Hello ORLÉANS!

Welcome to the 55th edition of Orléans Connect. As always, welcome new subscribers! 👋

For those of you that are new to this newsletter, make sure to give us a follow on Instagram and Facebook.

💰 This week, the province announced the updated Sunshine List for 2025…(a list that shows all public sector employees who were paid more than $100k)… and a lot of people are saying that the list is grossly outdated due to the fact that it was introduced almost 30 years ago, in 1996. Because of inflation which leads to purchasing power reduction, if the Sunshine list was started today, pegged to that $100k level from 1996, the list would only include everyone that made over $188k in 2026. And in case you’re curious, here are the highest-paid public servants in Ottawa.

With the rainy and warmer weather here… don’t forget to check out this week’s poll below ⬇️ - today we’re asking: Where are you going for vacation ✈️ this summer?

Here’s a roundup of the events happening in Orléans over the next 7 days…

Here’s our roundup of upcoming events:

🎲 April 2nd - Drop by for this local Board Game Group that comes together every Thursday evening, from 7:30 PM onwards. Beginners and experienced players alike are welcome!
📍Red Dragon Comics, 6008 Voyageur Dr
🎶 April 3 - Think you know your music? Put your ears to the test at Musical Bingo at Taproom260, on from 8:30-10 PM. It’s 80s and 90s musical theme!
📍260 Centrum Blvd
🎤 April 3 - On Good Friday, Curbside Decisions will be live at Broadhead Brewery, at 1 PM. They’ll be serving 12+ varieties of beer, cider, wine and delectable Meatings BBQ. No cover, no reservations required, come feel the vibe!
📍1680 Vimont Crt, Unit 106
🐰 April 4th - Easter Food Drive in support of the Orléans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre from 10 AM-3 PM. Special guest alert - the Easter Bunny will be hopping around!
📍Sobeys - Trim and Innes
🌷 April 4th - Family Fun at the Spring Fling, hosted by Queenswood Heights Community Association, on from 11 AM-3 PM. There will be crafts, planting flowers to bring home, free face painting with LynneArt, vendors, hot dogs, drinks and cotton candy for sale!
📍Bob Monette Community Centre, 1485 Duford Dr
🪻 April 4th - Spring is in the air, and the Metcalfe Farmers Easter Market is hopping your way! Event runs from 9 AM-2 PM. Shop local vendors, find Easter goodies, handmade items, fresh treats and the perfect spring finds!
📍Metcalfe Arena Ice Slab, 2785 8th Line (Metcalfe)
🍳April 5th - Moose McGuire’s is hosting an Easter Brunch Buffet, from 9 AM-1 PM. Join for a beautiful buffet spread with a broad range of options. Adults $22, Youth $15 and Children $10. $5 mimosas. Reservations highly recommended.
📍4025 Innes Rd
🐣 April 6th - Get ready for a fun-filled morning of friendly competition at Tumblers Gymnastics for an Easter Egg Hunt. Bring your own basket. For children ages 3-10. Pre-registration required, multiple time slots. Book your spot here.
📍330 Vantage Dr
🚲 April 7th - The Eastern Ottawa Urbanism Club meets every Tuesday over lunch at 12:15 PM to discuss how our community is built, how it moves, and how we can make our neighbourhood more financially and socially resilient. Email [email protected] with any questions. 💻 Virtual
🧠 April 7th - Trivia Night is on at Moose McGuire’s, from 7-9 PM. Prizes for 1st and 2nd place teams. Half-priced apps from 4-7 PM.
📍4025 Innes Rd
❓April 7th - Tuesday Trivia is on at the Barley Mow. Starts at 7 PM. Win weekly prizes and gift cards for the Mow! Reserve your table today: 613-841-5111.
📍2034 Tenth Line
🗓️ April 8th - The Chatelaine Village Community Association is hosting their General Meeting from 7-9 PM at Roy. G. Hobbs Community Centre to plan upcoming summer events. All members of the community are welcome to attend.
📍109 Larch Cres

🐣 Celebrate Easter in and around Orléans! 🐰

🐰 Hop over for Easter Bunny pictures at Place d’Orléans! Walk-ups welcome, every day until closing time. Book a timeslot online now. 📸

🐔 Head for Yellow Brick Farm in Rockalnd for an Easter Farm Tour. There will be guided farm tours, Easter egg hunt, meet and feed the animals, and say hello to the Easter Bunny! Fun for the whole family! Pre-registration required - book here.

