The Orleans Star Sept. 2, 2021

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September 2, 2021 • Volume 36, No. 9

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Shenkman Arts Centre reopens to the public

(L to r) Friends Haleigh, Alexis and Lexi enjoy the Twister ride at the Fallingbrook Fair in the parking lot of the Ray Friel Centre last weekend. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star After being closed for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Shenkman Arts Centre will reopen to the public on Sept. 7.

Initially, the public will be able to view a series of new exhibits in the Centre’s various art galleries and register for in-person courses with the centre three main tenants – the Ottawa school of Theatre, the Ottawa School of Art and the Gloucester Pottery School.

On Sept. 18, the Richcraft Theatre will welcome Cuban-Canadian pianist Miguel de Armas and friends who will be performing a tribute to the Buena Vista Social Club in an intimate setting.

The maximum capacity for the show is just 40 people sitting two per table. Because of

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the limited seating, there will be two shows at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at shenkmanarts.ca.

The performance in the Harold Shenkman Hall will be held on Oct. 23 featuring awardwinning Canadian comedian Sean Cullen.

Seating capacity will be limited to 80 with proper social distancing protocols in place.

There will only be one show at 8 p.m.

According to Shenkman Arts Centre portfolio manager Jahn Fawcett, seating may be increased depending on future direction from the federal and provincial health agencies.

Guitarist Pavlov has also been booked to do a show in the Harold Shenkman Hall on Nov. 19 during which he will take his audience on a musical trip to the Mediterranean.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson (far left), Orléans MPP Stephen Blais and Cumberland Coun. Catherine Kitts (far right) are joined by the Rangar family in unveiling the Hansdeep Rangar Park in the name of the community organizer who passed suddenly in 2019 at the age of 43. PHOTO SUPPLIED

Terminally ill Blackburn resident honoured for 37 years as commissionaire

Shenkman to reopen Sept. 7 Continued from page 1 Other performances will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Ottawa School of Theatre will present the play Cookbook: From Kitchen to Stage in the Richcraft Theatre from Nov. 26-28.

The play will be based on recipes that come with remarkable stories. Plus there will be yummy food and a cookbook will be on sale following the show as a FUNdraiser.

For those who appreciate fine art, the Shenkman Arts Centre will welcome five new exhibits to its gallery spaces this month.

The Trinity Gallery will host an exhibit

by Ottawa artist Jane Barlow entitled Sacred Goemetry from Sept. 8-21. The exhibit will feature a series of “encapsulated watercolours, exploring numbers as much more than a quantitative measure, by looking at their archetypal connections.

Each number becomes a source of pattern and harmony, each having its unique impact on our consciousness.”

The Lalande+Doyle exhibit space will host an exhibit by Mexican artist Irma Gutierez. The exhibit will include a selection of pieces in various mediums including printmaking, encaustic, drawing and painting that are fueled by constant

Comedian Sean Cullen will be performing in the Herald Shenkman Hall on Oct. 23. FILE PHOTO questioning, redefinition and reinvention.

Other exhibits include a pottery exhibit in the Gloucester Pottery School’s Dust Evans display case featuring pieces by Colette Beardall, and a selection of works

by Arteast artists in the Promenade Arteast.

To find out more about the classes being offered by the Ottawa School of Theatre, the Ottawa School of Art and the Gloucester Pottery school you should visit their respective websites.

ORLÉANS – Long-time Blackburn Hamlet resident Don Sadler was recently honoured for having served 37 years with Commissionaire Corps of Ottawa. He spent most of his tenure with the Commissionaires doing foot patrol at the NRC campus on Montreal Road. He also spent time working at the passport office downtown and the Ministry of Natural Resources on Booth Street. Now 78, Sadler was diagnosed with terminal cancer last month and has been given three to four months to live. He currently resides in the Willowbend Retirement Residence on Trim Road with his wife Gayle. The two have been married for 47 years.

Third dose of COVID-19 vaccine now available to higher-risk populations ORLÉANS – A third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is now available to residents most at risk of serious illness, including individuals who are severely immunocompromised, notably: Transplant recipients (including solid organ transplant and hematopoietic stem cell transplants); Patients with hematological cancers (examples include lymphoma, myeloma, leukemia) on active treatment (chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy); Recipients of an anti-CD20 agent (examples include rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab). Ottawa residents who meet these criteria can speak to their specialist or hospital program to ask for a letter to receive a third dose. The third dose of vaccine will be given at least two months after the second dose and will match the vaccine received as the second dose. Residents of long-term care homes and highest risk retirement homes will also be offered a third dose of vaccination at an interval of at least five months after the second dose.

