Sponsored by

Good morning! 

The first snow of the season arrived Sunday. I saw many people stringing Christmas lights and purchasing trees. It is hard to imagine the end of the year is near.

We have a somewhat smaller newsletter today, as it was a relatively slow few days in the news. But we do have a story on the latest developments with light rail and when the Trillium line will open (it will be very soon).

There are also some incredible holiday activities coming up, and our food editor shares some restaurant reviews on places you should visit for a date night this December.

Thanks to all of you who have filled out our readership survey so far. It will help us with planning more exciting content for the New Year. The last day to fill it out is this Friday, so there’s still time to complete it.

Let’s get to the news of the day!

— Charlie Senack, managing editor 

[email protected] 

X: @Charlie_Senack

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

WEATHER

Monday: 0 🌡️ -6 | 🌤️

Tuesday: -2 🌡️ -6 | 🌨️

Wednesday: -1 🌡️ -2 | 🌨️

CITY

The Trillium light rail line is opening soon. On Friday we will find out when

Progress: There is still no exact date as to when commuters will get to ride Ottawa’s new Trillium LRT line, but for the first time over the weekend it carried 500 invited guests for a trial run. 

• "It was about 34 minutes, I think they said from Bayview to Limebank, so it's pretty good," one of the guests, Armonia Joachim, told CTV. "You're not crammed, you've got tons of space to spread out, and you've got a gorgeous view so it's a lot more calm than driving."

OC Transpo said the dress rehearsal went well and that more details will be shared during a technical briefing being held this Friday. That is also when OC Transpo will announce the official opening date.

Behind schedule: Lines 2 and 4 from Bayview Station to Limebank Road and South Keys to the airport are two years behind schedule. 

The North-South line of the Confederation line out to Orleans is also behind, with an opening now planned sometime in the first half of next year. It is unclear what that will mean for the “new ways to bus” program in the east end, which, like the rest of the city, will have their routes drastically changed to accommodate the new light rail stations. 

A recap of the new bus routes:  Despite what some councillors say, it is a reduction in service. There will be about 75,000 fewer service hours every year come April, which counts as about 3.5 per cent of the current 2.111 million service hours. The positive spin council likes to put on this is about 62,000 hours are being added through light rail projects – but that is not helpful for those who ride the bus.

What LRT work still remains: Last Friday, OC Transpo said there was still some work to be done, including additional drills, winter performance preparations, a roll out of customer information and continued training for operators.

Were those targets met Saturday? We do not know. TransitNext also needs to submit its final safety case and final report from the Independent Safety Assessor. The city's independent safety auditor must also provide a statement indicating no objections to the commencement of passenger service.

• “The city is now focused on the process and remaining activities to achieve revenue service,” said OC Transpo general manager Rene Amilcar, according to the Ottawa Citizen. “Lines 2 and 4 are federally regulated and require regulatory reviews and two certificates. This work has been ongoing, and the city is seeking a Certificate of Fitness from the Canadian Transportation Agency and confirmation of the notice of change in operations for the Railway Operating Certificate from Transport Canada. Both are required before the system can open to the public.”

Want to read more about the changes to routes and what it could mean for your neighbourhood? We wrote an in-depth piece about it this fall. You can read that story here.

SPONSORED BY UNITED WAY EAST ONTARIO

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday! Ready to make a local impact and change lives?

After the shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday comes Giving Tuesday: a day dedicated to generosity and giving back. 

Despite global conflicts playing out across the world and an enduring cost-of-living crisis here at home, we know you’re working hard to be the bright light for your family, friends, neighbours, and community. 

But sometimes it can feel like there are so many social issues to fix that it’s hard to know where to start.   

This Giving Tuesday, you can tackle homelessness, mental health and addictions, social isolation, and poverty, all with one donation. That’s the power of United Way East Ontario! 

Help United Way raise $150,000 before midnight on December 3, to build strong, healthy, safe communities. Our generous sponsor, TD, will match your donation dollar for dollar.

