Barrhaven Independent January 21, 2022 by J Morris

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FRIDAY • January 21 • 2022

An Elite Oversight

Barrhaven’s Deionte Knight is one of Canada’s top football players. The All-Canadian won a Vanier Cup with the Western Mustangs, was named the top lineman in Canadian university football, and is a top prospect for the CFL Draft. Unfortunately, Knight is not allowed to train or practice because the Ministry of Sport, Heritage and Culture does not consider him, or any other Ontario university student-athletes, elite. For the full story, see page 14. Photo by Brandon VandeCaveye/Western Mustangs

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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

COVID to blame for nine month delay of LRT into Riverside South By Charlie Senack

ber. The O-Train line has been closed for more than a year as construction work is underway, meaning Carleton University students will go at least another year with difficult transportation. Most stations are partially built, but tracks haven’t been laid in many areas, including in Riverside South. The delays were long expected, but took months to receive a final answer on the $1.6 billion expansion. Councillor Carol Anne Meehan, who represents Gloucester-South Nepean where the line will travel to, asked the city’s finance committee to engage in a peer review, which they agreed on. It will look for issues with construction, training and design, which could be dealt with ahead of it’s official launch. An experienced firm will be brought on to do the assessment, and will take three to four months to complete. That will still give the

LRT trains won’t be rolling into Riverside South this year after more delays have been reported in the phase 2 project. The Trillium Line, which was supposed to extend from the existing South Keys station out to Limebank Road in one direction, and the airport in another, was supposed to open in August 2022. That date has now been extended by nine months to mid-May 2023. Michael Morgan, who is the rail construction director, says COVID-19 is the main reason for construction delays. “The team is doing a deep dive into those scheduling issues. In the past, we’ve been able to recover quite a bit of time when we run into these challenges but there are starting to be some pressures stemming from COVID and resources generally in the market,” he told council in mid-Decem-

Health Services

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expected to be completed by 2025, and is showing about a 10-month delay on paper. Phase 3 will eventually bring light rail out to Barrhaven. Trains would then transfer from Algonquin College out to Marketplace.

Part of the line would be put on the transitway, with a tunnel going under the train tracks. Due to a lack of funding, it’s unclear if this project will ever begin, and even then, it’s at least a decade away.

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The Confederation Line as it’s also known, travels from Tunney’s Pasture station to Blair Road. It’s now being expanded to head west out to Algonquin College and Moodie Drive, and east out to Trim Road. The project is

city time to make any adjustments if needed. The news comes after a problem-plagued system with phase 1, which has seen train derailments, cracked wheels, broken doors, among other issues.

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Page 4 FRIDAY, January 21, 2022

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Barrhaven Food Cupboard bracing for tough 2022 as food prices rising By Charlie Senack It was a busier than usual year for the Barrhaven Food Cupboard as they saw an increase in calls for service due to the pandemic. George MacDonald, the centre’s president, says they saw about a 12 per cent increase in 2021. Now as they look ahead to 2022, they are expecting that number to increase even more. “Food prices are increasing, people are still suffering from the ongoing pandemic, and it may increase the demand further than what we have seen,” he told the Barrhaven Independent. “We are fortunate enough to go into the new year with a considerable inventory so our shelves are pretty stocked. That will carry us through for the first couple months of the year, but we normally experience another push around Easter.” MacDonald says they also saw less food being donated in 2021 due to schools being shut down for a portion of the year. Schools are a main source for food drives which collect hundreds of boxes yearly in Barrhaven alone. “We had to purchase quite a bit of food which we would not normally do,” MacDonald said. “We have also expanded our offering to include meat, in addition to fresh vegetables, fruit, cheese and yogurt — all those things you would expect when you go to the grocery store — and we have also expanded our offering of personal hygiene products somewhat.” Over the Christmas season, MacDonald says physical food donations started to pour in again, and also credits local grocers for helping. Many had fill the back programs, and others collected donations at the cash register. This holiday season also saw an increase in demand for Christmas hampers. Before the pandemic, physical hampers with all the traditional Christmas meal necessities were given to a little under 200 families per

