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BARRHAVEN
Year 31 • issue 17
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FRIDAY • August 20 • 2021
Killers of Barrhaven mom found guilty of first-degree murder By Jeff Morris Former Barrhaven lovers, neighbours, and OC Transpo co-workers Bhupinderpal Gill and Gurpreet Ronald have been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2014 killing of Gill’s wife, Jagtar Gill. Superior Court Justice Anne London-Weinstein was thorough and blunt as she delivered her verdict Tues., Aug. 10. Gill and Ronald will receive the maximum sentence of 25 years without parole. Gill and Ronald, who had already been found guilty of murder in 2016 but won an appeal in 2019 to have their convictions overturned, were in the courtroom Tuesday. As they sat in separate prisoner’s boxes, Justice London-Weinstein spent about three hours going through every detail of both of their stories She pointed out a number of lies, and in other instances, she explained
why their explanations were not credible. “I found that Gurpreet Ronald killed Jagtar Gill, Justice London-Weinstein said. “I found that Mr. Gill assisted Ms. Ronald in the murder of his wife, knowing that Gurpreet Ronald intended to kill Jagtar Gill, and knowing that she planned and deliberated in that murder. Mr. Gill also planned and deliberated in the murder of his wife. He was not present for the killing however, so his liability is as an aider to Ms. Ronald.” On January 29, 2014, Bhupinderpal Gill took his teenage daughter, Dilpreet, to Sobey’s to help him pick out flowers and a cake. It was the Gill’s 17th wedding anniversary. Jagtar Gill, 43, was at the family’s home on Brambling Way, resting and recovering from abdominal surgery. Justice London-Weinstein explained that since Ms. Gill
was larger and stronger than Ms. Ronald, having her in a weakened state would make it easier to commit the murder. Mr. Gill left a weightlifting bar near his wife when he left, and the door was left unlocked. When Ms. Ronald arrived, she was wearing latex gloves from her home. She beat Ms. Gill with the weightlifting bar and stabbed her with a kitchen knife several times. Ms. Gill’s throat was slit, and her wrist was nearly completely severed. Ms. Ronald’s finger was cut in the attack as Ms. Gill, even in her fragile state, tried to fight off her attacker. Ms. Ronald’s blood was found at the scene, and a piece of fingertip from one her gloves was also found. That became a key piece of evidence, as Ms. Ronald’s gloves and the knife were found by an NCC employee after Ronald dumped them in a rural area.
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Jagtar Gill was 43 when she was murdered at home while recovering from abdominal surgery. Her husband, Bhupinderpal Gill, and his lover, Gurpreet Ronald, were both found guilty of first-degree murder last week.
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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Guilty continues from page 1 Ms. Gill was within reach of a portable landline telephone, but the line had been cut before Mr. Ronald committed the offence. After the murder was committed, Ms. Ronald met Mr. Gill at Sobey’s, and they had a private conversation, away from Gill’s daughter. The judge explained that Mrs. Ronald informed Mr. Gill that the murder had been committed. Mr. Gill returned to his home with his daughter and sent his daughter into the home to the horrifying scene of her mother lying on the floor in a pool of blood, bludgeoned and stabbed to death. After entering the house, Gill hid the weightlifting bar in a box for an artificial Christmas tree in the basement. He then washed all the knives before calling 911 on his cell phone. While police detectives worked the murder scene, they re-
placed the weightlifting bar with a replica, covered in goat’s blood, taking the original bar to examine. When Mr. Gill was allowed back in the house, he was caught on camera going straight for the weightlifting bar. Police followed him as he disposed of it in a wooded area in the southwest corner of Barrhaven. Ms. Ronald’s defence was that she went to the Gill home to borrow tools for a home project. She claimed she discovered the body and picked up the knife, and then washed it after realizing that she might be suspected of the murder. She said she cut her finger washing the knife. She also said she feared that the killer may still be in the house, though the judge said if that was the case, Ms. Ronald would not have taken the time to go upstairs to get a bandage or stopped to have a drink of water. Mr. Gill, meanwhile,
claimed in his defence that he knew nothing of the planned murder, and that Ms. Ronald acted alone in killing his wife. “Ms. Ronald was not a credible witness,” Justice London-Weinstein said. “She lied on multiple occasions in this trial. She had a selective memory, forgetting critical aspects of the evidence in this case.” Gill and Ronald had been romantically connected for more than a year. Divorce was not an option for Gill, who was 41 at the time of his wife’s murder. Though Justice LondonWeinstein stated she did not want to speculate, there was the possibility that he did not want to lose half of his property, cash, and gold to his wife, and he did not want to pay child support. “It became clear to me that the motive for this murder was that Mr. Gill and Ms. Ronald wanted to be with each other, and
Jagtar Gill was in the way,” Justice London-Weinstein said. “Why murder as opposed to divorce was chosen as the way out is beyond my ability to discern from the evidence before me.” While Gill was not at the murder scene when the crime was committed, Justice London-Weinstein said he played a role in the crime. “I found that Mr. Gill was actively involved in the planning of the murder of Jagtar Gill well before the six days before her murder,” she said. “I found that Mr. Gill and Ms. Ronald began planning the murder of Jagat Gill shortly after he learned of her surgery date on January 9th. Jagtar Gill was a much larger and stronger woman than Ms. Ronald. I found that the timing of the murder was arranged by Mr. Gill to occur when Jagtar was physically weak.”
