The Orleans Star Feb. 3, 2022

February 3, 2022 • Volume 36, No. 19

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February 3 • Volume 36, No. 19

Next edition February 17

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Restaurants, gyms thrilled to finally reopen

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star

Caravela Restaurante owner Fernando Diniz is looking forward to reopening to 50% capacity this week . FRED SHERWIN PHOTO

It’s been a rough four weeks for restaurants and gyms in Orléans and the rest of the province. The Ford government closed gyms and restricted restaurants to take-out and delivery only on Jan. 3 in response to the surge in Omicron COVID cases.

The move was a huge blow to restaurants, gyms and indoor fitness centres, coming as it did on the heels of the federal government ending rent and wage subsidies back in November. It also left many hospitality and fitness industry workers without any income for the better part of the last four weeks.

Now that restaurants are allowed to reopen at 50 per cent capacity, they are hoping to fill

as many of those seats as possible to make up for the lost revenue.

“It’s not 100 per cent, but it’s better than nothing,” says Caravela Restaurante owner Fernando Diniz, who is having a special three-day Valentine’s Day weekend event next week to help entice diners back into his establishment.

The Little Turkish Village restaurant on St. Joseph Blvd. is also offering a St. Valentine’s Day special to help bring customers back.

“Hopefully we will be able to fill all the tables we can use,” says owner Sunil Kurichh regarding the 50 per cent capacity limit. “But we need to return to full capacity as soon as possible.”

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February 3, 2022 • Volume 36, No. 19 • 3

COMMUNITY BRIEFS Calling all young writers!

ORLÉANS – The Orléans Star wants to hear from young writers in Orléans. The idea is to run a special feature showcasing the talent of young writers in and around Orléans.

Submissions can either be an opinion piece or a feature story on a topic of the author’s choosing. The only requirement is that the submissions be limited to 300-350 words.

They can be e-mailed to editor@orleansstar.ca. The best of the submissions will be published in the Star in subsequent editions. The initiative is meant to provide an outlet for young writers to have their work published for general circulation. So get writing!

Ruddy Family Y closing down after building sold

ORLÉANS – The Ruddy Family YMCA-YWCA on Centrum Boulevard has been sold to a commercial developer and the Y will be ceasing its operations in the building effective immediately, except for its child care centre. The City-run COVID vaccination clinic will also continue uninterrupted for the foreseeable future. The Bayview Group, which purchased the building for an undisclosed sum, specializes in redeveloping spaces into hotels and condos. The Orléans YMCA-YWCA went through a major expansion in 2009, which included two swimming pools, a full-size gymnasium, and new lobby. The expansion was made possible in large part to $1 million donation from Ottawa business leader and philanthropist John Ruddy. At the time the expansion was announced, it was hailed as an important component of the Orléans core along with the Shenkman Arts Centre which opened the same year.

Organisation recruits ‘Snow moles’ to do winter audits ORLÉANS – The Council on Aging Ottawa is looking for east residents to help make the area walkways and pathways safe for seniors and others with mobility issues. They are encouraging people to take note of features when going out for a walk, such as sidewalks, bus stops and benches, that are either “safe” or “unsafe”. It could be a bench covered in snow or a sidewalk that is too icy or blocked by snow. Individuals can take and submit photos of both safe and unsafe features to snowmoles@coaottawa.ca.

Snow moles can also visit coaottawa.ca/snowmoles and complete an online questionnaire between Jan. 1 and March 31. The information will be used to improve the winter walking conditions for seniors and others with mobility issues next winter.

4 • February 3, 2022 • Volume 36, No. 19

Vanda Hadarean is the owner of the IBV Gym in Orléans . FRED SHERWIN PHOTO

Orléans restaurants and gyms thrilled to finally reopen Continued from page 3 While restaurants have been able to offer take-out and delivery during the past four weeks, gyms and fitness centre have been limited to offering virtual classes only.

During the current shutdown, IBV Fitness Studio owner Vanda Hadarean has been able to offer private one-on-one classes to students who have a medical certificate which is allowed under the provincially imposed restrictions.

The cycle of openings and closings over the past two years has not made it easy for fitness centres like IBV to recruit new members which Hadarean says has been incredibly frustrating.

“You now the best way to protect yourself against viruses like COVID is to be fit and healthy, but when they force you to close the gyms it becomes very difficult,” says Hadarean. “Hopefully, this will be the last time and we can start to get back to normal.”

