WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT
🎂 The City has announced plans to celebrate Ottawa’s 200th birthday next year. Bytown was founded September 26, 1826 and renamed as Ottawa in 1855. Plans include festivals, events, and the launch of the “downtown Arts, Culture and Entertainment District” next year. Celebrations will take place over two years to include the 200th birthday of the Byward Market in 2027. – Josh Pringle at CTV
🏈 The RedBlacks have hired Ryan Dinwiddie as head coach and general manager. Dinwiddie is currently the coach of the Toronto Argonauts, where he won two Grey Cups, and was recognized as the Canadian Football League Coach of the Year in 2023. – Adam Beauchemin at CTV
💥 It has been four months since the last pretty-much-only-in-Ottawa-phenomenon, vehicles crashing into buildings. This one, a car crashing into a house, happened in Overbrook.– Natasha O’Neill at CityNews
🚨 Court Circular
• Febrio De Zoysa has pleaded guilty in the murder of a family from Sri Lanka in Barrhaven in March 2024. De Zoysa was living with the Wickramasinghe family as an international student, also from Sri Lanka, when he murdered the four children, their mother, and the other tenant. The family’s father was seriously injured but survived. De Zoysa will be sentenced to life without possibility of parole for 25 years. – Kristy Nease at CBC
• A report in the New York Post says that Sens forward Arthur Kaliyev has been accused of theft by his ex-girlfriend. Model Lauren Mochen says she filed a police report in her home state of Michigan that he ‘scammed’ her out of thousands of dollars. No charges have been filed against Kaliyev and the allegations have not been tested in court. – Mollie Walker in the New York Post
• The Ottawa Citizen has an explainer on the proposed class action against Nordik Spa in Chelsea for sexual abuse. More than 100 women have signed on to the proposal. The class action has not been approved by a judge and the allegations have not been tested in court. – Gary Dimmock in the Ottawa Citizen
THE DAILY POLL
How will the you celebrate the 200th birthday of Ottawa?
▪️ “This will likely mostly be achieved through attrition and buy outs so the actual impact will likely be in reduced services.”
▪️ “We were told this was coming. It is not a surprise! I think that tough times might just be what we need to enjoy the good times later!”
▪️ “Will the layoffs really save money?”
▪️ “I'm in that 50-55 age group. See you later, suckers.”
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
-
✳️ In Day 1 of the Ottawa Canadian Film Festival, see The Burden, by Toronto filmmaker Vahid Fazel, and It Comes in Waves, by Ottawa’s own Fitch Jean. 9:00 pm at ByTowne Cinema.
-
Sample natural wines from Canada and the world at Wines by Nature 2025.
-
Meet Ontario’s top winemakers and do some sipping, sampling, and shopping at Outstanding in Their Fields.
-
9th Hour Theatre Company’s production of Isak Dinesen’s story Babette’s Feast opens at the Gladstone Theatre.
-
Bring a pal and play some games at Art House’s regular Beats & Boards night.
-
Learn the basics of decoupage at Recreated Designs.
-
Laughter 4 Cancer’s Comedy Fundraiser will raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. There will be prizes, a 50/50 draw, a silent auction, and laughs.
-
Enjoy old school punk and hardcore at House of TARG’s CKCU Funding Drive Ripper #2 with Kleener, B.A.L.M. Squad, Constrictor, and Candy Says.
-
Broadway Across Canada’s Mrs. Doubtfire continues at the National Arts Centre.
-
ByTowne Cinema: It Was Just An Accident, The Matermind, OCAN25 - Day 1
-
Mayfair Theatre: If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Blue Moon, Queens of the Dead
Gigs
-
The Cooper Brothers. Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe
-
Majors, Holly Acres, This Disaster and guests. Rainbow Bistro
-
Umberlune. Night Oat
-
Bacon Tree. Danby's Roadhouse
FRIDAY
-
✳️ View screenings by filmmakers from Toronto, Hamilton, Renfrew, Quebec City, and Montréal at Day 2 of the 9th annual OCAN Film Festival. 7:00 pm at the ByTowne Cinema.
-
The new ChromaQueer Film & Art Festival opens at Arts Court for three nights and two days of programming designed to forge connections and showcase Ottawa-based stories, movements, and traditions. Go for the film screenings, performances, curated lectures, Q&As, and stay for the poetry karaoke.
-
🆓 Urban Art Collective closes a busy season of public experiences with the Centretown Disrupted Art Show at Wallack's Art Supplies on Bank Street. Expect live painting, creative workshops, and street photography.
-
Indulge in ethical and sustainable shopping as Cobourg’s Ten Thousand Villages brings its Fair Trade Holiday Sale to the Ottawa Mennonite Church today and tomorrow.
-
Dig deep into the collection of gently used reading and listening material at the Rockcliffe Park Book Fair. Today through Sunday at Rockcliffe Park Public School's Queen Juliana Hall (aka the school gym).
-
The creator of #dropchallenge herself, comedian Atsuko Okatsuk performs two shows at Algonquin Commons Theatre. Warning: the 9:30 pm show is already sold out (insert beat drop here).
-
🆓 The cool people at Debaser bring you A Sonic Bridge: Florence Delphine-Roux (live) and Paul Jasen (talk) for a rad evening of radio art and performance.