Justice London-Weinstein also said that Mr. Gill’s role in the murder was not just in the planning. “I found that Mr. Gill’s assigned role in this homicide was to clean up whatever incriminating evidence that might have been left behind by Ms. Ronald,” she said. “In this case, the murder did not go exactly as planned, and Mr. Gill had to therefore clean up more than what was originally anticipated.” Mr. Gill had also testified that when he met Ms. Ronald at Sobey’s after murder, he had no idea that Ronald had killed his wife. Justice London-Weinstein said the opposite was true. “Mr. Gill knew his wife was murdered when Ms. Ronald met him at Sobey’s,” she said. “He let his daughter walk into the home first. He did so to insulate himself from any possible claim of involve-
ment. He concealed the bar in the Christmas tree box on January 29th. He disposed of it on February 9th. He disposed of the bar because it linked him to the crime.” Justice London-Weinstein rejected the evidence of both Ms. Ronald and Mr. Gill. “I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Gurpreet Ronald killed Jagtar Gill, and she intended to kill Jagtar Gill, and that she planned and deliberated on the murder for its execution. “I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Gill intended to kill his wife, and he actively participated in the planned and deliberate murder of Jagtar Gill by assisting Ms. Ronald, knowing Ms. Ronald intended to kill Jagtar Gill, and that the murder was both planned, and deliberate.”
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Hearing through a Pandemic
It is clear; living through a pandemic is difficult. But what about hearing through a pandemic? Communications for those of us with hearing loss are challenging in the best of times. Adding masks over mouths and distance between people makes the experience more frustrating and further isolating. Here are a few tips on how you can mitigate some of the difficulties you or your loved ones may be facing in these challenging times. Whenever possible, remove the mask. Speech reading is a skill used by everyone, every day, regardless of hearing capabilities. It allows our brains to supplement the auditory input with the speaker’s lip positions, accompanying facial expressions and body language so as to gain an enhanced understanding of what is being said. It is useful for all and invaluable for those with hearing loss. Consequently, when it is safe to do so, it is best removed when addressing the hearing impaired. If the mask is a must, have your supplementary tools ready. Download a speech to text app to have spoken words translated to text or have a pen and paper handy. Stock up. Though toilet paper may have initially been all the rage, the stock most valuable to hearing aid wearers are hearing aid batteries, wax guards and cleaning tools. Without them you risk a dead, thus useless, device. Have a good supply mailed to you …they are your lifeline in many ways. Use speakerphone or video-chats. Telephone conversations have had a resurgence of popularity over the last several months as we all try to
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stay connected while staying apart. This form of communication is particularly challenging with hearing loss because it strips us of speech reading and reduces our input to one ear. Consequently, allowing the use of both ears by activating the speakerphone feature will help tremendously. Video-chats are also very helpful because they offer both binaural hearing and speech reading. Turn on the captions. Television is not only a source of information but one of entertainment while we stay home. Captions are a great compliment to those difficult to follow programs. The ability to read the words you mishear gives you increased access to the television programs, further enhancing their enjoyment. Another trick is to revisit some old favourites. If you are familiar with the movie, your memory will help you fill in any blanks! Have your hearing aids adjusted for distant listening. Your devices are sophisticated computers that automatically treat your acoustic environment to favour the audibility of nearby inputs and reduce the intensity of the sounds coming from far away. This is wonderful under normal circumstances… very few want to hear two tables over at the restaurant after all. But this same sound processing strategy can be challenging when those you hope to converse with are two meters away from you, as is required in these social distancing times. Simply increasing the volume can help but has the negative consequence of making everything louder. The good news is that, an Audiologist can enhance distant listening without increasing everything else by adjusting your hearing aids, either as
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a general adjustment or by creating a specific program to use in those situations. If you are struggling significantly and are finding this to be an essential need for you, it may be worth a try. Stream to your ears. Many technologies today, including hearing aids, allow for sound to be streamed wirelessly. Wherever possible, stream the signal directly into your ears. This makes for great sound quality because the sound does not lose intensity or integrity as it would if it were travelling through air to get to you. Streaming technology’s most popular applications include remote microphones to overcome distance, televisions for an enriched listening experience and cellular telephones for binaural listening of calls, music and videos. Sleep. Hearing with even a slight hearing loss bears a heavy cognitive load requiring effort and energy. A good night sleep will not only help your mental health, it will help your daily communications too! Should you have any questions or need help in implementing these tips, call Hearing Freedom. As one of Ottawa’s rare independent clinic, Hearing Freedom Audiologists are well versed in ALL product lines, not just a selected few. They also practice with a focus on people, not sales. Consequently, Hearing Freedom Audiologists are uniquely poised to assist you in overcoming the novel challenges brought on by our new normal.
Parking is free. Home visits optional. Wheelchair friendly. For more information visit www.hearingfreedom.com.
FRIDAY, August 20, 2021 Page 3
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT Guilty continues from page 2
Gurpreet Ronald was found guilty of entering the Gill home and beating and stabbing Jagtar Gill to death.
After the verdict was announced, Jagtar Gill’s niece, Ramandeep Chahal, read a victim impact statement on behalf of Jagtar’s parents. She said having to go through a retrial refreshed the pain and suffering for their family, friends, and the community at large. Jagtar’s parents are in their late 70s. In addition to the language barrier, her father is undergoing cancer treatments. “In the last 91 months, we have watched our family struggle with pain, anger and grief repeatedly,” she said. “We as parents, and our entire family, are forever broken and devoid of our daughter’s love, care and compassion and will always remain so” she continued. “Jagtar was murdered seven years ago. The pain never leaves us… In the last 91 months, from the date
of Jagtar’s death, we have watched our family struggle with pain, resentment, and grief. Our world has been completely destroyed by Bhupinderpal Gill and Gurpreet Ronald. Did Jagtar deserve this painful death? Jagtar was extremely hard working and dedicated countless hours of her life working to make the life of her family and children better. She was a dedicated, compassionate, and loving daughter and sister, and this brutal murder destroyed her life and left us all with irreparable loss and suffering. “Imagine the worst emotional pain you can and multiply it a thousand-fold. That was the only way to describe a grief so enormous as that of experiencing a loved one’s murder.” A date for formal sentencing is expected to come in the fall.
Key Club Cleaning Members of the John McCrae Secondary School Key Club met at the Barrhaven Marketplace and braved the hot weather to clean up and beautify the community. The Key Club, which is an initiative of Kiwanis Club International and its local clubs, is an organization for high school students to help teach them community leadership and volunteerism. Each student taking part in the Barrhaven clean up received one-and-a-half volunteer hours.
