Walking back into The Papery, after it had been closed for almost two years because of a fire, is a slight shock to the senses.
The building smells of new hardwood, the walls are freshly coated in light-coloured paint, and the beautiful cards, paper and pens are dimly lit with sunlight pouring in through two large front windows adorned with Halloween items. New curious customers and excited returning customers are bustling around to look at the stock and explore the new space. The staff are busy at the temporary cash, running through purchases. More staff work in a closed-off area of the store and can be seen moving and organizing boxes of fixtures and new product.
The Papery first opened its doors at Bank and Fifth back in 1986. It’s a business that’s been in the Glebe for around 38 years. As owner Katherine Slack puts it, “If any business qualifies as old time, it’s The Papery – stationery and paper, the definition of analogue.”
On December 26, 2022, The Papery and several apartment units above were ravaged by a fire that started in the building’s lightwell. Although nobody was hurt, the building became uninhabitable.
The Papery responded by opening a temporary pop-up location just down the street at 858 Bank Street. It was nestled on the upper floor of the building and contained the inventory of products that customers had come to expect, just in a smaller space.
Slack said that during that experience, she felt a tonne of support from her long-term staff, community members and even the building owner, who
exception extremely supportive. I kept expecting someone to walk into the pop-up and say, ‘Oh it’s so small’ or ‘Why don’t you have this?’ and nobody did. Everybody understood and told us to hang in there. It was just wonderful. And now that we’ve quietly opened the door here, people are coming in and excited to see us back,” said Slack.
Slack said that without the enthusiasm from staff and customers, she probably wouldn’t have continued. “If it hadn’t been for that, I would’ve just thrown in the towel, I’m way too old for this! But no, they were what pushed me to keep going.”
Slack says that although it’s a triumph to finally be back in the old location, the transition is far from done.
“I’m not quite happy yet. I’m still feeling a lot of the stress of it not being done, and my customers are coming in and peering through the gloom because we don’t have any lighting. I’m responding the best I can without any real talent for doing this stuff. And I was thinking today what this really required was a tenacity of imagination. And that’s the really hard part, getting past walking through this space after the fire with no lighting and the gloom, the damp and the smoke. And it was just wow, how do you imagine this is going to turn out?”
The plan for the space is slowly coming along, and Slack said she wants to use the front window space for seasonal items for people to enjoy as they walk by throughout the year. “I was remembering the window displays in The Bay and Simpsons department stores. They used to have large displays for the different seasons,” said Slack. “The rest of the store is designed around our tagline, for paper inspiration and how paper inspires you in different areas of your life.”
The plan is to have a separate section full of wrapping paper and tissues, a section for notebooks and art supplies, a section for party and celebratory supplies and then the usual card islands.
Slack said there are a lot of technical aspects to setting up the store again, and it’s looking like the last bit of work will be finished around mid-November. But so far, the community has been very excited to see the store transitioning back to its former glory.
“For this store, community has been absolutely key. Fundamental. We don’t have customers we have fans. And that’s so wonderful and this is a super community. It’s been a recurring trend over the years. People have found us and see that we’re doing something quite unique, and they’re very appreciative of the mix of products and aesthetic we have. And very little rude stuff apart from the socks . . . they’re hysterically rude. So, it’s resonated with a lot of people for a lot of years, and I’m just so pleased it continues to do so.”
Emily Vaz is a recent graduate of the Carleton School of Journalism.
The Papery is back in its prime location at the corner of Fifth and Bank. PHOTOS: EMILY VAZ
The lily pond near the Flora Footbridge PHOTO: VICTORIA SUTHERLAND
Blue heron at Brown’s Inlet PHOTO: KEVAN PIPE
Phoenix
G✅t metal?
By Chris Joslin
Metal is one of the easiest elements to recycle, and I have launched an effort to help you do that. More on that later but first a bit of background.
Ferrous metals such as iron and steel can be shredded (with a machine like a large-scale paper shredder), separated from other materials (like non-ferrous metals and plastics) using a magnetic separator, then melted down for reuse in new metal products. Non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum and copper, can be processed in a similar way. Although lighter, non-ferrous metals are valuable enough to justify the effort. They can be separated from non-metal materials like plastic using a machine called an Eddy Current Separator.
In Ontario, e-waste recycling is mandated, and facilities are set up to extract the precious metals, such as gold and rare earth metals, from other items. With few processing errors, metals can be recycled indefinitely without losing their integrity. Metal recycling, which has been practised since around 400 BC, is now a highly refined process. Unfortunately, scrap metal cannot be disposed of in the blue-bin recycling program. According to the City of Ottawa’s website, only aluminum foil and aluminum containers are accepted. It’s unclear whether other aluminum items, such as tennis ball container caps, are accepted or simply end up in landfills.
Thank
What do we do with scrap metal?
Currently, there are three consistent options and one occasional option:
1. The easiest but least environmentally friendly option is to throw it out with regular garbage. This is wasteful and will certainly become more difficult with Ottawa’s new three-bag limit.
2. Take it to a local scrap metal recycling centre. However, this option is often impractical, requiring a lot of work and usually the use of a car.
3. Drop it at a store that accepts e-waste, which may cover part of your metal waste but not all of it. Occasionally, people collect scrap metal, especially on garbage collection days, but this is unreliable. For example, I haven’t seen anyone picking up old BBQs or washing machines recently.
What’s the solution?
Currently, I’m running a monthly collection on Saturday mornings for members of the Glebe community to drop off unwanted metal. We accept almost anything containing metal, from old phones and cables to broken bikes. After collecting, I sort the metal into broad categories and take it to a local metal recycling center. Any money earned (minus fuel costs) is donated to the Glebe Neighborhood Activities
Group to fund community activities.
To be clear, this is a volunteer effort. I don’t pay myself for this work because that’s not the goal.
While this isn’t a perfect solution, and I won’t be able to collect forever, there are two key reasons I will continue doing it for as long as I can. It prevents easily recyclable materials from ending up in landfills, and it provides data and processes that can help show the municipal government what can be diverted from landfills, in hopes that it may eventually start a broader recycling program.
So far, in three collections, I’ve taken in 2,807 pounds of metal – that’s roughly half a metric tonne of metal per collection – and diverted it from landfill. But only about 20 people have contributed each time, so that’s a very small part of the community – think of the amount we could collect if everyone contributed!
Next collection is Saturday, October 26 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Glebe Community Centre, so please start putting together the metal you want to get rid of.
Chris Joslin is a professor at Carleton University. He has lived in the Glebe since 2011 and has a strong passion for recycling and other environmental causes.
✅ SCRAP METALS WE TAKE
Most metals: iron, steel, copper, aluminum, brass, bronze, zinc, lead
Kitchen: oven, sinks, taps, mini fridges, cutlery, pots/pans, baking trays, microwaves Garden/garage: tools, bikes, car parts, rakes/shovels, car batteries
Scrap metal recycling has become a highly refined process and keeps metals out of landfills.
Business Buzz
The Papery has now reopened at its renovated location at the corner of Fifth and Bank.
Yolks breakfast café opening soon at 852 Bank Street, corner of Bank and Fifth, formerly Score Pizza. “Breakfast but better” “Our mission is to transform classic breakfast dishes into meals you’ll crave.” Yolks.ca
The Good Cannabis Company, formerly at 809 Bank Street, has closed permanently. It was the first cannabis store in the Glebe, opening in December 2020.
Kari Design Centre is now open at 225 Marché Way, Lansdowne.
Community mural to be unveiled soon at 900 Bank Street (the bottom of the Amica building). Sponsored by One Plant cannabis, Amica the Glebe and the Glebe BIA.
Contributors this month
IVA APOSTOLOVA
GERALD BAILIE
ALI BOTI
IAN BOYD
ALANNA BROWN
PATTI BURNETT
TERRY CHENEY
SUSAN CORNELL
BRIAN COX
ELLIOT CRICHTON
JOHN CRUMP
GABRIELLE DALLAPORTA
JENNY DEMARK
STEPHANIE GALLAGHER
PAT GOYECHE
MARJOLEIN GROENEVELT
JOEL HARDEN
NATALIE HOFFMANN
SARAH HOUSSER
JULIE IRETON
CLARE JACKSON
CHRIS JOSLIN
CHRISTINA KEYS
LINDA KRISTAL
THABANG MASHOLOGU
LARRY MCCLOSKEY
ANDREW MILNE
SHAWN MENARD
DANA MITCHELL
YASIR NAQVI
MICHAEL KOFI NGONGI
TIM O’CONNOR
KEVAN PIPE
SHAUNA POLLOCK
SUE REIVE
MARISA ROMANO
SARAH ROUTLIFFE
JULIE SAUNDERS
CHRISTINA SILVA
PETER SIMPSON
JACQUELYN SLAVIN
SUE STEFKO
BENEDYKT SYPOSZ
TITUS TAO
CAROLE TREMBLAY
KIERAN TULLOCH
EMILY VAZ
CECILE WILSON
ZEUS
Glimpse of the Glebe
Feisty is as feisty does
The Glebe has a history. As we know, the word glebe refers to church lands deeded by the Crown to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in 1837 – land that had been the ancestral territory of the Anishinaabe people. With the coming of the streetcar in the early 1900s, the Glebe became a residential suburb housing many public servants. As Ottawa grew, it has become part of the urban core of the city.
The Glebe also has a character. One only has to dip online into the nature of the Glebe in Sydney, Australia with its bohemian vibe to realize that Ottawa’s Glebe is a little more dignified, even tamer.
But tame or not, it’s also feisty. It’s a community with a track record of citizen engagement and grassroots activism that goes back at least to the ‘70s, when residents organized and campaigned for daycare, a nursery school, a restored Glebe Community Centre,
a community newspaper (the Glebe Report!), traffic-calming measures, a better Lansdowne (we can’t win them all). The Glebe Community Association has been active and has seen results. In more recent years, community engagement helped make the Flora Footbridge happen, as well as better bike lanes and an improved Bank Street bridge. Hope still lives of improving Lansdowne. Can the current residents of the Glebe carry on this legacy of community activism as we face new challenges – the need for densification yet also the harm of unwise development, the creeping loss of green space, the need to adapt to climate change, the scourge of drug addiction and homelessness? The list is long. Add to that the perennial problem of Lansdowne, and we have a full plate. Shall we sit up to the table?
– Liz McKeen
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 is made available at select locations such as the Glebe Community Centre, the
PROOFREADERS................ Martha Bowers, Jennifer D'Costa, Jeanette Rive
AREA CAPTAINS................. Martha Bowers, Bob Brocklebank, Judy Field, Deb Hogan & Dave Yurach, Lynn & Dave Johnston, Elena Kastritsa, Brenda Perras, Julie Stephens, Della Wilkinson
Jennie Aliman, Lawrence Ambler, Nico Arabackyj, Aubry family, Gaja Bartosik, Alessandra & Stefania Bartucci, Selena Beattie, Adrian Becklumb, Joanne Benoit, Carolyn Best, Daisy & Nettie Bonsall, Martha Bowers, Bowie family, Adélaïde and Éléonore Bridgett, Bob Brocklebank, Naomi and Audrey Cabassu, Ben Campbell-Rosser, Nico Cauchi, Bill Congdon, Ava & Olivia Carpenter, ChiuPanczyk Family, Sebastian, Cameron & Anna Cino, Claypool Family, JJ Comptois, June Creelman, Marni Crossley, Olivia Dance, Mark Dance, Dawson family, Richard DesRochers, Davies Family, Nathan and Roslyn Demarsh, Marilyn Deschamps, Diekmeyer-Bastianon family, Dingle family, Delia Elkin, Nicholas, Reuben, Dave & Sandra Elgersma, Patrick Farley, James & Oliver Frank, Judy Field, Federico Family, The Foo Family, Liane Gallop, Joann Garbig, Camilo Velez Gorman, Barbara Greenwood, Marjolein Groenevelt, Oliver, Martin, Sarah & Simon Hicks, Cheryle Hothersall, Jennifer Humphries, Sandiso Johnston, Jungclaus Family, Elena Kastritsa, Kasper Raji Kermany, Michael Khare, Lambert family, Fenton & Cora Hui Litster, Leith and Lulu Lambert, Kathleen Larocque, Catherine Lawr, Jamie, Alexander & Louisa Lem, Brams and Jane Leswick, Alison Lobsinger, Aanika, Jaiden and Vinay Lodha, Andy Lunney, Vanessa Lyon, Pat Marshall, Patrick Collins Mayer, Catherine McArthur, Ian McKercher, John and Helen Marsland, Matthew McLinton, Josephine & Elise Meloche, Julie Monaghan, Thomas Morris, Vivian Moulds, Karen Mount, Diane Munier, Rafi Naqvi, Maddy North, 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, Frank Schreiner, Short family, Deka Simon, Cathy Simons, Andrew Soares, Stephenson family, Elsie Sutherland, Cameron & Quinn Swords, Ruth Swyers, Saul Taler, Tomlin Boys, John & Maggie Thomson, Tom Trottier, Trudeau family, Will, Georgie & Blaire Turner, Zosia Vanderveen, Veevers family, Nick Walker, Vanessa Wen, Paul Wernick, Hope, Jax and Ash Wilson, Howard & Elizabeth Wong, Berkan Yazici, Martin Zak.
WELCOME TO:
Rafi Naqvi
Gaja Bartosik
Elsie Sutherland
THANKS AND FAREWELL:
Mikolaj Bartosik
Sabine Rudin-Brown
CARRIERS
First Nations
At the October 6 annual Panda Game between the Carleton Ravens and the uOttawa Gee-Gees, viewers watched the game from the Lansdowne berm, which will be demolished under the proposed Lansdowne 2.0 development. The Gee-Gees won 35-32. PHOTO: LIZ MCKEEN
Sidewalk sillies
Editor, Glebe Report
A Question for Councillor Shawn Menard
Nine days ago, signs went up affecting significant sections of Second Avenue between Lyon and Bronson: “Construction Zone, Tow Away Zone.” Then nothing happened! Other than one corner of Second Avenue at Chrysler having its sidewalk removed.
When I asked one of the workers why they were tearing up a perfectly good sidewalk, he said, “I do cement, my salary range does not allow me to know why, ask your councillor.”
So, why are what appear to be good walkways being torn apart? Why were the threatening signs – “Tow Away Zone” – put up last week, when no work was planned until a couple of days ago. The exception is the corner of Second and Chrysler, which has been torn up for the better part of a week. Every few days, city trucks bring four or more employees to measure the gap and add one or two more wooden boards that presumably will contain the newly poured concrete. We are now into a weekend with no expectation of imminent work done. Hence my earlier question to the employee.
I am in no way an engineer, so I seek an explanation in simple layman’s terms.
Benedykt Syposz
Garbage attracts garbage
Editor, Glebe Report
Sharing with you a few pictures at the intersection [of Pretoria and Queen Elizabeth Driveway]. Someone had wheeled a garbage bin at this corner, which is not a garbage collection site.
Three weeks and counting, more garbage bags are piling up next to the bin.
I have written to the City of Ottawa, but this seems to have slipped through the cracks since this corner is not a garbage collection site. The closest address is the TD Bank.
If you can give this some exposure, maybe someone at the City will recognize that this is a situation that requires co-operation across silos.
Titus Tao
Lost opportunity on the Rideau
Editor, Glebe Report
Re: “Let’s make the Rideau River Corridor an urban national park,” Glebe Report, September 2024.
I read with interest J. Brougham’s recent article in the Glebe Report proposing that the Rideau River Corridor be designated as an Urban National Park. I totally agree. The Rideau is a natural treasure running through the heart of the city.
For the last 10 years, the Rideau was animated as a recreational opportunity with the availability of the rentals of stand-up paddle boards (SUPs) and kayaks. A locally owned company, Ottawa SUP, had established a small rental outlet at Billings Bridge and Bank Street, renting a small piece of property from C.A. Paradis and utilizing part of the Linda Thom Park. Earlier this year, C.A Paradis was bought by Doyon Deprés, who made the decision that they needed the space previously rented by Ottawa SUP for other business purposes. As a result, residents of OOS and beyond have less access to enjoy the beauty, nature and recreation that the Rideau has to offer.
Designating the Rideau as an Urban National Park would attract more interest in its possibilities and hopefully provide an opportunity for businesses like Ottawa SUP to help residents and visitors enjoy being on the river, not just beside the river.
Gerald Bailie
Glebe Report seeks volunteer business writer
Are you a Glebe resident interested in business? Enjoy talking to people? Able to meet a monthly deadline?
The Glebe Report is seeking a volunteer to write a monthly column about the business scene in the Glebe, noting the comings and goings of businesses on Bank Street and elsewhere in the Glebe.
If interested, please contact the editor at editor@glebereport.ca.
Idle excuses
Editor, Glebe Report
The new anti-idling bylaw is “sending a signal to the community,” the mayor says. Perhaps the city should look in the mirror before sending a message to residents.
I took an informal survey of the drivers of three City of Ottawa trucks idling in my neighbourhood recently. The first said that “Yes, we had been briefed about this a few days ago, but this truck is supposed to shut off automatically.” (Suggestion: turn the key to “off” position). The second said, “We’re leaving in a couple of minutes.” (Suggestion: turn the key to “off.”)
The third said, “My truck has to keep running to keep my single amber flashing light on.” (Really? I know it’s comparing apples to oranges, but can’t electric vehicles go hundreds of kilometres on a single charge?)
Thank you for your “signal to the community,” Mr. Mayor.
Benedykt Syposz
Public smoking rules a mixed bag
Editor, Glebe Report
Last year I noted the odd person smoking on Bank Street. This year the odd person has been replaced by several, including groups standing, chatting and smoking.
In the old days there used to be education and clear no-smoking signage. Smoking was seen as a public health issue. My research on smoking on public sidewalks found nothing explicit on the City of Ottawa’s website.
