December 2016

NEWS/POLITICS/FOOD/ARTS/SPORTS/FASHION/LIFESTYLE $4.95

DECEMBER 2016

Out &

ABOUT Ottawa’s Catherine McKenna,

Minister of Environment and Climate Change

The Moose is Loose…

And it’s Pushing for Innovation in Local Transit

True North

The Gordon Foundation’s Mackenzie Datastream

ottawalife.com

Holiday Best Picks Gift Ideas for the Christmas Season

Patrick Gossage * Michael Coren * Key West * Greece * Nevada

Ontario’s largest network has Ottawa covered.

‘Highest Wireless Network Quality Performance in Ontario,’ as ranked by J.D. Power.*

telus.com/network * TELUS Mobility received the highest numerical score among 7 providers in Ontario in the J.D. Power 2015 - 2016 Canadian Wireless Network Quality Studies. 2016 study based on 14,743 total responses, measuring experiences and perceptions of wireless customers, surveyed August-September 2015 and March 2016. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com

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PHOTO: HAWKS KEY, JASON SEMPLEIATES INC

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 VOLUME 18

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PHOTO: DAVE CHAN IATES INC

contents 27 42 Green is Gold for the Hon. Catherine McKenna

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One year ago, the Liberal candidate for Ottawa Centre was appointed Minister of the Environment and Climate Change. Ottawa Life spoke to her about how she is staying Ottawa focused while working for all Canadians.

Environment Series: The Moose is Loose

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Railway lines opened up Canada and the local Moose Consortium is proposing an innovative return to rail. Read about the history of rail in the Capital and the people behind the Moose commercial enterprise.

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The historic Mackenzie River is the longest river system in Canada. Its health is critical to life in the North. The Gordon Foundation is helping northern communities with water quality information available through its Mackenzie DataStream project.

Travel

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It’s back... escape the winter chill in the Florida Keys, head to the Mediterranean for a cruise or learn about the history of the US’s wild west on highway 50 in Nevada — The loneliest road in America.

Publisher’s Message .............................. 4 Holiday Picks ......................................... 5 Savvy Selections ................................... 9 Homes: Hire a Qualified Home Inspector...... 11 Homes: John's Reno Tips .......................... 13 In Search of Style ................................. 15 Boobyball .......................................... 19 Opinion: Ammonia ................................ 34 LiUNA ................................................ 35 Travel: Key West ................................. 44 Travel: Greece ............................

46 Travel: Nevada ............................

48 Opinion: Patrick Gossage....................... 50 Opinion: Michael Coren....................... 51 Saint Paul University ............................. 54

series 15

’Tis the season for a little styling magic.

Fashion Editor, Alexandra Gunn shows you how to take the top trends from the runway to a holiday soirée.

PHOTO: PING HU

Environment Series ................................. 27 Pipelines and Peace of Mind.................... 31 Reaching Higher: Algonquin..................... 37 CUSW Series ....................................... 39 True North Series................................... 44 Canada/China Friendship ...................... 42 Building a Better Canada ...................... 48

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PHOTO: KAREN TEMPLEIATES INC

True North Series

columns

publisher’s message by Dan Donovan

publisher/managing editor

Dan Donovan copy editor/ senior features writer

Jennifer Hartley

Canada’s Guantanamo

art director Karen Temple

D

web editor/features writer Andre Gagne

isgust is probably the least offensive word I can think of when it comes to describing what has happened to Adam Capay, a 23-year-old Aboriginal man who was held in solitary confinement for four years in the Thunder Bay correctional facility. Canada is a signatory to the UN Convention against Torture and there is an absolute prohibition against torture. Solitary confinement is considered torture.

Torture is also prohibited under the Criminal Code of Canada. In September 2015, the RCMP laid a charge in absentia against a Syrian intelligence officer named Col. George Salloum who is accused of torturing Syrian-born Ottawa resident and Canadian Maher Arar, the first-ever charge of its kind in Canada.

A Canada-wide warrant and Interpol notice have been issued for his arrest. This begs the question why the RCMP has not yet issued a warrant and arrested and charged Ontario Correctional Services Minister David Orazietti and Deborah MacKay, Superintendent at Thunder Bay Jail and Karen Machado, Superintendent at Thunder Bay Correctional Centre with torture.

When the Capay solitary confinement matter was raised in the Legislature, Ontario Correctional Services Minister David Orazietti, responded by saying that:“I cannot commit to releasing any individual from segregation,” and added that: “I will not take individual action on a specific circumstance.” It’s clear in these comments that Orazietti was probably aware that Capay had been in segregation and was therefore knowingly and willing compliant with what his officials were doing to Capay. Orazietti may have further incriminated himself by saying: “Ontario is cutting in half the number of days an inmate can spend in segregation to 15 from 30,” knowing full well that Capay had far exceeded both those amounts of time.

Orazietti and his officials are clearly in violation of the UN Convention Against Torture, in the very same way Syrian intelligence officer Col. George Salloum was a violator. The RCMP is required to enforce Canada’s federal laws and treaties.

They are obligated to charge Orazietti, Deborah MacKay, Karen Machado and other perpetrators of this torture against Capay.

In Canada, 2.9 per cent of the population is Aboriginal, yet almost 29 per cent of our prison inmates are Aboriginal. An estimated seven per cent of Ontario’s 8,000 jail inmates are held in segregation for safety or disciplinary reasons. The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has found: “alarming and systemic overuse of segregation,” with many inmates placed in solitary having mental health issues.

OHRC called earlier this year for an end to segregation.

Torture is torture, no matter who the practitioner. U.S. Senator John McCain, who was tortured for five years in a North Vietnamese prison camp, has adamantly come out against the use of torture by American military and intelligence personnel.

He recognizes that the use of torture dehumanizes the torturer and delegitimizes any government that sanctions its use. Public officials complicit in torture must be held accountable.They must be charged because torture is a crime. If we do charge them, maybe, just maybe, we will make people in power who commit crimes or who are party to torture, face the consequences n

4 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

director of operations Isabel Payne,

Brittany Findlay-Mitchell

cover

Dave Chan www.davechan.ca photographers

Dave Chan, Jane George, Ping Hu, Pat Kane, Valerie Keeler, Mathieson & Hewitt Photographers, Jason Semple, Karen Temple fashion editor Alexandra Gunn accounts Joe Colas C.G.A bookkeeper Tatiana Avdeeva contributing writers

Shelley Alexanian, Michael Coren, Anne Dion, Dan Donovan, Tia Dumoulin, Hanna Eschenhagen, John Gordon, Patrick Gossage, Alexandra Gunn, Jennifer Hartley,Vawn Himmelsbach, Alison Matthews, Alex Mazur, Frank Raso, Karen Temple, Debbie Trenholm, Candice Vetter, Greg Vezina, Luo Zhaohui web contributors Angela Counter, Anne Dion, Myka Burke, Dave Gross, Andre Gagne, Katie Hartai, Jennifer Hartley, Alex Mazur,Vic Little, Brennan MacDonald, Don Maclean, Isabel Payne, Maria Perez , Mona Staples, Mireille Sylvester, Mike Tobin, Simon Vodrey, Meagan Simpson, Carlos Verde social media Maria Alejandra Gamboa corporate advisor J. Paul Harquail, Charles Franklin, Dennis Mills corporate counsel Paul Champagne editor emeritus Harvey F. Chartrand student intern Melanye Amaral, Mahigan Giroux advertising information

For information on advertising rates, visit www.ottawalife.com call (613) 688-LIFE (5433) or e-mail info@ottawalife.com Canadian Publication Mail Product Sales Agreement #1199056.

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Ottawa Life subscription rates: one year $42.00, includes postage, plus HST (six issues). Two years $70.00, includes postage, plus HST (12 issues). Add $20 per year for postage outside Canada. Subscriber service is 613-688-LIFE (5433) Ottawa Life Magazine is printed in Canada on recycled paper.

holiday picks

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in the top growing regions of Northern Italy, Rufino Prosecco is a great way to bring a little Italian culture to your table. This bubbly has a smooth, delicious taste that is perfect for adding a little pizzazz to your gathering. ruffino.com

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a little glam to your holiday table with the NEW limited edition holiday bottle of the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. Wrapped in gold, the wine features the same fresh and zesty aromas and its characteristic herbaceous notes that it is renowned for. kimcrawfordwines.com

3 Renowned for their ice wines, Inniskillin is

introducing their new Chardonnay—an intense and sweet ice wine bursting with rich aromas of fresh vanilla and caramel.

Perfect both in foods and paired with, try the Chardonnay paired with crème brulée or fresh fruit. inniskillin.com

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“en tirage” for three years, the slightly pink Brut boasts hints of red fruit, toast, and zest, with a light mineral structure. Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve Entourage Brut is made in Canada and features a beautiful taste of delicate and lasting mousse that is supported by a round body and crisp finish. jacksontriggswinery.com

5 The Famous Grouse

Try the #1 blended Scotch in Scotland with its fruity and mature flavour, the Famous Grouse is bound to please those who enjoy simple whiskies cocktails or alone on ice. thefamousgrouse.com

great gift for the whiskey connoisseur in your life, Canadian Club 100% Rye features a hearty balance of spiciness, caramel and oak notes, followed by a long clean finish. canadianclub.com

7 Voted ‘Best Spirit in the World’ in 2013,

Highland Park is one of the few distilleries in the world that retains a traditional malting floor. The Highland Park 12-YearOld features a heath-honey sweetness balanced by a peaty smokiness. highlandpark.co.uk

8 Suntory Whisky: Toki

Sample one of Japan’s finest used primarily in mixology. Toki holds a silky smooth flavour with a subtle sweet and spicy finish. whisky.suntory.com 5 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

holiday picks

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1 The LG Music Flow P5 Bluetooth Speaker

offers a lot of power in its simplicity.

Boasting 15 hours of battery life, the speaker also includes a fine balance of sound at any volume level and a dual play function to provide more sound with another speaker. It will also sync nicely with an LG TV or projector. More features are include with the Bluetooth LG app. lg.com

4 Pocket-sized,

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7 Missy’s

transforms your smartphone and frees you from a bulky camera and lens.

Each Limelens set comes with two lenses: The Thinker, a dual macro/wide angle lens, and The Captain, a supreme fisheye lens, that let you take awesome photos whenever and wherever you are. S49.99 limelens.com

Monkeys takes a cute traditional toy and adds a fun twist to make them even cuter. Each sock monkey is handmade by Missy Wanamaker and can be customized to a variety of fun designs. From $23.09 etsy.com/Shop/MissysMonkeys

8 Journey

to another world with Shen Yun. This masterpiece of a show will bring you through 5,000 years of China’s history through the rigorous, yet beautiful dance style of classical Chinese dance accompanied by a powerful orchestra. An experience not to be missed. January 7 and 8,2017. shenyunperformingarts.org/ ottawa

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3 Hamilton

Beach has small appliances for everyone on your list. Cook everything from hamburgers to Panini with the 3-in1 indoor grill or choose the Breakfast Sandwich Maker for quick and healthy morning meals. hamiltonbeach.ca

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2 Erin

Pelicano captures the bond between family beautifully in her handcrafted fine jewelry. From delicate necklaces to sentimental bracelets, her collections show the deep connection we have with our friends and family and remind us just how valuable they are. erinpelicano.com

but powerful enough to provide relief, Dr. Ho’s 4 Pad Massage can treat four different areas of the body at once. Perfect for those looking to treat tense, painful muscles, this fantastic device uses 12 different painless and relaxing massage techniques to help ease those sore muscles. shopatshowcasecanada.com

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your pup looking fashionable this season with Maggie Modena’s backpack line for dogs. Choose from a variety of funky and colourful patterns and sizes that fits your pet’s unique personality. You and your pup can also twin it with her equallystylish backpacks and purses for humans.

From $44.95 USD Maggiemodena.com

offers high-quality scarves and wearable products made using Alpaca yarn handmade in Peru. Alpaca yarn is hypoallergenic and soft like cashmere and is guaranteed to keep you warm. Be sure to check out their gorgeous alpaca scarves and shawl for an extra layer of warmth and glam with winter! alpacaoi.com

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11 Personalize your big day with customized

cufflinks for the groom and ushers from Over the Moon Bridal. Choose from a variety of premade ones featuring fun or romantic quotes from popular TV shows such as Game of Thrones or How I Met Your Mother. etsy.com/ca/shop/OverTheMoon Bridal?ref=shop_sugg#items

with HH®Dry construction with Lifa® technology, the Dry Performance Crew is designed as a lightweight base layer that keeps you warm and dry no matter what you’re doing. It's both functional and fashionable. www.hellyhansen.com

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13 Stay toasty this winter with a luze fur &

Sherpa heated throw from Sunbeam.

Powered with ThermoFine® technology, it features next level softness that’ll make you never want to leave your couch. It is Machine-washable and comes with a 5-year limited. sunbeam.com

Armour’s Charge Bandit is a sneaker designed for ultimate comfort with its seamless internal heel cup, unique tongue construction and Molded Micro G® foot bed. Keep them warm with the UA Waffle Raglan. Created with a relaxed fit in mind, it provides extra heat without the weight. underarmour.com

17 Perfect for those who prefer to be out in

the wilderness, the MSR PocketRocket™ Stove Kit features their best-selling and highly compact PocketRocket stove, along with a lightweight cookset and utensils for two. The whole set weighs only 24.9oz, making it the perfect gift for the backpacking duo.

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12 Stila’s Perfect Me, Perfect Hue eye and

cheek palette collection features four different distinct pallets designed with neutral colours to best suit your skin tone and to transition your look from daytime to night time. Best of all they are free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. stilacosmetics.com

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the holiday season, Amopé has launched two gift sets featuring up to $90 worth of products in each. Choose from the manicure or the pedicure gift set. Each is guaranteed to pamper. amope.ca

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Wiser Air Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat gives you total control over your home’s energy consumption and overall household temperatures—all straight from your mobile phone or tablet. It combines Eco IQ learning algorithm with Schneider Electric’s top-ranked weather service to adjust the temperature to create a comfortable environment based entirely on your feedback. wiserair.com

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The Dafni Straightening Brush combines a hairbrush and a straightener in one easy-to-use hair tool. This speedy tool can smooth away curls, waves and tangles in approximately 3 minutes! shopatshowcasecanada.com

19 Stay

warm this winter with the Ridge Merino Midweight Inversion Base Layer.

Made with 100 per cent Merino wool, which changes naturally to keep you warm in cold weather, or cool you down when it’s hot out. Best of all, they are 100 per cent renewable, biodegradable and made without the use of harmful chemicals. ridgemerino.com 7 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

ART & PARC E L A Holiday Ar t Sale

NOVEMBER 1, 2016 – DECEMBER 31, 2016

Artists featured: Danièle Stewart, Ottawa in Colour colouring book, Hollow Clayworks, Becca Wallace, Amy Thompson, Sarah Adema notebooks, Shirley Liu, Lisa Wilson, Sue Bailie

ART Rental and Sales presents its annual holiday sale, featuring original photographs, paintings, drawings, ceramics, cards, jewellery and textiles, all priced at $400 or less.

OAG members also enjoy a 15 percent discount on holiday sale purchases (with no reduction to the artist’s payment).

8 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

Ottawa Art Gallery 2 Daly, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6E2 | 613-233-8699 |

savvy selections by Debbie Trenholm

Gotta get these Gifts!

What to get? What to give? This is the never-ending question as the holiday season ramps up. Is it getting harder to find a gift for those hard-to-buy-for-people on your list? Skip the busy malls and grab your computer. Here are my top gifts for 2016 that you can buy from comforts of home.

For the Foodie GIFT IDEA:

Spice of the Month Club

The brainchild of Jodi Samis, owner of Cardamon and Cloves mails to you on the 15th of each month an assortment of three different freshly ground spice blends along with recipes using each spice. Each package includes recipes for the featured spices. Three-month subscription ($8 per month), six months ($7.50 per month) and 12 months ($7 per month).

cardamomandcloves.com/monthlyspice-subscription

For the Cook GIFT IDEA:

Ottawa Cooks

They may already have stacks of cookbooks, but the hottest new cookbook in town is Ottawa Cooks written by food writer and restaurant critic Ann DesBrisay. This stunning cookbook is a testament that Ottawa has talented chefs with varying styles of

cuisine. Each of the 41 chefs provided two recipes that have been tested by Ann, her sisters and friends in their home kitchen to make sure that all secrets have been revealed. Purchase at the featured restaurants, book shops and online.

