STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

• 1

• – The number of years since the launch of the O Train lines 2 and 4.

• Leah Larocque at CTV

• ↪ An out-of-service OC Transpo double-decker bus caught fire while being towed yesterday.

•  

OTTAWAN OF THE DAY

• Barbara Sibbald

• The former longterm Kitchissippi resident has published her fourth novel, Almost English. While fiction, the story is based on her maternal family’s life in the British Raj.

• Blaine Marchand in the Kitchissippi Times
   

QUOTE

• “

• I’m sure I’m going to snap hook one somewhere. I’ll start with a double bogey and go from there

• – Sens centre Shane Pinto on being invited to play at the Commissionaires Ottawa Open this July. Pinto admits that he has ‘only ever played golf in front of his friends’.

• ‘Adam Stanley at SportsNet’
   

• SPORTS

• 🏒 NHL Ottawa Senators 1 – Utah Mammoth 3, yesterday

• 🏒 CHL Les Olympiques de Gatineau 0 – Moncton Wildcats 7, yesterday

• 

  PLEASE SUPPORT THE OTTAWAN

  the ottawan was launched in 2020 as the daily answer to the questions: What’s going on? What should I do? Where is somewhere good to eat? Please consider joining the many other readers with a monthly, annual, or one-time donation to keep the ottawan on its mission. All annual or one-time donations over $60 include an ottawan or historic logo t-shirt of their choice.

  Membership levels ✅ $5 mo / Technically Beautiful ✅ $10 mo / ByTowner ✅ $20 mo / City that Fun Remembered ✅ $25 mo / Truly ott ✅ Or make a one-time donation Join Us

  

  WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

  No meetings this week

  Meetings and agendas

  

  WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

  ⛲ Snider Plaza on Bank Street will be turned into an arts-focussed urban park this year. The Centretown Business Improvement Area had been running the Plaza as an outdoor events space but has found that other spaces like the ‘Street Seats’ project and the Downtown Business Improvement Area’s Metcalfe Plaza were used much more by the community. The shipping container kitchen will stay, however.– Marissa Galko in the Ottawa Business Journal

  
  ⚕️ Patients are being placed into the overflow space by the Ottawa Hospital General Campus due to the number of flu cases. The Hospital had previously designated its old ambulance bay as an overflow space in the event that it had unexpected patients.  – Austin Lee at CTV 

  
  🫟 The 2026 Paint It Up! program is now accepting applications. Charities and non-profit organizations can apply for funding to hire youth to create murals in areas with high amounts of graffitti. Since 2010, 116 murals have been created by over 3,000 youth. Deadline is March 3.  – City of Ottawa 

  

  THE DAILY POLL

  Have you taken advantage of the weekly free evening at the National Gallery?

  🔘 Yes, often

  🔘 Yes, at least once

  🔘 No, but I'd like to

  🔘 No, and I don’t want to

  🔘 I did but it's so crowded and haven't gone back

  • 
    Previously in ottawan polls:

  • We asked, ‘Do you think some roads should be narrowed to reduce speed?’

    • 12% Yes

    • 20% No

    • 26% Only if it adds in bike lanes

    • 19% Only if it takes away bike lanes

    • 23% Cars should not be sold with the ability to exceed the speed limit

  • 
    Commentary

  ▪️ “Why can't they just make cars that won't exceed a certain speed? It is NOT rocket science ... or maybe it is? I almost got hit twice in 1 day the other day with crazy drivers!”
  
  ▪️ “Respectfully, that is narrow thinking! Pedestrians and cyclists would pay the price/at further risk with that proposal.”
  
  ▪️ “Wide roads encourage reckless speeding.”
  
  ▪️ “How will the streets be narrowed? Will they still have multiple lanes to account for higher traffic? You’ll have angry drivers if lanes are taken away and traffic gets worse. OC Transpo is a joke in the burbs, so not a viable option.”
  
  ▪️ “Cars are still the principal mode of transport especially given the woeful state of OC Transpo’s Trains - and to a lesser extent - buses.”
  
  ▪️ “Narrowing the roads won't improve speeding and may ultimately result in more fatalities ...planting more trees next to roadways is a proven way to reduce speeding!”
  
