Perfect
Blue skies and perfect temperatures helped draw the largest crowd in the history of Barrhaven’s Canada Day celebrations July 1.
The celebrations wrapped up a 10-day Canada Day celebration that introduced a multi-cultural day on the main stage Saturday as well as a country music day Sunday.
Darrel Bartraw and Dawn Lilly of the Barrhaven Canada Day organizing committee thanked their fellow board members and praised the several volunteers who made the event a success.
Joining Bartraw and Lilly on the main stage for the opening ceremonies were Nepean MP Chandra Arya, Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod, Barrhaven Councillors Wilson Lo and David Hill, and Mattamy Homes vice-president Kevin Murray.
Bartraw introduced Retired Warrant Chief Warrant Officer David Cole, a 39-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Officers and
a Life Member of the Barrhaven Legion. Cole introduced the colour party and the parade of flags, an annual tradition at the Barrhaven Canada Day opening ceremonies done with the help of the Barrhaven Lions Club and the Barrhaven Legion. Each province’s flag was introduced and carried to the front of the stage n order of when the provinces joined confederation.
“Canadians come from 157 different countries in the world,” said MP Chandra Arya. “We enjoy the freedom we take for granted. We have to remember this freedom is given to us by the men and women in the armed forces in the past and in the present.”
MPP Lisa MacLeod also thanked the men and women in the armed forces. She also thanked Lilly and Bartraw for their work in keeping Barrhaven’s Canada Day alive and creating a great event.
“If you could see what we see up here you see a very diverse community,”
said MacLeod from the stage, facing the crowd.
“Canada has 450 ethnicities, and 450 different languages. Barrhaven is a cosmopolitan community, but it’s also a real reflection of what the rest of Canada
looks like.”
While Barrhaven has been celebrating Canada Day for 42 years, this year’s event was in jeopardy due to funding grant reductions from all three levels of government. A GoFundMe
campaign was started with a goal of $5,000, but only raised $1,500. Bartraw thanked the companies and organizations and the government that stepped up to sponsor the event to ensure it would take place. In par-
ticular, Bartraw thanked Mattamy Homes for their commitment to Barrhaven’s Canada Day for the past 20 years.
For our Barrhaven Canada Day photo album, please see pages 12-13.
Barrhaven traffic blitz nets seven stunt driving charges in six-hour window
Barrhaven residents who have been calling for something to be done by the Ottawa Police Service regarding street racing and stunt driving on Greenbank Road and Woodroffe Avenue finally got some action June 21.
The OPS Residents Matter Enforcement Teams (RMET), composed of OPS frontline and Traffic Unit officers, began deploying to latenight, high-complaint locations in the Barrhaven area. RMET officers
will be taking a zerotolerance approach to all speed, impaired driving, unnecessary noise and related dangerous and disruptive driving behaviour on city streets and roadways.
In a six-hour period, seven drivers were handed Court Summons for stunt driving/street racing for incidents in and just north of Barrhaven on Greenbank Road and Woodroffe Ave.
These charges include:
- 114km/h in 60km/h zone – Greenbank Rd /
Malvern Dr
- 145km/h in 80km/h zone – Woodroffe Ave / Fallowfield Rd
- 121km/h in 80km/h zone – Strandherd Dr / Madrid Ave
- 154km/h in 80km/h zone – Woodroffe Ave / Grenfell Cres
- Greenbank Rd / West Hunt Club Rd – a member of the public called police to report three vehicles racing. Police intercepted them and each driver was charged.
These drivers also had their vehicles seized/
impounded for 14 days, their licences suspended for 30 days, and each face a minimum fine of $2000 and a further minimum one-year driver’s licence suspension, upon conviction.
These charges were among the 94 provincial offence notices issued on Residents Matter’s first night on Fri., June 21. Among them were:
- 28 speeding
- 12 no muffler or improper mufflers
- 9 obstructed licence plates
- 10 invalid permits
- 10 failure to display two licence plates
- 2 unlicensed drivers
Additionally, one driver was given a 3-day licence suspension after registering an ‘alert’ on a roadside alcohol screening device.
“The negative impact of high-risk, disruptive behaviour on our city streets cannot be understated. Residents have spoken, and we’ve been listening; in forming the Residents Matter Enforcement Team
(RMET), our intention is to provide a robust enforcement presence in the evening hours throughout the summer,” said Sergeant Craig Roberts, OPS District Traffic Manager.
Do you have any information about a latenight traffic-related problem location? Traffic complaints can be filed online at: ottawapolice. ca/report. It only takes a few minutes, and the data collected assists us in allocation enforcement resources.
Charges laid in Hate-Motivated vandalism incident in Barrhaven
A hate-motivated vandalism incident earlier this month has led to the arrest of two Barrhaven people. The incident occurred at a home on Maynooth Court in Barrhaven. Ottawa Police Service re-
ceived an online report June 7th, and an investigation was commenced by the Ottawa Police Hate and Bias Crime Unit.
Jaime Darlene Quigley, 46, and Mathew Galipeau, 36, were charged with mis-
chief/damage to property not exceeding $5000 and harassment by threatening conduct to other person.
CTV Ottawa reported that home security footage of the incident was posted online. According to their
story, the footage showed two people, a man and a woman, making racist, anti-Asian comments from a driveway adjacent to the home of a South Korean family and throwing eggs at the house.
They are scheduled to appear in court on July 24th.
The Ottawa Police continues to encourage anyone who witnesses or experiences such incidents to report them to police. Reporting hate-motivated incidents is an important step in stopping cycles of hatred.
Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS).
School graduations and Canada Day mark the beginning of summer
It’s a special time of year for Ontario’s youth as school is out for the summer.
Congratulations to all elementary and secondary school students for completing another year on the educational path to your future. While Ontario has one of the world’s best educational systems, we are also blessed locally with talented, caring, and devoted teachers, as well as countless full-time, parttime workers and volunteers who contribute to the school experience.
The school year was met with some challenges this year but overcoming these challenges help galvanize our communities and make us stronger and more resilient.
