Hi there, Reader,

So happy you're here with us. You're one in a million.

No... really. There's no denying that truth. That's the thing about numbers... they can support just about any assertion, and help it make sense.

Some of the numbers that are part of the reading world include page- and chapter-numbers, book sales' numbers and rating numbers on best selling lists.

They also include the numbers involved in reading challenges, whether they're challenges given to student classes as fundraisers or the challenges we set for ourselves each January 1st.

Some Silent Book Club numbers you may not know about are that SBC started back in 2015, when two friends who'd been getting together to catch up with each other and do some reading, opened the concept up to the world. Today, there are over 2,000 meetups in 60+ countries around the world.

Here are a few numbers that are close to our sbc613 hearts:

Silent Book Club's Ottawa Chapter started three years ago this month: May of 2023.

Meetup number one was hosted at Graffiti's in Kanata (Holiday Inn Express' main floor restaurant at the time) and had four people: me, my sister and my two daughters. The following few meetups grew to about eight people, then ten (friends from book club, mostly); then, as word got out, we maxed out that location's ability to host us without renting a room. So, we moved over to Three Brewers Kanata (there's another number!), where Natalie continues to host. So if you've been to the Kanata meetup, you've been to sbc613's original meetup.
The number two meetup was at Beyond the Pale (City Centre), and before long, Rick took over hosting there, where he continues to host now. The City Centre also holds the record for the largest Ottawa meetup evening, when 42 people showed up!

I wish I could celebrate each and every one of our hosts and their meetups (please scroll below for the full list), but without taking you through the birth of each meetup (the latest of which is the Kanata Brunch meetup, that happens on the first Wednesday morning of each month), suffice it to say that today, Silent Book Club's Ottawa Chapter boasts 14 monthly meetups, with at least two more simmering. Stay tuned!

Sometimes numbers matter to the greater picture; and sometimes, numbers are just a lens through which we can view things. Viewing sbc613 through the lens of the exciting numbers of growth, shows us that reading matters to you. And that is important to us.

Thanks for taking a stroll with me through these numbers, Reader, and if you have some bookish numbers that we can help you celebrate, please reply and let us know!

Warmly, and as always, bookishly,

~ nicole

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Highlights

Almonte meetup has a new hosting team... Jenn Fryer and Donna Falcon. Yay! Welcome aboard.

We have a new Kanata meetup: Kanata Brunch.​
At Luna Crepes and Cafe on March Rd., on the First Wednesday morning of each month from 9:30am to 11:30am,
this meetup's host, Fred Aubin, looks forward to welcoming you!

There is a new location for the Bells Corners meetup: Zola's on Robertson Road - same time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

SBC613 will be at the All Things Booking Market in Stittsville on May 16th, 10-4 ~ Come visit us there!

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MAY 2026 MEETUPS & EVENTS

📆 Rather than a list of meetups, perhaps you'd prefer a calendar page.
​ You can view the calendar by going to our website, here and scrolling to the bottom.
Maybe you'd like to add our events to your Google calendar: click here and subscribe!

📝 All meetups are available for signup here.
​ Your signing up to each meetup you wish to attend helps our hosts know how many people to expect. Thank you!

⭐ = NEW!
⚠️ = Check the day/time information before signing up as some things have changed!
‼️ = Paused, postponed or cancelled

