Hello Ottawa

STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

• 65

• The number of years that have passed since Giant Tiger opened its first store in ByWard Market. The 260 store chain, still headquartered in Ottawa, celebrated in front of the George Street location last Saturday.

• – Josh Pringle at CTV

OTTAWAN OF THE DAY

• Jake Sanderson

• The Sens defenceman is one of three National Hockey League players nominated for the Lady Byng award, given to the player showing ‘the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability’.

• – Andre Leal in the Hockey News

QUOTE

• This project reflects our ongoing commitment to finding better ways to meet our customers

– Market Manager of IKEA Ottawa Keresha Busquine on the store’s plan to build a giant three storey tall digital billboard aimed a drivers on the Queensway. 

– Josh Pringle at CTV

QUOTE

🏒 PWHL Ottawa Charge 3 – Boston Fleet 1, last Saturday

⚽ NSL Ottawa Rapid 5 – Calgary Wild 1, last Saturday

⚽ CPL Atlético Ottawa 1 – York United 4, last Saturday

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WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

THE DAILY POLL

What do you eat for breakfast?

🔘 I like it simple – porridge, cereal, or toast, etc.

🔘 Full breakfast – bacon and eggs, pancakes, or that type of thing

🔘 I go out for breakfast

🔘 I skip breakfast

🔘 I do it like they do on TV shows – a table with a full meal, toast and fruit, several jugs of juice – then take one bite and leave

• 
  Previously in OTTAWAN polls:

• 
  We asked, ‘Do you shop in department stores?’

  • 12% Yes, I like the convenience

  • 14% No, I find them too big and unwieldy

  • 28% The remaining department stores only cater to those thinner and wealthier than me

  • 14% I prefer to say that I support local, independent shops whether I do or not

  • 32% Department stores are such a good idea, it’s like Amazon.ca but in the real world
    
    Commentary

▪️ “We need more department stores so we don’t have to shop at Wal-Mart! I like to shop at Giant Tiger.”

▪️ “Too expensive!”

▪️ “Long live Zellers, Hudson Bay, Caplans, Sears, Kmart, Nordstrom, Miracle Mart and Ogilvies!”

▪️ “Hardly any ‘real’ department stores left. Miss the big ones like Sears, Eaton’s, The Bay and Simpson’s.”

▪️ “I miss The Bay. I used to work in menswear as a uni student, and it set up my wardrobe for a decade.”

▪️ “I like quickly glancing around a store and then going over to what interests me. In a department store, you have to go through every item on every rack. I don’t have the patience. If I can’t see it right away, it’s not worth it.” 

▪️ “Are there even any left?”

▪️ “The only department store I still like is London Drugs, and the closest one is in Manitoba :(”

▪️ “I like being able to try things on not just for size but also to see if I like it as much on me as on the hanger.”

▪️ “They are so overstimulating, especially on weekends, that I only go in when I truly have to.”

▪️ “I miss The Bay, Sears and Eaton’s where you could find everything under one roof.”

▪️ “Nothing but clothing, food courts, phone kiosks. Even Place d’Orleans once had a couple of restaurants, a hardware store, stereo/tv store. Now the men just follow their wives around or sit on benches waiting for them to finish their shopping.”

▪️ “We’ve lost too many of our department stores: Eaton’s, Sears, the Bay, and at the lower end, Zellers. The only inefficient left is Walmart. I liked the old days!”

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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

MONDAY

• The Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition invites all community members to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People at the annual Red Dress Day Gathering. Visit the educational and art displays. Lunch will be provided. City Hall  (Golden Triangle) 

• Carleton’s Mars Aspen and Liam S. Russel lead the Campus to Stage Spring Indie Folk Fest at the Robo Lounge.

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Calle Málaga, May the 4th: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: A New Hope  

• Mayfair Theatre: Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi  

Gigs

• Lowertown with special guests. 27 Club

• Shaun Kir. Rainbow Bistro

• Karaoke Mondays. Atomic Rooster

TUESDAY

• 🆓 The Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition invites all community members to Join the Sunrise Ceremony at Parliament Hill in honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S).

• Savour five courses the Busters Bar & Grill Cinco de Mayo Eats & Sips Pairing. Must RSVP  in advance by calling 613-836-7007.

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Calle Màlaga, Mile End Kicks, Erupcja 

• Mayfair Theatre: Kontinental ’25, Second Wind, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie 

Gigs

• Half-cocked Trivia. Atomic Rooster

• Swing & Spritz. Night Oat

• Shaun Kirk. Rainbow Bistro

WEDNESDAY

• Bring your questions to Mother’s Day Propagation Bouquet and then create a meaningful gift for your mother-figure.(Barrhaven)

• Learn from a certified Pollinator Steward in the Petals & Pollinators: Growing a Garden that Gives Back workshop at Luma (Manotick) 

• Top Chef Joe Thottungal is whipping up something special to mark Ottawa’s 200th birthday. Listen as authors reveal their creative processes while you enjoy fine food and wine at Literary Feast 2026: Food With Wine and Words at the Horticulture Building (Lansdowne Park)   

• Join the Pitch ImPerfect Singers in exploring the songs of the British Invasion.(Nepean). 

• Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II opens a new season of A Bad Night at the Movies. OPL Main Branch.(Downtown)  

• Working drummer Mark Swan demos kit and spills how he nails gigs across genres at Long & McQuade Kanata. To register: email kanata@long-mcquade.com or andrewsmith@long-mcquade.com. 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Amrum, 100 Sunset, Erupcja 

• Mayfair Theatre: Kontinental ’25, Rushmore, Forbidden Fruits 

Gigs

• Switch-on Synths. House of TARG

• James Greer Happy Hour. The Robo Lounge

• Sugarcane Hangover, Love + Mayhem. Rainbow Bistro

• Bleeker, Texas King. 27 Club

• Chances au Minotaure. 

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• Ottawa Charge heads home for Game 3 (Friday May 8) against Boston Fleet. It’s going to be electric at Canadian Tire Centre.

• The Ottawa City Woodshed crew have new courses ready to go in June including MCM-inspired Nightstands using local walnut and ash, Wood Jewelry, Fundamentals of Woodworking, and many more. Don’t delay booking though; these courses frequently sell out. 

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MADE IN CANADA DEALS OF THE DAY

Made in Montréal spring and summer collections of seasons past are marked down by up to 80% at Cokluch.

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

University of Waterloo civil engineering student Jonathan Silverman has created a website that features the oddities of Ontario’s highway system – including some around here, such as the only mention of an Autoroute (on the Queensway) or the bit of Highway 2 near Cornwall that is now underwater due to the construction of the St Lawrence Seaway.

Kate Bueckert at CBC has an interview with Silverman about what possessed him to do this.

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.