main – Page 2 – Algonquin Times

Meet the College Ward candidates in Ottawa’s municipal election

In the upcoming municipal vote, two candidates are running to represent the ward as city councillor: Abakar Malloum and incumbent Laine Johnson

Rory Haley

Photos: Rory Haley

October 15, 2026
Revised: October 15, 2026 12:10pm

Photo: Rory Haley

Construction is underway at the Algonquin College O-Train stop on Oct. 2.

The Algonquin Times reached out to both candidates to learn more about their top issues in the community.

What do candidates believe is the biggest issue for students within the ward?

Laine Johnson

Highlighting transit as one of the biggest issues, Johnson plans to work with OC Transpo to routinely meet with the Algonquin Students’ Association so concerns can be heard directly from the student body.

She believes Algonquin College students, who have the highest U-Pass tap frequency compared to any other post-secondary institution in Ottawa, have not been properly served with transit in the city.

Aside from transit, Johnson said the cost and availability of housing is another important issue for students in this the ward and across the city.

Abakar Malloum

Malloum said housing and transportation are among the most pressing issues students face in this city.

“As a councillor, we can work to find a better solution,” he said.

College Ward candidate, Abakar Malloum, as photographed on his website.

Malloum wants more transparency about the status of the western LRT extension after some stations were flooded on Canada Day.

“I want all the costs and the delay, when it’s going to be finished, everything, published,” he said.

Malloum believes Ottawa has an issue with transparency. When the city needs a solution, they raise taxes and it’s not clear how this money is being managed, he said.

Malloum also highlighted transit as one of the most impactful city-wide issues. He mentioned that, per the city budget, Ottawa is expected to have 1.5 million daily commuters by 2040.

“Transit is growing,” he said. “The building developments are being approved. But the infrastructure is not going the same way.

“The transit and then the housing are the deepest problem for the City of Ottawa, according to what I see,” he said. “It’s about planning. The solution is planning.”

Map of Ottawa's College Ward boundaries. (City of Ottawa)

How do candidates communicate with their constituents?

Laine Johnson

To hear issues first-hand from community members, Johnson says she goes door-knocking and, for issues related to Algonquin College, she speaks with the Students’ Association and the athletics department. To help better connect with student voices, Johnson says she aims to create a youth liaison position.

Abakar Malloum

“I try to communicate as much as possible,” he said.

Malloum said that he meets constituents when he goes door-knocking and has meetings for coffee.

Why do they think they are the best candidate to represent the ward?

Laine Johnson

Johnson believes she is the best candidate to represent this ward because she is an honest and effective councillor who wants to make sure everyone benefits.

“I’m an effective councillor, ” said Johnson. “Not only because I came from a civic education background and I came from a public participation background, I actually am incredibly curious about understanding other points of view and trying to figure out how to get somewhere with them.”

She also noted her investment in the local community.

“During the floods I was out every day meeting with residents, campaigning for more resources, dragging the city along to get their act together to deliver more for residents and that, I understand, gave residents a lot of comfort because they didn’t have the time or energy,” she said.

“That’s why you elect somebody to show up for you and advocate for you — because life is hard and you’re busy and you’re overwhelmed.”

Johnson said hosting a town hall with the chairs of the transportation, transit and housing committees at Algonquin College was one of her biggest accomplishments of the current council term.

In the midst of mass program cuts at the college, students came to the town hall to advocate. They explained how many local public services are largely employed by Algonquin College graduates, so cutting programs such as applied museum studies reduces the number of capable workers for Ottawa’s museums.

“The students were able to demonstrate to me that by cutting these programs there was actually several museums that the City of Ottawa offers that all of a sudden wouldn’t have staff,” she explained.

“There were going to be direct labour implications for programs that the City of Ottawa offers, things that obviously are really important to residents and they did such a good job of making it my problem. I couldn’t look away. And so from then on, I worked really hard to advocate to the provincial government.”

Abakar Malloum

Malloum says he is the best councillor to represent the ward because of his accountability and transparency. Despite the increasing property tax, Malloum says taxpayers have nothing to see for it.

“People need to know what’s going on,” he said. “So, I want to bring transparency and then accountability because I think this issue is important for good management.”

Malloum also explained how issues with transit and housing stem from a lack of addressing the development of critical infrastructure alongside the growing population.

“People, if they want transparency and then accountability, people should vote for me,” he said. “That’s what I think, that’s why I’m running.”

