottawa! Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, giving you the real deal from City Hall, where the paper trail is often more interesting than the pre...
An Ottawa guy just almost won a brutal Italian race.
Your new favourite cyclist is one of ours Okay, so you think Ottawa is just about politics and shawarma, eh? *Non*. There's a story that went through three levels of approval on my desk, and it's abo...
Your City Hall just approved 10 tents for 2026. What's planned?
Your City Hall is approving some interesting things for the summer Okay, so I was doing my usual deep dive into the City Hall permits – you know, the stuff that went through three levels of approval ...
Gatineau couldn't even host your Habs watch party. Seriously?
Your Habs watch party was called offside, Gatineau Okay, so picture this: You’re in Gatineau, right across the river, and you want to watch the Canadiens play. Simple, non? Apparently, not so much. O...
Your neighbours just permitted $13,000 in tents. For what?
Your neighbours are building a lot of things Alright, let's talk about what's actually happening out there, beyond the usual noise on the Hill. Our friends at City Hall just issued a few interesting ...
Someone serenaded the Agriculture Museum's cows with a tuba.
You won't believe what happened at the museum Alright, so this one went through three levels of internal review before I got the sign-off, because honestly, *mon ami*, I still don't quite believe it ...
Ottawa's building a lot, but what about Fowler Drive?
Your City Hall is still processing these big developments You know, sometimes the real story isn't the flashy headline, but the quiet paperwork moving through the system. And looking at the latest bu...
Your city just started playing the stock market. Did they miss out?
Your city is finally playing the stock market Did you hear about this? The City of Ottawa, our beloved municipal government, has finally decided to dip its toes into the world of stock market investi...
Your city just approved 10 new tents for the Bani Hashi Society.
Your city is getting some new temporary structures Bonjour, bonjour. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, bringing you the latest from City Hall, because the real story is never on the Hill — it's always jus...
Five mystery tents just popped up in Ward 3.
Your City Hall is building temporary tents for who and for what Bon matin, Ottawa! Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, giving you the real deal from City Hall. You know, the stuff that went through at least...
Ottawa's AI is fighting killer plants, not your allergies.
Your allergies are bad, but AI is fighting killer plants *Mon Dieu*, is anyone else feeling like their face is trying to detach itself from their skull this week? I thought it was just me, another sy...
Your city just approved 10 tents for 900 Eglinton Ave E. What's going on?
Your City Hall is really busy with temporary tents Morning, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, giving you the real story from just off the Hill, where City Hall is making things happen. We've seen...
Your Glebe garage sale just hit a wall of 42,000 runners
Your Glebe garage sale just got a bit more complicated Okay, *mon ami*, if there's one thing that unites Ottawa residents every spring, it's the sheer, unadulterated chaos of Ottawa Race Weekend. But...
Who is getting five temporary tents at 900 Eglinton?
Your City Hall is building temporary tents for who now? Okay, *bonjour* Ottawa! Let's talk about what's actually moving through the city's permitting system, because the real story is never on the Hi...
Your public servants are going back to assigned seats!
You won't believe what our public servants are doing now Okay, so I just saw a memo — no, not a real memo, but a news report about one, which is essentially the same thing when you live in the capita...
Your city hall already approved tents for 2026. Seriously.
What your city hall just permitted for next year. Alright, *bonjour* Ottawa. Let's talk about what's been brewing at City Hall, because the real story is never on the Hill – it's always just off it. ...
Your Habs game in Gatineau? Cancelled. Here's why.
Your Habs game in Gatineau? *Fini*. Okay, so I was looking at the local stories this morning, and this one… this one went through three levels of approval before it got to me and it is *still* fascin...
Your city hall just approved tents for 2026. What's going on?
Your city hall is really building up the future Bonjour, good morning, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, giving you the real deal on what’s happening just off the Hill, right in your neighbourhood...
Your Ottawa Race Weekend commute just got complicated.
