Reddit pulse / page 18

A person spotted a homeless man at Kettlemans Bagel in the Trainyards area—first late Friday, then again Sunday in the heat. Others are hoping someone with resources can reach out and help.

Weather flipped fast in Orleans—someone was stuck inside Walmart when it suddenly came down hard. Summer's throwing curveballs.

Every incumbent running for re-election is now officially on the ballot. Reddit's gearing up to talk about who deserves a second term—ward by ward, councillor by councillor. The real debate about city council is about to happen.

Kanata Theatre is peddling AI slop and people on Reddit are not happy about it. Arts organizations have a responsibility not to be cogcuckers, and this one's disappointing the community.

Latest Uniform Crime Reporting data shows Ottawa's homicides stay well below the national average—we're historically safer from extreme violence. But theft under $5k is surging locally while falling nationally, and police are solving fewer crimes than Ontario or Canada overall. Safety paradox: we're doing okay on serious stuff, struggling on clearance rates.

Ottawa Reddit's debating where to find harissa — specifically the oily condiment kind like chili crisp, not paste. Folks pointing to Middle Eastern shops and online retailers. What's your move?

Sammy Obeid brings his comedy show Overtime to the Bytowne on Monday, July 27. Fans are pumped—his reels have been blowing up on socials.

A local asked why the city doesn't plant more trees on streets and downtown instead of all that empty grass. Lots of people backing the idea—especially with heat waves getting brutal.

Someone asked Reddit where people in their 30s hang out for live music and drinks that isn't country. The thread blew up with recommendations for bars and venues across the city.

Drivers spotted what looks like a movie production crew on Bank Street. Someone's filming a Christmas flick in the city rn—the hype is real.

Someone's mini-yacht started sinking on the water this afternoon. Owner beached it in shallow water near the dock to keep it from going under completely—but it's tilted to one side.

Blackburn Hamlet is hosting free paper shredding today until 1 p.m. at 190 Glen Park Drive at the community center. Bring your documents—they ask you to take your boxes back.

Someone spotted a monarch butterfly in their Sandy Hill garden—the first they've seen in 20 years. It stopped for a drink on their milkweed. Nice to see them back.

Costco Ottawa shoppers hunting for the viral chipotle chicken—the product that broke the internet when it landed in Canada earlier this month. Spotted on shelves yet?

Sunflower season: locals looking for the blooms around Ottawa, so far spotting them in planters at Dow's Lake. Any word on the Experimental Farm or other patches around the city?

City hosting a virtual public consultation August 10 on the Kent Street functional design study from Somerset to James Street. The project scope has been narrowed to focus on integrated road, sewer and watermain renewal. Register for the Zoom link on Councillor Ariel Troster's newsletter.

Good news — the Orléans Halloween fundraiser is continuing for at least one more year after being in limbo over bylaw complaints.

Fireflies are out along Bank Street and by the water on the southeast side. Head down if you want to catch them.

New Liaison poll from July 19, 2026 shows Mayor Mark Sutcliffe leading with 36 percent support in the mayoral race, followed by Shawn Lawson at 26 percent, Catherine Lepier at 25 percent, and Arjun Saravanamuttoo at 11 percent.

January to May 2026: 2,989 housing units started in Ottawa, down from 3,789 in the same period last year. But completions are up — 3,145 units finished so far this year versus 2,350 through May 2025. Apartments dominate units under construction with 13,256, while rows and singles total 2,268 combined.