What's happening in Ottawa this weekend: March 31 to April 2
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at things to do in Ottawa, eastern Ontario and western Quebec during the first weekend of April.
World Curling Championship
The world's best men's curling teams will take the ice starting this weekend at the Arena at TD Place.
The World Men's Curling Championship runs from April 1 to 9 in Ottawa.
Canada is skipped by Brad Gushue. Canada plays Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
For tickets and the schedule, visit worldcurling.org.
Ottawa Senators
It's the Battle of Ontario Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre.
The Ottawa Senators host the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7 p.m.
For tickets, visit ottawasenators.com.
Ottawa 67's
The Ottawa 67's face the Oshawa Generals in round 1 of the OHL playoffs.
Game 2 is Sunday at the Slush Puppie Centre in Gatineau.
For tickets, visit ottawa67s.com.
Gatineau Olympiques
The Gatineau Olympiques host Saint John in round 1 of the QMJHL playoffs.
Game one is Friday night at the Slush Puppie Centre, and Game two on Saturday at 4 p.m.
For tickets, visit https://olympiquesdegatineau.ca/.
Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo takes the stage at the National Arts Centre Friday and Saturday night.
Blue Rodeo will be joined by Brooks and Bowskill.
For tickets, visit https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/32330
Nico Paulo
The National Arts Centre's Fridays at the Fourth presents Nico Paulo.
The Portuguese/Canadian songwriter, performer and visual artist takes the stage Friday night at 8:30 p.m.
For tickets, visit https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/32651.
Bill Burr
See Bill Burr Sunday night at the National Arts Centre.
There are two shows – at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
For tickets, visit https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/33940.
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters dribble into Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday.
The Globetrotter stars bring their amazing basketball skill, athleticism and a non-stop good time to Ottawa.
Game time is 2 p.m.
For tickets, visit https://www.canadiantirecentre.com/event/harlem-globetrotters/.
Ottawa Wedding Show
Walk down the aisle to plan your dream wedding at the Ottawa Wedding Show.
The show runs Saturday and Sunday at the EY Centre.
For tickets, visit https://ottawaweddingshow.ca/.
Ottawa Mini-Comiccon
Ottawa Mini-Comiccon runs Saturday and Sunday at the EY Centre.
The show features a shopping experience aimed at fans that are looking for collectibles.
Admission is free.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1152590712089040/.
The Great Egg Race
The Great Egg Race is set for Saturday at the Horticulture Building.
Design an egg car, build it and compete in the Great Egg Race.
All materials are provided.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/s/the-great-egg-race/742212864157343/.
Vanier Sugar Festival
Celebrate the love of maple syrup at the Vanier Sugar Festival this weekend.
The festival runs until Sunday at the Vanier Museopark.
For information, visit https://museoparc.ca/sugar-festival/
Maple Syrup Season
It's maple syrup season. Click the links for more information on hours of operation.
- Stanley's Olde Maple Lane Farm – 2452 York's Corners Road
- Proulx Maple and Berry Farm - 1865 Chemin O'Toole, Cumberland
- Log Farm – 670 Cedarview Road
- Fulton's Sugar Bush and Maple Shop – 399 Sugar Bush Road, Pakenham
- Mapleside Sugarbush – 166 Reiche Road, Pembroke, Ont.
- Temple's Sugarbush – 1700 Ferguson's Falls Road, Lanark
- Wheelers Maple – 1001 Highland Line, McDonalds Corners
- Domaine de L'Ange Gardien – L'Ange Gardien, Que.
- Hunter's Maple Products – 1909 County Road 21, Spencerville
- Fortune Farms - 2442 Wolf Grove, Almonte
- Vanier Sugar Shack
Outdoor skating rinks
- The Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall is open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. (weather permitting).
- Lansdowne Park skating court is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (weather permitting).
- The Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink (Canterbury) is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (weather permitting).
