Monday, 08 December 2025
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☀️ High -12° Low -17° and mostly clear ☀️7:30 am 🌛 4:19 pm

Hello Ottawa

In Today’s Edition

→ Air Transat is gradually shutting down operations after 72 hour strike notice given

→ It’s One Hit Wonders night at Orléans Brewing Co's Music Bingo tomorrow

→ Today’s Deals of the Day are on rotisserie chickens at the Piggy Market and velvet holiday outfits at Katrin LeBlond

 

🎄Birthday Shoutout

Everyone wish OTTAWAN member Geordie D a Happy Birthday (yesterday)!.

– Martha and Darren

STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

  • 5,357 

  • The number of marriage licenses issued by the City of Ottawa in the first 11 months of 2025, up from 5,274 in all of 2024, 4,997 in 2023, and 4,992 in 2022.

  • Josh Pringle at CTV

  •  

OTTAWAN OF THE DAY

  • Piper

  • The two year-old black labrador is the newest member of the K9 unit of the Ottawa Police Service.

  • Piper’s unique skill, a first for the Service, is the ability to ‘detect the scent of electronic devices, like hard drives, USB sticks, SD cards and AirTags’.

  • Natasha O'Neill at CityNews
     

QUOTE

  • “

  • Go see, take the family … it’s such a great treat to see

  • – Birds Canada director of communications Jody Allaire on surge of  snowy owls this year, making it a great year to view the relatively rarely seen creatures.  

  • Emily Chung at CBC
     

SPORTS

  • 🏒 NHL Ottawa Senators 1 – St Louis Blues 2, last Saturday

  • 🏒 OHL Ottawa 67s 3 – Flint Firebirds 2, yesterday

  • 🏒 OHL Ottawa 67s 8 – Peteborough Petes 5, last Saturday

  • 🏒 OHL Ottawa 67s 1 – Barrie Colts 4, last Friday

  • PLEASE SUPPORT THE OTTAWAN

    the ottawan was launched in 2020 as the daily answer to the questions: What’s going on? What should I do? Where is somewhere good to eat?

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    WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

    Built Heritage Committee
    Tuesday, December 9 at 9:30 am

    Agenda

    Plus the Committee of Adjustment meets at 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.

    WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

    🛬 Air Transat is gradually shutting down operations after 72 hour strike notice was given. The Air Line Pilots Association could be on strike as early as Wednesday, disrupting flights from Ottawa International Airport as well as leaving travellers in southern holiday spots stranded. Negotiations are ongoing over pay, benefits, work rules, and job security. – Verity Stevenson at CBC

     

    🚰 Well users concerned about low water levels are invited to a virtual information session today by the City. The City and conversation authorities will discuss current conditions, followed by a Q & A session. 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Zoom link – no registration required. – City of Ottawa 

     

    ⚡ Hydro Québec is planning to reopen the 1915 Bell Falls power station on Rivière Rouge. Having closed the hydroelectric station in 2011, the agency is now asking the Municipalité régionale de comté d’Argenteuil and the Indigenous communities of Kanesatake for their support. – Phillip Oddi in The Review 

     

    🙌 Time to Give

    ◾ The Ottawa Humane Society is looking for donations of pet food for its Emergency Pet Food Bank food drive. The Society says the greatest need is for ‘2 to 4 kilogram bags of dry cat food, 4 kilogram, 7 to 8 kilogram, and 12-plus kilogram bags of dry dog food, as well as canned dog food’.

    Donations can be dropped off at:

    OHS Shirley Kearns Memorial Adoption Centre 245 West Hunt Club Road (Tuesday to Friday: 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm)

    Prancing Paws 1090 Moselle Crescent (Monday to Friday: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm)

    Ren’s Pets Kanata at 155 Roland Michener Drive (Monday to Saturday: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm; Sunday: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm)  – Adam Beauchemin at CTV

    ◾ The Ottawa Police Service is seeking donations for the Purse Project. The project provides hygiene products for women who can’t otherwise afford it. In particular, they are looking for sanitary pads, tampons, soap, toothpaste, body & face wash, deodorant, toothpaste & toothbrushes, shampoo & conditioner, shaving products and underwear. 

