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What Ottawa’s 2025 looked like — in 51 powerful images

Avijit Sah
A series of five snippets showing Mark Carney playing hockey, planes over parliament, a young girl holding an owl, Price Charles,
(L to R): Mark Carney, Snowbirds over Parliament, Juniper Harding at a Safe Wings Ottawa event, King Charles, Japnam Bharaj in front of her school. (Photos: Tony Caldwell, Julie Oliver, Jean Levac, Ashley Fraser / Postmedia; Graphic: Sofia Misenheimer / Postmedia)

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A camera doesn’t change what happened. But it does decide who gets to see.

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This year in Ottawa began with wildfire smog and ended with a candlelit vigil. In between, public life unfolded in ways both ordinary and extraordinary. A comedian drew a crowd to the Rideau Canal, runners pressed through city streets during a spring marathon and athletes carried the hopes of fans through playoff arenas. Tragedy and grief surfaced on sidewalks and driveways, and moments of human endurance threaded through city days.

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These are the most arresting images of 2025 — every photo taken by an Ottawa Citizen photographer bearing witness.

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Everyday Ottawa

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A couple holds hands on Jan 22, 2025 while skating past the love locks at the Corktown Footbridge on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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A man seeks money donations at the intersection of Rideau Street and King Edward Avenue in Ottawa, Feb. 11, 2025. Photo by JEAN LEVAC /POSTMEDIA

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Ottawa’s downtown was blanketed in a mix of snow flurries and near-freezing temperatures throughout the afternoon, but crews from Cody Building Services were hard at work high above Laurier Ave. on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, cleaning the windows of the high-rise at 200 Kent Street. Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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Andrew Wolff enjoys reading his book at Dow’s Lake while Ottawa was under a heat advisory, June 24, 2025. Photo by JEAN LEVAC /POSTMEDIA

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An airplane flies over Barrhaven in Ottawa on July 11, 2025. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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The long and winding road of a morning jog along the Rideau River, Aug 19, 2025. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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An elderly man observes the new construction at the corner of Parkdale Avenue and Wellington Street in Ottawa, Sept. 2, 2025. Photo by JEAN LEVAC /POSTMEDIA

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Chris Bickford and his dog Lily-Loo read and have coffee on Bank Street on Oct 8, 2025. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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A bird’s eye view of three friends, enjoying some basketball in downtown Ottawa on Oct 14, 2025. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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Shadows of the LRT signage and walkers at the intersection of Sussex Drive and Rideau Street in Ottawa, Nov. 4, 2025. Photo by JEAN LEVAC /POSTMEDIA

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Moments of public life

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Comedian and Ottawa-native Tom Green on the Rideau Canal, Jan. 18, 2025, recording a very Canadian music video with videographer Chris Mullington. Special guests like Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and skaters out enjoying a skate got to sing along with the chorus. Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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Runners filled the streets of the capital on May 25, 2025, for the marathon, as day two of Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend unfolded under cool temperatures with peeks of sunny skies, ideal race conditions. Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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Ottawa Charge teammates celebrate and the fans go wild at a 1-0 playoff win over Montreal Victoire at TD Place on May 13, 2025. The Charge made it all the way to the Walter Cup finals, for the first time, but lost to the two-time PWHL champs, the Minnesota Frost. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

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The Kazoo Crew in Section 11, including Britt Hurley (standing, second from left), who started bringing the all-mighty kazoo to Ottawa Charge games, a trend that caught on like wildfire amongst the PWHL team’s loyal fans. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

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Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe were joined by city councillors, team staff, supporters and fans on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, to raise the Senators flag in front of Ottawa City Hall, which faces Elgin Street — temporarily renamed Sens Mile for the playoff run. Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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National Capital Commission CEO Tobi Nussbaum (second from right) was joined by MP Yasir Naqvi (centre) and former MP Catherine McKenna (left) and others for a splashy opening of swimming season at the brand new Dow’s Lake dock, June 12, 2025. The newly created urban swimming spot that created waves in Ottawa was ultimately a success. “The idea that we could create a floating dock (on Dow’s Lake) that people could go swimming from puts us on the same scale as what Paris has done with the Seine,” local architect Toon Dreessen said. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

