The Orleans Star April 27, 2023

couple victims of home

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans

A Fallingbrook couple has been left shocked and traumatized after experiencing a violent home invasion on April 17.

The incident occurred at around 9 a.m. on Neptune Way in Fallingbrook South.

The couple, who wish to have their names kept private, were startled when they heard several popping sounds coming from outside of their home. Soon afterwards, they heard the sound of shattered glass coming from the ground floor. Both of them were working in their basement home office at the time.

They both rushed up the stairs to see what had happened when they came face-to-face with a stranger, who looked to be in his mid-50s holding a construction hammer in one hand and a nail gun in the other.

“He started screaming at us and threatened us,” the female victim recalls. “Thankfully, I was able to calm him down and he eventually left.”

After calming down, the man casually walked back to his van, which he had parked in the couple’s laneway and drove away, but not before threatening to come back.

The couple immediately called 9-1-1 and gave a description of the van, including the license plate number.

Unknown to them at the time, the man had already broken into a home on Frenette Street before he came to their house. The victims of the earlier incident had also called the police, who were already on their way to the scene.

Within 10 minutes, the police had a suspect under arrest. Unbelievably, he lives on the same street as the second home invasion.

After the man left their house, the couple discovered that the popping sounds they heard coming from outside was the result of the suspect firing seven, five-inch nails through their garage door. Several struck the vehicle parked inside, causing extensive damage.

Melissa CloutierChatel, DPM Anna Grynechko, Chiropodist Ekaterina Kroupskaia, Chiropodist

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Ottawa River watchdog raises flood warning

ORLÉANS – The Rideau River Conservation Authority has raised the status of the threat of flooding along the Ottawa River from Flood Watch to Flood Warning. Water levels are expected to continue rising within the Ottawa River Basin due to snowmelt combined with forecasted rainfall starting Friday and continuing over the weekend. Most of the water currently entering the Ottawa River is originating in areas where there are no reservoirs or retention capacity. The Ottawa River Regulating Committee is managing principal reservoirs to reduce river flows to downstream areas. The Committee anticipates that water levels along the main stem of the Ottawa River will continue increasing over the next few days before stabilizing near the major flood level, impacting several streets, lawns and houses in low-lying areas, including in the areas near Petrie Island and Cumberland Village. At present, flood levels are not expected to be any where near the historic levels of 2017 and 2019. That said, the assessment can change depending on rainfall levels this week and next.

Orléans author wins literary award

ORLÉANS – Orléans resident J. R. Johnson is a winner in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest earning her a trip to Hollywood on Friday, April 28th,, a week-long master-class workshop and her winning story will be published in the international bestselling anthology, L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 39. The contest is in its 40th year and it’s the longest running competition of its kind.

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Home invasion suspect to be kept under custodial supervision

Continued from page 1

“If he had used the nail gun on us, we could have been killed or severely maimed,” says the female resident.

A day after the incident, she wrote about it on her Facebook page to warn others about what had happened and what she and her husband went through.

“I feel very lucky to be alive today. Had I not calmed him down, I know we would not be here today and I wouldn’t be writing this post to warn you. We are traumatized, we are scared and we don’t feel safe in our community.”

After being arrested, the suspect was held overnight and arraigned the next day on a number of charges. However, he was released and placed under the custodial supervision of three family members, which means he can only leave his house under their supervision and they are responsible for his whereabouts.

He is 51 years old, owns his own business and has no former record.

Needless to say, the fact that their attacker has been released and may still pose a threat not only them, but other residents living on

A man gained entry into a home on Neptune Way after shooting out the front window with a nail gun.

the street has the couple anxious and upset. They both hope the man, who is likely suffering from severe mental illness, will eventually get the help he needs.

Local couple looking forward to living the ‘van life’

By Fred Sherwin

The

Orléans

Star

It’s called “van life” and it’s a concept that is sweeping across the globe. From Europe to Australia and to every part of Canada and the United States, young people have been taking a break from the traditional lifestyle their parents may have followed and instead decided to live and travel in vans they’ve converted into tiny mobile homes.

In Tori Dark and Kevin Nault’s case, they have taken a used Ford cargo van and converted it into a four-season mobile home complete with a shower, full kitchen and a queen-sized bed. After ironing out a few kinks, they plan to hit the road sometime before Mother’s Day and either head west or east, or maybe even south.

“We’re still not sure what direction we’re heading first. Kevin wants to head west, but I want to go down east,” says Tori.

Kevin and Tori, who are both 28 years old, have been dreaming about retrofitting their own camper van and setting out across Canada and North America since before the pandemic.

Initially, they were going to hit the road in

Jthe summer of 2020, but the pandemic forced them to put their plans on hold.

But on the bright side, it allowed them to do more research and shop around for the right panel van. In the end they settled on a Ford Transit 250 and began converting it last summer.

The pair drew a lot of inspiration for their van conversion from the various “van life” groups on Instagram.

The process – which included installing both an electrical and plumbing system, a heating system which utilizes propane, insulation and adding a shower – has taken nearly nine months with a few hiccups along the way. The latest speed bump was a faulty hot water tank which they’ve had to replace.

But now, it’s all systems go, and the pair can’t wait to hit the road.

Aside from stalling their initial plans, the pandemic turned out to be the perfect trial run for their “van life” adventure.

“Being stuck in a tiny studio apartment together 24/7 was the ideal practice,” laughs Tori. “At least traveling together in a van, we’ll be able to get outside whenever we want.”

Tori says she’s looking forward to seeing places in Canada that most people fly over on their way from one big city to the next.

