Endless activities & events planned. There’s fun to be had and so much more!
Two of the cast members at the sKreamers’ haunted attraction get into character before welcoming their newest victims. Colouring contest and story on page 8 and 9. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO
Two weeks ago in a courtroom in Ottawa, three girls displayed the true meaning of bravery by taking the witness stand and describing how former St. Matthew High School teacher
Rick Despatie allegedly engaged in unwanted advances by inappropriately touching them and talking to them in a sexually provocative manner.
I say “allegedly” because that’s how we journalists have to describe any act before the courts in a case where a verdict has not been handed down.
A publication ban prevents me from printing their names and I wouldn’t anyway, because it’s immaterial.
What’s relevant is what they went through while students at St. Matt’s and the fact that they have the courage to describe those events
in a public courtroom in front of their allegedly abuser.
And they aren’t the only ones in this particular case. Another former student is scheduled to take the stand this week.
Despatie, who taught Grade 7 and 8, and was the school’s junior girls basketball coach for a number of years, faces 14 charges of sex crimes allegedly committed against four girls, all of whom were under the age of 14 at time of their alleged abuse.
He originally faced 54 charges involving 16 girls for acts that were allegedly committed over a 14-year period.
Presumably, the Crown Attorneys prosecuting the case chose the girls they did because they made a much stronger case than the others.
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Continued from page 1
The point here is that they are not alone. There’s been dozens of allegations made of sexual impropriety.
So far, the girls have stood up admirably to the cross-examination.
I can’t imagine what they went through as young 13-year-old students. Thirteen is an awkward age for anybody, especially girls whose bodies are going through changes brought on by puberty.
During her testimony, one of the girls who took the stand in the first days of the trial described how Despatie would rub her thighs up to the edge of her school uniform skirt, rub their shoulders and back and even attempt to play footsies.
Another accuser described how Despatie once rubbed her neck under her shirt and even snapped her bra strap.
So far, Despatie’s lawyer, who is being paid by the teachers’ union because the accusations leveled against him are for acts that allegedly occurred during school hours or during sanctioned school trips, has been questioning the girls’ accounts of the events and whether they are either misinterpreting or embellishing their recollections of the events they are alleging.
It is a classic defense lawyer ploy in cases involving sexual harassment or misconduct.
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For any teacher to take advantage of that situation as an authority figure is reprehensible. To live through that once is unimaginable. To have to relive those moments 10 years later on the witness stand is beyond courageous.
And the four girls giving testimony are not alone. There are hundreds of women who willing take the stand to face their abusers every day. And each one of them has to face cross-examination during which time their testimony is scrutinized, questioned and even dismissed. But yet they come forward. They persevere. By testifying, they take back that which was taking from them – mainly their dignity, their sense of self worth and their truth.
Three candidates are vying for the city council seat in Orléans South-Navan (formerly Cumberland Ward), starting with the current incumbent Catherine Kitts.
Kitts was elected to council in a byelection in 2020 when she beat out nine other candidates, including her main competition this time around – Yvette Ashiri who has been endorsed by Horizon Ottawa, a grassroots socially progressive organization that is backing candidates who share their views of protecting the environment, improving social services and eliminating any existing inequities based on gender, race, religion, sexuality, ability and economic circumstance.
In the 2020 by-election, Kitts received 54 per cent of the vote, while Ashiri finished second with 22 per cent of the vote.
The other name on the ballot is Shamsa Sheikh Ahmed, of which nothing is known about. He did not provide any contact information, or social media addresses on the City of Ottawa’s list of candidates.
Before getting elected to city council, Kitts worked as journalist and is a former editor of the Orléans Star
On Oct. 24, I’m asking you to be there for me like I’ve been there for you.
Candidate, Orléans East – Cumberland
Candidat, Orléans Est – Cumberland mattluloff.com matt@mattluloff.com @matthewluloff4orleans
According to her LinkedIn profile, Ashiri has worked for the Ministry of Canadian Heritage since November 2020.
The mother of three has been a member of a number of boards including the Montfort Hospital, Collège La Cité and the OrléansCumberland Community Resource Centre, and she served as president of the Junior Chamber International Canada in 2021.
Ashiri was also among the recipients of the Ottawa Distinguished Women Award, the 100 Outstanding Black Women of Canada, and the Bernard Grandmaître Award.
Since getting elected to Ottawa city council, Kitts has served on the community and protective services committee, the planning committee and the transportation committee. She is also vice-chair of the city’s agriculture and rural affairs committee.