For any Whisky Lover GIFT IDEA:

Lagavulin 8-year-old Single Malt

To commemorate its 200th anniversary, Lagavulin has released a limited edition 8-year-old single malt.

Never been done before. Look for it at the LCBO in midNovember ($99 for 750mL bottle).

This just-released whisky commemorates Alfred Barnard, the first ever whisky journalist back in the late 1800s.

The lore is that he sampled an 8-year-old Lagavulin during a visit to Islay, Scotland. He described it as an ‘exceptionally fine’ and declared Lagavulin to be ‘one of the rare distilleries that could produce single malt of quality.’

Remarkably a pale colour with easydrinking personality, soothing texture and well balanced. A combination of apricot with smoke, then hints of dark chocolate, mint & sea salt with each sip. Dry & light, it is a whisky that any beginner or collector would enjoy to receive as a gift under the tree.

For the Wine Lover GIFT IDEA: Assortment of Sommelier taste tested wines.

The LCBO stocks their shelves extra high during the holiday season.

Mesmerized by all of the bottles, it is far too easy to pick up a pre-made gift pack. Instead, buy wines recommended in our ‘If I had a $100, I would buy at Vintages’ blog. This shopping list has our Savvy Sommeliers’ top picks after tasting countless bottles before they go on the shelves in Vintages. Grab a basket, cool tote or a wooden crate and pack up your picks. TIP: periodically Vintages has used wooden crates at the cash for $5 (that will be donated to a local charity). The latest list of our top picks is at savvycompany.ca/category/ if-i-only-had-100/ For the Cheese Lover GIFT IDEA: Cheese of the Month Club

This is a gift that is guaranteed to bring a smile to their face. Like wine and beer clubs, the monthly deliveries contain chunks, wedges and rounds of artisan cheeses that are not readily available at grocery stores. There are two cheese clubs to consider: Jacobson’s Fine Foods features cheeses from around the world and delivers 9 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

them to homes in Ottawa. www.jacobsons.ca/products/ cheese-of-the-month Subscription is $60 per month plus delivery.

Savvy Cool Curds offers monthly subscriptions or one-off shipments containing a variety of Canadian artisan cheeses.To be delivered to a home or work address across Canada. www. savvycoolcurds.ca Holiday subscription special $55 per month plus delivery.

For the Entire Family

Did you know that Ottawa has a museum all about CANADA AGRICULTURE food? Located on the AND FOOD MUSEUM Experimental Farm, the Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum has exhibits, special events and family activities year round. In November, they are hosting For the Love of Cheese with special programming for all ages. In addition, food-themed events and exhibits include Baconpalooza, Taking Care of Beesness, A Piece of Cake & Food Preservation and countless hands-on kids weekend programs.

This museum is one of the city’s best kept secrets. A family membership starts at $90 and includes membership to Canada Science & Technology Museum as well as Canada Aviation and the Space Museum n Happy Holidays from all of us at Savvy Company! *At the time of writing this article, not all of the prices were finalized.

Debbie Trenholm is a sommelier and the founder of Savvy Company.

10 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

homes by Hanna Eschenhagen

Why it is Important to Have Your Home Checked

by a Qualified Home Inspector home is the single biggest financial F undertaking they will make in their or most Canadians, purchasing a

lifetime. Yet, many will purchase a home without having a qualified home inspector assess the condition of the property before the final purchase.

Serious repairs that come to light after a purchase can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and in some cases more.

House fires caused by faulty electrical wiring are not uncommon. Excess moisture from leaking pipes or a damaged roof can result in toxigenic mould. Does the home have proper insulation behind the walls and in the ceiling? What about foundation cracks or leaks? These hazards can be avoided by having your soon-to-behome checked by a qualified home inspector before signing the purchase documents.

However, not all home inspectors are equal. Currently, there are numerous contractors in Ontario who are not qualified to do home inspections properly. To ensure the highest level of service, hire a Registered Home Inspector, the highest qualification in Ontario.

Jean Laframboise is one such home inspector. He has been doing inspections for eight years and reviews all the major home systems: roofing, exterior, structure, electrical, heating, cooling, insulation, plumbing and interior.

“I am an objective third party. My role is not to look after the agent’s interests as some home inspectors do,” Laframboise says. “I’m there for the client — the person who is going to purchase the home.”

Laframboise worked as a professional engineer (Mech.) for the Department of National Defence for twenty years, and after a career change, built up his home inspection company, InSpecRes Inc. He is a member of the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors, which protects both home buyers and sellers, and complies to the highest standards of practice for professional home inspectors. His passion for the home inspection field lead him to become an Algonquin College instructor for future home inspectors. And, since 2011, he has been a contributing committee member of the nationally distributed The Canadian Home Inspector magazine.

more. I encourage my clients to follow me around and ask all the questions they want.” He points out that by participating in the inspection, clients acquire a better understanding of their new home’s operation.

I AM AN OBJECTIVE THIRD PARTY…

Still, it isn’t up to Laframboise to give a pass or fail grade. “My job is to offer suggestions and make recommendations.

In the end, it is the client who makes the decisions,” he says. “There are no homes without some kind of problem.

I point out the issues, but it's up to the client whether to act on them or not.”

I’M THERE FOR THE CLIENT — THE PERSON WHO IS GOING TO PURCHASE THE HOME.

Laframboise explains that the home inspection industry is not presently regulated in Ontario, but noted that, “it’s about to change”. Queen's Park is in the process of regulating the home inspection industry through a certification regime designed to protect consumers and legislation on this is imminent. This will also prevent unqualified contractors with little or no training who offer lower rates from competing with qualified professionals.

With more than 850 home inspections of homes ranging from modest cottages to contemporary multimillion dollar Barry Hobin-designed homes, Laframboise is a recognized expert. He identifies underlying issues with the major systems in a home. “A home inspection typically takes two and a half hours, sometimes much

Both sellers and buyers contact Laframboise for home inspections.

Buyers do so prior to closing the deal.

With the home inspection report in hand and the assistance of a real estate agent, they are able to make informed decisions. Sellers contact him to learn about the home’s condition and to be aware of any major problems that may negatively impact the closing of a sale.

Laframboise has found some lifethreatening conditions over the years, such as a natural gas leak, and he has helped a lot of potential home buyers avoid homes plagued with significant problems. “Some inspections reveal major problems, which causes the transaction to fall flat or helps the potential buyer to get a lower price.”

He says it’s important for a homebuyer’s peace of mind to ensure that they hire a home inspector with solid credentials and extensive experience n

Contact Jean Laframboise, P. Eng., RHI jean@inspecres.ca or www.inspecres.ca 11 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

2 4 Vernissage: Sept 22, 6-9 pm Open Studio: Weekends of Sept 23-25 & Sept 30-Oct 2

www.enrichedbreadartists.com

THE REGIONAL GROUP

12 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

homes by John Gordon

JOHN’S RENO TIPS

The Perfect Paint

hether you intend to complete the renovation yourself or decide upon W hiring a contractor to do the job, you want to make sure everything is perfect - especially the finer details. While renovations can often come with a hefty price tag, painting is a cost-efficient and easy way to bring a little life to an old space while making it feel new again.

However, choosing the right paint can seem like a difficult task, leaving many homeowners more confused about the type of paint, colours, shades and hues than before they even planned to paint. In fact, it is actually very simple.

Household paints are primarily either oil based or latex. Both of these consist of multiple choices for sheen and gloss. Oil-based paint is primarily used for trim, moulding or wood pieces since it does an excellent job of covering up the knots or rough patches on the wood. The only downside to using an oil-based paint is that it does take a significant amount of time to dry. Plan ahead and ensure you have a longer drying period.

Latex is the most commonly used indoor paint and is known for its durability.

Latex also boasts a wonderful attribute for busy households in that it is known as a fade resistant paint and it is most commonly used for walls, ceilings and various common areas in the home.This type of paint breathes much better than oil-based paint, making it a quicker process from wet to dry, easier to apply and therefore less chance of any blistering within the drying process.

Finally, once you have chosen the paint you wish to use, the next step will be deciding upon a sheen. Glossy paints are known to be family friendly because they are easy to wipe down and keep clean. These are mostly used in living rooms, basements and common areas. Then we have semi gloss, which is best for kitchens and bathrooms as it is not an overwhelming sheen and does not steal the limelight from the rest of the space. And finally, last but not least, we have matte, the classic ceiling and trim finish, perfect for nearly every home.

From fancy, modern, professional and suave, paint can set a bold statement in your home. Make a choice and enjoy your handiwork n Visit YourRenoGuys.com for more information about John and the services he offers.

13 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

Control the temperature of your home year round with award winning Krumpers Solar Blinds TM

Smart tech from Krumpers allows you to enjoy a clear view, and be comfortable.

Call 613.864.4921 for a free consultation www.krumpers.ca

FOLLOW ALEXANDRE TRUDEAU ON AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY #1 CANADIAN BESTSELLER “FUNNY, INSIGHTFUL, AND UNSETTLING.” —Mellissa Fung, author of Under an Afghan Sky

“A MUST-READ FOR ALL CANADIANS.” —Robert Wright, author of Our Man in Tehran

14 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

in search of style by Alexandra Gunn

Follow Alex on Twitter: @AlexandraGunn

Celebrate!

This season’s reigning motifs are infinitely opulent. Lustrous velvet, shimmering sequins and glitter infused accessories all in abundance are what makes this holiday season extra special. Whether you’re heading to a cocktail party or gathering some friends for an outdoor adventure, ‘tis the season for some styling magic. Get ready to sparkle during the day and light up the night in these festive styles with head-turning details.

p Fendi Velvet Peekaboo Bag

“Velvet has a vintage feel but a glamourous outcome!”

Opening Ceremony Runway

p Fit-and-Flare Velvet Dress by Betsey Johnson $129.99 from The Hudson’s Bay

Ping Hu winterlotusphotography.com

Phillip Lim Runway

Ralph Lauren Runway

Preen Runway

Rochas Runway

Roberto Cavalli Runway

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Strike a pose in luxurious velvet. The luxurious fabric is soft to the touch and has a hint of shimmer, which adds an elegant and upscale element to the overall look. Infuse some style in to your classic work wardrobe with a velvet blazer or a fitted velvet dress. Velvet accessories were everywhere on the fall/winter runways, appearing on the hottest shoes and bags of the season. Bottega Veneta, Opening Ceremony, Preen, Rochas, Roberto Cavalli and Phillip Lim all featured lush accessories to generous swaths of velvet.

Bottega Veneta Runway

Etro Bag $2,390p

Velvet Crush

GREENERY & DÉCOR:

Canadian Mountain Weddings ON-SITE ASSISTANT:

Gail E.P. Gunn

15 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

Congratulatio

Peter Cro

yn

Personal Injury Litigation Lawyer of the Year

Janice Pay

e

Labour and Employment Law Lawyer of the Year

s

Allan O’Brie

Legal Malpractice Law Lawyer of the Year

Lawyers of the Year Congratulations to Peter Cronyn, Janice Payne and Allan O’Brien who have been named Ottawa Lawyer of the Year by their peers in Personal Injury Litigation, Labour and Employment Law and Legal Malpractice Law respectively, in the 2017 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada.

Nelligan O’Brien Payne is a Top Listed law firm with The Best Lawyers in Canada. We provide legal services in both official languages and specialize in combining professional excellence with common sense.

You get straight talk and sound advice in a wide range of legal areas.

Visit us at www.nelligan.ca info@nelligan.ca 613-238-8080 16 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

Sparkle Dolce-Gabbana

Luxe Elegance p Sequin H&M Top

p Winners Sequin-Embellished T-Shirt $129.99

p Marshalls Metallic Ruffle-Front Blouse $129.99

Go festive with sequins and sparkle. This Christmas season instead of black or silver try saturated jewel tones in red, green, and navy for an added unexpected, headturning look. There was plenty of sparkle on the runway during Milan Fashion Week as the final walk for Dolce & Gabbana was a shimmering mix of silver and pink sequin dresses parading down the runway. From the runway to the red carpet, sequins can really amp up an outfit.They add some razzle dazzle to any plain ensemble. Try a sequin jacket, skirt, top or choose a lustrous metallic separate. I love the delicate feather detailing on this Kate Spade blazer. It’s a modern twist on holiday style.

Kate Spade Valerie Blazer $1298 u

Kate Spade Mini u Candace Bag $298

Cozy & Bright

Add a burst of colour while you ward off icy temperatures outside. Make sure your arctic-worthy layers include brightly coloured technical parkas, fuzzy printed sweaters or layers of colourful plaid. Cold-weather chic is a mix of mastering warm layers and investing in some bright accessories. Old Navy is always a budget-friendly option that will help you to warm up to winter and become an outdoor enthusiast.

17 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

“Absolutely the greatest of the great! You have to see it to believe it.”

— Christine Walevska, “goddess of the cello”

Experience a Divine Culture Through the universal language of dance and music, Shen Yun weaves a wondrous tapestry of heavenly realms and enchanting scenes, from ancient legends of valour to modern-day heroic tales, taking you on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese civilization. Its stunning beauty and tremendous energy leave audiences uplifted and inspired.

“Exquisitely beautiful.

An extraordinary experience for us and the children.”

— Cate Blanchett, Academy Award-winning actress

“I have reviewed over 3,000 shows, none can compare to what I saw tonight.

Go back and see it six times!”

— Richard Connema, renowned Broadway critic

All-New Show | With Live Orchestra

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JANUARY 7-8 ◆ NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE ShenYun.com

PHOTO: VALERIE KEELER

around town by Alexandra Gunn

THE POWER OF GIVING BACK BEYOND THE BUZZ OF new generation of philanthropists A are here and they’re not holding back. A bold and daring campaign has made its way to Ottawa and people are taking notice. Returning for a second year, Boobyball offered a fresh twist on the traditional and sometimes stodgy Ottawa fundraiser all while bringing an unconventional approachability to the topic of breast health.

Boobyball is Rethink Breast Cancer’s principal fundraising event which fosters a new generation of young and influential breast cancer supporters and brings relevant awareness to the 40s and under crowd. By approaching the cause with style and sass, Rethink has been successful in helping young people be proactive about their health while also attending one of the hottest tickets in town. This year, the fundraiser sold out a month in advance and the Ottawa Committee is already considering a bigger venue for 2017.

The Ottawa Boobyball Committee is made up of over twenty women who hope their efforts help to take some of the fear out of the conversation. Cochairs Kathleen McGuire and Rachel Kerr are the leading force within the committee and boast of the diverse skill set of the volunteers and how they have become an asset in making an impact across the community.“We have a really

strong team with a wide array of skills.

It was easy to place people with tasks that they would knock out of the park.

We have event planners, marketing and PR professionals and students, sales specialists, you name it, we have the women for the job!” says Kerr.

Many young women who are starting careers or that have small children, although they belong to a smaller cancer demographic, they too can have lives shaken by the disease. “When we started planning the inaugural event in Ottawa, someone near and dear to me relapsed with breast cancer. She was originally diagnosed when she was young. It hit home,” says McGuire.

Revolutionizing the breast cancer movement takes a “group of smart, fun, creative women. Everyone who's been a part of it over the past two years have inspired me - they come together with passion to make a difference” says McGuire.

Rethink Breast Cancer founder and executive director MJ DeCoteau is proud that Boobyball has become

ABOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Courtney

Norris, Kathleen McGuire, Jessica Thumm, Caitlin Haskins, Rachel Kerr, Alexandra Gunn, Melinda Currey.

one of the most coveted and high profile fundraising events, raising over $4 million dollars since 2002.

“After fifteen years, the fundraiser has officially become - not just a party but a movement, with events all across Canada that stimulate breast awareness conversation and engage thousands of young people in the cause."

As the movement gains momentum, it may be no surprise that this year, when Ottawa celebrated their 2nd annual sold out charity bash, they raised over $70,000 dollars for Rethink.

