ServiceOntario has resources needed for new and expecting parents
By Goldie Ghamari mPP for Carleton
Happy New Year to everyone in the Carleton riding!
We have closed the book on a year that was very eventful locally, provincially and nationally. We are all waiting anxiously to see what 2025 brings for us!
One of the things I like to do when the new year begins is look at some of the “end of year” new items that the media comes up with to share. This is the perfect time of year for these soft, human interest pieces as much of the political world throughout Canada is shut down for a couple of weeks.
One of the first pieces like this that grabbed my attention was the list of the top baby names in 2024 for boys and girls born in the province.
Sadly, Goldie was once again left off the top 10 list for girls names, but there is always next year!
The top 10 boys in Ontario for 2024 are:
1. Noah 2. Liam
3. Theodore 4. Oliver 5. Jack 6. Lucas
7. Benjamin 8. William 9. Leo 10. Henry
This is the fifth straight year that Noah is the most popular boys name in the province. Henry, which was 10th, was the only name on the list that did not ap-
pear on the 2023 list.
The top girls names in Ontario for 2024 are:
1. Olivia 2. Charlotte
3. Amelia 4. Emma 5. Sophia 6. Mia 7. Sofia
8. Ava 9. Mila
10. Isla
This is the 15th straight year that Olivia is the top girl name in Ontario. Since we are in year-end reflection mode, here is something to put the Olivia name streak into perspective.
The last time a list was released without Olivia as the top girls name in Ontario, Meet the Parents: Little Fockers was the top movie at the box office, and Tik Tok by Ke$ha was the number one song on the Billboard charts.
Even though Olivia
wasn’t the most popular girls name in Ontario 15 years ago – Olivia was number two behind Emma – Olivia has been the top baby girl name in Canada since 2008.
Registering a Birth in Ontario
While on the topic of baby names, one of the topics we get asked a lot about in our constituency office is the process of registering a birth, and applying for birth certificates and OHIP cards.
Registering a birth in Ontario is a straightforward process, but it’s important to follow the necessary steps to ensure everything is done correctly. Here’s a step-bystep guide: You will need to fill out two forms: the Statement of Live Birth form (completed by parents) and the Notice of Live Birth form (completed
by qualified medical staff). These forms are available at hospitals, birthing centers, and ServiceOntario locations.
Fill out the Statement of Live Birth form with the baby’s date of birth, name, and parental information (names, dates of birth, and places of birth). The Notice of Live Birth form will be completed by the medical staff who delivered the baby.
Submit the completed forms to ServiceOntario. You can do this online through the 5-in-1 Newborn Bundle if the baby is born in Ontario, under 12 months old, and the birth hasn’t been registered before. Alternatively, you can mail the forms to the Office of the Registrar General.
When registering the birth, you can also apply for a birth certificate for
your child. This can be done through the same 5-in-1 Newborn Bundle. You can also apply for your child’s SIN at the same time as registering the birth.
Registering the birth allows you to apply for Canada child benefits, including Ontariospecific child benefits. You can also request a referral for an education savings plan for your child.
There are also some important things parents will need to know: The birth must be registered within 30 days of the baby’s birth. If you miss this deadline, you can still register the birth within 12 months, but the process will be longer and may incur a fee.
O-Train Lines 2 and 4
The City of Ottawa will open O-Train Lines 2 and 4 for weekday passenger service opened on Monday, January 6.
Lines 2 and 4 are part of the O-Train South Extension that will extend Ottawa’s rail network from Bayview Station to Limebank Station in Riverside South and will include a link to the Ottawa International Airport on O-Train Line 4. This is a significant expansion of OC Transpo’s transit system and will greatly enhance connectivity in the south of the city.
Lines 2 and 4 will open in three phases to ensure reliable service, allow customers to become familiar
with the new system, and provide time for additional staff training.
Phase one, which started Monday, has Lines 2 and 4 operating five days a week, Monday through Friday, for a minimum of two weeks. In phase two, service will expand to six days a week, Monday through Saturday, and will run for a minimum of two weeks. In the third and final phase, service will expand to seven days a week.
Existing bus service will continue to run alongside Lines 2 and 4, providing parallel bus service options for customers. This parallel service, which includes B2 buses (formerly known
as Line 2 buses), and Route 97 and Route 99 will be available for customers every day of the week.
Line 2 will provide service approximately every 12 minutes during weekdays and take 35 minutes to travel the 19 kilometres from Bayview Station to Limebank Station. The Line 2 extension features 11 stations and three Park & Ride lots at Greenboro, Leitrim and Bowesville stations. Stadler FLIRT diesel trains will operate along the track and can carry up to 420 passengers comfortably. Alstom LINT diesel trains, coupled together to match the capacity of the Stadler
FLIRTs, can also operate on Line 2.
Line 4 will provide service to the Ottawa International Airport with a connection to Line 2 at South Keys Station and a station at Uplands Drive, conveniently located near the EY Centre. Line 4 will provide service every 12 minutes and take approximately seven minutes to travel between Airport and South Keys stations. Line 4 will be served by Alstom LINT diesel trains which previously operated successfully along Line 2 for several years. Each train will be able to carry up to 260 passengers comfortably.
goldie continues from page 2
If you are moving, use your new mailing address when registering the birth. If you move unexpectedly after registering, contact ServiceOntario immediately.
Ensure you have all necessary documents and information before starting the registration process. This includes the baby’s date of birth, name, parental information, name of the hospital or birthing center, name of the person who delivered the baby, baby’s weight, and length of pregnancy in weeks.
If you need assistance or have questions, ServiceOntario provides support and can be contacted via phone or in person.
Inspiration for the week
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
Nelson Mandela 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
Sutcliffe ready to tackle Barrhaven’s biggest challenges in 2025
By Barrhaven Independent Staff
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says despite the challenges faced in 2024, Barrhaven is moving forward in 2025.
There are a number of issues in the city that directly affect Barrhaven. Housing and infrastructure are big ones, but transit has been front and centre on the list of priorities. Sutcliffe said that having a balanced approach is best to move forward into the issues the community will face in 2025.
“I think it’s all about balance balanced approach,” Sutcliffe said. “We have a huge city and we have rural communities that have their own needs and their own way of life that they want to preserve. We have very vibrant suburban communities like Barrhaven that are unique in character, and we have to protect their needs and support their growth. And then we have the centre of the city, and we’ve got a different set of challenges there.”
Sutcliffe said that a lot of the discussions he has had with residents of Barrhaven have focused on transportation. OC Transpo bus service has been less than reliable in Barrhaven, with many buses running late or not showing up at all. That has been problematic for a suburb where thousands of federal government workers who have been working from home have been mandated back to their downtown offices three days per week.
