Hello Ottawa
In Today’s Edition
→ The long wished-for ‘downtown’ for Barrhaven moves forward
→ Take your quest for the perfect geeky item to the 100+ vendors at Geek Hoard Haul in Stittsville tomorrow
→ Made in Canada Deals of the Day: Burger meat from Slipacoffs and liquors from Vodkow
🗳️ Stump Speeches
OTTAWAN member Peggy B wrote to us with this request:
I’d like to see information about any and all all-mayoral candidate debates, if any, scheduled in this campaign. I really want to see the top 4 (more if required) debate before the election. Could THE OTTAWAN publish updates on these?
The next day she let us know of the first one, sponsored by the Ottawa Real Estate Board and the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association, featuring mayoral candidates Alex Lawson, Jeff Leiper, Neil Saravanamuttoo, and Mark Sutcliffe on September 24.
It’s a great line-up but the tickets are $129 each. It’s also at 7:30 am.
Neither the Ottawa Real Estate Board nor the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association told us about this one, so we’re grateful for Peggy B’s eagle eye.
Readers, please look out for any mayor and councillor debates that you see and let THE OTTAWAN know at hello@theottawan.com.
– Martha and Darren
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QUOTE
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What I saw, and what I heard, shocked me. It’s truly a disaster. We are all anxiously awaiting the assessment to know what the impact will be
– Collegeward councillor Laine Johnson on a field trip with City of Ottawa and OC Transpo officials to view the damage at Moodie station caused by the Canada Day storm.
— Aedan Helmer in the Ottawa Citizen
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SPORTS
Yesterday
⚾ FRONTIER Ottawa Titans 2 at Windy City ThunderBolts 5
Today
🏈 CFL Ottawa RedBlacks at Winnipeg Blue Bombers
⚾ FRONTIER Ottawa Titans at Gateway Grizzlies
Tomorrow
⚽ NSL Ottawa Rapid at Calgary Wild
⚾ FRONTIER Ottawa Titans at Gateway Grizzlies
Sunday
⚽ CPL Atlético Ottawa at Supra du Québec
⚾ FRONTIER Ottawa Titans at Gateway Grizzlies
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PLEASE SUPPORT THE OTTAWAN
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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?
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WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL
No meetings Monday
Agenda
Whose flag is flying at City Hall today? Tomorrow: Congo, India
City Hall flies the flag of embassies and high commissions on their national days.
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WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT
🏗️ The long wished-for ‘downtown’ for Barrhaven is slowly moving ahead and there are a few different takes on the $55 million project.
🛒 Local mom and pop business Shopify had a good second quarter. During April to June, the company made a US $1.5 billion profit, and increased its share price 17 per cent to $201.97. The company credits artificial intelligence for its good fortune. – The Canadian Press
⚖️ The former president of the Union of National Employees lost her case against her union and now has been suspended for five years. The parent union, Public Service Alliance of Canada, removed Alisha Kang last year and put the Union under a trusteeship after complaints of her leadership. Kang sued and filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. Both were dismissed. – Matteo Cimellaro in the Ottawa Citizen
💥 In our continuing coverage of this ‘seems like it’s an only-in-Ottawa thing’, a car crashed into a Scotiabank in Riverside South. The driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries and is in stable condition. The last time we mentioned cars-crashing-into-buildings was April, which seems to be a long stretch by Ottawa standards. – Natasha O’Neill at CityNews
🗳️ Ottawa Civic Election
‘Alex Lawson didn't register emails pitching a construction training centre, but he insists he wasn’t lobbying’ – Arthur White-Crummey at CBC
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THE DAILY POLL
Do you have any ‘classic’ hobbies?
Commentary
▪️ “When I moved into my neighbourhood we had 3 buses to get to different parts of the city in less than an hour. Now there is only one and it only runs in rush hour and in order to get downtown I have to take two more buses and the LRT. So we use our car too.”
▪️ “Living in a walkable neighbourhood is the ultimate freedom. No car no problem.”
▪️ “I can walk to almost everything. Hubby would miss the golf course though.”
▪️ “Cannot rely on OC Transpo! It’s an embarrassment for the Capital of Canada.”
▪️ “Living downtown means no need for a car and therefore no car breakdowns! Easy peasy!”
▪️ “I actually don’t have a car, so although I said I am “well served” by transit because I live in Sandy Hill, I actually bike, walk, uber, and communauto much more than transit.”
▪️ “It would depend on the time, day of the week, and where I needed to go. But I have access to both OCTranspo and kind friends and family.”
▪️ “I live and work downtown and walk everywhere. It's the 15 minute City they keep warning you about.”
▪️ “I live right by Lyon station and Communauto is a great service too!”
▪️ “I live downtown and barely use my car. I've had to be without my car and I didn't even miss it on a day to day basis.”
▪️ “We have a second car, so normally we can manage. Last summer both broke down at the same time ...”
▪️ “Luckily I am retired so don't have to journey to work and back every day rendering a car-less day to a manageable day.”
▪️ “We are rural – no public transit. Uber to downtown is between 25-30$ one way…”
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HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS
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Talisman Motor Inn T-Shirt
The Beachcomber Room tiki bar at the Talisman Motor Inn was where Ottawa swingers could be found in the early 60s
Help support THE OTTAWAN by buying one of our historic logo t-shirts.
