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HELLO OTTAWA

The City has opened applications for the 2024 Community Environmental Projects Grant Programme.

Non-profit groups can apply for the grants for their pet environmental project as long as they put in 33 per cent of the budget themselves. Volunteer labour counts as part of that 33 per cent.

Last year’s recipients included:

• Aquifer Monitoring Program
• Manotick on the Move
• Pinhey Sand Dunes Restoration Project
• Projet Karyne
• Terry Fox Park Monarch Butterfly Garden
• Tree Mapping Project

The Programme has $102,000 to spend, and projects receive an average of $3,200. 

The deadline is April 5 (As always, 4:00 pm because City Hall workers aren’t going to sit around waiting to give you money.)

The information page is here.
 

Mi Scuso!: Yesterday, we noted that the Ottawa Citizen interviewed former mayor Jim Watson at Louis Pizza in Vanier and described the resto in the photo as looking ‘like a classic red sauce Italian diner’.

From the results of our inbox, we cut the entirety of eastern Ottawa to the quick. Unbeknownst to us, Louis Pizza & Restaurant on MacArthur has been the rock that has held this city – at least the eastern part – together for the past 50 years AND has unfairly been excluded from nomination on everyone’s annual Best Pizza lists because of its Vanier location.

We’re sorry, we didn’t know. We’ll do better. And we’ll be ordering a large, pronto.

– Martha and Darren

TODAY’S LINE UP

•  Food + Drink Update
•  Ottawa Stats
•  City Hall Agenda
•  What Ottawa is Talking About
•  Events
•  Deals of the Day

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FOOD + DRINK UPDATE

Have you ever dipped a ham, Swiss cheese and baked bean sandwich in maple syrup as you ate it by a winter campfire?

Darren and Martha visited Fulton’s Sugar Bush on Family Day Monday, where they ate incredibly tasty, freshly prepared Breakfast Sandwiches, wandered the trails in the winter sunshine, shopped local Ontario and Quebec products, and watched as an expert carved a maple tree tap from a short length of Sumac in around 90 seconds.

Okay, back to the sandwich. Almonte Butcher Shop was on site at the Pakenham-based Sugar Bush to pile ham, Swiss cheese, and a layer of slightly squished baked beans onto a golden brioche bun, before grilling the whole thing until the cheese was oozing. Then the sammie was packaged up with a little pot of Fulton’s maple syrup for dipping.

We bought hot chocolate to wash down our feast, and wandered outside to the campfire. The air was crisp but the campfire was warm as we ate in companionable silence. Almonte Butcher Shop will be serving up these tasty sammies from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm each Saturday and Sunday until April 14, but you can also visit Fulton’s on weekdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm for trail walking and shopping. 399 Sugar Bush Road, Pakenham.

➕ Related: Check out our photos of the visit.

Other Food and Drink News

•  Whiprsnapr’s new Phat 2024 Session NEIPA is just 2.5% but packed with tropical fruit flavours. It’s only around for a while, so get in.
•  Equator Coffee Roasters is offering a chance to win a $100 Gift Card with every online purchase during February, in the Leap Year Giveaway.
•  For the first time in five years, Ferme Juniper Farm is offering Community Supported Agriculture boxes. Each order has certified Organic produce plus add ons like fresh organic eggs, organic Sourdough bread, mushrooms, fruit honey and cheese.
•  If Ottawa is the shawarma capital of the world, Blossom Park is the shawarma capital of Ottawa.
•  Ameya Charnalia at Eat The Strip is a big fan of the deep-fried beef empanada at Bienvenidos Latin Market:  ‘Unlike some of the other empanadas, the filling contained spiced potatoes. It paired perfectly with the in-house salsa made with chopped tomato, onion, cilantro and lemon juice’.
•  Little Victories Coffee has opened a second location at 85 Bank St, on the corner of Queen Street, because the original three blocks away needs overflow space. Like location number one, the new spot doesn't offer free wifi, in an effort to encourage human interaction.
•  Toronto-owned but Ottawa headquartered Bridgehead Coffee is closing down several of its local shops, including Rideau Centre, before finalizing its sale to a Montréal outfit.
•  In an interview with the Lowertown Echo, chef Elina Olefirenko of Elina Patisserie, says of her menu: ‘I only do what I personally like to eat. Very selfish!’
•  An opinion columnist in the Ottawa Citizen argues that it is time for the City to allow backyard chickens for all residents.

