Jun - OSCA

The
O•S•C•A•R
©
The Community Voice of Old Ottawa South
Year 32 , No. 6
The Ottawa South Community Association Review
JUNE 2006
“I promise to advocate the Firehall
in the 2007 budget for completion in
2008” Mayor Chiarelli
By Michael Jenkin
I
n his speech to the almost 300 people at the Lobster
Dinner on Saturday night, the Mayor lent his weight
to our efforts to fund the Firehall renovation and
expansion. Praising the commitment and activism of
communities such as Old Ottawa South, the Mayor
said he believed such enthusiasm needed and deserved
recognition from the City. “I understand the importance
of neighbourhood community leadership that takes
ownership of their community,” he said.
He outlined his approach which would be to get
committed financing for the Firehall renovation, first,
by seeking funding for detailed design and engineering
work in the 2007 financial year and then to go after
a budgetary commitment to start construction the
following year. “It is time for the city to deliver,” said
Mayor Chiarelli to a very enthusiastic crowd.
He offered his good offices to lobby council and
his commitment to the Firehall as a major priority for
his administration. It will be important, he warned,
for Old Ottawa South to keep up the pressure and to
actively lobby councillors to demonstrate that this is a
doable and needed project.
OSCA will be meeting with the Mayor and Councillor
Doucet in the coming weeks to plan a strategy to carry
this project forward.
Community Helps Reforest Windsor Park
By Gary Lum
D
espite the threat of heavy rain,
approximately 30 volunteers
showed up to help reforest Windsor/
Linda Thom Parks on Saturday,
May 13. The rain never materialized
and the weather was excellent for
planting the 125 trees supplied by the
City of Ottawa and our community
environmental group ECOS.
It had rained the Friday before and
throughout the evening and early
morning hours. The ground was
sufficiently wet for ideal digging
and the soil was moist to support the
newly planted trees.
The new trees were planted
from the entrance of Windsor Park
where Belmont meets the Rideau
River up to the Pump House. The
planting respected the objectives of
the Vegetation Management Plan for
the Rideau River Waterfront which
is available for viewing at OSCA’s
web site. The trees were meter high
Red and Silver Maples, Oaks and
Basswoods. Once planted, they were
wrapped in a plastic sleeve to prevent
the beavers from feeding on them.
The intention of the Vegetation
Plan is to provide our parks with
indigenous trees which are much
more manageable than the invasive
Manitoba Maples. The new trees
will provide us with an opportunity
to phase out the Manitoba Maples
over the longer term. The growth of
the Manitoba Maples is so rapid and
uncontrolled that the City is unable
to stay on top of the maintenance
challenge.
One of our residents, Marney
Pomeroy, who was unable to
participate in our first tree planting
day, was extremely generous in
providing our tree planting program
with $100.00 towards the purchase of
trees for our next phase. The money
will be held in trust by ECOS until we
purchase more trees next year.
Readers who cannot volunteer
their time can participate by making
a financial contribution towards the
purchase of trees or participate in the
City’s Commemorative tree program.
The Commemorative Tree Program
has been set up to assist families and
individuals honor a family member
or loved one through the planting
of a tree. The City will provide the
necessary support and maintenance to
ensure that the tree will flourish.
On behalf of Old Ottawa
South residents, I wish to thank the
volunteers who defied the elements
and contributed their valuable time
towards the reforestation of our
parks.
Page The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
The
OSCAR
The OTTAWA SOUTH COMMUNITY
ASSOCIATION REVIEW
260 Sunnyside Ave, Ottawa Ontario, K1S 0R7
www.OldOttawaSouth.ca/oscar
Please Note: The OSCAR Has No Fax
The OSCAR PhoneLine: 730-1045
E-mail: [email protected]
Editor: Mary Anne Thompson
Distribution Manager: Craig Piche
Business Manager: Colleen Thomson
Advertising Manager: Gayle Weitzman
730-1045
730-5838
730-1058
(not classy ads)
NEXT DEADLINE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 11
The OSCAR is a community association paper paid for entirely by advertising. It is published for the Ottawa South Community Association
Inc. (OSCA). Distribution is free to all Old Ottawa South homes and
businesses and selected locations in Old Ottawa South, the Glebe and
Billings Bridge. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not
necessarily of The OSCAR or OSCA. The editor retains the right to edit
and include articles submitted for publication.
FOR DISTRIBUTION INQUIRIES, CALL 730-5838 AND
LEAVE A MESSAGE
The OSCAR thanks the following people who brought us
to your door this month:
ZONE A1: Kathy Krywicki (Coordinator), Mary Jo Lynch, Brian Eames,
Kim Barclay, Marvel Sampson, Wendy Robbins, Ron Barton, Jim and Carrol
Robb, Kevin and Stephanie Williams.
ZONE B1: Ross Imrie (Coordinator), Andrea and Cedric Innes, the Montgomery family, Laurie Morrison, Norma Reveler, Stephanie and Kulani de
Larrinaga.
ZONE B2: Lorie Magee Mills (Coordinator), Leslie Roster, Hayley Atkinson, Karen Landheer, Caroline and Ian Calvert, Sheilagh Stronach, Matthew
and Graeme Gaetz, Kathy Krywicki.
ZONE C1: Laura Johnson (Coordinator), the James-Guevremont family, the
Williams family, Sylvie Turner, Lynne Myers, Bob Knights, Jeff Pouw, the
Franks family.
ZONE C2: Craig Piche (Coordinator), Alan McCullough, Arthur Taylor,
Charles and Phillip Kijek, the Brown family, Kit Jenkin, Michel and Christina Bridgeman.
ZONE D1: Bert Hopkins (Coordinator), the Crighton family, Emily Keys,
the Lascelles family, Gail Stewart, Bert Hopkins, Mary Jane Jones, the Sprott
family.
ZONE D2: Janet Drysdale (Coordinator), Ian Godfrey, Eric Chernushenko,
Aidan and Willem Ray, the Stewart family.
ZONE E1: Mark Fryars (Coordinator), Brian Tansey, Doug Stickley, Wendy
Johnson, Anna Cuylits, Ryan Lum, Mary O’Neill.
ZONE E2: Nicola Katz (Coordinator), Frida Kolsster-Berry, Mary-Ann
Kent, Glen Elder and Lorraine Stewart, the Rowleys, Dave White, the Hunter
family, Brodkin-Haas family, Christina Bradley.
ZONE F1: Carol and Ferg O’Connor (Coordinator), Jenny O’Brien, Janet
Jancar, the Stern family, T. Liston, Ellen Bailie, Niki Devito, Dante and Bianca Ruiz, Walter and Robbie Engert.
ZONE F2: Bea Bol (Coordinator), the Tubman family, Karen Fee, Shaughnessy and Kyle Dow, Paulette Theriault, Mark McDonald, Bea Bol, Jill
Moine, Paris Dutton.
ZONE G: Jim and Angela Graves (Coordinator), Peggy and Brian Kinsley,
Shelly Lewis, Melissa and Timo Cheah, Claire and Brigitt Maultsaid, Jane
Kurys, Roger Ehrhardt, Norma Grier, the Ostrander-Weitzman family.
Echo Drive: Alex Bissel.
Bank Street-Ottawa South: Rob Cook, Tom Lawson
Bank Street-Glebe: Craig Piche.
JUNE 2006
CONTRIBUTIONS
Contributions should be in electronic format sent either by e-mail to
[email protected] in either plain text or WORD format, or as a
printed copy delivered to the Firehall office, 260 Sunnyside Avenue.
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FUTURE OSCAR DEADLINES
Friday, May 19 (June issue). No issues in July or August.
Friday, August 11 (September issue), September 22 (October issue),
October 20 (November issue), November 17 (December issue)
The Old Firehall
Ottawa South Community Centre
HOURS
PHONE 247-4946
MONDAY TO THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
9 AM TO 9 PM
9 AM TO 6 PM
9 AM TO 1 PM*
CLOSED
*Open only when programs are operating, please call first.
WHAT’S THAT NUMBER?
Ottawa South Community Centre - The Old Firehall
Ottawa South Community Association (OSCA)
Ottawa Public Library - South Branch
Lynn Graham, Public School Trustee - [email protected]
Kathy Ablett, Catholic Board Trustee
Centretown Community Health Centre
CARLETON UNIVERSITY
CUSA (Carleton U Students Association)
Graduate Students Association
Community Liaison
Mediation Centre
Athletics
CITY HALL
Bob Chiarelli, Mayor of Ottawa ([email protected])
Clive Doucet, City Councillor ([email protected])
Main Number(24 hrs) for all departments
Community Police - non-emergencies
Emergencies only
Serious Crimes
Ottawa Hydro
Streetlight Problems (burned out, always on, flickering)
Brewer Pool
Brewer Arena
City of Ottawa web site - www.city.ottawa.on.ca
247-4946
247-4872
730-1082
730-3366
526-9512
233-5430
520-6688
520-6616
520-3660
520-5765
520-4480
580-2496
580-2487
3-1-1
236-1222
9-1-1
230-6211
738-6400
3-1-1
247-4938
247-4917
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
Page LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The OSCAR welcomes letters on subjects of interest to the community or in response to previous articles. All letters must disclose the name of the
writer, as well as the address and phone number. Lettters may be edited for length, clarity, and libelous statements. The opinions of the writers are not
necessarily those of the newspaper or its editor. Email your letters to [email protected] or leave in print at the Firehall.
Invitations
There’s a Party in My Driveway
and Everyone’s Invited!
D
earest, kindest residents
of Old Ottawa South
I’d like to wholeheartedly
invite each and every one of you
to a party on Tuesday, June 20, 6
to 8 p.m., in the driveway of 94
Hopewell Street. Now, I know that
over the course of the summer,
you’re all going to get invited to
any number of driveway parties.
You’re probably wondering what
will make this party different.
Two things.
First. My Jazz Trio, known
as “Howe, LaRocca, Martinez,”
are going to be providing
entertainment. I play Jazz
standards through a harmonica,
which is not something you’ll
see every day. Mr. LaRoccca and
Mr. Martinez play a sweet set of
guitars. We managed to get into
the Ottawa Jazz Festival this year,
so I guess we’re doing something
right.
Second. The theme of this party
is to raise funds for A.P.P.L.E. I’ve
been volunteering at A.P.P.L.E., a
drop-in centre for post-psychiatric
patients, for almost four years now.
I’ve done different fundraisers for
them in the past, including a bike
ride to Winnipeg, and chocolate
bar sales. This year, I’m trying
to raise three thousand dollars in
support of their annual camping
trip. But don’t worry. No one’s
going to be pressuring you while
you enjy a cold beverage and some
sweet Jazz music. We’ll treat it
like an “open-house,” except, in
the driveway.
If you want to help out, great!
Otherwise, just enjoy the music,
have a pop and some chips, meet
your neighbours, and some of the
cool folks from A.P.P.L.E.
No pressure!
Hope to see you there!
Miles Howe
Day of Tea & Roses
Saturday June 17, 2.30 to 4.00 pm.
C
ome and drink tea in two of Ottawa South’s loveliest gardens on
Father’s Day weekend. The adjacent gardens of Joan and David
Farr and Sally and James Midwinter will be the elegant location for
a garden party on the afternoon of Saturday, June 17.
Last year the Farrs’ English-style garden received awards for spring,
summer and fall from the Old Ottawa South Gardening Club. The perennial
herbaceous border garden is the result of 44 years of devotion, says Joan
Farr. The Farrs, who are long-term parishioners of St. Matthew’s, are selling
their home on Colonel By Drive. “We are heartbroken but have to go,” she
says.
This year’s warmer-than-usual spring makes the flowering schedule
uncertain but visitors are likely to enjoy a lush display of roses, peonies,
azalea, astilbe and possibly lilacs. Money raised from the tea will go support
St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in the Glebe. The 77-year church is now in
the second phase of its restoration which will cost more than $1 million.
Tickets are available at St. Matthew’s Church office at 217 First Ave.
near Bank St. Cost $20, including refreshments. For information call 2344024.
Send your comments to
[email protected] or drop them off
at the Firehall, 260 Sunnyside Avenue.
Page The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE LIBRARY
Sunnyside Branch Library
Special Programs
Summer Reading Club
Sunnyside
Crazy Capes!
Make a superhero cape.
Ages 5-9.
Thursday, July 6, 2:15 p.m. (45
min.)*
Sunnyside
Mighty Masks!
Complete your superhero disguise
with a mask.
Ages 5-9.
Thursday, July 13, 2:15 p.m. (45
min.)*
Sunnyside
Li’l John the Clown
Brings fun, magic, balloons,
music and comedy.
All ages.
Thursday, July 20, 2:15 p.m. (45
min.)*
Sunnyside
Little Ray’s Reptiles
presents “Raptors in the Sky”
An introduction to these
fascinating birds of prey.
Ages 5-9.
Thursday, July 27, 2:15 p.m. (45
min.)*
Sunnyside
Big Mouth Buddies
Artellephant Puppets presents a
puppetry workshop.
Ages 8-12.
Thursday, August 3, 2:15 p.m. (2
hrs)*
Sunnyside
Get fired up about reading
A firefighter will visit to talk
about fire safety.
Ages 5-9.
Thursday, August 10, 2:15 p.m.
(45 min.) *
Sunnyside
Sizzling Superheroes
Dress up as your favorite
superhero and come for a super
afternoon of stories and crafts.
Ages 5-9.
Thursday, August 17, 2:15 p.m.
(45 min.)*
Sunnyside
Storytime
Wednesdays, July 5-August 30,
10:15 a.m. (30 min.)
Sunnyside
Toddlertime
Tuesdays, July 4-August 29,
10:15 a.m. (30 min.)
Adult Summer
Reading Club
Ask about the adult summer
reading club at the information
desk
Sunnyside
Babytime
Tuesdays, July 4—August 29,
2:15 p.m. (30 min.)
Alta Vista Branch Library
Alta Vista Library
2516 Alta Vista Drive
To register please
call 737-2837 x6
STORYTIME
Family Arabic Storytime
An half-hour of songs, stories and
more in Arabic. Ages 12 months
to 6 years.
Saturdays, June 3, 10, 17, 24, 1
p.m. (30 min.)
SPECIAL PROGRAM /
PROGRAMME SPECIAL
Happy 30th Birthday, Alta Vista
Branch!
The whole family can join Mad
Science for an hour birthday bash,
followed by cake
refreshments and special guests.
All ages.
Saturday, June 10, 2 p.m. (1 hr.)*
Bon anniversaire de 30 à la
Succursale Alta Vista!
Nous invitions toute la famille
à une fête célébrée par Mad
Science, suivie d’un gâteau, de
rafraîchissements et d’invités
spéciaux. Pour tous les âges.
Samedi 10 juin, 14 h (1 h )*
Adult Programs
Adult Summer Reading
Club
Join in the fun! Record the books
you read throughout the summer
for free prizes. Reading logs are
available at the Information Desk.
Ask for details in the Branch.
June-August
Writers’ Circle
Are you interested in meeting
with other writers to discuss your
work in progress? Or, would you
be interested in facilitating such a
group? We would be happy to hear
from you. lease contact the branch at
737-2837 x6
Knitters helping Knitters
Would you like to be part of
a knitters’ group that meets to
share patterns and ideas and offer
assistance to other knitters?
Please contact the branch at 7372837 x6
OCISO MLO/OPL
Summer Partnership
Mr. Dahir Waberi, Multicultural
Liaison Officer from the Ottawa
Community Immigrant Services
Organization (OCISO), will be
available to offer cross-cultural
information services in Arabic and
Somali to immigrant families.
Call 737-2837 x6 after July 4 to book
an appointment.
Tuesdays, July 11-Aug. 15
Thursdays, July 13-Aug.17
OCISO MLO/OPL
Summer Partnership
Mr. Dahir Waberi will provide
information about the education
system. Topics will include
communication with the school, the
roles and responsibilities of students
and parents, School Councils and
report cards.
Ontario Education System Series,
Part 1
Thursday, Aug.3, 1:30 p.m. (1.5 hrs.)
Ontario Education System Series,
Part 2
Thursday, Aug.10, 1:30 p.m. (1.5
hrs.)
Ontario Education System Series,
Part 3
Thursday, Aug.17, 1:30 p.m. (1.5
hrs.)
Preschool Programs:
Babytime
Mondays, July 3-Aug. 21, 10:30
a.m. (30 min.)
Family Storytime
Tuesdays, July 4-Aug. 22, 10:30
a.m. (30 min.)
Contes pour la famille
Les mercredis, 5 juil.-23 août, 10
h 30 (30 min.)
Family Arabic Storytime
An half-hour of songs, stories and
more in Arabic. Ages 12 months
to 6 years.
Saturdays, July 8-Aug. 26, 3 p.m.
(30 min.)
Kick Off Party:
Alta Vista
TD Summer Reading Club /
Club de lecture estivale
Quest for heroes
TD Summer Reading Club 2006
opening ceremony. Family
program.
(Bilingual) Monday, July 3, 2
p.m. (1 hr.)*
Héros recherchés
Cérémonie d’ouverture du Club
de lecture estivale 2006 TD.
Programme familial.
(Bilingue) Lundi 3 juil., 14 h (1
h)*
Wrap up Parties :
Alta Vista
Quest for heroes
TD Summer Reading Club
2006 closing ceremony. Family
program.
(Bilingual) Thursday, Aug. 24, 2
p.m. (1 hr.)*
Héros recherchés
Cérémonie de fermeture du Club
de lecture estivale TD 2006.
Programme familial.
(Bilingue) Jeudi 24 août, 14 h (1
h )*
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
Page OSCA PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Right Hand Turns,
New Board Members and OSCA BBQ
By Michael Jenkin
Bronson Right Hand Turn
Prohibitions
I
n my column last month I reported
on the community’s concerns
about the City’s handling of the
Glebe Traffic Plan’s proposals. You
may recall that City staff approved
implementation of right hand turn
prohibitions for traffic travelling
north on Bronson in the morning
rush hour in the Glebe, but with no
consideration of a similar prohibition
for Sunnyside.
The original reason for the
right hand turn prohibitions was to
prevent cut through traffic in the
Glebe in the morning rush hours,
particularly to stop those drivers
trying to access the Queen Elizabeth
Driveway from Findlay and
Torrington Avenues. Our concern
was that such prohibitions could
cause more traffic to divert onto
Sunnyside Avenue from Bronson
in order to avoid these prohibitions.
As you know, Sunnyside is already
overburdened, especially during
school mornings at Bank Street and
there have been a number of car and
pedestrian accidents on the street in
the past year or so.
We met early in May with the
Glebe Community Association to
see if any compromise could be
struck. The GCA put forward a
proposal that seemed to have some
merit. Apparently about 40% of
drivers turning off into the Glebe
in the mornings want to divert onto
the Queen Elizabeth Driveway to
go west on that road, not east. If
turn prohibitions were placed on the
Driveway preventing cars from going
west a sizeable volume of traffic
could be prevented from turning
into the Glebe without having any
impact on Old Ottawa South. This is
because the drivers prevented from
turning onto the Driveway would
not want to divert onto Sunnyside as
this would take them in the opposite
direction they would want to travel
– east not west.
The GCA representatives also
proposed that no action be taken on
the original right hand turn proposals
until a study could be carried out of
the impact of these turn prohibitions
on Sunnyside Avenue and whether
a right hand turn prohibition
on Sunnyside would also be
possible. This could also be done
in conjunction with the proposed
safety audit of Sunnyside to see how
that street could be made safer. The
studies would likely take a year or so
to complete at which time we could
assess again whether the right hand
turn prohibitions in the Glebe would
have an impact on our community
and whether a similar prohibition
should be applied to Sunnyside.
This proposal was discussed by
the OSCA Board at its May meeting
and it met with a generally positive
response. The main concern of the
Board was that the proposed west
bound turn prohibitions onto the
Driveway should be piloted for
three months to see if there are any
unexpected consequences either for
ourselves or the Glebe.
The GCA is holding a open
house on this proposal at the Glebe
Community Centre on June 6 at 7:30
p.m. I will be attending on behalf
of OSCA, but if any of you would
like to attend and participate in the
discussions, you are welcome to do
so. The goal is to come up with
a proposal that both communities
could support for consideration
at the Transportation Committee
meeting in late June.
Looking for New Board
Members
Every year at this time we strike
a nominating committee to look for
potential new Board members to
replace those who may be leaving.
72 Grosvenor
$259,900
A new Board is elected at the
OSCA Annual General Meeting,
which is held on the first Tuesday in
November. We are uncertain how
many people will be retiring this
year, but there are always usually
vacancies. If you are interested in
serving on the Board, please contact
me at [email protected] and I will
be glad to speak with you. We are
particularly looking for people
who live east of Bank Street in the
community this year to strengthen
our representation on the Board from
that part of the neighbourhood.
OSCA BBQ
Every June OSCA sponsors a
community BBQ in Brewer Park.
It is usually held to co-coincide
with the end of the OSCA soccer
program. Once again this year there
will be hot dogs and hamburgers and
cold drinks on offer and live music.
It is usually a great event and good
fun for the kids – and someone else
cooks dinner that night for you! This
year the BBQ will be on Thursday,
June 22, starting at 5:30 p.m. in
the children’s play area at Brewer
(corner of Grove and Seneca). Take
a mid-week break and come out and
meet your neighbours!
7 Holmwood
$289,900
Page The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
Firehall Renovation Revisited
By Michael Jenkin
D
ue to a technical problem, the
floor plans of the proposed
renovation of the Firehall
that appeared in last month’s OSCAR
were badly blurred, so this month we
are reproducing them again so you
can clearly see what is proposed. The
floor plans show how the renovated
and expanded Firehall would look on
the ground floor and basement levels.
When looking at the plans a few of
points are worth keeping in mind:
As the site slopes quite dramatically
to the back of the building the rear part
of the existing and proposed added
basement is at ground level which
allows these parts of the building to
have access to daylight.
Also, the proposal involves filling
in and making level the north-west
part of the site that currently slopes
back to the rear. This would allow
us to create a fenced courtyard where
children could play and outdoor
functions could be held during the
summer time. The doors to the main
community hall addition and the
newly renovated entrance hall would
also open onto the courtyard making
it possible to use these areas and the
courtyard as one space if the need
requires.
The entry hall, which is almost
as large as our existing main hall,
is designed to serve a number of
purposes: a display space for events
such as arts and crafts exhibitions,
bake sales and the like, a coffee and
seating area could also be provided
and of course it will provide plenty
of space for coats, strollers and the
like and plenty of circulation space.
It will also provide an opportunity,
on the eastern wall, to create a
dramatic welcoming feature such as
a “wall of history” commemorating
our community and the City’s Fire
Service. Finally the entry area could
in some cases act as an adjunct space
to the main community hall providing
overflow or registration space for
large events.
The new kitchen is connected to
an activity room to its north by sliding
partitions allowing it to be used for
cooking classes, as well as being
connected to the new main hall so
large events could be catered.
You will notice in the middle of
the floor plans an elevator that would
have two sets of opening doors and
would allow disabled access to both
floors in the building, as well as making
moving heavy items and equipment
between levels much easier.
The basement level is where most
of the services will be installed as well
as where the main washrooms will
be located (a unisex washroom will
be on the main floor). The proposed
program rooms (three in number)
will not only provide expanded crafts
space, but also provide better facilities
for programs such as adult fitness
(one room is proposed with a wooden
sprung floor, for example).
Not seen in the diagrams, but
critical to our design proposal, are a
host of environmental green design
features that will stress good air
circulation, lots of natural daylight,
and energy efficient operation.
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
Page CITY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
Keeping Our Streets Safe
A hummingbird came to my garden
like a scarlet rain drop
torn from the sky
magical in its movement
delighting the eye.
T
he struggle to keep streets
and parks in the ward safe is
one that mostly occurs out of
sight of anyone but the immediate
neighbours.
Some boulders in
Timmermans and Lansdowne Parks
have been installed to prevent
drivers from using the park pathway
as a short-cut. New stop signs, street
narrowings and bulbouts are all
designed to slow cars down and give
better visibility for both pedestrians
and drivers.
There has only been one traffic
calming measure that has caught the
attention of not just our ward but
the entire city and that is the right
hand morning turning restrictions
off Bronson into the Glebe. Drivers
from as far away as Barrhaven are
annoyed that they won’t be able
to cut through Findlay, Broadway
and Torrington to reach the Queen
Elizabeth Driveway.
Presently
600 of them do it every hour in the
morning peak.
Forbidding this turning motion
has caused a great deal of concern
in our own ward also because staff
studies show it could add about
60 cars to Sunnyside which is
already over 500 cars per hour in
the morning peak (this is the total
of both directions). Needless to
say residents in Old Ottawa South
weren’t keen on the Bronson turn
restrictions being implemented
without including Sunnyside.
Staff’s
recommendation
to approve the Bronson turn
restrictions threw both communities
into considerable anxiety – the
Glebe because they worried that
they wouldn’t be able to get the turn
restrictions and Old Ottawa South
that they might.
Traffic planning is so difficult
that unless there is consensus in the
communities of the ward about how
to achieve it – the plan always fails
at Transportation Committee. The
thought of my fellow councillors is
always “well if the ward can’t make
up its mind about what should be
done – how do they expect us to do
it?”
