See the 8 day forecast at the ottawan weather

HELLO OTTAWA

The City wants your soggiest opinions.

As it considers how to restructure the prices it charges for water supply and sewage, the City is asking the public for its opinions on the service.

It will be considering, in mangled English: 

• Affordability
• Fairness and equity
• Transparency
• Financial sustainability
• Supports economic development
• Promotes conservation

Part of the City’s reasoning is that, as conservation improves, the less money it will receive to run the system.

You can answer the five minute survey here.

Family Day

Monday is Family Day so the ottawan will be taking the time off to spend with the cats. We’ll see you Tuesday.

– Martha and Darren

TODAY’S LINE UP

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

FORWARD the ottawan TO A FRIEND

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GET A JUMP ON EASTER CHOCOLATE

•  From eggs to bunnies, Purdy’s collection has what you need for Easter activities.
•  Of all the chocolate-y delicacies at Hummingbird Chocolates, we might like the sound of Raspberry Marshmallow Bunnies best.
•  There’s something super stylish about the little bunnies with tall ears from Anna Stubbe Chocolates & Confectioneries. We can envision one as part of a place setting.
•  What to buy? No decisions required when you buy one of the Bunny Boxes from Peace by Chocolate. They come in three sizes and cost $55 - $106.

OTTAWA STATS

Ottawans of the Day

• Mia, Marius, Arlo, Alice, Frederick, Eva, Makai’o, Dina, Jayron, and Annie
• – The ten young people, all between the ages of 10 and 14, have been chosen as ambassadors for the National Arts Centre’s Big Bang Festival where they will be interviewing the artists, testing out the stations, and helping families get to the right place.
• The Big Bang Festival is a kid centred event, and features hands-on music, art, and apparently tattoos. It’s at the NAC tomorrow and Sunday. (Big Bang Festival)

Quote

• “

• It’s really weird that it smells like that. It smells so bad, it makes Ottawa U smell good.

• – Algonquin College broadcasting student Eli Sliwa on the weird stench that permeated the campus yesterday. The college thinks that it is beet brine, which can be used to de-ice the sidewalks and roads as an alternative to the much harsher rock salt. 
• Aware of the noxious smell, the College had previously requested its new contractor to not use beet brine but suspects some cross contamination occured. (Nathalia Lencioni in the Algonquin Times)

Sports

• 🏒 NHL Ottawa Senators 1 – Anaheim Ducks 5 last night

CITY HALL AGENDA

What’s going on at City Hall

Committee of Adjustment - Panel 3
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 9:00 am

• 17 Neely - To convey portions of their property to the abutting landowners to the east, known as 2 Neely Street and 8 Neely Street.
• 311 Fireside - To permit increased cumulative floor area and height for a proposed detached garage.
• 122 Brae - To permit a reduced front yard setback for the construction of an enclosed vestibule at the front of the existing dwelling.
• 1500 Thomas Argue - To subdivide the property into two separate parcels for future commercial development.
• 5000 Ferry - To subdivide the property into two separate parcels to create one lot. The retained land is to remain farmland.
• 5050 Ferry - To subdivide the property into two separate parcels to create one lot. The retained land is to remain farmland.

📋 Agenda

Committee of Adjustment - Panel 2
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 1:00 pm

• 839 Shefford - To subdivide the property into two parcels of land to create one new lot for future development.
• 4200 Innes - To permit reduced parking for the construction of a mixed-use development.
• 65 Arco - To permit an increased building height, building footprint, and lot coverage for the construction of a new coach house.
• 167 Yoho - To permit a reduced rear yard setback for the construction of a sunroom at the rear of the existing dwelling.
• 1303, 1303A, 1305, 1307, 1309, 1311, 1313 and 1313A Coldrey - To subdivide the property into eight lots for eight existing townhouse dwelling units, with reduced lot areas and lot widths.
• 1267 Summerville - To construct a three-storey, ten-unit low-rise apartment building with an increased building height.

📋 Agenda

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

🛻 Convoy News

•  Convoy supporters plan to mark the second anniversary of the siege with a trip to Parliament Hill tomorrow. The Ottawa Police service said that they are prepared this time, and have consulted with provincial and federal partners. Coörganizer Chris Dacey says that he is unaware of any plans to bring vehicles. (David Fraser)

⛸️ Rideau Canal Skateway

•  The National Capital Commission is teasing a reopening of the Rideau Canal Skateway. The Skateway was closed Jan 25 after being open for only four days due to unsafe ice conditions. The Commission was flooding the ice today, and sent out a statement to media: ‘Watch this space’. Fingers crossed, people. (Ottawa Citizen) 

🚨 Ottawa Paramedics

•  A plan to use taxis instead of Ottawa Paramedics in some instances is on hold because of the poor state of the 911 system. The plan is to have paramedics discuss the patient’s issues on the 911 call, and if the patient is stable, a taxi would be sent instead. The current 911 system, which is set to be replaced in April, does not allow for the transfer to a paramedic operator. Any changes must be approved by the Ministry of Health. (Elyse Skura at CBC)

