STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

• 2,437

• – The number of calls received by the Gatineau 311 in 2025 over cars registered in other provinces. In Québec, new residents are required to change their car registration to their home address within 90 days of moving – and therefore must pay the $120 vehicle registration tax.

• CBC

•  

MAYONESE OF THE DAY

• Chris Flynn

• The Canadian Football Hall of Fame quarterback from Mayo – near Thurso – has been maintaining an outdoor rink on Long Lake with a homemade Zamboni – built with a lawnmower engine.

• Dave Charbonneau at CTV
   

QUOTE

• “

• The reason most people speed is because our roads are engineered to be big, wide, and straight. They’re designed to feel safe to drive, and that’s the problem.

• – Brigitte Pellerin in the Ottawa Citizen.

• Pellerin argues that streets need to be narrower to get speedsters to slow down, and the easiest way to do this is with ‘bulb outs’ on the corners and roundabouts.

• ‘If we can't have speed cameras, Ottawa needs narrower streets’

• 

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  WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

  No meetings this week

  Meetings and agendas

  

  WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

  ⚖️ The Supreme Court will move to the West Memorial Building for a decade, next summer. The Federal government has budgeted $1 billion for the renovation of the 80 year-old Supreme Court building on Wellington Street, as well as the West Memorial Building. – Dave Charbonneau at CTV

   

  🫟 The man who defaced the National Holocaust Monument with red paint has been released from jail. Iain Aspenlieder, a former City of Ottawa lawyer, pleaded guilty to mischief last summer after he painted the words ‘Feed Me’ on the Monument. Aspenlieder was put in jail at his own request in December while waiting for the judge to determine a sentence. He was released today with a sentence of five months for time already served.  – Guy Quenneville at CBC 

  
  🚨 Court Circular – Driver Edition

  ▪️A driving instructor was issued a $615 fine for scrolling on his phone while on the Queesway at Moodie Drive. He was in the driving school car at the time.

  ▪️A snowplow operator for a private company was arrested for driving while under a lifetime suspension after being involved in a Stittsville crash. A SUV had driven into the back of the stopped plow. 

  ▪️The ice on the Gatineau River was thick enough for a driver to get out and walk away after it spun off the Draveurs Bridge following an accident Sunday.

  

  THE DAILY POLL

  Do you think some roads should be narrowed to reduce speed?

  🔘 Yes

  🔘 No

  🔘 Only if it adds in bike lanes

  🔘 Only if it takes away bike lanes

  🔘 Cars should not be sold with the ability to exceed the speed limit

  • 
    Previously in ottawan polls:

  • We asked, ‘Do you take part in ‘booze free January?’

    • 5% Yes

    • 20% No

    • 15% I take part in ‘damp’ January; a cutback in booze for the month

    • 11% I feel bad for restauranteurs in January so I try to help them out by drinking more

    • 49% Every day is a ‘dry’ day for me

  • 
    Commentary

  ▪️ “After 5 days, your body is fully ‘cleansed’ of alcohol. A month is way over the top. Also, yeah, I want my favourite bar to keep on keeping on.”
  
  ▪️ “I just wish January was dry for some people I care about. Alcohol is toxic, not everyone appreciates that truth.”
  
  ▪️ “Don’t know how I would survive winter without red wine!”
  
  ▪️ “No, I drink responsibly all year round.”
  
  ▪️ “I will be tempted but, really, it's only 31 days out of 365. My liver will appreciate this gesture!”
  
  ▪️ “I quit drinking on Dec 31, 2018-so 7 years ago!! I think I would have ended up with a problem during Covid if I had not already quit. Best thing I have done yet for my health.”
  
  ▪️ “More of a social drinker so just cutting back on the ammount when I go out this month (which lets be honest is way too cold).”
  
  ▪️ “Good idea after the excesses of the last 2 weeks!”
  
  ▪️ “It’s cold. I drink.”
  
  ▪️ “4 years ago I stopped drinking alcohol (mainly wine) 3 days/week. I enjoy wine but don’t like the calories and it’s easy to drink more than intended. Balance in everything.”
  
  ▪️ “I thought it was supposed to be Dry February?”
  