Voters have many opportunities to vote in this upcoming municipal election. The advance voting day is Oct. 16, ahead of the official voting day on Oct 26, both from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Featured Hero | Featured Story | Home Feature | Home Hero | News

Rory Haley

See more articles by
Rory Haley

Unhoused voters want to be heard in Ottawa’s municipal election

Advocates are calling on the next city council to increase support for housing and health programs

Tianna Lawless-Musgrave

Photos: Tianna Lawless-Musgrave

October 13, 2026
Revised: October 13, 2026 2:04pm

Photo: Tianna Lawless-Musgrave

Two potential voters, with two very different lives.

Pamela Birchhall wants to be heard during Ottawa’s municipal election.

Birchhall, who is unhoused, says there needs to be more affordable housing, considering the long wait for people to find a safe place to live.

“A lot of people have been waiting years for housing,” said Birchhall.

“My friend has been in a shelter on the waitlist for two years and still can’t get a place.”

Birchhall described the dangers of having no home and spending days on the streets.

“I feel really vulnerable when I’m out here on the street,” said Birchhall.

“I get hassled, I get drinks thrown at me, I get verbal abuse from other people.”

Added Birchhall: “I feel safer at the mission (The Ottawa Mission), where I’m surrounded by staff and other people that are like me — people that are also in a vulnerable position.”

Homelessness in Ottawa has drawn attention from campaigns during the municipal election. With the Oct. 26 election approaching, advocates are hoping for the unhoused community to finally be supported.

Amber Bramer, director of communications at Cornerstone Housing for Women, said she hopes a future mayor expands efforts like ANCHOR.

The alternate neighbourhood crisis response, otherwise known as ANCHOR, is a 24/7 community-led mobile service team in Ottawa that dispatches trained crisis workers instead of police to support people experiencing mental health or substance use-related crisis.

Bramer shared how mayoral candidates have extended support to her organization.

“We’re hoping for more serious commitment to building more housing in the city,” said Bramer.

“We know that supportive housing reduces harm to the individual, to the community, and produces taxpayer dollars as well.

“The current mayor of Ottawa (Mark Sutcliffe) has come to visit us recently at our emergency shelter to learn more about what our needs are and has strongly supported what we do need,” said Bramer.

“We’ve also been in conversations with Jeff Leiper, who is also running. He is our councillor for the Westboro neighbourhood. He’s been (here) recently to come and learn more about how he can support people experiencing homelessness in our city.”

According to HomelessHub, 32 per cent of homeless individuals in Ottawa identify as Indigenous and 11 per cent of homeless individuals identify as LGBTQ2S+.

Bramer highlighted the disadvantages those communities might face this time of year,

“We support women and gender-diverse individuals, including POC & LGBTQ2S+. We worry that people won’t seek shelter, services and support during the winter because it’s harder to leave at the holiday times,” said Bramer.

“We see a greater influx of people needing shelter services in January. We fear that people are staying in unsafe situations and are unable to access support.”

Bramer said Cornerstone is at capacity every night.

“We have 165 shelter beds including our overflow, so we have to turn away around three people a day,” said Bramer. “By that I mean we contact other shelters to find a place for them.”

Bramer believes another related disadvantage was the end of funding for the province’s remaining supervised consumption sites and related services.

“We see a lot more people using in hidden spaces because they feel stigmatized,” said Bramer.

“They don’t want to get in trouble, so a lot of people are hiding down the streets behind dumpsters.

“We’re seeing more people being unsafe and using unhygienic supplies. Supervised consumption sites readily had those supplies available for folks,” said Bramer.

“That space was somewhere people could go where they felt safe, not stigmatized. They could get access to housing and other healthcare services.”

Bramer also shared the heavy toll it takes on staff.

“We’re finding it difficult because the frontline staff are having to go out into the community more to help reverse overdoses,” said Bramer.

“In August, there was a toxic fentanyl supply out there. Eight people were overdosing at the same time on different streets.

“(We) only have so many staff members to deal with it. There’s some staff burnout and emotional exhaustion,” said Bramer.

Myles Dingwall, manager of communications at the Ottawa Mission, agrees that the province’s decision on supervised consumption sites has led to an increased disadvantage for unhoused people.

“I’ve already seen an impact in terms of discarded paraphernalia and people putting up stuff around our shelters,” said Dingwall.

