Barrhaven Independent July 8, 2022

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FRIDAY • July 8 • 2022

Oh Canada!

A full Canada Day celebration returned to Clarke Fields in Barrhaven for the first time since 2019. Local residents enjoyed a full long weekend of games, rides and activities, highlighted by the Canada Day programming and fireworks display. For more photos and coverage, see the Barrhaven Independent Facebook page and barrhavenindependent.ca.

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Page 2 FRIDAY, July 8, 2022

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

School bus driver suspended after 11-year-old student was missing

By Charlie Senack A Pierre Elliot Trudeau student is back at home safe and sound after he went missing for five hours on June 20. The bizarre turn of events left his parents in worry, now a bus driver has been suspended as an investigation continues.

After dismissal, 11-yearold Nathan got into the school transport minivan to go home — like he does everyday — but found himself arriving in Westboro instead of his usual community.

As this was happening Ottawa Police sent out a missing persons press release after Nathan failed to return home from school. His parents, who don’t want to be identified because of their work, contacted Roxborough Bus Lines to search for answers. They became concerned at about ten to five, 30 minutes after he should have been dropped off.

The bus company then called the driver who said

that Nathan wasn’t picked up from school in the first place.

That turned out not to be true: Other parents at the school saw Nathan get into the van. The 11-year-old told CTV News he banged on the window and asked where they were going, but received no reply. Some parents who saw the driver believe she was distracted by blaring music.

Nathan ended up arriving at the driver’s Westboro apartment, but was unsure which one was hers. That’s when he got out and began walking, unsure what to do next.

“The police went to the driver’s house. She was adamant she never picked him up,” Nathan’s father told CTV News. “They searched the apartment, he wasn’t there. They searched the van, he wasn’t in the van.”

Nathan finally found Dave Ellis, who was waiting for his Uber ride home from Tunney’s Pasture after a day downtown. Ellis could

tell Nathan was in distress and was eager to help after first becoming aware of the situation.

“He said that he takes school transit everyday and that there has been some sort of mix-up and was left around the Westboro area and that he didn’t have a way home,” Ellis told the Barrhaven Independent newspaper. “The Uber came, I explained to him what the situation was, and the Uber driver said he could help. I asked Nathan what his address was but he wasn’t sure of the house number, but he did know what street he lived on, so he put that in the GPS and the way we went.”

The 11-year-old grade six student and his family are new to Ottawa so didn’t know the community well.

He was also unsure of his parents phone numbers and was unsure who to call.

Despite not knowing what house number he lives at, Nathan did know the name of his street, and was able to quickly spot it.

Nathan was greeted home by a large presence of police officers and family members who were relieved to see a happy ending to the story.

But Nathan’s parents want answers as to how such an event could even happen, and why the bus driver didn’t spot Nathan in the first place.

The Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est school board said they took immediate action after becoming aware of the situation and followed all proper procedures.

“As soon as the CECCE administration was made aware that a child had not made it back home after school, actions were taken to support the family and the search efforts to find him as soon as possible,” the board said in a statement.

“In fact, teachers from École catholique élémentaire Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau searched the surrounding areas and a letter was sent to the school community.

Social media posts including the child’s picture were also shared on the CECCE’s ac-

counts.”

The owner and president of Roxborough Bus Lines told CTV News the company is aware of the situation and is working with police as they continue their own investigation into what happened. The driver has been suspended — at least temporarily— while the company receives more info from police.

“When I found out he was back, I was pretty relieved,” Nathan’s mom said.

“But we’re still left without any answers.”

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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

MacLeod steps back to focus on health after being left off Ford cabinet

By Charlie Senack Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod won’t be returning to cabinet after not receiving a high-level position from the Ford government.

On Friday, June 24, Ontario Premier Doug Ford swore in his 30-seat new cabinet, which MacLeod was notably absent from.

Two thirds of ministers’ positions stayed the same, and seven women now hold cabinet positions.

MacLeod not returning to cabinet wasn’t seen as a surprise to many political insiders who predicted the change after a turbulent four years. But about an hour after the cabinet list was released, MacLeod issued a statement saying she was taking some time off to address her mental and physical health.

“I owe it to myself, my husband Joe and daughter Victoria to take that advice,” she wrote. “The last couple of years have been difficult for many people.

I know I am not alone in this regard. In my case, my mental and physical health and well- being has been greatly impacted. While I love waking up every morning to work hard for the people of Nepean and Ontario, now is the time to work on my healing. I need some time to rest and recuperate. This will be my focus over the next few months.”

The decision came after MacLeod consulted with her physician and team of medical professionals, she said.

Serving as Nepean’s representative since 2006, MacLeod has been open about her mental health struggles, and how after her lowest point, she considered leaving politics altogether.

After the Progessive Conservative Party’s loss to the Wynne Liberals in 2014, MacLeod began suffering from depression.

Aches and pains kept her in bed away from her parliamentary duties, she once told the Ottawa Citizen, and

began to question where her “fire” went.

To try and bring that fire back again, MacLeod said her constituents won’t see much of her this summer as she focuses on healing.

“This is neither goodbye nor a route to another job,” said MacLeod. “My focus for the next little while will not be on politics but rather on health and healing. While temporarily taking a breather is not a decision I have taken lightly, it is the right one to make now. Thank you for your understanding.”

MacLeod thanked Ford for his support over the years, and said “Ontario is in good hands under his watch.”

She also offered support to her colleagues both new and old in cabinet, and will be there to help when she can.

About a day after releasing her statement online, MacLeod deleted her public Twitter account.

MacLeod was one of two former ministers to be out of the high level position; both accepted allowances from their local riding associations.

During the recent provincial election, the New Democrats released findings that MacLeod took $44,000 from her Nepean riding association to mostly be used as a housing subsidy. While not illegal, opposition parties called the move “unethical” and even the Premier shared his discontent.

Days before the election during a campaign stop in Ottawa, Ford told reporters he was “frustrated” when he found out, and wanted to work with all parties to bring an end to the practice.

The money was given to MacLeod over the period of three years, and began in 2017. Filings submitted on June 19 — two and a half weeks after they were initially due — show no such payments for 2021.

Throughout the last four years MacLeod, who served as the Minister in charge of Children, Community and

Lisa MacLeod was first sworn into cabinet after the Ford Progressive Conservatives won the 2018 provincial election.

Social Services, and also the Minister in charge of Women’s Issues, from June 2018 until June 2019, received much backlash for her handling of the Autism portfolio.

