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All eyes on COVID-19 in Ottawa and the investigation continues into O-Train wheel hub failures: Five stories to watch this week
Keeping an eye on the COVID-19 situation in Ottawa following the long weekend and festival season ramps up to start August.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at five stories to watch in Ottawa this week.
COVID-19 levels high in Ottawa
All eyes will be on the COVID-19 situation in Ottawa coming out of the Colonel By Day long weekend, as Ottawa Public Health warns COVID-19 levels remain "very high."
"The levels of COVID-19 in our community are still very high, and it remains very important that we all use the layers of protection that we know can help limit transmission," OPH said on Thursday.
Ottawa residents are being encouraged to wear a mask indoors and outdoors when physical distancing isn't possible, stay home when you're sick and get your first and second booster doses.
Ottawa's COVID-19 positivity rate was 19.7 per cent on July 27.
COVID-19 vaccines are now available for children aged six months to under five in Ottawa and across Ontario.
Public health is also monitoring COVID-19 outbreaks, with 75 outbreaks in long-term care homes, retirement homes, hospitals and other settings.
The largest active COVID-19 outbreak in Ottawa is at Billings Lodge Retirement Community, where 48 residents and 15 staff members have tested positive. A COVID-19 outbreak at Carleton Lodge includes 41 residents and 11 staff members.
Slow rolling O-Train
The O-Train is moving at a slower speed along the 12.5 km track this week, as the investigation continues into the failure of a wheel hub assembly on a train.
OC Transpo pulled 20 cars from service on July 23 for further inspection after the failure was discovered on one wheel hub.
"RTG and Alstom continue to replace the axel hubs; there are currently 22, or 11 double-car trains, cleared and in service," OC Transpo general manager Renee Amilcar said on Saturday.
"RTG and Alstom continue the replacements over the weekend, and we anticipate having more cleared and in service next week. No further issues have been discovered during the replacement of the axle hubs."
Rideau Transit Group and Alstom requested implementing a temporary speed restriction along sections of the track, adding an extra four to five minutes to the trip.
The Transportation Safety Board is also investigating the incident.
An east-bound O-Train pulls in to Rideau Station on the Confederation Line of the Light Rail Transit system in Ottawa, Ont. (Brenda Woods/CTV Ottawa)
Five councillors running unopposed
With three weeks left until the deadline to register for the city of Ottawa municipal election, five current councillors' remain unopposed in their wards.
The deadline for candidates to register to run in the city of Ottawa municipal election is Aug. 19, and Election Day is Oct. 24.
Councillors are currently running unopposed in the following wards:
- Orleans East-Cumberland – Matthew Luloff
- Orleans West – Innes – Laura Dudas
- Beacon Hill-Cyrville – Tim Tierney
- Rideau-Rockcliffe – Rawlson King
- River – Riley Brockington
There are currently 11 candidates running for mayor.
The riding of Knoxdale-Merivale has the highest number of declared candidates in the race, with six people running to fill the seat left by the retiring Keith Egli.
Ottawa City Hall. (File photo)
Rideau Canal Celtic Cross Ceremony
The Ottawa and District Labour Council will hold a ceremony on Monday to remember the workers and their families who died building the Rideau Canal.
Monday is known as Colonel By Day in the city of Ottawa.
The annual Celtic Cross Ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Rideau Canal Celtic Cross Monument alongside the Rideau Canal.
"The building of the Rideau Canal required a yearly work force of up to 7,000," the Ottawa and District Labour Council said. "During its seven-year construction as many as 1,000 workers lost their lives due to accidents and disease. Their deaths went largely unrecorded and many lay in unmarked graves along the canal’s length."
Boats docked along the Rideau Canal in downtown Ottawa. (Josh Pringle/CTV News Ottawa)
AUGUST FESTIVALS
Several festivals wrap up and kick off this week in Ottawa, as the second full month of summer begins.
The Ottawa Chamberfest wraps up on Thursday at venues across Ottawa.
The following festivals kick off this week:
- Navan Fair – Aug. 4-7
- Ottawa Greek Festival – Aug. 5-15
- Classic Theatre Festival – Aug. 5-28
- Casino Lac Leamy Sound of Light festival – Aug. 3-20
Casino du Lac-Leamy Sound of Light Portugal Fireworks on Aug. 9, 2014. (Derek Winfield/CTV Viewer)
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Atlantic
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Youth dead after incident near Halifax Shopping Centre: police
A male youth is dead after an incident near the Halifax Shopping Centre on Monday.