“We’re not in a hurry. We want to take our time and visit all the small towns along the way and meet different people. I do watercolour illustrations so I’d like to do a series,

painting various small town landmarks,” says Tori, who will also be writing a regular diary column along the way for the Orléans Star

The two will also provide regular posts and updates on their Facebook pages and their Instagram page at vanxiety_life.

Tori Dark and Kevin Nault plan to travel across North America in the converted Ford cargo van. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO

On strike

By the time you read this editorial, the labour dispute between the Treasury Board and the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) on one side and PSAC on the other, has either been settled or it’s already entered its second week, and if that’s the case, there’s no way of knowing how long it will last, especially when it comes to the negotiations between PSAC’s CRA bargaining unit and the federal government.

PSAC is asking for a wage increase of 20.5 per cent over three years plus a two per cent adjustment for inflation. At last report, the federal government has offered them a nine per cent increase over three years, which means they’re not just far apart, they are miles apart.

The salary impasse between the rest of PSAC’s members and the Treasury Board is a lot narrower. In that circumstance, PSAC is asking for a 13.5 per cent increase over three years.

The catch is that negotiators for both the Treasury Board and the CRA have already moved off their initial position. Back in March, the federal negotiators were only offering a 1.7 per cent increase per year over four years retroactive to June 2021, which is when the last collective bargaining agreement expired. That works out to a total proposed increase of 6.8 per cent. They’ve since upped the ante to nine per cent over three years, while PSAC has yet to budge off their demands, which the ball is entirely in PSAC’s court at the moment.

PSAC members who work for the Canadian Revenue Agency review and process tax returns, provide tax information services for the public, and intake the billions of dollars of government tax revenue.

While they are on strike, tax returns from millions of Canadians won’t be processed, which means that if you were hoping for a refund and were late getting your tax return in the mail, or haven’t filed it yet, you could be waiting a very long time.

What it doesn’t mean is that Canadians can enjoy a tax holiday. You are still expected to file your tax return by May 1, and if it’s late, you will still be assessed the relevant penalties and interest.

Don’t think for an instant assume you’re off the hook while the strike is on. It could be a very costly assumption.

As for the strike itself, let’s hope that’s it’s over sooner than later and that an equitable agreement can be reached by both sides.

In the meantime, a number of services will suffer or not be available at all. Among the services where delays can be expected are citizenship and passport services and Canadian Border Services. Service Canada Offices will remain open, but only to deliver essential services such as Employment Insurance, the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS) and the issuance of Social Insurance Numbers – all will continue, although there may be delays and increased wait times on the phone, as if the wait times on the phone weren’t long enough all ready.

All of which to say, we need to exercise a little patience while the strike is on and hope that it ends as soon as possible.

– Fred Sherwin, editor

Budget 2023 to benefit families and individuals in Orléans

April is Sikh Heritage Month; I am so thankful for the engagement and the immense contributions that Sikh-Canadiens have made to our society and our community of Orléans.

On March 28, 2023, the federal government released the 2023 Budget, which is focused on an affordable economy, enhancing health and dental care, and investing in a clean, green economy.

The budget introduced a new grocery rebate program that will help eligible Orléans residents combat the soaring prices of groceries. A family of four will be eligible to receive up to $467, single Canadians with no children up to $234, and seniors up to $225.

Additionally, Budget 2023 is investing $13 billion to help provide dental coverage for uninsured Canadians with an annual income of less than $90,000 – 650 children from Orléans have already been able to access the dental plan that was implemented in 2022.

As we celebrated Earth Day on April 22, I am pleased to note that Budget 2023 is focused on combating climate change. A family of four will receive four payments of $244 through the Climate Action Incentive Rebate.

Fred Sherwin Owner and publisher

Jody Maffett Editor

Businesses are a vital part of the Orléans community. The 2023 budget is focused on lowering credit card transaction fees, cracking down on junk fees, and reducing predatory lending. Additionally, the Excise tax on alcohol has been frozen at 2% (for one year).

I am also excited to note that the new TaxFree First Home savings account will help first-time homeowners save up to $40,000.

For all our students in Orléans, the 2023 Budget is investing $813.6M to enhance student financial assistance programs to make education more affordable.

Importantly, the Old Age Security program will provide $75.9B to better support our seniors and their well-being.

On another note, I would like to congratulate Orléans’ very own star, Sophie Grenier, a FrancoOntarian student at Garneau High School, who won La VOIX TVA 2023.

On April 20, I attended the 25th anniversary of the École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges. Congratulations to all the staff and employees for their dedication over the last 25 years.

Finally, as we look forward to the upcoming summer months, it is important to highlight the Canada Summer Jobs program. This year, a total of 97 organizations in Orléans received funding and 306 job positions have received support, bringing the total amount of funds allocated to our community to $1.207 million.

**La version française est maintenant disponible sur ma page Facebook**

Experimenting with dating apps an eye-opening experience

For the past several months, I’ve been half-heartedly toying with the dating feature on Facebook. It’s like a lot of other dating apps and websites in that you have to write a profile about yourself, answer a bunch of insightful questions and post a few pictures, but it’s different from most dating sites in that it’s totally free, which is probably the best feature.

My kids told me about it before the pandemic and being the wild, free spirit, adventurer that I am, I decided to give it a try. I wrote what I thought was a pretty witty profile. I answered all the insightful questions, and I uploaded a bunch of cool pictures of me kayaking, jumping out of a plane and riding around on my motorcycle.

