Manotick Messenger June 14, 2024

Ghamari announces four new schools for Carleton and an expansion to

Strong showing for Manotick Messenger at provincial community newspaper awards Page 5 Richmond Public School has open house to celebrate 100th anniversary Page 14

Newly elected Manotick Village Community Association President Leeanne Van der Burgt

the grand marshal of the Manotick Dickinson Days Parade

If you are heading to Le Nordik, make sure your plates are up to date

By Goldie Ghamari, mPP for Carleton

Over the past two years, we have received a number of inquiries regarding renewal stickers on vehicles and tickets for expired license plates that were issued in Quebec. Almost all of these tickets were issued in the parking lot adjacent to Le Nordik Spa.

Originally, by-law officers at that lot were ticketing Ontario plates with expired stickers. This is despite the fact that the Premier of Ontario personally contacted the Premiers of Quebec and Manitoba, along with officials in neighbouring states, regarding the end of the Ontario sticker program.

Regardless, Ontario residents were still getting ticketed in Gatineau. The tickets have not been cheap. They have all been for an amount close to $500. Those who were receiving those tickets and whose plates were not expired have

been able to go to court in Chelsea and the tickets have been cancelled. However, going to court requires a commitment of time and often a day off work just to have a ticket infraction thrown out of court.

Based on the feedback and complaints our office is receiving, tickets are still being issued in that parking lot.

By-law and police in Quebec have access to the database in Ontario regarding registered license plates. If your plates are expired and you are in Quebec, you are at risk of receiving one of these tickets.

Residents of Ontario are able to get 60-day and 30-day reminders for renewal of your license plate, driver’s license,

health card or Ontario photo card. You can receive renewal reminders by email, text message, or a phone call. The first step is to sign up for a ServiceOntario account.

To learn more about the ServiceOntario reminders, visit Ontario.ca/page/get-serviceontario-renewal-reminders for all of the information and links needed.

If you want to renew your plates, it’s a quick and easy process that is free. You can visit Ontario.ca/page/renewyour-license-plate and press the blue “Renew your license plate” button. If you aren’t sure if your plate is up for renewal, there is also a “Check your license plate expiry date” button. If you are unsure of the status of your plate, please take the time to check. It doesn’t matter if you are driving around in Ottawa, on a shopping trip to Watertown or a visit to Quebec, your plates need to be registered and up to date.

So, the bottom line is that if you are going to LeNordik, please make sure your plates have not expired. There is no point spending a day relaxing only to get back to your car only to find a ticket for nearly $500 slapped onto your windshield.

Ontario Introducing Online Booking to Exchange Driver’s Licences

The Ontario government is making it easier and more convenient for newcomers to exchange out-of-province and international driver’s licences. Appointments can now be made online at 15 DriveTest locations across the province.

After moving to Ontario, new residents have 60 days to exchange an out-of-province or international driver’s licence for an Ontario driver’s licence. People with valid driver’s licences from countries with reciprocal licence agreements

like the United States, Great Britain, and Japan, can exchange their licences for an Ontario driver’s licence without undergoing testing.

Newcomers can visit drivetest.ca to book an appointment. Locally, the Drive Test location is on Walkley Road in Ottawa.

Quick Facts

- In 2023, Ontario exchanged more than 300,000 out-of-province driver’s licences.

- Starting this summer, the Ontario government is making life more convenient and saving drivers time by automating the licence plate renewal process.

- In 2022, the Ontario government eliminated licence plate renewal fees for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds, saving vehicle owners $120 a year in southern Ontario and $60 a year in northern Ontario.

- In 2018, the Ontario gov-

ernment froze fees for driver’s licences, saving drivers across the province more than $22 million to date.

Ontario Strengthening Protections for Homeowners and Homebuyers

The Ontario government is introducing legislation that, if passed, would significantly strengthen protections for homeowners and buyers of new freehold homes. The Homeowner Protection Act, 2024, would ban the registration of Notices of Security Interest (NOSIs) for consumer goods on the Land Registry and deem NOSIs for consumer goods currently registered on title to be expired. It would also provide additional protections for new homebuyers by establishing a 10-day cooling-off period for buyers of new freehold homes.

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Notices of Security Interest are registrations that may be made on the land registry system by a business when it rents, finances or leases goods such as a water heater or furnace installed on a property. While NOSI registrations are intended to help a business protect their interest in those goods, investigations have revealed bad actors use NOSIs to extort exorbitant payments from consumers, particularly seniors. These scams can sometimes involve leveraging the NOSI, or multiple NOSIs, to secure high-interest mortgages on the property, which can ultimately lead to the homeowner losing their property.

The proposed changes do not eliminate a business’ security interest in the fixture or invalidate their contract with the consumer. If the consumer defaults on payment, the business may still be able to repossess the fixture and seek repayment through other means, such as through the courts.

The proposed legislation would further strengthen consumer protections for homeowners and buyers by establishing a 10-day cooling-off period for purchases of new freehold homes, allowing buyers to cancel agreements without penalties. This provides buyers with time to fully understand their commitments and back out if they choose.

The province also intends to further strengthen consumer protections for condominium communities and people buying new freehold homes by:

- Ensuring public disclosure of builder cancellations of purchase agreements for new freehold homes to promote transparency, protecting consumers from unreliable builders.

- Consulting on proposals to crack down on illegal home building and selling.

- Expanding the Condominium Authority Tribunal’s jurisdiction to cover a broader range of disputes, giving condo owners more

accessible and efficient resolution options and improving condo management. Additionally, the province will consult with stakeholders to strengthen protections for condo owners and purchasers to improve how condos are run.

The province intends to consult in the coming months on changes to support the implementation of the cooling-off period for purchases of new freehold homes, improve access to information and transparency for buyers of new freehold homes, and better support condo communities.

As part of the legislation, the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism is proposing amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act, to help ease administrative pressures related to the conservation of legacy listed heritage properties. This would help ensure municipalities are prioritizing the review of properties most important to their communities, by extending the timeline for them to review listed properties by an additional two years to January 1, 2027. These proposed changes will help with the conservation of heritage properties while supporting housing construction and future growth.

Quick Facts

- In fall 2023, the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery held extensive consultations on specific approaches to address the misuse of NOSIs. The ministry received feedback from businesses, legal organizations, law enforcement, other regulators, and consumer advocates, as well as many consumers negatively affected by NOSIs.

use.

- Ontario passed the Better for Consumers, Better for Businesses Act, 2023, in December 2023. As part of this legislation, a new Consumer Protection Act, 2023, once in effect, will strengthen protections for Ontarians from unfair business practices while enhancing enforcement.

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.

Your voice at Queen’s Park

the school’s deep learning

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- Based on all the information received through the consultation process, it has become apparent that the harms caused by the misuse of consumer NOSIs on the Land Registry far outweigh the benefits provided by their legitimate

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The 2024 Taiwan Delegation of Deep Learning made a stop in Riverside South during their Ottawa visit last week. The delegates were welcomed by students and staff at St. Francis Xavier High School to observe

practices in action. School administration

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knowledge and collaborate

Ghamari announces four new schools and a major expansion for Carleton riding

It was a big day for families Friday, June 7 as Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari announced four new schools and a major school expansion for the Carleton riding.

Ghamari, who made education and building new schools her campaign priority in both the 2018 and 2022 provincial elections, has now secured funding for 14 major school projects in the Carleton riding since she was elected six years ago. The projects include 12 new schools and two major expansions and combine for a provincial investment into the riding of more than $344 million.

These projects are part of a $1.3 billion plan that more than doubles funding to build new schools and expansions, including child care spaces. The provincial government’s overall investment, which is the highest ever made in a single year, supports the creation of more than 27,000 new student spaces and more than 1,700 licensed child care spaces at schools across Ontario.

The new schools include a Catholic high school and a Catholic elementary school in Fernbank, a French Catholic high school in Riverside South, a French public elementary school in Leitrim, and an expansion at St. Philip Catholic Elementary School in Richmond.

“As our communities grow in the Carleton riding, so does our need for schools.” Ghamari said. “The new elementary school and high school announced for the Fernbank area will not only address the need for more classrooms in the rapidly growing Stittsville community, but it will also mean more students will avoid

long bus rides as they will have a school closer to their homes.

The addition at St. Philip Catholic Elementary School is also a welcomed project that will serve the growing village of Richmond.”

The major expansion is St. Philip is a $10 million project that will create 282 new student spaces.

The new Fernbank high school will be located at Cope Drive and Atlas Terrace in Stittsville. That $66.6 million project could alleviate some of the crowding issues at South Carleton High School, should students opt to switch from the public board to the Catholic board. The new high school will have 1,439 student spaces.

The Fernbank North Elementary School will be located at a site to be acquired. It will be a $20.5 million project that will create 507 student spaces along with 39 childcare spaces.

Ghamari also announced a fourth Ottawa project for the OCSB, which will be a Mer Bleue Catholic elementary school in Orleans. The $20.3 million project will create 507 student spaces and 39 childcare spaces.

“This funding is a significant investment in the future of our students and communities,” said Mark Mullan, Chair of the Ottawa Catholic School Board.

“We are grateful to the Ministry and MPP Goldie Ghamari for their on-going commitment to Catholic education. Together, we’re not just building schools; we’re building brighter futures for our students. These projects address immediate needs while laying the foundation for brighter educational futures across our communities.”

The four Ottawa Catholic School Board projects an-

nounced by Ghamari represent a $117.4 million investment by the province. This will support the creation of 2,735 student spaces and 78 licensed child care spaces in Ottawa as part of the government’s commitment to building state-of-theart learning spaces for Ontario students.

These projects are part of a $1.3 billion plan that more than doubles funding to build new schools and expansions, including child care spaces in Ontario.

