Glebe Report February 2024 by Glebe Report

BABIES OF THE GLEBE 2023 Page 18

Serving the Glebe community since 1973 February 9, 2024 www.glebereport.ca EDQ@glebereport ISSN 0702-7796 Vol. 52 No. 1 Issue no. 561

What’s Inside

Vac Shack

FREE

marks 50 years in business

Urban planning in Ottawa.........................Page 7

A teenage baker takes the cake...................Page 14

Mark Your Calendars

Capital Ward Cup hockey.................Feb. 11, 10 a.m., Brantwood Park Hart House Orchestra.........................Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m., St. Matthew’s Anglican Church The Great Canadian Kilt Skate........Feb.18, 1-3 p.m., Lansdowne Rink. Coffeehouse for Sustainability......Feb. 24, 9:30-11 a.m., GCC Mutchmor Rink Party........................Feb. 24, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Mutchmor Rink Seventeen Voyces............................... Feb. 25, 4 p.m., St. Matthew’s Anglican Church GCA board meeting.............................Feb. 27, 7 p.m., GCC Seedy Saturday (seed exchange)...... Mar. 2, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Emmanuel United Church, 691 Smyth Rd.

Index

ABBOTSFORD ��8 BABIES ��18 BIRDS ��17 BOOKS �� 20 EDITORIAL �� 4 ENVIRONMENT ��15, 16 FILM & THEATRE ��25 FOOD �� 19 GLEBE HISTORY ��33 GLEBOUS & COMICUS �� 30 HEALTH �� 31 HERITAGE ��29 LANSDOWNE ��6 LETTERS �� 5 MUSIC ��21-24 OPINION ��7 POETRY QUARTER ��26 PROFILES ��2, 12, 14 REPS & ORGS ��9-11, 27, 32 REMEMBERING �� 28 RINKS �� 13 SCHOOLS ��32 STREETCARS �� 3

NEXT ISSUE: Friday, March 8, 2024

EDITORIAL DEADLINE: Monday, February 19, 2024 ADVERTISING ARTWORK DEADLINE*: Wednesday, February 21, 2024 *Book ads well in advance to ensure space availability.

By Sue Stefko This year marks the 50th anniversary in business of Uncle Lory’s Vac Shack. Laurier (Lory) Lachapelle, the initial owner of the shop, began by selling Hoover vacuums door-to-door and working in vacuum repair. He decided to open his own shop in the Glebe Annex, first on Cambridge Street South and then moving to 686 Bronson Avenue in 1974. The current owner, John Paravan, was first connected to the Vac Shack as a youth. He started mowing its small lawn when he was just 10 and got a part-time job in the shop itself at the age of 12. He has been there ever since, working with Lory for decades before buying the shop outright more than a decade ago. Paravan grew up in the Glebe Annex. He has spent most of his life here, raising a family and advocating for the community. His advocacy has included calling for smarter development and more amenities such as grocery and pet food stores. While at one point the Vac Shack had as many as seven employees, since the beginning of the pandemic, Paravan has run the business solo. He now does repairs and sales during business hours, working off-site to help people with their central vacuum systems after hours. His commitment to being there for his customers is remarkable – he can’t remember when he last took a vacation. Although the Vac Shack is not Ottawa’s only vacuum repair and sales store, it is one of the best known, with clients across the city, the country and as far away as Colombia and Australia. People are drawn to the Vac Shack’s remarkable customer service, honesty, competence and fair pricing. On the store’s online reviews, a number of people note that they have been coming here since the 1970s, with nearly all extolling the store’s commitment to these attributes. Paravan’s commitment to sustainability is also exceptional. Through his repair service, he has worked hard to keep materials out of landfill. In fact, the Vac Shack was featured last spring in a Global TV national news story on the federal government’s intent to implement a “right to repair

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John Paravan, owner of the Vac Shack, with one of his many vacuums, both new and used. This year Vac Shack is celebrating 50 years in business. PHOTO: GABRIELLE DALLAPORTA

framework.” The framework refers to a broad spectrum of laws designed to make goods more durable and fixable. However, not everyone wants to invest money in repairing their vacuum cleaners. When clients decide to opt instead for a new one, Paravan will keep the old vacuums and use all the spare parts possible to help keep other machines running. Sometimes he will just leave the machine outdoors – the store is frequented by people who are looking for vacuums that they can fix and sell themselves. For those machines that are beyond repair, there are also those who come to remove the copper and other valuable metals from the vacuums. He will also recycle some of the materials himself. Unfortunately, however, Paravan is seeing more people opt for replacing other than repairing. Some of this is due to convenience and buying new. Sometimes it’s due to the manufacturers themselves. While many of the older brands, such as Electrolux, Filter Queen or Sebo, continue to make replacement parts decades after the models are released, as well as parts and attachments compatible with earlier models, this is often not the case for newer brands. Some newer

popular brands change parts and sizes up to twice a year, with each model having its own distinct parts, making it nearly impossible to have the stock on hand to service the machines. These manufacturers often do not even sell replacement parts, expecting that the vacuums will be dumped when they malfunction instead of being fixed, despite an often hefty purchase price. While the Vac Shack does sell new vacuums, the store stocks those that are built to last and that can be repaired. Paravan educates his customers on what to look for, so they select machines that they can use decades into the future instead of replacing or sending them to the landfill every few years. Happily, the idea of keeping items out of landfills has started to become more popular. The Ottawa Tool Library has hosted Repair Cafés since 2017, and local Freecycle and Buy Nothing groups have also sprung up. At the Vac Shack, this is just the way that business has always been done. Having reached its 50-year milestone, the Vac Shack is still ahead of its time! Sue Stefko is vice-president of the Glebe Annex Community Association.

2 Glebe Report February 9, 2024

PROFILE

Stories of war, food and art intersect at Jericho By Sadeen Mohsen Jericho café at 840 Bank Street is a hidden gem full of passion and identity. At its centre is its quirky owner, Raouf Omar. Omar tells me his mother named him Raouf, which means passionate or affectionate, traits that are evident in every aspect of his restaurant and his artwork spread around the space. He was born in the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank. His family settled there shortly after the 1948 Nakba or “catastrophe” when, with the creation of Israel, more than 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their land. Conditions in the camp were less than ideal, especially during the winter. Omar spoke of up to six families crammed into rooms and a lack of access to clean water. “The camp is [full of] misery, left and right,” he said. “It wasn’t pleasant to remember but sometimes it is nice to remember because it’s your childhood.” Another aspect of his childhood Omar remembers is being exposed to violence, constant abuse and harassment, living under Israeli occupation. “[Palestinians] cannot continue to live in refugee camps forever. They are unable to return to their own land,” Omar said. “The bare minimum is a [Palestinian] state beside the Israeli state.” For Omar, the current situation in Gaza, where he has lost family members, has been devastating. “I can’t sleep sometimes,” Omar said. “It’s past disturbing because you don’t know when it’s going to stop.” But Omar continues to believe in the

Raouf Omar, owner of Jericho café, with some of his artwork (and more below) PHOTOS: SADEEN MOHSEN

strength and perseverance of Palestinians by reflecting on his experiences. Omar describes his journey to Canada as a long, complicated movie. The restauranteur was studying in Beirut, Lebanon when he found himself in another war. After joining his wife in Canada in 1982, Omar couldn’t use his degree and started to apply for jobs to be able to support his family back in the West Bank. He remembers getting an application from Home Hardware and coming to Jericho, known back then as Glebe Café, to fill it out. The Arab community was small at the time, and the owner sat with Omar over tea before offering him a job. “I did for five years and then I bought it,” he said with a grin. Omar quickly changed the focus of the café to make it a Middle Eastern restaurant to represent what he loves – the ancient West

Bank city of Jericho which is run by the Palestinian Authority. “I used to go to Jericho as a kid [to visit] family who lived in a refugee camp,” he said. “It was beautiful, it was my first time seeing a city like that. It represents Palestine, that’s why I picked that name. I owe that city.”

Despite the ongoing tension following the situation in Gaza, his restaurant continues to thrive. Omar says that his community has continued to show up and support him. It’s been 30 years and there has yet to be “a dull moment.” “When you enjoy what you’re doing, day after day. . .week after week, and you don’t feel the time because there’s joy in it,” he said. “When people leave their living room to come into [my restaurant], it means something to me.” Omar expressed the importance of keeping a clean space, making great food and creating relationships with his visitors; do that and the business will soon have a life of its own. Omar says his customers, whom he calls visitors, are driven by two things in the restaurant – the quality of the food and the beauty of the art. “I always want my people to leave here with a good impression,” he said. “They have to leave with a good feeling.” To the business owner, making art is a spiritual and emotional experience. He said you need stories to make stories, and he needs “to live in the moment of it” to create it. The longer a person sits in Jericho, the more the art becomes a sprawling, living thing. There is art painted on the tables and hanging from the walls. There are old artifacts scattered around and a lamppost inside with potted plants above it, hanging upside down from the ceiling. Omar favours images of the past and around the world, often focusing in on trees, doors and windows. “It’s nature and I love nature,” he said. “The doors and windows always have to be open because the doors of the house are like (the doors of) your heart.” Sadeen Mohsen is a journalism student at Carleton University.

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Glebe Report February 9, 2024 3

STREETCARS

Glebe renewal unearths streetcar remnants By Phil von Finckenstein Excavators working on the southern Glebe renewal project made a surprise discovery this fall when they unearthed a section of the old Ottawa electric streetcar network. Digging 12 feet down to remove old sewers, they happened on large wooden railway sleepers and steel spikes. A streetcar track began to emerge. No archaeologists were on hand to chronicle the discovery. Long-time Glebe resident and Ottawa real estate expert Scott Parkes acknowledged the historical significance. “This is not exactly discovering Rameses II, but unearthing the railway sleepers does remind us of the role the streetcar played in developing the Glebe we know today. The electric streetcar laid the foundations of our community.” What excavators had specifically uncovered was the Holmwood/Monk loop, which was designed for easy access to the Lansdowne exhibition grounds.

Southern Glebe rehabilitation

The City is undertaking a $14 million rehabilitation of Monk Street, Oakland Avenue, Wilton Crescent, Woodlawn Avenue, Wilton Lane, Tackaberry Lane and Ernie Brady Lane. Started in late 2023, it is scheduled to be completed in 2025. Robert Excavating of Ottawa has been contracted to reconstruct sewers, watermains, curbs, sidewalks and roads. The project will also add new “traffic calming elements” to the neighbourhood, such as a raised intersection, a pedestrian crossing, speed humps and road narrowings.

