January 26, 2001

Bank St. business buzzing with optimism Small businesses on Bank Street are primed for a great year because the number of residents in Centretown has grown substantially, say store-owners. Aussies rule Winterlude Don’t expect to see Crocodile Dundee walking around Australia’s Winterlude events this February. Kent St. traffic calming causes chaos With winter hitting Kent Street’s $600,000 traffic-calming project, the changes are creating as much confusion as calm. Bronson Centre tenants still trying to survive The appointment last month of a new executive director for the Bronson Centre has left some tenants apprehensive about its ability to heal their strained relationship with the board of directors of the “non-profit mall.” Few complaints over increased assessments Most Centretown homeowners are facing property assessment increases of between five and 10 per cent, but few are complaining. Bible church outgrows Bank Street building Membership lists are bulging at the Metropolitan Bible Church on Bank Street.. Trustees question closure reversal Some trustees are calling into question the decision to keep open five elementary schools because it was made without benefit of a much-anticipated demographics study. Ottawa takes shot at flu This New Year’s Eve did not just bring in the year 2001, it also marked the official beginning of flu season. A victim of paranoia “There’s this boy who’s been harassed and tortured all his life until he was at the brink of insanity…” These are the introductory words to Twisted, the now infamous horror story written by a Cornwall-area boy. Letters On with the show! Hot bands are skipping Ottawa. But Mike Olson writes lots of cool bands are still getting left out in the cold. Sick-and-tired drivers crash head on into the corporate mould What would you do if your job was making you sick? If everyday you faced going to work in the same confined, contaminated space? If your fears were validated, would you continue to go to work? Fire service set to expand, while budget declines A growing city and past mergers suggest Ottawa’s fire service is going to get more expensive. David Reevely investigates where the money will come from. Fire chiefs want high-tech dispatch The new system would have a stronger signal and cost taxpayers $4.5 million, Scott Foster reports. Police will unveil new logo by mid-year While other emergency services are undergoing considerable changes, the only new thing about Ottawa’s police department is the name. Big department, big plans The number of ambulances is going up, response times are going down, and Ottawa is going to become a ‘heart-smart’ city. Sidura Ludwig reports. Column: Renaming duplicate streets now has to be rushed Don Brousseau now knows that picking a new street name isn’t just about finding the best moniker — it’s also about saving lives. Service industry prepares for extra $1B from tourists Despite fears of a possible recession, high-end service businesses in Centretown are confident they will benefit from a predicted increase in business travellers and tourists to Ottawa this year. Talk and surf on your cellphone Need to do some banking in the car? Want to watch television on the bus ride home from work? New cellular phone technology is making this possible. Business groups call for united voice With two chambers of commerce vying to be the voice of Ottawa businesses, Centretown business organizations say a single, united chamber is beneficial for dealing with an amalgamated city. Column: Ottawa high-tech could benefit from Bush presidency On Jan. 20, Ottawa watched as the world waved goodbye to Bill Clinton and said hello to his successor, George W. Bush. Throw out the tutus . . . and the stereotypes More boys are leaping into dance, as Sheona Burns discovered. Ottawa becoming a hot spot for comics Ottawa is growing into a healthy environment for comedy, says the owner of a local comedy club. Jailed teen sparks scribes to speak out together against censorship IOttawa’s literary community is rallying to show its support for the 16-year-old Cornwall-area teenager charged with uttering death threats and jailed for writing a fictional story about bombing his school. Column: A passionate voice, a ‘hero’ lost and not much else Joe isn’t so Canadian anymore. Many Canadians were disappointed when Jeff Douglas, who played the now famous proud Canuck on a Molson Canadian commercial, was found heading to Hollywood. Stubborn conditions threaten popular Winterlude event Winterlude organizers and hot air balloon operators are crossing their fingers that Mother Nature’s recent havoc on the city will cease and flights can once again take off from the Rideau Canal. Conference centre about to get face lift Julie Middleton reports on the latest Canadian Sports Hall of Fame developments 67’s fans face pay parking The days of hassle-free entertainment at the Civic Centre are over. Female star enjoys playing in boys league Compared to turf burns and ankle sprains, playing with the boys is no problem. Column: CFL commitment crucial in fighting football invasion If professional football really belongs in Ottawa, the CFL should prove it before it’s too late.