“I’d like to extend our gratitude to the Ministry of Education and MPP Goldie Ghamari for their invaluable support of Catholic education,” D’Amico said. “Their commitment to our students’ growth and develop-

ment is truly commendable. With this funding, we’re not just building schools but investing in our communities’ future. These projects reflect our dedication to providing modern, inclusive learning environments where every student can thrive.”

New high school for Riverside South

In addition to the three OCSB school projects, there are also two French language schools to be built in Carleton. One is a French Catholic high school in Riverside South, and the other is a French public elementary school in Fernbank.

The new French Catholic high school is a $40.8 million investment with the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Cen-

tre-Est. The school will be for Grades 7-12 and it will be located at Borbridge Avenue and Brian Good Avenue in Ottawa, creating 826 student spaces.

While the zoning for the school has not yet been finalized, it is expected that students from Manotick, Osgoode and Greely will eventually attend the school. Those students in the French Catholic board currently attend Pierre-Savard in Barrhaven, which has a student population much higher than their capacity.

“We are extremely pleased with the news of this investment! Thanks to the Ministry of Education’s support, we will be able to offer a brand-new French-language Catholic high school in the dynamic Riverside

South neighbourhood,” said Johanne Lacombe, President of the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est. “This school will not only provide an exceptional learning environment for our youth to thrive, but also a place where our culture and language can flourish”.

The French public elementary school in Leitrim is a $14.7 million investment with the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario. The school will be located at Kelly Farm Drive and Barrett Farm Drive in Ottawa, creating 354 new student spaces and 49 child care spaces.

The timelines for construction of the schools will be determined by the various school boards.

Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari announces funding approval from the Ontario Government for four new schools in the Carleton riding, as well as a major expansion at St. Philip Catholic Elementary School in Richmond.

Strong showing for Manotick Messenger at provincial newspaper awards

Special to the Messenger

The Ontario Community Newspaper Association has announced the award winners for its 2023 provincial Better Newspaper Competition awards. Once again, the Manotick Messenger and its sister publication, the Barrhaven Independent, had a strong showing.

In the best feature column, the Manotick Messenger and Barrhaven Independent placed second and third in the province for features that ran in both publications.

The second place feature was on Manotick Messenger LCBO employee Lynn Roy, who co-founded a school by a dump site in the Philippines, where close to 1,000 families live in unimaginable poverty.

Every dollar she has ever made working at the LCBO has been used to help fund the school.

“I knew a situation in my hometown very similar to this one,” said Chris Clegg, editor of the South Peace News of High Prairie, Alberta and the judge of the category. “It stirred emotions in me. Yes, it even made me cry. That means it was done very well. I am sure I was not the only reader to shed a tear.”

Reporter Charlie Senack placed third for the Ontario Stephen Shaw Reporter of the Year Award. Senack was nominated by both the Messenger and the Kitchissippee Times and was third behind well-known veteran journalists Mike Renzella of the Haldiman

The third place feature was for an interview with Hannah Otto, the older sister of Maddy Otto, who passed away from an inoperable brain tumour at the age of five. Hannah opened her heart for the interview and talked about how losing a younger sister impacted her life, and drove her and her parents to raise more than a million dollars for Roger Neilson House in Ottawa.

Press and Mike Balsom of Niagara-on-the-Lake Local.

A story that ran in the Messenger placed second in the Best News Series category for its coverage of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board trustees for voting to ban uniformed Ottawa police officers from their schools. That policy and their decision to end the Ottawa Police SRO program at schools led to a female Ottawa Police Service officer not being allowed to participate in uniform for her daughter’s Grade 1 career day.

Coverage of that story also got the lone honorable mention in the education writing category for a series of stories covering the decision to keep police out of public schools, and the ensuing fall-out.

An editorial on the same topic that ran in the Messenger just missed the top three as it was the only honourable mention in the Best Editorial category. The editorial, titled

“All we are saying is give police a chance” criticized the board and its policy banning uniformed police at schools. In the editorial, the Independent accused the board chair and vice-chair for driving this decision for their own political gain. Both were NDP candidates, and the NDP is in favour of de-funding the police.

Jennifer Thuncher, Editor at the Squamish Chief in Squamish, BC, called it a strong editorial. “It took a stance, supported that stance, and backed it up with examples,” she said after judging the category. “It is not easy to row against the tide, but it’s our job. Well done for writing this and calling it like you saw it.”

The Independent got another lone honourable mention for just missing the top three in the Best Investigative News Story category, for a feature on the 10th anniversary of the horrific 2014 bus-train crash that killed six people in Barrhaven.

PHARMACY

Q:

A: Yes! It is very important to prevent sunburns to prevent skin cancers and early skin aging. Sunscreen is an effective way to prevent sunburns and it should be applied on a regular basis especially during the summer months. Sunscreen application should be done 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapplied as directed by the individual sunscreen product label. Several different sunscreen products are available and a pharmacist can help you choose an appropriate product. Sunscreen should be used in addition to other sun safety measures such as wearing a hat, sunglasses, and seeking shade.

How Poilievre can improve healthcare in Canada

OPINION PAGE

Canadian conservatives – particularly these days under Pierre Poilievre’s federal leadership – say they embrace freedom, free enterprise, and limited government. But too often, conservatives at the federal and provincial levels have abandoned these intellectual commitments in office. Their past and ongoing support for central planning in healthcare is a good example.

aOntario Premier Mike Harris’s healthcare restructuring in the late 1990s best demonstrates the paradoxical relationship between Canadian conservatives’ theoretical commitment to freedom and their practical affirmation of central planning in healthcare.

The backdrop for a perfect childhood

It’s funny how some things trigger memories of loved ones you have lost.

Maybe this week, as I reflect on the 20th anniversary of my father’s passing, I was looking for things that remind me of him.

Watching the Ottawa RedBlacks first pre-season game brought back a flood of memories of my Dad.

Are you more Canadian than a fifth grader?

Free enterprise offers the best way out of a socialist slough. It worked well in the era of Reagan and Thatcher. It should work for Poilievre if he’s elected prime minister.

With Canada Day approaching next week, it is a good time for us all to reflect on what it means to be Canadian.

In a recent interview with Hub contributor Ginny Roth, she said:

When Conservatives are losing, sometimes it’s tempting to opt out of the policy conversations that we think we are losing on. Provincially, this always happens: ‘Don’t talk about healthcare and education. Conservatives lose when we talk about healthcare and education.’

Do we take being Canadian for granted?

Better yet, how do new Canadians feel about being Canadian? Some of us look upon immigrants and refugees as opportunists, not wanting to give but very willing to take. Perhaps, for some people, that is true, but when you attend a celebration for new Canadians, such as the one hosted by NepeanCarleton MP Pierre Poilievre at Mother Teresa High School in Barrhaven last month, you can see the excitement and the thankfulness in the eyes of every new Canadian.

This instinct to “opt-out” may be viewed by political strategists and the politicians they advise as good short-term politics. But the long-term result is to effectively abdicate public policy to their political opponents. What’s the point of winning if you’re simply going to implement the other side’s priorities?

They understand, perhaps better than all of us, what it means to be Canadian.

So how can the rest of us have that feeling?

The Conservative government has a solid idea.

Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism and Andrew Cohen, President of the Historica-Dominion Institute, are challenging middle and high school students to take the citizenship test.

If conservatives are genuinely committed to freedom and free enterprise, then they should propose legislative and policy changes to the healthcare system that foster more freedom.

The Canadian Citizenship Challenge, funded in part by CIC and run by the Historica-Dominion Institute, will see students study Discover Canada: the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship and then take a mock citizenship test.

Put differently, conservatives have only two realistic options. They can opt out of the healthcare discussion and cede the terrain to progressives, or they can apply their principles to a much-needed reform agenda. They must, in the interests of Canadians and their well-being, choose the latter.

“This will be a fun way for students to learn about Canada and feel proud of our shared history and accomplishments,” said Minister Kenney. “As we learn about our past and the people and events that made Canada what it is today, we become more proud to be Canadian. We are inspired to see how we can defend our rights and live up to our responsibilities and we feel much more strongly how valuable it is to be a citizen of Canada.”

“Our schools need to be training our young people to become the citizens of tomorrow. Citizenship is not only about new Canadians, it’s about all Canadians, young and old,” said Andrew Cohen. “The Canadian Citizenship Challenge will encourage students to learn more about what it means to be Canadian and then put that knowledge to the test.”

Starting this summer, the Historica-Dominion Institute will be encouraging more than 5,000 middle and high school teachers to register their classrooms for the Challenge. Each classroom will receive a set of the new citizenship guide, along with specially designed learning activities. The teacher will also receive copies of a mock citizenship exam. Students will take the citizenship exam as a class and the teachers will return the completed exams to the Dominion Institute for grading.

Ottawa Rough Riders football was not our life, but it certainly provided a backdrop for our lives. Football was always on in the house. It was talked about at the dinner table, from his stories from back in the day to his favourite trick of pulling his pen out of his chest pocket and diagraming plays, blocking assignments and different reads on a napkin, usually after dinner and a healthy dose of cognac or Kahlua.

At the school’s 50th Anniversary Party, Manotick Co-operative Nursery School honoured its longest-serving teacher/volunteer with a memorial garden bench, which will be installed with a plaque in the school’s playground. Left to right, MCNS Director Sandy Erler and June Hodge celebrate June’s 29 years as a supply teacher, teacher and volunteer.

Sometimes it’s best just to say nil

I’m finding myself at one of those bizarre crossroads where everything I love about sports is about to collide with a large swatch of the population working diligently to grate my nerves. It’s this whole World Cup thing. Don’t you find that people are just a little too into it?

One key area for policy reform is to insist on greater provincial autonomy and interprovincial competition and experimentation. This requires clarity on federal-provincial healthcare mandates and a restraint on federal spending powers.

I found myself in line in front of two nouveau soccer fan moms at Your Independent Grocer the other day.

