Feeling lucky? Join us at our Casino Night to play your favourite games, like Slots, Roulette, Black Jack, Poker and more (tokens with no monetary value will be provided). Enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres and wine while mingling with our wonderful team. Plus, stick around for a guided tour of our beautiful residence.
Wednesday, November 23 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Please RSVP by November 18 to Erin or Grace at 613-728-9274
491 RICHMOND ROAD, OTTAWA AMICA.CA/WESTBOROPARK
Humans of Kitchissippi is a special street photography project designed to introduce readers to some of the people who live, work and play in Kitchissippi. Each instalment of HOK contains three elements: a photo, a name and a quote from the subject that reveals a little bit about who they are. Go to kitchissippi.com to view our ongoing collection of humans.
I grew up in Cornwall, Ontario and moved here to go to Carleton University and Algonquin College. It was a very humble and quiet upbringing. I loved high school, played sports, and was part of student council. When I was 18 I moved to Ottawa for school and I never moved back home.
I live in the McKellar Park community and my family and I have always really been engaged with the neighbourhood. I joined the Carlingwood Community Association after my youngest son was born because I wanted to get back engaging with people.
I spent quite a bit of time at home looking after my kids, so when my youngest son was born, I wanted to see what else was out there. I started working at Candlelighters, a charity for kids with cancer. During the pandemic, I was working at the Ottawa Food Bank which I absolutely loved.
Ottawa has such a special thriving community of people who want to help. People work really hard and they share their hardearned dollars. It’s wonderful to be part of that experience.
In 2021 my sister Kristianne, a breast cancer survivor, passed away from Pulmonary Hypertension and our whole lives just halted. We took time to process our grief, and then a job at the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation fell in my lap. I applied, things happened very quickly - and I’m really enjoying it.
The thing that I really love about this area is that we are immersed in nature. We live very close to the Ottawa River, and there are lots of great parks. It’s a
caring community and everyone is very empathetic. From the tornadoes to COVID and everything else that’s happened, we have always been surrounded by such wonderful support. People go out of their way to make sure everybody is alright.
At 52, I feel like I’ve already done so many great things. My role as a parent to three children is to keep helping them find their passions.
I’m a sunset chaser and I love photography; it’s one of the things that takes me away from all the stressful moments of life. I’m an avid reader and hiking is a big part of our family culture. Every weekend we try to go about 45 minutes outside of the city and find a new trail.
Story collected by Charlie Senack
Great River Media Inc
PO Box 91585
Ottawa ON K1W 1K0
Kitchissippi, meaning “the Grand River,” is the former Algonquin name for the Ottawa River. The name now identifies the urban community to the west of downtown Ottawa.
EDITOR
Charlie Senack editor@kitchissippi.com twitter.com/kitchissippi twitter.com/charlie_senack
CONTRIBUTORS
Emma Perreault, Zenith Wolfe, Dave Allston, Ellen Bond, Bradley Turcotte.
PROOFREADER
Alicia Lim
ADVERTISING SALES
Eric Dupuis 613-696-9485 eric@kitchissippi.com
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Tanya Connolly-Holmes creative@greatriver.ca
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Celine Paquette celine@greatriver.ca
Deborah Ekuma deborah@obj.ca
FINANCE
Cheryl Schunk, 613-696-9490 cheryl@greatriver.ca
All other enquiries 613-696-9494 info@kitchissippi.com
A minimum of 15,000 copies are distributed from the Ottawa River to Carling Avenue between the O-Train tracks and Sherbourne Road. Most residents in this area will receive the Kitchissippi Times directly to their door. If you did not receive your copy, or would like additional copies, please contact us. Bulk copies are delivered to multi-unit dwellings and retail locations. Copies are available at Dovercourt Recreation Centre and Hintonburg Community Centre.
info@kitchissippi.com
The Kitchissippi Times is published by
FOUNDER
Mark Sutcliffe
PUBLISHER Michael Curran
BY EMMA PERREAULT
Thereturn of colder weather brings with it a tradition each Canadian knows very well.
Remembrance Day, commemorated on Nov. 11, is getting set to be recognized in a big way. For Kitchissippi residents, it also means a return to normalcy.
“We couldn’t have [a ceremony] inside in 2020 and 2021. We’ve been very restricted about what we could do,” said Doug Cody, president of the Westboro Legion.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, parades and indoor ceremonies were cancelled for the last few years. Canadians were instead asked to look inside their hearts and minds for reflection, preventing an important tradition which has taken place for a century.
On Nov. 11, the Legion’s Upstairs Bar & Lounge will be open at 10:00 a.m. for viewing the national ceremony broadcasted from the National War Memorial. An hour later, a service is planned at Carlingwood Shopping Centre beginning at 11:00 a.m. With that will come band performances and the laying of wreaths, supported by veterans and various organisations.
Later in the day, a ceremony that includes the laying of wreaths will be held at the Westboro Cenotaph.
Cody has had the challenge of planning events throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, so he is looking forward to the return of traditions. The parade is back this year, and it will consist of Cadet Corps, various community groups and some veterans.
The parade will start behind the Legion on Richmond at 1:45 p.m. and will travel down to the Cenotaph for the 2:00 p.m. service.
All participants are encouraged to revisit the Legion after the ceremony, where soup and buns will be served. The “Swing Sisters” will entertain upstairs, singing wartime songs and various popular songs from different eras.
Beginning Oct. 28, the annual poppy campaign is back. People can purchase the commemorative Canadian symbol at various community businesses and schools including: IKEA, Carlingwood Shopping Centre, and the Real Canadian Superstore on Richmond Rd. The poppies will be available until Nov. 11 and customers can utilise a tap-to-pay function at each of the above locations.
A storefront in Carlingwood Shopping Centre (located between the Bentley and Laura Secord) will also be open for the purchase of poppies. The pop-up store will sell legion merchandise and Remembrance Day items with 100 per cent of the proceeds going towards the Westboro Legion Poppy Trust Fund.
Anyone wishing to purchase a wreath to commemorate a loved one’s memory can also do so at the Carlingwood store.
Every year, the Poppy Fund assists veterans and their families with food and shelter and helps provide comforts
to those who reside in hospital or longterm care facilities. It also goes towards setting up bursaries for the children or grandchildren of veterans; contributes to medical research and training; and towards questions about pensions, disability or other services inquired about.
Cody is looking forward to the return of in-person events and bringing the community together for Remembrance Day again.
“The fact that we have it again this year, we’re very pleased. And we do expect that the community will be glad to see us back again,” he said.
The times are changing and the seasons are shifting. Fall is showing its colours and the air is cooling.
I don’t know about you but I can’t believe it’s already November. Where did the year go? It seems just like yesterday we were skiing on the Kichi Zibi trail and snapping photos of the snow bears that lined the paths. It won’t be long before snow is in the forecast again and our winter boots come out of storage. Don’t shoot the messenger!
Things are also changing at the Kitchissippi Times: I am very excited to be the next editor of this amazing community newspaper. I would like to thank Maureen McEwan, our “wartime editor,” for keeping the ship afloat throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We wish Maureen the best, and I thank her immensely for making this transition so easy. I would also like to acknowledge former editor Andrea Tompkins who gave me an opportunity at this great company four years ago, and publisher Michael Curran for taking a chance on me.
Community news has always been important, but its significance is only growing in these turbulent times. The Kitchissippi Times is devoted to telling stories that matter. We want to give you the opportunity to read about your neighbours in print and find out about what’s taking place in your community.
The local political landscape is also shifting: Mark Sutcliffe, who founded the Kitchissippi Times 20 years ago, won a slight majority to become Ottawa’s next mayor. He joins 11 new faces on city council.
We have lots of news to fit in our November issue this month. Emma Perreault checked in with the Westboro Legion to see what’s planned for
Remembrance Day. She also sat down with Coun. Jeff Leiper, who’s reeling with excitement after winning a third term in office.
In our Early Days Column this month, Dave Allston investigates what happened to the “Hintonburg Howitzer,” a piece of Canada’s First World War history.
Zenith Wolfe spoke with the Parkdale United Church Orchestra, which is embarking on a new vision for their upcoming show. He also caught up with local folk duo Libby and Cal, who launched their new album about “alternative” love in Hintonburg.
Bradley Turcotte visited an art vernissage held at the Dovercourt Recreation Centre by grade 12 student Audrey Tucker, and Ellen Bond photographed the many fall colours seen around Kitchissippi ward over the last month.
We visited the new Canadian Tire – the largest in Canada – which just opened in Carlingwood Shopping Centre.
A few streets over, a “Stranger Things” Halloween display has got the neighbourhood talking.
We also have a sitdown interview with outgoing Mayor Jim Watson who talks about his accomplishments and regrets over the last 12 years. Finally, we wrote about progress in renaming the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway and construction delays with the Chief William Commanda bridge.
