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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Student stabbed at LDHSS, trustee wants police presence back in schools By Charlie Senack, Barrhaven Independent
A teen was left with serious injuries after being stabbed inside Longfields Davidson Heights Secondary School on March 8. The school went into secure school mode that Tuesday afternoon after an altercation took place at around 12:45 pm. A heavy police presence was outside LDHSS, and other nearby schools were also forced to go into secure school mode. In an email sent to parents around 2:20 p.m. that afternoon, Principal Mark Harris said police were on scene and investigating. “Emergency responders were called to the school in response to an altercation onsite,” he wrote. “The Ottawa Police Service is onsite and providing support. An investigation is currently underway. The school has been in contact with the family of the student directly affected. Students and staff are safe in their classrooms
and learning is continuing.“ In a statement sent to the Barrhaven Independent, Ottawa Police said a person was treated for minor injuries and sent to hospital. “Frontline officers attended and secured the premises while Ottawa paramedics treated one person,” they said. “The person was transported to hospital with minor injuries. The incident is being investigated and no further details are available at this time.” Ottawa Paramedics said the teenager was assaulted with a weapon and seemed to hint the situation was more serious than initially reported. They said the teen was in serious but stable condition, but his injuries were not life-threatening. Students at LDHSS were dismissed shortly before 3:00 pm. No details have been provided about the suspect, and as of Wednesday, no arrests were made. Police were seen carrying evidence bags out of the school Tuesday after-
A Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School student is in serious but stable condition after being stabbed in the school Tues., March 8. Local school board trustee Donna Blackburn is calling for the Ottawa Police Student Resource Officer reinstated after the Ottawa Carleton District School Board voted to end police presence at all public board schools in the spring. Charlie Senack photo
noon. LDHSS students tell the Barrhaven Independent the altercation included a stu-
dent, allegedly from another school, stabbing the teen multiple times. When they went into se-
cure school mode, many students said they weren’t sure what the situation was. After hearing multiple sirens, they
figured something was up.
stabbed
continues on page 5
FRIDAY, March 18, 2022 Page 5
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT stabbed continues from page 4 Calls To Bring Police Presence Back Into Schools
After a year of debate and public consultation, the Ottawa Carleton District School Board cut ties with having a police presence in schools, last June. The board voted to “immediately and completely” end the Student Resource Officer (SRO) program, after many said the relationship between officers and some students and families became strained. The report said some students and families became fearful, and how “each consultation highlighted vivid examples where this policy has worsened the relationships of various stakeholders — students, parents, and members of the wider community — with the police.” Barrhaven/KnoxdaleMerivale Trustee Donna Blackburn was the only trustee to vote against the motion, and after a number of incidents at LDHSS
and other schools, will be calling for its return. “I have every intention of bringing forward a motion for the Director of Education to begin negotiations with the Ottawa Police Services to negotiate a program similar to the SRO program,” Blackburn told the Barrhaven Independent. “I feel that our school administrations need a dedicated point person within the Ottawa Police Service who they can rely on for support. In addition, I want a return to the proactive work that school resource officers did in the prevention of criminal activity in our schools.” This is not the first incident to take place at LDHSS this year. In early January, a serious threat was made, leaving police to investigate. Last week’s incident at Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School was not the first in the area since the cancellation of the SRO program. Charlie Senack photo
Page 6 FRIDAY, March 18, 2022
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
INDEPENDENT Editorial
Time to scrap entitlements for former G-Gs Julie Payette must feel like she won the lottery. Despite resigning in shame from her posting as governor general amidst allegations of creating a toxic workplace, she is still entitled to the Cadillac of all retirement packages, courtesy of all of us taxpayers. First off, there’s the pension. At $150,000 per year, it’s generous enough to put any former governor general amongst the top five per cent of income earners in the country. And that’s not accounting for any other income they might get from any other work or investment they may have. Then, there’s the expense accounts. Even in their retirement, governors general can keep billing taxpayers up to $206,000 per year each for travel, hotel and a private office. And they do so with very little transparency. The only reason Canadians found out about the policy is because former governor general Adrienne Clarkson spent over $100,000 some years, which required its very own line in the public accounts. Since leaving office in 2004, Clarkson has asked us to cover over $1.1 million in expenses. Canadians are understandably outraged by this policy. A recent Léger poll commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation shows nearly eight in 10 Canadians want the policy scrapped. Even federal bureaucrats found it a bit rich. A report prepared for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in October 2019 recommended the entitlements “end after a defined number of years of leaving office rather than the current for-life regime.” What has Trudeau done with those recommendations in the last two years? Nothing. They have been gathering dust somewhere in the Prime Minister’s Office. Let’s be clear; it’s not like changing this policy would require extensive debates or weeks of hard work by highly paid policy advisors. Post-retirement expense accounts for governors general are not enshrined in law. They’re an administrative policy that stems from a cabinet decision in 1979. As such, getting rid of it doesn’t involve lengthy debates and readings in Parliament but rather a quick decision from government ministers to scrap it. It shouldn’t take much more than two minutes in the next cabinet meeting. The fact is, when the country is dealing with a $144.5 billion deficit, our government should do its utmost to identify places where it can save money. Reining in the entitlements we give to former governors general should be one of those easy decisions. We know it’s popular – eight in 10 Canadians want it. We know the bureaucrats that looked into it find it to be out of whack. It also happens to be something Trudeau promised to review back in 2018. The only thing we’re left wondering is what’s the holdup in cabinet? Renaud Brossard is the Quebec Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. © Troy Media
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A postcard from Heaven
It’s hard to believe that it’s now been be. In my hands, I was holding the most 10 years since one of my boyhood idolsfrom incredible piece of mail I had ever repassed away. ceived. the other I grew up in an era of heroes. Many As the years went on, Gary Carter of them were athletes who we went on to be a household looked up to. My mind drifted name in Canada, and in to today’s generation of kids. the United States as well. Then, I thought about the But my admiration of mail. Gary Carter transcended Do kids get mail anymore? baseball. It’s the same Does mail mean anything bewith kids today who adyond bills and magazine submire someone like Sidney scriptions anymore? Do kids sit down and Crosby or LeBron James or Tom Brady write letters and draw pictures for their or other role models. I always watched grandparents? Do they get letters back? the Expos and saw a guy with a big smile Is there any non-electronic communica- who said and did the right things. He was tion left beyond the obligatory Christmas always praising his teammates. He was and birthday cards, which are, each year, always out there meeting fans and signbecoming less relevant and more a thing ing autographs. His teammates always of the past? said that Gary Carter never saw a camera When Gary Carter passed 10 years he didn’t like. Maybe that’s true, but the ago, I immediately thought about being cameras were glued to him because he an 11-year-old kid and getting the abso- was a guy who was just having so much lute coolest thing in the mail I had ever fun and loved what he did. He loved received. people. He loved meeting fans, he loved It all started at Bradley’s Creek, a little interacting with them, and he appreciated inlet off the St. Lawrence River in River- them. Gary Carter “got it”. It seems so view Heights, the little village near Pres- few in sports and entertainment do today. cott that had to