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Cooler weather called for stocking up on vintage, seasonal clothes at the Midday Picnic

Vendors returned to Algonquin College for the event's third year after announcing monthly dates

Isabella Disley

Photos: Isabella Disley

October 15, 2024
Revised: October 15, 2024 8:28pm

Photo: Isabella Disley

Stephen Tierney, owner of Thrift-Things ST and Micah Perez, owner of Yollacreats posing at their booth at the Midday Picnic on Oct. 8 in the Student Commons building.

Thirteen vendors brought secondhand and vintage brands, including OVO, Stussy, Nike, Carhartt and Harley Davidson, to the Midday Picnic in the E-building on Oct. 8.

Mark Sola, owner of Thrift Sola and co-organizer of Midday Picnic, is an Algonquin College alumni.

Sola said that students are the target demographic for the event.

“We are a sustainable, curated vintage event for the people. This is our third year here at Algonquin College in the Student Commons,” said Sola.

Nathan Garcia, an Algonquin College alumni, was looking for fall essentials including sweaters and knits.

“I’m looking for fall attire and cozy wear because it’s getting cold,” said Garcia.

Annie Beer, a first-year business accounting student, was also eyeing for warmer layers.

“I’m just kind of finding sweaters. I’m trying to look for more fall clothes because it is getting cooler out,” said Beer.

Erica Joyce, an associate partner, talent acquisition and workforce management at Algonquin College, appreciated the variety of sweaters at the Midday Picnic.

“I always like the fleece sweaters. Those are typically my favourites and there are lots here today, so that’s usually what I go for,” said Joyce.

Abigail Chadwick-Gilmour, a first-year business management and entrepreneurship student, was browsing for anything that caught her eye.

“Just browsing around to see what’s here and maybe find out what new stores there are that I didn’t know about before,” said Chadwick-Gilmour.

Chadwick-Gilmour purchased a Carhartt brown jacket from Thrift Sola for her boyfriend.

Abigail Chadwick-Gilmour, a first-year business management and entrepreneurship student, wearing her latest purchase at the Midday Picnic on Oct. 8 in the Student Commons building. Photo credit: Isabella Disley Photo credit: Isabella Disley

Attendees said the prices are reasonable at the Midday Picnic.

Charlotte Denouden, a first-year business management and entrepreneurship student, agreed that the prices match the quality.

“For the type of clothes that you’re getting, I think it’s really cheap,” said Denouden.

Beer thought the event was great for budget-conscious students.

“I definitely think it’s affordable for students. The discount is really good,” said Beer.

Joyce said the prices vary between vendors but they are still fair prices.

“I think it’s pretty standard for vintage clothing. I think this is typically the price you’d see at vintage stores around,” said Joyce.

Garcia also thought that the prices were reasonable.

“Obviously, it ranges between vendors but overall, I would say it’s pretty affordable for what you’re getting,” said Garcia.

Garcia enjoys thrifting and the uniqueness of shopping for vintage and secondhand clothes.

“Honestly, I like the idea of turning something old into new. If you’re shopping at Zara, chances are you might be wearing the same thing as somebody else. So this is kind of a way of being different,” said Garcia.

Students browsing a vendor's booth at the Midday Picnic on Oct. 8 in the Student Commons building. Photo credit: Isabella Disley Photo credit: Isabella Disley

Midday Picnic will return to campus on Nov. 6 and Dec. 4. You can follow the event on Instagram @middaypicnic for details on upcoming events.

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Isabella Disley

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Algonquin’s strong defence shuts down Cambrian in 2-0 victory

Wolves women's soccer team dominates Cambrian College, celebrating Senior Day with a stellar team performance

Agrani Tiwari

Photos: Agrani Tiwari

October 15, 2024
Revised: October 15, 2024 8:10pm

Photo: Agrani Tiwari

Algonquin Wolves celebrate after their first goal in the first half.

In a solid display of teamwork and strategy on home turf, the Algonquin Wolves women’s soccer team clinched a 2-0 victory over Cambrian College on Oct. 12.