Thus I was worried that we could
lose all possibility of continuing
with traffic calming plans for the
ward. To try to circumvent this, I
asked that staff’s report be deferred
until a sub-committee of community
leaders from both Old Ottawa South
and the Glebe could meet with staff
and myself to see if a compromise
solution could be found that was
acceptable to each community.
I believe that we worked out
a very good short and long term
package that keeps traffic security
plans moving forward for everybody.
It consists of 2 measures:
- Put the Bronson right turn
prohibitions on the shelf until a study
of including Sunnyside is completed.
Right hand turn prohibitions off
Bronson should be co-ordinated
with the beginning of the new north/
south rail line such that the public in
the south as far as Barrhaven have a
viable option to car usage.
- Put turn restrictions off
Torrington onto the Queen Elizabeth
Driveway towards Preston but not
towards Bank Street. This should
reduce the cut through on Findlay
and Torrington by 40% but will
not affect Sunnyside because it is
not possible to use Sunnyside as an
alternate cut through to get to the
Preston area.
Hats off to the hardworking
community members Mike Jenkin,
June Creelman, Leo Doyle, Guy
Giguère, Diane Hiscox, Bob
Brocklebank, and Ravi Mehta
from the city who have kept traffic
calming moving forward for both
Old Ottawa South and the Glebe.
Brighton Street Water Main
Replacement
The water line is being replaced
on Brighton as it was on Fentiman
but there is no street reconstruction
budgeted for.
Only sidewalk
patching is covered. We are trying
to secure the $300,000 required to
see the job done properly. By the
way, there has been some confusion
about new versus old standards for
sidewalk and the cost is the same.
The standard is not the issue for
Brighton.
Partnership Funding for the Old
Firehall
There has been a lot of wonderful
work done to define the needs and
create the design for the renovated
and expanded Firehall. It’s all been
great.
Now, we’ve got to figure out
how to finance it. The hard reality
is the Old Firehall is not on the
city’s renovation and expansion
priority list for the next 10 years
– at least. The trick to financing
it is finding sources of funding the
city will match and that would also
effectively move the project up
the city’s priority list. There’s the
Trillium Fund. There’s ongoing
maintenance the city is obliged to
undertake - $600,000 over the next
10 years. In Alta Vista, residents
agreed to a small levy to help fund
the Canterbury Community Centre
and the project was able to proceed
years ahead of the previous schedule.
Whether or not this is feasible for
the Old Firehall, it is an example of
sorts of things we need to explore.
I expect the Mayor will talk a
little about this at the lobster supper.
The important thing is we’re now
discussing with staff about “how”
we can achieve the financing,
not whether or not it should be
done. That in itself is a large stop
forward.
Regards,
Clive Doucet
Cancer Survivor in Old Ottawa South Doesn’t Let Treatment Stop
Her from Canvassing Her Neighborhood
Y
vonne Parker is not just a
survivor she is a fighter.
Diagnosed with ovarian
cancer two years ago, she continued
to canvass her Old Ottawa South
neighborhood.
“They told me I had four months
to live,” said Parker, Zone Captain
for the Canadian Cancer Society’s
annual door-to-door campaign. “I
didn’t have much strength, but I
did it anyway. I just wanted to keep
positive, and to show people you
can do it.”
Parker is feeling better these
days, and continues to lead a team
of volunteers.
Every neighborhood tells a story
with over 3,000 Ottawa volunteers
helping to make the 2006 Ottawa
campaign a great success.
“I can’t say enough about the
dedication and commitment of our
area, zone, team, and individual
route volunteers,” said Lee Near,
Volunteer Chair of the Ottawa Unit
Yvonne Parker in her beautifully sunny home
door-to-door campaign. “We owe
a huge debt to Yvonne Parker and
her Old Ottawa South team for their
tireless efforts.”
Near emphasized how important
the door-to-door campaign is in
supporting key Canadian Cancer
Society programs that impact
the immediate area. Last year
volunteers made over 5,200 trips,
driving patients to and from cancer
treatments in the region.
“Ultimately we need to thank
the generous citizens of Old Ottawa
South,” said Near. “Without their
support the Canadian Cancer Society
could not provide the transportation,
peer support, and cancer information
services so critically needed across
our region.”
Final campaign results for
Ottawa will not be known until mid
summer, but the Canadian Cancer
Society hopes donations will exceed
last year’s $650 thousand total.
The Canadian Cancer Society
is a national community-based
organization of volunteers whose
mission is to eradicate cancer and
to enhance the quality of life of
people living with cancer. When you
want to know more about cancer,
visit our website www.cancer.ca or
call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer
Information Service at 1 888 9393333.
Page The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
Ottawa Tennis and Lawn Bowling Club Celebrates 125 years
By Sheila Smail
T
he Ottawa Tennis and Lawn
Bowling Club opened the
doors on its 125th year on
May 6th. The ribbon-cutting honours
were performed by Paul Dewar, local
Member of Parliament. “I wouldn’t
have missed this for anything”, Dewar
said, “It’s a family tradition”. Dewar’s
mother, Marion Dewar, cut the ribbon
to celebrate the Club’s 100th opening
day when she was Ottawa’s mayor.
This synchronicity highlights the
OTLBC’s colourful history, closely
linked with the history of Ottawa
itself. It was founded as the Ottawa
Tennis Club in the fall of 1881 under
patronage of then Governor General
Lord Lorne. Initially located in what
is now Centretown, members played
at the Cartier Square Armouries until
the first grass courts were ready in
1882. These were located on Elgin St.
where Knox Presbyterian Church now
stands. A larger facility was opened
in 1888 beside Cartier Square on
Lisgar St. near the Canal. This served
the Club until 1902 when the property
was expropriated to construct “The
Driveway”.
The OTLBC moved to what is
now the Glebe, temporarily renting
On Opening Day, Saturday May 6th. David Rhynas, President, OTLBC, Don
Shropshire, Past President OTLBC, Paul Dewar (MP) Clive Doucet (City
Councillor), David Chernushenko (Deputy Leader, Green Party), and Michael
Jenkin, President, OSCA.
land on the south side of Patterson
Avenue between Metcalfe St. and The
Driveway. In 1906 the Club purchased
its fourth location, between Third and
Fourth Avenues west of Lyon. The
four tennis courts and an eight-rink
bowling green were rapidly inadequate
to serve the expanding membership
so the Club leased land belonging to
St. Paul’s Methodist Church and built
four additional courts in 1919. The
St. Paul’s Church building became
the Glebe Community Centre and the
former OTLBC clubhouse and courts
on the leased property survive as the
St James Tennis Club.
Due to further growth in
membership the OTLBC moved to its
present location on Cameron Avenue
in Old Ottawa South in 1923. “Our
18 clay courts make the OTLBC one
of the largest clay-court facilities in
Canada” says club General Manager
Camille Lewis, “We also have two
bowling greens, an outdoor swimming
pool and a clubhouse with a licensed
restaurant facility that is open to the
public.”
“This is a great family club”,
remarked David Rhynas, Club
President. “We run sports camps for
kids, and we have a lot of beginner
and intermediate players – we’re
really targeted to the community, but
we often host some very high-level
tournaments – city-wide, provincial
and national, so there’s something for
everyone”. The OTLBC will be celebrating
its 125th anniversary on June 3rd with a
Vintage Sports Day, and a gala evening
with music, food and a silent auction
to raise facility renovation funds for
the non-profit club. The public are
welcome to come out to the club and
enjoy the riverside atmosphere from
12:30 until 4:30 p.m., which coincides
with Doors Open Ottawa - the club’s
second year of participation.
Trinity Sings! An evening of performance
and song with Trinity’s Youth Choir
Back Row (left to right): Isabel Hunter, Elisha Hunter, Laura Burgham, Jamie
Christakos; Front Row: (left to right): Kate Baron, Matthew Christakos, Daniel
Christakos (absent: Rachel Anderson)
Cameron Avenue)
When: Thursday, June 8th, 2006,
by Victoria Scott rinity’s Youth Choristers 7:00 p.m.
are a very special part of The program, which will be
the Church community. The approximately 45 minutes long, will
group may be small in number, but include solo and group performances,
these choristers are quite the opposite congregational singing, prayer, and
in terms of talent and enthusiasm! a special sketch. A reception with
They make an important contribution light refreshments will follow. This
to the music at Trinity from week to promises to be a wonderful time of
week, and to mark the end of another fellowship and song, so why not
choral season, the Youth Choristers mark it on your calendar and plan to
th
are working on a special program of join us on June 8 ? Please feel free
music and performance to share with to contact Trinity Church with any
questions or for further information.
the community.
www.trinityottawa.ca
Where: Trinity Anglican Church, (Website:
1230 Bank Street (at the corner of Phone: 733-7536)
T
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
Come Play With Us!
By Lorraine Cornelius
For the sports-minded, there’s basketball and
hockey. Paul Armstrong’s Basketball Camp (7
– 14 yrs) is a hit. As former head coach of the
oon, the school bell will toll…the kids Carleton Ravens and a Level III NCCP Certified
of Old Ottawa South will be set free… a Coach, he knows what footwork, passing and
summer of fun and adventure is ahead. Are shooting are all about.
Brand new this summer is the Recreational
you ready? The dynamic team at the Firehall is!
Let them help supply the excitement your young Hockey Camp (7 – 12 yrs) geared to those new to
vacationers will enjoy. But hurry! Summer hockey or in house leagues. The focus is on fun,
skill development and fundamentals and is led by
Camp spaces are filling up fast.
The Firehall has a wide range of camps to two Level II NCCP Certified Coaches. Included
offer. There’s something for everyone, right in is morning ice time, jersey, bus transportation
your neighbourhood. Back by popular demand to Jim Durrell Arena and back, plus afternoon
are past favourites like Campquest (SK to 9 recreation activities.
Now, for all you three to five-year-olds
yrs), 2 Hip 4 It (10-14 yrs), Pottery (full and half
out
there, the ever popular Everything But the
days, 9-14 yrs), as well as Drumming and Guitar
Kitchen Sink Camp is full already! But please
camps.
With the old comes the new. The Firehall keep it in mind for next year. It’s never too early
has checked the pulse of the hood and has to plan ahead.
So, what makes Firehall Summer Camps truly
designed some new options. Sign up for H2O
Water Adventure (10-14 yrs) and check out cool unique? The counsellors,of course! These fine,
activities like canoeing, scuba diving, swimming young folk are selected for their ability to relate
and kayaking. For you landlubbers out there, 2 to boys and girls of all ages. Their priorities
the Max-Land Adventures (10-14 yrs) exposes are safety and fun. (All are trained in first aid,
you to the exhilaration of rope courses, rock CPR and Epipen use.) But what really sets them
climbing and mountain biking. The instructors apart from other camps is that they are just as
are specialists in these pursuits, and transportation engaged in the fun as the kids are – they’re not
just supervisors.
is provided.
So, if you haven’t made your summer plans
There’s even a one week Camping Camp
(July 17-21) where 10 to 14 yr-olds learn to plan yet, why not think of the Firehall?
No need to drive all over town. There are
and prepare a camping trip and then head for
the hills for a two night stay at Lac Phillipe. A good quality camps at your doorstep – and at the
Discover Art Camp (9-14 yrs) will introduce your right price! For more information, visit www.
child to modern artists and the pursuit of two- oldottawasouth.ca, pick up a brochure, or call the
dimensional expression using ink, paint, pastels, office at 247-4946.
conté and charcoal. There’s a choice of full and
half days with this camp.
member of OSCA’s Program Committee
S
Page Rideau Valley
Wildlife Sanctuary
Issues Call for Foster
Homes
O
rphaned wildlife in Ottawa and the
surrounding Rideau Valley are in
desperate need of some caring homes
to help them through their first stage of life.
The Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is
calling on members of the community to come
forward to help care for orphaned squirrels and
other small mammals.
“It’s spring time and that means birthing
season for area wildlife. Unfortunately, some
of these babies become orphaned and need
foster care until they are able to be released
back into their natural habitat. We have already
reached maximum capacity at the Sanctuary
and without more foster homes, orphaned
wildlife have few options,” said Linda Laurus,
President of the Sanctuary.
All Foster Caregivers receive training and
on-going support, as well as feeding and caging
supplies. Fosters provide care for wildlife
in their own home until they are weaned at
8-10 weeks of age. All that is required is a
commitment, a bit of time and a quiet room
in the home, away from people and domestic
pets.
If you are interested in becoming a Foster
Caregiver please call 613-258-9480 or visit
www.rideauwildlife.org for more information.
The Sanctuary is also looking for squirrel
release sites throughout the city.
The OSCAR
Page 10
- OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
Built on the Rock
Southminster United Church – Its People and Its
Neighbours – A Contextual History
by Craig Piche
T
he latest history of the church
at Bank Street and Aylmer
Avenue sold over 60 per
cent of its first printing at its launch
on May 8th. Written by Katharine
(Kay) Currie, it was made available
for sale immediately after the
Sunday morning worship service, at
the chair of the anniversary planning
committee, Built on the Rock is the
catalyst for many activities being
planned for the coming year when
Southminster will celebrate its 75th
Kay Currie signing her book
a luncheon catered by her family.
“I was overwhelmed by the
response,” said Ms. Currie. “There
were twice as many people as I
expected.”
Edited by Martha Hanna, the
book was published by Southminster
with the financial support of Ms.
Currie. Ms. Currie is also giving all
the proceeds from the book back to
Southminster.
The 100-page “Built on the
Rock” builds on previous books
which captured the church’s history
up to 1972 and 1992 respectively.
But it also charts a different course
according to the author.
“There has been tremendous
change in Southminster over 75
years,” said Ms. Currie. How people
within and outside the church view
it as part of the greater community
is the ‘context’ which Ms. Currie
attempts to capture “through the
lives of those in the past and the
youth today.”
Ms. Currie notes in her
introduction she has “tried to describe
what changed and what endured in
the spiritual life of Southminster and
its neighbours, during two hundred
years of unprecedented scientific
and secular revolutions.”
The publication was timed to
coincide with the commemoration
of the 75 anniversary of the laying
of the cornerstone of Southminster
in May, 1931.
According to Marilyn Smith,
Photo by Craig Piche
anniversary of the church’s formal
dedication
“The anniversary theme -Building on the Rock – Southminster
United Church Celebrates 75 Years
-- was inspired by Kay’s book,”
said Ms. Smith. “We are planning
special services and homecoming
gatherings, as well as social and
heritage events commencing on
January 7, 2007.”
“Kay’s theme of the church
within the greater community
exemplifies the warm welcome we
are extending to Southminster’s
neighbours and friends in the
community and across the country
to share in the fellowship and
recollections for our anniversary
year and beyond.”
This is Ms. Currie’s first book
outside the field of biology. She also
studied bacteriology and worked in
that field before becoming a biology
teacher in Montreal. Ms. Currie has
a BA from McGill University and
specialized in English, Philosophy
and Biology.
Ms. Currie has requested
another 150 copies from Allegra
Printing and Imaging on Bank Street
and expects to have them available by
the end of May. The book will also
be for sale at Southminster during
Doors Open Ottawa, Saturday June
3 and Sunday, June 4, from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m. each day.
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
Page 11
Garden Glimpses
June Flowers are Only the Beginning! By Ailsa Francis of Hortus
Urbanus
brown!) is all we’re left with, we
can begin to understand that a great
garden is more than just flowers. These months are the ones when we
can learn to understand the subtleties
of form and texture, shade and light
and the myriad tones of green. We
can also begin to appreciate the
opportunities that a garden brings
us in terms of water and stone,
sculpture and architecture, whimsy
and personality, and last but not
least, fantasy.
Every experienced gardener
knows that a plant is only as good as
une is the month we think of as its foliage – but often this takes the
perfection in the garden. All form of one green, one variegated
of our plants are still fresh and one burgundy. The result appears
especially if
the
new, voluptuous and at their peak. regimented,
Roses and peonies, clematis and texture and form are the same. Try
iris, lilies and lavender; all of our contrasting the lightness of ferny
favourite and best-loved perennials foliage with the dark, moodiness
are in their full-blown splendour. It of water or the blackness of a
is as if we didn’t do anything to earn glazed pot. Or complement the
their perfection – the magic of the sprightliness of variegated foliage
June garden tricks us into believing with the ruggedness of a mature tree
that gardening isn’t that difficult trunk. These juxtapositions require
us to look beyond flowering plants
after all. Of course, it isn’t until the hot to other sources for effect. It is how
days of July and August that we we create relationships in the garden
struggle with what the garden’s that determines our success as a
challenges really are: when the garden-maker. Don’t underestimate the power
blooms appear to stop coming and
of
a
well-placed pot or piece of
we think that green (and sometimes
J
Vandalism on Bank Street
This bus shelter on Bank at Aylmer was one of three that were shatterd
during the early morning of Sunday May 14. OC Transpo replaced the
glass in all three within a week.
Photo by Craig Piche
sculpture; the former doesn’t have
to be planted to be striking – think
of it as a piece of sculpture and
relate the plants around it back to it. I remember seeing the picture of a
garden with a circular bed as a focal
point – in the centre was a striking
bronze sculpture of a prancing horse
and planted all around it, waving at its’
heels, was a bed of liriope (lily turf)
– the south’s version of our daylily
or ornamental grass. So simple but
breathtakingly imaginative! And
a symphony of well-planted pots
(not simply one), all relating back to
one another in colour or texture, is
a thing of beauty. I have images in
my mind of such arrangements from
the great plants man Christopher
Lloyd’s front door at Great Dixter,
or under the pergola at Wave Hill (a
spectacular public garden in New
York City), or from pictures of
Thomas Hobbs’ mediterranean-style
garden in Vancouver. Alternately,
use a large Chinese pot known as a
‘water jar’ in your garden instead of
a pond: fill with water, a few floating
plants and voila, an instant water
garden with an oriental sensibility.
Use metal in your garden as
both support and architecture. Think
of situating a trellis in the middle of
your garden as a feature, especially
if it has a delicate pattern that might
be obscured by a climbing vine. Allow obelisks to gently support
climbing roses instead of pinning
them against walls. This way they
can be appreciated from all sides and
the resulting air flow will encourage
healthy growth and discourage
disease. Liberate your house plants by
re-potting and letting them thrive
outdoors. You will be amazed
how they respond to fresh air and
sunshine after a long winter inside. Use them to create vignettes; create
a tropical fantasy garden of your
own. Again, look to Wave Hill for
inspiration. Gather your begonias,
ferns and ivies together in the shade
for a lush effect. Or place your jade
and other succulents in a group to
simulate a Santa Fe garden. Your
ficus, hibiscus and citrus plants
would love to soak up the sun on
your deck and the latter reward you
with flowers all season and fruit by
summer’s end.
So come on, don’t give up with
the heat. There are so many more
rewards just waiting for you this
summer. June flowers are only the
beginning! Page 12
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
SECOND THOUGHTS
Being Human
A
Birds along the Rideau
by Judy Lascelles
we invent those games? Why do we
By Richard Ostrofsky
Second Thoughts Bookstore learn them so readily, and play them
with such reckless avidity?
[email protected]
Both stories, and most others
few days ago, I was speaking
on the telephone with a friend
from my student days, whom
I have mentioned several times in
these columns. We were talking
about the news, and the weirdness
of what is going on in the world,
trying to understand how people can
act so viciously with one another
– which, of course, required us to
imagine circumstances in which we
might do the same. This should be
possible, we agreed. Being human,
nothing human can be strange to us.
A noble sentiment, until you think
what it really means: the penchant
and aptitude for evil that we must
confess to ourselves, and guard
against as best we can.
How to account for evil?
Christians blamed it on the inherent
pride, perversity and willfulness
of human nature. We are sinful
creatures (but why did God make
us so?), and our punishment here
and hereafter is no more than we
deserve. Rousseau and most people
today tend to blame the world’s evil
on society – on the wicked games it
teaches us to play. But why then did
JUNE 2006
I’ve heard, strike me as denials of the
obvious truth: that we humans are
anxious animals with considerable
but limited powers of intelligence and
imagination, doing the best we can in
a universe that is wholly indifferent
to human values and purposes, and
that affords only limited support for
human existence.
Unpromising as our predicament
is, it seems better to keep these facts
squarely in mind than to forget or
pretty them up in some fashion. If
we are honest about our condition
– at best, less than ideal; for many,
all but unendurable – we might
deal more wisely, and find ways to
improve our situations in small ways,
short of trying to hold ourselves and
each other to standards that no one
could live up to. We might be a little
kinder to one another or, if not kinder,
at least a little more respectful.
As matters stand, with the
shopworn myths we use to avoid
facing reality, we make each other’s
lives much nastier, more frantic,
more precarious, and much more
painful than they need be.
R
ivers attract birds. It’s as simple as that. And the stretch of
the Rideau River that runs through Old Ottawa South is no
exception. This past fall and winter were especially interesting
for a few reasons.
A beautiful male Hooded Merganser joined the large group of
Mallards gathering just east of the Bank Street Bridge in the fall and
stayed practically until Christmas. And he had a bit of an advantage
when seeds were thrown to the group of ducks. Although the Mallards
were quick to snatch seeds on the surface, the Hooded Merganser could
enjoy the seeds that they missed by diving to the bottom of the river.
Mallards are dabblers but Mergansers are divers.
Numerous people commented on the 15 or more Great Blackbacked gulls that wintered on our stretch of the Rideau. They were
often seen on the ice just west of the Bank Street Bridge. To our
knowledge, this is unusual. It’s a treat to see a gull other than the everpresent Ring-billed gull.
Another species of duck that could be seen in the same area
throughout the winter was the Common Goldeneye. You had to look
quickly though because, like the Hooded Merganser, these ducks are
also divers and therefore regularly disappear and reappear in a slightly
different place on the river. We imagine that they made the Rideau
their winter home this year because the water never did completely
freeze over near the bridge.
Of course, the best time for viewing and hearing birds is in spring
when the migrants return to nest or pass through Ottawa on their way
further north.
We’re pleased to report that the local Wood Duck population
seems to be growing. One day we counted 11 Wood Ducks west of
the Bank Street Bridge near the south bank. The gender ratio was a bit
unbalanced - 10 males and one female! However, the fact that Wood
Ducks pair up in January and are the only North American ducks that
regularly produce two broods a year make us hope that perhaps the
females were already in their nests.
Wood Ducks as well as Hooded Mergansers are the only ducks
breeding in Ottawa that nest in tree cavities. And it can be difficult
for them to find suitable nests in the city. If anyone is interested in
building bird boxes for these ducks to encourage their expansion in our
area, please contact ECOS. We’d like to place some bird boxes on the
Billings Islands, which is where the shy Wood Ducks seem to reside.
The bold Mallards may be influencing some of our shy Wood
Ducks. Three Wood Ducks were recently observed eating seeds in
the park across from Billings Bridge Shopping Centre. And they are a
sight to behold! The male Wood Duck is considered by many to be the
world’s most beautiful duck. It certainly gets my vote!
A number of other interesting birds have been observed in our
area:
Many local people delighted in seeing a Great Egret by the
Billings Islands in late April and early May. The large, white heronlike bird spent many hours fishing. We were surprised to see the large
bird back again on the evening of May 16 – Census Day. Perhaps that
says something about where the Great Egret considers its home!
When the Rideau River was low, a Solitary Sandpiper was spotted
one May evening in the mud at the water’s edge. And, before the canal
was filled, a Greater Yellowlegs was seen in the mudflats at Dow’s
Lake. Of course, a regular resident along the Rideau is the majestic
Great Blue Heron.
The lovely song of the Warbling Vireo attracted the attention of
a few people, including Olympian Linda Thom and her husband Don.
Seeing it was a bit more challenging as it jumped from branch to branch
consuming insects. Many other Warbling Vireos have been heard but
not seen along the Rideau.
Hedrik Wachelka reports that a Gyrfalcon spent the winter in the
Arboretum and along the Rideau at Carleton. He also enjoyed watching
a Pileated Woodpecker in early May along the river at Brewer Park.
And he says that Yellow-rumped (“Myrtle”) Warblers are back.
Editor’s Note: Since receiving the above text, the following five
additional noteworthy birds have been sighted on the Rideau: Baltimore
Orioles, White-breasted Nuthatches, Yellow Warblers,Yellow-rumped
Warblers, and Downy Woodpeckers.
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
Page 13
HISTORY MATTERS
Billings Estate an Ottawa Gem
By Dennis Gruending
dennis.gruending@
sympatico.ca
I
to connect the little community of
Billings Bridge to Bytown. When
the railroad boom arrived, he joined
other prominent citizens in1848 in
financing the Bytown and Prescott
Railroad Company.
The Billings became wealthy
t was about 200 years ago that
Braddish and Lamira Billings
settled on the south side of the
Rideau River not far from the bridge
that now bears their name. Four
generations later the family has
virtually disappeared from the city
in which they became prominent.
Fortunately, their white neo-classical
home remains as the Billings Estate
Museum, found amid the woods on
a hill set back from Riverside Drive.
It’s a gem in the heart of Ottawa.
Braddish Billings was a child in 1792
when his parents arrived in Canada
from Massachusetts to settle near
Elizabethtown (now Brockville).