The latest shutdown lasted just 26 days.

Roughly half the time the restaurants and gyms were closed last year when they were shutdown from Boxing Day to Feb. 15.

In fact, restaurants and gyms have only been open to full capacity during three out of the past 23 months and that was in the fall when customers had to show they were fully vaccinated.

Active cases in Ottawa have been on a steady decline in Ottawa since Jan. 1, and hospitalizations, which usually lag behind active cases by two weeks, appear to have peaked on Jan. 19, when Ottawa Public Health reported 132 COVID-related cases in Ottawa area hospitals. ICU cases also peaked also on Jan. 19 at 21. By comparison, at the height of the Delta wave last April, hospitalizations peaked at 123 and ICU cases peaked at 31, however, the number of active cases were three times higher in January than they were last spring.

Avalon street to be named after Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds will soon have a street named after him in the Avalon sub-division of Cassette being constructed

by Caivan Communities at the corner of Brian Coburn Blvd. and Mer Bleue Rd. The honour was bestowed on Reynolds by Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson last week.

Watson introduced a notice of motion at the tail end of the Jan. 27 city council meeting it was essentially a formality. The motion is expected to pass unanimously when it is brought forward for a vote at the next council meeting on Feb. 9.

When introducing his motion, Watson listed the many philanthropic and humanitarian activities Reynolds and his wife Blake Lively have undertaken since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the most notable of which was a $1 million donation to food banks across Canada including the Ottawa Food Bank.

Watson also made reference to several of Reynolds’ movies in his preamble including the “Green Lantern”, “Deadpool”, “The Proposal” and “Red Notice”.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic Ryan has shined his ‘Green Lantern’ on important health measures and was revealed to be ‘Bruce’ the Ottawa Public Health intern,” Watson said referring to the actor’s post-Super Bowl tweet last year in which he anonymously posted a comment on the Ottawa Public Health twitter account writing, “WHAT AN AMAZING #SuperBowlLV!!

Congratulations to the (*Bruce, make sure to put the winning team’s name here) “Thanks to everyone who stayed home & watched the game w/members of their household. We know this wasn’t the usual way to enjoy the game, & we thank you for your efforts.”

The tweet went viral and several days later Reynold’s revealed he was “Bruce” in a video clip that was also posted on the OPH’s twitter page.

The actor ended the video by reminding people to wash their hands, wear a mask, stay home, get tested and get vaccinated.

“We can do this, and we will do this,” Reynolds said in the video. “Steady as she goes, Ottawa.”

Reynolds was born in Vancouver, but

spent much of his formative years growing up in Vanier.

“It’s clear that Ottawa has a special place in Ryan’s heart,” says Watson.

Cumberland Coun, Catherine Kitts, who seconded Watson’s motion is thrilled her ward was selected for the honour.

“Looking forward to welcoming you to the best corner of Ottawa @VancityReynolds!!

Thanks for all you’ve done for #ottcity,” Kitts tweeted.

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February 3, 2022 • Volume 36, No. 19 • 5

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Ongoing pandemic fails to slow down local graffiti artist

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star While a great number of businesses have been adversely affected by the on-again, off-again restrictions during the pandemic, some businesses have been kept busier than ever. The home renovation industry, for one, has experienced a boom in sales as people chose to spend their money on a new kitchen or bathroom rather than a vacation down south.

But other businesses have made out okay as well. Orléans graffiti artist Robbie “Falldown” Lariviere has been keeping a hectic pace, doing almost a project a day during the pandemic.

Projects can range from labels for local soy candlemaker to skateboards, driveways and walls. He recently did walls for the Sawmill Creek Pool and the Greenboro Community Centre, and he just completed a wall in the ward office of Cumberland Ward Coun. Catherine Kitts.

Lariviere started doing graffiti art 20 years ago after he got a job in a paint supply store and started experimenting with spray paint. His appreciation for the art form evolved into a true passion and he began hosting club nights and group shows.

Although he eventually began doing

commission work, he never made enough money to be able to make a full-time living out of it – and then the pandemic hit.

When non-essential businesses were forced to close their doors for a short spell before finally being able to offer curbside service, Lariviere, who worked in the retail sector, was forced to expand his own business. Strictly through word of mouth, he began to take on more and more jobs. He also came up with some unique outlets for his art and for his business. He began doing labels, sandwich boards and store windows.

Last summer, he entered a partnership with the Byward Market BIA and created arguably his proudest work to date – a lava floor on William Street near Beaver Tails.

“It was my daughter’s idea,” says Lariviere, referring to his nine-year-old daughter Rukah, who is his number one fan and a budding entrepreneur in her own right. “It’s an interactive mural showing a bunch of rocks in a lava flow on the street.”

After Lariviere completed the lava flow, kids of all ages started spontaneously jumping from rock to rock without any words or instructions.

The wall he did in Coun. Kitts office depicts scenes from around the ward with a cyclist, a tractor, a farm, an OC Transpo bus,

Local graffiti artist Robbie ‘Falldown’ Lariviere and Cumberland Ward Coun. Catherine Kitts stand in front of the piece he did in Coun. Kitts’ ward office at the Ray Friel Complex. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO the Navan Fair and an outdoor hockey rink.

“I was looking to do something fun in my ward office to animate the space and make it more inviting,” says Kitts. “Robbie was able to perfectly capture the essence and uniqueness of Cumberland Ward in his design. He’s a resident of the area, so it was

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a perfect collaboration.”

Lariviere can do both commercial and residential work. He’s done walls in children’s nurseries, man caves, home gyms and garages.

To see a collection of his creations you can visit him on Instagram at #falldowng.

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The LRT dilemma As Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson prepares to exit stage left next fall, fans of the mayor will likely try to point to the Ottawa LRT system as one of his biggest accomplishments.

If you only count getting it actually built as an accomplishment, I guess it’s hard to argue with that. But Watson’s biggest “accomplishment” may also end up being this city’s biggest white elephant.

The LRT was built on the assumption that thousands of federal government workers would use it to get to and from their jobs down-town.

The pandemic threw a wrench into the city’s early revenue projections when the federal government told its employees to work from home.

Back in September, the city was forecasting losses of $123 million ($133 million offset by $9.3 million is savings due to “non-COVID-19 pressures). That works out to $2.37 million a week. Fortunately for the city and its taxpayers the provincial and federal governments gave the city $115.3 million to help offset the losses.

But what if the riders don’t come back? What if the federal government decides to allow its employees to continue working from home after the pandemic? The Treasury Board conducted a review as far back as June 2020 that took a close look at the amount of office space it will need in the coming years as it considers how some of Canada’s hundreds of thousands of federal public servants could end up working from home permanently.

At the time Treasury Board president Jean-Yves Duclos said the agency had “started really reflecting on the number of offices and the number of office spaces we want over the next few years”. That’s not good news for Ottawa’s grand LRT plans.

If the majority of federal government workers elect to stay home and work virtually once the pandemic has subsided, and the provincial and federal governments turn off the subsidy tap, the losses are going to pile up fast and furious and ratepayers are going to have to subsidize the LRT themselves.

If you take the LRT out of the equation there is an obvious environmental argument for allowing public servants to continue working from home post-pandemic. It would also pave the way for a real rejuvenation of Ottawa’s downtown core by forcing the big property owners into convert their office buildings into condos, as long as a large percentage of those condos are affordable for the average human being But that would still leave the dilemma of what to do with the LRT and who would pay for it? One possible option would be to impose a tariff on vehicles entering the area. The money raised could then be used to offset the cost of the LRT. Commuters heading downtown would have the option of driving or taking the O-Train – either way, it will save ratepayers money while improving the environment and revitalizing the core. Call it a win, win, win.

– Fred Sherwin, editor

Fredrick C. Sherwin, Editor & Publisher fsherwin@orleansstar.ca The Orléans Star is a bi-weekly publication distributed to 44,000 residences in Blackburn Hamlet, Orléans and Navan. The newspaper is locally owned and operated by Sherwin Publishing Inc., 745 Farmbrook Cres., Orléans, ON. Inquiries and delivery issues should be sent to info@orleansstar.ca.

8 • February 3, 2022 • Volume 36, No. 19

Black History Month a time to celebrate Canada’s rich diversity I want to start by recognizing that February is Black History Month, a month where we honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their immense contributions, resilience, and strength. I want to thank you for your community engagement and for your most valuable contributions to our culture and to the entire community of Orléans.

As part of its commitment to supporting Black Canadian communities, advancing equity and diversity, and combating different forms of racism, discrimination, and hate, the government is investing in initiatives that recognize the contributions of Black Canadians, while addressing the systemic barriers and challenges faced

by Black communities in Canada that have been worsened by the pandemic.

