Barrhaven Independent March 31, 2023

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Colonnade BridgePort is now pre-leasing up to 900,000 sq. ft. at Gateway Industrial Park, a multibuilding development in Barrhaven, ideally suited to logistics, distribution, and eCommerce businesses. With frontage on Highway 416, Gateway Industrial Park provides ready access to Highways 417 and 401; and its proximity to seven Canada-US border crossings, makes it an optimal location for access to Canada’s most populous region and to key points throughout Eastern Ontario, Quebec, and the United States.

Gateway Industrial Park will feature four buildings of 150,000 to 220,000 sq.ft. with the ability to accommodate larger users.

Colonnade BridgePort is overseeing leasing, construction, and management of the park on behalf of owner CanFirst Capital Management.

“Gateway Industrial Park is providing much needed distribution and warehouse space in the Ottawa region – an emerging gateway to several major markets,” said Colonnade BridgePort‘s Director of Industrial Leasing, Scott Craven. “There has been a lot of buzz about this development, and we are looking forward to getting the design finalized, leases signed, and shovels in the ground in the fall of 2023.”

One of the key players behind the scenes in the Gateway project has been the Barrhaven BIA. For the past several years, the BIA’s mandate has been to attract career-level jobs to Barrhaven to provide professional opportunities to residents of the community. This would provide options to local residents beyond commuting downtown.

“The Barrhaven BIA is a strong supporter of lo-

services in English. Member newspapers published in other languages may not have access to association programs such as General Excellence Awards. Applicants and member newspapers bear OCNA’s cost to read and spot

Construction on Gateway Industrial Park in Barrhaven will begin this year.

cal employment-based economic development. For many years, we have worked collaboratively to foster smart growth with elected officials, leading organizations and commercial land developers,” said

Barrhaven BIA Executive Director Andrea Steenbakkers. “We are excited to welcome Colonnade BridgePort, and the Gateway Industrial Park, to our community. Its prime location along the Highway

Technology Park, we anticipate that this development will be a great catalyst for the growing R&D and technology hub in the area.: The Ontario Community Newspapers Association provides

416 corridor in Barrhaven provides quick access to Highways 417 and 401.

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OCDSB stifles Manotick dad before calling cops on gallery

By Manotick Messenger staff

The Ottawa Carleton District School Board trustees voted to no longer have a police presence in their schools, but they have no problem calling the police to come to their meetings.

For the second time this winter, the Ottawa Police Service was summoned by the OCDSB during one of its public meetings.

A Manotick father was in the middle of speaking to the board when he was abruptly shut down by Trustee Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth, who was acting board chair for the meeting. He was in the middle of a four-minute presentation when he was cut off by Kaplan-Myrth, who then called for a recess.

The presentation made by the Manotick parent was ended because the board

considered it transphobic.

The board’s Chair, Lyra Evans, who is trans gender, had already walked out of the meeting.

The OCDSB released a statement following the meeting.

“In making a written submission to be a delegate at the March 7th meeting, the individual asked to speak about issues regarding inclusivity in the context of helping defuse conflict and bullying and ensuring the safety and mental health of students,” the statement read.

“Once the individual began their presentation it was clear the intention was to speak in opposition to trans students using washrooms according to their gender identity, which was not the topic presented in the delegate’s submission. Due to concerns that the presentation was transphobic and could

be used to promote hate or discrimination against trans youth, the chair ruled the delegation out of order.”

Following KaplanMyrth’s ruling made in consultation with staff, the meeting went into recess. A group of adults attending the meeting was angry about the ruling and were asked to leave. The Ottawa Police Service was notified and went to the OCDSB office. The individuals left before police arrived.

“The OCDSB reaffirms our commitment to cultivating safe working and learning spaces where trans and gender-diverse students, staff, family members and community can express their authentic self and feel welcomed and belonging. Individually held beliefs or feelings of discomfort are not a justifiable reason for discriminating against trans and

gender-diverse community members,” the OCDSB said in the statement.

Nick Morabito responded by creating a post on YouTube, which included footage of his presentation and an explanation of what he was trying to say and why he does not consider it offensive.

https://youtu.be/paO2sD4CSqE

“I was given four minutes to speak,” Morabito said. “I was cut off a minute in. I was told that my comments were endangering gender diverse folks.”

Morabito says that his comments were not targeted at the transgender and nonbinary population. Rather, they were aimed at protecting his children from potential predators.

Nick Morabito holds up the OCDSB’s trans gender policy book on YouTube, where he finished the presentation he was making at the March 7 OCDSB meeting.

oCDsb continues from page 2

“The main point I was trying to make, and I would still like the opportunity to make this point, is that under this current bathroom inclusion policy, anyone from the general population – not a trans person or a non-binary person, but anyone – can pretend to be something they are not and identify as something they are not to get access to these bathrooms and these change rooms for whatever reason. That is a risk that I don’t think is fair for them to ask us parents to accept. There is a solution, and we should be able to talk about it.”

During his presentation, Morabito raised concerns that a teenager who was assigned the gender of male at birth, would be able to use the same washroom as his 12-year-old daughter without supervision.

“I wasn’t present at the board meeting that pushed this policy through, and I can’t figure out when this was done,” he said.

Morabito said he is concerned for the safety and inclusivity of all people. He added that “this is about having appropriate and safe boundaries for progression, and doing things in line with the parental community’s wishes.”

At that point, he was interrupted by Kaplan-Myrth.

“On the grounds that this creates an unsafe environment for people who identify as gender diverse, I’m going to have to ask you to end your delegation.”

Morabito reacted by asking how he was creating an unsafe environment, Kaplan-Myrth did not respond, but called a recess.

Morabito then responded by saying, “You guys are cowards, honestly. I have 10 and 12 year old daughters. I have every right to speak.”

At that point, members of the audience began to vocalize their support for Morabito’s right to speak at the meeting.

“He had four minutes to speak,” yelled one member of the audience. “Who are you to stop him? You work for the public. He’s a member of the public and a concerned parent and you’re not even listening to him.”

While Morabito was not able to finish his presentation at the meeting, he did read the

rest of it on his YouTube post.

“I wonder how many parents know that trans female students, traditionally classified as male in gender, are allowed in their daughters’ bathrooms and change rooms unsupervised when each school has a gender neutral private bathroom that can be used instead,” he said.

Morabito held up a copy of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board’s policy on gender identity and gender expression.

“The gender policies in this document that I am holding were first drafted in 2016,” he said. “I can’t seem to find the board meeting minutes where the parents were involved and agreed to any of these policies. Yes these policies are a reflection of the Ontario human rights code, but they could have been implemented in such a way as to satisfy the entire community.”

Morabito said that the actions of the board contradict the fundamental tone of its own policy.

