Senators reach a deal to build arena at LeBreton Flats

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Good morning!

What a beautiful weekend it was in Ottawa. I had a great time checking out the Taste of Wellington and Britannia Beach with my mom.

Last week marked a big milestone for a new future Sens arena, which we’ll look at in detail in today’s newsletter. The National Capital Commission and the hockey organization reached an agreement to build on 10 acres of land at LeBreton Flats.

And we’ve got another story about Arline Quinn, a local singer and songwriter, who is selling a new song titled “Wonder Woman” to raise money for cancer research. It’s a personal story for Quinn, whose sister was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022.

Let’s get to the news of the day!

— Charlie Senack, [email protected]

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign up for free.

Monday: 17 🌡️ 12 | 🌧

Tuesday: 22 🌡️ 12 | ☁️

Wednesday: 18 🌡️ 15 | 🌧

SPORTS

Sens reach a deal to move to LeBreton Flats

It’s good news for Sens fans: The National Capital Commission (NCC) has announced a deal with the Ottawa Senators to one day build an NHL arena on 10 acres of land at LeBreton Flats. The price tag for the agreement has not been revealed, reported TSN. 

The multi-purpose facility is still years away, and the Sens organization has stressed there are still many steps to jump through. 

• “I would love to say that in five years, we’re dropping the puck. It's certainly possible, I'd like to under-promise and overdeliver so once the process gets started, we'll probably have a better idea as the year goes along,” said Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer, according to CTV. 

Hurdles avoided: The NCC initially was going to give the hockey franchise six acres of land but they ended up with 10. They were also able to reach the ability to purchase the land instead of lease it. 

Mixed reaction: The Sens have played in Kanata since 1996. It’s located about 25 kilometres outside of downtown, which has caused gridlock on the highway and troubles with transit. They’ve also been unable to attract any walk-up traffic. 

• “When you think about major facilities and the trends now and where they are, most arenas and stadiums are going downtown. When we came out here 30 years ago that wasn't the case,” said Senators president and chief executive officer Cyril Leeder at a Friday press conference. 

Businesses near LeBreton Flats are excited. 

• “We certainly have been waiting and hoping that this would come through. It's going to bring obviously tons of people into the core. It's going to be good for the city and will certainly be good for us too. So, we're excited to hear it's happening now,” said Roc McIsaac, co-founder of Beyond the Pale Brewing, according to CTV. 

There are also concerns: The Pimisi light rail transit station, located near the future arena site, is unfit to handle substantial crowds. It's been an issue in the past with Canada Day and Bluesfest celebrations, reported the Ottawa Citizen. Police have said the design of the nearby bridge makes it hard to accommodate substantial crowds, and increases the risk of emergencies. 

There are also concerns over the amount of pedestrian and vehicle traffic which would come to the nearby West Wellington, Little Italy, and Chinatown neighbourhoods. 

• “Pretty much, it'll be a Bluesfest every night of the year. We're used to people descending on this area, but usually it's just Bluesfest,” local resident Charlie Brady told CTV. 

The long road to get here: In the mid-19th century, LeBreton Flats was developed into a mixed community to serve the lumber mills on the nearby Chaudière and Victoria islands. When a rail line came in with a station and yards soon after, industries developed and the neighbourhood boomed. 

When the great fire of 1900 hit, LeBreton Flats was completely decimated. It burned quickly because of the stacks of lumber. The community rebuilt, however, but lumber barons moved into the city. 

In the 1960s Canada was working quickly to build new mega office complexes, and LeBreton Flats was expropriated to make way for development that never came. Disputes over the land use and soil contamination created a lot of bureaucracy in a city that’s no stranger to that. 

• The first sign of a new future came in 2005 when the Canadian War Museum opened on the site.  Around that same time, some residential development also occurred nearby. 

Talk of a hockey arena: In April 2016, the Senators-backed RendezVous LeBreton Group was awarded the development rights to LeBreton Flats by the NCC. There was lots of hope this would be the beginning of the new vision for the large parcel of empty land. But by 2018 there were issues with partners which led to the deal falling apart, reported CBC. Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk and his company, and Trinity Development chair John Ruddy and his company, sued each other for hundreds of millions of dollars.

Last year, when Michael Andlauer purchased the Sens hockey team from the late Melnyk, who died in 2022, there was hope new leadership could bring forward a new deal. A downtown arena was supported by Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe who said a centralised sports and entertainment district would be beneficial to the city. 

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OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

🏃‍♀️ 15,000: The number of runners who took part in this year's Army Run. [CTV]

🚓 3: The number of hours dozens of motorists were stuck on Highway 417 after a joint operation to promote safety. [CTV]

🍦 $40,000: The amount of money an Embrun Dairy Queen was fined after a 16-year-old faced serious injuries on the job. It followed an incident where her hair got caught in the blizzard machine. [Ottawa Citizen]

PROFILE

Local Nashville singer from Ottawa debuts song “Wonder Women” to raise money for cancer research

A life changing moment: When local singer Arlene Quinn's sister was diagnosed with cancer in August 2022, her world changed in an instant. 

