Glebe Report January/February 2023

The Glebe Report origin story

By Liz McKeen

This year, the Glebe Report marks an important milestone – a half-century of bringing neighbourhood news to the people.

The first issue of the Glebe Report came out on June 17, 1973, a 12-page, black-and-white sheet optimistically and, as it turned out, realistically labelled “Volume 1, Number 1.” It was the brainchild of Penny Sanger, its instigator and first editor, and was produced around the kitchen table of her First Avenue home.

She was a no-nonsense frank talker with the heart of an activist. In the first issue, she wrote “Glebe Report is a community newspaper and a journal of free voices. We welcome contributions, although we cannot pay for them.”

Her first foray into publishing got her into trouble. The front-page headline, “Benoit accused of breaking faith over Holmwood,” galvanized Mayor Pierre Benoit to threaten to sue the paper. Cooler heads prevailed, and the next issue in July ran a front- page story, “Glebe Report apologizes to Mayor,” stating that the “breaking faith” in question referred not to the mayor himself but to City Hall in general – an apology of sorts.

Many of the topics broached in this first issue will be familiar to readers today – plans to deal with cut-through traffic, Glebe planning proposals (including proposed high-rise apartments along Queen Elizabeth Drive), the lack of parks in the Glebe, school news. Also appearing was a detailed account of the grand opening of the Glebe Community Centre in the “old St. James Church at Second Avenue and Lyon Street” that took place on June 2 of that year.

Interestingly, the item on Lansdowne Park, quoting Charles Sim, the “new city director of parks operations,” reads in part, “First and foremost, I want the Park to be a good citizen of the Glebe… It is up to the people of the Glebe to decide what they would like to have done to the park.” He also indicated that space could be made available for community meetings and activities. It seems that little has survived of the management approach to Lansdowne of 50 years ago.

In the second issue, Joyce McCaffrey in her “Comment on food prices” cites the world shortage of food and increasing population for “the growing demand for food [that] is pushing up prices,” according to the Commons Special Committee on Trends in Food Prices. Plus ça change.

The Glebe Report has from its inception been independent and, unlike some community newspapers, has not been affiliated with the neighbourhood community association. Clive Doucet

Index Mark Your Calendars

remembers from his time as Capital Ward city councillor that there were several attempts over the years to buy the paper out by for-profit corporations, but it held onto its independent not-forprofit status.

It is distributed free on paper to all Glebe and Glebe Annex households and many Glebe businesses. Since 2004, it has also been available online (glebereport.ca) and more recently on social media. Costs are paid entirely through advertising. It is published and managed by an elected board of directors of the Glebe Report Association, a not-for-profit corporation formed in 1983. Membership in the association is open to all adults who live, work or study in the Glebe.

While the first few years were kitchen-table affairs, the Glebe Report moved into the Glebe Community Centre upstairs in 1977, moving out

briefly in 2003 when the building was renovated and then back in 2004 in its current main-floor location. While early years were strictly paper and literal cut-and-paste operations, in 2004 the Glebe Report turned to email and word processing along with its newly launched website and hasn’t looked back. Indeed, this year will see the launch of a revamped website.

The Glebe Report, I am happy to report, is a thriving 50-year-old with the heart of a teenager! While it had to “pivot,” as did we all, in the first months of the pandemic in 2020, the paper continued to publish throughout (albeit with one or two issues online only, in the days when we were all washing our groceries and quarantining library books.) In periods of economic downturn, as we are experiencing these days, when Bank Street businesses are struggling, the quest for advertising dollars becomes more fraught. But because the Glebe Report is often read cover to cover by several members of a household, many businesses have recognized the impact and reach of a Glebe Report ad and have continued to advertise. We are grateful for their support over many years.

Initial circulation of about 5,000 copies has grown to 7,500. Delivery is carried out under the leadership of a distribution manager by a team of commercial distributors, eight area captains (meet them elsewhere in this issue!) and about 75 volunteers who drop it off at your door, among them children, families, retirees and otherwise good citizens. Next month we hope to introduce you to a number of them – stay tuned!

Liz McKeen is editor of the Glebe Report.

Penny Sanger was the initiator in June 1973 and first editor of the Glebe Report.

Front page of Vol. 1, no. 1

Salute to those who bring you the Glebe Report

The Glebe Report is brought to you each month courtesy of a phalanx of volunteers.

Our intrepid “area captains”

When the printer delivers each month’s paper in bundles of 20, the eight area captains pick up their bundles, divide them into the right number of copies, and bring them to the carriers, who then deliver your copy to you!

The volunteer area captains are key players in getting the Glebe Report to your doorstep. As we celebrate 50 years of Glebe Report, we salute their commitment to community! (Watch for next month’s Glebe Report celebrating some of the 70 to 80 volunteer carriers.)

almost 40 years. We all know what a lovely neighbourhood it is and it is important to get involved in the community in whatever way you like to keep it vibrant and flourishing.”

that was about 10 years ago. I have seen many volunteer carriers, and a decentators, come and go in my time; but the delightful and dedicated community spirit of the Glebe goes from strength to strength, and is the reason this is a

Bob Brocklebank

“As my time on the Glebe Report board was coming to an end, our Distribution Manager announced that we were missing an area captain. I had a car that could carry hundreds of copies and I thought it would be a good way to keep in touch. I’ve been an area captain since.”

Hilda van Walraven

Hilda is the Distribution Manager who coordinates the work of all of the Area Captains and Carriers who deliver the Glebe Report monthly to households in the Glebe and Glebe Annex.

“It’s been 28 years since I moved to the Glebe (from Toronto) -- I love it here! A local newspaper makes it that much better, not to mention having it delivered right to my doorstep. I became an area captain for the Glebe Report in September 2020 and started managing the distribution last summer ... it’s a great way to discover new things about the Glebe!”

Judy Field

“It’s been decades of fun traversing the neighbourhood streets, meeting new people and saying hi to friendly faces along the way… what’s not to love about being an area captain? I never had a paper route as a child, so I’m thankful to the Glebe Report for this experience.”

Deb Hogan

“When a good friend asked if we would consider becoming area captains in October, how could we say no? Having lived in the Glebe and enjoyed the Glebe Report for 25 years, it felt like the least we could do. We’re happy to give back to the community that has been such a meaningful part of our lives for a quarter of century…and counting.”

Ginny Grimshaw

Ginny Grimshaw died suddenly in January. She was a Glebe Report area captain for 15 years since moving to Craig Street. She also volunteered for many years at Mutchmor School. She lived in Ottawa from 1993, and had two grown children and two granddaughters. She said recently, “I love living in the Glebe because it is full of dogs, kids and friendly people!”

Glebe Report in coffee shops etc.

In addition to home delivery, the Glebe Report is made available at selected Glebe and Old Ottawa South businesses and community locations like the Sunnyside library. Introducing Eleanor Crowder and Teddy Cor-

Martha Bowers

“I don’t really know when I became an area captain for the Glebe Report but it’s been a long time! The Glebe Report is a wonderful community newspaper and although so much of our lives is now online, I think it is good that we still have a paper that is delivered to all Glebe residents. It is a way to have physical contact with others as our society seems to be becoming more isolated. I have lived in the Glebe for

“I’ve lived in the Glebe for 27 years, since moving here from Australia in the ‘90s. My wife Jill, who recently passed away, suggested that we take on the route of our street when the kids were young, as an act of community service and a way to stay in touch with our neighbours. (Fun fact: Jill and I had our first “unofficial” lunch date in a neighbourhood in Sydney called... Glebe!) When the kids outgrew that, there was a need for area captains. I had a couple of hours in the month to spare, and a car; so I offered. I guess

“It’s been a privilege to volunteer and give back to our wonderful community since I moved to the Glebe with my husband and children 23 years ago: the Glebe House Tour, GCA canvasser, various GNAG and GCC functions, the GCA Board of Directors, our Third Avenue block party, delivering the Glebe Report, and most recently as an area captain for the Glebe Report – all have afforded me the opportunity for ongoing connectedness with our neighbourhood.”

“Hello! I first lived in the Glebe in 1976, and have spent 30 years of the last 50 on Holmwood, Strathcona and Thornton avenues and O’Connor Street. I raised my kids here, walked my dog, watched trees and neighbours grow. Skating the canal is a prime winter joy through all those years. Since 2000, I have had the immense pleasure of working with all ages at GNAG to make local theatre.

Della Wilkinson

“The Glebe has been my home since I emigrated from the UK in 1990. One Saturday morning I awoke to traffic and neighbours arranging bric-a-brac on their front lawns – what was going on? It was the Great Glebe Garage Sale! My husband and I needed to know what other wonderful events were being organized in our new community so we became avid readers of the Report! Eventually, he joined the Report Board and about three years ago I volunteered as an area captain.”

“I’m Teddy Cormier. I’m 17 years old and a student at Glebe Collegiate High School. I’ve been delivering the commercial papers for the last three years, and before that did a number of residential routes. I’ve lived in the Glebe my entire life, and am glad to help volunteer for the Glebe Report.”

Update on the fire at 850 Bank Street

There’s a happy ending to the story of the Glebe family of five displaced by The Papery fire. The family was searching for an affordable, furnished rental where they could live while their apartment was restored, and they had only a few weeks to find a place. When the Glebe Community Association learned of their situation, it sent out a note to community members looking for help. Several people came forward with offers, and one proved to be a perfect fit for the family’s needs. Thanks to our caring community, this family now has a temporary home. Thank you to everyone who helped.

Jono Hamer-Wilson

Brenda Perras

Eleanor Crowder

Teddy Cormier

From Ukraine to the Glebe: Nadiia and Sonia’s story

By Zosia Vanderveen

My mother and I met Nadiia and her daughter Sonia, 21, several months ago, having hired them to help us at home. We slowly became better acquainted and started to hear small bits about their lives and their escape from the war in Ukraine. We understand how hard these two women work, how strong they have had to become. They embody a drive and resilience, a humility that is borne out of struggle. This has been exceptionally clear, despite language barriers and their humble reluctance to boast or vocalize their struggles.

When asked to write this article, we wanted to speak more in depth with them, spend some time understanding what they’ve come from. We met them on a cold evening in their cozy home, complete with a wonderful and bright Christmas tree, warm fairy lights, a puzzle in the works on their table and various items of furniture donated by members of the community. Their experience in the past couple of years is truly a story worthy of being shared. Imagine needing to leave behind your family, friends, home, your entire world. In 2015, this is exactly what Nadiia did. Leaving behind the city of Lutsk in Ukraine, she travelled to Warsaw, Poland to try to find work, a better life for her and her family. Nadiia had a husband and four kids to support back in Lutsk. Ever the stoic, Nadiaa assured us that her small, one-bedroom apartment was a fine place to live; of course, Sonia doesn’t let her get away with that, admitting for her mother that it was quite an uncomfortable arrangement. Nadiia spent the next five years in Poland, working as a cook.

Last February 24, the lives of Sonia and Nadiia’s family changed forever. Sonia is jolted awake by her roommate’s panic, the ground shaking, dust and pieces of the ceiling falling, the city outside her window in flames. During a continuous bombing attack on Lutsk by Russia, Sonia and her siblings gather at their father’s home and try to get themselves together. That very day, Sonia and one of her brothers, along with his girlfriend, pile into one car with all their things and join the line of cars heading to Poland. No internet, no

map – all they had was their mother’s address. Meanwhile, Nadiia watches the news at her apartment in Warsaw, unable to contact her children. Within a day, they are reunited, all crammed into their Nadiia’s apartment. After a couple months in Poland, Sonia and her mother bid goodbye to that life and set out for Canada.

They knew very little about Canada when they came and spoke hardly any English. Sonia spoke about how diffi cult it was to try to communicate, to get their forms and documents together, having to use Google Translate to speak to people and ask for help. With a look of gratitude, Sonia animatedly told us that they had a connection who helped in finding someone to stay with when they got here. Even though these hosts had their own troubles and busy lives to deal with, they were kind and welcoming.

Initially Sonia didn’t want to stay in Canada, isolated from family and friends. But she and her mom have set tled into the effort to get established and adjust to their new lives here. Son ia’s English had come a long way (she would humbly deny it), though slang and colloquialisms are still tricky. She spoke of how the quiet, peace ful, family-oriented atmosphere of the Glebe is reminiscent of where they lived in Ukraine. The two women cur rently rely on income from cleaning; Sonia has been looking for other work, but it is proving difficult. And despite their struggles, they ask for nothing and do not want to burden other. The Facebook Buy Nothing Group came through when we asked for help on their behalf, and many items were given. They say thank you to the gen erous neighbours!

Despite their difficult situation and all they’ve gone through, Sonia and Nadiia were still able to share stories of the kindness of others, of gratitude, of all that people have done to welcome them in their time of need. While theirs is certainly a story of hardship, it is one that leaves room for a lot of hope. As Sonia said, they must now find them selves here and figure out their place in what must feel like another world.

Zosia Vanderveen is a Grade 11 student at Glebe Collegiate Institute.

Sonia (left) and Nadiia, mother and daughter originally from Lutsk, Ukraine, are making a new life in the Glebe.

Images of the Glebe

Let’s celebrate our 50th

A message from the chair of the Glebe Report 50th Anniversary Committee, Beatrice Kelleher-Raffoul, and from board co-chairs, Shabana Ansari and Jennifer Humphries

It is always about the people, the people of this community who have volunteered to ensure that for five decades, the Glebe Report has been one of the most successful community newspapers in the region.

This is truly something to celebrate.

We want to thank all the volunteers who have given their time, enthusiasm and expertise to create, produce and distribute our newspaper for half a century. And we thank the dedicated group of people from across our community who continue to do so.

In this year’s issues, we will re-introduce to you a number of members of the teams who, over the decades, have made the Glebe Report happen. Many people have served as editors, copy editors, layout designers, proofreaders, advertising managers, business

managers, social media coordinators, contributors, distributors, area captains, deliverers and more. You may know some of these people as neighbours or as fellow participants at events. No doubt you’ve seen many of them shopping at our local businesses, whose owners and managers we deeply appreciate for their unwavering support over these five decades.

As we embark on our next decade, we ask members of the Glebe, Glebe Annex and Dow’s Lake to join us in ensuring that our first-class newspaper remains relevant to our community. Join our board. Contribute to the news of our community. Volunteer, giving a few hours or many – every bit counts!

We are looking forward to launching a new website, expanding our online presence and social media reach. More to follow soon.

A 50th anniversary demands a party, and we invite you to join in. Our official “birthday” is in June, but we’ll be celebrating all year long!

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............................ Liz McKeen editor@glebereport.ca

COPY EDITOR.................... Roger Smith

LAYOUT DESIGNER............. Jock Smith layout@glebereport.ca

GRAPEVINE EDITOR............ Micheline Boyle grapevine@glebereport.ca

WEB EDITOR..................... website@glebereport.ca

SOCIAL MEDIA................... Sophie Shields

ADVERTISING MANAGER...... Judy Field advertising@glebereport.ca

613-858-4804

BUSINESS MANAGER........... Debbie Pengelly accounting@glebereport.ca

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER.....

COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTORS Hilda van Walraven circulation@glebereport.ca

Teddy Cormier, Eleanor Crowder

PROOFREADERS................ Martha Bowers, Jennifer D'Costa, Jeanette Rive

AREA CAPTAINS................. Martha Bowers, Bob Brocklebank, Judy Field, Jono Hamer-Wilson, Deb Hogan, Brenda Perras, Della Wilkinson

Glebe Report seeks volunteer Website Manager

To mark our 50th anniversary, Glebe Report is launching a fresh new website. The only piece missing is someone to manage it. Someone with a solid understanding of content management, security and firewalls, with a proven ability to create, update and maintain website content.

If you have relevant training and experience, we want to talk to you ASAP. This volunteer and part-time position will appeal to community-oriented people, preferably those who live in the Glebe. If you like working in a team-oriented, not-for-profit setting, please contact us right away at chair@glebereport.ca to have a chat and to get a copy of the core responsibilities for this position.

Glebe Report publishes 10-11 issues annually. Our team includes a volunteer board of directors and a volunteer production team. Production team members receive honoraria.

CONTACT US

175 Third Avenue Ottawa, Ontario K1S 2K2 613-236-4955

TFI@glebereport

SUBMIT ARTICLES editor@glebereport.ca.

OUR DEADLINES

For Glebe Report advertising deadlines and rates, call the advertising manager. Advertising rates are for electronic material supplied in pdf format with fonts embedded in the file.

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

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

Business Buzz

The Papery at 850 Bank Street is temporarily closed. “The Papery will be closed until further notice due to a fire on December 26th, 2022. We will reopen once repairs have been completed.” (Facebook)

Crosstown Traffic at 593C Bank Street will close in the spring. Owner Mike Foster is retiring. “Your counterculture variety store since 1992. Crosstown Traffic is more than just a store, it’s a statement about freedom. We at Crosstown Traffic support the right of the individual to watch, smoke, eat and read whatever you choose without the government playing nanny for you.” (website)

High Ties Cannabis Store at 769 Bank Street is relocating. “Certain nearby competitors have come in and oversaturated the market.” (window sign). Highties.ca

Plateau Cannabis at 891 Bank Street has closed.

Fairy Dreams Bridal is now fully open at 724 Bank Street, co-located with My Baby Shoppe.

Mahal Tanjore is the new name of the restaurant formerly called Thanjay at 108 Third Avenue.

Glebe Report seeks Area Captain

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

Contributors this month

Shabana Ansari

Iva Apostolova

Matthew Behrens

Candice Blackwood

Karen Anne Blakely

Leah Brockie

Lee-Ann Brodeur

John Burke

John Crump

John Dance

Andrew Day

Jenny Demark

Clive Doucet

John Duimovich

Roland Graham

Jono Hamer-Wilson

Joel Harden

Walter Hendelman

Randy Hogg

Jennifer Humphries

Noémie Ipou

Martha Jeacle

Beatrice Keleher-Raf -

foul

Ivo Krupka

Katherine Liston

Robert Macdermid

Shoshana Magnet

Liz McKeen

Chris McNaught

Shawn Menard

Margret B. Nankivell

Yasir Naqvi

Michael Kofi Ngongi

Tim O’Connor

Renu Pillay

Marisa Romano

Sarah Routliffe

Sophie Shields

Sue Stefko

Janet Sutherland

Carolyn Thompson

Mike Trickey

Zosia Vanderveen

Caren von Merveldt

David A. Walden

Lauren Webber

Emma Weller

Steve Zan

Zeus

The Glebe Report strives to be inclusive and to represent the full diversity of the community we serve.