In the summer, he initiated his “Fairness for Ottawa” campaign. The campaign involved an ask to the federal and provincial governments for $140 million for transit over three years. OC Transpo is projecting a $120 million funding shortfall in 2025, $131 million in 2026, $145 million in 2027 and deficits of $150 million in 2028 and 2029.
The province has agreed to put up money if the federal government does. But with the uncertain future of the Trudeau government and a potential election coming sooner rather than later, it will be difficult for the city to get a firm commitment for funding.
During the city’s budget debate, much of the discussion was about the cost of the OC Transpo service and how much to raise fares. The cost of single fare rides rose to $4, more than any other city in the country. However, Sutcliffe said that OC Transpo is not the most expensive service in Canada once other factors are considered.
“One of the things I learned this year is that when we talk about our single ride adult fare and compare that to other cities, it’s the wrong comparison,” he explained. “It’s the wrong data point. Our single ride fees might be a little higher than other communities, but the average user of OC Transpo is paying less than $2.50 per ride. When you look at the seniors discounts, the youth discounts, the student discounts, and when you look at the bus pass fairs that we charge, they are much lower than the user costs in other cities. If you actually look at what people are paying to use public transit in Ottawa, they are paying less than other communities. If you look at the one data point of buying one ticket to ride the bus, one time it might be a little higher than some communities, but the average fare that people are paying is much lower.”
Much of the OC Transpo debate centered on how much of the service would be paid by users, and how much by taxpayers.
“We constantly have to manage the cost of the system and how much of that burden is borne by taxpayers versus how
much of that burden is borne by the users of OC Transpo,” Sutcliffe said. Ten to 15 years ago, council set an objective of having the users pay 55 per cent of the cost. They’re actually paying close to 35 per cent of the costs right now, and that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime in the near future. So even if the fares are not as low as some people would like them to be, there’s a greater burden being placed on taxpayers than on users of OC Transpo.”
The draft budget proposed raising senior passes by 120 per cent and eliminating monthly youth passes. After strong resistance, the proposal was amended to have a $9 increase and to not get rid of the monthly youth passes.
While OC Transpo was the focus of the transit talks, the roads that the buses use were also a topic of discussion. In Barrhaven, Greenbank Road between Half Moon Bay and Old Barrhaven remains an issue.
“The councillors in Barrhaven and I have had
many conversations about the realignment and advancing that sooner than was originally planned,” Sutcliffe said.
The re-alignment of Greenbank Road was originally worked on by former Councillor Jan Harder several years ago.
According to the city, the objective of the project is to complete the design and construction of the realigned Greenbank Road and Southwest Transitway Extension between Marketplace Avenue/ Chapman Mills Drive in the north and Barnsdale Road in the south including a new 610 mm diameter transmission watermain along the realigned Greenbank Road from Market Place to the south side of the Jock River.
The project will include the design of a new four-lane arterial roadway with two-lane segregated median Bus Rapid Transit and facilities for pedestrians and cyclists along the corridor. The project also includes a new bridge over the Jock River, a Park and Ride facility near the
southern terminus of the future transitway corridor, and design of new watermains and sewers.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026.
The city is completing an update of the Transportation Master Plan which is currently scheduled for completion in 2025.
As part of this work, the city will be reviewing the prioritization and timing of future infrastructure projects, including the re-alignment of Greenbank Road and Southwest Transitway Extension.
Based on this review, the timing of future projects may be adjusted based on network needs and available funding.
The project will also have a positive impact on Barrhaven’s downtown.
Sutcliffe said that the proposed downtown corridor has also been a topic in his discussions with the councillors, residents and business owners.
“We talked a lot about the town centre and about the resources we need to support a growing population in Barrhaven”
Sutcliffe said. “It’s one of the fastest growing communities in the country. We’re making progress in Barrhaven as well as investing a lot of money in Barrhaven around transportation and community resources to support growing population.”
The Mayor concluded his conversation with the Barrhaven Independent by saying that because of Ottawa’s vast geography, it’s challenges are unique. Ottawa has more square kilometers than the cities of Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary combined.
“I often compare Ottawa to being like a small province that you know there is not it’s not homogeneous, it’s not uniform,” he said. “It’s a very diverse communities and we have to balance all of the needs of the community. We have to invest at the same time as we’re protecting affordability for residents and not increasing taxes too much. That’s the balanced approach that I’ve been trying to bring.”
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says transportation and the Barrhaven downtown plans are his local priorities for 2025.
Local literacy non-profit helps residents put food on the table for holidays
People, Words & Change, a local literacy and basic skills tutoring program, provided four Barrhaven residents with grocery gift cards to help them put food on the table over the recent holiday season.
People, Words & Change (PWC) bought the gift cards thanks to Ottawa residents and businesses who donated to the Christmas Cheer Breakfast that took place December 6, 2024. The annual fundraising breakfast organized by the Christmas Cheer Foundation set a record, raising $150,000 to support 30 local charities, including PWC, to provide food assistance to Ottawa residents in need.
Money raised at this year’s sold-out breakfast ensured PWC could buy 54 grocery gift cards for its learners across Ottawa, including 30 for families.
“PWC helps Englishspeaking adults in our community who need one-on-one support to improve their basic reading, writing, numeracy, or computer skills,” said Dee Sullivan, the charitable organization’s Executive Director. “But we know it’s hard to learn when you’re hungry or worried about putting food on the table for your family.”
The essential skills learners take away from PWC help boost their confidence and unlock doors for them in their professional and personal lives. This is critical, as education and labour force status are both related to the likelihood of being food insecure in Canada, according to a 2023 Statistics Canada study. It suggested food insecurity was three times higher among chronically unemployed people.
Christmas Cheer Breakfast hosts Patricia Boal and Jackie Perez speak to the sold-out crowd as representatives of the recipient charities, including People, Words & Change, hold signs showing their charity names. The event raised $150,000 to provide food assistance through these 30 local charities to Ottawa residents in need.
“The holidays can be a hard time of year for many in our community, and this support to buy groceries gives our learners one less thing to worry about this season,” said Margaret MacDonald, President of the PWC Board of Directors.
PWC is an Employment Ontario program that is unique among literacy programs in Ottawa in that it provides free oneon-one tutoring tailored to each learner’s needs. The non-profit organization’s computer skills program is also unique due to its small class size and the individual attention learners receive, allowing them to learn at their own pace and gain the digital skills they need for success in their steps towards employment.
