Barrhaven Independent April 14, 2023

not have access to association programs such as General Excellence Awards. Applicants and member newspapers bear OCNA’s cost to read and spot check publications to ensure theymeet OCNA membership criteria.

We continue to be open during the coVid-19 pAndeMic

COVID-19 PANDEMIC PHARMACY HOURS

MON-FRIDAY: 9-6 SAtURDAYS: 9-3 SUNDAYS: ClOSED

We are temporarily reducing our opening hours during the pandemic to reduce the strain on our staff & so we can continue to provide an essential service in helping you stay healthy.

Barrhaven singer-songwriter wins second Canadian Folk Music Award

By Barrhaven Independent Staff

Singer-songwriter

Amanda Rheaume has made her home community of Barrhaven proud once again.

The Métis musician, who was part of the original graduating class at John McCrae Secondary School, won her second Canadian Folk Music Award as she was named Indigenous Songwriter of the Year during the CFMA Awards in Vancouver.

The award was given to Rheaume for her album, The Spaces in Between, released by her own Ishkōdé Records label. She co-wrote the title track on her album with Serena Ryder and Hill Kourkoutis.

“Big shout out to @ hillkourkoutis who produced ‘The Spaces In Between’ and @tonybelcourt209 for sharing his

wisdom and his voice on the album,” she posted on Instagram after the ceremony. “The messages and stories on this album are dear to my heart, and represent a big part of my journey as a queer Métis woman. Thank you for joining me on this road.

“Miigwetch to everyone that contributed to the making of this album, which is so special to me.”

Rheaume also won a Canadian Folk Music Award in 2014 as Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year, for her album Keep a Fire. That album was nominated for a Juno Award for Aboriginal Album of the Year.

During the COVID pandemic in 2021, Rheaume took advantage of the down time from travelling and performing and cofounded her Ishkōdé label with Anishinaabe musical artist Shoshona Kish, who is part of Digging Roots

with her Anishinaabe husband, Raven Kanatakta. Digging Roots won a Juno Award for their album, Zhawenim.

Ishkōdé Records has also released Oji-Cree singer-songwriter Aysanabee’s debut album, Watin, which was also nominated for a Juno. Ishkōdé also released Mi’kmaaq fiddler and singer Morgan Toney’s First Flight.

In addition to her career as a singer-songwiter, Rheaume is also the Director of Operations of the International Indigenous Music Summit, which takes place at Massey Hall in Toronto May 31-June 4.

The International Indigenous Music Summit is the only global event that provides a unique space for Indigenous artists to discuss, exchange, and share and connect with one another, in a culturally sensitive and appropriate space directed at

building long-term, mutually beneficial relationships between artists and industry professionals.

Participants and collaborators include creators, event organizers, presenters, key knowledge holders from the arts sector, and cultural connectors from many parts of the world. An elder advisory committee has foundational input on thematic material, organization, and execution. IIMS embeds international buyers as delegates, selecting cultural connectors within regions that represent particular opportunity for Canadian based Indigenous artists.

Barrhaven’s Amanda Rheaume won a Canadian Folk Music Award as she was named Indigenous Songwriter of the Year during the CFMA Awards in Vancouver.

Private Members Bill supports Ontario community newspapers

You are reading this because you are reading a community newspaper. Chances are that you understand the importance of a community newspaper. For families, particularly in non-urban communities, newspapers play an essential role in delivering hyper-local information that is not available anywhere else, in print or on social media, to local residents.

While most locally-owned businesses had to fight to survive the COVID-19 pandemic and the many challenges that have come in the aftermath of the measures and restrictions that came with it, community newspapers have also been hit hard.

We are fortunate in the Carleton riding to be among the communities that did not lose our community newspapers during the pandemic. The Barrhaven Independent not only covers Barrhaven,

but it also covers Riverside South and South Gloucester, which are in the Carleton riding. Its sister publication, the Manotick Messenger, serves the nearby communities of Manotick, Richmond, North Gower, Kars, Osgoode, Greely and surrounding areas. The Ottawa Community Voice has a Stittsville edition to cover that community in addition to their Kanata issue.

Bill 73, Supporting Ontario’s Community, Rural and Agricultural Newspapers Act, 2023.

Before the pandemic, there was an obstacle facing

newspapers that was hurting their chance of survival. In 2018, Barrhaven Independent owner Jeffrey Morris brought this to my attention. He and Orleans Star owner Fred Sherwin had a meeting with me to discuss the situation.

Their newspapers, along with the Ottawa Community Voice, are among the many publications that have use the model of printing every second week. This bi-weekly model has helped many of Ontario’s community newspapers remain in business.

Unfortunately, this model works against them in an unfair way. According to the Province of Ontario, the definition of a newspaper includes a clause that the publication must be printed weekly or more frequently. Publishing every second week has resulted in

the Community Voice, the Manotick Messenger, the Barrhaven Independent and other bi-weekly and monthly newspapers to fall outside this definition.

As a result, the City of Ottawa is not able to use our local newspapers for much of their important messaging and advertising. The same restrictions are in place for all Ontario community newspapers who have switched to bi-weekly or monthly formats in their dealings with their respective municipalities, as they no longer fall under the definition of what a newspaper is.

Ontario’s Community, Rural and Agricultural Newspapers Act, 2023 is a Private Member’s Bill that, if passed, would change the definition of a newspaper to include bi-weekly and monthly community

newspapers. It unanimously passed its second reading on March 28, 2023. I was very proud to speak to this Bill and the importance of community newspapers in the Legislature. It is my first Private Member’s Bill, and it was a bill that originated in the Carleton riding that will help Ontario’s rural communities.