That’s all the space we have for this issue. Be sure to visit kitchissippi.com where we will start posting web-only content multiple times a week! If you have a Kitchissippi-related story idea, please email me at editor@kitchissippi.com.
Stay happy and healthy Kitchissippi!
Our pool is a great place to be when the weather gets cold. Book your space online ahead of time up to 7 days in advance at www.dovercourt.org .
FIND YOUR FALL FIT Drop-in or registered options: The Fit Pass offers 35 weekly classes including Group, Aqua & Online fitness, fitness centre and more! Or choose registered fitness and aquafitness classes and attend specialty classes weekly for the session.
A full day of activities with caring, energetic leaders. Book now for Nov 4, 25. Upcoming Friday Date Nights; Nov 18, Dec 9 & Dec 16.
Winter Holiday Camps Dec. 27 - 30 and Jan. 2 - 6. Registration begins Tue. Nov. 8.
Registration begins Thu. Feb. 2.
JeffLeiper has claimed his third consecutive victory in the Kitchissippi ward, clinching a solid and comfortable victory over his two opponents Oonagh Fitzgerald and Dan Stringer.
Each candidate had similar platforms, with main issues being affordable housing and sustainability, as well as transit accessibility.
Leiper was the projected winner of the riding about an hour after the polls closed. He and his team of staff, volunteers, and supporters gathered at the Carleton Tavern to watch the results and celebrate a successful campaign.
First elected in 2014, Leiper took 72 per cent of the vote with 11,055 ballots cast under his name. Oonagh Fitzgerald came in second place with 21 per cent (3,247 votes) and Dan Stringer in third with seven per cent (1,058 votes).
Dan Montag, who has been volunteering for Leiper since 2018, worked hand in hand with the councillor as he knocked on doors throughout the riding. He credits the success of Leiper’s campaign to this and acknowledges it as a game-changer in an election such as this one.
“He’s knocking on doors, and he’s talking to the people,” Montag said.
Pat O’Brien, who managed Leiper’s campaign, has worked with the Kitchissippi councillor since 2007. With the comfort of being an incumbent and his dedication shown to the community, O’Brien wasn't nervous about the outcome.
“We know he was so warmly received at the doors, his communications are phenomenal, and so we’d always had a positive, comfortable feeling that he’d win.”
Supporters of all ages gathered at the Tavern to celebrate and socialize, as results came through live onto the various television screens. Although merry throughout the evening, there was a somber tone during Catherine McKenney’s concession speech, as they wished the
PHOTO BY CHARLIE SENACKmayoral race winner Mark Sutcliffe success.
Leiper, a close friend to McKenney – and a supporter of their mayoral campaign – was visibly emotional as he watched the screen.
Going into his third term, Leiper has an organized agenda of items he wants to tackle on behalf of his constituents, starting with affordable housing.
“I am certain that that is going to be a priority that virtually every candidate in this election brings to the horseshoe,” Leiper told the Kitchissippi Times after his victory.
Beyond that, he wants to focus on transit affordability and the intensification of the city of Ottawa, ensuring that green areas and recreation amenities are preserved.
Leiper will work with many new faces this term as 11 wards are set to see new representation around the council table. With this comes new opportunities and potential disagreements, said Leiper, who is excited for the challenges it will bring.
“My commitment is to bring my experience to the table and to be a leader in making sure that council works more productively together,” he said.
“We’re going to have disagreements, and there’s a broad swath of the
political spectrum,” shared Leiper, who acknowledges that with that comes different priorities and goals.
“If there’s no clear direction, this council is going to take some work to get everyone together to come up with a unified agenda that we can productively work on,” he added.
After results were finalized, Leiper finally got the chance to say a few words
to his dedicated staff and volunteers, thanking them profusely for all their hard work. And while it seemed like a comfortable win, Leiper pointed out that there is always uncertainty when it comes to politics.
“Everything that we were hearing at the doors was extremely positive, and we were very, very confident. But you never know what you don’t know,” he laughed.
Itwas a historic night in Ottawa on Oct. 24 as residents got set to elect a new Mayor and 11 new city councillors.
While the Kitchissippi ward council seat will remain the same, a new but familiar face will sit in the Mayor's chair.
Mark Sutcliffe, who co-founded Great River Media in 2003, won the Mayoral race with 51 per cent of the vote. The Kitchissippi Times and Ottawa Business Journal founder received 161,679 ballots cast under his name.
“I am feeling a lot of emotions right now. Humility, excitement, joy, relief. But most of all I am feeling incredible gratitude,” Sutcliffe said in his victory speech.
“As I said on the day I announced that I was
running, I love Ottawa and that’s never been more true than today,” he added. “Not because of this outcome of the election, but because of the thousands of people I've met during the campaign who have reminded me what a wonderful, kind, caring, diverse community we live in.”
The change in city leadership came after Jim Watson announced he would be leaving city hall after 12 years as Mayor.
Sutcliffe, a journalist and radio personality who has lived in the Kitchissippi area for 24 years, was up against 13 other challengers all eyeing the top city job.
Outgoing Somerset ward councillor Catherine McKenney came in second with almost 38 per cent of the vote, and former Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli came in third
place with five per cent of the vote.
“This is not the result we had hoped for. It is tough and disappointing, but we are going to move forward,” McKenney said in their final campaign speech. “Tomorrow we will get back up and keep working to create the city we deserve.”
All incumbents who sought re-election kept their seats, but some wards saw close races. A total of 11 new faces will sit around the council table – all have varying ideas and come from different backgrounds.
Voter turnout was 43.79 per cent in Ottawa – the highest seen since the municipal race in 2010. In Kitchissippi ward, 53 per cent of the eligible 29,621 voters cast their ballots.
The new Mayor and council will officially be sworn in on Nov. 15.
Here is a look at who was elected school board trustees in Kitchissippi (Ward 15) zones:
In the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board - Zone 4 (Wards 07, 15), Suzanne Nash was elected trustee with 67 per cent of the vote.
In the Ottawa Catholic School BoardZone 7 (Wards 07, 15), Jeremy Wittet was elected trustee with 68 per cent of the vote.
In the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est - Zone 6 (Wards 12, 14, 15, 17) , Denis Forget won the trustee's race with 82 per cent of the vote.
And in the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario - Zone 9 (Wards 14, 15, 17, 18) Joël Beddows won the trustee’s race with 48 per cent of the vote.
BY CHARLIE SENACK
It’sthe end of an era for Ottawa’s longestserving mayor who is leaving public office after a lifetime in politics.
This was the first election in a long time where Jim Watson got to sit on the couch and watch results come in from home. After leading city hall for 12 years, the outgoing mayor decided it was time for someone else to come in with fresh blood and new ideas.
Watson’s experience in politics dates back to the 1990s, when he served as a city councillor from 1991 to 1997. That same year, he was elected mayor of Ottawa for the first time.
He left that position in 2000 and became the member of provincial parliament for Ottawa-West Nepean in 2003. Watson served in that capacity for seven years and worked as a provincial cabinet minister in various portfolios.
Watson left Queen’s Park and returned to council chambers in 2010 when he ran and won the mayor's race again. Now he’s calling it quits after three consecutive terms.
Kitchissippi Times sat down with outgoing Mayor Jim Watson to talk about his legacy and accomplishments over the last 12 years.
Some answers have been edited for style and clarity.
Q: Here we are sitting in your office, a place where you have spent a lot of time over the past 12 years. How does it feel to be leaving?
Watson: It’s bittersweet. On the one hand I’m looking forward to a less stressful job. I thought it was time to move forward and allow new people and new blood to take office.
It’s a little bit sad though, because you stay in one job for a long period of time and you develop a lot of good relationships with your staff, the city staff, community associations and community leaders. I’ll miss the aspect of getting out in the community.
Q: During your three terms as Mayor, many projects have been greenlighted in the city: Lansdowne Park, LRT, the new central library, to name just a few. What do you want your legacy to be?
Watson: I’ll leave that up to journalists, historians and pundits to write about my legacy but a lot of projects were stuck in the mud here for decades. We always wanted an Innovation Centre but nothing happened on that front. We needed an Ottawa Art Gallery benefiting a G7 capital and nothing happened on that front. These were all city projects that were on someone’s desk and they never seemed to move very far. I’m proud of the respective councils who voted to invest in Lansdowne Park, who voted to invest in LRT, electric buses, support for our veterans and those looking for affordable housing.
Q: What about in Kitchissippi ward in general? What are you most proud of accomplishing there?
Watson: In Kitchissippi we have invested a
lot in infrastructure — whether it’s upgrades to the Hintonburg Community Centre or Laroche Park upgrades with the new Keith Brown Field House that’s coming along really well. Look at the Jackie Holzman Bridge for instance, that links the two sides of Highway 417. That’s a lot of investment over a relatively short period of time.
