Hello Ottawa

STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

• 8 to 10 km/h

• The average speed increase at former speed camera locations, post ban. 

• – Josh Pringle at CTV

TERRA NULLIUSIAN OF THE DAY

• Princess Margriet

• The princess of the Netherlands and her husband, professor Pieter van Vollenhoven, made an official ‘Civic Call to the City of Ottawa’ today at the invitation of Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.

• During the Second World War, the Dutch Royal Family lived in exile in Ottawa while the Netherlands were occupied by Nazi Germany.

• Because heirs to the throne cannot be citizens of another country – and anyone born in Canada is automatically a Canadian – the Federal government declared (temporarily) in January 1943 that the floor at the Ottawa Civic Hospital in which Princess Margriet was born was ‘terra nullius’, and thus not part of Canada or any other country.

• – City of Ottawa

QUOTE

• It’s a philosophical choice, frankly

– Secretary of the Treasury Board Bill Matthews to a Commons committee on the mandate bringing Federal employees back to work. It’s a belief that in-office collaboration is beneficial, he says, rather than based on any studies.

– Matteo Cimellaro in the Ottawa Citizen

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WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

THE DAILY POLL

Do you wait in line at restaurants?

🔘 Yes, I’m willing to wait at a popular place

🔘 No, life is too short

🔘 I suspect that most waits are artificial and are designed to make the resto seem popular

🔘 I’d say no, but once I am there I can’t be bothered to go somewhere else

🔘 There is never a queue in my kitchen

• 
  Previously in OTTAWAN polls:

• 
  We asked ‘What are the most pressing costs to you?’

  • 12% Gasoline

  • 53% Groceries

  • 19% Rent

  • 10% Interest rates

  • 6% Russian caviar
    
    Commentary

▪️ “I was torn between groceries and rent, but imma just say it feels particularly dystopian to consider how many people have to weigh the threats of malnutrition or homelessness, all for the greatest good of ~corporate profits~.”

▪️ “I will never make enough money for the richy-richy lifestyle of a two-bedroom apartment, apparently.”

▪️ “Groceries and Rent prices have hit the roof … we desperately need housing and control of big corporations price gouging.”

▪️ “Groceries! My stars any opportunity and the grocers go crazy with prices and meat is sooo expensive!”

▪️ “All of the above?”

▪️ “I might have to start going to the food bank.”

▪️ “My son has multiple food allergies. He eats expensive food required for his health with a teen appetite. With regular bread and milk so expensive, the price of his food is outrageous.”

▪️ “Rents are so high that it’s basically impossible to build a nest egg to even think about buying a home, even if you’re willing to live the the suburban gulags of Ottawa.”

▪️ “Groceries! I split rent with 2 others so as a group that’s manageable but groceries is a tough one for sure.”

▪️ “Getting pretty good at snagging those 20 %, 30% or 50% meats in various stores, and changing my dinner plans on the fly. Can't bring myself to pay full price for some of these things.”

▪️ “Needed an all of the above option.”

▪️ “In truth, it’s all of the above. It’s becoming increasing unsustainable.”

▪️ “For single consumers, special prices for family packs and Costco sizes don't help. My fridge freezer is only so large.”

▪️ “I had a good budget going for this year until gas prices spiked. Now all bets are off and I'm hoping for a break soon!”

▪️ “Though, I consider us lucky that we can absorb the higher cost of food AND we are retired and have more time to look for deals ... I don't envy young and busy families at this time.”

▪️ “We gotta eat to live but we don’t gotta drive to live especially when we have a super transit system to get us from point A to nowhere. Lol.”

▪️ “Grocery prices are also affected by shrink-flation so we get less for more...”