  ▪️ “1000% narrow the roads! Pedestrian safety is not taken seriously here.”
  
  ▪️ “And Bronson shouldn’t have street parking.”
  
  ▪️ “It would be a disaster in the winter if roads are to be narrowed. The roads are already tight these days with snow banks pilling up etc.”
  
  ▪️ “Add bike lanes with physical concrete barriers. Make it elevated like a side walk or with high concrete dividers. Cars can’t be trusted to share the road without cyclists dying.”
  
  ▪️ “Speeding is #1 cause of accidents. Time to ‘hem things in’.”
  
  ▪️ “Wow, another leftist attack on automobiles. Sucks to be a Canadian these days as the liberals are hell bent on destroying Canada one piece at a time.”
  
  ▪️ “I’ve driven often through Kanata's traffic circles meant to slow people down and it hasn't made the least bit of difference ... idiots will always be idiots.”
  
  ▪️ “Absolute garbage! Hefty fines, serious money lost if you get caught. Also, get cops off roadworks duty (a waste of resources!!) and get them on traffic patrol, etc. Hefty fines work; I've seen it change driving standards for the better, the world over.”
  
  ▪️ “But with roundabouts... they speed up traffic flow, but reduce speeding. You'll actually get places quicker.
  
  ▪️ “It’s a stupid idea.”​​​

  

  HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS

  Ogilvy’s Department Store T-Shirt Charles Ogilvy Limited began as dry goods shop on Rideau Street in 1897, and ended its reign as Ottawa's greatest department store in 1992. 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

  • 🆓 Visit the National Gallery of Canada between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm (Corner of Sussex Drive and St. Patrick St).

  • Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Parker Brothers board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist. Until Sunday at National Arts Centre (Downtown) 

  • The puck drops on the inaugural Eastend Storm U15 Michel Breau Community Cup Hockey Tournament at Richcraft Sensplex Ottawa East (Beacon Hill North). 

  Cinema

  • ByTowne Cinema: Marty Supreme, Limited Edition: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World 

  • Mayfair Theatre: The Secret Agent, The Librarians, Aliens 

  Gigs

  • Thursday Night Live. The Laff

  • Taproom Trivia. Dominion City Brewing Co.

  • Hedonic and Gatlin Black. LIVE on Elgin

  • Anni Del Sol Band. Night Oat

  • Catalyst 12: Live Electronic Music with Hug Mosh, Nigh, Clint House, Luc Light, VJ Auchtorok. House of TARG

  • Irene’s Thursday Blues Sessions with guest host Lyle Odjick

  FRIDAY

  • The Six O’Clock Dance Party will have you home with a hot chocolate by 11:00 pm (Downtown).

  • Neko Case brings her Neon Grey Midnight Green tour to Bronson Centre  

  • Experienced dancers, get the weekend started with the Kikanza Semba & Kizomba Intermediate workshop.

  • Broadway Across Canada's touring production of the madcap murder mystery Clue continues at National Arts Centre. THE OTTAWAN was invited to the show last night, and came away with renewed admiration for the physical demands of a live comedy on stage. Come for the giggles, and stay for the comedic genius of Adam Brett as Wadsworth the butler.  

  Cinema

  • ByTowne Cinema: The Choral, No Other Choice

  • Mayfair Theatre: The Secret Agent, La Grazia, The Room

  Gigs

  • Austra: Chin Up Buttercup Tour 2026. SAW Centre

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

  • Rock Ilya, Machine Messiah, Scarecrowz. The Brass Monkey

  • Hypnotic. Poa Tiki Bar

  • Urban Legends Poetry Collective starts the year off with the 2026 CIPS National Qualifier Poetry Slam. Be there for three competitive rounds, and to see a new winner crowned (Wellington Village). h 

  • Art House’s bi-monthly Friday Night Folk features Loch Nissse Monster and Kentucky. (Centretown)

SATURDAY

• Local independent game design and development studio Face-Off Games successfully crowdfunded their inaugural Hockey Hardware game in 2024, and it was then released in Canada and the USA in 2025. On Saturday they’ll be selling the game at Aberdeen Pavilion as 613Flea returns for a new year of vintage events. (Lansdowne Park) 

