Hello ORLÉANS!

Welcome to the 69th edition of Orléans Connect. As always, welcome new subscribers! 👋

A bit of controversy is brewing in Orléans this week as a long-standing, beloved community staple: the Albert Halloween House, which the Albert family estimates has raised over $100,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) over the last 26 years, is at risk of shutting down. A neighbour has filed a complaint with Ottawa Bylaw, sparking widespread disappointment and debate across local community groups this week. A petition to save the Albert Family Halloween House has been started, with over 2,500 signatures in just a few days.

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Don’t miss this week’s poll ⬇️ - today we’re asking: Should the Orléans 🎃 Halloween House be forced to comply with the bylaws or should the city of Ottawa Bylaw enforcement find a compromise given the track record of raising tens of thousands of dollars for CHEO?

Here’s all the happenings in Orléans over the next 7 days…

Orléans from Above near the Trio Apartments

WEEKLY RECURRING EVENTS

There is so much going on in Orléans, we’re keeping the weekly recurring events up to date on this page: Weekly Orléans Events! From live music, to outdoor yoga, to markets, to bingo and trivia, Orléans really isn’t a sleepy suburb at all.

Here’s our roundup of upcoming events:

🎶 July 10th - Orléans Unplugged, a free outdoor music series bringing local talent, community vibes and laid-back summer evenings! On from 6-8 PM.
📍Orléans Town Centre Courtyard - 250 Centrum Blvd
🧠 July 10th - It’s Musical Bingo at Taproom260 - from 8:30-10 PM. 80s and 90s music - no pens, no trivia questions, just your favourite songs, cold drinks and good vibes! And some awesome prizes!
📍260 Centrum Blvd
🎾 July 11th - Ready to try Tennis? The Orléans Tennis and Pickelball Club is hosting their Adult Red Ball Weekly Tennis on Saturday mornings from 9-10 AM. Sign up today!
📍1257 Joseph Drouin Ave
⚽ July 11th - Free Women’s 30+ Recreational Soccer Scrimmages! If you’re looking for a fun, welcoming group to play soccer with, join for these 9v9 scrimmages, on from 9:30-11 AM, every Saturday. All skill levels welcome! Download the BenchApp and join the group using the team code: PR20JS to Sign-Up. 24 players can be accommodated each week, so sign up early!
📍Cardinal Creek Park, 1825 Trim Rd
🌭 July 11th (rain date is the 12th) - The Chatelaine Village Community Association is hosting a Community BBQ at Big Bird Park from 11am-3pm. Free food provided by our Councillor Matt Lulloff (with plant-based and gluten-free options) and cooked by the Lions Club. Fun activities for the family and treats for furry friends provided by Priority Pet Boarding Services! Please RSVP via Facebook event page or email to support planning.
📍854 Tamarisk Ct
⚽ July 11th - A new local business is starting up and hosting a free session! Mini Strikers Soccer Program is offering a free session from 11 AM - 12 PM for kids ages 1.5 - 5 years old. Register here.
🐕 July 11th - The Fetch Local Market is back, this time, it’s a Night Market, from 4-9 PM, at Ray Friel Rec. Complex. Grab dinner, stay a while and explore what the 40+ local businesses have to offer!
- 🎥 Check out our recent reel to explore a bag of swag from this amazing market 👀
📍1585 Tenth Line Rd
🏃🏾‍♀️July 12th - Orléans Women’s Run Club - meet up at Beyond Café at 8 AM in the parking lot for warm-up. 5 KM run, all paces welcome. Post run, enjoy a coffee at the café with the group!
📍2107 St Joseph Blvd
🛞 July 12th - The Vintage Vehicle Experience is on at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, from 10 AM - 3 PM. Explore the rapid design and mechanical advancements made during the earliest years of the automotive era! See partially restored, restored, and un-restored pre-1940 vehicles up close. Discover how Ford Model T and Model A cars transformed over the 20s and 30s. Chat with car owners and ask questions about their vehicles. Check out the Car Games, and so much more!
📍2940 Old Montreal Rd, Cumberland
🧘‍♀️ July 15th - Weekly Outdoor Yoga gets started! Two different locations:
- 🪷 Hatha Yoga and Meditation: 6:30-7:30 PM📍l’école Élémentaire de la Découverte (866 Scala Ave), outdoor school yard. Registration not required. Hosted by the Greater Avalon Community Association.
- 🧘‍♂️ Yoga in the Park: 7-8 PM 📍Décarie Park (7883 Décarie Dr). Registration not required. Hosted by Convent Glen Orléans Wood Community Association. They are looking for volunteers to support this event - send an email to [email protected] if you’re interested.

