Barrhaven Independent January 20, 2023

Firefighters save further damage in Caivan construction site blaze

Quick and effective response by Ottawa firefighters prevented a fire at the Caivan subdivision in the southern part of Barrhaven from becoming much worse.

The blaze started Thurs., Jan. 5 just before 9 a.m. when a home under construction in the Caivan development caught fire on Epoch Street off Elevation Road. The Caivan site is located north of Barnsdale Road east of Borrisokane.

“Responding crews had to deal with extremely icy conditions on the residential roads in the development which also caused a hazard for firefighters while walking around on scene,” said an Ottawa Fire Service press release.

The fire spread to two other townhomes under construction. Crews from Ottawa Fire Services had

to cool two propane tanks on the scene as their relief valves had let go.

Ottawa Fire Service gave a full explanation of the situation on their Instagram page.

“When homes under construction catch fire, the radiant heat released can be intense and spread very quickly. Homes to the right, left and rear of the initial houses on fire all began to burn from the intense radiant heat. In the front yard of the four homes under construction that were initially on fire, there were three 400lb propane tanks used in the construction process. Two of these 400lb tanks were exposed to such high temperatures and flames that their internal safety mechanism was triggered. This system allows an emergency release of the propane from within the tanks when

the internal pressure become too high. This safety mechanism prevented the tanks from exploding prior to, or just as firefighters arrived. However now there was an uncontrollable release of pressurized propane, and it was on fire. This fire could eventually cause the tanks to fail.

“While the internal safety mechanism did its job initially, the threat of a BLEVE still exists. To firefighters a BLEVE is short for (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion). The result is a very large explosion, fire ball and flying metal.

“As soon as firefighters could knock down the flames from the houses on fire and get close enough to the propane tanks, they used multiple hose lines from multiple directions to cool the tanks. During this

controlled cooling tactic, firefighters allowed the escaping pressurized propane to burn off while cooling the tank body to maintain its integrity and preventing a BLEVE. The resulting controlled tactic took approxi-

mately 2 hours to allow all the remaining propane to burn off safely. The tanks had just been filled the previous day and were reported as 80% full.”

The fire was under control by 10:15 a.m. Officials

said about five homes were affected by the fire and 15 more homes were saved by the quick emergency response.

No one was injured in the blaze, and the cause is under investigation.

SPECIAL EVENT FOR BARRHAVEN SENIORS

A fire destroyed multiple townhomes at the Caivan construction site Thurs., Jan. 5. Twi T T e r phoTo/oTTAwA Fire Servi C e

Pierre-Savard, CECCE schools collect 32,500 items in Christmas Food Drive

Students and staff at PierreSavard High School in Barrhaven collected 4,300 items for the Ottawa Snowsuit fund and the Barrhaven Food Cupboard.

A New Year, a Better You

The campaign was part of the 2022 Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) Christmas Food Drive. Ottawa’s French Catholic school board collected more than 32,500 food items, hygenic products, toys, clothing and gift cards during the drive.

“This year I am especially proud of everyone’s involvement in this beautiful collective project that helps one’s fellow man. It is reassuring and touching to see that the magic of Christmas is still working,” said Marc Bertrand, the CECCE Director of Education in a press release.

Several local schools in Barrhaven, Nepean and Riverside South took part in the annual drive.

Bernard-Grandmaître Catholic Elementary School collected 1,000 items for the Ottawa Foodbank.

Franco-Ouest High School collected 400 items and also had more than $2,000 in gift cards that were donated to 13 families from the FrancoOuest community.

George-Étienne-Cartier Catholic Elementary School collected 650 items and $1,460 in gift vsards that were donated to families in the community.

Jonathan-Pitre Catholic School in Riverside South collected 1,800 items along with 800 baby items that were donated to Coopérative AmiJeunesse.

Lamoureux Catholic Elementary School donated 785 items to Coopérative AmiJeunesse.

Laurier-Carrière Catholic Elementary School donated 500 items to Coopérative Ami-Jeunesse.

Marius-Barbeau Catholic Elementary School collected 450 items and gift cards from Walmart and Food Basics for the Salvation Army and families in the community.

A new year has begun! This will find many of us pledging to improve in some way. According to leading wellness professionals and happiness experts, improving bonds with other people is essential to a happy life, so any resolution that strengthens relationships is sure to make you happier. Key in keeping you connected to your loved ones is your ability to hear. Unfortunately, one in ten of us have hearing loss. If unaddressed, even the slightest hearing loss has significant consequences. Your relationships suffer as loved ones become mumblers, punchlines are missed and asking to repeat becomes a nuisance. Indeed, untreated or improperly treated hearing loss has a pronounced negative impact on your quality of life and overall happiness. Be resolved to address this and improve your relationships this year!

Sainte-Bernadette Catholic Elementary School gathered

Here are a few do’s & don’ts to help you reach your goal of improving your relationships through better hearing.

again takes time. Your brain cannot relearn to

pecially in those first weeks when your voice sounds awfully strange and the noises seem so intrusive. This is normal. The dust will settle…but only if you wear your new devices

product line despite their unique set of hearing needs and wants. A limitation to one or a few product lines may mean you will unknowingly settle for a product sub-optimal for you.

10,000 kids’ clothing items for Coopérative Ami-Jeunesse.

Sainte-Geneviève Catholic Elementary School collected

800 gift cards for community families and Coopérative Ami-Jeunesse.

Sainte-Kateri Catholic Ele-

mance can greatly vary from one product to another. Have your Audiologist explain to you what you are, and aren’t, getting. Understand how your selected technology will treat the environment. The more you understand how your product will react to the environment, the better you can work with it, giving you greater success and satisfaction. Make sure the trial time and service plan is generous because achieving this can take time for some.

mentary School rounded up 1,350 items and gift cards for the Barrhaven Food Bank and Coopérative Ami-Jeunesse.

With 26,000 students in 59 schools, The CECCE is the largest French school board outside of Quebec.

