Their main concern: why is the City widening the Airport Parkway? The new O Train line parallels the road, and widening it will only cause more traffic.
The City’s 2023 draft budget has included $21 million to widen the parkway, after cutting $47 million from the transit budget.
❄️Snow mixed with ice pellets. High of -1°, low of -1°.
Number
27 out of 29
– The number of collective agreements with the Treasury Board that have expired, leaving hundreds of thousands of Federal civil servants without a contract. (Gord Holder in the Ottawa Citizen)
Ottawan of the Day
Arnold Alfred 'Babe' McRae
The late McRae, who lived in the Richmond area since the 40s, was well-known by residents for running the local convenience store and laundromat. City Council has agreed to rename Meynell Park for McRae, who passed last month. (Anil Jhalli at CityNews)
Quote
‘I can't explain it other any other way other than given divine favour in that we were right in the wheelhouse of where everything was being organized... And we knew at that point it was beyond what what we had originally planned’
Forty-two tenants in an affordable housing complex for people with serious mental illness have been flooded out after a sprinkler pipe burst. The flood at the Ottawa Salus building on Scott Street started in the early hours of Saturday morning. Tenants, who pay around $522 per month, have been forced to find other accomodation and could be without housing for weeks. The charity landlord is asking for donations to help the tenants with food and accomodation.(Joseph Tunney at CBC) (Donations)
💍 Heist
Thieves stole a safe containing $500,000 worth of jewellery by cutting through the wall of a BBQ shop next door on Saturday night. The thieves broke into Moe's BBQ using the back door, then cut though the wall to access Le's Jewellery. The careful heisters crimped water pipes to prevent flooding and spray painted cameras in both establishments. The safe, which the thieves took with them, weighed two tonnes. (Stu Mills at CBC)
📚 Shushed forever
The public library in Fort Coulonge has permanently closed its doors and is giving away all its books. The town of 1,300 could no longer afford the $42,000 per year that it cost to keep the doors open. Five thousand books were given to the Outaouais regional library network. Residents can pick through the final 1,000 books today and Thursday. (Peter Szperling at CTV)
🏫 School Rules
A Renfrew Catholic school student was arrested yesterday for trespassing after he ignored his ‘non-disciplinary exclusion’. The grade 11 student recieved the exclusion after organizing a protest against the school’s mixed-sex toilets in November. The Renfrew County Catholic District School Board’s policy is students choose their washroom based on their gender identity not sex. The student has hired a lawyer, saying his religious beliefs have been violated. (R Bruce MacIntyre in the Eganville Leader)
Dunrobin Distillieries’ Valentine’s Gift Boxes combine their artisanal spirits with fine glassware. Each gift box contains a bottle of Vodka, Gin, Earl Grey Gin, or Whisky as well as a Glencairn crystal goblet. Choose from 375ml or 750ml bottles.
The Fringe Festival’s Undercurrents festival 2023, which is bilingual for the first time, launches today (running until February 18). Performances run at the Arts Court Theatre and Atelier.
Pink Tartan has an offer that bridal parties might find hard to resist. They’re offering 50% off bridesmaid, Mother of the Bride, and special occasion pieces.
Translucent porcelain lanterns are 10% off until February 28 at Atelier Make of Montréal. The delicate lanterns are available in a variety of styles and sizes, and start at $40.