He came to Hull as a young man in
1808 to work for Philomen Wright,
another American, who was in the
lumber business.
Braddish soon decided to strike
out on his own and to concentrate on
farming. By 1812 he had squatted
on some Clergy Reserve land near
the current site of Billings Bridge,
where he built a rough log shanty. The Billings home was built in 1827-28 He is said to have been the first white
settler in Gloucester Township.
and respected citizens. Most of
He met Lamira Dow in
their seven surviving children were
Merrickville in 1813. Her family
sent away to schools in New York
came to Canada from Vermont but
State. When Braddish died in 1864,
of her parents both died. She taught
he land was divided among the
school to support herself and at
children, although he disinherited
times had to take her wages in bags
his son Samuel, apparently because
of wheat. She and Billings were
he had married a francohone
married in Merrickville and a few
woman. Samuel’s siblings, however,
days later they set out for Gloucester
provided him with land. He also ran
in a canoe during a rainy season.
the sawmill and was deeply involved
The Billings were hard workers
in the community.
and they prospered. Braddish hired
The Billings family home and 200
men to clear the heavy forest from
acres of land were left to Sabra and
his land and he built a sawmill. On
Sally, two sisters who never married.
their cleared land, the Billings grew
Sally cared for her mother until her
grains, kept livestock and also sold
death in 1879. The sisters continued
butter, milk and cheese. Braddish
to operate the farm with help from
supplied food to workers who
their brother Samuel. The women
arrived in 1826 to build the Rideau
were also prominent philanthropists
Canal, and later he hired some of the
and they circulated among the elite
same people to work on his farm and
in Ottawa society. They did not get
in his other enterprises.
along with each other, and at some
In 1827-28, the Billings built
point they sectioned off the family
another house, this one on the high
home and lived separately, if under
ground behind the original log
the same roof.
cabin. They called their new home
The Billings’ youngest son
Park Hill, and it is the Billings home
Charles was a successful market
that stands to this day, although
gardener and beekeeper. His son,
the house was to be added to and
also named Charles, managed the
renovated over the years.
estate farm and cared for his spinster
Eventually the Billings farm
aunts in their old age. He inherited
grew to 1400 acres. Billings also
the estate in 1915 and lived in the
operated a ferry across the Rideau
family home. He had no children and
River, served in the militia and
when he died in 1936 he bequeathed
acted as a justice of the peace. He
the house and land to his brother’s
even took out a tavern license. It
son, also named Charles Billings.
was largely through his efforts that
This Charles, a fourth generation
a bridge was built across the river
Billing, served in the World War I
and was invalided home when he
became ill with meningitis. It was
expected that he would never walk
again, but he proved the medical
diagnosis wrong and lived an active
life.
Charles also had a career as a
mining engineer in northern Ontario
and he rented out the Billings farm.
He took early retirement in the
1940s, moving back to Ottawa and
into the Billings family home, which
he renovated and modernized.
Ottawa grew rapidly in the postwar years. In 1950, the city annexed
a portion of Gloucester. The Billings
Bridge shopping mall was built in
1955. Charles sold a large portion of
the remaining estate to a developer
in 1962 and the historic family
home was soon surrounded by a
new subdivision.
Charles had two children but
both lived far from Ottawa. He
decided near the time of his death
in 1975 to sell what remained of
the estate. The city, with help from
Parks Canada, bought the house,
situated on nine acres of land, and
transformed it into a museum.
You can visit Billings Estate Museum
Wednesday through Sunday, noon to
5:00 p.m. through to October 31.
For more information, please call
613-247-4830.
Photo by Dennis Gruending
OFC Music
for your kids...
12 - 16 years old.
register now!
www.ofcmusic.ca
T h e O t tawa F o l k l o r e C e n t r e
1 1 1 1
B a n k
S t .
7 3 0 - 2 8 8 7
Page 14
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
OSCAR Writer Stephen A. Haines and Author Sigrid MacDonald
Discuss Writing in Ottawa and Her Novel D’Amour Road
Sigrid MacDonald
OSCAR:
Who
Macdonald?
is
Sigrid
Sigrid Macdonald: I am a
longtime social activist with a
particular interest in women’s issues
and wrongful convictions.
I’m
bicultural, having spent about half
of my life in the US and the other
half in Canada.
O: You’re from New Jersey. What
brought you to Ottawa?
SM: I was born in Canada and
my father was part of the
proverbial brain drain. He
was an M.D. who went into
pharmaceutical research after
he failed to establish a practice
in Winnipeg. My dad worked
in New York State and New
Jersey, which is where I lived
for 33 years. However, because
my parents were Canadian
citizens, they brought us back
to Canada at least once a year
and encouraged my brother and
me to go to graduate school in
Ontario. Ottawa is my second
home.
O: How do you view the
writing environment here?
SM: I haven’t been very active
in the writers’ community in
Ottawa yet. In fact, I just joined
Ottawa Independent Writers last
month and am looking forward
to attending my first meeting at
the end of May.
O: Does Ottawa offer a viable
setting for fiction?
SM: Ottawa is the perfect setting
for fiction!
Firstly, I’m tired
of reading books that are set in
Toronto, Vancouver or small towns
in Manitoba. It’s wonderful to put
Canada on the map but Toronto
and Vancouver are not the only
cities around! In other parts of the
world, especially the US, people
don’t know much about Ottawa, so
it’s educational and illuminating to
write about the ByWard Market, the
Rideau canal, Parliament Hill, and
the bridges to Québec.
Also, a number of films are being
made in Ottawa. I have a friend
who’s an actress in Los Angeles and
she comes to Ottawa at least once a
year to make movies for the Lifetime
channel. It’s very scenic here.
O: You have a long journalism
career. What turned you to writing
fiction?
SM: Most of my writing has been
non-fiction. I’ve written extensively
for political organizations and social
agencies, and penned numerous
health articles. I like non-fiction but
it doesn’t give me the opportunity
to use my creative juices. That’s
why I chose to write a novel. I’m
an avid reader and I read at least a
book a week; reading fiction is my
passion and my great escape. I
wanted to write a book that would
entertain other people on a long,
rainy weekend.
O: Why is this story fiction instead
of historical journalism?
SM: I didn’t want to write an
autobiography of Louise Ellis. I felt
that would have been invasive to her
family because I would have had
to interview them and resurrect old
pains. I also wanted to take artistic
liberty by making my character
different from Louise. Lastly, I was
an acquaintance of Louise’s, not a
good friend. I often wondered how I
would have acted and how her death
would have affected me if I had been
a good friend. I was able to develop
that theme in my fiction.
O: How typical is “Tara’s” life for
today’s Canadian woman?
SM: Tara represents a certain type
of upper-middle-class woman who
knows just enough about herself to
realize that she’s miserable but not
enough to recognize what to do about
it. Women in unhappy relationships
are epidemic. With every second
or third marriage ending in divorce,
Tara’s life is quite typical of the
modern Canadian woman’s.
O: Tara’s dissatisfaction with
Mark is clear, but she’s not a selfish
person. Why does she fail to give a
thought to what a future with Alain
would be like?
SM: Was Lester Burnham, Kevin
Spacey’s character in American
Beauty, sensitive? Did he think
about the repercussions of having an
affair with his daughter’s girlfriend?
No. He was too preoccupied with
his own driving needs. Sometimes,
extreme stress, aggravated by a midlife crisis, can prompt otherwise
ethical people to do foolish and
thoughtless things.
O: Your characters don’t appear
“overdrawn” - is that a temptation
when writing about socially sensitive
issues?
SM: I wasn’t aware of them being
overdrawn or under drawn :-)
O: This is a book for women about
women’s issues. What aspect of it
would appeal to male readers?
SM: Yes, on one hand, the book
is about violence against women
and female friendships, which may
make it appeal more to a female
audience. On the other hand, many
people go missing in our society.
Soldiers are MIA -- Arthur Miller
wrote a brilliant play about how one
family dealt with the tragic loss of
their son in combat. The movie,
Missing, which was filmed in Chile,
was all about a father whose son
disappeared for political reasons.
Women aren’t the only ones who lose
people. In Ottawa alone, the deaths
and disappearances of Ardeth Wood
and Jennifer Teague have affected
many lives, male and female alike.
O: Is there a political aim with the
book - prodding government action
on missing persons, for example?
SM: It’s definitely political but
not really aimed at government. I
suppose my main message would be
for women to be more careful about
the partners that they choose. That’s
certainly the case with Louise Ellis
that she chose badly, and it may have
been true with Natalee Holloway
who disappeared in Aruba. But how
was Lori Hacking to suspect that her
husband Mark had been lying to her
for years? How could Laci Petersen
know that her beloved partner Scott
was a psychopath? Perhaps these
men gave off subtle signs that the
women could have been more
attuned to. It seems as though the
most dangerous time for a woman in
an abusive relationship is precisely
when she decides to leave. That’s
often when violent men panic and
kill the women in a jealous rage.
Perhaps women need to be more
careful in ending relationships by
establishing extensive social support
networks.
O: Do you have a new book project
under way? Will it be fiction or
factual?
SM: I spend most of my time
editing books and doing public
speaking right now. Don’t have
anything planned for the immediate
future but I’m sure that I’ll feel
compelled to write again and fiction
beckons me.
O: Thank you for giving us your
time and discussing the book with
us.
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
Page 15
BOOK REVIEW
Life’s Cruel Choices
D’Amour Road
by Sigrid Macdonald
Lulu Enterprises, 2005
ISBN 1-4116-2872-1
Reviewed by stephen a.
haines
W
hat crosses a woman’s
mind in times of crisis?
How many of those crises
are self-generated? Sigrid Macdonald
asks both these questions as she
presents us the life of Tara Richards.
Richards is approaching forty, that
terrifying watershed in our society.
The age where re-examination of
one’s past life and consideration of
the future looms large - too large
for some. Instead of remaining in
her settled, comfortable life with a
professional husband and a teen-age
son, the identity issue is complicated
by Alain, the handsome, beguiling
24-year-old meat department clerk
at the local grocery. Tara wants an
affair with him.
Affairs aren’t Tara’s style. That
kind of life has been the way of her
friend Lisa Campana. Tara and Lisa
have a long-standing friendship.
Their
mutually
buttressing
relationship works well.
They
confide intimate secrets, resolve
issues dealing with relationships
and offer needed counsel. They’ve
avoided being judgemental with
each other, unusual given the
disparity of their lifestyles. Tara’s
mundane lifestyle is exacerbated
by her less than stunning figure.
For Tara, every day is a “bad hair
day”. Lisa’s attractive figure and
independent attitude has enticed her
into many relationships. The open
lifestyle has also led her to drugs and
alcohol. With Tara’s help, she’s put
that behind her, taken up with a new
man and seems to have settled down.
In a post-movie exchange at Nate’s
Deli, however, Lisa confesses she’s
pregnant. She doesn’t know who
the father is. Filled with foreboding,
Tara goes home to her family. Will
she ever see her again?
Macdonald has provided us
with a new view of our Ottawa
neighbours. She places the story
firmly in this locale, even to the
point of street address numbers.
We can feel some familiarity with
her descriptions of shops, theatres,
traffic, and, of course, the vagaries of
Ottawa’s weather. Boosting the city
is not the point of this book, however.
Tara and Lisa’s relationship, and
their individual behaviours are the
primary focus. That focus is intense
and explicit.
Tara’s obsession
with Alain, many years her junior,
brings the challenge of how she
can pursue and consummate it. Her
feelings for her husband Mark have
seriously dwindled. At times, she
even wonders if it was ever really
there. As a therapist at Ottawa
Central Hospital, an aged building
in constant need of repair, Tara faces
many patient crises. Although with
reluctance, she has even allowed
them to contact her at home.
Relaxation isn’t a major
factor in her life. Lisa’s
disappearance becomes the
driving force in her life, to
the point where nearly all her
dealings with others, from
her family to the lurking
affair with Alain becomes
almost subordinate to it. The
discovery of Lisa’s car on
D’Amour Road a week after
she vanished, compounds
Hunt Club Road on the radar
for zero-tolerance
T
he City’s Integrated Road Safety Program (IRSP) campaign Speeding Costs You - has its radar set for zero-tolerance on
Ottawa’s roadways - including “Ottawa’s Worst Roadway for
Speeding” survey winner, Hunt Club Road.
As part of the campaign, a web poll on ottawa.ca asked residents
to select the worst road for speeding in Ottawa.
The awareness component of the campaign focuses on the cost
of speeding - fines, higher insurance rates and the accumulation of
demerit points. But, more importantly, it reinforces the damage or loss
that cannot be valued with a dollar figure - human life.
Last year, Ottawa roadways witnessed 164 serious injuries and 28
deaths from traffic collisions.
Last fall, the first phase of this campaign included a “Slow Down!”
project that monitored speeds on residential streets in Barrhaven. This
awareness and enforcement initiative achieved decreases in average
operating speeds of up to six per cent.
For more information on the many Integrated Road Safety
campaigns, visit ottawa.ca/roadsafety.<<BG_18May06_Speeding.
doc>>
Tara’s worry. Has Lisa met with
foul play?
Told in the first-person, the story
presents a woman gravely torn with
conflicting aims and hampered means
of dealing with them. For Tara,
support rested on one individual,
and Lisa’s disappearance removed
the one reliable prop. In contrast,
Tara takes us to a Women Against
Rape [WAR] meeting. Macdonald
parades all the stereotypes so often
found there. There’s the inveterate
man-basher,
the
Tarot-card
enthusiast and the woman obsessed
with food purity issues. It’s a
motley crew, and while Tara wants
their support in the search for Lisa,
she’s not swept up in the rhetoric
of the militant feminist movement.
She virtually commandeers the
group to volunteer for the search
for the missing Lisa. They baulk at
first; Lisa’s live-in boyfriend has a
record of woman-bashing. We are
caught up with Tara’s struggle to
reconcile her views with the other
women and the need to find her
friend. Her confusion about how
to deal with her declining marriage
and the liaison with Alain is only
compounded by the meeting. She
doesn’t want to hurt Mark unduly
and she worries about their son’s
reaction if separation occurs.
In short, Macdonald has
produced a powerful story of
women’s issues. Tara has the virtue
of trying to confront them all headon. For all her protestations of
failure and being unattractive, she
exhibits strengths that many would
be challenged to match in similar
circumstances. It’s easy to fault
her obsession with the younger
man - our society doesn’t condone
“cradle-robbing”. Tara’s feelings
for Alain, while misdirected, aren’t
contrived. They are very real for
her. Someone living in less critical
circumstances, having to deal with
the challenges of hospital patients,
for example, might be able to control
her amorous urges. The resolution
of Lisa’s disappearance and Tara’s
unfulfilled lusts don’t make easy
reading, but there is nothing false or
fabricated here. If this view needs
confirmation, Macdonald’s Epilogue
provides the justification. It is the
capstone of this story.
stephen a. haines may be reached at
[email protected]
Page 16
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
2006 Season
125 Years “Forever Young!”
176 Cameron Avenue
(next to Brewer Park)
www.otlbc.com
730-7207
Until October 9
New members always welcome – come by and experience your own “Cottage in the City”!
2006 Season Membership Fees, before GST
TENNIS, includes lawn bowling and pool:
Adult
31 – 64 years
Senior
65 years and over
Intermediate Adult
19-30 years
Student
(with valid student ID)
Junior
4-18 years
Family
$510.00
$490.00
$340.00
$260.00
$160.00
$1,090.00
LAWN BOWLING, includes pool:
Adult
19 years and over
Student
(with valid student ID)
Junior
18 years and under
Family
$320.00
$145.00
$125.00
$710.00
POOL:
Adult
Student
Junior
Family
19 years and over
(with valid student ID)
2-16 years
$295.00
$135.00
$120.00
$590.00
BRIDGE/SOCIAL:
19 years and over
$120.00
Other Activities Available in 2006
Tennis Coaching
Junior Clinics
Tennis Camps
Swimming Lessons Nightly Dinner Specials
Pub Night
Single sessions or packages
Membership not required
Starting June 19th; membership not required
Starting June 26th; membership not required
Upstairs at the Cameron Avenue Café – everyone welcome
Wednesdays on the upper deck – everyone welcome!
More information in the 2006 Programs Guide,
available on-line or pick up
a copy at the Front Desk.
The OSCAR
JUNE 2006
- OUR 31st YEAR
Page 17
WINDSOR CHRONICLES B– PART 64
Pig in the Python
Dear Tera,
W
hat a shambles this house
has become over the past
couple of days. What
chaos. And what a pile of new stuff
to be sniffed at and pondered over.
More humanoids in the house
as well. They’re back – the three
females who form Lily’s pack. They
were our houseguests last winter.
Lily has continued to spend her days
and most of her nights with us, but
the comings and goings of the rest
of her pack were less predictable.
But now they seem to have
established themselves. Their scents
are everywhere. The daily routines
have altered – sometimes to the
benefit of Lily and myself.
The Pup and the two girls
have responsibility for feeding us.
Alpha often orders the Pup and the
girls to take us for a long walk in
Windsor Park. This is for Lily’s
and my edification, of course, but
I also wonder if maybe the adult
humanoid’s are also seeking a little
island of peace amidst the turmoil
of two dogs and three humanoid
youngsters.
The mother of the two girls is a
very nurturing soul with both dogs
and humanoids. Compared to Alpha,
the Mom is much gentler with us,
except when I want to lick the meat
juices from the dishes stacked in the
dish washer. On that point, she can
be quite authoritarian, in fact.
The older of the two girls always
wears a baseball cap, and often plays
with a basketball out on the front
walk. She is very Sporty, but that
doesn’t stop her from lying down
with us dogs on the living room floor
and rubbing our tummies while she
watches TV.
The younger girl is very bouncy
and enthusiastic and full of Sunshine,
but her mind sometimes wanders
away from the task at hand. When
she pulls the assignment to feed us,
you have to stay very close to her
so she doesn’t forget and begin
some new project, such as drawing
pictures of flowers.
The Pup gets along very well
with both Sporty and Sunshine, but
there are difficult moments. He is
used to sharing this house with me
and Alpha, with frequent visits by
Lily. He is very concerned about
disruptions to the natural order of
things.
And there have certainly been
disruptions this past weekend. It
started slowly at first, over the past
few weeks. A new table for the
hallway. Cushions put down on the
floor to help measure out the space
that will be occupied by a sofa.
New plates and bowls, carried over
in cardboard boxes, then placed
on the shelves while Alpha’s own
plates and bowls are packed away in
the boxes.
This weekend, everything began
to change on a much bigger scale.
All the furniture was cleared out
of the guest bedroom. Everything
in that room had to be relocated to
another room – or several rooms.
This means that the master bedroom
is now so full of stuff that it is very
difficult for a dog of advanced years
to negotiate around the boxes and
bins and tables to find her safe haven
in the bed below the desk.
But what a change in that first
room. Alpha’s books and music
have been removed from the shelves,
which now sport children’s books
and stuffed animals. And a brand
new bunk bed has been set up that
sleeps three new members of this
pack: Sporty on the upper level;
Sunshine on the main level; and Lily
on her blanket on the floor below the
ladder.
Now I overhear Alpha and the
Mom discussing plans for moving
everything out of the master
bedroom. Alpha’s furniture will be
moved to the basement room so that
new things can be brought in. I can
see it all now. In a couple of days,
the master bedroom – my room that
is! – will be as clean and empty as
the girls’ room was yesterday. But it
will be impossible to move around
in the basement because all the stuff
will be relocated there.
I am told that in some parts of the
world, there are snakes so big they
can swallow a pig whole. In fact,
you can see a big bulge in the long,
narrow snake – the bulge where
the pig is making its way through
the snake’s innards. The bulge
moves along the length of the snake,
gradually diminishing as it gets
digested.
That’s what is happening to this
house. This huge bulge of humanoid
stuff is being moved from room to
room. Eventually, the house may be
able to digest it all. But for the life
of me, I cannot picture how we will
be able to accommodate so much
furniture and clothing and toys and
stuff.
In the meantime, it’s very nice to
be living in a much larger pack –
capable of showering so much more
attention on those of us who can
make our beds in the out of the way
corners where we can stay out of the
way of all this chaos.
A member of a larger pack
than before,
Zoscha
The Contest
Many of Zoscha’s readers have
observed that she often sprinkles her
prose with various quotes, parodies
and allusions. This month, she
takes inspiration from a recent book
about humanoid demographics.
If you can identify a reference,
send your contest entry to oscar@
oldottawasouth.ca, using “Zoscha’s
contest” in your title line. Or drop a
note off at the Firehall.
Last month’s column elicited
many responses from those who
recognized Zoscha’s parody of “I’ve
Been Working on the Railroad.” But
the cyberspace doggie biscuit with
a virtual pat on the head go once
again to Ruth Smith of Bellwood
Avenue, who identified the riff from
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s
Evangeline: “This is the forest
primeval. The murmuring pines and
the hemlocks, bearded in moss and
in garments green, stand like Druids
of eld…”
NOTES FROM THE GARDEN CLUB
Wildflowers and Native Plants
By Lis Smidt
T
he OOS Garden Club had
its last regular meeting of
the season on April 24th.
Sandra Garland from the Fletcher
Wildlife Garden gave us a fascinating
introduction to some of the things
the FWG is doing, and in particular
to native plants you can grow in
your own backyard. In the Fletcher
Wildlife Garden the emphasis is on
creating habitats for wildlife. The two
woodlots, the butterfly meadow, the
pond and the rock garden constitute
different habitats, created to model
natural habitats. There is also a model
for a backyard with native species,
which is meant as an idea base for
creating your own back yard habitat.
Sandra introduced us to a wealth of
native plants – some of them easy
to grow – others less so. It was a
fascinating variety of material, some
of it probably known to gardeners
and nature enthusiasts, others were
surprises. As most of Ontario is a
natural woodland habitat, many of the
native species are happy in shade to
part sun. Bloodroot, White Trillium,
Columbine, Hepatica, Foamflower
and Solomon’s Seal are probably
well known as early spring varieties.
For late spring and summer, Sandra
mentioned the Purple-flowering
Raspberry, the Pagoda Dogwood, Redberried Elder, Ninebark and Red Osier
Dogwood as good native shrubs that
are good for birds and easy to grow.
Ferns are another group of native
plants, of which the Ostrich Fern is
probably the easiest to grow. Two
native grasses are fine as ornamentals:
Bottlebrush Grass (shade) and Indian
Grass. Among flowering perennials,
Black-eyed Susan will do well in clay
soil, whereas Boneset and Swamp
Milkweed like damper areas. They
are very attractive to butterflies, as is
Pearly Everlasting ( host for American
Lady butterfly). For late summer or
fall colours, there are the Asters (such
as the purple New England varieties
or the white Flat-topped Aster) as well
as many Goldenrod-varieties.
In addition to making your garden
welcoming to beneficial wildlife, there
is another bonus to growing native
plants: they are easy to maintain.
There is, however, an important flip
side to this bonus, which Sandra
pleaded that we take very seriously:
the invasive species.
Whereas
Purple Loosestrife now seems to be
controllable (as a predator has been
introduced), the same is not the case
with Swallow-wort (or Dogstrangling
Vine) and Buckthorn (see Canadian
Wildlife Service Publication, Invasive
Plants of Natural Habitats in Canada).
Also check the Fletcher Wildlife
Garden website for this and a wealth
of other information: www.ofnc.ca/
fletcher. For sources to get native
plant material, try the FWG links and
www.wildaboutgardening.org.
and
www.oldfieldgarden.on.ca.
Sandra Garland will be giving a
tour for the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’
Club on June 7th, and gardeners are
invited to join. Meet at 7 pm at the
Interpretive Centre. The Fletcher
Wildlife Garden is located on Prince of
Wales Drive, south of the Arboretum.
The Garden Club welcomes new
and old members to its first meeting
of the new season on September 16.
Membership is 12$ for a year or 5$
to drop in.
Page 18
117ARTISTS
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
OF OLD OTTAWA SOUTH
Art in Paint and Thread
By Patty Deline
M
argaret
Vant
Erve’s
mission, as set out in her
artist’s statement, is “to
convey the mood and spirit of the
Canadian landscape, particularly
the lakes of Ontario, the rural
countryside and city gardens….
not to create a faithful rendition
of the image, but rather a faithful
rendering of the spirit and mood of
the place and time.” The work of this
internationally known artist “ranges
from quiet and contemplative
landscapes to detailed nature studies
in silk embroidery.”
“Embroidery”, you may be
thinking, “that’s not art. That’s
handicrafts…what
we
learned
at school, to do on an apron for
Mother’s Day.” One look at the
intricate miracles Margaret creates
in her studio overlooking the Canal
would change your mind.
Margaret Vant Erve grew up
on a mixed farm west of Ottawa
between Carp and Kinburn. Yet she
had a very supportive family for her
budding artistic talent. Her parents
had immigrated from Holland
after the war. Her father was “a
designer and builder of houses
(and) my mother was very into the
Renaissance and Dutch painters. So
we had reproductions around the
house,”Margaret reminisces in a
recent interview. “When my father
was sitting down designing a house,
I drew houses, too. ”
But her father discouraged
copying. “He would say, ‘Go out
and draw what you see,’” she
relates proudly.“I loved walking
through the fields. I had the same love
of the land as my father. I drew what
was around me,” she says quietly, “I
remember getting a sketch book one
year for Christmas. I thought that
was grand,” she smiles. There was
little art taught at elementary school,
though she remembers entering “a
contest to see who could draw the
best pony. I entered and won the
prize. It was very encouraging.”
