The Ottawan Newsletter

QUOTE

Ottawa is too big and should be broken up into urban and rural municipalities
– From yesterday’s editorial in the Globe & Mail. We don’t normally like linking to paywalled stories but we find it significant that the paper has noticed our little burg.
The editorial recommends that the Federal government move offices from the region downtown Ottawa and Gatineau, speed up plans to transform unused office space into housing, and establish Ottawa as a defence innovation hub.
– ‘How to breathe new life into Ottawa's ailing core’
SPORTS
⚽ CPL Atlético Ottawa 3 – Vancouver FC 1, last Saturday
⚾ FRONTIER Ottawa Titans 9 – Tri-City ValleyCats 1, last Sunday
⚾ FRONTIER Ottawa Titans 6 – Trois-Rivieres Aigles 0, last Saturday
⚾ FRONTIER Ottawa Titans 9 – Trois-Rivieres Aigles 3, last Friday
Despite this three-day streak, the Titans have missed the playoffs

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WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

Planning and Housing Committee
Wednesday, September 3 at 9:30 am

Zoning By-law Amendment – 1174 Carp Road
Zoning By-law Amendment – 484 Hazeldean Road
Zoning By-law Amendment – 1657 Carling Avenue and 386 Tillbury Avenue
Zoning By-law Amendment – 200 Baribeau Street
Class 4 Noise Classification, 25 Pickering Place

Agenda

Plus the Committee of Adjustment meets at 1:00 pm.

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

💥 YOWFest cancelled on first day after shots fired nearby. The inaugral edition of the rap festival at Lansdowne Park was set to have 22 acts on Friday, including Justin Trudeau’s son Xav. Saturday would have had 16 acts in French and international styles. – Ted Raymond at CTV

🚊 OC Transpo and the the Amalgamated Transit Union have reached a tentative agreement. The union requested a mediated settlement in June, after the contract ended in March. Both Union members and City Council will need to approved the agreement. – CBC

↪ Gatineau’s transit agency has awarded a $1 million contract to a US company to use artificial intelligence in monitoring the engine conditions on its buses. The idea is that potential problems will be flagged in advance.

🚊 The Treasury Board Secretariat says Federal public employees took more sick days last year than during COVID lockdowns. In 2023, Federal workers took an average of 9.2 sick days per year compared to 5.9 days in 2020-21. – Catherine Morrison at the Canadian Press

THE DAILY POLL

What kind of Internet service do you have at home?

Fibre through the phone or cable company

Old fashioned broadband

I only use Internet through my cellphone

I refuse to have Internet at home. I’m reading this at work. Under duress.

Previously in ottawan polls:
We asked, ‘What do you think about putting multiunits in single house neighbourhoods?’
- 12% Ottawa would still be 1856-sized if we didn’t change and grow
- 23% Single house neighbourhoods are a treasure, there are many other places to build
- 59% I like it when it’s mixed like Centretown, I just don't want to watch old houses torn down
- 6% If you want to build apartments in single home areas, let’s build single home neighbourhoods elsewhere
Commentary

▪️ “Single-house neighborhoods a treasure? More like a hindrance.”

▪️ “No one moves to the suburbs to live in a high rise. It’s not the dream. It’s not the vibe. High rises belong downtown. 3 storeys isn’t a high rise and is acceptable.”

▪️ “There are 3 storey apartment buildings on corner lots throughout the Glebe which are in scale with the adjacent single and semi detached homes. Corner lots can accommodate this type of use.”

▪️ “New homes should be designed and built with the trends of the next generation(s) in mind and not holding on to what the older generation believes should remain. ‘Everything fades’.”

▪️ “Apartments are great however the great majority of new builds have been limited to no more than 2 bedrooms. They cannot house families as outlined in National Occupancy Standards.”

▪️ “I think a mix of housing in neighbourhoods is a good idea.”

▪️ “Not sure continuing to build single family units or micro condo units will help our city grow.”

HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS

Club Zinc T-Shirt

Long forgotten, but Ottawa’s first craft brewery was Ottawa Valley Ale, incorporated in 1985.

