Ariel Troster
@arieltroster.com
City Councillor for #SomersetWard in Ottawa. Queer Jew. A better city is possible. Let’s build it together. 🏳️🌈
Pinned
The little things add up: broken sidewalks, unkempt weeds, the slow pace of snow removal. Austerity has a cost and a real impact on our quality of life.
We ask city staff to put together budgets, but they are working with scraps.
We can do so much better.
We ask city staff to put together budgets, but they are working with scraps.
We can do so much better.
Every winter, I hear about sidewalks that are impassable due to insufficient snow clearing. Now the city says it doesn’t have the money to improve our winter quality maintenance standards. This is just one of the ways that austerity costs us all.
ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...
ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...
Deachman: Ottawa's snow removal standards are bad, with no plans on getting better
The city's public works department has once again decided not to update its Winter Maintenance Quality Standards. | Opinion
ottawacitizen.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Every winter, I hear about sidewalks that are impassable due to insufficient snow clearing. Now the city says it doesn’t have the money to improve our winter quality maintenance standards. This is just one of the ways that austerity costs us all.
ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...
ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...
What an incredible evening, honouring Ottawa residents who have made groundbreaking contributions to our city. I was lucky to help bestow the Order of Ottawa on 2 incredible Somerset Ward residents, and celebrate another who has dedicated her career to helping the most vulnerable in our community.
November 28, 2025 at 1:57 PM
What an incredible evening, honouring Ottawa residents who have made groundbreaking contributions to our city. I was lucky to help bestow the Order of Ottawa on 2 incredible Somerset Ward residents, and celebrate another who has dedicated her career to helping the most vulnerable in our community.
The little things add up: broken sidewalks, unkempt weeds, the slow pace of snow removal. Austerity has a cost and a real impact on our quality of life.
We ask city staff to put together budgets, but they are working with scraps.
We can do so much better.
We ask city staff to put together budgets, but they are working with scraps.
We can do so much better.
November 27, 2025 at 7:27 PM
The little things add up: broken sidewalks, unkempt weeds, the slow pace of snow removal. Austerity has a cost and a real impact on our quality of life.
We ask city staff to put together budgets, but they are working with scraps.
We can do so much better.
We ask city staff to put together budgets, but they are working with scraps.
We can do so much better.
Bill 60 means that we will not be able to add cycle tracks to Albert and Slater Street or extend the O’Connor bike lane to Wellington Street. It’s an absurd overreach by the Ford government that will make all road users less safe and waste millions. I hate it here.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Ottawa says new provincial bill likely kills at least 3 bike lane projects | CBC News
New provincial legislation prohibiting how municipalities can build bike lanes means three projects in Ottawa likely can't move forward and others will get more expensive, according to a city report.
www.cbc.ca
November 27, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Bill 60 means that we will not be able to add cycle tracks to Albert and Slater Street or extend the O’Connor bike lane to Wellington Street. It’s an absurd overreach by the Ford government that will make all road users less safe and waste millions. I hate it here.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Thanks to Synapcity for inviting @stephanieplante.bsky.social and I to speak at your AGM tonight, about our experiences as first-time city councillors. Synapcity’s civic engagement boot camp and other community engagement trainings are vital to helping people contribute to building a better city.
November 27, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Thanks to Synapcity for inviting @stephanieplante.bsky.social and I to speak at your AGM tonight, about our experiences as first-time city councillors. Synapcity’s civic engagement boot camp and other community engagement trainings are vital to helping people contribute to building a better city.
It was an honour to join the Grandmothers Advocacy Network (GRAN) today, to officially kick off the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
November 25, 2025 at 9:15 PM
It was an honour to join the Grandmothers Advocacy Network (GRAN) today, to officially kick off the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
To anyone who experienced the utter traffic chaos yesterday due to a big event at McNabb Park: I was not informed about this event in advance. It seems that the venue was booked last minute and the organizers misrepresented how many people they were expecting.