The teaching of art at her high
school was so poor, Margaret went to
Toronto for Grade 12, to an arts high
school. She had to go back to Grade
10 art to catch up. “The teachers were
excellent. (She studied) illustration,
photography,furniture-making,
graphic design and print-making, as
well as English and math.” But she
was anxious to get out of high school
and was accepted at Sheridan College
for Animation. She quickly realized
this was not for her. “24 frames per
second! I thought I’d go mad….but
I have great respect for animators.
They sure know how to draw the
human body,” she exclaims.
Margaret shifted to the General
Arts
programme,
“drawing,
painting, colour theory, graphic
design,” she says. “I really liked
textiles but didn’t quite fit in. I didn’t
like weaving or painting yardage. I
liked the tactileness of textiles, but
felt that what they had to offer was
too limited,” Margaret explains. So
she dropped out and went travelling
across Canada for two years.
While out west, “I got involved
in food production. I find it very
creative,” Margaret says. She
settled in Toronto where she ran
“a tea house/lunch place in Trinity
Church” (behind the Eaton Centre).
She offered, in co-ordination with
George Brown College, “a life skills
programme for the psychiatrically
disabled. Four students came at
a time for two to three months to
work” at the tea room. “That was
great,” she says with a smile. “A
lot of street people came in, too.
They’s sweep a floor in exchange for
lunch.” They published a cookbook
“Method to Madness” for the
students. As well, there were a lot
of CBC concerts in the space. But
there was no art while Margaret was
cooking. “Cooking was my creative
outlet,” she explains.
She almost became a naturopath,
but her artistic voice was too strong.
The Ontario College of Art accepted
her with advanced standing. She
had applied to the Experimental
Art department, but soon fled after
the Head called her in and told her
she “was too nice. We paint puking
dogs here,” Margaret remembers,
laughing. She finally landed in
the Design department where she
spent two years soaking up “as
many technical courses as I could–
drawing, colour theory, design….”
Every day as she walked to
school she noticed a sign that read
“One Stitch at a Time.” Finally
she went into the shop and was
“overwhelmed by the variety of
embroidery – crewel, gold work,
black, white work (very fine)….I
kept signing up for classes, I still have
my binders. I loved it. I absolutely
loved it! I thought this is what I want
to do.” Margaret exclaims, her face
and body radiating her passion still.
She worked out an arrangement with
the college to have her embroidery
work evaluated and credited. “They
were very good at letting me take
independent study,” she relates. She
also studied children’s art, with an
idea of pursuing Art Therapy.
Margaret moved to Ottawa in
1986, lived briefly in the Glebe, then
came to Old Ottawa East and Ottawa
South. She worked in the food
profession until her children came
along. She found living and raising
her daughters in this area very much
to her liking. When her children
were little, “I went to Windsor Park
or Brantwood every single day,” she
says with emphasis. Her daughters
went to the Old Firehall playgroup,
the Southside and Rainbow
Preschools and Hopewell. Now one
is at Canterbury studying Art, the
other at Immaculata. And her studio
looks down over the Canal. She
doesn’t plan to leave soon.
In 1997, Margaret felt a real
need to get back to her art. “I needed
to create,” she explains. At the same
time, the Embroidery Association
of Canada had come out with a new
teachers’ training programme. She
became one of two test students.
On resuming her own art, she found
her “work coming out completely
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
Art in Paint and Thread Cont’d
differently than in college. It had
been large and more abstract….
This time I wanted to do something
that was close to me – landscape. I
wanted to take the knowledge I had
I had gained in painting and textile
art and apply it to embroidery,”
Margaret says intensely. She chose
to specialize in ‘surface technique’,
which is “any embroidery done on
the surface of the fabric, also called
‘free-style’ and ‘free-form’”, says
Margaret. “It’s like painting with a
needle…I had combined paint with
embroidery before Ottawa but I
didn’t have the technical skills for
each. I had to play around with silk
paints, crayons, opaque paints, to get
the detail I wanted,” she explains.
In the meantime, she was doing
the embroidery teaching course,
which was “very intensive and a huge
amount of research,” she explains. It
began with a timeline, which shows
“fossilized fragments of thread
embellishments on clothing…from
Russia and China, going back to
50,000 BCE, making embroidery
one of the oldest art forms,”
Margaret explains. There was also
considerable reading on educational
theory and teaching styles. Then she
was required to design a course on
embroidery technique. Margaret
received her teaching certification
in 2001 and is now internationally
recognized as a teacher. She enjoys
“the energy that comes from
working with other people…and
shar(ing) the knowledge I have
worked so hard to attain,” she writes
on her web site. Her book, “Window
Gardens in Bloom” was published
in 2005. It is as beautiful a work as
it is an excellent tool to guide and
encourage embroiderers “to give up
kits and tackle (original) landscape”
she writes in the Introduction.
The following excerpts from
her Artist’s Statement and Web Site
explain in detail the unique method
she has created:
“Each piece of work begins
with a photograph I have taken….
From the photographs I develop a
sketch and then determine how I
will translate the image into paint
and embroidery. I always begin
with painting. I use silk paints,
which have a fluid translucency and
are good for skies and water, textile
paints which are more viscous are
used on fields or for more opaque
backgrounds and pencil crayons are
used for details. (Then) I transfer the
outlines of all my focal points onto
the painted fabric and I begin the
embroidery.”
“(O)ne stitch is added at a
time, sometimes by machine, much
of it by hand. Bushes and barns,
trees, logs, rocks and flowers are
carefully embroidered in detail.
Needle and thread are used much
like a painter uses a brush: creating
texture, line and motion, blending
colours, creating shade and light. It
is with shade and light that we can
appreciate the medium’s special
qualities for threads dance in the
light. Shading can be achieved by
simply changing the direction of a
stitch and letting it catch the light in
different ways. It is a medium that
can capture the finest details, such
as the wire in a fence done with one
single strand of black silk, as fine as
a human hair.”
In the photo, Margaret is working
on “Misty Morning”. This piece
illustrates well her recent artistic
inspiration, American Tonalism,
which was popular in the U.S.
around the turn of the last century
and still with some artists today.
Margaret writes, “It was chiefly
manifested in landscapes, executed
in soft painterly application with
muted colour harmonies….It is the
use of the colour’s mid-values…
careful planning of composition,
warm and cool colours combine,
layers of colour in thick and thin
applications, the image is classical
yet romantic….Above all, is the
deep sense of spirituality that the
style evokes. It is this meditative
quality that I strive to achieve in my
current work.”
Since it takes between twenty
and sixty hours to paint and
embroider each piece, Margaret
only completes about fifteen each
year. She sells all her work and has
a waiting list. Currently, she has a
show at the fibreEssence Art Gallery
in Vancouver. Her works can be
found in collections across Canada,
the U.S. and abroad. Margaret and
her art were recently featured in a
British arts and crafts magazine.
She teaches college level
classes at Algonquin and Canador
College as well as seminars and
workshops for a variety of groups
and guilds. Locally, Margaret
will be offering two seminars in
Ottawa, May 24 to 27. In October,
in Richmond, Virginia, she will
be leading a pair of two day long
seminars through the Embroiders’
Guild of America, of which she is
a member. Shows and workshops
are listed on Margaret’s web site
www.cyberus.ca/~vanterve as well
as examples of her work. Her email address is vanterve@cyberus.
ca.
This is the last article in this series.
If someone out there would like to
take over writing about artists in
our community, there are many
more talented subjects in my file.
Contact the editor if you are
interested:
[email protected]
Page 19
Curves Food Drive
Ottawa Food Bank Benefits
from Old Ottawa South Member
Efforts
C
urves, the world’s largest
fitness franchisor, today
announced that the 2006
Curves Food Drive brought in 1662
pounds in Old Ottawa South, which
will benefit Ottawa Food Bank.
Around the world, Curves members
donated more than 11 million pounds
of food to their local food banks.
This was Curves International’s
eighth Food Drive and Old Ottawa’s
fourth time to participate. Every year
in March, women have the opportunity
to donate a bag of groceries in lieu of
paying the Curves membership fee.
Thousands of women take advantage
of this opportunity to help themselves
become healthier while contributing
to the needs of their community’s
less fortunate residents.
The Food Drive accounted for 26
new memberships at the Old Ottawa
South Curves, and added almost a
quarter of a million new members to
the Curves family worldwide.
“Curves and our members are
delighted to help our community,”
said Jo-Ann Patenaude, Old Ottawa
South Curves franchise owner. “The
food drive is an excellent program
that fits perfectly with the Curves
philosophy—promoting the health of
the whole woman. The opportunity
for our members to give back to the
Ottawa community promotes the
spirit of giving.”
In 2005, Curves’ members
collected and distributed more than
10 million pounds of food to local
food banks.
About Curves
Curves offers a 30-minute
workout that combines strength
training and sustained cardiovascular
activity through safe and effective
hydraulic resistance. Curves also
offers a weight management
program featuring a groundbreaking,
scientifically proven method to raise
metabolic rate and end the need for
perpetual dieting. Founders Gary
and Diane Heavin are considered
the innovators of the express fitness
phenomenon that has made exercise
available to over 4 million women,
many of whom are in the gym for
the first time. Gary is the author
of numerous books including The
New York Times bestseller Curves,
which is revolutionizing America’s
approach to dieting. With thousands
of locations and millions of members
worldwide, Curves is the world’s
largest fitness franchise and the tenth
largest franchise company in the
world. For more information, please
visit: www.curves.com.
Page 20
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
From a Different Perspective
By Ross Robinson,
Harvard Ave.
1.
“Words ought to be a little wild for
they are the assault of thoughts on
the unthinking”.
J. M. Keynes.
I
have lived in Ottawa for 70 years,
off and on, and have watched our
local (and provincial) politicians
fumble the ball on many occasions.
This I attribute to the fact that most
of the local politicos have never
been further a field than Manotick,
(well to be fair a few of them once
went to Osgoode), so they have
never been exposed to ideas from
other jurisdictions, and when a new
idea does filter in their opposition
is vehement. Rather than look for
innovative solutions to our problems,
they pontificate about such unquantifiable things as “quality of
life”, and the other buzzwords, which
are used to justify inaction.
Now one of the major problems
in Ottawa, about to reach crisis
proportions, is GARBAGE, a
subject that our local politicos would
like to ‘sweep under the carpet’ for
as long as possible. In Ottawa we
have an opportunity to provide some
leadership in this province for we
have a set of circumstances possibly
unique in Canadian cities.
I am proposing the construction
of a large central incinerator and
recycling centre for the entire
region. In order to make this a winwin situation we need the following
infrastructure:
Ross in his basement workshop
A central site on cheap land
2. Access to a nearby river for
cooling water
3. Space for electrical generation
with the steam produced
4. A nearby steam load for district
heating using the waste heat from
the generators
5. An efficient means of transporting
the garbage to the plant
6. A recycling system that makes
sense.
7. Politicians with the guts to stand
up to the “Nimbys” and “knownothings”.
The city owns a large tract of
land, formerly the Bayview Yards,
and there is a lot more acreage in the
adjacent former CPR yards. Cleanup
costs to remove contamination on this
land for commercial or residential
uses will be enormous, but would
not be necessary for a recycling
site. Current “thinking” of possible
photo M. A. Thompson
uses for this land includes uses such
as a new public library, or housing,
all of which would be better placed
elsewhere.
This land is adjacent to the Ottawa
River, and the nearby filtration plant.
Better to cool with river water than
with huge atmospheric cooling
towers.
An electrical generating plant
should be sited there, the steam
first passes through the generators,
and then is piped offsite for district
heating. The electrical power could
be used to power the proposed rail
transit system, and the surplus sold
through Hydro Ottawa.
Currently garbage is trucked
miles out into farmland, at great
expense, and to the annoyance of
local residents. Future landfill sites
will have to be even further out. Why
not construct several compacting
plants in the suburbs and move the
garbage in special trains at night on
the rail transit system; in this
way we can get more bang for
the huge
bucks to be
spent on what will be an underutilized transit facility (like the
busways). Some garbage, say
within a five-mile radius of the
plant would go directly to the
plant.
Of course this will have
an impact on the design of
the transit infrastructure, and
therefore now is the time to
make sure these concerns are
factored into the current ongoing planning.
Currently about 30% of the
recyclable materials actually
get collected, (despite claims
of 60 to 70%). With a recycling
plant at the head end of the
incinerator close to 100% can
be reclaimed, and the program
can be easily expanded. The
inefficient curbside system
can be discontinued with
savings and a reduction of
truck produced pollution.
Charges for tipping at the
facilities should be based on a
cost recovery basis, the greater
the heat value the lower the
charges, and the higher the
costs of cleaning up the stack
pollutants the greater the cost. This
approach in San Francisco led to the
instant disappearance of Styrofoam
packaging in fast food stores.
The cost of recycling should
be borne by the purchaser of the
item requiring recycling, not the
freeloader approach of sluffing off
the cost onto the general ratepayer.
We should be insisting that the
provincial
government
collect
a recycling charge on each and
every container, etc, at the time of
collecting the PST, say 1 cent per
container, and the funds channelled
back to the municipalities. Also the
Provincial government must take
action to remove certain hard to
recycle items like Styrofoam from
the waste stream.
Now the non-thinkers in our
society will charge to the barricades
screaming about stack pollutants, and
CO2 gas emissions (and a whole lot
of other ‘red herrings’). All of these
are non-issues. There have been
technologies developed over the last
50 years to remove ALL pollutants
from incinerator stacks; there are
hundreds of municipal incinerators
worldwide, in Europe and the USA,
and operating data is easily obtained.
As to CO2 emissions, the plant would
be a more efficient producer of steam
for heating/cooling, and electrical
generation, than the hundreds of
small plants currently used in the
CBD of Ottawa, and would negate
the need for the plant proposed by
Hydro Ottawa burning non renewable
natural gas, (for inclusion in the
basement of a proposed downtown
tower).
So how about it Ottawa, will we
rise to the challenge, or stay in the
dark ages of civic progress.
Editorial note by Mike Lascelles: At
the City’s Environmental Advisory
Committee’s special May 11, 2006
session on waste management
– specifically dealing with the
proposed expansion to the Carp
Landfill (from 8 million to 26 million
cubic meters over 25 years), which I
chaired, it was abundantly clear that
Ottawa is running out of cheap and
unobtrusive short-term fixes to its
waste management woes. On June
14, City Council will decide whether
to support the proposed expansion or
rather to ramp up its use of alternative
technologies, under its Integrated
Waste Management Strategy, as a
way to avoid expanding the landfill.
Ross Robinson has dared to raise
the taboo topic of waste incineration
precisely at the time when we are
under intense pressure to re-examine
our pat – but perhaps ineffectual
- solutions to mushrooming waste
disposal problems. We don’t have
to agree with Ross, but his article
merits a serious read.
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
Page 21
“Light My Firehall” to the Tune of $30,000
By Jane Allain
L
ight My Firehall” is our
motto, and light it up you
did at the May 26th Lobster
Supper and Maritime Kitchen Party
at Hopewell Public School. You
laughed with your neighbours, you
drank a little wine, you ate some
tender lobster, and you opened up
your wallets BIG TIME to raise
over $30,000 (yes, thirty thousand
dollars) to renovate the Firehall.
And you listened as Mayor Bob
Chiarelli (and mayoral hopeful Alex
Munter) both pledged to bring the
Firehall redevelopment project up to
City Council as a budget item, and
to vote in support. Mind you, that
will only happen in 2007 but we will
remind them of their commitments
(after all we had over 280 witnesses)
and continue to demonstrate our
community support for the cause.
So far, we have raised over $155,000
to renovate the Firehall - and it is in
large part thanks to you.
And we also had the help of
many volunteers. David Law was
the host for the evening, and he was
pretty good for a first timer (but
we suspect he must talk a lot for a
living). Mayor Bob Chiarelli and
MPP Jim Watson looked quite at
home, dishing out the lobster, while
Councillor Clive Doucet and Jay
Nordenstrom were dazzling with
salad tongs. And the evening would
have been quite a dull and quiet
affair if we did not have the musical
talents (and amazing sound system)
of Arthur McGregor of the Ottawa
Folklore Centre. Sean Spooner of
Spooner Auctions returned as our
most favourite auctionner (his live
auction banter alone raised slightly
over $12,000), aptly aided by Alex
Munter and Dawn Collins showing
off the wares. The best moves came
a bit later on with the MacCullough
Dancers fro Orleans who once again
had the crowd on its feet, tapping
and clapping away (but not quite
swinging their partners - we are
a tiny bit reserved in Old Ottawa
South).
And we had some amazing
donations to boot. Jim McKeen of
Loeb Glebe and Joanne Dale of TD
Canada Trust each donated $1000 a
piece to the fundraiser. Jim Foster
of Pelican Fishery & Grill got us
the lobster at a great price (but even
more importantly, he took all the
stinky shells/bodies away in his own
truck that very evening). Dominic
Santaguida of Vittoria Trattoria ran
the bar, the kitchen, and donated a
dinner party for 10 with wine at his
restaurant, causing a bidding war
- he donated it twice, raising over
$2200. Another extremely generous
donor was Lydia Oak who donated a
weekend for two couples in Atlanta,
Georgia, home of the Atlanta Braves.
Lydia is brave woman herself,
offering up the weekend twice when
the bidding went berserk, raising
over $2800 for the Firehall.
Many local artists donated
wonderful pieces that you will
enjoy forever: Sheila Mungall,
Jinny Slyfield, Simon Brascoupe,
Christopher Griffin, Lesley Smirle,
Jay Rhoades, Andrew Balfour,
Morgan Quarrie, and Tami Galili
Ellis.
There are many other local
businesses (and some a bit futher
away) that we want to thank: Allegra
Printing & Imaging, FRAMED!,
Microworks, Ottawa Tennis &
Lawn Bowling Club, Second Cup,
VIA Rail Canada, Canada Bread,
Choice Meats, Fresh Fruit Company,
Passion in the Kitchen, Sysco
Food Services, Beckta Restaurant,
Hillary’s Cleaners, Hortus Urbanus,
Three Wild Women, Kaleidoscope
Books, Wag Pet Shop and Doggin’ It
Cafe, 4dripaws, Carmen’s Verandah,
Mayfair Theatre, Grace Dining, Mud
Oven, Michael’s Classic Barber
Shop, Clothes Secret, Snowhawks
Ski and Snowboard School, Roy
Barber Services Centre, the Great
Canada Theatre Company, VOILA!,
Hulse Playfair and McGarry, Ottawa
Chamber Music Society, Remax
Metro City Ltd, Nerds on Site,
The Electrical and Plumbing Store,
Green Thumb Garden Centre.
And we want to thank you ALL
AGAIN for being so generous at
what we believe is our LAST Lobster
Supper and Maritime Kitchen Party
(but you know, we could maybe
change our minds - for a price).
Turn the Page to See Photos of the Lobster Supper and Maritime Kitchen Party -->>>
Hats Off to Ross Robinson
An Amazing Full-time Old Ottawa South Volunteer
By Mike Lascelles
I
t was entirely by accident that I
discovered that my unassuming
Harvard Ave. neighbour Ross
Robinson was an exceptional
person – he’s virtually a full-time
volunteer.
A few years back I’d managed
to knock the front brakes off my
son’s old bike and so, seeing that
Ross was really handy and not even
grumpy although pushing 70, I asked
if he’d mind welding them back on.
Without fanfare he did and, as I rode
off, I told him I’d be happy to return
the favour. And I might have let slip
that now and then I did some free
fund raising for a couple of groups.
Ross took me at my word and, about
six months later, asked for a bit of
help.
Turns out Ross was, and still is,
the President of the Ottawa Valley
Theatre Organ Society (OVTOS)
and that they were a bit strapped for
the cash needed to finish restoring
two theatre organs in the O’Brien
Theatre in Renfrew Ontario. So, even
though Ross had personally donated
thousands of hours – actually the
total is now over 15,000 hours over
the past eleven years – they were
shy some pricey electronic parts and
other hardware required to make the
system work.
What I could do, Ross
explained, was help work up a
funding application to the Trillium
Foundation. I did and, in 2001, the
OVTOS got a $50,000 grant that
allowed them to make the RobertMorton and Warren organs work
again. And, as the wrap-up report
to Trillium that we penned in
early 2005 states, these organs are
now used for frequent community
concerts and student recitals. The
government funding has ended but
Ross continues to go up to Renfrew
every week so he can plug away on
further refinements to the theatre
organs. You can learn more about
the history of the two organs, delve
into their technical features, or read
about the remarkable cultural and
technical achievements by Ross and
the OVTOS on the Town of Renfrew
site at http://www.renfrewontario.
com/ovtos/renorgan.htm
His unending volunteer work
in Renfrew alone qualifies Ross for
special recognition as a volunteer
extraordinaire – but his story doesn’t
end there.
I’m not sure if it was the picture
of him in the Railway Museum
in Smiths Falls that tipped me off
to his work there or whether he
accidentally let it out over a coffee
at Tim Horton’s several years ago.
Regardless of how it came out, what
is worth reporting is that, during the
mid-1990s, Ross was the President
and Mr. Fix-it at the Smiths Falls
Railway Museum. At this time,
he led their efforts to raise over
$300,000 to restore the Canadian
Northern Railway 1914 heritage
station and to get a steam engine
and rolling stock running on a short
stretch of track. Let me quickly
add that this is not a stale story of
ancient achievements since, to this
day, Ross still goes to Smiths Falls
twice a week to maintain and restore
railway cars -- including a dental car
used in Northern Ontario during the
1920s and 30s -- and other historical
artifacts. It’s likely that Ross has
already volunteered more than
5,000 hours, and donated at least
$10,000 out of his own pocket, to
the Museum. To learn more about
the Museum, or plan a visit, go to
http://www.sfrmeo.ca/
Even if we ignore the volunteer
work that Ross performed each
winter during the 1980s at a railway
museum in San Diego, his remarkable
story as an active volunteer has
another instalment. Over the past
eight years with the Bytown Railway
Society, Ross has provided skilled
labour on projects such as welding
and producing the patterns for
working castings for engine boilers.
Overall, he contributed more than
1,000 hours of volunteer work, and
some of his handiwork is on display
at the Canadian Museum of Science
and Technology here in Ottawa.
Clearly, when Ross nominally
retired ten years ago, he kept on
working full-time; only the pay
cheques stopped.
Hat’s off to a unique volunteer
in Old Ottawa South -- Ross
Robinson.
Page 22
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
Lobster Supper and Maritime Kitchen Party
Photos by Leo Doyle and Mary Anne Thompson
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
Page 23
Friends and Neighbours of OOS Have Fun
Page 24
The OSCAR
JUNE 2006
- OUR 31st YEAR
Team Canada in New Orleans:
Craig and Martin’s most excellent adventure
By Craig Turner
I
t all began when Martin HankesDrielsma heard a CBC interview
with a volunteer in New Orleans.
Martin and his neighbourhood friend
Craig Turner had recently spent
hours at Tim Horton’s discussing
volunteering, so the interview struck
an immediate chord with them. By
the end of March the two amigos
with the Tammany Oaks Church of
Christ in New Orleans. The church
had turned itself into a disaster
relief operation by pushing back
its chairs and inviting volunteers
and donations in. By the time Craig
and Martin arrived, hundreds of
volunteers had already slept on air
mattresses on the floor, eaten in
the kitchen, and—more or less—
showered in the parking lot behind
(in five shower stalls fed by a garden
students who had travelled to New
Orleans on their spring break with
their minister. Christian rock
blared out constantly and regular
evening devotional sessions were
held—clearly the Tammany Oaks
Church of Christ was an evangelical
church in the Bible Belt tradition.
Although “Team Canada” is from
a very different tradition, they were
welcomed into the group—and in
turn grew to respect the muscle the
other volunteers put behind their
beliefs.
Craig
and
Martin
were
amazed at how little recovery and
rehabilitation had taken place in St.
Bernard’s Parish. Although some
areas may be repopulated—around
half of New Orleans’s population
has returned—St. Bernard’s Parish
was still 99 percent abandoned.
Traffic lights didn’t work, and
nearly all the parish’s stores were
to $ 5,000 the
work would have cost them—but
also because they desperately needed
the start the volunteers provided
for a monumental task that they
simply could not face themselves.
One family showed its gratitude
by taking the group out to eat at a
seafood buffet outside town, where
fried alligator was one of the treats
available for sampling (it didn’t
taste like chicken).
Craig and Martin passed the
long drive back to Ottawa with a
post mortem of their stay in New
Orleans. Overall they were intensely
satisfied with the experience, though
they would rather have helped a
community poorer than the more
middle-class neighbourhood they
were in—as if they had been
working in Old Ottawa South. They
spent a lot of time talking about
what they could do next. Over a beer
Garbage piles as houses get gutted
were on the road—why else would
two otherwise reasonable guys end
up driving for three days towards a
disaster area so that they could sleep
on a church floor and gut houses?