“The first line of this document states that all students and families of students need to feel physically and emotionally safe. A gender-neutral bathroom seems like the safest and most comfortable place for a student who identifies as trans or non-binary,” he said. “Pretending that sexual predators don’t exist, and that someone can simply pretend to be trans or non-binary to take advantage of this loop hole, or concerning that there is no risk or reason to be concerned that a student with a 14-yearold young man’s body is in the bathroom unsupervised with our daughters as young as 12, or pretending to change in the change room naked, and being exposed to unsuspecting girls of all ages, is not a cause for concern or at the very least an infringement on those girls’ safe spaces, comfort and rights, is the issue I am speaking to.”

Morabito asked that if and when a sexual harassment, indecent exposure or safety incident does occur, how does this help the trans community?

“When you have angry parents who are forced to pick a side on this, when they would typically support all things re-

lated to inclusivity but have no choice but to object to this, how does that help the trans community? It doesn’t.”

Morabito is calling on the board to do two things. First, he would like to see the current policy revisited with an open dialogue involving parents and the community. Secondly, he would like to see, until this issue is resolved, a rule at schools put in place where transgender and non-binary students use only the genderneutral bathrooms.

In an interview with CityNews, BarrhavenKnoxdale-Merivale Trustee Donna Blackburn said that had he been permitted to finish his presentation, perhaps the board would not have been so quick to dismiss him as a danger or threat to the transgender community.

“I didn’t see anything in what that gentleman was saying to be hateful or offensive,” she said. “I think he was just trying to share his concern. I think, at the end of the day, if he would have just been allowed to finish what he had to say, any of my colleagues could have asked him ques-

tions for clarification -- it probably would have been over and it wouldn’t have been a big hoopla. But, when you cut somebody off -- I did hear some people from the gallery shouting. I think people were legitimately upset.”

CityNews also got a comment from Kaplan-Myrth. They asked her if cutting off delegates set a bad precedent by not giving someone their right to freedom of speech.

“Actually, the bad precedent is that people think they can intimidate, bully, harass and bring their hate into our space – that they think they can use boards of education as a locus for their racism and discrimination,” she said to CityNews Ottawa. “That’s the bad precedent.”

Death Threat

Two days after the meeting, Kaplan-Myrth received an anti-Semitic death threat referencing her actions at the ODCSB meeting.

She posted the threat on Twitter and wrote:

“At our @OCDSB meeting in #Ottawa March 7, I did my job. March 8, this ar-

rived. Don’t look away. Don’t be indifferent. This vitriol is a threat to us all. #Antisemitism and #transphobia have no place in our society. #EnoughIsEnough #TransRightsAreHumanRights”.

Morabito shared her tweet and added a comment.

“Sickening and completely undeserved. When concerns surrounding children are present shutting down open

dialogue creates anger but no excuse for this disgusting display of hatred.”

Kaplan-Myrth also received anti-Simetic threats after a meeting in which she fought unsuccessfully to mandate the use of masks in all of the board’s schools.

Morabito is planning on attempting to make another presentation to the OCDSB at their April 4 meeting.

The Ottawa Carleton District School Board eliminated police presence at schools, but have now had to call the Ottawa Police Service twice in less than four months at their public meetings.

Nick Morabito’s four-minute presentation was cut off after less than a minute and was told his presentation was unsafe for those who identify as gender diverse.

Province gives boost to support long-term care residents

The Ontario government is investing $2,103,000 in four projects in Ottawa to help seniors with complex medical needs like dementia and bariatric care connect to specialized care and supports in their long-term care home instead of a hospital. This is part of a $20 million investment this year in 189 projects provincewide through a new Local Priorities Fund operated by Ontario Health.

“Our government is increasing our investment in bold, creative and innovative solutions that conveniently connect long-term care residents to the specialized care they need in the comfort of their long-term care home, instead of a hospital,” said John Jordan, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Long-Term Care. “Initiatives like the Local Priorities Fund ensure Ontarians are being connected with the right care in the right place, close to their family and friends.”

Some of the local projects will do this by helping residents get the specialized care they need in their long-term care home without having to go to an emergency room or be admitted to hospital. Others will support the admission of people into longterm care homes who no longer require acute care in hospital, but who have complex needs that are difficult to accommodate without specialized services and supports.

“Long-term care residents have been clear: they need care in the comfort of a home rather than a hospital,” said Carleton MPP Goldie Gha-

mari. “Our government is getting it done for long-term care residents in Ottawa by making investments to ensure that they can access specialized services and supports in a comfortable environment.”

The projects in Ottawa that are receiving funding are:

- $174,300 to Perley Health long-term care home for bariatric equipment, specialized equipment and training for wound care, and renovation costs to convert an existing unit to a secure unit to support the needs of residents with dementia;

- $1,700,000 to Royal Ottawa Place for the continued operation of this long-term care home, which specializes in care for residents with complex responsive behaviours, complex cognitive challenges, and chronic mental illness;

- $183,758 to Royal Ottawa Place long-term care home for specialized bariatric equipment, diagnostic equipment, and an enteral feeding pump; and

- $45,266 to West End Villa for a specialized model of care in partnership with the Ottawa Hospital that meets the complex medical care needs of residents.

The Local Priorities Fund is part of an investment of over $120 million in 2022-23 to provide access to a range of specialized services and supports that are helping long-term care residents with complex needs access connected and convenient care in the right place.

The government is fixing long-term care to ensure On-

tario’s seniors get the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve both now and in the future. This work is built on four pillars: staffing and care; quality and enforcement; building modern, safe, and comfortable homes; and providing seniors with faster, more convenient access to the services they need.

Quick Facts

- Ontario’s over $120 million investment in specialized services and supports in 202223 includes up to $20 million for the Ontario Health Local Priorities Fund referenced in today’s announcement, $5.91 million for four new Behavioural Specialized Units in

long-term care homes, an additional $5 million for Behavioural Supports Ontario, $2.6 million for Baycrest’s Virtual Behaviour Medicine program, and $4.5 million to build dedicated spaces for health care at a new seniors’ housing complex in Kenora.

- Through a $6.4 billion investment, the province is also adding nearly 60,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds and increasing the amount of care residents receive so seniors can live with dignity. This will increase the number of available beds to help address wait lists for long-term care and ensure seniors are being cared for in the right place, where they can connect to more sup-

ports and recreational and social activities that may not be available if they are being cared for in a hospital while waiting to move into a longterm care home.

- The province has also made a $4.9 billion commitment over four years to increase the average daily direct care time provided by nurses and personal support workers to four hours per resident by March 31, 2025. This also includes increasing the system average direct care provided by allied health professionals to 36 minutes per resident, per day by March 31, 2023. As part of this commitment, the Ontario government is providing $673 million to long-

term care homes in 2022-23 to hire and retain thousands of long-term care staff across the province.