November 24, 2025 at 12:25 PM
To anyone who experienced the utter traffic chaos yesterday due to a big event at McNabb Park: I was not informed about this event in advance. It seems that the venue was booked last minute and the organizers misrepresented how many people they were expecting.
Great seeing so many partners from local faith communities and housing organizations at the Multifaith Housing Initiative’s National Housing Day celebration today.
Grateful to all of the donors and volunteers who work to ensure that affordable housing gets built in our city.
Grateful to all of the donors and volunteers who work to ensure that affordable housing gets built in our city.
November 23, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Great seeing so many partners from local faith communities and housing organizations at the Multifaith Housing Initiative’s National Housing Day celebration today.
Grateful to all of the donors and volunteers who work to ensure that affordable housing gets built in our city.
Grateful to all of the donors and volunteers who work to ensure that affordable housing gets built in our city.
For some reason, I was a theatre kid who never saw Wicked on stage, so the ending of Wicked: For Good had me gasping in surprise.
Absolute movie magic. (In addition to being a very relevant treatise on how power corrupts).
Go see it!
Absolute movie magic. (In addition to being a very relevant treatise on how power corrupts).
Go see it!
November 23, 2025 at 2:32 AM
For some reason, I was a theatre kid who never saw Wicked on stage, so the ending of Wicked: For Good had me gasping in surprise.
Absolute movie magic. (In addition to being a very relevant treatise on how power corrupts).
Go see it!
Absolute movie magic. (In addition to being a very relevant treatise on how power corrupts).
Go see it!
Reposted by Ariel Troster
Bill 60 vote on Monday. Send your letter via Horizon Ottawa website today!
#ottawa #onpoli#BikeTooter
www.horizonottawa.ca/back_off_ford
#ottawa #onpoli#BikeTooter
www.horizonottawa.ca/back_off_ford
Tell Ford to Back Off Our Bike and Bus Lanes!
www.horizonottawa.ca
November 22, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Bill 60 vote on Monday. Send your letter via Horizon Ottawa website today!
#ottawa #onpoli#BikeTooter
www.horizonottawa.ca/back_off_ford
#ottawa #onpoli#BikeTooter
www.horizonottawa.ca/back_off_ford
Thank you to Carlos Zapata for inviting me to @uottawa.ca today, to check out projects that students are working on to combat youth homelessness in Ottawa.
They are spending all weekend working in “sprints,” supported by mentors and people with lived experience.
They are spending all weekend working in “sprints,” supported by mentors and people with lived experience.
November 22, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Thank you to Carlos Zapata for inviting me to @uottawa.ca today, to check out projects that students are working on to combat youth homelessness in Ottawa.
They are spending all weekend working in “sprints,” supported by mentors and people with lived experience.
They are spending all weekend working in “sprints,” supported by mentors and people with lived experience.
The latest issue of the Somerset Ward newsletter is out, with my hot takes on the draft city budget, stats showing the incredible success of ANCHOR, a window into our city’s food security crisis, and more.
Read and sign up here: www.arieltroster.com/swm_61
Read and sign up here: www.arieltroster.com/swm_61
November 22, 2025 at 1:40 PM
The latest issue of the Somerset Ward newsletter is out, with my hot takes on the draft city budget, stats showing the incredible success of ANCHOR, a window into our city’s food security crisis, and more.
Read and sign up here: www.arieltroster.com/swm_61
Read and sign up here: www.arieltroster.com/swm_61
Had a blast at the @acorncanada.bsky.social trivia fundraiser, with @jleiper.bsky.social and @stephanieplante.bsky.social insight.
ACORN is a tenant-led union of low + middle income residents who fight for rent control, better landlord-tenant laws and fair banking fees, among many other things.
ACORN is a tenant-led union of low + middle income residents who fight for rent control, better landlord-tenant laws and fair banking fees, among many other things.
November 22, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Had a blast at the @acorncanada.bsky.social trivia fundraiser, with @jleiper.bsky.social and @stephanieplante.bsky.social insight.
