Hello Ottawa

STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

• US $126,090

• The highest salary in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, which is held by Charge forward Emily Clark. . The minimum salary is US $37,151.50.

• – The Associated Press

OTTAWAN OF THE DAY

• Alisha Giroux

• The illustrator is turning centuries-old headstones into art; cleaning, repairing, and restoring the forgotten markers.

• – Nickie Shobeiry at CBC

QUOTE

“

• I find it kind of sad. Every time we drive by, I say ‘is anything happening? Nothing’s been happening

– Baseline Road area resident Steve Ashfield on the unfinshed twin residential towers at Baseline Road and Clyde Avenue. The company building the apartments went bankrupt after starting construction in 2022. Despite being taken over by a new company, there is no word on when construction will recommence.

Austin Lee at CTV

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WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

THE DAILY POLL

Do you think the new NATO Defence Bank should be located in Ottawa/Gatineau?

🔘 Yes, this is the heart of defence planning and diplomatic relations

🔘 No, Toronto is the centre of finance and that availability of expertise should be the deciding factor

🔘 Premier Doug Ford wants it in Toronto, so I say put it in Ottawa

🔘 Premier Doug Ford wants it in Toronto, and when was the last time he made a slapdash decision?

🔘 The last time I tried to get a loan for a tank and a heap of berets at my credit union, I was turned down so I am all for more competition

• 
  Previously in OTTAWAN polls:

• 
  Do you take VIA Rail?’

  • 65% Yes, if I’m going to Toronto, Montréal, or Quebec City it is my first choice

  • 7% Yes, I take it for long trips rather than flying when I can

  • 16% No, too unreliable or too costly or both

  • 3% They pulled up the tracks to where I want to go

  • 9% If it was $10 to Kingston, I’d take it all the time

  • 
    Commentary

▪️ “I love taking VIA and take it often to Toronto. I just wish it was more reliable.”

▪️ “Love the trains. We need more.”

▪️ “The delays are not much fun, especially the 2:30 and 3:30 trains from Toronto.”

▪️ “I wished I would take the train more. But flying is faster, driving is cheaper and usually faster. I just struggle to see the value in the train with their current offering. ALTO would change that.”

▪️ “Train is always my first choice even if it’s slower. If it can make it in less than 24 hours I'll take it.”

▪️ “VIA Rail is great, especially on the Montréal route. We don’t drive so it’s either train or bus, and the latter is much less comfortable.”

▪️ “None of the above. It’s expensive and I can drive to my destination in less time. I also then have to arrange transportation in the city I’m headed to. I like it in principle, but it’s poor in practice.”

▪️ “I liked it when it was more reliable. Multi hour delays were unheard of the 40 years I took it, excluding the last 3 years, where long delays seem to be common. It makes me question if taking the train is a reliable plan.”

▪️ “I love going by rail. I welcome and can't wait for high speed rail. Took one from Shanghai to Bejing — 4 hours! Better than driving or flying. Cost was very reasonable. Sometimes you have to look to the future and embrace beneficial change.”

▪️ “I’ll always take the train in the corridor, even if it’s a bit late, I don’t generally mind. So much nicer than having to be at the airport 90 minutes early for a flight.”

▪️ “I take it although it seems to always arrive behind schedule lately.”

HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS

Ogilvy’s Departmennt Store T-Shirt Charles Ogilvy Limited began as dry goods shop on Rideau Street in 1897, and ended its reign as Ottawa's greatest department store in 1992. Help support the ottawan by buying one of our historic logo t-shirts. Shop for t-shirts

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

• ✳️ 🆓 You won’t go hungry at the 12th Ottawa AsianNight Market (today through Sunday). When you’re done eating, learn some K-Pop dance moves and watch top flight performers. Bring cash. (LeBreton Flats)   

• ✳️ 🆓 Check out the after dark programming at Ottawa Chinatown Night Market (today through Sunday). You'll find traditional Chinese dishes and the latest in fusion cuisine, vendors selling handmade goods, and martial arts displays. (Chinatown)

• Ottawa Improv Festival continues with two shows this evening at Arts Court (Downtown) 

• Ottawa Ribfest continues on Sparks St. 