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RETIREMENT LIVING
Page 4 FRIDAY, August 20, 2021
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Barrhaven Traffic projects continue along Strandherd Drive
Strandherd Drive (from the Home Depot West Entrance to Jockvale Road) – Strandherd Drive is partially reduced to one lane in the eastbound direction in front of the Home Depot. Andora Avenue – Andora Avenue is fully closed to traffic at Strandherd Drive. After the full closure, Andora Avenue will reopen as a rightin/right-out intersection, with no left-turn movements permitted, until the spring of 2022. Local access is maintained via Chapman Mills Drive. A pedestrian traffic signal was installed just west of Andora Avenue to facilitate pedestrian crossing at Strandherd Drive. Tallgrass Lane – Tallgrass Lane is fully closed at Strandherd Drive until the spring of 2022. Kingsview Lane – Kingsview Lane is fully closed at Strandherd Drive for a few weeks. Madrid Avenue - Madrid Avenue is fully closed at
LET’S TALK
BARRHAVEN by Jan Harder
Strandherd Drive for a few weeks. Aura Avenue – Aura Avenue is fully closed at Strandherd Drive for a few weeks. Dealership Drive – Lane reductions on Dealership Drive, as necessary, for road reconstruction work. Strandherd Drive – Various work continues along the corridor. To accommodate the work, there will be off-peak lane reductions, as necessary along the corridor. Update on Greenbank/ Half Moon Bay RoundaboutTo expedite this roundabout, the City has been asked to push the tendering for this project up so that the contractors can start earlier and finish construction before the school year starts. This may
require a full road closure for a short time, but the goal is to have the area done so students and their parents can get to school safely. More news to come as soon as confirmation of the details is received.
Upcoming Barrhaven fiber optic installation locations
• Larkin Drive between Barran Street and Orr Street • Langholm Crescent • Jerrilynn Crescent • Roberta Crescent • Barran Street • Ettrick Crescent • Barrhaven Crescent • Orr Street
Door-to-door scammers posing as water and sewer infrastructure inspectors
Residents are advised that individuals posing as City staff have been going doorto-door requesting to inspect water and sewer infrastructure inside the home. Do not
allow these individuals into or around your residence. The City reminds you that: • Except in emergency situations, home access is always scheduled in advance. • City employees carry identification at all times and you have the right to ask to see it. • City employees always travel in City vehicles marked with the Ottawa logo. • City employees do not contact residents to sell products or services. • Should you have concerns or wish to report suspicious visits or calls, please contact 3-1-1
Free Summer Fun for Families at EarlyON in Barrhaven!
Do you know what EarlyON is? EarlyON Child and Family Centre offers free programs to parents/caregivers and their children from birth to 6 years of age. We welcome all families to partici-
pate in quality programs that help strengthen adult-child relationships, support parent education and foster healthy child development. In Barrhaven, your EarlyON team is bringing you and your child quality outdoor and virtual programming. Join us at our centre for outdoor playgroups! Join us at the park for activities facilitated by a Family Resource Worker.
Motorcycle ride supports guide dog training
Ride to raise money towards the training of guide dogs and assistance dogs, as Ottawa’s longest-running charity motorcycle returns. The 34th annual Guide Dog Motorcycle Ride will take place on Sunday, September 12, 2021. The entry fee for the ride alone is $20 or come back for the BBQ for just an extra ten bucks! On Sunday, Sep-
tember 12, stop by Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind, 4120 Rideau Valley Drive North, to register anytime between 9:00 am and 10:00 am and then head out for the ride. Cash, credit, and debit are accepted on-site. Please respect physical distancing. Vision loss has not stopped during Covid and neither has the Guide Dog Ride. We have planned a beautiful route of more than 200-km. through Eastern Ontario. Let’s fill it with bikes for a great cause. Individual riders and all clubs are welcome. (***BBQ portion of the event is subject to cancellation based on local bylaws and public health regulations at the time of the event.) To learn more about this event or Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind, visit www.guidedogs.ca or phone (613) 692-7777
harder
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FRIDAY, August 20, 2021 Page 5
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT harder continues from page 4 Ontario Releases Back to School Plan
The Ontario government released details of what parents and children can expect for the return to school in September. For the 20212022 school year, the Ministry of Education will continue to focus on supporting the health, safety, and wellbeing of students, families and staff. Based on advice from the Chief Medical Officer of Health, schools are permitted to open for in-person learning with health and safety measures in place for the 2021-2022 school year. Key elements to reopening schools: • While schools will reopen to with conventional in-person delivery of learning, remote learning will remain an option for parents. • All students in grades 1-12 will be required to wear masks while it is recommended for those in kindergarten. • Daily screening prior
to attending school remains required and students with symptoms of COVID-19 will not be able to attend. • Some regulations are being eased with assemblies, outdoor play without masks, visitors in schools, and food programs now being allowed.
529 Garage App
Introduced in 2019, in partnership with Bike Ottawa and Safer Roads Ottawa, the 529 Garage app is an easy way for cyclists to register their bicycles to help police locate them faster if they are stolen. The app also creates a network with other Ottawa cyclists to alert riders to missing or stolen bikes. “If you haven’t already received your 529 Garage shield, now is a good time to pick one up,” said Constable Samson Vo, with the Neighbourhood Resource Team. Introduced in 2019, in partnership with Bike Ot-
tawa and Safer Roads Ottawa, the 529 Garage app is an easy way for cyclists to register their bicycles to help police locate them faster if they are stolen. The app also creates a network with other Ottawa cyclists to alert riders to missing or stolen bikes. “We find the app really useful in helping police to reunite bikes with owners after they’ve been stolen,” said Cst. Vo. “register on the app or the website, you can still use it without having a 529 shield.” For more information about 529 Garage, please visit ottawapolice.ca/endbiketheft.