This is not only my first Private Member’s Bill, but it is also a bill that originated locally that will help the communities in my riding. I would also like to thank the hard work and support of Glengarry-Prescott-Russell MPP Stephane Sarrazin, who spoke on the positive impacts Bill 73 would have in the communities in rural Eastern Ontario. Our community newspapers not only inform our constituents with hyper local news, profiles and current

events, but they also provide a market specific advertising vehicle which helps local businesses advertise to a hyper-local marketplace.

So, whether you live in my riding in Riverside South or South Gloucester, or if you live in Barrhaven, thank you for reading my column in the Barrhaven Independent, something you would not be able to do without community newspapers.

Office Notice:

My office is open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. If you require assistance on any matter, please contact me at any time. My staff and I will be happy to assist. Even if it’s not a provincial issue, I’ll make sure to connect you with the proper office.

- Goldie Your voice at Queen’s Park

Local Indie author Juliet Lockwood launches ‘Legacy of Villains’

Debut author Juliet Lockwood has announced the launch of her novel, ‘Legacy of Villains,’ a spellbinding enemies to lovers retelling that blends the worlds of Peter Pan and Beauty and the Beast. The book went on sale March 21 and is now available on Amazon and other major online retailers and for regular order.

‘Legacy of Villains’ follows Jolie Hook, the daughter of the infamous Captain Hook, as she battles against the shadowy and charismatic Peter Pan in a dangerous game of love, power, and survival. When Pan kidnaps her father, Jolie must navigate the treacherous Neverwoods and face the secrets of the Hook legacy in order to secure his release. Along the way, she discovers the dark magic of Peter Pan and uncovers the truth behind his obsession with trapping her in his realm forever.

Born and raised in Ottawa and Barrhaven, with stops along the way in England and Boston, and returning home to reside in Barrhaven, Ms. Lockwood has a long-standing history with the written word. From her scholastic career, to

being a lifelong member of the library, her early days at Jockvale Public School and the proximity to the Ruth E. Dickinson library, it all meant that she was never without a book in her hand. Ms. Lockwood tends to write what she likes to read: strong heroines, swoon-worthy morally grey love interests, and delightfully magical worlds.

“Like something tapping on the inside of my skull, words, ideas and stories have always demanded I find a way to bring them into the world,”

Lockwood writes on her website. “As a small child, I told them to myself or acted them out. As soon as I learned to write, they started coming into the world in that way. And in 1986, my father brought home a TRS-80 computer with the word-processing program Scripsit. So at the tender age of seven, I began pecking out my stories on a keyboard… and have never really stopped.”

Ms. Lockwood’s debut novel has already garnered high praise from readers and critics alike. One reviewer writes, “This book is an absolute gem - a dark and enchant-

ing retelling that will have you hooked from start to finish.

Juliet Lockwood is a master storyteller with an incredible talent for creating complex and captivating characters.”

Another reviewer says, “If you’re a fan of fairytale retellings, you won’t want to miss ‘Legacy of Villains.’ It’s

a stunning debut novel that puts a fresh and exciting spin on two classic stories, with beautiful writing, thrilling action, and an epic romance at its heart.”

‘Legacy of Villains’ is available in print and e-book format on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other major online

retailers. For more information about Juliet Lockwood and her work, visit her website at julietlockwoodauthor.com.

Barrhaven author Juliet Lockwood has released her first novel.

OCDSB meeting calm inside as police deal with crowd outside

For the third time this year, the Ottawa Police Service found itself at an Ottawa Carleton District School Board meeting.

An estimated crowd of more than 300 people showed up for the March 28 meeting, triggered by an incident that happened earlier in the month when Manotick parent Nick Morabito was silenced by the board less than a minute into his presentation.

Morabito spoke on the board’s washroom policy, and how it created an uncomfortable situation for him and his daughters. Trustee Nili Kaplan-Myrth cut him off, saying he was creating “an unsafe environment for people who identify as gender diverse.”

Kaplan-Myrth’s actions sparked unrest among the spectators at the meeting. The board took a recess and called the Ottawa Police.

The topic of washrooms became divisive over the two weeks leading up to the March 28 meeting. This came on the heels of the debate when Kaplan-Myrth, a doctor, put forward a motion that masks

should be mandated for students and staff at all OCDSB schools.

The OCDSB washroom policy states that all students have the right to use the washrooms, and other facilities, that they feel most comfortable with, including ‘boys’, ‘girls’, and all-inclusive facilities.

Morabito’s March 7 presentation stated that this policy had a loophole as any male could go in a female washroom under the premise that they identified as female. He said that this policy could potentially open the door for sexual predators.

Morabito registered to speak again at the March 28 meeting, insisting that he was not coming from a place of hostility, bigotry or transphobia.

That prompted a large and divided crowd to show up to the OCDSB headquarters on Greenbank Road. Some carried or wore LGBTQ2+ flags. Others carried bibles. Chants went back and forth.

A video posted by 17-yearold student and social media

influencer Josh Alexander went viral after the meeting. Alexander, a social conservative, was walking through the crowd and faced a barrage of shouts and insults from the transgender supporters. He also had debris thrown at him, including a cup of coffee.

He posted the incident, recorded by @CarymaRules, on his Twitter account, writing, “Got a free coffee at the @ OCDSB. As a 17yo Canadian citizen, I present to you the tolerant left...” Alexander’s tweet had more than 675,000 views at press time.

