Weather

• ❄️  Snow. High of -3°, low of -9°

Number 

• 1,000
• – The number of deaths from COVID-19 in Ottawa, as of yesterday. (CBC)

Ottawan of the Day

• Brendan Gillanders
• After eight years, the RedBlacks running back is retiring. (SportsNet)

Quote 

• ‘Some community members feel it is not a safe space due to the presence of police officers’ 
• – Ottawa Police Service Board member Michael Doucet giving a reason why the Board wants to have delegations virtually. (Taylor Blewett in the Ottawa Citizen) (H/T to Bulldog Ottawa)

Sports

• 🏒 NHL Ottawa Senators 5 – Arizona Coyotes 3 last night
• 🏒 QMJHL Les Olympiques de Gatineau 4 – L’Armada de Blainville-Boisbriand 3 last night

📤 Vacant House Tax

• Less than half of Ottawa’s homeowners have not yet filled out their Vacant Unit Tax declaration form. The City has sent out a second reminder letter to the 58 per cent of homeowners who have not gone online and answered the questions. Principle residences are excluded, and there are some exceptions accepted, but otherwise any empty residential properties will be subject to a one per cent property tax in March. (Josh Pringle at CTV) (Vacant Unit Tax Info Page)
  
  ➕ Related Houses sold at $1million or more made up 12 per cent of all Ottawa sales in 2022, compared to 9 per cent in 2021, and 4 per cent in 2020. 

🎲 Sens Betting Pool

• The gambling website Bodog has Ryan Reynolds as a favourite to buy the Ottawa Senators at +245, Toronto billionaire Michael Andlauer is second at +240. A decision is expected to be made in March. (Josh Pringle at CTV)
  
  ➕ Related We have no clue how to link to the Bodog sportsbook or what the laws are regarding sports betting in Ontario, nor are we quite sure what +245 and +240 mean because we can't look. Buyer beware. 

🚨 Ottawa Police Service

• The Ottawa Police Service constable who was caught on tape lamenting that ‘Our days are done.  White man’s day is done’ and flummoxed by mixed-race couples in Toronto while waiting to arrest a Black suspect has been cleared of a discreditable conduct charge for the remarks. A former Ottawa police superintendent ruled that he ‘cannot conclude that they are in fact offensive’, offensiveness being a requirement of a discreditable conduct charge. 
  
  Constable Paul Heffler was found guilty of three other disciplinary charges for sending unprofessional emails and inappropriately closing two criminal cases. Penalties for Heffler, if any, have not been announced. (Trevor Pritchard at CBC)

🍔 US President to Visit

• New Edinburgh resident Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has invited US President Joe Biden to visit Ottawa in March. (Chelsea Nash in The Hill)

🎶 Keep the Music Playing

• Monday is the deadline to take the survey by the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition. The organization will be using the survey to determine where gaps are in the Ottawa music industry. As a thank you, there will be three draws for prizes of $100. www.ottawamic.com

🛻 Convoy People

• The Confederate flag bedecked pickup truck during the Convoy siege turned out to be a gesture of support, not a super secret operation to discredit the truckers. Ottawa-area resident Maurice Landriault says he flew the battle flag of the surrendered slave state because ‘I look at it as a rebel sign’. Convoy lawyer Brendan Miller attemped to argue at the Emergency Act inquiry that the flag was used by ‘provocateurs’ despite Landriault identifying himself in person to Miller. (Glen McGregor at CTV)

Click here to feature your event

Today

• If you’re not snowed into your home tonight, check out Bella Cat, Seneca Schones, and Was Lee at the Rainbow Bistro. 76 Murray St.
• It’s metal night at Café Dekcuf, where Machine Messiah taking the stage. Tickets are $15 at the door. 221 Rideau St., Second Floor.
   
• A group memorial of Canadian poets lost during the Covid era will take place upstairs at the Carleton Tavern tonight (233 Armstrong Ave). Share readings and recollections of This event will also mark the 30th anniversary of The Factory Reading Series
   
• Friday the 13th is an appropriate day to speak of superstitions. The Bank of Canada Museum’s Luck and Lore exhibition, which runs until Sunday, explores our superstitions around money. 30 Bank St.
   
• At JoJo CoCo's Chocolate with… Cheese event, experience five chocolate and cheese pairings. Visit the store to purchase tickets ($44 each). 613 435 7722. 7 pm to 8 pm at 499 Terry Fox Dr.
• Great Gatsby It’s Murder, presented by new Ottawa-based company Paper Picture Productions, will be playing at local venues for a limited run starting this Friday January 13 at The Kanata Legion. The play, by Rachel Paul, is set in a sleazy speakeasy in 1920s Chicago. The show plays the Richmond Legion January 14, the NAC January 18 and Feb 9, and January 20 and 22 at the Arts Court. Proceeds from all the performances will go to Operation Come Home’s homes youth hot breakfast program.

Saturday

• Weather and conditions permitting, Skating in a Labyrinth should open tomorrow at Éco-Odyssée near Wakefield, QC. Bring your skates to travel at your own pace along up to 5km of trails. Day, night, and season packages available. Advance booking required.
• Our Land, Our Art lets us see Nunavik through the eyes of Indigenous artists.
   
• Will you find the answer to the question "What's the MacGuffin?" at the screening of ByTowne Cinema screening of Kiss Me Deadly? 

Sunday

• It’s time once again for the Deacon Brodies Rabbie Burns whisky tasting. Celebrate Scotland’s drink and its poet with some warming drams and bites this Sunday.

• Don’t feel like cooking this Sunday? Get in touch with Maker Feed Co in Cumberland. They’re doing a Lasagna that comes with either meat or mushroom lasagna, salad, and a surprise dessert, all for $24.99. Order for pick up between 4:00pm and 5:00pm at 2607 Old Montréal Road.