Request a mobile vaccine team for your workplace, place of worship or community setting
Workplaces, community organizations, places of worship and other groups can now request a mobile vaccination team to admin-
ister first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine on-site, at their own location. This program is intended to help reduce barriers for residents who have not yet received the vaccine by working with community leaders to provide comfortable, convenient and easily accessible options for vaccination. This is just one more initiative to help ensure that anyone 12 years of age and older in Ottawa who wants the COVID-19 vaccine can get vaccinated. If you are a community organization, community leader, faith leader, or employer in Ottawa and have a group of people that may benefit from a mobile vaccination team coming to you, please reach out through the following ways: • Complete the mobile vaccine clinic request form online • Call 613-691-5505 for assistance in completing the form
Based on your group’s needs, Ottawa Public Health will coordinate the planning and can set up a mobile team, assist in the promotion of your mobile vaccine clinic, and even help answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. Services can be provided in a variety of languages.
Other ways to get vaccinated
There are many appointments available for anyone who still needs a vaccine. Visit the provincial booking system or use this tool to find a convenient time and date, or drop-in at certain clinics without making an appointment. The drop-in locations are updated daily on OttawaPublicHealth.ca.
Help During Self Isolation
Do you need help during self-isolation? Call 2-1-1 for information on resources from the Community and Social Services Line.
Do you need a space to self-isolate safely? The Voluntary Isolation Centre (VIC) is for people who do not have access to an adequate shelter or cannot self-isolate safely in their own homes. To find out more or to apply please call 613-580-2424 ext. 25890 or email OPHisolationcentre@ ottawa.ca. Here are some resources that might help: • Access to food: goodfoodottawa.ca • Access to mental wellness support: counsellingconnect.org • Supports for seniors & adults with a disability: communitysupport. covidresponse.ca • Delivery of food & supplies - Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre: 613-591-3686 • CRB- Canada Recovery Benefits information & support – Service in English & Arabic: Email hanadi. alashi@occsc.org or fidaa. osman@occsc.org
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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
INDEPENDENT Editorial
Jan Harder Deserves Better It’s not up to our newspaper to decide if the City of Ottawa’s investigation into the hiring practices of Barrhaven Councillor Jan Harder were right or wrong. In fact, it was a difficult thing for us to cover and it made us uncomfortable. We are the newspaper of record in the community and she is an elected official representing us. We are obliged to cover this story and to be fair and balanced. Whether or not we agreed with Integrity Commissioner Robert Marleau’s findings is irrelevant. But here is what is not fair. Why have so many people in the community reacted to this news by trashing and abusing Jan Harder on social media? What right do people have to make comments like “Barrhaven can finally get rid of her,” or perhaps “She has ruined Barrhaven.” Really? Jan Harder has done more for Barrhaven than any trolls on any of these Facebook groups or on Twitter combined. She has represented this community since the 1990s, and she has planned and fostered its growth from a sleepy bedroom community of about 15,000 people to an almost selfsufficient city within the city with a population of nearly 100,000. She has a history of getting things done in this community and in Ottawa by relying the relationships she has built over her quarter century in public service. One of her employees is the daughter of Jack Stirling, a local planner, developer and consultant who has also has gigantic fingerprints on Barrhaven. Stirling’s daughter, by the way, is highly qualified for her position. And now Stirling has been suspended from lobbying at City Hall for 30 days for services provided to Harder. All of this came about because one person made a complaint. Was this person’s life affected by Harder and Stirling? Did a decision Harder made compromise this person’s safety or quality of life? Or was it just someone who doesn’t like her? Jan Harder did not steal anything or sexually harass anyone or racially slur anyone. She was just doing her job in the best way she knew how. In a world where we are trying to eliminate bullying and abuse, what makes these comments aimed at Harder acceptable? Jan Harder is a person, and she cares about this community and its people more than anyone ever has. She doesn’t deserve to be the victim of a cyber witch hunt. Jan Harder built Barrhaven from the ground up and envisioned a familyfriendly suburb with a strong sense of community. What she didn’t foresee was Facebook groups filled with hateful comments by people who love to criticize but would never run for office or contribute to the community in any other way. Jan Harder deserves better from the people she has worked hard for. And if you really think she has ruined Barrhaven, you can get a lot for your house right now. Feel free to move to Stittsville. But just a warning. Stittsville has local councillors too.
BARRHAVEN P.O. Box 567 Manotick, Ontario www.barrhavenindependent.ca The Barrhaven Independent is published by Manotick Messenger Inc. biweekly at P.O. Box 567 in Manotick, Ontario. The Barrhaven Independent is not responsible for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts, photos, or other material used for publication purposes. Letters will be edited for length, clarity and libellous statements. Display, National and Classified rates are available on request.
