Latest from Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen
an hour ago
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Stuck standing, OC Transpo riders wait for benches to be reinstalled
Article content 'My main concern is it's mostly just a lack of accessibility for people that use transit,' Harding-Nevills said. 'It's pretty frustrating, honestly.' Article content Oliver Arrighi lives in South Keys and relies on OC Transpo to get to work at least three days per week. Article content A temporary bus stop near his workplace never had a bench to begin with, but he said about a month ago he noticed four fabric dining table chairs nearby, which he thought had been placed there by community members. Article content Arrighi isn't someone who requires a bench for mobility reasons, and the thought of using the fabric chairs 'freaked (him) out a little bit' due to possible weather damage. Article content 'But it would be nice to sit,' he said. 'It's great that the community stepped in to provide seating for people at bus stops, but it shouldn't have fallen on people living in the area to do that.' Article content Placing lawn chairs to take action at affected bus stops is also something Harding-Nevills says he is considering. Article content Article content 'I discussed with some friends to at least try and do that at the places we usually frequent,' he said. 'But also to assist other people as well.' Article content Bench removals 'will affect everyone,' including people with disabilities, seniors, children and parents of young children, said Christina Ranieri, president of Ability First Ottawa, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting persons with disabilities and their families. Article content 'Not having access to a bench for even a short period of time could cause serious difficulties or even further injury or exhaustion,' Ranieri said, adding this would be 'especially true' for people who may have sudden or immediate needs for rest. Article content 'If anything, there should be more benches and more areas with shade for people to rest throughout the city,' she wrote. Article content Ranieri said Ability First Ottawa wasn't made aware of the city's removal of bus benches. The city did not respond to questions on whether or how it provided notice about bus bench maintenance. Article content Article content 'They have the resources and means to communicate this properly to the travelling public,' Ranieri said. 'We think that clear communication should have been more widespread, with notices posted around the city, at all bus stops, and preferably in advance.'
Ottawa Citizen
an hour ago
- Ottawa Citizen
$4M in cocaine seized in Gatineau police drug bust
Article content A Gatineau man is facing multiple charges after being arrested for the second time in a week during a large drug bust that concluded on July 16. Article content The Gatineau Police Service said officers arrested a man in Montreal on July 9 and, after searching his vehicle, seized 40 kilograms of cocaine worth around $4 million. Article content Article content The man was subsequently released from custody, a July 22 media release said. Article content Article content The investigation of the July 9 incident led a week later to police searches of five residences in the Gatineau and Masson-Angers sectors of Gatineau, where they seized more drugs and other items. Five individuals were arrested, including the same man who had been apprehended in Montreal. Article content Article content Simon-Didier Perron, 26, of Gatineau was charged with: Article content Gatineau police said officers seized a large amount of items in both incidents, including: Article content
Ottawa Citizen
3 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Peel police announced 12 arrests, 136 charges in multiple home invasions
The Peel Regional Police on Tuesday announced a dozen arrests connected to 17 violent crimes that took place between May and December of 2024, and which resulted in the theft of almost $2 million in cars, jewellery, cash and more. Article content Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich began the press conference by noting that the 17 home invasions and robberies affected some 60 victims, including nine children, many of whom suffered life-altering injuries and trauma. He said police had arrested 12 men in connection with the crimes, with a warrant out for a 13th. The operation, known as Project Night Train, led to 136 charges, including attempted murder, robbery, firearms-related charges, possession of property obtained by crime, and more. Article content Article content Article content Of the $2 million in stolen property, investigators have recovered items worth roughly $860,000, including a Mercedes G-Wagon, Lamborghini Urus, designer bags such as Louis Vuitton, high-end jewellery, clothing and cash. Police also seized a loaded firearm and ammunition. Article content Article content 'If you come to Peel to target our community you can expect that we will come to you and remove you from our community,' Milinovich said. 'This type of activity doesn't belong in Peel. It is entirely unacceptable.' Article content Police provided stark details of several of the crimes in question. In one, in the early morning hours of Oct. 15, 2024, three suspects forced their way into a home near Glen Erin Drive and Burnhamthorpe Road West in Mississauga. An altercation occurred and the victim was shot in the chest, after which the suspects fled in a stolen vehicle. The victim was taken to a trauma centre in life-threatening condition and later released with what the police described as life-altering injuries. Article content Article content In another incident, just a week later, two suspects followed victims into a home near Mississauga Road and Queen Street West in Brampton. The suspects forced entry, demanded keys to a luxury vehicle and assaulted one victim, rendering them unconscious. The second suspect then reversed the vehicle over the victim, who was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries but is expected to recover. Article content Article content Investigating officers said the arrested men formed a loose group of 'multiple and interchangeable' offenders whose crimes comprised a mix of organized crime (cars sent overseas for profit) and crimes of opportunity, in which the loot was used to fund the criminals' lifestyle or commit more offences. Article content 'They take the proceeds from a crime and then rinse and repeat,' Milinovich said. 'They really do take that money and then invest it back into their business, which is crime.'
Ottawa Citizen
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Second season of The Rebuild: Inside the Montreal Canadiens premieres Aug. 21
Article content Montreal Canadiens fans won't have to wait until training camp to get their Habs fix on television: Season 2 of The Rebuild: Inside the Montreal Canadiens premieres Aug. 21 on Crave in Canada. Article content The streaming service made the announcement Tuesday on their Instagram page. Article content Article content 'Witness the evolution of a team undergoing a major transformation towards a promising future. Follow the coach and players from a new angle, from training camp to the playoffs,' the post said. Article content Article content The docuseries takes fans behind the scenes of the team's rebuilding process. The first season was shot during the 2023-24 NHL season, while the latest season will cover 2024-25. The show is once again being produced by Groupe Fair-Play. Article content
Ottawa Citizen
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
OC Transpo sees ‘strong ridership' through Bluesfest
OC Transpo experienced 'strong ridership' throughout Bluesfest, which ran from July 10 to 20. Article content Line 1 saw an estimated 650,000 customer trips while Line 2 saw 87,000 customer trips, according to a Tuesday memo to members of city council from Troy Charter, acting general manager of transit services. Green Day's July 18 headlining performance saw the busiest ridership, with about 112,000 customer trips on Lines 1 and 2 combined. Article content Article content Article content Article content
