The Ottawan Newsletter

Hello Ottawa

In Today’s Edition

→ The supportive housing project by the Royal will no longer carry Matthew Perry’s name

→ See Juno-nominated folk stars The Fugatives at the Union Hall in Almonte

→ Deals of the Day are from Westcoast Wildflowers and L.L.Y. Atelier

– Martha and Darren

STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

50,000
The number of potholes fixed so far this year by the City’s ‘Dr Seuss-like’ machine, the Python 5000. Described as the ‘offspring of a combine and a Zamboni with a snake-like robotic arm’, the machine can fix a pothole in three minutes.

Gary Dimmock in the Ottawa Citizen

OTTAWANS OF THE DAY

Drayton Mulindabigwi and Zaynab Mikou
The University of Ottawa students have founded fintech start-up Loop, which ‘helps African students send money abroad while providing education and community’.
– Jhamesha Milord Ashford in Shifter magazine

QUOTE

In the distance, a single, unlovely apartment building dominates a skyline of single-family homes. In the foreground, atop a grey-brown ice sheet pooling with meltwater, is a single, squat conifer, hacked off at its base and lying on its side. Nothing lives here. Good morning Ottawa. Bonjour Ottawa.

– Barry Petchesky in The Defector commenting on how Mayor Mark Sutcliffe’s daily photos posted on Twitter are often quite bleak.

– ‘We Asked The Mayor Of Ottawa Why He Keeps Posting Such Grim Photos’

PLEASE SUPPORT THE OTTAWAN

the ottawan was launched in 2020 as the daily answer to the questions: What’s going on? What should I do? Where is somewhere good to eat?

Please consider joining the many other readers with a monthly, annual, or one-time donation to keep the ottawan on its mission.

All annual or one-time donations over $60 include an ottawan or historic logo t-shirt of their choice.

Membership levels

✅ $5 mo / Technically Beautiful

✅ $10 mo / ByTowner

✅ $20 mo / City that Fun Remembered

✅ $25 mo / Truly ott

✅ Or make a one-time donation

Join Us

WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

Ottawa Police Service Board Finance and Audit Committee
Friday, March 27 at 10:00 am

Financial Status Report-2025 Year End
2026 South Facility Project Update -1st Quarter

Agenda

Whose flag is flying at City Hall today? Bangladesh

City Hall flies the flag of embassies and high commissions on their national days.

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

🛏️ The supportive housing project by the Royal will no longer carry Matthew Perry’s name. The Matthew Perry House Foundation and the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre said the split was amicable but did not give a reason. The project is intended for those ‘who have already completed initial addiction treatment but still need stable housing and community-based supports to maintain their recovery’. – Charlie Senack in the Kitchissippi Times

🏒 The Algonquin Anishinabe Nation and the Sens announce they are working towards a ‘long-term economic partnership’ over LeBreton Flats. Details will be announced when a memorandum of understanding is made. – Josh Pringle at CTV

🚄 The chief executive of Alto, the high speed rail Crown Corporation, has a long Q & A. He doesn’t actually have a lot of answers yet but at least he does seem to understand the questions. – Mélina Lévesque at CBC

🛩️ Start planning your trip to The Hammer as Porter will begin twice daily flights in June. Starting June 22, Porter will fly its Dash 8 propeller planes between Ottawa International and John C. Munro Hamilton International airports. – Travel and Tour World

↪ The Quyon Ferry between Fitzroy Harbour in west Ottawa and Quyon has opened for the year. On the other side is Gavan’s Hotel, where the beer is served in quarts and they have both kinds of music: country AND western.

🚄 Every week Stromanker reads all the grocery store flyers and posts the deals on Ottawa Reddit. This week he finds deals on bacon ($3.28/375g at Food Basics), pineapples ($1.77 at Super C or $2 at Real Canadian Super Store), and eggs ($4.44/18-pack at FoodBasics, $4.99/18-pack at FreshCo, and $5.25/18-pack at No Frills). – /Ottawa

THE DAILY POLL

Should the Mayor post only positive photos?

🔘 Yes, he is our Mayor not our city artist, he should put Ottawa’s best face forward

🔘 No, I’d rather the Mayor have a well rounded view of Ottawa, not one of rose-coloured glasses

🔘 This may be the only original thing a mayor in Canada has done

🔘 What is a Twitter?

