Babies of the Glebe See pages 18, 19
Look for the Poetry Quarter in the March issue Serving the Glebe community since 1973 February 11, 2022 www.glebereport.ca
TFI@glebereport
ISSN 0702-7796 Vol. 50 No. 1 Issue no. 541 FREE
There’s something about Mary By Elspeth Tory It’s hard to imagine GNAG without Mary. The Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group has been an integral part of the Glebe for decades, providing recreational and social programming for all to enjoy. At its core, for as long as most of us can remember, has been its indefatigable executive director, Mary Tsai. Thus it came as a surprise to many of us when Mary announced at our December board meeting that she would be retiring as executive director in 2022. The time has come for Mary to focus all that energy and enthusiasm on retirement adventures. “But she’s only, like, 35!” my daughter insisted when I told her the news, and I’m sure half the neighbourhood is thinking the exact same thing. Mary’s fountain of youth has apparently been maintained by surrounding herself with children and bookending most work days by teaching bootcamp and yoga. Mary started at the Glebe Community Centre in 1991 as the City’s program coordinator. In 1996, the City’s Department of Recreation and Culture was restructuring due to cutbacks. This coincided with GNAG creating its first full-time position and Mary was hired as executive director. She never looked back. One of her favourite things about being with GNAG for so long? “The cycle of children who become volunteers, then staff, then parents and then their kids attend the centre to complete the circle,” she said excitedly. “I know, so cliché but so awesome!” Her vision, according to former GNAG chair and staff member Jennie Aliman, was for GNAG to feel like the community’s living room. I think we can all agree that she, along with an incredibly dedicated team, has succeeded. Programming expanded rapidly, in part due to Mary’s willingness to always give any idea a chance and her intuitive understanding of what the community needs. Mary Lovelace, former GNAG chair and staff member, always loved that positive attitude captured in her favourite Mary quote: “They say no, I say yes. Let’s make it happen.” Former chair Ian Nicol remembers initially laughing when Mary proposed adding a pole-dancing class to GNAG’s schedule (not aware that it had become a popular form of exercise) but given her dedication and proven track record along with her
Index ABBOTSFORD 14 BABIES 18, 19 BIA-BUSINESS 15-17, 21 BIRDS 29 BOOKS 23 FILM 30 FOOD 20 GLEBE HISTORY 28 GLEBOUS & COMICUS 31 HOUSING 13 LETTERS 5 OPINION 7, 8 PEOPLE 32 REMEMBERING 3, 4 RENOVATIONS 24 REPS & ORGS 6, 9-12, 27 RINKS 22 SPORT 33 TREES 25, 26
Mary Tsai, the beloved and much-admired GNAG executive director, will retire in the fall.
enthusiasm, it was never in doubt that pole dancing would be offered. It turned out to be yet again another successful program. Former chair Kate McCartney said that working with Mary “feels like being tied to a rocket ship – always reaching new heights, sparking new innovative ideas and going a million miles an hour.” She was quick to add that Mary’s enthusiasm was always laser-focused “like a SpaceX rocket that efficiently lands back on the pad. Maximum effect with minimal downside and always super fun. If it can be done in a superhero costume, even better.” COVID-19 has been an incredible challenge for
Contributors this month Lorne Abugov Yasmin Amer Iva Apostolova Steve Barkhouse Stefania Bartucci Wouter Bleeker Martha Bowers Patrick Burke Magdalene Carmen Brian Murray Carroll James Caswell Dan Chook Reid Barb Coyle Carolina Di Giulio Ian Ferguson Rachel Fiset Caitlin Giffin Pat Goyeche
Joel Harden Walter Hendelman Carolyn Inch Seyda Ipek Paul Keen Crystal Maitland Randal Marlin Ian McKercher Shawn Menard Jay Miller Yasir Naqvi Michael Kofi Ngongi Aaliyah Ngoy Erinn Nowiski Mami Orihara Barbara Popel Stella Rastogi John Richardson Jeanette Rive
GNAG, but Mary’s consistent and thoughtful leadership has been crucial to the organization’s survival. GNAG was one of the first groups to pivot to online classes, offered for free to the community to allow isolated people to stay connected. Mary worked with her team to find ways to offer the same excellent programming online as they did in person. She fought hard to keep the core team together and was always ready and willing to adjust the sails of her ship rather than sitting back and hoping the winds would change. Summer and holiday camps were put Continued on page 2
What’s Inside Marisa Romano Daniel Sanger Derele Scharfe Les Scharfe Peter Senecal Laura Smith Roger Smith Sue Stefko JC Sulzenko Emma Thompson Elspeth Tory Mary Tsai Caren Von Merveldt Jim Watson Della Wilkinson Zeus
Civic campus hospital......................................... Pages 6–8
Clyde Sanger remembered.....................................Page 3, 4
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2 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
BIG SHOES
Mary Continued from page 1
into place despite constantly changing restrictions; beloved events had to be cancelled, but Mary’s tenacity, drive and optimism never faltered. “I cannot think of an occasion when Mary didn’t give her all and because of this, she inspired the rest of us to do the same,” says Clare Rogers, a longtime GNAG staff member. “Her work ethic, positivity and determination to make everything a success is infectious.” The board is now tasked with looking for her replacement. As I attempted to write up Mary’s current responsibilities, Yasir Naqvi and Mary Tsai
I joked that I felt a bit like Jane and Michael Banks writing their wish list for a nanny in Mary Poppins. Rest assured that we will not expect her replacement to teach yoga, bootcamp, direct a children’s musical, run an online cooking class, put together the programming guide in Adobe InDesign, all while running an incredibly successful roster of programs. We are, however, excited to see what new ideas and opportunities our next executive director will bring. They say that not all heroes wear capes. But if you happen to have passed through the community centre in the past few decades, you’ve almost certainly come across our very own Super Mary. Her cape flapping behind her, she brings
smiles to little faces while blazing a trail forward and asking us all enthusiastically if we’d like to come along for the ride. Elspeth Tory is the chair of Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group (GNAG) and a Glebe resident.
Interested in following in Mary’s footsteps as Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group’s executive director? Visit gnag.ca/careers for information on how to apply.
From left: Jim Watson, Mary Tsai, Yasir Naqvi and David Chernushenko
DLINE! NEW DEA
POETRY QUARTER MARCH 2022
An embarrassment of riches Due to space constraints in this combined January / February issue, our next Poetry Quarter will appear in the March issue. We are therefore extending the deadline to February 28. We thank the many contributors so far, and assure you that your submissions will receive full consideration along with any new submissions. A reminder that our theme this time is spillover, holdover, boil over, mull over, pick over – you get the picture.
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; and • Submitted on or before Monday, February 28, 2022. 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 5 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: Monday, February 28, 2022
REMEMBERING
Glebe Report February 11, 2022
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Clyde Sanger remembered By Daniel Sanger The Glebe lost one of its biggest fans and comprehensive chroniclers in January when journalist – and my father – Clyde Sanger died aged 93. Clyde was eminently recognizable around the neighbourhood, whether on his bike (his preferred mode of transport long before it was the done thing among adults), walking his Jack Russell terriers or visiting the many Bank Street merchants whom he befriended. He was also a long-time presence in the Glebe Report, which was founded by his wife Penny and Sylvia Holden around the Sanger kitchen table and to which he contributed a column for 16 years. Clyde and Penny and their four boys landed in the Glebe in the winter of 1970 after a nomadic decade. Born and brought up in comfortable circumstances in Surrey, England, Clyde had taken up journalism after graduating from Oxford and doing military service in Egypt. His first jobs were in northern England, London and Kentucky, but he longed for more adventure and in 1957, to his father’s despair, quit a job on the Daily Mail to become the editor of a start-up weekly in Southern Rhodesia, then a British colony. Before long, he had met and married Penny and moved on to become the first Africa correspondent for The Manchester Guardian (now simply The Guardian), based in Nairobi. After five busy years covering the bumpy end of British colonial rule in central and east Africa, the family moved to New York and then Toronto, initially with The Guardian and then The Globe and Mail. Finally, the Globe’s parliamentary bureau came calling. The Glebe was different then. The first real estate agent Penny talked to urged the family to settle in Alta Vista; the Glebe was too central, with ragged edges and rooming houses, it could go either way. The suburbs, the agent said, were safer. But
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Penny wouldn’t be deterred and the family moved initially to 209 Fourth and shortly thereafter to 299 First. That was where the Glebe Report was born. Clyde and Penny’s attachment to the community and its residents grew deep and unfailing. They owned the house for 48 years, living in it all that time but for a two-year spell back in England in the late 1970s when Clyde wanted to be closer to his aging parents and he and Penny thought their boys should see different landscapes and horizons. The parties at the house were innumerable, joyous and legendary with Clyde often declaiming poems he had composed for the occasion. The causes and campaigns organized in its living room or around the dining room table were almost as many. Clyde’s politics had shifted away from those of his conservative tribe even before he went to Africa, but there his commitment to social, political and economic justice for all – especially the developing world – was galvanized. This was not always compatible with working in The Globe’s parliamentary bureau and by the mid-1970s Clyde had gone to work for CIDA, then IDRC and later the North-South Institute. In this way Clyde was frequently described as “an internationalist,” and his passport got regular workouts whether on trips back to Africa or to Asia and Latin America. But if he thought global, he also acted local and always remained deeply engaged with the Glebe, and in any number of ways. One week it might have involved pushing the city for a greener, more human-scale development of Lansdowne Park; the next he might have been organizing a birthday party for Moto or Rafiki at Brown’s Inlet and hand-delivering invitations to every other Jack Russell owner he knew in Ottawa. But always he was building community, though he would never have used such a term. For him it was just part of being alive. In the same way, he never rode an
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Clyde Sanger, distinguished journalist and long-time Glebite, died in January. He is shown with his granddaughter Claire O’Neill Sanger when visiting the grave of his wife Penny, instigator of the Glebe Report. PHOTO: TOBY SANGER
elevator or stood in a checkout line beside a stranger without sparking up a conversation. Clyde also taught journalism at Carleton University and became the mentor to many reporters, whether Canadians with an international outlook or from Africa and elsewhere in the global south whom he helped make their way to Canada to study. (For a more complete account of his work in this regard ,see the tribute at carleton.ca/ sjc/2022/legendary-journalist-author-and-mentor-clyde-sanger-dies-at-93/ .) A memorial of Clyde’s life will be held in the spring. His remains will be buried alongside Penny in the MacLaren cemetery in Wakefield. Daniel Sanger is one of Clyde Sanger’s four sons.
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4 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
EDITORIAL
Clyde Sanger 1928-2022 By Randal Marlin
In honour of Clyde Sanger By JC Sulzenko
I have admired Clyde Sanger for many reasons and many seasons. Never one to resist the temptation to write and comment, he became a frequent contributor to Poetry Quarter with his unique voice and verses. On the occasion of the publication of his lovely 2014 poetry collection, Second Wind, I wrote a cento using lines from individual poems in that book. Clyde appreciated the dedication and the substance of the poem, which I offer here as a tribute to the man. I will miss him. JC Sulzenko is curator of the Glebe Report’s Poetry Quarter.
On second thought
For Clyde and Penny Sanger
How much of my life is contained in before just promises I made in work and play and children’s eyes? Where the butterflies drink, and tropic mornings bring the sun, I pick petals from her hair. To think she leads a double life! Perhaps there’s more hope than you suppose: A place for setting out from, and a place for returning. Where limestone, granite fused, we soon learnt not to stumble. Just hang on and hang tight. JC Sulzenko writing as A. Garnett Weiss Cento gloss: Line 1: “The Devil in the Deep Blue Sea” Line 2: “The Candidate’s Farewell” Line 3: “For Malcolm at 18” Line 4: “Mexican Musings” Line 5: “The Happy Life of Bobby Moore” Line 6: “Picking Petals in Bangladesh” Line 7: “For Mella at 80” Line 8: “A Rose by another name” Line 9: “Three Favorite Places” Line 10: “Bon Echo—down the Ages” Line 11: “Two Warehouses” Line 12: “The Man on the Windshield” (All lines are drawn unaltered, apart from adjustments for reasons of syntax or grammar, from individual poems in Clyde Sanger’s collection, Second Wind, published in 2014)
If I had to define what it is to be a journalist in the best sense of the word, I would look to Clyde Sanger’s life as an embodiment of those qualities. First, an impassioned desire to find out the truth about many things, large and small, and then a strong ability to communicate those findings. These qualities were coupled with a sense of justice but also fairness to those under attack. Clyde had a boundless curiosity and a desire to witness events first-hand, even at risk to his safety. There was often a sharp edge to his reporting, and one sensed that politicians, diplomats and other influential people who came within his notice treated him with respect, sometimes based partly on fear. For many years, Clyde wrote a very interesting column, “Glebe Questions,” in the Glebe Report. My wife Elaine, the editor in the early 2000s, remembers that he often dropped by the office to chat about his stories that were always ready ahead of deadline. Then he would sometimes remark: “Now I have to go home and whip up my column for The Economist.” The Glebe Report was part of Sanger family life from its first issue in June 1973, his late wife Penny (née Ketchum) being the founder and first editor. Elaine recalls that with no office to accommodate production, the Sangers’ home became action central. There was excitement after the first issue when Pierre Benoit, mayor at the time, threatened to sue over the front-page story. When I guest-edited Global Media Journal in 2010, I asked Clyde to review a book titled Newspeak in the 21st Century. I thought he would be sympathetic to this critique of establishment media like The Guardian and the BBC. But he began his review: “This is a hatchet job.” He mostly agreed with their points but thought the authors, who were not journalists, should appreciate more the pressures upon the media. Clyde faced those pressures himself. When he was working for a bi-weekly newspaper in Salisbury (now Harare) in 1959, an emergency was declared in Nyasaland (now Malawi) and hundreds were detained. His boss declared “we can cover it from here;” Clyde disagreed, quit his job and flew in to cover the trouble on his own. He was lucky to have found himself in the right history-making places at the right time – Central Africa, Kenya, Zanzibar – and to have emerged unscathed from some dangerous situations. They say “curiosity killed the cat” but also that “cats have nine lives.” Clyde was extraordinarily fortunate to make the right career decisions and the right personal choices, especially marrying Penny and raising their four boys. He greatly enjoyed lively gatherings with family and friends. Two months before Clyde’s death, his family organized a gathering to mark Clyde’s 93rd birthday and his special literary legacy: an extraordinary book, Our Golden Years in Africa: From the Congo to Zimbabwe. He presents in that book a kaleidoscope of stories, photographs and other images, interweaving family life with local and world politics. We are with him in his successes and failures. We see him trying to convince editors of the need for social
www.glebereport.ca 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. EDITOR............................
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justice in Africa and for in-depth reporting that would expose the injustice of colonial rule. You can feel Clyde’s repulsion as he quotes the once-revered Cecil Rhodes: “Always remember you are an Englishman and have won first prize in the lottery of life” and “The more of the world we inhabit, the better it is for the human race.” The book begins with a description of his father Gerald Sanger, who worked for Movietone News, a main source of public information in his day. Gerald had always taken pride in Clyde’s work and professional choices but criticized his decision to go to Rhodesia as an “abdication.” But he concluded prophetically: “Later I may see his action in a different light; but now I can only pray that he knows what he is doing.” Yes, Clyde knew what he was doing in life and achieved it, right up to the completion of this extraordinarily rich final book. We don’t just read about his adventurous and productive life, we live it with him. Clyde will be remembered for many different things: UN enthusiast, seeker of global justice, poet, mentor, university lecturer, editor, author of legal studies, biographies, editorials and, finally, a mischievous inventor of party games to challenge his guests. Randal Marlin is an author, professor, lecturer, Glebe resident and former president of the Glebe Community Association and a long-time friend of Clyde Sanger.
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Glebe
Comings & Goings � Kumon Math and Reading Centre open at 591A Bank Street. 613-319-8080. Bad Dog Co. has moved from 889 Bank Street to 617 Bank (former home of Cesar Cuts). “Curated vintage streetwear shop.” Vintage shop focused on street style from the 90s Buy • Sell • Trade Fairy Dreams Bridal now open at 724 Bank Street (formerly Glebe Emporium). “Find your dream wedding dress in a comfortable, luxurious, private boutique!” My Baby Shoppe will be opening in late winter/ early spring at 724 Bank Street. “Organic & bamboo baby clothing. Instagram: mybabyshoppe Big Bamboo Cannabis Company now open at 144 Renfrew Avenue (corner of Bronson, across from McDonald’s). bigbamboocannabis.com. Mr. Puffs bar à dessert/dessert bar opening soon at 200 Marché Way, unit 109. Sunnyside library hours as of January 31: Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m.– 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 1–8 p.m.; Friday, 1–6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday closed.