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Woman airlifted to hospital after N.S. car crash
Three people are in hospital with serious injuries after a two-vehicle crash in New Germany, N.S., on Sunday.
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Posters promoting theft from Loblaws circulate online
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Toronto
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Matthews scores winner in the third, Maple Leafs down Bruins 3-2 to even series 1-1
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Toronto police chief asks for OPP review after judge in Umar Zameer trial raised concerns about officer testimony
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Some of gold stolen during airport heist was melted down in basement of GTA jewelry store: police
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Montreal
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Suspects crash into Montreal police cars three times in one day
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Quebec Health Department reports 28 cases of eye damage linked to solar eclipse
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French-only greetings drop in Montreal as 'bonjour, hi' gains popularity
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Northern Ontario
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Man responsible for northern Ont. crash that killed woman days before her wedding fined $5K
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New lighting being installed along Windsor’s riverfront
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London
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High interest rates take toll on city hall’s $30 million debt issuance this year
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WATCH
WATCH 'I couldn't believe it': Freight train on fire rolls through downtown London, Ont.
The investigation into how a train moving through the City of London caught fire has been turned over to the CP Rail police. Just before 11 p.m. on Sunday, London fire received multiple 911 calls about an eastbound train on fire, crossing over Oxford Street.
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Kitchener
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Suspect in Brantford double shooting knocked on stranger’s door to turn himself in
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Barrie
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Wrong-way driver on highway 11 causes collision with transport truck
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Sexual assault at Barrie hotel under investigation
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Destructive fire engulfs barn in Springwater
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Winnipeg
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'Never seen this before': Homes in Manitoba community damaged by ice wall
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'It's bittersweet': Popular St. Boniface restaurant set to close its doors
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Manitoba could soon end ban of growing recreational cannabis at home
People in Manitoba could soon be able to grow recreational cannabis in their homes.
Calgary
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Residential school survivor leads class-action lawsuit against Catholic Church, priest
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Suspect in deadly Calgary shooting has 'Edmonton ties': police
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Calgarians to weigh in on rezoning during largest hearing in city history
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Edmonton
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Fire engulfs old Edmonton municipal airport hangar
A historical hangar at the former Edmonton municipal airport beside the NAIT main campus was on fire Monday night.
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Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.
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Province announces changes to lower utility bills in Calgary, but no relief for Edmonton customers
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Regina
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Sask. NDP leader combats claims of carbon tax support following Ottawa visit
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Sask. NDP call for education minister's firing, premier reconfirms confidence
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'Living side by side': Governor General Mary Simon makes first official visit to Saskatchewan
Canada’s Governor General made her first official visit to Saskatchewan Monday.
Saskatoon
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Sask. broker says halal mortgages are not a new concept in Canada
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Sask. driver caught using vice grips in place of steering wheel
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Saskatchewan Rush look to 'better mentality next year' as they miss playoffs again
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Vancouver
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More than firefighters: B.C. chief urges home preparation for wildfire season
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Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
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Calls grow louder for changes to decriminalization in B.C.
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Vancouver Island
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Police release details about suspect vehicle after fatal B.C. hit-and-run crash
Mounties searching for a driver who struck and killed a woman on Vancouver Island last week released new details about the suspect vehicle Monday.
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Search for missing kayakers off Vancouver Island expands into U.S.
Authorities on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border resumed search efforts Monday to find two men who went missing while kayaking off Vancouver Island over the weekend.
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'Historic' law recognizing Haida Aboriginal title introduced in B.C. legislature
The B.C. government says legislation formally recognizing the Haida Nation's Aboriginal title over Haida Gwaii was introduced in the legislature Monday.
Kelowna
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Homicide investigation underway after body found near Kelowna, B.C.
Major crime detectives in British Columbia are investigating a suspected homicide after a body was found in a remote area southeast Kelowna over the weekend.
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Stolen snake named Milkshake returned to Kelowna pet store
A banana ball python that was stolen from a Kelowna pet store on Saturday has been returned unharmed, Mounties said.
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Nurses rally at B.C. Interior hospital over security, staffing concerns
Nurses held a rally Wednesday at a hospital in the B.C. Interior that closed its emergency department more than a dozen times last year due to insufficient staff.