If re-elected, Kitts says she would continue to make the streets in the ward safer. She would also continue to upgrade roads in the rural area of the ward, improve mass transit and ensure that the ward has adequate links to Phase 2 of the LRT system, and work with the grassroots organizations in the community to improve public spaces and access to the city’s recreation and cultural facilities.
If elected, Ashiri would establish a Ward Council that would be made up of representatives from community associations and relevant stakeholders from across the ward. The council would meet monthly to discuss ward issues.
Among the priorities Ashiri would endeavour to address during her first term on council are improving road safety and transportation, increasing the amount of affordable housing in the ward and across the city and improving social services, specifically to make them more accessible to youth, families on fixed incomes and Ottawa’s growing multi-cultural community.
Our City. Your Mayor.
Catherine McKenney’s record as a two-term councillor:
• New housing and reduced homelessness
• Environmental priorities
• Improved transit
À la mairie pour notre ville.
Ce que Catherine a accompli durant ses deux mandats au conseil :
• De nouveaux logements et réduire l'itinérance
• Attirer l'attention sur l'environnement
• Une amélioration des transports en commun
• People living in suburban and rural communities like Orleans, Barrhaven, and Stittsville do not have quick access to basic and emergency hospital care.
• Smaller hospitals with less than 600 beds located close to where people live give us all better care and cost less to run than larger hospitals.
• The new Civic Hospital will have over 1200 beds and be built in central location targeted for intensification with more traffic.
• The board of the Ottawa Hospital refused the Tunney’s Pasture site recommended by the National Capital Commission. Politicians decided to take 53 acres of the Experimental Farm (a National Historic Site) instead. Why? No reasons were given.
• The Tunney’s Pasture site is estimated to have a potential of $2.5 Billion for developers.
• Almost half of councillors elected in 2018 received more than half of their election funding from individuals connected to the development industry.
Vote for a mayor and councillors who represent the needs of your community – not those of the development industry.
Horizon Ottawa’s online report “Follow the Money.”
STAR STAFF – The Community Builders Wall in Navan has another inductee named on it. Last month, Anne-Marie Potvin was honoured with a plaque bearing her name add to the wall, which is right outside the Navan Fire Station.
Anne-Marie has been an active member of the Navan community for the past 33 years. During that time, she has been a member of the Navan Women’s Institute, serving in various functions at the local and district level. She was one of the first members of
the Navan Community Association and held the position of president for several years.
She was part of the committee that saw the Clocktower Plaza come to life for the 150th anniversary of Navan and she is currently serving on the community association as the director of horticulture. In that position, she ensures the ongoing beautification of the Village’s public gardens.
In the Sept. 22 edition of the Orléans Star it was reported that a member of the Cumberland Panthers bantam football team had been knocked unconscious on the field of play and then later returned to the game to lead his team to victory. In actual fact, the young man merely had the wind knocked out of him. He never lost consciousness. The report was based on information passed on to the paper by a senior official with the Cumberland Panthers Football Club while providing a recap of the game. The Orléans Star apologizes for any confusion the misinformation given to us may have caused.
More than 110 community leaders, volunteers and business people gathered at Béatrice-Desloges high school last week to join a select group of Canadians who have been chosen to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Award.
The award ceremony was hosted by Orléans MP Marie-France Lalonde and Brigadier-General Nicolas Pilon.
The recipients were all nominated last spring at the height of the jubilee celebrations. The Queen’s passing on Sept. 8 made the award ceremony extremely poignant and extra special for most, if not all.
Zybina Richards received her award for her many years of community service as the president of the Fallingbrook Community Association and for helping to organize the annual Canada Day celebration on Petrie Island as a member of the Kiwanis East Ottawa Est along with fellow award recipients Loretta Chow and Harley Bloom.
After receiving her Platinum Jubilee pin and certificate, Richards said she felt both honoured and humbled to even be nominated.
“It is indeed quite special to receive this award. It is not something I ever expected,” said Richard. “I do what I do to give back to a
community that has treated me with profound love, respect and inclusiveness.”
The award was extra special to Richards who always had a warm spot in her heart for the Queen ever since she was a little girl growing up in her native Guyana, which is part of the British Commonwealth.
“It is indeed quite special. Her passing was quite emotional and I’ve always had the utmost respect and admiration for her,” said Richards.
Multi-sport blind-deaf athlete Kevin Frost was also among the recipients. He was nominated for the award for his success as a golfer, cyclist and speedskater, and for being an inspiration to others with physical challenges.