    Donations will be collected at  the Ottawa Police Station, 211 Huntmar Drive, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm until December 14. The ‘purses’ will be distributed to local shelters, including the Youville Centre, St Joe’s Women’s Centre, Emily Murphy Non-Profit Housing Corporation, and la Maison d’amitié.  – Leslie McKay in Stittsville Central

    THE DAILY POLL

    Will you be going away this Christmas?

    🔘 No, I'm staying home

    🔘 I’m going somewhere else in Canada

    🔘 I’m going somewhere south / overseas

    🔘 I have an Air Transat ticket, so I assume that I’ll be spending it stranded somewhere

    🔘 Geez, OTTAWAN. Not everyone celebrates Christmas. For shame.


    • Previously in ottawan polls:

    • We asked, ‘Do you use Amazon?’

      • 23% I use it regularly

      • 25% I rarely use it

      • 8% I have never used it

      • 18% I only buy from/use non-American businesses (except when there are no reasonable alternatives)

      • 26% Where can I find more about this anarcho-syndicalist collective of which you speak?


    • Commentary

    ▪️ “Many things are no longer available in stores, i just spent my evening scouring Kanata for a ‘bedskirt’ no one carries such things anymore. Amazon has many of the same products Zellers and HBC used to stock. You can buy Canadian made products on Amazon.”

    ▪️ “I refuse to purchase anything off Amazon. I am not contributing to an American oligarch’s wealth. Same regarding Amazon Prime TV.”

    ▪️ “Used if I’m looking for something specific (ie, not easily found in Ottawa stores) and need it quickly. Saves me a lot of time. But I also support local businesses when possible.”

    ▪️ “I am a Vine Reviewer, so I get free products (I only order useful things, though). I happily take free things from Bezos.”

    ▪️ “Amazon is terrible. Avoid at all costs. Get everything I need at walkable shops in my neighbourhood.”

    ▪️ “As much as I still use Amazon, I also buy Canadian as often as possible.”

    ▪️ “Boycotting isn't the only way to pressure big corporations. We need to be putting pressure on our elected officials to stand up to the tech oligarchs, tax the rich, enforce environmental practices, and stop monopolies from taking over small businesses :)”

    ▪️ “I use Amazon because I have a limited income and I can get many things much cheaper than in the stores in Ottawa! When I do shop in local stores , ninety percent of what I buy is Canadian.”

    ▪️ “Overall I try not to do a lot of online shopping because of the packaging, the carbon footprint and making Jeff Bezos richer!”

    ▪️ “Being American is just the cherry on top. I just prefer to avoid as much as possible my money going to such maleficent companies. Convenience is over-rated.”

    ▪️ “Viva Che Guevara.”

    ▪️ “I try to NEVER order on-line. I live in an end unit condo (house) and it is very easy for someone to steal my item(s). Also, I do NOT support Amazon. They are making throw away items too easy to purchase and end up in landfill!”

    ▪️ “I worry how the workers are going to be treated with these kinds of packing and delivery pressures.”

    ▪️ “Unfortunately I use Amazon regularly. There aren’t any hardware stores in Sandy Hill, Byward Market, New Edinburgh, or Centretown. For someone without a car, it’s tough to get myself to the bigger stores off the highway.”

    ▪️ “Amazon has its problems, largely known and cared about due to their massive size, and we should keep pressure on them to get better. But they are an excellent service that I want to exist alongside big-box stores and small local retailers.”

    ▪️ “Companies (and expectations) like Amazon destroy the small businesses that most of us want in our cities. Great for people with accessibility needs, but terrible in so many other ways.”

    ▪️ “We cancelled our Amazon subscription just under two years ago, in an effort to focus on buying locally.”

    ▪️ “Would willingly join any anti-capitalist syndicate, but especially if Darren and Martha are running it.”

    ▪️ “I rarely use it, in fact I go out of my way to avoid it because I don’t want to line Bezos’pockets. I read THE OTTAWAN, however, because Martha and Darren give us objective news. So stop shooting the messenger.”

    ▪️ “Over my dead body will I give a penny to that billionaire.”

    ▪️ “They have made to convenient to spend your $$ with a few mouse clicks from your favourite chair! Now it will be at your doorstep that much quicker with Drone delivery next!”

    ▪️ “Why I shop on Amazon. I went to a local pharmacy chain recently to purchase a bottle of multivitamins for women. The price was $24.00. The same product on Amazon was $12.47. I can’t afford NOT to shop on Amazon!”

