Hour 2 of Ottawa Now for Tues. June 17th, 2025

An 18-year-old man was swimming with a group of his friends in the Rideau River last night. Sadly, it would be his final moments, as the water rescuers’ best efforts weren’t enough to revive him. Following an audit conducted to reduce the risk of drowning or injuries, the City of Ottawa vowed to implement changes to the swimming areas at Britannia Beach. Several other recommendations are also being debated and discussed. Kristy Cameron chats with Stephanie Bakalar, the Lifesaving Society's Senior Communications Officer. Meantime, Ottawa's largest school board is holding a special meeting tonight to finalize $18 million in budget cuts. Roughly $5 million in savings will come from special education, while another $6 million will come from Administration levels and close to $4.2 million will come from teaching. Here to expand further on these points is Randy Gerrior, the OCDSB’s Chief Financial Officer.