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Friday, July 25 July 2025
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☀️ High 30° Low 22° and possible showers ☀️ 5:40 am 🌛 8:38 pm

Hello Ottawa

In Today’s Edition

→ The former City of Ottawa lawyer accused of defacing the National Holocaust Monument has pleaded guilty

→ Four days of things to do and places to go

→ Deals of the Day on pet treats at Critter Jungle and shindig supplies at Party Mountain Paper Co.


🎂 Birthday Shoutouts

Happy birthday to ottawan members Anne A, tomorrow and to Helen R on Sunday!

And a belated birthday shoutout to Margot C on July 5!

– Martha and Darren

STATISTICS OTTAWA

NUMBER

  • $1

  • The price that the Republic of Iraq paid for a vacant lot in Lowertownback in 1982. Neighbours are incensed at a new plan by the Iraqi embassy to fence off the empty space, which has been used for decades as parkland and a shortcut between Bruyère and Forsey streets.

  • The City says that no building permit has been filed, so it appears that the fence will be the only change.

  • Aya Dafour at CBC
     

OTTAWANS OF THE DAY

  • Dr Chris Kirby, Roshene Lawson, and Christopher Griffin

  • The doctor, chaplain, and muralist, respectively, created Hallway of Hope at Bruyère Health Saint-Vincent Hospital. Once a gloomy hallway, the three have assisted patients – most with mobility or degenerative neuromuscular conditions – to create paintings and portraits.

  • Josiane N'tchoreret-Mbiamany at CBC

 

QUOTE

  • “

  • We all know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my husband did nothing wrong, but he had absolutely no way of defending himself

  • – Lida Chiarelli, the wife of former Ottawa City Councillor Rick Chiarelli, to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy at its hearing in Whitby on making it easier to remove mishaving municipal councillors.

  • In 2020, three reports from the City’s Integrity Commission found that Rick Chiarelli had had sexually harassed City staff. 

  • CBC

  •  

SPORTS

  • ⚾ frontier Ottawa Titans 1 – Down East Bird Dogs 7 yesterday

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WHAT’S GOING ON AT CITY HALL

Ottawa Police Service Board
Monday, July 28, 4 pm

  • Chair’s verbal report
  • Chief’s verbal report
  • Strategic Plan 2024-2027
  • Approval of sole source justification letter for implementing community connect patrol and insights Vcad/Vrms add-on modules
  • District model: Structure and cost report
  • Ottawa Police Service 2023 – 2027 Drive2 strategy update report
  • Update on mounted unit – June 2025 progress update (Year 2: April 1, 2025-April 1, 2026)
  • Complaints report – Police Services Act, community safety and Policing Act and Special Investigations Unit Act: Second quarter 2025

Agenda

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

⚖️   The former City of Ottawa lawyer accused of defacing the National Holocaust Monument has pleaded guilty to a charge of mischief against a war memorial. Iain Aspenlieder, who was on leave from the City at the time of the vandalism, is no longer a civic employee. He has been released on bail. – Kristy Nease at CBC 

🔥 The fire ban is back on. Even if you have an outdoor burn permit, no fires are allowed until further notice. – City of Ottawa 

🛒 Every week, @stomanker reads all the grocery flyers and posts the deals on Ottawa Reddit. This week, some of the deals are beef ‘French’ steaks $5.99/lb (Metro Cite des Jeunes), milk $5/4L (Independent and Loblaws), and olive oil $8.88/1L (Super C).  – /Ottawa

🛻 Sentencing for Convoy leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber will be announced October 7. A three day hearing heard that the Crown is asking for seven and eight years respectively for the duo's conviction for mischief, amongst other charges. Lawyers for Lich and Barber are asking for absolute discharges, meaning no jail time and no criminal record. – The Canadian Press 

THE DAILY POLL

Have you cracked a beer or quaffed a wine in an Ottawa park yet?

I was counting down the hours

Yes, it was a pleasant change

No, but I'm looking forward to a civilized picnic

No, it’s not something that I do

No, and I’m not thrilled that it has been allowed


  • Previously in ottawan polls:

  • We asked, ‘How would you feel about reduced Canada Post delivery?’

    • 2% The current 5 days per week is perfect

    • 15% I could live with 4 days per week

    • 45% Twice a week is enough

    • 30% Once a week is all we need

    • 8% Go back to morning and afternoon post and one on Saturday


  • Commentary

▪️ “The real problem with cutbacks lies in isolated parts of the country where alternate delivery services aren't financially viable.”

▪️ “A real pity that the problems seem so intractable.”

