Glebe Report April 2023

The Papery opens temporary pop-up location

By Keaton Hills

The Papery has now reopened at a temporary location after a devastating fire at the store on Boxing Day. However, the wait for the reopening of its regular location could be “a year or maybe longer,” according to owner Katherine Slack.

The Papery at 850 Bank Street sold holiday-themed greeting cards, wrapping paper and other items.

“The fire was a huge shock. We’ve been selling paper for well over 30 years and always at the back of my mind has been the risk of fire. I was there at the store when it broke out and I heard noises so I went upstairs and came into the main part of the store and saw flames and my head went ‘Oh my God, there it is after all these years,’ there’s the fire,” said Slack.

Everything in stock and the store itself was severely damaged and the store had to close.

“I had never dealt with smoke damage. The smoke damaged everything. I was not expecting that. Any paper – even if it was wrapped in plastic – there was no way I could guarantee the integrity of the product. It took a long time to

really convince me of what was about to happen. If you go into the space now there is nothing left; if you walk into the front door you can see the windows on the back wall. The hardwood floor – which was always a great feature –that’s gone. All our fixtures are gone and all our stock is gone,” Slack said.

On March 27 The Papery opened a temporary pop-up location on the upper-level of 858 Bank Street not far from its original location.

“It’s a much smaller space so we’ve had to trim down what we offer but we still have a comparable selection of greeting cards. We have a good collection of paper serviettes. The art supplies are looking good, we have gift bags, some roll wrap, some sheet paper,” said Slack.

The reopening of the original location will be a long process.

“The demolition is complete and now it’s going to be conferring with the inspectors and finding out what needs to be done. Codes have changed since that building was built so there will be upgrades that will need to happen,” Slack explained.

Frequent customers of The Papery have been supportive during the difficult time.

“We’ve received emails, we’ve received phone calls, people have dropped off notes and taped them to the front door,” said Slack. “I’ve answered as many emails as I can and we’re really looking forward to being able to welcome everybody back in.”

Since the fire the Papery has also gotten support from the insurance company and the store’s staff.

“Our staff has been great. We’ve been able to rehire some of our part-time staff, we don’t have the same staffing

Index Mark Your Calendars

needs but there will be familiar faces here,” Slack said.

Slack credits her manager Kathy and assistant manager Sean for playing a big part in getting them through the tough times.

The store is now open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a,m. to 5 p.m.

Keaton Hills is a second-year journalism student at Carleton University.

The Papery has opened a temporary location at 858 Bank Street, suite 100 upstairs, selling a selection of paper goods and art supplies.

PHOTO: KEATON HILLS

My time as a student in Ottawa

By Nicole Beswitherick

Living in Ottawa for the past four years of my university career, I have discovered many loves for the city –particularly in the Glebe.

In August 2019, my parents drove me up to Ottawa in our minivan from our small town of Palmerston in southern Ontario. I was going to be attending Carleton University for my double major in journalism and humanities –which later turned into me switching to just a major in journalism, with a minor in history the following year.

After moving into my dorm room with several residence fellows (RFs) chanting “pop that trunk” repeatedly to every person moving in, my parents took me out for lunch in the Glebe. This was my first experience in the Glebe. Before getting to our destination of Boston Pizza, which was located across from Banditos, I took notice of the Glebe sign.

This sign signalled to me that I was no longer living in the rural parts of Ontario but was now starting a new chapter in a new place I would call home. A city with several different communities that were welcoming and warm.

I did not experience much of Ottawa in my first year as everything I needed was on campus, and my new job was at CF Rideau Centre in a cute little boutique named Zulu & Wolfe.

The unexpected pandemic had made my university career come to a halt in the last semester of my first year. We were all encouraged to move back home, which I did mid-March

– and classes quickly began over Zoom. Being home and seeing my dog Frankie every day was fun and all, but I was missing Ottawa. I had made new friends and a new romance was blooming there waiting for my arrival back. Luckily, I was able to move back in June of that year. I was able to live in my new house with my friends, work at my job as things had opened up again for a while and begin adventures into a new relationship.

Fast forwarding to March 2021, three friends and I decided we wanted a new place to live that was closer to campus. We ended up moving to a cute little house in Old Ottawa South. This location was perfect because it was close to the Glebe, where I would spend a lot of my free time.

That entire summer I had spent a lot of time in the Glebe. It became my favourite place to go on walks, get food, go for coffee and to meet up with friends. Some of my favourite memories while being here took place in the Glebe.

I think my favourite spots to go were Lansdowne to watch movies, Eddy’s Diner and the Starbucks on Bank at Third.

I have had nothing but great experiences while walking around in the Glebe. It has always been a highlight seeing people walking with their dogs, who always want to come and say hello. There is something about seeing a dog that makes the day a million times better. Especially one that wants to come up and see you.

While not having many unpleasant experiences in the Glebe, or in Ottawa

in general, having to spend most of my time while studying here communicating with others over Zoom is something that I wish could have been different.

Then February 2022 approached, and I had encountered the Freedom Convoy first-hand the first weekend they came to “visit.” Although, I was lucky enough not to be living in Centretown where the action was happening, that is not to say that the Glebe and Old Ottawa South communities did not suffer the consequences of loud honking through the night as well.

Another memory that will stick with me is being able to write for this publication – the Glebe Report. I had written a story about a dog grooming business in the Glebe area in November 2021. Not only did this help give

me a jump start on my journalism career and something to add to my portfolio, but going to this business and getting to know the owner was also something that added to my love for the Glebe community. Not to mention, I got to see some very friendly pups once again!

My university career at Carleton is slowly coming to an end this spring, and I plan on leaving Ottawa and moving back home. It is a bittersweet goodbye. I have missed my family and am ready to begin my leap into the “real world” with all my newfound love and passion for journalism. However, I will miss Ottawa and the memories it gave me.

Nicole Beswitherick is graduating in journalism this year at Carleton University.

Nicole Beswitherick at the Panda Game at TD Place in October 2019

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The early history of the Glebe Annex

By Sue Stefko

The area today known as the Glebe Annex used to be part of two villages – Orangeville and Mount Sherwood, both of which belonged to the township of Nepean (as did the city of Ottawa, until it officially incorporated as its own town in 1849).

Orangeville was in the area between what is now Booth and Bell, and Mount Sherwood between now Bell and Bronson. One newspaper report notes that in 1873, a general meeting was held to discuss the neighbourhood’s name. It was felt that the name Orangeville was detrimental to the new and growing area, and so the neighbourhood was renamed Mount Sherwood.

Orangeville was so named because the first settlers who came to the area were believed to be ‘Orangemen’ – an order of Irish Protestants named after the Dutch born Prince of Orange, King William III. The Orange Order was a secret society established in 1795 to maintain Protestant political control in Ireland. Orangeville was described as primarily working class and was the less prosperous village of the two.

Mount Sherwood was named after lawyer/judge/politician Levius P. Sherwood. How this piece of property came to belong to Sherwood was rather controversial. The land had belonged to Robert Randall, an American industrialist and loyalist, who bought land from the Ottawa River to Dow’s Great Swamp (now Dow’s Lake) from the Crown in 1809 to build an iron mill at Chaudière falls. However, Randall’s financial backers went bankrupt and he himself was jailed for indebtedness. When he was released, he sued those he blamed for his incarceration, but he was unable to pay for his legal fees, so the land was taken from him and sold to pay for those outstanding fees. He was heartbroken and remained embittered for the rest of his life, as evidenced by his tombstone which says, “he died of colonial misrule.”

The government wanted Randall’s property to build a military canal and storehouses. The Earl of Dalhousie, Governor-General of British North America, spoke of his plan to buy the property at an officer’s dinner, where an enterprising Captain LeBreton was present. LeBreton quickly hatched a scheme to buy the property himself to sell back to the government at a vastly inflated price. Not having the £499 required, he approached lawyer Levius Sherwood to split the cost and the land. LeBreton took what is now LeBreton Flats, with Sherwood taking

Mount Sherwood and the surrounding area in the 1820 land deal.

The Earl of Dalhousie was furious and refused to give in to the profiteering of LeBreton, moving the planned canal to avoid having to buy LeBreton’s property. Instead of the canal running straight from Dow’s Great Swamp, alongside Preston and east to exit at Richmond Landing, the length of the canal nearly doubled as it snaked east and exited the Ottawa River at what is now alongside the Parliament Buildings, incurring significantly higher construction costs.

While LeBreton became reviled among many, Sherwood escaped with his reputation relatively intact. Over time, both men began to divide the land and sell lots at a significant profit. Mount Sherwood remained empty for decades, until Sherwood’s son George started dividing lots to build homes in 1869, forming the village known as Mount Sherwood.

The village of Mount Sherwood started slowly but began to grow more quickly in the 1870s and 1880s as there was an increasing need for the working class to live within walking distance of the Chaudière mill. Mill workers represented about half the population, with labourers (particularly those working at the Central Experimental Farm) and tradespeople representing about one quarter of the growing neighbourhood.

As the population grew, it became clear that Mount Sherwood, while having amenities such as a postmaster,

grocery, general store, butcher and local school, was not able to provide the same municipal services that Ottawa could provide. In the 1887 drought, for example, every well in the village ran dry. The city of Ottawa offered water and sanitary sewer services, as well as police services, fire protection, street lighting, paved (or at least crushed stone dust) roads and better health care. However, many balked at the increased taxation they would be subject to by joining the city, particularly in view of an increasingly high Ottawa debt load.

Ottawa’s first bid to annex the area was defeated in 1882, but was successful in 1888, and Mount Sherwood and

Orangeville (along with Stewarton –part of Centretown, and Rochesterville – Little Italy) were annexed to the City of Ottawa on January 1, 1889, sparking the next phase of the neighbourhood’s development.

(For more information on the annexation debate, see our earlier article in the October 2018 issue of the Glebe Report www.glebereport.ca/the-original-annexation-of-the-glebeannex/#:~:text=At%20the%20end%20of%20 the,place%20on%20January%20 1%2C%201889.)

Sue Stefko is president of the Glebe Annex Community Association and a regular contributor to the Glebe Report.

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The Fowler General Store on Bell Street in the 1880s. At the time the Mount Sherwood store was considered the “furthest out” store in the area, and functioned as a country or general store, selling everything from food to coal to cloth.

THE OTTAWA EVENING CITIZEN, APRIL 18, 1931

1887 map. The east-west railway cutting through Orangeville and Mount Sherwood became the 417 Highway in the late 1950s and early 1960s. MAP OF THE CITY OF OTTAWA AND THE CITY OF HULL, COMPILED BY JOHN A. SNOW AND SON, 1887 CITY OF OTTAWA ARCHIVES

BROKER OF RECORD / REALTORS ® Rob Marland | Jane Forsyth | Myha Ewart | Karen Gibson | Haidyn Picco

Images of the Glebe

Business Buzz

The Papery Pop-up has opened upstairs at 858 Bank, beside Studio Sixty-Six. The Papery suffered a devastating fire on December 26 and while they plan to reopen, it may take some time. (See frontpage article)

Refine is open at 99 Fourth Avenue, unit 102. “Refine – a rehab and wellness clinic in the Glebe.” Chiro/physio, lower back pain, neck pain, headaches, postural strain, muscle strain, vertigo, shoulder pain, knee and hip pain, perinatal aches & pains, osteoarthritis, jaw pain, whiplash, sciatica. Find them “just off Fourth Avenue down the alleyway.”

Universal Driving School has vacated its office at 851 Bank Street and moved to online courses for that location. For in-car training, they pick students up at their home in the Glebe or at the 851 location.

Browns Crafthouse Glebe is planned for the former Boston Pizza location at 640 Bank Street. “Browns Crafthouse is a locally focused casual restaurant that celebrates all things made with skill or by hand.” (brownscrafthouse.com)

Coffee spoons and great causes

“I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.” The lovesick J Alfred Prufrock had it right, both metaphorically and, in our case, literally, given the extraordinary amounts of time we spend in coffee shops. But that’s not what I wanted to talk about.

I’m interested in the metaphorical angle at the moment. I’ve been reading a book by Bill Browder called Freezing Order, about his life-endangering struggle to persuade the world to pass the Magnitsky Act in as many jurisdictions as possible, mandating governments to freeze the financial assets of foreign violators of human rights, more specifically Russian oligarchs, in punishment for the murder of Browder’s friend and lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in a Moscow prison in 2009.. The book begins with his narrow escape from an attempt by the Russian government to have him

arrested in Spain and sent to a Russian prison. It’s a rollicking yet righteous adventure story!

Browder succeeded in getting the law passed in many countries, including Canada, which passed the Magnitsky Act (aka the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act) in 2017.

Meanwhile, here we are, cozy and warm in our Glebe cocoon, just coming out of a long winter and anticipating with glee the first glimmerings of spring. Harmony reigns, more or less. Life is safe, pleasant, reasonably healthy if we want to do it that way, and even COVID is receding like the tide.

I ask myself, “When will I narrowly escape from danger for a noble cause? Where is my adrenaline-fuelled adventure?”

Where is the challenge here in the Glebe? What great and good cause

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Established in 1973, the Glebe Report, published by the Glebe Report Association is a monthly not-forprofit community newspaper with a circulation of 7,500 copies. It is delivered free to Glebe homes and businesses. Advertising from merchants in the Glebe and elsewhere pays all its costs, and the paper receives no government grants or direct subsidies. The Glebe Report, made available at select locations such as the Glebe Community Centre and the Old Ottawa South Community Centre and Brewer Pool, is printed by Winchester Print.

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will lead us into shark-filled waters, sharpening our wits and awakening our intuition and creativity in the face of adversity? We dream. We squirm a little. We drink our coffee.

But if we get real for a moment and acknowledge the challenges that are staring us in the face here in our own backyard – climate crisis, poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, mental health problems, violence of epidemic proportions – or on a different plane, harmful urban development, loss of green space, lack of affordable housing, loss of tree canopy – the list of challenges is endless.

Drink up your coffee, buck up and let’s get to it!

—Liz McKeen

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Views expressed in the articles and letters submitted to the Glebe Report are those of our contributors. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Articles selected for publication will be published in both a printed version and an online version on the Glebe Report’s website: www. glebereport.ca. Please note: Except for July, the paper is published monthly. An electronic version of the print publication is subsequently uploaded online with text, photos, drawings and advertisements as a PDF to www.glebereport. ca. Selected articles will be highlighted on the website.

The Glebe Report acknowledges that its offices and the Glebe neighbourhood it serves are on the unceded lands and territories of the Anishinaabe people, comprised of the Ojibwe, Chippewa, Odawa, Potawatomi, Algonquin, Saulteaux, Nipissing and Mississauga First Nations.

Pet Success Glebe has opened at 793 Bank Street, formerly Readi-Set-Go “Food, training, daycare, boarding, bath, rehome, adopt” “Full-service DogSuccess and Petsmart Success Pet Community offering pet training, assessments, dog walking, pet daycare and a pet hotel” (dogsuccess.ca)

Contributors this month

Iva Apostolova

Nicole Beswitherick

Ginette Bocage

Ada Brzeski

Susan Cartwright

Jeanne Charron

Sylvie Chartrand

Madeleine Cloutier

John Crump

Jenny Demark

Christie Diekmeyer

Shelly Donaldson

Colette Downie

Pat Eakins

Ian Guthrie

Joel Harden

Keaton Hills

Julie Ireton

Kathy Kennedy

Alison Lawson

Julie LeBlanc

Ian McKercher

Shawn Menard

Daniel Miranda

John Muggleton

Margaret Brady Nankivell

Yasir Naqvi

Tim O’Connor

Monica Onley

Barbara Popel

Josh Rachlis

Kevin Reeves

Nancy Riggs

Jeanette Rive

Marisa Romano

Elizabeth Ross

Sarah Routliffe

Sue Stefko

Janet Sutherland

Martha Tobin

Charles Weiner

Cecile Wilson

Susan Yungblut

Zeus

Bank Street Bridge by Cheryl Gain

LIZ ROSS

Quick fix not good enough

Dear Editor, Glebe Report

On March 20, whilst the ground is still frozen underneath, a City of Ottawa truck arrives to fill in the huge pothole on Third Avenue with asphalt, and then pound it down. This is a quickfix method which has never worked. Don’t we deserve better than this?

Liz Ross

Tulip Festival parking tips

Dear Editor, Glebe Report

This year’s Tulip Festival runs from May 12-22 and with the closing of the Dow’s Lake parking lot, visitors wishing to take in the annual display of thousands of tulips might find that parking a vehicle will be a challenge.

Alternative parking lots include the one on Beech St. between Preston St. and Rochester St., about a half kilometre from the Dow’s Lake Pavilion, or the parking lot for the Agricultural Museum which is located south of the Ornamental Gardens on Prince of Wales Drive. This lot is 1.1 kilometres from the Dow’s Lake Pavilion. Both of these lots charge parking fees.

To accommodate those who are mobility challenged, there will be reserved parking on the east side of Dow’s Lake Road between Crescent Heights and Kippewa Drive, for vehicles that display the accessibility parking permit. This restriction will be in force throughout the 11 days of the festival.

Coach buses will be parking at Carleton University but will unload and load their passengers on Carling Avenue near Commissioners Park.

Monica Olney

Two teams, one arena?

Dear Editor, Glebe Report

Re: “Lansdowne Park 2.0; Mayor Sutcliffe and new council facing hard decisions,” Glebe Report, March 2023

As a citizen and taxpayer, I found the article about proposed developments at Lansdowne Park informative, stimulating and more than slightly alarming.