A New Year, a Better You

A new year has begun! This will find many of us pledging to improve in some way. According to leading wellness professionals and happiness experts, improving bonds with other people is essential to a happy life, so any resolution that strengthens relationships is sure to make you happier. Key in keeping you connected to your loved ones is your ability to hear. Unfortunately, one in ten of us have hearing loss. If unaddressed, even the slightest hearing loss has significant consequences. Your relationships suffer as loved ones become mumblers, punchlines are missed and asking to repeat becomes a nuisance. Indeed, untreated or improperly treated hearing loss has a pronounced negative impact on your quality of life and overall happiness. Be resolved to address this and improve your relationships this year!

do Consult an Audiologist. Much like you would consult a Dentist for a sore tooth or an Optometrist for blurred vision, the Audiologist is the Healthcare professional to consult when hearing concerns arise. Audiologists have a Masters or Doctorate level of education and are regulated by the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario. Consequently, they are quality assured and accountable. They are the most qualified to assess your hearing abilities and discuss what the next step should be, whether that is treatment through medical intervention or rehabilitation

Here are a few do’s & don’ts to help you reach your goal of improving your relationships through better hearing.

do Consult an Audiologist. Much like you would consult a Dentist for a sore tooth or an Optometrist for blurred vision, the Audiologist is the Healthcare professional to consult when hearing concerns arise. Audiologists have a Masters or Doctorate level of education and are regulated by the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario. Consequently, they are quality assured and accountable. They are the most qualified to assess your hearing abilities and discuss what the next step should be, whether that is treatment through medical intervention or rehabilitation through the use of hearing devices. A physician’s referral is not required to be assessed by an Audiologist.

don’t Limit your potential of success. Because hearing is highly individualized, the hearing device that works for one, will not necessarily work for another. With nearly a dozen Manufactures offering different products, you deserve the one amongst them that

do Make sure your initial assessment is thorough. Get confirmation that your ear canals are free of earwax. Look for an Audiologist that will assess the physical functioning of your eardrum as well as your ability to hear sounds and words in quiet, but also in noise. Look to have a comparison between your abilities with one ear versus two. Have your sensitivity to loudness assessed. It is crucial that the initial assessment be very detailed because that assessment is the foundation for everything else thereafter. Such an assessment will generally require a 1.5 hour consult. Beware of complimentary assessments as they can lead to less thoroughness and more biased outcome reviews.

suits you best. To achieve this, look for an independent clinic with no product limitations. Many locations today are either manufacturer owned or carry a limited number of manufacturers, so all patients are prescribed the same product line despite their unique set of hearing needs and wants. A limitation to one or a few product lines may mean you will unknowingly settle for a product sub-optimal for you.

assessment will generally require a 1.5 hour consult. Beware of complimentary assessments as they can lead to less thoroughness and more biased outcome reviews.

Relationships are important and hearing your loved ones properly is essential to those bonds. Though finding the right solution is not a simple process, dealing with the most qualified health care professional, in the most independent setting and getting a customized solution will maximize your success in keeping to your New Year Resolution this year.

sure the trial time and service plan is generous becauseachieving this can take time for some.

Relationships are important and hearing your loved ones properly is essential to those bonds. Though finding the right solution is not a simple process, dealing with the most qualified health care professional, in the most independent setting and getting a customized solution will maximize your success in keeping to your New Year Resolution this year.

do Make sure your initial assessment is thorough. Get confirmation that your ear canals are free of earwax. Look for an Audiologist that will assess the physical functioning of your eardrum as well as your ability to hear sounds and words in quiet, but also in noise. Look to have a comparison between your abilities with one ear versus two. Have your sensitivity to loudness assessed. It is crucial that the initial assessment be very detailed because that assessment is the foundation for everything else thereafter. Such an

don’t Get discouraged. Learning to hear again takes time. Your brain cannot relearn to hear overnight. Be patient and persistent, especially in those first weeks when your voice sounds awfully strange and the noises seem so intrusive. This is normal. The dust will settle…but only if you wear your new devices consistently.

Amongst the leading independent clinics is Hearing Freedom, Manotick’s locally owned, grown and operated hearing clinic. Their grass-roots approach encompasses all of the above recommendations. At Hearing Freedom you can be certain you have chosen the best place to trust with your hearing needs.

don’t Get discouraged. Learning to hear

do Understand your device. The performance can greatly vary from one product to another. Have your Audiologist explain to you what you are, and aren’t, getting. Understand how your selected technology will treat the environment. The more you understand how your product will react to the environment, the better you can work with it, giving you greater success and satisfaction. Make

Amongst the leading independent clinics is Hearing Freedom, Manotick’s locally owned, grown and operated hearing clinic. Their grass-roots approach encompasses all of the above recommendations. At Hearing Freedom you can be certain you have chosen the best place to trust with your hearing needs.

With these guidelines and Hearing Freedom’s support, success is on your horizon! This can be the year you keep your resolution!

With these guidelines and Hearing Freedom’s support, success is on your horizon! This can be the year you keep your resolution!

Students and staff at Pierre-Savard High School in Barrhaven collected 4,300 items for the Ottawa Snowsuit fund and the Barrhaven Food Cupboard.

Police looking for thieves who stole gifts for needy children, families

By Barrhaven Independent Staff

Not even the Grinch would do something like this.

While Christmas is meant to bring joy to the lives of children, one or more thieves in Barrhaven have left some needy children with no Christmas at all.

A load of toys, gifts and grocery gift cards were earmarked to be delivered from the Haven in Barrhaven to Blake House in Vanier. When Adrian Benjamin, the Manager, Community Engagement and Volunteers of Multifaith Housing Initiative arrived at Blake House and opened up the back of his vehicle, he was shocked to find nothing but empty boxes.

“I was stunned,” he said. “We wrapped the toys and gifts the previous night at the Haven in Barrhaven and loaded them up so that we could get going early the next morning. Who would steal toys that were wrapped and labelled and ready to give to five year olds? What kind of person would do that? These toys may have been the only presents these children would receive at Christmas.”

The Multifaith Housing Initiative is a coalition of over 70 faith communities including Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindu, Unitarians, Baha’i and other faiths from across the city of Ottawa. These members are dedicated to achieving MHI’s goal to create more affordable housing in Ottawa while

promoting tolerance and respect among residents of all faiths.

Currently, MHI owns a total of 179 units, housing between 300 and 400 people, at five different property sites: Blake House, The Haven, Kent House, Somerset Gardens, and Veterans’ House: the Andy Carswell Building.

Benjamin said that the Christmas items were delivered to the other buildings before Christmas. However, because of the storm and bad weather, the Christmas items for Blake House were delayed.