endure my childhood. I I guess you could say he was an amwas sitting on the little bridge that, about bassador for the Expos or for baseball. a hundred years ago, had been the ori- To me, he was more than that. He was an ginal Highway 2. Rob Minifie and I were ambassador for how to be a grown up. He killing time, looking at our baseball cards was an ambassador for what someone is and listening to the Expos game on my supposed to be like. He was a role model little transistor radio while we fished. We in every sense of the word. had some cans of pop and some comic I got the chance to meet Gary Carter books. I also had a Street and Smith’s on three different occasions, and as I look Baseball Annual with me, and on one back them, it’s interesting. I met him as page, they had the address for every team a fan when I was 19 years old and got in the Major Leagues. a baseball signed. It was my third Carter We had this idea. We were going to autograph by that point, because he had write letters to our favourite Montreal also signed and mailed back a baseball Expos. It was an exciting time to love card I sent him in 1979. I also got to meet the Expos. They were evolving from him as a writer and interview him. The an expansion team full of over-the-hill third occasion was at a business function cast-offs into an up-and-coming baseball after he had retired. team full of young stars. Reading comics What amazed me is that he was the exand listening to a ball game and opening act same in all three instances. He was packs of baseball cards meant something genuine. Nothing was an obligation, and to us as kids. I don’t know how to explain he didn’t spit out clichés. Gary Carter it. It was like baseball represented hope was real. He had some great achievefor us. ments in his career – the home runs and So we sat up and wrote letters to our the All-Star Games and the Hall of Fame favourite players. Gary Carter. Andre induction. But what made me admire him Dawson. Pete Mackannin. Larry Parrish. was the type of person he was while he Pepe Mangual. was accomplishing great things. As a fan, Then, months later, when the letters I feel that following his career and watchwere long forgotten, my Dad came home ing him had a positive influence on my for lunch and brought the mail. I’ll never life. So few, in today’s world, can say forget him looking at me, about as non- that. chalant as you could be, and handing me Sometimes I wonder if, when you die, something. you get to meet cool people in Heaven. I It was a postcard. I looked at it. It was think when I die I will send Gary Carter a black and white postcard of Montreal a postcard. To Gary, God Bless Always. Expos rookie outfielder and sometimes I wonder if they have mail in Heaven. catcher Gary Carter. He had signed it. Maybe I will meet him again and I can “God Bless Always, Gary Carter.” I stood hand deliver it. there, as stunned as an 11-year-old could And I’m sure he will be the same.
side
FRIDAY, March 18, 2022 Page 7
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Greenbank Road realignment petition started in Half Moon Bay By Charlie Senack
A petition has been started to fast track the Greenbank Road realignment in Half Moon Bay. Under the current plan, the project would only start construction in 2030, and wouldn’t be finished until 2032, decades after it was initially called for. Barrhaven has now grown to a population of 100,000 people, with 35,000 residents on the south side of the Jock River. “The demands for all transportation modes crossing the Jock River to Half Moon Bay are over capacity, virtually non-existent, and unsafe due to collisions and near-miss events,” the petition reads. “As a result, 40 vehicular collisions were reported adjacent to the existing bridge in the five years ending in 2019, and these have subsequently increased to include pedestrians and cyclists.” The group calling for a quicker timeline would like to see the Greenbank Road realignment “included and
managed as a priority project in the 2024 Transportation Master Plan and the timeline of the project will be expedited to relieve the unsafe cut-through traffic on local roads, to facilitate alternate modes of travel which in turn will return the roads to safe operating thresholds.” The City of Ottawa is currently updating its Transportation Master Plan, along with it reviewing the prioritization and timing of future infrastructure projects, including the re-alignment of Greenbank Road and Southwest Transitway Extension. Once built, the project will include the design of a new four-lane arterial roadway with two-lane segregated median Bus Rapid Transit and facilities for pedestrians and cyclists along the corridor. A new four-lane bridge would also be built over the Jock River, a Park and Ride facility would be located near the southern terminus of the future transitway corridor, and new water mains
and sewers would be designed. Since the community of Half Moon Bay first came into fruition, plans for the realignment have been widely discussed. When the community was first advertised in 2007, an Ottawa Citizen article
said Half Moon Bay would see 4,500 homes built on 600 acres. “Greenbank Road will be realigned to become the northern and western boundary of the new community, with Cambrian Road marking its southern edge,” the article read.
Now 15 years later, the project is no closer to being completed. The group is arguing that development projects continue to be approved under the assumption that the realignment will eventually take place, but “the goal post continues to be pushed
farther back. There is concern that the review of the Transportation Master Plan could push the project even further back. As of March 9, the growing petition had 609 signatures. It will be up until the end of the month.
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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
For two years, Barrhaven BIA has supported local businesses through pandemic By Andrea Steenbakkers, Executive Director, Barrhaven BIA The Barrhaven BIA is the local leader for business resources, services, and advocacy. We are committed to helping local business members make and save money and to bringing high-value employment to the Barrhaven region. We are here to support, promote, develop and advocate for the businesses of Barrhaven to help stimulate prosperity and employment growth. In the last two years, since the Global pandemic was declared in March of 2020, Barrhaven businesses have faced significant challenges with resilience and determination. It has been a difficult time with businesses being forced to open and close repeatedly with restrictions that would have been unfathomable in a pre-pandemic world, but it has also been a significant time of growth for Barrhaven. After two years, we can only look up from here. Early in 2021, we were optimistic that the challen-
ges of the pandemic would be well behind us. Canada’s economic recovery is progressing more slowly than expected and the risks that inflation brings are everpresent. Despite the challenges, we are still moving diligently in the right direction. The Barrhaven BIA has committed to working hard with, and for, local businesses as they continue to recover in 2022. It is a great honour for our Board and staff to serve the Barrhaven business community. When the pandemic hit, the BBIA quickly adapted and worked effectively to advocate for local businesses. Last year was again a challenging year, and the battle is still ongoing. Despite the great adversity that our businesses face, the BBIA continues to experience a record increase in its member communication and participation. The investment of time and expertise by local businesses continues to empower us to support them more effectively than ever before. In 2021 alone, we hosted 48 weekly Wednesday mor-
In the past two years, PPE and hand sanitizers became the norm in Barrhaven businesses.
ning open calls for members over Zoom and delivered 180 update emails to their inboxes. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Barrhaven BIA staff have worked hard to ensure that
we are aware of all the current changes and regulations. We have also built solid connections with Ottawa Public
Health and Ottawa Bylaw Services. If members have questions, we are able to get quick and reliable informa-
tion on time, every time.
bia
continues on page 10
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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
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Page 10 FRIDAY, March 18, 2022
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Meehan resigns from library board after unintentional disclosure of information By Charlie Senack Gloucester-South Nepean councillor Carol Anne Meehan is off the city’s library board after disclosing private information. Meehan offered her resignation as a library trustee on Friday, March 4, after sharing information from a closed in-camera meeting. The information, about a proposed new library coming to the Barrhaven community, was shared with the local Business Improvement Area during a board meeting. “I like to tell the truth,” Meehan told the Ottawa Citizen’s Jon Willing, noting she wanted to bring some good news to the BIA. “It was not deliberate. It just came out in the course of conversation.”
