Good Choice Initiative

Although COVID-19 might be stopping us from celebrating Mother's Day with Mom IRL, there are many ways to show her you care even while social distancing. We love how the Support Local movement is gaining traction and local businesses are offering flexible options for buyers: from online shopping, to pick up and delivery services and even virtual markets. To save you some time and research, we've compiled a list of Ottawa's best resources that support our city's local businesses and will help you find something special for Mom while practicing physical distancing: BREWERIES, COFFEE SHOPS, RETAIL & MORE Not sure what to get Mom but you'd like a comprehensive list of different types of businesses to start? Together Apart  is the place to go to support small businesses in the Ottawa region, from retail to restaurants, coffee shops and grocery stores. Their website is very user-friendly and it is easy to search for businesses by category and/or neighbou...

Today is day #12 of my self-isolation time. I returned from my trip to Guatemala on March 17th, just in time before they closed their borders to incoming and outgoing flights. I'm glad I got to travel when I did, before all of this broke out. I got to experience the colonial city of Antigua and its landmark yellow Santa Catalina Arch, surrounded by volcanoes. At night, the Volcan del Fuego gushed glowing orange lava. I got to see the cloud forest and lush jungle, swim in the turquoise pools of the Cahabon River and got to witness the beauty of Atitlan lake and the richness of the Mayan culture in the towns nestled along the waterfront. Remembering the view below reminds me that my travels weren't so long ago and I know I'll have new adventures to look forward to. I am grateful to be home safely and close to family, and to be in good health. But I do miss the fresh air and the sunlight kissing my face, meeting up with friends and going dancing. I know I'm doing...

As a new snowstorm is upon us, the thought of settling down into a coffee shop for a warm beverage to escape the cold can be comforting. Over the last few weeks, I have been exploring several coffee places across the city, with a particular interest in their 'bring your own mug/cup' policy (for research, you know). Below is the list of all the places that I found accept customers bringing their own, some of which even provide a discount or incentive for doing so. Not only can you feel good about bringing your own mug instead of using a takeaway for your coffee, but you can be rewarded for your efforts to be more sustainable! Read on to find out which coffee places recognize consumers that do their part for the environment... 1. Bridgehead Several locations across Ottawa. One of the original local coffee shops that serves Fairtrade coffee, they accept any mug (travel or ceramic) and give a $0.27 discount per drink purchase. I love this place because they serve delici...