Hello ORLÉANS!
Welcome to the 38th edition of Orléans Connect.
A huge thank you 🙏 to everyone that answered last week’s poll. 📊 There seems to be a clear consensus as to what direction you want this newsletter to move into, and we’ll soon be adding new content and features in-line with what readers are looking for!
Before we get to this week’s events, if you haven’t yet followed us on our social channels? We’d love to meet you: 📲 We’re active on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads - see you there!
This week we’ve got a new Orléans Food Spot Review - a brand new place that hits the bullseye in terms of what kinds of food options we’d love to see more of in Orléans. Here’s a hint: 🇮🇹🥩🥪 → Check out the full food spot review here.
As always… don’t forget to check out this week’s poll ❓ at the bottom of the newsletter. This week we’re asking: What’s your favourite walking trail in and around Orléans? ⬇️
Here’s what’s happening in Orléans over the next seven days: ⬇️
Hoar frost - a spicy name for something rather pretty and innocent. Such a joy to see mother nature sharing her gifts with us.
Here’s our roundup of upcoming events:
📚 November 27th - 28th - Dunning-Foubert School Council is hosting their annual Used Book Sale! Open to the public on Thursday from 4 PM - 8 PM, and Friday from 8 AM - 12 PM. Amazing prices on books, games, puzzles and DVDs. All money raised supports Dunning students.
📍1610 Prestwick Dr
🎄 November 28th - The Cumberland Heritage Village Museum is hosting their Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Vintage Village of Lights. Sing along to classic carols with special guest performers from Vintage Stock Theatre and help Santa spread some Christmas cheer! Register online for the 4 PM - 5 PM entry timeslot to be there in time for the Tree Lighting (ceremony from 5:15 PM - 5:40 PM).
📍2940 Old Montreal Rd
✨ The Vintage Village of Lights is on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays from 4 PM - 9 PM Nov 28th through Dec 21st. Enjoy a postcard-perfect 1920s and 30s heritage village charmingly decorated for the holidays. Explore festive vignettes and light displays, visit Santa, decorate gingerbread cookies, complete a craft, relax around the bonfire and more! Fun for all ages. 🎟️ $26.14 per group (up to 6 people, children under 2 not counted towards group total)
📍Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, 2940 Old Montreal Rd
💃 November 28th - Join the Blackburn Hamlet Community Association for a Dance-A-Thon Food Drive to support the Blackburn Food Bank, from 6:30 PM - 9 PM. Accepting donations of non-perishable food items.
📍 190 Glen Park Dr
🎵 November 28th - Join Coro Vivo Ottawa for Echoes of Noël: Dvořàk, Fauré and World Traditions - a festive concert celebrating the richness of choral music across cultures and centuries! From 7:30 PM - 9 PM. 🎟️ Tickets available online for $27.96.
📍Orléans United Church, 111 Orléans Blvd
👠 November 28th - SDBC and Capital Tease Presents: Strut Burlesque, Bark at the Moons. Experience an unforgettable night where craft beer 🍺 meets classic tease. Enjoy an evening of sultry dance, vintage glamour, and tongue-in-cheek humour. It’s the perfect mix of hops and hotness for a night out you won’t forget! Doors open at 7:30 PM, show at 8:30 PM. 🎟️ Tickets $20/each.
📍 Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way
❄️ November 28th - 30th - The Mom Market is coming back to Place d’Orléans. It promises to be a festive holiday shopping wonderland! Open mall hours - Friday (9:30 AM - 8 PM), Saturday (9:30 AM - 7 PM) and Sunday (11 AM - 5 PM)
📍110 Place d’Orléans D
🧶 November 29th - Dunning Foubert’s School Advisory Council is hosting their annual Winter Craft Fair. Head out to support some fantastic local vendors from 10 AM - 3 PM. Incredible deals on lots of handmade/homemade items including beauty products, jewelry, art, treats and more! We have some amazing local vendors, including a few Dunning students!
📍Dunning Foubert School, 1610 Prestwick Dr
💉 November 29th - Free COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines Drop-In Clinic! Ottawa Public Health is hosting a one-day immunization clinic to support our rural communities with limited pharmacy access, from 10:30 AM - 4 PM. No appointment required.
📍1115 Dunning Rd, Cumberland
🎅🏻 November 29th - Visit the Coca-Cola Holiday Truck for a day full of holiday cheer, from 11 AM - 3 PM. Fun prizes, free hot chocolate, live DJ and a chance to take photos with Santa.
📍Sobeys at Trim and Innes
🎅🏻 November 29th - Santa’s Parade of Lights, starting at 6 PM, at St Joseph and Youville. Parade runs along St Joseph Blvd. Join for this special annual tradition and say hello to Rudolf and Santa Claus!
🎁 November 30th - Jingle all the way to the Holiday Bazaar, from 9 AM - 3 PM. Sleigh your holiday shopping with unique finds and treasures at a variety of holiday-themed stalls.
