The Orleans Star Dec. 8, 2022

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LRT failings placed at the feet of Watson, former city manager

By Fred Sherwin

The Orléans Star

Former mayor Jim Watson and outgoing city manager Steve Kanellakos committed “deliberate malfeasance” that resulted in “egregious violations of the public trust” in rushing the launch of Ottawa’s LRT system in 2019, according to LRT public inquiry commissioner Justice William Hourigan, who released his final report last Wednesday.

“While human errors are understandable and expected, deliberate malfeasance is unacceptable in a public project. When participants deliberately mislead the public regarding the status of a public undertaking, they violate a fundamental obligation that underlies all public endeavours,” Justice Hourigan wrote in his concluding statement.

“The conduct (of Watson and Kanellakos) prevented councillors from fulfilling their statutory duties to the people of Ottawa. Moreover, it is part of a concerning approach taken

by senior City officials to control the narrative by the nondisclosure of vital information or outright misrepresentation. Worse, because the conduct was willful and deliberate, it leads to serious concerns about the good faith of senior City staff and raises questions about where their loyalties lie.”

Specifically, Justice Hourigan says that Watson and Kanellakos deliberately misled council by failing to inform them that the testing criteria had been lowered and by misrepresenting the testing results.

“Most troubling was the deliberate effort by Steve Kanellakos, the City Manager, to mislead Council on the decision to lower the testing criteria and on the testing results,” Justice Hourigan writes in his report.

Testing of the LRT system was suspended in July 2019 after significant problems arose during the first three days. However, Kanellakos elected not to inform council of the decision,

Tony Anderson and Bob Presland, aka The Saltwater Santas, raised over $18K last year from visitors to Anderson’s Christmas light display. See story on page 3. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO

Christmas Program 2022

Due to the increased cost of living, we have seen a 22% increase in the demand for food assistance.

With your help, we can assist the 48% of clients who are children.

Scan the QR code to give!

Taproom260 to host Christmas Angels fundraiser this Saturday

ORLÉANS – Every December for eight of the past nine years, a group of regulars at Taproom260 (formally D’Arcy McGee’s) have organized a night of live music to raise money for families with children undergoing cancer treatment with a full evening of live entertainment, silent auction and raffle. Raffle tickets can be purchased online at taproom260.com/christmas or in person at the restaurant which is located in the Orléans Town Centre on Centrum Blvd. Tickets are $10 each or three for $20. The draw for the 30+ prizes will be held on the night of the event. Proceeds from the raffle will be used to purchase gift cards for the families who will be chosen in collaboration with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

Firefighter food drive on this weekend

ORLÉANS – Ottawa Firefighters will be fanning out across Orléans this Saturday to collect food items and cash donations for the Orléans-Cumberland food bank. Donations can be made between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at both of the Sobeys stores in Orléans as well as the Metro locations on Tenth Line Road, Innes & Tenth Line, and the Convent Glen Shopping Centre at 6509 Jeanne D’Arc Blvd North.

Coro Vivo Ottawa presents ‘Christmas Under the Stars’

ORLÉANS – Coro Vivo Ottawa will be presenting it’s annual Christmas concert at Orléans United Church this Saturday and Sunday. “Christmas Under the Stars” will feature some familiar songs, the ethereal sounds of the women’s chorus and a piece written by one of their own. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for seniors and students. Children 12 and under will be admitted for free. Tickets are available online only at www.eventbrite.ca/o/coro-vivo-ottawa-8064734718.

Saltwater Santas hope to raise more money for local charities

By Fred Sherwin

The Orléans Star

Retired posties Tony Sullivan and Bob Presland have been friends for more than 34 years.

They first met at a Canada Post hockey tournament in Sullivan’s native Newfoundland over 30 years ago. Presland was the league organizer of the tournament, which was held in a different city every year and involved over 100 teams from across the country.

