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STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

• 8,000

• The decrease in the number of Federal public employees in Ottawa - Gatineau this year over 2025. Last year, the Capital region employed around 154,000 Federal public workers, that number is now about 146,000, a five per cent reduction.

• Prime Minister Mark Carney had promised to reduce the Federal headcount by 4.5 per cent at the 2025 budget. 

• – Justin Ball at CBC 

PETAWAWAN OF THE DAY

• Katie Laprade

• The professional dog groomer won first in her class, first in her division, and best in show for her poodle Winnie at the Ottawa Ontario Grooming Show last week.

– Steve Berard at Pembroke Today

QUOTE

“

• We’re happy that they made the right decision and we’re happy that they heard us. It’s unfortunate that we’ve had to fight for something that we feel nobody should have to fight for

– Parent Brian McPhail, pleased that the Ottawa Catholic School Board has reversed itself and will keep attendants on school buses to assist students with special needs.

– Ted Raymond at CTV

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WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

THE DAILY POLL

What announcement do you hope the Prime Minister makes about 24 Sussex Drive tomorrow?

🔘 24 Sussex is kept as is, but has a full modern refurbishment

🔘 24 Sussex is razed to the ground and the land used as a park or something. Prime Ministers can find their own home, or keep living at Rideau Cottage

🔘 24 Sussex is razed and rebuilt as a modern showcase of Canadian architecture and environmental excellence

🔘 24 Sussex is left as a relic to decay naturally

🔘 Let the grounds be used as a trailer park for Members of Parliament to live in while in Ottawa

• 
  Previously in OTTAWAN polls:

• How do you feel about datacentres?

  • 8% They are the future and opposing them is like opposing power transmission towers

  • 27% I’m opposed, they take up space and make noise and draw far more electricity than can be supplied by the public

  • 4% If one has customers for electricity, why would you turn them away

  • 61% If these are such great ideas, let the datacenter builders finance their own power plants

  • 0% I’ll ask Google, Siri, and ChatGPT for good arguments against them

  • 
    Commentary

▪️ “Data centres are unmanned. You can't even make the argument that it’s going to provide jobs in the area. Literally what is the benefit to Ottawans? Higher power bills? Be so for real. Reject them all.”

▪️ “Everyone knows they’re a huge power drain that raises energy costs for everyone but themselves. They use water at alarming rates. They’re noisy and an eyesore. Why would we want them? Even tiny Texas towns are saying no.”

▪️ “Has Ottawa Hydro figured out yet how it’s going to provide the electricity to power OC Transpo’s electric buses yet? Until they can do that, they have no business talking about other projects that exceed their capacity.”

▪️ “The AI bubble can’t pop fast enough. Hoping AI goes the way of NFTs.”

▪️ “AI will be a huge part of our future but much like the Web 1.0, there will be a bust or correction. Hold on to your butts!”

▪️ “Power to the People!”

▪️ “AI is not the future, but, at the very least, these tech companies should have to pay for the energy required and the building of the infrastructure required to produce that energy (not to mention funding environmental mitigation).”

HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS

Club Zinc T-Shirt For underground Ottawa of 80s, Club Zinc was a short, dark light. 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

THURSDAY

• 🆓 Options Housing is proud to present Voices of the Land – an Ottawa200 community event celebrating Indigenous culture, teachings, and connection to the land. See live Hoop Dancing, traditional ribbon shirt teaching, drumming, and medicine bag making.  

• Be part of the Stuff You Should Know podcast, live from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa.  

• 🆓 Take the kids to see the RCMP Musical Ride Sunset Ceremonies. It happens each evening until Sunday June 28 at the RCMP Stables (1 Sandridge Road). 