• For the first time in Ottawa, enjoy a live bonfire, traditional music, and a joyful community indoor gathering of Lohri Celebration 2026 at Mosaic Convention Centre (Hunt Club / South Keys) 

• Bring the family to an evening of drama, excitement, and the outrageous physicality of pro wrestling at New Year’s Wrestleution 14 (Centretown)

• Feelgood rock ‘n’ roll, galaxy themed songs, and even spacesuits. Find them all at Saw Centre as Runaway to Planet Halla brings some of Ottawa's best bands to the stage: Runaway Kit, Still Life and Street, GRFN. (Downtown) 

• Ottawa Battle of the Bands 2026 begins with The Space Between, The New Hires, and Derecho Party competing at Moose McGuire's 3320 McCarthy Road (Hunt Club) 1 

• Cassette Lounge Bar’s Comedy Nite is hosted by Melanie Paige. 

• The West Coast Swing/Hustle Social Dance Party is FREE if it's your first time. No experience, partner, or registration required.  (Heron Park) 

• Budding comic book authors can join Éric Péladeau at the OPL St. Laurent branch for an interpretive writing workshop. Ages 9 and up. (Vanier) 

• Broadway Across Canada’s touring production of the madcap murder mystery Clue continues at National Arts Centre. the ottawan was invited to the show on Tuesday night, and came away with renewed admiration for the physical demands of performing a live comedy on stage. Come for the giggles, and stay for the comedic genius of Adam Brett as Wadsworth the butler. 

• The action and excitement plays out at Centre Slush Puppie until Sunday in Skate Canada’s 2026 Canadian National Skating Championships (Gatineau).  

• 🆓 Justin Gow plays the Orléans Brewing Co. taproom (Orléans)  

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: No Other Choice, Father Mother Sister Brother  

• Mayfair Theatre: La Grazia, The Secret Agent, Oldboy  

Gigs

• Mounfou releases his sixth studio album Therapy Sessions 2. Rainbow Bistro

• Music for the Dead of Winter. LIVE on Elgin

• Bob Wiseman, Lynn Miles. Robo Lounge

• Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening. Hard Rock Ottawa

• Benjamin Dakota Rogers and Zachary Lucky. Red Bird

• Punk Rock Interruption: Positive Charge, Sugar Bomb!. Sunshine Overload, Ociosa. House of TARG

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• Support the Parkdale Orchestra with a ticket to Shakespeare in Music on Saturday January 31. (Parkdale) 

• GCTC’s current season continues with the Thousand Islands Playhouse production of Dorothy Dittrich's 2022 Govenor General's Literary Award for Drama, The Piano Teacher (February 3-15). 

MADE IN CANADA DEALS OF THE DAY

Fans of tailoring can pick up some new Canadian-made shirts at a discount during Power of My People’s sale.

 

SHARE THE OTTAWAN

If you find THE OTTAWAN useful, please share us with your friends.

Your referral count: 0

Click to Share

Or copy & paste your personal referral link:

https://theottawan.com/r.php?refer=

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

• After years of secrecy, Bruce McKean, a retired civil servant, has been revealed as Canada’s largest donor to mental health research. The former diplomat and National Resources Canada employee wanted to destigmatize discussion of mental health, and believes ‘there is not a family in Canada where there is not a story about alcohol, suicide, depression’.

• How does a Federal public employee donate $200 million to research, you may wonder? McKean used some of his retirement funds to help invest in a small start-up by his daughter and her boyfriend who were living in the house. The daughter and boyfriend were Fiona McKean and Tobi Lutke, founders of local mom and pop business, Spotify.

• Elizabeth Payne in the Ottawa Citizen

RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL

What did you think of today’s ottawan?

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great ⭐⭐⭐ Satisfactory ⭐ Needs Improvement

 

 

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.

Subscribe
 

---

View our archive here
 

---

Historic Ottawa Logo T-Shirt shop

 

---

Made in Ottawa Podcast Collection

 

---

Best of Ottawa Awards

 

Silver Award 2023 Best Designed Newsletter

Finalist 2025 Best Designed Newsletter

Suite M162, 110 Didsbury Road | Ottawa, Ontario
K2T 0C2 | Canada
613 229 6347 | hello@theottawan.com

Privacy policy | Unsubscribe

Email sent to: newsletter@theottawan.com