The Ottawan : Newsletters : Professional tribute band fest starts today + RIP Keith Spicer

Previous Newsletters

Instagram Twitter View in Browser

HELLO OTTAWA

In a tense, celebrity-filled ceremony*, Martha’s mom drew the name from her choosing hat for the winner of a t-shirt: congratulations Sonja T. We’ve emailled to you asking for which shirt you would like and what size. And please check your spam folder.
Thank you everyone who participated – this is easily the most popular draw we’ve ever conducted.

– Martha & Darren

* Instagram cats are a kind of celebrity.

Forward Us to a Friend

ottawa historic logo t-shirts

Ogilvy’s T-Shirt

Charles Ogilvy Limited began as dry goods shop on Rideau Street in 1897, and ended its reign as Ottawa's greatest department store in 1992.

Help support the ottawan by buying one of our historic logo t-shirts.

HISTORIC LOGO SHIRTS

Weather

🌦️ 30 per cent chance of showers. High of 25°, low of 15°.

Number

$75,000
– The donation to the Ottawa Food Bank made by the Ottawa Senators after news got out of the Bank’s food shortage. The team will also be collecting non-perishable food items from fans at its home matches. The next Sens match will be a friendly in Sydney, NS against the Florida Panthers Oct 1. The first home match will be against Montréal Oct 7. (Josh Pringle at CTV) (Donate to the Food Bank)

Ottawan of the Day

Brianna Hennessy
– The 38 year-old will represent Canada in two sports, para canoe and wheelchair rugby, at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games which begin next August. (Zack Smart at CBC)

Quote

“
I stand by what I've said all along
– Kitchissippi resident Mayor Mark Sutcliffe on reports that the National Capital Commission says the City has ‘methodological errors’ over its low count of cyclists on the Queen Elizabeth Driveway. The mayor says the count was done right. (Dan Taekema at CBC)

➕ Related Lots of people wrote letters-to-the-editor of the Globe & Mail over the paper’s editorial in support of keeping the Drive pedestrian and cycle friendly.

Sports

⚾ FRONTIER Ottawa Titans 9 – New Jersey Jackals 4 last night

🚲 Bike Lanes

Billings Bridge will get new bike lanes between Riverside Drive and Chesley Street. The City”s transportation committee approved the addition, with the expectation they would be added in 2024. (Ted Raymond at CTV)

🚌 Crossing Guards

The Ottawa Safety Council is seeking crossing guards. School begins in two weeks, and the Council is short 50 guards to cover its 270 intersections. And it's not volunteer: pay is $19.60 per hour, with shifts from 40 minutes to 2 hours. (Josh Pringle at CTV) (Recruiting site)

🗞️ Elegy

Keith Spicer has passed at age 89. Spicer was editor-in-chief of the Ottawa Citizen, professor at the universities of Ottawa, British Columbia, and York, special assistant to a justice minister, chair of the Canadian Radio-Telecommunications Commission, and the first Commissioner of Official Languages. Spicer said he had never read the Official Languages Act as it was ‘pretty boring’ and that ‘the best place to learn French is in bed’. (Andrew Duffy in the Ottawa Citizen)

🌊 Water and Sewers

Despite the City moving the urban boundary north to Highway 418 and Carp Road, water lines and sewers are not being considered. The Carp Road Corridor Business Improvement Area is annoyed that despite business being disrupted as Carp Road is being rebuilt as a four-lane thoroughfare, the City is not installing municipal water and sewer at the same time. While the City does not need to supply water and sewer lines in those areas deemed rural, the new Carp Road project is now within the urban zone. (West Carleton Online 🔑 Paywalled) (Ottawa’s Urban Boundary)

🌉 Chief William Commanda Bridge

The Canadian Press has a pretty slideshow of the newly-opened Chief William Commanda Bridge.

the ottawan t-shirt

Wear the only be-logo-ed t-shirt authorized by the ottawan itself.