🔘 It could be worse, he could be taking pictures of what he has for lunch

Previously in ottawan polls:
We asked, ‘Fine. What is the smartest dog?’
- 7% Small ones
- 12% Big ones
- 6% The ones as big as teenagers
- 16% Beagles / Cockadoodles
- 59% I’m not a dog person and I’m not one of the people ‘hounding’ THE OTTAWAN for equal time with cats
- Commentary

▪️ “Horse.”

▪️ “Honestly, food motivated ones.”

▪️ “All cats (even the white ones) are smarter than dogs.”

▪️ “Not all big dogs of course but quite a few (Sheppards, and Belgian Malinois come to mind) and also some mid sized like the border collie. Love big dogs (they are also less yappy)”

▪️ “I’m not a dog person. If I want smart, I won’t seek a dog. I’ll seek Elon Musk. (OK, I don't know people very well either)”

▪️ “Medium. Aussie shepherds and some huskies are scary smart.”

▪️ “I don’t care how smart your dog is, if it’s not an actual service animal (emotional support doesn’t count), please get out of the grocery store with it.”

▪️ “What happened to medium sized dogs? Or any sized dog?”

▪️ “My experience is that Golden retrievers are pretty smart.”

▪️ “Really?”

▪️ “Even the dumbest dog is smarter than most people!”

▪️ “Honestly, what is with cat haters. I like dogs but I prefer cats, but you won’t see me complaining about annoying dog owners.”

▪️ “Border collies, Poodles, and Shepherds!”

▪️ “I had a beagle growing up, and when it came to ways to procure food she was a genius mastermind and escape artist.”

▪️ “Sorry, cats rule and dogs drool!”

▪️ “Depends on the breed.”

▪️ “A Morkie (a cross between a Maltese and Yorkie) is the best. Especially one called Charlie who developed a taste for European Cheeses.”

HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS

BNR T-Shirt

Bell Northern Research was founded in 1971. In 1996, it was purchased by Nortel and eventually shared that companies fate. The BNR campus in Ottawa was fondly deemed the ‘Big Nerd Ranch’, and is now the headquarters 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

A new exhibition at Ottawa School of Art's Byward Campus explores the traditional and contemporary applications of birch bark in Anishinaabe Algonquin art. Birch Bark: Tradition and Transformation presents works by Simon Brascoupé, Claire Brascoupé, Emily Brascoupé-Hoefler, and Mairi Brascoup. Join the vernissage tonight from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. (Byward Market)
Creator and performer Nawaaz’s show Bol, Brown Boy, Bol weaves storytelling with a musical landscape that merges Indian classical music with 90s Bollywood nostalgia, grunge, rap, and hip hop. Tonight and tomorrow at the Les Lye Studio Theatre. (Nepean)
uOttawa’s Mini Medical School is designed to ‘stimulate and satiate your curiosity about the human body and the many health issues we face as a society’. The lecture series gives a taste of the medical school experience that is accessible to casual, life long learners (and no exams). Thursday evenings until April 30. Ottawa Hospital (Civic Campus)
DIY your own cute-as-heck purse bling at the Charms & Chill - Craft Night Social at Next Door (Little Italy)
VERsefest continues. (Downtown)
& Juliet explores how Shakespeare's tragic heroine might have ended up had she not followed Romeo to the grave. The exuberant musical uses a backdrop of contemporary pop to follow Juliet as she searches for a second chance at a beautiful life. (Downtown)
Greely Players perform Footloose: The Musical at Hard Rock Ottawa, tonight through Sunday. (Gloucester)

Cinema

ByTowne Cinema: Vie Privée (Private Life), The Things You Kill, Secretary
Mayfair Theatre: Hamnet, Sentimental Value, Scarlet

Gigs

Happy Hour with Ali Berkok. The Robo Lounge
July Talk (second night added). Bronson Centre
Sad Girl Café. Gigspace
Questionable Behaviour Trivia. Overflow Brewing
Arenas, Little Junior, Four Eyed Musclemen. House of TARG