Before leaving, Martin and
Craig connected over the Internet
hose, built from particle board and
covered with a blue tarp, on a floor
of old pallets, with hot water and
pressure only for the lucky first
few).
The amigos hooked up with a
group of University of Delaware
The inside of a house that has been gutted
boarded up, meaning that jobs no
longer existed for residents to come
back to. On most blocks, there might
be one house gutted and ready for
rebuilding.
The team’s job was to gut homes
that had been flooded by 10 to 12
feet of water. Black mould had crept
several feet up the walls, requiring
the team to wear protective masks.
They shovelled out a foot of oilsoaked mud just to get to the carpet,
which was then torn off the concrete
slab. Kitchen and bathroom cabinets
were also torn out and, along with
all the household appliances, tossed
in piles in front of the house. Every
bit of drywall was removed from
walls and ceilings, along with the
electrical wiring. When the group
was finished only the bare studs of
exterior and interior walls remained.
Rebuilding will start with the
application of anti-fungicides to
the shell of the house, and go from
there.
The families were extraordinarily
grateful for the volunteers’ work, not
only because they saved the $4,000
with OOS residents John Bond and
Fran Mowbray, the idea emerged of
sharing the experience with the rest
of the neighbourhood and generating
a discussion on volunteering.
To this end, the two original
amigos are now four, and the four
have scheduled a meeting at the
Firehall on Tuesday, June 13, at
7:00 p.m. where they will share
their experiences and present other
possible volunteer projects. Craig,
Martin, John, and Fran hope to see
you there—to talk and listen to
your ideas on community volunteer
projects. What about, for example,
the Guatemalan Stove Project, the
Nepal Orphanage, Music in the
North, More than Just Tourists, or
Food for the Poor in the Caribbean?
sign on a garage
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
Page 25
Katrina: Eight Months Later
By Mary Anne Thompson
O
n May 1, eight months after
Hurricane Katrina, I visited
my daughter in New Orleans.
Although I had heard first-hand from
my daughter, and read a great deal
about the aftermath of Katrina, I was
totally unprepared for the degree of
devastation that there is in many parts
of the city.
My daughter lives in a part of the
to the suburbs of Jefferson Parish – 70
percent white - and St Bernard Parish
– 88 percent white. The inner city has
changed from 37 percent blacks in
1960 to 67 percent in 2000 because
of this exodus. The inner city of New
Orleans has a 40 percent illiteracy
rate.
Many people had personal
insurance as well as federal flood
insurance. About 65 percent of the
A side street in New Orleans
A beautiful house with surrounding damage
city where there had only been 2 feet
of flooding for several weeks. She
was able to return to her house within
a few weeks, when her friends and
family spent weeks to clean-up –gut
and dump--and then there were many
more weeks of construction to replace
drywall, flooring, cupboards, shelves
and furniture.
Some people, whose houses were
in parts of the city that had water 8
to 9 feet high sitting for months in
their houses, were unable to return
for several months. New Orleans sits
on water, there are no basements, so
for those with 8 to 9 feet of water,
this means that the ground floor is
underwater, not just with water, but
also with all the sewage and waste
that came with the water.
54,000 flooded homeowners had some
insurance. In order to make a claim
against the federal flood insurance,
a claimant has to have returned to
their damaged home. Those who were
allowed to return early drained the
federal flood insurance program of $25
billion. The federal government has
committed another $15 billion. Those
with sufficient additional insurance
can rebuild and even improve their
home.
The hardest hit areas in New
Orleans—the Upper and Lower 9—
are the poorest areas, where very few
people had any insurance. The Lower
9 was one of the last areas in the city to
be developed because it was isolated
from the rest of the city and it lacked
Even brick houses cannot survive if they are completely submerged by
water for several months
There are some areas where
electricity, water and sewage have not
yet been restored and people are not
yet allowed to return to their homes.
The hardest thing for me to
understand was that it was not Katrina
herself that had caused this disaster. It
was human mismanagement of levees
designed to keep water away from
the city and generations of ingrained
poverty.
Since the 1960’s there has been an
exodus of whites from the inner city
adequate drainage systems.
The Lower 9 evolved from
a cypress swamp to a series of
plantations. Today, their houses stand
empty. Police drive about, making
sure there is no looting and that no
one returns. Some of the residents
of Lower and Upper 9 have moved
elsewhere. Some are living in trailer
parks or in tent cities that are replicas
of field army housing, with communal
kitchens and bathrooms.
FEMA has provided some 10,000
white trailers for homeowners who
cannot afford to live elsewhere while
they clean and rebuild their homes. In
some areas of the city each driveway
hosts a white trailer while cars and
trucks and SUVS line the streets. It is
hard to imagine what trailers and tents
must be like with temperatures over
30 C in the summer and with hurricane
season on the way. Mind you, before
Katrina, most of the 40,000 Mexicans
who worked in New Orleans lived in
removed, not by regular garbage, but
by monthly trucks and forklifts. One
of the positive results of a disaaster
is that people volunteer to help. In
New Orleans, there are organized
volunteers who, in groups of 12, can
gut and empty a house from 8 am to
6 pm. Despite the work that has been
done, there is still so much more.
For those who are interested, there
are tours of the devastated parts of the
city, providing a kind of spectator
A business that cannot reopen
trailers and many black communities
in and around New Orleans have been
made up primarily of trailer homes.
Although it is 8 months after
Katrina, there are still abandoned
cars on some streets, particularly in
the Lower and Upper 9. Those cars
that had been abandoned elsewhere
by the dead or departed, have been
rounded up and parked under the
numerous highway overpasses, where
they have been scavenged. There are
still uprooted trees, some as big as
houses.
There are the every present piles of
the debris from gutted houses—rotten
drywall, electrical cable, furniture,
televisions, rotten beams, and even
laptops, all in a heap. These are
sport of disaster.
My daughter tells me that many
people where she works are suffering
from stress and anxiety, not because
of personal hardship, but because of
the prevailing and constant reminder
of the devastation. There is a fear that
hurricanes and another levee breach
will happen again and that this time
they might not be as lucky. Scientists
at Colorado State University predict
as many as 5 intense hurricanes this
year with a 50 percent chance of one
hitting the Gulf Coast.
Note: Other than articles and
conversations with my daughter and
other residents of New Orleans, I
have read Come Hell or High Water
by Michael Eric Dyson.
Houses on both ides of the street have trailers and their vehicles are
parked on the road
Page 26
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
OCCSB TRUSTEE REPORT
“Putting Students First”
End of Another School Year exams and class outings. There work or continuing studies at college 7&8 except St. Michael, Fitzroy)
I
t hardly seems possible that
the end of another school year
is upon us. These last few
weeks are so cram-packed full of
final school projects, studying for
A co
will be graduation from Grade 6 at
Corpus Christi to a wonderful new
school and, for Immaculata Grade
12 students, the final days of high
school, the excitement of prom
and looking ahead to the world of
ALTA VISTA
COOPERATIVE
NURSERY
SCHOOL
o p e r a t i v e w i t h a d i ff e r e n c e
480 AVALON PLACE OTTAWA, ONTARIO,
TELEPHONE: 733-9746
www.magma.ca/~avcns
Are You Ready ?
Registration for 2006 - 2007
is coming up
Toddler program (18 months to 2 1⁄2 years)
Morning programs 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Tuesday, Thursday
Monday to Friday
Preschool program (2 1⁄2 to 4+ years)
Morning programs 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Tuesday, Thursday
Monday to Friday
Afternoon program
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Music & Arts Program (4+ years and over)
8 weeks
Please call for details and space availability,
or visit our website for more program information.
or university.
All in all, it is a very busy time
and one to be shared and enjoyed.
I wish to extend my congratulations
to each and every one of you for
another successful year.
Best
wishes for a wonderful and relaxing
summer break.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
High School Examination
Schedule: (all schools semestered)
January 26 – February 1, 2007
June 20 – 26, 2007
New Communication Tool
The Board has recently launched
a new communication tool called
2006-07 School Year
“The Spirit”. It will present forward
Calendar
The ministry of Education recently looking plans, ideas and events that
approved the proposed School Year will be of interest to you. Please
Calendar for the upcoming school watch for it to come online at www2.
year. Please note the following occdsb.on.ca.
dates:
Board Budget
The Board is on its way to a balanced
School Holidays:
budget. I will post further details
Labour Day: September 4, 2006
Thanksgiving Day:
October 9, when they become available.
2006
Christmas Break: December 25, My personal thanks to all members of
Corpus Christi and Immaculata High
2006 – January 5, 2007
First Day of School after Christmas School Parent Councils. You give
so freely of your time and support to
Break: January 8, 2007
your schools, your students and their
March Break: March 12-16, 2007
teachers. This is truly a partnership
Good Friday: April 6, 2007
that is welcomed and appreciated.
Easter Monday: April 9, 2007
Victoria Day: May 21, 2007
Last Day of School Year (Secondary): Thank you.
June 26, 2007
Last Day of School Year See you in September!
If, at any time, I can be of assistance
(Elementary): June 27, 2007
to you please do not hesitate to call
Professional Development Days: me at 526-9512.
(all schools unless otherwise noted) Sincerely,
Kathy Ablett
Friday, October 6, 2006
Friday,
December
8,
2006 “Your Trustee”
(Elementary only) (excludes all
grades 7&8 except St. Michael,
Fitzroy)
Friday, February 2, 2007
Wednesday,
June
27,
2007
(Secondary only) (includes all grades
Kathy Ablett, R.N.
Vice-Chair of the Board & Trustee
Zone 9
Capital/River Wards
Telephone: 526-9512
Ottawa youth smoking rates a sharp decrease!
S
moking rates among Ottawa high
school students have decreased
significantly in the last two
years, according to new data released
by exposé, the City’s smoke-free youth
project. A survey of high school students
from selected Ottawa schools found the
smoking rate declined from 21 per cent in
March 2003 to 16 per cent in December
2005. A five per cent reduction amounts
to roughly 2600 fewer smokers in
Ottawa high schools in 2005.
The lower smoking rate was noted
in males and females, in both daily
and occasional smokers, with a more
significant reduction among daily
smokers.
The exposé program is unique in that
it does not condone lecturing to students.
Instead, it asks youth to examine the
facts, express their thoughts and expose
the truth about tobacco, particularly
with respect to the tobacco industry’s
manipulation of the youth market. The
program includes smoking cessation
counselling and programs, an annual
mass media contest, student committees
and numerous community events such as
youth summits and interactive exhibits.
exposé is a cutting-edge initiative
supported by Ottawa Public Health, all
four local school boards, Health Canada,
Smoke-Free Ontario and the Ottawa
67’s. It involves 48 Ottawa high schools.
The School Health Action Planning
& Evaluation System (SHAPES),
developed by the Centre for Behavioural
Research and Program Evaluation (a
national program of the National Cancer
Institute/Canadian Cancer Society), was
used for the survey.
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR
Page 27
- OUR 31st YEAR
OCDSB TRUSTEE REPORT
Leadership and Education Funding
Leadership At Capital
Ward Schools
A
nother school year is
drawing to a close and I
want to thank everyone who
is making a contribution to our public
school system. As I work closely
with principals and school council
chairs, I would like to mention this
group in particular.
At Hopewell, Principal Ken
Blogg is retiring after two years in
that position and many previous
years in teaching and administrative
assignments with the Ottawa Board
of Education and the OCDSB.
Sincere thanks to Ken for a lifetime
commitment to education, and to
Hopewell School Council Chair
Diane Hiscox. Barbara JohnstonIafelice, who is an experienced
principal with the OCDSB, will be
Hopewell’s new principal. Welcome,
Barbara.
At Glebe Collegiate, Principal
Walter Piovesan will be leaving
after one year at GCI to become a
Superintendent of Instruction with
the OCSDB. Congratulations and
thanks to Walter and Glebe School
Council Chair Gerry Ohlsen. Pat
Kulka, Vice-Principal at Glebe since
2002, will be the new principal.
Congratulations to Pat, the first
female principal in Glebe’s long
history!
At First Avenue School,
Principal Julie Morris is continuing
in her present capacity. A big thank
you to her and School Council Chair
Sean Maddox.
At Lady Evelyn, Principal
Lori Lovett is also continuing as
principal. Sincere thanks to her and
School Council Co-Chairs Dominic
Fontaine and Teresa LeGrand.
At Mutchmor, Principal Lynn
Watson-Senecal will also be back
in the fall. Appreciation to her
and School Council Chair Megan
Wallace.
Education Funding
As I mentioned in last month’s
column, the provincial government
released its third budget on March 23.
There is some good news for school
boards, with ongoing increases
in funding; labour peace through
multi-year collective agreements
with teachers and other education
workers; reductions in primary class
sizes; resources for literacy and
numeracy; and new supports for atrisk students.
However, that announcement
only provided the budget framework.
School boards are still awaiting grant
details in order to set their budgets
for the 2006-2007 school year.
Unfortunately, due to the lateness of
the grants, it looks like budget talks
will once again extend into July.
The OCDSB has made a strong
case for the Ministry of Education,
now headed by Minister Sandra
Pupatello, to consider our ongoing
concerns when finalizing the grants.
Key OCDSB priorities are:
Fund the actual costs of teachers
and other instructional staff so
that we won’t have to take funds
from other budget lines such as
school supplies, technology and
maintenance of facilities; this
“funding gap” problem is provincewide, was highlighted years ago in
the Rozanski Report, and must be
addressed.
Continue to fund Special
Education through a “layered”
approach
by
providing
an
enrolment-based allocation as well
as allocations based on the actual
numbers of high needs students
in the board; large urban boards
such as the OCDSB have high
concentrations of high-needs, highcost pupils and it is imperative that
the province not allocate all special
education funding on a straight percapita basis.
Announce a funding formula for
student transportation, something
that boards have been waiting for
since amalgamation back in 1998;
grants were “frozen” at that time
and our students have been at a
Glebe Collegiate Annual Grad Fundraiser
Fashion Show featuring student creations
and popular stores Thursday June 8th at Glebe
Collegiate Institute, 212 Glebe Avenue
Tickets cost 7$ for students and seniors and 10$
for adults and are available at Compact Music
in the Glebe or at the door the night of the show.
The doors open at 6:45
disadvantage ever since. How long
must we wait for an equitable, needsbased formula for funding student
transportation?
Extend the years of English as a
Second Language funding from the
current maximum of four years up to
seven and calculate the funding on the
basis of years in a Canadian school
system rather than years in Canada;
research indicates that seven years
of ESL instruction are necessary
to achieve fluency in English and
the duration of instruction should
depend upon need, not length of
residency here.
For more information on the
budget, check the home page (20062006 School Year. Budget) of the
OCDSB website at www.ocdsb.ca .
Contact Information
Lynn Graham
Zone 9 Trustee (Capital and
Rideau-Vanier Wards)
Ottawa-Carleton District School
Board
133 Greenbank Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K2H 6L3
Tel: 730-3366
Fax: 730-3589
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.lynngraham.com
(OCKEY&UN%XERCISE
GREATWEEKS
7EEKLYSUMMER
HOCKEYCAMPS
&UNDAMENTALSKILLSCAMPS
 (IGHLEVELPRESEASONCAMPS

&OURGIRLSWEEKS
4HREEBOYSWEEKS
!GES
#AMPINCLUDES
CAFETERIALUNCH
 DAILYSWIM
 JERSEY
 OFFICERECREATION
 QUALIlEDSTAFFINTHE.%7
)CE(OUSETWINPADARENAS

2EGISTERONLINEAT
CARLETONCAATHLETICS
&ORMOREINFORMATIONCALL
Page 28
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
Friendships Renewed on the
Ottawa Iqaluit Minor Hockey
Exchange
by Meredith EltonMcLelland
N
ineteen boys and girls from
the Ottawa area ventured
back to winter on April
12, visiting Iqaluit for a week and
getting a brief taste of what life in
the arctic is like. The first impression
was it was cold. Where Ottawa
was experiencing beautiful spring
weather, Iqaluit’s winds made it
feel like minus 35 C as we walked
off the plane. It didn’t take long
to warm up the friendships which
began in February when the Iqaluit
group came to Ottawa.
For many of the peewee aged
players, the highlight of the trip was
playing hockey. Although primarily
a cultural exchange, the kids
played in several friendly hockey
games... northern style, with lots of
enthusiasm.
For others, the highlight was
going ‘out on the land’. We all
dressed up warmly in borrowed
parkas, snowpants, boots and hats.
Loading up the kamutik.
Ottawa winter clothing just doesn’t
cut it north of the 60! Twenty skidoos,
many towing sleds called kamutiks,
carried us out through the beautiful
rock and snow filled landscape.
Some climbed mountains, some
tobogganed and some skidooed.
Some even found caribou antlers.
Many ate raw caribou, raw arctic
char and bannock. On the return trip
to Iqaluit, we stopped to watch a dog
team sled go by.
We happened to be in Iqaluit for
the beginning of the annual Toonik
Tyme Festival. This included such
events as a seal skinning competition.
We were present for the ceremonial
lighting of the kudlik, a lamp used
to provide light and heat. We heard
the opening address given by the
Governor General and experienced
the haunting sounds of throat
singers. We had a chance to try
some Arctic games and made many
new friends. Altogether it was an
awesome adventure with memories
that will last a lifetime.
Photo by Russell McLelland.
Area Church Service Times
Sunnyside Wesleyan Church St. Margaret Mary’s Parish
58 Grosvenor Avenue (at Sunnyside)
Sunday Worship Services are at 9
a.m., 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Children’s programs are offered during all three services.
Trinity Anglican Church
1230 Bank Street (corner of Cameron)
Sunday services at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Church School and Nursery at 10 a.m.
7 Fairbairn
Sunday liturgies: Saturday at 4:30
p.m.; Sunday at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Evening Prayer: Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Southminster United
Church
15 Aylmer Avenue
10:30 a.m.: Worship and Sunday
School - September through June
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
Page 29
AMICALEMENT VOTRE
Dégustation de vins et de fromages, un franc succès
par Doreen Drolet l’appui de tous ces commanditaires. bien
s’occuper,
pro-bono, de programmation dès septembre
l’incorporation de l’Amicale. Des prochain. À cette fin, nous avons
ous étions plus de 220 Sortie au théâtre,
bénévoles ponctuels pour les activités besoin de l’aide de tous. Vous voulez
personnes à la soirée du En attendant Godot
28 avril dernier. Tous À l’occasion du centenaire de de l’Amicale et plus encore. La nous aider? Pour vous impliquer,
ravis, d’être en si grand nombre, la naissance de Samuel Beckett soirée pour le lancement officiel de soumettre vos idées, obtenir des
francophones et francophiles, pour (1906-1989), le Cercle de lecture l’Amicale le 28 avril dernier a été un renseignements sur l’Amicale,
le lancement officiel de l’Amicale de l’Amicale se propose de lire en franc succès grâce à tous ceux qui envoyez-nous un courriel à,
francophone d’Ottawa. Mario novembre 2006, En attendant Godot ont participé de près ou de plus loin amicale05@sympatico,ca ou venez
Bouliane du journal Le Droit, et le 12 décembre 2006, de sortir en à en faire un grand évènement. Mais nous retrouver à une prochaine
écrivait dans sa chronique du groupe pour voir la pièce de théâtre. nos efforts ne doivent pas s’arrêter réunion ou activité! Le comité
social et le conseil d’administration
mercredi 3 mai, «C’est partie pour au Centre National des Arts. Le là.
de réunissent respectivement à 19 h
Nous
devons
dans
les
prochaines
l’Amicale ... Vendredi dernier, cercle de lecture vous invite tous
presque tous les acteurs principaux à vous joindre lors de la discussion semaines rencontrer les instances et 19 h 30 au Centre communautaire
de la scène franco-ontarienne étaient sur la pièce, mais mieux encore à gouvernementales et organismes du Glebe, au 175, av. Third. www.
réunis au Centre communautaire du la sortie au théâtre. Si cela vous communautaires pour leur faire amicale.ca et à moins d’indication
Glebe pour la soirée de lancement de intéresse, signifiez le par retour de part de notre vision sur les services contraire, les réunions sont toujours
francophones le premier mardi du mois.
l’Amicale francophone d’Ottawa.» courriel à l’Amicale, laissez nous communautaires
au
centre
d’Ottawa
et
des besoins
Et c’est bien vrai, l’Honorable vos coordonnées et lorsque nous
Madeleine
Meilleur,
Ministre aurons plus de détails à propos de l’Amicale pour assurer de la
des Affaires sociales et Ministre des réservations et des tarifs de
déléguée aux Affaires francophones groupes nous vous contacterons. et Son honneur le maire d’Ottawa,
Nous vous invitons à vous joindre
Bob Chiarelli, par leur présence ont au Cercle de lecture. Il suffit de
signifié leur appui à l’Amicale. Bien signifier votre intérêt en envoyant un
d’autres dignitaires et personnalités courriel à l’Amicale. Les rencontres
du monde politique ont participé ont lieux le premier mercredi du
à la soirée, tel que, Clive Doucet, mois, au Centre communautaire
Gisèle Lalonde, Alex Munter, Royal du Glebe à 19 h. Les lectures du
Galipeau, David Chernushenko. Les mois de mai sont Rouge Brésil, de
associations tels que l’AFO, ACFO, Christophe Ruffin. Rouge Brésil
GNAG, OSCA et GCA étaient est une fresque historique, dont le
aussi présentes. Cette soirée aura premier mérite est de faire revivre
servi deux fonctions, le lancement un épisode méconnu de l’histoire :
Doreen Drolet présidente par intérim de l’Amicale, le Maire de l’Amicale, et assurer à notre la colonisation française des côtes
Bob Chiarelli, la Ministre Madeleine Meilleur et Eileen
organisation un rayonnement qui va brésiliennes pendant la Renaissance. Durand coordonnatrice de l’évènement
au-delà des frontières du Quartier Également à l’horaire du Cercle pour
Capitale. le mois de mai, un poème, L’étable,
La seule ombre à cet évènement de Lise
Gaboury-Diallo, grande
c’est qu’il y a eu plus de frais gagnante du Premier prix - poésie,
que prévus et que nous n’avons Prix littéraires Radio-Canada 2005. pas amassé de fonds. Mais nous vous dirons qu’aux nombres
Adhésion, bénévoles,
de témoignages et de remerciements
reçus par l’Amicale, la dégustation l’Amicale et vous.
de vins et de fromages fut une soirée francophone grandiose, comme Vous pouvez devenir membre de
il n’y en a pas souvent dans nos l’Amicale pour 10 $ par personne
quartiers et ceci grâce aux efforts ou 20 $ par famille (ou toute somme
d’Eileen Durand, coordinatrice de qui conviendra à vos moyens). Votre
l’évènement et de son équipe de adhésion est importante puisque
c’est notre seule source de revenu
bénévoles. Bravo Eileen ! Le clou de la soirée ? Les fromages! pour l’instant. L’argent recueilli
Une très belle sélection de fromages nous permet de financer nos activités
canadiens des Producteurs laitiers (location de salle, permis ou
du Canada. L’Amicale francophone assurance) et nos petites dépenses de
remercie
chaleureusement Les fonctionnement (site Web, publicité,
Producteurs laitiers du Canada, etc.). L’adhésion à l’Amicale vous
pour la généreuse commandite permet aussi de participer à quelques
des fromages. Marcil Lavallée activités régulières comme le cercle
Comptable Agréés, OSCA, GCA, de lecture. Elle vous confère aussi
GNAG, La Banque Royale du le droit de vote à la prochaine
Canada succursale Bank et First, La assemblée générale, qui aura lieu
Caisse populaire Rideau d’Ottawa à l’automne 2006. Pour devenir
pour leur contribution financière. The membre, envoyer un courriel à
Pelican Fishery & Grill, Timothy’s l’Amicale et nous vous ferons
Bank et Fifth, Loeb Glebe, Il parvenir le formulaire d’adhésion. L’Amicale est toujours à la
Negozio Nicastro, Loblaws Isabella,
recherche
de bénévoles, soit pour
pour leur contribution à la soirée.
Home Hardware Bank et Second, réviser les textes de la missive et de
C.A. Paradis, Glebe Meat Market, nos articles envoyés aux journaux
Bloomfields Flowers, Third Avenue communautaire, d’un bénévole
Spa, pour les prix de présences. Cette pour maintenir notre site web à jour. soirée n’aurait pas été possible sans L’Amicale n’étant pas riche nous
recherchons un avocat qui voudrait
N
Page 30
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
HOPEWELL HAPPENINGS
Schools, Community, Parents and Councils
By Diane Hiscox and Ken
Blogg
S
chools are an integral part of
their communities. Long gone
are the days when the school
was isolated behind the fence, where
students came and went and parents
attended by invitation only. Today
learning extends beyond the fence and
parents and community are involved
daily in the life of the school. Playing
a key role in this is the School Council.
Hopewell and the community that
it serves is blessed with an active,
contributing council that brings much
to the students, staff, parents and
community that it serves. This article
will answer the question:
What does a School Council
do??
School councils are volunteer
advisory councils comprised of
primarily of parents, with school and
community representation.