Once I clicked on the button to make it live, I just put my feet up and waited for all the “likes” to start pouring in. Only they didn’t. They didn’t even trickle in. They didn’t come in at all. At first I thought I had hit the wrong button and no one could see my profile, but then I found out that it was indeed live for everyone to see.

After the first few months I began getting the odd “like”, but they were from women who obviously hadn’t fully read my profile, or saw my pictures. When I say “women” I actually mean three women. Three women

Up Front

Fred Sherwin

in the first six months.

All three were over the age of 65 and all three had profiles that didn’t exactly scream “Hey look at me. I am a physically active woman with a sense of adventure who loves experiencing new things.”

They sounded more like, “Hey look at me. I am in the waning years of my life and I am looking for someone who I can take care of and who will look after me. Someone with whom I can share pictures of my grandchildren.” Heck, I don’t even have any grandchildren. And I know this makes me sound like some sort of an ageist ogre, but I am 62 years young, not 62 years old and there is a difference. A big difference.

The funny thing is that I met a guy the other day who is 72. His wife passed away last year and he has been testing the waters lately in search of a possible companion.

He also has a number of issues that limit

his ability to do activities that require a certain level of physical ability. He is looking for someone to enjoy a good meal and a fancy bottle of wine with at a nice restaurant., long strolls in the park and the occasional trip to a five-star resort where the most stressful thing is making your dinner reservation on time.

He has joined a number of dating sites including Match, with very limited results. For the most part, he has had the exact opposite experience that I’ve had. Instead of getting “likes” from mature women who are looking to take life easy, he is getting likes from women, and this is in his words not mine, who want to climb Kilimanjaro, swim across the English Channel and sail around the world. The other problem was that most of them live out of town. Some live as far away as Québec City and Niagara Falls. That’s quite a commute for a first date.

My first thought was to suggest we trade leads, but then I came up with a better idea – why not create my own dating site exclusively for singles living in Orléans?

I would either write the profiles myself, or hire a freelancer, and I would get someone to take professional profile pictures.

Now I know what you’re thinking – Fred’s only wants to do this so he can get his pick

of the most eligible women in Orléans. And while that might not necessarily be false, the fact of the matter is that I am not currently on the market. I love my post-pandemic life way too much. I get to do what I want to do, when I want to do it and I don’t have to ask anyone for permission, or worry that they might get upset.

I’ve worked far too hard and sacrificed far too much over the past 20 years to get to the point where I want to enjoy my life to the fullest. In fact, I am still having to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week and make sacrifices in order to live my life on my own terms. I may not be in the twilight of my life, but I’m way past high noon.

I’m sure there will come a day when I will meet someone and want to settle down. Someone who will enjoy doing things with me just as much as I will enjoy doing things with them. In fact, I already have a candidate for the position. The stars and the moon just haven’t aligned themselves in the right position yet.

So, I’m good. But I know a lot of people who aren’t. They need help and they are seeking it through a plethora of dating sites which are both expensive and not exactly the best matchmakers. So stay tuned, your’s truly may one day decide to play match-maker.

Weather-related events have made for a challenging spring season

Each week comes with its own set of challenges, but they often also come with some wins. Hard to believe we experienced a record-breaking ice storm and heat wave over the past few weeks.

I would like to thank the many people across the city who stepped up in our time of need, took time away from loved ones on a holiday weekend, and helped support the many storm relief efforts citywide. We only made it through this severe weather event through the dedication and leadership of our Public Works crews, Fire Department, Hydro Ottawa, Hydro One, and MANY other City staff members, including my council colleagues.

Tim Tierney

collections will continue to collect leaf and yard materials placed at the curb in yard bags. Tree debris from the storm that is too large for the regular leaf and yard waste collection will be picked up separately.

Beacon Hill-Cyrville Ward 11

There is a lot of work ahead to get our city summer ready, and our Public Works people are in full gear. Teams were dispatched once the snow began to melt, to fill and patch potholes, street sweeping operations are already underway, and once complete our pavement marking program begins.

Innes Ward residents invited to take part in OC Transpo review

This year, OC Transpo will be undertaking a detailed, City-wide, transit service review. This review is required to reflect changing ridership, specifically, the impact of hybrid work, and the upcoming Stage 2 LRT extensions. This will be a review of the entire transit system and include all bus routes.

is our chance to help build a bus network that works for us.

I also want to thank our east end communities for their response to the storm. I saw and heard of many instances of neighbours helping neighbours, charity and kindness. I am truly proud to belong to such a positive and supportive community.

With that being said, there is still a way to go when it comes to the cleanup. Curbside

In other news, the City’s “Play Free”, initiative is now in full effect. Children and youth in Ottawa are invited to participate in a variety of free drop-in activities including swimming, museums and skating. And this summer, the Tony Graham Automotive Group and the City of Ottawa is launching a free youth weight and cardio membership at select City facilities. I hope that I’ve left you with just a few more reasons to be excited about spring and summer. ’til next time!

MORE THAN JUST SENIOR LIVING. IT’S A NEW LIFE.

Our Orléans community o er residents a new path for living. Providing peace of mind and freedom, so you can focus on living your best life.

In the coming weeks and months, Ottawa residents will be asked to share their thoughts with OC Transpo staff, as they begin planning and building this new transit network. This is the opportunity for us as residents to share our suggestions, concerns, and experiences using the bus system. As well, for OC Transpo to re-think how routes are moving people through our community. In particular, how we connect with the expanded LRT and the new stations and hubs.

For so long, our bus routes were centered on moving Orléans commuters to their work downtown; even at the expense of our ability to move about locally in the community. This

There will be multiple, City-wide consultations taking place in the coming months, both in-person and online. I will be working with OC Transpo staff to also hold a consultation meeting in the community. It is imperative that east end residents have every opportunity to be heard. This feedback is important, as OC Transpo is building the plan for the future transit network to share with the public, as early as the end of this year.

OC Transpo will be providing further details about this project, including timelines, surveys and public consultations, toward the end of April or early May. As soon as it is available, I will be posting all the information on my website LauraDudas.ca, as well as through my social media. Stay tuned, and be sure to share your suggestions. This will be one of the most massive changes to the OC Transpo bus network, in its history.

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Innes Ward 2

Laura Dudas

Sound & Sight is celebrating it’s first anniversary

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star

They say time flies when you’re having fun. It also flies when you’re meeting the audio/visual and smart home needs of your clients.

It’s been a year since Sound & Sight first opened it’s doors on 2288 St. Joseph Blvd. near Orléans Blvd., and since then, they have helped a number of clients upgrade their audio/visual experience with state-of-the-art TVs from Samsung and Sony and impeccable sound systems that bring the visual experience to life.

They carry all the leading brands of audio equipment you’ve heard of including Totem Acoustic, Denon and Sonos, along with some leading brands you may not be familiar with such as JL Audio, Lexicon amplifiers, and Martin Logan.

Beyond the audio/visual, Sound & Sight is a licensed dealer for Panasonic and Human Touch massage chairs. They also sell and install motorized blinds, security and surveillance systems, Smart Home HVAC controls, lighting controls and home

networking systems.

More recently, they became a licensed dealer of Canadian-made Traegar smokers and BBQs, recognized as one of the leading brands of wood pellet smokers and BBQs in the world.

Traegar’s 6-in-1 ability means you can grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise and BBQ to your heart’s content with the help of Traegar’s rubs, sauces and wood pellets.

“We wanted to be able to grill at the shop so we decided to bring in the best smokers and BBQs in the world, plus we save on ordering in all the time,” jokes Sound & Sight owner Jason Miller.

It’s been five years since Jason left StereoPlus where had been working since he was just 16 years old.

The Innes Road audio/visual store went out of business shortly after Jason left. It didn’t take long before many of his former clients started calling him for advice in designing and equipping their home theatres, which led to Jason starting his own consulting business. That was four years ago. The dream was always to open his own brick and mortar

business which Jason finally did last year.

To get a taste of all Sound & Sight has to offer and to take advantage of their first anniversary deals, you should visit their showroom. They are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday and closed Sundays.

If you can’t make it to their showroom you can check out their website at soundsight. ca which has several links to videos that are bound to spark your imagination, or you can visit their Facebook page @soundsight.ca.

When it comes to fireplaces and BBQs, Romantic has it all

A beginners guide for the unitiated backyard gardener

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star

A guide for beginner gArdeners h mestyle

(NC) Have you ever wanted to make a salad from vegetables you grew yourself? Or give a bouquet to your loved one made of fresh flowers picked from your own garden? Now is your time to shine and grow like a pro with a few tips to get you started:

RESEARCH

With more than 56 years of combined experience in selling and installing fireplaces of every type and model, the father and son team of Mike and Jason Pilon have a wellestablished reputation for meeting and often exceeding their clients’ expectations. It’s one of the reasons why they have a 4.8 star rating on Google with 155 reviews. It’s also the reason why so many of their new clients are referred to them by existing customers.

Jason make it a point to check in with their customers from time to time to make sure everything is working to their standards... and the customer’s satisfaction.

• Wheelbarrow – Investing in a wheelbarrow is a must for gardeners. You’ll likely need to purchase some gardening soil to mix in with your ground soil. Having a wheelbarrow on hand to help you transport the soil from your vehicle to your garden is gold.

“It’s probably the most rewarding part of the job,” says Mike Pilon, who sold fireplaces in Cornwall for 31 years before moving to Orléans in 2009.

The first step to buying a new fireplace at Romantic is to visit their showroom located in the Canotek Business Park. You can drop in anytime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday. (The showroom is closed on weekends.)

(NC) Have you ever wanted to make a salad from vegetables you grew yourself? Or give a bouquet to your loved one made of fresh flowers picked from your own garden? Now is your time to shine and grow like a pro with a few tips to get you started:

ReseaRch

While your first attempt may not be as beautiful as Butchart Gardens in British Columbia, it can certainly serve as inspiration as you begin to visualize how you would like your garden to look. Hop on the web, take a stroll through your neighbourhood or head to your local garden store for some creative inspiration

TOOLS

GARDENING GEAR

To be a true gardener, you’ll need a few key items in your wardrobe:

“When someone says, ‘Oh, so-and-so told me I should come here,’ you know you’re doing things right, especially when you think a fireplace should last a lifetime. We don’t get a lot of repeat customers, unless they move to another house and want another fireplace.”

• Overalls – There’s a reason traditional Carhartt overalls have stayed in style for so long. With room for knee pads for extra cushioning and multiple utility pockets, overalls are essential.

Since the owners are the salespeople, you will be greeted by either Mike or Jason, who will be happy to explain the pros and cons of the different types of fireplaces in meeting your needs and your budget. In most cases they will give you three options – good, better and best. The decision is then up to you. Mike can also help you design an enclosure for your new fireplace to fit into your existing decor or your new home.

While your first attempt may not be as beautiful as Butchart Gardens in British Columbia, it can certainly serve as inspiration as you begin to visualize how you would like your garden to look. Hop on the web, take a stroll through your neighbourhood or head to your local garden store for some creative inspiration.

You’ll need to acquire a few essential tools for preparing the soil/space, for planting your seeds and for garden maintenance:

Tools

The biggest advantage to buying your next fireplace at Romantic, besides their selection of quality natural gas, propane, pellet, wood fireplaces, and wood stoves is the fact that they do their own installation, including mantles and hearths. There are no sub-contractors involved. Their after-sale service is also second to none. In fact, Mike and

After the initial consultation, either Mike or Jason will visit your home to see where the fireplace is being installed for themselves to further ensure that you are making the right purchase and to give you an accurate final quote. Once the fireplace is installed, you can enjoy it for as long as you remain in your home.

• Gloves - To protect your hands from prickles, thorns and dirt, make sure to have some sturdy gardening gloves on hand.

You’ll need to acquire a few essential tools for preparing the soil/space, for planting your seeds and for garden maintenance:

• Footwear – You’ll want to wear shoes that are comfortable and functional. A great option are Mark’s WindRiver rain boots which come in a shorter profile and are anti-microbial to keep your feet fresh. Not to mention, they’re easy to hose off after a day in the dirt.

GaRdeninG GeaR

Besides fireplaces Romantic also sells a number of lead ing brand BBQs and barbecue accessories and they can help you design and appoint your new kitchen.

•  Gloves - To protect your hands from prickles, thorns and dirt, make sure to have some sturdy gardening gloves on hand.

To be a true gardener, you’ll need a few key items in your wardrobe:

• Overalls – There’s a reason traditional Carhartt overalls have stayed in style for so long. With room for knee pads for extra cushioning and multiple utility pockets, overalls are essential.

• Hand Trowel – This will act as your best friend when it comes time to plant your seeds, excavate weeds and transport items from pots to your garden.

• Sun hat – You’ll likely be spending quite a bit of time outside so it’s best to protect yourself with a wide brimmed hat in addition to wearing sunscreen.

• Hand Trowel – This will act as your best friend when it comes time to plant your seeds, excavate weeds and transport items from pots to your garden.

• Wheelbarrow - Investing in a wheelbarrow is a must for gardeners. You’ll likely need to purchase some gardening soil to mix in with your ground soil. Having a wheelbarrow on hand to help you transport the soil from your vehicle to your garden is gold

•  Footwear – You’ll want to wear shoes that are comfortable and functional. A great option are Mark’s WindRiver rain boots which come in a shorter profile and are antimicrobial to keep your feet fresh. Not to mention, they’re easy to hose off after a day in the dirt.

You don’t have to have a green thumb to have a green back yard. All you need are some seeds, the right tools and plenty of and patience. FILE PHOTO

• Sun hat – You’ll likely be spending quite a bit of time outside so it’s best to protect yourself with a wide brimmed hat in addition to wearing sunscreen.

When it comes to fireplaces and BBQs, Mike and Jason Pilon are your local fireplace and BBQ experts. FILE PHOTO

Let Louise Cardinal Concept turn your interior design dreams into reality

By Jody Maffett

The Orléans

Star

A guide for beginner gArdeners h mestyle

A beginners guide for the unitiated backyard gardener

Spring has sprung and life begins anew once again so why not breath new life into your home. You have the desire. You have the motivation. You even have a few ideas on what you would like to do. The only thing you’re lacking is a plan. That’s where Louise Cardinal can help.

(NC) Have you ever wanted to make a salad from vegetables you grew yourself? Or give a bouquet to your loved one made of fresh flowers picked from your own garden? Now is your time to shine and grow like a pro with a few tips to get you started:

RESEARCH

With over 35 years of experience, Louise has built lasting professional relationships in the Ottawa and Gatineau area and is universally well-regarded by her trade partners and clients.

More recently, Louise has teamed up with her daughter Claudel, who studied interior design at the CEGEP de l’Outaouais.

• Wheelbarrow – Investing in a wheelbarrow is a must for gardeners. You’ll likely need to purchase some gardening soil to mix in with your ground soil. Having a wheelbarrow on hand to help you transport the soil from your vehicle to your garden is gold.

Claudel worked at several local design firms, before joining LC Concept to help build upon her mother’s dream when she first created the company.

Bringing to the team a technology and usability-rich mind-set and approach, Claudel is ushering in the next generation of interior design perspectives and mentalities.

GARDENING GEAR

Leveraging her experience, Louise is an expert at facilitating change across project phases, be they small styling consultations, or turnkey ground-up projects.

(NC) Have you ever wanted to make a salad from vegetables you grew yourself? Or give a bouquet to your loved one made of fresh flowers picked from your own garden? Now is your time to shine and grow like a pro with a few tips to get you started:

ReseaRch

While your first attempt may not be as beautiful as Butchart Gardens in British Columbia, it can certainly serve as inspiration as you begin to visualize how you would like your garden to look. Hop on the web, take a stroll through your neighbourhood or head to your local garden store for some creative inspiration

TOOLS

Specializing in space planning and detailed technical drawings, she is inspired by a minimalist style mixed with elegant natural earthy tones.

To be a true gardener, you’ll need a few key items in your wardrobe:

She is passionate about creating designs that reflect a client’s personality, as well as serve them in their day to day life through ergonomic designs that create a calming and clean atmosphere.

Finding her passion for design early in life and hoping to employ her keen eye for detail, Louise attended Outaouais College and has been creating beautiful and functional spaces ever since.

• Overalls – There’s a reason traditional Carhartt overalls have stayed in style for so long. With room for knee pads for extra cushioning and multiple utility pockets, overalls are essential.

Claudel feels the magic of interior design is walking into an existing space, transformed and brought to life in an entirely new way.

Working with her daughter, Louise is proud to share her knowledge and expertise with someone who shares her passion for design and creating truly beautiful and functional spaces.

While your first attempt may not be as beautiful as Butchart Gardens in British Columbia, it can certainly serve as inspiration as you begin to visualize how you would like your garden to look. Hop on the web, take a stroll through your neighbourhood or head to your local garden store for some creative inspiration.

You’ll need to acquire a few essential tools for preparing the soil/space, for planting your seeds and for garden maintenance:

Tools

• Gloves - To protect your hands from prickles, thorns and dirt, make sure to have some sturdy gardening gloves on hand.

Having built Louise Cardinal Concept from the ground up, her philosophy has not changed; a home should be a reflection of the individuals living within it. This sentiment can be viewed across her numerous successful projects, as well as the satisfied clients whose spaces she has transformed from concept to reality.

• Footwear – You’ll want to wear shoes that are comfortable and functional. A great option are Mark’s WindRiver rain boots which come in a shorter profile and are anti-microbial to keep your feet fresh. Not to mention, they’re easy to hose off after a day in the dirt.

GaRdeninG GeaR

Together Louise and Claudel have an uncanny ability to envision the final product. Their primary objective is to create the ideal interior living space that has the style and atmosphere that reflects your personality.

You’ll need to acquire a few essential tools for preparing the soil/space, for planting your seeds and for garden maintenance:

•  Gloves - To protect your hands from prickles, thorns and dirt, make sure to have some sturdy gardening gloves on hand.

• Hand Trowel – This will act as your best friend when it comes time to plant your seeds, excavate weeds and transport items from pots to your garden.

• Hand Trowel – This will act as your best friend when it comes time to plant your seeds, excavate weeds and transport items from pots to your garden.

To be a true gardener, you’ll need a few key items in your wardrobe:

So whether updating your kitchen or bathroom, transforming your living room, or undertaking a total home makeover, Louise and Claudel are more than happy to lend their expertise and creative genius to help make your dreams a reality. For more information visit www.louisecardinal.ca.

• Wheelbarrow - Investing in a wheelbarrow is a must for gardeners. You’ll likely need to purchase some gardening soil to mix in with your ground soil. Having a wheelbarrow on hand to help you transport the soil from your vehicle to your garden is gold

• Overalls – There’s a reason traditional Carhartt overalls have stayed in style for so long. With room for knee pads for extra cushioning and multiple utility pockets, overalls are essential.

• Sun hat – You’ll likely be spending quite a bit of time outside so it’s best to protect yourself with a wide brimmed hat in addition to wearing sunscreen.

Together the interior design team of Louise and Claudel make up LC Concept. PHOTO SUPPLIED

•  Footwear – You’ll want to wear shoes that are comfortable and functional. A great option are Mark’s WindRiver rain boots which come in a shorter profile and are antimicrobial to keep your feet fresh. Not to mention, they’re easy to hose off after a day in the dirt.

You don’t have to have a green thumb to have a green back yard. All you need are some seeds, the right tools and plenty of and patience. FILE PHOTO

• Sun hat – You’ll likely be spending quite a bit of time outside so it’s best to protect yourself with a wide brimmed hat in addition to wearing sunscreen.

Relax, and Live With Us

Wateridge Village is a new community minutes from the downtown core. Close to Beechwood, the Montfort Hospital, and the picturesque Ottawa River Parkway.

Our buildings are a lovely 3-storey scale with elevator access and underground parking available. 10 spacious and bright suite layouts to choose from. Enjoy lowrise, maintenance-free living!

Book an in-person suite viewing today!

Carine Wilson wins high school improv championship

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star

A team of students from Cairine Wilson Secondary School have managed to improvise their way to the National Capital high school improv championship and a fifth place finish at the Canadian Improv Games held in Ottawa earlier this month.

Led by drama teacher Jennifer Abma, and Grade 12 seniors Kamila Serra King, Max Frederick and Alec Saper, the Cairine Wilson team beat out more than a dozen other teams to win the city championship.

The secret to the team’s success, which includes two Grade 9s, three Grade 10s, a Grade 11 and three Grade 12s, was their preparation, which included practicing twice a week since the beginning of the school year.

Each tournament is made up of four events. In the Life event each team must present an improvised scene “honestly and sincerely.” Events in a life scene must be dealt with truthfully based on a suggestion from a member of the audience. In Cairine Wilson’s case they had to base their improv on the scenario on the teen secret, “your parents don’t know about your relationship”.

Cairine Wilson chose to base their sketch on the scenario that the teen got a tattoo and didn’t want their parents to find out.

In the Character event, each team had to perform an improvised sketch based on a character trait. The character trait the Cairine Wilson team as given was “poetic”.

The third event is the Theme event. At the city championships Cairine Wilson was given the themes “change” and “control”.

The fourth event is the Style event in which the Cairine Wilson had to perform their improv in the silent film genre which required the percussion talents of Evan Simcoe. A member of the audience was asked to name a location and they chose a jewelry store.

The common thread in all four events is that the subject is completely chosen at random by a member of the audience.

After the subject is chosen each team is allowed a 15-second “huddle”, during which they can briefly discuss the upcoming scene. They then have a maximum of four minutes to present their improv. Each scene is then scored by a panel of judges.

After winning the National Capital title, the Cairine Wilson team took part in the Canadian Improv Games which were held at the National Arts Centre from April 7-8. They placed fifth out of 18 teams competing from across the country.

Although Kamila will be graduating this spring, she plans to volunteer as a coach next

year to help the team defend their title.