The Ottawa Mission's doors are always open. Photo credit: Tianna Lawless-Musgrave

“For a lot of our clients experiencing mental illnesses, substance use disorder or related issues, new, affordable homes and supportive housing can go a long way.”

Dingwall believes there are layers to the process of ending homelessness in Ottawa.

“We call on all three levels of government to work together because we do find that unless federal, provincial, and municipal pull on the same rope, the results won’t be quite as good,” said Dingwall.

Featured Hero | Featured Story | Home Feature | Home Hero | News

Tianna Lawless-Musgrave

See more articles by
Tianna Lawless-Musgrave

Wolves soccer teams land on top after a fierce doubleheader

Men's team winger Alessandro Vivolo makes goal-scoring history for Algonquin College

Nylah Henry

Photos: Nylah Henry

October 13, 2026
Revised: October 13, 2026 2:05pm

Photo: Nylah Henry

Shaundre Parkes passes the ball to a teammate.

After two gruelling home matches on Oct. 10, the Algonquin Wolves men’s and women’s soccer teams proved there is nothing stronger than a wolf pack.

The women’s team executed a pristine 4-0 win over the Loyalist Lancers. The men’s team took on the Centennial Colts, pulling out a 1-0 win, keeping its undefeated title and holding the number one spot in the OCAA rankings.

“It felt great to get the three points today. It was a tough game. It was a good opponent, and they gave us a good fight,” said Wolves captain Cristian Aviles-Molina.

Fourth-year right winger, Alessandro Vivolo was a critical player for the Algonquin Wolves, scoring the game-winning goal in the 90th minute, securing the Wolves’ victory over the Colts.

“I feel like it could’ve gone either way, but we got Mr. Clutch (Alessandro Vivolo) over here who got us the game-winning goal and broke the record.”

Scoring his 35th career OCAA regular-season goal, Vivolo is now the sole possessor of the Algonquin men’s soccer all-time goals record. Vivolo passed Mike Caruso, who played for the Algonquin Thunder from 1997-2000.

As Vivolo carved his name into the Algonquin records, the focus shifted to the women’s team, who brought out a performance for the books.

Mallory Armstrong, the fourth-year midfielder, scored her first goal in the 2026/27 season, a header off of a corner kick from Kassandra Da Cruz directly into the top right corner, making it 4-0.

Womens soccer team applauding the crowd after a big win. — The Wolves women's soccer team applauds the crowd after a big win. Photo credit: Nylah Henry

With the Colts and Lancers left in the dust, both teams turn their attention to their next opponent, the St. Lawrence Surge.

This doubleheader also marked the first Feed The Pack game of the 2026/27 varsity season, hosted by the Algonquin Students’ Association. The initiative is a way to give back to the college community through non-perishable food items and donations.

Both soccer teams will return to action on Oct. 14 at home against St. Lawrence. The women’s team will play at 6 p.m. while the men’s team will play at 8:15 p.m.

Featured Hero | Featured Story | Home Feature | Sports & Recreation

Nylah Henry

See more articles by
Nylah Henry

OC Transpo reliability remains a concern for Algonquin College students amid fall schedule changes

As Ottawa's transit system faces continued scrutiny following auditor general report, students share mixed experiences with services

Amanda Mcleod

Photos: Amanda McLeod

October 9, 2026
Revised: October 9, 2026 12:48pm

Photo: Amanda McLeod

Route 88, which offers citywide service for many students, can often be a crowded affair for Algonquin College commuters.

For Sarah Moritsugu, a first-year student in environmental management and assessment at Algonquin College, the new school year meant trusting OC Transpo’s new fall schedule for her commute from Blair Station in the city’s east end to the college in the west end.

“It takes me 50 minutes,” said Moritsugu. “It’s the train to Hurdman and then the 88 all the way down (to the college).”

Moritsugu, while new to this specific route, has used OC Transpo as her primary method of transportation prior to her time at Algonquin, and said she’s experienced the service at its best and its worst.

“The one thing is sometimes the 88 is late, and if the 88 is late then you’re waiting for the next one,” she said. “It can be anywhere up to 20 minutes late.”

Algonquin College student Sarah Moritsugu says OC Transpo could be better but understands the challenges of the Ottawa landscape. Photo credit: Amanda McLeod

OC Transpo has struggled to rebuild public confidence after years of light-rail delays and problems with bus scheduling and route planning — a matter that has become a key issue in this year’s municipal election.

