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HELLO OTTAWA

There will be a parade of sorts of cyclists, skateboarders, walkers celebrating the opening of the National Capital Commission Active Use parkways tomorrow.

9:45 am Masse critique Gatineau at Maison du citoyen

10:00 am Critical Mass Ottawa at the Canadian War Museum

10:00 am Kidical Mass at City Hall

10:00 am Walkers and people with disabilities at TD Bank Pretoria

10:30 am Board and roller sports at Sylvia Holden Park

Everyone will end up at City Hall at 11:00 am for a community meet up.

Unfortunately, the weather looks wet so dress for rain.

– Martha and Darren

Ottawan of the Day

• Jim McEwen
• – The author of Ottawa Book Award finalist Fearnoch is leading a workshop in Almonte tomorrow. When Only the Moon Rages — The Madness, the Joy, and How to Keep on Writing, is presented by Almonte Readers & Writers.

Quote

• “

• There’s nothing left. It's been transformed from any shred of naturalness

• – Ecological consultant Dan Brunton, who says the ‘ancient, ecological time capsule’ of the Leitrim Wetlands, which became the Findley Creek subdivision south of the airport, has already been destroyed.
  
  The City will be closing Bank Street through the Findlay Creek area for six months starting June to widen the road to four lanes. Findlay Creek’s fish will all need to be removed. (Stu Mills at CBC)

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Sports

• ⚽ CPL Atlético Ottawa 0 – Pacific FC 0 (Canadian Championship quarter final) last Wednesday 

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CITY HALL AGENDA

What’s going on at City Hall

No meetings Monday

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

💰 Development Charges

•  The Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities says that if Ottawa increases development fees, the City could lose out on Federal infrastructure money. City Council will consider increasing the fee charged to new developments next week by 11 per cent. The minister, Sean Fraser, said that municipalities that want access to the $6 billion fund must keep development charges at the same rate they were April 2. (Elyse Skura in the Ottawa Citizen)

⚡ Federal Buildings

•  Two Federal office buildings in Gatineau have been closed in order to test for asbestos. Workers in A1 and A2 of the Place du Portage III towers were told by Public Services and Procurement Canada to stay home as renovation work may have disturbed asbestos. (Faith Greco at CBC)

🇮🇱 Israel National Day

•  A ceremony marking the raising of Israel’s flag for its national day May 14 is back on. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe asked police chief Eric Stubbs and City staff to find a way to make the previously cancelled ceremony happen. The City raises flags on the national days of many of the countries with which Canada has diplomatic relations, but the ceremony for Israel’s flag raising was cancelled due to a fear of ‘a substantial risk to public safety’. (Ottawa Citizen) 

🌊 Rural Ottawa

•  Rural residents are irate over a proposed ‘ditch tax’ for those parts of Ottawa without storm sewers. The City is proposing to raise stormwater management fees on property taxes in rural areas. The tax would be calculated on the area covered by homes, barns, and driveways. However, residents point out that gravel driveways, which have good rain management, are not excluded. One landowner says that, with 33 acres of water-absorbing land, he should actually be getting a credit. (Tyler Fleming at CTV)

🚲 Giro d'Italia

•  Cyclist Michael Woods and his team member Riley Pickrell are out of the Giro d'Italia after a crash. Woods showed signs of a slight concussion and the team decided to pull him out of the competition for his health. (Associated Press)

🛒 Weekly Grocery Flyer Review

•  Every week, Donovan Burey gets up early to scan the grocery store flyers and post the deals on Reddit Ottawa. Some highlights this week: Atlantic Snow Crab for $7.99 per lb at Farm Boy, oranges for $1.88 3lb bag at Food Basics, and strawberries for $1.99 454g shell at Metro. (/Ottawa)

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EVENTS

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Today

•  Today is the deadline to apply for Ottawa Jazz Festival’s Jazz Youth Summit. Open to musicians aged 23 and under, the selected nine students “have full access to the festival and will hone their skills in improvising and arranging their own material for a period of 6 days during the jazz festival, through daily rehearsals and masterclasses with visiting artists, ending in a main-stage performance on June 30th.”

•  Poutine Feast Ontario, the festival that calls itself ‘Canada’s Largest Travelling Touring Poutine Feast’ and which features “Official Cheese” St. Albert, has parked in Carleton Place’s Riverside Park for the weekend. 179 John St., Carleton Place K7C 3V5.

•  Take a look at living small at the Tiny Home Show. The speaker line up covers everything from how to legally live in a tiny home in Ontario, to financing, to using your tiny home as a business, and a Q & A about real life in a tiny house. You’ll also get to tour tiny homes on site. Today through Sunday at Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm, 2452 York’s Corners Road, Edwards, ON K0A 1V0. 

•  The 72nd Canadian Tulip Festival gets uderway today at Commissioners Park, Dows Lake. This year’s festival runs daily from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm until Monday May 20, with a program of guided walking tours, music, movie screenings, shopping, and food.

•  Take your child to see performances from across the globe at the Ottawa Children’s Festival de la Jeunesse at LeBreton Flats Park, Downtown at Arts Court, and the Canadian War Museum. Today through Tuesday May 14.

