Barrhaven Independent October 13, 2023

Members of the John McCrae Bulldogs senior boys soccer team celebrate a goal after a penalty kick in their season opener against Longfields Davidson Heights Secondary

Sept. 25. The Bulldogs won the game 2-1 as the fall high school sports season got underway. For more high school sports coverage, see page 14.

Private Member’s Statement recognizes two women making a difference in Carleton

When the Ontario Legislature resumed on Monday, Sept. 25, I was honoured to make a Member’s Statement. I decided to recognize two women who have become crusaders in the ongoing local battle to get school buses back on the road in many parts of the Carleton riding.

The following is my Member’s Statement from Monday, September 25, 2023:

I would like to acknowledge the tireless and relentless work of two moms who live in rural Carleton.

Cheri Nixon of Osgoode and Jennifer Bugden of Munster are among the many moms in rural Ottawa who has had the lives of their family – and their community – turned upside down because the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority was unable to secure

a school bus contract for thousands of students living in suburban and rural West Ottawa.

Now, many families are facing difficult circumstances. They have a commute into the city of at least an hour for work, but they are left with no way to get their children to school.

I am proud of Cheri Nixon and Jennifer Bugden for wanting to do something about the problem. They organized Facebook groups, started petitions, and spoke with class, dignity and passion at my Community Barbecue on Saturday, September 9th.

They have stepped up and become valuable leaders in the community, joining me in the fight to get this situation resolved. They met with Minister Lecce in a Zoom call to make him fully aware of what families in rural Ottawa are facing.

In addition, Jennifer Bugden has been engaging with the community to re-open Munster Elementary School, which was shut down by the OttawaCarleton District School Board in 2015. The school’s closure put a village full of children on school buses while a beautiful and wellmaintained building has sat empty, with the exception of some weekly community events.

Jennifer and I have had opened discussions with other school boards about buying the building and re-opening the school, as

well as with the OCDSB regarding what it would take to re-open this school.

Every riding, and every community, needs people like Cheri Nixon and Jennifer Bugden. The heart and soul they have transcends the villages they live in. What they have both accomplished in a short time sets an example of dedication, determination and selflessness.

Right now, they are inspiring everyone in their community. And as their MPP, they are also inspiring me.

Connecting Ontarians to The Tools They Need to Stay Healthy This Respiratory Illness Season

Ontario is reminding everyone to stay safe this respiratory illness season and prevent unnecessary

visits to the hospital by staying up to date on vaccinations. Ontarians are encouraged to get their flu and COVID-19 shots as soon as they are available to them.

Starting this month, flu shots will be available for the most vulnerable highrisk populations, including hospitalized individuals, hospital staff and residents and staff in long-term care homes, followed by those in retirement homes and other congregate settings. Free flu shots for the general public aged six months and older will be available starting October 30th at doctor and nurse practitioner offices, some public health units and participating pharmacies. To learn more about the flu shot, visit Ontario. ca/flu.

It is safe and convenient to receive both the COVID-19 and flu shots at

the same time, reducing the need for multiple visits to a doctor, nurse practitioner or local pharmacy. The province was expecting to receive doses of Moderna’s updated SPIKEVAX XBB COVID-19 vaccine in late September, which better protects against the new Omicron XBB variant. This vaccine is Health Canada approved for people aged six months of age and older, however initial doses will be prioritized for higher risk populations and more details will be provided once doses are distributed to Ontario. The current COVID-19 vaccines will also continue to be available for Ontarians, as long as it has been a recommended six months since their previous dose.

goldie continues on page 3

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Ontario is also rolling out its first publicly funded vaccination program of the first Health Canada approved RSV vaccine, Arexvy for those 60 years and older living in longterm care homes, Elder Care Lodges, and for some retirement home residents. New changes will soon allow pharmacists to administer the vaccine, which will allow homes to hire pharmacists to administer the vaccine on site and help vulnerable populations receive their dose more conveniently without leaving their home.

Ontario continues to provide convenient access to antivirals through physicians, nurse practitioners and pharmacists, with virtual care options available through Health 811. The Ontario government is also working on changes that will allow pharmacists to prescribe the flu antiviral, Tamiflu, making it faster and easier for people to get timely care. Individuals can also continue to

access rapid antigen tests through their local Public Health Units. As of September, health care providers across the province can order rapid antigen tests to share with patients free of charge. Using the PCR testing locator, eligible individuals can also access COVID-19 molecular (PCR) testing at pharmacies and assessment centres.

With Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care and all of these additional initiatives, the government is providing Ontarians with the tools they need to stay safe and healthy this fall and winter, and avoid any unnecessary visits to the hospital. The ministry will continue to monitor trends closely and adjust as necessary.

Quick Facts

- Vaccination to protect against flu and COVID-19 continues to be the best way for people to remain protected against severe outcomes, including hospi-

talization.

- Ontario will also offer respiratory virus testing to eligible, higher risk individuals, including those in long-term care homes and retirement homes.

- To ensure workforce capacity in the event of future emergencies, as of August 31, 2023, all 26 health regulatory colleges are required to have an emergency registration process that can be used to facilitate faster registration of health care workers during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.

- Once available, you can book a COVID-19 vaccine via our website or call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833943-3900 (TTY: 1-866797-0007 toll free) from Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time.

- For information on accessing a flu shot, please contact your health care provider, participating pharmacy or local public health unit.

- Visit Health811 online or call 811 (TTY: 1-866797-0007 toll free) for health advice and information 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Ontario Strengthening Cultural and Economic Prosperity in Francophone Communities

The Ontario government announced the recipients of the 2023-2024 Francophone Community Grants Program (FCGP). Through this $2-million program, Ontario supports community organizations and small businesses that contribute to the vitality and well-being of the province’s Francophone communities.

Francophone businesses and community organizations are the driving force behind initiatives that fuel the growth, prosperity and well-being of our thriving Francophone community. Ontario is a proud partner of its Francophone com-

munity. So, it’s fitting that, on Franco-Ontarian Day, we are announcing our investment of $2 million in the Francophone Community Grants Program. Our government’s commitment to the projects of 51 francophone businesses and social partners demonstrates our strong resolve to build Ontario with them and for them.

In 2021, the province doubled its funding for the Francophone Community Grants Program, one of the flagship programs under Ontario’s Francophone Economic Development Strategy that supports non-profit and for-profit organizations delivering products and services to Francophones.

Quick Facts

- Under the 2023-2024 Francophone Community Grants Program, 45 projects will receive funding from the Community and Culture stream, and six will receive funding from the Economic Develop-

ment stream.

- Forty percent of the projects selected are located in eastern Ontario, 28 percent in central Ontario, 18 percent in western Ontario and 14 percent in northern Ontario.

- Since 2017, 283 nonprofit organizations and small businesses representing a diversity of sectors, such as health and social services, have benefited from the program.

- The 2024-2025 Francophone Community Grants Program application deadline will be announced in early 2024.

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 #50012932

Suspects to identify in daytime residential Barrhaven break-ins

The Ottawa Police Service Break and Enter Unit is looking for public assistance to identify three suspects involved in multiple break and enters that have occurred between September 24th and 27th in Barrhaven and the south end of Ottawa.

Throughout the daytime hours of September 24th through 27th they have broken into several houses. Each time they parked a black truck in the driveway.

Three of the four suspects exit the truck and force their way into the house when they do not re-

ceive a response at the front door, while the fourth suspect stays in the truck.

All the suspects are males of average height and weight and were wearing masks and gloves at the time of the break ins.

The truck is described as a black 4-door Dodge Ram 1500 pick-up with a chrome rear bumper, front grill and wheels, deep tinted windows, using stolen Ontario licence plate BC22409 (see photo).

The Ottawa Police Service is reminding residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity

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involving similar vehicles at homes in their communities to police.

Anyone with information as to the identity of these individuals, or information about this incident, is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service Break and Enter Unit at 613-2361222, ext. 4533.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.

Police are looking for suspects in multiple break-ins. They have been using this truck.

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Company selected to build new police station in Barrhaven

The Ottawa Police Service has selected the company that will build the new police station in Barrhaven.

The new police facility will be located on Prince of Wales drive, between Carleton Lodge and Vimy Bridge. It will replace the Greenbank and Leitrim police stations. The 218,000 square foot facil-

build the facility to Broccolini Construction. According to the report, Broccolini was the lowest of three bids that met all necessary criteria.

The $115.45 million contract includes a 7.5 per cent contingency, worth just over $8 million, to account for unknown conditions that might arise during construction.

A report in February outlined that here are two main facilities that have reached their end of life and are identified to be returned to the City once their operations can be accommodated at other

locations; this includes the Leitrim and Greenbank facilities. A 2020 Building Condition Audit of Greenbank identified that funding of over $9 million would be required to simply address basic building maintenance and operating costs over a 13-year period. Leitrim will be further impacted by City road works along Bank Street and Leitrim Road, making operational deployment from this location nearly impossible.

