✉️ Welcome back to email from Canada.

We changed email platform to an American-based one six months ago, but as of today, we’re back with Montréal’s Cyberimpact. 

Some of you may have had today’s OTTAWAN placed into your promotional or spam folder. We’d ask you to check but you’re probably not reading this. Sorry about that, it’s unavoidable in the pitiless world of newsletter management.

One delightful mistake happened over the weekend, however. When we transferred everyone’s email over, it accidentally triggered the ‘Welcome’ email  that every new subscriber gets.

Most of you ignored it, but we did received hundreds of responses from longtime readers answering the question in the email: What is your favourite Ottawa restaurant and dish? Thank you for the many good suggestions. 

❤️ This Valentine’s Day, celebrate your love for Ottawa!

Since launching THE OTTAWAN on April 1, 2020, our goal has been to inform and entertain the citizens of this great city with news, event listings, and links to deals on goods and services made across this land every work day, all while championing the local businesses that form Ottawa’s backbone.

We love Ottawa and we know that you do too, and that’s why we’ve partnered with some incredible local businesses to bring you a heart-stopping giveaway just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Check out the amazing goodies:

• Bags of Bridgehead’s delicious,Ottawa-roasted coffee
• A $25 gift card and gorgeous heart-shaped Ottawa magnet from Maker House 
• A gift basket from Bottega Nicastro, full of tantalizing Italian treats and pantry items
• Two 200ml bottles of yummy Balsamic Vinegar and Stubbe chocolates from Aurelius Fine Olive Oils & Balsamic Vinegars
• A Personal Valentine's Day greeting from Martha and Darren

The value of this giveaway is more than $175 beautiful Canadian dollars.

How do you get a chance to win? 

Simple: send an email with the subject line LOVE OTTAWA to valentine@theottawan.com by 11:59 pm on Thursday February 13 and your name will go into the random draw from Martha’s Mom’s Choosin’ Hat. 

We’ll announce the winner in The Ottawan on Friday February 14.

Oh, one more thing: you must live in Ottawa* to win, because Martha and Darren will hand deliver the prize to you this weekend.

Good Luck!

* As usual, our definition of ‘living in Ottawa’ is mallable. Gatineau is definitely in, as are the various attractive little towns that surround the Capital. Kingston and Cornwall are right out. If Martha’s mom draws a name, and they live in, say, Cobham, the decision on whether that is within the bounds is really going to depend on the weather and how late we were up the night before. 

In Today’s Edition

→ Corkery has been waiting three years for its community centre to reopen

→ In Our Tongues Reading and Arts Series celebrates Black History Month at SAW Gallery tomorrow with poetry, comedy, and music.

→ Made in Canada Deals of the Day:  womenswear and self-care

→ ⛅ High -4° Low -12° and partly cloudy 

– Martha and Darren

STATISTICS OTTAWA

OTTAWANS OF THE DAY

• Foad Asadi and Titus Liao
• The filmmaker and producer, respectively, have created the short film, I am Canadian, about a woman who has fled the violence of the Women, Life, Freedom movement in Iran for Canada. 
• Cristina Paolozzi in Apartment 613

QUOTE

• “

• You’re basically giving it away to private contractors that don't have to answer to the people of Ottawa. They don't answer to anybody

• – Toronto city councillor Mike Colle, who warns Ottawa that if the O Train was transferred to the Crown corporation Metrolinx, councillors and the public would be kept in the dark about the costs and maintenance of the system. Insert your own wry comment here.
• Emma Weller, Gabrielle Huston at CBC

SPORTS

• 🏒 NHL Ottawa Senators 1 – Florida Panthers 5 last Saturday

WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

⚙️ Unemployment Rate

• The unemployment in Ottawa-Gatineau dropped in January. The unemployment rate in Ottawa is 5.8 per cent, down one-tenth of a percentage point. Gatineau’s rate is 5.4 per cent, down two-tenths of a percentage point. 
  
  The Canadian Press

🚶‍♂️ Community Centres

•  Residents in Corkery have been waiting for three years for their community centre to reopen. In 2020, the City decided to expand the centre, which involved an addition to the side. Last December, the City fired the construction company, stopping everything.
  
  Sadeen Mohsen in the Ottawa Citizen

🚊 Ontario Election

•  Ottawa Transit Riders is playing host to a debate on public transit this evening. Invited to appear are:  Catherine McKenney (New Democratic Party - Ottawa Centre), Christian Proulx (Green Party - Ottawa-Vanier), Thomas Simpson (Liberal Party - Ottawa Centre), plus a candidate for the Progressive Conservatives. 7:00 pm Jack Purcell Community Centre (320 Jack Purcell Lane)
  
  Register for the event here.
  