Your Ottawa Race Weekend commute just got complicated Okay, so I’m looking at the list of local stories, and while a lot of them are, how do you say, *très officiel*, there's one that really hits clo...
Your city just approved 10 tents for next summer. What's happening?
Your City Hall is preparing for a lot of tents next summer Bonjour. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, giving you the real story on what's moving through the city's departments. And let me tell you, this w...
Your O-Train is shutting down because no one wants to drive it.
Your O-Train driver is also building your new deck. Seriously. Okay, I’m just going to say it. You know that feeling when you're on the O-Train, stuck somewhere between Tremblay and Hurdman, and you ...
Ottawa's Bani Hashi Society is planning two big parties.
Your city hall is getting ready for a party Alright, *bonjour*, Ottawa. Let's talk about what's actually happening on the ground, not just in the committee rooms up on the Hill. Our latest dive into ...
Ottawa just approved $13,000 for tents at 900 Eglinton. What's happening?
Your city hall is building for temporary tents Bonjour, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, with your City Hall update, where the real story is never on the Hill – it's always just off it. This wee...
Ottawa Charge fans took a bus AND a limo to Laval. Seriously?
Your Charge fans are truly next level Okay, I need to talk about the Ottawa Charge fans showing up to Laval for Game 2 of the Walter Cup final in *checks notes* a bus and a limousine. Honestly, I had...
Tents are coming back to Eglinton in 2026. What's up with that?
Did you see the latest permits? Tents are coming back to Eglinton. Alright, *bonjour* Ottawa, let's talk about what's actually happening out there, because the real story is never on the Hill – it's ...
Your tents for Eglinton East just got approved. What gives?
Your tent permits for Eglinton East are getting approved Alright, listen, everyone is talking about the housing crisis, right? But the bureaucracy, it just keeps moving, permits getting issued, new a...
Your military disciplined soldiers for monitoring Canadians. Seriously?
Did you hear about this weird thing the military did in Ottawa? Okay, so I read this story, and my eyebrow went up so high it nearly touched my hairline. We're talking about the military — our Canadi...
A comedian is hosting CREA's podcast. What's going on?
Your next podcast host is a comedian. What's going on? You know, sometimes the news out of the Canada Real Estate Association (CREA) is just… unexpected. I’m looking at their "REAL TIME" podcast upda...
Guess who's putting up 10 tents on Eglinton?
Your city is getting more tents and some new buildings Bonjour. I’m Simone Okafor-Bouchard, and I have your Morning Wire update from City Hall. The first thing that caught my eye, looking at the new...
Your summer plans might include 10 new tents in Ward 3.
Your summer plans might include some extra tents, Ottawa Bon matin, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, bringing you the latest from my desk, just off the Hill. We're seeing some interesting movemen...
Your kid's water gun game just went too far in Centretown.
Your kid is playing 'Senior Assassin' with a water gun? *Sigh.* Okay, so you know how sometimes the news just… *arrives*? Like a delivery from Public Works that you didn't even order, but suddenly it...
Your ward 8 could get a huge new apartment.
Your City Hall is Planning Some Big Changes Alright, let's talk about what's moving through the municipal pipeline, because the real story is never on the Hill – it’s always just off it. Looking at t...
Your Rideau Canal bike ride is back and the tulips are too.
This story, it went through three levels of approval before it got to me and it is still fascinating. You know what I'm talking about, right? The tulips. La Fête des Tulipes. Yes, it's that time again...
Something big is coming to Fowler Drive. Are you ready?
You need to know what’s coming to Fowler Drive Bonjour, mes amis. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, watching the civic gears turn. The real story is never on the Hill – it’s always just off it. And right ...
Alto rail project just deleted your feedback. What gives?
You won't believe what happened with high-speed rail comments Okay, so picture this: a teenager, a *jeune* who is worried about his family home, and an 84-year-old *citoyen* concerned about his farm,...
Ottawa's getting 90 km/h winds and tents are going up.
Your commute might be a bit wild today Bonjour Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, and I'm looking at our live intelligence feeds this morning, and it seems like Environment Canada has issued a spec...