Somehow, Danielle McDonald, CEO of the Ottawa Public Library, and board chair Matt Lulloff, found out about slip of tongue. Lulloff called Meehan to ask about the accusation, and she was honest about what happened. The Orleans councillor, who says he didn’t call for her resignation, announced the news of Meehan’s decision during the Library board meeting on Tuesday. “Before we begin I just want to confirm that we have received and accepted the resignation of trustee and councillor Meehan, and I want to thank her personally and on behalf of the board for her service to the OPL over the last three years,” Luloff said at the beginning of the meeting. Meehan said she doesn’t
like to make mistakes and wanted to do the honourable thing. “I never reveal what happens in in-camera meetings and it was a mistake,” Meehan told CBC Ottawa. “I don’t like making mistakes, so I decided to do the honourable thing and offer my resignation.” With about seven months left in this council term, it’s not needed to fill Meehan’s seat at the table. With quorum being five people, Lulloff said he’s recommending they leave the seat unfulfilled. Last month Meehan stepped down from the Ottawa Police Services Board to show solidarity to ousted board chairman Diane Deans, and board member Rawlson King, who also resigned from the position.
bia continues from page 8 Early on in the pandemic, it became clear that businesses would need a variety of signage to be able to reopen safely - everything from physical distancing floor decals to hand sanitizing signs. The Barrhaven BIA designed our very own “Made in Barrhaven” toolkit featuring a variety of signage branded with our colours and logo. We were able to provide kits free of charge to our member businesses. The need for toolkit items remained strong in 2021, so we produced and delivered another round in the spring. We are about to unveil a new set of toolkits focused on recovery and getting back to a new “normal”. We also want to thank our local elected representatives for the support given to our business community, through the Barrhaven BIA, throughout the COVID 19
pandemic as well as efforts given to champion issues that positively impact Barrhaven and foster economic growth in our region. We look forward to continuing to work together to advocate for important projects including area business park growth and development, the Barnsdale/Highway 416 Interchange, critical infrastructure investments in local roads and transit, and a much-needed secure, remote work hub for federal employees in our community, to name a few. As we move forward in 2022, we hope that the uncertainty that came in 2021 is now behind us. While there will certainly be ups and downs, with vaccines and a better understanding of COVID-19, we look forward to a year of recovery and hopefully a return to normal. As always, we remain committed to provid-
ing members with the exceptional programming that we have introduced over the past 2 years. Let us not only reflect on the lessons that COVID-19 has taught us, but also identify the opportunities it presented. The Barrhaven BIA, on behalf of our membership, would like to thank the Barrhaven community for hearing the call to action and supporting local businesses throughout the last 2 years. Without your support, we would not be where we are today. With over 540 businesses and services, Barrhaven businesses have everything on your list Check out our Business Directory to find what you are looking for at https://barrhavenbia.ca. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to stay connected with promotions, giveaways, and exciting announcements.
FRIDAY, March 18, 2022 Page 11
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Barrhaven restaurants and pubs looking to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day By Kassia Skorzewska For the first time since 2019, Barrhaven’s the Heart and Crown location is holding a St. Patrick’s Day party next week following the announcement of covid restrictions being lifted. “We’re open 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., we have three live bands, we’ll have some Irish dancers, it will be quite the day,” said Hollie Butcher, the Heart and Crown’s manager. The bands they’re hosting are Jamie Douglas, Steamy Boots, and The Josh MacFarlane Band. There will also be some Irish dishes alongside the Heart and Crown’s full menu.
“We’re still passively screening all our guests at the door, and we are sanitizing, cleaning, we’re still wearing masks at this time, and every staff member is screened every single day when they work as well,” said Butcher. The Heart and Crown is not the only Barrhaven restaurant holding St. Patrick’s Day festivities. The Royal Oak will also be hosting live music along with playing Celtic music throughout the day. Guests eating at the Royal Oak can look forward to hearing the Jim Cochrane duo as well as the Mike Meunier duo. There will also be Irish food available such as,
chicken and beef Boxty, Similar to the Heart and Guinness crispy shrimp and Crown, The Barley Mow is Irish nachos to name a few. also passively screening its Staff is able to wear green guests. other than their uniform if “We’ve still got some spathey’d like. cing here. And there are still The Barley Mow is also notes on the door advising holding live music. folks who are symptomatic From 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., or who have been exposed the Where’s Waldo Trio will to visit another time,” said be playing at their location. Hendrik. “Yes, we have. They’re Barrhaven’s Boston Pizza a good group, a good bunch will also be throwing a St. of guys, and they’re add- Patrick’s Day party. ing Irish St. Patrick’s Day Throughout the day, tunes to their repertoire,” they’ll be having prizes, said Craig Hendrik, The draws, and serving green Barley Mow manager, about beer amid Irish music being if they’ve had the Where’s played in the restaurant. Waldo Trio pre-pandemic. “We’re decorated and The Barley Mow will also ready to go. We’re planning be featuring Irish specials on a big turnout on St. PatAd Size:10.25" throughout the day. rick’s Day without having
the restrictions on capacity. We’re expecting a full house for the first time in many years,” said Russ Arthurs, the Boston Pizza manager. Arthurs is looking forward to providing an area where people can hang out
with each other and celebrate the Irish day. “For a lot of people that haven’t been able to cope in a couple of years, this will be their first time coming out and socializing in a larger group again,” said Arthurs.
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Page 12 FRIDAY, March 18, 2022
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
TSB says investigation into the recent Jockvale Road train collision is over By Charlie Senack The Transportation Safety Board says their investigation into the recent Jockvale Road train collision is over. In a statement sent to the Barrhaven Independent newspaper, TSB communications advisor Marc-
Antoine Brassard said the crossing is safe. “Following the deployment and the data and information collection in the field, the TSB determined that further investigation would have little likelihood of identifying new safety lessons that will advance transportation
safety and has classified this occurrence as a class 5 investigation in accordance with the TSB Policy on Occurrence classification,” he said. Brassard said their conclusions are that the Jockvale Crossing does not require additional safety measures.
“It was determined that the crossing, which was safely and adequately protected, was not a factor in this accident nor any action of the rail crew or train rolling stock,” he said. On Feb. 12, a man in a wheelchair was struck by a VIA train at the rail cross-
ing at around 1:00 p.m. that afternoon. He was pronounced dead on the scene, however a passerby was able to save his dog, a female golden retriever. A memorial has now been started at the site, including flowers, teddy bears, and a picture of the victim, with a sign reading “I love you daddy.”
A new crossing
The area where the incident occurred includes a walking path on one side of the tracks, and Barrhaven United Church on the other. It’s also home to Steepleview Crossing residents, who live in the 41-unit affordable housing complex next to the church. Steepleview residents have long called for safety improvements to be made in the area, especially to cross the busy Jockvale Road. Barrhaven is now home to 100,000 residents, and sees about 20 trains a day roaring through the suburb. Between the train tracks and traffic, there have been fears for decades that accidents could happen. In September 2013, six people died just a few kilometres away when a VIA train struck a doubledecker OC Transpo bus. The tragedy sparked calls for action. Decades earlier in the A memorial has been created at the site of the train crash that killed a man in a wheelchair on Jackvale Road in February. Charlie Senack photo
summer of 1992, a young boy, only aged seven, died after being struck by a train on Dolan Avenue. At the time, the coroner said something needed to be done. Now, years later, there is a renewed call for safety improvements to be made so future tragedies are avoided. Barrhaven resident Neil Smith sits on the Board of Directors for Steepleview Housing. He said residents have long called for a safe crossing, but their voices went unheard.