The pair’s friendship flourished after Sullivan played in the tournament in Ottawa in 1988 and was so impressed with the city that he decided to move here.

Sullivan and his wife Jocelyne originally bought a house on Avignon Court in Convent Glen North which they would decorate every Christmas.

In 2002, they moved to Sugar Creek Way which is right around the corner from Taffy Lane, known far and wide for the number and scope of Christmas light displays on the street.

The Sullivans got caught up in the spirit and added to their own display every year.

Last year, Sullivan’s five-year-old grand-

daughter Olivia wanted to get in on the action by handing out candy canes to the passing motorists who in turn wanted to give a donation to Sullivan for all his trouble. At first he didn’t accept them, but then he thought he could turn the people’s willingness to give into a fundraising effort for local charities.

Initially, he thought he might raise a few hundred dollars. He ended up collecting over $1,600 on the first night alone.

Thinking he might be on to something, he called Presland, who has a wealth of fundraising experience. He also plays the guitar which he used to entertain the people driving by to make a donation.

After running out of candy canes the first night, Sullivan went to Costco to buy a few more bags of canes and a couple of bags of the small Swiss Delice chocolates. There are roughly 300 chocolates in a bag.

Sullivan would have to go back to Costco several more times before New Year’s Day.

When it was all said and done, they went through 36 bags of chocolates and raised over $18,000 which they handed out to about 12 different charities including the Orléans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre, the Ottawa Food Bank, the Shepherds of Good Hope, the Ottawa Mission, CHEO and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

They plan to kick off their fundraising efforts this Saturday with the help of few other Saltwater Santa helpers. As of last weekend, Sullivan was still scouring area Costco stores in search of candy canes and Swiss Delice chocolates.

Presland plans to serenade the passing motorists again this year and Olivia may have a special surprise of her own.

The Saltwater Santa Christmas light display is located at 6430 Sugar Creek Way. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO

DEC. 24: Open ’til 6pm

DEC. 25: Closed

DEC. 26: Open 9am to 6pm

DEC. 31: Open ’til 7pm

JAN. 1: Closed

Heart of Orléans BIA celebrates another successful year

Special to The Orléans Star

by Tannis Vine, Executive Director

The Heart of Orléans BIA

And just like that, it’s the most wonderful time of the year once again. It’s always exciting to make plans with family and friends to celebrate during the holidays.

Each year at this time, it’s an occasion of renewal for the BIA. It is a time to embrace exciting challenges for the upcoming year and also serves as the perfect benchmark reminding us that another successful year has passed.

I think we can all agree that we have started to see some recovery this year despite the lasting effects of COVID-19 and the economic consequences of the global pandemic. There were approximately 8,180 federal workers living in Orléans and working from home, providing businesses with opportunities to cater to daytime shoppers, diners and those seeking services close to home.

Some of the accomplishments we are most proud of this year include:

• A new website which won the prestigious 2022 Non-Profit Standard of Excellence Award. (According to our digital partner, WSI, this is like the Oscars of Digital Marketing!)

Fire Fighters Food Drive

Collecte de nourriture des pompiers

• A mural representing the Heart of Orléans

• An Orléans Pride crosswalk

• The Beat, our flagship magazine

• Behind the Business campaign which showcased the stories behind the business

• Newly designed banners representing our business community

• In-person networking events

We continued to carry out advocacy work with all three levels of government for things like COVID-19 support for small business in our BIA district and tried to reduce some of the red tape for new businesses. We also advocated on behalf of members while participating in the Orléans Corridor Secondary Plan Study review. We are proud that our original streetscape plan became the foundation of this new and exciting plan and look forward to seeing it come to fruition.

Our membership truly is the backbone of the Orléans economy and we’re always in awe of their success and commitment to our community. Please continue to support these fantastic small businesses this holiday season as you check your list twice!

We look back with a sense of accomplishment this year, and ahead with great expectations. We are excited to get started with the hopes of realizing our vision of a vibrant destination, known as The Heart of Orléans.

