The Glebe Report Jan_Feb 2022 Edition

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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

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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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