2 • September 2, 2021 • Volume 36, No. 8

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Liberal incumbent seeking NDP candidate hoping to reelection in Orléans build on past election gains STAR STAFF – When Orléans residents head to the polls on Sept. 20, Marie-France Lalonde will be hoping to keep the riding in the Liberal fold.

Lalonde was first elected to the House of Commons in October 2019 when she ran to replace former Liberal MP Andrew Leslie who had announced his retirement from politics the previous spring.

Before running federally, Lalonde served as the local provincial member of parliament for the Liberal Party from 2014-2019.

She served as Minister of Government and Consumer Services and the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs from June 13, 2016 until Jan. 12, 2017, when she was appointed Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

In the 2019 General Election, Lalonde received more than 54 per cent of the vote, beating her Conservative rival by more than 21,000 ballots.

Lalonde can list several significant accomplishments during her career in politics including the Orléans Health Hub which she championed as a member of Liberal Cabinet.

She also introduced a Private Member’s Bill

which resulted in Ontario becoming the first province in Canada to ban the addition of microbeads to cosmetic products.

As the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Lalonde introduced legislation leading to wholesale reform of the Police Services Act as well as Bill 6 – the Correctional Services Marie-France Transformation Act. Lalonde On March 19, she was appointed parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages.

As the local MP, Lalonde has been able to secure funding for the Petrie Island Canoe Club through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund; high speed Inter-net for Carlsbad Springs and an electronic charging station at the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Centre.

You can learn more about the candidate by visiting mariefrancelalonde.liberal.ca.

STAR STAFF – In the last federal election the NDP garnered 11.5 per cent of the vote in Orléans. It was the largest share of the vote they earned since 2011 when little-known Martine Cenatus captured 14 per cent.

The job of making further inroads into the local vote has been left up to Jessica Joanis, a community organizer and substitute teacher at Terry Fox Elementary School who worked on Barbara Zarboni’s provincial campaign which captured nearly 22 per cent of the vote – a record for NDP candidates in the riding, in either a provincial or federal election.

Coincidentally, Zarboni also ran against Marie-France Lalonde.

An Orléans resident, Joanis only recently graduated from the political science program at the University of Ottawa.

Among the issues she is campaigning on is the need for a universal pharmacare program so people can pay for their medication with their health card, not their credit card; the need for national standards for long-term care homes; and the need to address the climate crisis, while also fighting for new green jobs to deliver a just transitions for workers.

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the 24 seats they currently hold in the House of Commons.

Ideally, they’d like to regain the 20 seats they lost in the 2019 election when they were relegated to fourth party status behind the Bloc Quebecois.

The NDP is led by Jagmeet Singh.

Besides universal pharmacare, the NDP Jessica Joanis is also promising to implement 10 days of paid sick leave; universal dental care; and no-cost mental healthcare for Canadians without work or school benefits.

Other commitments include making essentials such as housing, post-secondary education and cellphone plans more affordable for Canadians; and supporting efforts leading to net-zero carbon emissions, although just what those efforts might include remains unknown.

To learn more about the Jessica Joanis visit orleansndp.com.

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September 2, 2021 • Volume 36, No. 8 • 3

Fun times at the fair

The Fallingbrook Fair got off to a sunny start last Friday evening with over 200 people waiting for up to an hour for the gates to open. When they finally did, everyone was thrilled to get a chance to go on one of the rides for the first time in two years. The annual fair was cancelled last year due to the COVID pandemic. FRED SHERWIN PHOTOS

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By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star It’s been 19 years since Oladapo Agoro was stabbed to death while trying to break up a fight at a downtown dance club. He was 19 at the time and about to graduate from Lester B. Pearson High School. In fact, he had just a bought a suit for his prom dance a couple of days before.

In the aftermath of his death, his family established the Dapo Agoro Foundation for Peace which promotes non-violent conflict resolution among the community’s youth.

A year later, the Agoro family organized the first-ever Dapo Fun Day to celebrate Dapo Agoro’s brief life and to raise money for the foundation.