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continues on page 13
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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT jockvale continues from page 12 In 2019 plans, were brought forward to build an underpass on the south side of Jockvale, near Barrhaven Christian Fellowship Church. Drawings for the $6 million design were approved, but no money was ever provided. Many members of a working group set up to make the road safer said they feel the underpass should be moved to the north side, because under the current plans, it doesn’t meet the needs of what they are trying to
achieve. Smith says while it’s better than nothing, it’s not a solution for a safer crossing. “Although what I think they are trying to do is right, it doesn’t have the biggest value for the (Steepleview) residents because they have to get over to that walkway,” he told the Barrhaven Independent. “Anyone from the city who came out there within a minute or two said it’s a no brainer, you need a crosswalk here, but that
was basically it,” Smith added. “They said they would look at it but nothing has happened since.” The COVID-19 pandemic then hit, and city priorities shifted. Smith and his group have contacted Coun. Jan Harder’s office, but she told them her hands were tied. Having a crossing built would benefit those who are walking to bus stops on either side of the road, and for students of nearby John McCrae High School, who travel down Jockvale.
High schools in the neighbourhood frequently use the walking paths. The group has been told previously a crossing couldn’t be put near the bus stops, because it was too close to the tracks. But Smith says that no longer makes sense because what the city is proposing on the opposite side is situated even closer. Some members of the working group would also like to see a pathway built on the Barrhaven United Church side of Jockvale,
to make it easier for the Steepleview Crossing residents. That would also see the expansion of a bike path which runs along the train tracks, and currently stops near Antler Avenue. That could also include a medium being placed in the middle of the road, to act as a buffer when crossing. Smith says while all of that would be nice to see, he doesn’t feel it will come into fruition, especially because it would mean travelling over another rail
crossing. “That would certainly be good, but again you’re introducing another rail crossing and that will be knocked down because the plan was to only have a grade separation crossing on the fellowship church side,” he said. “I think the residents are in full support of only having a walkway on one side and utilizing it, but they want a safe way of getting across Jockvale. Traffic has definitely been picking up over the years.”
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Page 14 FRIDAY, March 18, 2022
CLUES ACROSS 1. Type of footwear 5. Studies a lot all at once 10. Adventure story 14. Hundred thousand 15. Former U.S. Vice President 16. Ruler 17. Indian city 18. Similar 19. Ship as cargo 20. Volcanic craters 22. Boxing’s “GOAT” 23. Bullfighting maneuvers 24. London soccer team 27. Score perfectly 30. No (Scottish) 31. SoCal hoops team (abbr.) 32. Woman (French) 35. Unwanted attic “decor” 37. Peter Griffin’s daughter 38. Broad, shallow crater 39. Large instruments 40. Low bank or reef 41. __ and Venzetti 42. Oil group 43. Father 44. Aggressive men 45. Pairs well with green 46. Travelers need it 47. Digital audiotape 48. Midway between
northeast and east 49. Chemistry descriptor 52. S. China seaport 55. Sound unit 56. Heavy cavalry sword 60. Thick piece of something 61. Spa town in Austria 63. Boyfriend 64. Norse personification of old age 65. Type of box 66. Tie together 67. Fiber from the coconut 68. Chicago mayor 69. Old English letters CLUES DOWN 1. Type of sauce 2. Pattern of notes 3. Plant with long seedpods 4. Map out 5. Numbers cruncher 6. Make a mental connection 7. Italian tenor 8. N. America’s highest mountain peak 9. Witness 10. Arabic given name 11. Music awards 12. “ The Immoralist” author 13. Area units
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
21. Units of loudness 23. Political action committee 25. Bar bill 26. Witch 27. A theatrical performer 28. 2-door car 29. __ and flowed 32. Papier-__, art medium 33. City in Georgia 34. Irregular 36. College sports conference 37. Angry 38. Partner to cheese 40. S. American mammal 41. Self-immolation by fire rituals 43. Split pulses 44. Disfigure 46. Cow noise 47. Erase 49. Chadic language 50. Reward for doing well 51. Paid TV 52. Millisecond 53. Other 54. Colombian city 57. Necklace part 58. Every one of two or more people 59. Regrets 61. They come after “A” 62. Horse noise
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
FRIDAY, March 18, 2022 Page 15
Page 16 FRIDAY, March 18, 2022
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Barrhaven Juno nominee Amanda Rheaume to perform at NAC May 25 Many of you who know me will definitely understand that I like to keep tabs on and share Barrhaven’s talent. One particular Barrhaven raised talent who is a former Juno Award nominee and a graduate at John McCrae Secondary School is the famous singer/songwriter Amanda Rheaume. As I write this on International Women’s Day, it seems fitting to highlight the accomplishments of Amanda. Currently, Amanda is being promoted on a huge billboard outside of Toronto’s Eaton Centre by Amazon Music! It is also crazy to think that the teenager Amanda I remember going to school with my daughter Elena, has recently announced a new album. Her sixth album, The Spaces in Between, will be out on May 27th. And if you don’t want to wait for the release date, be sure to catch her live at the National Arts Centre here in Ottawa on May 25th. News from Ruth E. Dickinson: your local library branch Current Services: • The Ottawa Public Library is offering modified hours of operation at library branches and the Bookmobile • To view the hours of operation at the Ruth E. Dickinson branch please click here • Please visit our current branch services page for the most up to date information on library services • Masks remain mandatory when visiting the library Learning a new language is like gaining a new soul Interested in learning a new language? Don’t waste
LET’S TALK
BARRHAVEN by Jan Harder
your money on expensive apps. OPL offers free access to one of the most popular online databases: Mango Languages. Access it through your browser or by downloading the Mango app on your smartphone. It features real-life conversations with native-speaker audio and cultural context so you can speak like a local!
City of Ottawa Messaging Have your say on how we manage garbage, recycling, and food waste Ottawa’s vision is to be a zero-waste city. And yet, more than half of what we throw in the garbage could be recycled or composted. We need a plan that can stand up to challenges such as climate change and a landfill that is filling up fast. From previous engagement with the public on the Solid Waste Master Plan, we know that residents want progressive, collective, and innovative action. We learned about people’s creative ideas for the City to explore as part of the planning process. We have analysed that input and now we are asking for feedback on a short list of options for the plan. We also want to know how far, how fast, and at what cost you would like the City to move towards a zero-waste future.