In June 2026, Ottawa Auditor General Nathalie Gougeon released the Audit of Bus Service Planning and Scheduling, which offered a scathing evaluation of OC Transpo’s busing system.

The report found that OC Transpo management, while promising increased bus service reliability and frequent connections, had prioritized cost-saving measures over service outputs and relied on outdated data to plan schedules and routes.

In response to ongoing concerns about reliability, OC Transpo general manager Rick O’Leary held a series of town hall meetings over the summer to hear public feedback and outline the organization’s new Customer-First Action plan.

The agency also took steps to increase bus frequency and address scheduling issues ahead of an expected fall increase in ridership driven by municipal and federal return-to-work office mandates and the annual student return to school.

For some Algonquin students, these changes are proving to produce a manageable commute.

Ketsia Illunga, a third-year business student at Algonquin College, also takes Route 88, commuting to and from Alta Vista, including a transfer on Route 45.

She said her average commute time should take 50 minutes.

Illunga said so far she hasn’t run into any major problems this fall, but said in comparison to traveling to and from Gatineau last year, any improvement is welcome.

“It’s been a pretty positive experience, but I just started this month,” said Illunga. “(From Gatineau) it was very long, one hour and 30 minutes, something like that.”

Algonquin Students’ Association president Jacob Stewart said he’s heard from a number of students with concerns about OC Transpo reliability and that SA leadership has vowed to continue working with the agency to advocate for student needs.

“Transit is actively a priority for us. (Our) goal is to continue building relationships with Rick O’Leary and all the people over there at OC Transpo,” said Stewart. “Hopefully, by building those relationships and having those conversations, we can get something done for the students.

Jacob Stewart, Algonquin College Students' Association president, and Cianah Miller, vice-president, plan to work with OC Transpo to increase bus reliability for students. Photo credit: Amanda McLeod

Steward said he also understands the impact of delays firsthand.

“I’ve had horrible experiences too — I was 15 minutes late the second day of my internship,” he said.

Despite frustrations, students aren’t without understanding of the unique challenges that Ottawa’s vast landscape presents to OC Transpo planners and staff.

“Ottawa’s a big city. There’s a lot of ground to cover and there are some places where OC Transpo doesn’t hit,” said Moritsugu.

She cited a friend in Vanier who finds it more convenient to drive to Parliament than take the bus, despite the close proximity of the two areas.

“I know they’re always working understaffed and respect they’re doing their best, but obviously we can wish for things to be better.”

Featured Hero | Featured Story | Home Feature | Home Hero | News

Amanda Mcleod

See more articles by
Amanda Mcleod

AC international students try an Ontario fall tradition: apple picking

Thirty students spent a Saturday picking apples at Mountain Orchards near Kemptville, Ont., on a trip hosted by the International Education Centre

Talitha Kumi Scott

Photos: Talitha Kumi Scott

October 8, 2026
Revised: October 8, 2026 3:38pm

Photo: Talitha Kumi Scott

Jessica Gunawan holds up a freshly picked apple at Mountain Orchards on Saturday, Oct 3, 2026.

Jessica Gunawan, an international student in computer programming, figures she’s been to more than 30 events put on by the International Education Centre. She ranked a recent orchard adventure near the top, pointing to the beautiful weather and a well-organized day.

Gunawan said the events are a good way to make friends from other programs. After more than 30 of them, she’s still signing up.

A big yellow bus took the students on a 40 minute trip to Mountain Orchards on Oct. 3. At the orchard, a tractor pulled everyone out to the apple trees. Each student filled a bag with white-fleshed, tart apples, and many were happily surprised by how good they tasted.

Apple picking can seem routine to someone who has done it every fall since childhood. For someone experiencing it for the first time, it’s new and exciting.

Away from the trees, students could jump into the hay or get lost in a corn maze about 2.4 metres tall. The orchard sold barbecue, doughnuts and pies and the farm market had just about everything made from apples, including cider.

Mountain Orchards has been part of fall activities in eastern Ontario for decades. The farm has grown apples since 1932, when the first trees were grafted from the original McIntosh trees in Dundela, about 30 kilometres away, according to the orchard’s website. The Gibson family started what it calls eastern Ontario’s first pick-your-own apple operation in 1970 and the Lyall and Hobson families bought the farm in 1973.

