The Ottawan Newsletter

Hello Ottawa

In Today’s Edition

→ Half of Ottawa homes will see their garbage day change after March 30

→ Heated Rivalry Night brings the smoulder to Bronson Centre tomorrow

→ Deals of the Day on womenswear at Miik and boots from Manitobah

– Martha and Darren

STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

$90,000
– The correct amount raised at last year's Snowball: A Cool Winter's Eve, the fundraiser for the Snowsuit Fund. In yesterday's newsletter we said that amount was $19,000.
Tickets to Snowball 2026

ALMONTIAN (HONORARY) OF THE DAY

Ruth McCarthy
– The bookseller at O’Mahony’s in Limerick, Ireland has been paired with Mill Street Books as part of the RISE Booksellers Exchange which places Canadians and Europeans in foreign shops.
McCarthy hopes to learn about ‘children’s bookselling , local fiction, non-fiction and history’.
The Millstone

QUOTE

[O]ur PA team has made the decision to declare impasse as the employer refuses to bargain in good faith

– From a statement today released by the Public Service Alliance of Canada explaining that contract talks with the Federal government have stalled. The PA team is the Alliance’s Program and Administrative Service Group bargaining team.

Josh Pringle at CTV

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WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

No meetings tomorrow

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

📚 Half of Ottawa homes will see their garbage day change after March 30. Under the new arrangement, ‘some homes will have their paper recycling picked up two weeks in a row, but their plastics and garbage will pile up for three weeks’. The new schedule is available here or downloadable as an app. – CBC

🚌 City Council has asked staff to investigate whether OC Transpo should compensate riders for O Train and bus service disruptions. Options given to staff are ‘refunds, discounted fares, temporary free service, more investment to improve reliability, or a combination of those measures’. A report is expected back in mid May. – Cameron Mahler at CBC

↪ The O Train extension into Orléans opening has been delayed yet again. It was expected to open early this year but is now expected after spring.

↪ Also this spring, OC Transpo will extend the time limit for transfers to 105 minutes. Many riders had complained that last year’s rejigging of the schedule meant they now had to pay for connections.

❓ The City is looking for your opinion on the Alexander Community
Centre expansion. You can comment about the Carlington centre at Engage Ottawa or come to the Public Information Session, February 19 at the Centre, 960 Silver Street, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. – City of Ottawa

THE DAILY POLL

Do you have any dating horror stories?

🔘 Yes, but I’m not going to tell you

🔘 Yes, and I’ll put it in the commentary

🔘 No, and I have nothing to say

🔘 No, and I’ll tell you all about it in the commentary

Previously in ottawan polls:
We asked, ‘Should the Ottawa Carleton District School Board be selling off surplus properties?’
- 7% Yes, it’s money ready to be made
- 19% No, it may be surplus now but it may be needed in the future and land doesn’t get cheaper
- 41% Let the kids find their own places to learn each year, it’ll be a teaching moment
- 27% No, I find it exploitative
- 6% Honestly, I don’t know. It costs money to keep things vacant but holding on to a building that may never ever be used again doesn’t seem wise
- Commentary

▪️ “How would I know if it is really surplus or usable? Leave that for the professional planners. Are there any involved? Or is it douglynomics?”

▪️ “Vacant for 8 years, yes sell it. The board runs deficits every year and shouldn’t be holding on to it.”

▪️ “Not by people I didn't vote for.”

▪️ “Although I agree with Donna Blackburn, and I literally never agree with her, selling property is not a good budget balancing plan.”

▪️ “We don't need more prime land in those developers hands so keep those properties, or at least the land they sit on, under public ownership.”

▪️ “Vacant properties could and should be put to much better uses: housing, recreational spaces, many ways to bring value to the communities.”

▪️ “Unless it’s a heritage building in which case it can still be sold but may have restrictions.”

▪️ “The public school board definitely needs the $ but what they actually should be doing to save $ is amalgamating the school boards. Hello?”

▪️ “No. Build new schools on that land. Oh, and let's Defund Catholic Schools while we are at it and change them into OCDSB schools.”

▪️ “Keep them, and if they have a building, use it for an alternate use. Tech startup hub, art studios and or remote offices. If the price is right they will rent and it offsets the maintance cost.”

HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS

Nortel T-Shirt

Northern Electric was founded in Montréal in 1895, growing into one of the world’s largest and most important telecom companies. Nortel hung up the phone in 2013. It's campus on Carling Avenue became the new home of the Department of National Defence.

Help support the ottawan by buying one of our historic logo t-shirts.

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THE ROLLING THREE DAY CALENDAR

Is there an event we should know about?
Please use our easy event submission form

✳️ Means change from previous edition

THURSDAY

✳️ JoJo CoCo is very obligingly staying open until 7:00 pm tonight and tomorrow night, and until 6:00 pm on Saturday (you know, in case you need to pick up some exquisite chocolate for some reason).(Kanata)
Igloofest is billed as the world's coldest dance floor for good reason. Don't forget your thermals or pay for the VIP section with its heated bars and bathrooms. Tonight's DJ lineup: Bunt., DJ Mandy, and TYR One. Igloofest runs today through Saturday at Place des Festivals Zibi (Gatineau)
Make your own Linocut Valentine’s Day card or decorate a Bento Cake. Both sessions get underway at 5:30 pm at Next Door’s The Makers Table. All materials, snacks, and drinks are included for $49 + tax per person. (Little Italy)
Visit the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia to Canada for the inaugural Made in Armenia, by Armenians market (tonight and tomorrow from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm). Learn about the culture and flavours of Armenia in a unique setting. (Golden Triangle)
The 18-piece Ottawa Jazz Orchestra plays music - some of it performed from unpublished scores - by film and television composer Johnny Richards. My Fair Lady Goes to Town is at the National Arts Centre Fourth Stage. Second performance tomorrow (Downtown)

Cinema

ByTowne Cinema: Arco, Ciné-Club d'Ottawa: 1995, Marty Supreme
Mayfair Theatre: The Choral, Tank Girl

Gigs

Josh Ross. Hard Rock Ottawa
Yacht Rock Happy Hour with Ian Fitze. The Robo Lounge
Jazz Jam Session. Irene’s Pub
Ad Infinitum, Seven Spires, Tulip, Sovereign Council. Overflow Brewing
Mickey Mouse and his pals take you on a journey to locations you've only seen in films. Prepare to be amazed at Disney on Ice: Road Trip Adventures. Canadian Tire Centre (Kanata)
Learn a little something about Ottawa’s history from Chloe Dennis, the Bytown Museum Exhibition and Collections Manager. The stone building dates back to 1827 and has been a museum for almost 110 years.
The For Us, By Us - Black History Vendor Market at Carleton U features Black-owned businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs. Nideyinàn - Galleria, 4th floor from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. (Old Ottawa South)
An Evening of Sin presents Lascivious Love Stories: A Burlesque Spectacle at Rainbow Bistro. (ByWard Market)
Road Trip. See yourself in a whole new light at Chasin’ Turkeys Bowling Lanes Half Price Thursdays. You and up to five friends can book a glow in the dark lane for $30.(Carleton Place)
The Piano Teacher continues at GCTC

FRIDAY

Kaskade headlines at Igloofest, with guests Swimming Paul and Queenyy. Place des Festivals Zibi (Gatineau)
North + Rose lead a cozy Valentine’s Day Candle Class at Lume Club. (Manotick)
Club 90s brings you a Heated Rivalry Night, where there is no doubt that smouldering glances will be flying across the dance floor. Bronson Centre Music Theatre (Somerset Ward)
Capital Tease Burlesque takes over Stray Dog Brewing for STRUT, where craft beer meets classic - and classy - striptease.(Orléans)

Cinema

ByTowne Cinema: The Secret Agent, Hamnet, Sirat, Galentine’s Interactive: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Mayfair Theatre: The Choral, All That’s Left Of You, Jason X

Gigs

Questionable Behaviour Trivia. Overflow Brewing
Uno. The Prescott
Look Upon the Heart + Closeout + Somet + Curl. Rainbow Bistro
Kasador, The New Hires, Loch Nisse Monster. Club SAW
Beer & Bingo. Calabogie Brewing Kanata Taproom
Disney on Ice: Road Trip Adventures continues at Canadian Tire Centre (Kanata)
August: Osage County continues for four more performances at Gladstone Theatre.
The Piano Teacher continues at GCTC