LETTERS
Glebe Report February 11, 2022
Cookbook evokes memories
Glebe needs affordable housing
Editor, Glebe Report Re: The Story of a cookbook, Glebe Report, December 2021 My name is Philip Sexsmith, and I live in Fredericton, New Brunswick. A student of mine sent me a link to your publication, and I wanted to thank you and your columnist Marisa Romano for bringing back some wonderful memories. I grew up in Ottawa. I lived in Nepean and attended Century Public School and Sir Winston Churchill Secondary. When my parents retired, we moved to New Brunswick where I’ve lived for the last 50 years. I was privileged to direct a performing group called Characters Incorporated for over 15 years. We were able to tour Canada and much of the world. We often performed for the National Capital Commission and appeared on the main-stage, noonhour show with Alanis Morissette and Buffy Sainte-Marie for Canada 125. We also performed in our nation’s capital on several other occasions. Ottawa was always a highlight for my kids, especially the chance to experience Sparks Street, the Byward Market and buying milkshakes at Zaks! I still have my copy of the cookbook that Marisa references. It was compiled by my wife April and a few parent volunteers, printed and bound by hand! Little did we know that 25 years later it would somehow find its way from Fredericton to Ottawa. We still use that cookbook. Even though online recipes have made cookbooks somewhat obsolete, my wife is preparing a few recipes from it this very weekend. I can’t thank you enough for this article. Not only did it bring back some beautiful memories, but it reminds me just how fortunate I was to have worked with so many wonderful and talented young people. Thank you both for your publication. It was like receiving an early Christmas present. Philip Sexsmith Fredericton, NB
Glebe Spree feedback
Editor, Glebe Report
The last remnant of the Bank Street streetcar needs a commemorative plaque. PHOTO: JAY MILLER
Last vestige of Bank Street streetcar
Editor, Glebe Report The one remaining vestige of the former Bank Street streetcar line is the tall, dark red electrical pylon still standing on the west side of Bank, south of Chamberlain between Rosebery and Strathcona (outside The Works restaurant). This was brought to my attention through a talk given by author David McGee, who highlights the pylon in one of his Lost Ottawa books. I thought putting a plaque on it to commemorate local history would be a nice gesture.
Caren von Merveldt Owner, Von’s and Flippers restaurants
Seyda Ipek Assistant Professor, Department of Physics Carleton University
Jay Miller
And the dogs appreciate it Editor, Glebe Report One of the joys of winter in the Glebe is to see residents in their Canada Goose parkas diligently walking their lovely dogs around the neighbourhood. Long may it continue. Ian Ferguson
Our Volunteer Carriers Jide Afolabi, Jennie Aliman, Tyler, Luke & Claire Allan, Lawrence Ambler, Ella Åsell, James Attwood, Aubry family, Miko Bartosik, Alessandra & Stefania Bartucci, Adrian Becklumb, Beckman family, Joanne Benoit, Inez Berg, Naéma and Raphaëlle Bergevin Hemsing, Carolyn Best, Daisy & Nettie Bonsall, Robert & Heidi Boraks, Martha Bowers, Bowie family, Adélaïde and Éléonore Bridgett, Bob Brocklebank, Ben Campbell-Rosser, Stella Cauchi, Bill Congdon, Tony Carricato, Ava & Olivia Carpenter, Ryan & Charlotte Cartwright, Tillie Chiu, Sarah Chown, Sebastian, Cameron & Anna Cino, Avery & Darcy Cole, Denys Cooper, June Creelman, Marni Crossley, Richard DesRochers, Davies Family, Marilyn Deschamps, Diekmeyer-Bastianon family, Dingle family, Delia Elkin, Nicholas, Reuben, Dave & Sandra Elgersma, Thomas and William Fairhead, Patrick Farley, James & Oliver Frank, Judy Field, Federico Family, Maria Fobes, Florencia Furbatto, Liane Gallop, Joann Garbig, Madeleine Gomery, de Groot family, Barbara Greenwood, Ginny Grimshaw, Henry Hanson, Oliver, Martin and Simon Hicks, Hook family, Cheryle Hothersall, Jeevan & Amara Isfeld, Jungclaus Family, Janna Justa, Michael Khare, Lambert family, Leith and Lulu Lambert, Jamie, Alexander & Louisa Lem, Brams and Jane Leswick, Aanika, Jaiden and Vinay Lodha, Vanessa Lyon, William Maguire, Pat Marshall, Alicia McCarthy & family, Catherine McArthur, Ruby McCreary, Ian McKercher, Julie Monaghan, Karen Mount, Diane Munier, Mary Nicoll, Xavier and Heath Nuss, Sachiko Okuda, Matteo and Adriano Padoin-Castillo, Brenda Perras, Ann Pill, Brenda Quinlan, Annabel and Joseph Quon, Beatrice Raffoul, Bruce Rayfuse, Kate Reekie, Thomas Reevely, Mary & Steve Reid, Jacqueline Reiley-King, Anna Roper, Lene Rudin-Brown, Sabine Rudin-Brown, Casimir & Tristan Seywerd, Jugal James Shah, Short family, Kathy Simons, Abigail Steen, Stephenson family, Ruth Swyers, Saul Taler, Brigitte Theriault, Christine Thiesen, John & Maggie Thomson, Tom Trottier, Trudeau family, Zosia Vanderveen, Veevers family, Camilo Velez, Nick Walker, Erica Waugh, Vanessa Wen, Paul Wernick, Zoe & Nicole Wolfenden, Howard & Elizabeth Wong, Ella & Ethan Wood, Nathaniel & Maggie Wightman, Fil Young/ Harriet Smith, Murray and Christie Wong.
Salt, please Editor, Glebe Report
Editor, Glebe Report Every year businesses are doing the Glebe Spree. This year customers were not as enthusiastic as in previous years. While COVID is a factor, it’s not the real reason. Most customers felt that they were not going to win the $10,000. I have suggested over the years making the prize ten times $1,000, which would be more fun: small prizes from our businesses – they do not have to be big. The whole idea is to foster community spirit. On another note, businesses were left with tons of entry forms and stickers – we were told to throw them out! What a waste!
Letters to the editor on housing development, in the Glebe Report or any other newspaper, always raise questions for me: Does the letter writer own a house already? If so, when did they buy that house? The housing crisis we hopeful new homebuyers are facing requires a much more thoughtful response than “we want to preserve our neighbourhood.” It is obvious that buying a house is very different now compared to even five years ago. For starters, my colleagues at Carleton University could afford a house here when they started their positions as faculty members. I cannot. Why is wanting affordable housing considered to be destroying the neighbourhood? More importantly, why shouldn’t people working in the Glebe be able to afford to live in the Glebe as well – aren’t they also part of the Glebe neighbourhood spirit? To me, any new housing is better than a lack of affordable housing. A neighbourhood needs neighbours – unless the letter writers only want to be neighbours with people who can afford to buy an already existing, exorbitantly expensive house here.
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Thank you Editor, Glebe Report A heartfelt thank you to those community members who generously donated holiday gifts to the Canadian veterans living at Ottawa’s new Andy Carswell building. Your kindness makes our community a special place to live and has given hope to those in need. Also, a huge thanks to local businesses for their donations, including Nat’s Bakery, Lightning St Organics, Ben’s Barbecue Sauce and Jacobson’s. Erinn Nowiski
The snow and ice have started to accumulate again, making the sidewalks treacherous for pedestrians. After the snow, rain and subsequent freeze in early December, I was disappointed to note that very few people had put salt out even two days afterwards. Glebe residents, please salt your sidewalks (and those of your neighbours if you have the extra two minutes) to help keep our neighbourhood safe for winter walking. The city gets around to it eventually but in the meantime, it’s a quick and thoughtful gesture we can make for the safety of our community. We will have many more opportunities this winter to show this small kindness. Stefania Bartucci
AVAILABLE DELIVERY ROUTES Jackson and Frederick Place Holmwood Monk to Ralph Fifth Avenue south side Bank to Craig
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6 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
DLRA
Some nasty surprises when the new Civic opens By Barbara Popel The new Civic Hospital is scheduled to open in 2028. When it does, Ottawa residents will be in for some nasty surprises, one of which may be deadly. This article describes three of them. Most people – staff, outpatients, visitors – get to the current Civic Hospital in a car, usually a private car but sometimes a taxi or an Uber. We know this because the Ottawa Hospital (the corporation which owns and manages several of the city’s hospitals, including the Civic) measured what’s known as “modalities” – how people arrive at the Civic – just prior to the pandemic. 85% of the arrivals were “auto driver” (that is, private car), the remaining 15% being “all non-private auto” (that is, bus, LRT, bicycle or walking). In June 2021, the Ottawa Hospital announced that their plans for the new Civic Hospital campus in the Experimental Farm involved a big “modal shift” – by 2028, only 50% of arrivals would be by car! There are as yet no detailed plans on how this will be achieved, but if it doesn’t happen, well, then in 2028 they’ll see if they can figure out how to fix the problem. Oh, and by 2048 (when the other five buildings on the campus are finished), only 35% of arrivals will be by car. Another thing we learned, buried in
the thousands of pages of documents the Ottawa Hospital has posted on the City’s devapps website about the new Civic campus, is that 17 intersections in the vicinity of the campus are already congested at certain times of the day. This should come as no surprise to the readers of the Glebe Report! I bet you could name most of these intersections without reading the Ottawa Hospital’s documents. But let’s get back to what Ottawa will see in 2028. When the hospital opens in 2028, it will have 10,439 staff (the current Civic has 3,473) and 50% of arrivals by staff, visitors, outpatients and construction workers are supposed to be by car. The number of parking spaces – 3,122 will be not much more than the 2,700 spaces at the current Civic. To replace the NCC parking lot across from Dow’s Lake Pavilion, 199 of these spaces will be reserved in the garage for the NCC, leaving 2,923 parking spaces for everyone else who wants to park on the campus. Most of these – 2,324 – will be in the parking garage. That’s a lot – the garage is about the same size as the garage at the airport – but will it be enough? So, let’s say you are driving from Orleans to the new Civic Hospital to visit your grandmother who has just had her gall bladder removed. You get off the Queensway at Bronson and,
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The plan for phasing construction of the new Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital. Notes: The city has said that it has no plans for Phase 1A. Phase 5 is either technically impossible (the LRT station’s platform cannot be moved south of Carling for reasons relating to the curvature and slope of the tracks south of Carling) or is unacceptably expensive and disruptive (the city won’t build a pedestrian access tunnel under Carling to the LRT platform; it would reduce walking time by a minute. The dates for Phase 10 have appeared elsewhere as 2045-2048. SOURCE: THE OTTAWA HOSPITAL (PARSONS)
I hope you don’t get the third nasty surprise, because it could, quite literally, kill you. if it’s the wrong time of day, there’s a good chance that from Bronson to Carling, your car crawls along. Once you get onto Carling, you speed up a bit, but then you hit the Rochester intersection. When you get to Preston, it’s even worse. The worst intersection will likely be a new one, when you try to turn left onto the campus’s Road A to get to the hospital’s parking garage. Ouch! And when you get to the garage entrance – surprise! It’s full! Let’s say you are having an MRI and you have the option of taking the LRT to the hospital. That’s ecologically responsible! So you get off at the Dow’s Lake LRT station and…face a walk of 520 meters to the main entrance of the hospital. That’s what the City’s Planning Department says is the distance. (They originally said it would be 250 meters, or about the length of 2 1/2 football fields.) You’ll take the stairs from the existing LRT platform up to Carling (or take the elevator if you have trouble
with stairs), then walk a short distance to the existing traffic light next to the LRT tracks to cross Carling. Then you’ll walk to what seems to be the shortest pedestrian route to the hospital - the sidewalk next to Road A, which will take you up to the hospital on the top of the escarpment. By the way, the distance from a transit stop to the old Civic is about 75 meters. Wear comfortable shoes! I hope you don’t get the third nasty surprise, because it could, quite literally, kill you. Remember that I mentioned all those congested intersections? With the added traffic the campus will generate, plus the traffic from all the new developments nearby (the ultratall condo towers on Carling, the Booth Street/Canada Lands development, the new towers near Carling and Bronson), traffic congestion will often be ugly. Ambulances already have difficulty travelling north on Bronson. There’s a real risk that some ambulances - especially ones travelling south on Preston or west on Carling or Queen Elizabeth/ Prince of Wales - will be delayed in getting to the ER entrance in the rear of the new hospital. These are only three of the nasty surprises Ottawa residents will get when the new Civic opens. Sadly, there are more. Barbara Popel is secretary of the Dow’s Lake Residents Association and a member of its Special Committee on the New Civic Hospital.
OPINION
Glebe Report February 11, 2022
7
TRADE-UP AUCTION TO RAISE MONEY FOR FRINGE PERFORMANCES PROTESTING DESTRUCTION OF EXPERIMENTAL FARM TREES By Yasmeen Amer As protests continue against the location of the new Ottawa Hospital Civic campus and the environmental damage it will cause in the Experimental Farm and Queen Juliana Park, a trade-up auction is being organized to raise money for performances about the issue at this year’s Fringe Festival. A trade-up is an auction where instead of bidding money for an item, people bid with other items of higher value, says organizer Heather White. White explains that Irene’s Pub will post the item for auction on its Facebook page or website every week, and anyone interested can send their bid to ottawatrees@yahoo.com. The item of highest value will then be traded and posted the following week. Starting with a black walnut donated by Adrian Baker, an artist who draws a lot of inspiration from nature, the first item will be posted on February 9. The auction will go on for 12 weeks and the final item will be auctioned at Irene’s Pub for money that will be donated to defray the costs of the Fringe Festival performance. The Fringe Festival will be held from June 16 to 26. It provides a platform for local, national and international
theatre artists to produce their work. Each year, Fringe runs a lottery to determine who will perform at the festival. White says their production crew, Everything Matters Productions, was lucky to win a spot this year and they have begun producing a performance entitled whY! “The main reason we’re doing this is to raise awareness about what is happening to our environment and to encourage people to be involved in whatever way they can,” says White. The Fringe performance will be “specifically looking at the use of Queen Juliana Park and the cutting down of 750 trees on federal park land” for the construction to start this spring of a four-story parking garage beside Dow’s Lake, says White. Many local artists who have been involved in protests this year, most notably the Tree Songs protests, will be involved in the Fringe performance. Artists have been using their talents in painting, sculpting, singing and songwriting to showcase their love of trees and to spread awareness of the issue. Romani Bays, a singer and songwriter, has been protesting most Thursdays and Sundays, wrapped up in many layers to stay warm. She wrote and performed an original song about the
Red flags for the proposed new Civic Hospital By Brian Murray Carroll You may have heard it said that “if the tray table in front of your airplane seat is dirty or broken, what does that tell you about how the airline maintains its engines?” The proposals for the new Civic Hospital in the Experimental Farm are replete with red flags that suggest this project is headed for parking problems that will cost unknown amounts to solve and huge cost overruns in construction. Let’s start with a “tray table” example: the presentation by the consultants about the proposed parking garage which will replace Queen Juliana Park. Presentations like this are the bread and butter of the architectural business. If you can’t wow the client, how do you expect to win the contract? Two main pieces of the presentation were supposed to be animations. They probably looked good in PowerPoint. Except the consultants shipped a PDF file to the city staff, so the animations didn’t run. If they can’t get this little detail right, what else are they getting wrong? Critical to the number of parking spaces of the proposed parking garage are the traffic modal shares of staff and visitors coming to the new hospital. The target automobile modal share (the percentage of arrivals by car) is ultimately 35 per cent. This is supposed to be achieved by Traffic Demand Management (TDM). There are two red flags for their projection. This is a level of TDM that has never been achieved in Ottawa. Not in volume. Nor in frequency. Let me explain. For volume, Ottawa’s most successful TDM project has been the Redblacks games and major events at Lansdowne
Park. There, transit share has been about 56 per cent, far short of the goal for the proposed Civic Hospital. As for frequency, the above events take place a few dozen times a year. TDM for the proposed hospital is supposed to achieve its goals seven days a week, all year round. A major part of the proposed hospital plan is use of public transit, including the Light Rail Transit (LRT). Except that the LRT station is five football fields (520 metres) from the entrance to the hospital. This will discourage LRT use by all but the very fit. The consultants proposed that the Carling LRT station be extended south of Carling. But city staff stated that no such extension can be built because the tracks curve and drop south of Carling to enter the Rideau Canal train tunnel. This is a recipe for failure. TDM failure. Beyond parking, there lies due diligence with respect to finances. The similar Oakville Trafalgar Hospital opened in 2015 with 340 beds. Total cost: $2.7 billion, or $8 million per bed. The new Civic is supposed to open in 2028 with 640 beds. Cost $2.8 billion, or $4.4 million per bed. Are we supposed to believe that somehow this new hospital will cost 45% less than a recently constructed hospital in the same province? Where is the due diligence? This is another recipe for failure. This a recipe for another major cost overrun in this city, similar to the LRT. A failure of administration of the public purse. These are but two examples of severe problems on the horizon. Brian M. Carroll is a former president of the Dow’s Lake Residents Association.
trees at the Experimental Farm for Tree Songs 3, which took place on January 22 and 23. “Parks and forests are the gems that we have in society,” says Bays. “People go in there to find peace, to find tranquility, to find smiles and happiness and to exercise.” She says she’d love to be involved in the Fringe performance as well. Says White: “I am one of many people who have been opposed to the building of a parking lot in Queen Juliana Park and have been protesting and working
with local government to stop this process, which to many people seems unstoppable. I’m one of a large group of people who are supporting the development of the play. We’ve had people wanting to write, direct, make props and do the sets, and we’ve had light and sound people coming forward, too.” White explains that over 50 local artists have already written original songs about the trees for the Tree Songs protests and some will be featured in the performance. Local artists have stepped up for these protests as well. For example, Arthur II, a local artist, will be providing a weekly rendering of the item up for auction at the trade-up auction. His work will be displayed in the front window at Irene’s Pub. Irene’s, located at 885 Bank Street, will be the centre for the trade-up auction, one of several initiatives to raise money for the Fringe performance. Items will be displayed there each week as well as being posted on the pub’s website and Facebook page, and all trades can be dropped off and picked up there. Yasmeen Amer is in her final year at Carleton University, majoring in Journalism with a double minor in Business and Political Science.
