Eastern extension of light rail could open later this year

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Good morning! 

I went for a walk along the Rideau River the other day and noticed flooding is starting to occur along the shoreline. Portions of bike paths on both sides of the Bank Street Bridge are closed, but it doesn’t seem to be bothering all the ducks who have made the flooded crossing their new home. 

The snow melt along with some weekend rain is the culprit, but it doesn’t appear the city is raising any alarm bells just yet. You might recall Ottawa and Gatineau faced record-breaking flooding a few years ago. Hopefully, that won’t happen again. 

It’s been a while since we’ve written a story about the light rail, which is perhaps good news because it means no breaking headlines have happened. But today we have a piece on the Stage 2 extension out to the east end which should hopefully be opening later this year. 

Our food editor Ralf Joneikies has also compiled a list of some restaurants in Little Italy you must visit. Spoiler: The community has much more than just Italian to offer. 

Lastly - a quick correction due to my sticky fingers: In the Monday edition of the Lookout we wrongfully spelt the name of famed photographer Yousef Karsh, whose photograph of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was stolen from the Chateau Laurier lobby. We regret the error. 

Let’s get to today's news headlines. 

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor

[email protected]

X: @Charlie_Senack

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WEATHER

Wednesday: 13 🌡️ -1 | 🌤️

Thursday: 13 🌡️ -6 | 🌧️ 

Friday: 5 🌡️ -1 | ☀️ 

OTTAWA NUMBERS

👮🏼‍♀️ 9.4M: The amount of money Ottawa police spent last year to staff major events and demonstrations. In total, the financial status report showed Ottawa police had $26.7 million in financial pressures and revenue shortfalls in 2024. [CTV]

🧳 500,000: The fewer number of travellers who crossed the U.S. border in February. [CBC]

📸 45,328: The number of tickets issued through Ottawa’s red light cameras in 2024. That is less than the 56,475 tickets in 2023 and 45,723 tickets in 2022. King Edward Avenue at St. Patrick Street (southbound) issued the most fines, with Wellington Street at Bay coming in second. [CTV]

🖊️ 7%: The percentage of Ottawa residents who filed Vacant Unit Tax declarations ahead of the deadline. [CTV]

💊 10: The number of people charged in an Ottawa area drug bust. [CTV]

TRANSIT

Eastern extension of light rail could open later this year, says OC Transpo

Riding the rails: There is hope that Ottawa transit riders could ride the eastern LRT extension to Trim Road later this year. 

• At a Transit Committee meeting on Monday, OC Transpo General Manager René Amilcar said in a report that “final construction activities and train testing are well underway and nearing completion,” reported CTV. 

Final touches are being done on stations alongside remaining major fleet activities such as software upgrades and operator training.

Line 1 of the Confederation line has been closed temporarily for brief periods for testing. Boundary testing between the two lines has been completed, said staff. 

• “Correction of trackwork deficiencies is progressing well, and finishing work at Montréal, Jeanne d’Arc, Convent Glen, Place d’Orléans, and Trim stations is expected to be completed by the end of Q1 2025,” said the report. 

Work outside such as grading, drainage, guardrail installation and landscaping at the stations is expected to be complete by the end of June this year, wrote the Ottawa Citizen. 

Better connectivity: Once in operation, five new stations will be added to the eastern portion of the Confederation Line: Montréal, Jeanne d’Arc, Convent Glen, Place d’Orléans and Trim. All new stations are located next to the Highway 174 median. 

• The eastern extension will mean 25 kilometres of rail will stretch from Tunney’s Pasture station in the west to Trim Road. Key destinations include: Downtown, the University of Ottawa, and St. Laurent. 

More stations in the west will also be added when another expansion opens in 2027. That will take commuters to Baseline Station at Algonquin College and Moodie Drive. 

Stage 3? During the recent provincial election, Ontario Premier Doug Ford committed to seeing Stage 3 built out to Kanata, Barrhaven, and Stittsville, something Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said is needed to complete the full light rail plan. 

Yes, but: There are questions about if that's still the right option for Ottawa. During a technical briefing in Oct. 2023, they said it would cost an estimated $64 million per year to operate. It would bring only an estimated two per cent increase in ridership, increasing funds by $5 million annually. 

• The Barrhaven extension alone is an estimated $3.52 billion, whereas an LRT system expansion out to Kanata from Moodie would be another $1.8 billion. Those figures are somewhat out of date and could be even higher now.  

