Manotick Messenger December 30, 2022

Awaits!

Allan Haan

is

the 2022

Manotick

Messenger Al Corace Person of the Year

By Manotick Messenger staff

If there is a common thread that exists in Manotick, it’s generosity.

Manotick residents have been generous with their willingness to support causes that impact the community. The community has been generous to donate to or support causes.

And it always seems that in the middle of every cause and campaign is one man.

“For the past couple of decades, the one person, above everyone, who has been a champion all of the activities and charitable campaigns in the community is Allan Haan,” said Messenger owner Jeffrey Morris. “We are pleased

to name Allan the 2022 Al Corace Manotick Messenger Person of the Year.”

The Manotick Messenger began naming a person of the year in 2005. Following the 2011 sudden passing of Manotick Kiwanis Club member and relentless community volunteer Al Corace, it was decided that the honour would carry his name forward.

Haan has been front and centre of a number of initiatives in Manotick over the past couple of decades. An active member of the Royal Canadian Legion South Carleton Branch 314 in Manotick, Haan assumed a leadership role in the rebuilding of Harmony Hall after the building housing the Legion and the local Cadets burned down

nearly 20 years ago.

“It seems that no matter what the project is or the need in the community is, Allan Haan is always there,” Morris said. “He is an incredibly generous person, his heart is always in the right place, and he thinks nothing of giving his time and expertise to seemingly any and every cause or project in the community.”

Haan was also a central figure in fundraising and organizing the orphanage that was built by Grace Aghostinho when she owned the French Café in the Manotick Mews. He was also front and centre in helping Watson’s Mill in its fundraising efforts for a new roof more than a decade ago.

Allan Haan was able to turn a simple idea for a soap box derby in Manotick into one of the most popular annual events in the village.

Make safety a priority as we celebrate during the holiday season

As we celebrate the holiday season with our families and loved ones, let’s all remember to make safety a top priority.

Regardless of where you are in Carleton, you will certainly be seeing the Ontario R.I.D.E. program in action as law enforcement officers across the province will be running roadside checks for impaired driving due to alcohol and/or drugs.

The R.I.D.E. program (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) is in its 45th year and has been a successful program in reducing and deterring drinking and driving.

If you are going out to celebrate for a social gathering or for New Year’s Eve, please do so responsibly and have a plan in place to ensure your own safety and the safety of others on the roads this holiday season.

All Ontarians Aged

Five And Over Eligible for Bivalent Booster

With the Health Canada approval of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine for five to 11 year-olds, all Ontarians aged five and over are eligible to book a bivalent booster dose starting December 21. All Ontarians are strongly encouraged to keep up to date with their flu and COVID-19 vaccinations to restore protection that may have decreased since a previous dose, which remains the best way for people to stay healthy this winter and prevent unnecessary visits to the hospital.

A COVID-19 bivalent booster targets the original COVID-19 virus and provides better protection against the other variants

currently circulating. Flu shots can also be safely given at the same time, or at any time before or after a COVID-19 vaccine for individuals aged six months and older. Find out more at ontario.ca/flu.

Appointments can be booked via the COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre (PVCC) at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY for people who are deaf, hearing-impaired or speechimpaired: 1-866-797-0007). Parents and caregivers can book for their child. Eligible individuals can also book an appointment directly through public health units that use their own booking systems, Indigenous-led vaccination clinics, participating health care providers and participating pharmacies.

To help keep everyone as healthy as possible this respiratory illness season, Ontarians should stay home

when they are feeling sick and practise good hand hygiene. It is also strongly recommended that Ontarians wear face masks in indoor public settings, or where it feels right for them.

Quick Facts

• Ontarians aged five and older and not at high-risk of severe COVID-19 illness are recommended to get a booster dose this respiratory illness season if it has been six months since their last dose.

• Ontarians at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness are recommended to get a booster dose this respiratory illness season if it has been three months since their last dose.

• Individuals can access Ontario’s antiviral screener tool to help determine if they are at higher risk and should be assessed for treatment. A positive rapid antigen test, PCR or rapid molecular test is required as part of the assessment for antiviral treat-

ment. Rapid antigen tests will remain available for pick up at no charge until June 30, 2023, from over 3,000 retail locations in the province. PCR tests are available at any provincial testing location to eligible groups.

• Pharmacists are able to prescribe Paxlovid to eligible individuals in-person or virtually (such as by telephone) at no cost. Eligible individuals should contact their local pharmacy to confirm if they prescribe Paxlovid and how to get a prescription for Paxlovid.

• Clinical assessment centres continue to be available to assess patients with cough, cold, flu and COVID-19 symptoms as well as to test, prescribe and dispense antivirals for COVID-19.

