Here’s what you missed over the holidays in Ottawa and what to know for 2025
Posted Jan 2, 2025 01:43:40 PM.
Last Updated Jan 3, 2025 10:29:12 AM.
With the holidays in the rearview mirror, Ottawa has been bustling with important news.
If you were focused on seasonal celebrations and spending time with family and friends, you may have missed some key updates and incidents from across the region.
At CityNews Ottawa, we’ve been busy covering everything from changes to public transit and local infrastructure to the region’s ongoing efforts to support vulnerable communities.
With 2025 just beginning, now is the perfect time to catch up on what’s shaping Ottawa, and what changes are coming in the new year.
Ontario’s new laws and regulations coming into effect in 2025
The new year means new laws and regulations in Ontario. Below are only some of the new rules and changes coming into effect as of Jan. 1.
The government is capping child-care fees at $22 per day for families with children in centres that are enrolled in the national $10-a-day program. Officials said in an August announcement this will ensure no childcare operators in the $10-a-day program will experience a loss.
An amendment to the provincial Highway Traffic Act will raise the minimum to report a collision that involves property damage to police from $2,000 to $5,000.
Ontario will now require every publicly-assisted college and university in Ontario to establish clear policies to support student mental health, as well as address and prevent racism and hate on campus.
Multiple dogs fall through ice
While the Ottawa region saw plenty of snowfall as well as varying temperatures, Ottawa Fire Services rescued “multiple” dogs that fell through ice in the nation’s capital in December 2024.
One rescue on Dec. 30, a golden retriever named Tika was struggling to stay afloat in the Ottawa River in the city’s east end. Firefighters with the ice rescue team made their way out to the dog and safely rescued her just 20 minutes after the call to 911. Tika has been said to be “doing well” following the ordeal.
The world’s best junior hockey players in Ottawa
The City of Ottawa has been hosting the International Ice Hockey Federation’s annual World Juniors hockey tournament, which officially kicked off on Boxing Day.
The highly anticipated event had many from across Canada travel to the city to take in the games at the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata and TD Place at Lansdowne Park.
Team Canada had some of the country’s best junior players on the team including Ottawa 67s captain Luca Pinelli and head coach Dave Cameron behind the bench.
Canada opened up the tournament with a 4-0 win over Finland but followed it up with a 3-2 shootout loss to Latvia. The Canadians bounced back winning 3-0 over Germany then dropped their last game of the round robin to the USA by a score of 4-1.
They were eliminated from the tournament after a loss to Czechia 4-3 in the quarterfinals.
The the tournament wraps up on Sunday Jan. 5 following the final game taking place at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Earthquake felt in Ottawa
Resident took to social media on Dec. 29 reporting a rumbling feeling.
The culprit was a 4.1 magnitude earthquake that rattled the Maniwaki area in western Quebec at 8:02 in the morning.
Some reported noticing snow falling from their roofs, Christmas trees shaking, and beds rattling.
Trouble on the roads
On Christmas Eve, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a handful of collisions along the 416 and 417.
Around 8:40 a.m., the Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) received a call reporting a vehicle had driven up and under the overpass of Eagleson Road on the 417. The white vehicle became wedged, trapping the lone occupant inside.
Firefighters told CityNews that the driver did not sustain any injuries.
Police busy over the holidays
The OPP and Ottawa Police Service (OPS) had their hands busy with a few serious incidents.
An Ottawa man has been charged following the Christmas Day murder of an adult woman near Little Italy. The victim has been identified as 46-year-old Jolene Arreak of Ottawa.
Manasi Foo, 35, has been charged with second-degree murder and the attempted murder of a second victim who was treated in hospital, and has since been released.
Also on Christmas Day, provincial police laid charges after a driver was stopped on Highway 417. They were initially pulled over after the vehicle’s plate had been taken out of service. Upon further investigation, police found the vehicle was uninsured and the driver only possessed a G1 license despite driving on a 400-series highway. The driver is facing multiple charges including one for carrying a passenger in the front seat as a G1 driver.
Millions of dollars of drugs were seized and multiple people charged including from the nation’s capital.
In September, the OPP-led Biker Enforcement Unit, along with local police units began Project Midfield to address drug-trafficking activity in Ottawa and eastern Ontario.
On Nov. 27, police executed multiple search warrants at residences and vehicles in Ottawa and Milford. As a result, many items were seized, including:
- One firearm
- Five magazines with ammunition
- Body armour
- 47 kilograms of suspected cocaine
- 250 grams of suspected psilocybin
- Over 100 pounds of illicit cannabis
- Two vehicles as offence-related property
Police estimate the street value of the drugs seized is more than $6 million and have laid 39 charges against three individuals from Ottawa and Milford.
Stay with CityNews Ottawa throughout 2025 for more news coverage on what matters most to you.
With files from Rachel Morgan, Andrea Bennett, Natasha O’Neill and The Canadian Press.