In addition to congratulating the students and thanking the teachers and school administrators for a great year, there are other groups that deserve recognition. We learned this year the importance of the role of our bus drivers plays in every day lives of families in the Carleton riding. We also have several dedicated volunteers on various parent councils who were responsible for not only making the school year better for the children of their school communities, but also who had a strong voice and who advocated to implement changes when necessary. It was a pleasure to meet so many of you and work with so many of you.
And how about a big thank you to the crossing guards. Not only do they keep students safe and suffer through some miserable weather all winter, but they develop friendships with parents and children they
see every morning and afternoon and become a familiar and friendly face in the daily routines of children and their families.
There are many more people to thank as we close the book on another school year, but it is amazing to think of how many people influence our young students beyond our teachers, vice-principals.
And what better way to celebrate the end of the school year than to a have a great Canada Day weekend?
Canada Day is one of the busiest days of the year, but it is also my favourite day of the summer. Carleton is a large riding geographically, and each year we have Canada Day festivities at every corner of the riding and many places in between! Canada Day celebrations take place in Riverside South, Vernon, Greely, Osgoode, North Gower, Stittsville, Munster, and the Rideau Carleton Casino.
Personally, it is a special day for me and my family as we celebrate being Canadians and living in the best country in the world. I was only a year old when my family fled Iran to escape the terrorist IRGC regime. There is not a day that goes by that we aren’t thankful to be here and to fully embrace being Canadian.
Ontario begins automatic license plate renewal
The Ontario government
is making life easier and more convenient for more than eight million drivers by becoming the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce automatic licence plate renewals. The change takes effect on July 1, 2024, and will save vehicle owners time, amounting to more than 900,000 hours every year.
Licence plates for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles, and mopeds will automatically renew 90 days before expiry if the vehicle owner has valid insurance and no outstanding fines or tolls. If a licence plate cannot be renewed automatically, the vehicle owner will be notified and required to manually renew online or in person at ServiceOntario.
Until automatic licence plate renewals take effect, vehicle owners are required to manually renew their plates at no cost. Ontarians can check their licence plate status at ontario.ca/platerenewal.
Quick Facts
- Vehicle owners can ensure they do not miss digital notifications about issues related to automatic renewal by signing up for ServiceOntario reminders at https://reminders.ontario.ca/en or 1-800-3873445.
- Vehicle owners who have signed up for ServiceOntario digital notifications will be sent notifications through email, text, or voicemail if their licence plates cannot be renewed at 90, 45, and 10 days before expiry, and again at 72 hours after expiry.
- Vehicle owners who have not signed up for
digital notifications will be sent paper notifications by mail 90 days before expiry and 72 hours after expiry.
- In 2022, the Ontario government eliminated licence plate sticker fees and stickers for passenger vehicles, saving drivers up to $120 a year for every car they own.
- The introduction of automatic licence plate renewals will not change the way the province, municipalities or the 407 ETR collect unpaid fines and tolls.
- In May 2024, the Get It Done Act received Royal Assent allowing for the transition to automatic renewal of licence plates.
Ontario Supporting Francophone Entrepreneurs
The Ontario government is investing $500,000 over the next two years in the Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario (FGA) to help Ontario’s Francophone entrepreneurs start or grow a business. The support will allow the FGA to provide free French language business advisory services to the province’s Francophone business community.
The province’s support for the FGA will help broaden the influence of Francophone and bilingual businesses, stimulating job creation and unlocking new market opportunities. In partnership with Small Business Enterprise Centres (SBECs) across the province, the FGA will offer business advisory supports to Francophone entrepreneurs in their preferred language without service interruption.
Small businesses play a critical role in all of Ontario’s communities and are an essential part of the province’s economy, employing over two million people. Ontario offers a range of programs and supports to help entrepreneurs start and grow new companies, including Intellectual Property Ontario, Starter Company Plus, Summer Company and tailored options, advice, and business analysis through business advisory services.
Quick Facts
- Ontario government support for the FGA is to help broaden the influence of Francophone and bilingual businesses, stimulating job creation, and unlocking new market opportunities by focusing on three areas: entrepreneurship and innovation, a bilingual skilled workforce through education, training, and employability, and promoting Ontario’s Francophonie as an economic asset.
- The Ontario government’s approach to Francophone affairs is based on two complementary strategies. Together, the French Language Services Strategy and the Francophone Economic Development Strategy aim to recruit and train a bilingual, skilled workforce, and increase the availability of front-line services in French, as well as support Francophone and bilingual businesses to encourage their full participation in the province’s economic prosperity.
- In 2021, the government granted a start-up investment to support the development of an Ontario
Francophone business network, now the Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario (FGA). Representing over 5,000 companies, entrepreneurs and institutional partners, the FGA is one of the three Canadian members of the Alliance des patronats francophones and one of the four founding members of the new Alliance de la francophonie économique canadienne (AFEC).
- Announced in the 2024 Ontario Budget, the government is helping an additional 500 entrepreneurs across the province start and grow a business with an added investment of $4.8 million over two years through the Starter Company Plus program.
- The Ontario government is providing an additional investment of $1.5 million over two years to bolster its Summer Company program, helping an additional 250 young people start and grow a business.
- The Digitalization Competence Centre is a $10 million investment that provides small businesses support with digital literacy, accelerating digital adoption, and enhancing technological capacity.
Office Notice: My office is open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. If you require assistance on any matter, please contact me at any time. My staff and I will be happy to assist. Even if it’s not a provincial issue, I’ll make sure to connect you with the proper office.
Goldie Your voice at Queen’s Park
Ford removes Ghamari from PC caucus, MPP will sit as an independent
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has removed Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari from the Progressive Conservative Caucus.
The announcement was made after the Premier’s office received thousands of emails in a campaign from various Muslim groups, including the National Council of Canadian Muslims. The NCCM sent out a statement thanking Premier Ford, and to its membership for sending thousands of emails calling for Ghamari’s removal. Ghamari accepted a virtual meeting with Tommy Robinson, a British right wing activist accused of spreading Islamaphobia.