• Parents are reminded to also stick to the Ontario routine immunization schedule. If your child missed vaccinations or if you are unsure

about which vaccinations they have received, contact your health care provider or public health unit to get their vaccination schedule back on track.

If you have questions about vaccinating your child, book a confidential conversation with a registered nurse through the SickKids COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service at www.sickkids.ca/vaccineconsult or 1-888-304-6558 (appointments are available in multiple languages).

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

January: Woman driving on Rideau takes selfies from roof of sinking car

It was a busy evening on the water in Manotick on Jan. 16 after a yellow Subaru drove into the Rideau River.

A backyard video camera showed the yellow car racing down the ice in the middle of the river near Old Mill Way at around 4:30 p.m. The car was travelling at high speed, and children were playing hockey on a patch of ice near the shoreline.

The video was posted by Manotick resident Sacha Gera, who was stunned as he watched the incident unfold.

“My kids were playing hockey on the rink on the shoreline and my son was playing hockey and saw the car coming down,” he told the Manotick Messenger. “Our initial reaction was just shock. You don’t expect to have to worry about things like that on the river in the winter.”

Video taken from the shoreline then showed a

lone woman standing on the trunk of the car as it sank, before being pulled to safety by a blue kayak and rope, which was thrown into the freezing water by a neighbour. Nearby residents on the shoreline could be heard saying “she is going in.”

A photo shared on social media showed the woman taking selfies as she stood on her sinking car.

According to those who were on the scene, the woman, who has not been identified publicly, said she was “just having fun” and would “totally do it again.”

Gera says it’s her attitude towards the situation which aggravates him the most.

“Our width in terms of where we are on the river is maybe 250 to 300 feet across and the car came racing down the middle,” he said. “It could have easily skidded out of control and hit anybody who was out ice fishing or playing hockey — including my kids. Its reckless behaviour. Thank good-

ness nobody got hurt.”

The woman was left uninjured thanks to the quick action of local residents who risked their own lives to help. They went out onto the ice surface with a kayak to help rescue the unscathed woman.

The female driver declined medical attention on scene, according to Ottawa Paramedics.

Ottawa Police confirmed the female driver had been charged with one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

The incident has garnered world-wide attention, with CNN, Daily Mail, Sky News, and others talking about the bizarre occurrence of events. When Gera first posted the video, he didn’t expect it to reach far-fetching audiences.

“I did not think for a minute it would go viral,” he said. “It seems to have really picked up after landing on TikTok. I’ve had requests from media agencies right across the world.”

A woman who has not been identified by police takes selfies moments before Manotick residents risked their lives to save her. She drove down the frozen Rideau River at speeds estimated at 70 km per hour before hitting thin ice and sinking.

LyndA d o ug L AS photo

February: Poilievre supports truckers in protest against vax mandates

February was a hectic and dividing month after the freedom convoy protest turned into an occupation of downtown Ottawa.

When the convoy first rolled into town, Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre joined dozens of unmasked spectators on a local overpass to welcome the truckers to Ottawa. The onlookers waved flags and banners begging for support for the truckers.

“This is a rally for truckers, but it is also a rally for the 60 per cent of Canadians who say they worry they can’t afford food, for the 60-year-old businessman who spent his entire adult life building up an enterprise and watching it be wiped out,” Poilievre said in a video posted to Twitter.

“(It’s for) the depressed 14-year-old who has been locked out of school,” he added. “It’s for the families who can’t take it anymore, for the

families who want to stand up and speak for their freedoms.”

Poilievre then met with truckers again to offer coffee and donuts to the convoy.

On top of freedom, he’s also worried about the impact to Canada’s supply chain and keeping shelves at grocery stores stocked with products. Roughly 90 per cent of Canadian truckers are fully vaccinated.

The big rigs and other transport vehicles rolled their way into the capital starting on Jan. 28, to protest against federal vaccine mandates for truckers crossing the CanadaUS border.

The demonstration quickly grew to a protest including tens of thousands of people.

For days, truckers blared their horns at all hours of the night, staff at the Shepherds of Good Hope were harassed until they gave truckers free food, the Terry Fox monument down-

town was defaced with antimandate graffiti, and the war monument was defecated on.

Poilievre has called out the mainstream media for sharing only one side to the story, a line which is in tune with the demonstrators themselves. They would rather overlook the chaos of the week and instead share stories of truckers offering coffee to police officers, cleaning the Terry Fox monument after it was inappropriately used for their own agenda, and laying flowers at the tomb of the unknown soldier — all situations which did also happen.

Speaking outside of Parliament Hill at the beginning of the protests, Poilievre said a few bad apples shouldn’t tarnish the image of the movement as a whole. He again bashed the “Liberal media” for bias.