“I want to thank the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care for its continued support throughout the pandemic, and assistance as we work to adapt and reopen services closed in 2020. With today’s announcement, we will be able to provide enhanced training in wound care to benefit all residents and open a new secure unit for veterans living with dementia. These and other improvements enhance the quality of life and safety of residents,” said Margaret Tansey, Chair of the Board of Directors of Perley Health.

The province’s $2.1 million investment into long term care residents was made at the Perley Health Centre March 15.

Register today for the spring Cleaning the Capital campaign

As the snow starts to melt, you might notice a winter’s worth of litter scattered around the city. Twice a year, thousands of residents help keep our community spaces clean and green through Cleaning the Capital(link is external) and you can join them by registering

industrial continues from page 1

Industrial users will benefit from Gateway’s prime location in one of Canada’s most businessfriendly cities. With a growing population of over 1 million people, superb access to talent from its four post-secondary institutions, and a global network of support indus-

for the spring 2023 campaign!

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Cleaning the Capital campaign. It is estimated that over one million kilograms of waste has been removed by more than 1.4 million volunteers since the campaign

tries, Ottawa has become an established hub for R&D, and technology.

Gateway Industrial Park is adjacent to the amenity-rich south Ottawa community of Barrhaven and neighbors Amazon’s new 2.8 million sq.ft. fulfillment centre, located just off

began in 1994.

We are grateful for the long-term commitment of many volunteers who have continued to participate in cleanup projects every year. We encourage any residents interested in participating, including high school students looking

Highway 416 at Strandherd Drive and Citigate Road.

“Our investment in this land and this development shows our confidence in Ottawa and in the growth of Ottawa’s industrial market,” said CanFirst Executive VicePresident Mark Braun.

to complete community involvement hours, to register now.

Registration is open until Monday, May 1. You can choose from a variety of places to clean up, including community parks and greenspaces, shorelines, roadsides, or even areas around bus

“With Colonnade BridgePort’s expertise, we have no doubt that Gateway Industrial Park will provide tenants with the space they need to meet and even exceed their business objectives.”

About Gateway

stops.

Important dates for the spring campaign:

Wednesday, March 15:

Registration opens

Saturday, April 15 to Wednesday, May 31: Spring Cleaning the Capital campaign

Saturday, April 22: Earth Day 2023

Industrial Park

Gateway Industrial Park is a four-building +/- 900,000 sq.ft. Class

A industrial development project located at 444 Citigate Drive in south Ottawa. With easy access to Ontario’s 400-series highways and to seven Canada-US borders, this

Monday, May 1:

Registration closes Thursday, June 15: Deadline to submit your online cleanup report

Starter cleanup kits are available upon request. To learn more about the campaign or to register your project, visit ottawa.ca/clean.

multi-year, multi-phase project will bring much needed industrial space and distribution opportunities to Ottawa – an emerging gateway to several major markets. Pre-leasing is now available, with shovels in the ground in 2023. www. gatewayindustrialpark.ca.

INDEPENDENT EDITorIal

Dealing with the new normal

As we recognize three years since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we look back at our editorial from our April 3, 2020 edition to look at where we were then compared to now.

We are all in the same boat as we take each day as it comes in Barrhaven. We don’t know if what we know as normal will ever be seen here again. What will the new normal be like, and when will we ever get there.

While we don’t know how many cases of COVID-19 there are in Barrhaven because stats are only given city-wide, we do know of one.

Gord Wilson, a TSN 1200 broadcaster and a good friend, has been holed up in a bedroom in his home grinding Netflix and fighting a flu like he has never experienced. Gord is the colour commentator for Ottawa Senators radio broadcasts. On the team’s road trip to the west coast in March, he was one of the people with the team who were infected with the coronavirus and tested positive for COVID-19.

Wilson was interviewed on CTV Ottawa Morning Monday and talked about the disease. He said the flu was stronger than anything he had ever battled, and things like muscle and joint pain made this a next-level virus. Complicating matters for Gord was that in February, he suffered a mild heart attack that weakened his system.

Gord got tested for the virus but said he knew he would test positive before he got the results back. He said he checked all the boxes and was just waiting for the results to confirm what he already knew.

Fortunately, Gord is in good spirits and is recovering.

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On another note, we want to remind everyone of the great work the Barrhaven BIA has been doing throughout this pandemic.

This pandemic has been crippling for local businesses, and the BIA is doing its best to provide information and tools to business owners in the community. They have also created a portal so that Barrhaven residents can find businesses in Barrhaven who shop online and deliver. You can visit the Barrhaven BIA website at barrhavenbia.ca, and you can find them on social media using the hashtag #mybarrhaven.

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Because our community is so heavily vested in youth sports and activities, we are all wondering if and when our kids will be able to play sports or even just play.

It is sad to see police tape surrounding playgrounds. It is also sad to see ball diamonds and soccer fields sitting there, waiting to not be used.

As we wrote this editorial exactly three years ago, we had no idea it would be three years, not three months or even three weeks, that things would be getting back to normal and that we would be venturing out without masks. COVID is still out there. But now, so are we.

BARRHAVEN

There is always more you can do

Dr. Robert Laberge didn’t know Maddy Otto.

He will never forget her.

In 2007, Laberge spent just a handful of hours with her. He was a young physician, recently graduated, who had just started his residency at Roger’s House. The few hours he spent with Maddy were the last on earth for the five-year-old girl.

family had just been through, while CBC radio was on in the background.

from the other side

“I wanted to see them again,” he said. “I went to the wake for Maddy. Maybe it was for me as much as it was for them. I wanted to show my support for them, but personally, I also needed some closure.”

“I remember that day vividly,” said Laberge. “It was just one of those things that you see – so remarkably sad but also so filled with love – that when it happens, you know it is a rare moment that will change your life.”

Maddy Otto’s passing was completely unexpected. Yet, it is something that serves as a reminder of the fragility of life. There was no prolonged sickness or any lingering medical problems. Instead, she simply woke up from a nap at the family cottage, and according to her father, Dean, Maddy “just didn’t look right. She was kind of droopy, like something was wrong.”

Dean and Jeanine Otto took their daughter to CHEO, and shortly after their arrival, Maddy had a seizure.

Within a day, the Ottos were surrounded by family members. They came from Dean’s hometown of Peterborough and Jeanine’s home province of New Brunswick. They even had relatives arrive from Alberta and the Yukon.

On July 17, 2007, Maddy Otto passed away at Roger’s House two days after being admitted into CHEO. She died peacefully, surrounded by a strong and loving family and close friends.

Ten years after Maddy’s passing, Dr. Laberge met with the Otto family. It was the first time he had seen them since Maddy’s wake back in July, 2007.

