Edition no.8
Hello ORLÉANS!
Welcome to the 8th edition of Orléans Connect. Happy May 1st!
Markets, garage sales, job fairs… there’s a lot going in the next 7 days or so, but before we get to this week’s events…
The federal election is behind us, 🗳️so let’s look at some of the stats coming out of Elections Canada:
68.7% of eligible voters cast a ballot
That’s the largest turnout since the 1993 federal election which saw 69.6% of eligible voters cast a ballot.
The all-time record for turn-out was in 1958, when a whopping 79.4% of Canadians voted. 🤯 That election was between Prime Minister John Diefenbaker and Lester B. Pearson, in which Diefenbaker’s conservative minority transformed into the largest majority government in Canadian history.
And how about that 🌩️ thunderstorm the other day? I guess that signals the real start of Spring… let’s just avoid any of those pesky 🌪️ tornadoes shall we?
LOCAL MARKET GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY
🐶 🛍️ We’ve teamed up with the folks at FETCH LOCAL MARKETS to give away TWO $25 Gift Cards to their markets.
What is Fetch Local Markets? Fetch Local Markets is all about the Orléans community: dog-friendly fun, amazing local makers and vendors and generally good vibes. They launch their season on May 10th with the first market at Shenkman Arts Centre.
How to enter the giveaway: Follow Orléans Connect on Instagram or Facebook AND Fetch Local Markets on Instagram. Tag a friend in the comments on this INSTAGRAM POST. Each tag = one entry.
⏰ Contest open until May 5th at Midnight.
📣Winners will be announced May 6th!
A few more points of order:
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🦮 PETS OF ORLÉANS
Thank you once again to those who have already sent in photos of their fur babies. This week we’ve got our first reader-submitted pet. And if you haven’t yet submitted yours… you can submit a photo of your Orléans pet(s) by emailing it to: [email protected] and make sure to include the name of your pet(s).
Finally, this week, we’ve got our 4th 🍔 Orléans Food Spot 🍺 review. make sure to give that a read below. ⬇️
The post-storm skies are back. Let the turbulent spring weather begin!
Are you looking for things to do in Orléans? Here’s our latest roundup of upcoming events:
Friday May 2nd:
🎙️ Clean jokes, big laughs! Head over to Taproom260 for Clean 6 Comedy. Hear from six rising comics. Free admission, all ages. Reservation required (call or book online). 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
📍Taproom260, 260 Centrum Blvd.
🎶The Cumberland Community Singers presents “Show Tunes” at the Orléans United Church. CCS will share a selection of show tunes from popular shows, such as Joseph and the Technicolor DreamCoat, The Sound of Music State Fair, among others. Tickets can be purchased in advance online for $20, or $25 at the door. 🕢 7:30 PM
📍Orléans United Church, 1111 Orléans Blvd.
🇲🇽 Celebrate Cinco de Mayo a bit early with a Mexican Fiesta at the Legion Branch 632 in Orléans. Enjoy a Mexican dinner from 5 PM - 7 PM for $30 (cash only), and/or join for the evening event featuring music, drinks and food from 7 PM onwards.
📍800 Taylor Creek Dr.
🇮🇳 Friday May 2nd and Saturday May 3rd - Head over to Shenkman Arts Centre to experience ArohaFest’s Spring Edition! This is Canada’s only bilingual festival celebrating the rich arts and culture of India. The festival offers free events, including classical Indian dance performances, henna painting, a Rangoli community mural, a visual arts exhibit, Yoga, Bhangra and Garba workshops, as well as a Bollywood & Garba dance party!
📍Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd.
🚌🚏Saturday May 3rd and Sunday May 4th - Take a ride on OC Transpo for FREE! OC Transpo is offering a free service weekend aboard all buses, train and Para Transportation! OC Transpo has experienced a number of changes this year, including recently launched ‘New Ways to Bus’ and the O-Train Lines 2 and 4. Check out the changes at no charge! Plan your trip and learn about some events happening around the city.