Winter on Queen Elizabeth Drive PHOTO: LIZ MCKEEN

Intensification will change the character of the Glebe

Editor, Glebe Report

With respect to Chris Jermyn’s letter in the December Glebe Report (“Vacant unit tax taxes privacy”), I could not agree more. The city is definitely invading privacy, and I do not recall anyone running on this policy of oversight.

In the same issue, Shawn Menard, our ward councillor, has even greater plans for altering the nature of the Glebe. Using the concepts of intensification, inclusion and equity, he intends to ultimately destroy the nature of our community.

With respect to spreading density throughout our urban village, the plan is that as houses become available, vacant or for sale, they can be replaced with multi-unit dwellings. He lets his imagination run a little wild, as if they could be replaced by the same walk-up buildings as in Montreal. He is a romantic and can be forgiven for his excess.

Of course, this would not happen, but if it did, there would be a mismatch of single-unit dwellings adjacent to multiunit rental properties. If your elderly neighbours sold their house, you could expect it to be bought by a developer who would build what Menard calls multi-home dwellings at the expense of single detached homes.

The character of the Glebe is resplendent with wonderful and unique single homes. Creating multi-use homes would create increased traffic, and rentals would create a loss of a sense of ownership of the community.

This is not surprising – it is precisely what he ran on and was elected on in a low-turnout election by a plurality of voters.

John Burke

Streetlights overdue for fixing

Editor, Glebe Report

The streetlights have not been working in front of 187 and 171 Clemow Avenue for the last five years! The city has been called, they’ve looked at it and have not dealt with it. In the meantime, bike lanes have been painted on our streets and all kinds of things are being done except what really matters!

It is a hazard in the evening to walk without lights. Will it take a lawsuit to act on this?

Caren von Merveldt

Why were tree stumps in Dow’s Great Swamp?

Editor, Glebe Report

I very much enjoyed seeing the historic photos of the tree stumps in Dow’s Lake in the December issue of the Glebe Report Readers might be interested to know why the tree stumps had been left in the Rideau Canal. Prior to the construction of the Canal, what we know today as Dow’s Lake was known as Dow’s Great Swamp and extended from the Rideau River in the south across parts of the current site of Carleton University through what is now Little Italy all the way to the Ottawa River in the north. The route chosen for the Canal required that it pass through Dow’s Great Swamp, but the surveyor John MacTaggart wrote in his memoir Three Years in Canada: An Account of the Actual State of the Country in 1826-7-8 that “cedar trees that grow as thickly in the swamp as they can possibly grow, and average fourteen inches thick, and seventy feet high” presented an obstacle to construction. He proposed, as a new and untried solution, that the trees be sawn off at the “proper level” to support the sides of an aqueduct made of wood in the route of Canal. While he recognized that the “idea of carrying a canal over the trees in Canada may raise the laugh against us,” he went on to note that “a cedar-tree, when cut down, will remain fresh fifty years; and surely a tree standing on, and fixed by its roots, is a stronger and steadier support for an aqueduct than any pile of the height requisite.” The proposed aqueduct presented a practical problem however, as it would have to be drained of water each winter so that ice would not damage the structure.

Colonel By had a better solution –the construction of an embankment at both the south and north ends of the swamp – and in doing so, converted Dow’s Great Swamp into Dow’s Lake, complete with the stumps of the cedar trees that had been cut to the “proper level.”

David A. Walden

Snow clearing woes (and a shout-out)

Editor, Glebe Report

As all of us are looking forward to cleared streets; I am just questioning the timing of this operation!

All side streets are marked “No Parking “ from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.! The person making those plans has obviously never been in business to know how hard it is for us.

Why on a Saturday night? What is wrong with Monday nights when most

Poetry and pets

MARCH 2023 POETRY QUARTER

Poets: this is your chance to share your feelings about your pets in poetic form – the joy they can give, the sadness when they leave, the wonder at the bonds between you and them. What need do they fulfil in our lives? Is it a simple love or is it complicated by dependence or co-dependence? Have you ever wondered what your pet is thinking or feeling, and how that may be different from how you think or feel? It can be a multifaceted relationship, and we want to read your poems on the topic.

Stop fiddling and take up the trumpet

Editor, Glebe Report

Re: Letter to the editor “New Civic hospital – the time for fiddling is over,” Glebe Report, December 2022

Dear Fiddler:

You are right to issue a call to stop fiddling about the new Civic Hospital.

But the burning issues are in fact the proposed mega-hospital and the site given to the Civic. We have already lost Queen Juliana Park and probably around 200 to 250 trees. And the digging is beginning for the four-storey, above-ground, 2,504-car garage.

Added to that is the four-to-five football-field-length trek from the LRT station to the front door of the hospital (are you older or do you have a mobility limitation?) and the loss of over 50 acres of the Central Experimental Farm (a National Historic Site), accompanied by the loss of approximately 250 to 500 additional mature trees and the associated destruction of habitat (remember the recent COPS in Montreal).

Who was consulted about this mega-hospital? Who decided what "we" needed? How many years ago? Maybe what is needed now for the Ottawa region and the community-at-large, including Barrhaven, Kanata and Orleans, are regional centres of care (regional hospitals) where people live without having to drive for 30 minutes or longer in sleet, rain or snow while polluting the environment and then paying large parking fees so that the hospital can recoup its money for the garage and the pedestrian overpass over Carling Avenue.

There is one instrument that we share: it talks and is green. We know we are going to pay for this while others will be singing their way to the bank with our money – the developers. Remember Lansdowne. The hospital has asked for $150 million from the city coffers – that touches everyone, including you and me.

Yes , stop fiddling! Bring out the trumpets – we need a wake-up call, or more traditionally, a call to arms and to battle!

It is not too late to stop this project. The new Civic is the wrong hospital for us at this time and in the wrong place.

Walter Hendelman

restaurants are closed? We have phone calls from our customers that they have had to cancel because there is no on-street parking! Are you reimbursing me for the loss of sales?

I have the company Noel clearing my driveway. You should consult them. They are doing an excellent job because they have brains and plan things properly!

Caren von Merveldt Owner, Flipper’s /Von’s

As usual, poems should be:

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

· No more than 30 lines each

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

· Submitted on or before February 21, 2023

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

Deadline: Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Our Volunteer Carriers

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

WELCOME TO:

Janis Ellis-Claypool

Marjolein Groenevelt

Olivia Dance, Mel LeBlanc, and Mark Dance

THANKS AND FAREWELL:

Anthony Carricato

Harriet Smith and Fil Young

Jugal Shah

Mary Nicoll

How the Cattle Castle was saved

Memories of the Glebe

By Clive Doucet

(Excerpt from the author’s The Watsonic Years. For the full text, go to Unpublished.ca.)

I’m sitting in a meeting inside the Cattle Castle at Lansdowne Park. It’s the biggest meeting I’ve ever attended. My neighbours in the Glebe and Old Ottawa South are exercised because the city has announced it intends to tear down the Cattle Castle (the Aberdeen Pavilion) in order to save money. People weren’t happy. There are no lions in the Glebe, but there are matriarchs, and Diane McIntyre, the organizer of the rally was a heritage matriarch.

It is the women of the Glebe, first as young women with babies on their hip, then later as matriarchs who wrestled the community from a decaying neighbourhood where the old houses were sagging and businesses few into a vibrant, highly desired community.

Penny Sanger began the Glebe Report at her kitchen table, and it would become an award-winning community newspaper. Mary Tsai, barely out of school, arrived for her interview for a job at the community centre with a case of beer under her arm, figuring interviews were hard work and people might want a beer.

The community centre where she was applying to work was a defrocked church on the edge of the city’s demolition list. It had no pool, no gym, a closet for a kitchen; the pews and organ had been taken out but that was about it.

With imagination, hard work and love, Mary’s team turned it into a busy, cherished community space.

Patty Steenberg’s traffic team took on the difficult job of modernizing John Leaning’s original Glebe traffic plan. Carolyn Mackenzie chaired a business and community make-over plan for Bank Street. There were men at the edges of the matriarchs making ice in the dead of winter and such, but it was the matriarchs who made the difference. And what a difference, they made! They turned a community that in the 1970s was headed for social workers, demolition derby houses and decaying side lots into a city showcase.

Diane McIntyre, the woman who organized the rally that saved the Cattle Castle, lived in a cottage-house that had once been the home of Ottawa’s first female mayor, Charlotte Whitton.

The house was small, but large in political karma. Diane was not only the inheritor of Whitton’s domestic life, she was also the cousin of Jack Layton, leader of the federal NDP who boarded there for many years.

Diane like her cousin was a vital force. Within a few days of City Hall announcing the Cattle Castle was to be torn down, she had organized a protest march to walk from the Glebe Community Centre to Lansdowne Park. Eleven hundred people turned up. I was sitting in the crowd, impressed with the passion of the speeches and arguments to keep the old exhibition barn. Young Jim Watson, the community’s city councillor, sat at the head table where he held a simple, handmade sign which had the homey look of a loaf of bread. It said simply: “Save the Aberdeen.” The press took pictures.

The old building needed saving. There was only one other 19th-century exhibition barn like the Aberdeen left in North America, and it wasn’t in Canada, it was in Chicago. The Aberdeen was a city landmark on the outside but was even more impressive on the inside where it had an immense, pillar-free, open space. Light cascading from clerestory windows high above gave the old barn the feeling of a secular cathedral. The barn itself was soaked in Canadian history: Stanley Cups, the mustering of troops for war, the great Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circuses, state funerals and of course the annual fall farm shows where farmers from up and down the valley came to celebrate the fall harvest.

Clive Doucet served as Capital Ward’s City Councillor from 1997 to 2010. He ran for mayor twice, in 2010 and 2018. His last book is Grandfather’s House, Returning to Cape Breton The Watsonic Years is a political memoir being published in instalments on UnPublished Media.

Lansdowne Park and the Aberdeen Pavilion at the turn of the 19th century

DOW’S

Rob Marland | Jane Forsyth | Myha Ewart | Karen Gibson | Haidyn Picco

A Glebe journey ends

Jill Hamer-Wilson, 1965-2022

By Jono Hamer-Wilson

What a strange world it is with you not in it. This is my thought, coming along Lyon and onto Fifth, glancing down Ralph towards Brown’s Inlet, which you so loved. Lyon Street was your daily childhood path when you lived on First and went to Mutchmor, and later too, when you lived on Fifth and attended Glashan. Daily treks to Montessori as a mum and holding court with your gang in the Mutchmor schoolyard. Not to mention pottery and fitness classes at the Glebe Community Centre and tennis at Glebe St James. How many times did your steps traverse the Lyon Street sidewalk, the air resounding with your voice?

Apart from university and seminary years, and brief stints along the Rideau and Ottawa rivers, Jill (née Hamer) was a lifelong resident of the Glebe. Growing up, she lived on Glebe, Fourth, Fifth and Findlay. (I might be missing one or two – her parents were rather nomadic.) Jill finally landed on Morris Street, where her mother Bernice had bought a home in the early ’80s. Ber nice tragically died before the decade was out, leaving Jill, who had no sib lings, to be a homeowner and land lord at the age of 22. Jill claimed – and I’ve never heard it contradicted – that it was Bernice’s idea to rename the easternmost blocks of Carling “Glebe Avenue,” when the city wanted to turn it into a major east-west thoroughfare, back in the headiest days of commun ity activism.

After graduating from Lisgar, Jill studied engineering, education and theology at McGill, Ottawa U., and what is now Tyndale Seminary in Toronto; she chose to be campus min ister for Inter-Varsity Christian Fellow ship. We were married in 1996. Our home was often full of students; some even stayed with us or lived in the apartment upstairs. Those early days included camping, cottages, parties, summer festivals, winter fun – includ ing freezing on Parliament Hill for the Y2K debacle! Jill sang and played guitar and flute – there was lots of music.

Our three beautiful kids came along this millennium, and things slowed down a bit. Jill was an amazing mother: dedicated, creative, fun, capable. I admired her thoughtfulness, compas sion, artistry and grace in handling the challenges of parenthood. Our back yard was a year-round extension of our house: badminton and barbecues in the summer, skating rink in the winter. We planted veggies, harvested berries, picnicked and played there.

Jill’s cancer diagnosis in December 2013 rocked our world, especially that of our pre-teen kids. Yet she faced the deadly news with faith and hope, and she resolved to make the most of the years she had left. A few years ago, Jill found a new calling in life as a cancer survivor and research advocate. The positive, encouraging influence she had on many lives is hard to measure.

I will never forget the Saturday after noon when I was driving home last November and had to pull over on Bank Street to let two ambulances go by, then the catch in my heart as I watched from Bank and Fifth and saw them turn

down Morris Street. I parked the car at

Jill and Jono Hamer-Wilson on their wedding day

Jono Hamer-Wilson, Glebe resident Cochrane

Make Bank Street safe and comfortable now

By John Dance

Why does the Glebe’s section of Bank Street remain cramped and unfriendly to pedestrians and cyclists while most of the other “traditional main streets” in Ottawa’s core have become friendlier and safer?

the four-lane arterial road into what is essentially a two-lane arterial with cycle tracks and wider sidewalks, it was dangerous and unpleasant to walk along much of the street and cyclists sensibly avoided the route.

The Main Street reconstruction plan was strenuously opposed by some suburban and rural councillors because their constituents feared that a reduction to two lanes would slow down their commute to work. Indeed, city planners estimated it would take commuters an extra two minutes to pass through Old Ottawa East. But the community successfully argued that the form of a main street should be primarily shaped to meet the needs of the immediate community rather than those who drove through it twice a day.

Why

does the Glebe’s section of Bank Street remain cramped

Six years ago, after four years of planning, consultation and construction, Main Street in Old Ottawa East was reconstructed as a “complete street.” The changes have been profoundly positive for pedestrians, cyclists and businesses. Before the conversion of

About a decade ago, the Glebe section of Bank Street was reconstructed for $17 million. This effort provided muchneeded new underground services, but it did not produce a significantly better environment for pedestrians and cyclists. Public art and new streetlights were added and sidewalk surfaces were replaced, but these changes had little impact on the overall comfort and safety of the street because it remained four lanes.

During the pandemic with its needs for physical distancing, the constrained sidewalks of Bank Street became particularly apparent. Snowfalls, parked bikes, ancient hydro poles, natural gas service pipes, the occasional stone step and parking ticket machines all add to the congestion. As for cycling along Bank, it remains generally survivable but is definitely not recommended for cautious cyclists. And with the implementation of the new “Bank Street in the Glebe Secondary Plan,” there will be a lot more people walking and cycling along the street.

The Glebe’s business community remains vibrant, despite the narrow sidewalks and lack of cycling lanes. With improvements to the active transportation infrastructure, even more people would want to shop in the Glebe. Living on the other side of the Canal, I wouldn’t dream of driving over to the Glebe for shopping. Why? Because it’s slower and much less pleasant than walking or cycling over the Flora

of a vehicle lane – makes it easier and more pleasant to access the Glebe from Old Ottawa South and Heron Park. This sets an excellent example of what could be done on Bank Street in the heart of the Glebe. The proposed addition of protected cycling lanes on Bank from Riverside Drive to Ledbury Avenue will allow many more cyclists to readily and safely get to Old Ottawa South and the Glebe.

The rebuilding of Elgin Street is a further example of how a busy four-lane route can become a pedestrian-friendly, two-lane route. And even though there are no separated cycling tracks on Elgin, it is still better for cyclists than the “old” Elgin. Notably, the hydro lines were buried which also freed up more space.

While business owners may be concerned about the loss of street parking on Main and Elgin, a large number of parking spaces were created adjacent to the two travel lanes. Also, the Glebe has the 146-space public parking garage between Second and Third avenues. Another key feature in reconfiguring Elgin and Main was the provision of turning lanes at key intersections. City engineers worked hard to redesign these streets: the same could be done for Bank Street in the Glebe.

Any discussion of removing a lane on Bank Street in the Glebe is bound to raise the question of whether this would negatively affect access to Lansdowne Park. As Mayor Mark Sutcliffe commented at the Glebe mayoral debate in October, Lansdowne “needs a north-south transit solution.”

It is not a question of catering to drivers but rather of improving overall transit.

Bank Street sidewalks in the Glebe are narrow, cramped and crowded with parking meters, ancient hydro poles, streetlights, snowbanks, public art, and if they can squeeze in, pedestrians.

The only ways to access Lansdowne by car are by an NCC parkway that was never meant to be an arterial and by congested Bank Street. Just as commuters were not allowed to determine the number of lanes on Main Street, drivers headed for Lansdowne Park should not be determining the number of lanes on Bank.

The reconstruction of Bank Street was advanced so it would not interfere with the Lansdowne’s transformation and targeted opening. Let’s make sure Bank Street is improved for pedestrians and cyclists. And let’s ensure that consideration of these improvements is not dismissed because Lansdowne 2.0 proponents argue they would be detrimental to proposed massive investments of taxpayers’ money in a new entertainment centre and northside stands.

Some residents might argue that there is no funding available to make Bank Street more friendly and safe, but surely such an investment is much more affordable and valuable than the $330 million sought for the proposed Lansdowne 2.0.

John Dance was president of Old Ottawa East Community Association during the planning of Main Street’s rebuild and is a frequent visitor to the Glebe’s Home Hardware, Metro and other Bank Street businesses.

sure they do.

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PHOTOS: JOHN DANCE

Sarah Routliffe

GNAG Executive Director

N 613-233-8713

E info@gnag.ca gnag.ca

GNAG embraces winter!

We have welcomed in the New Year here at GNAG with a great start! Here are all the amazing activities and events we have going on.

Taste in the Glebe

We had overwhelming support for Taste in the Glebe, an annual fundraising event that we haven’t been able to host since 2020. Not only did many excellent restaurants and beverage companies donate their resources and goodies, but they also showed up during a challenging economic time and helped a local non-profit. It has been a difficult time for GNAG throughout the pandemic, but we are on the road to recovery, and this event was instrumental in helping us rebuild.

The event was generously sponsored by Rebecca McKeen at Metro McKeen and Judy Faulkner of Faulkner Real Estate. We are so grateful to have such generous members in our community.

We had many amazing restaurants and beverage offerings this year at Taste, from local stalwarts like the Glebe Central Pub to newcomers like Dominion City Brewing and the Almanac Grain Bakery.

Taste was a night to remember. This is my first time on the organizing committee and attending; I cannot say enough good things about this community-building event. Thank you to the 2023 Taste committee – we brought it back!

From all of us at GNAG, thank you to every restaurant and beverage company in attendance, every volunteer, the team and everyone who bought tickets and came out to enjoy an evening with us. To the chair of the committee, Tahera Mufti, thank you for everything you have done to make this event a huge success.

Mutchmor rink & skating party

The Mutchmor rink has been up and running since Saturday, January 24.