The Barrhaven Food Cupboard is expecting its busiest year ever in 2022. Charlie Senack photos

year. During the first pandemic Christmas in 2020, that number increased to almost 300 hampers being given out, a 50 per cent jump over last. In 2021, that number increased again. “Because it was during the pandemic, we did not give out a physical bin with a turkey and everything in it, instead we gave out gift cards so people could go out and purchase what they wanted for their Christmas meal needs,” states MacDonald. “This year we still gave out gift card hampers, and it’s somewhere between 330 to 340 people we are helping — a two thirds increase over the pre pandemic time.” Next year is expected to be even worse as food prices jump to prices never seen before. A Canada Food Price Report says grocery bills next year are expected to rise anywhere from five to seven per cent — the highest increase reported in 12 years. Dairy products are supposed to go up six to eight per cent in 2022, along with what it would cost you to dine out at a restaurant. Bakery products and vegetables are supposed to go up five to seven per cent, and fruit prices are expected to jump three to five per cent. The Barrhaven Food Cupboard, which has about 80 active volunteers, says

their main concern isn’t about paying the bills, it’s reaching everyone in the community who has fallen on hard times. “If I have any concerns maybe it’s that we are not reaching all the people who might need food,” MacDonald said. “We know that there are people out in the community — maybe new Canadians who don’t know about us, or some people who are perhaps too proud to come to us and don’t realize how confidentially we treat their involvement with the food cupboard — and there may be some people who will encounter a setback in their job or family situation that will require them to come to us. We are really there for them. If you need help we are here for you.” The Ottawa Food Bank is also expecting their demand to ramp up. They have seen a 17 per cent increase in calls for service, and a 15 per cent increase in costs. The food bank typically serves around 39,000 clients a year, but in 2021 that number rose to around 44,000. “Unfortunately we sort of get hit from both sides when the cost of food goes up because it costs more for us to buy food,” said Rachael Wilson, the Ottawa Food Banks Chief Executive Officer. “We spend over two million dollars a

While food donations are important, cash donations go even further to help those in need at the Barrhaven Food Cupboard.

year — particularly on fresh food like dairy, meat and produce, and those are also the things that have gone up exponentially due to inflation. It gets more expensive for us to buy what we need, but also on the other side, it’s more expensive for

our clients to buy what they need, so they need to go to a food bank more often. 2022 is looking very challenging and with COVID not going away anytime soon unfortunately we are planning for a long term response to this.” Both the Ottawa Food

Bank and Barrhaven Food Cupboard say that while they appreciate any type of donation which comes their way, cash donations can reach the furthest because for every dollar they receive, it can go much further in food.

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FRIDAY, January 21, 2022 Page 5

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Toys on Fire ready to expand despite COVID’s impact on retail By Charlie Senack As supply chain issues impact almost every store, Toys on Fire, located at 3-130 Riocan Ave, say they are fully stocked and ready to expand. Grayson Doherty, owner of Toys on Fire, says they have been preparing for any possible outcome for years. “There are issues with certain items,” he said. “The nature of most of what we sell is collectibles and stuff, so traditionally they are always in shortage. Even in the past before this, we’d have to commit to a certain amount years in advance. A lot of the products still do come through, and they come through in the amounts they are supposed to, but a lot of them are also seeing delays. Pretty much across the board almost nothing has been released on time in the past two years, they are usually a couple months late — or a six month or year delay due to complications.” Toys on Fire should have seen their Advent calendars

come in this fall, but they didn’t arrive in time for Christmas. With a delivery date of late January, they will now need to be put away for next year. While many stores have struggled with sales during various waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, Doherty says their numbers have increased. That is also partly thanks to online sales, through five different online marketplaces including Loblaws, Walmart and Amazon. Toys on Fire was also one of the first stores to have an active online presence through eBay 16 years ago. The trends when it comes to what people are buying is also changing: The pandemic has reintroduced many to more traditional toys from the past. “Right now, we are seeing almost everything selling going across the board, but a lot of our main categories are turning into more hobby stuff,” said Doherty. “We used to be big into action figures

Toys on Fire in Barrhaven is fully stocked and ready to expand.

and toys, but a lot of people now are going into hobby stuff like board games, puzzles, models, and even card games and things.” Looking ahead to this year,

Doherty said they are considering expanding to a bigger, box-type store, much like Playvalue Toys in Carp. “The real estate market is very intense right now and it

looks like that’s also happening in the real estate commercial area,” he said. “It would be ideal to stay in Barrhaven, but the location we may end up finding could be a more

Charlie Senack photo

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Page 6 FRIDAY, January 21, 2022

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Trudeau needs to shelve plan to ban unvaxxed truckers

