Ariel Troster
@arieltroster.com
City Councillor for #SomersetWard in Ottawa. Queer Jew. A better city is possible. Let’s build it together. 🏳️🌈
Pinned
You could be eligible for a rent reduction—no matter what your landlord says. Pass this on, especially if you or your friends live in a multi-residential building in Ottawa that is more than 15 years old.
Reposted by Ariel Troster
I am very sorry to hear of Evelyn Gigantes' passing. She served Ottawa Centre as our MPP, and she is one of a few women of her generation from whom, when times were tough, I would often get a quiet, encouraging note. I did not know her well, but I know she will be missed by many.
January 17, 2026 at 5:15 PM
I am very sorry to hear of Evelyn Gigantes' passing. She served Ottawa Centre as our MPP, and she is one of a few women of her generation from whom, when times were tough, I would often get a quiet, encouraging note. I did not know her well, but I know she will be missed by many.
In this week’s instalment of #SweatLocal, I got to take @stephanieplante.bsky.social and Marty Carr to my home gym: Iron North Studio in Chinatown. Thanks to Jenna and team for welcoming us and for creating such a wonderful space to get strong, learn new skills and build community.
January 17, 2026 at 3:38 PM
In this week’s instalment of #SweatLocal, I got to take @stephanieplante.bsky.social and Marty Carr to my home gym: Iron North Studio in Chinatown. Thanks to Jenna and team for welcoming us and for creating such a wonderful space to get strong, learn new skills and build community.
Reposted by Ariel Troster
Housing starts up 58% in Montreal (2024->2025), 38% in Ottawa, 24% in Quebec City, 16% in Edmonton, 14% in Calgary.
Down 3% in Vancouver, 31% (!!!) in Toronto.
Down 3% in Vancouver, 31% (!!!) in Toronto.
Housing starts up 5.6% in 2025 from 2024
A snapshot of Canada’s housing starts data for December 2025.
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca
January 17, 2026 at 1:12 PM
Housing starts up 58% in Montreal (2024->2025), 38% in Ottawa, 24% in Quebec City, 16% in Edmonton, 14% in Calgary.
Down 3% in Vancouver, 31% (!!!) in Toronto.
Down 3% in Vancouver, 31% (!!!) in Toronto.
You could be eligible for a rent reduction—no matter what your landlord says. Pass this on, especially if you or your friends live in a multi-residential building in Ottawa that is more than 15 years old.
January 16, 2026 at 11:16 PM
You could be eligible for a rent reduction—no matter what your landlord says. Pass this on, especially if you or your friends live in a multi-residential building in Ottawa that is more than 15 years old.
The man reviewing Heated Rivalry on CBC right now who called the show “trashy” and compared it to 50 Shades of Grey … clearly straight, does not get it. Come on CBC, do better.
January 16, 2026 at 8:44 PM
The man reviewing Heated Rivalry on CBC right now who called the show “trashy” and compared it to 50 Shades of Grey … clearly straight, does not get it. Come on CBC, do better.
Please check in on your neighbours in this extreme cold. You can call 311 to get access to a shelter or warm space. And @ottawapublichealth.ca has a full list of resources here: www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/public-he...
January 16, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Please check in on your neighbours in this extreme cold. You can call 311 to get access to a shelter or warm space. And @ottawapublichealth.ca has a full list of resources here: www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/public-he...
File under: no sh*t
The Ford government is making our streets more dangerous
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
The Ford government is making our streets more dangerous
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
Ottawa sees dramatic drop in speed compliance after photo radar scrapped
City of Ottawa data from a handful of former photo radar sites show a steep drop in driver compliance through school and community safety zones.
www.ctvnews.ca
January 15, 2026 at 3:40 PM
File under: no sh*t
The Ford government is making our streets more dangerous
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
The Ford government is making our streets more dangerous
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
Reposted by Ariel Troster
A winter weather parking ban will be in effect tonight, January 15, between 7 pm until 7 am tomorrow morning.
During a winter weather parking ban, parking is prohibited on city streets so #OttCity crews
can plow easily and effectively.
Info: https://bit.ly/45NpZlZ
During a winter weather parking ban, parking is prohibited on city streets so #OttCity crews
can plow easily and effectively.
Info: https://bit.ly/45NpZlZ
January 15, 2026 at 1:52 PM
A winter weather parking ban will be in effect tonight, January 15, between 7 pm until 7 am tomorrow morning.
During a winter weather parking ban, parking is prohibited on city streets so #OttCity crews
can plow easily and effectively.