The toys that were distributed were from the various Toy Mountain drop-off centres in Barrhaven and throughout the city. Toys were also collected at the Toy Mountain Parade in Riverside South in late November.

Tenants were also to receive Food Basics gift cards. MacKay United Church of Rockcilffe and Barrhaven United Church also made donations.

Benjamin said he could not put a dollar figure on the value of the items stolen.

Each Gift Was Special

“The toys were all very nicely wrapped at the Haven and sorted out by each child’s gender and age,” Benjamin said. “We wanted every gift to be special.”

Between the time he got home on the night of Thurs., Dec. 29 and when they left for Blake House the morning of Fri., Dec. 30, his vehicle was broken into.

Benjamin said something seemed strange when he got into his vehicle.

“I had mints in my car, and someone had eaten the mints and left the wrapper on the seat,” he said. “Neither my wife or I would ever do that. We wondered if the kids had done it. But it wasn’t until we got to Blake House that we saw that everything was gone.”

Benjamin said his initial reaction was to worry about what to tell the children.

“They were excited and they were expecting me,” he said. “I wanted to leave before they saw me so that they wouldn’t be confused or upset. When I got back to Barrhaven I let our Executive Director know, and then we had to let them know at Blake House that everything was stolen. Here were 26 families that would have no gift cards and no toys.”

The Ottawa Police were contacted and are investigating the theft. Benjamin is happy about how seriously the police are taking the matter, especially since the police were actively involved in the Toy Mountain project and donated many of the toys.

Donations Being Accepted

A campaign has been started for people to donate to give Christmas back to the children and families who live in Blake House.

To make a donation, please visit https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/multifaith-housing-initiative/

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When Adrian Benjamin arrived at Blake House after loading up his vehicle with Christmas toys and gift cards, he was shocked to see nothing but empty boxes when he got to his destination.

(Su B m itted p H oto/Adri A n Benj A m in)

Rideau Carleton Raceway wraps up 60th season of harness racing

Another successful season of harness racing has wrapped up at Rideau Carleton Raceway (RCR) located at Rideau Carleton Casino, Future Hard Rock Ottawa (RCC). And what a season it was!

Rideau Carleton Raceway Racing Manager Peter Andrusek discussed: “Coming out of the COVID-19 lockdown in January, there was much uncertainty at the beginning of our 2022 season; however, through the dedication of our ownership, horse people and race team our 60th season delivered well above our expectations. From compelling racing, record daily wagering to the significant investments made in our track lighting, TV production, and our infield; I believe that while the industry continues to face many challenges, Rideau Carleton Raceway is managing itself in a relevant manner ensuring horse racing maintains a viable component of the future Hard Rock and within our community.”

The Rideau Carleton Raceway officially opened on September 1st, 1962, making this its 60th year of operation. Earlier this year, the raceway celebrated the milestone with a fireworks display, and a special invitation-only event inside the casino with over 200 guests gathering to share stories and pay tribute to those who contributed to the success of the raceway over the years.

Rideau Carleton Casino, Future Hard Rock General Manager Helen MacMillan discussed the thrilling season of harness racing, as well as the 60th celebrations: “There’s no better way to celebrate 60 years of Rideau Carleton Raceway than to host some of the best harness racing this raceway has ever seen.

We had tremendous turnouts all season long from our fantastic customers and we were so happy to bring everyone together to celebrate six decades of racing. This was an extremely special year and I’m already looking forward

to the next season.”

Memorable highlights from the harness racing season:

● The racing season kicked off on February 13th as the City of Ottawa came out of lockdown and wrapped up on December 18th. Races took place every Thursday and Sunday.

● On May 12th, Sauble Delightful, an aged pacer, broke the track record with Guy Gagnon behind the reins. The previous track record was set by Lit De Rose on August 23, 2020.

● Gagnon is a Quebec native but considers RCR his home track. He has been quite successful on the Ottawa dirt over the years and was the raceway’s top driver this season. Currently, Gagnon has the highest driving percentage in all of North America with an over .440 record.

● Guelph’s James MacDonald won all five Ontario Sires Stakes $100K races this season, on his way to being named OSS’s Keith Waples

Driver of the Year Award.

● Wagering increased 25% this season and aver-

aged out at about $26K per race. This substantial increase is allowing customers

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bet into attractive pools each night.

at Rideau Carleton Casino to

Regular racing at Rideau Carleton Raceway will return on March 19, 2023. Visit the racetrack’s official website for updated information and follow the Rideau Carleton Casino on Facebook for updates on upcoming events, news, and more. Bente n i elsen photo

We all pay for grocery theft

Grocery theft has always been a major problem, but with food inflation as it is, shopkeepers now fear the wrongdoers more than before.

It’s a problem everywhere in Ontario, and it has likely been a growing concern at Loblaw, Metro, Farm Boy, Your Independent Grocer and any other grocer in and around Barrhaven.

In December, some Ontarians visited stores in Trois-Rivières, Que. to steal $4,000 worth of meat. In Sherbrooke, Que. a man was arrested following a shoplifting incident a few days before Christmas, and two other people are still on the loose. They had stolen over $2,000 worth of groceries.

These two cases are obviously known due to media coverage. But most such incidents are handled by store management itself. Cases of grocery store theft are grossly under-reported, and obtaining food theft data is extremely challenging.

Most thefts are in-store, off-the-shelf, of only a few products, and usually thefts by people driven by desperation, negligence, or a mixture of both. But the most troublesome and financially damaging incidents for grocers are those carried out by internal employees. These cases rarely make headlines due to their sensitive nature, as the optics can be embarrassing. Volume and valuation for these cases are usually more important.

Theft, in general, in food retail is taboo. But with the food inflation rate exceeding the prevailing inflation rate for more than a year now, the industry realizes that its theft problem is worse than before.

According to some industry data, an average-sized food retail store in Canada can have between $2,000 and $5,000 worth of groceries stolen every week. With the relatively narrow profit margins in grocery, this amount is huge. To cover losses, grocers need to raise prices, so in the end, we all pay for grocery theft.

The other challenge facing grocers is self-checkouts. In a recent survey by our Lab, more than 65 per cent of consumers now prefer to use a self-checkout with an order of fewer than 20 items. They are increasingly popular. But monitoring at the point of service is challenging: the technology is still not yet ready to limit theft.