The Fun Day has traditionally been held in Blackburn Park on the third Saturday in August.

Last year, the event had to go virtual.

Because of the COVID pandemic, they held a symposium on youth violence rather than a Fun Day. With uncertainty still swirling about COVID protocols, the Foundation organizers decided to hold another symposium this year with the theme “Self Care is Community Care”.

Among the guest speakers was individual and family counselor Jebbeh Haslett; mental health outreach worker Nagad Hersi and educator and social services worker Michelle James. All three speakers are members of the Ottawa Black Mental Health Coalition. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. A.G. Ahmed was also part of the discussion.

The symposium was moderated by family friend and Lester B. Pearson grad Seyi Okuribido-Malcolm.

Most of the discussion centred around the importance of community resources in enabling the individual to maintain their own self care.

No one is an island and no one should feel as if they are stranded all alone on a deserted island emotionally.

The symposium explored ways parents and other family members can recognize the warning signs when a loved one is experiencing an emotional breakdown and how to get them help.

The symposium also discussed the importance of taking the time to take care of your own wellness.

A lot of people and especially mothers often feel a sense of guilt if they take time

Oladapo “Dapo” Agoro away from their families to look after their own mental health, but it’s important to recognize that self care is not selfish, there is power in prioritizing your wellness.

If all goes well, the Dapo Fun Day will be back next year just in time to mark the 20th anniversary of his death.

If you would like to find out more about the Dapo Agoro Foundation for Peace, visit dapoagorofoundation.org.

Orl«ans Star August 2021 1/8 V • 2,375 x 5,5 po.

CONTINUONS À PROGRESSER ENSEMBLE LET’S CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS TOGETHER MarieFranceLalonde.ca Autorisé par l’agent officiel de Marie-France Lalonde. • Authorized by the official agent for Marie-France Lalonde.

September 2, 2021 • Volume 36, No. 8 • 5

Vaxed & vexed The debate over vaccine passports and mandatory vaccination policies can be easily boiled down depending on which side of the fence you stand on. If you’ve already been vaccinated, you’re likely in favour of both, or at least the idea of vaccination passports. If you’re among the unvaccinated, the thought of needing a vaccination passport to travel, go out to a restaurant or visit a non-essential business is anathema to you. The idea of a mandatory vaccination policy in the workplace, or in general, is even worse.

Whether or not one gets vaccinated is a personal choice, but as with anything else in life, choices have consequences. And in the case of choosing not to get vaccinated, the consequences may result in any of the sanctions listed above. If you choose not to get vaccinated then you almost certainly won’t be able to travel internationally and you won’t be able visit a non-essential business in an ever-increasing number of provinces. As of the writing of this editorial, vaccination passports are still not required in Ontario, but the debate is heating up and the Ford government is coming under increasing pressure to follow suit.

Personally, I don’t believe in mandatory vaccination policies and they will almost certainly be ruled in contravention of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms when they’re challenged in the courts, which they almost certainly will be. But a vaccination passport is a different kettle of fish.

As the virus continues to mutate and new variants make their way into the population, vaccinations passports are the only way to return to some semblance of normalcy.

For the life of me, I don’t understand why some people continue to resist getting vaccinated. I’ve heard pretty well every excuse. The most common is the fear of suffering long-term side effects from the vaccine up to and including cancer.

Now I’m no expert on vaccines, but I do now the long-term side effect of the small pox vaccine was the eradication of small pox and the longterm side effect of the polio vaccine was the eradication of polio.

The only legitimate reason I can think of for refusing the COVID vaccine is medical. People with underlying health conditions may be worried about possible side effects after receiving the vaccine, but these are the people who should be getting vaccinated the most because they are the people who are most likely to end up in the hospital or even die if they get the virus. I’ve had COVID and trust me, two or three days of having to deal with a high fever and some aches and pain is peanuts compared to having to spend two or three weeks in a hospital bed or, Heaven forbid, on a respirator.

So do yourself a favour. Do your family a favour and do your community a favour – get vaccinated. It may just save your life.

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.

6 • September 2, 2021 • Volume 36, No. 8

As kids head back to school, don’t forget to drive safe I hope that the children in your life have enjoyed system to catch and fine motorists who speed pass the opportunity to spend lots of time outside during stopped school buses. the amazing summer we had. With the summer break No child’s life is worth the few seconds you will coming to an end, kids across save by passing a stopped school Orléans will soon be returning to So please stop and help keep Queen’s bus. school. our kids safe.

