When most people think about elections, they think about candidates, campaigns and Voting Day. But have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes to make an election possible?

On the latest episode of OttaTalk, Ottawa City Clerk Caitlin Salter-MacDonald takes us behind the ballot box to explore the planning, people and processes that help make our Municipal elections happen. From recruiting more than 5,000 election workers and setting up hundreds of voting places across the city to ensuring voting is accessible, secure and fair, you'll learn what it takes to run one of the largest civic operations in Ottawa. 

Whether you're planning to vote, curious about how elections work, or interested in becoming an election worker, this episode takes you behind the ballot box to see how our municipal elections come together.

Our hosts are Nathalie and Tom.

Listen now:
·         Spotify

·         Apple Podcasts

·         YouTube

Links for this episode: 

·         Ottawa.ca/vote

·         Am I on the Voters’ List?

·         Who is running in my ward?

·         Kids Corner 

·         Election worker job opportunities 

OttaTalk is the official City of Ottawa podcast, where City staff talk about programs, projects and initiatives that affect your everyday life. How can I prevent fires in my home? What are we doing to solve homelessness? How can we party safely?  We have the questions and the answers on OttaTalk.

Feedback 

Tell us what you think about this podcast and share your ideas for future episodes. Comment on your favourite social media platform or write to us directly at [email protected].

Today, we sit down with Ottawa Public Health to talk about partying safely – and why it’s so important. Whether you’re dancing at the club or grilling at a backyard bash, look out for yourself and others. 

On the latest episode of OttaTalk, Public Health Nurses Élisabeth Bélanger Hardy and Megan Francoeur share the tips that everyone should know before, during, and after a night out, party or event. 

Listen now to learn more about partying safer and the supports available for you, your friends and family: 

• Spotify 
• Apple Podcasts 
• YouTube 

Links for this episode are: 

• Party Safer 
• Stop Overdose Ottawa 
• Free online trainings providing information on bystander intervention, overdose prevention and response, mental health resources and more 
• SoundCloud 

OttaTalk is the official City of Ottawa podcast, where City staff talk about programs, projects and initiatives that affect your everyday life. How can I prevent fires in my home? What are we doing to solve homelessness? How are movies filmed in Ottawa? We have the questions and the answers on OttaTalk. 

Feedback 

Tell us what you think about this podcast and share your ideas for future episodes. Comment on your favourite social media platform or write to us directly at [email protected]. 

Today, we are going on a home inspection with Ottawa Fire Services. Together, we’ll go from room to room looking for fire hazards and sharing safety tips. Today’s host is Shirley.

On the latest episode of OttaTalk, we speak with Fire Prevention Officers Leanne Labbee and Andrew Watson about how we can prevent fires in our homes – and what to do if there is one.

Listen now and follow along in your home:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• YouTube

Links for this episode are: 

• Fire safety: Alarms and extinguishers, indoor and outdoor fire safety
• Fire education, community awareness and outreach
• About Ottawa Fire Services
• SoundCloud

OttaTalk is the official City of Ottawa podcast, where City staff talk about programs, projects and initiatives that affect your everyday life. How are movies filmed in Ottawa? What are we doing to solve homelessness? What does By-law do all day? We have the questions and the answers on OttaTalk.

Feedback 

Tell us what you think about this podcast and share your ideas for future episodes. Comment on your favourite social media platform or write to us directly at [email protected].

Today, we are going to the movies. Or, more specifically, the movies are coming to Ottawa – along with television, commercials and other productions filmed right here in our city. Today’s hosts are Mike and Erin.

On the latest episode of OttaTalk, we speak with Ottawa’s Film Commissioner, Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos, about why Ottawa is a world class location for on-screen productions.

Listen now to learn how Ottawa’s $90-million film industry supports local jobs, businesses and the city’s economy.

Links for this episode are:

·        Ottawa Film Office

·        Soundcloud 

OttaTalk is the official City of Ottawa podcast, where City staff talk about programs, projects and initiatives that affect your everyday life. How can we prevent basement flooding? What does By-law do all day? What are we doing to solve homelessness? We have the questions and the answers on OttaTalk.

Feedback

Tell us what you think about this podcast and share your ideas for future episodes. Comment on your favourite social media platform or write to us directly at [email protected].

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 Ottawa
• Soundcloud  
• About OttaTalk | 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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 Ottawa
• Soundcloud  
• About OttaTalk | 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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 clearing
• 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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].