OttaTalk

City of Ottawa
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This is OttaTalk, the official City of Ottawa podcast series where City staff and residents discuss City programs, projects and initiatives. We’ll cover topics that affect your everyday life. Things like emergency services, garbage collection and nightlife in Ottawa. Why do we have a three-item garbage limit? What’s a typical day like for an Ottawa Paramedic? What does a Nightlife Commissioner do? We have the questions and the answers on OttaTalk.  For now, you can look for us to post a new episode each month. 

  1. Is there going to be a flood this spring?

    MAR 31

    Is there going to be a flood this spring?

    It's time to launch Season 2 of the City of Ottawa’s official podcast and we OttaTalk about the City’s Spring Freshet Taskforce. What’s a freshet? It’s the annual spring snowmelt and rainfall that flows into rivers and creeks, raising water levels and increasing flood risk. Listen now to find out how the City works to monitor, prepare, inform and respond during the spring freshet. Today, we’ll talk with Jim Lethbridge, Area Manager for Emergency Planning and Response with the Public Works department. He will discuss how this multi-departmental team helps inform and support residents, how they work with local conservation authorities and the timeframe for peak water levels in the Rideau River watershed and the Ottawa River. Today's hosts are Tom and Shirley. Links for this episode are:   Flooding | City of OttawaSoundcloud  About OttaTalk | City of OttawaThis is OttaTalk, the official City of Ottawa podcast series where City staff discuss City programs, projects and initiatives. We’ll cover topics that affect your everyday life. How can we prevent basement flooding? What does By-law do all day? What are we doing to fix homelessness? We have the questions and the answers on OttaTalk. For now, look forward to a new episode from us each month.  Feedback  Tell us what you think about this podcast. We’re always looking for ideas for future episodes. Comment here, on your favourite social media platform or write to us directly at podcast-balado@ottawa.ca.

    26 min
  2. Was Ottawa in 1826 just like the Wild West?

    FEB 27

    Was Ottawa in 1826 just like the Wild West?

    In case you haven’t heard, Ottawa is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. This got us to thinking that we OttaTalk about what Ottawa was like in 1826 when it was founded as Bytown.   City Archivist Paul Henry will tell us stories that make Ottawa in its infancy sound more like the wild west than the cosmopolitan world class capital it is today. What was the Stony Monday Riot all about and what else can we learn with a simple trip to the Ottawa Archives?   A transcript of this podcast is available on the podcasts page of the City website. Links for this episode are: ·         City of Ottawa Archives | City of Ottawa ·         Ottawa 200 | Ottawa Tourism ·         Infatuation by Ash Ravens ·         About OttaTalk - Podcasts | City of Ottawa This is OttaTalk, the official City of Ottawa podcast series where City staff discuss City programs, projects and initiatives. We’ll cover topics that affect your everyday life. How can we prevent basement flooding? What does By-law do all day? What are we doing to fix homelessness? We have the questions and the answers on OttaTalk. For now, look forward to a new episode from us each month.  Feedback  Tell us what you think about this podcast. We’re always looking for ideas for future episodes. Comment here, on your favourite social media platform or write to us directly at podcast-balado@ottawa.ca.

    17 min
  3. What's new at my recreation centre?

    JAN 19

    What's new at my recreation centre?

    Looking to stay or get fit with activities that are affordable within your budget? On the newest episode of the City’s official podcast, we OttaTalk about the City’s new My Rec Pass. Listen now:  Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Today, we’ll talk with Chantal Laporte, Program Manager with Recreation, Culture and Facility Services. She will discuss how the new My Rec Pass makes it easier than ever to stick to your New Year’s fitness goals and makes it affordable enough to allow you and your family to stay active and have fun. Today's hosts are Tom and Alexandra Links for this episode are:  Introducing the new Recreation Membership Pass | City of OttawaSoundcloud  About OttaTalk | City of OttawaThis is OttaTalk, the official City of Ottawa podcast series where City staff discuss City programs, projects and initiatives. We’ll cover topics that affect your everyday life. How can we prevent basement flooding? What does By-law do all day? What are we doing to fix homelessness? We have the questions and the answers on OttaTalk. For now, look forward to a new episode from us each month.  Feedback  Tell us what you think about this podcast. We’re always looking for ideas for future episodes. Comment here, on your favourite social media platform or write to us directly at podcast-balado@ottawa.ca.

    26 min
  4. When is my bus coming?

    12/19/2025

    When is my bus coming?

    Attention all transit nerds! In the latest episode of the City’s official podcast series, we OttaTalk about the Transit Operations Control Centre (TOCC). This is the communications nerve centre between rail and bus operations, Para Transpo operations, the Special Constables Unit, City operations and more.   If you ever wonder how the City’s transit system runs behind the scenes 24/7, the TOCC is the room where it happens and this is the episode for you.   Today's hosts are Mike and Shirley. Links for this episode are:  OC Explained: Transit Operations Control Centre | OC Transpo OC Explained: Major Events | OC Transpo Alerts | OC Transpo Winter travels | OC Transpo Soundcloud  This is OttaTalk, the official City of Ottawa podcast series where City staff discuss City programs, projects and initiatives. We’ll cover topics that affect your everyday life. How can we prevent basement flooding? What does By-law do all day? What are we doing to fix homelessness? We have the questions and the answers on OttaTalk. For now, look forward to a new episode from us each month.  Feedback  Tell us what you think about this podcast. We’re always looking for ideas for future episodes. Comment here, on your favourite social media platform or write to us directly at podcast-balado@ottawa.ca.