  Ottawa Transit Riders

☕ Coffee Break

•  Two drivers were charged for stopping in a live lane of the Queensway at Moodie Drive and enjoying cups of coffee. The Ottawa detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police found the transport truck and passenger car around 5:00 pm Saturday. The truck was found to have other violations and was towed.
  
  the ottawan tips its perverbial hat to the media people at the Provincial Police, though. They really have a great eye for the ‘news of the weird’.
  
  Rachel Morgan at CityNews

THE ROLLING THREE DAY CALENDAR

Is there an event we should know about?
Please use our easy event submission form

TODAY

•  Look to Around Block Butcher & Market for the last-minute solution to your Valentine’s Day romantic cook-at-home dinner conundrum.. Choose from Chicken Supreme, Denver Steak, Sirloin Steak, or Surf & Turf Dinners, all of which come with sides and cooking tips. Order now and pick up Thursday February 13 or Friday February 14. 

•  🆓  Join Artists Kyle Vingoe-Cram and GHY Cheung for the reception of their ARTicipate Exhibition A Rift in the Valley along with an artist Q/A. LaLande + Doyle Exhibition Space at Shenkman Arts Centre 

•  The IM Different Dance + Cello Performance Event explores what it’s like to feel “different” through live Cello music, choreography, and art. As the event takes place at allsaints even you can order a meal from the on site Working Title Kitchen. 

• ByTowne Cinema: I’m Still Here, Universal Language, The Last Showgirl

• Mayfair Theatre: Sing Sing, Clue, Pulp Fiction
  
  Gigs

• Daisy Train Karaoke. 27 Club

   

TOMORROW

•  Black on the Ballot: Centring Black Narratives in Public Life brings together show runners and guests from the new Black on the Ballot podcast discuss what’s needed to get more Black voices into politics, journalism, and research. Richcraft Hall, Carleton University. 
   

• Show your family some Valentine’s Day love with the Pizza Party prepared meal for four from Urban Element. Not only will you split two pizzas but your DIY Vanilla Cake dessert includes toppings so everyone can customize to their heart’s content. The order cut off is tomorrow (Wednesday February 12) at 2:00 pm. 

• It’s New Play Tuesday at the undercurrents festival. 

• 🆓 or PWYC The In Our Tongues Reading and Arts Series celebrates Black History Month at SAW Gallery with an evening of poetry, comedy, and music. 

• The IM Different Dance + Cello Performance Event explores what it’s like to feel “different” through live Cello music, choreography, and art. As the event takes place at allsaints even you can order a meal from the on site Working Title Kitchen. 

• ByTowne Cinema: I’m Still Here, Universal Language 

• Mayfair Theatre: Sing Sing, Hard Truths, Eraserhead

  Gigs

• Trivia Night. Pour Boy

  
   

WEDNESDAY

•  Controlled Damage, the story of Viola Desmond, opens at National Arts Centre’s Babs Asper Theatre. The Neptune Theatre and National Arts Centre co-production runs until February 22. 

• Break up the week with a glamorous cocktail party for a good cause: Snowball: A Cool Winter’s Eve, is raising funds for the Snowsuit Fund. 

• There are only five chances left to see Elevator Theatre Company’s Late Company at the Gladstone Theatre. 

• Members of the National Capital Region YMCA are invited to register for Celebrate Black Resistance, featuring performances, an art exhibition by OBÁSOLÁ, and special guests. 

• Timothy Chooi draws inspiration from Winterlude and Valentine’s Day as he performs music for violin and strings in Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra’s Treasures and Delights of the Violin Repertoire. 

• 🆓 Historical Society of Ottawa presents Black History in Ottawa Streets, a virtual presentation featuring Jean-Marie Guerrier, Vice-President of Black History Ottawa. 

• ByTowne Cinema: I’m Still Here, The Last Showgirl, Universal Language

• Mayfair Theatre: Hard Truths, Sing Sing, Pulp Fiction

  
  Gigs

• Open Mic Night. Atomic Rooster

• Moonfruits. Richcraft Theatre

• Decapitated, Incantation, Darkest Hour, and Exmortus. Overflow Brewing

• Open Mic. Pour Boy

• Kellie Loder. National Arts Centre

• Jazz Nite with Peter Woods. Bar Robo

   

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

• Robert Plante Greenhouses will be a busy place over Family Day Weekend. 
   

• The I Heart Beer & Taco Festival Tour hits Ottawa’s EY Centre February 28 through March 1. 

• City of OM returns May 30 - June 1 for three days of yoga, workouts, special events, and outdoor wellness market. Join the waitlist for ticket on sale announcements. 

DEALS OF THE DAY

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL

THE END