Barrhaven Independent September 15, 2023

Members of the media look on by the Fallowfield Station as workers examine the wreckage of a derailed Via train and an OC Transpo bus that just hours earlier had collided in Barrhaven on Sept. 18, 2013. Five passengers and the driver were killed, while more than 30 were injured in what is widely considered the biggest tragedy in Barrhaven history. For the full story, see page 12.

A great end to a great summer in the Carleton riding

It was a great way to end summer in the Carleton riding.

The Capital Fair took place on the grounds at Rideau Carleton Casino Future Hard Rock, and this year’s event was perhaps the biggest and best ever. The Capital Fair is always a great way to kick off the fair season. We hope to see you make the trek to Richmond to visit the Richmond Fair this weekend.

On Friday, August 27, the annual Ottawa Carleton Plowmen’s Association Plowing Match got underway with their VIP plowing match.

My staff told me that it took actress Susan Lucci 19 years before she finally won a daytime Emmy Award for portraying Erica Kane on All My Children, so I should be very proud

that it only took me six years to finally win the VIP plowing match this year!

The plowing match is a great event to bring rural Ottawa together for an event that supports three local scholarships. In addition to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and several city councillors, including David Hill of Barrhaven West, David Brown of Rideau-Jock and George Darouze of Osgoode, it was also nice to spend time with the Ottawa Carleton Queen of the Furrow Rhiannah Gallagher, who has promoted agriculture in the Carleton riding and has worked with vari-

ous 4-H clubs.

It was also good to see Dr. Bill Tupper, our former Carleton MP, and listen to him talk about the history of the plowing match and what it means to the community. Bill and Georgie Tupper are incredible to talk to as their historical knowledge of the former Rideau Township and rural Carleton is incredible.

While I was feeling good about winning the plowing match, I was knocked off my high horse – or tractor… or kart – on Sunday morning at the annual Allan Haan Soap Box Derby. After a day and a half of chirping at Councillor Brown for beating him in the plowing match, he dusted me in our annual race to kick off the soap box derby.

Of all the amazing events in Carleton, I think

the soap box derby is my favourite. MVCA President Irene Staron and her team do an amazing job putting this event together, which happens in the morning and wraps up in time for the MVCA Family BBQ Day Centennial Park.

There are several families from Riverside South who take part in the soap box derby and enjoy the BBQ each year, as this has truly become a regional event.

Ontario Preparing Students for Success

The Ontario government is providing new student supports and updating curriculum for the 2023-24 school year. These actions will refocus school boards on the development of foundational skills in reading, writing and math, sup-

ported by almost $700 million more in base education funding, $109 million in a new strategy to boost literacy rates, and the hiring of 2,000 more educators.

Beginning this September, all publicly funded school boards will be required to adopt provincial student achievement priorities and metrics to:

- Help students improve EQAO scores in reading, writing and math;

- Prepare students for future success to raise graduation rates, encourage more students to participate in job skills programs and take senior math and science courses; and

- Improve student engagement and awareness of mental health supports.

To further support students facing challenges with math, Ontario is in-

vesting over $71 million to launch the Math Action Achievement Plan, a strategy to boost math competence in the classroom and improve board accountability. This includes:

- One lead per school board with the focus of helping improve math outcomes for students. These leads will be responsible for curriculum implementation and standardized training and lead board-wide actions to meet targets.

- More than 300 math coaches will provide direct support in classrooms.

- New Math Action Teams will work directly with school boards to identify and recommend targeted strategies to improve student achievement.

Goldie continues on page 3

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To ensure students have the skills they need to compete and succeed, the province is investing more than $100 million to hire over 940 educators to support students from Grades 7 to 10 transition to high school. Ontario also intends to fund $1 million per

International Dyslexia Association – Ontario, evidencebased systematic and explicit instruction resources and learning supports that are now ready for use.

- Reading Screener and Supports: The province’s $109 million 2023-24 investment

manage their money, protect themselves from financial scams, and plan for long-term purchases such as buying a house or car with new modules.

- Mental Health Modules: The Ontario government has partnered with School Mental

to focus on improving student outcomes by providing them with the skills and tools they need to succeed, particularly in key areas like reading, writing and math.

Quick Facts

- Student mental health funding in schools is increasing to a historic $114 million in 2023-24, representing an increase of 555 per cent since

- In April 2023, the Ontario government introduced a new $180-million reading and math strategy to help students

build the skills they need to succeed.

- As announced in the budget, the government will provide $6.8 million over three years to support practical, hands-on experiences for students to further their financial literacy learning and growth.

- The Ontario government also announced an accelerated apprenticeship pathway, starting in Grade 11 that will help prepare students to access rewarding careers in the

skilled trades. Consultations will begin in Fall 2023.

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.

The Vacant Unit Tax: Guilty until proven innocent!

By Wilson lo, Barrhaven east CounCillor

At the Council meeting in August, I was part of a group of Councillors who attempted to repeal the Vacant Unit Tax (VUT). Though we were unsuccessful, I remain opposed to the measure.

To preface, I don’t buy into the argument the declarations are unfairly burdensome or difficult to complete. My only property is my own house, and I filled out my declaration in 30 seconds or so. There were anecdotal arguments about seniors falling through the gaps of the process and unfairly punished, but seniors had the highest rates of completed declarations in the city.

The declaration process could not have been any simpler, and I do agree that the inflated numbers from the first year of declarations could be anomalous as residents continue learning about and accepting the initiative.

The appeals process also protects homeowners from

East Barrhaven Ward Report Wilson Lo,

wrongful charges, such as if they are clearing out a deceased loved one’s home, on deployment, or renovating between tenants.

Where I don’t agree with the VUT is its efficacy and how the city collects the information.

Barrhaven East is over 90 per cent single family homes, with the remaining homes in condominiums. The types of vacancy targeted by the VUT are exceptionally low in the ward. Even if the VUT targeted these properties, I’m not sure putting a 700,000$+ home on the market qualifies as adding to the affordable housing stock — if the homeowner decided to rent it out, I’m not sure anyone would consider it as affordable, either.

I’m also generally against the reverse onus method of information collection. In principle, the city is presuming everybody is committing the offence of keeping a property vacant unless the homeowner opts out.

Interestingly, the VUT has generated cool administrative data for the city, but the purpose of the VUT is to tax vacant properties. There may be no easier way of collecting that information right now, but until it becomes less intrusive, more refined, and better focused, I can’t support the presumption of guilt unless proven innocent (plus audit).

