LRT closes for two weeks starting today

Good morning!

It seems strange to say it, but that was a disappointing Euros for England. Making the final should be a great achievement, but it all feels like a missed opportunity. Ah well, that’s football for you.

It was nice, during the tournament, to take the boy out for his first match in a pub. He loved trying his first pancake, but the excitement in the place when the team scored was a bit much. He’ll have more fun when he’s older.

In any case, disappointment aside, there’s plenty to get to today.

Let’s get to it.

— Robert Hiltz, managing editor

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🥵 Heat warning 🥵

Monday: 29 🌡️ 20 | 🌦/⛈️

Tuesday: 30 🌡️ 18 | 🌧

Wednesday: 26 🌡️ 14 | 🌦

TRANSIT

The LRT will be shut down in the west starting today, here’s what you need to know

What happened: Starting today, the western half of the LRT will be shutdown from Tunney’s Pasture to Rideau stations until July 28 for maintenance work. Trains will run as normal from uOttawa to Blair, according to OC Transpo.

Replacement service: OC Transpo will run the R1 bus service between Tunney’s Pasture and Hurdman stations, and the E1 express service from Blair to Lyon will run all day.

• R1 buses will only stop at Lees going eastbound, OC Transpo recommends getting off at Hurdman station if you’re heading west, otherwise you’ll need to take a 16 bus from Lees to uOttawa or Hurdman to get westbound R1 service.

• “We understand that this work can be disruptive and appreciate your patience as we perform necessary maintenance. All light rail systems require regular maintenance work on a frequent basis,” the city said in a statement.

The maintenance: Crews will deal with water seepage into the tunnel. They’ll also install sump pumps at Lyon and Parliament stations, and apply more sealant through leakier parts of the tunnel.

• During the shutdown, maintenance workers will be deep cleaning many of the stations.

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OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

🌡️ 40: The humidex could reach this high until as late as Tuesday. [Environment Canada]

🏎️ 110 km/h: The speed limit on the 416 from the south of the city to the 401 increased to this much on Friday. [CTV]

STRIKE

LCBO, workers break off talks

What happened: Both sides say they’re willing to talk, but neither is sitting at the bargaining table as the LCBO moves through its second week, CBC reported.

Openings cancelled: A previous plan to open a few dozen stores across the province with limited hours has been scrapped, The Canadian Press reported. The LCBO said its online shopping options are working well enough they don’t feel the need to open in-person stores to fulfill customer needs.

Struggling restaurants: That came as a relief to restaurants, who are having difficulty keeping supplied. The LCBO said it would redirect staff it planned to use to pen up the stores to fulfilling bar and restaurant orders.

Dwindling stock: Agency stores across the province, typically in small towns and rural areas run out of gas stations and grocery stores, supplies are running low. Orders for certain products are difficult to fill, and residents from areas with closed LCBO stores are venturing out and buying up their stock, CBC reported.

What it’s about: The more than 9,000 workers on the picket line fear for the future of their jobs as the province opens up beer, wine, and pre-mixed cocktails to corner stores and more grocers.

Not that interested: Independent grocers aren’t very interested in carrying booze, though. One of the new requirements for stores getting a licence is to take back empty bottle returns, which the grocers say is too much of a burden, CTV reported.

Since the province opened up licence applications, only 37 additional grocery stores have applied for and received a licence, CBC reported. Convenience stores, which aren’t required to take back empties, are taking up at a much higher pace. So far 40% of the stores in the province — 3,068, as of last week — had gotten approval to sell booze.

NEW LOCAL JOBS

Check out the new open positions in Ottawa.

1. Heavy machinery operator at PNG Projets d’Aménagements

2. Labour relations officer at the Union of Safety and Justice Employees

3. Highly skilled hardscaper at D. Roy Contracting

4. Refrigeration apprentice at Parson Refrigeration

5. Workplace investigator at Commissionaires Ottawa

Local jobs are selected by the Lookout team and are not paid ads, unless specifically noted. 

