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This is Ottawa

CBC
Ottawa
Rideau Canal
Rats
Mental Health
Elgin Street Diner
Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre
Ontario
Education
City Council
Canada
Le Hibou
Ottawa, Canada
Mark Sutcliffe
Lansdowne Park
Canada Day
Math Anxiety
Witchcraft
Street Racing
Ottawa Lynx
Leech Therapy

How are high rents impacting Ottawa businesses? What happens during an all-nighter at the Elgin Street Diner? Every week, host Robyn Bresnahan does a deep dive into a story you're curious about and the issues you want to understand in the city we call home. New episodes every Monday. Have an idea for an episode? Email: thisisottawa@cbc.ca

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes138Founded3 years ago
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Artwork for This is Ottawa

Latest Episodes

Mayoral candidates have referred to Ottawa’s transit as a ‘dumpster fire’. But will more money extinguish its problems? And should commuters have to pay higher fares or higher taxes to help fix things? For the finale of our ‘blind date’ series, we go... more

There are about nine thousand students living in college and university residences in Ottawa. So what’s dorm life like? And how much has changed in nearly three decades since host Robyn Bresnahan lived in residence at Carleton University? In this enc... more

The historic heart of Ottawa has a problem. Many voters have told us they feel the Byward Market has become less safe. There are fears about open drug use, crime and homelessness. So what can be done? In part two of our “blind date” municipal series,... more

In late August, police issued a warning about high-risk violent sexual offender Aaron Gilpin now living in the Ottawa area. The release included a photo of a man with facial tattoos whose criminal history included a brutal child-related sexual assaul... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Sebastian LeMay
Ottawa Police Sergeant
Ottawa Police Service
Episode: Is the Byward Market safe? A cop and a former addict weigh in
Gerald Jorgensen
Outreach worker, founder of Steps Off the Street
Steps Off the Street
Episode: Is the Byward Market safe? A cop and a former addict weigh in
Michaela de Curtis
Head of COSA, Circles of Support and Accountability
COS A (Circles of Support and Accountability)
Episode: The sexual offender being tracked by Ottawa neighbourhood groups
Jason Bergraf
Executive director of the Ottawa Home Builders Association
Ottawa Home Builders Association
Episode: Is there too much sprawl in Ottawa?
Paul Johannes
Chair of the Green Space Alliance of Canada's Capital
Green Space Alliance of Canada's Capital
Episode: Is there too much sprawl in Ottawa?
Randy Boswell
Associate professor of journalism at Carleton University and longtime Ottawa Citizen reporter
Carleton University / Ottawa Citizen
Episode: The untold history of how Ottawa was founded 200 years ago
Shauna Poplak
Distinguished University Professor Emerita, sociolinguistics
University of Ottawa
Episode: The untold history of how Ottawa was founded 200 years ago
Wendy Jaco
Pekwakanigan Chief (former)
Indigenous leadership
Episode: The untold history of how Ottawa was founded 200 years ago
Nick Paul
Ottawa teacher
Public school system, Ottawa
Episode: "I did almost no teaching": an Ottawa teacher on why he’s quitting

Host

Robyn Bresnahan
Host of This is Ottawa; CBC Ottawa-based journalist and interviewer.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 140 ratings
  • So informative

    I discovered this podcast because it was advertised on another CBC podcast I subscribe to. Fortunately, there’s 2 years of archived episodes and it has become a personal favourite. Just finished listening to “This is me in grade 9” and I am grateful my son finished high school decades ago!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    crazycatlady56
    Canada6 months ago
  • Love that it is local

    I really enjoy listening to this local show. I feel so smothered by news from elsewhere that it is refreshing to have something local.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CinderDaxWolf
    Canadaa year ago
  • So glad I discovered!

    Interesting subjects, a smart and warm host, excellent production, breezy format. Thanks for keeping me up to date on the city I used to live in and still love!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LotstoLearnCDA
    Canadaa year ago
  • Love the stories

    Great to learn things that I did not know about the city I have lived in for over 30 years. Entertaining and informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DMOttawa
    Canadaa year ago
  • Regressive garbage

    I had unsubscribe after the most recent episode on the tree equity score. It continues a pattern of promoting a

    regressive racialist and ethnocentric view of Ottawans. It doesn’t have to be this way. They could’ve presented a different perspective. One that emphasizes our common humanity, but instead chose to label and divine people based on their immutable characteristics.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SargeantSpectacular
    Canada2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some criticism around perceived identitarian framing in a few episodes.
Consistent feedback on the show's local relevance and family-friendly tone.
Listener appreciation for local, city-focused content and strong host interview style.
Praise for accessibility and informative storytelling about Ottawa history and neighborhoods.
Positive notes on production quality and concise, engaging formats.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The untold history of how Ottawa was founded 200 years ago
Q: Why is Dalhousie Street pronounced differently from Dalhousie's own pronunciation?
The pronunciation varies due to a mix of upper-class British influence, regional accents, and the city's evolution of its own vernacular; Shauna Poplak suggests it's a living city tradition rather than a fixed rule.
"I did almost no teaching": an Ottawa teacher on why he’s quitting
Q: What would have helped you stay in the profession?
More manageable class sizes, better funding for resources and educational assistants, and systemic changes that reduce the pressure on teachers to handle every challenge alone.
"I did almost no teaching": an Ottawa teacher on why he’s quitting
Q: Can you relate to that experience of burnout in teaching?
Yes, the episode conveys how burnout manifested through constant behavior management, fatigue, and a sense that teaching had become more about survival than instruction, leading to a decision to rethink the career.
What I wish I’d known before becoming a school trustee
Q: What changed when the board came under provincial supervision?
The role became more political and the province cut funding and powers, making it harder to execute a focused, student-first agenda and to secure essential resources like educational assistants and graduation coaches.
What I wish I’d known before becoming a school trustee
Q: Was being a school trustee truly a part-time gig?
No; it felt like a full-time commitment, especially during emergencies like COVID, when much of the work moved online and required constant engagement with the community.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This is Ottawa

What is This is Ottawa about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Locally focused, this program covers Ottawa's everyday stories at the intersection of policy, housing, transportation, culture, and governance. Episodes frequently feature competing viewpoints from municipal leaders, planners, educators, and residents, offering practical insights into how decisions shape neighborhoods, streets, and daily life. A standout is the balance it pursues between policy detail and human-scale storytelling, often using on-the-ground voices to illuminate city-building, local history, and community resilience.

Noteworthy is the mix of urban planning, political commentary, and cultural history with a clearly local bent, making it useful for listeners who want to understand how Ottawa operates behind the headlines and h... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with This is Ottawa:

1. Front Burner
2. Two Blocks from the White House
3. At Issue
4. The House
5. The Decibel

How many episodes of This is Ottawa are there?

This is Ottawa launched 3 years ago and published 138 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on This is Ottawa?

Recent guests on This is Ottawa include:

1. Sebastian LeMay
2. Gerald Jorgensen
3. Michaela de Curtis
4. Jason Bergraf
5. Paul Johannes
6. Randy Boswell
7. Shauna Poplak
8. Wendy Jaco

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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