The proposed towering towers represent the increasing, creeping privatization of a priceless public asset.

The construction of a new arena at the east end is more construction on what had been green space. Here’s an idea – in several European cities, for example Rome, two major-league soccer teams share a single stadium. How about the Senators and 67’s jointly occupying the new stadium (if it is ever built!) at LeBreton Flats? It would be possible to accommodate two schedules.

I am prepared to concede that parts of the [Lansdowne] early redevelopment have turned out better than I anticipated, but I have an ominous feeling about these new proposals.

Ian Guthrie

Our Volunteer Carriers

CHRISTIE DIEKMEYER

More trees, please!

Dear Editor, Glebe Report

Amidst the concrete and buildings of Bank Street on a mild winter day, I hear a sound of chirping. It’s a gaggle of songbirds that sounds so happy on this day that sees the temperature rise north of zero for the first time in weeks. I am walking to work in the early morning as I pass this regal set of trees. I do not see a single bird, but they are surely feeling safe and content at their camouflaged party. I am delighted for them. Sing on!

More trees, please.

Sing on!

Christie Diekmeyer

AGM

SAVE THE DATE

Celebrate your community newspaper, 50 years young!

The Glebe Report Association’s Annual General Meeting Monday, May 15, 2023, 7 p.m.

Glebe Community Centre, Preschool Room

All welcome – members of the association and non-members alike

Glebe Report’s new website

In the year in which we turn 50, the Glebe Report is launching a fresh new website. The revamped website is lively and up-to-date and works better with cell phones and tablets, but still has the full, searchable Glebe Report archive of past issues starting in 1973. Check it out at glebereport.ca.

Glebe Report seeks Area Captain

Want to help distribute the Glebe Report each month? If you have a car and 1.5 hours a month to spare, then your help would be most appreciated! Please send an email to circulation@glebereport.ca for more information.

Jide Afolabi, Jennie Aliman, Lawrence Ambler, Nico Arabackyj, Ella Åsell, Aubry family, Miko Bartosik, Alessandra & Stefania Bartucci, Selena Beattie, Adrian Becklumb, Beckman family, Joanne Benoit, Inez Berg, Naéma and Raphaëlle Bergevin Hemsing, Carolyn Best, Carrie Bolton, Daisy & Nettie Bonsall, Martha Bowers, Bowie family, Adélaïde and Éléonore Bridgett, Bob Brocklebank, Ben Campbell-Rosser, Nico Cauchi, Bill Congdon, Ava & Olivia Carpenter, Ryan & Charlotte Cartwright, Chiu-Panczyk Family, Sarah Chown, Sebastian, Cameron & Anna Cino, Janis Ellis-Claypool, Avery & Darcy Cole, Jenny Cooper, June Creelman, Marni Crossley, Olivia Dance, Mark Dance, Dawson family, Richard DesRochers, Davies Family, Nathan and Roslyn Demarsh, Marilyn Deschamps, Diekmeyer-Bastianon family, Dingle family, Delia Elkin, Nicholas, Reuben, Dave & Sandra Elgersma, Patrick Farley, James & Oliver Frank, Judy Field, Federico Family, Maria Fobes, Liane Gallop, Joann Garbig, Madeleine Gomery, Joyce Goodhand, Camilo Velez Gorman, Barbara Greenwood, Ginny Grimshaw, Marjolein Groenevelt, Henry Hanson, Oliver, Martin, Sarah & Simon Hicks, Cheryle Hothersall, Jeevan & Amara Isfeld, Jungclaus Family, Janna Justa, Elena Kastritsa, Kasper Raji Kermany, Michael Khare, Lambert family, Leith and Lulu Lambert, Mel LeBlanc, Jamie, Alexander & Louisa Lem, Brams and Jane Leswick, Aanika, Jaiden and Vinay Lodha, Vanessa Lyon, Pat Marshall, Patrick Collins Mayer, Catherine McArthur, Ian McKercher, John and Helen Marsland, Matthew McLinton, Cameron Mitchell, Julie Monaghan, Thomas Morris, Vivian Moulds, Karen Mount, Maddy North, Diane Munier, Xavier and Heath Nuss, Sachiko Okuda, Matteo and Adriano Padoin-Castillo, Brenda Perras, Brenda Quinlan, Annabel and Joseph Quon, Beatrice Raffoul, Bruce Rayfuse, Kate Reekie, Thomas Reevely, Mary & Steve Reid, Jacqueline Reilly-King, Anna Roper, Sabine Rudin-Brown, Casimir & Tristan Seywerd, Short family, Cathy Simons, Abigail Steen, Stephenson family, Tara Swords, Ruth Swyers, Saul Taler, John & Maggie Thomson, Tom Trottier, Trudeau family, Will, Georgie & Blaire Turner, Zosia Vanderveen, Veevers family, Nick Walker, Erica Waugh, Vanessa Wen, Paul Wernick, Howard & Elizabeth Wong, Ella & Ethan Wood, Martin Zak.

CONTACT: circulation@glebereport.ca

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By Julie Ireton

As Roberta Brown gets set to celebrate her 109th birthday this spring, she has no secret to longevity to share, but she says being a regular member of Abbotsford’s Luncheon Club helped her stay active throughout her “younger” senior years.

Brown, who now lives at the Ottawa Grace Manor long-term care facility, grew up in a small farming community in the Outaouais called West Templeton. She was born just a couple of months before the start of the First World War, in June 1914.

While Brown says there are a few people at Grace Manor who are over 100, she’s definitely the oldest.

“I don’t know anyone that old,” laughed Brown.

And while being isolated from family over the past three years hasn’t been pleasant, she said to date, she’s made it through the pandemic without getting COVID-19.

“Am I ever glad that’s all over,” said Brown.

Over the years she’s survived two husbands, a daughter, many friends and family members. But she takes pride in having six grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren.

“We’re just happy to have her every day,” said her son, Maynard Dunn.

While she stayed home with her three children when they were small, she later got a job in downtown Ottawa.

“I was a sales lady at Murphy Gamble’s on Sparks Street,” said Brown, referring to the now long-gone department store. “That’s where I worked for 12 years. I sold clothing and pretty much everything. It was considered one of the best stores in Ottawa.”

In her retirement in the mid-1990s, Brown lived in the south end of Ottawa and a neighbour convinced her to come along to Luncheon Club at Abbotsford House at the Glebe Centre, the old stone farmhouse across from Lansdowne Park. Brown remained part of Luncheon Club for about 25 years.

“On Tuesdays at the centre we’d watch a movie, play cards, or trivia and games,” said Brown. “On Fridays we went to one of the shopping centres.”

The club offers a gathering space for seniors considered “socially isolated,” people who might benefit from the interaction with a group of peers.

“Currently, the Luncheon Club program meets Tuesdays,” said Kirsten O’Brien, who facilitates community support services for Abbotsford at the Glebe Centre. “It fosters caring and support to each of the clients, provides activities of interest and then lunch.”

Brown now uses a walker and hearing aids, but she still plays cribbage and enjoys visits from her family.

Along with her birthday celebration this spring, she said she’s looking forward to spending time in the Grace Manor garden with its flowers and birds.

Abbotsford is your Seniors Active Living Centre for adults 55+. It houses the community programs of The Glebe Centre Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization which includes a 254-bed long-term care home. Find out more about our services by telephoning 613230-5730 during regular business hours or by checking out all of The Glebe Centre facilities and community programs on our website glebecentre.ca.

Julie Ireton is a journalist who contributes regularly to the Glebe Report on issues affecting Abbotsford.

Roberta Brown, then just over 100 years old, taking tea with Nick Bermudez at Abbotsford House.

Should I stay or should I go?

CRAZY PHO YOU is a family owned and operated restaurant specializing in Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai dishes.

The Luu family have been proudly serving Vietnamese cuisine to the Ottawa community since 1980. They continue to o er authentic Pho and their original recipe for spring rolls from 42 years ago. Their menu is plenti

the food is delicious and your table is waiting at

By Pat Eakins and Janet Sutherland

Housing models for older adults will be the subject of a series of presentations planned to take place at the Abbotsford Seniors Centre during the month of May. Seniors Watch Old Ottawa South (SWOOS), a committee of the Old Ottawa South Community Association, has been looking at innovative housing options, including the consideration of the Abbeyfield model of housing (abbeyfield.ca) in the new tower planned for the west side of Bank at Riverside.

Before we proceed too far along this path, we have planned the following presentations to provide information on various housing models for older adults, from living independently in the community to living in a shared residence with a range of supports.

May 17: Housing options for older adults in Ottawa. Considering your next move? Hoping to age in place or explore alternatives? Housing options for older adults with moderate incomes will be outlined and discussed, using the Council on Aging Housing Guide, checklist and resource list. You are strongly encouraged to review these in advance at: coaottawa.ca/committees/housing/ housing-options-in-ottawa. Come with your questions and ready to learn more about what’s available in our community. The speakers are Peggy Edwards and George Hartsgrove, members of the Council on Aging of Ottawa’s Age-Friendly Housing Committee.

May 24: Universal home design. Barbara Steele, Registered Interior Designer, and Chantal Trudel, Associate Professor, School of Industrial Design, will present the concept of universal design: how spaces made for the 30-year-old, fully able-bodied you become spaces for you (or anyone!) at any age or level of ability.

Your home should be a place where you feel safe and comfortable. What if, over time, it gets harder to live in your home? Are stairs and bathtubs becoming a challenge? Are you having a hard time getting to what you need in the kitchen to make dinner?

May 31: Abbeyfield shared living. JP Melville, director of Abbeyfield Canada, will discuss the Abbeyfield housing model and the evolving nature of the Abbeyfield concept. You will meet someone from a local Abbeyfield residence in Ottawa and hear about a day in the life of a fully operational household. Terrance Hunsley, chair of Abbeyfield Riverside, will provide an update on the development of an Abbeyfield house in Old Ottawa South.

Registration information for all three speakers in the series:

· The sessions will be held live and on Zoom simultaneously from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

· Participation is free but registration is required.

· Registration for all three presentations begins on March 24 at 9 a.m. at the Abbotsford Reception Desk, 950 Bank Street, or by telephone 613230-5730, or for Abbotsford Centre members, online with your key-tag: myactivecenter.com

We look forward to sharing information and gathering input to inform the development of housing options for older adults in our community! If you are interested in being involved in this housing initiative or want more information, please contact us at SWOOSadmin@oldottawasouth.ca.

Pat Eakins and Janet Sutherland are members of the SWOOS Housing Project Team and Abbeyfield Riverside Board of Directors. Janet Sutherland is a Glebe resident and is participating in this initiative as a member of the GCA Health and Social Services Committee.

The Levine legacy: a family’s commitment to social justice

By Kathy Kennedy

As Gil’s Hootenanny approaches its 14th anniversary, it seems a fitting time to reflect on the positive impact Gil Levine, his wife Helen, and daughters Tamara and Karen have had on the Canadian workplace and society through through labour and women’s movements, broadcasting.... and folk music.

The Levine family has links to the Glebe that date back over 100 years. Helen Zivian Levine was born at the Civic Hospital in 1923, raised on Sunset Boulevard and attended Mutchmor, Glashan and Glebe Collegiate. Gil and Helen met in Toronto and moved to Ottawa in 1957 with their young daughters.

Gil Levine was one of the most influential Canadian labour leaders of his time. He was at the founding of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and was its first director of research from 1963 to 1988.

Gil was also a peace activist, a folk music enthusiast and a historian who spent his life organizing and mentoring others in support of social justice. When he died at 85 in 2009, three words in his obituary, “… plan a hootenanny,” inspired family, friends and fans to organize Gil’s Hootenanny, a celebration of the collective power of song to change the world.

Helen Levine was a lifelong feminist and social worker who found her passion and life’s work in the women’s movement. A beloved professor of women’s studies at the Carleton School of Social Work in the 1970s and ’80s, she advanced a feminist approach to counselling and community development. When Helen died in 2018 at age 95, she was remembered in her obituary for teaching “what matters.”

Gil and Helen contributed to Ottawa’s musical scene for decades. In 1958, Gil co-produced a Pete Seeger concert in Ottawa when Seeger was blacklisted in the U.S. Self-described as “old folkies,” they loved folk music and May Day and hosted hootenannies at their home for years.

Glebe residents might see Tamara Levine heading off to Abbotsford with her ukulele to help lead the weekly Jam ’n Sing session along with her banjo playing friend, Debbie Rubin, Gil’s team member and long-time Third Avenue resident. A retired adult educator and literacy activist, Tamara pioneered workplace literacy and clear-language initiatives across Canada with the Ontario Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress.

Following breast cancer recovery, Tamara retired and wrote But Hope is Longer: Navigating the Country of Breast Cancer. She is passionate about memoir writing and has taken and co-instructed memoir classes at the Glebe Community Centre and elsewhere.

Tamara’s husband, Larry Katz, was a union activist who retired as CUPE’s national research director in 2000. An accomplished woodturner, Katz has shown his work at the Glebe Craft and Artisan Fair and at galleries for two decades. Tamara and Larry raised their children, Rachel and Daniel on Craig Street, where they have lived for the past 40 years.

An acclaimed producer and writer, Karen Levine recently left CBC radio after 41 years. She turned one of her documentaries, Hana’s Suitcase – a

true story of the Holocaust – into a book which became an international, award-winning best-seller.

Karen’s partner, Michael Enright, is a journalist and broadcaster. He was host of CBC Radio’s The Sunday Edition for 20 years.

Ottawa’s annual May Day sing-along, Gil’s Hootenanny, has grown to be much more than a one-day event. In 2015, Tony Turner’s catchy and controversial tune “Harperman” won the Gil’s Hootenanny song-writing contest and became an anthem for a protest movement. The hootenanny has also sponsored singing and song-writing workshops and has presented the stories and protest songs of the 1960s to high school students as part of their history curriculum.

This May Day, people lucky enough to join Tamara and Karen Levine at Gil’s Hootenanny will participate in a remarkable event that celebrates the power of song to change the world.

Canadian singer-songwriter Coco Love Alcorn headlines this year’s hootenanny on Monday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, 30 Cleary Ave. The event is also sponsoring a singing workshop – Let’s Sing! Let’s Play! – to be led by Love Alcorn on Sunday, April 30 at 2 p.m. All voices are welcome! Tickets to each event are $20.Tickets to both the hootenanny and workshop are discounted at $35. For information & tickets: www. gilshootenanny.ca

Kathy Kennedy is active in promoting and protecting the well-being of Ottawa’s downtown neighbourhoods and is on the organizing committee for Gil’s Hootenanny.

Gil was also a peace activist, a folk music enthusiast and a historian who spent his life organizing and mentoring others in support of social justice

From left, Helen, Tamara, Gil and Karen Levine

Helen Zivian Levine and Gil Levine COURTESY OF LEVINE FAMILY

Lansdowne 2.0 - the city needs to hear from you

The City of Ottawa is considering rejuvenating Lansdowne Park again, less than a decade after completing the last redevelopment of the park. There’s no doubt that Lansdowne Park has so much potential. We have not seen the creation of the “urban village” that was promised to residents –a thriving small-shop retail experience hasn’t taken hold, transportation to and through the park remains plagued with issues, insufficient public amenities have limited residents’ enjoyment of the site Monday through Sunday, and, certainly, the promised financial returns have never materialized.

We want to see Lansdowne become a lively public space for everyone in our local community and the broader city community and live up to the original promises that were made to Ottawa. We released a full vision about this previously. When a proposed privatization of the remaining publicly operated portions of Lansdowne was made by the previous city administration, the community organized to ensure the city and OSEG knew what was important to them, and that proposal was eventually withdrawn.

The initial Lansdowne 2.0 city survey focuses on residents’ knowledge of Lansdowne, but it does not address the $332 million proposal directly. That needs to improve in the future, along with a fulsome review of the proposed financial model. The city will be conducting further consultations in this regard and on other topics related to the proposal.

Addressing the core issues

For Lansdowne 2.0 we want to see core issues addressed:

• that we have proper fully informed consultation;

• that well-used greenspace is respected and that new greenspace is created for community and better fan experiences;

• that a fulsome and new sustainable transportation plan to and

through the park is put in place to address the site restrictions instead of clogging the area with car-centric design;

• that permanent affordable housing is created if public land is being leased or sold;

• that the site has new housing which invites people into an urban village and complements the heritage Aberdeen Pavilion instead of three skyscrapers jammed in; and

• that the public proposals to enhance winter activities and community events, create new seating and shade, and safely connect the canal, aren’t shelved for 15-20 years.

We can do better than what was proposed in the last term of council with no consultation, and it’s important we work together to find common-sense solutions to make a better Lansdowne.

Future consultation

Many of you have shared your thoughts on the future of Lansdowne, but for those who haven’t (and for those who have), there’s still time to speak up. At the time of writing this, the city has a preliminary survey out, and, over the next few months, they’ll have more opportunities for public engagement. You can find this online at engage.ottawa.ca.

Our office will also be holding consultations in conjunction with the city.

We are planning a public event on Wednesday, May 10th. We will also be releasing a survey soon. Details, along with other important information, can be found on our website at shawnmenard. ca/lansdowne

Thank you for reading and engaging on this topic.

Shawn Shawn Menard is City Councillor for Capital Ward. He can be reached directly at CapitalWard@ottawa.ca.

JOHN’S

Managing Fine Ottawa Homes Since 1996!

Call us anytime to learn more about problem free leasing.

