WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT
📮 Residents may be able to vote by mail in October’s civic election. City staff are recommending that council allow vote-by-mail for the upcoming election, and any byelections during the council term. City staff does recommend against bringing in Internet or telephone voting as there is no good way of verifying eligibility. – Josh Pringle at CTV
🚊 OC Transpo has been ordered by City Council to conduct a safety audit of the ‘spalling’ issue. The audit is to begin once all O Train carriages are back in service but, if this does not happen by September, staff must ‘submit a report to council and the auditor general with a completion timeline ... regarding the Line 1 technical complications’. Spalling is metal shaving falling off the wheel bearing assembly which is linked to the ongoing carriage problems. – Aedan Helmer in the Ottawa Citizen
🏢 The Federal government has bought 131 Queen Street for use by House of Commons staff. The fourteen story building, built in 2005, was purchased for $148.2 million. – Josh Pringle at CTV
↪ A plan to build a second tower of the Andaz Hotel in Byward Market has been approved by City Council.
↪ A developer has submitted a plan to replace the Stan Bernard Automotive Ltd building on St Laurent boulevard with a 30 storey mixed-use tower.
↪ Zena Investment Corp has applied to rezone a vacant lot across the Rideau River, on Prince of Wales Drive, for commercial development and buildings up to 12 storeys.
🚨 Court Circular
• A 70 year-old pedestrian has died and four people were injured when a car crashed into The Drop In, a service run by Capital City Mission that provides meals, coffee and clothing to people in need. – Kathryn Mannie and Dylan Robertson in the Canadian Press
• Gatineau police are warning that scammers are phoning residents posing as police officers demanding indetifying information in order to ‘return stolen money’. – The Ottawa Citizen
• The Ottawa Police Service is investigating the discovery of human remains near Rideau Road and Albion Road in Greely. Police note that Corey Baldwin, who the Service believe was the victim of a homicide in 2019, had his home near the location. – Ottawa Police Service
↪ City Council voted to support a plan by the Provincial government to allow OC Transpo special constables to arrest and fine people using drugs on public transit.
THE DAILY POLL
How are you feeling about Sens captain Brady Tkachuk today?
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Previously in ottawan polls:
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We asked, ‘What is your hot beverage of choice and where is the best place to get it’
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14% Tea
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61% Coffee
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10% Hot Chocolate
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6% Ovaltine
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9% Other
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Commentary
▪️ “Dao cafe.”
▪️ “It’s hard to get a really good cuppa here, but I’ve had decent cups at Happy Goat and Bridgehead. Please tell me where the best tea can be found!”
▪️ “Tim Horton’s steeped tea black please.”
▪️ “Best place to get tea is my kitchen.”
▪️ “My kitchen. $0.11 per cup. I’ve done the math.”
▪️ “Home is where we find the bestest coffee!!!”
▪️ “Spoiled for coffee choices in Westboro – Equator, Cloud Cafe, The Bower coffee co, Happy Goat.”
▪️ “At home.”
▪️ “The real answer these days is tea, but I was an Ovaltine fiend as a child, so I couldn’t resist. Thankfully, it’s available in most grocery stores. I bring my tea back from the UK myself, though.”
▪️ “Recently swapped to Decaf – usually americano – my usual spots are Red Door, or Ottawa Bike Cafe.”
▪️ “Equator in Kanata!”
▪️ “Other because it depends on my mood. Tea in the morning except while on vacation. Then it’s coffee. Tea when I’m sick or cold. Coffee when I’m near a shop I like. No ovaltine. I’m not 80! Hot chocky at the rink – or a French vanilla.”
▪️ “From my Italian coffee machine in the kitchen 😀”
▪️ “Bridgeheads = hands down!”
▪️ “Coffee-and best place is home! On the road McD beats out Tim’s.”
▪️ “From a gadget at home called an Aeropress!”
▪️ “Coffee at home with my wonderful Jura machine!”
▪️ “Many great Cafes in Ottawa, but shoutout to ‘The Owl Cafe’ near Ikea for employing and supporting individuals with developmental disabilities.”
▪️ “Any Bridgehead location for coffee!”
▪️ “Bridgehead.”
▪️ “Starbucks.”
▪️ “Tim Horton's or the Chateau Laurier depends on my budget. Love the selections at the Chateau. Timmy’s is great for every day when you are out and about!”
▪️ “I have been a tea drinker all my life. I recently found Chai latte tea made with coconut milk. I make it at home but treat myself at Starbucks.”
▪️ “Happy Goat on Wilbrod St – great coffee, great staff.”
▪️ “A&W on O’Connor.”
▪️ “Best is home sweet home, and by far the least expensive.”
▪️ “Bridgehead in Wellington West.”
▪️ “At home drinking a pot of Jasmine Green Tea, especially on a snowy winter day.”
▪️ “A decaf oatmilk cortado from Some Coffee Some Tea. I think they could give Little Victories a run for their money ;)”
▪️ “Arlington Five!”
▪️ “Right at home! Can’t beat it.”
▪️ “Coffee in the morning, Tea after that. Best place to get it is at home!”
▪️ “As I wistfully pine for summer ... Cloud Forest Coffee has my favourite cold brew!”
▪️ “Any coffee shop that is not owned by the US is fine by me.”
▪️ “Bridgehead on Bank at Grove. Eddy’s Diner and Patty’s Pub have dishwater coffee. They need to upgrade their dreadful drink.”
▪️ “Herbal tea!”
▪️ “From my Aeropress.”
▪️ “Best place to get great coffee, my house, priced right.”
