About Apartment613

🏆 Best Community News Website 🏆

GOLD 2024 Canadian Online Publishing Awards
GOLD 2023 Canadian Online Publishing Awards
GOLD 2021 Canadian Online Publishing Awards
GOLD 2020 Canadian Online Publishing Awards
GOLD 2019 Canadian Online Publishing Awards
GOLD 2018 Canadian Online Publishing Awards
GOLD 2017 Canadian Online Publishing Awards
SILVER 2016 Canadian Online Publishing Awards
GOLD 2012 Canadian Online Publishing Awards

Mission Statement

Apartment613 is a not-for-profit, community-powered media platform connecting people to the National Capital Region’s arts and (city) culture. We publish original stories, promote local events and happenings, and create low-barrier ways for aspiring creatives to get involved in community media.

Get to know our team on the Contact Us page and explore how you can contribute to making this mission a reality. In the meantime, stay connected by following us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Our Story

Apartment613 was conceived in October 2008 at the Manx Pub. A group of friends wondered why it was so hard to tap into Ottawa’s vibrant arts and culture scene without insider connections, and decided to change that. Three months, countless conversations, and multiple sans serif debates later, the site launched in January 2009 — with a birthday party on June 13 (6.13, get it?) at the much-missed Raw Sugar Café.

What began as a grassroots blog has grown into a trusted not-for-profit, community-powered media platform. Over the years, a motley crew of volunteer contributors, editors, part-time staff, and board members have worked together to uncover hidden gems, celebrate local talent, and spark connections across the National Capital Region (NCR), and we aspire to do that for years to come.

Our Services

1. Editorial Platform
   Our online magazine celebrates the people, places, and events that make our region unique. From artist profiles to festival coverage, our original stories stay independent, inclusive, and rooted in the community.
2. Contributor Program
   We’re powered by community voices. Our volunteer contributors write, photograph, and create content that reflects the diversity and creativity of the NCR. We offer low-barrier ways to get involved in media, whether you’re a seasoned journalist or publishing your first piece, and provide support through mentorship, feedback, and workshops.
3. Community Events Calendar (stay tuned for launch)
   Discover what’s happening across the region—concerts, markets, exhibitions, and more. Anyone can submit events for free, helping connect organizers with audiences and making our cultural scene more visible and accessible.

Our Dream

Apt613 works towards a more just, inclusive, and culturally vibrant capital region, one where:

• People of any background, experience, or neighbourhood can easily discover and connect with the city’s arts, culture, and community.
• A wide range of voices and perspectives shape how the region sees itself and how it is seen by others, fostering inclusive, community-driven narratives that deepen our understanding of each other and of this place.
• Community media is recognised as a vital civic resource that amplifies local voices, sparks curiosity, supports dialogue, and invites people to help shape the city’s cultural life. In doing so, it helps people experience a sense of belonging.

This impact is not Apt613’s alone. We aim to play a vital role by creating space, building infrastructure, leveraging our reach, and holding values that centre community, equity, and culture. Over time, this contributes to systemic change in how culture is created, shared, and valued.

How We Create Content

Most of the content you read on apt613.ca is created by volunteers — that’s the power of community media. Behind every story is curiosity, community connection, and our small-but-mighty editorial team.

We can’t publish everything that comes our way, but we prioritise stories and perspectives from equity-seeking communities and voices you won’t always hear in mainstream media.

Our stories come to life in a few ways:

• Editorial direction – our editors identify gaps in coverage and spark stories around city-wide conversations.
• Contributor pitches – volunteers propose one-off articles, interviews, reviews, or photo essays.
• Regular columns – some writers dive deep into a passion (from baseball to musical theatre) and publish on a recurring basis.
• Community invites – organisations ask us to cover events; if a contributor is interested, we’ll connect the two. Volunteers are treated as accredited media, which means they attend for free.
• Guest submissions – occasionally, organisations or community members share original pieces about their own projects or events. We publish these when they align with Apt613’s mandate, are written in an engaging voice, and help readers connect with the people and ideas behind the work. Guest pieces are credited to the author and usually include a short bio.

Become a Contributor

Want to contribute by sharing stories from in and around Ottawa? Email editors@apt613.ca with a short introduction and the topics and/or disciplines you’re interested in.

We welcome first-time writers, seasoned journalists, photographers, and creators of all kinds. No formal experience is required — just curiosity, reliability, and a love for this place.

Most contributions are volunteer-based, but occasional paid opportunities come up.

Equity & Land Acknowledgement

Apartment613 is committed to amplifying diverse voices and stories from across our region. We recognise that we live and work on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people, and honour the long history of storytelling, art, and community on this land.

As a community media platform, we see it as our responsibility to reflect on who holds the pen and shapes the public narrative. We act on this by creating low-barrier opportunities for contributors, partnering with equity-seeking communities, and making space on Apt613.ca for diverse voices and perspectives.

If you have suggestions for how we can deepen these commitments, we invite you to connect with us at community@apt613.ca.

Community Partnerships & Support

Apt613 comes alive thanks to the friends, partners, and funders who believe in what we do. Their support helps us stay rooted in the community, keep our platform open to all, and expand coverage of the NCR’s arts, (city) culture, and stories. We’re thankful for the organisations and individuals who make it possible to amplify local voices and perspectives.

Community Partners

Support