This weekend is a special time as our families and friends will get together to celebrate Thanksgiving.
As Canadians, we are always searching for traditions and things that are uniquely Canadian and separates us culturally from our neighbours in the United States.
Thanksgiving is one of those traditions. While we both celebrate Thanksgiving, often with turkey and pumpkin pie and all of the other Thanksgiving favourites, the two holidays are different in how they came to be.
In Canada, before the arrival of Europeans, Indigenous peoples in Canada held ceremonies to give thanks for the harvest and the bounty of the land. The ceremonies would include a feast, dancing, and expressions of gratitude for everything that the land had given to them.
In 1578, English explorer Martin Frobisher and his crew held a ceremony to give thanks for their safe arrival in the New World. This event is considered to be the first Thanksgiving
celebration in North America, predating the American Thanksgiving by several decades.
In 1606, French settlers under Samuel de Champlain held feasts of Thanksgiving with the Mi’kmaq people in what is now Nova Scotia. These feasts were known as the “Order of Good Cheer.” They held to boost the morale of the settlers and to prevent scurvy during the harsh winter.
The blending of the Canadian and American Thanksgiving traditions came in the 1700’s, when the United Empire Loyalists, who left the United States to remain loyal to the crown, brought some of their Thanksgiving traditions north, mostly to Upper Canada. The traditions they brought included feasts of turkey, squash and pumpkin.
It took more than 300 years after Martin Frobisher’s first Thanksgiving for it to become an official holiday in Canada. The
first Canadian Thanksgiving was on Nov. 6, 1859. In 1957, after the holiday’s date had gone through several changes, it was made official that Thanksgiving in Canada would take place on the second Monday of October. That date was selected as the ideal time to celebrate the harvest in Canada, and not to conflict with or fall too close to Remembrance Day on the calendar.
American Thanksgiving is later than ours, falling on the fourth Thursday of November.
American Thanksgiving originated with the Pilgrims’ celebration of their first successful harvest in 1621, which was attended by the Wampanoag people. Canadian Thanksgiving, meanwhile, has roots in both Indigenous harvest celebrations and European traditions of giving thanks for safe voyages and successful settlements.
While both the American and Canadian Thanksgivings celebrate the harvest, Canadian Thanksgiving is more closely tied to the end of the harvest season. This is also why Canadian Thanksgiving is often associated with the vibrant fall
colors and the bounty of the autumn harvest.
Canada is celebrated with a variety of traditions that reflect the country’s diverse cultural heritage. While the traditional Thanksgiving meal typically includes roast turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie, many Canadian families from other countries have added some traditions and celebrations from their own culture and heritage.
Thanksgiving in the United States is a two-day holiday. Many families use the second day to prepare for the upcoming Christmas holiday. That preparation includes Black Friday, which has become the largest retail day in the United States. Local businesses and retailers here in Ottawa join in on the Black Friday shopping day with special deals. They joined in as a way to combat cross-border shopping, and trying to prevent dollars earned here from being spent in Ogdensburg, Watertown and Syracuse.
We all celebrate Thanksgiving in our own special way. Every family may have their own special trad-
itions and annual meals.
But aside from the turkey, stuffing, decorating, shopping and the fall colours, Thanksgiving is really a holiday about family. I hope you are like me, in that every Thanksgiving, I realize how lucky I am to be surrounded by a loving family, and living in a wonderful country that has given us all so much.
I could not imagine living anywhere else, and I am most thankful of all that my family and I are proud Canadians.
Free Business Training for Racialized and Indigenous Entrepreneurs
Applications now open for the 2024-25 Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs grant program.
The Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE) program was introduced to provide free access to business coaching, training and grants for more than 400 Indigenous, Black and other racialized entrepreneurs.
The RAISE program helps eliminate barriers faced by Indigenous, Black and other racialized entre-
preneurs who want to start or grow their businesses. The government is now accepting applications for the 2024-25 intake which will provide eligible entrepreneurs with free online business development training, culturally responsive coaching, networking supports and a one-time grant of $10,000. Interested entrepreneurs can learn more about the program and apply here. Applications close on October 30, 2024.
The online training includes modules on business financials, cash flow management, business operations, marketing and public relations strategies and digital transformation. In partnership with DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan University, the program also provides one-on-one and small group business coaching, as well as networking opportunities to assist entrepreneurs in developing and achieving their business action plans, building networks, connecting to market opportunities and accessing information and services.
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Since its initial launch in 2022, the government has supported more than 900 Indigenous, Black and racialized entrepreneurs to build the skills they need to succeed.
To be eligible for the RAISE program, businesses must be registered/incorporated, based in Ontario and owned by an Indigenous, Black or other racialized individual.
Ontario Building More Inclusive Communities
The Ontario government has introduced a program to improve accessibility and support people of all ages and abilities throughout the
province. Through the Inclusive Community Grants Program, 20 projects will receive funding to improve community life for older Ontarians and people with disabilities.
The Inclusive Community Grants Program provides funding for projects to help ensure local government and community organizations consider Ontarians of all ages and abilities at every stage of community planning and development.
Since the Inclusive Community Grants Program was created in 2020, it has supported 107 projects promoting inclusivity and accessibility across the prov-
ince.
Projects funded through Inclusive Community Grants are led by municipalities, community organizations and Indigenous communities.
Ontario Expanding Diagnostic Services in Ottawa Long-Term Care Homes
The Ontario government has made investments in programs to help reduce preventable emergency room visits. Expanding access to diagnostic services in long-term care homes in Ottawa will help improve residents’ quality of life and reduce avoidable emergency room visits and hospital stays.
The new Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care Plus (CPLTC+) program will allow paramedics to begin delivering diagnostic services like bloodwork and ultrasounds to residents. The government is also providing funding to allow more long-term care homes to receive the equipment and training they need to provide diagnostic services to residents in the comfort of their home.