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The options explore themes such as: • Green bin use in multiresidential properties • How we manage garbage and recycling in parks • New and creative ways to reduce and reuse (such as repair cafes, lending libraries, community swaps and food waste reduction initiatives) • How to improve our recycling programs • The role of technology and innovation • Turning waste into renewable energy • Financial considerations • New promotion and education initiatives Visit ottawa.ca/wasteplan to have your say. You can share your thoughts by completing a survey or participating in one of our online workshops. You can also learn more by participating in a virtual information session. Have your say on the Transportation Master Plan Do you have an opinion on roads or transit? This is your chance to be heard and affect change! Once the plan and budget are final, this will guide the next decade! Transportation Master Plan engagement extended to the end of March. To Participate: https://engage. ottawa.ca/transportationmaster-plan This is a great opportunity to show how much more investments are needed in Barrhaven (Greenbank Road realignment and new Jock River Bridge, better and possibly alternative transit service within the commun-
Amanda Rheaume will be performing at the NAC in May to promote her new album.
Sean Sisk photo
ity, Barnsdale interchange to the 416, etc), it enables City staff to prioritize them in the Plan and the Budget. This plan identifies the transportation facilities, services, and policies that the City will implement to serve a projected population of 1.14 million people by 2031. It sets a direction for the City’s dayto-day transportation programs and provides a basis for budget planning that is consistent with the growth management policies of the City’s Official Plan. The City recently extended the deadline for their
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online surveys and other engagement tools until the end of March. The Public Open House has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 29th at 6:30 p.m. Pothole Repairs The Roads and Parking Services team have sprung into action to address what is inevitable with this type of weather pattern, pothole repairs. We will be taking advantage of the mild weather expected over the next few days by redirecting additional resources and deploying more crews to fill potholes.
Since January, Ottawa has seen all sorts of weather – everything from a record snowfall, prolonged freezing rain, temperatures above zero, rain, flash freeze and then more snow. We know this winter season will wreak havoc on our roads, sidewalks and winter cycling network as the freeze / thaw cycles take hold this month, bringing with it an increased number of potholes. We are on the job and ready! For residents wishing to report a pothole, please create a Service Request online.
FRIDAY, March 18, 2022 Page 17
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
‘Ottawa’s new auditor general worth every cent we pay her’
In a recent newsletter I wrote “Ottawa’s new Auditor General is worth every cent we pay her.” I was referring to Natalie Gougeon’s recommendations to the City of Ottawa to phase in the purchase of electric buses, instead of barreling ahead to replace all its diesel buses at a cost of a billion dollars by 2027. It’s absolutely the right decision, and one management has accepted. As the Vice Chair of the City’s Audit Committee, and as a member of the committee that hired Natalie Gougeon, I am pleased to see her carve out a greater role for her office. It shouldn’t be a surprise. In her previous position Ms. Gougeon was the Director of Risk Management and Internal Audit for the Inter-
national Development Research Center, a Federal Government Crown Corporation. Her focus has been on adding value to a project not just pointing out, after completion, where the planning and financial pieces could be improved. As a resident of Ottawa, Ms. Gougeon knows our history of planning and executing city projects. She’s too discreet to say her skills are needed, but confirms when the bus project was given the green light she approached management asking to examine all aspects of the plan before it
goes ahead. She proposed an Agile Audit, an examination of particular areas of the project based on the risk at a point in time. The AG tells me she did this because of the magnitude of bus conversion, because of how important it is to Ottawa’s reputation and because of the complex agreements to repay the federal government, once the EV conversion is profitable. It’s essential to get the numbers right, she says, or we could pay too much, and too soon. It was February when the AG presented her recommendations. The main one was to slow down the planned purchase of 74 buses by next year, and wait for the results of a small pilot project that’s now underway with 4 electric buses.
Management is worried that could result in challenges getting E Buses in the future. Gougeon feels extra time could improve planning for battery charging stations and monitoring. In the meantime she is working on a transition plan to ensure the move to electric buses does not lead to service gaps. Think what happened when Ottawa
transitioned to Light Rail and laid off bus drivers and cut routes almost immediately. Gougeon says that won’t happen if we run electric buses and diesel until the transition is complete. A welloiled plan that could save Ottawa money. Sounds logical to me. The Mayor called the AG’s risk assessment “a pilot project for identifying problems early in
major projects.” I say the pilot project has already proved itself. The Auditor General should be involved in every big project in the city going forward. Just too bad we did not have her skill set when planning the billion-dollar boondoggle called LRT. The office of the Auditor General is now on twitter. Follow the work @oagottawa
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Page 18 FRIDAY, March 18, 2022
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
LDHSS student-musician happy to see band coming back together Name: Alyssa McDormand Age: 17
fOCUS ON
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Address: Barrhaven School: Longfields Davidson Heights Secondary Grade: 12 Parents: Kathy and Jorden McDormand Sisters: Ava (14), grade 9, Longfields Davidson Heights Secondary Rebecca (10), grade 5, Berrigan Elementary Pet: “Luna, my dog, a 5-year-old goldendoodle, who I love very much.” Pet Peeves: “When people are rude or ungrateful. I try to focus on the positive side of things, because we have so much to be thankful for.” Part-time Work: “I worked at Mary Brown’s Chicken & Taters last year, but I decided to focus on my studies last semester. This semester, I am in the process of applying for a job, and working on selling art by way of commissions.” Favourite Subjects: “Definitely visual arts and music. I love the arts, especially since they help me to express myself, make others feel loved, and just have fun.” What do you enjoy reading for pleasure? “I love reading fantasy novels, like Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo and The Cruel Prince
by Phill Potter
by Holly Black. I really enjoy reading about the character’s deep and exciting stories and connecting to the characters.” Favourite Author: “Definitely Leigh Bardugo, who wrote Six of Crows.” Greatest Accomplishment: “Probably handling OCD. I was recently diagnosed with OCD, or obsessional compulsive disorder, during the pandemic. I am doing much better now that I’ve received help through some amazing doctors, psychologists, my family, my friends, and God. Though I’m still dealing with the OCD, and it will probably stay for the rest of my life, I am doing so much better, and the worst has passed. There is a purpose to everything in God’s plan and I know that my pain is not for nothing.” School Activities: “All throughout high school and middle school, I’ve taken part in Band. I’ve played the trumpet since I was about nine years old. I started playing in church and school bands. What I like most about playing the trumpet, is spending time with the people in the band where I have made a lot of friends. “In grade 8, I joined the Ottawa All Star Jazz Band and played first trumpet. I received the Music Award
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in grade 8 and our school Jazz Band won in Musicfest that year. That was probably my best year for trumpet. In grades 9-10, I auditioned, and was part of the Ottawa Junior Jazz Band as fourth trumpet and first trumpet. “I continued to play in my church band as all of this went on, but I mostly spent time in the school bands. However, during the pandemic, the school bands stopped, and the church band was only playing a bit. It was really difficult for a while, because I could only play alone, which is not the same. Playing alone takes away the experience of playing and connecting with friends through music. I missed the harmonies and beautiful combined sounds of everyone in the band. I started feeling like I wasn’t as good as I used to be because I wasn’t playing with others and wasn’t practicing as much. I began getting frustrated with the situation and myself, so I stopped playing for a couple months. However, now the band is starting back up again in school and church. I am really excited to start playing more often.”
