Kitchissippi Times March 2022 by Great River Media inc.

Tickets to this year’s Feast of Fields cost $75 and are available for purchase at carefor.ca/ events/feast-of-fields-2021.htm

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Summer 22 camps 20

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13 • March 2022 • Summer Camps

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Jeff Leiper

Former student author pens book Page 17

City Councillor conseiller municipal

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100% LOCAL PHOTOS BY ELLEN BOND

March 2022

SAVING SPACE

City council recently voted against a plan for embassies to be built on a Mechanicsville greenspace. Pages 8-9

COMMUNITY NEWS (Left) Tillbury Park. (Right) Parkdale Park community stage. PHOTOS BY ALVIN TSANG.

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BY ALVIN TSANG

New commemorative T names considered for local park and stage

KATIE

GIBBS

March 2022 • 2

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Your OOawa Centre Candidate, commiOed to building a more equitable, sustainable, and inclusive community. Votre candidate pour OOawa-Centre, engagé à bâar une communauté plus équitable, durable et inclusive. info@kaaegibbs.ca @KaaeGibbsOOawa

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he City of Ottawa is considering proposals to rename Tillbury Park and the Parkdale Park community stage in Kitchissippi. The commemorative name up for consideration to replace “Tillbury Park” at 725 Sherbourne Rd. is “David Shentow Park.” David Shentow, one of Canada’s bestknown Holocaust survivors and educators, is being considered by the city in recognition of his work to reduce discrimination and foster equality. Shentow dedicated his life to teaching and inspiring thousands about the dangers of hatred, intolerance, and racism. During the Second World War, Shentow survived the Dannes-Camiers labour camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, death marches and Dachau concentration camp, where he was liberated in 1945, according to the Ontario government website. He later immigrated to Canada in 1949. Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper shared his thoughts on the nominated names. “David Shentow’s contribution globally to combating hate through education is universally recognized, and he lived nearby for a significant period,” Leiper said. “What I'd love to see is that, if this is passed, is some kind of specific education and outreach working with the nearby schools,” Leiper added. Sarah Beutel, vice president of community building for the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, thought Shentow’s name would be a great fit for the new park. “David Shentow had an immense impact on all who knew him and especially on the many hundreds of students that he had the opportunity to speak with,” Beutel said. “As a Holocaust survivor, he made it his mission

to speak at schools and to many different audiences to bear witness to the horrors that he himself experienced during the Holocaust.” In 2016, Shentow received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers from the Governor General of Canada. For 30 years, he relayed his story to thousands of people through school seminars, interviews, films, and documentaries. In 2017, he passed away at the age of 92. “He spoke with honesty, and, while he never spared any of the harsh details, the kindness that emanated from him and his message of tolerance are what I think made him such a compelling speaker and such an incredible educator and human being,” Beutel said. The commemorative name being considered for the Parkdale Park community stage is the “Pat MacLeod Community Stage.” “Pat was much beloved in the community and was a driving force behind getting the stage built,” Leiper said. “I know she was thrilled with how positive an addition to the community that is—it gets a lot of use and has been the focus of so many of the neighbourhood's gatherings.” MacLeod’s nickname was the “Mayor of Hintonburg.” She was locally well known for leading charitable causes across Hintonburg, including food drives, fundraisers, winter meals, free Christmas dinners, and more. MacLeod passed away in 2021 at the age of 70. The City of Ottawa’s approval process is nearing its end, with the names validated for consideration. The current step is to conduct surveys and gather community feedback up until March 10, 2022. The official survey can be found on the official City of Ottawa website or at: https://s-ca.chkmkt. com/?e=255641&h=90ADACD021CFC94

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Join us to celebrate the luck o’ the Irish at our St. Patrick’s Day Party!

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S T . P AT R I C K ’ S D AY P A R T Y

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3 • March 2022

A M I C A . C A / W E S T B O RO PA R K

HUMANS OF KITCHISSIPPI Humans of Kitchissippi is a special street photography project designed to introduce readers to some of the people who live, work and play in Kitchissippi. Each instalment of HOK contains three elements: a photo, a name and a quote from the subject that reveals a little bit about who they are. Go to kitchissippi.com to view our ongoing collection of humans.

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES Great River Media Inc PO Box 91585 Ottawa ON K1W 1K0 Kitchissippi, meaning “the Grand River,” is the former Algonquin name for the Ottawa River. The name now identifies the urban community to the west of downtown Ottawa. EDITOR

March 2022 • 4

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Meet Kathy Unsworth

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“I am a public health specialist and I work for a not-for-profit organization, where my focus is on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. I work with researchers all across Canada—I do my own research as well—and then the other part of my job is to take that research and translate it into evidence to support better policy. I grew up outside of Ottawa in a small town called Alcove, which is five kilometres north of Wakefield—so only about 30 minutes away from Ottawa. I moved away for a long time, starting when I went to university in Toronto. I lived there for a while and that was where I and my husband at the time worked. He was a lawyer with an American firm and got a job offer in California. We were there for a couple of years and then that same firm offered him a job in Abu Dhabi in the Middle East. It sounded like a great adventure so we decided to give it a try. My oldest daughter was only four months old at the time and we had our other two kids there. It was, however, a big culture shock. Abu Dhabi is the Capital of the United Arab Emirates, so it’s a little more conservative because that’s where the government is. But it’s also very Westernized. Living in the Middle East was such a unique experience and, given its location, you had close proximity to the rest of the world. We travelled so much while we were there because it was easy and inexpensive. We were there for eight years: we didn’t plan to stay there for as long as we did, but it was an amazing experience where we also made a lot of friends. We missed the family and community. There is nothing like home. We only got to come home twice a year, sometimes three times. We were having an amazing experience and it was both professionally

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PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHY UNSWORTH.

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Charlie Senack. PROOFREADER Karen-Luz Sison ADVERTISING SALES Eric Dupuis 613-696-9485 eric@kitchissippi.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tanya Connolly-Holmes creative@greatriver.ca GRAPHIC DESIGNER Celine Paquette celine@greatriver.ca FINANCE Cheryl Schunk, 613-696-9490 cheryl@greatriver.ca All other enquiries 613-696-9494 info@kitchissippi.com

and personally great, but family and community is what brought us back. We moved back to Ottawa in 2010 because the kids were getting older, and we wanted them to live in a neighbourhood like Kitchissippi. We wanted our kids to live and grow in a place where their neighbours went to their school and they could walk to all the places which we really value here. The thing I love about living in Kitchissippi is that everything we need we can walk to. The restaurants are awesome—we take advantage of all the things the ward has to offer. It’s central also which is great because you’re never far from anything. It’s just brilliant because we are in close proximity to the water and Westboro beach. I’m grateful everyday for my life, my kids, and where I live. I know I’m very lucky.” Story collected by Charlie Senack

Distribution A minimum of 15,000 copies are distributed from the Ottawa River to Carling Avenue between the O-Train tracks and Sherbourne Road. Most residents in this area will receive the Kitchissippi Times directly to their door. If you did not receive your copy, or would like additional copies, please contact us. Bulk copies are delivered to multi-unit dwellings and retail locations. Copies are available at Dovercourt Recreation Centre and Hintonburg Community Centre. info@kitchissippi.com The Kitchissippi Times is published by

PUBLISHER Mark Sutcliffe PRESIDENT Michael Curran

EDITOR'S LETTER

Building a healthy, active and engaged community through recreation

411 DOVERCOURT AVE., OTTAWA ON

Looking at our landmarks BY MAUREEN MCEWAN Dear readers,

SWIMMING LESSONS Get back to swim lessons for fun, safety and skill development. Spring 1 session (March 21 – May 8) registration begins on March 1, 8am. MARCH BREAK CAMPS March Break Camps are just around the corner, and there are still some spaces available. Register the kids for an action-packed week of March Break camps March 14 – 18 including Theme (Kandy Kingdom!), Sports, Culinary, Visual Arts & Science. SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION Camp registration is underway. We will continue to add camps over the next number of months as restrictions and capacities change, so add yourself to the waitlist and check back often. RINKS & TRAILS With its temperature swings, March is a tricky time of year for activities dependent on ice and snow. Fingers crossed for our outdoor rinks and the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail! WINTER PROGRAMS: Programs including specialty fitness, aquafitness, sports, dance and pottery are underway. It’s not too late to join. Online art classes with Beverly & Maya continue in March.

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AFTER SCHOOL There are currently spaces for the January-June session. Includes safe arrival/walking school bus, a healthy snack, and activities until 6:00pm.