Regardless of their approach, the federal Conservatives face a wide-open field when calling for market-friendly universal healthcare. No other party will steal their platform. They should resist, therefore, the temptation to match the Liberals on boutique health policies and instead fight for policy freedom in Canada’s most heavily regulated industry. At its core, this means granting clinicians and patients the freedom to build their own solutions safe from regulators and planners.

Our COmmunity FROM THE OTHER SIDE

wonder about things like how come “underneath” is a word but no one ever says “overneath” when the discussion pulled me back into soccer.

We did a lot of things together. As a kid, he would have me tag along during his weekend photo assignments. He would always give me little jobs, mostly just to keep me out of his hair, while he did his work. I remember one time we went to a dairy farm in the Roebuck-Spencerville area. I was wandering around looking at everything while he was talking to the farm’s operator. They walked outside and I ended up locked in the barn. Even though he figured it out and came and got me after two or three minutes, it seemed like hours. We laughed about the incident for years.

Going to games was always fun, as my father, my uncle and I would head up Highway 16 and into the city, go for Chinese food and then go to the game. In the fall, when the games were played on weekend afternoons, it was always a daylong event with pre- and post-game get-togethers at Ted Warren’s house in Kemptville.

I don’t remember the outcomes of the games, but I remember the friendships and the parties and celebrations. Football, again, was a backdrop.

Results will be announced by the Dominion Institute on Flag Day (February 15) each year for the next three years. For more information about the Challenge please visit the Historica-Dominion Institute website at www.historica-dominion.ca.

CIC’s multiculturalism grants and contributions program will be investing $525,171 in this 32 month project which promotes civic memory, civic pride and integration.

By Jeffrey Morris

Poilievre has offered three cheers for freedom. Let’s hope he expresses the same enthusiasm for freedom in health policy.

I was kind of in my own little mental world in the checkout line, scanning the tabloid and magazine covers and wondering what Justin Bieber’s first major scandal would be. I was just about to reenter the world after some quality time on Planet Jeff and launch into my weekly way-to-reward-your-customers-bycharging-us-five-cents-per-bag-and-claiming-it’sto-save-the-environment rant when I unexpectedly locked in on the conversation behind me.

Shawn Whatley is a physician, past president of the Ontario Medical Association, and a Munk senior fellow at Macdonald-Laurier Institute. He is the author of When Politics Comes Before Patients – Why and How Canadian Medicare is Failing. © Troy Media

“I wish some of the stores would carry the vuvuzela horns so that we could bring them to Chelsea’s games,” said the mom who was wearing Crocs.

“Chelsea is learning so much by watching the World Cup,” said the mom wearing Crocs. “We are studying each country before the game. She has really become a fan of Arr-hayne-TEE-na, and she even wants us to go there on our vacation next year. Perhaps we can even go to Brrra-seeel.”

That caught my attention. Arr-hayne-TEE-na? Are you kidding me?

The other mom – the one with the Birkenstocks – piped in.

But that’s the funny thing about time. Technically, it’s linear. But if you have ever lost someone close to you, time no longer makes sense. The days can seem like they last forever, but then you look back and a year can seem like just days.

“Oh, I know,” said the one wearing Birkenstocks. “Zachary has a tournament next weekend and it would have been so in the spirit of the World Cup to have all of us blowing our vuvuzela horns. They lost two-nil and then three-nil. They need all of the support they can get.” Nil? Who says nil? Really.

“Oh, I know,” said the mom wearing Crocs. “The horns are such a beautiful part of the South African culture.”

I wanted to jump in and say something, but I refrained. I couldn’t do it.

“They are a wonderful football nation,” she said. “My husband, of course, wears the azure and cheers for Italia, but Zachary’s favourite team has been MAY-heee-co. They did a school project on MAY-heee-co last year and he has even insisted that we go to out to eat and watch the games when they are playing.”

I bit my tongue.

In an effort to keep my blood pressure down, I looked out the big window at the big parking lot and scoped it out, looking for a puppy or a bird or anything that would pry my mind out of the shackles that these two soccer moms had put me in with their conversation.

A busload of seniors from a nearby retirement home had pulled up and passengers were getting off. I was trying to, in my head, name all of their walkers as an escape.

Unfortunately, they pulled me back in.

“My cousin lives in Australia, and he was devastated when Germany beat them 4-nil,” said the mom wearing Crocs.

Years later, when I was living in Dallas, I wanted to do something special for my father. He loved the Dallas Cowboys, and he and my mother were coming to visit for Thanksgiving. On the 35th anniversary of the Kennedy Assassination, we went and visited the Kennedy museum and the book depository building. We drove the route that Kennedy took, saw the grassy knoll, and learned about one of the most dramatic and history-changing events in U.S. history. My father told me that day about when he heard of Kennedy’s assassination. He was a young editor and publisher – doing things at the age of 28 that, even at 50, I couldn’t dream of doing. He was so upset that he got into his car, drove into the country, and cried. He had told me the story before, but it still hit hard. It was the only time in his adult life he had cried.

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If you are unfamiliar with the vuvuzela horn, then you have not tuned into CBC over the past two weeks. If you stumble across a World Cup soccer game on CBC, you will hear what sounds like 50,000 bees swarming the field. They are not bees. They are people blowing on cheap, plastic, gimmicky horns. The funny thing about these horns is that they have become what has defined the 2010 World Cup. People who have been following the World Cup and people who have only seen 20 minutes of it in passing have commented on these annoying yet relentless horns. Ironically, while the world has learned to adapt these horns as the one thing they now know about South African culture, the horns aren’t really a part of their everyday lives. South African sports enthusiasts have commented that they had never seen nor heard a vuvuzela horn at a sporting event, and that the South African people find the noise just as annoying as the rest of the world does. Apparently, some now wealthy marketing genius came up with the idea to mass produce and market these horns as a World Cup novelty. The plan worked, and now the rest of the world must endure the shrilling sounds of his quick buck.

The Manotick Messenger 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 Manotick Messenger is not responsible for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other material used for publication purposes.

One of the most exciting days of the year for me as a kid was the day that our Rough Rider tickets would arrive in the mail. My father and I would get out the tickets and the calendar, and we would look at the dates and see what teams were playing when. We would talk about getting to see some of the great CFL players that year. The biggest games were always against the arch rival Alouettes. Some of their fans had the audacity to think that Peter Dalla Riva was better than Tony Gabriel. It was almost childhood altering when I met them as a national sports writer and learned that they had been buddies and teammates as teenagers. We would talk about Joe Theismann of the Argos, Tom Wilkinson and Larry Highbaugh of the Eskimos, George Reed, Garney Henley, Angelo Mosca, Chuck Ealey, Don Jonas and so many more. The CFL just seemed to be loaded with household names back then. That’s something that has been lost in the last generation.

I was just about to drift back into ADD world and

At this point, I couldn’t take it anymore. Mount Patience erupted and out came sarcasm lava.

“I saw that match,” I said. “I can’t believe AusTRY-lier looked so insipid against Deutschland.”

The mom with the crocs was not impressed.

The mom with Birkenstock’s wasn’t either, but she did acknowledge me with a response.

“Who is your team?” she quipped, condescendingly.

I did the only thing I could do, shouting as loud as I could.

“USA! USA! USA!”

They turned their heads in disgust. The next 45 seconds were incredibly silent and awkward.

At that point, it was my turn. The cashier scanned my Diet Coke and V-8 Fusion, and I was all set.

“Would you like plastic bags?”

“Yes please,” I replied. I had never been so happy to pay five cents for a plastic bag just to get the hell out there.

Jeffrey Morris was the 2008 OCNA Columnist of the Year. His book, From the Other Skide, is available at Manotick Office Pro, Barrhaven UPS Store, and Pages in Prescott.

I took him to his first Dallas Cowboys game on that trip. I went to the stadium and figured out where the disabled parking lot was, what gate he would go in, what the closest section and row was to the entrance. Then I went to a ticket finding agency and got the exact seats I wanted so that he and my mother could go to the game.

Again, the game of football was a backdrop. Although he loved the game, what my father loved most was, as always, the people he met at the game. He loved talking to the people in Dallas and chatting. We stopped and visited welcoming strangers set up with barbecues in the parking lot. He talked about that day for years.

Now, with the RedBlacks season underway, I find myself thinking about how excited my father would be. Sure, he would break down the game and he would talk about certain players, but being in the moment and sitting with friends and making new ones would be what he would have loved.

I hope, somewhere out there, there is a Dad like him and a boy like I was, looking at their RedBlacks tickets and getting ready to create a lifetime of memories.

Page 6, Manotick Messenger, Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Bev McRae photo

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter was just a rehash of Conservative Party rhetoric on inflation

The Editor, I can’t allow the statements attributed to Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) Greg Poehlmann, that appeared in the last edition of the Messenger, to pass without comment. For those who may have missed his polemic directed at Justin Trudeau, it was largely a re-

hash of the rhetoric that we’ve been hearing from the Leader of the Opposition for some time now.

The Lieutenant-Colonel eagerly informed us that fully 25% of Canada’s inflation is attributable to, “Trudeau’s nine years of unbelievably high deficit spending at the federal level.” He then goes on

to say, “Please include the aforementioned facts in any future articles discussing economics and inflation in Canada.”

Well, his opinions are certainly consistent with those of Pierre Poilievre, but can we accurately refer to them as “facts?” If he is correct in his assertion that the inflation that we’ve

experienced is unique to Canada and caused by federal deficits, then surely our currency must have dropped in value by 25% vs the world’s reserve currencies, like the US dollar?

Interestingly, the Canadian dollar was in free fall when Justin Trudeau took office, hitting a low of .7166 on December 19, 2015. Iron-

ically, today the value is .73 and it’s only that low because the BOC recently lowered interest rates. By his own admission, much of Poilievre’s knowledge of economics comes from his reading of economist Milton Friedman’s 1962 book, Capitalism and Freedom. The trouble is, a lot has changed since 1962 when central banks had exclusive control over the creation of money. Since the introduction of Fractional Reserve Banking, most of the new money in our economy is created by private banks—a fact that Mr. Poilievre invariably neglects to mention when ranting about inflation.