That also goes without mentioning the staff and administrative requirement of running the VUT programme.

Affordable housing, including deeply affordable and supportive units, absolutely needs better funding to ensure every resident can choose both the roof over their heads and to feed them-

selves and their families. However, income taxes are supposed to fund that redistribution of income.

It’s rich to place responsibility on another level of government, but there have been no updates to the fiscal framework under which mu-

nicipalities operate for over one hundred years. I would love for the city to fund and manage housing since we know our own communities best, but the fiscal framework must allow for that to happen (same for other social services).

Hopefully, opportunities to discuss the VUT will come up again in future years of this term of Council. We can’t always tax our way out of issues. We need to address the conditions that created the need for the VUT in the first place.

Light Rail Sub-Committee hears about construction progress on O-Train extensions

The City’s Light Rail Sub-Committee has received a detailed presentation on construction activity and a schedule update for all three O-Train extension projects – south, east and west.

In the south, work is progressing well at the Albion Yard Maintenance and Storage Facility and on multiple rail bridges and guideway sections. Station construction is well advanced, with wayfinding signage, fare gates and final touches being

installed at most stations.

Track installation is close to completion, and testing and commissioning has commenced. Critical activities, including further testing and commissioning, and training are being monitored prior to system handover, expected late in 2023.

In the east, work on track and systems is ongoing, and significant progress continues to be made in stations and on the Place d’Orléans and Trim pedestrian bridges. By the end of the year, preparation

will begin for vehicle testing on the extension.

In the west, progress continues at Corkstown Yard Light Maintenance and Storage Facility and station construction is now underway on all stations. The Queensview pedestrian bridge structure was successfully installed in July. Excavation in the Byron Linear Park is also ongoing, and cut-and-cover tunnel construction is progressing with ongoing concrete pours for the tunnel structure.

Hearing Loss or Selective Hearing?

There is only one way to find out…. undergo a hearing assessment!

All joking aside, a hearing assessment is an invaluable part of your overall health review. Much like eyes and teeth, ears should also be looked at regularly. This is particularly important now that studies have shown links between untreated hearing loss and memory, cognition, falls, social engagement, annual earnings, and depression, not to mention its impact on your relationships. There is no doubt you will want to be proactive with even the slightest hearing loss!

Hearing is surprisingly complex and individualized and so finding that right solution is not as simple a process as one might think. What works for one may not necessarily work for another. The good news is that there are many manufacturers allowing for a great variety of solutions to meet the multitude of unique hearing needs. The key to finding your needle in the haystack is to consult an Audiologist in an independent clinic where all brands are offered.

Only then is a truly customized solution possible. Offering just that is Hearing Freedom, a locally owned and operated clinic. Their grass-roots approach is unfortunately rare in today’s retail settings, larger clinics and manufacturer owned chains.

The unique and refreshing approach that sets Hearing Freedom apart from other providers was established over 20 years ago by Rosanne McNamee, Doctor of Audiology. After seeking employment, she was disheartened by interviews that had nothing to do with her knowledge and skills, but rather focused on the requirement to hit certain sales targets, to cut assessments short for efficiency and to limit prescriptions to one or two “preferred Manufacturers” for greater profit margins.

“That was not my idea of proper hearing health care,” says McNamee. “Each and every individual deserves what is best for them and their unique needs. The assessment must be thorough because it is the basis for everything else. In addition, there

must be consideration for everything available in the market or you risk missing out on the ideal solution.” And so, she decided to set up her own business, doing it her way and putting patients first.

At Hearing Freedom, the patient is an active part of the whole process and there is no predetermined product or plan. Each and every patient’s intervention plan is truly as unique as they are. The experience begins with a 90-minute hearing assessment which is followed by a detailed needs assessment. Then, keeping both the assessment outcomes and the unique individual needs in mind, the Audiologist will take the time to research the market, considering ALL makes and models, so as to select the right product for that specific patient. This is followed by a 90day trial period. This extensive trial gives patients the confidence that they have the right solution for them, their lifestyle, and their unique hearing needs.

In addition, there are no Hearing Instrument Practitioners or Hearing Instrument Specialists

at Hearing Freedom. Patients are rather seen by experienced bilingual Audiologists, University trained clinicians qualified to service both children and adults, whether they are private pay or third party supported (WCB, VAC, etc.).

“Not only is hearing complex, so are today’s hearing aids,” McNamee explains. “And manufacturers differ in what they offer. Dealing with the most qualified health care professional, in the most independent setting, is crucial to successfully addressing hearing loss.” At Hearing Freedom you can be certain that you have chosen the best place to trust with your hearing needs.

So, if you believe in your right to the best, fullest and most customized service available, make sure you book your appointment with Hearing Freedom. You’ll never regret your short drive to Manotick.

Parking is free. Home visits & Remote Care is available. Location is wheelchair friendly. For more information visit www.HearingFreedom.com

Councillor

It’s time to think about Barrhaven’s priorities for 2024 city budget

By DaviD Hill BarrHaven West CounCillor

This month city council will be starting the process of discussing the 2024 budget. I want to highlight some of my initial requests for this budget both to be transparent about my intentions and to solicit your feedback.

The city has provided a budget direction proposal to the Finance and Corporate Services committee which puts affordability for residents at the fore. The proposal holds the property tax at a 2.5% year over year increase, which when coupled with the assessed revenue growth of 1.5% sees a city budget growth of 4% - which is reasonable in an environment where inflation has

David Hill, Councillor , Ward 3

hovered at about 3.5%.

The mayor has been clear, both in recent statements and in his election campaign that he sees affordability as the centre of the budget making process, and I agree. We need to ensure that there are balanced investments in our core services – snow removal, road work, police, recreation, transit and infrastructure. I want to see us investing in an Ottawa that is set up for prosperity and that incentivizes our local businesses to flourish, and for larger businesses to see Ottawa

as a friendly city to invest. As Ottawa grows into the future, we need to set the conditions for good paying jobs – especially in the Barrhaven area! – in order to improve our quality of life here in the suburbs.

I have advocated with planners, the city treasurer, city manager and our mayor, that Half Moon Bay requires commercial investment, because at present it is a retail desert. We have been successful in receiving several applications over the past months that would necessitate infrastructure investments at Cambrian Road and the intersection of the realigned Greenbank Road. Therefore, I have requested that the initial phase of the Greenbank Realignment be anchored on this intersection

and that as resources become available, we build the spur lines North and South until Greenbank is realigned. It all starts with that intersection, and I will be advocating hard that it be a stand-alone line item in the 2024 Budget. Furthermore, my office has been engaged with all stakeholders in the advancement of a civic centre for Barrhaven which will form the nucleus of our future downtown. My discussions with city staff have been focused on ensuring the translation of the scope of work into a preliminary design creates a much needed public community space – both indoor and outdoor. I envision the land acquisition taking place in 2024 with the detailed design happening concurrently.