“You know what I think is interesting is when there

is a left-wing protest on Parliament Hill, you don’t see the media going through the names of every single person who attends to try and find

one person who they can disparage the whole group with,” he said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was in isola-

tion himself after contacting COVID-19, said he would not meet with protest organizers, a similar message coming from the federal NDP leader.

Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre poses for a photo with truckers on Parliament Hill during their protest last week. Pierre Poilievre Twi T T e r P H oTo

Road maintenance and repairs, snow removal among top rural priorities

By DaviD Brown, riDeau-Jock councillor

As we head into 2023, the city has begun its budget cycle to craft the 2023 city budget. This budget will aim to set a limited tax increase of 2.5 percent and will seek $30 million in savings and efficiencies. The tax target and savings will force the city to live within its means at a

Rideau-Jock Report

By Councillor David Brown

time where many are struggling to pay their bills.

A challenge for Council will be determining which core programs and services Ottawa must provide and

which ones may not necessarily be an immediate priority.

For rural Ottawa, roads maintenance and repair, snowplowing and ditch maintenance are service areas that seem to come up often when speaking with residents.

These few services are the basic services we use in Ward 21.

Other concerns, that I

hear about often are speeding, new infrastructure to support our growing communities, and waste collection.

As the 2023 budget is crafted, this is your opportunity to tell me what is important to you. I ran because I wanted to see a change in how Ottawa provides programs and services to rural residents. The one-size fits all policy

does not serve residents well. The needs of living in rural, suburban and urban areas of the City are very different from each other.

Changing the polices to allow for the difference in realities is what I am to do over the next four years.

Over the next two months, I’ll be reaching out to each community within Ward 21 to see what the City can do differently

and better. If you have any ideas, suggestions or comments, I want to hear from you.

I hope you will be able to enjoy the holidays, to slow down and enjoy this time with your family and friends. If there is anything my office or I can do, please do not hesitate to reach out.

David Brown Councillor Ward 21

Winter lays a blanket over the gardens we enjoyed all summer

The gardens we enjoyed so much all summer are covered with snow. Houseplants are the only living flowers that are in sight, aren’t you glad that you took care of them during the summer so that now we can appreciate some of them inside? An African violet may fit this category. Some of the houseplants may have

THis week, THIS MONTH

by Larry Ellis

appeared a bother when there were so many beautiful blooms outdoors, but now it’s winter and these

houseplants keep summer happiness alive in our hearts.

Our lives are somewhat like that, there comes to each of us a quiet and dull period when we may feel laid aside somewhat. We may have to bear pain or be relaxed for some reason, but it is in those times that we think of the greater

things. We reach beyond our own daily needs and try to understand the functional and mental challenges others have to cope with each day

The bulbs we put away in the fall demonstrate a kind of immortality. Their leaves and flowers die but life is stored in the bulb, thus again they bloom. They

speak of the resurrection, life renewed again…. out of the darkness, the dawn. We can learn humility from our plants also. In some, the foliage overshadows the tiny flowers. Nevertheless, the insignificant blossoms are essential for without them, there would be no seeds to grow more plants.

Let us be like the bulbs

and remember God’s goodness to us, we here in Canada have so much to be thankful for when so many in the world suffer hunger. Perhaps these few thoughts will give you more pleasure in your houseplants, be thankful for the flowers … they cheer the sick, brighten our homes and teach us lessons.

Grade: 12

Parents: Heather and Dennis Wyche

Being

Name: Melita Wyche

By Charlie SenaCk

It’s been a busy week for Ottawa Fire Crews who have responded to a number of calls near the shoreline in Manotick.

On March 21, two men and a dog were rescued from the Rideau River near South River Drive. The dog ran out onto the ice, and two men, ages 25 and 55, quickly followed.

They both became trapped in the frigid fastmoving waters, and while conscious, were unable to get themselves out. The pair was rescued by around 5:15 pm that evening, less than 20 minutes after emergency crews arrived. The dog however remained on the

piece of ice which broke free and began flowing down the river.

Firefighters had to board a boat in order to safely reach the dog, who was later brought back to shore.

Ottawa Paramedics said both men were taken to hospital and treated for mild hypothermia.

Then on March 31, emergency crews received a call around 12:30 pm saying a young boy and his dog had fallen down an embankment at Beryl Gaffney Park and were unable to get back up.

When fire crews arrived near the shoreline about five minutes later, the boy had already made it back up to land, however his dog re-

April - Bullet hole discovered on speed limit display board

It appears one local driver wasn’t impressed with the speed limit after a bullet hole was discovered on a Rideau Valley Drive speed board.