Andy Braid

Messenger letter in last issue was filled with bigotry and racism

The Editor, Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. I am truly baffled. Page 10 had three well penned letters on pertinent matters (war in Ukraine, water rates and the Shafiq Visram story) but I am befuddled by the twaddle that consumed over half of page 7, it read like a ChatGPT generated response when prompted with “rant about fabri-

cated issues in a MAGA like manner”. There are real, meaningful elections happening close to home that merit discussion but that anti-government vitriol was better suited to some populist, basement produced, cable TV channel or on ‘X’ (more likely TruthSocial) though granted the character limit was sadly well exceeded.

“Protestors from other

nations are threatening the very existence of fellow Canadians”; pray tell how the author knows the nationality of any protestor?

Methinks the (very) thin veneer of a balanced view evaporated in those dozen words. We all know what was meant, no two ways about it. Spruce it up any way you please but bigotry and racism always shine through such unctuous

balderdash. Too often folks feel the right of protest and assembly can only be for those people they agree with and who look like them and certainly not for “those unruly hate filled people”; that is simply not how it works. Belief that the ‘Freedom’ Convoy was not abhorrent or illegal flies in the face of the justice system, the numerous cases being pro-

cessed and an unnecessary policing bill; the many of us who work or live in downtown can vouch first hand on this “hatred and unwelcome behavior” though it seems that such judgement is kept for the eye of the beholder.

As for “enacting your role ..to end this tyranny”; have we not learnt anything from our southern cousin’s 6 Jan debacle?

I’m rather saddened that such seditious leaning bunkum could sift through your letters’ filter but am sure the balanced readership of the Messenger see it for what it is. Viewpoints aired should encompass the readership but balance not bile should also be an applied metric .

Yours aye

Bobby Strawbridge

Name: Melita Wyche

Grade: 12

Age: 17

School: Osgoode Township

High Grade: 12

Parents: Heather and Dennis Wyche

FOCUS ON YOUTH

by Phill Potter

by Phill Potter

Activities/Interests:

By Irene Staron, MVCa PreSIdent

Many of you may have noticed that this message has consistently been written from the perspective of the MVCA and our association, always from ‘we’ rather than ‘me’.

On May 29th the MVCA held its 2024 Annual Meeting and elected a new Board. With my two-year role as MVCA President officially concluded, I can now lend my personal perspective and write my last newsletter in the first voice.

When Grace Thrasher stepped down in 2022, there were no volunteers keen to step up. Realizing the gravity of the gap, this one-year Board member assumed the role of a transitional leader to help continue moving the mandate of the MVCA forward. This circumstance has been fundamental to my philosophy in fulfilling the duties of this role.

Key to my definition of transitional was the role of stewardship, a skill acquired from managing my late parents’ estate after their sudden passing twenty-six years ago, and then the purchase of the AY Jackson studio property in the heart of our village eight years later

For me, stewardship requires taking stock of available resources, appreciating their value and working to optimize their continuance. Stewardship requires observing external factors and understanding how to mitigate their potential impacts. Stewardship is not a static activity. It thrives on outreach, engagement, and collaboration.

The act of stewardship with the MVCA served me well. Through its tenets, it helped the MVCA form new relationships with our newly-elected City officials. It solidified existing relationships with our community partners such as the MCPRA, Kiwanis, Manotick BIA, Watson’s Mill and the Legion, and to continue embracing our members and residents through community events to enhance the

quality of life in Manotick.

All this could not have been possible without the help of our volunteers - volunteers prepared to spend 100 hours counting trucks at Bridge and Main to build and present our case to the City to remove truck traffic, volunteers who sell cotton candy and popcorn at Dickinson Days, volunteers who serve burgers and hot dogs at the Picnic in the Park and stand at the top of the hill announcing Derby contestants before their joyous race down Beaverwood Road.

To all of you, my heartfelt congratulations and thanks for your selfless acts.

To our outgoing Board members, I owe a debt of gratitude. Theresa Roberts whose hands-on, takecharge leadership and passion brought MVCA events to life in Manotick throughout her eight years of service. Bruce Fanjoy and his work with Dr. Jim Sproule on traffic resulting in the City committing a speed camera on Bridge Street, speed limits on Century Road, and the diversion of Minto construction trucks off Manotick Main to First Line. Thank you to Peggy St. John, our members’ first point of contact, and to Karen McRae our Secretary and Governance Committee member. To all of you, I extend my deepest gratitude for your constant support and well wishes for your future endeavours.

And to our newly elected Board - Leeanne Van der Burgt, President, Bonnie Gray VP, Catherine Seaman, VP of Events, David Head, Secretary, and Directors Leslie Peace and Jennifer Murphy, I wish you much success in carrying on the work of the MVCA – from the most serious to the most fun!

And to our members,

Parents: Heather and Dennis Wyche

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

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

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.”

your outreach and keeping me in the loop cannot be understated. It has been a pleasure meeting you, speaking with you, hearing your concerns, and carrying your voice forward.

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

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

For this, I thank each of you and wish you and yours a safe and happy summer.

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

See you around the Tick!

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

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

Irene Staron, Past President – Manotick Village and Community Assocation (MVCA)

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

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.”

National Safety Month –Help fight Truck Traffic!

What is your Greatest Accomplishment? “Earning 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.”

“Both inside and outside of school, I enjoy participating in several different sports. These include soccer, futsal, volleyball, coed 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 place is Norway, because there is such beautiful places all over the country and amazing hiking. The next location I wish to travel to is Iceland, because it’s a very open country, with very kind citizens, and lots to see.”

a difference in my school, and to get a different perspective on all aspects of the school. I was a cheerleader for 10 years, but I could no longer continue 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.”

A message of thanks to everyone in the village and at the MVCA

Career Goals: “After high school I hope to go to university somewhere near the east coast; hopefully in kinesiology. My top choice schools are University of New Brunswick in St. John, and Dalhousie in Halifax. After that, I hope to pursue a career in either athletic therapy, or education.”

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 place is Norway, because there is such beautiful places all over the country and amazing hiking. The next location I wish to travel to is Iceland, because it’s a very open country, with very kind citizens, and lots to see.”

sage and thanking Councillor Brown and Mayor Sutcliffe for their election promises to find solutions for Manotick. For our sample letter that you can customize and copy/paste into your email to the Mayor, go to https://www.manotickvca.org/ trafficandcommunitywellbeing and send to Mark.Sutcliffe@ ottawa.ca

Why did you get involved in what you do?

“I got involved in Student Council because I saw it as an opportunity to make

What is your Greatest Accomplishment? “Earning 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.”

June is National Safety Month and the City of Ottawa’s Safer Roads program calls attention to the importance of preventative measures to avoid injuries. Residents continue to tell us that truck traffic in the village is a top concern. At the forefront is the safety of residents, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. In support of this, the MVCA has prepared a form letter reinforcing this mes-

After suffering numerous concussions, Melita Wyche turned to coaching. PHILL POTTER PHOTO

Kudos to Kiwanis –Dickinson Days

Our congratulations to the

Career Goals: “After high school I hope to go to university somewhere near the east coast; hopefully in kinesiology. My top choice schools are University of New Brunswick in St. John, and Dalhousie in Halifax. After that, I hope to pursue a career in either athletic therapy, or education.”

After suffering numerous concussions, Melita Wyche turned to coaching.

Why did you get involved in what you do? “I got involved in Student Council because I saw it as an opportunity to make 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.”

Kiwanis Club of Manotick for bringing another successful Dickinson Days event to our community. Dozens of local vendors offered a variety of artisanal foods and crafts – the perfect way to kick off the summer! The MVCA participated as well attracted a number of visitors to our booth, enticed by our hand-spun cotton candy, freshly-popped corn and the opportunity to sign up for our truck traffic email campaign.

Community Calendar

• 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

Community Calendar

June 7-14 - The Manotick Tennis Club will be hosting an International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament at the courts in Centennial Park bringing some of the top juniors from North America and further afield to Manotick. Players will compete to earn the ITF ranking points that will propel them toward a tennis scholarship at a US college or directly into the professional ranks. Follow on https://www.manoticktennisclub.com/on to learn how you can support this prestigious event.

• 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 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

• 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

SAVE THE DATE! July 4, 7pm – Manotick Culture, Parks and Recreation’ (MCPRA) Official opening of the David Arntfield Recreation Area including basketball courts, skateboard park and pump track at Centennial Park. Details to follow closer to the date at https://www.mcpra.org/

• 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.

990 River Road (across from Tim Hortons) 613-692-0015

Progressive Euchre Tournament - First Saturday of the month at the Legion - Register at 12:30 pm; play at 1 pm. For more information, contact danspitzig@ gmail.com.

Transferring a prescription is easy to do

These cards accepted Monday-Friday: 9am-8pm Saturday: 9am-5pm Paul’s Pharmacy

www.pharmasave.com

990 River Road (across from Tim Hortons)

613-692-0015

Transferring a prescription is easy to do

Youth of Manotick Association is a registered not-forprofit organization offering safe, social, inclusive programs and activities for youth in our community. Friday nights Pre-Teen Program for youth in Grades 4-6 6:308:00 pm / Youth Drop-In for youth age 12-17 7:30 - 9:00 pm. See the website for more information https://www. yoma.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.

• 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.

• 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.