December 10 décembre

9 AM - 4:30 PM | 9 h à 16 h 30

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Sobeys - Trim & Innes

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Sobeys - Tenth Line (2276 rue Tenth Line Rd ) In

A Heart of Orléans mural adorns the outside wall of the Cora restaurant at the corner of St. Joseph Blvd. and Jeanne d’Arc Blvd. The Heart of Orléan’s Pride Walk, right, was held on Oct. 30. CHRISTINA LH

PHOTOGRAHY

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Egregious

At the risk of being accused of piling on, I would like to offer my two cents’ worth on the recently released LRT.

In his 664-page report, Justice William Hourigan makes it abundantly clear that the key figures to blame for the LRT debacle are former mayor Jim Watson, former city manager Steve Kanellakos and former OC Transpo chief John Manconi.

Manconi got the heck out of Dodge in September. Watson decided not to run for re-election this fall and Kanellakos tendered his resignation last week after learning that he would be the leading character in Hourigan’s book of horrors.

According to Hourigan, Kanellakos deliberately misled city council to cover up the multiple testing issues that plagued the system leading up to the launch. But the one area Hourigan fails to address is just how much Watson was aware of what Kanellakos was doing – or failing to do.

I find it tremendously hard to believe that Kanellakos acted on his own. I’ve known the man since his early days when he was the director of the Gloucester Police Service. There is just no way Kanellakos went rogue.

Besides, the LRT was Watson’s baby. He would have insisted on being kept abreast of ever aspect of the project. And when they ran into trouble during construction and testing, he would have known about it – which means that he would have also known about Kanellakos’ failure to inform city council of the ongoing problems. The question is: did Watson direct Kanellakos to keep key information from city council?

Before the public rushes to make Kanellakos the fall guy, we need to stop and put the blame where it really belongs: at the feet of the former mayor.

It doesn’t take long when you read the report to realize that the LRT project was doomed from the outset. The wrong contractor was chosen for all the wrong reasons, as was the manufacture of the trains. They were in way over their heads, having little to no experience in building a project of that scope, or in designing trains to operate in a northern climate.

It appears, from Hourigan’s findings, that Watson was pushing to keep the date no matter what, figuring if there were any wrinkles, they could be ironed out after the fact. What Watson wasn’t counting on – or completely ignored due to his fixation on the September launch date – was just how bad those wrinkles were.

On the bright side, Hourigan’s report provides a blueprint of how not to go about building a $2.1 billion light rail system. Unfortunately, we here in Ottawa have had to learn those lessons the hard way and will likely go on learning them, until the Rideau Transit Group is disbanded and replaced by people who know that they are doing – the trains too.

If you read between the lines, Hourigan’s report also offers a warning as to what can happen when council allows a mayor to have too much power and then fails to provide their constituents/residents/taxpayers any sort of oversight.

Thankfully, we have a new council with 11 rookie members and a new mayor. We can only hope that they read Hourigan’s report and learn the lessons it provides – for all of our sakes.

– Fred Sherwin, editor

Canadian families can now apply for Canada Dental Benefit

As we are getting ready for the holiday season, it was a magical experience to attend the lighting of the beautiful tree on Centrum Plaza, on Nov. 25, along with local Councillors Matt Luloff, Laura Dudas, Catherine Kitts. Thank you to Colonnade Bridgeport and the Heart of Orléans BIA for making it a reality again this year.

We also celebrated the 25th anniversary of Santa’s Parade of Lights on Nov. 26. It was such a special moment to participate inperson this year and to see such a big crowd gathered along St-Joseph Blvd. on a beautiful evening. This event would not be possible without the devotion and hard work of the Ottawa Professional Firefighters Association. I want to especially thank local resident and parade chairman, Bob Rainboth as well as his entire team, for their leadership.