Today the orchard has more than 10,000 dwarf trees. Two wind towers protect the spring blossoms from frost and drip irrigation keeps the trees watered through dry spells. When it hails, the website says, the family relies on prayer.

Eric Cheung, an Algonquin College international student, reaches for an apple at Mountain Orchards near Kemptville, Ont. Photo credit: Talitha Kumi Scott

The International Education Centre runs outings so international students can meet people outside the classroom.

Niamh O’Shea, manager of international student integration at the IEC, said many of the students the centre works with come from places where taking part in a harvest isn’t a tradition, where fall isn’t even a discernible season.

“It’s an opportunity for students to learn a little bit more about Ontario, some of the agriculture we grow here,” she said. “But really an opportunity for students to have a fun day out.”

In Ontario, this time of year brings apples and corn.

“In Tunisia, it’s olives and dates,” said Mahdi Raboudi, a recent graduate of Algonquin’s building construction technician program.

Tabitha Bogonko and Ilukena Maswenyeho show off their freshly-picked apples. Photo credit: Talitha Kumi Scott

Getting to seasonal fall activities is often the prohibitive part for a lot of students. O’Shea said many couldn’t make the 40-minute trip on their own.

“It’s not always easy for the students that we serve to go out into a place like Mountain Orchards,” she said. “It’s not an opportunity that every student can make happen by themselves.

“We want to make sure that some of these fun, quintessential seasonal activities are accessible to our students,” she added.

More is coming for international students who want to immerse themselves in Canadian culture. InterVarsity, a campus Christian club, is hosting a Thanksgiving Feast on Oct. 8, aimed at international students who don’t usually celebrate the holiday. The IEC’s Coffee Break meetup also runs every two weeks, giving students a regular place to see familiar faces between bigger outings.

Events like this remind international students that they aren’t on their own here and give them an easy introduction to Canadian seasonal traditions they may not have grown up with.

Featured Hero | Featured Story | Home Feature | Home Hero | News

Talitha Kumi Scott

See more articles by
Talitha Kumi Scott

Students ready to cast their ballots in the upcoming municipal election

For first and second-time voters, the Oct. 26 municipal election offers a chance to weigh in on issues affecting their communities

Ben Charles

Photos: Ben Charles

October 6, 2026
Revised: October 6, 2026 9:54pm

Photo: Ben Charles

Candidate signs on Fallowfield road.

The upcoming Ottawa municipal election will give local students a chance to have their voices heard at the polls, with some using it as their first opportunity to vote.

More than half of Canadians aged 18 to 24 voted in the 2025 federal election, according to Elections Canada. Turnout among voters in that age group reached 55.9 percent, up from 46.7 percent in 2021.

There is no comparable age breakdown for Ottawa’s municipal election, but young voters are eager to mark their ballots this month.

For 18-year-old Algonquin College business administration and marketing student Rowan Randall, the upcoming municipal election will be his first opportunity to vote.

Randall wants to use his vote to have a say in what he believes needs to change in Ottawa. Public transit, road infrastructure and housing are among the issues he wants improved.

Business and Marketing student Rowan Randall — Business and marketing student Rowan Randall. Photo credit: Ben Charles

Twenty-year-old Algonquin College business administration student Finn Swale will also be voting for the first time.

For Swale, the environmental consequences of new technology are a key consideration as he decides how to vote.

“The issue that matters most to me would be the expansion of generative AI and data centres,” Swale said. “Specifically, their impact on the environments around them.”

Swale said seeing what he considers the rapid, unregulated growth of generative AI has made him reflect on the importance of electing the right person to represent his needs.

Business and administration student Finn Swale. Photo credit: Ben Charles

For 19-year-old Carleton University information technology student Jahiem Simpson, the upcoming election will be his second time voting, but his first in a municipal election.

Simpson, who lives in Stittsville, cast his first vote during last year’s federal election. He said he’s voting in the municipal election because he wants to see improvements closer to home.

“I decided to vote this time around simply because I want to see improvements in my neighbourhood infrastructure,” he said.

Informations Technology student Jahiem Simpson — Informations technology student Jahiem Simpson. Photo credit: Ben Charles

The increased participation among younger voters in the 2025 federal election comes as Elections Canada continues to track differences in turnout between age groups.

The municipal election will be held on Oct. 26. Voters can cast their ballots at voting stations in each ward. Locations can be found here.