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True Marut (girl on the left) and Layton Randall (right with cowboy hat) follow the Snowbirds as they fly past Parliament Hill and Ottawa during the Canada Day festivities in Ottawa. The celebration was well attended by many in the nation’s capital on July 1, 2025. Photo by JEAN LEVAC /POSTMEDIA

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On day two of Ottawa Bluesfest, July 11, 2025, security sprayed cold water on fans at the main stage to cool them down from the heat and humidity. The 31st edition of the festival was a big success, artistic and executive director Mark Monahan said. Total attendance numbers showed more than 250,000 visitors, with Green Day drawing the biggest crowd of the festival, 35,000 fans. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

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Shania Twain, five-time Grammy award winner, played the RBC Stage at Ottawa Bluesfest on Sunday, July 13, 2025, on the grounds of LeBreton Flats. Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees and Carleton Ravens faced off at TD Place on Sunday, October 5, 2025, in the 56th edition of the annual Panda Game. The Ravens posed with the Pedro trophy in their locker room after claiming their first win since 2017. Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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Power and politics

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Ottawa South MP David McGuinty spoke to the media and endorsed Liberal leader candidate Mark Carney at the Riverview Park annual Winter Carnival in Balena Park, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. Carney had a good chuckle as he went into the goalie position, as McGuinty pointed. Carney was elected as the prime minister of Canada on April 28, 2025. Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks after his swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on March 14, 2025. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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Mahmoud Zibaie, a Conservative Party supporter, shows his dejection as The Canadian Press announced a Liberal government on a livestream newscast at the Rogers Centre in Ottawa, where Pierre Poilievre of the Conservative Party of Canada was to speak after the federal election results on April 28, 2025. Photo by JEAN LEVAC /POSTMEDIA

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King Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted by thousands on May 27, 2025, as they made their way to the Senate of Canada, where the King officially opened Parliament. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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King Charles inspects the Royal Canadian Regiment’s 100-person Guard of Honour on May 27, 2025. King Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted by thousands of fans as they made their way to the Senate of Canada, where the King officially opened Parliament on the last day of a whirlwind two-day tour. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

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RCMP officers marching from the Supreme Court to Parliament Hill on Sept. 28, 2025, as part of the annual Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial. Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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Prime Minister Mark Carney launched Build Canada Homes, a new federal agency with $13 billion in initial funding to rapidly scale up affordable housing construction, preserve rental units, and tackle homelessness across the country. The Prime Minister announced his own riding, along Merivale Road, where he hosted a media conference on Sept. 14, 2025, backed by modular homes built by Caivan. Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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Hard news and the aftermath

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Ottawa Police responded to a call on Provendeer Ave. on the morning of April 4, 2025, where a man was found deceased and a woman injured. Lynn Clairoux and Carmen Pilon hugged each other as they tried to process the news of their cousin’s passing. Pilon said the victim “was like my little brother, we grew up together.” Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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A man lies on Bank Street, passed out from drug use, in downtown Ottawa on April 29, 2025. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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The results of a fire at 156 Rideau St. in the ByWard Market, Sept. 8, 2025. The Ottawa Police Service‘s arson unit was investigating two “suspicious” fires that broke out at two different illegal magic mushroom shops within 15 minutes of each other. Photo by JEAN LEVAC /POSTMEDIA

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Ottawa Police, Paramedics and Ottawa Fire attend to two people and a dog who escaped from a house fire on Weston Street, Nov 13, 2025. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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Remembrance and loss

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Honourary Lt.-Gen. Richard Rohmer, prominent author and lawyer, spoke with Gov. Gen. Mary Simon before the 73rd Canadian Tulip Festival opened May 10, 2025. Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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Jean Sibbald and her daughter, Barbara, bring flowers to their husband and father, Major Ian Sibbald, on Nov 3, 2025 at the National Military Cemetery at Beechwood before Remembrance Day. Ian served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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June Mitton, 87, and her daughter, Kelly, visit their husband and father, Kenneth Mitton, a day before Remembrance Day on Nov. 10, 2025, a cold, snowy day at The National Military Cemetery at Beechwood on Monday. Kenneth served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

