– The number of years that the Fleet Street Pumping Station has been sucking water from the Ottawa River into the pipes of the City. Built originally to feed water for firefighting purposes, it was later retrofitted to supply drinking water in an age when residents either used wells or bought water from door-to-door sellers.

- The two Ottawa RedBlacks players were recognized by the Ottawa chapter of the Football Reporters of Canada for Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Rookie nominees yesterday. Voting will occur Oct 31.

– City of Ottawa’s manager of municipal design and construction, Bruce Kenny, in an email explaining that a pole the City placed in the middle of a cycle path will be removed.

▪️The City has bought a former nunnery to provide transitional housing to newcomers. The Sisters of Charity of Ottawa sold Maison Notre-Dame-de-la-Providence to the City for $11 million. The property consists of 26-acres, with a two storey building capable of housing 150 people in the middle and a separate residential house. The City says the building will reduce the need for emergency shelters in community centres.

▪️The City’s first outdoor defibrillator has been placed in St Luke’s Park off Elgin Street. The machine has step-by-step instructions for use to assist anyone who has not actually used the machine on a heart attack sufferer. The defibrillator was donated by the Canadian Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes Foundation.

▪️Ottawa Public Health is recommending that high risk people protect themselves against respiratory syncytial virus this season. Those most at risk are infants, pregnant women, seniors, and the immunocompromised. Information on free immunization is here.

▪️A Zamboni driver in Chelsea has been arrested for drunk driving on the rink. The 25 year-old was operating the Zamboni between two matches when he drove it into the boards. Local police were called by spectators who believed the driver might be impaired, and a sobriety test was given before his arrest.

▪️Every week, new grocery reviewer Stromanker reads all the local flyers and posts the deals on Ottawa Reddit. For Hallowe’en candy Food Basics has a slight edge. And apples are a deal everywhere.

▪️The names of snow plows as suggested by the kids of Ottawa have been selected. And, god save us all, Plowy McPlowface made the list. How can we expect Council to navigate Lansdowne 2.0 and the O Train issues if it can’t avoid the lamest name possible? Clearing your roads this winter will be:

Sir Plows a Lot

Austin Plowers

Shiver Me Blizzards

Han Snowlo

Blizzard Wizard

Plowsaurus Rex

Edward Blizzardhands

Snow Big Deal

Jon Bon Snowvi

Snowbi Gon Kenobi

Sherlock Snowmes

Taylor Drift

You’re a Blizzard, Harry

Snowmageddon

Fast and Flurrious

Flurious George

You Don’t Snow Me

Plowy McPlowface

SnowMore

Good Snowmens

Tim Snowtons

Pacman contre la neige

Croque-neige

Beacon Hill-Cyrville ward councillor Tim Tierney said those were the 24 names. You can see that there are only 23.

▪️ Can you feel the love tonight? Broadway Across Canada’s tour of Disney’s The Lion King stops at the NAC until November 10.

▪️ Storybook characters encounter new adventures as the Ovation production of Into the Woods opens at the Meridien Theatres @ Centrepointe. Until November 3.

▪️ Co. ERASGA’s production Accumulation explores the concept of ‘stuff” including our fascination with accumulation and recycling it. Until Sunday at ODD Box, Arts Court.

▪️ Watson’s Mill in Manotick becomes a three-storey haunted house, complete with authentically creaky floors.

▪️ Ottawa Writers’ Festival Fall edition continues with Imagined Histories featuring historical fantasy writers Kate Heatfield and J. M. Miro; and Remembered Tomorrows with Suyi Davies Okungowa and Nalo Hopkinson.

▪️ The kids will love Log Farm’s annual Halloween Party, which includes a costume party, loot bags, and regular activities like the wagon rides. Today through Sunday. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

▪️ Road Trip: Check out the latest designs at the Duffield Design FW24 Launch Party in Almonte. Every in-store purchase of FW24 pieces on Thursday will receive a 10% discount.

▪️ If life is throwing too many curveballs your way, perhaps it’s time to seek help from the Philosophy of Stoicism.

▪️ ByTowne Cinema: The Outrun, Ciné-club d’Ottawa: Bonnard, Pierre et Marthe, The Shining

▪️ Mayfair Theatre: A Different Man, MaXXXine – 35mm print!

Gigs

▪️ Nathan Zinck. Avant-Garde Bar

▪️ Lovarra The Singer. Irene’s Pub

▪️ Sorry Snowman. The Rainbow Bistro

▪️ 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

▪️ Ottawa Writers Festival continues

▪️ 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

▪️ Ottawa Farm Fresh is offering Early Bird Registration on its 2025 CSA programme. When you order before November 2, you’ll receive 2024 prices and a bonus basket in the form of a gift card.