STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

• 3,000 

• The number of employees that the Department of Defence is planning to hire from other Federal departments by March.

• Called the Pathway to Mobility Initiative, any Federal employee may apply to move over. 

• The Department has classified the jobs as:

• • Administrative Services and Programs
• • Chemistry and Scientifics 
• • Business, Finance, and Procurement Professional
• • Electronics, Engineering and Information Technology
• • Federal Health and Wellness Practitioners
• • Operational & Technical Services
• • Professional Services
• • Ships

• Josh Pringle at CTV

•  

OTTAWAN OF THE DAY

• Adam Logan 

• The mathematician won the individual player category at the World Scrabble Championships in Ghana Wednesday. He prevailed 4 – 2 over New Zealand’s Nigel Richard in a best-of-seven contest.

• Logan is one of three players to have won the title twice.

• The Nation (The story is mostly about Team Nigeria’s win over the US) 

QUOTE

• “

• It’s already really cold and we’re only in November. I have to imagine that it’s not going to get any easier

• – Alex Minelli, one of the campaigners rallying in front of City Hall Wednesday ‘for easily accessible, fully staffed, 24-hour warming centres, or overnight shelters, immediately’.

• The last of the City’s 12 emergency overflow shelters closed in August and the City recommends calling 311 if one is in need of shelter.

• Anchal Sharma at CBC 

• 
  SPORTS

• 🏒 NHL  Ottawa Senators 3 – Anaheim Ducks 2, yesterday

• 🏒 OHL  Ottawa 67s 3  – Kingston Frontenacs 2, yesterday

• 

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  WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

  Transit Committee
  Monday, November 24 at 9:30 am

  • OC Transpo Update – Rail, Bus, and Para Transpo
  • Draft 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets – Transit Committee
  • Status Update – Transit Committee Inquiries and Motions for the period ending November 13, 2025

  Agenda

  

  WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

  🔥 The firefighter’s union wants a washer and dryer in every station to help prevent cancer. The Ottawa Professional Fire Fighters Association says that contaminants cling to protective gear and uniforms, putting the staff at risk. The association says having washers and dryers inhouse is standard across the nation, it isn’t in Ottawa. It’s ‘low hanging fruit’, says Association president Genna McMillan.   – Arthur White-Crummey at CBC 

   

  🎃 The owners of Millers Farm and Market say they may have to shut down after the City denied amending a bylaw. The farm, known for its pumpkin patch and autumn events asked for part of its farmland to be rezoned as commercial from agricultural. The farm says that it needs to increase revenues and has done so by creating trucking, snow removal, and excavating businesses. However, Ottawa Bylaw says that the farm is pushing the limits of the definition of a ‘home based business’. – Leah Larocque at CTV

   

  🐟 The need to euthanize 1,000 goldfish from a stormwater pond in Celebration Park has made it two of the world’s most important newspapers. The Guardian and the New York Times rarely show much interest in the activities of Ottawa-the-city (as opposed to Ottawa-the-capital), but a huge goldfish cull is something that does get their attention.

  ‘Ottawa officials to cull ‘mindblowing’ influx of thousands of goldfish in pond. Scourge of goldfish has become growing problem as fish are released by pet owners into increasingly warm waters.’  – The Guardian

  ‘Hundreds of Invasive Goldfish to Be Culled From Ottawa Pond. Thousands washed ashore dead in the spring, but the fish are back. “They’re pretty hard to kill,” a biology professor said.’ – New York Times

  

  THE DAILY POLL

  How will Ottawa Charge do this year?

  🔘 They will take the Walter Cup. We almost did it last year.

  🔘 They’ll make it to the finals, but fall short

  🔘 The Charge won’t even make it to the finals

  🔘 No. Just no. Our hearts have been broken far too many times to allow hope

  • 
    Previously in ottawan polls:

  • We asked, ‘What do you think of Christmas decorations going up now?’

    • 31% It’s too soon. Decorations and music and advertisements should wait until December

    • 55% I love it, it’s nothing but pure joy for the next month. Don’t be a humbug

    • 5% It’s too much, and what about people of other religions, or atheists?