INDEPENDENT EDITorIal
Canada Post must adapt or die
By Doug FirBy
When friends in older neighbourhoods remind me they still have daily mail delivery, it always stops me in my tracks. In an era where Christmas greetings are animated e-cards, Amazon trucks bring “free” deliveries, and my T4 slips and bank statements land seamlessly in my inbox, Canada Post feels like a relic from another time. Yet millions of Canadians still rely on its daily snail mail delivery – a service costing the Crown corporation billions and driving it towards an inevitable reckoning.
In 2023, Canada Post reported losses of $748 million, with an additional $490 million deficit for the first half of 2024. Since 2018, cumulative losses have surpassed $3 billion. Earlier this year, the corporation warned that without borrowing another $1 billion and refinancing $500 million in current debt, it will run out of cash by early 2025.
According to Statistics Canada, the market share for parcel delivery has dropped from 62 per cent in 2019 to just 29 per cent by 2023. Letter mail has also declined sharply, with annual volumes falling from 5.5 billion in 2006 to 2.2 billion in 2023.
Canada Post management recognizes the need for change and has proposed a dramatic shift in its operations. This includes transforming the organization into a seven-day-a-week parcel delivery service with competitive pricing and reducing the frequency of letter mail delivery. The Crown corporation has also suggested expanding the use of community mailboxes in urban areas.
Unsurprisingly, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) opposes these changes.
Rural and remote communities, which rely heavily on postal services, are at particular risk from reduced operations. Unlike urban areas, where alternative delivery services are readily available, rural residents have fewer options. Monthly cheques and essential mail are still lifelines for many in these regions. In 2022, Statistics Canada reported that over 20 per cent of rural Canadians still rely on mail delivery for essential services.
The question remains: can management and CUPW find a compromise?
The union’s current position leaves little room for flexibility, and management’s push for drastic reforms reflects the urgency of the financial crisis.
For Canadians, the postal service remains a critical link in the fabric of the country, especially for those in remote areas. However, the days of daily home delivery in urban neighbourhoods are numbered. The challenge now is to strike a balance between preserving essential services and adapting to the realities of a digital, on-demand world.
Canada Post must change – or face disappearing altogether. The stakes are high, and the time for action is now.
Doug Firby is an award-winning editorial writer with over four decades of experience working for newspapers, magazines and online publications in Ontario and western Canada. Previously, he served as Editorial Page Editor at the Calgary Herald.
© Troy Media
BARRHAVEN
5567 Manotick Main St., P.O. Box 567, Manotick, Ontario K4M 1A5
News and Editorial: manotickmessenger@gmail.com
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Website: www.manotickmessenger.ca
Staff/Contributors: Gary Coulombe, Larry Ellis, Skyler Fraser, Goldie Ghamari, David Hill, Wilson Lo, Jeffrey Morris, Greg Newton.
Will the brain rot of 2024 carry over into this year?
My favourite thing to do as we turn the page on a new year is to look at what the word of the year is.
Oxford University Press declared ‘Brain Rot’ as their Word of the Year for 2024. They had 37,000 people take part in a public vote, which was combined with Oxford’s language data.
Other words on the shortlist were demure, dynamic pricing, lore, romantasy and slop.
According to Oxford, ‘brain rot’ gained new prominence this year as a term used to capture concerns about the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media. The term increased in usage frequency by 230% between 2023 and 2024.
The first recorded use of ‘brain rot’ was found in 1854 in Henry David Thoreau’s book Walden, which reports his experiences of living a simple lifestyle in the natural world.
The term has taken on new significance in the digital age, especially over the past 12 months. Initially gaining traction on social media platform—particularly on TikTok among Gen Z and Gen Alpha communities— ’brain rot’ is now seeing more widespread use, such as in mainstream journalism, amidst societal concerns about the negative impact of overconsuming online content.
“I find it fascinating that the term ‘brain rot’ has been adopted by Gen Z and Gen Alpha, those communities largely responsible for the use and creation of the digital content the term refers to,” Casper Grathwohl, President of Oxford Languages, said. Dictionary.com had demure as their word of the year. The word went viral after being used in a post by TikToker Jools Lebron. Between January and August, the word saw a 1200 per cent increase in digital web usage.
While it may have been used out of context, it stuck.
a little hard to pin down),” explained Collins. “And though it started life as the title of an album by pop singer Charli XCX, it has clearly captured something of the spirit of the age, one that goes beyond a potentially short-lived but exuberant ‘brat summer’.
Channelling self-acceptance as well as rebelliousness, it’s a fitting word for 2024, a year when hedonism and anxiety have combined to form an intoxicating brew.”
Brainrot is the Collins runner-up, though it’s interesting to note that the Collins dictionary has brain rot as one word while Oxford separates it into two words.
As I write this I’m on Team Oxford, solely because Microsoft Word puts the squiggly red line under brainrot as one word.
Even taking the time to explain that to you will give us both brain rot.
Romantasy also made their list. It continues the popularity of fusion words, as it combines romance and fantasy to create a new genre of books. The romantasy category had always been split between romance and fantasy. But, as Collins explains, “it’s a surprise it’s taken so long to come up with the label… the label’s been around for a little while – but it’s really only recently that it’s started to shift serious units in the publishing world.
Delulu is a made up word that made the Collins shortlist. It describes one’s utterly mistaken or unreasonable expectations. We’re pretty sure we could come up with a hundred or so examples of President Trump being delulu, starting with us becoming his 51st state.
Era is a popular one, as it has been increasingly used to describe a period of time in one’s life. For example, whose kids out there can talk about the pandemic and say they were in their Tik Tok era?
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.
“Though the term demure has traditionally been used to describe those who are reserved, quiet, or modest, a new usage has spread through social media — one used to describe refined and sophisticated appearance or behavior in various contexts, such as at work or on a plane,” explains Dictionary.com. “This increased focus on public appearance and behavior comes at a time when employees are increasingly returning to offices after hybrid remote work following the pandemic.”
Collins Dictionary, meanwhile, went in a different direction with their world of the year.
Inspired by the title of a pop album by British singer-songwriter Charli XCX, “brat” exploded in the mainstream lexicon in 2024.
“Brat is different things to different people; a spiky attitude, a garish aesthetic, even a campaign slogan (the phrase “Kamala IS Brat” proved snappy enough to go politically viral, even as its meaning remained
Rawdogging was another one that gained popularity this year. Rawdogging is the undertaking of undertaking in an activity without preparation, support, or proper equipment.
Looksmaxxing is the attempt to maximize the attractiveness of one’s appearance. I think we are all guilty of that from time to time.
