See the 8 day forecast at the ottawan weather

🌒 Today’s clipse begins 2:11 pm and peaks at 3:25 pm

At the ottawan, we generally assume that our subject lines don’t really matter.

While we rarely pass over a chance to make a pun, we try not to use clickbait style headlines – our readers are looking for a quick update on the day and we would never insult you with suggestions of a story we can't deliver.

But we’ve noticed a few recent subject lines have resulted in open rates far exceeding the norm.

Like these: 

• ‘Mini Ottawan: we’re snowed in down the road in Montréal’
• ‘Pregnant cat goes missing at Ottawa Airport’
• ‘Sorry, no Ottawan today’
• ‘Ottawa Fire Service rescues kid whose hand was stuck in drain’

And the message we’re receiving from the readers is awfully confusing.

One take is our readers like stories on missing animals and endangered kids.

Another take is our readers are most eager to open our emails when we imply that there is nothing to read inside.

Well, we’re sorry to disappoint today. All sorts of things are happening.

– Martha and Darren

PS Speaking of our wonderful readers, we'll be unveiling a new ottawan membership programme later this week to keep us going in our fifth year, and to keep us free to read. 

OTTAWA STATS

Ottawan of the Day

• Christine Toulouse
• – The artist has been awarded a grant from the Ontario Arts Council to teach quillwork, creating art by weaving porcupine quills through birch bark. When she was taught by her mother and grandmother, the first step was to pluck the porcupine itself. (Wafa El-Rayes at CBC)

Quote

• “

• There's been expansion of medical schools, but we haven't seen that when it comes to preparing public health inspectors

• – Ottawa’s medical officer of health Dr Vera Etches the need for more public health inspectors in the city. Ottawa is already six inspectors short. (Sam Konnert at CBC)

Sports

• 🏒 NHL Ottawa Senators 3 – Washington Capitals 2 last night
• 🏒 NHL Ottawa Senators 3 – New Jersey Devils 4 last Saturday

CITY HALL AGENDA

WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

🚨 Ottawa Police Service

•  An Ottawa Police Service constable has been charged with impaired and dangerous driving. The constable was off duty when he crashed with another vehicle on St Patrick’s Day. He has been placed on administrative duties. (CBC)

🚨 School Buses

•  A school bus driver in Vanier has been charged with sexual assault on a special needs student. When the student was the final passenger, the driver locked the bus and drove to a parking lot where he assulted the student. Afterwards, the student told a teacher of the incident. The Ottawa Police Service Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit believes that there may be other victims. Anyone with any information is asked to call the Unit at 613 236 1222, ext 5944, email SACA@ottawapolice.ca, or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1 800 222-8477. (Ottawa Police Service)

🛠️ 24 Sussex Drive

•  New Edinburgh resident Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rejected a 24 Sussex Drive restoration plan by former prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Stephen Harper. The ex-Liberal and Conservative leaders offered to lead a campaign to solicit donations from businesses and individuals. The duo say they could do the renovation for half of the $37 million anticpated by the National Capital Commission. (Lawrence Martin in the Globe & Mail)

🗳️ Carleton Place

•  Carleton Place has won Chez 106’s March Madness of Small Towns contest. The annual event, promoted by the station’s Biggs & Barr Show, pits 32 small towns around Ottawa in multiple brackers until a winner is selected by listeners. Almonte was last year’s winner. The station will broadcast live from Carleton Place May 4. (Carleton Place Scoop)

MORE FROM THE OTTAWAN

• 🍺 Our Ottawa-Gatineau Craft Brewery Map

•  

• 🏆 The Best Of Ottawa Awards 2023

•  

• 🎧 Best Podcasts from Ottawa

EVENTS

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

🌑 Today – The Blindingest Day of the Year

•  The eclipse will be partial from Ottawa. The Moon will start obscuring the Sun at 2:11 pm and peak obscurity will be at 3:25 pm.

•  Experts are saying don’t look directly at the Sun, with the safest method of viewing the entire eclipse being watch it on the NASA website.

•  There will be viewing events at the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum.
  
  Eclipse road trips:

•  If you have time to get out of town for a few hours, the Christmas Farm at 3229 Forest Road, South Frontenac Township, will be open for the duration of the eclipse. Please bring your own lawn chair.

•  Top Shelf Distillers will be distributing special glasses for the celestial event at 2:30 pm. $20 per person for light snacks and cocktails. 14 Warren Crescent, Perth.

•  Ogdensburg, New York will be in the path of the total eclipse, and the city has provided a list of parking and viewing areas.

•   If you purchased eclipse glasses – even in stores in Ottawa – that say ‘NASA-approved’, they’re fake. NASA doesn’t license its logo and the glasses are not safe. The quick – and non-legally binding, all info in the ottawan is for entertainment purposes only – test for quality is if you wear the glasses indoors, you should not be able to see anything at all.

