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STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

• 70%

• – The number of carriages on O Train’s Line 1 that are currently out of service in order to fix wheel-related problems. OC Transpo reduced its system utilzing pairs of carriages to using one car only. Mechanics found that metal was flaking off the wheel assembly because it cannot handle the weight of passengers.

• CBC

•  

KITIGAN ZIBI ANISHINABEG OF THE DAY

• Jay Odjick   

• The graphic novel writer and artist will have the first installment of his three part series KABOOM! Volume 1: Blast Off! released next month by kids publishing giant Scholastic. Odjick describes it as a ‘sci-fi infused/high action/comedy/summer blockbuster-style book’. 

• Candace Maracle at CBC
   

QUOTE

• The decision-makers are here

–MDA Space vice-president of communications Amy MacLeod on why Ottawa should be selected for the new multi-national Defence, Security, and Resilience Bank, referring to the Canadian Armed Forces leadership and Ottawa’s tech community.

Canada is just one of the nations in the running to be the headquarters of the new bank, which would assist countries' finance defence spending. Premier Doug Ford is lobbying that it be located in Toronto if Canada wins out.

• Cameron Mahler at CBC

•  

• SPORTS

• 🏒 NHL Ottawa Senators 3 – Nashville Predators 5, yesterday

• In the warm up before the match, all Predators wore #59 jerseys in honour of teammate Roman Josi who was about to play his 1,000th game.

🏒  The Sens have finalized a major partnership with Hockey Outaouais. Next season, Outaouais AAA boys teams in the Ligue de Hockey D’Excellence du Québec will wear the Senators' colors.

⚽ In an interleague matchup, Atlético Ottawa will play Toronto FC of Major League Soccer in the first round of the 2026 TELUS Canadian Championship this May, date and city to be determined. Atlético is, of course, in the Canadian Premier League.

• 

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  WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

  Ottawa Police Service Board
  Monday, January 26 at 4:00 pm

  • Crime Stoppers Semi-Annual Update
  • Administration of Policy and Procedure Complaints
  • Board Committee Appointments
  • Attendance at the Joint Police Employment Conference 2026 Report
  • Sponsorship Request for the 2026 Ontario Police Suicide Memorial Weekend Report
  • Sponsorship Request for The Canadian Association of Police Governance Annual Conference 2026 Report
  • Appointment of Special Constables – Ottawa Police Service
  • Ottawa Police Service Board 2024-2027 Strategic Plan: Key Performance Indicators Report
  • Mental Health Change Initiative – Q4 2025 Update
  • Human Rights & Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Annual Report For 2025
  • Ottawa Police Service Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Status Report
  • Appointment made under the Interprovincial Policing Act: 2025 Annual Report
  • Public Rewards - 2025 Annual Report

  Agenda

  

  WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

  🗳️ Homebuilder Alex Lawson has announced his candidacy for mayor. The owner of Capital Framers, who lives in Dunrobin, says ‘Let’s get back to the old Ottawa. Let’s take a step back. Let’s hit the undo button. Let’s revert to the saved file of Ottawa, where the transit got you where you needed to go’. Ottawa’s next civic election is October 26. – Arthur White-Crummey at CBC

   

  🌉 The tragic replacement of the Alexandra Bridge moves one step closer as the National Capital Commission approves the basic design. The article includes mock-up photos of the approved look, which will replace the gorgeous existing bridge. Construction is expected to begin in 2028.– Dylan Dyson at CTV

  ↪ The CBC has some mock-up photos of the rooftop park planned to be built on the parkade of the Ottawa Hospital’s new Civic Campus. The parkade will be built on Dow’s Lake greenspace.

  ↪ The National Capital Commission’s chief executive Tobi Nussbaum says that he wants the new Sens arena at LeBreton Flats to be ‘a landmark’. One current discussion is: who will pay for the decontamination of the land, the arena group owned by Toronto billionaire Michael Andlauer or the Canadian taxpayer?

  ↪ Local residents oppose a plan by the Commission to rezone two small pieces of its land from protected to developable. The two bits are ‘from the Airport Parkway to the Rideau River, surrounding a forest known as McCarthy Woods’ and a piece connecting ‘Merivale Road and Woodroffe Avenue along the Beachburg rail line’.