CPLTC+ builds off the existing Community Paramedicine for LongTerm Care program and will be rolled out across six paramedic services, including Ottawa Paramedic Service.
Launched last October as part of the Your Health Plan, the fund helps homes buy diagnostic equipment and train staff so they can better manage and treat residents’ conditions that most often lead to preventable hospital visits, such as urinary tract infections, falls, pneumonia and congestive heart failure.
The fund has supported more than 700 projects at close to 220 homes across Ontario.
The plan is built on four pillars: staffing and care; quality and enforcement; building modern, safe and comfortable homes; and connecting seniors with faster, more convenient access to the
services they need.
Inspiration for the Week: “Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is”
- Ernest Hemingway
Office Notice: My office is open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. If you require assistance on any matter, please contact me at any time. My staff and I will be happy to assist. Even if it’s not a provincial issue, I’ll make sure to connect you with the proper office.
Goldie Your voice at Queen’s Park
Light rail could open in Riverside South this November, says OC Transpo
By Charlie SenaCk
It won’t be long before light rail trains are picking up passengers in Riverside South.
At a technical briefing on Oct. 3, OC Transpo said the trial runs would commence on Oct. 7. If it goes well, trains could be ready for commutes as soon as mid November.
“TransitNext has spent the last several years preparing for this test. This is TransitNext’s final exam, and it will be a rigorous one,” said OC Transpo general manager Reneé Amilcar. “TransitNext and OC Transpo have studied hard, have practiced multiple times and we are united in our confidence in the reliability of the system. But the proof will be in the daily testing results”
The trial runs must take place without issues for at least 21 days before open-
should have their commutes shortened.
To better serve transit riders with the opening of more LRT stops, OC Transpo is drastically changing its bus routes to accommodate the LRT changes. Those alterations — which will result in about 75,000 fewer service hours — were supposed to come into effect this fall with Lines 2 and 4 opening, but have now been pushed back to the spring. Councillors are mixed on the timing.
Amilcar said they did not want to drastically change the service at a time when winter service adjustments were already being made. They are now expected to start in April 2025. That means R2 bus service between Bayview Station and South Keys will continue running until then.
Barrhaven East councillor Wilson Lo said he’s mostly in support of the new bus route implementation, but
it
a full day or peak extension to Tunney’s Pasture for that community, but that won’t
ton University students who
The LRT station at Limebank Road in Riverside South is ready to become a hub
New decals on Fallowfield Rd. pathway installed to increase rail crossing safety
The City of Ottawa has partnered with Operation Lifesaver Canada to place new “Look, Listen, Live” decal signs on the path along Fallowfield Road near the Fallowfield rail crossing and the transitway.
The decals are part of a broader initiative to enhance safety and awareness at rail crossings, a response to a tragic history that has deeply affected the community.
The decals were installed Sept. 25, which was Rail Safety Week in Canada.
For the past 11 years, safety at rail crossings has been a huge issue in Barrhaven. On September 18, 2013, an OC Transpo bus collided with a Via Rail train at the Fallowfield crossing. The collision resulted in the deaths of six people, including the bus driver, and left many others injured. This incident was a stark reminder of the dangers posed by rail crossings,
especially in busy suburban areas.
In the aftermath of the 2013 tragedy, several safety recommendations were made. One of the key suggestions was the grade separation of the crossing, which would involve constructing an overpass or underpass to eliminate the intersection of road and rail traffic. However, this project has faced significant delays and is expected to take years and cost over $500 million.
The new decals along the pathway are less than a kilometre from where the 2013 tragedy occurred. They are designed to catch the attention of pedestrians and cyclists, reminding them to stay alert and cautious when approaching the rail crossing. These decals are part of a broader effort to reduce the risk of accidents at rail crossings, which account for approximately 60 per cent of public crossing
accidents in Canada.
“I think they are a good idea,” commented Chen Li, who lives in the area and uses the pathway both as a cyclist and a pedestrian. “We always hear about motorists being distracted, but people are always looking at their phones on the path and not paying attention. If they have ear buds in and are listening to music, they cannot hear anything like a car or even a bicycle. If the decals can prevent one accident or save one life, we should have more of them in Barrhaven at more crossings.”
The decals feature clear, bold messages in both French and English, and symbols that are easy to understand, even at a glance. They serve as a constant reminder of the importance of rail safety and the need to remain vigilant. While these measures may seem small, they are a crucial part of a larger strategy
to prevent future tragedies and ensure the safety of everyone in the community.
As Barrhaven continues to grow and develop, the
hope is that these safety measures, along with the eventual grade separation project, will create a safer environment for all resi-
dents. The memory of the 2013 tragedy remains a powerful motivator for ongoing efforts to improve rail crossing safety and prevent
New decals on the Fallowfield Road pathway are designed to increase safety near the rail crossing.
INDEPENDENT EDITorIal
Focus in schools should be to educate rather than indoctrinate
As the new school year begins, let’s encourage schools to focus on what matters most – teaching and learning.
According to results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the math skills of 15-year-old students across Canada declined by 35 points from 2003 to 2022. To put this in perspective, PISA equates 20 points with approximately one grade level.
This means that the math skills of Canadian students are almost two grade levels below where they were 20 years ago. Things aren’t much better in reading since Canadian students declined in this subject by 27 points (more than a full grade level) over the same period.
Students would clearly benefit from a stronger focus on the academic basics.
Another important way to improve students’ reading skills is to expand their overall knowledge base by ensuring that teachers are provided with content-rich curriculum guides. Research shows that the more background knowledge students possess, the more easily they can understand what they are reading.
Simply put, reading comprehension depends on background knowledge. The more students know, the more they can learn. Knowledge about a topic makes it easier to acquire more knowledge in that field. Teachers must not shortchange students.
