Thursday, 11 September 2025 |
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In Today’s Edition
– Martha and Darren
NUMBER
The number of failure-to-show-proof-of-payment tickets issued by OC Transpo between January 1 and August 31 this year. At $260 each, a back-of-the-envelope calculation shows $1,055,340 in fines owed.
O Train riders were issued 2,654 tickets, bus station patrons were issued 989 tickets, and 416 tickets were given out at bus stops.
OC Transpo says this represents three per cent of riders.
OTTAWAN OF THE DAY
After seven years of service, the police dog is hanging up his vest and badge and going into retirement.
Unlike most police dogs, K9 West was not trained for catching suspects but for providing calm and reassurance to victims and survivors.
QUOTE
– Councillor Ted Browne of the Killaloe, Hagarty, and Richards township council to mayor Dave Mayville. The council of the township, an hour west of Ottawa, voted non-confidence in the mayor and asked him to resign. Mayville refused.
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Audit Committee
Friday, September 12 at 9:30 am
Office of the Auditor General (OAG) – Audit of Development Application Review
Office of the Auditor General (OAG) – Follow-up report: Audit of Enterprise Risk Management
🚞 City Council will vote on overturning the City Manager’s order to end work-from-home. Kitchissippi ward councillor Jeff Leiper has brought forth the proposal, which will be debated by Council in two weeks. City Manager Wendy Stephanson mandated in August that all City employees must return to the office five days per week beginning in the new year, much to the dismay of the approximately 15 per cent of City staff who work remotely. – CBC
↪ City Council has voted to put a hard cap on the number of municipal employees on the payroll for 2026. Police, firefighters, paramedics, bylaw services, long-term care, and child care are all excluded from the cap.
↪ The Public Service Alliance of Canada has paused its lawsuit over the Federal return-to-office three days-per-week mandate while the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board determines if it instead has the jurisdiction to rule.
🚨 Support staff at Algonquin and La Cité colleges have gone on strike today, joining 10,000 colleagues across Ontario. The Ontario Public Sector Employees Union, which represents staff in disability support, libraries, financial aid, and IT, is seeking better job security, wages and benefits. – Joanne Laucius in the Ottawa Citizen
🛒 Senior Shopify executive Kaz Nejatian is leaving the company for San Francisco. Nejayian, the chief operating officer for the local mom-and-pop company, will become the chief executive officer of Opendoor Technologies Inc. Opendoor is a tech-based real estate flipper – it buys properties for cash, refurbishes them, and then resells them. After working for Shopify since 2019, he was earning US $800,000 in salary plus $64.5 million in stock options. – Irene Galea in the Globe & Mail
🚌 Drivers of the Capital: Bike Ottawa is challenging you to go one week without using your car from September 29 to October 5. Inspired by a similar event in Washington State, the event isn’t just to see what life is like without a car: it’s to see the Capital from new angles and perspectives. – Bike Ottawa
Will you be going to CityFolk this year?
Previously in ottawan polls:
We asked, ‘Are you in favour of automated speed cameras?’
54% Yes, properly maintained, they objectively and fairly ticket speeders
28% No, it’s just more evidence of an encroaching nanny state. If an area needs monitoring, place a police officer with a radar gun there
18% I’m not in favour of cameras monitoring my speed but they definitely should watch out for other people
Commentary
▪️ “I don’t have a car. As a pedestrian, I am highly conscious of speeding. (Are some limits lower than they need to be? Maybe. But a lot of drivers also don’t appear to be too concerned about the rest of us).”
▪️ “I am in favour of speed cameras as they free up costly police resources and because they work.”
▪️ “I’d deploy them everywhere; so many speeders and racers on the streets of Ottawa.”
▪️ “Now how about linking the fine to a percent of the person’s total assets and income like Nordic countries. And use the money for road safety instead of going to the police budget.”
▪️ “I don't care either way really, but if they have them, they need to be clearly marked ... so people see them and slow down, which is the objective, right?”
▪️ “More speed cameras! And red light cameras! Especially downtown.”
▪️ “They maybe need to be a little less sensitive. It's hard to go exactly the speed, and they aren't always well noted or marked. I’m more in favour red light cameras. These measures help people follow rules without negatively impacting driving records.”
▪️ “Speed cameras work 24/7 which the police can’t do. Why would you go back to police monitoring speeding when they have more important work to do. The cameras have proven to be very effective at lowering speed in school and community zones.”
▪️ “They’re effective. And they’re an amazing cash grab. It’d be nice to see some citizen-directed input on the use of those funds tho.”
