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In Today’s Edition
– Martha and Darren
NUMBER
The increase in the amount of money spent by tourists to Ottawa in August over the same month last year, the strongest on record.
OTTAWAN OF THE DAY
The associate professor at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Science is one of the lead principal investigators on a Switzerland-Japan-Canada study of how elongated amphibious animals such as eels coordinate movement both in water and on land.
To that end, her team built a robot eel, complete with wet suit, to observe the eel’s ‘undulatory locomotion’.
QUOTE
– Gananoque town councillor Dave Osmond writing sarcastically on Facebook after mayor John Beddows proposed using his new ‘strong mayor’ powers to clamping wheels of visiting Québec vehicles until the owners pay overdue fines.
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Ottawa City Council
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 10:00 am
📚 The Ottawa Public Library has released plans to build, renew or replace 18 branches over the next 20 years. Most changes are because of increased population in the area but some branches are just old. The Library runs 33 branches. – Joanne Laucius in the Ottawa Citizen
🚊 City audit finds that Capital ward councillor Shawn Menard underreported his campaign signs by $310.98. Local developer Ted Phillips made a complaint to the City about Menard’s financial disclosures, which resulted in the audit. Menard says the $319.98 was a clerical error. He is not accused of exceeding the spending limit of $29,508.90. While the City did not say what it spent on the audit, a similar one over signs in 2022 cost $84,750. – CBC
🍴 The City’s Built Heritage Committee has approved designating the former Royal Canadian Air Force Officers’ Mess at 158 Gloucester Stree as a heritage property. Built in 1919, the Committee described the building as ‘ a rare example of an early-20th-century fraternal hall building with elements of Edwardian Classicism’. Architect Robert Holmes was also responsible for 200–206 Sparks Street, the Connaught Building at 555 Mackenzie Avenue, and the Murphy-Gamble Building at 118 Sparks Street. City Council will need to give final approval. – City of Ottawa
✈️ Residents living east and west of the Ottawa Airport may see more planes overhead for the next two weeks. Construction will close one runway, redirecting air traffic from 7 am to 6 pm today to Friday and again September 16 to 19. – Josh Pringle at CTV
Should we be expanding libraries in Ottawa?
Previously in ottawan polls:
We asked, ‘Should City Councillors get a pay raise after the next election?’
21% Yes, it must be worthwhile to serve or only people who can afford it will do it
55% No, they are already paid adequately
12% No, they should be paid no more than 3 times the minimum wage
12% Wait, you tricked me. They are currently paid at 3 times the minimum wage
Commentary
▪️ “Give them the average % raises given to staff each year. No need to research how well their colleagues in other cities are paid. They should never vote on their own salaries. Most will run again so would collect any raise they approve for a future council.”
▪️ “You get what you pay for. If you want the top minds in Ottawa, they deserve pay equity to the private sector. Then hold them to that standard.”
▪️ “Well my councillor certainly doesn’t deserve a raise! With any luck he will be gone in the next election!”
▪️ “I believe that we would attract more quality candidates, if the salary was adequate. It is not currently adequate.”
▪️ “But not the current crop ... only after re-election.”
▪️ “Here's an idea, let a random group of people in each ward vote on how much of a pay raise (or cut) each councillor deserves. That’ll start a little fire under their asses.”
▪️ “I'm a senior and I earned $21,000 last year. Surely they can get by on $120,000+.”
▪️ “There are bigger issues than councillors’ pay: police bloat, too-low taxes, etc.”
▪️ “Comparing it to minimum wage is unfair … anyone making minimum wage is living, no barely surviving, in poverty.”
▪️ “City staff does all of the actual work ... Do they get a pay raise?”
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✳️ Means change from previous edition
With Weekend Passes long sold out, single tickets will be your only way to experience the 8th annual Gatineau Fiddle Festival (October 23-26). They go on sale at 10:00 am this morning and they will sell out.
Jessica Lavallee plays Songs from the Shed at noon (Sparks St between Bank St and O’Connor St).
