Hour 1 of Ottawa Now for Mon. May 25th, 2026

The City of Ottawa is looking to improve lighting, public safety, and pedestrian access in the ByWard Market. A new report is slated to land at City Hall this week, outlining a dozen potential projects that could enhance the area. It ranges from improvements to Rideau Station, to lighting under the Rideau-Sussex underpass, and even brand-new flexible public gathering spaces. The funding for these projects will come from the $10 million that was initially set aside to turn William Street into a pedestrian plaza, which ultimately stalled due to concerns from nearby businesses. Kristy Cameron chats with Sylvie Bigras, the President of the Lowertown Community Association, in Hour 1. Later in the show, we check in with Rideau-Vanier councillor Stephanie Plante. Meantime, if you have seasonal allergies, you’re probably feeling them right now. But is this year’s pollen worse than previous spells? Some experts think that way. We analyze further with Daniel Coates, the Director of Aerobiology Research Laboratories. Based out of Ottawa, he studies pollen across the country. But first, we bring you up to speed on today’s top headlines.