Q: Once fully operational, light rail transit will benefit Kitchissippi ward with Phases 1 and 2 running through the community. What will this mean for the neighbourhood?
Watson: I don't think people realize how extensive Phase 2 is. It will go further east, west, and south. It’s going to be a big game changer because there will be stations that are a lot closer for people to come and use the trains. You won’t see the kind of congestion and overcrowding used to occur at Tunney’s Pasture because that was the end of the station in the west end. Phase 2 will spread all of that pedestrian traffic out over a longer period of time.
Q: Do you have any regrets or anything you wish you accomplished as mayor?
Watson: I wish we had done something more; I think loneliness for senior citizens is a really big concern. During the pandemic, Meals on Wheels would often be the only contact seniors would have. I see far too many people sitting by themselves at Carlingwood Mall having a muffin and a tea at Tim Hortons. That’s sad.
Q: Now that your time as mayor is almost up, do you have any ideas what is next? Is another job maybe in your future?
Watson: I’ve made a conscious decision not to deal with my future until my term ends. From that I’ll take a couple weeks off - I’d like to travel a bit, and then do a bit more charity and volunteer work. If something comes my way that’s a good fit then I’ll certainly look at that, but I’m not looking for a 100 hour a week job, that’s for sure. I had that for 25 years. I still have a lot of energy and I’m still relatively young.
Marches D’Ottawa Markets is grateful to our customers who continue to show love to our makers, bakers, and growers in our 198th season! The Parkdale Market supports small businesses and agricultural producers in your community, and we are eager to bring back more local goodness next Spring.
Though the main market season closed on October 31st, we are gearing up for the holidays and will be transforming the space yet again to your urban tree farm destination. Starting November 17th, the Parkdale Market will feature Canadian-grown holiday trees and handmade décor.
Our regular season vendors love Parkdale so much they will be back December 4th from 10am to 2pm for a holiday pop-up to get you ready for the merry festivities! Back by popular demand -- the Parkdale Night Market! We are hosting our first ever Holiday Night Market, Wednesday, December 7th from 4pm to 8pm!
Get into the holiday spirit with Ottawa Markets!
Les Marché d’Ottawa est reconnaissant envers ses clients qui continuent de démontrer de l’amour envers nos fabricants, boulangers et cultivateurs au cours de notre 198e saison! Le marché Parkdale soutient les petites entreprises et les cultivateurs de votre communauté, et nous avons hâte de vous offrir encore plus de produits locaux au printemps prochain !
Bien que la saison principale du marché ait pris fin le 31 octobre, nous nous préparons pour les fêtes et nous transformerons encore une fois l’espace en une destination de ferme forestière urbaine ! À partir du 17 novembre, le marché Parkdale accueillera des arbres de Noël cultivés au Canada et des décorations faites à la main !
Nos vendeurs de la saison régulière aiment tellement Parkdale qu’ils seront de retour le 4 décembre de 10 h à 14 h pour vous préparer pour les fêtes ! Fan du marché de nuit de Parkdale ? Nous le sommes aussi, c’est pourquoi nous organiserons notre tout premier marché de nuit des Fêtes, le mercredi 7 décembre de 16 h à 20 h !
On se voit au marché !
Labourshortages and supply-chain issues mean it will be another six months before Kitchissippi residents can cross the Chief William Commanda Bridge.
Originally expected to open this fall, construction timelines on the multi-use pathway have been pushed back to spring 2023. The city blames “external factors” and “unforeseen conditions” for the delay.
“The multi-use pathway will be put in service upon completion of the upper bridge works and will be safe for use,” the City of Ottawa website reads. “The remainder of the rehabilitation work will be completed in 2023 with minimal disruption to bridge users. Final cleanup work will be completed by summer 2024.”
Formerly known as the Prince of Wales bridge, the name changed on July 7, 2021, when city council unanimously supported renaming the bridge after Chief William Commanda, an Algonquin elder who served as band chief of the Kitigàn-zìbì Anishinàbeg First Nation from 1951 until 1970.
Commanda was recognized for being a spiritual leader who was an avid promoter for environmental stewardship.
In an interview with the Kitchissippi Times last July, his granddaughter Claudette Commanda, who is also an elder in the Algonquin First Nations community, said the bridge renaming was a sign of reconciliation.
“It is a kind gesture and the right thing to do. Prince of Wales, what type
of attachment does he have to us as Algonquin people?” she said. “This is our land. It is respect and recognition for my grandfather.”
The city still plans to complete as much work as possible this fall on the south side of the bridge.
The delay means further frustration for Kitchissippi residents who are struggling to find public greenspace. Lemieux Island is being used as a staging area for construction and Laroche Park in nearby Mechanicsville is closed for revitalization efforts.
“That continues to be a stress,” said Kitchissippi ward councillor Jeff Leiper in an emailed statement.
“My office has pressed the City to find ways to open up space at Lemieux for dogs, but we have not heard back during the election,” he continued. “I will be pressing that once I'm back in the office, and want to thank residents for their patience.”
Once in operation, the $22.6-million former rail bridge will be a key gateway for Kitchissippi residents who are looking to walk or bike over to Gatineau.
The Kichi Sibi winter trail was hoping to use the bridge as a link between their paths and Gatineau Park, however those plans have been put on ice for another year.
Supply-chain issues caused by the pandemic have led to various project delays, including with the new central library downtown and Phase 2 of light rail transit, which is now scheduled to roll through Westboro in 2026.
Top left: The Chief William Commanda Bridge will connect Ottawa to Gatineau.
Middle: Workers install the timber deck on the South Bridge.
Left: Masonry repairs underway on the southwest wingwall of the North Bridge.
OF OTTAWA
Highland Park resident and De La Salle high school arts student Audrey has multimedia works on display at the Dovercourt Recreation Centre through November.
Audrey describes the exposition as “an exploration of different emotions, revealing the inner parts of yourself.” The vernissage took place Oct 21.
Samples of Audrey’s work blend various styles from abstract to anime. Audrey says she draws inspiration from Matisse, Pollock and social-media-based artist Minnie Small.
“She has a following on Youtube,” Audrey, who goes by _perchai_ on Instagram, says of Small. “I have followed her for a couple years and the lines in her work, the subjects that she paints, even the landscapes she draws really inspire me. Especially the colours that she uses.”
There is a spiritual aspect to her own work, Audrey says, as she uses colours, textures and movement to describe emotions. Inspiration strikes like a divine vision, Audrey explains.
“It’s not intrinsically religious but sometimes, for example, with one of my
paintings I was really struggling with it, to come up with (an) idea of the main subject for it. I really thought about it and one night I was just relaxing on the couch, closing my eyes and then suddenly I saw the subject of my painting and knew then that was what I needed to paint. That is what gives me the ideas for most of my paintings.”
Tracing her own interest in art to “drawing at the kitchen table much like any other kid,” Audrey then took art in school. The Highland Park teen realized it was more than a hobby when she would draw unrelated sketches in the margins of her homework assignments.
Now a student with a concentration in art at De La Salle high school, Audrey says her teachers have pushed her to “go further.”
“My teachers have made a great effort in trying to support me with my dreams and aspirations as an artist,” Audrey says. “They have really helped me go forth in
discovering abstract art, pushing me forward with my painting. The art concentration pushes students to create more than they thought they could.”
Trish Stolte, Dovercourt’s director of customer experience, said Audrey’s art show is the first they have held since before the COVID-19 pandemic. She is encouraging people to drop by Dovercourt’s upstairs lobby to view the pieces of local art.
“We are excited to display the work of this talented young artist,” she said
over email. “(It) demonstrates a variety of subjects, techniques and (media), from colourful, large-scale acrylic paintings to smaller watercolours and pencil studies,” she said over email.
Next fall Audrey plans to travel to Florence, Italy to continue studying art. Her family is saving, helping her decide what school to attend and looking into what she can do for work while in the country that has produced artists like Da Vinci and Raphael.
“It is definitely something set in concrete,” Audrey says.
BY CHARLIE SENACK
might soon be visiting the Woodpark neighbourhood after one family took Halloween to the next level.
Patrick McCurdy and his two kids always look to celebrate Oct. 31 in a big way: This year they decided to recreate one of the most memorable scenes from season four of Netflix’s hit TV series, “Stranger Things.”
“My kids and I have a longtime tradition of always making Halloween costumes and displays,” said McCurdy. “I am a big fan of 'Stranger Things' and a big fan of Halloween. The fun part is actually working together to build something.”
McCurdy decided to recreate the scene where fan-favourite character Max Mayfield is levitating in the air while listening to a Sony walkman. She tries to escape the hands of Vecna, the main antagonist looking to cause havoc in Hawkins.
The near life-size body of Mayfield was built primarily from items picked up at thrift stores around the community. The red Vans shoes were from Goodwill and the blue sweater – with strips of coloured tape added to make it look more realistic – is from Value Village.
It hangs from the family's basketball net to their master bedroom window with fishing wire.