• Be a tourist in your own neighbourhood with the Let’s Bike Ottawa's ‘Discover Your Ward By Bike: Centretown’ ride on Friday May 29. (Downtown)

• Ottawa Pops Orchestra performs in a brass choir, a string quartet, and more in its Spring Concert Fundraiser. (Sandy Hill) 

• Urban Legends Poetry Collective presents another evening dedicated to Truth to Power, a writing and performance workshop on wellness ‘through the lens of community, solidarity, advocacy, and activism’, led by Van Essa. (Tunney’s Pasture) 

• If you haven't nailed down plans for today's World Lindy Hop Day, the Ottawa Swing Dance Society can help. They've put together an entire evening that celebrates the birthday of Lindy Hop Ambassador Frankie Manning. 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema:  Backrooms, Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Silent Friend 

• Mayfair Theatre: Holy Days, I Swear, The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Gigs

• 80s Dance Party with DJ Remi Royale and The Underground. House of TARG

• Fenix, Pop Culture Icons, This Disaster, Venosta. Rainbow Bistro

• Judy Collins. National Arts Centre

• Abijah. Night Oat

SATURDAY

• ✳️ Be prepared to be amazed by the young crafters and entrepreneurs at the Kids Next  Gen Market and Spring Fling. 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink, 2185 Arch Street. (Alta Vista). 

• ✳️ It’s Opening Night of Orpheus Musical Theatre’s production of Singin’ In the Rain. Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe (Nepean) 

• ✳️ 🆓 Art Lending of Ottawa’s latest show features more than 40 local, juried artists. (Ellwood) 

• ✳️ 🆓 Bring your appetite to Ottawa Asian Night Market. (LeBreton Flats) 

• ✳️ 🆓 Take a wander along Somerset St West between Bronson and Bell St as Ottawa Chinatown Night Market continues (Chinatown) 

• A walk in the neighbourhood today could lead to spontaneous treasure hunting in the City of Ottawa Hidden Treasures - Giveaway Weekend. When you see household goods by the road (and there's a clear "FREE" sign), feel free to dive in. If you're staying home: do a declutter and put out items that you no longer want, but that are still useable. (City-wide) 

• The worlds of photography, publishing, and print merge in Colophon: A Photo Book Showcase at SPAO, from Saturday May 30 through September 11, 2026. 

• Road Trip: Spend an afternoon admiring the artistry of the Arnprior and District Quilters’ Guild Quilting in the Valley 2026 show. Shop from talented vendors and sit for a spell in the tea room. (Arnprior) 

• Road Trip: See fellows jousting, birds of prey flapping their wings, cosplayers striding about at the Glengarry Renaissance Festival. (Maxville) 

• Road Trip: Incredible Edible Plant Festival in Cornwall

• Dance to the Brit-Pop hits with Ottawa’s The Start, live at Overflow Brewing.(Heron Gate) 

• Road Trip: Hoof it to the cutest little beer spot, Switzer’s, for Maifest 26. Beer collabs with Cold Bear Brewing and other breweries from the region, food from Mallards Milk Bar, and live entertainment are all a go in the Backyard Patio at 55 John St. North (Arnprior).  

• Kids of all ages can get up close and personal with big vehicles at the Navan Touch-A-Truck Event. 

• Add Wakefield Market to your regular route of farmers markets in the Ottawa Gatineau area. Every Saturday from now until October, 30 vendors gather with fresh produce, self-care products, food and drink, and crafts. Today’s theme is Biodiversity Day. (Wakefield)  

• More than 200 homes are expected to take part in the Riverside South Community Garage Sale. Bring cash. 