• “It was a shock to all of us because she was so young. Most women don’t get a mammogram before the age of 50 unless there is cancer in the family,” Quinn told the Ottawa Lookout. “It was found just by me having something found in my breast and she thought she should ask her doctor. Mine was fine but hers wasn’t. We went though a year and a half of supporting my sister Cheryl and it was a very difficult journey. 

Cheryl was one of about an estimated 229,200 Canadians to be diagnosed with cancer yearly. Unfortunately, about 84,600 will die from the disease. 

Cancer free: Today Cheryl has completed treatment and her hair is growing back. Her life was saved thanks to advancements in treatment and screening. The ordeal inspired Quinn, an award-winning singer-songwriter, to perform a song dedicated to cancer survivors and donate all the proceeds raised. 

• “I’ve recorded a song called “Wonder Woman” and the song is to celebrate all women across the world who have battled breast cancer or any kind of cancer,” said Quinn. “My goal is to reach so many women and remind them that they are true life warriors. I want a community of strong women to listen to the song and feel empowered. It’s a positive message of hope and true strength. We need to celebrate the victories.” 

A first performance: On Oct. 6, Quinn and her band will be performing “Wonder Woman” live at the CIBC Run for the Cure in Ottawa at the Rideau Carleton Raceway. It will be available for purchase on all streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes on Oct. 4. A music video with photos of cancer survivors will also premiere on YouTube. 

The song was written by three Canadian women and was pitched to Quinn from a Nashville music producer. 

• “I was so inspired by the lyrics. People in general go through ups and downs. There are beautiful moments and moments where we need to go inside to find our inner strength. We need to remember there is light at the end of the tunnel,” said Quinn. :The song shows you can be at your lowest point of life, but by hanging on to the mustard seed, there is a little bit of light and finally things are better again. When I listened to it I realized I wasn’t alone in my struggles.”

Representing Canada on the world stage: Quinn picked up her first guitar at the age of five and hasn’t put the instrument down since. She has graced the stage with legends like Kenny Rogers, Loretta Lynn, Lorrie Morgan, and Terri Clark. Her music has reached audiences in over 63 countries. 

Quinn’s debut single, “Nowhere To Go But Up,” topped the charts on Music Road Radio for 12 weeks and earned her the title of Top Artist from the Chris Top Program in Nashville. In 2017, “Life is Good” took home the award for Top Song at Nashville’s Country Music Week, and Arlene was featured in the Canadian Women Songwriters’ Showcase in Nashville. Then in 2019, “Jackpot” became a hit with over 37,000 streams on Spotify, reaching #3 on the International Country Music Chart. It also landed in the top five downloaded songs on Nashville's Music Row music chart, and received over 18,000 spins on US radio. 

Most common cancer: According to the Canadian Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common form of the disease to be diagnosed, and the second leading cause of cancer-related death among women. One in eight Canadian women are expected to be diagnosed with the disease, and one in 36 are expected to die from it.

There are some promising signs: Since the 1990s, breast cancer’s death rate has decreased by 40 per cent. The five-year breast cancer survival rate after five years is also up to 89 per cent.

• Over the past five years the Canadian Cancer Society has invested $53.9 million in breast cancer research projects. Money from Quinn’s album will further help this cause.

More information on how to download the song can be found here.

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NEW LOCAL JOBS

Check out the new open positions in Ottawa.

1. Maintenance operator at City of Ottawa 

2. Purchase and inventory manager at NutroTonic

3. Client care worker at Inner City Health 

4. Manager of data management at Thales

5. Councillors assistant at City of Ottawa

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

THE AGENDA

🐴 If you go down to the ByWard Market in the near future, you might see police patrolling the area on horseback. The new response is to help combat increased rates of crime and listen to safety concerns in the neighbourhood. Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs confirmed a lack of resources has resulted in a less-than-adequate response. [CBC]

⛵️ A sailboat that sank in Gatineau's Lake Leamy in August 1983 will finally get removed from the water. The Ville de Vanier, also known as the Jean Richard, was a large boat built in 1959. The wreck will begin to get dismantled on Monday and most of it will be disposed of. A small section, however, will be displayed in a local museum. [CBC]

🚴‍♂️ The Ontario government may soon unveil a new plan to prioritize roads for cars over bike lanes, and it’s drawing mixed reactions. Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper said if implemented, it would take away from important work the city is doing in regards to affordable neighbourhoods. Ottawa’s first segregated bike lane was established on Laurier Avenue in 2017 and is at the heart of the city’s downtown cycling network. [Ottawa Citizen]

🇮🇹 The community of Little Italy is changing as many Italian-owned businesses close up shop and other cultures take over. Lindsay Childerhose, executive director of the Preston Street Business Improvement Association (BIA), said they are keeping the main street’s heritage character alive through art displays and street festivals. [Kitchissippi Times]