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FIT PASS In-person classes are back! Enjoy group fitness, spin, aquafitness and online classes with your Dovercourt Fit Pass.

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5 • March 2022

Stay safe, Kitchissippi, and look for the good things this month.

MARCH UPDATES

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This is a surreal moment: I wrote my last letter to you just a day before the trucker convoy began arriving in Ottawa. And here we are, just days after the police operation in the downtown core dispersed the demonstrators. What a month February was for our city. I hope you are all well. So happy March. This month’s edition is a reflection of the last few weeks, naturally, but it also looks ahead to spring. In community news, we’ve got a story looking at the commemorative renaming of two sites in the ward. The City of Ottawa is considering proposals to rename Tillbury Park to “David Shentow Park,” for one of Canada’s best-known Holocaust survivors and educators, and the Parkdale Park stage to the “Pat MacLeod Community Stage,” after the local leader whose nickname was “Mayor of Hintonburg.” Sarah Beutel, with the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, and Coun. Jeff Leiper shared their thoughts on the subject. The planned embassy row in Mechanicsville was rejected by city council in mid-February, in favour of preserving that greenspace in the area. This is an ongoing story in the neighbourhood—members of the community and the Mechanicsville Community Association have been protesting the plan for many months. In the latest story, we hear from city councillors and the National Capital Commission on the vote and decision.

During the trucker demonstrations, businesses in Kitchissippi helped neighbours in Centretown out. We hear about a Venus Envy pop-up that Little Jo Berry’s hosted and a fundraising effort made by Julianna Banana for hiJinx. The Carleton Tavern’s Christmas meal raised more funds than anticipated this holiday season. As a result, the business decided to present Parkdale United Church with a cheque for $1,000 for the church’s In From The Cold program in February. We spoke with Rev. Anthony Bailey with Parkdale United Church, Cheryl Parrott, a Hintonburg Economic Development Committee member, and Susan Mailer, who purchases food for Parkdale’s In From The Cold program. And in arts and entertainment news, Bella Crysler self-published her first book called Bubble Gum & Black Coffee on Jan. 30. Crysler is from Westboro and she was a Nepean High School student columnist for Kitchissippi Times just a few years ago! For Humans of Kitchissippi, Kathy Unsworth, a public health specialist, took the time to chat with us! Before moving to Ottawa in 2010, Kathy and her family spent eight years living in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In Early Days, we learn the tail of the Hampton Park lynx that wandered into Kitchissippi in 1919. Yes, you read that right: a lynx! And after a hiatus, our camps section is back in the paper. And that’s all the news that’s fit to print.

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COMMUNITY NEWS Local businesses help downtown neighbours THE LITTLE JO BERRY'S TEAM.

BY MAUREEN MCEWAN

March 2022 • 6

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ith the arrival of the trucker convoy in late January, life in downtown Ottawa was impacted significantly for weeks. Businesses faced closures, services were disrupted and residents reported incidents of hate, harassment and assault. Venus Envy—the “education-oriented sex shop and bookstore with something for everyone,” located at 226 Bank St.—was one of the businesses affected and closed on and off. Owner Sam Whittle said it was an “intimidating environment” during the demonstrations. “For staff and customer safety, especially on weekends, it just didn’t feel safe to be open in Centretown,” she said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LITTLE JO BERRY’S.

As Valentine’s Day approached, traditionally one of the store’s busiest times of the year, the Venus Envy team had to get creative to boost business and an idea came through. Whittle reached out to Little Jo Berry’s about hosting a pop-up at the bakery’s space at 1305 Wellington St. W. “I had chatted with Venus Envy a few

times over the last couple weeks and I knew they had to close repeatedly for safety,” said Jo Masterson, Little Jo Berry’s owner, in an email Feb. 17. “Customers don’t want to shop downtown with everything going on, so even though folks love these businesses being affected, it’s not safe or accessible to get to them. We were able to provide an alternative

shopping space and it felt very important to show up for our business community.” The Venus Envy pop-up ran from 6-10 p.m. on Feb. 12 after Little Jo Berry’s had closed for the day. “Considering we planned it in two days, top to bottom, I think it was very successful!” Whittle said. “We were really happy to see a lot of people come to the door—people were excited about it, and it was nice to be able to run the store, even if it was in a different way than usual,” she added. It was the first time that the two businesses have collaborated like this but they’ve worked together before in the community. “I’ve worked with Venus Envy on some

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community initiatives, and I’ve always seen Sam, the owner, as a source of small business wisdom and support,” Masterson said. “I’ve also been a Venus Envy customer for many years so their success is personally very important to me.” Whittle said that one of the positive things to emerge this winter was the empathy and kindness the Venus Envy team received. “This has been a really, obviously difficult situation for a lot of people. As a business owner, it has been really nice to see the support from people and other businesses.” That same weekend, another Kitchissippi business was busy helping out a Centretown spot. Julianna Banana, the Westboro mom-

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7 • March 2022

Hello to La muse! The women's clothing store will be opening at 279 Richmond Rd. in the near future. “La muse was crafted from

Along for the ride? We’ve got more bike news: Quick Cranks—the mobile bike repair shop—plans to host its grand opening at 1089 Somerset St. on March 1! “Quick Cranks is beyond excited to be opening up a full-service pro bike shop to better service you! In addition to our mobile bicycle repairs, we teach bike repair!” the company’s website states. Check out quickcranks.ca to find out more.

Across the province, more workers are joining the skilled trades as resources and industries in the north become part of the future of clean steel and electric vehicles.

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While we’re talking about food, welcome to the neighbourhood, Cadena Restaurant and Tapas Bar! The business is set to launch soon at 385 Richmond Rd. “We are a family-owned small business specializing in Spanish Cuisine! We have many breakfast, lunch and dinner options always made fresh and homemade in our kitchen!” according to the company’s Facebook page. What are you waiting for? Visit cadenarestaurant.com to learn more.

E-Bike Plus has pedalled into Kitchissippi! The business has set up shop at 175 Carruthers Ave. Suite 110. “We are focused on designing, selling, [and servicing] stylish, high-quality electric bicycles that offer you a safe and convenient way of getting around the city,” the E-Bike Plus Facebook page states. Want to learn more? Visit ebikeplus.ca.

Ontario is getting stronger

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Aloha, Paradise Poke! The Hawaiian food spot opened its second location in Hintonburg in early February at 118 Holland Ave. (with the first location at 134 Bank St.). “We're Ottawa's destination for a mini Hawaiian vacation. We focused on serving the freshest Poké bowls in town,” the company’s Facebook states. Check out the menu at paradisepoke.ca

Motif! has landed in Hintonburg! The company is hosting its soft opening in early March at 986 Wellington St. W. Motif is a “Pop-Up Craft Market for Local Handmakers in Ottawa,” according to its Facebook page. Learn more at facebook.com/shopmotif613

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Ribbon cutting

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Hello and welcome back to the Biz Roundup! Here are the latest business headlines:

an entrepreneurial spirit focused on creating a holistic shopping experience and building a community that allows women to explore their authentic self through fashion!” the company’s website states. Check out the latest styles at boutiquelamuse.ca

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BIZ ROUNDUP

and-daughter baking business, raised $500 for hiJinx—the social enterprise at 290 Kent St.—through its “Valentines for a Cause” class. The business wrote a thank-you note to participants on Instagram. “The money will go to helping this amazing community organization assist vulnerable neighbors in downtown Ottawa,” Julianna Banana wrote on Feb. 14. “It’s been especially difficult in that part of the city. Together, kids and families learned to make Valentine’s desserts for their families and shared their love with others. Yesterday’s class reminded me of the power of community. Thank you Julianna Banana families and Happy Valentine’s Day.”

March 2022 • 8

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COMMUNITY NEWS

The Mechanicsville greenspace that was considered for rezoning. PHOTOS BY ELLEN BOND.