Ottawa–Glebe streetcar history

The Ottawa streetcar era ended on May 2, 1959. It had run for 68 years and included 90 kilometres of track. By comparison, today’s O-Train has about 20 km of track and is expanding to more than 50 km. The original Ottawa Electric Railway Company and then the Ottawa Transportation Commission (OTC) connected Ottawa to Gatineau and New Edinburgh to Britannia. An “Observatory Loop” gave residents access

to the Civic Hospital via a track down Holland Avenue. A Buena Vista loop connected the well-heeled in Rockcliffe to downtown. A Rideau Line ran to Springfield and Maple Lane and around the Beechwood Cemetery. Two north-south tracks served the Glebe. The main line ran the length of Bank Street through downtown and the Glebe into Ottawa South. A shorter Bronson line ran from Dow’s Lake to Powell and Gladstone. Tracks made travel to the Glebe reliable, cost effective and efficient. “The streetcar did, in fact, play a very significant role in opening the Glebe to visitors and residential buildings, albeit with some delay,” wrote Clyde Sanger and Ron Greene in a 2014 profile in the Glebe Report. In the early 1890s, when the streetcar started running, the entire Glebe included just 44 homes. The streetcar ran rain or shine, with the exception of the Big Storm of December 29, 1942, when 23 cm of ice and hard-packed snow entombed streetcars for days. The Canadian Army was called in to get the trains back on track. Ivan Mlikan, who immigrated to Ottawa in 1957, still remembers the streetcar. “The cars had ploughs attached to the front of them and would clear the tracks as they drove along their route. Some cars had a sweeper on the front of them that would clear lighter amounts of snow. It was quite a thing to see. I don’t remember the old electric cars shutting down as much as the current LRT.” In the end, the OTC fell victim to changing demographics, work routines and a lack of new investment. In 1957, the OTC reported that due to “more autos, more women drivers, and the extended adoption of the fiveday work week, one million passengers had been lost over the preceding six months.” The streetcars in Ottawa would last another two years. Glebe residents Phil von Finckenstein and Phil Jr. came across a pile of old wooden railway sleepers on Wilton Crescent in the fall of 2023 while walking their dog Blanco. Staff from Robert Excavating confirmed they were old railway sleepers. For more information, please read Ottawa Streetcars by Bill McKeown, which provided many of the facts for this article.

Overview of the Monk, Oakland, Wilton & Woodlawn Integrated Renewal. Ottawa streetcar wooden railway sleepers and steel spikes were found in the excavated red section – formerly part of the OTC Holmwood/Monk loop.

The Robert Excavating crew dug up wooden streetcar sleepers this fall on Wilton Crescent – remnants of the old Holmwood/Monk streetcar loop.

Krakowsky McDonald R E A L

E S TAT E

T E A M

Time to prepare for Spring. Buying or selling, contact us for a conversation.

Let’s get ready together!

4 Glebe Report February 9, 2024

EDITORIAL

Business Buzz Jumak Korean Kitchen & Pub at 151C Second Avenue, former home of SOCA Restaurant. “Experience traditional Korean cuisine with a modern twist. Fresh, locally sourced ingredients.” Jumakottawa.com. 613-230-5586. Right at Home Realty has opened at 14 Chamberlain Avenue, suite 101. Rightathomerealty.com. 613-369-5199. Ten branches across Ontario. Kari Design Build is opening soon at 225 Marché Way in Lansdowne. Karidesignbuild.com. Koyman Galleries pop-up location at 796 Bank Street has closed. SEN Restaurant at 200 Marché Way in Lansdowne has closed.

A Glimpse of the

Score Pizza at 852 Bank Street, corner of Fifth Avenue, appears to have closed.

Glebe �

The first of a series of Coffeehouses on Sustainability was held January 27 in the Glebe Community Centre. PHOTO: JENNIFER HUMPHRIES

Editorial

Bring your mug and your optimism The energy (pardon the pun) in the room was electric (again, pardon!) The first Coffeehouse on Sustainability held at the Glebe Community Centre on a Saturday morning in January had energy to burn (again, sorry, a no-longer-works metaphor). This one was on “homes and energy” and had discussion tables (oh, the noise, noise, noise, noise!) on solar panels, heat pumps, windows, air sealing – all talking about how to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Each discussion table was animated by a “knowledgeable neighbour” – someone in the community with real-life experience with such things as solar panels in Ottawa in winter or the ins and outs of heat pumps in the frozen north. There were two short presentations, spaced out over the two hours, that gave useful information about the City’s Better Homes Ottawa loan program and a case study on how the energy efficiency of a red brick Glebe home built in 1902 was improved.

Future coffeehouses will deal with reducing your carbon footprint, greenspace and water, transportation, zero-waste living and what to do about climate-caused risk of flooding. The underlying theme of these sessions, it seems to me, is the need for, and value of, individual grassroots action. What can I do myself to contribute, in whatever small or large way, to the health and future of my world? It’s a note of optimism in a dark, dark time. It’s also about leadership. The Glebe Community Association’s Environment Committee, along with CAFES, did not just sit in meetings bemoaning the state of the environment – they showed leadership. They did something about it. And something practical, concrete, helpful to us who want to save the planet but – where to start? Start here. The next one is February 24 at the Glebe Community Centre. Bring your mug. –Liz McKeen

www.glebereport.ca Established in 1973, the Glebe Report, published by the Glebe Report Association, is a monthly not-forprofit community newspaper with a circulation of 7,500 copies. It is delivered free to Glebe homes and businesses. Advertising from merchants in the Glebe and elsewhere pays all its costs, and the paper receives no government grants or direct subsidies. The Glebe Report, made available at select locations such as the Glebe Community Centre and the Old Ottawa South Community Centre and Brewer Pool, is printed by Winchester Print. EDITOR............................

Liz McKeen editor@glebereport.ca

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The Glebe Report strives to be inclusive and to represent the full diversity of the community we serve.

Clocktower Pub at 575 Bank St. has closed.

Contributors this month Iva Apostalova Susan Atkinson Tian Bates Louise Chivers Dudleigh Coyle John Crump Gabrielle Dallaporta Peg Duncan Véronique Dupuis Janis Ellis-Claypool Phil von Finckenstein James Gilbert Pat Goyeche Clare Jackson Joel Harden Sarah Hegger Jennifer Humphries Nili Kaplan-Myrth Ellen Katic Maureen Korp Tanya Lary Julie LeBlanc Caroline Mackenzie Randal Marlin Ian McKercher Chris McNaught Shawn Menard Caren von Merveldt Sadeen Mohsen Margret Nankivell Yasir Naqvi Maia Nourozi

Tim O’Connor Dave O’Malley John Paravan Chloe Park Doug Parker Kevan Pipe Barb Popel William Price Paige Raymond Sue Reive Jeanette Rive Jean Roberge David Rockburn Sarah Routliffe Jennifer Shaw Sue Stefko Matt Steyer Deborah-Anne Tunney Cecile Wilson Steve Zan Zeus

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EDQ@glebereport SUBMIT ARTICLES editor@glebereport.ca. OUR DEADLINES For Glebe Report advertising deadlines and rates, call the advertising manager. Advertising rates are for electronic material supplied in pdf files with fonts embedded in the file. Views expressed in the articles and letters submitted to the Glebe Report are those of our contributors. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Articles selected for publication will be published in both a printed version and an online version on the Glebe Report’s website: www. glebereport.ca. Please note: Except for January and July, the paper is published monthly. An electronic version of the print publication is subsequently uploaded online with text, photos, drawings and advertisements as a PDF to www. glebereport.ca. Selected articles will be highlighted on the website. The Glebe Report acknowledges that its offices and the Glebe neighbourhood it serves are on the unceded lands and territories of the Anishinaabe people, comprised of the Ojibwe, Chippewa, Odawa, Potawatomi, Algonquin, Saulteaux, Nipissing and Mississauga First Nations.

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Jide Afolabi, Jennie Aliman, Lawrence Ambler, Nico Arabackyj, Aubry family, Miko Bartosik, Alessandra & Stefania Bartucci, Selena Beattie, Adrian Becklumb, Beckman family, Joanne Benoit, Inez Berg, Carolyn Best, Carrie Bolton, Daisy & Nettie Bonsall, Martha Bowers, Bowie family, Adélaïde and Éléonore Bridgett, Bob Brocklebank, Naomi and Audrey Cabassu, Ben Campbell-Rosser, Nico Cauchi, Bill Congdon, Ava & Olivia Carpenter, Ryan & Charlotte Cartwright, Chiu-Panczyk Family, Sarah Chown, Sebastian, Cameron & Anna Cino, Janis Ellis-Claypool, Jenny Cooper, June Creelman, Marni Crossley, Olivia Dance, Mark Dance, Dawson family, Richard DesRochers, Davies Family, Nathan and Roslyn Demarsh, Marilyn Deschamps, Diekmeyer-Bastianon family, Dingle family, Delia Elkin, Nicholas, Reuben, Dave & Sandra Elgersma, Patrick Farley, James & Oliver Frank, Judy Field, Federico Family, Maria Fobes, Liane Gallop, Joann Garbig, Joyce Goodhand, Camilo Velez Gorman, Barbara Greenwood, Marjolein Groenevelt, Oliver, Martin, Sarah & Simon Hicks, Cheryle Hothersall, Sandiso Johnston, Jungclaus Family, Janna Justa, Elena Kastritsa, Kasper Raji Kermany, Michael Khare, Lambert family, Fenton & Cora Hui Litster, Leith and Lulu Lambert, Mel LeBlanc, Jamie, Alexander & Louisa Lem, Brams and Jane Leswick, Alison Lobsinger, Aanika, Jaiden and Vinay Lodha, Hudson Love, Andy Lunney, Vanessa Lyon, Pat Marshall, Patrick Collins Mayer, Catherine McArthur, Ian McKercher, John and Helen Marsland, Matthew McLinton, Josephine & Elise Meloche, Cameron Mitchell, Julie Monaghan, Thomas Morris, Vivian Moulds, Karen Mount, Maddy North, Diane Munier, Xavier and Heath Nuss, Sachiko Okuda, Matteo and Adriano Padoin-Castillo, Brenda Perras, Brenda Quinlan, Annabel and Joseph Quon, Beatrice Raffoul, Bruce Rayfuse, Kate Reekie, Thomas Reevely, Mary & Steve Reid, Jacqueline Reilly-King, Anna Roper, Sabine Rudin-Brown, Frank Schreiner, Short family, Cathy Simons, Andrew Soares, Stephenson family, Cameron & Quinn Swords, Ruth Swyers, Saul Taler, John & Maggie Thomson, Tom Trottier, Trudeau family, Will, Georgie & Blaire Turner, Zosia Vanderveen, Veevers family, Nick Walker, Vanessa Wen, Paul Wernick, Hope, Jax and Ash Wilson, Howard & Elizabeth Wong, Ella & Ethan Wood, Martin Zak.

New Area Captains: the Johnstons

Lynn and Dave Johnston moved to the Glebe from Kanata in the fall of 2021. Newly retired, they wanted to enjoy a new neighbourhood where they could walk and bike to enjoy the best of Ottawa. They love the ‘hood! Soon after, Lynn joined the Glebe Report Association board of directors as treasurer, and now she and hubby Dave are taking on the Glebe Report area captain role as well. Welcome Lynn and Dave!

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CARRIERS NEEDED FOR:

Glebe Annex: Bell St: Powell to Carling. Powell St: Bronson to Bell. MacLean Street Howick Place Lakeview Terrace

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Glebe Report February 9, 2024 5

LETTERS

Refining the map of war sacrifice

Glebe a victim of its safe image

Glebe Report as “influencer”

Language matters

Editor, Glebe Report

Re: “Error about Glebe history,” Letter to the editor by Barbara Popel, Glebe Report, December 2023.

Re: “Glebe safety an increasing concern,” by Roger Smith, Glebe Report, December 2023.

Just a note to thank Barbara Popel for pointing out that I had mislabelled a small part of the Glebe west of Bronson as undeveloped on my map of the war dead from the First World War and Second World War. Though it was undeveloped in the First World War, parts of it were indeed developed by the start of the Second. My apologies. I will correct this along with adding a dozen new names that I have discovered since it was published. To be clear though, this does not change the story and purpose of the map as there are no records of any families from this area having lost a son, daughter or husband in either war. My goal was to express the extraordinary damage to our community during the war years – something which, over time, has been forgotten.