Sweeping changes were announced to the way funding was distributed in hopes of clearing long waitlists for support. But it was scrutinized by parents of Autistic children who feared they would be left even further behind in the system, and could lose access to support already provided. The wide backlash resulted in the plans being axed, but now four heads later, enough children are still on waitlists to fill the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

During that period countless protests were held outside MacLeod’s then Fallowfield Road constituency office, and on the front lawn of Queen’s Park.

A March was also held from Barrhaven to Parliament Hill in Downtown Ottawa.

A cabinet shuffle moved MacLeod to the position of Minister of Heritage, Culture, Sport and Tourism.

In June 2019 MacLeod faced criticism after allegedly verbally attacking Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk at an outdoor concert.

In June, the Nepean representative won the latest provincial election by her lowest margin yet, with about 39 per cent of the vote, or 17,108 ballots cast in her name. Liberal candidate Tyler Watt came in second place with 33 per

cent of the vote, and was 2,006 votes behind MacLeod. NDP candidate Brian Double came in third place with about 20 per cent.

MacLeod won 26 of 31 polls in her Nepean riding, but some were won by only a handful of votes. On election night she locked reporters out of her victory party, and hasn’t done any media interviews in months.

MacLeod’s former ministry of tourism, culture, and sport, has gone to Neil Lumsden, the newly elected MPP for Hamilton EastStoney Creek.

Lumsden is a former Barrhaven resident who is well-known in the Ottawa area. He led the Ottawa Gee-Gees to the 1975 Vanier Cup, setting a Canadian university record that still stands with 148 points that season. He is also the Canadian university all-time scoring leader with 410 points.

Lumsden played for the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats before joining the Edmonton Eskimos Grey Cup dynasty in 1980. Lumsden won three Grey Cups.

After retiring from the CFL, Lumsden moved to Barrhaven and worked as a marketing executive while also broadcasting CFL games for CBC television.

His son Jesse played in the Nepean Minor Hockey Association.

In 1992, the Lumsden family moved to Burlington, as Neil accepted a position as the General Manager of the Hamilton

Lisa MacLeod was first sworn into the Ontario legislature in 2006.

Tiger-Cats. Jesse became a blue chip football player at Nelson High School, and then played for the McMaster Marauders. He won the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top university football player in Canada, and signed with the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. Lumsden played in the CFL for six years, and then switched sports to join the Canadian national bobsled team. He competed in the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, and also won a gold medal in the 2012 Bobsled World Cup in Lake Placid, NY and a silver medal at the 2017 World Cup race in Germany.

In addition to being a former pro athlete and father of an Olympian, Neil Lumsden was also COO of the Cycling Road World Championships in Hamilton in 2003.

Before winning the Hamilton East-Stoney Creek Progressive Conservative nomination earlier this year, Lumsden ran Drive Marketing, a sports marketing firm based in Burlington.

With MacLeod no longer in the cabinet, Ottawa is now left with only one representative in a ministry position, Kanata MPP Merilee Fullerton, who remains Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. Steve Clark, the MPP for nearly Leeds-GrenvilleThousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, remains the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing On June 29 Ford unveiled his list of PC MPP’s who will serve Parliamentary Assistant positions.

MacLeod was not one of the 43 Progressive Conservatives to receive a role.

Page 4 FRIDAY, July 8, 2022

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Motorcycle crash kills 28-year-old Ottawa cop who was Barrhaven native

By Charlie Senack Ottawa Police are mourning the loss of one of their own after longtime Barrhaven resident Vijayalayan Mathiyalaghan died in a motorcycle incident on June 14.

The 28-year-old sustained critical injuries when the motorcycle he was driving crashed on eastbound Regional Road 174, near the junction with Highway 417. Paramedics arrived at the scene around 8:30 pm that night, but he later died in hospital from his injuries.

“He was a kind, friendly and gentle young man and was hired as a police officer in November 2020,” the Ottawa Police Services said in a statement. “He went through Algonquin College Police Foundations and served in the military for several years as a stepping stone to becoming a police officer. This has been exceptionally difficult for those closest to him and our hearts go out to his family, friends and colleagues.”

Ottawa Police Association interim president Brian Samuel said many in the community are mourning Mathiyalaghan’s loss. “(He) had only been with us a short period but his generosity and good nature have left an indelible impression,” he said. “We mourn the passing of our friend; we will miss his presence. The loss of someone so early in their career – what might he have become, what contributions to our police community would he have made.”

Mathiyalaghan, known to his friends as Vijay, spent much of his upbringing in Bar-

rhaven, going to Berrigan Elementary School. He also went to Sir Winston Churchhill for middle school and then went off to Merivale High School.

Born in Sri Lanka, Mathiyalaghan and his family moved to Ottawa when he was eight, and later settled into a Barrhaven townhouse. Friends tell the Barrhaven Independent he recently purchased a home in Riverside South for his parents and gave a large portion of his salary to his family.

He took overtime shifts, often worked seven days a week, and always had a deep passion for his community.

Active in the local South East Asian community, Mathiyalaghan had a love for motorcycles, purchasing his first bike in 2015 and was involved with the Ottawa Police Hoopstars basketball program.

The longtime Barrhaven resident joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2011 as a combat engineer with the reserve force. He moved up to the rank of Corporal, and then served five years in the reserve force before transferring to the regular force in 2016.

He worked out of CFB Petawawa in the explosive ordnance disposal department. In early 2018, he was deployed to Ukraine to teach Ukraine soldiers on proper mine clearance and safe disposal of unexploded ordnance. Those skills are now saving lives as war ravages through that country.

Constable Niloy Ahmed, who was recruited to the Ottawa Police alongside Vijay in the fall of 2020, said they instantly hit it off after being introduced through a mutual friend.

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Ottawa policeman and after longtime Barrhaven resident Vijayalayan Mathiyalaghan died in a motorcycle incident on June 14.

raw days after his passing, Ahmed spoke in present tense during his interview with this newspaper.

“He’s contagious, he’s energetic, his energy is uplifting and it’s going to be really greatly missed,” Ahmed said in a phone interview during a pre Canada Day shift at LeBreton flats. ‘It’s very rare to meet these types of people.

Whoever is around him could feel his aurora and big shock of positivity.”

Mathiyalaghan and Ahmed shared similar interests and dreams. They both loved working out, with Mathiyalaghan being a regular at 613 Lift.

He was big into powerlifting, went to the gym every day, and had a deep focus on healthy eating.

The two Ottawa Police Officers were in separate platoons so didn’t have the chance to work together on the regular. But on days off they’d

try to score extra shifts in each other’s department so they could do the job they loved together.

“We shared a really similar mentality and worked really hard. I’d take an overtime shift whenever available so we could work together a few times,” Ahmed said. “We hung out at work, we were able to talk and be in our own police vehicles which we always dreamed about. In that moment we went ‘wow, we worked so hard and reached our dream.’”