Info: https://bit.ly/45NpZlZ
During a winter weather parking ban, parking is prohibited on city streets so #OttCity crews
can plow easily and effectively.
Info: https://bit.ly/45NpZlZ
School buses are cancelled in Ottawa today, but schools are open. Be careful out there!
January 15, 2026 at 12:21 PM
School buses are cancelled in Ottawa today, but schools are open. Be careful out there!
Today in real municipal political news that sounds like it could be an episode of Parks and Recreation …
www.nj.com/news/2026/01...
www.nj.com/news/2026/01...
Groundhog celebration in small N.J. town could be doomed again after Murphy vetoes bill
The bill would have eased New Jersey’s strict rules banning out-of-state wildlife, including groundhogs, from being imported into the Garden State.
www.nj.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Today in real municipal political news that sounds like it could be an episode of Parks and Recreation …
www.nj.com/news/2026/01...
www.nj.com/news/2026/01...
Are you looking for a family doctor in Downtown Ottawa? A new practice is taking patients. Thanks to @stephanieplante.bsky.social for the tip!
Downtown Urgent Care Family Practice and Walk-In
Welcome to our scheduling page. Please follow the instructions to add an event to our calendar.
calendly.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Are you looking for a family doctor in Downtown Ottawa? A new practice is taking patients. Thanks to @stephanieplante.bsky.social for the tip!
Great conversation with a wide swath of community members and organizations today, on the @ottawapolice.bsky.social district model and the city’s Community Safety and Wellbeing plan.
January 13, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Great conversation with a wide swath of community members and organizations today, on the @ottawapolice.bsky.social district model and the city’s Community Safety and Wellbeing plan.
We are building the first-ever standalone public bathroom facility in downtown Ottawa. It’s about damn time. Public toilets are a basic human need. Because when you gotta go, you gotta go … www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
Downtown Ottawa getting a new place to go when you ‘gotta go’
The City of Ottawa will be building a stand-alone public washroom facility at the corner of Somerset Street and Bank Street.
www.ctvnews.ca
January 12, 2026 at 11:59 PM
We are building the first-ever standalone public bathroom facility in downtown Ottawa. It’s about damn time. Public toilets are a basic human need. Because when you gotta go, you gotta go … www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
This was such a beautiful event. Paul Dewar was an exceptional public servant and we lost him far too soon.
Thank you Mayor Sutcliffe, MP Yasir Naqvi and Catherine McKenney, along with many of my Council colleagues, for joining Julia Sneyd and I to officially name the Paul Dewar Field House. It was heartwarming and a reminder to all of us to respect Paul's legacy through action.
January 12, 2026 at 10:49 PM
This was such a beautiful event. Paul Dewar was an exceptional public servant and we lost him far too soon.
You may have received a letter from the city if you live in an older, multi-residential building, saying that you qualify for a rent reduction. This is because the city changed the property tax class for buildings like yours, and the savings are supposed to be passed down to tenants.
The city is telling some tenants to pay less rent. Their landlords say otherwise | CBC News
Tenants who live in older Ottawa apartment buildings were supposed to see a slight automatic drop in their rent at the start of 2026. But many are left wondering if they should actually pay less after...
www.cbc.ca
January 12, 2026 at 4:12 PM
You may have received a letter from the city if you live in an older, multi-residential building, saying that you qualify for a rent reduction. This is because the city changed the property tax class for buildings like yours, and the savings are supposed to be passed down to tenants.
I am teaming up with @stephanieplante.bsky.social and Marty Carr to try classes at as many local gyms as possible. So far, we had a blast at Collective Movement on Catherine and Oxygen Yoga and Fitness on Rideau. Do you have a class you love? Send us your suggestions so we can #SweatLocal.
January 12, 2026 at 12:27 PM
I am teaming up with @stephanieplante.bsky.social and Marty Carr to try classes at as many local gyms as possible. So far, we had a blast at Collective Movement on Catherine and Oxygen Yoga and Fitness on Rideau. Do you have a class you love? Send us your suggestions so we can #SweatLocal.
It was so nice to see so many friends and neighbours at @catmckenney.bsky.social’s New Year’s Levee. Wonderful to see amazing organizations like the Carleton University Students’ Association and ANCHOR honored as well.
Great to see you, @jleiper.bsky.social and @riverwardriley.bsky.social!
Great to see you, @jleiper.bsky.social and @riverwardriley.bsky.social!
January 11, 2026 at 8:26 PM
It was so nice to see so many friends and neighbours at @catmckenney.bsky.social’s New Year’s Levee. Wonderful to see amazing organizations like the Carleton University Students’ Association and ANCHOR honored as well.