From a safety perspective, I have requested funding to implement a functional design for a pedestrian crossing in the vicinity of the Barrhaven United Church on Jockvale Road. This is a complicated site due to the proximity to the at-grade rail crossing, however, traffic safety engineers have committed to presenting me a functional design this winter. On the topic of traffic safety, I have exhausted all of my traffic calming resources for this year, with the majority of investment being in Half Moon Bay. I will continue this trend in 2024 with a focus on old Barrhaven and a few select sites in Stonebridge. You will also see an increase in the number of community safety zones and with that, speed enforcement radar,

especially near schools. These budget requests are reasonable and will be impactful for our community, they are also keeping us within our means. Grandiose programming comes with a cost, and this is something that working folks and fixed income seniors cannot afford. I am currently paying a variable rate mortgage so I can attest to the impacts of inflation and rising interest rates on families. It’s painful. The last thing you need is your city adding to that pain.

As always, if you have any questions, comments or thoughts on the upcoming budget process, or on any other municipal issue, please reach out to my office at david.hill@ottawa. ca or give us a call at 613580-2473.

Ottawa’s Third Annual Hot Sauce Expo takes place Sept. 16

Capital City Heating and Cooling confirmed today that on September 16, 2023 they are the main sponsor for Ottawa’s Third Annual Hot Sauce Expo, Heating up the Capital 2023.

Haico Krijgsman of Barrhaven says “This event showcases some of the many great small batch Canadian hot sauces and their makers. This year we are moving to the EY Centre and indoors to make it available and accessible to a bigger crowd. We have everything in place to make this event another great

success. Both the makers and hot sauce lovers are excited for Ottawa’s third annual Hot Sauce Expo! There will also be food trucks, a cash bar and Jalapeno beer! “

Massine’s Capital Punishment Stage will be home of the entertainment and spicy food eating challenges open to everyone during this event. The winners of the YOW! Awards will be announced including the King of Sauces. Who will be the best sauce in Canada?

The highlight of the

Expo will be the extreme pepper eating challenge. The winner will be taking home the “Extreme Chili Alliance Championship Belt” and a $250 cash prize. Competitors for this

event are coming from all over Canada and the United States.

More information and advance tickets are available at www.HeatinguptheCapital.com.

Local hot sauce maker Haico Krijgsman is moving the Heating up the Capital Hot Sauce Expo from South Mountain to the EY Centre near the Ottawa International Airport.

Is Governor General Mary Simon worth the $2.7

million price tag?

TROY MEDIA VIEWPOINT – Mary Simon broke barriers when she became Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General in 2021. Fast-forward a year, and she’s breaking the bank – $2.7 million in travel expenses, to be exact, and that’s with the meter still ticking, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF). While Simon is a champion for Indigenous rights and Arctic conservation, does her eyewatering travel budget reflect an equal value to the Canadian public?

Simon’s 2022 globetrotting escapades were nothing short of lavish. Five international jaunts and myriad domestic voyages, and she’s hardly ever alone. Her husband, aides, and an entire entourage typically accompany her, inflating the bills even further. Case in point: a Middle Eastern tour last March saw in-flight meals alone costing close to $100,000.

CTF Federal Director Franco Terrazzano puts it bluntly, “While Canadians are tightening their belts, especially during a pandemic, Simon’s exorbitant expenses are tone-deaf at best.”

It’s not just the flights; the accommodations have been sumptuous, to say the least. Imagine checking into the Ritz-Carlton in Berlin or the iconic Great Scotland Yard in London.

But let’s provide some context. Simon isn’t the first Governor General to lean into luxury. Her predecessors, including Julie Payette and David Johnston, racked up nearly $3 million and at least $2 million in international travel, respectively. Governors-general Adrienne Clarkson and Michaëlle Jean each spent over $8.9 million during their tenures.

Yet the question remains: What are Canadian taxpayers getting in return? “Rideau Hall has been spending far too much for far too long. It’s time for fiscal restraint,” Terrazano says.

The timing for this indulgence could hardly be worse. The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General already enjoys a federal funding cushion of $33 million. Add to that Simon’s salary, recently hiked to $351,600, an increase of $48,800 since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. All these numbers loom large, especially as Canada grapples with a shaky post-pandemic economic recovery and rising living costs.

Simon’s appointment brought promise and optimism, as she was touted to be a bridge-builder between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. The question is, can these noble goals and cultural diplomacy be quantified against a backdrop of such high spending? As important as the Governor General’s role might be in ceremonial and constitutional contexts, the financial aspect is increasingly difficult to justify for the average Canadian taxpayer.

In a time when Canadians are feeling the financial pinch more than ever, Simon’s high-flying expenditures are not merely a point of discussion; they’ve become a symbol of broader questions about fiscal responsibility and value for money in public service. Is Mary Simon’s Governor Generalship worth the opulent price tag?

That’s the $2.7 million question now facing Canada.

| Troy Media

BARRHAVEN

5567 Manotick Main St., P.O. Box 567, Manotick, Ontario K4M 1A5

News and Editorial: manotickmessenger@gmail.com

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.

Some people have anger issues.

I don’t, but I certainly have a really bad case of sarcasm issues.

And nothing brings out venomous sarcasm more than a door-to-door salesman. The most annoying ones are the water heater people, who try to barge into your basement to check your water heater to see if you need an upgrade. Really? Or how about kids knocking on doors claiming they are collecting for Unicef. “Really? Is this for the Unicef ‘Get Lick ‘M Aid and Starburst at Bulk Barn Fund?’ that I have been hearing all about?”

the cookies that star in the annual fall campaign.

from the other side

Through the years, Girl Guide Cookies have become an underlooked staple in Canadian culture. They are as Canadian as Don Cherry’s suit jackets, or walking past the guy sitting in his old Ford Bronco and having a DuMaurier chased by a double-double from Timmy’s before going into the rink, or singing along to Alanis Morissette while driving and wondering who the little ball of hate wrote “You Oughtta Know” about.

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.

