See the 8 day forecast at the ottawan weather

HELLO OTTAWA

It is the Ottawa Catholic School Board’s turn to decide it must stay in session on April 8 to protect students from the eclipse.

April 8 was intended as a professional development day, but worries that unschooled children will burn their eyes out by the eclipse have made most school districts in the region decide to remain open.

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is still planning on taking a professional development day and leaving the kids to their own devices.

For the rest of you who will not be in school on April 8 because you're much much too old, don't look directly at the sun. Don’t do that on April 7 or 9 either.

– Martha and Darren

Our Valentines Guides

❤️ Valentine’s Day Experiences and Gifts

14 different ideas.

❤️ Valentine’s Day greeting cards

When you can’t find the words to express your feelings, a well chosen card can help. There’s no need to buy a mass produced greeting when these locally- and Canadian-made options are available.

❤️ Romantic Gift Ideas for Your Valentine

Seven easy ideas.

❤️ 5 Food Gifts and Dining Ideas for Valentine’s Day

It’s not just chocolate. But chocolate is included.

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

Sports

• 🏒NHL Ottawa Senators 3 – Detroit Red Wing 2 last night

CITY HALL AGENDA

What’s going on at City Hall

Police Services Board Finance and Audit Committee
Friday, February 02, 2024 at 10:00 am

• 5.1 Fourth Quarter 2023 South Facility Project Update

•  

  5.2 Update to Financial Accountability Procedures Manual

• 5.3 2024 Internal Audit Work Plan

📋 Agenda

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

💰 Groupe Katasa

•  Mayor Mark Sutcliffe had accepted a $1,000 donation from a Groupe Katasa exec despite vowing to not accept developer money. Campaigners Horizon Ottawa discovered that Groupe Katasa executive Tanya Chowieri had made the donation for Sutcliffe’s election campaign. Sutcliffe says this is the first that he has heard of the donation and he would have returned it at the time had he known. Groupe Katasa is the development company that offered then reneged on a $300,000 donation for traffic calming and social housing. (Trevor Pritchard at CBC)

🌗 Experimental Farm

•  The city’s planning and housing committee has approved the building of two towers that will cast shadows across the Experimental Farm. Despite complaints from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada that the shadows from the towers will make part of the farm ‘unusable for most field experiments … and unsuitable for research purposes’, the Committee approved the development of two towers of 32 and 24 storeys anyway. (Blair Crawford in the Ottawa Citizen)

👩‍🌾 ByWard Market

•  The ByWard Market Authority is waiving fees for farmers to encourage them to sell their goods. ByWard Farmer’s Market fees would normally be $2,000 to $2,500 per month. (Jackie Perez at CTV) (Application info for all vendors)

💸 Town of Renfrew

•  Two towns west, the mayor of Renfrew is refusing to resign after a vote of no-confidence by council. Mayor Tom Sidney is under fire for his handling of the local rink/activity centre expansion which was budgeted at $18 million and has so far cost $35 million and is still not open. Sidney blamed COVID issues and the price of steel for the overruns. Unless they resign, there are no mechanisms to remove a mayor or council member in Ontario. •cough* Rick Chiarelli *cough*. (Dylan Dyson at CTV)

⚙️ Federal Public Servants

•  A Federal task force has rejected a request for Muslim and Jewish public servants to be considered as separate groups facing systemic workplace barriers. In 1986, the Employment Equity Act recognized four groups: women, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, and members of visible minorities and gave authority for the government to break down barriers. The task force did recommend adding 2SLGBTQI+ and Black workers. (Raffy Boudjikanian at CBC)

🛫 Ottawa Airport

•  Ultra discount airline Lynx Air will be flying to Calgary and Vancouver starting May. The new routes will fly four times per week, with fares starting from $119 to Calgary and $139 to Vancouver, one way. Martha and Darren both flew Lynx Air from Vancouver to Toronto last year and were impressed by the lack of drama. We cannot avoid mentioning, however, that Lynx Air’s fleet is made up of Boeing Max 8s. (Lynx Air)

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MORE FROM THE OTTAWAN

• 🍺 Our Ottawa-Gatineau Craft Brewery Map

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• 🏆 The Best Of Ottawa Awards 2023

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• 🎧 Best Podcasts from Ottawa

EVENTS

Is there an event we should know about?
Please use our easy event submission form
 

Today

•  The Winter Season has launched at Gladstone Theatre, with Just Say the Word running until Saturday February 3. After that, the romantic season heats up with comedy It Had to Be You (February 7 - 17) and Steel Magnolias February 28 through March 9.