One day during an overtime shift, the pair was going car to car, discussing calls that were coming in and debriefing the situation. Mathiyalaghan received a priority call and had to leave in a hurry.

“As he was backing out his car he destroyed my mirror,” recalled Ahemd. “We were really new and we didn’t want to get in trouble. We swore we

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into if he had more time on this earth, and what more good Mathiyalaghan could do. He wants everyone to remember his loving friend as someone who approached every situation with the right intentions.

“I want people to remember his smile. His smile was one of the most contagious smiles out there,” said Ahmed.

‘When he went into a room and he brought that smile, it could make your day from one of the worst days of your life to one of the best days of your life. He’s one of the hardest working guys I know. He’s a role model for every person who wants to be a police officer and was a great role model for the Barrhaven community.

Everything he did was for the right intention.”

A GoFundMe page has been launched to create a charity project in memory of Mathiyalaghan. At the time of publication it raised $11,920 of its $20,000 goal. A link to the page can be found on the Barrhaven Independent website.

Vijayalayan Mathiyalaghan grew up in Barrhaven and was well-loved in the community.

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wouldn’t tell anybody. I wish I had many more opportunities to work with Vjay together.”

On Sunday, June 19, well over 1,000 family members, friends, and colleagues packed the Capital Funeral Home and Cemetery on Prince of Wales Drive to remember Mathiyalaghan. It was standing room only as loved ones shared stories of a man that meant so much to so many.

It was a similar situation on Thursday, June 23, when a similar visitation was held, followed by cremation.

His obituary said Mathiyalaghan “was the embodiment of a true patriot.” His passion and dedication to service had no limits, and had a larger than life presence in more ways than one.

“He lived by a motto of living his life with no limits and accomplished anything he set his mind to,” his obituary read.

“As he would say, ‘Dreams do come true.’”

Ahmed questions what that dream would have translated

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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

The Ottawa Multifaith Housing Initiative hosted a barbecue at The Haven community off Longfields Drive across from Ken Ross Park on Sat., June 25. The event featured a bouncy castle, face painting, popcorn served up by Sequoia Community Church, and music from the Nepean Panharmonic Steel Band. Constable Rock of the Ottawa Police Service was also on hand, and Charlotte and Addison Perks got the opportunity to sit in a real police car.

Barrhaven Independent photos

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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

INDEPENDENT Editorial

Canadians desperately need help to combat food inflation It wasn’t a good week if you’re a consumer on a tight budget – and that means most of us. Consumers are under attack.

We’ve just learned that Canada’s food inflation rate was at a record 9.7 per cent in May. What’s hitting Canada is a global phenomenon; food prices aren’t coming down anytime soon. The world will see a shortfall in commodity production this fall, which could push prices even higher worldwide. Supply chain issues, coupled with a new inflationary cycle triggered by the Ukrainian conflict, are impacting the food industry’s ability to fill shelves.

The macroeconomic picture is one thing. But some policies in Canada are just making things worse.

The Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC), a Crown corporation, believed a second milk price increase was necessary for dairy farmers. Last week, we learned that milk prices paid to farmers will rise again by 2.5 per cent, after a record increase of 8.4 per cent in February. Last winter’s increase was so severe that most dairy alternatives are now priced the same as milk or lower.

The Dairy Farmers of Canada, one of the most powerful lobby groups in the country, requested another mid-year increase due to “exceptional circumstances” without telling us where the data is coming from.

By fall, this new increase will price the dairy section at the grocery store out of the market for many consumers.

Ultimately, we stand to lose many more dairy farms as their sales decline.

The federal government is also coming forward with new labelling rules for saturated fats, sodium and sugar. Health Canada’s front-of-package labelling was long overdue, and it will make our food healthier. But the new policy also aims at a key single-ingredient product that many Canadians enjoy: ground meat.

The federal government is the consumer’s worst enemy right now. It needs to think through some of these ill-timed policies that will make food even more expensive.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s so-called anti-inflation plan presented recently won’t do much for Canadians at the grocery store. Many of us hoped for tax breaks, anything to ease our fiscal burden, as many countries have done in recent months. But Freeland opted to make a ‘microwave’ announcement, basically reheating programs already in place – it’s like clapping with one hand.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently said the war in Ukraine could last years. However regrettable this may be, this is what the Canadian government needs to focus on for the foreseeable future.

Farmers need help with inputs to prepare for fall, winter and next spring. The government should also become one of the world’s most influential trade advocates and prevent other countries from hoarding food. More nationalistic protectionism can only make things worse.

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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It’s never good to keep score in a relationship Last week, I came downstairs and the The thing with scoring every game I Diva was not in a good mood. watch, though, is testing her limits of paShe was on hold with Bell, and I could tience. For me, it’s a personal bucket list tell she was about to blow a gasket and rip from challenge that goes back to my childhood. the the poor soul on the other end a new one in other When I was a kid in Prescott, long bea call that would surely be monitored for fore the Blue Jays existed, we got a lot of quality assurance.

New York Yankees games “What’s wrong, babes?” on WWNY from Water“Our Bell bill is way too town. I always scored the high,” she said in a terse tone. games when I watched. It “I’m not happy about this.” was a dark chasm in YanI figured now was probably kees’ history – the era after the right time to tell her.

Mickey Mantle and before “Um, honey,” I said sheepReggie Jackson. Thurman ishly.

Munson was my favourite player, which is “What?” why I wore number 15. Bobby Murcer was “Um, I, like, ordered, um, the Fibe TV another favourite. Beyond that, my boybaseball package.” hood heroes like Horace Clark, Ron Blom“WHAT?” berg, Ron Swoboda and Roy White hardly “Yeah,” I continued. “I ordered the endured the test of time as legendary Yanbaseball package. They had a really great kees. But to me, it didn’t matter. They were deal on. I get every single game for less my American League team. The Expos than $200 for the year!” were my National League team.

Actually, she was already a little bit anBefore COVID, I was at Olympia Sports noyed with me long before the phone call in Ogdensburg and noticed the big display to Bell. of baseball scorebooks. A voice drove me It all started one rainy Saturday after- to buy them. All of them. It wasn’t the usual noon in April when she walked down the voice inside my head. That voice is an idiot. stairs.

This one was different. It was the whispery I was sitting there, geeked out, with a voice that came from the cornfield in Iowa scorebook in my hand, charting every at that made Kevin Costner’s character turn bat as I watched the New York Yankees his farm into a baseball diamond. You altake on the Baltimore Orioles. ways have to listen to that voice.