Your new OC Transpo boss has a past. It's... something.
Your new OC Transpo boss is going to be… interesting. You know, sometimes you read a story and you just *feel* the collective groan rippling across the 613. This one, about Rick Leary, the new head o...
Your Ottawa neighborhood is getting 5 new tents in 2026
You need to know about these temporary tents Bonjour, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, with your Morning Wire from the MiTL Sports Desk. The real story is never on the Hill — it's always just of...
Your city just named a park after Mary Papatsie. Why it matters.
Your Senators are playing in Boston this weekend Alright, so you know how sometimes you hear a story and you think, *c'est tellement Ottawa*? This week, there's a new park in Vanier, Mary Papatsie Pa...
Your city just approved $13,000 for tents. For what, Ottawa?
Your city hall is busy with tents and a new dealership Bonjour, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, giving you the real story from just off the Hill, where the permits are flowing, and the city keep...
Your city's had a mariachi band for 30 years and you didn't know?
Your musical journey just got a new soundtrack You know, sometimes, things just click. Like when you’re walking through the ByWard Market, maybe grabbing a coffee before the tourists descend, and you...
Your city hall just approved ten temporary tents at 900 Eglinton.
Your city hall is building for temporary tents Bonjour, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, with your daily download from City Hall. We've been looking through the latest building permits, and somet...
Your boss wants you back 4 days a week, but where will you sit?
Your boss wants you back 4 days a week, but where will you sit? Okay, so picture this: you've been working from your living room in Centretown, maybe popping over to Arlington for a croissant on your...
Your city just approved 10 tents for 900 Eglinton East. Twice.
Your City Hall is approving… tents? Okay, so, normally we're talking about big developments or infrastructure. But looking at the latest building permits, something quite specific jumped out at me. T...
Your desk on the Hill might not be yours anymore
Your co-worker's desk might be yours now Okay, so picture this: You’re finally back on the Hill, enduring the full four-day return to office that everyone *loves*, and suddenly your favourite quiet c...
Your city just approved 10 big tents on Eglinton Ave E.
Did you know about those big tents coming to Ottawa? Okay, *la gang*, let's talk about what's happening just off the Hill, because the permits are flying. My eyes went straight to the Bani Hashi Soci...
Your high-speed train dreams for downtown Ottawa just died
Your downtown commute is about to get wild. Okay, so I saw this story, and my first thought was, "Well, *ça, c'est très Ottawa*." You know how everyone complains about the lack of a downtown train st...
Ottawa is already planning your summer 2026. Seriously.
Your city hall is really getting ready for summer 2026 Alright, *bonjour*, Ottawa. Let's talk about what's actually happening out there, away from the Parliament Hill drama for a minute. We've got so...
An average Ottawa house needs a $130K salary. Seriously?
Your Ottawa dream house might need *how* much money? I saw this story cross my desk this morning, and let me tell you, it went through three levels of internal review because I honestly thought it wa...
Ottawa, your taxes just paid $13,000 for tents. Why?
Your taxes paid for *how many* temporary tents? Okay, so I was doing my usual deep dive into the City Hall permit system – you know, the real exciting stuff that makes the city hum – and two permits ...
Your Ottawa election starts Friday. Are you ready?
Your election campaign is starting now, non? Ah, *bonjour*, everyone. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, and I've got a little *gossip* for your morning. You know, sometimes the news cycle is like trying t...
Your new Cumberland house just hit $2 million. Seriously?
Your new house in Cumberland is a cool $2 million Bonjour, bonjour. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, giving you the real story, not the one that goes through three levels of federal review. The real stor...
Your PM lives in Nepean now. What does that mean for you?
Your PM lives in Nepean now and it's wild Okay, so I read a lot of reports, a lot of city council debates that get 'referred back to committee' — standard Ottawa stuff, you know? But this one, about ...
Your Tim Hortons drive-thru on Bancroft just got an $84K facelift.
