Hello Ottawa

STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

• 25 years

• – The length of time that adult toy purveyor Venus Envy has been selling its wares to the public in Ottawa. After a fire destroyed its Bank Street storefront in 2022, Venus Envy had allowed public shopping in its Catherine Street warehouse two days per week. As of March, the warehouse will close. The website and a shop in Halifax will continue.

• Sofia Misenheimer in the Ottawa Citizen

•  

OTTAWAN OF THE DAY

• Grégory Bulté

• The Carleton University biology professor has been investigating why Opinicon Lake’s northern map turtles have been dying off. Nearly 10 per cent of the turtles, who spend the winter hibernating at the bottom of the lake while the ice covers the surface, don’t make it.

• Jordan Omstead in the Canadian Press 

QUOTE

• I don’t know who had the rose-coloured glasses on who wrote this; it’s ridiculous. I feel like we’re being bamboozled

– Beacon Hill-Cyrville ward councillor Tim Tierney showing his skepticism of the City working coöperatively with the National Capital Commission after the City’s planning and housing committee approved a proposal to partner on housing.

‘They’re involved in everything; they feel like they want to be involved in everything, but they don’t want to work with us,’ Tierney said.

• Josh Pringle at CTV
   

SPORTS

🏒 CHL Les Olympiques de Gatineau 1 – L’Armada de Blainville-Boisbriand 5, yesterday

• 

  PLEASE SUPPORT THE OTTAWAN

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  WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

  Ottawa Police Service Board Finance and Audit Committee
  Friday, February 6 at 10:00 am

  • Four-Year Financial Plan
  • 2026 internal Audit plan and IA/QA Update

  Agenda

  

  WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

  🍞 Artists have reached a deal to keep their cheap studios in the redeveloped Standard Bread Company building. The Enriched Bread Artists collective has been working and living in the historic Standard Bread Company building for 30 years, but their homes were put at risk when the building was sold for a new development. The developers propose towers of 34, 38, and 40 storeys with mixed-use office, retail space, and 930 residential units. The Standard Bread Company building would be renovated but retained.

  Under the proposal, the artists will be relocated during construction and offered affordable rent for 15 years afterwards. The City’s planning and housing committee approved the new development, which moves to City Council for ratification. – Matthew Garwolinski in Capital Current

  ↪ The National Capital Commission has put out a call to ‘design, build and run a new series’ of commercial docks and marine slips at the Dow’s Lake Pavilion and Marina.

   

  🌪️ Stories and video of the 2018 Dunrobin tornado are being sought by a London documentary company. Arrow International Media is looking to speak to people affected by the devasting 2018 tornado, which spread a swath of carnage across West Carleton, destroying houses as well as the Dunrobin Plaza strip mall. Arrow says it is for a show on the Discovery Channel, which THE OTTAWAN assumes is The Eye of the Storm. Send an email to  naomi.hemming@arrowmedia.com if you have something. – West Carleton Online  (🔐 Subscription only but worth it)

  ↪ That’s London, England not London, Ontario.

   

  🏌️‍♀️ There is a new indoor golf range in Arnprior. Irons & Woods Indoor Golf has four golf simulators, as well as a full service bar. Irons & Woods is easy to find – it’s right next to the water tower. Arnprior certainly has its localized way of naming things, its historic four lane bowling alley is Steelheads and Strikes. – Taylor Clark in the Arnprior Chronicle-Guide (h/t Ottawa Road Trips)

  

  THE DAILY POLL

  Will you be watching the Winter Olympics?

  🔘 Yes

  🔘 No

  🔘 A few specific events

  🔘 Sport is the opiate of the masses.

  🔘 Not until they reinstate dog sled racing, military patrolling, bandy, Bavarian curling, and horse-pulled skijoring. Then, maybe.

  • 
    Previously in ottawan polls:

  • We asked, ‘Did you ever use that Ontario Travel Information Centre on highway 417?’

    • 8% Yes, it had valuable travel information

    • 27% No, but had I needed local information, I would have

    • 26% Of course. When I needed the washroom.

    • 21% I have never seen the need to travel to Québec by road

    • 18% Bark bark bark bark arf. Let the dogs use the washroom. Bark arf bark bark.

    •  
      Commentary

  ▪️ “With the added bonus of some travel info that I still have somewhere.”
  
  ▪️ “I likely would’ve used the washroom, but if I’d needed travel info, I’d have gotten that too. Why not retrofit it as an ONRoute? Those are the best!”
  
  ▪️ “I love tourist information centres and always stop at them to gather information while on vacation.”
  
