Laura Smith
@pastaandsalsa.bsky.social
Reposted by Laura Smith
November 11, 1975: My father is a photographer for the Sault Star. He gets an early call from his editor saying the storm that felled trees and barns in the city wrecked an ore carrier on Lake Superior. He drives up to Pancake Bay to capture images of wreckage and search efforts #edmundfitzgerald
November 11, 2025 at 1:45 PM
November 11, 1975: My father is a photographer for the Sault Star. He gets an early call from his editor saying the storm that felled trees and barns in the city wrecked an ore carrier on Lake Superior. He drives up to Pancake Bay to capture images of wreckage and search efforts #edmundfitzgerald
Sure wish downtown churches (mine included) would advocate for better transit on weekends so that that would be a reasonable option for folks coming to church.
I have been relatively quiet on here this week, because my office has been dealing with a barrage of email from people who attend a particular church, upset about the addition of paid parking on Saturdays nearby. BTW: there 525 free parking spots within the 400m zone (and 202 spots within 200m).
November 1, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Sure wish downtown churches (mine included) would advocate for better transit on weekends so that that would be a reasonable option for folks coming to church.
Reposted by Laura Smith
It's been 25 years since One-Big-Ottawa was imposed on us. The world has finally taken note: this thing doesn't really work for urban or rural residents. I wrote about why and what's next.
glebereport.ca/articles/ott... #ottawa #ottcity #deamalgamateottawa
glebereport.ca/articles/ott... #ottawa #ottcity #deamalgamateottawa
October 17, 2025 at 12:32 PM
It's been 25 years since One-Big-Ottawa was imposed on us. The world has finally taken note: this thing doesn't really work for urban or rural residents. I wrote about why and what's next.
glebereport.ca/articles/ott... #ottawa #ottcity #deamalgamateottawa
glebereport.ca/articles/ott... #ottawa #ottcity #deamalgamateottawa
Reposted by Laura Smith
No one can say we don’t know how to prevent road deaths anymore. Lower speeds. Modern pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. Public transit that gets people out of cars. That’s it. The longer we resist the more families will be shattered by a preventable death. #visionzero yle.fi/a/74-20174831
Helsinki goes a full year without a traffic death
A city traffic engineer credits the success to lower speed limits and smarter design.
yle.fi
September 10, 2025 at 11:53 AM
No one can say we don’t know how to prevent road deaths anymore. Lower speeds. Modern pedestrian and cycling infrastructure. Public transit that gets people out of cars. That’s it. The longer we resist the more families will be shattered by a preventable death. #visionzero yle.fi/a/74-20174831
Reposted by Laura Smith
Ottawa’s core is struggling. This Globe’s editorial takes note and makes a no longer radical recommendation to Doug Ford: break it up.
“Some blame falls on the city and the province. Ottawa is too big and should be broken up into urban and rural municipalities.” #breakupottawa #onpoli #ottawa
“Some blame falls on the city and the province. Ottawa is too big and should be broken up into urban and rural municipalities.” #breakupottawa #onpoli #ottawa
Globe editorial: A rescue plan for Ottawa’s ailing core
There are things the federal government can do to help the capital reflect the nation’s G7 status
www.theglobeandmail.com
September 1, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Ottawa’s core is struggling. This Globe’s editorial takes note and makes a no longer radical recommendation to Doug Ford: break it up.
“Some blame falls on the city and the province. Ottawa is too big and should be broken up into urban and rural municipalities.” #breakupottawa #onpoli #ottawa
“Some blame falls on the city and the province. Ottawa is too big and should be broken up into urban and rural municipalities.” #breakupottawa #onpoli #ottawa
My reading project for the year is Robert Caro’s The Power Broker. Lots of lessons for city planning; this one seems particularly relevant for #Ottawa. Raising fares discourages people from taking transit. #otttransit #octranspo #autowa #RobertMoses #RobertCaro
September 1, 2025 at 12:31 PM
My reading project for the year is Robert Caro’s The Power Broker. Lots of lessons for city planning; this one seems particularly relevant for #Ottawa. Raising fares discourages people from taking transit. #otttransit #octranspo #autowa #RobertMoses #RobertCaro
Reposted by Laura Smith
@en.ottawa.ca @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social
Is this the city you want? We can "master plan" all we want, but we need actual action.
