Manotick Messenger May 17, 2024

Nick Chenier remembered at Canada’s National Day of Mourning Ceremony

Jennifer Chenier delivered a tribute filled with raw emotions for her son Nick, who died in a hedge trimming fatality last year

Local mom Jennifer Chenier was among the speakers at Canada’s National Day of Mourning Ceremony, which was held Sun., May 5 at Vincent Massey Park.

Chenier, who now lives in Richmond, was there to speak about the tragedy that claimed the life of her 20-year-old son Nick, who died on the job working for Best Green in Manotick last year. He was electrocuted while trimming a hedge in Manotick, two streets over from where he, his mother and his younger brother were living at the time.

This year marked the 40th year since the first observance. It is also the 32nd anniversary of the Westray Mine disaster that saw the lives of 26 miners taken on March 9, 1992, as a direct result of the

workplace. The disaster also brought forward changes to Canada’s Criminal Code in 2004 making it possible to prosecute employers for negligence leading to workplace death and/or injury.

Joining Chenier as speakers at the event were Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan, Canadian Labour Congress Vice-President Siobhán Vipond, and Ottawa and District Labour Council President Sean McKenny.

The day was especially difficult for Jennifer Chenier, as the ceremony fell on the anniversary of her son’s death. She referred to it as a workplace incident, saying she could not call it an accident. Her son, she said, was about to turn 21.

“Nick had been concerned about dangerous working

conditions with his employer on a number of occasions, especially that morning before this tragedy occurred – concerns that his supervisor and employer ignored” she said as she addressed the crowd.

Chenier said she wondered why her son was even there that morning. She said the work order had a warning on it to be cautious of hidden hydro lines. She said when her son reached out to his supervisor at 7 a.m. about his safety concerns, he was brushed off.

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Jennifer Chenier delivered a powerful speech about the impact that her family has felt since the death of her son, Nick Chenier, died in a workplace fatality May 5, 2023.

Richmond Lions Club recognized in Ontario Legislature for their 60th anniversary

By G oldie G hamari, m PP for Carleton

In late April, I had the honour and privilege to stand up in the Ontario Legislature and deliver a very special Member’s Statement. With the Richmond Lions Club celebrating their 60th anniversary this year, and with another successful fundraising duck race on the Jock River in the books, it is a great time to celebrate the Lions Club. Dale Greene, Shirley Reddick, Michelle Roger, and all of the members provide an invaluable service to Richmond and the area. At the grassroots level, clubs like the Richmond Lions Club, Lions Clubs in Stittsville, Osgoode, Greely, Metcalfe, and South Gloucester, as well as the Manotick Kiwanis Club and many other

volunteer organizations in the Carleton riding, are the heartbeat of the communities in which they serve.

The following was my members statement that I so proudly delivered, praising them in front of the Legislature:

“Mr. Speaker, all of us in the Legislature represent communities, and the lifeblood of those communities are volunteers. I am honoured to acknowledge the 60th anniversary of the Richmond Lions Club in the Village of Richmond in the Carleton riding. Since 1964, this volunteer-driven organization has been the heart and soul of the com-

munity. They raise funds that might go to paying for equipment at the local hospital or helping a struggling family in need. They assist seniors and make donations to programs like Meals on Wheels. They even quietly help underprivileged youth register for minor hockey or youth soccer.

“They organize road barriers for community events like parades and road races.

“They offer a team of volunteers to other groups and organizations who need help to run their events and fundraisers.

“In some communities, service clubs are fading away. People have other priorities than giving back to their community. But the Richmond Lions Club is a strong and growing community organization. The importance of giving back

to the community is what drives their members. Love of their community and giving back is what draws special people to become members in this special organization.

“Congratulations to the Richmond Lions Club for making our community – a community I am so proud to represent in the Legislature – a better place to live for 60 years.

“Service clubs deserve our recognition – not just in Carleton, but in every riding in Ontario.”

I would also like to give a special mention to Kim Sheldrick of the Metcalfe Lions Club. She was presented with the Presidential Medal at the District A-4 Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec District 4-A Lions Club Convention recently. The Presidential Medal is the highest hon-

our in Lionism.

Ontario Increasing Funding to Boost Reading, Writing and Math

With a focus on going back-to-basics and preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow, the Ontario government is increasing Core Education Funding for the coming school year by $745 million compared to 2023-24. Together with other investments, this represents $29 billion in total education funding and the largest investment in Ontario’s education system.

Ontario’s plan will support getting back-to-basics, provide mental health supports and build more schools, faster. For the 2024-25 school year, the Ontario government’s investments include:

- $34 million to support

the hiring of 300 school math facilitators;

- $13.5 million to fund school board math leads with a singular mandate to improve math skills;

- $68.68 million for education staff to provide reading supports, including the hiring of over 600 more specialized educators;

- $12.5 million for reading intervention support licenses and $12.5 million for reading screening tools, so that every Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2 child benefits from screening this coming school year;

- An additional $80 million for the student transportation allocation, now at $1.3 billion, to better support reliable and safe transportation for students

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- $10 million in new funding for school security infrastructure, including vape detectors;

- $2.9 billion as part of the School Facilities Fund for operating, maintaining, renovating, and renewing school buildings;

- Special Education funding is being increased to $3.5 billion, which includes an $11.5 million investment to support school boards’ ability to conduct professional assessments to hire more staff to help reduce wait times for speech and language supports. An additional $10 million this year is being invested as part of the Special Incidence Portion (SIP) modernization to support students with extraordinarily high needs.

- Mental Health funding is being increased to $117.65 million, an increase of 577 per cent since 2017-18. This includes $14 million that will provide students with

mental health services over the summer months, including access to school-based mental health professionals, targeted programs and supports year-round in response to recommendations from families and student trustees.

In addition to Core Education Funding projected to be more than $28.6 billion in the next school year, Ontario is also projected to invest $403 million in 2024-25 for Responsive Education Programs and Funding to External Partners. This investment supports high impact initiatives through the province’s collaboration with education partners. This includes more than 150 projects focused on a wide range of themes, including student readiness, STEM, Indigenous education, mental health, literacy, French-language education, supporting vulnerable students and operations.

The province recently

undertook a comprehensive review of education funding and recommended changes. The new Core Education Funding model now clearly identifies key funding pillars which support students – from classroom staffing to school board administration. These changes make it easier for parents and guardians to understand how funding is allocated and strengthens school board accountability on how these funds are spent.

In addition to the new funding model, Ontario is investing $1.3 billion through the 2023-24 Capital Priorities Program creating more than 27,000 new student spaces and more than 1,700 child care spaces. This is more than double the investment compared to last year and is the largest oneyear funding commitment to new school construction in Ontario’s history. The province is investing a total

of $1.4 billion in 2024-25 to help school boards revitalize and renew aged building systems and components. This is part of the province’s ongoing capital renewal funding initiative.

Ontario Supporting Young Entrepreneurs

The Ontario government is providing an additional investment of $1.5 million to bolster its Summer Company program, helping an additional 250 young people start and grow a business. The investment will increase total funding for the program to more than $4.7 million over the next two years.

The Summer Company program provides students between the ages of 15 and 29 with at least 12 hours of business training, one-onone mentoring and grants up to $3,000 to start a full-time business. Over the past five years, the program, delivered through Small Busi-

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The Miller Senior Apartments

5510 Dickinson Street, Manotick Ont.

Date: Thursday May 30th, 2024

Time: 2:00-3:30p.m

ness Enterprise Centres, has helped launch over 1,700 businesses across Ontario.

Small businesses play a critical role in our communities and are an essential part of Ontario’s economy, employing over two million people. Ontario offers a range of programs and supports to assist entrepreneurs towards starting and growing new companies, including Regional Innovation Centres, Intellectual Property Ontario, Starter Company Plus and tailored options, advice, and business analysis through business advisory services.

Applications for the 2024 Summer Company program are being accepted until May 17, 2024.

Quick Facts

- The new Summer Company funding of $1.5 million is in addition to the annual $1.6 million already allocated to the program.

- Ontario’s 47 Small Business Enterprise Centres provide entrepreneurs access to advisors, programs, and services, as well as learning opportunities for small business owners specific to their region.

- The Digitalization Competence Centre is a $10 million investment that provides small businesses support with digital literacy, accelerating digital adoption, and enhancing technological capacity.

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

What everyone needs to know about women and heart disease.

● Heart disease is under-studied, under-diagnosed and under-treated in women.

● It is the number one killer of women over 35 worldwide, accounting for more deaths every year than all cancers combined.

● Better understand how to prevent women’s heart disease and ways to develop a heart healthy lifestyle.

● We Welcome Men & Women of All Ages and All Cultures

Presenter

Marion Martell, Women@Heart Program Ambassador, Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute

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“He was told to go ahead, and check back later,” she said. “But there was no checking back. Sadly, he was killed by contact with a 16,000-volt hydro line. And to find out later he was given an aluminum pole trimmer, an aluminum ladder to work amongst hidden lines in a hedge, capable of 16,000 volts, makes me angry.”

In court last month, the company’s owner, Sheldon Best Green, faced charges from the Ministry of Labour. He was fined just over $50,000. Chenier said it was a slap in the face, and left her feeling defeated.

