Hello ORLÉANS!
Welcome to the 81st edition of Orléans Connect. As always, welcome new subscribers! 👋
A lot of news and events this week, so make sure to scroll down and check all of that out below.
🚁 Also make sure to check out this week’s instalment of ORLEANS FROM ABOVE, our series of aerial videos from our amazing suburb.
The next round of the 🐶 Cutest Pets of Orléans Contest 🐱 begins today, and you can vote ⬇️ at the bottom of the newsletter for the new batch of contestants! We’re getting much closer to the final rounds!
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Here’s what’s going on in Orléans over the next 7 days and beyond ⬇️
Blue Jay at Mer Bleue Bog.
Here’s our roundup of upcoming events:
It’s Thanksgiving weekend, and there are lots of special ways to spend the beautiful fall season - be it visiting local trails (like at Mer Bleue Bog or Petrie Island, or heading over to Gatineau Parc for the views. 🍂 Explore this list from the NCC of the trails - and consider grabbing the shuttle bus to really enjoy the views. If you’re more of an indoors kind of person, Cirque du Soleil’s Luzia show is on under the big top at St Laurent Shopping Centre until Oct 18th. 🎪We saw it last summer in Montreal, and it is a phenomenal production!
👠 October 9th - BAMK Productions presents: Spooktacular Bare-It-All, a night of wickedly seductive thrills, spine-tingling glam, and monstrously good talent at Stray Dog Brewing Company. Doors at 8 PM, show starts at 9 PM. This stacked lineup of regional talent will deliver two acts - from jaw-dropping drag to sultry, tease-filled burlesque and dynamic variety performances. Ages 19+. 🎟️ Tickets are $10+ - get tickets here.
📍501 Lacolle Way, Unit 4
🍁 October 9th - 11th - BeaverTails Pop-Up at Sobeys at Trim and Innes. Friday 11 AM - 7 PM, Saturday 12 - 8 PM, and Sunday 11 AM - 7 PM.
📍5150 Innes Rd
🧑🌾 October 10th - The Cumberland Farmers’ Market is hosting their final market of the season, from 9 AM - 1 PM. With both indoor and outdoor vendors, you can grab a snack, and browse an incredible selection of locally grown, raised, baked and handcrafted products. Accessible parking, public washrooms, and a park and playground onsite for the kids!
📍1115 Dunning Rd, Cumberland
🐕 October 10th - Ottawa’s dog-friendly market - Fetch Local Markets is back on from 10 AM - 3 PM at Ray Friel Rec Complex. Want a chance to see Harry Styles in Toronto? Fetch is giving away 2 tickets to the Together, Together Tour on May 7th, 2027: learn how to gain entries here.
📍1585 Tenth Line Rd
🎶 October 10th - SDBC Taproom Concerts Presents: East Coast Experience Trio. It’s your favourite kitchen party! Doors at 7 PM, show at 8 PM. Standing room only show.
📍501 Lacolle Way, Unit 4
🍁 October 10th & 11th - Robert Plante’s 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Market is on from 9 AM - 4 PM both Saturday and Sunday. This beautiful event with cozy fall vibes features over 200 local vendors and artisans.
📍4228 Navan Rd
🗣️ October 14th - The Chatelaine Village Community Association and Queenswood Heights Community Association are hosting an In-Person Q & A with Ward 1 (Orléans-East - Cumberland) Candidates, at 7 PM, at Roy Hobbs Community Centre.
📍109 Larch Cres
🪷 October 14th - Meditation and the art of feeling connected with Buddhist nun Kelsang Suma - every Wednesday from 6:30-7:45 PM until Nov 4th, at the Orléans Branch of the Ottawa Public Library. Cost $15/class, or $60 for 5-class series.
📍1705 Orléans Blvd
🧘🏽♀️ October 14th - Two options for free community yoga!
Hatha Yoga and Meditation weekly free sessions hosted by the Greater Avalon Community Association, from 7-8 PM at Alain-Fortin Catholic Elementary School, in the gym. Beginners and children 10+ welcome.
📍676 Lakeridge Dr
Monthly Yoga is on from 7-8 PM, hosted by the Trinity Physio and Charron Psychotherapy Services, through the Convent Glen Orléans Wood Community Associate at Orleans Wood Elementary School. It’s free, no registration required, everyone welcome.
📍 7859 Décarie Dr
🍂 CELEBRATE THE FALL SEASON! 🍂
🎃 Saturdays and Sundays until Oct 31st - PumpkinFest 2026 - Proulx Farm is transformed into a giant Halloween playground! Outdoor activities, wagon rides, petting zoo, corn maze, play structures, tree houses, slides and so much more! Pick your own pumpkin(s) and take gorgeous fall photos. Open Saturdays, Sundays (& Thanksgiving Monday) from 10 AM-5 PM.
📍1865 O’Toole Rd, Cumberland
👻 Daily until October 31st - The Albert Halloween House for CHEO is on daily, from 6:30-9 PM. Great for young children! Jump scares happen only on Saturdays. Donate online to support the fundraiser for CHEO.