Limiting labour and handling required by the consumer at the exit during the self-checkout process is not easy. Using the smart cart, which calculates everything automatically, or a giant black box in which we put all our products at checkout and calculate everything in a few seconds can help. Canada, though, is still not there.

The world’s first self-service supermarket, the Piggly Wiggly, opened in Memphis in 1916. Customers were allowed to visit the aisles on their own. Like today, a customer would receive a basket and choose from the various items they wanted. That was 107 years ago, and, back then, the greatest fear was also theft. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University.

© Troy Media

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Any way you slice it, it’s just ham

I found myself in the Tim Hortons drive thru during the holidays.

It was mid-morning. I was starving. The ad on the menu board grabbed my attention and sent me into a mental black hole.

Their new sandwich features, wait for it, Canadian bacon!

Myth.

And why would Timmies, who represents everything Canadian better than everything in the world, buy into this farce?

Spoiler alert.

It’s just ham. I don’t care how you slice it or what sort of road salt you drag it through. It’s just ham.

Before the Egg McMuffin, I had never even heard of Canadian bacon. Sure, every now and then my dad would fry up some back bacon or peameal bacon. I was just a little kid, but I began to recognize the pattern that the more plastered my father got on Saturday night after skiing, the better breakfast was Sunday morning before heading back up the mountain.

But it was never called Canadian bacon. At least it wasn’t anywhere in Canada.

I guess in California, though, it was Canadian bacon. That’s where the first Egg McMuffin was created in 1972. Herb Patterson, a Santa Barbara franchisee, convinced Ray Kroc to come to his store for a surprise. It was an open-faced sandwich on a buttered English muffin with an egg with a broken yolk cooked in a circular Teflon circle. It had a slice of cheese, a circular piece of grilled Canadian bacon, and Hollandaise sauce.

Patterson knew Kroc would dismiss the idea if he told him. He had to get Kroc into his store to try it. Kroc loved it. Kroc’s wife came up with the name Egg McMuffin.

Suddenly, fast food breakfast was born. So was Canadian bacon as a mainstream phenomenon.

My friends and I were excited to go to McDonald’s for breakfast for the first time. The questions were predictable.

“Dad, what’s Canadian bacon? We’re Canadian. Shouldn’t we know?”

“Dad, are hot cakes the same as pancakes? Why don’t they just call them pancakes?”

When we tried our first Egg McMuffin, we felt a little bit underwhelmed. The sandwich was amazing. But I was expecting something a little more dramatic from my first bite of Canadian bacon.

“Dad, I think I got the wrong sandwich. There’s supposed to be Canadian bacon in it and mine has ham.”

Technically, there is a difference between back bacon, or Canadian bacon, and ham. Back bacon comes from the back of the pig, while ham comes from the butt and thighs. That’s it. Canadian bacon and ham are practically the same thing. Don’t go all Ken Jennings and email me to tell me the differences. But just know there is way more of a difference between Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik than there is between Canadian bacon and

ham.

When I moved to Texas and worked down there for several years, every American I worked with wanted to know about Canadian bacon.

“Have y’all ever tried regular bacon that comes in strips?”

“Do y’all call regular bacon American bacon?”

“If they was fixin’ to open a Canadian restaurant, would it have like Canadian bacon and Labatt’s Blue as the main dish?”

“Is it Canadian bacon because Canadian pics is differ’nt? Like do y’all have polar pigs like y’all have polar bears?”

“If Egg McMuffins have Canadian bacon, shouldn’t they have Canadian eggs, too?”

“Do y’all even have McDonald’s up there?” That was always my favourite question, and it was asked more often than you would think. The reply was automatic.

“We’ve got McDonald’s,” I would say. “It’s just different.”

I would wait for them to ask why or give that typical American dog-hears-master’svoice look when they learn about other cultures. Then I would come at them with the most non-chalant of answers.

“We’ve got things like McSeal, and Caribou McNuggets, and instead of the Filet O’ Fish we have the McWhale sandwich.”

The ones who knew I was just messin’ with Texasloved to watch the reactions.

Every now and then I would lose my patience.

“It’s just ham, you idiots!”

So who is the ham and egger who decided to call it Canadian bacon anyway? Or should we call him a Canadian bacon and egger? Shockingly, it wasn’t an American.

It was the bloody Brits.

During the pork shortage in England in the 1800s, this special bacon which was preserved in peameal, which was split yellow peas. It was shipped across the pond and referred to as Canadian bacon. Americans imported the Canadian bacon and adopted the name. Canadian bacon has never been called Canadian bacon in Canada, just like you will never here them called Buffalo wings if you tailgate at a Bills game, or you will never hear it called Philly Cheesesteak if you go to Philadelphia.

After all that, I got my sandwich from Timmies. It was an English muffin, egg, cheese, and what appeared to be a thin slice of deli ham. Ham, bacon, I didn’t care. I loved it. I had another one a couple days later.

I just wish Timmies, the one institution synonymous with being Canadian, wouldn’t have sold us out culturally by calling it Canadian bacon.

When they introduce their All-Canadian Wrap featuring Canadian bacon wrapped in Timmies hotcakes, we’re really going to have a problem. They may as well soak it in Vermont maple syrup instead of our own.

from the other side

Fo Guang Shan Temple makes donation to food bank after food drive

The Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Ottawa Chapter did a food drive among its members and disciples of the Fo Guang Shan Temple since the Temple was established. Before the pandemic, food or winter items raised were distributed to a food bank within Ottawa such as Ottawa Food Bank, Shepherds of Good Hope, or Emergency Food Centre at Ottawa downtown.

Since the Fo Guang Shan Temple moved to 6688 Franktown Road in March 2020, the Temple and BLIA raised cash donation instead of food to minimize impacts of the COVID pandemic among the monastics and the BLIA members. This year, the food drive was conducted from October 24 to November 26, fund raised was donated to the Rich-

mond Food Bank and Ottawa Food Bank.

Representatives from the Fo Guang Shan Temple and the BLIA Ottawa Chapter led by Venerable Miao Qi and June Sun (President of BLIA Ottawa Chapter) presented the cheque to Richmond Food Bank, represented by Judy Wagdin, on December 18, 2022.

Many of the Fo Guang Shan Temple members live in Barrhaven.