Because of the hostility of the crowd and the potential for yet another disrupted meeting, only 75 spectators were admitted into the gallery for the meeting.

Morabito was able to give his presentation without interruption.

Shannon Boschy spoke in support of Morabito. Boschy ran for Trustee in the last municipal election and was easily defeated by transgender trustee Lyra Evans, who is now the OCDSB Chair. His son, Andy Boschy, also spoke. Andy is

transgender and delivered a speech calling for the assurance that the safety and dignity of students is protected. The speech drew applause from most attendees at the meeting.

Frances McCrae, a parent of two non-binary children, gave a detailed presentation

detailing how transgender youth are disproportionately bullied due to discrimination and fear for their safety.

While the meeting and the incident outside the OCDSB building was focused on transgender rights, Morabito said his presentation had nothing to do with that. His pres-

entation was about washroom safety.

Morabito is calling for retrofitting school washrooms and having floor-to-ceiling stalls.

According to the OCDSB, 95 per cent f their schools have gender neutral washrooms.

More than 300 people showed up for the OCDSB meeting March 28. Four police cars were there before the meeting started in anticipation of a clash in the crowd.

Dishwashing incident led to harassment investigation at Barrhaven Fire Station

By Barrhaven Independent Staff

An investigation into an incident that happened at Station 47, located beside the Minto Rec Centre, has brought into question the culture at Ottawa Fire Services.

The incident being investigate is alleged to have happened Sept. 14.

CBC reported that a dishwashing competition led to the incident. A nonbinary rookie firefighter was choked by another firefighter. According to internal investigation reports obtained by CBC, the rookie firefighter was ushered into a supply closet and then discouraged by their supervisor from reporting the incident. CBC also indicated in their story that witnesses who were interviewed also

expressed concern about possible repercussions for providing evidence.

The non-binary firefighter reported the incident to the Ottawa Police Sept. 20.

The internal documents obtained by CBC were written by Deputy Chief Dave Matschke. CBC reported that, according to Matschke’s report, the rookie and the other firefighter started by mutually shoving each other consensually, but that the respondent’s one-handed choking of the rookie went far beyond what was normal during the chore of washing dishes.

On the day of the incident, the complainant told their supervisor they were hurt and asked to go to the hospital. CBC reported that the report written by Matschke, the supervisor allegedly said: “You are

fine and won’t be going to hospital. You are breathing. You can move. The best thing for your career as a firefighter is to get on the truck and we are going to go out for [two hours] to residents and check smoke detectors for the door-todoor program.”

According to the report obtained by CBC, the rookie said the supervisor placed a chair in a supply closet under a set of stairs in the truck bay later that day, told them to go in and calm down, slammed the door, turned off the lights, and said, among other things: “This has nothing to do with you being who you are. This was just a dish fight that got out of hand. You’re not the first person to be choked out, many firefighters before have been strangled. I have been

choked out at work and that is something that happens, and you can get over it. Many firefighters have got into huge fights and broken things. No one reports on one another. You will not go and report this, this is a family, and we work it out in station. HR will blow it out of proportion, you don’t want that happening to your name and having others holding it against you or coming after you for the rest of your career and I will not have this on my time.”

Matschke’s report also stated, according to CBC, that non-binary rookie alleged being harassed about their gender identification, personality and appearance leading up to Sept. 14. Some of the comments allegedly made include:

- “My sister is a lesbian and that makes sense to me,

because she is a female and so are you, you’re a lesbian and this whole thing [nonbinary queer] makes no sense. It is only something that has recently become popular, it was not even a thing a couple years ago.”

- “Guys on the floor don’t understand the ‘they/ them’ why can’t you be called she/her?”

- “Guys on the floor hate you because of who you are. No matter what, you look the way you look, and until that changes that’s going to be a problem for you.”

- “You need to change who you are.”

- “You’re getting off easy at this station, other stations would have their way with you, and you wouldn’t last.”

- “I’m getting so sick of you.”

CBC reported that Matschke wrote that he

found that the comments were either “taken out of context, or … did not occur based upon witness testimonies,” and were therefore unsubstantiated. They added that no staff stationed with the firefighter and the complainant witnessed the alleged comments on any shifts between Aug. 1 and Sept. 14.

Eric Einagel and supervisor Capt. Greg Wright are each facing criminal charges laid by Ottawa police in connection with the incident happened on Sept. 14, 2022. Einagel was eventually terminated from his position with the fire department. Wright is facing a three-day suspension without pay.

The firefighters’ union has filed a grievance about Einagel’s firing and Wright’s suspension.

INDEPENDENT EDITorIal Safety of children in schools has to become the priority

Use whatever cliché you want in this case.

We are beating a dead horse. We are spinning our wheels in the mud. Or as Yogi Berra once said, it’s déjà vu all over again.

Kids are getting beaten up at our public schools. There is bullying going on, and kids are being targeted. Some kids are going to school scared and coming home hurt.

The problem is not isolated at any school in particular, but the vortex of the situation, at least right now, seems to be Vimy Ridge Public School in Findlay Creek, just east of Barrhaven.

Parents organized a protest at the school in February and talked about how kids are coming home with black eyes and concussions. The school held a town hall on the topic two weeks ago.

The board sent a statement to CTV News and claimed that they acknowledge the concerns from parents. They say they take the concerns seriously, but add they believe the kids are safe at school.

Among the steps being taken are class time spent on positive behaviour, character traits and focusing on kindness. There are assemblies focusing on kindness. Staff are reviewing practical conflict resolution skills.