Is this the city you want? We can "master plan" all we want, but we need actual action.
At a minimum 9? (Not counting all the close calls)
June 27 - cyclist, Byward Market
July 8 - cyclist, Kanata
July 8 - pedestrian, Elgin
July 23 - cyclist, Stittsville
July 23 - 2 children riding bikes, Stittsville & Barrhaven
July 26 - cyclist, Manotick
Juku 26 - 2 e-scooter riders, Lowertown
June 27 - cyclist, Byward Market
July 8 - cyclist, Kanata
July 8 - pedestrian, Elgin
July 23 - cyclist, Stittsville
July 23 - 2 children riding bikes, Stittsville & Barrhaven
July 26 - cyclist, Manotick
Juku 26 - 2 e-scooter riders, Lowertown
July 27, 2025 at 1:44 AM
@en.ottawa.ca @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social
Is this the city you want? We can "master plan" all we want, but we need actual action.
Is this the city you want? We can "master plan" all we want, but we need actual action.
Walked south on Bank St from Somerset to Second Ave during rush hour, because no bus came during that time. Not great, @octranspo.com. #ottawa #otttransit
July 17, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Walked south on Bank St from Somerset to Second Ave during rush hour, because no bus came during that time. Not great, @octranspo.com. #ottawa #otttransit
“You just have to have a strong heart.” Highly recommend this for a Friday smile. #ottbike www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article...
The very courageous six-year-old learning to ride a bike for the very first time
Brienne Glasgow’s quest to complete the childhood rite-of-passage offers a lesson on getting back in the saddle
www.theglobeandmail.com
July 11, 2025 at 10:53 AM
“You just have to have a strong heart.” Highly recommend this for a Friday smile. #ottbike www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article...
Reposted by Laura Smith
Canada is an experiment on this land. To be a Canadian is to fully acknowledge the generations who have lived here, and finding in their struggles the courage, resolve and optimism to build a more equitable, just and fair society. #happycanadaday 🇨🇦
July 1, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Canada is an experiment on this land. To be a Canadian is to fully acknowledge the generations who have lived here, and finding in their struggles the courage, resolve and optimism to build a more equitable, just and fair society. #happycanadaday 🇨🇦
Spotted on this morning’s walk near the #SaultSteMarie locks: a black-crowned night heron. Turns out this dude is outside its usual habitat. #BirdSky #BlackCrownedNightHeron
June 29, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Spotted on this morning’s walk near the #SaultSteMarie locks: a black-crowned night heron. Turns out this dude is outside its usual habitat. #BirdSky #BlackCrownedNightHeron
Reposted by Laura Smith
We can all agree the highlight of yesterday's @torontobluejays.bsky.social game was the opening pitch thrown out by Chef Dwight Smith! Very cool!
www.instagram.com/chefdwightsm...
www.instagram.com/chefdwightsm...
April 30, 2025 at 7:49 PM
We can all agree the highlight of yesterday's @torontobluejays.bsky.social game was the opening pitch thrown out by Chef Dwight Smith! Very cool!
www.instagram.com/chefdwightsm...
www.instagram.com/chefdwightsm...
Reposted by Laura Smith
Three hours in, on the first day of advance polls, and there is a line out the door at my polling station. #cdnpoli #cdnelection #canadavotes
April 18, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Three hours in, on the first day of advance polls, and there is a line out the door at my polling station. #cdnpoli #cdnelection #canadavotes
Reposted by Laura Smith
We're mad about the focus on "fare evasion". Stop punishing people for riding the bus. The penalty is absurdly high ($260) - that's a lot more than parking in a bike lane. capitalcurrent.ca/oc-transpo-c...
OC Transpo crackdown on fare evasion draws ire of free-transit advocate - Capital Current
An Ottawa advocate for free transit service says an OC Transpo crackdown on riders who evade paying their bus or LRT fare is unfairly punishing low-income people who can’t afford the costs of travelli...
capitalcurrent.ca
April 15, 2025 at 11:32 AM
We're mad about the focus on "fare evasion". Stop punishing people for riding the bus. The penalty is absurdly high ($260) - that's a lot more than parking in a bike lane. capitalcurrent.ca/oc-transpo-c...
