Weekly News Review: Banning smoking, CE Centre & water and AA Baseball coming to town

It’s already been ten years since Ottawa banned indoor smoking…ten years of my clothes not stinking after a night at the bar! Now, the city’s public health board is proposing a bylaw expansion that would make all city properties – including beaches, more than 1,000 parks and 300 city facilities, including the Byward and Parkdale market stalls – smoke-free zones. Most individuals consulted were happy with the decision but some businesses like bars and clubs feel as though it might hurt their business. An idea being discussed would be to add an extra license fee for patios that want to have smoking, so there is a financial incentive to go non-smoking.

Old Ottawa South is cute, but past Billings Bridge, not so much…but there’s a plan to beautify the stretch which covers River Ward, Capital Ward and Alta Vista Ward. The Bank Street Community Design Plan envisions the area becoming more pedestrian and cyclist friendly, as well as being transformed into a “vibrant” mix of diverse housing with more green space and even a community garden. If you live in the area, let us know what you’d like to see improved!