Your Tim Hortons drive-thru is getting a facelift Bienvenue to the Morning Wire. It looks like our friends at City Hall have been busy approving some significant permits, and one caught my eye — perh...
Your Sens just got swept again. Chabot felt it too.
Your Sens got punched in the face Alright, so the Senators just got swept from the playoffs. Again. I know, I know, it's like a bad déjà vu from those very dark years before Spezza even *thought* abo...
Your Tim Hortons drive-thru is getting an $84,619 facelift.
Your Tim Hortons is getting a facelift. Finally. Well, bonjour Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, and it seems like the biggest news from City Hall this morning is less about grand federal initiati...
Jacob LeGuerrier's dream died at 21. Your kid's could too.
Your NHL dreams can crash in a heartbeat Okay, listen. I read a lot of reports every morning. Some of them go through, like, three levels of approvals before they even get to my desk, and I still hav...
Your Tim Hortons drive-thru is getting an $84K glow-up
Your next Tim Hortons run could be a little different Bonjour, Ottawa! Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, with your daily download from City Hall. The real story is never on the Hill – it’s always just off...
Your new Civic hospital? Don't hold your breath 'til 2034.
Your new hospital is officially a decade away Okay, so you know how we've been talking about the new Civic hospital for what feels like *à peu près* forever? Well, get this: a project consultant just...
Your city is building a $2M mansion on Aviation Road
Your City Hall is building something big and expensive Morning, Ottawa. Hope you had your double-double. We’ve been watching the issued building permits from City Hall, and one number just jumps out ...
You just bought a house, now investigate ancestral remains?
Your new home could come with an archeological dig You know, sometimes I think I've seen it all in this town, what with the federal government and all its… *processes*. But this story, it went throug...
Ottawa just spent $1.5M on something that isn't housing. What gives?
Your City Hall is building big things and it’s not just apartment towers Alright, let’s talk about what’s actually moving through the city’s system. You know, the stuff that went through three levels...
Someone just dropped $2M on a home in Ward 1.
Your city is really putting up some walls… and taking them down Bonjour, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, with your Morning Wire from the MiTL Sports Desk, covering what's happening just off the ...
Your Kingston Pen dream home is a federal project?
Your Kingston Pen dream home is a federal project Okay, so picture this: you're looking for a new place, maybe something with character, a bit of history, you know? And then the federal government dr...
Your city just dropped $2 million on one house. Seriously.
Your city hall just dropped a cool two million on a new house Bonjour, good morning, c’est Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, giving you the real deal on what’s moving at City Hall. The real story is never...
Your city just approved a $2M home and a $1.5M industrial upgrade.
Your City Hall is building big things and altering even bigger ones Bonjour, mes chéris. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, with your Morning Wire from the City Hall beat. The real story is never on the Hi...
Remember Boomer the Maniwaki lion? He's gone.
Boomer the Lion Lived His Best Life So, you know how sometimes you hear a story and you think, "Non, ça, c'est pas possible," but then you check, and it *is*? That's how I felt when I saw the news ab...
Your Tims drive-thru cost how much for a reclad?
Your new Tims drive-thru is coming, and it cost *how much* Bonjour, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, and as your resident City Hall whisperer, I’ve got some numbers that will make you raise an ey...
Your Sens fans were confident after a 2-0 loss. How?
Your Senators fans are something else, eh? ### Why We Are Built Different You know, sometimes I think the rest of the country doesn't quite *get* Ottawa. They see the Parliament buildings, maybe the...
Someone's spending $2M on one house on Aviation Road
Your city hall is building something big and it's not on the Hill Bon matin, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, with the latest from your city hall. The real story is never on the Hill – it’s alway...
Your Elgin Street commute just got a lot louder for the Sens.
Your commute to Elgin Street just got a whole lot louder Okay, so I was scrolling through the morning wires, you know, doing my due diligence – this story went through three levels of approval before...
A Cumberland house just got a $2.1M permit. Guess what that means.
