WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT
🗞️ The former Ottawa Citizen/Ottawa Sun building on Baxter Road could become six towers with 1,400 residents. The City has received a developer application to redevelop the site with the buildings, a new City park and a multi-use pathway. Journalists at the Ottawa Citizen and Ottawa Sun left the property during the pandemic lockdowns and have never returned.– Josh Pringle at CTV
↪ The Ottawa Sun is running a contest to have people look at its website. Read it daily, click on a story to find the secret word, and you could win $500. You must click on a story; grazing the headlines isn’t enough.
⚖️ Orleans East-Cumberland ward councillor Matthew Luloff has been found guily of impaired driving charges. Luloff was arrested in July 2024 after a driver reported Luloff’s vehicle to 911 as being operated by suspected impaired driver. The councillor was fined $3,500 and has relinquished his driver’s licence for one year. The judge did find that Luloff’s Charter rights were violated by the Ottawa Police Service when his satchel was searched without permission and he was not told the reason for his detention, but these actions were deemed not consequential enough to throw away the evidence.
‘I accept this decision. And I accept responsibility for my actions. And that’s all I have to say today,’ Lufloff said outside the court. – Kristy Nease at CBC
📚 The Spaniel’s Tale bookshop is moving to a larger location this spring. The bookstore, which opened in Hintonburg in 2022, says the extra space will ‘provide more room behind the scenes for operations such as receiving inventory, organizing events and coördinating school book fairs’. – Charlie Senack in the Kitchissippi Times
🎣 The City may have trouble recruiting talent if Algonquin College goes through with programme cuts, say City staff. The report says the City benefits ‘geographically’ from the College and may end up competing with other municipalities for employees who would have enrolled as ‘nursery operators and workers, software developers, museum collectors, law clerks, paralegals, graphic designers and communications officers’. – Natasha O’Neil at CityNews
THE DAILY POLL
How often do you think the head of OC Transpo should take transit?
▪️ “Way in the past I’ve taken the Greyhound to Montreal, and family used to take it into Toronto.”
▪️ “At the time it was greyhound and it was fine!”
▪️ “It’s way less expensive than the train but also for a more miserable experience. Very cramped and bumpy. I’ll take the train anytime!”
▪️ “Took it once to Toronto. But I much prefer the train, even with all its problems.”
▪️ “Yes myself and my daughter’s we used to take the bus to work, school and shopping.”
▪️ “Never. I don’t think school trips to other cities count.”
▪️ “The dog? I have used both the old downtown depot and the one on Catherine. It’s too bad that the companies couldn’t make enough profit to remain open.”
▪️ “To Montreal. It was great- on time, comfortable, quiet and comfy.”
▪️ “Enjoyed riding the Voyageur Colonial and then Greyhound buses and was sad to see that affordable option disappear.”
▪️ “Red Arrow had single-seat rows on one side, free snacks and water, and movies/shows you could watch on your device. Last year, they partnered with Orléans Express, and they now have none of that. Back to Via Rail it is!”
▪️ “Don’t know what The Dog is, but riding any number of the bus lines between Ottawa and either Toronto or Montreal—particularly now that Greyhound n’est plus—is a rite of passage for every Ottawan needing a cheap last-minute lift.”
▪️ “But VIA is better ... even if often late.”
▪️ “I took Greyhound 5x.”
▪️ “Not sure what you mean by an intercity bus?”
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
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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.
