Tag: news

Ottawa Police are warning residents to remain vigilant as they investigate reports of several cougar sightings from this past weekend. The city received multiple calls on Friday and Saturday night, reporting that cougars were seen outside establishments such as Crazyhorse in Kanata, and Maxwell’s on Elgin Street.

“People should absolutely be careful” says Nick Reynolds, a biology professor from the Carleton University, “Cougars are wild, unpredictable creatures. They are nocturnal predators who look for loud, densely populated places to hunt. For your own safety, you should stay away from these types of places, and avoid products like Axe body spray, trucker hats, or anything that says “YOLO” on it.”

While no victims have been confirmed, Ottawa Police are looking for assistance in their investigation. Anyone who has seen or been approached by a cougar is asked to contact [email protected].

Big changes are coming to Bayshore Mall…yet again. The west-end mall went through an expensive makeover last year, expanding to accommodate more stores. With an increase in retailers, however, comes an increase in customers, all of whom need somewhere to park. Bayshore invested nearly $20 million dollars in the new parking structure, which many have described as “confusing,” “ill-conceived,” and even “dangerous.” The concrete hedge maze is notoriously difficult to navigate, lacks basic pedestrian crosswalks, and has a gloomy, dank atmosphere.

“It’s perfect,” says Hannah Elarsee, CEO of the Ottawa Escape Manor. “If I didn’t know any better, I would say that this was built to be a giant puzzle.” Escape rooms are life-sized games that challenge participants to look for clues within a room, which will eventually lead them to find a key in order to escape. Mrs. Elarsee has big plans for the former Bayshore parking structure. “In this new space, we will be able to build escape rooms that will lead to other escape rooms. These will be our most challenging rooms yet. It will take people days to get out.”

At the end of October, a variety of Ottawa businesses will compete to see who can scare their visitors the most. Saunders Farm has traditionally ranked very high on the list of frightening festivities, with attractions such as costumed monsters and a haunted hayride. Scare stats dipped last year, however, thanks to the growing popularity of escape rooms and other spooky destinations. This year, Saunders Farm is looking to bounce back in a big way.

“We are proud to announce that we will be taking advantage of the government’s Work-Release program this Halloween, employing over 30 seasonal employees from the penitentiary system” announced Jack O’Leary, Saunders Farm’s Community Outreach Officer, “These men and women will take tickets, operate rides, and act as guides through the farm. We hope that these additions add a new level of danger and excitement for our guests”.