✂️ The 30 programmes that were to be cut at Algonquin College, then given a reprieve, are on the chopping block once again.  The College’s board of governors accepted the recommendation unanimously in a bid to rapidly cut costs. – Amanda Mcleod in the Algonquin Times

↪ The full list of suspended programmes.

🔫 The Ottawa Police Service is refusing to take part in the Federal government’s gun buyback programme. The proposed programme would have gun owners paid to turn over their assault-style weapons.

Chief Eric Stubbs said the police support ‘efforts to reduce firearm-related harm, and we recognize the objectives of the federal program’ but the service could not actually collect guns ‘without impacting core policing priorities’.

That’s not to say that the Ottawa Police Service won’t accept surrendered guns – they already have a process if gun owners phone them and arrange for pick-up – the Service just won’t pay for the guns, even with Federal money.  – Ottawa Police Service 

🚊OC Transpo says that only three O Train carriages have been returned to service since January 21. In last Friday’s update, OC Transport said that it had 21 carriages on the rails and 38 out of service. In January, 41 carriages were taken out of service to fix the ‘spalling’ issues, metal flakes grinding on the wheel assembly.  – Aeden Helmer in the Ottawa Citizen 

↪ The municipalities of Alfred and Plantagenet, Casselman, Champlain, Clarence-Rockland, East Hawkesbury, Hawkesbury, The Nation, and Russell have agreed to band together over the Alto line to ‘protect our citizens, make sure that the farmers are well compensated … [for] the land lost for the rest of their lives’.

💰 The Public Service Alliance of Canada has filed a grievance over the early retirement incentive offered to Federal public employees. The Alliance says that it does not have an issue with the concept of early retirement incentives but they must be ‘negotiated, lawful, and protect workers’ rights’.  – Josh Pringle at CTV 

↪ Canada Border Services Agency plans to cut 348 positions in Ottawa as part of the Federal governments scheme to reduce its headcount. 

TUESDAY

• ✳️ Road Trip: For the Manotick Mariners and the Madawaska Valley Wolves it all comes down to tonight. The puck drops on the Northern Premier Hockey League final at 7:30 pm. Catch the action at the Stuart Holmes Arena in Osgoode. 

• ✳️ 🆓 Perth, Ontario-based Secondhand Stories Chicken Sanctuary is offering a series of online film screenings this month, all exploring the inner life and personalities of chickens. Tonight, experience Maria & The Flock by Austin Meyer & We Animals; a documentary showcasing the care of 150 rescued hens and the individuality of the species. (online)

• From Wild Horses to Icebergs: Exploring Canada’s Remote Edges, is an adventure travel talk hosted by Sheila Gallant-Halloran of Lush Life Travel at Café Amore. (Orléans)  

• Celebrate TB-303 Day, a celebration of the Roland TB-303 synthesizer, the backbone of acid house music at House of TARG. According to the venue, this will be a night when ‘Three synth wizards come together to unleash unholy noise from their TB-303s & 303 mutant clones’. And you thought this was just an ordinary Tuesday. (Old Ottawa South)

• A new six-week Wheel Beginner course begins at Hintonburg Pottery (Hintonburg)  

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Kokou, A Poet, 2026 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Live Action 

• Mayfair Theatre: Hamnet, Pillion, Big Trouble in Little China 

Gigs

• Folk CollusionL Tony Turner. Café Le Hibou

• Charley Crockett. Hard Rock Ottawa 

• Open Stage with Bronwyn Kelly. Red Bird

WEDNESDAY

• ✳️ 🆓 Carleton’s School of Journalism and Communications presents an evening with Canadian journalist and author Theresa O’Leary, whose new book Race to the Cape: The Daring News Chase, the Birth of the Associated Press, and the Journalist at the Heart of It All, recounts the founding of the news organization in 1846. (Carleton Campus) 

• ✳️ 🆓 Watch the trailer then decide if you can afford to spend 1.5 hours of your life on A Bad Night at the Movies’ screening of Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965), starring such luminaries of the screen as Frankie Avalon, Jack Mullaney, and a deadpan Vincent Price. 6:30 pm. Ottawa Public Library main branch. (Downtown) 