Frost had to recently return his guide dog, Lewis, to Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind after Lewis was diagnosed with kidney disease, so getting the award and being recognized for his service to the community was a welcome honour.
More recently he has been working on a book entitled “Deaf Blind Champion” which will soon be available on Amazon.
“It’s showing me that everything I’ve done in persevering and pushing through all the barriers I’ve faced is being recognized by others. And it’s not only me,” said Frost. “We
Recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Award pose for a group picture in the theatre at École secondaire Béatrice-Desloges on Saturday, Oct. 1. MARGARET SHERWIN PHOTO
all can do it. All disabled people can do it, if you put your mind to it, we all can achieve what we want. You just can never give up.”
Among the many other recipients were a number of volunteers and executive members from the Orléans Legion; community association leaders; leaders from community organizes and service clubs such the Orléans Lions Club, the Rotary Club of Orléans,
and the Orléans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre.
Gabriels restaurant founder Mike Hanna received the award for his philanthropic endeavours. Olympian Ivanie Blondin also received the award, as did Louis and Nicole Patry who list of contributions to the community include the establishment of SFOPHO and the L’Orléanais newspaper.
On October 1st, I had the honour to present Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Pin to 113 individuals for their contribution both locally and beyond the borders of Orléans. Le 1er octobre, j’ai eu l’honneur de remettre l’épinglette du Jubilé de platine de Sa Majesté la Reine Elizabeth II à 113 personnes pour leur contribution à Orléans et bien au-delà.
Marie-France Lalonde, Member of Parliament for Orléans | Députée fédérale d’Orléans
Adrian Becea
Al Tweedle
Alton Legault
Amyn Keshavjee
André Duford
André Levesque
André Thivièrge
Andrew Hanna
Andrew McAlear
Angelica Kalubiaka
Ann McConnell
Apollinaire Yengeyenga
Batool Siddiqui
Breanna Sirois
Bryce Desrochers
Carmen Gloria Foglietta
Carmen Grijalva
Catherine Kitts
Cécile Paquette
Chef Joe Thottungal
Cheng Bin He
Christophe Raisonnier
Claude L’Heureux
Colette Côté
Daunett Tucker
David Lewis
David O’Neill
Denis Charbonneau
Edward Campbell
Emilie Anne Duval
France Léveillé
Francine Brisebois
Francine Gougeon
Fred Sherwin
Gabriela Gutiérrez Monroy
George Williston
Georges Bourdeau
Gerald Lafrance
Gipsy Ghosh
Guy Legault
Harley Bloom
Dr Holly Ellingwood
Ivanie Blondin
Jacqueline Loranger
Jacqueline Noiseux
Jay Sanko
Jean Beck
Jean Daniel Badette
Jeanine Mader
Jeannette Bourdeau
Jennifer Sondergaard
John St. Jean
Joseph P.S. McNulty
Julie Frereault
June Smith
Karunakar Papala
Ken Green
Kevin Frost
Kimberly A. Levesque
Laura Dudas
Lisa Cruickshank
Loretta Chow
Louis V. Patry
Lucie J. Goderre
Lucien Brisebois
Madonna Keates
Marcel Gibeault
Marie Christine Lalonde
Mark Lister
Marlene Tosh
Marta Nuijten
Martin d’Anjou
Mashooda-Lubna Syed
Matt Luloff
Michael Allen
Michelle Desrochers
Mike Hanna
Mireille Brownhill
Moe Garahan
Mustafa Chowdhury
Natalie Sanko
Nicole Fortier
Nicole J. Hébert
Nicole Patry
Nicole Perras
Pierre Benoit
Pierre Chartrand
Rachelle Lecours
Dr Ranjit Perera
Raymond Leury
Real Thibault
Rita Chalabi
Rocky J. Dwyer
Rolly Desrochers
Rosanna Bourciquot
Ryan Shackleton
Rylee Batista
Sandra Stefanik
Stephanie McNeely
Stephen Blais
Suzanne Fortier-Gour
Sylvie Blanchette
Tahawar Rana
Tannis Vine
Ted Gruszecki
Teresa Whitmore
Trèva Cousineau
Vincent Francoeur
Wyn Fournier
Yasmine Fathers
Yasmine Zemni
Yubo Quian
Zybina Richards
Now that the trial of former St. Matt’s teacher Rick Despatie, aka Rick Watkins, is finally underway it’s a good time to remind ourselves why he’s on trial and why a series of school principals did nothing to investigate the myriad of allegations brought against him.