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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
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✳️ Road Trip: take a drive to Pembroke for Ottawa Valley Buskerfest, today and tomorrow at the waterfront park.
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✳️ It’s traveling across 21 cities and towns in Québec and today through Sunday the Grand Poutine Fest stops in Gatineau. Celebrate poutine your favourite fries, curds, and gravy dish all weekend long.
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The Russell Fair and Vankleek Hill Fair continue.
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Summer isn’t over yet. Spectrasonic’s Under the Stars Festival takes over the SAW courtyard (unless severe weather forces everyone to reconvene indoors) on Friday August 14 and Saturday August 15. It's all ages, but you must be 19+ and have photo ID to drink.
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Combine your love of wrestling with your desire to eradicate cancer. C*4 presents Fighting Back: Wrestling with Cancer 2026. The event will raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. (Little Italy)
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🆓 Weekend one of Ottawa Greek Festival promises great food, fiery Zorba shows, a Greek artisan marketplace, and cultural exhibits, at 1315 Prince of Wales Drive. (Carleton Heights / Rideauview)
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The Dominion Tavern will be overtaken by 22 heavy metal and hard rock bands over three days at Panda Fest 5. Continues until Sunday (ByWard Market)
Cinema
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ByTowne Cinema: Teenage Sex and Death At Camp Miasma, The Invite, Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion
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Mayfair Theatre: The Invite, Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World, I Want Your Sex
Gigs
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Jesse Greene and Jay Bleus. Irene's Pub
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Orléans Unplugged. Centrum (Orléans)
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Peter Hum Quartet. The Robo Lounge
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Parkway Jazz Combo. Night Oat
SATURDAY
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✳️ Today is a great day to visit Westboro. More than 25 businesses will be participating in the Westboro Village Sidewalk Sale. Walk along Richmond Road to see who's taking part, and be sure to stop at All Saints Anglican Church Hub and Mountain Equipment Co-Op for extra festivities.
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✳️ It’s Garlic Festival day at Carp Farmers Market
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✳️ Another season of A Company of Fools closes with tonight's performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream at Windsor Park. (Old Ottawa South)
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✳️ Grand Poutine Fest continues.
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✳️ Road Trip: Doors Open Ontario takes you behind the scenes of some grand old buildings in Cornwall and SDG Counties (Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry) today and tomorrow.
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🆓 The Mayor’s Annual Community BBQ supports Kanata Food Cupboard, and donations of non-perishable foods are appreciated. (Kanata North)
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Canoeists and kayakers: assemble for the flash mob that is Lock & Paddle, returning to the Rideau Canal on Saturday (August 15) You'll paddle to the locks and travel down with hundreds of like-minded adventurers, making new friends on the way.
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Start your Saturday night this afternoon at 4:00 pm, when Lucky Ron entertains with music and stories at The Laff, just like he's been doing for forty years. (ByWard Market)
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The Queer Market at Next Door is a one-stop shop for goods produced by creative LGBTQIA+ makers and entrepreneurs. Continues Sunday. (Centretown West)
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Take your quest for the perfect geeky item to the 100+ vendors at Geek Hoard Haul (Stittsville / Kanata).
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The Russell Fair and Vankleek Hill Fair continue.
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The first weekend of Ottawa Greek Festival continues (Carleton Heights / Rideauview)
Cinema
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ByTowne Cinema: Teenage Sex and Death At Camp Miasma, Network (New Restoration), 125, rue des Malaises
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Mayfair Theatre: The Little Foxes, The Invite, Obsession, Saturday Night Sinema
Gigs
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Lives Like Skyscrapers, Third Rail Transmission, Paul Anthony. Irene's Pub
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Nick Maclean Quartet with Brownman Ali. The Robo Lounge
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Sandy Ewen & Philip Greenlief with Linsey Wellman and David Jackson. Fono
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Out by Lucy. Rainbow Bistro
SUNDAY
Cinema
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ByTowne Cinema: 125, rue des Malaises, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, The Invite
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Mayfair Theatre: The Love Bug, Mary Oliver: Saved By The Beauty Of The World, The Invite, Obsession
Gigs
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The Legendary Sunday Afternoon Blues Jam. Rainbow Bistro
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Jake McKelvie with Tea & Oranges. Art House Café
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Sundays on the Patio with Raymundo Pizaña. The Robo Lounge
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The Sunday Night Revue. Irene’s Pub
MONDAY
Cinema
Gigs
JUST ANNOUNCED
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The Second Hand Stories Open House on Saturday August 22 is your chance to meet rehomed chickens and roosters. Plus: yoga, with chickens!
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Diehard romantasy fans, get ready to swoon. Evermore Books and Rough Draft Events will be starting 2027 with the Ink & Enchantment Fantasy Ball at the Canadian Museum of Nature.
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BUT, ONE MORE THING ...
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In the Ottawa Citizen, Nicholas Kohler has a longread on the nighmare of many a cottage owner: ‘New cottage neighbours arrived. Then they closed the only road’.
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In this story, an owner had been enjoying his cottage near Shawville since the 50s until 2021 when someone bought the empty lot which gave several locals access to their properties. Police and courts ensued.
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RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL
Comment of the Week: ‘Keep going with this well balanced coverage of many areas and activities’
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THE END
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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.
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