SATURDAY

Steve Aoki headlines at Igloofest, with guests Audien and Jessica Audiffred. Place des Festivals Zibi (Gatineau)
A celebration of African-American pianist and composer Themonius Monk, Belgian choreographer Benjamin Vandewalle and Zonzo Comganie bring Thelonius to the Big Bang Festival on Saturday and Sunday (Downtown)
It didn’t start with the NHL: view the vintage photos and the story of the sport’s evolution in Cool History: Hockey at the Canadian Museum of History (Gatineau)
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet and Canadian Guitar Quartet bring Guitarist! to Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre. In addition to quartets and octets, the program features a rousing finale with help from local guitarists.
Find a romantic, locally crafted gift at the Eastern Ontario Craft & Gift Valentine Market. Walter Baker Centre (Barrhaven)
🆓 Join CBC Ottawa and the Ottawa Public Library at Ben Franklin Place on Saturday, Feb. 14 for a free, family-friendly afternoon. Experience the excitement of the Olympics surrounded by your community and enjoy an afternoon packed with activities for all ages. (Centrepointe)
The special Valentine’s Day Art Battle will be extra electrifying. 12 artists, three rounds and only one champion.
We already crush hard whenever Brief Encounter shows up on TV, so we can’t imagine how it will feel when those powerful impossible-love vibes bombard us from the Mayfair Theatre's big screen on Saturday (3:45 pm) and Sunday (6:00 pm). Black and white, released in 1945, directed by David Lean; this film will break your heart.
🆓 Wander through the more than 150 vendors, makers, and bakers at 613Flea.
Undercurrents festival continues at Arts Court, which is a good thing especially if you’re looking forward to completely ignoring the hearts and roses of Valentine's Day. There's nothing better than hunkering down in a darkened theatre, watching the creativity unfold on stage. (Downtown)
With its mix of free and paid programming Big Bang Festival is a family-friendly two days of music and mayhem at the National Arts Centre (Downtown)
Roast marshmallows at the bonfire, buy a bowl of chili ($5), build a snow fort. Do it all at the Westboro Beach Winter Carnival. It's free but you need to book a ticket so organizers know how much chili to make. (Westboro)
The Drowning Girls completes its run at the Ron Maslin Playhouse (Kanata)
It's Valentine’s Day. Don't panic. Getting your hands on a classic heart-shaped box of Made in Canada chocolates is as easy as walking into St. Laurent Shopping Centre, Carlingwood Mall, Place d'Orléans, or Bayshore Shopping Centre, where you’ll discover Purdy’s huge range of Valentine’s sweets.
Grab a Valentine’s dinner for two at Broadhead Brewery, where Meatings Barbecue will serve up a luscious three course meal. $120 per couple, reservations recommended. (Orléans)
Road Trip: There’s a lot to see and do at Perth’s Frost & Fire Festival. In Code Park you'll find activities, live chain saw demos, and outdoor laser tag. Enjoy marshmallow roasting and maple taffy tasting at Crystal Palace. Do some crafting at Perth Museum. All around town local businesses will offer weekend specials. (Perth)
The Piano Teacher continues at GCTC, with two performances today.
Keep Valentine’s Day casual with two beers and a pizza for $35 at Spark Beer. They've also got cava pours and desserts. Reserve a spot and prepare to bask in the glow of a romantic night secured.(Chinatown)

Cinema

ByTowne Cinema: Sirat, Hamnet, Valentine’s Day: Amélie, Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie
Mayfair Theatre: Brief Encounter, Casablanca, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Super Secret Saturday Sinema

Gigs

The Yodas. Broadway Bar & Grill
Kim Mitchell and David Wilcox. Hard Rock Ottawa
Tyler Shaw - Valentines Day. Bronson Centre
Matt Andersen, with Mariel Buckley. Southam Hall at National Arts Centre
Late Night Love: A VAlentine's Burlesque Show + DJ Remi Royale's Red-Hot Dance Party. House of TARG
Shovel, Ceased, Untucked. Dominion Tavern

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

🆓 Library and Archives Canada present a special guided tour of the Preservation Centre in Gatineau for Black History Month on Friday February 27. Book the 11:00 am or 1:00 pm tour.
Bottega Nicastro’s walk-around wine tasting will bring 30 wines from Southern Italy to George Street on Thursday March 26.