This holiday season, your gift creates a future where everyone can thrive. Please give today!

OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

🥩 $13: The average price for one kilogram of beef. That is compared to $10 last year. [CTV]

⬆️ 1%: The rate Canada’s economy grew in the third quarter of this year. That is down two per cent compared to the second quarter. [OTTAWA Business Journal]

🎶 40: The number of years Ottawa’s Rainbow Bistro has been in operation. [Ottawa Citizen]

🏒 5-2: The score of a game the Ottawa Senators lost against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. [Ottawa Citizen]

OTTAWA JOBS

1. Delivery manager at Sobeys 

2. Client advisor at RBC

3. Casual waste collection operator at City of Ottawa 

4. Mechanical engineer at Thales 

5. Snow plow operator at The Grounds Guys Ottawa

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

THE AGENDA

🎶 Steve's Music Store is closing its store on Rideau Street and moving to a new location after over 40 years. The location of the new storefront will be announced in a few weeks, said owner Dan Sauvé, who noted construction and other challenges are driving him out of the area. “There was the major infrastructure project where basically all of Rideau got torn down. You’ve got the construction, then you’ve got the LRT, which blocked the street for another four years. Followed by COVID, followed by the trucker convoy, followed by the opioid crisis,” he said. [Ottawa Business Journal]

🎄 Who doesn’t love a good Christmas movie? Hot Frosty, a new Netflix film which was shot in Almonte and parts of Ottawa, has been getting a lot of attention — and not just for its steamy shirtless scenes. In just the first two weeks, it’s been viewed more than 28 million times and has been a boost for tourism. [CBC]

🌉 A bridge in the east end might need to permanently close if large trucks don’t stay off it. The Sarsfield Road Bridge over the Bear Brook municipal drain — which has a 10 tonne limit — is in critical condition and is scheduled to be replaced in 2025. Coun. Catherine Kitts, who represents the ward of Orléans South-Navan, said it was a favoured crossing for many agricultural vehicles because it was faster. [CBC]

📦 Ottawa small businesses are continuing to feel the negative effects of the Canada Post strike. Sports 4 general manager Karen Zerr said Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of its busiest times. The cost to ship with UPS is triple the price. [CTV]

❄️ Insufficient cold weather conditions have prompted the cancellation of the 2024 Tremblant PwC World Cup. “The safety of the athletes, staff and volunteers are our primary concern. Despite the hard work of the Tremblant team and the volunteers, the courses' snow condition is not suitable for World Cup racing," said Peter Gerdol, FIS race director of the AUDI FIS Ski World Cup. [CTV]

🏫 Ottawa Carleton District School Board Trustee Donna Blackburn has been sanctioned and will need to undergo antisemitism training after speaking out about the board’s decision not to take part in this year’s Pride parade. [CBC]

🔥 A man was seriously injured in one of the three fires Saturday night. The incident occurred at a building in the 200 block of Bay Street in Somerset district. That night, fire crews also put out a car fire at a commercial lowrise building on Rochester Street nearby and a third after the front deck of a single-family home on Kenwood Avenue caught fire. [Ottawa Citizen]

FOOD

Three Lookout food stories you might have missed

Who doesn’t love good food? We at the Lookout certainly do! Here are three stories our food editor wrote about places in Ottawa you must try.

Affordable and delicious: Where to snag a meal for under $10 in Ottawa

We don’t need to tell you the coat of food is expensive these days — especially when it comes to food. But it does not always need to be. Our food editor compiled a list of places where you can purchase a cheep and tasty meal for under $10.

The 2024 Ottawa Burger Safari

Who does not love a good burger? They are juicy, tender, and fulfilling. Ottawa has so many burger joints, though, it can be challenging to know where to go.

Food editor Ralf Joneikies went on a burger crawl and shares with you his best picks. 

