Hello Ottawa

STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

• 4

• Where Ottawa lies on a list of Ontario’s costliest cities for vehicle theft claims, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. That’s up from sixth place last year.

• – Natasha O’Neill at CityNews

OTTAWAN OF THE DAY

• Morgan Bello 

• The vice president, strategy and chief of staff of the National Capital YMCA has just returned from ‘six gruelling days cycling through the Sahara Desert at the Škoda Titan Desert Morocco — raising over $20,000 for local youth’.

• Saturday, he’ll be the grand marshall of Y Ride for Youth, raising funds for the YMCA’s Second Stage Housing Program for Youth. The free, family-friendly bike ride meets at First National Tree Day Memorial Park at 5:00 pm.

• – Register Here

QUOTE

“

• I said, ‘What a beautiful duck’

– Bird photographer Danielle Lefrançois on the joy of birding, in an article by Iya Mendoza in the Ottawa Citizen on Ottawa’s elevation to Bird Friendly city last week.

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WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

THE DAILY POLL

How are you feeling about the new OC Transpo general manager?

🔘 I feel like he is a go-getter and things are going to turn around

🔘 I think the new boss is same as the old boss and I won’t get fooled again

🔘 Anyone who is actually putting more vehicles on the rails rather than removing them gets my support

🔘 He lucked out. Transit staff have been working on fixing things for months before he got here

🔘 No leader is serious about transit unless he gives up his or her’s driver’s licence

• 
  Previously in OTTAWAN polls:

• 
  We asked ‘Who is your favourite professional Ottawa sports team’

  • 40% Ottawa Charge

  • 22% Ottawa Senators

  • 16% Ottawa Redblacks

  • 3% Ottawa Blackjacks

  • 4% Ottawa Rapid

  • 7% Atlético Ottawa

  • 8% Ottawa Titans
    
    Commentary

▪️ “The Charge deliver an exciting hockey game. They have so much ♥️, and they show their fans so much love. Go Charge Go!”

▪️ “Women’s hockey; the best!”

▪️ “The Ottawa Black Bears were left off your list. They’re my fave.”

▪️ “We’ve been season ticket holders since the first PWHL deposits went live and it’s the most exciting hockey with the best fan base in the city!”

▪️ “The Charge are the only winners amongst the bunch of teams we have. How I long for the Ottawa Rough Riders!”

▪️ “It’s all about Canadian football .... and why we can’t get ALL the games on regular TV ... we can’t all afford TSN.”

▪️ “Girls power!”

▪️ “Nice to see fans showing a huge interest in baseball again. Let’s hope for a great season and great fan support.”

▪️ “Charge and Atletico.”

▪️ “I’m all charged up about the Ottawa Charge * insert kazoo sounds here *”

▪️ “Love CFL football, but it needs to stop adopting US style. Much faster and skilled game with Canadian rules.”

▪️ “So close to call. So many great teams to pick from.”

▪️ “Philips forever!!!!”

▪️ “Go Charge Go! Walter cup, here we come!”

HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS

Nortel T-Shirt Northern Electric was founded in Montréal in 1895, growing into one of the world’s largest and most important telecom companies. Nortel hung up the phone in 2013. It's campus on Carling Avenue became the new home of the Department of National Defence. Help support the ottawan by buying one of our historic logo t-shirts. Shop for t-shirts

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

• ✳️ As we write this, the Evening in the Maritimes ‘Sea Creatures 50/50 Raffle’ take home pot is $400. Martha and Darren challenge our readers and members to help get that number up to $600 by 6:00 pm today. The Raffle closes at 9:00 pm tonight
  
  You can also bid in the Silent Auction, but be quick because bidding closes at 8:30 pm. 

• ✳️ 🆓 Visit the NAC’s Peter A. Herrndorf Place every Thursday in May and June for Jukebox Lunch Concerts. (Downtown)  

• ✳️ Ride the ferris wheel at the Orléans Fun Fair. 

• ✳️ It’s time to get your tickets for Monday night’s (May 18) Montréal Victorie at Ottawa Charge Round 2 Home Game 1 at Canadian Tire Centre. (Kanata)

• Toto Too’s production of the musical drama Fun Home opens at the Gladstone Theatre. Adapted from Alison Bechdel’s eponymous graphic novel, the play won five Tony awards including Best Musical. It's playing Thursday through Sunday until May 23. (Little Italy)  

• At the Canadian Tulip Festival, each day is a little different as more blooms open and reach peak. Wander for free or buy a $5 ticket to The Tulip Trail, which outlines the history of the flower. (Little Italy)

• Urban Art Collective’s Hintonburg Night Market is a weekly shop and hang with vendors selling all manner of cool items. Drop by to kickstart your weekend. 

• Head to Octopus Books for a double launch: a new collection of short stories by  Ottawa author Ian Roy and the first graphic novel by visiting writer Jon Claytor. (The Glebe) 

• Saunders Farm’s new Tulipfest offers photo-worthy backdrops of more than 500,000 flowers. 