The Manotick and Area Centre for Arts & Wellness (MACAW) focuses on intergenerational connections for seniors through arts and wellness. This includes a multitude of activities such as Tai Chi, yoga, art, music, and dance classes as well as community dances. Their popular concert series focuses on our local singers and musicians. For more info go to https://www.manotickmacaw. com

who make these events possible

• 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

STEVENS CREEK SHUTTER CO

Ottawa Public Library - The Manotick Library has many activities for children and adults, including an Adult French Conversation Group and story and craft programs. To discover all the events happening at the Manotick branch go to https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/

SHADES SHUTTERS DRAPERY & more Free shop-at-home service

613-706-1250

stevenscreekshutterco.ca

• Friday the fourth play, Greely 613-822-1451

• Tuesday the 1st pm. listen Mitch 826-6128.

PHILL POTTER

by Irene Staron, President, Manotick Village and Community Association (MVCA)

VILLAGE VOICE

Three-item limit for garbage collection begins September 30

By DaviD Brown riDeau-Jock councillor

On September 30th, 2024, the City of Ottawa will move to a three-item

garbage collection limit per household. It is important to note that this is not a “bag” limit. An item can be a 140-litre garbage bin that fits multiple bags,

a single bag, a piece of furniture or other large items. An item can weigh up to 33 pounds, meaning households can throw out up to 99 pounds of waste on garbage day. Ottawa is implementing a three-item limit instead of moving to a “bag tag” model, which would have cost residents far more for their waste collection.

At present, property owners are charged $145 annually, or $12.00 monthly, for waste collection services, which encompass unlimited pickup of blue, black, and green bins. Ottawa is progressively transitioning towards a waste-to-energy solution, a proposal I advocated for and successfully passed at Council. While it will take time to implement, the immin-

Rideau-Jock Report

David Brown, Councillor , Ward 21

ent capacity limit of our ward’s landfill required prompt action.

For those concerned about high taxes, I agree that we do pay a lot, but at $140 per home per year, Ottawa taxpayers pay less than residents in nearby municipalities:

• Beckwith at $250 per home per year and $2.00 per bag over 80 bags

• Carleton Place, which charges $3.00 per bag

• North Grenville at $2.75 per garbage bag, $1.00 per leaf and yard waste bag, and $12.50 per large, bulky item

• Montague Township which charges $6.00 per bag over two untagged bags per pick-up

In essence, disposing of waste in Ottawa is more cost-effective than in neighbouring townships. A waste-to-energy solution, like an incinerator, represents a better long-term strategy compared to constructing a new landfill. Moreover, it has the potential to generate revenue from neighbouring municipalities, ultimately reducing our expenses.

85 percent of households dispose of two items or less every two weeks, meaning most households will not be impacted by this change. With unlimited blue, black and green bin pick-up, I expect most homeowners won’t see

any measurable difference.

Additionally, the yellow bag program is being expanded. Those who need to go above the three-item limit can purchase yellow bags at participating retailers later this year. There is no limit on the number of yellow bags that you can put out for curbside collection.

A Special Consideration program exists for those who need to dispose of special items, like medical waste and diapers, where households can register on the City website.

For more information on all of the above, please visit Ottawa.ca/garbage.

As always, the best way to connect directly with me about your concerns is by calling my of-

Church Directory

Manotick ..United .Church

5567 Manotick Main Street, Manotick, Ontario, K4M 1A5

We welcome all, who with God’s help, work to build a better world. Rev. Paul Whynacht

Sunday Worship at 10 am Office hours are: Wed 9a.m.-4:30p.m. Thurs-Fri 1p.m.-4:30p.m. admin@manotickunitedchurch.com www.manotickunited.com 613-692-4576

ST. JAMES’ ANGLICAN CHURCH

1138 Bridge Street, Manotick

–Serving South Barrhaven, riverSide South and Manotick–

Sunday Services

Holy Eucharist at 8:15 & 10 a.m.

“A Christian community joyfully serving & growing in God’s love” (Elevator Access Provided)

Church Office 613-692-2082 Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 9a.m.-2p.m. The Reverend Kerri Brennan e-mail office@stjames-manotick.ca Web site: www.stjames-manotick.ca

The Catholic Communities of St. John the Evangelist

2540 Stagecoach Road, Osgoode and St. Brigid 2015 River Road, Manotick

Pastor: Rev. Michael Wright

ST. JOHN: MASS TIME Saturdays 4 p.m., Sundays 9 a.m. ST. BRIGID: MASS TIME Sundays 10:30 a.m.

Telephone: (613) 821-0761 Email: stbrigid.stjohn@gmail.com Office Hours: Tuesday–Thursday 9am–3pm Friday. 9am-12pm

ST. LEONARD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

5332 Long Island Road, Manotick

Pastor: Rev. GeRaRd Plant

Mass tiMes

Saturday 4:30p.m., Sunday 9a.m. 11a.m Weekdays Wed., Thu. 9a.m., Fri. 9:30a.m. Office: 692-4254 www.stleonardsparish.ca

Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

EMAIL: office@stleonardsparish.ca

The Ottawa Kennel Club, which is Canada’s oldest kennel club, held its annual all-breed championship dog shows at the Richmond Fairgrounds May 24-26. The show featured obedience trials, sent detection trials, handlers’ competitions and many more categories. Hundreds of dogs and their owners descended on Richmond for the three day event.

Perfect weather helps make Dickinson Days best

There was a record crowd at both the parade and the craft market the following day on the weekend of May 31-June 2 for Dickinson Days in Manotick.

There was a record number of floats and the largest gathering of spectators ever at the Dickinson Days Parade Fri., May 31. There was a children’s show after the parade, and then a huge crowd for the fireworks display at Centennial Park.

On Sat., June 1, the annual Pancake Breakfast was well attended while the craft market had a record number of vendors and attendees throughout the day.

Gre G Newto N photos

dickinson days continues on page 11

By Mark Milke

To understand why it’s popular among the chattering classes to trash Canada at this time of year, it helps to understand the power of utopian thinking.

In past centuries, utopian movements sprang from religious impulses and secular imitations of the same nature.

Religious examples include communes which, in extreme forms, separated themselves from what they viewed as an impure world. The goal was utopian: to create a miniheaven on earth.

Secular utopian movements included 20thcentury Marxists – be it Russian revolutionaries in 1917 or Pol Pot’s Cambodia and his Khmer Rouge killing fields in

the 1970s – with plenty of other deadly examples in between. The common impulse was a utopian vi-

sion of radical economic equality.

Previous religious and secular utopian move-

ments were anti-reality. Those utopians ignored human imperfection or diverse human abilities, desires and choices, but such dreamers at least focused on creating a future paradise.

and see that Canada’s first prime minister, John A. Macdonald, or some other historical figure was imperfect. Or didn’t have 2022 views in 1867.

In contrast, today’s reflexive Canada critics apply utopian thinking to the past. They look back

But why would we expect them to be flawless when we’re not? Or expect a 19th-century politician to follow 21st-century policy prescriptions?

The result of such utopian thinking as applied to the past is the inevitable attempts to try to ‘cancel’ such figures, to send their history and praiseworthy accomplishments – the creation of a nation – down some 1984-like memory hole.

canada continues on page 13

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canada continues from page 12

Utopianism is one mistake when looking in the rearview mirror. Another is to see the flaws in history as definitive for a nation like Canada and not ask: How did we move away from past wrongs that were once routine in almost every civilization?

Slavery was ubiquitous in the ancient world until recent centuries. Slaves of every colour, creed and ethnicity were taken captive on every continent: Africa, Asia, the Americas, and even Europe and the North Atlantic regions. Historian Robert Davis has catalogued how one million Europeans were taken into slavery between 1530 and 1780 by slave traders who originated in North Africa.

Seniors

Slavery was, tragically, once a reality worldwide. But why and how did it come to be abolished?

It was the result of people like British parliamentarian and lifelong abolitionist William Wilberforce and the British Empire post-1833, including pre-Confederation governors in Canada.

So why should Canada be celebrated this Canada Day?

Not because it was ever perfect or is now, but because pre- and post-Confederation Canada was ahead of the curve on that and other issues.

While Canada effectively abolished slavery in 1820, it took the Americans until President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclam-

ation to declare slaves free and the Union’s 1865 Civil War victory over the slaveholding south to make that declaration a reality.

Many other nations didn’t abolish slavery until the first half of the 20th century. These included China, Malaysia, Morocco, Turkey and Kuwait. About a century and a half after Canada abolished slavery, Oman and Mauritania finally outlawed slavery – in 1970 and 1981, respectively.

Or ponder the emancipation of women. Canada granted the vote in federal elections to women in 1917. It took until 1944 in France, 1949 in China, 1950 in India, 2005 in Kuwait, and 2015 in Saudi Arabia – and only for

Day breakfast with the Mayor

Tickets became available Monday, June 3, for the Mayor’s Annual Canada Day Celebration for Seniors, which will take place on Monday, July 1 from 8 to 10:30 am in the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park.

The sponsored event with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, includes breakfast, served until 10:00 am, as well as door prizes and live entertainment. Please note that there is no reserved seating, and tickets are required for entry and to claim door prizes.

Free tickets are available by calling 613-580-2470, or by emailing protocolrsvp@ ottawa.ca(link opens email application). Tickets are dis-

municipal elections.

Or consider another evil in human history: the rampant mistreatment (or worse) of those different from the majority – which can be defined by colour, ethnicity, religion or language. Institutional discriminatory treatment was once routine (and still is in Quebec). What’s remarkable is the move away from seeing people as defined by such characteristics and instead being treated as individuals in law and policy.

Canada was again ahead of the curve. Ontario passed laws against discrimination in employment and accommodation based on colour, ethnicity, religion or gender in the early 1950s. Yet some in 2022 claim that Canada is institutionally racist, conflating personal prejudice with systemic racism, when in fact, institutional reforms were enacted 70 years ago.

There are many reasons to celebrate Canada on Canada Day. Don’t let the utopian

perfectionists who think the past should have been perfect dissuade you from celebrating a tremendous accomplishment: Canada.

Over time, Canada has become a free and flourishing nation for ever-more peoples.