Anti-tourism is a total Gen Z thing that is the opposition to anything to do with largescale tourism.
Supermajority made the Collins shortlist. It’s a government word, and the polls are indicating that Pierre Poilievre will have a supermajority if we have an election soon. If Justin Trudeau doesn’t see his Prime Minister era coming to an end, he is either spending too much time looksmaxxing or he is 100 P delulu.
Yapping, meanwhile, is the act of talking at length about inconsequential matters. I wonder if this column is considered yapping?
Maybe it would be if you read it our loud.
By Ralph Tweedie
At this time of year, we often look back at what we have accomplished. The Kiwanis year starts on October 1st so I thought I would review what we’ve been up to since then.
On Saturday, Oct 5th we held the Annual Key Club Fall Rally. It was attended by 130 very enthusiastic students from 12 clubs in the Ottawa Region. Attendance was free but a donation to the food banks was suggested. More than 200 items were donated.
All Key Clubs work independently but often cooperate on inter club projects as well. The first Key Club interclub project in early October was a Food Bank Drive for local food cupboards.
Brierley’s YIG in Riverside South and the Barrhaven Metro provided the locations and food for the drive. Key Clubbers earned approximately 300 volunteer hours while packing and selling Food Bank grocery bags and collecting cash donations. In total, over $10,000 in groceries and cash were donated to local community food cupboards thanks to their enthusiastic efforts. Manotick Kiwanis donated an additional $3,000 to the Ottawa Food Bank and $2,000 to the Barrhaven Food Cupboard.
At the October 15th board meeting we approved another $10,000 donation to the Kemptville District Hospital Foundation for the new CT scanner. Construction of the facility to house the scanner is in progress. An opening date of early 2025 is anticipated.
On Saturday October 19th we held our annual Fall Clean up of Manotick Streets.
This fall we charted a fifth Key Club at St. Francis Xavier in River-
Kiwanis News
Ralph Tweedie
side South. They held their first very successful meeting on October 21st.
November was a very busy month. On November 1st the Christmas cakes, shortbread cookies and chocolate Truffles were delivered. Sales started officially on November 12th.
The second Key Club Interclub project was the second annual Blanket drive. All 5 clubs took part. They received support from the Manotick Legion, ROSSS, St. James Anglican Church and the Kiwanis Club of Manotick. The program ran from Nov 1st until Dec 8th. The beneficiaries are the homeless and destitute clients of the Salvation Army, The Shepherds of Good Hope and the Ottawa Mission.
1,927 items were donated, approximately 5 times that of last year. Fantastic support from the public made this possible. Manotick Kiwanis once again donated $3,000 to each organization to help over the holidays.
On November 8th the Granny Squares for Warmth group donated a beautifully crocheted poppy blanket to a deserving veteran at the Manotick Legion. This was in appreciation for our donation of $1,000 to supply materials for their great work.
We were represented at the Cenotaph ceremony on November 11th by our co-presidents Debbie Mulvihill and Gary Coulombe.
We celebrated 64 years of service to Manotick on Saturday November 16th. The dinner was held at the Legion followed by dancing to the Retrosonics, a
local group of musicians. They appeared to enjoy us as much as we enjoyed them.
The Christmas trees arrived on November 20th and sales began on Saturday November 23rd. Once again, the Royal Lepage Wright Team gave one of our deluxe Christmas Cakes in a tin to the first 40 clients at the tree lot that morning.
We sponsored the Santa Claus Parade of Lights in cooperation with the Manotick BIA on November 29th. The turnout for the parade was outstanding. Santa was well received by the crowd.
December saw the culmination of several ongoing projects. Christmas Trees were sold out by December 14th, very early this year. Our Cakes sales campaign also sold out that week. Our thanks to the communities of Manotick and the surrounding region for their awesome support.
During the November – December time frame, our partnership with the Staples “Back to School” program resulted in a donation of $3,500 dollars from Staples. We added $3,100 to the pot. This enabled us to procure 20 Chromebooks for needy students. Four Chromebooks were donated to each of the five schools that support our Key Clubs, 1 in Manotick, 1 in Riverside South and 3 in Barrhaven. These will make a huge difference to some very deserving students!
We also volunteer at the Bingoland South Gaming Centre every week for 2 hours. This is our major fundraiser that enables much of our work in the community. Through out the fall we continued our support for the AKtion Club. This is a Kiwanis Club for adults with disabilities. We also sponsor monthly
The Kiwanis Key Club Interclub Blanket Drive ran from Nov 1st until Dec 8th. The beneficiaries are the homeless and destitute clients of the Salvation Army, The Shepherds of Good Hope and the Ottawa Mission.
Bingos at two local senior’s residences.
We are a very active club and are very thankful for the support that
the village has given us for our first 64 years. Your continued support will enable us to continue for the next 64 years.
The Kiwanis Club of Manotick wishes all of you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.
Local literacy non-profit helps residents put food on the table for holidays
People, Words & Change, a local literacy and basic skills tutoring program, provided four Barrhaven residents with grocery gift cards to help them put food on the table over the recent holiday season.
People, Words & Change (PWC) bought the gift cards thanks to Ottawa residents and businesses who donated to the Christmas Cheer Breakfast that took place December 6, 2024. The annual fundraising breakfast organized by the Christmas Cheer Foundation set a record, raising $150,000 to support 30 local charities, including PWC, to provide food assistance to Ottawa residents in need.
Money raised at this year’s sold-out breakfast ensured PWC could buy 54 grocery gift cards for its learners across Ottawa, including 30 for families.
“PWC helps Englishspeaking adults in our
community who need one-on-one support to improve their basic reading, writing, numeracy, or computer skills,” said Dee Sullivan, the charitable organization’s Executive Director. “But we know it’s hard to learn when you’re hungry or worried about putting food on the table for your family.”
The essential skills learners take away from PWC help boost their confidence and unlock doors for them in their professional and personal lives. This is critical, as education and labour force status are both related to the likelihood of being food insecure in Canada, according to a 2023 Statistics Canada study. It suggested food insecurity was three times higher among chronically unemployed people.
“The holidays can be a hard time of year for many in our community, and this support to buy groceries gives our
learners one less thing to worry about this season,” said Margaret MacDonald, President of the PWC Board of Directors.
PWC is an Employment Ontario program that is unique among literacy programs in Ottawa in that it provides free one-on-one tutoring tailored to each learner’s
needs. The non-profit organization’s computer skills program is also unique due to its small class size and the individual attention learners receive, allowing them to learn at their own pace and gain the digital skills they need for success in their steps towards employment.
