Ariel Troster
@arieltroster.com
City Councillor for #SomersetWard in Ottawa. Queer Jew. A better city is possible. Let’s build it together. 🏳️🌈
Pinned
I asked a 311 operator about the strangest call he ever received … and it somehow involved the Ninja Turtles?!? Watch this to learn more about all of the services you can reach by calling 311. And thanks to Leo Cardinal for the interview.
COWABUNGA!
COWABUNGA!
It’s really fun to spend years working with residents and city staff to move important projects along and then have the provincial government just cancel everything due to toxic populism.
If u care about better cities for people in Ontario Canada, please pay attention to what Premier Ford is doing. Not only would his new bill block cities from building bike-lanes if they touch car lanes, he’s talking about imposing his own street standards & standardized official plans in EVERY city.
November 15, 2025 at 3:50 AM
It’s really fun to spend years working with residents and city staff to move important projects along and then have the provincial government just cancel everything due to toxic populism.
The best predictor of the future is the past …
#OttCity keeps trying the same thing over and over expecting a different result.
We're asking upper levels of government to cover an additional $47-million for transit. We've tried this before. It's never happened, leading to funding shortfalls.
What makes us think it will be different this time?
We're asking upper levels of government to cover an additional $47-million for transit. We've tried this before. It's never happened, leading to funding shortfalls.
What makes us think it will be different this time?
November 15, 2025 at 3:48 AM
The best predictor of the future is the past …
Today, I was pleased to be at the launch of the @ottawafoodbank.bsky.social annual Hunger Report: Food Insecurity in a Broken System.
Last year, Ottawa food banks recorded 588,866 visits—101% higher than 2019. It is staggering—the highest in our city’s history.
Last year, Ottawa food banks recorded 588,866 visits—101% higher than 2019. It is staggering—the highest in our city’s history.
November 14, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Today, I was pleased to be at the launch of the @ottawafoodbank.bsky.social annual Hunger Report: Food Insecurity in a Broken System.
Last year, Ottawa food banks recorded 588,866 visits—101% higher than 2019. It is staggering—the highest in our city’s history.
Last year, Ottawa food banks recorded 588,866 visits—101% higher than 2019. It is staggering—the highest in our city’s history.
I was nervous when I agreed to be interviewed for CBC’s Fifth Estate about safe supply, but they got the angle exactly right. Safe supply was never implemented properly because govts were scared to prescribe what people are actually addicted to. It was set up to fail.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XJ-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XJ-...
The political war on safe drugs | Full episode | the fifth estate
YouTube video by the fifth estate
www.youtube.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:06 PM
I was nervous when I agreed to be interviewed for CBC’s Fifth Estate about safe supply, but they got the angle exactly right. Safe supply was never implemented properly because govts were scared to prescribe what people are actually addicted to. It was set up to fail.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XJ-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XJ-...
Reposted by Ariel Troster
Attention street artists!
#OttCity is looking for your talent, your time and your patriotism for Canadiana Block, a unique public art project on Sparks Street.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/4nM4zfa
#OttCity is looking for your talent, your time and your patriotism for Canadiana Block, a unique public art project on Sparks Street.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/4nM4zfa
November 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Attention street artists!
#OttCity is looking for your talent, your time and your patriotism for Canadiana Block, a unique public art project on Sparks Street.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/4nM4zfa
#OttCity is looking for your talent, your time and your patriotism for Canadiana Block, a unique public art project on Sparks Street.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/4nM4zfa
It is wild to me that many cities don’t plow sidewalks at all?!!
This is a small snow plow for sidewalks
If your city plows the roads but leaves sidewalks up to property owners, your city hates pedestrians.
If your city plows the roads but leaves sidewalks up to property owners, your city hates pedestrians.
November 14, 2025 at 12:40 PM
It is wild to me that many cities don’t plow sidewalks at all?!!
Reposted by Ariel Troster
Bill 60 kneecaps municipal Councils and councillors seeking to make our streets safer as we intensify, and will worsen congestion for everyone. Thanks to residents who came to City Hall this morning to protest.
November 13, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Bill 60 kneecaps municipal Councils and councillors seeking to make our streets safer as we intensify, and will worsen congestion for everyone. Thanks to residents who came to City Hall this morning to protest.
Bill 60 will make our roads more dangerous for everyone.
Thank you to Bike Ottawa for inviting me to speak at your rally this morning — keep the pressure on the provincial government and tell them to stop interfering in the work cities are doing to make life better and safer for people.