Featured Hero | Featured Story | Home Feature | Home Hero | News

Ben Charles

See more articles by
Ben Charles

Sports briefs: Men’s soccer Wolves continue undefeated season

Women's soccer team posts draw, Gee-Gees reclaim Panda title, Senators win season opener on the road

Declan Kenny

Photos: Declan Kenny

October 5, 2026
Revised: October 5, 2026 3:23pm

Photo: Declan Kenny

University of Ottawa Gee-Gees take on Carleton Ravens at TD Place on Sunday for the annual Panda Game.

The Wolves men’s soccer team is on a tear, continuing its perfect season at George Brown College with a dominant 5-0 victory on Sunday.

Alessandro Vivolo led the way with three goals, all in the second half, while Ezekeil Nartey and Cayden McMullin contributed to the scoresheet with one goal each.

The Wolves hope to remain undefeated as they take on Centennial College at home this Sunday at 3:15 p.m. Their first head-to-head matchup this year ended in a 3-1 victory for Algonquin.

Wolves women’s soccer squad ties George Brown

The women’s soccer Wolves pelted George Brown with shots but played them to a 2-2 draw on Sunday, with all goals coming in the final 10 minutes.

Algonquin’s goals came from Jasmine Young and Kassandra Da Cruz while George Brown had contributions from Jaidyn Mathieu and Peyton Coley’s 90th minute penalty kick, securing the equalizer.

The Wolves head home and look to secure their first victory since Sept. 19 when they take on Loyalist College on Saturday at 1 p.m. They are 2-3-2 this season.

uOttawa edges Carleton in annual pigskin showdown

The uOttawa Gee-Gees have reclaimed the coveted Pedro trophy after defeating the Carleton Ravens 35-32 in the 57th edition of the historic Panda Game.

uOttawa wideout Devaughn Blackwood scored three touchdowns in a game that saw several lead changes. Both teams put their high-powered offence on display for a near-capacity TD Place, totaling nearly 1,000 yards of offence between the two.

A Gee-Gees field goal with one minute remaining was the deciding factor. The Gee-Gees improved their record to 4-2 while Carleton fell to 0-5.

The Panda Game has seen uOttawa take the crown 39 times in its history while Carleton has won 18 times, most recently in last year’s edition.

Both teams are back in action Saturday, with the Gee-Gees on the road against York and Carleton hosting Western.

Ottawa Senators win season opener on the road

The Ottawa Senators began their season on a high note on Saturday with a 3-2 victory over their provincial rival Toronto Maple Leafs.

Leading the way with a goal and an assist was Thomas Chabot, who was recently named captain following the controversial off-season departure of Brady Tkachuk. Claude Giroux added two assists and Linus Ullmark stood out, saving 27 of 29 shots.

For the Leafs, Kirill Marchenko scored his first goal after a recent trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets, while captain Auston Matthews also potted his first of the season.

The Senators get back in action Monday night in Boston for their second game of the season while the Maple Leafs host the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night. The next edition of the Battle of Ontario will take place Jan. 20 in Ottawa.

Featured Hero | Featured Story | Home Feature | Sports & Recreation

Declan Kenny

See more articles by
Declan Kenny

Ottawa Senators aim for another playoff appearance despite major moves this offseason

Chabot shines in season opener against the Maple Leafs, giving fans confidence in their new captain and potential playoffs in 2027

Evan Mullen

Photos: Evan Mullen

October 5, 2026
Revised: October 5, 2026 3:04pm

Photo: Evan Mullen

The Canadian Tire Centre awaits its Senators on ice.

The Ottawa Senators won their season opener 3-2 against divisional rival Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night in Toronto, giving fans relief after a chaotic off-season.

New Sens captain Thomas Chabot was named the first star of the game, recording a goal and an assist.

The team went through a dramatic few months ahead of the new season.

Sens GM Steve Staios traded former captain Brady Tkachuk to Florida for the 2026 ninth and 25th picks, a 2027 second-rounder and a conditional 2029 first round pick. The ninth-overall pick was then traded to San Jose for promising young forward William Eklund.

Ottawa fans are watching the impact of the roster changes.

“Staios was pretty clear after he traded Tkachuk when he said the team won’t take a step back, and I believe him,” said Coming In Hot co-host and journalist Cody Gaudreault.

