Hello ORLÉANS!
Welcome to the 44th edition of Orléans Connect.
As always, welcome new subscribers, and many thanks to everyone that shared the newsletter last week, we truly appreciate it! 🙏
Well… at least we’re now in January, which means that this month alone we’ll gain about 55 minutes of 🌞 daylight by the end of the month. That’s a small, but welcome bit of literal sunshine that should make all those early commutes amidst the long winters we experience here, just a touch more tolerable. And there’s also a bit of news about Ottawa’s plans for celebrating the 🎉 city’s 200th anniversary!
Ok, that’s it for today’s attempt to cheer you up.
In this week’s poll below, we’re asking you: What’s the best 🇲🇽 Mexican food restaurant in Orléans? - ⬇️
Here’s all the happenings in Orléans over the next 7 days:
Here’s our roundup of upcoming events:
✨ January 9th - Celebrate Lohri and experience the warmth of this beautiful cultural celebration, marking the passing of the winter solstice, and welcoming the longer days. For the first time in Ottawa, enjoy a live bonfire (outdoors), traditional music and a joyful community gathering indoors! This family-friendly event starts at 6 PM. Get tickets.
📍Mosaic Convention Centre, 2465 St Laurent Blvd
💃 January 9th - Time for another All-Request Dance Party! From 7 - 11 PM. No cover charge and everyone is welcome (i.e. you don’t have to be a Legion member). Come out for dancing and fantastic music!
📍Orléans Legion, 800 Taylor Creek Dr
🎼 January 9th - Think you know your music? Put your ears to the test at Musical Bingo from 8:30 - 10:30 PM! No pens, no trivia questions - just your favourite songs, cold drinks and good vibes! Grab your friends, sing along and win some awesome prizes!
📍Taproom260, 260 Centrum Blvd
😂 January 10th - Comedy Show with Simon Gouache - Sous pression - show starts at 8 PM. Tickets $40/each.
📍Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd
🎶 January 10th - Live Music Saturday at Broadhead featuring Casey McCann, for an acoustic afternoon. There will be killer tunes, cold pints, smoky BBQ and good vibes. Starts at 2 PM. All are welcome - no cover, no reservations required.
📍Broadhead Brewery, 1680 Vimont Crt
🎵 January 10th - Live Music in the Taproom with Justin Gow. Show starts at 7 PM. Join for a fun night of acoustic tunes, with new and old friends, and some great beers!
📍Orléans Brewing Co, 4380 Innes Rd
📏 January 11th - Introduction to Leatherwork Workshop, for ages 16+. Learn the basics of leatherwork and create your own slipcover under the guidance of a skilled artisan! 1 PM - 5 PM. Reserve your spot
📍Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, 2940 Old Montreal Rd
⚜️ January 14th - 16th - Contact ontarois 2026: Réseau Ontario invites everyone to discover Francophone artists from across the country in this showcase, where artists perform for 20 minutes, followed by an interview. (Information en français)
📍Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd
🗓️ WEEKLY EVENTS 🗓️
Looking to beat those winter blues? There are some really awesome things happening weekly in Orléans!
Mondays:
🧘 Tai Chi Class at Orléans United Church, 10 AM - 12 PM,
Tuesdays:
🌙 Tai Chi Class at Aquaview Community Hall, 7 - 8:30 PM
🧠 Trivia Tuesday at Broadhead Brewery, game starts at 6:30 PM.
Wednesdays:
🦪 Oyster Wednesdays at Orléans Brewing Co, 6 - 8 PM (or until quantities are available).
🧠 Taproom Trivia at Stray Dog Brewing Company, 6:30 - 9:30 PM
🧘♀️ Hatha Yoga and Meditation at Alain Fortin Catholic Elementary School, 7 - 8 PM
🌙 Tai Chi Class at Orléans United Church, 7 - 8:30 PM
Thursdays:
🍕 Throughout January, Fire Box Pizza will be popping up at Dominion City Brewing Co from 5 - 8 PM. Dominion City also has Trivia Night on Thursdays starting at 7 PM! 🧠
🔢 Bingo Thursday at Broadhead Brewery, game starts at 6:30 PM
Fridays:
🧘 Tai Chi Class at Orléans United Church, 10 AM - 12 PM,
Sundays:
The Stray Dog Sunday Blues with The Mark Green Band, on from 3 - 5 PM at Stray Dog Brewing Company
☀️While not officially in Orléans, they are so close! Dominion City Brewing Co is hosting Jananigans - think shenanigans, in January! ✨ We can definitely get behind these efforts to brighten things up at a time of year that can be dark and difficult for many. They have an exciting month planned: restaurants passing through for brewery kitchen pop-ups, trivia, bingo, a run club and even workshops! Check out the full schedule.