🗓️ SAVE THE DATES! 🗓️

⚓ The Bytown Sea Shanty Collective and Rude Pizza are combining forces for a Sing-a-Sea Shanty at Stray Day Brewing Co, on Fri, April 10th from 8 PM til late. No cover, no tickets. Get there early and stay for the haul!
👗 The Convent Glen Orléans Wood Community Association is hosting a Clothing Swap on Sat, April 11th from 10 AM - 2 PM at Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Centre in Halls A and G.
🎨 Spring Paint Event at Navan-Vars United Church on Sat, April 11th from 1-4 PM. Registration fee $45. For more information call 613-866-7435.
🤸🏽‍♂️ Be wowed by eight world-class acrobats as they investigate physical skill; how we obtain it, how we perfect it, and how it can transform our lives at Shenkman Arts Centre with Ten Thousand Hours on Sat, April 11th at 8 PM. Get your tickets online now.
🎶 Live Music at Orléans United Church on Sun, April 12th, from 2-4 PM. Rock, country and blues - come and listen to some fantastic Ottawa musicians, and support this OUC fundraiser. 🎟️Tickets $20 per person (available at the door).
🚓 The East Ottawa Neighbourhood Watch Committee is hosting a presentation entitled Preventing LRT Crime and Enhancing Public Safety on Thurs, April 16th from 7:30-9:30 PM at Ray Friel Rereation Centre, Fallingbrook Room.
👠 Get ready for the ultimate Girls’ Night Out in Orléans at Boston Pizza on Fri, April 17th at 8 PM. There will be live music with Michael Ben-Shalom, a variety of tasty shareables and drink specials!
📚 Orléans Wood Elementary School is hosting a Used Book and Bake Sale on Sat, April 18th from 9 AM-1 PM. Cash only. Bring your own bag!
🖼️ It’s the inaugural Arteast Fine Art Show coming up April 18th and 19th, from 10 AM-4 PM at the Pine View Golf Club. This show brings together 41 exceptional local artists whose work celebrates colour, texture, and the transformative power of creativity!
🐝 Learn about pollinators and supporting the bee ecosystem with Nicolas the Beekeeper on Earth Day, Wed, April 22nd at Place D’Orléans
🌎 Cleaning the Capital - Community Clean Up Event on Sat, April 25th at Golden Fries, from 9 AM - 12 PM. Everyone is welcome, supplies will be provided.

Do you have an event you want to see featured here? Let us know!

🗞️ NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT: 🗞️

💗 Orléans knitting club founder received Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteerism (Orléans Star)

🚔 Police stop two for speeding in school zone, one not wearing seatbelt (CityNews)

🚉 Process begins to identify high-speed rail route (Orléans Star)

🚸 Ottawa Safety Council speaking out after death of Peter Clark (CBC News)

🌳🌲Remember - the Plant Your Place! Tree Planting Program is back for 2026, and registration is now open for residents in all wards. This program provides free trees to residents. Learn more here.

💎 The 2026 Gems Awards nominations are officially open! You’re invited to nominate the outstanding local businesses and services organizations that make Orléans shine! If a few local favourites come to mind, now’s the time to give them the recognition that they deserve. Learn more and nominate your favourites here!

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🗓️ GET ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY: 🗓️

🌎It’s time to Clean the Capital!💚

Gather your friends, colleagues and/or family and help Clean the Capital! From April 15th to May 31st, the annual Cleaning the Capital campaign is on! Residents are encouraged to clean up parks, streets and green spaces at their pace. 🌱

🗓️ Starting April 15th, supplies can be picked up at François Dupuis Recreation Centre. There are other pickup sites as well. 📸 We’d love to see your efforts! Post your photos online and make sure to tag us, @OrleansConnect! ✨

This week’s Orléans business spotlight is… 🥁 … Patisserie Fine Délice Royal located at 1600 Forest Valley Dr📍

🍰 Délice Royal is a French and family-owned bakery that opened its doors on Forest Valley in 1995, offering an array of French pastries, cakes, breads, chocolates, and much more. They provide a wide selection of products suited for any occasion, including graduation, wedding, and baptism cakes.

Every item is handcrafted with love and great attention to detail. Délice Royal uses only real, high-quality ingredients, with no preservatives or artificial flavours in any of their products. Leading the kitchen is executive pastry chef Kieng Gov, who brings over 25 years of experience in the pastry arts, crafting cakes that are as stunning as they are delicious.

As always, if you wind up visiting them, make sure to tell them Orléans Connect sent you.

The number of reported LGBTQ2+ hate crimes is dropping in the city of Ottawa. Great news. BUT, there seems to still be some uncertainty about the numbers as they don’t account for the large number of unreported incidents. Read more here.