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HELLO OTTAWA

CFRA Live with Andrew Pinsent called up the Night Mayor of another capital city and asked him what the job entails.

Salah Czapary, director of Washington, DC’s Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Culture says that, like Ottawa, his city’s downtown has still not recovered from COVID-19 shutdowns.

Some highlights:

• ‘Understanding that you have this industry that operates mainly at times when the government is not open’
   
• ‘In some of our neighbourhoods, there is now a lunch rush because about 50 per cent of our workforce is working from home’ and there is suddenly a problem with trash in an area that never had it before
   
• ‘Nightlife has been historically seen as a liability and by having an advocate within government, we can shift it to being seen as an asset to the city’
   
• ‘Our office is nightlife and culture, and I like to say culture is any time two or more people meet, so everyone is part of our constituency’
  
  (Apply for the Night Mayor job) (Audio interview)

Tomorrow: our regular Wednesday Food and Drink Update.

– 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

Ottawan of the Day

• Jeff Blackman
• – The Lowertown resident has published 25 issues of his zine, These Days, which he launched and personally distributed during the early days of COVID-19. He’s also the (probable) holder of the shortest poem published in the annual Best Canadian Poetry anthology with ‘The Prime Minister shook his son's hand’ at only four lines. (Ben Ladouceur in the Lowertown Echo) (These Days)

Quote

• “

• I tune in to the OCDSB trustee meetings because it’s better than watching a Netflix reality TV show

• – Member of Provincial Parliament for Carleton Goldie Ghamari from the same pre-budget meeting with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board that we quoted her last week. (Manotick Messenger)

Sports

• 🏒 PWHL Ottawa 4 – Boston 2 last night
• 🏒 NHL Ottawa Senators 4 – Tampa Bay Lightning 5 last night

CITY HALL AGENDA

What’s going on at City Hall

Ottawa City Council
Wednesday, February 21 at 10 am

• 11.1 Bill 23: Implementation of Changes to the Ontario Heritage Act – Heritage Register Removal Report #1
• 11.2 Application for New Construction at 235 Mariposa Avenue
• 12.1 Rural Firefighters Employee Status
• 12.2 Enhanced False Fire Alarm Strategy
• 13.1 Community Partners Insurance Program
• 14.1 Capital Adjustments – Transit Commission
• 15.1.1 Issue a Notice of Intention to Designate the Ottawa Water Works Complex under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act
• 15.3.1 Zoning By-law Amendment - 1346 Avenue Q
• 15.3.2 Zoning By-law Amendment – 56 and 58 Capilano Drive

📋 Agenda

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

🏠 Homelessness

•  Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says that most people in Ottawa shelters are new to Canada. He says that he expected most people in shelters would be experiencing mental health issues but instead found that most were asylum seeking families. Because of this, Sutcliffe believes the Federal government should be paying the costs of shelters and rehousing. (Anchal Sharma at CBC)
  
  ➕ Related Ottawa Bulldog has released the complete statement of who donated, and how much, to the Mayor’s election campaign.

🙄 Jim Watson

•  The Ottawa Citizen has a long interview with former mayor Jim Watson. He’s asked about what he’s doing – board member at Ottawa Community Housing Foundation Board and wireless Internet company Terago, as well as making sandwiches at the Shepherds of Good Hope. After being mayor, he misses the people. Oh, and he doesn’t take responsibilty for the O Train debacle, nor was he asked about the Provincial LRT inquiry that raked him over the coals.  The interview was conducted at Louis Pizza in Vanier, which looks from the photo like a classic red sauce Italian diner. (Gord Holder in the Ottawa Citizen)
  
  ➕ Related Rod Benn in Ottawa Bulldog is wondering why Watson is trying to restore his reputation now. Does he have designs on running Federally? Is he looking for a high-profile appointment? 

✈️ Ottawa International Airport

•  Passengers on a Porter Airlines flight to Orlando had to stay in Ottawa after their plane drove into a snowbank on the tarmack. The flight, last Thursday, was cancelled after passengers spent over an hour stuck in place. Passengers were rebooked for the next day. (Toula Mazloum at CTV) 

💰 Housing

•  The average rent in January for a one bedroom apartment in Ottawa was $2,045. This is a decrease from $2,069 in December. In Gatineau, the average rent for a one-bedroom in January was $1,710 per month. (Josh Pringle at CTV)

🚨 Senate of Canada

•  Senators have all been issued panic buttons due rising security concerns. Currently meeting in the old Ottawa Train Station while the Parliament buildings are renovated, the portable electronic buttons were issued to the Senators more than a year after they were offered to the House of Commons members. Some Senators have reported being harassed or threatened while on the streets or at home. (Elizabeth Thompson at CBC)