Every now and then, however, the doorbell rings and I have to pry myself away from the football game on the big screen and peel myself off of the couch and go and answer the door. I rolodex my sarcasm as I approach the door. I open the door. And, suddenly, I’m defeated. I melt like a Dairy Queen cone dripping down your wrist on a hot, sunny day. The Girl Guide at my doorstep, armed with a case of cookies, might get a word or two out. “Would you…” “YES!!! I’ll go get my wallet!” I panic. Where is it? “Don’t move,” I plea. “I’ll be right back. Seriously. Don’t go anywhere.” I Dick Van Dyke over the ottoman and face plant onto the hardwood floor, but I see it. I serpentine over to the table and grab it. The little piece of blue peaking over the top is my ticket to chocolaty goodness.

I obviously intend to share the cookies with everyone. Ten minutes later, the box is empty, I have crumbs all over my face and my hoodie, and I am strategically trying to place the empty box in the garbage so that the evidence is hidden and I don’t get in trouble for not sharing them. As stuffed full as I am, I wonder if the little girl is going to come back for a second round. If I was the Tawny Owl or whatever the Girl Guide leaders and purveyors of chocolate adroitness are called, I would totally have the girls do a curtain call at the houses that bought them. “Um, hello sir, I have a few boxes left. Would you like more?”

They would raise enough money on people like me to say ‘Screw the camping trip this year, we’re going to Dubai.’

Girl Guide Cookies were first sold in 1927 when a leader in Regina baked a batch of cookies as a fundraiser. It was so successful that, by 1929, they were selling Girl Guide Cookies across Canada as the official fundraiser of the organization. The flavours have changed through the years. The classic vanilla and chocolate cookies first appeared in 1953. They are still available during the spring drive. In 1995, the chocolaty mint cookies made their debut. They are

In 1991, during the Gulf War, every Canadian soldier was given a box of Girl Guide Cookies upon arriving in Saudi Arabia. I’m pretty sure that 10 minutes later, there were none left in the entire Middle East, and every Canadian soldier had a big, lethargic belly.

In 1992, Canadian astronaut Roberta Bodnar, a former Girl Guide, juggled Girl Guide Cookies in space.

Girl Guide Cookies have also kept up with the times, meaning that the Marketing Owl has done a tremendous job. Since 2003, all classic chocolate and vanilla, and chocolaty mint cookies, have been produced in a peanut-free bakery.

In 2009, the trans-fat in the chocolaty mint Girl Guide Cookies was reduced by 90 per cent. Oh, really? I’ll have five boxes, please. The following year, the classic chocolate and vanilla cookies were introduced with zero grams of trans fat.

Marketing Owl, I’m sure that’s what they call her, also introduced a seller-initiative program, rewarding Girl Guides for being “Cookie All-Stars.” If I were a Girl Guide’s Dad, that would be one banquet I would be sure not to miss. There would be salad with chocolaty mint dressing followed by vanilla cream lasagna and Girl Guide Cookie cheesecake for dessert.

Girl Guide cookies have had their own Twitter account for the past few years. The classic chocolate and vanilla cookies are certified as Kosher. I’m pretty sure there was something in Leviticus Chapter 11 in the Old Testament that mandated that if you were gong to have a Girl Guide cookie, you had to eat the entire box.

Or maybe I just dreamed that. Probably the latter. Best dream ever.

So, for the next couple of weeks, I’ll just be standing by the front door, with my wallet in my hand, acting all Linuswaiting-for-the-Great-Pumpkin.

And note to other vendors, during Girl Guide Cookie Days, I’m clearly not in the mood to have anyone ask me about my water heater.

They’re here! Quick! I need my wallet!

How can we take comments made in last issue seriously?

The Editor, I have to confess that I was genuinely shocked by what I read on the editorial page of the last edition of the Barrhaven Independent. Buried in the latest polemic from the extreme right-wing Frontier Centre for Public Policy (yet another pro-Tory advocacy group masquerading as a “think tank”) was a reference to the opinion of one Tom Flanagan, the former long-time advisor to Stephen Harper and retired Political Science professor at the University of Calgary. For those who may have forgotten, Flanagan fell out of favour way back in 2013, when a statement he had made in 2009 came back to haunt him. At that time, he had famously argued that aficionados of child pornography shouldn’t face jail time, stating, “what’s wrong with

child pornography, in the sense that they’re just pictures”?

Given the opportunity to walk back that comment, Flanagan doubled down, further stating that, “I do have some grave doubts about putting people in jail because of their taste in pictures.” Apparently lost on the neocon nitwit was the fact that in order for the “pictures” to even exist, some child, somewhere has to have been subjected to soul-destroying abuse. Looking at these kinds of “pictures” is hardly a victimless crime.

The entirely predictable response was immediate, as his many former chums in Canada’s various conservative parties turned on him like rabid dogs, such as then Prime Minister Harper’s director of communications, who described Flanagan’s comments as “re-

pugnant, ignorant, and appalling,” as well as current Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who said in 2013 that, “there is no language strong enough to condemn [his] comments”. Flanagan was also dumped by the CBC’s Power and Politics, where he had for many years functioned as their go-to, proTory pundit.

I would have thought Flanagan’s career would have been well and truly relegated to the scrap heap of history and that we’d heard the last from him, and then his name pops up in a Barrhaven Independent editorial by a right-wing libertarian advocacy group. It would appear that Canada’s extreme right feels that sufficient time has passed and now might be the appropriate time to bring Flanagan back into the fold, but I, for one, am not so sure. Like

most Canadians, I do believe in freedom of speech, but I think

we have to draw the line at defenders of those who indulge in Kiddie porn.

Andy Braid

Abbotsford Community Centre, which offers programs, fitness classes and social activities for Ottawa seniors, staged a reception on August 23rd. The purpose of this event was a kick-off to Mystic Carnivale ticket sales. This fundraiser gala will feature circus performances, tarot card reading, a multi-course dinner and dancing in support of Abbotsford. Sponsors pictured here (left to right) are Branker Xavier and Marianka Berlin from Chartwell Lord Lansdowne, Jennifer Burns from David Burns & Associates, Heather Lafleur from Jack Uppal (Real Estate) Team in Barhaven and Bernie Brady from Carmichael Engineering. Hamming it up the middle is Bruce Hill from Abbotsford! Other companies pledging their support include City Locksmith, Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, McCay Duff LLP, McKeen Metro Glebe, Stinson Fuels and Wholehealth Compounding Pharmacy. Tickets are available at glebecentre.ca

Local man honoured with Algonquin College Changing Lives Award

F rom Algonquin College

Opportunity changes everything.