INDEPENDENT Editorial

Return to in class learning a divisive issue in Barrhaven According to recently released data, roughly five per cent of Barrhaven residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began in March 2020. That number is definitely old by the time you are reading this, and it does not take into account the hundreds or thousands who have tested positive with their own rapid kits and gone into self-isolation without reporting themselves as statistics. The move to close schools — which was widely debated and criticized by all levels of government — was meant to buy time and get more shots into arms — particularly those of school-aged children. Before the Christmas break, schools in Barrhaven were a breeding ground for COVID-19 infections, with close to 70 cases reported at Half Moon Bay Public school alone. Dozens of other cases were spread through various other schools into the community, and that didn’t take into account cases which were later reported in close contacts and family members. Barrhaven still holds more cases of COVID-19 than anywhere else in the city, reporting roughly double the city average. It’s now more difficult to have a sense of where the situation is heading as testing becomes more limited. With strains on the system and priority being given to vaccination efforts, PCR tests are being saved for the elderly and essential workers. Omicron has not yet reached its peak in Ottawa and some fear the government is rushing a return to some normalcy. While Ottawa’s top Doctor Vera Etches and the city’s Mayor Jim Watson support the move, some in the medical community think otherwise. Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myth, who has put thousands of shots into arms locally, says boosters need to be prioritized for the 12-17 year-old population and more safety measures are needed before schools can open safely. She says staff and students need access to KN95 or N95 masks, testing needs to be more widely available, and classes need to be fitted with HEPA filters. The well-known family doctor says the Ontario government has “failed Ontarians” and won’t be sending her daughter back for in-person learning. The Ontario government also says parents won’t be notified of COVID-positive cases in their children’s school unless 30 per cent of the class is absent, a decision which has left Kaplan-Myth and many others fuming with anger. But even then, it doesn’t mean schools will close due to an outbreak. Some local teachers and students tell the Barrhaven Independent that in the two weeks virtual learning has taken place, up to half of their class are isolating either due to a positive case or being identified as a close contact. It’s reasons like this which are leading many parents to keep their children home for virtual learning. The only thing we can safely predict is the unpredictability of what will happen next.

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The federal government plan to require all truckers entering from the United States to show proof of vaccination creates some serious problems. Vaccines are the most effective way to reduce risks associated with COVID-19, stop the spread of the virus and save lives. No doubt. But the situation affecting the trucking industry could be challenging and impact food access for Canadians. This is the first public health measure with the potential to disrupt trade between Canada and the United States since the pandemic started. According to the Canadian Trucking Alliance, about 16,000 drivers could be forced off the road. The federal government believes its measure isl only 8,000 drivers. Still, we need these drivers more than ever. And many of them transport food products across the border every day. If a driver crosses the border into Canada without being vaccinated, they will need to quarantine for 14 days. Canada imports about $21 billion worth of agri-food products from the United States every year, and about 60 to 70 per cent of the food imported arrives on wheels. That’s almost 20 per cent of the food Canadians buy in food service and retail. And the timing isn’t great. Much of the volume comes during the winter months when produce from the southern states offers welcome supplies to Canadian consumers. Stopping some of that business could exacerbate the driver shortage the industry is already experiencing and could drive up retail prices even further in the weeks to come. The industry was already short 18,000 drivers. Given the average age in the trucking industry, the vaccine mandate could encourage many truckers to simply retire and exit the industry. Long-distance truck driving isn’t the most attractive sector in our economy. Unlike other industries, trucking works independently most of the time. The average trucker will spend more than 250 nights away from home every year. Compared to other essential workers, contact with other people is minimal. A vaccine mandate might not help extensively in this case. Since the start of the pandemic, granting exceptions to certain groups who were deemed essential services has been controversial. Most Canadians are dead against it, and the Trudeau government knows it. The government has implemented a strict inoculation policy for civil servants and federally-regulated workers since the start of the pandemic. But border access can become a food security issue for Canadians. Quebec recently backed down from its vaccine mandate for health-care workers, concerned such a measure would put even more strain on the province’s already frail health-care system. The province followed this by asking workers to comply with strict new protocols to reduce risks in hospitals and health centres.