While guided by provincial and
Board policies and procedures, school
councils have some latitude to set
their own priorities and agendas. In
addition to advising the principal, and
when asked, the Board and Ministry
of Education, councils are permitted
to engage in fundraising, social, and
enrichment activities.
This year, Hopewell council met
early in the year for a “visioning”
exercise, from which were distilled
three priorities for the year: Enrichment;
Social and emotional well-being and
the playground; and Healthy living
and Community outreach. Projects
undertaken throughout the year were
designed advance these priorities.
Several committees were struck:
an Enrichment Committee, an Allergy
Committee, an Events Committee,
and a Budget Committee.
The Enrichment Committee
provided lunchtime programs in hiphop, yoga, art, and music paid for
by council. The physical activity
programs meant to enrich and also to
animate council’s “healthy lifestyle”
goal, by providing an opportunity for
fun and vigorous exercise. They also
maintained the “Art Cart,” a mini artsupply center on wheels, paid for by
council. The committee also partnered
with teachers and the administration
to send the grade six classes to the
three-day Laval Space Camp!
The Allergy Committee met
monthly with the administration
to advise on policy and assist on
Hopewell’s compliance with Sabrina’s
Law (the 2005 Ontario statute
requiring school boards to implement
policies to ensure the highest degree
of safety to anaphylactic children).
They provided teacher training
and education; provided additional
signage on the B stairwell door; and
coordinated the bake sale during the
Spring Fling.
The Allergy Committee thanks
the parents and the community for
supporting the children at Hopewell
who have life-threatening allergies
– and encourages parents of children
with allergies to consider sitting on
the Allergy Committee next year.
The Events Committee co-hosted
(with Muchmor and First Avenue
Schools) a benefit Movie night
at the Mayfair to assist with the
breakfast programs at beacon
schools in our school Zone; cohosted (with Muchmor and First
Avenue) the annual Ski & Skate
Sale; and resurrected and ran the
spring Bike Sale. Spring Fling
was a marvelous spring party
organized by the committee, with
abundant food from many cultures,
top-drawer entertainment, and a
host of activities for youngsters.
The year-end BBQ is pending at
the time of writing, but is always
wonderful, with games, food, and
entertainment.
The Budget Committee looks
after the financial end of things.
The committee and the treasurers
worked steadily throughout the
year to provide monthly financial
statements and budget forecasts.
The committee also reviewed
requests for funds.
In addition to committee work,
council runs or supports a myriad
of activities: representation to
the City of Ottawa transportation
committee (on traffic issues), hot
pizza lunches every second Friday,
the amazing annual Read-a-thon,
community and outreach endeavours,
and support for teacher initiatives.
Their volunteer efforts are another
reason why Hopewell is a great place
to learn and a great place to grow.
Hopewell Flute Choir wins
Kiwanis Trophy
The Hopewell Flute Choir, conducted
by parent volunteer Kelly Richardson, is
the first school group to win the Ottawa
Flute Association Flute Ensemble Trophy
at the Kiwanis Music festival. Members
shown above are: front row Brenna Croal
(left) Gabby Doiron; Back row L-R:
Maddy Erola-Channen, Madison CohenMcfarlane, Leslie Chaplin.
A HARD DAY’S PLAY
Potty-Training Support Group
By Mary P
not to be left unsupervised on the
play structure). One might consider
oday’s meeting of the Potty- this his early induction to the art, but
Training Support Group, Zach appears largely oblivious of
Sunnyside Branch, took place the point of the exercise. While one
little boy pees, the other big boys
in part at one of our favourite parks.
While at the park, George felt the lean forward and peer at the stream,
need for an emergency meeting, and, making observations and offering
informing Mary of the situation, encouragement all the while. For
repaired to the shrubbery. (At time of this reason, it seems, the boys must
writing, the toilets were not yet open.) always take turns. They never pee
Members present included George, simultaneously - they might miss
Darcy, Thomas, with one guest, Zach something!
“There it goes! Your pee is
(who must needs come along so as
T
coming!!” (No performance anxiety
in this group.)
“Look. His pee gots that pine cone
all wet!” (This is very funny. Very,
very funny.)
“Don’t get that pee on your
pants!”
“Don’t stand there. You might get
his pee on your foot.”
“Hey! Push your penis down!
You’re making it squirt up inna air!”
“Are you done? Is it my turn?”
Darcy is wearing yer basic training
pants: little pale green underwear with
the padded section in the middle. He
largely ignores his audience, focussed
as he is on the engrossing task of
producing and aiming.
Thomas has on his teeny tiny grey
briefs - of which he is overwhelmingly
proud, because they have Spiderman
on the backside!!! Thomas revels
in his audience. After he’s watered
the shrubbery, he makes a point of
ensuring that everyone sees and
appreciates his posterior artwork,
wiggling that little bum for all to
see. “I gots Spiderman back there,
Darcy! George, see my Spiderman?” Thomas is an independent little man,
a boy in a hurry. He quick, hoists his
sweat pants up - “No, thanks, Mary,
I can do it by self!” - and all seems
well, until...
“Mary, my pants is hurting me!”
Thomas hops and twitches. Something
is hurting the boy, that’s evident. I can’t
see anything wrong on the surface, so
I check underneath... Hmmm...
The broad black elastic waistband
of his teeny white spiderman briefs
sits neatly on his hips at side and
back, right where it should be. At the
front? At the front, instead of nestling
just under his bellybutton, it is firmly
wedged underneath his, ah, apparatus.
Ouch! You know, little man, there
are times when it pays to take things
slowly...
It takes but a tweak, and the boy
is happy once more. Phew. On to
George.
George, too, prefers production
over playing to the audience. He
doesn’t at all mind that they stare
at the stream of pee, but he’s quite
modest about his undergarments. In
my position as overseer of the event,
however, I can clearly see that George,
who prior to this had worn sweat pants
over nothing at all, is wearing......
boxers! Eentsy-weentsy plaid cotton
boxers!! How delightful! Who knew
they made them so small?
Everyone considered themselves
highly satisfied with the outcome,
and thus this meeting of the PTSG,
Sunnyside Branch, was called to a
close.
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR
Corpus has a new mascot!
By Jane Spiteri
120 children enjoyed a different art
student competition was project every month over the school
launched this spring for a year. Megan Richardson and her
school mascot. The winning army of volunteers worked tirelessly
entry is the Corpus Kangaroo, on this project and plans are well
by grade 5 student Rebekka S. underway for next year’s edition of
Rebekka’s mascot choice is the Art at Lunch. Finally, Music to my
“courageous Kangaroo … because Ears, a Parent Council initiative lead
they just fast, jump high and are brave by Shauna Guilfoyle, also finished
animals … People in Corpus Christi for the year.
should stand proud. I feel special to Sports
have chosen her as our mascot.”
Try outs were held for the Track and
Field team. The eastern division
Arts at Corpus
Corpus students were treated to track meet is on June 8th. Corpus
several concerts at the end of April also participated in an Ultimate
from visiting Blues musicians as part Frisbee tournament on May 26.
of the Bluesfest Blues in the School Program. The week of wonderful Other News
On May 24, a retirement party was
music ended with a performance by
the Kindergarten classes singing with held for our former Principal Bonnie
Sharon Riley and Stephen Lewis. McLaurin. Parents, colleagues and
A
- OUR 31st YEAR
Page 31
17th Ottawa Southminster Cubs
and Beavers Wrap Up Another
Great Year!
By Brent McLean
W
Students, parents and staff recently installed the “Aquatic Life” mural created
by grade 6A students at Corpus Christi School. photo by Missy Fraser
As part of Blues in the School, the
Kindergarten classes will perform at
Bluesfest on July 16. Many thanks to
Mrs Wong and Madam Bergeron for
their work with the JK/SK classes. Grade one and two students spent the
past five weeks hipping and hopping
with local dance teacher Kailena Van
de Nes. A second session for grades
3-6 starts this week. Both groups
will present a routine at the Glebe
Community Centre on June 14 from
6:00 - 7:30 pm as part of the GNAG
Dance Studio Showcase.
Students from class 6A recently
unveiled a large-scale aquatic life
mural they have worked on over
the past year. The mural includes
thirty studies of various species that
students researched in the Science
unit “Diversity of Life”. Painted
in acrylic on canvas the mural
is permanently installed on the third
floor across from the library. In other Arts news, the Art at
Lunch program wrapped up in May. friends joined together at Blessed
Sacrament Church to fete Bonnie on
her retirement.
Grade 5 students participated
in the 13th annual Catholic School
Board Peace Festival. The Peace
Festival encourages and highlights
conflict resolution in our school, and
the students were selected to attend
based on their demonstration of
cooperation and positive attitude.
On a sad note, Corpus Christi
has bid farewell to the play structure
in the Corpus yard. Deemed unsafe
by the school board, it has been
dismantled. But every cloud has
a silver lining, and this change in
the yard gives parents, staff and
students an opportunity to look at
our space and improve the play area
for our children.
Very Special congratulations go
out to Kevin Simms. Kevin received
an award of excellence for academic
progress at the Board’s Celebration
of Excellency. Way to go Kevin!!
e’ve finished our regular
meetings for the year and
what a year it was. We’ve
been overnight camping, learned
how to fence, slept over night at Old
Fort Henry, attended a ‘Beaveree’
at the Experimental Farm, visited
the War Museum, raced Cub cars,
raced catamarans, built bridges,
earned all kinds of cool badges, and
gone skating. We’ve snow-shoed,
cross-country skied and hiked up a
mountain, attended campfires,
learned about Climate Change
and what we can do to protect
the environment, learned new
games and made new friends.
Not bad for a movement
that is about to celebrate its
100th anniversary in 2007.
As well, the 17th Ottawa
Southminster will celebrate its
85 anniversary the same year.
Yes, Scouting has continually
been a vital part of Old Ottawa
South almost since Scouting
was founded. We fully expect
that the coming year will be
our most amazing year yet.
The cub and beaver leaders
would like to thank all the
parents for all their support his
year. It would be impossible
for the beavers and cubs and
their leaders to have all that
fun if the parents weren’t there to
help us.
It’s been a great year. Three
Beavers will move up to Cubs, and
five cubs will move up to Scouts next
year. Which means there is more fun
to be had, more badges to be earned
and more friends to be made!
We hope you’ll join us this
coming September. Watch for
registration notices in your school
and in your community paper. Bring
on the Adventure!
Open House
Bank Street and Riverside Drive – Intersection Modifications
Thursday, June 15, 2006
5 to 8 p.m.
RA Centre – West Side
2451 Riverside Drive
The City of Ottawa invites you to attend an open house to discuss proposed roadway
modifications on Bank Street from Riverside Drive to the Billings Bridge Transitway
Station access road and on Riverside Drive from Data Centre Road to the ramps on
the east side of Bank Street.
Changes are proposed to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists and to
reduce delays at the Bank and Riverside south intersection.
At the open house, you will be able to:
� Review the proposed plans and related objectives
� Bring forth traffic and safety issues at this intersection that have not yet
been identified
Representatives from the City, the consultant and the Ward Councillor will be available
to discuss the project and answer your questions.
Hopewell Avenue Public School will be the site of
the next Ski and Skate Sale, an annual used-sporting
equipment sale hosted by First Avenue, Mutchmor and
Hopewell School Councils. The event is planned for
Saturday September 9 to coincide with the Old Ottawa
South Porch Sale. So hold onto your winter sporting
equipment when cleaning out your basement this summer
-- you can sell it in September. Watch for details towards
the end of summer.
Your feedback is an important part of the consultation process. Community participation can influence the final recommendations.
For more information and/or to submit comments, please contact:
Carol Holmes, P.Eng.
Road Safety Studies Engineer
Traffic and Parking Operations
City of Ottawa
100 Constellation Crescent
Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8
Tel.: 613-580-2424 ext. 27582
Fax: 613-560-6069
E-mail: [email protected]
Comments should be submitted by Friday, June 23, 2006.
3865
Page 32
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
Jay Nordenstrom announces candidacy for Capital Ward
J
ay Nordenstrom, 29, and a
resident of Old Ottawa East,
currently sits as a member of
the Old Ottawa East Community
Association and is President of
the National Capital Branch of
the Carleton University Alumni
Association. In addition, Mr.
Nordenstrom is a past member of
the board of the Glebe Community
Association and past ex-officio
member of the Old Ottawa South
Community Association.
He is employed as the Director of
Government Relations for a national
transportation association and is
actively involved with a variety
of charitable causes including: the
United Way where he received the
Community Builder Award, the
Food Bank, and Toy Mountain to
name a few. A graduate of Carleton
University, Nordenstrom served as
president of the Carleton University
Students Association.
Six of his priorities will be:
Property Assessments: He
will work with the provincial
government to overhaul the property
tax assessment system. The system
is neither fair nor transparent and
should be replaced with a system
that better reflects one’s ability to
pay or be based on a more stable
philosophy such as the square
footage of the home as opposed to
tying it a volatile real estate market Control City Spending on New
Projects: The city is spending far
too much money on new projects
while ignoring its existing aging
infrastructure such as community
centres, arenas and roads. He will
propose a municipal by-law that
would require a full two thirds vote
of council to instigate any new
capital project. With this type of
fiscal discipline in place, existing
community infrastructure will
proceed at a faster pace, such as the
Old Firehall expansion and better
facilities for Heron Park. Term Limits: Nordenstrom
will propose that the Municipal
Elections Act be amended top limit
incumbents to no more than three
full terms. Term limits will help
renew councils. If you can’t get
things accomplished in three terms,
then it should be time to move on. Public Transit: While he
supports the light rail transit system,
Nordenstrom believes that the city
auditor should be monitoring the
process from beginning to end.
He also believes the provincial
government should also allow transit
riders to deduct the cost of bus
passes from their provincial income
tax, and that increases in fares and
passes should only be tied to the
annual consumer price index.
Ward Advisory Council: As
city councilor, he will hold regular
meetings with the presidents of all
the community and business groups,
At the Glebe Garage Sale where Jay collected signatures to petition to
the Provincial Legislature to change the current unfair property tax assessment system
residents’ and students’ associations
and school councils in Capital Ward
to better co-ordinate our efforts and
increase our effectiveness at city hall.
He will also reinstate the Carleton
Advisory Committee that brings
together students and administration
that was formed by Jim Watson and
carried on by Inez Berg but was
discontinued by our incumbent,” he
added.
Public Safety: He will move a
motion that we reinstate a beat cop to
bring back real community policing
on our main streets like Bank Street
from the Queensway to the Rideau
River. His website is www.jaynordenstrom.
ca.
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
Page 33
Suzuki Method: Kids 3 Years and Up Learn Violin
By Vicky Barham
T
hree years ago it was just
a trickle, but gradually the
trickle grew into a stream, and
the stream is now threatening to turn
into a torrent of young violinists and
violists - some as young as 3 years of
age - who have discovered that they
can take Suzuki-method music lessons
right here in Old Ottawa South from
SuzukiMusic teacher Kailey Kemp, a
long-time OOS resident, McGill and
U of O music graduate, OSO Assistant
Principal violist, and loyal supporter
of various Brewer Arena hockey
teams. Many of Kailey’s OOS parents
particularly value the fact that they can
walk to lessons at Kailey’s studio on
Riverdale Avenue.
Many parents are looking for
opportunities to enrich their kids
lives with music, but few realise that
children can start lessons from as
young as 3 years of age; traditional
music teachers usually start children
on string instruments when they are
between 7 and 9 years old. But the
Suzuki method - which seeks to create
an environment for learning music that
is inspired by the environment in which
children learn to master their mother
tongue - is specifically designed to
meet the needs of young beginners.
Developed by Shinichi Suzuki,
a Japanese pedagogue, the Suzuki
method is based on the belief that just
as every child can achieve a high level
of fluency in speaking their mother
tongue, so can every child achieve a
high level of proficiency in playing
an instrument. The potential of every
child to achieve mastery is unbounded,
if parents and teachers work together
to create the right environment for
learning. Many of today’s top young
virtuosos - including Canadian stars
James Ehnes, Martin Beaver, and NAC
Orchestra members Jessica Linnebach
and Amanda Forsyth - began their
musical studies by the Suzuki method.
Just as parents surround their
babies with an environment of spoken
words, and react with encouragement
to their toddlers’ efforts to formulate
their first words and sentences, Suzuki
parents are expected to play reference
recordings of the repertoire that
their child is going to be learning to
play, and to ‘nurture with love’. The
Suzuki method also creates a special
opportunity for parents to become
involved in their child’s learning (and
they often glean insights along the way
that are invaluable when subsequently
facing the challenge of homework!).
Parents work closely with the teacher,
accompanying the child to weekly
private lessons and helping the child
with daily home practising. Kailey
works with each of the parents in her
studio to make sure that they understand
the particular points that their child has
to practice during the coming week,
until she sees them for another lesson.
For many families who enroll a first
child in Suzuki music lessons, music
subsequently becomes something
that they ‘do as a family’. A typical
example are OOS residents Rowan,
Aiden and Devon McCarthy. Kailey
notes: “Rowan started violin in Brasil
when he was 4. He has been studying
with me for 2 1/2 years. Adrian started
last September and Devon is so eager to
start that I’ve already given him a box
violin even though he’s not officially
taking lessons.” The McCarthy boys
will be performing in her upcoming
studio recital, which will be held on
June 3, 2006 at McLeod-Stewarton
United Church. (Admission is free.)
In addition to private lessons,
Kailey’s students participate in group
classes and an enrichment program
that is offered jointly with other
SuzukiMusic faculty. (In addition to
violin and viola, Kailey’s colleagues
teach cello and flute.) The group lessons
bring together children from across the
National Capital region, and students
are put in classes with peers who play
the same instrument and have a similar
playing level. The group classes make
learning an instrument a more social
experience, providing opportunities to
reinforce the acquisition of technique
introduced in private lessons, and to
develop performance skills. Once
children turn 5, they also begin
musicianship classes. Later on they
have the opportunity to participate
in string orchestra, and in high-level
performance groups.
Since Kailey is a professional
violist, it is a special joy for her to
have the opportunity to work with
tiny violists. Normally, children start
on the viola only when they are 11
or 12 years of age - violas have not
traditionally come in small sizes. But
when OOS resident and SuzukiMusic
parent Vicky Barham was on sabbatical
in Paris in 2000, she discovered that a
Parisian luthier Bernard Sabatier, had
developed a new design for baby violas
that made it possible for children to start
on the viola at the same age that they
could start the violin. SuzukiMusic
subsequently decided to create a
bank of these instruments, and in fact
commissioned Sabatier to build the
world’s first 1/16th size violas - which
are now being played by two of Kailey’s
3-year old violists. SuzukiMusic lends
violas to new beginners free of charge,
as long as an instrument is available in
the child’s size.
Parents interested in learning
more about the Suzuki method may
visit the SuzukiMusic website: www.
suzukimusic.ca.
If you wish to
specifically contact Kailey, she can be
reached at 730-6405.
Page 34
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
OOS Resident to Launch OneWoman Show Across Canada
A
Open
House
North-South O-Train Project
Preliminary Design plans
The City of Ottawa invites you to attend one or more of the Open Houses listed
below to review information and comment on the proposal submission for the
North-South Light Rail Transit Project (LRT) as received from The Siemens-PCL/
Dufferin Team, the recommended preferred Proponent for the project.
Wednesday, June 7, 2006
4:30 to 8 p.m.
Ottawa City Hall
Jean Pigott Hall
110 Laurier Avenue West
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
4:30 to 8 p.m.
Rideauview Community Centre
Gymnasium
4310 Shoreline Drive
Thursday, June 8, 2006
4:30 to 8 p.m.
Kanata Recreation Complex
Upper Concourse
100 Walter Baker Place
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
4:30 to 8 p.m.
Fallingbrook Elementary
School
Cafeteria
679 Deancourt Crescent
Monday, June 12, 2006
4:30 to 8 p.m.
Walter Baker Sports Centre
Food Court, 2nd Floor
100 Malvern Drive
Thursday, June 15, 2006
4:30 to 8 p.m.
Jim Durrell Sports Centre
Elwood Hall
1265 Walkley Road
What is being proposed:
On July 15, 2005, City Council approved the Environmental Assessment recommended plan
for the North-South LRT Project. The proposed route extends from the University of Ottawa
to the Barrhaven Town Centre.
On August 3, 2005, the City sent a Request for Proposals (RFP) to three Proponents who
qualified to compete for the project through the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process.
Following an evaluation of the proposals, the City recommended The Siemens-PCL/
Dufferin Team as the preferred Proponent and entered into contract negotiations with the
Proponent to design, build and maintain the system for a period of 15 years.
Why should you attend:
This Open House will provide you an opportunity to learn about:
• The preliminary concept plans for the
LRT project, including LRT stations,
downtown streetscaping and
beautification and the new StrandherdArmstrong bridge in Ottawa South
• How LRT will affect City growth
• How LRT will benefit the environment
• The economic benefits for the City, its
businesses and residents
• The construction schedule and the
traffic management plan
• The LRT vehicles proposed for the
system
• How public consultation and
communications activities will keep you
informed about the project
• The Siemens-PCL/Dufferin Team
• Open House comment sheets
City staff and The Siemens-PCL/Dufferin Team will be available to listen to comments from
the public and respond to questions. Input received at this Open House will be used to
identify public concerns/issues associated with the project and help in refining mitigation
measures to address those concerns. Your feedback is an important part of this process.
On June 28, 2006, City Council will vote on the award of a final contract to The SiemensPCL/Dufferin Team for the North-South Light Rail Transit Project.
For additional information about this project, please contact:
City of Ottawa
Light Rail Implementation Division
180 Elgin Street, 6th Floor
Ottawa, ON K2P 2K3
Fax: 613-580-9688
E-mail: [email protected]
ottawa.ca/lrt
Publication: OSCAR
Size: 1/2 page (4.75” x 14”)
resident of Old Ottawa
South before it was
Old, Alison Williams,
of Under the Bed Productions,
will be in Ottawa to kick off
a nation-wide tour of Fringe
Festivals with her one-woman
show “Aphrodite’s Turn”. This
production will debut as part of
the 10th Ottawa Fringe Festival
before embarking upon a tour
of the Fringe Festivals in the
cities of Toronto, Saskatoon,
Edmonton and Vancouver.
“Aphrodite’s Turn” is a
culmination of many years
of involvement in the drama
Alison Williams in “Aphrodite’s Turn”
world for Alison, and her
experience in theatre is evident
drama professionals. Beginning with
in the well developed motives
of the play. The story is set in the 1930s productions on their backyard Grove
and revolves around the experiences Avenue stage and a ‘Lady Macbeth’
and perceptions of a circus sideshow monologue in a grade 7 talent show
performer as she deals with a most at Hopewell Public School, Alison
developed her natural dramatic talents
realistic issue: Love.
The setting and characters may be at Canterbury High School before some
unusual and the themes of mythology fine tuning at Queen’s University. She
and archetype are profound, yet has most recently assistant directed
“Aphrodite’s Turn” touches upon the three productions with the Great
equalizer of humanity – the ability to Canadian Theatre Company as well as
love and the feelings that grow from a Theatrefront production in Toronto.
“Aphrodite’s Turn” will be
that need to make a connection. In its
performed
at the Arts Court Theatre,
own, unique way, this play expresses
2
Daly
Avenue,
by the Rideau Canal
the all too familiar risks and rewards
downtown.
Show
times are Saturday,
of looking for love. The trials of life
are something everyone can relate to, June 17 at 1:30pm; Sunday, June 18
at 7pm; Monday, June 19 at 9:30pm;
circus performer or not.
(Due to this exploration of love’s Wednesday, June 21 at 7pm; Saturday,
emotions, “Aphrodite’s Turn” does June 24 at 9:30pm; and Sunday, June
contain some sexuality and explicit 25 at 2:20pm.
language and is meant for Mature
Tickets are $8 at the door and $10
Audiences.)
Alison is assisted in the in advance. For more Box Office
production of “Aphrodite’s Turn” by information, contact The Ottawa
her family and this is truly a labour Fringe Festival at (613) 232-6162 or
of love from a group of dedicated visit www.ottawafringe.com.
Pub. Date: Friday, June 2, 2006
Creating Open and Cozy Spaces
By Jennifer Davies
A
ll over Ottawa, people are
moving into bigger homes
with larger kitchens and living
areas; in smaller homes, walls are
being knocked down to create a sense
of openness.
Yet, combined with this love of
openness, people still crave warmth
and coziness. Just take my friend,
Rachel, for example.
Rachel is a mother of two who just
moved into her dream home: large
kitchen with an island, adjoining a
larger family room with a fireplace (no
walls between the two spaces.) But,
Rachel isn’t happy. Her place is open,
but not cozy. How can it be made
cozier, while maintaining a sense of
openness?
First, Rachel’s walls are beige
in the kitchen and family areas. I’ve
suggested she paint her kitchen warm
terracotta and her family room olive
green. This will visually define the
spaces, making them cozier. Crown
mouldings and window treatments are
needed, too.
Second, Rachel’s flooring – the
same ceramic tile in both rooms – needs
warming-up. At a minimum, she needs
an area rug in the family room. But,
she also could lay a hardwood inset
between the kitchen and family rooms,
visually dividing the spaces. Or, she
could install a low built-in between the
two rooms, defining the spaces, while
keeping them open.
