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HELLO OTTAWA

🦃 Have a great Thanksgiving weekend everyone. 

the ottawan will be taking Monday off and return on Tuesday.

– Martha and Darren

TODAY’S LINE UP

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

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OTTAWA STATS

CITY HALL AGENDA

What’s coming up Tuesday at City Hall.

Ottawa Public Library Board
Tuesday, October 10 at 5 pm

• 2024 Board meeting schedule
• Strategic Plan update
• Service delivery framework implementation date
• Semi-annual performance measurement – January to June 2023
• 2023 Fund development update

📋 No agenda supplied

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

💸 Lansdowne 2.0

The new version of the Lansdowne 2.0 plan has dropped and it’s a doozy. The City’s meeting system is down this morning, so we can’t link to the actual report. Instead, we’ll choose some choice quotes from Capital Ward councillor Shawn Menard (Not Mendes! Not Mendes!) about it.

• The cost has risen to $419 million for taxpayers
• The green roof initially proposed for the new event centre—that we campaigned on making accessible—has been jettisoned entirely
• There is no roof proposed for the north side stands (as there is now)
• The proposed music hall has been removed. 
• The initial inadequate commitment for 10% market affordable units to be provided on site—through a requirement of the purchaser of public air rights—has been abandoned entirely;
• Worse, the report calls for council to waive the requirements of our Affordable Housing Land and Funding Policy, a policy that ensures that, when the city sells off public land for private residential use, 25% of the proceeds are directed toward our affordable housing budget. The report calls for that requirement to be replaced with a 10% requirement instead. This means both property tax dollars and revenues earmarked for affordable housing will be redirected to pay for Lansdowne 2.0;
• The city will maintain a large loan for the roof of the civic centre that is to be demolished as part of this project;
• We will incur $18.6 million of debt for the city to build 140 parking spaces for the new residential towers (under the new proposed North side stands). Annual debt servicing after revenues (from selling or leasing the spots to the residential towers) is expected to cost the city $600,000 annually. The developer would also build an additional 200 residential parking spots underneath the proposed towers;
• The retail podium land would be sold to a developer ($39 million) and then repurchased at market rates by the city (estimated at over $34 million) once that retail is built, with a renegotiated retail loan that OSEG is to secure. The scheme seems to be absent from the $419 million total cost; and
• The city has identified a proposed risk that OSEG could leave the deal, but there has been zero risk mitigation or alternative planning for what would occur in that scenario (e.g., bringing in a not-for-profit to run the site, finding another private corporation to take over or keeping the teams in city ownership). 
• The report proposes to increase the trivial annual rent charged to the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) for their use and operation of Lansdowne Park, raising it from $1.00 to $500,000.00
• Despite moving away from talk of ‘revenue neutrality’, property tax uplift is still being used as a way to finance, in part, the Lansdowne 2.0 proposal;
• There is no new transportation plan proposed
  
  (Better Lansdowne)
  
  ➕ Related The $55 million Alt Hotel will be built at the Ottawa International Airport after all. The Germain family wanted an $13 million tax break to build the hotel which was turned down by the City after public outcry. The hotel will not have any tax breaks.

🏠 Houses

• Ottawa has fewer housing starts in the first half of 2023 than the previous 25 years. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says there were 3,574 housing starts in the first half of 2023, including 2,164 apartments. (Josh Pringle at CTV)

😔 Barrack Cemetery

•  The third and final re-intering of remains from the Barrack Cemetry will be held at Beechwood Cemetery. The Barrack Cemetery was used from the 1820s to 1840s and bounded by Sparks, Elgin, Albert, and Metcalfe streets. Families were asked to move their relatives in 1845, most to Sandy Hill, but in 2014 during O Train construction, 109 bodies were found. The public is welcome to attend the ceremony on October 12 but seats are limited and must be registered in advance. (City of Ottawa)

🛻 Convoy 2.0

• A Convoy group settled in Casselman had plans to kidnap police and MPs in Ottawa, then cause a final confrontation in BC. Save the Children Convoy participants have a theory that the Federal government is running a child trafficking ring, supported by the United Nations. Participants have said that there was a plan – no longer in effect – to take over the financiall district in Toronto, surround Federal buildings in Ottawa, then ‘take the head off the snake’ with a confrontation of Freemasons in Tofino, BC. The Save the Children convoy remains settled in Casselman but say they are peaceful. (Luke LeBrun in PressProgress)