“The funds raised through Boobyball support Rethink Breast Cancer’s work for young people concerned about and affected by breast cancer including education, advocacy, support and resources” says DeCoteau who already expects next year’s event in 2017 to be a another sold-out success.

Boobyball celebrated their 2nd annual fundraiser on Friday, October 28th and will be returning again next year n Boobyball.com 19 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

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cover by Alison Matthews

For Catherine McKenna,

Green is the Gold It has been a year since Catherine McKenna walked down the driveway at Rideau Hall and was sworn in as the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.The general public was allowed on the grounds to soak in excitement and the atmosphere was electric.

This was a hard fought battle for McKenna but it was not without its reward. She set records across the board. Ottawa Centre was the riding with the highest voter turnout in the country; McKenna won with the best Liberal result in the riding’s history at 42 per cent; and, McKenna was the first female Member of Parliament to be elected in Ottawa Centre.

Now elected and in Cabinet, she continues to make waves in Ottawa and abroad - all while keeping her family and the city she loves on the top of the priority list.

PHOTO: DAVE CHAN DAVECHAN.CA

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OTTAWA LIFE: Before politics you had an

incredibly successful career and yet you put everything on hold to run for Justin Trudeau in Ottawa Centre – making this commitment even before the NDP started losing its grip and against a strong incumbent, NDP MP Paul Dewar. Yet, you didn’t hold back. Rumour is you knocked on over 100,000 doors. What motivated you to take this risk?

I decided that there was a need for a change in government and we could be doing more for the issues I really cared about which ranged from Indigenous peoples, to foreign policy, to Canada’s role in the world, to local issues.

It wasn’t that I thought Paul Dewar wasn’t a good MP, but I thought we could do more.

CATHERINE MCKENNA:

Obviously that is a big decision for Paul Dewar to make. But what I will say about Paul Dewar is that I have great admiration for him. He was well liked in the riding and he worked very hard for constituents.

He clearly care about public service, so I would absolutely encourage him to continue working for the greater public good because I think he has a real role to play – whatever that role is.

CATHERINE MCKENNA:

OTTAWA LIFE: Prime Minister Trudeau, made

history by inviting the general public to attend the swearing in at Rideau Hall.

What was the experience of being sworn in as Minister of Environment and Climate Change and just going through that crowd and feeling that energy?

I was still a little bit overwhelmed by winning and by the fact that so many people I recognized and who had worked on my campaign were actually out there and so excited. It was a beautiful day, which made it kind of funny; you know ‘sunny ways’ and a sunny day.

CATHERINE MCKENNA:

So, I decided just to step up and run and I did it very early. It was the early summer of 2013 where I decided there was a real opportunity to get change with Justin Trudeau and I thought he needed a new generation of people who were going to step up and run with him.

I had the support of my family - I asked my kids and my husband had to be supportive. One of my daughters said, ‘will you care about Indigenous youth?’ and that was important to her.

I decided there was a real opportunity to get change with Justin Trudeau and I thought he needed a new generation of people who were going to step up and run with him

The other one said: ‘We need more women in politics!’ and I think that was important too. I would go to a lot of events where they would talk about the need for more women to run and then women wouldn’t run. Then I had the opportunity.

I felt that I had the experience fundraising, because I started my own charity and you have to put yourself out there and fundraise. I also thought I had good ideas and then there was an opportunity to build a team. I just decided that it was going to be a tough riding, but if I was going to run I was going to have to prove myself to the residents of Ottawa Centre and that it was going to take time to do that.

OTTAWA LIFE: The latest rumour is that Paul

Dewar may run for Mayor of Ottawa if Mayor Jim Watson chooses not to run.

What are your thoughts on that?

22 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

It was also the honour of being asked to be in the Cabinet in a role that I thought was so critical, that it really is important for Canada but also for the world. It was really exciting. Also looking around, we had a very diverse team it was amazing.

Obviously the first gender balanced cabinet and a lot of awesome men and women, it was really just amazing.

OTTAWA LIFE: Environment and Climate Change is not traditionally an easy portfolio by any stretch and on top of that the Prime Minister has given you quite the to-do list in your Mandate Letter – from climate change, to National Parks to water security and migratory birds. That being said, you are already ticking items off at a steady pace. What has been the greatest challenge in managing these priorities?

CATHERINE MCKENNA: That is a really good question.

Clearly the climate file is a file that is really important right now. We said that we would have a plan, a plan with the provinces and territories, so that was a clear priority. I came into office and once I was in Cabinet I was on a plane a couple days later to Paris for climate negotiations.

But I think one of the challenges is balancing the work that needs to be done on climate change, that it requires a lot of effort and thought and time, and working with not just the provinces and territories but with Indigenous peoples, business and environmentalists.

There is that piece, but course there are all the other areas that we are working on, from dealing with species at risk, the dumping of sewage in Montreal and to environmental assessment that are also part of my portfolio. Not only looking at immediate environmental assessments and finding the right balance between mitigating the impacts of projects and making sure that they can go ahead in a way that is sustainable and the economic piece to them, but also doing a full review of our environmental assessment process, which only happens every few decades.

So there are just a lot of pieces going on and I think [the key] is being disciplined about how you prioritize things and at the same time making sure that you’re paying attention to all the portfolio.

[For example] Parks 2017 is really exciting because it is going to be free access to our parks, national historic sights, and marine conservation areas. It is very important to me that we promote that and get new Canadians out there as well as families that may not have the financial means together.

[In this role] you have a lot of different files and it is making sure that you have priorities and you are actually advancing all of those files, because my mandate letter is a significant one.

One of the things that I don’t get enough time to talk about is Rouge National Urban Park. Early on in my mandate it became apparent that there was an opportunity to expand Rouge, which was our first national urban park. It is within an hour of 7 million people and it is accessible by public transit. It is about that idea of being able to do what the previous government was not able to do, come to an agreement with the province, [work with stakeholders], bring everyone together and creating this huge space which is absolutely gorgeous and a part of Toronto that many people don’t even know about. You can get new Canadians, you can get all sorts of people, people who have never camped before experiencing the wilderness, that was pretty special too.

OTTAWA LIFE: No matter how hard you work or how much you consult, there will always be someone who is disappointed.

How do you handle that?

I recognized pretty early on that it is hard to keep everyone absolutely onboard. In my portfolio I work extremely hard to meet with everyone from Indigenous peoples to business to environmentalists to young people to labour to provinces to municipalities and the list goes on. It is so hard to keep everyone happy all the time. There are going to be decisions I make that some people won’t like. I just hope that people can see that I make them in a way that is based on science, evidence, in traditional knowledge and that I’ve taken seriously the concerns that have been expressed. That I made a decision, that while you may not agree with, it was a decision that there was basis to do that.

CATHERINE MCKENNA:

I feel I will be comfortable as long as most people think that I am right most of the time.

It is something that Jean Chrétien said to me: ‘Canadians are reasonable people, that if you work hard, if you listen, you’re ambitious I’ve had to make and you do your best, people will respect you.’ So that’s decisions that not my goal. This is a tough job, everyone liked, but I signed up for it and it is really the big picture that hopefully people see you have to be concerned I’m working very with, and making sure that I bring as many people on hard and I have taken board and at a certain point into consideration you have to make decisions.

I’ve had to make decisions the diversity of that not everyone liked, perspectives. but hopefully people see I’m working very hard and I have taken into consideration the diversity of perspectives.

OTTAWA LIFE: You recently announced that you were moving forward with a plan for pricing carbon – something that the Liberal Party has been supporting since 2006.

What do you think will be the greatest challenge in putting the system in place?

CATHERINE MCKENNA: So, as I like to say, it is pricing pollution. It is pricing what we don’t want. Right now we are not making companies pay the full cost for polluting and we are just passing it onto the next generation.

The biggest challenge is a communications challenge. It is easy to be negative and say ‘don’t do that, we don’t want that.’ It is harder to explain in a sound bite why it makes sense to do this. I think that is the most important message I am trying to get across – that we want to price what we don’t want, pollution, and we want to get innovation.

23 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

Companies will figure out how to find clean solutions. Those are the solutions that we will not only be able to use here but we will be able to export to places like China where there is a $3 Trillion opportunity and they need cleaner solutions. Not only does it position ourselves for the economy for the next few years, for the next decade, for the next fifty years. but it also doing our part to tackle climate change and reduce emissions.

Of course, I also have three kids so it’s building a more sustainable future for them. But you need to be able to tell stories, so I am working really hard to make it not something really technical.

I don’t think most people necessarily understand when you talk about capMy hashtag and-trade or direct price on but will understand for Ottawa is carbon, instead when you talk about #OwnYourOttawa. putting a price on pollution what you don’t want.

I’m really about being –[This policy] is also in place ambitious for so we can innovate ourselves a better position, to Ottawa and broadly into create good jobs for the as the National future, grow our economy export opportunities.

Capital Region. and It is also about our kids, what legacy we are leaving for them – I find that resonates. There are only so many opportunities that I get to say that, so I am trying to bring as many people on board.

I have been very fortunate because everyone from labour to the provinces, in which 80 per cent of Canadians live in a province where there is a price on pollution already, to business, have signed onto a Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition. They are saying ‘put a price on pollution, we will innovate, we will create good jobs and position ourselves for the future.’

Bringing everyone onboard is really important and so I think that is why overall, as public opinion research shows, that Canadians are generally supportive of pricing pollution. We still have a ways to go to explain it and explain how that fits into our broader climate plan, including energy efficiency and creating incentives for Canadians can save money on their homes– they are all other pieces to it.

I think a lot of it is how you talk to people in a real way that is tangible and makes sense. I am originally from the Hammer and you know, I always go back to that. If I were trying to explain this to someone on the street in Hamilton, how would I explain why it is important to take action on climate change now and how putting a price on pollution fits into that? That is a challenge but also an opportunity.

OTTAWA LIFE: Another priority outlined in your Mandate Letter was to develop an ambitious North American clean energy and environment agreement with the US and Mexico – which resulted in the announced North American Climate, Clean Energy, and Environment Partnership during the American Leaders Summit back in June. How do you see that taking shape going forward?

CATHERINE MCKENNA: Well it is already taking shape. We work extraordinarily closely with the Americans and Mexicans. I was just in Mexico where I had a Summit with my Mexican and American counterpart. There are a lot of ways we are moving forward.

One of goals was 50 per cent clean power across North America and the good news is that Canada is 80 per cent clean power, so there is a huge export opportunity. I am certainly going to be making the case that this is a real opportunity for Canada and as a solution for the US, because pollution knows no borders.

We also work very closely on promoting on the international front. Beyond an ambitious Paris agreement and now the implementation piece – I am going to be in COP 22 where I will be seeing my American and Mexican counterpart – we just got a really great agreement to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, which are in refrigerants and air conditioners. We worked extremely closely with the US and Mexico on that.

We are reducing methane emissions from oil and gas by 40 – 45 per cent, which is like taking all the cars in Ontario and Quebec off the road. We are aligning our emissions standards for vehicles. All of these things are very practical things we could be doing with US and Mexico and we are just going to continue to do that.

It was great that I was able to meet my mandate commitment by working really hard with them to get a great agreement. Regardless of who is elected we will continue working together.

24 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

OTTAWA LIFE: I'd like to switch to issues in the National Capital region (Ottawa) for a moment. A group called the Moose Consortium Inc is working on creating a privately run commuter train that would the connect the National Capital on both sides of the river using existing rail infrastructure, including the unused Prince of Wales Bridge. One part of their mission is to cut down on local traffic, and therefore, carbon emissions, so this seems like a natural fit for your involvement. So first, have you heard of this before?

I am someone who really believes in the importance of safety because I think that is the only way you are going to get people out there. It should be a really safe way to get around and I think there is still some work to do in that regard.

CATHERINE MCKENNA: So I have heard of this initiative, it sounds interesting. I always support people coming together to come up with innovative ideas. My hashtag for Ottawa is #OwnYourOttawa. I’m really about being ambitious for Ottawa and broadly as the National Capital Region.

OTTAWA LIFE: Earlier this year you said that you turn off your phone for two hours every evening to spend time with your family. With a full year as an MP and Minister under your belt, how are you finding the balance?

Anything of this nature you have to bring the municipalities onside, that is really key. That is the approach we have taken as a government when it comes to investing in public transit, for example, we work with the municipality and the province, and obviously stakeholders. So interesting initiative and I think the key is getting the municipalities on board as part of their broader transportation plan.

OTTAWA LIFE: Do you see an opportunity for you to help guide this process?

I am not entirely sure what role they would be looking for me to play, but I am always happy to bring different people together. I think that initiative is still in the early stages and I think they need to work with the cities, on both sides, regarding what is the broader transit strategy.

I think it is important that we figure out how we get people who either live in Gatineau or live in Ottawa, but work on the other side, or businesses relying on people going back and forth. I think we need to figure that piece out but I think it has to be thought of in the broader context.

CATHERINE MCKENNA:

OTTAWA LIFE: There is a lot of buzz in

Ottawa about a new two-way bike lane on O’Connor which is a one way street. I know you are an avid cyclist, among other things, so what are your thoughts on the bike lane? Have you tried it out?

I used it right before it was going to open. It seems pretty amazing. I am absolutely supportive of cycling infrastructure and I think we need to make sure it is safe. People are still getting used to the fact that it is two ways.

But I think it is great. It is part of one of my priorities as Minister of the Environment and Climate Change that aligns well with my local priority of getting people out of their cars, using public transit or cycling. I am also one of the few MPs that can cycle to the Hill – which I have done many times.

I’ve had to make CATHERINE MCKENNA: I don’t actually believe you can get decisions that not a balance. I think it is really making sure you are able to everyone liked, but do what is priority.Priorities hopefully people see for me are first my family. I have three young children I’m working very so making sure they have hard and I have taken the time they need. I get home, I focus on the kids, into consideration either help them with their the diversity of homework or do fun things, make sure they actually perspectives. get washed – that’s a good thing. I also have a lot of work to do, so making sure I also am able to do that at times when they are either sleeping or by getting up really early. It’s hard. It can be very very challenging, so I just try to do my best.

OTTAWA LIFE: Finally, what is the number

one activity for someone to do in Ottawa this winter?

Well, of course, skate on the canal! Use the canal anytime. I was able to get new access points to the canal in the summer so people could put in their canoe or kayak, so that was really exciting. The idea that you can use the canal all year round, is really awesome and part of my vision of an Ottawa that is built around its natural beauty n

CATHERINE MCKENNA:

.

CATHERINE MCKENNA:

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26 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

environment series by Alex Mazur

The Building Blocks of a Capital It may be hard to believe now, but rail tracks once crisscrossed the National Capital Region like lifelines on a palm, foretelling the life of a growing nation. In fact, the birth, expansion and perhaps the key to the Ottawa-Gatineau area clinching the capital title is largely due to the extensive rail system that once ran through the area In 1850, what was known as Bytown was officially transformed from a village to a town, but little Bytown had bigger aspirations. With sights of making their town a capital city, local business investors understood the limited transportation of the Rideau Canal, which would essentially shut down in the winter, wouldn’t offer enough opportunity for growth.

Railway lines started opening up in the United States, allowing for a greater possibility for trade. A line particularly beneficial to the people of Bytown was set to finish in Ogdensburg NY, which sat across the St. Lawrence River from Prescott ON. And so in 1850 Robert Bell, who would eventually create the Ottawa Citizen, along with his son-in-law John McKinnon, founded the Bytown and Prescott Railway Company.

The creation of the first tracks in Ottawa took four years, and considerable effort, especially from Walter Shanly, the civil engineer in charge of the rail. Shanly braved the cold Ottawa winters in snowshoes to map out three potential routes for the railway, routes that weren’t navigable during

warmer periods since they ran through dense swamp.

Eventually the route was chosen in 1851, but it wouldn’t be operational until 1854.

A myth surrounds the first trip on the Bytown and Prescott Railway, one that in particularly nags at Colin Churcher, an expert historian on rail in the National Capital Region. It’s said that Shanly mistakenly ordered less rail than what was necessary, and that in a pinch to get the first car running by Christmas 1854, he used maple timbers covered with iron straps, known as snake rails, in order to complete the line. This, according to Churcher is completely false, a rumour founded

on a mistake in calculation between a 19th century British tonne and what we now know as a tonne. And so the first train rolled into Ottawa without much drama or excitement at all.