•  The NAC’s Hip Hop Theatre Festival continues with Can I Kick It Too?: An exploration of Queerness in Hip Hop, a conversation about what it means to be an LGBTQ+ artist in the Hip Hop genre. Free at 1:00 pm at Peter A. Herndorf Place.

•  Meanwhile, at the Azrieli Studio catch Freedom: A Mixtape - Live and Unplugged. This performance of the NAC’s Hip Hop Theatre Festival features songs, poems, and spoken word from Niagara Region artists. This performance is the show’s in-person premiere. Related:  The follow-up event, Freedom: A Community Kickback arrives at GCTC tomorrow night. 

•  National Ballet of Canada performs Helen Pickett’s Emma Bovary and Angels’ Atlas by Crystal Pite tonight through Saturday (February 3), with the National Arts Centre Orchestra providing the score.

•  Restaurant e18hteen has dreamed up a new reason to love Thursday: Every week the ‘Bubbles & Pearls’ event offers oysters and Prosecco at reduced rates. From a half dozen oysters for $14, all the way up to a Centurion of molluscs (100) for $195 and select bottles of Prosecco at half price, Thursday just became a lot more glam. 18 York St.

•  PranaShanti Yoga Centre has found a way to beat the winter doldrums: take the 29 day Yoga Challenge for a chance to win prizes. The idea: attend one PranaShanti yoga class per day during the month of February to experience benefits like ‘increased strength and flexibility, stress reduction and improved focus’. 950 Gladstone Ave.

Black History Month begins with activities and events across the city.

•  The OPL Main Branch will be screening a number of National Film Board films throughout the month, including The Road Taken, a 1996 film documenting the lives of Black sleeping car porters on Canadian railways during the first half of the 20th century; John Ware Reclaimed which explores the life of the 19th century Alberta cowboy and rancher; True North: Inside the Rise of Toronto Basketball; and other films. Wednesdays (February 7, February 14, February 21, February 28) at 2:00 pm.

•  OPL Cumberland is running the films on Thursdays at 6:00 pm.
  
  Gigs

•  Albert Kaprielian Trio. Montgomery Scotch Lounge

•  Julzz, zeelle, Mwiza. LIVE on Elgin

•  Karaoke Thursday. Atomic Rooster

•  Thursday Blues Sessions. Irene’s Pub Restaurant
   

Tomorrow

•  b current’s Freedom: A Community Kickback follows the launch of Freedom: A Mixtape Live and unplugged at the NAC last night. Find tonight’s party in the GCTC lobby, starting with a Mix and Mingle from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm (catered by Baccanalle), followed by a facilitated group talk from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

•  Unikkaatuarniq: Stories of the North Snowscreen returns with more Indigneous films from the circumpolar North, screened in a theatre made of snow. Screenings are free, shown one per hour from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Lansdowne Park. Tonight and tomorrow night (Saturday February 3). Presented by the Asinabka Film & Media Arts Festival.

•  Rising star (and Ottawan with Nigerian roots) Asuquomo takes to the NAC’s Fourth Stage, performing tracks from his debut album as part of the NAC's Hip Hop Theatre Festival. With special guest S.O.A.P. 

•  This weekend at the Diefenbunker, Winterlude programming includes an exhibition giving the Inuit view of the Cold War. The exhibition An Inuit Story: The DEW Line is accessible with the regular museum admission. On today through Sunday February 4. Later, take part the ongoing Snowflake Scavenger Hunt.

•  Author and environmentalist Bill McKibben (“The End of Nature”) discusses current global warming and the growing global environmental movement. Free but registration is required.