    ▪️ “I cancelled my Amazon Prime membership in January and endeavor to buy from Canadian retailers.”

    ▪️ “I don’t love it, but I use it. I try to buy locally as much as possible. But there are things I get from Amazon. In my view, there is no difference between Amazon and the Loblaws chain.”

    ▪️ “I use Amazon. It’s cost-effective for me. It’s fast. I’d love to support more local and other Canadian companies, but the reality is they’re more expensive and slower. It matters in this economy.”

    ▪️ “2025 will be my lowest Amazon order count in over 10 years. Local or Canadian alternatives often carry the same thing for similar price, especially when factoring in not paying for Amazon Prime.”

    ▪️ “I buy anywhere else, especially brick n mortar stores where I can see the product and speak to an employee.”​​​

    HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS

    Today is the last day for orders that could possibly arrive in time for Christmas.

    T-shirt example

    Talisman Motor Inn T-Shirt

    The Beachcomber Room tiki bar at the Talisman Motor Inn was where Ottawa swingers could be found in the early 60s

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

    Shop for t-shirts

    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

    MONDAY

    Cinema

    Gigs

    • Karaoke Mondays. Atomic Rooster

    • The 5-Star Monday Band. The Laff

    • Insider Trading. Beyond the Pale Brewing Co (City Centre location)      

    TUESDAY

    Cinema

    Gigs

    • The Tenors. National Arts Centre

    • Katherine & Nicholas. Night Oat

    • Bonginator. Dominion Tavern

    • Karaoke Night. Mort's Pub

    WEDNESDAY

    • Flautists Four! peform music by McIntyre, McMichael, and Guiot at the noontime, by-donation Doors Open for Music today (Old Ottawa South). 

    • L’Harmonie des saisons perform Handel's Messiah in Christ Church Cathedral. Presented by Music & Beyond (Downtown). 

    • Take a trip on A Sentimental Journey to the Parajanov Planet, a documentary about the life and art of filmmaker and artist Sergei Parajanov. (Old Ottawa South) 

    • The difficult to categorize but highly entertaining The Storyville Mosquito by Montréal's Kid Koala settles in for a series of shows at National Arts Centre. (Downtown)

    Cinema

    Gigs

    • Sean Desman, Jamie Fine. Bronson Centre Music Theatre

    • Jazz Jam with the Beeched Wailers. Irene’s Pub

    • Upstairs Neighbours, Perry & The Wobbly Pops, Runner Up, Delusions. House of TARG

    JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

    • This Saturday (December 13) Bon Echo bring a relaxed Christmas show to Stray Dog Brewing (Orléans) 

    • 🎄 Road Trip: Deck the Halls with Jessica Pearson & The East Winds is a holiday show of Celtic, Americana, and folk music, all presented at StoneCropAcres Winery + Vineyard. Sunday December 14 (Morrisburg) 

    • What are you doing on Boxing Day (December 26)? How about Ottawa’s Biggest Disco Party, to dance off all the things you ate the day before. Join DiscoLab and other Ottawans who have been cooped up too long at Beyond the Pale (City Centre) 

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    MADE IN CANADA DEALS OF THE DAY

    Rotisserie Chickens are 5% off at The Piggy Market when you order today (Monday) 

     

    The velvet pants and cardigans at Katrin LeBlond are 35% off until tonight, which is handy, because velvet was made for the holidays. (No code necessary) 

    BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

    Ottawa’s art world did very well at the 48th Annual Galeries Ontario / Ontario Galleries Awards.

    The Ottawa Art Gallery  was honoured with ‘Best Exhibition In A Commercial Gallery’ for Inviting the Conflict (with Ottawa Black Art Kollective).  Emma Campbell, the Gallery’s Executive Liaison Officer was honoured as ‘Colleague Of The Year’.

    Kristi Leora Gansworth was honoured for ‘Art Writing’ for  ‘Sacred Mirror, Blood of the Earth’ in the publication The Air of the Now and Gone from the Carleton University Art Gallery.

    The graphic designer of The Air of the Now and Gone, Patrick Côté, was honoured with an ‘Other Publication Design’ award.

    Also in books, Robert Tombs, the graphic designer of Marina Roy, Jinny Yu & the Painted Object from the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, took home the award for ‘Art Book Design’.

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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.

    		 Martha and Darren in action

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