•  Creative Continuum 2024’s theme, GARDENING, invites participants to view our local arts community as more than an ecosystem – it is a garden requiring cooperation, intention, and care. Creative Continuum 2024 will explore topics like climate action, place-making, and creative entrepreneurship that bring together community, artists, and change-makers to generate forward-thinking, action-oriented discussions. Friday May 10 at Rideau Rockcliffe Community Resource (815 St. Laurent Blvd).

•  Southside Tap and Grill is throwing an East Coast Kitchen Party with live Celtic music and authentic food like Halifax Donairs, Crab Cakes, and Lobster Rolls. 4 Lorry Greenberg Drive. K1G 5H6

•  Ottawa chamber choir Seventeen Voyces will perform Music of Hungary, with selections by Zoltan Kodaly and Bela Bartok. The choir will be joined by guest organist Matthew Larkin and Bulgarian/Canadian violinist Ralitsa Tcholakova. Tickets $30 for adults, $20 for students. Parish of Saint Francis of Assisi, 20 Fairmont Ave, K1Y 2K2.

•  ByTowne Cinema: Wicket Little Letters, Evil Does Not Exist, One Life, Princess Mononoke (subtitled)

•  Mayfair Theatre: Irena’s Vow, Common Ground, Femme.

  Gigs

•  Mary Ancheta Quartet. National Arts Centre Fourth Stage

•  4DAYWKND, Charlie Elder. Rainbow Bistro

•  In-Between The Masses, BirdDog, Perfect Nobody. Avant-Garde Bar

•  Shutdown Friday. Nuvo Lounge

•  Factory Friday with Kris Tin, SyvyL and T-23. City at Night

•  The Golden Egg Band with Special Guests. Irene’s Pub Restaurant

•  Distortion (90s - Now Rock Dance Party). LIVE on Elgin

•  Battle Beast, Blackbriar, Sovereign Council. The Brass Monkey

Tomorrow

•  If weekends are for bargain hunting, tomorrow’s treasure map will take you to Richmond and Barrhaven:

  
  🚛 More than 70 homes and churches in Richmond will be taking part in the Community Wide Garage Sale starting at 8:00 am.
  
  🚛 Meanwhile, nearly 500 homes plan to participate in the BIG Barrhaven Community Wide Garage Sale. 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.

•  Dive into the world of natural and alternative therapies with a visit to Ottawa’s Mother’s Day Holistic Healing Fair. 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Nepean Sportsplex (1701 Woodroffe Ave. K2G 1W2

•  Parkdale Market turns an incredible 100 years old this Saturday. Catch the opening ceremonies starting at 1:00 pm. 366 Parkdale Ave. K1Y 1G6

•  Road Trip: Cold Bear Brewing in Arnprior welcomes Stray Dog, Beyond the Pale, and Flora Hall to the taproom for West Fest, a celebration of West Coast IPAs. DJ Davey will spin the tunes. 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at 100 Madawaska Blvd, Arnprior ON K7S 1S7.

•  The 80s are alive again at Bar Robo’s The Underground! All the decade’s best genres will be represented, from New Wave to alternative rock. Queen St. Fare 170 Queen St. K1P 5E1.

•  Fill your garden with native plants and shrubs care of the members of Gloucester Horticultural Society. The annual Plant Sale opens at 9:00 am and will go until noon or until the plants have sold out. Payment by cash or eTransfer only. Orléans Fruit Farm, 1399 St. Joseph Blvd.

•  The Vineyard Spring Market at Domine Perrault Winery in Navan is a little bit extra: enjoy Spring sangria, circus entertainment by Cirquonscient, and one-of-a-kind shopping.10:00 am to 4:00 pm at 1000 Perrault Road, K4B 0B2.

•  Ottawa Youth Film Festival is a brand new initiative created by two high school students with support by Youth Ottawa, Sol One Productions, and Hot Shoe Productions. You'll see films by 15-24 year olds from across the city, a half time show with local musicians, and prize giving. From 11:30 am at the Mayfair Theatre (1074 Bank St, K1S 3X3). 

•  The 2024 Children’s Festival de la Jeunesse brings storytellers and performers from across the globe to Arts Court, LeBreton Flats, and the Canadian War Museum. Until Tuesday.

•  Be garden-ready with the Crichton Community Council’s New Edinburgh Garden Sale. 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Fieldhouse, 203 Stanley Ave. K1M 1P3

•  613Flea is back with 150 vendors at Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne Park from 10:00 am to 4:00pm. Admission is free.

•  ByWard Market’s Outdoor Market Season officially opens. Shop today and tomorrow at 55 ByWard Market Square.

•  ByTowne Cinema: Ponyo (English dubbed), K-Cinema: Concrete Utopia, Evil Does Not Exist, Prince of Darkness

•  Mayfair Theatre: Ottawa Youth Film Festival, Irena’s Vow, The Room, Saturday Night Sinema.