FRIDAY

✳️ Orléans Legion's Down East Kitchen Party promises to be a lively one, with singalongs, step dancing, and great food. (Orléans)
Do not miss Juno-nominated Canadian folk stars The Fugatives at Union Hall in Almonte.
Music & Beyond presents one performance only of Matthew Larkin’s Passion Play, with Thirteen Strings and the Caelis Academy Ensemble. (Downtown)
Looking for a TTRPG* group? Meet local game masters at Studio Staja from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.(Lowertown)

*Table top role playing game
Walk Like a Man, is the feel good musical experience featuring the music of Fankie Valli and the Four Seasons. (Orléans) at the Shenkman Arts Centre.
The Dress for Success supportHER sale is open to the public. Friday March 27 and Saturday March 28 (Holland Cross, Westboro)
People of all cultures are welcome at the Round Dance and Indigenous Vendor Fair at ARC Varsity Gym. (Nepean)
& Juliet explores how Shakespeare’s tragic heroine might have ended up had she not followed Romeo to the grave. The exuberant musical uses a backdrop of contemporary pop to follow Juliet as she searches for a second chance at a beautiful life. (Downtown)
If you’ve got a big event coming up, stop by the Rental Revolution Tour pop-up at Hôtel Le Germain, where you'll find handbags and designer gowns ready for rental. You'll find collections from The Fitzoy and Zero Collective, change rooms for try-ons, and stylists on hand for advice. Register now.
The Greely Players present Footloose the Musical. Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Ottawa.

Cinema

ByTowne Cinema: ‘Wuthering Heights’, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, A Magnificent Life, Alpha
Mayfair Theatre: Hamnet, Song Sung Blue, The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Gigs

Legends of Motown. Meridien Theatres at Centrepointe
Petr Concura’s Bolero Western. Night Oat
Jerry Leger. Irene's Pub
Sun Dried Flies with Those Who and Sun Temple. House of TARG
Finely Tuned Elephant ‘No Goats’ album release party. Rainbow Bistro
Minta & The Brook Trout with Sarah Greene and Paul Kolinski, and Gabriel and the Barn Cats. Avant-Garde Bar

SATURDAY

Hit the Sugarbush

🆓 This weekend marks the 41st Annual Vanier Sugar Festival at Vanier Museopark and Richelieu-Vanier Community Centre. If you think it's all about maple syrup you're only partially right. You'll find activities for the whole family, a book sale, community exhibitors, an Indigenous artifacts and experiences station, live music, lumberjack skills competitions, and food and drink that celebrates the sweet stuff.
Save your appetite for the pancake plates at Ferme Proulx Farm, which is open every weekend during the Maple Syrup season. Also available: baked treats, bottled maple syrup, and vegan menu. (Cumberland)
Take a guided walking tour or a sleigh ride through the forest at Fulton’s, then hit the shop for your supply of freshly produced maple syrup. (Pakenham)
There’s an early Easter Egg Hunt at Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm. (Edwards)
Visit the farm animals and sensory play areas at the Log Farm, and you never know, you might be roped into helping with the sap collection. (Nepean)

Plants and book people, you’ll want to visit the Henry Larsen Elementary School for the Used Book & Plant Sale from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm at 1750 Sunview Dr, Orléans, ON K1C 5B3
It’s Marvel Super Hero night Ottawa Black Bears vs. Georgia Swarm lacrosse. The team will sport Deadpool-themed jerseys, and you can bid on game-worn jerseys until April 2, with all proceeds benefiting youth lacrosse initiatives.(Kanata)
Bring your collection obsession to Geeked Out’s Ottawa’s Toy & Collectibles Sale at Nepean Sportsplex.
You’re engaged; congratulations! Now it’s time to take a deep dive into the wedding planning experience. The Ottawa Wedding Show at EY Centre is a great place to start. (YOW)
Road Trip: Disguise your childlike passion for chocolate with the grown up Hummingbird Chocolate Factory Tour and Tasting. You’ll learn about sorting, roasting, cracking and more. And yes, you’ll taste chocolate. Tour attendees also receive a 10% discount purchases. (Almonte)
Jonny Taco, Giant Tiger, Vanna Black and Fresh Air are some of the pros waiting to settle scores at Remix Wrestling’s showdown at Broadhead Brewery. (Orléans)
Crafting, pizza, mocktails, and a dance party; they’re all at Girls Night Out: Spin, Spark & Slice Pizza Party Craft Night at Nonna’s Famous Pizza. This fundraiser will support The Sexual Assault Support Centre Ottawa. (Little Italy)
Can four super-powered teens save the world and survive high school? Find out in the Wayward Improvised Theatre Power Team final. (Downtown)

