Top stories in Ottawa in 2024

It was a year of change in Ottawa in 2024, with federal public servants required to spend more time in the office, alcohol now available in grocery stores and gas stations, and the Ottawa Senators taking the next step towards moving downtown.

2024 was also a year of tragedy in the city, including six people killed inside a Barrhaven home and the Ottawa Police Service labelling a killing as a femicide for the first time.

CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at the top stories in Ottawa in 2024.

6 people killed, including mother and 4 children, in Barrhaven home

A mother, her four children and a family acquaintance were killed in a "mass killing" at a Barrhaven home on March 6.

The Ottawa Police Service says officers responded to two 9-1-1 calls from the Berrigan Drive area "reporting a suspicious incident where a male was yelling and asking people to call 9-1-1," Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs told reporters.

"Officers entered the home to check on the safety of those inside, and that is where they began to discover the six victims, the youngest of which is less than three months old. The family are newcomers to Canada and are originally from Sri Lanka."

The victims were identified as 35-year-old Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake and her four children: 7-year-old Inuka Wickramasinghe, 4-year-old Ashwini Wickramasinghe, 3-year-old Ranaya Wickramasinghe and two-month-old Kelly Wickramasinghe. A sixth man, 40-year-old Gamini Amarakoon Amarakoon Mudiyanselage, was also found deceased at the home.

Febrio De-Zoysa, 19, is facing six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

The Wickramasinghe family is pictured here in this undated image. The four young children and their mother were killed in their Ottawa home on March 6, 2024 alongside a family friend. The father was seriously injured in the attack. A 19-year-old suspect is in custody and is facing multiple counts of first-degree murder.

First time the Ottawa Police Service labels a killing as a femicide

The Ottawa Police Service labelled the death of a woman at a home in Ottawa's rural west end in August as a femicide, the first-time police used the term in a media release.

Police say they were called to an address on Lady Slipper Way, a rural area just north of Highway 7 at about 6:40 p.m. on Aug. 25.

The victim was identified as Jennifer Zabarylo, 47, of Ottawa.

"In the context of police investigations, we consider this death to be a femicide, as it occurred in the context of intimate partner violence, which is one of the many forms of misogynist killings," Ottawa police said in a news release.

"A femicide is generally defined as 'the killing of women and girls because of their gender' often driven by stereotyped gender roles, discrimination towards women and girls or unequal power relations between women and men.

Michael Zabarylo, 55, of Ottawa, has been charged with second-degree murder.

Ottawa police identified the victim of a homicide on Lady Slipper Way as Jennifer Zabarylo, 47, of Ottawa. Police have labelled her death a femicide. (Facebook)

In October, police classified the death of Brkti Berhe, 36, of Ottawa as a femicide. The woman died in a stabbing at Paul Landry Park on Oct. 24.

Ottawa Senators, National Capital Commission reach agreement for new NHL arena at LeBreton Flats

The Ottawa Senators moved one step closer to building a new home in downtown Ottawa in 2024.

After more than two years of talks, the Senators and the National Capital Commission reached an agreement in principle to build a new arena at LeBreton Flats.

NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum said the Senators will buy "just over 10 acres" of land to build the new arena.

The Senators say it will be "years, not months, before shovels are in the ground."

A rendering of what a new Ottawa Senators arena at LeBreton Flats could look like. (Capital Sports Development Inc.)

Ottawa high school principal apologizes for song played during Remembrance Day assembly

The principal of an Ottawa high school apologized to students, parents and guardians after an Arabic-language song was played during the school's Remembrance Day service.

The assembly for students and staff at Sir Robert Borden High School on Nov. 11 included the song 'Haza Salam' being played.

"It has come to my attention that the inclusion of the song 'Haza Salam' in the program caused significant distress to some members of our school community," principal Aaron Hobbs said in a letter to Sir Robert Borden families. "For this, I would like to offer my apologies."

'Haza Salam' translates in English to "This is Peace." On YouTube, there are several different versions of the song 'Haza Salam', and it has become a song to oppose the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) said it was conducting a "thorough investigation into this issue to ensure it is addressed appropriately and meaningfully."

Sir Robert Borden High School on Greenbank Road in Ottawa. (Google Maps)

PSAC encourages federal workers to 'buy nothing' as civil servants return to the office

Tens of thousands of federal public servants returned to the office more days a week in 2024.

In September, the federal government introduced new rules requiring federal workers in the core public service to be in the office a minimum of three days a week, and executives to be in the office four days a week.

Federal public service unions protested the new hybrid work requirements, including launching a federal court challenge.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada encouraged workers to "buy nothing" at downtown Ottawa businesses as they returned to the office in September, in an apparent retaliation against downtown Ottawa businesses for the new protocols.

"The needs of the downtown core shouldn't fall on the back of workers and the federal public service. How workers spend their money on in-office days will send a clear message to politicians," PSAC said in a post on Instagram.

PSAC asked members to minimize spending on in-office days and buy from local businesses in their neighbourhoods.

PSAC calls for downtown boycott

The next day, PSAC encouraged its members to "buy local" and support neighbourhood businesses.

This year, the federal government signalled it was going to cut 5,000 federal jobs through attrition. In November, the Canada Revenue Agency confirmed it was eliminating 600 temporary and contract employees by the end of the year.

Alcohol in corner stores and gas stations

2024 marked the largest change to alcohol sales in Ontario in nearly a century.