Barrhaven councillors have stated they aren’t opposed to seeing bus rapid transit expanded to their community instead — a move that would be much cheaper than rail. There is a stronger argument in support for Kanata and Stittsville, where any new stations would connect up with Moodie Station. 

SPONSORED BY ENVIROCENTRE

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We’re EnviroCentre, climate solutions experts who believe that great public transit is more than just a way to get around. It’s the backbone of a thriving and connected city. Transit isn’t just a network of routes and stations, it’s what links you to the people and places that matter most. But to build the kind of transit system Ottawa deserves, we need fresh perspectives. 

That’s why we’re bringing Anna Zivarts—leading advocate for inclusive transportation and author of When Driving Isn’t an Option—to town for a thought-provoking conversation on universal design and the future of mobility.

Join us as we shift the conversation from transit as a problem, to transit as an opportunity to build a greener, more inclusive, and resilient city for all.

See you there?

📅 27 March, 7pm
📍 University of Ottawa (FHS, Lees Rm 142)
🎟️ https://bit.ly/communities-for-everyone

THE AGENDA

⚖️ Ottawa lawyer James Bowie has been found guilty of criminal harassment. The embattled lawyer was found guilty on four counts while the Crown formally withdrew one charge of extortion. [Ottawa Citizen]

🛌 Refugee groups from Ottawa say they are disappointed the city has decided to scrap its plan to build two Sprung structures — one at the Nepean Sportsplex and the other at the Eagleson Park & Ride in Kanata. Camille Kamanzi executive director of Burundi We Want Ottawa, says despite the city stating newcomer trends are going down, his organization is overwhelmed with demand for resettlement support. [CBC]

🚘 Work is finally underway to remove cars which were trapped when a downtown parking garage collapsed. “We anticipate the work will be completed this week. Once engineers have confirmed the site is safe, we expect to move to the next phase of vehicle retrieval,” GWL Realty Advisors said Tuesday afternoon, adding local officials approved a plan to conduct “additional work” to allow for the “safe removal” of the trapped vehicles. [CTV]

🥘 Grey’s Social Eatery has opened in the ByWard Market, where the longtime Blue Cactus restaurant used to be located. The new 8,600-square-foot restaurant will be a “modern-vintage space with Canadian influences where international and classic dishes meet friendly service and the perfect playlist.” [Ottawa Business Journal]

🗑️ Residents of Ottawa throw out a lot of garbage, so the city is looking to expand the Trail Road landfill to accept more waste within its existing property limits. It’s part of a plan to extend the life of the municipal dump another 15 years. According to the city, the Trail Road landfill has an approved landfilling capacity of 16.9 million cubic metres. The proposed expansion would target an additional 5.5 million cubic metres of additional airspace for garbage to extend the life of the Trail Road landfill from 2034 to 2048. [CTV]

🧴 There has been a lot of talk on social media after a Barrhaven Shoppers Drug Mart was raided while the pharmacy was still open. The video shows a group of masked individuals taking items from the beauty section and loading them into bins before taking off in a car outside. Police are yet to comment on the matter. [X]

💧 Some homes in the Carlington neighbourhood experienced flooding over the weekend due to snow melt at the Experimental Farm. Roads were closed for a short time after a resident dialled 911 and told dispatch there was about two feet of water in their basement in the 1100 block of Kingston Avenue. [CityNews]

🏥 A man has been accused of assaulting people with an oxygen tank at Ottawa Hospital General Campus. A man in his 40s was arrested and charged with four counts of assault with a weapon, causing a disturbance and uttering threats, said police. [CTV]

🧂 Is Ottawa using too much salt on roadways during the winter? We will soon find out. The city is being asked to review its salt use on roads and sidewalks after the Environment and Climate Change Committee approved a motion from Coun. Rawlson King. It will put an emphasis on its environmental impact and its effect on local waterways. [CTV]

🛍️ If Hudson Bay goes under, it will create another gaping hole in the Rideau Centre which already has lots of empty space after the closure of department store Nordstrom. That could also cause a ripple effect on the already struggling ByWard Market as the store has entrances on Rideau Street and George Street. [Ottawa Business Journal]

👮‍♂️ A second man has been arrested in connection to a February east-end homicide. Samuel Laurin-Gauvreau, 25, of Ottawa, was arrested on an outstanding Canada-wide warrant in the Feb. 15 stabbing death of Omar Jonathan Grant, also 25. [Ottawa Citizen]

HOUSE OF THE WEEK

This charming family home brings the warmth and character of a rambling farmhouse to a coveted west-end location. If these walls could talk, they would share stories of laughter-filled family gatherings in the kitchen, rolling out dough on the butcher block countertops, game nights around the dining table, and long conversations late into the night on the expansive verandah perched high above the street. 