🗓️ SAVE THE DATES: GET TICKETS SOON! 🗓️
Rory Taillon is performing live at Stray Dog Brewing Co. on Fri, Jan 16th. 🎟️ Get tickets - save by pre-ordering online!
🎶 Critically acclaimed songwriters Julian Taylor and Logan Staats are touring across Canada with special guest Jordan Hart - and coming to Shenkman Arts Centre Jan 21st. 🎟️ Get tickets while you can!
Join for an evening of creativity at Moose McGuire’s for Paint Night: The Wishing Tree III on Jan 23rd at 7 PM. Hosted by Cecilia Chan from Ceci Art Studio.
🌱 Les Serres Robert Plante Greenhouse is hosting their 3rd Annual Winter Market. 150+ curated local vendors. Jan 24th and 25th, 9:00 AM - 4 PM.
🌿❤️ Celebrate Valentine’s Day in a romantic oasis surrounded by lush tropical greenery! Exclusive Romantic Dinner for Two, an intimate after-hours dining experience set in Robert Plante’s tropical greenhouses. Two dates: Feb 13th and Feb 14th, from 6:30 PM - 10:30 PM. Reserve NOW!
🎵 Bedouin Soundclash is coming to Shenkman Arts Centre on Mar 6th. Their sound has been described as a combination of reggae, ska and rock - they bring a huge energy to the stage! 🎟️ Get your tickets now!
Do you have an event you want to see featured here? Let us know!
📰 News you should know about…
💗 Caring community answers the call yet again! (The Orléans Star)
🌻 City accepting applications for Ottawa’s community-led greening initiatives and gardening program. (City of Ottawa)
🚄 Canada’s first high-speed rail project is coming - it’s called Alto. The train will connect Toronto to Québec City. Have your say in the public consultation (virtual and in-person opportunities!
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT 🔦
This week’s Orléans business spotlight is… 🥁 … Seau de Crabe Restaurant located at 2284 Tenth Line Rd.📍
Seau de Crabe is a Quebec-based group of seafood boil restaurants with a relatively novel concept where you get to choose your seafood bucket, spice level, flavour, and sides. If you’re a fan of seafood, and a large volume of seafood at that, then Seau de Crabe is your place to go. There’s everything from crab, shrimp, mussels, lobster, crawfish, and more. And don’t worry, for those land lovers, there are also items like pasta, salads, chicken and a kids menu.
And as always, if you wind up visiting them, make sure to tell them Orléans Connect sent you, and next week we’ll have a full review of Seau de Crabe.
Before being amalgamated into Ottawa in 2001, the community of Orléans was divided between the Township of Gloucester and the Cumberland Township, making it unique among Ottawa’s communities. This split meant that Orléans developed two distinct administrative systems and two separate identities until the city amalgamations of 2001, when it finally became unified as a single suburban ward of Ottawa.
Many thanks to Cat-Vi N. for sending in a photo of Bowser (cat) and Moose (dog), a pair of furry friends that seem to get along well… at least in this photo 🤣
Submit a photo of your Orléans pet(s) by emailing it to: [email protected]
THIS WEEK’S POLL ❓
What’s the Best 🇲🇽 Mexican food restaurant in Orléans?
Last week’s poll results: Did you make some 🎉 2026 New Year’s Resolutions? 🗓️
🏅 - 👎 No, I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions - 63.4%
🥈 - 😃 Yes, I’m pumped about making positive changes - 19.5%
🥉 - 😩 No, because I don’t want to feel like I failed - 12.2%
😬 Yes, but I’m worried about keeping them - 4.9%