In 2021, the Ottawa Police Services Board ap-

proved the Barrhaven facility with a price tag of $118.2 million. The plans for the station were drawn up in 2013.

During the COVID pandemic, plans for the new facility were put on hold as labour and material shortages resulted in a high cost for construction.

It is expected that the City of Ottawa will grow by more than 1.4 million residents over the next 25 years, according to the City’s Official Plan. This growth directly im-

pacts calls for service, and the OPS must keep pace. Additionally, the City and Province are poised to increase residential development to address an ongoing housing crisis. As it pertains to OPS staffing levels, the Mayor has pledged to grow the sworn comple-

ment and the OPS has developed its own staffing plan after several years of no growth. An increase to the staffing complement is anticipated to require a minimum increase of 54,000-square-feet of facility space by 2026. The new facility could be operational by 2026.

www.barrhavenindependent.ca

INDEPENDENT EDITorIal

A small fix with big implications for food prices stalled in Senate

The House of Commons overwhelmingly passed a bill to make food cheaper and help farmers.

In fact, the House passed the bill twice.

But after two years, the bill still isn’t law, and that delay has cost families and farmers almost $100 million.

What’s stalling the democratic will of our elected representatives?

The Senate.

The bill is simple. The feds gave farmers an exemption on the carbon tax for diesel and gasoline. That helps farmers keep food prices down and compete globally. But the feds forgot to exempt the propane and natural gas farmers need to dry their grain and heat their barns.

So Conservative member of Parliament Ben Lobb introduced Bill C-234 back in February 2022 to fix that and extend the exemption to farmers’ natural gas and propane.

It may seem like a small change, but the carbon tax is a big cost for farmers, even with the existing exemptions.

According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the carbon tax cost Canadian farmers an average of $14,000 in 2019. Trudeau has cranked up his carbon tax every year since. That means higher costs for farmers and higher grocery prices for Canadians.

The carbon tax on propane and natural gas will cost farmers $1 billion through 2030, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

Here’s the infuriating part: the problem should be fixed already.

This legislation has the support of the majority in the House of Commons and MPs from every party voted for it.

The bad news is the bill has been held up in the Senate ever since.

With their $169,600 base salary, maybe senators aren’t too worried about the price of milk, hamburger meat or chicken. But many Canadians are. In fact, six-in-10 worry their paycheque might not be enough to feed their families.

Farmers are working 20-hour days to get the harvest in.

You would think that might spur the Senate to more briskly shuffle this duly passed bill through the unelected Upper Chamber.

But the Senate doesn’t care. It took a gander at the bill during second reading on June 13. Since then, the bill has been collecting dust in the agriculture committee, which is chaired by Senator Robert Black.

Canadians have been waiting for a law to remove the carbon tax from farm fuels for three years now. The delay has already cost taxpayers almost $100 million.

Canadians don’t expect much from senators. But is it too much to ask that they pass this bill?

Talk is cheap. Especially in Ottawa.

Don’t believe any politician, or senator, who claims they want to improve affordability unless they are willing to do one simple thing: scrap their carbon taxes.

Franco Terrazzano is the Federal Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

© Troy Media

BARRHAVEN

Every kid needs a Lyall Gilmour

It’s hard to believe that 1973 was 50 years ago.

It was the best summer ever.

My friends and I slept in tents almost every night, we traded baseball cards and comic books, we listened to our transistor radio, and we didn’t have a care in the world.

from the other side

the base. With his father screaming at him to tag me, Sheldon Laffoly tagged me and I was out. I had no idea it mattered which way you turned.

We also played baseball. Our team was pretty good. We won a lot of games and tournaments. Our coach was Lyall Gilmour, a dad on the team who always volunteered to coach us in baseball and hockey.

He gave something very special to me and to most of my friends. He gave his time.

Several years ago, I ran into the Gilmours. I hadn’t seen them in about 30 years.

“Remember that catch you made out in left field?” was the first thing he said.

Ah, the catch. It was the highlight of 1973. Being nine was never better.

I don’t know how the catch looked to everyone else. I got a jump on the ball, ran back and to my left, followed the ball, and reached out. It probably didn’t look as Willie Mays as it felt, but I caught the ball and we won the game. I didn’t really suck at baseball, but I was no better than mediocre. I wasn’t excited or thrilled, I was just plain stunned that the ball ended up in my glove.