Other Activities/Interests: “Outside of school, I enjoy going to church and participating in the teen activities there, making art, doing karate, and singing. “Visual arts. Though I do art mainly in school, and hopefully as a career, I also love doing it as a separate activity for my personal life. I get to see it all the time when I create art for others, and not just for my educa-
Alyssa McDormand will be going to Ottawa U. in the fall. She is hoping to become a teacher. Submitted photo
tion. “I’ve been doing karate for about a year and I’m a green belt. When the pandemic started we chose to go to karate. I am a pretty shy person, but the Senseis there (at Barrhaven Douvris) are really kind and welcoming, so I always feel at home there. Karate helps so much physically and mentally, especially during the pandemic. “I love singing, which I’ve done all my life. We sing all the time and my family is filled with singers.
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and discover who they are. Specifically, I would like to be a high school art teacher, because that is the age when I think young people are able to understand deeper concepts in art, and the meanings behind it. My art teacher, Mrs. Jensen, is very compassionate and encouraging, and a great role model. I want to be a teacher like her. One of the main things she pays a lot of attention to, is her students’ mental health. Many people don’t pay attention to mental health, but it is just as im-
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I love emotional and beautiful songs that I can connect to. My favorite songs are worship songs, songs from musicals, and French songs.” Career Goals: “I have applied to, and been accepted to the University of Ottawa in Visual Arts (in French Immersion). I hope to complete a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts French Immersion) degree and then go to Teachers’ College. I hope to become an art teacher, because I love art and working with children. I also love the idea of inspiring kids to explore
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FRIDAY, March 18, 2022 Page 19
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
The Log Farm opens their sugar bush for first time since 2019 By Kassia Skorzewska
For the first time since 2019, Barrhaven’s The Log Farm is opening its sugar bush business back up to the public. For the past two years, The Log Farm opened later in the year and ended up missing the sugar bush season. “We opened to very limited crowds in August 2020 through to the fall. And then the same thing again last year, unfortunately, spring was a similar kind of issue with covid, and we didn’t do the sugar bush either,” said Larry Orr. Orr, along with his wife, his son, and his daughter-inlaw, are part of the family that have kept The Log Farm running for the past six years. The sugar bush will be opening up on Saturday, March 12 and will remain open until April 3. “Next week because of March Break, we are open on the Monday as well, and the Thursday and Friday,” said Orr. Leading up to the sugar
bush’s opening, Orr and his family make sure the trees are in good shape throughout the winter, they start making the trails around the bush a month ahead of the opening, and they start tapping trees for sap a week before. “We started putting the taps in the trees last week, and we will finish today and tomorrow,” said Orr. Once sap has been collected in the buckets, Orr and his family then put it through their evaporator to start the process of turning it into maple syrup. In order to make maple syrup, 40 litres of sap created one litre of maple syrup. Over the course of the opening weekend and the closing weekend, The Log Farm does about 300 tree taps. “Typically, if you have a good season, you should get about a litre with every tap that you have in the trees. So, over the course of the year, we will make 300-350 litres,” said Orr. When the weather starts staying above zero at night, it is then too warm to collect sap
from the trees. This year, The Log Farm will be holding capacity limits at their sugar bush due to past complaints about the farm being too busy. “We are doing 300 in the morning and another 300 in the afternoon, and it’s spread over a three-hour period for their visit,” said Orr. When you arrive at The Log Farm it is a five-minute walk from the entranceway to the farm site. From the farm site, you are then taken in a wagon ride out to the sugar bush where Orr’s son, Ryan, tells guests all about maple syrup and how it’s made. “If the sap is running, families are allowed to take a bucket, go out to collect some sap, and bring it back, and that’s also where we do taffy on the snow, which is an extremely popular spring item,” said Orr. When guests are finished at the sugar bush, they are welcome to head back to the farm site where they can visit with the animals and the kids can play.
Orr suggests families should prioritize at least two hours for their visit. When the sugar bush season is over, The Log Farm will be hosting an Easter egg hunt for kids on Easter weekend. Then, starting in May, the farm also hosts a farmer’s market
which runs until Thanksgiving. “Everybody’s still being very cautious, and masks are still required in many places including the wagon ride, but it’s getting back to normal, and it’s letting people breathe a little easier and enjoy themselves,” said Orr about how
happy he is for the sugar bush being open. If you are interested in checking the sugar bush out starting this weekend, you can buy tickets online at: https://www.eventbrite. ca/e/sugarbush-down-on-thefarm-tickets-256308123497
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Page 20 FRIDAY, March 18, 2022
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Two years ago, COVID-19 arrived and changed Barrhaven forever By Charlie Senack It’s been two years since the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Ottawa on March 11, 2020. In the March 20 issue of the Barrhaven Independent that year, we were in the midst of celebrating our 30year anniversary. Recounting some of the biggest stories over the past three decades, it remained uncertain what the biggest story would be to dominate our headlines. Now two years after our lives changed forever, we can say it’s COVID-19. “Until the COVID-19 pandemic is over, we will not know where it will stand among the most significant stories we have ever covered,” this newspaper wrote. “It is, at least at press time, not yet a tragedy. We have had no cases of COVID-19 or deaths from the virus as we write this. We hope and pray that does not happen.” If only we knew then what we know now. In the 731 days since, Ottawa has recorded over 63,000 cases and over 750 deaths related to the virus. In actuality, Ottawa Public Health says the number of cases could be five to 30 times higher. Since March 2020, Barrhaven ward has reported 3,462 cases of the virus, with another 3,408 in neighbouring Gloucester-South Nepean. Those numbers are expected to be much higher in reality, especially after the Omicron
peak where many weren’t able to seek confirmatory PCR tests. According to 2016 data, Barrhaven ward has a population of 57,150 residents, meaning under that number, 6.1 per cent of the community has tested positive on a PCR test. Data from that same year shows 52,520 people living in Gloucester-South Nepean, meaning 6.5 per cent of that community has tested positive for COVID-19. These numbers don’t take into account positive rapid test results which go unaccounted for in official tallies. Out of the 22 municipal wards, Barrhaven had recorded the second highest number of confirmed cases, with Gloucester-South Nepean coming in at a close third place. When you look at the number of cases per 100,000 people, Barrhaven fairs out better at 11th place, and Gloucester-South Nepean comes in at eighth. The data does not include cases from long-term care or retirement homes. Out of the eligible population ages five and over, 87 per cent of Barrhaven West is fully vaccinated with 85.9 per cent in neighbouring Barrhaven East. Chapman Mills has a 83.6 per cent fully vaccinated rate, with 85.6 per cent of Stonebridge-Half Moon Bay-Hearts Desire residents receiving two jabs. Rideau Crest-Davidson Heights
has a fully vaxed rate of 87.5 per cent, and Riverside SouthLeitrim on the other side of the river is 87.9 per cent fully vaccinated.
