Hello ORLÉANS!

Welcome to the 62nd edition of Orléans Connect. As always, welcome new subscribers! 👋

Well, the first real 🥵 hot days of the year have arrived, and frankly, we’re here for it, even though it also usually brings a small wave of 🐜 ants that try to setup shop in our kitchen. And from browsing the local community groups and the Orléans subreddit, we’re not alone in this fine annual experience. Now it’s time to figure out whether that old A/C unit will make it through one more summer. Wish us luck, we’re going to need it! 🤣

Although it’s clearly moved into the old Pizza Hut location on St. Joseph Blvd, this week’s food spot review features a new (to Orléans)🍦 dessert spot 🍨 that is already seeing big crowds! Read the full review. 👀

As always, don’t miss this week’s poll ⬇️ - today we’re asking: What is the best ⛹️‍♂️ Physiotherapy Clinic in Orléans?

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

Here’s our roundup of upcoming events:

🎤 May 22nd - It’s Karaoke Night at the Orléans Legion! On from 7-11 PM. Grab the mic and let your inner superstar shine!
📍800 Taylor Creek Dr
❓May 22nd - It’s Trivia Night from 8-10 PM at Taproom260. This epic trivia night promises challenging questions, laughs and the chance to win some awesome prizes!
📍260 Centrum Blvd
🎤 May 22nd - 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 23rd - It’s Orléans Blooms, from 9 AM - 3 PM at St Helen’s Church. This annual event is presented by the Kin Club of Orléans. There will be lots of Canadian-grown plants, including annuals, vegetables and specialty varieties to kick off your gardening season! Browse local vendors, and enjoy gardening talks from local experts. There’ll be prizes, a kids area with hands-on activities and a BBQ!
📍1234 Prestone Dr
🌳 May 23rd - Cardinal Creek Community Association is hosting a Tree Planting event, from 9-11 AM. Meet at the Cardinal Creek Trail Head
📍End of Caprihani Way (off Springridge Dr)
🧩 May 23rd - Puzzle Sale - presented by the Orleans Area Puzzle Group. On from 10 AM - 2 PM - Navan Curling Club. New, Gently Used Puzzles and more! All proceeds go to the Orléans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre.
📍1305 Fairgreen Ave, Navan
🌿 May 23rd - Join this gathering to Remove Invasive Species (buckthorn) from the forest between Harlequin Cres and 10th Line Road. Starts at 10 AM. Tools will be provided, but additional loppers, pruning shears or branch saws are welcome. No experience necessary. Dress for working in the woods.
🧘‍♀️May 23rd - Looking for practical ways to support your health and well-being? Head over to Physio Sport Plus for Restoring Balance in Your Body -a complimentary wellness experience! French presentation 10 - 11:15 AM, English presentation 11:30 AM - 1 PM. Healthy refreshments included. Registration required, call 613-830-4806.
📍1 - 1190 Place d’Orléans Dr
🎶 May 23rd - Spend your Saturday afternoon enjoying a Celtic Jam Session at the Orléans Legion! From 2-5 PM, bring your musical instruments and spend a fun afternoon with friends!
📍800 Taylor Creek Dr
💬 May 23rd - Bob Bell is running for city council in Ward 1, and you're invited to come hear his vision, enjoy food and drink, and have conversations with the candidate. On from 6-8 PM at Stray Dog Brewing
📍501 Lacolle Way, Suite 4
🏘️ May 24th - Community Yard Sale on from 9 AM - 2 PM. Multiple families participating!
📍Stojko St and Senateaurs Way
🌻 May 24th - The Original Navan Market is back for another season! This highly popular local market is on from 9:30 AM-2:30 PM at the Navan Fairgrounds. You don’t want to miss it!
📍1279 Colonial Road
🍻 May 24th - Head over to Stray Dog Brewing Company for Cornhole! From 12-5 PM (registration at 11:30 AM), $10/person - cash only. Register online in advance.
📍501 Lacolle Way, Suite 4
📖 May 24th - Learn the basics of bookbinding at this Introduction to Bookbinding workshop! Participants will learn beginner-friendly techniques in creating a functional and artistic notebook. Everyone will go home with a tangible creation! Workshop from 1-5 PM at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum. Advanced registration required, ages 16 and up.
📍2940 Old Montreal Road
🧠 May 26th - It’s Tuesday Trivia at Broadhead - fun starts at 6:30 PM. No reservations required.
📍1680 Vimont

🎶 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! 🗓️

🍦Merry Dairy Ice Cream Truck Fundraiser for Our Lady of Wisdom School on Fri, May 29th from 3-4:30 PM. All funds raised will help support the goal of getting a brand new play structure!
🏡 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: 🗞️

🛩️ Remembering Convent Glen’s air disaster 70 years later. (Orléans Star)

🩺 Are you looking for a doctor in Orléans? Dr. Ogunbanjo is accepting new patients! (Centrum Pharmacy, Facebook page)

🕌 Masjid Bilal launches an initiative to collect 100 kg of food in 10 days. The goal is to encourage small daily contributions from community members to support local food assistance efforts and those in need. (Halal Ottawa, Facebook page)

This week’s Orléans business spotlight is… 🥁 … Kawartha Dairy located at 2311 St Joseph Blvd.📍

Kawartha Dairy is a 100% Canadian owned company whose beginnings go all the way back to 1936. Now they have a presence in a brand new location right here in Orléans. From 32 different ice cream flavours to milk, cream, butter, and other dairy products, Kawartha Dairy is a place you’ll be coming back to more than once this summer, as they serve some of the finest ice cream in our not-so-little suburb.

Read our full review of Kawartha Dairy.

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

Here is what Orléans South-Navan Councillor Katherine Kitts had to say about the new retail development coming to South Orléans we mentioned in last week’s edition of the newsletter. Source: Ottawa Lookout

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“With this development, I was pleased to see that there was a commercial component at a corner where there’s not really anything close by that people can walk to,” said Kitts. “We don’t know who the grocer is going to be yet, but it also looks like some spaces for restaurant-type amenities, perhaps a cafe.”