Hello ORLÉANS!
Welcome to the 70th edition of Orléans Connect. As always, welcome new subscribers! 👋
With the combination of 🥵 heat, thunderstorms, and forest fire smoke, we’re hoping everyone is staying safe this week. Weird fact: apparently wildfire smoke reduces severe storm threats. Who knew! 🤷♂️
Last week we polled readers about the Albert Family Halloween House 🎃 and that poll has become the single most voted on poll in the history of Orléans Connect with well over 300 votes and dozens of responses. We’ve included some of those below with the poll results. ⬇️ Thanks to everyone who took the time to write in, we love seeing how engaged our Orléans community is!
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And don’t miss this week’s poll ⬇️ - today we’re asking: Given today’s political and socio-economic climate, should the Government of Canada prioritize economic well-being 📈 over plans to reduce fossil-fuel extraction 🛢️ and programs designed to address climate change?
Here’s all the happenings in Orléans over the next 7 days…
A beautiful view of Petrie Island Marina and Petrie’s Landing Towers
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 16th - Sip & Stretch - Yoga and Wine at the Vineyard, from 7-8:30 PM! Join for a relaxing yoga flow to detoxify your mind and body in a peaceful setting, while sampling some locally grown wine.
📍Domaine Perrault, 1000 Perrault Rd, Navan
🎂 July 17th - The Orléans Legion is celebrating their 100th Birthday! Celebration on 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!
📍800 Taylor Creek Rd
🎶 July 17th - 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 17th - It’s Trivia Night at Taproom260 - from 8-10 PM. Challenging questions and awesome prizes!
📍260 Centrum Blvd
🏃🏾♀️July 18th - Join the Orléans Women’s Run Club at the NCC River House at 8 AM for warm-up. 5 KM run, all paces welcome. Post run, enjoy a coffee at the café with the group!
📍501 Sir George Etienne Cartier
🎾 July 18th - 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 18th - 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.
📍Cardinal Creek Park, 1825 Trim Rd
🎥 July 18th - It’s Community BBQ and Movie Night (The Mandalorian and Grogu) 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.
📍1485 Duford Dr
🌻July 19th - The next Original Navan Market is on 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.
📍1279 Colonial Rd
🎄July 19th - Christmas in July Outdoor Workshop Service at Orléans United Church at 10 AM. A costumed, comic-book-style nativity retelling outdoors - bring a lawn chair, hat and sunscreen. Donations welcome (school supplies, French books, outdoor toys, art supplies). Freezies and Joe Louis cakes afterwards.
📍1111 Orléans Blvd
🎨 July 19th - Paint Your Partner with Daisy & Doodle at Stray Dog Brewing Co. No experience necessary! Paint a portrait of your partner, pal, or neighbour and see who does better! $65/pair, includes materials and first drink. Starts at 7:30 PM.
📍501 Lacolle Way
🏇 July 22nd - Experience the elegance and athleticism of dressage at the Queenswood Dressage Show at Queenswood Stables! This exciting equestrian competition features riders and horses competing at levels from Beginner to Grand Prix, the highest level of the sport! Event is on from 9 AM - 4 PM. Experience Dressage - an Olympic discipline that showcases the harmony between horse and rider - and learn why dressage is often called “horse ballet”.
📍518 Smith Rd, Navan
🎟️ GET YOUR TICKETS NOW 🎟️
🎅🏻 The Frosted Shack is hosting Christmas in July Cookie Decorating Classes on July 24th and 25th, from 10 AM - 1 PM. Decorate 6 pre-baked sugar cookies with pre-filled icing bags, take home a window box, snack bar included. Ages 14+, limitted spots. Tickets $90/person. Email [email protected] to reserve your spaces. Located in Varsity.
👠 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 - Going FAST - get them while you can!
🍇 Sip & Shop in the Vines is coming to Domaine Perrault Winery in Navan, featuring The Charcuterie Society! Build your own individual charcuterie picnic box, sip through a guided 5-wine tasting, and shop local Ottawa vendors. On Thurs, July 30th, from 6-9 PM. Get your tickets now so you don’t miss out!