Although Despatie is currently on trial for 14 charges against four alleged victims ranging from voyeurism to sexual exploitation and sexual assault, he at one time faced 54 charges involving 16 alleged victims, all former students and all under the age of 14 when the alleged incidents took place.
And before you start thinking, “Oh, I guess 12 of the alleged victims withdrew their allegations, or they didn’t hold water,” it couldn’t be further from the truth. In most cases where multiple crimes have been committed against multiple individuals, the prosecution must determine which of the victims will make the best witnesses, largely based on the power of their recollection, their ability to hold up under cross examination, and what allegations are the most serious.
This is standard practice. The more victims you have testifying, the better chance the defense lawyers have of sowing doubt in the minds of the jury. But I digress. As bad and as reprehensible as the alleged incidents are, the way a series of principals failed to do anything after the allegations were brought to their attention, is equally reprehensible.
If Despatie is found guilty, the shining spotlight of justice needs to be turned brightly on those principals and the Ottawa Catholic School Board, whose policies failed to protect the victims. Not to mention a civil suit likely to be brought forward against the board by the victims.
There’s ample evidence through comments posted on social media websites that a number of students and even parents discussed the incidents to the principal of the day. Their concerns were downplayed as they were told that there was nothing that could be done about it unless Despatie was caught in the act by a school administrator.
One parent even went so far as suggesting cameras should be placed in Despatie’s classroom. The suggestion was never seriously considered likely because teachers are protected by a very strong union and ironclad contracts. And that’s another thing that needs to be examined –the role of teachers unions in protecting their members, even if they’ve been accused of sexual exploitation and assault against their students.
Here’s an interesting fact – whether Despatie is found guilty or not, he is still entitled to his gold-plated pension, and since the alleged incidents took place during normal school hours, or on school sanctioned trips, he is entitled to have his legal fees paid for by the union.
Both the OCSB and the Ontario College of Teachers said they would investigate how the complaints were handled and how Despatie was allowed to continue teaching. Neither agency will comment on their investigations during the trial. The expectation is that the twin reports will be released once it ends and only if Despatie is found guilty. When that day comes I will be the first in line to report on it.
– Fred Sherwin, editor
As we transition to the season of fall, I hope you are all enjoying the beautiful colours it brings.
On Sept. 30, we marked the second National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. It’s with emotion that I joined the Navan Walk and the Spirit Walk at Parliament Hill to remember and honour the children who never returned home, the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.
On Oct. 1, I had the honour to host the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Awards Ceremony. Joined by my co-host and Orléans resident, Brigadier-General Nicolas Pilon, we awarded 113 members of our community with the Platinum Jubilee label pin for their exceptional contribution to our community and Canada. Congratulations once again!
Moreover, I am pleased to see the Federal Government investing in Canadians and members of our community who are feeling the cost of living by introducing legislation to make lives more affordable by doubling the GST tax credit for six months. This means an extra $234 in the pockets of single Canadians without children and up to $467 for couples with two children, and an average of an extra $225 for seniors this year.
It will also bring much-needed relief by providing up to $1,300 over two years through a Canada Dental Benefit to children under 12, starting this year as well as delivering $500 to nearly two million low-income renters who are struggling with the cost of housing.
Fred Sherwin Owner and publisher Jody Maffett EditorOctober marks Women’s History Month, an opportunity to celebrate the amazing women in our community who work tirelessly to advance women’s rights and promote gender equality. October also celebrates the Latin American and German Heritage Months, as well as the Canadian Islamic History Month. This is an opportunity for all of us to learn more about the many significant achievements and contributions these vibrant communities bring to Orléans.
I would like to let you know that the 2022–2023 New Horizons for Seniors Program is now receiving application to support projects that help seniors stay active and engaged in the community. The deadline to submit an application is Nov. 1, 2022.
I hope you had a great time celebrating Thanksgiving last weekend. It always feels good to show gratefulness and taking a moment to appreciate what brightens our life every day.
**La version française est maintenant disponible sur ma page Facebook**
As we draw nearer to election day here in Ottawa, the local races for city council may be a foregone conclusion with all four east end incumbents expected to easily win reelection, the race for mayor and a handful of vacant council seats is anything but a snorefest.
Let’s start with the mayor’s race, which is shaping up to be a battle between centrist candidate Mark Sutcliffe and the left-leaning Christine McKenney. Unfortunately, Bob Chiarelli appears to be a non-factor in the race, although some Sutcliffe supporters are openly fearful that the former mayor might pull enough support away from their candidate to allow McKenney to win.
