Fake Friday: OC Transpo Launches New Cats-Only Bus

Ottawa - New OC Transpo boss John Manconi was criticized after the launch of the new CATS-ONLY bus service earlier this week on account the feline transportation system will cost a reported $7 million. Using highly skilled cat drivers, the new cat bus service will be used to pick up cats from around the city and bring them to their requested destinations. The service excludes all human and canine passengers and could pose a safety hazard critics say. "We just saw a cat-bus veer off the road after a bird landed on the windshield, and the cat-driver got distracted." said Ottawa Transportation Committee Head Jean Silvay, who thinks the new cat bus program could also escalate in terms of operational costs. "One cat bus driver costs upwards of $200,000 to properly train to operate a bus, and these dollars I think could be better spent on human bus services." Silvay exclaimed.

The revolutionary new cat bus uses a trained cat to pick up other cats who wander the neighbourhood and charges a fare of 3 licks to the cat driver, who then stops at designated cat stops throughout the city. OC Transpo initiated the new bus service after complaints from human passengers that some cats were found on regular OC Transpo buses. OC Transpo boss John Manconi thinks the new cat bus is innovative in addressing the need for cat transport, and hopes others will see the benefits before dismissing the program. "These cats are highly skilled and can transport other cats all across the Nation's Capital efficiently." suggested Manconi. However one instance had a cat lose control of a bus after a squirrel ran in front of it and distracted the cat driver. No injuries were reported but the cat driver was given a warning by police.

Cats across the city seem to enjoy the new cat bus, and only had positive comments about the controversial service, with one cat passenger expressing excitement and loud purring. "Mew meow meow meow." said Truffles, a tabby from Vanier who was making her way to visit Mittens the cat in Westboro on the new cat bus.

This article originally appeared on the-o-dot and is reprinted here with permission.

Arne Berg's first lightning photo of the year (and it's a good one)

Arne Berg sent us this great photo of lightning, taken earlier this evening from his apartment in west Ottawa, looking southwest. If you have a great photo of Ottawa weather (or anything else), please send it to feedback@ottawastart.com or add it to the OttawaStart Flickr Group.

See also: OttawaWeather Guide
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OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: Adventure, antiques, books, beer and lots more

Ghost 1.  A ghostly wall in the Glebe.
Photo by Marcel Regimbald, shared in the OttawaStart Flickr Group.

Here are our contributors' suggestions for the best events in Ottawa from March 15-21. You can add your event listing to OttawaStart via our Community News page.

Max Keeping, CTV Ottawa's Community Ambassador:
MAKING WISHES COME TRUE: Algonquin Event Management students are having extraordinary success with fund raising parties for Children's Wish. Sold out houses in most of the nine parties sofar. Thursday, March 15, in the Velvet Room, An Evening in the Roaring 20's includes a jazz band, flappers and dapper dans, a buffet of canapes and sinful desserts.  And Friday, One Night in Vegas at Sala San Marco. Look for glitzy showgirls, Ottawa's Johnny Vegas, and a 3-course meal.    Worth your checking out.

Amanda Earl, poet & publisher:  
BOOKS: Charles de Lint reads from his latest book "Under My Skin: Wildings Book 1" & plays songs from his recent CD "Old Blue Truck" on Thursday, March 15, 2012, 7pm at Raw Sugar, 692 Somerset W. I would be surprised if any local author was as prolific as De Lint. See him here & then go to his annual garage sale in May. Good to see local authors involved in the community.

Andrew Snowdon, writer:
THEATRE: I'd like to recommend Paul Hutcheson's one-man comedy show Third Time Lucky.  His style is on the border of stand-up comedy and storytelling—always hilarious, often touching, shockingly irreverent, and his show is worth it for the 3 1/2 minute finale alone.  There are two shows left on the 16th and 17th at 10pm, at the Gladstone Theatre (as part of Black Sheep Theatre's Black Box Set).

Gordon Dewis aka KeeperOfMaps:  
TRAVEL: The Outdoor & Adventure Travel Show takes place this Saturday and Sunday at the CE Centre on Uplands Drive. The doors open at 9am both days and close at 7pm on Saturday and 5pm on Sunday. At the show you can learn about exciting gear and great destinations while also checking out the speakers they've lined up. You'll find an indoor climbing wall, a paddling demo pool and even scuba diving demonstrations. You can also watch some award winning paddling films on the Woods & Water Stage.