📍Aspira Bearbrook Retirement Living, 2645 Innes Rd
🎳 November 30th - Join Orléans MP Marie-France Lalonde and MPP Stephen Blais for their Community Bowling Event from 9 AM - 11:30 AM. No registration required. First come, first served.
📍Orléans Bowling Centre, 885 Taylor Creek Dr
🎄 November 30th - Marché de Noël / Holiday Bazaar - come shop, taste some delicious food and have fun! Everyone welcome! Event on from 10 AM - 3 PM.
📍Venvi Belcourt Retirement Living, 1344 Belcourt Blvd
🕊️ November 30th - Deaths over Drafts is a relaxed, community gathering where we share stories, thoughts and questions about mortality - no agenda, no pressure, just open conversation and good company. Whether you’re curious, grieving, reflective or just love a good chat over a craft beer, you’re welcome. Free registration, on from 3 PM - 5 PM.
📍 Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way
🎶 November 30th - Christmas Variety Show followed by a reception with lite refreshments at Good Shepherd Parish. Doors open at 6:30 PM, sing-along at 6:45 PM, show starts at 7 PM. By donation.
📍3092 Innes Rd
🧘🏽♀️ December 3rd - FREE Yoga and Meditation Classes on every Wednesday (until Dec 17th) hosted by the Greater Avalon Community Association. No sign up required. Beginners and children 10+ welcome.
📍Alain-Fortin Catholic Elementary School, 676 Lakeridge Dr (in the gym)
🎟️ GET TICKETS WHILE YOU CAN! 🎟️
Get tickets while you can - these events will fill up quickly!💨
🎅🏻 Meet and Greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Robert Plante Greenhouses - holiday magic, family photos and festive fun! Select dates from Nov 21 - Dec 21. BOOK SOON - spaces are filling up VERY quickly!
✨ Artisanal Wreath Workshop at CITYGATE Furniture and Decor on Thur, Dec 4th from 7 PM - 9:30 PM. You will be guided through the process of creating a beautiful 14” wreath. Seasonal refreshments will be served. 🎟️ Get your tickets now!
🍷 Christmas Cookie Class and Wine Tasting at Domaine Perrault Winery in Navan, on Tues, Dec 9th, from 5 PM - 7:30 PM. 🎟️ Get your tickets now!
🗓️SAVE THE DATES! 🗓️
🎅🏻🥞 Santa’s Pancake Breakfast, hosted by Blackburn Hamlet Community Association is on Sat, Dec 6th from 8:30 AM - 12 PM. Registration required - register by emailing [email protected].
🎄 The Orléans Holiday Arts Market is on from 10 AM - 4 PM at Shenkman Arts Centres on Sat, Dec 6th.
🎁 The Annual Cumberland Christmas Market is on Sat, Dec 6th from 9 AM - 3 PM at 1115 Dunning Road.
🏫 Trillium Elementary School is hosting their 2nd Annual Holiday Market on Sat, Dec 6th from 9:30 AM - 2 PM. Orléans Santa and the Grinch will be in atteandance for ‘Selfies with Santa’ by donation of a non-perishable food item. Coffee available for puchase.
🎶 Cumberland Community Singers will be hosting Welcome Christmas, a concert featuring special guests Atlantic Voices Choir and C5 Choir, at the Orléans United Church on Sun, Dec 7th at 7:30 PM. Save $5 by getting your tickets in advance online!
Do you have an event you want to see featured here? Let us know!
📰 News you should know about…
💗The Orléans-Cumberland Resource Centre (OCCRC) needs your help! (The Orléans Star)
🚉 O-Train East extension to open ‘early in 2026’ (CTV News)
🚛 City in bid to purchase east end landfill site. (The Orléans Star)
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT 🔦
This week’s Orléans business spotlight is… 🥁 … GABAGOOL OTTAWA located at 1675 Tenth Line Rd next to Bite Burger.
Gabagool is a brand new lunch spot that serves fresh deli sandwiches on artisan bread as well as small sides, snacks and drinks. It’s the perfect lunch spot if you’re craving a freshly made sandwich with fresh ingredients and generous topping portions. Check out our full Orléans Food Spot review of Gabagool Ottawa here.
As always, if you wind up grabbing lunch from there, make sure to tell them that Orléans Connect sent you.
As part of the replacement for Ottawa’s photo radars which went out of commission last week, the city has received $4 million in funds from the Province to install a variety of traffic calming measures at former photo radar camera locations. This funding is apparently temporary to help implement a variety of speed-calming measures until more permanent solutions are put in place. Geee, you mean like photo-radar, that was working just fine?! 😮💨
Many thanks to Jim P. for sending in a photo of Miley, his lovely and always well-groomed pup. We have a special place in our heart for Miley as this pup happens to live on our street and we get to see her often, strutting her stuff while out on walks.
Submit a photo of your Orléans pet(s) by emailing it to: [email protected]
THIS WEEK’S POLL ❓
What's your favourite walking trail 🥾 in and around Orléans?
