Hello ORLÉANS!

Welcome to the 61st edition of Orléans Connect. As always, welcome new subscribers! 👋

If you haven’t done so yet, now is a great time to follows us over on Instagram and Facebook as we’ll be launching our very first giveaway in partnership with a local Orléans business in the coming weeks. 🤗 And of course, if YOU own a local business and want to get a bit more exposure with Orléans residents, reach out to us to see if a giveaway to our readers and followers might be a good fit!

🛍️ This week, there’s news that a major commercial development proposal could bring a new grocery store, anchor retailer and several other retail building to south Orléans. Developer Richcraft Homes has submitted plans for a 10-building shopping complex at 2226 Mer-Bleue Rd.

Spring is here, and summer is just around the corner, so it’s only fitting that this week we’ve got a new food spot review of one of Orléans best food trucks! 🍟

And last but not least, don’t miss this week’s poll ⬇️ - today we’re asking: What is your favourite 🌮 food truck in Orléans?

Here’s what’s happening in Orléans over the next 7 days…

Here’s our roundup of upcoming events:

🌷A lot is happening in and around Ottawa, including the Canadian Tulip Festival, Live Chess on Parliament Hill and we will have the perfect weather for NCC Weekend Bikedays (on Saturdays, Sundays AND holiday Mondays)! 🚲

🎡 Daily until May 18th - The Orléans Fun Fair is on! 🎟️ Admission $25 (weekdays), $30 (weekends/holidays) - per person - includes UNLIMITED RIDES! Age 3 and under free. Cash only - ATM on-site. Hours range by day - check the Facebook event page for details.
📍Parking lot of Ray Friel Rec Complex
🍦May 15th - Orleans Wood Elementary School’s Advisory Council is hosting a Merry Dairy Ice Cream Fundraiser from 5-7 PM in the school yard. You can pre-order pints here (orders due by May 14th at 2 PM).
📍1585 Tenth Line Rd
💃 May 15th - It’s a Back to the 80s Dance Party at the Orléans Legion! $5 cover (cash only). Big hair, bigger hits! Dress 80s if you dare.
📍800 Taylor Creek Dr
🎶 May 15th - Musical Bingo is on from 8:30-10:30 PM at Taproom260. No pens, no trivia questions, just your favourite songs, cold drinks and good vibes! Sing along and win some awesome prizes.
📍260 Centrum Blvd
🎤 May 15th - It’s Karaoke Night at Orléans Bowling, on from 9:30 PM - 1 AM - grab the mic, sing your favourites and soak in the retro vibes!
📍885 Taylor Creek Dr
💬 May 16th - Join Sherif Rizk (candidate for City Council, Ward 1) for an Open House from 11 AM - 12 PM at Juice Dudez. Bring your questions, concerns and ideas for the community.
📍4471 Innes Road
🛞 May 16th & 17th - For the first time ever, the Monster Trucks All Out Tour is on a collision course for Navan Fairgrounds! Giant outdoor shows where trucks can really fly! Multiple show time options!
📍1306 Farigreen Ave, Navan
🍪 May 16th & 17th - Faith and her family will be hosting their 4th Annual Bake Sale in support of Ronald McDonald House Ottawa, on from 11 AM - 4 PM.
📍Corner of Orléans Blvd and Lumberman
🎨 May 19th - It’s Paint Night at the Orléans Legion, Bloom and Buzz, on from 6-10 PM. $40, includes all materials. Register with Melanie at [email protected].
📍800 Taylor Creek Dr
🧠 May 19th - It’s Tuesday Trivia at Broadhead - fun starts at 6:30 PM. 6 general knowledge categories including name that tune!
📍1680 Vimont
🐈 May 21st - Community Alley Trappers is hosting an Affordable Cat Spay & Neuter Event. For more details email [email protected]

🎶 LIVE MUSIC IN ORLÉANS THIS MONTH 🎶

🎸 Stray Dog Brewing Company features a great line-up every week of local musicians. Check out this week’s schedule. And check out their lineup for May!
🎵 The Barley Mow on Tenth Line has live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM. Check out their lineup for May.
🎤 Broadhead Brewery has live music on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons. Explore the upcoming schedule.