    42 min
  5. When is my plow coming?

    11/28/2025

    When is my plow coming?

    If you have ever looked out your window and wondered, “when is my plow coming?” you’re not alone. On the newest episode of the City’s official podcast, we OttaTalk about how the City responds when the snow starts to fall. Today’s guest is Richard Leight, a Zone Supervisor with the Public Works Department. Join our hosts as they get an inside look at the City’s winter operations, including all the different ways we monitor road conditions, why we have winter parking bans and how long it takes for a plow to come down your street. Today's hosts are Tom and Valérie. Links for this episode are:  City of Ottawa – winter parking  City of Ottawa – snow plowing and clearingSoundcloud  This is OttaTalk, the official City of Ottawa podcast series where City staff discuss City programs, projects and initiatives. We’ll cover topics that affect your everyday life. How can we prevent basement flooding? What does By-law do all day? What are we doing to fix homelessness? We have the questions and the answers on OttaTalk. For now, look forward to a new episode from us each month.  Feedback  Tell us what you think about this podcast. We’re always looking for ideas for future episodes. Comment here, on your favourite social media platform or write to us directly at podcast-balado@ottawa.ca.

    23 min
  6. How much is all this going to cost?

    10/15/2025

    How much is all this going to cost?

    It’s budget season at the City of Ottawa. Actually, it’s always budget season. To find out what we mean, tune in to the eighth episode of the City’s official podcast series where we OttaTalk about the budget process. How is it created? How can your feedback influence the bottom line?  Today’s guest is Cyril Rogers, the City’s Chief Financial Officer and General Manager of the Finance and Corporate Services Department. Join our hosts as we learn about when Cyril and his team start working on the budget, how they decide where to allocate funds and what pressures they need to think about when planning for the future.   Today's hosts are Mike and Shirley. Links for this episode are:  ·         Engage Ottawa - Draft Budget 2026 ·         Draft Budget 2026 ·         Soundcloud    This is OttaTalk, the official City of Ottawa podcast series where City staff discuss City programs, projects and initiatives. We’ll cover topics that affect your everyday life. How can we prevent basement flooding? What does By-law do all day? What are we doing to fix homelessness? We have the questions and the answers on OttaTalk. For now, look forward to a new episode from us each month.  Feedback  Tell us what you think about this podcast. We’re always looking for ideas for future episodes. Comment here, on your favourite social media platform or write to us directly at podcast-balado@ottawa.ca.

    40 min
  7. What has the Zoning By-law ever done for me, anyway?

    09/23/2025

    What has the Zoning By-law ever done for me, anyway?

    Welcome to the seventh episode of OttaTalk, the City of Ottawa’s official podcast. Today, we OttaTalk about the new Zoning By-law, what it is, how it works, and how it will lead to more affordable housing choices in Ottawa. Today’s hosts are Mike and Chloé. We talk with Carol Ruddy, Program Manager, Zoning & Intensification with the City’s Planning Development and Building Department. We’ll hear how her team wrestled 600 zoning provisions down to a tame list of 26, making it easier to figure out how to build everything from a four-unit row house to a backyard sundeck. Links for this episode are: ·         New Zoning By-law | Engage Ottawa  ·         Official Plan | City of Ottawa ·         Soundcloud  This is OttaTalk, the official City of Ottawa podcast series where City staff discuss City programs, projects and initiatives. We’ll cover topics that affect your everyday life. How can we prevent basement flooding? What does By-law do all day? What are we doing to fix homelessness? We have the questions and the answers on OttaTalk. For now, look forward to a new episode from us each month.  Feedback  Tell us what you think about this podcast. We’re always looking for ideas for future episodes. Comment here, on your favourite social media platform or write to us directly at podcast-balado@ottawa.ca.

    22 min
  8. How can we resolve homelessness?

    08/21/2025

    How can we resolve homelessness?

    Welcome to our sixth episode, where today we OttaTalk about about people experiencing homelessness. Who are they and what is being done to help them?  We’ll talk with Kale Brown, Director of Housing and Homelessness at the City of Ottawa, to find out more about housing and homelessness and how it affects residents in Ottawa. Today’s hosts are Sébastien and Shirley. Links for this episode are:  10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan RefreshVacant office building transformed into transitional housingThe ANCHOR programSoundcloudThis is OttaTalk, the official City of Ottawa podcast series where City staff and residents discuss City programs, projects and initiatives. We’ll cover topics that affect your everyday life. Things like emergency services, garbage collection and nightlife in Ottawa. Why do we have a three-item garbage limit? What’s a typical day like for a By-law Enforcement Officer? What does a Nightlife Commissioner do? We have the questions and the answers on OttaTalk.  For now, look forward to a new episode from us each month.  Feedback  Tell us what you think about this podcast. We’re always looking for ideas for future episodes. Comment here, on your favourite social media platform or write to us directly at podcast-balado@ottawa.ca.

    28 min
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About

This is OttaTalk, the official City of Ottawa podcast series where City staff and residents discuss City programs, projects and initiatives. We’ll cover topics that affect your everyday life. Things like emergency services, garbage collection and nightlife in Ottawa. Why do we have a three-item garbage limit? What’s a typical day like for an Ottawa Paramedic? What does a Nightlife Commissioner do? We have the questions and the answers on OttaTalk.  For now, you can look for us to post a new episode each month. 

Information

  • Creator
    City of Ottawa
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 OttaTalk
  • Show Website
    OttaTalk

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