Hello Ottawa

STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

• 10,278 

• The number of tickets sold by the Ottawa Titans to its home opener May 8, the first sell out of the stadium since 2002. 

• The team has also bested the Frontier league ticket sale record by 22. 

• – Marissa Galko in the Ottawa Business Journal

• ↪ Mayor Mark Sutcliffe raised the Ottawa Charge flag at City Hall today as the team enters the playoff race.

OTTAWAN OF THE DAY

• Sarah Wozniewicz

• The ‘Wizard of Woz’ has set a new Ottawa Charge rookie record, with 13 points including seven goals for the forward..

• – Chris Sinclair in the Hockey News

QUOTE

• Every serious allied nation locates its defence coordination infrastructure in its capital

– Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, Mayor of Gatineau, in an open letter arguing that the the Capital is the best choice for the headquarters of NATO’s new defence bank.

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WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

THE DAILY POLL

Do you use artificial intelligence in your job?

🔘 Yes, it's astounding how much rote work it takes off my hands

🔘 I use it but it’s more trouble than it’s worth

🔘 No, but only because of the price

🔘 No, because I’m not going to create the world of The Matrix on my watch

🔘 I wish, then there would be at least some intelligence in my work place

• 
  Previously in OTTAWAN polls:

• 
  We asked, ‘How will the Ottawa Charge do in the playoffs?’

  • 6% Out in the semi-finals

  • 15% Win the semi-finals, but fall in the finals

  • 31% All the way to the Walter Cup, baby!

  • 10% No. Just no. Our hearts have been broken far too many times to allow hope

  • 38% You know City Hall is praying for a quick ouster so people won’t remember it is cutting back the Charge’s arena seating by 1,500
    
    Commentary

▪️ “They’re cutting the arena seating by 3000 (8500-5500 = 3000).”

▪️ “The team has a good chance for the cup this year having been oh so close last year. Go Charge Go!”

▪️ “Hopefully they will get through to the finish in part due to all of the positive Ottawa energy coming their way!”

▪️ “Have liked that team so much since we were at the very first game at Lansdowne Park a few years ago. Go Charge Go!”

▪️ “I went to see my first Charge game two weeks ago and they beat New York 5-1! They are an amazing team and great to watch. Go Charge go!”

HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS

Talisman Motor Inn T-Shirt The Beachcomber Room tiki bar at the Talisman Motor Inn was where Ottawa swingers could be found in the early 60s Help support the ottawan by buying one of our historic logo t-shirts. Shop for t-shirts

THE ROLLING THREE DAY CALENDAR

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✳️ Means change from previous edition

THURSDAY

• The 6th edition of Axé Worldfest: Empowering Women in the Music Industry Conference begins three days of presentations and showcases with an Opening Networking Mixer followed by the Official Opening Artist Showcase. (Downtown)

• Mountains on Stage presents the best mountain sport films of the year at the Mayfair Theatre  (Old Ottawa South) 

• Road Trip: Wander the attractive streets of Almonte at the Spring Night Market. 

• The Mutchmor Book Sale has more than 20,000 books for browsing. (The Glebe)

• The Spring 2026 edition of Ottawa International Writers’ Festival brings readings, book signings and special events to the midcentury splendour that is Library and Archives Canada. Until Sunday.  (Downtown) 

• The Invisible: Agents of Ungentlemanly Warfare continues at the NAC (downtown)

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: The Christophers, Ciné-Club d'Ottawa: Monsieur Asnavour. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance - 35mm Screening  

• Mayfair Theatre: Modern Whore, Mountains On Stage 

Gigs

• Lynne Hanson. Red Bird

• The Casualties, The Drowns, The Rum Kicks. The 27 Club

• Steve Berndt "Heart of Hearts" album release party. The Robo Lounge

• Bingo night. Broadhead Brewery  

FRIDAY

• Boutique Cornerstone is the annual two-day fundraising pop-up market of gently used high end and fashion forward items. Located upstairs at Thyme & Again (1255 Wellington St.) the event donates 100% of its profits to the Emergency Fund at Cornerstone Housing for Women. Expect an excellent shopping trip: items are priced to sell.

• Today at Ottawa International Writers Festival Spring edition: Author Yasuko Thanh talks about Pizza Before We Die, the collection of Reddit posts by Gaza citizen Hassan Kanafani. Later, Poetry Cabaret with Tareyn Johnson, Kaie Kellough and Jordan Abel. (Downtown) 

• Chamberfest presents a program of Italian and German baroque music performed by Lagrime and Le Consort laurentien. (New Edinburgh) 

• Helping with Furniture’s biggest fundraiser of the year is also its glitziest. Dancing Under the Stars is a night of celebration that makes a difference for families. It’s a night of cocktails, dinner, a silent auction, and of course dancing. (Confederation Heights)

• CBC’s Matt Gower hosts Friday Night Folk Night at Art House. (Centretown)

• If you’re all wound up, try the Flower Moon Flow & Kirtan: A Full Moon Experience, for music and movement under the May Flower Moon. (Orléans)

• It’s opera in a bar. Operatic Revelry returns to Rainbow Bistro to explore Moral Crossroads: the dilemmas faced by the genre’s biggest characters.  