  ↪ The price to repair damage to the Whispering Point lookout at Kìwekì Point ‘could be costly’. The damage was caused in early December by a school bus driver who, for an as yet unexplained reason, drove down a walkway and scraped the Alaskan yellow cedar.

   

  🏵️ Alanis Morrissette will be inducted in the American Songwriting Hall of Fame in June. Joining her will be Taylor Swift, Kenny Loggins, and Gene Simmonds and Paul Stanley of KISS.   – Billboard

  

  THE DAILY POLL

  Ignoring other candidates, would you vote to reëlect Mark Sutcliffe for mayor this October?

  🔘 Yes

  🔘 No

  🔘 I won’t vote on principle

  🔘 What kind of stupid question is this, OTTAWAN? You have to know who else is running to decide

  🔘 If Sutcliffe is against putting a diaeresis in reëlect then he has my vote

  • 
    Previously in ottawan polls:

  • We asked, ‘Do you think parking spaces are important in new developments ?’

    • 28% Yes. We’re not New York City or London, people will have cars

    • 22% No, the only way to encourage walkable development is to make it harder to own a car

    • 7%  I'm fine with limiting parking spots in new developments but not for limiting my own parking spot

    • 25% Who needs a car when we have the excellent service of the O Train and so many buses?

    • 18% I own a bus

  • 
    Commentary

  ▪️ “Taking away parking minimums will only be one part of having fewer cars. Hugely improved transit reliability must be part of the plan. Otherwise all I can see is more people getting on street parking passes.”
  
  ▪️ “If we eliminate parking minimums all we do is make it so poor people who have to rent don’t have the option to have a car. Rich people that have a house at a multi-car garage can continue to enjoy car ownership. Don’t really see how this is a solution.”
  
  ▪️ “Public transportation must be improved before penalizing drivers.”
  
  ▪️ “New development without parking just means residents will park on the surrounding streets.”
  
  ▪️ “One of the most ridiculous ideas the city has had. Only people it aids are the developers, which basically own this city!”
  
  ▪️ “Making it harder to own a car just makes people angry as the city bylaw officers shoot fish in a barrel. Fix transit! Then people won’t own cars even if they have room for them.”
  
  ▪️ “And let’s not ignore the collapse of OCWhatsit.”
  
  ▪️ “It’s absolutely ridiculous that the city of Ottawa agrees with developers to scale back parking for multi level buildings. Where are tenants / owners AND visitors supposed to park? Unfortunately, we don’t have a viable bus service – LRT system to rely on.”
  
  ▪️ “Definitely important. Speaking from experience as someone with the mobility issues, it would be awful to have to depend on city transportation.”
  
  ▪️ “Limited parking in new developments will just force people to park in city streets because people still have cars. Just look at the weather this weekend and the crisis our public transit is in and the size of Ottawa to get around it!”
  
  ▪️ “It’s hilarious to see these pro-market people suddenly flip out when government-enforced car dependency is threatened. If you want to live in a parking lot with housing attached, there are plenty of options for you.”
  
  ▪️ “Unfortunately our Bus and Transit system is nowhere near reliable enough to eschew cars - sad for a capital city of a G7 country!”
  
  ▪️ “Our transit system is horrible. So we have to use our cars.”
  
  ▪️ “If parking spaces are eliminated, public transport must be more frequent, more abundant, and more reliable. Until then, this is not London or NYC, and people own cars.”
  
  ▪️ “Parking shapes our homes, neighbourhood and cities. Our choices to prioritize cars over people have real consequences. Read Paved Paradise for more radicalization ;)”
  
  ▪️ “Many people, including myself, live happy and car-free in Ottawa: 48% of households in the downtown core, 21% in the inner urban area, 14% city-wide.”​​​
  
  ▪️ “End parking minimums.”​​​

  

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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

  • Last-minute fun thing for a good cause: Joe Thottungal brings a pop up of flavours from his resto Coconut Lagoon to Dominion City Brewing, for a four course meal in support of Matthew House and Carty House. Choose from two seatings. (Gloucester)  

  • Have a reading and search for your perfect gems at Ottawa East Psychic & Crystal Fair (today through Sunday). Jim Durrell Recreation Centre (Heron Gate/Alta Vista). 

  • Road Trip: Tonight’s the first of consecutive anniversary parties for Arnprior’s Cold Bear Brewing. It’s Flamingo Friday, and The Polar Reefers will bring Jimmy Buffet tribute vibe. No cover, no reservations. Just loads of fun. 