Now that it is June, I have two months She looked at me with this sort of look of disbelief and exasperation coated with a of Yankees games scored.

“Why are you even doing that, anyglaze of fed-up-with-me-ness. way?” she said.

“What... on earth… are you doing?!?”

But how could I explain it to the Diva?

“I’m scoring the game,” I replied on Scoring a Yankees game takes me back autopilot.

“Oh… My… God… You’re scoring the to that summer of 1973 when I was nine.

It takes me back to the summer days and game?”

“Um, yeah,” I replied with a tone of nights in my tent in the back yard with ‘where have you been?’ “I always score my friends, collecting our baseball cards and trying to complete the 660-card set. It the game.”

“First of all,” she said, “Don’t take that takes me back to the Prescott Amity Lodge Tyke All-Stars and the road trips we went tone with me.”

She says that a lot. It’s kind of a joke on as we made it to the Ontario finals. It between us. I’m not sure if this time it was, takes me back to sleeping in my uniform in the tent and using my glove as a pillow. though.

At that point, I think she logged onto Fa- It takes me back to having the radio on and cebook on her device and made some sort listening to “the Scooter,” Phil Rizutto. If of post about how the Mayor of Loserville you don’t know who he was, he was the was actually scoring the baseball game baseball announcer in Meat Loaf’s Parawith a scorebook. I wasn’t concerned. I dise by the Dashboard Light. As James was locked in, glued to the game on the Earl Jones said in Field of Dreams, “Base75” screen – the one I bought the day be- ball is part of our past. It reminds us of fore the Super Bowl. Baseball is good on all that was once good, and that could be it, too. So is hockey. It’s a multi-purpose again.” Scoring games takes me back in time, and watching games from around the screen.

Ordering the baseball package was the U.S. every night takes me to those many ultimate “ask for forgiveness, not permis- parks and cities I have been fortunate sion” move. I had been looking at the ads enough to visit.

The Diva understood. for the package throughout the winter. I “So,” she said, “when were you going to wanted it, and the day before the season started, I kind of panicked that I didn’t tell me you ordered the baseball package?”

I looked at her mischievously. have it. I went ahead and ordered it. I knew “I just did.” the Diva wouldn’t mind. I would pay for She smiled and shook her head. it, and, more importantly, she loves how “Don’t take that tone with me.”

I don’t annoy her when I watch baseball.

side

FRIDAY, July 8, 2022 Page 7

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Waterfalls named after long time Barrhaven resident Tom Keeley

The City of Ottawa has support a motion to officially name the waterfalls at Andrew Haydon Park, ‘Keeley Falls’. The motion was carried and supported

by Council. The City of Ottawa Commemorative Naming Policy states that any member of the public or City Council may submit a nomination for the commemorative naming of a municipal park, facility or street.

These beautiful waterfalls had been unofficially named Keeley Falls for quite a few years now. They were named after their creator and long time Barrhaven resident Tom Keeley, who was a well liked and respected Superintendent in the Parks and Recreation Department (since retired) in the former City of Nepean. At the time of his retirement his employees

“unofficially” named the waterfalls after him, as a retirement gift (see photo with stone plaque in water).

The waterfalls have come to be a must see tourist destination in Ottawa.

Many species of birds and animals have made the falls their home. Local families and visitors from afar have family picnics there and even wedding photo shoots have taken place at the waterfalls. There are also fossils to check out on rocks located around the falls! A simple search online will show just how often the Falls are mentioned.

Not long ago, Tom Keeley’s family approached City of Ottawa Councillor Jan Harder to request that the City ‘officially’ name the waterfalls ‘Keeley Falls’. Councillor Harder wholeheartedly supported the commemorative nam-

ing of the Falls, who then approached Councillor Theresa Kavanagh (as ward Councillor where the Falls are located) who also supported the commemorative naming request.

Tom’s family (with support from City of Ottawa Council) wanted to honour and recognize Tom’s dedication, his many years of municipal service and his numerous achievements (i.e. creation of new parks, pathways etc.) in the city and what better way then to ‘officially’ name the waterfalls after him.

During his tenure, if you ever watched the fireworks during Nepean Days celebrated at Andrew Haydon Park during the summer, it was Tom and his team putting on the show! If you attended any of Nepean’s recreation facilities it was Tom and his team maintaining

them. For years many a night’s sleep and family dinners were interrupted, as Tom (and his team) had to go out in snow storms to ensure recreation center(s), municipal parking lots and pathways were plowed and safe for our residents.

If your children played in the City’s beautiful parks it was most likely Tom and his team who created and maintained those parks. If you have ever stopped to smell the flowers, admire the City’s beautiful plants, shrubs and trees it was Tom and his team who planted them. At one point in time Tom created and managed the City of Nepean municipal tree farm where many of these came from. Tom left a wonderful legacy for all of us to appreciate!

An official City of Ottawa municipal plaque has now been installed at

Tom Keeley was the Superintendent in the City of Nepean Parks and Recreation Department.

the now ‘officially named Keeley Falls’ for all visitors to know and appreciate who

the architect was who built this beautiful and breathtaking creation.

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Page 8 FRIDAY, July 8, 2022

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

City aims to replace more than 6,000 water metres in Barrhaven The City of Ottawa has contracted Neptune Technology Group to replace 85,000 aging small water meters with new high-resolution meters.

The three-year replacement project began, in August 2021, starting with wards in the downtown core and will slowly spread outward to the suburban wards as the project progresses.

Towards the end of June, Neptune Technology will begin replacing 6,236 meters in ward 3. The City will send an introductory letter explaining the program to all affected residents.

Water meters are the property of the City of Ottawa and require replacing after their lifecycle – which can be up to 25 years. As a condition of service, the City will be replacing these aging water meters to effectively support the delivery of drinking water to households and businesses.

Your new water meter will ensure continued accurate billing and enable enhanced online features through MyServiceOttawa.ca, including the ability to: • View usage data right down to the litre – which can help detect even the smallest leaks • Sign up for advanced leak and usage alerts Visit Ottawa.ca/meters to read more about the program, how to view your usage online and subscribe for leak alerts.

Sidewalk Right of Way

This summer, Barrhaven will continue to experience lots of residential road construction due to the installation of fiber optic cables which enhances the quality of use of telecommunications.

LET’S TALK

BARRHAVEN

by Jan Harder

So, what does this mean for your front lawn? Doesn’t your property extend to the end of your front lawn or to the sidewalk edge?

The edge of a sidewalk or end of a front lawn usually does not demarcate private property boundaries. The City’s right of way usually extends onto front lawns and this area is typically used to install utility infrastructure.