Your new house in Cumberland is a big investment Bonjour Ottawa, good morning. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, reporting for the Morning Wire. The real story is never on the Hill — it's always just off ...
Ottawa's mail is changing for 30,000 homes. Is yours next?
Your mail delivery is changing and it's a big deal Okay, so I just saw a memo — and this one definitely went through at least three levels of federal government approval, believe me — that Canada Pos...
Your new Ward 1 home just cost over $2 million.
That new home in Ward 1 is a big deal for your wallet Alright, listen up, because the real story is never on the Hill – it’s always just off it. We've got some interesting numbers coming out of City ...
Your Ottawa walls need color. Why?
Your walls are talking to you, Ottawa. Okay, so I saw this story, and my first thought was, *vraiment*? After a long Ottawa winter, where the grey skies seem to last forever and the Canal is just… *t...
Your $2M dream home could get soaked.
Your roof might get fixed but watch this weather Bonjour, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, and I've been monitoring the wires from our City Hall beat. What’s jumping out this morning is less abou...
Your Sens are in the playoffs. Finally.
Your Senators are in the playoffs, *mon ami*! This is not a drill, this is not a simulation, this story went through three levels of approval before it got to me and it is still fascinating. The Otta...
Your new dream home on Aviation Road just broke ground for $2M
Your new dream home on Aviation Road is getting built Bonjour, Ottawa! Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, reporting live from just off the Hill, where the real stories are always bubbling up. You know, so...
Your LRT washrooms might open, finally.
Your LRT washrooms might open, finally. Alright, so you know how the washrooms at the LRT stations have been… *fermé*? For what feels like a lifetime, really. It’s been nearly two months since they c...
Your Bancroft Tim Hortons drive-thru is getting a facelift!
Your New Tim Hortons Drive-Thru is Getting a Makeover! *Bonjour mes amis*, let's talk about what's actually happening on the ground, away from the endless committee meetings. The real story is never ...
Your neighbours just got a $2.1 million building permit.
Your neighbours are building big, and fast Bonjour, Ottawa! Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, with your Morning Wire. No major weather alerts for us today, which means we can focus on what's happening ju...
Your Sens are in the playoffs! Remember Dany Heatley?
Your Sens are back in the playoffs Alright, listen up, because this is the kind of news that makes my morning coffee actually *taste* good. The Ottawa Senators are heading to the playoffs. Yes, you h...
Your Tim Hortons drive-thru just got an $84,619 glow-up
Your Tim Hortons drive-thru is getting a glow up Okay, so I’m looking at the latest building permits issued by the City of Ottawa, and while there’s a lot of the usual — you know, someone in Indian V...
Dads in the Glebe just learned to braid hair. Seriously.
Your dad is getting a hair styling lesson. You know, sometimes, the real story is never on the Hill – it's always just off it. We get so caught up in the big federal announcements, the NCC planning d...
Your city just dropped $1.5M on one industrial upgrade
Your city hall just dropped some big spending news Bon matin, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, off the Hill and into the real stories. We’ve been poring over the latest City Hall data – the kind ...
Your boss wants you back in the office, even if you’re sick
Your boss wants you back in the office, even if you’re sick You know, sometimes the stories that come across my desk, they just make you wonder. I saw this one, and my first thought was, *mon dieu*, ...
Ottawa's building housing, but that $84k Tim Hortons drive-thru?
Your city is building a lot of housing, but also a new Tim Hortons. It's been a busy week for development permits in Ottawa, from what I'm seeing come across my desk. While everyone is talking about ...
Ottawa, your city just spent $84,619 on a Tim Hortons.
Your money is going to fix a Tim Hortons Bonjour, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, and the real story is never on the Hill — it's always just off it. Let's talk about where your city's money, or ...
Ottawa just voted on your Manor Park sidewalks. For real.
Your sidewalks are safe (for now) Ottawa Okay, so I just read a story that went through, like, three levels of municipal approval before it even got to me, and honestly, the fact that this was even a...
Your downtown walks just got a little less... fragrant.