ACORN is a tenant-led union of low + middle income residents who fight for rent control, better landlord-tenant laws and fair banking fees, among many other things.
ACORN is a tenant-led union of low + middle income residents who fight for rent control, better landlord-tenant laws and fair banking fees, among many other things.
Thanks to the Council on Aging for inviting me to Drag Me to Lunch at the Montgomery Legion on Kent.
Such a great opportunity to promote intergenerational understanding and allyship.
Such a great opportunity to promote intergenerational understanding and allyship.
November 21, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Thanks to the Council on Aging for inviting me to Drag Me to Lunch at the Montgomery Legion on Kent.
Such a great opportunity to promote intergenerational understanding and allyship.
Such a great opportunity to promote intergenerational understanding and allyship.
Reposted by Ariel Troster
SAVE THE DATE
📅 December 2nd 6:30-8:30pm
👇Join the Vision Zero Ottawa project!
schoolstreetsottawa.ca/day-zero-of-...
📅 December 2nd 6:30-8:30pm
👇Join the Vision Zero Ottawa project!
schoolstreetsottawa.ca/day-zero-of-...
November 21, 2025 at 12:18 AM
SAVE THE DATE
📅 December 2nd 6:30-8:30pm
👇Join the Vision Zero Ottawa project!
schoolstreetsottawa.ca/day-zero-of-...
📅 December 2nd 6:30-8:30pm
👇Join the Vision Zero Ottawa project!
schoolstreetsottawa.ca/day-zero-of-...
Started the morning bright and early with Habitat for Humanity’s National Housing Week breakfast. Awesome to see so many council colleagues there, along with many of our city’s greatest housing leaders. Habitat’s affordable home ownership model is a key solution to the housing crisis.
November 20, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Started the morning bright and early with Habitat for Humanity’s National Housing Week breakfast. Awesome to see so many council colleagues there, along with many of our city’s greatest housing leaders. Habitat’s affordable home ownership model is a key solution to the housing crisis.
Reposted by Ariel Troster
Season 6 of Canada’s Drag Race begins tonight and Ottawa is proudly represented! Saltina Shaker brings incredible creativity from right here in our city. Karamilk also has deep roots in our drag community and first rose to prominence on an Ottawa stage. Ottawa is cheering you on very step of the way
November 20, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Season 6 of Canada’s Drag Race begins tonight and Ottawa is proudly represented! Saltina Shaker brings incredible creativity from right here in our city. Karamilk also has deep roots in our drag community and first rose to prominence on an Ottawa stage. Ottawa is cheering you on very step of the way
Reposted by Ariel Troster
Today, November 20, is a day to remember the lives lost to transphobia and reflect on the continued work needed to build a safer and more inclusive community, here in #OttCity and beyond, free from gender-based violence and discrimination.
We remember. We reflect. We commit to change.
We remember. We reflect. We commit to change.
November 20, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Today, November 20, is a day to remember the lives lost to transphobia and reflect on the continued work needed to build a safer and more inclusive community, here in #OttCity and beyond, free from gender-based violence and discrimination.
We remember. We reflect. We commit to change.
We remember. We reflect. We commit to change.
Great to see friends from Capital Pride, the Little Italy BIA, the Ottawa Fringe Festival and the Downtown BIA (among many others) at the Ottawa Festivals Network summit at City Hall today!
November 19, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Great to see friends from Capital Pride, the Little Italy BIA, the Ottawa Fringe Festival and the Downtown BIA (among many others) at the Ottawa Festivals Network summit at City Hall today!
The PWHL was very clear that they would not play in a smaller arena. Some of us tried to get council to take them seriously when we voted on Lansdowne 2.0. If this bad deal costs us our women’s hockey team, it will be unforgivable.