I know kids (and their parents) Students in need – If you are Park are excited for the return to school; able to, I encourage residents of Corner to see their friends and get back Orléans to donate to the Orléansto learning. With more children Cumberland Community Resource Stephen Blais out and about during commuting Centre’s School Supplies Program. hours, it is important that we continue our efforts to They are accepting cash donations online or in keep our neighbourhoods safe. person to ensure that all children in our community Let’s remember to slow down while driving, ensure have the necessary supplies they need for the start of we stop for school buses and to be extra cautious for the school year. For more information, please visit children who may be walking or biking to school. crcoc.ca.

We can all agree that there is never an excuse for Additionally, the Caring and Sharing Exchange passing a school bus when the stop arm is extend- Sharing in Student Success initiative, which provides ed. This is an egregious traffic violation that puts the tangible assistance in the form of grade-appropriate lives of our children at risk. stuffed backpacks for children who require back-toYou may remember, when I was a city councillor, school support, could also use your help.

I launched the “I Stop, You Stop” road safety camLast year, the Sharing in Student Success initiative paign in Ottawa. This was an educational campaign to helped over 3,000 children go back to school with remind motorists of the importance of stopping for the items they need to excel in school. For more school buses whose lights are flashing and stop arms information, please visit caringandsharing.ca deployed.

I hope that you enjoy the remaining days of summer As part of this campaign Ottawa was also the first break and wishing everyone well for a safe and city in Ontario to deploy a fully automated camera successful school year.

Plenty of time to check out these fabulous local food trucks Here in Orléans we are fortunate indeed to be blessed by a number of excellent food truck. Of course, that hasn’t always been the case. In fact, just four or five years ago there were no food trucks in Orléans, just a handful of chip trucks that sold fries, fries with gravy and perhaps, if you were lucky, your standard poutine. The odd one also sold hamburgers and hot dogs if they had a grill on board.

Today, there are seven food trucks in the area and an eighth one in nearby Navan.

The oldest ones are Fritomania and 3s Company, both of which are located on St. Joseph Blvd. and both of which started out as chip trucks.

Golden Fries, located in the Convent Glen Mall, is celebrating its 13th year in business.

Owned and operated by one-time bartender and now successful entrepreneur Jade Racicot, Golden Fries has built up a loyal following thanks mainly to their selection of poutines, their chicken parm sandwich and their fish and chips which rival that found in any sit-down restaurant in the city.

I’ve tried both and I honestly can’t make up my mind which is better. The fish and chips are amazing, but so is the chicken parm sandwich. I’ll let you decide for yourself.

The food truck will remain open until the third week of November.

Up Front Fred Sherwin The Almighty Cheese food truck, located in the parking lot next to Kid’s Kingdom on Trim Road near St. Joseph Blvd., has been around since 2019.

Owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Steven and Julie Carle, Almighty Cheese specializes in everything cheezy. They have four different grilled cheese sandwiches on the menu and two mac & cheese dishes.

They also have a number of cheezy poutines including the Loaded Potato poutine which won the award for best poutine at the 2019 Orléans Poutine Festival. It’s an order of fries piled high with cheese curds, bacon and green onions smothered with vegan gravy, sour cream and cheese sauce.

But for my money, the best thing on their menu is the El Cubano sandwich, which contains slices of pork loin and Black Forest

ham with bread and butter pickles, swiss cheese and mustard on a Ciabatta bun.

Simply delicious!

The La Ha Taco food truck beside the self-serve car wash on Youville Drive is also celebrating three years in business.

Owned and operated by Jason Wing, La Ha Tacos offers a nice selection of the Mexico inspired street fare. My personal favourite is the fish taco, but you really can’t go wrong with any of them. They also make their own fire-roasted salsa and tortilla chips, which you can eat separately or include in a plate of nachos.

Only in its second year, Dottie’s food truck in Navan has grown leaps and bounds both in terms of sales and in terms of their menu.

Owned and operated by Orléans native Amy Henderson, their bread and butter are gourmet hot dogs, my personal favourite of which is the Fiesta Dog covered with corn salsa and nacho cheese sauce. They also have a Cubano, Smoked Meat and Philly Cheesesteak sandwich on the menu, plus they have several flavours of ice cream for sale for the young and young at heart.