🛍️ Saturday May 3rd - two markets to explore:
🧑🌾 Cumberland Farmers’ Market: Spring Market is on from 9 AM - 3 PM There will be 85 local farmers and vendors offering fresh produce, baked goods, handmade crafts, and more! Dogs are welcome (as long as they are well-mannered and on a leash).
📍Cumberland Arena 1115 Dunning Rd.
🏫 Forest Valley Spring Market is on from 10 AM - 3PM. All proceeds go to the Forest Valley Elementary School Council to support extracurriculars and student learning. There will be 40 local vendors, a raffle, bake sale, a fire truck and two food trucks (TNT Food Truck and the Merry Dairy)!
📍1570 Forest Valley Drive
🌷Sunday May 4th - Head over to Broadhead Brewery for the Hello Spring Makers Market, from 11 AM - 4 PM. There will be 40+ vendors inside and outside for your browsing needs! There will be live music, 12+ beer varieties to sip on while you browse and a full lunch menu from Meatings BBQ! Free parking and free admission. Please bring a donation and non-perishable food items to support the Orléans Cumberland Community Resource Centre.
📍Broadhead Brewery, 1680 Vimont Court
📋 Wednesday May 7th - Job Fair hosted by the YMCA in collaboration with the Heart of Orléans. Head over to Place d’Orléans Shopping Centre for an exciting opportunity to meet with local employers and explore a wide range of job openings in fields such as services, trades, the public sector, healthcare, and more. This event is open to all, with no fee to participate. Simply register, bring your CV, and be prepared for potential on-the-spot interviews. Whether you're looking for your next career move or just exploring opportunities, this is the perfect event to connect with employers in your community!
📍110 Place d’Orléans Dr.
Saturday May 10th
💝 Mother's Day Tea to celebrate the special people! All are welcome including men, women and children. This is the main fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Orléans and all proceeds will support local and international projects. Get your tickets online. 12 PM - 2 PM
📍Paroisse St-Joseph d’Orléans, 2757 Saint Joseph Blvd.
🪻Head over to Shenkman Arts Centre for the May Blossoms Market from 10 AM - 3 PM. This is a dog-friendly, community-focused market that partners with local rescues to support small businesses and creators. Over 35 amazing local vendors - come kick off another amazing season!
📍Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd.
🌸 The Orléans Legion will be hosting their Spring Vendors Market from 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM. There will be a gift basket raffle to raise funds for the legion. Breakfast will be served from 8 AM - 1 PM (cash payment only).
📍800 Taylor Creek
🪴 Sunday May 11th - It’s time for Plantopia 2025, in support of Slay Society from 10 AM - 3 PM. Join for plant shopping, beer sipping, and good vibes for the our 5th annual Plantopia! This signature plant and craft market features local artisans and businesses, a raffle, silent auction, live entertainment, featured gardening booths, bouncy castle and more! Support local shops, plan your spring garden herbs and veggies and load up tropical plants to get your home ready for summer, both inside and out! All proceeds from plants, raffle and auction go directly to support glioblastoma caregivers. 🩶
📍Broadhead Brewery, 1680 Vimont Court
🚲 Every Sunday morning: Orléans Pedal and Play - a fun weekly family-oriented community bike ride, hosted by the Convent Glen Orléans Wood Community Association. RSVP here. 10 AM - 11:30 AM Kick off and meet at Des Voyageurs School Parking Lot
🏘️ GARAGE SALE ROUNDUP 🏘️
Multiple community garage and yard sales are coming up in May! Save the dates 🗓️ And, if you live in any of these neighbourhoods and want to participate, get your address on their map to maximize visitors:
🏘️ Saturday May 3rd - Blackburn Hamlet’s Community Garage Sale will happen, rain or shine, from 8 am to 2 pm. Hamlet residents do not need to register or sign up – simply put out a table and join in!
