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” 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

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.)

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.

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.