The game started with intense energy, and the Wolves showed their composure early. Head coach Basil Philips praised the team’s collective effort. “The girls played well today. Overall, we had a good effort throughout the team. I’m very happy with the performance,” he said

The Wolves quickly capitalized on their organization and coordination on the field. In the first half, Nada Ghadban, assisted by Jasmine Young, put Algonquin on the scoreboard at the seven minute mark. Ghadban’s goal was a result of swift passes and quick movement, which created an opening for the shot.

Players of both teams fighting to get the possession of the ball. — Players of both teams fight to get possession of the ball. Photo credit: Agrani Tiwari

The second half saw the Wolves continue their dominance. At 48 minutes, midfielder Kassandra Da Cruz, with an assist from Sarah Garrett, netted Algonquin’s second goal, effectively sealing the victory.

“I think today’s game went really well. We were strong in defence, and we’ve been working on through balls in practice. I think we executed that really well today,” said defender Catharina Lamb.

Goalkeeper Emily Levesque was a force in the net, making 12 saves and preventing Cambrian from gaining any traction. Her performance highlighted Algonquin’s defensive efforts, which held Cambrian to only two shots on goal.

Algonquin's forward Isabel Martinez going for a corner kick. — Algonquin forward Isabel Martinez approaches a corner kick. Photo credit: Agrani Tiwari

“I thought our team did really well today. We were composed on the ball, utilizing our space, communicating and trying new things. We’ve improved from our last game by using each other and working better with off-the-ball movement,” said defender Olivia Bradley.

The Wolves also celebrated Senior Day, honouring their graduating players who made significant contributions to the team.

Philips acknowledged the importance of the day.

“It’s a big deal when you have graduating players. It’s always good to get a win on a day like that,” he said. “Now, we need to keep this momentum through the playoffs.”

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Agrani Tiwari

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College, SA trying to educate students about health plan

SA organized an information session for students on health insurance and provided students with opportunities to ask questions and gain insights from experts

Zhiqi Zhou

Photos: Zhiqi Zhou

October 15, 2024
Revised: October 15, 2024 6:06pm

Photo: Zhiqi Zhou

Kimberly Garrett stood behind a table ready to give a presentation to students at a health plan event on Oct. 9 in the E-building.

Zalak Mistry, a Level 1 student from the responsibility center management program, is concerned about what’s covered in her health insurance.

“I am concerned about what my health insurance covers because I heard on my orientation day that my glasses are not covered, but I’m worried about this,” said Mistry.

WeSpeakStudent and the Students’ Association organized an information session for students on health insurance and support in the E-building on Oct. 9. The motivation for organizing this event was to inform Algonquin College students what is available through their health care. However, no one showed up.

WeSpeakStudent is a health benefits program designed to meet the needs of students throughout Canada.

The Algonquin Students’ Association offers a student insurance plan for both domestic and international students who opt to purchase it. The plan includes legal assistance, coaching, nutrition guidance, financial advice, and counselling services.

“In September there’s so much information that students have to digest,” said Kimberly Garrett, business development manager of WeSpeakStudent.

“Highlighting a key service that the Students’ Association offers through our organization is essential,” Garrett said. “These very important services are highlighted to the students in the midst of many of Algonquin’s other wonderful offerings.”

Garrett said that mental health is one of the most pressing issues facing students today, and they are dedicated to addressing it as a top priority.

“Everybody needs a teeth clean, everybody needs their prescription drugs, but mental health is an area that we’re really focusing on as well,” Garrett said.

The event provided students opportunities to ask questions and gain insights directly from experts.

Garrett said there have been misconceptions about health insurance, pointing out that many students believe they don’t need it since they’re still on their parents’ insurance.

“Students who do have coverage with their parents, they can also use this provided coverage and have additional coverages within what they already have available to them,” Garrett said.

Garrett said WeSpeakStudent wants to hear suggestions from students to make it better.

Divy Khakhriya is a Level 1 student in the heating, refrigeration and air conditioning technician program. Khakhriya already had insurance when he immigrated here from India, but he wanted the health insurance to cover a specific issue.

“Probably health insurance could also cover skin problems as well, because there are a lot of skin problems, so I would like it to be covered,” said Khakhriya.