But it certainly does not come with a cheap price tag. 

House of The Week is a home selected by the Lookout team and is not a paid advertisement. All ads are labeled as such. If you’re a realtor who wishes to feature your home in our newsletter, please contact our sales team.

FOOD

Five must-visit restaurants in Little Italy

By food editor Ralf Joneikies

The best cannolis in Ottawa? Dolci Sapori makes a case

From the husband and wife team that steered Simply Biscotti on Preston comes a new Italian bakery that may soon become one of your favourites in Ottawa. 

Dolci Sapori brings a broad palette of European pastries to Little Italy in the location once occupied by the great (and long gone) Hung Sum Dim Sum. Based on my visit, this place is not going anywhere.

Roberto Pizza, always a classic

After years away, it was time again to beat a path to Roberto Pizza on Preston. I recalled it fondly and I was in the mood for a Neapolitan-style pie. How nice to discover that things were as good as ever.

Their mushroom pizza may be one of the best in the city.

Trattoria Caffé Italia, a hidden gem in plain view

This restaurant has been serving Italian classics for more than 30 years and those who love it, love it a lot. Why not? Everything is made in house and that includes all their pastas.

If you’ve not been, you may want to take a walk about this spacious restaurant complete with four separate dining areas, to get a full understanding of their capacity.

Four cheese gnocchi stars at Del Piacere

Open seven days a week, stop in at any time at Del Piacere and you can see how well loved by locals it is. Certainly, their 15-inch Neapolitan-style pizzas represent one of the best pizza values in the city, but there is so much more to recommend.

Vietnam Palace serves up unique dishes for Ottawa

People who live in cold climates have an inevitable talent for turning the conditions in which they live, into something pleasurable. Whether it’s skating on the canal, cross-country skiing in Gatineau Park or hitting the sugar bush, we know how to make the best of things.

Walking into a Vietnamese restaurant in an Ottawa winter has a comforting appeal and provides a healthy, albeit sedentary, form of winter activity.

MUSIC SHOW LISTINGS

The Space Between | Live! On Elgin, 220 Elgin St | Mar. 19 | Female-fronted, Canadian hard rock filled with articulate riffs and powerful melodies. Tickets $12.

Maggie Baugh | Red Bird, 1165 Bank St | Mar. 20 | Country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Boca Raton known for her viral hits and dynamic playing.  Tickets $28. 

John Geggie | Gigspace, 953 Gladstone Ave | Mar. 22 The internationally established jazz double bassist invites an audience in for his latest intimate show. Tickets $25.

Ultra Sunn | House of Targ, 1077 Bank St | Mar. 22 | Belgian electronic/EBM duo known for their pulsating beats, haunting synth lines, and commanding baritone vocals. Tickets $30.

Charlie Angus and the Grievous Angels | Rainbow Bistro, 76 Murray St | Mar. 23 | Alternative country band known for their politically charged lyrics and folk, punk, and country influences. Tickets $22.

Listings for music shows are provided by OttawaGigs.ca, the best place to discover live music in Ottawa. Check out Ottawagigs.ca for full listings across the city.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Discover new ways to volunteer and give back in Ottawa. 

Farm for OCAPDD: Volunteer alone or in groups on OCAPDD’s garlic farm to raise funds. Learn more

Cycle for CHEO: Volunteer on Sunday, May 4 to help raise money for cancer care. Volunteer today.

Volunteer Dishwasher: Support Centre 507 with a simple, flexible volunteer role. Find out more.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• A Nepean High School teacher has been nominated for a Juno award. [CBC]

• Communities for Everyone - a talk by Anna Zivarts, author of When Driving isn't an Option. March 27, 7:00 pm, tickets here.

• Ever wonder what it's like to be a 311 operator in Ottawa? [CBC]

• Mid City Zine is spotlighting local politics. [Apt613]

• Solange Tuyishime Keita has won a community builders award for shaping women and girls’ leadership globally. [Apt613]

• Bruce Poulin of Stittsville was honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship. [Stittsville Central]

• Here is a list of seven beautiful small towns near Ottawa that will transport you to the heart of Europe. [Narcity]

PHOTO OF THE DAY

The flooded shoreline of the Rideau River near the Bank Street Bridge. Photo by Charlie Senack.

GEO GUESSER

Do you know where today’s Ottawa Guesser is? The first five people to respond get their names mentioned in the newsletter. (Hint: This is where I played tee-ball and soccer as a kid)