Hello ORLÉANS!

Welcome to the 73rd edition of Orléans Connect. As always, welcome new subscribers! 👋

What would another week in Orléans be without another tornado 🌪️ warning? And if you’re thinking this summer has been rather wet, you’re not wrong. According to Environment Canada, this summer has been the wettest ever recorded 🌧️ in Ottawa, and we still have 40 days of summer left! 44% of all days between June 1st and Aug 11th have featured rain.

As we approach the second half of August, we’re rapidly getting into the dog days of summer, and speaking of dogs, and cats for that matter, we are officially launching our Cutest Pets of Orléans Contest next week. Over $1,500 of prizes will be up for grabs from our generous sponsors which we’ll be revealing next week. Round 1 of voting also begins next week in a bracket-style contest.

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

Lalande Conservation Park and surrounding area

WEEKLY RECURRING EVENTS

Check out the weekly recurring events 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:

🪄 August 13th - Boston Pizza Orléans is hosting Harry Potter Trivia Night at 6:30 PM. Dust off your robes and grab your broomsticks! Email [email protected] to reserve a ticket.
📍3884 Innes Rd
🎶 August 13th - Orléans Unplugged, a free outdoor music series bringing local talent, community vibes and laid-back Friday evenings from 6-8 PM. On this week: Erica Brighthill.
📍Orléans Town Centre Courtyard - 250 Centrum Blvd
🎤 August 14th - Summer Dance Nights at the Orléans Legion! On from 7-11 PM. Great music, good company, cold drinks, and a dance floor waiting for you.
📍800 Taylor Creek Rd
🎶 August 14th - It’s Trivia Night at Taproom260 - hosted by Outside the box Trivia. On from 8-10 PM.
📍260 Centrum Blvd
🎨 August 14th - Abundance A’Bunting at The Niche - an evening of textile creativity where you can make your own flag for a community bunting installation. Drop in from 5-8 PM.
📍1439 Youville Dr (The Niche Gallery and Creative Stir Cafe)
🎇 August 14th - Canada Day Take 2! - Since Canada Day was a bit of a washout, this event will be featuring fireworks and DJ Animal spinning the hits! Fireworks launch at 9:15 PM - bring your family and friends and wear your red and white.
📍 813 Shefford Road
☀️ August 15th - The Greater Avalon Community Association (GACA) is hosting their Annual Summer Fest from 10 AM - 2 PM. Bring the family for a fun-filled day featuring inflatables, community fun and summer vibes. Celebrate Ottawa’s 200th Anniversary with your neighbours!
📍318 Aquaview Dr
August 15th - Art and Souls Events: More Than a Market - 50+ local makers and artisans, bilingual live magic show (11 AM), free kids lawn games, farm animals and historical grounds to explore. Pick up a $5 savings Passport at the entrance to unlock $60+ in vendor discounts. Proceeds go to the Orléans-Cumberland Food Bank. 10 AM - 3 PM.
📍Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, 2940 Old Montreal Rd
♻️ August 15th - Electronics Recycling Drive hosted by Junk That Funk. This drive-thru drop-off event is for anything that plugs in or runs on batteries, from 10 AM - 4 PM
📍Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex, back parking lot
🌿 August 15th - It’s the 24th Annual Dapo Fun Day, from 12-6 PM at Blackburn Community Hall. BBQ, raffles, sports, live music and more! Hosted in memory of Dapo Agoro.
📍290 Glen Dr
🫜 August 15th - The very FIRST Heart of Orléans Night Market & Movie Night is on, from 6-10 PM! Tons of your favourite local vendors will be there, including lots of food and drink options. Market will be in the gravel pad area.
- 👢The Navan Boot Scootin’ Line Dancing will be offering a 45-min class (starting at 7 PM), followed by 45-mins of just dancing.
- 🎥 The movie (Footloose!) will be showing in the courtyard area (between Taproom260 and Mexis), beginning between 9-9:15 PM. Bring your own chair.
  📍290 Centrum Blvd
🐶🐱 August 15th - Community Alley Trappers and Ren’s Pets are hosting a fundraising nail trim event. Dogs, cats & bunnies welcome. New items available to purchase including t-shirts, pet-themed gifts, handmade items and more! 11 AM - 3:30 PM.
📍4130 Innes Road
🏃🏾‍♀️ August 16th - Join the Orléans Women’s Run Club at Creative Stir Cafe at 8 AM for warm-up. 5 KM run, all paces welcome. Post run, enjoy a coffee at the café with the group!
📍1439 Youville Dr
👠 August 16th - It’s Drag Brunch at Taproom260, from 1-4 PM. Doors open at 12:30 PM. Hosted by Sunshine Glitter Child (the roller-skating disco diva) and Saltina Shaker (from Canada’s Drag Race Season 6!) 🎟️Tickets $30. Get your tickets while you can - they’re selling out quickly!
📍260 Centrum Blvd
🗣️ August 19th - Have your say in shaping the future of Centrum Blvd! Learn more about the Centrum Blvd Public Realm Plan. The City of Ottawa is hosting a Virtual Public Information session from 7-9 PM on Zoom, and wants to hear from you - Register Here.

