Hello ORLÉANS!
Welcome to the 49th edition of Orléans Connect. As always, welcome new subscribers! 👋
Well, I don’t know about you, but my Apple Watch was definitely more than happy to give me a high-heartbeat notification as I hyperventilated my way through Team Canada’s 🏒 hockey game against Czechia yesterday. Much too close for comfort, and by around the time you get this newsletter, the women’s hockey team will be getting ready to face their arch-rivals, the U.S, in the gold medal game. Once again, Go Canada Go! 🇨🇦
We’ve also got a brand new Food Spot Review of an Orléans mainstay this week, you can read here.
As always, don’t forget to check out this week’s poll below ⬇️ - today we’re asking: What’s the best 🇲🇽 Mexican restaurant / take out in Orléans?
Here’s all the happenings in Orléans over the next 7 days…
Thanks to local photographer Patrick Sanford who took this terrific shot and posted it to the Petrie-Island Facebook group of a Mink making an appearance after some clever and patient tracking.
Here’s our roundup of upcoming events:
🎨 February 19th & 26th - La Casa Art is offering a free discovery sessions for families curious about their after-school art workshops! The Painting with Paslels workshop for ages 6-12, on from 3:30 - 5:30 PM. Register here.
📍1579 Bella Vista Dr💗 February 20th & 21st - Love Lives Here - Aspira Bearbrook Retirement Living is hosting their open house, from 1 PM - 4 PM. Tour suites, connect with residents and enjoy chef-prepared treats in a warm atmosphere.
📍2645 Innes Rd🎤 February 20th - Karaoke Night is on at the Orléans Legion, from 5 PM - 11 PM. Grab the mic, hit the dance floor and let your inner superstar shine!
📍800 Taylor Creek Dr🎶 February 20th - SDBC Taproom Concerts presents Matt Palmer, at 8 PM. Join for a laid-back performance of folk-rock covers. No cover, just good vibes, great beer and a fun night!
📍Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way, Unit 4February 20th - Open Mic Night Fundraiser, supporting the Ottawa First Responders Foundation, 7 - 10 PM.
📍Boston Pizza, 3884 Innes Rd🧑🌾 February 21st - Cumberland Winter Market, from 9 AM - 1 PM at the RJ Kennedy Arena. Local farmers, food vendors and artisans. Each market features a Café Style Breakfast!
📍1115 Dunning Rd, Cumberland🐴 February 21st - RCMP Musical Ride Open House is on from 10 AM - 3 PM. Visit the home of the Musical Ride and meet police officers from the RCMP. Admission is free, but non-perishable food items and cash donations will be collected to support the Ottawa Food Bank.
📍RCMP Rockcliffe Stables - 1 Sandridge Rd🐈 February 21st - Community Alley Trappers is hosting an Adoption and Fundraising event from 11 AM - 3:30 PM! Cats available for adoption and bake sale. You can also bring your cat, dog or bunny for Nail Trimming for $20, or take advantage of the Microchip Clinic available for $50 (note microchip clinic from 1:30 - 3:30 PM).
📍Pet Valu, 1980 Ogilvie🎵 February 21st - Enjoy the acoustic vibes of Chris Gagnon, at Live Music Saturday at Broadhead Brewery, at 2 PM. No cover, no reservations required.
📍1680 Vimont Crt🎶 February 21st - SDBC Taproom Concerts presents: I, the Mountain Live in Concert. Doors at 7:30 PM, show 8 PM. I, the Mountain is a 4-piece indie-folk band based in Kitchener, known for their joyous four-part harmonies and interactive live performances. Tickets $20.
📍Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way, Unit 4📚 February 22nd - 2nd Annual Book Fair at Robert Plante Greenhouses, from 9 AM - 4 PM. A cozy winter book fair in the greenhouses featuring local authors, illustrators and literary vendors!
📍4228 Navan Rd, Navan🍿February 22nd - Queenswood Heights Community Association is hosting a Cozy Movie Afternoon with a screening of Elio, at 3 PM at Queenswood Heights Community Centre.
📍1485 Duford Dr🧀 February 23rd - Learn the art of styling a beautiful charcuterie board at the Charcuterie Design Workshop with Pretty Eats by Hanan at 7 PM. All materials provided. Tickets $110+ tax (includes your first beverage of the evening). Get tickets here.