Something similar can be done for truckers. Vaccines are by far the best weapon to end the pandemic, but we also need to appreciate that not all of us are believers. Ten to 15 per cent of people in any given field resist getting vaccines and will likely never change their minds. We’ve learned that the effectiveness of vaccine mandates to bring about compliance is constrained. We’ve wrestled with this for more than a year and most of us will likely need to get vaccinated more than once a year for an indeterminable time. What it means to be fully vaccinated this year might not be the same as next year, and truckers know that. This is our inoculation new normal. The decision to implement a vaccine mandate for truckers was made when Omicron wasn’t around. This new variant is incredibly contagious and spreads like wildfire. Omicron is already disrupting the entire food chain in Canada. Absenteeism rates are at least 15 to 20 per cent in food retail, and processing is seeing similar numbers. The Exceldor plant in Quebec was forced to euthanize chickens in recent weeks due to low staff numbers. Many workers are either sick or were exposed to someone who was sick. Omicron is hitting the entire economy hard and fast, so we should all be concerned about Canada’s food access. From a food supply chain perspective, Omicron is a game-changer. The supply chain is quite fragile, more than it’s ever been. Many who have contracted COVID have been fully vaccinated, but in most cases, thankfully, symptoms were mild. Still, asking food and logistics companies to follow strict protocols dramatically slowed things down. A lot of the food reaching stores in Canada is spoiled or not as fresh as it should be. Canadians are noticing. Public health measures need to be adapted so the food industry can continue to provide Canadians with safe, affordable food for the next few months as we try to cope with Omicron’s wrath. Food inflation is already a challenge in Canada, and the vaccine mandate affecting truckers could make things worse, especially for families with fewer means. We need to be careful with vaccine mandates that could impact the effectiveness of our food supply chain. Some measures are worth second-guessing. Cancelling hockey tournaments and other events is one thing – potentially compromising the fluidity of our food supply chain is very different. The stakes are much, much higher. We really need to strike a functional balance between saving lives and keeping Canadians fed. 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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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

2022 will bring change as mayor, veteran councillors not returning Happy New Year, Barrhaven! We’re a few weeks into 2022, and life is pretty much the same as when the old year faded out. The pandemic continues to cause disruption and confusion in our hospitals, the economy and the education system. It feels like we’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster for almost three years. I remain optimistic that we will eventually see Omicron cases peak this year, and then slowly, a more normal way of life will return. It is something I am looking forward to. 2022 will also be an election year for the province in June, and then Ottawa residents will choose a new City Council in October. At the municipal level, we’re guaranteed some change. Longtime Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson won’t be running again, and I expect some veteran councillors are thinking long and hard about their options. After 25 years of dedicated service, Councillor Jan Harder will retire. Ward 3 will have a new representative at the council table. The ward boundary review this past year recognized Barrhaven has grown too large and needed to be divided. The eastern side of Barrhaven that I currently represent will be the new Ward 24. Riverside South

and Findlay Creek will remain as Ward 22. It’s hard for me to believe this is the fourth and final year of my first term. It’s been a unique and educational experience. The learning curve that began on day one continues today. Have I made mistakes? You bet, but I have tried hard to learn from them. I promised to be a councillor for the residents who elected me, and I can say that I have done my very best to live up to that promise. In 2018, the growing traffic problem prompted me to jump into the race to become a councillor. Ottawa, I believed, needed to do a better job building infrastructure to help solve gridlock, and I campaigned on a plan to encourage the federal government to adopt a “work from home” model to reduce the number of employees commuting into the core each day. I smile now when I think of how many people told me I was crazy to promote “remote work using technology.” It’s funny how a pandemic lit a fire under that idea. I supported Light Rail

but have continually pushed for solutions to a system that has been an expensive lemon. And I managed to get a commitment to conduct an engineering inspection of the Trillium Line to find problems before the line is completed. This next year I will focus on improving bussing in our communities. With so many people now working from home, I envision community bus loops and transit ondemand that will move us around without depending on our personal vehicles. I will need to get city staff to embrace change to get that started. Getting traffic signals and upgraded road infrastructure at dangerous intersections takes years. Expediting this critical work must be a priority for the next council. As a fiscal Conservative, I will work to find savings in our budget. My calls for a line-by-line review of city programs have continually been rejected. That process must change. Once a new Mayor is elected, that might be possible. I genuinely believe clear priorities and fact-driven decision-making will streamline city policy and save our tax dollars. I’m excited for what 2022 could bring. As always, if there is something I can do to serve you better, please contact me.

NOMINATIONS WANTED! Do you know someone between the ages of 6 - 17 who is making a difference within their community? Nominate them for an Ontario Junior Citizen Award today! DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 11, 2022 Nomination forms are available from this newspaper, and at www.ocna.org/juniorcitizen. Email jr.citizen@ocna.org for more information. Brought to you by:

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FRIDAY, January 21, 2022 Page 9