But the catch changed my life. Everybody has had a moment as a kid where you do something that makes you realize you are growing up. Maybe it’s making a catch or scoring a goal or saving a puck. Maybe it’s beating your Mom or Dad in chess. Maybe it’s building something in the garage you never thought you could build. Maybe it’s getting an A or A-plus on a report. No matter what it is, there is that one moment when you surprise yourself and realize you are being shaped into more than just a kid.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Lyall said, with his eyes burning. “I was so mad, because you worked so hard all week and then to get humiliated like that. They were winning 35-3. They just told me that you had to learn the hard way, just like they did. Well, I decided right then and there that I’d had enough and I was going to quit.”

I remembered Sheldon tagging me out, and I felt kind of stupid. But hey, he was a much better baseball player than I was, and he got me with the hidden ball trick a few times too. It was just another lesson in sports. Luckily, Lyall got talked out of quitting.

We shared some more stories and reminisced about how in 1973 our rag tag team made it all the way to the provincial finals in the Ontario “D” playdowns. “D” is somewhere below “AA”, “A”, “B” and “C” and one small step above “One Horse Town”. But it wasn’t about winning for us. Lyall Gilmour tried to make it fun, but more importantly, he stood up for what was right. At one time or another during those years, he put each and every one of us first. And if he remembers me for “the catch”, he remembers every other kid on that team for their “moment”.

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I had forgotten about the catch, but Lyall Gilmour hadn’t. That’s the kind of guy he was. Talking about the catch made me realize that Lyall was more proud of me for making that catch than I ever was of myself. He also remembered more about my years in little league than I ever did. He reminded me of the time when I was eight he spent a week teaching me how to bunt. We had a game against Johnstown and I dropped down a bunt down the third base line and beat out the throw to first, which is saying a lot because I was never blessed with speed. I ran through first, but turned the wrong way when I went back to

I’m glad I ran into Lyall Gilmour. As an adult, it was my first opportunity to thank him for the years he spent volunteering as a coach, and to tell him how truly appreciative I was of what he gave us. I told him about how excited I was when we got “real uniforms” with pants and socks and jerseys that zipped up the front with big numbers and “Prescott Amity Lodge No. 80” spelled across the back. I was so proud of that uniform I wore it to bed for a week.

Chances are you don’t know or have never heard of Lyall Gilmour, but there is probably someone in your life that has been a Lyall Gilmour to you. Maybe it was a coach, or a teacher, or a scout or guiding leader, or maybe it was an aunt or uncle or even a neighbour. If there was, take the time to thank them. Tell them you appreciate what they did for you. And with so many programs starting up in the coming weeks, maybe it’s time for you to be a Lyall Gilmour for someone else.

It is the Thanksgiving season in Canada, and tonight the sun showed its presence only by a thin line of orange, after all-day of grey clouds scattered over our quiet town. The winds are sleeping, but somewhere someone is burning leaves and our village is “adrift” with the smoke, acrid and haunting. Long ago an Algonquin brave remembered the campfire smells during the cool moon, along the banks of the Rideau River. It’s like I

While there is still not a contract between the Ontario government and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, they have reached a deal that will keep kids in class and able to do extracurricular activities.

Over the next month, the two sides will continue to

THis week, THIS MONTH

by Larry Ellis

hear the stealthy rustle of a moccasin in fallen leaves; I am taken back in time, trying to imagine what it may have been like many years ago right here!

It is time to harvest – after all, the first lovely place in the world was a garden and perhaps when the dew hangs, we feel a closer kinship with the beginning of all things. From ancient Rome came lettuce and turnips, Mexicans gave us maize/corn, beans from Europe, the smart Iroquois gave us the squash, pumpkins and potatoes. The age-old miracle has happened again, and Thanksgiving will be celebrated with thankful Canadian

hearts.

The birds, urged by ageold instinct, are collecting, holding meetings, circling and drilling, for the trek southward. The geese can be seen in flocks in a long vee, orderly and straight and noisy but sometimes quiet and wobbly with occasional stragglers. The wonderful Canada Geese, handsome, aloof, wise, are a noble site, and their honk is the spirit of the wilderness.

My favourite poem - “In-

dian Summer” with the lines -

“Along the line of smoky hills the crimson forest stands, and all the day the blue jay calls throughout the Autumn lands. Now by the brook the maple leans with all its glory spread, and all the sumacs on the hills have turned their green to red.” Wilfred Campbell was the poet who lived nearly a century ago, in a stone house near Merivale Road in Ottawa.

And so we celebrate an-

other Thanksgiving, how fortunate we are; we give thanks. There are millions who would trade places with us, even just to witness our season of fall.

Look at the scarlet torches of the maples; listen to the sighing of the bulrushes as the wind whispers and the music of the river as it flows over the dam at Watson’s Mill, my favourite place!