I’m confident these changes will
help achieve Rachel’s dream home:
open and cozy at the same time!
Jennifer Davies is an Ottawa-based
interior decorator.
If you have
decorating questions, or comments
on this article, contact her at
[email protected]
or
521-2990.
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR
- OUR 31st YEAR
Page 35
Something for Everyone at 2006 Folkfest
By Carol Silcoff
O
Not only will patrons have the
chance to see favourites such as
bluesman Rick Fines, Montrealbased celtic band Orealis, and
local folk divas Frida’s Brow,
but they will also discover the
rich talents of a diverse range of
artists from Aboriginal singersongwriter ElizaBeth Hill to the duo
consisting of funky blues vocalist
Ndidi Onukwulu and guitarist
(and two-time Juno award winner)
Madagascar Slim, to Mauvais Sort,
dynamic québecois band that mixes
traditional lyrics with contemporary
musical compositions.
The festival will offer many
ways to get involved beyond
just listening to great music.
Opportunities include participating
in the Terry Penner Memorial Choir,
performing at the Ottawa Folklore
Centre Open Stage, learning to play
a musical instrument, performing in
a community drumming circle with
Kathy Armstrong, hanging out in the
Family Area (face painting, crafts,
musical performances and instruction,
etc.), and taking in educational and
informational sessions organized
by Arbour Environmental Shoppe
at the EnviroTent. For those who
want to wile away some time in a
relaxed environment, there is the
juried craft fair and on-site massage
(available for a small fee). For others
who want a break from the music,
Britannia Park offers scenic paths,
a playground area, and a supervised
beach.
The festival offers many
ways to celebrate musical talent
and achievement and significant
contributions to folk music in
Canada.
ttawa
Folk
Festival
organizers have unveiled
plans for the 2006 festival,
which promises to offer a wide
variety of musical genres and styles.
The primary site for the event is
beautiful Britannia Park, where
there will be programming on Friday
evening (August 18) through to
Sunday evening. Innovations for
this year include a Thursday evening
(August 17) concert at the Library
and Archives Canada auditorium,
featuring a song circle with stellar
performers Lynn Miles, Ian Tamblyn
and Bill Bourne, and special guests.
This special concert will be hosted by
Dean Verger, proprietor of Rasputin’s
Folk Café, and will mark the 25th
anniversary of the little club that has
meant so much to so many musicians,
and to the local community.
According to festival director
(and Old Ottawa South resident)
Gene Swimmer, the festival is
reaching out to the younger members
of its audience, through various
presentations and venues. Its eclectic
Thursday evening concert for the
younger set will be held at Capital
City Music Hall, and will feature The
Sadies (country rock, psychedelia,
surf, punk and bluegrass), Ridley
Bent (up-and-coming alt-country/rap
artist) and The Agnostic Mountain
Gospel Choir (traditional blues,
Appalachian folk and “ragged”
gospel). These performers will also
play at Britannia Park during the
weekend. Other targeted programs
include the ever-popular indoor altfolk café at the festival site and afterhours jamming at the Travelodge
Hotel Ottawa West.
Mainstage headliners span a Arthur McGregor to receive
range of acoustic music from the Helen Verger Award
This year, Arthur McGregor,
compelling and outspoken songs
of alt-country artist
Steve Earle, to the
poetic images and
warm melodies of
Dar Williams, the
country-folk artistry
of Greg Brown and
Iris Dement, the
folksy-pop sounds of
Ron Sexmith and his
band, the fusion of
traditional music with
a modern transcendent
energy of Cajun band,
Balfa Toujours, and
the flamenco, jazz
and pop stylings
of
internationally
renowned
guitarist
Robert Michaels.
There will be
more than 50 daytime
performers presenting
mini-concerts or
participating in
workshops on
Arthur McGregor Of Ottawa Folklore Centre
Saturday and Sunday.
proprietor of the Ottawa Folklore
Centre (which is marking its 30th
anniversary) in Old Ottawa South,
will receive the Helen Verger Award.
Folk Festival audition winner in
the Youth Category, Mark Wilson,
will receive the Galaxie Rising Star
Award and in the Open Category, Jan
Purcell and Pine Road, will receive a
One Fret Less Award at the festival.
Both groups will also receive a cash
prize of $1,000 and will perform at
the festival.
Advance weekend passes (two
days and three nights at Britannia
Park) are now on sale for $50 until
August 13; similarly, youth passes
(age 16-21with ID) are available
for $30. Advance day passes for
Friday, Saturday and Sunday can
be purchased at various locations,
including the Ottawa Folklore Centre
and mother tongue books, for $20.
Youth 15 years of age and under
are admitted free of charge. Tickets
for both Thursday night concerts
are available for $20, but discounts
apply under certain conditions.
More information on ticket prices,
outlets and special (package) offers
is available by calling 230-8234 or
visiting www.ottawafolk.org.
Carol Silcoff is a volunteer with the
Ottawa Folk Festival.
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e-mail: [email protected]
Phone 613-355-7272
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Page 36
The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
Ian Boyd - Candidate for Capital Ward
My reasons for offering to serve as
your City Councillor are as follows:
firmly believe that citizens should
be looking for two prerequisites
when selecting a candidate
to represent their best interests at
the decision making forum which
constitutes Ottawa City Council. My
premise is based on the fact that we
live in an era in which running any
municipality requires that elected
representatives
must
annually
prioritize and allocate a finite set
of financial, and other available
resources, to meet jurisdiction’s
needs. In this regard, Ottawa is
similar to other jurisdictions in that
the demand for resources greatly
exceeds the supply of available
resources.
My first prerequisite is that
candidates for city council possess the
financial and business acumen which
can only be obtained from having
worked in the business world. When
deciding how I will vote in preparation
for city elections, I routinely look for
candidates who possess this skillset
I
Ian Boyd in Compact Music
and experience before investing them
with the responsibility to represent
my personal and business interests
in this important decision making
forum.
My second prerequisite is
the requirement for my elected
representative
to
intimately
understand my personal and business
needs when representing me at council
and allocating how my money should
be spent. To be
able to do this, city
councilors must
create and maintain an ongoing two
way dialogue with their constituents.
This requires that councilors do
two things - Councillors must be
prepared to regularly and frequently
inform constituents about pending
issues, and in parallel they must be
committed to canvassing constituents
concerning needs and preferences.
This requires that councilors must
also be prepared to respond to all
queries from constituents, within
an appropriate period of time. This
applies to all queries and requests for
information and assistance, whether
they be in writing, by phone, by
email, or in person. .
In contrast to recent city
representatives in Ward 17, and
current candidates for our upcoming
November 13th 2006 elections, I
believe I am best qualified to serve as
your representative at city hall.
I believe that I have the business
acumen and financial experience to
ensure that all available city resources
are optimized, and allocated on a
fair and equitable basis as driven
by the needs and preferences of
Ward 17 constituents. To succeed
in this milieu also requires a strong
character and the commitment to
establish and maintain open channels
of communications with all Ward 17
constituents. I have the commitment,
energy and experience to represent
your collective needs, and believe that
I can make a significant contribution
as your councilor.
Vote for me, and be comfortable
that your vote will be: Good for Our
Community, Good for Business &
Good for You
Are You Missing Some Tax
Credits?
by Rick Sutherland
Financial Divorce Specialist
Avoid costly mistakes with professional financial
assistance in the division of assets.
Contact: Rick Sutherland, CLU, CFP, FDS, R.F.P.
1276 Wellington Street, Ottawa ON K1Y 3A7
Phone: (613)798-2421 Email: [email protected]
T
hrough our discussions with clients and
others, we have come to the conclusion
that there may be significant tax breaks
that many are missing. If you have a hard
time taking care of yourself, due to medical
reasons, you may be eligible for additional
tax credits. Seniors, children, and anyone
with a disability can apply for the Disability
Tax Credit.
Contact or visit the Canada Revenue
Agency (CRA) and ask for the guidebook
called “Information Concerning People With
Disabilities”. It contains the Disability Tax
Credit Certificate form T2201. A qualified
practitioner detailing the nature of your
disability must certify this form. This is a
requirement for you to be eligible to claim
additional tax credits on your income tax
return. The guidebook also specifies the
eligible medical expenses that can be claimed
on your tax return. There is a self-assessment
questionnaire to determine if you are eligible.
For additional information you can visit the
CRA website at www.cra.gc.ca/disability.
The T2201 form has two parts: the person
with the disability fills out Part A, and Part
B needs to be completed by a qualified
practitioner (doctor, optometrist, audiologist,
physiologist, and so on). Basically, it is a
questionnaire that describes the disabilities
and their severity. The applicant must have
an impairment in physical or mental functions
that is diagnosed as severe and prolonged.
The certificate can be submitted at any
time throughout the year, and, once approved,
you do not have to re-apply unless specified
by the CRA. In fact, you can request the CRA
to re-assess previous years if your disability
had occurred in the past. The reassessment
may cover several years, 1999-2005 for
instance, in which case you may receive a
substantial refund cheque. It is recommended
to get approved early and save time when
filing your tax return.
Once your certificate has been approved
by the CRA you become eligible for the
Disability Tax Credit amount, worth $6,596
in 2005, plus additional medical expenses.
Maybe it’s not you, but a loved one
who has the disability. If they are unable to
apply on their own, you can apply as their
representative. If you have an elderly parent
who has minimal income and is dependent on
you, there may be an option to transfer some
tax credits onto your tax return.
Coping with a disability is difficult
enough, not only from an emotional but also
a financial standpoint. Don’t miss out on the
little tax breaks. It all adds up and for qualified
applicants the money is there for the asking. If
you or anyone you know is disabled, this is a
tax credit well worth investigating.
This is a monthly article on financial planning.
Call or write to Rick Sutherland CLU, CFP,
FDS, R.F.P., of FundEX Investments Inc. with
your topics of interest at 798-2421 or E-mail
at [email protected].
JUNE 2006
The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR
Page 37
Let Red Apron Cooks For You
By Lisa Xing
W
ith our busy lifestyles that
are getting more hectic,
it’s hard to take time and
enjoy a well-cooked meal with the
family, let alone spend time to make
the meal itself. Jo-Ann Laverty and
Jennifer Heagle have found a way to
help. The Red Apron was designed to
get families “back to the table”.
Located on Leonard Ave. in Old
Ottawa South, the Red Apron is a
service geared toward feeding people
healthy food and they target busy,
working couples and families. Many
people don’t have time to do their
own grocery shopping and cooking
so the business provides dinner
three times a week from Tuesday to
Thursday.
Laverty and Heagle have their
own kitchen where people can come
to pick up their meals on the way
home from work or customers can
even get their dinners delivered to
their home or place of work. There is
no charge for delivery to the homes
of residents in the Glebe and Old
Ottawa South.
Heagle and Laverty focus on
sophisticated comfort food that
takes time to prepare and is made
from fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Dinners are attractive to the eye and
tantalizing to the palate.
The Red Apron opened in
December last year and started the
midweek dinner service in February.
Laverty has been in the food
industry for 17 years and successfully
to feed their family well
but do not always have
enough time to do it. Now,
there are three days a week
people don’t have to worry.
People rush to work, rush
to shop, and then rush to
cook. With the Red Apron,
a customer can stop by
on their way home from
work, pick up the meal
and head home, and have
dinner on the table within
20 minutes.
“That’s why worklife balance is a strong
motivation for our service,”
says Laverty. “Busy people
can still eat good quality
food.”
In addition, the cost
justification is easy, says
Heagle. “Our customers
save money on groceries,
Jennifer Heagle and Jo-Ann Laverty - coand save time on meal
owners of theRed Apron. The food in the
preparation – time they can
picture is:Herb Roasted Mariposa Cornish
spend with the people they
Hen, Warm Black-eyed Pea Salad with Roasted
care about.”
Butternut Squash & Ontario GoatCheese
If people take out, eat
convenience
foods, or eat at
established a catering and pastry shop,
the Emerald Bakery. Heagle owned a restaurant, the food is usually high
and operated Gambrel, a restaurant in saturated fats and other unhealthy
specializing in regional and seasonal substances.
“A lot of food also ends up in
cuisine. The two friends wanted to
the
garbage,”
says Laverty. About
work together, so they pooled their
business experience and created a 17 per cent of our landfill is food
waste and the average person throws
service benefiting the community.
“We know what it’s like to be out 400 pounds of food a year. In
busy,” says Heagle. “We’re both essence, this means we spend a lot of
money on groceries but much of that
working mothers.”
The owners realized people want gets thrown out.
Of course, Heagle and Laverty
change the menu each week,
guaranteeing it’s always something
different. This ensures that the
customers don’t get bored, and
neither do the Red Apron co-owners.
“We get our inspiration from the
changing seasons, cookbooks, trying
new restaurants, traveling, shopping
at farmers markets and visiting our
suppliers….” says Laverty. “There’s
so much available to us now, it’s
important for people to expand their
palette and expose their children to
different flavours and foods”.
Another important issue for both
women is using local suppliers to make
a positive impact on local economy
and agricultural businesses.
“I feel better eating eggs that
come from chickens that are raised by
farmers who care about their animals
and the environment,” Heagle says
The two also focus on using
environmentally friendly packaging
like
biodegradable
cardboard
containers instead of Styrofoam,
plastic or aluminum.
Above all, both Laverty and
Heagle love food and cooking, and
this ultimately lead them to create
a business that is entirely unique.
“We’ve done some research and
as far as we know, we’re the only
service of this kind,” says Heagle.
“We’re trying to help people
reduce stress in their lives and get
back to the table.”
Red Apron, 70a Leonard Avenue at
Hopewell, 321-0417, www.redapron.
ca
How can you help your lost
pet get home?
E
ach month, hundreds of stray
animals are brought to the
Ottawa Humane Society
(OHS). Sadly, most of those animals
have no identification. This usually
makes it impossible for OHS staff to
locate an animal’s owner.
Often, especially in the case of
cats, animals are missing for days
before their owner goes looking for
them. And, just as often, an animal
may be stray for several days—or
even several months—before it is
found by someone and brought to
the OHS, by which point its owner
may have already given up looking
for it. The result? In 2005, only
54% of dogs—and a dismal 4% of
cats—were claimed by their owners.
Fortunately, there’s a way to give
your pet the best possible chance
of getting home if it does become
lost: make sure it is wearing a collar
and tag, and most importantly, is
microchipped! A microchip provides
a permanent means of identification.
Microchips are the shape and size of
a grain of rice and are injected just
under an animal’s skin. When a lost
pet arrives at the OHS, the animal is
scanned to check for a microchip,
which contains all of the owner’s
contact information and allows the
pet to be returned quickly to its
owner.
The OHS is holding special
microchip clinics this season at its
ChampagneAvenue shelter: call today
to ensure that your pet is protected!
The cost is $43.00 – it’s a small
price to pay for a lifetime of security.
And, all microchipped animals that
are spayed or neutered receive free
lifetime city registration!
For more information, contact 7253166 ext. 221, email microchip@
ottawahumane.ca or check out the
OHS website at www.ottawahumane.
ca
Need Renovations?
Custom Designed Additions and
Major Renovations that respect the
Craftsmanship and Architectural
style of your older home.
594-8888
www.gordonmcgovern.com
The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR
Page 38
JUNE 2006
Clive Doucet Declares for Capital Ward:
Green Planning, Fair Taxes
And Sustainable Budgets
O
n Saturday, April 22nd, Clive
Doucet announced at Earth
Day events in Capital Ward
that he will be a candidate in the
2006 municipal elections.
“We have made substantial
progress towards more sustainable
growth,” said Clive to Earth Day
participants. “We’ve had successes
worth cherishing. In 2009, the
new light rail double track electric,
north-south line will become the
first major addition to the city’s
Clive Doucet speaks at community event
Personal Financial Planning
We will review your current financial position and
recommend a plan that is designed to achieve your goals.
Rick Sutherland, CLU, CFP, FDS, R.F.P
Tel 613.798.2421
[email protected]
www.invested-interest.ca
1276 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 3A7
LANDWORKS
--- Landscape / Construction ---
Quality work at affordable prices
� interlock / flagstone
� retaining walls
transit service in 15 years. It will
provide a green, efficient alternative
to expanding the airport parkway,
Bronson Avenue and the Alta Vista
Expressway as a double track rail
system can carry the equivalent of
16 expressway lanes.”
At the neighbourhood level,
Capital Ward has seen the
preservation and renovation of the
Glebe Community Centre; new
community planning for Main St.
in Old Ottawa East to bring back
this mainstreet to its former vitality;
new greener streetscapes for Bank
in Old Ottawa South, Fifth Avenue
and Craig; a farmer’s market for
Lansdowne; and the modest but
important conversion of the Heron
Park fieldhouse to a facility that is
now used by the community yearround.
“We need to move the
community agenda forward and
this means reconstructing the
Old Firehall and the Heron Park
fieldhouse; completing the Ottawa
East Community Design Plan; and
rebuilding Bank Street in the Glebe,”
said Clive.
“I’m running again because
we need to secure these local
accomplishments by creating a
city where people move from
concentrating on differences to
focusing on the things that connect
us,” stated Clive. “This means
insisting that the Province change
the present assessment system to
the Index Market Sale Assessment
system that will result in fairer, less
costly taxes for all city residents;
continuing to push Council to adopt
smart growth budgets, not sprawl
growth budgets; and pushing the city
towards an integrated public transit
system which serves all residents,
not just peak hour commuters.”
The Clive Doucet 2006
organizing committee will be
holding a campaign launch dance
on Friday, June 9th, 2006 from 7:30
to 10 p.m. at the Glebe Community
Centre. The entertainment will be
provided by old time rock ‘n roll
band and ward residents Back in the
Day.
For more information: Clive Doucet
Campaign 2006 · 38 Muriel St.
Ottawa ON K1S 4E1 ·
www.clivedoucet.ca
People who cycle
to work
June 7 - Group ride from Sunnyside/Bank, down
Bank to Laurier/Bank. Meet at 8:15 a.m. in pkg lot
in NE corner of Bank/Sunnyside. Leave at approx
8:20 a.m., arrive downtown approx 8:50 a.m.
All welcome!
� sod / tree trimming
� decks / fences / porches
Spring has arrived, plan your
outdoor living space today.
HOMEWORKS
Clive Doucet 2006
Campaign Launch Rock ‘n Roll Dance
Friday, June 9th, 2006 - 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Glebe Community Centre
--- Home Repairs / Renovations ---
�
�
�
�
small repairs / minor renovations
carpentry work
interior painting
design and drawings
Serving Ottawa South for over 14 years
Free Consultation
Richard Milks
860-0907
Come dance the night away
and celebrate a greener,
more connected vision of
the city with friends and
neighbours at the Clive
Doucet 2006 campaign
launch rock ‘n roll dance:
For more information:
www.clivedoucet.ca
Entertainment by old time rock
‘n roll band and ward residents
Back in the Day.
Authorized and paid for by Clive Doucet 2006 Campaign
The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
Get an inside
look at Ottawa
buildings with
Doors Open
Ottawa
O
Are GICs Enough?
By Bob Jamieson
G
n June 3 and 4, Doors Open
Ottawa will give inside access to
100 of Ottawa’s most interesting
buildings. Admission is free and open to
everyone. Doors Open Ottawa 2006 marks
the 5th anniversary of the event.
In celebration of the 5th anniversary of
Doors Open Ottawa, 100 architecturally,
historically, and functionally significant
local buildings will invite the public inside
for a weekend exploration of the city. It’s
the once-a-year opportunity to discover
spaces that are usually closed to the public,
from Carp to Cumberland. This year
marks the first time that several buildings
will participate in the event. Doors Open
Ottawa 2006 includes local treasures, such
as the High Commission of Trinidad and
Tobago, Ottawa Police Service Main Police
Station, the Meehan Family Log Barn,
the Ottawa Curling Club and Gladstone
Clayworks Pottery Studio. Full descriptions, including each
building’s history and the events planned
during Doors Open Ottawa, can be found
on the Doors Open Ottawa Web site at
ottawa.ca/doorsopen
uaranteed
Investment
Certificates are popular
investments. GICs are
low risk, and they guarantee a
fixed return. That’s why they’re
appealing to investors looking for
a safe haven for their money.
But if you overload your
portfolio with GICs, you are
taking chances-mainly the risk
of missing out on potential
investment returns. A portfolio
consisting largely of GICs is likely
to considerably underperform
one with a healthy proportion of
growth investments.
That’s why GICs aren’t
enough for your portfolio. GICs
provide safety of principal, but
not the growth every portfolio
needs. GICs generate low returns
relative to many other investments.
Sometimes they may not even
keep up with inflation, which
means the money you invest will
buy less in the future.
There’s a tax disadvantage,
as well. Outside a Registered
Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP),
Registered Retirement Income
Fund (RRIF) or other registered
investments, interest is fully
2 Wheels 2 Work
Citizens for Safe Cycling
Launches 2 Wheels 2 Work
Commuter Cycling Program
2
Wheels 2 Work is a new workplace
cycling promotion and training
program. 2 Wheels 2 Work has been
designed to help organizations promote
healthy, environmentally sustainable
behaviour among employees. The
cycling training included in the program
has been shown to produce tangible
changes in employee commuting habits,
and corresponding improvements to
health and well-being.
Program Overview The 2 Wheels 2
Work program is comprised of three
main elements, or “spokes”: Spoke 1: Cycling promotion for the
entire workplace - through seminars,
promotional posters, and information
sessions offered to all employees.
Spoke 2: Comprehensive employee
training for a select number of “Cycling
Ambassadors”-our
custom-designed
course includes in-class and on-road
instruction in all aspects of safe and
efficient cycling, and has been shown
effective in creating lasting commitment
to cycling to work. Spoke 3: Positive publicity for
participating organizations - through
news releases, publicity events, web
promotion, and measurement and
reporting of program results
Building on Success.
The 2 Wheels 2 Work program
was first run as a test-pilot at Industry
Page 39
Canada in 2004. The program’s
creators felt that with a little training
and encouragement, many employees
would switch from commuting to work
by car to commuting by bicycle. The
pilot met with resounding success, with
participants not only becoming active
commuters, but also achieving the
following: a 32% average reduction in
stress levels; an 11% average increase
in quality of life; - an 8.8% average
increase in aerobic capacity; individual
savings of up to $600; a combined
avoidance of 450 kg of greenhouse gas
emissions.
Integrating the Program into Ottawa
Workplaces
The 2 Wheels 2 Work program is
ready for implementation in any Ottawaarea workplace, regardless of size and
location. Citizens for Safe Cycling
takes care of program administration,
and schedules training sessions
in accordance with organizations’
particular needs.
Citizens for Safe Cycling is proud
to offer Ottawa-area organizations a
dynamic new approach to improving
well-being in the workplace, while
allowing them to make a substantial
contribution to bettering air quality in
the National Capital Region.
Please visit the web link below for
additional information on the 2 Wheels 2
Work program: http://www.safecycling.
ca/programs/2wheels2work.html
taxable. So, GICs don’t offer
the tax breaks you’ll get with
investments that generate capital
gains and dividend income.
Plus, GICs lock in your money
for a specified period, making it
difficult or impossible to access
cash in an emergency.
This isn’t to say GICs have no
place in a portfolio. They can be
suitable as a wealth-preservation
tool and an important element
of an investment strategy as you
grow older and are less inclined to
put retirement savings at risk. But
you’ll still need growth to protect
purchasing power.
When you’re younger, GICs
have less of a role to play. Instead,
you should concentrate on growth
because your time horizon will
allow these investments to make
a major contribution to your
financial goals.
When
conservative
investments are on the agenda,
you should also consider GIC
alternatives.These include: Canada
Savings Bonds, government
bonds, zero-coupon bonds, highquality dividend-paying common
stocks, preferred shares, and bond
mutual funds or other incomeoriented mutual funds. You may
be able to generate higher returns
than GICs, while still keeping a
lid on risk.
If you do invest in GICs, make
sure you get the highest possible
returns through a strategy known
as “laddering.” For example, if
you have $25,000 to invest you
would ladder by putting $5,000
in one, two, three, four and fiveyear GICs. When the first GIC
matures in a year, reinvest the
money in a five-year certificate,
which will provide you with the
highest available interest rate at
that time. When the second GIC
matures in two years, invest in
another five-year GIC-and so on,
until all your money is invested
in five-year securities. From that
point on, you will have a five-year
GIC coming due every year. And
try to keep GICs in your RRSP or
RRIF, where taxes are deferred.
Your investment representative
can help you decide whether GICs
are right for you, and recommend
suitable investments for a wellrounded portfolio.
Bob Jamieson, your Edward
Jones investment representative.
Member CIPF
The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR
Page 40
JUNE 2006
Thunderstruck!
by a hockey parent….
F
ans and families of the Ottawa
Centre Bantam B “Thunder” enjoyed
an exhilarating end to this year’s
hockey season with the team winning
both the Bytown Minor Hockey League
Bantam B ‘B’ championship and the City
of Ottawa Bantam B ‘B’ tournament in the
same weekend! The Thunder entered the
league final undefeated in the playoffs,
outscoring their opponents 10-2 through
five games. The final, against cross-town
rivals Canterbury B3, proved to be the
most exciting game of the year. Tied at the
end of regulation time, fans were treated
to five overtime periods of end-to-end
action with breakaways galore until the
Thunder finally scored to win 3-2. Over
the next three days the Thunder joined
hundreds of other hockey players in the
City of Ottawa tournament, which raises
money for Roger’s House, winning the
B championship in another close game
against an excellent squad from Orleans.