We are so lucky to partner with the City of Ottawa and run the rink again this year. A big thank you goes out to

our financial director, Pete Wightman, who spent many nights flooding the rink to get it ready for use. In addition to this, thank you to the GCA and the Glebe BIA who have donated funds for the rink upkeep this year.

More exciting news with the rink –GNAG and the BIA are throwing a community skating party on February 11 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. This party will help bring out the community and allow BIA members to interact with the Glebe! We can promise a few things: skating, entertainment, hot dogs and hot chocolate. Please join us!

Summer Camp registration is open!

Thanks to all those families who took the plunge and registered with us on January 31 for Summer Camps at GNAG. We are excited to bring back old favourites like Mini Tennis and Adventure camp (JK–Grade 1) and a brandnew French recreation camp, “Les Petit Aventuriers,” for those campers who want to keep up their French in the summer while enjoying games, crafts and out-trips galore.

If you haven’t registered for summer camps yet, we invite you to download the guide from our website and look at our offerings; spaces are going fast!

March Break volunteers needed

Want to gain some hands-on experience working with kids in a fun and energetic environment? We are looking for high school students to volunteer at GNAG camps this March Break, March 13-17.

Interested candidates should send their resume and cover letter to Katie Toogood, katie@gnag.ca by Friday, February 24, 2023.

Spring programming

Staff are hard at work coming up with a spring programming lineup that will make everyone in your family want to register for something at GNAG.

If you have any ideas for program ming or want to teach a class with us, please email info@gnag.ca.

Taste in the Glebe was back in person this year, much to the delight of all who attended! PHOTO: GNAG

Come weal, come woe, we’ll gather and go, And live and die for Charlie

From the poem "O'er the Water to Charlie"

by Robert Burns

By Chris McNaught

It’s July 25, 1745, at Eriskay in the Hebrides, and I ask you to join me in welcoming ashore from a French frigate, a handsome 25-year-old, one Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Sylvester Severino Maria Stuart, better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. He is “hame” from Italy, “come over the water,” brimming with infectious spirit, patriotic passion, charm and verve, a natural magnet drawing fervent allegiance and near-delirious hopes from the battered clans of the Highlands and Lowlands.

If you will tolerate the Scot in me, that is a specific realm and human beacon I exploit here – I admit the wild coastal cliffs, dramatic glens and derring-do of Charlie’s fling with history and legend captured me long ago – but they are used now to exemplify and encourage a universal sense of “nation,” imbued with pride and equity. Have we not all, at some time, welcomed or sought inspiration in a figure with character and élan, who appeals beyond self-puffery, vindictive tribalism and the next popular mandate? For which current or recent leaders would you “live and die”? Causes come and go, but transcendent leaders not so often. Of course, I may well be delusional bordering on dementia, unable to discern the time for real leaders has been eclipsed by vicious factionalism and me-ism; these days, there seems little faith invested in the honesty of political pretenders, or indeed, any requirement of honesty.

That’s my 18th-century candidate, but allow me also a wistful, arguably kindred nominee from 20th-century America, and the last moment I felt profoundly moved by any politician. The Peace Corps, the New Frontier, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but…” marked the 60s Kennedy era; a selfless vitality sought release. Yes, the brothers had significant personal and family failings, but observe once more, in 1968, the early-morning, hotel kitchen floor in Los Angeles, where Robert lay on his back, dying, shot in the head, and listen as he whispered to a crouching busboy: “Is everybody OK?” And so a scrappy, 42 year-old conscript for global peace, social justice

Bonnie Prince Charlie, by Chris McNaught

and civil rights, who aggressively challenged and championed youth, paid the price.

At Culloden, the Young Pretender also paid a price. He tragically mismanaged field tactics and conditions; unquestionably brave and committed, he lingered in the face of certain defeat, urging a desperate charge, but was pulled from the field by his captains, and though not butchered with many of his men, had to slink back to the continent by the grace of stalwart supporters. In Rome and Venice, there were a string of marriages and affairs, too much drink and despair and eventually a stroke – but, as with Robert, I urge you to hearken to their courage. It was the selfless trying, not the failing which ought to hold sway as we too often witness the meaning of “sacrifice” besmirched by tawdry wannabes and their deafness to the health and aspirations of next generations.

I urge you to fling your bonnet in the air; surely, we still live in a recoverable age of valour. In the fierce grip of climate chaos and pandemic, not everyone hears the spinal skirl and feels impelled to muse on the tides of history – with such effort (and a wee dram), you could sniff again the heather and the wild mountain thyme. Thus infused, you might then pick up the fallen claymore and deal indifference and factionalism a fatal blow; and while you’re at it, sunder the soul-less, jargonistic blather, social media, and partisan sycophancy that mute our better angels.

As for Charlie and Bobby, their causes need not be canonized as “lost,” but as won, if we remember their courage and take fresh resolve. A nation’s pride need not be jingoistic, but wave instead an inclusive banner; gather, rather than disdain the clans.

Chris McNaught is a Canadian author and former criminal lawyer and university lecturer. His most recent novel is Dùn Phris, A Gathering, Pegasus/Vanguard Press, UK, 2020.

John Crump President Glebe Community Association

T @glebeca E gca@glebeca.ca www.glebeca.ca

GCA looks at the big picture

The bright sun and good snow on a Saturday in January were perfect for skiing. But instead of hitting the slopes or trails, members of the Glebe Community Association Board of Directors gathered in a room in the Glebe Community Centre to take part in a board retreat.

The “big picture” session began with a review of the GCA’s history and accomplishments since its founding in 1967. Just two examples: Glebe Avenue was not turned into an expressway that would have connected to what is now Old Ottawa East and beyond. And the wall of apartment buildings planned for the Queen Elizabeth Driveway that would have hemmed in the community was never built.

The gathering was facilitated by Glebe resident Don Hall who led us through conversations about the GCA’s strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and challenges in the future, and how to define success. At the end of the afternoon, the walls were covered in flip chart paper loaded with thoughts and ideas.

After three years of (mostly) Zoom meetings, it was good to get together and share ideas and perspectives. Big thanks to Don for leading us through a fun process, VP Colette Downie for proposing a retreat, and the group who helped put it together.

The results of the retreat will be distilled into a report and reviewed at a future meeting.

More trees

When Lansdowne was redeveloped over a decade ago, new trees were planted along Bank Street. These trees haven’t done well. Some have died. Some are just stunted. You’d think they were planted in concrete, and you wouldn’t be too far wrong. Jon McLeod from Councillor Shawn Menard’s office explained that seven stunted trees will be removed and 11 new large trees will be planted in new soil cells. These cells will provide more space for roots and will make watering easier. The goal: healthy trees with fuller canopies. Two other trees will be planted on Glebe Avenue just west of Bank Street, also in a new soil cell, replacing trees that vanished at that site years ago.

Hollywood Glebe

It’s hard to miss the fact that the Glebe has become a favourite setting for the film industry. Several times a year a line of white trucks needed to support, house and feed cast and crew can be found along different streets. While it’s great to have this activity in the area, concerns have been raised about the effects of the “base camps” and staging required. This includes the use of diesel generators, noise and other pollution on neighbourhood streets (especially on Clemow alongside Patterson Inlet) and crews decamping noisily in the middle of the night.

Recognizing the benefits the industry brings to the city, the board felt the need for a regulatory framework similar to how film production is managed in Los Angeles and Toronto. The board passed a motion that would restrict base camps to designated parking lots, limit the hours that production crews set up and tear down in neighbourhoods to avoid sleep disruption, and control the number of permits to prevent particular sites from becoming permanent sets.

Police update

Ottawa Police Constable Meagan Arbuthnot, the Glebe’s community police liaison officer, reported that, based on their statistics, crime levels have been relatively stable over the last couple of years. This led to questions about how incidents are counted and reflected in the stats, and how online reports are counted versus phone calls. Constable Arbuthnot also talked about the importance of anti-theft registration for bicycles and the suggestion was made that police set up a registration booth at the Great Glebe Garage Sale in May.

Committee reports

The Transportation Committee provided a brief update on a federal Active Transportation Fund grant received to create an action plan that focuses on a safe, inclusive, active transportation neighbourhood aligned with the City of Ottawa Transportation Plan, which is in a final round of public consultation. The next step will be a Request for Proposals. The project will include public consultations and result in a plan that will go to the board for approval. Stay tuned for further developments.

The Great Glebe Garage Sale takes place on May 27th this year and planning is underway. There was a discussion on ways to increase donations to the Food Bank given the increasing stress that this important community service is under. As well, there is a need to develop backup plans in case of inclement weather. Last year’s derecho storm – which happened just before the big sale – was a sign that holding events “rain or shine” may not be realistic in this age of climate emergency.

Some good news to end with: the Health, Housing and Social Services Committee reports that its advocacy work to have the parking lot at Chamberlain and Bank used for affordable housing continues to make progress at City Hall. It looks promising that this parcel of land will be designated as surplus and sold to an affordable housing provider for development. The Committee would like to thank Miles Krauter from Shawn Menard’s office and Peter Giles from the City of Ottawa for their help in moving this file forward and listening to the community.

‘And we’ll all go together...’

John Crump

President Glebe Community Association

Shawn Menard Councillor, Capital Ward

N 613-580-2487

E capitalward@ottawa.ca T @capitalward

E shawn.menard@ottawa.ca www.shawnmenard.ca

Budget time is a time to re-evaluate our priorities

A few years ago, renowned Canadian urban planner Brent Toderian noted that “the truth about a city’s aspirations isn’t found in its vision. It’s found in its budget.” As the city is in the midst of budget discussions this month, it’s time to take a closer look at some issues to see if they really reflect our values and priorities.

What I want, more than anything in Ottawa, is a new, sustainable, community-oriented vision for the city that is reflected in our budget. Much of the budget discussion focuses on bigticket items, and understandably so, but those discussions can overshadow a plethora of smaller issues that can greatly impact the quality of our daily lives. If we’re aspiring to be a city for all residents – a city that prioritizes equity and quality of life – then we must also look at these smaller issues.

Let’s take housing. The city only allocates $15 million annually to building new affordable housing. To put that in perspective, we recently spent $113 million on one road widening and track separation on a three-km stretch of road in Barrhaven. If you asked Ottawa residents, I don’t think this spending would line up with their priorities.

Small, relatively inexpensive, quality-of-life changes can make a big difference for residents. I’ll use parks as an example. We need to improve our parks so that they are available and usable for everyone. We need to ensure that people using wheelchairs, people with mobility challenges, parents with strollers and everyone else get into the park and fully enjoy it.

Our outdoor pools close too early in the summer, often just as parents get home from work and are able to take the kids for a dip. We should expand the daily hours and the length of the pool season to give more people somewhere to cool off during our hot summers.

Our parks should have more public washrooms, and existing ones should be open, not locked as they so often are. Our city, in general, needs more public washrooms. We can’t simply rely on coffee shops or restaurants to meet this need; we should help supply this

Our parks should have more public washrooms and existing ones should be open, not locked as they so often are.

essential service and make sure there is proper signage, so people know it is available.

This would not be a large strain on our budget, but it would open the city for more and more residents who require these facilities as they move about our community.

Another example is our public libraries. Libraries are far more than just book depositories. They are a community gathering place, offering various programs, providing computer and internet access to those who need it and simply offering a place to visit for individuals and families. Providing a space and activities for free is an important part of creating a community for all. Their hours can be extended, on Sundays for example, using a surplus in the library budget that was realized last fiscal year.

Many transportation projects can be expensive, but there’s much we can do on limited budgets. We saw this during the pandemic on the Bank Street Bridge. For the costs of some traffic barrels (and the labour to set them up), we were able to create more space for people and better connect them to different services and neighbourhoods; the bridge changes later became permanent.

These are the types of small changes that can make a big impact on our quality of life.

If you want to learn more about the 2023 budget and the budget process, we’re co-hosting an online public information session on the evening of Wednesday, February 15. Details and registration can be found at our website, shawnmenard.ca

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

Housing for seniors – what is your next move?

By Pat Eakins and Janet Sutherland

The Seniors Watch of Old Ottawa South (SWOOS) Housing Project Team has for the past year been exploring innovative housing options to assist seniors to age in place. We are considering the development of an Abbeyfield (abbeyfield.ca) model of housing in the new tower planned for the west side of Bank at Riverside.

Before proceeding too far along this path, we are planning a series of workshops for late April/May that will help all seniors be better informed of various housing models for older adults, from living independently in the community to living in a shared residence with a range of supports. The workshops will provide an opportunity for us to share some of our ideas and receive the input and feedback from the surrounding community (Old Ottawa South, the Glebe, Glebe Annex and Old Ottawa East). Three workshops are being planned: the first to provide an overview of the issues and options for seniors’ housing; the second to focus on residential design and adaptations to support aging in place (e.g., universal design, inclusive design, design for

all, life span design); and the third to introduce innovative housing solutions such as the Abbeyfield model that have been successful in Ottawa and beyond. We will consult experienced resources and hopefully actively engage them in these workshops. Stay tuned for more details!

In the meantime, we continue to welcome volunteers to our Housing Project Team and the Abbeyfield Riverside Board of Directors. While SWOOS looks at our community through the eyes of seniors, we believe that an age-friendly community requires the participation of all ages for the development of optimal amenities and for intergenerational social health. If you are interested in being involved in this seniors’ housing initiative or want more information, please contact us at: SWOOSadmin@ oldottawasouth.ca.

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

Abbotsford’s Seniors Fair

with their adult children and grandchildren through video chats, shared emails and photos, and they participated in fitness and yoga programs online. Some learned to do online grocery orders, video chats with their doctors and online art classes. Winter storms may stop some people from going outside but with the tablet knowledge they have gained, older adults will continue to connect, enjoy the company of others and continue to be active in their leisure activities in a virtual way. Abbotsford House is a vibrant community centre for adults 55+.

Abbotsford House is 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 programs and services by dropping by 950 Bank Street in Ottawa, Mon- Fri 8:30 to 4:30 pm, phoning 613-230-5730 or by checking out all The Glebe Centre facilities and community programs on our website www.glebecentre.ca.

Karen Anne Blakely is director of community programs at Abbotsford House in The Glebe Centre.

By Karen Anne Blakely

On January 5, Ottawa Centre MPP Joel Harden joined the Abbotsford House team and local community members gathered at the Abbotsford Seniors Fair.

Abbotsford recently received a $96,300 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, which has been used to connect older adults to online programs, family, friends and volunteers using tablets on loan from the Tablet Project. Said Harden, “The staff and volunteers at Abbotsford House did incredible work in keeping their programs going with proper COVID-19 regulations, and I am excited to see how they have used their Ontario Trillium Grant to combat the social isolation

many seniors have felt throughout the pandemic.”

Powered by the grant, Abbotsford House has been able to rebuild and recover from the impacts and challenges of COVID-19. This was achieved by hiring staff and procuring 100 tablets for member use. This project started last May, and it gives older adults in the community improved access to online programs at Abbotsford House, reducing the social isolation that many seniors have experienced since the start of the pandemic.

Many older adults have found that using the tablets was not as hard as they first thought. With the help of Shirley Lee, the Abbotsford House program facilitator, seniors connected

Adopt a snowy bench!

The Snow Moles of the Council on Aging of Ottawa need your help to keep city benches cleared of snow and ice so they are safe and accessible this winter.

We are asking you to adopt a bench or two in your neighbourhood and keep them clear of ice and snow until the end of March.

Over the past five years, the Snow Mole campaign (coaottawa.ca/snowmoles) has collected information on winter walking in neighbourhoods across the city. Most of Ottawa’s 3000-plus city benches are not

cleared of snow and ice and are not accessible for people to rest on their winter walks.

Cleared benches located near medical buildings, senior residences, libraries, pharmacies, senior centres, transit and shopping routes are especially needed in wintertime. Send photos to celebrate safe seats for everyone to: snowmoles@coaottawa.ca with the subject line “Adopt a bench.”

Join the 2023 Snow Mole campaign: “Adopt a bench or two. Clear off the ice and snow for safe seats.”

GRAPHIC CREDIT: SUSANA TORT, MIT AGELAB

Crafters at the Abbotsford Seniors Fair January 5 concentrate on their creations.

PHOTO: KAREN ANNE BLAKELY

Glf in the Glebe!

By Steve Zan

I’ve lived in the Glebe for almost 40 years, and I’ve always enjoyed the option to walk to almost any activity I chose – except golf. But as of last June, that finally became possible when The Bunker golf simulator opened in the basement of 601 Bank Street.

The business was the brainchild of Matt Williams and Ron Palaczka. During the height of the pandemic, they were looking for space in which to install a personal indoor golf simulator so the two of them could remain active during lockdowns. Palaczka is a Glebe business owner, and his business rents space elsewhere in that same building. Once Williams walked into the basement at 601 Bank, he began to see even greater possibilities for the space. The height was more than enough to swing a golf club overhead and the floor area was large enough to support the

installation of seven simulation bays. Basement space in the Glebe doesn’t typically reach three meters, but Williams tells me this location had been the first indoor car showroom in Ottawa. Behind one of the bays are the remnants of the elevator used to bring cars from street level to the basement showroom. The basement hadn’t really been used for decades, so a considerable cleanup was needed before the opening, including removing the remains of a 1980s recording studio. Looking around the windowless space, it didn’t take long to realize why Williams chose “The Bunker” as the name for the business.

When it came to the simulator bays, Williams and Palaczka invested in top-of-the-line TrackMan simulators. Having spent part of my career developing flight simulators, I’m appreciative of technology that maps well to what happens in the real world, and I was

Golfers get their fix even in winter

impressed how the TrackMan technology accurately captured the trajectory and length of my shots. My seven-iron ball flight is 150 yards indoors or out.

I also noticed that TrackMan captures a 60-degree wedge shot, something other indoor simulators miss. The visuals, bright and highly detailed, are displayed on large 16-foot by ninefoot screens. The simulation runs “open world” as opposed to having the player experience one hole at a time. That means the slice from your opening tee shot can land on the 18th fairway, so you play your second shot from there. Like it or not, it’s another aspect of high-quality simulation.

Williams and Palaczka have also invested in sound damping in each bay, so you won’t hear much of what is happening in other bays, even though each bay has its own Bose sound system waiting for your personal music selections.

The Bunker also offers lessons this winter. European-tour player Craig Stefureak wandered in one day recently to offer his services as a teaching pro,

expanding offerings at The Bunker. I chatted with a couple of locals who were benefitting from his tutelage.

TrackMan boasts simulation of over 200 courses including The Royal Ottawa and four others in Canada. The TrackMan system also offers many options to entice younger players into golf and golf-like experiences. Williams reports that Capture the Flag, Streets of Neon (a glow-in-the-dark mini-golf game) and Magic Pond are all popular with children.