On Jan. 24, the government announced a Call for Concepts for the $200-million Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund, to improve social and economic outcomes in black communities. Black-led charities and non-profit organizations have until Feb. 28 to submit their proposal Jan. 26 marked the 12th Bell Let’s Talk Day. Now more than ever, it is essential that we take the time to have an open dialogue on mental health and to take care of ourselves and others.

Supporting mental health and the well-being of each of you is a priority and I invite you to download

the new PocketWell app launched on Jan. 14 providing Canadians with another way to access free, 24/7, online mental health and substance use resources and supports. Through PocketWell – the Wellness Together Canada (WTC) companion app – individuals can link to the WTC portal to access resources ranging from self-assessment to customized support based on their assessment This year, I am pursuing my tradition of highlighting women and young girls from Orléans who demonstrated exceptional leadership through their volunteerism.

Thank you to those who have already submitted a nomination form. We also have extended the deadline to receive submissions to Monday, Feb. 21. You can request your nomination form by emailing my office at Marie-France.Lalonde@parl.gc.ca.

As of Jan. 12, our two local community clinics at the François Dupuis Recreation Centre and the Orléans Ruddy Family YMCA-YWCA have been open for drop-ins to everyone eligible for a first dose, second dose or booster dose of the COVID vaccine.

Thanks everyone for your understanding and support in the effort to get as many people vaccinated as possible. Let’s remind ourselves that we are marching in the right direction towards a new normal and until we succeed we have to keep following public health guidelines.

Trying to find our collective path back to ‘normal’ There has been a lot said lately about how we can eventually get back to some semblance of normalcy in a post-pandemic environment. One school of thought is that the variants will get less and less severe moving forward, meaning there will be a much lower chance of severe or critical illness, especially among those people who are fully vaccinated.

The other school of thought is that a much more severe variant is lurking just around the corner that is resistant to vaccine.

If the latter scenario plays out we are in big trouble because it means we end up back at square one.

Our only chance of getting back to a state of normalcy is if the former scenario becomes reality.

The one thing that very expert agrees upon is that the COVID virus is not going away anytime soon. Unfortunately, that is what most governments around the world have been banking on for the past two years, including our own provincial and federal governments here in Canada. Up until now, their policy-making decisions have been based on the hope that the virus is a temporary phenomenon.

What we are painfully learning over time is that those policies are not sustainable.

Up Front Fred Sherwin The hospitality and travel industries cannot continue to go through an endless cycle of restrictions without suffering massive bankruptcies and job losses.

The restrictions themselves, especially the ones that call for people to self-isolate for a week if they are showing even minor symptoms, or are confirmed to have COVID and are asymptomatic, have led to staffing shortages in nearly every industry resulting in severe supply chain issues and runaway inflation. So what do we do?

England and the rest of the UK have already decided that enough is enough and have lifted most of their COVID restrictions including the need for PCR tests on reentering the country which has resulted in an immediate boom for their travel industry.

Denmark has also lifted its COVID restrictions. Vaccine passes will no longer be

needed and commuters may travel without wearing masks.

Although it hasn’t gone as far as the UK or Denmark, the Netherlands has partially lifted its restrictions allowing restaurants, gyms and other non-essential businesses to open with reduced capacity and the need to show proof of vaccination before entry.

France and a number of other European countries are expected to follow suit.

Still, these are only small steps to a state of normalcy. To achieve a real state of normalcy will require a massive shift in the current paradigm. First and foremost, health and government agencies need to begin to differentiate between healthy people with COVID and unhealthy people with COVID. After two years, public health officials still refuse to break down hospitalizations to indicate how many people in hospital suffer from one or more comorbidities. Same goes for those people who are in an ICU unit, on a ventilator or have died with COVID. Vaccinations need to continue to be the first defence against serious illness. But people who are otherwise healthy and are fully vaccinated should not be put into the same boat as those people who are either unvaccinated, or are vaccinated but have underlying health conditions. Public health needs to turn its focus

on the latter and allow healthy vaccinated people to get on with their lives.

As for the vaccine debate, mass vaccinations will continue to be necessary as long as the virus is around, much like the flu vaccine.

