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HELLO OTTAWA

As you have probably noticed,the ottawan covers Ottawa-the-city, not Ottawa-the-national-capital. Parliamentary debates, Supreme Court decisions, military procurements and the other millon things the Federal government does may all happen within our city limits but they are all beyond our remit.

However, the buildings and facilities from which the Federal government works have an impact on the people who live here. Tens of thousands of civil servants do a large part of the living in Ottawa and issues of their workplaces ripple out across the city. Diplomats posted to Ottawa and members of parliament sent here from their ridings live here, too, however fleetingly.

That's why we usually refer to elected people by their neighbourhood. They're Ottawa residents just like everyone else. It's also funny.

However, reader Kostya has taken the ottawan to task for constantly referring to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a Rockcliffe resident. He points out that Trudeau and family live in Rideau Cottage on the grounds of Rideau Hall, which is clearly in New Edinburgh. And even if the ottawan meant the left-to-feral-dogs official residence of 24 Sussex Drive, yes, it's still New Edinburgh.

Well, Darren has a completely understandable and coherent answer on why he keeps writing that: he thought Rideau Cottage was in Rockliffe. Across the street from Rideau Hall's main gate is definitely Rockcliffe, he argues. It all seems pretty arbitrary. Also, he did not know that there was a neighbourhood called New Edinburgh, although he was fully aware that the Towne Cinema was renamed as the New Edinburgh theatre at one point.

In the future, we'll be referring to the Prime Minister as a New Edinburgh resident, Her Majesty’s leader of the loyal opposition as Rockcliffe resident (right?) Erin O’Toole, and the member of parliament for Calgary Nose Hill as Oklahoma resident Michelle Garner. 

We apologise for the error.

 

We'll see you tomorrow – Martha and Darren


#STATS

Weather: ?️ Periods of snow. High of 0° 

Number: 10. The number of dream Ottawa hip-hop collabs Shifter magazine wants to see happen in 2021. Number one is Night Lovell and City Fidelia [Shifter

Ottawan of the Day: Andy Wilson. Wilson has pledged to run a 5K every day in 2021 to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The daily run is in memory of his late father. [Running Magazine] [Donation Website]

Quote: “Basically my house was just hanging in the wind” – Wendy Richards, who came home to find that her neighbour had excavated a hole inches from her Mannotick home, leaving it perilously close to sliding in [CFRA]


CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

Vaccination tracker by Andrew Lam (@socialvizcanada)

237,918 doses have been administered in Ontario (86% of the doses available)

? At this rate, it would take 155.4 weeks to administer one dose to each person in Ontario. 

Pfizer and Moderna vaccines delivery tracker
Federal Goverment database listing predicted future deliveries


? Public Health Reports

OTTAWA

Ottawa Public Health Dashboard

Ottawa Wastewater Dashboard

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board

Ottawa Catholic School Board

Conseil des ecoles catholiques du Centre-Est

Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario
 

There have been 12,494 confirmed cases of COVID‌-19, an increase of 67 since yesterday, and 409 deaths, two new reports.
 

OUTAOUAIS

Outaouais Public Health dashboard

There have been 5650 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 21 since yesterday, and 147 deaths, five new reports.
 

EASTERN ONTARIO

Eastern Ontario Health Unit dashboard

There have been 2258 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 25 since yesterday, and 48 deaths, two new reports.
 

Sometimes the number of cases or deaths are lower from one day to the next. This is usually because the powers-that-be have reassigned a case to a different health authority.


⭕ Dr Vera Etches says that just because there have been fewer COVID-19 cases lately, doesn’t mean we're not still in the weeds  [CBC]

+ Related Dr Etches also wants parents to stop arranging kids play dates

⭕ Epidemiologist says the new variant of COVID-19 is concerning because of how fast it can spread but advises it is stopped exactly the same: keep a distance, wear masks, and don't mix bubbles  [Maclean’s]

⭕ Ottawa will be delaying second dose of vaccination due to shortages. People may be waiting up to 42 days for the second dose. Manufacturer Pfizer recommended 14 days. [CBC]

⭕ Nobody is tracking how many home care workers have received vaccinations, so nobody knows how many have received it [Ottawa Citizen]

⭕ 15,000 health care workers in Ontario have tested positive for COVID-19 [Ottawa Citizen]

⭕ Passengers from Ottawa were required to quarantine in Iqaluit airport for three hours after a passenger had a false positive COVID-19 test [CBC]


 ? The Canada COVID Alert App

Be alerted if you have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. 

How It Works       [Apple App Store]      [Google Play Store]

HISTORIC OTTAWA LOGO T-SHIRTS

We’ve made t-shirts of iconic Ottawa logos. 

