📋 Ottawa’s Planned Parenthood service has reopened after a three month hiatus. The charity, which provides reproductive and sexual health counselling and referrals at no charge, chose to close its doors in November to get a handle on its finances. Grants from the Canadian Women’s Foundation and the City made the difference. – Anchal Sharma and CBC  

🛏️ The City is buying the Sonder The O’Connor hotel for $45 million. The former hotel at 377 O’Connor Street will be used to house families in transition to permanent housing. The hotel as it stands has 128 apartment suites, 74 studios, 51 one bedrooms, two two-bedroom, and one three-bedroom suites’. Most of the cost will be paid by the Federal government.  – Josh Pringle at CTV 

🛏️ Bluefest has announced its full line-up for the July 9 - 19 event. To help celebrate Ottawa 200, Bluesfest has redoubled its efforts to bring in the best of blues music with Limp Bizkit, Gwen Stenfani, and The Guess Who headlining. On deck are those cult bluesmen Sheryl Crow, Cypress Hill, and Death from Above 1979.  – Apartment 613 

WEDNESDAY

• ✳️ It’s Real Bread Week and Almanac is allowing a sneak peek into its operation at its new Little Italy location. Get down there tonight at 7:00 pm for the weekly Bread Club meetup and get a glimpse into the kitchen, see the mill room in use, and pick up some pointers from passionate home bakers. (Little Italy)  

• Doors Open for Music at Southminster presents Hopewell Showcase VIII, in which students of Hopewell Elementary School, directed by Marya Woyiwada, share their considerable musical talents. (Old Ottawa South)  

• 🆓 It’s ever more challenging to hold a civil discussion between friends, family, and acquaintances . Library and Archives Canada offers a solution in the panel discussion Thinking Out Loud Together: Why Civil Discourse Matters More than Ever with Randy Boyagoda. Free to attennd however you'll need a ticket to get in.(Wellington/Parliament)

• The all-volunteer run Play Hard Productions presents Sherlock Holmes and the Locked Room, at the Gladstone Theatre until February 28. (Little Italy) 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Kokuho, The Love That Remains, Drawn In: Fantastic Planet (La Planete sauvage) 

• Mayfair Theatre: Hamnet, My Father’s Shadow, Scum of the Earth 

Gigs

• Happy Hour Jazz with Nic Code. The Robo Lounge

• Trivia Night. Beyond the Pale (ByWard)

THURSDAY

• Women’s Adventure Film Tour 2026 shows women achieving awesome things in outdoor sports and activities. Presented by the Alpine Club of Canada Ottawa & Outaouais Sections, there will be a single showing at the Mayfair Theatre (Old Ottawa South). 

• Take on a new creative skill with the Wabi Sabi Encaustic Bowl Workshop at La FAB sur mill (Chelsea)

• A new solo exhibition of works by Floence Victor opens at Galerie St-Laurent + Hill. Fairy Tales and Other Stories runs until March 17. (ByWard Market) 

• 🆓 Get access to the permanent galleries every Thursday between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm when general admission to the Canadian Museum of Nature is free (Centretown). 

• Looking for your next Heated Rivalry fix? Book your place at the Heated Rivalry drag night with Wysteria Root & Elle Faekwa.(ByWard Market)

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: The Love That Remains, Kokuho, House Party  

• Mayfair Theatre: My Father’s Shadow, Women’s Adventure Film Tour 2026 (see Thursday's listing for ticket details), City on Fire 

Gigs

• Catalyst 13: And.Re, Ilybo, Ex Luthor, AdamLooping. House of TARG

• Picnic by the Motorway. Night Oat

• Over the Moon. Red Bird

• A Night of Ballads: A Night of Black love and intimacy hosted by Mx. Tique. Club SAW

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• Celebrate International Women's Day on Friday March 6 at the #Kindness International Women’s Day Power Luncheon by She Shops Local.ca. Ticket holders will be treated to a luncheon by Red Seal Executive Chef Stephanie Baryluk, a panel discussion featuring three of Ontario's leading mayors, and a vendor marketplace. Throughout, you'll have the chance to connect with other entrepreneurs "who believe in lifting as they climb." National Arts Centre (Downtown) 

• East Coast Experience will bring a Celtic St. Patrick’s Day party to Bronson Centre on Saturday March 14

MADE IN CANADA DEALS OF THE DAY

In anticipation of the Grand Opening this Saturday (February 28), Almanac is running a giveaway at its new 50 Beech Street location: Spend $50 and you'll snag an entry into the giveaway draw to win a ticket to one of the bakery's workshops, a flour bundle, or a $20 gift card. Meanwhile, there are 10% discounts on fresh-milled flour and grain. If you can't head down in person, you can grab an online discount on the bread workshops: take $15 off when you use the code REALBREADWORKSHOP. Sweet!

 

Receive a free Makeup Remover Bar from BKIND on orders of $130 or more.

 

You likely saw the news a week or so back that Steve’s Music is closing permanently, and while that’s very sad, it means massive liquidation deals on guitars and basses, amps, wind instruments, accessories, and more. The sooner you visit in person, the more access you'll have to the best deals. 280 Catherine St.