This is why subjects such as science and social studies are so important. These content-rich subjects are where students acquire much of the knowledge they need to understand how the world works.
This includes exposing students to a wide variety of ideas and perspectives. Instead of sheltering students from controversial ideas, teachers must help students grapple with challenging issues and get them to engage in respectful dialogue with their classmates.
Thus, the last thing students need is to be indoctrinated in woke ideology, where everything revolves around race, gender, and sexuality. Not only does woke ideology lead to division and resentment, but it makes it impossible to have an honest dialogue about controversial topics.
Look at any major school board website; you’ll find plenty of references to “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI). Hallmarks of DEI include the notion that our country is systemically racist and that anyone who isn’t “racialized” must repent of their “white privilege.”
The tragic case of former Ontario principal Richard Bilkszto, who committed suicide after being publicly humiliated and harassed by a prominent DEI consultant during a professional development session, is a well-known example of the very real harms caused by DEI zealotry.
In their obsession to stamp out “white privilege” and “heteronormativity,” school boards are sadly not providing students with the academic instruction they need to be successful in post-secondary education and in life.
Teachers have enough to do without getting into the business of indoctrinating students with woke ideology. Education rather than indoctrination should be the focus of every school.
Michael Zwaagstra is a public high school teacher and a senior fellow with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.
Advertising and Marketing: garyhcoulombe@gmail.com
Website: www.manotickmessenger.ca
Staff/Contributors: Gary Coulombe, Larry Ellis, Skyler Fraser, Goldie Ghamari, David Hill, Wilson Lo, Jeffrey Morris, Greg Newton.
The day we started paying attention
Some of the most memorable moments in life happen in front of us, and we don’t realize they are memorable at the time. Then, nearly 45 years go by, and you are at the local Terry Fox Run, which took place Sunday. Suddenly you realize that you witnessed something big, maybe even historic, but at the time, you just let the moment fly by.
I stood there, watching and cheering with my father and my uncle, as Terry Fox appeared in front of us. We were part of a crowd of 16,725 people. The news of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope had been gathering momentum, and the young man trying to run across the country on a prosthetic leg to raise money for cancer had just become a household name. Within a year, he would become possibly the most significant man in Canadian history.
Had we known that, maybe we would have paid more attention or cheered a little louder.
It was July 1, 1980. We still called it Dominion Day back then.
Terry Fox, who had just entered Ontario at Hawkesbury a few days earlier, was in Ottawa for Dominion Day. As part of his tour, he would perform the ceremonial kick off at the Ottawa Rough Riders pre-season CFL game against Saskatchewan. The stadium was less than half full, which should tell you how we, as Canadians, had not grasped onto the story of Terry Fox yet.
But on that day, July 1, 1980, something happened. Terry Fox became real to us – not just to those of us who were season ticket holders enduring a pre-season football game, but to all Canadians. That day at Lansdowne Park gave him the platform and the national stage to turn his Marathon of Hope into something bigger than it had been in the 12 weeks since he had dipped his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
seen as the turning point.
Terry Fox was nervous about the ceremonial kick off that day. He said afterward that he wasn’t sure he could do it. How ironic that a young man running 42 kilometres a day on one leg was nervous about kicking a ball in a half-empty stadium. While the teams warmed up, he went under the stands and practiced a few times. He had an idea that this would be his biggest stage yet on the Marathon of Hope. He didn’t want to embarrass himself.
Before the game, he was introduced. We all clapped politely. Then, the cheering started. Everyone started standing. Even my father and uncle shuffled their mini bar to the side and stood to cheer. I had never seen them give a standing ovation. I figured, for them, the only people worthy of a standing ovation would be J.P. Wiser, Pyotr Arsenievich Smirnoff, or Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Wanton Morrison, commander of the British troops during the Battle of Crysler Farm. But there they were, cheering for Terry Fox. While I was cheering along with 16,725 football fans who had now become Terry Fox fans, I realized how big this moment was.
“After that standing ovation at the CFL game, I could hardly believe it,” Fox told the media after the game. “It makes me feel people really care about what I’m doing and that it’s all worthwhile.”
The Barrhaven Independent is published every other FRIDAY in Manotick, Ontario. Letters will be edited for length, clarity and libellous statements. Display rates are available on request. The Barrhaven Independent is not responsible for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other material used for publication purposes.
After being diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) in 1977, Terry was forced to have his right leg amputated six inches above his knee. During his time in hospital, Terry got to see the pain and suffering of other cancer patients first hand, many of them young children. He decided to do something about it. He was determined to raise $1 million for cancer research, and he would do it by running across the country, 42 kilometres a day – the equivalent of a marathon – until he reached the west coast and would dip his foot in the Pacific Ocean. People thought it was impossible, and others laughed at the possibility. But somewhere along the way, he captured the heart of every Canadian. That day at Lansdowne Park was
Two months later, the Marathon of Hope would end. Terry Fox had to stop his run near Thunder Bay. The cancer had spread to his lungs. On June 28, 1981, nearly a year to the day after that day at Lansdowne Park, Terry Fox would pass away. His goal of raising $1 million has now been reached more than 600 times. Now, as we approach a half century later, it is still a fresh memory. In 2015, Darrell Fox, Terry’s brother, was at the new TD Place Stadium at Lansdowne Park to perform the kick off as the Redblacks hosted the Saskatchewan Roughriders. It was just before the 35th annual Terry Fox run, which took place Sept. 20, 2015.
I remember watching Terry Fox’s brother and thinking back to that day in 1980. I looked around the stadium and wondered who else was there in the stadium who had also been there in 1980. I stood and cheered. I also stood and cheered for my father and uncle, who are no longer with us. If you get to watch football in Heaven, I know they were watching. I’m guessing they had a private suite booked, on the south side, obviously, and they would be hanging with their buddies Wiser, Smirnoff, and Colonel Morrison. I wonder if Terry Fox popped his head in to say hi.
