Hello ORLÉANS!

Welcome to the 76th edition of Orléans Connect. As always, welcome new subscribers! 👋

📚 Happy Back to School Orléans parents, grandparents, and guardians! 🎓

It’s hard to believe the summer has flown by so quickly, and yet here we are. Now if we could only get a bit more of that ☀️ sunny weather to squeeze out of the last few weeks of the season!

The next round of the 🐶 Cutest Pets of Orléans Contest 🐱 (which we launched 2 weeks ago), begins today, and you can vote below ⬇️ at the bottom of the newsletter for the new batch of contestants. Last week had some! incredibly close votes with a few pets only winning by 1 or 2 votes! We’ve now seen well over 2,000 votes come in. Thanks to everyone for weighing in!

You can view the updated brackets for Dogs and Cats here.

You can also vote on this week’s batch on Instagram and Facebook.

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Here’s what’s happening in Orléans:

Petrie’s Landing Towers

Here’s our roundup of upcoming events:

🎡 The annual Festival de montgolfières de Gatineau (Hot Air Balloon Festival) is on Sept 2nd-6th. Headliners include Simple Plan and Smash Mouth, alongside morning and evening hot air balloon launches, family activities and fun! Keep your eyes to the sky Orléans! Let’s hope the weather cooperates - it’s an incredible sight! Full schedule of activities. ☀️

🏃🏾‍♀️ Sept 3rd - Join the Orléans Women’s Run Club at That Café at 6:30 PM for a warm-up. 5 KM run, all paces welcome. Post run, enjoy the café.
📍3003 St Joseph Blvd
🎤 September 3rd - Friday Karaoke is on at Orléans Bowling and Striker’s Billiards, from 9:30 PM - 1 AM. Grab the mic, sing your favourites and soak in the retro vibes!
📍885 Taylor Creek Dr
🐶 September 5th - The Fetch Local Market is back, from 10 AM - 3 PM at Ray Friel Rec Complex. This dog-friendly outdoor market has something for everyone!
📍1585 Tenth Line Rd
🎶 September 5th - Live music Saturday at Broadhead Brewery with Paddy Paystub Outlaw Country, on from 2-
📍1680 Vimont
🫜 September 6th - The Heart of Orléans Market is on from 9:30 AM - 2 PM. With over 130 local vendors, enjoy cozy treats, unique goods and a welcoming fun atmosphere!
📍290 Centrum Blvd + gravel pad
📚 September 6th - Sunshine Little Free Library is celebrating it’s 2nd Anniversary with a Book Party! Swing by between 10 AM - 2 PM for a large selection of books, including Blind Date with a Book bundles, reading buddies for kids. There will also be a kid-run lemonade stand 🍋 and bake sale - all proceeds going to CHEO.
📍2027 Newcarlisle Cres
🫧 September 7th - Marsha’s Bubble Bash! Join for an afternoon filled with bubbles, games, snacks, music and more! Bring your own bubble toys and add to the fun! From 1-4 PM, hosted by the Chatelaine Village Community Association.
📍Marsha Park - 855 Lawnsberry Dr

🎟️ GET YOUR TICKETS NOW 🎟️

👠 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 7-10 PM. 🎟️Tickets $30. Get your tickets now!

🗓️ SAVE THE DATES 🗓️

🦻 Join for a FREE Hearing Clinic on Fri, Sept 11th from 9:30 AM - 4 PM at the Aline-Chrétien Health Hub. Learn more about hearing health, get a free hearing screening and have your questions answered!
😋 Orléans Ribfest and World of Poutine is on Sept 11-13th at 255 Centrum Blvd. New and expanded - with over 50 kinds of Poutine available, and multiple Award Winning Ribbers from Canada and the US. Don’t miss this special event!
🪇 Head to Aquaview Park for the 5th Orléans Multicultural Festival, on Sat, Sept 12th from 1-7 PM. There will be cultural and artistic performances, exhibitors form local small businesses and Orléans organizations, networking opportunities and so much more!
🎊 Stray Dog Brewing Company is hosting their 9th Anniversary Party on Sat, Sept 12th from 2 pm onwards. Enjoy a day filled with good friends, food and celebrating community! This year, they’re pairing up with their new neighbours Privé Spa, to help celebrate their grand opening as well!
🎵 Do you love to sing? Come try Barbershop! Ever wondered what it would be like to sing four-part harmony? Join Bytown Beat for New Members Night on Mon, Sept 14th from 6:30-8 PM! No previous barbershop experience needed. Meet a welcoming group of women who love to sing! No audition required.
🧘🏽‍♀️ Hatha Yoga and Meditation weekly free sessions hosted by the Greater Avalon Community Association starting Wed, Sept 16th from 7-8 PM at Alain-Fortin Catholic Elementary School.
🛠️ 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.
🏃 The Annual Orléans Terry Fox Run is on Sun, Sept 20th, at 8 AM at Cairine Wilson Secondary School.

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

🗞️ NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT: 🗞️

🛣️ The city of Ottawa says that they are getting close to handing over the responsibility of Highway 174 to the province in Ontario, something that was announced back in March of 2024. (CTV News)

🚔 Police caught a driver going 75km/h over the speed limit on Trim Road. (CityNews). The 20-year-old driver also had no insurance.

🚍 Orléans transit riders continue to be frustrated by lack of or unreliable service in our suburb, with the continual LRT delays (originally scheduled to open in 2022) compounding the problem. (Ottawa Lookout)

🥞NOW OPEN! Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House have a location in Orléans at 3712 Innes Rd, opening soon!

📡 An interesting comparison of suburb growth between Kanata and Orléans.

Photo credit: Groomer’s Touch.

This week’s Orléans business spotlight is… 🥁 … Groomer’s Touch.

Groomer’s Touch has been providing top-notch dog grooming in Ottawa for over 12 years, ensuring your pets look and feel their best. They treat every pet with the care they deserve. Their facility is designed to be comfortable and stress-free, not just for your pet but also for you. With longer grooming appointments to ensure quality care, Groomer’s Touch creates an environment where your pet can relax and enjoy their grooming experience.

Groomer’s Touch is also a sponsor of the Cutest Pets of Orléans Contest in which they are giving away 6 (six) $15 gift certificates for dog grooming to our 5th to 10th place dog category winners!

Make sure to check out their website, Instagram, and Facebook, and if you wind up visiting them, make sure to tell them that Orléans Connect sent you.

This 2 bedroom and 2 bathroom townhouse features roughly 1100 sq.ft. and is located in the Convent Glen North neighbourhood and offers a bright, functional layout designed for comfortable living. The stylish kitchen is finished with elegant granite countertops, modern cabinetry, and ample workspace.

Check out the full listing here.