“There were no words to describe how we felt,” Chenier said. “Only buckets of tears to fill a courtroom filled with disgusted onlookers, and friends and family.”

Chenier said that losing her son has left a void in the lives of her and her other son that will never be replaced.

“My life has changed,” she said. “I have changed. I’m no longer myself. I never will be again. I carry so much intense anger inside me. Knowing my son reached out that morning with concerns, and was “brushed off”, haunts me to this day. This will never go away. Knowing this could have been prevented if the people who were responsible for keeping him

safe listened and did their jobs lives with me every day.

“My son died working hard, making a living doing what he loved. And unsafe working conditions ended his life that day. Carrying this anger with me every day is emotionally and physically exhausting. No parent should have to bury their child. I wake up every morning hoping it was a bad dream. Then reality sets in and I have to find a way to maneuver through every single day in a world I no longer know.

“I don’t know how I will ever feel joy or happiness again. Every day has been a horrible struggle to get through the day. Knowing I will never see

him get married, or have his own children, or be a best man in his brother’s wedding.”

Chenier said she was honoured to stand with so many who have also lost someone in a workplace fatality.

“Please know that we know your pain and stand with you and your families and lost ones,” she said.

Across Canada close to one thousand workers die each year and many more are injured as a direct result of the workplace.

“There is a pronounced sadness and at the same time there is frustrationfrustration that these needless injuries and deaths continue to occur day after day, month after month, year after year,” said Sean

McKenny, president of the Ottawa and District Labour Council. “Sadness because over three people are dying each day in this country as a result of the workplace and that means somewhere there are children who will lose a parent, a husband who will lose a wife, and a sister who will lose a brother. It just doesn’t make any sense.”

The Ottawa and District Labour Council (ODLC) has been the voice of working people in the Ottawa area since 1872. The ODLC currently represents 90 local unions with a combined membership of 50,000 workers and is the largest democratic and popular organization in the Ottawa area.

Nick Chenier, pictured with his mom, died just shy of his 21st birthday.

Nick Chenier was remembered at Canada’s National Day of Mourning Ceremony.

Brown calls proposed rural stormwater fee structure a ‘ditch tax’ at Richmond meeting

Frustrated residents say it’s just one more example of the city ‘trying to fit a city peg into a rural hole’

The tiki torches weren’t lit when the villagers showed up, but they may have been by the time everyone left.

More than 100 frustrated Richmond residents turned out to the Richmond Dining Hall building at the Richmond Fairgrounds Thursday night to hear about proposed stormwater management fees in rural areas.

The timing of the meeting comes exactly one week after the City of Ottawa hosted a workshop for Ward 21 residents at the Alfred Taylor Community Centre in North Gower in preparation for the fall City of Ottawa Rural Summit.

Ward 21 Councillor David Brown opposes the new structure and has referred to the plan as a “ditch tax.” He says it will negatively and unfairly impact people living in rural Ottawa. (See Councillor Brown’s column on page 9). Brown said that there are about 5,000 kilometres of rural ditches in Ottawa with only about 150 kilo-

metres of stormwater piping. He said there is no need for much beyond the current rural ditches.

One of the recommendations being explored by city staff is using impervious surfaces captured using aerial imagery as the basis for allocating stormwater charges. Impervious surfaces refer to areas on a property considered highly resistant to water absorption, such as pavement, asphalt, concrete, brick, building material and structure rooftops.

Simply put, the city is proposing to move away from a flat stormwater fee to a charge based on the amount of impervious surface on the property. The new fee would be added to rural property taxes.

side of the villages of Manotick, Richmond, North Gower and Kars have gravel driveways where water can soak in.

The meeting in Richmond was the first of five rural meetings in the city, with the next one scheduled for Thurs., May 23 at the Metcalfe Community Centre at 6 p.m. There is also a June 17 meeting in Carp, and June 25 meetings in Navan and Cumberland.

The takeaway from many people comes down to the same issue that has been the troubling reality of rural life since the city was amalgamated a quarter century ago. As one longtime resident at the meeting commented, “you can’t always plug a city peg into a rural hole.”

rely on natural run-offs, with the water being absorbed into the ground and draining into roadside ditches.

The new fee structure will be a complex one. The city is proposing that the fee would be based on areas which cannot drain water, like driveways, barns, sheds, and houses. However, many rural properties and farms in Ward 21 out-

The major argument against the changes is that the urban areas of Ottawa have thousands of kilometers of sewers to drain away stormwater. Stormwater on rural properties

“What the city is planning to do is based upon the impervious square footage with our properties that we would pay an annual tax based on that square foot,” Richmond resident Bob Moore told CTV after the meeting. “I see it as being a shift in taxation from the

urban and suburban areas to the rural area and yet we are not getting the benefits. My driveway is 150 feet long and all of that water this morning is soaked into the ground. And in the city’s preliminary study to council, they were going to disregard gravel driveways. Why can’t we just stick with the current assessment? Why complicate life?”

Brown is urging local

residents in opposition to the new fee structure to send in their comments and concerns on how these changes will negatively impact them. You can do this by going to engage.ottawa.ca/rates to provide your feedback online or attend one of the upcoming rural community consultation sessions. You can also email your thoughts to waterrates@ ottawa.ca.

More than 100 people showed up at the Richmond Agricultural Society Dining Hall building for a meeting on stormwater fee structure changes Thursday night.

A grocery store boycott would only hurt the community

It’s a stone cold, lead pipe lock from the other side

It seemed like such a simple question.

I was in line at the cash at Your Independent Grocer two weeks ago and the person behind me asked me a simple question.

“The Olympics is the greatest stage to showcase a nation. Even if the Olympics are in Moscow, there is no way the Americans and Canadians would boycott them.”

OPINION PAGE

Are you taking part in the massive Loblaw boycott?

Or, like many, do you just shrug your shoulders, disregard, and shop wherever you feel like and wherever is most convenient?

Messenger Editorial

In rural south Ottawa, families are struggling more than ever to put food on their table. There are many reasons for this. So why is Loblaw being painted with a wide acrylic brush on a canvas of greed? Why is nobody boycotting Metro or Farm Boy?

Are you more Canadian than a fifth grader?

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?

The backlash against Loblaw and its companies began years ago. The first time our newsroom caught wind of it was when they started charging five cents for plastic bags. That may have been the PR faux pas that planted the seeds of greed in the minds of consumers.

“So, is this the year the Leafs are finally gonna win it all?”

I looked at him and smiled.

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.

What makes Loblaw different is that they are profitable. Is it suddenly a crime for a business to make money? Are we boycotting Amazon because they made so much money during the pandemic?

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

So how can the rest of us have that feeling?

The Conservative government has a solid idea.

Amazonis is actually a good comparison with Loblaw. They are two of the largest employers in the region. But during the pandemic, Amazon was bursting at the seems with profits and increased business that has changed consumer behaviour and destroyed many brick and mortar small retailers fighting to survive. Did we blame Amazon for their successes? No. We just ordered more stuff and had it delivered the next day.

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.

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.

“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.”

“I hate two things,” I said. “Black olives and the Leafs, and not in that order. But, having said that. They look really good and after coming all the way back to tie the series against Boston, I can’t see them losing. If they’re going to win the Cup, they have a really good shot this year. I think it will be between them and Vegas in the final.”

Of course, then the Leafs lost in overtime and Vegas imploded against Dallas.

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.

Why is it cool and not frightening that Amazon’s Barrhaven facility is groundbreaking in the use of robotics? Does that not mean they have fewer jobs for people? Is it not kind of Skynet-like from the Terminator movies?

The biggest culprit in rising food prices is plain and simple. In Canada, it is global fuel prices, which went out of whack when Putin invaded Ukraine. We are reminded how expensive fuel is every time we are at the pump. But take a look at the diesel prices. They are double what they were pre-invasion.

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

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

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.

Sometimes it’s best just to say nil

I’m finding myself at one of those bizarre crossroads where everything I love about sports is about to collide with a large swatch of the population working diligently to grate my nerves.

Our COmmunity FROM THE OTHER SIDE

In history, there have been some bad predictions. In 1943, IBM Chairman Thomas Watson proclaimed that the worldwide market would “maybe want five computers.” In 1968, Business Week proclaimed that Japanese-made automobiles would never take a big slice of the U.S. car market. And in 1974, Margaret Thatcher said that it would be years – not in her time – that a woman could become Prime Minister.

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

I’m the last guy in the world you want to hear a prediction from.

It’s this whole World Cup thing. Don’t you find that people are just a little too into it?

The relation is simple. Diesel runs tractors on the farm. Diesel fuels the trucks that spend countless hours delivering food from farm to table across our country. It also goes beyond fuel. Every time the province raises minimum wage, the price to hire pickers and farm workers goes up with those increases. That is passed along to the end consumer.

Locally, Loblaw and its family of companies have done great things for us. The McDonough family owns the Manotick Your Independent Grocer and Chris King own the store in Richmond. They are exemplary in their support for the community.

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.

I fancied myself to be a bit Charles Darwinesque. And it might be noted that Darwin said that he did not expect that his theories would offend anyone. But I bet even Darwin never came out with this classic that I told my co-workers in the newsroom as a cub reporter.