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It’s opening night of A Bear & Co and Three Sisters Theatres’ production of Blood Relations, At the Gladstone Theatre (Little Italy)
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Watch the magic happen in three 20-minute rounds of Art Battle. Overflow Brewing (2477 Kaladar Ave (Heron Park)
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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)
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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
Gigs
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Deep Currents: Greer/Geggie/Garcia Trio. The Robo Lounge
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Animal Tonic, The Re-A-Rangers, Holly Acres. LIVE on Elgin
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Gallery of Rythm. Club SAW
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Sloan. Bronson Centre
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Bella Donna and Friends. Rainbow Bistro
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Rick Fines. Red Bird
FRIDAY
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✳️ Get ready for the season at the Ottawa Gatineau Golf Expo (YOW)
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It’s opening night of Orpheus Musical Theatre’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar, one of the original rock operas. The show runs Tuesday through Saturday evening at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2:00 pm until March 15. (Nepean)
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You’ll get four 5oz samples from the rotating taps at Byward Beerfest (today and tomorrow at Lowertown Brewery)
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Thirteen Strings welcomes Canadian-Romanian conductor Andrei Feher and Innu rising-star soprano Elisabeth St-Gelais for a concert of Mendelssohn, Anna Clyne, Wagner, Florence Price, and Britton. Make a real evening of it with a special three course dinner from Working Title Kitchen before the concert.(Sandy Hill)
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Toronto-by-way-of-Glasgow comedian John Mostyn plays Yuk Yuks tonight and tomorrow. (Lincoln Heights)
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Bicycle Craft Brewing’s After Hours Tour & Tasting will ease you into the weekend with samples of multiple varieties and a behind the scenes glimpse into the brewery (Industrial Avenue)
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With International Women’s Day on Sunday this is the perfect time for the two-night Feral Femmefest at Rainbow Bistro. Harley Olivia headlines tonight’s lineup with Wet For Days, Sugar Bomb, and Rising Flame guesting. (ByWard Market)
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The Duelling Magicians bring the magic to The Prescott. (Little Italy).
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Ottawa’s hardest-working UK-transplant band The Underground bring the authentic vibe to House of TARG's 80s Dance Party.
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All skill levels are welcome at the Konnection Konpa, Bachata, and Salsa workshop and social dance at Studio X.
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Multi-faceted Ndidi O is JUNO-nominated, has released five albums as herself as well as a bunch of singles under her trip-hop outfit BOGA, has played everywhere from Gap commercials to gigs in Europe, and tonight you get to see her at National Arts Centre’s Fourth Stage (if you book now, that is). (Downtown)
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Indie rockers The Rembros play The Carleton Tavern as they prepare to unleash their new album of original tunes. (Parkdale)
Cinema
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ByTowne Cinema: L’Étranger, The Testament of Ann Lee, The President’s Cake, Bohemian Rhapsody with Live Burlesque
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Mayfair Theatre: All That’s Left of You, Pillion, The Room
Gigs
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Absolute Losers, Dart Trees, Go Long. The 27 Club
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Main Street Revival. Hard Rock Ottawa
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Orbit Culture. Bronson Centre
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Tom Wilson with Graham Greer. Red Bird
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Feral Femmfest I. Rainbow Bistro
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Southern Comfort. Hard Rock Ottawa
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The Rough Go. Dominion Tavern
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Friday Night Folk ft. Jack Pine and Lefty McRighty. Art House Café
SATURDAY
Cinema
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ByTowne Cinema: The President's Cake, L’étranger, The Testament of Ann Lee, Donnie Darko on 35mm
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Mayfair Theatre: Stagecoach, All That’s Left of You, Pillion
Gigs
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Mammoth. Hard Rock Ottawa
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Journey: Final Frontier Tour. Canadian Tire Centre
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The Co-Pilots. Night Oat
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The Uninvited Guests: All-Canadian Rock Revue. Overflow Brewing
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Excuses Excuses. Dominon Tavern
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Women In Folk: Jessica Pearson and the East Wind & Ambre McLean. Motel Chelsea
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Joel Sauve. Hard Rock Ottawa
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Selfish Act. Avant-Garde Bar
JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING
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March Break begins soon and if you’re searching for a magical, last-minute experience for littles aged five and up, check out 176 Steps by Théâtre de l’œil. It’s a sweet tale about the power of friendship, as told by actors and puppets. There’s just one performance, on Thursday March 19 at Shenkman Arts Centre (Orléans)
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Start planning what you'll see at the International film Festival of Ottawa, March 11 - 22 at the ByTowne, OAG, Club SAW, Mayfair Theatre, Korean Cultural Centre Canada, and Library and Archives Canada
MADE IN CANADA DEALS OF THE DAY
SHARE THE OTTAWAN
BUT, ONE MORE THING ...
THE OTTAWAN may have, once or twice, raised an eyebrow at the music scheduled at Bluefest over the past few years, arguing that most of the acts are not really of the blues genre.
Ottawa blues musician Angelique Francis does not have a lot of time for that argument, and makes a compelling case that views like THE OTTAWAN’s are mostly – but not entirely – wrong.
RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL
THE END
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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.
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