Bus fare increase could take a toll on riders

By Jean-Sébastien Marier

OC Transpo riders might soon face a fare increase and service cuts. (Jean-Sebastien Marier/offCentre)

The City of Ottawa needs to make cuts to balance its budget and OC Transpo riders may have to take a hike.

Constable’s community-centered career celebrated

By Samia Madwar

Cst. Allen Percival (left) will take on the role that made Cst. Tim Senack (right) a known face in the community. (Madwar/offCentre)

Constable Tim Senack has spent the past fifteen years patrolling Hintonburg’s neighbourhoods on foot and on bicycle.  This type of grassroots, community-centred pavement pounding has helped change the face of Hintonburg.

Anti-crime program on the chopping block

By Evgeniya Kulgina

Crime Prevention Ottawa has helped Hintonburg to become a safer community. (Li/offCentre)

Crime Prevention Ottawa could be the next victim of city budget cuts, and Hintonburg community leaders are speaking out.

Mobile art makes an appearance in Hintonburg

By Anita Li

The C4 Gallery is a display that showcases artistic work by local Ottawa residents. (Li/offCentre)

Flanked by large vending machines and half a dozen newspaper racks, the C4 Gallery is almost invisible in the Hintonburg Community Centre.

Crafters gear up for Christmas

By Elyse Skura

Christina Ballhorn is busily crocheting, trying to replace some of her sold stock at Sunday’s Idle Hands craft sale. (Skura/offCentre)

Despite another tough year for the economy, Ottawa crafters are optimistic about the upcoming Christmas season. And if last weekend’s busy Idle Hands craft show was any indication, they have reason to be excited.

SCAN hits a snag

The Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods legislation (SCAN) is designed to protect neighbourhoods, like this one near Chinatown, by targeting properties that house habitual criminal activity. The bill, championed by Hintonburg's Security Committee, was killed in a committee meeting last week in Toronto. Ottawa MPP Yasir Naqvi is not giving up on his fight for SCAN. (Israel/offCentre)

By Jayme Poisson

It has been a disappointing week for Cheryl Parrott and her colleagues at the Hintonburg Security Committee. The community organization saw their bid to get legislation targeting high-crime residences squashed by opposition politicians in Toronto.

Raw Sugar Cafe inspires and caffeinates locals

A young customer enjoys a latte and a good read at Raw Sugar Cafe. (Wei/offCentre)

By Renee Wei

For some, visiting Raw Sugar Café is a chance to sit in the café’s antique chairs, dream and wonder. For others, it’s the chance to watch passersby walking down Somerset Street. But the café is quickly becoming a hub for local activists.

Hintonburg programs help at-risk youth stay on track

Justin Golden left home at the age of 15 and turned to alcohol. Now, he’s getting his life back on track with the help of Ottawa’s Operation Come Home. (Skura/offCentre)

By Elyse Skura

For community groups in Hintonburg, preventing youth crime and gang involvement starts early.

John school: An effective education?

By  Evgeniya Kulgina

During a recent prostitution sweep by the Ottawa police, 11 people were arrested on prostitution-related charges. Five of them were released because they qualified for the Pre-Charge Diversion “john school” program. John schools have been around in Ottawa for some time, but there are no official studies on how effective they are in fighting prostitution. OffCentre’s Evgeniya Kulgina discussed the issue with Ottawa Police sergeant Jim Elves.

Shawarma and community: Melrose Groceteria’s recipe for success

By Jean-Sebastien Marier, Renee Wei and Samia Madwar

Buddy and Helen Saikaly’s Melrose Groceteria may have closed its doors for the last time on Saturday, but Hintonburg residents haven’t seen the last of Helen’s cooking.