“Max is probably one of my favourite characters and the scene is just so iconic,” said McCurdy. “My kids haven't even watched 'Stranger Things' but they know the scene and the music.”
In the fourth episode of season four, Mayfield struggles to stay in the mortal world after being chased by Vecna. The only way to escape is by listening to her favourite music. The scene is set to Kate Bush’s 1985 song “Running up that Hill,” which put the British singer back on the top 100 music charts. Memories from the 15-year-old's life flash around her.
McCurdy says he got the idea for a “Stranger Things” Halloween theme after a similar setup went viral on TikTok.
While the Kitchissippi-area display is lesser in scale, McCurdy hopes it will resonate with fans of the show.
“For me this was about family time and doing something we could work on together,” said McCurdy. “Everyone has loved it and a friend of ours even showed a picture to her uncle who is executive producer on the show. He thought it was really neat.”
TheSir John A. Macdonald parkway is one step closer to getting a new name after years of public scrutiny.
In a board meeting on Oct. 4, the National Capital Commission (NCC) said they would announce a new name recommendation in Jan. 2023.
“Following the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Fall 2021, the NCC committed to modernize its Toponymy Policy,” said Sofia Benjelloun, a Strategic Communications Advisor at the NCC. “The new toponymy policy was presented to the Board of Directors in April 2022. At the time, the NCC confirmed that the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway name would be the first asset considered under the new policy.”
A toponymy advisory committee was created in August of this year, and held their first meeting a month later.
Formerly known as the Ottawa River Parkway, the Sir John A. Macdonald name change came in 2012 when John
Baird, foreign affairs minister at the time, decided to christen the popular four-lane roadway in recognition of Canada’s first prime minister.
A campaign was taking place at the time to reflect more of Canada’s history in Ottawa.
Public outcry started soon after, but became louder in recent years after the horrors of Canada’s former Indian residential schools came to light. It is estimated that at least 4,100 Indigenous children either died or went missing from the institutions. Macdonald has been considered the main architect behind the system.
Albert Dumont, a local poet laureate, made a pledge to walk the parkway every Truth and Reconciliation Day until the name is changed.
This Sept. 30, Dumont and hundreds of others wore their orange shirts and marched to honour those who were forced into the residential school system and to demand the name be changed.
“It’s about getting John A. Macdonald’s
name off the parkway. He is guilty of genoicde,” Dumont told the Kitchissippi Times last month. “Macdonald’s name is everywhere else. I mean it's on bridges, it's on schools, it's at airports. Does it have to be on that parkway?
There has been debate across Canada in recent years over whether or not to remove Macdonald’s name from significant places across the country. Statues of him have already been taken down or moved in Kingston, where Macdonald lived for many years and founded Canada.
Many Indigenous leaders, including Dumont, would like to see the name changed to the Kichi Zibi Parkway, which translates to “great river” in Anishinaabe. An orange banner bearing this name obscured the parkway's signs during the Truth and Reconciliation events.
“Wherever the Ottawa Rivershed is, that was our territory – undisputed territory – everybody acknowledged that in the past,” said Dumont. “It is an appropriate name for sure.”
Left: The National Capital Commission says they will announce further details about renaming the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway in Jan. 2023.
Above: Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi says he would like to see the popular roadway named the Kichi Zibi Parkway.
PHOTOS BY CHARLIE SENACKThe local winter trail – which runs linear to the parkway – already adopted the new Kichi Zibi name last fall after consultation with the community.
Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi, who marched in the Truth and Reconciliation walk, told the Kitchissippi Times he believes the name should also be adopted for the parkway.
“I support a name change and have advocated for it to the NCC,” he said in an emailed statement. “As the NCC considers a new name, I would like to emphasise the importance of this decision being made in collaboration with Indigenous communities, namely the communities within the Algonquin nation, and individuals such as Elder Albert Dumont. We must listen, learn, and work towards walking the path of reconciliation.”
The NCC says when discussions over a new name begin, they will seek input from the public and First Nations communities.
“Over the coming weeks, our public engagement strategy will be further refined and shared with the committee for their input,” said Benjelloun. “This will contribute to a better understanding of the local history and topography, as well as the cultural significance of the location to the Algonquin people."
With files by Maureen McEwanAmica The Glebe is pleased to invite you to an art show in support of The Glebe Centre, a not-for-profit long-term care home. See the work of local artists like Ellen Showalter, Gerd Schneider, and Pat Doyle as you enjoy refreshments and chat with the artists themselves. Take a tour of our brand-new senior lifestyles residence and join us in supporting The Glebe community.
JOIN US AT THE EVENT Saturday, November 19 | 10:00am-2:00pm 33 Monk St, Ottawa RSVP to Sarah or LA at 613-233-6363 by November 17
kitchissippi.com
The biggest Canadian Tire store in the country has just opened in Carlingwood, and it aims to give consumers a state-ofthe-art shopping experience.
Doors to the 135,000 sq. ft. megastore opened on Sept. 22 in the former Sears location which was torn down in 2019. Jason Kane, Canadian Tire vice-president of
store planning and design, said the “clean and modern design” space was created to celebrate their 100th anniversary in business.
“This remarkable retail concept that we opened in Carlingwood not only features a significantly broad assortment (of goods) across our whole host of categories, but what our customers will also see is a real investment in enhanced infrastructure
throughout the store,” he said.
The store has two floors and spans 7,200 feet, around as long as 36 NHL hockey rinks.
Kane said the Carlingwood Canadian Tire has a six-car-canopy Customer Pick Up area at the rear of the store where customers can pick up their online purchases. It’s also home to the country's second largest Canadian Tire warehouse, which could hold up to 10,552 tires. That many tires would be
taller than three CN Towers combined.
The auto department has 26 bays, a ninecar drive-in area, and a wide range of the latest and greatest automotive equipment.
The store also has a year-round garden centre that can adapt to all seasons. The greenhouse-like structure at the front of the store will include a wide range of perennials during the spring months and annuals year round. When planting is out of season, the structure will instead feature outdoor harvest and Halloween decorations, as well as costumes.
One third of the upstairs floor is currently dedicated to Christmas decorations. It will alternate its use around every six months.
“As we go into the fall season you will
a real presentation of Christmas and all of the outdoor decor categories that are associated with that,” said Kane. “Then in the spring it will transform into a really great display of all our patio furniture and barbecues.”
Shoppers who entered the store were visibly in awe of its large scale and size.
Doreen Oliver, who was out shopping with her daughter, said it's well organized and easy to find items.
“The store is beautiful. I think it’s fantastic for younger people,” said Oliver, who was looking to buy a stew pot, flashlight and water bottle.
am kind of old so I don’t get through here too well. I probably won't see the whole thing; it would take me a couple of days,” she joked.
Stephanie Rodrigue, who was looking for Halloween decorations and leaf bags, said the new Canadian Tire location offers a better selection than other stores.
“It helps people shop more in store than going online,” she said. “Everything from online is here and you can actually see what they have.”
Canadian Tire currently has nine locations in Ottawa, and Kane says their business model will always include various shapes and sizes of stores depending on their location.
Because of the new store, the Canadian Tire further east on Carling near Clyde has closed. Future plans for the former department store have not yet been released.
“Ottawa is a fantastic market for Canadian Tire. It has a strong and stable economy in general,” he said. “We are immensely pleased with customers and their response. I have never seen so many people come through one of our stores in the first few days. We are going to work hard every day to serve the customers in the best way possible.”
With files by Zenith Wolfe
1.
trees brighten the community.
BY ELLEN BOND
2. A fisherman takes in the warm fall weather at Bate Island. PHOTO BY ELLEN BOND
3. The Monument to Fallen Dislomats on Island Park Drive. PHOTO BY CHARLIE SENACK
4. The Kitchissippi community celebrates Halloween.
BY ELLEN BOND
5. A walk along the Ottawa River. PHOTO BY ELLEN BOND
6. Skeletons prepare for a ride down the Ottawa River.
BY ELLEN BOND
7. A cycle through the wind. PHOTO BY ELLEN BOND
8. Halloween decor sits outside the Westboro Seniors Centre. PHOTO BY CHARLIE SENACK
Itcould be 2026 before light rail transit is rolling through Westboro.
In August, city council received official word that construction on Phase 2 would be delayed by at least a year. The news isn’t surprising with supply-chain shortages, labour strikes and construction delays caused by the pandemic.
“The time frames were never as defined for Stage 2 as they were for stage one. That is one of the key lessons that were learned from the first phase,” said Kitchissippi ward Coun. Jeff Leiper. “Construction delays are inevitable, and rather than raise expectations around a certain date for service, it’s a much better general timeframe that has been described, which I think was the right move.”
Phase 2, which will take the Confederation line from Tunney’s pasture to Baseline Station and Moodie Drive in the west, will run directly through Westboro Village. The launch date has been pushed from 2025 until 2026.