I believe Mrs. [Rebecca] McKeen rightfully points out what many Glebites feel and she should be commended for her views and sharp analysis. I think the Glebe is a victim of its own image. The neighbourhood is indeed seen as safe, peopled with affluent and generous souls, relatively devoid of visible police presence. Homeless individuals feel safer here and are seldom confronted by other beggars, drug addicts or violent mental illness sufferers − a much more frequent occurrence downtown. The result, unfortunately, is more frequent discomfort for Glebe residents. The number of incidents will only increase as our society unsuccessfully copes with rising addiction, homelessness and costs of basic necessities.

Re: “Insulating your foundation to meet new energy standards,” by Charles Zave, Glebe Report, December 2023.

Dave O’Malley Author, “Neighbourhood of Sacrifice,” Glebe Report, November 2023.

Jean Roberge

Restaurateur blasts City for $100 parking tickets

Snow clearing operators may dump snow carelessly

Editor, Glebe Report

Editor, Glebe Report The snow has arrived, and with it the annual problem of snowbanks on streets in the Glebe. We live across from driveways that are cleared by snow removal operators, and as often as not, they dump the snow on our side of the street, which also happens to be where the parking spots are. This morning when our building contractor came to replace our thirdfloor windows, the team couldn’t find a spot to put their truck because the snowbanks flowed right into the street. We know it was the operator, because the driveway of the house on the west side hadn’t been cleared, and the driveway on the east side is shovelled by hand. There’s more snow on the way. Unless the City clears the snowbanks, we will have to wait until spring to get our windows installed – all because of the careless disregard of the snow removal operators! Peg Duncan

Enough is enough! Law Enforcement is going around handing out $100 tickets all day long today [January 10, the day of a winter parking ban] as late as 6 p.m. on Powell Avenue. I asked her why, and the response was “the ban is on until 7 p.m. and everyone should know that!” Well, I did not. Her response to this was, “It’s on Facebook and all the social media.” Again, I don’t follow or look at social media ever! This ban is on all Ottawa streets! There is not one single snow-clearing machine in the Glebe. Could the Glebe BIA find out where everyone should park and pass it on to the businesses that have been empty in the last few days? Would you come back to the Glebe if you found a $100 ticket on your car? We live in Ottawa. This was the first winter day. When will the city’s stupidity stop! I think this topic has come up for years in the BIA but nothing has changed. It is only the 10th of January and lots to look forward to!

Your recent article by Charles Zave was excellent – clear, concise, comprehensive and appears to have been written with the non-expert homeowner in mind. Moreover, I always enjoy his writing style – without looking at the byline, I was sure he was the author. Our century-old home on Old Sunset Boulevard has a rubble foundation that a couple of years ago needed major repairs as well as insulation to prevent water leaking in in several places. We chose him to do our foundation repairs and insulation on the basis of his articles in the Glebe Report. We were totally satisfied with the work and have recommended him to our neighbours. We would never have found his company except for reading his articles in the Glebe Report. I thought you might be interested in the major impact some Glebe Report articles have had. Barb Popel

Whole Foods disappoints on discount Editor, Glebe Report Whole Foods Lansdowne (WFL) has been a great addition to the Glebe! It is disappointing, however, that WFL does not give customers the same 10-cent discount for bringing your own bag at its (relatively) new self-checkout, like it does at the register. I have raised this issue with management twice over the last month but have yet to see any changes. While 10 cents may not seem like much per customer, when one considers the number of transactions that WFL does each day, it adds up! Perhaps other customers may feel, like I do, that this hidden charge is not consistent with the level of transparency, sustainability or customer service that I have come to expect from WFL. Matt Steyer

Caren von Merveldt Owner, Von’s and Flippers

Wanted! Spare Area Captain The Glebe Report is grateful to the dedicated team of area captains who deliver bundles of the Glebe Report to our carriers. A spare is needed to fill in when one of them is unavailable. If you have a car and can spare up to 1.5 hours on an ad-hoc basis, we would love to hear from you! Please send an email to circulation@glebereport.ca for more information.

First of all, I’m a huge fan of our Glebe Report and also a volunteer carrier. I applaud the work that goes into keeping this community paper going strong, and the value it brings to our neighbourhood. Thank you for all that you do! I’m writing about some of the language choices in the front-page article from the December 8 edition. As a public health professional, and someone who has worked throughout my career to better understand stigma, equity, addiction and the factors influencing population health outcomes, I would like to recommend some resources to support inclusive language. For example, the phrase used in the fourth paragraph, “more homeless people, many with drug addictions and mental health problems” immediately conjures quite the image and is stigmatizing language. Instead, consider using “people who are experiencing homelessness” or “people who are currently without housing.” Instead of “many with drug addictions,” consider “people with a drug addiction” – after all, we are talking about people and members of our society. “Mental health problems” (who doesn’t have mental health to work on these days?) could be rephrased as “poor mental health.” Addiction is a complicated public health challenge, as are the solutions to help address root causes and recovery. And community safety as outlined in the article is extremely important. Even with the complicated nature of the topics covered in this article, it seems appropriate to try and avoid stigmatizing language in our local paper. Janis Ellis-Claypool

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6 Glebe Report February 9, 2024

LANSDOWNE

GCA appeals Lansdowne 2.0 By Carolyn Mackenzie The Glebe Community Association (GCA) has launched an appeal of City Council’s decision last November to move forward with the $419-million-plus redevelopment proposal referred to as Lansdowne 2.0. Last November, Council approved amendments to both the City’s brandnew Official Plan as well as the zoning bylaw to allow the project to proceed. The appeal is expected to be heard by Ontario’s Land Tribunal in the coming months. The appeal will focus on the significant loss of greenspace because of the proposal to put the new arena in the green park area, rather than, say, rebuilding it where it is today. It will also focus on the scale of the two proposed towers. It’s important to understand that Ottawa actually does have policies acknowledging that as the city grows, we need to ensure it is “livable” for residents. Some of this policy sets out how much greenspace is to be provided for residents. By the city’s own account, the inner urban area is already underserved in terms of greenspace. Lansdowne 2.0 plans to add upwards of 1,500 new residents to the site. In addition, the number of residents will increase even more due to the continuing intensification of the Glebe and the inner urban area more generally, according to the City’s Official Plan. Has the City made the case for how reducing greenspace at Lansdowne while adding residents makes good planning sense or conforms with its

Emphasizing the need for a transparent and communityfocused plan, the appeal aims to ensure Lansdowne’s future success and garner support for a stronger case. own newly minted Official Plan? Arguably, no. The appeal also asks if permitting two very tall towers (up to 40 storeys) to loom over the Aberdeen Pavilion, the Square and very popular patio areas makes good planning sense. The City’s own Urban Design Review Panel (UDRP) made some pointed comments about how the towers were likely to put the success of this public gathering space at risk. While the City seemed to listen to the UDRP’s clear recommendations to remove the third tall tower in the original proposal, it appears to have ignored recommendations that the remaining two towers should be more appropriately scaled. After all, a key objective of the redevelopment proposal is to attract another million visitors annually. It’s critical that the redevelopment focus on ensuring that Lansdowne is an attractive place for people to gather and stay, to work and play. This is not an attempt by the community to block additional housing onsite; rather, it’s to seek improvements to a plan that

The Glebe Community Association’s appeal of the city’s Lansdowne 2.0 decision will shed light on planning issues largely ignored in Council discussions, including the loss of greenspace. PHOTO: LIZ MCKEEN

puts the future success of Lansdowne at risk. Neither of these issues garnered much attention during Council discussions last fall. This is perhaps not surprising. After all, the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) proposed Lansdowne 2.0 to address financial failures every year since Lansdowne was redeveloped in 2014. OSEG is focused on getting a new deal with the City and with taxpayers. With so much focus on the contentious financials, which is made more difficult by a lack of transparency, little room was left for discussion of these actual planning amendments. But their approval will have long term implications for the community and the city as a whole. That is a real shame, but again, not surprising, given that Council was being asked to vet such a complex deal as well as these amendments over the course of just a few days.

Filing an appeal with the Ontario Land Tribunal provides an independent assessment by a quasi-judicial body of whether the proposed amendments to allow Lansdowne 2.0 to go forward are justified. It should allow for a real discussion of these issues, governed only by policies set out by our provincial government and those put in place by our own City Council, not by short-term political interests or the interests of the private sector partners involved. In the coming weeks, the Glebe Community Association will be advancing the appeal. The GCA will look to this community and others – the project has impacts on the entire city – and we look forward to your feedback and support to make the strongest case possible. Carolyn Mackenzie is chair of the GCA Planning Committee.

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Glebe Report February 9, 2024 7

OPINION

No leg left to stand on Urban planning in Ottawa By Douglas Parker Ottawa City Council and their mandarins have a habit of shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to urban planning in Ottawa.

New Civic Hospital campus

The first shot in the foot was the expropriation of land to construct a new hospital on the Central Experimental Farm, a national heritage site. This was a Harper/Poilievre/ Baird decision. Like good public servants, Agriculture Canada rolled over and gave up the land without a whimper. After all, who can complain about building a hospital? It could have been built somewhere less historic, less congested and more suitable for public transit, but nobody was brave enough to stand up to the three amigos. The Friends of the Farm was one of the lone voices of opposition. You might want to make a visit to the historic hedge collection before the hospital swallows it up. Stay tuned for the congestion where Carling, Preston and Queen Elizabeth Drive meet at Dow’s Lake, along with the new hospital, ambulances, police cars and the tallest apartment building in the city. What a mess.

Rapid transit

A shot in the other foot was the rapid transit system. What an embarrassment. Watson [former mayor Jim Watson] and company obviously did not see Fritz Lang’s Metropolis or travel to Europe to see elevated trains in other cities. There could have been a line right down the Queensway, up high, from Orleans to Kanata. No worry about freezing rain and blizzards. And all those idling commuters below could look up and weep. And you could run lines off it – no expropriations, no clearing trees, no sinkholes, no new ugliness, no falling concrete. Mayors and councils of the past lacked vision. New diesel trains – excuse me, what year is it? We are incapable of building electric trains in Canada?

Lansdowne

But Ottawa was in for more. The Sports and Entertainment Gods have spoken again after Lansdowne 1.0. Public land will again be given to private interests for more consumerism and sports. With promises of a “unique” shopping experience in Lansdowne 1.0, we got Winners, Rexall, LCBO, TD Bank and Good Life Fitness. Public land was used for that? Lansdowne may be the place to go for socks and chicken wings but there is nothing unique there. Lansdowne 1.0 was a sellout – Lansdowne 2.0 is no different. It is déjà vu all over again. The city planners have bowed to interests that are no longer relevant – malls, consumerism and sports. It seems that Ottawa would pave over graveyards if it would lead to more sports and shopping. From reports of impending doom, it might be better to invest in foodbanks, homeless shelters and tree planting rather than football and hockey. The architect John Leaning had a very good plan for Lansdowne well before this fiasco. However, there is no winning when

you get in the way of the sports and entertainment gods. Lansdowne has an excellent little arena for hockey, convertible for concerts and trade fairs. The roof leaks but so does mine. Good thing councils like Ottawa were not around in the days of the Parthenon. It is always better to renovate than to destroy under the present economic conditions. TD Place is good enough for the 67s and the new Women’s Professional Hockey League, sports that most citizens might still afford. With environmental uncertainties, would it not be better to use the land for our citizens to walk, have picnics, play ball, breathe? Plant mini forests on every available space. Turn it into an inner-city oasis for all, like the Experimental Farm and Arboretum have become, both of which are under threat from the mega builders. We need spaces that are free for all our citizens. No measurable revenue there but it is better than losing millions of tax dollars on antiquated ideas in an uncertain world.