“I have to come back and help out the Grade 9s. They’re like my little babies,” says Kamila who has been the defacto mother on the team.

Although this is first time Cairine Wilson has won the National Capital championship in a long time, they do have a rich history in

the genre going back to the late 1990s when the brother and sister duo of Al and Desiree Connors led the Cairine Wilson team to backto-back titles in 1996 and 1997.

Al Connors went on to become an actor and co-artistic director of the Company of Fools as well as the national director of the Canadian Improv Games.

Tumblers Gymnastics Centre

Tumblers Gymnastic Camps

We offer 10 weeks of full day and half day summer programs for children 4-12 years of age. No gymnastics experience is necessary! Our NCCP

We offer 10 weeks of full day programs that are appropriate for beginners and seasoned gymnasts alike! Our experienced staff deliver an exciting weekly program of themed activities that will keep your child active, developing new gymnastics skills and most importantly – having fun!

Full Day Camp (age 4-12) from 9am to 4pm

certified coaching staff deliver an exciting weekly program of themed activities that will keep your child active while developing new gymnastics skills.

• 3 hours of gymnastics daily in a fully equipped gym

Full Day Camp (age 4+) 9am-4pm

• Fun & exciting themed activities each week

• 3 hours of gymnastics daily in our fully equipped gym

GMC alum graduates from U of O music progam

The Cumbrae School of Dancing

Summer Dance Camp in Orléans!

• Fun & exciting themed activities each week

• Pre-care from 7:30am and post-care until 5:30pm included

With massive snowbanks everywhere, it’s hard to believe we’ll ever see summer again... but it won’t be too long until parents are scrambling to get the kids into those summer camps that always fill up!

• Friday Pizza Party with popcorn (2 slices per child)

• Pre-care and post-care included from 7:30am to 5:30pm

• Free camp t-shirt with a full week registration

• Pizza lunch on Friday

Price: $350 / week Multi-week and Multi-child discounts available.

Half Day Camp (age 3+) 9am-12pm or 1pm to 4pm

Two insurance options to choose from:

Special Needs

• $27.50 Campers insurance for those participants registering for 1 (one) camp week only

We welcome children of varying needs and abilities into our summer camp. For more information about programming for children with special needs, please contact us.

The Cumbrae School of Dancing on St. Joseph Blvd offers an excellent, fun and affordable summer camp for kids July 8-12 and August 12-16. The classes are introductory and include a variety of styles such as ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, musical theatre, hip hop and Irish. There are also crafts, costume design, dance photo shoots... snacks are even provided! dance family!

• $52.50 Recreational insurance required for participants registering for 2 (two) or more camp weeks or taking a recreational class

* All camp programs are subject to an annual membership fee.

For a complete list of this year’s Summer Camp themes visit https:// tumblers.ca/summer-camps/

GIFTED PIANIST Long-time Gloucester Music Club participant and Orléans resident Emily Hou performs her final recital as a graduate of the University of Ottawa’s School of Music. She will be studying for her Master’s Degree at the University of Montréal under the tutelage of Canadian concert pianist and International Chopin Competition silver medalist Charles Richard-Hamelin. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO

Underdog Wolverines win U13 Canadian Youth Basketball crown

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star

The Gloucester Wolverines U13 boys team made history earlier this month by becoming the first team from the National Capital region to win a Canadian Youth Basketball League (CYBL) championship.

The CYBL has the word “Canadian” in its name, in actual fact the league is entirely made up of teams from Ontario, and in the past the U13 Division 1 title has been held almost exclusively by teams from the GTA.

All that changed on April 9 when the Wolverines managed to upset The Performance Group (TPG) U13 team based out of Brampton, in the final game of the CYBL playoffs.

TPG had finished the regular season in first place and were the odds-on favourite to win the league championship, but the Wolverines had other plans. After upsetting the number two and number three seeds in the quarterfinals and semi-finals, the Wolverines, who were the eighth and final seed in the playoffs, completely dominated TPG in the gold medal game, winning by a margin of 62-47.

The Wolverines were invited to join

the CYBL after placing second in the U12 Ontario Basketball Association provincial championships last season and winning the U12 Eastern Ontario Basketball Association championship with an undefeated record.

The Wolverines have decided play up an age group in the EOBA this year and are more than holding their own with a 7-5 record, good enough for fourth place heading into the post season.

This is Sean Lavictoire’s first year as the head coach after serving as an assistant for the past three years.

According to Lavictoire, the big reason for the team’s success in CYBL playoffs was the decision to give his certain players more minutes.

“During the regular season, I played everyone equally to give them a chance to develop their game, show what they were capable of and gain confidence. But as we went into the playoffs, it came down to wanting to win the title,” says Lavictoire.

The results speak for themselves. Aside from a nail-biter of an opening game which they won 59-57 on a last second layup by Yannis Komy, the Wolverines dominated the opposition, winning their quarterfinal

51-33 over Grassroots Elite Canada and the semi-final 63-53 over Top Tier East.

“The Canadian Youth Basketball League is arguably the top youth league in Canada

as far as the competition goes,” says Lavictoire. “So winning the championship is a huge accomplishment for us and for the Gloucester Wolverines’ program.”