🗓️ SAVE THE DATES! 🗓️

🌼 Orléans Blooms / Orléans Fleurit 2026 - Sat, May 23rd - 9 AM - 3 PM - 📍 1234 Prestone Dr. (St. Helen’s Anglican Church). Discover Canadian-grown plants, including annuals, vegetables, and specialty varieties to kick off your gardening season. Browse local vendors featuring artists, makers, and small businesses, and visit Lina, the Hot Pepper Lady, for her unique selection of pepper plants
🧩 Puzzle Sale - presented by the Orleans Area Puzzle Group - Sat, May 23rd - 10 AM - 2 PM - Navan Curling Club. New, Gently Used Puzzles + More.
🧘‍♀️ Restoring Balance in Your Body - join Physio Sport Plus for a Wellness experience on Sat, May 23rd - French presentation 10 - 11:15 AM, English presentation 11:30 AM - 1 PM. Healthy refreshments included.
🌻 The Original Navan Market is back on Sun, May 24th! This highly popular local market is on from 9:30 AM-2:30 PM at the Navan Fairgrounds.
🏡 Join for the Greater Orléans Community Garage Sale on Sat, May 30th - 8 AM start! This community-wide garage sale will allow you to explore participating neighbourhoods, follow the map and plan your day! Multiple Community Associations are coming together to plan this event, including Avalon Encore, Bradley Estates, Chapel Hill North, Chatelaine Village, Convent-Glen Orléans Wood, Greater Avalon and Queenswood Heights!
- 🗺️ Click here to access: an interactive garage sale map, register your household to participate, and more!
👨‍🌾 The Heart of Orléans Market is back for a second season! Held on Sun, May 31st from 9:30 AM-2 PM, at the Orléans Town Centre, 250 Centrum Blvd.
🎵 GCCB Presents: Melodies in Motion - Sun, May 31st - 2 PM - 4PM - 📍 École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges. The Gloucester Community Concert Band under the direction of Lisa Concessi Maclean and Brian Burns presents "Melodies in Motion"! Join the Gloucester Community Concert Band (GCCB) in the Béatrice-Desloges Theatre for an afternoon filled with energetic and kinetic music!
🦮 Pet Value Walk for Dog Guides - Sun May 31st - Registration: 1:30 PM, Start: 2:00 PM. Starting from Maple Hall in Cumberland, this community walk supports the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides and the important work they do across the country. Participants of all ages are welcome.

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

🗞️ NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT: 🗞️

🚉 OC Transpo general manager Rick Leary has unveiled his 10-point plan to improve transit service in Ottawa.

🛑 In light of the shortsighted move to remove speed cameras in Ontario, the city of Ottawa is now working to put up new large school-zone signs in place of where speed cameras used to be.

🍦A new Kawartha Dairy location has officially opened in Orléans, in what is very obviously an old Pizza Hut location. Yay for more ice cream options in Orléans! Stay tuned for our upcoming review of this new food spot.

🚨Ottawa police recover body from the water near Petrie Island. Police say they are investigating.

🗞️Recent Newsletters / Updates from our City Councillors:

Matt Luloff Community Newsletter from May 8th (Ward 1)
Laura Dudas - May Newsletter (Ward 2)
Catherine Kitts - May 9th newsletter (Ward 19)

This week’s Orléans business spotlight is… 🥁 … Golden Fries located at 6505 Jeanne D’Arc Blvd N.📍

Golden Fries is one of Orléans most-loved food trucks. Voted as Ottawa’s Best Food Truck and Ottawa’s Best Poutine, Golden Fries main fare is a large variety of poutines, fries, onion rings, fish & chips, hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches and more! Oh and they also offer event catering alongside online ordering and delivery. Don’t miss some of the best poutine this side of Ottawa!

Read our full review of Golden Fries.

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

Local students and parents at St.Peter High School in Fallingbrook recently managed to collect over 20,000 food items and over $10,000 for their annual food drive in support of the Orléans-Cumberland Food Bank. Amazing work kids!