What I found was no smoking on (spacious) public parks with families and children, but no reference to congested public sidewalks with families and children. But there are [rules against] smoking within 20 metres of patios or seven metres of bus stops
So, Bank Street seems to have a mix of “no smoking” zones and “free to smoke” zones.
Terry Cheney
A pile of garbage at the corner of Pretoria and Queen Elizabeth Driveway, not a garbage collection point, is growing. PHOTO: TITUS TAO
Glebe Annex ‘Party in the Park’ chilly but lively
By Sue Stefko
In most articles about parties, yoga and other outdoor events hosted by the Glebe Annex Community Association (GACA), we note how lucky we were to have incredible weather. Sadly, this was not the case for our Party in the Park 2024. After a long spell of amazingly beautiful weather, Saturday, September 7, the planned party date, was dark, cold and rainy, with significant rainfall throughout the day. Fortunately, the next day, our planned rain date, was dry, although cool and windy. Temperatures topped out in the low teens, but with winds gusting to almost 50 km/hour, it felt colder. Of course, as luck would have it, the day after the party, the temperature rose back to around 30 and stayed there for the rest of the week!
However, partygoers did not let cool, windy weather dampen their enthusiasm, as more than 50 people came out to enjoy the good food, the company of neighbours and the entertainment provided by magician Tyler. We were fortunate that our previous generous sponsors agreed to sponsor us again – Abbas Grocery, McKeen Metro, Loblaws Isabella, Massine’s Independent and the Farm Boy at Metcalfe. However, we were also thrilled to receive a grant from the City of
Ottawa’s Civic Events funding program. This allowed us to put some special touches on this year’s event, including Tyler, who wowed the crowd with his strolling magic show. It also allowed us to offer some fancy desserts from the Nutty Greek Bakery and pizza from Farinella. While it was clear that our long-standing tradition of hot dogs and crepes could not be beat, the pizza and dessert were popular additions.
The grant was notable, as the only other time we received a grant from this program was in 2020, and we all know what didn’t happen in 2020 – parties! This year, we were relieved to both receive the grant and be able to use it. One upside of picking this particular weekend, we witnessed free flyovers of fighter jets that were at the AERO Gatineau-Ottawa Airshow! We tried to take credit, but sadly no one believed that we ordered them especially for GACA’s Party in the Park.
As always, our attendees ranged in age, background and length of time they had lived in the neighbourhood, ranging from a few days to decades. All were welcome, and all mingled seamlessly. People were able to catch up with old friends and to make some new ones. Bringing our community together is precisely the point of having such get-togethers and it is also one of GACA’s core mandates, so we consider
this year’s party “mission accomplished.”
The Party in the Park kicked off a busy fall season for GACA, with a community clean-up occurring later in September and Halloween in the Park returning after it was met with overwhelming community enthusiasm in our inaugural launch last year! The Halloween event is not so much a party as much as an opportunity for GACA to create a spooky atmosphere, offer some Halloween treats and, weather permitting, invite the neighbourhood to come out and have photos taken at our outdoor photo booth.
It was a huge hit last year, with more than 100 participants, including children, adults and pets. While we plan to hand out Halloween treats no matter what the weather, the photo booth is dependent on having no rain because of the sensitivity of the photographic equipment. However, we are confident and hopeful that we can get back on track with our near perfect weather record this Halloween night. We hope to see our community come out again in large numbers to share in the scary fun!
Sue Stefko is vice-president of the Glebe Annex Community Association and a regular Glebe Report contributor.
Morris, the inspiration and force behind GACA’s first Party in the Park back in 2014, visits the barbecue team.
Magician Tyler performing one of his elastic tricks, keeping the crowd guessing as to how he does it! PHOTOS: GABRIELLE DALLAPORTA
Happy partygoers enjoying some snacks
Fourth Avenue block party gives sense of community
By Carole Tremblay
Residents of Fourth Avenue between Bank and Lyon held their block party on September 14 this year. Neighbours took over the street from noon to 9 p.m., with children having fun on their bikes, playing baseball or chess, drawing and more. We also had an “exchange table” to share items with each other, such as books, kids toys and clothes and plants.
Later in the afternoon, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of living on Fourth Avenue with our neighbour Mrs. Meredith. Afterwards, we enjoyed a potluck dinner together on the street with plenty of good conversation and (cheap) wine.
How fun it is to be part of your neighbourhood and feel real community! Thanks to all who participated, and we hope to share this event again with you next year. Special thanks to Amanda Olson and Lisa Love-Tedjoutomo for organizing it.
Tremblay is a resident of Fourth Avenue.
Carole
Fourth Avenue’s block party on September 14 boasted games, conversation, a potluck dinner and a celebration of neighbours.
Accessible Halloween fun
By Shauna Pollock
Me and my friend Eliot love Halloween. The lights, the costumes, the candy. Halloween is a magical way to meet your neighbours. But for kids and youth with disabilities, Halloween can be more than a little scary – it’s dark, it’s crowded and it’s rarely accessible for neurodiverse kids, or kids using mobility aids.
That’s why we’ve organized the first annual Glebe Halloween Village! It will take place October 26 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Glebe Avenue between Bank and Lyon Street South.
Glebe Halloween Village – what is it?
• Daytime trick-or-treating with low sensory inputs (no flashing lights, no loud noises and no startling animatronics)
• Tables of allergy-safe goodies and sensory-friendly small toys. No tricks, all treats!
• Free masks for volunteers and families to make sure vulnerable kids can trick or treat safely
• Lots of neighbours in friendly costumes, and maybe a few special guests!
We’re not doing this alone. Last year, Eliot learned about a charitable organization called Treat Accessibly that works to make trick-or-treating more accessible to disabled children and youth. Treat Accessibly hosts a few events each year, but there’s also a kit you can download to organize an accessible trick-or-treat in your neighbourhood. (Note: we are not at all affiliated with Treat Accessibly, but they sure inspired us this year!)
When Eliot found out about the kit, they made a post on Facebook to see if anyone would be interested in helping them to organize an accessible Halloween. My family and I offered to help, and three weeks later we were overwhelmed with the number of neighbours who wanted to make this happen! Volunteers, business owners and so many families have given their time to this event, and we’re excited to celebrate with you on October 26.
A Night under the stars – for a good cause
By Jacquelyn Slavin
On the evening of Thursday, October 24, the Glebe will come alive with purpose and compassion as members of Ottawa’s Royal LePage Performance Realty and Team Realty, consisting of nearly 800 realtors in Ottawa, the Valley and Eastern Ontario, join forces to host a Night Light Walk.
This three-kilometre walk in the Glebe is aimed at raising funds and awareness for domestic-violence prevention in our community. The event kicks off at 6:15 p.m. at Lansdowne Park as similar events are held in 10 different cities across Canada on the same evening. It’s the first time the walk will be held in the nation’s capital, and 100 per cent of the proceeds will stay in our community, as donations will be given to Harmony House, Ottawa’s only second-stage women’s shelter.
“The Night Light Walk embodies the spirit of community, bringing together local residents, businesses and organizations to shine a light on the critical issue of domestic violence,” said Kerri MaGee, broker and manager at Royal LePage Performance Realty at 165 Pretoria Avenue. “Participants will embark on a scenic walk through the
Glebe, illuminating the path with lanterns and glow sticks, symbolizing hope and solidarity for those affected by violence in their homes.”
“The Night Light Walk is coming together thanks to the tireless work of a long list of supporters, and I’m honoured to be a part of the team,” added Jason Ralph, broker of record and president of Royal LePage Team Realty. “We are deeply grateful to all of our donors thus far and the dedicated fundraising teams.”
The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, the charitable arm of Royal LePage, has a long-standing commitment to supporting women and children fleeing domestic violence. Since 1998, the foundation has raised over $46 million for shelters across Canada, making a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals. The Night Light Walk serves not only as a fundraiser but also as an opportunity to engage the community in important conversations about domestic violence, its prevention and the local resources available for those in need. Harmony House Shelter, located in Ottawa, provides a safe haven for women and children escaping violence. With a focus on empowerment and support, the shelter offers essential services,
To find out more, follow us on Instagram at @glebehalloweenvillage. You can RSVP for free at our Eventbrite page at https://bit.ly/glebehalloweenvillage. For questions or to volunteer, please email us at glebehalloweenvillage@gmail.com.
Shauna Pollock is a mom, educator and author who lives in the Glebe. She wishes it was Halloween all year long, and so does her four-year-old son!
including housing, counselling and resources to help families rebuild their lives. By participating in the Night Light Walk, community members can directly contribute to these critical services and help ensure that survivors have access to the support they need.
“Without Royal LePage, Harmony House wouldn’t gain the essential recognition it deserves for our vital role in addressing domestic violence,” said Francesca Davila, director of development and communications at Harmony House. “Their invaluable support through the Night Light Walk amplifies our mission, helping us make positive strides for all victims and contributing to ending the cycle of abuse.”
Glebe residents are encouraged to register to join the walk which begins and ends at Lansdowne and will feature inspiring speeches from local leaders and advocates. Participants in the walk are encouraged to form teams, invite friends and family, and create fundraising pages to amplify their impact. Whether you’re a seasoned advocate or new to the cause, your involvement makes a difference.
If you’re unable to join the walk, the two brokerages kindly ask that you leave your porch light on, on the evening of October 24 to help light their way.
The evening promises to be a memorable occasion filled with unity, hope and resilience.
If you or someone you know needs help, Harmony House is available to you. Please call or text (613-608-1499) or email (outreach@harmonyhousews.com).
To join the walk or for more information, visit www. NightLightWalk.ca. If you’re a local business looking to get involved in event sponsorship, please reach out to Kerri MaGee at Kerri@PerformanceRealty.ca or Julie McLaughlin at jmclaughlin@teamrealty.ca
Jacquelyn Slavin is communications manager at Royal LePage.
Glebe Halloween Village will offer accessible trick-or-treating for kids and youth with disabilities. It will take place October 26 on Glebe Avenue. Come join the fun! LOGO: KIERAN TULLOCH
PHOTO: LINDA KRISTAL
A Night Light Walk through the Glebe will take place on October 24 in support of Harmony House. Pictured is last year’s Night Light Walk fundraiser for women’s shelters in Burlington, Ontario. PHOTO: ROYAL LEPAGE CANADA
Join local Royal LePage realtors on October 24 for an evening 3 km walk through the Glebe to raise awareness and funds for local Harmony House women’s shelter. COURTESY OF ROYAL LEPAGE CANADA
Sarah Routliffe GNAG Executive Director
N 613-233-8713
E info@gnag.ca gnag.ca
GNAG’s fall happenings
There are many things in life we can’t control, and the changing of the seasons is certainly one of them. Some people fight it, others dread it, but I choose to embrace it – maybe a little too enthusiastically! As I sit here at home surrounded by gourds and festive decorations scattered around my living room, I can’t help but smile. Is it over the top? Not at all!
If you’re reading this and feeling the urge to make something pumpkin-flavoured, decorate your space, take a chilly walk in the woods or attend a fun community event, I hereby give you permission to do it! Embrace the season and enjoy the simple pleasures it brings.
If your interests happen to take you down to your local and fabulous community centre, we here at GNAG have some fun events this fall!
Halloween Party
We’re bringing back our big classic Halloween party this year, where the facility will be open to ticket holders from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 27. We’ll have rooms for all ages of children, from babies up to around 14 years old. Get ready for a spooktacular time with a haunted house, bouncy castles, cookie decorating and all kinds of Halloween fun! It’s the perfect way for kids (and parents) to get into the festive spirit.
For more information, visit www. gnag.ca to purchase your tickets. Babies who aren’t walking yet and parents get in for free! Simply grab a $15 ticket for your child and come get spooky with us.
Trivia Night – November 29, 2024
What is the capital city of Australia? (Hint: It’s not Sydney!) Personally, I had to think twice, but someone at Trivia Night is sure to know the answer! This is an event not to be missed, with the crowd, prizes and hilarious hosts, everyone is bound to have a good time.
We’re excited to announce that bottles of wine and beer will be available for purchase, and two Taste in the Glebe tickets will be up for grabs as our fabulous door prize! You can also pre-purchase our super tasty charcuterie boards to enjoy throughout the night.
But the BEST part? This year’s event is raising money for our 50th Anniversary Youth Room Renovation! We’re finally refreshing and revitalizing the small programming room off the Main Hall, turning it into an accessible and inclusive space for the youth of our community.
Stay tuned for more information and look out for table sales happening right after Halloween!
50th Anniversary
We’re busy putting together so much more information for this exciting event, but for now we need your help!
Please share your memories with us! Email a photo and a memory, along with the year (if you remember it) of a special moment you spent at the Glebe Community Centre or during a GNAG program or event. We’d love to include your stories as we celebrate 50 amazing years!
Send your submissions to: 50years@ gnag.ca.
House Tour Success
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible individuals and organizations who made the Glebe House Tour a resounding success. These funds will support our Integration Support Program, which helps children with special needs access our programs and camps. It will also provide financial assistance, ensuring that everyone in our community can participate in our activities, regardless of financial barriers. This year, we’re especially excited to share a portion of the proceeds with the Haven Too Youth Shelter at Fourth Avenue Baptist Church, helping them continue their vital work for vulnerable youth.
Our committee members, with special mention to chair Ana Marsland and past chair Suzanne McCarthy, deserve applause for their dedication. Our house leaders – Katrin Trost, Wendi Cibula, Mel Vaz, Julie Lafrance and Catherine Waters – ensured every guest had a memorable experience. A big shoutout to Cindy Scott, our sponsorship representative, for her exceptional
fundraising efforts and Caroline Warburton whose writing captured the essence of the homes. Lastly, tea ladies Jane Graham and Cindy Scott added warmth and charm to the event.
To every volunteer who stood in the homes and made sure nobody peaked into a drawer or two (you know who you are), we couldn’t do this event without you!
Finally, a big thank you to our sponsors for their crucial support in making our event a huge success:
• Titanium Sponsor: Faulkner Real Estate
• Platinum Sponsors: Amica: Senior Lifestyles and OSEG
– Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, Chartwell: Lord Lansdowne, Adcor Construction
• Gold Sponsors: Roxborough Bus Lines, The Unrefined Olive, West of Main Design, Amsted Design Build,
• Shuttle Bus Sponsor: Amica Senior Lifestyles
• Partners for Flowers: Bloomfields
• Partners for Reusable Bags: Amsted
• Art by Nicole Allen
To all involved in this event, your kindness and dedication are deeply appreciated.
This year’s GNAG Trivia Night will be held on November 29. Last year’s trivia night was great fun and even had charcuterie board nibbles. PHOTO: GNAG
New GCA board gets to work
The GCA board meeting on September 24 was an opportunity to say hello to new board members and begin to plan for what looks like a busy year. This meeting followed our Annual General Meeting 12 days earlier when seven new board members were elected, including Catherine Waters (Vice-President), Jennifer Pepall (Communications), Sam Woods (Great Glebe Garage Sale), Simon Morris (Transportation) and Edward Ocampo-Gooding (Webmaster). Two new Area Representatives also joined the board: David Wright (Brown’s Inlet East) and Manfred Bienefeld (Patterson Creek South). Not surprisingly, the proposed
John Crump President, Glebe Community Association www.glebeca.ca
Lansdowne 2.0 development popped onto the agenda.
The board passed two motions designed to ensure we are ready to respond to the next stages in this development which will swallow a half-billion taxpayer dollars at a time when we face multiple crises in affordable housing, public transit and the need to build resilience in the face of a rapidly changing climate – we were meeting at the end of a summer where Ottawa repeatedly broke records for heat and rainfall.
The first motion supports a petition calling for a binding referendum on whether to spend $493 million on Lansdowne 2.0. There was a good discussion around this proposal, and a number of reasons were put forward for supporting it, including the fact that the GCA has long advocated for more financial transparency and meaningful consultations on Lansdowne; the city’s Auditor General has indicated Lansdowne 2.0 costs have been underestimated and revenues have been over-estimated; and Mayor Sutcliffe has declared that the City is in a financial crisis, just nine months after Council approved proceeding with the development of Lansdowne 2.0.
A second motion targets problems with the city’s Lansdowne site plan for a new event centre/arena at Lansdowne, including concerns raised by its own Urban Design Review Panel
Bruno Groening (1906-1959)
Invitation to a Free Information Lecture with a Physician A Path to a Healthy Body and Soul
Lecture by a medical doctor. Based on the teaching of Bruno Groening, whose work in healing on the spiritual path in the 1950s in Germany astonished many people.
Lecture Topics
• Medically documented healings, presented and commented in a way which is understandable to the general public.
• People will report how they became free from illnesses, even those declared to be incurable.
• Learn how to absorb the life stream and how it can help you attain health, joy and inner free.
Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024
Time: 7:30 pm
Address: 91A Fourth Avenue, Ottawa
Free Admission, Donations Welcome
Contacts
Danielle: 613-331-2773, boutind2@gmail.com
Nicole: 613-841-9216, nicole51m@hotmail.com
Sponsored by the Ottawa Circle of Friends
Info about the Circle of Friends: www.bruno-groening.org
about the event centre’s design and impacts on public gathering and green space, which the city’s Lansdowne 2.0 team appears to have largely ignored. The GCA and community members have raised significant concerns about the location, design, operations and environmental and transportation impacts of the proposed event centre.
The full motion calls for a revised design plan and is available on the GCA website, but here are a few highlights:
We continue to oppose the loss of green space, public parkland and trees due to the location of the event centre and believe that the amount of parkland eliminated in order to permit vehicle traffic is excessive.
We call for a natural green roof instead of a green-coloured plastic membrane which will create a heat island.
The site plan for the event centre should be presented in context of all of Lansdowne Park and not as if it were an isolated development. This piecemeal approach to site planning limits public understanding of the overall project’s scope and has prevented the exploration of options that would make all of Lansdowne Park successful.