Besides the regular menu items, Amy is always coming up with weekly specials which they post on their Facebook page at facebook.com/dottiessnacks.

The two newest food trucks in Orléans are Stoked and T.F.T. That Food Truck.

Stoked is located across Youville Drive from La Ha Tacos and is owned and operated by high school friends Matt Robitaille and Sutton McKay. Their signature items include the Brisket Sandwich, Crispy Brussel Sprouts, Burnt Ends and the Shrimp Boil served with sweet corn, crispy smashed potatoes, fresh herbs and lemon. But for my money the best time to visit Stoked is on Rib Wednesdays when you can get four fall-offthe-bone baby back ribs smothered in their signature root beer BBQ sauce.

T.F.T That Food Truck is owned and operated by another group of high school friends. Owen O’Donnell, Meagan MacKenzie and Kitana Samson all went to Cairine Wilson Secondary School.

They opened their food truck in the parking lot beside Gabriel Pizza on St. Joseph Boulevard in the spring and haven’t looked back since.

Their menu is 95 per cent gluten free and includes an eclectic selection of items. The crowd favourites are the Patty Melt, the T.F.T. Burger and the Corn Dogs.

There is still plenty of time to check out one or all of these local food trucks this season.

To learn more, look them up on Facebook.

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WillowbendRetirement.com September 2, 2021 • Volume 36, No. 8 • 7

Vaccine holdouts putting their Wishing everyone a safe, healthy neighbours and community at risk and happy return to the classroom The days are getting shorter again and summer is starting to wind down though it feels as though it has just gotten started.

Businesses are reopening and indoor dining has returned, but there remains a threat of a fourth wave of COVID-19. I want nothing more than to avoid it.

My wife and I – along with many of you – took the very first vaccine that was made available to us. We are protected from the worst of this now, as all of the Health Canada approved vaccines will prevent hospitalization and death. Yet we are seeing cases rise in the province and across Canada. Why? The answer is clear: the unvaccinated. I’m not talking about the immunocompromised who cannot accept a vaccine. I am sure you’re being careful anyway. I’m talking about anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists.

You see, I still hear a lot of people talking about their rights and their right to choose what’s best for them and their family, and of course I support that, however, every single

right we enjoy comes with a heaping serving of responsibility.

If you choose not to get vaccinated, you should not be putting others at risk around you. You should not be out on patios, mask off, hooting and hollering to live music.

If you choose to exercise your right not to be vaccinated, it is still your responsibility to protect others. Others, like my children, who cannot yet be vaccinated. When you choose not to take the vaccine and go about your business that you may now conduct due to the prudence of those around you who took personal responsibility for this and got the vaccine, you’re being a selfish, arrogant boor.

There are no more excuses. Walk-ins are accepted at the remaining community clinics. Take responsibility for the safety of others or take responsibility for the fourth wave, everything closing again and putting innocent children at risk. Seems like an easy choice to me. Just get the darn vaccine.

8 • September 2, 2021 • Volume 36, No. 8

I’m sure many of you join me in feeling The Ray Friel COVID-19 Testing like the summer just flew by! My thoughts Centre provides a great kid-friendly testing are with all the parents, teachers – and most experience for children over six months importantly the kids – of age. You can book an in hoping for a smooth appointment at booking. transition into the school Catherine monfort.on.ca, or by callyear and to a schedule ing 613-288-5353.

Kitts that has been disrupted There is also greater for such a long time. clarity around symptom Last fall, as in-person guidance in comparison Cumberland Ward 19 learning began, families to last September. Parents experienced incredible challenges accessing should seek testing for their child if a COVID-19 testing for kids. Council has symptom is new or worsening and not related been assured that there will be several to other known causes or conditions. key differences for back-to-school and For example, students who have symptoms COVID-19 testing this year compared to the due to pre-existing or ongoing conditions, 2020-2021 school year. such as allergies, will not require a test Parents, students and staff will be asked to attend school. You can view the list of to self-assess for symptoms daily and stay symptoms that would warrant a COVID-19 home or seek a COVID-19 test if required, test in children at health.gov.on.ca. according to the province’s current testing I know that back to school can be stressful criteria. in the best of times, and that many may be With the move to appointment-based feeling more anxiety than usual. Remember testing, we won’t see the long lines or wait that there are mental health services available times we saw last year. It’s anticipated that for residents of all ages. A good list can be same-day or next-day appointments will be found at ottawapublichealth.ca available, which is the goal of Ottawa Public Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and Health. happy return to the classroom!