City council rejects plan for embassies in Mechanicsville greenspace BY CHARLIE SENACK

n February, Ottawa city council voted against the National Capital Commission’s (NCC) plan to build five embassies on a stretch of Mechanicsville greenspace. The 3.7-hectare parcel of land located between Slidell Street and Forward Avenue is owned by the NCC, but would need to first be rezoned by the city in order for any development to take place. Ottawa’s planning committee voted in favour of the rezoning in September 2021, but was ultimately up to council to make the final call. Some members of the community have strongly opposed the planned ‘embassy row,’ citing safety concerns and the loss of public greenspace. “Ottawa needs to protect its tree canopy,” Lorrie Marlow, president of the Mechanicsville Community Association, told Kitchissippi Times in April 2021. “This

is the spot to plant even more trees to achieve that needed canopy. Migratory birds need this greenspace as well as the wildlife and wildflowers.” Kitchissippi Ward Coun. Jeff Leiper also didn’t want to see the rezoning of land passed, and he gave a final plea to his council colleagues during the Feb. 9 meeting. “I am asking again that this not be allowed to proceed,” Leiper said. “I know from residents, and what I see walking around, is that we cannot lose this greenspace. Our official plan calls for us to provide greenspace for rapidly intensifying neighbourhoods like Mechanicsville. It wouldn’t be appropriate to allow this embassy row proposal to move forward.” Noting the climate emergency council previously declared and growing development in the community, Leiper said the forested area needed to remain intact.

“When you take a look at the heat map that the city has published, you can see the green effect of this parcel of land in a concrete jungle,” he said. “I’m asking that we be sensitive to the climate crisis that we declared, and preserve this land as greenspace, by rejecting this proposal by the NCC to turn it into a further extension of a concrete jungle in a neighbourhood that we in our official plan and our zoning are going to allow thousands of new residents to live in.” Leiper got his wish: Council voted 22 to 2 in rejection of the rezoning. Many planning committee members who initially voted in favour of the application shifted sides during this debate. Some east end councillors say they voted against the proposal due to a growing divide in city council with the NCC. Shortly before the council meeting began, four east end councillors wrote an open letter saying they are frustrated with how the NCC refused to approve an extension for Brian

Coburn Boulevard in that side of town. That development includes a rapid transit park for buses, which would benefit Orleans and Cumberland commuters, who have long complained about transit concerns. “We have also been struggling with the NCC. Their mandate, in my view, is greenspace,” said Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Tim Tierney. “I’m having a big struggle over the last 12 years trying to get the NCC on board where it will see their portfolio increase in greenspace and solve a massive transit issue in the east end of the city.” “It’s time for the NCC to start working with the city,” he said. Couns. Rick Chiarelli and Scott Moffatt were the only two in support of the NCC’s plan. Moffatt, who sits on the planning committee as co-chair, said while he understands the community's frustrations, he feared the NCC would retaliate.

options through NCC lands that were not the subject of any prior agreement with us,” she said. She also said that city council has “contravened planning principles” by linking the rezoning application of the five embassies to the NCC’s unwillingness “to cede environmentally sensitive lands in the Greenbelt” to allow for an extension for Brian Coburn Boulevard. Mayor Jim Watson said he voted down the rezoning application in order to protect the community greenspace. He urged the NCC to look elsewhere for land to build on. Leiper said he spent time over the Christmas break trying to acquire other parcels of land, but he had no luck. He said it would have added “relatively significantly to the parkland inventory in an area that is lacking greenspace.” With files from Alvin Tsang

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“I don't think that we want to start evaluating planning files based on other positions we have on other files in the city," Moffatt stated. "If you want a vote against this because you want an infrastructure file somewhere else in the city, and you feel this is the way to get it, the Ontario Land Tribunal is going to disagree with you." Shortly after council rejected their plan, the NCC said they were considering legal options. In a statement sent to Kitchissippi Times, Valérie Dufour, a spokesperson for the organization, said the NCC offered to discuss ways to consider two of the City’s new road options for the east end “in the spirit of partnership and flexibility,” but the offer “was refused by the City.” “Unfortunately, the City decided not to proceed with the agreed alignment and undertook an assessment of new road

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EARLY DAYS The tail of the Hampton Park lynx BY DAVE ALLSTON

March 2022 • 10

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(Left) The drawing by R.S. Finnie in the Ottawa Journal May 10, 1919. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OTTAWA JOURNAL. (Top) A 1924 photo of the Devlin front window, a few years after the lynx was seen there. PHOTO PA-023123 COURTESY OF LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA.

”The appearance of the

lynx in the window created excitement in the city, and both the Ottawa Citizen and Ottawa Journal newspapers”

or a brief period a century ago, excitement—and probably a little bit of fear—gripped Westboro on the discovery of a wild animal that had strayed from its usual habitat. Who can forget the moose that wandered onto the 417 eastbound by Pinecrest in 2018 or the “sleepy” 150-pound black bear cub that was found on Denbury Avenue in 2006? A similar story from the early days of Westboro tells of the almost unbelievable arrival of a surprise visitor to the neighbourhood. On an early Sunday morning in May 1919, three local teenage boys “out for a morning ramble in the bush” came across a large lynx perched in a tall tree in Hampton Park. Of course, lynx cats have never been prevalent in the Ottawa Valley, and any sightings over time have been extremely rare. The lynx is a solitary cat that typically sticks to the remote northern boreal forest within Canada. The two youngest boys, Billy Deans and Eugene Barry, were residents of Hilson Avenue, and were surely very familiar with the Hampton Park woods behind their houses. In 1919, the west end was still in transition from farmland and woodland to residential, and so vast swaths of the neighbourhood still featured thickly wooded areas. Early Hampton Park would have been one such area, its area nearly double its presentday size as it extended towards Fisher Park. The pair were out for a walk with a friend (noted only in one article with the name ‘Stewart’) and were accompanied by a dog, who suddenly darted over to a tree and began barking excitedly. Billy and Eugene took a look up into the branches and were shocked to see a large lynx suspended on a bough.

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of Britannia at Greenbank and Baseline. The sudden appearance of three lynx within a one-month period during the summer, when food would not have been scarce, confounded local animal experts. However, the 1919 sighting was thought to be the first time in years that a wildcat had been seen so near to the city, and finding recordings of other sightings over Ottawa’s history (aside from 1907) was nearly impossible. The news of Billy Deans and Eugene Barry’s big capture spread to the city and was of particular interest to the R. J. Devlin Fur Company, at 76 Sparks St. (between Metcalfe and Elgin). Devlin paid the boys to display the lynx in his renowned front window display. For a day or two, Sparks Street pedestrians would have been able to come face to face with a live lynx, with just a pane of glass in between. Ironically, A.J. Alexander Furs—Devlin’s competition across the street—was advertising lynx furs for sale that same day! The appearance of the lynx in the window created excitement in the city, and both the Ottawa Citizen and Ottawa Journal newspapers published drawings made by 12-year-old R.S. Finnie of Stewart Street of the lynx (publishing photographs in newspapers in that era was still rare and costly, but an illustration could be run much easier). There was no record of what happened to the lynx or where it ended up (though one can assume, what with his last public appearance being in the window of a fur shop). Fast forward 73 years, when Ottawa received a Triple-A baseball franchise, the name Lynx was the surprise selection from a name-the-team contest that saw 35,000 entries submitted. Owner Howard Darwin favoured the name because it was short and could be translated the same in both French and English. Though the name eventually grew on local ball fans, it was always an odd fit. Now we know, it was indirectly an obscure homage to the handful of lynx that have popped up within the city like a lost tourist, as one unlucky lynx did 103 years ago in Hampton Park.

brought in two other real estate agents to get their thoughts on the proposed price. I also calculated what the home would need to bring it up to the level of recently renovated comparables. My client agreed with my findings, so we listed it with a holding offers period, where we took offers on a particular day and time. How many offers do you think we received? I would have thought we would receive ten, maybe fifteen offers. We received a total of three. Yes, the best offer was above the list price, but it was in line with what we thought the property would sell for. If you’re a buyer, don’t pay attention to the amount of activity on a listing. Focus on what you can afford to pay, determine what you feel the property is worth, do your due diligence on your financing, and work with your Realtor to make an offer that works best for you. Happy Spring!

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Amazingly, their first instinct wasn’t to run, nor was it to even leave it alone (as most people in their shoes would have done). No, their plan was to get the lynx out of the tree and capture it. They first attempted to throw stones at the cat to get him down, but it would not budge. So Billy Deans somehow located a rope, made a lasso with it, and successfully threw a slip noose over the lynx’s head. It was then that “the fun commenced,” wrote the Ottawa Journal. “The hunted animal endeavoured to make the best use of its agile legs, with the result that Deans was given a merry chase to hold it in.” The lynx was then pulled to the ground, but it landed right on top of Eugene, breaking his arm and badly injuring his shoulder. The frightened cat made valiant attempts to fight back and escape, but the two brave (or foolish?) boys persisted and managed to tie it up, and loaded it onto a wheelbarrow, which they wheeled down Hilson Avenue in triumph. The lynx was then held captive in the Barry family garden, while the boys went to the hospital to have Eugene’s broken arm looked at. Cecil Morrison, proprietor of the popular Standard Bakery (which had its factory on Hilson at the time), dropped by and viewed the lynx (as likely the entire neighbourhood did that day as word of the lynx capture spread), and noted to the Ottawa Citizen that It was a “remarkably fine specimen.” The lynx was described as definitely being of the North American and Canadian type (the largest and most ferocious of its species) and “apparently well-nourished, brown in color with black stripes, and tufted ears” and “between three and four feet long, as big as a good sized collie dog and must weigh about 60 pounds.” Where it came from is difficult to guess, but it surely travelled far and through unfamiliar territory to arrive in Hampton Park. Typically, a lynx will not come near civilization except when food supply gets low. In hunting through vintage newspapers, 1907 was a year where three lynx were captured and killed in the Ottawa area, including one on a farm south

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March 2022 • 12

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615 Island Park Crescent This modern custom residence rubs elbows with Island Park's finest. Truly one-of-a-kind. John King $2,500,000

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Summer 20 camps 22

They're back!