(Back row l to r) Gabriel Kabongo, Joshua Itongwa, Leo Mvuezolo, Yannis Komy, Zaidan Rahman, Ass’t Coach: Asef Rahman. (Front row: Head Coach: Sean Lavictoire, Brandon Bell, James Lavictoire, Pierce Provencher, Reuben Mesfin, Jaymes Moodie, Joseph Mesfin. Missing from the photo is Mael-Isaac Yattara. PHOTO SUPPLIED

OST production presents the best of Winnie-the-Pooh

By Jody Maffett

The Orléans Star

I have to admit that growing up in the 1970s, I was a huge fan of Winnie-the-Pooh. Which is why it warmed my heart when I heard that Ottawa School of Theatre’s all ages class would be presenting a series of Winnie-the-Pooh stories at the Shenkman Arts Centre on April 14, 15 and 16.

When it comes to children’s classics from the 1960s and 1970s – I’m talking about the animated versions – Winnie-the-Pooh stands right up there with the Charlie Brown and the Peanuts. And like the Peanuts, Winnie-the-Pooh still stands the test of time.

The OST production included six of the most well-known and much-loved stories about Pooh and his friends Rabbit, Eeyore, Owl, Kanga, Roo and Piglet. (For some strange reason, Tigger was not included.)

In the opening story, a hungry Winniethe-Pooh decides to try and climb a tree to get some honey. When that doesn’t work, he comes up with an idea to attach himself to a helium balloon and float up to the honey. When that doesn’t work, Christopher Robin has to use a slingshot to burst the balloon so that Pooh can get back to earth.

2023 AGM 2023 AGM NOTICE NOTICE

The second story was about the time when Winnie-the-Pooh got stuck in the door leaving Rabbit’s house after he ate all of Rabbit’s honey and had to be extricated by Christopher Robin. In the OST production, the cast elicited the help of the younger members of the audience who all pulled together to free Pooh from the door.

The third story was about when Winniethe-Pooh and Piglet came up with a plan to catch a Heffalump only to have Pooh get his head stuck in a honey pot which Piglet mistakes as one of the mysterious elephantlike creatures and runs away frightened.

The fourth story is about the time when Eeyore’s misplaced tail ends up being used as a bell ringer at Owl’s house.

The fifth story, which was entitled “A Very Strange Creature”, was about when Winnie-the-Pooh and the gang first meet Kanga and Roo in the Hundred Acre Wood.

The sixth and finally story is about when Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh throw a birthday party for Eeyore to try and cheer him up.

As all ages productions go, you can’t go wrong with Winnie-the-Pooh. The A.A. Milne children’s classic was first published

Please join us to see how we've supported our community with our programs throughout the year.

We also encourage you to stay with us afterwards as we celebrate our 35th anniversary with food, refreshing drinks, face painting and more.

in 1926, but the stories and the main character didn’t become broadly popular until Walt Disney turned them into an animated series in 1961. All of which to say, it has been enjoyed by several generations over the years, which is why it is such an all ages classic.

One of the things I liked most about the

OST production was the use of the large cast to enable a different cast member to play both Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin in each scene or story.

To learn more about the Ottawa School of Theatre and the various classes they provide for aspiring actors of all ages visit ost-eto.ca.

For more information, please contact For more information, please Amelia at 613-830-4357 ext. 219 or Amelia at 613-830-4357 ext. 219 or apelley@crcoc.ca. apelley@crcoc.ca.

Isabelle Godin (née Lépine), 91

Passed away on April 14, 2023

Sheila Jones, 75

Passed away on April 13, 2023

Denise Lalonde, 84

Passed away on April 10, 2023

Michel “Mike” Beliveau, 58

Passed away on April 10, 2023

The all ages class at the Ottawa School of Theatre perform Winnie the Pooh at the Shenkman Arts Centre. PHOTO SUPPLIED

SATURDAY, APRIL 29

SPAGHETTI DINNER FUNDRAISER –All-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner hosted by the 1st Cumberland Scouts at the Lions Maple Hall, 2552 Old Montreal Rd. in Cumberland Village from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

All you can eat spaghetti with homemade sauce, garlic bread, drink and dessert. Tickets $15/adults and $10 for youth (4-12) available at the door.

SATURDAY, MAY 6

SPRING YARD AND BAKE SALE from 9 a.m. to noon at Navan-Vars United

Church, 1129 Smith Rd. in Navan. The sale proceeds help support a variety of community charities and assist with church maintenance costs. Delicious fresh home baking and gently used household items are offered for sale.

BLACKBURN HAMLET

COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The entire community is invited…rain or shine! Please keep visiting blackburn.ca for more up-to-date information as it becomes available.

NANTES WOODS TREE PLANTING organized by the Greater Avalon Community Association from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Meeting point is 2145 Nantes St.

SATURDAY, MAY 13

MOTHER’S DAY TEA presented by the Rotary Club of Orléans at the Roy G. Hobbs Community Centre, 109 Larch Cres. in Chatelaine Village. From 12 noon to 2 p.m. $30/person. For more information or to purchase tickets contact Mashooda Syed at 613-255-0870, or go to https:// rotaryteaparty.eventbrite.ca.

BRADLEY ESTATES COMMUNITY YARD SALE starting at 8 a.m. All the streets north and south of Renaud Road, in the neighbourhoods of Bradley Estates, Spring Valley, Eastboro, Trailsedge.

SATURDAY, MAY 27

NAVAN LIONS WALK FOR DOG

GUIDES – Meet under the domes on the Navan Fairgrounds. Registration begins at noon. 3km walk around the beautiful streets of Navan begins at 1 p.m. Stay after for Yappy Hour and free BBQ. Family-friendly event. All dogs must be on a leash.

• Hedge Trimming

• Hedge Lowering & Shaping

• Tree removal

• Lawn mowing

• Stump Grinding

Call 613-859-7828 Web: precisionhl.ca

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