It is the motto BGC Ottawa (formerly the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa) operates under and its chief executive officer, Adam Joiner, lives by.

“Every child will face challenges and adversities in their life,” said the graduate of Algonquin College’s Social Service Worker program. “We should strive to understand their lived experience while focusing on how you can bridge that and provide opportunities.”

After multiple leadership roles at the Club, Joiner became the CEO in May 2020. Managing a large, complex service organization and navigating positive change in a pandemic, has been a vital part of Joiner’s mandate as CEO. As a respected leader, he is known as a connector with a deep background in government relations and working collaboratively with multiple local partner agencies and stakeholders.

Joiner’s ongoing goal is to bring as many opportunities to children and youth in Ottawa as possible. He is often brought in as a consultant to assist in training/ facilitation in other likeminded organizations.

A painfully shy Joiner was nine years old the first time he walked into the Ottawa Police Youth Centre (later converted to the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa) on Prince of Wales Drive.

“I remember the first day I walked into that Centre, and I was there for about five minutes. People started coming in and I was scared, and I was shy, and I left. I went the next day and I stayed for five minutes and left. And then I went the next day and stayed for five minutes.”

Finally, someone came to him and said, ‘do you want to play ball hockey?’

In a barely audible voice, Joiner remembered mustering the courage to say, “yes”.

He stayed for 30 minutes, running home afterwards to tell his mother that he was so proud of himself.

It was a huge moment in his young life. He now had a place to go where he felt safe and started going every day.

“That building saved my life,” an emotional Joiner recalled.

Before moving to an apartment building near the youth centre, his family had moved dozens of times.

“It was challenging because I never had a social circle. I didn’t have friends. I didn’t feel safe at school due to abuse I experienced in the school system. I didn’t really have a social network. My family was important to me. They were the only people in my life. My mom was super sick. So, my dad was the only person who was working. He worked really hard to give us what we wanted. We just didn’t have the ability to do things. Frankly, I didn’t feel safe in terms of even having a conversation with someone. We were going through so much as a family.”

Joiner first envisioned a career in social work when he was 12 and working as a youth worker and the front desk at BGCO.

“I could see the impact the Club was having on me and those around me. I’m thankful for the Club seeing my maturing and trusting me to be a safe role model for other young people.”

That’s where it started. With a simple conversation he had with a manager at the Club.

“I was really struggling, and he told me about his own journey at Algonquin. He was a social services graduate. I did not want to go to school. I hated school. Not that I hated school, because I loved to learn, but I hated the feeling school gave me. I was nervous about going to college.”

Joiner came around to thinking “if he could do it,

I could do it.”

“He inspired me to take this path.”

But Joiner didn’t know how he was going to pay for school. Money was tight and he was working three jobs.

Two scholarships from the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa and the Boys and Girls Club of Canada helped pay for the tuition for both of his years at Algonquin College.

Even then, he struggled financially.

He would receive emergency bursaries from the college to help pay for books, to help pay for food at different times when his parents “just didn’t have the funds”, he said.

Algonquin College opened the door to the opportunities Joiner has today. To move into a fulltime role at the Club, his post-secondary diploma in a related field was required. The content of his course gave him a baseline understanding of the fundamentals of social service work, which allowed him to continue to develop the social emotional and hard skills needed to be successful in the field.

To now learn he is an Alumni of Distinction Award recipient and Premier’s Award nominee for Community Service, Joiner says being recognized as someone who is helping others in the community makes him very proud to be an alumnus of the college.

“It’s very important

to me. It’s important because I care deeply about the work that Algonquin College does by providing opportunities for the next generation of leaders. At one point I was one of those young adults looking to start to make an impact in our community and the College helped me gain the tools and knowledge to do so.

“I started my career with the hopes of helping a youth the way I was helped and to be recognized for this work is truly an honour.”

But it has never been about the awards for Joiner.

“It’s not my style,” he said. “But I care about the impact, and I care about making a difference and I care about what it does for other kids.”

Joiner has a laundry list of mentors, so many he was reluctant to name any one of them for fear of forgetting to mention one or two.

Off the top of his head, he can recall at least 40 BGCO staff members that made his life what it is today.

“All of them had an impact and changed who I am,” he said, pointing out that one of the managers of the Club took him in for a year when he was still pursuing his Social Work diploma so he could continue attending Algonquin College when his parents moved an hour and a half away to Quyon, Que.

When Joiner reflects back on the past 20 years that led him from the class-

rooms at Algonquin College to the helm of BGCO, he says it doesn’t happen without a core of support at home.

“There’s the Club and there’s my family,” he said, locking his fingers. “That kind of is how I work and that’s how I want our staff to feel.

“That’s one of the things that I wanted to bring into the culture was supporting the people that we love and recognizing that. In my current role with BGC Ottawa I can do that now for these staff and make them feel that they don’t have

to sacrifice everything they are to help someone. They can do that and help themselves and help their families and not feel regret about that because this is a very challenging workspace. Social work is really hard. One of the most challenging aspects is finding a work-life balance. The wellbeing of your family is as important as helping others. If you don’t take care of each other and you don’t take care of your family and you don’t recognize the impact they have, then you’re not going to be successful.”

As part of their Alumni of Distinction Awards, Algonquin College presented Adam Joiner with their Changing Lives Award.

Fideli in area to announce support for more innovation in cybersecurity

Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fideli was in Ottawa Monday, Aug. 28 to announce new cybersecurity measures that will bring new cybersecurity technologies to businesses across Canada and boost innovation.

The Ontario government is investing up to $5 million to help Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange (CCTX) launch the Ontario Cybersecurity Excellence Initiative that will help Ontario companies develop and adopt cybersecurity technologies that enhance data security and protect company assets from cyber threats and other advanced technologies. Developing and adopting critical technologies like cybersecurity will increase Ontario’s competitiveness around the world and create highly skilled jobs in the province’s growing tech sector.

The CCTX reports that

70 per cent of Canada’s small businesses have experienced a cyber attack, costing the businesses an average of $15,000 per incident.

“Ontario is one of the largest tech hubs in North America and critical technologies like cybersecurity fuel and drive madein-Ontario innovation as companies include new technologies in their products,” said Fedeli. “Our government is proud to support CCTX’s work to help businesses across the province develop and adopt new-generation cybersecurity technology so they can become more competitive, grow and create more good-paying jobs.”

