Read this week’s Heads Up post to find out where you can save this week on winter sunshine holidays; which Ontario destination rated a shoutout from the New York Times; where you can attend a three-day fall art retreat or take an embroidery workshop; which Ottawa Valley community recently launched an on-demand bus service; where you can get bagels and brisket in Gatineau; and which Lanark County town recently ranked among the best Ontario small towns to live.
Now is the time to register for Fibrefest workshops
If you’d like to take one of the September workshops offered in conjunction with Fibrefest in Almonte, now is the time to register—in fact, several are already sold out! But don’t despair; there are still spaces left in most of the workshops, which include sessions devoted to embroidery, gelli painting on fabric, weaving, felting and many other skills. You can even make your own tiny emotional support chicken! Note that while Fibrefest takes place on September 6 and 7, the workshops are scheduled from September 3 to 13.
Trent-Severn Waterway gets kudos from the NYT
Did you know that the Trent-Severn Waterway, which connects Trenton on Lake Ontario to Port Severn on Georgian Bay, was the only place in Canada to make the New York Times’ list of 52 Places to Go in 2025? The waterway got the nod for such attractions as the new digs for the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough and the posh houseboat trips available through Le Boat.
Ticket sales for Indian dinner close on August 17
Stonefields Estate in Carleton Place is holding a Flavours of India dinner on Friday, September 5. Choices at the four-course dinner include curry cauliflower, lamb pasanda, butter chicken and mango cheesecake. Gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options are available, and wines can be ordered separately. Ticket sales close on Sunday, August 17.
You can get bagels, brisket and bacon-topped pizza in downtown Hull sector
If your travels take you to the downtown Hull sector of Gatineau anytime soon, the folks over at Tourisme Outaouais have highlighted three places where you can get a bite to eat. To my surprise, Bobino Bagel (near the Canadian Museum of History) is the first bagel maker in the Outaouais! The post also recommends Le BBQ Shop for smoked brisket and Naples Pizza for pizza and pasta.
You can unwind at an art retreat in Appleton
Artists Janet Beath and Colleen Gray are running an art retreat at the Old Mill Manor in Appleton from Monday, October 6, through Thursday, October 9. During the Autumn Silk Roads Retreat, participants will paint their spirit animal on a silk scarf. The registration fee includes accommodation at the Old Mill Manor, meals and art supplies.
Flixbus hopes to expand across Canada
German-based Flixbus, which began operating in Canada in 2021, has ambitions to offer intercity bus service across the country. (It currently operates only in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta.) But it’s unclear whether that service will only connect major cities or whether smaller rural communities would be better served as well, as this CBC story points out.
Update: Flixbus has just announced that it will be stopping several times a day in Gananoque, which is good news.
P.S.: If you’d like to know which buses and trains currently connect Ottawa to points beyond, check out my post, How to road trip from Ottawa by bus or train. You might be surprised how many options there are—although not all of them are frequent or convenient.
Pembroke launches on-demand bus service
Speaking of buses: The City of Pembroke has launched an on-demand bus service within the city limits. Called Ottawa River Transit, it will be a three-year pilot project using three eight-passenger vehicles. This CTV Ottawa post about the Pembroke initiative also speculates whether a similar 2024 pilot project in Blackburn Hamlet will be revived and made permanent.
Almonte makes list of 12 best small towns in Ontario
Money.ca recently updated its list of the 12 best small towns in Ontario to live. While the list is pretty Southern Ontario-centric (surprise, surprise), Almonte made the list for its comparatively reasonable home prices (compared to Toronto prices, of course). It also got a shoutout for its popularity as a holiday rom-com movie set. The only other Eastern Ontario community to make the list—and it’s on the very edge of what could be considered “eastern”—is Picton/Prince Edward County.
Deals and new non-stop flights to sun destinations
Somehow, I missed this news when it was announced a few months ago: Air Canada has added seasonal non-stop service connecting Ottawa to two sunshine destinations. The airline will offer one flight in each direction between Ottawa and Nassau, Bahamas, on Fridays. It will also offer one flight in each direction between Ottawa and Montego Bay, Jamaica, on Sundays. The flights will start in early December and finish in mid-April.
That comes on top of Porter’s announcement in late June that it will be flying non-stop from Ottawa to five sunny places, including Grand Cayman and Liberia (Costa Rica). Speaking of Porter: Its southbound flights are currently on sale until Sunday, August 17.
Check my big list of non-stop flights between Ottawa and the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America for more inspiration for your winter holidays.
Looking for more tips on things to see and do in and around Ottawa? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km Getaway Guide.
As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.