That’s all nice. But if you’re a Grade 2 student and a Grade 5 student jumps you and starts punching you in the face, do any of the people who came up with these solutions think for a moment that conflict resolution skills are going help the kid getting the beat down?

What parents heard during the assembly is that suspending children is the last resort.

The problem is that none of the board’s solutions are working. It’s good that the kids are getting exposure to what positive behaviour and conflict resolution looks like and how it can help get you out of a situation. But it only takes two or three kids to spend that time not caring, not paying attention, and planning who they are going to punch out between the portables at recess.

For kids like that, punishment in the from of suspension might be the only option.

One thing we have been hearing from grumbling parents is that the Schools Resource Officer program should be revisited. That program, which paired police officers with schools to talk to problem students and help prevent conflicts and situations, was gloriously deep-sixed by OCDSB Board Chair Lyra Evans and an entourage of supporters.

We would imagine that there would be a lot more kids going home without black eyes and bloody noses if the program was reinstated.

The most important thing at our schools is the safety of the children. Right now, the average kids, the transgender and non-binary kids, the LGBTQ2+ kids, and kids of various races and religions are not safe. Only the bullies are. And it’s about time the board implemented some action that fixes the problem immediately.

BARRHAVEN

Hands Up for Billy Miner Pie ice cream

It’s not often that feelings of elation and joy at the grocery store trump the sticker shock of rising prices.

But it does happen.

I was walking through Your Independent Grocer last week, and I saw something that absolutely needed to end up in my cart. It was Billy Miner Pie ice cream.

The question wasn’t if I was going to buy it. It was whether I would buy two, three, maybe six?

If you have ever eaten at the Keg, you have likely either had or at least know about Billy Miner pie.

But if you actually know who Bill Miner is, put your hands up.

Do you see what I did there? If you didn’t put your hands up, let me explain.

Bill Miner was born in 1847. There are reports that he was born in Michigan, but others say Kentucky. Either way, he ended up in California and spent much of his life there in and out of prison, as he had become a career criminal as a stagecoach robber. He eventually moved up to British Columbia and became Canada’s mot famous and notorious train robber.

At first, he was using the name George Edwards. He is believed to have orchestrated the first train robbery in BC. The heist took part in 1904 in Silverdale, about 35 km east of Vancouver. That robbery is widely reported to be the first in Canada, but there are reports of a train robbery in Port Credit, Ontario that took place 30 years earlier.

Miner had nicknames and was romanticized in the era. He was known as the Grey Fox and the Gentleman Bandit. He was most known, however, for the famous phrase he used when holding up a train or during another robbery.

“Hands up!”, he would say. If it was possible for anything to become viral in the early 1900s, “hands up” managed to do it.

Miner robbed Canadian Pacific Rail trans in 1904 and 1906. But in 1906, the Mounties finally got their man.

drew his gun. “Hands up!,” said the officer, as legend has it.

Miner’s arrest and trial was one of the biggest media events in the history of British Columbia, and the rest of Canada paid close attention. Miner had become a cult hero, like Bonnie and Clyde or Al Capone would become. Because the CPR was very unpopular among residents of British Columbia, the train robber was often cheered and romanticized, like a modern-day Robin Hood.

As the tree men were transported by train to the provincial penitentiary in New Westminster, supporters of Miner lined the route and cheered.

Bill Miner’s time in prison was not a long one. He escaped in 1907 and eventually made his way back to the United States, ending up in the American southeast. He resumed his career as a train robber, escaping prison in Georgia on two different occasions.

In 1913, Bill Miner passed away while in prison at Milledgeville, Georgia. He died of gastritis, picked up from drinking brackish water during an escape attempt.

While Miner’s time in Canada was brief, his legend in British Columbia lasted for generations. The Keg, a BC-based Canadian steakhouse chain, named drinks after Miner and also introduced Billy Miner pie. They also had photos of Minor as part of their décor.

The Keg is not the only restaurant or bar to glorify Bill Miner.

On the corner of 5th Avenue and Lansdowne Street in Kamloops, a mural of Miner’s famous Monte Creek robbery was painted on the exterior wall of Cactus Jack’s Saloon and Dance Hall. In Maple Ridge, the original Bank of Montreal building built in the early 1900s became the famous Billy Miner Pub.

The Whistle Brewing Company of Penticton even launched a red ale called Hands Up! As a tribute to Bill Miner.

5567 Manotick Main St., P.O. Box 567, Manotick, Ontario K4M 1A5

News and Editorial: manotickmessenger@gmail.com

Advertising and Marketing: garyhcoulombe@gmail.com

Website: www.manotickmessenger.ca

Staff/Contributors: Gary Coulombe, Larry Ellis, Skyler Fraser, Goldie Ghamari, David Hill, Wilson Lo, Jeffrey Morris, Greg Newton, Irene Staron.

The Barrhaven Independent is published every other FRIDAY in Manotick, Ontario. Letters will be edited for length, clarity and libellous statements. Display rates are available on request. The Barrhaven Independent is not responsible for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other material used for publication purposes.

Miner and his two accomplices, Tom “Shorty” Dunn and Louis Colquhoun, attempted to rob a payroll train near Kamloops at Monte Creek, which was then known as Ducks. Unfortunately, they chose the wrong car of the train to rob. They walked away with only $15 and a bottle of kidney pills that Miner had grabbed from a shelf.