• 🆓 Artist Ally takes cult fandom to the next level. It’s a place where artists and fans converge and celebrate their passions for comics, sci fi, gaming, animation, and more. Today and tomorrow at Next Door (Little Italy) 

• Ottawa Improv Festival rounds up three days with two shows at Arts Court (Downtown) 

• Ottawa Ribfest continues on Sparks St. 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema:   Backrooms, Silent Friend, Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity  

• Mayfair Theatre: I Swear, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Saturday Night Sinema 

Gigs

• Matthew Goode, I Mother Earth. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa

• Rebecca Noelle Trio. GigSpace

• Daby Touré. National Arts Centre

• Smelloship, Mecca of Stank. Black Sheep Inn

• Macmono and The Stereotypes, Tin Constellations. Motel Chelsea

SUNDAY

• Join the Full Moon Yoga from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm at Aberdeen Pavilion. 

• Whiprsnapr Brewing welcomes the gang from Beer Babes Family, the nonprofit that gives business grants to women in the beer industry. At the same time, the brewery will be releasing a very summer-friendly Blackberry Gelato Kettle Sour (Bells Corners) 

• Play Name That Tune at Broadhead Brewery.  (Orléans)  

• Get to the Byward Market Community Yard Sale early (it starts at 8:00 am) for the best bargains and treasure hunting. (Lowertown) 

• Older folks might find a new companion at the Seniors for Seniors adoption event from Furry Tales Cat Rescue, at Petsmart 1600 Heron Road. Adoption fees waived. 

• A group of National Arts Centre Orchestra musicians closes out the month of May with Music for a Sunday Afternoon: pieces by Debussy, Ravel, and Chausson, at Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre. (Centretown). 

• Train enthusiasts, your time has come. The Ottawa Valley Live Steamers and Model Engineers are back at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum for the summer. 

• Road Trip: Looking for jousting, birds of prey, and cosplayers?  Find them all at Glengarry Renaissance Festival. (Maxville)

• Ottawa Ribfest concludes on Sparks St.  

• It’s your final chance to experience the 12th Ottawa Asian Night Market.  (LeBreton Flats) 

• Travel down Somerset St West for the final day of Ottawa Chinatown Night Market. 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Golden Age: It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Backrooms, Meet Cute: Brokeback Mountain  

• Mayfair Theatre: Farewell My Concubine, Holy Days, True Stories 

Gigs

• Shepherds of Good Hope Fundraiser with Allie Goodyear, Christophe Elie, Dan Petti. LIVE on Elgin

• Jackrabbits, James Croteau's Drivin-In Double Feature, Dana Dufour. Avant-Garde Bar

• Drunk Darts Don't Count album release show. Rainbow Bistro

• No Fun At All. Minotaure

• Sultans of String. Ottawa Tennis Club

• Ali McCormick & Vicki Brittle, Mudfish. Irene's Pub

MONDAY

• 🆓 Ottawa’s own Loon Choir brings its dreamy, 80s-tinged pop to Irene’s Pub before heading to Toronto’s Rivoli later in the week. The show comes courtesy of the Ottawa Jazz Festival Homegrown Local Club Series. (The Glebe) 

• The Ottawa South Eco-Action Network presents Darn it! A Community Mending Evening. (Hunt Club)  

• Bring your curiosity to the Death Cafe. (Hintonburg)   

• Day tickets to Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival go on sale today.  

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Backrooms 

• Mayfair Theatre: I Swear, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Chopping Mall 

Gigs

• Fake Dust. Dominion Tavern

• Bologna Colorado. Avant-Garde Bar

• Goldlink. Bronson Centre

• Karaoke Night. Atomic Rooster

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• The Saturday session of Orléans Craft Beer Festival next weekend is sold out, but you can still grab tickets to the Friday June 5 session from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm. 

DEALS OF THE DAY

Rhubarb and perennial sage varieties are 25% off at Knippel Garden Centre.

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BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

You’ll feel better about the powers-that-be* after reading Michela Rosano’s story in Canadian Geographic, ‘How swimming returned to downtown Ottawa’.

Rosano tells of the old fears of swimming at  River House and Dow’s Lake swimming areas and how it's just not an issue any longer.

* Okay, only the National Capital Commission.

RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL

Comment of the Week: ‘Well organized; good local information; maybe more on Gatineau would be appreciated’

THE END

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.