THE AGENDA

💰 City council decided to punt on a decision on what to do about voluntary developer donations. Instead, a working group will take over the task of figuring out if the payments are allowable and report back at the end of September. [Ottawa Citizen]

🪧 Workers at the medical equipment manufacturer Best Theratronics have been on strike for two months. Talks between the union and the owners have broken down, and the union said the company isn’t interested in negotiation. [CBC]

🛍️ The owners of the Ottawa Train Yards shopping complex were able to exit a judge-ordered receivership after resuming payments on a $39-million loan. [CTV]

🔬 University of Ottawa researchers found evidence that Thule Inuit people arrived on Nunavut’s Somerset Island about 1,000 years ago — 200 years earlier than previously believed. [CBC]

🚧 A former convent was torn down after the efforts of locals in Saint Andrews West failed to save it. The structure, built in 1908, needed about $2 million in repairs to make it useable, and there was no one interested in taking the project on, even when the township offered it for free. [CBC]

🏖️ Beaches across the city reopened after they were briefly closed because of high E. coli levels. All except Petrie River were able to reopen. [Ottawa Citizen]

🚨 A commercial truck driver is facing possible charges after allegedly falling asleep at the wheel. The truck went off the road and came to a halt in the grassy median, forcing the 416 northbound to be closed at Dillworth to remove it. [OPP/Twitter]

CITY HALL INSIDER

Saying farewell to a span that spanned generations

What happened: The iconic Alexandra Bridge between Ottawa and Gatineau will be torn down in the coming years. Officially opened in 1901, the bridge is set to come down in the coming years and be replaced.

History lesson: Inititally opened as Interprovincial Bridge, after the rail company that built it, the name Alexandra Bridge didn’t come around until later in 1901, when it was renamed in honour of Queen Alexandra, when her son — the one-day King George V — came to town for an official visit.

• These days, the bridge carries about 9% of the vehicular traffic across the river. But it’s also become an important crossing for active transport users, carrying about 40% of cyclists and pedestrians across the water.

Unfortunately, its time has come. More than 120 years of use, and in particular salt use, have brought the bridge to a state beyond which it can be repaired. Numerous photos provided by the federal government show corrosion, chipping, buckling and other damage. While none of the damage is catastrophic necessitating immediate closure, combined it’s just too much.

This story is only available to Insider members. Not an Insider member? Learn more about it today.

EVENTS

What to do this week

🍽️ Chef’s Table, until Wednesday: An evening farm-to-table dining along the Rideau Canal, showcasing world-class chefs and great live music. At NAC’s 1 Elgin Restaurant. Ticket prices vary.

🌙 ByWard Night Market, Thursday 5 pm: Listen to live music as you stroll the George Street Plaza to shop, eat, and more. Free.

👨‍🌾 Garden and Grow, Saturday 10 am: Planting workshops, guided garden tours, and expert gardening advice. At Horticulture Building M, Algonquin College. Tickets $20.

📖 Read Aloud & Book Signing with Rahma Rodaah, Saturday 11 am: Author Rahma Rodaah reads from her books, and will sign copies afterward. Craft events for the kids. At Café Safi, 101 Champagne Ave. Ticket prices vary.

🧺 Picnic Charity Fundraiser, Sunday 2 pm: Raising money for the Legacy of Hope Foundation, come out for a day of food, games, and entertainment. At Vincent Massey Park. Ticket prices vary.

Arts events

🎹 The Oxbow Piano Trio, Monday and Tuesday: A lunchtime concert with music of Beethoven, Faure, Clara Schumann, and more. At the NAC O’Brien Atrium. Free.

🎼 Music and Beyond, until Wednesday: A music festival celebrating classical music and its connection to other art forms. At various locations across the city. Ticket prices vary.

🎶 Okavango African Orchestra, Tuesday and Wednesday: An ambitious ensemble of African-born musicians that brings together the music of several African cultures. At the NAC Wood Terrace. Free.

🎤 Kemptville Live Music Festival, Thursday to Sunday: Four days of live music with camping, food trucks, vendors, craft beer and more. Featuring the Sam Roberts Band, Burton Cummings, Dan Brody, Glass Tiger, and more. At the Kemptville Campus, 830 Prescott St., Kemptville. Ticket prices vary.

🎸 Panda Fest III, Friday to Sunday: Bands from across the region come to play the capital. At the Dominion Tavern, 33 York St. Tickets $25 per day.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• In the Citizen, there’s a thoughtful profile of a woman who has lived in a canoe on the canal since May, and the complexities of sleeping rough. [Ottawa Citizen]

• Work began on resurfacing Wellington Street from Vimy to Kent over the weekend. One lane will remain open in both directions. [CTV]

• The Brockville Railway Tunnel received a Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice Award for the second year in a row. [CTV]

• Airborne Petawawa participated in World Skydiving Day, where jumpers from around the globe looked to set the first world record for the number of skydives completed in a single day. [CTV]

• Want to have your announcement featured? Learn how here.

OTTAWA GAMES

Congrats to everyone who got last week’s Ottawa Wordle, the answer was SHRUB (because “TREE” was too short).

For this week’s Ottawa Quiz, we want to know…