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

City to host virtual town halls to help develop first Anti-Racism Strategy This year, the City of Ottawa will develop its first Anti-Racism Strategy, which will include strategic actions, key performance indicators and expected outcomes to confront systemic racism in Ottawa’s systems and structures. To help inform the strategy, the Anti-Racism Secretariat is holding virtual resident town halls on Saturday, January 15 and Thursday, January 20. These will complete a series of public engagement sessions the Anti-Racism Secretariat launched last year. The townhalls will give residents and community stakeholders the opportunity to respond to the What We Heard report(link is ex-

ternal), which summarizes the recommendations and feedback received during the sessions about how the City can address systemic racism within the six priority areas previously identified by the community (employment equity, governance, housing, economic development, health outcomes and youth development). Participants can also provide further feedback and highlight any gaps that should be considered in the Anti-Racism Strategy. To register for one of the following virtual town halls and to read the full What We Heard report, please visit the Anti-Racism Secretariat’s Engage Ottawa page. Bilingual Indigenous

and racialized resident town hall – Saturday, January 15, 10 am to noon Bilingual all resident town hall – Thursday, January 20, 5:30 to 7:30 pm The Anti-Racism Secretariat will incorporate town hall feedback into the Anti-Racism Strategy and present it to Council later this year. The City condemns all forms of racism. Municipal governments play a leading role in identifying and challenging systemic racism. Led by its Anti-Racism Secretariat, the City is committed to advancing a more inclusive and responsive municipal government, to ensure all people are served fairly and free of discrimination.

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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Even if prices are going up in 2022, it doesn’t mean you need to spend more By Sylvain Charlebois Since 2022 is almost here, it’s time to reflect on what has happened the past year and anticipate what lies ahead. Food inflation obviously affected most food categories this year, which is why the last 12 months have been challenging for Canadians, at the grocery store and at restaurants. Canada’s Food Price Report 2022 was released recently by Dalhousie University, the University of Guelph, the University of Saskatchewan and the University of British Columbia. It forecasts that the average Canadian family could spend up to $966 more on groceries in 2022, compared to 2021. And a recent report by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, in partnership with Caddle, looked at what Canadians intend to do in the new year, with food and with other aspects of their lives related to food. Almost 10,000 Canadians were surveyed on what they expect in food retail and service over the coming 12 months. The report looked at new year’s resolutions and how Canadians intend to cope with higher food prices, or if they plan to do different things with food. The survey first asked Canadians how they think food prices are increasing compared to their household income. A total of 89.8 per cent of respondents said food prices are increasing faster than their income. That’s a high percentage. Over three surveys, this is the highest percentage of Canadians believing food prices are rising faster than their income. Regarding Canada’s Food Price Report 2022 and its fore-

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cast that food prices will go up by as much as seven per cent in the new year, most Canadians surveyed believe it’s too modest. A total of 60.2 per cent expect food prices to go even higher. Some food categories are more concerning than others for those surveyed. Unsurprisingly, meat prices are a great source of concern. Two years ago, a similar survey showed that vegetables were the one category most Canadians were concerned about. For 2022, 49.3 per cent of Canadians are concerned about meat prices and 22.8 per cent are concerned about vegetables. Fruits are at 12.8 per cent and dairy products are at 6.4 per cent. Fish and seafood, and bakery products are the categories about which Canadians are least concerned. But perceptions don’t reflect what’s really happening in the grocery stores. For example, even if produce prices barely moved this year, Canadians are still concerned about fluctuating prices for vegetables and

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COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been reported several times that shoppers are visiting new grocery stores or even switching their primary stores – about 26 per cent of us. That trend is likely to continue in 2022, since 31.9 per cent of those surveyed said they’re thinking of visiting different grocery stores. The survey also asked what Canadians intend to do more of in 2022. The top resolution is to reduce food waste and eat more vegetables. The last time we conducted a similar survey – for 2020, just before the pandemic started – results were similar: reducing food waste and eating more fruit and vegetables were top choices. Cooking more often is third on the list of food resolutions for 2022. Changing diets and eating more leftovers also received strong support, as they did in 2020. Items new to the list since our pre-pandemic survey conducted in 2020: · changing the way meals are managed (15 per cent);

With food prices expected to keep rising in 2022, many shoppers are expected to adjust by altering their buying habits. Gary H. Coulombe photo

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fruits, as they were two years ago when prices did go up. Many remember the infamous “cauliflower crisis.” When consumers are spooked, it leaves a mark mentally. Many still believe a head of cauliflower costs $8, but most cauliflower sold for less than $2 a head this year. Consumers should remember that food prices change almost daily. According to the survey, 2022 will bring some changes. A total of 63 per cent of Canadians intend to alter food habits in some way. The most popular intention for 2022 appears to be to use coupons more often – 52.8 per cent of Canadians surveyed said they intend to do so. Given that menu prices will spike, not eating out as much is the second most popular habit change on the survey. A total of 51.7 per cent surveyed say they intend to avoid restaurants in the new year. And 45.5 per cent intend to consult flyers more often. Since the start of the