Rideau-Goulbourn councillor Scott Moffatt shared the bizarre incident on Twitter. The sign was located on Rideau Valley Drive near Boucher Cresent.

“In the ‘I’ve never seen that before’ category, I bring your attention to a Speed Display Board that ceased functioning properly due to being shot,” Moffatt wrote. “You read that right. A bullet went through it. You can see the exit wound on the back at the top.”

The local councillor said

a police report has been filed, but they don’t expect to catch the person.

mained trapped.

Age: 17

School: Osgoode Township High

Sisters: April (20), OTHS, UNB Fredericton. Violet (20), Canterbury (vocals), Carleton University. Ivy (22), St. Mark, Algonquin College.

Grade: 12

Parents: Heather and Dennis Wyche

Student Council President a rewarding experience

lem solving. Since the concepts are not broad, and there isn’t much interpretation to be done, it’s more just problem solving, which is what makes me enjoy

due to concussions, so I turned to coaching. It has given me an opportunity to continue in the sport, even though I can no longer participate in it.”

March: Fire crews busy with rescues along Rideau River shoreline

FOCUS ON YOUTH

volleyball, and touch football. I also enjoy traveling and learning about different locations and cultures. I’ve travelled to many places and I find it very interesting how every culture has unique traditions and subcultures. My favourite

Career Goals: “After high school I hope to go to

by Phill Potter

Pets: Two dogs, Ewok and Pixie, and a cat.

Sisters: April (20), OTHS, UNB Fredericton. Violet (20), Canterbury (vocals), Carleton University. Ivy (22), St. Mark, Algonquin College.

Part-time Work: “Cheerleading and tumbling coach at Kemptville Infinity in Kemptville.)

Pets: Two dogs, Ewok and Pixie, and a cat.

“The dog, named ‘Medo’ who was a 100-pound Bouvier, was at the bottom of the 45-degree embankment and due to the heavy mud and the steep angle was unable to get back up,” Ottawa Fire Services said in a statement. “The concern was that there was fast moving water at the bottom of the embankment and that the dog would try and run up and fall back down the hill into the water.”

lem solving. Since the concepts are not broad, and there isn’t much interpretation to be done, it’s more just problem solving, which is what makes me enjoy those classes the most.”

Favourite Subjects: “Math and Chemistry. I enjoy doing labs and prob-

Part-time Work: “Cheerleading and tumbling coach at Kemptville Infinity in Kemptville.)

Favourite Subjects: “Math and Chemistry. I enjoy doing labs and prob-

With the help of two rope rescue technicians, the dog was able to be transported up the embankment in a harness. Both the dog and the boy are okay.

What is your Greatest Accomplishment? ing the title of Student Council President at my school. The process was not easy, but I persevered and made it through, even though there were setbacks along the way. It has also been a very rewarding accomplishment, as I’ve gained so many opportunities, and gotten to network with other youth like myself.”

Community Calendar

Manotick Public Library

• Ottawa Futsal Club entering their 29th season indoor soccer. Youth boys & girls, women, men & coed. Players / teams wanted. All skill levels. League starts October ends April 2020. Please go online at www.futsalottawa.com. Early bird ends September 21st

• Ottawa Futsal Club entering their 29th season indoor soccer. Youth boys & girls, women, men & coed. Players / teams wanted. All skill levels. League starts October ends April 2020. Please go online at www.futsalottawa.com. Early bird ends September 21st

Jan. 14th – Richmond Lions Club fun Curling Bonspiel Jan. 14 – The Richmond and District Lions Club is accepting registration for teams and curlers for their first Fun Curling Bonspiel. The event will take place Sat. Jan. 14, 2023 at the Richmond Curling Club. Registration is $160 per team or $40 per curler. Registration includes snacks, lunch, dinner, prizes and curling. The bonspiel is limited to the first 16 paid teams. To register, call (613) 299-0249 or email dalegreene@bell.net.

• Ottawa Newcomers Club - For women who have recently moved to this area; (and those who have experienced a significant life change), and would like to meet new people of similar interests by joining our many group activities. More information at: ottawanewcomersclub.ca or by contacting newcomersclubottawa@gmail.com.

• Old Time Fiddle Music & Dance - East Osgoode Greely Assoc, First Friday of each month, invites & welcome all Musicians, Dancers & Listeners. Greely Community Centre, 1448 Meadow Drive, Greely. For additional info call 613 489-2697.

• Ottawa Newcomers Club - For women who have recently moved to this area; (and those who have experienced a significant life change), and would like to meet new people of similar interests by joining our many group activities. More information at: ottawanewcomersclub.ca or by contacting newcomersclubottawa@gmail.com.