Construction and telecommunication boxes will be on the City of Ottawa’s right of way or on existing easements on private property. To see your property boundaries, and the location of the right of way on it, visit geoOttawa and input a property address.

Slow Down Signs

If you are a Barrhaven resident, send an email to mark.bouwman@ottawa.ca with your contact information to order one or more ‘Slow Down For Us!’ signs for your front yard and we will schedule a pick-up time at the ward office (located at the Walter Baker Sports Centre - 100 Malvern Dr.).

The Log Farm

We are pleased to open the farm again for the season.

The entire experience is outdoors, so what better way to enjoy spring. A great option to get out with your family and enjoy a piece of local history and have some fun!

The Log Farm is an old

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fashion family farm located right in the city. It is part of Ottawa’s history, the farm was originally settled in 1854 and the home and farm buildings were built over the next few years. . You can walk through the original home of the Bradley’s and take in how they lived right here over 150 years ago!! Today you will find many of the same animals on the farm as 150 years ago. We have pigs, chicken, ducks, sheep, goats, cows and horses and of course no farm is complete without cats.

Spring always brings new life to the farm and we currently have baby goats, lambs and ducklings with more to follow over the next month.

Lots of animals to see, feed and touch. Hay play structures to climb and explore. The kid’s barn has some imaginary play areas and the famous corn sensory table. Take walk in the woods, bring some snacks and enjoy the newly expanded picnic and play area. Relax and enjoy the outdoors while you explore and play down on the farm.

Located at 670 Cedarview in Nepean we are open Saturday, Sunday, and holiday Monday. See our website www.thelogfarm.com for complete details.

Service enhances its service to the community. It’s easy, timely, and effective. Online reports are only reviewed during the Police Reporting Unit’s hours of operation from 10 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Once you submit the report, you will receive a temporary reference number until it is reviewed by an online agent (approximately 24 hours).

Once reviewed, you will be contacted with further information. Should there be any difficulty filing the report online, a member of the Police Reporting Unit will be pleased to help. Visit www. ottawapolice.ca to access the Ottawa Police Report.

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Ottawa Paramedic Service launches Mental Wellbeing Response Team

The Ottawa Paramedic Service, in partnership with The Ottawa Hospital, has launched the Mental Wellbeing Response Team. This new initiative aims to improve short- and long-term health outcomes for emergency calls received by the Ottawa Paramedic Service through 9-1-1 that are non-violent and noncriminal, and where mental health and substance use are contributing factors.

Each day, the Ottawa Paramedic Service responds to approximately 25 mental health-related calls from 9-11. Many of these individuals are needlessly transported to a hospital when other care options may be more appropriate.

Historically, paramedics have been limited to providing immediate medical assessment and treatment only.

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Seeing, touching and even feeding animals is a highlight for kids at the Log Farm. Photo courtesy of the Log Farm

Now, through the Mental Wellbeing Response Team, individuals may receive a medical and mental health assessment, as well as resource referrals and follow-up mental health care.

The Team includes a specially trained City paramedic partnered with a mental health professional, such as a registered social worker from The Ottawa Hospital, a partner organization. The paramedic does the medical assessment and provides any necessary medical treatment while the mental health professional conducts a mental health assessment, develops a care plan, provides safety plan-

ning, and can even schedule follow-up care as needed.

In the three months that the new Team has been on the road, they have responded to multiple calls each day. Of these, more than 50 percent have not required transportation to the hospital.

The new Mental Wellbeing Response Team demonstrates the success of partners working together to respond to the needs of Ottawa’s communities and providing individuals with the most appropriate health care when and where they need it.

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FRIDAY, July 8, 2022 Page 9

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

A Derailment of epic proportions at Ottawa City Hall “There’s nothing to see here. Move along, move along…”. Screech, loud metal sounds, crash!!! On Monday, June 27, there was a derailment of sorts at City Hall; the bureaucracy’s narrative went off the rails. What came out was the real story – the one we all should be worrying about.

What happened? Brian Guest, of Boxfish Infrastructure Group Inc., took the stand under oath for three hours at the public hearings of the Ottawa Light Rail Transit Public Inquiry into Stage 1.

You needed popcorn for this one. The exchanges between John Adair, the Commission’s Co-lead Legal Counsel, and Mr. Guest made for riveting watching.

Let’s look at the facts and see if you can follow along.

Starting in 1997, Mr. Guest worked for five years for Bob Chiarelli, the last Chair of the Region of Ottawa-Carleton and the first Mayor of the amalgamated City of Ottawa.

He was responsible for policy

matters, including light rail.

Mr. Guest leaves the Mayor’s Office, and among other things, becomes a consultant and a partner in Boxfish Infrastructure Group Inc., a company that today promotes itself as having unmatched experience in dealing with multi-billion-dollar projects.

During this time, his sister, Ms. Robyn Guest, is working for the City of Ottawa, eventually ending-up in the office of Kent Kirkpatrick, the City Manager. In 2010, Mr. Guest joins Jim Watson’s mayoral campaign and transition team.

Later that year and in 2011 Mr. Guest was a consultant on the City budget. In 2011, Mr. Guest and Boxfish are hired to work on the LRT file, in the City’s LRT office. This was, as the Commission’s Co-lead

Legal Counsel pointed out, despite the fact he is neither an engineer, an account, or a lawyer. At the time the City’s LRT office was under the control of Deputy City Manager Nancy Schepers. Her Chief of Staff was Chris Swail, who is married to Ms. Robyn Guest.

Also, for many years throughout the above timeline, Mr. Guest was a consultant for Plasco Conversion Technologies, attended executive meetings, and attended meetings between Plasco and the City. The City eventually signed a conditional contract of $120 million with Plasco.

During this time Deputy City Manager Nancy Schepers was also responsible for waste management.

Mr. Guest and Boxfish received about $600,000 in consulting contracts with the City for their work on LRT Stage 1. Although still with Boxfish, in 2013, Mr. Guest shifted his focus from Ottawa to working on various contracts in the Toronto area. Boxfish continues its relationship with the City

of Ottawa, signing a contract for up to $2 million for work on LRT Stage 2.

Those are the facts.

Obviously, nothing to see here…

ment of epic proportions occurred.

People always worry that politicians have dark, sinister, secret plans up their sleeves.

It’s the unseen machina-

tions of the bureaucracy inside City Hall we all need to worry about.

Carol Anne Meehan Councillor Gloucester South-Nepean

Which is why it was peculiar that on the afternoon of Saturday, June 25, past the halfway point in the inquiry, a senior staffer of the City Manager’s Office sent out the first of what they call the “OLRT Commission Daily Briefing Memo”. It purports to be a brief daily summary of the hearings, with highlights of testimony and additional information. A cynic might call it spin. Coincidentally, it was just in time for the upcoming derailment. How fortuitous.

