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What Ottawa is talking about

☎️ 988

  •  The new 988 mental health emergency number is open and the Distress Centre of Ottawa is part of it. The Federal government has created the nationwide 988 phone – or text – service to help anyone in crisis or knows someone in crisis. The 988 number is available 24 hours per day, in both English and French. The Distress Centre of Ottawa, which has provided a similar service for the capital region for 50 years, will be one of the centres answering the calls. (William Eltherington at CTV) (988.ca)

🔍  Federal Public Employees

  •  Thirteen Federal departments have software tools that can extract personal data from their employees' phones or computers. The various software tools can retrieve ‘text messages, contacts, photos, travel history, a person’s internet search history, deleted content and social media activity’. Some departments say they use it only after gaining a warrant, some say it is for internal investigations for fraud, others say it is for ‘security purposes’. The president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada says she has ‘grave concerns’.

    The departments and agencies concerned are: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, Canada Revenue Agency, Global Affairs Canada, Shared Services Canada, Competition Bureau Canada, Transportation Safety Board of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Correctional Services Canada, Canada Border Service Agency, Department of National Defence, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

    (Brigitte Bureau at Radio-Canada)  

🏈 Ottawa RedBlacks

  •  The RedBlacks will play a special regular-season match in a non Canadian Football League city, Victoria. ‘Touchdown Pacific’  will be played Saturday, Aug 31 at Royal Athletic Park in British Columbia’s capital, with an expansion of the stadium to 14,000 seats from 10,000. The RedBlacks' opponents will be the BC Lions, naturally. (Canadian Press)

🚨 Man Identified

  •  A man who drowned in the Ottawa river six years ago has finally been identified. The man, born in 1966, was identified through Forensic Genealogy DNA testing and no foul play is suspected. Ontario Provincial Police have notified his family but will not be releasing his name. (Josh Pringle at CTV)

🛻 Convoy News

Convoy co-organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber are currently on trial for mischief and intimidation, amongst other things, over the Convoy occupation.

  •  Chris Barber’s lawyer presented more newly released text messages, some showing that the former premier of Saskatchewan, Brad Wall, was in contact, giving reasonable advice. (David Fraser at CBC
  •  The Ottawa Citizen is live blogging the trial.

events

today

Sat Dec 2

tomorrow

Sun Dec 3

Monday

Mon Dec 4

features

Ottawa Christmas Markets, Festivals, and Parades

Want to hit the Christmas Markets this weekend? We’ll give you a whole bunch of them to visit this season.

9 Locally Made Foodie Gift Ideas

Locally-made items for gift giving.

Made in Canada Christmas Gift Guide

For Foodies, For the One With Cold Hands, For the Craft Beer Lover, For the Interior Design Enthusiast, For the Darts Player, For the One Who Loves to Throw a Party, For the Chocoholic, For Your Unclassifiable Friend, For the Teen Foodie, and For the Hat Lover.

Advent Calendars

We’ve compiled our 2023 list of calendars that are sold – and mostly manufactured – in Canada.

Our annual reader survey of the best that Ottawa and area has to offer.

food + drink

The latest food and dining news in the Capital.

Weekly update for Nov 29

Good Prospects Brewing in Vanier has brewed its last keg, Merry Dairy supports Mo’vember with four special flavours, Moul Hanout has a perfect 5.0 on Google, and more.

guides

Ottawa-Gatineau Craft Brewery taproom map

See 30+ Breweries on Map

locally made podcasts

Discover a local podcast from our constantly curated collection

deals of the day

Thursday November 30, 2023

Tofino Towel’s Black Friday savings are here until December 3. Save up to 75%.

Wednesday November 29, 2023

Made in Canada Men’s Fall Sweaters are 30% off at Parkhurst.

Tuesday November 28, 2023

Equator Coffee Roasters’ Cyber Monday deals continue with 25% off coffee and deals on espresso machines, brewing machines, and grinders.

Use the code BFEF30 to receive 30% of regular price items at Eliza Faulkner, until tonight.

It’s time again for the Winter Wonderland Ground Beef Sale at The Shop at Harmon’s. Choose from Beef grounds (Grass Fed Australian Ground and Dry Aged Ground Beef are $7.50 per pound and Wagyu Ground Beef is $15 per pound), Dry Aged Beef Patties (get a four-pack for $15), and Wagyu Beef Patties (two for $15). All are on sale until Saturday December 2 only in the store at 283 Elgin St.

Vodkow is extending its Black Friday special until 11:59 pm tonight. Receive a free 250ml bottle of Eggnog Cream on orders over $90.

Monday November 27, 2023

Get 2-for-1 Ottawa Home & Remodelling Show tickets when you use the code CYBER.

Maker House is offering free Ontario and Québec shipping on orders over $50, and free Canada-wide shipping on orders over $150 (before tax) until 11:59 pm tonight.

Save 25% on Ottawa Chamberfest tickets. Use the code CHAMBERFESTWELCOME to save on single tickets to upcoming concerts.

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$250 – $1000

  • The value of microgrants given out by the Ottawa Arts Council ‘to provide financial support to the Ottawa region’s cultural sector through small cash infusions’. (Ryan Pepper at Apt 613) (Full list)

ottawan of the day

Michael Wood

  • The Ottawa resident made a suggestion at the City’s Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee last May that people should be able to reach 911 in other cities by calling Ottawa’s 911. This would be useful in cases when a friend or relative knows of someone in distress somewhere else – especially as there is no way to call another jurisdiction’s 911 directly.
  • Reader, the City went for it and now Ottawa 911 will transfer an emergency call to 911 centres across North America*. (Ted Raymond at CTV)

  • * We tried to find out what ‘across North America’ means but were not successful. All 911 services in Canada, US, and Mexico? A patchwork of cities? We don’t know.

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