Commuters and students struggling with inconsistent bus service
While politicians are discussing transit fare increases and strategies to get commuters back on OC Transpo buses, their biggest obstacle may be in regaining the trust of Barrhaven residents who work downtown.
That was a repeated them at a September meeting in the community hosted by Ottawa Transit Riders, a public advocacy group who held meetings in Barrhaven, Stittsville, Kanata and Orleans.
“The most common reason we heard from Barrhaven residents on why they don’t take the bus anymore was that they could no longer trust if their bus was going to show up,” said Kari Glynes Elliott, an Ottawa Transit Riders board member.
The bus system is not only losing confidence in Barrhaven commuters, but it is also losing money at hand-over-fist levels. Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe addressed the challenge of the system’s nine-figure deficit, and the challenges in addressing it.
“The fare increase has a range of 2.5% all the way up to 75%, which is the number required to cover the $120-million deficit using only fares, Sutcliffe said.
“I want members of the
public to understand the full impact in each area. I think they deserve to know all of this information,” he added. “These are not things we want to do. But there aren’t a lot of other solutions left.”
Sutcliffe has pointed at the city’s lack of funding from the federal and provincial governments as the primary reasons for its budget shortfall. He said the current budget direction is for a 2.9 per cent tax increase, but that figure is the direction “only for the parts of the budget that are not transit.”
He said the city may have to add to that number depending on how much other funding is received.
“So if the transit levy increases, for example, the tax increase could be a little bit higher than 2.9% or it could be a lot higher,” he said.
A 75 per cent increase in fares would bring the cost per ride up to $6.65, which would keep many of the remaining users of OC Transpo off the buses. Balancing the transit budget on the backs of taxpayers is also not a reasonable solution, especially since many homeowners are already complaining about the amount they pay for a flawed system that they don’t even use.
“People have to know
that they can trust the bus service to get to work.” Glynes Elliott said. “Some buses might come, some might not come. There aren’t even buses on the road. Sometimes the buses are full by the time they get to Strandherd Road, and then the bus won’t make any other stops. So people are stranded waiting for a bus that doesn’t show up.”
Not only is there a problem getting from Barrhaven to downtown, but getting out of downtown and back to Barrhaven on the system is equally challenging for some.
While the commuters in Barrhaven are having problems with the system, students in the community are also finding challenges. Students use the system to get to classes at Algonquin College, Carleton University, University of Ottawa and St. Paul University. Each full time student gets a U-Pass as part of their tuition. The pass gives them unlimited use of Ottawa’s transit system.
“That program is a $19 million guarantee for OC Transpo,” Gynes Elliott said. “But the quality of the service has gone down. There are students who can’t get on the train because it’s so crowded they can’t squeeze on. If the students want to cancel the
plan at some point, that will be a big problem for OC Transpo. That $19 million is important to them not just for the revenue, but it also guaranteed revenue they can count on for budgeting purposes.”
While workers are traditionally in and around a nine-to-five schedule, the schedules of students are all over the place. Even in the non-peak commuting times, Barrhaven students are still having problems getting to classes.
“A lot of students may have evening courses, or they may come home in the early afternoon after classes or that may be when classes start,” she said. “And even at those ties, students are having problems.
Gynes Elliott said that the transit system was effective a decade ago, but has seen it erode over time.
“Ten or 12 years ago, you could go directly downtown and the system was easier and faster,” she said. “Now, you have
Transit Panel and Q&A for students Thurs., Oct. 10 at Carleton
Students in Barrhaven and other communities will have their chance to be heard and ask questions as the Carleton University Students Association will be hosting a Transit Panel and Q&A event Thurs., Oct. 10 at 5:30 p.m. in the Nideyinàn (University Centre) 4th floor galleria.
Guests include MPP Joel Harden, city councillor Shawn Menard, and community representatives from Horizon Ottawa, Free Transit Ottawa, and the Ottawa Transit Riders discuss the current state of bus and light rail service in Ottawa, and how it impacts students. Attendees will hear perspectives from the province, the city, and the work of not-for-profits and community organizations.
Students will also have the opportunity to ask questions to any member of the panel, and there will be catering/snacks available throughout the event.
to take one or two buses and then get on a train.
The city has been talking about building a better system through the years. But what happened? You used to be able to set your watch around the bus schedule.”
While the city has become increasingly skeptical about the light rail system because of construction delays and service breakdowns, Glynes Elliott is hoping the new system alleviates the bulk of the transit problems.
“I’m optimistic about light rail,” she said. “Other cities make it work. But can this city make it happen?”
Some Barrhaven commuters say they can no longer trust that OC Transpo buses will show up and get them to work on time.
Breast cancer survivors ‘Run for the Cure’ at Rideau Carleton Raceway
By Charlie SenaCk
It was an emotional and inspiring day at the Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday, Oct. 6.
Instead of celebrating wins at the casino, it was a time to recognize amazing advances in cancer research during the annual CIBC Run for the Cure.
Hundreds of cancer survivors and their families lined up in mostly pink to run five kilometers or walk one kilometer to fight the disease that an estimated 229,200 Canadians were diagnosed with in 2021.
The event had a focus on breast cancer, the most common form of the sickness, and second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. One in eight Canadian women are expected to be diagnosed with the disease, and one in 36 are expected to die from it.
Leading the morning’s events on the main stage was cancer survivor Natalie Pearce, who shared her story of survival after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer in 2021.
“I, like many of you, thought I was invincible and that cancer was something that other people got,” Pearce told the crowd. “This shattering diagnosis threw my life
into a tailspin. Because of COVID restrictions, I was by myself when I got the news and I will never forget sitting in the parking lot afterwards, balling my eyes out.”