At the end of the day Commissioner Hourigan said, “Mr. Guest, I want to thank you for testifying today. It was very valuable for the Commission, and we appreciate your time”. Yes, indeed, it is of extraordinary value to shed light into the backrooms of City Hall, where a derail-

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Page 10 FRIDAY, July 8, 2022

CLUES ACROSS 1. Basics 4. In a new way 10. __ Paulo, city 11. Jailhouse 12. Expresses surprise 14. Trigraph 15. A small stream 16. Dissimilar 18. Promote 22. Gives a boost 23. Lawmaker 24. Orthodox Jews 26. Actor Harris 27. Wild cherry 28. Participate in democracy 30. Opposite of begins 31. A Brit’s mother 34. Set of moral principles 36. Very fast airplane 37. Czech river 39. Private school in New York 40. Israeli dance 41. Electron volt 42. Adjusting 48. Duct by the bladder

50. Small burger 51. Begin again 52. Unstuck 53. Jai __, sport 54. Get free of 55. For instance 56. Hotel chain 58. A team’s best pitcher 59. Extracts from various sources 60. Indefinite period of time CLUES DOWN 1. St. Francis of __ 2. Supported 3. United in working 4. It cools your home 5. Predicting 6. Irritated 7. Popular talk show host 8. Fabric edge 9. A resource for employees 12. Broadway’s Jackman 13. Small water buffalo 17. City of Angels:

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

__ Angeles 19. Asteroids 20. Tailless amphibians 21. German expressionist painter 25. What drives you 29. N. Vietnamese ethnic group 31. Gold coin used in British India 32. Have deep affection for 33. Ponds 35. Breaks between words 38. Hairstyle 41. Print errors 43. Family of iron alloys 44. Sidelined in bed 45. Many couples say it 46. Brazilian hoopster 47. Allman Brothers late frontman 49. German city 56. One hundred grams (abbr.)

57. One billionth of a second (abbr.)

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

FRIDAY, July 8, 2022 Page 11

Page 12 FRIDAY, July 8, 2022

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Former John McCrae students launch Canada’s first Next Generation Club

By Barrhaven Independent Staff History was made by a group of John McCrae Secondary School graduates last Saturday night.

The Manotick Next Generation Kiwanis Club received its charter, becoming the first club of its kind in Canada and the fourth in North America.

The club grew out of the John McCrae Secondary School Key Club, sponsored by the Manotick Kiwanis Club. The Kiwanis Key Club is an international service organization for high school students. As a student-led organization, Key Club’s goal is to encourage leadership through serving others. Key Club International is the high school branch of the Kiwanis International family, classifying as a Service Leadership Program and more specifically as a Kiwanis Youth Program.

The charter night drew a large crowd of Kiwanis Club members from throughout Ottawa. Longtime Barrhaven Independent publisher and editor Jeff Morris was the guest speaker. It was the first time Morris has spoken publicly about his stem cell transplant and his ongoing battle with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood plasma cancer. Morris was hospitalized for most of November, 2020.

In 2019, he lost a quarter of his skull to a tumour and required emergency brain surgery. Morris spoke about the miracle that led to his cancer

diagnosis, and the positive effects that battling cancer have had in his life.

He also spoke directly to the young people in the Kiwanis Club, telling them the things that he wished he could go back in time and tell his 18-year-old self, including the true meaning of the word ‘hero.’

“Everyone in this room is a hero,” he said. “The word ‘hero’ is often misused. You aren’t a hero if you score a goal in the Stanley Cup or get a touchdown in the Super Bowl. Maybe you can be a role model, but not a hero. Heroes are people that make selfless sacrifices to make their community a better place. Every person in this room is part of the 10 per cent who give, not the 90 per cent who take.

Those are true heroes.”

Kiwanis International Past Governor Phil Rossy served as the emcee for the evening.

Rossy praised the commitment and dedication of the young Kiwanians, and congratulated them on becoming the first Kiwanis Next Generation Club in Canada.

One of the Next Generation members, Milind Kumar, is a leukemia survivor who gave a riveting speech about the role volunteering has played in his life. Kumar, a former East Nepean Little League baseball player, told his story of how he woke up one night with severe back pain. He was taken to hospital, where it was discovered that he had leukemia. He talked about how having leukemia changed

Longtime Barrhaven Independent publisher Jeff Morris was the guest speaker for the Kiwanis charter night.

Greg Newton photo

his life and his priorities, and how the group of volunteers in the Manotick Kiwanis Next Generation Club were super heroes.

Aaya Mahdi, who just finished her first year of studies at the University of Ottawa, is the President of the new club. She has been a volunteer in the community for several years and became involved in the Key Club while she was a student at John McCrae Secondary School.

“I wanted to start a volunteer group at our school, but I didn’t know how,” Mahdi said. “I found the Key Club, and then I found the Manotick Kiwanis Club, who sponsored Key Clubs at different schools.

I contacted them and we had a meeting at the library, and it took off from there.”

Mahdi said she was introduced to volunteer work by her mother, who is a social worker.

“I always loved helping out,” she said. “I loved setting up and taking down for volunteer events. I loved getting out and meeting people and being a part of something positive. I even did a puppet show for kids at the local public library.”

With guidance from the Manotick Kiwanis Club, Mahdi put the word out at her school about the new club.

She called a meeting, which included some free pizza.

“People kept coming to the meetings, even when there wasn’t pizza,” she said.

The club started by doing things like reading to kids at the library, or making sandwiches for homeless people at the Ottawa shelter.

Mahdi said the club was doing well, and it was growing. Then, in March 2020, COVID-19 arrived.

“The club had begun to grow,” Mahdi said. “We had a very successful first year. And then, COVID hit.”

With Mahdi and many of the club members in Grade 12 during the 2020-21 school year, the club had to adapt.

“It was challenging for us to stay active during that year, but we did some memorable things,” Madhi said. “We produced a video for front line workers to thank them

Members of the Kiwanis Next Generation Club pose for a photo after their charter night Saturday.

for everything they had done during the pandemic. We were also able to help run the Relay for Life event.”

Several schools run a Relay for Life event each year.

The event is a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society.

With one of the members of the group fighting leukemia, the event took on special meaning. Kumar was Madhi’s doubles partner on the McCrae high school badminton team, and they have been friends for years.

“A lot of things were put on hold during the pandemic and the lockdowns,” Mahdi said. “But cancer didn’t stop.

