Wednesday, February 9, 2022

HELLO OTTAWA  

What can we update today on the Trucker protest? Not very much, it really does appear that last weekend's Police crackdown was just a show to divert criticism that the City and the OPS are doing little to free up the streets and stop the idling. Honking is still stopped due to a court injunction requested by a 21 year-old private citizen.

There was a Captain Louis Renault-esque pronouncement yesterday that there are – as has been known for the past 13 days – children living in the trucks, in sub zero weather, without access to sanitation. The deputy Police Chief says that this complicates moving the trucks on, unsurprisingly.

Gas canisters are being brought in unhindered, as this tweet shows. There has been talk that many canisters are empty or are filled with water, but the canisters themselves are prohibited.

The Ottawa Police have also given the Trucker protest permission to set up an operations base at 1500 Bronsen. River ward councillor Riley Brockington says that he was not consulted.

Some guy in the United States phoned in a fake emergency to Ottawa Police headquarters, after Googling the address, where he hoped his call would waste police resources. He accidently called the Ottawa, Ohio police department. The Ottawa, Ohio police department  has arrested the man. 

For Trucker protest-related illegal activity, police in Ottawa, Ohio (population 4,300) has arrested only 22 fewer people than the police in Ottawa, Ontario (population 1,000,000).

Reuters has published a fact check, correcting a viral social media message that 50 per cent of the Ottawa (Ontario) Police has resigned. No officer in Ottawa has resigned since the Trucker protest began.

350-400 workers have been off the job of renovating the Parliament Buildings due to the Trucker protest. The Parliamentary Protective Service made the decision to close down the build site before the Trucker protest arrived, having forseen that access would be a problem.

We'll see you tomorrow – Martha and Darren

? Is there something that Ottawa should know about? Email to us at [email protected]. We read every single comment.

FOOD + DRINK UPDATE

▪️It's National Pizza Day, as decided by someone somewhere. But ordering pizza is never a bad idea. Our 10 best pizzas in Ottawa list may inspire you.

▪️Former pizza chef Justin Champagne-Lagarde (he's a bunch of other things too, but that's an item transition that we can't let pass) is now chef at Perch, where the Citizen loves the high end but affordable menu. 

Super Bowl

▪️Super Bowl at Ridge Rock Brewing in Carp means drinks specials, wings, and a huge screen on which to watch the game. Caesars and pints of Blonde, Amber, and Irish Stout will be $5, and when you buy an order of wings you’ll get another free. Or get a pizza for $15. To reserve your spot call 613-470-2337. 

▪️Sala San Marco’s Super Bowl Menu will provide all the at-home snacks a group of six might want, from Mac n’ Cheese Balls to Loaded Nachos. $130 + tax. Call 613-695-5980 or email [email protected] to order.

▪️Overflow is taking care of Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day with party packs and beer and chocolate pairings 

Valentine’s Day

▪️In Manotick, 692 Coffee Bar has created a special Valentine’s Day Charcuterie To Go specials for two ($40) or four ($80) people. Each meal contains fine meats and cheeses, seasonal fruits and veggies, a 692 Olive mini loaf, nuts, jams, jellies, and two or four chocolate dipped strawberries. Order now to pick up between 2:00pm and 5:00pm on Monday February 14th. 

▪️At Calabogie Brewing’s Kanata Taproom, Valentine’s is menu for two will be available on Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th. The heart-shaped pizza, nacho chips and crudité, heart-shaped Nanaimo Bars, and two 4 oz Brown Cow Milk Stout beers will have you and your honey swooning. You’ll also be given a four pack of beer to take home. All that for $60 + tax. Reservations are strongly recommended so email [email protected] or call 613-608-2739.

▪️Better hurry if you want to bring home some of Ottawa’s famous chocolatiers Stubbe’s Valentine’s creations. The dark chocolate high heels, truffle-stuffed bottles, and hearts are selling fast. 

Shopping

Freewheeling Craft presents the 7th Annual Big Love Market from February 10th to 13th, virtually and at their pop-up space at 70B Beech St. From 4:00pm to 9:00pm on Friday and 10:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday and Sunday, enjoy some local shopping with 50 makers.

STATS

Weather: ❄️ 60% chance of flurries or rain showers. High of 1°, low of 1°. 

Number: 5. The number of Ottawa firms that made Canadian Businessmagazine’s New Innovators List. Shopify, Brane Capital, Assent Compliance, CanadaWheels, and Giatec Scientific all made the cut. [Ottawa Business Journal] [Canadian Business]

Ottawan of the Day:  Melvin Lee. Nineteen years ago, when the healthcare worker lived in Winnipeg, he connected some young Koreans with a local curling club, which resulted in a curling club being built in Korea, which led to today's Korean women's curling team competing in the Olympics. [CBC] 

Quote: ‘I did my research and talked to a few players. It all came with a shining recommendation. You can definitely feel it, there’s a buzz happening, for sure. I want to win with these guys’ – Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, on being recruited by the Ottawa RedBlacks last Monday. [Ottawa Sun]

Sports: NHL Carolina Hurricanes 3 – Ottawa Senators 4, last night

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

Information is as of this morning. Changes are relative to yesterday.
 

ONTARIO

Ontario COVID Page    Ontario Vaccine Rates 

QUEBEC

Quebec COVID Page     Quebec Vaccine Rates

OTTAWA

Ottawa Public Health     Ottawa Vaccination Rates.    Ottawa Wastewater 
 

OUTAOUAIS 

As of February 8, 2022 Updated Weekly

Outaouais Public Health    Quebec Vaccination Rates
 

EASTERN ONTARIO HEALTH UNIT

The Health Unit is changing the way they report. In the meantime, they are reporting only selected information. 

Eastern Ontario Health Unit.   Daily Stats  

COVID-19 NEWS

⭕ The Ontario government is expected to announce free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests at grocery stores and pharmacies today. People will be limited to one box of five tests each per visit. A distribution date is not yet known. [CBC]

⭕ Quebec court rules against unvaccinated people having access to nursing home residents. The judge ruled that he could not conclude that the ban on unvaccinated people did more harm than good.  [CBC]

⭕ Ontario has no plans to remove mask mandates or vaccine passports. Alberta and Saskatchewan are removing both in the next few weeks. [CityNews]
 

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

▪️Musician City Fidelia has launched the City Fidelia College Dropout Scholarship. Two $1000 scholarships are available to young BIPOC persons to start their own business or go back to school.  [Ottawa Citizen] [Application Form]

During Monday's epic City Council meeting, several downtown councillors asked if routine Council business could be put off until the pressing issue of the Trucker protest was dealt with. They were voted down. Today's Council meeting is about the routine items. The Trucker protest is not on the agenda.

▪️Ryan Reynolds Way was approved by City Council. The street will be in a new, as yet unbuilt, Orléans subdivision. The honour is in recognition of the actor's philanthropy to the City he once lived in briefly. [CityNews]

▪️City Council pauses transfer of land for community housing due to neighbours' complaints. Last week, the City's finance and economic development committee approved selling an unwanted piece of City-owned land in Barrhaven to a community housing corporation for $2. Twenty-three homes were planned to be built. Councillor Jan Harder has put off the vote until the 23rd. [Kate Porter]

▪️City Council has said no to the National Capital Commission's plan to build six embassies in Mechanicsville, due to neighbours' complaints. Kitchissippi ward councillor Jeff Leiper says that the neighbours want to keep the vacant lots in the of green space. [Kate Porter]

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