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Dear Campers

Summer Camps • March 2022 • 14

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How have you been? Guess what? February 2nd was a great day. First, registration began for summer camps and then, the groundhogs told us we’d have just 6 more weeks of winter! We know it’s been another long year and we can’t wait to see you in the summer. You have all spent the year working hard at school and you’ve put up with virtual meets, lockdowns, and cohorting. You deserve a summer full of friendships and fun and we’ve been working hard all year to make sure we can bring you back safely to the magic of summer camp; it’s just around the corner now. If you love to ride your bike in the summer, we have 9 full weeks of biking camp. If you love being in the outdoors and trying new things, check out Adventure Academy. And, of course, we know you’ll be most excited for our 2022 Theme Camps like Escape the Arcade and Wacky Wizardry.

In other big news, we are looking forward to the return of some of our favourites from before COVID, like Eco-Zoo with Little Ray’s Reptiles, and Magic Camp with magician extraordinaire, Ian Quick! For those of you who are a bit older, we have some exciting programs geared toward young teens, like Fishing, Youth Zone, and White Water Rafting. We hope that you are as excited as we are to come back to Dovercourt for another summer of adventure, play, and lifelong friendships. See you soon, ~ Your Dovercourt Counselors

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The OWBHL is a grass roots, nonprofit ball hockey league that was started by parents to offer a fun, safe, inclusive and affordable recreational experience for kids in the Ottawa area. The league runs programming for children ages 5 to 17, including a Learn to Play Program, a Co-ed Division, and a Girls Division. We are a play focused league. There are no practices! The goal is to get players out there running and having fun! The league runs out of arenas. When the ice moves out, we move in! The season runs from April until the end of June. Every player gets an OWBHL t-shirt that they keep at the end of the season.

We know playing with a friend can enhance the experience, be reassuring, and help families get to the rink. The OWBHL offers a buddy system to allow friends to be paired together. There is also a sibling discount to keep costs affordable for families, and early bird rates available until March 21, 2022. The OWBHL is a member of the Ontario Ball Hockey Association. There are provincial opportunities in U13, U15 and U17 as well as with our Girls Division, for players interested in an additional challenge. Want to find out more? Check us out at www.owbhl.ca.

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Choosing a camp: where to start? By Maureen McEwan

Best of luck with picking a camp!

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15 • March 2022 • Summer Camps

To learn more about the latest COVID-19 guidelines for camps, visit publichealthontario.ca, ontario.ca and ottawapublichealth.ca.

Orleans Campus: Shenkman Arts Centre 245 Centrum blvd. Orléans, ON (613) 580-2765 • osao.info@artottawa.ca artottawa.ca

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For more information, visit ccamping.org (“Choosing a Camp” page) and ontariocampsassociation.ca (“How to Choose a Camp” page).

Children ages 4-12 years Students produce a wide variety of work in many disciplines, giving children the opportunity to use

Two locations are available for registration! Downtown Campus: Byward Market 35 George Street, Ottawa, ON (613) 241-7471 • info@artottawa.ca

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Researching camp types: On its website, the OCA suggests looking at the type of camp families are interested in as one of the first research steps, for example day camps, overnight camps or intergenerational camps, to name a few. Day Camp: This option might work best if families want to maintain a schedule similar to a school schedule; if campers aren’t ready to be away from home during the night; or if families are looking for a “childcare alternative,” according to the OCA website. Overnight Camp: The OCA suggests that this could be the right choice if families want campers to gain independence and learn life skills away from home or if campers want to participate in activities that aren’t available at day camps.

Connect with the camps: Once the decision is narrowed down to a handful of camps, the next step is to connect with camp staff directly to learn more. Gather your research, create a list of questions for the camp director, and, if possible, ask to take a tour of the camp facility before deciding, the CCA suggests.

So many camps to choose from! In our programmes children gain technical skills in • Painting • Drawing • Printmaking • Sculpture • Cartooning • Ceramics

Teens ages 13-15 years Youth focus their attention and develop patience in classes that are media specific, while individual lessons focus on different elements of art such as colour, line, form, perspective, and composition. Try cartooning, ceramics, darkroom photography, painting, or life drawing this summer!

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Talk about it: As a family, figure out what programs your camper is interested in, where they might like to go, how long they would like to go for, if they are willing to go alone or if they would like to go with a friend instead, the CCA website suggests. As part of the process, talk to experienced family and friends. Ask around—people in your circle might have experienced camp and will be able to share their knowledge

Researching programs: After picking the type of camp, one of the next steps is to look at the programs the camps offer—and there are so many options! A family might be interested in a “traditional varied camp program” or a specific focus for the camp, like “horseback riding, robotics, tennis, art, and more,” the OCA website states. There are camps available for those with religious affiliations or cultural beliefs. The OCA also has resources available to learn more if a camper has special needs or if a family might need access to financial subsidies to attend camp.

Let’s get inspired this Summer! Established in 1879, the OSA has always maintained its mission to deliver top-quality arts education, making it the ideal summer camp for your children. Participating children and teens will embark on an exciting hands-on exploration of a variety of artistic mediums, themes and styles taught by professional artists.

materials and processes that are not available in the home or school setting.

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Selecting a camp can be a tough task. There’s a lot of options out there—camps can be varying lengths of time, offer different activities and services, or be designed for different age groups or needs—and it's important to find the best fit for both the camper and their family. So where do you begin the process? Luckily, organizations like the Canadian Camping Association (CCA), the Ontario Camps Association (OCA) and others have resources available to help guide the process. If you are starting out, here are some suggested steps:

Intergenerational Camp: This option is available for families that want to enjoy camp together. It can also be a choice for those who want to connect with other parents or caregivers to “exchange ideas and share experiences,” according to the OCA website.

Creative Summer Day Camps at the Ottawa School of Art

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Summer Discovery Camps for Girls Discover new challenges, make friends, and enjoy a range of fun, hands-on activities. • Weekly from June 27 to August 26 • Ages 5-12 • Exciting new theme each week

Led by skilled and experienced counsellors, our camps have the perfect blend of learning, active play, and creative exploration, all within Elmwood’s beautiful and safe campus. The weekly fee of $340 includes a delicious lunch, healthy snacks, and a cool camp T-shirt. Learn more at camp.elmwood.ca

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(NC) Tired of the usual salads and avocado toast? Try adding some Latin American twists to your table. This exciting recipe is sure to remind you of your last holiday — it’s a healthy bite combining the creaminess of avocados from Mexico with the energizing flavours of a piña colada. It’ll level up your snack time and brighten up even the greyest day. Piña Colada Cupcakes • Serves: 12 Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Ingredients: Cupcakes • 375 mL (1½ cups) all-purpose flour • 10 mL (2 tsp.) baking powder • A pinch of salt • 2 eggs • 160 mL (2/3 cup) sugar • 180 mL (¾ cup) vegetable oil • 1 avocado from Mexico, peeled, pitted and pureed • Zest of 1 lime • 180 mL (3/4 cup) milk Frosting • 225 g (½ lb.) cream cheese • 60 mL (¼ cup) coconut cream (careful, not coconut milk!)

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Healthy cupcakes for a colourful snack

Everyone welcome! Discover new challenges, make friends, and enjoy a range of fun, hands-on activities at Elmwood’s beautiful and safe campus.

