HELLO OTTAWA

? Happy Earth Day

In the middle of a lockdown, how can we Ottawans celebrate Earth Day? How about taking a walk to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. What if you don’t have access to a trail? Green Ottawa says it’s easy to enjoy walking in the middle of the city when you choose the right time of day. The morning will give you the bluest skies, for example. The site also gives great advice on the best footwear for your journey. 

▪️ Learn about urban naturalization and pollinating plants tonight from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Ecology Ottawa is holding a webinar and launching their fundraising sale of native pollinator plants. 

▪️ Also at 6:00pm tonight, City Love Flowers will go live on Instagram to share its community impact vision. City Love Flowers, which calls itself a Sustainable Florist, is a floral design studio merged with a social enterprise that aims to help communities in Ottawa. Learn how the business uses its Flower Fund to donate flowers to people in need of the restorative effects of fresh-cut, locally grown flowers.

▪️ Ottawa’s Terra20 is marking Earth Day giving away three Waste Reducing Sets. The packages include flower seeds, a mesh produce bag, a water bottle, and reusable cloth, straws, and facial rounds. Follow them on Instagram to get entrance details. Terra20 is also offering 20% off waste reducing products until April 25. 

▪️ Want a discount on beer? It’s easy with Dominion City Brewing. They’re offering 15% off your next order with a submission of your Earth Day Act of Green. All you have to do is something good for the planet (they suggest planting a pollinator-friendly garden), take a photo, tag it #greendrinkup and DM the brewery. In response you’ll get a discount code. Even better, you’ll be entered into a giveaway to win beer and merch from over 20 Ontario craft breweries and businesses. The event runs today through Sunday April 25.

▪️ Calabogie Brewing’s manager uses her used plastic takeaway containers to sprout seedlings, and here at the Ottawa we’re big fans of that practice (check our stories for pics of our tiny basil and strawflower seeds - we’re so excited!). 

Mother’s Day

Bar from Afar has put together a Mother’s Day Kit of eight Mom-friendly cocktails. Each kit contains ingredients for Flowers for Mom (vodka based with elderflower), Breakfast in Bed (sparkling rosé with pink lemonade), Maw Tai (rum and overproof rum), and Breakfast Martini (gin based, of course!), all for $130. Available in Ottawa and Toronto on May 7 and 8. Finish off this loving gift idea with a set of vintage glasses. 

We'll see you tomorrow – Martha and Darren

?️ Do you know something that Ottawa should hear about? Email to us at [email protected] We read every single comment.

#STATS

Weather: ❄️ 30 per cent chance of snow. High of 5, low of 1°

Number: 2539. The number of people who have voted for LEGO to create a block version of VIA Rail’s The Corridor, the train that runs through Ottawa between Quebéc City and Windsor. If LEGO gets 10,000 votes, they'll make the kit for sale. [LEGO Ideas]

Ottawan of the Day: Diana Devine. Devine runs a marthon every year, raising money for Threads of Life, in memory of her father. [CTV] [Donate] 

Quote: “Of course, dear. I worked in the service during the [Second World] war. I gave needles. I’m ready!” – A 100 year-old woman in Ottawa on whether she was ready to be one of the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Ottawa Magazine has a long-read on Ottawa rolled out the vaccine. [Ottawa Magazine]

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

? 4,131,882 doses have been administered in Ontario

At this rate, it will take 15 weeks to give each Ontarian one dose each

Info from Vaccination tracker by Andrew Lam (@socialvizcanada)

? Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines delivery tracker
Federal Goverment database listing predicted future deliveries

? Public Health Reports:

COVID-19 NEWS

⭕ Mayor Jim Watson, Police Chief Peter Sloly, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vera Etches all agree – the Province must consult with them before issuing any more major pandemic measures. [CBC]

+ Related The Transit commission wants the Province to prioritize transit workers for vaccination. 106 OC Transpo staffers have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began, out of 3,000 workers. 

+ Related Dr Vera Etches wants all non-essential businesses to be closed provincewide, including curbside service.

⭕ Dr Vera Etches says that she did not recommend the K2V postal code as a COVID-19 hotspot. Health Minister Christine Elliott had earlier suggested that the area was chosen on Etches recommendation. The Kanata area, in Minister of Long-Term Care Merrilee Fullerton’s riding, has one of the lowest COVID-19 rates in the city but hot spot status means enhanced access to vaccines. [CBC]

⭕ COVID-19 has put a record number of pregnant women into the intensive care unit. [CBC]

+ Related The Chief Medical Officer of Ontario has ordered a halt to all non-emergency surgeries in order to free up beds for COVID-19 patients

⭕ Sources say that Premier Doug Ford and his cabinet were at odds over the overreach and the constitutionality of the latest COVID-19 restrictions.  [CTV]

⭕ A child at the Foster Farm Child Care Centre has tested positive for COVID-19. The Centre will be closed for 14 days. [CTV]

 ? The Canada COVID Alert App

Be alerted if you have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. 

? How It Works       [Apple App Store]      [Google Play Store]

#WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

▪️ The Redblacks hope to have 4,500 fans in the stands in the autumn. The CFL is planning an August 5 start date, with the Grey Cup held December 12 and all parties are assuming that such public gatherings will be allowed by then. [Ottawa Sun]

▪️ OC Transpo is once again providing statistics – after a six-year break. The stats show a great improvement in service during a year that had few passengers – fewer late buses, faster answering of phone calls, even the elevators were operating 100% in 2020. The next one, published in autumn, will be more interesting as it will compare like-for-like. [CBC] [The Stats]

▪️ Ottawa Police have released a photo of a car in hopes of solving a 2016 murder. The dark sedan was caught on security cameras around Loretta Avenue and Gladstone Avenue. 17-year-old Leslie Mwakio was shot in his Jeep in December 2016.  [Ottawa Citizen]

▪️ Ottawa Centre MP Catherine McKenna is in favour of the National Capital Commission taking more responsibilty for transit in the region.  The Federal Budget created two new offices for the NCC to examine a Gatineau - Ottawa tram and for a sixth bridge. Gatineau is generally in favour of greater coöperation but Ottawa thinks its Federal encroachment. [Ottawa Citizen]

▪️ It's the final day to vote for Single of the Year, Video of the Year, and the Virtual Performance of the Year in the Capital Music Awards.  [Capital Music Awards] 

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?️ Email [email protected] We read every single comment.