The Trillium Line, which begins at Bayview station on the border of Kitchissippi ward, will travel south to Limebank Road. Construction was supposed to wrap up this year, but is now expected to finish in summer 2023.
Leiper says while he is glad Phase 2 won’t be rushed to completion — hopefully avoiding the issues seen with Phase 1 — he understands the frustrations local residents face with constant construction noise.
“At the local level, this has been disruptive,” he said. “There is the
Top: Once Phase 2 is up and running, Bayview Station will serve as a connecting point for the Trillium and Confederation lines Above: It’s the end of an era: Demolition work has begun on the former Westboro bus station. PHOTOS BY CHARLIE SENACK
construction noise associated with it because this is being built in very close proximity to people's homes. The longer it goes on the more disruption it causes, the more serious quality of life impacts it imposes.”
The Kitchissippi ward councillor says noise measures will be implemented whenever possible to avoid any further disruption.
“When they are breaking rock there
are things like echo barriers that can go up on construction fencing in order to try and minimise the amount of noise,” noted Leiper. “I also push back at every overnight noise exemption the builder requests to make sure that it is truly important. Residents need a break.”
Construction for the new Kichi Sibi and Westboro stations began late this summer. It included structural rehabilitation and preparatory work.
The main street of Westboro Village has always had a mix of businesses and community services. Since 1969 one of the most important and recognizable has been the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 480. The branch supports veterans and their families and provides a community space in Westboro Village where you can rent a hall, play bingo and visit with friends. Legion membership is open to the entire community.
The annual poppy campaign begins at the end of October and runs until November 11th with all funds going to the Legion Poppy Fund which provides financial assistance and support to Veterans, including Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, and their families who are in need.
Each year poppy boxes can be found at businesses throughout Westboro Village.
Did you know the poppy was first adopted as a symbol of remembrance in 1921?
It is small but mighty symbol of gratitude and remembrance.
We are very thankful that Branch 480 continues to be an important member of our community.
On November 11, the Westboro Legion opens its Upstairs Bar & Lounge at 10 a.m. to welcome members, friends and neighbours to watch the televised National Remembrance Day Ceremony. All who are there at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month will join Canadians across the land and pause for two minutes of silence to honour and remember our Fallen.
The Westboro Legion will conduct two Remembrance Day services and wreath-laying ceremonies in the Westboro community. The first will be held at Carlingwood’s Centre Court beginning at 11 a.m.
At 1:45 p.m., Legion members, cadets, the Ottawa Fire Services Band and others will march from the branch, 389-391 Richmond Rd., to the Westboro Cenotaph. This service and wreath-laying ceremony begins at 2 p.m.
Ceremony participants, attendees and anyone who wishes to share memories of the fallen and salute all who served and are currently serving are invited to the branch following the ceremony at the cenotaph. The Swing Sisters, who earned a loud and long standing ovation last year, once again will entertain upstairs around 4 p.m., singing wartime songs still popular with both soldiers and citizens. Admission is free.
Remembrance items available at the Westboro Legion For those who want to commemorate a loved one’s memory with a wreath, the Westboro Legion has a selection in a variety of sizes (8-24 inches) at prices ranging from $35 to $150. Standard ("Lest we Forget") and personalized ribbons ($10 and $20 respectively) also are available for most sizes. Those who would like more information can email rcl480@rogers.com or call 613-725-2778.
Legion lawn signs also are available at the branch’s upstairs bar, 391 Richmond Rd. The cost is $19.95 including tax. They can be picked up between noon and 6 p.m. any Wednesday through Sunday. The signs are very popular so it’s wise to confirm availability by calling the branch: 613-725-2778.
A poppy tray will be available in the Westboro Legion’s upstairs lounge throughout the campaign.
SomersetSquare is in the heart of Hintonburg, a landmark meeting point where Wellington curves into Somerset Street. Today the popular community space is filled with trees, benches, local artwork and a cozy fountain.
In the 1920s and 1930s, a 19,040-pound howitzer gun - a “war trophy” Canada brought home from Germany after the First World War - occupied the space instead.
As Remembrance Day approaches, we recognize that it was originally known as Armistice Day, first celebrated in 1919. At that time it was held on Monday in the same week as Nov. 11, rather than Nov. 11 itself. The name and date changed to the modern standard in 1931.
After the First World War, many Hintonburg churches and other institutions dedicated memorials in their halls to parishioners lost during the war. There was no central monument within the village. Like many small towns across Canada, Hintonburg featured a different kind of visual memorial: a piece of actual battle equipment captured by the Canadian forces and brought back home for display. There were around 4,400 such trophies around the country.
The items were collected in England and France in early 1919. Dominion Archivist Dr. Arthur Doughty visited the items and arranged for their gradual transportation aboard steamers bound for Canada. He laid out plans for a grand museum that would house all of the war trophies, art and other artefacts.
A temporary space was eventually secured in a small building next to the Dominion Archives building on Sussex Drive, but the plans were never realized.
Instead, the Archives sent these trophies by train to municipalities, schools and military units who wanted to display them as local memorials in parks or important buildings.
The artefacts were first displayed as part of a popular exhibit at the Central Canada Exhibition in Sept. 1919. The exhibition featured a huge arrangement of airplanes, a 22’ long German submarine periscope, 12’ aerial bombs, torpedoes, an armoured car, captured German flags, German gas helmets, machine guns, photographs and signs from battleground
trenches. This all sat under the Lansdowne Park grandstand, capturing the attention of the many visitors. A travelling roadshow of trophies also later became an Armistice Day tradition in many big Canadian cities.
Several years ago, a photograph was discovered in the holdings of Library and Archives Canada showing a howitzer gun pointing down Wellington Street. Hintonburg historian Paulette Dozois wrote about this “Hintonburg Howitzer,” finding that little was known about where it had come from, and just as interestingly,
where it disappeared to.
With help from Alex Comber, a historian dedicated to tracking down Canada’s original war trophies, I discovered more about the Hintonburg Howitzer.
Records show that the howitzer was captured by the 2nd Battalion (Eastern Ontario Regiment), an infantry battalion of the Canadian Army. The 2nd Battalion fought at many important battles including Ypres, Festubert, Vimy, Passchendaele and Canal du Nord, among others. By the end of the war, 242 officers
and 5,084 other ranks had fought with the battalion. Of those, 52 officers and 1,227 other ranks died of injuries, were killed in action or were killed accidentally.
The Hintonburg Howitzer was likely acquired along Canal du Nord in France during the final battles of “Canada’s Hundred Days,” the final hundred days of the First World War. Canada helped break the German army’s final defensive positions, leaving the Germans in full retreat and bringing the war to an end. The heroic 2nd Battalion returned to Canada on April 21, 1919.
The first shipment of war trophies bound for Ottawa arrived at Lansdowne Park in April 1920 containing five train carloads with mostly 4-1 howitzers. The War Trophies Commission was responsible for co-ordinating the delivery to the various museums of places of exhibition.
Hintonburg’s German heavy howitzer was a 21 cm Mörser (mortar) gun, of 1916 pattern. It had the serial number 1805. This was one of the most important types of heavy artillery used by the Germans because it could supposedly destroy trenches and dugouts up to 9,400 meters away. It also featured steel “shoes” on its wheels that helped it cross rough and muddy terrain.
The Hintonburg Howitzer briefly sat on the exhibition grounds at Lansdowne
before the village acquired it for display. It was likely installed at Somerset Square in the mid-1920s, where it proudly stood for around a decade and a half.
By May 1934, the Hintonburg Howitzer was apparently in the way of progress. The Civic Traffic Committee was considering the installation of traffic lights at two intersections: the corners of Preston and Somerset, and Wellington and Somerset. Continues on page 28
So, you’re ready to list your home for sale. You’ve completed the typical items one needs to do when getting ready to sell their home, including purging unwanted stuff, painting, handyman fix-ups, minor landscaping and even some professional staging. But do you have all your house paperwork in order?
Documents such as roof warranty, furnace/airconditioner warranty, appliance manuals, service maintenance contracts and rental agreements demonstrate to a potential buyer that the seller has their house (paperwork) in order. If a building permit was obtained for a renovation or a new build, are all the inspection reports in place, including the final occupancy permit?
I recently viewed a property the homeowners were considering selling. It was a five-year-old
custom home—very upscale with high-end finishes and attention to detail at every corner. It checked off all the boxes for many buyers. I complimented them on the build quality and asked if they had all their paperwork in order such as builder warranty items and permit inspection reports. The more documents a seller can provide to a buyer the better.
Upon reviewing the documents, specifically the inspection reports, it was discovered that the builder hadn’t obtained the final occupancy inspection report—an important item that, if not in place, could hold up the sale of the home. The sellers worked with the builder and the city building inspector to obtain a final occupancy and are now in a position to list their home when they’re ready to sell.