🏘️ Saturday May 24th, starting at 8 a.m. (weather permitting, rain date TBD). BECA Multi-Home Multi-Community Yard Sale. Includes all streets north and south of Renaud Road, in the neighbourhoods of Bradley Estates, Spring Valley, Eastboro, Trailsedge and in Chapel Hill South: all streets north and south of Orléans Blvd.
🏘️ Saturday May 31st, starting at 8 a.m. Queenswood Heights is hosting their 3rd Annual Garage Sale. Last year the turnout was amazing with over 70 homes participating! Check out the map online, which will be updated weekly.
Do you have an event you want to see featured here? Let us know!
📰 News you should know about…
🗳️ Results of the recent federal election are in, and the Liberals swept the east end ridings. (The Orléans Star)
👏Congratulations and thank you to all of local candidates who put their names forward and engaged in the race, and to incumbent MP Marie-France Lalonde, who will continue to represent the Orléans community in the House of Commons!
Get your tickets now! Ottawa School of Theatre presents Anne of Green Gables on stage at Shenkman Arts Centre. Join the tale of Anne Shirley, adapted from the novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery, as she arrives in Prince Edward Island as an unwanted orphan and finds a new home, while bringing joy and beauty to those around her. 🗓️ June 6 - June 8th 🎟️ Tickets are $22.50 for adults and $12.50 for ages 25 and under.
🚘🚌🚙 Do you have frustrations around congestion and traffic? 🚘🚌🚙
The City of Ottawa has launched their final phase of community consultation on the Transportation Master Plan’s Capital Infrastructure Plan. Our community has seen some rapid growth in recent years, and investment in infrastructure to support our community is critical. Now’s your chance to have your say! If you have frustrations around congestion, suggestions about proposed infrastructure improvements or any other feedback you want to provide about the experience of getting around in your community there are a couple of ways you can engage:
🗳️Surveys are available where you can have your say (available until May 12th), and these surveys are available in English, French, Arabic, Simplified Chinese and Spanish. Learn more and access the surveys here.
💻 Virtual Meeting on Monday, May 5th from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Register here.
🚲Speaking of transportation, do you love to cycle, and wish to see better cycling infrastructure here in Orléans? Maybe you’d like to connect with other cycling enthusiasts in the neighbourhood? Explore Bike Ottawa for wonderful cycling resources, including cycling maps and route planners, and check out this recent Orléans focused cycling newsletter.
Which Orléans Community Do YOU Belong To?
💗 Orléans has numerous Community Associations, and they do some tremendous work at the super local community level. These groups are supported by volunteers, and they organize and host different community-based events, share information about the neighbourhood and discuss local issues. Do you engage with yours? If you don’t, or maybe didn’t even realize these Associations exist, we’ve rounded up links to help you explore:
What a great way to get engaged in your local neighbourhood, and get to know others nearby!
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT 🔦
This week’s Orléans business spotlight is…. 🥁 …. THE WORKS - Located at 900 Watters Rd.
This burger and beer spot will have your mouth watering with a selection of over 30 different types of burgers to choose from while you’re surrounded by an ambience of an industrial setting. It’s a great restaurant to bring younger kids to.
We visited the Orléans location of “The Works” a week ago and it’s the subject of our fourth Orléans Food Spot Review which you can read here. 🔗
If you haven’t discovered this burger spot yet, make sure to drop by for a visit and tell them Orléans Connect sent you.
The households of Dupuis, Besserer, Major, Duford, and Vézina ranked among the earliest French-speaking settlers of Orléans. Several anglophone families, including the Kennys and the McNeelys, established their residences in Orléans very close to its initial formation as a small town as well.
Thanks to Judy M. for sending us this photo of her adorable dog, aptly named, Raven.
Submit a photo of your Orléans pet(s) by emailing it to: [email protected]
❓POLL OF THE WEEK…
Which part of the Orléans summer season are you most looking forward to? |