It was important that we were able to have an event.”

Throughout the year, the club found creative ways to raise funds and to keep the students engaged. They hosted virtual trivia nights and had other online events. The year was not the way the group wanted to spend their last year of high school, but Mahdi said the lessons learned in being resilient and adapting to unexpected situations proved to be invaluable.

Mahdi said that the most important thing their Key Club learned from the Manotick Kiwanis Club was developing leadership skills.

“Traditionally in a Key Club, the President will bring in projects and everyone will work on them,” she said. “I wanted our club to be differ-

Aaya Mahdi, left, receives the Manotick Kiwanis Next Generation Club charter from Phil Rossy and Debbie Mulvihill.

Greg Newton photo

ent, and have every member come up with a cause. We had 70 members in our club, and each member brought in a cause they wanted to do a project for. I wanted every person in the club to experience being a leader. Kiwanis is a great service organization, but it is also a great leadership institution.”

Although she is now a student at uOttawa, Mahdi went back to McCrae to visit the club and see how things were going. Part of being in a leadership position in a Key Club is to ensure that the next group of leaders is ready to step in and run the club.

“I hope what we started continues to grow from year to year,” she said.

With the Manotick Kiwanis Next Generation Club, Mahdi is also hoping for

growth.

“There was a group of us that stayed in Ottawa to go to school, but many of our members went to Queen’s, or Western, or a school in another part of the province,” she said.

“We have a solid group now and we are hoping to grow as word gets out about who we are and what we are doing.

We are meeting once a month so it is a low commitment, but we will have a lower commitment with a bigger impact in the community.”

Rossy and Manotick Kiwanis President Debbie Mulvihill presented the club’s charter to Mahdi. Both praised her and the group for the tremendous work and initiative they have taken to get the club off the ground and to grow volunteerism in the community.

FRIDAY, July 8, 2022 Page 13

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Barrhaven sees largest increase in crime throughout City of Ottawa

By Barrhaven Independent Staff

Ottawa Police say crime was up drastically in Barrhaven ward in 2021.

A new report on the City of Ottawa’s crime trends, released at the Ottawa Police Service Board meeting on Monday, June 27, shows crime in the community was up 20.7 per cent last year.

In Ottawa demand for service rose seven per cent in 2021, meaning a total of 357,000 requests for service came in to Ottawa Police.

The level of crime reported in Ottawa climbed by eight per cent last year, meaning the city saw 36,260 reported Criminal Code of Canada offences, which exclude traffic offences.

In ward 3 Barrhaven, key crime trends (including traffic violations) were up 20.6 per cent for a total of 1,081 incidents in 2021, compared to 896 in 2020. That includes 204 crimes against a person, 791 crimes against property, and 61 other criminal code violations.

There were also a total of 204 crimes against a person in Barrhaven ward in 2021, compared to 186 in 2020. That included

seven robberies, 42 for threats uttered to a person, and 95 assaults.

Crimes against property saw an increase of 25.2 per cent in 2021 compared to the year prior, with a total of 791 incidents. That’s compared to 632 incidents in 2020.

Break and enters were down nine percentage points with 42 incidents reported. Theft of a motor vehicle stayed the same with 32 incidents reported.

Eight cases of theft over $5,000 were reported, along with 310 incidents for theft under $5,000. A total of 278 fraud crimes were also reported, up 22 per cent, along with 117 mischief crimes.

Other criminal code of Canada offences were up 41.9 per cent in ward 3 in 2021. Incidents rose from 43 in 2020 to 61 last year.

Criminal Code of Canada Traffic Offences were down 28.6 per cent in 2021. They went down to 25 last year compared to 35 in 2020.

Calls for service were only slightly up, climbing 6.5 percentage points in 2021, with 6,687 calls coming in from Barrhaven ward.

The Ottawa Police also released some data from a 2018 survey, which showed the biggest prior-

ity for ward 3 Barrhaven residents is speeding cars and aggressive driving which came in at 77 per cent, nine points above the city ward average.

Feeling of safety in the ward was listed as 96 per cent during the day, four points higher than the city average, but only 72 per cent for at night, one percentage point lower than ward averages.

A total of 74 per cent of those who filled in the survey said they were satisfied with the Ottawa Police Service, two percentage points higher than the ward average.

Gloucester South-Nepean

In the neighbouring ward of Gloucester-South Nepean, key most crime trends are still rising, but not by as much.

Key crime trends in ward 22 (including traffic offences) were up 17.4 per cent in 2021. That included a 23.8 per cent rise in crimes against a person, with 187 crimes reported that year. Crimes against property rose 18.5 per cent with 840 reported in 2021, compared to 709 in 2020.

Crimes against a person rose 23.8 per cent in Gloucester-South Nepean in 2021, with 187

Charges laid for anti-semetic posters in Barrhaven and west end

The Hate and Bias Crime Unit has charged a man with the Wilful Promotion of Hatred.

Investigators submitted a request to the Attorney General of Ontario requesting his approval for formal charge of willful promotion of hatred to be laid in relation to the incidents.

On June 13, the request to the Attorney General of Ontario was approved and Paul Koppe was subsequently charged. He will appear in court later this year.

“We recognize the impact of hate-motivated incidents on the community, and we urge everyone to report incidents when they happen,” said a media statement from the Ottawa Police Service on the incident.

Earlier this year, the Hate and Bias Crime Unit, with assistance from West Criminal Investigations and Forensic Identification Units, charged Koppe in relation to anti-semetic posters distributed in multiple locations in the west end, including Barrhaven,

last Fall.

Koppe was arrested following an approximately two-month long investigation. A total of 26 counts of Hate-motivated Mischief were laid against Koppe.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of what they perceive to be a hate-motivated incident, please report it to the Ottawa Police at 613-2361222 or online.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.

reported. That included a 39.9 per cent increase in assaults, rising to 89 in 2021 compared to 65 in 2020.

Crimes against property were up 18.5 per cent in ward 22 last year, with 840 reported. There were three crimes of arson reported compared to only one in 2020, which shows a 300 per cent increase.

Break and enters were however down 24 per cent with 41 in 2021 compared to 54 in 2020. Eight crimes of theft over $5,000 were reported along with 384 for under $5,000.

Other Criminal Code of Canada crimes were down 3.1 per cent in 2021, with 63 reported that year compared to 65 in 2020. Indecent acts however rose 300 per cent going from two crimes in 2020 to eight in 2021.

Criminal Code traffic offences stayed the same with 24 reported in both 2020 and 2021.

Calls for service were up 4.4 per cent with 7,217 calls coming in from ward 22 in 2021.