Moreover, I want to let you know that the application period for Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) 2023 funding opened on Nov. 29 and will close on Jan. 12, 2023. In 2022, Orléans saw a total of 109 organizations receiving funding in support of 673 jobs for an investment of more than $2.1 million.

I want to encourage our local employers to take advantage of this funding to hire youth, ages 15 to 30, and create valuable summer job opportunities that strengthen our local economy and our community and

provide valuable work experience for our youth. Funded public and private sector employers are eligible to receive a wage subsidy reimbursement of up to 50 per cent of the provincial minimum hourly wage. Employers from the not-for-profit sector will continue to be eligible for a wage subsidy reimbursement of up to 100 per cent of the provincial minimum hourly wage. Learn more at Canada.ca/Canada-summer-jobs.

On Thursday, Dec. 1, the Government of Canada launched the Canada Dental Benefit CBD).

This means that parents of children under 12 in Orléans and across our country who meet the eligibility requirements – a net income of less than $90,000 and who do not have access to private dental insurance – will be able to apply for this benefit.

The CDB will allow families to receive up-front, direct payments totaling up to $1,300 per child (up to $650 per year for two years) to empower them to get their kids the dental care services they need. This benefit will be in place until 2024, while a long-term, national dental care program is developed.

This is my last column before the New Year. From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season!.

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

Marie-France Lalonde Commons Corner

Sienna to close Madonna nursing home indefinitely

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star

Residents at the Madonna Community Care nursing home on St. Joseph Blvd. and their families were caught completely by surprise earlier this month when they were informed that the owner/operator would be closing the home indefinitely and that they would have to find accommodations elsewhere.

In a statement provided to the Orléans Star, Sienna Senior Living spokesperson Nadia Daniell-Colarossi states that “the decision to close the home is the result of discovering irreparable water damage and mold, which are linked to the original building design and construction predating our ownership.”

The statement goes on to explain that Sienna was willing to retrofit the facility, but that the scope of the project continued to expand beyond what they say “is reasonable for residents and team members to endure.”

“Proceeding with a reconstruction project of this magnitude would result in residents and team members living and working in a construction zone for multiple years. This situation would not serve the residents’

2023 TFSA

best interests, their families or our team members,” the statement reads.

Sienna acquired the Madonna nursing home, which has 160 beds, in January 2012. According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care website, there were 228 people on a waiting list for a bed at the facility as of June 2022.

Those people will now have to join a queue waiting for a bed at another facility. In the meantime, Sienna says it is committed to finding accommodations for the 140-plus residents who are currently living there.

“The well-being of the residents continues to be our primary focus and will guide every step we take to ensure their transition to a new home goes smoothly,” says Sienna. “We are currently working with the Ministry to finalize the plan to move residents.”

But just where they will end up is anybody’s guess, because there just aren’t a lot of vacant long-term care beds available in Ottawa.

Long-term care beds are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. If your loved one requires long-term care, you must first select up to five facilities where you prefer they be placed. However, since almost every

facility in Ottawa functions in a constant state of full capacity your loved one will end up on five waiting lists. Where they end up on each waiting list depends on their age and state of health.

But just because you have selected five potential facilities doesn’t mean you get to choose which one your loved one will eventually end up. That comes down to chance. As soon as a bed becomes available at one of your five preferred choices, you have to take it. If you refuse, you or your

loved one will be unceremoniously taken off all five lists and end up having to go through the process all over again starting at the bottom and working your way up.

All of which means the residents currently living at the Madonna Community Care nursing home will likely get very little say on where they will end up.

In the meantime, Sienna must still decide whether or not they plan to demolish the home and build a new facility, or sell the property altogether.

Get ‘real time’ winter parking ban info through city e-notifications

Dear east end community,

I want to thank you for the landslide support I received yet again this election.

I am both thrilled and honoured to represent Beacon Hill-Cyrville for another four years and work with my east end colleagues to build and better our community!