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Zhiqi Zhou

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Trash talk: Ottawa’s garbage limit sparks mixed opinions

New garbage rules have residents divided — some see it as necessary, others as a household headache

Caroline Kirkey

Photos: Caroline Kirkey

October 15, 2024
Revised: October 16, 2024 9:28am

Photo: Caroline Kirkey

Garbage placed outside after 5 p.m. on a Tuesday on Highgate Road.

Nada Mishishi, a mother of two, was shocked to hear about the City of Ottawa placing a three-item garbage limit for residences.

“It’s not my fault, sometimes I buy groceries in huge amounts to save on money, so our garbage can sometimes be bigger,” said Mishishi.

Mishishi said she lives near Algonquin College and never got any notice from the city that this was happening. She believes the policy is unfair to people with growing families like her own, saying that because of inflation this economy is getting harder to live in.

On Sept. 30, the City of Ottawa announced it was putting a three-item garbage limit in place for residences to reduce the volume of waste going to the landfill.

The limit allows for garbage bags, a container up to 140 litres and one bulky item like a chair. The limit does not include diapers, casts, catheters or disposable pads.

However, going over the three-item limit requires households to buy special yellow bags, costing $4.40 each. The City of Ottawa web page has a table of where residents can find these bags for each region in Ottawa.

Chunzhong Yu, a Level 3 geographic information systems student at Algonquin College, lives near the college with four other roommates.

“As a student, I feel like the cost of the garbage bag is acceptable, but if someone is not recycling, this person should buy the extra garbage bags,” said Yu.

According to the overview of the City of Ottawa’s current waste management system, around 50 per cent of the city’s waste is made up of material that can be diverted from the landfill through the green bin program.

In addition to food waste, the green bin program collects grass clippings, leaves, hedge trimmings, cotton balls and pet fur.

“Basically, this policy is to encourage people to recycle more to divert more garbage going to the landfill,” said Coun. Theresa Kavanagh, who is on the City of Ottawa’s Environment and Climate Change Committee.

Kavanagh said the new curbside garbage restriction is a “modest proposal” since most people follow it already.

The City of Ottawa states on their garbage and recycling page that the city’s Trail Waste Facility landfill may reach maximum capacity in 13 to 15 years. The landfill is the second largest municipal landfill in Ontario.

“We have a landfill site and it has a certain capacity, it only has so many years that it can keep doing that, it’s only so big and we have to make it last as long as possible,” said Kavanagh.

Kelsey Burns, a new mother to eight-month old Molly who lives in the Algonquin area, heard about the garbage limit through neighbours, the news and flyers.

“Coming from a household that never recycled and separated any of their garbage I could see why there would be a limit on things,” said Burns.

“You have to start somewhere,” said Burns.

Kavanagh said the city has campaigns to explain the new policy.

“Our office gets calls because people got confused thinking the black box and blue box were part of the three items,” said Kavanagh.

“We had to tell them no-no,” said Kavanagh. “We are just talking about the garbage.”

“The blue box you can fill up till the cows come home.”

Tafara Divine Jonja, a Level 1 student in hospitality and tourism management at Algonquin College, is worried about how this policy will affect her relationship with her four roommates.

“It could cause arguments because people are now limited to stuff,” said Jonja.

“Plus this might also increase people looking for other ways to dispose their waste just to not fill the garbage.”

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Caroline Kirkey

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International students learn volunteering and networking enhance career prospects

As expectations in the job market shift, students recognize that engaging in social activities and building connections are key to finding opportunities

Yuye Jiang

Photos: Yuye Jiang

October 13, 2024
Revised: October 13, 2024 8:56am

Photo: Yuye Jiang

First-level TV broadcasting student, Yug Patel (far right), is joined by fellow practical nursing students Runtian Xu, Aisha, Chiandna, and Venkateshwari Sursh as they network and connect with peers. The event allowed these international students to meet mentors and explore career-building resources.

After two years of job search, Jingan Chen, a third-level interactive media design student at Algonquin College, found a key lesson: success in Canada relies more than on perfecting a resume.

“If you want to find a job here in Canada, I would suggest don’t spend too much time on your resume or cover letter,” Chen said. “Putting more attention on volunteering and making connections would be more helpful.”