-
Do some night shopping in the magical Holiday Open House at Robert Plante Greenhouses.
-
One World Bazaar turns its gaze to Germany for a weekend of Polka bands, great food and an epic quantity of shopping opportunities.
-
Capital Professionals Open Mic brings together members of the Ottawa business community for a fundraising event in support of The Parents' Lifeline of Eastern Ontario.
-
Forêt Capitale Forest presents ‘Comedy Night for the Trees’ at Yuk Yuk’s.
-
Whether you’re a beginner or you have the moves down pat, Navan Boot Scootin’ Line Dancing will banish your work-week blues.
-
Bliss out to the Nostalgia Nights trance event at City at Night.
-
Broadway Across Canada’s Mrs. Doubtfire continues at the National Arts Centre.
-
ByTowne Cinema: It Was Just An Accident, Nuremberg, OCAN25 - Day 2, Die My Love
-
Mayfair Theatre: Train Dreams, Weapons, One Battle After Another
Gigs
-
The Yodas. Barley Mow (Merivale)
-
Kingfisher, Mendozaz, Bill McNeal, Tucana. House of TARG
-
Umberlune. Night Oat
SATURDAY
-
Canadian icon Bruce Cockbourn sits down with curator Judith Klassen for a conversation about his music and his journey, at the Canadian Museum of History. 7:00 pm in the Grand Hall.
-
In the final day of OCAN Film Festival, catch shorts, animation, documentaries, and dramas by Canadian filmmakers. 9:00 pm at the ByTowne Cinema.
-
🆓 CKCU FM 93.1 is 50 years old and celebrating with a live broadcast from The Laff this morning (10:00 am to 1:00 pm). Catch live performances by Ottawa musicians and enjoy food and drinks from The Laff, which will be opening both the bar and the kitchen early.
-
This year’s FAM Network Moonlight Masquerade Ball is, as you might expect, "masquerade," but formal or black tie will work as well. The event raises funds for the charity, which fosters pets of those having to flee domestic/interpersonal/family violence or sex trafficking into the safety of local Violence Against Women (VAW) shelters or into a Transitional Housing Support Program; as well as for those who are seeking in-patient treatment for mental health and/or substance abuse and for select circumstances for short-term hospitalization.
-
613Flea is always a fun way to spend your Saturday but in the run up to Christmas it makes the perfect stop for one-of-a-kind gifts. Find it inside Aberdeen Pavilion from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
-
One way to combat the colder air blowing down on us: Vpop’s Sweater Weather - Vintage Pop-Up at Next Door. Today and tomorrow at 955A Gladstone Ave.
-
Road Trip: In Chelsea, La Fab Gallery is busy with a double Vernissage for Reid McLachlan: Hymns of Longing and Jae Shaw: At Home In Nature. 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
-
Choose from afternoon and evening sessions at Orléans Cork and Fork Festival.
-
Become a Woodland Warrior and help the Kanata North Regeneration Stewards remove invasive species from the South March Highlands Conservation Forest. No experience necessary.
-
Watch as 10 improv comedians compete for survival in Maestro: Competitive Improv Comedy. Plus, as an audience member, you'll decide who wins and who gets eliminated. Think of the power!
-
The Saturday Day Pass for ChromaQueer Film & Arts Festival will set you back just $40.
-
🎁 Road Trip: Take a scenic drive west to Almonte for the Cheerfully Made Holiday Market (Almonte Old Town Hall 10:)0 - 4:00). Continues tomorrow
-
🎄 Road Trip: Drive south to the Metcalfe Christmas Farmers Market (9:00 am to 2:00 pm) at Parkway Church and at the Greely Community Centre.
-
In the east end, Blackburn Community Association Christmas Market brings 25 vendors to the Community Hall and the Lois Kemp Arena.
-
ChromaQueer Music and Arts Festival continues at Arts Court.
-
Broadway Across Canada’s Mrs. Doubtfire continues at the National Arts Centre.
-
Source quality 18th to 21st Century furniture, art, design elements at the National Capital Antqiues, Art & Design Fair. $10 at the door.
-
It's the final day of the Fair Trade Holiday Sale at the Ottawa Mennonite Church.
-
Rockcliffe Park Book Fair continues (10:00 am to 6:00 pm).
-
Climax Conference is for curious adults.
-
ByTowne Cinema: It Was Just An Accident, Nuremburg, Die My Love, OCAN - Day 3
-
Mayfair Theatre: Train Dreams, One Battle after Another, Lesbian Space Princess, Saturday Night Sinema
Gigs
-
Josh Dolgin and Friends in Concert. La Fab sur Mill (Chelsea)
-
Polka Brats Band. One World Bazaar
-
Georgia Harmer. National Arts Centre
-
Kathleen Edwards. The Bronson Centre
-
Emo Night Karaoke. The Brass Monkey
JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING
MADE IN CANADA DEALS OF THE DAY
BUT, ONE MORE THING ...
In the National Post, Randy Boswell has written the unthinkable: ‘In defence of the Canada goose, the pooping, honking bird everyone loves to hate’.
RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL
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.
|
 |