Various groups have been calling for Ghamari’s removal from caucus since the local MPP began speaking out against the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini in Iran at the hands of the Islamic revolutionary Guard Corps for wearing her hijab incorrectly.
The Premier’s office issued a statement Friday, June 29.
“Today, the premier has made the decision to remove MPP Goldie Ghamari from the Ontario PC Caucus, effective immediately.
“This decision follows
repeated instances of serious lapses in judgement and a failure to collaborate constructively with caucus leadership and as a team member.
“While this decision did not come easily, it has become clear that MPP Ghamari can no longer continue in her role within our caucus.”
Ghamari issued an apology the next day saying she did not know who Robinson was when she agreed to speak with him. She did not speak to the media, but she has posted on the X platform. In her post immediately after the announcement, she wrote that “when one door closes another one opens.”
NDP leader Marit Stiles also called for Ghamari’s removal from Caucus, posting on X that “Ontarians expect their elected reps to stand with them against hate, not cozy up to those peddling it.”
Ghamari has been critical of Stiles and the NDP. Last week she called Stiles and the NDP “anti-Iranian racists” and posted that the NDP “refused to condemn a listed terrorist organization that kills Iranians (including my own family members) and now they’re attacking me just because I was
trying to raise awareness about the terrorist Islamic Regime in Iran in my spare time as a human rights advocate.”
She posted a copy of a statement from last Thursday that “Progressive Conservative and Liberal MPPs voted 78-0 to condemn Hamas and confirm Israel’s right to defend itself, as the war between the Palestinian militant group and Israel continues.
“All Progressive Conservative and Liberal MPPs voted in favour of the motion, which was tabled by House Leader Paul Calandra on Monday. The NDP abstained from the vote.”
For the rest of the political term, Ghamari will sit as an independent MPP in the Legislature. Her constituency office, which is non-political, will remain open and continue to serve Carleton residents.
In another post on X, Ghamari was critical of the double standard of how Robinson was arrested in Canada, but IRGC and Hamas supporter Firas Al Najim “constantly breaches his bail obligations to dress up in Islamic Regime clothes and threaten politicians like me with zero consequences.”
man Rights, dress ng an orthodox Jew to get into an event held by the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto to harass an elderly woman who was a holocaust survivor.
A month later, Al Najim was charged for dangerous driving after driving at a high rate of speed toward a crowd that was protesting the IRGC regime. According to a police press release, “the accused stopped the vehicle abruptly, squealing the tires while yelling at the protestors.”
Al Najim was released after spending one night in jail.
Positive Support
The timing of Ford’s announcement came at a time when Ghamari had perhaps her best month serving the Carleton riding.
wetlands mapping plan.
According to local farmers and landowners, having their land declared wetlands would devalue their land by about 80 per cent, meaning a parcel of land worth $1.5 million would be worth $300,000 or less after it is designated as wetlands.
In November, Al Najim travelled from Toronto to Ghamari’s office in Richmond wanting to see the MPP. She was not in the office, but later in the day he made a video that was posted on Tik Tok calling Ghamari a “racist”, a “crook”, and a “prostitute.” He also accused her of having “mental health issues.”
In September, 2022, the Toronto Star ran a story accusing Al Najim, the head of a pro-Iranian regime and anti-Israeli organization called Canadian Defenders for Hu-
She recently announced five major school projects, which is unprecedented for the Carleton riding. She fought for and got funding for a French high school in Riverside South, an elementary school in Findlay Creek, a high school and elementary school in Stittsville, and a major elementary school expansion in Richmond.
Less than 48 hours before Ford’s announcement, Ghamari shut down a wetlands mapping plan by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority that would have seen hundreds of farmers and landowners declared wetlands. Ghamari met with several landowners and farmers and pushed for Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Graydon Smith to force the RVCA and the South Nation Conservation Authority to hut the brakes on the
With hundreds of farmers and landowners affected by the planned wetlands designation, Ghamari’s supporters say her work in getting Smith to stop the plan potentially protected more than $100 million for the local economy in the Carleton riding.
Tik Tok Star
Ghamari posted over the Canada Day weekend that since she is no longer a member of the PC Caucus, she will be able to reinstate her Tik Tok
account n her personal phone. She has close to 275,000 followers. She added that her videos about IRGC terrorists threats in Canada and around the world have had millions of views.
As the first Iranian-Canadian woman elected in politics in Canada, she used her spare time to crusade against the IRGC and make the province and the country aware of the threats that the terrorist organization poses to Canadians. Her work raised awareness in Canada for Mahsa Amini, and was also instrumental in letting Canadians know about the terrorist IRGC regime. She was vocal in pressuring Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to declare the IRGC as a terrorist organization, which he recently did.
IRGC and Hamas activist Firas Al Najim showed up at Ghamari’s constituency office in Richmond looking for her in November.
Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari enjoys a Canada Day moment with her dog, Baxter.
City View Centre for Child and Family Services celebrates 50 years
City View Centre for Child and Family Services celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this month.
The business hosted an open house Sat., June 8 at its building at Longfields and Strandherd.
During this celebration, former Barrhaven councillor Jan Harder was present. She helped City View achieve their space in Barrhaven. She spoke fondly of all the opportunities she had to be part of at City View, such as reading to the children and advocating for the needed child care in the city. Current Councilor Wilson Lo was also on hand to say a few words and present Nadine Amyotte (Executive Director) and her team with a certificate of achievement.
In 1974, Kathy Yach and Shelley Bond had a dream to build a childcare centre that provided the best quality of care
for children. The centre opened with five children in care and grew to where they now provide care for about 300 children in both centre and home-based care. City View also provided developmental information on milestones and playgroups to many families in the area.
A dedication of the Group Care office was made to Kathy Yach for her years with the agency in her many roles throughout the years.
The centre also revealed a new outdoor li-
brary built and donated by ROJO Construction. This will provide many reading opportunities for
all our families. When pigs fly: With a little imagination, anything is possible.