Thomas McKay, one of Ottawa’s founders, influenced the north end or the railway to end in his corner.

Originally from Perth, Scotland, McKay, a stonemason by trade, put his acumen to good use and one by one, laid the building blocks for the city we know today. In 1838 he built the limestone Scottish Regency mansion as his home, and named it Rideau Hall. He also had a hand in building the locks on the lower end of the Rideau Canal and the stone house that is now known as the Bytown Museum. He was founder of New Edinburgh, which he transformed into a prosperous settlement due to his sawmill and gristmill, both aided by his major investment in the Bytown and Prescott Railway. With direct access to rail, he could make use of the north end of the line to send lumber from the Ottawa River to the St. Lawrence, accessing markets in the United States and Montreal.

In 1855, the Bytown and Prescott Railway adjusted its name to its North end station’s new name, the Ottawa and Prescott Railway. Just three years after Bytown became Ottawa, Queen Victoria chose the new city as the capital of Canada, and in 1859, Bytown’s big dream came to fruition.

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The railway was eventually renamed the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Railway company in 1867. The line was so important that it was protected under Section 92(10)(c) of the Constitution of Canada. The federal St. Lawrence and Ottawa Railway Act of 1867 stated: “The Ottawa and Prescott Railway, … is hereby declared to be a work for the general advantage of Canada.” This status still applies to the remaining sections of rail today, and any plan to operate on remaining sections of that route also gain federal regulatory status.

In 1872, the Act to amend the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Railway explicitly extended its authorizations to any other railway company seeking to make use of the rail and the bridge across the Ottawa River.

With these allowances came more rail connections, namely the construction of the rail between Montreal and Hull, and of the Prince of Wales Bridge by the Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Occidental Railway (QMO&O), then owned by the Québec provincial government.That line was also declared to be “for the general advantage of Canada”. The QMO&O officially opened the Prince of Wales Bridge in 1880 then, as planned, sold it in 1882 to Canadian Pacific to connect it with their new Canada Central Railway, which connected Brockville, the St. Lawrence, the Ottawa River, and eventually North Bay. J.R. Booth took advantage of the possibilities of expansion by rail to create in 1892, the largest lumber mill of its time. In order to outsource his lumber to Québec, Vermont, the Georgian Bay, Booth formed the Canada Atlantic Railway Company in 1897.

By that time, locomotive rail was synonymous with an explosion of business opportunities in the National Capital Region. The area’s electric rail system would be a similar catalyst to the transformation of the city we see today.

Thomas Ahearn, born in Lebreton Flats in 1855, and inventor of the “electric oven,” was the co-founder 28 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

of electric rail in Ottawa. As a young man, impassioned by electricity, he offered to work for free for the J.R. Booth Company so that he could learn telegraphy. Warren Soper also shared this passion for the telegraphy and electricity, and in 1881 they became Ahearn & Soper, electrical contractors at large.

Together they founded the private sector Ottawa Electric Railway Company (OER), and in 1891, they introduced electric streetcars to Ottawa a year before both Toronto and Montreal’s systems came into action.

In its first 11 months, ridership hit 1.5 million, almost tripling the ridership of the horse-drawn streetcars that came before it. The OER connected people across town, and also created destinations like Lansdowne and Britannia Park for passengers to relax during their days off.

THE GRÉBER PLAN, WHICH WAS MEANT TO BEAUTIFY OTTAWA… IT THEN DECOMMISSIONED UNION STATION, AND MOVED THE MAIN TRAIN STATION FROM DOWNTOWN OUT TO ALTA VISTA…REVAMPING A WHOLE NEW SYSTEM SEEMED TOO COSTLY FOR THE CITY, AND BUSES PROMPTLY REPLACED THE OLD STREETCARS.

On the other side of the river, the Hull Electric Railway was developed by another group of private entrepreneurs, and opened in 1896.The line originally ran from Hull to Aylmer, but in 1901, the first trip was made between Ottawa and Hull in an electric streetcar across the Alexandria Bridge, making the passage between provinces that much simpler. The company was taken over

by Canadian Pacific in 1902.

In 1924, the OER introduced buses unsuccessfully, and then again in 1939.

Eventually, in 1947, a referendum led by a group of Ottawa city councillors was held and the City of Ottawa took over the OER in 1948. It then became the Ottawa Transportation Commission, or what is now known as the OC Transpo. At that time it ran with 130 streetcars and 61 buses.

It was in 1959 that Ottawa’s love affair with rail began to dwindle.The National Capital Commission’s consultant Jacques Gréber, developed what is now known as the Gréber Plan, which was meant to beautify Ottawa and remove all railways from the downtown area. It then decommissioned Union station, and moved the main train station from downtown out to Alta Vista. As for the electric railways, according to Churcher, revamping a whole new system seemed too costly for the city, and buses promptly replaced the old streetcars. In the coming decades, many of the tracks once laid to connect the city within and without were ripped out to make room for major roadwork like Nicholas Street and the Vanier Parkway.

And yet, there are many who have kept the spirit of the region’s railways alive. The Ottawa Valleys Associated Railroaders are committed to the history of rail in Ottawa, and their site, The C. Robert Craig Memorial Library, hosts one of the best historical collections of associated photos and references.The Bytown Rail Society has been in town since 1969 and works under federal government statute to encourage interest in Canadian railway history. The Ottawa Railway Historical Circle, of which Churcher is a member, meets bi-weekly to discuss matters of the history of rail and works on extensive historical publications about rail in the area.

Today, as global interest shifts back to the efficiencies of passenger rail, Moose Consortium, formed by a dozen local companies, is working to finance, develop and operate a commercial passenger rail service on 400 km of existing track in the National Capital Region. Their bi-level modern trains would once again connect Ottawa and Gatineau, and both these locations to six semi-rural towns throughout the Greater National Capital Region. Like the original developments by Ahearn & Soper and their Hull counterpart in the 1800s, Moose is planning to develop and operate its service commercially, without dependence on taxpayers. And as a nod to Ahearn & Soper, Moose’s application for development to Transport Canada was timed to be on the 125th anniversary

of the Ottawa Electric Street Railway Company in 1891.

The people behind the scenes at Moose are themselves a product of the long history of rails that once served as arteries through the heart of the National Capital Region and elsewhere.

Joseph Potvin is the President of Moose Consortium, and trains run in his veins. His grandfather, Joe Potvin, was the lead engineer on the 414 km Québec North Shore and Labrador Railway in the 50s. They called him Trapper Joe because of his reputation as a hunter and trapper. His grandson Joseph studied to become an economist in Canada and overseas, and in 1990 he was hired by Environment Canada to be part of the core drafting team of Canada’s first “Green Plan”.

“It’s been my passion for making ecological economics tangible that pulled me into railways”, he said. He has honed his economic expertise on the concept of the “Property-Powered Rail” commercial financing model that he describes as the financial engine-ofchange driving of the Moose initiative.

Peter Gabany is a long-time friend of Potvin’s and a director of communications at Moose. The two went to high school together back in Welland. Gabany’s long friendship with Potvin and his own expertise in transportation has meant that he’s been with Moose since its fledgling years.

Gabany’s interest in transportation began in the Great Lakes, where he worked and travelled on freighters.

He then met up with Potvin to work in Canadian arctic, where they shared an old train dining car as a home.

Eventually, Gabany left the North to begin his own company, Limelight, an advertising and design company, that still focuses heavily on transportation and shipping clientele.

Wojciech Remisz, another founding director of Moose, and a civil engineer by day, says that trains are a family tradition. His grandfather was a train stationmaster in Poland, and his father became a structural engineer and worked on railway bridges in

Lwow, Poland (now known as Lviv in Ukraine), and then on streetcars in Poland. Due to heavy taxes from a new government, Remisz’s father had to leave the rails and instead opened a hardware store where Remisz said the nuts and bolts and various parts of streetcars were his childhood toys. He then decided to follow in his father’s footsteps, specializing in the design of “iron roads’ as an engineer first in Poland, then after a short pit stop in Rome, he came to Ottawa in 1982 to continue his work.

“I got my schooling in college, but I got my education on the railway,”said Ivay, who first experienced the rails in the midnight rain working the Vancouver yards and then in the mountain region of the Fraser and Thompson Rivers.

“A few hundred bridges later,” said Remisz, “I am passionate about rehabilitation of the Prince of Wales Bridge. I feel steam in my blood that keeps pushing me to achieve this goal.”

Moose plans to re-purpose the Prince of Wales Bridge for its true calling, to use the tracks to once again connect the National Capital region by passenger trains, but with a cycling path cantilevered off the upstream side, and a pedestrian path on the downstream side overlooking Parliament.

Mark Brandt is another of the five directors of Moose and a conservation architect and urbanist by trade. He’s best known as the award-winning architect behind the reinvention of the former Bank of Montreal across from Parliament Hill, which he transformed into the House of Commons Hall of State. His circuitous road to Moose began in Rome in the 1980s, where he studied architecture and heritage conservation of the eternal city. He then spent three months riding trains on a Eurail Pass to backpack through eight countries.

Bill Pomfret is another founding director at Moose and he is the man in charge of safety.

“Growing up in the North of England, I had a fascination with steam trains, in fact I traveled more by train than all other modes of transport combined in the UK, until I immigrated to Canada in 1982.” Not only does Pomfret have a long-held passion for rail, he has an incessant call of duty to making the world a safer place.

He has designed and patented the 5 Star Health & Safety Management System which has been used internationally, including in the tremendous Mass Transit Railway project in Hong Kong.

That system includes 218 km of rail with 155 stations, including 87 railway stations and 68 light rail stops. Now he has dedicated his rail safety expertise to Moose.

Scott Ivay is the lead railway operations member of Moose Consortium. Like many of his compatriots, Ivay comes from a sort of railway dynasty; his greatgrandfather, grandfather, and father all worked for Canadian National at one time or another.

He has since worked on many unique assignments like the CP Holiday Train, the CP Royal Canadian Pacific (a luxury passenger train), the Winter Olympic train, 2816 Steam train and a number of other public and corporate charters.

“I didn’t realize until a decade later that Europe taught me how to appreciate the value of the previous layers of our environment and the need to understand our times in terms of the long game. I understand now how everything is connected – static architecture is intertwined with the people who move through and around it.” It is those long-term values that have led him to Moose Consortium, as lead architect for its “Linked Localites” concept, and at least three dozen startup stations designed to be deployed like Lego blocks, which can be smartly adapted from former railway shipping containers.

The bones of Ottawa’s railway system still persist. There are nods to it everywhere from the old Union Station, soon to be the home of the Senate, to the lesser known streetcar station underneath the Chateau Laurier, where you can rent bikes in the summer months. But mostly, it lives on in the efforts of those today who want to re-establish one of the best modes of transportation and expansion this region has ever seen n 29 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

DUTY Canada’s pipeline companies have a duty to move energy with care. When a route crosses a river or stream, many steps are taken to protect precious water, natural habitat, and earn our continued right to operate.

Learn more about CEPA Integrity First®.

Delivering Canada’s energy. Every day.

Learn more about pipelines in your life at: aboutpipelines.com 30 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

pipelines and peace of mind series by Dan Donovan

Pipelines, Politics, and Policy In recent years in Canada, the development of new pipelines has become a hot button issue.

Chris Bloomer, President, and CEO of Canadian Energy Pipeline Association makes the case for pipelines and their importance to Canada’s economic prosperity.

P

roponents of pipelines in Canada often cite energy security, economic growth and jobs as factors to keep building them. Opponents raise issues of

environmental impact, including the potential pollution of water, the increased likelihood of oil spills, increased carbon dioxide emissions and damage to sensitive environment ecosystems and aboriginal lands .The reality is somewhere in between. Canada is an energy exporter and companies require the ability to get this resource to market. Most agree that the alarming increase in the amount of oil being transported on trains each year in Canada is dangerous and not sustainable.

Ottawa Life Magazine is presenting all sides of the pipelines debate, and in this issue we interview Chris Bloomer, President and CEO of The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA). CEPA represents Canada’s transmission pipeline companies who operate approximately 119,000 kilometres of pipeline in Canada and 15,000 kilometres in the United States. These energy highways move approximately 1.2 billion barrels of liquid petroleum products and 5.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas each year. CEPA members transport 97 per cent of Canada’s daily crude oil and natural gas from producing regions to markets throughout North America.

OTTAWALIFE: What would you say

are the three best arguments for building pipelines in Canada?

Pipelines are by far the safest and most efficient method of transportation.

This is not only due to the industry wide commitments to improving safety and environmental performance, but also due to the robust regulatory environment in which pipelines are approved and operate. In 2015, the transmission pipeline delivered natural gas and liquids petroleum products with a 99.99 per cent safety record.

Market access is also of critical importance. Without more diverse and better access to markets, the

Canadian economy will not achieve full value for its resources and stands to lose more than a $1 trillion in gross domestic product (GDP) over the next 25 years, and more than $270 billion in tax revenue over the same period.

Transmission pipelines are the only

$11.5B The amount that Canada’s energy transmission pipelines contributed to our gross domestic product in 2015.

Source CEPA

viable option to move large quantities of oil and natural gas to new markets in a manner that emphasizes excellence in safety and environmental protection.

As we have seen with current projects, it can take years, sometime decades for pipeline projects to go through the approval process, be constructed, and to commence operations. According the International Energy Agency (IEA), world energy demand will grow by about 33 per cent between 2015 and 2040. And although the use of renewable energies is expected to increase rapidly, so will oil usage to meet this growing demand.

OTTAWALIFE: All pipelines are not the same. Some are built to carry certain types of oil but not heavier grades.

What are the industry standards for what types of substances/fuels are carried in pipelines?

Pipelines in Canada must be designed, constructed and operated in accordance with the requirements of CSA standard Z662 (which Canadian Regulations adopt). When designing a pipeline the service (product) will be taken into consideration to ensure the proper calculations are used, which in-turn will dictate the material to be used, number of pump stations, and number and locations of valves.

OTTAWALIFE: Opponents to pipelines often say these projects only cause further dependency on fossil fuels as the pipelines are used to move Canadian fossil fuels to foreign markets. Is this a fair statement? If not, why?

31 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

484 Gladstone 613 742-7251

Your local station with the international reach you need!

Tune in everyday on 97.9fm or follows us at: www.chinradioottawa.com

32 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

Chris Bloomer President and CEO, CEPA

The industry recognizes that renewables and fossil fuels must coexist to supply the world with a constant source of energy into the future. However, making the transition to a greener energy portfolio will take time, and fossil fuels will play a critical role in supporting that evolution.

Another important issue is energy poverty. According the International Energy Agency (IEA) over a billion people don’t have access to basic energy services, even in some areas of Canada.

Our country can play a significant role in helping to reduce energy poverty by sharing innovative ideas and technologies and by distributing more of our energy to global markets whether it be oil, natural gas or hydroelectric power.

OTTAWALIFE: What are the real numbers in terms of jobs created by pipeline building in Canada? Can you be specific in terms of the numbers and types of jobs created (full-time versus part-time or contract jobs etc.)?

The transmission pipeline industry is responsible for almost 34,000 fulltime equivalent jobs across Canada, supporting many households.

OTTAWALIFE: What types of trades’

workers are involved in building Pipelines?

Please visit aboutpipelines.com and read the CEPA Foundation performance report. There is information about the engineering, design, construction and manufacturing companies who play a crucial role in our industry.

OTTAWALIFE: Can you explain the link between pipelines and refineries?

Oil pipelines are connected to refining infrastructure in North America and would link to the world's refineries PHOTO: MATHIESON & HEWITT PHOTOGRAPHERS

with access to tidewater.

OTTAWALIFE: What is the industry

policy with regards to spills when they happen and sharing that information with the public?