Here is a tip: do not eat turkey without dressing – you might catch cold!

Thanksgiving season in Canada reminds us of how fortunate we are OSSTF approves process for negotiations that will keep students in school

negotiate to try and reach anagreement. Based on the approved process, if a central agreement cannot be reached by October 27, the parties will enter binding interest arbitration to resolve any outstanding issues. Through this process, a neutral arbitration board will make binding decisions on

all outstanding matters.

“I am very pleased that the members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation have voted in favour of this deal that keeps kids in class,” said Education Minister Stephen Lecce. “We came together to put 400,000 English public high school students first, and as

Starting at $3,650/mo all inclusive!

a result, a student who started high school last year will now graduate in three years without the threat of strikes. This will allow students to focus on their studies as our government ensures school boards get back to basics.”

Lecce added that this is a significant step forward in providing stability for high

school students.

“With the approval of this agreement, I am calling on all outstanding education unions to reach a deal and end the delay,” Lecce said. “Nothing should matter more than students being in class and benefiting from uninterrupted learning for the next three years, with an

enhanced focus on reading, writing and math.”

Lecce said the OSSTF’s decision to vote in favour of an agreement that would preclude strikes during this round of negotiations reaffirms our joint commitment to the success and well-being of Ontario students.

OC Transpo confirms light rail transit to Barrhaven might never happen

By Charlie S ena C k

Any plans for light rail transit to hit Barrhaven could be put on the chopping block as OC Transpo finds itself in a tougher than expected financial situation.

While trains wouldn’t be rolling through the community for at least a decade anyway, the transit agency is trying to plan long term for a bleak outlook.

During a technical briefing on Sept. 18, it was confirmed that 25-year projections are down $3.7 billion — more than $100 million per year. Pre-pandemic ridership now won’t return until at least 2030, and the expected 112 million expected rides this year won’t even come close. All of this after OC Transpo had to dig into its reserves last year to cover its budget gap, running a $40.8 million deficit.

To help offset all these costs, multiple options are

on the table including increasing fares, cutting service, adding a new tax, or axing any further light rail expansion plans.

In an interview with the Barrhaven Independent, OC Transpo general manager Renée Amilcar said it will be a “tough run.”

“Now people know, now people understand the reality. Maybe they can better accept the decisions we will need to take in a short term period so that mid term and long term we can have a sustainable transit here in Ottawa,” she said.

If light rail transit were ever to be built to Barrhaven, Kanata and Stitsville, it would need to be funded fully by other levels of government. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has made it clear that no further money will be promised until issues with the Phase 1 Confederation line are sorted out.

During the technical briefing, city staff did not

make a supportive case for a Phase 3 project, saying it would cost an estimated $64 million per year to operate. It would bring only an estimated 2 per cent increase in ridership, increasing funds by $5 million annually.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who campaigned on seeing Phase 3 built, said he still hasn’t given up all hope. He said the financials, however, are much worse than he predicted.

“I still believe that we can deliver Phase 3 to the residents of Barrhaven, Stittsville and Kanata. I think it’s an important part of the system and our population is going to grow significantly over the next 25 years,” Sutcliffe told reporters. “We’re not ready to push the button on Phase 3 this week anyway. We have a lot of work to do before we get to a point about making a decision about Phase 3, so we have to do that work and we have to

have those important conversations with other levels of government.”

Amilcar meanwhile said when she took over as general manager two years ago, she never saw Phase 3 as a guarantee.

“We need to make sure that we can fix the problem that we have with the Confederation line and we have to make sure that we have success with stage 2, then we will see,” she told the Barrhaven Independ-

ent. “Maybe we can see with bus rapid transit. BRT is very good as well. You don’t absolutely need LRT. BRT can do the same level of job.”

transit continues on page 9

Barrhaven will continue to be served by OC Transpo buses for the foreseeable future.

transit continues from page 8

Amilcar said the latest financial report is a good “wake up call” over the impacts COVID-19 has had on Ottawa’s transit system and said federal office employees working from home are partly to blame.

While she said it’s too late to not build Phase 1 or 2, Amilcar said a redesign is in order to work with what’s available.

“Based on my experience, around the world it’s better when you have a good transit network for the future instead of waiting,” she said. “It will be a tough time because the system is built and we need to be able to operate it, we need money that we don’t have. But in 15 or 25 years we will be so proud and happy to say the system is here, available, and that it’s working.”

Government support

To help OC Transpo weather their financial

storm, Sutcliffe is calling on other levels of government to step up and provide further funding. When the 2023 budget was tabled, it included a $39-million hole which was expected to be covered by the federal and provincial budgets, but no additional help came.