• 🆓 Metcalfe Plaza (at Sparks St) comes alive with Hip-Hop, R&B, and surprises from DJs Rojo, John Arano, Messmeupbeats and Spinny, From 5:00 pm; get dinner and drinks from vendors on site. (SOPA)

• 🆓 Today’s free programming at Ottawa Jazz Festival: Atcheleh Aryee Quintet (noon in Confederation Park), Graves/Jordan/Pond (noon at CF Rideau Centre Level 2 in front of the Dining Hall), Ambre McLean (noon at World Exchange Plaza), Kellylee Story & Song Series (4:00 pm at Peter Hearndorf Place, National Arts Centre). Ticketed shows: Brittany Davis & Black Thunder (6:30 pm Fourth Stage, National Arts Centre), Mark Ferguson Quartet (6:30 pm at OLG Main Stage, Confederation Park), Avishai Cohen Big Vicious (7:00 pm at Asrieli Studio, National Arts Centre), Nick Schofield (7:30 pm at Elgin St Stage, Confederation Park), DOMi & DJ Beck (8:30 pm at OLG Main Stage, Confederation Park), Norma Winstone with the Atlantic Jazz Collective (9:00 pm at Fourth Stage, National Arts Centre), Avishai Cohen Big Vicious (9:00 pm show at Azrieli Studio, National Arts Centre), The Free Label (10:30 pm Elgin St Stage, Confederation Park). 

• Stittsville Front Porch Concerts are trying again tonight; let's hope there's better weather than last week. 

• Sound healer Sara Zeineddine will join Rebecca White Raven in the Sunset Yoga and Sound Healing at Britannia Park. Suggested donation $25. Bring your own mat and bug spray. 

• It’s coached student night as Improv Embassy All-Stars take over Avant-Garde Bar. Come and support the students and special guests Boy Stinko, SHHH!, and The People's Choice. (Sandy Hill)  

• It’s curation-free and 100% of the ticket sales go back to the artists: Welcome to the Ottawa Fringe Festival, which fills all of Arts Court's theatre spaces, nooks, and crannies until June 28. 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: The Sheep Detectives, Japanese Film Week: Shoplifters, Moonrise Kingdom 

• Mayfair Theatre: Tuner, The Birdcage, Raging Bull 

Gigs

• Faiyez and the Wasted Chances. Dominion Tavern

• Afterlight: Piano and Vocals. The Robo Lounge

• Catalyst 15: KI vs Upper Regions, Juno Club, Nivek, Marsh, Jas Nasty. House of TARG

• Radwan Ghazi Moumneh, Fédéric D. Oberland. Fono

• Don’t Play With Me. LIVE on Elgin

FRIDAY

• Vegans Who Snack will fulfill all of your animal-loving snack dreams from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Parkdale Market. (Hintonburg) 

• Konpa & Kizomba night at Pure Havana is beginner friendly. (Downtown)  

• We think that starting the weekend with a free Ottawa Jazz Festival Friday noon gig called ‘Funk-A-Tron 5000’ is a fantastic idea. There are more free gigs throughout the afternoon. Paid events roll out with daltonists (the experimental trio who are inspired by colour blindness); Cree and Salish singer-songwriter Fawn Wood, Bobby Previte’s Pocket Orchestra, Toronto-based, Ethiopian/Eritrean singer-songwriter Witch Prophet, Grammy nominated musician and actress Willow, hard-to-define Tomoki Sanders, Seattle Rhythm and Blues band The Dip, and of course, late night jamming with John Geggie, Roddy Ellias, and José Monchito Garcia. 

• The Reverend Horton Heat plays Overflow Brewing but if you want to get down to their ‘psychobilly’ swagger, act fast. Tickets are selling briskly. (Heron Gate)  

• Miguel de Armas plays Cuban jazz at The Robo Lounge. (The Glebe)  

• Talk about the city’s problems and potential solutions at the Strong Towns Ottawa chapter monthly social gathering at Braumeister Bierhalle. (Hintonburg)  

• Learn about local butterfly populations at the Pinhey Sand Dunes Sanctuary for Butterflies and Pollinators, today through Sunday. (Merivale Industrial Park) 

• Doggos are welcome at the Ottawa Titans Bark in the Park event. On the field, the New Jersey Jackals will be paying the Titans a visit. 

