– Where Ottawa lies on Orkin pest control’s annual ‘Canada’s Rattiest Cities’ list. The number 12 spot is pretty stable, as Ottawa has been there the past three years. For Ontario, Ottawa is in fourth place. Toronto is number one, both provincially and nationally.

- The violinist is this year‘s — and the final — winner of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra’s Senécal Prize. As the winner, Saulnier will play Mozart’s Violin Concerto No.4 in D major, K.218 with the Orchestra on February 9, 2025, under the direction of Jean-Michel Malouf. In performance, Saulinier plays on a loaned 1680 Ruggeri from Cremona, with a Louis Gillet bow.

– OC Transpo general manager Renée Amilcar answering her own question ‘When is the system going to open?’ at a press conference about the Trillium Line.

▪️Another property owner near Stittsville may be leaving the wetlands. Quarry operator RW Tomlinson Ltd has applied to remove 10.7 hectares of wetland to expand its operations. The company says that in the future, when it is finished, it will recreate the wetland. The City is accepting comments until November 20.

▪️Loen Design on Carling has opened an art gallery, Salon des Bananes. We’ve all seen the former tire shop on Carling with the banana logo and amusing quotes on its sign. Some of us even know the building is owned by artist Rich Loen, who made his fortune by selling his software company, InGenius.

The gallery launches with a vernissage on November 15, featuring Loen, Lori Mirabelli, Maciek Kozlowski, and Dave Rheaume.

▪️Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand confirms that Ottawa is on the list as a stop for the proposed new high speed rail. Whew. Other than confirming the rumours of the existence of the plan, Anand did not have much more to add as bids and contracts are still being assessed.

▪️Drivers around the Gloucester Centre and Highway 174 should be wary of emergency first responder training around Blair Station on Saturday. The training will happen from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm. The Confederation Line itself is closed this weekend for maintenance.

▪️The Crown has dropped prosecution against a woman who pulled the hijab of a pro-Palestinian. The Crown said it ‘ it needed to balance the public interest in prosecution and the reasonable prospect of conviction’. Part of the reason given was the hijab-wearer was chanting ‘“From the River to the Sea Palestine will be Free,” which [the Crown] said could be reasonably inferred to be "a call for genocide of the Jewish people’ when the 74 year-old pulled off her headscarf.

The Crown said the accused has ‘admitted her wrongdoing, conveying an apology to [the victim] via the Crown and offering a restitution payment’. While the victim did agree to the withdrawing of charges, she felt she could face action herself if she didn’t and has since left Canada.

▪️West Carleton ward councillor Clare Kelly succeeded in convincing City Council to give a six-month exemption for those using wheelie garbage bins over 140 litres. Now that the three-item garbage rules are in effect, residents had complained that the rubbish workers had been leaving notes that their over 140 litre wheelie bins were not in compliance. However, 140 litre bins are not – or rarely – for sale and rural residents say regular cans are too easy for pests to knock over.

Where to bring your used Jack O’Lantern (please remove candles and dripped wax, toothpicks, and other non-pumpkin flesh items before dropping off).

🎃 10th Annual Byron Path Pumpkin Parade 

🎃 Bicycle Craft Brewery is taking used Jack O’Lanterns from Friday November 1 to Sunday November 3. Enjoy a tap room illuminated by flickering pumpkins on Saturday, when the brewery lights them up.

🎃 The Alameda in Almonte

🎃 Pumpkin Parade at Fisher Heights Park

🎃 Stittsville Pumpkin Parade 

🎃 Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm

🎃 Check the Ottawa South Eco-Action Network for a list of other drop-off sites.

▪️ If you’re on the very outskirts of the city of Ottawa and find yourself needing lunch, check out the Rocking Dock food truck. It opens its winter residency in Woodlawn today with a menu offering fish & chips, burgers, fries, and other yummy offerings. 3798 Dunrobin Road (at the Nicholls Esso gas station).

▪️ Discover more than 100 Ontario wines at Savvy’s best event Outstanding in their Fields.

▪️Shop Montréal brand Rightful Owner’s new season at the Victoire Boutique pop-up from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

▪️ Broadway Nights Ottawa: Halloween Extravaganza. Your favourite showtune sing-a-long visits Overflow Brewing for a special spooky season edition.

🆓 Halloween may be over, but scary stories never go out of season. The Spaniel’s Tale bookstore presents a book launch of Most Likely to Summon Nyhiloteph, by Ottawa author Madison McSweeney. RSVPs highly recommended.

▪️ Guelph Storm visit Ottawa 67s at TD Place.

▪️ Listen to rare funk and soul vinyl while you enjoy a four course dinner at the Baked Goods record store Listening Night, at Image Unlimited Art Gallery.

▪️ This weekend’s Day of the Dead Festival kicks off in the ByWard Market.

▪️ ByTowne Cinema: Lee, Conclave, The Substance

▪️ Mayfair Theatre: The Outrun, Emilia Pérez, Alien: Romulus

Gigs

▪️ Jagged Little Thrill - the Alanis Experience. The Brass Monkey

▪️ Blingo Night. Pour Boy

▪️ Ok Naledi. The Laff

▪️ Capital Professionals. Rainbow Bistro

▪️ The Sink, Outlier, Halfway There, In Passing. Dominion Tavern

▪️ Ed Lister. Irene’s Pub

🆓 Road Trip: Christmas in the Valley Artisan Show. John Levi Community Centre Arena Upper Hall, 182 Bridge Street in Almonte. More than 25 artists and crafters. Continues tomorrow (Sunday November 3).

🆓 Take the kids to the 30th Annual Ottawa Public Library Children’s Storytelling Festival at Ben Franklin Place.