Thank you to Bike Ottawa for inviting me to speak at your rally this morning — keep the pressure on the provincial government and tell them to stop interfering in the work cities are doing to make life better and safer for people.
November 13, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Bill 60 will make our roads more dangerous for everyone.
Thank you to Bike Ottawa for inviting me to speak at your rally this morning — keep the pressure on the provincial government and tell them to stop interfering in the work cities are doing to make life better and safer for people.
Thank you to Bike Ottawa for inviting me to speak at your rally this morning — keep the pressure on the provincial government and tell them to stop interfering in the work cities are doing to make life better and safer for people.
This is the time of year where I need to remain myself that everything seems terrible because there is literally no sunlight.
November 13, 2025 at 1:37 AM
This is the time of year where I need to remain myself that everything seems terrible because there is literally no sunlight.
The city budget drops this morning. Stay tuned for some initial hot takes from @jleiper.bsky.social and I later this week.
Thanks to everyone who attended our online budget consultation meeting last night. Both @jleiper.bsky.social and I heard you loud and clear: you want a city that works, one that is affordable and one where no one gets left behind.
November 12, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The city budget drops this morning. Stay tuned for some initial hot takes from @jleiper.bsky.social and I later this week.
Reposted by Ariel Troster
I asked a 311 operator about the strangest call he ever received … and it somehow involved the Ninja Turtles?!? Watch this to learn more about all of the services you can reach by calling 311. And thanks to Leo Cardinal for the interview.
COWABUNGA!
COWABUNGA!
November 10, 2025 at 6:08 PM
I asked a 311 operator about the strangest call he ever received … and it somehow involved the Ninja Turtles?!? Watch this to learn more about all of the services you can reach by calling 311. And thanks to Leo Cardinal for the interview.
COWABUNGA!
COWABUNGA!
Reposted by Ariel Troster
Our rally against Bill 60 is coming up
🚲 Bring your bikes
🪧 Bring a protest sign
📣 Spread the word
Details (slight change)
City Hall - side of the building
Thursday, November 13
8:30am
See you on Thursday!
🚲 Bring your bikes
🪧 Bring a protest sign
📣 Spread the word
Details (slight change)
City Hall - side of the building
Thursday, November 13
8:30am
See you on Thursday!
November 11, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Our rally against Bill 60 is coming up
🚲 Bring your bikes
🪧 Bring a protest sign
📣 Spread the word
Details (slight change)
City Hall - side of the building
Thursday, November 13
8:30am
See you on Thursday!
🚲 Bring your bikes
🪧 Bring a protest sign
📣 Spread the word
Details (slight change)
City Hall - side of the building
Thursday, November 13
8:30am
See you on Thursday!
I am spending Remembrance Day at the Canadian War Museum with my kid’s grade eight class. Both of my grandfathers’ families emigrated to Canada to escape antisemitic pogroms in Eastern Europe. Both Julius and Jack enlisted in WW2 and came home with serious war trauma.
We remember them.
We remember them.
November 11, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I am spending Remembrance Day at the Canadian War Museum with my kid’s grade eight class. Both of my grandfathers’ families emigrated to Canada to escape antisemitic pogroms in Eastern Europe. Both Julius and Jack enlisted in WW2 and came home with serious war trauma.
We remember them.
We remember them.
In honour of Remembrance Day and as a tribute to Canada’s veterans, a new commemorative crosswalk has been added on Kent Street at MacLaren, across from the Legion. This is part of a national movement to recognize the sacrifices that veterans made on behalf of all of us.
November 11, 2025 at 12:52 PM
In honour of Remembrance Day and as a tribute to Canada’s veterans, a new commemorative crosswalk has been added on Kent Street at MacLaren, across from the Legion. This is part of a national movement to recognize the sacrifices that veterans made on behalf of all of us.
I asked a 311 operator about the strangest call he ever received … and it somehow involved the Ninja Turtles?!? Watch this to learn more about all of the services you can reach by calling 311. And thanks to Leo Cardinal for the interview.
COWABUNGA!
COWABUNGA!
November 10, 2025 at 6:08 PM
I asked a 311 operator about the strangest call he ever received … and it somehow involved the Ninja Turtles?!? Watch this to learn more about all of the services you can reach by calling 311. And thanks to Leo Cardinal for the interview.
COWABUNGA!
COWABUNGA!
Reposted by Ariel Troster
The latest issue of the Somerset Ward newsletter just dropped, with updates on Lansdowne 2.0, the upcoming city budget, the reconstruction of Elgin and Laurier, safety concerns in Chinatown and more!