Regulatory requirements are quite stringent when it comes to what a company must do when they have a leak on their pipeline. Incidents must be reported to the regulator who will require the company to provide details of their investigation (into the incident)

99.999 The per cent safety record for delivery of petroleum products by CEPA member companies, in 2015.

Source CEPA

pipelines, as evidenced through CEPA Integrity First®. CEPA Integrity First® is an industry-led program established

by CEPA to demonstrate commitment to continuously improving in the areas of safety, environment and socioeconomics.

Integrity First® brings together some of industry’s greatest minds and most influential leaders to define, share and implement leading practices to improve performance in critical areas.

The program enables CEPA’s member companies to work collectively to strengthen the pipeline industry’s performance, engagement and communications. CEPA’s members recognize that no incidents are acceptable and through adherence to Integrity First®, which is a condition for CEPA membership,they collaborate on everything related to safety and hold each other accountable to continuously improve their operating performance.

OTTAWALIFE: Are CEPA and your

once it is complete. CEPA and its member companies believe that it is important for Canadians to understand the performance history of our industry, so we have created an online searchable map that identifies the location of pipelines operated by our members, and just this past September we included incident history. Further embracing the principle of transparency, CEPA is publishing on an annual basis a report on performance, which clearly lays out where the industry is doing well and where there exists opportunities for improvement.

OTTAWALIFE: Is there an industrywide standard and policy related to spills when they happen?

CEPA and its members are focused first and foremost on pipeline safety and the prevention of all incidents throughout the entire lifecycle of

partners concerned about the increasing amount of fuel being transported by rail? Do you have any figures to show how pipeline construction will decrease the amount of fuel being transported by rail?

Pipelines are the most cost-effective way to transport crude oil.They require significantly less energy to operate than trucks or rail and have a much lower carbon footprint. While the movement of crude by rail has significantly increased and rail is one complementary mode of transportation, it is not necessarily a safer mode of transportation.We view other modes of transportation, such as rail or trucks, as a complement to pipelines. Transmission pipelines in Canada transport 3.3 million barrels of oil per day — that would be equivalent to 4,200 rail cars or 15,000 tanker trucks n 33 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

opinion by Frank Raso & Greg Vezina

Canada’s Ammonia Energy Option

C

anada possesses vast energy resources (oil, gas, hydropower and wind) that are disadvantaged from full development by a combination of distance from markets, cost of transportation infrastructure and CO2 intensity.

One promising option to address these barriers is to develop ammonia (NH3) as a portable, storable, ultraclean fuel for regional development and export.

Ammonia has many advantages as a fuel.

• It is an easily storable liquid at moderate pressures (similar to LPG) with a boiling point of -36 C. • It is the second most produced chemical in the world and has very well established procedures, regulations and equipment for shipping, storage and handling even at very large scales required for fuel.

• It is essential fertilizer for feeding the world as well as an efficient, environmentally safe refrigerant.

• It produces only nitrogen and water when used as a fuel (no CO2, CO, smoke, soot, sulfur or nitrogen oxides).

• With regard to fire or explosion, it is much safer than other fuels such as gasoline, LPG, natural gas and crude oil.

• It is not a greenhouse gas and is, by definition, biodegradable.

Most of the ammonia produced today is from natural gas in very large plants. Hydrogen from the natural gas is combined with nitrogen from the air. Most of the CO2 in the process is produced as a pure stream and the rest can be captured with the same equipment at very low cost. If the ammonia is produced from local gas/ oil fields, this creates reservoirs for injection of the pure CO2 (either for enhanced oil recovery or permanent sequestration).

34 OTTAWALIFE FALL DECEMBER 2016 2016

Ammonia from low cost gas fields in modern world-scale plants can manufacture zero carbon, liquid fuel for less cost than diesel fuel. It can be used in internal combustion engines or turbines for stationary power generation or for transportation with no emissions (including no greenhouse gas emissions).

Once these ammonia plants have been established they can be designed to incorporate grid scale quantities of renewable power for additional zero carbon hydrogen and process energy.

This facility could also become a hydrogen processing facility for upgrading heavy oil.

RATHER THAN BUILDING MORE INFRASTRUCTURE TO EXPORT UNREFINED OIL COMMODITIES, IT WOULD BE WISER TO INSTEAD MANUFACTURE HIGH VALUE ANHYDROUS AMMONIA (NH3) FROM CANADIAN NATURAL GAS AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES.

The annual global market for diesel power generator sets is over 60 gigawatts (a little less than half of Canada’s electrical capacity). As ammonia is proven and becomes available as a fuel, it can become a preferred alternative to diesel fuel for this application.

These ammonia powered gensets can serve as the baseload power generation in local microgrids that enable much improved utilization of renewable power (e.g., wind power) while guaranteeing reliable electricity. These applications are already developed for diesel generators. When they are powered by ammonia, they will be operations that can be placed in

urban environments and will be more applicable to use the heat from the engines for heating or absorptive air conditioning.

The development and optimization of these microgrid engines and systems can open options for efficient additions to power grids around the world with manageable project size, better utilization of local renewable power, zero emissions and combined heat and power.

The optimization of internal combustion engines for stationary power generation will provide the basis for car, truck and rail engines powered by zero carbon ammonia.

As these clean fuel markets grow, they can be supplied as premium fuels and fertilizers via pipelines (see article 1 in this series), rail, barge, truck and ship.

These routes to market are much more flexible than gas pipelines to LNG export terminals or long distance HVDC electric lines to remote power markets. The product can be stored and shipped to the highest return markets depending on seasonality, variable demand and cost of transport options.

This general scenario represents an opportunity for Canada to produce systems and zero carbon fuels that will lead the world.

Third in a series of four articles for OLM by Greg Vezina, Chairman, Hydrofuel Inc. and current issue guest contributor Dr. Steve Wittrig, Senior Advisor, Advanced Energy Systems, Clean Air Task Force n Final in a series of four articles for OLM

by Greg Vezina, Chairman, and Frank

Raso, Chief Scientist, Hydrofuel Inc. and C.A.E.C.- Canadian Alternative Energy Corp.

building a better canada infrastructure series by Candice Vetter

Labourers’ International Union of North AmericaSeries Part 1 – LiUNA’s pushback and Bill C-377 any unions operating in Canada M were disturbed by the previous federal government’s Bill C-377, a contentious bill demanding unions disclose all financial transactions over $5,000, including the names of the individual persons or companies paid by a union.

The Labourers' International Union of North America (LiUNA) has about half a million members, including about 100,000 in Canada, and is one of North America’s oldest and most powerful unions.

When Bill C-377 was proposed,LiUNA took action, including push back towards the Conservative government of the time, combined with strong advocacy for workers’ rights.

As far as contract disclosure, some of what the bill proposed is what LiUNA was already doing, but union leaders drew the line at some particularly odious requirements, including publicly posting individual names.

That was seen as infringing on the privacy rights of union members and their families, possibly subjecting them to unreasonable search and seizure, and the bill also eroded collective bargaining rights. Often described as a battle of ideology, with the Conservative government appearing to take an adversarial anti-union stance, LiUNA and other unions felt the bill could be the thin edge of a wedge. The concern was that all the gains made by labour unions could clearly be wiped away by a change in legislation.

Consequently, Joseph Mancinelli, LiUNA’s International Vice-president

and Regional Manager for Central and Eastern Canada, spoke up, coalescing and uniting forces and actively pursuing all available channels. It quickly became apparent that Parliament had circumvented the Senate, breaking a century of tradition, and Mancinelli argued that the ideological battle ignored the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.“This differential treatment is unfair and privileges competing interests that are against labour organizations,” he said. “And it violates the spirit of the Charter.”

Mancinelli brought those views to a Parliamentary Committee hearing Ottawa, where he said,“LiUNA families across Canada are concerned that Bill C-377 is fundamentally flawed.” In a long presentation he said the bill would cause members and families to incur significant costs, and it would also intrude on their privacy and erode their freedom of association and expression.

Worse, it seemed discriminatory. “It will discriminate against their labour organization simply because it is a union,” Mancinelli said. “Bill C-377 exclusively targets labour organizations.

The disclosures mandated by the bill will prejudice labour unions and their trust funds, resulting in a singling out of labour organizations and giving an unfair advantage to anti- union groups and other similar associations that are exempt from the bill's disclosure provisions.”

Another problem was with the federal government becoming involved in labour issues in the first place. Normally labour laws and codes are regulated at the provincial level, but by stating the bill was to aid the Canada Revenue Agency, that was circumvented. This

was upsetting to union leaders, who normally can direct advocacy towards provincial leaders, but now had to worry about federal interference thinly disguised as a CRA issue.

It wasn’t only the government in power that advocacy was directed toward. A federal election was brewing and it was prudent to impress on potential winners, the Liberal Party of Canada and the NDP, the need to change this legislation.

In the end, a Liberal government was formed, and one of its earliest actions was to repeal Bill C-377. Union representatives stated they were happy with the outcome of their advocacy.

They are also encouraged by promised investments in infrastructure, which will provide jobs for labourers.

So what future advocacy does LiUNA plan?

High on the list is advocacy aimed at current leadership campaigns, both the upcoming federal Conservative and NDP leadership races, and also provincially.

There is also considerable concern about proposed trade deals—the Canada-European Union Trade Agreement (CETA) and the TransPacific Partnership (TPP). What LiUNA wants is a seat at the table, to make sure its members’ points of view are heard and included.

The responsibility of unions to monitor government regulations, economic changes and movement in policy directions never ends. LiUNA will remain vigilant n 35 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

36 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

reaching higher/education by Dan Donovan

Algonquin College Offers Degrees Too! lgonquin College promotes itself (PLT). Each program offers strong as the sharing of information increases.

A as a place to transform hopes and practical and theory-based courses and Graduates may also find employment dreams into skills and knowledge, the option of an industrial placement in biotech, optics, laser and space leading to lifelong career success. The College’s many varied and popular programs attract students from near and far. Algonquin’s teaching methodology is based on a set of core values: caring, learning, integrity and respect, and a commitment to continuously be a global leader in digitally-connected applied education and training.

Many don’t realize that Algonquin offers both college and university accredited degrees. They are approved by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, and granted by the College in partnership with both Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. Studies take place at both Algonquin and the partnering University. The collaborative degrees are conferred by the University.

The degrees granted by Algonquin College include a Bachelor of Applied Arts – Interior Design, Bachelor of Applied Business – e-Business Supply Chain Management, Bachelor of Building Science and a Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management (Co-op).These areas of study and the opportunity to earn a collaborative degree is very popular with students because they provide both the academic and theoretical components of the subject matter, and a significant amount of hands-on experience.

The Bachelor of Information Technology degree is a tightly integrated, joint Carleton University and Algonquin College collaboration that offers four programs: Interactive Multimedia & Design (IMD), Information Resource Management (IRM), Network Technology (NET), and Photonics and Laser Technology

(Co-op) opportunity, after the second year of study.

The Photonics and Laser Technology program offered in conjunction with Carleton University is a popular program taught at the photonics lab at Algonquin College. The photonics industry has grown immensely in the past two decades. Photonics and laser technology impacts all segments of society and industry, from the way we communicate, harness energy from the sun, manufacture things, measure MANY DON’T REALIZE THAT ALGONQUIN OFFERS BOTH COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY ACCREDITED DEGREES. THEY ARE APPROVED BY THE ONTARIO MINISTRY OF TRAINING, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AND GRANTED BY THE COLLEGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BOTH CARLETON UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA.

things (including many important new medical instruments and laser-based therapies) and entertain ourselves with colourful displays in all sizes and shapes.

The growth of optical technology (photonics) in everything we do is inevitable and requires broadly trained professionals able to contribute to the evolution of the industry.

Initially, the electronics industry was dramatically affected by the growth of photonics. However, the largest growth remains in the fibre optic and wireless communication sector where advances in technology are expanding

technology industries.

The National Research Council operates the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (CPFC) in Ottawa.

The CPFC provides a “one stop shop” for world-class engineering and manufacturing services, commercial grade prototyping and pilot-run production facilities. This had led to a sustained cluster of photonics businesses and activity in the national capital region, which have further benefitted from the collaborative degree program offered at Algonquin which is one of only two colleges in Ontario offering photonics education, and related courses in the fibre optic and wireless communications field.

The Bachelor of Science in nursing degree is a joint Algonquin–University of Ottawa offering, and is one of the most reputable and popular nursing degrees in Canada. Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins says that the “overall number of nurses in Ontario has grown by about 8,000 over the past four or five years, adding that “we continue to employ many new nurses.” A job survey released from job-indexing site Indeed.com in May 2016 said that “Canada is among many developed and developing countries facing a shortage of nurses,” and the Canadian Nurses Association estimates Canada could be short as many as 60,000 nurses by 2022.

Obviously the Algonquin Bachelor of Science in nursing degree is a much needed collaborative that will provide good jobs for graduates and assist Canada in training its next generation of nurses n 37 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

PEOPLE POWERED PROGRESS The Canadian Union of Skilled Workers and SMARTNet Alliance are part of a network of strong community partners that share a vision of a thriving sustainable energy future. This growing network of participants is bringing this vision to life every day.

On September 9th to 11th come and experience individual, community and commercial sustainable energy projects, products and services. Join us for the Energy Showcase at Landsdowne Park or any one of the Green Energy Doors Open host sites in the Ottawa region. Be part of the real progress we are making towards a sustainable future.

Learn more at: OttawaGEDO.org

On-site BioGas Digester (GEDO 2011)

In partnership with:

Visit us online: cusw.ca

38 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

cusw series by Candice Vetter

Red Seal Reeds —

HER CUSW MEMBERSHIP MEANS OPPORTUNITY The Canadian Union of Skilled Workers represents tradespeople and journeymen, including advocacy on behalf of its members and provides additional training. It’s also one of the rare unions that accepts that its members at times take a non-union job.

Tracy Reeds is a member who has benefited from that policy.

Today, she is an electrician but as is the case for many, her journey didn’t start there.

Originally, she obtained a three-year business diploma at Durham College in Oshawa and was selling women’s work wear. “I decided I wanted to make a certain wage by a certain age. I’ve always been handy and my father’s a mechanic.” Reeds met a female electrician who owned her own company. “She said she loved it.”

So Reeds volunteered with her first.

“I put my toes in before I committed.

And I loved the work.” She obtained her training and soon was hired parttime.“It wasn’t really enough to keep me going, though. At the time there wasn’t a lot of work here. I had a contact in Edmonton so I moved there to apprentice.”

Reeds undertook the majority of her apprenticeship there, where she completed her journeyman’s exam as an electrician, then followed up with her Red Seal exam.The Red Seal is an inter-provincial certification, allowing tradespersons’ qualifications to be

recognized in most of the country.

She returned to Ontario to be closer to family, applied to CUSW and was accepted for Ontario membership. “I was eligible because of my Red Seal,” she said. “I was working on solar farms at the time and my application was pre-approved.”

That work was non-union. “It took a few weeks until a CUSW job came up so I continued the non-union work BEING WITH CUSW— IT’S ALL ABOUT HELPING YOU, EVEN NOT TAKING A JOB IF IT’S HARD FOR YOUR FAMILY.

for a bit.” She appreciates that aspect of CUSW membership. “Being with CUSW—it’s all about helping you, even not taking a job if it’s hard for your family. Furthermore, they don’t post jobs unless they’re good.”

Her first union job was at the Ontario Power Generation nuclear plant in Darlington. “It was a really great experience. I had done most of my apprenticeship in a commercial building, so this was my first industrial

site. She enjoyed being on a big site with 40 other union members.

However, when she’s on stand down at the plant, she goes back to the solar installations. “I can work for my old boss, which I appreciate.”

She’s also had the opportunity to take a number of courses and get additional training through the union. In Alberta there is less of a union presence and so when she returned and joined CUSW, she says she noticed a big difference.

CUSW helped her immensely.

Trades provide good practical skills, good rewards and good pay -- and that’s one of her principal reasons for becoming an electrician in the first place. She also likes the security.

“If I can’t do something as physical anymore, or travel for jobs because I have children in the future, there are jobs within the union itself.”