Irene’s Pub will host a trade-up auction to raise money for Fringe Festival theatre performances to raise awareness of the plight of the trees in the Experimental Farm slated to come down when the Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital is built.
8 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
OPINION
The author stands with his homemade sign between two 60-year-old honey locust trees on the Central Experimental Farm. Those two trees and all others behind him will be chopped down for a hospital parking lot.
NEW CIVIC HOSPITAL AT THE FARM – A CALL TO ACTION By Walter Hendelman Construction on the site of the Civic Hospital at the Central Experimental Farm [CEF] adjacent to Dow’s Lake is about to start unless we all take action to stop it now! Here’s a brief history of this site selection. The NCC, after an extensive public consultation, recommended Tunney’s Pasture as the site for a new Civic Hospital. The hospital board “rejected” that site on November 29, 2016, with only sketchy reasons given. After a few days of closed-doors meetings in the mayor’s office, it was announced that the national historic site of the Central Experimental Farm overlooking Dow’s Lake would be the new hospital’s location – again, no reasons and no details provided. Below is a listing of what we know as of this writing: • 40-plus acres of the heritage site of the Farm has been signed over for the new hospital site as well as the Dow’s Lake parking lot. • About five acres comprising Queen Juliana Park will be for a 2,500-vehicle, four-storey, aboveground parking garage. • The garage structure is entirely funded by The Ottawa Hospital [TOH] at a cost of $300 million. The province’s funding model does not include parking for hospitals. • The garage will have a green roof “for the public,” but it will not support the growth of large mature trees. Other information: • More than 500 mature trees and countless smaller trees on the site will be chopped down. • The LRT station will not be moved from the north side of Carling to the south side closer to the hospital site. • Access to the front door of the hospital from the LRT station is estimated to be about four to five football fields (the hospital site is on the hill, up 15 to 20 metres from the ground level of Carling). • A request for an environmental
impact assessment has been submitted to the Minister of the Environment by ReImagine Ottawa and others. • The hospital board of governors has not responded to a request to hold a public meeting about the site. • Buildings called the Carling Village (presumably condos) are to be built by the hospital on the corner of Preston and Carling. According to information available online, 34 high rises are now under construction or planned in the vicinity of the proposed site, adding 9,000 apartments and condos and their vehicles to the traffic load in the area. The Dow’s Lake area will be severely impacted by hundreds of cars each day, seeking to avoid the parking fees in the garage. Glebe streets will be overwhelmed by traffic cutting through the area, endangering the safety of the countless children who walk and bike to local schools. Forget about access to the Tulip Festival, Dow’s Lake, Winterlude and the Ornamental Gardens. When will all this construction begin? Since both the NCC and our City Council have already approved the site plan, effectively now – next month, in March, starting with the destruction of trees and the building of the garage. What Can You Do? Go to the ReImagine Ottawa website reimagineottawa.ca. Look for the headings GET INVOLVED and RESOURCES. Choose your target audience, then send an email to or phone one or two or as many as you’d like of the officials listed. Please tell them that this ecological and logistical disaster cannot, should not and must not proceed, and why. There is at least one perfectly suitable alternative site available now – Tunney’s Pasture, where the ground is flat, parking lots are plentiful, very few trees need to be cut, and it is already serviced by the main trunk line of the LRT. The Glebe Community Association has spoken out clearly and strongly about the plans for the new hospital site – please go to glebeca.ca/advocacy/. Ottawa-born Bruce Cockburn, a
Site of the hospital and the parking garage
Canadian music icon and recipient of the Order of Canada and many music awards, has spoken out against the hospital development at the Central Experimental Farm. His video message is on the ReImagine website, along with a rendition of Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi (“. . .and put up a parking lot”) by two Grade 11 students singing on the snow-covered site amongst trees that will be demolished. Perhaps it is time to re-read Dr. Seuss’s LORAX. The Ottawa Hospital will soon be conducting a fundraising campaign to build this parking structure. What will you do? Walter Hendelman is a long-time resident in the Glebe, a retired neuroscientist and professor and a community participant and activist.
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GNAG
Glebe Report February 11, 2022
Mary Tsai GNAG Executive Director
N 613 233-8713 E info@gnag.ca
www.gnag.ca
Welcome back into the Glebe Community Centre! Winter programs are back in session, and it is so nice to see you all again! Fitness and wellness classes offer a hybrid option (online and in-person) so you can work out where you feel most comfortable. Join us for the February fitness challenge. Stay fit and healthy with GNAG! There are still spaces in many of our programs. Stay connected and learn together in a fun and safe environment. Go to GNAG.ca to see a full listing of classes.
Summer Camp
While navigating yet another lockdown intensified by slogging through knee-deep snow, the GNAG team pulled together a menu of fun and innovative summer camps for children JK to Grade 11. We believe summertime is about friendships (old and new), adventure, laughter and learning. Registration is open as of February 8 at 7 p.m. We have specialty camps in performing arts (theatre and dance), science and technology, visual arts and design, sports, recreation and leadership. There is lots to choose from to make your child’s summer extra special. Go to GNAG.ca to see a full listing.
Vaccination requirement update
We are dedicated to serving our community, particularly those in vulnerable populations. As a result, we have been closely following the available data and direction regarding COVID-19 and vaccinations. It is clear to us that vaccinations and other measures like masks, frequent hand washing and social distancing are critical to our recovery from the pandemic and a return to more fulsome operations. All visitors age 12 and over must present proof of full vaccination to enter the GCC as required by provincial regulations. The Ontario enhanced vaccine certificate (QR code) is the only proof accepted. March Break vaccination requirement: Children who are eligible for full vaccination must be fully vaccinated to attend. Children: Effective April 1, those who are eligible to be fully vaccinated (born in 2016 or before) will have to be fully vaccinated to register for and attend GNAG programs and camps. Children born in 2017 will be required to be vaccinated 12 weeks after their fifth birthday to attend GNAG programs or events, including camps. Unvaccinated children who are currently enrolled in our 2021-22 BC and Q4 programs may continue to attend those programs.
Time to go
In March 2020, I was hiking through Ladder Canyon in California with my son Jordan, my husband Kirk and my sister and her husband. While taking in all the beauty in 27-degree weather, I thought to myself, this is incredible, I need to retire and do this more often. Then suddenly, Ottawa was preparing for lockdown. I found myself packing my bags to rush home and scrambling to close the Glebe Community Centre. The idea of retirement vanished – I was not going to go anywhere until COVID was over. Little did I know that two years later, it would still be here, though hopefully we are near the end of one of the most difficult periods GNAG, this community, this country, this planet have faced. After 30 plus years of the best job in the world, I have decided to retire. The board has started the process of finding a new Executive Director and we hope to have that person in place before the fall. (with any luck, in time for cottage season). The decision to retire was far from easy. I have had the great fortune of watching not only my children grow up here but the community as well. What a privilege and honour it has been. Many ask me what my favourite memory is, funniest story, proudest moment, etc. To be honest, I don’t know because there are far too many to choose from. It is impossible to pin it down to one moment, one project, one story, one event. GNAG has not only been my career, it has also been my second home and the people here have been my second family. I don’t know many people who can say that about their jobs. How lucky I have been. People have asked me, if you love your job so much and have made it a huge part of your life, why retire? Well besides the fact that it is time to make room for new leadership, it is also time for me to do other things. Like spend more time with family, travel, teach classes, take up new hobbies, finish old projects. I know GNAG will continue to flourish after I leave. It is such a special place. That is why I stayed for as long as I have. And as my good friend Kate McCartney, who is one of the wisest people I know, said to me “Mary, you can now focus on living.” At this stage in my life, those are good words to live by. It is time to start my next chapter. In the meantime, I choose not to shed a tear, rather savour the time I have left at this wonderful place I call my home away from home.
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10 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
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GCA tackles full agenda We had some very cold days in January, but there was lots going on at the Glebe Community Association! After a brief break for the holidays, we had a full agenda for our meeting on January 25. We were pleased to welcome our new member of Parliament, Yasir Naqvi. He is not a new face for many of us, but it was great to hear about some of his priorities. He is focused on the need for affordable housing and the need to take action against climate change and racial injustice. Jonathan McLeod, from Councillor Shawn Menard’s office, is a regular attendee at our meetings and provided several updates about development, heritage considerations and active transportation. The board passed four motions: 1. Following a recommendation by the GCA’s Transportation Committee, the board endorsed the idea of working with Menard’s office to prepare a proposal for funding to conduct a transportation pilot study in the neighbourhood. The scope and structure of the study are still under discussion. This study could provide a basis for advancing GCA positions with respect to transportation in the Glebe. 2. After two years of virtual sales, we know that folks are eager to hear if the Great Glebe Garage Sale will go ahead this year. The sale is tentatively planned for May 28, subject to any public health restrictions that are in place at that time. Given the amazing level of vaccine uptake in Ottawa (well done, everyone!), we are very hopeful that the sale will go ahead this year. A decision on whether it is in-person will be made closer to the time. 3. As part of the City’s review of its Parkland Dedication Bylaw, the board passed a motion: that emphasizes the importance of providing parkland with development (or providing contributions in lieu if parkland itself is not feasible); that asks the City to implement its target parkland policies as identified in its Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan to meet population growth; and that encourages the City to explore opportunities to meet these targets more effectively, especially in neighbourhoods that are deficient in parkland per capita. 4. The GCA has filed an appeal of the City’s decision to re-zone 30-48 Chamberlain Avenue to accommodate a 16-storey mixed use building. Given the need to share confidential information, often on short notice, the GCA board
decided to strike an ad hoc committee to provide guidance and advice on the preparation of the appeal. I also reported to the board that the executive passed a time-sensitive motion in December (in between board meetings) to request that the federal government undertake a full environmental assessment of the Ottawa Hospital development project. My letter to the Minister of the Environment is on our website. We also heard a lot about the great work going on in some of the GCA’s committees: • We continue our partnership with Operation Come Home’s Bottleworks initiative that provides work experience for vulnerable youth and provides a service to our community. This service is subject to public health restrictions, but we hope to be in the Kunstadt Sports parking lot on February 19 and March 19. • Are the sidewalks accessible for you to walk on safely, even with all this snow? Please check out the Council on Aging’s Snow Moles initiative (coaottawa.ca/snowmoles/) and report the conditions of the sidewalks you use. • We are actively discussing with the City ways to address the affordable housing crisis by building affordable housing right in our own neighbourhood. Check out Dan Chook Reid’s article in this issue of the Glebe Report. • The Heritage Committee is looking at parts of our neighbourhood that could be designated as Heritage Conservation Districts to preserve Glebe homes listed on the Heritage Register. • The Transportation Committee is looking at how to improve safety around Mutchmor and Corpus Christi schools and is considering feedback about the use of the Queen Elizabeth Driveway on weekends during the winter for walking, biking and other active transportation activities. You may also be interested to know that as part of its evaluation of the bistro pilot project at Patterson Creek, the National Capital Commission will do a survey in mid-February. We will share the link when it is available so you can provide your comments. Our meetings are open and you are very welcome to attend. We meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Please contact Janet, the board secretary (secretary@glebeca.ca) if you would like to join us. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, February 22.
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COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
Glebe Report February 11, 2022
11
Shawn Menard Councillor, Capital Ward
N 613-580-2487 E capitalward@ottawa.ca T @capitalward E shawn.menard@ottawa.ca www.shawnmenard.ca
Improved planning, Bank Street bridge and the Rideau Winter Trail Fight for a City Free of Developer Influence
In the Glebe, throughout Capital Ward and across our city, we’ve seen the effects of undue influence that large development corporations can have. This manifests in many ways – urban boundary expansion with increased speculation, trees and greenspace might be an afterthought, planning guidelines may get shuffled aside and political donations play a role. Throughout this term of council, we have been making suggestions to curtail development industry influence. We presented and passed a motion at Council on the revolving door between the industry and staff, examining the potential of a cooling-off period, while trying to bring more balance to city planning. In February, our office is hosting a Town Hall meeting on developer influence. If you’re interested, please join me, Councillor Catherine McKenney and others as we discuss the issue and its broader implications for the city. The meeting will occur on Thursday, February 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information and to sign up, visit our website at shawnmenard.ca/townhall.
Bank Street Canal Bridge Update
The Bank Street Canal Bridge is scheduled for renewal this year, with funding included in the city’s 2022 budget. The bridge will have separated bike lanes, stand-alone separated sidewalks and three lanes of traffic. It should be noted that traffic functioned very well when we used pylons to create more space on the bridge during the last two years. Construction work is scheduled to start this spring and be completed by fall. We’ve asked staff to start as early as possible. This has been a long process and it’s required a lot of input and support from residents and community associations to complete. We thank all of you for the collaboration and work you’ve put into this.
Civic Hospital Parking Garage
February is shaping up to be an important month for the proposed four-story, 2,500-space parking garage at Queen Juliana Park/Dow’s Lake that will serve the future Civic campus of the Ottawa Hospital. While we still believe this is not the right location for the parking garage, we continue to work on ways to lessen its impact on our communities.
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At the time of writing, the plans are expected to be reviewed by both the NCC and the city during the month. The NCC has met on a “30% design review” of the garage and should be doing a complete review in the spring. We expect the proposal to go before the Planning Committee either February 10 or February 24. We continue to work with both city and hospital planners to improve the designs. At our request, the planners held two stakeholder meetings with local community associations and other stakeholder groups in January. Residents had important feedback and advice for the planners, including ways to improve accessibility, connectivity for sustainable transportation and measures to ensure trees and other plants can flourish on the site. We are also seeking a proper traffic study to try to mitigate the adverse effects of attracting thousands of cars to this site. We have asked for ongoing and meaningful consultations with the communities that will be most affected by the increased traffic and the construction.
Rideau Winter Trail
Have you tried the Rideau Winter Trail? It’s a great spot for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, fat biking or just enjoying a nice winter hike. Last year was the trail’s first full season and a lot of residents took advantage when so many other options for fun and exercise were unavailable during the pandemic. Well, the pandemic is still here and so is the need for fun and exercise. This year, the trail has been extended and now runs from Donald Street to Bank Street along the Rideau River’s south side. In the future, they’re hoping to extend it all the way to Mooney’s Bay and to the new pedestrian bridge connecting Carleton University with Vincent Massey Park! We continue to provide some funding from our office budget for the trail. It is maintained completely by volunteers. We would like to thank everyone who’s given their time and financial support. If you’d like to learn more, volunteer or donate, you can visit their website, rideauwintertrail.ca. And if you see me out there, say hello! Thanks for reading this. Shawn Menard is City Councillor for Capital Ward. He can be reached directly at Shawn.Menard@ottawa.ca.
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12 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
GACA
New lease on life for Confederation Heights By Sue Stefko Canada Lands Company has recently kicked off the first phase of the masterplan process for Confederation Heights through a collaboration with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). While slightly out of our immediate area, the sheer size of the study area may be of interest to Glebe Report readers. Confederation Heights consists of 465 acres of land that is bounded by the Rideau River to the north and west, Data Centre Road and Sawmill Creek (just touching the west side of Bank Street) to the east and Brookfield Road to the south. It includes some wellknown and historic buildings such as the Canada Post headquarters, the v-shaped, iconic former CBC Headquarters at 1500 Bronson and the RA Centre. The project’s online engagement site was launched in November and will remain open for the duration of the project for those who want to participate or stay informed (engage. clc-sic.ca/realize-the-potential). The
planning is complex – the majority of land is currently owned by PSPC, but the site includes lands owned by other federal agencies such as Health Canada and Canada Post as well as the National Capital Commission and the City of Ottawa. This site is larger than what we’ve seen from Canada Lands in projects such as the Booth Street Complex and 299 Carling Avenue. The master plan will outline future land uses, built form, heritage and commemoration elements, servicing and infrastructure. It will also establish a framework for space in the public realm as well as amenities. Canada Lands will be responsible for the development of land that it will own (those that will be declared surplus to the government’s needs), and PSPC will be responsible for the federal employment portion. Office space on the site is generally expected to remain as such, though some buildings may be renovated and those that have outlived their usefulness or no longer meet presentday safety standards may be torn down. Fortunately, the adjacent NCC parks
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The planned Confederation Heights redevelopment by Canada Lands will cover some 365 acres. PHOTOS: CANADA LANDS
– Vincent Massey and Hogs Back – will remain, although the master plan will look to improve connections through and between the parks to better connect them to the community. The RA Centre, whose life started as a federal office building, is also expected to remain a recreational complex. The site is currently very much vehicle-based, with large, throughway roads and little in the way of public transit. While the transitway runs along the eastern edge of the area with stations at Billings Bridge and Heron, future transit stations are planned for the site. This includes a Light Rail Transit station near Heron Road and Bronson Avenue, as the O-Train line currently runs through the site. There are plans to implement a Bus Rapid Transit route along Heron Road, as well to improve pedestrian and cycling connectivity throughout the site and to surrounding areas. Canada Lands intends to consult widely to develop the master plan, which will guide the development of the campus into what it describes as
a “sustainable, transit-oriented, urban mixed-use community that will also serve as a federal employment hub over the next 25 years.” The concept for the site seems to be aligned with the City’s vision for it. In the new Official Plan, this area is designated as a “hub” and is within an “evolving overlay,” signalling the city’s desire to change the character of the area to feature denser and more mixeduse development. As this is such a large and complicated project, it’s expected to take 25 years to complete the build-out. However, planning is progressing at full steam with a number of public engagement events planned for this year. These will help inform the concept plans to be developed, leading to a final master plan in 2023. The goal is to obtain all the necessary approvals, land transfers and regulatory approvals in time for shovels to break ground in 2026. Sue Stefko is president of the Glebe Annex Community Association.