• Learn to Swing dance with Ottawa Swing Dance Society, then put your newfound skills to the test with an evening of social dancing. 

Continuing

• Day 2 of the Axé Worldfest conference and showcase: Yoga by Yanira Heredia, Career Development Session with Natalie Bernardin, Artist Pitching Brunch, Meet the Axé Team, Breaking Into South America: Brazil & Colombia, Building Inclusive Music Ecosystems: Programming, Power & Representation (Europe, Canada & USA), performances. Arts Club and National Arts Centre (Downtown)  

• The Invisible: Agents of Ungentlemanly Warfare (downtown)  

• The Mutchmor Book Sale raises funds for the school. Cash and credit cards are accepted. (The Glebe)

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Amrum, Calle Málaga, Erupcja

• Mayfair Theatre: Kontinental 25, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Nirvanna the Band, the Show, the Movie  

Gigs

• 80s Dance Party. 27 Club

• The Ed Lister Group with Alex Moxon, Tribute to Woody Shaw. Night Oat

• 80s Dance Party. House of TARG

• Leith Ross: I Can See The Future Tour. Bronson Centre

SATURDAY

• It's Day 2 of Boutique Cornerstone

• You’ll dine on brunch charcuterie boxes as you create your own bouquet at Brunch and Bouquet Vibes from Nonna’s Famous Pizza. (Little Italy)

• Last night’s first of Stretch Orchestra’s two-night residency at the Robo Lounge sold out. There’s a handfull of tickets for tonight’s show. This Juno-award winning band has worked with Tom Waits, Sheryl Crow, and k.d. lang.  (The Glebe)

• The Canterbury Trebles Women's Ensemble performs Happy Together: Barbershop Choruses and Quartets. (The Glebe) 

• Crafters and sewists: the Hintonburg Fabric Flea Market is back with everything you need for your project, at great prices. 

• Councillor Laura Dudas will host a tree planting session in 1754 St. Joseph Blvd from 9:00 am. (Orléans)

• At Day 3 of Axé Worldfest conference and showcase at Arts Court and National Arts Centre:  Songwriter Kellylee Evans, Meet the Funders and Grant Writing Round Table: Insights from Public Funding,  Changing A Culture: Building a Future with Fair Wages and Paid Performances for Artists in Canada, Global Network for Women and Non-Binary Music Producers, Networking guided tour to the Canadian Museum of History, and evening performances emceed by Sarah Onyango 

Garage Sales

• Trend Arlington (9:00am to 1:00pm) 

• Blackburn Hamlet (8:00 am to 2:00) 

Book Sales

• Knox Presbyterian Church’s Book Sale aims to raise funds for a new roof. (Golden Triangle) 

• Mutchmor Book Sale (The Glebe)

• Adrienne Clarkson Elementary School (Barrhaven) 

• Meet 85 local famers and vendors at the Cumberland Farmers Market Spring Market. While you're there, visit the Seedling Sale. (Cumberland) 

• Road Trip: Take a short trip to North Grenville for Art on County Road 44, an indoor-outdoor exhibition and sale by 20 local artists and complimentary wine tastings all at Green Gables Vines Winery. 

• Parkdale United Church Orchestra presents a programme about the theme of Water. Listen to pieces by Christine Donkin, Dvořák, and Debussy. (Parkdale) 

• Get down to all your faves, from MGM musicals to 60s through 80s hits, in the National Capital Concert Band’s Top of the Pops concert. Admission is by donation.  (Westboro) 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Amrum, The Zone: Stalker, Calle Málaga, Oldboy 

• Mayfair Theatre: Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Rushmore 

Gigs

• Tilda and The Ethics. Irene’s Pub

• Lowest of the Low. Bronson Centre

• The Windup. Hard Rock Ottawa

• Robert Robert. Minotaure

• Steve Poltz. Red Bird

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• Six of the area’s top restaurants will go head to head in the 2nd annual Street Food Showdown in Westboro Village on Saturday, June 6. You’ll sample, you'll vote, and just maybe you’ll win a gift card to spend at one of those restaurants. 

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MADE IN CANADA DEALS OF THE DAY

Use the code 0RPFFNQGT46Q to save $10 on your order from Made In Canada brand Loko Sport.

Hides in Hand has added four new colours to its range of Original Ballet Slippers in deerskin leather. Get them for 15% off when you use the code MAMA15.

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

The Ottawa Sun doesn’t get a lot of links from THE OTTAWAN, they just have different priorities.

But Vanessa Chiasson has written an OTTAWAN-worthy piece on Ottawa’s unusual libraries.

Chiasson highlights the Ottawa Outdoor Gear Library, the Dementia Society Lending Library,  Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library,  Art Lending of Ottawa,  Ottawa Tool Library, and the toy libraries of the Parent Resource Center, the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre, the Orleans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre, and Centre des Services Communautaires Vanier.

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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.