NCPR News Staff: Lucy Martin, Reporter

Canada's Parliament got an unexpected break in late December when its session was suspended by Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Harper wanted to resume work after the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Critics complained he was just evading questions about possible mistreatment of Afghan detainees.

The suspension sparked nation-wide protests in January and the whole controversy may have cost conservatives their lead in opinion polls.

Parliament opened yesterday afternoon, with the Governor General’s traditional speech from the throne. Lucy Martin has more. More...

Today's the day for those eager to enjoy Ottawa's Rideau Canal skateway. The 40th season of the highly popular destination opened this morning. Lucy Martin has more.

Ottawa's Rideau Canal opened to skaters this morning. It's the 40th season of winter fun on the famous outdoor rink. Meanwhile, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, something called the River Trail is open, and growing. It may be on the narrow side, but for the last two years it topped Ottawa to claim the title of world's longest skateway. When it comes to ice, does size matter? The River Trail's Paul Jordan is someone who would know. Ottawa reporter Lucy Martin reached him in Winnipeg.

As Americans head to the polls today, Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, are in Canada for an 11-day tour, including appearances in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. It's the Prince of Wales' sixteenth visit to Canada, but his first since marrying Camilla. Royal watchers are pleased to see the famous couple first-hand. But for other Canadians, the tour revives questions about whether kings and queens should still have a place in Canada. Lucy Martin reports.

October is a peak season for scenic outings and harvest festivals. Ottawa correspondent Lucy Martin was in Vermont earlier this month, enjoying a sunny holiday weekend. She and her husband were touring covered bridges by bike, when they peddled through a small town that was filling up fast. Spectator Samuel Lurie explained they were just in time for something special.

NCPR listeners first heard from long-time Ontario beekeeper Terry McEvoy back in 2007, as colony collapse disorder was in the news. McEvoy supported various efforts to protect and appreciate nature's bounty. When he died this past spring, at least one project he envisioned was still unfinished. Lucy Martin followed members of the Kemptville community as they rallied to bring something called "The Giving Garden" into reality. More...

Bike season may be winding down, but it was a contentious one in parts of Ontario this year. A number of traumatic accidents made headline news, intensifying public debate about blame, safety and possible remedies. Lucy Martin spoke with a cycling advocate in Ottawa who thinks improving bike safety is in everyone's best interest, even though there's still no general agreement about what the best solutions may be.

It may be easier to windsurf in warmer climates, but that doesn’t stop people up north from loving the sport too. Cedric Audette-Campbell spoke just before participating in the Canadian Windsurfing Championship taking place in Kingston, Ontario this week. He's today's Heard Up North.

There are any number of labor-intensive crafts that have faded away, replaced by time-saving mechanization. Some of the devotees who keep the old techniques alive are eager to share those skills. Lucy Martin recently ran into a working display put on by ladies from the Ottawa Guild of Lacemakers. For today's "Heard Up North", one of the Guild's members took a break from teaching the public to talk about why she likes the hobby.

The first Monday in August is a holiday that gets localized across much of Canada. Ottawa has taken to calling it Colonel By Day. Royal Engineer Lieutenant Colonel John By was responsible for building the Rideau Canal - a huge, six-year project completed back in 1832. Largely because of that over-land waterway, a scruffy area called Bytown grew into the city of Ottawa and became the national capital a few decades later. Today, the well-preserved canal system connecting Kingston with Ottawa is a boater's delight and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Allan Meltzer was one of several re-enactors at commemorative events surrounding the grounds of Ottawa's Bytown Museum.