CCTX, a not-for-profit, cyber-threat sharing hub and collaboration centre, will receive up to $5 million through the province’s Critical Technology Initiatives program to launch the

new Ontario Cybersecurity Excellence Initiative in partnership with Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, Toronto Metropolitan University’s national centre for training, innovation and collaboration in cybersecurity. The initiative will provide training and support to entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses developing and adopting cybersecurity solutions and will empower Ontario-based technology startups to solve key cybersecurity-related challenges.

Ottawa’s two Progressive Conservative MPPs, Goldie Ghamari (Carleton) and Lisa MacLeod (Nepean), both say the investment will help protect businesses across Ontario and Canada while growing the local tech sector

“Cybersecurity is an integral aspect of Ontario’s technology sector, which is why I’m thrilled to support

our government’s investment of $5 million towards the Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange, assisting Ontario companies develop cybersecurity technologies,” said Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod. “As part of the 2023 Ontario Budget, Ontario is providing an additional $1 million per year for three years to Invest Ottawa to expand into a Regional Innovation Centre hub for Eastern Ontario. With one of the largest information and communications technology sectors in North America, Ontario is home to over 400,000 ICT workers, and we are proud to contribute to this growing sector.”

“This investment of $5 million to support the Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange will not only strengthen the local economy with the creation of highly-skilled jobs, but it will also position Ottawa and Ontario as global lead-

ers in cybersecurity,” said Ghamari. “The Ontario government’s commitment to cybersecurity will be beneficial to all Canadians and their businesses while ensuring that Ontario’s entrepreneurs and innovators are rewarded for their efforts.”

The province’s $107 million Critical Technology Initiatives funding supports programs led by not-for-profit organizations to accelerate the use of critical technologies by Ontario companies and enable the development and adoption of innovative made-in-Ontario solutions. Critical technologies, such as 5G, ethical artificial intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity and robotics, will help Ontario companies increase productivity, open new revenue streams, create highly skilled jobs and enhance global competitiveness.

Ontario has one of the

largest information and communications technology (ICT) sectors in North America and is home to over 400,000 ICT workers. Ontario’s technology sector is centred around the Toronto, Waterloo and Ottawa regions.

Ontario has more than 340 small and mediumsized businesses focused on cybersecurity with notable clusters in the Ottawa region, Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo.

Cybersecurity is expected to contribute (US) $400 billion to the global economy by 2027.

As part of the 2023 Ontario Budget, Ontario is providing an additional $1 million per year for three years to Invest Ottawa to expand into a Regional Innovation Centre hub for Eastern Ontario and offer its extensive range of programs and services to help businesses launch, grow and succeed to the region.

Tim Higgins to be inducted into Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame

Nepean native and longtime Barrhaven resident Tim Higgins will be inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame.

On September 27 at Lansdowne’s Horticulture Building, the Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame is inducting five new members to its local sports shrine – Carol Anne Chenard (soccer), Murray Costello (hockey), Tim Higgins (hockey), Earle Morris (curling) and Jill Perry (boxing).

Tim Higgins became a junior star with the hometown Ottawa 67’s. Then he went on to play parts of 11 seasons in the NHL. Maybe some of his most productive days in life came in his post-hockey career and the years he spent as an addiction counsellor. He took many of the hard lessons he learned during his battles with addiction and helped many overcome their demons.

Tim played Peewee hockey for the Ottawa Junior 67’s, one

of Ontario’s top Peewee teams ever. The team played more than 100 games and never lost. Four members of that team went on to play in the NHL.

Junior hockey followed. Tim was an important player on some of the best junior teams Ottawa has ever seen. NHL scouts flocked to his games. In 1978 he was chosen tenth overall by the Chicago Black Hawks. That same year, at age 20, he made his NHL debut.

Tim Higgins played more than 700 games in the NHL and tallied more than 350 points. He was a solid, dependable two-way player. He remained in hockey for nearly two more decades as a scout and coach. For a time, he returned to the Ottawa 67’s as an assistant to the legendary Brian Kilrea.

Tim also spent many years as an addiction counsellor in Ottawa, where he returned after his hockey days ended. He

became an important ally for many people, including athletes and former athletes who battled addiction. He remains proud of the unsung work he has done away from hockey.

He is also proud of becoming part of Ottawa’s Sport Hall of Fame and being able to share the moment with his three daughters and seven grandchildren. “To have this opportunity means the world to me,” he says. “I’m proud to be from Ottawa and proud to be representing the city in our hall of fame.”

Tickets are available for purchase now at: www.ottawasporthall.ca. Event tickets are $125 per person or $1,200 for a table of 10, while premium tables go for $2,000 and additional sponsorship opportunities are available. For more details, see www.OttawaSportHall.ca

Tim Higgins 1981-82 O-Pee-Chee rookie card.

Barrhaven BIA partners with United Way of Eastern Ontario

The United Way of Eastern Ontario has asked the Barrhaven BIA to be their pilot community to launch 25 new tap-and-go donation button units. They are raising money for back-toschool supplies for youth living in vulnerable areas in the region. There is absolutely no cost to the businesses who participate, and they will come and do the very quick and simple setup at your cash/POS area. It is a small stand-alone unit (like the ones at Tim Hortons) that the client can tap. It is not connected to your cash system and the money goes directly to the United Way. It simply needs to be connected to your wifi. It looks like this- a little stand on the counter by the cash.

United Way partners with businesses for an agreedupon duration, during which they collect donations on behalf of United Way (UW) to support the community. Businesses deploy UW’s Tip Tap donation terminals. Tip Tap devices come in a range of fixed dollar amounts and require only that a donor tap their NFC enabled debit, credit, or phone to the pad.

No personal information is collected, and no card number changes hands. This is a 100% friction free giving experience.

The campaign is centered around back to school and will run in the Fall timeframe. Businesses can choose the duration of how long they would like to promote this program within their stores however,

UW has recommended 1-4 weeks tends to be the most effective.

Back to school often brings an air of excitement for kids as the upcoming year is full of possibilities: new friends to connect with, teachers and mentors to learn from, and clubs to explore their passions. However, for many across our region, the end of summer can bring stress and anxiety as school supplies can be a financial burden and strain on families.

If parents and caregivers don’t have the means to equip their kids with the tools they need to succeed in school, this can widen the academic gap and increase the risk of learning loss when remote learning is factored in.

This gap can widen as students enter the upper years of their education. High school students often require more specialized learning supplies like math sets or graphing calculators, and as a result, the list of back-to-school supplies becomes longer and more expensive.

By partnering in this program, Barrhaven businesses are supporting United Way in helping our most vulnerable kids be less vulnerable come time to return to school and that families have an opportunity to start the academic year strong.