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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

FRIDAY

• Today’s screenings at the German Language Film Festival: Hello Betty followed by Chasing the Line.(Downtown) 

• The team logo is freshly installed at centre ice and the Ottawa Charge  are ready for their first home game in Round 1 Game 3 against Bonston Fleet. (Kanata)

• No matter what the weather’s doing, there’s no surer sign of spring than the opening of the Canadian Tulip Festival at Commissioner’s Park. Capture the brilliance of thousands of tulips in the Ottawa Tourism Photo Walk tonight between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm. (Little Italy) 

• 🆓 The Object/Project Book Fair by Possible Worlds is a two-day affair with more than 60 exhibitors, talks, workshops, and performances, all celebrating artists’ publishing. Who should go: the public is invited, as are zine fanatic and people who love art, publishing, and the magic that can happen when the two converge. (Centretown)  

• Cranium Conference and Showcase continues.    

• The Best Eats 613’s new Best Fest food event opens at Aberdeen Pavilion. Use our code OTTAWAN to access the evening slots for free. 

• Winnipeg filmmaker Guy Maddin and installation artist David Hoffos present works primarily in the discipline of analog collage in Maddin / Hoffos, a new exhibition at De Montigny Contemporary. (The Glebe)  

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Holy Days, Palestine 36, Montréal, My Beautiful (Montréal, Ma Belle), Interactive: The Hunger Games 

• Mayfair Theatre: Mile End Kicks, The Christophers, Middle Life 

Gigs

• Altar of the Fuzz. Dominion Tavern

• Duelling Pianos. The Robo Lounge

• Deecracks, The Riptides, Thee Soreheads. House of TARG

• Claude Munson. Irene’s Pub

SATURDAY

• ✳️ Road Trip: More than 20 artists will show their work at Art in the Attic (Almonte) 

• ✳️ Raconteur and essayist Fran Lebowitz brings her acerbic wit to the National Art Centre’s Southam stage.(Downtown)  

• ✳️ The Object/Project Book Fair by Possible Worlds continues (Centretown)   

• ✳️ It’ll be a bit shouty at the Canadian Tulip Festival during the Ontario Guild of Town Criers Championship. Today and tomorrow.(Little Italy)  

• Bestfest continues with some of Ottawa’s most loved restaurants (Lansdowne) 

• Entry by donation: Take a deep in-person dive into all things spiritual and pagan at the Mother Earth Goddess & Psychic Fair (Centretown West) 

• The Invisible - Agents of Ungentlemanly Warfare concludes with two performances at the National Arts Centre. (Downtown) 

• Dash or wander through Osgoode Village during the Goode Run 2026.(Osgoode)  

• Meet the Holly’s Haven team in person at the Rescue Day event at the Orléans Critter Jungle. The Holly’s Haven team cares for injured, sick, or orphaned mammals. (Orléans)  

• Pick up some veggie seedlings, perennial divisions and shrubs at the Gloucester Horticultural Society’s Plant Sale. (Orléans) 

• The tea service at the Osgoode Museum Mother’s Day Tea and Market is fully booked, but you can still wander the grounds and investigate the market. (Osgoode - Vernon) 

• Expect deals, a BBQ In support of the Ottawa Model Showcase, in-store specials, and of course cake at the Hobby Centre’s 40th Anniversary Celebration. (Tanglewood - Hillsdale) 

• 🆓 Bring cash and cards to the Just Food Community Farm Seedling Saturday. (Blackburn Hamlet)

• Each Mom gets a flower at the Mother’s Day FUNdraiser Market (Stittsville) 

• The Vintage Vibe mobile market pulls up to 345 Richmond Road with preloved and vintage treasures. (Westboro) 

• Take Mom to Aquatopia Conservatory’s Tea in the Tropics. (Carp)  

• Get some self care at the Mothers in Bloom Holistic Healing Fair. (Nepean) 

• Cranium Conference and Showcase continues

• Commissioner’s Park isn’t the only tulip festival in the area. Buy a  “looking” or “picking” timed ticket to Green Corner's Farm, then head to 640 North Russell Road, where you’ll find a vast field of blooms.. (The township of Russell)