• Learn the incredible history of Beechwood Cemetery, also known as Canada's National Cemetery, at the launch of the new book The Journey of Beechwood Cemetery : Canada's Legacy Written in Stone. (Vanier) 

• Ottawa Little Theatre’s production of Mark Crawford’s The Birds and The Bees continues. (Sandy Hill)   

• Moulin Rouge! The Musical continues at National Arts Centre. (Downtown)  

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Palestine 36, Slumber Party: Dirty Dancing, Drawn In: Ghost in the Shell  

• Mayfair Theatre: The Christophers, Mile End Kicks  

Gigs

• Robert Claro. The Robo Lounge

• Ariel Posen. Club SAWSport, Aspect Lisse, The Hunt Club. LIVE on Elgin

• The Hirs Collective, Subtrash, Cultural Treason. Avant-Garde Bar

• Trivia. Overflow Brewing

FRIDAY

• ✳️ Orléans Fun Fair continues.

• 🆓 Kemptville Buskerfest warms up with a pre-festival party tonight. Free entry but pack some tips for the performers and money for dinner. 

• Those dressed in vintage 1920s-40s style will pay a mere 10 bucks at the door to Ottawa Vintage Swing’s Vintage Party. (Sandy Hill) 

• After you’ve explored the tulips at Commissioner’s Park, wander through SPAO’s ever-evolving, self-guided Photo Walk in nearby Little Italy. 

• Established in 1977, CanGames Tabletop Game Convention takes over Rideau Curling Club today through Sunday. While you can no longer purchase an advance pass, you'll be able to buy one at the door. (Downtown) 

• Join the party for Atlantis Jazz Ensemble's new LP Mystic Suite. Irene's Pub 9:00 pm (The Glebe) 

• If the click of mechanical keyboards intrigues you, be at Next Door Marketing and Event Space on Saturday (May 16) for the Ottawa Mechanical Keyboard Meetup 2026.

• 🆓 The Robo Lounge welcomes Ottawa piano legend Noel Dimar. (The Glebe)  

• Support the local vendors at the Gloucester Night Market at Earl Armstrong Arena. 

• Moulin Rouge! The Musical continues at National Arts Centre. (Downtown)

• Toto Too’s production of Fun Home continues at the Gladstone Theatre. 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: The Wizard of the Kremlin, I Swear, Blue Heron, Restoration: Nowhere 

• Mayfair Theatre: The Christophers, Calle Málaga, The Room

Gigs

•  80s Dance Party. House of TARG

• Flamenco on Tour. Bar Robo

• Steve Hofstetter. Bronson Centre

• The Weeknd Night. The 27 Club

• Thunderslave, Ammo. Avant-Garde Bar

SATURDAY

• The Fray brings their Summer of Light Tour to Hard Rock Ottawa (Gloucester)

• Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish is a family-friendly telling of a story from the Kwantlen First Nation village of Squa’lets (Downtown) 

• After a very long winter, the Log Farm reopens today for a summer season of indoor and outdoor play and interactive experiences of country life. (Nepean) 

• Canadian Tulip Fest continues in Commissioner's Park and around town (Little Italy) 

• Saunders Farm Tulipfest continues (Munster)  

• Dive into the single-afternoon Moonwake: Afterlight short film festival from emerging Canadian filmmakers. (Old Ottawa South) 

• Get your fill of pierogi, sausages, sauerkraut, goulash, and other Polish delicacies at Polish Fest (ByWard Market) 

• Don't forget to tip the street performers at Kemptville Buskerfest. 

• If the click of mechanical keyboards intrigues you, be at Next Door Marketing and Event Space on Saturday (May 16) for the Ottawa Mechanical Keyboard Meetup 2026.  

• Orléans Fun Fair continues 

Cinema

• ByTowne Cinema: Last One For The Road, Spectacle: Where Is the Friend’s House?, The Wizard of the Kremlin, Detour: Collateral  

• Mayfair Theatre: Moonwake: Afterlight Short Film Festival, Calle Málaga, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Saturday Night Sinema  

Gigs

• Brian Wallin and the Sexy Crime Fighting Band. Irene’s Pub

• Joel Sauve. Hard Rock Ottawa

• Stone's Throw. The Black Sheep Inn (Wakefield) 

• Switched-On synths. House of TARG

• Gully Boys. LIVE on Elgin

• Eternal Rest. Avant-Garde Bar

• Emo Night Ottawa (with live bands). The 27 Club

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• Cirquonscient’s Night at the Gallery imagines what happens in an art gallery once the patrons go home. Friday May 22 at uOttawa’s LabO Theatre. (Sandy Hill) 

• BEING Studio’s annual spring shopping experience happens May 31 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Browse sculpture, paintings, tote bags, and more, all made by artists at the studio. (The Glebe) 

DEALS OF THE DAY

Best sellers are up to 50% off in the Melanie Auld Jewelry Anniversary Sale.

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BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

Yesterday, the police department of the City of Gatineau proudly announced a new logo, replacing the one below.

with this one ...

but then some people noticed that the bird part of the logo is used as an example of minimal logo design on the Adobe photoshop blog.

Further, that bird is also used on the logo for an air cargo consulting company in Miami called Air Jet International.

Gatineau police say that the city’s communications department created the logo, which was selected by police staff from two options, and that it will return to the old logo.

The department did not say what a bird had to do with Gatineau.

– Ted Raymond at CTV  

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.