  • Local folk musician Marc Alyre is releasing his debut album, ‘Poor Solutions to Invented Problems’ at Art House. 

  • Catch some National Lacrosse League action as Ottawa Black Bears take on Vancouver Warriors at Canadian Tire Centre. 

  • Copperbelt continues at the NAC

  Get into art today

  • Give your creative skills a glow up with the Winter Watercolour Workshop at Wallack’s Art Supplies & Framing. Tonight’s session: Winterlude: Mittens with Yulia Lisitsyna.(Centretown)

  • There’s more art happening at Arlington 5, where Community Canvas by Anyu Sun requires no experience. 

  Cinema

  • ByTowne Cinema: The Choral, The Voice of Hind Rajab, Restoration: The Virgin Suicides

  • Mayfair Theatre: The Princess Bride, Mr Nobody Against Putin, No Other Choice, The Rocky Horror Picture Show 

  Gigs

  • Atypical Live. Southside Tap & Grill

  • Anjchito. Night Oat

  • The Boo Radley Project. LIVE on Elgin

  • Mark Farina, Pozativ, Kapacity. GRIDWRKS

  • Red Light. Main Street Pub

  • Peter Hum Trio. The Robo Lounge

  • Kids with a PA day will love the Pizza & Art PA Day Workshop at Nonna’s Famous Pizza. 

SATURDAY

• ✳️ While it’s too late to bag a ticket to the Scottish Society of Ottawa’s Burns Supper, you can still attend the Scots version of an after-party. At the late-night Ceilidh (pronounced KAY-lee), it won't matter if you've never danced a reel, chowed down on haggis, or donned a kilt; just come ready to party. NDHQ Warrant Officers’ & Sergeants’ Mess (Downtown) 

• ✳️ Drop by Next Door this weekend where six purveyors of vintage clothing (including plus size) and decor will be selling their expertly curated collections. (Hintonburg)

• ✳️ Road Trip: Perth Brewing Co welcomes Garvin BBQ to the taproom today and next Saturday (January 31), between noon and 5:00 pm.(Perth)  

• ✳️ There’s a dance party with an Irish twist happening on the second floor of Lone Star Texas Grill on St. Laurent Blvd. You pay more at the door so book online now. (Cyrville). 

• ✳️ Copperbelt finishes its run at the NAC

• ✳️ You be the judge at the Ottawa Dog Rescue’s Chili Cook Off. $25 gets you 10 chili samples, buns, and the opportunity to win door prizes. You’ll even meet adoptable doggoes.

• ✳️ Inuit throat singing duo Silla to present music from their groundbreaking new album Sila is Boss, which combines throat singing with electronic music. SAW Centre (Downtown) 

• You don’t need to worry about a cover charge or tickets as Bytown Sea Shanty plays Beyond the Pale (250 City Centre); just bring your voice and your enthusiasm for the singalong of the weekend. (Centretown West) 

• After enjoying a winter refurb, the Canadian Museum of History reopens today. (Gatineau) 

• Get in out of the cold for some shopping and a café style breakfast at the Cumberland Winter Market. (Cumberland) 

• Road Trip: In Part 2 of its third anniversary celebrations, Cold Bear's Newfoundland Kitchen Party fills the taproom with traditional Celtic music by Carrickmore. (Arnprior)

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Golden Age: The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Voice of Hind Rajab, The Choral, One Battle After Another

• Mayfair Theatre: The Princess Bride, No Other Choice, Hard Boiled

Gigs

• LoveRock. Rainbow Bistro

• White Rabbit: Takin, Rick LaPlante, Salamanca. City at Night

• 🆓  Dream (as REM). Hard Rock Cafe Center Bar 

• 🆓  Katie and Kanah. Hard Rock Council Oak Stage 

• CANCELLED: there’s no 613Flea given the expected temperature (-30 degrees btw)

• Across town, the Capital Wedding Show is a go, with exhibitors ready to chat with you about your venue, catering, flowers, music, theme, and everything else you need to pull off the nuptials  of your dreams. Until tomorrow at EY Centre (YOW)  

• The Start resurrect the 80s at Irene’s Pub tonight from 9:30 pm. (The Start)  

• Sign up early (as in, between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm) if you want to take part in Tandem Axle Music - Lunergan’s Pub Open Mic (Rothwell Village) 