“Maddy was a special kid,” Jeanine Otto said. “She has impacted so many people – not just when she was with us but even after she was gone. She has a strong spirit that lives on with us. We have had many people talk to us about her and how they remember her, but to hear from Dr. Laberge and to hear him talk about how much he has been impacted by Maddy really meant a lot to us.”

Jeanine said that Dr. Laberge immediately connected with the family.

“I know he was just doing his job, but there was so much warmth and compassion that we felt from him,” she said. “He was amazing.”

The Ottos asked Dr. Laberge to speak at Maddy’s Gala that year. As the gala returns this year after a COVID hiatus, the words from Dr. Laberge still ring with the guests who were present that night.

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“There are two things I will always remember about that day,” he said. “I will always remember being with her and her family in the park when she was on the swing. I will also always remember being in their room at Roger’s House. I knew in those moments that I was experiencing something special. To see that kind of raw emotion with her family had a sense of sadness, but there was also a sense of peace and calmness as we transitioned from CHEO to Roger’s House. It was a degree of love that you only hear about.”

Laberge said that he was like a fly on the wall as he watched one of the saddest yet most beautiful moments he has ever seen.

“We were standing at the door, just watching the family lying on the bed with her,” he said. “Our role was just to make sure Maddy was comfortable. But as I watched the family, I was seeing this intensely human side of life. Those were images that will stay with me forever.”

After Maddy’s passing, Dr. Laberge left to go home. He said he had an “incomplete feeling.” He said he remembered sitting in his car, thinking about what the Otto

“To me, it’s one of the three most important speeches of my life,” Laberge said. “There was my father’s funeral, and my wedding, and Maddy’s Gala. The one thing that being with Maddy taught me is how precious life is. Maddy was just a little girl. She was out at the cottage playing, and then a few hours later, she is in Roger’s House. I remember seeing her. She still had dirt under her finger nails and she still had some face paint on her face. And then, suddenly, she’s gone.”

Jeanine Otto smiles as she remembers the dirt and the face paint.

“She had been playing, and her feet and hands were dirty,” she said. “Maddy loved super heroes, and she still had a little bit of green face paint on. She was pretending she was the Hulk. She was going to wash the rest of it off in the lake but she never had the chance.”

For Dr. Laberge, there is one special thing that he learned from Maddy Otto.

“You always hear doctors say, ‘There’s nothing more I can do.’ But what I learned from Maddy and the Otto family is that there is more you can do. There is always more you can do,” he said. “It’s not just about calculating doses of medicine. There is a human side to medicine that I got to see through the experience I had with this family.”

Op Ed: Indian Act again under attack as Poilievre weighs in

By Joseph Quesnel

Political attacks on the Indian Act are back in the news, and that is a good thing.

However, Canadian politicians, including First Nation politicians, need a credible plan about what to do before we pull out the champagne.

Attacking the Indian Act is not a big deal for these politicians. First Nation leaders routinely criticize this relic of our distant colonial past, but nothing seems to happen to make their lives better.

Recently, it was Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre’s turn to swing a stick at the Pinata.

“The Indian Act is a disaster. It is a racist, colonial hangover that gives all the

control to self-serving, incompetent politicians and bureaucrats and lobbyists in Ottawa and takes away control from the First Nations themselves,” Poilievre told Global News.

Of course, he is correct. Racist? Check. The architects of South Africa’s apartheid regime looked to the Indian Act for inspiration. Colonial? Check. The legislation removed control over political life and took resources away from First Nation communities and placed it in the hands of a colonial elite. Fast forward to now, and those colonial elite are federal bureaucrats.

The last time our politicians discussed a credible plan to repeal the Act was in 1969 with the infam-

ous White Paper. The government of Trudeau père proposed changing the relationship between Indigenous communities and the Canadian state in a fundamental way. Fear of the unknown and justifiable concern over abandoning treaties and collective rights caused First Nations at the time to come together to oppose the proposed changes.

Harold Cardinal, a young but prominent Indigenous leader from Alberta, said it best: “We do not want the Indian Act retained because it is a good piece of legislation. It isn’t. It is discriminatory from start to finish. But it is a lever in our hands and an embarrassment to the government, as it should be. No just society and no

society with even pretensions to being just can long tolerate such a piece of legislation, but we would rather continue to live in bondage under the inequitable Indian Act than surrender our sacred rights.”

However, it would be incorrect to say First Nations have not moved away from supporting the Act. First Nations can now remove themselves from some or even all of the provisions of the Indian Act through self-government agreements and various legislative escapes covering many areas of jurisdiction.

But moving away from the Act in its entirety would be a very big feat. They could attempt if Ottawa can create enough goodwill and political

capital with First Nations communities.

If Poilievre or another politician wants to repeal the Indian Act, it would be helpful to compare the debate with that over the Canada Health Act, which imposes a top-down system that undercuts innovation or reform at the provincial level. Both show how distant bureaucrats are unsuited to making decisions for local communities.

The Indian Act forced First Nations across Canada to adopt the same governance, community membership, and economic restrictions despite a high level of diversity among communities. One idea is to make it easier for First Nations to opt out of provisions in the Act that don’t

work for them. Or Ottawa could allow more regional decentralization on policy and service delivery. The principle of subsidiarity holds that every issue should be decided at the lowest level possible, involving all those affected. This should apply to Indigenous communities.

The federal bureaucracy overseeing First Nation communities should loosen its tight grip on Indigenous communities and allow them to experiment and innovate through local selfrule and decentralization. This is the first step on the ways towards abolishing the Indian Act.

Joseph Quesnel is a Senior Research Associate with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. © Troy Media

Private health care will line pockets of elite while our economy suffers

The Editor, I’m concerned that provincial and national media is treating the topic of health care like it’s up for debate. Health care must remain public. The Ford government is currently sitting on a well documented $2 billion in budget surplus. The

shortage of health care workers and space in hospitals is a crisis of design that has occurred as a result of decades of underfunding public health. Private clinics violate the Canada Health Act, cost hundreds to thousands more than what the same surgery would cost in the

public system (and often pass those costs onto the patient), and will poach health care professionals away from the already understaffed public system. Additionally, multiple studies have shown that patients receive worse quality of care and practitioners more

frequently violate medical standards of practice. If you want a local example, look at how many COVID-19 deaths occurred in private longterm care homes versus those that occurred in publicly funded ones. Only the top 10% will be able to afford top quality

health care. The rest of us will have to decide between necessary medical care or paying our rent. And cataract surgeries and knee replacements are only the beginning. The end goal is total private health care. The only people who profit from private health care are the

owners and the elite. The rest of us will fall behind and suffer just one more type of inequality. If you think the economy is bad now, just wait until people are too sick or have untreated disabilities that prevent them from working.