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HOUSING
Glebe Report February 11, 2022
Glebe needs affordable housing By Dan Chook Reid House prices are increasing at an alarming rate. If you are like me, you peek to see how much a neighbours’ house is selling for and are amazed. With housing in short supply, properties sell quickly, often for well over asking. This trend has fuelled an already alarming housing crisis. Housing affordability was a key issue during our federal election and I imagine it will be at the forefront provincially this spring. The city of Ottawa declared a housing and homelessness emergency in January 2020. Regardless of political leanings, leaders know we face a significant crisis. However, housing is a complex issue. When a politician promises affordable housing, what do they mean? In Canada, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) calls housing affordable if it costs less than 30 per cent of a household’s yearly income. Unfortunately, not everyone uses the CMHC definition. When someone talks about affordable housing, it is important to ask them to define their terms. Affordable housing does not only mean subsidized rental housing. It is a broad term that includes housing typologies from the private, public and non-profit sectors. In addition, as prices steadily increase, more of the population can suddenly find themselves in need of “affordable” housing, even if they have a middle-class income. First-time home buyers are having a difficult time getting into the market and many are forced to move farther away from the urban core to buy a home. Some argue that the need for more affordable housing is simply a supply issue. There are not enough units for sale or for rent, resulting in increased costs. Undoubtedly we need to build a lot more housing but is the solution this simple? Unfortunately, many new properties, especially downtown, are expensive. A new two-bedroom apartment can rent for $2,300 compared to the average Ottawa rent of $1,400. New construction can help middle-class professionals but not people in poverty. A family member on long-term disability or a refugee family are demographics that are often overlooked. Additionally, even though new developments are being built, some experts say the number of affordable units is diminishing. Existing affordable units are being replaced with newer houses with higher prices. Our affordable housing crisis is only worsening. Homelessness is growing, particularly among families with children. In 2018, 1,000 families used a shelter, up 40 per cent from 2015. In addition, there are approximately 13,000 people on the waitlist for social housing in Ottawa. This number is staggering. Homelessness may not appear like a Glebe issue. However I recently heard the heart-breaking story of a Glebite who is having a hard time paying rent
The Glebe Community Association’s Health, Housing and Social Services Committee is brainstorming how to address the complex issues of the need for affordable housing in the Glebe. Please join the conversation.
because her cost of living is increasing faster than her income. Her solution is to live in her apartment during the winter and sublet it during the summer when she saves money by living in her car. In addition, as more citizens find themselves on the streets or in difficult circumstances, local businesses are facing increasing cases of hostility and theft. As a neighbourhood, we can make a difference. The Health, Housing and Social Services committee of the Glebe Community Association is brainstorming how we can address these massive and complex issues and protect diversity and affordability in the Glebe. You may ask, why affordable housing in the Glebe? Why can’t we solve this problem by building affordable units in Carlington, Vanier or Barrhaven? Our committee is not composed of affordable housing experts (if you are one, please join us!). However, the more we learn and work with other groups in the city, the more convinced we are that the whole city needs to open its doors and find solutions to help people get housed. In addition, it is integral for the environment and the health of our city that affordable housing be in walkable areas with access to transit. The Glebe is one of those neighbourhoods with lots of active transportation. Lastly, history has shown that ghettos and segregation are not the best ways to build a healthy society. It is better to integrate affordable housing throughout various neighbourhoods than to put it in massive pockets. When you picture a healthy neighbourhood for your children and grandchildren to live in, what does it look like? Consider a place of diversity, opportunity and inclusion. Please join the conversation. Learn about these topics and ask our elected politicians at every level to address the issues of affordable housing and homelessness. Dan Chook Reid lives in the Glebe with his wife Melody, their two young children and their friend Deirdre. Dan serves with the Glebe Community Association as chair of the Health, Housing and Social Services Committee and pastors a new faith community called Bytown Community Church.
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14 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
ABBOTSFORD
Abbotsford in-person activities are delayed, not cancelled By Pat Goyeche Abbotsford House remains open during this current wave of COVID, but things are not as they were in December. Many of our in-person activities have been postponed until we can open safely again in person. At this time, our day programming for Luncheon Club and Day Away has shifted to virtual programming. Some clubs are in-house and Tuesday foot-care appointments continue as usual for those members who show proof of vaccination.
Looking for Donations
We are currently accepting donations of books, elegant treasures, jewellery, women’s clothing, art and flea market items. Please drop by with your donated goods. We appreciate your
contributions. As a not-for-profit that is not fully funded, we need to raise money to keep our seniors’ programs and services vital and engaging. Your contributions are also good for the environment as we recycle, re-use and help keep Abbotsford’s Active Living Centre open and inviting for seniors, all at the same time!
In-Person and Virtual Programs
We are looking forward to starting our aerobics and line-dancing classes in the spacious Horticultural Building at Lansdowne Park as soon as it feasible to do so. This setting is ideal, as it is a very large venue with high ceilings and lots of space to keep fit or dance away your winter blues. Keep abreast of up-to-date information on any changes to our plans or schedule by checking our website glebecentre.ca under
Abbotsford’s aerobic and line dancing classes were held in the Horticulture Building and it is hoped they will return to it as soon as feasible. PHOTO: PAT GOYECHE
Abbotsford Programs and Services and “What’s Up at Abbotsford” or by calling us at 613-230-5730. Much of our programming, which includes art, fitness, dance, memoirwriting, book club, device training, yoga and language classes, continues to be offered online via Zoom. We have different levels of fitness classes for different levels of ability. Everyone can find the right level with our highly qualified and friendly older adult instructors. If you are wondering what level is best for you, please contact us so we can and help you find the right fit to keep you fit! It is never too late to join in. One of our initiatives in these COVID times is the loan of individual tablets to our members so that they can connect virtually. Our day programming has moved to virtual over Zoom or Mercuri teleconferencing. Members are encouraged to contact us for help with connecting. All our programs are open to our members. Membership costs $50 per person annually, beginning in January and running for the calendar
year. You must be 55+ to join. You can join a class without a membership, but you must pay an additional $25 for each class. Your $50 membership fee gives you access to services, information and camaraderie. If there is one thing we have learned in this pandemic, it is the importance of community and connection. Helping to create and maintain community for our membership has been a key to combating social isolation for many of our members.
Snow Go
Snow Go refers seniors and adults with disabilities to snow removal contractors who have passed a screening test and are properly registered and insured. The Snow Go Assist program is for people over 60 years old or those with disabilities who qualify as low income. The program reimburses up to $250 of the cost of snow removal for the season. Low income is defined by the city as a single person who lives on up to $31,500 a year or up to $39,200 for a household of two or more. Contact us if this would be helpful. Abbotsford is your community support centre for adults 55+. We are 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 dropping by 950 Bank Street Mon.–Fri. 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m., telephoning 613-230-5730 or by checking out all The Glebe Centre facilities and community programs on our website at glebecentre.ca. Pat Goyeche is coordinator of community programming at Abbotsford House.
Model neighbourhoods for aging in place By Carolyn Inch
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Given the exponential increase in the number of frail elderly expected in the next three decades, the impact on the public purse will be staggering. Geriatric primary (outreach) care plus coordinated support services (home care, home accessibility and safety modifications, nutrition counselling and exercise support) will improve senior’s quality of life and save long-term health care dollars. Senior Watch of Old Ottawa South (SWOOS) recognizes that the challenges facing Old Ottawa South are similar in the Glebe and Old Ottawa East. We are reaching out to community associations and newspapers to encourage their residents to participate in our efforts. SWOOS is conducting consultations and surveys to determine what supports are missing for those who want to spend their life in these communities. We hear repeatedly that primary care is lacking for all ages, and there is not appropriate geriatric primary care available to many who need it. As well, we are becoming aware
that home care and community support services and informal caregiver supports need to be improved if people are to remain independent longer. Recognizing that it is in the interests of both seniors and taxpayers, SWOOS developed A Healthy Age-Friendly Community: Strategy for Improving Health Care and Support Services, designed to recruit volunteers who self-identify during the surveys. Within the next few weeks, working groups focusing on our areas of concern will study service availability and develop action plans to address the gaps that will be encountered by our aging community. If this is of interest to you, either in terms of volunteering or commenting, or you would like a copy of our strategy, please contact us at swoosadmin@oldottawasouth.ca. Carolyn Inch is a member of the SWOOS (Senior Watch of Old Ottawa South) Health Working Group.
BIA
Glebe Report February 11, 2022
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Introducing the new BIA executive director, Patrick Burke By Carolina Di Giulio The Glebe is endowed with distinct storefronts, great restaurants, historic landmarks and charm in abundance. But who are the people behind the scenes helping to make it thrive? Patrick Burke is one of them. Originally from Toronto, Burke moved to Ottawa at the start of the pandemic and instantly fell in love with the Glebe. “The community was great, and the businesses were a lifeline for me,” he said. “Everything I needed was so close and I walked into stores and people were really friendly. That connection was really important when we were a little bit confined at times over the past few years.” When the opportunity came up to advocate for these businesses, Burke jumped at the opportunity. He became the executive director of the Glebe BIA last November. There are currently 19 Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) in Ottawa – Bank Street, Byward Market, Downtown Rideau and the Glebe being among them. A BIA allows local businesses and property owners within the district to join together and organize, finance, improve and promote the area as a business and shopping district. Having previously worked for Toronto’s Financial District BIA, Burke says he wanted to bring his experience in order to help give back to the community that welcomed him. “I feel really fortunate to have this role. I’ve worked in the BIA world during a pandemic and I felt like I was able to make a positive contribution.” The Glebe BIA represents 370
Patrick Burke began as executive director of the Glebe BIA in November. PHOTO: COURTESY OF P. BURKE
businesses and works with the municipality to champion the Glebe, support its distinctive businesses and preserve the unique character of the historic and dynamic neighbourhood, while positioning it as a place to live, shop, visit and do business. The BIA’s revenues come from fees paid by member businesses through municipal property taxes and is overseen by an elected management board with 10 volunteers, a full-time executive director and a fulltime communications and engagement officer. “So if you’re in the Glebe and you see lamppost flowers or the Christmas lights or the gateway signage at the north and south end of Bank Street, those are all investments that businesses made in the community,” Burke explains. The Glebe Spree, for instance, was the BIA’s brainchild. “That’s the kind of work that I’m really excited about: being a part of
that community building. And on top of that, being familiar with a lot of the stores already and being able to walk in and chat to someone you know and call each other by our first names, that’s a huge sense of comfort when you’re in a new city, especially during a pandemic.” “I think that is part of the reason why I took on this opportunity in the midst of the pandemic.” As we start a new year, Burke is optimistic about 2022. “When I look towards the future, I think the Glebe is going to become more vibrant over the next few years. There are going to be more opportunities for people to eat, work, shop and play.” For Burke, honouring and respecting the community connection is key for it to continue to thrive, even in the most unpredictable of times. “I think the community has really shown up to support local businesses. And I think there’s really a sense of gratitude there,
that the people have made the effort to shop local and remember those familyrun independent businesses in the Glebe. It’s challenging times, but I think the challenge has been a bit easier because of the community support we’ve had.” The BIA, he says, along with other neighbourhood groups like the community association, is part of that effort. “Providing that vibrancy, remembering the roots of the neighbourhood and the community that supports us are really key. And so we want to remind people that businesses in the Glebe are there and that they’re here to serve you, and they’re ready to take care of you.” Flexibility, Burke adds, is the name of the game to stay on top of the ongoing pandemic. “These days things change quickly. And so if businesses are offering takeout or curbside pickup, virtual fitness classes, we’re letting people know about that. So even if the way you engage with the storefronts is different, you can still do it. It’s still there for you.” In the coming months, as the warmer season approaches, Burke hopes community events like the Great Glebe Garage Sale, which usually happens in May, can go ahead as restrictions ease. “I’m really hopeful that we can offer the familiarity of being out and people being together. Those events are what really draw people to the neighbourhood and give everybody something to celebrate, which I think we’ll all want to do in the next year.” Carolina Di Giulio is a third-year journalism student at Carleton.
16 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
BUSINESS BUZZ
Purple Urchin: 10 years of community
in their own containers to refill. “We always get looks of surprise when customers come For many small businesses that make up the very heart in, and they’re always pretty jazzed to find out they can of the Glebe, the pandemic was not smooth sailing. But just bring the container back to have it refilled that way,” amid all the messaging about handwashing, it was a little said Bélanger. easier for Purple Urchin because of the main product it The team noted that Purple Urchin was lucky it was sells – soap. already an established business both online and in-store “It didn’t hurt that we sold soap,” laughed store manager when the pandemic hit and that their products are a real and bookkeeper Rachelle Bélanger. “Everyone was about necessity. The store rallied with the community and used ‘let’s re-learn how to wash our hands,’ so that definitely its good fortune to help local restaurants who were going didn’t hurt things at all.” through multiple shutdowns and varying restrictions. Over its 10 years, four of them in the Glebe, Purple Urchin After getting a registration to sell hand sanitizer, Purple has upheld the neighbourhood’s values of community, Urchin began donating it to local restaurants and cafés, sustainability and care. The soap shop sells a variety of such as Dreamland Café and Pure Kitchen. locally and naturally made products, all of which are vege“We also donated little handheld sanitizers for them tarian, most being completely vegan. But it is more than for their tables, so that their clientele would feel safe. I just bars of soap – it offers various facial, body, hair and Purple Urchin celebrated its 10th year as a think we just really felt like we needed to do something,” community-oriented and environmentally-driven unisex products. Bélanger said. The mission of Purple Urchin? Give to the earth what it soap creator and retailer. PHOTOS: RACHEL FISET Bélanger also noted that most small businesses close gives us. The store’s values are comprised of creating qualafter five years and has credited Purple Urchin’s ongoing ity products, great customer service and doing no harm to success to Pereira’s persistence and community support. the environment. Pereira said the fifth anniversary of Purple Urchin is one “I wanted to do something creative but that wouldn’t of her favourite memories of the business. clutter up landfills or be a useless product,” said Rebecca “So many people came out for that anniversary party, Pereira, creator and owner of Purple Urchin. “Soap allows it just made me feel so appreciated and loved by the me to be creative.” community,” said Pereira. Pereira makes every product at her warehouse, ensuring Bélanger added that Pereira doesn’t often get to interact every concoction gets the perfect amount of care, putting with customers since she spends most of her time making in 50 to 60 hours a week. She created Purple Urchin in the products, so she loves to get feedback and interact with 2006 as a home-based business selling at craft shows and the community when she gets the chance. eventually rented a space on Somerset Street West which “People love the products and the way they support us doubled as a retail and production location. has really helped us survive all this time,” said Bélanger. “After six years, I moved the retail to Bank Street,” said Though Purple Urchin celebrated its 10th anniversary in Pereira. “Soap has a practical purpose because everyone November, COVID-19 made a big celebration impossible. needs it and it just washes away so it doesn’t clutter up “We really take the neighbourhood health and safety to the landfills.” heart. We are putting a party off until we feel it is safer,” During the pandemic, Purple Urchin used closures to its Bélanger said. and the environment’s advantage. Instead, they are continuing their plans to release a new “We’re really big on the eco-footprint of the store,” said Bélanger. “We’ve actually product, which hasn’t been revealed yet, in a slow rollout in the coming months. In converted most of our packaging to glass or paper in the last year. We’ve really taken the meantime, Purple Urchin has one message for all community members: Wash advantage of those lockdowns and tried to make something productive out of them.” your hands! The lockdowns also gave Purple Urchin the time to fulfill its dream of a refill station, which allows customers to re-use the bottles they’ve purchased or bring Rachel Fiset is a third-year journalism student at Carleton University. By Rachel Fiset
Our local shops and restaurants are the pillars of our community, and they’ve been dealt a tough blow these past two years. Let’s support our Glebe friends and neighbours. Join us in continuing to shop local this year as our Glebe businesses work to get back on their feet!
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BUSINESS BUZZ
Glebe Report February 11, 2022
The three co-owners of the Ramen Isshin, from left, Jason Matsubara, Koji Zenimaru and Adam Chan. CREDIT: MAMI ORIHARA
Ramen Isshin brings Japanese cuisine to the Glebe By Aaliyah Ngoy What started as a friendship between a chef and two regular clients blossomed into three business owners running a successful restaurant franchise that has now expanded to Ottawa. The Japanese restaurant Ramen Isshin, which already has three locations in Toronto and one in Quebec, opened in January in the heart of the Glebe at 775 Bank Street. It was restricted to take-out orders at first because of COVID restrictions but got a stream of orders. The well-established restaurant has already made a name for itself in Toronto, ranking as one of the best in the city. That reputation followed it here. “A lot of people in Ottawa already knew about us,” says Jason Matsubara, co-owner and overseer of the Ottawa location. Seeing the demand for their restaurant in the capital led him to proceed with opening, despite the uncertainties of the pandemic. “A lot of customers have been messaging us on Instagram and a variety of other social platforms,” he says. “And so we already had a decent idea of what areas always wanted us. Ottawa is one of the few locations that came up more than other locations.” Their solid fan base plus government subsidies is what has kept them afloat. They’ve already attracted the likes of renowned food critic and TV food show host Mat Beausoleil. Having been to the Toronto location, Beausoleil knew he had to pay a visit in Ottawa. “I was very excited to see them grace Bank Street here in Ottawa’s Glebe. Their broths offer a wide range of
flavour profiles and complexity. Their approach to wok-fried vegetables in several of their ramen offerings instills a whole new level of umami (flavour). My favourite is the Stone Bowl Shoyu Kotteri Tsukemen. Dipping noodles are a new culinary experience here in Ottawa and are sure to stimulate your taste buds and keep you longing for more.” Matsubara co-owns the restaurant with his friends, Koji Zenimaru and Adam Chan. The trio have known each other for over a decade. Back when Ramen Isshin was a mere thought, Zenimaru worked as a head chef at Kingyo Vancouver, where Chan and Matsubara often hung out. “Koji always worked the sushi bar, so we would always sit in front of Koji, and we would always get along,” says Chan. “We would go there two to three times a week and we kind of just became friends,” says Matsubara. Initially, it was Matsubara’s idea to start this restaurant. Chan, who had gone back to school at the time, agreed to go along for the ride. Zenimaru, who was already involved in running his own restaurant, refused Matsubara’s offer. After eight years of convincing, he finally agreed and they opened the first Ramen Isshin restaurant in Toronto in 2013. Though it took a few years for customers to warm to their menu, Chan had a feeling their Japanese dishes would be a hit. “Everybody already knew about sushi, so I don’t think it was that hard of a leap,” he says. “It did take a while to build and educate our customer base in Toronto. Introducing izakaya food and introducing ramen, it definitely took a few years to build a reputation.”