They med fled into the woods, and they were heavily pursued in a manhunt. The three men were having lunch near Douglas Lake. They were surrounded by a posse. Miner introduced himself as George Edwards and claimed that he and he and his partners were prospectors. The officer in charge of the posse did not believe him, and he placed the men under arrest.

Dunn resisted and pulled out in an attempt to fire at the officer but was shot in the leg. Colquhoun was disarmed, and Miner never

And a legend would not be a legend without rumours of a hidden treasure. Folklore suggests Miner buried loot in the forest near Silverdale. Historians say he either dug up the money and used it to get to the United States after escaping from prison, while some say that the treasure is still out there for the taking.

There was a song called ‘The Ballad of Bill Miner’ recorded by the San Francisco band The Blackout Cowboys. There was a Canadian film about Miner called The Grey Fox, starring Richard Farnsworth.

So the next time you head to the Keg for dinner and the dessert menu comes out, you now know all about the man that their famous Billy Miner pie is named after.

And on your next trip to Your Independent Grocer, hands up if you want some Billy Miner Pie ice cream.

The Editor, I’m completely astonished at the subject matter that appeared in the last edition of the Barrhaven Independent! For those who may have missed it, the story concerned a Manotick parent who attended an OCDSB meeting wanting to talk about transgender washroom policy, but who found himself dismissed from public delegation before he had delivered the first

two minutes of his presentation. The Independent didn’t print his speech verbatim, but it did say his comments, “were aimed at protecting his children from potential predators,” which probably explains his dismissal. If anyone reading the article felt a sense of deja vu, it’s possibly because every decade or so, it seems someone feels the need to revisit this issue despite the fact that it was debated and

settled years ago. The last time I saw anyone trot out the old “transgender predator” canard was in an article by Ken Gallinger that appeared in the Toronto Star on January 4, 2014, which elicited the following, still-relevant response from Barbara Hall, then Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights commission:

“There is a stereotype of connecting transgender people with wrongdoing and

being sexual predators. We have never seen a documented case of a heterosexual man gaining access to a woman’s change room by posing as transgender. In fact, in washrooms and changerooms, and in society at large, transgender persons are more at risk than anyone else of being harassed, abused, assaulted, or even killed. Also, there is no new transgender “bathroom” policy. For more than

15 years, transgender people in Ontario have had the legal right to use the washroom –or changeroom – according to their lived gender identity. The elected Ontario legislature, not the human rights tribunal, put these laws in place.”

I’m not sure where this Manotick parent got the idea that school boards in Ontario have the power to ignore the Ontario Human Rights Code

when they draft policy, but he really ought to get himself up to speed. As Hall clearly states, “the elected Ontario legislature...put these laws in place.” That would seem to indicate that instead of disrupting school board meetings, this fellow would be better advised to take his concerns directly to his MPP, or to Premier Doug Ford.

Andy Braid,

The Editor, The exercise of authority in shutting down a parent’s delegation at the March 7th meeting of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board was shocking, but it can serve as a wake-up call to the parents of children in the board’s schools. In fact, it should concern us all, since all ratepayers provide school funding, and the recent display of such

authority at St. Joseph’s High School in Renfrew shows it afflicts Catholic schools as well.

Nick Morabito had good reason and every right to raise the issue of trans-identifying biological males using girls’ washrooms and change rooms. As he noted, the schools have ungendered, private washrooms that can be used without causing anyone

discomfort, regardless of their gender orientation. That’s supportive and in no way discriminates against an individual. To be denied the right to respectfully raise an issue for discussion is inexcusable. To be told that merely attempting a discussion is transphobic, is creating an unsafe environment and can’t be allowed is a senseless insult and a shameful exercise of authority that

deserves condemnation. The school board’s statement following the meeting showed that they not only feel no shame but fail to understand the meaning of their “commitment to cultivating safe working and learning spaces”. Safe for whom, OCDSB?

Accusing people of transphobia is the language used by radical trans-activists, who seem to feel oppressed

and therefore have a right to ignore the rights of non-trans people, especially girls and women, and demand free access to gendered spaces that differ from their biological sex. (Trans-activists also have replaced the scientific term “biological” with “assigned at birth”, as though a baby’s sex can’t be determined by observation.) Anyone who objects is likely to be called a “transphobe” and creating an “unsafe” environment by such activists and, increasingly, by those who go along with their view. Objections are even erroneously called “hate”. This bullying view has obviously infected school boards, including the OCDSB, with the appalling consequences we’re witnessing. The real danger is in having schoolboards corrupted by such ideology to the point of ignoring biology and creating danger. There’s good reason to wonder how and when this happened, but Canadian institutions, including even the Ontario Human Rights Code, are leading us down that path. Human rights matter and deserve respect, but apparently real human rights are now of less import-

ance than “special” rights. Transphobia is an odd term that appeared only in the early 1990s. A phobia is normally defined as an exaggerated fear of something. Trans people are more likely to elicit sympathy than fear, but “transphobia” has been expanded well beyond its expected meaning and, as with the school board, is applied to any comment or policy that doesn’t embrace this new ideology. Perhaps the most accurate meaning of transphobia is fear of discussing trans issues, demonstrated by the truly transphobic school board members. Things change over time, some for good, others not. But the fundamental principle of equality, treating people of all kinds as worthy of respect, being heard and not discriminated against, is one that should never change. Mr. Morabito is following that principle, but the board is not. The school board may be under the illusion that its policies are virtuous, but it has some important lessons to learn.