Andrew King, artist:     
COLLECTIBLES: The Ottawa Nostalgia and Collectible Show is on Sunday March 18. Like nostalgia and vintage things? This is the show of the year for you. Over 60 dealers exhibit on 120 tables packed with interesting, hard to find and memorable collectibles.There are many product catagories offered for sale in these shows, for example, COMICS, Old Advertising, Radios, Movie Items,Post Cards,Toys, Dolls, Breweriana, Pop Machines, Records, Coca Cola, Sports Cards, Service Station Items, Trains, Ephemera, Railroad, Auto Memorabila, Teddy Bears, Pedal Cars, etc. Professional buyers will be on hand to purchase your old and valuable collectibles. If you have pre 1965 collectibles you wish to sell, please bring them to the show. There is no obligation......you will have a offer for your items that you are free to accept or not.  Nepean Sportsplex at 1701 Woodroffe Ave. 9am-3pm...$6 admission, 12yrs & under free...early bird 7am admission.


Brett Delmage, OttawaJazzScene.ca:  
JAZZ: West-enders will get a chance to hear world-class jazz without going downtown, when the quartet of NYC saxophonist Donny McCaslin plays Brookstreet Options Jazz Bar on Sunday evening. Reservations required; dinner available.

Don from foodieprints: FOOD/BEER: Ottawa's tiny upstart of a brewery, Broadhead, has partnered with two local eateries to offer beer-paired multi-course dinners. One will be held at the Hintonburg Public House (1020 Wellington Street W.) on March 19th at 7pm. A self-professed gastro-pub, the dinner will consist of 5 courses, each paired with 5 beers. Reservations are required, (613)421-5087 . It costs $60/person (+HST) to attend. Two other paired dinners will be held at Zen Kitchen (634 Somerset Street W.) on March 21st (already sold out) and March 28th, both starting at 6 pm. Also 5 courses, each pairs vegan dishes with beer. It costs $64/person (+HST) to attend. Reservations are required, 613-233-6404.

Denise Deby, from Green Living Ottawa:    
ENVIRONMENT: March 21 brings a rare chance to see Dr. Jane Goodall in Ottawa and hear about her work, from her groundbreaking studies with chimpanzees to her global efforts to protect the environment. There’ll be a screening of the documentary Jane’s Journey, a Q&A session and book signing; it’s presented by the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.


Have a great week!

See also: Ottawa Events Guide
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Help the Brothers Dube get to Haiti (it's for a good cause)

We received this email recently from the Brothers Dube, who we've mentioned a few times before on this blog. They're the kid / teenage rock band out of Orleans.

Brothers Dube are at it again and need YOUR help getting to Haiti to share their message so please donate and share (donations are tax-deductible).

THANK YOU For helping us raise over $140,000 for the needyWhen some of you came to see us that first show at the Raw Sugar Cafe two years ago, we didn't know we were on our way to becoming United Way Community Builder of the year award. Since then we've raised over $140,000 for charity through hundreds of shows and all of it came from people like YOU. Thanks to YOU, in addition to the much needed supplies (food, water and medicine) for orphans at the House of Hope orphanage, they were able to rebuild the girls dormitory which had taken too much structural damage. They were also able to purchase a vehicle in order to run important errands at the orphanage. Your donations were directed to specific projects, with specific results. 

Along the way, we also got asked by lots of other kids, "How can WE make a difference?" and now we're going to answer that question. 

NOW we're SHARING our journey of compassion with other kids, maybe YOUR kids!On April 3, we're going to Haiti to film a day in the life of a Haitian child, which we will be taking into Canadian classrooms (along with our axes) to share with students so that they too can help in a number of ways, by volunteering their time. Our school will be donating much needed supplies for the schools and families we are visiting. Once we back, we're playing our first show at Emily Carr Middle school on April 27. 

So this year, instead of our annual fundraiser for Haiti, we're raising funds to cover the trip's expenses and asking you to make a tax-deductible donation by giving online at our funding page. We're also accepting Air Miles which can be transferred as well on the same page. Please help us share our message with kids everywhere to educate, inspire, and empower them with the choice to become socially active contributors and donate today. The sooner we meet our funding objective, the sooner we can get packing!!! 