• Dance like it’s the carefree 90s again at Friday I’m in Love. (ByWard Market) 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: The Sheep Detectives, Tuner, Linda Linda Linda, Drunken Cinema: Predator  

• Mayfair Theatre: The Richest Woman in the World, Project Hail Mary, The Rocky Horror Picture Show 

Gigs

• Perry & The Wobbly Pops, Motherland. Irene's Pub

• Symply Skynyrd. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

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

• Elise Boulanger Music and special guest Sophie Grenier. Art House

• Sussex. Rainbow Bistro

SATURDAY

• 🆓 Every Saturday OMIC puts on City Sounds Live, in various places in Ottawa, but for The Glebe (this is the second year running we think?) this Saturday June 27 it’s Amanda Keeley and Quiet Sky. They are folk artists – because of Ottawa Grassroots Festival (last week was in conjunction with Chamberfest) 

• 🆓  Road Trip: Spend an idyllic afternoon at the Back 40 Artisan Cheese farm and creamery for the annual Cooks and Curds Festival. You'll experience locally crafted cheese, meat, and other artisan food and drink from chefs, bakers and brewers, all on the scenic farm ands. Add in live music and you've got yourself an amazing afternoon with family and friends. Rain or shine from noon to 6:00 pm in Mississippi Station. Please bring cash. 

• FREE As usual there are no pesky tickets to worry about when you head to Beyond the Pale Brewing Co for Sing a Sea Shanty. Just warm up your vocal cords and prepare for a good time. (Centretown West) 

• Today’s free programming at Ottawa Jazz Festival launches with the Artichoke Hearts at noon, The Prime Rib Big Band at 2:00 pm, then two shows by the Cuppa Joe vocal jazz quartet, and the Kelleylee Story & Song Series of artist talks. Paid programming gets underway at 6:30 pm wth a gig by Flore Laurentienne, then Myra Melford's Fire & Water Quintet, The Robert Lee Group, St. Vincent & The NAC Orchestra, The Ostara Project, and Salin. 

• Get nosy and check out Rideau Hall today and tomorrow. Guides will be available to answer questions as you peer into the State rooms and gardens.(Rockcliffe Park) 

• Mad About Patchwork and the Ottawa Markets Collective present the Makers Path Market, with more than 50 local vendors. (Stittsville)  

• Meet vendors, healers, and readers at the Compassionate Wings Sacred Circle event at Hyatt Place Ottawa West (300 Moodie Drive). 

• The Manotick Brass Ensemble plays an outdoor gig at 1:00 pm on the Dickinson House lawn (Manotick). Bring a chair or blanket. 

• The Ras Lee Reggae Band returns to the Point Dining Lounge in Constance Bay. (Woodlawn) 

• If your fur friend needs a refresh bring them along to the Photo Fundraiser and Dog Wash at Pet Valu Beechwood. (Vanier) 

• Check out the new release by Ottawa Emo band Awesome 360 at Ottawa’s newest HiFi lounge FONO (Centretown) 

• Time is running out to settle back in the dark and be treated to something new and raw at Ottawa Fringe Festival. The show must go on but only until Sunday June 28. (Downtown) 

• It's Week 2 of Metcalfe Plaza's summer programming, and Amashi and Playhouse Radio are bringing the beats. 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm at 151 Metcalfe St. (Downtown) 

• Kids 10 and under get in free to the Ottawa Valley Roller Derby’s  ‘One Last Jam: A Roller Derby Double Header’ at St. Laurent Complex, 525 Coté St (Vanier). 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: The Parent Trap, Japanese Film Week: Exit 8, Tuner, Sleepaway Camp 

• Mayfair Theatre: The Richest Woman in the World, Project Hail Mary, Goodfellas, Saturday Night Sinema 

Gigs

• Chicago. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa

• The Sunburns. Irene’s Pub

• Bad Moon Revival. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa

• Bob Wiseman. The Robo Lounge

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• Road Trip: While there are activities and parties planned all over the city this Canada Day, if you want to get out of town you’ll have no shortage of options to celebrate. Check out the list by Inside Ottawa Valley’s Tara Gesner.

• If you’re hoping to include camping in your Ottawa Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival experience (September 2-6), be advised that spots are filling fast.

DEAL OF THE DAY

Save 10% on natural dyes and kits from The Love of Colour.   Save 15% on charcoal and portable grills from The Fireplace Center & Patio Shop.

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BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

Jack Hanna in the Centretown Buzz has a look back at the work of Thomas Burrowes, a self-taught painter who captured the essence of ByTown in the 1820s to 1840s. 

By day, Burrowes was an engineer working for Colonel By, building the Rideau Canal. With a pregnant wife, Burrowes built the first cabin in Bytown, where Grace gave birth three days later. Their cabin is now the location of the Confederation Building  between Kent and Lyon Streets

RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL

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.