David Wieland, Kars

Kars

Clean up continues after area’s worst ice storm in 25 years

By Barrhaven Independent Staff

Even though we are a few weeks into spring, winter has left an exclamation point on the snowiest season in 15 years.

A freezing rain warning left Barrhaven and sur-

rounding area in a mess after the April 5 storm destroyed trees and knocked out power in one of the worst ice storms seen since the epic Eastern Ontario ice storm of 1998.

Pockets of Barrhaven were without power overnight, while some neigh-

bourhoods experienced only light flickering as felled trees hitting power lines in the city and throughout the city caused problems with the grid.

School buses were cancelled for two straight days – the first day because of the weather and the second due to the damage and power outages, along with a blanket of fog.

The City of Ottawa’s Forestry Services have received hundreds of requests regarding fallen trees or limbs across the city on the day of the storm. They and their partners were prioritizing work to address fallen trees and debris that were blocking streets or those that may be a hazard to residents or property. Once hazards and streets are cleared, staff and contractors will address broken limbs, non-hazardous removals, and brush/ wood cleanup. It is expected that these weather-related service requests will be their focus for several weeks.

Residents are advised to stay safely away from broken and hanging branches/limbs or leaning trees. Please also be aware of ice chunks melting and falling from above.

Many local commuters were left stranded as the LRT was once again a victim of winter weather. A total of five trains were stuck on the

tracks after what OC Transpo tweeted was a power issue. It was the highest number of trains to ever be stuck on the line at once. One eastbound train had more than 100 passengers stranded on board until firefighters cut a

fence and helped them get to safety. OC Transpo provided replacement bus service throughout the day.

More than 35mm of liquid precipitation was recorded at the Ottawa International Airport, breaking

the previous April 5 precipitation record of 34.4 mm set in 1984. Several flights in and out of Ottawa were cancelled, causing problems for travellers looking to get away for the Easter long weekend.

Hydro Ottawa workers worked through the night April 5 to help restore power after the April 5 ice storm. Cindy Bradley posted this photo from her house on social media.

Longtime Nepean Eagles football coach and local drummer Ron Guilbeault posted photos on Facebook, including a shot featuring icicles on trees at his home, as well a shot of his dog having some fun with iced over branches.

Stage 3 LRT: Overwhelmingly underwhelming

Every time I attend presentations or read about plans for Stage 3 LRT to Barrhaven (and Kanata), I come away with the same feeling—I’m underwhelmed.

For such a massive and expensive community-building opportunity, the lack of vision, the current willingness to simply repeat the first two stages of LRT, and missed opportunities along the corridor, is disappointing.

We have the chance to turn our major stations into destinations by replacing acres of adjacent parking with housing, businesses, and other community amenities to support and sustain ridership.

We have the chance to leverage relationships with public and private stakeholders like the NCC and developers to integrate the project with surrounding developments and needs to better serve our public.

We have the chance to

East Barrhaven Ward Report

Wilson Lo, Councillor

learn from the experiences of the design, construction, and operation of stages one and two to build the last stage so it’s the best it can be.

It’s no secret upper levels of government must help us fund the project to allow it to proceed, but we can’t be lazy. We must proactively find ways to soften the financial impact of the project and show our commitment to ensuring its success.

Transparency is important to me, and I don’t intend on shying away from it.

In that spirit, I initially didn’t want the LRT extended past Baseline Station, because I was afraid of losing Barrhaven’s transit spine if there were to be operational failures. Further, I felt the

project’s current form would not ensure its success.

But after conversations with residents, I’m now on board with “completing” the line to our community. With that change in position, I seek to make the last phase the best phase.

I researched successful mass transit projects from around the world and incorporated elements that would be feasible for ours, like local intensification and integration with other stakeholders.

This is a multi-billiondollar, community-building, long-term investment in our city.

We need to be bold and inspire confidence for the project—confidence not just from our residents, but confidence from our funding partners so they know they are paying for something whose success is built-into the project.

Get it done, but get it done right, right?

BARRHAVEN

Boundary review meeting planned for new Riverside South high school

The Ottawa Carleton District School Board will be holding a public consultation meeting regarding the new high school to be built in Riverside South. The meeting will take place Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at the Steve MacLean Public School gymnasium, 4175 Spratt Rd, Gloucester.

The school will be located at the southeast corner of Earl Armstrong Road and Spratt Road, east of the Vimy Bridge connecting the Riverside South and Barrhaven communities. The school site is just over 19 acres in size. Site planning and building design work for the new secondary school is underway.

Over the past few months, a locally-formed working group has been meeting to discuss a potential boundary and opening grade structure for a new secondary school located in the Riverside South community.

A public consultation meeting will be held to seek feedback on the proposed boundary and opening grade

structure. Input received at the public consultation meeting will assist staff in preparing recommendations to the Board.

Some of the specific areas the OCDSB will be seeking feedback on include:

- The proposed Riverside South Secondary School attendance boundary

- Opening grade structure of the new secondary school

- Impacts to students and families

- Grand-parenting methodology of impacted students

In fall 2020, the OttawaCarleton District School Board received confirmation of capital funding from the Ministry of Education for the construction of a new secondary school in the Riverside South area. The school will serve 1,516 grade 7 to 12 students.

