– The amount of money demanded by the Canada Revenue Agency from the rector of St Patrick Basilica on Kent Street after the agency questioned his personal donations. - says that he donates a significant part of his salary to the church, which issues him a charitable donation receipt but the agency says it needs more proof. The rector is taking the Agency to Tax Court, representing himself.

- The editor of the non-profit investigative news site Press Progress since 2013, born-and-raised-in-Ottawa LeBrun received the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression’s 2024 Arnold Amber Award for Investigative Journalism Wednesday. ‘His investigative work names the individuals and exposes the organizations that operate from the shadows, helping safeguard the truth in an increasingly complex media landscape’, said the organization in a statement.

– Carleton University journalism professor Randy Boswell in the Ottawa Citizen, praising the vision that the National Capital Commission has put into its proposals for a new Alexandra Bridge – and the lack of vision that travellers will experience on either end.

▪️Ottawa Citizen national defence journalist David Pugliese is enraged by a claim that he is a Russian asset. Former Member of Parliament and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander made the statement at the House of Common’s Public Safety and National Security committee yesterday. (He makes the statement at around 21 minutes in on this video).

Pugliese made a defence on Twitter, stating ‘Mr Alexander’s fabricated claims are not only ridiculous but dangerous for the safety of my family, particularly my children. His statements would also be libellous had he not uttered them from behind the security of Parliamentary committee privilege’.

The Canadian Association of Journalists also Tweeted, ‘The CAJ wholeheartedly denounces the ridiculous accusations made against @davidpugliese today’.

But most interesting is this interview of Pugliese by the Canadaland podcast after the accusation. ‘Is This Postmedia Reporter a Russian Spy? Let’s Ask Him!’

▪️If you are missing your electric scooter, Parks Canada may have found it at the bottom of the Rideau Canal. After boating season ended at Thanksgiving, the portion of Rideau Canal flowing through downtown was drained for cleaning – revealing three electric scooters, amongst a lot of other junk. In a Tweet, the National Capital Commission’s comment on the discovery was ‘Buddy, you can’t park here’.

▪️Family of the actor Matthew Perry launched the Canadian branch of a foundation in his name yesterday. Perry’s sister Caitlin Morrison and his stepdad Keith Morrison were joined by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe at the launch yesterday. The foundation plans to provide comprehensive support to individuals living with substance use disorders after their treatment. Perry, who spent his childhood in Ottawa, died last year of an overdose.

▪️ That groovy joint in QC, Motel Chelsea, will be rocking with The Hootenany Revue featuring Carolyn Mark, Jenny Whiteley, Luther Wright, Sam Allison, and guests.

▪️ Ottawa Redblacks welcome (ha!) Hamilton Tiger-Cats to the Stadium at TD Place.

▪️ If you’re on the hunt for exclusive, locally made art to make this year’s Christmas giving truly special, you’ll need to visit the Out of the Box Fibre Artists’ Fall Fibre Fling. It’s only on today and tomorrow, so hurry.

▪️ Music to Movement Build by Horizon Ottawa is an evening devoted to Funk music and progressive politics, although the organizers stress that even the a-political will enjoy the event.

▪️ Today’s line up at Ottawa Writers’ Festival starts with a lunchtime chat featuring Richard Van Camp, a presentation with fiction writers David O’Meara, Jenny Haysom and Marissa Stapley, and a Poetry Cabaret.

▪️ Come and watch artist Daniel Martelock in action at Hintonburg Public House. Plus: do a little painting yourself for free.

▪️ Catch the student and teacher performances and enjoy social dancing at DQ Ballroom and Fitness Studio’s Halloween Party.

▪️ Wear your best costume to Just Ghoulin’ Around at SAW Centre. It’s all ages, but you’ll need 19+ photo id for drinks.

▪️ Costumes are also welcome at Signal20 - Nightmare on Slater (3rd Annual Edition).

▪️ ByTowne Cinema: Conclave, Dahomey, Interactive: The Twilight Saga New Moon.

▪️ Mayfair Theatre: Lee, The Apprentice, The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Gigs

▪️ Lloyd Smiley Trio. Broadway Bar & Grill

▪️ TAXI GIRLS. House of Targ

▪️ Tados. Dominion Tavern

▪️ Fabien. Irene’s Pub

▪️ QI de Abelha. Avant-Garde Bar

▪️ The Escape Society with Dolonia. Rainbow Bistro

▪️ Cevilain. Overflow Brewing Company

▪️ Help make a difference in the fight against blood cancers by attending by Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. There’s entertainment indoors and a walk outside with lanterns.

▪️ For a distinctly non-Halloween activity, check out the Vernissage of Dominique Normand: EXODUS at Wall Space Gallery.

▪️ Road Trips: Perth’s Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice Vendor Market and Craft Sale is so big it requires two venues

▪️ Find the candy of your dreams at Downtown Brockville’s King Street Trick or Treat Halloween Town @ The Prescott Pop-Ups, which promises a haunted house, a costume parade, and games.