Pearce said her attention immediately went to her husband and three kids under the age of 16 at home. What would she tell them? How would they react? It was too much to think about.
Treatment soon followed and the then 43-yearold said she was unable to fully grasp what was going on in her body. Pearce had a mastectomy and then reconstruction surgery, but the implants were rejected and had to be removed. That’s when cancer cells were found in her lymph nodes.
Dose-dense chemotherapy followed for 16 weeks, then 15 daily rounds of radiation. The treatment worked and despite some annoying side effects from medication, Pearce said she’s thriving.
“There is no road map to life and sometimes you just have to hang on for the ride as ugly and awful as it may be. I have learned that when cancer comes for you, you can’t let it define you,” she said. “Shame is the worst feeling in the world and we all deserve grace. I’ve learned there is
often purpose in battle and that more often than not we become better because of it. But most importantly, I’ve learned it’s ok to not be ok sometimes.”
The cancer walk was also a time for local singer Arlene Quinn to debut her new song “Wonder Woman”, performed in honour of her sister Cheryl, a breast cancer survivor.
”It was a shock to all of us (when she was diag-
nosed) because she was so young. Most women don’t get a mammogram before the age of 50 unless there is cancer in the family,” said Quinn. “It was found just by me having something found in my breast and she thought she should ask her doctor. Mine was fine but hers wasn’t. We went though a year and a half of supporting my sister Cheryl and it was a very difficult journey.“
The song was written by
three Canadian women and was pitched to Quinn from a Nashville music producer.
“I was so inspired by the lyrics. People in general go through ups and downs. There are beautiful moments and moments where we need to go inside to find our inner strength. We need to remember there is light at the end of the tunnel,” said Quinn. “The song shows you can be at your lowest point of life, but by hang-
ing on to the mustard seed, there is a little bit of light and finally things are better again. When I listened to it I realized I wasn’t alone in my struggles.”
“Wonder Woman” is available for purchase on all streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes. A music video with photos of cancer survivors will also premiere on YouTube. All proceeds raised will be donated to fund cancer research.
The track at Rideau Carleton Raceway was the site of this year’s CIBC Run for the Cure. Cha R l I e SenaC k phoTo S
The CIBC Run for the Cure has become one of Canada’s largest fundraisers to combat breast cancer.
arlene Quinn performed Wonder Woman as part of the festivities.
Governor General Mary Simon marks Truth and Reconciliation Day in Ottawa
By Charlie SenaCk
It was a somber mood in the Capital on Sept. 30, and thousands gathered on Parliament Hill for the annual Day of Truth and Reconciliation. For former Barrhaven resident Mary Simon, Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General, it was also a day of promoting education.
The federal representative of the Canadian monarch said it’s a day to honour the survivors of former Indian Residential Schools who have shown brav-
ery by speaking about the abuses they induced.
“In their stories, there is unspeakable pain. But there is also tremendous courage and determination to emerge into healing and light. I am deeply inspired by the stories of Survivors, who have overcome so much to be with us today,”
Simon told the crowd at Parliament Hill. “By the stories of broken families gradually rebuilding their bonds, their communities and their identities. By the stories of Survivors disconnected from essential
services because their past traumas made them fear and mistrust teachers and doctors.”
Simon was born in Fort Severight Quebec, In a Village that is now known as Kangiqsualujjuaq. Her father was of English descent and from Manitoba, but was the first white employee of the Hudson Bay to marry an Inuk — a practice that was prohibited at the time.
The Governor General who later lived in Barrhaven and Manotick has frequently talked about her
traditional Inuit lifestyle which included fishing, hunting, sewing and traveling by dog sled.
Throughout her career Simon has been an advocate for enhancing the lives of First Nations and Inuits people while also expressing the need to advance their Native languages.
“We are making progress. We are seeing more attention being given to learning about Canada’s true history. We are paving the way to economic, education and health reconciliation,” she said. “First Nations, Inuit and Métis voices are being more and more heard and valued. We still have much work to do. But I feel increasingly hopeful.“
Those sentiments were echoed by Elder Claudette Commanda, who became the first Indigenous Chancellor at the University of Ottawa. She said the government is not doing enough to help restore languages that were lost because of residential schools.
“When we look at reconciliation it’s about
putting First Nations languages back in the state they were before. The government needs to stop nickel and diming us. They need to stop demanding reports from us and telling us, the people who are facing the loss of our languages, how to do this,” she said. “Our children deserve it. Help us. Listen to us. Demand or stand with us when we say that our languages are so important.”
The following day, Simon attended the reraising of the Survivor’s Flag on Parliament Hill.
More than 150,000 children attended the government- and church-run Indian Residential Schools, which plagued Canada’s past for more than 150 years. There were many instances of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, along with families being torn apart. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has reported more than 4,000 children died in these schools.
“For Survivors, the flag does not only represent the suffering of the past. It also represents the values
we cherish and the land we call home,” said Simon. “It represents the strength of Indigenous languages, cultures, and voices that have endured despite so many obstacles. It represents the excellence of Indigenous Elders, knowledge keepers, artists, and nature guardians who are thriving today, making invaluable contributions to our country.”
Simon said the flag was also a call for action and to learn about the injustices and exclusion which took place.
“(It’s) a call to build new, meaningful partnerships with Canada’s Indigenous Peoples so that we can all join forces to correct the record of history, and tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow,” she said. “As someone who has built bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians throughout my career, I feel more and more hopeful. I can see a future where an appreciation for Indigenous cultures and languages is at the heart of our national identity.”