Sutcliffe, who is the owner of the Ottawa Business Journal, is very much the darling of Ottawa’s business community and area Conservatives who are terrified that Mckenney will increase both spending and taxes to build more affordable housing, bolster or even expand social services and tackle environmental issues.
The funny thing is that Sutcliffe is also receiving a lot of support from some pretty prominent Liberals including Orléans MP Marie-France Lalonde, who is listed as one of 23 honourary campaign co-chairs along with former Liberal cabinet minister Madeleine Meilleur and former Gloucester
mayor Claudette Cain.
Among the Conservatives listed as campaign co-chairs are former Cumberland mayor and Conservative cabinet minister Brian Coburn, former Conservative Senator Marjory Lebreton, and former Ottawa mayors Jim Durrell and Jacqueline Holzman.
It’s an interesting mix indeed.
McKenney is being supported by a number of prominent NDP and Green Party members including Vicky Smallman, who is the director of human rights at the Canadian Labor Congress and a veteran local New Democrat.
Smallman was recently announced as McKenney’s campaign co-chair along with Liberal Tyler Meredith who was an economic and policy advisor to both Justin Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland. She has also been endorsed by Horizon Ottawa, a
grassroots socially progressive organization that is backing a slate of different candidates across the city.
Word on the street is that McKenney is the darling of young, socially progressive voters while Sutcliffe is the establishment candidate who is likely going to draw votes from both Conservatives and Liberals who would place themselves in the pro-business, fiscally responsible camp.
The only problem is that Sutcliffe has been promising the moon as he releases his platform that can best be described as a chicken-in-every-pot. But McKenney’s platform is far more expensive if ever implemented.
Making unaffordable – and likely unattainable – promises is nothing new. It happens in every election of any significance.
Post-election reality usually keeps them in check along with the realization that in order to get anything done they need the support of the rest of the people around the council table – or at least a majority of them.
The interesting thing this time around is that nearly half of the seats around the council table will have a new occupant in them and an extra seat has been added, meaning that there could be as many as 11 rookie councillors among the 24 member
council. (Steve Deroches, who is expected to win in Riverside South-Findlay Creek, is a former city councillor.)
A number of veteran city councillors have decided to call it a day, including Jan Harder, Diane Deans, Eli El-Chantiry, Keith Egli, Mathieu Fleury and Rick Chiarelli. This means the ones remaining could end up having a big say in establishing the city’s priorities over the next four years, including all four east end councillors.
Beacon Hill-Cyrville incumbent Tim Tierney will suddenly find himself as the elder statesmen on council. He and Allan Hubley (Kanata South) were both elected to city council in 2010.
He and fellow incumbents Laura Dudas (Orléans West-Innes), Matt Luloff (Orléans North-Cumberland) and Catherine Kitts (Orléans South-Navan) form what has become known as the Eastern Bloc.
All four will likely be given prominent positions as committee chairs on the next council and that can only spell good news for east end residents.
So even though the four east end city council races are a foregone conclusion, with apologies to the other candidates, the race for mayor and the 11 vacant seats should make things interesting.
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We invite kids four to 12 to colour the picture below, take a photo of it and have a ghoulish grownup send it to editor@ orleanstar.ca by Thursday, October 20 at noon.
Five lucky winners will be chosen by draw at 5 p.m. based on their age group and contacted by e-mail.
The winners in the younger age group will receive passes to the Proulx Farm’s 26th annual pumpkin festival, while the older winners will receive passes to the sKreamers Haunted Barn and Creepy Wagon Ride.
Get colouring!
While many people associate the month of October with fall foliage, Thanksgiving and setting their clocks back an hour, there are a great number people who associate October with ghosts, goblins and things that go bump in the night, culminating with Hallowe’en.
For those people, no October is complete without a trip to sKreamers, Ottawa’s most spook-tacular Hallowe’en attraction open every Friday and Saturday night at the Proulx Farm near Orléans.
sKreamers is the name given to the two haunted barns and the creepy wagon ride that make up the attraction which has become a major fundraising activity for Kiwanis Eastern Ottawa Est.
sKreamers is the brainchild, and some
might say the obsession, of Kiwanis member Harley Bloom who first put together a modest Hallowe’en attraction in the Gloucester Centre Mall in 2001.
It wasn’t until 2006, after an exhaustive search for a more permanent location, that the Kiwanis Club made a formal arrangement with the Proulx Farm to convert one of their barns into a haunted house.