Representatives from the Fo Guang Shan Temple and the BLIA Ottawa Chapter led by Venerable Miao Qi and June Sun (President of BLIA Ottawa Chapter) presented the cheque to Richmond Food Bank. From left to right are Chiew Chong, Louisa Ho, Venerable Miao Qi, Judy Wagdin, June Sun, and Felicia Kho.

Ontario government providing free Naloxone Kits in workplaces

The Ontario government is launching a firstof-its-kind program to make free naloxone kits (and free training) available at workplaces where there is a risk of staff witnessing or experiencing an opioid overdose.

Fentanyl has been a problematic issue in Barrhaven for close to a decade. The drug is surfacing again and causing dangerous problems as it is commonly mixed into street

drugs including weed and cocaine.

In 2021, 2,819 people died from opioid-related causes in Ontario – the highest number on record and up from 366 in 2003.

Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, restore breathing within two to five minutes, and allow time for medical help to arrive.

“Ontario, like the rest of Canada, is in the middle of

an opioid epidemic made worse by a toxic supply of recreational street drugs,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “That’s why our government is the first in North America to require naloxone kits be accessible in at-risk workplaces by June 1, 2023, to raise awareness for those struggling with addition, reduce stigma and save lives.”

Of the workers who died

from opioid-related causes last year, 30 per cent were employed in construction – by far the most impacted industry. Bars and nightclubs have also seen increased opioid usage and accidental overdoses, often because of recreational drugs laced with deadly opioids such as fentanyl and carfentanil.

“Our new Workplace Naloxone Program, as part of our Narcotic Transition Services, will save lives,”

said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Everyone in Ontario deserves access to these kits, and this innovative program will bring a new level of safety to our province’s workplaces.”

For up to two years, Ontario will provide free nasal spray naloxone kits to businesses at risk of opioid overdoses through the Workplace Naloxone Program and free training

needed to equip staff with the tools to respond to an opioid overdose.

Businesses can determine if they are eligible for the program and find additional information on accessing naloxone kits and training at Ontario.ca/ workplacenaloxone. Once the requirement is in effect, Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s inspectors will take an education-first approach to enforcement.

Police get help from province to prevent local vehicle thefts

While vehicle theft continues to be a problem in Barrhaven and Riverside South, the Ottawa Police are getting some assistance from the province on the matter.

The Ontario government is providing the Ottawa Police Services with $669,447 to help fight crime, including auto theft.

The Ottawa Police Services will use the funding for Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology – a system that consists of cameras that automatically scan licence plates. The system is installed in or on active-duty police cruisers and alerts officers to stolen or expired plates, or plates registered to suspended drivers. The system can also notify officers of missing and wanted persons and vehicles associated with AMBER alerts.

“I commend our government and the Ottawa Police Services on this new announcement to combat auto theft in Ottawa. This government has demonstrated that we will always support our hard working law enforcement, and will give them the tools necessary to fight crime to ensure the people of Ottawa, including

my constituents in Carleton, feel safe where they work, live, and play,” said Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari, whose riding has been affected by vehicle thefts in Riverside South and Findlay Creek.

ALPR technology is a system of cameras and supporting software that captures licence plate information and immediately compares plate numbers to a Ministry of Transportation (MTO) database with vehicle and vehicle owner information. It also has the capability of capturing vehicles of interest (e.g., amber alerts, stolen vehicles, suspended driver(s), etc.).

“The Province’s investment in new licence plate scanning technology for the Ottawa Police Services is welcomed news.” said Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, MD, MPP Kanata— Carleton. “The new technology will provide greater safety for people and it is reassuring to know it will strengthen AMBER alerts in Ottawa. It is also great for our police to have this new scanning capability to curb the number of auto thefts in our City.”

ALPR technology does not detect moving violations such as speeding, going through a

red light or stop sign, and distracted driving.

In particular, thieves have been targeting sport utility vehicles made by Toyota and Honda. The number of vehicles stolen in the City of Ottawa in 2022 was much higher than it was in 2021 and was well over 1,500 vehicles. Among the most frequently stolen vehicles were Honda CRV, Lexus/

Toyota SUVs, Jeep Cherokees, Dodge Durangos, Ford and Lincoln pick-up trucks, and Acura RDX.

The Automated Licence Plate Recognition Technology Grant is a one-time grant to help police services strengthen roadside law enforcement efforts and improve public safety across the province.

“This investment further

demonstrates our government’s plan to ensure police services across Ontario have the resources and equipment they need to keep our communities safe,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “I am confident that this tool will be a tremendous asset to police services and help them combat incidents of auto theft and enhance public safety.”

Honda.C a p H oto

The investment in ALPR technology supports Ontario’s recent move to eliminate licence plate renewal fees and stickers for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds by allowing licence plate information to be read automatically without requiring an officer to see a physical licence sticker to validate a vehicle.

ottawa.ca/hqcc

Ontario's early childhood educators shine a light on the path to a brighter future. Learn more about the importance of high-quality child care.

danced for the first time, in a long time.”

Honda CRVs are the most targeted vehicles by thieves.

Province gives pharmacists more power to treat and prescribe medications

Barrhaven residents having difficulty getting doctor appointments now have more options at local pharmacies.

Pharmacists across Ontario are now able to treat and prescribe medications for thirteen of the most common medical ailments, including rashes, pink eye, insect bites and urinary tract infections. This new service is in addition to pharmacists being able to renew prescriptions for most medications, such as blood pressure, diabetes and asthma medication.

“Ontario’s pharmacies have been tremendous partners in helping to keep our communities safe and healthy,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Pharmacist prescribing builds on our government’s historic investments to expand our hospital infrastructure and

grow our health workforce. We are connecting Ontarians to more convenient care, closer to home.”

As with visiting a family physician or walk-in clinic, there is no extra cost to Ontarians for receiving a prescription from a pharmacist for common ailments when showing an Ontario health card. The cost of the medication being prescribed will continue to be paid for by people directly or through their drug benefits plan.

“Expanding the ability of pharmacists to provide care is one more way we’re putting you, the patient, at the centre of our health care system, making it more convenient to access health care close to home,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “I encourage people to

check with their local pharmacy to see if they are offering this quick and easy access to treatment for some of the most common ailments.”