This became a common sentiment shared by many international students at Algonquin College’s annual international meet and greet on Oct. 8 in the DARE Diestrict’s first-floor meeting hall. The college’s Co-op and Career Centre and International Education Centre organized the event.

The morning sunlight streamed through the glass windows into the spacious hall, where international students from around the world gathered, ready to seize the rare opportunity to engage in face-to-face conversations with peers, professionals and mentors. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, and every corner buzzed with conversations, with people exchanging career advice and contact information.

“I talked to a few people already, including the a third level student in my program. He gave me some tips for the exams and co-op in the future,” said Dennis Nsi, a first-year computer engineering student from Nigeria.

In addition to the international students, many mentors from the International Peer Mentor program (IPM) were present at the event in green uniforms. They mingled among groups, facilitating discussions and sharing their own experiences and challenges in both academics and job searching.

Yug Patel, a first-level international student studying TV broadcasting at Algonquin College, struggled through a year in computer programming before deciding to switch to TV broadcasting. Despite the challenges in his new field, Patel has persistently given it his best.

“Because English is not our first language, the different accent, different ways of grammar can be really challenging, especially in TV broadcasting,” Patel said.

Patel is also a mentor in the IPM program. Through the meet and greet, he reaffirmed one key takeaway: beyond academic knowledge, getting involved in volunteering can greatly benefit international students’ career development.

“I’m really happy to talk with the board of directors member and team lead of the career centre,” Patel said. “I learned that more volunteering makes you more connected, so I recommend every peer should attend more events like this and talk to people.”

At the International Meet-and-Greet, students gathered in a lively atmosphere, exchanging stories, making connections, and learning from one another. With a diverse group of participants, the room buzzed with conversations and shared experiences, fostering a sense of community and belonging. Photo credit: Yuye Jiang

Patel’s insight resonated with many international students.

Chen, from Taiwan, has an even deeper appreciation for volunteer experience.

Chen worked as a design manager in Taiwan, gaining significant experience and building a great portfolio. However, Chen has faced many obstacles in his job search over the past two years.

“Canadian employers only want the local experience, if you were not working in Canada before, which means you are kind of useless in Canada,” Chen said. “And people just don’t like foreigners to do the job.”

But after redirecting his time and energy into volunteering, Chen found a breakthrough. Although unpaid, these experiences helped him build connections with industry professionals in his field.

“The reason why I realized I love social work in Canada is because so many social workers and NGOs, they love to help me,” Chen said. “They actually create so many chances for me to connect to the people who have power, so my advice will be trying to bridge out for more people.”

Chen noted that for international students planning to establish long-term careers in Canada, job searching can become increasingly challenging. However, volunteering and networking can be essential tools for them, he said.

More information on upcoming IPM events can be found on the IPM program’s website.

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Yuye Jiang

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Tribute band brings Beatlemania to Algonquin Commons Theatre

Help! brings timeless hits to the Algonquin Commons Theatre, delighting fans and proving the Fab Four's legacy lives on

Agrani Tiwari

Photos: Agrani Tiwari

October 13, 2024
Revised: October 13, 2024 8:47am

Photo: Agrani Tiwari

Help! performing a Beatles tribute show at the Algonquin Commons Theatre. (Left to right) Pascal Tirapani as Paul, Ronald Stutz as George, David Neil as Ringo and Norman DiBlasio as John.

Help! brought a wave of nostalgia to the Algonquin Commons Theatre on Oct. 4, performing classic Beatles hits and mesmerizing fans of all ages.

“The energy from the crowd was incredible,” said Pascal Tirapani, who is the Paul McCartney of the band. “You could feel the connection, especially during the final songs.”

Tirapani talked about the challenges of recreating the Beatles’ sound and the commitment required.

“We each play a specific role. I play the bass left-handed, even though I’m actually right-handed,” he said. “We wanted the appearance to look good, so we do everything we can to play the role of each Beatle accurately.”

For many audience members, Help! offered a unique opportunity to relive a beloved musical era.

Lucy Lefebvre, attending her second tribute show, praised the band’s performance.