Reeds credits CUSW for having her back.“CUSW gave me the opportunity to go places I wouldn’t have been able to go on my own.” And there is no doubt she will continue to soar n www.cusw.ca 39 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

A New Union for a New Tomorrow

T

he Canadian Union of Skilled Workers was founded in 1999 to create a pathway for workers and other Canadians to transition from the industrial

economy that had formed the base of our society for more than 200 years, to the “information”, knowledge-based economy of the 21st Century. The founding members could visualize this transition and set out on a path to realize that goal.

Some in society would ask the question – why bother?

Unions or “trade unions”, as some refer to them today, have had a major influence in the development of both civil and social society throughout history. They have appeared in many forms. The Guilds emerged as far back as the 1200s in response to the need for civil structures of governance and a desire to ensure skilled craftsmen, quality products and value for their communities. The Knights of Labour rose quickly in the 1800s in response to a void around social justice and a lack of political solutions to resolve them, but just as quickly disappeared as their member’s dissipated and the union disappeared.

around the globe as industrialization and the drive for profit intensified.

Productivity stalled as workers rallied against the brutal treatment by employers. Wars were fought over the oppression imposed on the workforce and in some areas political movements were formed as the battle raged. By 1919, the United Nations had formed the International Labor Organization in response to the social justice violations that were rampant across the globe and by 1946, the United Nations were holding regular meetings to set labour standards that were recognized throughout the world. Work was the driver and unions were the response.

By the 20th century, a myriad of organized responses sprouted up

Over time industrial society divided into three distinct categories –

40 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

government, employers and workers.

The basis for the division is that these three groups have distinct interests and that the interests could only be harmonized if one group or the other was subject to the will of the other more dominant group or groups. The struggle over control came to define who we were as a society.

The Canadian Union of Skilled Workers was created in response to this outlook of our economic and political structure. As the “information economy” began to emerge it became clear that there was an opportunity to redefine the relationship amongst the interests. The founding members realized that a union based on a simple employer/worker relationship that was regulated by the government would lead into the same divisions as in the society that had come before them.

The model and the relationships amongst the three categories would need to change. There was an opportunity to influence the future development of civil and social society

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

op-ed by Alex Mazur

and it was decided to take the challenge.

The timing was right and the ground fertile.The centralized mass-production model was shifting to a system where local economic development was prevalent. The workforce would no longer be centralized in one location and workers would need to be able to transition to opportunities as they were created. Skills would need to be flexible and portable.

The goal of the founding members was to build a union that would redefine the way that work would be organized in the workplace while at the same time redefining the relationship between workers and the broader community.

The CUSW Constitution was drafted to go beyond the traditional view that a union is only there to regulate the relationship between employees and employers through collective bargaining. The door was opened for all citizens to join the Union even though they were not part of a unionrepresented workplace. The objects of the union outlined in the CUSW Constitution reached far beyond the workplace and were written to include “all citizens of our country”. CUSW members understood that to break down the divide in society created by the industrial economy, there would need to be opportunities to build open discussion across partisan lines.

The term “knowledge worker” formed part of the dialogue that launched the shift in the way that workers would participate in future discussions. The idea that worker-voice was expressed through the institutions that they belonged to was replaced with member-voice and participation. The members of the Canadian Union of Skilled Workers are embracing this change and are moving forward to redefine the ways that workers can participate in the society.

Today there is clearly a shift taking place in the way that we organize our economy. With every shift in the economic conditions that define a society there is a parallel opportunity to redefine the relationships that shape that society.

CUSW members believe that the workplace of the 21st century has the potential to contribute to building a civil and social environment where there is mutual respect amongst workers and employers and a sincere desire to work together for the betterment of all.

access the information that they need to participate in the day-to-day affairs of the union and the workplace. Through the Take the LEAD programme, members learn how the union operates and the role that democratic participation has in making it a success.

The union is the members.

To accomplish this we are promoting a new kind of economy, a progressive economy that respects the environment that we live in and the people who we live with. We need to work with strong partners to build capacity in that economy and we need to develop a workforce with the skills to make the transition a success.

On the employer front, we are already seeing a new style of employer emerging with a more inclusive approach to the operation of the workforce. The layers of management that once defined the industrial workplace are being replaced by a collaboration of skills and talents that break down traditional job descriptions and defined roles.

Employers and workers are partners in success.

Today we can say that we are well on our way to realizing those goals.

We are part of building capacity in a sustainable economy where people matter. Through partnerships we are able to encourage like-minded people to come together to build that society.

TODAY…WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY TO REALIZING THOSE GOALS. WE ARE PART OF BUILDING CAPACITY IN A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY WHERE PEOPLE MATTER. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WE ARE ABLE TO ENCOURAGE LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER TO BUILD THAT SOCIETY.

In 1999, CUSW adopted the phrase knowledge worker to represent the concept of a worker who understands the world around them. It is a worker who can adapt to the changes that are taking place in their workplace and in broader society. In this new economy, not only will it be up to workers to know what is taking place around them but it will also be up to them to provide their creativity and input into shaping how work is carried out.

CUSW is well on our way to bringing these ideas to life. We have developed a Leadership Academy to support the knowledge worker and our employer partners. Through face-to-face and online learning, members are able to

Utilizing the legal framework of a union allows architects, engineers, technicians and appropriate trade support workers to come together with a voice in the structure that these workplaces will take on. Through democratic participation in the workplace we are able to redefine these roles and set new standards for the way that work is done.

At CUSW, we already have workplaces where this is taking place in response to the changing work environment. All employees are members of the union and all members have a voice.

The 21st century union is not restricted to members employed through a union/management labour agreement.

Membership is open to anyone who shares the vision of coming together to build a social society based on the principles of inclusion and respect.

Small Business owners who have joined CUSW provide a great addition to the voice within the union. Although they have no collective-bargaining relationship with the union, they are full, participating members who bring a community voice to the development of the union as we move forward.

These are exciting times. Being involved in building a “new tomorrow” at the start of a “new ERA” is the thing that stories are made of n www.cusw.ca 41 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

PHOTOS: PM>GC>CA

canada-china friendship series by Luo Zhaohui

Culture Exchange Promotes Understanding,

Brings Countries Closer Despite Distance late September 2016, Chinese IvisitnPremier Li Ke-Qiang paid an official to Canada. It was the second visit

of a Chinese Premier in 13 years and a return visit after Prime Minister Trudeau’s official visit to China in early September. The consecutive visits of the PMs of the two countries signal further improvement of CanadaChina relations. This was the result of accumulative efforts of both sides in many years, as well as the fruition of continuous endeavors in cultural exchanges in recent years.

Canada and China are separated by the vast Pacific Ocean. Nevertheless, the two peoples share mutual friendship and bonds that go back many years. As early as the late 19th century, tens of thousands of Chinese labourers came to Canada to build the Pacific Railways and made valuable contributions to the economic and social development of Canada and its national unity. In the 1930s, Doctor Norman Bethune went to China and sacrificed his life for the Resistance Movement against Japanese Aggression. In 1970s, the visionary leaders of the two countries showed tremendous courage by overcoming barriers to establish diplomatic relations: Canada was among the first western nations to establish diplomatic ties with China. These are part of precious memories of our collective history and

42 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

ABOVE: Prime Minister Trudeau and Mrs Gregoire Trudeau greet Premier Li Ke-Qiang and Mrs Cheng Hong, in Ottawa.

should be cherished and honoured for generations to come.

In his article published in The Globe and Mail in September this year, Premier Li Ke-Qiang stated that: “Mutual Trust is the cornerstone of friendly relations and co-operation between Canada and China. Economic co-operation and trade are the driving force of ChinaCanada relations. People-to-people exchanges are a powerful catalyst for China-Canada friendly co-operation.”

In recent years, people-to-people exchanges between Canada and China have increased and the friendly relations between our two peoples have enhanced. This contributed greatly to the overall development of the bilateral relations and is reflected in the following areas: 1.

Agreements of cultural co-operation between the two governments provided the legal foundation and policy framework for the cultural exchanges. They served as guidance to the exchanges and activities in the cultural domain of two countries. Canada and China signed numerous cultural co-operation agreements and documents, including the latest series during the PMs’ recent

visit: Program of Co-operation for the Years 2017-2019 under the Cultural Agreement between the Government of China and the Government of Canada, Film Co-production Treaty between the Government of China and the Government of Canada. The two governments reached consensus on cooperation in Winter Olympics, as well as in other areas, such as libraries. The two governments also announced that Canada will be the Guest of Honour of China Education Expo 2017, and the year 2018 will be China-Canada Tourism Year.

2.

Multi-annual Large Scale Cultural Exchanges. In 2013-2014, Canada and China successfully coordinated a series of cultural exchange activities. In November 2014, the then Canadian Prime Minister Harper visited China and announced with the Chinese Premier that the year 2015-2016 would be designated as “China-Canada Year of People-toPeople and Cultural Exchanges”. It was another highlight in the history of China-Canada cultural relationship.

In the last four years, the cultural and diplomatic departments of the two countries have had frequent and close contact to fully realize the potential of

cultural co-operation. Much has been accomplished in this domain.

3.

Major co-operative projects.

In 2013, the Montreal-Vancouver Tour of the Chinese Central Ballet was the opening act of a series of major cultural exchange activities. It was followed by other impressive projects: in 2014-2016, Toronto Symphony Orchestra held “Annual Chinese New Year Concert”; in 2014, Place des Arts Montreal organized“Spectaculairement Chine”; Toronto Harbourfront Centre held “China Now Festival”; China Shanghai International Arts Festival held “Canadian Culture Week”; in March 2014-Janurary 2015, “The Forbidden City: Inside the Court of China’s Emperors” was exhibited at the Royal Ontario Museum and Vancouver Gallery; in 2015, the fourth “China-Canada Culture Dialogue” was held in Toronto; in 2016, Canada and China co-hosted a photo exhibition and reception in celebration of the 45th anniversary of China-Canada diplomatic ties; “Happy Chinese New Year Flash Event” was held in front of Parliament Hill; Montreal en Lumière invited China as Guest of Honour; Shanghai Ballet conducted two tours in Canada; Canada participated in “Meet in Beijing Art Festival” as Guest of Honour. During this period, National Arts Centre of Canada and National Centre for the Performing Art of China exchanged orchestra visits and continued long-term co-operation.

The cultural communities of the two countries organized co-production: Wuxi Song and Dance Theatre and the famous Canadian dance choreographer Peter Quanz collaborated in producing ballet “Red-Crowned Crane” and will tour Canada in the near future. These major cooperative projects run through the streamline of China-Canada cultural exchange while the autonomous co-operation between cultural organizations and agencies further deepened the cultural exchanges.These two elements constitute the backbones of bilateral cultural exchanges.

4.

Co-operation in cultural industry is taking shape. In tourism, since 2013, Canada and China hosted “China-Canada Tourism Summit”,

Beijing Tourist Photo Exhibition, Ningxia Tourism Exhibition and Beijing Tourism Promotion etc. In film and television co-operation, from 2013 on, Guangdong TV Station and Canada Today TV Station concluded landing co-operation; Montreal International Film Festival held consecutive China Film Commerce Week; China International TV Corporation and Xinhua TV Channel conducted program landing trials; in 2016, the first China-Canada International Film Festival was successfully held. In e-game, Canadian game companies organized a delegation to attend “Guangzhou E-Game International Expo” in September 2013; Montreal International Game Summit invited China as Guest of Honour in November 2013; China Cultural Industrial Base and Quebec Digital Union signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish long-term co-operation in resources complementation and information sharing. Cultural Industry Co-operation is a new area of bilateral cultural co-operation, adding more vitality and persistence to the bilateral cultural relations.

5.

Down-to-earth, high in popularity, gentle giants charmed the world: Since 2013, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding loaned two giant panda bears to Canada and they became instant sensation. In the third quarter of 2015, Ershun gave birth to twins. Toronto held a national naming contest. In March 2016, Prime Minister Trudeau attended the naming ceremony of panda cubs, the twins were named Jiapanpan (Canadian Hope) and Jiayueyue (Canadian Joy).

These two panda cubs are now the stars of Toronto Zoo. They are very popular among Canadians, especially children, and became important catalyst for the promotion of mutual understanding at the grass-roots level.

6.

Canadian Government and Parliament demonstrated a positive attitude in developing bilateral cultural relations. In recent years, the Canadian government followed through on some of its international obligations on cultural property. Under the framework of UNESCO International

Convention on the Prohibition of Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property, Canada confiscated and returned several Chinese, artifacts including pre-historic fossils and components of ancient buildings, gaining high praise and appreciation from the Chinese government. In June 2016, the Parliament of Canada adopted the motion to proclaim, on an annual basis, the first day of the Chinese Lunar Year as the beginning of the 15-day “Spring Festival”, encouraging people Asian descent to organize celebrations such as “Happy Chinese New Year” in order to enrich multiculturalism of Canada.

7.

High-level visits to the two countries further deepen the mutual understanding and friendship. Chinese media and websites closely followed the recent Chinese visit of Mr.Trudeau and his family. Images of PM and Mrs. Trudeau and their daughter walking on the Great Wall, PM Trudeau and Chinese basketball star Yao Ming tutoring Shanghai high-school students, PM Trudeau jogging in the park and playing Taiji all generated intense interest from the general public.

During Premier Li Ke-Qiang’s visit to Canada, Premier Li took a special trip to Montreal with PM Trudeau and visited the Bell Centre and Premier Li visited the historical exhibition of hockey, watched training session and kicked off the hockey game. These wonderful images played an irreplaceable role in shortening the distance between the two peoples and had a significant impact on the continuous development of China-Canada relations.

Looking forward to the future, the potential of China-Canada cultural exchanges is even greater.The prospects are bright: 1.

Co-operation in film coproduction: China-Canada Agreement on Film Co-production was officially signed and the foundation was laid for co-operation of film co-production. In 2015, the box office revenue exceeded 44 billion RMB (approximately 8 billion Canadian dollars) in China, with more than 31000 films. It is a huge emerging market with tremendous continued >> page 45 43 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

he Keys are a combination of T some 1,700 islands that start where the Florida Turnpike intersects with

travel by Jennifer Hartley

Highway 1.You will find the locals refer to locations based on mile markers on the one highway/road in and out of the Keys. The Keys start at Mile 120 and run south to Mile 0 in Key West.

As you drive down Highway 1, you may notice it looks like a protected area.That’s because it is.The Everglades National Park, protecting more than 1.5 million acres, is the 3rd largest national park in the lower 48 states, behind Yellowstone National Park (2nd) and Death Valley National Park (1st). It provides habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile and the Florida panther. It is a World Heritage Site, and even just driving by en route south provides incredible scenery. If you do want to stop and check it out, it is open for visits and has programming and trails.

FLEE TO THE KEYS

& Hawks Cay Resort Now that it’s cold, our minds just naturally turn to heat and how to get it. This year, escape to the place that inspired Ernest Hemingway’s classic novels, that has the best ceviche and key lime pie you may ever taste and has breathtaking beauty. With a chill, Caribbean-esque attitude and island time, the Florida Keys will give you that perfect feeling of getting away from it all.

Continue driving and you will hit Key Largo (miles 108-90). Be sure to stop at mile 102.4 at The Fish House restaurant. The décor is completely kitsch, but don’t let that scare you off.

The fresh fish dishes are spectacular.

It would be a lost opportunity not to stop. Locals rave about it for good reason. The Matecumbe dish (fresh fish done light with tomatoes, shallots, basil, capers, olive oil) has been featured on the Food Network and is an unparalleled fish experience.

The ceviche is incredible as well. The yellowtail snapper, mahi-mahi, grouper and Florida lobster are impeccably prepared in a variety of ways to please every palate. Their key lime pie is the perfect way to top off the meal.

PHOTOS: HAWKS KEY RESORT, JASON SEMPLE 44 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

Not that you will be spending too much time indoors, but you do need somewhere to grab some sleep. There are countless motels, trailer parks, small inns, motels with calming-sounding names and big chain hotels along the 120 miles. However, the best place by far from which to explore the Keys is from a home base at the Hawks Cay Resort. This paradise, large resort is located right in the middle of Mile 61 in Duck Key. It is the perfect oasis. Not only is it the ideal place to stay, it is a destination unto itself. It has everything you want or need with helpful staff to make sure you get it. The luxurious, spacious rooms and cozy beds will keep you rested and have you feeling like Sleeping Beauty. There are various accommodation options (villas, suites, rooms that open up onto the 21-over pool area) that are there to make you feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible with spacious areas and cozy beds, leaving you fresh and ready to take on the adventures of the day.