Great to see you, @jleiper.bsky.social and @riverwardriley.bsky.social!
Great to see you, @jleiper.bsky.social and @riverwardriley.bsky.social!
Daisy and Moose are getting along suspiciously well tonight. They must be plotting something …
January 11, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Daisy and Moose are getting along suspiciously well tonight. They must be plotting something …
Reposted by Ariel Troster
We are expecting 10 - 15 cm of snow tonight in #OttCity.
A winter weather parking ban will be in effect starting tomorrow, January 11 from 10 am until 7 pm. When vehicles are removed from our streets, our crews can clear snow efficiently.
Info: https://bit.ly/3NbOPFS
A winter weather parking ban will be in effect starting tomorrow, January 11 from 10 am until 7 pm. When vehicles are removed from our streets, our crews can clear snow efficiently.
Info: https://bit.ly/3NbOPFS
January 10, 2026 at 8:35 PM
We are expecting 10 - 15 cm of snow tonight in #OttCity.
A winter weather parking ban will be in effect starting tomorrow, January 11 from 10 am until 7 pm. When vehicles are removed from our streets, our crews can clear snow efficiently.
Info: https://bit.ly/3NbOPFS
A winter weather parking ban will be in effect starting tomorrow, January 11 from 10 am until 7 pm. When vehicles are removed from our streets, our crews can clear snow efficiently.
Info: https://bit.ly/3NbOPFS
Reposted by Ariel Troster
Yesterday's memo on bus cancellations asserts hundreds of millions in new spending that at the end of the day has little to do with cancelled buses. Let's separate the spin from the solutions.
January 10, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Yesterday's memo on bus cancellations asserts hundreds of millions in new spending that at the end of the day has little to do with cancelled buses. Let's separate the spin from the solutions.
The latest edition of the Somerset Ward newsletter is out, with updates on a new public bathroom, warming spaces, ANCHOR expansion, and more! Read it and sign up at www.arieltroster.com/swm_63
January 10, 2026 at 3:35 PM
The latest edition of the Somerset Ward newsletter is out, with updates on a new public bathroom, warming spaces, ANCHOR expansion, and more! Read it and sign up at www.arieltroster.com/swm_63
If you are looking for hope and catharsis during this dark time (and have already binged the gay hockey series multiple times), go see live music. Neko Case’s voice healed something in me last night.
Also, I noticed the crowds at her shows are getting older. Wait, I resemble that comment …
Also, I noticed the crowds at her shows are getting older. Wait, I resemble that comment …
January 10, 2026 at 2:34 PM
If you are looking for hope and catharsis during this dark time (and have already binged the gay hockey series multiple times), go see live music. Neko Case’s voice healed something in me last night.
Also, I noticed the crowds at her shows are getting older. Wait, I resemble that comment …
Also, I noticed the crowds at her shows are getting older. Wait, I resemble that comment …
Reposted by Ariel Troster
When you build a world where kids can't walk anywhere to get candy this is a natural outcome.
Very glad everyone is okay. This is very scary. 😬
Very glad everyone is okay. This is very scary. 😬
Ottawa police stop 13-year-old driver out to get candy in Barrhaven
Ottawa police stop 13-year-old driver out to get candy in Barrhaven
Ottawa police say they put an end to a slow-going candy-run in Barrhaven on Thursday morning.
bit.ly
January 9, 2026 at 8:55 PM
When you build a world where kids can't walk anywhere to get candy this is a natural outcome.
Very glad everyone is okay. This is very scary. 😬
Very glad everyone is okay. This is very scary. 😬
The Ward 14 team visited the Catherine Street Yard today, and got to meet with meet some of the amazing city staff members who operate plows and other snow removal machines. Thank you to Bryden Denyes and Shawn McGuire for the warm welcome and for answering our many questions.
January 9, 2026 at 7:31 PM
The Ward 14 team visited the Catherine Street Yard today, and got to meet with meet some of the amazing city staff members who operate plows and other snow removal machines. Thank you to Bryden Denyes and Shawn McGuire for the warm welcome and for answering our many questions.
Reposted by Ariel Troster
Council will soon be voting on a new zoning by-law that adds greater density and focuses on 15-minute communities across Ottawa. I've been thinking a lot about growing up in Convent Glen in that context, and offer the following: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_0R....
Growing up in Convent Glen's 15-minute community
YouTube video by Kitchissippi Ward
www.youtube.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Council will soon be voting on a new zoning by-law that adds greater density and focuses on 15-minute communities across Ottawa. I've been thinking a lot about growing up in Convent Glen in that context, and offer the following: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_0R....