Your downtown walks are about to get better, I promise you. So, you know how sometimes you're walking down, say, Elgin Street, maybe you've just left a show at the NAC, and you think, *'Mon Dieu, whe...
Your Tim Hortons drive-thru on Bancroft got an $84,619 upgrade.
### Your Tim Hortons drive-thru is getting a glow-up Bonjour Ottawa! Simone here, and as we say on the Hill, this story went through three levels of approval before it got to me and it is still fasci...
Algonquin just gutted your city's rugby teams. Why?
Your Algonquin rugby program is gone. Seriously. Okay, *là*, I saw the headline about Algonquin College suspending their rugby programs, and my first thought was, "Financial constraints? At a college...
Your city just spent $84K on a Tim Hortons drive-thru.
Your city hall just gave a Tim Hortons a facelift Bonjour, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, and I'm looking at what your city hall has been busy approving. The real story is never on the Hill – i...
Your Rideau Carleton Raceway tradition is ending after 60 years
Your Sens playoff hopes are on life support You know, there are some stories that just hit different here in Ottawa. And no, I'm not talking about another federal recall notice — though the CFIA has ...
Someone's dropping $2M on a new home in Ward 1.
## Your neighbours are building something big Bonjour, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, giving you the real story, not the one that got lost in translation somewhere on the Hill. The city just i...
Your old Rideau Carleton friend is gone after 60 years.
Your old friend is leaving Rideau Carleton, and it’s triste Okay, listen, this one… it’s a bit sad, non? We just found out that the Rideau Carleton Raceway is shutting down its harness racing. For go...
Your Tim Hortons drive-thru just got an $84K facelift
Your new Tim Hortons drive-thru is getting a facelift Alright, *bonjour*, Ottawa. Hope you've had your coffee because we've got some interesting dispatches from the front lines of City Hall today. No...
Your Orléans stop sign just vanished. Seriously, what happened?
Your stop sign just disappeared, seriously? You know, there are a lot of things in this city that move at the speed of bureaucracy. Sometimes, it's like watching a federal committee meeting, but for ...
Your Orléans Tim Hortons is getting an $84K facelift
Your new Tim Hortons drive-thru is coming Bonjour, mes amis! Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, reporting for the MiTL Sports Desk, straight off the Hill. Or, well, *just* off it, as always. We've got some...
Your OC Transpo seat might get a plastic upgrade.
Your OC Transpo seat might get a plastic upgrade Okay, so picture this: you're on the 95, heading downtown, maybe trying to catch a little extra sleep before work or just scrolling through your phone...
Your $10,000 renovation permit just got approved.
Your home renovation just got a $10,000 permit Okay, mes amis, let's talk about what's actually happening on the ground, not just in the committee rooms. The real story is never on the Hill—it's alwa...
Someone's sending random eggplants to your Ottawa doorstep. What gives?
Your fridge is full of ghost vegetables, seriously? You know, sometimes you read a story and you just think, *only in Ottawa*. And this one about the mystery vegetables showing up on people's doorste...
Your new Ottawa home could cost $2 million.
Your renovation might cost more than you think Bonjour, Ottawa! Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, bringing you the latest from City Hall, where the paper trail is always long, but the real story, as I alw...
Your OC Transpo managers might not even be qualified.
Your OC Transpo commute is getting... interesting. You know, sometimes I think the real story isn't on Parliament Hill, it's just off it, and this one? This one is pure Ottawa bureaucratic theatre. Y...
Your city just approved a $2M home on Aviation Road
Your City Hall is building something big and it's not on the Hill Bon matin, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, and the real story is never on the Hill — it’s always just off it. We've been sifting...
Your kid could order banned drugs to your Ottawa door.
You won't believe this dad's teen ordered banned stuff online Alright, listen. You know how everyone says Ottawa is… *structured*? That we’re all just quietly living our lives, navigating the federal...
Your city's got 3 weather warnings and a $1.9M permit.
Your weather warnings mean you need to pay attention Okay, Ottawa, we've got some official weather alerts active across the city right now. My monitors, pulling directly from Environment and Climate ...