  Gigs

•  Angelina Hunter. Atomic Rooster

•  Melissa Payne, Nicholas Campbell. Red Bird

• Latin Vibes Only. Mavericks

•  Anitsocial Surf Club. LIVE on Elgin

•  Ill Scarlet, Double Experience, Growing Fires. The Brass Monkey

•  The Power Goats vinyl release party. Irene’s Pub Restaurant

•  Moonfruits, Taylor Abraham. Art House Café

•  Desert Island Big Band, Zeelle, Hannah Vig. Rainbow Bistro

•  The Salt Cellars. Avant- Garde Bar

Sunday

•  It’s opening day of the Stittsville Market at the Barn, every Sunday at 6154 Abbott St. E K2S 1V5. Vendors will be selling fresh local produce and meat, handmade Argentinian and Colombian-style empanadas, honey products, skincare, baked goods, crafts, hot sauce, gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, and bread.

•  Spend the morning with at the Experimental Farm's 2024 Friends of the Farm Plant Sale. Along with shopping for plants, cards, gifts and gardening books, you can ask the experts from the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton all of your gardening questions. Rain or shine from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm in the parking lot beside K.W. Neatby Building at 960 Carling K1Y 4X2 and Maple Drive (look for the signs).

•  ByWard Market Blooms during the Tulip Festival with activities and performances until May 20. On Mother’s Day local flower farmers will be on hand to provide the perfect bouquet. You can also book the Hop On Hop Off Tulip Shuttle to get from the ByWard Market (at the OTTAWA letters) to Commissioners Park to wander among the tulips.
  
  Road Trip: Frequent Hallmark movie location Almonte, ON is the home of the Dairy Distillery, makers of Vodkow products. Starting today and the second Sunday of every month until October, it’s also the site of the Distillery Markets. More than 10 local vendors will be on hand, and you can take a tour of the Distillery. 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at 34 Industrial Ave., Almonte.

•  Music and Beyond presents musica intima: NAGAMO, curated by Winnipeg composer Andrew Balfour. The composer, who is of Cree descent, says “NAGAMO (Sings) reimagines history and the concept of nation to nation respect and musical dialogue between the nations of the so-called New World and Old World. During the beginning of the 17th century, several Chiefs and esteemed Indigenous leaders journeyed to Europe in the hope of forging alliances. In many cases, they were treated as respected ambassadors. NAGAMO explores the fantastical idea of what might have happened if the sharing of music, and the respect of culture had contrived, and how a different history might have played out.” 3:00 pm at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 82 Kent St. K1R 7X9

•  Enjoy tea and a scone in the dark when you book a ticket to Austenland at the ByTowne Cinema.

•  The Ottawa children’s Festival de la Jeunesse continues.

•  ByTowne Cinema: High Tea Cinema: Austenland, One Life, Evil Does Not Exist, Princess Mononoke (subtitles)

•  Mayfair Theatre: Common Ground, Me and Felix (aka: Rock Paper Grenade; Ukrainian with English subtitles), Irena’s Vow, Sasquatch Sunset

  Gigs

•  The Sunday Night Revue. Irene’s Pub Restaurant

•  Mother’s Night Marauders. LIVE on Elgin

•  Acoustic Coffee House. Red Bird

Monday

• It’s an exercise pairing, Ottawa style: Britannia Beach is the place to be for pick up volleyball and salsa lessons tonight and next Monday May 20. The action starts at 6:00 pm.

• Beechwood National Cemetery presents the 80th Anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. At 280 Beechwood Ave., K1L 8A6

• ‘We’re all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that’s all.’ It’s 80s Movie Trivia Night at D’Arcy Mcgee’s, Kanata.

• The Ottawa children’s Festival de la Jeunesse continues.

• ByTowne Cinema: Evil Does Not Exist, Menus-Plaisirs-Les Troisgros

• Mayfair Theatre: Irena’s Vow, Common Ground, Purple Noon

  Gigs

• Jazz Jam with the Beeched Wailers. Irene’s Pub Restaurant

• Bluegrass Mondays Featuring Monroe Sisters. Red Bird

• Open Mic. Art House Café

Just Announced / Now Booking

• Expanding on last summer’s weekday lunch music series from the Shed on Sparks Street, the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition and the Sparks Street BIA are launching Live From The Booth, Saturday evening concerts for emerging and established DJs. For 18 weeks from June 15, every Saturday night during the dinner hours.

• Maker Feed co’s next event, Argentina Tasting Night will be an epic five tasting courses paired with wines. Wednesday June 26 at 6:00 pm. $139 per person.

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DEALS OF THE DAY

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

City Hall’s list of national day flag raisings is interesting.

Most flag raisings are national or independence days, but a few break the pattern. The Holy See (April 19) is on the anniversary of the election of the current pope, the European Union (May 9) celebrates the Schuman Declaration which first proposed the European Coal and Steel Community, Ethiopia (May 28) recognizes the ‘Downfall of the Dergue’, the former Marxist-Leninist government, and Germany (Oct 3) represents the the union of West and East Germany.

Finland (Dec 6) has requested that its flag not be flown as most flags in Canada are at half mast in recognition of National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

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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. 

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