“I think Ottawa is justified in asking for help because of the unique circumstances of being the nation’s capital,” Sutcliffe said. “Federal government decisions have had an impact on transit ridership in Ottawa and, frankly, the future of downtown.”

Sutcliffe referenced how the federal government is considering moving out of many of its buildings, which he said will present a “significant challenge for the community.” He also said other cities like Toronto get a bigger piece of provincial funding to run their networks.

“I respect those deci-

sions, those are their decisions to make, but there are consequences at the municipal level,” he said.

More details on Ottawa’s problem-plagued transit system are expected to be released during meetings in October.

The Phase 2 light rail transit line out to Riverside South and the airport was supposed to see completion in August 2022, but was delayed a year. This August it was announced that work won’t be completed until “the year if the year.”

Amilcar wouldn’t say if those timelines are still accurate, but noted they won’t launch the Trillium Line system until fully ready, hopefully avoiding the past mistakes seen with Line 1. Once completed, trains will run between Bayview Station and Limebank Road, passing through Carleton University, South Keys, and the airport. Light rail transit

to Riverside South has been delayed.

Local Artists Gear Up for Annual Stonebridge Show & Sale

Come and discover the incredible artistic talent within the Barrhaven community!

Join us for Paint the Town, the 13th annual Fall Show and Sale presented by the Artists of Stonebridge (AOS), a Barrhaven-based group of local visual artists. The event will take place on October 21-22 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Cedarhill Golf and Country Club, 56 Cedarhill Drive.

AOS is a not-for-profit group that was started 14 years ago by a group of artists who had a common desire to promote visual arts in the community. The group has now grown to over 50 visual artists and it is very active. You may be familiar with their ongoing exhibits at the Minto Recreation Complex, the RBC Royal Bank at 4120 Strandherd Drive, the TLC Legal Office at 240 Kennevale Drive, the Cedarhill Golf Club, and Councillor David Hill’s office at 100 Malvern Drive.

The annual AOS show is Barrhaven’s largest sale of local visual art. It’s a must-see

event if you are decorating your walls, looking for that special gift, or just want to be inspired by beautiful art. The show features a wide variety of original artwork in many

different styles and sizes, and the artists will be present to meet you and chat!

What’s more, this year’s show will include door prizes and a silent auction of sev-

eral stunning paintings. AOS deeply believes in giving back to the community, and auction proceeds will support two local charities: the Canadian Guide Dogs for the

Blind (CGDB) and the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre.

AOS is also grateful for the support it receives from local businesses in the Bar-

rhaven community. The Fall Show is sponsored by BMO Nesbitt Burns, Royal Lepage Team Realty, Braces Haven, Barrhaven Auto Centre, and TLC Legal.

The Artists of Stonebridge will be hosting an art show at the Cedarhill Golf Club Oct. 21-22.

Barrhaven United Church community garden named after Peter Oegema

By Charlie SenaCk

A garden outside Barrhaven United Church has been named after a longstanding community member.

On Sept. 9, around 50 people gathered to recognize Peter Oegema, who was one of the founding members of the Barrhaven Food Cupboard. He died unexpectedly in May at the age of 61.

Oegema started with the food cupboard when it ran as a small emergency food pantry in the basement of the United Church. He played a crucial role in moving operations to the Walter Baker Centre when their services grew, and started to look after a garden lot which grew vegetables to offset the food center’s costs.

“He was a jack of all trades,” said Aaron Lemieux, director of volunteers at the Barrhaven Food Cupboard. “He built a lot of the plots and who was the one who purchased the seeds and fertilizer.”

The garden is run by a group of volunteers who keep track of how much money the Barrhaven Food Cupboard is saving by growing their own produce. Lemieux suspects they are saving “hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year.”

The event was also a way to recognize the countless volunteers who run the food cupboard. They have grown from a roster of 72

this time last year to over 150 active volunteers in Sept. 2023.

“It was a moving ceremony for a lot of people,” said Lemieux. “Pete was involved with us for over 20 years and wore so many hats. He was always selfless and shied away from the limelight. He won awards but didn’t even show up for the ceremonies. He did good because it was the right thing to do.”

Rising food prices

In 2022, Canada saw its biggest food inflation since the 1980’s with vegetable prices rising more than 12 per cent, according to Canada’s Food Price Report. The statistics also said it would cost a family of four an extra $1,000 to feed themselves in 2023.

