Hello Ottawa

STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

• 308

• The number of acres of mature forests, rocky ridges, wetlands, and creeks that have been permanently saved by the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust after purchasing the Maple Cross Newlands Nature Reserve.

• The land, two hours south west of Ottawa, also includes around 10,000 mature sugar maple trees. 

• Lesley McKat at Stittsville Central

•  

JOHNSTOWNER OF THE DAY

• Noah Devisser 

• The 18 year-old competitive gardener has set a Spencerville Fair  record by growing a 508 kg pumpkin, winning the Spencerville Fair Mammoth Pumpkin Stake. For what it is worth, the world record is 1,247 kg, set in 2013.

• Ben Andrews at CBC

QUOTE

• While protecting tenants from extreme heat is a critical health concern, implementing a maximum temperature bylaw presents complex legal, technical, and affordability challenges

• –  The City’s Community and Social Services general manager, Clara Freire, answering a question from Alta Vista ward councillor Marty Carr about why the City cannot create a maximum temperature bylaw for tenants.

Ottawa does have a minimum temperature bylaw, 20°, which does not seem to present complex legal, technical, or affordability challenges.

•  – Josh Pringle at CTV

•  

  SPORTS

• 🏈 CFL Ottawa RedBlacks 27 – BC Lions 38, last Friday

• ⚽ NSL Ottawa Rapid 1 – Halifax Tides 1, last Saturday

• ⚽ CPL Atlético Ottawa 2 – York United 2, yesterday

• 

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  WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

  Environment and Climate Change Committee
  Tuesday, September 16 at 9:30 am

  • Status update – ECCC inquiries and motions for the period ending 4 September 2025

  • Solid Waste Services Parks Waste Collection and Diversion Strategy

  • Update on the Provincial Blue Box Program transition to Individual Producer Responsibility

  • Tree Planting Strategy update

  • Climate Change Master Plan progress update and GHG inventories

  • Response to audit of Climate Change Master Plan report

  • Independent Electricity Service Operator (IESO) Long Term 2 (LT2) procurement – Requests for Municipal Support Confirmation

  Agenda
   

  Accessibility Advisory Committee
  Tuesday, September 16 at 6 pm

  • Accessibility Office Update
  • Bank Street (Highway 417 to Canal): Active Transportation and Transit Priority Feasibility Study

  Agenda
   

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

   

  

  WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

  🛞 Ottawa is one of six cities selected by the Federal government in which to build a modular home neighbourhood. Nepean Member of Parliament, Prime Minister Mark Carney, announced the creation of a $13 billion ‘Build Canada Homes’ initiative which will place pre-built homes on Federal land here and in Toronto, Edmonton, Dartmouth, Longueuil, and Winnipeg. The actual location in Ottawa has not been released.– The Canadian Press

  
  💨 The City does not have current data about how speed cameras affect injuries and accidents, says Ottawa Bulldog. Premier Doug Ford last week asked municipalities to get rid of speed cameras, calling them ‘cash grabs’. Ottawa Bulldog asked the City ‘if there has been an increase, decrease or roughly the same number of injuries and accidents at speed-camera locations.' The City responded, stating that speed has shown to be reduced at camera locations but it did not currently have any crash data available. A report scheduled for this autumn, however, may include that information. – Ken Gray in Ottawa Bulldog

   

  🏅  The Guy Lafleur Arena in Thurso has been closed since August, and both locals and his family are asking the province for help. The 1948 building was closed after a beam collapsed. It was renamed for the hockey great in 1990 in recognition of being the location where Lafleur first laced up his skates. – City of Ottawa

  ↪ 613 Flea vendors are pleased that the City is finally fixing the roof of the Aberdeen Pavillion, despite the requirement to vacate. Roof repairs are scheduled for early 2026.

  
  🏅  The City is seeking nominations for the Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards and Youth Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards. The grown up award honours ‘those who have successfully established and grown their businesses through hard work, perseverance and innovation’, the youth award is for ‘promising young newcomers, between the ages of 15 and 25, who have recently embarked on entrepreneurial journeys’. The deadline is October 8. – City of Ottawa

  
  📺  Local TV station CJOH has renamed their morning show from CTV Morning Live to CTV Your Morning Ottawa. Just in case you tuned in and said, what happened? Where is my show? – CTV

  

  THE DAILY POLL

  Should Ottawa have a maximum temperature law for rental units?

  Yes, we do it for minimum temperatures, we should do it for maximum ones

  No, it’ll just add costs to rent or take units off the market

  Let the market decide. People can rent an apartment or not.

  • 
    Previously in ottawan polls:

  • We asked, ‘What would you do if your doctor prescribed you exercise?’

    • 59%  Start a new routine. Doctor’s orders.

    • 22%  Take it under advisement, but no.

    • 19% Look up the phone number to lodge complaints against medical practitioners.

  • 
    Commentary

  ▪️ “It seems common sense that exercise is best to combat depression over prescribed medication. I always go for minimum 2 walks per day.”
  
  ▪️ “I have been told by Dr to walk more! Already walking about 10000 steps a day.”
  
  ▪️ “From personal experience, there is nothing better than an exercise regime to regulate mental health.”
  
  ▪️ “I know I should exercise more, but, but, but ok, I will.”
  
  ▪️ “Stay healthy since it reduces the load on our overstressed health care system.”
  
  ▪️ “Exercise is a valid treatment.”
  
  ▪️ “If I could afford or if could find one near my home.”
  