Tim Tierney

Beacon Hill-Cyrville Ward 11

We are officially in December and the countdown is on! Many elves appeared on shelves this week and the city is covered with cheerful lights.

I want to give a special shout out to the Ottawa Professional Firefighters’ Association and everyone else who volunteered at this year’s Santa’s Parade of Lights.

Thousands came out to Orléans to join the fun and I got to show off my moves on the City float. The east end community definitely went above and beyond this year and all of your donations will go a long way to help families facing financial challenges this holiday season.

On that note... ’tis the season, and I would like to give everyone a few gentle

reminders. Use extra caution on the road and be aware of winter parking bans. Sign up to receive e-notifications any time that a winter weather parking ban is in effect in the City at https://forms. ottawa.ca/en/form/ esubscriptions/signupform. There you will also find dozens of other city newsletters to subscribe to. It is a great way to stay up to date on the many moving parts of our city.

In some more exciting news, the Beacon Hill North Community Centre ground breaking and our annual pancake breakfast is in the works and fast approaching. And a big LRT milestone has been reached. Stage 1 is now connected to the Stage 2 LRT at Blair station. The Confederation Line East extension will run from Blair Station to Trim Road, adding 12 km of rail and five new stations to the O-Train network. It’s going to make a huge impact once the east end is better connected.

I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday! ’til next time...

Councillor explains opposition to recently passed Vacant Unit Tax

Over the past weeks, residents should have received a letter from the City about the new Vacant Unit Tax (VUT).

This new tax was brought in to encourage homeowners to maintain, occupy or rent secondary properties to help tackle the housing shortage.

Statistics Canada data from 2016 showed there were approximately 22,000 empty and temporarily occupied homes in Ottawa. This system is similar to VUTs in other major Canadian cities, and all revenue generated is directed into the administration of the program, with the balance being used to support affordable housing initiatives.

While principal residences are exempt from the tax, all homeowners are still required to declare the occupancy status of their properties annually. If unsure whether the VUT will apply to your property, visit the assessment tool at www.Ottawa.ca/VUT.

All homeowners must declare by the Interim Tax due date each year, and this is done online through your My Service

Ottawa Account. To submit your declaration, you need your property’s Roll Number and Access Code – both are found at the top of the notification letter.

The deadline for submitting your declaration is March 16. Failure to complete a declaration will lead to the property being deemed vacant and subject to the tax. If you own more than one property, you must submit a declaration for each property.

To reiterate my comments when this tax was being debated last spring, while I appreciate, and even support, the intentions behind this program, I remain firmly opposed to this tax. I am particularly concerned about seniors, those with accessibility needs and new Canadians trying to navigate these new requirements and being innocently charged the tax, and then having to navigate the system again to dispute it. Despite my sentiments against the tax, I want to make sure residents are not caught off-guard.

If anyone is having trouble, please reach out to me at Laura.Dudas@Ottawa.ca or 3-1-1.

Innes Ward 2

Laura Dudas

An Afternoon of Nostalgia

A delightful concert featuring nostalgic songs and seasonal favourites with coffee and treats after the show.

Dec 21 2 pm

Dec 31 9 pm

Tickets/Billets: 613-580-2700

City of Ottawa launches new registration system

(NC) The City of Ottawa has launched a new registration and booking system for it’s recreation and cultural programs.

Winter activities are now online – you can start searching for your winter programs at register.ottawa.ca. Registration for swimming opens Monday, Dec. 5, at 9 p.m. and Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 9 p.m. for all other programs.

The first step to registering is to create an account, ideally before registration opens. Follow the instructions and watch the video tutorial. Everyone has to create a new account, unless you have an active membership or participate in the Ottawa Hand in Hand financial assistance program.

Browse the activities using the filter function, which breaks down the various activities by day, week, age, type and location. You can also make it a family affair by including the kids to see what might interest them.