Kathy Yach addresses the gathering at the City View 50th anniversary celebration.
INDEPENDENT EDITorIal
Capital gains tax undermines the backbone of the Canadian economy
It’s hard to recall a time when capital gains taxes have drawn so much attention. Historically, changes to capital gains taxation have largely flown under the radar. However, the latest modifications are different.
Starting June 25, 2024, capital gains up to $250,000 will continue to be taxed at the standard 50 percent inclusion rate. Gains exceeding C$250,000, however, will be taxed at a new inclusion rate of 66.67 percent for individuals. Furthermore, the 2024 federal budget introduces two other notable changes: all capital gains generated through a corporation will be subject to the 66.67 percent inclusion rate, and the lifetime capital gains exemption for eligible property will increase from $1,016,836 to $1,250,000.
These changes raise significant concerns for family businesses, particularly in the agri-food sector, where most farms are family-run operations. The Grain Growers of Canada, representing over 65,000 family-owned farms, recently released a report contradicting Ottawa’s claim that only 0.13 percent of Canadians, or fewer than 60,000 people, will be affected. The report suggests a much broader impact.
Generational succession planning is a cornerstone in agri-food, particularly farming. Currently, less than 1.7 percent of Canadians are involved in farming, a percentage likely to decrease over time. Canada is losing between 700 to 1,000 farms annually. By making farming less financially attractive, the number of farms will continue to dwindle, leading to greater consolidation and fewer family-owned farms.
Many farmers plan to pass their farms on to the next generation. Increased capital gains taxes could complicate estate planning and succession. The tax burden on asset transfers may be higher, leading to more family farms being sold off or broken up to pay taxes, potentially reducing the number of family-owned farms and altering the landscape of rural communities.
The impact extends beyond farming. According to IBISWorld, Canada has nearly 80,000 full-service restaurants, many of which are family-owned. These businesses could be significantly affected by the increased capital gains tax.
If we aspire to grow our economy and increase competition across the agri-food sector, raising taxes to ensure “the wealthy face the same tax burden as nurses” is not the solution. A more effective approach might be to reduce the tax burden for nurses instead.
Family Enterprise Canada states that family-owned businesses make up 63.1 percent of all private sector firms in the Canadian economy, contributing 48.9 percent to Canada’s real GDP in the private sector, amounting to $574.6 billion. Additionally, they employ 6.9 million people nationwide, representing 46.9 percent of private sector employment.
The changes to the capital gains tax will likely affect much more than just 0.13 percent of Canadians. Ottawa must reconsider its approach to avoid undermining the backbone of our food economy: family-owned agri-food businesses.
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
BARRHAVEN
5567 Manotick Main St., P.O. Box 567, Manotick, Ontario K4M 1A5
News and Editorial: manotickmessenger@gmail.com
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Website: www.manotickmessenger.ca
Staff/Contributors: Gary Coulombe, Larry Ellis, Skyler Fraser, Goldie Ghamari, Wilson Lo, Jeffrey Morris, Greg Newton.
Fear and loathing on a Sunday at Costco
The Diva looked at me with her big brown eyes in that way that I couldn’t say no to anything she would ask.
“Can you go to Costco today?”
My heart sank.
“Costco? Seriously?”
“Yes,” she replied. “I made a list for you. I used your favourite New York Yankees notepad.”
She played her personal trump card and did the blinking thing with her eye lashes. She knows I have no defence against that.
The little voice inside my head appeared and gave me words of wisdom.
‘Dude,’ it said excitedly. ‘We’re going to Costco! Think of all the samples, and a jumbo hot dog and drink is only a buck fifty!’
I just started to unload the look of dread-plus-fear on my face when I heard the Diva’s voice from the bathroom.
“And don’t even think about getting one of those hot dogs,” she said, not realizing I was actually thinking of having two. “You are supposed to be eating clean and fasting.”
So much for that.
I accepted my fate, showered and shaved, and hit the 416.
I got to Costco, found a parking spot, and started gingerly approaching the store’s front doors. My heart started to race. I imagined the headline dripping with irony and fate as I imagined my big cow heart exploding all over the Costco parking lot.
I snapped out of it, Frogger’d my way through the parking lot to the door, flashed my card to the guy at the door, and I was in.
I got my cart. It only turned left, kind of like if Costco sponsored a NASCAR car. Evidently, I would be shopping counter clockwise, like they do at Costco in Australia. In the second aisle, I hit my first log jam. It was the sample table.
hind me. They couldn’t pass me. I could hear them hemming and hawing, sighing impatiently. I turned around and it was a little pudgy guy with a beard, chewing on his free cracker while leaning on his cart and steering with his elbows. Apparently at Costco, standing upright and using your hands to steer a cart requires far too much effort for most people.
As I worked my way through the crowd, it was more of the same. Sample frenzies, people leaving their carts in the middle of crowded aisles while they look for the perfect bag of avocados, and my personal nemeses, the elbow steering lazy sloths.
I found my way to the little dairy room. Milk covered the floor and the elbow steerers rammed into each other trying to get in and out. You know exactly what I was thinking. Who could have possibly imagined milk in plastic bags would spill like this on the store floor?
Finally, I got to checkout. We were all cattle-herded into our lines. Beside me, a four-year-old boy and a six-yearold girl were screaming and yelling as they fought over who got to wear the bike helmet. The parents leaned on the cart and wished they were somewhere else. On the other side, a kid with a giant head and curly hair sat in his cart and screamed because he wanted an ice cream. I wouldn’t normally say anything about a kid’s head being too big, but I think that’s why his voice was so loud. And it really was big. The eggs were actually trying to free themselves from the carton beside him to orbit his melon.
I started to think about the hot dog. I needed that hot dog. I deserved that hot dog. But then I looked at the line. About 300 people wanted a hot dog, too. I couldn’t work it. No diggity.
The Barrhaven Independent is published every other FRIDAY in Manotick, Ontario. Letters will be edited for length, clarity and libellous statements. Display rates are available on request. The Barrhaven Independent is not responsible for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other material used for publication purposes.