YOU CAN HELP NOWYou've shown us what's possible over the last two years, now help us share that story. Donate now and please SHARE this with others to help us change the world in our own little way.  

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!

See also: Ottawa Music Guide
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Ottawa rapper rolls up the rim and wins... a car!

Lots of folks have been bragging about their "roll up the rim" wins from Tim Hortons.  Mostly they're photos of free coffees or the odd Tim Card.  Yesterday, our friend and Ottawa rapper Peter Joynt aka The Joynt aka @capcity posted these photos:

Yes, he won a Toyota Camry.  He bought the cup at an Esso station in Kanata. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.  Congrats Peter!  (You may remember Peter from this music video about Ottawa.)


See also: Ottawa Music Guide
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Fake Friday: Little Italy Launches New "Pay & Pasta" Parking Meters

Little Italy - The vibrant Italian neighbourhood that stretches along Preston Street from Carling to Somerset recently had new "Pay & Pasta" parking meters installed to help draw visitors to the area. A well known location for Italian cuisine, the City Of Ottawa in association with the Preston Street BIA, developed the concept of dispensing pasta last spring as a way to help boost enjoyment for paid parking.

The new machines operate much like a normal Pay & Display parking machine would, except it dispenses delicious, fresh Italian style pasta in addition to your parking display slip. The added pasta feature not only makes parking in Little Italy a more rewarding exerience, but also gives visitors a chance to savour a taste of the neighbourhood. "I really enjoyed getting fresh fettucini pasta dispensed along with my parking slip," explained Preston Street visitor Gail Herman, who often frequents the variety of Italian shops in the area. "This way I can park and have a treat to take home for dinner," praised Herman.

Even though the new Pay & Pasta machines are receiving high praise from many, there are a few parking visitors who are complaining the machines do not dispense gluten-free pasta, such as Norm Little, who traveled from Westboro to park on Preston Street. "I think they have to address the growing need for gluten-free drivers who park here," Little remarked. "We pay the same price to park but can't enjoy the type of pasta these new machines dispense," said Little.

New pasta types will be introduced each month, with March slated for spaghetti, and April lasagna pasta. Mayor Jim Watson unveiled the first machine to be installed on Preston Street yesterday and called the Pay & Pasta machines a great way to literally enjoy the flavour of the neighbourhood. "It's great that your money not only gets you parking in one of the finest cities in Canada, but also fresh delicious pasta in a variety of shapes," Watson exclaimed during the unveiling.

This article originally appeared on the-o-dot and is published here with permission of the author.

OttawaStart's Weekly Event Round-Up: St. Patrick's parade, chocolate charity brunch, piggy banks and more...

Our contributors pick the best events in Ottawa for the week of March 8-14. You can add your event suggestions to the comments below, or add them to OttawaStart's Community Listings.

Denise Deby, who writes for Green Living Ottawa:  
WOMEN'S DAY: Mirth with a message—that’s the fourth annual “I am a feminist, but...," happening on International Women’s Day, Thursday March 8. Several organizations including Amnesty International Canada and the Nobel Women’s Initiative are hosting the event, which offers a talk-show-style panel discussion, a short humorous film, and awards for local women activists.

Max Keeping, CTV Ottawa's Community Ambassador: 
MAKING WISHES COME TRUE: A huge shout out to 97 Algonquin's Event Management students, who are doing 15 events to raise money for Children's Wish. THURSDAY: Crazy Horse Saloon, a country themed night. FRIDAY: My Condo, Making Wishes Fly, captures Pan Am & 1960's. FRIDA: Richelieu-Vanier CC, urban hip hop showcase (see more from Ruvini below). FRIDAY: Centurion Centre, a ladies night includes a bachelor auction. SUNDAY: 1pm, Mayfair Theatre, Back to the Future, on and off the screen.

Ruvini Godakandae from KahootKids.ca:
DANCE: If you love the hard-hitting and energetic movements of hip hop dance, then Friday's Dance 4 a Wish fundraiser is not to be missed. Proceeds from the fundraiser, put on by Algonquin College's Event Management students, will go to the Children’s Wish Foundation. You're sure to be entertained by some of Ottawa’s finest hip hop crews taking the stage including Driven Dance Ottawa, Culture Shock Dance Troupe, Flavour Factory and more. The show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are said to be selling fast.