Jan. 19th - Great Yarn Club of Manotick – 11am-12pm. Every 3rd Thursday of the month - A NEW activity for those who love to knit, crochet, do needlework, hook rugs – all are welcome to socialize with fellow yarn crafters and work on their latest project. Drop-in program – no registration required.

• Old Time Fiddle Music & Dance - East Osgoode Greely Assoc, First Friday of each month, invites & welcome all Musicians, Dancers & Listeners. Greely Community Centre, 1448 Meadow Drive, Greely. For additional info call 613 489-2697.

Jan 19th - Bad Art Night for Teens - 6pm. Registration opens Dec 29th. Register online at www.biblioottawalibrary.ca

• Friday Night Country Music & Dance Club The Greely Legion the fourth Friday of each month. Bring along an instrument to play, or come in to sing, listen and dance. Admission is FREE. Greely Legion, 8021 Mitch Owens Road, ON. Information: 613-822-1451 or 613-826-6128.

• Thursday Fun Night for adults and children. An optional supper at 5:45 pm. Indoor soccer/games, crafts, or nursery for ages 0-11. Parenting course, Alpha course, or Growing in Faith/Hearing God course for adults, 6:30 - 7:30 pm. To try it out contact, discipleship@trinitybiblechurch.ca

Jan. 29 – Richmond Road Races – Run fast or freeze! This much anticipated event is back for 2023! Start the new year off on the right foot and join your running community for a 5 or 10k! If you have run this event, you’ll know why it’s an annual favourite, with cool medals, a friendly, warm atmosphere and a post-race social, featuring awards, draw prizes and a lunch with all the fixins—including a beer from Kichesippi! It’s the perfect opportunity to catch up with old running friends, and make some new ones. Or more information visit www.runottawa.ca.

• Tuesday Dance Party The Greely Legion hosts live music on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Bring along an instrument to play, or come in to sing, listen and dance. Admission is FREE. Greely Legion, 8021 Mitch Owens Road, ON. Information: 613-822-1451 or 613826-6128.

• Thursday Fun Night for adults and children. An optional supper at 5:45 pm. Indoor soccer/games, crafts, or nursery for ages 0-11. Parenting course, Alpha course, or Growing in Faith/Hearing God course for adults, 6:30 - 7:30 pm. To try it out contact, discipleship@trinitybiblechurch.ca

Feb. 3-4 – Manotick Shiverfest – The annual winter carnival returns to the village after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. Watch for details on the Manotick Village Community Association Facebook page or their website at www.mvca.org.

• Friday the fourth play, Greely 613-822-1451 • Tuesday the 1st pm. listen Mitch 826-6128.

SHADES SHUTTERS DRAPERY Free

by Phill Potter

Activities/Interests:

“Both inside and outside of school, I enjoy partici-

volved in what you do “I got involved in Student Council because I saw it as an opportunity to make

a difference in my school, and to get a different perspective on all aspects of

concussions, Melita Wyche turned to coaching.

PHILL POTTER PHOTO

A bullet pierced through a speed display board on Rideau Valley Drive at Boucher Crescent in Manotick.

Twi T T e R phoTo/ S CoT T MoffATT

o ttawa fire crews had a busy month of March in Manotick with incidents along the shoreline of the Rideau River. oTTAwA f i R e S e R V i C e S phoTo S

May – Wind Storm was a storm unlike any other in Ottawa history

It was a storm unlike any ever seen in Ottawa before, one which topples hundreds of hydro poles and thousands of mature trees.

Rural areas of Ottawa were particularly hard hit, and left without power for five or more days. While damage there was not as severe in some areas, the electrical grid closer to Ottawa was “completely crushed.”

Hydro Ottawa said at its peak close to 200,000 customers were without power, making up about half their base. More than 351,000 Hydro one customers were also without electricity across the

province.

Damage to electrical grids was worse than from the ice storm of 1998 or the multiple tornadoes which touched down in the Ottawa region in 2018.

Conrad said more poles have been taken down than they replace in a year, with crews from the Greater Toronto Area, Kingston, New Brunswick, and the United States coming to the capital offering assistance. At last count over 300 had to be replaced, a number that continues to rise as cleanup efforts continue.

Hydro Ottawa had to

rebuild and reconnect half of its distribution centre in days, a task which would normally take months or even a year.

Rural areas such as Manotick, Greely, and Richmond have been particularly hard hit, with much of the communities’ power coming from the Merivale and Woodroffe corridor.

It was about 3:15 pm on May 21 when emergency alerts went off on peoples’ phones. About 29 minutes later the storm hit, leaving a path of devastation behind.

Environment Canada has confirmed the storms

were not caused by tornadoes but instead downbursts, also known as a Derecho, a fast-moving and long-lived thunderstorm that causes widespread wind damage.