“Within two generations, we won’t have finger nails or toe nails. If you look at the human race over the last couple of hundred years, we are evolving. We are getting taller and healthier. Nails serve no purpose. We just cut them off. Within a hundred years, humans will be born without them.”

In the 1980s, I bought my first video recorder.

“I’m going to spend the extra money and get a Betamax. No one will ever use VHS.”

Within a year I couldn’t rent movies anywhere.

I seemed to really be out of touch when it came to technology.

I have always had a knack for being spectacularly wrong in my predictions. Let’s take a look at some of them through the years.

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

So go ahead and boycott Loblaw. If your kid or your neighbour or their kid loses their job over it, that’s on you. You aren’t hurting Galen Weston. You are only hurting the community.

By Jeffrey Morris

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

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

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

In 1987, on the heels of the hits Only in My Dreams and I Get Lost, I boldly predicted, “Debbie Gibson would become the most successful female singer of the 20th Century… even better than Madonna.”

“I don’t know why you guys are wasting your money on CDs,” I told my friends around 1988. “Cassettes are so much better and they will be around forever.”

Finally, in 1998, I bought my first CD player. About 10 minutes later, everyone was getting an iPod. By the time I got an iPod, everyone was on Spotify.

How about a fashion statement from the 1980s?

News

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Staff/Contributors: Kelly Belair, David Brown, Gary Coulombe, Larry Ellis, Skyler Fraser, Goldie Ghamari, Melissa MacIsaac, Jeffrey Morris, Greg Newton, Irene Staron, Ralph Tweedie, Leeanne Van der Burgt.

“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.

“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.

Yup. I was a little bit off on that one.

Ten years later, here was another classic prediction.

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

I bit my tongue.

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

“Pop music will die in another decade because we are mathematically running out of combinations of notes that would be appealing. We will have exhausted all musical possibilities, so no one will be able to write music.”

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

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.

Actually, if you listen to Drake or Kendrick Lamar, I may have been on to something.

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.

“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.

In 1980, not only did I predict that U.S. President Jimmy Carter would soundly thrash Ronald Reagan in an election, but after Reagan won the election, I predicted that World War III would begin within six months.

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. I was just about to drift back into ADD world and

tario.

senger

publication purposes.

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

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

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

“USA! USA! USA!”

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

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

“Would you like plastic bags?”

“No one would ever vote for Ronald Reagan,” I told everyone who would listen at South Grenville District High School. “He’s a war monger. If he wins, and with all the stuff going on in Afghanistan and with our close ties to the U.S., guaranteed that they will bring back the draft and we will all be graduating from high school and stepping into a war in the Middle East.”

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

“Once these rugby pants catch on, they won’t make pants with belts, buttons or flies anymore. The drawstring is the way of the future.”

I’ve always been a step ahead of all of the movie critics.

“Why would they bother making a second Star Wars movie? Sequels never work.”

Or how about this classic from 1990?

“Oh my God, did you see the trailer for Congo? That is going to be, like, the best movie ever made!”

And should we even bother with sports?

“Tom Brady’s not athletic enough to make it in the NFL.”

“Daniel Alfredsson would never leave the Ottawa Senators. It just can’t happen.”

“The Expos will never leave Montreal.”

“The NHL will never use a shootout to decide games. That’s ridiculous.”

As for politics? I believe this gem is from 2014.

“There’s no way Tim Hudak will lose to Kathleen Wynne.”

So what is in store for us this year?

Don’t ask me.

Somebody one said, “Don’t ask the questions you don’t want to know the answers to.”

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.

That one was followed by this classic from 1980.

Go ahead and ask me. I don’t have a clue.

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

Bev McRae photo

155 Ontario communities are “Unwilling Hosts” for wind power

Ontario has 155 municipalities that have officially declared themselves as “Unwilling Hosts” to new industrial wind power sites, says Wind Concerns Ontario (WCO).

The municipalities either passed a resolution years ago during the first push for wind power in the province, or more recently as the possibility of new wind power proposals arose via procurement by Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator.

Municipal support is now mandatory in Ontario for any power generation project to proceed.

“The Unwilling Host” started in 2014 after Kathleen Wynne became Premier and she said she wouldn’t force wind power sites on municipalities that weren’t willing to host them,” WCO president Jane Wilson of North Gower explains. “So, a number of them started passing the Unwilling Host resolution.”

Within a few months,

Wilson says, there were more than 100, equal to about one quarter of all the 444 municipalities in Ontario. Many took the step after the Township of Wainfleet passed a resolution.

“At that time, the gesture was symbolic as the Green Energy Act passed by the Liberal government in 2009, which altered 21 pieces of legislation including the Planning Act, removed municipal authority over energy projects. The Ford govern-

ment repealed the Green Energy Act in 2019 and restored planning authority to municipalities, so a declaration of Unwilling Host is a statement. It means a community knows what the impact of industrial wind power could be, and they don’t want it.”

Why? Nothing has changed, Wilson says. Despite thousands of complaints about wind turbine noise and reports of people becoming ill after longterm sleep disturbance, the environment ministry has

made no changes to regulations for noise limits or setbacks between the huge wind turbines and homes. With no changes, and no acknowledgement of the need to protect health and safety, municipalities have no choice but to say no to new industrial wind power sites.

The Independent Electricity System Operator or IESO will have another Request for Proposals later this year which will include new wind and solar.

“It’s not 2009,” Wilson says. “We know a lot more about wind turbines now, and the problems they can bring to municipalities and residents such as noise pollution; health problems for some residents linked to long-term sleep disturbance; risk to wildlife including raptors and bats which are crucial to the eco- system, especially agriculture; and disturbances to aquifers, such as in North Kent where dozens of families now have contaminated well water.”

Why does the Messenger praise Mulroney while throwing Macdonald under the bus?

The Editor, It’s fascinating to note the glaring disparity in the way in which two former Prime Ministers of Canada—Sir John A. Macdonald and Brian Mulroney—are perceived by the Manotick Messenger. On June 18, 2021, a Messenger editorial informed us that, “It’s time to move on from Sir John A.” That’s because of Residential Schools, you see, for which--according to

the Messenger--Macdonald is solely to blame and no subsequent Prime Minister bears any responsibility. It’s an interesting position for the Messenger to take, considering the fact that Residential School attendance was only made compulsory for First Nation’s children in 1920, 29 years after Macdonald was dead and buried, and they continued until the last one was closed in 1996, more than

100 years after his passing. It simply strikes me as a little naïve to suggest that Macdonald is the lone villain in this tragedy and the only former PM who deserves to be expunged from history. Why is the ethical bar so high for Macdonald and so low for every subsequent Prime Minister?

And how low is it? Well, just take a look at the Messenger editorial of April 5, 2024, entitled,

“Brian Mulroney was foreign policy superstar.” This gushing profile concludes that despite his unpopularity, “Mulroney took to asserting that history’s longer-term perspective would vindicate him. Turns out he was right.” No mention of the fact that Residential Schools continued for the entire time that Mulroney was Prime Minister—the last one being closed in 1996 by Jean Chretien.

And, conspicuous by its absence, was any mention of that $2.1 million in taxpayers’ money that Mulroney had received to settle his defamation lawsuit against the RCMP for alleging that he had received cash payments from German businessman Karlheinz Shreiber. Of course Mulroney was later forced to admit that the allegations were correct and he had received cash payments

from Shreiber, but for reasons unknown he was never subsequently asked by the Harper government to return the $2.1 million to the taxpayers of Canada. It’s interesting that Mulroney gets forgiven for such an egregious ethical lapse when Macdonald gets thrown under the bus for not meeting the current ethical bar. Isn’t that a bit of a double standard?

Andy Braid

Name: Melita Wyche

Age: 17

School: Osgoode Township High Grade: 12

FOCUS ON YOUTH

by Phill Potter

Activities/Interests:

The MessengerFOCUS ON YOUTH

By Irene Staron, MVCa PreSIdent

Last month many of our MVCA members and residents participated in Rural Summit workshops facilitated by our Councillors and their staff. Focusing on five key themes set up at separate tables, residents were given the opportunity to list their concerns related to Community Safety, Community Services, Environment, Development and Zoning, Transportation with a sixth ‘open’ category to list concerns that fall outside the five themes provided.

Community Safety includes the emergency protective service provided by the City whereas Community Services focuses on current and future City programs and services. Concerns in the latter ranged from litter after sports games to increased access to recreation, space and availability, flexibility around cancellations, expanded access to grants and more communication with community associations.

Environment includes all items environmental within our rural communities including farmland preservation, renewable energy, site alteration, waste management, drainage and storm water management. Numerous concerns expressed include that the City does not recognize the importance of maintaining farmland as a ‘development issue’ (farmland preservation), the need for help from the Rural Affairs office to provide expert advice and ‘best practices’ in farming as well as enabling farmers to be ‘good stewards’ of the land by preserving nature and ensuring greater habitat space.

Regarding renewable energy, it was noted that the City needs to develop policy on what it wants to achieve, that it should provide greater incentives for property owners (to implement), prioritize small scale implementation of (energy) generation and leverage more existing buildings for renewable generation rather

than prioritizing greenfields.

Regarding water, comments include that the City should encourage the preservation and proper water management practices of the wetland areas near bodies of water, the need for greater investment into management of pollutants in watercourses/watershed and partnering with youth or school groups to this end.