Jeryn Daly

The Editor, It’s always mildly amusing to read Andy Braid’s parroting of leftwing climate claims and dismissal of reality-based observations. Fevered brains are convinced that “Climate Change” (capitalized to emphasize its importance) is so dangerous that it must be fought, and in Trudeau’s mind that gets top billing, mentioned at every opportunity. Canadian prosperity and quality of life don’t count as much. But it’s climate change hysteria that is the

real existential threat--to clear thinking. We’re unlikely to hear, for example, that just last month “global warming” gave Ottawa its coldest night in over a decade. (That’s from Environment Canada data.) The hysteria has festered long enough that every country, including Norway that Braid references, now has climate change zealots in government positions and organizations. With the incessant propaganda and new regulation that results, it’s no wonder that oil companies are looking

for ways to go along.

We frequently hear that a “transition to a lowcarbon economy” is inevitable, an indisputable benefit, and even happening already. There’s much hand-waving but few details, and there’s never an honest assessment of the practicality of such a thing. In reality, the cost, if it were even feasible, would be enormous. But in the real world it’s not even possible. The World Economic Forum wants us all (except for the wealthy high-flyers, of course) to

tightly constrain our lives to use much less energy–in other words, live poorer (and consequently “be happy” they claim).

Most “environmentalists” seem to have no interest in caring for the natural environment but favour industrial wind and solar installations, with little concern for environmental degradation that accompanies them. The energy, almost all from fossil fuels, that’s used in mining, manufacturing, installation, maintenance, decommissioning and

disposal of these things gets no serious attention in discussion of “low carbon” or “net zero”. Then there’s the environmental destruction and dangerous, life-limiting child labour (“artisanal mining”) in places like the Congo that results from the booming demand for critical minerals. Activists block regulated mining in their own countries and ignore the damage from poorly regulated mining in the Third World. It’s unconscionable to ignore this reality and loudly pro-

mote anti-fossil fuel policies. This is the ugly side of the transition and shows the hypocrisy–not virtue–of governments trying to force us to replace reliable energy with unreliable “clean” energy.

“Just Transition” is a euphemism for choking our oil and gas industry. Better would be a “Justin Transition” that moves Trudeau out of the prime minister’s office. The climate won’t be affected, but that could be a real win for our future.

David Wieland

Let’s hope the “Justin Transition” moves Trudeau out of the PM’s office

Kemptville, Winchester hospitals now using MyChart to connect patients

Terry MacLellan and his family have lived in Barrhaven for 13 years, but they still think of Winchester District Memorial Hospital as their hospital of choice. In fact, they wouldn’t think twice about driving down Highway 31 for care. Now, Terry says the option to use MyChart to track the care his family receives is an added bonus.

MyChart is a secure online portal that enables patients to see and manage their personal health information any time, anywhere. Three local hospitals are now offering this new option to their patients.

As part of the Epic digital health network joined by Deep River & District Hospital, Kemptville District Hospital, and Winchester District Memorial Hospital late last year, patients can now have greater access to their own information through MyChart. Patients anywhere across the network of hospitals in the Ottawa region can see their own health records, including after-visit summaries, upcoming appointments, test results, progress notes, discharge notes, medical imaging reports and more. Patients can also record their medications, allergies, and health measurements, such as blood pressure and weight.

Terry says his daughter starting using MyChart

first and he signed up following a recent visit to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. He was able to compare the test results from before and after a medication change. “It’s all there and it’s pretty cool,” he notes. “It keeps track of your medications, your blood tests and the dates of your procedures. We also get notifications from the app when a test or lab report is in. It’s hard to remember everything but it’s all there and we can share information with one another too.”

To sign up for MyChart, patients need a valid email account and an activation code. There are several options to sign up:

- Ask hospital registration staff to sign you up when you are registering.

- Use the MyChart activation code on your AfterVisit Summary.

- Complete a paper form and present government issued photo ID to Health Records to request an activation code. Your activation code will then be emailed to you.

“Signing up for MyChart is easy and I can even use it on my phone,” adds Terry. “I would highly encourage anyone who has the opportunity to get on MyChart because it really gives you the control for your own health care. We’re going to sign my wife up next!”

The Atlas Alliance net-

work of local hospitals using Epic and MyChart includes Deep River & District Hospital, Hawkesbury and District General Hospital, Kemptville Dis-

trict Hospital, The Ottawa Hospital, Renfrew Victoria Hospital, St. Francis Memorial Hospital, University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Winchester

District Memorial Hospital. For patients who visit a non-Epic site and would like access to their records, requests can be made through the hospital’s

Health Records department.

For more information about how to register for MyChart, please visit your local hospital’s website.

Mission Statement an important first step for Barrhaven Ward 3 team

“What’s your mission, soldier?”

Although about twenty five years ago, I can remember this like yesterday – because it was so cold as my small patrol was maneuvering through the swamps in Florida during US Army Ranger training. It was early March and we had just linked up with another team en route to our objective.

“We are the cut off element for the main exfil route” I answered back as we then immediately

understood our function and went forth to a successful outcome. Nothing more was required nor said – as this summed it all up. Our mission and how we fit into the bigger picture.

Why do I say this?

Because a mission is a concept that grounds us. It

focusses our effort. It allows for a generalization of intent so that minutia doesn’t need to be micromanaged or overthought. It creates efficiency and unity of purpose.

How do our day to day activities align with our mission – what is our focus?

Over the past three months, my team and I hit the ground running – hiring staff, focusing on preparation for city governance review and budget deliberations, but we made it a

weekly exercise to spend time reflecting on our raison d’etre. It started as a brainstorming page with important words and verbs: communication, teamwork, stewardship, listening, consistency, and caring as a small sample. From that we put all of those into a word cloud in order to simply reflect and be inspired. With that we then put it together into three short sentences that sum up the heart of our office. And as such, I am proud to announce the mis-

sion statement of Ward 3 –Barrhaven West Office:

“We, the Ward 3 – Barrhaven West team, care deeply about our community. We listen attentively, communicate honestly and act decisively. We strive for excellence in resident casework and to positively influence the City of Ottawa through pragmatic, visionary legislation and engaged representation.”

The Ward three office has office hours from 9am to – 3pm daily at 100 Malvern Drive (next to

the Ruth E. Dickinson library). Email is the best way to connect (David. hill@ottawa.ca) , and it is recommended that you include your phone number and address so that we can best support your request. Regular updates on community activities are dispatched through a weekly email – if you are interested in community activities and events, please reach out to be included or consider following our office on facebook at David Hill Barrhaven.

From left to right are Terry, Andrea, Scott, Courtney MacLellan.