  ▪️ “There are many reasons why people are unable to exercise (physical health, body image issues), and having it prescribed for depression without taking the patient’s history into account could be detrimental.”
  
  ▪️ “Duh.”
  
  ▪️ “I think this would be impactful! The key is finding an exercise you enjoy doing.”
  
  ▪️ “This is nothing new, fat folks have been told that all of their health problems stem from their weight for years. This proven discrimination has led to loads of excess deaths from untreated conditions that would be caught in skinny folk.”
  
  ▪️ “I have a British Dr. I am very lucky! I would take her advice as she is clever and so much better then my old Dr. (who retired)!”
  
  ▪️ “As a person who lives in a bigger body, I have had real health issues dismissed, and have been told to 'exercise' if I wanted relief from the pain. The medical system is built to seek thinness over health.”
  
  ▪️ “I teach exercise classes so I know how important exercise is for your physical and mental health.”
  
  ▪️ “Would be surprising as exercise like nutrition and mind conscousness not very much part of their curriculum. And already doing regular varied exercise.”

  

  HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS

  BNR T-Shirt Bell Northern Research was founded in 1971. In 1996, it was purchased by Nortel and eventually shared that companies fate. The BNR campus in Ottawa was fondly deemed the 'Big Nerd Ranch', and is now the headquarters of the Department of National Defence. 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

  • 🆓 TEDxSaint Paul University explores the ‘structure of knowledge and the freedom of creation’ in Intersections of Wonder: Art Meets Academia.  

  • Do you like to sing? Ottawa Choral Workshops are running a 12-week workshop on Baroque greats J. S. Bach and Antonio Vivaldi. Rehearsals are Monday evenings beginning tonight. 

  • Sign up is in-person only for the Art House Open Mic. 

  • ByTowne Cinema:  À bicyclette (Ride Away)  Restoration: Barry Lyndon   

  • Mayfair Theatre:  The Naked Gun, My Neighbour Totoro, Naked Ambition  

    Gigs

  • Holy Locust, Cadmium, Bastards and The Buzzards. Dominion Tavern

  • Karaoke Mondaze. Atomic Rooster

  TUESDAY

  • Kanata Theatre takes on Ira Levin’s 1978 murder comedy Deathtrap, which is running until September 20 (Sunday). 

  • The Gardeners play folk and country with an emphasis on harmony driven vocals and steel-stringed rhythms. Avant-Garde Bar at 7:00 pm. 

  • ByTowne Cinema: À bicyclette (Ride Away!), Mexican Independence Day Screening: Cronos, Honey Don’t!  

  • Mayfair Theatre: Relay, The Naked Gun, Jaws

    Gigs

  • Between the Buried and Me, Hail The Sun. Bronson Centre

  • Morgan Wade. Algonquin Commons Theatre

  • Chris & Kat. Night Oat

  • Trivia Night. Pour Boy

  WEDNESDAY

  • Today’s Doors Open for Music at Southminster noon concert explores the ‘Nature of Sound’, with Passamano Trio performing works by Philippe Gaubert, Astor Piazzolla, and Felix Mendelssohn.

  • Harvest: A Feast of Fall is finally here. Grab one of the final remaining tickets to the foodie event of the Fall at the Ottawa Art Gallery, and savour bites from 18 of Ottawa's top chefs. 

  • Ottawa is joining the ranks of North American cities that will hold The Summer I Turned Pretty season finale watch parties. The venue is Boston Pizza, 521 Hunt Club Road; the time is 6:30 pm. 

  • Hardcore salsa bachata dancers, bring your cash entry fee to Pure Havana for three hours of social dancing (no workshop). 

  • Ottawa jazz saxophonist Peter Woods brings a smooth vibe to Wednesday Night Swings at Bar Robo. 

  • What will likely be the final Akoustik Summer Music Series concert in Vanier will feature Sophie D'Orleans and Beau Nectar. St. Charles Market, 135 Barrette St. 

  • ByTowne Cinema: Honey Don’t! Friedas Fall - Swiss Embassy Screening. A Better Tomorrow II 

  • Mayfair Theatre: The Naked Gun, Paper City, Relay 

    Gigs

  • Mélissa Ouimet. National Arts Centre

  • Night Oat Jam Session with Peter Hum Trio. Night Oat

  • Big Sis. Club SAW

  • Girls to the Front wth Jamie Anderson, Alanna J. Brown, and host Kristine St. Pierre. Irene’s Pub

  • Korn. Canadian Tire Centre

  JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

  • Take one of Urban Elements’ cooking courses at Corner Peach and savour the fruits (or pasta, or avocado salsa, etc.) of your labour in the cute dining room afterwards. Courses are available in September, October, and November.  

  • Touring an artist studio is a great way to spend an ordinary Saturday, but it’s even more magical when you can peek behind the curtain of an entire building of artist spaces. Mark October 3 and 4 on your calendar for the 6th Annual Open Studio + Art Sale at Studio Space Ottawa (2477-A Kaladar Ave). 

MADE IN CANADA DEALS OF THE DAY

Free samples, mystery bags, and best sellers at reduced prices: find them all a the Aurelius Fine Oils sale today through Friday.

Use the code 1MONTH to save 50% on Ottawa Fall Home Show tickets. The show runs October 2 through 5 at EY Centre.

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

• Charlie Senack in the Kitchissippi Times has an appropriate elegy for Westgate Shopping Centre. Opened in 1955, Ottawa’s first shopping mall required Carling Avenue to be widened, which resulted in the streetcar tracks being lifted for bus service. The existing buildings are being torn down and the site will be redeveloped mostly for housing.

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.