• Almonte hosts: Jennifer Fryer, Donna Falcon​
  First Tuesday 7-9pm sign up​
  The Barley Mow Almonte, 79 Little Bridge St., Almonte ON
  ​Tuesday, May 5 , 2026, 7-9pm
  ​
• ⭐New!⭐ Kanata Brunch host: Fred Aubin​
  ​First Wednesday 9:30-11:30am sign up​
  Luna Crepes & Cafe, 329 March Rd #110, Kanata, ON
  ​Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 9:30-11:30am
  ​
• Stittsville #1 host: Benny Deng​
  ​Second Saturday 1-3pm sign up​
  Kung Fu Bistro, 1110 Carp Rd. Unit #150, Ottawa ON (Stittsville)
  ​Saturday, May 9, 2026, 1-3pm​
  ​
• Trainyards hosts: Sahil Dhawan​
  ​Second Sunday 1-3pm sign up​
  O'Brien's Roadhouse, 730 Industrial Ave, Ottawa ON
  ​Sunday, May 10, 2026, 1-3pm
  ​
• ​​City Centre #1 host: Rick Czapelka​
  ​Second Monday 7-9pm sign up​
  Beyond the Pale Brewing Co., 250 City Centre Ave. Bay 106​, Ottawa ON
  ​Monday, May 11, 2026, 7-9pm
  ​
• Bells Corners co-hosts: Andrea McDonald and Emily Lada​
  ​Second Tuesday 6:30 – 8:30pm​
  ​‼️Zola's, 2194 Robertson Rd., Ottawa ON ‼️​
  ​Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 6:30-7:30PM
  ​
• 📚 SPECIAL EVENT 📚
  All Things Bookish Market​
  Walter Baker Park100 Charlie Rogers Pl, Stittsville
  ​Saturday, May 16, 2026, 10am-4pm
  ​
• Beechwood host: Rachel Lipton
  ​Third Saturday 4-5:30pm sign up​
  Café Miracle, 141 Beechwood Ave., Ottawa ON
  ​Saturday, May 16, 2026, 4-5:30
  ​
• Downtown hosts: Joshua Wolfsohn, Neeki Behbahani​
  Third Sunday 1:30-3:30pm sign up​
  ​The Lieutenant's Pump, 361 Elgin St, Ottawa ON​
  Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1:30-3:30pm
  ​
• Kanata host: Natalie Millan
  Third Tuesday 7-9pm sign up
  Three Brewers, 565 Kanata Ave., Ottawa ON (Kanata)
  ​Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 7-9pm​
  ​
• ​Hintonburg host: nicole Colbeck
  ​Third Thursday 2-4pm sign up​
  Absinthe Cafe, 1208 Wellington St. W.​, Ottawa ON
  ​Thursday, May 21, 2026, 2-4pm
  ​
• Stittsville #2 host: Benny Deng​
  ​Fourth Saturdays 1-3pm sign up​
  Kung Fu Bistro, 1110 Carp Rd. Unit #150, Ottawa ON (Stittsville)
  ​Saturday, May 23, 2026, 1-3pm
  ​
• City Centre #2 host: Tim Munro​
  ​Fourth Mondays 7-9pm sign up​
  Beyond the Pale Brewing Co., 250 City Centre Ave. Bay 106​, Ottawa ON
  ​Monday, May 25, 2026, 7-9pm
  ​
• Barrhaven host: Ashley Raymond
  ​Fourth Tuesday 7-9pm sign up​
  Cafe Cristal, 240 Kennevale Dr., Ottawa ON (Barrhaven)
  ​Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 7-9pm
  ​
• East End host: Karen Buckshi
  ​Fourth Wednesday 7-9pm sign up​
  Dominion City Brewing Co., 5510 Canotek Rd Unit 15, Ottawa ON
  ​Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 7-9pm
  ​

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How does a reading meetup work?

• Typically, at reading meetups, 60 minutes of reading is bookended by 15-30 minutes of chit-chat and sharing, during which time you are encouraged to order something to sip or nibble, as all of the meetup spaces are provided free of charge to the chapter. Some hosts are putting their own spin on this format, so it might vary a bit... but the cornerstones of sbc613 are always present: reading, inclusiveness, and no admission cost!
  ​

Make your experience fit your vibe

• On the sign up page, click through to the various location links and get to know our meetup spaces!
  ​From location to timing, choose which best suits your ideal reading meetup.
• Come just in time for the reading then scoot at the end of reading time, or come to share and discover what others are reading.
  ​This is your sbc experience!
• And please... come a little hungry or thirsty... ready to support our host venues. 💛

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​Silent Book Club ~ Ottawa Chapter
silentbookclub.613@gmail.com
​http://www.silentbookclubottawa.ca​

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