Shoppers migrate to the sample table like Pavlov’s dog, with their tongues sticking out and lust dripping off their taste buds. This sample was some sort of a cracker-looking thing with what looked like hummus. People were jockeying for position, desperate to reach for the next little paper sample cup. I honestly think that if the Costco sample table offered balls of peppered snot on a piece of chipotle sandpaper, there would still be a line-up for it.
I manoeuvered through the crowd and got to the end of the aisle.
I saw the first item on the list. It was the jumbo zillion-pack skid of Excel gum that was on for $9.99. I stopped for about 12 seconds to grab the gum and put it in Lefty the Cart, and apparently I ruined the lives of the two people be-
I got through checkout and got in the next line, where you hand your receipt to the guy with the Sharpie pen. When it was my turn, he glanced in my basket, glanced at my receipt, and wrote a big happy face on it.
I somehow got through the parking lot. It’s almost like the Costco drivers steer their cars with their elbows, too. I got to the car, loaded everything into the car, and texted the Diva.
“Please don’t ever make me do this again. I can’t do this without you.”
She texted back and said thanks, then sent me an emoticon. It was the one with the big eye lashes and the smile. I guess I’ll be back in a couple of weeks.
And screw fasting and eating clean. I’m getting the hot dog.
Breakfast on the Farm event draws a big crowd
It’s one thing to have some people over for breakfast.
But on Sat., June 22, Peter Ruiter and his family hosted 2,800 people for a farm fresh breakfast at Blackrapids farm at Prince of Wales and Fallowfield on the edge of Barrhaven.
The event was part of the Breakfast on the Farm program held by Farm and Food care Ontario.
“We weren’t really sure how many people were going to get,” said Ruiter. “We had enough food for 3,000 so everyone was able to get breakfast.”
The program gave the opportunity for visitors to learn about the world of agriculture and witness firsthand the variety of food produced right here in Ontario. Experts, including farmers and
hand to provide insights and answer any questions for an engaging and enlightening experience for visitors.
Visitors to the farm had to register in advance. There was a shuttle bus running between the Fallowfield Park and Ride in Barrhaven to the farm.
The farm is unique because of the technology used in the barn. Ruiter’s farm was destroyed by fire several years ago, resulting in the loss of 88 cows. When he rebuilt the farm, it was done with the latest in technology and robotic farming.
“The advancements in technology have attracted a lot of young people to be interested in farming,” Ruiter said. “A lot of young people who may have turned away from farming are now being
The Ruiter family has operated Balckrapids Farm for 62 years. Peter’s parents, originally from the Netherlands, started the farm in the early 1960s.
Their farm is home to 110 animals and showcases the impressive innovation and technology used in farming today. At the breakfast, the Ruiter family encouraged Barrhaven residents to visit Blackrapids farm to tour a modern dairy barn and witness firsthand how robots seamlessly handle tasks such as milking and feeding, reflecting the Ruiter Family’s commitment to efficiency and sustainability.
In the rotation of cows, Ruiter keeps several cows across Prince of Wales in a field that is part of the farm.
Throughout the years, the most common question Ruiter is asked is how he gets the cows across the busy Prince of Wales Drive. When asked how many guests asked him that question during the event, he responded by saying “all of them.”
Theories have floated through the community that perhaps there is an underground tunnel under Prince of Wales Drive, or even that Ruiter, who is 6’10” and build like Paul Bunyon, hoists the dairy cows on his shoulders and walks across the road.
“I have to come up with a good story for people when they ask that question,” he said. “Once we had a helicopter do some fertilizing for us. People driving by were so
busy looking up and watching that there were nearly accidents on the road.”
The Breakfast on the Farm program runs an aver-
age of three events per year. The event at Blackrapids Farm marked the first time that a farm in Ottawa has been a host.
Peter Ruiter of Blackrapids Farm had about 2,800 people over for breakfast on June 22.
10 Years Ago: MPP Lisa MacLeod
From the Barrhaven Independent June 26, 2014
The voters in Ontario spoke loudly and clearly, and it was not what Lisa MacLeod expected to hear.
Although MacLeod reclaimed her Nepean Carleton seat at Queen’s Park by almost 9,000 votes, she was visibly rattled by the sound defeat her Progressive Conservative Party suffered at the hands of Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Liberal Government.
MacLeod won the riding with 30,778 votes. Liberal Jack Uppal was second with 22,011 votes, while NDP candidate Ric Dagenais was third with 8,662 votes. Gordon Kubanek of the Green Party was fourth with 3,639 votes, and Libertarian Party candidate Coreen Corcorane had 955 votes.
Greeting a crowd of about 100 supporters at the Black Dog Bistro in Manotick following the election, MacLeod called her victory “a four-peat before the age of 40.” MacLeod first won the Nepean-Carleton seat at Queen’s Park in 2007, after
MPP John Baird jumped into federal politics to win the Ottawa West-Nepean seat.
MacLeod began her short victory speech by thanking her supporters and campaign volunteers, calling them “the most determined, the most principled, and the most vigorous supporters.”
MacLeod also thanked Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak for his “principled leadership,” adding that “it is a pleasure to serve alongside him.”
The numbers in MacLeod’s win could be translated two ways. She received the second highest number of votes in the province, with only Oak Ridges-Markham Liberal Helena Jaczek (36,858) receiving more. Her margin of victory, however, narrowed over her last three elections. It marked the first time in her four victories that
she did not get more than 50 per cent of the vote, as she collected just over 46 per cent. Her margin of victory also shrunk from more than 15,000 votes in 2011 to less than 8,000 this time around.
Liberal candidate Jack Uppal had a strong showing despite a smear campaign launched by the Progressive Conservatives over a January Facebook post just two hours after MacLeod’s official campaign launch in Barrhaven. Uppal, an IndoCanadian businessman and realtor, had 22,011 votes, the most for a provincial Liberal candidate since the formation of the Nepean-Carleton riding. Uppal’s camp was positive and upbeat following the election, celebrating their party’s surprising majority victory in the election.