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Since its opening, the trio have persevered with one common goal: to provide every customer with one bowl of ramen. Therein lies the meaning of the restaurants name. “Isshin basically means one heart, in a way. That kind of matches our logo. Our logo is three large circles that intersect in the middle. Each of those circles represents one of the owners. We put our heart and soul into every bowl of ramen because we only have one chance to give our customer that first impression of us,” says Matsubara. Matsubara visited different parts of the city to figure out where to establish the restaurant. The Glebe seemed ideal. And there no other ramen restaurants within walking distance. He was set.
“When we came here, I went to all the shops, including the knife shop across the street from us. People were so friendly,” he says. With limited indoor dining resuming this month, the restaurant will be hosting a grand opening on February 18, offering some of their vegetarian ramen dishes at a reduced price of $8.88. And an added bonus – the open kitchen allows customers to watch their food being prepared. So, calling all food lovers, 775 Bank Street might just be your new spot. Aaliyah Ngoy is a fourth-year journalism student at Carleton University and a freelance writer based in Ottawa.
The new Glebe Japanese restaurant, Ramen Isshin, opened in January at 775 Bank Street. CREDIT: EMMA THOMPSON
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18 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
Florence Billard
October 2021 Parents: Terra & Maxime-Olivier Billard
Henry Campbell
Julien Grandy DeKelver
February 2021 Parents: Angela Grandy Augsbury & Michael DeKelver
Wayne Wesley Watson Deeves
Amelia Griffith-Thomas
January 2021 Parents: Anne Griffith & Casey Thomas
Lilith Griffith-Thomas
Hayley Long
Charlie Grace MacLennan
April 2021 Parents: Ellen & Graham Long
June 2021 Parents: Katherine Liston & Alex Campbell
July 2021 Parents: Shaun Deeves and Faith Indeke
January 2021 Parents: Anne Griffith & Casey Thomas
August 2021 Parents: Lauren Dowler & David MacLennan
Glebe Report February 11, 2022
Abigail Campbell
June 2021 Parents: Katherine Liston & Alex Campbell
Arthur Dawson
Rhys Frank
July 2021 Parents: Rosie Breen Frank & Brendan Frank
York Robert Lewis French
William Armstrong Kenny
William LaFleur
December 2021
March 2021 Parents: Andrea & Sean Dawson
January 2021
Parents: Lyndsay & Shawn French
Parents: James & Shannon Kenny
January 2021 Parents: Christopher & Catherine LaFleur
Olivia Mook Sang
Rory Francis Murphy-Garneau
September 2021 Parents: Sheila McKeen & Matt Mook Sang
November 2021 Parents: Georgina Murphy & André Garneau
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20 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
FOOD
Oatmeal porridge: comfort food for cold mornings By Marisa Romano Hello 2022! We all hope you are going to be better than 2021, but COVID is still raging, and this cold winter does not help to alleviate the languishing that has set in. This is the time for hearty comfort food: soups, stews and casseroles, and a soothing bowl of oatmeal porridge to start the day and ease the emotional long haul of the pandemic. Warm and sweet – or savoury – with a plethora of combinations to enrich the basic recipe, oatmeal is the ideal breakfast before venturing out into the cold. All cultures around the world bring a type of nourishing cereal-based porridge or gruel to their breakfast, lunch or dinner table. But when talking about oatmeal porridge, Celtic Scotland is what comes to mind first. The cold, damp and sun-deprived weather of northern Europe favours the growth of oats over other cereals like wheat and corn. But while oats have always been cultivated mainly for animal feed, they became a pantry staple in Scotland, a commodity so precious at one time that it was used as currency and a meal so essential that it compelled ancient Scottish universities to institute “meal Monday,” an annual holiday in February to allow students to go home to collect more oats for their meals at university. Oatmeal is an essential ingredient in haggis, Scotland’s national dish, and in the traditional Scottish porridge, the other –unofficial – national dish. Porridge is so deep-rooted in Scottish culture that in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, porridge devotees compete
The humble oat can inspire surprising combinations and creations, always reminiscent of home and comfort. PHOTO: MARISA ROMANO
every year for the title of World Porridge Making Champion. Winners take home the Golden Spurtle, a trophy shaped like the wooden rod essential to making the perfect lump-free bowl by stirring the porridge clockwise to fend off the devil. Its handle is shaped like the Scottish thistle. The championship was launched in the fall of 1994 to bolster winter tourism in the quaint village of Carrbridge, located at the edge of Cairngorms National Park (the largest in the U.K.). Since 2009, the event has run alongside World Porridge Day on October 10, an international initiative launched from Scotland to raise awareness and collect funds to alleviate child hunger. At Carrbridge’s World Championship, contestants compete in two categories: traditional and specialty. Traditional Scottish porridge is made with oats (quick, rolled medium or steel-cut pinhead), water and salt.
“It’s fascinating to taste the difference between 20 or more bowls of porridge made with just oatmeal, salt and water,” reported a judge. The addition of sweet or savoury pantry staples and spices allows for countless variations of “specialty porridge,” often inspired by world flavours. When I checked the winning recipes for both categories (goldenspurtle.com and various sites online), I did not identify a trick common to all. Almost every winner has used steel-cut oats and soaked them overnight. But not all! The 2011 trophy winner, for example, used medium oatmeal. It was finished with cream, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, sweetened with heather honey and topped with warm blueberry compote (a good recipe to keep). Scottish competitors claimed the title of World Champion for the first years, then they met the challenge of “foreigner” oat enthusiasts, and the list
of past winners now includes entries from all over the globe. The winning recipes in the specialty category include some amazing oat dishes: smooth or chunky porridges, pancakes and waffles, but also savoury risottos, fritters, dumplings and combinations with seafood. But they are usually sweet pairings of creamy porridge with fruit on top. Inspired by so many surprising creations, I too have tried different combinations with yummy results. It is not tricky: oats can be cooked with fruit, dry or fresh; made creamier with cow or goat milk, light cream or butter, but also almond or oat milk; flavoured with spice combinations inspired by your baking, lemon or orange zest; sweetened with brown sugar, maple syrup or honey, but also caramel, toffee sauce or stevia; topped with compotes, stewed or poached fruits, but also fresh berries, bananas, nuts, seeds, chocolate chips or a dollop of peanut butter. Ham and cheese anyone? These days, my favourite bowl is cooked with chopped ripe pears, flavoured with speculaas spices – a mix used to make the classic windmill-shaped cookies – and lemon zest. Topped with lightly toasted sliced almonds, it reproduces the aroma of almond-filled speculaas, the typical sweets of Dutch Christmas tables. Maple syrup finishes it off. Marisa Romano is a foodie and scientist with a sense of adventure who appreciates interesting and nutritious foods that bring people together.
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GIBBS
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BUSINESS
Glebe Report February 11, 2022
GLEBE INTERNATIONAL VIDEO: NEW LOCATION! By Paul Keen If one of the enduring realities of the past two years has been the pandemic’s tendency to accelerate the already existing shift to online retail, the good news for many small businesses is that these challenges have inspired equally strong responses from local communities, with many residents determined to do what they can to support their favourite shops, pubs and restaurants. For Glebe Video International, these difficulties were compounded by the
Glebe Video International, the Glebe’s cherished video store, has moved downstairs in the Fourth Avenue Baptist Church. PHOTO: PETER SENECAL
disruptive effects of its move to the Fourth Avenue Baptist Church at 816 Bank Street this past summer, after it was forced to leave its long-standing location above the pub just up the street. The pub, once known as the Royal Oak, may have changed its name a few times, but the video store above with its familiar sign outside had been a constant. The need to move, on top of the other pressures unleashed by COVID, which had already accentuated the lure of online streaming services, amounted to a perfect storm of business challenges. Not surprisingly, a stalwart group of patrons rallied to support it. For many people, Glebe Video has long been part of a way of life that makes living in a neighbourhood like this unique. It is woven into the fabric of our collective sense of the distinctive features that make life in the Glebe rewarding. In an age when online shopping too often seems to translate into a strangely diminishing range of actual choices, Glebe Video’s extraordinary collection has something for all film lovers. Its 18,000 titles on DVDs (a small number are on VHS, because they are not available in any other format) amount to an irreplaceable archive of film history, dating back to the beginning of film, that is more extensive and diverse than online providers could ever match. But like most favourite stores, the appeal has always been about more than just the extraordinary range of choices it offers. It is impossible to imagine Glebe Video without thinking of its proprietor, Peter Senecal, whose interest in film is exceeded only by the fact that he knows most of his customers by name, always finding time for a chat while searching for the films and
21
handwriting their receipt. The generosity with which people responded to the current situation wasn’t surprising, from a highly successful GoFundMe campaign initiated by patrons to the volunteers who helped move the store (all 30,000 DVDs and 15,000 VHSs, not to mention the shelves they rest on!) to its new location. Having operated in one place for so long, even moving just one block away resulted in an inevitable drop in business. It doesn’t take much to fall off people’s radar, especially these days, but business has been steadily reviving as people find their way to the new location. The space is a bit more limited, but for customers who make their way downstairs in the Fourth Avenue Baptist Church, just off Bank Street between Third and Fourth Avenues, it feels pretty much like as it always did – an inviting warren of films of every category imaginable, from the latest hits to award-winning international offerings. During a fourth wave of COVID that feels too much like the 40th wave, the challenge to stay in business remains a serious one, but for members of the community, the loss of one more beloved neighbourhood landmark would be especially hard at a time when everything already feels fragile enough. For those who haven’t yet made their way to Glebe Video’s new location, there may be no better time to renew your acquaintance with one of the neighbourhood’s most cherished stores. Paul Keen is an author, an English professor at Carleton and a co-founder of the Shakespeare youth theatre troupe The Company of Adventurers. He lives in Old Ottawa South.
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S E N I O R S M OV I E DAY Calling all movie lovers! Amica The Glebe, an upcoming senior lifestyles residence, is pleased to invite you to an exclusive monthly movie screening at Cineplex Lansdowne. Kindly RSVP in advance to each screening and come by our Presentation Centre at 117 Glebe Avenue to pick up your movie vouchers. Concession stands will be open so you can grab your favourite snacks and refreshments before the show. Movie title will be confirmed at time of RSVP.
The last Thursday of every month, 10:00am Cineplex Lansdowne, 325 Marché Way
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22 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
RINKS
A pickup game of shinny on the “backyard” rink at Capital Park PHOTO: WOUTER BLEEKER
The rink at Capital Park a triumph of neighbourliness By Martha Bowers The great Canadian tradition of building backyard rinks is thriving in the Glebe this winter. One such rink, although not in a backyard, is in Capital Park. Without a rink at Mutchmor again this year and with ongoing pandemic restrictions, people are creating community skating rinks for everyone to use. And what a joy for all – children, teens, adults – to be outside laughing, playing, keeping a distance and feeling safe, with or without masks! A team of volunteer neighbours has been building a rink in Capital Park for years so there was no question
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about doing it again this year. No one can remember exactly when the first one was made, but it was probably 15 or 16 years ago. One recollection is that during the 2004-05 NHL lockout, some of the guys decided to create their own hockey league, and they needed a rink. Why not make one in our neighbourhood park? And so it came to be. Weather plays an essential role in our winter activities, and the rink has always been dependent on that. As soon as the temperature dips, the crew begins to lay out the parameters. A good base of snow is preferred, but the ground can be tamped down for a start. When the snow comes, it is compressed to make a solid base. This has been done by various means, including skiing in circles pulling a kid in a sled for added weight. One year a tarp was laid over the area, with not very good results. There are no boards, so snow is piled along the sides to help keep the water in and act as a buffer from the play area. With the arrival of frigid weather, the flooding starts. There is no water source in the park, so a hose is attached to a nearby house. The crew takes
turns during cold nights to flood the area, sometimes using buckets as well. One year, the hose stretched across the street – luckily, passing cars didn’t sever it! As ice layers build up, the rink becomes a shiny, hard surface for skating. At first, there may be some bumps and rough spots, but our ingenious crew has methods to fix these, including taking a hot iron and smoothing it over the bumps and holes! There have been attempts to install some lighting, without much success, but it is lovely and bright on moonlit nights. Everyone takes turns shovelling the snow, and a neighbour has been known to bring a snow blower to remove the heavy stuff after a big snowfall. In true community spirit, neighbours chip in to cover the water bill. Lucas, this year’s chief of maintenance, has been a dedicated driving force to get the rink in shape. You can see him early in the morning, late at night and even at midday, checking the conditions. “It’s a lot of hard work,” he says, “but definitely worth it. The rink has helped adults and kids not just to survive but also to thrive during the winter months between all the lockdowns.” The benefits to
our physical and mental health are enormous. Everyone is welcome at the rink. Little ones learn to skate, shuffling along at first and before you know it, rushing up the centre. Experienced skaters glide round and round, chatting to each other or just enjoying the fresh air and exercise. And those working at home sometimes come out at lunchtime for a quick game of shinny. Hockey games happen at all times of day. Players rotate on and off to ensure everyone gets a chance to play without crowding the ice. This community rink makes the best use of a public space. It is inclusive, accessible, cost effective and, despite the hard work, a lot of fun. If COVID has taught us anything, it is to value our family and friends, to appreciate life and to be creative. Capital Rink is a perfect example of neighbourly cooperation to help us get through this difficult time. A big thank you to all those who have made it happen! Martha Bowers learned to skate in Sudbury on the rink her father made in the driveway. She loves skating and hockey although she has never played.
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BOOKS
Glebe Report February 11, 2022
23
Go wild
for graphic
novels!
The Sleepover, by Michael Regina
By Caitlin Giffin At the Sunnyside Library children’s department, we go wild for graphic novels! It is one of our most popular collections, especially with the schoolage crowd, and it is no surprise why. Captivating illustrations and interesting storylines provide a pleasurable reading experience that goes beyond the traditional novel. As well as getting kids excited about reading, graphic novels can help improve visual and print literacies and introduce new and exciting forms of storytelling. There are so many diverse stories being told in this format. Whether you like fantasy, history, humour or anything in between, there is a graphic novel for you. Here are a few new titles I think you or your child will really enjoy. Happy reading! You can find these titles and many more at the Ottawa Public Library. Caitlin Giffin is a children’s programs and public service assistant at the Sunnyside Branch of the Ottawa Public Library.
Calling all horror fans! The Sleepover is a major spooky read, so this one is for readers with nerves of steel only. Matthew is reeling from the loss of his beloved caregiver Ruby, and when his friends come over for a sleepover to get his mind off the grief, it looks like they are in for a fun night of snacks and scary movies. But the new babysitter Miss Swan is not what she seems, and the night quickly becomes a battle for their lives. Besides being a real page turner, Regina’s use of colour to signal flashbacks and moments of danger is a wonderful way to teach young people about narrative techniques. Stealing Home, by J. Torres Illustrated by David Namisato The internment of Japanese Canadians during WWII, a dark moment in Canadian history, is told through the experiences of one young boy and his family. Sandy loves baseball, especially playing catch with his dad and watching local heroes, the
What Your Neighbours are
Reading
Here is a list of some titles read and discussed recently in various local book clubs: TITLE (for adults)
AUTHOR
BOOK CLUB
Requiem
Frances Itani
The 15 Book Club
A Town Called Solace
Mary Lawson
Things We Cannot Say
Kelly Rimmer
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World
Elif Shafak
Mr. Loverman
Bernardine Evisto
Late Nights on Air
Elizabeth Hay
The Color of Water
James McBride
Broadway Book Club
What They Wanted
Donna Morrisey
Can’ Litterers
Butter Honey Pig Bread
Francesca Ekwuyasi
The Master and Margarita
Mikhail Bulgakov
A Bend in the River
V.S. Naipaul
A Child’s Christmas in Wales
Dylan Thomas
I know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Maya Angelou
The Vixen
Francine Prose
Homeland Elegies
Ayad Akhtar
The Pull of the Stars
Emma Donoghue
Vancouver Asahi, win city championships. But when the Canadian government begins detaining and interning British Columbians of Japanese descent, Sandy and his family must adjust to being treated like enemies in their own country. In their new imposed home at the camp, baseball becomes a symbol of hope and resilience for Sandy. Torres handles this difficult subject matter with care and frankness, and an informative afterword makes this title a great learning resource. Another Kind, by Cait May and Trevor Beam Illustrated by Cait May Another Kind centres on six children who are inhabitants of a top-secret government facility known only as “the Playroom.” But these are no ordinary kids. Called “irregularities” by their handlers, they are supernatural beings with amazing powers who must hide from a world that doesn’t understand them. When their safe haven is infiltrated by the henchmen of a nefarious stranger known only as the Collector, the kids are forced on an adventure-packed journey across the
United States to find a safe place they can call their own. Although the characters are out of this world, readers will enjoy this book’s very human themes, such as gender identity, community and mutual aid. Cait May’s detailed and lively illustrations really make this story pop. Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld, by Shannon and Dean Hale Illustrated by Asiah Fulmore The newest series by superstar writing duo Shannon and Dean Hale does not disappoint. After years of living on Earth as punishment for troublemaking behaviour, Princess Amaya is called back to defend the Amethyst kingdom from a terrible magical monster intent on destroying everything in its path. Amethyst has some of the same elements which made the Hales’ Princess in Black series so popular, making it the perfect choice for young fans ready to take the next step on their reading journey. Capable yet mischievous female characters, lots of adventure and laughs along the way and Asiah Fulmore’s pretty, pastel illustrations are sure to be a crowd pleaser.