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We'll be with you throughout the process, from the first day your home is listed, to the day you move back.

John Crump President Glebe Community Association T @glebeca

GCA leaving winter behind

As the snow slowly melts and the unused canal ice dissolves, the Glebe Community Association (GCA) is looking towards spring and activities and initiatives that will bring people out of their houses and into the neighbourhood. A number of these activities were on the agenda at our March board meeting.

Environment

As always, there is a lot happening at the Environment Committee which recently applied for a grant from the City of Ottawa to share knowledge and experience on sustainability. If the grant is approved, the committee will host five workshops beginning this September. Topics will include reducing the carbon footprint of your home, improving air quality in the community and cutting food waste, among others. We should know soon if the grant is approved. Keep an eye on the Glebe Report and social media for updates.

dave@nesbittproperty.com

Have you noticed the plastic debris and rubbish that is reappearing everywhere? To help deal with this mess, the Glebe is joining an April 19 “plogging” event hosted by the Bank Street Running Room. Runners and walkers should meet at 6 p.m. at the Running Room, 901 Bank Street, with a bag and gloves, and post photos of people collecting garbage using #CleanUpOttawa Plogging combines outdoor exercise and picking up litter – all you need is an empty reusable bag, gloves and running shoes. Letters have been sent to Mayor Sutcliffe, Shawn Menard, Joel Harden and Yasir Naqvi asking them to take up the challenge.

The Environment Committee’s #BreakUpWithPlastic Instagram campaign continues with 50 daily tips leading up to Earth Day on April 22.

Time to renew your GCA membership!

The Glebe Community Association is a volunteer organization that unites residents interested in improving the Glebe. Together, we advocate for a liveable, sustainable, diverse urban neighbourhood.

Our committees are made up of neighbours who work on issues related to planning, including meaningful consultation on Lansdowne 2.0, greening our environment and parks, traffic patterns and infrastructure renewal, heritage, education, and health, affordable housing and social services. We also run the Great Glebe Garage Sale. New members are always welcome.

Amplify your voice on issues that matter!

$10 per year makes a difference in your community.

Join today

Buy a $10 membership (per household) at the door or online at glebeca.ca/membership or

Complete this form and mail it to the Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 2K2, with a $10 cheque payable to the Glebe Community Association.

Name:

Street Address:

Phone Number:

Email Address:

Federation of Citizens Associations

The GCA belongs to the Federation of Citizens Associations (FCA), a city-wide body that shares information on issues facing communities and, when appropriate, helps organize joint actions.

The FCA’s March meeting featured the Glebe and provided an opportunity for our representatives to provide some basic information about the Lansdowne 2.0 proposal and its significance for all residents of Ottawa. Following a good discussion, it was agreed that the proposal needs a more comprehensive examination.

Speaking of Lansdowne 2.0

As most people know, the GCA has been advocating a thorough review of the latest proposal to revamp this important publicly owned space. An essential part of the process is an open and transparent public consultation process.

The GCA’s Lansdowne Committee members have met with several Ottawa city councillors and have requested a meeting with the mayor. They report that, in general, the meetings have been productive and provide an opportunity to share why the GCA feels it is vital that the consultations with the public are both informed and meaningful. Being informed means getting all the facts and financial elements

out in public, including the retail component that is the lion’s share of how Lansdowne 2.0. will be funded. The GCA reps have been making the point that Lansdowne 2.0 is not revenue neutral – it is an investment that will cost taxpayers today and long into the future.

The GCA is part of the Lansdowne Community Working Group. During a meeting in early March we had an opportunity to suggest ways to improve plans for Lansdowne, including ways to enhance consultations with 3D visuals and models of what the development will really look like, propose changes to the timeline, etc., in order to make the consultations more meaningful. In particular, the GCA made the case for sharing the details of the financial plans, so the public is better informed about where tax dollars are going.

Looking ahead:

Great Glebe Garage Sale

Since the inception of the famous Glebe garage sale in 1986, the GCA has encouraged vendors and shoppers to donate 10 per cent of their proceeds to the Ottawa Food Bank. Over the years, food insecurity has gone from being a small issue in our city to a major crisis. According to the Ottawa Food Bank’s 2022 Hunger Report, 1 in 7 households reported experiencing food insecurity last year compared to 1 in 15 in 2017. Food insecurity means not having enough money to buy food or enough food.

The pandemic, a housing crisis and inflation – these and other factors contribute to the difficulties so many in our community have to put food on the table. The Great Glebe Garage Sale takes place on Saturday, 27 May. Please remember to contribute to the food bank this year.

Looking for members

The GCA Membership Committee is preparing for this year’s membership campaign in May. Expect a knock on your door from your friendly block rep. Everyone who lives or works in the Glebe is eligible to become a member. We enroll members by household (defined as all those living under one roof) and all adults (18+) have voting privileges at the annual GCA meeting in June. This year’s campaign will be door to door but don’t worry. If you’re not at home, you’ll find a card with a QR code in your mailbox that will direct you to the GCA website and online registration. Or you can just go to the GCA website (glebeca.ca) directly. Watch for more information in the Glebe Report and on social media.

A lot of hard work goes into the membership drive every year and there’s a good reason for that. The more members, the stronger the GCA will be. A stronger community association is better equipped to advocate for Glebe residents. At $10 per household ($5 for students) membership in the Glebe Community Association is a good investment.

GCA board meetings are open to all so please join us online on Tuesday, April 25 at 7 p.m. Login information will be circulated closer to the date.

Sarah Routliffe

GNAG Executive Director

N 613-233-8713 E info@gnag.ca gnag.ca

GNAG springs ahead!

Today when I write this article, I am starting to feel a hint of spring emerging. It’s the moment when you walk down the street and see the first patch of mud coming out from under the piles of snow or the first day that the sun finally feels warm on your face. I realized this week that I am three months away from my first full year at GNAG. Thinking back on that pivotal day in late June when I walked into the gorgeous Glebe Community Centre and met the team for the first time feels like ages ago. The three seasons I have experienced at GNAG so far have each brought something new and special, moments of learning… and a ton of laughs. For now, we can focus on what we have lined up for you this spring. There are so many new and exciting programs for us to brag about!

Spring Programming

Spring registration opened in March but most of our children’s programs do not start until late April, so

something new. A sample of the new program offerings include Acting for TV and Film with John Muggleton, Introduction to Drawing with Kasia Niton (check out her Glebe public mural at Bank and Pretoria) and Introduction to Cheerleading with local coach Dana Gray. Finally, we will be offering two new after-school yoga classes with Alli O’Callaghan to help children practise mindfulness while having fun.

Registration is ongoing, more details at www.gnag.ca.

Soccer Partnerships

GNAG Soccer starts this year on May 16 and runs until June 28.

This year with the help of the Glebe BIA, we reached out to local businesses and restaurants to see if anyone would be willing to give a 10 per cent discount to our soccer members. I am happy to announce we were successful!

If you register your child in GNAG Soccer and attend a restaurant from

being finalized), before or after your child’s game you will receive a discount if your player is wearing the GNAG Spring Soccer T-shirt.

· Subway

· Ramen Isshin

· Haven’s Creamery

· Score Pizza

· Margarita Restaurant

· Mona’s Taqueria

Thank you to these amazing businesses for partnering with GNAG Soccer! If any other business would like to participate in this initiative please contact us at info@gnag.ca.

Wizard of Oz at Glebe Community Centre

Are you an Oz fan? Do you love community theater? We guarantee a heart-warming and memorable experience as we recreate this beloved tale at the Glebe Community Centre from April 18 to 23.

Please note this production is double cast so select the L or R Cast when purchasing your tickets! If you have a favourite player, find out which cast they are in.

Tickets are available online via Eventbrite. We hope to see you there!

Showtimes:

April 18 at 7 p.m. (Preview)

Apr 19–23 at 7 p.m.

April 22 at 2 p.m.

More details at gnag.ca

Summer Camp Volunteering

GNAG is looking for caring, adven

Wizard of Oz rehearsals are in full swing! in our Summer Camps with campers ages 4 to 12. Students entering Grade 9 and above are invited to apply from April 24 to May 19, 2023. More information and the application will be posted on gnag.ca/careers by April 24.

Studio 55

Check out John Muggleton’s article “GNAG’s acting classes for seniors: less about acting and more about laughing” in this edition of the Glebe Report

On a personal note, I have taken one of John’s classes (The Playwright Showcase) and although I am biased, it was an amazing experience. Not only is he talented, he also has the unique skill of being a fantastic teacher. John can bring out creative sides that you didn’t even know you had all while making you fold over laughing. I recommend his classes for anyone who wants to have a blast and learn a new skill or redevelop an existing one!

Dan Oakes is a well-respected Real Estate Broker and Team Leader of the Oakes Home Team with over 20 years of experience in the Ottawa real estate market He has a deep understanding of the local market of the Glebe and has helped countless clients successfully buy and sell their homes

Dan is excited to introduce his son Chris Oakes to the world of real estate Chris has recently joined his father's team and benefits from his father s years of experience and expertise Chris has a deep understanding of the Glebe community and what it has to offer

Whether you are a first-time buyer, an experienced investor, or looking to sell your home, Dan and the Oakes Home Team are the group you can trust to get the job done right

Sell your stuff − help end food insecurity in Ottawa

By Colette Downie

Since its inception in 1986, the Great Glebe Garage Sale has been a fundraiser for the Ottawa Food Bank. Again this year, we hope you’ll join us at the Great Glebe Garage Sale on May 27 by donating a portion of your sale proceeds to the food bank – or donating in-person or online in the name of our community.

It’s likely that you’re aware of the significant rise in demand for food support in Ottawa. In 2022, the Ottawa Food Bank reported a record high of 400,000 visits to its member agencies – the highest number in its history and an almost 40 per cent increase in demand over 2017. An astonishing 1 in 7 Ottawa households experienced food insecurity in 2022 and 36 per cent of food bank clients in Ottawa are children and youth, 7 per cent are seniors and 5 per cent are babies.

Many people are surprised to find that the Ottawa Food Bank is not just one organization. Comprising 112 member agencies, the Ottawa Food Bank provides a range of services to support individuals in Ottawa, including groceries, meals, afterschool snacks and programming, mental health support, employment support and childcare.

Each year the Ottawa Food Bank distributes over three million pounds of fresh food and six million pounds

the help of Ottawa Public Health and with feedback from community food programs, the Ottawa Food Bank has made substantial changes to ensure it provides food that is lower in fat, sodium and sugar, and higher in protein and fibre (called the Health Smart program). Its winter produce program ensures that its clients receive produce even during the winter months when the Ottawa Food Bank’s own growing season is over.

The organization has shifted its

which includes the ability to afford necessities – including food. Food insecurity is on the rise due to a combination of factors such as low wages, unreliable work situations, poor health, high costs of food and housing, climate change and insufficient social support, all of which create an environment that fosters food insecurity. More food – while critical in an emergency – won’t solve these problems.

Food insecurity is not limited to those who lack access to food; it has

That’s why the Ottawa Food Bank exists: to ensure that every person has access to nutritious, affordable, culturally appropriate food no matter their situation. Their goal is to end food insecurity in Ottawa by 2050. This is an ambitious goal that will require everyone in our community to play a part, and we at the Glebe Community Association are committed to working with the Ottawa Food Bank toward it. Everyone in the Glebe can help.

As the Ottawa Food Bank acquires food in significant quantities and enjoys the support of various food industry partners, donating some of your Great Glebe Garage Sale proceeds – we suggest 10 per cent – to the Ottawa Food Bank can go a long way towards helping those in need. For every dollar donated, the Ottawa Food Bank can provide $5 worth of food to the community.

And please remind your friends and neighbours about this important goal of the Great Glebe Garage Sale. A city without food insecurity is possible and benefits us all.

If you have questions about this year’s sale, planned for Saturday, May 27, 2023, see the GGGS FAQs on the GCA website at glebeca.ca/great-glebegarage-sale-faqs-2/. You’ll also findsome great tips on preparing for the sale in the article by Martha Tobin in

Decluttering in preparation for the Great Glebe Garage Sale

By Martha Tobin

The Great Glebe Garage Sale is happening this year on May 27 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. This much-loved neighbourhood event is a wonderful opportunity to do some decluttering in your home in anticipation of the sale.

Our homes are supposed to be our sanctuaries – the place where we can recharge and relax. But when we have an excess of “stuff,” it weighs us down and fences us in thereby keeping us from feeling in control of our lives. Decluttering is a wonderful way to take back control of your life by purging those items you no longer need, use, want or love.

As you look around your home here is a quick and easy 5 box method for sorting items: Gather 5 boxes together and label them:

1. Items to sell

2. Items to trash, shred or recycle (i.e.. documents, old electronics)

3. Items that belong elsewhere in your home (i.e. child’s homework)

4. Items that need to be returned (i.e.. borrowed books)

5. The maybe items (i.e.. diplomas, awards) This 5-box method will allow you

to easily and quickly sort items in your home to determine the items you want to sell at the Great Glebe Garage Sale (as well as knowing which items belong elsewhere in your home or need to be returned to someone else thereby not getting put out mistakenly on the day of the sale).

Typically, items that are often of interest at the Great Glebe Garage Sale are furniture, small appliances, collectibles, sport items, clothing, LPs, books, linens, art, dishware, jewelry, toys, etc.

Below is some information that will help keep your expectations realistic as well as align with the expectations of buyers that day.

• Set up early so that you are prepared for the early birds.

• Price items individually or in groups (ie. bundle of comics for $0.50)

• Display items on tables or in boxes according to their category or price (ie. all scarves $0.75 each)

• Have a secure/out of sight cash box or apron with lots of coins and bills for change.

• Test the market demand as the day goes along and reduce prices accordingly. Items at the right price sell better.

• If you have larger items that can’t be carted away by the buyer until later, tuck them out of sight and have an

We have a date!

Please save May 5th & 6th, 2023 for our next sale, taking place at Thyme & Again on Wellington West. And please spread the word about this fun and friendly event!

A reminder that 100% of our sale proceeds go towards supporting the work of Cornerstone Housing for Women which has, since 1983, made Ottawa a better, safer place for women.

And a further reminder that you may reach out to us at any time about making donations of fashionable and nearly-new women’s clothing and accessories.

Designer and luxury items would be a real bonus!

andrea.laurin@laurin.ca / anna.rumin@gmail.ca / katielffaught@gmail.ca

impromptu sales receipt available so that you can note the deposit given and exchange phone numbers to coordinate future pick up.

• Working items in good condition sell. Damaged, unworking items don’t. (If you still think an item that is damaged or not functioning is sellable, be sure to note its condition clearly on the item so buyers are aware.)

• At the end of the day tidy up and pack your things away. Recycle as much as possible.

• Check out the Glebe Community Association (glebeca.ca) regarding where you can donate items that didn’t sell. Donating helps others in need in our community and diverts items from going directly into landfill sites.

• Since 1986 the Great Glebe Garage

Sale has encouraged vendors to voluntarily donate 10 per cent of their proceeds to the Ottawa Food Bank. You can find more details at the Ottawa Food Bank website (ottawafoodbank.ca).

Spring is a particularly good time to declutter as many of us feel energized at this time of year with the better weather and warmer temperatures. And most of us already associate this time of year with spring cleaning.

With the Great Glebe Garage Sale just around the corner, there is no better time to let go of those items that are cluttering up your home.

Martha Tobin is the owner of a local Glebe business called Declutter4Good – Organizing and Decluttering (Declutter4Good.ca).

Starting out on a strong foundation

By Charles Weiner

Even though I am a foundation expert, I couldn’t help but notice that the joist above me had a hundred holes drilled into it for the plumbing pipes and electrical wires. I have actually never seen anything like it. In one place, the tradesmen cut right through the joist to make room for the 3-inch ABS drainage pipe from the toilet. The floor support was just hanging in its place.

The Glebe has among the best built houses in Ottawa. If you are already an owner, or thinking of buying a house in the area, then this is clearly good news. On the other hand, most of the homes are over a century old and even though the structure is in most cases made of superior products, there are signs and symptoms of disrepair that need to be looked at and looked at carefully.

In the case of the above mentioned home, inexperienced tradespeople over the years had compromised the joist system. They also rebuilt part of the first floor support for a new basement stair entrance. They cut back the stone wall foundation to allow for the stairs and left the crib opening hanging without proper support. The floors had clearly dropped because of this.

Fortunately, I was able to level the floor, double the joist where needed and install welded steel posts designed to engineering specs to prevent any further compromise. I mention engineering specs because in many cases people have homes shored up with temporary jack posts purchased at a building supply store. These are temporary and do not under any circumstances meet building code requirements. They are not meant to withstand shifts in the structure caused by earth tremors and tend to loosen over time. In many cases, these temporary jack posts are placed directly on the typical Glebe concrete floor. The pad is often far too thin and degraded to maintain the necessary load bearing capabilities. A proper concrete footing must be installed either below ground or above that meets

necessary building code requirements. This can be 12 x 24 x 24 inches or 14 x 30 x 30 inches, depending on the load being carried.

It is important that prospective home purchasers note whether temporary shoring jacks have been used in the basement to support that above joist. If so, the cost of replacing them should factor into the purchase of the home. A proper estimate of cost can be obtained by calling a concrete repair company with a proven track record of completing structural repairs.