🛻 Convoy 1.0

• Convoy protest co-organizer Pat King will have his trial remain in Ottawa. King had applied to move his trial outside of Ottawa, as he believed a fair jury pool could not be found. A judge disagreed. King is facing charges of mischief, counselling others to commit mischief, disobeying a court order, and obstructing police. (David Fraser at CBC)

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EVENTS

Send us your event listings for consideration in the newsletter
 

Today 

• Inside Out, the 2SLGBTQ+ Ottawa Film Festival, returns with In-Person and Online screenings and events, October 6-8. Tonight’s Opening Gala screening of “Queen of my Dreams” is sold out but you can get tickets for weekend events.
• Capital Pop-up Cinema presents a scary double feature, beginning with Buster Keaton in the silent classic Haunted House. Then, get spooked in a 1931 way with Dracula, starring the one and only Bela Lugosi. Free. Bring your own blanket as well as someone to clutch in terror when the scary bits happen.
• Stittsville Haunted Heritage Tours is back for the fifth time with a creepy wander throughout the old Ottawa neighbourhood. Tickets from $24.96.
• Wander the magical pathway lined with 1000s of pumpkin sculptures and displays at Pumpkins After Dark. It’s on every Thursday through Sunday evening until October 31 at Wesley Clover Parks (410 Corkstown Road). 

   

  Music
• 80s Dance Party. House of TARG
• Halloversary Edition. Mavericks
• Surf Hat. LIVE on Elgin
• Charm of Finches. Red Bird Live
• Benj Rowland with Special Guests Wychwood. Irene’s Pub
• Ernesto Cervini’s Turboprop. Arts Court Theatre
• FDAYWKND with Blank Notion. The Rainbow Bistro
• The Dirty Nil. Bronson Centre

Tomorrow

• Inside Out Film Festival in-person screenings include International Shorts, Backspot, Summer Camp, and Queen Tut (all from Canada), and Sweden’s Opponent. In addition, there will be a virtual screening of Commitment to Life, the documentary from the USA about Hollywood’s influence in the fight against AIDS in the 1980s. 
• The Log Farm is open every day including Thanksgiving Monday, so take the stir crazy littles to the Corn Maze or forest paths for some solid running around time. 
• Saunders Farm is open as well, with activities like pumpkin picking, mazes, and climbing structures, and there will be plenty of food and drink. 
• Rain is expected on Saturday but that won’t stop Ottawa Farm Fresh’s 4th annual Carrot Fest from giving Ottawans the opportunity to join a community harvesting bee. Regular citizens can get dirty by harvesting carrots that will be included in the farm’s CSA baskets. Plus, enjoy sausages and kebabs, shop at the Farm store, and get ready for Halloween with a visit to the Pick Your Own Pumpkin patch. 
• Arlington Art Market returns with market stalls, crafts, and music. Catch it all on Arlington Ave between Bank and Kent and in the Glashan School Parking Lot. 
• Dreamers Walk Canada for Cerebal Palsy is more than a charity walk. There will be games, storytelling, and family fun. Superdome at Ben Franklin Park in Nepean. Walk fee $20 per person. 
• Beet Box Farm’s Harvest Fest is back with celebration of fall veggies, hot apple cider and donuts, nature walks, and live music. Bring a donation for the Kanata Food Cupboard. 
• Nine area breweries will participate in the Ottawa On Tap Beerfest in HIntonburg Park. Each gate ticket includes one 14 oz beer or two 6 oz beers, a raffle ticket to win gift packs, and $3 will be donated to the Alliance to End Homelessness. 
• The Fall for Merrickville Thanksgiving Market takes over a working horse stable with market stalls, hay rides, a petting zoo, and live music. Combine it with a visit to the village of Merrickville for a memorable family road trip. 
• Wander the magical pathway lined with 1000s of pumpkin sculptures and displays at Pumpkins After Dark. It’s on every Thursday through Sunday evening until October 31 at Wesley Clover Parks (410 Corkstown Road).
  