• Music at Trinity Anglican Church is now in its 10th anniversary season, and they’re celebrating with music by Brahms, Fauré, Ridout, Strauss, Wright and others. Featuring pianist Olya Lenko, with sopranos Shawne Elizabeth Beames, Kylie Pratt, and Lydia Rochon. FREE but donations are accepted. (Old Ottawa South) 

• It’s Quench Day at Bicycle Craft Brewery. Enjoy a free can of the new non-alcoholic Quench lager. (East End)

• Ottawa East Psychic & Crystal Fair continues (Heron Gate/Alta Vista) 

• Visit the Robert Plante Greenhouses 3rd annual Winter Market, where you'll find respite from the cold, more than 150 vendors, and hot drinks from the coffee shop. (Orleams)

SUNDAY

• Move, breathe, and feel good without breaking the bank at Yoga on a Dime at Next Door Ottawa. This one-hour, all-levels class is fun, accessible, and affordable. Bring your mat, bring your friends, and let’s stretch it out together. Wednesday 7 pm & Sundays 1:30 pm & 3 pm all January & February. (Hintonburg)  

• Pay a cover fee and play free all evening at House of TARG (6:00 pm to midnight). (Old Ottawa South) 

• Musician Lynne Hanson will be performing songs from her upcoming album at Westboro Masonic Hall. (Westboro) 

• A new session of Bywords Poetry Open Mic launches this afternoon at Lieutenan’s Pump (Downtown). 

• Heirs of the Dog ring in Robbie Burns Day 2026 with Celtic music at Royal Oak beside Round the Block Butchershop. (Centrepointe) 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: The Voice of End Rajab, One Battle After Another

• Mayfair Theatre: Hrant Dink Commemoration Event Special Screening: 30 Years with Kardeş Türküler, The Princess Bride, Sinfonía Erótica 

Gigs

• Jazz Night with the Ottawa Pocket Jazz Band. Lavender Grill and Lounge

• Indie Folk Night: Adam Fortais & Eliza Rankin. Art House Café

• Village Trio. Kaffe 1870

• Sunday Afternooner. The Laff

• The Looks. Busters Bar & Grill

MONDAY

• Campus to Stage is a new series showcasing Carleton University’s best emerging artists Nic Code, Jude Zappala, and Kent Nesrellah, at the Robo Lounge (The Glebe)

• Improv artistes should warm up for tonight’s theme at The Wheel of Whatever: ‘Do Scenes, Get Notes’ with Rich Hilborn. 

• 🆓  Eric Lee (piano) and Nate Mears (percussion) of uOttawa’s School of Music present a free chamber concert. Head to the NAC’s Fourth Stage; advance registration is appreciated. (Downtown)

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: The Voice of Hind Rajab 

• Mayfair Theatre:  Mr. Nobody Against Putin, Hard Boiled  

Gigs

• The 5-Star Monday Band. The Laff

• Karaoke Mondays. Atomic Rooster

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• The NAC English Theatre will mount a revival of Taragon Theatre and Musical Stage Company's production of After the Rain by Rose Napoli and Suzy Wilde, February 25 through March 7. The cast, which was announced today, features performers who originated the roles in Toronto as well as new additions. (Downtown)

• Perfect your coffee skills at Ministry of Coffee’s Latte Art class on Saturday February 28 (Downtown location). 

• Some of Ottawa’s best restaurants have already signed up to participate in SnowBall: A Cool Winter’s Eve – aka Ottawa’s most luxurious cocktail party – in support of the Snowsuit Fund. If you book a four pack of tickets now you'll save $100. Circle Wednesday March 4 on your calendar. 50 Sussex. 

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BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

• After a launch at Irene’s Pub last week, new transit group Free Transit Ottawa has issued its manifesto: 

• Make OC Transpo free during off-peak hours (9:00 am – 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm – 6:00 am and on weekends)
• Add 150 buses to improve service in peak and off-peak hours 
• Add 50 local/neighbourhood buses in underserviced areas
• Add 25 vehicles to Para Transpo and provide same day booking
• Expand dedicated bus-only lanes, starting with the most unreliable routes 
• Democratize the Transit Committee by replacing six of the 12 councillors with four members who are directly elected by the citizens of Ottawa and two members selected by ATU Local 279

The group is currently accepting new members. – Shaun Vardon at CTV

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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.