Another important and possibly the most essential element in addressing issues related to the structural integrity of the floor joist is to check the ends that are embedded in the foundation walls. I recommend actually drilling out a bit of mortar where stone has been used, or concrete in rubble foundations to see if the ends are rotten. In a good 25 per cent of homes that are built on rubble foundations, the ends can be badly rotted from moisture contamination. This is usually less apparent on stone foundations but does occur where exterior mortar joints between the stones and above brick walls have not been properly maintained. The repair in question is more costly. It can be completed either by replacing the joist in question or installing horizontal beams and steel support posts along the interior walls of the foundation. A structural engineer or trusted contractor can be used to decide the best method of repair. I always recommend the engineer for at least a second opinion, since this will often in the end save you money by preventing an overzealous contractor from doing costly repairs where they are not needed. Unless a job is straightforward, this is my recommendation to my customers. It may take an engineer up to a month to inspect a home during the busy work season. So please, address these issues during the winter or early spring. If not, be prepared to wait.

It is important, especially for new home buyers, to check the access to the foundation on the outside of

the dwelling for purposes of repair. In some cases, houses are too close together to allow for excavation. I have visited homes with 12 inches of space between them. In other dwellings, distance is compromised because a neighbour has illegally built a deck too close to the property lines. There may also be fences belonging to neighbours that are also impinging on the property line and will have to come down if a repair is needed. These problems should be addressed before a property is purchased. It is also good to give neighbours ample warning of a repair. They may, in the rare case, try to persuade you not to do the work. Remember the law is on your side and most importantly, not doing a repair is always more costly in the end, since the damage increases with time.

If you have concerns about your structure or would like a free inspection, then you can email me at (new address) charleszave65@gmail.com. I can also be reached by phone or text at 613-915-8377.

Charles Weiner, owner of Canadian Structural Reinforcing Inc., and expert in foundation and structural repairs, is available for residential, commercial and industrial projects in the region.

The Glebe has among the best built houses in Ottawa, but many are over a century old and can be subject to structural wear and tear.

GNAG’s acting classes for seniors

Less about acting and more about laughing

By John Muggleton

The two things I hear the most when people inquire about Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group’s (GNAG) Studio 55 acting classes for seniors are, “I’m curious but I really have no desire to be an actor” and “I am afraid of memorizing lines and being put on the spot!” The answers to these question are, “That’s fine, because that’s not really what these acting classes are about” and “memorizing lines is not required and you are never put on the spot…ever.”

As a 57-year-old actor, director, playwright and acting instructor with 35 years’ experience, I have seen, and continue to see, the incredible mental and physical health benefits of acting classes. Laughing, socializing, being creative and making friends as we get older are so important, it is essential that we stretch and exercise our minds not just our bodies! Theatre games and exercises, many experts say, are exactly the kind of brain-stimulating and creative activities that can help maintain and perhaps improve memory and overall cognitive health, not to mention enhance one’s engagement with life. All without ever having to memorize a line! Simply making the effort to learn new skills can be beneficial, whether it’s learning the dramatic arts, painting or playing games like chess and bridge (which GNAG also offers!).

So what exactly is GNAG’s Studio 55?

What began 10 years ago as a oneoff acting workshop tailored to those 55 plus and with no experience, has evolved into a weekly series of afternoon acting classes that run in the fall, winter and spring. At the outset, I, along with fellow acting instructor Chris Ralph, wanted to offer classes with an emphasis on fun rather than the more serious evening classes geared towards aspiring actors.

Glebe resident Denise Shannon has taken many classes and along with the acting, enjoys the social element each week. “After retiring, I was looking for a new way to stretch myself and meet people,” she says. “I hadn’t done drama since I was in high school and I had some doubt about whether or not it would be my thing, but after the first class I was hooked! I love it and have made so many great and supportive friends.” This past

Christmas, Shannon auditioned for and was cast in Ottawa Little Theatre’s production of Miracle on 34th Street. “I would never have been able to audition, let alone be cast, if it wasn’t for the Studio 55 classes.”

Although some of the members enjoy doing community theatre, most are content with just doing the weekly afternoon class. Don Westwood, a retired Carleton University professor is one of them. The “elder statesman” of the group, Westwood, who holds the record for attending the most classes, has been an Ottawa actor for decades. At 87 however, the afternoon classes are enough and allow him to stay involved with the creative work of the theatre. “The weekly class is the highlight of my week. I look forward to seeing friends, laughing and working on scenes or short plays. There is always something to learn,” Westwood explained. “I get to enjoy the thrill of acting and theatre without the commitment and having to worry about lines. These classes are essential for me.”

Those who may be interested or simply curious about the Studio 55 afternoon classes are invited to attend an open-house class on May 9 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Glebe Community Centre. Meet me (the instructor), along with a few regular members, and find out how acting classes have enriched people’s lives, created social circles and caused lots and lots of laughter. Because we can all use more of that these days. If you are planning to attend the open-house class, or should you have any questions, please email john@gnag.ca to reserve a spot. You don’t need to bring anything other than a sense of fun!

John Muggleton is adult program manager at Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group (GNAG), and instructor of the Studio 55 acting class.

Members of GNAG’s Studio 55 acting class for seniors, having a blast!

PHOTO: JOHN MUGGLETON

The Glebe according to Zeus

A GUINEA PIG’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE GLEBE

Guinea pigs sue Into-it Tax Services and PetFile!

A class action suit has been launched by Glebe guinea pigs against Into-it Tax Services, a best-selling tax preparation software, and PetFile, the Glebe government’s electronic tax-filing service.

“It’s false advertising!” claimed Bob, who said his experience was far from enjoyable. “Into-it advertises that they are really into it, but they’re not! The software was rude, unhelpful and callous throughout the whole preparation. I felt I wasn’t heard or supported. No treats or words of encouragement – ever.”

Indeed, many using Into-it and PetFile have complained to the Corpulent Revenue Agency (CRA) stating that the Glebe government should not allow Into-it to charge and should improve oversight of PetFile to ensure a pleasant experience for taxpayers; in particular, refunds and inclusive language. “I almost could not eat my dinner,” exclaimed Job, Bob’s longtime partner. “PetFile is humiliating and rodentist! I don’t identify as a pet! A pet?!? I am my own rodent!”

According to the Rodents Against Taxes (RAT) advocacy group, the main complaint is that guinea pigs using Into-it and PetFile ultimately did not receive a refund. “A number of

rodents reported that the math programming was just wrong, calculating an amount owed instead of a return,” stated RAT president Antee Pecuniary, adding that in some cases it was in the tens of dollars, an exorbitant amount that no rodent would ever have.

The Glebe government refused to comment on the class action suit, but did release this statement: “Our new tax cuts for corporations will help all, as benefits trickle down not just to dogs and cats, but also squirrels and guinea pigs.” They

Spring In the Glebe

JUNE 2023

POETRY QUARTER

Oh sister! Oh brother!

Siblings are often our closest confidants; their significance cannot be overstated. Throughout our childhood, they are there – usually in the same house – to instruct or be guided, to comfort and annoy. The honesty and vitality of our relationship with our sisters or brothers are unparalleled. Write a poem about your experience as a sibling, the closeness you have shared or perhaps lack of closeness you experienced. If you are an only child, write a poem about how that feels as you navigate a world where most people have siblings.

As usual, poems should be:

· Original and unpublished in any medium (no poems submitted elsewhere, please)

· No more than 30 lines each

· On any aspect of the theme within the bounds of public discourse

· Submitted on or before May 23, 2023

Poets in the National Capital Region of all ages welcome (school-age poets, please indicate your grade and school). Please send your entries (up to five poems that meet the criteria) to editor@glebereport. ca. Remember to send us your contact information and your grade and school if you are in school.

Deadline: Tuesday, May 23, 2023

also added that they have no affiliation with Into-it Tax Service, noting that the only government sanctioned tax preparation service is Turbulent Tax.

To join the class action suit, contact Arret.la@RAT.ca

By Josh Rachlis | SparkTheGenius.com

Invest in our planet – literally

greater impact on the

By Cecile Wilson

This year marks 53 years that we have celebrated Earth Day. The theme for 2023 is “Invest in Our Planet.” A visit to the earthday.org website provides some examples of what that investment might look like: planting trees and pollinator gardens, reducing your use of plastics or hosting a neighbourhood cleanup. You might also sign petitions, make phone calls to politicians, or attend an Earth Day rally asking elected representatives to take immediate and effective action on climate change.

These are all worthwhile endeavours that can make a tangible difference. But you can literally invest in our planet, too, and that’s where opportunity lies for momentous transformation.

If you are lucky enough to have an investment portfolio, that portfolio is likely the biggest contributor to your carbon footprint. That’s because your investments probably include stocks or funds containing a number of fossil fuel corporations, transportation companies and banks.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s most recent report on greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, the oil and gas sector (coal is placed in a different category) emits more than a quarter (27 per cent) of all Canada’s emissions. This calculation applies only to the exploration, extraction and transportation of the fuels. It does not include what is known as “scope 3” emissions; that is, all the emissions generated by burning those fossil fuels, such as in the transport sector (24 per cent of Canada’s emissions) and the buildings sector (no percentage given, but this sector is the third largest contributor of GHGs in Canada).

The top five Canadian banks, in turn, are major financiers of fossil fuel projects worldwide, ranging from number five (RBC) in the world out of

60 institutions for fossil financing to number 20 (CIBC). In fact, from 2016 to 2021 inclusive, those five banks all together invested almost a trillion (yes, with a ‘t’) Canadian dollars into fossil fuel projects around the world. Imagine how much closer we could be to a cleaner and more equitable world if all that money had gone into sustainable energy!

And it’s not just the banks. Various levels of government also invest in fossil fuels. The environmental advocacy organization Environmental Defense tracks federal government subsidies to the oil and gas industries. For 2022, Environmental Defense identified $20.223 billion in subsidies. However, that number is likely low due to “a lack of transparency and public reporting.” Nor are federal tax deductions disclosed. This is something that the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) would agree with: CAPP does not consider tax deductions a subsidy.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of this taxpayer-funded support is that Canadian oil and gas industries are estimated to have had an after-tax cash flow of $140 billion in 2022. Not only have these subsidies benefited an industry that has made huge profits, but they have come at time when ordinary people are struggling to pay for necessities like food, housing and transportation.

With this kind of financial support to fossil fuel industries, it’s no wonder that Canada’s GHG emissions have been on a steady upward trajectory, apart from the temporary decline due to pandemic cautions early in 2020.

Furthermore, these fossil fuel industries are the very ones that are driving the climate instability that have lead to extreme weather events like the May 2022 derecho and the 2017 and 2019 floods. What will we see in 2023?

The earth’s average temperature has

already risen 1.1°C above pre-industrial times. As a northern nation, Canada is warming up to two times faster than the rest of the world. Despite increasing instances of severe storms, droughts, heat waves, fires and floods, we aren’t even experiencing the worst of it yet. Without swift and decisive cuts to GHG emissions, we are well on our way past 1.5° C, the limit that 194 signatories agreed to in the 2015 Paris Agreement

On the other hand, we already have technologies that can help us cut emissions at the source. Here in Ottawa, check out investment opportunities in solar and wind with the Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-operative; install a heat pump like so many of your neighbours

have done; take advantage of the bike and walking paths in the community to engage in some active transportation! Above all, let your banker and your elected representatives know that you want a cleaner, more equitable and more sustainable community both locally and globally.

We live on one planet. Whatever happens elsewhere will affect you. Whatever you do, affects people elsewhere. This year, invest in your neighbours near and far. Invest in your earth.

Cecile Wilson has lived in the Glebe for over 20 years and appreciates the ease of engaging in active transportation in this community.

If you are lucky enough to have an investment portfolio, that portfolio is likely the biggest contributor to your carbon footprint.

Installing solar panels is one way to reduce your carbon footprint – but looking carefully at your investment portfolio may have an even

environment.

PHOTO: DAVID WILSON.

Make a date with a date

By Marisa Romano

Dates, the fleshy and sweet edible fruit of palm trees, are an important religious symbol, traditionally associated with Islam and Muslim culture. They are in grocery stores all year round, but during this holy month of Ramadan, ethnic retailers and supermarkets stock shelves with the best quality and sweetest varieties. This is the time when devoted Muslims around the world break their daily fast with dates at their iftar table after the sun has set, a tradition rooted in religious teachings. This is the time to bring this gift of nature to all tables.

Native to desert climates, the date palm is one of the oldest cultivated trees and dates are considered the oldest harvested fruit in recorded history. Their importance goes back to biblical times: Ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman societies featured palm trees in their ceremonies.

A symbol of prosperity in the Arab world, the date palm has sustained the life of populations in the arid regions of the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia by providing a staple food, materials for construction, fuel and medicine.

The religious significance of this tree spans across cultures; date palms are part of the daily prayers on the Jewish feast of Sukkot and the celebration of Christian Palm Sunday. But Islam reveres the date palm more than any other religion.

UNESCO has recognized the crucial role that this tree has in the history of civilization of the Arab world and, in

2022, inscribed the date palm and its traditions on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Nowadays palm dates are also cultivated in other hot and arid regions of the globe, but the main production areas are still where palm groves have been thriving since ancient times.

There are more than 200 varieties of dates of different sizes, shapes, colours and flavours; some are produced only in very small areas of origin. Just a few varieties reach our stores, the large, soft, sweet and fibrous Medjool being the most sought-after, and the semi-dry, nutty Deglet Noor being the most common in our supermarkets.

But there is another variety that is making its presence known: the Iranian Mazafati. With their soft pulp and chocolaty/caramel taste, Iranian dates melt in the mouth, literally. Mithra from Shiraz, the Iranian store located in Chinatown, suggests pitting and stuffing them with walnuts, or savouring them with a drop of earthy tahini that complements their flavour. She also recommends trying them in Adas Polo, a staple Iranian lentil and rice dish with roots in legendary Persian cuisine. Enjoy!

Marisa Romano is a foodie with Italian roots and a flair for sharing her love of

In honour of Ramadan, Adas Polo (Persian lentils and rice) features delicious dates for the iftar table! This version was made with brown Basmati rice and Deglet Noor dates, decorated with Mazafati dates.

Adas

Polo (Persian

Ingredients:

1 cup Basmati rice

2/3 cup green lentils

lentils and rice)

1/3 cup raisins rinsed in water

1/3 cup chopped dates

1 small onion

About 1/3 cup cooking oil

1 pinch of saffron dissolved in 3 tbsp water

1-2 tbsp salt

Method:

1. Rinse lentils and cook in 2 cups boiling water until tender but not mushy.

2. Slice onion and sauté in 2 tbsp oil. Add raisins and dates, and mix.

3. Wash the rice and cook in abundant boiling salty water until “al dente” (soft on the outside but slightly crunchy in the inside). Drain well.

Bring the Adas Polo together:

6. Cover with another third of the rice, add the rest of the other ingredients and top with the rest of the rice.

7. Drizzle with dissolved saffron.

8. Make some holes in the rice with the handle of a wooden spoon.

9. Cover the pot with the lid and cook on medium heat until condensation forms on the lid. Lower the heat to minimum and let cook for 30 to 45 minutes. The rice will not burn if the temperature is at minimum. This last step allows for tadigh, a crunchy crust, to form at the bottom of the pan.

10. When ready, mix the rice with a fork and serve on a platter with tadigh served on the side. Decorate with more dates.

This simple dish has as many variations as there are families; some call for added spices or meat. Mahvash, the busy lady at Cedars and Co. on Bank Street in Old Ottawa South, suggests skipping the steaming, and instead layering or mixing

PHOTO: MARISA ROMANO

Cacio e pepe fancy comfort food

By Tim O’Connor

We play a game in the kitchen called “what if?” Last week it was, what if you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life?

Everyone chose a simple dish, such as tortillas with rice and beans, or a grilled cheese or turkey club sandwich, or eggs with hot sauce. This makes sense, because if you’re eating only one thing for the rest of your life and it’s too extravagant, you’ll get tired of it quickly. It’s the simple food that we enjoy eating over and over again, and I chose cacio a pepe, which is pasta, pepper, parmesan and butter, basically a fancy but simple mac and cheese.

Cacio e pepe is not to be confused with carbonara, which is similar but made with eggs and grabs all the fame. Cacio e pepe is my go-to dish at least once a week. It’s easy when you’re hungry and want to be satisfied quickly. It’s also a great little wee-hours-after-the-bar pasta, though, of course, I can’t condone such behaviour.

Traditionally it’s made with spaghetti, and I love slurping up those noodles, but you can use whatever pasta you have on hand.

Step one is to heat olive oil in a pan, and then toast the pepper. I coat the bottom of the pan with freshly ground pepper, but you do you. I often add a ton of garlic at this point, because that’s the kind of boy I am.

You don’t want the parmesan to stick to the pan or get clumpy, so make sure the cheese is finely grated and the pan isn’t too hot. I remove the pan from heat once I’m ready to add the cooked pasta and a bit of pasta water, and then I add the butter and cheese and let the residual heat of the pasta and pan do the melting. This makes for a luxuriously creamy sauce.

It’s simple and classic, but go ahead and vary it. I’ve thrown in yesterday’s roast chicken or chopped parsley or even broccoli. Once I made it with parmesan, pecorino and grana padano, the three famous, hard Italian cheeses, and I was like, “Oh, this is living.”

Make it your way and you’ll think it’s the best thing you’ve ever made.

Tim O’Connor grew up in the Glebe and is head chef at Flora Hall Brewing.

Cacio e pepe

Grate parmesan beforehand and grate a lot!