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Summer Camps • March 2022 • 16

• 250 mL (1 cup) icing sugar Optional garnish: Toasted coconut flakes, grilled pineapple wedges and maraschino cherries. Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Sift flour into bowl with baking powder and salt. Set aside. 2. Beat eggs and sugar together with a mixer. While stirring, drizzle in oil until mixture is smooth. Add avocado from Mexico puree and lime zest. Add flour and milk alternately. 3. Pour cupcake batter into 12 paper cupcake moulds and bake for about 20 minutes. 4. Combine cream cheese, coconut cream and icing sugar with a mixer. 5. Once cupcakes are baked and have completely cooled, pipe frosting with a pastry bag, sprinkle with toasted coconut and garnish with grilled pineapple wedges and maraschino cherries. Tip: If you don’t have a pastry bag, cut parchment paper to create a triangle shape. Tightly roll into a cone shape. Pour in icing mixture and push towards the bottom. Bend the end to close cone properly. Cut the tip at an angle and you’re ready to frost your cupcakes like a pro. www.newscanada.com

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Exciting new theme each week

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Blend of active play, discovery, and creative exploration

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Experienced counsellors

Weekly fee of $340 includes a delicious lunch, healthy snacks, and a cool camp T-shirt.

Learn more at camp.elmwood.ca

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Former Nepean High School student writer finds success as a published author BY ALVIN TSANG

Bubble Gum & Black Coffee’s back cover photo of Bella Crysler.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF BELLA CRYSLER.

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17 • March 2022

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former high school correspondent for this paper is making a name for herself as a published author. Westboro’s very own Bella Crysler selfpublished her first book called Bubble Gum & Black Coffee on Jan. 30. “Growing up, my best friend’s mom was the editor of Kitchissippi Times, and growing up I saw a lot of writers doing really cool things,” Crysler said. “I fell in love with the physical print industry. The newspaper was one of those first inspirations for me.” Crysler wrote for Kitchissippi Times in 2018 when she was graduating high school, and during that time, she was in the middle of writing a poetry collection that would later become Bubble Gum & Black Coffee. “The title is meant to symbolize the transition from childhood, where everything is super sweet, and everything caters to you and a quick release of happiness all the time, versus adulthood which you have to learn to like—where it’s like bitter coffee, it grabs you and keeps you awake just because you need to, not because you want to. But, eventually you learn to like it too—and I think that’s all about growing up. That’s what my poetry is all about,” Crysler said. Crysler wrote her book’s opening poem back in the ninth grade and the book’s final poem right before the time of publication this winter. “From start to finish, it’s true in my experience and journey, and I hope the

same for other people. It tackles a lot of universal themes of growing up, falling in love and learning lessons. It’s deeply personal but widely accessible,” she said. The book was self-published through Kindle Direct Publishing and is available on Amazon as an e-book and on paperback. “I’ve sold close to 100 books now, which is amazing. I didn’t really have a sales goal going into it other than not losing money from doing it,” she said. Crysler is already working on her next novel and is hoping she will have it wrapped up by next year. “I don’t want to say the title of my next book yet because it’s so tentative. It’s about...well, right now, actually. It’s about seeing things more deeply than the immediate angst of the first book. It’s going to have longer poems, a wide range of topics, and at least 100 poems,” she said. Crysler is also a co-creative director of the Vogue Charity Fashion Show— Canada’s largest student-run fashion show. The show will run from March 3-5, and it will be livestreamed for national viewing. There will be 124 performing talents in the fashion show, from dancers to musicians to models, and every aspect of the show is designed and choreographed by students. Tickets and stream links to the Vogue Charity Fashion Show and the Amazon link to Bubble Gum & Black Coffee can be found on Crysler’s Instagram: @i.m.crysler.

NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL CORNER

March 2022 • 18

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Notre Dame is back to a four classes per day system. PHOTO BY CHRISTINE BARLOW.

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Is it still okay to hope? BY CHRISTIAN HENRY

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ow many times have you heard “there’s light at the end of the tunnel” in the past two years? How many times have you said that line? Are you tired of it? I know I am. After the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, it sometimes feels criminal to have hope. There have been so many times where we all thought that the end was in sight; there were clearly brighter days ahead. However, with every little piece of hope came a bigger piece of doubt. As the second semester of the 2021-2022 school year begins, there is a different feeling. We’re back to a four classes a day system, and everyone seems to be enjoying it. “School feels like school again”—a statement echoed by students and staff alike. The change in pace has been welcomed by all. It’s amazing how quickly the day seems to go by now. Three p.m. comes in the blink of an eye. Many clubs are also resuming

meetings in person. The student council has returned to in-person meetings, after a couple years of online meetings. Other clubs like video game club, art club, book club, yearbook, and others are all reaping the benefits of in-person meetings. And, don’t forget sports! Sports are back! At Notre Dame, there is a culture of competition: our students love to play sports and compete against other schools. The senior girls’ volleyball season is underway, as well as senior boys’ basketball! Sports give our students an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment and athletic prowess. Grade 12 students are certainly hoping and preparing for traditions like prom and graduation ceremonies to return. After two years of canceled proms and virtual graduations, it finally feels like these traditions are bound to return by June. So, is it wrong to still have hope? I’d say the simple answer is no. There is so much to be hopeful about, especially at Notre Dame High School.

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his month, we were fortunate to interview Heaven-Lee Emond and Gloria Rwentambo, two executives of Nepean’s Diverse Student Union (DSU), who co-organized our school’s Black History Month events. In response to our questions, they emphasized students’ enthusiasm to celebrate the month, but also the need for more open conversations about racial issues in education. Emond and Rwentambo have both been members of the DSU for multiple years, and were excited to be leading the club’s initiatives for Black History Month. Rwentambo says she enjoys being a representative for Black students in the school, and looks forward to bringing a more positive lens to Black history. This

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While we were wrapping up, Emond and Rwentambo reiterated the importance of creating safe spaces in schools for all students, particularly racialized minorities. Teachers need to continue adapting their lessons and methods to better navigate these issues, to make our education truly representative of Canada’s diverse population.

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GLORIA RWENTAMBO AND HEAVEN-LEE EMOND. PHOTO BY OLIVIA MILLEY.

year, she says they tried to highlight the contributions and successes of Black Canadians in particular, in both educational and entertaining ways for students. Black History Month is one of Nepean’s most important celebrations, and, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, there was still a lot happening this year. They both recognize the importance of using social media to spread awareness, so the DSU posted daily about Black activists, trailblazers, authors, and others, for followers to learn about examples of Black excellence. Furthermore, different subgroups within the DSU were assigned to multiple projects, such as creating a display case in the main hall, presenting daily announcements about Black History Month and organizing the virtual assembly, which took place at the end of February. We also asked them if they think Nepean is doing enough to help racialized students at our school. “We’re doing the bare minimum… We don't really communicate as well as we think we do. Students and teachers need to get more comfortable discussing issues like racism in classrooms,” Rwentambo said. Emond added that although teachers are listening to students, there is no concrete action being taken to address their concerns. Moreover, they say there is still a lack of representation in lessons, and they would like to see more content about Black people reflected in their learning. Emond remarks this is the first year she is seeing teachers take steps to consciously adjust their practices. They recommend that non-Black students should still celebrate the month, and the best way is to be open to learning and becoming aware of the issues. “Educate yourself on Black History Month by reading books, investigating historical events, and getting familiar with Black culture,” said Rwentambo. The pair also suggests that individuals seek out open and inclusive environments, such as the DSU, to ask questions and further their understanding, in addition to participating in local events. Emond added that, “you’re not going to get anywhere if you don't at least try to listen and put yourself out there, especially in an area that might make you uncomfortable.”