To learn more about the local issues facing children in our communities, visit: https://www.unitedwayeo. ca/local-issues/graduation/

David Bagnell, Funeral Director with Capital Funeral Home & Cemetery on Prince of Wales Drive, presented a $2500 cheque to Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind in Manotick last week. Capital Funeral Home & Cemetery is a member of Arbor Memorial Services which has a charitable foundation under the name of the Arbor Memorial Foundation (AMF). “Each year all Arbor employees are asked to submit requests for many assorted charitable organizations in the communities we all live and work in, and this year I chose Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind,” stated Bagnell. “The AMF approved my request.”

September 18, 2013: The day that changed Barrhaven forever

The park at the northeast corner of the Fallowfield Park and Ride peacefully juxtaposes as both a beautiful tribute and a stark reminder.

Michael Bleakney. Connor Boyd. Kyle Nash. Karen Kryzewski. Rob Moore. Dave Woodard.

They are the six people who lost their lives Wed., Sept. 18, 2013 when their OC Transpo double decker Route 76 bus was struck by a Via Rail Train #51 at 8:48 a.m. The Toronto-bound train was coming into the Fallowfield Station. the OC Transpo bus, driven by David Woodard, had left the Fallowfield Transit Station and was travelling on the Transit Way toward the Nepean Sportsplex.

The crash took place where the Transitway crosses the VIA Rail tracks, just beside Woodroffe Ave. Witnesses described the sound the crash made, and the ground shaking. People throughout Barrhaven heard and felt the collision.

Just like any other day Wed., Sept. 18 seemed

like the most routine of days. The sun was splashing warmth on the faces of those who drive to the Fallowfield Station Park and Ride. They had their coffees, grabbed their morning papers, put their ear buds in and selected their playlists.

And then, in a matter of five seconds, one of the worst accidents the City of Ottawa has ever seen claimed six lives. Several hundred watched it, and several thousand heard it. The tragic and horrific sights and sounds have planted a memory of terror that will stay with those near the accident forever. No one in the community will ever forget that day.

And now, all we are left with is a question.

How could this terrible tragedy have happened?

On Wed., Sept. 18, OC Transpo driver Dave Woodard headed north on the transitway that runs alongside Woodroffe Ave. For a reason that we may never know the answer to, the 45-year-old driver crashed through the railway barriers and drove the double

decker Route 76 bus into an oncoming VIA Rail train. In the aftermath of the wreck, stories from those on the bus varied. Most said that, in the handful of seconds before the crash, there were screams. Some speculated the bus driver had a heart attack. Some said he was on the phone and distracted. Most weren’t even paying attention.

There are speculations and reasons as to what happened on that day. Was Woodard distracted? Was he blinded by the sun for a second or two? Did he take his eyes off the road to look at the monitor for a second or two? Maybe it was all of the above. Maybe it was none of the above. All we can do is speculate. Regardless of how it happened, Dave Woodard was killed in the accident. Also killed in the crash were Michael Bleakney, 57; Connor Boyd, 21; Kyle Nash, 21; Karen Krzyzewski, 53; and Rob More, 35. Another 37 passengers were injured. They were sent to the Queensway Carleton Hospital, the Ottawa Civic Hospital, or

the Montfort Hospital, depending on the types and severities of the injuries. While Woodroffe Avenue remained closed to traffic, an emergency centre was set up at the Nepean Sportsplex.

“My first gut instinct is maybe he had a heart attack, maybe next thing was

mechanical failure of the bus,” said Steve Woodard, the brother of the driver, in a CTV interview. “There’s no way he wasn’t paying attention or doing what he shouldn’t have been doing. Safety was his first priority.”

Woodard’s widow, Terry, made a plea to the public not to blame her husband for the horrific crash. She wanted OC Transpo to retire Route 76, which they did.

In the early afternoon, Nepean-Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod arrived from Queen’s Park. She was interrupted while giving a speech. Staff members at her office heard the crash and contacted her immediately. So did Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

“I had to get here as fast as I could,” she said as she fought back tears at the scene. “I can’t believe it.”

Gregory Mech, a passenger on the bus, spoke to reporters after the crash.

“From what I can tell the bus driver did not notice that these train tracks signal lights were on and the gates were down,” said Mech. “People screamed on the bus shortly before the crash because he was not stopping.”

The Transit Safety Board began their investigation almost immediately. Two days after the crash, they determined that the gates, lights and bells at the rail crossing were all in proper working order, having been activated 47 seconds before the collision. The barrier gates were fully horizontal 25 seconds prior to impact. According to the TSB, the train’s emergency brakes were applied two seconds before the collision. The train was travelling at 47 mph, well below the maximum allowable speed. Because of a City of Ottawa ban on train whistles, the train did not blow its whistle as it approached the intersection. However, the flashing lights, bells and barriers were all in working order.

“Going forward we commit to conducting a comprehensive and thorough investigation to try and explain what happened and why,” TSB investigator Rob Johnston told reporters at the time. “Only by doing that can we hope to prevent this kind of accident from happening again in Canada.”

september 18 continues on page 14

The front of the OC Transpo bus was severed off by the VIA train in the collision that killed six people. (Tr A n sp O r T s A f e T y b OA r d O f C A n A dA ph OTO )

dozens of workers were on site a little over an hour after the VIA rail train collided with an OC Transpo bus in barrhaven killing six people and leaving 30 injured. ( b A r rh AV e n Independen T f I l e ph OTO/Jeff M O r r I s )

A plaque for each of the victims is erected in a memorial park that includes “personal touches and tributes” at the Fallowfield park and ride.

september 18 continues from page 12

Saying good-bye

For many years, Barrhaven Councillor Jan Harder wrote her popular Let’s Talk Barrhaven column in the Barrhaven Independent. Her column in the Oct. 4, 2013 issue of the Barrhaven Independent started with an account of the funerals of the five passengers who died in the crash.

“This is a very sad time for the Barrhaven community, especially for the family, friends and neighbours of the victims of the September 18th bus accident. And yet every day I have witnessed courage, strength and compassion in many ways from many people. Last week we celebrated five the lives of five special Barrhaven resi-

dents. Each celebration was unique, special and told us so much about who Karen, Michael, Rob, Connor and Kyle were and how much they will be missed. Thank you to all who have reached out to these families and to our community.