1. Bring water to boil, add pasta.

2. Heat pan on medium, toast fresh-cracked pepper in pan, add 2-3 chopped garlic cloves (optional).

4. When pasta is ready, remove pan with pepper and garlic from heat.

5. Remove pasta from water (saving liquid), place in warm pan with a healthy nug of butter, toss until butter starts to melt and completely coats pasta.

7. Add a small bit of pasta water and half the parm, toss to make creamy sauce. Add a bit more water – not too much at a time, so it doesn’t get too loose – and remaining parm.

Cacio a pepe, a simple but fancy pasta dish PHOTO: KENT VALLEJOS

Coronation Music Concert at St. Matthew’s

By Margret Brady Nankivell

St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in the Glebe will host a choral concert on Sunday, April 30, at 7 p.m. featuring coronation music of the past to recognize King Charles III’s coronation that will follow a week later.

St. Matthew’s Choir will be conducted by Interim Director of Music Robert Hall, and Nick Veltmeyer will be the guest organist.

Veltmeyer is a multi-talented keyboardist, conductor, composer and arts advocate. He founded Aureas Voces, an indie early music company that builds bridges between many forms of music from early classical to digital media and contemporary stage.

The central works in this concert will be Handel’s four coronation anthems, originally performed at the coronation of King George II in 1727. Probably the most famous of these is the stirring anthem Zadok the Priest.

The program will also include 1953

works by Anglo-Canadian organist and composer Healey Willan, to honour the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and Hubert Parry’s anthem I Was Glad. Rounding out the program will be a transcription of the exciting Crown Imperial by William Walton.

“There is a long tradition of ‘occasional music’ in Britain, that is, music that is written for occasions or in this case grand occasions,” says Hall. “The works in this concert are all wonderful examples of that, having been written for coronations, and almost all of them have achieved lives far beyond those occasions.”

For example, Parry’s “I Was Glad,” written for King Edward VII’s coronation in 1902, has been sung at several coronations and at the weddings of Prince Charles and Prince William. It is a mainstay in the anthem repertoire of Anglican churches worldwide.

Doors Open for Music at Southminster

Concerts held Wednesday noon at Southminster United Church, 15 Aylmer Avenue.

Freewill offering.

April 19 - Harlem Bounce

Yves Laroche presents early jazz compositions from his recent CD with his trio, exploring blues, youthfulness, rhythm and with a slight touch of Oscar Peterson.

April 26 – Re:Imagine

Admission will be free, with a freewill offering. Entrance is at 130 Glebe Avenue, just west of Bank Street.

Extending across art forms, Elizabeth Emond-Stevenson (dance) and Kathryn Patricia Cobbler (viola) explore, share and react, performing solo repertoire of J.S. Bach.

Margret B. Nankivell is a long-time St. Matthew’s parishioner and regular contributor on music to the Glebe Report. Donna

613 233 4775 www.donnaedwards

“It could be argued that there is nothing more British than this music, although some would argue that God Save the King is close,” quips Hall.

THIS IS THEIR TIME

And this is the place. From pre-kindergarten to Grade 12, our students develop the skills, passion and curiosity of lifelong learners. With the support of our community, their confidence, resilience and strength of character grow so they can take smart risks, use their voice and realize their true potential.

Small class sizes

Co-curricular opportunities

International Baccalaureate World School

Healthy meals prepared onsite

Transportation and before + after care available

May 3 – Perspectives

Pianist Jonathan Tsay contrasts depictions of countryside life and nature by Respighi, Tchaikovsky, Liszt with portrayals by Taiwanese composers, Wen-Ye and Shui-Long.

May 10 – Inspired by Friends

Nationally renowned performers Paul Marleyn (cello) and Frédéric Lacroix(piano) showcase Romantic works inspired by the composers’ close cellist friends and family.

May 17 – Rejoice in the Lamb

Members of Roland Graham’s Spring Choral Workshop and organist Maria Gajraj perform Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb and other works to celebrate DOMS’ 10th anniversary.

Nick Veltmeyer will be guest organist at the April 30 concert of coronation music at St. Matthew’s.

An independent day school for girls from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12. elmwood.ca

Atlantic Voices celebrates 20 years of East Coast music

By Shelly Donaldson

Margaret Lavictoire knew she had found her second home when she stepped into that first Atlantic Voices choir practice in 2014.

Atlantic Voices, the Newfoundland and Labrador Choir of Ottawa, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with a special concert featuring highlights from the choir’s first two decades. Over those 20 years, the choir has become Ottawa’s go-to favourite for East Coast music. The concert is on April 30 at 3 p.m. at Centretown United Church on Bank Street.

“My good friend Pam had joined the Atlantic Voices choir the year before, so I went to her first concert to hear her sing,” Lavictoire says. “After that, I was hooked! I love East Coast music, and the spirit of the choir was inspirational.”

Lavictoire, who has lived in the Glebe since 2001, joined Atlantic Voices soon after attending that show. And she was just in time to sing in the Stan Rogers tribute concert, held in spring 2015.

“Different songs get you at different times,” says Lavictoire, describing the emotional reaction some songs can draw out. “I was in tears when we first started learning Stan Rogers’ ‘Make and Break Harbour,’ a beautiful song about the end of the fisheries.”

She says performing in the concerts is just one of many aspects of the

choir that she finds so enjoyable.

“It was the love of the music that drew me in initially,” Lavictoire says, “but getting to know the other choir members and appreciating the leadership and dedication of the choir’s director, Scott Richardson, take it to a whole new level – it’s irresistible!”

Even though she grew up south of Ottawa on a dairy farm, Lavictoire has deep ties to Prince Edward Island. Her mother was born on the Island and she visits aunts, uncles and cousins who live there as often as she can. She can’t help but share her love of the East Coast and its music with friends.

“Last year I invited a bunch of people from my fitness group to our Christmas ceilidh and they were so excited,” Lavictoire laughs. “They came to the show and had a wonderful time.”

Lavictoire says the secret to the choir’s success is the members’ support and genuine affection for each other, as well as the rich repertoire of Newfoundland, Maritime and Celtic songs.

And the proof is in the pudding.

Last fall, Atlantic Voices held its first in-person show since the onset of the pandemic. Lavictoire was at the front door an hour before the show began to take tickets.

“We opened the doors and were shocked to see a huge lineup of

people stretching down the sidewalk on Bank Street,” she laughs. “They were there early to get a good seat!”

She snapped a quick photo after about half of the early birds were inside.

“There must have been 60 or 70

people still outside,” Lavictoire says with a smile. “So I’m guessing that I’m not the only one who enjoys the music!”

Shelly Donaldson is a member of Atlantic Voices and a retired public servant.

Subtle film about French colonial legacy in Tahiti

Pacifiction (France/Germany/Spain/Portugal, 2022)

Directed by Albert Serra

Review by Iva Apostolova

Despite the fact that Pacifiction enjoyed only a limited screening in Ottawa’s ByTowne Cinema in early March this year, it is currently streaming on AppleTV. It is true that the movie’s whopping nearly three-hour length is a bit of a deterrent for theatre showings, but I’m hoping it will be picked up by more streaming platforms, as it is a tremendous movie. Upon its festival premier in 2022, Pacifiction quickly garnered an envious number of nominations (34 to be precise), among them the Palme d’Or and Queer Palm, winning 13 awards in total, including the César for Best Actor (Benoît Magimel) and Best Cinematography (Artur Tort).

Directed by the Catalan director Albert Serra (who often works in French), the movie is almost entirely carried out by one of French cinema’s

best, yet understated, actors, Benoît Magimel. I was not surprised in the least by Serra’s choice of a leading man – strong chin, signature French pout, brooding blue eyes and a dollop of fearlessness when it comes to character choices. Magimel’s film credits include such gems as La haine, Les enfants du siècle, Le roi danse, La pianiste, La possibilité d’une ïle, La tête haute I’ve always thought of him as two parts Alain Delon and one part Vincent Cassel. Pacifiction is every bit the epic story that the plot summary suggests it is. Shot entirely in French Polynesia, mostly in Gaugin’s paradise, Tahiti, the movie is not shy to put on display the unforgettable Polynesian natural setting (there are otherworldly sunsets and plenty of wide shots of the island from a helicopter) against whose backdrop a very different drama/ trauma is silently unfolding. Magimel’s character, known to the viewer only as De Roller, is the French High Commissioner in Tahiti. He is the epitome of a bon vivant – impeccably dressed in white linen suits and brightly coloured shirts, soft spoken, sporting blue tinted glasses and despite the heat, always a flawlessly styled coif. But that’s precisely where a discrepancy, a dissonance of sorts begins to creep in. The more you expect De Roller’s political and moral corruption to ooze out of his character the same way his paunch protrudes out of his mid-section, the more Magimel will make you question your assumptions. When a self-righteous French admiral arrives on the island in a submarine, and rumours of renewed nuclear testing, much like the ones the French government carried out for three decades all the way through the ’90s, start swirling, we see De Roller literally spring to life. On the surface, the High Commissioner doesn’t do anything out of the ordinary – he is driven around in his ostentatious white car visiting local bars and restaurants, engaging in seemingly mundane chit-chat with a troupe of Polynesian dancers about their costumes,

travelling to nearby atolls to have drinks with old friends. To top it all off, there is a hint of a romance between the High Commissioner and a transwoman, portrayed by the beautiful Pahoa Mahagafanau. The romance is as ambiguous as it is symbolic of De Roller’s relationship with the islands themselves. And yet we realize, almost at the last minute, that all this time while dining and sipping on exotic drinks, De Roller is, in fact, negotiating with the highest of powers, imperceptibly steering the island politics in one direction or another but, above all, trying to act as a human shield against what everyone fears will once more devastate this paradise. If there is any moral of the story, it is this: politics is done in the liminal space of soft-spoken hints and glances, and it is carved out of compromises rather than in loud proclamations, fist-pumping or marches.

I found myself mesmerized by Serra’s documentary-like style of shooting where it seems as though he’s left the camera rolling until, finally, something actually happens in front of it. The experienced viewer will, no doubt, be reminded of Claire Denis’ cinematographic signature; there are parallels to be drawn between Denis’ Stars at Noon and Serra’s Pacifiction, right down to the white linen suits of the male protagonists. But while in Denis’ movies the main character really is the landscape itself, which, much to my annoyance, makes her human participants appear random, their actions gratuitous, Serra’s protagonists are emphatically purposeful, his symbolism controlled. Where Stars at Noon gets lost in its own self-indulgent ambiguity, Pacifiction leads the viewer gently but unmistakably down the rocky path of reflecting on France’s colonial past and its complicated legacy.

Running time: 2h 45m

Rated 14A

Streaming on AppleTV

Iva Apostolova is a professor of philosophy at Dominican University College and a regular film reviewer.

A Ghost Waits (U.S., 2020)

Directed by Adam Stovall

Review by Barbara Popel

Movies about ghosts are perennially popular, ranging from The Amityville Horror to Ghostbusters to The Eternal Daughter. But have you heard of A Ghost Waits? It’s a 2020 micro-budget horror/romcom which has a “93 per cent fresh” critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes and garnered a four-star review in the Guardian newspaper. The film, the director, Adam Stovall, and the two principal actors, MacLeod Andrews (he also co-wrote the screenplay with Stovall) and Natalie Walker won top prizes at Screamfest, FrightFest and the Nevermore festival. Not too shabby for a first effort by Stovall and his crew.

A Ghost Waits starts off as a classic haunted house story. There’s this nondescript rental two-storey house in suburban Cincinnati. Whenever new tenants move in, they rapidly leave with no explanation, often leaving all their possessions behind them in their haste. We see one young couple and their two kids scared out of their wits – and out of the house – by a terrifying dark-haired female ghost who hovers near the ceiling. The ghost smiles, satisfied with the result.

Pardon me, she’s a “spectral agent” – it’s 2021 and ghosts have been rebranded.

The property management company that owns the house sends a handyman, Jack (Andrews), to prep the place so it can be rented again. And, while he’s at it, could Jack find out what’s causing all the tenants to break their leases and leave? Jack is a lonely guy, but he’s happy with the work he does. (How often do we see a blue collar worker doing his job and taking great pride in his work...what a rare sight that is in the movies!)

Jack does his “diagnostics” of what works and whether anything needs to be repaired or cleaned. Initially, he’s oblivious to the doors opening

by themselves, odd noises, even a woman’s voice harmonizing with him when he’s singing a romantic song. That night, Jack has to stay in the house because none of his acquaintances will let him crash at their places while his apartment building is being fumigated. He goes to sleep in his sleeping bag on the living room floor. The ghost (Walker) finally gets his attention when he wakes up in one of the beds upstairs, with a metronome ticking away. Jack gets up, there are thumping and sobbing sounds, he reaches for the door handle and…! But nope, his alarm goes off and he wakes up in his sleeping bag. Just a bad dream, he thinks.

In the morning, Jack hangs around the house, waiting for the movers who will pack and remove several households’ worth of stuff. And that’s when Muriel (for that’s the ghost’s – sorry, spectral agent’s – name) asks him, “Why are you here?” “To fix the house,” he says (where is this woman’s voice coming from??). “This house is not broken,” she says. “I like your singing. You should do it somewhere else.” Then Muriel ramps up her haunting – the doorbell rings when no one’s there, Jack’s “diagnostic” tape marks all over the house disappear, then –disaster! His pizza disappears! Jack has another scary night and another very weird “dream,” this one involving Muriel being his double. And in the morning, Muriel throws all her haunting arsenal at Jack – crying babies, music that won’t stop, banging doors, unearthly screaming – and Jack meets Muriel face to face. He runs screaming from the house. Then the film takes a surprising but believable turn into romcom territory. There’s so much to love about this film. The haunting scenes are genuinely scary, particularly because of the black-and-white cinematography and the excellent sound cues. With a dandy script and excellent actors, you care what happens to Jack and Muriel. Muriel’s boss is a letter-perfect minor bureaucrat – and hilarious given she’s managing a bunch of

spectral agents whose job is to haunt houses “because that’s what we do.” The director has chosen great indie songs for Jack to play and for background music. All of this, and the film was made on a shoestring budget. Impressive. A Ghost Waits has got horror, humour and heart. Highly recommended!

Running time: 79 minutes

Rated: unrated Available on YouTube, Google Play and Apple TV

Barb Popel has been an avid filmgoer since the early 1970s. In her twicemonthly column Magic in the Dark in Apt613.ca, she recommends upcoming films at the ByTowne and the Mayfair.

Sylvie’s thriller & mystery review

Sylvie Chartrand

Here is a summary of some of the books I have read so far this year, in order of when I read them, not by favourites. I mostly like mystery novels but hopefully you can find something that appeals to you in the book reviews below.

Village of the Lost Girls, by Agustín Martínez

Agustín Martínez was born in 1975 and studied audiovisual communications in Madrid. Today, he is one of Spain’s most renowned screenwriters who has worked on some of the country’s most popular crime series. On a holiday trip with his family to the Pyrenees he overheard the locals talking about the case of a missing child. The idea for Village of the Lost Girls, his first novel, was born and has been translated into many languages since. This book has 487 pages, but I enjoyed every word. The characters

are complex. This thriller takes place in a small village called Monteperdido. Five years after two 11- year-old girls disappeared on their way home from school, one of them reappears after she is found in a car crash. The driver is dead, but Ana survives. Inspector Sara Campos and her boss Santiago Bain are called in from Madrid’s head office to investigate. Can Ana help them find Lucia and will she still be alive? Ana isn’t forthcoming with information and her statements are conflicting which makes Sara and Santiago’s job that much more difficult. This book would be a great bookclub selection.

I Found You,

by Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell is the internationally bestselling author of 16 novels, including the New York Times bestseller Then She Was Gone, as well as I Found You, The Girls in the Garden, and The House We Grew Up In. Her debut novel, Ralph’s Party, was an instant Sunday Times (London) bestseller, and more recently her books have become #1 bestsellers in Canada and the U.K. In total, her novels have sold over two million copies across the English-speaking world. Her work has also been translated into 16 languages. Jewell lives in London with her husband and their two daughters. This book kept me riveted. Jewell is a great writer. Single mom Alice Lake noticed a man sitting on the beach

Here is a list of some titles read and discussed recently in various local book clubs:

TITLE (for adults)

AUTHOR BOOK CLUB

The Personal Librarian Marie Benedict 15 Book Club

Oh William! Elizabeth Strout 35 Book Club

Murdered Midas Charlotte Gray Abbotsford Book Club

The Reading List Sara Nisha Adams Broadway Book Club

Some Hellish Nicholas Herring Can’ Litterers

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter Carson McCullers

The Telling of Lies Timothy Findley Helen’s Book Club

These Precious Days Anne Patchett The Book Club

A Visit from the Goon Squad Jennifer Egan Topless Book Club

The Magician Colm Tóibín Sunnyside Adult Book Club

The Murder of Mr. Wickham Claudia Gray Sunnyside Mystery Book Club

Son of Elsewhere Elamin Abdelmahmoud Sunnyside Second Friday Book Club

If your book club would like to share its reading list, please email it to Micheline Boyle at grapevine@glebereport.ca

outside her house. After a while she gets worried about him and goes to see if he is okay. He doesn’t remember anything, his name, where he lives, or how he ended up on the beach. Alice takes pity on him and invites him to her house.

Meanwhile, in a suburb of London, newlywed Lily Monrose files a missing person report after her husband failed to return from work one night. The police discover that the man she married never existed. Lily starts questioning everything she thought she knew about her new husband and decides to find out who he really is.