New Committees
The board decided to create two new committees: Governance and Communications. Now that the new Ontario Non-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) is in force, it’s important to ensure that all internal processes and procedures are examined. Perhaps not the most exciting topic but an essential activity. The new committee will be chaired by Geneviève McInnis. At the same time, GCA’s new communications lead, Jennifer Pepall, will head a group that will look at how the association
communicates with its members and how we can be more effective and efficient in this area.
A Final Look Backwards
Thanks to the more than 50 people who took part in the GCA’s Annual General Meeting on September 12. Not only did we hear highlights of some of the many activities of the GCA committees, but members also took an important step in supporting a motion to change some of the association bylaws, ensuring that we are in compliance with the ONCA.
Next Meeting
The next GCA board meeting will be held on Zoom Tuesday, October 22 at 7 p.m. Login and other details to be circulated.
Shawn Menard Councillor, Capital Ward
N 613-580-2487 www.shawnmenard.ca
Budget time and City spending
City Hall watchers will know that as fall approaches, so too does budget time. The City recently released its draft budget priorities (directions) for 2025. This statement gives you a pretty good idea of what the budget will look like once it’s finally released and debated by city council. Despite a summer spent talking about a financial crisis, the city is sticking with what would seem to be an arbitrary, across-the-board, 2.9-percent increase for departments and boards, not including transit.
Why do I call it arbitrary? There is nothing presented that would differentiate among council priorities, like affordable housing, climate change, better transportation, small businesses or parks improvements. Furthermore, there is no evidence for why one area should receive substantially less in real dollars versus another which would receive substantially more. For example, a relatively small budgetary area to begin with, the Ottawa Library, would receive much less with 2.9 per cent than would an already existing larger budget area, like Transportation and Roads.
The budget directions also detailed very disturbing outcomes for transit. After pouring more than $7 billion into capital spending ($4 billion in city funds) into a private-sector-led transit deal, the city has turned around and said we need to look at alternatives that cut service, raise fares drastically and deter further ridership. It makes no sense to me to have the largest investment in city history, only to turn around and make riding it less attractive.
I voted along with several other colleagues against the way the budget directions were designed.
The recent messaging about the city being “in a financial crisis not of its own making” also needs much more introspection. Should the city be partnering with the federal and provincial
governments to fund needed services? Of course, and this is something I have advocated for, both when I owned a small business and when I worked for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Cities get a raw deal, owning 60 per cent of the infrastructure but receiving just 10 per cent of the taxes collected amongst the orders of government. However, the message that the city does not have to account for its own missteps (like the ones highlighted in the LRT inquiry or the wasteful spending that has occurred on urban sprawl, road widening or Lansdowne 2.0) doesn’t ring true for people. A better message would be about tax fairness and working together towards a city we can all be proud of.
Our city debt has tripled in less than 10 years from 2011 to 2021 with the main culprits being expensive public-private partnership mega-projects. That costs us when it comes time to fund the needs of residents.
It is time for the city to stop with the mega P3 projects that have turned out so poorly for us. Focus on basic services. Upgrade park bathrooms and community centres. Extend times for splash pads and wading pools. Find efficiencies that save money over time. Fix the roads we have and stop widening them. End the millions in subsidies to Porsche dealerships and developers and invest instead in affordable housing. Make our transit system attractive, frequent and affordable to ride so people make the choice to try it. Open the library on Sunday. Clear the outdoor stairs in the winter. Stop the massive and costly outward sprawl and enhance services in already built-up areas. Basic, low-cost, quality-of-life improvements would go a long way in this city.
I believe that is possible, and we all need to keep pushing for something better.
The draft budget will be released on November 13. It will go to committees for review and debate before being voted on by city council in December. We will keep residents informed in our newsletter of consultations and opportunities to speak at committee. You can sign up by emailing CapitalWard@ ottawa.ca
Shawn Menard is City Councillor for Capital Ward. He can be reached at CapitalWard@ottawa.ca
International Menopause Day!
Invite yourself to come and spend one hour to affirm a commitment to your health and vitality. My approach is full of laughter, love, joy, tears, deep listening, acceptance and a curiosity to look at the current science that is evolving.
In this workshop I will give you some practical information and things to think about so that you can satisfy your own curiosity and think about how you will shape your menopause experience.
Registration $40 breathwithcamille.com/menopower
ted r. lupinski
Our focus is SMALL PROJECTS DONE RIGHT –projects that larger contractors do not consider.
We do everything from landscaping, interlock, fencing, retaining walls, and decks as well as interior projects such as painting and drywall.
Clients looking to reserve work for 2024 and 2025 should contact us for a free estimate at 613 794-3547.
Glebe Osteopathy and Wellness, 901 Bank Street (above the Running Room)
Residents of the Glebe often say that it’s a very safe place, a good place to raise your kids – a clean neighbourhood of stately homes, giant shade trees, beautiful gardens. A community considered by many to be one of the safest in a safe city.
But in recent months, post-pandemic, there are hints of change. Ottawa police statistics for 2023 for Capital Ward, of which the Glebe is a part, show a 54.8 per cent increase in non-violent crime, from 3,977 to 6,157. Anecdotal reports of increased petty theft and bike thefts in the neighbourhood are showing up on the Glebe “Being Neighbourly” Facebook page. Strollers and wagons that used to be left unattended are now more often locked. Along with messages about lost cats or found keys, we see more Facebook posts about stolen property and neighbours’ grassroots efforts to return items to their rightful owner.
What has been your experience?
Do you feel that petty crime is increasing in the Glebe?
Yes/no
Have you been a victim of crime in the last few months?
Yes/no
If so, have you been the victim of:
To respond to these questions, scan the QR Code or go to go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y8ZXBHD
Survey results in our next issue.
By Thabang Mashologu
One of the things Ottawans are known for is our love of skating. From heading down the Rideau Canal during Winterlude to games of shinny in the Glebe, skating brings us together, no matter our background, age or skill level. We’re fortunate to have such fantastic public arenas in our city, all well-maintained by dedicated staff who keep things running smoothly year-round. But when you try to find out when and where you can skate, you’ll notice that it’s not always as straightforward as it should be. Sure, our city’s arenas offer something for everyone – family skating, public skating, pick-up recreational hockey. However, since rink schedules vary by location and frequently change, finding drop-in skating times on the City of Ottawa website can be time-consuming and frustrating. I believe more residents would get out on the ice if access to this information were easier. That’s why I launched the website OttawaPublicSkating.ca back in July 2023. It’s an independent, unaffiliated and free resource designed to make it easier for everyone in Ottawa to find drop-in skating times at community arenas. As a parent with two boys in Ottawa Sting rep hockey, I’m in and out of arenas all the time. However, I noticed that it was challenging for many people to find out when and where they could skate. It didn’t feel right that people had to jump through hoops just to get on the ice. So, I thought, why not bring all that information together in one easy-to-use place? Now, instead of bouncing around websites or going to rinks to check times, you can find everything you need in one spot with no hassle.
Since its launch, the site has seen steady traffic of a few thousand visitors each month. It’s especially busy during hockey and ringette tryouts, as well as around holidays and PD days. We’ve received positive feedback from users who say the site makes their lives easier. While OttawaPublicSkating.ca uses publicly available data, it’s important to note that it is an independent project and is not affiliated with the City of Ottawa. I run the site on my own. Moreover, I’ve even heard that some arena staff are now suggesting residents use the website to track skating times, meaning it is becoming a trusted source.
It’s been truly fulfilling and heartwarming to see how skating unifies our diverse community. Every time I go to the rink, seeing people of all ages, colours and backgrounds makes me proud of the wonderful community we live in. If even one person has made it to the rink because of our website, we’ve fulfilled our purpose.
One of the bonuses of this project has been involving my 12-year-old son in this project. Since he’s into coding and business, he’s started helping with updates to the site. It’s been a fantastic way for us to spend time together while he learns some real-world coding skills. Plus, it’s great seeing him take an interest in something that combines tech with community impact.
Together with my son, we are always looking for ways to improve the site. For example, we recently added ball hockey times. We’ve heard that there is a similar issue for public swimming times, but that’s still on our to-do list.
Now, just to be clear, while the site does feature some ads to help cover the costs of running it, it’s not a money-making venture – far from it. The ads simply help keep the site running, so we can continue to offer this resource for free.
It’s been wonderful to see how OttawaPublicSkating.ca fits right in the city’s Play Free initiative, which offers free family and public skating throughout 2024 for children and youth under 17 with accompanying adults. This program has indeed lowered the barriers to enjoying skating, and I’m so glad the website helps people take full advantage of it.
I also want to express my heartfelt thanks to the City of Ottawa staff who maintain our public skating rinks and provide these fantastic services to our community. Their hard work and dedication make it possible for us to enjoy safe, well-maintained skating facilities. So, if you haven’t already, visit OttawaPublicSkating.ca and let me know your thoughts. You can also follow along for updates on X (formerly Twitter) @OttawaSkates and find us on Facebook and Instagram.
See you on the ice!
Thabang Mashologu is an engineer and software executive who lives in the Glebe with his wife and two hockey-loving sons.
The author and his hockey-player sons
Compact
By Dana Mitchell
When you walk into Compact Music, you’ll likely be greeted by Ian Boyd, the self-proclaimed “old man in the record store.” He owns the store along with his brother, James, who makes less frequent cameos behind the counter. Together, they form a dynamic and passionate duo who have been selling records in Ottawa for over four decades.
The Boyd brothers’ journey into the world of music retail began right out of school. With youthful ambition and a deep-rooted love for music, they used a government grant to fund what would become their first venture: an outdoor record store. Their initial inventory was drawn from their personal collection, which consisted of more than 800 records. As demand grew, so did their collection, and Ian would often hitchhike to Toronto to bring back boxes of inventory.
“I remember my first day I sold seven records, and I thought, I’m going to be rich,” says Ian. “Of course, I’m not, but I’ve loved going to work every day, and that counts for a lot.”
Compact Music came into existence in 1991 with its first location at Westgate Mall. The Glebe location opened in 1996, the day before the Great Glebe Garage Sale, which Ian and James describe as one of the business’s best days.
“I was stunned by how busy it was,” recalls Ian. “From that first day, I knew the Glebe would be a great place to be a retailer.”
Ian and James’s love for music began at an early age. The brothers remember staying up late in 1964 to watch the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, a pivotal moment that left a lasting mark on their lives. James, who was four at the time, witnessed the whole performance, while six-year-old Ian dozed off, waking only to catch a brief glimpse of the music legends exiting the stage.
Growing up, Ian describes himself as a musical child who eagerly participated in choir and band. James, on the other hand, was more inclined towards sports in his youth. Despite these differences, it was their shared love for music and buying records that ultimately brought them together, laying the foundation for what would become a lifelong partnership in the music industry.
“We’ve had good luck with staff, but it’s mainly my brother and I that have worked six days a week for the past 27 years,” says Ian. “When we were younger it was hard, but we’re having more fun now than we ever have.”
It was the Boyds’ mother who first introduced them to classical music and the poetic lyricism of artists like Bob Dylan and Neil Diamond. Their father, though occasionally frustrated by their loud music choices, also
played a significant role in shaping their musical tastes. These childhood influences fostered an appreciation for musical discovery and community that the Boyd brothers carry into their business practices which make Compact Music a place where music lovers can explore, discover and connect with music in a way that transcends the digital realm.
“We get people in from all over the world,” says James. “They’ll say: I’ve been to 50 record stores in 40 different cities, and I’ve never seen this. And that’s the beauty of the business – you never know what you’re going to find.”
When asked about their lifelong
passion for music, both agree on the power of a well-crafted song and its ability to bring people together. In essence, that’s also what the business aims to achieve. Every inch of Compact Music is taken up by merchandise that encompasses a wide variety of genres and media types, creating an eclectic environment that caters to diverse audiences.
“To be a good and successful store you need to have selection,” says Ian. “You need to have everything. And that’s our philosophy: we’re an art gallery for music.”
Over the years, the Boyd brothers have witnessed the rapid evolution of music tastes and trends. Despite the ongoing popularity of music streaming and digitization, they recognize the continued need for brick-and-mortar establishments like Compact Music.
For James, the decision to open Compact Music was simple: “We thought, what are we going to do in life? Let’s have a record store. Why not?”
You can visit Compact Music at 785 Bank Street or check out their website and social media for more information.
Dana Mitchell works with the Glebe BIA as their communications and outreach intern. She is a Glebe resident who is currently completing her PhD in English at Carleton University.
The Boyd brothers (and Ian’s son) in their early years of operation in the 1990s. PHOTOS: IAN BOYD.
Co-owners of Compact Music, James and Ian Boyd
The store serves as an “art gallery for music.”
Open House
By Cecile Wilson
CO2 at Mauna Loa, 21 September 2024: 422.19 ppm
With Ontario’s demand for electricity anticipated to rise by two per cent annually and almost double by 2050, the provincial government is promoting the development of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSes). Increased storage capacity will improve the reliability of electricity distribution both locally and throughout the province.
BESSes are already approved or under construction in Jarvis, Napanee and Spencerville. In Ottawa, a 150-megawatt battery-storage project for Trail Road has received municipal approval, but a 250-megawatt project by Evolugen for Fitzroy Harbour is facing pushback from some community members.
Why Battery Energy Storage Systems?
Battery Energy Storage Systems are a critical component of the transition to a clean, renewable-energy economy that will lower greenhouse gas emissions and help reduce the impacts of climate change. One challenge with wind and solar is that energy can only be produced when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining. On the other hand, renewable energy can sometimes overproduce. In Ontario, most wind power is produced overnight when the demand and price for energy are low. Hydro and nuclear power can also contribute to oversupply.
The interplay between supply and demand is critical for electricity distribution. If supply does not match demand, we experience blackouts; if there is more supply than demand, the excess power is dumped elsewhere below cost.
The economic advantage of BESSes
Excess electricity needs to be directed to where it can be used or stored. Currently, the province has grid connections with Manitoba, Quebec, New York, Michigan and Minnesota and can sell excess power to those jurisdictions. BESSes provide another option. They store electricity overnight when it is generated during low-demand periods and release it when the demand for electricity is higher and more expensive.
Support for communities
Companies that install and manage BESSes point out that their operations make substantive contributions to the municipal tax base and to community benefit funds. In the case of the Fitzroy Harbour proposal, Evolugen has committed to $125,000 a year for community benefits for the 20-year lifespan of the project – that’s a total of $5 million. With the City’s current shortfall in income, the offer should be enticing.
Addressing concerns
A committee of Fitzroy Harbour residents have legitimate concerns about the proposal that have not yet been answered to their satisfaction. The main issue seems to be the potential for battery fires and the environmental and health harms they could possibly cause. The chemical makeup of older-style batteries known as NCM
batteries (lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide batteries) made them more prone to “thermal runaway,” a condition where a battery enters “an uncontrollable, self-heating state.” Evolugen is leaning towards the current generation of solid-state batteries – lithium iron phosphate (LFP) – which are chemically quite stable and very unlikely to overheat.
The number of BESSes installed worldwide has increased greatly over the last five years. Data from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) shows that the number of incidents per gigawatt capacity has decreased to near zero. The EPRI states that battery manufacturers and operators have learned from past incidents and have developed multilayered safety protocols for the cell, module and cabinet levels of the installation. These protocols include constant monitoring of the temperature and charge of the various component levels of the BESS, as well as smoke, heat and charge detectors and automatic shut-off in case of a fire threat. It is worth noting that any BESS installation must receive the required permits and approvals from the city and the province and would need to develop an emergency response plan.
Risk versus benefit
While we might wish for a 100-percent risk-free project, this is unrealistic. We all take calculated risks because we determine the benefit of the activity outweighs any potential danger. Most of us drive a car regularly, yet last year 411 people died in car accidents in Ontario. Many homes are heated by gas, yet there were almost 90 accidental gas explosions in Ontario between 2013 and 2023.
Clarke Kelly, the councillor for West Carleton-March ward, proposed site of the Evolugen project, has suggested that a smaller project than 250 megawatts might be more acceptable. Choosing a different site could be another alternative. In any case, a successful proposal will require greater attention to community concerns.
West Carleton-March has endured some of the worst that a disrupted climate has to offer – tornadoes and frequent extreme flooding. Enabling a more rapid transition to clean electrical power through BESS facilities could help lessen climate risks and provide more clean, reliable electricity for all of us.
Cecile Wilson is a long-time resident of the Glebe and is interested in climate issues.
Your tree is lonely: Planting soft landings under trees
By Christina Keys
Over the past few years, the Glebe Community Association’s incredible Tree Team has been planting native trees, encouraging neighbours to plant trees for succession and advocating for policy changes regarding the proactive planting of City of Ottawa trees. A key component of supporting these new trees and existing trees is removing the lawn from around them and planting “soft landing” gardens.
Keystone trees
Oaks, cherries, birches, poplars, maples, hickories and pines are the primary keystone trees in Ottawa’s ecosystem. According to entomologist Doug Tallamy and the National Wildlife Federation, keystone trees are native tree species that support up to 90 per cent of moths and butterflies. These beneficial insects feed on keystone trees, then often drop to the ground to pupate.
On the ground, their ideal environment is a soft landing, a garden that creates critical habitats that helps these moths and butterflies to survive. Native plants, leaf litter and even natural mulch offer shelter. By comparison, lawns do not support these insects and are harmful to trees. Too many keystone trees, such as sugar maples and red oaks, simply have grass under their canopy.
Lawn is harmful for trees
Lawns out-compete trees for water and nutrients, and compacted lawns further limit the water, nutrients and air flow into the soil. “Nowhere in our native forests do our trees have to compete with the greed, appetite and thirst of invasive turf grasses,” says arborist Dave Buttivant of Eastern Ontario Arborists and Treefeed.