🎟️ GET YOUR TICKETS NOW 🎟️

👠 Summer is in full swing and things are heating up with another edition of Drag Bingo Brunch on Sun, July 26th at Broadhead Brewery. Doors open at 12:30 PM, show on from 1-4 PM. 🎟️ Tickets $30/person - get them soon before they sell out!

🗓️ SAVE THE DATES 🗓️

🎂 The Orléans Legion is celebrating their 100th Birthday! Celebration on Fri, July 17th from 11 AM - 11 PM! Lunch and dinner will be served, remarks from the Branch President and special guests, live music from 7-11 PM with Snap, Crackle, Pop, and more!
🎥 It’s Community BBQ and Movie Night (The Mandalorian and Grogu) on July 18th at 8 PM, hosted by the Queenswood Heights Community Association, at the Bob Monette Community Centre. Free admission, all are welcome! BBQ hot dogs, popcorn, candy and drinks available for purchase.
🌻The next Original Navan Market is on Sun, July 19th from 9:30 AM - 2 PM. 220+ local vendors, delicious food and drinks, live entertainment, family fun zone and youth entrepreneurs! This open air market is free to attend and has lots of free parking.
👶 On July 22nd, ABC Pediatric Therapies is hosting Babble Buddies Pop-Up Circle Time at That Café at 9 AM. These fun and interactive sessions are designed for babies and toddlers along with their parent/caregiver and focus on early communication, movement & music, play-based interaction, songs, books and routines and supporting adult-child connections. Spaces limited, register today!
🎵🌳 A brand new special event is coming to Orléans! It’s Music in the Woods, a special event including live music, kids zone, and a wide variety of food and drink options. This event is on July 25th, from 1-7 PM. People are encouraged to take active transport - walk or bike along the scenic Ottawa River pathway to get to the event. Hosted by the Convent Glen Orléans Wood Community Association at Roy G Hobbs Community Centre.

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

🗞️ NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT: 🗞️

🚔 Ottawa Police have released a composite image of the suspect in a sexual assault at Heritage Dog Park in Orléans. (CTV News)

📰 The Orléans Star has changed to a hybrid distribution model - now using Canada Post and a list of locations in and around Orléans where you can pick up a copy. (Orléans Star)

🌧️ The city is still dealing with damage and recovery efforts after last week’s Canada Day storm. (CityNews). Our thoughts are with the countless people who experienced severe flooding to their homes or other property damage or disruptions due to the storm. Check out this video by Cody of the extent of the damage in Crystal Beach.

🚒 1 Person rescued from fire in Orléans on Castle Pines Way. (CTV News)

💧 The Chatelaine Villages Community Association is hosting a Rain Barrel Fundraiser. The Committee cares deeply about the environment, and rain barrels are a fantastic way to decrease storm water runoff into the river, and at the same time, save home owners money on their water bills! There are also possible rebates available because we are a priority area for Ottawa’s Rain Ready Program (please note that rebates are not guaranteed and home owners have to apply). The proceeds will be used to cover costs of their community events, such as the removal of invasive species project, pumpkin walk, Greater Orléans Garage Sale and Community BBQ. These events are offered to the community at no cost and open to everyone. Learn more here.

This week’s Orléans business spotlight is… 🥁 … Mer Bleue Veterinary Hospital located at 2006 Mer Bleue Road, Unit G6📍

Mer Bleue Veterinary Hospital is a local vet where you can trust that your pets will be treated as beloved animal companions. They also happen to be our vet for our two 🐱 cats: Nova and Cooper. We’ve had nothing but incredible experiences here with the staff and veterinarians and they were incredibly compassionate when we had to say goodbye to our senior cat Peanut last year.

And…Mer Bleue Veterinary Hospital have agreed to come on board as a sponsor of our upcoming Cutest Pets of Orléans contest.

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

Jean-Baptiste Duford (1830s) ran a farm/blacksmith shop on land that was still owned by his family until 1957; that land today contains Place d’Orléans and the Shenkman Arts Centre.

Many thanks to Nick B. for submitting Penny, a three-year-old Mini Schnauzer who lives in the Avalon area of Orléans.

Submit a photo of your Orléans pet(s) by emailing it to: [email protected]

This beautifully upgraded home features over $250,000 in premium upgrades and boasts a unique architectural style with hardwood flooring, a chef-inspired kitchen, and luxurious touches throughout the home. Check out the full listing here.