The attraction has evolved over the years to include a second barn and a creepy wagon ride involving over 200 volunteer actors, many of them students who use the experience to earn community service hours.
Recognized among Canada’s Top 10 scariest attractions, sKreamers has raised over $500,000 for various community
initiatives while scaring the daylights out of people, many of whom continue to come back year after year.
To find out more about sKreamers including the attraction’s ticket policy, visit www.skreamers.ca. Admission is $20 per person. Tickets must be pre-ordered by visiting the website.
If you have any questions, you can e-mail them at skreamersottawa@gmail. com
The Proulx Farm is located at 1865 O’Toole Rd. off Innes Road just east of Trim Road.
Chad Robinson is a fully licensed mortgage and real estate broker with over 25 years experience.
During the pandemic he decided to switch his focus from helping people secure mortgages to helping people earn passive income by becoming private lenders.
As banks tighten up their mortgage lending rules, more and more individuals are having a hard time securing loans.
As president of Align Mortgage Corporation, Robinson specializes in matching people who can’t secure a mortgage with private lenders.
Private lending is an avenue for individuals to realize great returns while avoiding the volatility of the stock market, or the headaches of renting out property to potentially troublesome tenants.
The loans are short-term – between one and three years – and yield between 8 per cent and 12 per cent interest.
Your typical borrower is someone who is either self-employed, or recently separated, or has been in a previous situation that continues to adversely affect their credit rating.
The loans can be in the form of cash, home
equity lines of credit, RRSPs, RIFs, or taxfree savings accounts, just to name a few, and they are secured against the property.
There are pooled options where Robinson finds like-minded investors who are willing to put in a minimum of $10,000 each, and individual options that start at $50,000
In most cases, the loan or investment is secured via a mortgage on the title of the property.
The best part about private lending, besides the returns, is that the lender gets to decide on the level of risk they are willing to accept. Obviously, the higher the potential risk the higher the potential returns.
Robinson has put all his knowledge and expertise into a new book entitled, Becoming the Bank: The Simple Lending Process that Creates Passive Income for Everyday People
The book takes the reader and potential investor through the ABCs of private lending, including the five Cs of successful private lending: collateral, credit, capacity, capital and character – and Robinson does it in such a way as to both educate and illuminate.
Full of straightforward advice for beginner investors, the book is a guide to ditching traditional investing in favour of a
Chad Robinson is a mortgage and real estate broker who recently authored a book on the advantages of private lending to the serious investor. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO
profitable pursuit that gives the investor the same control, flexibility and freedom as big banks. By the time the reader finishes the book, they are well-versed of all the ins and outs of private lending.
It really is a well spring of knowledge on a subject that many investors know very little about.
In the end, private lending can be a low risk, high yield option to invest your money and take control of your investment portfolio.
Becoming the Bank: The Simple Lending Process that Creates Passive Income for Everyday People is available through Amazon and Indigo.
Welcome to Aspira Busy Fingers need wool donations for a good cause.
Living our personalized retirement plans and vibrant community help you to stay active, inspired, and comfortable on your terms. It’s time to put you first. It’s time for Aspira.
Between October 1st to October 31st we are accepting any wool donations for Busy Fingers. A charitable group that knits woolen garments for veterans and other seniors, Busy Fingers has knitted 10,000 plus garments over the last 11 years. Please drop any wool donations at the Aspira Bearbrook retirement community. For more call 613-837-8720
As the seasons change, we tend to stay inside more often, but it’s essential to keep active to maintain mobility. Movement is everything. From your first steps in the morning to walks around the grocery store, movement is everywhere, and it is often taken for granted. Staying active is essential, especially for seniors.
The team at Promenade, Alavida Lifestyles’ Orléans location, has many excellent exercise classes that keep seniors in shape while having lots of fun.
One of Promenade’s most popular activities is chair tai chi, a fun way to stretch your muscles and relax.
Another popular activity is chair dancing, where residents can get some physical activity and still have fun.
Yet another favourite at Promenade is the heated saltwater pool, where seniors can partake in Aquafit classes, or simply relax and unwind.
“Seniors have to keep moving for the betterment of their everyday life. The main focus is to have them be able to move their head, neck, shoulder, feet, and hands”, says Lifestyle Manager, Kristy Ivanski.
The fun doesn’t end there. Promenade has so much more than just exercise
classes. Alavida Lifestyles will feature live entertainment, shopping trips, trivia nights, painting, wine socials, nature walks and more throughout the fall.