▪️ “Don’t speed and you don’t get a ticket. Great revenue source for the city.”
▪️ “Let them eat cake!”
▪️ “Speed cameras are treating the symptom rather than addressing the problem. We need traffic-calming measures—narrower roads, raised crosswalks, fewer and narrower car lanes, bike lanes, curve[s] in the roads, etc.”
▪️ “Most of these cameras are in school zones where there are only students in those areas for two hours a day so why are the speeds enforced 24 hours a day 7 days a week? School is out all summer, pd days, March break, Christmas, statutory holidays ...”
▪️ “Are people seriously suggesting that a police officer be posted at each of the locations where there are cameras? At what cost? The cameras don’t concern me at all because ... I don’t speed!”
▪️ “If they want to stop speeding then put speed bumps and traffic circles or paint increasingly closer horizontal lines or something similar. Design the roads like that.”
▪️ “Crazy talk from the Premier ... if you get rid of these cameras, children will be in a more vulnerable situation as speeders don't distinguish between school zones etc.!!!!”
▪️ “The cameras have certainly slowed down my husband, so they are effective.”
▪️ “They actually keep our streets safer and only penalize the offenders so what’s not to like about them?”
▪️ “Speed cameras are proven to reduce collisions and injuries. That money is in turn used to make our roads safer. They’re an obvious societal good.”
▪️ “Don’t speed. It's very simple.”
▪️ “I would like to know where the money goes to, from the speed cameras. Are they using the money to fix the roads, improve infrastructure, build better transit system etc?”
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✳️ Means change from previous edition
✳️ 🎡 Road Trip: the 170th iteration of the four day Spencerville Fair is here. This fair has the rides, exhibits, animals, and food that you'd expect, plus, on Saturday, the RCMP Musical Ride.
✳️ 🍏 Congratulations to 1818 Farm & Cidery, which has officially opened at 1811 Richardson Side Road in Carp. Check out the tasting bar of craft ciders, the curated, seasonal menu, the patio with its 180 degree views of farmland and orchard, the farm store, and a rentable venue for events, workshops, and classes. They’ll be open Thursdays through Sundays from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Arnprior Poutine Feast begins its four day residence in Robert Simpson Park.
Melissa Ethridge & Indigo Girls headline CityFolk Festival at Lansdowne Park.
🎻 Road Trip: Enjoy traditional Québec music and culture, shop with local vendors, and visit food and beverage trucks over four days at The Ripon Trad Music Festival in the village of Ripon. Today through Sunday September 14.
Possible Worlds bring the Zine Club to Ten Toes Coffee House & Laundry (837 Somerset St W). You’ll work on a one page zine, listen to tunes care of DJ Jason Skilz, and hear from artist Melanie Yugo.
Shop for fresh local produce, meat, and dairy as well as crafts and prepared goods at the Orléans Farmers' Market (11:00 am to 4:00 pm).
Take a wander through the final ByWard Night Market of the season
🆓 National Gallery of Canada is free tonight and every Thursday evening from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
ByTowne Cinema: Splitsville, Restoration: Barry Lyndon
Mayfair Theatre: Familiar Touch, Honey Don’t! It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley
Gigs
Irene's Thursday Blues Sessions with Guest Host Tori Hammond. Irene's Pub
Clouds Taste Satanic. House of TARG
James LeClaire. Night Oat
✳️ 🆓 The Fifty-Five Plus Lifestyle Show offers services, products, and opportunities for those aged 55 and over. Today and tomorrow at the EY Centre.
✳️ Orléans Ribfest & Poutine is about more than the two fan faves. You'll also fine a 750 person Bevvy Bar, a Kids Zone, contests, and promotions, free parking, competitions, and more. Until Sunday at 255 Centrum Blvd in Orléans (near Shenkman Arts Centre).
Morrisey headlines CityFolk Fest at Lansdowne Park.
The CityFolk After Party at Irene’s features Main Street Revival and Sean Tansey.
WOW Festival brings 2000 attendees and 200 organizations together for a full day of action that brings to life ‘what a fully integrated healthcare system can look like—one that gives equal priority to Mental, Physical, and Substance Use Health.’
Create something meaningful at the Framed Scrapbooking Event at Morning Owl Parkdale.
Farmgate Cider opens its doors to the Ottawa Valley Market from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm this evening.
🆓 Capital Pop-Up Cinema screens Encinco Man on Sparks St.
Ottawa Swing Dance Society’s first Live Band Night of the season will feature Dr. Jazz
Taste Dunrobin Distilleries whisky inside an actual historic mill, at the Watsons Mill fundraiser in Manotick.