Juliette Giannesini, aka Zhu, photographer:   
PARADE: On March 10, come and attend the 30th Annual St. Patrick’s Parade, starting at 11:00 a.m.  at Ottawa City Hall and finishing by 1:00 p.m. at Lansdowne Park. The Ottawa Food Bank will be collecting non-perishable food and cash along the parade route. Other fun activities during the Irish Week 2012 are detailed here.

Amanda Earl, poet & publisher: 
WRITERS: Ron Silliman, A B Series on Saturday, March 10 at 8pm at Gallery 101 (301 1/2 Bank St). American poet & blogger extraordinaire comes to Ottawa for what I believe is the first time ever. This is a rare opportunity to hear & meet him. & the event is free! Earlier in the day at 2pm at Gallery 101 he's giving an artist's talk and workshop about his life, about blogging, and possibly about the School of Quietude. You have to register ahead of time for the workshop, which is only $5. I am one of the three million people who has visited his blog, a somewhat sporadic follower and am looking forward to the chance to see him in person.


Yasir Naqvi, MPP Ottawa Centre: 
COMMUNITY: This weekend, I’ll be attending the Celebrate Her Grand Finale Gala, which is part of a week-long fine-arts fundraising and awareness campaign benefiting Ottawa’s Sexual Assault Support Centre and local artists. The Gala is taking place at Patrick John Mills Gallery, 286 Hinchey Ave and it is on Saturday, March 10th from 3 – 6pm.


Don from foodieprints:
FOOD: Looking for a way to kick off the start of March Break with your family and friends? Looking for a fun outing that benefits the community? Consider the 8th Annual Carefor Chocolate Brunch Competition at the Centurion Conference & Event Centre (170 Colonnade Road). A fundraiser, join 400 attendees for brunch, live music, and a silent & live auction, Saturday, March 10. In addition to crowning the 2012 Carefor Chocolate champion, chosen from Ottawa's passionate chocolate artisans, you'll get a chance to sample all the chocolate creations and take home containers containing those goodies. The event starts at 10:00 AM. Tickets cost $75 for adults, $40 for children, and free for infants (less than 4 years old).

Ryan Bresee, radio host of CKCU's Whatever's Cool With Me:  
MUSIC: On Sunday, Jack Pine and the Fire will be playing at the Black Sheep Inn from 3-6 p.m.
 At their recent CD release show, so many people showed up that they were turning people away in droves. The music is that good. I swear! CKCU-FM is sponsoring a shuttle bus to the venue so you can sit back and enjoy the scenic drive.

Max Keeping, CTV Ottawa's Community Ambassador: 
BOWLING FOR KIDS: All the lanes are booked... you can still drop by for birthday cake, raffles, extreme fun, and to make a donation.  My BIRTHDATE BOWLATHON is on Sunday from 11am-2pm at Merivale Bowling Centre; over 300 people participate, many in costume; none of the $000 in prizes is for bowling skill. The Mayor is one of the VIP's you'll meet. Also Wicked Wendy from the BEAR 106.9.

Jean Labelle, photographer:    
MUSIC: Spend an evening with Jann Arden. She is playing this Sunday evening at the NAC.


Brett Delmage, OttawaJazzScene.ca: 
JAZZ: Léonard Constant and Florquestra Brasil are best known for their infectious rendition of Brazilian and Latin jazz. But now they're expanding their repertoire: to Leonard Cohen. Hear the combination on Monday, March 12 at Les Brasseurs du Temps in downtown Gatineau.

Josee from Frugal Fun Ottawa:    
MARCH BREAK: March Break is almost here! Parents looking to entertain the kids can take in Empire Theatres' toonies matinees during the break. For lots more March Break fun, you can check out Frugal Fun Ottawa's March Break on a Budget listing too!
(You can find more March Break info on OttawaStart's March Break Guide.)


Sara-Lynne Levine, Ottawa Capital Region Macaroni Kid: 
MUSEUMS: Piggy Banks! The Currency Museum (245 Sparks Street) is featuring an exhibit of slot-backed swine from days past - also known as piggy banks. Don't be a boar - come to the Currency Museum where we encourage you to hog all the fun! Thursday, March 8 through Sunday, April 1.

Have a great week!

See also: Ottawa Events Guide
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