Having as much paperwork in place can reduce or even eliminate conditions in a purchase offer and result in a smooth closing.
69
”After the First World War, many Hintonburg churches and other institutions dedicated memorials in their halls to parishioners lost during the war.”
were tangible demonstrations of a great victory. Now they are ugly masses of rusty iron less useful than almost anything else in the world, less ornamental than a tree, of not much interest to anyone.”
The editorial singled out “one of these great hideous guns” at the corner of Wellington and Somerset, suggesting it “might as well be dumped in a deep hole in the river.” Apparently, First World War victory pride had waned.
On Aug. 9, the Board of Control agreed to remove the gun and approved the $10 expenditure (around $210 today) to transport it to Bayview yard.
Shortly before it was moved, the gun had one final highlight. On the afternoon of Aug. 25, 1934, two Toronto men caught committing cheque fraud fled a Sparks Street business. During their escape, the pair stuffed 68 forged cheques into the muzzle of the Somerset Square gun. The cheques were found by local children and handed over to police.
Continues from page 27
Alderman W.H. Marsden filed a report with the Board of Control stating that the gun had become a menace and was “merely an attraction for boys.” The Traffic Committee wanted to round off Somerset Square and install the lights. It was proposed the old howitzer be taken and disposed of at the city dump on Bayview Road.
In late July, the Traffic Committee asked the Industrial and Publicity Committee if they were interested in the howitzer for the tourist campground at Lansdowne Park. The Publicity Committee politely declined the offer, since the campground already featured a German gun.
In an editorial titled “Who wants a big gun?” the Ottawa Journal wrote: “They
The howitzer was soon moved, and traffic lights were installed that fall at Wellington and Somerset.
In May 1936, Dominion Archivist J.F. Kenney wrote a concerned letter to City Council about the condition of six war trophies given to the City of Ottawa. He noted that the Hintonburg Howitzer was sitting on “muddy soil north of the C.P.R. roundhouse,” sinking into the ground, and in rusty condition with dry rot set into the wooden parts. The muzzle was full of trash, including old wood, paper and cigarette butts.
The archivist was upset at the condition of this and the five other guns, and wanted to retake ownership to move it to a more appreciative municipality. The City voted
to spend $85 (around $1,750 today) to repair four guns at Lansdowne Park, and to return the former Hintonburg gun to the Archives.
From there, evidence indicates that the gun was moved to the Archives on Sussex Drive. Alex Comber suggests, “it would have been kept on the river side of the original (Dominion Archives) building, or possibly closer to the Royal Canadian Mint building.”
In Oct. 1940, Mayor Stanley Lewis set off controversy when he agreed to donate several First World War trophies still on display to the local Boy Scouts as part of their scrap metal campaign. The Dominion Archives stepped in, pointing out the guns were still the federal government’s property and would be repurposed if the City did not wish to maintain them further.
Shortly after, the federal government enacted a similar plan, melting down old war trophies to make new weapons for the Second World War.
Deputy Minister of the Public Archives Lanctot wrote: “The present war has created a new condition, and a great many people are anxious to return these guns to Germany in a way that it is hoped will help our cause, and believe that to turn these guns over as scrap metal is the best way to achieve this purpose.”
By 1942, it was reported that 343 heavy howitzers and field guns, 110 trench mortars and 262 machine guns from the First World War had gone back to Europe in the form of bombs, shells and bullets.
Records indicate the Hintonburg Howitzer met this fate sometime in 1941, a decision that forever melted away part of the community’s wartime history.
after, the federal government enacted a similar plan, melting down old war trophies to make new weapons for the Second World War.
Top left: A photo taken in 1919 of the war trophy display at Lansdowne Park. UNKNOWN SOURCETop right: The Hintonburg Howitzer seen at the corner of Wellington and Somerset Streets in 1924. CREDIT: CLIFFORD M. JOHNSTON/ LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA / PA-056348 Above: An aerial photo from May 1934 showing the howitzer in place in the triangle of Somerset Square.
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album by Ottawa-based folk duo Libby & Cal is reshaping the musical conversation around love.
Released on Oct. 29, If You've Given Up on Love, then Let's Call It Something Else explores “alternative” forms of love. The duo sings about non-monogamy, LGBTQ+ representation, and unhappy relationships.
Autoharpist and vocalist Libby Hortop wrote most of the music on the album. She said she was inspired by pop songs that portray love as a fairy tale, because they don’t reflect her lived experiences.
“We have progressed as a society in the way we view romantic and sexual relationships, but pop music seems to be lagging behind,” Hortop said.
Rather than treating her songs as a personal diary, she creates characters to express her feelings through metaphor. In “Fixed It,” she uses two characters to poke fun at the different household expectations for men and women.
According to Hortop, women are expected to take care of everything around
the house with little recognition, while men are often celebrated for fixing small things like lightbulbs.
Vocalist and 12-string guitarist Cal Tranner took a similar candid approach to songwriting. For their new hit “Adèle”, he wrote about the affair that made his marriage fall apart.
“That’s a very personal song for me, even though the words sort of disguise what’s going on,” Tranner said.
Libby & Cal also collaborated with other local artists, including Hintonburg resident and cellist Marion Arthur. Known more commonly as Mea the Creative Cellist, Arthur found her experience with the duo challenging but rewarding.
“I am honoured to be able to lend my creative voice to such a unique musical project,” Arthur said over email. “As someone who has never quite ‘fit in’ with normative expressions of love, I very much resonate with (their) messages.”
Music has always been a part of Hortop and Tranner’s lives. They both joined choir at young ages and picked up instruments in their teens. Tranner immediately jumped on the guitar, while Hortop played
”I am honoured to be able to lend my creative voice to such a unique musical project.” – Marion ArthurLocal folk-duo Libby and Cal want to change how people view love. The pair released a new album at Hintoburg’s Royal Orange Lodge on Oct. 29. PHOTO BY CHARLIE SENACK.
until she switched over to the autoharp in 2014.
The duo first met at a music festival in 2015 where Tranner, known at the time as Doug Hendry, was playing a set with Celtic folk band Fiddlehead Soup. When he finally teamed up with Hortop in 2018, he decided to change the half-a-century-old stage name.
“Libby and Doug didn’t sound as good as Libby and Cal, so Cal Tranner was born. He’s a much nicer guy (than Doug),” he said with a laugh.
Libby & Cal released their first album, Our Lady of Perpetual Hammer, in 2021. They unveiled their new album at a live show in Hintonburg’s Loyal Orange Lodge on Oct. 29, after an opening act by blackmetal folk band Wychwood.
Attendees were encouraged to wear costumes as part of the show’s “Spooky Valentines” theme. Hortop said this mix of
Halloween and Valentines Day elaborated on the album’s idea of “alternative” love.
“A controlling relationship is everyone’s worst nightmare, right? I think that’s why stories about vampires and werewolves are so scary. A vampire could bite you and you (would) be his forever,” she said.
When Hortop isn’t playing music with Tranner, she’s teaching part time at Alcorn Music Studios, located in the Civic Hospital neighbourhood.
After working at the studio for 14 years, her favourite moments are when a student’s face lights up with understanding.
“There’s nothing better to me than clear communication,” Hortop said. “To be able to express yourself well and then have the feeling that the other person has received your message, that’s what appeals to me about songwriting too.”
of instruments dies down as John Kraus, baton in hand, steps onto a raised platform at the front of the room. He looks out at the semicircle of around 50 local musicians gathered in Parkdale United Church’s basement hall. They range in age from 16-70, but they all share the same enthusiasm as they ready themselves for another rehearsal.
In less than a month, Kraus will debut as the Parkdale United Church Orchestra’s conductor and music director, and he couldn’t be more excited.
“The opportunity to work with a group that draws from a population the size of the national capital region is very enticing,” he said. “Most of the groups I’ve worked with in the past have been very small.”
Kraus has worked with community music groups for over 25 years. He founded the Durham Chamber Orchestra in 1996 and stayed on as their conductor until 2007. He has also been the director of the Northumberland Orchestra Choir since 2013.
While the Parkdale Orchestra is also community-oriented, Kraus said its greater size and outreach allow him to put on larger shows with romantic music.
He’s already capitalizing on this in his upcoming show, “A Night at the Movies.” On Nov. 19, the orchestra will perform classical music from famous films like Lord of the Rings, Les Misérables and 2001: A Space Odyssey, among others.
Kraus said the show is part of his vision to give everyone – musicians and listeners alike – a chance to be part of the music.
“It’s a common goal with anybody who works in community music,” he said.
Liane Luton is the president of the orchestra and one of its cellists. She said the theme will help draw listeners back after their hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re hoping that the movie music theme will be a popular theme,” Luton
said. “It’s something families can enjoy as well.”
The 77-year-old orchestra survived on its reserve funds, but the musicians were unable to rehearse or perform for around two years. When they finally returned to the church, they were rusty, Luton said, and they had around half their prepandemic audience.
