Sens nearly sold

The deal to sell the Senators is getting close to the finish line. Here’s what the NHL commissioner had to say.

Sponsored by

Good morning,

St. Patrick’s Day is here once more. It’s always something of a bittersweet day, as it was my grandmother’s birthday. Nan would have been 98 this year, and I miss her quite a bit.

In any case, we may be in mid-March, but it doesn’t really feel much closer to spring. I think more than anyone, the dog is ready for warmer weather. Tired of being put in her coat, the grey days like we’ve been having are not making her particularly enthusiastic to roam around.

Soon, hopefully, that will no longer be a problem. We’ve got an estimate in today’s newsletter that maybe the snow could be nearly gone in a matter of weeks. One can hope!

Why don’t we get to that.

— Robert Hiltz, managing editor

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Weather Report

Friday: +3 🌡️ -2 | 🌧/❄️

Saturday: +2 🌡️ -9 | 🌤/❄️

Sunday: –3 🌡️ -6 | 🌤/❄️

Monday: +7 🌡️ -6 | 🌤

SENATORS

Sens sale could be done within ‘weeks’

What happened: The Senators could have a new owner very shortly. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the first round of bidding was done and the second phase would only take “a matter of weeks,” CTV reported.

  • “I think it's fair to say there is robust interest in a meaningful and significant way in the Senators. … I'm not prepared to share who or what, but I think everybody involved in the process feels good about the level of interest, both in terms of the number of bidders and the magnitude of interest,” Bettman said.

Conditions: Any prospective buyer would have to keep the team in Ottawa as part of the sale, but a move to a possible new arena in LeBreton Flats is not mandatory, Sportsnet reported. Bettman said it would be up to the new owners whether to move.

Going well: Financially, the team is on excellent footing this season. In an interview with The Athletic, the team’s president of business operations Anthony LeBlanc said the team had hit its financial goals for the season. The team’s average attendance at 16,371 is up to 2016-17 levels, well above 2019-20’s 12,618.

  • “‘Surprise’ would be the wrong word, but this has definitely exceeded my expectations. We have overachieved on every revenue goal we set for ourselves — and quite aggressively,” LeBlanc told The Athletic.

OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

🤑 $5,000,933.40: The amount two long-time friends won playing Lotto 6/49. They’ve played the same numbers since the 90s, which came to one of the men in a dream. [CTV]

📉 50,000: The net number of people who have left Ontario for other provinces because of excessively high home prices. Typically, the province adds about 80,000 people per year. [CBC]

⛄️ 34 cm: The official snowpack for the city. Based on historical trends, expect the earliest for that to drop below 1 cm to be April 3. [Ottawa Weather Records]

SPONSORED BY ENVIROCENTRE

Deep retrofitting a century home in Old Ottawa South

When Denis Dumas bought his home 17 years ago, he knew that energy upgrades were in the cards. The house was built in 1913 and had many of the original features like windows and doors, very little in the way of insulation, and a damp basement.

Watch his video-story to discover what it takes to turn an Old Ottawa South century home into a resilient home of the future.

The key benefits?

- Warm in the winter, cool in the summer

- Lower energy bills

- Virtually zero climate emissions and burns no fossil fuels

A similar retrofit today would qualify for up to $10,000 in rebates and incentives. Read the story and see how you can qualify.

POLICING

Councillor receives vile abuse for questioning thin blue line symbol

What happened: Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster received a disgusting piece of abuse, going after her race, gender, sexuality and more, after she questioned why members of the police force were wearing thin blue line jerseys during a charity hockey game.

“This should never be the consequence of being a woman, a queer or a Jew in public life,” Troster said.

You can see the full, uncensored text of the reply here (content warning, it’s awful):

The mayor’s response:The jerseys for last Friday’s charitable game were provided by the Ottawa Police Association, not the [Ottawa Police Service]. I respect the independence of the Police Association, just as I do any union representing city employees,” Sutcliffe said in a statement to the Lookout. “It's clear, that because of recent events, how the symbol is interpreted by some members of the community has evolved.”