By Wilson lo Barrhaven east CounCillor
Happy New Year!
I hope you had a restful Christmas holiday season and didn’t think about how we’re a quarter of the way through the 21st century.
It was a joy to have seen so many families at the Walter Baker Sports Centre a few days ago, for Councillor Hill’s and my New Year’s Eve event!
With the start of every year, people get cheesy, look back at last year’s highs and lows, and reflect on lessons learned and what’s to come. So, I’m going to do just that.
2024 was a weird year, starting off too quietly, which then gave way to an unrelentingly busy summer and autumn.
Through issues like the vacant unit tax, leaking garbage trucks, transit funding, and especially the sprung structure, I got to see an engaged community that cares. I also got to see the many different approaches residents have in how they care. I’m grateful for the emails, phone calls, and face-to-face conversations about different topics.
I also learned what it’s like to have pneumonia for three weeks in the middle of budget season.
Earlier this year, I also started door knocking again and reminded myself how much I missed it, so I intend to continue that in the new year.
2025 will be a heavy year. This year Council will consider major citywide items, including governance, the new Zoning By-law, the Transportation Master Plan, and the final decision on Lansdowne, among others.
Locally, the Trillium Line will finally open on January 6. The sortation facility might begin
East Barrhaven Ward Report
construction, while we can expect more development proposals in line with the Official Plan, at the future “downtown” and near Longfields Station.
We’ll also learn more about the Greenbank realignment, which has been fast-tracked, the recreation centre in Riverside South, which is funded, and the future civic centre.
There are also possible provincial and federal elections, just to add to the excitement.
Next year, I will also expand my opportunities to connect and communicate with residents through a town hall setting in person or virtually. I’ve had early discussions about what a town hall evening could look like and will share more as it comes together.
Thank you for your engagement and care throughout 2024, and I look forward to continuing to work with you in 2025 to improve Barrhaven East, and Ottawa!
On a more technocratic note, homeowners can now complete their Vacant Unit Tax declarations for 2025.
The easiest way to complete a declaration is through your Servi-
ceOttawa online account in the property tax box. Staff have simplified the form following feedback from the last two years. Please remember to complete a declaration for each property you own. Homeowners without a ServiceOttawa account may complete their declaration at Ottawa.ca/
VUT (using the roll number and access code on last year’s final property tax bill), or by visiting the client service centre at Ben Franklin, or City Hall. Homeowners may also call 613-580-2444 to complete a declaration by phone.
I’m still opposed to the VUT overall, as it
uses taxation as a punitive tool, but I’ll save my comments for a future column, since I’m quickly reaching my word limit. However, please note there are a few new exemptions starting this year. Details are available at Ottawa.ca/VUT, or by contacting me, at Wilson.Lo@ottawa.ca.
Wilson Lo, Councillor
CLUES ACROSS
1. Bleated
6. Snakelike fish
9. Database management system
13. RussianAmerican violinist 14. Wendy’s founder Thomas
15. Ancient ItalianGreek colony 16. Negatives 17. Rescued 18. Self-immolation by fire ritual
19. Assigns tasks to 21. Island nation native 22. Trade
23. Detergent brand
24. Famed NY Giant
25. Before 28. Split pulses
29. Extremely angry; highly incensed
31. Body part
33. American state
36. David __, US playwright
38. Move one’s head slightly
39. Secret rendezvous
41. Improved 44. A place to exercise
45. 18-year astronomical period
46. Automobile
48. You can take it
49. A radio band 51. Jaws of an animal 52. Short-billed rails
54. Chinese province 56. Shameless and undisguised
60. Horizontal passage into a mine
61. Adult males 62. Fail to entertain 63. Dried-up 64. City in northcentral Utah 65. Southern U.S.
66. German river 67. Oxygen 68. Make law
CLUES DOWN
1. Curved segment 2. Wings 3. From pentane (Chemistry) 4. Gradually gets into
5. Commercial document (abbr.)
6. Overhang
7. Christmas and New Year’s have them
8. Type of bulb
9. Lacking a plan
10. Tattle
11. Rockers like it “heavy”
12. One who’s been canonized 14. Indicate time
and place
17. Nobel Prize winner in physics
20. The voice of Olaf
21. Fragmented rock 23. They __
25. Master of Philosophy
26. Backside
27. Landmark house in L.A.
29. An act of undue intimacy
30. From which a later word is derived
32. Equal to 10 meters
34. Neither
35. Computer language
37. Sacred book of Judaism
40. A woolen cap of Scottish origin
42. A way to dedicate 43. Challenges
47. British Air Aces
49. Large, influential bank
50. Portended
52. Cavalry-sword
53. Vaccine developer
55. Napoleonic Wars general
56. Italian Seaport
57. Hip joint
58. __ Clapton, musician
59. Insect repellent
61. Decorative scarf
65. Delaware
2024 Stories of the year: Barrhaven’s Clarke brothers called up to NHL on same day
It was a special day for the Clarke family of Barrhaven on Jan. 3, 2024
In a rarity that may have been a first in NHL history, two brothers were called up to the NHL from their AHL affiliates by different teams on the same day.
The New Jersey Devils called up Graeme Clarke from the Utica Comets for his first NHL game on January 6. Not long afterward, the Los Angeles Kings recalled Graeme’s younger brother, Brandt, from their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign.
“That was cool – a real coincidence,” said Graeme Clarke following his first NHL game. “It probably wasn’t planned that way but it just happened to happen. I’m really happy for him.”
For Brandt Clarke, it was his first NHL stint of the season, but he had opened the 2022-23 campaign with the Kings before winning gold for Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships.
His older brother, Graeme, is a highly-skilled 22-yearold forward who has put up big offensive numbers for years at various levels on his path to the NHL.
Clarke’s parents learned of Graeme’s call-up by the Devils and immediately flew to Newark for the game between the Devils and the Chicago Blackhawks. The excitement was put on hold temporarily, as Clarke was scratched from the line-up after a player who had been ill was unexpectedly ready to play.
The team, as well as Clarke’s parents, got ready for another game the following night as the Devils were hosting the Vancouver Canucks. Graeme Clarke finally got to play in his first NHL game, with his parents in attendance at the Prudential Center. The Devils lost the game 6-4.
“Not the result we wanted, but a really cool experience for me,” Clarke said to the media in the post-game scrum after the game. “I had my parents
here today. That was really special because of how much they’ve helped me get here. I wanted to play well for them.”