Dance to 90s and 2000s hits at Metcalfe Plaza.
The Mom Marketplace Collective brings the first of two weekend events to Place d'Orléans (the second event is in November). Local entrepreneurs will be selling home goods, treats, fashion, stuff for the kids, and more until Sunday.
9th Hour Theatre Company presents another in its Gleanings series of readings and facilitated discussions. Gleandings: The God Committee explores what it means to ‘play God’.
ByTowne Cinema: À bicyclette (Ride Away)! Honey Don’t! Seen The Film – Ottawa Screening Plus Live Q&A, A Better Tomorrow
Mayfair Theatre: Relay, The Naked Gun, Naked Ambition
Gigs
Seven Days of Fire with The Rough Go, Triple Threat Pony, Delusions. Dominion Tavern
Main Street Revival with Special Guest Sean Tansey. Irene's Pub
Softcult, Ellis, just fine. The 27 Club
Wet for Days LP release party, Sugar Bomb! The Black Void. House of TARG
Go Long, emmersonHALL. Art House Café
David Gogo. Rainbow Bistro
Obsidian Sunday: Riverside AP. Gridwrks
Good luck choosing from the many varieties for sale at The Stittsville Butter Tart Festival. Market at the Barn (6154 Abbott St)
There are a very few tickets remaining for today and tomorrow's programming at Riverside 25: the Last Festival of the Summer.
If you like it spicy, you’ll have to go to Heating Up the Capital, the hot sauce experience that brings the heat.
It’s Alpaca Day at Carp Farmers Market (8:00 am to 1:00 pm). Bring the kids and check out the animals, who are visiting from Cheff Fields Farm.
Savour the Haitian flavours and entertainment at The BanFest Gala.
🆓 Hear emerging local talent at Ogilvy Square on Rideau, care of City Sounds Live.
Wear something white and breezy to the All White Soirée at Maison Charron in Gatineau.
Make your own Coffee Pour Over at Hintonburg Pottery.
Spend the day at Taste of Manotick and discover the many shops and restaurants offering samples and tastes.
Find new-to-you treasures at 613Flea.
Tooth and Nail Brewing Company turns 10 this weekend. Join the celebration from 1:00 pm to close.
The National Capital Commission launches BikeNight, wherein cyclists of all ages and experiences levels are invited to ride the 6.5 km loop from Confederation Park to the Flora Footbridge between 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm.
🏇 Road Trip: Don't miss the RCMP Musical Ride at the Spencerville Fair (1:00 pm).
🆓 Clear some space in your closet and bring gently used fall and winter items to the Free Swap & Drop: Fall Pop Up at Jim Durrell Recreation Centre.
Road Trip: Wind down the day with the Munster Harvest Fest (4:00 pm to 7:00 pm), where you'll enjoy locally baked treats, a bouncy castle, and a screening of The Minecraft Movie in the park.
Road Trip: Wander the old fashioned streets and check out the shops, restaurants, and live music of the Perth Night Market. 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Get behind the scenes of some of the projects and activities shaping the National Capital Region in the Open NCC event today.
The Pogues headline CityFolk Fest at Lansdowne Park.
Bring a picnic to Almonte Old Town Hall for the Lions Club Duck Race in support of helping those in need in the town's community.
🍎 Road Trip: The Road Apples headline The Downtown Music Festival in Smiths Falls.
The Fifty-Five Plus show continues at EY Centre.
Orléans Ribfest and Poutine continues.
ByTowne Cinema: Showstoppers: Monterey Pop, 2025 Cat Video Fest, À bicyclette (Ride Away)! A Better Tomorrow II
Mayfair Theatre: The Naked Gun, Jaws, Saturday Night Sinema
Gigs
🆓 Wicked Grin Roots. Hard Rock Cafe
Smelloship. Irene’s Pub
Good2go. Atomic Rooster
Two with Rory Taillon. Red Bird
🆓 Rising stars from The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Glenn Gould School perform Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at Zibi. The free performance will take place in La Ruelle, a beautifully converted industrial space located at 15 rue Jos-Montferrand in Gatineau. September 26.
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In the Ottawa Citizen, Lynne Saxberg has an interview with impressario Eugene Haslam who tells the very punk tale of how he arranged The Pogue’s first Ottawa concert at Barrymore’s.
While he later became a success, most notably as proprietor of Zaphod Beeblebrox, in 1986 Haslam had booked the band despite having no money to pay the deposit. A fortuitously-timed welfare cheque saved the day.
The Pogues return to Ottawa this Saturday at CityFolk.
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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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