MacLeod had no answers for the stunning defeat her
Barrhaven moms strike gold!
For a group of 23 Barrhaven moms, six months of training both in the pool and on the river paid off. Last weekend at the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragonboat Festival, the largest of its kind in North America, the Lipstick Dragons of Barrhaven placed fourth overall for women’s teams after the qualifying heats on Saturday. Sunday, the team took Gold in the 200m A final, and Bronze in both the 100 and 500m A finals. The team is now changing its training plan slightly as the 1000m challenge is coming up at the Rideau Canoe Club Festival on August 16th. The Lipstick Dragons would like to thank their sponsor, the Moussa MacDonald Team, also from Barrhaven, as well as a set of team paddles from The Big Easy/Rosie’s and pullovers from Comvault.
party suffered.
“I’m still digesting what happened,” she said.
“We’re here in Manotick, and it was in this village that Sir John A. Macdonald had his campaign office for the 1882 election. He said that elections were like horse races. You learn a lot about them the day after.”
MacLeod’s horse racing metaphore had a stinging but poignant local flavour. One of the most controversial moves made by the McGuinty-Wynne Liberals was to scrap the Slots at Racetracks Program. Despite Wynne’s announcement for funding for the horse racing industry, Eastern Ontario horsemen are only receiving a small percentage of what they were receiving under the old program, which was a program they built and funded at the tracks. Ontario horsemen estimated that more than 50,000 jobs, including more than 1,000 in the Nepean-Carleton area, would be lost.
MacLeod announced on behalf of the Progressive Conservative Government would bring back the program with a victory.
As the results of the Liberal Majority were unfolding, Hudak announced that he would be stepping down as his party’s leader. MacLeod deflected questions when she was asked if she would consider running for the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives. Former
MPP Norm Stirling, however, gave her a ringing endorsement.
“Lisa MacLeod shows all the leadership qualities we need for our party,” he told CBC at MacLeod’s victory celebration. “She understands the middle class and she understands women’s issues. She’s compassionate and she has a great presence in the legislature and outside of the legislature.”
Riverside South Community Association Canada Day biggest and best to date
Chris Zimmerman of the Junk Yard Symphony entertains the crowd.
Who wouldn’t want to score on the Leafs?
Volunteering to sit in the dunk tank was one way to stay cool in the hot sun.
Carleton MP and Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre had a team of volunteers to talk to Riverside South residents at his booth.
Dundee, a baby crocodile, was a favourite of the crowd gathered to watch the Little Rays reptile show.
Canada Day volunteer Abdel Moustafa poses for a photo with the Riverside South Community Association mascot. A large crowd turned out to Claudette Cain Park for the Riverside South Canada Day celebration.
Happy Belated Canada Day! Barrhaven is a
Canada as a country may be just 157 years old, but the human history on this land stretches far beyond that, and is a rich and fascinating tapestry of culture, conflict, and change.
From First Nations residents whose ancestors have nurtured this land here and elsewhere for millennia, descendants of European settlers, and generations of families from around the world who built this country for 157 years and counting to new residents who just started calling Canada home, and everyone in between and to come, we embody everything great and some things that can be better to make this the best country in the world.
I didn’t take very well to Ottawa’s slogan, “Canada in One City,” at first, but the more I go around Barrhaven, the more I see why it’s fitting, reflected in the faces, experiences, and backgrounds of so many people and families I’ve met so far.
I wouldn’t trade it for anything or anywhere in the world.
Celebrating The Creativity of Local Youth
Last month, the Barrhaven BIA (with city funding), unveiled eighteen newly decorated traffic signal control boxes across both wards in Barrhaven.
This initiative reached out to area high schools over the last few months to find talented students willing to give artwork for digitization, printing, and wrapping on
otherwise drab signals control boxes.
They complement the twenty boxes wrapped last year, in a design created by another local artist, also through another a successful initiative of the BIA.
Each design speaks to the Barrhaven experience through the lens of local youth. The BIA selected five designs, by six students, from three area high schools, which are now on display across Barrhaven.
Seeing the creativity from our community’s students on full display fills me with immense pride as a Councillor, a BIA board member, and a resident. I’m grateful they were willing to share their creativity, but also to BIA staff for leading the initiative.
The students whose designs are on display can point to signals control boxes bearing their artwork and say “hey, I did that!”
Water Safety
With summer in full swing, people in the community will take full advantage of pools, rivers, and lakes to have fun and/or cool off.
I’ll be taking full advantage of my new kayak when I’m not working, although I do want to take a Teams meeting with the Mayor on the water, just for fun. Although being in or on
the water is fun, without taking precautions or if not following the rules, it can be dangerous. The Ottawa Fire Service has had a busy month with water rescues, including two which ended tragically.
Drowning, particularly in backyard pools, is the second leading cause of preventable child deaths. It is fast and silent. A responsible adult who knows how to swim and who knows basic water rescue, first aid, or CPR, should constantly supervise young swimmers.
Weak and non-swimmers should wear personal flotation devices (PFD), but it’s not a replacement for supervision. PFDs must also fit properly to work.
Residents with backyard pools should ensure required enclosures are in place and functioning properly to prevent children from inadvertently accessing the pool.
Around rivers and lakes, ensure children know to stay away from fast moving water and that everyone is aware of nearby hazards before heading in.
If, like me, you’re heading onto the water in a watercraft, remember to carry the mandatory safety equipment as determined by Transport Canada, which consists of a PFD for each person on board, a buoyant heaving line at least 15 metres in length, bailer or hand pump, sound signalling device (whistle, air horn), a waterproof flashlight, lights if operating in the dark or in low visibility, and fire extinguisher and appropriate licences (motorised
vessels only).
Water safety resources are available, including Ottawa Public Health’s water safety portal. Consider giving it a browse!
The Barrhaven BIA used the talents of local high school students to display their talents as artists on signal control boxes in the community.