Many years earlier, in 1993, Gray and Kirsty Ross are on their annual summer vacation trip to Ridinghouse Bay with their parents where they meet a young man, Mark, who shows a lot of interest in Kirsty, who is only 15. Gray is suspicious of Mark and is keeping an eye on him. One night, at a party at Mark’s aunt’s house, something went horribly wrong.

Can Alice and Lily put the pieces together? Will we ever know what happened to Gray, Kirsty and Mark all those years ago?

The House on Widows Hill, by Simon R. Green

Simon Richard Green is a British science fiction and fantasy author. Green was born in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire. He holds a degree in modern English and American literature from the University of Leicester.

The House on Widows Hill is book nine of the Ishmael Jones Mystery series. Ishmael and Penny, his partner, are asked to spend the night at Harrow House to find out if the rumours about the house being haunted are true. Team Ghost is created, which includes a psychic, a local historian, a ghost-hunter and a newspaper reporter who is related to the family who owns Harrow House. When one of them dies suddenly, Ishmael knows he needs to figure out how and why it happened.

The Love Scam, by MaryJanice Davidson

MaryJanice Davidson is the international bestselling author of several books, including the Betsy the

Vampire Queen series. Her books have been translated into several languages and are available in 15 countries. She writes a biweekly column for USA Today and frequently speaks to book clubs and writers’ groups, teaches writing workshops, and attends conferences all over the world.

The Love Scam is the perfect book if you want to read something light, romantic and funny with a bit of intrigue.

Rake Tarbell finds himself in Venice, Italy, without any recollections of how he got there. A little distraught, he leaves his hotel and walks right into the canal. Claire Delaney comes to his rescue, but Claire has an agenda. She wants to introduce him to his sevenyear-old daughter he didn’t know he had. She is also keeping something else from him. She knows a lot more about him and why Rake is in the trouble he’s in.

Murder in the Family, by Jeff

Blackstock

Jeff Blackstock, a lawyer by training, has degrees in English literature from the University of Toronto and the University of Kent at Canterbury, England. His career as a Canadian foreign service officer included postings abroad in Costa Rica, Australia and Saudi Arabia. He is now retired.

This book is non-fiction. It is about Blackstock’s family and the search for his mother’s killer. He tells us about the evidence that Carol Blackstock’s father had accumulated over the years and the research that Jeff and his sister Julia gathered that brought them to accept that their father, George, was guilty of murdering their mother. Carol was 24 years old when she died in 1959. Jeff, Julia and their brother, Doug, were too young to understand or question their father at the time. For years they searched for answers and the book details everything they have come up with. George Blackstock, a diplomat, denied killing Carol. What is your verdict?

These books and so many more are available at the Ottawa Public Library! Sylvie Chartrand is a public service assistant at the Sunnyside branch of the Ottawa Public Library.

Warehouse Art Café to raise funds for art studios

By Ada Brzeski and Susan Cartwright

In 2019, a group of dedicated Ottawa artists established Studio Space Ottawa, which now comprises 28 studios, home to 40 artists working in various visual arts disciplines from painting to photography, ceramics, printmaking and sculpture.

Studio Space Ottawa plans to build an additional 13 studios and a spray booth, and has set a fundraising goal of $150,000. To achieve this, they will be hosting a fundraiser, Warehouse Art Café, on Friday, May 5 from 6 to 10 p.m.

The café will allow the public to experience various forms of visual arts such as live-model drawing, print making, pottery wheel throwing and mural painting. There will be music and an art sale and raffle featuring the works of Studio Space Ottawa artists.

Christine Fitzgerald is an award-winning photographer living in the Glebe. Her photographs evoke a sense of the past, offering viewers the sense of looking at century-old family albums, but with contemporary subjects.

A graduate of the School of the Photographic Arts, Ottawa, and Acadia and Dalhousie universities, Fitzgerald completed an artist residency at the Ottawa School of Art and was a visiting artist in print media at York University. She was one of 15 visual artists selected for the historic Canada C3 Expedition on Canada’s 150th anniversary. The work inspired by her Expedition experience was part of the Open Channels national exhibition in Âjagemô Hall at the Canada Council for the Arts in Ottawa.

Fitzgerald has been the recipient of grants from the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts, and numerous awards including the 2016 International Fine Art Photographer of the Year from the Lucie

Foundation and was one of the 2017 winners of the International Julia Margaret Cameron Award for women photographers. In 2018, she had the privilege of creating a portrait of Dr. Jane Goodall for her 85th birthday. Her work is in public and private collections and has been featured by the CBC, the Washington Post and National Geographic. In 2020, her artwork hung at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. as part of the featured exhibition, New Light: Canadian Women Artists, and was part of the Canadian Open Channels Exhibition at the 2020 International Frankfurt Book Fair.

Like many artists in Ottawa, Fitzgerald has struggled to find a studio in which to pursue her art practice. Her former studio was located behind Southminster United Church. When redevelopment forced her to move out, she approached Studio Space Ottawa with an offer to co-fund a studio build. Her new studio was completed in March of 2021.

However, many artists are not so lucky. In the next year or so in Ottawa, over 100 artists will be displaced from buildings and locations scheduled for redevelopment. This displacement means artists can no longer find appropriate spaces at affordable rents that will allow them to pursue their artistic practices and contribute to Ottawa’s cultural vibrancy.

Studio Space Ottawa was built with an initial 20 studios, with the help of their landlord, Kaladar Holdings who invested $150,000 in the project. Two more studios were added on the first floor in January 2020, for ceramics and metal working with specialized electrical service and ventilation. A second ceramic studio was completed in December of that year. The construction of four more studios on the first

THE HISTORY OF OTTAWA ACCORDING TO PHIL JENKINS

floor in October 2021 was the last project to be completed. The 13 planned new studios will cement Studio Space Ottawa’s place as a critically important fixture in the Ottawa art scene.

This expansion allowed another Glebe resident, Susan Cartwright, to find a home for her printmaking practice and her two etching presses. She trained at the Ottawa School of Art under the tutelage of Robert Hinchley and creates both relief and intaglio prints, primarily based on images of nature. She has exhibited and has collectors in Canada and overseas.

Studio Space Ottawa is located at 2477 Kaladar Avenue (near Bank and

Heron). Visit studiospaceottawa.ca for more details and fundraiser tickets ($25 on Eventbrite).

Come out and support this important part of cultural Ottawa, meet our members and try your hand at making art! Help us create new studios for emerging and established artists. Make this a date night with a difference and support your local artists.

For more information, contact Ada. brzeski@gmail.com or 613-222-1810.

Ada Brzeski is a ceramic artist living in Old Ottawa South, and Susan Cartwright is a printmaker living in the Glebe.

Early registration is strongly recommended as spaces are limited: https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/event/history-ottawa-according-phil-jenkins

Phil Jenkins is a renowned Ottawa historian, writer, lecturer, songwriter and musician.

PRESENTED BY THE OTTAWA PUBLIC LIBRARY & THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF OTTAWA & ROGERS TV.

Studio Space Ottawa, comprising 28 artists’ studios, is holding a fundraiser called Warehouse Art Café on May 5 to fund construction of much-needed additional studios. PHOTO:

Ottawa Guild of Potters’ first Ottawa Clay Festival

By Nancy Riggs

The Ottawa Guild of Potters (OGP) is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023. Many special events are planned in celebration, including the first Ottawa Clay Festival, a spring celebration with fun for everyone.

The Ottawa Clay Festival will be held on May 5-7 at the Horticulture Building, Lansdowne Park. The Clay Festival expands upon the OGP’s annual spring pottery sale and annual juried exhibition, which have been popular spring events for years. This firsttime festival will feature fascinating pottery demonstrations, a fun pottery throw down, a kids’ clay area and a raku demonstration (weather permitting). Watching the demonstrations, cheering on your favourite throw-down potter and letting the kids’ work in clay may even inspire a new potter or two.

And if you don’t know what raku is, you’re in for a treat! This traditional Japanese technique is fascinating to watch, as pots are removed from the kiln while red hot and plunged into combustibles like sawdust, creating beautiful and unpredictable finishes.

Live music and a coffee area will liven the festival atmosphere while you browse the displays and mingle with the makers in the heritage Horticulture Building.

“The Clay Festival is about sharing our love of clay and some of the variety of ways that pottery is made, in a fun atmosphere,” explained OGP president Natalie Gosselin. “We are proud of the 50-year history of our guild and the first Ottawa Clay Festival will be one of

May 5–7

Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park

Friday 3 to 9pm • Saturday 10am to 6pm • Sunday 10am to 5pm

Free admission, all welcome

the highlights of our anniversary year. We are grateful to the Ottawa pottery lovers who come out to our events, and we look forward to welcoming new pottery lovers of all ages to the festival,” she continued.

The festival gets underway Friday, May 5, with jurying of the annual exhibition and the awarding of prizes to the winning potters in categories such as Best Sculptural Work, Best Decorated and People's Choice. Juror Angelo di Petta is an award-winning artist who will judge the entries of many talented potters who create functional and sculptural works that will captivate you.

The annual Spring Pottery Sale also opens on Friday afternoon with fresh work by potters who have participated

in OGP sales before, along with some new and exciting potters whose work is just getting known. Admission is free for all events, all weekend.

The Ottawa Guild of Potters has been an important part of the pottery community in Ottawa since 1973.

Fun fact: the OGP has been associated with the Glebe Community Centre since the very beginning, holding its first sale there in 1976. They continue to host their annual Great Bowls of Fire fundraiser for the Ottawa Food Bank at GCC, with the most recent one on March 25 this year.

Nancy Riggs makes her pottery at the Glebe Community Centre Pottery Studio. She is communications cochair for the Ottawa Guild of Potters.

Joel Harden MPP Ottawa Centre N 613.722.6414

E JHarden-CO@ndp.on.ca T @joelharden www.joelharden.ca

Ontario’s 2023 Budget misses the moment

Thursday, March 23 was budget day at the Ontario Legislature, with all the fanfare it brings.

As I sat in Ottawa Centre’s chair, leafing quickly through briefings and the budget documents themselves, I drew one major conclusion: this government missed the moment.

Sitting on swelling tax revenues (linked to the rising costs of living), they could have made massive investments in the things that matter most.

Schools in the Glebe need funding. To cite one reason: thousands of autistic kids across Ontario will be leaving the legacy Ontario Autism Program on April 1 and entering public schools. These kids need help to make this adjustment, but schools are facing cuts. This is no recipe for success.

Our health care system faces massive strain. Ontario’s nurses earn the lowest wages in Canada. The backlog for surgical procedures continues to grow. The Ford government’s response is to ensure for-profit clinics operate inside our public hospital system.

(We’ve been supporting The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) staff speaking up about these clinics, noting the threat to patients given the poaching of staff. TOH Management and the Ford government have denied these concerns, but we will keep pushing for answers.)

On April 22, the world will celebrate Earth Day. Nothing in Budget 2023 helps Ontario mark that occasion with any sense of pride, and delay is inexcusable.

Residents in the Glebe know the serious effects climate change will have, and already is having, on our community.

Our beloved Rideau Canal Skateway, which could not open this year for the first time in its history, may never find the optimal conditions to open again. Just last May Ottawa was rocked by a windstorm that downed over 400

hydro poles, levying damage in excess of $875 million provincewide (and $19.5 million in Ottawa).

In March the United Nations’ International Panel on Climate Change insisted we continue progress to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the global rise of temperatures to 1.5 degrees by the end of the present century. As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said “...our world needs climate action on all fronts –everything, everywhere, all at once.”

This sense of climate urgency is nowhere in Budget 2023.

It offers a whopping $70 billion to privately built transit systems (all of which are over-budget and past deadline), but nothing to support the public transit we have. For many of our neighbours who rely heavily on the bus, especially key routes like the 6 and 7, the impacts to service that come from underfunding will be detrimental. Transit riders in the Glebe will wait longer for the bus, while the death spiral of less service and high fares continues.

Budget 2023 commits Ontario to new gas-fired electrical plants to offset the refurbishing of Ontario’s nuclear reactors. We could renew our energy partnership with Quebec using hydroelectricity, it would be more affordable and better for the planet.

There is no serious action in Budget 2023 for affordable housing, nothing meaningful for Indigenous reconciliation and nothing of substance for post-secondary education. We could add more items to the list, but the theme is clear. Budget 2023 is a disappointment. Glebe residents deserved better.

I will continue to raise these and other concerns in the Legislature, but as your representative in Toronto I want to hear from you. If you have opinions to share with me on Budget 2023, or any other matters, please send a message to joel@joelharden.ca.

Please support our advertisers!

Yasir Naqvi MP Ottawa Centre

Supporting our community

This year, the holy month of Ramadan began on March 22. Ramadan marks a sacred time of year for the Muslim community here in Ottawa Centre and around the world. This month-long journey of fasting and prayer encourages spiritual growth, reflection and compassion for those less fortunate.

I was pleased to host Harmony Iftar this year on their 15th anniversary, at Parliament Hill. This was a multicultural and interfaith event where members of our community came together and embraced our differences in a diverse, cohesive and inviting atmosphere. Throughout this month, I look forward to joining our community in celebrating Ramadan.

In addition to hosting important community events as your MP, it is also part of my role to offer important services to Ottawa Centre residents. I was pleased to partner with the Catholic Centre for Immigrants to run a free tax clinic this year. With their help, we were able to help close to 100 individuals and families file their taxes. With this service, those who may be struggling to make ends meet can have peace of mind in having their taxes filed. I am also pleased to announce that through our federal government’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, four organizations in Ottawa Centre were able to access funding to run their own free tax clinic. This includes Centre 507, Somerset West Community Health Centre, Ottawa Chinese Alliance Church and Sprott Tax Students’ Association. A huge thank you to the all

the volunteer accountants and tax preparers, and staff of the local organizations running this service, for your help in serving our community and making tax season less stressful, and more accessible.

Our federal government continues to offer funding streams that provide direct help to members of our community and to our local organizations. As part of the 2SLGBTQI+ Federal Action Plan, the call for proposals for the Community Capacity Fund is now open. This fund aims to address the main priority of sustainable capacity funding for 2SLGBTQI+ organizations who work to end discrimination, violence and barriers faced by the community. This is another step towards further promoting inclusion, advancing equity and increasing safety in our community. For more information visit: https://bit.ly/3mWykjH or google the fund.

Lastly, as a reminder, the Canada Dental Benefit continues to be open for applications. Quality dental care and good oral hygiene are essential to our health. As of mid-January, more than 153,509 children and their families have benefited from this program, including 42,000 families in Ontario and 680 children in Ottawa Centre. Eligible families can apply for the Canada Dental Benefit at Canada. ca/dental.

As always, my team and I are here to help. Let us know what issues are important to you, and how we can better support you and our community.

The Joys of used-book discoveries

By Daniel Miranda

A 99-cent bookshelf sits outside of Black Squirrel Books on Bank Street calling to people passing by. One of these books, titled Canadian Newspapers: the Inside Story, has proven to be more of an inside story than the authors supposed. Walter Stewart edited this 1980 collection of short first-hand accounts of what it was like working for different Canadian newspapers at the time. Some contributors heap mostly praise. Others are more raw. One such contribution was written by one of the most recognizable names in Canadian journalism, Michael Enright.

In his 10-page piece, “A Writer’s Newspaper,” Enright is particularly critical of the former city editor of the Globe and Mail, Patrick Scott. In it, he calls Scott “abrasive” and “mordant” and claims that Scott had trouble handling his employees.

It just so happened that one of the copies of the book found its way into the hands of Scott himself. Scott’s hand-written rebuttal of Enright’s critique is revealing.

Patrick Gregory Scott started as a reporter for the Guelph Mercury. He rose up the ranks to be city editor and began a storied career as an editor, jazz columnist, TV critic and Paris correspondent for several Canadian papers and magazines. One thing that keeps coming up in the archives is that Scott was a polarizing figure. Bob Smith of the Vancouver Star criticized him in 1968 for writing “another well-written but acidic column.” Douglas Fisher, writing for the Windsor Star in 1971, said that Scott was a vitriol dripper and a seemingly nasty chap. And yet, Fisher describes the response of Toronto Star employees to Scott’s appointment as editor as “ecstatic.” According to Fisher, the appointment was going pretty well until Scott started getting migraines, when much to the disappointment of his colleagues, he was forced to leave the city editor’s position.

This dichotomous view of Scott is

heard in echoes in Enright’s “A Writer’s Newspaper.” While Enright does call Scott mordant and unaccountable, he acknowledges that Scott was brilliant and “knew good writing and how to encourage it.” But it is clear from reading “A Writer’s Newspaper” that Enright chooses to amplify the dark notes. He recounts a story of Scott posting a note that only two staff members earned their pay that week. Enright’s imagery of the fearful anticipation of receiving written comments by Scott, or getting yelled at, paint Scott as a villainous figure.

A gift sticker on the inside flap of Scott’s tattered copy of Canadian Newspapers: the Inside Story is addressed to his wife Maggie, perhaps indicating it was a Christmas present. Written in pen are the numbers 99-104 and 101-103, which are some of the pages

written by Enright. In these pages, Scott fights back at Enright’s assessment. To the claim of not being able to handle his staff, Scott writes “only the lazy ones Michael.” Scott writes “total lies” and “not true” when Enright discusses working for the Globe during the 1960s. Enright writes that Scott wore sunglasses because of an eye problem, to which Scott replies “migraines, you fool.” Scott also wrote “RIP” for colleagues mentioned by Enright, the last of which says, “RIP 2004.” Scott died in 2005, so these marginal notes were written in his later days.