▪️ Be inspired by the Vankleek Hill Christmas Home Tour. You’ll view six stylish homes that have been decorated to the hilt for the holiday season. $30 per person.

▪️ Bring Your Own Vinyl to Kichesippi Beer, where you’ll also find a record sale in the tap room.

▪️ Visit four working farms and a vineyard in Québec at the Luskville Farm Hop and Holiday Eco Fair.

▪️ Christmas Craft Fair season is on. Visit All Saints Catholic High School (5115 Kanata Ave) where you’ll find more than 170 tables of locally made gifts and decor.

▪️ Make this the year you learn to Tango. The Argentine Tango Beginner Boot Camp will teach you the correct embrace and steps, as well as how to be a good tango citizen. $55 per person.

▪️ Shop, connect, and explore the local businesses at the Manotick Village Women’s Day event.

▪️ From 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm watch as poppies representing fallen Canadian Veterans cascade virtually down the Peace Tower at Parliament Hill and on the Senate Building.

▪️ Ottawa Stray Cat Rescue holds an Adoption & Fundraising event at the Stittsville Pet Valu, to aid the cats in their care.

▪️ Enjoy a catwalk show and outstanding curated vintage shopping at The Drag Party Vintage Market at Next Door, which will raise funds for Kind Space.

▪️ Bring your broken small appliance to the Ottawa Tool Library Repair Café at Zibi.

▪️ Ottawa Canadian Film Festival winds up with a screening of Stealing Vows by Bobby Singh Brown (Toronto) at the ByTowne Cinema.

🆓 ByWard Market’s Day of the Dead Festival continues with music performances from 2:30 pm, The Mexicans Folk Ballet of Toronto at 3:00 pm, a Day of the Dead Procession at 4:00pm, and more.

▪️ ByTowne Cinema: The Goonies, Conclave, Detour: Risky Business

▪️ Mayfair Theatre: The Outrun, Megaopolis, Saturday Night Cinema

Gigs

▪️ Jesse Singh The Baby Goat Comedy Tour. LIVE on Elgin

▪️ Ed Lister. Irene’s Pub

▪️ Steve Hill. Rainbow Bistro

▪️ Thick as Thieves. Queen St Fare

▪️ Root Cause. House of TARG

▪️ Mod Nite: 1960s Rock & Soul Dance Party (from 10:00 pm). LIVE on Elgin

▪️ Day of the Dead with Insanity of Sorrow, Coppershop, Tourelle. Café Dekcuf

▪️ Rusty Breezes. Broadhead Brewery

▪️ Mystara. Sonny’s Bar and Grill

▪️ Daylight Saving ends today so turn back your analog clocks and devices at 2:00 am this morning (or do it before going to bed on Saturday night). 

🆓 Check out dozens of creatively carved Jack O’Lanterns at  Pumpkin Alley Fun Day in Riverside Park. Entry is free but  donations to the Brookfield Community Food Cupboard are encouraged.

▪️ Get creative and take the Collage Workshop in support of Being Studio, the organization that represents more than 70 artists with disabilities. 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Ottawa Art Gallery’s Level 0 Studio. $45.

▪️ There are two performances of Disney’s The Lion King at National Arts Centre today.

▪️ Book plenty of time to wander the 400 tables of jewellery, fossils, beads, and more at the Ottawa Rock ’N’ Gem Show.

▪️ Enjoy sustainable vintage shopping at Vpop from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm at Next Door Market & Event Space.

▪️ The Christmas in the Valley Artisan Show continues in the attractive town of Almonte, ON.

▪️ Visit four working farms and a vineyard in Québec at Day 2 of the Luskville Farm Hop and Holiday Eco Fair.

▪️ Road Trip: Perth Legion welcomes the 2nd Annual Christmas In Perth Vendor Market.

▪️ Soak in the Fall edition of National Arts Centre’s Music for a Sunday Afternoon, featuring Chamber compositions by Ralph Vaughan Wiliams, Wynton Marsalis, and others. 

▪️ ByTowne Cinema: Conclave, Kidz Classics: The Goonies, The Substance

▪️ Mayfair Theatre: Dr. Who and the Daleks, Emilia Pérez, Alien: Romulus 

Gigs

▪️ Rick Campanelli’s Ultimate 90s Bash. The Brass Monkey

▪️ The Sunday Night Revue. Irene’s Pub

▪️ Keith Glass Band. Atomic Rooster

 🆓 If you have any budding teenaged comic book creators in the family get them to the OPL Beaverbrook branch this evening where Eisner Award winning cartoonist Faith Erin Hicks will show them the basics with pencil and paper. Book your free ticket fast.

▪️ Ottawa StoryTellers are back with Story Café: Marie Robertson & Mary Wiggin with “When Worlds Collide.” 

▪️ Start the week with the brain-flexing Trivia Night at Royal Oak pubs (Kent St).

▪️ ByTowne Cinema: Conclave, Conclave, The Substance 

▪️ Mayfair Theatre: The Outrun, Dr. Who and The Daleks, Megalopolis

Gigs

▪️ Karaoke Mondaze. Atomic Rooster

▪️ Capital History Ottawa Colourized - by Ashley Newall (Vernissage). Irene’s Pub

▪️ Soul Asylum. Bronson Centre

▪️ The second round of Fall courses at Alliance Française begins soon, but the organization also offers social events at which you can practice your French. Case in point: enjoy Game Night while sipping Beaujolais on Thursday November 14.

▪️Historian Phil Jenkins is offering an ‘An Anecdotal History of Ottawa’ over three sessions at the Hillside Church in Almonte, starting November 6. Session One: Bytown Beginnings, Session Two: Post Confederation Ottawa, Session Three: The 20th Century. $55.

▪️ Disney’s the Lion King 

▪️ Into the Woods