Barrhaven residents flock to Clarke Fields to celebrate Canada Day
The Avalanche was a popular ride at Canada Day.
Organizers served birthday cake to hundreds for Canada’s birthday.
A crowd on the hill of the back stage enjoys the warm sunshine.
The Drop Zone was once again a favourite.
The Cliff Hanger had a constant long line-up throughout Canada Day.
Dawn Lilly and Darrel Bartraw worked relentlessly year round to make sure Barrhaven Canada Day went off without a hitch.
The kids’ roller coaster was busy all week long.
A long line-up waits for a piece of cake.
Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod was among the guest speakers.
East Barrhaven Councillor Wilson Lo said it was the first Barrhaven Canada Day in years with beautiful weather.
Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod chats with Rabbi Menachem Blum of the Ottawa Torah Centre in Barrhaven.
Monkey Rocks took the main stage to perform after the opening ceremonies.
West Barrhaven Councillor David Hill did two tours of duty with the Canadian armed forces.
Barrhaven magician The Great Arjunia entertained the masses of all ages.
Calgary Flames select Barrhaven’s Henry Mews in 2024 NHL Draft
LAS VEGAS – Henry Mews had a local entourage with him in Las Vegas as he waited for his name to be called at the NHL Draft Sat., June 29.
In the third round, the Barrhaven native finally heard his name called and received congratulations from his parents, his three younger brothers, his agent, and his trainer, Tony Greco.
“It’s a special group to me,” Mews said. “They’re all really excited and happy for me and I wouldn’t be here without them. It’s their moment just as much as mine.”
Mews is an offensiveminded defenceman cut from the same cloth as the last Barrhaven native drafted, Brandt Clarke in 2021. He played his minor hockey in the Nepean Raiders program before jumping to the Myers AAA program. He left Barrhaven to play for the Toronto Jr. Canadians
in the GTA, where he was moved from forward to defence. He has spent the last two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Ottawa 67s.
“It’s unbelievable to be drafted into the NHL,” Mews told the media after being drafted Saturday.
“It’s a dream come true. It doesn’t matter what team selected me but Calgary –I’ve been there once before – is a great city I watch a lot of their games. They’ve got a great fan base.”
Mews, who confessed at the NHL Combine that he has lived and breathed hockey throughout his life, has spent his career playing defence and also playing forward. The 6’, 180-pound Mews is a strong skater and is highly-skilled, but he is known mostly for his high hockey IQ. He was one of the best passers from the blueline in the OHL, particularly om the power play.
He thrives on putting his teammates in a good position to score.
With the 67s during the 2023-24 season, he was second on the team in scoring despite being a blueliner. He scored 15 goals and had 46 assists for 61 points in 68 games.
Being an offensiveminded defenceman makes sense for a player who grew up going to games at Canadian Tire Centre and watching Erik Karlsson in his prime with the Ottawa Senators.
Mews has grown as a player with the 67s, and will likely be back for a third season with them in the fall after Calgary’s training camp.
“They’re a first class organization and I wouldn’t have been able to do be here without them,” Mews said of the 67s. “They’ve been great to me.
“I started off as a forward
and then started playing so I’ve just been continuing to develop in my position and continue how to play the game the right way. The coaches have been great. (Ottawa 67s head coach) Dave (Cameron) actually
coached in Calgary, and he knows what it takes to make the NHL. He’s taught me a lot.”
Mews is hoping to improve defensively in the upcoming season to become a more complete player.
“It’s my third year playing D exclusively so I’ve got to learn how to play the pro style game,” Mews said. “I think the offensive skills are there and I’ve just got to learn how to be a complete defenceman to play in the NHL one day and continue to get bigger and stronger too.”
Mews was also happy to go to Calgary, saying that it is a good situation for him.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Mews said. “They’re rebuilding and they’re giving their young guys an opportunity to play and develop. I’m, really excited for the opportunity and it’s going to be great for my development. I’ve got a lot of room to grow as a player so it’s a perfect opportunity for me.
Mews is happy that the draft is over and that he can get back to work in the gym. He said that going to Vegas for the NHL Draft was a special experience.
“It’s been pretty stressful but I tried to stay as calm as I could,” Mews said. “I tried to not worry. I knew I was going to be selected and whatever team drafts you want you. So it’s been great here in Vegas so far.
“It’s a pretty unique spot. It’s the last draft. It’s a great environment and great spot to have the draft and I am going to remember this moment for the rest of my life.”
From Yzerman to Mews, Barrhaven’s NHL draft picks through the years
After Barrhaven’s Henry Mews was drafted by the Calgary Flames, we decided to take a look at some other Barrhaven players who have been drafted by NHL teams. Please note that goalie Fred Brathwaite, a Barrhaven native who had a long career in the NHL, KHL and Germany, made the NHL as an undrafted rookie so he is not included below.
Brandt Clarke (2021, Los Angleles Kings, Round 1, 8th overall)
Brandt Clarke was one of the top-producing defencemen in OHL history. In his three years with the Barrie Colts, Clarke totalled 158 points in 143 games. When he joined the Colts in the 2022-23 season after helping Canada win gold at the World Junior Tournament, Clarke was on fire with 61 points in 31 games, with a points per game total similar to what Bobby Orr had as an Oshawa General in the mid-1960s. Clarke had two assists in nine games with the Kings in 2022-23, and then had two goals and four assists in nine games with the Kings in 202324. He spent most of the season with the Ontario (California) Reign of the AHL, and registered 10 goals and 36 assists for 46 points in 50 games. When he was called up to the NHL in 2023-24, his first game was the first career NHL game of his brother Graeme, who was playing for the New Jersey Devils.
Graeme Clarke (2019, New Jersey Devils, Round 3, 80th overall)
The older brother of Brandt Clarke, Graeme was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in 2019. He missed most of the next season with the Ottawa 67s after suffering a shoulder injury, but still put up 17 points in 16 games. In the COVIDshortened 2020-21 season, he played six games in Slovakia last year with his brother, and then joined the
Binghamton Devils of the AHL as the Ontario Hockey League did not play that year. In his first year as an underage pro, he had eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 31 games. He has spent most of the last three years with the AHL Utica Comets and has 25 goals in each of the last two seasons. Clarke got called up to the Devils and played his first NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings and his younger brother, Brandt.