• ✳️ A Bear & Co and Three Sisters Theatre have joined forces to mount Blood Relations, the psychological mystery of Lizzie Borden, who may or may not have murdered her parents in 1892. At the Gladstone Theatre (Little Italy)  

• 🆓 Experience a four-hand piano duo and classical singers as Doors Open for Music at Southminster presents Brahms’ Liebeslieder, Opp. 52 and 65. Donations gratefully accepted. Noon til 1:00 pm. (Old Ottawa South)

• Volleyball teams intending to register for the 44th Hope Volleyball Summerfest, you need to be at the Lone Star Loft (1211 Lemieux Street  for the Official Launch Party. You'll sign up your team, find out which bands are playing the festival, and have access to great food and drink deals. (Cyrville)

• Direct from Carleton University’s music program and successful gigs all around town, Seren Dubé (alto and soprano saxophone), Declan Workman (piano) and Kent Religa Nesrallah (electric bass) aka Seren Dubé Jazz Trio perform at Art House this evening. Tip: even if you purchase a ticket, get there early for a seat with good sightlines (Chinatown) 

• Aurelius and Savvy Company invite a limited number of guests to book their place at the EH VIP Tasting Evening to sample the 2025 Early Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Choose from Wednesday March 4 at the Wellington location, Thursday March 5 in the Glebe, and Friday March 6 in Kanata. The experience includes two glasses of Ontario wine, a charcuterie board featuring Canadian artisan cheeses, and sour dough bread. 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: A Poet, 2026 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Documentary, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie 

• Mayfair Theatre: Pillion, Hamnet, A Better Tomorrow  

Gigs

• LoveToFolk Prime: The Barra MacNeils. Saint Brigid's

• Bluegrass Wednesdays. Red Bird

• August John, Phasez, GRFN. House of TARG

• The Prime Rib Big Band. Irene’s Pub

THURSDAY

• Aurelius and Savvy Company invite a limited number of guests to book their place at the EH VIP Tasting Evening to sample the 2025 Early Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Attend on Thursday March 5 in the Glebe or Friday March 6 in Kanata. The experience includes two glasses of Ontario wine, a charcuterie board featuring Canadian artisan cheeses, and sour dough bread. 

• It’s opening night of A Bear & Co and Three Sisters Theatres’ production of Blood Relations, At the Gladstone Theatre (Little Italy)  

• Watch the magic happen in three 20-minute rounds of Art Battle. Overflow Brewing (2477 Kaladar Ave (Heron Park) 

• Rising star in vocal jazz and double JUNO Award winner Dominique Fils-Aimé is a Montreal singer-songwriter who puts the history of African-American musical culture into the heart of her work. National Arts Centre (Downtown)

• Five-show subscription packages for the 2026-2027 season of Broadway Across Canada go on sale today. The season is filled with exciting live theatre including The Great Gatsby (September 8-13 2026) The Sound of Music (December 29, 2026 - January 3, 2027), A Beautiful Noise: A Neil Diamond Musical (April 6 - 11, 2027), Disney's Beauty and the Beast (June 8 - 13, 2027), and The Outsiders (July 20 - 25). As an added bonus you can also purchase tickets to The Book of Mormon (March 9-14, 2027).  

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema:  A Poet, The Zone: Dark City: The Director’s Cut  

• Mayfair Theatre: Hamnet, Second Wind, Big Trouble in Little China  

Gigs

• Deep Currents: Greer/Geggie/Garcia Trio. The Robo Lounge

• Animal Tonic, The Re-A-Rangers, Holly Acres. LIVE on Elgin

• Gallery of Rythm. Club SAW

• Sloan. Bronson Centre

• Bella Donna and Friends. Rainbow Bistro

• Rick Fines. Red Bird

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• General Admission Pick-3 Passes for Bluesfest are $45 per night, and available for purchase right now. You'll be saving from 20% to 40% over single ticket prices when you book a Pick-3.