Riverside South got its first high school, St. Francis Xavier, more than a decade ago, serving students in the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Students in the public school board have been bused to a number of differ-

ent schools throughout the years, including Longfields Davidson Heights Secondary School in Barrhaven, Merivale High School in Nepean and South Carleton High School in Richmond. At the meeting there will be a brief overview by Board staff, followed by an opportunity to answer your questions. Staff will be available to answer questions on an individual basis following

the meeting. An information package providing details of the review and the proposals will be available at the meet-

ing. Additional information about the review can be found at:

https://www.ocdsb.ca/ our_schools/capital_projects/new_riverside_south_ secondary_school_study

Committee receives review of City response to derecho storm

The City of Ottawa’s Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee has received the results of the afteraction review of the city’s response to the May 2022 derecho storm. The review assessed what worked well in terms of the city’s emergency preparedness, response and communications, along with potential areas for improvement. Although many organizations contributed to the storm response, the review focused on the City’s actions and its role in managing emergencies.

The derecho storm devastated areas in and near Barrhaven. Many homes were without power for as long as a week.

While the impacts of the sudden historic storm were

severe, the city conducted a well-coordinated response.

The review found that the city:

- Has a comprehensive emergency management program that provided a strong, guiding framework for responding in the aftermath of the storm

- Has staff with the knowledge and skills to support both the emergency operations centre and frontline operations

- Mobilized quickly and efficiently, and secured additional support early on

- Focused on helping residents in need and providing community supports

- Used a range of communications to provide timely and accurate information to residents

- Quickly engaged with hydro agencies and tele-

communications providers to understand challenges and coordinate recovery activities

The review recommends some areas for improvement, including that the city:

- Continue to build greater depth in its capacity to staff crucial roles

- Enhance public education and awareness of emergency preparedness at the individual and community levels

- Develop formal response protocols for key supports, including food security, wellness visits and volunteer management

- Build a formal network of external partners to enhance collaboration before, during and after an emergency

- Seek additional ways

to communicate effectively with the public during prolonged power outages

Staff will address all recommendations and report back to this committee on

progress through the Public Safety Service annual report.

Damage to lines on Woodroffe Avenue prevented power from getting to many parts of Barrhaven.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Atomic mass unit

4. Criticize mightily

7. Sino-Soviet block (abbr.)

10. Stand in for

11. Everyone has one

12. Brew

13. Rectify

15. Popular Dodge truck model

16. Beef or chicken intestine

19. Satisfy

21. Of a particular people or localized region

23. Movements in quick tempos

24. Able to pay one’s debts

25. Fleshy bird

beak covering

26. Dueling sword

27. Helps

30. Court is in it

34. Touch lightly

35. Airborne (abbr.)

36. Of one

41. Baked good

45. Jai __, sport

46. About aviation

47. Low oval mound

50. Rugged mountain ranges

54. Compel to do something

55. A way to carve

56. Sao __, city in Brazil

57. Mustachioed actor Elliott

59. American Idol runner-up Clay

60. A way to soak

61. Car mechanics group

62. Born of

63. Time zone

64. Sea eagle

65. Even’s opposite

CLUES DOWN

1. Sharp mountain ridge

2. Thin, fibrous cartilages

3. Provides new details

4. Muscular weaknesses

5. Ottoman military title

6. Banes

7. Horse-riding seats

8. Arms of a shirt

9. Narrow path along a road edge

13. Viper

14. Disfigure

17. Variety of Chinese language

18. Portray in a show

20. Wrongful act

22. No (slang)

27. State of agitation

28. __ Diego

29. One point east of due south

31. 007’s creator

32. The NBA’s Toppin

33. Midway between north and northeast

37. Examples

38. __ Gould, actor

39. The habitat of wild animals

40. Artful subtlety

41. Infielders

42. Keep under control

43. Herb

44. Distressed

47. A way to go down

48. Type of acid

49. Take by force

51. Collected fallen leaves

52. Shout of welcome or farewell

53. Monetary unit

58. Swiss river

Inspirations Art Show can fill your home with beauty and colour

By Giedre ABromAitis mAnotick Art AssociAtion

Inspirations 2023, put on by the Manotick Art Association, is just around the corner and it’s not too soon to start thinking about where some beautiful new art would fit in your home. Are some of your older paintings fading, or have you moved into a different space, or just feel that a refresh is in order? We will have something for you. Do you want to be brave and put art on walls where there hasn’t been any yet? We will have something for you. Think about places in your home where you spend time, but where the walls are bare because, well, people just don’t put art there. Rooms like laundry areas, sunrooms,

games rooms, music rooms, even kitchens. Some kind of art works in just about any setting in a home, and we will have something for you.

As you plan where to include some art, look at the shapes in your home and begin to think a little creatively. One large, long painting can fit beautifully over a sofa, a bed, or a dining hutch. But, in those same places, you can also group a collection of paintings that are similar in theme, colour, or texture. You can create your own grouping, or purchase diptychs or triptychs—groups of paintings that have been especially painted to go together. A bright splash of colour at the end of a darker hallway begs for a vertical piece, or even three or four square pieces

hung vertically. The possibilities are endless!

When looking through the vast array of offerings that will be available at Inspirations, choose the paintings that grab you, that you fall in love with, that speak to your heart. Don’t worry whether it matches the carpet or the sofa or the paint on your walls. All art works everywhere! Does the piece remind you of a place you have visited? Does the rendering move your soul? Do you feel as though you are actually in the painting when you gaze at it? These are the kinds of things you need to be asking yourself when selecting art for your home because these pieces are meant to evoke feeling for a very long time. You want to know that you will still love them even after you change your décor. And these are the pieces that will always find a place somewhere in your home.