•  Ambassade de France Au Canada and the City of Gatineau join forces to illuminate the Tour Eiffel Bridge aka Montcalm Street Bridge as part of Winterlude. The choreographed show in Gatineau is an homage to Gustave Eiffel, and will be projected from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm through February 19. Part of Winterlude.

•  Pibòn Festival (Winterlude Edition) brings Indigenous performances to Sparks Street tonight and tomorrow (Saturday February 3) from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Catch Pow Wow dancers, Throat Singers, and more.

•  Bring the family to Manotick’s Shiverfest, starting tonight at Centennial Park with a bonfire at 6:00 pm. The skating club exhibition, outdoor hockey, and magic show round out the evening.

  Gigs

•  Latin Fiesta. Mavericks

•  Sam Roberts Band (relocated from EY Centre). Bronson Centre

•  The Rump Revue Burlesque Show. Cafe Dekcuf

•  Steve Stacey. Stray Dog Brewing

•  Alturna X. LIVE on Elgin

•  Finely Tuned Elephant. Irene’s Pub Restaurant

•  Mike Essoudry Trio. Montgomery Scotch Lounge

Saturday

•  Winterlude’s first weekend heats up with Biboon Baakdakmigziwinan, where you’ll see demos of traditional hide tanning, maple sugar making, and more. It’s all happening at Adaawewigamig, 55 ByWard Market Square.
   
• Manotick's Shiverfest continues with a pancake breakfast, curling, crafts for kids, a horse drawn sleigh ride, and a chili cook off.
   
•  Nibi indigenous Arts Festival packs workshops, activities, performances, and great food into just a few hours at Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans. 10:00 am to 1:30 pm in the Lower Lobby. 245 Centrum Blvd, Orléans.
   
•  Improv, music, and a fictional radio station collide in All Request Radio at Arts Court’s Atelier Studio. Watch as comedians are directed to create songs, backing tracks, and titles on the fly. $20 at the door.
   
•  The Unikkaatuarniq: Stories of the North Snowscreen film series continues at Lansdowne Park. Screenings are free, shown one per hour from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Presented by the Asinabka Film & Media Arts Festival.
   
•  Also at Lansdowne Park: The Winterlude Roller Disco, presented by Ottawa Recreation and Culture / Loisirs et culture Ottawa. Register in advance to ensure you can participate. $10.77 for those 15 and older; $9.53 for everyone 14 and under. Skates are available to rent or bring your own.
  
  Gigs
   

•  The Paper Boys Live! Bar Robo

•  The Ed Lister Group. Montgomery Scotch Lounge.

•  Mod Nite 1960’s Rock & Soul Dance Party with Collective Arts Brewing. LIVE on Elgin.

•  Tin Constellations. Irene’s Pub Restaurant

•  DJ Alber Remix. Mavericks

Just Announced / Now Booking

• Take your cherished one, your friends, or just yourself underground to experience Atomic Love at Deifenbunker ($80 per person). It's a wine and cheese event 75 feet under the surface of the Earth. You’ll be surrounded by Cold War exhibits while you enjoy wine and nibbles, or sidle up to the cash bar for a cocktail.DEAL: if you order your tickets before 11:59 pm tonight (February 1), you can add on locally crafted chocolates (for a fee). Saturday February 10 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm.

• Ottawa Jazz Festival presents this year’s benefit concert ‘Jazz Night Out 2024’ with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The doors open at 6:30 pm on Wednesday April 3, and as you enter you’ll be offered hors d’oeuvres and guided to a cashless bar for drinks. $75 per ticket, or $105 for VIP tickets seating you in the first four rows of Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre.

DEALS OF THE DAY

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

• Birds continue to find themselves in the news.
• Trumpeter swans were almost extinct in Ontario but now they are being seen in great numbers. Three hundred and forty-one were seen in Ottawa last year. Thirteen swan and four cygnets are currently swimming the Mississippi in Almonte.
• But it’s not a random occurance. In the 1980s, retired biologist Harry Lumsden recieved eggs from a flock in Alaska and volunteers from the Trumpeter Swan Restoration Group have been raising and releasing swans ever since.

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