Mark Milke is the executive director of The Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy. His newest book is The Victim Cult: How the Grievance Culture Hurts Everyone and Wrecks Civilizations. © Troy Media

Students play key role as Richmond Public School celebrates 100th anniversary

The year was 1924.

The cheeseburger was invented in Los Angeles.

A loaf of bread cost nine cents.

The Montreal Canadiens beat the Calgary Tigers to win the Stanley Cup.

The first Winter Olympics were held.

And Richmond Public School opened its doors on McBean Street for the first time.

The school celebrated its 100th anniversary May 29. Students and their parents, former students, and local dignitaries joined in

the celebration that featured a tour, a display of work by the students, and a special tree planting ceremony to mark the occasion.

“This was a huge undertaking,” Principal Laura Ladouceur said as she addressed the crowd at the official ceremony before the tree planting.

Ladouceur, whose mother was also a Richmond Public School principal and was in attendance for the event, said the celebration took months of planning. She took the time to thank the

RPS staff

“The staff have been the ones driving this,” she said. “There was months of planning and deciding what activities and events we wanted to do to showcase our amazing school.”

Ladouceur also said that she wanted the night to be focused on the students.

“Our students have been working so hard,” she said, praising them for the art gallery, bulletin boards and research projects done for the event.

Ladouceur also thanked the school council for

their involvement in the celebration.

The tree for the ceremony was donated by Ritchie Feed and Seed in

Dr. Philip Mwimanzi 613-692-6500

692-6500

Dr.Harold Bobier 613-692-4432

Dr.Harold Bobier (613(692-4432

Dr. Jolieann Joseph 613-692-4432

Dr. Jolieann Joseph (613)692-4432

Dr.Donald Young 613-692-4432

Dr.Donald Young (613)692-4432

Dr.Thomas Proulx 613-692-4432

Dr.Thomas Proulx (613)692-4432

Richmond.

“The tree that they have chosen for us is actually called the celebration maple,” she said. “So

it’s perfect. It’s going to grow to be big and beautiful.”

Shawn Lehman and Dr. Pino Buffone of the ODCSB, Richmond Public School Principal Laura Ladouceur, and Rideau-Jock Councillor David Brown took part in the tree planting ceremony at the Richmond Public School 100th anniversary.

The art show in the gymnasium was a popular spot for parents and members of the community touring the school.

100th continues from page 14

Built After Fire

The Richmond Public School opened in its new location as the Richmond Continuation School on Nov. 14, 1924. However, there was a long history of schools in Richmond that go all the way back to 1820. The village was originally settled in 1818 as a settlement for the British Army. The school in Richmond became the first school in Carleton County.

In 1854, a two-room grammar school was built on Cockburn Street. In

1895, a new building was built to house both elementary school and high school students from the village and surrounding area.

On March 27, 1924, the school burned down.

Classes were held in the Orange Lodge and in the town hall until a new school was built. A twostorey brick structure was built at McBean and Martin Streets in Richmond. The location was chosen as it was more central.

The school was originally the Richmond Continua-

tion School but eventually became Richmond Public School.

While there have been numerous renovations made to the building (1947, 1958, 1969, 1972, 1997 and 2013), the original school remains the core of the existing facility.

People attending the celebration were able to take a tour of the school that showcased the school’s history for the past century, as well as information on different writing tools and books that students have

used through the years.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were Dr. Pino Buffone and Shawn Lehman of the Ottawa-Carle-

ton District School Board, OCDSB Trustee Lynn Scott and Rideau Jock Councillor David Brown. Ladouceur, on behalf of

the school, also accepted a congratulatory scroll on behalf of the Province of Ontario from Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari.

Jessica Parsons and Aidan Strudwick from the Goulbourn Museum had a photo display of Richmond Public School’s history.

Richmond Public School Principal Laura Ladouceur thanked a group of RPS students who played a large role in the 100th anniversary celebration.

Shawn Lehman of the OCDSB and Councillor David Brown work the shovels during the planting of a celebration maple donated by Ritchie Feed and Seed.

Members of the Manotick Kiwanis Club and high school students from the Key Club staffed the annual Dickinson Days BBQ at Manotick Home Hardware. Manotick Home Hardware generously gives the club space each year to sell Christmas trees for its largest fundraiser each year.

Manotick Kiwanis proud to be a part of another successful Dickinson Days

For 49 years, the Village of Manotick has been celebrating the birthday of Moss Kent Dickinson, the founder of Manotick, on the first weekend of June.

The Kiwanis Club of Manotick has staffed and hosted the Friday night parade since the early 1990s and has been sponsoring the whole weekend since approximately 2010. It was originally organized by the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation to promote Watson’s Mill and its history. In the 1980’s the Kinsmen Club of Manotick were offered the opportunity to manage and expand the event. They organized the Dickinsons Days event until 2010 when the KC of Manotick took over. Kinsmen alumni continue their participation to this day by organizing, cooking and serving the Pancake Breakfast.

More than 500 volunteer hours were worked over the weekend. That includes Manotick Kiwanis members, Manotick Key Club members, Eastern Ottawa Kiwanis members, “friends of Kiwanis”, Boy Scouts and

Cadets. It does not include all the hours that went into planning and organizing, nor the hours spent by other organizations and businesses. We always have tremendous support from the Manotick BIA, Watson’s Mill, the Youth of Manotick (YOMA), the Legion and the Manotick community at large.

The Kiwanis Club of Manotick sends a huge thank you to all our sponsors:

Leimark Developments Ltd (the Mews of Manotick) for the fireworks, Minto Communities Canada for the parade, Manotick Optometric Centre for the Pancake Breakfast, Ken Gordon Holdings Inc. for the Family Variety Show, Home Hardware for the BBQ and Wilson Law Partners LLP for their financial support.

The annual BBQ on Dickinson Day Sunday is a Home Hardware event staffed by Kiwanis Club of Manotick volunteers. We are happy to show our appreciation to Man-

otick Home Hardware for their generosity and year-round support. Adam McCosham (Owner/Operator) of Manotick Home Hardware provides us with space to store and sell Christmas trees every

year. In addition, our Kiwanis sign is proudly displayed over the front of the store.

Once again, Terry McGovern, a resident of Manotick, provided the sound system for the entire

weekend. He emceed the variety show on Saturday and organized the music show on Saturday evening. On Sunday, Terry and his band, the Retrosonics, sponsored a full afternoon of music with local talent.

Dickinson Days brings the whole village together. The weather was perfect and this year was perhaps the best ever. Manotick Kiwanis is proud to be the sponsors of this epic weekend.

NOW OPEN

Sandy’s Island BBQ

Specializing in Rotisserie BBQ Chicken & Ribs Fresh Cut PEI Fries and PULLED PORK AND MORE

Beth, our Manager is a Cordon Bleu Certified Chef in charge of preparing all our food. Beth won the Chili cook-off contest at the Manotick Legion in February. WE now have a second chef Wayne Foster, certified “RED” Seal chef on the team with many years of catering experience.

Brand New to Manotick Soft serve ice cream (3 flavours) plus scoop ice cream (many flavours). Open Daily to 8pm.

Special thanks to all our Customers who have made our Restaurant venture successful

We will offer Catering for Weddings, Backyard BBQ parties with family and friends, Company Meetings and any other get together occasions. Rotisserie BBQ Chicken and Ribs are a first for the Manotick area.

Deliveries by Uber & Skip The Dishes.

Please call (or drop in) to pick up our packed menu for this exciting venture.

We look forward to serving you some of the best food in Ottawa and the Valley.

HOURS: Mon – Sat: 11am – 8pm Sunday: Closed

Members of the Manotick Kiwanis Club manned their float at the Dickinson Days Parade.

Pride Month: YOMA provides a safe and accepting place for local youth

By Leeanne Van der Burgt

June is Pride Month and YOMA remains a proud ally of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. We recognize the courage and resiliency that has been required for voices to be heard and for greater acceptance and equity. While progress has been made, there are still barriers and still opportunities to make our society safer and more welcoming. That is why Pride Month is so important. The cornerstone of YOMA has always been creating a safe and accepting place for local youth. The expectations we have of the youth who

participate in our programs are centred around that premise. They are expected to be respectful of themselves and others. We empower them to help foster and maintain a welcoming space. Positive, complimentary language is encouraged. Negativity, judgement and criticism are discouraged. Not only does this work, it makes youth feel safe to be their authentic selves.

Over the past decade we have had former youth participants come back and share that they realized they are part of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Not only were they exceptionally grateful

for having a place where they could feel accepted no matter what, they had formed friendships that prevailed after their time with YOMA. Many of those friends were the ones who supported them in their journey to understand who they are. There is a lovely family we know who are part of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. I asked the family about Pride month and what it means to them. This is what one of the mom’s shared with me. “As a longtime queer parent, we experienced many broken systems and barriers to services. Our oldest transitioned as a teen after struggling

with gender dysphoria. As we advocated for basic services, we realised the systems have not caught up yet. It took 3 applications, 28 pages, multiple trips to the MPP’s office, 2 rejections, and over 8 months to finally get a name and gender change on government ID. A name change related to a marriage takes 1 page and a day. This is discrimination hard stop. The big thing for us is for our kids to freely express themselves in a safe space and seeing the representation in the community. If kids don’t see role models they can identify with, they feel alone and out of place.”

If we at YOMA can do anything to help support youth by promoting inclusiveness and acceptance, we certainly will. Happy Pride month!

Dickinson Days brings business and community together in Manotick

By Kelly Belair ManoticK Bia

After months of preparation by the Kiwanis Club, we were thrilled to bring Dickinson Days to life last weekend! This event was an overwhelming success, bringing patrons of all ages to Manotick for a fun-filled weekend. The enthusiastic turnout and positive feedback highlight our community’s vibrant spirit and collective effort, making this gathering a milestone in our local history.