Buying original art directly from the artist is beneficial to both parties. You get to talk to the artist and learn what inspired them, why they chose the colours they did, why they interpreted the scene as they did, and how they turned

something ordinary into something extraordinary. That intimate conversation isn’t something that you would find in a gallery setting. And let’s talk about price. Did you know that galleries double the price of a work of art? When you buy directly from an artist at a show like Inspirations, you will be getting that work for half of what it would cost you at a gallery. That’s a win

I think! And when you return to Inspirations every year, you can begin your own collection by revisiting your favourite artist.

This year’s Inspirations will offer art from 40 Ottawa area artists—there is bound to be something for everyone. The artists will all be there

and will be happy to engage in conversation with you about how they create and from where they draw their inspiration. Do come pay us a visit April 21-23 at the Manotick Curling Club, 5519 South River Drive, Friday 6-9 PM, Saturday and Sunday 104. Free entry and parking.

MANOTICK 1 BEDROOM APARTMENT

Main level - River Road, Manotick executive 1 bedroom apartment with full ensuite bathroom. Stackable washer & dryer. Open concept with fully equipped kitchen (flat top range with overhead fan, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave) with 2 pantries. Dining and living room area with large picture windows overlooking private scenic setting. Areas available for garden, bonfire pit and barbequing. $1,850.00 per month (heat, hydro, water, internet, parking, separate storage included). April occupancy. Call 613-612-3653

The Ontario government is further expanding the number of medical school spots to historic highs while helping Ontario students become doctors in the province, whether they studied at home or abroad. Starting in 2023, the government is investing an additional $33 million over three years to add another 100 undergraduate medical school seats and another 154 postgraduate medical training seats beginning in 2024, both now prioritized for Ontario residents.

“Too many Ontario students are having to go abroad for medical school because they can’t find residency spots here in their home province while international students learn here then leave,” said Premier Doug Ford. “That’s why we’re expanding the number of undergraduate and graduate medical school spots and putting qualified Ontario students

at the front of the line. We’re training the next generation of Ontario doctors right here in Ontario to stay here and care for Ontario communities.”

The new investment in Budget 2023 builds on the expansion of 160 undergraduate and 295 postgraduate medical training seats announced last year, the largest expansion of Ontario’s medical school system in over a decade.

“Medical seat expansion in the province’s postsecondary sector is a critical element of our plan to connect people to care close to home,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “Expanding postsecondary education opportunities that prioritize Ontarians will make it easier for the homegrown doctors of tomorrow to receive training and provide world-class health care right in their own communities.”

This expansion is part of the government’s Your Health plan, which includes initiatives to hire more health care workers.

“Increasing the number of doctors and other health care workers will make it easier for Ontarians to connect to world class health care right in their own communities,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “We will continue to implement our bold plan to grow our health workforce so Ontarians can continue to receive care closer to home for years to come.”

“By investing in Ontario’s health workforce, our government is connecting people to the care they need where and when they need it,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “Training more doctors here in Ontario is part of our plan to build a strong Ontario that is supporting people today

while laying a strong foundation for the future.”

The Ontario government’s 2023 budget, Building a Strong Ontario, is helping to drive economic growth, attract jobs and investments, and build key infrastructure projects faster. The government’s plan is also training skilled workers to fill in-demand jobs, keeping costs down for those that need it the most, and providing better health and public services for Ontario families.

“The University of Ottawa is pleased to receive new medical school seats at its Faculty of Medicine and help build strong and sustainable frontline healthcare services across the province, including in rural and northern communities,” said Jacques Frémont, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Ottawa. “The University trains over 90 per cent of Ontario’s bilingual health care

professionals who are in great demand throughout the province’s healthcare system and provide francophones with critical services when they need them most.”

Quick Facts

- The government is also investing $100.8 million to expand and accelerate the rollout of undergraduate and postgraduate medical education that was announced as part of the 2022 Ontario Budget.

- 60 per cent of the new postgraduate training seats will be in primary care and 40 per cent will be in specialty care.

- The new medical expansion will bring the total number of undergraduate seats and postgraduate training seats to 1,212 and 1,637 respectively, by 2028.

- The province has expanded the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant which provides full,

upfront funding for tuition, books and other direct educational costs to students in return for working in the region where they studied for a term of service after graduation. In addition to nursing programs, the grant will now include paramedic and medical laboratory technologist programs in priority communities.

- To strengthen the health and long-term care workforce, Ontario invested $342 million for 2021-22 to add over 5,000 new and upskilled registered nurses and registered practical nurses as well as 8,000 personal support workers. In addition, Ontario invested $57.6 million for 2022–23 to hire 225 nurse practitioners in the long-term care sector.

To learn more about careers in health care, please visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ careers-health-care.

Province helping more Ontario students become doctors at home in Ontario Nominations open for Nepean Sports Wall of Fame

It’s time to celebrate the best and brightest in Nepean sport. The Nepean Sports Wall of Fame is pleased to announce that nominations have opened for the 2023 class, which will be officially inducted in October.

The Wall, which currently has 82 inductees, represents excellence achieved

by Nepean athletes, teams, builders, and media. It is prominently displayed on the wall and kiosk in the lobby of the Nepean Sportsplex.

Nominations can be submitted directly on the Wall’s website until May 15, 2023, at the Nominate an Inductee link on the Wall

of Fame website..

The Nepean Sports Wall of Fame is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors with deep ties to the Nepean community. The organization owns a vision to honour, preserve and celebrate Nepean’s sporting excellence, while upholding the principles of Excel-

lence, Community, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

through sporting pursuits. For more information, visit nepeansportswalloffame.org.