(which you can sample for free early in the day by the 21-over pool.).

China-Canada Friendship >> from page 43

There are tennis courts, a fullyequipped gym and in the waters of the Keys, there are more than 1,200 colourful creatures waiting to be discovered during a dive. The Florida Keys are home to the only living coral reef system in the continental United States.

growth potential and will be a highlight of bilateral cultural exchanges.

The lush surroundings and the beautiful vantage point to watch sunsets on one side (and sunrises on the other) are another bonus of the Hawks Cay. Take a sunset boat cruise (it is short, only 1.5 hours tops) and sip wine, beer and bubbly as you watch the sun set in the beautiful blue sky. There is a party atmosphere on the boat so enjoy it.

You are strongly encouraged to enjoy the beverages in the quantity of your choice.

There are superb restaurants on site, Alma has fine dining, then there’s Ocean (comfort food), Beach Grill (fantastic ceviche, calamari and burgers), to name just a few and the Tiki poolside bar offers up incredible mojitos, margaritas and local beers to quench your thirst.

As a resort, it has an enormous list of outdoor activities. A Smart Board in the lobby lists the daily events. For starters, you can book an offshore or backcountry fishing charter leaving from the Hawks Cay Marina, paddle your way around Ernest Hemmingway the island on a standIf you decide to venture lived in Key West for up paddleboard (lessons away from Hawks Cay, ten years. See his and rentals are available) KeyWest is 60 miles away. or swim with dolphins. typewriter on display at Visit the Hemingway Hemingway House.

Dolphin Connection, House to see where onsite at the hotel Ernest Hemingway will delight kids of all ages (big ones lived and soak up his creativity in included). his writing studio. Hit Sloppy Joe’s Bar and Captain Tony’s Saloon to Children can attend Camp Hawk see where else he got his inspiration.

Environmental Education Academy Both sites were Hemingway haunts. while you relax by the pool, by the Captain Tony’s was the original site salt-water lagoon, get a massage at the of Sloppy Joe’s until the bar owner spa or just wander and stroll around the (a friend of Hemingway’s) got into a enormous property. If walking is not fight with the landlord and moved to part of the plan, there is a trolley to its current location. Both are worthy take you around the site. of a pint.

There are six phenomenal and massive pools, and if you are so inclined, each is perfect for swimming or for exercise.

Of course you could also just hang out in the hot tub with a drink of the day

But you won’t want to stay away from Hawks Cay long, because there is so much to do and experience there.

Most of all, it is the perfect place to relax and unwind n

2.

Co-operation in Winter Olympics: China is dedicated in developing winter sports and it will be the host of 2022 Winter Olympics.

Canada naturally excels in winter sports and Canada’s experience in hosting Winter Olympics is vast. China and Canada reached consensus in cooperation in Winter Olympics and this co-operation is just another example of collaboration.

3.

Co-operation in tourism: During the visits of Canadian Prime Minister and Chinese Premier in September, China and Canada signed Memorandum of Understanding between the National Tourism Administration of China and the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development of Canada in the Field of Tourism, the two sides announced the target of doubling two-way visits by 2025 based on 2015 statistics, and agreed that China will authorise Canada to open 7 additional Canadian visa application centres in China. On top of this, the two governments designated 2018 as ChinaCanada Tourism Year. These important measures will certainly enhance further interaction and development of ChinaCanada tourism.

4.

Canada-China “Happy Chinese New Year” celebrations: the Parliament of Canada adopted the motion on “Spring Festival” in 2016. It encourages Canadians of Chinese descent, Oversea Chinese and communities of Asian heritage to organize more cultural celebration activities during Chinese New Year period. This will contribute to the multiculturalism and culture diversity of Canada.

We firmly believe that, with full support of high-level leadership and active participation and general public engagement, China-Canada cultural exchanges will yield fruitful results and lay a solid foundation in public opinion for China-Canada Strategic Partnership n 45 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

travel by Vawn Himmelsbach

Discovering the Sea Less Travelled

Greece in

here are no swaying palm trees T here, no powder-white sand. There isn’t a single hotel or resort in sight, no striped umbrellas or beach bars or sunbathing tourists. Instead, the deep-blue sea is surrounded by multicoloured volcanic rock that creates pillars and caves and cliffs, giving one the impression of being on another planet (or maybe a moon).

And making for a great backdrop when you plunge into the water from your catamaran.

This is Milos, one of the Greek islands in the Cyclades — an island that was created from a series of earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. And while it doesn’t get the same level of attention as its more popular neighbours, like Santorini and Mykonos, that is perhaps what makes it so appealing.

ABOVE: The volcanic Greek island of

Milos has some 80 beaches including secluded caves with crystal clear water.

RIGHT: Architecturally, Syros is one of the most fascinating of the Greek Islands along with being the most cosmopolitan.

46 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

Its rugged coastline offers up more than 75 beaches of sand, pebble or volcanic rock; some are more easily accessible and meant for swimming; some are wild and isolated and require effort to find. But they’re not packed with tourists like beaches on other Greek islands. Some are actually empty.

About half the island is a nature reserve, only accessible by boat or offroad vehicle (indeed, the best way to see it is to rent a boat for the day from the harbour). And it has what some visitors believe are the best beaches in all of Greece.

There’s Sarakiniko, with its lunar landscape of glaring-white volcanic rock, which makes you feel like you’re

walking on the moon (if the moon had really cool swimming holes).

There are the rock formations of Kleftiko, the caves of Papafragkas and the thermal springs at Kanava, Provata and Pikropiyi. The biggest beach is Ahivadolimni, but there are also beaches with dramatic landscapes at Fyriplaka,Yerakas and Tsigrados.

Many people come to the Greek islands to tick a few things off their bucket list.

Santorini? Check. Mykonos? Check.

The Acropolis? Check. But that’s like saying you’ve had souvlaki and Greek salad, so therefore you’ve experienced Greek food. There’s much more to Greece and, arguably, more authentic experiences to be found by going off the well-worn tourist path.

A cruise through the Greek islands with Celestyal Cruises took me to Santorini and Mykonos, but also to lesser-known isles such as Milos, Ios and Kos — islands that I had never heard of previously. Turned out, those islands were the best part of my trip.

I’d long wanted to see Santorini, with its blue-domed, whitewashed buildings; after all, it’s the stuff of legends. Clearly, though, I wasn’t the only one.

Santorini is as postcard-perfect as I imagined. But as I elbowed my way through hordes of tourists all clamouring to get the same iconic photo of Santorini — and trying to avoid getting smacked in the face with a selfie stick or accidently photobombing someone’s Instagram shot — I found myself longing to get back to quiet, peaceful Milos.

While these islands are by no means deserted, they don’t get the volumes of tourists that Santorini and Mykonos see during the summer season — in part, because large cruise ships don’t go there, and in part because they’re less accessible to tourists in general. To get to Ios, for example, you’d have to take a ferry from Santorini; there’s no airport on the island.

But the Greek isles aren’t just for sun-worshippers. Kos, the ‘island of Hippocrates,’ was a surprise, with its lush, green hills, covered in olive groves and vineyards. Foodies can visit the beekeepers in Kefalos, where they can sample thyme honey, traditional loukoumades (mini honey donuts) and raki (a local spirit) flavoured with honey.

Many of these tourists had been deposited from large cruise ships, the kind with up to 9,000 passengers, who were trying to cram in as much action as they could get in a couple of hours.

Ios does have a reputation as a party island, but there’s more to it than that — especially if you’re out during the day while the partygoers are sleeping off their hangovers. While it’s not completely off the grid, you’ll find expats and backpackers here, only 500 people live on the island permanently.

It’s dotted with authentic Greek villages, and has a church for literally every day of the year (yes, 365 of them) dotting the rugged landscape.

Then there’s the award-winning Syrah from the family-run Hatziemmanouil Vineyards. And in Zia, the most traditional village on the island, you can pick up the local liqueur made of cinnamon and sip on black, syrupy Greek coffee. If you want sun and sand, however, there’s good swimming at Marcos Beach.

Thankfully, I was cruising around the Aegean Sea on a smaller vessel, one that’s small enough to visit ports that larger cruise ships can’t go (or don’t bother to). And while we paid a visit to Santorini and Mykonos, we were also able to avoid the crowds at smaller, less-visited Greek isles and along the coast of the Turkish Riviera.

The Celestyal Crystal has three- and four-day itineraries, for those who want

“There are some ports that cruise lines can go, but rarely choose to do so,” said Dan Buru, cruise director for Celestyal Crystal, who has been with the company for 10 years and witnessed the growth of the cruise industry here.

“The big cruise lines, in order to attract thousands of passengers, they go to more commercial spots,” he said. “We go also to some niche spots where only we can go and where people cannot usually go by ferry or [by plane].”

Milos, for example, is a “hidden gem that nobody goes to,” he said. Why? Because when it’s winter back home in North America, it’s a hard sell: people want white sandy beaches and turquoise water, not volcanic rocks.

In some cases, they simply can’t go: at Samos, for example, windy weather conditions make it too difficult for larger vessels to navigate.

“However, if you take this cruise … you go to the main attractions, but you go somewhere that others don’t go to,” said Buru. “They’re not even aware Syros is on the itinerary and when they arrive they’re amazed. Milos is the same.”

ABOVE: The ancient Greek city of Ephesus was built in the 10th century BC. It was once the Mediterranean’s main commercial centre. RIGHT: The impressive grey rocks of Sarkiniko beach on the island of Milos.

The best way to get around is to rent a vehicle or scooter and wind your way through the mountainous terrain on the island’s only road to discover isolated beaches. The Celestyal Crystal arrived in the morning and, after a short, scenic drive, I found myself at the isolated beach of Manganari, along with just a handful of other travellers — and plenty of empty beach chairs to choose from.

I couldn’t quite believe I had a long stretch of sandy beach practically to myself during the high season in Greece. But on some of these lesservisited islands, it’s possible.

to add some Greek island hopping to their European vacation. On the longer seven-day itinerary, the vessel makes its way to the Turkish Riviera, for a visit to swish Cesme, with its trendy beach clubs and high-end boutiques, as well as Kusadasi, with its Turkish bazaars ideal for shopping (and bargaining). Plus, there’s an option to visit the ancient kingdom of Ephesus, near Kusadasi.

Sure, Santorini and Mykonos are worth a visit, but the true gems of the Aegean Sea are the ones you’ve never heard of — and you just might discover you had the wrong items on your bucket list n 47 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

travel by Karen Temple

Nevada’s Loneliest Road

Hiking a t Kershaw -Ryan Sta te Park

Where it once pulsed with the excitement and the thrill of prospectors lured by the gold rush, middle Nevada has been restored to a land of solitude where nature is queen. The arid desert climate is home to 23 State and two National Parks plus a variety of national recreational areas, historic trails and monuments. Some towns manage to stay alive where others have faded away, but all are well worth exploring. In some places, taxidermy may outnumber actual humans but those you do meet vary from a wonderful cast of old timers keen to share their stories, rangers passionate about the landscape, to entrepreneurs and community leaders.

Days can be very, very hot so bring some sun protection, lots of water, and plenty of tunes for the long drive.

View while riding aboard Northern Nevada Railway Museum steam train

Carson City is the capital of Nevada and is a great base camp for discovering Lake Tahoe.

Fallon

PHOTO: VISITFALLONnevade.com

q

t The last remaining loneliest highway road sign sits on the outskirts of Austin.

Austin

POP: 8000 • visitfallonnevada.com

The loneliness ends abuptly in Fallon.

Conspiracy theorists would decry that its verdant fields correspond directly to the fact that it is home to a large US Naval Air Base and the Top Gun training program.

Irrigation is the real reason that this alfalfa growing and pilot producing town is an oasis in the desert.The area is popular with ornithology enthusiasts who visit the local wetlands to see the migrating birds.

Frey Ranch Distillery epitomizes American gumption. In its second year, the impressive “ground-to-glass” operation already boasts an awardwinning gin. No other distillery grows and malts all of its own grain. Keep watch for FREY bourbon to be released in 2018. freyranch.com 48 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

Pointing out cuts of meat is easy when you have them tatooed on your arm. Chef Keli Kelly of The Slanted Porch say the base has allowed businesses like hers to prosper. slantedporch.com

POP: 192 • austinnevada.com

Once a city of ten thousand, Austin is said to be the best preserved example of an early Nevada mining town. It is now considered a living ghost town. Its former stature is reflected in the remaining churches, the International hotel, one very odd castle and the stories told by the remaining 190 eclectic locals. International opera star Emma Neveda hailed from Austin. Local legend has it that a piano was purchased for the young prodigy from a company in Boston. Delivering the instrument involved it being shipped around Cape Horne and back up to San Fransisco where it made its final journey across land by horse and wagon.

uTribute

to the Pony Express National Historic Trail outside Austin, NV.

Just outside of Ely Nevada sits The McGill Drugstore Museum.

The Rexall sign still hangs outside but the store is frozen in time. The chemist’s wife kept the store going until 1979 but one glance at the shelves and it’s doubtful that new inventory was received past the 1950s. Local Dan Baddock runs the store and is happy to share stories from the once booming mining town that attracted workers from around the world.

Get a passport, collect stamps at each town mail it in and Nevada Tourism, will send you an official certificate signed by the Governor! u

Great Basin National Park offers opportunities to hike, climb, camp and discover the natural wonder of the Lehman caves. Named for a local rancher who is said to have discovered them in the late 1880s, the caves are open year round and can be toured with a park interpreter. Another natural wonder are the ancient bristlecone pines, pictographs and petroglyphs. nps.gov/grba/index.htm

Eureka

POP: 610 • co.eureka.nv.us

Ely

POP: 4,255• elynevada.net

Once a stop on the Pony Express Ely, Neveda is one of the few mining towns that continues to have a working copper mine. The local Hotel Nevada was the tallest building in Nevada until the mid-1930s. The rooms are named after famous entertainers who visited or performed. Stop at the Nevada Northern Railway for a ride on the steam train. The complex is the a real treat. Don’t miss the museum located above the gift shop.

The town also has great murals that can be seen by following the art trail.

parks.nv.gov

Once the site of the US’s second largest silver deposit, Pioche likely would not still exist if it weren’t for the location of the county courthouse. Rusted buckets that once carried ore from the mine to the smelter still hang from overhead cables that stretch across the town. In its heyday, Pioche was home to 10,000 people and had a reputation for being the meanest town in the west.

Make a roadside stop for some alien jerky as you pass the famed Area 51.

Veg as

q

To Las

All alone on I-93, don’t even think of speeding past Cathedral Gorge State Park without stopping. Once an ancient lakebed, the siltsone and clay shale have eroded to create the most spectacular spire, alien-like formations. Spend a day hiking or if you’re more adventurous, crawl and climb through the formations.

Pioche

POP: 1002 • piochenevada.org

t

A tiny yet pretty town with a beautiful opera house.Visit the Sentinal Museum — a time capsule of a press room from the 1800s.

Cathedral Gorge State Park 49 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

opinion by Patrick Gossage

RARE INSIGHTS INTO CAMPAIGN WAR ROOMS –

An Ottawa Must Read here are more civil servants T than politicians and journalists in Ottawa, but increasingly, and of necessity, allegedly neutral government employees are political players, their lives often turned around by the incoming government’s new polices and priorities.

They will find veteran campaign manager John Laschinger’s new book: Campaign Confessions, Tales from the War Rooms of Politics highly revealing about how their political masters got to Canada’s capital.

The book starts with a bang, defining the desire for change as one of the most important elements campaign strategists have to work with. When it reaches 60% in your polling, you are almost certain to win. It worked for Obama and it worked for Justin Trudeau. And almost everyone in Ottawa is still wrestling with making change work.

One of the chapters that I found most fascinating deals with the challenges faced by female candidates. Laschinger states quite unequivocally that women are better communicators and listeners than men, and today’s amazing cadre of female cabinet ministers is busy proving that. He also applauds the efforts of various legislations, including the national Parliament to make time demands more amenable to women with family obligations.