“It’s the extremely high winds that we’ve had and most of the impacted areas are basically more of mature communities, where we have larger tree canopy, larger trees,” said Alain Gonthier, general manager of the city’s public works department.

The trees as a result became top heavy, making it easier for them to tumble.

In Greely, a large portion of roofing from Castor

Valley Elementary School in Greely was blown off, a large section of damage over the building’s Library. Much of the debris fell onto an area

where administration offices are located, parents say they are thankful it happened on a weekend when kids weren’t in class.

June – Ghamari ‘honoured and humbled’ after being re-elected in Carleton

Goldie Ghamari said she was “Honoured and humbled” to once again represent Carleton in the provincial legislature after retaining her seat as the Carleton Member of Provincial Parliament.

The Progressive Conservative incumbent had 22,295 votes, which put her in the top 20 in the province for the

most votes in the June 2 provincial election. Ottawa Centre NDP incumbent Joel Harden had the most votes in the province, with 30,311. Ghamari was just shy of 10,000 votes ahead of runner-up Tom Dawson. The Osgoode native brought the Liberals to second place in the riding after they placed third in

2018. NDP candidate Kevin St. Denis was third with 7,256 votes; Cody Zulinski of the Green Party was third with 2,537 votes; New Blue Party candidate Rob Stocki was

fifth with 1,037 votes; Ethan Ferguson had 494 votes; and Chris Mark Beauchamp had 235 votes.

After the election, Ghamari thanked all of the people

who supported her during the campaign. She gave special thanks to her family, and to her campaign advisor, former Rideau Mayor and RideauGoulbourn City Council-

lor Glenn Brooks. She also thanked the tireless efforts of the volunteers on her campaign team. She referred to them as the Team Carleton Loyalists.

Damage on Richmond Road north of the village of Richmond was among the hardest hit areas during the wind storm.

Carleton Progressive Conservative MPP Goldie Ghamari responds to the applause she received after being introduced at the Dickinson Days Parade in Manotick, which took place the day after the provincial election.

July – Kars celebrates its history at 200th anniversary festivities

The weather could not have been better as the Village of Kars marked its 200th anniversary sat., July 16. The day began with a pancake break-

fast at the Kars Community Centre building and included a softball tournament, an antique car show, events at Trinity and St. Andrew’s churches, an an-

tique car show, boat rides activities for kids, and an evening beer garden.

Kars Recreation Association President Pam Little was

the chair of the Kars 200th Anniversary committee. She was quick to thank the team of volunteers that helped make the celebration a success. She posted a photo of the organizing committee on social media and thanked everyone, including Karen Gillingham, Trevor Ward, Susan McKeller, Tracey St. Louis, Marlene Casey,

Darlene Mercer, Brad McMahon, Lana Doxtator, Jeff Adams, Shaun Tolson, Sandy McNeice and Brian Malone.

The celebration also brought some local dignitaries.

Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari volunteered at the pancake breakfast, and also participated as she and her staff were set up at the community centre

in the morning and later on at Trinity United Church. Ottawa

Mayor Jim Watson also attended the event and presented a certificate of congratulations to Little, who received it on behalf of the entire community. Watson commented to the Messenger that he was happy to be a part of the celebration and was honoured to be there.

The Kars 200th Anniversary committee worked hard to make sure the event was a success.

August – A Taste of Manotick returns with large crowds in village

It was the first A Taste of Manotick event since 2019, and the Manotick BIA hit another home run with an outstanding and well-attended event.

Bands were set up in different areas during the Taste of Manotick event, prompting many to get up and dance.

Jugglers and performers of stilts were once again a highlight of the annual Taste of Manotick event.

Manotick Office Pro once again promoted local authors at A Taste of Manotick, as Phyllis Bohonos and Gordon Kubanek were on hand.

September - Organizers call Manotick anti-truck demonstration a success

Led by the seniors who live in Manotick Place and the Miller Apartments, the residents of Manotick had their largest ever demonstration against heavy truck traffic in the village on Wed., Sept. 14.

Seniors from Manotick Place Retirement Community and the Miller Seniors Apartments were joined by parents with strollers, neighbors, and friends of Manotick in a “walk” to advocate for the

health and safety of all residents in the face of 800-plus heavy trucks that roll through the village every day. Organizers also thank the election candidates “who had the courage of their conviction to come out and walk with us.”

Doyle said the news of the walk drew a lot of attention and serious questions from people in the community who depend on trucks for their business and livelihood.