The short roots of turf grass do not add organic matter to the soil or improve soil structure. Removing leaves from your lawn may be import
from decomposing organic matter, negatively impacts soil structure and limits the soil’s fungal life.
Yet soil health is key to tree health. “Although you cannot see it,” says Buttivant, “your trees and surrounding environment are only as healthy as the soils they grow in.” In a soft landing, leaves and other plant debris are left to decompose. The complex, varied root systems of different native plants in a soft landing support healthy soil structure which then allows water and nutrients to reach the tree.
Creating garden beds
To create a new garden bed, try sheet mulching. Lay plain cardboard on the grass and cover with mulch, such as a thick layer of leaves. Keep moist. When the cardboard is soft, plant through it into the soil. This method can temporarily affect water and air flow into the soil, but keeping the cardboard moist helps it to break down faster, minimizing this concern while still killing the grass underneath. Alternatively, lift the turf with a lawn edger and cover the bare soil with mulch.
such as blood root, Jack-in-the-pulpit and red trilliums. If you prefer the lawn look, consider oak sedge. When planted densely, this sedge creates a lush green carpet even in dry soil under large tree canopies.
faster than five or 10-gallon potted trees. Check out Trinkets and Thyme nursery, Ontario Natives online store and Ferguson’s Tree Nursery’s spring sale.
Reduced labour, more enjoyment
The new Right of Way bylaws allow no plants within one metre of a City of Ottawa tree trunk. However, mulch and leaf litter are allowed within a metre, and your soft-landing plants can be planted starting one metre away.
Native shade plants
It is a myth that nothing can grow in the shade under an urban tree. Many native plants thrive in full shade and dry soil, including wild columbine, hairy beardtongue, wild geranium, large leaf aster, zigzag goldenrod, balsam ragwort and bottlebrush rye.
Shade plants that require medium moisture include wild ginger, foam flower, false solomon’s seal, wild blue
Consider also underplanting a large tree, whether keystone or not, with smaller keystone trees such as pin cherry, chokecherry, paper birch, pussy willow or pagoda dogwood. Large canopy trees do not naturally grow alone as specimen trees. In a healthy forest, there are canopy trees, understory trees, shrubs and a ground layer of perennials and sedges. These layers create dense root networks that enrich and stabilize the soil as well as stabilizing the trees themselves. We can replicate this on a microscale in our urban yards. Look for plugs or three-quarter-inch pots when planting under a mature tree. When planting a new tree,
With a soft landing under your tree, your tree will be healthier and better able to support local wildlife. Birds will be drawn to the caterpillars to feed their young in spring and to the seed heads for food in fall and winter. You’ll spend less time mowing, raking, weeding and watering your lawn. Leave the leaves and other plant debris to nurture your trees and free up even more time to enjoy your garden.
Christina Keys is a wildlife gardener with Garden Releaf, a Glebe-based ecological garden restoration and design company, owned and operated by Tara Beauchamp. Together, they remove or smother lawns across central Ottawa, replacing them with thriving native plant gardens.
A version of this article originally appeared in the Manor Park Chronicle.
Seeking Mother’s Helper Live in
the Glebe
Are you compassionate, reliable, and looking for a unique living arrangement? A single mother is seeking a dedicated helper to assist with grocery pick up and meal preparation. In exchange you’ll have free room and board in your own room and bathroom.
About Us:
• Single mother with mild health issues and a middle school-aged son
• Warm, welcoming home in the beautiful Glebe.
What we offer:
• Free room and board
• Private bedroom and bathroom
• A supportive and friendly environment.
Responsibilities:
• Grocery pick-up
• Meal preparation, clean up, and feeding adorable cat
• Drivers license would be an asset!
We are a strictly nonsmoking, dry house.
If you are interested in making a positive impact and becoming a part of our home, please email: roltek1226@gmail.com
Our mission to help Ottawa’s homeless, one Sunday at a time
By Elliott Crichton
Growing up in Ottawa, we’ve always known homelessness was an issue, but we never truly understood the depth of it until recently. Together we, Theliau, Justin, Jakob and I, pass by dozens of homeless and less fortunate individuals every day on our way to school. It hit all of us hard. For a while, we were guilty of what most people do: feeling bad but moving on with our day. One day we were hit with that realization that homelessness was not an issue or crisis we could ignore, push to the back of our minds or let someone else deal with. It was time to take action. These were people, not just faces we passed by. It was a wake-up call for us as a group, and we remember bringing it up to each other. “Why don’t we do something about it?”. The idea stuck, and before we knew it, we were planning how we could help.
That’s when we decided to start our own fundraiser for the homeless. It began as a simple conversation but quickly became something bigger. Our plan was to go door-to-door every Sunday collecting non-perishable food items and any money people were willing to donate. It didn’t matter if someone could only give a can of beans or a few dollars—every bit helps. Our goal was to gather enough supplies to host an event where we could hand out hamburgers to the homeless and donate the rest of the non-perishables to the Ottawa Food Bank.
Each Sunday, the four of us split up, hitting different neighbourhoods to explain our cause. We start by introducing ourselves and talking about what we’ve seen – the harsh living conditions of the homeless near our school. Most people we meet are immediately supportive, which has been incredibly motivating. We’re always surprised by how willing people are to help once they understand what we’re trying to do.
It’s a pretty straightforward process. We knock on doors, explain why we’re there, and ask for anything people can spare. Theliau, Justin, Jakob, and I
are usually met with kindness and generosity. Even though we’ve been doing this for weeks now, we’re still amazed at the range of responses we get. We remember one person gave us a whole box of groceries, saying they were happy to help because they’ve been in tough situations themselves before. Moments like that keep us going.
We’ve collected hundreds of non-perishable food items, and the amount of money people have donated has been far beyond what we expected. We’re using all of that to fund the event we’re planning – a day where we’ll set up a grill and hand out hamburgers to the homeless community. We want to offer something hot and hearty, something that feels like a meal made with care. We’re also going to donate the food we’ve collected to the Ottawa Food Bank, ensuring the support lasts beyond just that one day.
It’s not just about feeding people, though. For us, it’s about acknowledging the homeless population, making them feel seen, and treating them with the respect they deserve. It’s easy to become numb to the sight of people on the streets, but when you stop and really look, you realize how easy it is for someone to fall into that situation. A little bad luck, and it could be any of us. That’s why we felt like we had to do more than just talk about it.
This experience has opened our eyes to the power of community action. We’ve learned that even though we’re just a few high school students, we can make a real impact if we put in the time and effort. We’re already thinking about how we can continue this initiative beyond the event. Whether it’s continuing our Sunday collections or finding new ways to support the homeless in Ottawa, we’re determined not to stop here.
Author Elliott Crichton, with friends Theliau JaouenSteffener, Jakob Peterson and Justin Brown, are high school students.
Every Sunday a group of high-school friends goes door-to-door collecting food and donations for the homeless.
Autumn baking a labour of love
By Natalie Hoffmann
Autumn is my favourite season, by far. There is something magical about the changing colours, the cooler temperatures and the coziness of putting on a warm sweater. As the temperature drops and the nights become longer, I always reflect on everything I am grateful for, including a wonderful home, a career I am passionate about and the endless support and kindness from my partner, family and friends.
My way of showing this gratitude and love is through baking. Some of my fondest childhood memories come from autumn baking with my family, including making caramel popcorn, decorating Halloween-inspired sugar cookies and baking a Thanksgiving pumpkin pie. I will always value the fun times I spent in the kitchen with my grandparents and parents. From this baking, I quickly found out that I have a huge sweet tooth. But more importantly, I discovered that I could make, with my own hands, something beautiful and delicious that could be shared with others.
As I got older, my baking got progressively better, but this was a big labour of love. Trying new recipes has taught me patience, how to be careful with measuring ingredients and the importance of cleaning up as you go. I have even suffered many heartbreaks when the final product did not turn out quite as I had envisioned, or even worse, was completely inedible. But I am not one to give up, and all my efforts have been worthwhile. The satisfaction of seeing people enjoy my baking is well worth any previous failed attempts. Even now I keep experimenting with different recipes and methods to try to create something new and incredible. With a bit more experience under my belt, autumn baking is still one of my favourite things to do. This includes gifting my friends and family seasonal baked goods such as apple pie, pumpkin cheesecake and cinnamon buns. Sharing my baking is my equivalent of sending a big warm hug to those that matter most to me. In this spirit, I wanted to share an autumn-inspired recipe with the wonderful Glebe community.
While I am a huge fan of pumpkin-based and pumpkin-spice-flavoured recipes, this loaf recipe uses sweet potato as its base. Don’t panic –this loaf is wonderfully soft, sweet and packed with warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. It is easy to put together and will make your home smell amazing as it is baking. This recipe would also work well in muffin form. It is the perfect treat to bake together with your family or share with your loved ones on an autumn day with a cup of tea. I hope you enjoy!
Natalie Hoffmann is an enthusiastic baker and scientist who recently moved to the Glebe following the completion of her PhD in Toronto.
Autumn Sweet Potato Loaf
(Adapted from Averie Cooks)
Ingredients:
340 g (1 ½ cups) sweet potatoes, peeled and mashed [about 2 medium or 1 large sweet potatoes]
2 large eggs
125 mL (½ cup) vegetable oil
60 mL (¼ cup) buttermilk
5 mL (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
5 g (1 teaspoon) orange zest
210 g (1 ¾ cups) all-purpose flour
230 g (1 ¼ cups) white sugar
50 g (¼ cup) brown sugar, packed
10 g (2 teaspoons) baking soda
5 g (1 tablespoon) ground cinnamon
2 g (1 teaspoon) ground ginger
2 g (1 teaspoon) ground nutmeg
1 g (½ teaspoon) ground allspice
1 g (½ teaspoon) ground cloves
2 g (½ teaspoon) salt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 180 °C (350 °F). Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Peel the sweet potato and boil until fork-tender, then mash thoroughly until there are no lumps. Let cool to room temperature.
To the mashed sweet potato, add the eggs, oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and orange zest and mix until well-combined, then set aside.
In a separate large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and whisk together.
Pour the sweet potato mixture over the dry ingredients, and gently fold together with a spatula until no flour is visible.
Pour the batter into the loaf pan and gently smooth out the top. For a crunchy top, evenly sprinkle 25 g (2 tablespoons) of white sugar over the surface (optional).
Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. The loaf can be covered with aluminum foil for the last 10 minutes of baking if the top is getting too brown before the loaf is fully cooked. Allow to cool 10 minutes in the pan, then remove from the pan and move onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Sweet potato adds a natural sweetness and richness to this loaf recipe and makes it super soft and moist. PHOTO: NATALIE HOFFMANN
food world!
By Tim O’Connor
Ottawa’s perception of what food can be has changed utterly since I was a kid growing up in the Glebe. People have come to expect higher quality and more opportunities to experience a wider culinary world. We want to eat differently than we used to. Thinking about that change is why I want this column to change.
The change in Ottawa’s relationship with food started with a few trailblazers. A young Stephen Beckta came back from being a sommelier in New York City and built a service-first restaurant that served stellar food. His new attitude was a key step in the complete shift of Ottawa food culture. Places like e18hteen and Social followed and continue to change the dining scene in Ottawa.
The consumer changed too and became more adventurous and open minded. Just recently, chef Lizardo Becerra, the owner of Peruvian restaurant Raphaël on Elgin Street, won top prize at the Canadian Kitchen Party awards (formerly Golden Plates) and will represent the city at national finals.
Could a Peruvian fine-dining restaurant have existed 20 years ago in Ottawa? I don’t know, but our frame of mind on food has so broadened, spurred on by the Food Network and other TV channels, by Instagram or TikTok, by YouTube videos from Bon Appetit and others. We are now routinely exposed to many more types of food.
The examples of change are everywhere. I remember an Italian woman once telling me how she moved to Ottawa and had to start writing Ital ian recipes for North Americans. She had to mimic
canned Chef Boyardee to make her food appealing to local tastes. Today we have Cantina Gia in the Glebe, creating authentic Northern Italian dishes that are out of this world.
In or near the Glebe are other examples of food options that wouldn’t have existed here years ago – such as the Japanese bakery Ichiban, or the Middle Eastern bakery Brioche, or Hugo’s food truck with its authentic tacos. You’re steps away from freshly made dumplings and bao and authentic goat curry. Seoul Dogs in Lansdowne serves unique Korean hot dogs. At Flora Hall Brewing, we serve a hot dog with kimchi on top. What craft brewery would have served that years ago? Oh, wait, there were no craft breweries in Ottawa back then – another example of the city’s growing sophistication with food and drink.
Grocery stores have also changed. Immigrants have opened many tiny shops to sell ingredients from Mexico, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and elsewhere. In supermarkets, the selection is unrecognizable from when I was a kid. Back then, when Mom went to the grocery store to get mushrooms she got white buttons, because that is all there were. Today, you can walk into any supermarket and expect a half dozen types of mushrooms – shiitake, morel, portobello, etc. You can buy Heartee oyster mushrooms in colourful variants that are grown locally in shipping containers. The other day I saw a familiar sweet potato, but also a Japanese sweet potato and yet another type of sweet potato. Grocery stores now think about food not just as nourishment but as something exciting. The products they’re bringing in for the
around the Glebe.
Tim O’Connor grew up in the Glebe and is head chef at Flora Hall Brewing.
Mushrooms are no longer just white buttons.
Ichiban Bakery brings baked goods from Japan to the Glebe, just one example of the recent availability of exciting foods from around the world. PHOTOS: PETER SIMPSON
This column should reflect all this excitement of a new world of food and drink now in and
Gram’s apple crisp
FROM THE CAULDRON OF A KITCHEN WITCH
By Marisa Romano
While most of us are preparing to trick-or-treat on the night of October 31, witches are getting ready to partake in their most important celebration of the year, Samhain. On Samhain’s table are comforting dishes like soups and slow-cooked stews, sides with root vegetables and baked goods with pumpkin, apples, nuts and seeds. Apple crisp is one of them.
Witchcraft and belief in occult practices have been in existence across cultures throughout recorded history. The European witchcraft of the Celtic, Nordic and Germanic traditions has its roots in pre-Christian times, when magic and religion were interconnected and sorcery was often associated with black magic and malevolence.
Despite the medieval hunt to eradicate sorceresses and raze their craft, witches – women and men – are still very much part of our society. Julie Saunders, owner and operator of Witch Chest, newly opened at 740 Bank Street, is one of them. “You are a witch when you know the power of your magic” is one of the messages flashed on the blackboard outside her shop. Aside from her invisible power, Saunders has nothing to do with the witches of fairy tales: she has neither green skin nor a warty prominent aquiline nose. Pointy black hats and flowy cloaks are not part of her
everyday wardrobe, and there is no evil in her intentions.
The youngest of generations of witches of Celtic origin, she grew up in a household where witchcraft was practised but never talked about. Her mother and grandmother – both Kitchen Witches with very green thumbs and thriving gardens –used herbs with special properties in their cooking and baking.
It was not until her high school years that Saunders recognized her power to experience the feelings of people around her and sense impending adverse events, the gift received from her lineage. Nowadays, she defines herself as a Hearth Witch and uses herbs, oils and crystals to help her clients to fulfill their spiritual intentions.
POETRY QUARTER
Food, glorious food!
Food is a fundamental of survival. And yet it has become so much more. It can be a means of celebration, an acknowledgment of tradition or culture, a catalyst for community synergy, a tool for wielding power, a symbol of both privilege and want.
Our call for the next Poetry Quarter in November asks you to explore food in all its broad significance – from our hedonistic desire for the delicious, to the vegetarian option, to the threat of food insecurity and hunger, and beyond. We want to hear, in poetic form, your thoughts about food in all its flavours.
As usual, poems should be:
• Original and unpublished in any medium (no poems submitted elsewhere, please);
• No more than 30 lines each;
• On any aspect of the theme within the bounds of public discourse; and
• Submitted on or before Monday, October 28, 2024.
Poets in the National Capital Region of all ages welcome (school-age poets, please indicate your grade and school). Please send your entries (up to 5 poems that meet the criteria) to editor@glebereport.ca . Remember to send us your contact information and your grade and school if you are in school.
Deadline: Monday, October 28, 2024
Ottawa, as it turns out, has a large and diverse witch community. Some witches practise ceremonies and ritualistic magic as part of covens, and some are solitary practitioners, but many others are still “in the broom closet,” fearful of sharing their sentiments with family and friends who still see witchcraft as evil.
Samhain – meaning the end of summer – is the ancient pagan celebration that marks the end of the Celtic year and the start of witches’ New Year.
Gram’s Apple Crisp
Julie Saunders shares this recipe from her grandmother. “It has been passed down through the family,” she says. “It is a favourite of mine and I have fond memories of making it with my grandmother in the kitchen.”
Ingredients:
6 apples peeled, cored and sliced
2 tbs white sugar
1 c brown sugar
1 c old fashioned oats
21/2 tsp ground cinnamon (put aside 1 tsp)
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/2 c cold butter
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Toss apples with white sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon in a bowl to coat. Pour into a 9-inch square baking dish.
Mix brown sugar, oats, flour, nutmeg and 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon in a separate bowl. Cut in the cold butter with two knives or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Spread over apples and pat down gently. Bake until golden-brown and edges are bubbling (about 40 minutes).
and the time to pay respect to ancestors. It is when the separation between the realms of the living and the dead becomes blurred, facilitating communication between the two worlds. This celebration includes the Silent Supper where loved ones who have died are among the guests. Everyone at the table sits in silence to receive the experience, wisdom and guidance from the spirits who come. Halloween has its origins in this celebration. Pumpkin carving, costume wearing and food offering are all traditions inherited from this Celtic observance.