GIVING In From the Cold Program receives $1,000 from community BY CHARLIE SENACK

March 2022 • 20

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generous donation from the Carleton Tavern will help feed members of the community who are struggling this winter. For over 20 years, the Carleton Tavern has been feeding Christmas meals to those in the community who need support over the holiday season. In pre-pandemic times, around 1,000 meals would be distributed during the Christmas season. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the longstanding tradition was in jeopardy. Cheryl Parrott, a member of the Hintonburg Economic Development Committee, which helps the Carleton run its Christmas meal program, said despite the times, they still strive to serve. “When the pandemic hit and we knew it was going to be only takeout/delivery, we knew it was going to be less,” Parrott added. “The first year of COVID in 2020, we did about 330 meals total, and in 2021, at Christmas, it was 400.” The Hintonburg Economic Development Committee helps manage volunteers and any donations. The food

From left to right: Susan Mailer, Rev. Anthony Bailey, Rob Saikaley, Cheryl Parrott and Shelley Callaghan stand on the steps of the Carleton Tavern Feb. 14 with the fundraising cheque. PHOTO BY MAUREEN MCEWAN. is cooked by the Carleton Tavern and, pre-pandemic, the Christmas meal was also held in the restaurant. But, because of capacity limits and other challenges COVID-19 brought, the

Carleton Tavern reached out to Parkdale United Church to see if they could use their facilities. Parkdale United is well equipped for meal distribution: from the first Saturday

after Remembrance Day until the end of March, they run an “In From The Cold” program, which offers a warm meal and support to those who need it. This year, due to an outpouring of support from the community, funds were left over from the Christmas meal which they wanted to put towards a good cause in the community. “We thought, rather than keep the leftover funds for next year, let’s see that money used now for those who are helping people with food,” said Parrot. “Parkdale United Church has been doing their In From The Cold program for about 20 years now, so they were the logical place because they are continuing the work of helping people.” In mid-February, the Carleton Tavern was able to present Parkdale’s In From The Cold program with a cheque for $1,000, more than the program’s team initially expected. In From The Cold When Rev. Anthony Bailey first started at Parkdale United Church about 20 years ago, he canvassed the community to see what support was needed. Through previous ministries in Jamaica and other parts of the world, Bailey has always strived to be a changemaker. “Any place I’ve serviced, I was always concerned about the neighbourhood in which the church is found and what is going on,” he said. “I spent time walking around the neighbourhood and talking

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the dignity of those who would be coming, those who are experiencing poverty and so forth, with quality food,” said Bailey. “It is a four-course meal that is provided and before COVID, we had music, art, literacy, all happening in our lower hall. Because of the pandemic we have needed to pivot to takeout meals, but we hope to get back to normal for next year.” The funds donated will go towards purchasing food, which is becoming more costly. A Canada Food Price Report says grocery bills this year are expected to rise anywhere from five to seven per cent—the highest increase reported in 12 years. Dairy products are supposed to see the highest jump of anywhere from six to eight per cent. Bakery products and vegetables are supposed to climb

five to seven per cent, and fruit prices are expected to jump three to five per cent. It’s something the community feels at the cash register, and it can make it more difficult for food services to stretch their funds. Susan Mailer, who purchases food for Parkdale’s In From The Cold initiative, says they have needed to rely on sales. “I have [to] drive to make sure that our money goes to the best use possible,” she said. “So if I have to go to four different Shoppers Drug Marts to get the limit of four butters on sale I will do that because it does make a difference and adds up.” Mailer, who became involved with the program 15 years ago, said she’s charmed up various meat department managers for deals, and some food is donated from the Parkdale Food Centre. Last week, they received 50 pounds

of potatoes which were split up over two meals. She said the donation from the Carleton Tavern will go a long way to ensure nobody goes without a warm meal. It’s even more appreciated at a time when supply chain issues can make it difficult to purchase in large quantities. “It’s so huge. It takes the pressure off. It was such an amazing surprise when we found out,” said Mailer. “Things are getting harder to find. Even big stores like the Westboro Superstore are having a hard time getting a lot of their supplies in. One day, I walked in and their entire fresh fruit aisle was empty. Each place doesn’t have a large enough volume for me to source a meal for 100 people, so it means we might need to go to different stores and possibly pay more.”

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to people and trying to get a sense of what was happening. There were a number of rooming houses, a number of people who were experiencing poverty, and I thought we could do something as a church to help the community.” That’s how In From The Cold was born. When it started in 2002, around 35 guests benefited from a warm meal. Now, two decades later, that number has grown to anywhere from 125-150 meals handed out every Saturday during the winter. Around 90 volunteers donate their time weekly to prepare, cook, and purchase the food. Those who visit are also given a sandwich and fruit for the next day— along with a sense of connection. “One of the things we wanted to do from the very beginning is acknowledge

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WESTBORO VILLAGE • March 2022 • 22

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OMEN IN ESTBORO In March 2020, the number of women in the workforce was at an all-time high in Canada. Then, just weeks later, according to a study by RBC Economics, almost half a million Canadian women lost their jobs due to the pandemic. By November 2021, we were once again back up to pre-pandemic levels. But unfortunately, that’s not the whole story. Certain groups of women have been harder hit, in particular, mothers with young children, less educated women, lowerincome earners and women of diverse backgrounds. Many of these women have not returned to their jobs. It’s proving to be an unequal recovery for women. What does this mean? Over 200,000 jobs still aren’t back in sectors like retail, travel, hospitality. These jobs were mostly held by women with less education. This means that more vulnerable women are falling further behind. And the impact of the omicron virus only compounds the economic challenges many women face. For women themselves, it’s a loss of income, independence and identity. Employers simply can’t afford to lose women from the workforce — we lose their skills and their perspective. And it’s a great loss for our economy. We lose $100 billion every year when women’s participation is not equal to men’s in the economy. This is where government, community organizations and employers have to do their part — to help women and help bring women back to the workforce. Help them retrain, reskill or transition to new sectors. Especially women who were already marginalized. To accomplish this, government will need a comprehensive strategy — a strategy that addresses both skills and childcare gaps. We must keep working to empower all women, especially the most vulnerable, to return to work, because there is no true success until everyone succeeds.

Kerstin Betts, Branch Manager RBC Westboro

Kate Laird , Owner & Founder Love Your Body Fitness

Kerstin’s passion for helping people reach their potential and overcome challenging times is what brings her fulfillment and comes from a place of experience. Overcoming challenging times herself, Kerstin lost her father to a fierce but short battle with cancer in 2018. Resiliency has been the defining word in her journey throughout these times. After moving back to her hometown of Arnprior, she joined the banking industry and her passion for serving and helping people was able to shine. Kerstin has worn many hats within banking, but her passion is leadership and community involvement. Her starting point was attending St. Lawrence College in Kingston in the Hospitality and Tourism program. Kerstin spent summers working at a local business offering boat tours of the 1000 Islands and at a local hotel learning how to keep up with the hustle and bustle of a dynamic work environment with many competing priorities. Her experience in Hospitality has set her up to be able to work with clients to meet their needs and ‘wow’ them. Kerstin participates in many community focused initiatives such as Junior Achiever, helping to raise money through the United Way and the RBC Employee Giving Campaign, and being a co-lead of the 2021 Ottawa Central team for RBC Race for the Kids. As a Future Launch Champion she engages with schools and community groups to help teach young adults about banking, professional networking, and how to build their personal brand. Kerstin recently took the opportunity as the Branch Manager at the RBC in Westboro Village in May 2021. With over 10 years in the Financial Industry, coming to the Westboro Village community has felt like coming home. Embracing the local community through the branch and joining the board for the Westboro Village BIA is an exciting next step.

I love helping busy people ,especially moms, prioritize their health and fitness and find a sustainable workout schedule that will get them, and keep them as fit as they want to be and as fit they need to be for their lives. I am so proud of making my space inclusive and welcoming to all people. I take pride in finding the most amazing fitness professionals. We all work together as a team to provide the very best services to our clients. Over the years I have worked for so many amazing places, Dovercourt Community Center, Pure Yoga, Yogatown and Greco. I finally started working as a solo trainer working for myself back in 2015, renting gym space from my favorite Crossfit gym (Crossfit 1855). Eventually my little business grew and I started bringing on a few other part time coaches. I decided to Incorporate my business at the end of 2019 and started looking for a commercial space of my own in early 2020, and then the pandemic hit! We went online the same day the gyms closed, invested significantly in building an extensive online platform and designed our online studio which focuses on Community, Connection and Accountability. Thanks to a great team effort - 15 sensational coaches & an amazing gym manager, we have opened a gym on Richmond Road, just east of Churchill. I can’t tell you how happy and proud I am walking to work every morning ! Outside of the gym I love hanging with my amazing partner Sean McCann AKA, The Guy With the Dog Real Estate, our awesome brady bunch crew of kids and our tiny little puppy/gym dog Catrina. I enjoy walking through Westboro, patting all the dogs I see and have been known to offer to dog sit for pretty much anybody!