🗓️ SAVE THE DATES 🗓️
👶 On July 22nd, ABC Pediatric Therapies is hosting Babble Buddies Pop-Up Circle Time at That Café at 9 AM. Fun and interactive sessions, 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!
🏘️ Head out to Sugar Creek Way, Taffy Lane and Sugarbush Court to see what treasures you can find at the Neighbourhood Garage Sale! On Sat, July 25th, from 8 AM - 1 PM. Refreshments available in support of our two local food banks. There will also be a place to drop off donations for the food banks. Note: Taffy Lane closed to non-resident vehicles.
🎵🌳 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 Sat, 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 are investigating a home invasion in the 1700 block of Stoneboat Crescent. Three suspects entered the residence around 4 AM on July 9th and assaulted the occupants, with one victim taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. (CTV News)
🥵 Heat warning lifted in Ottawa as wildfire smoke dissipates. (CTV News)
🏠🔥 A massive two-alarm house fire broke out on Castle Pines Way resulting in two homes being completely destroyed.
🎃 Matt Luloff weighs in on the Albert Family Halloween House.
This week’s Orléans business spotlight is… 🥁 … Purls Fibre Boutique & Studio located at 20-1439 Youville Drive📍
Purls is an opening-soon (Summer 2026) modern yarn shop and studio featuring bold colour, inspiring materials and a space to slow down, create and connect. The owner, Melanie is looking to connect with artists, makers, educators, and facilitators who are interested in hosting workshops, classes, and creative experiences. So make sure to check out Purls - a modern take on the classic yarn shop.
As always, if you wind up visiting them, make sure to tell them Orléans Connect sent you.
Petrie Island is named for Captain Archibald Petrie, a retired Royal Navy purser and early Cumberland landowner who served as the area's Member of Parliament, reeve, councillor and justice of the peace, and who helped secure £4,000 to build the south-bank river road from Lachine to Bytown around 1850.
Many thanks to Natalie B. for submitting Pepper, a six-year-old Cockapoo who is the most adorable, loving, gentle and cuddly fur baby!
Submit a photo of your Orléans pet(s) by emailing it to: [email protected]
This 3-bedroom end-unit condominium is located in Chapel Hill and features a bright, open concept and 10-foot ceilings on the lower level and three generously sized bedrooms including a primary suite with a 3-piece ensuite and a separate storage locker. Check out the full listing here.
Photo courtesy of Royal Lepage Performance Realty & Realtor.ca
Given today’s political and socio-economic climate, should the Government of Canada prioritize economic well-being 📈 over plans to reduce fossil-fuel extraction 🛢️ and programs designed to address climate change?
Last week’s poll results: Should the Orléans 🎃 Halloween House be Forced to Comply with Bylaws?
🥇- A middle of the road compromise should be found - 87.8%
🥈- Yes, everyone should be forced to follow bylaws - 12.2%
Here are some comments from readers on last week’s poll:
As a neighbour I would not like all that additional traffic on my street. Since it has become that popular it could be moved to a park or non residential area allowing more of the community to get involved.
This is a short term inconvenience for these neighbours and years of joy to the Orleans Community, and significant charity contributions, it should be as is!
The goal shouldn't be to "shut it down." It should be to help it evolve in a way that respects both an exceptional community tradition and the rights of the surrounding neighbourhood. Sometimes the best solutions aren't found in choosing one side over another—they're found in bringing people together to create something even better than before.”
One grumpy neighbour complained and something like this gets shut down. What if someone complains about other fund raising events. Do we let everything be stopped by one complaint
Considering the approach the provincial government is taking in terms of completely underfunding healthcare services institutions like CHEO need all the help they can get in order to serve the children and youth of Ottawa and beyond.
Our friends had the same issue with a neighbour. They build a snowman every year for years. Then it happened bylaw said it had to come down. They also collect donations. A petition was filed and happy to say Mr snowman is still made each year!