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
‘We will not play at Lansdowne 2.0’: PWHL says all other options on table for Ottawa Charge
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) says all options are on the table to keep the Ottawa Charge in the capital, but the team won’t be playing at the smaller hockey arena at Lansdowne once it...
www.ctvnews.ca
November 19, 2025 at 1:58 AM
The PWHL was very clear that they would not play in a smaller arena. Some of us tried to get council to take them seriously when we voted on Lansdowne 2.0. If this bad deal costs us our women’s hockey team, it will be unforgivable.
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
Reposted by Ariel Troster
This is urgent and I need your help.
Doug Ford is rushing Bill 33 and Bill 60 through — they're just one vote away from becoming law.
Bill 33 silences parents and cuts student services. Bill 60 makes it easier for landlords to evict tenants and raise rents, and opens the door to privatizing water.
Doug Ford is rushing Bill 33 and Bill 60 through — they're just one vote away from becoming law.
Bill 33 silences parents and cuts student services. Bill 60 makes it easier for landlords to evict tenants and raise rents, and opens the door to privatizing water.
November 18, 2025 at 3:19 PM
This is urgent and I need your help.
Doug Ford is rushing Bill 33 and Bill 60 through — they're just one vote away from becoming law.
Bill 33 silences parents and cuts student services. Bill 60 makes it easier for landlords to evict tenants and raise rents, and opens the door to privatizing water.
Doug Ford is rushing Bill 33 and Bill 60 through — they're just one vote away from becoming law.
Bill 33 silences parents and cuts student services. Bill 60 makes it easier for landlords to evict tenants and raise rents, and opens the door to privatizing water.
Reposted by Ariel Troster
The 2026 draft Ottawa budget announces further delays to the Carling bus lane project, estimating the completion time for a bus lane project at 2035. This project was started in 2016 with designs released in 2017, which would make this be a 19 year long project just to install interim bus lanes.
November 13, 2025 at 1:38 AM
The 2026 draft Ottawa budget announces further delays to the Carling bus lane project, estimating the completion time for a bus lane project at 2035. This project was started in 2016 with designs released in 2017, which would make this be a 19 year long project just to install interim bus lanes.
Another morning of trying to convince my teen that it is unfashionable to be cold and that she should wear a proper coat.
Was I successful? No.
Will I be successful tomorrow? Also no.
Was I successful? No.
Will I be successful tomorrow? Also no.
November 18, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Another morning of trying to convince my teen that it is unfashionable to be cold and that she should wear a proper coat.
Was I successful? No.
Will I be successful tomorrow? Also no.
Was I successful? No.
Will I be successful tomorrow? Also no.
The first year of ANCHOR has been incredibly successful, with more than 4,000 calls answered and 92% requiring no police intervention. Thanks to Kristy Cameron for having me on CFRA today to talk about why de-tasking of police is working and how we need to scale up ANCHOR city-wide.
November 17, 2025 at 8:55 PM
The first year of ANCHOR has been incredibly successful, with more than 4,000 calls answered and 92% requiring no police intervention. Thanks to Kristy Cameron for having me on CFRA today to talk about why de-tasking of police is working and how we need to scale up ANCHOR city-wide.
Reposted by Ariel Troster
Beginning January 1, 2026, the City of Ottawa will no longer be responsible for collecting your blue and black bin.
Under regulations from the Government of Ontario, recycling is going provincial.
Learn more at: Ottawa.ca/IPR.
Continue to put out your bins as normal.
Under regulations from the Government of Ontario, recycling is going provincial.
Learn more at: Ottawa.ca/IPR.
Continue to put out your bins as normal.
Recycling | City of Ottawa
The new province-wide program means producers are now responsible for collecting and recycling materials across Ontario. The City of Ottawa will continue to handle garbage and organics collection.
Ottawa.ca
November 17, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Beginning January 1, 2026, the City of Ottawa will no longer be responsible for collecting your blue and black bin.
Under regulations from the Government of Ontario, recycling is going provincial.
Learn more at: Ottawa.ca/IPR.
Continue to put out your bins as normal.
Under regulations from the Government of Ontario, recycling is going provincial.
Learn more at: Ottawa.ca/IPR.
Continue to put out your bins as normal.