Reposted by Laura Smith
Say it with me: "prime minister-designate".
Please share widely.
#cdnpoli #parliamentarysystem #liberal #canada #liberalleadership
Please share widely.
#cdnpoli #parliamentarysystem #liberal #canada #liberalleadership
March 9, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Say it with me: "prime minister-designate".
Please share widely.
#cdnpoli #parliamentarysystem #liberal #canada #liberalleadership
Please share widely.
#cdnpoli #parliamentarysystem #liberal #canada #liberalleadership
#OCTranspo I know it has been a rough week but if you are going to detour and bypass two regular stops you need to tell people. Nothing on your website or the Transit app re: route 56. ☹️
February 21, 2025 at 12:57 PM
#OCTranspo I know it has been a rough week but if you are going to detour and bypass two regular stops you need to tell people. Nothing on your website or the Transit app re: route 56. ☹️
Reposted by Laura Smith
TSN and CBC will broadcast NSL on a mix of streaming and linear services.
CBC will have 8 matches on its national channel.
A "Game of the Week" will co-stream on CBC Gem and NSL . ca, while 24 other matches will co-stream on TSN+ and NSL . ca.
www.cbc.ca/sports/socce...
CBC will have 8 matches on its national channel.
A "Game of the Week" will co-stream on CBC Gem and NSL . ca, while 24 other matches will co-stream on TSN+ and NSL . ca.
www.cbc.ca/sports/socce...
CBC/Radio-Canada to broadcast, live stream games of NSL's inaugural season | CBC Sports
The NSL, Canada’s first professional women's soccer league, unveiled its schedule Thursday afternoon, with all 75 regular-season matches to air across CBC, Radio-Canada, TSN and RDS.
www.cbc.ca
February 20, 2025 at 5:16 PM
TSN and CBC will broadcast NSL on a mix of streaming and linear services.
CBC will have 8 matches on its national channel.
A "Game of the Week" will co-stream on CBC Gem and NSL . ca, while 24 other matches will co-stream on TSN+ and NSL . ca.
www.cbc.ca/sports/socce...
CBC will have 8 matches on its national channel.
A "Game of the Week" will co-stream on CBC Gem and NSL . ca, while 24 other matches will co-stream on TSN+ and NSL . ca.
www.cbc.ca/sports/socce...
Reposted by Laura Smith
Feb. 19, 1958:
Ellen Fairclough is named Acting Prime Minister of Canada.
Ellen Fairclough is named Acting Prime Minister of Canada.
February 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Feb. 19, 1958:
Ellen Fairclough is named Acting Prime Minister of Canada.
Ellen Fairclough is named Acting Prime Minister of Canada.
Reposted by Laura Smith
Ten years ago today the 17th mayor of Sault Ste. Marie was killed in a tragic accident while on his way to the library that now bears his name. At the time I knew nothing about him, but have since pored over clippings and books to help place him in the city's history en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_L...
James L. McIntyre - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
February 11, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Ten years ago today the 17th mayor of Sault Ste. Marie was killed in a tragic accident while on his way to the library that now bears his name. At the time I knew nothing about him, but have since pored over clippings and books to help place him in the city's history en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_L...
Reposted by Laura Smith
January 14, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Reposted by Laura Smith
These are the Housing First stories we need to share www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
First came the apartment. Then he got clean. Now he's giving back | CBC News
This past April, 47-year-old Colin Baudry of Ottawa finally got his very own apartment after living on the street for a year. It's that stability that allowed him to get clean, and now he's eager to start giving back to the community that supported him.
www.cbc.ca
November 18, 2024 at 12:00 AM
These are the Housing First stories we need to share www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Laura Smith
Ottawa’s pets-in-backpacks scene is reppin’ extra hard today.
November 17, 2024 at 8:39 PM
Ottawa’s pets-in-backpacks scene is reppin’ extra hard today.