While Graeme got his game in the NHL with the
Devils, Brandt got to play in a game for the Kings. He suited up for the Kings against the Washington Capitals Jan. 7. He logged 15:43 of ice time and
In 2022-23, Brandt Clarke played nine games with the Kings before joining Team Canada and winning a gold medal at the World Junior Hockey Tournament. He returned to the OHL after the World Juniors and went on an historic run for a defenceman. In 31 games with the Barrie Colts, Clarke had 23 goals and 38 assists for 61 points.
2024 Stories of the Year: Calgary Flames select Barrhaven’s Henry Mews in 2024 NHL Draft
Henry Mews had a local entourage with him in Las Vegas as he waited for his name to be called at the NHL Draft Sat., June 29.
In the third round, the Barrhaven native finally heard his name called and received congratulations from his parents, his three younger brothers, his agent, and his trainer, Tony Greco.
“It’s a special group to me,” Mews said. “They’re all really excited and happy for me and I wouldn’t be here without them. It’s their moment just as much as mine.”
Mews is an offensiveminded defenceman cut from the same cloth as the last Barrhaven native drafted, Brandt Clarke in 2021. He played his minor hockey in the Nepean Raiders program before jumping to the Myers AAA program. He left
Barrhaven to play for the Toronto Jr. Canadians in the GTA, where he was moved from forward to defence. He has spent the last two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Ottawa 67s.
“It’s unbelievable to be drafted into the NHL,” Mews told the media after being drafted Saturday. “It’s a dream come true. It doesn’t matter what team selected me but Calgary – I’ve been there once before – is a great city I watch a lot of their games. They’ve got a great fan base.”
With the 67s during the 2023-24 season, he was second on the team in scoring despite being a blueliner. He scored 15 goals and had 46 assists for 61 points in 68 games.
Being an offensiveminded defenceman makes sense for a player who grew up going
to games at Canadian Tire Centre and watching Erik Karlsson in his prime with the Ottawa Senators.
“I started off as a forward and then started playing so I’ve just been continuing to develop in my position and continue how to play the game the right way. The coaches have been great. (Ottawa 67s head coach) Dave (Cameron) actually coached in Calgary, and he knows what it takes to make the NHL. He’s taught me a lot.”
Mews is hoping to improve defensively in the upcoming season to become a more complete player.
Mews was also happy to go to Calgary, saying that it is a good situation for him.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Mews said. “They’re rebuilding and they’re giving their
young guys an opportunity to play and develop.
I’m, really excited for
the opportunity and it’s going to be great for my development. I’ve got a
lot of room to grow as a player so it’s a perfect opportunity for me.”
Henry Mews talks to the media after being drafted by the Calgary Flames Sat., June 29.
Graeme and Brandt Clarke pose for a photo with Ottawa-based agent Randy Robitaille of Edge Sports. (X p HOtO
2024 Stories of the Year: The long wait is over as Salvation Army Church opens in Barrhaven
All good things are worth waiting for.
That cliché could not be more relevant for the Barrhaven Salvation Army Church, which held its opening celebrations Sat., April 13.
Commissioner Lee Graves, who with his wife Debbie serves as the territorial leader of the Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda, recalled how the church left its old location in the city on Woodroffe Avenue in 2007 with the plans of eventually moving to a new church in Barrhaven.
“I wonder if you would have had the courage to step out, as you did then, if you knew the timeline,” Graves said, drawing laughter from those in attendance.
One of the original delays of getting the building on the edge of the South Nepean Park at 102 Bill Leathem Drive built was
the recommendation from Ottawa city staff to reject the plans for the church and community centre.
Staff had recommended not allowing the building of the church and a community centre as it falls within the Airport Operating Influence Zone.
Council voted 9-1 to give the green light to the church and community centre. Ottawa International Airport Authority said that there is too much noise for the facility. The church and community centre would be two-and-a-half kilometres from the airport’s busiest runway.
The Airport Operating Influence Zone restricts noise-sensitive development, but the zoning rule excludes schools, places of worship, daycares and retirement residences.
“I think for me, the words ‘Are we there yet?’ come to mind,” said Graves to
smileds and more laughter of the gathering. “And we watched. And we watched. And we watched. And we waited. And we waited. And we waited. In fact, we went out of the country for five years, and we came home to be surprised that we were still waiting… But this does truly represent a significant milestone.”
Barrhaven East Councillor Wilson Lo brought greetings from the City of Ottawa.
“The community spaces that are here now, and what’s to come in the future, are going to be really valuable as a hub and a gathering space for residents both in Barrhaven and across the City of Ottawa,” Lo said.
“I just hope there are no residents in Barrhaven actually named Sally Ann,” Lo said, drawing more laughs, “but I really want to congratulate the Salvation Army Barrhaven Church for getting to where you are today. I am proud to welcome you as a new neighbour and friend to the community.”
Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod also played on the delays in getting the church built.
“I just marked my 18th anniversary as the MPP and it seems I’m the only person older than the designs of this building,” MacLeod said.
MacLeod praised the work of former Barrhaven Councillor Jan Harder for her work on the Salvation Church project and helping to make it become a reality.
MacLeod also praised the Salvation Army in Barrhaven for their assistance in helping feed residents after the Sept. 2018 tornado
ripped through Barrhaven and left the community without power for three days.
“The community did that,” she said. “Jan (Harder), Darrell (Bartraw) and myself together did that. But we couldn’t have done it without the support of the community and a big part of that was this local congregation. So I want to say thank you to the many who participated. When we think of the Salvation Army, that’s what we think of.”
MacLeod also followed suit to draw some laughs about the church’s timeline, saying that she is glad to be here for the opening of Phase 1 of the church and she can’t wait for Phase 2 “in about 20… I’m not even going to say it because I will probably still be your MPP.”
Nepean MP Chandra Arya brought greetings from the federal government.
“This is what happens when you stand firm and do
the right thing,” Arya said, praising the church’s leaders for persevering through the delays. “We have the best country in the world because of our society. And our society is good because of organizations like the Salvation Army.”
The Salvation Army will be hosting a free concert Sat., May 4 at 7 p.m. featuring the Canadian Staff Songsters of the Salvation Army for an evening of music and worship. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Local dignitaries cut the ribbon to officially open the new Salvation Army Church at 102 Bill Leathem Drive near the South Nepean Business Park.
2024 Stories of the Year: Ford removes Ghamari from PC caucus, MPP will sit as an independent
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has removed Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari from the Progressive Conservative Caucus.
The announcement was made after the Premier’s office received thousands of emails in a campaign from various Muslim groups, including the National Council of Canadian Muslims. The NCCM sent out a statement thanking Premier Ford, and to its membership for sending thousands of emails calling for Ghamari’s removal.