- Ben Franklin Place Skating Rink (101 Centrepointe Drive) Open daily (weather permitting).
- Kingston's Springer Market Square Rink is open daily for skating from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. For information on all outdoor rinks in Kingston, visit https://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/recreation/facilities/arenas/outdoor-rinks
Skiing and snowboarding in the Ottawa area
Visit each resort's website for conditions.
- Camp Fortune in Chelsea, Que.
- Ski Vorlagein Wakefield, Que.
- Sommet Edelweiss in Wakefield, Que.
- Mont Cascades Ski Resort in Cantley, Que.
- Mount Pakenham is located 45 minutes west of downtown in Pakenham, Ont.
- Calabogie Peaks Ski Resort in Calabogie, Ont.
- Mont Ste-Marie
Museums
For information on each museum in Ottawa, click on the websites.
- Canadian Museum of Nature
- Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
- Canada Science and Technology Museum
- Canada Aviation and Space Museum
- Canadian War Museum
- Canadian Museum of History
- National Gallery of Canada
- The Diefenbunker
Wolves: Shape-shifters in a Changing World
Visit the Canadian Museum of Nature's new exhibit – Wolves: Shape-shifters in a Changing World.
The exhibition explores the evolution and adaptations of these charismatic animals through scientific research, museum specimens, video, cultural stories and art, and vivid photographs.
Admission to see Wolves: Shape-shifters in a Changing World is included with general admission.
Television of our Childhoods
The Canadian Museum of History presents a special exhibition, 'From Pepinot to Paw Patrol: Television of our Childhoods'.
Explore 70 years of Canadian children's television at the Canadian Museum of History until September.
The exhibit features original costumes, puppets and numerous clips from everyone's favourite shows.
Lansdowne Winter Market
The Lansdowne Winter Market is every Sunday at Lansdowne.
The year-round, producer-run farmers market will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Aberdeen Pavilion.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air Canada rejects passenger compensation claims for delays caused by tech issue
Air Canada has rejected compensation claims from some travellers who were among the thousands affected by flight delays caused by computer problems in recent weeks -- a response it now calls 'erroneous,' with cash offers en route.

2-year-old girl dead after going missing near Canmore, Alta., campground
A two-year-old girl who went missing from Canmore's Bow River Campground on Thursday afternoon has died.
How to interpret Environment Canada's Air Quality Health Index ratings
Environment Canada has been advising people to check the Air Quality Health Index as wildfire smoke blanketed large swaths of Canada in recent days, but even without wildfires, the index can be a useful tool to monitor air pollution.
Ottawa girl set to become the youngest university graduate in Canadian history
Anthaea-Grace Patricia Dennis is not your typical 12-year-old. She is a child prodigy who's about to become the youngest Canadian to ever graduate from university.
Bernardo's prison transfer 'slap in the face' for victims' families, Tori Stafford's father says
The father of Tori Stafford, an Ontario girl who was murdered in 2009, says the latest decision to transfer convicted killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison is a 'slap in the face' to all murder victims' families.
'That hurt has been extended': Indigenous leaders in Manitoba share displeasure of Queen Elizabeth II statue being back up
Two years after two statues were knocked down and damaged at the Manitoba Legislature, one is now back up and Indigenous leaders are upset by the decision.
Job market shows sign of softening, unemployment rate rises for 1st time in months
Canada's jobless rate ticked higher to 5.2 per cent in May, marking the first increase since August 2022 as economists have been watching for any sign of a softening labour market.
Trump charged over classified documents in 1st federal indictment of an ex-president
Donald Trump said Thursday that he was indicted for mishandling classified documents at his Florida estate, a remarkable development that makes him the first former president in U.S. history to face criminal charges by the federal government that he once oversaw.
Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass stands by his 'personal beliefs' after sharing anti-LGBTQ2S+ video
Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass said he stands by his “personal beliefs” just over a week after apologizing for sharing an anti-LGBTQ2S+ video on Instagram.