Pharmacists can now offer prescriptions for hay fever (allergic rhinitis); oral thrush (candidal stomatitis); pink eye (conjunctivitis; bacterial, allergic and viral); dermatitis (atopic, eczema, allergic and contact) menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea); acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)); hemorrhoids; cold sores (herpes labialis); impetigo; insect bites and hives; tick bites (postexposure prophylaxis to prevent Lyme disease); sprains and strains (musculoskeletal); and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Allowing pharmacists to prescribe for these common ailments and re-

new prescriptions makes it easier for Ontarians to receive the care they need, while offering patients additional choices for how they receive health care. Individuals should speak to their pharmacist about whether they are able to renew other medications. Depending on their policy, pharmacies may charge a fee for this service.

With a large, provincewide footprint, pharmacist prescribing and renewals is helping to increase access to care in rural parts of Ontario. In addition to providing more convenience, this will also help free-up doctors’ time to provide care for more complex needs, helping to reduce wait times in primary care settings, walk-in clinics and emergency departments.

“Empowering phar-

macists to use their expertise to assess and treat minor ailments helps patients get the care they need sooner and closer to home – but the benefits go much further. It reduces demand on hospitals, emergency departments, walk-in clinics and family physicians. It also frees up time for our health care partners, allowing doctors, nurses and other health care providers to focus on more complex care cases, said Justin Bates, CEO of Ontario Pharmacists Association.

A common ailment is a health condition that can be reliably self-diagnosed and managed with self-care strategies and/ or minimal treatment.

Anyone with symptoms should contact their local pharmacist to confirm whether they provide prescribing services

for certain common ailments before visiting the pharmacy.

This change builds on pharmacists’ current knowledge, skills and judgement to recommend over-the-counter medications and allows physicians to focus on the more complex health care needs of their patients.

These changes have been made in partnership with the Ontario College of Pharmacists and are in line with other provinces across the country.

Pharmacists in most other provinces are also able to prescribe for certain minor ailments.

Ontarians can now also visit local pharmacies for Paxlovid prescriptions. Visit ontario.ca/antivirals for more information on eligibility and to find local pharmacies that are dispensing Paxlovid.

Ottawa South United youth soccer alumni member Ronan Kratt has signed with German Bundasliga club Werder Bremen.

Kratt joins the club after completing his first professional season in the Canadian Premier League with

York United. As a 19-yearold in the Canadian Premier League, Kratt played in 14 games and scored in his second game. Prior to joining York United, Kratt had also been called into the Canada U20 camp as well.

Kratt is on loan to Werder

Bremen from York.

“We are very happy to have agreed this with Bremen,” said Angus McNab, York United FC’s CEO/ President and GM, in a canpl. ca article.

“It’s a great situation for Ronan and we truly believe it

is the best pathway for him. An initial loan makes sense for all parties but there are various triggers within the agreement that would see a move made permanent. Ronan took advantage of an injury crisis when he arrived and just got his head down and worked. He was with us for a relatively short time period but he made a big impact.”

Kratt is no stranger to German soccer. His original plan out of high school was to play for the Carleton Ravens. When COVID-19 shut down the 2020 season, Kratt headed to Germany to play for SSV Ulm 1846, where he made 19 appearances for the Under-19 side. He scored four times in the Bundesliga South/Southwest. While there, Kratt was called into the Canada Under-20 camp and was named in the provisional squad for the 2022 CONCACAF Championship last June

The OSU management

and staff said what stood out for him early on was his level of dedication to improvement. This was exemplified each week when he would

come to the OSU Juggler’s Club and set a new record for juggling the soccer ball each week during training sessions.

By Wilson lo East BarrhavEn CounCillor

Personally, I enjoy “going” to work (I’m less productive at home), but I hope the federal government rethinks its blanket hybrid work policy.

During the campaign, many residents told me how they enjoy working at home, especially the increased productivity and improved work-life balance. Local businesses have also enjoyed the boost in business, and Barrhaven has enjoyed the boost in life.

For almost three years we have re-shaped our lives around new work arrangements and lifestyles. Do we want to spend hours to commuting to the office again just to attend virtual meetings?

I recognise that hybrid work will temporarily revitalise downtown business-

es, but reverting to a partial pre-pandemic state won’t address long-standing issues that existed before the pandemic, like the state of Sparks Street.

The post-pandemic reality represents a real opportunity to meaningfully revitalise the downtown by repurposing empty towers into much needed housing and bring 24/7 life to businesses and to downtown.

Downtown has so much potential, with the new Ādisōke central library, a possible arena, and the ongoing LeBreton flats redevelopment. That level of potential won’t be realised through short-term solutions held together by bandages.

SHOP LOCAL

Many Barrhaven businesses have benefitted from having residents working from home rather than spending hours a day commuting downtown.

East Barrhaven Ward Report

Wilson Lo, Councillor

Nepean teams clash in Bell Capital Cup U13 House A final

an assist; Feeney had two assists; and Ryan, Allavato, Jones and Power each had one assist.

U13 A

The Nepean Raiders dropped their first game but then went on a roll to reach the finals of the Bell Capital Cup.

Nepean lost their opening game 2-1 to the Ottawa West Golden Knights early in the morning Dec. 29. Ryan Tracey scored for Nepean from Yoanna Peng and Scott Power.

The Raiders bounced back with a 4-0 win over Newmarket on a Ryan Aikin shutout.

Cole Cote had a goal and an assist with Yoanna Peng, Carter Jones and Jack Robinson each adding goals.

Ryan Tracey had two assists with one each going to Benjamin Weatherdon, Logan Feeney, Grayson Coulheart, Luka Allavato, and Connor Kerwin.

The next morning, it was Wyatt White’s turn to earn a shutout as the Raiders beat Smiths Falls 7-0.

Tyler Ellement had a four-point game with a goal and three assists. Cote had two goals and an assist; Kerwin had a goal and two assists; Peng scored twice; Weatherdon had a goal and

The Raiders got their third straight shutout as Aikin blanked Casselman 2-0. Peng and Kerwin scored with assists going to Noel McDonnell and Ryan Tracey.

In the semi-final on Dec. 31, the Raiders scored three times in the third period to beat the Orange County Ducks 3-1.

Wyatt Nera, Gio Velasquez and Carter Jones scored with assists going to Weatherdon and Coulheart. Wyatt White picked up the win in goal.

In the final, the Raiders’ run ran out of steam, as they lost 2-1 to the Stittsville Rams. Wyatt Nera scored the Nepean goal from Grayson Coulheart.