📍Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way, Unit 4🎨 February 24th - Paint Night Bar Series #1 at the Orléans Legion, in partnership with It Takes a Village Dog Rescue. 6 PM - 10 PM. $40/person, includes all materials. Theme is Margarita under the Moon. Dress the theme, paint the moment and sip the feature cocktail. Register with Melanie: rcl632@[email protected].
📍800 Taylor Creek Dr💻 February 25th - Join a Virtual Information Session with Coyote Watch Canada to learn more about coyotes at 7 PM. You will learn about why coyotes behave the way they do, how to reduce conflict and tips for safe coyote interactions. Register here. Event hosted by City Councillors Laura Dudas, Matt Luloff and Catherine Kitts.
🧠 February 25th - The Discovery Café Free Lecture series session: “The Future of Wireless Communications Networks: A Foresight towards 2050.” Learn from Carleton University Chancellor’s Professor Dr Halim Yanikomeroglu. Hosted by the Blackburn Community Association.
📍Blackburn Community Hall, 190 Glen Park Dr🎥 February 26th - It’s time for Rom Com Trivia Night, hosted at Boston Pizza. Trivia gets started at 8:30 PM. $3/person, teams of 2, 3 or 4 players. Register your team.
📍3884 Innes Rd
🗓️ SAVE THE DATES 🗓️
🎲 Youth and Kids Games and Goodies, Feb 28th from 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM at Blackburn Community Hall. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Food and games provided. Trivia at 1 PM for prize!
🏳️🌈 The Orléans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre is hosting Youth Space - We’ve Got Each Other, 2SLGBTQIA+ Group, on Feb 26th, from 4 - 7 PM. Group for youth in grades 7 to 12. Bilingual. Sign-Up Here.
👢 Kick up your heels for a fun evening of Line Dancing with Heel Toe Rodeo at the Orléans Legion on Feb 27th from 7 PM - 11 PM. Free beginner line dance class from 7-8 PM, followed by open line dance all levels until 11 PM.
🍷 Enjoy an intimate six-course fine dining experience curated by award-winning Chef Phil Cameron, at Cellar & Snow, at Domaine Perrault Winery on Mar 7th at 6:30 PM. Learn more and get tickets here.
Do you have an event you want to see featured here? Let us know!
📰 News you should know about…
😢 13-year-old girl dies after inicdent at ski hill during school trip. (Ottawa Citizen).
🍉 The City of Ottawa’s Summer Camp Registration is opening February 26th! Browse the catalog. (City of Ottawa)
All three of our local City Councillors released newsletters in February - check them out:
Matt Luloff (Ward 1: Orléans East-Cumberland)
Laura Dudas (Ward 2: Orléans West-Innes)
Catherine Kitts (Ward 19: Orléans South-Navan)
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT 🔦
This week’s Orléans business spotlight is… 🥁 … Broadway Bar & Grill located at 1968 Portobello Blvd.📍
With 2 locations in Orléans, Broadway is a clear favourite in our part of Ottawa and offers an amazing selection of comfort food 🍳 across the entire day. From amazing breakfast options, to late-night appetizers that will leave you begging for more, Broadway Bar & Grill is an Orléans staple for all the right reasons.
Check out our full review of Broadway Bar & Grill here.
As always, if you wind up visiting them, make sure to tell them Orléans Connect sent you.
Award-winning children’s author Andrée Poulin was born in Orléans in 1960. (She later became known for French-language children’s books like “La plus grosse poutine du monde.”)
This week we’re featuring Caroline’s two cats - Cali and Earl. Cali is the Calico and is mama to Earl, who is bigger than his mama, which is a constant source of wonder for kids that meet them! 😺
Submit a photo of your Orléans pet(s) by emailing it to: [email protected]
THIS WEEK’S POLL ❓
What's the best 🇲🇽 Mexican Restaurant / Take-Out in Orléans?
Last week’s poll results: How do you feel about the Return-to-Office, minimum 4 days a week by July 6th, 2026 mandate for Federal workers?
🥇 - 👎 Terrible idea, more congestion, more wasted time commuting, less productivity - 70%
🥈 - 👍- Great, I love commuting and being in the city and helping revitalize businesses - 25.5%
🥉 😑- Meh, ambivalent - 4.5%