•  The Ontario Provincial Police is warning that they expect the highways to be crowded with people heading to towns along the St Lawrence River to get a better view. The police ask that people don’t park on the median of the highway for viewing but use parking lots instead. If you are driving, don't forget to turn on your running lights.

•  The OPP also want people to know that dogs do not count as a passenger for the purpose of the High Occupancy Vehicle lanes while you are on your quest.
  
  Non-sky related events:

•  Brew Revolution brightens up Monday evening with free dance lessons, a Cuba inspired menu, two featured cocktails, and more. You don’t even need to bring a partner.

• ByTowne Cinema: The Old Oak Ryuichi Sakamoto Opus, Exhuma

• Mayfair Theatre: American Fiction, Poor Things, Carol Doda Topless at the Condor

  Gigs

•  Bluegrass Mondays; The Gladsome Gentlemen. Red Bird

•  Broadway Nights: Comedic Songs. Club SAW

•  Open Mic Night. Art House Café.

•  Trivia Night. Select Royal Oak pubs

Tomorrow

•  There are only a few tickets left for Technata, the free, in-person career fair for Kanata North that’s happening tomorrow at the Brookstreet Hotel.
   
•  Those who love to play or listen to the piano are in for a 13 day treat as the 2024 Ottawa Piano Festival gets underway.
   
•  One look at the Blu Legacy Eid Festival epic menu explains why it’s billed as ‘A Majestic Affair’. Tonight and tomorrow night at 3750 N Bowesville Road.
   
•  Tickets go on sale today at 10:00 am for the home games of Round 2 OHL Playoffs. Ottawa 67s play Oshawa Generals Tuesday April 16, Thursday April 18, and if necessary, Sunday April 21. Tickets start at $30.
   
•  It’s a Vernissage but with burlesque. Welcome to the Circus art show officially launches at Atomic Rooster, with Capital Tease providing the entertainment. 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at 303 Bank St.
   

•  ByTowne Cinema: The Old Oak, Iris et les hommes (It's Raining Men), Exhuma 

•  Mayfair Theatre: Poor Things, American Fiction, The Crazies 
  
  Gigs

•  Noah Kahan. Canadian Tire Centre

•  A Great night Out featuring Pat Moore, Tyler Kealy, Shawn Tavenier and Megan Jerome. National Arts Centre Fourth Stage

•  Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn. Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe

•  Trivia Tuesday. Irene’s Pub Restaurant

Wednesday

•  The Ed Lister Group brings live jazz to the stage at the Doors Open for Music show this week. Noon at Southinster United Church.

•  Ottawa Little Theatre’s production of Grand Horizons examines the effects of divorce on adult children, when a long-married couple announces that their decades-long union is ending. Wednesdays through Sundays until May 22.

•  Catalyst 2: Live Electronic Music Open PA is a chance for established artists to try out new music in a chill environment. Entry by donation. 164 Laurier Ave West

• ByTowne Cinema: Iris et les hommes (It's Raining Men), The Old Oak, Exhuma

•  

   

  Mayfair Theatre: American Fiction, Carol Doda Topless at the Condor, The Crazies

   

  Gigs

•  Climate Commons. Irene’s Pub Restaurant

•  The Kevin Prater Band, Concession 23. Greely Legion (Branch 627)

•  Jazz Nite with Sh-Boom. QueenSt. Fare

•  Drag Me to the Movies hosted by Eden Moore. LIVE on Elgin
   

Just Announced / Now Booking

• Despite only being released recently, Urban Element’s Spring cooking courses at Corner Peach Kitchen are already selling out. Fearful of phyllo? Learn all about working with the paper thin pastry on April 28. Love everything about Indian food but the heat? ‘Toning Down the Heat: Mild Indian Flavours’ is for you (June 2).

• As mentioned in The Ottawan in April 3’s newsletter, the Ottawa Grassroots Festival starts in a little over two weeks (April 25-28). Perth musician Gentle Sparrow aka Robbie Teehan will be performing music from his new EP River at 1:30 pm on Saturday, April 27. When he is not performing, Teehan is an award winning composer of film and TV scores for projects like Elementary, Scarborough, and Jessica Jones. All daytime performances are free to attend during the Festival.

• You’ve visited all of Ottawa’s craft breweries. Now what? Sign up for the Aventure Outaouais Gatineau Craft Beer Tour, happening Friday evenings this summer. You’ll visit three breweries and sample 12 beers, and you’ll also get a tasty dinner. Your ticket includes all that plus your transportation back to Ottawa. $105 per person.

DEALS OF THE DAY

BUT, ONE MORE THING ...

RAPID RESPONSE QUALITY CONTROL

THE END

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