The Barrhaven Food Cupboard has felt the pressure of rising food prices with more families turning to them for services. They went from fielding 260 requests in Aug. 2022, to 450 during the same month this year.

“The community is expanding fast and there is a lot of insecurity amongst a lot of people over food,” said Barrhaven Food Cupboard co-president Dawn Lilly. “People need to decide if they pay the rent or buy food. The cost of living has gone up so much.”

To ensure they could keep feeding hungry families, the Barrhaven Food Cupboard set a goal of raising $180,000. Lilly said

they are 75 per cent of the way there.

“We are definitely able to keep the doors open for this year, but have made some changes. Their are some products we no longer buy and we don’t give as many perks as we used to. But everyone is still getting food,” Lilly said. “We are changing our focus to encourage people to become monthly donors to help us into next year because the same problem will arise. We have bills every month.”

On Oct. 7, a sold out comedy fundraiser will be held at the Barrhaven legion in support of the local food providing agency,

featuring Ben Walker and Michael Friedman. Food donations will also be collected at the annual Bar-

rhaven Santa Claus Parade being held Nov. 19.

A garden outside Barrhaven United Church has been named after Peter Oegema, who was one of the founding members of the Barrhaven Food Cupboard.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Information

5. Seaport (abbr.)

8. Agricultural disease (abbr.)

11. Riding horses

13. Boxing’s GOAT

14. Hurt or discomfort

15. A small sharp knife to trim vegetables

16. A beaver builds one

17. Horizontal passage into a mine

18. Self-immolation by fire rituals

20. Chain bar with lots of games (abbr.)

21. Goo Goo Dolls’ hit

22. Agreeable

25. In an early way

30. In a way, struck

31. It’s there in the morning

32. County in the S. Pacific

33. Central Florida city

38. Numbers cruncher

41. Mexican beers

43. Lawyers say you can indict one

45. Capital of South Australia

47. Wings

49. Drug used to

treat HIV/AIDS

50. Fencing sword

55. Capital of Qatar

56. Portable bed

57. Afflicted

59. Lying down

60. Midway between northeast and east

61. Spiritual leader of a Jewish congregation

62. Inflamed

63. Soviet Socialist Republic

64. Impudence

CLUES DOWN

1. A way to fish

2. Greek mythological figure

3. Scarlett’s home

4. Assist

5. More doleful

6. Premeditated

7. Dish featuring minced food

8. San Diego ballplayer

9. Eight

10. Unwelcome picnic guests

12. Human gene

14. Bucket

19. Make full

23. Dirt

24. Person cited as

ideal example

25. A part of (abbr.)

26. The 17th letter of the Greek alphabet

27. Very long period of time

28. Gas usage measurement

29. North American native people

34. It says “moo”

35. Folk singer Di Franco

36. Resinlike substance of certain insects

37. Residue

39. Grand homes

40. Popinjays

41. Man who behaves dishonorably

42. Figures

44. One who watches over children

45. Expressed pleasure

46. No longer living

47. Hebrew calendar month

48. Part of the ear

51. Swiss river

52. Prejudice

53. Italian Island

54. Resist authority (slang)

58. Criticize

South Carleton storms back to beat Titans as high school sports underway

The South Carleton Storm senior girls basketball team opened their National Capital Secondary School Athletic Association season with a win, as they beat the visiting St. Mother Teresa Titans 44-37 at the South Carleton gym.

The Storm took an early lead and were ahead 12-3 at the end of the first

quarter.

Trailing 14-6 midway through the second quarter, the Titans went on a run and scored 14 straight points, as Maeve McSwiggan hit a couple of threes and scored 10 points in the frame. South Carleton was held to just one early basket by Corinne Yantzi in the quarter.

In the third quarter, the Storm turned on the offense.

Samantha Hemeon and Ava Pelton both hit three pointers, while Chelsea Hemon led the Storm fast break offense.

In the fourth, Chelsea Hemon and Jane Case hit three pointers, and the Storm defense tightened up as they won by seven points.

Chelsea Hemon had 12 points for South Carleton with Samantha Hemeon adding 11 and Corinne Yantz scoring eight. Ava Pelton had five points, while Meghan Watt and Jane Case added three each.

Maeve McSwiggan scored 16 points for the Titans with Reegan Woods adding nine, Mary McAnany had six, and Sophie Levesque, Gabu Rivas and Ella Grant had two each.

In other senior girls basketball action Monday, Sept. 25, John Mc-

Crae beat Notre Dame 75-22. Other action in the first week saw Earl of March beat Longfields Davidson Heights 49-25, John McCrae beat Sacred Heart 61-23, St. Joseph beat Notre Dame 65-12, and St. Francis Xavier lost 57-20 to Sir Wilfrid Laurier.