Cinema

ByTowne Cinema: Exhibition on Screen: Turner and Constable, A Magnificent Life, Alpha, The Loveless (1984)
Mayfair Theatre: To Kill a Mockingbird, Hamnet, Apocalypse Now: Final Cut, Saturday Night Sinema

Gigs

Junk. Rainbow Bistro
Steve Berndt Trio Live! The Robo Lounge
Daniel James McFadyen. National Arts Centre
Ascension Blacklist. Dominion Tavern
Smells Like Nirvana. The 27 Club
Roxanne. Night Oat

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

Road Trip: Let’s look into the future to Saturday April 4, and the kids are going nuts waiting for the Easter Bunny. Hop in the car (see what we did there?!) and head to Arnrpior for the 4th annual Easter Egg Hunt.
Road Trip: Or take the fam to the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario at Smiths Falls, where the Easter Eggspress will offer a ride in a vintage caboose, a petting zoo, and activities. Saturday April 4 and Sunday April 5.

MADE IN CANADA DEAL OF THE DAY

At THE OTTAWAN, we love Canadian-made goods, and we love cats. The L.L.Y. Atelier Foster Initiative is a double win: support the Montréal jewelry brand's Foster Initiative for stray cats, and receive shop discounts.

Save 20% site wide at West Coast Wildflowers when you use the code HELLOSPRING20. (Gift cards and workshops are excluded). Thye've got lots of Made in Canada homewares, clothing, and self-care in their inventory.

SHARE THE OTTAWAN

If you find THE OTTAWAN useful, please share Iwith your friends.

Your referral count: 0

Click to Share

Or copy & paste your personal referral link:

https://theottawan.com/r.php?refer=

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

Thirty years ago, a framed collection of his father’s military service memorabilia was taken from the Northwest Territories home of Brian Earl. The collection included the 1939–1945 Star, the Italy Star, the France and Germany Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and a framed photo of Earl’s father, Kenneth.

Last week he flew from the Yukon and visited a farm in Cobden where military artifact collector and professional restorationist Elroy Sack was able to return the collection to its rightful owner.

Sack had bought the collection as part of a set of items in an auction for $1,800 six years ago and had recently put it up for bid once again. When the auction was placed online, Earl’s daughter recognized her grandfather and told her dad. – Alex Lambert in the Eganville Leader

RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL

What did you think of today’s ottawan?

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great

⭐⭐⭐ Satisfactory

⭐ Needs Improvement

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.

Thursday, 26 March 2026

View Online | Sign Up | Shop

Hello Ottawa

→ The supportive housing project by the Royal will no longer carry Matthew Perry’s name

→ See Juno-nominated folk stars The Fugatives at the Union Hall in Almonte

→ Deals of the Day are from Westcoast Wildflowers and L.L.Y. Atelier

STATISTICS OTTAWA

50,000

Drayton Mulindabigwi and Zaynab Mikou

In the distance, a single, unlovely apartment building dominates a skyline of single-family homes. In the foreground, atop a grey-brown ice sheet pooling with meltwater, is a single, squat conifer, hacked off at its base and lying on its side. Nothing lives here. Good morning Ottawa. Bonjour Ottawa.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE OTTAWAN

Join Us

WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

THE DAILY POLL

🔘 Yes, he is our Mayor not our city artist, he should put Ottawa’s best face forward

🔘 No, I’d rather the Mayor have a well rounded view of Ottawa, not one of rose-coloured glasses

🔘 This may be the only original thing a mayor in Canada has done

🔘 What is a Twitter?

🔘 It could be worse, he could be taking pictures of what he has for lunch

HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS

Shop for t-shirts

THE ROLLING THREE DAY CALENDAR

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

MADE IN CANADA DEAL OF THE DAY

SHARE THE OTTAWAN

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL

What did you think of today’s ottawan?

THE END