💬 Sophie Grégoire Trudeau

•  The UK’s Daily Mail has come to Ottawa for some gossip about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ex-wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau. The paper found that Grégoire Trudeau and her new boyfriend ate at Yangtze last Saturday and they shop at Jacobsons grocers. The boyfriend, pediatric surgeon Dr. Marcos Bettolli, is currently in an unamicable divorce from his wife. He pays $13,647 per month in child support, private school fees, and spousal support but claims she is ‘intentionally underemployed’. He says that she had a US $4 - $5 million inheritance but lost 'a substantial amount of money in a Ponzi scheme'.  While Grégoire Trudeau’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police protection ceased upon separation, the Trudeau children retain theirs. (John R Kennedy in the Daily Mail)

🛻 Convoy News

•  The Federal government has missed a deadline set by the Emergencies Act commission. Justice Paul Rouleau’s final report had 56 recommendations and suggestions to amend the Emergencies Act, with a 12 month deadline. However, Rouleau did not build in any penalties for non-compliance. The public safety minister’s office says a response will be forthcoming. (Laura Osman in the Canadian Press)

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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

Today

•  Love & Mercy, the biopic documenting the mental health struggles of lead Beach Boy Brian Wilson in the 1960s and 80s, is screening for free at the OPL Main Branch.
   
•  Up Yours! A Butt Workshop will answer your questions about, well, you know what. Choose from the in-person workshop at Venus Envy or join online.
   
•  The David Gumbs exhibition Tropical Bliss continues 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.

  
  Gigs

•  Sing a Sea Shanty with Bytown Sea Shanty Collective. Beyond The Pale Brewing Co

•  Conductive Comedy. Spark Beer.

•  Karaoke. Il Vicolo

•  Trivia Night. Royal Oak Pubs

•  Life Drawing. Art House Café

•  T.K.O. Tuesdays. Level One Game Pub

Tomorrow

•  The next noon Doors Open for Music concert at Southminster United Church features Montréal pianist RomanTimofeev performing Rachmaninoff’s Études-Tableaux. It’s free to attend in person at 15 Aylmer Ave or watch the livestream.
   
•  Whether you’re curious about clay or a seasoned sculptor, Art House is the place to be to get your hands dirty. The $25 entry fee gets you all materials to create with air-dry clay. No formal instruction is given but the host can guide you when you’re stuck.
   
•  The Ottawa Network’s A TON of Demos is a regular meet up for entrepreneurs, local incubators and businesses, where attendees network, watch three to four pitches, and enjoy fine food and drink at The Prescott.
   
•  Banish the mid-week blahs with a live comedy and dinner special at Il Vicolo. Enjoy specials like Personal Pizza and a pint for $21 and catch local comedians on the stage.
   
•  Do you have a story to tell? Join the Storytelling Open Mic at Old Firehall Community Centre (260 Sunnyside Ave).
   
•  Bytown Ukulele Group returns to Red Bird with BUG Jam Live, where players of any skill level are welcome to participate.

  
  Gigs

•  Jazz Jams with Ali Berkok. Montgomery Scotch Lounge

•  Funny Begins at 50: 3rd Edition. Irone’s Pub Restaurant

•  Jayla Kirkey. Backroom Events Space at Il Vicolo

•  Jazz Nite with Gerri Trimble. Bar Robo

•  The Strumbellas. Bronson Centre

Thursday

•  Disney’s Frozen lands at the NAC for a limited run (until March 3, 2024).
   
•  Francophone bibliophiles will want to be at Palais des congrès de Gatineau this weekend for the Salon du liver de l’Outaouais, which is promoting written and spoken French. Until Sunday February 25.
   
•  Whisky Wonderland returns to Hammond Golf & Country Club on the weekend of February 22-24. Join 100s of other aficionados for a weekend of tastings, classes, panels, shopping, live music, and ice sculpting.
   
•  Get ready for summer with the Ottawa Boat & Outdoors Show, happening this today through Sunday at the EY Centre. Practice your angling skills at the casting pond, watch seminars, and get ready for summer. 

  
  Gigs

•  Trivia. Beyond the Pale

•  Greathunter, Dolonia, Those Who. LIVE on Elgin

•  Charlotte Cardin. TD Place

•  Harmony on Mars, Sunshine Bandits, Myhill, Birdie Whyte. House of TARG
   

Just Announced / Now Booking

• This weekend, learn from the pros as the Tango World Champions teach the Caminatas steps. Sessions available Friday night through Saturday ($40 each). The event finishes Saturday evening with a performance ($30).

• Queers and Beers is heading to Queen St Fare on Thursday March 28. It will cost just $6 to get in, after which you can dance the night away, buy delicious craft beer, and chat until 10:30 pm.

• Drop into the Nepean Museum March Break program in the MakerStudio March 11 to March 15

DEALS OF THE DAY

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

Last week we mentioned that the Château Montebello, the luxury hotel that is also the world’s largest log cabin, went up for sale because of the bankruptcy of its China-based owner. It turns out that the Château Montebello has a mini-me.

After being ejected from the Château Montebello in the 1930s – for being a jerk, really – JR Booth hired its builder, Victor Nymark, to construct a smaller version across the river on Miller Island. 

These days, it is known as Turtle Lodge and is part of the Presqu'ile condo community. 

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