“I want to ask you all to reach out and support all those who took that 76 bus on that morning. They too need our support and friendship. Yesterday, we gathered again to say goodbye to OC Transpo operator Dave Woodard. We are sharing the pain of his loss with his family and friends, and coworkers at OC Transpo as well.

“Thank you so much to our first responders, our

City leaders, who continue to support all of us as they can and as we need.”

The funerals took place on a Sunday afternoon at Cedarview Alliance Church in Barrhaven. What Harder didn’t say in her words is how much she emotionally involved herself with the families to help them get through the tragedy in any way she could. For all of the criticism she took over a quarter century or so in municipal politics, she saw every single resident of Barrhaven as family, and that’s how she treated everyone.

TSB Investigation

The TSB investigation focused on what may have happened to the bus and to

Woodard. The TSB examined the bus at its engineering lab to try and find some answers. OC Tranpso General Manager John Manconi said the bus had passed all of its safety inspections.

Ten days after the crash, TSB investigators returned to the scene to re-enact the crash. Their goal was to collect more information on what could have been factors leading up to the crash, such as the position of the sun at the exact time of the incident.

The investigation also showed that Woodard did not have any alcohol or drugs in his system. He was described by riders as a courteous and friendly driver. There had never been any issues with his abilities or health. It was reported after the crash that Woodard was a Type 2 Diabetic, but it did not affect his performance

or his day-to-day life. Some of the things examined were Woodard’s schedule and his work and rest patterns. It may never be known if he was distracted by a passenger or by something else.

The investigation too more than two years. The TSB concluded that Woodard had likely been distracted by a video console he was required to monitor while driving. The screen has four quadrants and allows drivers to view the stairwell, upper level, side doors and exterior of the double decker bus.

The TSB also concluded that Woodard was also likely distracted by passengers on the lower deck discussing the availability of seating on the upper deck just before the crash took place.

Investigator Robert Johnston said at the time that the crash could have happened to any driver.

Woodard’s family was happy with the conclusions and the TSB report. They said they hoped the finger pointing would stop. Woodard’s wife, Terry, who celebrated her birthday with her husband the night before the crash, posted a message on Facebook.

“I want to thank everyone for their nice comments and thoughts regarding this final report,” she wrote. “We all knew that Dave wasn’t in the wrong. So please let him rest in peace.”

Unfortunately, the finger pointing was not over. All five of the families had filed lawsuits against the City of Ottawa and Woodard’s estate. The city filed a third party claim against Via Rail. Via, in turn, sued the Woodard family estate.

The raw emotion outside Cedarview Alliance Church after the funeral for crash victim Kyle Nash exemplifies the pain that the families went through, and have had to endure for a decade while the community has moved on.

(B A r rh Av e N I N d epe N d e N T f I l e phoTo/M I K e C A r ro CC e T To )

h e avy machinery and police cars were on site around the clock until the disabled and damaged train and bus were removed from the scene.

(B A r rh Av e N I N d epe N d e N T f I l e phoTo /Jeff Morr I s

september 18 continues on page 15

september 18 continues from page 14

The Memorial

Retired Barrhaven Councillor Jan Harder always wore her heart on her sleeve. Some people loved her as a councillor, and some despised her. That’s the way that people are when it comes to politicians.

But you can always tell what kind of person someone is when their backs are against the wall or when there is a tragedy. Going though the aftermath of an event like the bus-train crash is not something that builds character. It is something that reveals character.

Jan Harder dedicated her professional life to the people of Barrhaven. She was at her shining best as a councillor and a person immediately after the crash and in the years that followed. She was there for the families both on behalf of the City of Ottawa and as a friend who cared. This tragedy hit her hard. Harder always set the tone for the community –a true leader. This was a time when she had to show a level of compassion that Barrhaven had never seen, and hopefully will never have to see again.

“You really have to go and

see the memorial at the park and ride,” she said in an interview in 2015. “We worked with each family to make sure that there was something special – something beyond words – for each of the victims.”

Harder was proud of that monument. It was something for the families and friends of the victims, and something for those who survived. For Harder, pouring herself into the creation of the monument seemed cathartic.

There are six areas of the park, one for each of the victims. In the middle is a black boulder with an inscription.

“This memorial honours the individuals whose lives were forever changed on September 18, 2013 and is dedicated to the timeless memory of the six individuals who lost their lives. One event ... many realities.”

A plaque for each of the six victims gives a heartfelt tribute to them. It focused on them as people, how much they were loved, and the thigs that they loved.

“It really is a beautiful tribute,” she said. “Everyone who worked on this did an incred-

ible job.”

10 years later

We see reminders of the crash all around Barrhaven, even when we do not realize it.

There is no longer a crossing at Greenbank Road, as now the four-lane road goes under the railway tracks. There is also no longer a crossing at Cedarview Road, as the road now goes over the railway tracks.

The TSB urged that all six crossings be turned into multilevel crossings. There are still more to come. One change that people want to see changed is the crossing at Jockvale Road. Two years ago, a person on a wheelchair was struck by a train and killed at that crossing after a wheel become stuck on the track.

The changes may take more than a decade to complete, and the cost to the city is astronomical. But some day, Woodroffe Ave. the Transitway, Fallowfield Rd and Jockvale Rd. will all have multi-level crossings.

Meanwhile at the Fallowfield Station, life got back to normal. Many people have

gotten on with their lives and commute every day on the buses. Many newcomers to Barrhaven are not even aware of the tragedy that happened 10 years ago. Others who are young adults were middle school or high school students at the time and may not have fully grasped or paid attention to what happened.

Don Stewart is retired now. He was sitting on a bench waiting for the train to Toronto last week when asked if he remembered the crash.

“I wasn’t here, but I certainly remember it,” he said. “I worked downtown and I used to get on the bus at about 7:15 in the morning. I was at my desk and someone came over at about 9 o’clock and they were kind of panicky and asked if I had heard what happened in Barrhaven. I didn’t know. For the rest of the morning, we all sat around listening to CFRA on the radio. We just sat there with these blank expressions on our faces. Nobody said a word. I got a ride back to Barrhaven from a coworker, and when we got to the park and ride at Fallowfield Station, there were still a lot of

The family of driver David Woodard erected a memorial for the other victims of the crash.

people around and it was very emotional. Even though we had been listening to accounts on the radio from the site of the crash, to actually go there and see the raw emotions everyone had was something I will never forget.”

It was one of those days

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where everyone in Barrhaven will know exactly where they were and who they were with when they heard the news, or when they heard and felt the impact of the crash. Nobody who lived in Barrhaven on September 18, 2013 will ever forget. #50012932