“I love it. It’s from my era,” she said. “They capture the Beatles’ sound very well.”

The band’s dedication to their roles was evident as they navigated through iconic tracks, transitioning smoothly between hits like Hey Jude and Let It Be. Tirapani said choosing just one favorite Beatles song is nearly impossible.

“They have hours and hours of music,” he said

The event drew longtime Beatles enthusiast Tracy Byers Reid, whose husband, Aaron Reid, is part of the local Capital Beatles tribute band.

Byers Reid shared her thoughts on Help!’s performance: “It’s pretty authentic! My husband’s a huge Beatles fan. The fact that there’s a left-handed Paul, that’s fantastic.”

Aaron Reid said Help! raises the bar for tribute bands.

Aaron Reid a Beatles fan at the show. Photo credit: Agrani Tiwari

“These guys are exceptional. They’re probably one of the best I’ve ever heard,” he said.

For those aspiring to follow in their footsteps, Tirapani had some advice: “Be as authentic as possible. Pay attention to the details and be professional from A to Z.”

With plans to return in fall 2025, Help! looks forward to bringing more Beatles magic to Ottawa.

“We’re checking out the dates,” Tirapani said. “I’m pretty sure we’ll be back.”

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Agrani Tiwari

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Rain washes out Nepean Night Market’s Day of the Dead celebration

Spooky wave-looking asperitas clouds brought thunderstorms that sent everyone home

Isabella Disley

Photos: Isabella Disley

October 13, 2024
Revised: October 13, 2024 8:39am

Photo: Isabella Disley

Amparo and Pierre Ardura, co-owners of La Chula, wearing skeleton onesies at the Nepean Night Market on Oct. 6.

People were mesmerized by the unique-looking clouds, taking photos with no knowledge that a storm was brewing above a recent Day of the Dead celebration at the Nepean Night Market.

Located in the parking lot of Mr. Lube at 1442 Baseline Rd., this market was meant to be a four-hour event on Oct. 6.

During the one hour, music played as people mingled between vendor booths and food trucks.

Within minutes, rain began to pour, but that did not stop the 35 local vendors from showing off their products.

Jenn Ducharme, owner of The Goblin's Nest Odds and Ends holding one of her homemade wrapped cups at the Nepean Night Market on Oct. 6. Photo credit: Isabella Disley Photo credit: Isabella Disley

Jenn Ducharme, owner of The Goblin’s Nest Odds and Ends, displayed artistic handmade items.

“I have reusable wrapped cups, I make candles and I have essential oil perfumes. I also make raw crystal jewelry wraps into necklaces. I have protection charms that I’ve made because I am a practicing Wiccan, and then I make a whole bunch of earrings and necklaces with that,” said Ducharme.

Ducharme’s mental health was a motivator to create The Goblin’s Nest Odds and Ends.

“I was going through a really hard time mentally and I’ve always had sort of a passion for anything artistic and I said, You know what? I’m going to put my sadness to good use, and the Goblin’s Nest was born,” said Ducharme.

Ducharme has been a vendor at previous Nepean night markets.

“Honestly, everyone here is fantastic, there’s a lot of different things to offer. It’s such a good atmosphere to be around and there’s always live music and food. Who can beat that?” said Ducharme.

Amparo Ardura, co-owner of La Chula, entered the spice and salsa-making business three years ago.

“The community has been very helpful. They try your product, like it and they start showing it to their friends. It’s really good having these markets so we can help each other,” said Ardura.

Ashley McGee and Alyssa Mayotte, co-owners of Crafty Bangers, were motivated to get their creative juices flowing.

“I got a Cricut machine, and we decided to be creative,” said McGee.

Crafty Bangers exhibited homemade banners, tote and gift bags and pouches.

Joshua Halpenny and Supreet Natt, co-owners of ShinePaw Partners, had LED dog products, including collars and leashes.

“We actually almost witnessed a near hit. We were walking down the sidewalk one time and there was this guy dressed in black with a black dog. A car almost ran into them and we said well, that’s unsafe,” said Halpenny.

After witnessing that close call, Halpenny and Natt founded ShinePaw Partners to help prevent canine incidents.