Dickinson Days is a community event proudly presented by the hard-working volunteers of the Kiwanis Club of Manotick however the Manotick BIA is not only a sponsor of the event but also assists behind the scenes to make the weekend the success that it is. We were thrilled to get over 10,000 views on social media during our event promotion campaign. Kudos to all the businesses and community organizations that shared our posts with their audiencesit makes a huge difference in getting the word out!

Over 30 local businesses hosted unique promotions, events, and sidewalk sales! You may have visited booths in the village craft market hosted by Hearing Life, Manotick Health & Wellness, White Clover Soap, Manotick Martial Arts, Pucci Parlour, Salvaged on Mill St, Peppermint Spa or Lollies & Scoops. Speaking of Lollies & Scoops, kids enjoyed donated lollipops during the Catch & Release

Manotick BIA News

Kelly Belair

Fishing Derby on Saturday morning.

On Saturday alone, 1700 people participated in Open Doors Ottawa at Watson’s Mill, where staff were ready to give visitors the full experience! Dickinson House had their fair share of guests, providing a cool refuge on a warm day.

Dickinson Days con-

sistently proves to bring business and community together. Morning Owl collaborated with neighbours Manotick Optometry and Body and Mind Athletics to host face painting, booths and meet the Canadian Guide Dogs! 692 Coffee & Bar hosted events and specials throughout the weekend, including a dunk tank on Saturday afternoon that raised $500 for Youth of Manotick Association.

Manotick Home Hardware debuted their Chairs for YOMA during the parade and hosted a barbecue on Sunday afternoon. We’re

proud that our entrepreneurs were able to enjoy a fruitful weekend and give back to the community in the process.

Shop Local! SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY

Local high schools score well in annual Fraser Report rankings

Rural south Ottawa’s high schools are among the best in the province.

The local schools scored very well as the Fraser Institute released its annual rankings of Ontario secondary schools, allowing parents to compare the academic performance of schools across the province.

“Our Report Cards offer parents information they can’t easily get anywhere else, about how their child’s school performs and how it compares to other schools in Ontario,” said Peter Cowley, a Fraser Institute senior fellow.

This year, the Report Card on Ontario’s Secondary Schools ranks 689 public, Catholic, and independent schools based on eight academic indicators derived from provincewide test results.

For example, Englehart, a public school in Northeast Ontario, is one of the fastest-improving high schools in the province, rising from a score of 2.2 out of 10 in

2016 to 6.5 in 2022.

Likewise, Toronto Ouest, a French public school in Toronto, is one of the fastest-improving school (rising from 4.9 in 2016 to 8.5), even though 13.7 per cent students have special needs.

Local high schools finished as follows:

- St. Mark Catholic High School had a score of 8 out of 10 and finished ranked 66th out of 689 schools.

- St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School in Riverside South both scored 7.8 to place 87th.

- South Carleton High School and Paul-Desmarais both had a score of 7.6 to rank tied for 120th.

- Sacred Heart High School had a score of 7.5 to rank 138th.

- Osgoode High Sschool had a score of 7.0 to rank 210th.

- John McCrae Secondary School scored 7.9 to finish 77th.

- Pierre-Savard scored 7.1 to finish 194th Ahlul Bayt Islamic

School on Albion Road in Gloucester was named the top elementary school in the province out of 2,975 schools ranked. Here is how local elementary schools ranked:

- St. Leonard scored 8.3 and ranked 231st out of 2,975 schools.

- Castor Valley Elementary School scored 7.9 to rank 402nd.

- École élémentaire publique Michaëlle-Jean scored 7.6 to place 532nd.

- Osgoode Public School scored 7.1 to rank 797th.

- École élémentaire catholique Saint-Jean-Paul II scored 6.7 to rank 1,094th.

- École élémentaire catholique Pierre-ElliottTrudeau scored 6.4 to place 1,303rd.

- St. Philip scored 6.2 and ranked 1,439th

- Kars on the Rideau scored 5.4 to finish 1,935th.

Contrary to common misconceptions, the data suggest every school can improve regardless of type, location, and student charac-

teristics.

“It doesn’t matter where a school is ranked, or what challenges its students may face. The evidence is

clear—all types of schools, located all over the province with different types of students, are all capable of improvement,” Cowley said.

For the complete results on all ranked schools and to compare the performance of different schools, visit www. compareschoolrankings.org.

The Richmond Legacy Community Association is pleased to announce another major contribution by a local area company Wammy Holding Corporation. Wammy Holding Corporation has been serving the Richmond and surrounding area for over 40 years. Their eavestrough systems, gutter guards, facia and soffit products are of superior quality and are fully guaranteed along with their workmanship. Wammy Holding Corporation is proud to support the Richmond Pavilion so that future generations may gather under its roof for years to come. For more information on Wammy Holding Corporation click on wammyhc.com. For more information on the Richmond Community Pavilion and on how you may contribute please visit richmondlegacy.ca. Pictured in the photo (L-R) are co-owners Brandon and Billy Wammes with employees Alan Jarvis and Ayden Pynn.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Baby’s dining accessory 4. Something free 8. Ancient Egyptian deity 10. Set-like mathematical categories 11. Top-quality 12. Expansive 13. Seizure 15. People with congenital absence of pigment 16. Gains 17. Mocked online

18. Clint’s son

21. Body part 22. Humor 23. Code number 24. Your physique

25. Family of regulator genes

26. LA football player (abbr.)

27. “The Blonde Bombshell”

34. Charity

35. Bluish greens

36. Examined closely

37. A type of equation

38. Stretched uncomfortably

39. Indian religious god

40. Clocks

41. Slowly leak through

42. Witnesses

43. Midway between south and southeast

CLUES DOWN

1. Nestlings

2. Induces vomiting

3. A place to eat

4. Partner in the air

5. Offered one’s take

6. Nobel-winning French biologist

7. Farm animals

9. Prevent from growing

10. Sensationalist periodical

12. Soft-bodied beetle

14. Very fast airplane

15. Imaginative creation

17. Recipe measurement (abbr.)

19. Evoked a response

20. French river

23. Shiny yellow minerals

24. Make illegal

25. U.S. military branch

26. River in France and Belgium

27. A woman of refinement

28. Male child

29. Type of medication

30. German city

31. Animal disease

32. Mediterranean dietary staple

33. Sneak out

34. Radioactivity unit

36. Performs on stage

Annual motorcycle Ride for ROSSS taking place Sat., June 15 in Manotick

By Melissa Macisaac RuRal Ottawa sOuth suppORt seRvices

The engines will be revving, the spirit of charity is high, and the open road beckons. It’s time once again for the annual Ride for ROSSS, a pokerrun charity motorcycle ride through the picturesque landscapes of rural Ottawa south. More than just a thrilling ride, this event is a vital fundraiser for vulnerable seniors and adults with disabilities, as participants rally to raise funds for ROSSS.

On Sat., June 15th, 2024, riders will gather at 1096 Bridge Street, Manotick, Ontario, eager to embark on this noble journey. The day kicks off with registration at 8 a.m., accompanied by steaming cups of coffee and refreshing treats, setting the stage for a day of camaraderie and compassion. With registration fees at $30 and $20 for additional riders, every dollar raised is to support seniors and adults with disabilities in our rural communities, through the vital work of ROSSS.

ROSSS News

Melissa MacIsaac

The scenic route winds its way through the country charm of rural Ottawa south and surrounding communities, offering riders not only the thrill of the ride but also the opportunity to make a tangible difference. Poker run stops along the way add an element of excitement, culminating in a grand finale at Lagois located at 5921 Prince of Wales Dr, North Gower, ON. Here, riders and BBQ attendees alike will enjoy a welldeserved lunch, entertainment, and the chance to win exciting prizes. The lunch is provided by the delicious Smokin’ R&R’s bbq truck where everyone can enjoy a selection of either pulled pork, beef brisket or pulled chicken sandwiches paired with some delicious poutine and salad. Beverages and desserts will also be available. Live entertainment from the incredibly talented Brie- find her first

single on Spotify Gabrielle Salmon!

Not a rider? Still want to support? Join us for the BBQ! Tickets for $25 each. We would love to see you there to enjoy good food, live music, raffles and silent auction and GOOD FUN!

At the heart of this unique event lies the mission of ROSSS – Rural Ottawa South Support Services. Dedicated to providing affordable, quality health, and social programs, ROSSS is a lifeline for older adults, adults living with disabilities, and their caregivers in rural communities south of Ottawa. From transportation and meals on wheels to in-home support and caregiver assistance, ROSSS offers a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual.

Last year’s Ride for ROSSS set a fundraising record of $10,000, providing 150 essential rides for vulnerable rural seniors to vital medical appointments. This year, organizers are determined to surpass that milestone and

make an even greater impact on the lives of those in need.

But Ride for ROSSS is more than just a fundraiser; it’s a symbol of community solidarity and is a testament to the power of individuals coming together to create positive change, one mile at a time.

As registrations open for the third annual Ride for ROSSS, organizers

urge motorcycle enthusiasts and philanthropists alike to join this noble cause. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or a novice, or just want to come for the music and food-there’s a place for everyone at this incredible event. Registration will be available dayof at ROSSS office 1096 Bridge Street, Manotick.

So, dust off your leathers, fuel up your bikes,

and join us on June 15th as we Ride for ROSSS –because every ride counts, and every dollar makes a difference. Together, let’s turn miles into smiles and rev up support for those who need it most.

To register or purchase BBQ tickets, please visit ROSSS website at www. rosss.ca or call Melissa at 613-692-4697 x 236. We hope to see you there!

Richmond Village Association conducting online survey June 10-28

The Richmond Village Association (RVA) is sponsoring and has organized a community-wide short, user-friendly survey for the residents of Richmond. It covers such topics as roads, traffic, pedestrian safety; youth and senior programming; recreation infrastructure; public transit; and, RVA community events.