Most uninformed observers credit focus groups and polling as basic tools for finding a path to electoral victory.

Laschinger agrees to a point, while happily pointing out the danger of 50 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

predictive polling in the media which has been notoriously inaccurate of late. Polling is a day-to- day tactical tool during a campaign. Sometimes campaign poll findings are critical.

Mulroney’s pollster Allan Gregg advised that they “bomb the bridge of trust” that existed between the public and the Conservatives’ Liberal rival John Turner. They did, and we have free trade.

LASCHINGER FULLY PULLS THE CURTAIN BACK ON THE MYSTERIES OF THE “WAR ROOM,” THE HIGH PRESSURE BACKROOM WORK THAT KEEPS GOOD MESSAGES FLOWING AND BAD MESSAGES ANSWERED IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND 24-HOUR NEWS.

The book, somewhat surprisingly, has a very strong chapter on vision and values.

He states: “The most memorable and effective campaigns and candidates are those that are able to tie politics with vision. Trudeau senior’s “just society” falls in that category, but interestingly his son’s policies and platform lacked great vision. Rather, his return to core Liberal “values” of economic equality, inclusivity and a sunny optimism played a large role in the Liberal victory.

Laschinger fully pulls the curtain back on the mysteries of the “War Room,” the high pressure backroom work that keeps good messages flowing and bad messages answered in the age of social media and 24-hour news. Its importance has grown with dominance

of tweeting and the internet with the War Room becoming the de facto communications hub of the campaign, not the candidate. Fewer journalists travel with the leader and “news”, often just responses to accusations, is generated in the ether between various war rooms.“None of this can be helpful for democracy,” Laschinger opines.

Social media which Justin Trudeau’s people did and still use to such advantage, and which curiously seems out of bounds for government communications, “provides voters with direct access to politicians.” A huge and critical change in how voters are reached, IF the candidate is willing to us this tool. Clearly Trudeau is, as is Tony Clement among others. Social media offers new and powerful connection with the electorate. Laschinger bwelieves that the use of pictures (“still worth a thousand words”) will define successful campaigns even more in the future. Should government workers keep up with the social media postings of politicians – yes, for sure. (But selfies with your minister might be avoided.)

The book’s final observations deserve our serious consideration. After 40 campaigns, Laschinger concludes that not money, not polling, not negative ads or backroom plotting in fact finally determine the outcome of campaigns – it’s the quality of the candidate. “Most candidates win or lose campaigns on their own merits”. This rollicking g ride through dozens of campaign lessons and stories could not end on a better note n

opinion by Michael Coren

ONTARIO’S SEX ED CURRICULUM

Standard Stuff or a Montrous Manifesto? here is much controversy over T the new Ontario Sex Education curriculum, which we are told has led to

2000 children being removed from the school system out of fears that they will perverted by this ostensibly monstrous manifesto of social engineering. It would be genuinely funny if it weren’t so very sad. I have now covered three protests against the sex ed programme and I can assure you that most of those demonstrating certainly haven’t read the thing and are being fed false or horribly out-of-context statements from the document.

I have read it, and it’s not much fun.

Almost 250 pages long, a lot is about not smoking, not doing drugs, eating vegetables and keeping fit. The good bits? Pretty standard stuff really. It acknowledges that some children feel as if their physical bodies do not represent their psychological and sexual feelings and realizes that, whether parents approve or not, anal and oral sex do take place. It’s more discussion than indoctrination and the reaction has been hysterical, with people who make a fetish out of their fears dominating the conversation.

One allegation, for example, is that disgraced former senior public servant Benjamin Levin was behind the curriculum.That’s mere propaganda. In fact the curriculum is pretty standard stuff and similar systems operate throughout Western Europe. Levin is merely a convenient and repugnant digression.

The other aspect of all this is Kathleen Wynne’s sexuality. Every time an opponent of the curriculum claims

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

that the Premier’s lesbianism is irrelevant and that the objections have nothing to do with homophobia the nose of that bloody puppet Pinocchio extends another inch. Anti-LGBTQ feelings permeate all of this, drench the reaction and infect the reactions of the people withdrawing their children from school. They seem convinced that if their kids receive a modern sex education they will either become chronic masturbators or gay activists.

Goodness, we couldn’t even get ours to do their math homework!

THE PEOPLE WITHDRAWING THEIR CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL… SEEM CONVINCED THAT IF THEIR KIDS RECEIVE A MODERN SEX EDUCATION THEY WILL EITHER BECOME CHRONIC MASTURBATORS OR GAY ACTIVISTS. GOODNESS, WE COULDN’T EVEN GET OURS TO DO THEIR MATH HOMEWORK!

Quite a few of those parents who have withdrawn their children are Muslim and are using on-line and Skype classes directly from Pakistan, which is a country where a strict blasphemy law is enforced and secular, gay and Christian Pakistanis are regularly persecuted and worse. Very worrying indeed.

Some of the Christian children being withdrawn are being sent to private Christian schools but they aren’t cheap and, anyway, not always sufficiently religiously rigorous for the objecting parents. So instead there are parents

who opt for homeschooling, which is often problematic in itself.

The other tragedy here is that to a very large degree the last people who should be homeschooling are homeschoolers. While there are secular, anti-state types who do it, the majority is ultra-religious and mainly conservative Roman Catholic or rightwing evangelical Christian. Some are relatively mainline but many embrace grotesque theories about the dangers of vaccination, the threat of public education and the evils of modern society. They are often homophobic, generally sexually puritanical and some reject evolution and even hold to the world being 6000 years old.

This is not a recipe for a well-adjusted, well-formed young person.

Legally, parents have a right to withdraw their children from school as long as they can prove that an alternative and adequate education is being offered.

That’s not particularly difficult and it’s common for the authorities to hardly even check. The problem, however, is not how much history, geography or literature they know but how do they regard those who are different.

So from a mild and long overdue reform of Ontario’s school sex education there has been an empowerment of fundamentalist education and of a homeschooling community that rejects not only the change in teaching but much of what modern Canada represents and reflects. It doesn’t promise well for anybody concerned and it’s likely to get worse rather than better n 51 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

true north series by Candice Vetter

Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Reaps Information Rewards

– the Mackenzie DataStream Project

anada’s far North is seeing C increased attention and activity, with a variety of initiatives to improve life in the North meeting varied levels of success.

One of the organizations which has truly built capacity is The Gordon Foundation, and one of the keys to its success in the North is direct involvement with northerners, many of them First Nations or Inuit.

A prime philosophy at the Foundation is the belief that northerners themselves should be the primary voices developing policies for the North. The Gordon Foundation provides support to share northern voices, and works to amplify those voices in ways that are reflected in improved policies.

This Canadian philanthropic institution celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015. Its northern focus came about 25 years ago with the second generation, Walter and Elizabeth Gordon’s daughter, Jane Glassco, who noted that northern issues needed northern solutions.

One example of The Gordon Foundation’s commitment to northern solutions for northerners is Mackenzie DataStream, an online platform for sharing information about freshwater. Mackenzie DataStream is made for and available to the public and to decision-makers. It lets anyone access and download the full water quality datasets which are collected by 21 communities, all of which belong to the Northwest Territories’ Community -Based Monitoring program. A successful pilot project last year led to this year’s official launch in November in Fort Smith, NWT, and in Ottawa, where an event will be hosted by Jonathan Wilkinson, Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of 52 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

Environment and Climate Change.

Future phases of Mackenzie DataStream will incorporate datasets collected by additional groups which are also located within the Mackenzie River Basin.

“It’s online open access and open source,” says Carolyn DuBois, program manager for water at The Gordon Foundation. “Data is collected by communities throughout the Northwest Territories, from Fort Smith in the south to the Arctic Ocean.”

The impetus came from the NWT government, which spearheaded what DuBois describes as “comprehensive water strategy with unmatched community engagement.”

Communities in the vast Mackenzie Basin, one of North America’s greatest watersheds, wanted an active role in water management.

Because all the communities are collecting comparable data the resulting dataset is “really solid” and of good use. Residents monitor, among other things, concentrations of dissolved metals, turbidity, chlorophyll-a, hydrocarbons and water temperature, then make the information available, through Mackenzie DataStream, to communities, governments, and regulatory agencies, to be considered in water management decisions.

“Mackenzie DataStream provides residents with timely and easy access to information on water quality in the Mackenzie River Basin and the quality of freshwater near their communities,” says Erin Kelly, Acting Deputy Minister for Environment and Natural Resources at the Government of NWT. “Access to these results has been identified by our partners, including Indigenous Governments,

non-government organizations, regulatory agencies, academia and others, as important for decision-making at multiple scales. This includes decisions made at individual, community, regional, territorial and transboundary scales.”

Because the Mackenzie River runs north, what happens south affects communities along its length. It is expected to be extended to other jurisdictions in the Basin including Fort Nelson in northeastern B.C. “We have invested in water monitoring and see tremendous value in sharing it on this open access platform”, says Chief Liz Logan of the Fort Nelson First Nation. “Mackenzie DataStream will allow this data to be used in our community as well as by our neighbours downstream in Yukon, Alberta and the Northwest Territories”.

Fort Nelson First Nation’s involvement in Mackenzie DataStream is being made possible by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA)’s Community Investment Program.

“It supports our community-based water monitoring program which helps NWT communities to address questions they have about water quality, quantity and aquatic ecosystem health,” says Kelly. “It is another tool … to promote knowledge sharing and support the building of partnerships and evidence-based decision-making throughout the Mackenzie River Basin.” n Mackenzie DataStream was developed

by Alberta-based Tesera Systems.

The full list of almost 50 water partners can be found at http:// www.nwtwaterstewardship.ca/ partneragencies. For more information, visit www.mackenziedatastream.ca PHOTO: PAT KANE

true north series by Candice Vetter

Kyla Kakfwi Scott

A Jane Glassco Northern Fellow Who is Helping to Build a Sustainable North he Jane Glassco Northern T Fellowship describes itself as a policy and leadership development program

which targets young northerners, aged 25 to 35. Their experiences with self-directed and collective sharing of knowledge and skills, with inclusion of traditional knowledge into the research process, produces better articulated and shared research, resulting in ideas and strengthened abilities. The ultimate goals are to help Fellows build a healthier, more self-reliant and sustainable North.

One of those Fellows, the first to be profiled in this ongoing series, is Kyla Kakfwi Scott (K’asho Got’ine). She has a stunning list of accomplishments and currently serves as Senior Advisor, Anti-Poverty, with the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), where she holds joint responsibility for the advancement of the Territorial Anti-Poverty Action Plan and the development of the NWT On the Land Collaborative Fund. She is also pursuing a Masters degree, is a member of the selection committee for the Arctic Inspiration Prize, advises the Small Change Fund, was the founding program manager for Dechinta Bush University, and is a founding member and steering committee member of Dene Nahjo.

Kakfwi Scott spent most of her life in Yellowknife. Her father’s family is from Fort Good Hope, NWT (Denendeh), where she often visited as a child, and her mother was from southwestern PHOTO: JANE GEORGE

Ontario, where Kakfwi Scott attended the University of Western Ontario. “I didn’t appreciate home, where I was from, until I moved away,” she said.

“There I realized how important my family, my Dene culture, and the land were to me.”

She has a background in community relations, which she had used when working for the Ekati Diamond Mine, and which she took full advantage of as one of the founders of Dechinta Bush University program. Dechinta courses are taught by Northern leaders with a Northern context, agenda and relevance, in a land-based environment, remote and off the grid.

One day Kakfwi Scott saw a newspaper advertisement for the Jane Glassco Northern Fellowship. “It was like the program had been designed for me,” she says. “I’d started a degree, married, had kids, moved back up north, worked, but felt full of potential I wasn’t able to take advantage of. I felt I had a lot more to offer.”

Receiving the Fellowship allowed her to become deeply involved in an already-designed study for Northern curricula in high schools, and she says it led directly to her public service with the Government of NWT. “I was recruited because Debbie DeLancey, the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, read my Fellows’ paper and approached me.”

Her paper, and other aspects of her Fellowship work, dealt with Northern history and knowledge because, although indigenous and northerly recounts of their history were officially part of the curriculum, nothing had been standardized. “It was different in every classroom,” she says. “And the teachers were often not from the North. There were also different funding methods for different schools.” The Fellowship provided the opportunity to put teachers and subject matter experts together to advise the curriculum.

“Now it’s full credit,” she says with a hint of modest pride in her voice.

“It was first used in Grade 10, now it’s also in Grade 11 and will be expanding into Grade 12.”

Another big part of her focus is as one of the founders of Dene Nahjo, an organization for a new generation of community builders who are working to advance social and environmental justice for Northern peoples, fostering emerging indigenous leadership, and promoting living, learning, and celebrating the culture of the land through the guidance of elders.

“The potential and capacity up here is underreported,” she says. “Programs happening in the north are really investing in emerging leaders. It’s driven by the people here—it feels exciting here. And the Fellowship is part of that.” n

gordonfoundation.ca/jane-glasco-northern-fellowhip 53 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

education by Tia Dumoulin

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Learning Contextually The Business Council of Canada and the Business/Higher Education Roundtable have put forth an initiative to include a “work-integrated learning” component in undergraduate programs offered by universities across Canada. Its main goal is to “ensure 100 per cent of Canadian postsecondary students benefit from some form of meaningful work-integrated learning before graduation.”

This initiative was prompted by employers’ mentioning that undergraduate students are often ill prepared for the workforce because they lack important skills, such as communication and language skills and leadership abilities. Co-op placements and internships are now at the forefront to ease the transition for students between the academic and the work environment.

It seems obvious to point out that practical learning components found typically in co-op and internship opportunities are beneficial to students.

Contextual learning helps them apply the theory they have learned in class to practical situations. In a constantly

shifting job market, it is especially important for students to be exposed to a variety of work environments if they want to stay ahead of the competition.

The Centre for Contextual Learning (CCL) at Saint Paul University is helping students do just that. In the two years since the Centre opened, it has seen a significant increase in the number of students participating in internships within the National Capital Region and abroad. The CCL promotes the practical application of learning by helping students enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s program at Saint Paul University participate in supervised, unpaid internships related

to their academic studies. Because the internships are credited as part of the students’ program, they don’t delay the students’ graduation date. In addition, the Centre offers Saint Paul University students the unique flexibility to do an internship anywhere in the world. It is important to note that the CCL does not place students within organizations; rather, students are invited to suggest organizations in which they are interested, giving them more agency in charting their internship trajectory.

To be engaged is to understand that through conscious and decisive actions, each and every one of us can help build a stronger, more humane global community. That is why Saint Paul University uses an approach that combines theory with practice n Tia Dumoulin is an Internship Counsellor at the Centre for Contextual Learning, Saint Paul University. ustpaul.ca/internships

You can be the face of change!

Saint Paul University (1848) is the founding college of the University of Ottawa, with which it has been federated since 1965. Bilingual and on a human scale, it offers programs in social communication, counselling and psychotherapy, canon law, public ethics, conflict studies, philosophy, human relations, and theology.

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ustpaul.ca

55 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

Please, What’s More Canadian?

Demonstrate your support for MOOSE rail on social media.

Show us your #MooseSalute

#MooseSalute

Startup Modular Station Concept and Design by MTBA Associates Inc.

“for the general advantage of Canada” Knowing that it’s improbable, you take 400 km of rail across a 5,000 km2 region in Canada. Collaborate with 15 municipalities, 2 provinces and 6 federal government departments. You span a mighty river, and then reach all the way back to laws from the time of Confederation to mend an inter-provincial trade barrier. You rally the 1.2 million people who live today throughout the Greater National Capital Region to agree on something that is “for the general advantage of Canada.”

Welcome to metropolitan, inter-provincial passenger rail.

MOOSE rail:

One region. Two provinces.

Three lines. For everybody.

Une région. Deux provinces.

Trois lignes. Mis en quatre pour vous servir.

Make your preferences known. THANK YOU.

www.letsgomoose.ca

MOOSE – Mobility Ottawa-Outaouais Systems & Enterprises 56 OTTAWALIFE DECEMBER 2016

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