“Our aim is to get the

heavy truck through-traffic off of Bridge and Main streets and relocated to the roads and bridges designed for them such as the Vimy bridge and Armstrong road and Roger Stevens/Snake Island Road,” Doyle said. “By ‘heavy trucks’ we mean just that: the big, tandem rigs, the 83 footers, dump trucks and stone slingers, truss trucks and long haulers en route to or from Montreal and Toronto. We are not talking about any

truck that has a local delivery destination such as retail and grocery stores, restaurants, hardware stores, or to deliver goods and services to any local business or home etc.

In short, we are not talking about the trucks and vehicles that are part of the our daily life of our community. And of course, we don’t include emergency vehicles (ambulance, fire, police) or city services such as mail and garbage.”

The Richmond Fair returned to full capacity for the first time in three years. The Clydesdale show was a big hit among spectators, and the weekend was filled with rides, a midway, food, agricultural and 4H shows and exhibits, and the annual Richmond Fair Parade.

Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre and his wife, Anaida, wave to the crowd at the Ottawa Convention Centre after being named the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.

October - Brown to hit the ground running as Rideau-Jock councillor

David Brown did not become the Ward 21 RideauJock councillor until Nov. 15, but he did not wait until then to get started.

“There are 15 issues I have identified and have already set up meetings with city staff,” Brown said after winning the 2022 election.

“I said in the campaign that I would hit the ground running, and I wanted to get started right away.”

Of all the newly elected councillors in the City of Ottawa, Brown is the one councillor who does know his way around City Hall and is able to hit the ground running. Before being elected, Brown served as the executive assistant for Ward 22 Councillor Carol Anne Meehan. Before the 2018 election, he was Ward 21 Councillor Scott Moffatt’s EA.

The experience in both of those positions has given

him valuable insight into the local issues, as well as a thorough knowledge of how the systems work inside City Hall to get problems solved and to get things done.

While there are issues that affect the entire ward, Brown said that each village has particular issues and challenges that are unique to them.

“When I was doorknocking in Manotick, it was clear that the big issue is getting trucks off the streets of Manotick,” Brown said. “Truck traffic in Manotick is certainly the biggest issue in the village.”

Brown said he was going to reach out to his opponents to discuss some of the issues that they would like to see brought to the forefront for the ward at City Hall.

While Manotick’s issues seem to be focused on one

major issue, the issues in Richmond are more spread out. Brown said that like Manotick, Richmond has an issue with truck traffic, particularly on Franktown Road on the western edge of the village. There are other issues that were also brought to the forefront in the campaign.

“Richmond has a shortage of sidewalks and paths,” Brown said. “For example, people living in Fox Run have to walk across broken concrete at the edge of the road with trucks going at high speeds to get to the core of the village. We need a sidewalk between Fox Run and the fire station. We also have other areas that need sidewalks and road repairs.”

Brown said that in North Gower, there are also a number of issues. The one that stands out to him is a need for a sidewalk on Church

Street.

“There is a stretch of Church Street where children are walking along the side of the road after school with cars driving by them at high speeds,” Brown said.

Although he said he did not hear a lot of talk about the proposed mega warehouse while doorknocking in North Gower, it will also be an issue.

“We have to make sure

that the infrastructure is in place to handle the traffic that the proposed warehouse would bring,” Brown said.

“We have to make sure the roads are ready and that we have traffic lights in place.”

David Brown got a firsthand look at the truck problem in Manotick during the protest in front of Manotick Place in September.

When you Shop LocaL everyone WinS

How consumers can show their support for local businesses

The road back to normalcy after the COVID-19 pandemic figures to have some twists and turns. Even after the rollout of vaccines began in late 2020, public health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization emphasized the importance of people keeping their collective guard up, as previously unseen variants of the virus were still being discovered.

A slow march toward recovery has begun, but the uphill nature of that march

underscores how important it is that communities continue to come together to support each other as well as the locally owned businesses that make towns and cities so unique. Consumers who want to help the local businesses in their community rebound and thrive in the months and years ahead can show their support in various ways.

· Take charge of your togo order. Convenience became the name of the game when ordering food during the pandemic. Curbside pickup service was offered

as a safety measure, and many restaurants that never previously offered delivery or takeout started to do so to generate revenue at a time when in-person dining was limited if not disallowed. Some restaurants began offering delivery through apps like Grubhub or Uber Eats, and though that may be convenient for diners, restaurants must pay a fee to utilize those apps. In lieu of ordering through a third party delivery service, consumers can take charge of their to-go orders and pick

up the food themselves. That saves restaurants the delivery app surcharge, allowing them to increase net profits on the meals they sell.