Feeling of safety in the ward sits at 95 per cent during the day and 81 per cent after dark, both above the city average.

In Ottawa as a whole, violent crimes such as assaults, sexual violations and threats, rose by seven per cent in 2021. A total of 891 sexual violations were reported.

Mental health incidents reported to police went up by 17 per cent, with 8,000 incidents responded to last year.

Property-related offences jumped by five per cent last year. Much of those were thefts which were also on the rise.

Recently, Barrhaven has been reporting multiple vehicle thefts and break ins, with many community members sharing their experiences on the Barrhaven Bulletin Board

Facebook page.

Barrhaven residents have reported car break ins on Mount Shannon Drive, Claridge near Beatrice, Burnett’s Grove, Hornchurch Lane, and near Adrienne Clarkson School, among other areas.

In 2021 Ottawa reported 14 homicides, 80 per cent of which have been solved. That included the homicide which took place on Sherway Drive in Barrhaven last year, which took the life of 64-year-old Linda Frederick. Her step son, 39-year-old Conor Donnelly, has been accused of stabbing her to death.

Ottawa Police also recorded a record-breaking 82 shootings, and 80 crime guns were seized to address street violence in the capital.

While Barrhaven ward reported the biggest crime jump, Innes ward saw an 8.8 per cent decrease.

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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Involvement in school choir led to local student singing on stage with Foreigner Name: Reina Hawa Age: 17 School: St. Francis Xavier High Grade: 12 Parents: Manal Abunowara (Mom) and Raja Hawa (Dad) Brothers: Elias (19), Carleton University, George (12), St. Francis Xavier High Pet Peeve: “My biggest pet peeve would have to be hypocritical people. I believe that everyone is rightfully entitled to have their own beliefs and values, however, one’s commitment to said beliefs should not be limited only to when it is convenient or beneficial.”

Part-time Work: “For the past year, I’ve had the pleasure of working as a part-time math and science tutor. I really enjoy teaching, and seeing the progress of my students is incredibly rewarding.”

Favourite Subjects: “For my senior year in high school, I enrolled in Kinesiology, English, Advanced Functions, World Religions, Chemistry, Biology, and Calculus & Vectors. My favourite subjects from the bunch have

fOCUS ON

YOUTH

by Phill Potter

to be a close tie between Kinesiology and English.

“Kinesiology was merely a random course I took to get an elective credit, but became the subject I’d pursue as my university major. Kinesiology combines everything I find interesting about chemistry, biology and physics, and proposes future career prospects that I can actually see myself pursuing.

As for English, my love for reading and writing skyrocketed over the course of the pandemic, and Grade 12 English gave me a lot of flexibility to be creative with my work.”

What do you enjoy reading for pleasure? “For fun, I really enjoy reading philosophical fiction and historical fiction, especially surrounding Greek mythology. Anything that really explores the human psyche and its experience within a world we can never quite comprehend to the fullest, is right up my alley. Novels such as Circe by Madeline Miller, The Stranger by Albert Camus, and The House of Spirits by Isabel Al-

lende have been my favourites.”

Favourite Author: “My absolute favourite author is Oscar Wilde, who wrote my favourite novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. I first discovered Wilde’s work last summer and was lucky enough to continue studying his work in my English course. What made his literary work so striking, was the manner in which it completely widened my perception of what creative and philosophical literature could be. His way of exploring the innately flawed human experience through a narrative, was raw and challenging and fueled my interest in reading and writing. I would recommend to anyone, to read The Picture of Dorian Gray, and if not that, really anything from Wilde.”

Greatest Accomplishment: “My greatest accomplishment has to indubitably be picking up the electric guitar about 2 years ago.

“In elementary school, I grew up playing ‘Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock’ on my older brother’s PS3, and my interest for rock and metal music only grew throughout high school. I had a background in playing instruments, from piano lessons in elementary school, and playing clarinet throughout high

school, and decided to buy an electric guitar and amp, and self-teach. The rest is history.

I completely fell in love with the instrument, and every new thing I learn feels like a new greatest accomplishment. To be able to study and learn the music of musicians I’ve admired since childhood (Tom Morello, Jimmy Page, Slash, etc), has got to be the coolest thing in the world. In my academic career, I struggled a lot with perfectionism and coping with failure, but guitar is the one thing that I am glad to fail at, because to play alone feels victorious. I am infinity grateful to have picked up the instrument, and infinity excited to continue playing throughout my lifetime.”

focus

continues on page 15

Reina Hawa has a strong passion for music and will be studying Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa.

Submitted photo

FRIDAY, July 8, 2022 Page 15

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT foxus continues from page 14 School Activities: “Since the beginning of my high school career, I’ve always been active in the Arts programs. Namely, the Band and Choir program. In Grade 7, I joined the Intermediate Band (Grade 7 to 8) and learned to play the clarinet, which I continued to play throughout Junior Band (grade 9), and Senior Band (grade 10 to 11).

In Grade 7, I also joined the Glee Club, later called Vocal Rush, my school’s Choir which landed me the opportunity of performing on stage with Foreigner in 2019! Both programs enabled me to grow up around incredible friends, and mentors that consistently encouraged and challenged my musical capabilities. Both programs respectively defined so much of my high school experience, and for that, I am eternally grateful.”

Other Activities/Inter-

ests: “Another huge interest of mine is Visual Art. I’ve been drawing since I first learned how to hold a pencil right, but only really figured out my own art style last year. All of what I consider to be my best work has been drawn from Dollar Store pens, and all surround anatomy studies and horror illustrations.

Sometimes the drawings seem a little grotesque, and certainly get a reaction out of my parents, but I think it’s merely a testimony to the story that can be conveyed using horror!”

Career Goals: “At the moment, my career goals are incredibly vague I really can’t pinpoint a certain milestone I’m hoping to achieve. My plan following high school, is to pursue an Honours Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa. I’m not quite sure what I want to do with my degree, nor am I sure

where it will take me, but I know that I have an interest in exercise science. I

don’t have my heart set on any one career path, as I fully anticipate my vision

for what I want my future to be, which will shape over time. So, for the time

being, I suppose my career goal is to find one I like and simply pursue it.”

Kayleigh Styles, an instructor at the Nepean School of Music in Barrhaven sings on the porch at 5432 Osgoode Main St. during Osgoode Porchfest on Saturday, June 11. Styles, 18, is planning to attend Algonquin College in the fall for the Music Industry Arts program.

Submitted photo

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Page 16 FRIDAY, July 8, 2022

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

aux finissantes et aux finissants

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Congratulations to all 2022 graduates, on behalf of the School Trustees, the administration and the school staff!

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