• For a yet another tulip experience head to Saunders Farm, where you can stroll through the fields and pick a bouquet for your mother.(Munster) 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema:Klassic Kids: Muppet Treasure Island, Montéal, My Beautiful (Montréal Ma Belle), Palestine 36, Lady Vengeance - 35mm Screening 

• Mayfair Theatre: The Christophers, The Royal Tanenbaums

Gigs

• Deecracks, The Riptides, Thee Soreheads. House of TARG

• The Suitcase Junket. Red Bird

• F!TH, Tarbox, Tucana. Rainbow Bistro

• Mecca of Stank. Irene’s Pub

• Nameless Friends, Crisis Party, Celestia. LIVE on Elgin

SUNDAY

• The excitement continues at Air Canada Centre in Round 1 Game 4 of the PWHL playoffs. (Kanata) 

• The Canadian Tulip Festival is in full bloom with free and paid experiences among the thousands of flowers. (Litle Italy)

• Plantopia: A Botanical Block Party returns to Broadhead Brewing with plants for sale, DIY flower bouquets for Mom, and a silent auction. It’s all in aid of Slay Society, who work for families battling Glioblastoma or DIPG diagnosis. (Orléans). 

• Watch as volunteers play chess pieces on a huge board at Parliament Hill. 

• The Cranium Conference and Showcase closes out with one-on-one meetings and the Closing Mixer.(Downtown)  

• Road Trip: Art in the Attic continues in Almonte. 

• Stop by the annual Friends of the Farm Plant Sale at the Experimental Farm for a great selection of plants and garden accessories. (Civic Hospital)  

•  Mothers in Bloom Holistic Healing Fair continues. (Nepean) 

• The winner will be crowned at the Ontario Guild of Town Criers Championship. (Little Italy)  

Mother’s Day

• Brunch

• The Mill (Manotick) 

• NCC River House (Rockcliffe Park) 

• Cocotte (Downtown)  

• KS on the Keys (South Keys)  

• Experiences

• Moms get in free to Upper Canada Village today. 

• Take her for a train ride at the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario

• Moms aren’t the only ones that can fish without a licence this weekend. 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Mamma Mia! Sing Along, Holy Days, Mile End Kicks, Twin Peaks Season 2 - Episodes 7-10 

• Mayfair Theatre: Ten Short Films Festival Day 2, The Christophers, Middle Life

Gigs

• Tara Shannon’s Mother’s Day Show. The Robo Lounge

• The Don Cummings Organ Trio (matinée). Irene’s Pub

• Restless Endangerment. Avant-Garde Bar

• Joy: Music by Queer Composers. Centretown United Church

MONDAY

• Trio INK play chamber classics by Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann, and Johannes Brahms (just west of Westboro) 

• Campus to Stage: Dave Schroeder and Brian Asselin perform modern jazz at the Robo Lounge. (The Glebe) 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Holy Days, the Bearded Gril with Director Q&A, Mile end Kicks 

• Mayfair Theatre: Mile End Kicks, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Blade 

Gigs

• Strungout: Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues with Belvedere and Majors. Overflow Brewing Co

•  Karaoke Mondays. Atomic Rooster

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• No sleeping bags required for Adult Art Camp: Creative Evenings from Ace Arte Studio. You’ll play with all sorts of artist materials on five consecutive evenings in August. (Orléans) 

• Zibi’s lineup for the summer includes dance classes, jazz concerts in association with Ottawa Jazz Festival, markets, Ottawa Tool Library repair cafes, film screenings, and one of a kind experiences like pilates by candlelight. It'll all be at the community that sits on the river between Ottawa and Gatineau.  

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BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

Murray Brewster at CBC has a long article on the difficulty how to protecting armed forces locations from drones without disrupting civilian life.

Ottawa, more than any other city in Canada, is the trickiest due to the number of potential targets.

RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL

Comment of the Week: ‘Great newsletter today!’

THE END

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.