About Us

🏆 Best Community News Website 🏆

GOLD 2024 Canadian Online Publishing Awards
GOLD 2023 Canadian Online Publishing Awards
GOLD 2021 Canadian Online Publishing Awards
GOLD 2020 Canadian Online Publishing Awards
GOLD 2019 Canadian Online Publishing Awards
GOLD 2018 Canadian Online Publishing Awards
GOLD 2017 Canadian Online Publishing Awards
SILVER 2016 Canadian Online Publishing Awards
GOLD 2012 Canadian Online Publishing Awards

Who we are

Apt613 is a not-for-profit organization. Our main activity is apt613.ca, an award-winning hyper-local blog dedicated to uncovering the best of Ottawa-Gatineau arts and culture, which draws close to 500k visitors annually (all-time page views over 10M) and over 100k followers across social networks. For the past 15 years, we have continued our work as the vast majority of media organizations have dropped their local coverage, particularly in arts and culture. Despite this, we are proud to find that our readership is constantly growing. At this rate, we estimate 1 in 5 Ottawa residents will visit apt613.ca this year.

Apartment613 is a platform for community coverage of news and ideas, art reviews, event previews, and everything that makes up the city’s culture. We cover food, music, sports, and performing and visual arts for emerging and established artists, entrepreneurs, and community members. Our content is produced by a team of volunteer contributors and editor staff. Our volunteer program serves as a platform for those who want to develop digital media skills/storytelling tools and showcase their writing to a vast audience.

The organization has a part-time staff whose responsibilities include managing the editorial calendar, editing submissions, delivering Apt613’s volunteer training program, and general administrative duties. A volunteer Board of Directors supports staff in growth initiatives and strategic planning.

All of our editors, photographers, social media coordinators and writers contribute their time and talents to spread the word about great events happening in our city. If you’d like to help out, please visit our contact us page to find out how you can get involved.

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Mission Statement

Apt613 fosters a vibrant arts and culture scene in Ottawa-Gatineau by:

• Championing the work of locally-based artists.
• Supporting arts organizations, cultural producers and presenters, and local and independent businesses.
• Connecting anybody who is curious about Ottawa’s cultural offerings directly with independent artists, presenters, community organizations, and cultural producers.

How do we do this:

• Creating and maintaining Apt613.ca, its associated social media accounts, and the Apt613 Events Calendar, where citizens can learn and talk about Ottawa’s eclectic arts and culture communities, new-to-them and established people, places, and events.
• Working collaboratively and building relationships with volunteers, community partners, local and like-minded businesses and organizations.
• Holding events that celebrate our community.
• Providing opportunities and support for writers and photographers to publish stories and images that interest them, irrespective of profession or skill level.

When determining how to allocate coverage of cultural communities and events, we choose to focus our resources on smaller, underserved organizations, cultural groups and artists.

History

Apt613 was conceived in October 2008 at the Manx Pub over a few too many pints of beer. A group of nine friends were remarking that while Ottawa had an active arts and culture scene, it took the right connections and a bit of work to get plugged in. We decided to do something about it. After three months spent debating whether or not to go with a sans serif font, the official site went live in January 2009. We held our launch party on 6/13 at Raw Sugar Cafe (R.I.P.) – the first of what we hope will be many more awesome birthday celebrations.

A core group formed and we were lucky enough to pick up some dedicated and talented writers along the way, many of whom are professionally trained journalists. Along with some casual contributors, we’ve managed to form a motley crew of intrepid volunteer reporters who will stop at nothing to uncover the newest restaurant opening or mind-blowing party.

In August 2010, the blog officially incorporated as a not-for-profit.

Ottawa’s pretty awesome. From New Edinburgh to Old Ottawa South to Westboro and beyond, artists, musicians, boutique stores, and culture abound. In fact, Apt613 suspects the town’s staid and serious reputation may be nothing more than a convenient cover for its wild and crazy alter ego. Committed to connecting people to their neighbourhoods, the site is a place where we can learn and talk about new and exciting people, places, and goings on.

We hope Apt613 will be a platform for participation and community building. Everyone is welcome, so come on over!

Apt613 is thankful for past project funding from: