Manotick Messenger June 2, 2023

Silver Lining

In only their first year competing, the St. Mark Catholic High School Reach for the Top team won the silver medal in the Junior Division (Grades 7-8) at the 2023 Canadian championships, held virtually earlier this month. The team breezed through the competition to win the Ontario championship, and then suffered only one loss in the Canadian tournament to the championship team from Alberta. Members of the national finalists are, front row, Declan Faloon and Sophia Tang. Back row, left to right, are Milo Cheung, Will Howson, Calvin Cherkewich, Isaac Bogle and Aden McIsaac. For the full story, see page 4.

Dickinson Days weekend is just around the corner

One of the most exciting weekends of the year in the Carleton riding is Dickinson Days, when the area celebrates the founder of Manotick, Moss Kent Dickinson.

Dickinson’s footprints extend far beyond Manotick. As a forwarder in the lumber business, he was instrumental in growing the business community in several towns and villages from Manotick to the St. Lawrence River, and into New York State.

Dickinson Days is a great way to celebrate the past of Manotick and the region.

The Dickinson Days Parade has been a highlight of the year for Baxter and myself, and year after year it amazes me to see thousands of people line Manotick Main Street for the parade. The market, the shows, the restaurants and the activities at Watson’s Mill and

throughout the village make this event truly unique not just in Carleton or Ottawa, but in all of Canada. I hope to see you there!

Congratulations 872 RCACS

Saturday, May 27 was a special day for the 872 Kiwanis-Kanata Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron

The 872 RCACS annual ceremonial review took place Saturday afternoon in Stittsville. It was an opportunity for the squadron to demonstrate some of the things they have learned

over the past year in front of their families, friends, and members of the community. There are many members of the 872 RCACS who live in the Carleton riding. I, along with many others, are proud of the dedication and hard work that they have put in over the past year.

Ontario Removing Unfair Work Barriers for Skilled Newcomers

The Ontario government is leading the country with changes to help internationally-trained immigrants work in the fields they’ve studied in. After introducing historic legislation that banned regulated professions from requiring Canadian work experience in more than 30 occupations, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) are the first association to remove it from

their application criteria. If passed, this has the potential to help thousands of otherwise-qualified professionals pursue their dreams over the coming years, all while maintaining Ontario’s world-class licensing and exam requirements.

Roughly 300,000 jobs continue to go unfilled across the province every day, including thousands in engineering, costing billions in lost productivity. At the same time, studies have shown only a quarter of internationally trained immigrants in Ontario work in the regulated professions they trained for. Currently, even if a newcomer has the skills and technical ability to pass their profession’s licensing exams, they may still be barred from registering in their profession without Canadian work ex-

perience – even if that work occurs in an unrelated sector, such as retail.

Ontario is the first province in Canada to ban unfair or discriminatory Canadian work experience requirements to help newcomers work in the professions they trained for. In December 2023, all unfair requirements for Canadian experience will be automatically voided unless an exemption is granted by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development for public health and safety.

Quick Facts

- Introduced as part of Working for Workers Act, 2021, Ontario was the first province in Canada to ban use of discriminatory Canadian Experience Requirements in occupations under the Fair Access to Regulated

Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006 (FARPACTA).

- In 2019, Engineers were the fourth largest regulated profession in Ontario with 85,649 members and had the second largest number of internationally trained members, with 24,258 people registered in the profession.

- In 2020, the median employment income for a Civil Engineer in Ontario was $96,000.

- If passed, as part of Working for Workers Act, 2023, the FARPACTA would help ensure that regulated professions assess competency in a way that is non-discriminatory, ensuring newcomers are able to continue their careers in Ontario.

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- Ontario invests over $90M annually in services that help newcomers learn English or French, settle, access training and find jobs.

Paramedics Honoured

The Ontario government is honouring paramedics from across the province with the inaugural Ontario Medal for Paramedic Bravery. The medal is given to paramedics who have demonstrated great courage risking their lives to save the lives of others.

The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, presented medals to 10 paramedics in a ceremony at Queen’s Park. This is the first year paramedics in Ontario have been honoured by the province with a medal for their actions.

Recipients are recognized for their individual acts of outstanding bravery, including moving a crashed plane to save passengers inside,

diving to the bottom of Lake Ontario to rescue a drowned man, grabbing hold of a suicidal man on a highway ledge, swimming an unconscious cliff diver to safety, saving other first responders during a gas line explosion, and rescuing workers from a collapsed building. While these medal recipients have been selected for their acts of extraordinary selflessness, each paramedic in Ontario has a profound impact on the health and safety of people across the prov-

ince.

Quick Facts

- Paramedic Services Week is celebrated across Canada from May 21 to 27, 2023. The theme for Paramedic Services Week 2023 is “Diversity in Paramedicine – The Patient. The Provider. The Profession”. This theme recognizes the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion for patients, providers, and the profession of paramedicine.

- Since its inauguration in

2015, 74 paramedics have received the Ontario Award for Paramedic Bravery. This year marks the first year the award has been elevated to a provincial honour medal as the newly named Ontario Medal for Paramedic Bravery.

- Any Ontario paramedic is eligible to receive the medal for an act of exceptional courage that has occurred within the last 24 months. The honour can be bestowed posthumously.

- There are over 10,500 paramedics currently em-

ployed in Ontario, the largest group of paramedics in Canada.

Office Notice:

My office is open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. If you require assistance on any matter, please contact me at any time. My staff and I will be happy to assist. Even if it’s not a provincial issue, I’ll make sure to connect you with the proper office.

Goldie

Your voice at Queen’s Park

Ontario investing in more affordable housing in Ottawa

The Ontario government is investing an additional $24.1 million in affordable housing in Ottawa to create up to 138 affordable and supportive housing units.

The project, known as Mikinak, is a joint initiative between the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCHC) that, once completed, will contain a total of 271 units across three buildings. The project will provide supports for

seniors, families, Indigenous households and persons with developmental disabilities. More than 20 per cent of the units across the project will be accessibl

“Today’s announcement demonstrates our government’s commitment to tackling homelessness and ending the housing supply crisis in Ontario,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Located at 715 Mik-

inak Road, the project is being built on the former Canadian Forces Base Rockcliffe lot. The midrise buildings will include housing for people on the city’s social housing waitlist, which includes people residing in the emergency shelter system and offsite facilities such as hotels and motels.

“Every person, regardless of their circumstances, deserves a roof over their heads and a safe place

to call home,” said Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa. “That’s why this announcement is very important for the City of Ottawa. It comes at a critical time and it demonstrates that the City and the Province of Ontario can work together towards our common goal of ending chronic homelessness by building more affordable housing and supportive housing.”

OCHC is the largest provider of social housing

in Ottawa and is Ontario’s second-largest housing provider. Supported by the City of Ottawa, OCHC manages a portfolio of approximately 15,000 affordable and community housing units for more than 32,000 people across Ottawa.

“The Mikinak project will be a game-changer for many families throughout the Ottawa region,” said Goldie Ghamari, MPP for Carleton. “Our government is not only provid-

ing much-needed housing for families, seniors, Indigenous households and persons with developmental disabilities, but the development of the project will also stimulate the local economy with jobs and contracts for people working in the trades and in the construction industry. There are multiple layers of families and individuals who will benefit from the Mikinak project.” – Goldie Ghamari, MPP for Carleton

St. Mark wins silver at Reach for the Top Nationals

B y M anotick M essenger s taff

In just their first year competing, the St. Mark High School Junior Reach for the Top Team has won a silver medal at the Canadian Reach for the Top championships.

The team of Isaac

Bogle, Calvin Cherkewich, Milo Cheung, Declan Faloon, Will Howson, Aden McIsaac and Sophia Tang went on an incredible run to win the Ontario junior title to earn a spot in the nationals. They went unbeaten before losing to the champion team from Alberta.

“The entire year was an incredible journey for the students,” said St. Mark teacher Britney Casselman, who put the team together and coached them throughout the year.

Casselman is in her first year at St. Mark and was happy to start the new program.

“St. Mark has a lot of great extra curricular programs, especially for a smaller school,” she said. “When I found out there was no Reach for the Top team, I thought it was an opportunity to put a team together and create something special for the students.”

Casselman put the word out at the school that they were looking for students interesting in joining the club and forming a team. She was surprised with the reaction.

“There was no interest at all from the high school students,” she said. “All of the students interested were from Grades 7 and 8.”

While Reach for the Top at the provincial and national levels has Junior (Gr. 7-8), Intermediate (Gr. 9-10) and Senior (Gr. 11-12) divisions, St. Mark was the only school in the city to put together a Junior team. They spent the year competing against Grade 9 and 10 students. Most of the students on the St. Mark team are in Grade 7.

“In the beginning, we were beaten a lot,” Casselman said. “But the students worked hard and they learned, and they got better and better as the year went on.”

Not only did the team improve, but they started winning. They got good enough to finish third in the city’s Intermediate division. However, getting to

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the provincial championships was not easy.

“We were the only Intermediate team in Ottawa, but they didn’t just automatically put us in,” Casselman said. “We had to beat five of the best teams in Toronto to qualify before they let us in.”

St. Mark got in the provincials and won, earning a spot in the nationals.

“At the provincials, the students were playing against students who were older,” Casselman said. “They asked me why it seemed so easy, and I explained to them that they were used to competing at the Intermediate level.”

At the Nationals, St. Mark had an exceptional showing and earned silver medals.

“I couldn’t be more proud of them,” she said. “It’s about a lot more than just winning. I am proud of them because they were so gracious in losing. We were beaten by a better team that deserved to win,

and the students handled it extremely well.”

Of the seven students that were on the silver medal team, all but one is in Grade 7 and will be back for next year.

“Even the student who is moving up to Grade 9 can be a part of the team in the Intermediate Division,” Casselman said.

“He won’t be able to take part in the provincials and nationals, but he can be a part of the team throughout the year.”

Casselman added that the support of the school and the Principal, Michael Curry, was invaluable.

“The tournaments were all virtual this year,” Casselman said. “When the provincials and nationals were held on weekends, Mr. Curry made sure that the school was open and we could all be together as a team.”

The St. Mark team will be receiving their national silver medals in the upcoming weeks.

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The St. Mark Reach for the Top team, made up of Grade 7-8 students, were the only Junior team in Ottawa. As a result, they competed against Grade 9-10 students throughout the year.

RVCA plants seven millionth tree in Village of Richmond

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority had seven million reasons to smile on Saturday, May 13 as it celebrated the planting of its seven millionth tree with a commemorative event in Richmond.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and ElizabethtownKitley Mayor Brant Burrow helped plant a burr oak sapling, which served as a symbolic seven millionth tree for the ceremony.

In reality, the true milestone seedling is growing somewhere in the watershed, likely hand-planted last spring in a rural landowner’s unused field along with thousands of other bare root native trees.

Since 1984, the RVCA has been committed to tree planting across the watershed as part of its comprehensive watershed management strategy. Trees aren’t just pretty providers of shade; they are also key to reducing the impacts of

floods and droughts, filtering contaminants out of stormwater, storing carbon, managing erosion and providing critical wildlife habitat.

Most of the trees planted since 1984 have been through RVCA’s Private Landowner Forestry program, which offers generous financial and technical support for farmers and other rural landowners to complete large-scale planting on their properties. The program offers steep subsidies, bringing prices as low as $0.15 per tree. Program costs are covered by funding partners such as Forests Ontario, the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation and One Tree Planted.

Landowners in all 18 of RVCA’s member municipalities have participated in the program, but the City of Ottawa and ElizabethtownKitley’s landowners have planted the most. More than 2 million trees have been

planted in the City of Ottawa through its Green Acres program, which works with RVCA as well as Mississippi Valley and South Nation conservation authorities to plant trees on private lands. Elizabethtown-Kitley has about 600,000 trees on the books since 1992, more than any other rural municipality in the watershed.

“Seven million trees is quite an accomplishment,” Mayor Sutcliffe told Saturday’s crowd, which included donors and funding partners as well as about 30 volunteers who had just finished planting another 130 trees along Flowing Creek. Sutcliffe reiterated his commitment to planting another one million trees during this term of office.

Mayor Burrow said he was proud to learn his municipality is tops in tree planting in rural Rideau Valley.

“Considering that Elizabethtown-Kitley covers an area of more than 550 square

kilometers, it stands to reason our tree canopy would be fairly significant,” Mayor Burrow said. “However, learning that our landowners have added another 600,000 trees to the natural inventory still came as a bit of a surprise - and it is something our residents should be extremely proud of.”

Mayor Burrow suggested he’d like his municipality to hit 700,000 by the end of his term in 2026.

RVCA general manager Sommer Casgrain-Robertson said this milestone is another great example of the watershed-wide model at work.

“When we plant trees in Portland, residents downstream in Smiths Falls benefit. When we plant trees in Merrickville, residents downstream in Barrhaven benefit. We’re all downstream from somewhere,” Casgrain-Robertson said. “We are thrilled to see the commitment from local

landowners as they embrace these natural solutions on their properties, for the benefit of the entire watershed.”

RVCA thanks its many partners, donors and sup-

porters for helping it reach this momentous milestone. To learn more about the tree planting program and book a site visit, visit https:// www.rvca.ca/stewardshipgrants.

The RVCA planted its seven millionth tree in Richmond May 13.

MESSENGER EditoRial

The Governor-General’s New Clothes

OPINION PAGE

Most of us have had a bit of a soft spot for Mary Simon since she was first named Canada’s Governor-General. She checked all the right boxes, which is important to the optics-oriented Trudeau government. She is the first Indigenous Governor-General. And she is a local person with roots in the community as a former local resident.

Messenger Editorial

But most importantly, she was the right person for the job and seemed to be the one who would be the right fit for the position.

Are you more Canadian than a fifth grader?

But we knew she would be living under a microscope, and that many struggling Canadians do not want to hear about our political leaders spending taxpayers’ dollars on lavish lifestyles.

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

Do we take being Canadian for granted?

There are no litter boxes in local school washrooms from the other side

We wondered when we would start getting the same inquiries that have been circulating in other parts of Canada and the United States for nearly two years.

Finally, it happened last week.

Our COmmunity

No. There is no truth to any rumour anyone might tell you regarding students who identify as cats demanding the placement of litter boxes in the washrooms at schools in Manotick, Richmond, Metcalfe, Barrhaven or Riverside South.

Popular right wing podcaster Joe Rogan fueled the rumours in late 2021 when he asked a former US house representative about litter boxes placed at an unnamed school for students who identify as furries.

Rogan never confirmed the rumour before he ran with it.

The latest target is the Governor-General’s wardrobe. Evidently, she is not shopping at Winners in the Rio-Can Marketplace.

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.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the federal government to end the policy that allows governors general to bill taxpayers for clothes.

“The feds need to rein in the governor general’s out-of-control expenses,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director of the CTF. “Canada’s governor general already takes a $342,100 salary every year so they can pay for their own clothes.”

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

The rumours have been circulating since 2021. We aren’t sure who started this particular rumour or which town was the first to deal with it. But it’s here now. And the saddest thing about the rumour is that in the current world where many of us feel trapped between the woke and anti-woke movements, the cat litter thing is very believable.

Since then, according to an NBC report, 20 Conservative politicians in the US have falsely claimed that litter boxes were being placed in schools to accommodate students who identify as cats. NBC did their homework and fact checked. No schools placed litter boxes in schools.

Last November, University of Waterloo Professor Sharon Roberts wrote a story for Canadian Press addressing the issue and explaining what a furry is.

So how can the rest of us have that feeling?

The Conservative government has a solid idea.

Governors general Julie Payette and Mary Simon expensed more than $88,000 in clothing that they get to keep. Expenses include a $680 “top,” $590 dress pants, $20 t-shirts, a $160 scarf and $1,064 in boots.

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.

“While some of the items were worn for specific ceremonies connected to the governor general’s role, many others appear to be clothing for personal or day-to-day business use,” according to the National Post.

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.

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.

A governor general is allowed to expense up to $130,000 in clothing purchases over their five-year mandate.

The governor general’s annual salary is $342,100, which is about $40,000 more than it was before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“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.”

In the fall of 2021, Prince Edward Island was the first to deal with the barrage of calls and emails inquiring about rumours of cat litter being placed in restrooms for students who identified as cats. Norbert Carpenter was the provincial education director who had to issue a statement stating that there was no truth to the rumours. In an interview with CBC, he said it was no joke.

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?

“Many Canadians are actually stressed about the price of clothing, but the governor general isn’t one of them,” Terrazzano said. “If the prime minister and ministers can pay for their own clothes then surely governors general can too.”

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

Bev McRae photo

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

“It seemed to me like it was a backlash against some of the progressive things that our schools are doing, and we would have many that would say this is rooted in hate and transphobia and homophobia and that message needs to be clear, it’s not acceptable,” he said.

“If your knowledge of furries comes mostly from television or social media, then what you’ve heard about furries is probably wrong,” she wrote. “It’s not your fault — the misinformation is pervasive. I’m not a furry, and I once held erroneous views of furries, too.”

Roberts has been studying furries and Furscience for 15 years.

“Have you heard of cosplay, where people costume as characters? They might dress up as a storm trooper or superhero and attend a comic book convention to have fun with friends. Furries do a similar thing, but with a twist.

At the coronation of King Charles III, Governor-General Simon commissioned an outfit to reflect her Inuit culture.

FROM THE OTHER SIDE

The dress, or annuraaq, Simon wore to the ceremony was designed by fellow Nunavimmiut Beatrice Deer, the celebrated singer-songwriter, designer and mental health activist.

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.

After meeting with Simon, Deer spent a month-and-a-half creating the garment. The different fabrics included sheer green material on the arms, caribou fur details and a white fox-fur collar, the process included beading and embroidering the Governor General’s official coat of arms for a chest piece on the annuraaq.

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.

We don’t know exactly how much money was spent on what was truly a remarkable outfit. We also don’t know if it will ever be worn again.

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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.

“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.”

By Jeffrey Morris

“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.

Maybe people would feel better about expenses like this if the outfit was auctioned off to raise money for a Canadian charity.

“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.

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That caught my attention.

Arr-hayne-TEE-na? Are you kidding me?

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

“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.

Not long after the PEI situation, the rumours hit much closer to home. The Renfrew District School Board and the Renfrew District Catholic School Board both had to issue statements assuring parents that no cat litter or litter boxes were being placed in restrooms at many of its schools.

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.”

“Furries are people who have an interest in anthropomorphism, which specifically refers to giving human characteristics to animals. In its most distilled form, furries are a group of people who formed a community — or fandom — because they have a common interest in anthropomorphic media, friendships and social inclusion.”

“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.

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.

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The National Post reported that earlier this month, the Durham District School Board had to deal with similar rumours and issue a statement.

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.

So, according to Roberts, furries are no different than people who walk around wearing a Leafs-Sens game wearing Auston Matthews or Brady Tkachuk jerseys.

She also says that the litter box scenario is unlikely.

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.

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.

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.

“As a district, we are concerned that these types of rumours about accommodating students identifying as furries, may be rooted in transphobia and homophobia with the intent to diminish and trivialize gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation and cause harm to students and staff who identify as 2SLGBTQI,” the statement noted. “This is unacceptable and we are continuing to take steps to support and uphold rights for 2SLGBTQI communities.”

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

“Is it possible that somewhere someone has asked for a litter box? Anything is possible and I can’t disprove a negative. But are litter boxes an integral part of the furry fandom? We’ve never observed litter boxes at any of the dozens of furry conventions we’ve attended internationally…

“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?”

The Durham response to the ridiculous rumours that just keep popping up like cold sores on the face of Canada’s social climate has been the best and most effective. But by looking at the response, we have to wonder why the furries are being dragged into the same conversation as non-binary and transgender rights.

“Yes please,” I replied.

“Many of the litter box rumours also fixate on cats. However, most furries’ fursonas are wild and mythical animals, such as foxes, wolves and unicorns or hybrid species, such as a kangaroo-dragon. These are not the kinds of species that would use litter boxes, anyway.”

So there you have it. There are no litter boxes in schools.

There is also no reason to drag the nonbinary, transgender, they/them crowd into the conversation of litter boxes at schools, which we will remind you again is not a thing.

I was just about to drift back into ADD world and

In the United States, the cat litter box in schools rumours have been even more socially and politically harmful than they have been here.

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.

We do our best to be accepting of everyone in this changing world. But in all honesty, is anyone else terrified of the thought of a kangaroo-dragon?

Sometimes it’s best just to say nil

Bag-tag trash system will be a failed experiment

The Editor, Here we go again! If there’s one issue that rears its ugly head with astonishing regularity at Ottawa City Hall, it’s the topic of waste management and the latest scheme to reduce a core service. Although it never presented itself during the last election, suddenly we’re once again concerned about the projected lifespan of the Trail Road dump and the need to curtail the amount of waste collected. The an-

swer, according to staff, is to severely limit the number of bags collected by introducing a bag tag system to penalize those who are discarding too much. Of course, the real answer is to improve diversion, which the city could accomplish in a variety of ways, none of which are being considered, naturally. Let’s face it, the city could use a carrot instead of a stick, but these folks don’t do carrots, only sticks.

Ironically, the solution

was described in great detail in East Barrhaven councillor Wilson Lo’s column in the May 12, 2023 edition of the Barrhaven independent. Lo explained that he had grown up in the City of Markham, which had tried a similar bag tag system in the late 2000s that didn’t accomplish the goal of improving waste diversion--unless you’re referring to residents dumping their excess garbage in public refuse containers or construction site dumpsters. The

point is, the bag tag system in Markham was a failed experiment (since abandoned) although Markham now boasts one of the “highest waste diversion rates in the country.” The bag tag system did not accomplish that, but what did was so sensible you honestly wonder why the City of Ottawa isn’t even contemplating it. The secret is to just make it easier for people to recycle! Rather than having different coloured bins collected bi-weekly on an alter-

nating basis, everything goes into a blue box that is collected every week. As Lo explained it, “Markham collects all recyclables weekly and does not require residents to sort them (their waste collection contractor, coincidentally also Miller Waste, does that at a depot.)” Apparently that has worked so well that the City of Markham was able to cancel their bag tag system in the late 2010s.

Of course this is Ottawa, which means that our navel-

gazing municipal government can’t wait to repeat the failed experiment with bag tags, all the while anticipating a different result. It’s certainly clear that our former AM Talk Radio host of a Mayor has been guzzling the Koolaid provided by his staff and seems to be resigned to the inevitability of going the bagtag route, but let’s hope that Councillor Lo can convince his colleagues to consider a more sensible solution.

Andy Braid

Adding wind farms to electricity grid driven by wishful thinking

The Editor, The addition of wind “farms” to the electricity grid is driven by dogma that’s reliant on wishful thinking, not practical re-

ality. When activists (including some governments such as our federal one) and their adherents claim that we must transition off fossil fuels, they nearly al-

ways mean that wind and solar generated electricity should -- must! -- replace them. But to make that claim, they have to ignore a number of problems that

OPEN HOUSE

make their goal impossible.

Some of those problems: - Weather-dependent electricity is rarely in sync

with demand, providing a vexing challenge to those responsible for maintaining a reliable and balanced supply to the grid. Wind turbines produce

nothing without wind, but they can’t operate in high wind without risking selfdestruction.

letter continues on page 9

by Phill Potter

Grade: 12

Parents: Heather and Dennis Wyche

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

letter continues from page 7

- Unlike power plants, including nuclear, wind farm installations can’t be refurbished, so must be decommissioned after 25 years or less. Retired wind turbine blades, which can be almost 120m long, are notoriously problematic to recycle due to the materials used in their construction, so they pile up in landfills. (Perhaps they could be incinerated in a waste-to-energy plant but would need to be chopped up first.)

- Wind and solar energy are dilute compared to fossil fuels and nuclear and require much more land and infrastructure for an equivalent output, even at their peak. Treating rural areas as empty land available for such exploitation is akin to bullying and ignores the environmental impact and despoiling of the landscape.

- The requirement for far more minerals, including copper and “rare earths” means much more mining and processing, using fossil fuels or, in the case of poor countries such as the Congo, life-shortening child labour.

- Wind turbines are the electricity generators most vulnerable to severe weather, becoming practically useless in storms, even if not directly damaged.

In short, the heavy environmental footprint of the currently favoured “renewables” should not be minimized. It’s foolish to deflect attention from the problems with false accusations about “paving over the (Ontario) greenbelt” and claiming that health risks from wind turbines have been debunked. Reliable energy is what we need to thrive.

The only thing reliable

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

to foster greater community engagement, discuss issues and share information to help the City develop policy and respond to community concerns.

about the promoted “renewable” energy is that the companies benefitting rely on government subsidies to make what they call a “business case”. Such support is very different from the proportionally much smaller amounts that oil and gas companies receive, mostly in support of environmental protection and restoration, while they produce the energy supplies that we truly rely on.

Even if you believe that using wind energy instead of fossil fuels is beneficial, keep in mind that every aspect of producing and installing the equipment relies on fossil fuels.

In past energy transitions, demonstrably better sources became available and boosted human productivity. We’re now facing the bizarre situation of governments mandating a change and demonizing the most reliable and affordable energy that humanity has ever had. Wind and solar power companies may rejoice, as does China, which controls much of the minerals involved, but the rest of us face higher costs and more constraints and intrusions on our lives. Wind Concerns Ontario has good reasons to oppose such development.

Evidence-based policy would recognize the benefits of our natural resources, to Canadians and the world, and promote their responsible and efficient use. As a Gordon Lightfoot song says, “When this land was made, it was made full of wonders.” Why do any of our governments promote fear and guilt and forget gratitude?

David Wieland, Kars

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.”

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.”

MVCA participates in first meeting of the new Ward 21 Council

Being

Name: Melita Wyche

Age: 17

School: Osgoode Township High

The initial meeting provided opportunity for Ward Council Members to introduce themselves to one another, become familiar with the structure of future meetings and discuss current issues, including the Ice Storm and power outages on which the Councillor’s office is working with the City and power distributors to develop better solutions before the next storm.

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

Grade: 12

Parents: Heather and Dennis Wyche

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

file a non-emergency police report when there is a pattern of excessive speeding in an area, as those reports help inform where police deploy their resources.

FOCUS ON YOUTH

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

by Phill Potter

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.”

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

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

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

There were also discussions regarding traffic-related issues and what residents and community associations can do to contribute to solutions for addressing speeding. As a reminder, if there are consistent speeding issues on a street or area, residents should contact 311 to request that traffic calming measures be explored on that street. Residents should also

The MessengerFOCUS ON YOUTH

Activities/Interests:

Community Information and Comment Session –4386 Rideau Valley Drive Development

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.”

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.”

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.”

Future meetings will focus more heavily on co-developing consensus answers to problems facing residents to help give the Councillor’s office direction that can be used to be effectively represent each and every community in Ward 21.

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.”

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.”

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.”

Why did you get involved in what you do?

VILLAGE VOICE voice continues on page 11

The Ward Council will meet regularly to foster dialogue between organizations within our communities. While residents are encouraged to submit their ideas and issues directly to ward21@ ottawa.ca, we encourage you to contact the MVCA with your concerns so that we can better represent you at Council!

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

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

The City invites all residents to attend a virtual Community Information and Comment Session on Monday, May 29, 2023 at 6:30pm through Zoom (video conferencing) to discuss a proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendment and Plan of Subdivision applications for 4386 Rideau Valley Drive (File No. D02-02-22-0118 & D07-16-22-0026) in the Village of Manotick. This plan is for the development of a 147-unit (approximate) residential subdivision, in a mix of detached, semidetached and townhouses, on municipal services on the south-west corner of Rideau Valley Drive and Bankfield

PHILL POTTER PHOTO

After suffering numerous concussions, Melita Wyche turned to coaching.

PHILL POTTER PHOTO

Rd. We encourage residents to become familiar with this development by visiting the City’s App page on https:// devapps.ottawa.ca/en/applications/D02-02-22-0118/ details. If you are interested in participating during this Zoom meeting, please go to https://mail.google.com/ mail/u/0/?pli=1#inbox/FM fcgzGsmWxwbWnDdLPK LMfbjNXPDfFC?projector =1&messagePartId=0.1 for information on the agenda, how to join and zoom link or for additional information, please contact Erica OgdenFedak Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development Department Tel: 613-5802424, ext. 26510, e-mail: erica.ogden-fedak@ottawa. ca

• 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.

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

• 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

One of Manotick’s most beloved annual events returns! Organized by the Kiwanis Club of Manotick. If you plan to participate in the parade on the Friday evening, please contact Neil Usher at neil@neilusher.com The Crafter’s Market on Saturday is a destination for everyone on Dickinson Days weekend. Registration is now open for booths that day https://forms.gle/1YjJ3226qbs8GN767

• 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.

Interested in becoming a sponsor or partner for the event? Please contact the organizers manotick@ca.inter.net

Watson’s Mill Used Book Store – Now open for the season! NEEDED!!! Children’s books. Proceeds are used for operations of the Store, Watson’s Mill and Dickinson House. https://watsonsmill.com/bookstore/

• 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.

June 8: The Great Yarn Club of Manotick regular schedule every 2ndThursday 11:00-12:30 The Great Yarn Club of Manotick| Ottawa Public Library (biblioottawalibrary.ca)

Friday afternoon Euchre at Manotick United Church - free drop-in. No experience necessary. Free Puzzle Swap at Manotick United Church every Friday from 10 – noon.

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

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

Youth of Manotick Association (YOMA) – Celebrating 10 years YOMA offers social programs and activities for youth in the area in Grades 4-12. We also have volunteer opportunities, special events and outings. Sign up for our weekly newsletter, visit the website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. https://www.yoma.ca/

• 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

• 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.

STEVENS

SHADES

SHADES SHUTTERS DRAPERY Free

613-706-1250 stevenscreekshutterco.ca SHADES SHUTTERS DR

Announcement

Options being looked at to get heavy trucks out of Manotick

Readers of the Manotick Messenger might have noted that on April 21, I wrote in these pages about the issue of trucks in Manotick. I have an update on my office’s progress on this file which I am happy to share with the community.

As readers know, my team has already succeeded in redirecting some trucks that previously transited through the village along Manotick Main to instead take a road along First Line and Century Road. As I mentioned in my previous article, this is not a full solution; not by a long shot. But it was a first step toward providing some relief.

I have previously discussed how City staff have been unwilling to consider any serious changes to the City’s truck route network (such as removing Manotick Main and Bridge Street from the network)

Rideau-Jock Report

David Brown, Councillor , Ward 21

unless structured as part of a comprehensive truck review, and that staff have been unwilling to conduct such a review unless a new bridge is built with Quebec.

It is on this point that I have good news for the community: staff have indicated some willingness to move from this point, acknowledging that the trigger of a bridge to Quebec had little bearing on the truck routes in the south end of our City. Staff are now willing to consider more localized changes to the truck route. While this may seem like a modest change, it opens the door up for developing a plan to get the trucks out of Manotick.

The fate of heavy truck traffic in the village no longer hinges on the absurd standard of a bridge being built with Quebec; it is instead something that staff are willing to consider on its own merits.

To that end, I am advancing an inquiry at the Transportation Committee later in June which asks staff specifically what would need to be done to remove Manotick Main Street and Bridge Street from the City’s truck route network. This will, in effect, commit staff to providing a roadmap, a plan, to get the trucks out of the village.

Once my inquiry is returned with an answer from staff, I will have a clear target to work to-

ward with City staff to remove trucks from the network. That is to say, the fight evolves from designing the policy that will remove trucks from Manotick toward securing the funding for that policy.

Alongside this, I am still working behind the scenes to persuade my Council colleagues and the Mayor of the importance of this file. I am also still advancing more comprehensive truck route review options so that we have a multi-tiered approach toward arriving at a solution. Put simply, all options are on the table, and I am exploring them concurrently to create the greatest chance for success.

Some have reached out

to my office frustrated that progress has not been faster. I share that frustration. I believe it is also important to note that I have made more progress on this file in a matter of a few months than has been made in over a decade. This progress may not be

as fast as I would like, but these efforts are nonetheless moving us ever closer toward a solution for our village.

To me and my office, it is issue number one. I will not stop working on it until heavy trucks tucks are out of Manotick.

Building outdoors?

Choose Western red cedar, naturally!

For all your fencing and decking needs! Wide selection of building materials for all your construction projects.

#1 pine, plywood, insulation, caulking, and builders’ hardware supplies.

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 9-4

The Reverend Kerri Brennan e-mail office@stjames-manotick.ca

Web site: www.stjames-manotick.ca

*All churches wheelchair assessable*

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

We welcome all, who with God’s

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

Key Clubs connect local high schools with community volunteer work

By Ralph Tweedie

The Kiwanis Club of Manotick sponsors Key Clubs at four local high schools. Key club members range from grade 9 through to grade 12 and learn to lead through community service.

Every May our Key Clubs run a Manotick Kiwanis meeting where they present slideshows to exhibit the volunteer work they’ve done in the past school year and what they are planning going forward. And they are amazing!

As a student run club, they have a duly elected board, committees to tackle various projects, and support via a teacher advisor and a Kiwanis advisor. As volunteers they excel, often thinking outside the box to handle obstacles to getting the job done. And the job includes everything from taking ROSSS training to contact local seniors who have little connection with others, to supporting charities to provide relief in third world countries.

All four clubs also work as a team with interclub projects to augment their ability to tackle larger projects locally. Last year they sponsored a “Need to Seed” project where they delivered seeds, soil, and potting trays to over 1,100 elementary students to learn gardening. They also delivered the gardening kits to 3 local Food Banks to promote self-

voice continues from page 8

Rural Transportation

Rural Transportation Solutions (RTS) is conducting a survey to give residents of rural Ottawa an opportunity to provide input on their transportation needs. Responses to this survey will help RTS build on the results from previous surveys leading to the development of practical and financially responsible transit solutions for rural residents and provide a better understanding of the Origin and Destination of trips, their timing and what residents consider to be reasonable fares. For the English version of the survey, go to: https://tinyurl. com/RTSsurveyEN. For

reliance through gardening. You may have seen them last year at their Dickinson Days booth handing out seedlings to elementary school aged children. This year they will be selling popcorn in front of the Home Hardware at the Mews Saturday and Sunday

the French version, go to: https://tinyurl.com/RTSsurveyFR. For more information on RTS go to https:// rural-transportation-solutions-for-ottawa.info/

Infrastructure Master Plan – Update

The City of Ottawa is in the process of updating its Infrastructure Master Plan (IMP) in support of the City’s New Official Plan. The Infrastructure Master Plan (IMP) is a strategic document that sets growthrelated goals, objectives, and priorities for municipal infrastructure related to water purification and distribution, wastewater col-

to help support their clubs.

This year the Key Clubbers once again united to volunteer at local supermarkets to raise funds and donate food to the Food Banks. Together they raised more than $4,000 in cash and sold more than $10,000 worth of donated

lection and treatment, and stormwater management. The City’s recently published As We Heard It Report summarizes feedback received (from May to July 2022) on the Preliminary and Program Recommendations of the IMP. Please refer to the Engage Ottawa website to review the report. https://engage.ottawa. ca/infrastructure-masterplan. Stakeholder involvement is an important aspect of the IMP process. If you have questions or concerns regarding the Infrastructure Master Plan, please contact imp-pdi@ottawa.ca.

Get your well water

food bags. These young Adults have proven to be very adaptable to current situations. For example, during the covid pandemic they continued their support via online clubs and through such endeavors such as mailing letters to serving

tested

Important reminder for residents dependent on wells to have their water tested now. Ottawa Public Health offers free well water testing. Check their website for bottle pick up and water sample drop-off locations.https:// www.ottawapublichealth.ca/ en/public-health-services/ free-well-water-testing.aspx

City of Ottawa Tick Talk

Important reminder for residents - tick season is here. Learn how to avoid tick bites and possibility of Lyme Disease. Visit the City’s website for helpful tips and preventative measures. https://www.ottawa-

solders, contacting seniors, promoting mental health in their schools etc.

Perhaps most importantly, these young people are having fun and meeting new friends while giving to their community and developing life skills. Our future is in the hands of

publichealth.ca/en/publichealth-topics/lyme-disease.

aspx

Veteran Memorial Banners

This year, the Manotick / South Carlton Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is coordinating a program to erect banners in honour of those Veterans who fought and sacrificed for our freedom. Program details will be released to the public in the coming weeks, and We will Remember them!

Jane’s Walk

Kudos to the MCPRA for organizing another successful Manotick Jane’s Walk

these young leaders and the future looks good!

Advisors

on May 6th. The exceptional weather and blue skies added to the experience for all involved. It was a great opportunity to view our village through the’ eyes of a tourist’ and we look forward to supporting the MCPRA again in next year’s Jane’s Walk.’ Our thanks as well to the Kiwanis for organizing our annual Village Spring Clean up April 29th and to those volunteers who came out to help. Keeping our community attractive for residents and visitors alike - sharing pride of our village! For more information on Manotick’s Kiwanis and their good works go to https:// www.manotick-kiwanis.org/

in the back from the left Elaine Emond, Bruce Tomkins, Teacher Advisor Carol Luce, Terry Tomkins and Debbie Tomkins pictured with 2 representatives from each Key Club.

Advisors in the back from the left Elaine Emond, Bruce Tomkins, Teacher Advisor Carol Luce, Terry Tomkins and Debbie Tomkins pictured with 2 representatives from each Key Club.

Richmond Lions Duck Race results

The Richmond Lions Club held their annual Duck Race Sat., May 13. Tickets were sold with each ticket assigned to one of the rubber ducks, which were dumped off the McBean Street bridge to start the race. Tim Steele had the winning ticket and won $850. James Sharpe was second and won $550, Laura Arsenault-Bulmer was third and won $350, and Adam Purchase was fourth and won $250.

Adam Purchase won $250.

The rubber ducks were poured into the Jock River to start the annual race.

The winning cheque was presented to the family of Tim Steele.

James Sharpe was second and won $550.

Laura Arsenault-Bulmer won $350 for placing third.

Log Farm, Barrhaven Farmers Market now open for the season

The Log Farm is open for another year, as is the Barrhaven Farmers Market.

The Log Farm, located just south of Bells Corners at 670 Cedarview Road in Nepean, is a little hidden treasure of local heritage. The farm offers guests a glimpse into the past of what a family farm would have been like in the late 1800’s as well as how we currently farm today.

The Log Farm was settled in 1854 by the Bradley family.

The farm’s current owners, the Orr family, takes pride in continuing in the Bradley’s footsteps, as they currently have three generations working the farm today.

“This will be our seventh year operating The Log Farm as a family farm,” said Larry Orr. “Our goal is to provide a place where families can step away from their busy lives, get both that feel of the history of family farms and have the kids

enjoy both the animals and the many play areas. We kicked off our summer season with the May long weekend.”

Orr said guests will enjoy some family fun down on the farm throughout the seasons.

“We always have lots of friendly animals to see, feed and touch at the farm,” he said. “Along with play areas for the kids including hay structures and sensory tables. You can visit the farm from March

through December. The farm changes with the seasons, offering different experiences throughout the year.

“We always have lots of friendly animals to see, feed and touch at the farm. Along with play areas for the kids including hay structures, sensory tables the pig pen and our new pioneer play house.”

Tickets are now available

online at www.thelogfarm.com and at the door.

Farmers Market Open

One of the busiest attractions at the Log Farm over the past couple of years has been the Barrhaven Farmers Market.

The market, which opened over the long weekend, runs Saturdays from 9-2 and with more than 30 vendors there is

something for everyone. The Farmers Market is located in the trees by the entrance to the farm it is a perfect place to do your shopping for the weekend BBQ’s.

Parking and admission are free. For more info on the Log Farm, visit www.barrhavenfarmersmarket .com. and www.barrhavenfarmersmarket.com.

The petting zoo is a popular part of the Log Farm.

The Farmers Market at the Log Farm is open for the season every Saturday.

Manotick Area Centre for Arts and Wellness brings community together

I want to share with you some of the exciting new events and activities of MACAW. For many years, the Manotick United Church has promoted and held community and cultural activities –concerts, community dances, local performances, as well as Yoga, Dance and Music classes in their heritage building on Manotick Main Street. This year a popular Puzzle Exchange, Zumba classes, Art Therapy and fitness classes especially designed for seniors were introduced. On June 8th at 2:15 p.m. seniors are invited to attend a workshop on Knees and Hips free of charge. The concert series this year included musicians such as Wayne Ronstad, Tyler Kealey and most recently Gail Gavin. It was wonderful to be able to have live audiences after the Covid restrictions. These concerts are filmed by professional camera men who volunteer their time and talent as MACAW relies on a pool of senior volunteers who donate countless hours. MACAW is promoting a Variety Show on Sunday afternoon June 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Dickinson Days that you won’t want to miss!

One may not be able for

THis week, THIS MONTH

by Larry Ellis

various reasons to attend musical concerts – hear interviews with or follow musicians, attend Yoga, Zumba or fitness classes, however, with a computer or tablet you can enjoy these in the comfort of your home at your leisure. On the website manotickmacaw. com there are hours of interesting programs and activities you can follow. If you do not have time to view the whole YouTube video at once – you can come back as it will still be available on the website via the Calendar or You Tube.

MACAW is able to provide all of these events and activities free of charge thanks to the New Horizons for Seniors funding it has received for the past 4 years. The Calendar is regularly updated to let seniors know what is available. All of this is available anytime you wish and appreciate, at no cost to you – I suggest you pass the word and enjoy! All you need to do is go to – www.manotickmacaw.com.

The Kiwanis Club of Manotick is helping ensure that seniors living in the area will continue to have meal delivery service. The Kiwanis recently donated $5,000 to ROSSS (Rural Ottawa South Support Service) to defray the cost of meal delivery to seniors. Pictured from left to right are Gary Coulombe (Co-President, Kiwanis Club of Manotick) Melissa MacIsaac (ROSSS Manager of Funding & Outreach) Kelly Dumas (Executive Director, ROSSS) and Debbie Mulvihill (Co-President, Kiwanis Club of Manotick).

ITR celebrates 50 years of providing local live theatre

By Judy Beltzner

Can you believe that ITR Theatre Company is 50 years old? Jorie Basque, ITR President, said it best, “A community theatre company celebrating 50 years would be a huge milestone under any circumstances as so many struggle to survive. But in this post-pandemic era, where you can stream content on any device anywhere, to see community theatre not only survive but thrive is inspiring.”

ITR is not just celebrating itself, it is also celebrating the army of volunteers, patrons, sponsors and supporters who collectively made these 50 years possible. Helen Visbach, Chair of the 50th Anniversary Committee, stated, “We have all heard the expression that it takes a village to raise a child; in the same vein, it takes a community to maintain a community theatre. Without this

involvement and commitment, it is not likely that ITR would have survived this long.”

In terms of the celebration, ITR has already held a highly successful, sold-out Murder Mystery in March. Death by Dénouement was written by Mary Jane Maffini, an award-winning mystery writer who resides in Manotick.

Coming up is The Way We Were, a retrospective of our productions over the past 5 decades which includes a tribute to our very first show, Jesus Christ Superstar, a song from one of our Christmas plays, and a short scene from each of Boeing Boeing, See How They Run, There Goes the Bride, Perfect Wedding, Alone Together Again, Steel Magnolias and The Foreigner. The original cast will, for the most part, be returning to perform. There will be both a matinee performance and an evening

Family Run

show on June 10 at the Osgoode Community Centre. Tickets for this show are on sale at www.itrtheatre.com at $20 for adults and $16 for seniors and students.

On September 9, ITR will be joining other community theatre companies to present a Community Theatre Expo at the Osgoode Community Centre. There will be booths showcasing these groups, demonstrations of a variety of aspects of theatre production, workshops including directing, acting, promotion and youth in theatre as well as well as other activities for the whole family. This Community Theatre Expo is the very first in the Ottawa area.

ITR would like to welcome everyone to join in the celebrations.

ITR (Isle in the River Review) is celebrating its 50th anniversary season with a strong line-up of productions.

It all began on a sunny day in early June nearly 50 years ago. With band music, tours of the historic Dickinson House and Mill, an auction, contests and refreshments served on the lawn, the first Dickinson Day, destined to become an annual event, was underway.

Launched by the Dickinson Square Committee of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, the event was planned as a community birthday party in Dickinson Square – the core of the historic village – and honoring Moss Kent Dickinson (born June 3, 1822), the founder of Manotick.

From these modest beginnings, Dickinson Day, always held on the first Saturday of June, expanded rapidly and was enthusiastically supported by local groups, willing volunteers and hard working staff members. It has now grown from being a local party with pioneer themes and demonstrations to a hugely successful festival attracting over 5,000 people, many of whom come back year after

year.

Dickinson Days have often included or coincided with notable events of local historical interest: the restoration of the Mill in 1979, the opening of the Ayres Building (originally the Union Bank) in 1980, the Howard Henry Building (now the Miller’s Oven) in 1982 and the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the Rideau Canal that same year.

Of particular interest and marked in a special way was the opening of the fully restored Mill when it was once again producing flour. Described in somewhat fulsome prose in the special edition of ‘The Manotick Miller’ (a newspaper produced by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority for Dickinson Day) the writer stated that “Honored Gentlemen of Local and Widespread Substance and Influence will arrive with the first wheat wagon with the express purpose of welcoming the assembled throng all of whom will then have the momentous honour of witnessing the unloading and weighingin of the grain shipment for

immediate rendering of flour. Sale by public auction of the first run stone ground product will be carried out during the “Dickinson Follies” at such time as the milling, bagging and delivery process will allow.” And auctioned it was,

the winner being Joel Thompson of Kemptville who put it on display in his store.

These “Honored Gentlemen” included federal, provincial and municipal representatives as well as board members of the RVCA and

of course our mayor at that time, the late David Bartlett, who in full regalia and with appropriate demeanor, graced the grounds as Moss Kent Dickinson, accompanied by his wife in a stunning blue period gown. Many others in

the crowd also appeared in costumes of the time which helped immeasurably to emphasize the historical aspect of the occasion.

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Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre, seen in the 2015 parade, is among the local dignitaries who has enjoyed Dickinson Days over the years.

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The craft fairs started out in a very small way with members of the committee rising at dawn (having prayed all night for fine weather) to chalk out on Mill Street the location of each of the assigned spaces. These early marketers sold all manner of goods – paintings, books, wood carvings, pottery and knitted and sewn wares all tastefully displayed – no flea markets allowed! As fame of Dickinson Day spread it was not long before the craft fair extended up both sides of Mill Street and latterly along Dickinson Street as well.

The prime spot for marketing – in front of the Mill – was of course reserved for sale of the stone ground flour. This table, manned by a few very aggressive volunteers and a number of cheery students, did their best in exhorting every passer-by to buy some flour, sold in two to 90 pound specially designed souvenir bags. Nearby was another prime spot – although at times Audrey Renton and the hard working members of the Kars W.I. who toiled in the blaz-

ing sun didn’t consider it as such! They demonstrated the fine art of bread baking, displaying cooking tools of early usage and further enlivened their display by selling, for a few cents, slices of their home-baked bread adorned with apple butter – suggestive of the favourite after school treat of “bread ’n jam” of earlier days.

Demonstrations, which varied from year to year, centered on pioneer skills with displays of wood working tools, on one occasion accompanied by instructions on the building of a log cabin. On site weavers, spinners and quilters demonstrated early domestic crafts as well as showing early household items used for such tasks as ironing and cooking. Blacksmithing was highlighted one year and with the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Rideau Canal stone cutting relevant to building of the Canal was featured.

There were guided tours of the village, the Mill and Dickinson House – the ground floor of the latter being furnished in period style and boasting an un-

usual square grand piano and some furniture closely associated with a visit by Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. MacDonald. The upper level of the house, normally office space, was given over to shows of paintings, historical photographs and books. On one occasion a charming display arranged

by Coral Lindsay of her doll collection was featured, with some of the dolls enjoying a 19th century team party.

Auction sales, contests and raffles were all part of the fun. There were lucky draws – flour every hour on the hour – with ticket sellers assuring potential buyers that “you can’t win

without a ticket”. Souvenir buttons were for sale at a very modest price, earlier ones simply showing a picture of the Mill but one year the logo, no doubt suggested by an overworked volunteer, read “I’ve been through the Mill”! And all day Ye Olde Bung & Barrel tent was open to provide shelter from the elements,

a beef barbecue available to provide sustenance towards the end of the day and space for the band which later played for a street dance – allowed by permission of nearby residents on the assurance that it would (and originally did) terminate at 1 a.m.

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The Manotick Volunteer Fire Department is always a hit at the Dickinson Days Parade and have had their original truck on display at Watson’s Mill every Dickinson Days for several years.

dickinson continues from page 17

The children were well involved with special activities. There was the ever-popular fishing derby, guessing games, face painting and, at different times, a whistle whittler demonstrated the fine art of making whistles from willow branches – an activity which fascinated the onlookers both for the product and the process! Another year the game of shove ha’penny was introduced which while very popular, unfortunately led to the accusations of teaching children to gamble so of course it was not used again. And one year there was a puppet show presented by the professional puppeteers. The musical program offered was always a highlight of the day. Music by the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band, the South Carleton High School Band, local soloists, a barber shop quartet, and one notable year the premiere of a song “The Dickinson Ditty” written by Heather Rogers. Dedicated to the village it was presented by Stu Rogers with the crowd joining lustily in the chorus. There were many dance

programs showing every type from step dancing to ballet, and programs such as the “Dickinson Follies” prepared by the local dance schools and involving very young as well as teenage participants.

For one or two years there was also a Listening Corner, on the back verandah of the Dickinson House where seniors were invited to relate stories of early days in the area. This very popular event enthralled listeners both young and old and yielded a wonderful collection of tapes. Nearby was the herb garden where members of the Horicultural Society were available to talk about the use of early herbs and provide information, both oral and written, about their cultivation and uses.

Some of the various events described have continued to be part of Dickinson Days. However, the ever increasing popularity of the festival inevitably led to expansion and greatly increased demands on the part of the Rideau Conservation Authority staff and volunteers. Since the intention of the Authority had always

been to turn the event once established over to the community, in 1983 it was decided to approach those local organizations that might be interested in becoming managers. The Kinsmen, who had already worked with the Authority, bravely took it on and managed it with a growing participation of other local societies and the on-going co-operation and assistance of the Authority. Eventually, the Kinsmen and the Manotick Kiwanis Club merged into one big club serving the community. The Kiwanis, with much involvement from those who were Kinsmen, has managed Dickinson Days and helped it flourish through the years.

With the first Dickinson Days with no COVID restrictions in place in four years, expect this year’s celebrations to be one of the biggest ever for Manotick and the surrounding communities.

Dickinson Days are now an integral part of Manotick’s history and their continued success is undoubtedly assured.

Original text by Barbara Humphreys

Moss Kent Dickinson: The man who founded Manotick

Moss Kent Dickinson was born in Denmark, Lewis Co., New York on the 1st of June 1822. By 1827 the Dickinson family had moved to Cornwall, Ontario where Dickinson’s father founded a successful stage coach service carrying mail and passengers between Montreal and Kingston.

For his tenth birthday Dickinson’s father took him to see the opening of the Rideau Canal in Kingston. This trip would inspire his future career. By 1847 Moss had purchased a number of ships and barges to transport livestock, grain, logs, and passengers between Ottawa and Kingston. By 1850 his fleet included 16 steamers and 60 barges, earning him the name “The King of the Rideau.”

Dickinson and his business partner, Joseph Currier, built the Long Island Flouring Mills in 1860, which was

quickly joined by a woollen mill, carding factory, sawmill and a plug, bung, and spile factory. The house built by Dickinson in 1867 across from his milling complex served as the Dickinson family home, as well as the general store and post office for the new village of Manotick.

The Dickinson House also served as the campaign headquarters for John A. McDonald during the 1882 and 1887 elections. Moss Kent Dickinson had previously served as the mayor of Ottawa from 1864 to 1866 and went on to represent the riding of Russel as a result of the 1882 election.

By 1896 Dickinson’s son George took over the milling operation, due to his father’s failing health. Moss Kent Dickinson died on the 19th of July 1897. He was buried in Ottawa’s Beechwood Cemetery beside his beloved wife Elizabeth Trigge Dickinson.

The Dickinson Family

Moss Kent, William, Lydia, Charlotte, George, and Elizabeth.

Only one colour portrait of Manotick founder Moss Kent Dickinson is known to exist. Deckinson was born 201 years ago.

(clockwise from left):

The ghost of Ann is believed to still haunt the Mill

B y M ary L ennox

On a miserable rainy cold November night in the year of 1920, in Manotick, Ontario, a fisherman desperately needed shelter from the weather. He looked around and saw a small entrance to the local mill. As the rain pounded harder, he quickly grabbed his things and ducked into the entrance of the stone building. He struggled and squirmed to get comfortable on the cold, hard floor. He huddled into a fetal-like position to stay warm. The driving rain was falling from beams above his head forming puddles all around. The only sound other than the beating water was his heartbeat.

He suddenly had the intense sense that someone was watching him. Anxiously, he looked over his shoulder, feeling silly because he logically knew no one else was in the building.

Just then, he heard a blood-curdling scream of a woman coming from the second floor. He jumped up and scooped up his belongings and ran out the door and never looked back.

Local legend has it that the ghost of Ann Currier roams the second floor

of that mill, gliding from window to window in a long white dress. Not only have there been numerous reported sightings, there is an extreme frigid spot

felt around one particular post on the second floor. The sightings are often reported but in addition, unexplained sounds of a woman crying and moan-

ing have been logged. What is a ghost? The dictionary defines it as the soul of a dead person believed to be an inhabitant of the unseen world.

The theory is that trauma or an attachment to earthly things or family members is why a soul chooses to stay earthbound. So who is this Ann Crosby and why

does she live in the mill in a small village just south of the capital of Canada?

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The ghost of Ann Crosby Currier is believed to haunt Watson’s Mill. ghost

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Ann Elizabeth Crosby was born in 1841 in Lake George, New York. Her parents owned a hotel named “Crosbyside” from the 1840s until the 1870s. The hotel could accommodate up to 250 guests. Travel to the Adirondacks was long and dusty during that era. It wasn’t unusual for vacationers to stay for the whole summer. At that hotel, Ann met a Vermontborn Canadian lumber baron named Joseph Merrill Currier in the summer of 1860. It was a short courtship. They were married within a few months of meeting, on January 25, 1861.

Who was this visitor who captured the heart of young Annie Crosby?

Joseph Merrill Currier was a tremendously successful businessman. He was born in Vermont in 1820 and moved to Canada in 1837. Around 1850 he set up a sawmill and gristmill operation in the village of Manotick. At the same time, he owned a lumber business and was a partner in a sawmill in nearby Hull, Quebec.

When Joseph and Ann met he was recovering

from a horrible period in his life. His first wife passed away in 1858 and his three children all died within five days of each other in 1855. He was no stranger to tragedy. In August, 1860, he was a guest at “Crosbyside”. He was smitten with Ann the moment he laid eyes on her. She was 19 years old, 21 years his junior. She was tall, blonde and beautiful. He had met the love of his life.

After spending a wonderful month-long honeymoon traveling the northern United States, Joseph returned to Manotick with his new bride in time to celebrate the first anniversary of the mill. The business was one of the largest of its kind in Eastern Ontario. Unbelievably, while viewing the machinery on the second floor, Ann’s white crinoline dress became caught in the turbine shaft. The force of the movement hurled Ann against a pillar and she died instantly from the blow.Joseph was devastated. The grieving widower was so profoundly affected by the accident he couldn’t stand

Celebration of Life in memory of Terry Middaugh

Our loving husband, father and grandfather left us on March 27th of this year at age 80. Please join us as we raise a glass to a life well lived.

At home - 1222 Beaverwood Road

Manotick on Saturday June 10th. This will be a casual drop in anytime during the hours of 1 to 4.

to be in the building that brought their short marriage to an end. He never set foot in Manotick again. He sold his share of the mill to his partner, Moss Kent Dickinson. He moved to Ottawa and began a highly successful career in politics. In 1866, Joseph built a beautiful stone house overlooking the Ottawa River at 24 Sussex Drive. It was built as a gift for his third wife, Hannah. That home was bought by the Government of Canada in 1943 and became the official residence of the Prime Minister in 1951 and still is today.

Ann was buried in Beechwood Cemetary in Ottawa. Joseph died in 1884 and was buried next to his beloved Ann. Today, Watson’s Mill is the landmark for the community of Manotick.

It was purchased by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority in 1972 and renamed. It was restored to its original 1860 condition. In fact, the machinery works since that restoration. The mill is available for special events, wedding pictures, tours or functions.

Some say that Annie never left Manotick and continued to reside in the mill. Perhaps she is waiting for Joseph to return to begin their new life together. Over the years, numerous people have claimed to see the apparition of Ann standing at the second floor window in her long white dress and golden blonde hair. In the years from 1980 to 1986 there were up to a dozen such reports. In 1980, two local boys were fishing in the river at the mill and looked up to see

Come Join Us!

St. John’s Bicentennial Celebrations Sat. June 24, 2023 St. John’s Anglican Church, Hall & Quiet Garden

67 Fowler St. Richmond

11 a.m. Opening Ceremonies, Guest Speakers, Tree Planting

1 p.m. Kelly’s Belgiums, (horses and wagon transportation to and from Quiet Garden)

MUSIC IN THE QUIET GARDEN BY: * Manotick Brass * Mark Ferguson Band

In Quiet Garden - face painting, childrens’ games/races, crafts and photos all p.m.

5 p.m. Smoked Prime Rib Beef Dinner (Adults $27.50 ea./Kids under 10 yrs. $10.00 ea. Hotdog Dinner)

Drop into our church during the day to see historial info, pictures and traditional dresses.

a shadowy figure staring mournfully back at them from the window. According to an Ottawa historian, you can still see blood stain and fingernail marks on the post. Many people visiting the mill have reported getting goose bumps, regardless of the temperature. Many get the feeling that they are not welcome on the second floor. Strange sounds have been reported. Sounds that range from shrilling screams to moaning have made the hair stand up on

many arms.

It has been theorized that ghosts are the souls of those who have died violently, suddenly or well before their time. In this ghost story all three situations were the case. Her death was instant, violent and she was only 20 years old. So perhaps, this is why the ghost of Ann Crosby Currier has taken up residence in the historic mill and creates an ominous legend in the beautiful village of Manotick.

If you have any questions for our area professionals, email us at: garyhcoulombe@gmail.com

PHARMACY

Q: How can tick bites be prevented?

A: Ticks typically live in grassy wooded areas and tend to mostly be around during warmer months. It is important to prevent tick bites as some may carry Lyme disease, which is a disease that could affect the joints, heart, and brain. Some ways to prevent a tick bite include wearing long sleeve clothing outdoors, avoiding tall grassy areas when walking, and using insect repellent. It is also important to shower and do a full body check once indoors. This can help ensure removal of any tick as soon as possible if there is one attached.

Pharmacist

Paul’s Pharmacy 990 River Road, Manotick, ON 613-692-0015

To be a part of our Professional Forum, e-mail Gary Coulombe at garyhcoulombe@gmail.com

OCDSB backpedals, will allow police in uniforms to attend career days

By Manotick Messenger staff

The Ottawa Carleton District School Board will allow police officers in uniform who are parents to speak to the boards children and classes.

The announcement was made last week after the board issued a memo to the Ottawa Police Service saying that officers in uniform would be welcome to attend schools in the board while in uniform to speak to students at events such as community career days.

The OCDSB became the second school board in Ontario to not allow a uniformed police officer to participate in a career day. Last month, a female police officer was told she could not participate in uniform or bring her police car to the school for her child’s Grade 1 career day where parents who have jobs that help in the community were coming into

the class to speak to the children.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Ontario Minister of Education Stephen Lecce, and Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe expressed their disapproval with the decision made by the board.

The premier posted on social media and called it a “disturbing trend that needs to stop.”

“Police officers are the people we call when we need help,” the premier also said via social media.

“They deserve so much better than this. I’m calling on the (OCDSB) to immediately reverse this policy and show our heroes on the front lines the respect they deserve.”

Lecce issued a memo to all public school boards in Ontario stating the expectation that parents would be allowed to wear their uniforms when appearing at schools as guest speakers.

“Those school boards who are not allowing par-

ents in their service uniforms are enabling division instead of bringing all segments of civil society together as we work to counter very real threats to communities across the province,” Lecce wrote in the memo.

The OCDSB softened its stance on the issue, stating in a memo that police officers who are parents would be allowed to where their uniforms when giving presentations in schools.

According to CTV Ottawa, the memo from Lecce wrote, “my expectation that these parents, and others who proudly wear uniforms as part of their occupation, are to be welcomed,” adding “any parent of a student within a publicly funded school has the right to participate in their child’s education and school experience.”

The board would not share the memo with the Barrhaven Independent when asked for a copy

of it, but they did issue a statement.

“We appreciate the direction provided by the Ministry,” the OCDSB statement read. “The OCDSB values the engagement of parents and our partnership with police. Where there are requests for uniformed officers to provide direct learning to students, we review each request to assess the learning opportunity and consider it in the context of alignment with the Board direction to have an

emergency response based relationship with police.”

The statement also references the meeting that took place between Ottawa Police Association

President Matt Cox and the OCDSB Director of Education Michele Giroux.

“Following up from what we shared previously, last week, the Director met with the President of the Ottawa Police Association to discuss this issue.

A meeting with the Ottawa Chief of Police has

also been scheduled. These conversations are an opportunity to work together to establish new protocols for police involvement in schools which focus on students, safety, and relationships of trust, respecting the community concerns raised during our police involvement in schools review. The guidance from the Ministry will form part of those discussions.”

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End of SRO Program

In 2021, Trustee Lyra Evans, who is now the OCDSB Chair, lobbied her fellow trustees and rallied the community to put an end to the Ottawa Police Service Student Resource Officer (SRO) program at the schools. She garnered support from within the board, and then worked with a group called Asilu Collective, who made a presentation of testimonials they had collected from students. The report made accusations that the SRO program made students of colour and who are genderoppressed feel scared and anxious.

Barrhaven-KnoxdaleMerivale Trustee Donna Blackburn voted against eliminating the SRO program.

“If you read the motion where we cancelled the officer resource program, it doesn’t speak to a parent coming in for a career day,” said Blackburn in an interview with CTV. “So I think it was a bit of a stretch

and, in my opinion, a very embarrassing stretch which lost us a lot of public confidence.”

Blackburn will be putting forth a motion on June 13 to the OCDSB’s Committee of the Whole calling for a return to a positive and proactive relationship between the board and the Ottawa Police Service.

OPA Gets Involved

The issue with the Stittsville parent/officer escalated earlier this month when Cox was contacted by the officer. The OCDSB’s decision not to allow the parent to participate in the Grade 1 career day while in uniform did not sit well with the Ottawa Police Association. Cox, sent a letter to the board, its trustees and local politicians. The letter was also sent to the Barrhaven Independent. The letter asks why members of the Ottawa Police Service were not allowed to be in uniform when talking to Grade 1 students.

“Could someone please

explain why? If we are trying to build relationships in the communities and educate students who may wish to pursue a future career in Emergency Services how is this decision the appropriate course of action? Opportunities like this to educate the next generation youth and provide a positive interaction with police should be something you strive to achieve.”

Cox went on to say that the actions of the board were disrespectful to the police.

“The brave men and women who wear the uniform deserve better. Police officers should receive the same support and respect as any other profession that has been invited to speak to your students.

“Minister of Education Lecce has come out publicly to support the police stating, ‘I find it entirely unacceptable for a school board to prevent a parent of a child in that school from attending take your parent to work day’.”

On May 4, the OCDSB issued a statement on the board’s stand to the media and also sent a letter to Cox. Both were sent to the Barrhaven Independent. The OCDSB said that to align with Board Policy regarding police involvement in schools, the parent had been asked not to wear her uniform or arrive at the school in a police vehicle.

“I appreciate the many perspectives and concerns that have been raised on this matter,” said the Board’s Director of Education, Michele Giroux. “Our priority is to work collaboratively with the Ottawa Police to develop protocols that support student learning and school safety and are responsive to the community concerns.”

Giroux’s letter to Cox called the OPS an important community partner to the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.

“We share a common commitment to serving the diverse needs of our community and a recognition of

the importance of building relationships of trust. With that in mind, I would like to arrange a meeting with you to discuss police services to schools and better understand the perspective of your members. This will be an important first step in mapping out a path forward. I will also be reaching out to Chief Stubbs to arrange a meeting with him about the relationship between the OCDSB and OPS and the need for us to build a new partnership protocol.”

Giroux stated that after ODCSB trustees voted to end the SRO program, the board moved toward an emergency response-based relationship with police and away from having uniformed officers in schools providing direct learning to students.

Giroux added that the parent was “warmly invited to attend and to share her work experience with the class”, but asked to do so without the uniform and the police car. She said it was an effort to find a balance

between the direction of the board, student learning, parent engagement, and safety.

“There will be some who say that the easy path forward is to allow the parent to attend in uniform; others will maintain that uniforms and police cars are not essential to classroom learning about policing,” Giroux wrote. “The Board decision remains in place until ‘further evaluation is complete’. After careful consideration, I do not believe that any decision on this single incident will bring clarity to practice. That will only come as a result of more fulsome discussions about how the OPS and OCDSB can work together to support student learning, well-being, and safety. These discussions will need to reflect on the concerns that the community raised during our police involvement in schools review, with an intentional commitment on the part of both parties to building new practices.”

The St. Mark Lions rallied to earn a come-from-behind 10-6 win over St. Joseph at the Nepean Sportsplex last Tuesday. The win clinched first place in the NCSSAA OFSAA high school boys baseball league. The teams met again two days later in a playoff game, with the Jaguars bouncing back to beat the Lions 13-11.

The South Carleton Storm dropped a 1-0 decision to St. Paul in a game played in Richmond May 9. The Storm finished the season with a 2-3-1 record, posting victories over Woodroffe and Omer-Deslauries.