Development and Zoning captures current and future development in our rural communities. Concerns regarding the loss of farmland through urban sprawl were noted along with the need to simplify the ‘subdivision and severance’ of family properties.

Transportation includes all items related to the City services of our roads and public transit. Our Manotick members made a strong contribution on this theme.

Comments include the need for wider shoulders (share the road), safer and more innovative intersection design, public transit for university students and commuters, ensure large trucks are directed away from the villages - a common concern amongst all our rural communities - improve pedestrian safety along corridors in the village with sidewalks, i.e. Main Street, limit truck access to warehouses to the series 400 highways and find ways to enforce this, conduct a traffic impact study for the new HWY 416 interchange to include the impact on the Village of Manotick, and - common with all rural participantsfill potholes!

A full list of all comments and suggestions will be compiled and posted by the City in an As You Heard It report towards the end of May/early June. Solutions and challenges being faced by communities will

Being OTHS Student Council President a rewarding

Parents: Heather and Dennis Wyche

Name: Melita Wyche

be reported in the fall Rural Summit. We will continue to keep you updated as developments arise.

Age: 17

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

School: Osgoode Township High Grade: 12

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.”

“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

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

Local residents contribute to 2024 Rural Summit workshop in Ward 21

Activities/Interests:

a difference in my school,

Residents can continue to provide input to the summit through the City’s survey. Go to https://engage.ottawa.ca/rural-summit-2024

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

Parents: Heather and Dennis Wyche

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

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

Former ward councillor Glenn Brooks was among those who attended the Rural Summit workshop in North Gower.

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

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

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

• 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

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

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.”

• 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.

May 31, June 1 & June 2 - Save the Date! Dickinsons Days returns to Manotick! Hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Manotick the weekend celebrations kick off with a Friday night parade, children’s show at the Manotick Arena and evening fireworks. Come out Saturday for a pancake breakfast in the ‘big tent’ across from Watson’s Mill, join a fishing derby, stroll the stalls of a host of vendors, or take the kids to the Bouncy Castle by the Beer Store in the Mews, ending your day enjoying live entertainment in the ‘big tent’. Sunday features a BBQ at the Mews in front of the Manotick Home Hardware and wrapping up the festivities more live entertainment including the Retrosonics in the ‘big tent’. Postcards with full details can be found throughout our local businesses.

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.”

Adult French Conversation Group Drop-in at the Manotick Library Branch, Wednesday22, June 12 at 7:00 pm (60 mins). Pratiquez votre français dans un milieu décontracté pour les débutants.

• 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.

Why did you get involved in what you do?

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

• 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

June 10 – MVCA Community Garage Sale – 8am – 2pm. Interested in participating? Register your address by June 5 on MVCA’s website. The MVCA will promote the sale and direct people to your location. Registrants are kindly asked to consider making a contribution to our designated charity. https://www. manotickvca.org/community-garage-sale

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.”

• 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.

Youth of Manotick Association is a registered not-for-profit organization offering safe, social, inclusive programs and activities for youth in our community. Friday nights Pre-Teen Program for youth in Grades 4-6 6:30 - 8:00 pm / Youth Drop-In for youth age 12-17 7:30 - 9:00 pm. See the website for more information https://www.yoma.ca

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, most community events have been postposed or cancelled. For updates in the community, please visit the Manotick Messenger Facebook page and the RichmondHub.ca website.

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

• 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.

Community Calendar

These cards accepted Monday-Friday: 9am-8pm Saturday: 9am-5pm Sunday: 10am-4pm Paul’s Pharmacy 990 River Road (across from Tim Hortons) 613-692-0015 Transferring a prescription is easy to do

• 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

www.pharmasave.com

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

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

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

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

Paul’s Pharmacy

990 River Road

(across from Tim Hortons) 613-692-0015

Transferring a prescription is easy to do

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

STEVENS CREEK SHUTTER CO

We have temporarily suspended operations due to COVID19

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

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

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

613-706-1250

stevenscreekshutterco.ca

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

• 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

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

These cards accepted Monday-Friday: 9am-8pm Saturday: 9am-5pm Sunday: 10am-4pm

www.pharmasave.com

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

VILLAGE VOICE

There is still time to submit your comments on water billing system

The City of Ottawa is currently in the early consultation stage of conducting a review of the water, wastewater, fire supply, and stormwater rate structures. The goal, according to City staff, is to have rates “more fairly” applied to residents and businesses. While many changes being explored are focused on urban Ottawa, there will be changes that impact rural residents, particularly concerning stormwater rates.

The notable change being proposed for rural Ottawa would be that City staff are looking to expand the stormwater charge to all properties, including agricultural, forested, and vacant properties. Additionally, the City intends to move from a flat rate for stormwater charges toward a charge that is based on the amount of impervious surface on a property –that is, the amount of the property that is covered by buildings, patios, decks, driveways, and other kinds of hard surfaces that water cannot penetrate easily.

I recognize the intent behind examining changes to the rate structure is to cover the unpredictable costs of delivering water and wastewater services. However, I did not support the introduction of the stormwater charge that was imposed in 2017, and I am vehemently opposed to the proposed changes now. The result will be unfair and inequitable to rural Ottawa. The proposed changes will not lead to better service in rural Ottawa; the idea is simply another illconceived tax grab. After recently speaking to many residents, it is clear that my concerns are widely shared in our ward.

Rideau-Jock Report

David Brown, Councillor , Ward 21

proved by City Council, the direction that staff are attempting to go in will result in fee increases for many rural property owners. Comparing these proposed changes to the existing “ditch tax” –which does little to assist in the maintenance of rural ditches – increasing taxes does not always mean there will be an enhancement to services.

I am concerned that residents who pay into municipal drains and have established drainage rights that already manage stormwater will be asked by the City to pay for impervious portions of their properties. In its pursuit of extracting ever-increasing taxes and revenues from residents, the City is looking to impose what can best be described as a solution in search of a problem.

I am opposed to the direction that the City appears to be going in and will continue to advocate for a return to the old billing system, where only those connected to sewer systems are expected to pay the stormwater charge and residents who maintain their own ditches are not saddled with these charges.

ST. JOHN: MASS TIME Saturdays 4 p.m., Sundays 9 a.m. ST. BRIGID: MASS TIME Sundays 10:30 a.m. Telephone: (613) 821-0761 Email: stbrigid.stjohn@gmail.com Office Hours: Tuesday–Thursday 9am–3pm Friday. 9am-12pm B y D

Church Directory

Manotick ..United .Church

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

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

While there has been no formal proposal for an outright increase in fees for rural property owners and nothing has been ap-

There is still time to submit your thoughts on the water rate structure review as the City will be conducting stakeholder engagement until the end of the year. You can do this by going to engage. ottawa.ca/rates to provide your feedback online or attend one of the upcoming rural community consultation sessions. You can also email your thoughts to waterrates@ottawa.ca. I strongly urge residents to provide their feedback on how this will negatively and unfairly affect people living in rural Ottawa.

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

ST. JAMES’ ANGLICAN CHURCH

1138 Bridge Street, Manotick

–Serving South Barrhaven, riverSide South and Manotick–

Sunday Services

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

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

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

The Catholic Communities of St. John the Evangelist

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

Pastor: Rev. Michael Wright

ST. 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

Councillor David Brown’s roots are with the Richmond Agricultural Society. He was at the RAS pancake breakfast to volunteer.

Police launch survey on the use of in-car cameras

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is launching a new public survey to seek feedback on the introduction of in-car camera pilot project.

“Other police services across the province and the country are already using this technology, and we have heard from both our officers and the public that they want to see it deployed within our Ser-

vice,” said project lead Inspector Iain Pidcock. “But we want to make sure that we are considering community input before we implement anything.”

The OPS is conducting in-person consultations, but residents are encouraged to complete this short survey to offer their feedback at ottawapolice. ca/video. The survey will close on June 3, 2024.

Once we have collected feedback, OPS will launch an initial pilot project to ensure the devices function as expected and identify any issues prior to expanding it Service-wide.

This is part of the modernization of our Service with the introduction of our new Digital Evidence Information Management System (DEIMS). DEIMS is part of a program

launched by the Solicitor General of Ontario and the Ministry of the Attorney General’s office to help create common resources for all police services across the province.

“DEIMS will allow us to securely accept things like video clips, images and other media to support you when you file a report with us,” said Insp. Pidcock.

Vehicles equipped with in-car cameras will also use wireless mics to capture audio when an officer exits the vehicle. Wireless mics are paired to the in-car camera and have a range of 1000 feet (300 m). When recording, a red flashing light will be visible, as well, every two minutes the wireless mic will beep. Officers will attach the wireless mics to their vest (chest) utilizing a RapidLock mount. The OPS currently operates five vehicles with a three-external mounted camera ALPR system, that solely uses ALPR technology. More information about in-car cameras and ALPRs can be found at ottawapolice.ca/video. If you have questions, you can email DEIMS@ ottawapolice.ca.

Record-breaking year for 2024 edition of CN Cycle for CHEO

The 17th annual CN Cycle for CHEO broke every record for attendance and fundraising. This massive show of support from our generous community to the children, youth and families facing cancer is humbling, inspiring, and deeply appreciated. The total of $2,175,200 from registered participants, energetic fundraisers and devoted sponsors will go to work supporting care

and research at CHEO. This event includes cycling routes offering special access to some of the most beautiful roadways in Ottawa, walking routes along the picturesque Ottawa River, activities and entertainment for kids of all ages, and a joyous finale presenting the total raised that never fails to get a huge cheer from the crowd.