It’s interesting that Fisher, who didn’t work for the Globe, knew that Scott left because of migraines and yet Enright referred to it as an eye problem. It makes you wonder who had the more accurate account. Fisher presented Scott as a competent and well-liked editor, while

Enright presents him as an unaccountable tyrant. Scott may have been justified in his angry response to Enright’s representation. Charles King, a former Ottawa Citizen journalist, also wrote a piece in Inside Story about his response to one of Scott’s articles about Ottawa’s deficiencies as a smaller town. Yet curiously, Scott only underlined this passage and didn’t rebut it as he had so mercilessly done with Enright. Perhaps some personal reasons between Scott and Enright lead to this war of words. While we may never know the full story, this serendipitous find in a used bookstore brings fascinating insight into the world of journalism and its warriors.

Daniel Miranda is a resident of Old Ottawa East and a frequenter of used bookstores.

Thirty Years Ago in the Glebe Report

This retrospective is filed bi-monthly by Ian McKercher of the Glebe Historical Society. The society welcomes the donation or loan (for copying) of any item documenting Glebe history (photographs, maps, surveys, news articles, posters, programs, memorabilia, etc.). Contact Ian at 613-235-4863 or ian.s.mckercher@gmail.com. Note: All back issues of the Glebe Report to June 1973 can be viewed on the Glebe Report website at www.glebereport.ca under the PAST ISSUES menu.

WARD BOUNDRY CHANGES

The Kirby Report on Regional Government Reform proposed ward boundary changes that would sever the Dow’s Lake community from the Glebe and Ottawa South. Dow’s Lake would become part of Prince of Wales Ward, in combination with parts of the old Elmdale, Alta Vista and Riverdale Wards.

This idea was firmly opposed by Diana Patterson, President of the Dow’s Lake Residents’ Association, GCA President Beatrice Raffoul and Capital Ward Counsellor Jim Watson. Letters had been written to Ottawa Centre MPP Evelyn Gigantes in support of keeping Dow’s Lake in Capital Ward.

ELEANOR MILNE

A full-page profile by Barb Coyle honoured the retirement of National Sculptor Eleanor Milne, a long-time Powell Avenue resident. Milne and a team of four assistants took 10 years to carve the 120-foot by 4.5-foot history-of-Canada frieze above the archways in the House of Commons. The sculpting team started work at 11 p.m. unless the Commons was sitting late. This was only one of her many artistic achievements. For 30 years of public service, Milne was presented with the Order of Canada and honorary degrees from Carleton University and the University of Windsor.

GLEBE SCIENCE FAIR

In 1983, there were 8 displays and

14 participating students in the first annual Glebe Science Fair. In February 1993, 168 students were responsible for 102 presentations at the 10th annual fair. Grade 12 student Keith Morton emerged as the over-all winner that year, taking home four different awards. He would lead a Glebe contingent of 13 students to represent the school at the Ottawa Regional Science Fair.

NEW RESERVATION SYSTEM

The Ottawa Public Library was introducing a computerized dialing system that would automatically telephone customers when a reserved book was ready for pick up. This cost-efficient service would reduce the time staff needed to contact readers.

by Ian McKercher

Volume 21, Number 2, April 2, 1993 (36 pages)

Angry handwritten notes by Patrick Scott, former city editor at the Globe and Mail , refuting the criticisms of him by journalist Michael Enright PHOTO: DANIEL MIRANDA

birds of the glebe

By Jeanette Rive

The poor city or Rock pigeon, a bird we love to hate – intrusive, annoying, dirty, damaging to buildings and potentially disease carrying – but it has been cohabiting with humans for some 5,000 to 10,000 years. They have been kept as pets, used to send messages and for food. This misunderstood bird, in spite of not commanding any respect from us, is clever, interesting and a superlative flyer, reaching speeds of up to 88 km/h. Their great navigational abilities allow them to find their way home from more than 4,000 km away. Creating a map and sensing a magnetic field, they are guided by the stars and sun and follow land and water formations.

A relative of the now extinct passenger pigeon is the much more appealing Mourning dove, one of the most widespread species of bird all over North America, along with the American robin. We find them in our gardens, usually in pairs, sitting on a fence, roosting in a tree or foraging on the ground, their cooing sound often mistaken for an owl in the predawn hours. If they are startled, they suddenly take to the air, the rapid beating of their wings making a whistling sound as the air rushes through the feathers, causing them to vibrate. It’s a dove’s alarm system, warning others of danger.

Doves have several unique characteristics. Most birds sleep with their heads tucked under their shoulder feathers. Doves will hunker down, resting their head between the shoulders close to

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the body. They are also among the few birds that use suction in drinking and can suck up their daily water requirement in 20 seconds. Most birds fill their bill with water and then tilt their heads back to swallow.

Doves evolved specifically for ground foraging, which is where we mostly see them, often under our feeders, picking up stray seeds and then flying up to a fence or a tree, storing the seeds in their crop (an expandable part of the top of the esophagus) to digest later in safe surroundings. A record 17,200 bluegrass seeds were once found in the crop of a Mourning dove! Weighing about 128 grams, they eat about 20 per cent of their body weight in seeds daily, the equivalent of about 25 peanuts!

Why is it called a Mourning dove? Their cooing sound can be interpreted as sad and mournful. To others it is a gentle comforting sound: coo-OOoowoo woo woo. The males coo to attract a female. Similar in appearance, the female is a little smaller than the male. Mourning doves are monogamous and courtship consists of mutual preening of each other’s neck feathers, progressing to up-and-down head bobbing in sync while grasping each other’s bills.

What do flamingos, male Emperor penguins, pigeons and doves have in common? They are the only birds that produce a substance called “crop milk” used to feed their young. It is a suspension of protein- and fat-rich cells secreted from the lining of the crop. Both sexes of doves and pigeons produce it.

It sustains the squabs, as dove chicks are called, for the first week of life until they can digest an adult diet. Mourning doves can produce up to six broods a year, laying two eggs at each brood; there is only enough crop milk to feed two chicks.

When crop milk begins to be produced a few days before the eggs are due to hatch, the parents stop eating seeds so as not to contaminate the milk. The nesting site in a tree or shrub is chosen by the male, subject to approval by the female. It’s not a substantial nest, made up of twigs and pine needles. The male stands on the female’s

back as she is building the nest, perhaps supervising the construction! Both parents incubate the young, the male taking most of the day shift, the female the rest of the day and overnight. Mourning dove squabs fledge after about two weeks but are fed by the parents for a few weeks.

The robins and the Red-winged blackbirds are back, as are House finches with their distinct red heads and breasts. Enjoy the returning life to our backyards. It must be spring!

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Scan for show & ticket information!

A VERY OLD MAN WITH ENORMOUS WINGS Riverbank Arts Centre, Ireland Ages 8+ 613-241-0999 • OttawaChildrensFestival.ca

Jeanette Rive is a Glebe bird enthusiast and Glebe Report proofreader.

The Mourning dove, a relative of the pigeon, is monogamous and can produce up to six broods of squabs every year.

PHOTO: JEANETTE RIVE

Autism Spectrum Disorder: myths and facts

By Jenny Demark

April is Autism Awareness month. This is an opportunity to celebrate and talk about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and to work towards building an inclu sive society where all people can reach their potential.

Many people are confused about ASD – what it is, what causes it and how to help those who have it. And rightfully so. As with all things these days there is an abundance of misinformation circulating on the internet. So if you are interested in learning more about ASD, check out these common myths and the actual facts.

MYTH: People with ASD are all the same.

FACT: Of course not. If you have met one person with ASD, well then you have met one person with ASD. Like everybody, people with ASD all have their unique personalities, strengths and weaknesses.

MYTH: ASD is rare.

FACT: ASD is becoming more and more common. In the United States, one in 68 children is diagnosed with ASD. Boys tend to receive the diagnosis about four times as often as girls, but awareness of the unique features of ASD in girls is growing.

MYTH: ASD is a mental health disorder.

FACT: ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder. But people with ASD are about twice as likely as people in the general population to develop mental health issues (such as anxiety or depression) that require treatment.

MYTH: ASD is caused by vaccines, poor parenting, food additives, wifi, or... (insert various unfounded claims here).

ASD is caused by a complex interaction between genetics and environmental factors. There is absolutely no evidence that vaccines, diets, electromagnetic radiation or so-called “refrigerator mothers”

People with ASD act in violent and

Some people with ASD, but certainly not all, do resort to aggression. Understanding this behaviour as an attempt to communicate (“I’m scared,” “I’m confused,” “I can’t do what you are asking me to,” “I need more time,” etc.) is the first step toward teaching healthier coping skills.

MYTH: People with ASD lack empathy.

FACT: Many people with ASD love and care deeply about other people or animals. They may not show it in typical ways.

MYTH: All people with ASD have intellectual delays.

FACT: Many people with ASD (research suggests up to 75 per cent) do have developmental, intellectual or language delays. However, other people with ASD have average or above average intellectual ability.

MYTH: All people with ASD have “savant” abilities.

FACT: All people have strengths and weaknesses. Less than 10 per cent of people with ASD have true savant skills, which are very specific skills that are well beyond a typical way of thinking. Examples of savant skills include being able to calculate the day of the week for any date in history; memorizing all countries and their capitals in alphabetical order; knowing pi to the 100,000th digit; recalling train schedules across the country, etc. Unlike the depiction of autism in the classic movie Rain Man, most people with ASD do not have these kinds of skills.

MYTH: ASD can and should be cured.

FACT: There is no known “cure” for ASD, but early intervention can promote success, reduce problematic behaviours and increase independence. Outcomes for people with ASD are highly variable, with some people living independently and productively and others needing substantial support during their lifetime.

MYTH: People with ASD should be forced to change.

FACT: Obviously not. As a society we can find the balance between accepting and understanding neurodiversity along with the goal of helping people with ASD to fulfill their potential.

MYTH: All quirky kids have ASD.

FACT: Absolutely not. ASD is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that causes significant impairment to social communication and social interactions. It also involves repetitive or restricted behaviours or interests that result in substantial difficulties in functioning day-to-day.

MYTH: ASD can be self-diagnosed.

FACT: A diagnosis of ASD comes from experienced professionals in the fields of psychology or medicine. If you suspect that someone you know has ASD, seek a thorough assessment from a competent professional.

If you are interested in learning more about ASD, or would like to help support people in our community, check out these websites:

Autism Awareness Centre: www.autismawarenesscentre.com

Autism Ontario: www.autismontario.com

Ausome Ottawa: www.ausomeottawa.com

Quick Start: www.quickstartautism.ca

Jenny Demark, Ph.D., C.Psych. is a psychologist who lives in the Glebe and works nearby.

Newton’s third law and Nordic walking

By Susan Yungblut

Good Nordic walking technique involves using your upper body muscles to push your poles down into the ground and back behind you. The result is that your body is moved up and forward

For your body, up and forward means:

· Improving your posture through elongating your spine with every step; and

· Reducing the impact of gravity on your lower body joints (lumbar spine, hips, knees, feet and ankles).

Pushing down and back through the poles confers:

· Upper body muscle strengthening and bone stimulation with every step;

· Enhanced cardiovascular effort (because you need to pump oxygen to more muscle groups when you are using your upper body and core muscles in addition to those of your legs); and

· Enhanced stability and confidence.

At some point in early human history, creative cave dwellers must have used a stick to help themselves walk

with a sprained ankle. Even then it was intuitive to humans that pushing down into the ground through a stick would improve their ability to walk. From canes to crutches to walkers, humans have relied on this simple rule of physics to improve their mobility while living with acute injuries and chronic conditions. More recently, Mandy Shintani, a Canadian occupational therapist, launched Urban Poling Inc., and designed Nordic walking poles for both fitness and therapeutic purposes. Designed with ergonomic handles, lightweight but with the strength to absorb forces that can overload and irritate our lower body joints, these poles are a step above your typical hiking poles or walking aid. UrbanPoling.com is loaded with information and research. Our own uOttawa Heart Institute is currently involved in research on the cardiovascular benefits of Nordic walking.

If you recognize yourself in any of the following scenarios, Nordic walking may be for you. Are you

· A runner looking for a cross-training activity that provides excellent cardiovascular conditioning and upper body strengthening?

· An athlete recovering from an injury to hips, knees, feet, spine or even a shoulder injury looking for a way to keep up or build your cardiovascular fitness and upper body strength?

· A person who loves walking outdoors but wants to get a little more oomph from your efforts? Maybe a bit

more cardiovascular impact, reduced strain on your hips or knees or better postural support?

· Someone who wants to start a walking program but needs to build more confidence? Perhaps you desire more stability and need a bit more practical information?

· A person building bone density, either already diagnosed with

osteoporosis or osteopenia, or trying to prevent this?

Newton’s 3rd law helps us understand the physics of Nordic walking. Health professionals and economists can add additional wisdom: regardless of health or market conditions, an investment in yourself always yields a positive return.

If you take action and choose to invest time and money into a personalized lesson, learning how to Nordic walk with good technique and quality poles designed for your therapeutic and fitness purposes, the reaction, or end result, may far exceed your action, investment and expectations.

At Glebe Physiotherapy and Sport Medicine, I now consult with the team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors and registered kinesiologists. Your personalized Nordic walking session will be integrated seamlessly into your treatment plan. This means that no matter which health professional you choose to work with, you can devote a physiotherapy session to work with me, outdoors in the fresh air.

Susan Yungblut is a physiotherapist with over 17 years’ experience working with clients with orthopaedic/ musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. She is an avid runner, skier, skater, snow shoer, tennis player and Nordic walker. Find her at OttawaNordicWalks.ca, on Facebook and Instagram.

Nordic walking has major health and physical therapy benefits.

PHOTO: SUSAN YUNGBLUT

“All forces in the universe occur in equal but oppositely directed pairs.”

– Sir Isaac Newton, English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian and author.

A young Ukrainian family settles in Ottawa

their needs, such as housing, food and clothing have been met by the small group of volunteers who have also helped them to participate in school and recreational activities. However, the little family has now reached a crossroads: it must find a decent apartment and be able to manage on its own. Already it is such a joy to see how strongly Valentyn is attached to his school.

Stability being the key to a positive integration, we think it essential that this family find housing in our neighbourhood and to ensure that we can reach this important goal, in the spirit of solidarity, we are now seeking your support. Donations would be greatly appreciated, as they would allow us to do more to help Iryna and Valentyn settle in our community. Finally, we are also hoping that Iryna’s other son, aged 19, will be able to join his mother and younger brother in Ottawa.

If you wish to contribute to this project, please consult the GoFundMe website under “Help a Young Ukrainian Family Settle in Ottawa” gofund. me/3a51f46f

By Madeleine Cloutier, Ginette Bocage and Jeanne Charron

In August 2022, a young family from Ukraine, a 14-year-old boy named Valentyn and his mother, Iryna, joined us in our lovely neighbourhood of Sandy Hill. Since then, the two have

lived with Madeleine Cloutier, a member of the Welcoming Committee, and will until June, supported by a committee of dedicated volunteers in this wonderful adventure.

In September, Iryna found work as a cleaning lady at the Lord Elgin Hotel. She holds a teaching diploma

Calling all people of Welsh descent

And everyone interested in Welsh culture and music

By Alison Lawson

What do you know about the Welsh? Yes, we are a proud nation, speak a different language and love rugby. Daffodils are our national flower and St. David is our patron saint. Did we miss something important? We love to sing hymns in four-part harmony!

If you have Welsh in your ancestry or if you are simply interested in Welsh music and culture, you are in for a real treat. The Ontario Welsh Festival will be held in Ottawa from April 21 to 23. The festival is an annual celebration of Welsh music and culture, drawing visitors from all over Canada, the U.S. and Wales. First held in Niagara Falls in 1961, the festival has travelled throughout the province from Ottawa to Windsor.

We are honoured to have three talented young soloists from Wales, John Ieuan Jones, Steffan Lloyd Owen and Eiry Price together with their renowned accompanist, Rhiannon Pritchard, taking part in a concert at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday, April 22 at 8 p.m., with tickets ($35) available to the public. It will be a night to remember.

Another highlight of the festival will be traditional hymn singing, known in Welsh as a Gymanfa Ganu, at Christ Church Cathedral on Sunday, April 23 at 12:30 p.m. Free-will offerings will be accepted.

While the concert and hymn singing are open to the public, registration for the festival is encouraged and will let you attend the other cultural events, including the informal talent show known as a Noson Lawen on Friday, April 21, and activities on Saturday, April 22, such as a seminar and Cinema Wales. These events will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn on Queen Street. You don’t have to speak or understand Welsh to enjoy any of this since all events are introduced in English.

Mark the festival on your calendar and join us! Visit ontariowelshfestival.ca or email us at info2023@ontariowelshfestival.ca

Alison Lawson is helping to organize the Ontario Welsh Festival under the auspices of the Ontario Gymanfa Ganu Association.

and a degree as a mas sage therapist from insti tutions in Ukraine. For his part, Valentyn is a student at Immaculata High School. Day by day, our two proteges are becoming more and more part of our community.

Since the arrival of our guests, all

Your contribution will allow you to obtain a receipt for income tax purposes thanks to the support of Notre-Dame Cathedral.

The Welcoming Committee for receiving the Ukrainian family is Madeleine Cloutier, Ginette Bocage and Jeanne Charron.

Ontario Welsh Festival

Ottawa, April 21-23, 2023

A weekend celebrating Welsh music and culture

Saturday, April 22, 8pm

Christ Church Cathedral, 414 Sparks St.

