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STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

• 2023

• The year that construction halted on two unfinished towers at the intersection of Baseline Road and Clyde Avenue. The two 15 storey towers are remarkable to the passers-by both by their half-finishedness and by their obvious abandonment.

• River ward councillor Riley Brockington says the original owners went bankrupt but the current owners have not yet found financing to finish the project.

• Duncan Roi in the Algonquin Times

•  

OTTAWAN OF THE DAY

• Matthew Larkin 

• Considered one of the top Anglican organists in Canada, Larkin is now playing the instrument for one of Ottawa’s smallest Catholic congregations.

• The Annunciation parish on Somerset Street is a former Anglican church that took up Pope Benedict XVI’s invitation to join Catholicism but keep its Anglican traditions. 

• Here’s a collection of videos of Larkin playing. Some are religious, obviously, but also Bette Midler’s The Rose  and Elton John’s Little Jeannie.

• Deborah Gyapong in the Catholic Register   

QUOTE

• To be honest, I think maybe it’s tree sap. I have no idea, but it’s bonkers.

• –  Ottawa resident Britney Gordon on end-of-summer aggressiveness by wasps. This time of year is when wasps are most annoying, say experts.

•  – Dave Charbonneau at CTV

• 

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  WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

  Planning and Housing Committee
  Wednesday, September 17 at 9:30 am

  • Zoning By-law amendment – 3055 Richmond Road

  • Stittsville South future neighbourhood Official Plan Amendment

  Agenda

  

  WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

  🏠 Mayor Mark Sutcliffe promises to end youth homelessness within five years. Sutcliffe did not specify how this would happen but said actions would be included in the upcoming City budget. The mayor says there are between 50 and 100 homeless youths in Ottawa.– CBC

  
  ⚒️ The City is looking for your opinions on a proposed new renoviction bylaw. Renovictions are evictions of tenents by landlords when suites require repairs or renovations. Some landlords have been accused of using a renoviction as an excuse to evict long term tenents in order to re-rent the property at a higher rate.

  The bylaw will require landlords to:

  • Obtain a City-issued licence whenever they issue an eviction notice for renovations and repairs
  • Demonstrate that it is necessary for the tenant to leave the rental unit to conduct the renovation or repair work

  But the City also wants hear about ‘renovation-related evictions that have been happening in Ottawa and how they are impacting residents, families and housing affordability’.

  There is a questionnaire on Engage Ottawa until October 31.

  There will also be three open houses to meet with City staff:

  • Wednesday, September 17, 6 to 8pm at Jim Durrell Recreation Centre
  • Thursday, September 18, 6 to 8pm at Tom Brown Arena
  • Thursday, September 25, 4:30 to 6:30pm at CardelRec Recreation Centre

   – City of Ottawa

  
  🐌  The City’s auditor general says that housing starts are being bogged down by bottlenecks after projects are approved. A report by the auditor general’s office said that efforts to streamline approvals for new housing construction has worked, however, the wait time for post-approval paperwork and permits has risen from 284 days to 649 days. – Paula Tran in the Ottawa Citizen

  
  🌊  The Museum of History is closed due to a watermain break at the intersection of Laurier Street and Allumettières Boulevard. The City of Gatineau has not given a timeline of when it will turn off the river. – Natasha Baldin in the Ottawa Citizen

  

  THE DAILY POLL

  Which critters are the worst?

  The end of the summer wasps

  The beginning of the summer mosquitoes

  The mid-summer dock spiders

  The various bugs that move into the house once it gets cold

  • 
    Previously in ottawan polls:

  • We asked, ‘Should Ottawa have a maximum temperature law for rental units?’

    • 45%  Yes, we do it for minimum temperatures, we should do it for maximum ones

    • 16%  No, it’ll just add costs to rent or take units off the market

    • 39% Let the market decide. People can rent an apartment or not.

  • 
    Commentary

  ▪️ “It should be phased implementation with mandatory A/C for all new rental units and gradual implementation over 15 years starting by newer units (easier to upgrade) to the older ones.”
  
  ▪️ “Heat death or severe injury happens fast at lower temperatures than you might think when it’s also humid — as it gets here. This is the result of delayed climate action — now business/landlords will have to pay to adapt.”
  
  ▪️ “Global warming means that air conditioning should no longer be considered as a luxury.”
  
  ▪️ “Buildings that were built before the onset of climate change may be difficult to retrofit and should get some help.”
  
  ▪️ “20 years ago I would have said no. Today, absolutely.”
  
  ▪️ “I think it should be considered a basic human right.”
  
  ▪️ “I’m pretty sure we'll see a dividing line in this poll; home owners and landlords on one side, and renters on the other.”
  
  ▪️ “Hot temperatures are just as much a danger as cold temperatures. If a landlord isn’t willing to upkeep to insulate properties properly, they are always welcome to sell those properties :).”
  
  ▪️ “The number of units offered without air conditioning in this city with hot humid summers is ridonkulous. I fully support the limit, landlords be damned.”
  
  ▪️ “Too much regulation hardly ever works.”
  
  ▪️ “I think we should but am concerned as we don't want to lose rental units. Not everyone can afford an air conditioner or to pay the hydro for one. I see both sides ... can you tell I'm a Libra!!!”
  