More cases reported in Barrhaven than elsewhere
Barrhaven has particularly been hit hard by this global pandemic, frequently reporting higher case counts than elsewhere in the city. With such a large and dense population, along with the number of schools and extra curriculars in the community, it has somewhat become a breeding ground for the virus. Monsignor Paul Baxter, located in Barrhaven, was the first school in Ontario to close after a COVID-19 outbreak in October 2020. It led to two cases. Then this winter, Half Moon Bay Public School was forced to close after 68 people became infected, mostly students. Every school in this community has at one time or another been impacted by the virus, and has reported outbreaks either big or small. The community has also seen a number of long-term care and retirement home outbreaks, with 167 cases linked to these settings in Barrhaven ward, and another 137 in Gloucester-South Nepean. This December, Barrhaven made headlines across Ottawa when the community was reporting double the city’s average for infections. Dr. Vera Etches, the city’s top doctor, said at the time it was linked
At the beginning of the pandemic, local residents scrambled to buy toilet paper and other household items at Costco.
Social distancing and long lines became the norm at LCBO in Barrhaven.
to school and extracurricular activities. It was in the midst of Half Moon Bay Public Schools outbreak, along with an outbreak at Barrhaven Martial Arts Centre, which led to over 50 cases. The pandemic began with long lines outside the Costco on Strandherd and the LCBO near Strandherd. People stocked up on supplies fearing the unknown, with toilet paper being among the items hardest to find. The Costco even had to close for an hour on March 13, 2020, after being shut down by the fire Marshall due to being over capacity. Over 600 people were entering the store every hour. Masks were not yet mandatory, but this new word called ‘social distancing’ was entering the dictionary. Signs on the doors of the Walter Baker Centre and Minto Rec Centre said they would remain closed from March 16 until at least April 5, when it was hoped they could reopen and life would resume as normal. Similar signs were posted on the doors of neighborhood schools, which were also to close for two weeks after March break. They wouldn’t re-open until the fall, and even then it was short lived and sporadic. Signs were posted saying city parks were off limits, unless it was for walkthrough traffic. Play structures, benches, tennis and basketball courts, sports fields, and picnic tables were all off limits. Those caught not complying could face hefty fines. The Barrhaven BIA was forced to cancel all of their
events, including an open house for the future of Barrhaven Downtown. Some restaurants including the Heart and Crown and Lonestar decided to close up shop before being mandated to do so just a few days later by the Ontario government. Anabia cupcakes stopped accepting cash, and would only use disposable cups and napkins for food instead of dishes. The early stages of the pandemic felt like a bad dream, or perhaps a science fiction movie meant strictly to be seen on the screens, and not to be lived in real life. The pandemic meant an end to community functions, and the cancellation of 13 Barrhaven events in 2020 alone. Santa Claus Parades, barbecues, skate days, and pancake breakfasts all had to be put on hold. Mattamy Homes Canada Day in Barrhaven has still been unable to celebrate their 40th anniversary, but there are hopes it will now finally happen in 2022, two years after initially planned. But in true pandemic fashion, this virus meant the need to pivot. Instead of tens of thousands flocking Clarke Fields for days of midway fun, musical entertainment, and fireworks, Canada Day in Barrhaven was celebrated with drive-by classing car shows, passing the retirement homes in the community. The pandemic also meant people opened up their hearts and wallets to help those impact the hardest. In April 2020 as people were losing employment and it was becoming evident this pandemic
wouldn’t end in five weeks as some hoped, a caring corner was set up outside of St. Patrick Elementary School. People left hockey sticks, canned food items, books, and puzzles, for people who could benefit from it. On Alameda Drive, Magnus Paulson and his wife Leah, both musicians, held concerts on their porch for neighbours. The Barrhaven Food Cupboard, which many times has credited their success to the generosity of the community, has reported a 12 per cent increase in calls for support. They were able to tackle the need for assistance thanks to community donations, even needing to purchase an extra fridge. Good news is very few Barrhaven businesses have needed to close their doors permanently due to challenges faced by the pandemic and it’s never ending cycle of lockdowns. In fact, new shops are opening in the community, with retail space not only in short supply, but also in demand. It appears this pandemic is now taking a new turn, and while not gone, Barrhaven residents are learning to live and adapt to a pandemicdriven world. Vaccine passports have been dropped in almost all settings, and effective March 21, masks will no longer be required to enter a store or in schools. COVID-19 will continue to write its history, and while it’s unpredictability remains a concern, there is hope it’s threat will continue to lessen.
FRIDAY, March 18, 2022 Page 21
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Ontario mandating Naloxone kits in high-risk workplaces The Ontario government has introduced legislation to protect workers on the job and save lives. If passed, the Working for Workers Act, 2022 (Working for Workers Act 2), will require workplaces that are at risk of a worker opioid overdose to have naloxone kits. The legislation would also introduce the highest fines in Canada for companies that fail to follow workplace health and safety laws. “Everyone in our province knows someone who has been impacted by the opioid epidemic,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “These are brothers, sisters, mothers and daughters, and we need to do everything in our power
to save lives. That is why our government is bringing life-saving naloxone kits to high-risk settings such as construction sites, bars and nightclubs.” Approximately 2,500 people died from opioidrelated causes between March 2020 and January 2021 – of the victims who were employed, 30 per cent were construction workers, by far the most of any industry impacted. Bars and nightclubs are also seeing increased opioid usage, which often involve recreational drugs laced with deadly opioids such as fentanyl and carfentanil. “While Ontario’s workers have been there to support us before and during this horrible pandemic, it’s just as important that
we are there to support them,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “By ensuring access to life-saving naloxone kits where and when our workers need them, our government is helping to protect more Ontarians struggling with addiction from preventable deaths and taking decisive action to address the challenges of the opioid crisis.” Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and allow time for medical help to arrive. Requiring businesses in high-risk settings to have naloxone kits on hand will help reduce the stigma around opioid abuse, raise awareness about the risks of ac-
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cidental overdoses, and potentially save hundreds of lives a year. Also included in Working for Workers Two are changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act to increase the maximum fines for businesses that fail to protect their workers to the highest in the country. The proposed increased fines would reinforce the importance of putting worker safety first and further penalize those that treat injuries as the cost of doing business. Officers and directors of businesses that do not provide a safe work environment that leads to a worker be-
ing severely injured or dying on the job could face fines of up to $1.5 million under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA) if convicted. Charges for other individuals are also rising to up to $500,000. These actions are part of Ontario’s ambitious plan to attract the best workers from across Canada and around the world by making the province the best place to live, work and raise a family. This follows legislation in the fall to remove unfair and discriminatory barriers against foreigntrained professionals, the “Right to Disconnect”,
and the banning of noncompete clauses. Proposed legislation also requires training to ensure workers are familiar with how to use naloxone kits. In addition, the OHSA would not limit or prohibit the use of naloxone to clients, customers or anyone else in an emergency. Naloxone is an effective intervention and can prevent death if administered quickly. The proposed legislation would also increase the limitation period for commencing a prosecution from one year to two years for a violation under OHSA.