House U13 A

The Nepean Benchwarmers beat Nepean Team C at Canadian Tire Centre in the Bell Capital Cup final.

Connor Donnelly, Reid Emery and Lane McKercher scored goals while Noah Ghadban, Gabriel Cosenzo, Evan Mansour and Luke Vettoretti had assists. Cole McHenry had the shutout.

Through six games, Vettoretti led the Benchwarmers

with 11 goals and an assist. Donnelly had four goals and an assist; McKercher had three goals and two assists; Emery had two goals and three assists; Ghadban and Mansour had two goals and an assist; Cosenzo had a goal and two assists; Noah Natoli had a goal and an assist; Jonah Pennington had two assists; Mateo Deponte had a goal, and Louis Bonneau had an assist. Other members of the championship team were Theo Mate, Cooper Deveer, Dante Noeita, Cooper Allen, Brendan Mitchell O’Rourke, and goalie Cole McHenry.

For Nepean Team C, Felix Noreau had four goals and an assist and Ben Freemark also had four goals through their six games of the tournament. Henry Hongxuan Ye and Teddy Rouleau had two goals and two assists; Aidan Culligan and Louis Wiseman had two goals and an assist; Tyler Marsh had two goals; Jayden MacDonald-Storti scored once; and Landon Graham added an assist. Other members of the runners up are Alvin Han, Gabriel Consenzo, Zachary Ecklund, Cedric MacCuaig, Mathias Chemet, Owen Shi and goalie Jack Langdon.

The Nepean Devastating Ducks finished the tournament with a 2-0-1-1 record.

Ethan Russell had three

goals and two assists; Mathias Simpson had two goals and an assist; Zijin Liu and Tyler Kingsley each had a goal and two assists; Niall Williamson had two goals; Quinn Duffley and Austin Beattie had a goal and an assist; and Brayden Fang and Gabriel Stone each had an assist. Tyler Smith was in goal for all four games.

U12 A

Nepean Raiders Black opened the tournament up with a 6-3 win over PerthLanark.

Adam Stephens and Mason Tom both scored three goals and Logan Coldrey had three assists. Jude Chatterley and Cristian McGeachey also had assists. Dorian Kirkwood was the winning goalie.

The Raiders then tied Mississippi Thunder Kings 3-3.

McGeachy, Mekai Fisher-Chande and Brighton Hall all scored for Nepean. Jake Tracey, Ethan Verheul, Ethan Chiasson and Sawyer Mendonca had assists.

In their next game, the Raiders lost to West Carleton 5-4. Logan Coldrey, Brighton Hall, Jude Chatterley and Ethan Verheul scored for the Nepean.

The Raiders were eliminated from the tournament

after a 5-3 loss to the Osgoode Richmond Romans.

Stephens had two goals and McGeachy had one. Connor Brake and Matteo Jennings had assists.

U11 AAA

The Nepean Raiders won one of their three games at the Bell Capital Cup.

In their first game, Kevin Parmar’s hat trick was not enough as the Raiders opened things up Dec. 28 with a 5-3 loss to Kanata.

The Raiders bounced back with a 3-1 win over the Upper Ottawa Valley Aces. Parmar, Charles Jin and Jaden Sun were the scorers with assists going to Joshua Barton, Easton Barber and David Yao. Keenan Ethier was the winning goalie.

The following morning, the Raiders lost 7-1 to the Southern Tier Admirals. Kevin Parmar scored the Nepean goal.

Later in the day Dec. 29, the Raiders were beaten 5-3 by the eventual champion Lambton Jr. Sting.

Parmar, Sun and Liam DeHoog scored goals with Oscar Mews, Connor Hayward and Hunter Gloyn earning assists.

The Raiders closed out the tournament with a 4-1 win over Cumberland.

Liam DeHoog scored

twice with Ethan Liu and Charles Jin also scoring. Jim and Jake Nistico had assists. Elliott Lawson was the winning goalie.

U11 AA

The Nepean Raiders went winless in four games at the Bell Capital Cup in the U11 AA division.

The Raiders lost their opener 4-1 to the eventual champion Ottawa Valley Silver Seven. Aiden Burmaster scored the Nepean goal from Camden Burnett.

Later in the day on Dec. 28, the Raiders lost to the Clarington Toros 4-3.

Benjamin Heidinga scored a pair for Nepean with Burmaster scoring one. Carson Stocks and Simon Glenns had assists.

The Raiders opened the day on Dec. 29 by being shut out by the Ajax-Pickering Raiders 2-0.

In their final game, the Raiders mounted a third period rally but their comeback fell short as they lost to the St. Lawrence Steel of Canton, NY 5-4.

Stocks, Heidinga, Glenns and Jacob Chabot were the goal scorers. Burnett had two assists with Adler Smith and Daniel Pope earning one each.

Two Nepean Minor Hockey Association teams met in the final of the Bell Capital Cup U13 House A division at Canadian Tire Centre. (Nepe AN Mi N or Ho C key Asso C i AT io N p H oTo/N epe ANH o C key.o N CA )

NepeaN RaideRs/ MyeRs autoMotive Bell Capital Cup suMMaRy

Nepean

The Nepean Coyotes opened their Bell Capital Cup with a tough 8-2 loss to Blackburn.

Jaiden Smith and Rowen Power scored for the Coyotes.

The Coyotes bounced back with a win over the South End Coyotes 3-1.

Leo Belisle had a goal and tow assists while Hugo Nascimento had one goal and one assist. Neill Kvist also had an assist. Alexander Bale also scored with Casper Jones earning the win in goal.

The Coyotes lost their final game 7-0 to the eventual tournament champion Orleans Rush.

The Nepean Delicious Donuts opened the tournament with a 9-2 loss to Carleton Place.

James MacRae scored both Nepean goals while Landon Luimes had an assist.

Nepean lost their next game 8-0 to Richmond. In their last game, the Delicious Donuts lost 3-2 to Blackburn.

Quinn Adams and Simon Wang scored the Nepean goals.

U12 AAA

The Eastern Ontario Wild avenged an opening day loss and edged Myers Automotive 3-2 in the final of the Bell Capital Cup at Canadian Tire Centre Dec. 31.

Alexandre Giroux scored both Myers goals.

Myers finished with a 4-1-1 record in the tournament with wins over Niagara

North Stars, Eastern Ontario Wild, Toronto Red Wings, and another win over Niagara, as well as a tie with Mississauga.

