Ottawa to Host 2020 Bureaucrat Olympics

By: Keegan On

Last week, the International Bureaucrat Olympic Committee (IBOC) announced the successful bids for the 2016, 2020, and 2024 Bureaucrat Olympic games. While Berlin will host the event in 2016, and Nairobi in 2024, Ottawa has secured the honour of putting on the games in 2020.

“It’s a big day for us, obviously. We are elated. Ottawa has always had a strong bureaucratic scene, and now we have a chance to show the world,” said Danielle Doherty, President of the Ottawa Bureaucrat Olympic Committee,  “We’ve been working on bringing the Games to Ottawa for six years, and now that we have done it, the real work begins. There is so much to do to prepare for 2020”.

The Bureaucrat Olympics is a 15 day event that highlights elite pencil pushers from around the world. Competitors enter events such as File-Sorting, the Rolling Chair Relay, and Buzzwording. The games will bring upwards of 200 athletes to the city, and likely many more spectators.

Allan Nyguen, who works as a Human Resources Officer for Health Canada, has already been named the captain of Team Canada. “It’s an honour,” says Nyguen, “Everyone on the team is a superstar, so it’s pretty wild that I was chosen. My event is Conflict Resolution, and I can’t wait to get to it. Go Canada!”

#81 - Natalie Poirier

Natalie Poirier was on the show this week! She talked with us about the 6-week solo hike across Ontario, dubbed The Brain Venture, that she completed this summer, to raise money for Angioma Alliance Canada. We also discussed what it's like growing up in Carp, and going to rugby nationals while studying at Queens.

BREW DONKEY CONTEST:
We're running a contest in partnership with Brew Donkey, and you can enter to win a free Brew Donkey brewery tour ticket. The question we're asking this week is:

Which local craft beer would you like to see on tap across Ottawa?

Entry details at ottawhatpodcast.com/brewdonkey!

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Sponsor -
This episode is also brought to you in part by Audible.com. Visit audibletrial.com/ottawhat today and get a free audiobook and free 30-day trial, and feel good in helping support the show.

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Links:
facebook.com/thebrainventure

angioma.ca

Beverage:

Saturday Night Cream Ale - Stack Brewing

City Council Votes to Sell Vanier to Hull

By: Keegan On

Ottawa City Council met last week to formulate a budget for 2016. The city is facing a record-setting deficit, and has been investigating creative ways to bolster municipal earnings. Some Councillors argued that cutting arts programming could save money, but since no one dared propose a tax increase, the Council ultimately decided on a dramatic move: selling Vanier to Hull for 22 million dollars.

“The City of Ottawa is growing. When a population rises, so do costs.” said Gregory Scott, Councillor for Nepean, “The decision to sell Vanier solves a lot of problems for us. The money from the sale will pay off Ottawa’s debts, giving us a fresh start for the new fiscal year. Additionally, a slightly smaller Ottawa means less roads to plough and less potholes to fix. Finally, our significant police forces that have been allocated for Vanier will be distributed elsewhere, making the city safer for everyone.”

The sale came as a surprise to residents, as something of this nature has never been done before. One has to wonder what those who live in Vanier think of the decision, but we were unable to obtain a statement from anyone, as none of our staff wanted to go there.