Trio Bistro and Lounge is selling only 32 tickets to its Non-Alcoholic Wine Tasting tonight. Entry is $70 per person, and you'll also experience pairings with Chef Rob's signature dishes.
All skill levels are welcome at Art House’s Life Drawing sessions.
ByTowne Cinema: Splitsville, The Glassworker, The Pee Pee Poo Poo Man
Mayfair Theatre: Honey Don’t! It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley, Ebony & Ivory
Gigs
Trivia Tuesday. Barley Mow Orléans (2034 Tenth Line Rd)
REKIJ. Avant-Garde Bar
Trivia Tuesday. Irene’s Pub
Open Stage with Joey Vinegar. Red Bird
Questionable Behaviour Trivia. Overflow Brewing
✳️ Ed Lister’s sextet plays music from jazz greats in a lunchtime concert called All that Jazz.
Alex Warren headlines opening night at CityFolk Fest at Lansdowne Park.
Sandy Hill Life Drawing costs $10 or Pay What You Can.
Come and learn the swing dance for crowded dance floors. You don’t need a partner (or even experience) for the six week Balboa Foundation 2025 course that starts tonight at Ottawa Vintage Swing. $165
Stud Country presents Achey Breaky Queer Line Dancing at Overflow Brewing.
ByTowne Cinema: It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley, Hard Boiled, Splitsville
Mayfair Theatre: Honey Don’t! Familiar Touch, Orca
Gigs
Jazz Jam with the Beeched Wailers. Irene’s Pub
Acoustic Rooster Open Mic Night. Atomic Rooster
Sophie D’Orleans, Beau Nectar. Akoustik Music Series at St. Charles Market
Dogfight. LIVE on Elgin
Taproom Trivia. Stray Dog Brewing
Tyler Kealey’s Urban Campfire. Red Bird
Douce Angoisse (Buenos Aires Darkwave). House of TARG
Melissa Ethridge & Indigo Girls headline CityFolk Festival at Lansdowne Park.
🎻 Road Trip: Enjoy traditional Québec music and culture, shop with local vendors, and visit food and beverage trucks over four days at The Ripon Trad Music Festival in the village of Ripon, Québec. Today through Sunday September 14.
Possible Worlds bring the Zine Club to Ten Toes Coffee House & Laundry (837 Somerset St W). You’ll work on a one page zine, listen to tunes care of DJ Jason Skilz, and hear from artist Melanie Yugo.
Shop for fresh local produce, meat, and dairy as well as crafts and prepared goods, at the Orléans Farmers' Market (11:00 am to 4:00 pm).
Take a wander through the final ByWard Night Market of the season
🆓 National Gallery of Canada is free tonight and every Thursday evening from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
ByTowne Cinema: Splitsville, Restoration: Barry Lyndon
Mayfair Theatre: Familiar Touch, Honey Don’t! It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley
Gigs
Irene's Thursday Blues Sessions with Guest Host Tori Hammond. Irene's Pub
Clouds Taste Satanic. House of TARG
James LeClaire. Night Oat
Richard Robinson Fashion Design Academy’s part time courses cover everything from pattern making to beginner sewing.
The 80s return on Friday October 10 as Strange Advance, The Box, and Images in Vogue play the Bronson Centre Music Theatre.
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Everything is 8% off site-wide at Nova Scotia's Peace By Chocolate, today only. |
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Say it ain’t so, but the National Capital Commission has released its top five places to see fall colours in Ottawa-Gatineau. The routes are: Commissioners Park, Dow’s Lake and surrounding area, Remic Rapids and Bate Island, the Rockeries and Ottawa River, Hog’s Back Park and Falls, and Leamy Lake Park.
What did you think of today’s ottawan? |
Comment of the Week: ‘Great to have this succinct but complete rundown of what to do around Ottawa this long weekend!!!’
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the ottawan is written and edited every working weekday by Martha and Darren. Is there something that Ottawa should know about? Email to us at hello@theottawan.com. We read every single comment. |
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