  ▪️ “I highly doubt all landlords would heat their rentals to safe standards if it wasn’t mandated. Set a maximum temperature, give tenants some kind of recourse like they do for minimums.”
  
  ▪️ “100% With global warming the temperatures are only going to continue to increase so being in extreme heat puts peoples lives at risk.”

  

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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

  • ✳️ Presale tickets for Reuben and the Dark, who play National Arts Centre on November 29, are now on sale. Use the code Reuben25 until September 17. https://arts.nac-cna.ca/en/promo

  • Kanata Theatre takes on Ira Levin’s 1978 murder comedy Deathtrap, which is running until September 20 (Sunday). 

  • The Gardeners play folk and country with an emphasis on harmony driven vocals and steel-stringed rhythms. Avant-Garde Bar at 7:00 pm. 

  • ByTowne Cinema: À bicyclette (Ride Away!), Mexican Independence Day Screening: Cronos, Honey Don’t!  

  • Mayfair Theatre: Relay, The Naked Gun, Jaws

    Gigs

  • Between the Buried and Me, Hail The Sun. Bronson Centre

  • Morgan Wade. Algonquin Commons Theatre

  • Chris & Kat. Night Oat

  • Trivia Night. Pour Boy

  WEDNESDAY

  • Today’s Doors Open for Music at Southminster noon concert explores the ‘Nature of Sound’, with Passamano Trio performing works by Philippe Gaubert, Astor Piazzolla, and Felix Mendelssohn.

  • Harvest: A Feast of Fall is finally here. Grab one of the final remaining tickets to the foodie event of the Fall at the Ottawa Art Gallery, and savour bites from 18 of Ottawa's top chefs. 

  • Ottawa is joining the ranks of North American cities that will hold The Summer I Turned Pretty season finale watch parties. The venue is Boston Pizza, 521 Hunt Club Road; the time is 6:30 pm. 

  • Hardcore salsa bachata dancers, bring your cash entry fee to Pure Havana for three hours of social dancing (no workshop). 

  • Ottawa jazz saxophonist Peter Woods brings a smooth vibe to Wednesday Night Swings at Bar Robo. 

  • What will likely be the final Akoustik Summer Music Series concert in Vanier will feature Sophie D'Orleans and Beau Nectar. St. Charles Market, 135 Barrette St. 

  • ByTowne Cinema: Honey Don’t! Friedas Fall - Swiss Embassy Screening. A Better Tomorrow II 

  • Mayfair Theatre: The Naked Gun, Paper City, Relay 

    Gigs

  • Mélissa Ouimet. National Arts Centre

  • Night Oat Jam Session with Peter Hum Trio. Night Oat

  • Big Sis. Club SAW

  • Girls to the Front wth Jamie Anderson, Alanna J. Brown, and host Kristine St. Pierre. Irene’s Pub

  • Korn. Canadian Tire Centre

  THURSDAY

  • The 2025 edition of One World Bazaar opens in Manotick. 

  • Urban Art Collective continues the Hintonburg Night Market, where you can find art, locally crafted products, and something delicious to eat. 

  • The first 10 customers through the door at Aurelius. will receive a goodie bag worth $36. 

  • Liverpudlian sibling dance party enthusiasts Big Sis play Club SAW. https://admitone.com/events/big-sis-ottawa-10060954 

  • Atlético Ottawa take on Vancouver FC in the Canadian Championship Semifinals. 

  • Talented improvisers will create and perform a brand new musical using suggestions from audience members, right before your eyes. Red Bird from 8:00 pm. 

  • 🎺 Road Trip: Take a drive to Metcalfe for a groovy little outdoor gig in Victoria Park featuring The Fuse, a young R&B-Rock band with its own five-piece horn section. 

  • ByTowne Cinema: Free Screening: Tempête, À bicyclette (Ride Away!), Ciné-Club d'Ottawa - Prodigieuses, Ciné-Club d'Ottawa - Vingt Dieux 

  • Mayfair Theatre: Naked Ambition, Malevych  

    Gigs

  • Gabriel Iglesias: The 1976 Tour. Canadian Tire Centre

  • Van Joe, BOSS_KEY, Piss The Bed, Jesse Dangerously. House of TARG

  • Brazilian Jazz. Night Oat

  JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

  • Grapes of Wrath and the Northern Pikes play the Canadian Museum of History (if they can wring out the water) on September 26, as part of the Retro exhibition. 

MADE IN CANADA DEALS OF THE DAY

Save 15% on socks in the Great Canadian Sox Shop’s Friends and Family Sale. Remember, these socks are ‘born in Canada.’

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

• Chelsea residents now know what to call themselves.

• Moving to Chelsea three years ago, Stéphane Tremblay discovered that the 150 year-old town had no denonym for residents, and set about fixing that.

• After convincing the municipality that this was a question that needed answering, Chelsea ran a survey last May on what residents would like to call themselves.

• And yesterday, Mayor Pierre Guénard proclaimed that henceforth,the residents of Chelsea would be Chelsiens and Chelsiennes.

• Maude Ouellet at Radio-Canada (In French)

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.