  • “I have spoken with both the OPA President and the Police Chief and have encouraged them to continue their discussions and listen to community feedback,” he said.

The previous Police Services Board asked the union to take down the flag, but was ignored. The head of the association was coy about whether the flag would stay up, telling The Canadian Press it would “probably” stay up.

  • “While the board respects the autonomy of the [Ottawa Police Association] and the need for it to support its members, we are also mindful that the term ‘thin blue line’ and associated symbols has come to mean different things to different communities. The board expects all members of the OPS to abide by applicable uniform standards while on duty,” interim police board chair Suzanne Valiquet said to the Lookout.

The controversy: Police say the thin blue line flag, where a blue line is imposed over a grey and black Maple Leaf, is merely about commemorating the loss of fellow officers in the line of duty.

But the flag is also used to symbolize police officers as standing apart from the public rather than serving them, Ottawa Citizen columnist Bruce Deachman explained. The OPA’s on-site bar is called The Sheepdog Lounge, a reference to how police are the dogs who protect the sheep of society.

Making a point: When expressing their solidarity with the two Edmonton police officers killed this week, the union posted an image of a badge with a thin blue line band around the badge, rather than the traditional solid black band.

THE AGENDA

🛋️ House to Home, which helps get refugees furniture and other household items to get on their feet, is looking for a new home. [CBC]

💸 Local business owners said their revenues are about half of what they were pre-pandemic. With COVID loans coming due soon, many are struggling to stay open. [CTV]

🚔 The Quebec government introduced new guidelines to reduce racial profiling by police. The bill will also require police to keep statistics on traffic and other stops. [CBC]

🍸 Local brewers are worried the upcoming 6.3 percent increase in the federal alcohol tax will hurt business. [CTV]

🛬 The Ottawa Airport has cancelled the licence for the ground crew company, Menzies, that provides service for Sunwing and Flair airlines for “untenable” levels of service. [CBC]

🚊 The opening date in September for the O Train’s Trillium Line may be too optimistic. [CBC]

🚨 A Kingston high school teacher was charged with three counts of sexual assault and sexual exploitation. [CTV]

🍺 Next week a council committee will vote on whether to allow patios to stay open until 2 am. City staff recommend they approve it. [CTV]

🏢 Some federal workers are getting a one-year extension on the back-to-office order that is going into full effect at the end of the month. [CTV]

SPONSORED BY MĀDAHÒKÌ FARM

An Indigenous cooking class you won’t want to miss

Join Inuk Chef Trudy Metcalfe-Coe in the kitchen and learn how to make traditional Indigenous meals.

  • Together you’ll be making homemade cheesecake with Akpik (cloudberries) and maple. Book now.

Sample your delicious creation at the end of the class and take home enough for your family to enjoy.

  • Event details: March 25th | Mādahòkì Farm, 4420 West Hunt Club Road Ottawa | Tickets $65

All participants will also make enough to donate another serving for four to a non profit organization helping to feed our community.

EVENTS

Your weekend guide

Arts

🎭 Youth Infringement Festival 2023, Friday 7 pm: A performing arts festival for local youth to put on original work. The final show of the festival features The Formaldehyde Files, Study 108, and CTRL. At the Arts Court Theatre, 2 Daily Ave. Tickets are pay what you can starting at $5.

📽️ International Film Festival of Ottawa, until Sunday: A festival of films from all over the globe, with features, short films and more. At a variety of theatres in town. Ticket prices vary.

🎨 Munnings War Artist, 1918, until Sunday: The last weekend to view a collection of war art, primarily of Canadian mounted units, in the First World War., painted by Sir Alfred Munnings. At the Canadian War Museum, 1 Vimy Pl. Tickets $18.

Music

🎻 Chamberfest featuring Leila Josefowicz and John Novacek, Friday 7 pm: This violinist and pianist come together to play Debussy, Stravinsky, Tuur, and Szymanowski. In-person tickets start at $30.