While younger ones are occupied, parents can watch their favourite sporting event on one of the many monitors and enjoy a pint from local breweries such as Flora Hall and Overflow. Except for Guinness, all beers are local. The Bunker offers espresso-based coffees and soft drinks. During busy times, Isabella pizza is sold by the slice. Williams has been impressed with the support of local businesses and residents. Buying local beer and pizza is his way of paying it back.

With opening times from 10 a.m. to midnight each day and the outdoor season only 10 weeks away, it’s time to pay a visit to The Bunker and work the kinks out of that swing. Walk-ins are easy early in the day, but reservations are recommended for later in the day and evenings. Call 613-695-6656 or go to golfbunker.ca.

Steve Zan is a Glebe resident, member of the Glebe Report board of directors and a keen golfer.

Matt Williams, co-owner of The Bunker, a recently opened golf simulation venue in the Glebe PHOTOS: STEVE ZAN

The Glebe is opening a second Memory Care floor, and you’re invited to our Grand Opening Celebration. The response to our renowned Memory Care program has been exceptional, and we’re excited to introduce this new addition to our evolving care.

Shutting its doors for good

vintage records, comic books and miscellaneous items. Foster has also been an activist with a passion for moving the community forward on cannabis legalization and freedom of choice.

“I figure you can make a living and a difference at the same time,” said Foster.

Once cannabis was legalized by the government in late 2018, Foster realized that what he had fought for decades would become a major reason for shutting down his own operation.

“The sales aren’t what they used to be,” he said. “I don’t begrudge legalization – pot had to be legalized – but as soon as all the pot stores opened, that side of our business disappeared.”

Prior to legalization, Foster said he followed all the rules and regulations on what could be sold and, in the end, when he was given the option to sell cannabis, he opted out and continued the store as it was.

“A lot of the people who jumped into the cannabis market weren’t cannabis people, they were just business people, and there are massive crop failures on a huge scale because a lot didn’t know what they were doing.”

Foster started with three flea market booths in the 1990s – Colonnade, Bentley Road and Stittsville. During this time, he stayed home to take care of and spend more time with his daughter. Rather than returning to his position as a public servant, he rented a small shop on Richmond Road, paying $600 a month for five years to try to build on his success in the flea markets. He opened the Bank Street store in 1997.

“You definitely have core customers, but they change over the years,” said Foster. With Carleton University and the University of Ottawa nearby, there were large turnovers annually as graduating students left in the spring and new students arrived in the fall. But that side of the business has business has also dwindled.

At 68, Foster said he is finally ready to retire. He plans to spend more time volunteering at a local animal sanctuary, continuing to embrace community work and development.

“I hope people have good memories of the place and remember us fondly.”

By Emma Weller

On March 31, the Glebe’s iconic head shop, Crosstown Traffic, will be closing permanently, according to owner Mike Foster.

After nearly 26 years as Bank Street’s “counter-cultural variety store,” the legalization of marijuana has driven down Foster’s sales enough to push him into retirement.

The ’70s-style store sells cannabis paraphernalia,

The majority of sales in recent years has come from the pop industry rather than the pot industry, which previously dominated.

With the lack of business, there is only one full-time and one part-time employee. Foster’s hope was for his full-time employee to take over the business, but it is not sustainable in the current market.

“I probably would have taken a different approach to it because there used to be a lot of mom-and-pop industries in the cannabis trade, but they kind of got snowballed out of existence,” said Foster about the decision to legalize cannabis in Canada.

According to a recent Ottawa Citizen article, there are 66 cannabis dispensaries in Ottawa, with several located in the Glebe. The stores tend to be located near one another, competing for the same clients which reduces sales, drives down prices and forces some stores to shut down. A sign on the door of High Ties Cannabis at 769 Bank Street reads, “High Ties will be relocating. Certain nearby competitors have come in and oversaturated the market” – the store lasted only eight months. The Glebe’s Plateau cannabis shop further down Bank Street has also recently shut down, leaving only their Little Italy branch.

And it’s not just the Glebe. Foster said that where he lives in the west end, there is a cannabis shop in every direction – one even took over a Tim Hortons to create a cannabis drive-thru.

Mike Foster, owner of Crosstown Traffic, will retire and close the cannabis paraphernalia store in March after some 26 years in the Glebe. PHOTOS: EMMA WELLER

Emma Weller is a third-year journalism student at Carleton University.

Minoru Saeki’s lifelong passion for karate

By Sue Stefko

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Ottawa Japan Karate Association (JKA). Its founder, Minoru Saeki, first came to Canada from Japan as a tourist in 1973. While here, his mastery of and commitment to Shotokan karate was obvious, and he was convinced to stay in Ottawa to teach the art. “The students literally begged me to stay and teach them the art of karate. So I stayed,” he reflects.

He taught in several different locations in and around the downtown core before setting up a permanent dojo on Cambridge Street South in 1986. The dojo’s official opening was graced by the presence of the father of modern Shotokan karate, the late Masatoshi Nakayama Sensei – a great honour for the fledgling dojo.

Saeki’s lifelong passion for karate started when he was just 14. He enrolled in the JKA world headquarters in Tokyo, training with his eventual mentor, Tanaka Sensei, a former world champion fighter and one of few people who have earned their 8th-degree black belt. Today Saeki (Saeki Sensei) himself holds a 7th-degree black belt and is the most senior ranking JKA instructor in Canada, often travelling around the country to teach karate instructors and students from around the world. He sees this as his obligation, noting that, “it is essential for me to go and teach all of our members throughout Canada to maintain the standards that are established in our organization.” Saeki’s wife Denise has been by his side, involved locally, nationally and internationally for over 40 years. She is among the few women internationally to achieve the rank of 6th Dan level in the JKA.

While Saeki continues to be involved with the dojo, his son Seiji is now the head instructor. Seiji has trained in Japan at the Chiba Institute of Technology and after a successful competitive career, he was admitted to and graduated from the JKA Headquarters

Instructors Training Program in Tokyo. Only a handful of foreign instructors have completed this exclusive program. Seiji met his wife Yulia there. A native of Kyiv, Ukraine, she was studying in Japan at the time and is now a Japanese language teacher with a master’s degree in Oriental Philology: Japanese Language and Literature. Together they settled in Ottawa in 2017 and run the dojo at 475 Cambridge Street South.

The dojo is a family tradition with two generations of the Saeki family training children, youth and adults. Shotokan karate is one of four major karate styles developed in Japan. It is the most widely practised form of karate around the world and is known for its long, deep stances, focus on mental clarity and effective self-defence. Training at the dojo includes regular classes and summer training camps, cultural exchange events as well as Japanese language courses. During 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the dojo pivoted to conducting online classes to keep the spirit alive, maintain continuity and to support its members, many of whom heavily rely on karate as an outlet for their physical and mental wellbeing.

For the Ottawa JKA, karate is a tool to enhance personal development and self-improvement. This is reflected in the mission statement, which encour ages students to push themselves to discover their true potential to “become better equipped to overcome challenges and obstacles in real life

and become positive contributors to the society.”

Preserving those values throughout the years, Saeki Sensei received a letter of recognition from the Prime Minister on the 25th anniversary of his arrival in Canada for his contributions to the

community and for having passed on the spirit and skill of karate.

The karate dojo at 475 Cambridge Street South in the 1980s

Saeki Sensei shares a smile with students while helping teach a class at the dojo.

PHOTO: GABRIELLE DALLAPORTA

JKA instructors Masao Fujihisa (left) and Minoru Saeki Sensei (right), training karate in Dow’s Lake in 1974. PHOTO: OTTAWA JKA

Seiji Saeki, leading a class at the dojo on Cambridge Street South PHOTO: GABRIELLE DALLAPORTA

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

Forêt Capital Forest

aims to plant a million trees

A talk with a co-founder and director

By Jennifer Humphries

Stephanie McNeely wanted to convert her climate anxiety into climate action, and she wanted to use the resources of the natural world to do it. She turned to what is arguably the top contributor to ecosystem and human health: trees.

In 2020, McNeely, an Old Ottawa South (OOS) resident, a member of the OOS Enviro Crew, a transportation engineer and the mother of two young children, began talking with a group of like-minded individuals in Ottawa. They had different backgrounds but shared a common interest in a project centering on trees. With skills in forestry research, food forests, community tree planting, consulting and project management, they used the start of the pandemic to launch a new non-profit.

The result is Forêt Capital Forest (FCF) with a vision of converting 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) of Ottawa’s land into forest by 2030. That equates to

about one million trees, a number that may seem out of reach but is totally feasible and absolutely necessary with ever-increasing extreme weather events taking down older trees. This goal is given added impetus by the federal government’s two-billion tree program and by scientific research showing the vital role played by trees in planetary sustainability.

“Nature’s got solutions. Let’s use them,” McNeely said.

FCF is a non-profit with five directors, including McNeely, as well as technical advisers. It plays a connector or convenor role. It connects communities with organizations responsible for greenspace such as the National Capital Commission. Searching for a base of operations, FCF found a keen partner in Just Food, a 20-year-old, non-profit agricultural organization dedicated to food security which opened up land on its farm in east Ottawa for the new group’s organization’s tree-planting projects.

To meet their million-tree target, FCF invites community members to identify fallow or unutilized places in their neighbourhoods that seem suited to trees. If FCF determines that a site is appropriate and that permission can be obtained by the owner (the City or NCC, for example), they will work cooperatively with community volunteers to plan and plant. With FCF’s guidance, the community then takes care of the trees, paying special attention to young seedlings in their first years. There are three such projects already, at Hog’s Back Park, along the Aviation Parkway and (coming this spring) in Chelsea.

“We want residents to see the project as their trees, with their trails running through them, and to care for them with that strong sense of ownership,” McNeely said.

In the fall, FCF partnered with Community Associations for Environmental Sustainability (CAFES), composed

of over 50 community associations across the city; Glebe resident Angela Keller-Herzog is its director. Together, they worked with Ecology Ottawa and planned a get-your-hands-dirty volunteer event to find a home for the last 1,200 seedlings from the seedling giveaway program. With strong support from CAFES and Ecology Ottawa, the donation and volunteer event culminated in the creation of a seedling area with hopes that this will become a Tree Hub for short-term growth of seedlings before they are deployed to their forever home in a new afforestation site. (Afforestation differs from reforestation in that it involves planting trees on land that has not recently been covered with forest.)

FCF wants to get Ottawans to visit their base of operations both to learn about the forests that they have initiated and to help with seed foraging, planting and nurturing trees. They frequently host events, but you can also just take a walk on their hiking trail to enjoy and experience.

“We are eager to have volunteers, with and without experience,” said McNeely. They also welcome donations and are always on the lookout for potential project sponsors.

The group’s motto is “planting with a plan.” Too often seedlings have been planted only to die prematurely, due to poor or inappropriate soil, bad drainage or lack of care in their crucial first three years of growth. FCF’s plantings are done after consideration of growth factors. And they use simple selection criteria that are often overlooked, such as what else is growing well in the area – in other words, what are the native trees that are adapted to local conditions. And they plant next door to existing forests. As Suzanne Simard has shown us, trees cooperate and support one another, so one way to increase a seedling’s likelihood to survive and thrive is to plant near older trees.

Keep in touch with FCF and get the latest on events by following them on Facebook or Instagram. Their website offers an array of resources on forests, planting and projects. See facebook. com/foretcapitaleforest; instagram. com/foretcapitaleforest /; foretcapitaleforest.ca/; justfood.ca/

Jennifer Humphries is co-chair of the Glebe Report Association and a former co-chair of the Environment Committee (EC) of the Glebe Community Association as well as the EC’s lead on trees. She believes that our neighbourhood needs more new native trees planted each year and needs to work to protect the mature trees that we already have. Contact the EC at environment@glebeca.ca.

Forêt Capital Forest aims to plant a million trees in and around Ottawa by 2030. All help welcome! PHOTOS: JOHN DUIMOVICH

Long life of a well-loved giant maple comes to an end

By Ivo Krupka

When the large, red, spray-painted X appeared on the base of our magnificent silver maple last fall, we knew that its long life would soon be cut short – literally. The tree was one of the huge maples which, together with mates on both sides of Powell Avenue, form a splendid arcade for most of the year.

We don’t know exactly how old the tree was because the saws that cut it down obscured the rings that would have revealed its age. It was already huge when we first moved into our house more than 55 years ago. In fact, it was probably bigger than when it was cut down. The 1998 ice storm decimated a good third of its branches. And not long after, all its roots facing the street were severed at the trunk when excavation began for new sewer and water lines.

Whether these insults led our tree to develop many large burls, mainly low on the trunk, is hard to say. Woodpeckers, ants and other insects probably played their parts. And squirrels and birds seldom missed an opening to create a home. Just last year, we even had a family of wood ducks use our tree as an incubator for a raft of ducklings.

It seems clear that, aside from its huge stature, the many burls were the main attraction for neighbours and passersby. Kids stopped to play around the trunk, gaze at it in awe and love it. Newman, a beautiful, big, friendly, beast of dog regularly nibbled bits of curling bark at its base after some ecstatic writhing on our clovered lawn.

City of Ottawa forestry experts and crews worked hard for decades to prolong our tree’s life. Since the main limbs started low on its trunk, City crews strung steel cables high up on the main branches to prevent them splitting at the base. They also pruned the tree regularly to minimize the risk of falling branches.

There have been some close calls in recent years. During extensive renovations to a neighbour’s house, a large branch,

torn off in a brisk wind, almost ripped off a small balcony. Fortunately, none of the workers who routinely walked under the balcony was there when the branch hit. Also fortunately, the balcony was going to be removed anyway. Last May, the derecho tore off a modest but still potentially lethal branch that dented a neighbour’s car parked in front of our house.

That last accident seems to have condemned our tree. City forestry experts came out to inspect the tree and discuss its future with us. Councillor Shawn Menard was very helpful in working with the city and communicating with us about the future of our tree. Ultimately, the news was bad: the tree had to go, “probably sometime before the snow flies.”

When the big red X appeared, something truly charming happened. Neighbours and passersby of all ages stopped to chat and express their condolences as I raked its last leaves. Several cards were pinned to the tree, some from neighbours and others we don’t know. One began: “Dear mother tree, you were in my life from before I was born, and always will be remembered as a wise and strong tree. . .” All expressed love and sadness at our tree’s imminent death. The Glebe Report printed a photo of one of our tree’s young admirers trying to hug its huge girth.

Shortly after seven on the morning of the day before Christmas Eve, the crews began their work. The noise of chainsaws and the big chipper filled the air most of the day.

Just before the final cut, I asked a man who seemed to be the foreman, if he could leave several feet of the trunk above ground. The foreman hesitated, but then said, “Well, it’s almost Christmas, it’ll be a present.” We are immensely

grateful to him.

We have one large maple left struggling to survive on the other side of our lawn. We’re sure that the two trees communicated in their mysterious ways throughout the years. What wisdom and sustenance did our deceased tree pass on?

We have decorated the stump with Christmas tree lights and a planter. Next spring, we plan to transform the trunk into a floral beauty like the one in the accompanying photo.

Ivo Krupka has lived in the house on Powell Avenue for more than 55 years.

Friends and neighbours on Powell Avenue paid tribute to the beloved tree. PHOTO: LAUREN REID

The ancient maple stump all dressed up for Christmas PHOTO: IVO KRUPKA

Plans for the spring – a floral extravaganza

By Marisa Romano

Spencer Clafton is a first-generation Canadian with a sense of frugality in the kitchen. He learned it from his Guinean grandmother who prepared nutritious meals with simple ingredients and a lot of creativity. A graduate from Humber College with cooking experience in Italian kitchens, Clafton has worked in the restaurant business for 11 years. As an executive chef in Toronto and Ottawa, he has witnessed the large amount of waste associated with high-profile cooking. Saddened by it all, he is now approaching a new career path, but he still satisfies his craving for handling food and helping others by volunteering in the kitchen of Centre 507 where food needs to go a long way. He knows a lot about no-waste cooking and how to use those edible parts of meats and vegetables that we usually do not bring to the table. He shares a couple of easy start-up recipes that help us strive for waste-free cooking.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), more that 30 per cent of the food produced worldwide for human consumption is never consumed. Annual food loss and waste are large enough to feed more than twice the number of malnourished people worldwide.

And that is not all that is spoiled. With the unconsumed food goes the loss of resources (land, water and energy) and work put into producing it, and according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), food sent to landfills and compost piles generates 8 to 10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, contributing hugely to global warming.

Food is lost before reaching stores because of bad weather, plant pests and diseases, problems with distribution and storage or just because it does not meet the “sellable” standards.

But beyond that, it is at home where we waste the

a New Year’s

most: we buy more than we can eat, discard what does not look good and do not use fruit and vegetables in their entirety.

While the FAO helps farmers to curb crop loss worldwide, and UNEP works towards reduction of food losses in production and waste at the retail and consumer levels, we can also play a role by striving for no-waste cooking. With surging grocery bills when many are struggling in the eco nomic downturn, strategies to reduce what we put in our composting bins also saves money.

Buy less and more often, meal planning and batch cooking with the use of the freezer for short-term stor age of prepared and perish able foods are wise and workable solutions. But what about those edible scraps that we reserve for the com post pile?

If you have already defaulted on your New Year’s resolution or have not yet committed to one, you may consider opting for reduction of food waste and in the pro cess, curb your gro cery bill. For hints on “how to” and to find no-waste recipes, search the internet.

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

Vegetable stock

Carrot peels, mushroom stems, celery bottoms, onion peels, parsley stems, leftover herbs and any other vegetable scraps can be used to make a vegetable stock (avoid broccoli, cauliflower and the like). Add meat and bones to make a richer preparation. Bring to a boil, simmer until reduced by 1/4 to 1/3 of its initial volume. Strain and store in your freezer. Use it for your weekly meals in soups, stews, chili, gravies, sauces and risottos, but also as a substitute for oil in dressings and when sautéing and as a liquid in mashed potatoes.

Spencer’s Easy Broccoli-Cheese Soup

With this recipe, you can use unwanted broccoli stems, leftovers from your cheese board and your vegetable or meat stock.

Ingredients:

4-5 large broccoli stems

½ large onion

1 garlic clove

¼ cup olive oil

2 tbsp flour

1 ½ litre stock

1 cup grated leftover cheeses (try smoked cheese or 2 tbsp cream cheese - recommended!)