St. Mother Teresa defenders Gabu Rivas and Mary McAnany pressure South Carleton’s Chelsea Henon.

John McCrae’s defence masks up to charge the shooter.

John McCrae opened up their girls field hockey season with a loss to Nepean.

sports continues on page 15

sports continues from page 14 Jags,

Titans start strong

On the football field,

coach Blaine Scatcherd and his St. Joseph Jaguars are off to a good start as they had no trouble beat-

ing a strong St. Patrick Irish team 54-0.

Andrew Currie’s St. Mother Teresa Titans also

won big in their NCSSAA opener, shutting out Immaculata 41-0.

The St. Francis Xavier Coyotes split their first two games, beating Holy Trinity 35-7 before falling 47-0 to St. Matthew.

Boys Soccer

The John McCrae Bulldogs squared off against the Longfields Davidson Heights Ravens twice to open the 2023 senior boys soccer season in the OFSAA division.

McCrae scored on a penalty to win the first game at LDHSS 2-1 on

Sept. 26. Two days later the teams met again at McCrae, and the Bulldogs hung on for a 1-0 win to sweep the homeand-home fixtures.

In other senior boys soccer openers, FrancoCite beat St. Francis Xavier 2-0 and Woodroffe and Pierre-Savard tied 2-2.

In junior boys soccer, St. Francis Xavier played two games in the opening week, beating John McCrae 4-1 and then shutting out Pierre-Savard 4-0.

Pierre-Savard also

played twice, as they beat St. Mother Teresa 2-0. In the other season opener, St. Joseph beat Longfields Davidson Heights 4-1.

Girls Field Hockey

John McCrae is off to a slow start, as they dropped all three games they played in the first two weeks of the season. The Bulldogs lost 5-0 to Nepean, 3-0 to Earl of March and 7-0 to Merivale. St. Mother Teresa opened their season with a 5-0 win over Glebe.

The John McCrae Bulldogs (white) earned two close wins against Longfields Davidson Heights as the senior boys soccer season is underway.

Five OSU players suit up for Canada’s U17 women’s soccer team

Five girls from the Ottawa South United soccer program joined the Canadian national U17 women’s team for the CONCACAF (The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) qualifying tournament last month.

Annabelle and Isabelle Chukwu, Bianca Hanisch, Reese Kay and Mya Angus were all part of the Canadian team that dominated its group at the tournament.

The Canadian team began its journey in the Dominican Republic for the 2023 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Qualifiers on Sat., Aug. 26. The 2023 Women’s Under-17 Championship qualifying competition was played in four different countries with six different groups in the qualification competition. Canada coach Emma Humphries selected a group of 21 players to face group F opponents Dominica, Guyana and Bermuda.

The Canadian team opened up with a 9-0 win over Bermuda. That was followed by a lopsided 21-0 win over the Dominican Re-

public. Guyana pulled out of the tournament, citing funding difficulties to travel to the tournament to compete.

“I am really looking forward to getting this group together,” said Emma Humphries, Canada Soccer’s Women’s U-17 National Team Head Coach before the tournament. “This will be our first camp and the start of this next FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup cycle. It is a great opportunity to assess the player pool across the country and also gain valuable experience in a World Cup qualification tournament.”

The six group winners advance to the 2024 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship, joining Mexico and the United States, who have been seeded directly into the Championship’s group stage. Mexico is ranked first in CONCACAF with the United States second. Canada is ranked third in CONCACAF for women’s U17 soccer.

Canada are Olympic champions (Tokyo 2020), two-time bronze medal winners (2012 and 2016),

and two-time CONCACAF champions (1998 and 2010). In all, Canada have participated in eight consecutive editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup (1995 to 2023) and four consecutive editions of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament (2008 to 2021). At

For more information please visit www mmfoodmarketfranchise com

Tokyo 2020, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team became the first Canadian team to win three consecutive medals at the Summer Olympic Games and just the third nation in the world to win three medals in women’s soccer.

Canada Soccer’s

Women’s National Youth Teams, meanwhile, have won four CONCACAF youth titles: the 2004 and 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship, the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship, and the 2014 CONCACAF

Girls’ Under-15 Championship. Canada have qualified for eight editions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (including a silver medal at Canada 2002) and all seven editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup (including a fourth-place finish at Uruguay 2018).

Ottawa South United was well-represented as the Canadian women’s U17 team competed in the CONCACAF U17 qualifying tournament.