  ▪️ “I don’t drink enough for a Dry January to be impactful. I support it for others though, but I wish it led to healthier habits overall rather than a binge on 1 Feb.”​​​

  

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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

  WEDNESDAY

  • Bring your latest project to the monthly Knerdy Knit Night at Hintonburg Public House.(Hintonburg/Westboro)

  • Lou Ferrigno (the original TV Hulk) stars in Hercules, the A (Bad) Night at the Movies selection at Ottawa Public Library main branch (Downtown) 

  • ‘Ottawa’s piano prodigy’ James Greer plays the new Robo Lounge from 5:00 pm. (The Glebe)  

  • Singers of all levels are encouraged to attend the Singing Lessons: Iconic Music Legends series, where you'll experience songs by such luminaries as Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, and Louis Armstrong (The Glebe).

  Cinema

  • ByTowne Cinema: Marty Supreme, Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair on 35mm 

  • Mayfair Theatre: The Librarians, The Secret Agent, Frankenstein 

  Gigs

  • Bluegrass Wednesdays featuring The Dusty Drifters

  • Prime Rib Big Band. Irene’s Pub

  • 70s Elton John Piano Hour with Dave Draves. The Robo Lounge

  THURSDAY

  • 🆓 Visit the National Gallery of Canada between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm (Corner of Sussex Drive and St. Patrick St).

  • Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Parker Brothers board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist. Until Sunday at National Arts Centre (Downtown) 

  • The puck drops on the inaugural Eastend Storm U15 Michel Breau Community Cup Hockey Tournament at Richcraft Sensplex Ottawa East (Beacon Hill North). 

  Cinema

  • ByTowne Cinema: Marty Supreme, Limited Edition: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World 

  • Mayfair Theatre: The Secret Agent, The Librarians, Aliens 

  Gigs

  • Thursday Night Live. The Laff

  • Taproom Trivia. Dominion City Brewing Co.

  • Hedonic and Gatlin Black. LIVE on Elgin

  • Anni Del Sol Band. Night Oat

  • Catalyst 12: Live Electronic Music with Hug Mosh, Nigh, Clint House, Luc Light, VJ Auchtorok. House of TARG

  • Irene’s Thursday Blues Sessions with guest host Lyle Odjick

  FRIDAY

  • The Six O’Clock Dance Party will have you home with a hot chocolate by 11:00 pm (Downtown).

  • Neko Case brings her Neon Grey Midnight Green tour to Bronson Centre  

  • Experienced dancers, get the weekend started with the Kikanza Semba & Kizomba Intermediate workshop.

  • Broadway Across Canada's touring production of the madcap murder mystery Clue continues at National Arts Centre. THE OTTAWAN was invited to the show last night, and came away with renewed admiration for the physical demands of a live comedy on stage. Come for the giggles, and stay for the comedic genius of Adam Brett as Wadsworth the butler.  

  • Urban Legends Poetry Collective starts the year off with the 2026 CIPS National Qualifier Poetry Slam. Be there for three competitive rounds, and to see a new winner crowned (Wellington Village). h 

  • Art House’s bi-monthly Friday Night Folk features Loch Nissse Monster and Kentucky. (Centretown)

  Cinema

  • ByTowne Cinema: The Choral, No Other Choice

  • Mayfair Theatre: The Secret Agent, La Grazia, The Room

  Gigs

  • Austra: Chin Up Buttercup Tour 2026. SAW Centre

  • 80s Dance Party with DJ Remi Royale. House of TARG

  • Rock Ilya, Machine Messiah, Scarecrowz. The Brass Monkey

  • Hypnotic. Poa Tiki Bar

  JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

  • Cold Bear Brewing Co just installed N64 in the taproom, in preparation for the Mario Kart tourney on January 13. Sign up, earn points, and compete for prizes (and drink fine beer produced in Arnprior)

  

  MADE IN CANADA DEALS OF THE DAY

  Whether you're lucky enough to have a hot and sunny vacation planned this winter, or you just want to get a jump on your Summer 2026 wardrobe, stop by the sale pages at Shan, where every resort and ready-to-wear piece is designed and manufactured in Laval.

   

  Enjoy a free brow waxing at Spa Olivia this month when you made a donation to CHEO (Stittsville)

   

  Produced in a studio in Nelson, BC (which seems to be rather a hotspot for ateliers of sartorial excellence in this country) Lillie & Cohoe has a vast collection of stylish hats for all sexes, many of which are currently on sale.

   

  

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  BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

  THE OTTAWAN was unaware until now that animal rescues struggle with the problem of pet parrots that outlive their owners. Parrots can regularly live 80 years.

  Parrot Partners Canada in Carleton Place is raising the alarm and says ‘Canada is facing a parrot crisis’.

  In a three year-trial, Parrot Partners is testing a ‘insurance or pension’ scheme of $20 per month which will guarantee the parrot can go to the rescue if it can no longer be cared for.

  

  RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL

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  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.

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