The goal is to provide the residents of Richmond

an opportunity to express their interests, concerns, and priorities as our community continues to grow and expand.

The survey will be open to Richmond residents from Monday, June 10th through Friday, June 28th through a Google Form link on the Richmond Village Association’s website and Facebook page.

The results of the survey will assist the RVA

in making informed decisions as to the events and programs we organize for the community and how best to allocate our volunteer and financial resources.

The RVA also intends to share and make the results of this short survey available to the Richmond community and public as well as with our locally elected officials at both the municipal and provincial levels.

CONSULTATION NOTICE:

South Nation Conservation (SNC), Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), and Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA) will be hosting public information sessions for residents to learn more about updated wetland mapping and development policies under the Government of Ontario Reg. 41/24: Prohibited Activities, Exemptions and Permits.

Residents interested in learning more, viewing draft wetland maps and providing feedback are welcome to schedule meetings with their Conservation Authority or drop in anytime during the information sessions:

Hockey player talks about racism on the ice at diversity tournament

By Charlie SenaCk

Hockey is supposed to be a community sport; a time to cheer on your favorite team or make life-long friendships. Unfortunately for marginalized individuals, it can also be a place of discrimination.

Local women’s hockey player Jada Burke shared her story of racism on the ice during a Diversity and Inclusion Hockey Tournament organized by private school R.I.S.E Academy on May 25. The event held at the University of Ottawa attracted hundreds of youth who wanted to break down some of the barriers and stigmas within the sport they love.

“I had about three main incidents of discrimination and only one was at the upper level where someone called

me the N word on ice during a game,” Burke recalled to the Barrhaven Independent.

“I didn’t know what to do. The refs couldn’t do anything because they didn’t hear it. I went back to the bench yelling and screaming. I was very emotional.”

Burke, who’s been on the

ice since age 3, admits she didn’t handle the situation as well as she should have, but how are you supposed to deal with someone attacking you for your identity? Burke said opening up the crowd during a panel discussion was both healing and empowering.

“I’m glad that people saw the emotion that can be triggered in racism,” she said.

Burke spent most of her childhood playing for the Nepean Wildcats, which she called a supportive group where none of the incidents occurred. During a year she didn’t play for the local team, a referee said “back up Black,” following a scrum at the net. Other players heard it, said Burke.

The third incident was during a game with a Frenchspeaking team. As Burke was heading back to the bench, a player from the other side turned to point out she was Black in a random, sudden conversation.

“It was a weird statement to say, and it was done in a way to get under my skin. We were wearing white so it had nothing to do with the jersey colour,” said Burke.

Burke spoke at length about what she and many other Black hockey players face during a panel discussion following the viewing of a documentary titled “Beyond their Years.” It profiled sports and social justice Icons Herb Carnegie and Buck O’Neil who faced discrimination in their respective sports.

It’s hearing incidents like Burke’s that encouraged R.I.S.E founder Rebecca Chambers to start the tournament and symposium three years ago. For every incident that is reported, there

are many that never leave the arenas and change rooms.

Chambers, a hockey mom from Greely who used to teach at John McCrae High School, said she was proud to see youth have tough discussions about a topic that can be difficult to raise awareness around.

“I feel inspired by the hundreds of youth we see here today. We cannot create change if we pretend that racism and other forms of discrimination do not happen in sports like hockey,” she said. “For our younger generation it’s an opportunity to instill values in them at a young age. As humans we learn from liver experiences and hearing people talk about what they’ve gone through. For parents, it’s an opportunity to think about something they maybe haven’t considered. People generally want to be good people and support others.”

A new way of learning

The unconventional teacher started R.I.S.E Academy after finding it difficult to work within the confined rules of a traditional educational curriculum. When she taught full time in the Ottawa Carleton District School Board, Chambers had her students work on passion-based projects, an opportunity for them to dig deep into a topic they care about. It’s a mission she’d carried over to the online school.

“Students learn so much more when they are engaged. Our learning is targeted towards the next generation of change makers,” she said. “Each course we offer is inquiry-based, following the Social Change Maker Model. Throughout, students dis-

cover their strengths, motivations, and passions. While doing so they acquire valuable skills required for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

Each course goes towards an Ontario Secondary School Diploma, and students are able to participate in the private school while still being part of their home schools or homeschooling programs.

Former Black hockey player Bob Dawson, who had dedicated his retirements towards breaking down stigma in hockey, first became involved with R.I.S.E during its insertion through a “Blow the Whistle on Racism” campaign. He played a big part in the May tournament and said he hopes attendees left feeling inspired and empowered.

Burke, who went on to play hockey competitively at Lindenwood University in Missouri and later the University of Calgary, said she hopes to have the chance to speak at further R.I.S.E events and believes the conversations around racism will never stop — nor shouldn’t.

“Someone in the audience asked how long we’d be having these conversations for, when is it going to be enough? I understand where that mindset comes from, but it’s still needed,” she said. “I don’t think we will ever get to a point where we stop having the conversations. People don’t realize racism and discrimination until it impacts them.”

To find out more about R.I.S.E academy visit: riseacademy.ca.

“For me, to make hockey safer, more inclusive and welcoming for everyone, it takes each of us to make a difference for all of us,” he said. “As co-chair of this year’s Summit on Diversity and Inclusion, we wanted to engage attendees in the difficult conversations about the culture of hockey and issues of maltreatment in all their forms. We also wanted to explore, debate and share insights on creating a safer, more inclusive, positive and welcoming hockey environment for all. I think we were able to do that.”

Jada Burke

Jada Burke finished her university hockey career at the University of Calgary.

St. Mother Teresa High School grad Jada Burke began her collegiate hockey career at Lindenwood University in Missouri.

Healthcare is not one-sizefits-all, by listening to our clients and asking questions, we

Katie Koebel, Audiologist & Senior Manager, Audiology

“Fiddles On The Rideau Festival” Floats Into Manotick To

Raise Awareness And Financial Aid For The Youth Of Manotick Association (Yoma)

Fiddles on the Rideau Festival was founded by Ottawa-areamusician-educator-composer Sherryl Fitzpatrick in May 2021. The full weekend festival, now in its second year has been nominated by the 2024 Ottawa Capital Music Awards in the category of “Live Music Curator of the Year”. The previous three years helped to lead up to a larger vision to bring a major fiddle festival to our Nation’s Capital on June 21-23, 2024 and the perfect venue is right here in Manotick along the banks of the Rideau River.

Just as the culture in Canada is diverse, so is the music. Each year the festival highlights the differences in fiddle styles between provinces. On the weekend of June 21-23, 2024, fiddlers from across Canada coupled with local musicians will gather at the Manotick United Church to play concerts, host a square dance and teach music workshops in fiddle, dance and piano.

The three-day fiddle festival starts on Friday, June 21st at the Manotick United Church with live performances by three of Canada’s finest and virtuoso musicians. The band Cécilia is comprised of Champion fiddler, Louis Schryer, pianist Erin Leahy (Leahy) and accordionist, Timi Turmel. Following the concert, the festival will be hosting a square dance from 8:30-10:00pm with music provided by the band Cécilia and square dance caller Jackson Corry. Jackson is a multi-instrumentalist with a love for the drive of fiddle and trad music. He and his brother grew up playing at old time dances and busking across Alberta and they continue to cultivate love of music across Canada. The festival continues into Saturday with all day fiddle, piano, and step dancing workshops by our festival artists.

On Saturday, June 22nd we will be featuring the Fiddles on the Rideau Trio (Sherryl Fitzpatrick - fiddle, Chad Wolfe - fiddle/step dance and Mark Allen on piano). Following this concert, we celebrate “Women in Fiddle” with musical performances by Kingston’s Kelli Trottier (fiddle, step dance, vocal), Come From Away lead fiddler, Anna Ludlow (fiddle, vocal, guitar), Renfrew’s own Terri-Lynn Mahusky (fiddle/step dance), Scotland’s Karen Steven (fiddle/step dance) and local artist, Sherryl Fitzpatrick (piano). There will be a jam session following each of the concerts from 10:00-11:00pm.

On Sunday, the flotilla event will take place on Sunday, June 23rd with live performances on board pontoon boats from 10:00am-noon. The flotilla will feature festival artists Sherryl Fitzpatrick, Chad Wolfe amoung others.

The music starts at Mahogany Harbour at 10:00am and will stay in the channel.

Founded by Ottawa-area musician-educator-composer Sherryl Fitzpatrick, the FOTR event is part of a larger vision to familiarize all Canadians with the traditional and contemporary importance of fiddling to Canadian Heritage. It is also a fundraising initiative to bring awareness and support to mental health. This is the fourth year for the FOTR event but the first year for the Youth of Manotick Association (YOMA). Par of the proceeds will be donated to the Youth of Manotick Association, www.yoma.ca. RBC and Portfolio Manager, Janice Domaratzki was enthusiastic to get on board to support the festival. “To see how the Manotick business community has embraced us and has supported such a great cause is humbling and encouraging” says Fitzpatrick. To date, FOTR has raised close to $10,000 for mental health organizations in Ottawa. Last year, they were successful in surpassing their fundraising goal and raised $2,108.00 for the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (YSB.ca). Rachel Lessard who is the Events and Community Engagement Specialist at the Youth Services Bureau Foundation says, “At $2108.00, your fundraiser can provide over 45 youth with 1-hour mental health sessions.”

Music is incredibly special and important to human life. It is meant to lift the spirits of musicians and bystanders alike. “The global pandemic decimated live music. It created a separation among musicians, socially, emotionally, and musically. It also left a void of that special positive human connection that takes place between musicians and audience. To have live music again in such an intimate setting created a sense of community and gave us an opportunity to make those connections again”, says Fitzpatrick. “We can’t wait to reconnect with fellow artists and the audience on the weekend of June 21-23, 2024. Advance online individual concert tickets and festival passes are available online only at www.fiddlesontherideau.com. Tickets are available at the door.