📍268 Pintail Terrace
🧟♀️ Fridays and Saturdays until 31st - sKreamers is back! This volunteer-run Halloween attraction, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Eastern Ottawa, takes place at Proulx Farm. Open from 7-9 PM (last wagon leaves at 9:15 PM, doors close at 10 PM). With 2 haunted houses, a scary wagon ride, live actors, and plenty of Halloween thrills, sKreamers brings the community together for a fun, spooky night out. All proceeds support local children, families and community initiatives! Get an idea of what to expect by exploring their Instagram 🎥
📍1865 O’Toole Rd, Cumberland
🗓️ SAVE THE DATES 🗓️
🍻 Local favourite Broadhead Brewery is celebrating their 15th anniversary! Celebrate during their anniversary week from Oct 13th-18th, where they’ll be hosting a range of special events. Check out the schedule here.
🗳️ It’s Municipal Election season. Advance Voting Day will be Fri, Oct 16th from 10 AM - 8 PM, and it’s Election Day on Mon, Oct 26th. Learn more about your local candidates here. Find out where and how to vote here.
🌳 Volunteers needed to help with the Tree Planting at the Nantes Woods on Sat, Oct 17th from 10 AM - 12 PM.
🎥 Queenswood Heights Community Association is hosting the next Community Movie Night on Sat, Oct 17th, at Bob Monette Community Centre from 6:30-10 PM at Bob Monette Community Centre.
🤖 Mindspire STEM & Academic Learning Centre is hosting a Kids Robots Workshop at Boston Pizza on Sun, Oct 18th from 1-3 PM. Ages 4-12. Cost is $22 (includes workshop participation and a kids meal). Register here.
🥫 Orléans Community Harvest is taking place on Sun, Oct 18th at 11:30 AM at Orléans United Church. Help fill a truck with food and baby supplies for local food centres (the Eastern Ottawa Resource Centres, Orléans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre and the Gloucester Community Food Bank). Live music by School of Rock Orléans and food trucks. Priority donation items include children’s snacks, baby formula, diapers, canned proteins, rice, pasta, canned fruit and vegetables, and personal hygiene items.
🚲 Family Halloween Bike Ride on Sat, Oct 24th from 10 AM - 12 PM, starting from François Dupuis Rec Centre. The route is 4 KM. Decorate your bike, put on your Halloween costume and ceberate active transportation in the Avalon community!
🛍️ Local Social at Condor Lounge on Sat, Oct 24th from 12 PM - late. This non-profit market is for local businesses to showcase their services and/or products, followed by a late-night DJ!
Do you have an event you want to see featured here? Let us know!
🗞️ NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT: 🗞️
🚒 Firefighters fought a basement blaze in the 600 block of Decoeur Drive. Crew got the fire under control after about 30 minutes from the first call to 911. (Instagram)
🛶 The Petrie Island Canoe Club is at risk of closing and are asking the Orléans and Ottawa community for help to raise $78,000 to help keep the club operating through 2027 while they work toward a long-term solution with the City of Ottawa. Want to help? Check out their GoFundMe page.
🎃 Local farmers are suggesting everyone get their pumpkins for Halloween early this year, as the rainy summer season created a poor crop, reducing the total # of pumpkins available this year. In other words, it’s the #pumpkinapocalypse 🤣 (CTV News)
🙋 Local Grade 10 student, Edwin N, has built a new website called easy40 specifically designed to help Orléans and Ottawa-based high-school students find local volunteer opportunities.
🚊 Oh look, another O-Train East Extension delay. Pre-trial running has now been delayed into November. (CTV News)
🚧 Innes Road between Orléans Blvd. and 135 metres west of Viseneau Drive is experiencing nightly intermittent lane reduction from Oct 5-9 as part of the city’s Cathodic Protection Program. (City of Ottawa)
🗳️ Mayoral rivals counter Sutcliffe’s economic plan. (Ottawa Citizen)
🏡 Like in many cities around Canada, Ottawa home sales are down 7% this year. (CTV News)
This week’s Orléans business spotlight is… 🥁 … Les Moulins Lafayette Bakery & Coffee Shop, located at 2548 St. Joseph Blvd.
Les Moulins La Fayette is a relatively new bakery and coffee shop whose origins begin in France and Quebec but now extend to multiple locations in Ottawa, including this new location in Orléans. Featuring everything from specialty coffees, teas, cold drinks, pastries, sandwiches, breads and cakes, this new location is a welcome addition to Orléans coffee shop scene. Their croissants are deliciously flaky! 🥐
If you wind up using their services, make sure to tell them that Orléans Connect sent you.
This 3 bedroom, 4 bathroom single-family home is located in the sought-after community of Trailsedge and features a heated saltwater pool, a spacious foyer, modern kitchen, and an EV-ready garage.
Image source: AVENUE NORTH REALTY INC., Brokerage via Realtor.ca
CUTEST PETS OF ORLÉANS VOTING - Round 1F & 2D
Okay Orléans - it’s time to VOTE! It’s another round of super cute pets, and we want to hear from you. Pick the cutest pets among the pairings below!
Which pet is cuter?