Printed in Canada.

BUY

 

And don’t forget: you can also buy official ottawan t-shirts

#WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

▪️Businesses in small towns surrounding Ottawa complain that lockdown rules are forcing residents to travel. The argument is these towns do not have big box stores, which remain open in the urbanized areas, but the small, local businesses must close causing residents unnessary travel and a hit to the local economy.  [Nation Valley News

▪️Ottawa schools will not reopen for in-class learning next Monday, reopening date is yet to be decided. The Province is allowing seven public health regions to reopen their schools, mostly in the North, but Ottawa elementary and secondary schools must remain closed for in-class teaching until further review. [CBC]

▪️The City wants to have a discussion with residents about racism. In particular, it wants to hear about shaping solutions in employment equity, housing, governance, economic development, health outcomes, and youth development. 

They are doing it in two ways: The first is a survey with a form (!) open to all residents, which can be answered here

The second is a Zoom call discussion with those communities in Ottawa that the City has determined have been most targeted by hate crimes.

  • Anglophone African Caribbean Black residents: Wednesday, January 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm
  • Francophone African Caribbean Black residents: Friday, January 29 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm
  • Asian residents: Wednesday, February 3 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm
  • Jewish residents: Monday, February 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm
  • Muslim residents: Friday, February 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm
  • Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) residents: date to be determined

People who would like to take part in the Zoom calls can register in advance here.   [City of Ottawa]

▪️A man stole a Bobcat from near Vanier Parkway, then proceeded to use it to break into buildings, stealing cigarettes and lottery tickets. The Bobcat (a fun-size bulldozer) was found with its engine running. The man was arrested. We're assuming none of the tickets were winners. [Ottawa Citizen]

▪️The Ottawa Art Gallery has released a how-to video: making an ‘oil’ painting from plasticine. [Apartment 613]

▪️Ottawa Businesss Journal publisher Michael Curran and Linebox senior architect Andrew Reeves will have a discussion about the future of the office after COVID-19. Ottawa-based architect Linebox has designed offices for Klipfolio, Canvas Pop and Shopify. Noon, January 27. Free but registration is required. [Ottawa Business Journal]

#VALENTINE’S DAY

▪️Many of us are starting to think about roses, and how to get them into the hands of our person just in time for February 14th. But Ottawa florists have so much else to offer in floral arrangements than red roses. One of the more interesting ideas is the dried flower arrangement. Check out Maison Anthea’s “Dri Bar” for some everlasting, dried flowers and dramatic single leaves that would make a spectacular decor piece for years to come, from $75.00. If dried florals aren’t your thing, they sell fresh bouquets and even single stems of fresh poppies and roses to arrange in bud vases, from $5.00 each.

▪️Almonte’s Acanthus Floral & Botanicals allows you to choose the general colour scheme of your arrangement, and starts at $25 for a small bouquet. Their bi-coloured roses are stunning.

▪️Flowers Talk Tivoli offers bouquets of roses from $100 or bouquets categorized as “Neutral & Subdued,” “Soft, Seasonal & Colourful,” or “Surprise Me!” starting at $50.00.

▪️If nothing but roses will do, at Scrim’s you’ll find long stemmed roses, compact roses, and rose-filled arrangements, starting at $30.00 for a Valentine’s Day Rose Bud Vase. They also have a sweet Gerbera Bud Vase if you’re looking for Galentine gift ($38.00)

#FOOD + DRINK

▪️Any business that opened in January 2020 had no idea of the challenging year ahead, and we tip our hats to those that have made it this far. We’re excited to say Happy First Birthday to BiBi’s, a Middle Eastern eatery located just off Beechwood in Rockcliffe Park. Fresh veggies, meats, and falafels rub elbows with tahini, rice, hummus, harissa, and rich olive oil in satisfying bowls and wraps. You’ll also find za’tar popcorn, for a snack with extra flavour. Order for delivery from the usual services or take out. 143 Putman Avenue.

▪️Fox & Feather pub location on Elgin Street has been taken over by the Whalesbone restaurant group. They plan to open a high-end steakhouse when such things are possible (tentatively July 1).

#WALKING FOR A CAUSE

In wintertime, the ottawan rarely puts down its cup of tea or relinquishes the comfy chair by the fire. On February 20th, however, we’ll be pulling on boots and toques and heading outdoors for The Coldest Night Of The Year fundraising walk. We’ll be walking 5K to raise money for Cornerstone Housing for Women. Times are tough for many of us, but if you can contribute even $5 we’ll reach our goal in no time. Thank you so much for your support.

THE OTTAWAN

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?️ The Best Of Ottawa Awards 2020 

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