To get ready, create a wish list to bookmark your selected activities, including backup activities in case your preferred session fills up. Adding an activity to your wish list doesn’t give you priority but it does make finding it easier on registration night.

Remember, while the new system allows greater capacity for more people to complete transactions at the same time, spaces in popular programs – like swimming – will still be snapped up quickly.

It’s highly recommended that you log into your account before 9 p.m. to be ready once registration opens.

Registration for the City’s new swimming program called “Swim City” will make its debut. The program is offered in four streams according to the participant’s age on the first day of the lessons. Lessons are available for infants as young as four months old, to adults. Each stream has a number of different lessons based on the individual’s ability. If you are unsure where to start you can undergo a swim assessment during a public swim and a program supervisor will tell you which level best suits your ability.

The east end is home to a number of aquatic facilities including the Ray Friel Recreation Complex on Tenth Line Road, the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Centre-Orléans on Youville Drive, the François Dupuis Recreation Centre on Portobello Blvd., and the Splash Wave Pool on Ogilvie Road.

Got containers? Hand them over!

Public board principal, children’s author up to seven books and counting

By Jody Maffett

The Orléans Star

Ottawa District School Board principal, children’s book author and proud Orléans resident Bruce Foster recently published his seventh book – but it’s not a another children’s book of which he’s published six so far.

Foster’s latest publication is a handbook for principals and those who are aspiring to become a principal.

Principal Presence Handbook: Win-Win contains a series of instructions for school administrators on how to be an active, thoughtful and engaged daily in what goes on in their schools. It follows on the heels of the sixth installment of the Kool’s Schools series which are based on Foster’s experiences as a former teacher and principal.

Kristina’s Fundraiser at Kool’s School / Collecte de fondes est de Kristina is about a fundraiser for a student named Kristina who had leukemia. According to Foster, Kristina’s cancer eventually went into remission and she went on to graduate from high school and

become an electrician.

Other books in the series include Wild Times at Kool’s School, MS Readathon Rocks Kool’s School, Haunted Hallowe’en at Kool’s School, Christmas Events at Kool’s School, and Zena’s Birthday

As the title would suggest, Kristina’s Fundraiser at Kool’s School/ Collecte de fondes est de Kristina is a bilingual publication as is Haunted Hallowe’en at Kool’s School. The other books in the series are available in both French and English. You can find out more about all six books at koolschool.ca

A portion of the proceeds from every book goes to CHEO and Kids Help Phone Canada which provides anonymous pro-fessional counselling to kids in crisis.

Bruce Foster

Cozy, bright & spacious: your new apartment awaits

By Jody Maffett

The Orléans Star

Located in a quiet part of Orléans, sitting in its own little nook for calm evenings watching the sunset, Alavida Lifestyles’ Promenade has everything you could ever need.

Promenade has two buildings – Seniors’ Suites and Retirement Residences, which offer a complete continuum of care. Each of our spaces is named after elegant birds, representing freedom and eternity. Choose from our alcove, studio or one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites available in both buildings and ranging from 325 to 670 square feet. You can look towards the refined Seniors’ Suites for more independent living. If you or a loved one require extra care, you will feel right at home in our Retirement Residence.

With more than twenty different floor plans, finding the proper suite that meets your needs is effortless. Take Promenade’s Aurora suite, for example. At 524 square feet, it is sized perfectly. Facing west, you can enjoy the beautiful sunset every day from your balcony. Gaze at the treeline and watch as birds and other creatures run about in the trees.

For accessibility, we offer you extra

wide doorways for mobility aids and high baseboards to defend against bumps and bruises on the walls. Railings in the bathroom will ensure your safety for peace of mind. A private bedroom with excellent closet space allows for more storage as well.

With in-unit private laundry and all the modern kitchen amenities you need, you can feel right at home, whether you’re cooking your morning oatmeal or late-night popcorn to watch a movie.

