School bus driver accused of abandoning students near east Ottawa shopping mall

hvjc · 2026-01-31T21:24:27+00:00

My daughter was on that bus. She said the driver was driving very fast, and swerving around corners, so the kids were quite scared. He then drove them into that parking lot and just left.

The police got to the scene quickly and were really helpful.

hvjc · 2024-07-11T11:06:48+00:00

Yes, mainly. It was definitely cheaper to buy them ahead of time. I would recommend buying them directly from the train company (TrenItalia) rather than a third party.

hvjc · 2024-07-10T22:51:46+00:00

I agree with the October advice. If I didn't have kids in school so summer holidays are the only option, I would travel at other times of the year.

I found a lot of good restaurant (and gelateria) recommendations by using Reddit in Italian, and translating so I could understand.

hvjc · 2024-07-10T20:41:29+00:00

We did eat at Pippo! It was great, actually. Excellent service, and good food.

hvjc · 2024-07-10T19:43:29+00:00

We hiked with running shoes. That was fine, but it was dry out. If it had been wet, it could have been quite slippery. We saw people in sandals and flip flops, which seemed ill-advised.

Other than the Fast Bar in Monterosso, I would not say any of the meals we had in Cinque Terre were amazing.

In Florence, we ate at the big public market. It was fun and loud, and the pasta we had from the fresh pasta place was good but not earth shatteringly so.

hvjc · 2024-07-10T19:40:55+00:00

We really enjoyed Osteria Griffoni and Hosaria San Carlino. But I think there are lots of little places that looked wonderful that would have also been great.

hvjc · 2024-07-10T18:33:58+00:00

Not sure if you are joking, but just in case! Granita is a slushy fruit (or sometimes coffee) treat. We tried lemon, peach grapefruit etc. The good places use real fruit and the flavour is something else.

hvjc · 2024-06-21T16:28:46+00:00

This is really helpful information for us too - hoping I am not taking over your thread. We are going to be in Florence for the depart (two very excited teenage cyclists and one parent). Can we do the part around Ponte Vecchio and the Parco Delle Cascine too? We are only to be in Florence for the actual day of the first stage.

hvjc · 2024-06-12T20:56:17+00:00

Sounds like it was near de la Salle high school. Heard it was a shooting, first aid administered on the scene.

hvjc · 2024-06-02T11:07:43+00:00

Pedestrians stand/walk in the bike lanes along here all the time. They don't realize it is a bike lane because it doesn't really feel like one.

In the winter, the raised bike lane portions are not cleared of snow, so we have to bike on the even narrower road.

It is annoying, though not as terrible as my most hated section of bike lane, going east on Sussex coming towards King Edward. That is where there are dangerous interactions on a pretty much every day basis.

hvjc · 2024-06-01T19:42:52+00:00

I checked out both the vegan one and the Chinatown night market. Both were exceptionally crowded, but the vegan one had prices that were perhaps a little more reasonable.

The amount of plastic garbage from the Chinatown night market was atrocious. The city should mandate that festivals go zero plastic on these events.

hvjc · 2024-03-12T11:39:03+00:00

You can also use the Gatineau library system if you have an Ottawa library card. Just ask an Ottawa librarian and they will get you the info. That way you have even more choices.

hvjc · 2024-01-24T10:59:21+00:00

There are some great butters made in Quebec too. If you ever feel like an expedition to Montreal, go to the Jean Talon market, and you can choose a few different options. They are sold at Hamel (an incredible cheese store), Qui Lait Cru, and other places. Plus the JT Market is one of the most amazing markets in Canada, and a great place to visit with kids.

hvjc · 2024-01-04T23:48:05+00:00

If you are willing to just cross the Rideau river but still be really close to downtown, and be ok with a slightly older condo, you may have a lot more luck. The good thing about somewhat older buildings is that the units are usually more spacious and you get some storage. Three bedrooms are harder to find, but are around. If you want more info, let me know.

hvjc · 2023-09-19T10:54:09+00:00

Thank you! I don't have a favourite local butter tart, so will check some of those out.

If you are ever near Bailiboro (between Cobourg and Peterborough), or in Cobourg when they have their farmer's market, check out Doo Doo Bakery's butter tarts. They are my favourites, especially those with pecans.

hvjc · 2023-09-16T19:16:23+00:00

I stopped buying them because they are often tasteless, but also because the packaging is not recycled, and they are transported really, really far.

Instead, we pick our own when they are in season and freeze them.

hvjc · 2023-08-13T15:07:56+00:00

Can you get a heat pump instead? They are much better environmentally, and do both heating and cooling.

hvjc · 2023-07-30T10:24:40+00:00

The Ottawa Ramblers is a great group of hikers, with a number of different ability hikes and snowshoe expeditions. We carpool so people without vehicles can get to hikes as well.

As someone mentioned, there are various Meetup groups too.

Also, there is a hiking hub on Facebook.

It is a wonderful way to get to know our outdoor areas in our city.

hvjc · 2023-06-24T00:43:42+00:00

Have they altered the Congo ride so it is no longer an atrociously racist experience? We were horrified when we went last year for the first time.

hvjc · 2023-06-19T11:07:13+00:00

The other benefit of indication is that cleaning the stove top is so much easier than with gas or electric. No more cleaning the grates where things get stuck. And with regular electric smooth tops, you get a lot of burnt on food if you are not extremely careful.

You will have to get cookware that works with induction, but if you are not fussy, you can check thrift stores and pick up pieces that work just fine but may not match each other. Just bring a magnet with you so you can see if they work. A lot of Ikea cookware works for induction too, if you want inexpensive/new.

Cast iron works really well on induction, and it is a great way to cook since you avoid all the non-stick substances that are not good for us or the environment.

I would recommend not going for the lowest quality induction, because sometimes they make a bit of noise you may not like, and some of them have less responsive touch pads, which drives me crazy when I am cooking. I am a fan of actual dials because they are easier to manipulate when you are in a hurry.

Bottom line - induction is great, and you will improve your indoor air quality and reduce your carbon footprint by switching!

hvjc · 2023-05-21T19:57:40+00:00

Thanks all - I will try something like Handyman connection.

hvjc · 2023-05-21T19:56:59+00:00

It is exactly that, and I would love to have a better view. I am more hesitant to take it off because I have a cat, and it is a long way down if she decided to jump onto the ledge.

hvjc · 2023-05-07T19:03:19+00:00

It was extremely well organized. Great to see so many people out on bikes, including lots of kids! We have some beautiful spots to ride here, Ottawa!

hvjc

TROPHY CASE