Page 22 FRIDAY, March 18, 2022
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
St. Joseph grad directs video for Disney High School Musical star By Charlie Senack A longtime Barrhaven resident is now making it big in Hollywood. Elle Mills, who launched her successful YouTube career in the neighbourhood, has recently directed the “Doppelgänger” music video for Disney star Joshua Bassett, best known for his role in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Mills, 23, now calls California home and is settling into her new lifestyle. Earlier this year, she wrote and produced a short film called Reply, which is expected to make the film festival rounds this summer. It premiered during a private screening in Los Angeles a few weeks ago. Mills met Bassett, 21, through a mutual friend who starred in the former Bar-
rhaven resident’s short film. She said they met for coffee a few weeks ago and two days later got a message asking her to come on board with the project. “He just texted me ‘hey, would you be down?’” Mills recounted on a recent Twitch stream days after the premiere. “We did get coffee two days before that and we were just talking about what we want to do in the future of our careers, and we talked about how much one day we’d love to work together.” Mills said Bassett was a fan of her YouTube videos and that paths easily connect in Hollywood. He also watched her recent short film and appreciated how it was filmed. The music video, released on Feb. 25, has now garnered over 1.8 million views.
“Doppelgänger” is Bassett’s first new track of 2022 and offers raw emotions over moving on after a breakup. It’s based on real-life accounts from the singer’s love life. “The song poured out of me immediately after seeing someone who I thought was my ex at a coffee shop,” Bassett said in a statement. “Sucker punched in the heart, I realized I’m not quite as over them as I thought, and that no one, not even a look-alike, could ever take their place.” The song, with its corresponding music video, paints a picture of the different stages of emotions Bassett felt in the moment. It starts with the singer walking into a coffee shop and cuts to better moments from the past, before it’s downfall. Mills said the music video took two days to film and was
amazed watching Bassett and the other actors immediately go from one emotion to another on set. “My favourite part of this whole music video, because I think in my heart I’m just such a fan of actors and I want to be a writer/director, I want to make films, so getting to work on a film that was very narrative based, watching them act was such a pleasure,” she said.
Mills’ Connection to Barrhaven
Mills, 23, was born in the Philippines, but was raised in Ottawa for a larger portion of her upbringing. The St. Joseph High School graduate started making YouTube videos in 2012,
and by 2017 had 15,000 subscribers. Later that year, Mills released a coming out video which now has over 5.6 million views. Mills wrapped her family’s Half Moon Bay home in colourful decorations and individually called each of her friends and family over to have them draw her ideal partner. When most drew pictures of a male, Mills pulled out a picture of what her real ideal crush looks like. “I’m not going to lie, I’m a little scared,” Mills recounted in a video three days before coming out as bi-sexual. “Growing up, there has always been a negative undertone about the LGBTQ+ community. I’m scared that the relationships with the
people in my life right now are going to be different, that people are going to look at me differently. Certain family and friends won’t be friends with me like they used to be. “I have this heavy weight on my chest; it’s something that’s been an elephant in the room in my life for a long time, I’ve been feeling really depressed because of it,” Mills continued. “I just want to be able to like someone and tell my mom or my friends.” Many of Mills’ early videos were filmed in the Barrhaven community of Half Moon Bay, where Mills lived alongside her brother Jay, 21, and mother Janet.
directs
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Soccer registration is now open Two great options:
Spring Season
&
Summer Season
Ages 3-18
Youth & Adult
SOLD OUT IN 2021
EARLY BIRD PRICING
Register by March 30 to guarantee a place in the Spring Program
Register by April 15 to receive the early-bird rate for the Summer Program
Want to join both seasons? Barrhaven’s Elle Mills, left, recently directed the “Doppelgänger” music video for Disney star Joshua Bassett, right. Twitter photo/Elle Mills
www.osu.ca
FRIDAY, March 18, 2022 Page 23
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Local businessman says permanent Daylight Savings Time could be a benefit By Kassia Skorzewska Last summer, Barrhaven business owner Russ Arthurs, was called by the Provincial government to testify at a provincial committee trying to pass legislation on permanently changing to Daylight Savings Time. “They wanted to gather input from across the province from different industries and different stakeholders to see what people’s
thoughts were and I was asked from a business perspective,” said Arthurs. Arthurs, who manages the Barrhaven Boston Pizza location, testified about the pros of Daylight Savings Time and believes the benefits outweigh the cons. “For us, the time of day that we would get that extra hour of light each day in late afternoon or early evening, that’s the time our restaurant is very busy, so to have extra light, it equals
energy savings for us, and people tend to move around more when it’s light out,” said Arthurs. He believes that Daylight Savings Time would especially make a difference in the cold, dark winter when it is usually dark by 4 p.m. “In my opinion, there tends to be a lot more activity in the community of Barrhaven at that time of day then there is at 5 or 6 in the morning,” said Arthurs.
The Ottawa Police Service Hate and Bias Crime Unit has released its 2021 annual statistics that show an increase of 43.6% for reported hatemotivated incidents. The Unit reviewed a total of 340 reports in 2021; and deemed 260 to be criminal. Police charged 26 individuals with 92 counts of various criminal offences, including formal warnings to nine individuals and two YCJA warnings. In 2020, hate crime reports were up by 56.9% - from 116 cases reported in 2019 to 181 cases reported in 2020. That year, 24 people were charged with 58 counts of various hate-motivated offences. “This is a troubling trend
considering not all hate-motivated incidents are reported to police,” said Ottawa Police Sgt. Ali Toghrol of the Hate and Bias Crime Unit. “Hate Crimes create fear and mistrust which can deeply impact our community. The Hate and Bias Crime Unit will investigate all reported hate motivated incidents and we will continue to engage and educate the public.” A hate crime is a criminal offence committed against a person or property which is motivated by hate/bias or prejudice based on race, national or ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, or other similar factor. The most serious violations seen in 2021 were Mis-
chief to property; Assault; Threats/utter to person; Mischief hate; and Assault with weapon. The groups most victimized were Jewish; Black; LGBTQ+; East and South-East Asian; Arab and West Asian; and Muslim. More information about hate-motivated incidents can be found online. If you or someone you know has been a victim of a hate-motivated crime, please report it to the Ottawa Police at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300 or online. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800222-8477 or at crimestoppers. ca
past the Barrhaven HomeSense, Costco and Wendy’s, one of Mills’ favourite hangouts. It garnered close to 900,000 views. In May 2018, Mills took a break from YouTube after the stress of the job became too much. In a video posted online she said it was difficult to take care of her emotional well-being, and needed a break to find happiness. Known for her red converse shoes and coke shirts, Mills posted her last YouTube video eight months ago. Her main channel now has 1.78 million subscribers and a total of over 157 million views.
The Barrhaven teen turned Hollywood star is now dipping her toes in new and bigger projects. In a recent Twitch stream, she hinted another music video was in the works. Mills’ dream is to write a feature film, a project she has recently started writing. In 2021, she voiced the character of Hanna in The Mitchells vs. the Machines, which is now nominated for an Oscar in the best feature film category. ‘I get emotional thinking it’s only the beginning (of my career),” said Mills. “I’ve only done two (major) things. It’s only going to get better.”
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Hate Crime reports to police increase to a rate of close to 44% in 2021
directs continues from page 22 Barrhaven was the YouTube star’s playground, and also filmed frequently in the Marketplace Mall and at St. Joseph High School where she attended. On multiple occasions Mills filmed videos with her former high school teachers. In one video, she brought former St. Joe’s teacher Ms. Lee to a party, which included strippers. In another video, Mills attempted to camp out in the St. Joe’s parking lot. By October 2017, Mills reached 500,000 subscribers, and celebrated by throwing herself a parade for a video. A float drove
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