“Voices of Wales” Concert

Welcoming award-winning soloists from Wales

John Ieuan Jones Steffan Lloyd Owen Eiry Price

With renowned accompanist Rhiannon

Pritchard

Tickets $40 cash at the door; or $35 in advance from: https://ontariowelshfestivalconcert2023.eventbrite.ca Or e-mail: info2023@ontariowelshfestival.ca

Sunday, April 23

Gymanfa Ganu / Hymn Singing session at 12:30

Christ Church Cathedral free-will offering

Festival information:

www.ontariowelshfestival.ca

Sponsored by the Ontario Gymanfa Ganu Association

A young Ukrainian family, mother Iryna and 14-year-old son Valentyn

Fall registration opens for Glebe Cooperative Nursery School

By Julie LeBlanc

One of Central Ottawa’s longest running preschools, the Glebe Cooperative Nursery School (GCNS) is the perfect place for your preschool child to blossom. GCNS is a non-profit licensed childcare centre in which parents can take an active role in creating an exceptional learning environment for their child.

GCNS is located in the fully accessible Glebe Community Centre in the heart of our community. The children learn and play in a bright and spacious classroom. The classroom is organized into carefully planned learning centres. These learning centres allow the children to choose their own activities and to work and play independently or in small groups at their own pace and ability level. Learning centres include special areas for reading, science and discovery, drama, cognitive toys, blocks, sensory exploration and art. The classes also have regular access to the large main hall in the community centre.

GCNS is the only nursery school in the city that takes the children outside to play year-round. The fully fenced yard is equipped with a variety of

materials to provide opportunities for gross motor and social experiences. GCNS has exclusive use of this yard for its outside playtime.

The goal of the program is to provide a positive learning experience, a social experience, and to encourage the development of the whole child. It lays the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. Children learn to view school as a positive place, learn to love finding out new things, learn how to make friends, and learn that adults, other than their parents, can be fun, caring and trusting. At GCNS, children are considered competent, capable of complex thinking, curious and rich in potential.

The GCNS began in September 1977 as a parent-child playgroup. Over the years, the playgroup evolved into a preschool staffed by highly experienced, professional early childhood educators. There are two programs offered from September to June.

The Toddler Program, for children ages 1.5 years to 2.5 years, takes place on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Here, children eager to play will enjoy the learning activities in their first entry into early education. Wonderful, loving teachers,

The Glebe Cooperative Nursery School classroom is organized into learning centres that allow children to choose their own activities and to work and play independently or in small groups. PHOTO: JEFF KEMP

a bright cheery environment and lots of learning opportunities provide a happy start to learning and socializing.

The Preschool Program, for children ages 2.5 years to 4.5 years, takes place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Through independent engagement in stimulating activities, and directed learning time with educators in small groups, preschool children develop the social, physical, intellectual, and creative skills that form the foundation for success in their ongoing education. The morning program is an

excellent way of preparing for junior kindergarten.

The Glebe Neighborhood Activities Group also offers a supervised Lunch Club Program within the community centre from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., as well as a variety of supervised afternoon preschool programming from 1 to 2:30 p.m. to extend your child’s day. Visit glebepreschool.com for more information and to register your child.

Julie LeBlanc is responsible for communications at the Glebe Cooperative Nursery School.

Seventeen Voyces final concert “Motets and Madrigals”

By Kevin Reeves

Ottawa chamber choir Seventeen Voyces has its final concert of the season at St. Matthew’s Church in the Glebe on Sunday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. The theme is “Motets and Madrigals,” which will have an interesting twist in that each Renaissance motet is coupled with a modern counterpart. Exultate deo by 16th-century Italian Palestrina will be twinned with Exultate deo by 20th-century French composer Francis Poulenc. Another compositional pairing is O nata lux by Tudor composer Thomas Tallis (whose forty-part motet, Spem in alium, is often heard in the National Gallery through Janet Cardiff’s speakers) with O nata lux by local composer Gilles Leclerc, director of music at St. Francis of Assisi church. Other works include music by Stanford, Byrd, Durufle, Gibbons, Tomkins and Guerrero.

Seventeen Voyces is now celebrating its 26th anniversary and is very pleased to welcome guest organist Matthew Larkin. More details can be found at www.seventeenvoyces.ca where tickets can also be obtained.

Kevin Reeves is director of the Seventeen Voyces choir.

Seventeen Voyces’ final concert of the season, “Motets and Madrigals,” will take place May 7 at St. Matthew’s Church.

After the ice storm on April 5, Fifth at Bronson JOHN FORSYTHE

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

The ABBOTSFORD SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTRE (950 Bank St.) SPRING PROGRAM GUIDE is now available. LIVE & ZOOM Programming Pick up your paper copy at Abbotsford, Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. or go to www. glebecentre.ca under Abbotsford Community Program and What’s up at Abbotsford. Registration for classes and clubs can be done online at myactivecenter.com with your key-tag; by phone at 613-230-5730; or in-person at the Abbotsford Reception Desk.

ABBOTSFORD SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTRE (950 Bank St.) LEARN & EXPLORE SPEAKER’S SERIES, Wednesdays, 1–2:30 p.m. The lectures are free but attendants must register in advance for a seat or zoom link. APR. 19: Mary Lou Kelley MSW, PhD, has been engaged in practice, teaching and research in gerontology and palliative care since 1972. She will be presenting on behalf of Compassionate Ottawa: Let’s Talk About It. Let’s start having conversations related to aging, caregiving, dying and grieving...we can do it! This will be held LIVE only. APR. 26: Alex Neve is one of four Commissioners with the Ottawa People’s Commission on the Convoy Occupation, which held public hearings throughout the fall of 2022, examining the convoy’s impact on the communities of downtown Ottawa. He will share the findings from their two reports, describing the ways that both the convoy and the response to the convoy constituted serious human rights failures. This will be held LIVE and on ZOOM simultaneously. MAY 3: Winnie Fok, RAc., RTCMP, a Registered Acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, will be presenting What is acupuncture and how does it work? She will differentiate between myth and evidence related to this ancient therapy. This will be held LIVE only. MAY 10: Andy (Acie) Tran, is the founder of Legacy Videos, Professional Films About Your Life. Join him for a nostalgic and interactive stroll down memory lane, along with your fellow community members, exploring your life and legacy. Learn some great tips and exercises for defining and telling your impactful and compelling life story the way you want it to be told! This will be held LIVE and on ZOOM simultaneously. Registration online: myactivecenter. com with your key-tag, by phone 613-230-5730, or in person (Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) at Abbotsford Reception.

ATLANTIC VOICES LOOKING BACK 20 YEARS

Join us Apr. 30 at 3 p.m. at Centretown United Church, 507 Bank St. Tickets $25 in advance, $30 at the door available at Eventbrite (tickets. atlanticvoices.ca), through choristers and via tickets@atlanticvoices.ca. Children 12 and under free. Visit atlanticvoices.ca for parking and other information.

ALPHA EXPERIENCE FILM SERIES starting April 17 on Mondays from 7–9 p.m. at St Mary’s Parish, 100 Young St., access via parking lot. Come and explore the big questions of life, meaning and faith through the Alpha Film Series. For more details and to register: www.stmarysottawa.ca/alpha, email: alpha@stmarysottawa.ca, phone: 613-7289811 x701. Alpha is free, the experience priceless. Refreshments will be served. For a 3 min. video about Alpha go to youtu.be/fViYK_Xb3Wg

BYTOWN VOICES will be holding its spring concert HORIZONS on Sun., April 30 at 3 p.m. at St. Basil’s Church on Maitland Ave., just north of the Queensway. The theme for this performance is Songs of exploration, transcendence and connection, pieces reflecting humankind’s exploration of space with one song’s ethereal nod to Voyager. Tickets available at the door and on our website BytownVoices.com. $20 per ticket, children under 12 free.

CALLING GLEBE ARTISTS! THE GLEBE ART IN OUR GARDENS AND STUDIO TOUR 2023 will be held on July 8 and 9. We are accepting applications from local artists who live, work or have studios in the Glebe and we are looking for a variety of high-quality, original artwork from painters, potters, sculptors, photographers. We also have a few spots available for guest artists who may exhibit their work in the garden of a Glebe resident. The deadline for submission is April 30. For information and an application form please contact glebearttour@hotmail.ca or visit our website for images of past tours glebearttour.ca

CANTERBURY TREBLES WOMEN’S ENSEMBLE presents Fifteen, a concert celebrating its 15th

anniversary and including a world premiere of the choral work Pieces of Flame by Christine Donkin. The concert, May 6 at 7 p.m. at Glebe St James United Church, will also feature highlights of the choir’s 15-year repertoire. Contact canterburytrebles@gmail.com for info.

EARTH DAY CLEANUP Join Friends of Central Park East and the Exploration Garden spring park cleanup to celebrate Earth Day on April 22 starting at 10 a.m. (rain date April 23).

ECO

MARKET EVENT IN ALTA VISTA 2023

Discover the art of sustainability at our second annual Eco Market on Sat., April 22, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. The event will be hosted at Re4m Design and Fabrication Studio and neighbouring partners at 136 Billings Ave. Join us on Earth Day for this special event featuring local eco-vendors, makers, material collection drives and recycling initiatives.

FIBRE FLING 2023 ART SHOW AND SALE, Fri., Apr. 21 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sat., Apr. 22 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Kitchissippi United Church, 630 Island Park Dr. FIBRE FLING 2023 showcases many dazzling original works of art created by local textile and mixed media artists. These one-of-a-kind handmade pieces use dyeing, embroidery, beading and felting. Entrance fee is $5. A portion of the show proceeds are donated to the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the Ottawa Food Bank. Mask wearing is recommended. To learn more, visit www.out-of-the-box.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ OOTBFibreArtists/ or Instagram www.instagram. com/outoftheboxfibreartists/?hl=en

FRIENDS OF THE FARM PLANT SALE, Sun., May 14, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. rain or shine, parking lot beside K.W. Neatby Bldg. at 960 Carling and Maple Dr. (look for the signs). Everything you need for your garden at our popular annual plant sale, with many of the region’s top specialty growers and nursery vendors assembled in one location! Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton will be on hand with free advice for all your gardening questions. Our popular Plant Check service is under the canopy, so you can keep your hands free while shopping. Our volunteers will help carry your treasures to your vehicle. Refreshment tables provide a nourishing break while you shop. Peruse our selection of new and used gardening books for sale. Admission is free for the public, with donations to FCEF gratefully accepted. INFO: call 613-230-3276 or e-mail info@friendsofthefarm.ca.

15th Annual MARTINI MADNESS, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada’s Ottawa-Gatineau Chapter, Fri., May 12, 6:30 p.m. at Lago on Dow’s Lake. Mingle to raise funds for transformative Inflammatory Bowel Disease research. Featuring local celebrity guests, gourmet dinner stations, live music, local art auction and, of course, martinis! For info and Early Bird Ticket pricing visit martinimadness.ca or call 647-684-6894. Follow @martinimadnessottawa

MASTER GARDENER LECTURES OF OTTAWA

CARLETON AND FRIENDS OF THE FARM are available virtually on Zoom and held on a Tuesdays at 7 p.m. with a link emailed to all registered participants by 12:30 p.m. the day of the lecture.

Apr. 18: Your Dreams and Nature’s Needs. Master Gardener Candace Dressler will discuss garden design, plant selection and purpose. An overarching concern will be how styles contribute positively to the environment and how garden design is changing to align more closely with the needs of wildlife. May 2: Garden Design with Nature in Mind: Basic Steps and Beyond. Whether you have an acreage, suburban lot or tiny city yard, this talk will give you a solid foundation for your garden design. Master Gardeners Agnieszka Keough and

Claire McCaughey will make the process less intimidating and more fun by helping you visualize what works, what doesn’t and why. May 16: Create a Beautiful Garden with Keystone Native Plants. Master Gardeners Josie Pazdzior and Adair Heuchan will build on the previous lectures to help you choose which trees, shrubs and perennials to plant and where. For more information and to register, please go to friendsofthefarm. ca/fcef-annual-events/master-gardener-lectures.

MUSICA VIVA SINGERS returns to the stage with a concert celebrating our renewal after a long winter to finally feel the Breath of Spring. Join us for an evening of song with an eclectic program featuring music from numerous Canadian composers as well as a few Italian madrigals to blow away the cobwebs! Tickets $25 General Admission, $15 Low Income, $70 Family Pass (up to 2 adults and 4 kids). General Admission tickets can be purchased online at Eventbrite or on the MVS website at www.musica-viva.ca. The concert will be held Mon., May 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Centretown United Church, 507 Bank St., and will run approximately an hour and a half with no intermission. Masks strongly recommended. The venue is accessible by ramp.

OLD OTTAWA SOUTH (OOS) GARDEN CLUB

MEETING, Old Ottawa South Community Centre (The Firehall), 260 Sunnyside Ave., Tues., May 9, 7 p.m.: Dealing with Shade in the Garden. Gardens evolve and we are often challenged with increasing shade in our gardens owing to maturing trees and new construction. Joan Johnston of family-owned Peter Knippel Nursery will help us with ideas, plant alternatives and ground covers to master our shady places. To register call the Firehall at 613-247-4946. Membership: $25 per year; $40 for a family; drop-in fee $7 per meeting.

ONTARIO WELSH FESTIVAL 2023, April 21 –23. Concert featuring young Welsh soloists John Ieuan Jones, Steffan Lloyd Owen and Eiry Price, April 22, Christ Church Cathedral, 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:45 p.m. Tickets $40 cash at the door or $35 in advance from www. eventbrite.ca/e/ontario-welsh-festival-concerttickets-563822096067 or email info2023@ ontariowelshfestival.ca. Hymn singing April 23 at 12:30 p.m. Christ Church Cathedral. Freewill offering. More information at www.ontariowelshfestival.ca. Event sponsored by the Ontario Gymanfa Ganu Association.

PROBUS OTTAWA welcomes new members from the Glebe and environs. Join your fellow retirees, near retirees and want-to-be retirees for interesting speakers and discussions, not to mention relaxed socializing. See our website: probusoav.ca for more detailed information about the club and its activities as well as contact points, membership information, and meeting location. We will be meeting on Wed., April 26, for a presentation about Bone Health from Osteoporosis Canada.

TOM THOMSON AND THE COLOURS OF CANADA, May 13, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Ukrainian Banquet and Convention Hall, 1000 Byron Ave. Stone Fence Theatre presents its original musical in ragtime about the mysterious death of Canada’s most famous artist and his presumed fiancée, inspired by the writings of Roy MacGregor, with proceeds to CHEO. Tickets $40 online at www.stonefence.ca

AVAILABLE

HOUSESITTING! Are you leaving town for an extended period of time to vacation or go down south or to the cottage and need a HOUSESITTER to water plants, pick up mail and maintain the home, garden, shovel snow, etc.? I am a

WHERE TO FIND THE Glebe Report

In addition to free home delivery and at newspaper boxes on Bank Street, you can find copies of the Glebe Report at:

Abbas Grocery

Black Squirrel

Bloomfield Flowers

Capital Home Hardware

Chickpeas

Clocktower Pub

Douvris Martial Arts

Ernesto’s Barber Shop

Escape Clothing

Feleena’s Mexican Café

Fourth Avenue Wine Bar

Glebe Apothecary

Glebe Central Pub

Glebe Meat Market

Glebe Physiotherapy

Glebe Tailoring

Goldart Jewellery Studio

Happy Goat Coffee

Hillary's Cleaners

Hogan’s Food Store

Ichiban Bakery

Irene’s Pub

Isabella Pizza

Kettleman’s

Kunstadt Sports

Lansdowne Dental

Last Train to Delhi

LCBO Lansdowne

Little Victories Coffee

Loblaws

Marble Slab Creamery

Mayfair Theatre

McKeen Metro Glebe

Nicastro

Octopus Books

Olga’s

RBC/Royal Bank

Studio Sixty Six

Subway

Sunset Grill

The Flag Shop Ottawa

The Ten Spot

TD Bank Lansdowne

TD Bank Pretoria

The Works

Von’s Bistro

Whole Health Pharmacy

Wild Oat

7-Eleven

young lady who studies theology/ bible at home with several years of recent HOUSESITTING experience in the Glebe and Prince of Wales on the Rideau. I have excellent references from many family homes in the Glebe I have cared for over the last 5 years. I also enjoy taking care of animals, especially puppies!! Please contact Sarah at mayyouhope@gmail.com.

RUSSELL ADAMS PLUMBER

613-978-5682

HOME RENOS AND REPAIR - interior/exterior painting;all types of flooring; drywall repair and installation;plumbing repairs and much more.

Please call Jamie Nininger @ 613-852-8511.

RENTED

Beautiful Renovated 4 Bed/4 Bath Home for Rent

Perfect family home on Fourth Ave between Percy and Chrysler. $4,250/month + hydro. Minimum 1 year lease. Please contact Andrew at mccormack.andrew@gmail.com

VISITORS FROM OUT OF TOWN THIS SUMMER?

Furnished, fully-equipped two-bedroom apartment with roof deck for rent in the Glebe, minimum 30 day rental period. Available May, June, and September onward. Parking, bicycle storage, WiFi, Fibe TV, all utilities except Hydro included. Call Hugh or Carolynne at 613-233-9455 for availability and details.

Spring has arrived at

We are overflowing with all kinds of new merchandise for your kitchen, home and garden. Drop by soon and see what’s new!

with