💃 Ottawa Vintage Vibe Swing Camp, Saturday 10 am: A night of music and dancing. Anyone is welcome, of all experience levels, you don’t even need to dance! At Sala San Marco Event Centre, 215 Preston St. Full passes start at $149. Individual tickets start at $30. (Warning, the website automatically plays music. Best to mute your phone/computer before opening.)

General

🪩 Fire and Ice Winter Festival, Friday to Saturday: A four-day festival on Bank Street between Lisgar and Slater. Street performances, light installations, live DJs, outdoor bar, a Silent Disco and more. Free!

🍽️ Charity Night Fundraising Dinner for Syria Relief, Sunday 6 pm: A community fundraising dinner hosted by Islamic Relief Canada, Ottawa Muslim Association, and Global Seeds for Good to raise money for the devastating earthquake in Syria. At the Hall of Peace, 241 Northwestern Ave. Tickets $20.

Culture

🥚 Ukrainian Pysanka Workshop, Saturday 9:30 am: Learn to paint Ukrainian Easter eggs with all the supplies you need provided. Learn the traditional art of pysanka at the Ukrainian Orthodox Hall, 1000 Byron Ave. Tickets $35.

🩸 Book launch for Bleed, March 20 7 pm: A launch for local author Tracey Lindeman’s new book about the poor care women with endometriosis receive from the healthcare system. At St. John the Evangelist, 154 Somerset St. W. Free tickets.

Other

🤣 Tom Green at Yuk Yuk’s, Friday 10 pm: The Ottawa comedian is working on some new material for an upcoming standup special. At Yuk Yuk’s Ottawa West, 1394 Richmond Rd. Tickets $40.

CAPITAL EATS

What happened this week in food

Ralf Joneikies/Ottawa Lookout

Every week our team at Capital Eats scours Ottawa for the best places to eat, drinks to try and events to attend. Here’s a breakdown of all the biggest stories.

🥃 It’s tough to say goodbye, so get to this restaurant in Hull for great small plates and lovely cocktails.

🍻 Festibière returned for a winter edition, and you won’t want to miss some of these great brews from across the region.

🍣 (Insiders) One of the first restaurants to bring sushi to Ottawa will be closing when its lease runs out in July. Be sure to stop in for a Fugetsu platter and some panko-crusted calamari while you still can.

🍀 (Insiders) St. Paddy’s Day has arrived and our food editor has a suggestion for an Irish whisky you’ll want to try. (Scroll down in the article.)

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
  • An inspiration to many, Sindy Hooper is using what may be her last year to continue the push to raise money and awareness for pancreatic cancer research. [Ottawa Citizen]

  • Congrats to the Kitchissippi Times, which will soon be celebrating 20 years of publication! [Kitchissippi Times]

  • Uniqlo will open a store in the Rideau Centre in June. [CTV]

  • Ottawa’s Emilio Dutra, who lost his leg and fingers in a boating accident, is one of the new faces of Lululemon. [CBC]

  • Local record stores are booming, as vinyl sales have surpassed CD sales for the first time in 35 years. [CTV]

  • Mark your calendars for May 6; there will be an official coronation ceremony in town for King Charles III. [CBC]

  • Want to have your announcement featured? Contact our partnership team for more info.

TOP PHOTO

Laura Pitcairn/Ottawa Lookout Reader

Today’s photo comes from reader Laura Pitcairn, who sent in this shot of a very naughty squirrel caught in the act along the P20 loop recently.

Do you have a photo you’d like to share with the Lookout community? Send it in!

OTTAWA GAMES

Congrats to Bob, Gord, Jeffrey, Adam, Bamidele, Sandra, and Michelle who all knew this week’s Ottawa Guesser was at the corner of Walkley and Riverside at Mooney’s Bay.

Do you have what it takes to get today’s Ottawa Wordle? Play now.

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