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High school students build connections with local veterans. – Page 10
O awa South News Proudly serving the community
November 28, 2013 | 56 pages
OttawaCommunityNews.com
MPP Ottawa South
Contact me with your provincial concerns 1795 Kilborn Ave. 613.736.9573
Operation Red Nose lights way Volunteer-based driving service ensures residents arrive home safely Sabine Gibbins
ARTS
A local author celebrates the launch of her first book for children. – Page 13
NEWS
Roads near the future Strandherd-Armstrong bridge are being decided. – Page 23
sabine.gibbins@metroland.com
News – A volunteer driving service wants to ensure residents get home safely this holiday season. Operation Red Nose launched its third-annual campaign on Nov. 22 at Billings Bridge Shopping Centre, and this year aims to attract nearly 300 volunteers to answer the phones and drive residents back to their homes. Brian Patterson of the Ontario Safety League told city officials and the community gathered there will be approximately 5,000 people from across the province volunteering to drive their neighbours, friends, and colleagues home. “In 11 communities, it’s resulted in one number that’s important to us: zero,” he said. “This year we are shooting for zero casualties, zero crashes during the Operation Red Nose season. We have been able to achieve this for the last five years in every jurisdiction, which tells me that the media, the awareness and the information that comes out gets people focused and thinking.” Whether feeling unwell, the result of drinking, or due to fatigue, volunteers are dispatched to pick up the resident and drive them home. Last year, the organization worked 10 evenings, with 592 volunteers dispatched, 395 calls answered, 17,963 kilometres travelled, and $10,883 raised for the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa. Taylor, who is also chair of the community and protective services committee, encouraged residents to volunteer for the service. He had the opportunity last year to visit some of the volunteers and hear their stories on what motivated them to help out. See VOLUNTEERS, page 3
BRIER DODGE/METROLAND
A feast of hockey Tyler Finn, 2, is all smiles as he plays mini-sticks with his big brother at Hockeyfest, held Nov. 24 at the Ernst and Young Centre. The two-day event was held for the first time this year and featured games, vendors, and speakers. For more photos, see page 17.
Community sends aid to Philippines 73 boxes packed at community centre, ready to ship overseas Sabine Gibbins sabine.gibbins@metroland.com
News - Riverside South is helping families rebuild after a devastating typhoon damaged parts of the Philippines earlier this month. The community added itself to the growing list of relief efforts currently underway. As Jennifer Vollrath, a resident and one of the organizers of the initiative explained, it was initially envisioned as a very small event head-
quartered in her living room, but as word spread, the community stepped up in a short amount of time. “Happy is an understatement,” she said. “The generousity of this community has been overwhelming.” On Nov. 20, the community came out in droves to pack up 73 boxes of clothes, food, and basic necessities for families in the gymnasium of Rideauview Community Centre. Individuals or families were asked to sponsor each box at a cost of $75, which covers the cost of shipping. The remaining boxes were piled into a truck Nov. 24. Vollrath spearheaded the fundraiser alongside fellow community residents and friends Heather Harper Boswell and Filipino native Gina
Galang. “Each box represents a person,” said Vollrath. “It’s all about families being tied together. They were given a family’s name, with a list of what was needed, so it’s really a gift from one family to another. And the great thing about it is if the family doesn’t need an item in the box, they can give it to another family who does need it.” A map was uploaded to a Facebook group and distributed to donors to show where their box would be heading. “It’s really a neat way for them to see that they’re box is actually getting there,” she said.
Something for everyone... 1910 St. Laurent Blvd. (corner of St. Laurent & Smyth)
HAVE A SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON
Elmvale Florist & Gifts
Happy Holidays
KIM CLEANER
Warm Wishes
ST LAURENT & SMYTH BRANCH 613-739-4333
Happy Holidays
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Season’s Best
See FAMILIES, page 2
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Merry Christ
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