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· eating more fish and seafood (11.6 per cent); · gardening (9.3 per cent); · ordering food online (7.1 per cent); · ordering more meal kits (4.7 per cent). The new top resolutions reflect how the food landscape has changed because of the pandemic. Since 2022 will be the Inter-

national Year of Artisan Fisheries and Aquaculture, seeing more Canadians wanting to eat more fish and seafood fits in well. 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

How can you save money on groceries? By Barrhaven Independent Staff We did a walk through of McDonough’s Your Independent Grocer to find out ways to help you and your family maximize the value for your dollar when you shop for groceries. Do Your Homework – Before you get to the store, have a plan. Work from a list and buy what you need. When you go rogue, that’s when the spending adds up. Also, don’t buy something you don’t need just because it’s on sale or you have a coupon. Work the Perimeter – If you work the outside aisles of the store, you will find fresh produce, fresh meat, fish, eggs, juice, milk and other essentials. If you are trying to change your habits and eat healthy in the new year, get to know the outside aisles. The Other White Meat – Do you remember that campaign for pork? With the rising prices for beef and chicken, pork is a great protein alternative. If it’s not in your regular dinner rotation, it’s worth considering. President’s Choice – Maybe the in-store brand is only 30 cents cheaper than the name brand, but over a full shop, it adds up. President’s Choice or no-name options are available for many products on your list. Convenience – The best way to save money is to make your own meals and have a plan. There are pre-made meals available, which are often very good, and make sense if you are on your own. But to feed a family, you will pay more for the convenience. However, the pre-cooked chickens are a good and easy option if you don’t have the time to invest in cooking. Optimum Card – If you don’t have one, it’s worth getting. Some of the families we talked to save their points all year and then used the points to pay for their entire Christmas dinner, turkey and all. It all adds up, and it’s worth it.

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Laughs and smiles, are a good combination during these difficult times! People laugh for many different reasons; we might be happy, embarrassed, nervous, excited, and trying to fit in or just being friendly. Laughter may provide relief from stress; it may bind or unite us socially. Vocal cords and facial muscles are involved in laughing; sometimes blood pressure rises, and heartbeat accelerates.

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People produce a wide variety of sounds of both pitch and range while laughing; laughter can be high-pitched, song-

like, snort or grunt-like too. Laughter varies greatly in form, duration, and volume. A common form of laughter often starts with a sudden, loud burst that softens to conclusion. Sometimes laughter causes tearing eyes, flushing of face or bowing motion of the head. Laughter is one of a package of subtle yet ef-

fective tools. Laughing strengthens the bond of comradeship and may be considered more social than humorous. Children may laugh 300 to 400 times a day, and they laugh wholeheartedly, while adults may laugh 10 to 15 times a day. As we age, we become more serious, but we should not forget how to laugh. Each time you smile

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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Connections in community play important role in life of local student Name: Mohamad Choker Age: 17 School: St. Francis Xavier Grade: 12 Parents: Mother: Majeda Mahdi, Father: Abdullah Choker Brother: Hussein Choker Pets: Two Parakeets, Piko and Piki Pet Peeve: “My greatest pet peeve by far, is when people inflict their negative opinions and thoughts on others. There is a difference between a person whose intention is to advise and show concern, and a person who intends on hindering one’s progress or achievements. When I open up about my goals, what I would like to hear are words of encouragement. A person’s approach to another individual’s ambitions and desire to achieve, should be dealt with carefully, giving them the support they need, when they need it.” Part-time Work: “I think that a student (particularly in high school), should gain some sort of basic work experience. A part-time job should allow most teenagers to better manage their time. I currently work as a part-time Starbucks Barista. This job helped me improve my communication, social, and hands-on skills. As we say at Starbucks, it’s important for customers to leave with a smile. This fits with me personally, as I constantly look for ways to make people’s day better.” Favourite Subjects: “My courses cover Chemistry,