🌑 Ottawa Carleton District School Board

•  The Ottawa Carleton District School Board will close its schools on the day of the eclipse, April 8. Teachers and staff will still come to work. All local school boards have now decided to keep students at home in an effort to keep them from harming their eyes if they look at the eclipse. the ottawan still thinks this is backwards – if the Boards are concerned, should they not want to have the students under their care rather than running loose, observing solar objects freely? (Joanne Laucius in the Ottawa Citizen) 

⚖️ Federal Public Service

•  Amnesty International has intervened in the class action suit against the Federal government filed by Black public service workers over discrimination. The court ruled that Amnesty International had expertise in international human rights law and racial justice and could make an oral presentation, and a 20 page written document, to the court. The class action was filed by thousands of Black public service workers in 2020 alleging decades of discrimination. (Catherine Morrison in the Ottawa Citizen)

🛫 Ottawa International Airport

•  Porter Airlines will be opening a major base for Ottawa pilots and cabin crew in June. Creating a new base means that 150 airline crew members will live in the Ottawa area, rather than being flown in, to serve its 14 non-stop flights from here. Porter will also base a smaller number of crew in Vancouver and Montréal. (Open Jaw)

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MORE FROM THE OTTAWAN

• 🍺 Our Ottawa-Gatineau Craft Brewery Map

•  

• 🏆 The Best Of Ottawa Awards 2023

•  

• 🎧 Best Podcasts from Ottawa

EVENTS

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

More Family Day Weekend ideas
(See our full list of Family Day events)

•  It’s free to access the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Airforce exhibition at the National War Memorial.
   
•  There’s a lot going on at Mādahòkì Farm’s Pibòn (Winter) Festival, Winterlude Edition. Entry is free, but some activities require advance registration.
   
•  As Winterlude winds down, Gatineau’s Jacques-Cartier Park (Laurier St. Gatineau) welcomes families Saturday through Monday for climbing over and through tunnels and structures of snow, wandering a maze, and solving puzzles on the Giant Game Cube. Free.
   
•  Kids can get a (temporary) tattoo, take a selfie, and make crafts at the Big Bang Festival.
   
•  The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum will be open on Monday for a family scavenger hunt.
   
•  Kids can build a paper piggy bank and explore the currencies of the world as the Bank of Canada Museum continues its weekend Winterlude activities. Free, open all Family Day Weekend.

Today

•  Valentine’s Day continues with Thirteen Strings’ Romantic Strings concert. Close your eyes and dream to music by Edward Elgar, Ralph Vaughn Williams, Giuseppi Verdi, and Samuel Barber.
   
•  Get in the Swing. It’s Ottawa Swing Dance Society’s Friday Night Swing Dance! with a one-hour intro class for how-tos, followed by a night of dancing including. Tonight, the Eclectic Music Later Night begins once the classic swing tunes are finished, bringing contemporary beats to the dance floor. $12 entry includes instruction and dancing all night. St. Joesph’s Parish (basement) 174 Wilbrod St.
   
•  The David Gumbs exhibition Tropical Bliss officially opens at Gatineau’s L’Imagier (9 Front St., Gatineau). The Martinique-based artist explores the concepts of “tropical” and “exotic” using digital photography and kaleidoscope effects. This could be your antidote to the winter blahs.
   
•  Tickets are available for the final performances of the Bent Sisters’ production of It Had to Be You, tonight and tomorrow night.
   
• Tickets went on sale at 10:00am today for the PBR Ottawa Classic, which hits the Canadian Tire Centre on June 1
   

•  Be inspired by the Ill-Abilities Dance Crew: No Excuses, No Limits show at Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe.

•  Berlin Nightclub plays Drake in a big way at OVO - Drake Night. 10:30 pm - 02:30 am at 56 Byword Market Square. Tickets $16.32

•  Muslimfest presents Soul Flame, a theatrical production of stories from Palestine and Sudan. Canadian Museum of History, Laurier St, Gatineau.

•  Meet new friends or reconnect with your besties at Queers and Beers at Lowertown Brewery.

•  If you just can’t get enough of Taylor Swift, Overflow Brewing is the place to be, with the Swift Me Away Dance Party.

•  Love on the Rocks musical theatre cabaret contineues at LIVE on Elgin.

•  Undercurrents Festival shows: I Don’t Even Miss You, Malunderstood, Keep Mars Red, Chasse au Trésor

•  ByTowne Cinema: The Promised Land, The Zone of Interest

•  Mayfair Theatre: Ru, How to Have Sex, Big Shark

  Gigs

•  The Playlist. Montgomery Scotch Lounge

•  Blingo Night. Pour Boy

•  The Barrow Gang. Atomic Rooster

•  Serpent Corpse, Fractured, Barrow Wight. House of TARG

•  Born Ruffians, Neon Ghosthouse, Dunner. Rainbow Bistro

•  The Playlist. Montgomery Scotch Lounge

•  Brutal Play, Altoona, Summit Drop, Sprout, The Lackeys. Dominion Tavern

Tomorrow

•  Do some big time shopping at the Ottawa Multicultural Bazaar, where more than 80 vendors will be selling crafts and clothing from around the world. Today and tomorrow at the Nepean Sportsplex. Free entry and parking.
   