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The 35 Book Club
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If your book club would like to share its reading list, please email it to Micheline Boyle at grapevine@glebereport.ca
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24 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
RENOS
Don’t wait to renovate – this is the new normal By Steve Barkhouse The COVID-19 pandemic has turned many things in our world upside down, and the renovation industry is no exception. Almost two years in, we are experiencing a new normal that leaves many homeowners wondering whether they should proceed with a renovation or addition now or hold off. It’s a question I get a lot. The short answer is: Don’t wait. Things will not go back to the way they were. But, of course, there’s also a longer answer. The upheaval in the early days of the pandemic has subsided, to a degree. The worldwide shutdown that led to crippling shortages, soaring prices and a mad scramble by homeowners to create better spaces in homes they were confined to much more has eased. And the most recent round of COVID restrictions has had minimal effect on the ability of the renovation industry to operate, particularly for those already following strong safety protocols. But things have changed. Prices have stabilized but at a higher level; manufacturing is slowly getting caught up, but there are still delays; continued demand means renovators remain busy; and timelines to complete projects have also stabilized but are longer than they were. Cabinets, for instance, once took four to six weeks to be delivered; they are now taking twice that time. Several indicators and forecasts predict a renovation trend that remains
high for the foreseeable future. In a quarterly survey from Harvard University, for instance, a 9 per cent growth in annual home improvement and repair spending in each quarter is expected until the end of the year. That means if you’re looking to renovate, there is no benefit in waiting. The new normal means you need to look for a renovator who has a track record of planning and being organized so they can order ahead, stockpile materials and keep your project from dragging on unnecessarily. Is it realistic to hope to get a renovation done this year? Yes, depending on what the reno is. If you’re looking at a whole-home remodel that would take eight months, don’t expect it to get started in the next three months. But if you want to do a small to medium-sized project, it could certainly be done by the end of the year. The key is to start looking for your renovator right away. A caution: when there’s high demand, people take risks that they should not. Don’t panic and think you have to compromise on who you choose, jumping on the first contractor who calls you back. Do your due diligence. All good renovators won’t be scared away by you asking questions and qualifying them. And if it means delaying your start to get your ideal renovator, so be it.
Key tips for Glebe homeowners
work with a renovator who has experience with Glebe homes – and there are several in Ottawa. A good place to start is with the RenoMark renovators listed at gohba.ca/renovators. • Look for someone who has experience with your type of project. Don’t hire a basement contractor if you want to add a third floor. • If you are doing a basement, find a contractor who understands Glebe foundations, water tables, moisture and mould. • You want someone familiar with the homes and the homeowners. Many Glebites prefer companies they’ve already seen in the neighbourhood who preserve the community. The Glebe really is like a small village. Coming from rural Ottawa, I was shocked when I lived in the Glebe at how comfortable I felt. • Find someone with experience in the crooked and unplumbed finishing that will be required for the new work to match the old. • And it’s invaluable working with someone who has a deep knowledge of area zoning, setbacks, height restrictions and what might be grandfathered in the Glebe. All of that lends itself to design-build, which takes a project from concept to completion seamlessly and efficiently, particularly in a neighbourhood like the Glebe, where unexpected issues
are common. But whatever option you choose, be thorough in your research to find the right renovator for you. And don’t wait – the new normal will be with us for some time. Steve Barkhouse is the owner of Amsted Design-Build, a renovation and custom home building company serving Ottawa residents for 30 years, and the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association’s Renovator of the Year. Its Glebe office is at 681 Bronson Avenue.
Among the most popular renovations to Glebe homes are ones that open up the main floor and add a mudroom. PHOTOS: COURTESY AMSTED DESIGN-BUILD
Glebe homes are a special breed, typically built as one-offs with varying levels of quality. It’s crucial to
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The Glebe 100 Organizing Committee announced on January 26 that the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Glebe Collegiate Institute, originally planned for the weekend of May 13-15, 2022, has been postponed in light of COVID-19.
The new date is October 14 – 16, 2022. Tickets for the event that have already been purchased are valid for the new date. The Organizing Committee will be in touch with purchasers by email or may be contacted at glebecollegiate100@gmail.com. For more information: glebe100.ca.
TREES
Glebe Report February 11, 2022
A Norway maple remembers
A Norway maple wa front lawn in 1963 s planted on Les and Derele’s . Here it is in 1964 . PHOTOS: D SCHARF
Disruption of the street in 2007 due to sewer replacement was a dangerous time for the maple, but it managed to survive with some help.
E
By Derele and Les Scharfe Let me introduce myself. I’m a Norway maple tree, quite tall now, and I live on the front lawn of Derele and Les’s home on Fourth Avenue. Been there for about 60 years, and what a fascinating journey it’s been. There are a few stories I could tell you. My life began as a misdirected seed that fell into the flower garden among the peonies and poppies. I don’t know who my parents were, so I guess that qualifies me as a Love Tree. I grew quickly, hiding among the blooms until the day I was discovered by Les. “Oh, oh, the jig is up,” I thought, but he exclaimed “What a lovely little tree! This fellow is moving to the front lawn.” So here I am. It was 1963, and I must tell you that growing up was not easy. My new home was close to the sidewalk, and I was just a wee sapling. Naturally I became a “pee stop” for all my furry friends walking their owners around the avenues. School kids on their way to Mutchmor and Corpus Christi giggled and gleefully swung round and round my tiny trunk. Fun for them, but… In winter, snow blowers howled and clattered their way along the street disgorging snow, ice, salt and slush – a nourishing mixture for little trees? It was a cold and nasty ordeal. The winter of 1970 was a humdinger, as it never stopped snowing; snow piled up to my ying-yang. Les and Derele received a “certificate of survival” from the City of Ottawa – why them? It was me who stood in 171.4 inches of snow that winter! Satisfaction came when Les had to shovel that long laneway almost every evening. Learned a few new words that winter! The ice storm cometh But the worst was yet to come. The big ice storm of 1998 was horrendous. My limbs were covered with thick ice and bent dangerously. “Snap! Oh, oh, there goes another one.” One of my longest limbs succumbed to the weight and crashed to the ground just a few minutes after the Jeep parked in the laneway was moved. What a sight – live power lines on Fourth Avenue, a very dangerous situation until the lines were quickly disabled by Ottawa Hydro. Throughout the ice storm, I was terrified. Thinking back, people
25
were helping each other, trying to find normal again. It was a heart-warming scene. Fourth Avenue torn apart One Sunday morning in 2007, I woke to the calm sounds of a cardinal singing among my branches. Suddenly a large flatbed appeared from around the corner, followed by a troupe of heavy equipment ready to do battle. The cardinal wanted none of this and flew away. Les and Derele
appeared on the front veranda with an unsettled look. “It’s the City,” he said as he walked across the lawn towards me and patted my trunk. “Good luck ol’ friend.” A major project was about to begin: removal and replacement of water and sewer pipes, restoration of the street and sidewalks. This would be a long and disruptive exercise, particularly for trees with long and shallow roots. That was me! But thanks to Les and the city supervisor, trenching on
the lawn was conducted with more care than usual. If you walk past me, you will notice a slight indentation in the sidewalk, which was done to protect my main supporting and feeder root. Happy to say that the cardinal soon returned. The future beckons Many years have passed, it is now 2022, and I have been given this opportunity to recall the circle of time on our street. Hey, stop the press! I’ve just learned that we have new little trees on our street. Thanks to a kind neighbour and the City of Ottawa, we have nine saplings recently planted next to the Mutchmor playing field. They are likely quite bewildered and frightened in their new environment, so please welcome them and make them feel at home. Try to give them the protection that they will need until they’re established. I, as their elder, will do my best to provide comfort and advice as they become a welcome part of our neighbourhood. Just like Les and Derele took care of me! Derele and Les Scharfe are long-time residents of Fourth Avenue in the Glebe.
The Norway maple survived the great Ice Storm of 1998 that destroyed so many trees.
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26 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
TREES
Decision trees for tree planting By Della Wilkinson We are hearing more and more about the benefits of trees for human health, both physical and mental, for the health of the planet and for the sheer joy of living green. The Tree Team of the Glebe Community Association’s Environment Committee is actively promoting the planting of trees in the Glebe through its Glebe Neighbourhood Canopy Regeneration project, which aims to renew the leafy green tree canopy of the neighbourhood. The Tree Team can be contacted at environment@glebeca.ca. The team aims to help Glebe residents identify great spots where a tree may be planted, either on their property or in the community, and the kind of tree that will do well, based on space available, soil conditions and moisture content. The choices include both deciduous and conifer trees. Della Wilkinson is chair of the Glebe Community Association’s Environment Committee and a member of the Tree Team.
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POLITICAL REPORTS
Glebe Report February 11, 2022
27
Yasir Naqvi MP Ottawa Centre
N 613-946-8682 E yasir.naqvi@parl.gc.ca
Let’s make schools safe and stop further closures On January 11, the Ford government announced that schools would reopen the following Monday, January 17. Amidst the relief, there was also anxiety. That’s because this premier and his minister of education have consistently failed to take the necessary steps to keep schools safe and open for in-person learning. Even before the most recent round of school closures was announced, Ontario led the country in the number of cancelled in-person learning days. Indeed, Ontario schools have been closed for more days than anywhere else in North America and most of Europe. The negative impact of these closures on the mental health and wellbeing of children is significant. This is a major failure on the part of the government, which time and again has failed to follow the advice of medical experts, education staff and parents. For well over a year, we’ve been urging this government to give schools the resources they need to implement smaller class sizes, upgrade ventilation and equip staff with the personal protective equipment they need to stay safe. Time and again, these appeals have fallen on deaf ears. To keep kids in class and avoid sending them home once again, the government needs to start listening. It’s time for them to make the necessary investments to allow smaller class sizes, free rapid tests for all students, teachers and education workers, in-school vaccine clinics with a major outreach campaign, upgraded ventilation and free N95 masks for all teachers and education workers.
While we are finally starting to see some progress on several of these demands after significant public pressure, this is undermined by the government’s changes to COVID-19 reporting in our schools. Parents and staff were shocked to learn that schools will only be reporting outbreaks when 30 per cent of staff and students test positive. As Marit Stiles, our official opposition critic for education put it so well, “It shouldn’t be easier to find out about a lice outbreak (in your child’s school) than a COVID outbreak.” Why has this government consistently failed to adequately invest in making schools safer? It stems from their obsession with saving money at all costs, even in the middle of a global pandemic. Premier Ford once said he would “spare no expense” in the fight against COVID19, but his actions speak much louder than his words. According to the Financial Accountability Officer, the Ford government spent a staggering $4.3 billion less than budgeted in the first half of the 2021-22 fiscal year. Of this amount, $600 million was underspent on public health and $700 million was underspent on education. This is money that could have been used to shore up our health care system, support workers and small businesses affected by closures and give our kids safer, smaller class sizes. Safe, in-person learning can’t be done on the cheap. If this government truly believes that schools should be the first to open and the last to close, they must heed our advice and make the investments that are required to keep our kids in the classroom.
We will keep having your back It’s a new year, and I hope you are staying healthy. I am thinking of how you are coping at this stage of the pandemic. We did not expect to start the year with a surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant, and as a result (yet again) we have gone through more school closures and restrictions. It’s been very tough for businesses, for workers, for parents and kids, for students and beyond. Check in with your loved ones and seek help if you need it. There are great organizations in Ottawa Centre that can offer support and assistance. I want you to know that there is hope. The best way to prevent further lockdowns and keep the economy growing is by finishing the job on vaccines. That is why we put in place mandatory vaccine requirements for federally regulated workplaces and for people wanting to travel on a train or plane. If you haven’t yet, please book your first, second or booster shots, and get vaccinated. Leading up to the holidays, our federal government took swift action and passed critical legislation to provide financial support to Canadians and businesses impacted by the pandemic, so that no Canadian is left without support when they need it most. • The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit, providing $300 a week in income support to eligible workers who are directly impacted by a COVID-19-related public health lockdown in their region up until May 7, 2022. Eligible workers can apply to receive this support retroactively from October 24, 2021. • The Local Lockdown Program, providing businesses that face temporary new local lockdowns up
to the maximum amount available through the wage and rent subsidy programs. • Extending the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit until May 7, 2022 and increasing the maximum duration of benefits by two weeks. This extends the caregiving benefit from 42 to 44 weeks and the sickness benefit from four to six weeks. • The Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program, providing support through wage and rent subsidies to, for example, hotels, tour operators, travel agencies and restaurants, with a subsidy rate of up to 75 per cent. • The Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program, providing support through wage and rent subsidies to other businesses that have faced deep losses, with a subsidy rate of up to 50 per cent. • Extending the Canada Recovery Hiring Program until May 7, 2022, for eligible employers with current revenue losses above 10 per cent and increasing the subsidy rate to 50 per cent. This extension will help businesses continue to hire back workers, increase hours, and create the additional jobs Canada needs for a robust recovery. • Extending the Canada Emergency Businesses Account (CEBA) and Regional Relief and Recovery Fund repayment deadlines to the end of 2023 for eligible businesses. You can find more details on all these programs at www.canada.ca/coronavirus, and please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at 613-946-8682 or email us at Yasir.Naqvi@parl.gc.ca if you have any questions. We will get through this, Ottawa.
The City’s anti-racism strategy By Jim Watson This year, the City of Ottawa will develop its first Anti-Racism Strategy, which will include strategic actions, key performance indicators and expected outcomes to address and confront systemic racism in Ottawa’s systems and structures. To help inform the strategy, the Anti-Racism Secretariat held virtual town halls with residents in January, completing a series of public engagement sessions that were launched last year. These town halls gave residents and community stakeholders the opportunity to respond to the “What We Heard” report, which summarizes the recommendations and feedback received on how the city can address systemic racism within the six priority areas previously identified by the community: employment equity, governance, housing, economic development, health outcomes and youth development. The secretariat will incorporate the town-hall feedback into the Anti-Racism Strategy before presenting it to Council later this year. Under the guidance of Councillor Rawlson King, who is City Council’s first Liaison for Anti-Racism and Ethnocultural Relations Initiatives, we are listening and acknowledging all comments provided at these consultations. I want to thank Councillor King for his
ongoing leadership and for his firm support towards the communities across our city that need it most. As the mayor of Ottawa, I remain committed to making our city a better place to live for all residents. Change is necessary in all our public service institutions. If we remain steadfast in our resolve, we can create a more inclusive and responsive community that is welcoming for all residents. Only together will we make meaningful change to build a more equitable community. I also want to give a shout-out to the amazing BIPOCowned businesses in our nation’s capital for Black History Month. As we continue to battle through this pandemic, I encourage every resident to visit the @ BlackOwnedOttawa Instagram page that features many of our city’s impressive entrepreneurs and community groups. A local favourite is Pili Pili Grilled Chicken located at 205 Dalhousie Street and 2136 St. Joseph Boulevard – I look forward to getting some takeout from them very soon! Finally, one of the themes for Black History Month 2022 is “Black Health and Wellness.” This is all too fitting – I know the pandemic has taken a heavy toll on us all, but it has disproportionately impacted our BIPOC community. Please take care of your mental and physical wellbeing; a simple walk in the park with a friend to clear your mind can go a long way.
Mayor Jim Watson welcoming Councillor Rawlson King to City Hall after his swearing-in ceremony in April of 2019. PHOTO: CITY OF OTTAWA
Thanks to the success of our vaccination campaign, the light at the end of the tunnel is truly getting brighter. I appreciate all your ongoing efforts, patience and determination. For more information about the Anti-Racism Secretariat’s work, please visit: www.engage.ottawa.ca/ anti-racism-and-ethnocultural-relations-initiatives For a list of mental health resources, please visit: www.OttawaPublicHealth.ca/. Jim Watson is mayor of Ottawa.
28 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
GLEBE
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.