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OTTAWA STATS

Ottawans and Gatinoise of the Day

• Samantha Uwaneza, Jambo Harley, and Awe Diomande
• – They are three of twenty students to receive $10,000 scholarships from the 2024 RBC Future Launch Scholarship for Black Youth programme.  University of Ottawa student Uwaneza was nominated by the Ottawa Community Housing Foundation, grade 11 student Harley was nominated by the Centre for Resilience and Social Development, and Gatineau resident Diomande was nominated by Visions of Science. (Toula Mazloum at CTV) (Full list of scholarship recipients)

Quote

• “

• Mr. Rielly’s actions were not taken in self-defence. They were not accidental and they were not reflexive. They were not simply careless or merely reckless

• – National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman upholding the five game suspension of Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly for cross-checking Sens forward Ridly Greig Feb 10. 
• The players’ association had appealed the suspension, arguing that Rielly did not intend to hit Greig, which Bettman disputed. The Commissioner said that the only reason the suspension was not longer was because of Rielly’s clean record. (The Canadian Press)

Sports

• 🏒 NHL Ottawa Senators 2 – Florida Panthers 3 last night

CITY HALL AGENDA

What’s going on at City Hall

Transportation Committee
Thursday, February 22 at 9:30 am

• Motion – Councillor R. Brockington – relocation of ASE camera in Ward 16
• Wellington Street transportation study update
• Status update – Transportation Committee inquiries and motions for the period ending February 9, 2024

📋 Agenda
 

Police Services Board Policy and Governance Committee
Thursday, February 22 at noon

• Move In Camera to discuss a matter related to cyber security.

📋 Agenda

Planning Advisory Committee
Thursday, February 22 at 5:30 pm

• Election of Chair and Vice-chair
• Adoption of Planning Advisory Committee procedure by-law and mandatory policies for advisory committees
• Presentation of the draft 2024 work program for the Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development Department planning matters
• Update – 2024 new Zoning By-law

📋 Agenda

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

🥅 Lacrosse

•  Ottawa is getting a new professional lacrosse team, the Ottawa Black Bears. Playing in the National Lacrosse League, the Bears are the rebranded New York Riptide, which will move to the Canadian Tire Centre at the end of the current season. Ottawa last had a professional lacrosse team, the Ottawa Rebel, from 2001 – 2003.  (Mike Lacasse at CityNews) (Ottawa Black Bears)

🤒 Ottawa Public Health

•  Ottawa Public Health says that no cases of measles have been reported since 2019. There has been a reëmergence of the disease in recent months as some people have been refusing to vaccinate their children. A child was reported with the disease in Montréal yesterday, and an infant in Toronto currently has it. Kids in Canada get two doses of measles vaccine, at one year of age and again between four and six years of age. (Toula Mazloum at CTV) (Ottawa Public Health measles info page)

🚨 Ottawa Police Service

•  A court case has been tossed after court rules that Ottawa Police violated a man’s charter rights with a ‘no knock’ warrant. Police had received a warrant to enter the house without warning over suspected drug trafficking. The suspect saw the officers sneaking up on the house and told them there was a child present and he would open the door for them. Police used a battering ram on the door regardless. The judge stated that Ottawa Police ‘proceeded based on an assumption that a dynamic entry is justified any time when drug trafficking is alleged. … This is not the law.” Found inside were 340 grams of cocaine, 270 grams of crystal meth, 74 pills of hydromorphone, and $23,000 in cash, but no weapons. (Aedan Helmer in the Ottawa Citizen) 

⚕️ Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus

• The builders and designers of the upcoming Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus have been announced. PCL Construction and EllisDon are the builders and related companies PCL Investments Inc. and ED Capital Inc. will be the financial advisors to themselves. The design team are Parkin Architects Ltd. and Adamson Associates Architects. Omitted was any mention of creating a link from the Dow’s Lake O Train station to the hospital. (Ottawa Citizen)

🙄 Crimestoppers

•  Ottawa’s biggest tech company, Pornhub, is allying with Crime Stoppers International to police adult material. Pornhub’s parent company, now known as Aylo, asked Crime Stoppers to arrange a website where tipsters can anonymously report suspect material. (Andrew Duffy in the Ottawa Citizen)

⛸️ Rideau Canal Skateway

•  The Pretoria to Waverley section of the Rideau Canal Skateway opened yesterday. The weather is warming up though, so if you are interested in skating, do it quick. (Josh Pringle at CTV) (Skateway Twitter)

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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

•  With age comes wisdom, experience, and a well developed sense of irony. Check out the mature comedians at Funny Begins at 50 (3rd Edition) at Irene’s Pub Restaurant. Rick Currie is your host, and the lineup includes ‘That Canadian Guy’ Glen Foster, Simone Holder, Ward Lepton, and Dianne Skoll.
   
•  Whether you’re curious about clay or a seasoned sculptor, you can get your hands dirty at Art House. 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 to 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.
   