Intrigued by all this? Attend a Samhain celebration or one of the workshops offered by Witch Chest (witchchest.ca), or drop by the store and ask Saunders to satisfy your curiosity. Witch Chest is a safe place for all who want to explore the science of witchcraft, for witches and witch curious and for the ones who can use some help to navigate through life, seek safety, protection and selflove. As Saunders explains, witchcraft is not a religion and unlike common belief is not intrinsically linked to bad intentions.
Marisa Romano is a foodie and a scientist with a sense of adventure, who appreciates interesting
Gram’s apple crisp, a bewitching dessert, comes from a long line of kitchen witches. PHOTO: JULIE SAUNDERS
Fifth and finest, featuring heroine Frances McFadden
Home & Away, A Frances McFadden novel, by Ian McKercher.
Review by Susan Cornell
Home & Away, Ian McKercher’s fifth Frances McFadden novel, is arguably his finest work to date. This World War II story is composed of two entwined plot lines. Borrowing a sports metaphor, he presents the odd-numbered chapters set at the Bank of Canada with Frances as “the home game.” The even-numbered chapters, “the away game,” track the adventures of her boyfriend, Paul Roderick, in occupied France.
Will this switching back and forth confuse the reader or prompt more attentive reading? Is one story line more interesting than the other, encouraging readers to skip chapters for the plot they prefer?
I found his use of chapter titles set guardrails to keep me in the correct field of play. Also, the “away” chapters are much shorter than the “home” chapters, emphasizing the quickened pace of life in the war zone. That said, the “home” chapters do not drag. Peppered with subplots, (anti-Nazi rioting, intrigue at the Governor General’s, seances with the Prime Minister, security leaks at the Bank) McKercher keeps both plot lines hopping.
If you have read any of the earlier novels, you know that Frances is a rising star in the clerical hierarchy at the Bank of Canada where she exercises as much sway as Governor Graham Towers. She intervenes like a helicopter parent when internal or external forces threaten the Bank’s critical work financing the Canadian war effort. Is she “the power behind the throne?”
Frances is embarrassed when teasingly called “Queen of the Bank,” but she hobnobs so easily with Hollywood royalty and the House of Windsor, what
Book launch of Home & Away
Sunday, October 27th 7:30 pm
Church hall of Glebe-St James United Church 650 Lyon Street, between First and Glebe Avenues Books can be purchased for $25 (cash, check or e-transfer )
Also available at Books on Beechwood, Octopus Books, Perfect Books, Spaniel’s Tale Book Store and at The Book Nook in Perth
sobriquet would be more appropriate?
Three thousand miles away, Paul Roderick is trapped in France when the armistice with Germany is signed in June of 1940. Paul gets involved subverting the occupying Nazis in a number of ways, playing an exciting game with fatal consequences if detected. Does he gamble on staying in France or slip to safety
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across the Spanish border?
McKercher uses correspondence between characters to illuminate views on the war from as far away as a rancher in Argentina, a parent in California and most interestingly, a princess in England. All to say, there are many perspectives on a war which remind us to contemplate carefully who did what to win it.
Sidebar subplots lure the reader to shady dealings in the construction of “temporary buildings” in Ottawa, to an abortionist in Montreal and to a blackmailer in California.
It’s a balancing act to keep the double helix story line and the various subplots from overwhelming the main theme of the novel – which seems to be that resilience and daring win the day – but the variety of these diversions draws us deeper into Frances’ world.
McKercher does have a weakness for alliteration which he uses most effectively to paint character descriptions that blossom in the mind’s eye: “She wore a blue halter top that just barely halted” and “He had the thin-lipped smile of an undertaker’s understudy.”
The copyright page has the standard boilerplate quote found in every historical fiction novel: “This book is a work of fiction wound loosely around historical events and personages.” Right, but then the author inserts, for easy reference, 18 pictures of real people who are characters in the novel, daring readers to parse the fine line between fact and fiction. Is this an aid to the visual learner or a sleight of hand designed to distract the truth from creative license?
Characters, anecdotes and historical information are the ingredients that make Home & Away a compelling and entertaining read. Despite the circumstances, Frances’ humour is ever present, as are her wisdom and humanity. A highlight of McKercher’s books is the dialogue through which the author conveys a wide variety of personalities, often with an amusing tone. Equally intriguing here are the little-known facts woven into fiction. Who could have guessed that the invention of drywall and the paint roller in 1940 would be critical to advancing a subplot?
Susan Cornell is a former resident of Second Avenue now living in Kirbyville, Texas, where she makes art.
Plaguing Jake a satiric literary lament
Review by Larry McCloskey
Plaguing Jake by Gerald Lynch is both a coming-of-age and a becoming-invisible-because-of-age novel. The comingof-age storyline features an exceptional student – Mary McGahern –made more exceptional by satiric comparison to the modern university student.
The novel begins with Mary nervously starting her post-secondary education at uBytown university after being home-schooled by her father on a farm in Leitrim Falls. She is highly intelligent, curious, genuinely interested in her studies and seemingly unaware of being beautiful.
Professor Jake Flynn, leader of the Film&Works Work Pod within the Digital Humanities Complex (and former chair of the English Department in the old Faculty of Arts) – is quite taken with Mary. His attraction is not inappropriate or sexual – “At sixty-five, I’m already impotent as a football kicker amputated at the knee.” Still, he does initially have a case of teenage jitters due to Mary’s creativity and interest in literature. She offers a
reprieve from age-related invisibility and transformation of the university from laudable ideas and great works into digital bites and utilitarian function. Mary reminds Jake of an earlier version of himself and is a stark contrast to his longtime wife Jieun, who is often mentioned but never appears (spoiler alert: she has left him). Jieun represents Jake’s inertia and capitulation to modernity.
Mary’s coming of age necessarily includes painful episodes in the arenas of love and loss. She is compelling precisely because she has oldworld values packaged in youth and beauty. She does not participate in the campus party vibe of drinking and hooking up, which makes her both unusual and capable of insight. But her boyfriend, who goes to Western University, is swallowed by campus partying and becomes unrecognizable. Still, transformation and forgiveness remain possible.
Satire in Plaguing Jake centres on the theft from the Film&Works Pod of a rare and valuable edition of James Joyce’s Ulysses. A detective is called in, various eccentric professors are interviewed, the air is electric with fuss and drama. The mystery is solved but it doesn’t much matter in the end. The value of old, archaic, non-digital books exists
Bay Press, June 2024
in the oppressive past. In the modern university, faculty have evolved and are forward looking because “the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.”
it is always perilous to assume the protagonist views to be the author’s, one cannot deny the transmogrification of the literary world, English departments and the universities in recent years. The university experience used to be about time to discover, immerse and arrive at a higher plane of understanding; today, proper causes and safe spaces have become universities’ palpable mission and ruling narrative.
Plaguing Jake is a very good read –erudite, witty and a bit sad. Jake is a character of true pathos as he soldiers on, knowing the end is nigh. Still, in finally taking a futile stand, he symbolically transmogrifies decades of servile passivity into courage. The unlikely relationship between Jake and Mary is the novel’s highlight and provides some optimism. “We need more Marys” could be the novel’s bumper sticker. The novel ends with Jake’s observation of snow blanketing the parking lot from his window in the Margaret Trudeau Sun Room in the Princess Diana Centre for Mental Wellness. It is literary reference to Joyce’s poignant ending in The Dead, possibly the greatest short story in English literature. “Crazy Jake’s” literary insight from the psychiatric ward is an ironic nod to his relative sanity in a world gone mad.
Here is a list of some titles read and discussed recently in various local book clubs:
Long Island Colm Tóibín Broadway Book Club
James: A Novel Percival Everett Carleton English Grads Book Club
La tournée d’automne Jacques Poulin Club de lecture des francophones d’origine ou d’adoption du Glebe/ OOE/OOS
The Comforters Muriel Spark Helen’s Book Club
Sense and Sensibility Jane Austen The Book Club
The Covenant of Water Abraham Verghese Sunnyside Adult Book Club
No Such Creature Giles Blunt Sunnyside Mystery Book Club
The Island of Missing Trees Elif Shafak Sunnyside Second Friday Book Club
If your book club would like to share its reading list, please email it to Micheline Boyle at grapevine@glebereport.ca
As narrator, Jake innocuously references a new literary genre, The Academic Lament, and this is the heart of the matter. Departments of English throughout the Western world have died, leaving Jake to despair as he descends into invisibility. “They’ve all transmogrified from reading and studying the best that has been thought and written (Matthew Arnold) to appreciating movies and TV and various YouTube ‘texts’.”
Plaguing Jake is a humorous academic lament. Like Jake, author Gerald Lynch is a world-wary and wise English professor of a certain age who has seen the world turned upside down. While
With this his eighth novel, Gerald Lynch is at the top of his literary game, and his book should be widely read. Still, Lynch more than anyone is aware that its potential to be widely read in the modern world is tempered by the fact that fewer people are willing to read a novel of substantive quality and quantity. This reader shares the author’s literary lament for a pre-transmogrified world that is no more.
Larry McCloskey is an Ottawa writer whose satiric novel about academic life, University of Lost Causes, was published, coincidentally, in the same month as Plaguing Jake larrymccloskeywriter.com
Used Books & Puzzles Sale
First Avenue Entrance to the book sale is off the parking lot
Pop in to snag some great deals on books and puzzles for kids and grownups.
Plaguing Jake by Gerald Lynch
Sunnyside books not for the faint of heart
By Christina Silva
October is here! That means it’s time for some haunting reads. Recommendations range from friendly ghosts trying to stop a curse to serial killers who fall in love. There is a book for every level of scare.
Happy Medium, by Sarah Adler
Happy Medium is about fake medium
Gretchen Acorn who discovers spirits are real when she’s asked to conduct an exorcism on a struggling goat farm. Gretchen thinks it will be an easy job but when she arrives at Gilded Creek Goat Farm, she meets Everett, a very real ghost whom only she can see. Even worse, owner Charlie Waybill thinks she’s a fraud and won’t believe her when she tells him there’s a curse on the farm. If Charlie sells with the
intention of never coming back, he dies. With the help of Everett, she tries to convince Charlie to keep the farm to save his life. The more time she spends with Charlie the more she comes to like him, maybe even love him. A cozy romantic comedy with ghosts, perfect for people who love Halloween without the gore.
(Content warning: sexual content.)
Butcher and the Blackbird, by Brynne Weaver
Sloane and Rowan are two killers who meet by chance and form an unlikely bond. Each year they decide to compete in a bloody game that pits them up against some of the most dangerous monsters in the country. The more time they spend together, the more they start to like each other. But as their pasts start to catch up with
them, the hunters become the hunted. A fun, gory, romantic dramedy. For those who do not like classic horror but want to try the genre.
(Content warning: graphic gore, violence, sexual content.)
The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson
This classic tale is about how some traditions can be dangerous. Every year this small town of 300 has a lottery. Every citizen of the town must take part. What they win . . . well you will have to read it to find out. A story that’s good for those who want to start reading classic horror. It’s short but entertaining and can be read in a collection of short stories by Shirley Jackson or in graphic novel format.
(Content warning: violence and nudity in graphic novel format.)
Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Noemi heads to the Mexican countryside at the request of her cousin Catalina, who begs someone to save her from some mysterious doom. When she arrives, she finds a mold-infested, creepy manor whose inhabitants are both menacing and alluring. The deeper she digs into the history of the manor, the more horrifying things she finds. As she stays in the manor, her dreams become increasingly filled with blood and madness. Noemi needs to find out what’s really making her cousin unwell before she herself succumbs to the madness of the house. A haunted house story with a bit of a mystery.
(Content warning: sexual content, body horror, death.)
Slade House, by David Mitchell
This haunting tale begins in 1979 and reaches its turbulent conclusion around Halloween 2015. Every nine years, a guest is summoned to Slade House where horrible things happen. But why have these guests been chosen and for what purpose? This novel is composed of five parts, each part a short story from the perspective of the house’s “guests.” It’s a perfect read for Halloween for people wanting to try the horror genre.
(Content warning: body horror.)
All these books are available at the Sunnyside Branch of the Ottawa Public Library.
Christina Silva is a public service assistant at the Sunnyside library.
Seventeen Voyces marks Remembrance Day with special concert
By Clare Jackson
Seventeen Voyces, Ottawa’s premier chamber choir founded and directed by Kevin Reeves, will mark Remembrance Day this year with a special concert titled “The Unknown Soldier,” with works that reflect on war and its impacts on those who are called to fight. The concert will feature numerous guest artists and music written by frequent Seventeen Voyces collaborator Andrew Ager.
Ager began composing at the age of 14 and has been working as a commissioned composer for nearly 40 years. He has written music for many ensembles across Canada including the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Elmer Iseler Singers. A prolific composer of opera, Ager’s works have taken on a range of stories and themes, from Frankenstein’s monster and The Mummy to the collapse of the Third Reich and The Great Gatsby.
In the Voyces’ Remembrance Day concert, Ager’s piece “The Unknown Soldier” will include several movements presenting poetry by the American poet Walt Whitman and English poet John Masefield. The first movement incorporates selections from Masefield’s poem “August 1914,” which juxtaposes the quiet English countryside of the past with the horrors experienced by soldiers fighting in Europe during World War I:
These homes, this valley spread below me here; The rooks, the tilted stacks, the beasts in pen, Have been the heartfelt things, past-speaking dear,
To unknown generations of dead men.
The performance will feature baritone soloist Gary Dahl and harpist Lucile Hildesheim as well as a string quartet. Both Dahl, whose rich baritone voice and powerful presence often grace Ottawa’s stages, and Hildesheim are frequent guests of Seventeen Voyces.
The concert will also showcase pieces reflecting on the costs of war, including choral works by Ottawa organist and composer Matthew Larkin
and Canadian composer Healey Willan. The lyrics in Larkin’s piece, entitled “Memorial at Beaumont Hamel,” are selections from an epitaph by British author John Oxenham located at the entrance to the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial in France. The epitaph commemorates a battle that took place near the village of Beaumont-Hamel in northern France on July 1, 1916, where nine-tenths of the Newfoundland Regiment were killed or wounded in less than half an hour
of gunfire. The victims included 14 sets of brothers. The epitaph asks visitors to the memorial to “Tread softly here, go reverently and slow!”
In addition to these Canadian works, the choir will present Mozart’s beloved setting of Ave Verum Corpus (‘Hail, True Body’) and Bach’s stirring Cantata 150 (Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich or ‘For Thee, O Lord, I long’), accompanied by string quartet and featuring solos by members of Seventeen Voyces. The choir has been a fixture of the Ottawa choral community for over a quarter of a century. It features handpicked singers from Ottawa and surrounding areas who are seasoned choristers and soloists.
Seventeen Voyces’ “The Unknown Soldier” concert will take place on Sunday, November 10 at 4 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church (located just west of Glebe Avenue and Bank Street). Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for students and free for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased online at www.seventeenvoyces. ca/concerts or at the door with cash, credit and debit. Please join us for what promises to be a moving and uplifting recognition of Remembrance Day.
Audiences can also mark their calendars for Seventeen Voyces’ Christmas concert, which will take place twice in December: Saturday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church and on Sunday, December 22 at 4 p.m. at St. Bartholomew’s Church in New Edinburgh (125 MacKay Street). Clare Jackson is a singer and board member with Seventeen Voyces.
Seventeen Voyces will present a special concert November 10 at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church to mark Remembrance Day. PHOTO: ALI BOTY
Artist launches ‘Canvases of Kindness’ to support local charities
This November, I’m excited to launch a new campaign called “Canvases of Kindness.” As an acrylic landscape artist, I’ll be dedicating one of my original paintings each month to support a local charity in need. With all proceeds going directly to the designated charity, my goal is to raise awareness and essential funding for organizations that often go unnoticed.
A Longstanding commitment to giving back
For years, I’ve donated my artwork and resources to various local causes. I’ve always believed that art has the power to make a positive impact. I’ve seen firsthand how even a single painting can raise awareness or lift spirits.
With “Canvases of Kindness,” I want to take that impact even further, bringing more attention and funding to charities that could use a helping hand. Through this formalized monthly initiative, I’ll be selecting a different
charity each month, and the proceeds from the sale or auction of my paintings will go directly to it. I hope to unite art lovers and those passionate about making a difference, expanding my reach beyond individual donations to build a broader community of support.
How “Canvases of Kindness” will work
Starting in November, I’ll announce the charity and painting of the month on my website, on social media and by email. Supporters can participate in the auction or purchase the painting, with all proceeds benefiting the designated charity. This ongoing monthly approach offers a platform for raising awareness, as each piece will highlight a different cause in need of support.
This structure not only provides financial aid to charities but also offers them valuable visibility. My art, celebrated for its evocative landscapes and vibrant colours, attracts collectors
across Canada and beyond. By dedicating a new piece each month to a specific cause, I aim to foster a community that cares about art and giving back.
Art for social good
There are so many incredible organizations out there doing crucial work, yet they often struggle to get the visibility and support they need. I hope to give them a voice and show how art can be a tool for social good.
I’m committed to using my online presence and network of supporters to reach a broader audience. By sharing details of each charity and painting across various platforms, I hope to connect with people who may not only appreciate my artwork but also feel inspired to get involved in giving back. Art has this unique ability to connect people. With “Canvases of Kindness,” I want to encourage others to think about how they can use their own talents to make a difference, whether through art, community work or other means.
Get involved and make a difference
To stay informed about “Canvases of Kindness,” supporters can visit my website at www.AndrewDMilneArt. com, follow me on social media or subscribe to my email updates. I invite art lovers, collectors and anyone passionate about charitable work to join me in supporting local causes.
Charities looking for support are welcome to reach out to me directly at andrew@andrewDMilneArt.com to be considered for future monthly campaigns.
As an acrylic landscape artist based in Ontario, my work captures the natural beauty of our landscapes, and I’m grateful to have my art collected and exhibited widely. With a background in marketing, I use my platform to support local charities.