  ▪️ “Driven by it a zillion times on the way to Montréal or back to Ottawa from Montréal and have stopped there once soon after it opened.”​​​

  

  HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS

  Newbridge Networks T-Shirt Newbridge Networks was founded by Welsh-Canadian entrepreneur Sir Terry Matthews in 1986. 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

  • The spotlight will be on local artists and arts leaders tonight at the Arts Ottawa Award Ceremony. Tickets are on sale now. (Downtown)  

  • Nonna’s Famous Pizza has invited one-of-a-kind vendors over for a Made with Love Market from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Pick up something for your love and grab a delicious mocktail for yourself. (Little Italy) 

  • Urban Art Collective’s Third Annual Not Your Typical Valentine’s Market at the UAC’s new space on Bayswater will also give you a peek into the artists' studios (Hintonburg)  

  • Galerie St-Laurent + Hill presents Vernissage: Shaelynn Trednick’s The Weight of Quiet (Lowertown) 

  • The Drowning Girls continues at the Ron Maslin Playhouse (Kanata)   

  • Ottawa Fringe Festival’s undercurrent festival continues at Arts Court. (Downtown)  

  Cinema

  • ByTowne Cinema: Vie Privée (A Private Life), Arco 

  • Mayfair Theatre: No Other Choice, Sound of Falling, Anything That Moves  

  Gigs

  • East Coast Folk Girlies - Writers Round

  • Bingo. Broadhead Brewery

  • Open Mic. Stray Dog Brewing

FRIDAY

• ✳️ 🆓 The 10th annual Indigenous film festival Unikkaaqtuarniq:Snowscreen invites you to experience indigenous films from the circumpolar North, outdoors in a theatre made of snow. Today through Sunday at Lansdowne Park, free but donations are welcome. (Lansdowne) 

• The Born in the 70s, Raised in the 80s, and Got to Party in the 90s PARTY says it all, really. (Orléans) 

• Get new spines for the bookshelf (plus video games, board games, puzzles and DVDs) at the Elmdale Public School BookFest, today through Sunday. (Fisher Park) 

• Comedian Alex Mackenzie headlines Meridian Theatres Centrepointe.

• Get ready for drama, excitement, and family fun at the Acclaim Pro Wrestling: Friday Night Fever show at Dom Polski Hall (Centretown) 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Father Mother Sister Brother, Staff Picks: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Arco 

• Mayfair Theatre: The Secret Agent, The Choral, The Room 

Gigs

• Ed Lister Group with Petr Cancura. Night Oat

• Laylit. Gridwrks

• Murray Kinsley & Wicked Grin. Hard Rock Ottawa

• Four Eyed Muscle Man Album Release. Avant-Garde Bar

• Gowan. Bronson Centre Music Theatre

• Happy Hour with Peter Hum. The Robo Lounge

SATURDAY

• Winterlude continues at sites around town  

• If you remember the excitement of the Scholastic Book Fair, Dominion City Brewing has the event for you. The brewery is hosting the gang from The Spaniel's Tale bookstore, so you can sip a brew, buy some new titles, and enjoy eats from Chef T of The BBQ Joint. 

• Take a crash course in Tetrapak Printmaking with the Ottawa School of Art (Orléans) 

• The Ottawa Black Creatives Hub Showcase at the Shenkman Arts Centre is an evening of performance in the dance, poetry and storytelling, music, and film disciplines, alongside presentations by Ottawa's key arts organizations and figures. (Orléans)   

• Catch the freestyle snowmobile performances of Barbegazi (Swiss-French for frozen beard) in the ByWard Market today through Sunday (ByWard Market)  

• The always-intense Art Battle is even more powerful as it heads to the Canadian War Museum. Eight artists will engage in an Art Battle: Inspired by the Vault, during three fast-paced rounds. 

• Nordic Folk Night with Lindy Vopnfjörd and Marthe Halvorsen. SAW Centre

• Talk about a #heatedrivalry! This year the Stew Showdown’s seven competitors cook head to head at the Royal Canadian Legion - Westboro Branch 480 in support of Westboro Region Food Bank. Get your ticket, slurp your stew, and cast your vote in the People's Choice category. (Westboro) 

• Road Trip: Gather your pals and head over to the Vodkow Galentine’s Social from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm in Almonte.  

• Go to the ByTowne Cinema for the Valentine’s Day Craft Market (noon), stay for the screening of the 1957 Audrey Hepburn-Fred Astaire rom-com Funny Face 

• Check out the creativity at Merivale Mall’s Art From the Heart Valentine’s Craft Show (Nepean)  

Where to go for Ice Cream for Breakfast Day 

• The doors open at Merry Dairy at 8:00 am for in-person enjoyment. Dress code:  pyjamas. Or you can stay in bed and enjoy the Breakfast Box (order now).(Hintonburg)  

• Road Trip: Arnprior’s Mallards Milk Bar will open at 9:00 am and play cartoons in the side room. PJs are recommended. (Arnprior)  

• Carp Custom Creamery locations in Carp (8:00 am) and Carleton Place (10:00 am) will be scooping Breakfast flavours and some new tastes today, and you can buy them for home use starting tomorrow (Friday). 