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Biology, Advanced Functions, Calculus and Vectors, English, and Photography. I constantly find myself giving most of my focus on Biology. Discovering the unknown satisfies our curiosity. After all, Biology covers the smallest units of life, concepts that the human eye cannot physically comprehend.” What do you enjoy reading for pleasure? “We all find our comfort and happy place in our own way. One way I try to let go of my surroundings and find some peace, is by paying attention to my spirituality. I often read a page or two of the Holy Quran before going to bed, or when I’m waiting for the car to warm up in the morning. It just puts me at ease, knowing that there’s something greater than me, or my problems that I can count on.” Favourite Author: “Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him). Imam Ali is known for his knowledge, belief, honesty, devotion to Islam, loyalty, and his equal treatment of all Muslims - His famous piece of scripture, being Nahjul Balagha.” Greatest Accomplishment: “I don’t have a single great accomplishment. I am simply proud of my position in life, and how I got myself to this point. Having migrated to Canada at such an old age (13 years old), it would be harder for me to achieve what other teenagers who grew up

here would have. However, I adapted quickly, and was able to excel in school, develop different connections in the community, and build myself with a healthy support system.” School Activities: “For my senior year of high school, I decided to make it a memorable year. I joined the Student Council and got nominated to be the school’s Deputy CoPM. There are other groups that I take part of, such as Mental Health group, and the Muslim Association group, both of which create an environment t for students that they could be comfortable being in. Also, I regularly volunteer to help around school events.” Other Activities/Interests: “I’m very closely involved in volunteering at my local community centre (Ahlul-Bayt Islamic Centre) on a weekly basis. The push to support my community, and build a more sustainable environment for the people of that centre, is what drives me to do more, and be better.” Career Goals: “After High school, I look forward to completing a four-year undergraduate in biomedical sciences. Which will enable me to apply to Dental school and certify me as a future ortho-

Mohamad Choker is the Deputy co-PM at St. Francis Xavier High School.

Submitted photo

dontist. I plan to be charitable in my career, helping those in need, and hopefully make things easier for some.” Comment: “Though COVID did limit me in terms of what I wanted to achieve

this year, the effort that my school puts, in order for students to still have the best possible high school experience distracts me from that. Even with the physical bar-

riers, friends are closer than ever. Students now realize how much of a blessing it is to physically attend school, and it shows in the connections I see between students and staff.”

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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Five players from the OSU Force Academy have been selected for Canada’s National Development Centre.

Five OSU soccer players selected to National Development Centre The Ottawa South United Soccer Club has announced that five of their OSU Force Academy players have been selected to Canada Soccer’s National Development Centre in 2022.

“In any given year, to see one player identified for a national team program would be considered a great success,” said a statement made by OSU. “To see five players joining is truly re-

markable.” Ella Kettles, Isabelle Chukwu, Annabelle Chukwu, Bianca Hanisch and Kayla Di Tiero will all be joining the national team program. They will be welcomed

by three additional OSU alumni already in the program in Amelia Campanella, along with Sofia Cortes-Brown and Rosa Maalouf, who both recently represented Canada at the U-17 level

against Mexico. “Our club’s long-term strategic planning efforts to create the best possible environments for players to grow and develop organically have never been so evident than

this milestone moment,” said Club President Bill Michalopulos. “We want to wish these five players, who are part of the high performing OSU OPDL 2006 and 2007 teams success in their futures.”

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! 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

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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 Manufacturers offering different products, you deserve the one amongst them that 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.

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. 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. DO Understand your device. The performance can greatly vary from one product to another. Have your Audiologist explain to you what you are, and

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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 most generous because achieving 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. 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!

Page 14 FRIDAY, January 21, 2022

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Student athletes upset and frustrated over provincial government snub By Barrhaven Independent Staff Deionte Knight of Barrhaven is one of the country’s top football players, at any level. The Western Mustangs defensive end capped off a dream season with a Vanier Cup championship ring less than two months ago. He was an OUA All-Star, an AllCanadian, and the winner of the Metras Trophy as the top lineman in Canadian university football. But Knight, one of the CFL’s top prospects, is not able to practice or train. According to the recent return to play program announced by Nepean MPP and Minister of Heritage, Sports, Culture and Tourism Lisa MacLeod, Knight and other OUA studentathletes do not qualify as “elite”. Knight is one of many Barrhaven natives playing sports at the university and collegiate level. Being left out of the return to play plan announced by the province has left them frustrated and puzzled. The plan allows professional athletes in the NHL, NBA, CFL, Canadian Premier League (soccer), the

Canadian Elite Basketball League and Major League Baseball, as well as Olympic and Paralympics athletes to train, practice and play. But where things get murky is that the province recognized certain groups as elite, including the Ontario Hockey League, the Provincial Women’s Hockey League, a high school basketball league in Toronto, a U18 basketball league, a provincial junior lacrosse league. It was the same list of sports and organizations that were in the last shut down and return to play plan announced in 2021. “We just don’t understand the decision,” said Garrett Holmes, a teammate of Knight and the founder and president of the Canadian Student Athlete Association. “It was wrong last June, and it is wrong today.” Holmes has launched an email campaign to try and get MacLeod to include student athletes in the elite group of athletes. He also launched a petition with thousands of signatures that will be sent to Ontario Premier Doug Ford. He told the Barrhaven Independent that issues like

Barrhaven’s Deionte Knight won the Metras Trophy as the top lineman in USports Football.