Andrew Milne is an Ottawa landscape artist with a sense of social responsibility.
Artist Andrew Milne is excited to launch a campaign in support of local charities, “Canvases of Kindness.”
Cautionary Tales – two theatre companies share one stage
The Gladstone’s 2024-25 season launch
By Stephanie Gallagher
Theatre comes back with a bang as two companies join forces to kick off The Gladstone’s first full season since the pandemic. Veteran indie theatre Plosive Productions is teaming up with a brand-new company, Sunny Ryan Productions, to present Cautionary Tales: A Daniel MacIvor Double Bill now through October 26.
Plosive is well known to Glebe Report readers, with pre-pandemic shows such as Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike having been featured in the paper and attended by many Glebites. Having previously produced MacIvor’s How It Works at The Gladstone, Plosive returns with another hit from the Canadian master: his hilarious one-act Never Swim Alone. Newcomer Sunny Ryan Productions erupts onto the scene to pair that show with another MacIvor classic: See Bob Run
Some readers will recognize MacIvor as the author of Marion Bridge, which was also produced at The Gladstone by Three Sisters Theatre, and MacIvor himself has performed his own solo shows at the NAC and the GCTC – the man is truly a Canadian theatre living legend.
See Bob Run is a one-woman, tourde-force featuring Sunny Ryan, the driving force launching Sunny Ryan Productions. The show marks Ryan’s Gladstone début as the titular Bob, a troubled young woman on the run from her dark past. As she hitchhikes to her destination, she hops from one car to another, telling her stories of truth, lies, fairy tales and murder along the way. Plosive’s contribution to the double bill, Never Swim Alone, reveals how toxic masculinity poisons women and men alike, with harms ranging from devastating to outright deadly. The play takes the form of a series of lightning-speed contests between two high-powered financiers. GCTC veteran Micah Jondel DeShazer joins NAC veteran director David Whiteley to portray the two men. Sunny Ryan rounds out the cast as a referee. Through flashbacks, we learn she was a girl the two men competed over as children. The trio meet the challenges MacIvor has laid for the cast, delivering the script’s frenetic pace with humour and virtuosity.
“Pairing these two companies for these two shows is a match made in heaven” explains Whiteley, Plosive’s artistic director. “The two plays
fit together marvellously. Never Swim Alone dissects male friendship and competition, while See Bob Run gives a female perspective on cycles of abuse in relationships.” While both shows deliver “cautionary tales” about the darker sides of relationships, they are infused with comedy, assuring audiences have a riotous time despite the heavy subject matter. “That’s what I love about MacIvor, he’s got this wit and biting humour that keeps you laughing even when you’re crying,” says Whiteley. “Both these shows deliver that in spades.”
Whiteley has been enamoured with Never Swim Alone ever since seeing its premiere in 1991 and subsequently per forming in a student production of it.
Ever since, he’s wanted to present it in a full, professional production with the right partner. Finally, Ryan stepped for ward last spring with plans to produce See Bob Run. When the two connected, the power of putting the shows together as a double bill immediately clicked.
While it’s highly unusual for two com panies to present plays together, the pairing of these shows and producers made sense.
“I was eager to launch a new company and produce work myself,” Ryan relates, “but at the same time, being new to producing, I was going out on a limb. Teaming up with David and Plosive Productions means that I still get to launch my own company, but I do so with the support of a veteran producer,
Cautionary Tales:
A Daniel MacIvor Double Bill
See Bob Run, directed by Teri Loretto, produced by Sunny Ryan Productions.
Never Swim Alone, directed by David Whiteley, produced by Plosive Productions.
Lighting by David Magladry, stage manager Rachel Worton.
who knows our venue inside and out.”
She’s not overstating Whiteley’s experience: he and his company have produced a whopping 36 shows at The Gladstone to date. “It’s so great to find a partner in the community so ready to share his experience and make sure that my first time producing goes smoothly.”
After pandemic shutdowns and a gradual, cautious return to reopening, the double bill promises to deliver quite the one-two punch to kickstart a return to full season programming at The Gladstone with a bang.
Cautionary Tales: A Daniel MacIvor Double Bill plays at The Gladstone theatre (910 Gladstone Ave, at Preston St.) now through October 26, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, matinees 2:30 p.m., Saturday & Sunday. Info and tickets at www.thegladstone.ca or call the box office at 613-233-4523.
Stephanie Gallagher is a local theatre artist, trained through Algonquin College’s performing arts program.
From left: David Whiteley, Sunny Ryan and Micah Jondel DeShazer
Multilayered psychological thriller stays fresh
Blink Twice (USA, 2024)
Directed by Zoë Kravitz
Review by Iva Apostolova
Blink Twice is the directorial debut of Hollywood star Zoë Kravitz. The leading male role is taken up by none other than the hunky Channing Tatum, Kravitz’s current romantic partner. In other words, in my books, this was a recipe
for disaster. Before seeing the movie on the big screen, I had also skimmed over a couple of reviews which were mostly positive but appealed to the viewer’s understanding: this is a directorial debut, after all, and there will inevitably be holes in the plot. Needless to say, my expectations were rather tame at that point. But to my delightful surprise, the story and its cinematographic execution proved me wrong.
First, we need to talk about the cast. The lead female role is taken on by the up-and-coming English actress Naomi Ackie who played Whitney Houston in the 2022 Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody. I, for one, was really glad that she was chosen to play the lead role. With her old-fashioned but also cutie-pie charm, she brought a certain unconventional esthetic that I think only complemented the storyline. While Channing Tatum needs no introduction, I think viewers will be quite surprised to see him flex different acting chops different from his usual leading-man fare. As hard as it is to believe, Tatum actually plays the bad guy, and he manages to pull it off just brilliantly! Geena Davis and Kyle MacLachlan have smaller but perfectly executed roles too, which make the plot so much more convincing.
So, what is the movie actually about? I think the genre that best fits the movie is psychological thriller. And Kravitz manages to keep the pressure on the viewer until the end, with all the twists and turns that the genre calls for. Without giving too much away, the main theme of the movie is gender-based violence. I think viewers will probably recognize the likenesses of the Weinsteins and the Epsteins
in Tatum’s character, but Blink Twice manages to stay above the usual tested and tried tropes when such heavy subjects are broached in front of the camera. On the contrary, it stays creative and fresh, luring the viewer into an ever-complicated web of violence and human depravity. And when I say violence, I do not mean gore. I am talking about bone-chilling calculated desire to inflict both emotional and physical pain on another human being. To my surprise, the movie did not have a preaching bone in its body, which is what makes many of the cinematic stories covering gender-based violence predictable and less engaging. On the contrary, it managed to keep me guessing until the very end. I was impressed by how the director, a newbie at that, succeeded in incorporating without any loose ends, at least none that I could spot, the many participants in the story with their unique voices, as well as vices. At no point during the movie was I confused or unsure why something was happening or questioning the integrity of the narrative. As far as I was concerned, all the cinematic tricks were pretty darn memorable. For a multi-layered story such as this one, and a topic so sensitive, personal and immensely difficult to talk about, Kravitz has surely managed to give it a hell of a go!
Running time:1h 42m
Rated R
In select theatres and Prime Video
Iva Apostolova is associate professor and vice-rector, research and academic, at Saint Paul University and a regular Glebe Report contributor on films and TV.
Yasir Naqvi
MP, Ottawa Centre N 613-946-8682 E yasir.naqvi@parl.gc.ca
Together, we can make our community a hate-free zone
I must confess to a growing concern within me as the future unfolds. Over the summer, so many of you spoke to me about the state of politics and the polarization we now see regularly. I increasingly hear from constituents who tell me that their sense of belonging, of being part of the wider community, is under threat. We all are feeling it in the pit of our stomachs.
Politics is changing as well. It’s far too common now that our community office is vandalized, that staff are harassed and threatened. Many other elected colleagues tell me the same. It hardly happened before. Most recently, someone tore down the Canadian flag at our office and stepped on it, leaving a bootprint.
The politics of hatred and division has no place in a free and democratic society, and we must always confront it and call it out. The principles of tolerance, inclusion and respect are fragile gifts requiring constant tending and cultivation, but sadly the populist politics of rage has also found fertile ground in Canada. We know this all too well here in Ottawa after the 2022 occupation of our downtown. Who could have imagined that scenario and especially how it was exploited by those aspiring to national political leadership.
We can only find common ground by moving to higher ground, leaving things that too easily divide us behind,
To
seeking to come together for the common good. It is unacceptable for any member of our community to live in fear, whether they are of Jewish faith, Muslim or belong to the 2SLGBTQI community. It is my firm conviction that leadership is not about choosing sides, it is about never ceasing in the effort to bring seemingly intractable sides to the common table. Choosing sides is an abrogation of leadership given the current global climate. I will always stand against the easy solution of demonizing one’s opponents and painting with too broad a brush.
I was recently asked if I could choose to live anywhere else in the world, where would that be? For me, the answer was simple. I could not imagine living anywhere else but Ottawa. I love my city. I love the beautiful mosaic that makes up the neighbourhoods of Ottawa, walking down the street and meeting people of every nationality, race and creed, with every language possible being heard. It is a community that welcomes you in from wherever you are and provides a place to belong.
Those who know me know that I am a bridge builder. The status quo can always stand to be challenged, but in doing so we must always ensure that we bring everyone along. We may not always agree, but we always have the right to be informed and consulted, with the dignity of having our views taken into consideration.
Whether it is combating antisemitism or Islamophobia, confronting the politics of identity that demonizes the choices people make about how they live or whom they love or seeking solutions to the mental health and drug abuse challenges we face, I will always act in a manner that respects the dignity of every human being. I am committed to achieving solutions that will strengthen our community fabric. In all of this, the politics of inclusion over division will always be my guiding light. Together, we will continue to build a community that is a hatefree zone.
Joel Harden
MPP, Ottawa Centre N 613-722-6414 E JHarden-CO@ndp.on.ca
We need watermelon politics (green industrial policy) for climate action
Ottawa residents participated last month in a global climate strike, a yearly event inspired by Greta Thunberg’s “Fridays for Future” movement. It was a time of much reflection.
Since August 2018, when Thunberg first walked out of class, youth have led protests for climate action, shaping world opinion. But things feel different now.
Pundits believe climate change is ignored as a political issue. The public is seized with an affordability crisis, where many can’t afford basic needs like food, housing or transportation.
So fierce arguments over carbon taxes – which are meant to push consumers and employers to go green – aren’t going well. Two dominant perspectives exist. Some insist carbon taxes are the driver of today’s affordability crisis, while others insist carbon pricing is misunderstood and remains the key measure for climate action.
Both takes, in my view, are misleading.
Carbon pricing is not the primary cause for economic suffering, nor is it a silver bullet for climate action. While carbon-tax haters “axe the facts,” carbon-tax boosters engage in wishful thinking. The resulting crossfire is thwarting climate action.
Some progressives will disagree. They will insist carbon pricing – the industrial carbon tax assessed to large emitters and the consumer carbon tax assessed for consumption of fossil fuels – is working.
To that I say this: Was it working well enough? Was carbon pricing reducing emissions at a pace to meet our climate targets? Or did it offer a perfect chance for some to pit struggling Canadians against environmental reforms?
A case could be made for the industrial carbon tax on big polluters, but consumer carbon taxes did little. Studies suggest 10 per cent of emissions reductions (and planned reductions)
came from levying carbon pricing on consumers.
A key point is also being missed: We need major public investments in housing, energy, transportation and agriculture (among other things). Carbon pricing won’t help people make green choices when the options are expensive or minimal.
We need collective solutions.
Like reliable public transit, intercity transit and cycling infrastructure to coax people out of cars. Like a mass rollout of electric heat pumps for homes. Like big public investment in renewable energy to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Like non-market options in housing, food or ride-sharing co-ops for basic needs.
“Watermelon politics” is the term I like for all these things.
Yes, the watermelon is most known today among supporters of Palestinian human rights and the rights of all people (worthy goals). But “watermelon politics,” for me, also refers to ambitious green industrial policy with a red socialist heart.
Progressives have always been advocates for active industrial policy. Why should corporate CEOs make all the decisions that impact our lives, while governments dole out modest tax rebates or subsidies that many can’t use? Our industrial policy could promote sustainable forms of investment, consumption and production.
As Seth Klein explains in his book “A Good War,” we’ve done this before. A generation of Canadian political leaders (notably C.D. Howe) used active industrial policy in Canada to shape our economy, mobilize the war effort and fight fascism in Europe.
The same could happen for climate action. What might that look like?
The UN Environment Program (UNEP) is tracking green industrial strategies. Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood and Noah Kathen have offered a vision for green industrial policy for Canada in a report for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives called “Bet Big.” Brendan Haley, policy director for Efficiency Canada, just had a thoughtful interview about this on the Perspectives Journal podcast.
All these sources suggest that Ontario is lagging behind, but that outcome is not inevitable. We can and must do better.
So, let’s not get caught in the carbon-tax crossfire. Pricing carbon, while important, was never enough – we can’t fend for ourselves to save the planet.
We need watermelon politics (green industrial policy) for climate action.
The following is part of a series of profiles of servicemen from the Glebe and St. Matthew’s Anglican Church who gave their lives to Canada and the pursuit of peace in the Second World War. We commemorate and remember their passing.
Arthur Campbell Wilkinson
By Kevan Pipe
Arthur Wilkinson was born April 12, 1920 to Curt and Alta Wilkinson. He had a sister, Dorothy, and three brothers, David, Richard and Curt, who died at age two in 1930. The family lived at 43 Strathcona Ave., just west of the Rideau Canal. Arthur attended First Avenue School and then Glebe Collegiate, where he played for the school basketball team and graduated in 1938.
In 1939, he was working at the Ottawa Post Office as an office boy when war broke out. On November 27, he enlisted in the Army at age 19. Less than two weeks later, on December 8, he was deployed to England with the very first Canadian contingent shipped overseas.
Taking advantage of his postal background, he was assigned to the Canadian Postal Corps in London, No. 6 detachment.
After more than four years of service in England, Arthur decided he wanted to be part of the force liberating Europe from Nazi occupation. On January 16, 1944, he requested a transfer and in March, he joined the Royal Highland Regiment of Canada, 1st Battalion, best known as The Black Watch, following directly in his father’s footsteps from the First World War.
Following extensive training, his
In the Glebe
By Josh Rachlis | SparkTheGenius.com
unit arrived in France on July 6, exactly one month after D-Day. They fought through Normandy and were part of Operation Atlantic, focusing on liberating the city of Caen and then moving on to Falaise. On July 18, The Black Watch was a key attacking force in the Battle of Verrières Ridge, just south of Caen, which was heavily defended by German SS Panzer forces and the SS Adolph Hitler Division. It was one of the most infamous battles involving the Canadian army in France in 1944.
That day, a company of The Black Watch crossed the Orne River to open the attack on Verrières Ridge. Twenty soldiers were killed. One of them was Private Arthur Wilkinson, who died on the banks of the Orne River.
The battle was ferocious, with 800 Canadians eventually killed, leading to much post-war debate about the military strategies used in this specific conflict. The television mini-series The Valour and the Horror, which aired on CBC in 1992, specifically dealt with the Black Watch and the Battle of Verrières Ridge. It took 10 days for the telegram advising of his death to reach his mother. On Valentine’s Day in 1947, Alta Wilkinson published a 124-page hardcover book: Ottawa to Caen, Letters from Arthur Campbell Wilkinson. It is a compendium the letters Arthur wrote
home from 1939 to 1944. A copy of the book is available for reading at St. Matthew’s Church.
In 1975, Alta Wilkinson was selected to be the Silver Cross Mother for Remembrance Day ceremonies at the cenotaph in Ottawa. She became president of the National Silver Cross Mother of Canada from 1975 to 1982 and missed only one ceremony at the National War Memorial before she passed away at age 92 in 1990.
Arthur Campbell Wilkinson is remembered through his published letters home, as well as at both Glebe Collegiate and St. Matthew’s Church. He is buried at Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in Calvados, France, alongside 2,957 Commonwealth soldiers, mostly Canadian.
Kevan Pipe is a Glebe resident and member of St. Matthew’s, The Anglican Church in The Glebe.
Lead in drinking water in Glebe schools
From Glebe Report files
Schools in the Glebe and nearby neighbourhoods have been taking daily safety precautions after lead in their drinking water exceeded federal safety guidelines in dozens of tests between 2019 and 2023.
A report by the Investigative Journalism Bureau at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health Sciences at the University of Toronto found that schools in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) had the highest fail rate of any school board in the province, finding excess lead in about a third of 5,300 tests.
And it singled out First Avenue for special mention. Over four years, the school conducted 61 tests, and 80 per cent of them showed lead levels over Health Canada’s safety guideline of five parts per billion (ppb). While Ontario’s guideline is less stringent at 10 ppb, some tests at First Avenue were way over that too, one logging in at 1,730 ppb.
The accompanying table shows the results for all neighbourhood schools.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says there is no safe level of lead exposure and warns it can affect neurological development and produce lower intelligent quotients in kids and lead to heart disease and kidney problems in adults.
“What we are really concerned about is the young children, under five years,” said Bjorn Larsen, a WHO economist and one of the authors of the IJB report. “These are the most vulnerable to lead.”
But the OCDSB says the IJB numbers are misleading because they suggest widespread failures in water systems when it is often just a single faucet or fountain that had to be tested repeatedly. The board insists drinking water at all schools now meets Ontario safety standards.
“Any water points which have been discovered through past test results to exceed provincial limits have since been fixed,” it said in a statement.
While old lead pipes in aging schools are at the heart of the problem, the board says results were skewed when schools were closed or used less because of COVID-19. The water sat stagnant in pipes for months and was also affected by plumbing upgrades, including the installation of new water-bottle filling stations, during pandemic downtime.