Lansdowne is the home of a number of professional sports. PHOTO: LIZ MCKEEN

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High rises

How high can a building go? Builders usually propose an unreasonable number of floors for their buildings, never expecting it to be approved. The council negotiates less height, giving the citizenry a feeling that they have had a say in the process. The municipal mandarins, the planners, the lawyers and the land grabbers are satisfied and the citizens are not. The future looks bleak with the two new towers to be built across from the Experimental Farm. The shade cast by the structures will make it impossible for plants to grow thus negating agricultural research, more important than high-end housing. And what about the shadow cast by the planned towers in Lansdowne? Is your access to natural light about to disappear? What about the microclimate – how will it affect the winds, the water table, sound and light pollution and bird migration? Has anyone done an environmental assessment of the proposed plans?

The future

Keep up the fight, citizens. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Remove these clowns and get representation from councillors who want more than sports and buying stuff for our future. Menard and MPP Harden should be more vocal, more militant. Sometimes it is better to do nothing with public land until somebody with real vision comes along. This council and this provincial government don’t have it. The planet is on fire and we are still building monuments to sports, high-end housing and consumerism? In the meantime, get ready Glebe and Old Ottawa South for the backhoes, cranes, rock slingers, traffic cones, roadblocks, detours and cement mixers coming to your neighbourhood for up to 10 years. In the immortal words of Cat Stevens, “Where will the children play?”

Douglas Parker was a long-time former Glebe resident with a keen interest in the well-being of the neighbourhood.

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8 Glebe Report February 9, 2024

ABBOTSFORD

Keeping fit, keeping busy at Abbotsford Seniors Centre By Pat Goyeche

Abbotsford hosted a Seniors Active Living Fair on January 5, funded by the provincial government through the Older Adult Centres’ Association of Ontario network. MPP Joel Harden and Glebe Centre’s executive director Emma Tibbo offered words of welcome to the participants and a letter was read from Raymond Cho, Minister of Seniors and Accessibility. Some 210 people took part in free activities throughout the day: fitness classes, hearing tests, watercolour painting, needle-felting art, a talk about alerting seniors to frauds and scams, and another talk about the benefits of exercise as we age with Heartwise instructor, Lisa Guadamuz. Participants enjoyed a tasty lasagna and Caesar salad lunch prepared by the Glebe Centre food services. In the afternoon, we held a trade fair with many businesses and organizations that serve seniors and are invested in keeping seniors living in the community. The entire event was skillfully planned and led by program facilitator Kirsten O’Brien. It was a delightfully successful event that showcased many of Abbotsford’s activities and services. What a great way to start 2024! Abbotsford is in full swing now with a roster of Wednesday afternoon lectures, different levels and types of fitness regimes, yoga, Zumba Gold, Tai Chi and dance classes, as well as art, pottery, bridge, Mahjong, memoir-writing, play-reading, poetry, piano, ukulele, snooker/pool, ping pong, Spanish and French classes and various clubs. There is also ample music and entertainment as members get together to jam and sing at the Hootenannies! Abbotsford has a lot on offer for members, all at affordable prices. Your $50 annual membership fee, due in January each year, gives you access to these classes and clubs, discounts in the neighbourhood and free initiatives such as weekly dance/ballet classes over video from Canada’s National Ballet and monthly bingo sponsored by the Jack Uppal Team at Royal LePage.

Membership also gives you access to services such as our footcare clinic, massage therapy and acupuncture. Membership has many perks, not the least of which is access to a community of other folks (members, volunteers and staff) who enjoy camaraderie and come together to make Abbotsford a warm, welcoming and supportive environment for everyone. Looking for a gift item, a greeting card, puzzles, women’s gently used clothing, jewellery or books? Look no further! Abbotsford is a not-for-profit centre with programs and services that are not fully funded. We rely on sales of donated items to help balance our budget. You can find these reasonably priced items in our Atrium and nearly new shop throughout the year on regular business days. Drop by (950 Bank Street, the old stone house) and get a sense of what we might have on offer for you, whether that be items for sale or programming. Abbotsford is part of your community.

Abbotsford Seniors Centre is for adults 55+. It houses the community programs of The Glebe Centre Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization that includes a 254-bed long-term care home. Find out more about our services by telephoning 613-230-5730 during regular business hours or by checking out all of The Glebe Centre facilities and community programs on our website www.glebecentre.ca. See Abbotsford Seniors Centre’s drop-down menu for a comprehensive overview of our services and our current program guide. Pat Goyeche is coordinator of community programs at Abbotsford at The Glebe Centre.

Instructor Lisa Guadamuz with some of her keen participants PHOTO: PAT GOYECHE

Glebe Report February 9, 2024 9

GNAG

Sarah Routliffe

GNAG Executive Director N 613-233-8713 E info@gnag.ca gnag.ca

GNAG celebrates change! Embracing change becomes a natural part of ushering in a new year! From a programming standpoint, we’ve observed notable shifts in the last year. Activities like pottery have become wildly popular, leading to extensive waitlists. There’s a growing demand for one-time specialty workshops like Amy Longard’s vegan cooking courses. Children’s specialty courses are a huge hit. Embracing and celebrating change has become a guiding principle for the GNAG team – trying new things to meet the evolving needs of the community and our full-time staff. We remain committed to providing innovative and engaging programs that resonate with you. Here’s to a year of continued growth, adaptation and exciting new experiences!

Strategic plan 2023- 2026

As part of the GNAG board’s mandate in 2023, creating a roadmap for the organization’s future was top of the list. Through an insightful strategic planning session, guided by the expertise of Brenda Kirkwood and the local executive recruitment firm Keynote Search Ottawa, we’ve created a vision to grow and thrive, aligning with three key priorities that will shape our path forward: Financial stability and accountability Refining organizational structure for improved service delivery Enhancing community-centric programming We believe in the power of community collaboration. In the spring, we will be launching surveys and automatic feedback emails after program sessions. By taking a few moments to respond to our surveys and feedback emails, you’re actively shaping the future of our programming.

Taste in the Glebe

Taste in the Glebe brings together culinary artists from local restaurants for an evening of small plates and refreshments in support of GNAG and our community projects in the Glebe. The outpouring of support for Taste this January made it one of our most successful fundraisers of the year. Funds from this event go into our Community Development Fund to support the Integration Program, Financial Assistance and future community projects. A big thank you to Rebecca McKeen and McKeen Metro for their generous sponsorship of the event! Their contribution not only made the occasion more environmentally friendly but also supported the dish rental expenses, allowing us to avoid disposable items. Your commitment to sustainability is truly appreciated. The Lyne and Dominique Team at Engel & Volkers generously sponsored the photo booth – thanks for capturing a truly unforgettable evening. From all of us at GNAG, thank you to every restaurant and beverage company in attendance, to every volunteer, to the team and to everyone in the community who bought tickets and came out. None of this would have been possible without the 2024 organizing committee: our chair Tahera Mufti, Nicole Allen (beverages), Sheri Segal Glick and staff members Clare Davidson Rogers and I – we made it a night to remember! Honourable mention to some of the newcomers to Taste this year — Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine, Le Poisson Blue and Haven’s Creamery!

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Taste in the Glebe took place January 31 at the Glebe Community Centre. From left, attendee Joudel Janoska, chair of Taste in the Glebe Tahera Mufti, mayor Mark Sutcliffe and GNAG executive director Sarah Routliffe. PHOTO: GNAG

the BIA! Grab your skates, bundle up and join us for an old-fashioned skating party, featuring loads of prizes and surprises. This year’s rink was supported by a generous donation from the office of Councillor Shawn Menard. Mutchmor Rink opened on January 14 – a big thanks to the tireless efforts of Peter Wightman, the rink crew and the volunteers for keeping our skates gliding smoothly!

will span six weeks later this spring. There will be some disruptions to our regular programming after the Victoria Day long weekend, but we are getting creative and can’t wait to show everyone what we come up with! Please continue to support GNAG and register for programs during this time! If you have any ideas for programming or want to teach a class with us, please email info@gnag.ca.

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The Glebe Community Association (GCA) has occasionally criticized the City of Ottawa for how long it takes to deal with concerns raised by residents. To be fair, it’s a large city and there are a lot of concerns. So, it’s worth acknowledging the response we received on our December 12 letter to the mayor on reports from community members and business owners about needles in public places like parks, parking garages and sidewalks. Co-signed by the Glebe Business Association (BIA) and Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group (GNAG), the letter pointed out that the needle issue is a symptom of a cityand nation-wide substance abuse crisis. The mayor’s office forwarded the letter to Ottawa Public Health, and we received a detailed response on December 21 as the holiday break closed in, a rapid turnaround that was much appreciated. The OPH letter stated that the city bylaw department is supposed to respond within two hours to calls (to 311) to pick up needles on public property. OPH listed several measures being taken with community partners to address the problem, including the Needle Hunters program that “sweeps public property for improperly discarded needles in neighbourhoods that have demonstrated a need” and 80 needle drop boxes located around the city. As well, by this spring, “discarded needles kits will be available to residents and business owners who would like support with needle retrieval.” The letter said OPH “reviewed the reported data for the Glebe community and the numbers are low. We are seeing less than 10 discarded needles reported from this neighbourhood over the last few years.” For this reason, “the Glebe does not have existing needle hunter routes, nor are there any needle drop boxes currently located in this community.” The drop box at the Fire Station on Fifth Avenue was removed this past September “due to low usage.” The nearest needle drop boxes are at the Social Service Hub at 370 Catherine Street and Centre 507 at 507 Bank Street. While there is still work to do on this issue, we now know where we stand. In the spring the GCA, BIA and GNAG will work together to provide training and information for the community on this issue. We also received responses to our joint letter to the federal Minister of Immigration Marc Miller and Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Sean Fraser supporting the Alliance to End Homelessness campaign’s call for an additional $30 million to provide

additional shelters in the city. Miller wrote to outline the work the federal government has done to support housing in provinces and cities and to provide proper housing for newcomers. He pointed out that housing is primarily a provincial responsibility and that the Ontario government’s last budget forecast “a surplus of $4.4 billion by 2025-26.” The minister “strongly encourages [the GCA] to engage with the Province of Ontario and ensure that they, too, are willing to help meet the needs of the Region. Janet Goulding, an assistant deputy minister at Infrastructure Canada, wrote to say Ottawa has been allocated approximately $104 million in funding from 2019-20 to 2023-24. This funding includes about $4 million in support “to help communities respond to urgent needs – particularly associated with rises in unsheltered homelessness, including encampments – and to bolster local supports and services for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness this winter.” The responses did not address the request for additional immediate emergency support. The GCA will continue to work with the city and partners on this important issue.

Lansdowne zoning appeal

When City Council decided to move forward with Lansdowne 2.0 last November, it approved both the rezoning of parts of Lansdowne and an official plan amendment for the site. Land use planning in Ontario is subject to provincial oversight. The GCA believes that the City’s planning applications were flawed, and we have launched an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal. To be clear, the GCA is not opposing Lansdowne 2.0 in its entirety. We recognize that the sports facilities need to be replaced at some point, and we support residential housing on these public lands. Indeed, we advocated for affordable, and deeply affordable, housing to be included on site. However, this project does not represent good planning. It has been driven by a financial model and not by professional planning practices. We are also concerned that the loss of a significant amount of green and recreational space violates several provincial and municipal policies related to healthy, liveable communities as well as environmental protection and climate action. The Glebe and central Ottawa have a deficit of green space compared to City targets and adding more residents while taking away green and recreational space contradicts good planning practices. The GCA is supported by the Old Ottawa South and Old Ottawa East community associations in this effort and will soon be launching a fundraising campaign to cover the costs of the appeal. The next GCA Board meeting is Tuesday, February 27 at the Glebe Community Centre.

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Glebe Report February 9, 2024 11

COUNCILLOR'S REPORT

Shawn Menard

Councillor, Capital Ward N 613-580-2487 www.shawnmenard.ca

New year at City Hall brings new opportunities Happy February. This is my first councillor update of the new year, and I hope 2024 is off to a good start for all of you. At City Hall, the final months of 2023 saw some big issues come before council, including the Lansdowne 2.0 proposal and the city budget; with the new year comes a time for a fresh look at what we want for our city. The coming months (and years!) will see us dig into a number of important matters that have the potential to improve life in our community and across the city. My team and I have been preparing for many of the issues that will rise to council throughout the year. From transit planning to affordable housing to environmental stewardship, there is much work to be done in this city to improve quality of life for residents, which has been our number one goal.

Transportation planning in the Glebe and across the city

Over the next couple of years, there will be some important decisions made about transportation. The city will be embarking on updating Part 2 of Ottawa’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP). Last spring, council approved Part 1 of the new TMP which focused on active transportation and transit, as well as creating a framework for prioritizing road projects. Part 2 will look at the road network for vehicles, the Capital Infrastructure Plan (where we spend our money) and the city’s origin-destination study (looking at where people start and finish their travel). Part 1 of the new TMP was a significant step forward for the city, moving away from an antiquated transportation planning mentality that didn’t capture the importance of transit and active transportation, establishing a number of important projects for Capital Ward and for the city to help us move around better. Part 2 will be equally important. We need to interrogate projects like the Alta Vista Transportation

Corridor which would add a fourlane road through greenspace and parks, increase congestion and harm our environment. We need to prepare for upcoming consultations that are expected in the fall. In addition, we will be hosting public consultations on ward-specific transportation issues like the re-design of Bronson Avenue, to help inform Part 2 of the new TMP. To keep informed of these engagement opportunities, you can subscribe to our newsletter, The Capital Ward Bulletin. Please email us at CapitalWard@ottawa.ca.

Bank Street Study

The city is also undertaking a transportation study for the Glebe. The Bank Street Active Transportation and Transit Feasibility Study is starting and will look at how we can help people share the space that exists and move safely in and through the Glebe. I think we all know that the current situation on Bank is untenable, with the street getting clogged, slowing transit and traffic on many evenings and weekends. With the potential re-redevelopment of Lansdowne, things could get even worse, if the city doesn’t take a serious look at how we get around. Work has already begun on this project. Stakeholder meetings are being held and public consultations are being planned for the spring and fall. Our office began our own consultations on Bank Street transportation, focusing on people coming to the many shops and attractions and finding out what needs they have. This survey was completed recently, and we will be releasing a report in the coming months. The intention of the city’s study is to come up with an active transportation pilot project for the Glebe. It is our hope that this pilot project can be implemented in summer 2025. Sharing space for all modes of transportation has been shown over and over again in cities across Canada, North America and the world to enliven communities and bring more customers to local businesses. In Capital Ward, we have seen what a success the Bank Street Bridge and Main Street have been. Residents have benefited from the new safe infrastructure. Together, we can make Bank Street safer and better for everyone. I am excited to see what we can do.

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Shawn Menard is City Councillor for Capital Ward. He can be reached at CapitalWard@ottawa.ca.

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12 Glebe Report February 9, 2024

PROFILE

The Storied life of Brian Cox By Steve Zan Some people found a straight career path right out of school. Others perhaps bounced along from one thing to another. Still others started in one place and made some major pivots along the way based on what they learned in previous phases. Brian Cox falls in the latter category. I sat down with him and his golden retriever, Geneva, last month to learn about his varied and interesting career as well as how Geneva earned such an unusual name. Cox grew up in Oklahoma and joined the U.S. Army after high school, eventually serving in an airborne regiment. He left active duty in 1999. Not wanting to give up the airborne aspects, he remained in the reserves. At a local college, he trained as a combat camera operator, whose role is to document the actions of active U.S. soldiers conducting missions. Cox was assigned to serve on the U.S.-led mission into Iraq in 2003-4. He was there to witness firsthand the fall of Saddam and collapse of the Iraqi state. Beyond simply operating a camera as a documentation tool, his trained eye made him a focused observer of a country re-forming after a collapse. He began to record the rebuilding of a new Iraq with Sunnis, Shias and Kurds trying to work together. Cox realized that the structure, effectiveness and power of a functioning legal system was something he and most of us take for granted. The idea of becoming a lawyer took root. Cox was accepted into law school at the University of North Carolina in 2007, initially setting his sights on corporate law. During the two summers

between terms of school, he worked for a large corporate law firm in Atlanta and spent the other summer working in the Judge Advocate General (JAG), the legal branch of the U.S. Army. In Atlanta, he found himself as a small gear in a large machine with no work/life balance, whereas in the JAG office he found himself “in a collegial atmosphere working with real responsibility.” When he finished law school Cox made up his mind to work for the JAG and returned to active duty as a military lawyer. He spent seven fruitful and challenging years practising international law in the JAG, including another deployment, this time to Afghanistan. During those years, he also met a Canadian woman who was serving in our JAG, and there was more to their meeting than a legal connection and a mutual interest in international law. As their relationship grew, Brian and Katherine tried to find postings that would allow them to live near each other, but on opposite sides of the U.S.-Canada border. In 2018, the relationship was ready for a full commitment, so Cox left the military and moved to Canada, convinced he wanted to apply his experience and learning to the next phase of his career. He’s now a permanent resident. He saw the next phase of his career as an instructor and wanted to pursue teaching where he could leverage his military background and experience in the classroom, lecturing on rules of engagement. He turned his efforts to teaching international law and the use of force. A chance opportunity led him to teach this course at Cornell Law School while enrolled in a Master of Law degree at Queen’s University in Kingston, where

Brian Cox, here with his dog Geneva, has followed an unusual career path, a winding road that led to the Glebe.

he is now a visiting scholar. Cox has expanded his teaching repertoire to include international law – use of force at the Patterson School of International Affairs at Carleton, and courses in law and ethics of armed conflict, and in comparative military justice. Teaching graduate school often inspires research and he has now nearly completed his Doctor of Juridical Science at Cornell. His dissertation is centred on the interaction of the Law of Armed Conflict and of International Human Rights Law. In Cox’s view, there is plenty of discussion on how these principles could and should interact, but little agreement on how they do. His dissertation arguments try to bring fidelity to how these bodies of law work together. Recent and current global conflicts including Afghanistan, northern Syria,

Ukraine and the Middle East provide ample frameworks for him to apply his approach. He’s also mentoring a thirdyear law student at Dalhousie University who is in Ukraine helping train locals to gather evidence of war crimes and prosecute same. In 2021, he and Kat were ready to leave Kingston with their two young sons and return to the Glebe. Kat had grown up on Fifth Avenue, the daughter of Madeleine Aubry and the late John Horvath. They found a home on Third Avenue and enrolled the boys at Mutchmor Public School. And Geneva? Turns out she is named after the Geneva Convention; international humanitarian laws close to the hearts of both Brian and Kat. Steve Zan is a Glebe resident and mostly retired aeronautical engineer.

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Glebe Report February 9, 2024 13

RINKS

Glebe Memorial Rink is having a good season By Dudleigh Coyle Glebe Memorial is one of more than 240 rinks that comprise the City of Ottawa’s Outdoor Rink Program. We had a slow start this year, but Mother Nature eventually cooperated and we were up and running on January 18. I guess we are going to have to get used to different types of winters and just be ready with hoses and shovels. As always, our rink at the end of Glendale Avenue is being well used. The ice is available for everyone at any time. You are welcome to change into your skates using our rink-side tables and benches. The warming shack is open

when the supervisors are on duty weekdays from 4 to 9:30 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 5 p.m. Community volunteers have kept Glebe Memorial going for well over 40 years. Currently we have 20 adult volunteers who work evenings and seven paid teenage supervisors who work after school and on weekend shifts. I reckon that during the past 40-odd years there have been over 90 parent volunteers – some, like me, are grandparents now. We may not be as quick on shovelling duty but our experience with flooding is second to none. Over the years, some 110 students have had the best winter job ever: getting paid to supervise and play endless hours of shinny. At Glebe Memorial everybody is welcome, and everybody skates – that’s actually our number one rule. So, if you bring a youngster who is learning to skate, you can expect the big kids to show them to the smaller rink surface

Glebe Memorial Rink, at the western end of Glendale Avenue, is kept open by an army of community volunteers. Shinny games are popular, but there’s also a smaller rink for the young learners. JENNIFER SHAW

or include them in the shinny game. We’re proud of our boardless rink that allows little ones to skate across the surface and over the snowbanks to play for a while or plop down for a quick break. Pucks find their way into the snow in the park and emerge in the spring, sometimes as many as 60, kind of like Easter eggs that have been expertly hidden. We’re now on Instagram: follow glendalerink. Special note for parents in the north

end of the Glebe: we’d love to include you in our volunteer supervising group known fondly as the Glebe Rink Rats. The job is not onerous. Adult volunteer supervisors do one shift a month from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Be in touch with me (dudleighcoyle@gmail.com). and I will explain. Kids love having their parents on the team. Dudleigh Coyle has volunteered as the Chief Rink Rat at Glebe Memorial for almost 40 years.