▪️ “Most bills are online now. Communication is through email, texting, or WhatsApp. I don’t see a need for frequent mail delivery. The 70s are over.”

▪️ “I would be happy with delivery every other day. That could be either Monday, Wednesday, Friday one week and Tuesday, Thursday the next or three times a week with Monday, Wednesday, Friday one week and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday the next.”

▪️ “4 days a week but one of them is on the weekend.”

▪️ “This is a long time coming. They should have reduced delivery years ago. I think 3 days would be best. Also, stop giving the ‘bigwigs’ bonuses! Reminds me of Hudson Bay Co. They knew they were on their way out and still gave bonuses to ‘bigwigs’!”

▪️ “Never get mail on a daily basis anymore.”

▪️ “If they contracted with Amazon, they could keep the daily service. Although Amazon won’t accept weekday-only delivery.”

▪️ “I only check my mail every couple of months, so once a week is more than enough.”

▪️ “Cutting public services and well paying jobs will hurt everyone in the long run.”

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THE ROLLING THREE DAY CALENDAR

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

✳️ Means change from previous edition

FRIDAY

  • Creative Mornings Ottawa will wake you up with an inspiring chat with dancer, registered nurse, and Moov Ottawa founder and artistic director Alea de Castro. Enjoy invigorating beats as you mingle and sample the coffee and treats, then settle in for the talk and Q&A with Alea, and maybe learn some new dance moves. It will all over by 10:00am, when you head out to work with a big grin on your face.  

  • Shrug off the stresses of the week at Rahim Salsa. You'll start with a Bachata lesson and then dance the night away.

  • Music Bingo is back at Calabogie Brewing’s Kanata taproom. 

  • 🆓 Capital Pop-Up Cinema screens Spice World at Beechwood Cemetery. 

  • Road Trip: Visit some of your favourite local breweries at Almonte Craft Beer Fest outside the Old Town Hall. 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm.  

  • Today at Chamberfest: At noon: A Brahms Expedition, Vol. I: Beginnings with pianist Carson Becke, NAC Orchestra violinist Jeremy Mastrangelo, and cellist Julia MacLaine.  Jenna Richardsplays again at Record Centre at 5:00 pm. Montréal Guitare Triocelebrates the release of their brand-new album at 7:00 pm and the day closes with Comedy Night with Sarah Hagen: Perk up, Pianist! 

  • Side by Side Weekend art and music festival opens at Club SAW.        Flexible ticket options including a completely FREE show on Sunday July 27.

  • Art House’s monthly 1920s speakeasy returns for an evening of Jazz, ragtime, and blues. 

  • Drunken Cinema screens True Lies, a 1994 film about a spy who keeps his wife the dark about his job. TBH, Martha found the film depressingly sexist back in 1994, and she doubts it has aged well. 

  • ByTowne Cinema: Cloud, Eddington, Sorry, Baby, Drunken Cinema:  True Lies

  • Mayfair Theatre:  Bad Shabbos, Life of Chuck, The Rocky Horror Picture Show

    Gigs

  • Adrian Sutherland. Red Bird

  • QI de Abelha. Rainbow Bistro

  • Beervana: tribute to Nirvana. Kaffé 1870 (Wakefield)

  • Tribe 3. City at Night

  • The Keystrings. Ridge Rock Brewing

  • Mama Mush, Dantes Paradise, I Love You Dearly. Avant-Garde Bar

  • 80s Dance Party. House of TARG

  • Cowboys From Hell: A Tribute to Pantera. Brass Monkey

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

  • Support the Algonquin College PR Charity Campaign to raise funds for Harmony House. Expect jazz, spoken word, and everything in between at the Keys of Hope open mic at Rainbow Bistro. 

  • ByTowne Cinema:  La Pie voleuse (Stealing Angel), Eddington, Cloud 

  • Mayfair Theatre: The Life of Chuck, Pierrot le Fox, Crash  

    Gigs

  • Karaoke Mondaze. Atomic Rooster

  • Geek Trivia. Level One Game Pub

  • It’s a Satire Summer. LIVE on Elgin

JUST ANNOUNCED / NOW BOOKING

MADE IN CANADA DEAL OF THE DAY

Attention, Santas: From Monday July 28 through Friday August 1, save 15% on treats and prezzies for your fur babies in the Critter Jungle Christmas in July event. 

 

Party Mountain Paper Co is closing permanently, but you can save 50% in the final sale ever. Shop by August 1.

 

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

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THE END

the ottawan is written and edited every working weekday by Martha and Darren.

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

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