Read it and sign up here: www.arieltroster.com/swm_60
Read it and sign up here: www.arieltroster.com/swm_60
November 8, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The latest issue of the Somerset Ward newsletter just dropped, with updates on Lansdowne 2.0, the upcoming city budget, the reconstruction of Elgin and Laurier, safety concerns in Chinatown and more!
Read it and sign up here: www.arieltroster.com/swm_60
Read it and sign up here: www.arieltroster.com/swm_60
I switched out the sandals in the front closet for boots and finally pulled out the real down coats. I do not like it, but here we are.
a man talking to another man with the words winter is coming
ALT: a man talking to another man with the words winter is coming
media.tenor.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I switched out the sandals in the front closet for boots and finally pulled out the real down coats. I do not like it, but here we are.
Reposted by Ariel Troster
Stay alert: Fake QR codes are sometimes posted on Ottawa Pay & Display machines that link to a fraudulent PayByPhone site. Never scan! If you see one, call 311. If you fall victim, call Ottawa Police at 613-236-1222 and your credit card provider.
November 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Stay alert: Fake QR codes are sometimes posted on Ottawa Pay & Display machines that link to a fraudulent PayByPhone site. Never scan! If you see one, call 311. If you fall victim, call Ottawa Police at 613-236-1222 and your credit card provider.
It really is my own damn fault for suggesting we go to Costco on a Saturday afternoon …
November 8, 2025 at 6:01 PM
It really is my own damn fault for suggesting we go to Costco on a Saturday afternoon …
The latest issue of the Somerset Ward newsletter just dropped, with updates on Lansdowne 2.0, the upcoming city budget, the reconstruction of Elgin and Laurier, safety concerns in Chinatown and more!
Read it and sign up here: www.arieltroster.com/swm_60
Read it and sign up here: www.arieltroster.com/swm_60
November 8, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The latest issue of the Somerset Ward newsletter just dropped, with updates on Lansdowne 2.0, the upcoming city budget, the reconstruction of Elgin and Laurier, safety concerns in Chinatown and more!
Read it and sign up here: www.arieltroster.com/swm_60
Read it and sign up here: www.arieltroster.com/swm_60
Reposted by Ariel Troster
Today, Lansdowne 2.0 was passed with a 15 - 10 vote at Council. This is going to be an important issue in 2026, and I hope you'll stay engaged with Council in the coming months.
November 7, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Today, Lansdowne 2.0 was passed with a 15 - 10 vote at Council. This is going to be an important issue in 2026, and I hope you'll stay engaged with Council in the coming months.
Thank you to everyone who wrote to me about Lansdowne 2.0. It passed by 15-10 today, which I know is not the outcome you wanted. I pledge to keep holding the city accountable and fighting for the priorities you really care about.
November 7, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Thank you to everyone who wrote to me about Lansdowne 2.0. It passed by 15-10 today, which I know is not the outcome you wanted. I pledge to keep holding the city accountable and fighting for the priorities you really care about.
Reposted by Ariel Troster
Lansdowne 2.0 is not what residents are telling us we need as a city. The cost is too much, the outcome too inadequate and uncertain, and the benefits accrue to too few. This morning's rally was energizing. We have an off-ramp; we should take it.
November 7, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Lansdowne 2.0 is not what residents are telling us we need as a city. The cost is too much, the outcome too inadequate and uncertain, and the benefits accrue to too few. This morning's rally was energizing. We have an off-ramp; we should take it.
I am buoyed by the community who stood in the cold to say they don’t support Lansdowne 2.0. Ottawa deserves better, and so do women’s hockey fans. There is no stadium emergency. This plan is built on financial fiction and my grandkids will still be paying for it. I will vote no with my whole heart.
November 7, 2025 at 2:29 PM
I am buoyed by the community who stood in the cold to say they don’t support Lansdowne 2.0. Ottawa deserves better, and so do women’s hockey fans. There is no stadium emergency. This plan is built on financial fiction and my grandkids will still be paying for it. I will vote no with my whole heart.
The Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition held the most beautiful gathering last night, celebrating their incredible work, including the upcoming construction of an Indigenous women’s healing lodge and the city’s first-ever shelter for Inuit women escaping intimate partner violence.
November 7, 2025 at 12:30 PM
The Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition held the most beautiful gathering last night, celebrating their incredible work, including the upcoming construction of an Indigenous women’s healing lodge and the city’s first-ever shelter for Inuit women escaping intimate partner violence.