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14 Glebe Report February 9, 2024

PROFILE

Leave winter outside Thirteen-year-old Liam, a Glashan Grade 7 student, has a side hustle selling delicious cakes. PHOTOS: TANYA LARY

By Tanya Lary

This year, enjoy winter at Villagia in The Glebe

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L i a m A l e j a n d ro Ramirez, a Grade 7 student at Glashan, is an active teenager, with the same interests as many 13-year-olds. He swims, skis, plays soccer, goes to the gym and plays guitar and piano. But Liam has a unique sideline – he runs a small business baking and selling cakes. These are truly delicious cakes – three layers, with excellent butter cream icing. (For the sake of transparency, I should admit that I am not an impartial observer; I am a loyal customer and think Liam’s cakes are among the best I have bought in the Glebe, rivalled only by the carrot cake from the much-missed Second Avenue Sweets.) Liam lives in the north end of the Glebe with his family, including his brother Sebastian, and his dog, Sunny. He started baking in Grade 1 under the tutelage of his grandmother. This foundation was strengthened by various cooking classes and camps at the Glebe Community Centre since Grade 2, guided by the skilled and supportive cooking instructor Tanis Hodder. The COVID pandemic and stay-athome orders brought a new enthusiasm to his hobby. “I was bored, really bored,” says Liam, “and I started baking cakes because it was a new challenge.” After initial tests on his supportive family, Liam began sharing his cakes

with friends. One of his friends’ family said it was so good that they would like to buy one. “His grandpa really likes it,” explains Liam, “and every time he visits, he buys one.” When asked who supplies the ingredients, Liam replied, “umm…ahhh…my mom. I do offer her money, but she doesn’t take it.” Liam expands his repertoire for special occasions. He made $170 at last year’s Great Glebe Garage Sale by selling a wide variety of baked goods. Liam’s motivation is straightforward: “I enjoy baking, and I love the taste of it.” When pressed, he elaborates: “I like when it’s done. I get to eat it, or have money, or feel good about giving it to someone.” He thinks he’ll continue baking when he grows up but as a hobby, not a profession. One of his most enthusiastic and least demanding fans is his dog, Sunny. “Sunny doesn’t really have an opinion about which is the best cake, but he stands close hoping I will give him some.” Liam offers three types of cake: vanilla with chocolate frosting; chocolate with raspberry filling and chocolate frosting; and chocolate with chocolate frosting. (The chocolate raspberry is amazing). Orders can be made at liam. glebecakes@gmail.com. Tanya Lary is a neighbour and a fan of fabulous cakes.

Glebe Report February 9, 2024 15

ENVIRONMENT

Investing in local renewable energy brings benefits By Cecile Wilson [Atmospheric CO2 at Mauna Loa, Hawaii on 21st January 2024: 422.77] Does your investment finance the climate crisis? It’s RRSP season. If you are lucky enough to have an investment portfolio, it is likely the biggest source of your greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. That’s because Canadian investment instruments are often heavily weighted with fossil fuel companies and banks. This is true even for some funds that are marketed as “sustainable.” For example, one North American “sustainable equity fund” counts RBC and JP Morgan Chase among its top 10 holdings. Both banks claim top spots in the Banking on Climate Chaos 2023 report. RBC provided the most funding in the world for fossil fuel companies in 2022 – approximately U.S. $41 billion in 2022 and U.S. $252.5 billion in total since 2016. JP Morgan Chase placed second in 2022 but was number for total financing since 2016 at U.S. $434 billion. What options do you have to invest in a truly green RRSP? A few years ago, I learned of a local alternative and – full disclosure – have since become an investor in the Ottawa Renewable Energy Co-operative (OREC). “By investing in OREC,” says its general manager, Marion Siekierski, “one can actively contribute to and benefit from the energy transition and be certain that the investment supports clean electricity.” Since 2012, OREC has been offering people in eastern Ontario a real alternative for climate-friendly investing. Sierkierski explains: “The co-op currently manages 27 community-funded renewable energy projects: 22 solar and three energy efficiency projects in and around Ottawa as well as two wind turbines near Lake Huron. Together, these projects avoid three metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per day.” And just in time for RRSP season, OREC is raising capital for a new project. How does OREC work? Siekierski explains that OREC works with local partners, such as school boards, museums and housing cooperatives, to host solar projects. “The electricity generated by

those projects is sold either to the electrical grid or to the local partner directly,” she says. “The resulting revenue is then distributed in the form of dividends or interest to OREC’s investors.” Anyone living in Eastern Ontario or near OREC projects in southern Ontario can join the co-op for $100, a prerequisite to investing. Money for projects is raised by selling preference shares, which are RRSP and TFSA eligible. Initial registered investments require a minimum of $5,000, but subsequent investments can be as little as $500. OREC has just lowered the minimum for non-registered investments to $500 to make the opportunity available to a wider audience. Last year’s dividend paid a competitive four per cent. OREC investors, Siekierski says, are investing in the whole portfolio, not just a single project. This spreads the risk and lets investors benefit from the complementary wind and solar generation and revenues. Investing in OREC also decreases GHG emissions by a factor of 3.5 compared to investing the same amount of money in solar panels on your roof. This is because OREC projects benefit from economies of scale. Community benefits OREC’s assets are wholly owned by its investors or co-owned with community partners. Besides providing a climate-friendly and non-polluting means of investing in renewable energy, OREC’s projects also keep the money in project communities. By 2021, that amounted to $2.5 million paid to local workers. An additional benefit is that generating power close to where it is consumed is more efficient. It minimizes the electricity loss over long-distance transmission lines, just one of the advantages of what is called Distributed Energy Resources (DER). On average, OREC’s projects generate 11.4 gigawatt hours per year, enough to power more than 1,200 average Ontario households. Siekierski also emphasized the democratic nature of the co-op and the knowledge and experience among its members. All members have an equal say in how the co-op operates, regardless of the amount they have invested. The co-op is now building a knowledge community so members can ask for advice and share knowledge on issues from installing a heat pump to buying

OREC’s solar installation at the Museum of Science and Technology

an electric vehicle. By investing in OREC’s renewable energy projects, you can play a direct role in decreasing GHG emissions, protecting the climate and supporting the local economy, all while saving for retirement! Before investing, consult your financial adviser. For more details on the RRSP offering and other opportunities with OREC,

visit the co-op website at www.orec.ca. Watch for upcoming information sessions and check out their new app, also available on the website. Cecile Wilson invests in OREC and is a resident of the Glebe who is interested in climate change, social justice, sustainability and discourse.

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16 Glebe Report February 9, 2024

ENVIRONMENT

Clear the air – please! By Jennifer Humphries In past articles, I’ve asked those of you who drive gas-powered motor vehicles to cut your engines while parked. Why? To reduce GHG emissions and by doing so: • Contribute to better air quality • Protect everybody’s health • Reduce GHGs that contribute to climate change I also mentioned that you would reduce your fuel consumption and therefore save money. Now, whether you drive or not and whether you drive an EV, hybrid or gas vehicle, I have another request. Please start your “survey-taking engines” and complete the City of Ottawa questionnaire on motor vehicle idling. The city is consulting the public about updating our idling control bylaw. They are acting at the urging of several community associations (including the Glebe Community Association) with the support of Councillor Shawn Menard. Their survey is open until March 15 at Engage.Ottawa.ca. Why should the bylaw be changed, you ask? What good will it do? The current bylaw offers idlers lots of scope to idle. While it may seem stringent, there are numerous loopholes and exemptions. And there is no restriction on the amount of time you can idle if the temperature is below five degrees or above 27 degrees. No restriction at all. Maybe that is why we often see drivers with their vehicles parked and running, windows wide open, tapping on their cell phones for ages, oblivious to the impact they are having on the air on the street. For many, notably the public health and education communities, idling is a concern because it affects air quality, which in turn impacts human health. Children are especially vulnerable to harmful effects from polluted air. And sadly, much of the long-duration idling in our communities takes place right beside schoolyards. It’s not just buses, though they are a particular concern given that their diesel engines emit more CO2 and more nitrogen oxides than gasoline engines. If you wonder why it’s a good idea to reduce the permitted three minutes of idling per hour to one minute and to reduce the temperature

thresholds, take a look at the City’s web page “Reducing Idling in Ottawa.” It explains that one minute is all you need to warm up your car, and offers more tips for a comfortable ride. Community associations are asking the City to prioritize information, education and signage, not enforcement. As we all know, enforcing the existing idling control bylaw has proven challenging. But our view is that a huge number of people idle because they don’t realize what it does to the air we breathe. Or they don’t think it matters much – a drop in the bucket, they may say. But it does matter. Natural Resources Canada states, “if Canadian motorists avoided idling for just three minutes every day of the year, CO2 emissions could be reduced by 1.4 million tonnes annually. This would be equal to saving 630 million litres of fuel and equivalent to taking 320,000 cars off of the road for the entire year.” Remember the ugly blast of truck emissions that our city endured during the 2022 convoy? Remember last summer’s smoke days? Sure, wildfires caused the smoky haze in 2023, but their terribly obvious impact makes it even more critical to take every step, especially the easy ones, to keep our air healthy to breathe. The survey is open until March 15 at engage.ottawa.ca/ idling-control-by-law-review. Jennifer Humphries is a member of the Glebe Community Association’s Environment Committee who believes that cutting the engine when parked is an easy way to clear our air. If you’d like to see the research and recommendations on idling prepared by the Community Associations group, email environment@glebeca.ca. For the Glebe Report article from last September – Drivers cut your engines –, see glebereport.ca/articles/ drivers-cut-your-engines/.

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Glebe Report February 9, 2024 17

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BIRDS th

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The Barred owl By Jeanette Rive Why are we so fascinated by owls? Is it because it has forward facing eyes that make it the only bird that is recognized as having a “face”? Owls have fascinated people for thousands of years. According to Greek mythology, the favourite bird of Athena the Goddess of War was the owl. Aesop wrote fables about owls. Winnie the Pooh’s close friend is Owl. And we can’t forget Hedwig, the female Snowy owl who was Harry Potter’s pet and messenger. In First Nations stories, the owl represents wisdom and intuition, magic and prophecy. Owls are significant to Inuit culture and spirituality and a source of guidance and wisdom. Some Inuit believe the owl shepherds the spirits of the dead to the afterworld. A group of owls is called a parliament, a term that originated from C.S. Lewis’s description of a meeting of owls in The Chronicles of Narnia from the 1950s. The Ottawa area and especially the nearby Fletcher Wildlife Garden are home to several species of owl. How many you can identify depends on how many you are lucky enough to find! Great Grey owls, Great Horned owls, the tiny Northern Saw-whet owl, the Eastern Screech owl and the Barred owl have all been found in Ottawa. The Barred owl is the most commonly seen in the dense woodlots of Fletcher. Many are familiar with the Barred owl’s whooping call: “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you aaaallll.” It is easy to mimic and if you are out at dusk and call out to a Barred owl, it may answer or come to check out who is invading its territory. The Barred owl has among the most varied and complex vocalization used both in a courtship duet and as a defence, sometimes sounding like a raucous, maniacal caterwauling. The French-Canadian nickname for the owl, Le Chat-huant du Nord, the Howling Cat of the North, is inspired by these sounds! Owls are unique in that they can turn their heads a full 270 degrees. An owl has twice as many vertebrae in its neck as we do. To safeguard against blood supply to the brain being cut off or restricted, the carotid arteries run outside the last few neck vertebrae before rejoining the skull just before the veins fan out over the brain. Owl eyes aren’t eyeballs but immobile elongated tubes. Their vision is binocular, just like humans, and they see objects in three dimensions and can judge

The Barred owl, commonly seen at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden, generally mates for life. PHOTO: JEANETTE RIVE

distance. Unlike most owls whose eyes are yellow, Barred owls have brown eyes. Their hearing is extremely sensitive, and they can detect the slightest movement of a tiny mouse at a distance of about 45 metres. This is due to the asymmetrical placement of the ears as well as their feather “facial disk” which helps to direct the sound to the ears. Barred owls hunt mostly at dusk and dawn and spend the rest of the day roosting in trees, although they are one of the more active owls during the day and enjoy the warmth of the winter sun. Native to eastern North America, they are slowly moving westwards where they are considered invasive and a threat to other owls. Their diet consists primarily of small mammals, but they are opportunistic feeders and will prey on birds, amphibians and reptiles. They swallow their prey whole and the indigestible parts such as bones and fur, are formed into pellets which are regurgitated daily – just like the way a cat expels a hairball. Finding an owl pellet is a good indication of a roosting spot and if you dissect it, you can see what its last meals was! They are large owls – adults range from 40 to 65 cm in length with a wingspan between 95 to 125 cm. The female is about 30 per cent larger than the male. Barred owls are territorial and don’t usually migrate. Their preferred habitat is old deciduous mixed forest, such as the woodlots at Fletcher. They mate for life and often return to the same nesting sites each year. A nest can be in a hollowed-out tree, a snag or even an old squirrel nest – no renovation required! A single clutch of one to three white eggs is laid, and the female

incubates them for 28 to 33 days. The chicks leave the nest after four to six weeks but stay close to the nest for up to six months, practising their climbing and flying skills, using their talons and bills to clamber up and down trees. They can fly at about 10 weeks old. Interesting fact: Harriet Tubman, abolitionist and social activist known for helping enslaved people escape on the Underground Railroad, was also an avid naturalist. She used owl calls,

probably a Barred owl call, to signal fugitives that it was safe to come out of hiding. Even though it’s mid-winter, there are many non-migratory birds around. The bright red Northern cardinal is a splendid sight on a snow-covered spruce branch. Make sure to keep your feeders clean and full! Jeanette Rive is a Glebe bird enthusiast and frequent Glebe Report contributor.