▪️ The long-running Samhain Halloween Psychic & Craft Fair returns to Bronson Centre with ‘earth-based spiritual, Pagan, and Indigenous Ottawa Psychic & Craft Artisan Community vendors’. The show is raising funds for Marshall’s dog Rescue and No Surrender Ottawa. 

▪️ Ottawa Writers Festival continues.

▪️Dogs are welcome at the Halloween Howl Market at Shenkman Centre for the Arts.

▪️ Visit more than 30 bean-to-bar makers from across the country at The Ottawa Chocolate Show.

▪️ Bring a non-perishable food donation for Ottawa Food Bank’s Baby Basics Program to Trick or Treat with the Mayor.

▪️ Dominion City Brewing’s annual Monster Bash is fun for the entire family.

▪️ It’s your final chance to visit Westboro Farmers’ Market and Main Street Farmers’ Market until next Spring. 

▪️ There’s a Halloween Heist happening at Boilings Estate. Will your kids find the candy?

▪️ Road Trip (to the outskirts of Ottawa): The Herb Garden Fall Market takes over the gorgeous venue for a day of shopping and all things pumpkin.

▪️ Kids 10 and under will enjoy the maze, skeleton craft, and of course candy at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum’s Halloween Hijinks.

▪️ Ottawa Mystic Market brings the Halloween vibe with psychics, Tarot Card readers, taxidermy, and some terrific vintage shopping.

🆓 Visit 21 active artists at the 32nd annual Enriched Bread Artist Open Studio. Today and tomorrow.

🆓 Road Trip: The streets of Arnprior will be crowded with costumed people of all ages at the 3rd annual Witch Walk. It’s a town-wide scavenger hunt among the town’s businesses, and there will be lots of candy. Donations for the Arnprior Food Bank gratefully accepted and it’s best to register in advance.

🆓 Have a blast with Sing a Sea Shanty at the Beyond the Pale Halloween Party.

▪️ Check out the Under Construction by Kate Cole book signing at the Spaniel’s Tale.

▪️ The Urban Art Collective Halloween Night Market from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm promises vendors, a Tarot Card reader, and a costume photo booth - so dress up!

▪️ Explore the technique of lacto-fermentation at the Ottawa Farm Fresh workshop from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. You can choose to create your own ferment or just observe.

▪️ Have a spooky good time at Spaniel’s Tale Halloween Party.

▪️ ByTowne Cinema: Spooky Afternoon Classics: The Invisible Man (1933) Conclave, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre - 50th Anniversary 4K Restoration

▪️ Mayfair Theatre: The Apprentice, The Rocky Horror Picture Show  

Gigs

▪️ The Barrow Gang. The Carleton Tavern

▪️ Alex Thomkins Trio. Montgomery Scotch Lounge

▪️ The Electric Company. Rainbow Bistro

▪️ DJ Phuzz and DJ Miami. House of TARG

▪️ Disco Inferno. Overflow Brewing

▪️ Atlantis Jazz Ensemble. Irene’s Pub

▪️ Jeff Merlas. Red Bird

▪️ Choose from two performances of Disney’s The Lion King today.

▪️ It’s your final chance to visit Barrhaven Farmers’ Market until next Spring.

🆓 The drop-in Endometriosis: Medical, Physical, and Lifestyle Treatments workshop at Venus Envy will include presentations by three medical professionals, a Q&A, and endometriosis simulation via TENS machines.

▪️ Ottawa International Writers Festival highlights include a conversation with General Roméo Dallaire, an evening honouring Canadian poet and musician Leonard Cohen, and a reevaluation of the British literary canon with with author Dionne Brand.

▪️ ByTowne Cinema hosts the Witches Night Market at 6:00 pm and screens The Craft at 6:45 pm.

▪️ Bytowne Cinema: Dahomey, Conclave, Witches Night Market and The Craft, The Witch

▪️ Mayfair Theatre:  Mad Monster Party, The Exorcist, A Nightmare on Elm Street

Gigs

▪️ Lynn Miles (CKCU Benefit. Irene’s Pub

▪️ The Sunday Night Revue. Irene’s Pub

▪️ Free-play Sunday after dark. House of TARG

▪️ Grievous Angels. Rainbow Bistro

▪️ Bytowne Cinema: Conclave, The Shining

 ▪️ Mayfair Theatre: The Apprentice, Lee, The Exorcist

Gigs

▪️ Evanescence. Canadian Tire Centre

▪️ The Hu with The Funeral Portrait. Bronson Centre

▪️ Amaze your guests with the skills you’ll learn at the Split Tree Cocktail Co Art of Charcuterie Workshop with Wine Pairings on Friday December 13th.

▪️ Tickets are now on sale for the Spectrasonic Holiday Banger with The New Hires, F!TH, Complicit, Neon Ghosthouse. Saturday December 14.