    • 9% The 12 Days of Christmas are December 25 to January 5. That's the only appropriate time for mummering, wassailing, and merriment

  • 
    Commentary

  ▪️ “Maybe a bit early, things can get stale instead of staying special. But ... we couldn’t resist and our home is already a-lit!”​​​
  
  ▪️ “I found some stores started putting up Christmas decorations and items before Remembrance Day. Completely disrespectful.”​​​
  
  ▪️ “Though it can irk me personally as a certified Grinch (TM), loose social cohesion is a fine thing. Deck Them Halls.”​​​
  
  ▪️ “We usually wait until December 1st, but lots of our neighbours have started lighting up. It looks lovely and with all the negativity in the world right now it makes me feel good.”​​​
  
  ▪️ “I’m an atheist and I’m all for Christmas decorations.”​​​
  
  ▪️ “I would get out of ‘Dodge City’ just to get away from Christmas stuff ... bah humbug!!!! Just a money grab if you ask me!”​​​
  
  ▪️ “And I’ll start singing Christmas carols too. You have been warned.”​​​ 
  
  ▪️ “Xmas decorations should go up on December 24 and come down December 26. The holiday has been twisted a grotesque display of consumerism at its worst.”​​​
  
  ▪️ “It is such a dark time of the year and the lights are cheery and bright!”​​​
  
  ▪️ “If you’re handing out British-style Christmas Mince Pies, however, then November's a perfectly acceptable time to get started!!🤤”​​​
  
  ▪️ “I think starting on Nov 25th is fair game.”​​​
  
  ▪️ “I am an athiest and I love the Christmas season”​​.”​​​
  
  ▪️ “Wait until December and then I will happily say Merry Christmas, NOT Happy Holidays! It's been Christmas and it should stay Christmas. Bah humbug to those who don't like this!”​​​
  
  ▪️ “And almost all those decorations are made out of plastic and made in China!”​​​

  

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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

  • ✳️ River of Dreams - Impressionism on the St. Lawrence showcases the works  Québec artists such as aurice Cullen, Clarence Gagnon, Ozias Leduc, Henrietta Mabel May, James Wilson Morrice, and Marc-Aurèle de Foy Suzor-Coté, who were influenced by Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. ‘Their paintings reflect the changing rhythms of Quebec society, from quiet villages and snowy fields to the bustling docklands, markets, factories and streets of Montréal.’ Canadian Museum of History until August 30, 2026 (Gatineau).

  • Alanna J. Brown performs at The Christmas Night Market & Tree Lighting Ceremony at Aberdeen Pavilion.

  • TwelvebyTwelve is a large scale group exhibition at Wall Space Gallery featuring square foot artworks plus jewelry, by established and emerging artists. View both, and enjoy drinks, snacks and more at the opening event this evening. A portion of tickets and artwork sales will support Interval House of Ottawa.  

  • Road Trip: Do some in-person shopping in Arnprior at the John St. Christmas Open House. Audrey's Fashions, A Dash of Fab, and The Artful Boutique will be joining together to offer deals and seasonal good times. Continues Saturday.

  • Get the festive feels at the tree lighting and Night Market at 260 Centrum Blvd in Orléans.

  Cinema

  • ByTowne Cinema: Sentimental Value, Lovely Day (Mille secrets mille dangers)    

  • Mayfair Theatre:  Jay Kelly, It Was Just An Accident, One Battle After Another 

  Gigs

  • Little Bones. Overflow Brewing

  • Simply Skynyrd. Brass Monkey

  • Blue Rodeo. National Arts Centre

  • Vinta. Red Bird

  • Sarah Jayne Riley. Avant-Garde Bar

  • Be in the ByWard Market for the lighting of the 48 ft Christmas tree. The action gets underway at 5:30 pm. 

  • The Fabrications Holiday Party and Sample Sale is an opportunity to get supplies for your projects, celebrate the season, and help Cornerstone Housing for Women, which will receive donations through the event. 

  • The Poetry Slam at GCTC featuring Nathanael Larochette, is PWYC. 

  • 🆓 The SPAO 20th Anniversary Open House is also an exhibition reception, book launch, and holiday print sale, with music by DJ Ohjay. 77 Pamilla St from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm.  

  • Watch features from Netherlands and France  at the European Union Film Festival. 

  • For some, it’s never too early to get a Christmas tree. Those people should go to Thomas Tree Farm from 9:00 am. The farm says the trees are ‘LARGE and BEAUTIFUL this year!’ 

SATURDAY

• ✳️ The Ottawa Charge launch into the 25/26 season with a home match against New York Sirens at TD Arena. Tickets.