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18 Glebe Report February 9, 2024

BABIES

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Glebe Report February 9, 2024 19

FOOD

r a t S l Al By Tim O’Connor It’s a good time for sports. The Super Bowl and the NHL All-Stars are among the highlights on the February calendar, and there’s NBA basketball as well. When I think of sports, I think of nachos. Now, a lot of people say nachos are easy, but if so, how do so many places screw them up so much? There are a lot of bad nachos out there, soggy and over-saturated and beaten down with too much topping. Like even the greatest defensive line, a nacho can only take so much. To do nachos right, let’s start with the pico – not salsa. Salsa is too wet, whereas quick, homemade pico is more respectful of the corny chip. I also pickle the jalapeño, which is easy and develops those flavours. Pico gives your chips a fighting chance. Next, go the store and buy pre-shredded Tex-Mex cheese or nacho cheese mix. Shredding at home is too expensive and the bagged stuff melts perfectly — gooier than cheddar but less gooey than mozzarella. In the pan, your chips should be laid out evenly and not be tripping over one another. Spread them nicely, and don’t layer them. Pan position is as important as field position. Sprinkle your pico evenly over the chips, and then do the same with your cheese — one layer of coverage, just like the tarp they roll out during rain

! s o h c a N

delays in a ball game. You don’t want mounds of cheese. I normally add rôtisserie or leftover chicken or pulled pork or even sausage bits. Don’t overload, just remember you’re trying to get this tiny chip from the tray to your mouth without losing anything. Then add the pickled peppers and black olives, for a salty touch. Use a squeeze bottle to easily spread your sour cream across the cooked chips. My nacho game elevated so much when I bought a one-dollar squeeze bottle – with a criss-cross motion (think of a running back dodging linebackers all the way down field) gets a perfect stream of sour cream over the pan of nachos. Rule one is to not overload. We want the chips to crunch, even when they come out of the oven and you add a bit of guac and do the zig-zag of sour cream. One final note: Don’t go cheap on the chips, and don’t go for big restaurant cuts, because they’re too big. You need a smaller chip that’s still thick enough to hold the weight of delicious toppings. Tim O’Connor was raised in the Glebe and is head chef at Flora Hall Brewing.

Pico 8 Roma tomatoes, diced and seeded 1 red onion, diced 2 tbsp cilantro, chopped 1 jalapeño, diced 1 garlic clove, minced 2 limes, juiced 2 tbsp ketchup Mix ingredients and season with salt and pepper. Let sit for an hour and season again, if necessary.

Pickled jalapeno 1 cup vinegar 3/4 cup water 1 cup sugar 1 tbsp pickling spice 5 jalapeños, sliced Bring all except jalapeños to a boil. Strain liquid over the 5 sliced jalapeños, cover with plastic wrap and let sit for a couple of hours.

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Happy Family Day to all our lovely neighbours! It’s a special day to appreciate the laughter, the games, and the precious moments we share. Whether it's a quick chat by the mailbox or a wave across the yard, let's take a moment to celebrate the family ties and friendships that make our neighbourhood feel like home. Here's Her to more shared dreams and adventures together. Have a fantastic Family Day, everyone! Lyne & Dominique

An independent day school for girls from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12

20 Glebe Report February 9, 2024

BOOKS

Tales worth passing down

of the chief of all the orcas, the chief takes them underwater to teach them the different ways they can fish while respecting nature’s balance. Make sure to check out Cloudwalker and Peace Dancer as well. Ages 6 and up.

By Véronique Dupuis There’s something magical about hearing or reading an old story that has been passed down for generations. Here’s a sample of some that have left an impression on this reader. Swing by the Sunnyside or Main library to pick them up!

Delightfully Different Fairy Tales Imagine Cinderella at a 1930s flapper party, Rapunzel as a David Bowie fan, and Sleeping Beauty as a wannabe engineer who dreams of seeing what cities will look like in the distant future. Find all three tales in this wacky, joyous book! Ages 6-10.

The Mitten What a wonderful winter tale to read with a small child sitting on your lap! Various forest animals are trying to take refuge in an abandoned mitten during a cold winter day. Will they all fit in? This Ukrainian story has inspired many picture-book writers over the years. Don’t miss Jan Brett’s or Jim Aylesworth’s versions – they both have such richly detailed illustrations. Ages 3-6.

Gamayun Tales This exciting graphic novel by Alexander Utkin will delight readers aged 10 and up (including adults!). Throughout this book, Gamayun, a human-faced bird from Slavic mythology, introduces one epic tale after another. The vivid colours and modern style of the illustrations make this a vibrant book that you will surely want to re-read! Ages 10 and up.

Riding a Donkey Backwards This collection of short tales (only one or two pages) features Mulla Nasruddin, “the wisest fool of them all,” a beloved character that has been known all over the Middle East and Central Asia for centuries. They all end with a punch and are guaranteed to either make you laugh or leave you pensive… but most often both! Ages 4-8.

Arthur, the Always King Tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have been told and retold, and here we go once again with this recent publication. This one is definitely worth a good look: the text by masterful writer and poet Kevin Crossley-Holland is paired with the illustrations of Chris Riddell, who never fears adding a touch of grotesque to his penetrating portraits. This book is a rare treat! Ages 12 and up.

Orca Chief First Nations artist Roy Henry Vickers paired several times with oral historian Robert Budd to publish picture books retelling Northwest Coasts legends, one of which is Orca Chief. When four exhausted fishermen carelessly throw their anchor on the roof of the house

Véronique Dupuis is a librarian at the Ottawa Public Library’s Sunnyside branch.

Celebrating 20 years in the Glebe!

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What Your Neighbours are

Reading

Here is a list of some titles read and discussed recently in various local book clubs:

Team

AUTHOR

BOOK CLUB

Outsider

Brett Popplewell

15 Book Club

Birnam Wood

Eleanor Catton

35 Book Club

There Will Be Fire

Rory Carroll

Abbotsford Book Club

American Dirt

Jeanine Cummins

Abbotsford Book Club

The Spy and the Traitor

Ben Macintyre

Broadway Book Club

Ada’s Room

Sharon Dodua Otoo

EU Book Club

Simonetta’s Shadow

Ludwig Drahosch

EU Book Club

Animal Farm

George Orwell

Helen’s Book Club

The Naked Don’t Fear the Water

Matthieu Aikins

Helen’s Book Club

A Mind Spread out on the Ground

Alicia Elliott

The Book Club

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Gabrielle Zevin

The Book Club

A Child’s Christmas in Wales

Dylan Thomas

Seriously No-Name Book Club

Polar Wives

Kari Herbert

Seriously No-Name Book Club

Yellow Face

R. F. Kuang

Topless Book Club

These Are Not the Words

Amanda West Lewis

Topless Book Club

Demon Copperhead

Barbara Kingsolver

Sunnyside Adult Book Club

The Lie Maker

Linwood Barclay

Sunnyside Mystery Book Club

Run Towards the Danger

Sarah Polley

Sunnyside Second Friday Book Club

If your book club would like to share its reading list, please email it to Micheline Boyle at grapevine@glebereport.ca

home@dianeandjen.com 613-795-9793

dianeandjen.com Diane Allingham and Jennifer Stewart, Brokers.

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Glebe Report February 9, 2024 21

MUSIC

‘Lost in the ’50s tonight’ (Ronnie Milsap)

By Chris McNaught The two immediate post-WWII decades were not, as often tagged, purely an era of bland innocence and vapid consumerism. Popular music was substantively upbeat as the Big Band vitality of the war years helped prime a Wurlitzer-spun, generational release, a deceptively potent teen tonic in the face of nuclear holocaust, racial tensions, communist sabre rattling, the murders of JFK, MLK, RFK… and thus, welcome, doo-wop and rock ’n’ roll! But despite my fond memories, was it truly a unique era, given other bookending or subsequent musical vogues? What is it about the ’50s and ’60s which seems to linger today, and not just in a baby-boomer’s rearview mirror? What explains, in 2023, the ubiquitous “oldies” TV specials, revival concerts, the vertical longevity of (grizzled) performers, lucrative vinyl reissues, the press fulsomely noting the passing of rock ’n’ roll titans – including even second tier shoo boppers? If a devilishly catchy beat still lifts feet, and the musical yesteryear helps crumble the looming walls of age, is there a timeless, beneficial universality hanging from those clef tones? In my humble view, the bebop verve,

rather than mere pimplish bounce, belied, musically, an urge for peace in a fractious world. We still inhabit a fractious world, but lately I’m forced to ask whether that once magical beat is equally potent against the DNA of today’s menaces: Trump, Putin, spineless (e.g. Republican) disengagement from international and humanitarian issues, persistent racial iniquity, environmental degradation, etc. If music be the…, should we play on, or are these different threats festering in a way any music cannot ignore or heal? Or perhaps, dear self, is it, like Peter Pan, I’ll never grow up, at least not until I recognize and accept that my sacred melodies, any melodies, are impotent in the face of global rifts, either as deflection or salve, and one shouldn’t ask too much of them. I’d like “my” music to endure as more than just airy wisp, but I allow I may be the victim of “the menace of the years” (Wm. Ernest Henley), have shot only a time-sensitive bolt, and ought quietly to retreat into a hearselike Florida condo. Bop, bop, shooby-do-bop, bop… Chris McNaught is a Glebe resident, author and former criminal lawyer and university lecturer.

ILLUSTRATION: CHRIS MCNAUGHT

Winter program Doors Open for Music at Southminster (DOMS) presents free 45-minute concerts on Wednesdays at noon at Southminster United Church, 15 Aylmer Avenue. Concerts are both live and live streamed on YouTube. Follow DOMS online at www.DOMS613.com. DOMS, led by artistic director Roland Graham, is sustained by freewill offerings. Concert attendees can donate cash at the door or online via Canadahelps.org. Salut d’amour, February 14 The Stelios Quartet shares their passion for music on Valentine’s Day with works from the start and end of the Romantic period by Beethoven, Bartók and Webern. Études-Tableaux, February 21 Montreal pianist Roman Timofeev plays the complete Études-Tableaux (study pictures) of Russian composer and virtuoso pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff. Hopewell Showcase VI, February 28 An annual mid-February tradition continues as the talented students of Hopewell Elementary School under Marya Woyiwada share their gifts with the community. The Roaring Twenties, March 6 The Great Gatsby stars, Carmen Harris (soprano) and Adam Sperry (tenor), with composer Andrew Ager (piano) present a selection of musical theatre numbers. Poet of the Piano, March 13 Celebrating Frédéric Chopin, the most iconic composer of the Romantic generation, Antonio di Cristofano plays piano works from throughout the composer’s life. Primary Colours II, March 20 From soft heart-wrenching ballads to energetic grooves, the Primary Colours jazz piano trio continues blending jazz tradition with their own voices in original works. Cantatas for Lent, March 27 Caelis Academy Ensemble, directed by Matthew Larkin, marks a time of transition singing J. S. Bach’s Cantatas BWV 4 and 150 with string orchestra.