•  Bytowne Cinema: The Promised Land, The Zone of Interest, 2024 Oscar Nominated Films: Animated
   
•  Mayfair Theatre: Ru, The Thomas Crown Affair, How to Have Sex
   

  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

•  Open Mic night. Pour Boy
   

Tomorrow

•  Byward Market shop Adaawewigamig celebrates Indigenous cuisine and style in its second fashion show. Everything shown on the runway will be available to purchase after the show. You’ll also get to sample delicious food from Pei Pei Chei Ow, who are visiting all the way from Edmonton. Seating for An Evening of Indigenous Style & Cuisine opens at 5:30 pm, the show begins at 6:00 pm, and the food gets plated at 6:30 pm. 55 Byword Market Square
   
•  It’s opera, but casual as Operatic Revelry brings its stereotype-free experience to Rainbow Bistro. $10
   
•  The NCC’s The Beautiful Capital event will explore abandoned early 20th century blueprints for Ottawa’s design, consider the correlation between philosophical principles and urban design in Washington, DC, and question where architecture itself is going. Free to attend in person or online but registration is required. Thursday February 22, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Urbanism Lab (40 Elgin St).
   

•  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 promotes 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 today through Sunday at the EY Centre. Possibly the most fun part: practicing your angling skills at the casting pond.

•  ByTowne Cinema: 2024 Oscar nominated Short Films: Live Action, The Promised Land, Streets of Fire

•  Mayfair Theatre: The Braid (aka La Tresse), Ru, How to Have Sex

  Gigs

•  Trivia. Beyond the Pale

•  The Ottawa Jazz Quintet. Montgomery Scotch Lounge

•  Trivia Thursday. Whiprsnapr

•  Greathunter, Dolonia, Those Who. LIVE on Elgin

•  Charlotte Cardin. TD Place

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

Friday

•  Elmdale Public Schools Bookfest is its biggest fundraiser of the year. Last year the event raised $23,000 and sold thousands of books, many priced no more than $3. Today and tomorrow (Saturday February 24) at 49 Iona St (Java St. entrance)
   
•  African, Caribbean, and Black Wellness Resource Centre marks Black History Month 2024 with Black Expressions, Breaking Free! There will be music and dance as well as an exhibit of the achievements, contributions, and struggles of Black individuals throughout history. 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
   
•  Immerse yourself in the teased hair decade at House of TARG’s 80s Dance Party. First up: The Start plays top British tunes from the era, after which DJ Remi Royale spins all your fave hits from around the world.
   
•  There’s another dance party going on across town at The 27 Club, where Friday I’m in Love plays the indie greats. This dance party is for everyone, not just for the cool alternative kids who skipped gym class.
   
•  Cafe Dekcuf welcomes The Bloodbash, a two night aural extravaganza in support of Canadian Blood Services. Featured bands Resist the Throne and The Pop Cult Experience are joined by more bands and you might win a prize in the raffle. Tickets from $27.96
   
•  Whether you become comfortably numb or shaky with excitement, the Candlelight Tribute to Pink Floyd Family Show will enchant Floydians from the ages of 8 to 98. Gladstone Theatre.
   
•  ByTowne Cinema: The Promised Land, La passion de Dodin Bouffant (The Taste of Things), Perfect Day, Day of the Dead
   
•  Mayfair Theatre: The Zone of Interest, The Sweet East, The Rocky Horror Picture Show

  
  Gigs

•  Garrett Warner. Montgomery Scotch Lounge

•  Fever Pitch monthly Jazz Show. Art House Café

•  Blingo Night. Pour Boy
   

Just Announced / Now Booking

• The Red Bird celebrates turning two with The Red Bird Family Band Musical Extravaganza on Saturday night (February 24). The venue and music studio teaching faculty will take to the stage in a 21st Century variety show. $15. It's a small venue so get your tickets now.

• Zoë’s Corner has launched a new round of Soap Making 101 and Bath Bombs and Bath Salts workshops. These in-person experiences take place at 5460 Canotek Road.

• The Ottawa Riverkeeper Gala is a highlight of the Ottawa Spring social calendar with food, drink, performances and dancing, and it all happens in front of a pretty breathtaking view of the Ottawa River. The event is a fundraiser for projects that protect the Ottawa River, and this year it’s happening on Wednesday May 29 at River House. Early Bird tickets are available now.

• Cirque du Soleil will spend five weeks in Gatineau’s Zibi plaza Aug 16 to Sept. 22 with its new show, ECHO. Tickets on sale Monday.

• Ice Cube announces a date at the Arena at TD Place on May 4. Tickets on sale at TicketMaster Friday at 10:00 am.

   

DEALS OF THE DAY

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

The Ottawa Citizen has published a fiendishly hard quiz about the history of the City of Ottawa. Fiendishly hard* if you are a newcomer like Darren, that is. Natural born Ottawan Martha is more like, ‘doesn’t everyone know this?’

* Except for the ‘All of the above’ answers. Everyone knows that if that ‘all of the above’ is a choice, that’s the answer.

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