The Ontario government opened up the liquor market, allowing beer, wine and spirits to be sold in corner stores, gas stations and big box stores, including Costco.

In September, Ontario allowed convenient stores in Ottawa and across Ontario to sell beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages. More than 180 gas stations and convenience stores in Ottawa are selling alcoholic beverages.

According to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission website, five Costco stores and four Walmart locations in Ottawa were licensed to sell alcohol starting Oct. 31.

Licensed stores are only allowed to sell alcohol between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. However, officials say deliveries of alcohol will only be permitted between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m.

The AGCO says stores permitted to open on holidays will be allowed to sell alcohol between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Beer sits in storage at the Pioneer gas station on Industrial Avenue in Ottawa in advance Sept. 5, when convenience stores and gas stations are legally able to sell alcohol in Ontario. Aug. 27, 2024. (Katie Griffin/CTV News Ottawa)

Trillium Line

Commuters were hoping to ride the Trillium Line in 2024, but delays have pushed the opening of the new north-south light rail transit line until Jan. 6, 2025.

Line 2 will run from Bayview Station to Limebank Station, including stops at Carleton University and South Keys. Line 4 will run from South Keys to the Ottawa International Airport.

OC Transpo says the new Line 2 and Line 4 will open in three phases, beginning Jan. 6 with Monday to Friday service.

The three-phase approach will look like this:

• Phase 1: Lines 2 and 4 will run Monday to Friday for five-day service for a minimum of two weeks. Parallel bus service will continue to run during this phase.
• Phase 2: Six-day service for a minimum of two weeks.
• Phase 3: Lines 2 and 4 will operate on a seven-day schedule.

A Trillium Line train entering South Keys station on Dec. 16, 2024. (Kimberley Johnson/CTV News Ottawa)

Historic solar eclipse brings breathtaking views across eastern Ontario

Thousands of people gathered as a solar eclipse moved across eastern Ontario on April 8, achieving totality in several communities.

More than 5,500 people were at Fort Henry in Kingston, Ont. — one of the communities in the path of totality — and many more gathered in places like Brockville and Cornwall to witness the total eclipse, despite a cloudy day. Events in Ottawa, where the eclipse was partial, still drew crowds.

The partial eclipse began the moment the edge of the moon touched the edge of the sun. Totality began when the edge of the moon covered all of the sun and totality ended when the edge of the moon exposed the sun. The partial eclipse ends the moment the edge of the moon leaves the edge of the sun.

While total solar eclipses occur about once every 18 months, you need to be directly along the eclipse's specific path to see the full effect. A total solar eclipse hadn't been seen in Canada since 1979.

A diamond ring effect is seen during the totality phase of a total solar eclipse, in Kingston, Ont., Monday, April 8, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Rare cloud formations ripple the sky over Ottawa

A unique cloud formation over Ottawa was the talk of social media in October.

The clouds, known as asperitas clouds, are known for their distinctive formations that look like rippling waves.

"The thing about these clouds is, I mean, they're beautiful to look at, but they're scientifically really compelling as well, because we don't really understand why they form," Dan Riskin, CTV Science and Technology specialist, told CTV News Ottawa.

"I mean, they're kind of associated with bad weather, but they don't actually cause rain to come out. They tend to show up before a storm or after the storm, but not always. And they have this undulation to them. So, they make for beautiful images."

The World Meteorological Organization added the asperitas clouds to its International Cloud Atlas in 2015. It is the latest cloud type to be added to its atlas and the first in more than 50 years.

Its name comes from the Latin word for "roughness."

"It looked biblical," Jody Harrison said. "We were just enjoying the rolling of them all from the west, just coming right at our place. So, it was really cool."

Visiting Ottawa from Saskatchewan (land of living skies), I couldn't resist taking these photos that I'd never seen before!! (Barb McCaslin/CTV Viewer)

Ottawa woman dies after battle with pancreatic cancer

An Ottawa woman who raised more than $500,000 for cancer research at the Ottawa Hospital died after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.

Sindy Hooper passed away in September.

"She did it in typical Sindy style, courageously and gracefully while surrounded by good friends. She was able to see many of our good friends over the last few days, had them reminiscing, laughing, and as always, she gently encouraged us and reminded us to make every moment count," said Jonathan Hooper, Sindy's husband in a post on her Instagram account.

"There is no way I can coherently express what an incredible person, friend, wife and mother she is."

Hooper was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2013. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer that spread to her lung, spine and ribs.

Hooper continued to run, raising funds for pancreatic research and treatment. A fundraising campaign is underway as part of the 2025 Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.

An Ottawa woman who raised more than $500,000 for cancer research at the Ottawa Hospital has died after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. (Jonathan Hooper/ Instagram)

Other top stories on CTVNewsOttawa.ca in 2024

• Ottawa introduces a new three item garbage limit 
• Ottawa hires a 'Night Mayor' 
• Woman faces foreclosure and bankruptcy after Scotiabank serves her papers 
• Vehicle stopped for speeding had a child and a baby not safely buckled up: OPP 
• Ottawa couple out $13K after scammer posing as TD Bank steals credit card info 
• Customers voice concerns with BMO security measures after scammers gain access to their accounts 
• OPP charge 18 drivers for filming crash site on Hwy. 401 
• A look inside the gutted 24 Sussex Drive 
• CRA says 289 employees received ineligible CERB payments 
• Driver receives $10,000 in fines for speeding on Hwy. 174 
• Ottawa woman wins $70 million Lotto Max jackpot