· Continue to be loyal. A recent study from researchers at the Harvard Business School found that a customer’s eighth purchase was an average of 80 percent higher than his or her first purchase. That highlights just how valuable repeat customers are to small businesses. Consumers who have had positive experiences with small businesses

in their communities in the past can continue to support those companies by looking to them first when they need new products or services. Doing so not only helps small businesses retain more customers, but it increases the likelihood that consumers will again have positive buying experiences.

· Share experiences via social media. Small businesses recognize the value of social media. A 2021 survey from Visual Objects found that 74 percent of small businesses in the

United States are active on their social media accounts at least once each week. Social media can become even more valuable to small businesses when their customers utilize such platforms to share positive experiences and encourage their friends and neighbors to patronize local businesses.

Consumers can take various steps to support small businesses in their communities as such establishments look to regroup and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

What small businesses can do to engage their communities

Community engagement can benefit small businesses in various ways. By engaging with their communities, business owners can build brand awareness and inspire trust among residents. Trust in a brand leads many consumers to share positive word-of-mouth, and it also can inspire brand loyalty, a potentially lucrative benefit that can pay dividends for years to come.

A recent study from Bain and Company found that the average repeat customer spends 67 percent more in months 31 through 36 of their relationship with a business than they do in the first six months of that relationship. That underscores how lucrative a long-term relationship with a customer can be for a business. When paired with reliable products and great customer service, community engagement strategies increase the likelihood that businesses will create a loyal customer base, thus laying the foundation for a successful business that can grow for years to come.

Businesses can engage with their communities in various

ways. Many engagement strategies give business owners a chance to communicate directly with their customers, and these interactions can be especially valuable.

· Participate in local events. Local events like holiday bazaars and town festivals provide great chances for business owners to communicate directly with new and existing customers. Take advantage of the chance to set up a booth at such events, and make a concerted effort to reach out to consumers who stop by the booth. The customer feedback experts at Apptentive found that 97 percent of consumers are somewhat likely to become more loyal to a company that implements their feedback. Setting up a booth at a bazaar or festival provides a great chance to solicit feedback that businesses can then implement to retain more customers.

· Sponsor a local youth sports team. Youth sports team sponsorships are a relatively inexpensive way to create brand awareness. The National Alliance for Youth Sports, Inc., reports that sponsorship costs

vary from organization to organization, though they may cost as little as $100 to around $5,000 for the season. In return for that investment, businesses gain exposure to athletes, athletes’ families and friends, volunteers, and countless others who may see players in uniform on game day. When compared to the cost of advertising online, on television or on the radio, youth sports sponsorship provides a great return on investment.

· Offer your space. Another way business owners can engage their communities is by offering their spaces for communitybased events. For example, business owners with ample parking lots can offer those lots as registration sites for charity 5Ks or other events that can utilize large and open outdoor spaces. This approach addresses a community need and draws a crowd of locals to your establishment, thus increasing the chances they will patronize the business during and after the event.

There is no limit to the ways local businesses can engage their communities.

Nov./Dec. – Community rallies to support Gingerbread Man after fire

Manotick and surrounding area are rallying to support the Gingerbread Man, an iconic local business that was devasted by fire Fri., Nov. 4.

Firefighters from the Manotick Fire Department were the first on the scene. According to one of the firefighters, their work went beyond

fighting the fire as efforts were made to save any inventory and supplies they could. Among the items that were saved were the recipes that were the backbone of what the business was built on.

“It’s devastating for us,” said Richard Palframan, whose baked delicacies have been part of the fabric of the village for the past generation. “Obviously this could not have happened at a worse time for us, but the response from the community and the support we have received is incredible. It is very humbling.”

Palframan and his wife, Kaori, live upstairs from their business on Tighe Street. Palframan was in the bathroom, about to get in the shower.

“I heard something downstairs and at first I thought it was my wife,” he said. “Then I realized it wasn’t, and I went to see what was happening. I was barely dressed.”

Palframan went downstairs and the wall of heat burned his hair. The fire would quickly destroy their business, as well

as their lives.

“It only took about 30 minutes for the fire to consume everything,” he said.

Palframan said the fire started between two walls adjacent to the kitchen. It completely destroyed the kitchen, including the equipment and special instruments used. He said that investigators had not yet been able to determine the

cause of the blaze.

“This is a 150-year-old building,” he said. “It could have been one of a number of things.”

The timing could not have been worse for Richard and Kaori. Their business is geared for the Christmas season. Palframan estimates that the business will lose about $150,000 in orders and busi-

ness.

Palframan started a GoFundMe page to assist with his fundraising efforts. Within 48 hours, close to $20,000 had already been raised.

“While we may not have many answers, we hope to rebuild and bring back the Gingerbread Man to Manotick,” the GoFundMe page says.

The kitchen was the hardest hit of the rooms in the Gingerbread Man building.