Eklund registered 58 and 53 points over the last two seasons with San Jose. In 2021, Eklund presented a strong case to be drafted first overall, eventually falling to seventh to the Sharks. The Senators hope to capitalize on his high-end potential.

“Of course, with all the new players like (Carter) Yakemchuk, Eklund and (Andre) Burakovsky, there are always question marks and an adjustment period, which is why I think a lot of other reporters outside of Ottawa are predicting the Sens to miss the playoffs, but I think they’ll make it this year,” said Gaudreault.

The Senators’ biggest issue last year was their goaltending. According to MoneyPuck, the Senators finished with the fewest expected goals against but ranked 16th in goals against. With no real change in net, fans remain skeptical.

“If injuries or bad goaltending aren’t as big a problem as they were last year, this team can be scary,” said Gaudreault.

Keaghan Ruiter, a student at Carleton University, has high hopes for the team.

“I expect the Senators to make the playoffs for a third straight season, but I think goaltending will be one of the biggest factors. Linus Ullmark needs to build off his strong finish to last season and be consistent throughout the year,” said Ruiter.

“Ottawa has the offensive talent to compete, but they’ll need strong goaltending to take the next step and make a deeper playoff run,” said Ruiter.

The Senators announced 11-year veteran Chabot as team captain days before the season opener.

Gaudreault was pleased with the team’s choice.

“It’s also nice to see the Sens with a francophone captain,” said Gaudreault. “I don’t think it’s why he gets the C, but it’s for sure a bonus. Ever since the new owners came in, they’ve been trying to reach a wider francophone audience, and Chabot and (Claude) Giroux are favourites within the community.”

The tall, smooth skating defenseman has gone through it all with the team, making his NHL debut in the 2016-17 season, the year the Senators made the conference final, to then a seven-season playoffs drought, and now, back to back playoffs.

Ruiter also likes Chabot as the team’s leader.

“Chabot has been with Ottawa for 10 years, so he knows the team, the city and what it’s taken to get here. I also like moving on from Tkachuk and giving the team a fresh start with Chabot leading this next chapter,” said Ruiter.

The Senators’ next game is Monday against another divisional rival, the Boston Bruins. Their home opener is against the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 8.

Sports & Recreation

Evan Mullen

See more articles by
Evan Mullen

Wolves basketball teams split doubleheader in close exhibition contests

The women’s team won and the men’s team lost

Ben Charles

Photos: Ben Charles

October 4, 2026
Revised: October 4, 2026 9:56pm

Photo: Ben Charles

Guard Shyeem Brown looks for a passing opportunity.

The Wolves women’s team won Friday’s exhibition basketball doubleheader against Heritage College at the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre.

The Wolves started with momentum, but the second and third quarters proved difficult as Heritage stayed close and challenged the Wolves on both ends of the court.

Algonquin entered the fourth quarter needing to regain control.

McLean said the team remained focused despite the challenges it faced.

“Perseverance was the key to today’s win,” McLean said.

The Wolves began to turn the game midway through the fourth quarter. McLean said the team became more focused defensively while improving ball movement on offence.

“There was a point midway through the fourth quarter where we started to lock in on defence and started to move the ball well on offence, and that’s when the score started to shift in our favour,” McLean said.

The Wolves held on to secure the 52-48 victory.

Guard Kaitlyn Harvey attempting to drive to the basket. Photo credit: Ben Charles

Despite the win, McLean said the team still has work to do before the regular season begins.

“We have to focus on consistent play,” he said. “We are still young and early in the season. Learning to play at a consistent level is going to be key to our success this year.”

McLean also identified decision-making as an area for improvement, saying the team needs to better recognize what is happening on the court instead of forcing plays.

“One thing we need to continue to focus on developing is our ability to read what’s in front of us,” he said.

Guard Prissy Chuoi guarding a heritage college player at inbound. — Guard Prissy Chuoi guarding a Heritage College player at inbound. Photo credit: Ben Charles

Men’s basketball battles back but falls short

The men took the court at 8 p.m. against Montmorency and fought back from a deficit.

Wolves guard Shyheem Brown said the Wolves stayed composed and kept competing.

“They had a stretch where they were kind of pulling the lead, and we didn’t let it get to us,” Brown said. “We fought back, and we ended up tying the game and even being up a point in the fourth quarter.”

Brown said the men’s team also improved their work on ball screens but struggled to stop Montmorency from getting into the paint.