The only difference is that COVID is much more severe in terms of its potential impact on the health of high risk individuals, making vaccinations that much more important for those people. So keep up the vaccinations, but open everything up while maintaining the need for vaccination certificates to get in.

And finally – and this is the most difficult step for most people to wrap their head around – allow folks who are fully vaccinated and have had a close contact with other individuals who maybe experiencing symptoms or have tested positive, to get out and about rather than requiring them to self-isolate. Ditto for anyone who is experiencing minor symptoms but are fully vaccinated. There needs to be a reward for being vaccinated, whether it is the freedom to travel without having to undergo multiple tests, or the ability to enjoy a meal at your favourite restaurant.

The sooner we take these first steps to normalcy and follow in the footsteps of countries like England, Denmark and the Netherlands, the better.

February 3, 2022 • Volume 36, No. 19 • 9

Mental health awareness is important all-year round

Ottawa Kindness Week comes when kindness is at a premium

Hello friends! Another busy start to the on Jan. 27, I hope the province can continue year! Stay warm this season as the cold to cautiously ease public health measures. weather continues. There are still lots of fun Whether you need your 1st, 2nd or booster outdoor activities if you can safely bundle dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, you can get up! The Rideau Canal it with no appointment is open, our outdoor needed; drop into any of rinks are in incredible the community clinics.

Tim shape this year, you can Bell Lets Talk Day Tierney recently passed, and it’s also take on the trails for snowshoeing or important to remember X-country skiing. I hope that this initiative isn’t Beacon Hill-Cyrville Ward 11 everyone can make the just a hashtag trend that most out of this time of year! we only think about in January. Mental Between the truckers’ “freedom” convoy health is an ongoing stigmatized issue passing through Ottawa’s downtown that people suffer from every day. This is and surrounding area and the Ontario a reminder to those who are suffering that government is easing COVID-19 restrictions there are resources available to help. My on some businesses – including restaurants family has been affected by mental health and gyms – January seems to have ended on and many of my friends. an eventful note.

Let’s empower and reassure our loved The province has started to see signs ones they’re not alone! of stabilization in public health system Lastly, did you know Ottawa has “do-itindicators. Percentage of positivity has fallen yourself” grit boxes?! On a day with slippery and new admissions to hospitals have started conditions, do your fellow residents a solid to stabilize with the length of stay shortening and spread the grit on icy sidewalks. considerably. Considering the latter and Be safe and have wonderful winter season seeing as Kids Vaccine Day recently passed everyone!

The past two years have been exhausting. number of users, and conversation and Between online school, working from compromise becomes that much harder. In home, and business closures, everyone is the end, it is our own physical and mental tired. However, this is not an article about health that is taking the hit. the pandemic, but rather, And let’s be honest, how it has emphasized two years of lockdowns, an even greater need for virtual meetings, and Laura patience and kindness being social only with Dudas towards each other. our immediate families While Orléans has has taken a toll. It’s an abundance of parks completely understandInnes Ward 2 and outdoor recreational able, but it makes it even amenities, these spaces have never been more imperative for empathy. more in demand, as many families and With Ottawa Kindness Week, from individuals seek respite from being cooped Feb. 18 to 25, celebrating its 15th anniverup indoors. Of course, with more people sary this year there’s even more reason to trying to use the same space at the same time, take every opportunity to choose to be kind it is expected that tensions can run high. and recognize those who engage in acts of Recently, these anxieties have been on kindness. display at our outdoor rinks, multi-use Kindness is at a premium. The pandemic pathways, and trail networks. Even in the best has taken so much, we should make every of times, navigating around hockey pucks effort to not let it take away our compassion (or leisure skaters) on the local community for each other and our shared community rink has been a challenge, but increase the spirit

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12 • February 3, 2022 • Volume 36, No. 19

Riopelle Group expands into new offices Providing excellence in legal services to Orleans and surrounding communities has always been a priority for Riopelle Group Professional Corporation. And what better way to do that than expand into a larger space.

After 13 years on St. Joseph Boulevard, Riopelle Group moved to the Taylor Creek Business Park area, settling in at 500 Lacolle Way, a plaza-style building featuring spacious, bright new offices and additional parking for clients.

“We simply outgrew the office on St. Joseph and moving to a bigger location was necessary if we wanted to grow our business,” said Robert Riopelle, senior partner with Riopelle Group. “It has proven to be a beneficial move for us. We’ve been able to bring on additional staff as a result.”