1 cup cream

Broccoli florets to taste

Salt to taste

Directions:

Place broccoli stems in a food processor with onion and garlic and shred until fine. Sauté the mix in olive oil until soft, then add the flour and make a roux. When ready, add stock and cheeses. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 30 minutes. Ten minutes before serving, add broccoli florets to add crunch, a squeeze of lemon juice to balance the fat and cream to round up the taste.

With surging grocery bills when many are struggling in the economic downturn, strategies to reduce what we put in our composting bins also saves money.

Spencer

Clafton’s easy BroccoliCheese Soup is a great way to use up unwanted broccoli stems and leftover cheese, in our quest to reduce food waste.

PHOTO: MARISA ROMANO

By Tim O’Connor

I was thrilled that Flora Hall was again invited to serve at this year’s edition of Taste in the Glebe, the fundraiser that supports the Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group.

The event, held on January 26, was welcome after two years of being so rudely interrupted by COVID. I’ve been among the chefs at Taste in the Glebe for 10 years or so, and as someone who grew up in the Glebe, I understand the importance of raising money for an organization that does wonderful work for the community.

Meeting people at Flora Hall’s food stand is a joy,

Palak Curry

1 onion

1 tsp fenugreek

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp coriander

3/4 tsp salt

2 garlic cloves

2 tsp ginger

1 cup tomatoes

1 jalapeno

100 g spinach

1/4 cup water

1/3 cup cream

Sauté onion, garlic and ginger. Add seasonings. Add chopped jalapeño and tomatoes, sauté until fragrant. Blanch spinach in boiling water for 30 seconds and transfer to ice bath. Blend all ingredients in blender while slowly adding cream. Return to pot, bring to a simmer and serve.

as the neighbourhood comes together to enjoy food from lots of restaurants at once. It’s a great way to sample cuisines and make plans to visit those restaurants for more.

It’s also a place where flavours of the world meet, as they did in the dish I made – with a little bit of India and a little bit of Italy. We served a palak (spinach) curry with butter chicken ravioli and topped with a burrata. The curry is a bit spicy and usually comes with paneer, so it seems a smooth jump from that Indian fresh cheese to Italian fresh cheese. You can find burrata at Nicastro’s or Metro in the Glebe.

We recently had a popular butter chicken sausage on our menu at Flora Hall, and we used that

Butter Chicken recipe (Recipe can be halved.)

3 tbsp salt

5 lb chicken, pre-ground, or cubed to fit into your meat grinder

1/2 cup yogurt

1tbsp garam masala

1 tsp paprika

1tsp chili flakes

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp turmeric

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp ginger powder

1/4 cup spicy tomato jam

Season chicken with everything but tomato jam and, if not pre-ground, run through a meat grinder. Add tomatoes and mix well. It’s ready to cook for use in a variety of dishes.

same recipe to make the filling for the ravioli. We marinated the chicken in yogurt, tomato and garam masala and other spices. This recipe is versatile, whether you want to make sausages, ravioli or patties for little butter chicken burgers.

The palak curry is my slightly North Americanized version of the Indian classic. According to our Indian cooks, my recipe wouldn’t fly at their grandmothers’ houses, but they agree it’s delicious. It’s also a simple recipe and, like the ravioli filling, it has various uses.

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

Aman Narula and Tim O’Connor of Flora Hall Brewing making burrata for Taste in the Glebe PHOTO: FLORA HALL BREWING

Sofia Elizabeth Diazgranados May 2022

Parents: Sarah Gauthier & Eduardo Diazgranados

Henry Robert Erdody May 2022

Parents: Melissa Mair & Nicholas Erdody

Fredrik Lønnum Huard February 2022

Parents: Line Lønnum & Ryan Huard

Clara Louise Paveck Gall March 2022

Parents: Hannah Paveck & Nick Gall

Rowan Brian Stanley O’Dea July 2022

Parents: Kate Stanley & Kieran O’Dea

Marie-France Rancourt

Myla Kamala Hooper Krishnan September 2022

Parents: Kristen Hooper & Nathan Bowers Krishnan

Sofia Andromachi Purcell June 2022

Parents: Helena Bleeker & Devon Purcell

Freya Wilson and Frasier Wilson September 2022

Parents: Emma Goodall & Lucas Wilson

Myles Wright November 2022

Parents: Lauren Delcourt & Erik Brien-Wright

The Most unusual schools

By Candice Blackwood

The right setting for a book can make all the difference. One of my favourite settings is a school. Magical or mundane, schools are often so unique that they become a character themselves. Dark academic settings explore the dangers of curiosity – sometimes that danger comes in the form of a competition, a conspiracy or something even darker. Magic schools are a little different, but no less interesting. Our characters go there to learn; while they learn, so does the reader. The school becomes a window to the magic system or society that we’re being introduced to.

Silver Key

by Alyssa L. Bertinato

This debut from local author Alyssa L. Bertinato promised everything I love in a young adult fantasy – a young woman discovering she has magical powers, a tournament, a magic school setting and some romance. In Silver Key, a seemingly average girl, Aria Knight, must master her newfound magical powers while competing in a tournament involving three trials at Silver Key Manor. Unlike the other students, Aria didn’t grow up knowing about her powers which lets the reader follow her to some wonderful scenes as she trains and learns to use her magic. While Aria is navigating this new world, she’s also trying to come to grips with being adopted, figuring out who her birth parents are, exploring a new romance and trying to uncover a sinister plot lurking at the heart of her

school. Silver Key is available in print.

Nevermoor:

The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend Morrigan Crow is cursed. At least, that’s what the townsfolk and her family believe. Every bad thing that happens to someone is somehow her fault. Morrigan Crow escapes her awful life for a chance to study and become a member of the Wunderous Society in Nevermoor. But to stay, she’ll have to compete in a series of trials and find her knack in time for the final one. Despite Morrigan’s sad beginning, her adventures in Nevermoor are truly a delight for readers of all ages. Nevermoor is a place you will want to stay and explore day after day; my favourite part of Nevermoor, aside from the characters, is the Brolly Rail, a transit system where you ride your umbrella from stop to stop. This book is available in print, audiobook, eBook and downloadable audiobook.

researches the rumored witches for her next novel. A Lesson in Vengeance is available in print, eBook and downloadable audiobook. It is a truly creepy thriller with all the trappings that readers of dark academia will enjoy.

A Deadly Education

by Naomi Novik

So, you want to be a wizard? You’ll have to survive the Scholomance.

School is meant to be a safe place; for these young wizards it's anything but, though it is still safer than trying to survive in the real world before they’ve completed their training. The Scholomance is full of monsters, monsters who love nothing more than to snack on young wizards. When you can’t leave the school until you graduate, the only way to survive is by making alliances and sticking together at all times. For El, friends and alliances are non-existent. When you’re destined to become a dark wizard and have dark power that allows you to perform terrible curses with ease, people don’t really want to be around you. When the school’s hero, Orion Lake, saves her life for a second time, El will come to learn some hidden lessons about the school, Orion, and herself.

Truly Devious

by Maureen Johnson

Welcome to Ellingham Academy, an elite boarding school where you can focus your studies on your unique interest. Ellingham only accepts a small number of students each year. Stevie Bell, aspiring detective, has been accepted to Ellingham after claiming to be able to solve the crime of the century that happened on the grounds of Ellingham in 1936. The story alternates between the past, as we learn about what happened to the wife and daughter of Ellingham’s founder in 1936, and the present, as Ellingham grows more and more dangerous. Stevie sets out to solve a cold case, but it seems there’s a murderer who is not happy about the investigation.

All five volumes of the Truly Devious series are available in print, eBook and downloadable audiobook. The fifth book, Nine Liars, was just published in December. It takes Stevie Bell to an English manor house to solve a double homicide from 1995 and a current missing person’s case.

A Lesson in Vengeance

by Victoria Lee

After the death of her girlfriend and a year away from school, Felicity is returning to Dalloway School and to her old dorm room in Godwin House. Dalloway School’s history is steeped in lore of the occult, witches and five violent deaths of students from Godwin House. Despite trying to stay away from the mystery of the Dalloway Five, Felicity is quickly taken down a dark path with Ellis, a new student, as she

Novik digresses quite a bit in A Deadly Education and its sequels to give the reader detailed descriptions of how the school functions and how the magic works in El’s world. For some, this level of detail isn’t what they want, but if you enjoy magical schools and learning about them, A Deadly Education will quickly make it onto your list of favourite books.

El is an exceptionally fun, smart and witty character to follow throughout The Scholomance trilogy. All three volumes are available in print, eBook, and downloadable audiobook.

Candice Blackwood works at the Sunnyside Branch of the Ottawa Public Library. She enjoys reading fantasy novels for any age that are full of magic, dangerous creatures and the women who fight them.

Sezlik, Dominique Laframboise, Sara Adam Sales Reps. & Trystan Andrews, Broker

Nonsense & Nursery Rhymes

By Robert Macdermid

This is not your normal choir concert…

Nonsense: impudent, foolish, fatuous, absurd, sometimes objectionable, with playful and sardonic intent.

Think Dr. Seuss or Jabberwocky, trumpery or balderdash. Music too can be nonsensical, harmony and form upended and distended with humorous and perplexing results. And some of that will be on display in early March when Seventeen Voyces takes the stage at St. Matthew’s Church for their concert Nonsense and Nursery Rhymes.

“The main work is called “My Briefcase” by English composer John Kilpatrick, written for choir and wind quintet,” says choir director Kevin Reeves. “It is autobiographical because the composer actually had his briefcase stolen and decided to write about it. There is a narrator sung by a tenor in the manner of Bach’s Evangelists, a Gesualdo or Monteverdi-like introduction, a wonky fugue and a chorus of barking dogs. I just hope Seventeen Voyces is up to the task.

“I’m very excited to have a wind quintet from the University of Ottawa joining us, especially since it will provide so many variations of instrumental colour. This will be the first time our ensemble has ever teamed up with a wind quintet and my first time conducting one.”

The quintet will consist of Keren Xu, flute; Kira Shiner, oboe; Jingtao Yan, clarinet; Nadia Ingalls, bassoon; and Taran Plamondon, French horn.

Thanks to the Ontario Arts Council, Reeves has written a new work for choir and wind quintet, one that skewers nursery rhymes. “It actually offended some of the choristers, so I knew we were on the right track, but I’ve decided to change some of the words because I want our audiences to return.”

Interestingly, the choir won’t know what the work really sounds like until the wind quintet joins them the week of the performance.

Seventeen Voyces also welcomes guest soprano Whitney Sloan, who moved to Ottawa recently from Edmonton. Sloan has been praised for her clear, lyrical voice and ability to take full advantage of both the light and shade in a score. She is an avid performer with a passion for communicating the narratives of the operatic and concert genres as well as the musical intimacy of art song and small ensembles. She will sing a Reeves composition entitled “As Soon as Fred Gets Out of Bed,” “The Ragwort” by Sir Arthur Bliss and Aaron Copland’s “I Bought Me a Cat.”

Other works will include “Monday’s Child,” “The Owl and the Pussycat,” “Sing a Song of Sixpence” by popular English composer John Rutter, “Three Nursery Rhymes” by Robert Hall, interim music director at St. Matthew’s, and “The Humpty Dumpty Blues” by Reeves.

There will also be a lively rendition of “Happy Feet” by Andrew Ager, fresh off the success of New Opera Lyra’s production of Dracula. Ager will accompany Sloan and Seventeen Voyces on the Steinway, and he has also written a sprightly wind quintet for the occasion.

Expect the unexpected and be entertained, because it’s all nonsense.

Robert MacDermid is a tenor in Seventeen Voyces and a member of the board.

If you’re looking to downsize, but still want to enjoy all that the Glebe has to offer, consider the value of a studio apartment at Villagia in The Glebe. Our spacious studios offer comfort with access to our vibrant community and services when you need them. Located steps away from the Rideau Canal, we’re near the downtown core and many of the city’s best restaurants and shops in an unbeatable location.

Seventeen Voyces will inspire the sillies with its Nonsense & Nursery Rhymes concert with a difference at St. Matthew’s on March 4.

THIS IS THEIR TIME

And this is the place. From preschool to Grade 12, Elmwood students enjoy a small class experience and a wealth of co-curriculars that challenge them to discover their true potential. Surrounded by our supportive community, our students go on to win scholarships and study at universities the world over.

Master Piano Recital Series resumes this spring

By Roland Graham

After three years’ hiatus, the Master Piano Recital Series (MPRS) is back, presenting its first concerts since the pandemic this March and April in partnership with Southminster United Church.

Honouring its tradition of presenting superb emerging and established pianists, the MPRS will showcase Sofya Gulyak, the multiple-award-winning Russian who broke a glass ceiling as the first woman to win gold at Leeds, and Jaeden Izik-Dzurko, a 23-yearold from British Columbia making big waves internationally, on his first appearance in Ottawa.

A lot has changed, including the arrival of a 9-foot Steinway D606 at Southminster United Church. Backed by an army of music lovers who donated to cover the costs, the church acquired the piano, and now fans of evening recitals and of elite artists of the calibre associated with the MPRS will be able to hear the new instrument.

MPRS concerts this season will also feature mini-recitals by high-achieving local piano students as opening acts. Thanks to a collaboration with the Steinway Gallery of Ottawa, the young performers will each play 15-minute sets to showcase their budding talents and introduce featured artists.

SOFYA GULYAK: March 3

To kick things off, on Friday, March 3 at 7 p.m., piano fans will be treated to the dynamite playing of Russian virtuoso, Sofya Gulyak. She is delighted to be back on-stage playing works by Rachmaninov, Stravinsky and Scriabin.

JAEDEN IZIK-DZURKO: April 30

There’s keen interest in playing for the MPRS among the brightest emerging talent, and 23-year-old Jaeden Izik-Dzurko from Salmon Arm, British Columbia, is no exception. He will perform Sunday, April 30 at 7 p.m.

The MPRS is delighted to be back in action and grateful for the collaboration with Southminster United Church and the Steinway Gallery that makes this possible. For more information, check MPRS listings on Eventbrite.com. MPRS concerts take place at Southminster United Church (15 Aylmer Avenue) starting at 7 p.m. Roland Graham is artistic director of the Master Piano Recital Series.

What Your Neighbours are Reading

Jaeden Izik-Dzurko, Canadian pianist, will perform April 30.

Ottawa Bach Choir presents

Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem

By Lee-Ann Brodeur

The Ottawa Bach Choir (OBC) has been captivating Ottawa and worldwide audiences with their award-winning voices since 2002. Under the guidance of founder and artistic director Lisette Canton, the choir has received national and international acclaim. Not only has the professional choir performed as Canada’s only representative at Bachfest Leipzig 2022, it also won a JUNO for Best Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral for its album, Handel: Dixit Dominus, Bach & Schütz: Motets in 2020.

The 21st season continues with an in-person concert at St. Matthew’s

Church, 130 Glebe Avenue, on Saturday, March 11 at 8 p.m. The audience will hear a magnificent performance of Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem featuring the chamber version for piano

Lenten music series at St. Matthew’s

By Margret B. Nankivell

St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in the Glebe will present a series of three classical music recitals by superb artists during Lent. Organized by Robert Hall, St. Matthew’s interim director of music, the concerts will be held on Fridays February 24, March 17 and March 31 at 7 p.m. Hall will also perform as organist and pianist with three special guest artists.

Lent is the Christian spiritual-preparation season leading up to Easter. “It’s a wonderful time to enjoy chamber music in a relatively quiet period,” says Hall, formerly a professor of music at Laurentian University. “And having spent a few months in the acoustical environs of St. Matthew’s, I’m excited to hear how the space responds to intimate chamber music presented by three very different instruments controlled by amazing musical communicators.”

The first recital on February 24 will feature Ottawa flutist Michael Zappavigna who will play a range of flute music. Entitled “Flights of Fancy” , the program will feature 19th and 20th century music and includes the Ottawa premiere of Hall’s The Lonely Land for baritone, flute and viola. Poetry about the Canadian north by early Canadian poets is set to music in this remarkable piece. Zappavigna and Hall (as baritone) will be joined by violist Henry Janzen.

Janzen returns on March 17 for his recital “Music to Die” For which includes some of the 20th century’s most haunting viola repertoire, like Paul Hindemith’s Trauermusik and Dmitri Shostakovich’s exquisite Sonata, completed weeks before the composer’s death. The work intimately quotes Beethoven’s beloved Moonlight Sonata. Janzen has performed extensively in Europe and North America as a violist and is music director and principal conductor of the Hart House Orchestra at the University of Toronto.

On March 31, Saskatchewan contralto Lisa Hornung will present “On Wings of Song” Hornung has a distinguished career as a soloist, including some 25 appearances in the Messiah with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. Her repertoire ranges from classical

Ottawa flutist Michael Zappavigna will perform in a program “ Flights of Fancy” at St. Matthew’s on February 24.

to folk to spirituals, and she has toured Europe and the U.S. with the American Spiritual Ensemble. Her voice has been called “rich and powerful,” and her stage presence has “inspired audiences and musicians alike.”

Believing everyone deserves the opportunity to sing, Hornung runs a non-auditioned Community Youth Choir and is the founder and director of Summer School for the Solo Voice.

All concerts are presented by St. Matthew’s Anglican Church at 130 Glebe Avenue near Bank Street. There are no tickets, but proceeds from free-will offerings will support organ maintenance at the church.

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

Friday, February 24, 7 p.m., “Flights of Fancy” with flutist Michael Zappavigna Robert Hall pianist/baritone and violist Henry Janzen.

Friday, March 17, 7 p.m., “Music to Die For” with violist Henry Janzen Robert Hall piano/organ

Friday, March 31, 7 p.m., “On Wings of Song” with contralto Lisa Hornung Robert Hall piano

four-hands, arranged by the composer himself, along with works by Telemann and Bach. The choir will be joined by pianists Matthew Larkin and Frédéric Lacroix, soprano Jonelle Sills and baritone Geoffrey Sirett.

The third and final concert of the season, “Spring Serenade”, will take place on Saturday, May 6, at Knox Presbyterian Church. This concert will feature Haydn’s Mehrstimmige Gesänge (13 Partsongs), chansons and partsongs by Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Clara Schumann,and Ottawa native Nicholas Piper. Canadian pianist Elaine Keillor also joins the choir.

Tickets are available online from the choir’s website, ottawabachchoir.ca: reserved $50, adults $40, seniors $35, students $20.

Additionally, the choir’s eighth

recording, J.S. Bach: Six Motets, on the ATMA Classique label, is now available for pre-order. The choir is accompanied by an expanded baroque continuo, featuring Jonathan Oldengarm, organist; Matthew Larkin, harpsichord; Lucas Harris, theorbo; Jean-Christophe Lizotte, cello; and Reuven Rothman, double bass.