•  Come alone or bring a friend to the Carp Fair 4-Handed Euchre Tournament, where there are $800 worth of prizes waiting to be won. $20 per person.
   
•  There’s a British Invasion at Overflow Brewing this evening, as The Start plays 80s and 90s Britpop all night long. This band is 50% UK native, one quarter Montréaler, and one quarter homegrown Ottawan. It’ll be a class act, innit.
   
•  Laugh along with comedians Derek Kalala, Rose-Ingrid Benjamin and Abha Pamnani at the Black-Ish Comedy Show. Cultures Comedy Club at NUVO Lounge 295 (295 Dalhousie St.) Tickets from $25.57. VIP packages available.
   
•  Love on the Rocks finishes its run at LIVE on Elgin.
   
•  Undercurrents Festival shows: Blood Offering, Malunderstood, I don’t Even Miss You, Chasse au Trésor, Keep Mars Red
   
•  ByTowne Cinema: 2024 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Live Action, Amélie - 4k Restoration, The Promised Land, Streets of Fire
   
•  Mayfair Theatre: Ru, A Page of Madness

  
  Gigs

•  Emo Night Ottawa - Live Band Edition. The 27 Club

•  PSTRNC (“Positronic”) Goth Industrial Dance Party. The Underground (56 Byward Market)

•  Joel Placket, Sara Swire, Summersets. Rainbow Bistro (limited free tickets at the door)

•  Lilith, Bronson Novella, Still Life, Street, Queçéssa. Dominion Tavern

•  Rachel Beausoleil. Montgomery Scotch Lounge

•  Sourpuss, February Hate club, Curl. House of TARG

•  Jesse Greene Band. Atomic Rooster

•  Jeff and the Falcons, Josh Q. Irene’s Pub Restaurant

Sunday

•  Bytowne Cinema: The Philadelphia Story, 2024 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Animated, The Promised Land, Amélie - 4K Restoration
   
•  Mayfair Theatre: The Boy and the Heron, My Carpathian Grandpa, How to Have Sex
   
•  For Sunday night fun, head to House of TARG where it’s Free-Play Sunday: After Dark!
  
  Gigs
   
•  Hotel Mira, Fake Shark, The New Hires. Club SAW
   
•  Nameless Friends Blasphemy Release Tour. LIVE on Elgin
   
•  Militarie Gun, Pool Kids, Spiritual Cramp, Space. Brass Monkey
   
•  Mardi Gras Party Matinée with Dr. Jazz. Irene’s Pub Restaurant
   
•  The Sunday Night Revue. Irene’s Pub Restaurant
   
•  Acoustic Coffee House. Red Bird
   
•  Ann Friend, Curtis Chaffey. Red Bird
   

Monday

• Today’s the deadline to submit nominations for the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition Capital Music Awards. The Awards are coming up May 16 at the Bronson Centre Theatre.

• Create something while you enjoy your beer. Beyond the Pale brewing presents a Paint Class for adults.

• Ausome Ottawa creates sports opportunities for kids with autism, and the organisation is taking over the Mayfair Theatre on Monday for a fundraising screening of the heartwarming comedy Kicking & Screaming. While open to the public, the event will be sensory-friendly, with a partially lit theatre, lower volume of the film, and no previews.

• ByTowne Cinema: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (EXTENDED), The Promised Land, 2024 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Animated, The Zone of Interest

• Mayfair Theatre: Kicking & Screaming, The Boy and the Heron, The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)

  Gigs

• Family Day Free-Play. House of TARG

• Patterns of Behaviour - Vernissage for Matt Gagnon and Fern Burntwood, with Live Music. Irene’s Pub Restaurant

• Open Mic night. Art House Café

• Karaoke Mondaze. Atomic Rooster

Just Announced / Now Booking

• The Diefenbunker is accepting applications for its Artist-in-Residence programme.

• Digital Arts Resource Centre’s Digital Arts Camp for Youth will keep musical minds busy during March Break. Kids aged 13 through 17 will gain hands-on experience with music production, experimental video, and audio-visual manipulation. $100.

• Red Bird is taking registrations for adult and youth March Break, Spring, and Summer Camps that cover topics like pop choir, harmonies, guitar, Rock Band, ukulele, and Musical Theatre.

DEALS OF THE DAY

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

Over 1,400 sub-Saharan Africa radio stations broadcast programming on better health and agriculture because of Farm Radio International, based in Hintonburg. Created by veteran CBC journalist George Atkins 40 years ago, the charity helps local journalists to broadcast in 30 different languages.

RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL

Comment of the week: Love the local and sometimes quirky news

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. 

We’ll see you Tuesday.

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