Friends and Family Team is Griff’s Gang,

raising $324,274; and the top Individual Fundraiser is Tamy Bell, who raised $61,389. Proceeds from CN Cycle for CHEO will support care and research right here in our community so that children and youth facing a difficult treatment journey will have every chance to live their best life.

The partnership between CN and the CHEO Foundation is one that truly makes a difference

in the lives of oncology patients at CHEO and around the world. “We are very proud to have been a part of the CHEO journey for 17 years, the CN Cycle for CHEO is an event that means so much to everyone at CN,” said Melissa Cotton, Senior Manager of Government Affairs for CN.

The 2024 McDonald’s Dream Team, representing all CHEO can-

cer patients, included seven-year-old Sameer Hafizi, 12-year-old Luca Munguia-Donato and 16-year-old Carissa Marcotte.

“The CN Cycle for CHEO event is one of my absolute favourite days of the year,” said Steve Read, CHEO Foundation President and CEO.

“With the help of so many generous sponsors and this dedicated community the positive impact

for children and youth facing cancer will be felt for years to come. We often say we are stronger together and what I witnessed today surely proves that. We can make a difference for families facing a scary diagnosis by standing with them and supporting the care and research happening at CHEO. I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone involved in today’s successful event.”

Modern Mother’s Day has been celebrated each year since 1870

Early Mother’s Day celebrations can be dated back to the spring celebrations to honor Rhea, the Mother of the Gods, in ancient Greek civilization, according to some sources. Later, Mothering Sunday in the United Kingdom was traditionally a day for people to visit the church where they were baptized, although it now also celebrates motherhood in modern times.

THis week, THIS MONTH

by Larry Ellis

The modern-day origins of Mother’s Day can be attributed to two women –Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis, who were important in establishing the tradition

in the United States. Around 1870, Julia Ward Howe called for Mother’s Day to be celebrated each year; Mother’s Day has grown increasingly popular since then.

Many people in Canada express their gratitude towards mothers and mother figures on Mother’s Day. Mother figures may include stepmothers, mothers-inlaw, guardians, foster par-

ents, and family friends. It is the time for people to thank mothers and mother figures who took the time to care for them and help them through life’s challenges.

The word Mother has stirred the imagination of people since time immemorial, resulting into a great outpouring of emotion, find-

ing its way through poetry and literature. We all become poetic, in one way or the other, when it comes to describing or remembering our mom. A few poetic words, expressing our love and care, mean the world to her. Poems are a way to express our feelings for the most wonderful person on

Mother’s Day – make one up! Take or send a real card, better still drop in to see her if you can or make a phone call. Visiting may not be possible this year again due to Covid-19.

Many of us do not have our Mother with us anymore but we remember her in our own way.

Volunteers from the Richmond Agricultural Society were busy cooking, serving and offering hospitality at their annual pancake breakfast April 27 at the Richmond Agricultural Society building at the Richmond Fairgrounds. A large crowd turned out for the annual event.

Dickinson Days May 31 - June 2, 2024

By Kelly Belair, ManoticK Bia

We are two weeks away from a sure sign of summer in the village, Dickinson Day weekend.

The first weekend in June Manotick hosts a village wide celebration honouring the birthday of Moss Kent Dickinson, the founder of Manotick.

This event is proudly presented by the Kiwanis Club of Manotick with support from the Manotick BIA.

The weekends festivities begin on Friday, May 31st with an open house and BBQ at the Manotick Legion.

The Dickinson Day Pa-

rade happens at 7pm along Manotick Main Street.

A family show by Junkyard Symphony at Centennial Park at 8pm and ends with the Fireworks at 9:30pm also at Centennial Park.

Saturday, June 1

The pancake breakfast starts at 7:30am at Dickinson Square, $10 for adults, $8 for children.

The Village Craft Fair takes place on Mill Street, Dickinson Street and

Clapp Lane.

The Variety Show under the big top begins at 8:30 am with Fiddles on the Rideau, Manotick Brass, Manotick Martial Arts, Denise Smith Dance Studio, Danielle’s Highland Dancers and Pique Dance Studio.

The Kids Catch & Release Fishing Derby takes place at the Mill Dam.

At 10am head over to the Main St and the Mews for the Manotick BIA Sidewalk Sale along with family activities and Facepainting by Krysia.

Visit the Watson’s Mill & Dickinson House during Doors Open Ottawa from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

At 11am the Manotick Legion will host family games and a BBQ.

performance art. The songs were painstakingly recorded on both analogue tapes, and using pre-electric, 1920s technology.

Enjoy a live performance of music at Dickinson Square that will take you back in time! Doors open at 6:30 pm, with the concert scheduled to begin at 7:15 pm.

Purchase tickets at

Manotick Office Pro or via email to Terry McGovern (mcgovet@rogers.com)

Sunday, June 2

On Sunday, June 2nd at 11am grab a bite to eat at the Manotick Home Hardware Community BBQ and then head over to the Dickinson Square for entertainment by the Retrosonics & Friends.

Dickinson Days would not be what it is today without the hard work and dedication of the Kiwanis Club of Manotick Volunteers. If you see one of these devoted volunteers over the weekend, be sure to give them a warm welcome and thank them for their efforts in making this weekend the success that is today.

Horse drawn wagon rides will be available to board at Mill St and Main St as well as beside Pizza Pizza in the Mews.

The Complete Recordings of Hezekiah Procter (1925-1930) is at once music, history, fiction, biography and recorded

The arrival of Dickinson Day weekend signals the beginning of summer

By Ralph Tweedie, ManoTick kiwanis cluB

Recently I attended an AKtion Club, another member of the Kiwanis family. The Kiwanis AKtion Club is the only service club worldwide for adults with disabilities. Their motto is “Where development has no disability”. Their mission is to develop independence, self-reliance and leadership skills for persons with developmental disabilities. Club members elect their own President and Vice President who help run their meetings.

AKtion Club participants benefit from the strong feelings of being part of a community and the opportunity to realize their potential. Their core values are inclusiveness, acceptance and welcoming differences in others. For some members, this is their only social outing.

As Kiwanis volunteers we benefit as well. It’s the joy you feel when you see their smiling faces as they greet their friends. They are proud

Kiwanis News

Ralph Tweedie

to join in activities, such as singing the National Anthem. You can’t leave the meeting without feeling uplifted. You have helped make someone’s life a little brighter.

The Ottawa Kiwanis Club is the official sponsor of AKtion Club. Each meeting is hosted by a different local Kiwanis Club. The Kiwanis Club of Manotick has hosted the meeting four times this year.

As hosts we serve coffee and water before dinner, help get them organized, and serve them a sit-down dinner. The dinner itself is catered by a member of the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa, chef Abhijit Potdar who provides nutritious meals. There is no charge to attendees.

After dinner we clean up and serve cake for dessert.

As host we are responsible for the cake, door prizes and entertainment. Over the years the entertainment has included presentations, music with dancing, and games. Bingo is the most common activity and has the added delight of prizes.

None of this would be possible without the dedication of David Trigger, a member of the KC of Ottawa who has volunteered with the AKtion Club since 2005.

Dave is the Chairperson of the Aktion Club Committee. Responsibility for the success of the meetings also rests with the Ottawa Carleton Association for Persons with Development Disabilities (OCAPDD). They partner with the KC of Ottawa to coordinate the event and the AKtion Club members. Without them the meetings would not happen.

The first AKtion Club was created in Florida in 1987. The Ottawa Club, the first in Canada, began in 1999. It grew from a single club with 26 members to two clubs of

approximately 65 members each in 2020. The clubs met on alternate Tuesdays from October to May from 1999 until interrupted by the Covid pandemic in 2020.

This year the Ottawa Kiwanis Aktion Club restarted biweekly meetings on Tuesday nights. Attendance has

grown over the year to approximately 70 attendees.

Other clubs hosting a meeting include the Kiwanis Clubs of Ottawa, Ottawa West, East Ottawa Est and Kanata-Stittsville.

There are more than 500 Aktion Clubs worldwide with a membership in excess

of 12,000. They are an important part of the Kiwanis Team. Kiwanis Manotick is very proud to be part of this team.

For more information, please contact Debbie Mulvihill at 613-692-5346 or email Debbie at ddmulvi@ gmail.com.

There are 500 Aktion Clubs that are part of the Kiwanis Team.

Musicale raises funds and spirits for rural seniors and adults with disabilities

By Melissa Macisaac, RuRal Ottawa sOuth suppORt seRvices

The ROSSS community witnessed a spectacular display of talent and generosity at our recent Musicale event, where nearly 250 tickets were sold, raising vital funds to support rural seniors and adults with disabilities. Musicale has become a flagship event for ROSSS, showcasing the immense talent of local performers while also being a vital fundraiser for the work ROSSS does for rural seniors and adults with disabilities.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the electrifying performances by the Village Singers and the Manotick Brass. Their harmonious melodies and captivating choreography left the audience spellbound. The synergy between the performers and the audience created an atmosphere of joy and celebration, making the Musicale an unforgettable experience for all in attendance.