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Faces of the city

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Ingrid Daniel, founder of Tribe Co., a new art-vintage-lifestyle shop on Gladstone Ave., Jan. 26, 2025. The owner of the store spoke about the recent proliferation of brick-and-mortar thrift shops in Ottawa. Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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Ralph Raina, who turns 100 on March 24, looks back on a life filled with milestones, including three terms as Kemptville’s mayor and a career in the garment business. Ahead of his weekend celebrations, Raina reflects on the highs and lows of his remarkable journey. Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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Eric Winch took part in an informal competition at Bate Island on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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Outgoing NAC Orchestra musical director Alexander Shelley looks around Southam Hall — a place called home for the last 10 years. Shelley announced he will step down from his position as music director for the NACO in July 2026. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

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Doven Chan, co-owner of Dumpling Bliss, shows off some of the handmade, pre-cooked dumplings on offer in the Centretown restaurant on July 29, 2025. Chan takes dishes he grew up eating — black pepper beef, cucumber and egg, pork and three delicacies — and compresses them into dumpling form. A good dumpling, in Chan’s view, can be a self-contained meal. “It’s already delicious enough to serve as a dish. It’s not going to go wrong when we put it in a dumpling.” Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

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Dr. Guy Trudel’s rehab research will be one of the new Canadian studies being conducted on the International Space Station. “I often refer to how the rehabilitation of astronauts goes and I tell my patients, ‘You are doing the same thing as if you are returning from space,’” says Dr. Trudel, seen here at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa on Oct. 28, 2025. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

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Jonathan Shaughnessy, Interim Senior Curator of Contemporary Art at the National Gallery of Canada, stands in front of Ron Mueck’s Head of a Baby on Sept. 25, 2025. The piece is one of the most-requested contemporary works in the gallery’s collection and is back on display for the first time in nearly a decade. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

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John Thompson, owner of The Record Centre, showed off the basement storage space where they house thousands of records. Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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Bill Staubi is a great collector and supporter of the arts and artists. When he discovered two years ago that he had liver cancer and about 18 months to live, he decided to give away his collection of between 1,200 and 1,500 pieces. Some were returned to artists, others went to galleries. Some went to arts organizations to be sold or auctioned as fundraisers. A month ago, Bill learned his cancer, which had spread to his lungs, had gone into remission. Photo by JEAN LEVAC /POSTMEDIA

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Japnam Bharaj, 10, advocated for the installation of a speed camera outside of her school (Shingwakons Public School in Stittsville) after another youth was hit by a car earlier near there. She collected hundreds of signatures. “It got me very upset that it was happening, and it shouldn’t happen again,” said Japnam, a Grade 5 student. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

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Co-owner of Klimat, Jazmine Maisonneuve, tackles a tension wall that tilts to challenge the difficulty level of the climber. With indoor climbing growing in popularity, Klimat opened a second location at City Centre Road in Ottawa, in addition to the original gym in Wakefield. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

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Environment and Change

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Suzannah is photographed in front of Parliament Hill by her friend Chan, both visiting from Vancouver. Suzannah was wearing a mask due to the wildfire smog that lay over Ottawa on June 6, 2025. Photo by JEAN LEVAC /POSTMEDIA

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Conservation officers with the National Capital Commission (NCC) safely captured a juvenile bear in Kanata North on April 24, 2025. The bear was tranquilized so it could be safely relocated to a suitable habitat within a 200 km radius. Photo by JEAN LEVAC /POSTMEDIA

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Professor Menna Agha (right) and her PhD student Sally El Sayed celebrate at the opening of The Vanier Hub, on Marier Avenue, Nov. 20, 2025. Once a parking lot, the new vibrant outdoor community space is now covered on both sides with a sitting area, kids’ kitchen and reading nook on one side and a massive games/gathering table on the other. Carleton University’s Architecture Action Lab, created and led by Agha, has worked tirelessly on the Hub’s new life. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

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Lucie Régimbald, a member of the Capital Region Citizen Coalition for the Protection of the Environment, is photographed at the location of a potential landfill near Carlsbad Springs on Nov 21, 2025. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said the city was proceeding with a bid for the east Ottawa landfill and would share more details once the competitive bidding process was complete. Photo by JEAN LEVAC /POSTMEDIA

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