In the heart of Orléans, there’s something for everyone. Minutes away from Petrie Island, you can take a nice walk by the water and enjoy a beautiful view of the Ottawa River. Take a walk through the Mer Bleue boardwalk and take in all the fantastic colours changing in the trees.
“We always try to plan unique events and classes that our residents enjoy so they can try new things, learn and have fun,” Ivanski said.
“My favourite thing we do here is afternoon tea! When I get to chat with my friends and have a good laugh,” said Barb, who has been a resident ever since the building first opened.
If you or your loved one is interested in participating in chair tai chi, or any of our fantastic activities at Alavida Lifestyles, don’t hesitate to contact one of our Lifestyle Managers to learn more. You can also check out alavidalifestyles.com with a detailed list of what we have planned for this fall. We can set up a time for you to come and join the fun so you can see for yourself. Everyone is welcome!
Whether you enjoy the great outdoors, or prefer to stay inside, Alavida Lifestyles is constantly coming up with activities to keep their residents engaged and healthy in body, mind and spirit. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Come and join the fun at Promenade –call us at 613-229-7973. You will receive your third month FREE if you sign your lease by October 31st.
For more information, don’t hesitate
to get in touch with Alavida Lifestyles –Ravines at 626 and 636 Prado Private, Park Place at 110 and 120 Central Park Drive, and our new presentation centre for Astoria at 314 Merivale Rd.
The Orléans Star
Thanksgiving is over and the holiday season will be here before you know it, which means it’s the perfect time to make your favourite Wine Kitz wine.
Wine Kitz Orléans has been connecting wine lovers with outstanding wines for more than 20 years now. The store recently moved from it’s old location next to St. Martha’s Brasserie to the other side of the Orléans Town Centre plaza, but supply chain issues caused a delay in the signage which resulted in a drop off in business.
“A lot of people just saw that the old store was closed and thought we went out of business, but we just moved to the other side of the parking lot,” says Wine Kitz Orléans owner and operator Shawn Larkin.
What should have been an exciting time for the business, instead was a period of high anxiety. Now, Larkin is hoping his customers will flock back to the store’s new bigger and brighter location next to Subway.
Larkin had run out of shelf space at the old location, so a new lease provided the perfect opportunity to relocate. And although a majority of his customers embraced the move, there was a definite drop off in new business.
Larkin is hoping the holiday season will provide the impetus for new and old customers to come into the new location and make some wine.
Wine Kitz has a wide variety of wines that can be ready for consumption in either four, six or eight weeks, depending on the wine.
For instance, they are currently offering two limited edition wins which can be ready in four weeks.
The Limited Edition California Sol is made from a blend of Chenin Blanc and Pinot Grigio grapes. And for those who prefer red wine, they have the Limited Edition Shiraz Viognier from Australia which is bested enjoyed with roasted autumn dishes or with good friends around a crackling fire.
Each kit can produce 30 bottles of wine at a cost of $5 per bottle.
You can either drink the wine yourself, or share it with friends as a gift.
Another great gift idea is to pre-purchase one of the Wine Kitz 2023 Global Passport Series wines for a friend of loved one, or buy them a gift certificate.
The Passport Series Malbec Carmenére will be released in December. It is a rich, fullbody wine made from grapes from the Maipo Vally in Chile.
The Bourbon Chardonnay will be released
in January. This full-bodied white wine is a blend of Chardonnay and Semillon grapes grown in the Riverland region of Australia. The infusion of bourbon oak delivers a twist of caramel, vanilla bean and baking spice.
The second red wine in the 2023 Passport Series is a blend of Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah from the same Riverland region. It will be released in February.
The process of making the wine is as simple as it gets. You just make an appointment, show
up to mix the ingredients on site, and then wait the specified time before bottling it.
You can explore the many wines Wine Kitz has to offer by visiting their website at www. winekitzorleans.com, or drop by the store at 240 Centrum Blvd. near the Lexus restaurant and beside the Subway outlet. The phone number is 613-841-8197.
The store hours are 10 am to 5 pm Monday, Friday and Saturday and 10 am to 8 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Area girls under the age of 18 who love the game of tackle football finally have a team of their own with the launch of the Cumberland Panthers U18 girls program this season.
The Panthers played their first game against the York Region Lions with a full roster of 24 players on Oct. 1 and won 262. It was a history-making moment and one the girls who played that night won’t soon forget.
“I was really nervous before the game, because there were so many people there and it was our very first game, but then as we started playing I got so excited to finally be playing tackle with other girls my age. It was incredible,” said Maya Thompson, 16.