18,19,20
- 26,27,28
- 1,2,3
Former Barrhaven resident and Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General, Mary Simon, called Reconciliation Day a day to honour the survivors of former Indian Residential Schools who have shown bravery by speaking about the abuses they induced.
photo S
City offers collaborative approach to Urban Boundary expansion
The rules are changing in Ottawa for landowners who are thinking of applying for an Official Plan Amendment (OPA) to extend Ottawa’s Urban Boundary. At a technical briefing last week, the City of Ottawa unveiled plans to update the City’s growth projections five years earlier than scheduled, allowing more housing to be planned sooner, and implement a new application process allowing landowners to apply for expansions before the projections are finalized.
The Province of Ontario introduced a new Provincial Planning Statement (PPS) in August. According to the PPS, private landowners can request an urban or village expansion at any time. Requests would have to be received through an Official Plan Amendment (OPA) application.
The PPS will take effect on Sunday, October
20.
Under the Planning Act, such expansions have historically been considered only during an Official Plan update, which take place every five years. In Ottawa, the next update period is scheduled for 2030, but staff propose moving it up to 2025 in recognition of more recent population projections from the province.
Ottawa’s
approach
Under the process unveiled by City staff today, landowners in Ottawa would have a choice.
- Apply for an Official Plan amendment at any time for a fee of up to $1.8 million.
- Wait for the Official Plan update in 2025 and apply with no fee.
The fee has been calculated to ensure cost recovery, aligning with the City’s position that growth must pay for growth. It reflects how much it would
cost the City to review land needs, infrastructure capacity, and location alternatives. This costrecovery approach is consistent with other application fees for development applications.
This approach also recognizes that there is already enough land within the current urban boundary to meet population and growth needs. It also reflects the City’s commitment to building more homes more quickly.
Each application would require much of the same work that is required during an Official Plan update.
Updating the Official Plan is a necessary process to ensure Ottawa has enough land to achieve its planning goals. It is a comprehensive document and updating requires time and resources. Updating the current plan, which was approved by Council in 2020, cost $3.4
million.
Should landowners choose to add lands prior to the completion of the 2025 Official Plan update, expansion applications would be assessed based on current Official Plan growth projections, the adequacy of land supply as well as infrastructure capacity. They would require new studies to confirm that there is enough capacity within existing or planned infrastructure, including:
- Water
- Sanitary
- Stormwater
- Transportation According to the PPS, any expansion applications must not require an upgrade to the City’s Infrastructure or Transportation Master Plans. If additional upgrades are needed, the 2025 Official Plan update is the appropriate process rather than
an application. There is no cost to landowners to have lands assessed as part of a Comprehensive OPA starting in 2025.
Building homes in Ottawa
Solving Ottawa’s housing crisis is a team effort.
The City of Ottawa is doing its part by breaking down barriers so that builders can get shovels in the ground more quickly. This is why staff have proposed this flexible solution to the PPS and moving up the Official Plan date to 2025.
To help address the housing crisis, Council committed to providing home builders enough opportunities to build 151,000 quality market homes by 2031 – or 15,100 new dwellings per year.
In the first half of 2024,
the City has already put applicants in a position to seek building permits for 10,566 dwellings.
Since tracking began in January 2023, the City has granted permissions or approved development applications for 42,060 dwellings.
Over that same time period, builders have requested permits to build 6,840 housing units, which is approximately 16 per cent of what is available. This leaves more than 35,200 units still in the pipeline.
The proposed process and fee structure will be discussed on Wednesday, October 9 at a special joint meeting (link is external)of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Planning and Housing Committees (link). Council will vote on a final proposal on Wednesday, October 16.
Waste collection at parks to improve in next few years
B y Wilson l o ,
B arrhaven e ast C oun C illor
Waste in parks has been a common topic of discussion in resident emails and conversations over the last year. This is particularly because of the inadequate (and sometimes unsightly) containers currently used, plus the lack of recycling, composting, and pet waste options.
Some emails also express frustration at the availability of the large three-stream bins at Greenpointe, Ken Ross, and Water Dragon parks, while the barrels and small bins overflow on a weekly basis elsewhere in the ward.
The existing three-stream bins at Greenpointe and Ken Ross parks were installed in 2017 as part of a diversion in parks pilot programme. One more park per ward was added in 2024—Water Dragon Park in our ward’s case.
As a pilot, funding and staffing were siloed, and just two or three city crews were
servicing the three-stream bins citywide. That’s why despite many requests to add the bins to more parks, the programme did not expand. It’s not an efficient use of resources, but the pilot was unexpectedly extended because of the pandemic.
Earlier this year, City Council approved the new Solid Waste Master Plan, which among other things, addresses the landfill’s nearing capacity, future garbage processing options and waste diversion in public spaces.
A broad waste diversion programme at city parks and public spaces will replace the pilot, with an expected implementation timeline of 2025-28, depending on yearly budget approvals.
Part of the plan includes a review of the types, size, and appearance of the receptacles used by the city to collect waste at parks. The review looks at the serviceability, usability, and consistency of the containers across the city, as many residents, staff, and I are aware existing bins are either too small and fragile, or unsightly and a magnet for pests.
However, the review also means new initiatives are on hold.
Earlier this year, I wanted to use the ward’s discretionary parks funds to install large in-ground bins at Cresthaven and Stonecrest parks, but it was denied until after the review is complete. It’s likely I’ll wait for the results of the review before reviving the idea (in case the new bins are better than what I have in mind).
Additionally, cities in Ontario are transitioning to a new provincially mandated recycling programme, which shifts the responsibility and
costs of recycling to producers. One by-product, is it takes away local decisionmaking abilities, including blue and black box design, which is another popular topic. Staff are engaging with the provincial government to determine how the transition will affect programmes in public spaces.
Regardless, there are
several things moving behind the scenes to get us to a better place in terms of waste collection overall in our parks and public spaces. New diversion options will help the city get closer to its diversion rate goals, while better containers will help keep our parks looking better.