For more information about the choir, to purchase in-person concert tickets or to pre-order the new recording, visit the OBC website at ottawabachchoir. ca or email info@ottawabachchoir.ca.

The Ottawa Bach Choir invites all patrons to discover the best that choral music has to offer right in their own backyard.

Lee-Ann Brodeur is the administrative manager of the Ottawa Bach Choir.

Ottawa Bach Choir’s second performance of the season will take place March 11 at St. Matthew’s church. PHOTO: ANDREW DAY

Nuanced moral landscape brings depth to film

The Wonder (Ireland / UK / US, 2022)

Directed

by Sebastiàn Lelio

Review by Iva Apostolova

Really, I wanted to see The Wonder because of Florence Pugh. Although she is only 27 and already has a reserved spot in the Marvel cinematic universe (I say this begrudgingly as her Marvel character, a Russian black widow, is rather unimaginative), as far as I am concerned, she is the real deal. A female version of sorts of Timothée Chalamet where talent and risk-taking is concerned. I first saw her in the title role of the brilliant 2016 Lady Macbeth where she gave a tour de force performance, practically carrying the entire movie on her back.

I knew Chilean director Sebastiàn Lelio from Disobedience, a movie about the forbidden love between two English Orthodox Jewish women. I already knew that Lelio was skilled in adapting books to the big screen (Disobedience is actually the debut novel of one of the most celebrated contemporary English writers and my personal favourite, Naomi Alderman). And I knew that he did not shy away from controversial topics and difficult conversations, so having seen The Wonder’s trailer I was convinced that, if nothing else, I will have a first-class cinematic experience. But the movie offers so much more.

The Wonder is based on the novel of the same name by the Irish-Canadian writer Emma Donoghue (fun fact:

Donoghue moved to London, Ontario, to live with her wife, a tenured professor at Western, and became a Canadian citizen in 2004). The story follows an English nurse, Lib Wright, who travels to a remote Irish village, where she is essentially hired to report on and confirm a miracle. The miracle being young Anna O’Donnell (played unfalteringly by Kila Lord Cassidy), the youngest daughter of poor and deeply religious farmers, who reportedly has not eaten in four months. When the disbelieving nurse Wright (Florence Pugh) questions Anna, the young child responds innocently and with enviable conviction that she lives on “manna from the heavens.”

It needs to be said at the outset that the story takes place in 1862, a decade

after the end of the Great Hunger when over a million Irish people died from starvation or disease and just as many were forced to flee their homes. To complicate things further, we learn soon enough not only that nurse Wright has served in the Crimean war, but that she struggles with her own all-consuming grief over the loss of a newborn child. All that to say that this is not a story that pulls easy punches in the fight between good and evil, modern values versus religious backwardness. Rest assured, light does prevail over darkness in the end, but I would be remiss not to caution against black-and-white solutions. Just like the grey, subdued esthetics of the movie, taking place in the Irish Midlands, the moral landscape is nuanced and full of unexpected twists and turns,

which is why, I presume, The Wonder was classified as a thriller.

It’s out of the sense of professional duty that nurse Wright agrees to proceed with the “watch” of Anna’s miraculous survival without food. But this sense of duty slowly but surely gives way to a much deeper need – the need to redeem herself and save the life of at least one child, a debt paid forward by the death of her own flesh and blood. As the task slowly takes shape in nurse Wright’s consciousness, we become aware of its seeming impossibility. The conviction that Anna must, at all costs (even her imminent death), continue fasting, has taken a strong hold not only in “the elders” of the village, along with Anna’s whole family, including her caring mother, but in Anna herself.

In trying to understand what motivates her to walk this suicidal path, nurse Wright uncovers a dark and ugly family secret, concealed in plain sight by the desperate wish of an innocent child to make things right by offering a great sacrifice. A sacrifice on behalf of her family, and even the entire nation. It is this final “revelation” of the secret that shows the way out for both nurse and child – an exit that, I am certain, the viewer will find as radical as it is necessary.

Running time: 1h 48m

Rating: 14 A

A Netflix original movie

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

Scene Study masterclass for Ottawa actors

By Matthew Behrens

In an exciting partnership, the Ottawa School of Theatre (OST) has teamed up with Burning Passions Theatre to present a Scene Study masterclass with award-winning professional director Laurel Smith on Saturday, March 4.

The day-long masterclass, hosted at Arts Court in downtown Ottawa (2 Daly Ave., next to the Rideau Centre), will explore the techniques of how to play a theatrical role, including preparation, character development and scene analysis.

“We’ve heard that there is a need for more professional development opportunities for theatre artists in Ottawa and I’ve been looking for ways that the Ottawa School of Theatre can help fill this need,” explains OST artistic director Megan Piercey Monafu. “We’re happy to collaborate with Burning Passions Theatre to create this opportunity for actors to play and grow. It’s hard to get this practice outside of a rehearsal room and I hope this workshop will also help artists come back together and meet new potential collaborators.”

The OST is Ottawa’s longest running theatre school. With over 30 years experience, it provides theatre arts education and hands-on experience to students of all ages, from five to 105, in English and French. Since 1998, Burning Passions Theatre has combined professional productions with a focus on theatre arts and technical training, new play development and making theatre accessible to all. Burning Passions Theatre’s signature project, the acclaimed Classic Theatre Festival, relocated to Ottawa last year after a successful,

award-winning decade producing Broadway favourites in Perth. The festival relaunched last August with a staging of the Tony Award-winning The Fourposter.

With over 40 years experience as performer, director, dramaturge, playwright and producer, Laurel Smith is equally enthused about the partnership with OST and looks forward to guiding the masterclass with scene study participants.

“There is a magic that happens when we explore the possibilities of character creation and development in the theatre,” Smith says.

Both Piercey Monafu and Smith stress the importance of storytelling in a world beset by strife, stress and sickness. “While acting is often an act of inspiration, it’s also a lifelong commitment to training and learning new techniques to stay in touch with the theatrical muses and continually improve how you create and share characters and stories,” Smith says.

Smith is also busy preparing for the Classic Theatre Festival’s 2023 season, which runs July 7 to August 27 at Arts Court Theatre with a classic comedy and mystery thriller (see classictheatre.ca). Meanwhile, the Ottawa School of Theatre continues to provide top quality theatre training. For more information on their winter classes, see ost-eto.ca.

To register for the March 4 Scene Study masterclass, visit ost-eto.corsizio.com or email office@ ost-eto.ca.

Matthew Behrens is associate producer of the Classic Theatre Festival.

Dine in • Takeout • Order Online

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

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

Their menu is plenti l, the food is delicious and your table is waiting at CRAZY PHO YOU

Laurel Smith, with 40 years experience as a performer, director, dramaturge, playwright and producer, will conduct a masterclass for Ottawa actors on March 4.

Winter weather words

By Sophie Shields

Snow squalls, snow blizzard, snowstorm – same thing, right? That’s what I thought until a recent weather alert for “snow squalls” led me down a research rabbit hole of wintery vocabulary. And in a chilly climate like Ottawa, a word refresher might be exactly what the doctor ordered.

On any December morning, you might turn on your radio to hear CBC announce a “ground blizzard” (loose snow being blown around by strong winds) or a “snow shower,” during which snow falls for a short period. You might also be warned of a “snow squall,” a sudden intense but limited-duration snowfall, or a “blizzard,” a snowfall with winds at least 40 km/h lasting a minimum of four hours, either of which could easily lead to a “whiteout.” Then, you might look outside to spot a lawn covered with “graupels,” soft little snow pellets with the consistency of ice cream, and trees covered with “rime ice,” tiny spikes of ice created from frozen fog. Perhaps you might even spot feathery “hoar frost,” hoar being an Old English word referring to ice which looks like white hair. Or on an especially lucky day, you may even observe an “icebow” – a rainbow made of ice crystals!

But perhaps English will prove insufficient to fully capture the world outside your window. Today’s forecast might instead be perfectly described through Indigenous terms like piegnartoq (Inuktut), snow good for driving sleds, or mamaangadepon (Ojibwe), snow falling in large flakes. Or maybe a match will be found in borrowed words like gluggaveður (Icelandic), “window-weather” for exceptionally chilly days, or kramsnö (Swedish), snow perfect for making snowballs.

So, next time there is gluggaveður, try your hand at being an amateur meteorologist –what’s that outside your window? Hoar frost, kramsnö, rime ice? Take a gander and don’t think (tw)ice about it!

Sophie Shields is a Carleton student studying global literature and a proud Franco-Ukrainian. She is the social media coordinator for the Glebe Report

The Glebe according to Zeus

CONFIRMED: New reality series

Sister Swines: The Single Life airs in 2023!

After Petey the boar was ditched by three of his four spouses in the Sister Swines finale, viewers lamented the loss of their favourite swines. So when GP-TV recently announced its sequel, minus Petey the boar, fans were ecstatic.

GP-TV’s new show, Sister Swines: The Single Life, will track Merry, Pristine and Canelle as they seek love, life and adventure outside the polyamorous, pigamist framework. “I’m definitely ready for love,” squealed Pristine, “and no more sharing – I want my own boar!”

By contrast, Canelle says she still supports pigamy but is very happy on her own, exclaiming: “I’ve already gained three grams after leaving that boar!!”

GP-TV seems to have a secret formula,

having won five Any Awards (AA) in a row for outstanding programming as well as The Fabulous Screenwriting Award (TFSA) in 2022. “We love AA, and the TFSA was icing on the cake!” gushed Ms Monnaie Sec, president of GP-TV.

So what’s the secret formula? “It’s our diversity lens. Squirrels, red and black, chipmunks, of course guinea pigs – you name it, we employ it! And we step out of the rodent zone, employing dogs, cats and recently two Komodo dragons,” boasted GP-TV’s rodent resources advisor, Mr. Biscuit Assortis.

However, critics claim rodentism is still alive and well, noting that the top jobs at GP-TV are held by guinea pigs and that the shows disproportionately feature them. “The shows are absolutely dominated by guinea pigs – and mostly the fat, cuddly ones. That’s not diversity! I mean, only a guinea pig could star on My 1600 Gram Life. There is systemic exclusion in the very title!” complained Mince, a hamster from Barrhaven.

While there may be disagreement on diversity, one thing is for certain –Sister Swines: The Single Life is sure to be the hit show for 2023!

What do you call a group of lemurs?

By Michael Kofi Ngongi

If you’re like me, the holiday season provided ample opportunity to lie on your couch and suspend reality for a time while you watched your favourite superheroes save humanity again… and again…and again. I confess I’m quite partial to the Avengers, Earth’s mightiest heroes. I used to read the comic books and I think Marvel Studios did an outstanding job bringing Iron Man and Co. to the big screen.

So, there I was one afternoon, blissfully ensconced in my basement, oblivious to the shenanigans of the outside world, immersed in the action of Avengers: Endgame. Near the beginning of the movie, Captain America mentions he saw a pod of whales swimming in the Hudson River. I know a group of whales is called a pod, but I began wondering: what if he’d seen a group of stingrays or a group of sharks swimming in the river? What if he’d seen a group of eagles or owls

flying overhead? Or what if he’d seen a group of cheetahs sprinting alongside his car? Or a group of lemurs dangling from some trees nearby? As these thoughts drove me to near distraction, I decided I needed answers, but only after the movie!

I found out that a group of stingrays is called a fever while a group of sharks is a shiver. A group of eagles is a convocation and a group of owls is a parliament. Finally, a group of cheetahs is a coalition, whereas a group of lemurs is a conspiracy. Perhaps you already knew all this; I admit I was baffled. But on the plus side, I’ve gained a new perspective on the use of these once familiar words. For instance, what if we’re told the next James Bond movie will see our favourite secret agent take on a mysterious coalition to thwart a dangerous conspiracy that could bring down a parliament? I don’t know about you, but I will now be expecting to see cheetahs, lemurs and owls appear in some fashion. That would make for a great movie, don’t you think?

Michael Kofi Ngongi is a new Canadian originally from Cameroon. He has experience in international development and is a freelance writer interested in language and its usage.

Joel Harden

MPP Ottawa Centre

N 613.722.6414

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

Building a movement to save public health care

On January 19, we sent a message to Premier Doug Ford: our health care is not for sale.

That’s the day over a hundred people met in Confederation Park, with less than 48 hours’ notice, to demand better for health care staff, better for patients and better for our cherished public healthcare system. We heard powerful testimonials making this case.

We also did an outside tour of two fully private clinics operating in Centretown that give “fast-lane” health care to those who can pay thousands in private fees.

ExecHealth and La Vie Executive Health promise access to crucial medical services in days, while public-system lineups can take months or longer given funding cuts. This will only get worse if we allow public funds to subsidize the Ford government’s privatization plans.

Just a few days before our protest, Premier Ford announced permanent changes to use private, for-profit clinics to clear Ontario’s surgical backlog. When questioned about his decision the premier went so far as to say that critics of this move “… are the ones that created hallway health care for many years.”

That’s a curious view divorced from reality, but I’ve come to expect that from this premier. He likes to blame others, avoid responsibility and reward friends seeking to profit from services usually performed by the public sector.

The Herzig Eye Institute is a case in point. Herzig executives are major Tory donors and stand to benefit handsomely from the 5,000 cataract

surgeries they will absorb each year from the current surgical backlog if the Ford government’s plan goes ahead.

But as Elizabeth Payne of the Ottawa Citizen wrote in a January 17 article, most cataract patients are able to access corrective surgery within six months through our public system (though wait times for complex-care cataract patients can be different).

Payne noted that “Dr. Kashif Baig, [a local] cornea, anterior segment and refractive surgeon… [has] the longest wait times, possibly because he treats more complex cases. His patients can wait up to 1,402 days’’ for treatment at University of Ottawa’s Eye Institute, but Dr. Baig is also the medical director for the Herzig Eye Institute in Ottawa.

How long will cataract patients wait for Dr. Baig’s services rendered at Herzig? And how much will OHIP be billed for surgical procedures done there? These are important questions that, as I write these words, have no answers.

We are also at risk of losing staff from an overburdened and underfunded public health care system to private care. Upselling and price gouging in private health care is common. These trends are great for private health care executives but terrible for everyone else.

So let’s build a movement to save public health care. It’s time to get organized and make good trouble.

Ontario’s education workers showed us how to do that in 2022; inspired by their example, we can save public health care in 2023.

My very best, Joel

Yasir Naqvi MP Ottawa Centre

Starting the year with reduced childcare fees

We have settled into the new year, and my team and I have been pleased to meet with residents and hear about the issues that resonate with our community. The House is back in session, and I look forward to continuing to represent Ottawa Centre residents on Parliament Hill.

Childcare fees reduced by 50 per cent

We are off to a great start with reduced childcare fees. Now that Ontario has signed on to Canada’s Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, Ottawa Centre residents are seeing a 50-per-cent reduction in their childcare expenses. I’ve heard from many families in our community how much of a difference this has made. Parents should not have to choose between working and raising a family. Furthermore, this means having more flexibility as to how Canadians spend their earnings, whether it’s to buy more groceries, enroll children in more afterschool activities or to be able to pay rent with greater ease. This is part of our overall plan to make life more affordable for Canadians, and one step closer to ensuring families can access $10 per day childcare. Additionally, on December 8, our federal government introduced Bill C-35 to further reinforce and protect Canada’s Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. If passed, the bill would enshrine the principles of a Canada-wide early-learning and childcare system into federal law.

Canada Dental Benefit

I’m thrilled that we now have a Canada Dental Benefit! This is a first for Canada. Families earning less than $90,000 will be able to apply for the Canada Dental Benefit which will provide up to $1,300 over two years for children under 12 to get the dental care they need. This is the first step in our plan to build a Canada-wide dental-care program to make sure everyone who needs dental care can access it. It’s important to note that this is not an automatic benefit. Eligible families can quickly, easily and securely apply for the Canada Dental Benefit in CRA

By Martha Jeacle

The Rideau Winter Trail is a free recreational trail groomed from Bank Street to Donald Street for cross country skiing (skate and classic), walking, snowshoeing and fat biking. It is run entirely by volunteers, with support from the City of Ottawa, the National Capital Commission (NCC), some government grants, amazing sponsors and donations from community members. Please follow it on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to learn more (and visit the website: www.rideauwintertrail.ca).

My Account or by calling the dedicated phone line at 1-800-715-8836. More information on this benefit and how to apply is available on Canada.ca/dental.

Protecting our environment by banning single-use plastics

In addition to affordability, our community cares greatly about our environment and tackling climate change. Our federal government made a commitment to ban single-use plastics to protect our environment and our waters. Over the next decade, this world-leading ban on harmful single-use plastics will result in the estimated elimination of over 1.3 million tonnes of hard-to-recycle plastic waste and more than 22,000 tonnes of plastic pollution, which is equivalent to over a million garbage bags full of litter. As of December 20, the manufacture and import for sale in Canada of checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware, stir sticks and straws, as defined in the regulations, are prohibited. This bold action will result in cleaner parks and hiking trails for residents to enjoy and a cleaner shoreline for our kids to play. I have been a strong advocate for climate action in our community, and I am pleased to share this important news with residents.

Supporting our community

I would like to recognize the tireless work that is carried out by not-forprofit organizations in our community. As many of us took a break during the holidays, these organizations worked day in and day out to support our most vulnerable and ensure that their needs were met. My team and I were pleased to help out at Parkdale Food Centre through their “Fill up the Freezers” program to make a homemade meal for residents in need. I applaud Parkdale Food Centre and many other local organizations who go above and beyond to support individuals and families in need, every day of the year.

As always, don’t hesitate to contact my community office if you have any questions on these federal government initiatives or if you are in need of assistance. My team and I are here to help.

Martha Jeacle is a volunteer with the Rideau Winter Trail. The Rideau Winter Trail runs from Bank Street to Donald Street.

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.

FIRST ANNUAL WHITTON AWARDS

More than 200 Capital Ward residents attended the Lansdowne Park Assembly Hall on February 2 (1993) to see neighbours recognized at the First Annual Whitton Awards Celebration. City Councillor Jim Watson organized the event to honour volunteers and local leaders who improved community life. Nine Glebe residents received awards.

Elaine Marlin was cited for her efforts to “keep the Glebe green” through tree planting in Central Park and serving as Environmental rep on the GCA. Jim McKeen and Doug McKeen were credited with ongoing involvement in the business community and generous sponsorship of community events. Alison Dingle and Michael Bussiers were

celebrated for their volunteer activity and fundraising in support of the arts.

Inez Berg was nominated for her long-time service to the Glebe Report, most recently as editor. Sylvia Holden was named as a key player in preserving community parks and pioneering recycling in the Glebe. John Leaning, a founder of the Glebe Community Association, was instrumental in developing the Glebe Traffic Plan. Jim McCarthy was given due for long service on the GCA board and his efforts to save the cattle castle from demolition.

