Public Transit Poll: OC Transpo Voted "Best" and "Worst"

By: Keegan On

Last week, the results from Ottawa's first ever Public Transit Poll were released. The poll was conducted over the span of two months, and reached approximately 25 000 people.

OC Transpo was featured heavily in the poll, and was voted "Best Public Transport Provider". Unfortunately, it also claimed the title of "Worst Public Transport Provider".

"We are obviously honoured that the citizens of Ottawa voted us "Best Public Transport Provider" said Don Henley, Public Outreach Officer for OC Transpo, "I think the results of this poll reflect the hard work that we have been doing in the community. We have the most routes, widest service, and best rates of any other bus company in Ottawa, and people appreciate that". Mr Henley refused to comment on some of the other findings of the poll, such as OC Transpo being voted "least reliable" and "rudest".

It is unclear if OC Transpo will act on any of the findings of the Public Transit Poll, but many experts predict that Ottawans will continue to use OC Transpo as their primary public transportation carrier.

Deer Shot in Greenbelt, Refuses to Cooperate with Police

By: Keegan On

Ottawa Police’s Guns and Gangs Unit were called to Crystal Beach early yesterday morning after a deer was found shot in the leg. The animal was taken to a vet with non-life threatening injuries, but would not provide police details with the attack, his injury, or even his identity.

“We see these cases a lot during this season” says Detective Annie Baron, who leads the Guns and Gangs Unit, “Deer, usually young males, fight for territory in the Greenbelt, and occasionally it boils over into a shooting. The most frustrating part is that they refuse to communicate with us. It’s one of the rules on the streets: If you’re a deer, you don’t talk to cops.”

This has been the ninth shooting of this nature of 2015, and police expect this number to go up in the coming months. “It’s a different world in there” Detective Baron sighs, “Respect and violence are king, and the best we can do is find a way to reach these young males before they fall into these crowds. It’s an ongoing process, but it’s one we are committed to.”

We've been working hard on...Ottawhat News!

The Ottawhat? hosts just getting started, along with our ever-present, but mostly silent producer, Zach.

Keegan, Amaan and I started Ottawhat? last spring as a way to get to know people around Ottawa. For 70 straight weeks, we've interviewed somebody with something interesting to say about our beloved city. Many of our episodes feature a segment called Classic Ottawa, a fun look at some of the Ottawa-est stories we come across in the week leading up to the show.

Now, we really love these stories, because so many crazy things go on every day in Ottawa. As we find these stories, we typically also end up discussing what big news story will hit our city next. With that in mind, I'm excited to introduce a new part of Ottawhat that we're just so happy to share with you, Ottawhat News! We will still post a new episode of the podcast every week, but from time to time we'll also be bringing you local news, hot off the presses.

Unlike your typical news, though, these stories are ones you could imagine happening, even if they haven't taken place yet. We really hope you like it!

You can check out the latest episode of the podcast right here, and check out the first news story, by our own Keegan On, below:

Deer Shot in Greenbelt, Refuses to Cooperate with Police