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Friday, November 10 2023

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HELLO OTTAWA

In three weeks, it will be one year since the Ottawa Light Rail Transit Public Inquiry released its damning report on poor decision-making by the City over the building of the O Train. 

There were many embarassing facts revealed: City staff’s efforts to keep City Council uninformed of problems with safety, the City Manager’s efforts to prevent the public from seeing the true picture, and the lack of interest by the City in looking at alternatives in the planning stages.

The ‘quick takeaway’ by the Commission was:

  • Governments must examine all delivery models when building infrastructure
     
  • Project owners and builders should use proven designs and technologies for complex infrastructure projects
     
  • [The contracted maintainer] should fix unresolved problems, with the City’s collaboration

 

In other news, last night, City Council approved the Lansdowne 2.0 project, requiring the City to borrow $213.7 million for the benefit of privately owned Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group. New debt service by the City will be $16.4 million a year for 40 years.

Council members passed the vote 16-9, with almost all inner city ward councillors voting no and all rural and suburban councillors voting yes.

Map from @Kiel_Coyle

We have declared the 96 award winners and runners-up in Restaurants, Shops + Services, Culture, Media, and People + Places. The results are unimpeachable.

Here are the people’s picks for the Best of Ottawa 2023.

– Martha and Darren

TODAY’S LINE UP

  •  Ottawa Stats
  •  City Hall Agenda
  •  What Ottawa is Talking About
  •  Events
  •  Deals of the Day

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OTTAWA STATS

    Number 

    • $160,000
    • – The proposed budget for the Night Mayor, who is expected to bring fun to Ottawa’s nightlife. (Josh Pringle at CTV)

    Ottawan of the Day

    • Melissa Lamb
    • –  The broadcaster returns to the national programme CTV Morning Live on Monday. (CTV Ottawa)

    Quote 

    • 15% off ALL hobbies, games & kids!

    • – The subject line of a marketing email to us from DeSerres art supply store in St Laurent Centre. They in fact do not have a weekend sale on rugrats but you can take 15% off kids' products. Consider this your bonus Deal of the Day. (DeSerres)

     

    Sports

    • 🏒 NHL Ottawa Senators 2 – Vancouver Canucks 5 last night

    CITY HALL AGENDA

    What’s going on at City Hall.
     

    No meetings scheduled for Monday.

    WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

    💥 Ottawa Fire Service

    •  A fire in a house near the airport has cost a woman her life. The woman was transported from the house on Bowesville Road between Earl Armstrong and Rideau roads died from her injuries. One man was hospitalized for smoke inhalation and a second man was treated on the scene. Neighbours reported hearing explosions but the Ottawa Fire Service says that the incident is still under investigation – other things, such as tires popping from the heat can sound like explosions. (CBC)

    🛣️ Commemorative Street 

    •   A new street will be named for Captain Thomas George Fuller, a veteran of the Second World War. A member of the still-existing Fuller Construction family, in 1939 he sold his shares to a partner for $1 to enlist in the navy where he was nicknamed ‘the Pirate of the Adriatic’ for his revolution in small boat warfare. After the war, he commanded HMCS Naden then HMCS Carleton here in Ottawa. Fuller died in 1994. The street, named as part of the City’s Veterans’ Commemorative Street Naming Programme, will be located in the new Queensview Drive development. (City of Ottawa)

      ➕ Related Andrew Duffy in the Ottawa Citizen tells the ‘tragic wartime story of Ottawa’s namesake destroyer, HMCS Ottawa’ in the Second World War.

    🏒 The Sens

    •  The rumour mill has come up with five names that may be a possible new general manager for the Sens. The names are: Shawn Horcoff (Detroit Red Wings assistant general manager), Mathieu Darche (Tampa Bay Lightning executive), Peter Chiarelli (St. Louis Blues vice president), John Ferguson Jr. (Arizona Coyotes assistant general manager), and Ryan Bowness (Ottawa assistant general manager). Former general manager Pierre Dorion left the team after a Rube Goldberg-esque series of events that botched a trade of a player to Las Vegas. ( Abhilasha Aditi at SportsSkeeda)

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    MORE FROM THE OTTAWAN

    EVENTS

    The event submission form seems to be broken. Email your events to us at ‘events@theottawan.com’ while we fix it.

     