Serron Noel (2018, Florida Panthers, Round 2, 34th overall)
The son of former CFL running back Dean Noel, Serron left Barrhaven to play junior hockey for the Oshawa Generals. As a 6’5”, 18-year-old winger, he had a career-high 34 goals and 47 assists for 81 points in 68 games with the Generals in the 2018-19 season. He was traded to Kitchener halfway through the 2019-20 season, scoring 18 goals and picking up 29 assists for 47 points in 48 games. In 2020-21, Noel played for the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL. He played eight games and had a goal and three assists for four points. He then played a full season with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. In 202223 he played seven games for the Florida Everblades (ECHL) and last season he played 12 games for the Newfoundland Growlers of the ECHL. He is currently a free agent.
Zach Senyshyn (2015, Boston Bruins, Round 1, 15th overall)
One of only three Barrhaven players to be selected in the first round of the NHL Draft, Senyshyn got his first taste of NHL hockey in 2018-19, plying two games and scoring his first NHL goal. The 6’1”, 207-pound right winger has spent most of the last three seasons with the Bruins’ AHL team in Providence, but he has earned a call-up to the NHL in each
of those years. He got his first call-up to Boston at the end of the 2018-19 and scored a goal in his first NHL game. He played two games with Boston that year, then four the next. He played eight games with the Bruins in 2020-21. He was traded to Ottawa in 2021-22 and dressed for two games with the Sens. After dividing his time between Belleville, Utica and the Chicago Wolves in the AHL over two seasons, Senyshyn went to Europe for the 2023-24 season and had 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points in 51 games with the Schwennigan Wild Wings of the German Elite League.
Nick Baptiste (2013, Buffalo Sabres, Round 3, 69th overall)
Baptiste was a linemate of Connor McDavid in his final season in the OHL with the Erie Otters. In 2015-16 and 2016-17, he had seven goals in 47 games with the Buffalo Sabres in call-ups from the AHL Rochester Americans. He is still working on getting back to the NHL. He was traded to Nashville before the 2017-18 season, and was assigned to Milwaukee (AHL). He was then dealt to Toronto and spent the rest of the season with the Marlies. The next year, he played for the Belleville Senators before joining the Stars organization. Baptiste has spent the last three seasons in Europe. He spent a year in Finland with Ilves Tampere and then a year with the Cologne Sharks of the German Elite League. He returned to the SM-liiga in Finland for the 2023-24 season, scoring 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points in 50 games with Tappara Tampere.
Mac Weegar (2013, Florida Panthers, Round 7, 206th overall)
The 30-year-old defenceman played junior hockey for the Nepean Raiders and Halifax
Barrhaven’s MacKenzie Weegar spent six seasons with the Florida Panthers before joining the Calgary Flames. The former Nepean Raiders defenceman had a breakout year with 20 goals and 52 points in 2023-24. PhoTo By ElioT J SChEChTER/FloRida PaNThERS
Mooseheads and was a late round pick of the Panthers. After playing for four minor league clubs, the 6’, 209-pound blueliner just completed his eighth full season in the NHL. After six seasons with the Florida Panthers, Weegar headed to Calgary to play for the Flames. He had a breakthrough offensive season in 2023-24, scoring 20 goals and adding 32 assists for 52 points.
Julien Demers (2008, San Jose Sharks, Round 5, 146th overall)
The 6’, 215-pound defenceman spent four years with the Ottawa 67s after starting his junior career with the Nepean Raiders. After finishing his last season with the 67s, Demers played one season with the UOttawa Gee Gees but never played professional hockey.
Chris Carrozzi (2008, Atalnta Thrashers, Round 6, 154th overall)
Local goalie Chris Carrozzi had a great OHL career with the St. Michael’s Majors and played in the minors for four years with the Gwinnett Gladiators (ECHL), Chicago
Wolves (AHL), Colorado Eagles (ECHL), Ontario Reign (ECHL), St. John’s Ice Caps (AHL) and the Idaho Steeheads (ECHL). Corrozzi played for the University of New Brunswick in 2014-15 before heading to Europe the following year to play for Asiago of the Italian league. He was the starting goalie for the Guildford Flames of the English Elite Ice Hockey League in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
Tyler Moss (1993, Tampa Bay Lightning, Round 2, 29th overall)
After playing junior hockey for the Kingston Frontenacs, Tyler Moss had a 17-year professional career. He played in 30 NHL games with the Flames, Hurricanes and Canucks, and he spent four years in Russia with Moscow Spartak and Khabarovsk Amur. Before heading to Russia, his minor league stops included the Atlanta Knights, Muskegon Fury, Grand Rapids Griffins, Adirondack Red Wings, St. John Flames, Orlando Solar Bears, Wilkes Barre-Scranton Penguins, Kansas City Blades, Cincinnati Cyclones, Lowell Lock Monsters, Manitoba Moose,
Toronto Roadrunners and Edmonton Roadrunners. Moss left the KHL in 2010 to join the Hannover Scorpions of the German Elite League, and a year later he played his last season of pro hockey with the Nuermberg Ice Tigers, also in Germany.
Steve Yzerman (1983, Detroit Red Wings, Round 1, 4th overall)
Yzerman was the first player from Barrhaven drafted into the NHL, and he will always be the player that young prospects are compared to. He spent 22 seasons with the Red Wings and was a cornerstone of their Stanley Cup dynasty. In 1,514 games, he had 692 goals and 1,063 assists for 1,755 points. He also won the Lester B. Pearson Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy, Frank J. Selke Trophy and Bill Masterton Trophy during his career. He was named captain of the Red Wings at 21 and is the longest serving captain in North American sports history. He became the General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2010. In 2019, he was named Executive Vice President and GM of the Detroit Red Wings.