One of the newest additions to Riopelle Group is Marla Bouffard, a young lawyer who joined the firm in October. Bouffard, fully bilingual, practises real estate, litigation, family law, and wills and estates. “Bringing in new lawyers is important for the growth of the firm,” says Riopelle. “Mentoring young lawyers, providing them with guidance and opportunity is also beneficial to our community overall.”

Riopelle Group lawyers practise business, family law, real estate, civil litigation and wills and estate matters, and can provide services in English and in French. Whether buying or selling a business or dealing with difficult disputes or emotional matters such as divorce, custody or death, Riopelle Group can help. Call Riopelle Group at 613-834-4800 or visit www.rglaw.ca.

Robert Riopelle

Mélanie Nylund

Claire Dutrisac

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Man in distress thanks his Good Samaritans To the editor: Skiing on the Heritage East trail, I fell and injured my leg. Numerous people stopped to offer help, donating a blanket and loaning their jackets to keep me warm, going to their vehicles for other equipment. An immediate call was made to 911, but no ambulance was available, and after two hours lying in the snow, one helper drove home to get a toboggan, and everyone joined to haul me up the hill where they took me into Promenade retirement residence where I was able to warm up.

Without those caring strangers, I may have suffered from potentially fatal hypothermia.

I cannot name all of the helpers, but I do remember the help of Janet and Marylou. I also know that Mike, Jacynthe, another Mike, Cameron, Dwayne and his wife did the hauling and stayed with me for over four hours until my wife and son-in-law were able to take me to the hospital.

I don’t know their last names, but to all of them I offer my heartfelt thanks, and I am grateful to live in a community with such wonderful people.

Phil Winkelaar Orléans

Marla Bouffard

February 3, 2022 • Volume 36, No. 19 • 13

14 • February 3, 2022 • Volume 36, No. 19

Four local athletes to watch at the Winter Olympics STAR STAFF – The Winter

Olympics start this weekend in Beijing, China.

For fans of the Olympic Games, the two-week long event will be a welcome distraction from the seemingly never-ending pandemic and the drudgery of winter.

For folks in Orléans, they will have four athletes to cheer especially hard for starting with speedskaters Ivanie Blondin and Isabelle Weidemann. This will be the third Olympics for both women, who both hope to come home with a medal or medals.

Blondin is one of the favourites in the Mass Start event where she will be seeking redemption for a fall she suffered in the semi-finals in PyeongChang in 2016 that knocked her out of the competition.

The École secondaire Garneau grad has won a gold and two silver

medals in three World Cup events so far this year and will be gunning for gold in Beijing. She will also be competing in the 1500-, 3000- and 5000-metre events as well as the Team Pursuit where Canada is one of the co-favourites to win the gold medal along with the Netherlands and Japan.

Blondin will be competing with fellow east-ender and Gloucester Concordes alum, Isabelle Weidemann, in the Team Pursuit even along with Valerie Maltais. The three women have won all three of the World Cup events heading into the Olympics.

Besides the Team Pursuit, Weidemann will also be competing in the 3000 and 5000. Her best hope at an individual medal is in the 3000, where she has placed second in three of the four World Cup events so far this season. She also placed second in the only 5000-metre race

on the World Cup schedule so far this season which took place in Stavenger, Norway in November.

The women’s 3000 metres will be held at 3:20 a.m. EST on Saturday, Feb. 5. The 5000 metres will be held at 6:50 a.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 10. The women’s Team Pursuit final will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 15 at approximately 2:30 a.m. And the women’s Mass Start final will be held on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 3:30 a.m. EST. All of the finals will be rebroadcast later the same day on CBC. Orléans other medal hopefuls are the mixed-doubles curling team of Rachel Homan and John Morris, both of whom went to Cairine Wilson Secondary School.

Like Blondin, Homan will also be seeking redemption in Beijing after finishing out of the medals in PyeongChang in 2016. Morris, on the other hand, is going into the

Orléans area speedskaters Isabelle Weidemann (centre) and Ivanie Blondin (left) are the odds on favourites to win the women’s team pursuit event at the Winter Olympics in Beijing, China along with teammate Valerie Maltais (left).

Games as the defending Olympic champion having won the event in 2016 with Kaitlyn Lawes.

The mixed doubles competition

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February 3, 2022 • Volume 36, No. 19 • 15

16 • February 3, 2022 • Volume 36, No. 19