I’m just hoping for some-
thing for pet waste, to be honest, so we can reduce the number of, uh…Christmas ornaments in the community.
Updates will be shared regularly over the next few years as other action suites in the Solid Waste Master Plan are discussed, voted on, and implemented.
Stay tuned!
East Barrhaven Ward Report
Wilson Lo, Councillor
Home Hospice Association hosts Moonlit Memory Walk Oct. 17
The Home Hospice Association and our Host Partner announce that the 7th Moonlit Memory Walk will take place on October 17, 2024, at McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home and Chapel, 1411 Hunt Club Road. The walk will begin at sunset. This walk is a public acknowledgment and community memorial for those
who were loved and lost. As a community event focused on collective healing and the importance of honouring our friends, family, neighbours and coworkers, regardless of how they may have died, The Moonlit Memory Walk provides a safe and nonjudgemental place to “say their name” and “Remember that they lived, not how they died”.
Pamela Keetch of Home Hospice Association – Eastern Ontario Chapter explained the walk: “We are looking forward to coming together on October 17 to honour our loved ones and raise funds to support the work that Home Hospice Association does to support end-of-life education,
care and grief support in our community. We’re so grateful to our walk’s host partner McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home and Chapel for their support of the walk. We encourage you to register and join us for this special evening.”
Organizers say this walk provides an opportunity to grow the legacy of oved
ones. Whether the person being remembered took a breath of air outside the womb, died in utero, was a pet, lived on the street, in a prison cell, or lived and died in a comfortable bed, participants walk because they believe they all have a legacy.
Stories, laughter, and tears will be shared as participants walk under the full
October moon at McEvoyShields Funeral Home and Chapel, 1411 Hunt Club Road, Ottawa.
For more information about the Moonlit Memory Walk, Home Hospice Association or McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home and Chapel: www.MoonlitMemoryWalk.org www.
HomeHospiceAssociation.com
Heritage Pantry Series: Buttermilk Biscuits were a delicious staple
By CJ Rooney
Biscuits were a staple in most households in days past. They were an easy way to get filled up, and also a way to make use of buttermilk. (A by-product of the buttermaking process.)
Most often, they were made ‘by feel’ without any real recipe at all. You had to know what the dough should feel like, and work from there. We’ll go over such a ‘recipe’ below.
Rideau’s Rearview
CJ Rooney
Start by filling a large container with flour. Or, if you have a flour crib, (a large wooden cradle-like container in which flour was stored), you can use that. Wash your hands thoroughly. Create a
‘well’ in the middle of the flour, by making an indent with your hand, about the size of your fist. Pour buttermilk into the well. (If you don’t have buttermilk, you can sour ordinary milk by adding 2 Tbsp vinegar/lemon juice and mixing in a cup before adding to flour.)
Add a sprinkle of sugar, and a shake or two of salt. Add butter or lard, using 2 pieces ‘the size of an egg’. Using
your hand, work the lard unto the milk mixture until lard is not clumped. To mix dough, pull flour in from the sides, to the middle of the well one handful at a time. Work liquids and flour together with one hand, squeezing wet mixture between fingers and adding more flour from edges as needed. Do not overwork, mix only until all milk has been absorbed, and dough is not sticky. (Dough should
only use as much flour as is needed, not the whole pail.)
Turn out dough onto floured surface, and flatten to ½” thick. Cut biscuits with a round biscuit cutter, or a floured drinking glass. Place onto greased baking tray or cast-iron skillet. Bake at 450°F for 10 minutes, or until golden brown. For extra moist biscuits, brush melted butter on top halfway through cooking time. For best results,
enjoy warm with homemade jam and a glass of cold milk. If you come to most kitchens around mealtime, chances are you’d find a quick batch of biscuits being prepared... after all, the best way to get the extra gravy off your plate is to ‘sop it up’! (Maybe we’ll cover that in another edition, for those unfamiliar with that fine art!) At least, that’s what you’d see if you took a glance in Rideau’s Rearview.
Staff Sergeant Kal Ghadban found dead at Elgin Street Police Station
Police officer was a champion in the local fight against Fentanyl-related crimes and addiction
FRom the BaRRhaven Independent, oCtoBeR 9, 2014
One of the men who played a key role in the community’s battle against Fentanyl addiction has taken his own life.
Staff Sergeant Kal Ghadban died at Ottawa Police Headquarters on Elgin Street. It was the same day that police officers killed in the line of duty were honoured on Parliament Hill.
The 42-year-old played a key role in the 2012 Fentanyl crisis in the community. During that year, the death of Manotick teen Tyler Campbell triggered a response to
the drug problem that was gripping a number of young people in Manotick and Barrhaven. Break-ins in both communities were attributed to desperate addicts needing cash for their next fix. Seniors’ apartments and dumpsters at seniors homes in Barrhaven were searched by thieves looking for used and unused patches of the drug. Fentanyl, a highly addictive opiate considered to be 100 times more potent than morphine, is a drug meant for terminally ill people, such
as patients with advanced stages of cancer.
Ghadban, whose roll in the Street Crimes Unit put him in the forefront in the Fentanyl, played a key role in educating the community about the dangers of Fentanyl and how young people in the community were getting their hands on the drug and becoming addicted to it.
He took part in a number of public meetings in the area on Fentanyl addiction.
Ghadban’s family released a statement on Monday.
“We are heartbroken to have lost Kal so tragically and so young,” the state-
ment read. “He will be dearly missed by his wife, his three children, and his entire family. He was a proud and devoted husband and father, and an excellent police officer; a role he dedicated himself to for more than two decades. We would like to thank his friends, his colleagues and the community for their support and for keeping our family and friends in their thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. The loss to our family will remain but the outpouring of love we have received for Kal has been comforting. “ Ottawa Police also intervened in another incident Sunday on Leitrim Road.