Ghamari accepted a virtual meeting with Tommy Robinson, a British right wing activist accused of spreading Islamaphobia.
Various groups have been calling for Ghamari’s removal from caucus since the local MPP began speaking out against the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini in Iran at the hands of the Islamic revolutionary Guard Corps for wearing her hijab incorrectly.
Ghamari issued an apology the next day saying she did not know who Robinson was when she agreed to speak with him.
For the rest of the polit-
ical term, Ghamari will sit as an independent MPP in the Legislature. Her constituency office, which is non-political, will remain open and continue to serve residents of Carleton, which includes Riverside South.
In another post on X, Ghamari was critical of the double standard of how Robinson was arrested in Canada, but IRGC and Hamas supporter Firas Al Najim “constantly breaches his bail obligations to dress up in Islamic Regime clothes and threaten politicians like me with zero consequences.”
In November 2023, Al Najim travelled from Toronto to Ghamari’s office in Richmond wanting to see the MPP. She was not in the office, but later in the day he made a video that was posted on Tik Tok calling Ghamari a “racist”, a “crook”, and a “prostitute.” He also accused her of having “mental health issues.”
In September, 2022, the Toronto Star ran a story accusing Al Najim, the head of a pro-Iranian regime and anti-Israeli organization called Canadian Defenders for Human Rights, dress-
ing as an orthodox Jew to get into an event held by the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto to harass an elderly woman who was a holocaust survivor.
A month later, Al Najim was charged for dangerous driving after driving at a high rate of speed toward a crowd that was protesting the IRGC regime. According to a police press release, “the accused stopped the vehicle abruptly, squealing the tires while yelling at the protestors.”
Al Najim was released after spending one night in jail.
The timing of Ford’s announcement came at a time when Ghamari had perhaps her best month serving the Carleton riding.
She had just announced five major school projects, which is unprecedented for the Carleton riding. She fought for and got funding for a French high school in Riverside South, an elementary school in Findlay Creek, a high school and elementary school in Stittsville, and a major elementary school expansion in Richmond.
2024 Stories of the Year: Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeood announces she won’t seek re-election
By Charlie SenaCk
In a sudden move on Sept. 13, Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod announced she would not seek re-election when provincial voters head back to the polls.
“I started as the youngest person in two Parliaments and I’m leaving as the longest-serving woman in this term,” MacLeod said in a video posted to social media. “It’s been an honour to serve you at Queen’s Park and in our community as a local representative, opposition critic, and cabinet minister.”
The Nova Scotia native served the riding of Nepean for 19 years, which also included Carleton up until 2018 when it became its own electoral riding.
MacLeod said the decision came after a “summer of reflection” with family
and friends. In April, the former Ontario cabinet minister said she wasn’t “going anywhere” during an event with Ontario Premier Doug Ford at Fallowfield United Church.
Before that, she joked at the grand opening of the Barrhaven Salvation Army Church that she would still be the MPP for Nepean in 20 years.
In her two-and-a-halfminute video, MacLeod referenced a number of her accomplishments including funding for the Strandherd Armstrong Bridge (now known as the Vimy Memorial Bridge), the Barnsdale interchange, and the future Barrhaven Downtown Centre.
MacLeod served in cabinet, first as the minister responsible for children, community, and social services, and minister responsible for woman’s issues.
The five portfolios also covered immigration and anti-racism.
But her time in those positions came with much controversy. The Ontario Association for Behavioral Analysts said they received a threatening voicemail from the Nepean representative’s office, and there were countless protests outside MacLeod’s then Fallowfield Road office when there were cuts to the autism funding program.
That led to a cabinet shuffle in 2019 where MacLeod was named as the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. That was a position she held through the COVID-19 pandemic, when many investments were made in the event and film industries.
That same year, MacLeod came under fire after allegedly calling former Ottawa Senators owner
Eugene Melnyk a number of profanities. Melnyk complained to Premier, and MacLeod apologized for using “blunt language.” The apology was not accepted.
When MacLeod ran again during the 2022 election, the NDP revealed the Nepean PC riding association had paid her $44,000 as a housing subsidy. That was in addition to the $26,000 housing allowance MPP’s receive. The news led to a scaled back campaign, but the incumbent MacLeod still won with 17,123 votes — about 39 per cent of all ballots cast. That was about five per cent more than Liberal candidate Tyler Watt, her shortest margin to victory.
Immediately after the election, MacLeod took some time off to address her mental health. At the time, she was also not
given a cabinet position.
MacLeod has been vocal about her mental health struggles, addressing her 2014 depression diagnosis when she took the plaques off her office walls and felt like quitting. What followed were other diagnoses of bipolar disorder and a metabolic condition, which she’s been open about at summits and in her weekly podcast.
Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod was on stage at the Barrhaven Canada Day celebration in 2024.
Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari enjoys a Canada Day moment with her dog, Baxter.
2024 Stories of the Year: Barrhaven wins its fight to have spring structure asylums built elsewhere
By Charlie SenaCk
Barrhaven has won its fight to not have a sprung structure built in its growing suburban community, but the fight for transparency continues.
When it was announced this summer that Highbury Park was being considered as a site for the tent-like facility to house about 150 newcomers to Canada, residents were quick to share their outrage. A growing petition with over 7,000 signatures was started and two demonstrations were held on the land off Greenbank Rd. A few months later, a second location on an empty parcel of land near the Nepean Woods Park and Ride was identified as a possibility.
Barrhaven Councillors David Hill and Wilson Lo, who have both been opposed to sprung structures,
were set to hold a community meeting Nov. 7. But just an hour before it began, city staff released the two sites chosen and the testing requirements involved.
The first site will be built on the football field of the former Confederation High School next to the Nepean Sportsplex. It was chosen due to its close proximity to the transitway and the recreation center. The second, which would only be constructed if required, would be located on Heart Way which is part of the Eagleson Park and Ride in Kanata. It was chosen due to its proximity to future Stage 2 light rail and amenities such as a grocery store, which is a 15 to 20 minute walk away.
Barrhaven’s Highbury Park location was not chosen due to future development. A maintenance facility for future Stage 3
light rail was expected to be built there, though plans are expected to be shelved indefinitely due to low ridership and its steep price tag.
The Queensway Carleton Hospital has also expressed interest in building an urgent care clinic there.