The event received widespread praise from attendees, who commended not only the exceptional performances but also the organization, stunning venue, popcorn, and beautiful reception. A special thank you goes out to Greely Foodland for their generous donation of refreshments, enhancing the overall experience for attendees.

Moreover, the success of the fundraising raffle was made possible by the contributions of numerous businesses and community members. Their generosity further demonstrated the unity and compassion within the Manotick community.

Behind the scenes, the seamless execution of the event was credited to the dedicated efforts of the ROSSS staff, with special recognition given to Della Hart and Lyn Rorke for their engaging emceeing, and Jennifer and Leora Baxter for their invaluable assistance as stagehands. Additionally, the sound technicians

Al Borschewski and Don Moberg ensured impeccable

ROSSS News

Melissa MacIsaac

sound quality throughout the performances, while Nina Tough expertly managed the projection screen.

Donna Nazarenko’s interest-

ing and unique costume designs added a visual flourish to the Village Singers’ performance, complementing Tammy Lee’s choreography beautifully.

The event would not have been possible without the unwavering support of Parkway Church, which graciously opened its doors to host the Musicale. Their hospitality provided a warm and invit-

ing atmosphere, contributing to the overall success of the event.

Reflecting on the overwhelming community support, we would like to express gratitude to everyone who contributed to making the Musicale a resounding success. “We are once again blown away by the generosity and compassion of our community,” Melissa com-

ments, “Your support enables us to continue our mission of serving rural seniors and adults with disabilities, making a meaningful difference in their lives.”

As the songs continue to replay in our heads, the spirit of camaraderie and goodwill fostered by the Musicale continues to resonate within the community in which we

serve. Musicale again reminds us of the power of music to uplift spirits and unite communities in support of a worthy cause. Thank you Village Singers, Manotick Brass and all involved in making this event such a success, and THANK YOU to the community for once again, showing up and supporting our efforts.

The Village Singers and the Manotick Brass delivered another spectacular show to raise funds for ROSSS.

Young role models make a difference in the lives of rural youth

By Leanne VanderBurght youth association of Manotick

No one can discount the value of supportive, engaging adults in the lives of youth. Positive role models demonstrate how to be empathetic and how to live with integrity. It is likely we can all remember at least one adult from our own childhood who had an impact on us, positive or negative. Often we attribute

those interactions or relationships as pivotal points in our lives.

At YOMA we work to introduce role models who can show youth the value of hope and optimism and how to learn and recover from mistakes or adversity. This is possible primarily because of our staff. Over the years, YOMA has been fortunate to find passionate young adults and high school students to work for us who want to make a difference

in the lives of rural youth. Just like the participants, the YOMA staff may be quiet or outgoing, some may love physical activity while others shine with more quiet or artistic interests and talents. What they all have in common is the commitment to sharing what they know and enjoy and the willingness to be open to trying and learning new things themselves. They ask nothing of the youth that they are not willing to do themselves.

Often they say that their time working for YOMA was a positive influence on them too. One of YOMA’s current Facilitators’, Madison, says “I have been working with YOMA for 5 years this year, it has been such an amazing time. I have joined YOMA to create opportunities for the community and help youth navigate rural life (as I came from rural Ontario myself). I have truly learned so much working with the youth of our

community.”

We can all make the conscious choice to be a positive influence in the lives of youth in our community. Having passion about something we do and being willing to share it in a constructive, engaging way can inspire youth. Modelling acceptance is an especially valued characteristic. Let’s face it, life is not always easy but by showing youth ways to view those times and develop resiliency and seek support

when needed, we demonstrate options that youth can learn that can lead them to a life of confidence, compassion and success.

We see this in the many impressive role models in our community; teachers, coaches, instructors, parents, friends, community leaders, business owners. YOMA celebrates them all and we are excited to consider YOMA part of the meaningful influencers in youth’s lives.

Memorial fund supports outdoor education for disadvantaged kids

Don Maciver’s two biggest passions were education and conserving the natural world. Now his family is supporting both through an outdoor education fund in his name.

Don’s wife Jeanine, with support from her family, has committed to covering bus and tuition costs for 600 students over the next five years to improve access to unique outdoor learning experiences at Baxter and Foley Mountain conservation areas for kids facing financial barriers.

“In the outdoors, kids learn in a different way,” Maciver

said. “They are going to touch and feel and see the natural environment for themselves. And they may learn about themselves, what they are capable of and what they can overcome.”

Jeanine’s husband Don worked in planning and regulations at the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) for nearly 40 years, before he passed away in 2017.

Jeanine said he was a lifelong learner who understood the importance of conserving natural resources for future generations – and making sure

the next generation understood and appreciated it, too.

“He would be so unbelievably pleased that his legacy is about conservation and educating children,” Maciver said. “We live in a time, more than ever, where our children and our children’s children have to understand the value of our surroundings, and the need to preserve it.”

The RVCA’s Baxter and

Foley Mountain conservation areas welcome more than 7,000 students each year to participate in curriculumlinked outdoor education programs, including insect study, habitat exploration, survival strategies, pond and wetland studies, soil ecology program, life cycle exploration and more.

But the cost of bussing and tuition can present a barrier for schools in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Many of these neighbourhoods are also the least likely to have accessible greenspace nearby.

That’s where support from the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation comes in.

“Some of these children are visiting a real forest for the first time,” said Foundation Director Diane Downey. “The benefits of being in nature for a child’s physical and mental health are indisputable, and subsidizing the RVCA’s outdoor education programs can make a life-long difference for these children.”

To make a donation, visit https://www.canadahelps.org/ en/charities/rideau-valleyconservation-foundation/ and choose the Don Maciver Memorial Fund.

Sandy’s Island BBQ Specializing in Rotisserie BBQ Chicken & Ribs Fresh Cut PEI Fries & More

Beth, our Manager is a Cordon Bleu Certified Chef in charge of preparing all our food. Beth won the Chili cook-off contest at the Manotick Legion in February.

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

Deliveries by Uber & Skip The Dishes.

Please call if you have any questions for Catering reservations or drop in to Sandy’s Saddlery & Western Wear (same address) to pick up our packed menu for this exciting venture.

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

HOURS: Mon – Sat: 11am – 7pm Sunday: Closed

Don and Jeanine Maciver. RVCA photo

Car-O-Practor Autopro Ltd. announces partnership with Richmond pavilion project

Car-O-Practor Autopro Ltd., a longstanding pillar of the Richmond community, is proud to announce its partnership with the Richmond Legacy Community Association in the fundraising efforts for the construction of a multi-functional community pavilion. Scheduled to be completed in the Village of Richmond, this pavilion will serve as a hub for public gatherings, private events, and community celebrations.

Established on July 1, 1986, Car-O-Practor Autopro Ltd. holds the distinction of being the longest-operating business under single ownership in the history of the Richmond community. For 38 years,

Car-O-Practor Autopro Ltd. has been a trusted one-stop automotive maintenance facility, catering to all makes and models for mechanical, collision, paintless dent repair, and specializing in full EV vehicles with certified technicians.

“Our commitment to excellence extends beyond automotive care; it encompasses our dedication to supporting the growth and vibrancy of the Richmond community,” said Brian Ayotte & Danial Prezeau, CoOwners and Founders of Car-O-Practor Autopro Ltd.

“We take immense pride in being part of the fabric of this community for nearly four decades, and our partnership with the Richmond

Legacy Community Association for the construction of the community pavilion is a testament to our ongoing commitment.”

Car-O-Practor Autopro Ltd. has a history of community engagement and support, having contributed to the construction of the Richmond Community Pavilion. This pavilion, envisioned as a long-lasting pillar for the community, reflects the values of unity, togetherness, and celebration that Car-O-Practor Autopro Ltd. has championed throughout its history.

“We believe that investing in projects like the Richmond Community Pavilion fosters a sense of belonging and strengthens community bonds,” added Brian Ayotte. “We look forward to seeing the pavilion serve as a space for joyous occasions, cultural events, and memorable gatherings for generations to come.”

Car-O-Practor Autopro Ltd. invites the community to join in supporting the construction of the Richmond Community Pavilion, contributing to the legacy of a thriving and connected Richmond community.

For more information on Car-O-Practor visit caropractor.ca

For more information on the Richmond Community Pavilion and on how you may contribute please visit richmondlegacy.ca.

Caropractor co-owners and founders Danial Prezeau and Brian Ayotte have become partners with the Richmond Legacy Pavilion.

Kemptville District Hospital auxiliary members honoured at annual event

Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) honoured its dedicated volunteers on Friday, April 19, 2024 at a wellattended Volunteer Appreciation Tea held during National Volunteer Week.

KDH’s Chief Executive Officer Frank Vassallo welcomed attendees along with Jeff Nolan, Chair of the hospital’s Board of Directors, and several members of nursing staff. North Grenville Mayor Nancy Peckford also took time out of her busy schedule to attend the celebration.

Vassallo opened the program with a warm welcome to the dozens of members of the KDH Auxiliary gathered at Heritage Hall, home to Catered Affairs on the Kemptville Campus.

“I’m so happy we are all here today to recognize the invaluable contributions of our dedicated volunteers,” he

said. “No matter what your role is as a volunteer, I want you to know what a difference you make every day to the experience of our patients and their families as well as our staff.”

“Our annual Volunteer Tea has always been a very important event in the life of the Hospital as it gives us the opportunity to formally recognize and thank all of our volunteers,” Vassallo added.

Next up, accompanied by Auxiliary Volunteer Coordinator Connie Parsons, current Auxiliary President André Rancourt presented the volunteers with a series of awards.

Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Trudy Arnaud, Linda Brennan, Mary Cruse, Maretta Hay, Sylvia Johnston, Dorothy Leeder (retiring after seven years of service), Mike O’Brien, Art Parks (retiring

after seven years of service), Ferne Richardson, and Donna Thibert (retiring after 15 years of service).

Outstanding Service Awards were presented to Betty Beach (who gave 553 hours of volunteer service in 2023), Susan Brown, Jean Gallant (526 hours in 2023), Teresa Harrison, Johanna Kuntz (819 hours in 2023), Connie Parsons (770 hours of service in 2023), and Judy Walsh.

An Award of Excellence was presented to Linda Carnegie (who gave 845 hours of volunteer service in 2023).

In addition, Linda Brennan and Jean Gallant received a “V-Pin” in recognition of achieving the milestone of giving more than 1,000 hours of volunteer service in total to KDH. Susan Brown also received her V-pin for serving for four years on the Auxiliary

Executive.

At the conclusion of the awards presentation, Rancourt expressed thanks to the hospital for hosting the annual volunteer appreciation event. “I simply want to thank KDH on behalf of all the volunteers,” he said, “for recognizing the contribution each volunteer makes for the benefit of KDH patients and staff.”

The final speaker of the day was North Grenville Mayor, Nancy Peckford,

who referenced the invaluable contributions that volunteers make at KDH and other not-for-profit organizations throughout the Municipality.

“Volunteers are so integral to the high quality of life that so many of our residents enjoy. Thank you for all that you do on behalf of Kemptville District Hospital. We are deeply appreciative for your dedication and support !” she said.

KDH is grateful to everybody who helped make the

2024 Volunteer Appreciation Tea so memorable, including KDH’s internal volunteer coordinator, Julia Hunter, and Catered Affairs, who provided an array of unique and tantalizing selections.

The event exemplified the theme of this year’s National Volunteer Week, “Every Moment Matters”, highlighting the importance of every volunteer and the unique contributions they make to their communities.

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Shop Local!

KDH’s 2024 Volunteer Appreciation Tea celebrated its many dedicated volunteers.

From our archives: Chiarelli says Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak “is a loser”

One of the first challenges Wynne faced after replacing Dalton McGuinty as the Premier was to establish peace and mend bridges on the education front. Teachers were carrying out a work-to-rule campaign in protest of Bill 115, introduced by the McGuinty Liberals in 2012.

From the manotick messenger, may 15, 2014

If there were ever any thoughts that this would be a cordial election campaign, Ontario Energy Minister and Ottawa West-Nepean MPP Bob Chiarelli stuck a dagger in those misconceptions at the Nepean-Carleton Liberal nomination meeting.

“He is a loser,” he said of Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak in his fiery speech. “He always has been. And a lot of people in this party feel that way, too.”

Chiarelli delivered jabs about Hudak’s character throughout his speech, referring more than once to Hudak’s “grin.” He also referred

to Hudak as a “Mike Harris clone.”

“I knocked on a door yesterday,” Chiarelli said, “and the person who answered the door said, ‘I’m a Tory. I will vote Tory, and I always will. But I wish I could exchange leaders with you.’”

Chiarelli said that the popularity of Premier Kathleen Wynne has been gaining momentum early in the campaign. “It is stronger than we expected,” said Chiarelli. “People like her honesty, and they like her style.”

The Minister praised the Premier for being a person who sets goals and then accomplishes them. “She achieved her goal of becoming the first woman Premier of Ontario,” he said.

“Within three to four months, she had calmed the whole sector,” said Chiarelli. “She had both sides talking and making agreements. They were the most collegial discussions I have ever seen between the government and unions.”

Chiarelli also defended the spending of his party and the recent budget, which was rejected by the NDP and the Progressive Conservatives. While Hudak has been particularly aggressive over Ontario’s debt and deficit, Chiarelli said that his party has a strong policy in place for the province. He called his party’s budget a “jobs budget”, which built partnerships with the automobile industry, the tech industry, and many other private and corporate sectors.

ARE YOU THINKING OF SENIOR LIVING?

“We have the lowest per capita spending of any province in Canada,” he said, citing an audit by the Ontario Auditor General. “(Premier Wynne) is very strong fiscally.”

Chiarelli said that in the last 24 months, the Ontario Government has invested $300 million in the high tech sector in Ottawa to create jobs.

“Tim Hudak would call that corporate welfare,” said Chiarelli. “Tim Hudak would not have put that money on the table.”

Chiarelli’s attack on Conservative leaders extended beyond Hudak and into the federal scope. He was critical of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

“He’s the first Prime Minister in the history of Canada who won’t talk to the Premiers collectively,” Chiarelli said. He added that Ontario is establishing its own pension plan, as the average Canadian Pension Plan amount of $6,700 per year is not nearly enough for a person to live on.

“Tim Hudak would call this a payroll tax,” Chiarelli

said. “He stands up with a grin on his face and glibly says it’s a payroll tax.

Wynne, according to Chiarelli, “has got it right.” He said her plan to balance jobs and pensions will help the growing number of people who do not have a pension plan.

“Could you imagine if people had to rely on CPP?,” he asked. “They would need help to survive. With this plan,

we pay a little bit now and invest rather than pay a lot later.”

As Energy Minister, Chiarelli touched briefly on the program that would take $180 per year off the energy bills for moderate and low income families.

“That’s what Tim Hudak voted against,” Chiarelli said. “Tim Hudak cannot win this election. People see right through him.”

Spring sports season underway for local high schools

613-692-4432

Dr.Thomas

613-692-4432

The South Carleton Storm junior girls soccer team opened their season up with a 2-0 win over the John McCrae Bulldogs. The Storm are on a three-game winning streak to start the season.

South Carleton Storm players swarm a ball carrier from Sacred Heart during their senior boys rugby season opener at South Carleton. The Storm dropped the game 36-10.

The St. Mark Lions scored on this play in their 20-0 win over the St. Francis Xavier Coyotes in NCSSAA girls flag football action.

Cancer survivor Arthur Hamlin drafted by Montreal Alouettes

It was one of the feel good stories of last week’s 2024 CFL Draft.

Cancer survivor Arthur Hamlin of Riverside South was selected 29th overall by the Montreal Alouettes.

For Hamlin, who played his college football at Colgate University in Ithaca, NY after graduating from St. Francis Xavier High School, the CFL is somewhat of a family business. Hamlin’s grandfather, Howard Hamlin, played for the powerful Toronto Balmy Beaches in the 1920s. His uncle, Howard Hamlin Jr., played for the Ottawa Rough Riders in the 1960s. Hamlin’s father, Geof, played fullback at the University of North Carolina and spent some time with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Geof Hamlin is also one of the most well-known and respected high school and youth football coaches in the city. Arthur’s older brother Nate played at Carleton and then played for the BC Lions, Ottawa Redblacks and Edmonton Elks.

Hamlin posted a video on social media of him receiving a call from the Alouettes, con-

gratulating him and welcoming him to the team. In the video, he is surrounded by his family in their Riverside South home.

Hamlin’s journey took a difficult twist in 2021 when he noticed a lump on his neck during spring practice. His trainers prescribed antibiotics to him, but the lump was still there. When he returned home for the summer, he had a biopsy and an ultrasound. They confirmed that he had cancer.

At Colgate, the Raiders were motivated by the phrase, “So what, now what.”

“Basically it means this happened, but what are you going to do about it?” Hamlin said in an interview with 3 Down Nation. “You can sit there and you can dwell on something or you can take action,” Hamlin explained. “How are you going to

react to a situation when something unfavourable is thrown in your direction? Are you going to pout? Are you going to sit down and just accept that this is what it is or are you going to get up and fight? Are you going to have the grit to get through?”

Hamlin stayed him and went through six months of treatments. Although he was unable to go to school, he continued to work out on non-treatment days and got a job at a local gym.

He was declared cancerfree in 2022 and returned to Colgate. In his first game back, he made seven tackles in a win over the University of Maine. Hamlin played in 17 games for Colgate in 2022 and 2023.

“I knew I wasn’t the first and I knew I wasn’t going to be the last, I was just the latest in a long line of people getting tested by this battle,” he said in the 3 Down Nation interview. “If someone did look up to me like that, I would be completely honoured. If other people are looking at my situation and being like, ‘I can do this,’ then I want to tell them that you can get through it, one hundred percent.”

Nepean Sports Wall of Fame looking for volunteer board members

The Nepean Sports Wall of Fame Inc. is seeking skilled and experienced volunteers for its Board of Directors. Applications will be accepted from candidates with one or more of the following areas of skill and experience:

• Knowledge of and connection to the Nepean sports community.

• Knowledge of and connection to the Nepean business community.

• Communications/media relations/social media

• Financial management (accounting designation preferred).

• Event management.

• Revenue generation (sponsorships and grants).