Photo by Brandon VandeCaveye/Western Mustangs

this provided the reason to start the association. “Decisions were being made by universities and colleges, but none of their decisions took the studentathletes into consideration,” Holmes said. “That

may not have been intentional, but it was clear that student-athletes needed a voice at the table. Our association provides that voice.” Holmes started the association in response to

the province’s first snub of university and collegiate athletes in June, 2020. In a virtual press scrum, the Barrhaven Independent asked MacLeod directly why university athletes were not included as elite

athletes in the plan. MacLeod skirted the question and said that university athletes were being supported in other ways, such as funding.

oua continues on page 15

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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT oua continues from page 14 The province has continued to avoid the question. However, MacLeod did release a statement earlier this month. “These time-limited measures will help blunt transmission and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed as the province continues to accelerate its booster dose rollout… “We want to make sure that all of our athletes, including those in university sports, can play when it is safe to do so. We will continue to work with colleges and universities to determine how we can best support athletics at that level.” Holmes and many others have said that the most frustrating thing about the OUA snub is the most of the amateur leagues considered elite are feeder leagues into the OUA. Many of the elite high school basketball players in Toronto will end up playing for Carleton, uOttawa or other powerful USports basketball programs. Carleton and uOttawa are the two topranked university basket-

ball programs in Canada, with several players from both schools jumping to the professional levels in the CEBL, the NBA G League, and various pro leagues in Europe. In 2019, Carleton defeated Baylor University, who went on to win last year’s NCAA men’s basketball championship. Several players from Carleton and uOttawa played in the CEBL as professionals last summer. OUA’s men’s hockey league is made up primarily of former Ontario Hockey League stars. Many players move on from the OUA to play professionally in the AHL, ECHL and in Europe. In the last five years, more than 100 OUA football players have ended up in the CFL, and 40 OUA athletes competed in the Olympics in Tokyo. University of Toronto swimmer Kylie Masse won three medals in Tokyo. “In the 2021 CFL draft, 57 per cent of all draft picks were from USports, and 13 per cent came from

the OUA,” said Holmes. “Compare those numbers to any amateur organization on the list and you will see there is no question the OUA produces elite athletes on a scale that clearly merits it being included. I use football as but one example. The same case can be built for any of the 23 sports the OUA participates in.” Before the Christmas break, the OUA had made the decision to cancel games until Jan. 24 because of the Omicron variant. The provincial ruling shut the OUA down until Jan. 27. While it may seem like only a three-day difference, the provincial ruling has prohibited OUA hockey, basketball and volleyball teams to practice, and athletes from other sports to train and hold off-season practices. Homes has held regular discussions with OUA President and CEO Gord Grace, who is also pushing MacLeod’s office to include university athletes in the return to play plan. Grace issued a letter and

statement, and is promoting the #OUAisELITE social media campaign. “As we continue our ongoing lobbying efforts from the last several months, we are working with our Board of Directors, committees, and members to ensure we are doing all we can to deliver the winter season that our student-athletes deserve,” Grace stated. “Our intent is to return to train now, so that we can resume OUA sport once the government lifts restrictions. Otherwise, our student-athletes will need a training window prior to resuming their OUA sport

programming as scheduled.” Grace is also calling on student-athletes to get involved by emailing their local MPP. “To all of our studentathletes, coaches, and fans across the province, we urge you to take action – continue to post on social media in support of the #OUAisELITE social media campaign; sign petitions (change.org) and reach out to your local MPP to express your opinions; and get your communities and networks involved to demonstrate that, when it comes to Ontario University

Athletics, we are one and we are elite.” Both Grace and Holmes said that a Jan. 27 return did not mean games could be played right away. At least one or two weeks of practice time will be needed by teams before they can compete. “We anticipate the need to remain flexible with scheduling to abide by the health and safety guidelines of our respective institutions, PSOs, and regional public health authorities, but we are all committed to providing our student-athletes with a fulsome and elite OUA experience when it is safe

Page 16 FRIDAY, January 21, 2022

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

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