She stressed that they operate on a $20,000 yearly budget, so the lack of income has been concerning.
“This past season, for the first time in, I think, the entire history of the orchestra, we lost money. Normally we do make some money,” Luton said.
Member dues are one of the main ways the group stays afloat. Most of its musicians are local amateurs who pay around $5 per rehearsal, like tuba player Javor Frajkor.
According to the Westboro resident, the Parkdale Orchestra is one of the province’s few resources for amateur musicians to perform orchestral music.
“There’s really only one professional, full-time paid orchestra in town. It’s the National Arts Centre (NAC),” Frajkor said. “To have these others is great because the orchestral repertoire is so different from (that of a) band or chamber ensemble.”
Members benefit from the mentorship of hired professionals like Kraus, who is also a retired music teacher of 30 years.
The conductor said it’s difficult to find music that is at the same time challenging, inspiring, and entertaining for amateur musicians to play, but watching them improve over time is worth it.
Top left: John Kraus conducts the orchestra rehearsal. Middle: Joshua Ramicsh and Don Weber play the violin. Bottom left: John Brockway plays a bass clarinet. Bottom side: Thomas Forsey plays the oboe.
“Seeing people progress and learn about something that I am very passionate about (is rewarding),” Kraus said.
The group is also a good resource for casual listeners in the community. French horn player and member Kathryn Gauthier said listeners find the Parkdale Orchestra more accessible and affordable than the NAC.
“For a lot of people, this is just another world, going to the NAC. They just might not do it, and I think the community orchestra is less intimidating (because) it’s in the neighbourhood. Many people know someone who plays,” Gauthier said.
In addition to being one of the orchestra’s violinists, Nathalie van Galen knows two other members from her own home: her oboist husband Yvo de Jong, and her bassoonist son Thomas de Jong, 16.
The couple first met at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands as board members of the university’s student orchestra. After they started dating, they decided to move to Ottawa where they both found jobs as engineers. They now live in the Civic Hospital neighbourhood.
Van Galen joined the Parkdale Orchestra in 2003 and became its president soon after Thomas was born in 2005.
“I was on maternity leave, and I was bored out of my skull,” van Galen said. “Then the (president) position came open and I was like ‘Yeah, I’m doing it.’”
That same year, Yvo joined after a woodwind position opened. Though van Galen stepped down as president in 2009, she and Yvo have played together in the orchestra ever since.
Thomas has also been playing with the orchestra for two years. He is currently its youngest musician, but Yvo said that may change when they invite their younger son Edwin, 11, to play the cello.
“As a parent, it makes you very proud to see your son in the orchestra,” Yvo said. “(Edwin) hasn’t joined the orchestra yet, but I’m looking forward to that moment.”
Van Galen said Edwin could join in a few years, when rehearsals “don’t interfere with his bedtime.”
As Kraus rounds out the first half of the rehearsal, he looks at a small digital clock plugged into the wall behind him. It’s 8:45 p.m. and he’s gone on for 15 minutes longer than intended, lost in the fun of conducting. Though it’s likely too late for Edwin, the night is still young for the orchestra’s musicians, who are all alert and lively.
The conductor steps off his platform to take his break, optimistic about how the program is coming together.
“Being a part of a team, working on a common goal and working together to produce a beautiful program – that’s sort of my goal and my role as music director,” Kraus said.
Attendees can buy tickets for the Nov. 19 show at the Parkdale Orchestra’s website. Tickets are $10-15 in advance and $20 at the door.
”We’re hoping that the movie music theme will be a popular theme, It’s something families can enjoy as well.”
– Liane LutonThe Parkdale United Church Orchestra prepares for their upcoming show being held on Nov. 19. ALL PHOTOS BY ZENITH WOLFE
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If you’re looking for a taste of cultural flavour, look no further than Bibi’s Middle Eastern Kitchen which has just opened at 1087 Wellington St. W. in Hintonburg. According to their website, this is the second location for the “quick-service restaurant dedicated to providing the residents of Ottawa fresh and flavourful Middle Eastern food.”
If you have a sweet tooth and don’t want to go far, visit Hello Dolly Pastries. They operate out of Motif!, a handcrafted goods store which recently
opened at 986 Wellington St. W. The pastry shop offers a wide selection of cookies, meringues, and other desserts.
Anatomy Physiotherapy has just opened in the heart of Westboro, and is located at 205 Richmond Road. According to their website, Anatomy’s mission is “to increase client’s physical wellness and comfort by collaborating with them to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to injury recovery and/or injury prevention.”
Looking to wear something new? The Thrifted Mini consignment store for youth has just opened up shop at 1239 Wellington St. W. It’s a great opportunity to save money, and do your part for the environment. “(There) is a good spread of ages; there is a good spread of items,” co-founder Aly Marcotte told CTV
Ottawa. “(There are) expensive items and less expensive items. There's brand names (and) there is no-names.”
Nearby, ZFH fashion has just opened at 1106 Somerset. The “modest fashion” store stocks “the best traditional Afghani, Pakistani, and Indian clothes,” according to their website.
And finally, are you looking for a good book? If so, look no further than The Spaniel’s Tale. Located at 1131 Wellington St. W, the LGBTQ-friendly independent bookstore opened in September. They carry a “curated selection of contemporary fiction, non fiction, and children’s books, with an emphasis on supporting local and Canadian authors and artisans,” according to their website.
12 students at Nepean High School are making the most out of their final year.
The COVID-19 pandemic erased most of the “traditional” high school experience for the class of 2023, but with life returning to a new sense of normal, this year’s seniors have been given the chance for new opportunities.
For Student Council co-presidents Hattie Mccullough and Ella Durno, this comes with a newfound responsibility of rebuilding the school’s community as we emerge from the depths of the pandemic. Having spent much of the past two years online in altered routines, many Ontario schools – including Nepean – have experienced a lost sense of school community and spirit.
As co-presidents, Mccullough and Durno are responsible for delegating tasks and acting as liaisons between the countless departments, committees, and clubs of Nepean High School. Although the school offers a wide variety of opportunities and activities for students to partake in, not many are aware of how to get involved.
The student council's aim this year is to have more of a connected feeling in our school community and to bring people together. High school is a chance
for people to make memories that last a lifetime.
Without having the traditional high school experience ourselves, Nepean’s Student Council is working through the challenges to build on connections. To up participation, we have increased our school’s social media presence and are organizing opportunities for in-person student involvement.
Another significant goal for the student council is to restore school community spirit. When online learning took over in March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic, participation and club involvement became almost defunct. While some were able to continue over Zoom and by other means, participation was low and the experience wasn’t the same.
Students' habits have changed significantly following the pandemic and life is moving on. We are busy preparing to hold pep rallies, coffeehouses, dances, and spirit weeks. To top it off, Nepean’s student council is working towards hosting a schoolwide mental-health awareness assembly, another issue the importance of which has been highlighted by the pandemic.
The student council is committed to being a strong voice for Nepean High School students and we are excited to see what this year brings. Let’s make memories that will last a lifetime!
Offering physiotherapy and massage therapy services in four locations across Ottawa
Offering physiotherapy and massage therapy services in four locations across Ottawa
Offering physiotherapy and massage therapy services in four locations across Ottawa
Contact your neighbourhood clinic: 205 Richmond Rd., Unit #109 613-728-0739 info.westboro@anatomyphysioclinic.com
Contact your neighbourhood clinic: 205 Richmond Rd., Unit #109 613-728-0739 @anatomyphysioclinic.com
Contact your neighbourhood clinic: 205 Richmond Rd., Unit #109 613-728-0739 info.westboro@anatomyphysioclinic.com
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”High school is a chance for people to make memories that last a lifetime.”
police chief is in town, but not everybody is happy with the decision.
RCMP Assistant Commissioner Eric Stubbs was announced as Ottawa’s new Chief of Police during a news conference on Oct. 20. He takes over from Peter Sloly who resigned amid the trucker convoy in February.
The news came just days before Ottawa residents voted in a new mayor and 11 members of council. With a change of leadership coming to the city, many residents and elected officials felt the
decision should have waited until the new council was sworn in.
Kitchissippi ward Coun. Jeff Leiper, who sits on the Police Services Board, agreed with that statement.
“On several occasions since joining the PSB (Police Services Board), I have expressed my preference publicly and privately that the hiring of a new Chief should be held off until a new Council is elected,” Leiper wrote in a blog post.
“A new Council and Mayor will bring their perspective, fresh from the doors, to the task of appointing new or returning municipal members to the Police Services
Board, which may or may not have had implications for this hiring process had the Board waited,” he added.
Leiper was on vacation in July when the Ottawa Police Services Board voted to hire a new chief of police before the current council term was over. While the vote was unanimous, Leiper said he would have voted against the decision if in attendance.