There’s so much to do at Alavida Lifestyles’ Promenade, including daily activities. If nature has a grasp on you, take a walk on the footpaths along the river for bird watching and sunset gazing. Holidays are always cheerful at Alavida Lifestyles The residents at Promenade will enjoy Christmas games, Christmas baking, an Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, Christmas Polaroids and lots more. Check out the activities calendar for the complete picture at alavidalifestyles. com/events-activities.

Alavida Lifestyles offers the ability to seamlessly transition from independent to assisted living in one place to maintain the lifestyle and friendships you’ve made.

Moreover, Alavida Lifestyles provides you or your loved one live each day with fantastic service, including three delectable

meals daily and housekeeping services. With incredible services, amenities, events, caring staff, and friends ready to welcome you, we are confident you will love the Alavida life!

Alavida Lifestyles is currently welcoming new residents to their Promenade location for short- and long-term rentals and respite stays. Your third month is free when signing

a new lease before December 31, 2022 and moving in by January 31, 2023.

Curious to learn more? Visit. alavidalifestyles.com/our-locations/ promenade. Book a tour by contacting our Lifestyle Specialist at 613-229-7973 or by email at lifestyle.promenade@ alavidalifestyles.com. We may even invite you to a holiday activity or two!

Djeumeni leads St. Matts to National Capital Bowl win

By Fred Sherwin

The Orléans Star

You can forgive the Northern Secondary School Red Knights if they never want to hear the name Hugo Djeumeni again, let alone see or try to stop him.

Djeumeni almost single-handedly led the St. Matthew Tigers to a 24-15 win over the Toronto-area high school team in the National Capital Bowl on Nov. 30.

The National Capital Bowl forms part of the OFSAA Bowl Festival which was held on Dec. 28, 29 and 30 in Guelph.

Djeumeni ran the ball 30 times for 280 yards and a touchdown in one of the most dominating performances by a running back in the National Capital Bowl in quite some time. St. Matt’s quarterback Jackson Plante also ran for a touchdown and passed for another to Christos Zigoumis while kicker Victor Nwadike Dim added three converts and a rouge and the Tigers defence forced the Red Knights to concede a safety on a blocked punt by Cole Hamilton in the second quarter.

The Tigers actually spotted the Red Knights a 14-3 first half lead that boiled down to two big plays. Northern’s first touchdown came on a 78-yard run by Sheadonn Bowerbank just six and half

minutes into the first quarter.

After the Tigers scored a rouge and a safety on back-to-back series, the Red Knights returned the favour and blocked a punt with 3:39 left in the second quarter to set up a converted touchdown by their quarterback.

The Red Knights could have gone into the halftime break with a 17-3 lead if not for a missed 35-yard field goal attempt that hit the right upright.

Northern added a single point at the start of the second half when their kick-off went through the Tigers’ end zone for a rouge.

St. Matts responded with a 74-yard touchdown drive that included runs of 11, 43 and eight yards by Djeumeni capped by Plante’s 12-yard touchdown toss to Zigoumis.

The Tigers defence then took over, preventing the Red Knights from picking up a first down on their next three possessions. Logan Johnson-Graham then intercepted an errant pass on Northern’s third possession of the half to set up St. Matt’s second touchdown of the game, scored by Plante, to cut the Red Knights’s lead to just two points.

St. Matt’s defence came up big again on the Red Knights’ next series when they stuffed them on a third and one play to force a turnover on downs.

The

For people keeping count, that adds up to five straight series in which the Red Knights failed to pick up a first down. They would eventually do so on their next series, but they immediately fumbled the ball away on the next play to set up the Tigers’ game winning touchdown drive.

Djeumeni was voted the game MVP for his on-field heroics, but the award could have just as easily been given to the Tigers’ entire defence for the way they played in the

second half.

Leading up to the go ahead touchdown the Tigers defence limited the Red Knights to just 22 yards in the second half on 14 plays and only one first down.