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For John Carlos, activism is still transparent Jesse Owens accepting his Olympic gold Carlos continued to run, and he continued medals in front of Adolph Hitler may be the to succeed. In 1969, he set the world recmost memorable podium moment in Olym- ord in the 100-yard dash. He also won the pic history. NCAA title in the 100 and 220 yard finals, John Carlos and Tommie Smith, pro- and he anchored the winning 4x110 yard retesting at the 1968 Mexico City Games may lay team. He led San Jose State University be history’s most poignant podium moment. to its first ever NCAA track and field chamJohn Carlos had wanted to organize a pionship. boycott of the Olympics. Carlos, a founder But it was what he had done the year beof the Olympic Project for Human Rights fore on the podium in Mexico City that he (OPHR), was looking for four conditions would always be remembered for. to be met. He wanted “That picture of me and South Africa and RhoTommie on the podium is desia banned from the FROM THE OTHER the modern-day Mona Lisa Olympics. He wanted — a universal image that IOC President Avery everyone wants to see and Brundage to step down. everyone wants to be reJeffrey Morris He wanted Muhammad lated to in one way or anAli’s world boxing title other,” Carlos wrote. “And to be restored. Lastly, do you know why? Because he wanted more African American coaches we were standing for something. We were hired by the U.S. Olympic team. standing for humanity.” When he realized that his conditions Carlos is still fighting the battle to imwould not be met, he opted for Plan B. prove the lives and the conditions for Black Carlos, born in Harlem, NY to Cuban Americans in the United States. He said that parents, was one of the top sprinters in the every Black athlete and celebrity has a duty COUNCILto become an activist. world. In 1967, he became a household CORNER name in Canada by winning gold in the “People said, Man, that’s a courageous 200m final at the Pan Am GamesMayor in Winthing you did.’ Yeah, well, I have the same Suzanne Dodge nipeg. dang ingredients that you have. You just After the 200 metre final, Smith, who have to find yours within yourself. I say to won gold, and Carlos, who won bronze, them, ‘Do you think Rosa Parks didn’t have made history. They went to the podium with fear when she moved up a seat on that bus? black gloves on. They wore black socks and You think Gandhi, sheet wrapped around no shoes. It was a statement to bring atten- his body, with the best thing he had for his tion to the poverty among African Amerthose wire-rim glasses — do you THE NOTprotection SO icans in the United States. They raised their think he didn’t have fear?’ Fear is all around NEW GUY fists and lowered their heads. Their actions anyone who’s trying to make change. But Tim Ruhnke symbolized the Black Power Movement. the men and the women of this world step Peter Norman, the Australian who won sil- through fear and challenge this system so ver in the race, wore an OPHR band to sup- other people can have a better life. port them. “And so I’m really frustrated with a lot “As soon as we raised our hands, it’s of today’s stars, who have an opportunity like somebody hit a switch,” Carlos wrote to speak up but don’t. They think they’re in 2016. “The mood in the stadium went secure in their little bubbles of fame and straight to venom. Within days, Tommie wealth. They think racism and prejudice and I were suspended from the US Olympic can’t touch them because they’ve achieved WALKER HOUSE team and had to leave Mexico City early.” a certain level of success.” While Carlos and Smith made a stateCarlos retired from track in 1970 and beSusan Vallom ment and drew attention for their cause, came a professional football player. He reCarlos said the aftermath was hell for the turned to Canada to become a wide receiver next 10 years. with the Montreal Alouettes for one year. “A lot of people walked away from me,” Having “the world’s fastest man” on their wrote Carlos. “They weren’t walking away roster made the Alouettes an instant draw because they didn’t have love for me or across the country. they had disdain for me. They were walking Carlos is still an activist. In April 2008, away because they were afraid. What theyBLAKE’S he was a torch-bearer for the Human Rights saw happening to me, they didn’t want it TAKES to Torch, which ran parallel to the 2008 Sumhappen to them and theirs. mer Olympics torch relay and focused Blake McKim “My wife and kids were tormented. I was attention on China’s human rights record. strong enough to deal with whatever people Late that year, Carlos and Smith accepted threw at me, because this is the life I’d the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage for their signed up for. But not my family. My mar- salute, at the 2008 ESPY Awards in Los Anriage crumbled. I got divorced. It was like geles. the Terminator coming and shooting one of “If you’re famous and you’re Black, you his ray guns through my suit of armor. have to be an activist,” Carlos wrote. “Ac“Still, I wouldn’t change what I did.” tivism is a guy who says, ‘I’m a multimilCarlos and Smith both received death lionaire, and I’m going to help.’ Activism is threats against both them and their families. transparent.”
SIDE
NEWS
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
FRIDAY, August 20, 2021 Page 7
Letter to the Editor
Why is there so much enthusiasm for electric buses in Ottawa? The Editor, In addressing Ottawa Council’s recent approval of a plan to convert OC Transpo’s fleet to electric buses, Councillor Meehan listed some of the known issues with such vehicles, especially in a cold climate. As one of the world’s coldest capital cities, Ottawa certainly qualifies in that category. The billion dollar question is this: Given the limitations of electric buses, even with some technical improvement, why is there such enthusiasm for adopting them? The first reason Meehan offers is that Council has declared a climate emergency.
Following the urging of some local activist groups, that declaration was passed two years ago. (It came during the flooding that resulted from a prolonged winter that kept the ground frozen into the period of spring rains, and the flood led to declaring a state of emergency.) It’s unlikely that any of the councillors or city staff (or perhaps even the activists) were aware that they were buying into a campaign started by a group of Australian alarmists who worried that people weren’t showing enough anxiety about climate. They determined that using the word “emergency” would increase the emotional impact and alarm more people.
It seems to have worked on our city council, although they did have to redefine “emergency” to make the declaration less absurd. But apparently none of them bothered to check a reliable source such as Environment Canada data (e.g., https://ottawa.weatherstats.ca/charts/ temperature-yearly.html) or to question the basic notion. Why bother, when we have no less a climate expert than the prime minister to assure us that there’s indeed a crisis demanding government action? It may seem silly for any government to declare a climate emergency -- especially for a city. But now we can see how useful it is as justification for expen-
sive projects. What cost is too high when you’re helping to save the planet from climate change? Brilliant!