Councillor , Ward 3

Legion commends new housing support for CAF troops

The Royal Canadian Legion is encouraged to hear the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) plans to launch a new housing benefit for troops who need it most. It will replace the Post Living Differen-

tial benefit (PLD), and will be especially welcomed by those who are faced by the particularly high costs of accommodations while on duty in some parts of Canada. The Legion has long been advocating for this

sort of outcome.

The Legion’s Dominion President Bruce Julian says: “This is extremely positive news. Over the years, we have heard from serving members who have struggled to find afford-

able housing and we are hopeful this new program will take that load off their shoulders so they can concentrate on what they do best – serving our country.”

When the PLD benefit

Barrhaven Lions Host Pancake Breakfast

For the first time since COVID, the Barrhaven Lions Club will host its annual pancake breakfast – on Saturday, April 29th. The event will be held at Fire Station #47, 3559 Greenbank Road, Barrhaven from 9 a.m. to noon.

group of volunteers who will once again be serving pancakes, eggs, sausages, coffee, tea and juice at the Pancake Breakfast. Gather your family and friends together and come along to our Pancake Breakfast. There will be face painting, music, and

is free but donations are welcomed. All donations will be given to QuickStart Autism.

QuickStart Autism’s mission is to assist children in reaching their full potential by helping the children obtain early intervention at the first signs of autism.

rhaven Lions Club strives to make a difference in the lives of people in need through community service.

If you are interested in helping others, have a chat with one of us at the breakfast to find out what the Barrhaven Lions actually do or phone

currently being received by some troops is eliminated, they may not be eligible to receive the new benefit.

Troops living in military housing will also not be eligible. The Legion will monitor these realities to

ensure that any fundamental needs required by our serving members will still be met, despite any sudden reduced overall income. The new benefit is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2023.

Spreading Awareness of CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder

Ashley Tremblay welcomes you to join her family in spreading awareness of CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder, a rare genetic condition, in memory of her late nephew who passed away in 2016 at the age of 3 years old. They are kicking off their second year by holding a bottle

A Spring tonic inspiration as we leave winter behind Springing Into Action…

Spring is here, and it is time for action around the house and at City Hall.

No matter how you frame it, housing and housing affordability is among the most important topics that will prevail through this term of Council.

Housing was a major topic of discussion at Council last week, with the adoption of the Mayor’s Housing Pledge, and a productive discussion I had with the Alliance to End Homelessness.

To meet the province’s target of 151,000 new homes in Ottawa by 2031, Planning Committee and Council voted to endorse the Mayor’s Housing Pledge.

Recognising factors outside of a municipality’s control, including market demand and the economy, the pledge aims to facilitate reaching that goal as easily as possible.

This includes working with builders and other industry experts, permitting more diverse housing types, and forming strong, productive partnerships with upper levels of government.

Interestingly, per the staff presentation, we will build

East Barrhaven Ward Report

Wilson Lo, Councillor

more than 151,000 homes by 2031 anyway, assuming every already-approved building permit becomes construction and assuming the approval of every building permit currently in application.

That puts Ottawa ahead of the curve compared to other municipalities in Ontario, but the pledge only strengthens our position and commitment to the province’s targets, which will influence our ability to receive funding to cover the development charge shortfall brought about by Bill 23.

I had a recent conversation with the Alliance to End Homelessness who are looking to simplify the network of services by taking inventory of what is available, and reviewing what responsibilities can change hands, to eventually lead to the formation of an independent, communitybased coordinating body.

Dignity and simplicity are necessary, for both the person and the organization, when navigating social assistance.

In most cases, the goal of social assistance programs is to slowly move the person away from needing that help. One of the biggest hurdles is the complexity of the different services, the lack of communication between organizations, the duplication of services between organizations – even by the City of Ottawa, and the absence of a coordinating “backbone” body.

The aim is to leave the governance and funding with the City of Ottawa, and operations and distribution with the coordinating body, with arms-length oversight by the city. The intention is to reduce bureaucracy and ensure people do not lose themselves in the system, or worse, to avoid the system losing track of people.

For disclosure, the Alliance to End Homelessness has indicated interest in being that coordinating body, but the discussion is still very much nascent, and will continue in earnest until a model agreed on.

Yes, it’s almost Spring! What a great time of the year. In some respects, it’s only because of the winter season, in giving us the cold, snowy, blustery weather, that we fully appreciate the wonder of spring. Thanks winter!

It is March as I write this and I begin to imagine the spring days to come when I can clean up outdoors, trim and rake and dig; get my hands dirty in the deep, dark earth. But I’ll have to wait a little longer; it’s not yet time. Winter always gives way to Spring; we can trust the seasons and their timing, but we find ourselves in a transitional state. Transitions are in-between-times or periods

THis week, THIS MONTH

by Larry Ellis

of waiting. Many of us find it uncomfortable and frustrating to wait and are usually ready to jump into the next thing. Transitions are usually subtle and change rarely happens overnight and might be compared to layers that unravel, like day to dusk to dark to dawn as it merges to day again.

When seeds are planted in the fertile soil they first make roots that are reaching down

into the earth. Roots grow first because they provide the strength to hold up the plant as well as to absorb the nutrients to grow the stem, sprout, and green leaves. I think seeds offer us a metaphor for our lives. We should take advantage of this seasonal transition to “till the soil of our lives”. Which seeds have we sown, where are our roots growing, we need to fertilize our lives with more love.

Life’s path, much like the path of Spring, encounters mixed emotions; we need both the rain and the sunshine. Live life with a sparkle, look forward to each hour, live life with a sparkle and show it in your face!

Attention businesses: Barrhaven BIA Event Sponsorship Grant is back

After incredible success in 2022, the Barrhaven BIA event grants are back.

The BIA provides the funds and support to make your event a huge success. Showcase your business along with your neighbours while bringing the community together. There is a large demand for events in this community and the response last year was outstanding. We look forward to seeing what you come up with for 2023.

The Barrhaven BIA would like to support you with your upcoming events in 3 ways:

- Financial support in the form of a grant.

- Marketing and promotional support.

- Guidance and direction to help you get your event off the ground.

The Event Grant Program

BARRHAVEN

will be open for submissions until October 31st, 2023. All events must take place before December 31st, 2023. Grants will be awarded on a first come, first served basis. If you are planning an event for later in the year, please do not wait to submit your application.

Financial Support

The total budget for grants is $30,000. Each applicant is eligible to receive up to a maximum of $3000 for regular event or $4000 for an event on (or around) a holiday. Receipts must be submitted to collect your allocated grant for your project by December 31st, 2023.

Holiday Bonus

There is a very large demand for family events that have holiday themes. Keeping

this in mind, the BIA is offering an additional $1000 for events that are on or around the following holidays. These bonuses will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.

Promotional Support

The Barrhaven BIA will promote and market your events through our website and social media channels. They will also work with you to provide guidance on the marketing and promotional aspects of your projects.

