Sports
The Canada West Championships is rich with regional rivalries – the deepest being between the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds and the University of Calgary Dinos. Every November, the two top schools show their depth across events, battling it out for the most points.
The 2023-24 U SPORTS season is well underway. With two months of competition completed, we’re setting the scene with the top stories you should be following between now and the national championships in March. Momentum is already growing as teams look to defend their titles and defy their odds as they dive into a new season.
Toronto Varsity Blue Gabe Mastromatteo was the talk of Friday’s finals session at the 2023 U SPORTS Swimming Championships after his win in the men’s 100 breaststroke in a time of 1:01.38. The Canadian Olympian broke the previous U SPORTS record from 2016 of 1:02.43 held by former Varsity Blue Eli Wall. Mastromatteo also won the 100 breast at last year’s championships in Laval, Que.
Olympian Gabe Mastromatteo of the Toronto Varsity Blues broke the U SPORTS record in the 50 breaststroke on the first day of the 2023 U SPORTS Swimming Championships.
The Toronto Varsity Blues once again dominated in the pool at the 2023 OUA Provincial Championships in London, Ont. With a total of 790.5 points, the men’s team won their 19th consecutive team banner. The women won their ninth consecutive banner with 1,207.0 points.
For the first time since 2014, Memorial University was a hub for swimming over the weekend as the Seahawks hosted the 2023 AUS Championships. The Dalhousie Tigers women captured their 21st championship title while the men earned their 23rd.
McGill University’s Martlets and Redbirds once again dominated the women’s, men’s and combined team scores at the 2023 RSEQ Provincial Championships. McGill is the first school in RSEQ conference history to win all three categories three years in a row.
Shortstop Sam Shaw (Victoria, B.C.) played a strong offensive and defensive game to help Team Royal win 10-7 over Team Light Blue on Day 3 of the Canadian Futures Showcase at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park in Ottawa on Thursday.
Arts & Culture
For more than two years, many artists in the Ottawa Valley patiently waited to exhibit their creations to the public once again. When the 15th edition of the Glebe Fine Art Show returned for an in-person event this year, 34 local artists were finally provided a space to do so.
It’s been widely reported that the seven members of the globally popular South Korean K-pop band BTS will be fulfilling their mandatory military service. Performers Jungkook, RM (Rap Monster), Jimin, Suga, V, Jin and J-Hope plan to return to the stage in 2025 after they each complete between 18 to 21 months for their country. The high-profile call to duty raises a question: How would young Canadians feel about mandatory service in this country’s armed forces?
Community
For the first time in two years, the 15th Canada Army Run returned in person this past month to Ottawa’s downtown. Participants enjoyed a new route that spanned the centre of the city, starting on Laurier Avenue near Ottawa City Hall and ending at the National War Memorial.
In the weeks leading up to Remembrance Day, the Canadian War Museum has created a series of interactive, in-person activities for visitors looking to learn about Canada’s military history.
As the City of Ottawa basks under warm weather this fall, the residents are out and about enjoying the community. People often visit farmers’ markets as a way to see their neighbours and enjoy the fruits of the harvest. Capital Current photojournalist Ella Milloy joined the shoppers recently to capture to ambience of the season.