“The work on the plumbing disturbed sediment in the pipes which had built up over many years,” said Luka Luketic-Buyers, the local Ottawa Catholic School Board trustee. “We believe
the sediment caused a number of these exceedances to occur. The exceedances dropped in 2022 and 2023 as schools were re-occupied and plumbing retrofits were completed.”
Testing and remediation were stepped up in Ontario schools under 2017 amendments to the province’s Safe Drinking Water Act which was passed in 2002 after a judicial inquiry into contaminated water in Walkerton. Testing involves two steps. A first sample is taken from “standing water” which has sat in the pipes for at least six hours, usually overnight. Then water is run for five minutes to flush the system, and a second sample is taken half an hour later. If only the standing sample exceeds 10 ppb, a daily flushing regime is adopted. If both samples show too much lead, the water fixture (fountain or filling station) is taken out of service until it produces two clean tests. Faulty fixtures are replaced or repaired, sometimes with the addition of a lead filter or some new pipes. All water fixtures not designated for drinking are posted with “Hand Washing Only” signs. Because of past test results, First Avenue, Glashan, Glebe Collegiate and Mutchmor are all now flushing daily. Hopewell is only required to flush weekly.
Ontario, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan are the only provinces that still allow up to 10 ppb; the other seven followed Health Canada when it cut the maximum acceptable level in half five years ago. The IJB report says Ontario’s higher threshold cuts the number of failed tests, “giving Ontarians a false sense of security.”
Still, the OCDSB says while it is only required to comply with Ontario regulations, it is working toward the more stringent federal rules.
“We are committed to ensuring the safety and quality of our water,” said local trustee Nili Kaplan-Myrth. “We have been actively replacing fixtures to reduce lead levels below five ppb at all our water consumption stations.” While flushing to reduce lead levels might seem to some like a Band-Aid solution, the OCDSB says new plumbing is just too big a job. “Total replacement within a building of all piping, fittings or fixtures that may contain lead would be prohibitively expensive and incredibly invasive,” it said. But Joel Harden, the NDP MPP for Ottawa Centre, says the provincial government should find more money for plumbing upgrades.
“The government needs to be spending more on school infrastructure,” he said. “Let’s be clear, any amount of lead is bad. It’s just not safe.”
JAMES McCULLOCH
LAWYER IN THE GLEBE
James provides legal services to Glebe residents, offers home visits and welcomes new clients.
By Marjolein Groenevelt
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the wrist, hand and fingers is common as we age. It manifests as visibly thickened “sausage” fingers or knobby fingers with localized joint swelling. X-rays can reveal loss of joint space and other classic signs of OA. It has been well documented, however, that changes to cartilage and bone seen on X-rays does not necessarily indicate the presence of pain. This has been demonstrated repeatedly, leading to a colloquial medical phrase: “Treat the person, not the picture.”
However, let us look at problematic signs and symptoms in the hand which warrant intervention. These include pain and weakness such as inability to open jars or holding objects such as a glass of water. Joints in the fingers may be very stiff, making it difficult to do functional tasks such as buttons or zippers. Some people develop a “trigger finger,” which means the finger locks in a certain position. To come out of the position, the finger snaps painfully.
Treatment of the finger joints includes many options, depending on the main problems and symptoms. Often gentle and frequent range of motion exercises are helpful. Open and close the hand, bending the finger joints. Try to tuck them right to their own base. Then open, keep them straight and bend at the knuckle joints. This is usually called “tabletop” or “duck.” Then go into a full fist. “Tuck, duck, fist.” For more painful joints, a resting splint is often recommended. These can be off the shelf or custom-made, usually by an occupational therapist, for the specific shape and resting position. For significant pain or
Osteoarthritis of the thumb and hand Common pickleball injuries
a trigger finger that does not respond to splinting, medica tions or cortisone shots may be prescribed.
The base of the thumb is a common spot to have symptomatic arthritis. Research shows it is more common in women than men and more common in the left hand. As with many other joints, pain and aching lead to weakness in the smaller muscles that support the joint. Addressing this weakness by strengthening the muscles around these thumb joints is simple and very effective.
Turn your palms up towards the ceiling and slowly bring the thumbs up to the ceiling and then the tips of your thumbs toward the base of the pinky, stop ping halfway. Note the fleshy muscle mass at the base of the thumb. These small muscles, that together are called the thenar eminence, are often weaker when OA is present or if there is any current or past carpal tunnel syndrome.
Strengthen these muscles by bringing the thumb tip to the tip of the first finger. The shape should be pretty much an oval. Now squeeze the tips together, as if squeezing a small object. Another good exercise is to pinch a clothespin, putty or a thin paperback book. As you squeeze, stay in the good oval shape. When there is weakness of the thenar muscles, the middle or bottom thumb joint will pop out because the long flexor tendons from the big muscles of the forearm are taking over.
Hold the muscle contraction for about five seconds and repeat 10 times. Then try another exercise.
By Sue Reive
Pickleball is growing in popularity. The sport, a cross between tennis and ping pong, is relatively easy to pick up, and the game is very social. Like any sport though, pickleball can cause injuries. Two common ones I see are tennis elbow and Achilles tendinitis. Tennis elbow involves the common wrist extensor tendon. Pain is felt on the outside of the elbow where the tendon originates off the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. The pain is felt with wrist extension and more so when loaded with weight or resistance. Painting, gripping, opening doors and even brushing the teeth or holding a cup of coffee can increase the pain. Indeed, gripping the paddle and hitting the ball repetitively can lead to strain, particularly if there is twisting
involved. The pain can be debilitating and requires treatment. Tendon injuries can be mild strain to a complete tendon rupture which requires surgery. Left untreated, these injuries can become chronic and interfere with activities of daily living.
Physiotherapy treatment is very helpful. A thorough assessment will examine the flexibility and strength of the surrounding muscles, and exercises to stretch and strengthen are prescribed accordingly. Modalities to enhance the healing process are employed. Education is given on the use of a brace and return to sport. A gradual return to play is recommended to avoid reinjury. Poor technique and biomechanics need to be addressed.
The Achilles tendon is the extension of the calf muscle and attaches to the back of the heel. It functions to point
against the palm of the hand like closing two blades of a scissor. There should be no pain doing the exercises. Start with 10 repetitions once a day for a week and then increase to two sets of 10 if there is no increase in pain.
Keeping the joints of the hand moving, flexible and strong will promote good strength and use of the hand and will help with pain.
Marjolein Groenevelt is a sports and vestibular physiotherapist. She established Glebe Physiotherapy and Sport Medicine in Fifth Avenue Court in 1994 and move it in 2020 to its accessible location in Lansdowne. She has lived in the Glebe since 1992, delivering the Glebe Report on her block.
the foot downward and allow push off during walking. The Achilles tendon is vulnerable to injury due to the quick stop and start while running for the ball during pickleball. This places a lot of stress on the tendon.
Achilles tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendon either where the tendon attaches to the heel bone or about three centimetres above the heel. Note that because blood supply to the tendon is poor in that area, the tendon is vulnerable. The Achilles tendon can become inflamed from overuse, sudden increase in activity, running or jumping sports and improper footwear, and it is exacerbated by not warming up before sports or not stretching properly afterwards.
Signs and symptoms of Achilles tendonitis include swelling and pain when walking especially with toeing off, when palpating the tendon and when rising up on the heels or stretching the calf muscles. Patients often have tight calf muscles and are restricted with their mobility.
Treatment includes rest from the aggravating activity. People sometimes need to wear an aircast boot for a few
weeks to allow the tendon to heal. Cycling on a stationary bike as an alternative to walking can help improve range of motion and strengthen without aggravating the tendon. Icing the swollen tendon to reduce the inflammation, gentle stretching, massage and soft tissue release techniques to improve flexibility in the calf muscles are also helpful. Kinesiotape for the Achilles tendon can be helpful as well. Ensuring that the patient’s footwear is supportive is essential. With pickleball, a court shoe is preferable as it provides more lateral support and traction. A gradual return to pickleball is incorporated once the tendon has healed sufficiently. To avoid injury, people should do a proper warm up and cool down, use the appropriate shoes, ensure the paddle grip is sized correctly and pace themselves. If you haven’t been that active, don’t go out and play for two hours; start with an hour and take some rest days between games.
Sue Reive is a physiotherapist at Ottawa Physiotherapy and Sport Clinics Glebe on Third Avenue.
By Brian L. Cox
For two decades, the Glebe Fine Art Show (GFAS) has brought artists from across the capital region to showcase their works in the neighbourhood. Although the occasion attracts visitors from throughout the Glebe and beyond, the effort and fellowship behind the canvasses and exhibits may be less evident to attendees than the works on display.
“Everyone loves the art show,” declared Eileen Durand, who helped coordinate the event. Co-organizer Linda Loder similarly emphasized the “collegial and cooperative” spirit among participants and the local community.
This year, the event was held on September 14 and 15 at the Glebe Community Centre. Loder was an exhibitor at the inaugural Glebe Fine Art Show in 2004. The first event was such a success, Loder recalled, that several participants suggested convening again the following year. Loder has been involved in organizing the annual show ever since.
“We usually start making arrangements as early as December,” Loder explained as she and Durand staffed the table where patrons paid for the works they decided to buy. With a considerable stack of carbon-copy receipts piling up close to the end of the first day, the pair revealed that they had just completed the largest transaction of the show so far: two paintings that sold for a combined $1,750.
Artists pay a standard up-front fee
to rent booth space, and all sales are centrally managed by the organizers. A 15-per-cent commission is charged for all purchases.
“An art show really is the ideal set up for artists,” said artist Daniel St-Cyr of Gatineau. Galleries are a convenient venue for displaying works, he noted, but the customer typically pays a significant premium on purchases there. The comparatively modest markup on sales at an event such as GFAS is beneficial to artist and art buyer alike, said St-Cyr.
He recalled being interested in art “since high school” and has dabbled with techniques such as drawing and sketching since then. In 2010, St-Cyr left structured work in graphic design to become a full-time artist. He now participates in about 10 shows and exhibits each year.
“For me,” St-Cyr’s GFAS exhibitor page reveals, “happiness is applying colour to a surface to create art.”
Ottawa resident Erwin Mistlberger conveyed a similar outlook in front of his booth at the show. “You pour your soul into each piece of art,”
he said. Like many exhibitors at the event, Mistlberger is mostly self-taught, though he has taken classes in Ottawa, Montreal and his native Austria. He said he’s exhibited work at GFAS “for many years” and also participates in four or five other shows each year.
Glenda Yates Krusberg, a Glebe resident since 1974, has attended the show as an exhibitor for about 15 years. Before becoming a full-time artist, Yates Krusberg was the chief designer at the Canada Science and Technology Museum. At her booth, Yates Krusberg fondly recalled her previous work at the museum, which included designing the beloved “Crazy Kitchen” attraction.
Even so, she eventually decided to refocus her work life to produce art full time.
Though she is grateful for the opportunity to pursue her passion, Yates Krusberg pointed out that “so much work goes in to preparing for a show.” She described her method of constructing “padded sleeves” for each artwork and shielding each edge with duct tape. Collecting, protecting, transporting,
unpacking, arranging, and displaying her works for each show involves extensive time and effort, but Yates Krusberg insists it is a labour of love.
At the sales table, Loder and Durand expressed a similar sentiment about organizing the show. Advertising, website design and management, equipment and location rentals, coordinating with artists and the venue among other activities are all necessary for the appreciation of the artwork –and purchases – to happen.
But the experience of bringing artists and the local community together for the annual show makes all the time and effort worth it, the two organizers emphasized. With the works of 34 exhibitors on display and other artists on a waitlist each year, there is no shortage of interest within the regional arts scene to participate in the show.
While applauding the sense of community at GFAS and similar shows, St-Cyr expressed a feeling of apprehension he says is widely shared among artists today. “With AI breathing down our necks,” he cautioned, “there may come a time when human artists are replaced by computers.”
For the time being, talented and imaginative people – rather than machines – are driving the creation and exhibition of artworks at this successful annual show. Events like the Glebe Fine Art Show may help ensure this remains the case well into the future.
Dr. Brian L. Cox is a graduate Master of Journalism student at Carleton as well as an adjunct professor of law at Cornell Law School, a research fellow at the Centre for International Law and Defence Policy at Queen’s University and a retired judge advocate in the U.S. army.
Works from 34 local artists were on display at the Glebe Fine Art Show, September 14 and 15.
The Glebe according to Zeus
A GUINEA PIG’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE GLEBE
Puck launches grass action suit after being SHUSHED!
Puck, a long-time mailroom employee at GiddyPigs.com, recently launched a grass action suit. The suit alleges that Puck had a demeaning experience while speaking before the Strategic Porcine Inter-neighbourhood Cooperation Establishment (SPICE) committee on the topic of inflation, in particular the skyrocketing price of grass.
The SPICE committee, a local arm of Clandestine Inter-neighbourhood Affairs (CIA), is one of over 225 such committees set up in all rodent neighbourhoods with a population greater than two. Among its many activities, the SPICE Committees contribute to fulfilling their mandate to protect democracy everywhere whilst working closely with cross-neighbourhood GPTV media to ensure that the right stories are covered and conveyed to the rodents.
Puck’s grass action suit further alleges the committee was not just rude but was also made up of clones, an astounding and difficult claim to prove.
“They all had red fur, red fur!” said Puck. The heavily redacted transcript of the hearing additionally shows that members made nearly identical statements when defending their unanimous
decision to shush Puck.
Post-committee interviews only led to more confusion. “I dare say, I haven’t noticed any increase in grass prices, wot!” responded Posh Zeus. Ginger Zeus, responsible for intra- and inter-neighbourhood affairs, including the grass trade, came out with an unexpected statement using the irrational technique of persuasion called “ad complicadum”: “Inflation, like God, is infinitely complicated and beyond the rodent mind to grasp. But we do know sanctions are required to live morally.”
Scary Zeus, in charge of neighbourhood security, confirmed he was at an emergency Nary-A-Truth Organization (NATO) meeting from where he provided this statement: “I abstain from all comments.”
When asked what he was going to do next, Puck said he would continue his grass action suit from abroad. “I’m moving to Rodenia, moving to Rodenia!”
An old rodent neighbourhood in the east, Rodenia’s economy is apparently booming, grass prices are low and hutches are subsidized, all despite the neighbourhood being heavily sanctioned.
Punctuation marks: the traffic signs of written language
By Michael Kofi Ngongi
Just as traffic signs guide drivers through a city’s bustling streets, so too punctuation marks provide guidance for navigating the traffic of written language.
Small but mighty, punctuation marks steer readers on their way through the
sentences and paragraphs that stand as the streets and boulevards of writers’ ideas.
Much like a stop sign, the period brings a thought to a complete halt. It signals the end of a sentence, allowing the reader to pause and process the information before moving on. In
contrast, the comma acts as a “yield” sign. It encourages a brief slowdown, separates ideas within a sentence, while giving the reader a moment to catch their breath before proceeding.
Colons and semicolons serve a similar function to “merge” signage on highways. They join related independent clauses, easily leading the reader from one lane of thought to another with out needing to stop. Whereas question marks and exclam ation marks are akin to flash ing warning lights. They signal a change in tone or intent, alerting the reader to inquiries or strong emotions that require special attention.
Quotation marks can be viewed as “one way” signs, indicating that the enclosed words belong to someone else or represent direct speech. They help readers navigate through dialogue and citations without confusion.
Parentheses, much like detour signs, offer a brief side trip into supplementary information before returning to the main route of the sentence. Just as city traffic would plunge into chaos without traffic signs, so written texts would sink into disorder without punctuation marks. These tiny marks play a crucial role in helping writers present their thoughts, highlight their intentions and ensure their messages reach their intended destinations with clarity and ease of understanding. Additionally, they could make the difference between a dull reading experience and one packed with excitement. So, pay attention to your punctuation marks; use them wisely and well!
Michael Kofi Ngongi is a Canadian originally from Cameroon. He has experience in international development and is a freelance writer.
Abbotsford’s Holiday Craft Fair is coming
By Julie Ireton
Sharon Ferrill has been crafting with fabric, paper and paint for 60 years, and for the past three she’s been doing it alongside a group of creative women every Thursday afternoon at Abbotsford Seniors Centre.
“They let me do anything I like,” said Ferrill, who moved to the Glebe from Winnipeg in 2021 and became a member at the senior’s centre. “Today I made mug rugs, kind of a tiny quilt to put beside your computer with your mug on one side and your cookie on the other.”
As Abbotsford Seniors Centre, across from Lansdowne Park, prepares for its third annual Craft Fair, the crafters are working on seasonal cards, ornaments, baby clothes, knit wear, yoga bags and other hand-made creations.
The fair, set for November 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will also feature hand-made teddy bears and home baking, including frozen apple pies. Visitors that day will also be invited to visit the tearoom, where you can relax and enjoy lunch and treats. All the proceeds will go toward supporting the senior’s centre.
Having spent close to four decades travelling the world on postings for Global Affairs Canada department, Ferrill was accustomed to moves and making new friends, but Abbotsford made the transition to life in a new city even easier, she said.
“Everyone in the craft group is very friendly. It’s a social occasion, and a very relaxed, lovely place to go. We sit around, chat about other things – not just crafts,” she laughed. “Some are knitting, some are sewing, others are making cards.”
Ruth Hetherington, one of the veteran crafters, has been involved at Abbotsford for more than 20 years. She said Ferrill has been a great addition to the group.
“Sharon is amazing. She has tons of ideas and shows up with something different every week,” said Hetherington. After spending her career in high tech and government in Ottawa, Hetherington did some crafting on the side. Now it consumes a lot of her spare time.
“When COVID closed everything down, we were wondering what would happen to the craft group since it was dwindling then,” said Hetherington. “Now we have about a dozen members. Everyone gets on like a house on fire, and we share ideas and suggestions.”