A small white calavera light surrounded by raindrops at the Nepean Night Market on Oct. 6. Photo credit Isabella Disley — A small white calavera light surrounded by raindrops at the Nepean Night Market on Oct. 6. Photo credit: Isabella Disley

Pam Man, the organizer, called off the Nepean Night Market due to poor weather at 6 p.m.

Following increments of heavy downpours of rain, vendors were told to pack up to avoid the next wave of the storm.

The Nepean Night Market will return to the same location on Oct. 20 for the grand finale of the season.

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Isabella Disley

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Learning and fun? Algonquin College offers it all at the Wellness Fair

Students roamed through booths in E-building learning health and wellness information

Sophie Daly

Photos: Sophie Daly

October 13, 2024
Revised: October 13, 2024 8:31am

Photo: Sophie Daly

Students at the Wellness Fair wait to complete activities at booths in order to receive a stamp for their "wellness passport."

The Student Commons in E-building held the Wellness Fair on Oct. 9, allowing students to explore the Student Health & Wellness Zone’s Six Pillars of Health through fun and interactive activities.

“We want to make sure students understand that spirituality is a whole range of things,” said Sue-Anne Hess, coordinator of the Spiritual Centre. “It’s not just about the religion you follow but it can be all kinds of things like health and well-being stress relief, yoga, meditation and mindfulness. Spirituality is a whole range of things.”

Upon entering the fair, students could pick up a “wellness passport” from the reception booth. At each booth, after completing their activity, students would get a stamp. After getting all the stamps, students showed their completed passports to the reception booth and could put their names in the main raffle for prizes.

Bianca Guadalupe from the message therapy booth was offering students the chance to enter their raffle for a $40 gift card to the massage therapy services.

“Students can come with any pain they want to know more about, and we’ll do a mini-assessment, or if it’s more like a message, we can do something about that,” Guadalupe said. “We offer an hour massage, if it’s your first time having an appointment, we do 15 of a mini-assessment, then if there’s anything, we’ll tackle it for 45 minutes. After that, students can book again.”

From general health to sexual health, students could spend their time completing fun activities while learning about the resources Algonquin College offers.

Ottawa Public Health had a booth offering students free naloxone kits and information to keep themselves and friends safe.

Close to the Starbucks, Emma Herrington, a registered dietitian, and Melissa Yang, the marketing and conference coordinator of Food and Conference Services, had a booth where they were offering healthy snacks and easy recipes.

“We’re teaching students balanced healthy plates and the different kinds of healthy plates, then we’re doing nutrition trivia, just promoting health,” Herrington said. “Students can ask about food services on campus, where to find options like gluten-free or halal options.”

The Students’ Association Food Cupboard was collecting donations at the event. Anyone at the fair or walking by was able to drop off unopened, packaged and non-perishable food or unopened personal items like soap, toothpaste and floss.

Through the Wellness Fair, the Student Health & Wellness Zone was able to make learning about health and wellbeing more enjoyable for the Algonquin College students.

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Sophie Daly

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Students brush away the blues at Painting Night

Who needs therapy when you have painting?

Mackenzie Cardinal

Photos: Mackenzie Cardinal

October 13, 2024
Revised: October 13, 2024 8:25am

Photo: Mackenzie Cardinal

Mitra Salamzada painting a beautiful picture of a sunset with the students.

Fifteen creative students wielded paint brushes at the Observatory on Oct. 8 as part of a two-hour painting event in the college’s Fall Into Wellness series.

“I try to associate what I’m feeling with colours because I see colours in my head. For example, sad is normally blue, so when I feel sad, I use blueish colours in my painting,” said Lyla Biggs-Critch when asked about mental health and how it affects painting. Biggs-Critch is a music industry arts student.

The series, which happens over two weeks, is inspired by World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10.

“Painting is one activity that can be used to reduce stress. It offers someone something else they can focus on.” said event coordinator Tatanisha Riggan.

Riggan, who is an equity, diversity and inclusion coordinator for Algonquin Students’ Association, said the purpose of th event is for students to reduce stress by painting.