• Breakfast themed ice creams are on Chris’s Ice Cream menu. Open 9:00am to 2;00 pm (Beacon Hill) 

• Moo Shiu won’t be holding any Ice Cream for Breakfast Day promotions, instead, there's a collab with friends Aroi, the pop-up purveyors of traditional Thai coconut curry noodle soup who share their space at 1130 Wellington. 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Funny Girl (with Valentine’s Craft Market), The Choral, Arco, No Other Choice (35mm) 

• Mayfair Theatre: The Choral, The Secret Agent, Scarlet Warning 666  

Gigs

• Graham Lindsey Album Release. Red Bird

• Emmanuel Simon and Nick Gummeson. The Robo Lounge

• Steady Rain, Dunham Nights, Hot Jupiter & It Shines. Dominion Tavern

• Les Ismore, Fantomez, Communicating Circus, Animal Places. Avant-Garde Bar

• Gowan. Bronson Centre Music Theatre

• Lives Like Skyscrapers with Pro Wrestling The Band, Push Come Show, & Dark Plains. House of TARG

There are winter carnivals and festivals in all directions this weekend: 

• Carp  

• Greely 

• North Gower 

• Ottawa: Winterlude, Barbegazi

• Manotick  

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• In MELLOWING, Greek choreographer Christos Papadopoulos explores how the body’s energy creates a permanent vibration. The Dance On Ensemble is an initiative aimed at championing the value of age by showcasing the artistry, embodied knowledge, and emotional depth of dancers over 40. The Ensemble visits the National Arts Centre on February 18 and 19 only. (Downtown)  

• On Saturday, February 21 create something stylish for your home with the Bilingual Handbuilding Pot Workshop: Winter-Resistent Pots for Bonsai & Succulents at La Fab sur mill (Chelsea) 

• Help Harmony House in providing safe shelter, counselling, and essential supports to women and children in the community. Hope and Promise Breakfast for Women’s Futures, Monday, March 2 at Infinity Convention Centre. (Near YOW) 

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BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

• The Winter Olympics in Milano and Cortina have begun. Here are the people from Capital who are competing on Team Canada.

• Speed skating

  Isabelle Weidemann (Ottawa) - Long track
  Ivanie Blondin (Ottawa) - Long track
  Cédrick Brunet (Gatineau) - Long track

• Alpine skiing

• Jared Schmidt (Ottawa) - Ski cross
  Hannah Schmidt (Ottawa) - Ski cross
  Valérie Grenier (St. Isidore) - Super-G, downhill, slalom, combined

• Biathlon

• Zachary Connelly (Ottawa)
  Shilo Rousseau (University of Ottawa)

• Bobsleigh

  Mike Evelyn O’Higgins (Ottawa) - Two-man and four-man bobsleigh
  Jay Dearborn (Former Carleton Raven) - Two-man and four-man bobsleigh
  Keaton Bruggeling (Former Carleton Raven and Ottawa RedBlack) - Four-man bobsleigh

• Cross-country skiing

  Antoine Cyr (Gatineau)
  Katherine Stewart-Jones (Chelsea)

  Curling

  Rachel Homan (Ottawa)
  Emma Miskew (Ottawa)

• Figure skating

  Paul Poirier (Ottawa) - Ice Dance

• Hockey

  Brianne Jenner (Ottawa Charge)
  Emily Clark (Ottawa Charge)
  Jocelyne Larocque ( Ottawa Charge)

 

That’s it for Team Canada but a few local names are playing hockey for their national teams.

• United States

  Gwyneth Philips (Ottawa Charge)
  Rory Guilday (Ottawa Charge)
  Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators)
  Jake Sanderson (Ottawa Senators)

• Finland

  Nikolas Matinpalo (Ottawa Senators)
  Sanni Ahola (Ottawa Charge)
  Ronja Savolainen (Ottawa Charge)

• Czechia

  Kateřina Mrázová (Ottawa Charge)
  Carla MacLeod (Ottawa Charge)

• Denmark

  Mads Søgaard (Ottawa Senators)
  Lars Eller (Ottawa Senators)

• Germany

  Tim Stützle (Ottawa Senators)

  Italy

• Jason Seed (Former Carleton Raven and L’Olympique de Gatineau)

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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.