• Santa will be parading down Hazeldean, from Holy Redeemer Parish Kanata on Rothesay)  to Hazeldean Mall, starting at 10:00 am. (Kanata) 

• Why should cats get all the attention: The Ottawa Dog Film Fest is a fundraiser to enable the Astha Loving Kindness And Compassion Foundation in Varanasi, India to build a new shelter and sterilization clinic. Screenings take place at the Mayfair Theatre. Continues Sunday (Bank and Sunnyside) 

• Design your own showstopping Woodland Wonder Holiday Planter with the experts at Peter Knippel Garden Centre (Gloucester)

• Experience colour through the brain of artist Jesus Rivera, at the new show Colour Divergent. Urban Art Collective  (1088 Somerset St W) from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. (Westboro) 

• Meet in the All Saints Anglican Church courtyard for a lighting ceremony, singalong, hot drinks, and to hear from charity reps (Westboro) 

• Koyman Galleries’ Holiday Exhibition of Smalls is a show of small-scale works that would make perfect Christmas gifts. The show will run until January 5.(St Laurent Blvd) 

Markets and Craft Fairs

• Shop the Ottawa Farmers’ Market Christmas Market, every Saturday and Sunday from today until December 21. (Lansdowne)

• St John the Evangelist Anglican Church’s Christmas Market is European style, with 30 vendors, a bakery and Christmas Café. (Centretown)  

• Find something one-of-a-kind at the Henry Larsen Elementary School Holiday Market (Orléans) 

• Shop for your Goth and witch friends at Ottawa Mystic Market (continues tomorrow) (Centretown West) 

• 🆓 National Capital Artisans present the Comfort and Joy Craft Show today and tomorrow at St. Mark Catholic High School in Manotick (1040 Dozois Road). 

• The shopping has an old-world charm at Watson’s Mill & Dickinson House Christmas Market (open this weekend and next). You'll find 35 vendors as well as a used book store on site (Manotick) 

• MOVE 100 provides the vibe at the Barrhaven Winter Craft Market (Barrhaven) 

• The Log Farm Christmas Market is free to enter, with lots of free parking (Cedarview Ave). 

• The Stittsville Indoor FUNdraiser Christmas Market has vendors, door prize draws, live music, and apparently, Elf. (Stittsville) 

• There are more than 100 booths to visit at St.Pat’s Artisan and Craft Show (Alta Vista)

• Road Trip: Take a Hallmark-movie-worthy country drive to Vernon for the Christmas Craft Sale. (Vernon) 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery, Sentimental Value, Restoration: Jacob’s Ladder   

• Mayfair Theatre: Pariah Dog, A Dog’s Purpose, Jay Kelly, The Room  

Gigs

• Chicken Fried X-Mas with special guest percussionist Dale Harrison. Moose McGuire's Orléans

• Navan Boot Scootin' Dance Nights. Lone Star Texas Grill (1211 Lemieux St, Cyrville)

• Nick Maclean's SNAGGLE feat the Ali Bros (from Ottawa). Night Oat

• Econoline Crush with Sunday Riot Club, Double Experience & Luscious. The Brass Monkey

• Dance Mix 2000s. House of TARG

• Country Night. The Prescott

• DAX (The Lonely Dirt Road Tour). Bronson Centre

• Drop in or register for Hintonburg Pottery’s Holiday Open House & Fundraiser for Parkdale Food Centre (Hintonburg) 

• Ottawa Professional Firefighters Association is accepting donations for children in need at the Help Santa Toy Parade. (Queen Elizabeth Driveway at Somerset St. W)  

• Capital Art Fair Gallery turns one year old this month, and obvs there's going to be a party. It's free but you must book a ticket (Sparks St) 

• 🌟 Road Trip: A tree lighting, a night market, live performances, wagon rides, and even the Grinch await you at Carleton Place Winterfest 

• Ottawa Bach Choir launches its 24th season with a performance of Handel’s Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day (Hintonburg) 

SUNDAY

• Enjoy family fun at the Middleville and District Museum’s Victorian Christmas. Noon to 3:00 pm. $5 for adults, free for those aged 12 and under. 

• Photographer and filmmaker Katherine Knight chats with Ann Thomas about her new her new photography book Boat at The Spaniel's Tale bookstore. 