Your Ottawa kid could be ordering banned drugs online.
Your kid could be ordering banned stuff online, seriously? So, listen, the real story is never on the Hill — it's always just off it. And this one? This went through three levels of approval before i...
Someone's dropping $1.9M on a single-storey home in Ward 1. What gives?
Your new neighbours are building a mansion on Inglewood Bonjour, Ottawa. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, and the real story is never on the Hill — it's always just off it. We've got some interesting mov...
Your Barrhaven police station just got millions more expensive.
Your Barrhaven police station just got more expensive. Alors, you know how sometimes you get a quote for a renovation, and then they start digging and go, "Oh, *là*, this is not going to work, we nee...
Did you see the $2M one-storey house in Rockcliffe Park?
A $2 Million House in Ward 1 What Is Happening Okay, mes amis. We often talk about the big-ticket items on the Hill, but the real story, as always, is just off it. And what I'm seeing from City Hall ...
Your Mayor's melting rink photo is peak Ottawa sad.
Your mayor is sad, you guys. Like, genuinely sad. Okay, so I saw this going around on X (what are we calling it now, the Artist Formerly Known as Twitter? *Mon Dieu*). Our Mayor, Mark Sutcliffe, he l...
Your taxes are building a $1.9M house in the Glebe.
Big house in the Glebe? Your taxes are building it. Okay, so I’m looking at the City Hall permits, and the first thing that just *jumps* out at you is this single-storey detached dwelling going up at...
Your Sens are trying something wild at LeBreton Flats.
Your Sens are working for a good cause Okay, so the Sens lost to the Penguins in a shootout last night, and yeah, that stings. But can we talk about something actually *interesting* that happened off...
Your Ward 1 neighbour is building a $1.9 million house. Seriously.
Okay, so your City Hall is really pushing for something big. ## Guess which Ward is getting a million-dollar house! Alright, les amis, I've been sifting through the latest permits and applications f...
Matthew Perry's name is off The Royal's new hub. What happened?
Your favourite actor's name is off the building Okay, so I just read something that made me do a double-take, and if you're like me – someone who grew up watching *Friends* reruns and felt that pang ...
Your taxes funded a $1.9M house on Inglewood Drive. Yes, one house.
Did you see what your city hall approved for Ward 1? Okay, this one definitely caught my eye scrolling through the City Hall permits. A single-storey detached dwelling, yes, just *one* house, over on...
Your mayor can just pass the budget now.
Your mayor can just pass the budget now You know, there are some stories that just scream *Ottawa*. It's not the big federal scandal, not the latest Rideau Canal dispute, but something so niche, so s...
Your city just approved a $1.9M house and more industrial buildings
Your city hall is building big houses and more industrial buildings Bonjour, mes amis. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, giving you the real deal from just off the Hill, where the paperwork goes through m...
Someone's building a $1.9M house in Ward 1. Guess where.
Is Ottawa building a new mansion or just a very big house? So, you're enjoying your morning coffee, maybe thinking about grabbing a shawarma later, and your city hall is out here issuing building per...
That Orléans cat stuck 8 storeys up? You won't believe how it got down.
You won't believe this cat's Orléans adventure You know, sometimes the news desk sends you stories that feel like they went through three levels of federal approval, and then sometimes you get someth...
Your Rideau Canal dreams just got a boost. We're getting an Indigenous radio station.
Your Rideau Canal dreams just got a boost Okay, so I just saw a memo — three levels of approval, *minimum* — that the CRTC is actively looking for Indigenous-led FM radio stations here in Ottawa and ...
Your city just permitted a single house for almost $2 million.
Your city's building boom, one house costs *how* much? Okay, so I was looking through the latest building permits issued by the city, you know, the stuff that went through all the levels of approval,...
Your city just permitted a $1.9M house on Inglewood Drive.
What your city hall just let someone build Bonjour, everyone. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, with your Morning Wire dispatch from City Hall. Le vrai scoop, as always, is never on the Hill – it’s always...