The Barrhaven BIA will set up a Facebook event for you. This Facebook event will be co-hosted by the BIA and all participating businesses.

The Barrhaven BIA will run 1 (one) social media ad campaign for each event. These campaigns will reach tens of thousands of people in

SHOP

our community and help ensure the success of your event.

Selection Process

The BIA will consider all sponsorship requests in an open and unbiased manner and measure the request against an assessment criteria; Only consider sponsorship agreements with groups of businesses whose products, policies, and values align with the mandated objectives and values of the BBIA (advocacy/ communication, community safety, economic development, and marketing).

They will not:

Financially support individuals, teams, or clubs or forprofit events; Provide sponsorship for religious/political organizations; Enter into sponsorships

which may be construed as showing or encouraging any type of prejudice (for example racial, sexual, or religious);

Imply any exclusive arrangement between the BBIA and the sponsored party.

Fund the purchase of alcohol or cannabis.

Pay for staffing costs accrued by the business in organizing or running the event.

Key Considerations

Events must be run by a group of Barrhaven BIA businesses, ideally within the same mall or business district. While there may be a leader, the participating businesses must play an active role in the organization and execution of the event (they cannot just be suppliers). Work with your neighbours and other local businesses.

Events must take place in a

Barrhaven business district.

Member businesses must provide products and services at cost. This is not an opportunity to make money off the event. The gain is promotional benefits.

Eligibility

This program is open to member businesses or groups of member businesses for the development and execution of an event.

Community groups and for-profit events are not eligible to apply but may work with member businesses as partners on events.

Event grant proposals must be received at least four weeks prior to the proposed event (ideally more).

Only events held on weekends or holidays will be considered.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Millisecond

5. Narcotic drug

11. Accident

14. Formal submissions

15. Popular 70s rock band

18. Discourage from doing

19. More socially elite

21. Arid

23. A way to look

24. Heroes

28. A surfer rides it

29. Potato state

30. Insect repellent

32. Cool!

33. Have already done

35. Collegiate women’s fraternity

36. To the __ degree

39. Gasteyer and de Armas are two

41. Blood type

42. Looked over

44. Language of Cameroon and Chad

46. Species of armadillo

47. Touch softly

49. Part of your upper body

52. Large, stocky lizards

56. Lack of social or ethical standards

58. Congressman

60. Unofficial force

62. As a result of this utterance

63. A main branch of Islam

CLUES DOWN

1. Woman (French)

2. Province of Pakistan

3. This (Spanish)

4. Transportation device

5. Greater in importance or priority

6. The human foot

7. Within

8. Consumed

9. Respectful Malaysian term

10. Therefore

12. Ceased to exist

13. Type of macaroni

16. English composer

17. Wooded tract

20. Tall, slender-

leaved plant

22. 36 inches

25. Take too much (abbr.)

26. Allow

27. Individually

29. Journalist Tarbell

31. Bar bill

34. Hong Kong food stall:__ pai dong

36. Not messy

37. Species that includes reedmace

38. Former MLB catcher Ed

40. Northern U.S. state

43. Wilt

45. Commercial

48. Bolivian river

50. Nursemaid

51. A car needs four

53. Guns (slang)

54. American state

55. Clusters of fern fronds

57. Body part

58. A person’s brother or sister

59. Breed of sheep native to Sweden

61. Of I

Pap-apalooza Pap test clinic scheduled for May 5 in Barrhaven

Finally, there is some good news for some of the many people in the community who do not have a family doctor.

Three Ottawa doctors are organizing a daylong Pap Test Clinic for women who do not have a family doctor and are due for cervical screening tests.

The pop-up clinic will be at the Rideau Valley Health Centre on 1221 Greenbank Rd. in Barrhaven from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fri., May 5.

Pap-apalooza events and promotions have been very popular over the past five years in the Thunder Bay/ northwest Ontario region, as well as in British Columbia. With the shortage of family doctors being a national problem stretching across Canada, Ottawa finds itself in a crisis with a shortage of family

doctors that is hitting the suburban and rural areas of the city particularly hard.

In an interview with Post Media, Dr. Lesley Spencer said a lot of people who are overdue for Pap tests as it was not an urgent essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Spencer is a family physician with a practice focusing on women’s health and one of the organizers of the event.

“We’re almost using (the event) as a reminder to people to get this done because I think a lot of people put it off,” Spencer said in the Post Media interview.

To screen for cervical cancer, the Ontario Cervical Screening Program recommends having a Pap test every three years if you have a cervix, are age 25 to 69, and are

or have ever been sexually active. Sexual activity includes intercourse (sex) and digital (using the fingers) or oral (using the mouth) sexual activity involving the genitals with a partner of any sex.

Dr. Spencer added in the Post Media interview that the success of Pap-apalooz events around the country where physicians work with medical students to provide pop-up pap smear clinics provided a template for the Barrhaven event.

“It was one of those things where it was like, ‘Oh, it would be great,’ and then somebody in B.C. was doing it. So why not just model off what they’re doing?” she told Post Media.

Dr. Spencer and Dr. Kaitlyn Orton-Shmitt both rent clinic space at the Rideau

Valley Health Centre and are among the doctors looking to grow the Pap-apalooza program to other areas of the city such as Kanata, Orleans and downtown Ottawa. The clinic will also provide an opportunity for medical students to get hands-on experience by working at the clinic.

If the program is successful and there is a demand,

clinics could be added outside the City of Ottawa boundaries in communities like Kemptville and Arnprior. Many Barrhaven and area residents already use the Kemptville District Hospital, which is less than a half hour drive from the community.

OHIP is covering the cost of testing supplies and the doctors are paying for staffing

at the clinic.

To be eligible for Pap tests at the Pap-apalooza event, patients must have valid OHIP cards and not have family doctors. Doctors will contact patients with abnormal results.

To book a Pap test at the event, call 613-258-8710 extension 4. Walk-ins will also be available at the clinic.

Jock River Race confident April 22 will hold as race date

There is less than one month before the Jock River Race and things are looking good. Winter is still hanging on but we’re finally starting to see the first signs of spring and some sections of the river opening up. It’s always difficult to predict what conditions will be like in a month from now, but at this point it looks like April 22nd will be a go.

Some things to note:

- Current registration trends indicate this will be a very busy year and parking will be limited. We’ll be looking at options for traffic control particularly around the bridge before the river. You may want

to look at options to have your boat dropped off earlier in the morning or expect to walk further than usual.

- As of last year waiver forms have moved online which makes morning check in much more effi-

cient. If you’ve registered but haven’t signed your waiver form drop us a line at jockriverrace@yahoo. com and we’ll set you up. We’ll contact all racers without waiver forms ahead of the race.