And the federal government is chipping in money, so taxpayers all across Canada will be able to help
fund the Ottawa experiment. Even more brilliant! David Wieland
Member of Parliament / Député — Nepean
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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Academic achievements propel local student’s future in health sciences Name: Abigail Ahronson (Abi) Age: 18
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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
It’s great to see things getting back to normal… except traffic It’s the height of summer, the majority of people have been vaccinated which is the reason for the drop in new COVID cases. Life is returning to normal. Sadly that means some of the things we didn’t miss during the pandemic have returned too, like traffic. This week I sat in a line of cars backed up from Woodroffe to Merivale on Hunt Club Road. It was four in the afternoon. I hate traffic. It’s time consuming, expensive, bad for the environment and it ruins everyone’s quality of life. The City acknowledges too many vehicles on too few roads is problematic. And projects that will only clog already jammed roads
always seem to get the green light, consequences be damned. The new warehouse project in the South Merivale Business Park is the latest example. When the site was zoned Light Industrial thirty years ago, no one could have foreseen the growth in the south end of the city. Once located on the edge of the city, looking out onto cow pastures, it’s now surrounded by new commun-
ities and is home to more than a hundred thousand people. Before the pandemic the main roads in and out of the Business Park, Prince of Wales, Merivale, and Woodroffe were all gridlocked. Instead of trying to fix that, we’re most likely getting a warehouse that will add, a minimum of 400 plus trucks per day on those routes. When presented with an application for a zoning amendment to allow a Warehouse as a primary use, City Planners, Planning committee and Council approved it, barely looking at the impact on traffic because “the zoning allows it.” Now a site plan for a
warehouse under the current zoning is being considered. I will continue to make a case against it at Planning and at City Council. I fully support new businesses and new jobs, but my role is to fight for residents who believe a massive warehouse terminal will compromise their quality of life. I don’t need a study to know that more traffic and especially more transport trucks rumbling by homes will be problematic, and not just around Barrhaven. The Business Park isn’t close to the 416 or 417 so drivers will be seeking ways to cut time off their trips. Don’t think for a moment that the small villages in Ot-
tawa’s south end won’t be impacted. I’ve heard from residents in Barrhaven, Riverside South, Manotick and North Gower, all who are concerned with the very real possibility of their communities being overrun by tractor trailers. I know zoning rules are put in place for a reason. I also know conditions change. And that’s the case with this plan for a Ware-
house and Truck Depot. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live in a city where planners and decision makers would choose to look at the overall impact of a massive development on adjacent communities before simply rubber-stamping it? Or at the very least listen seriously to the concerns of residents who just want a fair shake from their elected officials?
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Page 10 FRIDAY, August 20, 2021
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
MacLeod, Ghamari announce provincial funding for local events and festivals By Charlie Senack Ottawa’s events industry has received a big boost in funding as the province gets ready to recover in the aftermath of COVID-19. On Wednesday, August 4, Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod, who is also the minister in charge of tourism culture and sports industries, made an announcement alongside Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari. The pair announced that a one-time investment of $50 million would go towards Ontario’s festivals and events this year — with $5.7 million going differently to Ottawa. That is more than five times the amount the province gave Ottawa festivals last year. “We believe this $50 million investment for strategic festivals and events across Ontario will yield about a billion dollars in economic activity,” said MacLeod. “(We will) put many people back into the workforce, and of course remind us all what it means to get together and celebrate this great province of Ontario.” In total, 46 events, festivals and attractions in Ottawa will receive funding — alongside hun-
dreds across the province. Locally that includes $250,000 each for Music and Beyond Summer and Fall, Ottawa Chamberfest, the CityFolk Canadiana Project, and the Drive-in Movie Experience which operates both at Wesley Clover Parks and at the Ottawa Baseball Stadium. The Ottawa Bluesfest Canadian All-Stars Project and the Escapade Music Festival, will also receive the same amount of funding. Ghamari said she was ecstatic for the funding announcement, noting it will greatly benefit many events that take place in her riding of Carleton; no more so than at Saunders Farm which is getting ready for a spooky Halloween season. According to Saunders Farm president Mark Saunders, the money will help launch two new projects at the farm, which will employ a wide range of local craftspeople and artists. Plans are also now underway for a revamped festival for “spooky” autumn nights in October and a “charming country Christmas Village” in December. Both projects received $97,000 of funding from the government’s pot.
MacLeod has long said that her sectors were hit first and the hardest when COVID-19 hit, and will take the longest to rebuild. The government is now focusing on events which were not even on the radar before the pandemic gripped the world. Drive-in movies and events are making a welcomed comeback, and more attention is being put towards virtual events. “My concern since the pandemic began is that we would lose the cultural aspects that we have relied on for so long,” said the minister. “Summer, fall, and winter is really about exploring new opportunities and expanding on what Ontario has. It was first about sustainability and now it’s about growth.”
Events make a return
For the first time in a while, large outdoor gatherings are allowed. A large fair was recently held in Kanata, and Barrhaven is getting ready to host a classic car show at Clarke Fields — one of hopefully many events to make a comeback in the community Michael Wood, who is also co-owner of Ottawa
Special Events, says after 18 months, they were finally able to hire back some staff. “Definitely a new normal is kind of what we are looking at,” said Wood, who has spent the last year and a half advocating for other small businesses who were in the same boat as him. “Events have started up again and there have been lots of weddings that we have been doing because you are now allowed to have larger gatherings. Moving down the line looking at September, things like Recovery Day — a big event down at city hall — has committed to firing back up.” Over the course of the pandemic, Wood says business was down by 98
per cent, with most traction coming from movies which were filmed in Ottawa. The city is becoming known as the “Christmas movie capital of Canada” as big companies such as Hallmark eye the city. Just before the pandemic, several locations in Manotick were used to shoot scenes for a Hallmark Christmas movie. Most recently, the Oprah Winfrey Network has been in Ottawa shooting a Christmas movie. In a typical year, Ottawa Special Events would produce some of the hottest events around such as Glow Fair and Capital Pride to name a few. They also supplied a large portion of the equipment needed for Canada Day in Barrhaven, however that was also
cancelled due to the pandemic. Darrell Bartraw, who runs and organizes the Canada Day in Barrhaven events, says they hope to have a big event of some kind this fall if restrictions allow. The midway which sets up at Clarke Fields for Canada Day has said they are ready to go. A classic car show will be held on the grounds of Clarke Fields located at 93 Houlahan Street from 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday, August 15, weather permitting. Event organizers say due to COVID restrictions they will have fewer cars than normal, and only 100 people will be allowed to walk around the park at one time. Masks are also strongly recommended.