• Watch films from Austria and Latvia at the European Union Film Festival today. (Downtown)

• Knox Presbyterian Church has been running the Out of the Cold program, which offers dinner to disadvantaged people in Ottawa each Saturday evening, since 1995. The Wild Cards big band has been supporting the program since it formed in 2015. Tonight’s Harmony 4 Hope concert is a birthday celebration of sorts for the band and the program, which has served over 150,000 meals since the start. (Downtown) 

• Ditch the peppermint and head to Stray Dog Brewing in Orléans, where they're holding Taco 'Bout A Festival with C&E Cuisine. 

• Local romance authors Ruby Barrett (Match Faker) and Jennifer Whiteford (Make Me A Mixtape) will be signing their books at The Spaniel’s Tale from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm.  

Markets and Craft Fairs

• More than 25 vendors are waiting to meet you at Fetch Local Markets from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm (Orléans)  

• Road Trip: Shop, sip, and get in the spirit of the season at the Vodkow Holiday Market. Free admission. (Almonte, ON) 

• 🆓 The Hoppy Holiday Makers Market at Broadhead Brewery is back for a with more than 30 vendors, lunch from Meatings BBQ, and live music. (Orléans)   

• Ottawa Mystic Market continues (Centretown West) 

• 62 young entrepreneurs are ready to wow you with their talent and skill at the 4th Annual Ottawa Children’s Market. 

• Square Lemon’s Winter Wonders Craft Market is more than a holiday event with vendors; you're also invited to make a snowman ornament in the free workshop. (The Glebe) 

• There’s an Old Fashioned Christmas on the grounds of the Goulbourn Museum, with roasted marshmallows, goats, hot chocolate, and other festive touches. (Stittsville)  

• The Holiday Market at Accora Village Rec Centre will have lovely vendors and artisans selling home decor, handmade things, and jewelry, and Tarot reading. (Nepean) 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema:  Sentimental Value, Lovely day (Mille secrets mille dangers), The Zone: 2046  

• Mayfair Theatre: Cassandra, Best in Show, Raha, Shelby Oats   

Gigs

• Wildstreet with Thunderor. The Brass Monkey

• Ottawa Pocket Jazz Band. Lavender Grill

• Vitriol, Weeping, Hatred Reigns in Ottawa. Dominion Tavern

• Bad Situation, Venosta, Cultural Treason. Avant-Garde Bar

• Static & friends. Rainbow Bistro

• Corb Lund (Festival of Small Halls). Carleton Place Arena 

• Bunkhouse (Festival of Small Halls). Carp Agricultural Hall

MONDAY

• Are you getting married next year? What are you going to serve your guests? Just as we thought - you haven’t got that far yet. No probs. Just book you and your SO into the Wedding Tasting Event by Meatings Barbecue where you’ll sample appies, grazing boards, freshly smoked meats, and incredible side dishes. It's happening at Broadhead Brewery (Orléans). 

• Take a peek at the past of a beloved Ottawa neighbourhood at Hintonburg Histories Evening: Worker’s Houses & Early Apartment Living 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Sentimental Value, Lovely Day (Mille secrets mille dangers)   

• Mayfair Theatre: Jay Kelly, Shelby Oats   

Gigs

• Karaoke Mondays. Atomic Rooster

• Geek Trivia. Level One Game Pub

 

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• Road Trip: On Saturday December 13, Mallard’s Milk Bar and Cold Bear Brewing are cooking up possibly your only invitation to do a little sort-of-traditional Newfoundland  Mummering. You’ll disguise yourself in costume, spread holiday cheer starting at the brewery, and end up round the fire at Mallard's. More details to come. 

MADE IN CANADA DEALS OF THE DAY

Slipacoff’s Premium Meats has deals on stewing beef ($7 per 1lb pack), AAA Stripling Steaks (5 x 7-8 oz for $77), and more.

 

There’s a rare sale at Birch Babe starting today.

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

From Laura Paquet’s Ottawa Road Trips newsletter, we learned of this article from 1000 Libraries: ‘12 Must-Visit Bookstores in Ottawa’. 

They are: Perfect Books, Black Squirrel Books & Espresso Bar, Octopus Books, The Spaniel’s Tale Bookstore, Book Bazaar, Westboro Books, Indigo, Librairie du soleil (ByWard Market), The Comic Book Shoppe, Singing Pebble Books, Books on Beechwood, and Re-Read Used Books.

Paquet says that she would add World of Maps to that list.

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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.