NATIONAL CAPITAL FREENET OPENS

Columnist Courtney Bond announced that an exciting new way

The Return of choral singing workshops

By Roland Graham

The pandemic was a hard time for the arts, especially for community choirs. With seeming good reason, activities cramming large numbers of people in at-risk groups like sardines into poorly ventilated rehearsal halls, “expelling spit” as the pundits hyperbolized, were singularly condemned.

Yet, the super-spreader theory has been largely debunked. A re-examination of data surrounding the infamous

Washington church choir event where 53 people tested positive for COVID19 shortly after an evening rehearsal states that it is “vanishingly unlikely that this was a single point source outbreak as widely claimed”.

The study, conducted by Brunel University London, Nottingham Trent University and Brighton and Sussex Medical School and published in Public Health journal, concluded that “an unexamined assumption has led to erroneous policy conclusions about

to share information began February 1 (1993) when Carleton University started operating a free internet service through their mainframe computer. Usually, commercial network providers charged for an expensive instruction manual and a monthly service fee. There were already 500 Freenet members who could email each other directly. Bond said, “The Freenet is a cornucopia of great possibilities. It is only nascent now, but a strong infant. The hope is to have 10,000 users by Christmas.”

REBRANDING OF MCKEEN’S

A full-page ad announced the rebranding of the former IGA Glebe at 754 Bank Street to LOEB Glebe where Jim and Christine McKeen continued to welcome shoppers.

by Ian McKercher

Choral singing workshops are planned for spring, summer and fall, as well as a Nicaraguan workshop next February.

the risks of singing, and indoor spaces more generally”.

Folks in the choral singing community stoically trudged through nearly two years of Zoom rehearsals before public health pundits caught up with the data. The rollout of vaccines in 2021 (84 per cent of Canadians are vaccinated today) significantly helped to get things back on track. An internet search today shows study after study supporting a return to group singing.

Now back in rehearsal, many singers wear masks, and that may help, as can extra space between singers and improved ventilation. Organizers excel at running safe rehearsals by allowing individuals to sit apart from the group and offering online learning aids.

For my part, having largely taken a break from choral direction during the past two seasons – call it COVID19, call it burnout, call it having a new baby girl – I’m delighted to be back at it with my choral workshops. This year, I’m running spring, summer and fall workshops, and I’m planning my first international workshop to take place in Central America in February 2024.

The spring choral workshop will focus on a feature work, Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb. Composed in 1943, Samuel Barber’s 16-minute cantata is a favourite 20th-century choral work that has much to offer singers across the spectrum. Infectious rhythms, rousing polyphony and drama permeate the accessible fourpart choral score, with something for everyone to enjoy, including folks in the dead-set-against-modern camp.

The spring workshop repertoire will include a few shorter works, among them Samuel Barber’s Agnus Dei, a choral setting of the famous Adagio

for Strings and my own Canterbury Canticles, culminating in a musical offering celebrating the 10th anniversary of Doors Open for Music at Southminster in May.

Later this season, I’ll present a beginner workshop for choral neophytes, teaching elemental singing concepts such as breathing, producing sound and blending and covering basic reading skills such as how to follow a musical score. Beginners in choral singing will finish the program singing national anthems at an Ottawa Champions baseball game in August.

In the fall I’ll mount another intermediate choral workshop and in February 2024, I’ll be taking a group of singers to Nicaragua. An unexplored region by travelling choirs, the trip will offer a totally original experience, blending wellness and eco/adventure tourism with daily singing, immersed in a wonderful world of colonial, indigenous and Latin culture, set in one of the most agreeable climates to be found on earth.

The underlying theme of my workshops is reclaiming your voice. Any who have missed employing their vocal cords to musical ends or simply want to sing even more, honing and discovering new abilities as they do, will thrive in them. Geared especially to people not seeking long-term commitments, participants don’t have to join for the whole year and don’t need to audition to take part.

For more information, contact OttawaChoralWorkshops@gmail.com.

Volume 21, Number 2, November 13, 1993 (32 pages)

Roland Graham is artistic director of the Master Piano Recital Series and Doors Open for Music at Southminster, held at Southminster United Church.

the goggins challenge takes another run at it

By Carolyn Thompson and Leah Brockie

As New Year’s resolutions putter out, we are two Ottawa runners with an exciting goal and a challenge for you to participate in! The Goggins Challenge, modelled on the event started by David Goggins, a former Navy SEAL turned fitness fanatic, involves running four miles (6.4 km), every four hours, for forty-eight hours.

Yes, you read that right – in total, we will be running 48 miles! We will begin the Goggins Challenge on Friday, March 3 at 8 p.m., which means we will run at midnight, 4 a.m., 8 a.m., etc., continuously every four hours until Sunday, March 5 at 4 p.m.

You might remember us from last year. We were five runners who ran 48 miles over 48 hours and, with the support of friends, family and community, we raised $5,728 for a local Ottawa organisation, Carty House.

This year we’re raising money for

We’re looking for runners. We’ve been running in Ottawa for four years – this is the most welcoming, lively and dedicated running community we have ever been a part of. This community is fiercely passionate about the sport. From the sweltering July heat to February blizzards, Ottawa runners are outside. They are resilient, dedicated and passionate.

We’re not just doing this for fun. Cornerstone Housing for Women, our chosen charity, provides a continuum of housing and support for women and gender-diverse people. It currently operates five housing communities for women in Ottawa and welcomes more than 200 women into shelters each day.

Our goal is a lofty one, but we are confident that community support will help us raise funds and awareness for this important non-profit.

We’re asking for your support by participating (running or walking), making donations or encouraging us if

Runners are also encouraged to sign up in teams, if the overall distance is too daunting for one person. The main goal of the event is to get people running outside or inside on a treadmill/stairmaster/elliptical to raise

Check out our Instagram @ottawagoggins613 and keep an eye out for us on the Dominion City Brewing Company’s Instagram feed (@dominioncity). We will be posting more opportunities as the days and weeks roll closer to the event.

This event is for everyone and we’re creating opportunities for people to participate as much or as little as they like. For instance, dropping by Dominion City for a pint on March 5 for our after-party (around 4:30 pm) will help us achieve our goal as they will be donating $2 from every beer sold to Cornerstone. If you come by Dominion City shortly before 4 p.m. on March 5, you can even run our last 4-mile run with us!

Know a runner from outside of Ottawa? Send them to us! Have questions or want to know if this challenge is for you? Email us! Our goal is to build a team of runners to support an important organization in Ottawa. To sign up to run, to donate or if you are interested in learning more about our event, all information can be found via our Canada Helps page: canadahelps.org/ en/pages/2023-annual-ottawa-goggins-charity-challenge/.

Carolyn Thompson and Leah Brockie

Day 2 after our sixth running leg at 4 p.m. with our biggest crew of runners for the Ottawa Goggins Challenge

PHOTO: CAROLYN THOMPSON

Leah Brockie (right) and Carolyn Thompson (left) in 2022 running along the canal to promote the Ottawa Goggins challenge

PHOTO: RANDY HOGG

Pharmacists now prescribe for minor ailments

By Renu Pillay

A pharmacy has traditionally been the first point of contact for patients with minor ailments. Minor ailments are described as health conditions that can be managed with minimal treatment or self-care strategies, often with the help and advice of a pharmacist. Typically, patients would get free advice and a suggestion from the pharmacist about the best over-thecounter options. The pharmacist would also assess and advise the patient if the condition had any red flags that would suggest the need to go to their family doctor or a walk-in clinic. This system has worked well over the past 200 years since Ontario’s first pharmacy opened in Picton in 1827.

Now, under new rules that took effect on January 1, Ontario pharmacists can prescribe certain medications that were previously only available after a visit to a physician or registered nurse practitioner. Any patient with an Ontario Health Card is eligible for this service and the assessment is free to the patient.

In essence, this is just an extension of the pharmacist’s traditional role, but it does call for more rigorous assessment and follow-up procedures to ensure that the prescribed treatment is safe and effective.

The change is designed to take some pressure off Ontario’s overburdened healthcare system, which is experiencing a dire shortage of primary-care physicians and nurses. It will not replace doctors and nurses; rather it will complement the valuable services they continue to provide.

The process will usually involve a 15- to 20-minute consultation with a pharmacist. This can be done over the phone, online or in person. The pharmacist will assess patients based on their symptoms, history and lifestyle. The pharmacist will use his or her knowledge and, with the help of a sophisticated software system, will identify if the patient can be safely and effectively treated with a prescription. If any red flags come up, the pharmacist will refer the patient to a primary-care health provider. The pharmacist will usually follow

up with the patient within a week to determine the outcome of the treatment and will make further suggestions if necessary. After the consultation, a copy of the assessment and treatment prescribed will be forwarded to the patient’s family physician.

The 13 ailments that can be treated are as follows:

1. Allergic rhinitis

2. Candidal stomatitis (oral thrush)

3. Conjunctivitis (bacterial, allergic and viral)

4. Dermatitis (atopic, eczema, allergic and contact)

5. Dysmenorrhea

6. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

7. Hemorrhoids

8. Herpes labialis (cold sores)

9. Impetigo

10. Insect bites and urticaria (hives)

11. Tick bites, post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent Lyme disease

12. Musculoskeletal sprains and strains

13. Urinary tract infections (uncomplicated)

Pharmacists have a formulary of drugs that are available for each condition and they are qualified to choose the most appropriate treatment based on the assessment. The pharmacist will ensure that the medication prescribed will be safe and effective and will not interact with other current medications. Do not be disappointed if your pharmacist cannot prescribe anything after your assessment; it’s probably because your condition requires a referral to your physician.

You may fill the prescription at the pharmacy that provided the assessment, but you can also choose to go to another pharmacy. The cost of the assessment is paid by the province, but patients must pay for the prescribed medication – that cost might be covered by private insurance (or OHIP coverage if you qualify.)

Pharmacists have been asked to step up in Ontario to assist with flu shots, travel vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines and it has always been a privilege for us to help in providing these essential services to our communities. The addition of minor ailment prescribing is a welcome addition to the scope of our practices; we believe it is a safe and effective way to relieve some of the pressure on our healthcare system. Because assessments take time, you may need to schedule an appointment. Most pharmacists will be able to accommodate you within 24 hours. As always, your pharmacist will aim to be a fast and efficient resource for your community.

Renu Pillay is the pharmacist/owner of Whole Health Pharmacy in the Glebe.

Now, under new rules that took effect on January 1, Ontario pharmacists can prescribe certain medications that were previously only available after a visit to a physician or registered nurse practitioner.

Renu Pillay, owner/pharmacist of Whole Health Pharmacy, explains the new prescribing powers of pharmacists in Ontario.

Depression and anxiety in young children: picturebooks that help

By Shoshana Magnet

“For nothing was simply one thing” –Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse. That is one of my favourite quotes – it seems to me to be in praise of ambiguity. To me, it speaks deeply of the paradoxical nature of parenthood. So many moments simultaneously endless and fleeting, every stage agonizingly slow and then over all too soon.

One of my profound needs during this challenging time is to both make and find meaning in its attendant sadnesses. One of the paradoxical things about grief is that it can bring us together – it can lead us to what writer Susan Cain, in her beautiful book Bittersweet, calls “a union of souls.” Speaking of how we all contain such deep longings, Cain describes how they are often connected to sadness, to yearning, and how these feelings of great aches for what she calls the “unreachable perfect world” can happen through art, music, nature. The places we yearn for have many names: from “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” to “Home” to, as Cain notes “the novelist Mark Merlis puts it, ‘the shore from which we were deported before we were born’.” And grief can transport us to those places together – in sharing grief and yearning, we can connect, because “The place you suffer…is the same place you care profoundly – care enough to act.” These portals are everywhere: a glowing raindrop or a haunting melody – all of these can serve as gateways to that for which we long. For me, the gateway to my “perfect, unreachable world” is picturebooks. Picturebooks are art objects: they are collections of paintings and poems, and they are tributes to complexity that are helping me personally to make meaning out of this difficult time.

The Red Tree, by Shaun Tan

I include this book because it does the best imaginable job of explaining some of the characteristics of anxiety and depression to young children.

Sometimes the day begins with nothing to look forward to and things go from bad to worse. I see it in the children around me. A case of the Sunday night blues, or a case of the Mondays. Unexpected tears and a general sense of ennui. They wake up with difficulty and kind of lie around looking demoralized. What a contrast to the Saturday wake up! The Red Tree is there to remind us that sometimes the world can feel like a cruel machine “without sense or reason,” or that “sometimes you wait and wait and wait and wait and wait, but nothing ever happens.” Sometimes it seems as if “you just don’t know what you are supposed to do or who you are meant to be.” It’s true, isn’t it? For all of us who experience grief and big sadness (which is to say, all of us), here is the book that makes a person feel very seen. Also, in the tradition of hopefulness and earnestness that I so appreciate in children’s picturebooks, The Red Tree reminds us that suddenly there it is right in front of you, quietly waiting just as you imagined it would be.

Out of a Jar, by Deborah Marcero

Out of a Jar explains how when we shut down our grief, we also shut down our joy. “Anxiety is sublimated grief,” said my brilliant therapist of 20 years. It starts with Llewelyn, a little bunny who likes scary movies and scary

costumes but doesn’t like feeling afraid. He puts his fear in a jar and then takes it down, down, down some stairs to a sort of basement to “lock it away,” and “that was that.”

Each uncomfortable feeling that Llewelyn has – loneliness, disappointment, grief – all these go in jars too. In keeping with the strange truth that being happy is as vulnerable as being sad (in fact, people struggling with addiction are as likely to use when they are feeling really up as they are when feeling really down), even Llewelyn’s joy and excitement seem to overwhelm the people around him. And all too soon, “Llewelyn walked around feeling not much of anything at all.”

This is one of the things that scares me about raising sons. Please let them continue to feel. Delight, grief, disappointment, loneliness and joy. Let them never be told to “walk it off” or not to cry. I fear the comfortably numb fog of toxic masculinity.

When Llewelyn is shamed in front of the class, “He tried not to show it but that just made it worse” and “Something rumbled deep inside of him.” All of those feelings “broke loose and pummeled Llewelyn with a stampede that turned him into a ragged heap of bunny onto the floor.” And yet, after his feelings return, something “happened that Llewelyn did not expect.” He feels more than one thing at once: he was “happy and sad” or “excited and worried.” Llewelyn musters the courage to feel and share his feelings, and “when he was ready, to look each feeling in the eye, give it a hug, and let it go.” And, friends, “that, really was that.”

Shoshana Magnet is a professor at the Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies at the University of Ottawa.

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By Jenny Demark

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour. It is a very broad field, with branches studying neuroscience, development, social behaviour, learning, memory and perception, to name just a few. Psychologists are interested in learning about people, animals, organizations and societies.

What is a clinical psychologist?

Clinical psychologists provide mental and behavioural health care for children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. They work to improve the lives of others through comprehensive assessment, diagnostic clarification, therapy and education.

Like dentists, physiotherapists and physicians, psychologists are one of the regulated health professionals in Ontario. They have completed a rigorous training and licensing process. They typically have a PhD in clinical psychology (although some are authorized to practise with a master’s degree) that required comprehensive coursework, independent research and clinical training. They have completed thousands of hours of supervised clinical work and they have passed three exams to assess their understanding of psychology, the relevant laws that govern psychology, ethics and clinical practice guidelines. They are required to complete ongoing professional development and to keep up-to-date with the regulations developed by the College of Psychologists of Ontario.

Who might want to see a clinical psychologist?

People see psychologists for so many reasons, way too many to describe here. For the most part, people work with psychologists to gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their children or their relationships. You may be wondering if your child is developing in a typical manner. You may want to explore how a past trauma is affecting your current relationships. Or you may want to improve communication between you and your spouse. Psychologists are uniquely qualified to assess, diagnose and treat mental health issues (e.g., anxiety, depression, addictions) and developmental concerns (e.g., ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities).

What can I expect when working with a clinical psychologist?

Embarking on a relationship with a psychologist can seem daunting. Rest assured, there will be no lying on couches or years of Freudian-style psychoanalysis. Your psychologist will explain their process, they will answer any questions that you may have, and they will keep all your information confidential. For the first appointment, you can expect to learn about the psychologist’s approach

to treatment, their fees and the frequency of sessions. Depending on the nature of your concerns, they may want to you to complete standardized testing or questionnaires to better understand your (or your child’s) thinking skills, behaviour or emotions.

Do not be afraid to ask questions and lots of them! Psychologists want you to feel comfortable and they are obligated to keep you informed every step of the way. Research has shown that a strong, collaborative and trusting rapport with your psychologist is one of the best predictors of positive therapeutic outcomes.

How do I find a clinical psychologist?

Psychologists can be found working in hospitals, schools, mental health clinics or private practices. If they are in private practice, their services are not covered by OHIP, but they may be covered by employee assistance programs or insurance. Some psychologists provide pro bono services for certain communities.

The Ottawa Academy of Psychology, www.ottawa-psychologists.org, is a great place to start your search. The academy maintains a searchable online directory of psychologists working in the community. You can find a psychologist with expertise in the issue you want to work on and you can refine your search based on the psychologist’s location in the city, languages spoken and age range of clientele.

Even if you are just starting to think about seeing a psychologist, it is worth looking for options now and perhaps putting your name on some waiting lists, which can be lengthy. Do not wait for a crisis situation to occur before reaching out for help.

Where can I learn more?

The Canadian Psychological Association, www.cpa.ca, has lots of helpful information about the practice of psychology in Canada. They also have several factsheets that explain diagnosis and treatment for many mental health concerns, such as mood disorders, pain management, coping with a crisis and developmental disorders.

The Ontario Psychological Association, www.psych.on.ca, supports the nearly 4,000 psychologists in the province by providing continuing education and professional resources. They also have useful information for people looking to find a psychologist in their community. Their Q & A page answers common questions about the profession.

February is the time when psychologists spread the word about the differences they are making in the lives of others. Happy Psychology Month!

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

Thinking of seeing a psychologist? Here’s what you need to know

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Children learning French in Ottawa

By Noémie Ipou

In Ottawa, the percentage of people who speak primarily French at home dropped from 10 per cent in 2016 to 8.4 per cent in 2021, according to the Ottawa Citizen. There are several reasons for this alarming decline.

Role of parents in learning the mother tongue

In 2021, English was the most spoken language in Ottawa households. According to a 2013 article in Le Droit based on data from the 2011 census, more than two-thirds of Franco-Ontarian families are exogamous – only one parent has French as a mother tongue. Since 1970, exogamous couples have only increased, with an acceleration since 1996. According to Statistics Canada, the gender of the francophone parent can make all the difference for language transmission. In 90 per cent of cases, children with two francophone parents will retain their languages. Francophone mother, non-francophone father? 40.8 per cent. The reverse? We fall to 19 per cent.