FRIDAY, August 20, 2021 Page 11
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
New Barrhaven apartment development opens opportunities for homeowners
After spending years building up equity in their home, Ottawa residents have a new opportunity to unlock the pentup value of their property and capitalize on the city’s hot real estate market. At the Lépine Corporation’s new Howard Grant development in Barrhaven, residents enjoy a lifestyle that many previously thought was out of reach. Described as “resort-style living,” the rental community is the latest in a string of Lépine development projects offering luxurious, comfortable and sustainable living options. Featuring spacious apartments, an on-site pool and fitness centre as well as outdoor BBQ and lounge areas, the development is the perfect place for starting families, retirees and work-from-home professionals. “Lépine is reimagining apartment living by creating bright and airy living spaces,” says Pascale Lépine. “There is a home for everyone at Howard Grant.”
imum value by staging your home and properly coordinate the timing of the final closing transaction date. “Anxious to maintain the comfort and standard of living they’ve come to enjoy over decades, individuals and couples continue to want roomy, well-built and wellequipped apartments in build-
ings that offer good neighbours and a range of amenities,” says company president Francis Lépine. Units at the Howard Grant Terrace are designed with an open-concept flow and 9-foot+ high ceilings. They also feature panoramic windows, adding to the expansive feel of the space. The large eat-in kitchens
with granite countertops and hardwood floors rival those of a family-style home and showcase Lépine’s dedication to using quality building materials. The eco-friendly fixtures and materials extend into the unit’s bathroom, which also includes in-suite laundry.
Greater freedom,
they loved, but they chose to move because they didn’t want to be tied down by a property,” says leasing agent Stacie Willson. “It could be as simple as wanting to travel more or not wanting to deal with the snow and the grass.” Lépine’s Howard Grant Terrace development is located minutes away from the community’s main shopping district and is a short drive to Chapman Mills. With nearby access to public transit, local community centres and eateries, the Terrace in Barrhaven is the perfect place for your next home.
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A new luxury lifestyle
For many residents, choosing to “right-size” to an apartment can be a difficult decision. The first step is typically to speak to a trusted realtor who can help you understand the true sale value of your current home. From there, a real estate agent can assist you in the process of obtaining the max-
flexibility
The move from a familystyle home to a luxury apartment can save residents money in the long run. Removing the need for repair costs, landscaping, mortgage payments and taxes, apartment living gives tenants the freedom to come and go as they please, without worrying about property upkeep. And with Ottawa’s hot housing market, residents typically stand to make a substantial taxfree profit from the sale of their home. “Most residents were previously living in a house that
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CLUES ACROSS 1. Midway between east and southeast 4. Sun up in New York 7. Japanese honorific 8. Czech name for Prague 10. Ochocinco’s first name 12. Steep cliffs (Hawaiian) 13. Scots word for “home” 14. Upper class young woman (abbr.) 16. Monetary unit of Albania 17. Raise 19. Drain of resources 20. Uncultured, clumsy persons 21. Hikers use them 25. Retrospective analysis (military) 26. Tibetan form of chanting 27. Influential European statesman 29. Soluble ribonucleic acid 30. Monetary unit of Romania 31. Round green vegetable
32. Well acquainted with 39. Ribosomal ribonucleic acid 41. Basics 42. “The Godfather” actress Keaton 43. Snakelike fish 44. Tall deciduous tree 45. Russian river 46. Long Balkans river 48. Ancient Greek coin 49. Senegal’s capital 50. Unwell 51. Snout 52. Low bank or reef of coral CLUES DOWN 1. Abstain from 2. Vast desert in North Africa 3. Cover the crown of a tooth 4. A major division of geological time 5. Urban center 6. Crook 8. Parts per billion (abbr.) 9. Questions 11. A pack of 52
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
playing cards 14. Recording of sound 15. Pithy saying 18. Atomic #22 19. Soviet Socialist Republic 20. Plant with ridged seedpods 22. Innate 23. Investigative body for Congress (abbr.) 24. Soda receptacle 27. Spanish stew: __ podrida 28. Viet Cong offensive 29. Large body of water 31. Beginning military rank 32. Dissimilar 33. Counteroffensive system (abbr.) 34. Shows who you are 35. Chinese dynasty 36. Type of verse 37. African nation 38. Quite 39. Former Bucks star Michael 40. Showed again 44. Body part 47. Steal
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
FRIDAY, August 20, 2021 Page 13
Page 14 FRIDAY, August 20, 2021
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Barrhaven native working behind the scenes at Tokyo Paralympics By Jeff Morris While Andre De Grasse, Damion Warner, the Canadian women’s soccer team and all of the other medallists and competitors are home from Tokyo, the 2020 Olympics are not over yet. Barrhaven native Dillon Richardson is in Tokyo now, assisting in the preparations for the 2020 Paralympics. This year’s Paralympic Games take place at the Tokyo Olympic venues from August 24 through Sept. 5. Richardson works for World Para Powerlifting, the international federation that oversees the sport. He lives and works in Germany, where the organization is based. Powerlifting will make its debut as a sport at the Paralympics in Tokyo this year. “My role for the Paralympic Games is as the Field of Play Supervisor for Para powerlifting,” Richardson
explained. “In my role, I’m responsible for the staff and volunteers ‘right in the action’ on the main stage, making sure everything is in place for the athletes, coaches and referees for each bodyweight category/medal event, working and coordinating with the different functional areas like medal ceremonies, technology, sport presentation and results so it will be tough with many moving parts but exciting with the athletes performing at the highest level in the brightest stage.” Working in sports on a world stage is a dream job for Richardson. He grew up in Barrhaven and played recreational softball and basketball in the community. He attended Mary Honeywell Elementary School, Cedarview Middle School and John McCrae Secondary School, graduating in 2009. From there, he did his Bachelor’s Degree at Nippissing University and then did his Master’s
at the University of Windsor. “I think of how much I enjoyed playing and how that inspired me to see sports administrant/management as a career option,” he said. After graduating in 2015, Richardson landed his first job in sports with Gymnastics Canada. He eventually joined World Para Powerlifting. “I started working for the international federation for the sport of Paralympic powerlifting, World Para Powerlifting, in 2018,” he said. “I was working for Gymnastics Canada as Trampoline Program Coordinator for three years, where I had the chance to be involved with the national team and Rosie MacLennan winning her second Olympic gold medal at the Rio 2016 Games. A job opportunity came up online actually for the federation that I came across by chance so I applied. The sports are differ-
Dylan Richardson, right, works for World Para Powerlifting based out of Germany.