As for the chance to make history and be ground-breakers for girls’ tackle football, Thompson and fellow teammate Breann Archibald, 17, couldn’t be prouder.
“Thinking about it makes me super excited that we’re teaching other girls that they can play tackle football too,” said Thompson.
“It does really feel like we’re making history,” added Archibald. “It’s good that we finally have a league offering young women the chance to play tackle football with other
young women. “It’s something that’s been needed for a really long time.”
Flag football has always been a popular sport in Ottawa’s high schools, but so has girls’ full-contact rugby, in fact, 12 different schools had girls’ rugby teams last spring. Put the two sports together and tackle football is a natural progression.
Former Cumberland Panthers president and girls’ head coach Mark Ouellet is the man responsible for launching the girls’ tackle program. He knew from his own experience organizing and coaching the Panthers’ flag football program that there was a desire and a demand for girls to play tackle football.
He began recruiting players last spring and it didn’t take him long to build a full squad. The team even has a development squad made up of 10 underage players who practice with the rest of the players. And they have four female coaches as well.
“We’ve been really fortunate to have such a great base of players, parents and volunteers that it makes my job really easy,” says Ouellet.
The league was initially supposed to have four teams in it, but one team from the Kawartha region near Peterborough withdrew because they couldn’t get
enough players and a second team from the London region is still trying to field a team, however, they may wait to play next spring.
The lack of teams means the Panthers and the Lions will play each other four times in a home-and-home series and likely a fifth time at the Ontario Fall Football League
championship day on Nov. 12.
Although it’s unfortunate only two clubs were able to field a team this fall, it’s a start. According to Ouellet, plans are in the works for a spring league with as many as 12 clubs currently working to field a team.
“It’s only going to grow,” says Ouellet.
As we head towards the end of my term as Mayor, I wanted to thank you, the residents of Ottawa, for the kindness you have shown me over the years. It has been the honour of a lifetime to serve the nation’s capital for almost fifteen years.
With gratitude,
Jim Watson MayorTHURSDAY, OCT. 13
ORLÉANS FARMER’S
MARKET from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot at the Ray Friel Recreation Complex on Tenth Line Road featuring local food vendors and producers.
SATURDAY, OCT. 15
NAVAN FALLFEST hosted by Navan Community Association from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Navan Fairgrounds. Decorated pumpkin contest (must be entered by noon to be judged); silent auction; kids crafts; ball hockey; build a scarecrow and much more.
NAVAN FALLFEST BARN
DANCE featuring the music of The Young Bucks from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets $12 in advance $15 at the door (if any left). Advance tickets available at navanfair. com, J.T. Bradley’s Country
Convenience Store and the Navan Fair Office in the blue building.
TUESDAY, OCT. 18
MUSIC TRIVIA NIGHT at the Orléans Brewing Co., 4380 Innes Rd. from 8 to10 p.m. Come out and test your music knowledge with DJ Geoff. Free to play. Prizes to be won.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19
MUSIC BINGO NIGHT at the Orléans Brewing Co., 4380 Innes Rd. from 8-10 pm. Come out and test your music knowledge. $5 per card. Funds are split 50/50. One of the three winners of the evening will get a chance at the 50/50 amount. Loads of fun, prizes and great beers.
THURSDAY, OCT. 20
ORLÉANS FARMER’S MARKET from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
in the parking lot at the Ray Friel Recreation Complex on Tenth Line Road featuring local food vendors and producers. This is also a last Farmer’s Market of the 2022 season.
SATURDAY, OCT. 22
HIP HOP SHUFFLE PARTY
at the Stray Dog Brewery, 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park from 8 p.m. This month’s Shuffle Party features DJ Close Up and DJ J-Fro!
SUNDAY, OCT. 23
THE ORIGINAL NAVAN
MARKET from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Navan Fair Grounds. With more than 150 local vendors and artisans come see why the Original Navan Market has become on of the most popular outdoor markets in Eastern Ontario.
Robert Soulière, 78
Passed away on October 5, 2022
Georgette Cléroux, 89
Passed away on Sept. 29, 2022
Dr. Barrett ‘Barry’ Adams, 88
Passed away on Sept. 27, 2022
We are looking for an enthusiastic NANNY to help with our 4 children. Duties include babysitting, dropping off and picking up children at Ecole Notre-Place, preparing Cameroonian meals, learning activities, play time, housekeeping. The candidate should speak Boulou and French. Please reply to louis.ndjouou@gmail.com