You have a brain virus and didn't even know it.
Your brain has a squatting virus you’ve never heard of Okay, so picture this: you're walking down Elgin Street, maybe grabbing a coffee from Ministry of Coffee, feeling perfectly normal, right? Every...
Toronto's transit mess? We have our own.
Your transit woes are *not* Toronto's problem The news out of Toronto about the TTC and GO Transit disruptions this weekend, with parts of Line 1 shut down and the Lakeshore West GO line impacted, it...
Ottawa's new Glebe bookstore has monster romance. Really.
This Glebe bookstore is my new favourite place So, you know how everyone and their *mère* has something to say about Ottawa being "boring"? (It's structured, people, there's a difference!) Well, list...
Someone's building a $1.9M house on Inglewood. What's inside?
Your neighbours are building a really big house Well bonjour, Ottawa. It’s Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, giving you the real deal on what’s moving and shaking, or *pas du tout* shaking, at City Hall. ...
They found nails on dead Romans. What were they *so* scared of?
They found nails on dead people in Rome and I have questions Okay, so I’m scrolling through my news feed this morning, sipping my coffee and thinking about if I should go to Art-is-in or Bridgehead f...
Ottawa's CRA drop boxes are gone. How will you file?
Your CRA drop box closing affects all of us Okay, so Revenue Canada— or, as everyone here says, *Revenu Canada*— is finally shuttering those physical drop boxes for tax filings after this season. Nat...
Did you leave your ice hut on Otter Lake? Seriously?
Your abandoned ice hut is probably an environmental hazard Okay, who here left their ice fishing hut on Otter Lake? Seriously. The Ministry of Natural Resources is looking for you. *La GRC would neve...
Your Ward 1 neighbor is building a $1.9M "single-storey dwelling
They're building a mansion in Ward 1! Okay, *bonjour* Ottawa! You know, sometimes you look at the city’s official records and you just have to raise an eyebrow. This week, we saw some big money permi...
Your Kagi AI just got horny for Margaret Thatcher. What the hell?
Your AI chat bot just went rogue and is being horny You know, sometimes, I read these things and I think, *mon Dieu*, is this a job for IT security or for like, Public Health? Because apparently, Kag...
Your Rideau Canal is melting, literally.
Your El Niño forecast means summer will hit different here So, everyone is talking about this El Niño weather pattern and what kind of summer we’re going to get. Honestly, another super-hot one and t...
Your PM's house is a decade-long security risk. Seriously?
Your Prime Minister's house is a fixer-upper, *cher* Okay, *mes amis*, you know me. I'm usually talking about what's happening just off the Hill, not *on* it. But this one… this one is so classically...
Your City Hall just dropped $1.9M on one house. Seriously?
Your City Hall just dropped nearly two million dollars on one house Okay, so this one went through three levels of approval before it even got to my desk — and it's still making me raise my eyebrows....
Ottawa Desk Report: Meta Smart Glasses Sending Your Private Footage to Kenya
*Bon matin*, everyone. Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, and I'm looking at this Meta smart glasses story, the one about your private footage ending up in Kenya, and I'm thinking, "Oh, *là là*." This isn't...
Ottawa Morning Wire: The Wildcard — Science, Weird News & the Unexpected
Bon matin, Ottawa! Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, and I've got something that, how you say, *fait sauter la patate*. You know how sometimes you get an email that's just… so deeply, profoundly absurd, it...
Ottawa Morning Wire: The Angle — Today's Trending Story, Local Take
*Bonjour, bonjour!* Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, live from a very… *structured* Ottawa morning. You know, I heard someone call our city boring the other day, and I almost spilled my latte right there ...
Ottawa Morning Wire: The Buzz — What Ottawa Is Talking About
Bonjour, Ottawa! Simone Okafor-Bouchard here, coming to you bright and early from a very blustery Elgin Street. The wind is doing its best to rip the leaves right off the trees, which, you know, makes...