▪️ “I make my own with Vahlrina cocoa I but from Kitchenalia.”
▪️ “I use my Keurig machine at home, then put in just the right amount of cream. The first cup, while sitting in my nightgown , is heavenly.”
▪️ “Little Victories is #1 in my coffee rankings.”
▪️ “Best place Victorie’s on Bank St in the Glebe.”
▪️ “I don't really drink hot beverages. Hot chocolate is the yummiest though! Tea is second and only when I’m sick.”
▪️ “Darkest roast, black, extra large. Decaf if possible -probably not.”
▪️ “Equator Coffee makes a decent hot chocolate, last time I was there at least. Too many places charge far too much for powder mix.”
▪️ “Bridgehead.”
▪️ “Arlington Five.”
▪️ “The best tea is in China where tea plants were first cultivated.”
▪️ “Ottawa Valley Coffee in Arnprior! (You can even get it with Vodkow on those ‘special’ work days.”
▪️ “At home!”
▪️ “We always have our coffee at home but when going out I will get coffee at Starbucks.”
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
Cinema
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ByTowne Cinema: The Love That Remains, Kokuho, House Party
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Mayfair Theatre: My Father’s Shadow, Women’s Adventure Film Tour 2026 (see Thursday's listing for ticket details), City on Fire
Gigs
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Catalyst 13: And.Re, Ilybo, Ex Luthor, AdamLooping. House of TARG
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Picnic by the Motorway. Night Oat
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Over the Moon. Red Bird
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A Night of Ballads: A Night of Black love and intimacy hosted by Mx. Tique. Club SAW
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Looking for your next Heated Rivalry fix? Book your place at the Heated Rivalry drag night with Wysteria Root & Elle Faekwa.(ByWard Market)
FRIDAY
Cinema
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ByTowne Cinema: 2026 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Documentary, A Poet, 2026 Oscar-Nominated Short Films: Animated, Drunk Cinema: The Wedding Singer
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Mayfair Theatre: Hamnet, Pillion, A Better Tomorrow
Gigs
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Little Bones tribute to the Tragically Hip. Overflow Brewing
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MYSTARA. Carleton Tavern
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Sister Luck tribute to the Black Crowes. Irene's Pub
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Hypnotic. Poa Tiki Bar
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Jim Bryson. Red Bird
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Ash Ravens with special guest Almyr Jules. LIVE on Elgin
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Live Music Friday. Broadhead Brewery
SATURDAY
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The Ottawa Charge Black History Celebration Unity Game is designed to honour Black history, culture, and the ongoing contributions of Black leaders, athletes, artists, and community-builders within hockey and across sport. Among the special programming at the Charge vs. Boston Fleet game: The anthem will be sung by Kellylee Evans and the ceremonial puck drop will feature young players from the African Hockey Association. (Lansdowne)
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Art as Therapy presents Snow and Connection, an ephemeral outdoor art workshop. (Vanier)
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Take your coffee knowledge to the next level in the Artery Community Roasters pop-up Coffee Coarse: Unique Coffee Cupping at Bicycle Craft Brewing. (Alta Vista)
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Find the vintage piece of your dreams at 613Flea, indoors at Aberdeen Pavilion (Lansdowne)
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🆓 Visit 40 vendors at the Eastern Ontario Craft & Gift Market. You'll enjoy free admission, free parking, and door prizes. (Kemptville)
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🆓 Relax and watch or join in the mayhem as Bytown Sea Shanty Collective returns to Beyond the Pale’s 250 City Centre location (Centretown West).
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Festi Monde invites you to 9 hours of cultural immersion and celebration in the heart of Ottawa-Gatineau. This is more than a festival- it’s a bold invitation to explore, connect, and be inspired by the incredible richness of our communities. Entry by donation. (Britannia Heights)
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In lacrosse action, Ottawa Black Bears take on Oshawa FireWolves at Canadian Tire Centre (Kanata)
Cinema
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ByTowne Cinema: Pokemon Day: Detective Pikachu, 2026 Oscar-Nominated Short Films: Animated, A Poet, Marty Supreme.
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Mayfair Theatre: Hamnet, Big Trouble in Little China, Saturday Night Sinema
Gigs
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TARG Dance Mix 93 - Whoomp! There It Is edition with DJ Miami & DJ Phuzz. House of TARG
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Mardi Dance Gras Party With The Vanier Playboys And Grouyan Gombo. Rainbow Bistro
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Napoleon. Dominon Tavern
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Blank, One for Hate, Qwan, Mouth Breaker. Avant-Garde Bar
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Chris Zimmerman Duo. Hard Rock Ottawa
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Daft Punk Night. The 27 Club
JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING
MADE IN CANADA DEALS OF THE DAY
SHARE THE OTTAWAN
BUT, ONE MORE THING ...
In your weekly Heated Rivalry update, Ottawa Tourism is launching a contest – open worldwide – for one fan (plus one) to win a trip Shane Hollander’s hometown.
Included is ‘a round-trip flight for two to Ottawa, two nights' stay on the Gold Floor at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier and a one-night stay for two at a chalet at Parc Omega. The winner will also receive dinner for two to Dreamland Café, two passes to the Canadian Museum of Nature and a $50 gift card to Hello Dolly Pastries’.
To enter, you need to be on Instagram and, according to @ottawatourism:
1️⃣ Follow: @ottawatourism
2️⃣ TAG your friends – more tags = more entries! (Unlimited entries allowed)
BONUS: 3️⃣ Share this Post to your story for 5x extra Entries!
– Josh Pringle at CTV
RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL
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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