Glebe teens in cast Seventy-five students auditioned for Easy Avenue, an adaptation of Brian Doyle’s novel that was to be presented at the Great Canadian Theatre Company in April. Fourteen local teens were selected for the cast. Five of the students attended Glebe Collegiate, including Michel Protti who was selected for the lead role of Hubbo O’Driscoll. Easy Avenue traces the antics of Hubbo, a student at Glebe Collegiate in 1949. Glebe resident Janet Irwin, artistic director of Easy Street Productions, said she was very pleased with the cast. Eight additional students were to be involved in the play as production assistants. Participating students would all earn high school credits through the cooperative education program of the Ottawa Board of Education. Randall paint store Randall Paints Ltd. had applied to the City of Ottawa to develop a two-storey paint and furniture store on the southeast corner of Bank Street and Isabella. Limited outdoor parking was to be provided on the east side of the building. The Rosebery Residents Association had registered concerns
by Ian McKercher
with the application with respect to parking problems. Tree census update The Environment Committee of the Glebe Community Association was planning to update the City of Ottawa Tree Census by surveying front and corner side yards of Glebe properties during the Great Glebe Garage Sale on May 23. Global Releaf’s Operation Treesave For a fee of $100, community associations could participate in a September tree planting on public land. Associations would receive as many trees as they committed to plant and water for a period of two years. Participants would receive training in urban forestry. One drawback of the initiative was that except for the green ash, species offered by Operation Treesave were not sufficiently pollution-resistant for areas of heavy traffic. Ian McKercher is a long-time Glebe resident, a former Glebe Collegiate teacher, a part-time historian and a current novelist whose latest work is Carbon Copy.
Volume 21, Number 2, February 7, 1992 (28 pages)
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BIRDS
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birds of the glebe The Marvels of migration By Jeanette Rive Last September, I received an alert that 30 million birds were expected to be flying overhead the following few nights on their way to the southern U.S., Central and South America or further afield. Some would land in the Ottawa area to rest and feed. How do migrants, about 20 per cent of species worldwide, know where to go? How far do they fly? How do those who spend days in the air sustain themselves? Twice a year, close to half a billion birds, whether songbirds or shorebirds, make an epic journey – in spring to their breeding sites, in fall to escape the cold. Many of the unusual ducks and geese we see on Dow’s Lake in the spring and fall are migrants. The warblers in our gardens spend the summer here to breed before heading south. East of Ottawa, many are thrilled by the sight of tens of thousands of Snow geese spending time on ponds and farmlands on their migration path. Some travel for thousands of kilometres, non-stop. The records seem to be held by shorebirds such as godwits and sandpipers – many godwits fly almost 12,000 km each autumn from western Alaska to New Zealand, then back again in the spring. It takes them eight or nine days of uninterrupted flight. Even though we see flocks of geese flying overhead, most birds fly solo, far above us, each bird programmed from birth to know when and where to go. Preparations for these endurance flights are triggered by hormones reacting to changes in the day’s length. They put on a massive amount of weight by storing fat, and internal organs unused during the flight, such as the gizzard,
The Dark-eyed Junco is one of the many birds that participate in the miracle that is migration.
intestines and sexual organs, shrivel up. Their lung capacity increases, and pectoral muscles double in mass. When back on land, the organs regrow until their next flight. Most birds fly at night when it’s cooler and there is less risk of dehydration. Their bodies have adapted to burn fat efficiently, drawing on water stored in muscle and organ tissue. Sleep? Birds seem to be able to snatch little naps, resting half of their brain at a time. Just as part of the chickadee’s brain, the hippocampus, expands before winter to remember cache locations, migrant birds’ brains expand during the build-up before departure to store spatial information. How do they know where to go? There is still much unknown about avian orientation and migration but in the last 20 to 30 years, advances in technology have taught ornithologists much. Birds have been banded for hundreds of years for identification. When small satellite transmitters were developed to attach to birds, scientists were able to track flights of specific birds. These transmitters were at first too heavy for songbirds, but there are now miniature transmitters, small enough to attach to the tiniest bird, even to the wing of a Monarch butterfly. Radar weather maps have become so refined that meteorologists and ornithologists can determine whether objects in the atmosphere are biological, such as birds, insects and bats, or non-biological. Hence the alert about the 30 million birds in the sky. Birds are guided by cues such as the landscape, stars, the sun’s movement and bands of polarized light, but the most important tool is magnetic
orientation by two primary methods. Scientists mostly now agree that rather than magnetic deposits in a bird’s bill, the trigeminal nerve running through the bill provides birds with their map sense. In addition, researchers have concluded that a bird can orient itself to its position relative to the earth as vision cells in the retina respond to photons emanating from the stars and magnetic fields arcing out of the earth. A little bird in the sparrow family arrives in our backyards from the northern boreal forest and cold mountains from mid-September on and leaves again in mid-March. The arrival of the Dark-eyed Junco, nicknamed the “snowbird,” is a sign that winter is on its way out. Because they spend the winter in a relatively cold climate, their
PHOTO: JEANETTE RIVE
feathers are about 30-per-cent heavier in winter than in summer. They are ground foragers, so you are likely to see them scruffing about below your feeders – it helps if you scatter seeds on the ground so they aren’t only reliant on spillage from other birds! Starting in March, the spring migrants will be on their way north. Looking up in the sky, if it’s very quiet, you can even hear bird sounds – a world is on the move above you. It is essential that we help where we can by not leaving lights on in buildings, helping birds that do crash into our windows and making sure their staging grounds are protected. Jeanette Rive is a Glebe bird enthusiast and Glebe Report proofreader.
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30 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
FILM
Rashomon
– a film that influenced how we interpret the world
Emotionally complex film on sexual violence The Last Duel (US, UK, 2021) Director: Ridley Scott
Review by Iva Apostolova
Rashomon (Japan, 1950) Directed by Akira Kurosawa
Review by Barbara Popel Have you ever heard someone refer to “the Rashomon effect?” Or perhaps you’ve used the term yourself? Wikipedia says “the Rashomon effect is the situation in which an event is given contradictory interpretations or descriptions by the individuals involved…(it) is used to describe the phenomenon of the unreliability of eyewitnesses.” In 1950, Rashomon introduced the Western world to Japanese film and to its accomplished director, Akira Kurosawa. The film won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1951 and received an Academy Honorary Award in 1952 (the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film wasn’t introduced by the Academy until 1956). Rashomon often appears on critics’ lists of the greatest films ever made. Its technical brilliance – its use of music to ramp up the tension (including its famous use of Ravel’s Bolero), its gorgeous play of light and shadow, its dramatic camerawork and its masterful editing – are all noteworthy, but it’s the story that captures the viewer’s attention. Initially, the story seems straightforward. In the distant Heian period, a poor woodcutter, a young Shinto priest and a peasant are sheltering during a downpour under Kyoto’s huge ruined Rashomon Gate. Kikori, the woodcutter, (played by one of Kurosawa’s favourite actors, Takashi Shimura) and the priest are discussing a recent rape and murder trial. A bandit lured a samurai and his wife off the main road into a forest. The bandit tied up the samurai, raped the samurai’s wife, and the samurai was then killed. Afterwards, the woodcutter says he came upon several items in the forest – the wife’s hat, the samurai’s cap, a length of rope that had been cut – then he stumbled upon the dead samurai. Terrified, he ran to report what he’d found to the police. He and the priest proceed to relate to the peasant what was said at the trial. The testimony at the trial confused and amazed the woodcutter and the priest, because all three people gave radically different statements, and each of them claimed to be the one who killed the dead man. The three were: Tajōmaru, the
bandit, (played by another one of Kurosawa’s favourite actors, the charismatic Toshiro Mifune); the samurai, (played by Masayuki Mori; as the samurai is now dead, he gave his testimony at the trial through a medium); and the samurai’s wife (played by the exquisite Machiko Kyō). They all agreed that the bandit had overcome and tied up the samurai, then raped the samurai’s wife (though the wife only alluded to this during her testimony, as befitted a decorous Japanese wife). But each claimed to have been the one who stabbed the samurai to death. The bandit claimed he killed the samurai after an epic duel. The wife claimed she killed her husband while in a desperate trance, because her husband now loathed her but refused to release her by killing her. And the samurai claimed he committed suicide out of grief because, after the rape when his wife was about to leave with Tajōmaru, she begged him to kill her husband. Tajōmaru refused. Why are they each swearing that their testimony is the truth? How could each of them give such radically different testimony about something this important? Then the woodcutter tells the priest and the peasant that all three are lying. He himself knows what really happened because he was an eyewitness to the entire event. He didn’t tell what he knew at the trial because he didn’t want to get involved. He proceeds to tell the priest and the peasant what he saw. But is he a reliable witness? See Rashomon for yourself. And the next time you hear an eyewitness testimony, you may wonder is that what really happened? Running time: 89 minutes Rated PG Available: Kanopy, The Criterion Collection, Apple TV, Apple iTunes Barb Popel has lived in the Glebe since 1991. At university in the early 1970s, she was introduced to the joys of film. She’s been an avid filmgoer ever since.
This two-and-a-half-hour epic saga, delivered by veteran director Ridley Scott, has quite the star-studded cast. This is the first movie after Good Will Hunting (1997) in which pals Ben Affleck and Matt Damon appear side-by-side, although in very different roles. Matt Damon is unrecognizable in what I can only describe as a medieval mullet. It also features the new Hollywood it-girl, the scouser (scouser: someone born and bred in Liverpool) Jodi Comer, magnificent in her portrayal of the vulnerable yet determined Marguerite de Carrouges, as well as Adam Driver who plays the ambiguous but deeply malicious Jacques de Gris. As far as I am concerned, The Last Duel is one of the English director’s best works. His specialty is epic sagas, and his credits include the imaginative Alien, the blockbuster Gladiator that made Russell Crowe a star and the war epic Black Hawk Down. If there is something that Scott does well, it’s big-budget dramas with complex storylines and close-up shots of human wounds, both physical and emotional. No exception to this, The Last Duel is not for the faint of heart! Its story is inspired by true events from medieval France. King Charles VI, known as Le Fou (The Mad, because of his frequent psychotic episodes) was the last king of France under whom disputes were settled by duels to the death. Scott does not spare the viewer a single deafening clank of the armor or bone-crushing blow of the lance! The pinnacle of the gore comes when Matt Damon’s character, Sir Jean de Carrouges, drives his sword through Jacques de Gris’s face and skull, with all the appropriate sound and visual effects. But if you think this is a movie about dungeons and dragons and damsels in distress, you are sorely mistaken! It is an emotionally complex story about sexual violence against women so normalized in medieval Europe that the idea of human rights, let alone gender equality, sounds like a conceptual impossibility. Given that Scott directed the brilliant Thelma and Louise, it is fair to say that he is an astute connoisseur of the female psyche. In The Last Duel, Scott uses the clever technique of presenting the same story three times, with many of the same details left intact, only interpreted differently. But the viewer’s patience is rewarded when the last version of the story, from the point of view of the female protagonist Marguerite de Carrouges, finally reveals the truth. Running time: 2 hr 32 min Rating: 18A Iva Apostolova is a professor of philosophy at Dominican University College.
GLEBOUS & COMICUS
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TLDR: keep up! By John Richardson One of the great things about returning to work after spending the holiday season with young adults is the new vocabulary that I am now able to employ in my daily life. Let me give your language a 2022 update with this top-10 list of the latest, hippest words and phrases from popular culture and the world of startups! 1. “I’m dead.” Spoken as an expression of intense pleasure and surprise, this phrase should be used when talking about an unexpectedly enjoyable song or TV show, as in “That song was so low-key cool, I’m dead.” 2. “You have drip.” I first heard this phrase from a Grade 12 student on the last day of school before December break. He was wearing a dashing green and red holiday-themed suit and looked approvingly at my red sweater-vest and matching bow tie. “What do you mean?” I asked him. “I mean, your outfit is drippy,” he said. (I asked other students later what he meant, and they told me he thought I looked smart. I was inordinately pleased.) 3. “The juice isn’t worth the squeeze.” Spoken by a server at Von’s explaining to me why there are so many unfilled service jobs. It means that something is not worth the effort. Why wait tables for close to minimum wage when you can work from home and attend university at the same time? Given that this was the last time I set foot in a public place before everything shut down, his words stayed with me. 4. “Ron Dons.” McDonalds. Given the location on Bronson, just say “Let’s go to Ron Dons on Bron” for extra punch. 5. “Let’s double click into that.” My son works for a digital-design startup, and this is the first of his many additions to my vocabulary. Applying the metaphor of double-clicking on a trackpad to find promising solutions or interesting possibilities, it means “Let’s look into that further.” 6. “Thinkfluencer.” Obvi (short for “obviously”), this combination of the words “think” and “influencer” means a person who is a thought leader or one whose ideas influences others. 7. “Unlock” used as a noun, not a verb. A novel solution to a knotty problem would be an “unlock.” If the unlock is going to be difficult, say “That’s a heavy lift!” 8. “What’s the mvp?” The acronym for “minimal viable product” means, essentially, what’s the least we can do and still have a go? I use it when making dinner, such as “In the fridge I have a week-old lettuce, a slice of ham that may or may not be edible, a strawberry yoghurt and one carrot. What’s the mvp for supper?” 9. “You’re harshing my vibe.” Use this phrase instead of “You’re raining on my parade” or “You’re dragging me down.” My wife said it to me when I innocently inquired how many episodes of Netflix’s Emily in Paris she planned on binge-watching in one evening. I was just asking. 10. “TLDR.” Both start-up and youth culture place a premium on speed. And brevity. This acronym is short for “too long, didn’t read.” I hope no one applies it to this article. Glebe resident John M. Richardson teaches at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Education.
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Now, for tomorrow
The Glebe according to Zeus
A GUINEA PIG’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE GLEBE
Freezing weather sparks legal battle between HotHands and HotPigs! HotHands’ lawyers recently issued a cease-and-desist letter to GiddyPigs. com, stating that its HotPigs hand warmers advertising is a direct copyright infringement of their own product. The letter states that “the HotPigs ad campaign is outright thievery! It’s an unauthorized use of the HotHands name, branding and even packaging!” Using both an ad oddum as well as an ad hominem argument, lawyers for GiddyPigs.com posted a public reply on Instaham: “How can HotHands claim similarity when guinea pigs do not even have hands? It’s a category and categorical mistake! HotHands should be called jealous HotHeads!!” Meanwhile, the recent social media battle has done nothing but boost sales of HotPigs, with customer reviews confirming brand dominance. “I love HotPigs – not only do I get over 200 hours of warmth but also great conversation and company! And every HotPig comes with a guarantee they don’t shed!”
Many also feel that GiddyPigs.com, one of the only inclusive employers that actively recruits, retains and promotes rodents, should be lauded for its recent selfless and humanitarian efforts to help humans during record low temperatures. “Look, GiddyPigs.com is just trying to be a good corporate citizen, offering up the little furry guys to keep us warm,” stated Rodent Rights Watch. Environmentalists have also shown support: “HotPigs are natural, organic and can be used as lawn mowers in the summer, whereas the toxic HotHands just end up in landfills. This is true innovation!” Others have noticed some issues, however. “My forensic analysis shows that they seem to have just photoshopped a guinea pig onto the package,” said a local computer shop owner who wished to remain anonymous (Nabil Khalil, PC Perfect, 779 Bank Street). While the legal battle may take several years to resolve, HotPigs advertising and sales, instead of ceasing, have been increasing.
INVITE A VERB TO THE PARTY! By Michael Kofi Ngongi Some years ago, when I was living in Italy, Martini debuted a clever ad featuring American actor George Clooney. In the ad, Clooney arrives at a party, but the hosts won’t let him in when they realize he came emptyhanded. Before slamming the door in his face, they admonish him, saying “no martini, no party.” Of course, Clooney, being Clooney, doesn’t stay down for long. He cheekily rings the bell again a couple of seconds later, this time armed with several cases of Martini, and is promptly welcomed in. You may be wondering what this has to do with verbs? Well, you see, the ad’s tagline applies equally to verbs: no verbs, no party. Imagine a sentence composed of a group of nouns and pronouns, people, places, animals, concepts all lumped together. You couldn’t know what they are doing, if anything at all, because there are no verbs. Verbs are to sentences what wind is to sailboats. They enable movement and action, narratives and stories. Without them, nothing happens.
Verbs are action oriented, but they also have a sensitive side. Because verbs also convey emotions: to like, to love, to fear, etc. And, just as importantly, they describe states of being, such as to feel, to have, to need. Verbs speak to our very existence. Where would we be without the verb to be that tells us what was, what is and what could be? So, there you have it: no verbs, no party. Of course, if you’re going to throw a party, you might as well make it memorable. So, remember that not all verbs are created equal. Some are vibrant and thrilling, with vim and swagger, while others are a bit more plodding and pedestrian. Where the former create and adorn enthralling narratives, the latter are an ode to tedium. So, choose your verbs and guests wisely, and have a great time. Michael Kofi Ngongi is a new Canadian originally from Cameroon, another bilingual country. He has experience in international development and is a freelance writer interested in language, its usage and how it can unite or divide people.
32 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
PROFILE Dudleigh Coyle was honoured for his volunteer work as chief Rink Rat at Glendale rink and for many years volunteering at Glebe St. James church. PHOTO: BARB COYLE
Dudleigh Coyle honoured as volunteer extraordinaire Sign up for out weekly MPP email updates at joelhardenmpp.ca!
