Friday, April 1, 2022

HELLO OTTAWA  

? Happy Birthday to the ottawan

We are two years old today! We thank you for reading the newsletter and supporting what we do. We receive a lot of feedback, and most of you say the nicest things! Here is just a sample ...

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? “The councilor is named Shawn Ménard not Shawn Mendes!”

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? “For ages now, I've been meaning to write to you folks to tell you how much I appreciate the ottawan. I enjoy your tone, and how you deal with bureaucracy and fascists with humour – but without minimizing these issues.”

This reader probably speaks for many ...

? “Proofreading is needed to avoid grammatical errors please.”

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What's happening

▪️If you’re planning your big day, the Ottawa Spring Wedding Show is the place to be this weekend. Learn about trends in fashion, decor, and menus; find out how to plan a wedding on a budget; visit suppliers; get advice from the experts; and enter to win prizes. It’s all at the EY Centre on Saturday and Sunday. 4899 Uplands Drive. 

▪️Sadly, last Sunday's building fire has resulted in extensive damage to Venus Envy’s retail store, which will now close permanently. The online business will continue, however, and the owners are considering how to utilize their warehouse space for future workshops. 

▪️Filipino Restaurant Month kicks off today across Canada. The celebration is organized by Philippine Department of Tourism and roughly 40 Filipino restaurants will take part from BC to Nova Scotia. Here in Ottawa visit Tamis Cafe for homestyle Filopino specialities like Grilled Pork Belly, Lumpia (veggie stuffed crepes), and spring rolls. 374 Bank Street.

▪️Easter extras: Rocket Scones has launched (see what we did there) Easter Egg scones, which are packed with candy eggs, mini marshmallows, cornflake crunch, and chocolate chips. Check them out on Sunday at the Lansdowne farmers’ market. 

▪️Orléans Brewing uses those PakTech rings to package its cans, and even though the can caps are manufactured from recycled containers, no one wants them ending up in landfill. So the brewery is offering a 10 cent credit on every PakTech you return to them. Drop them off at the brewery when you visit or hand them back to your driver when your Orléans Brewing beers are delivered. Your credit will be then be arranged. How cool is that? 

▪️Another Easter feast suggestion: Shepherds of Good Hope have partnered with Chef Pat Riggins from Riggins Family BBQ to create a heat-at-home gourmet ham Easter feast for six people, for $150. You’ll receive a maple-cured applewood smoked ham, cheesy scalloped potatoes, honey roasted local root veggies, an apple crisp for dessert, and full re-heating instructions. You can have the feast delivered by Trexity to your door (check the delivery area).

☪️ Ramadan Kareem

Ramadan begins this evening, assuming a sighting of the moon, and continues until May 30. Happy fasting and Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslims in the Capital region.

We'll see you Monday – Martha and Darren

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

STATS

Weather: ?️ A few rain showers or flurries. High of 3°, low of -5°. 

Number: 32. The number of years CBC Ottawa's sports anchor Dan Séguin has been on the air. Séguin retired yesterday. [CBC]

Ottawans of the Day: The students of Monsignor Paul Baxter Elementary School in Barrhaven. The elementary students aimed to collect 1,000 items for the Barrhaven Food Cupboard but ended up collecting over 2,000.  [Barrhaven Independent] [Food Cupboard] 

Quote: ‘You can’t do everything yourself, so don’t be afraid to ask questions and start small. Keep your books tight from year 1’ – clothing designer and Pvstlifefounder, Bobby Brugal, on launching his business. [Shifter]

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

Information is as of this morning. Changes are relative to yesterday.
 

ONTARIO

Ontario COVID Page    Ontario Vaccine Rates 

QUEBEC

Quebec COVID Page     Quebec Vaccine Rates

OTTAWA

Ottawa Public Health     Ottawa Vaccination Rates.    Ottawa Wastewater 
 

OUTAOUAIS 

This informaton has not been updated yested. Yesterday's data is below.

