Ariel Troster

@arieltroster.com

Running for reelection as City Councillor for #SomersetWard in Ottawa. Queer Jew. A better city is possible. Let’s build it together. 🏳️‍🌈

I met Dan and his dog Trick while canvassing yesterday. Dan works at a homeless shelter and told me that he carries Naloxone with him because of the increased number of overdoses he is seeing on the street since the Ford govt shut down all of the supervised consumption sites. We keep us safe.

A man in an orange baseball cap with his very large, elderly Great Dane who is the goodest boy

Cracked and broken sidewalks that take years to repair are a symptom of a city that is not meeting its core infrastructure needs. This is why I continue to vote against austerity budgets. We need to do better — for dogs and humans alike.

With significant rainfall expected, take a few moments and prepare for the weather ahead: - Point downspouts away from house - Backflow valve and sump pump are working - Ensure your eavestroughs are clear - Clear your neighbourhood catch basin of debris https://bit.ly/3G3a8BR

Catch basin being flooded with water.

Three opportunities to knock doors with us this week! It’s a great way to make new friends and help build a better city. We offer lots of training and support and you are always partnered with someone more experienced. Join us! Sign up at Troster2026.ca/shifts

This week’s canvasses

Tuesday, August 4: Cambridge Street Public School, 5:30 pm

Wednesday, August 5, Kent and Slater, 5:30 pm

Saturday August 8, Dominion Chalmers United Church, 10 am

It was so nice to bump into Greg McPherson today, as he took a quick pit stop on his On the Road for Mental Health walk from Stitsville to Ottawa City Hall. Greg will be walking more than 600 km again this yr, to raise awareness of the addiction and mental health crisis, in honour of his son Aric.

Ariel with Greg, in a bookstore

Can we stop saying that raising taxes for bike lanes and transit is going to tax the middle class to oblivion? The average cost of owning a car in 2026 is $16.5k. It's an exorbitant amount compared to property taxes. Car dependency is bankrupting the middle class.

It was great to drop by the Street Seats location at Bank + Waverley for an art show/yard sale today. I love seeing our streets filled with people doing fun stuff, including salsa dancing, Ugandan drumming, ping pong, birdhouse painting, Pilates, and more. What events have you checked out?

A woman sits on the ground and sketches at her booth at the sale, displaying brightly coloured artAriel with Atlas, the person who organized the sale A person sits at their booth at the sale? Selling patches and vintage clothes People browse the sale

Graham and Louis have lived in their Elgin Street apartment for 45 yrs. In 2022, their landlord tried to use renovations as an excuse to evict them. When I knocked on their door today, they told me that the new renoviction bylaw gives them peace of mind that they will be able to keep their home.

Ariel with Graham and Louis in their art-filled apartment

Our current mayor sent a fundraising email (in the voice of John Baird) that says Jeff Leiper wants “to force you out of your car and onto a bicycle.” … Don’t threaten me with a good time?!?

“We all do better when we all do better.” That quote from Paul Wellstone summarizes my advocacy for real, evidence-based, compassionate solutions to chronic homelessness and addiction. You can count on me to fight for this city to treat these issues as true emergencies that deserve urgent action.

Great to meet with Cassandra Olsthoorn from Arts Ottawa today, to talk about how we can continue to promote the arts as an economic driver and as an essential place maker in the downtown core. Ottawa’s per capita investment in the arts is much lower than many smaller cities in Canada.

Ariel and Cassandra at a coffee shop

What an honour to be at the official opening of Herbert and Estelle Brown Park on Besserer in Rideau-Vanier. Councillor Stephanie Plante worked with Black History Ottawa and the Brown family to honour the pioneering founders of Brown’s Cleaners.

Ariel with Stephanie Plante and members of Black History Ottawa at the event A member of the Brown family point to the plaque

Are you 16-24 years old? Want to get paid to work with a local artist and help create a new mural at the Centretown Community Health Centre? Apply using the QR code below!

Paint it up
Centretown Community Health Centre
Meeting: Wednesday. July 28 at 3pm
Painting dates: August 3-7
Work with a local artist and be paid for the painting you do 
Youth aged 16-24

What a beautiful day at McNabb Park for the Chez Nous info fair and dance party. My office was happy to help sponsor this brand-new Pride event created to celebrate queer/trans African and newcomer communities. Congratulations to all of the organizers and volunteers.

Ariel with Carling and Sunday, two of the Chez Nous organizers A group of participants posing in front of a rainbow Pride flag Ariel and Yami, one of the event organizers, standing behind a rainbow frame created by the Centretown Community Health Centre

This week’s canvass schedule is up! Join us to knock on doors and talk to neighbours about how we build a better city together. On Friday, join us for a patio social after the canvass. It’s really fun, I promise! Sign up at troster2026/shifts.

A list of this week’s canvasses, available in an accessible format at troster2026.ca/shifts Bild

I had a great time meeting neighbours at the Belong Ottawa BBQ in Dundonald Park today. I am so grateful to Belong Ottawa’s staff and volunteers for feeding and providing respite space and meals to hundreds of people every week at St. John’s Church and the Bronson Centre.

Ariel with Belong Ottawa staff at the BBQVolunteers and local police officers handing out food at the BBQAriel with Belong Ottawa staff at the BBQ