  
  Music
• Devin Cuddy Band. Carleton Place Town Hall
• Bugus with Robbie G and Brandon Hart. The Brass Monkey
• THüNDERKOK. House of TARG
• Hard to Rock. Atomic Rooster
• Katie Cruel and Jerry Leger. Red Bird Live
• Ready the Prince. Rainbow Bistro
• Neon Rise. Cafe Dekcuf
• Mod Nite: 60s Rock and Soul Dance Party. LIVE on Elgin
• Turkey Turmoil w/ Slo’ Tom & The Handsome Devils, Double Talker and Bird Dog. Dominion Tavern

Sunday 

•  Calabogie Peaks Resort Fall Colours Chairlift Rides take full advantage of the view at peak (pun unintended) season. You can experience the exceptional view in both directions from a chairlift or choose to ride up and then walk back down. 
• Ecotay, the event space near Perth, ON is holding a Sunday Harvest Market from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Enjoy live music, 50 vendors, and hot food and drink. 
• The Log Farm is open every day including Thanksgiving Monday, so take the stir crazy littles to the Corn Maze or forest paths for some solid running around time. 
• Saunders Farm is open as well, with activities like pumpkin picking, mazes, and climbing structures, and there will be plenty of food and drink. 
• Capital Pride and InsideOut Film Festival present a screening of 20,000 Species of Bees at the Ottawa Art Gallery. 

  
  Other InsideOut Film Festival in-person screenings include Belgium/France’s The Lost Boys (Le Paradis), Canadian Shorts, Canada’s Days of Happiness and Summer Camp, and Our Son (USA). 

• Watch 2023’s final grinding of flour at the Watson’s Mill & Dickinson House Harvest Festival. Or, take a horse and wagon ride, check out the crafts, let the kids play some games. 5525 Dickinson St., Manotick. 

• Take a walk with the family. Ottawa Mushroom Society will lead a walk through Pinhey Forest to identify and learn all about the many species of fungi in our woodlands.

• On the closing day of the Ottawa Korean Film Festival, Chilsu and Mansu screens at the Korean Cultural Centre. Other films are screening virtually. 

• Wander the magical pathway lined with 1000s of pumpkin sculptures and displays at Pumpkins After Dark. It’s on every Thursday through Sunday evening until October 31 at Wesley Clover Parks (410 Corkstown Road). 

  
  Music

•  Tommy Stinson from The Replacements. The Brass Monkey
• George’s Country Jam. George’s Bar & Grill
• Acoustic Coffee House. Red Bird Live
• Maria Moles and Instant Places. LIVE on Elgin
• Roots Movement Band. Atomic Rooster

Monday

• The Log Farm is open every day including Thanksgiving Monday, so take the stir crazy littles to the Corn Maze or forest paths for some solid running around time. 
• Saunders Farm is open as well, with activities like pumpkin picking, mazes, and climbing structures, and there will be plenty of food and drink. 

  
  Music

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

• Bluegrass Mondays. Red Bird Live

Tuesday

• Open Mic Night. LIVE on Elgin

• Open Stage. Red Bird Live

Just Announced / Now Booking

•  IMOO Fest 2023 will welcome performers from around the world to Glebe St. James United Church (650 Lyon St). A ticket will cost just $50, giving you access to all eight performances October 13-14. 
• Women’s Environmental Sustainability Network Ottawa’s October meet up is a superb opportunity to network with other women environmental professionals in the Ottawa industry. October 18 at The Lieutenant's Pump. 

• Six performers will kick off the NAC’s Hip Hop Theatre Festival with The Cypher, followed by nine days of rap, song, storytelling, spoken word, theatre, and rap battles. January 31 to February 10 2024.

DEALS OF THE DAY

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

We had a laugh at the name of this event. The 12th annual Alpha Male Yard Sale all weekend is worth a road trip to the small hamlet of Clayton in Lanark County. What’s the address? Across from the general store. Don’t be such a city slicker. It says mostly hand and power tools, yard and garden, auto, and camping stuff. It also says ‘mostly guy stuff’, which we will charitably deem as an ironic throw back. Right organizers? We’re right, right?. 

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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