According to a CBC report, an Ottawa Police officer had threatened to harm himself. Police triangulated his loca-
2024-25 NCSSAA high school sports season begins
Boys Football
Sept. 26 – St. Joseph 34
St. Peter 20
Sept. 26 – St. Mother
Teresa 19 Holy Trinity 14
Sept. 27 – St. Francis
Xavier 49 Sacred Heart 7
Oct. 3 – St. Francis Xavier 35 St. Patrick’s 13
Oct. 4 – St. Peter 37 St.
Mother Teresa 0
Sr. Girls Basketball
Sept. 24 – St. Joseph 41
Pierre Savard 19
Sept. 24 – St. Francis
Xavier 46 Franco Cite 30
Sept. 25 – St. Mother
Teresa 21 Earl of March
23
Sept. 25 – St. Joseph
33 Longfields-Davidson Heights 28
Sept. 26 – LongfieldsDavidson Heights 55 St. Pius X 50
Sept. 26 – St. Francis
Xavier 53 Immaculata 49
Sept. 30 – St. Mother
Teresa 39 West Carleton 21
Sept. 30 – St. Mark 35
John McCrae 21
Oct. 1 – St. Peter 35 St. Francis Xavier 31
Oct. 1 – St. Joseph 60 Woodroffe 18
Oct. 1 – Pierre Savard
40 St. Pius X 37
Oct 1 – Paul Desmarais
32 Longfields-Davidson
Heights 20
Oct. 2 – South Carleton
42 John McCrae 25
Oct. 3 – Pierre Savard
48 Paul Desmarais 34
Oct. 3 – Pierre Savard
48 Paul Desmarais 34
Oct. 3 – St. Francis Xavier 46 St Patrick’s 32
Oct. 4 – St. Joseph
53 Longfields-Davidson Heights 15
Jr. Girls Basketball
Sept. 26 – Paul Des-
marais 70 John McCrae 18
Oct. 1 – Paul Desmarais
59 St. Joseph 8
Oct. 2 – St. Francis Xavier 39 Omer-Deslauriers
8
Oct. 3 – John McCrae
37 St. Joseph 36
Oct. 4 – Sacred Heart
49 Longfields-Davidson Heights 32
Girls Field Hockey
Sept. 23 – Merivale 5
John McCrae 0
Sept. 24 – Nepean 4 St.
Mother Teresa 0
Sept. 24 – John McCrae
3 Woodroffe 1
Sept. 30 – Glebe 1 John McCrae 0
Oct. 1 – Sacred Heart 2
St. Joseph 0
Oct. 1 – St. Joseph 0 St.
Peter 0
Oct. 1 – West Carleton
2 St. Joseph 0
Oct. 1 – Ashbury 3 St.
Mother Teresa 0
Sr. Boys Soccer
Sept. 24 – St. Joseph 3
Earl of March 1
Sept. 24 – St. Francis Xavier 1 Gisele Lalonde 0
Sept. 24 – West Carleton 5 John McCrae 1
Sept. 25 – South Carleton 7 Pierre Savard 0
Sept. 26 – Paul Desmarais 3 St. Joseph 1
Sept. 26 – St. Francis
Xavier 3 Nepean 2
Sept. 26 – St. Mother Teresa 2 LongfieldsDavidson Heights 0
Sept. 30 – Franco Ouest
4 Pierre Savard 3
Oct. 1 – John McCrae 2
Paul Desmarais 2
Oct. 1 – West Carleton
2 St. Joseph 0
Oct. 1 – Merivale 4 Pierre-Savard 1
Oct. 2 – Pierre Savard 4 Woodroffe 4
Oct. 3 – St. Francis Xa-
vier 3 Franco City 2
Oct. 3 – St. Mother Teresa 4 Earl of March 1
Oct. 3 – Sacred Heart 3
St. Joseph 1
Oct. 3 – John McCrae 2 Longfields-Davidson Heights 1
Jr. Boys Soccer
Sept. 26 – St. Joseph 1
St. Francis Xavier 1
Sept. 26 – Pierre Savard1 Pierre de Blois 1
Oct. 3 – St. Francis Xavier 3 Pierre de Blois 1
Oct. 3 – St Joseph 7
Woodroffe 0
Oct. 4 – John McCrae 3
St. Mother Teresa 1
Sr. Boys Volleyball
Sept. 23 – Pierre Savard 3 Sir Robert Borden 0
Sept. 23 – Lisgar 3 St.
Francis Xavier 0
Sept. 24 – Longfields-
Davidson Heights 3 John McCrae 0
Sept. 24 – St. Mother
Teresa 3 Bell 2
Sept. 25 – Paul Desmarais 3 Pierre Savard 2
Sept. 25 – Immaculata
3 St. Francis Xavier 0
Sept. 26 – Glebe 3 Longfields-Davidson Heights 2
Sept. 26 – St. Joseph 3
St. Mother Teresa 1
Sept. 30 – Pierre Savard 3 St. Pius X 0
Oct. 1 – St. Mother Teresa 3 Bell 2
Oct. 1 – All Saints 3
John McCrae 0
Oct. 1 – Merivale 3 Longfields-Davidson Heights 0
Oct. 2 – Pierre Savard 3 Nepean 0
Oct. 3 – Sacred Heart 3
St. Joseph 0
Oct 4 – St. Mother Teresa 3 St. Joseph 2
be disappointed call now to book
Tyson Vong of the St. Mother Teresa Titans tries to run past Holy trinity defensive back Ethan Swietochowski during their National Capital high school football game Sept. 26.
Griffin Kay (14) of the St. Joseph’s Jaguars fights for yards in their win over the St.Peter Knights.