The facilities, which would house about 150 asylum seekers each, need to be built to house the newcomers who are currently staying in community centres which have been converted, or various homeless shelters. The Ottawa mission
has said about 60 per cent of their clients are asylum seekers. Despite this, all said he still believes there are better alternatives to sprung structures. It didn’t take long for the communities of Kanata and Nepean to rally together to try and stop sprung structures from being built in their own backyard. A petition has already garnered over 9,000 signatures. Half a dozen demonstrations have been held, including one outside the Nepean Sportsplex on Nov. 10.
2024 Stories of the Year: OSU wins gold on national and international soccer stages
The summer of 2024 has been one of the best ever for Ottawa South United regarding successes in competitions.
The local based youth soccer club won both a national and a global championship to add to the already epic trophy case in
their new facility at George Nelms Park on Mitch Owens Road.
Earlier this year, an OSU girls team comprised of Danica Menard, Ava Blinn, Cindy Yang , Felicia Hanisch, Mia Ugarte, Naomi Lofthouse and Coach David Fox travelled to
London, England to represent Canada at the Gatorade 5v5 Global tournament.
The OSU team was one of two teams from Ontario invited to the event
The OSU team defeated Colombia 4-0 and Brazil 1-0, and then beat Colombia again in the gold medal
game by a score of 3-2.
In addition to the victory, the team was also invited to attend the 2024 EUFA Champions League final at Wembley Stadium.
The OSU U15 boys added to the club’s successes last week as they travelled to Edmonton and
won the Canadian Player Development Program (PDP) championship tournament.
OSU opened the tournament up with a 5-0 win over the Calgary Villains, and cruised to the finals where they blanked AS Blainville 2-0.
The previous week, the OSU U15 girls won the Ontario PDP championship.
Earlier in the summer, the OSU Girls Force Academy U16 team brought home a bronze medal from the Ontario Summer Games.
2024 Stories of the Year: Great turnout at BIA’s 2024 Barrhaven Harvest Fest event
A huge crowd turned out despite the almost winter-like conditions at the Nepean Woods Park and Ride Sun., Sept. 8 for the Barrhaven BIA’s 2024 Barrhaven Harvest Fest.
In addition to the regular Barrhaven Farmer’s Market vendors with fresh local produce, there were many artisans and vendors on site with crafts, food, gifts and more. There were more than 60 vendors from Barrhaven and the Ottawa west end.
The event was in support of Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
In addition, there was a
bouncy castle, face painting and games for the kids. Barrhaven Councillors
Wilson Lo and David Hill were on hand with BIA Chair Jason MacDonald.
They were able to discuss local issues with many local residents.
Wilson Lo, Jason MacDonald and David Hill met many members of the community during the Barrhaven BIA Harvest Fest.
The OSU girls travelled to London, England and won the Gatorade 5v5 Global Tournament.
Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod told the crowd at a Nov. 10 protest outside the Nepean Sportsplex that the city should stick to transit and garbage collection.
2024 Stories of the year: Ottawa’s worst mass killing spree leaves six Barrhaven residents dead
A layer of innocence in our community has been peeled away by one of the most horrific mass killings in Canadian history.
A typically quiet Barrhaven street was the scene of Ottawa’s worst mass killing in recent history. On March 7, the bodies of six Sri Lankan newcomers to Canada were pulled out of a home on Berrigan Drive.
Ottawa Police received two calls shortly before 11:00 p.m. on March 6 reporting a “suspicious incident”. Neighbors reported a man could be heard yelling for help outside. Upon arrival, the lifeless bodies of four children and two adults were discovered inside the home by horrified members of the Ottawa Police Service.
Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake, age 35, was killed alongside her four children: Inuka Wickramasinghe, 7, Ashwini Wickramasinghe, 4, Rinyana Wickramasinghe, 2, and Kelly Wickramasinghe, who was only two months old.
An acquaintance to the family, Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon, 40, was
also found dead. He was living in the home, said police. Husband and father Dhanushka Wickramasinghe survived the attack and is listed in serious but stable condition.
The sinister act was allegedly carried out by 19-year-old Ferbio DeZoysa, a Sri Lankan for-
eign exchange student who was staying with the family. He was arrested on scene without altercation and has been charged with six counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs said the in-
cident has left the community in shock and sadness. Investigators don’t believe the homicide involved intimate partner violence.
“This was the largest murder in Ottawa’s history in recent memory,” he said. “This was a senseless act of violence perpetrated on innocent people.”
On Thursday morning, police held up white tarps as the six bodies were carried out of the home. Police tape blocked off an alleyway connecting the backyards, and blood could be seen on the sidewalk and door of the neighbouring residence.
The Ottawa Catholic School Board said two of the victims attended Junior Kindergarten and grade 2 at nearby Monsignor Paul Baxter School. Principal Vincenza Nicoletti said due to the sensitivity of the topic and lack of details, students would not be given much information at this time.
Soon after news of the
community gathered for a vigil to honor the lives lost. Over 100 people, many of them children, placed flowers, stuffed animals and a raddle on a picnic table with a message reading “our hearts are shattered.”
In an interview with the Canadian Press, Bhante Suneetha said he visited with the surviving father in hospital Thursday afternoon, just hours after the incident occurred.
Ottawa Police have charged 19-year-old Febrio De-Zoysa, for the alleged murders.
The local monk said De-Zoysa moved into the family’s basement a month or two ago. All seemed normal and they threw a birthday party for the Sri Lankan native just days before the killing spree. Balloons were seen in the Berrigan Drive home’s backyard as police searched the property.
brutal killings started to circulate, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe wrote on the platform X, formally known as Twitter, that he was devastated and shocked to learn about one of “the most shocking incidents of violence in our city’s history.”
Speaking at a police press conference, Sutcliffe reiterated there is no further threat to public safety.
“It’s particularly troubling for me as a parent to hear of the loss of four children at very young ages. It’s very difficult to think about; very difficult to process,” he said. “When I say that Barrhaven is a wonderful and rapidly growing community full of warm and welcoming families and neighbors, it’s hard to believe something like this could happen there or anywhere else in our city.”
At 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, less than 24 hours after the killings, an echo of silence spread though Palmadeo Park as the
Algonquin College has confirmed that De-Zoysa was an international student in one of their programs.
The family moved to Canada from Sri Lanka for a better, more prosperous life during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Febrio De-Zoysa, a foreign student from Sri Lanka who came to Ottawa to go to Algonquin College, was arrested by Ottawa Police after six people, including four small children, were found dead.
Five members of the Wickramasinghe family on Berrigan Drive in Barrhaven were stabbed to death on the night of March 6 in one of the worst tragedies in local history.
Berrigan Street residents woke up to a murder scene on their street on the morning of March 7.