Stubbs said during the press conference that he will work to overcome “any negativity or angst" councillors have against him.
“I don't and didn't control when the hiring process occurred,” he said. "It was open; I applied and went through a rigorous process, a number of interviews to get to this point.”
Eric Stubbs has been chosen as Ottawa’s next chief of police. PHOTO
PROVIDED BY OTTAWA POLICE
The new police chief said he’s here to build relationships with all elected officials and is committed to making Ottawa a safe city.
Leiper said while he wasn’t in support of the hiring process, Stubbs has his full support.
“I look forward to working with soonto-be Chief Stubbs on improving policing in this city,” Leiper said. “We have much work ahead.”
OTTAWA CENTRE
To make matters worse, when Graham re-entered the apartment to get a few possessions, and paint a wall in need of repair, the superintendent escalated. The power was cut, and the locks were later changed. This landlord was playing hardball.
had
and Louis were told to stay out. As the days and weeks passed, their suspicions grew.
people moved back in,
Their apartment had no direct damage from the fire. Insurance adjusters had looked the place over, and gave it a thumbs up. Meanwhile, insurance money for temporary housing was running out this month. If nothing was done by November 1, Graham and Louis would be homeless.
In mid-September, the landlord contacted the pair, offering to pay $6,000 if they agreed to move out. It sounded like a bribe, and that’s exactly what it was.
Graham and Louis had been protected by rent control for decades. Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Ottawa now is $2,047, and that’s twice the amount Graham and Louis pay. A lot of money could be made if new tenants moved in.
Graham and Louis drew a reasonable conclusion: the landlord was attempting an eviction; $6000 sounds great, but not when you factor in where one can move. This was an attempt to leverage financial insecurity for private gain.
So Graham and Louis contacted Community Legal Services of Ottawa, and met with a lawyer who advised them on next steps. The lawyer sent a stern letter to the landlord, citing a litany of infractions and insisting they cease. Barring access to the home was not acceptable.
Bad landlords know they can wait out such appeals. Ontario’s Landlord and Tenant Board has collapsed under provincial neglect, and delays for hearings have grown to eight months. Facing the prospect of homelessness within weeks, this was little help to Graham and Louis. So Graham reached out to me and ACORN Ottawa. Thanks to ACORN’s organizing efforts, dozens rallied outside Graham and Louis’s apartment building.
The rally worked; locks were changed, and the power was restored. At Graham and Louis’s invitation, we joined them for a tour of their home. We saw no evidence of water damage, and no indication that the apartment was unsafe.
What we did see was a community that came together. It’s the same Ottawa spirit that helped us survive the socalled “freedom convoy,” the COVID-19 pandemic, and recent bouts of extreme weather.
SUBMITTED BY YASIR NAQVI, MP FOR OTTAWA CENTRE
Over the past few months, I have had several opportunities to hear from residents in our community about the immense pressure they are under. The cost of living has risen, and some are more impacted than the others.
Whether it has had an impact on your grocery bill, utilities, rent, or medications, rising costs have made it difficult to make ends meet.
As announced in Canada’s Affordability Plan, our federal government is here to help Canadians get through this difficult time.
To help offset some of the costs Ottawa Centre residents may be facing, we are doubling the GST credit for six months for eligible residents in our community. This will mean an extra $234 in the pockets of single Canadians without children, up to $467 for couples with two children, and an average of an extra $225 for seniors.
We know that access to good dental care is essential to our health and the federal government is committed to making it more affordable. Through a Canada Dental Benefit starting later this year, we are providing up to $1,300 over two years for children under 12. Affordable housing and reducing chronic homelessness continue to be top priorities for our community. I am pleased the federal government has launched the third round of the Rapid Housing Strategy which aims to make funding available to notfor-profit housing organizations and
municipalities. With that, they can quickly build more social and affordable housing for those who need it most. Additionally, Canada’s Affordability Plan allows for a $500 one-time supplement to be delivered to nearly two million lowincome renters across Canada who are struggling with the cost of housing.
Finally, we are also supporting Canadians struggling with the rising cost of living through the Climate Action Incentive payment. As of October 14, Ottawa residents will have received the second installment of the payment. An average family of four in Ontario will receive $186.25 per quarter.
The Climate Action Incentive payment program, which ensures Canadians receive much-needed relief on a more regular basis, keeps affordability and fairness in mind. Eight in 10 households get more money back than they pay, with low- and middle-income households benefiting the most.
This train of concrete and targeted actions aims to address inflation and make life more affordable for millions of Canadians.
As your MP, I remain committed to help build an economy that works for everyone. As always, I want you to know that my team and I are here to help. If you have any questions on these measures, or need assistance accessing benefits, please contact my office at 613946-8682, or email me at yasir.naqvi@ parl.gc.ca
David Lidbetter presents his latest body of large-scale landscape paintings. Through his distinct approach to contemporary landscape, Lidbetter celebrates the calm of the Canadian wilderness. Lidbetter spends much of his time exploring trails around the Ottawa-Gatineau region, sketching and photographing his surroundings. He plunges us into the isolated moments of traversing fields and lakes coated in snow, leaving us to wander and take notice of the subtleties in shifts of light, depths of shadows, and glints of reflections of spring-melting streams. The Artist Reception will be held on Sat, Nov. 5, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 pm. Location: 358 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, ON K2A 0E8.
Marianne Chenard presents a new body of photographic and installation works exploring the agency and impermanence of the natural world. Through site-specific installations Chenard sets stages for material transformations through exposure to air, water, fire, and earth. Working in exploited natural resources such as salt, kaolin, firewood, and beeswax, Chenard questions balances within nature as extraction and the introduction of invasive species overpowers the natural world’s ability to replenish. The Artist Reception will
be held on Sat, Nov. 5 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.. Location: 358 Richmond Rd, Ottawa, ON K2A 0E8.
The Rick King Band entertains from 7:00 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Upstairs Bar and Lounge, located at 391 Richmond Rd.
General admission: $5. Legion and Ladies Auxiliary members: $2.
The Westboro Legion’s first service and wreath-laying ceremony will be held at Carlingwood Shopping Centre on Nov. 11 at 11:00 a.m. Later at 1:45 p.m, a parade which includes the Ottawa Fire services Band marches from the branch to the Westboro Cenotaph for the 2:00 p.m. ceremony.
Don't miss Ottawa's largest church bazaar!
Do your seasonal and pre-Christmas shopping at the First Unitarian Congregation's Fall Fair, featuring clothing, jewelry, gift items, a silent auction, linens, music, books, toys & puzzles, takeout food and more. Runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Masks required. Location: 30 Cleary Avenue, off Richmond Road, 1 km east of Woodroffe Avenue.
On Sat, Nov. 19, the Ukranian Orthodox Cathedral will be hosting their annual Christmas market. It’s the first time the event has taken place since 2019. The market will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 1000 Byron Avenue. Take home Ukranian foods like perogies, cabbage rolls, and borshch will be for sale, along with Christmas bread and other baked goods. The Christmas Market will also include unique gift items and handicrafts made
locally and abroad. The local Ukranian community hopes to see you here!
The OHS Auxiliary will be selling high quality handmade crafts at its Christmas Craft Sale at "The Spot" in Carlingwood Mall, 2121 Carling Avenue, K2A 1H2. This store is located between Bentley and Laura Secord. Fri, Nov. 25, 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m, Sat, Nov. 26, 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m, and Sun, Nov. 27, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. All proceeds go to support the animals at the Ottawa Humane Society. We accept cash, credit (over $10) or debit. Sorry, no table rentals. Free parking. For more info, contact Loreen, loreenohs@gmail.com.
Every Monday at 6:45 p.m. (except holidays). Have the jitters each time you need to present a speech? Visit us online. Learn how to communicate better in a relaxed atmosphere and hone your leadership skills. Impromptu speaking is one of our highlights. It’s fun, fun, fun! We would love to have you join us on Mondays. Contact our club at aandbtoastmasters@ gmail.com to receive the link.
Bytown Voices Choir has opened its doors again to singers from near and far. We are masked and singing at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday nights at St Basil's Church on Maitland, just
north of the Queensway. And now we are truly a community choir as we welcome youths from 9 years and up to join our mixed voice chorus. There is no auditioning, everyone is welcome. Come and give your vocal chords a workout in a relaxed environment. For more information see our website at bytownvoices.com
Westboro Legion Downstairs Hall, 385 Richmond Rd. Door opens at 4 p.m, kitchen at 5 p.m. and games begin at 6:30 p.m. Cash prizes. Net proceeds to local nonprofit organizations.
Regulars and new players are invited to join the Westboro Legion’s Dart League. The Downstairs Hall door and bar open at 6:30 p.m. and play begins at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $6.
Got a Kitchissippi area virtual or COVID-19-safe event to share? We’d love to hear about it. Send your info to editor@kitchissippi.com
For the full list of events please go to kitchissippi.com.