City launches fall recreation program STAR STAFF – The City of Ottawa has unveiled it’s fall recreation program. Under Step 3 of the provincial reopening plan, recreation and cultural services will restart at select locations – with a new level of restrictions and measures in place. Access to most activities will require a reservation in advance.

The following activities will reopen with capacity limits: • Indoor public and lane swims.

• Indoor Aquafitness programs.

• Learn-to-Swim programs with restrictions.

• Weight and cardio rooms at select facilities.

• Indoor sport activities at select facilities.

• Drop-in programs such as fitness classes, older adult fitness classes, and skating will start at select facilities with capacity limits.

Other services and programs will reopen as provincial protocols allow. Visit ottawa.ca/en/recreation-and-parks to register, or to find out the status of the various programs.

Limited on-ice programming, including learn to skate, hockey and public skating programming will be coming later this fall with a tentative start date of after Thanksgiving.

September 2, 2021 • Volume 36, No. 8 • 9

Orléans gymnastics club offers instruction exclusively in French STAR STAFF – Established in 1980, the Les Sittelles Gymnastics Club is the only French-speaking gymnastics club in the region. An accredited member of the Ontario Gymnastics Federation (GO), the club offers recreational, pre-competitive and competitive artistic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling programs in French for kids four years old and up. Their dynamic team of coaches are GO and National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) certified.

The club’s fall session begins on Sept. 11 with all the proper COVID-19 protocols in place to ensure a healthy and safe environment for its members. The equipment has been laid out to ensure appropriate physical distancing and it is cleaned after every session.

The recreation program includes MiniAcrobat for children 2 to 6 years old; Artistic gymnastics for kids 6 to 14 years old; Trampoline & tumbling for kids 6 years old and over; and the new Xcel program for kids 12 and over.

With school scheduled to resume this week, the club will be offering day sessions for kids aged four and up during PD days on Sept. 21, Nov. 19, Jan. 28, June 3 and June 24. The day-long sessions are a great way to introduce your children to the sport of gymnastics which has benefits beyond the physical fitness component. It helps build self-esteem, enhances flexibility, posture and coordination, develops social skills and best of all it’s fun.

The club also offers a number of camps during the winter break and the school March Break and it’s a great place to organize a birthday party where the kids can eat cake and play games.

Gymnastics is also an excellent crosstraining activity especially when most team sports are in hiatus during the ongoing pandemic. Strength, coordination, and flexibility are all great things learned through gymnastics that will help a child in the other athletic sports.

You can learn more about the club by visiting www.sittelles.ca.

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10 • September 2, 2021 • Volume 36, No. 8

Orléans teen wins provincial disc golf championship STAR STAFF – Orléans teen Dylan MacDonald, 15, recently won the Ontario Disc Golf Championship competing against 47 other players, including adults, in the Amateur Advanced division.

MacDonald went into the tournament with a 914 rating.

After two solid rounds in which he racked up 15 birdies against only three bogeys, the St. Peter High School student found himself in a three-way tie for the lead.

In the third and final round, he scored seven more birdies, five of which came on the back nine, to win the tournament by a single toss.

The event was held at the Ettyville Super Spin Disc Golf Course in Bourget.

Disc golf is one of the fastest-growing sports in Canada. In 2016, there were just over 250 disc golf courses in Canada.

Today, there are more than 500 courses, putting Canada third

behind the United States and Finland.

Courses can range from relatively short nine hole layouts, designed with the amateur in mind, to 18-hole courses like the Ettyville Super Spin Course in Bourget where some holes can be as long as 500 feet.

The most obvious difference between disc golf and regular golf is the equipment... and the cost. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars for clubs you only need to spend a few bucks for a disc. To learn more about the sport of disc golf, go to pdga.com.

Dylan MacDonald (right) is pictured with professional open division winner Thomas Gilbert at the Ontario Disc Golf Championships held on Aug. 21 and 22. PHOTO SUPPLIED

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