Joel Harden MPP, Ottawa Centre joelhardenmpp.ca 109 Catherine St. Ottawa, ON. K2P 2M8 JHarden-CO@ndp.on.ca 613-722-6414
By Roger Smith Dudleigh Coyle likes to keep a low profile as he goes about his volunteer work at the Glendale rink and at Glebe-St. James United Church. But there was no hiding from the limelight on February 3 when the 72-yearold Glebe resident was presented in an online ceremony with one of Ontario’s most prestigious awards for volunteers. “I was pleased, tickled pink,” said Coyle. “It’s a very nice honour.” Coyle was one of 15 individuals and eight groups who won this year’s June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism. It was set up in honour of the late June Callwood, the journalist and activist who died in 2007. “For many Canadians, hockey is a religion,” the award committee wrote in his citation. “This is an excellent analogy for Dudleigh Coyle, as rink and church
have been his pillars for more than four decades of volunteer work.” After moving to Ottawa in 1985, Coyle joined Glebe-St. James where he has served in key roles from financing and fundraising (including for the church’s new digital organ) to cub scouts and building maintenance. He is well-known for the home-cooked chilli dinners that he delivers to those in need around the neighbourhood, accepting donations for those who can afford it and offering them free to those who can’t. Former church treasurer Ian McKercher likens Coyle to a sparkplug. “A sparkplug is small, less obvious than the engine or wheels, but the car will not run without it,” he says. “Glebe-St. James would not run without Dudleigh.” Coyle also signed up to help run the rink at Glebe Memorial Park. In 1988, he became Chief Rink Rat or, as he describes himself, “the adult in charge.” He organized flooding crews and snowplows to clear the ice, dealt with city grants, recruited paid students and volunteer adults to supervise and orchestrated the annual neighbourhood rink party. It was not unusual to see Coyle in his signature orange toque, sweeping out the change shack, emptying garbage or walking through the neighbourhood with a load of shovels just purchased at the hardware store. “Dudleigh’s management and coordination of volunteers has ensured the rink’s survival,” says Randy Freda, a long-time volunteer flooder. “It has allowed many kids, young and old, to enjoy skating and hockey.” Beyond rink and church, Coyle served on the board of the Glebe Report, organized a seniors’ bridge group and often helps neighbours with taxes and finances. “Creative play” is what he calls it, says his wife Barb. “He simply enjoys helping people, it’s his way of having fun.” But the fun almost stopped just before Christmas in 2018 when Coyle was hit with a life-threatening case of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the nerves. His arms and legs were paralyzed. But Coyle wasn’t done yet. As he began to rally, still unable to type, he started dictating emails from his bed to make sure things were running smoothly at the rink and church. After four weeks of rehab, he learned to walk again, and he’s hardly slowed down since. Characteristically shying away from credit, Coyle claims the core group of volunteers he has built now basically runs the rink on their own. Still, he has no plans to give up his roles as the elder statesman at Glendale and the sparkplug at his church because he thrives on the energy he gets from helping others. “It drives me, it’s how I’m wired,” he says. “As long as I still get back more energy than I give, I will keep doing it.” Roger Smith is a journalist, copy editor of the Glebe Report and an avid user of the Glendale rink.
SPORT
Glebe Report February 11, 2022
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Kids’ soccer will be back in the Glebe this summer! By Lorne Abugov The Ottawa Internationals Soccer Club plans to celebrate grassroots soccer across the city this year with exciting 2022 outdoor programs for young and old. The Internationals are especially proud of their popular city-wide Developmental Soccer Program (DSP) for boys and girls ages 4 to 12, which has operated since 1997 and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The soccer program will return to its community roots this summer at neighbourhood parks and playgrounds. Within the Glebe, the DSP playing fields are at Mutchmor Public School and Chamberlain Park. Parents can select their preferred and alternate field locations at registration, which is open now. Unquestionably, 2021 was the year Canada gained worldwide recognition as an emerging international soccer power. And while prospects for the national men’s and women’s soccer teams remain bright, 2022 is also expected to be a memorable one for Canadian soccer at the grassroots level. The Internationals are poised to celebrate their 50th anniversary this year. Widely regarded as Ottawa’s “community soccer club,” it has provided soccer skills training and team opportunities to youngsters and adults since 1972. “We’ve always been an openly accessible and inclusive soccer club, something we are very proud of and see continuing and growing in the years ahead,” says Internationals president, Fabio Onesi. “While ensuring that prevailing COVID restrictions take precedence, we are very optimistic that 2022 will be a great year for getting people out of their homes and onto their community soccer pitch.” Over its first 50 years, the Internationals trained many young players who have gone on to play high-level
soccer with university and college teams in Canada and the U.S., as well as in pro soccer. A recent example is Ottawa’s emerging global soccer superstar, Jonathan David, who in the past two years has topped all scorers in the Belgian and French professional leagues and on the Canadian men’s national team. Before he left Canada to sign professionally in Belgium, David trained with the Ottawa Internationals and was the top goal scorer on the men’s premier soccer team during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The club’s general manager, Graeme Bali, is proud to have had a generational talent like David wear the Ottawa Internationals’ colours. “For an amateur club like ours to have had Jonathan for a couple of seasons of men’s soccer here in Ottawa shows our young players that with hard work and talent it’s possible for Canadian kids to excel at the sport.” But the real strength of the Internationals, Bali acknowledges, is the club’s enduring ability to offer soccer skills training and opportunities to play to every person who wants to play regardless of age or ability. Since COVID struck, the Internationals have been forced to operate DSP entirely at its two centralized turf fields in Alta Vista. The club is pleased that parents will once again be able to enrol their children in DSP soccer at their local community parks and playgrounds this summer. “We are really excited to bring this community feature back to DSP, and parents should register now if they want to ensure a spot for their kids nearby to where they live for the 15-week summer season,” says Dan Tello, the club’s vice-president of youth recreational soccer who is also a former DSP parent volunteer and coach. The DSP spring season from April 16 to May 7 features one-hour sessions on four consecutive Saturday mornings
Curling party on Brown’s Inlet
Enterprising neighbours on Wilton Crescent curled an exciting game on Brown’s Inlet with homemade rocks – the aptly named Wiltonfest Pondspiel. PHOTO: STELLA RASTOGI
at the club’s centralized turf fields for youngsters in the under-7, under-9 and under-12 age groups. The summer season – which also offers an under-5 age group – will shift to community soccer fields and runs from the week of May 17 to the week of August 26. In addition to DSP for youngsters, the Internationals also offer competitive and recreational teams and skills training for youth 12 and over and for adult women and men. Renso Vettoretti, vice-president of men’s soccer, looks forward to outdoor soccer kicking off in a few short months. “We are planning to get our youth competitive tryouts underway in March and our adult men and women members outdoors practising in April,” says Vettoretti, who has coached and played men’s soccer with the Internationals for several decades. Parents can reserve spots for their children now in the DSP by registering for the spring and summer seasons. For further information about DSP, including costs, or to register your child, visit the Internationals website at ottawasoccer.com.
Soccer program info Information on soccer programs for girls and boys aged 12 and older and for adult men and women can be obtained at the Internationals’ website or by emailing the appropriate club contacts: mens@ottawasoccer.com womens@ottawasoccer.com youthrec@ottawasoccer.com girls-competitive@ottawasoccer.com boys-competitive@ottawasoccer.com
Lorne Abugov is a long-standing coach and board member with the Ottawa Internationals Soccer Club and is editor of The Mainstreeter.
Thomas stretches for the ball in a burst of speed! PHOTO: DAN TELLO
By Stella Rastogi During a snowy, frigid winter and another wave of COVID, what could ease our sad situation? One answer – the Wiltonfest Pondspiel on Brown’s Inlet! This curling party was the brainchild of four ingenious neighbours – Paul and Marilyn Peiper and John Kruspe and Karen McNeil. Paul felt we neighbours near the pond needed more fun things to do. A member of the Navy Curling Club, he’d had the idea before of curling on the pond but COVID, bad weather and other issues frustrated his plans. This year, he decided to go ahead because it would be fun, allowable under COVID rules and let people to embrace the cold rather than hibernate. John has been shovelling Brown’s Inlet for years. The rinks there are especially popular for hockey, which is not allowed on the nearby Rideau Canal. John and some neighbours hauled down the snowblower that he and Paul jointly own and cleared a rink for curling. The curling rocks were made of concrete in margarine tubs. The handles were shelf brackets stuck into the concrete. The rocks were painted red or green, one set for each team. Paul sent out a call last year for used margarine tubs, but it turned out neighbours didn’t use it in such large quantities, so he had to save enough tubs himself! The name Wiltonlude Pondspiel was conjured up by the wives. Karen offered
Emily is one of the many children learning soccer skills through the Ottawa Internationals Soccer Club and its Developmental Soccer Program. PHOTO: TRACY LUCKING
“Wiltonlude,” the name of a skating party that she and John hosted when the neighbourhood kids were young. “Pondspiel” is Marilyn’s apt contribution. Paul emphasized that curling experience was not necessary and might actually be detrimental! It was a sunny Sunday on January 30, and most rinks were filled with kids playing hockey when we curlers arrived, bringing cookies, mulled wine and vegan hot chocolate spiked with peppermint vodka left over from Christmas. We had no curling brooms, so we did without. Some simple rules and instructions were explained, and we were ready to go. The teams were evenly matched, as the only two experienced curlers were split up. A lot of time was spent figuring out whose turn it was and how many rocks we had left. There were breaks for cookies and hot chocolate. At one point, a convoy of trucks on the Queen Elizabeth Driveway interrupted us with some very loud honking. We were tied after five ends; in the exciting, final end, someone slid the last rock onto the button to win the game. We cleaned up to make sure no litter ended up in the water in the spring, then retreated to John and Karen’s porch for vegetarian stew and ice wine. The event was pronounced a success, and there was talk of doing it again. Once the gang gets more experienced, we may need brooms. Stella Rastogi is a Glebe resident and enthusiastic curler.
34 Glebe Report February 11, 2022
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS ABBOTSFORD SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTRE (950 Bank St.) is now accepting books, flea market items and treasures to sell in house at Abbotsford and in the spring at the Great Glebe Garage Sale to help support the Centre’s fundraising efforts! Thank you for your donations. ABBOTSFORD SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTRE IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMS. We are looking forward to starting up our Aerobics and indoor walking in the spacious Horticultural Building at Lansdowne Park as soon as it is feasible to do so. This setting is ideal, as it is a very large venue with high ceilings and lots of space to keep fit and/or walk away your winter blues. Keep abreast of any changes to our plans or schedule by accessing our website www. glebecentre.ca under Abbotsford Programs and Services and ‘What’s Up at Abbotsford’ for the most up-to-date information or by calling us at 613-230-5730. ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE CAFÉ DISCUSSION, Feb. 16, 9 a. m. Free online activity, animated by a French teacher and open to all French levels. Share an online breakfast in French with us and talk about the news. Registration is until Feb. 14 (afottawa.extranet-aec.com/ events/detail/408#/) and you will receive the Zoom link a day before the activity. ARTWORKS BY CAMBODIAN CHILDREN for sale at Jaya Krishnan Studio Gallery, 807 Bank St., 2nd floor, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day throughout February. You will love the paintings! Proceeds to Opportunities for Development Through the Arts. Info: 343-777-5413. MASTER GARDENER LECTURES (friendsofthefarm.ca/fcef-annual-events/ master-gardener-lectures/). Every year the Friends of the Farm (riendsofthefarm. ca/) partner with the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton to offer timely and informative presentations. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, our lectures went online in 2021 and will continue virtually in 2022. Registration required to obtain the Zoom link. The 2022 Master Gardener Lectures include: Getting a Head Start on the Summer Growing Season on Tues., Mar. 28. Gardening with Native Plants in Ontario on Tues., Apr. 19. Biodiversity at the Crossroads on Tues., May 3. Paint with Blooms on Tues., May 17. Another Gardening Year behind Us on Tues., Sept 13. Pre-payment is required. Go to info@ friendsofthefarm.ca to register and obtain the link to the Zoom presentation. HERITAGE OTTAWA LECTURE VIA ZOOM Wed., Feb. 23, 7–8 p.m.: Phillips Memorial Lecture / Pluriverse Rising: Indigenous Design with special guest speaker Wanda Dalla Costa. This talk will define Indigenous architecture, review changes in the field, and, through the lens of Cultural Sustainability Theory in Architecture, review a series of projects including the Indigenous Peoples Space located at 100 Wellington St. (former U.S. Embassy). Lecture via ZOOM, will be followed by a brief question and answer period. Pre-registration is required. To do so, please go to: https:// us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/wn_ rjnxeq4ts9wqbs8ixmflvq. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. OTTAWA SOCIETY OF BOTANICAL ARTISTS ONLINE EXHIBITION Until March 20, the
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:
The Glebe Spree winner of the $10,000 grand prize this year is Joy Kardish. Congratulations Joy! Ottawa Society of Botanical Artists is pleased to invite you to visit Botanica 2021, its online botanical art exhibition inspired by the flowering trees, shrubs and plants from the Arboretum, Fletcher Wildlife Garden and the Ornamental Gardens of the Experimental Farm. Please go to ottawasocietyofbotanicalartists.ca/gallerybotanica-2021 to see the exhibition. OLD OTTAWA SOUTH GARDEN CLUB Tues., Mar. 8, 7 p.m. (In-person meeting at The Firehall, 260 Sunnyside Ave.): Plant Guilds: Taking Companion Planting to the Next Level Master Gardener Rebecca Last will begin by distinguishing between plant guilds and companion planting. She will continue by inviting listeners to modify their conventional gardening strategies to begin creating a selfsustaining eco-system that will become more productive and result in less work over time. Building on the principles of permaculture, she will explore examples of plant guilds, connection, natural patterns and zones that help gardeners put together the pieces of that self-sustaining ecosystem. Meeting Fees: 2021-22 season: $25 for individuals; $40 for a family. Drop-in fee: $7 per meeting. Info and registration: Old Ottawa South Community Centre (The Firehall, 260 Sunnyside Ave.), at www.oldottawasouth.ca or 613-247-4946.
State of Surrender will play at the GCTC Feb. 22 to Mar. 6; Heartlines will run Mar. 22 to Apr. 3. Tickets will be released online at gctc. ca/buy-tickets. A list of GCTC’s COVID-19 protocols can also be found on https://www. gctc.ca/covid-protocols. AVAILABLE BABYSITTER. Are you in need of a sitter? I am available during the day and overnight. Please contact Sarah: 613-263-0590. HOUSE-SITTER. Warm weather seekers! Are you leaving town for an extended period and need a house-sitter? I am a young lady who studies theology remotely with recent house sitting experience in the Glebe. I have excellent references and love to take care of animals, especially puppies!!! Please contact Sarah: 613-263-0590. PUPPYSITTING. Do you need someone to stay overnight with your little or big babe? I am available to care for your fur baby during the day or night. I have excellent references. Sarah: 613-263-0590.
PROBUS Ottawa invites new members from The Glebe. Join your fellow retirees, near retirees and want-to-be retirees for interesting speakers and discussions, as well as relaxed socializing. Visit www.probusoav.ca for details about the club’s activities as well as contact and membership information. Due to COVID restrictions, current meetings are held via Zoom, but we hope to resume in-person a bit later this year. ROADS OF UNCERTAINTY: A Journey Through Life’s Unimaginable Twists and Turns, by local author Subhash Biswas, Notion Press, 2021. The story of a little boy growing up in a remote village of Bengal in pre-independence India. Born to a rich family, the boy, Nimchand alias Nimu, enjoyed a privileged childhood in a huge mansion. After a few years, he lost his father, and the status of the family fell from grace. Available on Amazon.ca and Google Books. TACTICS (Theatre Artists’ Co-operative: the Independent Collective Series), in association with GCTC, 1233 Wellington St., presents Blissful State of Surrender by Sanita Fejzic and Heartlines by Sarah Waisvisz. Blissful
Art gone AWOL I’m reaching out to the Glebe Report as I’m not sure who else to turn to. While I was away someone left a large painting and two drawings on my porch on Powell Avenue. I’m assuming someone must have dropped them off to the wrong address. Is it possible to put a small picture of the painting in the Glebe Report in hopes that the artist will recognize their work? [If so, email editor@glebereport.ca.]
Abbas Grocery Bloomfield Flowers Café Morala Capital Home Hardware Chickpeas Clocktower Pub Ernesto’s Barber Shop Escape Clothing Feleena’s Mexican Café Fourth Avenue Wine Bar Glebe Apothecary Glebe Meat Market Goldart Jewellery Studio Hogan’s Food Store Ichiban Irene’s Pub Isabella Pizza Kettleman’s Kunstadt Sports Lansdowne Dental Last Train to Delhi LCBO Lansdowne Loblaws Marble Slab Creamery McKeen Metro Glebe Nicastro Octopus Books Olga’s RBC/Royal Bank Second Avenue Sweets Studio Sixty Six Subway Sunset Grill The Ten Spot TD Bank Lansdowne TD Pretoria The Works Von’s Bistro Whole Health Pharmacy Wild Oat
Greg Farrell
STUDIO — GALLERY 807 Bank St
www.jkrishnanart.com
Come in and see my latest collection! 343 777-5413 Cell │ 613 237-5125 Business
jaya@jkrishnanart.com
Glebe Report February 11, 2022
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February 11, 2022
Mary Richardson, “Running Through the Farm.” (acrylic on wood panel)
Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group Glebe Community Centre
GNAG.ca
175 Third Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 2K2 info@gnag.ca 613-233-8713
SUMMER CAMP 2022 Our camps are out of this world! Guide available at GNAG.ca Registra4on Feb 8 at 7 pm
Winter Programs are back! Please check out our updated guide with new program dates. We s4ll have space in a lot of programs so check it out at GNAG.ca.
www.ottawa.ca
March Break Camps
9 - 4 pm March 14 - 18
Trekkers: We Bought a Zoo (SK - Gr 2) Trippers: Off the Screen (Gr 3 - 4) Travellers: Game Masters (Gr 5 - 7) Kinder Combo Put Me In A Book (JK - SK) Multimedia Art Camp (Gr 1 - 3) The Play is the Thing (Gr 4 - 6) Iron Chef (Gr 6 - 8)