- Reminder that boat

numbers will be issued to racers at the start line on Munster Rd. You no longer need to drive to the finish line to pick up your boat stickers, you can head directly to the start line where your boat stickers will be waiting for you.

- For those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to paddle the Upper Jock before, there are some videos of the river on the website. We plan on having updated videos for this year’s condi-

tions once the ice comes off. You’ll want to review the videos as you prepare yourself.

If you questions, comments or suggestions, email jockriverrace@ yahoo.com.

The Pap-apalooza event in Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario has been extremely successful and serves as a model for clinics such as the one scheduled for May 5 in Barrhaven.

Raiders split weekend pair to close out Junior A hockey season

B y R omano D i F R anco n epean R ai D e R s com

The Nepean Raiders earned a split last weekend, winning on the road and then losing at home as their Central Canada Junior Hockey League season came to an end.

The Raiders were at the Ma-Te-Way Activity Center to take on the Renfrew Wolves on Friday night.

Luke Posthumus had a five point night for the Raiders as they were 7-2 winners.

The Raiders started Joshua Branton in goal while Aaron Matthews defended the net for the Wolves.

Nicholas Larkin opened the scoring for the Raiders on the power play with Thierry Lizotte in the box for Interference. Larkin’s blast from the point went past a screened Matthews.

Luke Posthumus and Jack Matsukubo picked up the assists.

Jackson Barnes extended the Nepean lead pouncing on a Jackson Barnes rebound in the slot rifling a shot high over the glove side.

In the second period, Tyson Tomasini got Renfrew within one with his 31st of the season taking

the puck from behind the net and beating Branton through the five-hole.

Luke Posthumus, who was just named CCHL Rookie of the year, scored his 18th of the campaign one-timing a perfect crossice feed from Jack Matsukubo off the post and in to make it 3-1 Nepean before adding his 19th of the season finishing off an Owen Hardy pass to the far post. Curtiss Sturgeon had the other helper.

Brandon Reinisch made it 5-1 beating Matthews under the right pad on a one-timer from a Nicolas Papineau pass. Anthony Rivard had the other assist.

After 40 minutes Nepean had a commanding 5-1 lead despite Renfrew outshooting Nepean 21-11 in the middle frame.

Larkin picked up his second power play goal of the game this time with Elvis Slack in the box for Roughing. It was a shot from the point that may have been tipped but Larkin was credited with the goal. Posthumus had the lone helper.

Will Ralston got one back to make it 6-2 deflecting an Owen Grainger shot from the point.

Jack Matsukubo put the game out of reach with his 11th of the season going forehand-backhand on a breakaway to make it 7-2.

The game concluded with a final score of 7-2 with shots 46-34 in favour of Renfrew. It was Nepean’s first ever win over the Renfew Wolves since they moved from Kanata.

Luke Posthumus, who had two goals and three assists, was named the game’s first star. Nicholas Larkin was the second star while Tyson Tomasini (1G) captured third star honours.

Loss to end season

The Raiders hosted the Hawkesbury Hawks at the Nepean Sportsplex Steve Yzerman Arena Sunday in their final home game of the season. The visitors won their third straight game to close out the CCJHL season as they beat the Raiders 9-2.

Dimitri Pelekos got the start in the Hawkesbury goal while Luca Sandu was in goal for Nepean.

The two teams traded goals in the first period with Evan Cuddihy getting credit for the opening goal for Hawkesbury while Jack Matsukubo blasted

his 12th of the season on a one-timer from the right face-off dot.

The Hawks outshot Nepean 12-9 in the opening period.

The second period was all Hawkesbury as Jakson Kirk, Nathan Gagne, Nicholas Brennan, Landon Brownlee, and Ryan Liverman all scored to give the

visitors a 6-1 lead after 40 minutes on 15 shots versus 11 for Nepean.

Brownlee, Liverman, and Gagne each picked up their second of the game in the third period to give Hawkesbury a 9-1 lead.

Nepean made it 9-2 on a great individual effort by Owen Hardy who skated through the entire Hawks

team before depositing his 14th of the season to close out the scoring.

Nepean completes the regular season with many successes including Luke Posthumus being named Rookie of the Year, Nicholas Larkin being named to the All-Rookie Team and VP Randy Watt winning the Sam Pollack Award.

Goalie Luca Sindhu and the Nepean Raiders ended their season Sunday.

Racing season at Rideau Carleton to begin April 2

Despite fears the call to post would not sound this year, the 2023 racing season will go on after all at the Rideau Carleton Raceway (RCR) starting Sunday, April 2nd, 2023. The season, which was originally set to kick off on March 19, was delayed after a 2-alarm fire destroyed the Raceway’s staging barn on February 15.

Thanks to the immediate actions by first responders, no animals, people or other facilities were harmed in the fire.

“Watching those flames engulf the barn on that fateful night, I honestly feared the racing season may have been lost,” said Rideau Carleton Raceway Racing Manager Peter Andrusek. “We have the horse racing community to thank for this quick turnaround.”

Over the past six weeks, RCR employees,

horse people and contractors have banded together to retrofit an unused stable barn to be able to paddock horses and their teams on race days. With this temporary installation in place, and with the support of the racing community and regulatory bodies, the season can go on.

“The racing team’s unwavering commitment and dedication to salvaging the season has been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Helen MacMillan, General Manager, Rideau Carleton Casino. “I want to thank them for their creativity and hard work during this challenging time.”

Amended 2023 racing schedule

Because of the 2 week delay, the original schedule has been amended to remove all previously scheduled March dates,

and to add Wednesday night cards through the month of April.

Throughout April, live harness racing will take place on Wednesdays (post time 7 p.m.) and Sundays (post time 6:30 p.m.). The RCR will switch to its original weekly schedule of racing Thursdays (post time 4 p.m.) and Sundays (post time 6:30 p.m.) in May and for the rest of the season.

The revised 2023 racing schedule, which has been approved by Ontario Racing, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency, is available at https://www. rideaucarletoncasino. com/racetrack.asp.

Last September, the raceway celebrated its 60th anniversary with a fireworks display, and a special invitation-only event inside the casino with over 200 guests gath-

ering to share stories and pay tribute to those who contributed to the success of the raceway over the years.

Rideau Carleton Casino officially opened as Rideau Carleton Raceway on September 1st, 1962, as Canada’s first-ever five-eighths mile oval

and has been a key part of Ontario’s harness racing community ever since. Since the gaming site was added in February 2000, the City of Ottawa has received approximately $6 Million annually and over $93 Million in total payments for hosting Rideau Carleton Casino within the

National Capital Region. An additional $1+ Million per year is invested in local sponsorships and nonprofits, benefiting local communities and the people within. In May 2017, OLG selected Hard Rock Ottawa as the successful new Casino partner for this site.

Harness racing returns to Rideau Carleton Raceway April 2.