As of March 31, 2022 Updated Weekly

Outaouais Public Health    Quebec Vaccination Rates
 

EASTERN ONTARIO HEALTH UNIT

The Health Unit is changing the way they report. In the meantime, they are reporting only selected information. 

Eastern Ontario Health Unit.   Daily Stats  

COVID-19 NEWS

⭕ The Province is taking over the University of Toronto's Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table. The table is an independent and non-partisan group of experts who have being giving advice on the COVID-19 response. Provincial NDP and Liberal critics worry that Public Health Ontario will mute information coming from the table that differs from Provincial policy. [CBC]

⭕ Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says that new COVID-19 variant BA.2 is rising and is more transmissable but that the high vaccination in Canada will mitigate rising cases. Tam believes that new restrictions will not be necessary, however, the Public Health Agency of Canada has prepared worst-case scenarios. [CBC]

⭕ Fully-vaccinated travellers to Canada are no longer required to provide a negative COVID-19 test as of today. [Ottawa Citizen]
 

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

▪️The freeze on $2 million in funds intended for the Trucker siege protestors has been extended until May. The lawyers representing the proposed class action against the Truckers successfully convinced a judge to keep the money on ice. The money is mostly from accounts formerly controlled by siege co-organizer Tamara Lich. The Province of Ontario, in a different court action, is trying to seize the money for itself as a result of its costs for the siege. [CBC]

▪️Chelsea is under a boil water advisory. A breakage in the water line is creating cloudy water and lowered pressure. Residents should boil tap water for at least one minute. [CBC]

▪️The City wants your opinion on what to do with solid waste. We thought we wrote about this before, but we can't find it, so we're behind the eight ball here. The City is having a (virtual) public meeting on April 4th, and there is a survey to fill out. The region is running out of landfill, and these meetings and consultations will determine what happens next. [City of Ottawa]

▪️The Carleton Ravens begin their run in the 2022 U Sports men's basketball national championship today. They play against Victoria at 10 pm tonight. This CBC link has a video player to watch it. [CBC]

▪️Various Federal workplaces have reported their plans to bring civil servants back to work. The Treasury Board, which is the ultimate decision maker, authorized each workplace to make their own decisions. According to the CBC: 

• The Canada Revenue Agency said it is not providing a timeline.
• The Department of Canadian Heritage said employees who wish to return to the workplace can do so as of April 4, while following public health guidelines.
• The Department of Finance said it began a process of allowing some employees to return to the workplace in February, following the TBS directive, and is planning a longer-term shift to hybrid work.
• The Department of Justice said it's possible more employees will return to its offices in person as "early as the beginning of summer," though no specific timeline has been established. There are processes in place to allow some employees to return now, according to the department.
• The Department of National Defence said it will continue to support a hybrid work model where operational requirements allow.
• The Department of Public Safety said its transition to a hybrid workforce framework will take place "between Spring and Fall of 2022."
• Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) said it already has a large number of employees coming to the office, including those who work at Service Canada and Passport Canada centres. In a statement, an ESDC spokesperson said a pilot project launched on March 28 will help ESDC test hybrid work teams ahead of a transition to "our flexible work model" by Labour Day. In the meantime, ESDC has begun allowing employees to return voluntarily.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada said employees who experienced challenges with remote work are back in the office, and plans are underway to increase occupancy rates "in the weeks and months to come."
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada employees began returning to the office in March and that gradual return continues.
• A statement from Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canadasaid both organizations are resuming re-entry plans "including a further increase in occupancy of federal worksites beginning this spring using the phased approach."
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said its move to a hybrid approach "in the coming months." The process will be guided by operational needs and public health advice.
• Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada are working on a gradual return to the workplace.
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada said it will complete the first phase of its return to the workplace by April 13, starting at 10 per cent of pre-pandemic office occupancy. Employees are being given four weeks advance notice of their scheduled return date.
• Public Services and Procurement Canada is planning "to continue to support a hybrid workforce" and says it has "no specific timelines" for its gradual transition.
• Transport Canada said it will be sharing its organizational vision with employees "in due course."
  
  
              

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