—Kerstin Betts, RBC Westboro Board Member, Westboro Village BIA

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OMEN IN ESTBORO Earleen Garbe, Owner Revelle Bridal Boutique

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23 • March 2022 • WESTBORO VILLAGE

Hi my name is Jessica and if you are reading this you are likely a supporter of local Ottawa businesses and woman-owned businesses. Thank you for that! If anyone had told me a few years ago that I would become the owner of a Must Boutique in Westboro, I might have fainted. But here we are, and making the leap into small business has been incredibly rewarding. Exploring fashion and personal style with customers is fun, and my hope is that I have created a welcoming space for that. What we wear can be an expression of how we’re feeling, or something we want to say to the world. It’s important, creative in nature and can be somber or playful. When our buyer chooses pieces for our collections, she is keeping in mind different styles and occasions. She is also telling us colour stories for the season. How great is that?! As I have gotten to know the other Must Boutique owners (there are six locations), I have come to realize that we are all women and a culturally diverse group at that. This speaks to the Must Boutique brand being forward-thinking and inclusive. When you first step into the store, you will see that we are a little different. The collection is organized by colour, so you can feel inspired by the colours you love, or possibly new colours you would like to add to your wardrobe. The fabrics are gorgeous and there is a combination of staple and statement pieces. We bring in new items fairly regularly, so if you are walking around in Westboro Village, do come by and say hello! I post regularly on socials so a sneak peek is easy if you follow Must Boutique Westboro on Instagram or Facebook.

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Karen is the General Manager of Blackiron, an agency that has been providing marketing and advertising services to local, national, and international clients for almost 30 years. Karen has more than 20 years of varied professional experience working in the industry, gaining expertise in a wide range of roles such as Graphic Designer, Account Manager, Media Buyer, Marketing Director, Director of Client Services, and now General Manager. Karen’s extensive experience enables her to guide high-level projects, ensuring that ideas translate into increased success for clients. One of her key approaches is to dig deep and get to the true core of her clients needs or challenges, and then working collaboratively with them and the Blackiron team to find a solution Blackiron’s team of talented, award-winning, creative professionals deliver branding and campaign strategies, corporate partnerships, creative, content, traditional, digital and social media executions, and videos to help our clients grow their business, achieve their goals, and stand out amongst their competitors.

Jessica Oliver, Owner Must Boutique

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Karen Moores, General Manager Blackiron Agency

Having recently undergone our own rebranding strategy, Blackiron is driven by a passion to see results in action and the positive impact our work has on our client’s day-to-day lives. Blackiron is guided by our desire to create “better tomorrow’s” for our clients, however that looks for them.

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Earleen comes from a family of Entrepreneurs with both grandfathers having been business owners in their homeland of the Philippines. Born in Manila, Earleen’s parents emigrated to Ottawa when she was just 2 years old, and she has remained in Ottawa ever since. She graduated from the University of Ottawa with a bachelor’s in social sciences and originally aspired to become a lawyer but when her then boyfriend decided to propose the night before her graduation, she changed her mind and decided to spend the rest two years of their engagement planning her wedding. Earleen was already working for Federal Government at the time and decided the stability of being a public servant was perfect for raising a family. After 25 years with the Federal Government, Earleen decided to retire early to focus on a side hustle that focused on planning trade shows for wedding vendors and local artisans. She was one of the founders of the Tie The Knot Wedding Show, Wedcycle, and Heart Home Handmade and through all of these shows, she was able to connect and network with many like-minded business owners in the Ottawa area. It was her extensive network in the local wedding industry that brought her the opportunity to open her own bridal boutique and the timing was perfect since her involvement in organizing wedding shows was winding down at that time. Having taken over a former bridal shop that has closed, Earleen founded “Encore Bridal’ with her brother as her partner in October 2016. Encore Bridal initially started out as a consignment boutique specializing in wedding dresses and bridal wear, but Earleen soon realized that the market for wedding gowns in the Ottawa area was missing something. With the majority of Ottawa Bridal Shops focused on the traditional wedding gown, Earleen wanted to bring something fresh and new to the city, so she started researching new, up and coming bridal designers that were not carried anywhere else in

Ottawa. After 6 months as Encore Bridal, a full rebrand and new location was in the works and Earleen moved to the Wellington West area as the newly named “Revelle Bridal Boutique”. After 4 years in the Welly West neighbourhood, Earleen knew the only way to grow was to expand the business - figuratively and literally - and so in July 2021 another rebrand and move brought Earleen and Revelle Bridal to Westboro Village. Earleen and her husband, Mark, have two adult children (Marisa and Jordan) and the cutest French bulldog named Kobe. Her daughter, Marisa, works for the family business and serves as Revelle’s Operations Manager while the boys are Revelle’s biggest supporters. From a career in the Public Service to planning Trade Shows to owning a successful Bridal Boutique, Earleen definitely has a wealth of experience.

COUNCILLOR’S CORNER

Engagement opportunities and getting ready for spring SUBMITTED BY JEFF LEIPER, KITCHISSIPPI WARD COUNCILLOR

March 2022 • 24

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elcome to March, Kitchissippi! While we all know that March never signals the end of winter, the days are getting a little longer and a little warmer, and it won’t be long until summer comes. Read on for updates about what’s happening in your city and community. I know the issue that has been top of mind over the past several weeks has been the occupation of Ottawa. I am appalled to hear near-daily reports of people facing verbal assault and

harassment by people who are associated with or emboldened by this occupation. Thank you to everyone who has been emailing me to pass on what you’re witnessing and experiencing. The Hintonburg Community Association is organizing Walks for Safety in the evenings to provide a quiet presence around primary schools in the neighbourhood so kids and families can commute in peace. If you have an hour or so to spare, please contact them at info@ hintonburg.com to volunteer your time. Additionally, Horizon Ottawa is doing a great job keeping track of ongoing mutual aid initiatives and peaceful

acts of community resistance. If you want to stay in the loop on those, follow Horizon Ottawa on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @HorizonOttawa. At City Hall, Engagement Series 2 for the Solid Waste Master Plan is getting underway this month. The engagement team will be hosting a variety of themed dialogue sessions, online surveys, and focus groups covering topics ranging from green bins in multi-unit residential buildings to managing garbage and recycling in city parks. Keep an eye on the upcoming sessions and sign up for

email updates at engage.ottawa.ca/solidwaste-master-plan In preparation for spring, the Westboro Beach Community Association is matching aspiring gardeners with no access to land with homeowners who have land that could be gardened! If you want to participate in this initiative, check out the Garden Sharing Network - Westboro group on Facebook. You can grow anything from fruits to flowers, as long as you share a portion of your bounty with the homeowner. Don’t forget to subscribe to my email newsletter to get weekly updates from the office and stay on top of virtual pop-up office hours; drop me a line at jeff.leiper@ottawa.ca and we’ll get you signed up. Stay safe, Kitchissippi!

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PROVINCIAL UPDATE

Outlasting the convoy by supporting one another Please wear a mask and stay safe!

Joel Harden

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613-729-2130

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LESS ROAD SALT A step in the right direction

OttawaRiverkeeper.ca/salt

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If you’re stepping on more than ~7 grains of salt in a single step, that’s too much salt!

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25 • March 2022

”We survived the convoy by taking care of each other.”

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Our community mobilized to let each other know that we were not alone. Our MPP office hosted several town halls to communicate these resources to residents and help them get plugged in. We’ve also been demanding action from the provincial government during the crisis. Councillor McKenney and I wrote a letter to Premier Ford asking for help for our city and its residents affected by the convoy, and we continue to call for this support. A citizen-led lawsuit silenced most convoy horns that kept downtown residents up at night. Thousands marched to insist the convoy leave, while a citizens’ blockade peacefully stopped 30 convoy vehicles for nine hours. We broke the political logjam that kept the convoy in place. While our leaders dithered, the residents of this city took care of each other. That’s a legacy of which we can be proud, but we have more work to do to address rising levels of hate. Hate grows when people feel unheard. Horns blare when people believe their suffering goes unnoticed. Rural anger boils over against downtown Ottawa when people think “urban elites” have it better than them. Politicians fanning the flames only makes matters worse. We survived the convoy by taking care of each other, and now we must heal our country. I welcome your thoughts on how we can do this together, email me at joel@joelharden.ca

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SUBMITTED BY JOEL HARDEN, MPP FOR OTTAWA CENTRE MPP, Ottawa Centre joelharden.ca e’ve had an incredibly 109 Catherine St. difficult time Ottawa, ON. K2P 2M8 in Ottawa—particularly those in JHarden-CO@ndp.on.ca our downtown core as a result of 613-722-6414 the “freedom convoy.” But we also learned during this time that in a crisis, our community shows up for one another. The convoy arrived on Jan. 29 fueled by grievances from two years of anger against vaccine mandates and mask mandates. They were resolved to send a message, and claimed to be doing so for “blue-collar workers.” What they did, however, was harm Ottawa residents. Horns blared at all hours at levels that can damage hearing. People missed paychecks, closed their shops or were harassed for wearing a mask. More egregious acts of violence also happened. But, we persevered. At the height of all this, the priority for the community, local leaders, and our office was to keep each other safe. To get food to seniors and people with disabilities who were not able to leave their homes. To get animals out to safety. To deliver earplugs to residents facing constant honking. And the Hintonburg Community Association organized safety walks around schools. A Centretown Helpers online Discord group was set up, which organized safe walks for community members and gave folks a place to gather virtually in a difficult time. Residents organized funds to supplement the wages of workers who were not able to work because of the convoy. Others gathered funds to help downtown residents get out of the core.