ent in some ways, especially with the size of the athletes, but they have some similarities in that it is a judged sport and the integration of technology.” Attending the Games in Tokyo and working at the venue is a dream come true for the lifelong sports fan. Richardson said it’s the most exciting thing he has ever been a part of. “Getting to have this experience at the Games is definitely a dream,” he said. “I remember watching the Games as a kid and dreaming of attending - I think working instead of attending/spectating will be a bit different but it will be something like none other, the biggest stage and event/competition in the world!” Although the Games will be on a world stage, viewers at home have seen a much different-than-usual Olympic Games from Tokyo. The stadiums will be virtually empty, and the constant murmur and outburst of cheering and applause will be replaced with silence. For the people working there, the rules are strict. “I’m expecting it to be different than any other Games,” he said. “The protocols put in place will be strict to make sure the environment is safest for the athletes, coaches and all those involved. Personally, I’m excited to be able to deliver a competition in such a challenging environment and times for the athletes and the countries’ people watching and supporting them from afar.” Richardson has already had a taste of dealing with
Barrhaven native Dillon Richardson is in Tokyo and will be working at the Tokyo Paralympics.
competitions during the COVID pandemic. “I was lucky enough to be involved with a handful of competition with World Para Powerlifting this year in Manchester, Bangkok, Tbilisi and Dubai so I feel used to some of the strict protocols like quarantining until coronavirus test results are negative, collecting boxed lunches and dinners, and having limited movement beyond the competition venue and accommodations,” he said. When the Paralympics in Tokyo are finished, Richard-
son’s work there will not be. He will have post-event work to do before getting ready for the next big event. “The protocols are quite strict,” he said. “I’ll wrap up my role a few weeks’ after the competition actually finishes and support with emptying the venue and closing our operations and reporting and then return to Germany where I’m living and working normally, and planning already for future competitions like our World Championships and development initiatives like educational courses.”
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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Teens illegally partying, swimming and drinking at Barrhaven quarry By Charlie Senack A well-known quarry in Barrhaven located off Cedarhill Drive has become a prime spot for teen parties again this summer, but Ottawa Police is reminding everyone that it’s located on private property and poses a risk to safety. On Saturday, August 7, Ottawa Police Sergeant Maria Keen tweeted that OPS “received reports that hundreds of teens are gathering at quarries in the area to drink and swim.” And while it might seem like a harmless night of fun, there are many hidden dangers which could pose serious injury or worse. “There is no lifeguard — it’s not a swimming pool — and the nature of the environment itself… People dump things into quarries; it’s not a lake where you do a high dive and you will be fine,” Sergeant Keen said in an interview with the Bar-
rhaven Independent. “There is stuff at the bottom of these quarries that can hurt you seriously.” The abandoned quarry off Cedarhill Drive near Highway 416, is now owned by Mattamy Homes, which has posted No Trespassing signs, signs that are regularly torn down or defaced. Barbed wire and fencing also blocks off easy access to the site, but can still be accessible to those who want to get in. The quarry is known as a drinking hole for teens in the Barrhaven area, with the rock walls surrounding the quarry frequently being littered with empty liquor bottles and beer cans. Keen says it’s important to be safe when drinking underage, and to not do it in already dangerous areas. Being intoxicated can cause an even greater risk. “Kids are going to be kids, I get that, and let’s
not be naive in saying that underage drinking does not take place because it does,” she said. “But be smart about it and know your surroundings.” The Barrhaven quarry, which is about 350 feet wide, has seen a number of incidents before. In August 2015, a young man was swimming at the site with family when he did not resurface from the water. At the time, Ottawa Police did not provide many details on the case, and noted they were interviewing friends and family to try and piece together what happened. And in 2003, 18-yearold Sami Mohammed drowned after diving from the quarry’s five-metre high rock walls. Just months before the 2015 incident, Ottawa Police said recent activity “has been a little more rowdy”, leading to over 200 calls of complaints at the site. Police visited
the site as regularly as they could, and handed out tickets with fines of $65. Neighbours at the time complained of intoxicated individuals lying in the middle of the road and defecating on their front lawns. Keen, who has been a police officer in the community for nearly 30 years, said the site has been on their radar for years, and throughout her career has visited the site dozens of times. But with a large demand for service calls — especially on weekends — they aren’t always available to respond. “We would love to do extra patrols at these hot spot places, time permitting, and obviously calls for service permitting,” she said. “Our frontline officers do their best to go there and monitor and enforce, but our resources are limited and that’s why it’s important for us to work with parents to edu-
cate their kids.” A message to parents Keen says it’s on parents to monitor where their teenage children are going and what they are getting up to. She says while you can’t babysit them at all times, it’s important to keep a grip on the situation. “Know where your teens are and where they are going. A hush party, a quarry party, whatever, it’s not safe,” she said. “Maybe you used to do that when you were young, too, and you survived, but there’s always that risk of death or serious injury. Especially when you mix it with underage drinking, drugs, whatever.” As a mother of two teenage kids, Keen says she understands the struggles parents can face with their teenagers. She said it’s important to not always take them at their word. “We go to many calls
where a parent will report their teenager missing, and they are at these places. The famous lines are “I am going to go stay at so and so’s house”, meanwhile they are at a bush party or at the quarry,” Keen said. “And parents only know about it if something happens and that is what we are trying to prevent.” “Sometimes I feel that parents are reluctant to challenge their teenage children, and that should not be the case,” the veteran police officer added. “Speaking from a parent’s perspective who has teenagers, you are not their friend, you are a parent and there is a fine line.” Police will patrol the site when resources allow and if you are caught, you can face a fine. Keen hopes that parents will teach their teenagers of the dangers at quarries in hopes of preventing more serious incidents from happening again.
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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
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