👮🏼‍♀️ The Ottawa Police are continuing to investigate a homicide which occurred in Herongate near Heron and Walkley on Thursday night. The victim has been identified as 34-year-old Ottawa resident Ahmed Salim-Al-Badri. Friends of the Syrian native said, “he used to protect us from bad people.” [CBC]

🏈 A Kanata football team is continuing to mourn the loss of one of its players. Quentin Dorsainvil, 17, was shot and killed during a homicide in Centretown last Sunday. The promising football player was living in Florida, where he attended Miami Central High School. During a field exercise on Thursday, his former teammates said Dorsainvil “changed the whole room with his amazing energy.” [Ottawa Citizen]

💣 The bomb disposal unit was called to the Russian Embassy shortly after 11 a.m. on Friday. The call came in after someone threw multiple items over the fence. Police would not confirm what they found, but said they were removed without incident. [CBC]

EVENTS

What to do this week

🎷 A night out with the Ethan Iverson Trio | MacKay United Church, 39 Dufferin Rd. | Sept. 24 | Join the Ottawa Jazz Festival on September 24, 2024 for an intimate evening of jazz at the historic MacKay United Church with the acclaimed Ethan Iverson Trio | Tickets are $32.50.

Ottawa Valley Cat Club | Nepean Sportsplex | Sept. 28-29, 9 am-4:30 pm | Come see different breeds and household pets compete, shop from our various vendors or sit in on a presentation | Learn more

🦐 Canadian Culinary Championship | Various locations | Sept. 25 | Celebrate Canadian culture and attend this respected culinary competition that will feature many talented Canadian chefs who will showcase their passion for food | Ticket prices vary.

🏃‍♂️ Trail Running Film Festival | Mayfair Theatre, 1074 Bank St | Sept. 25 | The TRFF embodies the adventurous spirit and triumphs of trail running. Expect a diverse line up of films curated to capitate and inspire | Tickets are $11.30.

🎶 Music in the Park | Strathcona Park, 25 Range Rd. | Sept. 26 | As autumn settles in, enjoy an evening of live music, crisp fall air and good vibes at our next Music in the Park event | Free.

🎨 Urban Art Collective Hintonburg Night Market | Urban Art Collective, 1088 Somerset Street W. | Sept. 26 | Stroll through the Hintonburg Night Market to pickup local eats, treats and all things handmade. Sit back, relax, eat and be entertained by local musicians, buskers and entertainers | Free. 

👵 Fifty-Five Plus Lifestyle Show | EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Dr | Sept. 27-28 | An exciting event featuring more than 100 exhibitors, celebrity entertainment, and informative presentations | Free. 

👻 Stittsville Haunted Heritage Tours | 1549 Main St. South | Sept. 27-28 | Combine a riveting historical tour on the quaint and eerie town of Stittsville with a haunted twist to get this annual heritage tour | Tickets are $22.59.

🍺 Oktoberfest at Nita Beer Company | Nita Beer Company, 190 Colonnade Rd, Unit 17 | Sept. 28 | Come join the party! Nita Beer Company is excited to invite you to the 3rd annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 28 from 3:30-8:30 p.m. at the brewery | Tickets are $60.

💃 DanceMomsOttawa | One Up Cocktail Lounge, 1 Beechwood Ave. | Sept. 28 | Round up your girlfriends or grab your partner and join DanceMomsOttawa to dance the night away! For those over the age of 40 | Tickets are $20.

🪆 The Ottawa Doll and Miniature Sale | Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Ave | Sept. 29 | Come explore with over 70 vendors to see at this year’s Ottawa Doll and Miniature sale. You'll find many dolls from Barbie, Integrity toys, baby dolls, re-borns, antique dolls, American Girl, Maplelea Dolls, other 18" dolls, Monster High, Disney, porcelain and dolls from around the world | Tickets are $5.00 for adults and free for kids.

OTTAWA GAMES

Congrats to everyone who got last week’s Ottawa Wordle, the answer was POTRAIT.

For this week’s Ottawa Quiz, we want to know how many acres did acres did the Senators buy from the NCC for LeBreton Flats? Reply with your name and the correct answer to be featured in the newsletter.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• August’s Awesome Ottawa award goes to Letitia Charbonneau for a climate action mural project by seniors and youth. [Apartment613]

• Here is a look at what’s playing at Ottawa’s independent cinemas in the second half of September. [Apartment613]

• There was a great turnout at the BIA’s 2024 Barrhaven Harvest Fest. [Barrhaven Independent]

• One World Bazaar is celebrating its 20-year journey from barn to global marketplace. [Barrhaven Independent]

• The 10th annual Eastern Ontario Garlic Festival took place in Cornwall. [CTV]

• Thousands of people took part in this year's Taste of Wellington event. [CTV]

• A local vendors market with a Taylor Swift theme took place this Sunday in Ottawa. [CTV]

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