Affordable, Clean, Secure, Central

FEDERAL UPDATE

A time for healing and hope SUBMITTED BY YASIR NAQVI, MP FOR OTTAWA CENTRE

March 2022 • 26

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he past month has been an incredibly difficult time for everyone living in Ottawa—especially for those living in the downtown core. Due to the occupation, members of our community were harassed because of their skin colour, yelled at for wearing masks, and subjected to hurtful and racist symbols and torturous honking—there were even accounts of assault. It had been made clear that there were serious challenges to local enforcements’ ability to enforce the law effectively. That is why the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act to give police more tools to end the occupations and blockades. Additionally, the Act designated, secured and protected critical places and infrastructure, ensured essential services were rendered, prohibited use of property to support illegal blockades, and allowed the RCMP to enforce municipal by-laws and charge provincial offences when required. Businesses also suffered greatly, having gone through further closures and harassment due to the protests. That is why the federal government announced an investment of up to $20 million in federal funding to help downtown Ottawa businesses recover from the impacts of these unlawful protests so they can continue serving our community.

What we went through as a community was traumatic, and our mental health has been impacted. My message to you is that this is a time of healing and hope. It’s okay to not be okay, and I would encourage you to stay connected to members of our community, friends, family, coworkers and acquaintances. If you or someone you know wants to speak with a mental health professional or is seeking mental health resources, here are a few in Ottawa ready to help: • Centretown Community Health Centre: 613-233-4443 • Somerset West Community Health Centre: 613-238-8210 • Ottawa Distress Centre: 613-238-3311 • Ottawa Crisis Line: 613-722-6914 • Life Works Crisis Line: 1-844-751-2133 • Counselling Connect (free phone or video counselling): www.counselingconnect.org Throughout this unlawful occupation, we saw yet again how resilient our community is, how we all came together during this incredibly difficult time to support one another. We will have to continue to support each other as we heal and work towards a hopeful future. If there is anything I can do to support you, my office remains open virtually and ready to help. You can call us at: 613-946-8682 or email: Yasir.Naqvi@parl.gc.ca

”Stay connected to members of

our community, friends, family, coworkers and acquaintances.”

COMMUNITY CALENDAR COVID-19 note: This page has been updated to reflect the developments in Ottawa during the pandemic.

Stay safe and healthy, Kitchissippi!

MARCH 22-APRIL 3: GREAT CANADIAN THEATRE COMPANY - HEARTLINES "'Heartlines' traces the interaction of love, art, and war as it reimagines the lives of French surrealist and avant-garde artists Lucy Schwob (a.k.a. Claude Cahune) and Suzanne Malherbe (a.k.a. Marcel Moore), who were secretly Jewish, lesbian life partners, active in the French Resistance during the Second World War,” the Great Canadian Theatre Company website states. Heartlines by Sarah Waisvisz is scheduled to take place between March 22-April 3 at the Great Canadian Theatre Company—1233 Wellington St. W. To learn more, visit gctc.ca/shows/heartlines

TUESDAYS - BYTOWN VOICES COMMUNITY CHOIR Although the choir is not able to prepare for public performances, we will be meeting online each Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. We will be learning some new music and maintaining our vocal cords in a relaxed environment, with plenty of musical and technological help. We will all be experiencing this new way of meeting and singing together and are happy to welcome new members, men and women, to join us. For more information, see our website at bytownvoices.com

Got a Kitchissippi area virtual or COVID-19-safe event to share? We’d love to hear about it. Send your info to editor@kitchissippi.com

For the full list of events please go to

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KITCHISSIPPI MARKET PLACE To place a Classified or Marketplace ad, please call 613.238.1818

27 • March 2022

MARCH 9-27: ORANGE ART GALLERY EXHIBITION DAVID CATION - FAMOUS The exhibition runs March 9-27 at the gallery—290 City Centre Ave. Visit orangeartgallery.ca to learn more.

MONDAYS - ABOVE AND BEYOND TOASTMASTERS Every Monday at 6:45 p.m. (except holidays) Have the jitters each time you need to present a speech? Visit us online. Learn how to communicate better in a relaxed atmosphere and hone your leadership skills. Impromptu speaking is one of our highlights. It’s fun, fun, fun! We would love to have you join us on Mondays. Contact our club at aandbtoastmasters@gmail.com to receive the link.

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MARCH 8 - INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY International Women’s Day (IWD) recognizes the political, cultural, economic and social achievements of women and advocates for gender parity globally. The day has been celebrated since 1911. To learn more about the day, visit internationalwomensday.com.

MARCH 16: WESTBORO LEGION BINGO NIGHT Regular Wednesday bingo returns at 6:30 p.m. in the Westboro Legion’s Downstairs Hall, 389 Richmond Rd. The door opens at 4 p.m. and the kitchen opens at 5 p.m. For more information: 613725-2778.

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MARCH 1: OTTAWA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY WEBINAR - NATIONAL HEALING FORESTS: AN EXAMPLE OF RECONCILIATION IN ACTION Presenters Patricia Stirbys and Peter Croal will give a brief outline of the genesis of this initiative

MARCH 7 - RAIN READY OTTAWA INFORMATION SESSION The McKellar Park Community Association is hosting with Rain Ready Ottawa, a City of Ottawa initiative, an information session on Zoom, for homeowners on how to manage rain and storm water on their property. Rebates are available for homeowners who qualify. The Zoom meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. For more information and to register, go to mpca.blog@gmail.com

MARCH 25: WESTBORO LEGION FOLK NIGHT The Big Train Wreck performs from 8-11 p.m. in the Westboro Legion’s Upstairs Bar and Lounge, 391 Richmond Rd. Tickets are $10 and are on sale at the upstairs bar. For more information: 613-725-2778.

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FEB. 22-MARCH 6: GREAT CANADIAN THEATRE COMPANY - BLISSFUL STATE OF SURRENDER “‘Blissful State of Surrender’ is a dramatic comedy about a Bosnian-Canadian family and the largerthan-life culture clashes between the parents and their three grownup daughters. This humorous and haunted portrait of the Muslim refugee experience explores the lives of a family coping with family secrets, intergenerational differences and PTSD,” the Great Canadian Theatre Company website states. Blissful State of Surrender by Sanita Fejzić is scheduled to take place between Feb. 22-March 6 at the Great Canadian Theatre Company—1233 Wellington St. W. To learn more, visit gctc.ca/ shows/blissful.

MARCH 5-26: WALL SPACE GALLERY EXHIBITION ERYN O'NEILL - TRAVELLING VICARIOUSLY: THE HIGH LINE “Through painting, O’Neill studies urban spaces in transition. Travelling Vicariously: The High Line draws attention to the transformation of the New York Central Railroad system into its contemporary identity as a rail trail and greenway,” the Wall Space Gallery website states. The exhibition runs from March 5-26 at the gallery—358 Richmond Rd. Visit wallspacegallery. ca to learn more.

MARCH 13: WESTBORO LEGION JAZZ NIGHT The popular jazz fusion band Safe Low Limit entertains from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the Westboro Legion’s Upstairs Bar & Lounge, 391 Richmond Rd. Tickets are $15 and available at the upstairs bar and at the door.

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FEB. 9-MARCH 6: ORANGE ART GALLERY EXHIBITION - BHAT BOY - WINDOW ON THE CITY “‘Window on the City’ is an eclectic exhibition of works where windows are the view into the soul of the city. Bhat Boy's unexpected views of Ottawa tell stories of both our own private city and the Ottawa we share with Canada. Bhat Boy is an [internationally] renowned artist and refers to his work as "Envisionism". He is a prolific painter and continues to live and work in Canada's National Capital,” the Orange Art Gallery website states. The exhibition runs Feb.9-March 6 at the gallery—290 City Centre Ave. Visit orangeartgallery. ca to learn more.

and their respective motivations for creating this project. The talk will then describe how communities—such as schools and churches—can develop their own Healing Forest. You will learn about the benefits of a Healing Forest, along with seeing some recent examples of completed Healing Forests. The event runs from 7:30-9:30 p.m. on March 1. This free webinar will be on the OHS Youtube channel. Details can be found at ottawahort.org/event/national-healing-forest/

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