    Today

    •  Tonight, staff from the Ottawa Humane Society will be staying after hours to participate in An Evening of Care, the annual event that honours one of the society’s beloved volunteers, the late Julie Laporte. Doctors and staff will be providing spay, neuter and dental procedures for the animals in need, reducing the internal surgical waitlist. The team’s time is donated, but the procedures cost money. Donations are welcome.
    •  Come for the art, stay for the experience. Allsaints Event Space presents Artissima, an art show to launch of what organisers are calling “a groundbreaking event that promises to redefine the city’s cultural landscape.” The show’s Gala opening tonight will feature the work of 14 Canadian artists, which will be on view until Sunday (November 12). Tickets include canapés, a welcome cocktail, and a tax receipt for $50.
    •  The Ottawa Writers Festival presents Jann Arden in conversation with Alan Neal, in a discussion about Arden's debut novel The Bittlemores. Chateau Laurier Ballroom.
    •  Expect the usual Friday night good times at Friday Swing Dance, presented by the Ottawa Swing Dance Society. Don’t know the moves? Come early for a the hour-long lesson at the start of the night. 174 Wilbrod St.
    •  If Salsa rhythms are more your jam, check out Rahim Salsa Friday at St. John’s Parish Hall, 275 Elgin St.
    •  Crave Food & Wine Festival returns with two days of some of the city’s finest food and drink, plus a series of masterclasses with top chefs, mixologists, and wine makers. November 10 and 11 at Shaw Centre.
    •  Studio Space Ottawa will be opening its doors to the public on November 10 and 11 (Friday and Saturday) for the 3rd Annual Open Studio + Art Sale. See how the artists work and perhaps buy yourself a piece of locally crafted art in the disciplines of painting, drawing, textile, mixed media, photography, sculpture, installation, metalwork, or ceramic.
    •  Today is the deadline to complete the Ottawa Public Library’s Survey. The OPL wants to know what Ottawans think, feel, and know about its services. In exchange for 10 to 15 minutes of your time (and your email address), the OPL will enter you into a draw to win one of 100 $50 Visa gift cards.
    •  The revival of The Last Epistle of Tightrope Time is an opportunity to witness the final chapter of Walter Borden’s long-running one man show that reflects upon the life of a Black homosexual man. Until tomorrow (November 11) at the Azrieli Studio, the National Arts Centre.
    •  Les Grands Ballets Canadiens perform Cinderella with the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Until Saturday in Southam Hall.
    •  Shop for clothes, crafts, Diwali knickknacks and delicious food at Diwali Mela today and Saturday at Nepean Sportsplex.
    •  Explore the work of 26 artists potters, and ceramicists at 260 Fingers, the exhibition and sale at the Glebe Community Centre. Tonight from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm and tomorrow from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. 
    •  Do some Friday night festive shopping at the Gloucester Night Market, every week until December 22.


      Gigs
    •  Defaillance, Union Thugs, Brutal Play, Good Sick. Dominion Tavern

    •  Y2K Prom Dance Party. Berlin

    •  Parabolus - The Complete Tool Experience. Overflow Brewing Company
       
    •  Cloud of Rock. Irene’s Pub & Restaurant
       
    •  Pony Girl, Louella. Club SAW
       
    •  Kataklysm, Echoes from Beyond, Hatred Reigns, ASFTW. Brass Monkey
       
    •  Indie Rock Night with The Escape Society, the Andy Kaufmans, Nate Silva. Rainbow Bistro
       
    •  Rube & Rake. Art House
       
    •  Dom Louis. Mavericks


    Tomorrow

    Note that most Ottawa businesses will be closed until 12:30 pm in observance of Remembrance Day.


    Sunday

    Monday 

    Just Announced / Now Booking

    •  Enjoy dancing, music, belly dancers and drag performances at Capital Rainbow Refuge’s Freedom Soirée gala. Proceeds will support LGBTQ2S+ refugees. At the Lansdowne Horticulture Building, Friday November 17.
       
    •  The Ultimate Dog Sledding Tour from Aventure Outaouais takes groups of up to 14 people on a day long adventure in the Petite-Nation region. You’ll experience sledding with the dogs and even have a chance at guiding them. You'll also enjoy a guided tour of the Plaissance Falls, eat a warming lunch, and more.
       
    •  Saunders Farm’s Whimsical Winter Wonderland opens December 1 with a collection of new experiences, from ornament and cookie decorating, to Making Reindeer Food for Rudolph & Co. There’s also shopping - choose a wreath and decorate it on site, for example - plus lots of great food, five hedge mazes in which to lose yourself, play structures, and more.
       
    •  Tickets for Nostalgia Music Festival 2024 are now on sale. The line up includes tributes to Pink Floyd, ABBA, Bon Jovi, AC/DC, Eagles, and many more. August 21 - 25 2024 at LeBreton Flats.

    DEALS OF THE DAY

    Wellington Butchery is offering 25% of Australian and Japanese Wagyu steaks until Sunday (November 12). This deal is only available in person. 1333 Wellington St. W.

    Doing its 20th anniversary sale, Rien ne se perd is offering the Baluchon Dress at 20% off. This deal ends November 12.

    Prices will shortly be going up at Londre Bodywear, thanks to increases in manufacturing and shipping. The Vancouver brand’s Biggest Sale Ever is your last chance to get swimwear at reduced prices before they increase. Save 20-70%.

    Spend at least $30 on gorgeous, Toronto-made clothing and decor products at Havyn and save 20%. Use the code NOV20 at checkout to score this deal.

    BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

    A new survey looks at the cities to which people from various countries would like to move. Ottawa makes an appearance once – as the city that people from Newfoundland and Labrador prefer. Ontario, like the majority of provinces,  chose Calgary domestically and Dubai internationally. Ottawa lovers Newfoundland and Labrador however would prefer to move to Doha.

    Truly, the entire thing leaves us asking more questions than it answers.

    RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL

     

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    THE END

    the ottawan is written and edited every work day by Martha and Darren.

    Is there something that Ottawa should know about? Email to us at hello@theottawan.com. We read every single comment. 

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