Since Abbotsford often receives donations of supplies,
Donna Edwards
House Portraits
613 233 4775
www.donnaedwards houseportraits.com
Facebook:
the group will also set up a table at the Craft Fair to sell beads, buttons, yarn, fabric and other necessities.
Womensong concert
Abbotsford Seniors Centre hosted the Womensong Collective: celebrating local women songwriters and supporting community on September 20. It was a fundraiser for the senior’s centre.
Sponsors of the event included Whole Health Pharmacy (gold level), DBA Brokerage (silver level) Amica The Glebe and JUHL Realty Team (bronze level) and Gigspace and The Blue Pearl Foundation.
“Seventy audience members were riveted by the performance of five talented local musicians: Sarah Jackson, Lisa Taylor, Caroline Cook, Patti Burnett and Karen Oxorn,” said Karen Anne Blakely, director of community services at Abbotsford. “Each musician showcased their inspirational songs within the genres of folk, country and bluegrass music.”
At the cocktail party after the concert, bids were made on silent auction items in the Abbotsford dining room.
The chef and director of culinary services at Amica the Glebe, Robert Hughes, provided the hors d’oeuvres.
“The Womensong Collective was made possible by the support of local businesses who value Abbotsford Seniors
Centre and the impact of innovative programs and community services offered to older adults,” said Blakely. Abbotsford Seniors Centre of The Glebe Centre Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit organization which includes a 254-bed long-term care home. Find out more about our services and programming by dropping by 950 Bank Street (the old stone house) Mon.Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., telephoning 613-230-5730 or by checking out all The Glebe Centre facilities and seniors’ services on our website www.glebecentre.ca.
Julie Ireton is a journalist and contributes to the Glebe Report on Abbotsford.
Donna Edwards Art WE NEED YOUR HELP!
If you are newly retired or have time on your hands, the Friends of the Central Experimental Farm are urgently seeking a volunteer Treasurer. As a member of the Board of Directors, the Treasurer is responsible for and advises the Board on financial and budgetary matters. This position also involves accounting responsibilities for our day-to-day operations, supported by a volunteer bookkeeper.
Experience/knowledge in managing the financial affairs of a business or not-for-profit charitable organization. Accounting experience, preferably with a knowledge of QuickBooks. Professional designation desired.
For further information or to submit your resume, please contact volunteer@friendsofthefarm.ca.
A Womensong concert fundraiser held September 20 featured local musicians Sarah Jackson, Lisa Taylor, Caroline Cook, Patti Burnett and Karen Oxorn. PHOTO: PATTI BURNETT
Abbotsford Seniors Centre is preparing its third annual Holiday Craft Fair, to take place November 30. Last year’s sale drew happy crowds. PHOTO: PAT GOYECHE
Ottawa — Vancouver — Montréal
Specific learning disorder: WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW
By Jenny Demark
Now that the new school year is underway, it is time for parents to get actively involved once again in monitoring their children’s learning. While the majority of students are able to learn information easily and consistently, there is a significant number of students who struggle. One reason for this could be that the student has Specific Learning Disorder.
What is Specific Learning Disorder?
Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) is when a person has at least average intelligence and yet, despite having received appropriate teaching and support, has very low academic success. This means that the student is performing well below grade level in reading, writing and/or mathematics.
Between five and 10 per cent of Canadians have SLD. Students with SLD will have significant difficulty in at least one of the following areas: reading accuracy, decoding, reading fluency, reading comprehension, spelling, use of grammar and punctuation, clarity or organization of written expression, number sense, memorization of math facts, calculation fluency and math reasoning.
Other terms used to describe learning difficulties include: Dyslexia (significant problems with word recognition, decoding, spelling); Dysgraphia (extreme difficulties with handwriting);
and Dyscalculia (substantial challenges with processing numerical information, learning math facts or doing fluent calculations).
What causes Specific Learning Disorder?
SLD is a neurodevelopmental condition. We know that there are specific regions of the brain that may have subtle structural differences as a result of prenatal factors (such as exposure to drugs or alcohol), medical issues (premature birth or severe malnutrition, for example), or genetics. SLD definitely runs in families – a student with SLD has a 50-per-cent chance of having other family members with SLD.
Every student with SLD has an underlying processing difference that explains why they are having difficulty learning. These differences can be in:
• Phonological processing – identifying and manipulating speech sounds
• Working memory– remembering and manipulating information for a short period of time
• Visual-motor integration–coordinating visual information with hand movements
• Processing speed– speed and
accuracy of understanding information and making decisions
How can parents support a student with Specific Learning Disorder?
Know your child’s profile. SLDs are identified by psychologists through comprehensive psycho-educational assessment, at the end of which you should have a good understanding of your child’s unique pattern of strengths and weaknesses. Once you know this, find ways to use their strengths to compensate for their weaknesses. For example, if your child has strong verbal memory, use songs, rhymes and/or verbal mnemonics to help them learn. Or if your child has strong visual memory, use flashcards, drawings and/or manipulatives to promote their academic skills. And be sure to nurture non-academic strengths (such as sports, coding, music, art, drama, etc.) so that your child can shine outside of the classroom.
Keep in mind that learning is very hard work for students with SLD. Some students may seem unmotivated to
work hard on academic tasks, but this is probably due to feeling discouraged and/or misunderstood rather than being lazy or uninterested. As parents, we must find the balance of pushing our children forward but at a pace that they can tolerate. An overwhelmed, exhausted or unwilling student cannot learn. Use praise and rewards generously for your child’s effort on learning tasks, not on the outcome. And make learning activities as fun as possible. Think scavenger hunts versus worksheets to work on reading comprehension, for example.
Watch out for behavioural or emotional challenges. If your child is engaging in disruptive behaviour in the classroom, they could be doing so to try to hide or compensate for an underlying SLD. Some students would rather look “bad” than “stupid.” For older students, watch for issues with self-esteem, anxiety and depression. In every case, help teachers to connect with and understand your child. Work together to build your child’s co-operation, confidence and willingness to learn. A key goal is for all students to feel like valued members of the school community.
Students with SLDs are often bright, creative, hard-working, resilient, warm and fun people. They can learn and they want to learn, they just learn differently from others. To discover more about SLD, check out these websites: Learning Disabilities Association of Ottawa-Carleton, www.ldaottawa.com/ Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario, www.ldao.ca/ Dyslexia Canada, dyslexiacanada.org/
Jenny Demark, Ph.D., C.Psych., is a psychologist who lives in the Glebe and works nearby.
Glebe Co-op Nursery School greets fall with enthusiasm
By Alanna Brown
The school year is off to a great start! Our toddlers and preschoolers have been having so much fun playing in the new playground, learning each other’s names and becoming familiar with their new routines at the Glebe Co-operative Nursery School.
The children love spending the first part of their mornings outside where they have been observing all the excitement that comes with the welcoming of fall. The weather is cooler, the wind is blowing, leaves are changing colour
and falling into the playground and giving us so much to learn about. It’s also fun to watch and listen to the school buses, garbage trucks and construction vehicles drive by, and if we’re lucky they even give us a wave and a honk.
We are getting excited about Thanksgiving and are encouraging our families to express gratitude by writing on a paper leaf and attaching it to our Thanksgiving tree.
Halloween is also coming up, and we can’t wait to dress up in fun costumes and learn some spooky stories and songs.
Are you looking for part-time morning care for your preschooler age 2.5 to 4? We have two spots available and would love to welcome some new friends to our preschool class (Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30). For more information, please email us at info@ glebepreschool.com.
Alanna Brown is responsible for communication at Glebe Co-operative Nursery School.
Charlie playing in the new sandbox
PHOTO: ALANNA BROWN
Luc and Myles learn about amphibian habitats. PHOTO: TEACHER HELEN
This space is a free community bulletin board for Glebe residents Send your GRAPEVINE message and your name, email address, street address and phone number to
ca Messages without complete information will not be accepted. FOR SALE items must be less than $1,000.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
ABBOTSFORD SENIOR CENTRE (950 Bank St , Tel : 613-230-5730) HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR, Sat , Nov 30, 10 a m –2 p m Home-made Crafts, Ornaments, Baby Clothes, Knit Wear, Pottery and clever gift ideas Hand-made Teddy Bears & other delightful comfort creatures Home-baked goodies including frozen apple pies to go Tea Room to restore, chat and enjoy the comfort of food and friends All to support Abbotsford Seniors Centre
ABBOTSFORD SENIOR CENTRE (950 Bank St , Tel : 613-230-5730) HOOT IT UP AT THE HOOTENANNY LIVE Mon , Oct 28 & Dec 9 at 1:30 p m (30 person maximum) Led by folk musicians with an emphasis on audience participation Hootenanny participants can look forward to actively singing and/or playing along and experience the power of singing together Cost: $2 members only, please register in advance by calling Reception at 613-2305730
ABBOTSFORD SENIOR CENTRE (950 Bank St , Tel : 613-230-5730) LEARN & EXPLORE SPEAKER’S SERIES, Wednesdays, 1–2:30 p m Oct. 23: Join Abbotsford volunteers Deb Hogan and David Yurach for a trek on the Camino In April 2023, Deb and Dave fulfilled a dream of walking approximately 300 km along the Camino Portuguese, from Porto in Portugal to Santiago in Spain Join us as they share their favourite photos of the journey, including the flora, architecture, food, landscapes and sea It will be held LIVE and on ZOOM simultaneously Oct. 30: End of Life Options/including MAID given by Dying with Dignity Canada, Ottawa Chapter More details will be available closer to the date It will be held LIVE and on ZOOM simultaneously Nov 6: Peter Atkinson, son of well-known CFRA radio personality Gord Atkinson, will present his book: Gord Atkinson: Ottawa’s Oldest Teenager The book chronicles Gord’s early years with CFRA when his radio programs, Campus Corner and Showbill, were extremely popular Peter includes video clips of his father’s two ‘discoveries’ – Ottawa-born singer Paul Anka and impressionist Rich Little There will be lots of photos, anecdotes and special video clips from interviews with the stars of popular music in the 1950s and 1960s, including Tony Bennett, Buddy Holly, Connie Francis, and Elvis Presley It will be held LIVE only Nov. 13: Matt Burns and Jennifer Burns from David Burns & Associates, a local financial planning firm will present: Financial Planning and Investing During Uncertain Economic Times Matt will be discussing investing in down markets and long-term investment strategies It will be held LIVE and on ZOOM simultaneously Nov. 20: Mike Martin is an award-winning author of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series, set in beautiful Grand Bank, NL Mike was born in St John’s and is a long-time freelance writer here in Ottawa He will share his writing journey His latest Sgt Windflower mysteries are Better Safe Than Sorry and Too Close for Comfort It will be held LIVE and on ZOOM simultaneously N B : The lectures are free, but one must register in advance for a seat or zoom link Tea,coffee and treats available for purchase in dining room courtesy of your Members Council and Amica the Glebe
CANADIAN CENTENNIAL CHOIR (ccc-ccc ca/) presents “On Earth As It Is in Heaven / Sur la terre comme au ciel,” Sunday, Nov 3 at 3 p m , St Thomas the Apostle Anglican Church, 2345 Alta Vista Drive Tickets for this concert: Adult: $25; Senior/Student: $20, Available at https://bpt me/6460740 A contemplative concert leading up to Remembrance Day: Gabriel’s Oboe, by Ennio Morricone, arranged by Craig Hella Johnson, with oboe and cello; Only in Sleep, by Eriks Esenvalds, with soprano soloist; Luminous Night of the Soul, by Ola Gjeilo, with piano and string quartet; A Ukrainian Prayer, by John Rutter, and more!
CHURCH BAZAAR: Nov 23, 10 a m –2 p m Glebe St James United Church, 650 Lyon St Come to our annual Fall bazaar: Collectables, Tea Room, Baking, Jewelry, Crafts, Odds and Sods, Silent Auction, Kids Table, Frozen food, Fish Pond and once again a Wool room Bring a friend and join us for lunch 650 Lyon Street – the new Red Door
ENRICHED BREAD ARTISTS 32ND ANNUAL OPEN
STUDIO, Saturdays, Oct 19 and 26, 11 a m –5 p m ) and Sundays, Oct 20 and 27, 11 a m –5 p m )
Admission is free Access to the inside of our building at 951 Gladstone is limited to stairs There are no ramps, lifts, or elevators Info: 613-729-7632, info@enrichedbreadartists com www enrichedbreadartists com
FRIENDS OF THE FARM has moved! The Friends of the Farm’s office is now on the 2nd floor of Building 75, on the west side of the Ornamental Gardens
The entrance is off the NCC Driveway, and our door is across from the path to the Macoun Memorial Garden Please note that our phone number and email address remain the same; our new mailing address is Friends of the Central Experimental Farm, Building 75, Central Experimental Farm, 960 Carling Ave , Ottawa ON K1A 0C6
FRIENDS OF THE FARM NEW TREE TOUR Oct 27: Biodiversity at Work in the Merivale Shelterbelt
About 20 years ago, Agriculture Canada and the Friends of the Farm planted the first trees on the site called the Merivale Shelterbelt It was the beginning of a long-term project to create a windbreak of diverse trees exposed to a challenging urban environment Today we see the early results of how North American, European and Asian tree species adapt to environmental extremes at the edge of large fields and beside a busy roadway Tour leader: Roman Popadiouk The tour starts at 9:30 am (rain or shine) at the Merivale Shelterbelt, at the entrance to the Farm across from Tim Horton’s on Merivale HOME & AWAY BOOK LAUNCH. Ian McKercher’s fifth novel, Home & Away, will be launched at 7:30 p m Sun , Oct 27th in the church hall at Glebe-St James United Church, Access is via the red door at 650 Lyon Street, between Glebe and First Avenues Books can be purchased for $25 each (cash, cheque or e-transfer)
OLD OTTAWA SOUTH GARDEN CLUB MEETING, Old Ottawa South Community Centre (The Firehall), 260 Sunnyside Ave , Tues , Nov 12, 7 p m : Pollinator Gardening – a double bill of Berit Erickson, creator of The Corner Pollinator Garden blog, and Sandy Garland, founder of the Wild Pollinator Partners Berit will show members how to create and maintain a native-plant pollinator garden that blooms from spring to fall Sandy will describe some of the community pollinator-gardens in Old Ottawa South that members can visit and where members can volunteer Membership: $25 per year; $40 for a family; drop-in fee $7 per meeting Info: 613-247-4946
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 and membership information We will be meeting on Wed , Oct 23 at 10 a m at Gloucester Presbyterian Church, 91 Pike St for a presentation about Alfred Nobel and the Nobel prizes
ST. MATTHEW’S ANGLICAN CHURCH ONLINE
TREASURES AUCTION Nov 7 to 17 An extraordinary selection of items The auction site will open for bidding on Thurs, Nov 7, and run till Sun, Nov 17, closing at 4 pm The catalogue will be viewable on Nov 1 Items include fine art, theatre tickets, baked goods and meals, unusual books, antique silver, jewellery and some unusual vintage toys Supports St Matthew property projects, the Ottawa Food Bank and the Centretown Community Food Centre Register at www stmatthewsottawa ca
ing your well-being and being part of a community? Reading has been associated with health benefits like stress reduction, improved well-being and better sleep Being part of a community supports well-being, decreases social isolation and increases connectedness Why not join the Reading for Well-Being Community Book Club Each month I select an evidence-based book focused on a dimension of well-being, selected as Professor Pozzulo’s Picks You’ll receive a monthly newsletter with my book selection and review Everyone is welcome to join Sign up here, https://carleton ca/mentalhealth/mewerths-reading-for-well-being-community-book-club/ I’ve also created the Reading for Well-Being Podcast where I interview the authors of the books from the book club to help listeners understand the science and strategies that can improve well-being The podcasts are available on Spotify, Apple and Libsyn
AVAILABLE
FALL GARDEN CLEAN UP I have been doing yard maintenance for neighbours for many years I also have experience with vegetable gardens Leaf raking, weeding, planting and all other yard maintenance Please call/text Janna at 613-293-6883 if you are interested in my services References available
FREE PLANTS I am closing my garden on Sat , Oct 26 Since my house is too small to bring in my plants, I will be giving away the following: 4 large palm trees – six feet high (you can take as many as you wish) and 5 pink geraniums You can come to my house any day before OR on that date between 11 a m and 4 p m Just phone before to ensure that I am at home Bring your own plastic bags or containers If you wish me to reserve one for you, just send me your name First come, first serve! Claire 613-230-5690 or clairetre@sympatico ca
HOUSESITTER available in the GLEBE to move in and care for your home while you travel for short-term vacations, to a second home, a cottage or abroad I have experience supervising renovations, gardening, shovelling snow, packing and moving a home, organizing, watering plants, collecting mail, etc I am a young lady who studies the Word of God (the Bible) remotely at home I have several years of recent HOUSESITTING experience in the GLEBE with excellent references from many families in our neighbourhood I have cared for and lived in many homes over the last 5 years I also love caring for God’s precious animals, especially puppies! Please contact Sarah 613-6820802 (mayyouhope@gmail com)
FOR SALE
FENDER ACOUSTIC GUITAR, a beautiful musical instrument, like new, model MA-1, comes with a special guitar case, travel bag and stand $275 Call 613-261-4504
ANTIQUE DUNCAN PHYFE DINING ROOM TABLE, mahogany, measures 72” x 42” x 29” high, comes with one extra leaf $925 Call 613-261-4504
OAK WHISKY BARREL, beautifully aged, watertight secured steel rings, 36” x 27” wide, could be a rain barrel or sales counter base $185 Call 613-2614504
Upcoming surgery? As-new RAISED TOILET SEAT AND SHOWER STOOL for sale In original packaging $100 for both Contact jeanette rive@gmail com
WHERE TO FIND THE Glebe Report
Home renos and repair — interior/ exterior painting; all types of flooring; drywall repair and installation; plumbing repairs and much more.