Ottawa’s hidden sandwich gem

Paninaro began in 1980’s Milan and was marked by an ostentatious consumption or display of luxury goods, mostly by young men.

Common meeting places for these groups were cafes and panino (sandwich) shops and later the movement spread to all of Italy which then further inspired the creation of magazines, films and television shows. Even the Pet Shop Boys got into the scene by writing a song called Paninaro.

Owner and creator of Paninaro, Marco Distefano, began work on his shop after he’d had a craving for a famous Florentine sandwich (video link under Quick Bites). Unfortunately no one in Ottawa made this type and an opportunity was born.

Read the entire review

EVENTS

Annual Holiday Fundraising Art Sale | The Ottawa School of Art (OSA) ByWard Market Campus, 35 George St | Until Dec 8 | Wide range of unique and affordable original works of art created by OSA students, instructors and local artists | Free

The Compassionate Friends is holding a Worldwide Candlelight Ceremony for children who have left us too soon. December 8th 630 pm. More information [Sponsored]

Alight at Night | Upper Canada Village, 13740 County Rd. 2, Morrisburg | Nov. 29–Jan. 4 | Explore nearly one million lights in a magical winter wonderland featuring carriage rides, BeaverTails, and festive charm | Tickets $17

Giving Tuesday Lunch Special at Chef Ric's | 384 Rideau Street | Tuesday, December 3 | 11 am - 2 pm | Enjoy a special green-themed lunch for only $6.99, symbolizing hope and renewal. Proceeds support The Ottawa Mission. Make an additional donation to receive a free cupcake! | Learn more [Sponsored]

Wellington Village Holiday Shopping Night | along Wellington St.W | Dec. 3 | Visit Wellington Village for a festive night that includes treats, goodies, store specials, a visit from Santa, various family events and much more. Start checking off your Christmas list while supporting local. | Free

613Holiday Night Market | Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne, 1000 Exhibition Way | Dec. 6 | Proving once again that holiday shopping can actually be fun! The 613Holiday Night Market offers an indoor shopping experience filled with festive cheer | Free

Ottawa Santa Shuffle | Lansdowne Park | Dec. 7 | A 5km Fun Run and 1km Elf Walk for all ages and skill levels in proud partnership with the Running Room. Participants are encouraged to wear their funkiest festive running attire for a day of laughter and fun. | Free

A Very Retro Christmas | Nepean Museum, 16 Rowley Ave | Step into a time machine and celebrate the holidays with your family in retro style! Enjoy the nostalgic charm of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s with vintage toys and games, throwback crafts, a themed scavenger hunt, and more. Perfect for families with children aged 6 to 12 | Free

Stittsville Parade of Lights | Stittsville Main Street | Dec. 7 | A community favourite, drawing thousands of spectators along Stittsville Main Street parade route as dozens of beautifully decorated community floats set the tone for Santa’s much anticipated arrival at the end of the parade | Free

Metcalfe Farmers' Christmas Market | Greely Community Centre, 1448 Meadow Dr | Dec. 14 | All vendors are local, and make, create, bake or grow all of their products | Free

Annual Pet Day & Market at Robert Plante Greenhouses | Robert Plante Greenhouses, 4228 Navan Rd | Celebrate your furry friends with pet-themed vendors, toys, treats and custom gifts. Snap festive photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus (10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.) | Free

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• A Stittsville family has recreated a Christmas movie themed holiday light display to raise funds for charity. [CTV]

• Stay in & still enjoy local veggies, meat, eggs and dairy! Farmhouse Food brings delicious to your door. Sign up today! [Sponsored]

• Ukrainian artist Nataliia Kononova finds solace in painting Ottawa's Hog's Back Falls. [Ottawa Citizen]

• Here are 12 holiday markets to visit around Ottawa this year. [Apt613]

• Here is what is playing at Ottawa’s independent cinemas during the first half of December. [Apt613]

• Go back in time with an old fashioned Christmas at the Goulbourn Museum. [Stittsville Central]

QUIZ