HELLO, OTTAWA

? Happy Birthday to Us

One year ago today, a bleary-eyed Martha and Darren pressed SEND on the very first edition of the ottawan.

When we conceived of creating a daily city newsletter for Ottawa, we envisioned explanations of what is happening at City Hall, curated listings of under-the-radar events, and great restaurant coverage.

What we launched with in that inaugural edition was a story about the worries of being evicted in the fog of that first lockdown and, later in the week, how to sew your own mask.  

These days, we cover patio openings and dinner-in-a-box deliveries, book launches and garden lessons on Zoom, and City Hall, well, it turns out even a pandemic can't stop City Hall.

We're thrilled to have met hundreds of readers, organisers, politicians, and restaurants over the past year – virtually, of course – and we think we're on to something with the ottawan.

If you like what you've been receiving from us, our birthday wish is that you tell people about us.   Send us to a friend  or post about us on social media. And we always want to hear from you – for good or ill – at [email protected] We read every email.

It's been an honour to be welcomed into your inbox every morning. Thank you.

Tomorrow is the Good Friday holiday. We'll see you Monday – Martha and Darren

#STATS

Weather: ❄️ 60 per cent chance of flurries. High of 0°, low of -2°

Number: 97 per cent. The percentage drop in revenue that Bar Robo and Q Bar found during the pandemic. [Ottawa Citizen]

Ottawan of the Day: Stacey Martin. The luxe loungewear designer is crowdfunding to expand her York Street storefront. [Shifter] [Front Fundr]

Quote: “You could have been my uncle!” – Amanda Klaman quipping to Alex Trebek on a 2016 video after he confirmed that he dated her aunt while living in the aunt's basement as a University of Ottawa student in the 60s. The whole thing is really cute. [St Catherine's Standard]

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

? Vaccination tracker by Andrew Lam (@socialvizcanada)

2,192,253 doses have been administered in Ontario (93% of doses available)

? At this rate, it would take 24.3 weeks to give one dose to each Ontarian

? Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines delivery tracker
Federal Goverment database listing predicted future deliveries

? Public Health Reports

OTTAWA

Ottawa Public Health Dashboard

Ottawa Wastewater Dashboard

Ottawa Vaccination Dashboard

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board

Ottawa Catholic School Board

Conseil des ecoles catholiques du Centre-Est

Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario
 

There have been 17,294 confirmed cases of COVID‌-19, an increase of 117 since yesterday, and 464 deaths, one new report.

? 177,410 doses of vaccine have been administered in Ottawa.
(77% of doses available)

OUTAOUAIS

Outaouais Public Health dashboard

There have been 7,534 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 100 since yesterday, and 173 deaths, one new report.

? 46,340 doses of vaccine have been administered in the Outaouais
 

EASTERN ONTARIO

Eastern Ontario Health Unit dashboard

There have been 3393 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 35 since yesterday, and 82 deaths, seven new reports.  

? 24,452 doses of vaccine have been administered in the Eastern Ontario Health Unit.

Sometimes the number of cases or deaths are lower from one day to the next. This is usually because the powers-that-be have reassigned a case to a different health authority.

⭕ Ottawa Public Health has launched a separate COVID-19 vaccination dashboard. [Ottawa Public Health]

⭕  Sources say Premier Doug Ford will put Ontario into 28 day lockdown. Retail stores would remain open with 25 per cent capacity, grocery stores would be 50 per cent capacity, and restaurants would close indoor dining. Indoor fitness facilities and personal care services would be closed. [CBC]

⭕ Gatineau has returned to lockdown for 10 days. Gyms, theatres, hairdressers, and non-essential businesses will be shut and the curfew will start at 8pm. [CBC]

⭕ Ontario hits record high of COVID-19 cases among students and staff in schools. [Ottawa Citizen]

⭕ Dr Vera Etches does not believe that the second dose of vaccine for front line workers should be moved up. She believes that more people getting a first dose will better protect the community. [Ottawa Citizen]

 ? The Canada COVID Alert App

Be alerted if you have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. 

? How It Works       [Apple App Store]      [Google Play Store]

#WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

▪️ Chef Jean-Claude Chartrand passes away days after L'Orée du Bois closes due to COVID-19 outbreak. The celebrated chef and co-owner of the award-winning Chelsea restaurant was in his mid 50s. [Ottawa Citizen]

▪️ Transit campaigners say tweaks to services are actually cuts and want them reversed. Nine routes will be suspended due to low use, 15 routes with hospitals, shopping districts, and growing employment areas wlll have improved service. [Ottawa Citizen] [OC Transpo Service Changes]

#EVENTS

▪️ The whisky will be flowing at Deacon Brodies on Easter Sunday, for the (socially distanced) Whisky Tasting. It all kicks off at 4:00pm, and you’ll taste whiskies ranging from 12 to 18 years in the making. $60 per person, which includes the four drams plus charcuterie and tasting notes. You must reserve to take part at the pub or you can reserve your flights to go, by contacting [email protected] to arrange pickup.

▪️ In yesterday’s craft brewery roundup, we somehow missed the Easter Chocolate Cream Ale from Whiprsnapr (we know, we know, it was ridiculous to omit this). Beer plus creamy milk chocolate and vanilla? Yes, please. Available only for a short time, $3.54 per can. 

▪️ We've got our eye on the adorbs bunny planter at Flamingo Boutique. The shop will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday but open on Monday from 10:00am to 4:00pm (open as usual on Sunday).

▪️ Raise funds for charity and have fun at the same time with a bid on the silent auction items at the Wellington Street St Vincent de Paul thrift store. Everything in the “Entertainment” themed window is available in the auction: Action figures, DVDs, stuff for gamers, it’s all here. Bidding ends on April 8. Inside the store, the Easter sale means that anything with a yellow tag is 75% off! 1273 Wellington St. W.

▪️ Vintage Pop-Up 613 presents a shopping experience at the Morning Owl at 538 Rochester St on Saturday. (April 3), from 11:00am to 5:00pm. Shop vintage fashions from six vendors, and enjoy a nice cup of coffee from Morning Owl. Entry is free. 

▪️ Suzanne Keeptwo presents her new book, We All Go Back to the Land,tonight at Octopus books. Dr. David Dean, professor of history at Carleton University plays host. In We All Go Back to the Land, Keeptwo argues that the Land Acknowledgment read at public events and printed in publications is a vital communication message to non-Indigenous Canadians. (Thu Apr 1, 7pm)[Eventbrite]

▪️ The Great German-Canadian Street Art Miniature Easter Egg Hunt. The embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany has partnered with Ottawa street artist SAM  to create an Easter egg art hunt across the city. But there is a hitch:  SAM specializes in creating tiny art, some of the arty eggs will be the size of a dime.  (Sun Apr 4 - Mon Apr 5) [So German]

THE OTTAWAN

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?️ The Best Of Ottawa Awards 2020 

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