“We wanted to create an opportunity for students to come and create something beautiful.” Riggan said.

A former Algonquin College student, Mitra Salamzada, was the lead painter for the event.

Salamzada explained how her love of art came to be.

“Since I was young I was into art and in Grade 5 I had sold my first painting to my friends. That was when I realized that art means a lot to me,” said Salamzada.

Her art journey continued and she won an art contest in Grade 11. The prize money allowed her to buy her first ever professional art supplies.

Salamzada has an Instagram account with 4,000 followers, and has her own website dedicated to selling her art. Her tagline is “Dreamer of colours, painter of dreams.” She also teaches art to children and adults.

At the event, Salamzada painted along with the students, telling them how to blend and paint a picture of a sunset, with an example of the painting shown along with the blank canvas she painted with.

Salamzada also encouraged students to draw their own things if they weren’t comfortable with following along.

Students blended acrylic paint to make a beautiful array of colours on the canvas. Most students followed along with the lesson, and some students decided to paint their own thing. Each student was participating and having fun, destressing after another challenging day at school.

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Mackenzie Cardinal

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Nick Carter brings electrifying performance to the Algonquin Commons Theatre

The Backstreet Boys singer marked his eighth show of the North American leg of his solo world tour, "Who I Am"

Kimberly Tremblay

Photos: Kimberly Tremblay

October 11, 2024
Revised: October 11, 2024 4:39pm

Photo: Kimberly Tremblay

Nick Carter performing at the Algonquin Commons Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 6. Carter was performing his opening song, "Larger Than Life." His Ottawa show is one of many stops on the pop singer's solo tour, "Who I Am."

Nick Carter gave hundreds of screaming fans an energy-filled night as he performed at the Algonquin Commons Theatre on Oct. 6 for his solo world tour, “Who I Am.”

Carter took fans on a nostalgic journey throughout the show, performing songs off his past solo albums, Backstreet Boys fan favourites and various covers of his favourite ’80s tunes.

The Backstreet Boys member opened his solo show with the band’s 1997 hit Larger Than Life, which had fans screaming so loud the floor was vibrating.

The venue was filled with many captivated fans, with one girl shouting after the opening song “I love you Nick,” to which Carter immediately responded with, “I love you, too.”

Anna Coleman, a devoted fan of the pop singer, has been supporting Carter’s career since the beginning.

“It’s like a close family. I became a fan as a teen and now I’m a grandma,” said Coleman, who attended the show with her daughter, Sarah.

In between songs, Carter took some time to thank his fans for their unwavering support.

“It means so much to me that you allow me to be on this stage to perform for you and I’m so grateful for that,” said Carter.

Before carrying on with the show, Carter spoke about the songs he’s currently writing for his upcoming album and how they compare to the songs on the set list.

“These songs that I have been writing lately, if you listen to them really closely, you can definitely hear the things that I’m going through in my life,” said Carter, before singing his song Superman.

Despite Carter being on a solo tour, he wasn’t shy about pulling out some Backstreet Boys fan favourites to close the show. The crowd’s dancing caused vibrations comparable to an earthquake as the nine-time Grammy winner performed the band’s hit songs As Long As You Love Me, Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) and I Want It That Way.

The musical artist came back moments later for the encore, singing Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).

Fans were in no hurry to leave campus, with many rushing over to the merchandise booth for some last-minute shopping.

Other fans were gathered in a circle to discuss their favourite moments from the show.

Emily Mullin, an Algonquin College alumni, was sitting with her friend El Kim in E-building near the merchandise booth to discuss their favourite songs from the show.

“Shape of My Heart is probably my favourite song. I have it tattooed on my thigh,” said Mullin, pointing to where her tattoo was covered by her jeans.

Kim was just as quick to answer when asked about her favourite song.

“I was really excited to hear I Need You Tonight just because it’s my mom’s favourite (song) as well,” said Kim.

Both Mullin and Kim decided to show their support for Carter’s solo tour after being fans of the Backstreet Boys for several years.

Mullin said she has been a fan of the band for 22 years.

“It’s hard to remember not being a fan because I’ve been listening to his music for most of my life at this point,” said Mullin.

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Kimberly Tremblay

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