Rumour has it that Coach Don Davies
and Assistant Coach Darcy Middaugh,
lead singer and base player for the local
band, Back in The Day, will be adding AC/
DC’s ‘Thunderstruck” to their repertoire
sometime soon!
Note: Back in the Day is booked for the OOS outdoor BBQ on June 22 and they will also be performing on June
9 at the Glebe Community Centre for Clive Doucet’s 2006 Campaign Launch Rock n Roll Dance.
DENYS
BUILDS
DESIGNS
T
PAUL DENYS
Renovator
54 MASON TERRACE
OTTAWA, ON K1S 0K9
613 � 236 � 6516
DENYS.CA
Ottawa Choral Society Announces its
2006-07 Season
T
he Ottawa Choral Society has
just announced its 66th season
of choral masterworks. The
2006-07 season also marks its second
with Matthew Larkin as Music
Director, with whom the Choral
Society continues to forge “A Great
New Dynamic!”
The OCS 2006-2007 Subscription
Series begins on Monday, November
13 in Southam Hall
at the National
Arts Centre with a
joint presentation
by the Choral
Society and the
Ottawa Symphony
Orchestra.
The
OCS will perform
in
Johannes
Brahms’ beloved
Ein
Deutsches
Requiem (A German Requiem); the
programme also includes Richard
Strauss’ ravishing Four Last Songs.
Maestro David Currie will conduct
the concert and OCS Music Director
Matthew Larkin will prepare the
chorus for this evening of poignant
music of healing consolation. Two of
Canada’s most exciting concert artists
will join the choir and orchestra:
soprano Monica Whicher, whose
2005 performance with the OCS in
Christos Hatzis’s Sepulcher of Life
ravished audiences in Montreal
and Ottawa, and baritone Peter
McGillivray
On Sunday, February 25 at
St. Joseph’s Church, Matthew
Larkin leads the choir, soloists and
an orchestra of Ottawa’s leading
instrumentalists in a performance
of “Requiems” by Maurice Duruflé
and Morten Lauridsen that provide
proof positive that it is possible for
contemporary music to speak directly
to the human heart. In October 2000,
the choir performed Lauridsen’s
transcendent
Lux Aeterna to
rapturous audiences during its tour
of the United Kingdom. Duruflé’s
Requiem shares the sublime aural
beauty of Fauré’s, with an In
Paradisum movement that is arguably
more
exquisitely
transcendent
than that of his countryman. Guest
soloists are mezzo-soprano Wendy
Hatala-Foley and baritone Alexandre
Sylvestre, artists whose voices are
perfectly matched in their lustrous,
expansive warmth.
The season comes to a riotous
conclusion on Saturday, April
21, again at St. Joseph’s Church,
with Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana,
Sid Rabinovitch’s Canciones por
las Americas and the premiere
performance of a new work from
composer and Music Director
Matthew Larkin. With a percussion
‘orchestra’ featuring Jean Desmarais
and Roland Graham at two concert
grand pianos and a profusion of things
to bang, ring and rattle, this music
is bursting with primitive energy,
exuberance and seductive, heartstopping beauty. Larkin conducts the
choir and 2006 winners of the OCS
New Discoveries Auditions, soprano
Pascale Beaudin and baritone Peter
Barrett while tenor Michiel Schrey
makes a cameo appearance as Orff’s
‘roasted’ swan!
All concerts begin at 8:00 pm.
The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
Page 41
Homelessness in Our
Community
Some Ottawa
Facts:
What is
homelessness?
• Living on the
street
• Staying
overnight in
temporary shelters
• Staying in places
not meant for
human habitation
(e.g. cars)
• Moving
continuously
between temporary housing
arrangements provided by friends,
family or strangers (“couch surfing”).
• 8,853 people were homeless and
stayed in a shelter at some point in
2005 in Ottawa.
• In 2005, 668 families including
1,035 children stayed in an Ottawa
shelter.
• In 2005, 543 youth, 1,267 women
and 4,905 men also stayed in a
shelter.
• Average rent for a room is $450/
month and for a bachelor unit is
$623/month in Ottawa, while social
assistance for a single person is only
$536/month.
COMING IN JUNE
JUNE 6
Family Shelter
housing waiting list (for low-income
housing) in Ottawa and 2,214
individuals are on a waiting list for
supportive housing that provides onsite counseling and support.
On average, the length of stay
in shelters was 36 days in 2005 for
families, youth, single women and
single men.
Firewall
GLory Road
Les Boys 4
Running Scared
Shadow Man
Underworld Evolution
JUNE 13
Thriller
Action
ComedyComedy
Action
Action
JUNE 20
Eight Below
Games6
Hills Have Eyes
Night Watch
Syriana
Family
Comedy
Horror
Horror
Thriller
Shelter beds were used 310,299
times throughout Ottawa in 2005.
You can help to end homelessness
in our community! For more
information, visit the Alliance
to End Homelessness’ website,
www.endhomelessnessottawa.
ca or contact lynne.browne@
endhomelessnessottawa.ca.
• 9,914 households are on a social
Aquamarine
Comedy
Dave Chappele’s
Estrada
Comedy
Neil Young: Heart of
Gold
Docum
Pink Panther
Comedy
The Sisters
Drama
World’s Fastest Indian
Drama
JUNE 27
Hidden
Drama
Imagine Me and
You
Drama
Medea’s Family
Reunion
Comedy
NBT - Never
Been Thawed
Thriller
Paper Clips
Documentary
WARNING:
Do not put your VCR in a Garage Sale.
As of June 1, 2006, all VHS movies will be 99 cents per
day or 3 movies for 3 days for $3.00.
1123 Bank Street -- 730-1256
Philosophy Works for Cultural Diversity, Dialogue and Peace
by Pierre Lemasson
H
ave you ever wondered
about the philosophy courses
and original cultural event
announcements
posted
around
Ottawa? Every month, for ten years,
the International Cultural Association
New Acropolis has offered citizens of
Ottawa courses, workshops, theatre,
ecological actions and lecture series
celebrating the cultural diversity and
creativity of our world.
New
Acropolis
Cultural
Association was created 49 years ago
by the late Argentine philosopher Jorge
Angel Livraga Rizzi. It now boasts
more than 12,000 active members in
more than 50 countries. In Canada,
the New Acropolis is a registered
non-profit association with centers in
Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.
New Acropolis Ottawa is located at
596 MacLaren Street, near Bay Street.
International Director of New
Acropolis, Delia Steinberg Guzman
states: “New Acropolis approach
to culture does not consist of a
simple walk through human cultural
expressions, it invites you to actively
participate in what culture represents.
Culture represents the fruit of
a mature conscience. It is rooted
in history and it is a bridge to the
future. It expresses our thoughts and
feelings in diverse forms reflected in
arts, science, social commitment and
sacred experience.”
On May 18 2006, New Acropolis
Ottawa held a forum “Humanity
and its Thousand Faces”, as a
contribution to UNESCO’s world
day on cultural diversity for dialogue
and development. The guest speaker,
Denis Bricnet, New Acropolis
Canada’s director invited us to
reconsider our assumptions about the
kinds of knowledge we seek to define
our origins and identity in order to
acknowledge the shared intuition that
Humanity must be one family. What
makes us human beings? What is the
purpose to be human? What motivates
human beings to learn, create and
to evolve? What qualities must we
cultivate to make our diversity a
source of creativity rather than endless
conflicts?
Culture represents the fruit of
a mature conscience. It is rooted
in history and it is a bridge to the
future…
As human beings we need to
cultivate knowledge about our own
nature, about the ladder of values
that enables us to meaningfully
express and improve our relationships
amongst each other and nature. This
knowledge does not come from
material genetic maps, nor from
absolute spiritual principles. Human
knowledge is about individual identity
of the self, community relationships
and organization, about how we attain
unity and union, within ourselves
and amongst ourselves; as well as
the natural cycles of learning and
the processes of transformation. This
knowledge is provided by philosophy,
with its three main disciplines well
known and developed in great
civilizations: ethics, socio-politics
and philosophy of history. When lived
and transmitted from generations to
generations, civilizations arise from
this practical philosophy.
Beatriz Diez Canseco, today’s
New Acropolis International Vicepresident says: “We are educating not
only the minds, but also the hearts and
the hands of future generations, so
they can be wise, generous and hard
working.”
Members of the local New
Acropolis Ottawa association take
part in the philosophy school program
that provides an ideal environment
for self-transformation founded on
time tested philosophical values and
sources. In the 14-week introductory
philosophy course you will encounter
a diversity of cultural perspectives
that carry the same message and ideal
for human progress that is fulfilling
individually and collectively.
The sources range from Plato
to Confucius, the Hindu BhagavadGita to Egyptian ancient ecological
wisdom, from Roman stoicism to
Buddha’s noble truths and Tibetan
discipline. This approach allows us
to express culture with philosophy
that is to love knowledge discovering
the foot prints of those who have left
behind the most profound elements of
their being. We call this approach to
learning: “Philosophy in the classical
tradition”.
Although we can all understand
intuitively that humanity is one family,
we wish there would be more dialogue
and peace. Once we realize that each of
us is the problem and the solution, we
quickly become a truly optimist agent
of transformation. “An individual who
improves himself improves society.”
Jorge Angel Livraga, founder of New
Acropolis International Organization
(1931-1991)
Pierre Lemasson is director of
public relations for New Acropolis
Canada www.newacropolis.ca
For Philosophy of East and West
introductory course starting dates
please visit the Web site: www.
newacropolis.ca or call (613) 5653769.
The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR
Page 42
JUNE 2006
Around Town
Auditions: Divertimento Orchestra
announces auditions for string players
Further information and audition
requirements may be obtained:
[email protected].
Also
see www.divertimento.ca or call 8231200.
The Ferret Rescue Society of
Ottawa and Area (FRSO) are proud
to present their Spring Ferret Frolic
in McNabb Park (corner of Bronson
and Gladstone in Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada) on Sunday, June 4, 2006,
from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This
annual event is presented by the
FRSO to help to educate ferret owners
and the general public about these
wonderful animals and to raise funds
for the society. Tube races, ferret thief,
best beggar, best costume and best
ferret impersonation are among this
year’s events. Participants will have
the opportunity to ask ferret experts
about their habits and personalities.
All proceeds from this event are used
by the FRSO to help continue their
rescue efforts. For more information,
call 613-296-4357 or visit our website
at www.ferretrescue.ca.
WHAT:
1st Annual
Garage
Sale for bargain-hunters of all
ages! Items will range from small
to large, including toys, books,
household goods, furniture and
much more!!WHEN: Sunday, June 4
– 1:30 to 4:30 PM WHERE: Hardini
Community Centre, 235 Donald St.,
back of building under covered area
WHY:Fundraising event for Camp
Leo, a summer camp for children and
youth with Autism and Asperger’s,
ages 6 to 18. Camp Leo will be
operating out of the Hardini Centre for
the month of August. For 7 years, the
Ottawa chapter of the Autism Society
Ontario has offered this specialized
camp, supporting Autistic children
and their families in the Greater
Ottawa area. HOW: Donations can be
made by calling 741-8255 to arrange
drop-off of items. Shoppers will be
happy to know the event will be on
– rain or shine!
Ottawa Visual Art Awards Seeks
Nominations
The Visual Art
Awards:
Presented by the Ottawa School
of Art. Nominees and recipients
will be recognized at the Minto Art
For Everyone! event at 6:30pm on
Monday, June 5, 2006 at the Fifth
Avenue Court in the Glebe. As part of
Minto Art For Everyone! celebration,
the Ottawa School of Art will present
the 1st annual Visual Art Awards,
recognizing artists and arts supporters
throughout the National Capital
region. The Visual Arts Awards are
intended to recognize artists who have
made a sustained commitment and a
significant difference in the visual arts
community in Ottawa through their
dedication, creativity and initiative.
People who cycle to work. June 7
- Group ride from Sunnyside/Bank,
down Bank to Laurier/Bank. Meet
at 8:15 a.m. in pkg lot in NE corner
of Bank/Sunnyside. Leave at approx
8:20 a.m., arrive downtown approx
8:50 a.m. All welcome!
Glebe Collegiate Annual Grad
Fundraiser Fashion Show featuring
student creations and popular stores
Thursday June 8th at Glebe Collegiate
Institute, 212 Glebe Avenue
Editor’s Thanks
Thanks to all of you who have contributed to the content of this newspaper. You are the eyes and ears of this community newspaper. The
OSCAR is an important way for us to communicate with each other.
Through our community newspaper we are better able to have a sense
of identity that helps to make us feel proud of the neighbourhood in
which we live.
Kathy Ablett
Jane Allain
Vicky Barham
Ken Blogg
Lorraine Cornelius
Jennifer Davies
Patty Deline
Clive Doucet
Meredith EltonMcLelland
Doreen Drolet
Leo Doyle
Ailsa Francis
Missy Fraser
Lynn Graham
Dennis Gruending
stephen a. haines
Diane Hiscox
Miles Howe
Bob Jamieson
Michael Jenkin
Judy Lascelles
Mike Lascelles
Pierre Lemasson
Gary Lum
Brent McLean
Russell McLelland
Richard Ostrofsky
Mary P.
Craig Piche
Norma Reveler
Ross Robinson
Victoria Scott
Norma Reveler
Carol Silcoff
Sheila Smail
Lis Smidt
Jane Spiteri
Rick Sutherland
Mary Anne
Thompson
Craig Turner
Lisa Xing
Zoscha
I would also like to thank Peter E. Robinson for the time and effort he has
taken to proof read the text as it arrives and after it has been placed in the
layout.
Tickets cost 7$ for students and seniors
and 10$ for adults and are available at
Compact Music in the Glebe or at the
door the night of the show The doors
open at 6:45
The Capital Poetry Collective
(CPC): Finals takes place Thursday,
June 8th, 2006, 8pm (doors open at
7:30pm) at the Velvet Room, 62 York
Street in the Byward Market. Tickets
are $10 at the door. All proceeds from
playoff slams go towards sending
the Slam Team to Toronto. For more
information, please contact Jessica
Ruano, Publicist at 355-2531 or visit
our website at www.capitalslam.com
for current standings.
Sunday June 11 - GOLF FOR
SMILES 4th annual fundraising
golf tournament at Manderley on
the Green in North Gower. $120
fee paid by May 15th includes green
fees, shared cart, bbq lunch, buffet
dinner, bbq draw and auction tickets
and a tournament gift ($140 between
May 15-June 1). Looking for players,
sponsors and volunteers!
For more information call the Special
Needs Hotline at (613) 296-6477 or
email us at [email protected]”
Rideau Garden Drive Street Sale
Saturday, June 18, 2006 from 8:00
a.m. (Off Centennial between Main
Street and the Rideau River)
Open House – Summer Choral
Music Classes With Lawrence
Harris
Monday, June 19 at 7:00 p.m.
Dominican University College, Room
201 96 Empress Avenue, Ottawa
(just off Somerset, two traffic lights
west of Bronson) Free admission.
Bring friends! Enjoy a lively hour of
music-making and see what we have
in store for the Summer Semester
(mini-courses in sight-reading, vocal
exercises, part-singing, and Gregorian
chant).
June Garden Party Reception
The Rotary Club of West Ottawa
will host a Garden Party reception
Thursday, June 22, 2006 from 6 8pm at the Bayne-Morrison House,
the oldest house in Ottawa. Thyme
& Again appetizers and desserts will
be served. Featuring harpist Mary
Muckle. Hats are most welcome!
There will be a prize for the best hat.
Only 80 tickets are available at $100
each with a $40 charitable donation
receipt. For tickets call Linda Flynn,
723-1772.
13th Annual Ottawa Folk Festival!
Thursday, August 17 - Sunday, August
20, 2006. Thursday night concerts at
two downtown venues, plus events
in Britannia. Park on Friday evening,
Saturday and Sunday; After Hours
concerts at the official Festival hotel
SKI AND SKATE SALE: When
you’re cleaning out your basement
this summer, put aside your winter
sporting equipment for Hopewell
School’s Ski and Skate Sale. The
school council, along with Mutchmor
and First Avenue councils, hosts this
fundraiser Saturday, September 9 on
the same day as the Old Ottawa South
Porch Sale. Look for more details in
September.
Correction
The first paragraph of the article on Kelly Beaton’s
film, written by Norma Reveler, which was published
on page 25 of the May 2006 issue of the OSCAR, was
inadvertently made into the headline.
WHO: Trinity Anglican Church
WHAT: Outdoor worship service and picnic
WHERE: Brewer Park near the water park
WHEN: Sunday, June 4th at 10:00 a.m.
WHY: Worship, games, food, prizes and lots
of fun EVERYONE IS WELCOME
After 11 years in business
Second Thought Bookstore
has closed.
Thank you for your friendship and
patronage.
To redeem outstanding credit notes,
please phone 730-1142.
The OSCAR - OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
Your
To book a
Market place ad
call Gayle
at
730-1058
Page 43
Marketplace
45 Ossington Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1S 3B5
613-730-0746
Fax: 613-730-4222
A
Rent
Wife Household Organizers
RPN (38 years experience)
Email: [email protected]
www.gordonstokoearchitect.com
Relief for Family Caregiver
Private Duty
Palliative Care Provided
“Every working woman needs a wife!”
Regular & Occasional cleaning
Pre & Post move cleaning and packing
Pre & Post renovation cleaning
Blitz & Spring cleaning
Organizing cupboards, basements...
Perhaps a waitress ???
rent-a-wife-ottawa.com
RELIABLE, QUALITY CARE
By Michael Moynahan
730-4957
Cell: 240-9394
Laurel 749-2249
ENVIRONMENTALLYFRIENDLY CLEANING
One-time, weekly,
bi-monthly or monthly.
Five years experience.
Insured and Bonded
CALL 729-2751
Gibbon’s Painting and Decorating
Local House Painter
With 17 years experience
• interior/exterior painting
• stucco stipple ceilings
• drywall
• tile setting
Customer satisfaction
ALWAYS GUARANTEED
For a free estimate
please call Rory 355-1299
EXTRA MILE
RENOVATIONS
Need a deck, porch or fence
built this summer? Does your
kitchen, bathroom or basement
need updating or finishing?
Local renovator experienced
with old houses. Creative and
reasonably priced.
297-8079
Qualified teacher
available to tutor
Flexible hours, patient and
creative. Test preparation
or organizational skills.
Call Lindsay @ 730-5927.
Astolot Educational
Centre
Summer Skills
Builders
Grade 1 to 6
Summer Fun Learning
260-5996
Watkins associates
needed
Work from home, earn
what you’re truly worth.
Free details at
www.DB4934.com
Independent Associate
The OSCAR
Page 44
- OUR 31st YEAR
JUNE 2006
CLASSY ADS
CLASSY ADS
are free for Old Ottawa South residents (except for businesses or for business activity) and must be submitted in writing to: The OSCAR, at the Old Firehall,
260 Sunnyside, or sent by email to [email protected] by the deadline. Your name and contact information (phone number or email address) must be
included. Only your contact info will appear unless you specify otherwise. The editor retains the right to edit or exclude submissions. The OSCAR takes no
responsibility for items, services or accurary. For business advertising inquiries, call 730-1058.
For Sale
1988 Volvo station wagon, runs
well, needs body work, negotiable.
24 inch white range, $50.00 7395532 or 730-1462
----------------------------------------L-shaped sectional couch including
Queen-sized sofabed. Available
mid-August. $125 obo. Call 7306028.
----------------------------------------Eclectic Items for sale: Native
American Mask, $130; child’s
Rocking Horse solid pine, $50;
Quilted Cross-stitched Teddybear
Wall Hanging, $30; Amish Shelf
Fugures/Pine emporium, $130;
WIKE Dog Bike Cart/Folds
Flat/Small Dog, $225; Copper
Wall Decorations 3 small square
country scene/1 large round, $25.
730-2411.
----------------------------------------9000 BTU window air conditioner
(cools areas up to 350 sq. ft.). Only
two years old and in excellent
condition, it features electronic
controls. The minimum window
height required 17 13/16” and the
expandable window installation
kit accommodates windows from
28” to 40”. Comes in original
packaging! Asking $200. Please
call 730-5543.
----------------------------------------Lesage Piano, built in 1975. A
very lovely looking one, finished
in a rich mohagany tone; small
apartment size design - comes with
a matching bench with leg carvings
identical to piano legs. Considered
suitable piano for students. Paid
$2,500 asking $1200. Call 23626020.
----------------------------------------We are leaving this lovely city
and are looking to lighten our
load. Items for sale include: 1.
double size bed (box spring and
mattress) $45; 2. some toys; 3.
some gardening tools. We can be
reached at 613.730.7145 or jc_
[email protected]
----------------------------------------For Sale: Beautiful handcrafted
bakers rack, approx. 2 by 3 by 6
feet with rust finish, 4 custom
dining chairs in wood with leather
backs, large, comfortable and also
beautiful, a black and grey Ikea
drafting desk with all accessories
(file holders, drawers, etc.), very
expensive and very comfortable
desk chair. All items very good
quality, excellent condition and
cheaper than brand new. Call 7306604.
----------------------------------------King Size Bed with attached head
board and end tables. Custon made,
solid wood, in great condition.
$250. Please phone during the day
and leave message 730-4403.
----------------------------------------Baby Jogger brand 2005 model
single jogging stroller with rain
and bug canopy. Everything in
mint condition (required a double!) Features include reclining seat and
good storage space, lightweight
and compact storage. Asking
$400.00 Jenny or Michel - 613521-7213
Wanted
Wanted: Chassis of baby buggy. Pram style preferred. It doesn’t
matter if the buggy is shot, as long
as the wheels are ok. 730-0480.
----------------------------------------Wanted: Someone with a couple of
days per week to spare and looking
for some extra cash to do some
general gardening for me. Call
Gordon 730-6156
Mature beagle looking for a new
home. Free. Purebred, excellent
health, highly gentle nature,
graduate of dog obedience school,
delightful companion. Leaving
country, 730-7029
For Rent
Furnished Room For Rent, Located
in a house on a quiet street. Half
a block from Carleton. Available
July 1st. $500 per month includes
utilities, full use of the house and
washer and dryer. Please contact
Susan @ 862-7679 or by email
[email protected]
----------------------------------------For Rent: Three-bedroom cottage
for rent on the north shore of Prince
Edward Island. Located right on
the beach, close to golf courses and
lobster suppers. Weekly, biweekly,
monthly rental possible. Call 7305006 for details.
----------------------------------------Furnished room in shared house in
O.O.S.. Hi-speed wireless internet,
70 TV channels, local phone.
Smoke free. $450.00 inclusive.
739-5532
House/Child Care
Need a Housesitter? Experienced
housesitter
available August
1st. Love animals. Can provide
references. Please contact Susan
862-7679 or by email susan_well@
yahoo.ca
----------------------------------------Experienced, energetic and reliable
To Give Away
nanny required for September
2006. 730-1207 (evenings) or
755-5669 (daytime).
Give away: Thick heavy glass panes ----------------------------------------from slider windows. The glass is Wanted: An “occasional auntie” to
sound and in very good condition, provide infrequent, flexible care
no chips or cracks. 730-0480.
for an adorable 16-month old girl.
Please call Dave or Cindy at 7307830.
----------------------------------------Certified
childcare
services
available from conscientious Grade
11 student looking for full-time or
part-time employment over the
summer. Experience working with
infants and children of all ages.
Please contact Cailey at 233-6460.
----------------------------------------Family seeks part-time nanny(s)
for 2 year old starting September
2006. Located in Old Ottawa
South, 5 minutes from Carleton
University campus. Care would
take place in our home, mornings
Monday to Friday (8am –
12:30pm; negotiable). Great for
students with afternoon timetables
or high school graduate in gap
year. We will also consider a pair
of students who together will share
the responsibility and split the
days. Please email
[email protected] with resume if
interested.
----------------------------------------Qualified
elementary
school
teacher has space in OOS/Glebe
area home daycare. Home has fully
equipped playroom and fenced
yard. Close to parks. Bilingual,
CPR and First Aid certified. Good
rates. Call 239-1607.
Have You Found?
Taken from a backpack at Hopewell
School on Wednesday, May 3rd .
iPod mini. Blue with large crack
across the screen. Headphones not
taken. Please call 730-1068 if you
have seen this in your house.
To place a classy ad
in OSCAR
send to
[email protected]
OSCAR Needs You
WANTED: Distribution Coordinator
for Zone E1 (Belmont Avenue area). Responsibilities: Divide and deliver OSCAR
monthly to six nearby locations for carrier
distribution. Approximate time required: 30-45 minutes each issue. Contact: Craig Piche, 730-5838
WANTED: Carriers for September
2006 throughout Old Ottawa South. A great
opportunity for youth to fulfill volunteer
requirements, for folks to get some exercise
and meet their neighbours and to help get the
OSCAR out! Most routes are 25-50 papers
total and can be finished in less than an hour.