Impact of the media on learning

Even if parents try to pass on French to their children by enrolling them in French schools, they are less likely to speak French in the playground and more likely to speak English. The Survey on the Vitality of Official-Language Minorities (SVOLM) sheds light on the language used in five daily activities: watching television, surfing the internet, organized sports, non-sports activities and reading. English remains the dominant language. Most of the children’s favourite series, movies, shows, games, books and social media are predominantly English.

How does the community influence the desire to learn a language?

Children’s use of French is linked to the linguistic dynamics of the community. Among the children of francophone parents who lived in a francophone-minority setting in 2006, 33 per cent used French exclusively or mainly for reading and only 12 per cent used French exclusively or mainly for watching television.

The importance of Francophone learning structures

French grammar can seem scary at first. However, French is not just grammar. The culture, history and values that are linked to it are important aspects of learning French and transmitting it to children. It is a heritage that gives access to a rich universal culture.

For Anne-Marie Guévin, assistant coordinator at the Ottawa Centre for Children and Families ON y va-Grandir ensemble, “Learning French from a very young age not only promotes its acquisition but also the construction of a child’s identity, which will enable him or her to define and recognize himself or herself through the French-speaking world throughout life. It also gives them the confidence and desire to express themselves in this language, a key element in strengthening the vitality of Francophone communities, particularly in minority settings. Therefore, it is important to offer structures that allow children to learn French from an early age. The development of knowledge and skills in the French language will enable children to become involved and contribute fully to the

development of the Francophone community.” This is why Grandir Ensemble offers activities for toddlers all across the city, including weekly activities at the Alliance Française Ottawa.

With 21 French-language elementary schools and 14 French-language high schools, the number of students studying in French in Ottawa is 11,000. This number demonstrates the continued interest in French. But schools are not the only way to promote French language learning.

Kids activities in Ottawa for learning French

The City of Ottawa has put in place several francophone programs to encourage children to learn French. Children’s workshops are a fun and educational way to introduce them to this beautiful language. Alliance Française Ottawa created Les petits penseurs, an introductory workshop on philosophy for children aged 6 to 12, whether they are francophones, anglophones or FSL learners, even beginners. Its goal is to accompany the children in their learning of French but also in their cognitive, affective and social development. These workshops are held at the same time as the Alliance Francaise Ottawa’s book club to allow parents who wish to accompany their children to also participate in intellectual exchanges in French.

Wanted: forever home for Good Morning Preschool

By Katherine Liston

Once again, Good Morning Creative Arts & Preschool is looking for a new home.

Since the sale of Logan-Vencta Hall, Good Morning has been engaged in discussions with a local institution and had been looking forward to moving nearby in time for next school year. Unfortunately, we recently learned that the institution is no longer interested in renting to a long-term tenant, so we are once again looking for a new home. This news comes at the end of three difficult years, which have included low registration due to COVID-19, pandemic-related closures and the sale of the building we have occupied for more than four decades. This has been particularly disappointing as the school and its volunteer board have committed significant time and financial resources towards making the new location work. Time is running out for us to find a new location in time for September.

“Obviously, we are gutted as we have been working with this organization for 10 months on this project without any indication that we would not be able to move forward with our tenancy,” said Karen Cameron, director of Good Morning Preschool. “Monthly site visits, hundreds of volunteer hours, thousands of dollars spent on professional fees, and to get this news two days before

Christmas was heartbreaking to say the least. I have been with Good Morning and working with families in the area since 2001 and it is devastating to be in this position of uncertainty for the future of our beloved little preschool.”

Good Morning Preschool has operated licensed, arts-based childcare programs at its current location at the corner of First Avenue and Bank Street since 1981. While the school has been an important fixture in the Glebe for over 40 years, Good Morning is open to moving to other neighbourhoods in central Ottawa where we can serve young families. We are a well-established, not-for-profit cooperative committed to educating and enriching young people and we would work hard to be a good fit for any organization who would be interested in renting to us. If you know of a location that might be suitable for us or have an idea that you think we should explore, please let us know! We also know that Good Morning has been an important part of many of our neighbours’ lives. If you are interested in joining our relocation committee and helping build our future, please reach out to us. We would be happy to hear from you; please send us an email at goodmorningpreschool@gmail.com.

Katherine Liston is president of the Good Morning Creative Arts & Preschool board of directors.

Director Karen Cameron and kids. Good Morning Preschool is on the hunt for a new home. PHOTO: LAUREN WEBER

Noémie Ipou is communications and marketing manager at Alliance Française Ottawa.

TREKKING THE TOUBKAL AND LIVING TO TELL THE TALE

At

By Mike Trickey

In our circle of friends, it has been a point of discussion for some – an article of faith for others – that the primary motivation behind my wife Lena’s newfound love of adventure travel is her

desire to bump me off. Take the insurance and ride off into the future with a handsome pool boy.

Certainly there is evidence. The trek in 40-degree heat along Portugal’s Rota Vicentina. The lung-depleting ascent of Angel’s Landing in Utah’s Zion

National Park. The clambering over Iceland’s Vatnajokull glacier (there’s even a photo of her menacing me with an ice pick on that one). So, when Morocco was proposed as a destination, I was mildly surprised. My knowledge of Morocco began and ended with visions

of the thousand-year-old cities of Fes and Marrakech and sleeping on carpets in the Sahara Desert looking up at the millions of stars on crystalline nights. It sounded fantastic. Almost relaxing. Of course, I had never heard of Jebl Toubkal, the tallest peak in the High

the end of the trek to the Toubkal mountain summit in Morocco with, from left, the author’s son Andrei, Trickey, his wife Lena, guide Hassan, mule skinner Yusuf and donkey.

Stretching 2,500 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean, across Morocco and through Algeria and Tunis, the Atlas range separates the Sahara from the temperate Mediterranean climate of northern Africa. In the heart of the High Atlas is Toubkal National Park, home to eight mountains over 3,600 metres (12,000 feet) high, including Jbel Toubkal at 4,167 metres (13,671 feet) – higher than any peak in the Canadian Rockies. This, apparently, was to be my latest Waterloo.

Our hike began in the village of Imlil, which has emerged as the hub of the High Atlas trekking industry after a disastrous flood in 1995 that killed 150 people and washed away much of its

agricultural land. Unfortunately, our son Andrei had caught a bug from something he had eaten the day before and was feeling somewhat the worse for wear as we met our guide. Hassan’s eyes filled with doubt as he looked at our family – shaky young man, petite woman, old guy – and told us for the first of many times that it was not necessary to go to the top of the mountain, that a hike to the hostel at the base camp – or perhaps just a walk around the village – would be fine. However, we were determined, and after our mule skinner loaded the donkey with gear, we were on our way.

The trek from Imlil to the Toubkal summit and back is about 30 kilometres with an elevation of about 2,300 metres. It is generally recommended that it be done in three days, but we had a full agenda so had decided to do it in two. Day one is a gentle enough affair, following a path ever upwards for 12 kilometres through Berber villages, accompanied by a soundtrack of bleating goats and sheep, to the Refuge Les Mouflons at the base of Toubkal and its sisters. A good night’s sleep was not an option, as we shared a room with 15 snoring hikers crammed into bunk beds. A late-night visit to the hole-in-the-floor bathroom resulted in socks soaked with what I tried to convince myself was water.

At 4 a.m., we were off, with the objective of conquering the remaining 900 metres of elevation in time to see the sunrise. We began climbing through volcanic rock and loose scree, with light provided only by our headlamps. Fortunately, Hassan had climbed the mountain about 100 times and knew every inch, pointing out where to step as we made our way up. After a

Sunrise from the Toubkal summit couple of hours of climbing through rock, we reached an ice field and had to put on crampons. At one point, anxious to save a few steps, I cut a corner, which resulted in Hassan securing himself to me by rope, much to Andrei’s relief. “I thought I was going to be an orphan,” he told me later. It was not an unreasonable fear. Hassan told us that a Swiss woman had fallen to her death three weeks earlier from that very spot.

As the sky began to lighten, we reached the end of the ice field and could remove the crampons for the final portion of rock to the pinnacle,

where we watched the sun rising above the clouds below us. Spectacular, but we couldn’t stay long. The wind was howling, our water bottles had frozen, and we still had to make our way back down the mountain and on to Imlil.

Seven hours later we were back, hamstrings burning, and in a car to exotic Marrakech.

Mission accomplished – mine anyway. Lena is planning my next test.

Mike Trickey is a former journalist in Ottawa and Moscow with a newfound respect for adventure travel.

The author taking a break on a rock bench along the trail

Atlas Mountains – the Roof of Northern Africa.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

ABBOTSFORD SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTRE (950 Bank) continues to look for books, flea market items and treasures to sell in house; and, to sell in Dorothy’s Boutique, gently used women’s clothing, hats, purses, shoes and bags. Accepted at Abbotsford House on Mon.- Fri., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Your donations will be supporting the centre’s programming and services.

ABBOTSFORD SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTRE (950 Bank St.) LEARN & EXPLORE SPEAKER’S SERIES, Wednesdays, 1 to 2:30 p.m. The lectures are free but attendants must register in advance for a seat or zoom link. FEB. 15: Marc St-Onge, PhD, Senior Emeritus Scientist, Geological Survey of Canada will be presenting: Geological History of Arctic Canada and Greenland. The geography of the Arctic is fascinating, an important and large land mass that many of us know little about. Join Marc for an exciting educational experience. Bring pen & paper! This will be held LIVE & ZOOM simultaneously. FEB. 22: Alfred Cormier, Climate Reality Leader, will present: Climate Change: Update on Canada’s Plan & COP 27. Let’s get an update on what our government is committed to and what it might look like. This will be held LIVE & ZOOM simultaneously. MAR. 8: In the first of a two-part session, prolific Arctic author, cultural historian and guide, David Pelly, and Laurie Pelly, lawyer with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc, the Inuit Nunavut land claims organization, will broaden our understanding of Nunavut’s history through a Landscape of Stories and an introduction to Canada’s colonial policies in the Arctic. This will be held LIVE & ZOOM simultaneously. MAR. 15: Sneezy Waters will be visiting Abbotsford, along with a few of his musician friends. Peter Hodgson, better known as Sneezy Waters, has recently published A Very Fine Biography which chronicles his life. Be ready to tap your toes! This will be held LIVE only. Tea/coffee and treats, courtesy of the Abbotsford Members Council, will be available for purchase in the dining room. Registrations: Online: myactivecenter.com with your key-tag, By phone: 613-230-5730, In-Person (Mon. to Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.): Abbotsford Reception.

CAMINO 101 This information session by the Canadian Company of Pilgrims, Ottawa Chapter is geared toward anyone planning or considering walking a Camino. It will present an overview of what is involved, how best to prepare and what to expect. Sat., Feb. 25, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., at the Ottawa Public Library Main Branch Auditorium, 120 Metcalfe St. Cost: $10 suggested donation at the door to cover the rental cost. Space is limited. Please reserve your seat at: www.santiago.ca/events2/#!event/2023/2/25/ ottawa-chapter-walking-a-camino

MASTER GARDENER LECTURES Back by popular demand, the Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton and Friends of the Farm will again host a virtual lecture

Doors Open for Music at

Southminster

Noon-hour concerts take place on Wednesdays at Southminster United Church, 15 Aylmer Avenue. Free-will offerings. Attend in person or listen to livestream. Southminsterunitedchurch.com

series via Zoom in 2023. Don’t miss this series of five lectures under the theme of “Creating your Garden with Nature.” The lectures run from March 7 to May 16. Each lecture will be held on a Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. March 7: How to Live with What Lives in Your Garden with Judith Cox. For more information, please go to: friendsofthefarm.ca/event/2023-mg-lecture-how-tolive-with-what-lives-in-your-garden.

OLD OTTAWA SOUTH (OOS) GARDEN CLUB MEETING, Old Ottawa South Community Centre (The Firehall), 260 Sunnyside Ave., Tues., Feb. 14, 7 p.m.: Colour through the Seasons. Rob Stuart, master gardener and member of the Ottawa Valley Rock Garden and Horticultural Society, will focus on native and cultivated bulbs, grasses, vines and ever-green and herbaceous perennials hardy to the Ottawa area that can introduce colour into gardens throughout the year irrespective of sun or shade. To register call the Firehall at 613-247-4946. Membership: $25 per year; $40 for a family; drop-in fee $7 per meeting.

PROBUS Ottawa is welcoming new members from the Glebe and environs. Join your fellow retirees, near retirees and want-to-be retirees for interesting speakers and discussions, not to mention relaxed socializing. See our website: www.probusoav.ca for more detailed information about the club and its activities as well as contact points, membership information and meeting location. We will be meeting next on Wed., Feb. 22 for a presentation about the Ottawa Waste Management Plan.

AVAILABLE

HOUSESITTING! Are you leaving town for an

Winter 2023 Lineup

February 15 - Electric Pleasures

JUNO award-winning composer and guitarist Andrew Paul MacDonald, playing electric archtop guitar, and pianist Carmen Picard present an electrifying program of music by Bach, Gershwin, and MacDonald.

February 22 - Renaud - Boudreau Duo

David Renaud (clarinets, saxophone) and Steve Boudreau (piano) play originals and classics in styles ranging from Swing and Latin to Ballads and Contemporary.

March 1 - Everything turns

A DOMS 10th anniversary exclusive presentation: Award-winning Canadian dancer François Richard dances to music performed by distinguished Canadian musicians, Vincent Lauzer

extended period to the cottage, vacation abroad or down south for the winter and need a HOUSE SITTER to water plants, pick up mail and maintain the home/ garden/cut grass, etc.? I am a young lady who studies theology/bible at home and have several years of recent housesitting experience in the Glebe. I have excellent references from many homes in the Glebe I have lived in and cared for over the years. I enjoy taking care of animals, especially puppies!!! Sarah (mayyouhope@gmail.com) / 613-263-0590.

PUPPYSITTING! Do you need someone to stay overnight with your little/big babe?? I am available for overnight puppy sitting 24/7 as I study the bible from home full time. I have excellent references. Sarah (mayyouhope@gmail.com) 613-263-0590.

FOR SALE

PORTMIERION BOTANIC GARDEN 2 dinner plates (Fritillaria, Helleborus), 1-8” plate (Aquilegia), 1 flat soup (Narcissus), 1 oatmeal (Bellis) 613-234-9572.

SEASONAL CARDS, PUZZLES AND A VARIETY OF BOOKS CELEBRATING THE FARM can be purchased from Friends of the Farm in our online boutique. Many of our products are unique to our boutique, so you can be sure that you won’t find them anywhere else! See what we have on offer at: friendsofthefarm. ca/boutique.

FREE

Large number of BACK ISSUES OF CANADA’S HISTORY MAGAZINE. Will deliver. Phone Bill at 613-2349438.

(recorder) and Dorothéa Ventura (harpsichord).

March 8 – Wanderlust

Flautist Lara Deutsch and guitarist Adam Cicchillitti lead a musical world tour exploring folk-inspired repertoire from all across the globe.

March 15 - Beethoven’s 10th for DOMS’ 10th

Frédéric Lacroix plays early piano sonatas (Op. 10) by the great German composer on a period-accurate fortepiano, a copy of Beethoven’s first Viennese instrument.

March 22 - Shadows and Light

Soprano Kimberley Lynch and pianist Polina Gubnitskaia perform works for voice and piano exploring darkness and light by Boulanger, Poulenc, Ravel, and Price.

WHERE TO FIND THE Glebe Report

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

Abbas Grocery

Black Squirrel

Bloomfield Flowers

Capital Home Hardware

Chickpeas

Clocktower Pub

Douvris Martial Arts

Ernesto’s Barber Shop

Escape Clothing

Feleena’s Mexican Café

Fourth Avenue Wine Bar

Glebe Apothecary

Glebe Central Pub

Glebe Meat Market

Glebe Physiotherapy

Glebe Tailoring

Goldart Jewellery Studio

Happy Goat Coffee

Hillary's Cleaners

Hogan’s Food Store

Ichiban Bakery

Irene’s Pub

Isabella Pizza

Kettleman’s

Kunstadt Sports

Lansdowne Dental

Last Train to Delhi

LCBO Lansdowne

Little Victories Coffee

Loblaws

Marble Slab Creamery

Mayfair Theatre

McKeen Metro Glebe

Nicastro

Octopus Books

Olga’s

RBC/Royal Bank

Studio Sixty Six

Subway

Sunset Grill

The Flag Shop Ottawa

The Ten Spot

TD Bank Lansdowne

TD Bank Pretoria

The Works

Von’s Bistro

Whole Health Pharmacy

Wild Oat

7-Eleven

March 29 - Hopewell

Showcase V

Students from Hopewell School led by director Marya Woyiwada resume an annual tradition. This year’s performance will feature the school bands, along with excerpts from the year-end musical they are preparing.

Glebe Spree $10,000 winner this year is Michael Scrivens. His winning ballot came from Feleena’s Mexican Cantina. From left: Patrick Burke, Executive Director of the Glebe BIA, Michael Scrivens, Rebecca McKeen, owner/manager of Glebe Spree sponsor McKeen Metro.

For rates on boxed ads appearing on this page, please contact Judy Field at 613-858-4804 or by e-mail

Home renos and repair — interior/ exterior painting; all types of flooring; drywall repair and installation; plumbing repairs and much more.

Please call Jamie Nininger @ 613 852-8511.

CASH 4 JUNK

IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE ARE DOWNSIZING, I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. Instead of paying a junk company and adding to the landfill, I will do the heavy lifting and put money in your pocket. I BUY clothing, accessories, art, magazines, posters, LPs, collectibles and memorabilia. Don’t throw it away and miss out on extra income – let me come pick it up instead

joel@hlionandson.com

RUSSELL ADAMS PLUMBER

613-978-5682

Ontario's early childhood educators shine a light on the path to a brighter future. Learn more about the importance of high-quality child care. ottawa.ca/hqcc

2023

March Break Camp

There will be a BBQ, fun family games, ska4ng, refreshments, and lots of fun. This community winter party is free for everyone. We hope you can make it!

Janus III sits on a hill on the Queen Elizabeth Driveway, hockey stick in hand. Janus, the Roman god of doors, gates and transitions, fittingly has two faces. The original snow-Janus came to life with the pandemic and was dedicated to health care and front-line workers. This year’s Janus has evolved to represent a positive and generous community spirit. “Keep your face always toward the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you.” #JANUSTHESNOWMAN