Craig Macartney
Managing Editor

Love it or hate it, 2016 was a wild year. From the crisis in Syria to the challenges facing religious freedom in Canada, this has been a year with much shaking. It has also been a year marked by quiet hope.

With New Year’s Eve right around the corner, we at Spur Ottawa, wanted to look back and share our picks for the most impacting and inspiring stories we’ve covered.

Share your favourite in the comments below.

1. Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society gives up fight against Trinity Western University

“Trinity Western graduates have shown themselves to be nothing but the best of professionals.” Screenshot from twu.ca.

The battle over Trinity Western’s proposed law school will have a profound impact on the future of religious freedom in Canada, as a whole. This story continues to be important as they wait for a date at the Supreme Court, with superior courts in Nova Scotia and BC ruling in their favour and Ontario dissenting. This story was also our most widely read piece, racking up more than 3500 hits.

2. Modeling Christ’s love among immigrants

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson (centre) and Ward 9 City Councilor Keith Egli (right) present Pastor Joseph Kiirya (left), of River Jordan Ministries, with the City Builder Award. Photo from Facebook.

Even in Ottawa, this year witnessed growing challenges of racial tension and a budding of plans to tackle fatherlessness. Yet, as the proverb goes, every challenge presents an opportunity. This past September, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson honoured Pastor Joseph Kiirya, of River Jordan Ministries, with the City Builder Award, recognizing his ongoing work with young men, single moms, and struggling minorities. This story should be an encouragement to all local believers that God is at work in our city, there is hope for the hopeless, and even our secular government has noticed the difference the Church is making.

3. Booties for life

More than 6800 hand-made baby booties displayed on Parliament Hill. Each one represents 15 babies who were killed by abortion last year. Photo by Craig Macartney.

We gave a fair bit of coverage to pro-life issues this year. From Cassie’s and Molly’s Law to pro-life amber alerts, we’ve covered it. However, held less than 24 hours before the March for Life, this visual reminder sent a strong message and helped prepared the ground for the coming March. Booties for Life was also among our top stories, with more than 1000 hits.

4. Forever grateful: Hélène Campbell’s story of God’s faithfulness

Hélène in the hospital. Photo courtesy of Hélène Campbell.

Our vision at Spur Ottawa comes from Hebrews 10:29, “Let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.” We are always looking for encouraging stories of God at work among Ottawa residents. Hélène Campbell’s story is an amazing reminder of who it is we serve. I’m moved beyond words thinking of the imagery God wove into this narrative—with a dying girl’s rekindled faith as she goes into surgery on Good Friday and revives on Resurrection Sunday.

5. The Big Give in perpetual motion

Photo by Woodleywonderworks (Flickr CC).

The Big Give is another Ottawa story that garners wider attention. It started as an idea to help one church better connect with the community. In 2017, the Big Give plans to go national, with churches from several Canadian cities already planning to join in. This is a great success story from Stittsville of how a one-off outreach became a long-term relationship.

We would love to hear your picks, too. Share what your favourite story was in the comments below.