Completed Application Forms with personal resumes will be accepted until May 31, 2024 at 5:00pm. Successful candidates will be notified by email on or before June 17, 2024. Submit documents to info@nepeansportswalloffame.org

As a member of the Board of Directors, candidates should be willing to commit 2-3 hours per month, plus prereading time. Board members will be expected to make every effort to attend about 8 Board meetings annually up to 90 minutes each and be a member of a Board Working Group that would meet up to

Previous experience with not-for-profit Boards is considered an asset. If you wish to apply, please download and complete the Candidate Application Form from our website nepeansportswalloffame.org

4 times annually for about 60 minutes each meeting. Board members would be expected to contribute their professional skills to support various aspects of the Wall of Fame operations: financial, fundraising, communication, event logistics, etc.

The Nepean Sports Wall of Fame was established in 1985 by the Nepean Chamber of Commerce to recognize attained excellence and athletic achievement by Nepean athletes and athletic teams at the national and international level of competition. The Nepean Sports Wall of Fame currently consists of 94 inductees representing 35 different sports. All inductees’ plaques are displayed on the physical Wall of Fame, located in the Nepean Sportsplex lobby.

Are we ready for a plastic free life along the Rideau and Jock Rivers?

By AlexA DADDArio

Paper straws suck.

As a journalist and environmental scientist, myself, one of my biggest criticisms of the discussion around plastic pollution is the lack of nuance regarding the benefits of plastic. Cheap, durable, and sanitary; plastics have revolutionized industries from shipping and packaging to healthcare, allowing civilization to support greater numbers of people and making participation in society possible for all. Plastic straws themselves are flexible and have lower heat conductivity, which could provide many individuals with disabilities and grip mobility issues a convenient way to consume a variety of liquids.

Previous estimates suggest plastic straws only contribute to plastic pollution by about 4% per piece and about 0.02% by weight. However, that’s still about 8.3 billion pieces, pieces we are sticking right in our mouths and consuming liquids running through them. An easy way to ingest plastics in their most pernicious form, microplastics.

Microplastics are plastic pieces that are less than 5mm in length. Microplastic can be produced directly, such as in the now banned microbeads in cosmetics and oral hygiene products, as well as indirectly through the mechanical or chemical breakdown of larger plastics by erosion, solar radiation et cetera. The largest sources of microplastics are textiles, such as clothing which release microplastics into the water supply when we wash our clothes, and tires which release microplastics from treading.

Microplastics are found in all areas of the globe, from sprawling metropolises to barren deserts, plastic doesn’t just move there by water, but also through the air. Emerging research is finding microplastics in our guts, our lungs and our blood, even breast milk, pla-

centae and brains. For better or worse, plastic doesn’t biodegrade, it just breaks down, getting smaller and smaller until it ends up in our water, food, air and subsequently our bodies.

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution convened in Ottawa the last full week of April, 2024 with delegates from 175 countries to negotiate a treaty proposal aimed at reducing plastic pollution. The week was kicked off with the premiere of the film Plastic People at ByTowne Cinema, co-directed by Ziya Tong whom many of you will remember as the host of Discovery Canada’s Flagship program Daily Planet, where I had the privilege of completing my internship while a journalism student. Having kept in touch with Ziya, I was fortunate enough to also work on the documentary myself after study-

ing microplastic pollution in Ottawa waterways in graduate school.

Recently, the Federal Court overturned Canada’s single-use plastic ban, citing it too “unreasonable and unconstitutional”. Certainly plastic in and of itself isn’t inherently bad. Plastic is simply characterized as materials synthesized from the polymerization of organic molecules. Humans have been molding natural rubbers for millennia, and before mass industrialization, bakelite and celluloid made up all our shiny new toys.

Today, most plastics are derived from petroleum sources such as oil, coal and natural gas. Additionally, many contain resins, coatings and additives such as phthalates and bisphenol-A. While the research is still in its infancy, there is some data linking this type of plastic exposure to poorer health

and colors.

outcomes. Phthalates used to soften plastics such as for use in baby bottles have been linked to asthma, allergies and neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Alternatively, bisphenol-A which is used to harden plastic was actually first discovered for its hormone disrupting properties, believe it or not.

plastic continues on page 23

Poster for Plastic People documentary.

Microplastic fibers extracted from crawfish flesh. Image taken by Alexa D’Addario

Microplastic pieces found in invertebrate viscera. Note unnatural shapes

Image taken by Alexa D’Addario

plastic continues from page 22

In my own research, I found microplastics in 149 of the 150 Rideau River invertebrate samples I collected. While we are far from being the greatest of plastic polluters, and admittedly, many of the substitutions are far more inferior, the question I pose to you, dear reader, is how much plastic are you willing to accept in your food and water?

If you are interested in minimizing plastic exposure in your own life, try using metal, wood and glass, particularly when storing food, and purchasing clothing that uses fabrics with less plastic such as cotton, wool or silk. These are luxuries few of us can afford, however, and ultimately one of the biggest questions raised in Plastic People is whether the onus should be placed

on the user or the producer? In which case, writing to elected officials and supporting more plastic aware businesses could make a bigger impact.

Another major insight from Plastic People was the exploration of Bayfield, Ontario. Approximately 80 per cent of eateries in Bayfield have committed to eliminating single-use plastics, becoming the first town in North America to be listed as plastic-free by Surfers Against Sewage, an environmental organization based in the United Kingdom.

Are the residents of Manotick ready to try as well?

Alexa Daddario received both a Master of Science and Master of Journalism degree from Carleton University and Ryerson University (now

Toronto Metropolitan University). Her research has been featured in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, Environmental Conservation and the Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, and her reporting in The Canadian Science Policy Centre, ComSciConversation and The Hill Times. Alexa enjoys learning about the environment, animals and fossils, and communicating that information to others. When she’s not doing research or reporting, you can find her reading, doing cartwheels and round-offs (badly), and making dated pop culture references no one understands.

Ziya Tong and Alexa D’Addario at the Canadian premiere of Plastic People at ByTowne Cinema on April 22nd, 2024.

Your Hearing Journey Decisions

Hearing is surprisingly intricate and individualized. Embarking on the journey of addressing hearing loss is an important step, one of complexity that is often underestimated. Finding the right solution for your struggles is not as simple a process as you may think. What worked for your friends and family may not work for you. And so, the decisions taken throughout the hearing journey are worthy of careful considerations and scrupulous decisions. There are several key foundational pieces that will influence your journey and ultimately determine whether you receive the most appropriate care and treatment for your needs. Here are some details.

Choosing your Hearing Care Professional. The Hearing Care Professional who assesses your hearing, evaluates your needs, and provides you with the necessary equipment and support to overcome your struggles, plays a crucial role in your journey toward better hearing. In Ontario, prescribing hearing aids is a controlled act reserved to Audiologists and Physicians. Two professionals can fill that prescription, the Audiologist and the Hearing Instrument Practitioner. Audiologists, armed with a Master’s or Doctorate degree in audiology, bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. They are regulated by the College of Audiologists and SpeechLanguage Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO), guaran-

teeing the highest standard of care. Whether for adults or children, private pay or thirdparty supported, Audiologists offer comprehensive evaluations and tailor-made solutions to meet your specific needs. Conversely, Hearing Instrument Practitioners (aka Hearing Instrument Specialists or HIS) possess a college diploma in Hearing Aid Dispensing and assess to determine adult hearing aid candidacy. Their assessment can be presented to an Audiologist or Physician to obtain a hearing aid prescription. From there, the Hearing Instrument Practitioner is skilled at filling that prescription, fitting the patient accordingly. Whether your hearing aids are dispensed by an Audiologist or Hearing Instrument Practitioner, the journey does not stop there, continued support and ongoing care is paramount. Look for a hearing care professional offering a comprehensive service plan.

Choosing your Dispenser. There are three main types of dispensing businesses: independent clinics, manufacturer-limited dispensaries, and manufacturerowned chains. Independent clinics, often locally owned and operated by hearing care professionals, offer a vast selection of hearing aid options from various manufacturers. In such clinics, there are no pre-determined products or plans. All product lines are considered for your unique sets of wants and needs. This means personalized solutions crafted just for you, offering

true customization. Conversely, manufacturer-limited dispensaries restrict their offerings to a few preferred brands, while manufacturerowned chains exclusively dispense their own products. The more restrictive the product offering, the greater the risk of not finding a satisfactory solution.

Making the Right Decision. While your decision ultimately hinges on your preferences and priorities, opting to see an Audiologist in an independent clinic presents compelling advantages. With this combination, you will not only find highly quali-

fied professionals but also a diverse array of hearing aid options to suit your individual needs and preferences. The top healthcare professional gives you the assurance that your assessment not only looked at amplification candidacy but also included a detailed investigation into the health of your ears. And the vast array of rehabilitation options gives you the confidence to know you will be able to find the right solution for you. Finally, the personalized care and unbiased recommendations as well as the extensive service plans offered in these settings en-

sure that your journey to better hearing is as seamless and effective as possible.

In closing, the choice to address hearing loss is a deeply personal one. By carefully choosing a professional and dispenser that aligns with your preferences and priorities, you are optimizing your success on your path to better hearing

Parking is free. Home visits and Remote care is available. Wheelchair friendly. For more information visit www.HearingFreedom.com