🎟️ GET YOUR TICKETS NOW 🎟️

😂 Abbas Wahab: Dialed-In Tour is coming to Shenkman Arts Centre on August 22nd - two showtimes: 7 PM and 9:30 PM. This stand-up comedy show features Abbas Wahab, New York-based, Canadian comedian known for his viral “job interview” and “automotive marketing” parody series and his role in M. Night Shaymalan’s TRAP. Ages 16+. 🎟️ Tickets $38.99.
👠 Drag Night is back at Broadhead Brewery, on Sat, Sept 12th. Hosted by Kiki Coe with YETI, Omari B Johnson and Aish, featuring fabulous outfits and non-stop entertainment. Doors 6:30 PM, show 7-8 PM. 🎟️Tickets $30. Get your tickets now!
🎶 Seven Drunken Nights: The Story of the Dubliners is coming to the Shenkman Arts Centre Sept 22nd to 23rd. With breathtaking performances and authentic Irish spirit, this show spans over 50 years, commemorating The Story of the Dubliners for a night of great music, and a celebration of the band that influenced many generations of Irish music.

🗓️ SAVE THE DATES 🗓️

🎶 Queenswood Heights Music Festival is on Sat, Aug 22nd - a free family-friendly day of live music, an artisan market, community BBQ and a Family Fun Zone, from 10 AM - 4 PM at Queenswood Ridge Park.
🎥 Cardinal Creek Community Association is hosting Movie Night in the Park (Zootopia 2!) at Glandriel Park on Sat, Aug 22nd at 7 PM.
💃 Wrap up summer with the Orléans Cookout - a day party, block party, dance party and cookout to celebrate summertime, on Sun, Aug 23rd.
🛠️ Have some items that need repairs? The Convent Glen Orléans Wood Community Association’s Environment Committee is hosting a Repair Cafe on Sat, Sept 19th from 2-5 PM at Orléans United Church.

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

🗞️ NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT: 🗞️

🗳️ Candidate nominations for the Oct 26th Ottawa municipal election close Aug 21st. The three Orléans Wards are worth watching as the field finalizes over the next week and a half.

⚾ The Orléans Lacroix Sports Fastpitch Legends are currently competing in the LSC World Championship - the biggest fast-pitch tournament in the world from August 8th-15th! You can watch the games on the Softball Premier TV YouTube channel.

🚴 Local resident Chris Robidoux has been cycling throughout the east end of Ottawa to raise money for the SickKids Foundation. This August, he’s taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge, planning to ride 300 kms, and raising funds to support the efforts to develop treatments and find a cure for childhood cancer. Please consider supporting his efforts!

🚊 On our drive back from vacation on Monday, we spotted the O-Train line running train cars near Trim Station! Perhaps formal testing will actually begin soon on the East extension?

🚉 And speaking of the O-Train, flooding damage to the O-Train Moodie Station is a “disaster” from the July 1st storm and may further delay the opening of the West extension. Our question… with extreme weather events becoming more common as a result of climate change, how should planners and builders of infrastructure like this adjust?

🚲 Have you seen this fat tire e-bike in black and tan with a sticker on the battery of a club penguin saying eat the rich? It’s been stolen and the owner would love to track it down.

Photo credit: Douris Orléans Dojo Google Listing

This week’s Orléans business spotlight is… 🥁 … Douvris Orléans Dojo located at 📍511 Lacolle Way

Douvris is a welcoming space where students of all ages build discipline, and lifelong skills. This martial arts studio offers the chance to train with black belt instructors who are dedicated to your personal growth and success. But that’s not all, you can connect with like-minded members who will motivate and inspire you every step of your journey as you build confidence, strength through time-tested martial arts programs.

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

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

Many thanks to Commie G. for submitting Annie, a little Shih Tzu you might find on their daily morning walk around the Chateauneuf area for at least an hour every morning! Sometimes she gets put in dirty paws jail afterwards.

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

This eQ Homes Piper II offers 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and 2,700 sq.ft. on a premium corner lot and features amazing curb appeal. And if you’re the type that doesn’t like walking into a freezing garage, the fully insulated and heated garage is just what you’ve been looking for. Check out the full listing here.