Giroux led all scorers with five goals and three assists for eight points. Noah McLean had a goal and six assists; Joshua Muise had a goal and five assists; Vaughn McDonald had four goals and an assist; Cooper Leppard had two goals and three assists; Aiden Xiao had a goal and two assists; Liam McDonald had a goal and one assist; Nate Wheelhouse had a goal; and adding assists were Wynston Henderson, Jack Sample and Jax Rajhathy. Amelia McKay won all three of her starts in goal while Tanner Hume was 1-1-1 between the pipes.

House U11 B

The Nepean Eliminators opened the Bell Capital Cup Dec. 29 with a 2-1 win over the Richmond Royals.

Ethan Zhao and Thomas Wilkinson scored for Nepean with Charlotte Epton had an assist. Maximillen Lachapelle was the winning goalie.

The Eliminators took on the smiths Falls Bears the following afternoon and lost 3-2.

Thomas Wilkinson and Andrew Langdon were the goal scorers with assists going to Lennan Donnelly and Mason Mannarino.

The Eliminators won their second game of the tournament as they beat Werst Carleton 4-1.

Wilkinson had a goal and an assist with Donnelly, Michael Larue and Michael Chabot also scoring. Epton,

Zhao and Sean Hoger had assists. Lachapelle was the winning goalie.

The Eliminators were knocked out of the tournament in the quarterfinals as they lost 3-2 to Brockville. Wilkinson had both Nepean goals with Bennett Shank earning an assist.

House U11 C

The Nepean Bulldogs opened the Bell Capital Cup Dec. 29 with a 4-3 win over Almonte.

Daniel Cen scored a pair with Isaac Allard and Brooke Mooney each scoring once. Hussein Al Ramadan had an assist. Cameron

Maxwell was the winning goalie.

The Bulldogs earned their second win of the day with a 3-1 win over the Stittsville Bisons. Cen, Mooney and Austin Butt had the Nepean goals while Maxwell was the winning goalie.

The Bulldogs won their third straight Dec. 30 with a 3-1 win over the Carleton Place Kings. Cen had a pair of goals and Isaac scored one. Maxwell earned his third win as goalie.

The Bulldogs advanced to the semi-final where they were defeated 4-2 by West Carleton. Cen and Butt had the Bulldogs goals.

U10 AAA

The Nepean Raiders reached the U10 AAA semifinals of the Bell Capital Cup.

In their first game, the Raiders beat Cumberland 4-1. Quinton McDonald, Easton Laperle, Theo Goldewicz and Nash Gibson scored for the Raiders. Goldewicz, Gibson, Tessa Harper and Drew Howell had assists. Logan Delorme was the winning goalie.

In their second game of Dec. 28, the Raiders lost to Waterloo 7-2.

McDonald and Owen Ovington scored for the Raiders. Laperle and Lucas McDonell

had assists.

On Dec. 29, the Raiders bounced back with a 4-2 win over the Central Ontario Wolves.

Lukas Renault and Kobe Bellefeuille each scored twice, with Renaud and Daniel Srdoc earning assists. Sam Noble was the winning goalie.

The Raiders finished the round robin portion of the tournament with a 7-1 loss to eventual champion Toronto Young Nationals. Bellefeuille scored the lone Raiders goal from Ovington.

In the semi-final, the Raiders were blanked 7-0 by the Waterloo Wolves.

Nepean Raiders forward Adam Stephens scores on a goal mouth scramble in their U12 A Bell Capital Cup game against the Osgoode Richmond Romans. (B A RR h Av e N I N d epe N d e N t StA f f ph OtO )

Brandt Clarke is the Barrhaven Independent Person of the Year

It may not be quite as big a deal as winning a gold medal for Team Canada, but it’s a big deal nonetheless.

The Barrhaven Independent has named Brandt Clarke its 2022 Glen Dicks Person of the Year. The Barrhaven Independent has named a person of the year in the community for the past 18 years, though not during the COVID pandemic.

The honour is given to a person in Barrhaven who has either made a difference in the community or has been an inspiration to others in the community. The Independent renamed the honour after former advertising manager Glen Dicks, a heart-and-soul member of the Barrhaven community who passed away in 2009.

“We chose Brandt to be

our person of the year a month ago, but we wanted to wait until after the World Junior Hockey Championships to make the announcement,” said Barrhaven Independent owner Jeff Morris.

“Over the years we talked to him a couple times, and also his older brother Graeme, who plays in the New Jersey Devils organization,” Morris said. “They get it. They understand how much it means to the kids in the community to be able to look up to someone who has worn the same jerseys and skated in the same rinks as they did not that long ago.

“Brandt Clarke put this community on his back and took us all for a wonderful ride. Obviously, every kid loves Connor Bedard, but Brandt Clarke has inspired every boy and girl in Barrhaven who plays hockey.”

In the gold medal game,

Clarke forced a turnover in overtime and got an assist on Shane Wright’s golden goal. He finished the tournament with two goals and six assists for eight points in seven games, leading all Canadian defencemen in scoring.

Clarke was back home after the tournament and showed off his gold medal. Clarke has always been a big fan of the World Junior Tournament. He went to games with his parents and cheered on Team Canada. He knows that kids who were just like him are cheering on Team Canada now.

“In the moment when the building was going crazy, nothing felt real,” Clarke told CTV Ottawa’s Jackie Perez. “It’s starting to feel real getting to show off the medal.

“Just to be a guy people look up to with my signature, it’s kind of crazy a cool moment,” added Clarke.

After nine games with the Kings, Clarke had two assists in nine games. He put up remarkable offensive numbers for a defenceman in Barrie last year with 59 points in 55 games.

Last summer, Clarke’s objective was to make the Kings out of camp. He did well and had a good pre-season, and he appeared in eight of the team’s first nine games. The limit for NHL rookies to play without burning a year of their contract is nine games.

As expected, after the tournament, the Kings sent Clarke back to the Colts.

Clarke will be a defenceman in the NHL, but his focus right now is to help Barrie win an OHL championship and get to the Memorial Cup.

And who knows how many more young players in Barrhaven and across Canada he will inspire.

Special to the independent

Brandt Clarke led all Team Canada defencemen in scoring at the recent World Junior Championships.

PhoTo By Daniel S T. lo ui S/h o C k ey Cana Da i mage S