“The main thing that we struggled to capitalize on was just stopping dribble penetration,” he said. “If we stopped the ball penetration, we could’ve easily stopped them much better on the defensive side.”

Struggling to create offensive opportunities, the men’s team lost possession several times after running out the shot clock.

“There were a lot of times where we were getting shots up at the last second of the shot clock,” Brown said. “We kind of got to get into our offence a bit earlier and try and get some better looks.”

Wolves forward Aydin Gilani also pointed to defence as an area that needed improvement.

“Our defence could have been much better,” Gilani said. “We were all over the place and weren’t communicating or staying organized.”

Gilani said the team showed more energy after halftime and kept competing despite the deficit.

“We came out with more effort and intensity, and we continued to compete even though we were down.”

The Wolves fought back and took a one-point lead in the fourth quarter, but Montmorency held on for the 65-63 victory.

Brown said the comeback showed the team’s willingness to stay together.

“We fought back as a team,” he said. “We win as a team. We lose as a team.”

Both Wolves basketball teams are scheduled to open the regular season Oct. 23 at home against George Brown.

Featured Hero | Featured Story | Home Feature | Sports & Recreation

Ben Charles

See more articles by
Ben Charles

People at Truth and Reconciliation ceremony say day means more than wearing orange

Survivors, families and community members gathered on Parliament Hill on Wednesday to remember the children who never returned home and reflect on what reconciliation means

Sienna Gauthier

Photos: Sienna Gauthier

October 2, 2026
Revised: October 2, 2026 3:14pm

Photo: Sienna Gauthier

Truth and Reconciliation Day volunteers hold a red fabric banner displaying the names of hundreds of children who never returned home.

Traditional music from the Eagle River Singers opened the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation gathering at Parliament Hill on Wednesday as attendees gathered to remember the children who never returned home from residential schools.

The multilingual ceremony brought together residential school survivors, elders, students and community members. The atmosphere shifted between pride, reflection and grief as speaker Claudette Commanda opened by thanking attendees and inviting survivors on stage to tell their stories.

Earl Wood, a Cree broadcaster, and Melissa Mollen Dupuis, an Innu activist and broadcaster, later joined the ceremony, speaking about residential schools, stolen land, forced adoptions, loss of identity and intergenerational trauma. Their main message was simple: “We are still here today and every day.”

People gather on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for the annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation ceremony. Photo credit: Sienna Gauthier

For Ann Jeni, the day is very personal.

“My dad was in a residential school and my mom was part of the Sixties Scoop,” Jeni said. “I don’t have grandparents because we never grew up with them.”

Jeni’s mother was removed from her family as a child as part of the Sixties Scoop, a period when thousands of Indigenous children were separated from their families and placed in foster care or adopted, often by non-Indigenous families. The practice resulted in many children losing connections to their families, communities and cultures.

For Jeni, remembering the experiences of previous generations is part of breaking the cycle of generational trauma.

“My son, at least he has his grandma now,” she said. “Maybe he doesn’t have a great grandma because of it, but he has his grandma.”

For residential school survivor Dallas Sutton-Taylor, remembrance also means learning about the experiences of people affected by the residential school system.

“Just knowing you’re leaving with more awareness too, hearing everybody and what people have been through should cause reflection” Sutton-Taylor said.

Sutton-Taylor said reconnecting with Indigenous culture has also been part of his journey after growing up without knowing his identity or learning traditional practices.

“I didn’t grow up learning how to do so many things that I wished I would have learned,” he said.

A Truth and Reconciliation ceremony volunteer overlooks the crowd on Parliament Hill. Photo credit: Sienna Gauthier

Maya Garnell, a volunteer, says reconciliation should go farther than wearing an orange short or attending an event.

“Remembering the children means making sure their stories are not reduced to statistics. I hope that after today, the stories of these children don’t go unrecognized and aren’t just seen as numbers,” Garnell said. “Indigenous people are still facing hardships to this day and it’s important to continuously educate ourselves on the atrocities that took place.”

As the ceremony wrapped up, the crowd left with tears and heavy hearts. While emotional support booths were available, the day was a reminder that reconciliation does not end when the orange shirts come off.

Jeni said remembering should happen every day.

“I know it’s just one day a year we gather to remember, but you know, it’s everyday for me almost,” she said.

Featured Hero | Featured Story | Home Feature | Home Hero | News