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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

TUESDAY

Play unlimited games at House of TARG for just $12.50 + tax.
Render ‘all the ripeness and glowing beauty of summer’ in the Ottawa School of Art four day short course Balance and Brilliance: A Watercolour Workshop at the Orléans campus
Life Drawing is back at Art House.
ByTowne Cinema: Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight, Splitsville, Restoration: Summer Wars
Mayfair Theatre: A Little Prayer, Superman, Shin Godzilla and Shin Godzilla: Orthochromatic

Gigs
Tuesday Trivia. Broadhead Brewing
Alireza. Night Oat

WEDNESDAY

Doors Open for Music at Southmister is back with a 14th season of free concerts in Ottawa. The concerts are livestreamed on YouTube if you can't make it in person. Today’s program features performer-composer-improvisers Raphael Weinroth-Browne (cello) and James McGowan (piano). Noon to 1:00 pm at Southminster United Church, 15 Aylmer Road (at Bank).
A Bad Night At The Movies returns to OPL main branch with Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. If you ask the ottawan, though, any film that featuring Gene Hackman as a twinkly-eye villain can't be all bad.
ByTowne Cinema: Don’t Let’s Go to The Dogs Tonight, Splitsville, Bullet in the Head
Mayfair Theatre: Oh, Hi! A Little Prayer, Showgirls

Gigs
The Prime Rib Big Band. Irene’s Pub
Jules is Dead. The 27 Club
AHRF. House of TARG
Defiance. Dominion Tavern

THURSDAY

Serotonin and Le Slow play Songs from the Shed from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm.
🥕 Road Trip: Visit the Metcalfe Night Farmers Market for shopping, hot food, and fun.
Closer to home, visit 25 local vendors at the ByWard Market Night Market
Ottawa artist Drew Klassen’s new show Bloemstukken at Galerie St-Laurent + Hill takes inspiration from the Dutch masters. Take in the Vernissage tonight from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
ByTowne Cinema: Don’t Let’s Go To the Dogs Tonight, Splitsville, Detour: I Saw the TV Glow
Mayfair Theatre: A Little Prayer, Superman, Shin Godzilla and Shin Godzilla: Orthochromatic

Gigs
Woodhawk, Mountain Dust, Subsun. House of TARG
Original Soundtrack. Avant Garde
The Descendants. Bronson Centre
Streamers & Punches. Night Oat
Marc Richard. Panorama Patio at Canadian Museum of History

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

Ottawa legends reunite! Catch the Sir Robert Borden High School 55 year reunion at Queen St. Fare on Thursday, Sept 11 — one night only, bringing back the fire you’ve been waiting for. Calling Sandra Oh, Ian Black, and Darren Pang!
Watch as a musical is created before your eyes at BELT: The Improvised Musical. That's right: with no rehearsed songs or script, the improvisers will use audience suggestions to create a brand new show. Red Bird, Thursday September 18.
Almanac’s Sourdough Bread Workshop will teach the fundamentals of heritage grains, examine the correct tools to use, and explain the deal with mixing dough and bulk fermentation on September 22

MADE IN CANADA DEALS OF THE DAY

Save 50% on tickets to the Ottawa Fall Home Show (October 2 - 5 at EY Centre)

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

Gatineau-based world traveller Gab Vaugeois says the Ottawa Valley is one of the best places on the planet to cycle and recommends his favourite trails in the Capital. In particular, the paths along the Rideau Canal or ‘the Eiffel Tower of Ottawa’ and the Voie Verte in Chelsea.

RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL

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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.

Tuesday, 02 September 2025

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Hello Ottawa

→ YOWFest cancelled on first day after shots fired nearby

→ Superman IV is tomorrow night's Bad Night at the Movies

→ Deal of the Day on tickets to the Ottawa Fall Home Show

STATISTICS OTTAWA

95%

CBC

Helkat Jaffer

Joshua Marano at CTV

Ottawa is too big and should be broken up into urban and rural municipalities