THE OTTAWAN SHIRTS

Send us your event listings for consideration in the newsletter

Today

Nostalgia Music Festival brings professional tribute bands to one event, celebrating music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. The festival returns to Lebreton Flats, where you’ll also find food and full service bars, until Sunday (August 27).
The Bronson Centre hosts The Capital Pride Kickoff Party, with Wannabe (a Spice Girls Tribute), DJ Tot, Drag Queens Adrianna Exposee and Shea D. Sadie, and performances by Jamey Fine and Lu Kala.
Speakers at Pride Beyond the Parade: Advancing 2SLGBTQIA+ rights in the workplace will look to exchange ideas to advance further inclusion and belonging in the workplace.
House of TARG welcomes the Salt Arcade Pride Drag Show, where Latina Shaker, Sunshine Glitterchild, Sophia Sapphire, and VERA will wow the crowd. Tickets $20 in advance or $25 at the door if there are any left.
It’s the final week of A Company of Fools' production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which is playing parks and venues around Ottawa and region this summer. Tonight’s venue is the Diefenbunker Museum in Carp. Showtime 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
Broadway Across Canada presents the Tony-award winning musical Hadestown, tonight through Sunday (August 27) at the National Arts Centre.
It’s the final SUP Yoga of the season at Robert Simpson Park. $25 if you bring your own board, $35 to rent. Also, we’re in awe of anyone who can balance on one of those things, let alone strike a pose.
Raphael Weinroth-Browne, Kathryn Patricia Cobbler, Dimitri & Kosta Georgaras play Ottawa Music Industry Coalition’s City Sounds Live at the parking lot of Chef’s Paradise (1314 Bank St.). 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Thursday means the return of Urban Art Collective’s Hintonburg Night Market. Visit 1088 Somerset St. W each Thursday from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm until October 5.

Tomorrow

The Summer Paradise Club Pride Patio Party brings cocktails, drink specials, drag, and fine Mexican food together at Margarita’s. You’ll need to book your ticket to get in, people. $20. 895 Bank St.
As the Masters Indigenous Games get underway, the adjoining Cultural Festival at Lansdowne today through Sunday will feature an Indigenous Market, food and drink, performances, and sports demonstrations.
Spark Beer isn’t letting summer go without a salute to seasonal sour drinks. This Friday they’re hosting Funky Fun Fest, wherein the taps - including guest pours from Avling, Fairweather, Barrel Heart Brewing, Dominion City, Tooth and Nail, and Small Pony Barrel Works, will be on the sour and funky side. If sour beer isn’t your jam, Farmgate Cider will also be there.
It’s Opening Night of Capital Pride and there’s an impressive lineup planned for the main stage.
It’s the final week of A Company of Fools' production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which is playing parks and venues around Ottawa and region this summer. Tonight’s venue is the Canadensis Botanical Gardens at Experimental Farm. Showtime 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
Canadian trombonist Nick Adema brings his Boston based musician friends Ryan Devlin and Ian Ashby to the Montgomery Scotch Lounge.

Saturday

The Indigenous Business Hub presents ADAAWE Indigenous Summer Market, where you can shop for locally crafted products, taste the freshly baked bannock, and watch live performances. 338 Somerset St. 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
The town of Arnprior will be happening this weekend, with the Tarts & Arts in the Park Festival in Robert Simpson Park from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, then the Cultural Night Market taking over downtown until 9:45 pm. Tarts & Arts will run a very special silent auction to raise funds for local grassroots group Teachers Against Poverty (TAP).
It’s closing night of A Company of Fools' production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which has been playing parks and venues around Ottawa and region this summer. Tonight’s venue is Windsor Park in Old Ottawa South at Experimental Farm. Showtime 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Canadian drag legend Lemon headlines the Sour - Ottawa Pride Party at Berlin Nightclub in Byward Market Square.

Just Announced / Now Booking

Sunday is National Cinema Day and the Cineplex, Landmark, and Scotiabank cinemas are all offering $4 films, as are Cinema 9 and Cinema Starcite in Gatineau.
Roam Flora’s got 18 - yes, we said 18!! - varieties of tulips available at their Tulip & Narcissus Bulb Sale, starting Wednesday August 30 at 12:00 pm. There will also be seven varieties of Narcissus, and Mix Packs of both.
ByTown Cinema’s one-night-only Sing-Along Taylor Swift event on September 14 is never, ever not going to sell out.

Save up to 60% at the Habitat ReStore Furniture and Décor Sale, until Tuesday August 29 at both locations (3 Iber Road in Stittsville and 768 Belfast Road at the Trainyards).

Victoire Boutique is holding another of its popular Cheap Thrills Staff Closet Sales this Saturday only. Visit the area on the sidewalk outside the shop for sweet deals on preloved Made in Canada pieces that you won’t find anywhere else. Look for brands like Eliza Faulkner, Eve Gravel, Osei Duro, Amanda Moss, Maggie Jayne, Odeyalo, No. 6, Reformation, Jacquemus and others. Bring cash. 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

We haven’t referred to our flamboyant friends at NarCity Ottawa for awhile, so it’s a pleasure to recommend a new, very precisely titled, article from them: This Scenic Drive Near Ottawa Takes You Past 11 Islands & To Sandy Beaches. NarCity Ottawa is referring to the Long Sault Parkway and it does indeed look pretty.

We will see you tomorrow – Martha and Darren

🗣️ Is there something that Ottawa should know about? Email to us at hello@theottawan.com. We read every single comment.

⏩ Was this edition of the ottawan forwarded to you? Sign up here.

📧 Forward this edition of the ottawan to someone.

❓ Missed a number? View our archive here.

More from the ottawan