In contrast, the Tigers accumulated 218 yards and nine first downs on offence in the second half.

St. Matthew High School now has two National Capital Bowls in its trophy case. They also won the coveted cup in 2016.

St. Matthew Tigers pose together after winning only the second National Cup Bowl in the school’s history. DEVIN DOUCETTE PHOTO

Continued from page 1

with the intent of sticking to a September 2019 launch date, which Watson had already promised to the media and the public.

Watson elected not to run for re-election and Kanellakos tendered his resignation to city council on Nov. 28.

Former OC Transpo head John Manconi and Kanata South Coun. Allan Hubley were also part of the senior management team which Hourigan says committed “egregious violations of the public trust”. Manconi retired in May 2021, while Hubley, who was Ottawa Transit Commission chair at the time, was recently re-elected.

Justice Hourigan says the problems with the LRT system started with senior staff recommending that the project be awarded to a company that had zero experience building an LRT system in North America, using trains that were unproven in a northern climate, and council agreeing to staff’s recommendation.

The problem was compounded by former mayor Watson’s determination to have the LRT operational by the fall of 2019, which put political pressure on senior staff and the consortium chosen to build and operate the LRT system. It was also in the consortium’s

financial best interest to have the LRT operational by the same date.

The Rideau Transit Group (RTG) and Ottawa Light Rail Transit Constructors (OLRT-C) continuously provided unrealistic target dates for the construction and completion of the rail line, which created unrealistic expectations on the part of city councillors and the general public.

When the LRT was launched, it had not been adequately tested and problems known to the RTG, OLRT-C, the former mayor and senior staff had not yet been resolved. Those issues would eventually manifest themselves in the weeks and months following the launch, resulting in delays and shutdowns much to the chagrin of the transit riding public.

Justice Hourigan does end his executive summary on an optimistic note by saying that the parties have begun working together more co-operatively and the reliability of the system is showing some signs of improvement. “This improvement demonstrates that, over time, structural problems can be resolved through good faith, communication, and co-operation,” writes Justice Hourigan.

FRIDAY, DEC. 9

SATURDAY, DEC. 10

CORO VIVO OTTAWA

presents ‘Christmas Under the Stars’, a holiday concert at Orléans United Church, 1111 Orléans Blvd. Tickets : $25 for adults; $20 for seniors and students. Children 12 and under are free. Available online only at https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/ coro-vivo-ottawa-8064734718.

SATURDAY, DEC. 10

CHRISTMAS ANGELS

fundraising event at Taproom260 from 7 p.m.

Live entertainment featuring three local bands, silent auction and raffle. More than 30 prizes to be won. Proceeds to benefit local families in need at Christmastime.

SUNDAY, DEC. 11

CUMBERLAND

COMMUNITY SINGERS are pleased to announce their first public concert since 2019: “That Winter’s Night” with special guest choir the Ottawa Carleton Male Choir and violinist Erik Johnson-Scherger. 7:30pm at Orléans United Church, 1111 Orléans Blvd. Tickets $20 available at the door.

SUNDAY, DEC. 11

HOLIDAY FAMILY SKATE hosted by Orléans West-Innes Coun. Laura Dudas at the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex on Youville Drive from 1-3 p.m. Join Laura for a free afternoon of treats and skating! There will be a box for donations of nonperishable items for the local food bank

FRIDAY, DEC. 9

SATURDAY, DEC. 10

SUNDAY, DEC. 11

VINTAGE VILLAGE OF LIGHTS at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum in Cumberland Village from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy the postcard like scenery of a 1920s and 30s village on foot as you explore the festive light displays at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum. Cost: $25 per group (max. of six people per group including at least one adult).

SUNDAY, DEC. 18

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA at the Orléans Legion, 800 Taylor Creek Dr. from 8 a.m. to noon. Reservations required. Call Joyce at 613-769-5903 or e-mail rcl632orleanspr@gmail. com.

UPGRADE