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22 Glebe Report February 9, 2024

MUSIC

St. Matthew’s welcomes Toronto’s Hart House Orchestra Camille Saint-Saëns

Saint-Saëns Third (Organ) Symphony

By Margret Nankivell St. Matthew’s Anglican Church is delighted to welcome the Hart House Orchestra from the University of Toronto on Saturday, February 17 at 7:30 pm. Admission will be free, with a freewill offering. The featured work on the program will be Symphony Number 3 by French composer and organist/ pianist Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921). Often known as the “organ symphony,” the work will feature the pipe organ played by St. Matthew’s director of music Robert Hall. The orchestra is well known for its presentation of large orchestral works. It has performed all but one of Gustaf Mahler’s symphonies and plans to complete the Mahler cycle next year. Conducted by Henry Janzen, the music director and principal conductor, the orchestra has toured Europe and performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. As a violist, Janzen performed last year during St. Matthew’s Lenten Recital series.

“I am looking forward to returning to St. Matthew’s in February,” says Janzen. “Having performed there a couple of times and enjoyed the people and the space, I think it will be fantastic to bring the Hart House Orchestra to Ottawa to do a concert with Dr. Hall.” Janzen says that for some years he has wanted to perform this symphony with Hall playing the organ part. “The opportunity to do so never presented itself until now and so it is with great anticipation that I look forward to this performance,” he says. “For me personally, it will mean a great deal to accompany him instead of the other way around!” Hall calls the Hart House Orchestra “an ensemble that embodies the spirit of amateur music-making in the true sense of the word.” He adds that the players belong for the love of music, and their playing embodies respect and love for the great symphonic music of the classical tradition. Orchestra members include students, alumni and faculty from the University of Toronto, representing academic disciplines such as fine arts, medicine, engineering and astrophysics. Rigorous annual auditions for the orchestra are highly contested and ensure an extremely high level of musicianship. Other works on the program will include Carl Maria von Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2, featuring clarinetist Sean Lin, and Hector Berlioz’s Overture to Benvenuto Cellini. Saint-Saëns was an influential composer whose works included The Carnival of the Animals which has also been performed at St. Matthew’s. A child prodigy on the piano, he was a church organist before becoming a freelance composer and pianist. He also taught at L’École de musique classique et religieuse in Paris, and his students included composer Gabriel Fauré. Popular in England, Saint-Saëns was commissioned by the Philharmonic Society of London to write the Third Symphony. Two months after its 1886 London premiere, the composer dedicated the work to his late friend Franz Liszt.

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Hart House Orchestra will perform Saint-Saëns’ Third Symphony on February 17 at St Matthew’s church. PHOTO: COURTESY OF HART HOUSE ORCHESTRA

The Third Symphony is the final symphonic work written by Saint-Saëns. Not surprisingly, it features the organ since he was a highly regarded organist, says Janzen. The structure is similar to the traditional symphonic movements, but it combines the outer movements to create only two disparate sections. Unlike most symphonies at the time, it uses expanded winds and brass, and it also features the piano in both two-hand and four-hand arrangements. It is an intriguing work with cyclical uses of thematic material as well as an excellent use of orchestral and keyboard colours, he says. Proceeds from the performance will support the ongoing maintenance of the pipe organ at St. Matthew’s. Margret B. Nankivell is a long-time St. Matthew’s parishioner and regular contributor on music to the Glebe Report. Saint-Saëns Third Symphony (Organ Symphony) Hart House Orchestra, University of Toronto Saturday, February 17, 7:30 p.m. St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in the Glebe, 130 Glebe Ave., near Bank St. Freewill offering.

Seventeen Voyces brings the Italian Baroque - and theorbo - to Ottawa By Clare Jackson

Ottawa’s premier chamber choir Seventeen Voyces will bring a seldom-heard instrument to Ottawa this month with a concert featuring music of the Italian Baroque era. Montreal-based guitarist and tenor Kerry Bursey will delight early-music lovers in this concert that will feature the theorbo, an Italian instrument from the lute family. The concert will present the music of Claudio Monteverdi and some of his contemporaries, in partnership with frequent Seventeen Voyces collaborators, the Ottawa Baroque Consort. The concert will take place on Sunday, February 25, at 4 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church (Glebe Avenue and Bank Street). Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for students and free for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased online at www.seventeenvoyces.ca/ concerts/ or at the door by cash, credit and debit. Monteverdi, born in Italy around the year 1567, was a composer, choirmaster and string player. He is perhaps best known for his early contributions to the development of opera, with his composition L’Orfeo remaining the earliest opera that is still performed regularly today. Monteverdi’s musical career spanned the Renaissance and Baroque musical eras, and offers music with dance-like rhythms and lush harmonies. The concert will include Monteverdi’s charming and elegant “Beatus Vir” (“Blessed is the man” from the Book of Psalms), the energetic “Gloria a 7” (Gloria for 7 voices), and

The composer Monteverdi, by painter Bernardo Strozzi (circa 1630)

the contrasting, lovelorn Italian madrigal “Hor che’l ciel, e la terra” (“Now, that heaven and earth”). Monteverdi was the choirmaster at the Basilica of San Marco in Venice for 30 years before his death in 1643. Works by two of his students from this time, Giovanni Rigatti and Francesco Cavalli, will also be featured on the concert program. Cavalli, a prolific composer himself, wrote more than 40 operas and succeeded Monteverdi as the leading composer of the genre by the mid-1600s. Bursey is an early-music specialist who won the Grand Prix de Guitare de Montréal in 2011. A guitarist, lutenist and tenor, Bursey performs regularly as a soloist with early music groups such as Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal and the Theatre of Early Music, as well as his own

group Ménestrel. He has been featured on many albums with labels including ATMA Classique and Deutsche Grammaphon. For this concert, Bursey will play the theorbo, a 16th-century plucked string instrument with an elongated neck. Theorbos can reach over six feet in length, and Bursey’s theorbo features a hinge so that the neck can be folded for easier transportation. Fans of early music will be delighted to experience this unique instrument in live performance. Seventeen Voyces is also pleased to welcome back the Ottawa Baroque Consort, led by cellist Olivier Henchiri, for this concert. The group, established in 2005, plays on period instruments and specializes in the repertoire of the Baroque and Classical eras. The concert will also feature many solos by members of Seventeen Voyces. The choir, a fixture of the Ottawa choral community for over a quarter of a century, is led by founder and director Kevin Reeves. Seventeen Voyces features handpicked singers from Ottawa and surrounding areas who are seasoned choristers and soloists. Join us on February 25 for what promises to be a fantastic afternoon of music with Seventeen Voyces, the Ottawa Baroque Consort and Kerry Bursey. Audiences can also mark their calendars for Seventeen Voyces’ last concert of their 2023-24 season, presenting Music of Hungary with violinist Ralitsa Tcholakova and organist Matthew Larkin. The concert will be held on Friday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the

Glebe Report February 9, 2024 23

theorbo

MUSIC

marvelous acoustic at St. Francis of Assisi Church (20 Fairmont Avenue). Clare Jackson is a singer and board member with Seventeen Voyces.

Seventeen Voyces concert, with Ottawa Baroque Consort Sunday, February 25, 2024 at 4 p.m. St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Glebe at Bank Tickets online at www.seventeenvoyces.ca/concerts/ or at the door

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24 Glebe Report February 9, 2024

MUSIC

Celtic Slow Jam welcomes musicians from beginner to expert By Randal Marlin Who would have guessed that in the basement nursery room of the Glebe Community Centre a music jam brings together musicians from across the city to play music for two hours every Thursday evening? It’s a group that for over two decades has attracted people, young and old, playing many different instruments. Abilities range from the very top level down to struggling beginners. Special efforts are made to encourage the latter to persevere and gradually learn to keep up; hence the name Celtic Slow Jam. Its influence has extended beyond the Glebe. Groups across Canada and beyond have made use of sheet music assembled for it when it first began. An additional collection of tunes was put together by Carp musicians and is now added to the Glebe repertoire. Competence formed from playing with Celtic Slow Jam has led to individuals or groups spinning off and forming new smaller ensembles that do regular paid gigs at different gatherings,

including retirement homes. Among them is the Lyon Street Celtic Band founded by Lois Siegel, who was much involved in the early development of Celtic Slow Jam. Musicians derive a huge benefit when they can play together. Each player is forced to keep to a particular rhythm and tempo. With solo playing, the values of notes can get distorted. The group imposes a constancy of rhythm; otherwise there would be cacophony. Only practising with others can bring about the transcendence from individual time to group time. It’s a great

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Members of Celtic Slow Jam in rehearsal PHOTO: ELLEN KATIC

feeling of togetherness and a wonderful form of social bonding. The keyboardist has an important role to play in getting people to play together. Usually the keyboardist will be followed, but sometimes the group will decide on a slightly different tempo

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and some yielding occurs. The formula for playing is constant. Each player in turn gets a chance to pick his or her tune from an assortment of over 200 tunes, and also determines the speed at which it will be played. Etiquette favours a speed that accords with the proficiency of those assembled on any particular occasion. Playing too slow can bore skilled players, while beginners get frustrated when the playing is too fast for them. When I first joined in the early years of this century I felt greatly despondent, and would have given up, but for the encouragement from the better players. I described this in “Valuing the Arts –,” Glebe Report –,” July 2010. The number of players has been creeping back to pre-COVID levels. The current ad hoc leadership consists of accordion player Keith Shackleton, keyboardist Ellen Katic, treasurer and flute player Ted Cosstick, and fiddler Mary Nash. Sometimes very experienced fiddlers will stop by to enliven the group, even the legendary Denis Lanctot, who has inspired so many of Ottawa’s fiddlers. The history of Celtic Slow Jam is not fully and precisely documented, but the group was well underway when Lois Siegel joined in 1997. Credit for compiling the original and extensive collection of Celtic tunes, prior to 2004, goes to Joel Joy, with Eugene Deery putting it in PDF format. Lois Siegel has listed the names of 53 people involved with Celtic Slow Jam in 1999. Today the numbers are much lower − 15 to 20 − as people formed other groups in different parts of the city, often following the Glebe model. Anyone looking to join the Glebe Celtic Slow Jam group would be well advised to first download and practise some of the tunes listed by the Carp group. These are available from the Carp Celtic Jam website in either printable or tablet-friendly formats. Players currently pay about $20 for each of the fall, winter or spring sessions. The amount will depend on the number of players who join, as the room rental is the only expense and the needed amount will depend on the number of players for any particular session. A drop-in charge is also available for those who want to try out for a few meetings. You can be sure of a good welcome at the Thursday night 7 to 9 p.m. gatherings at the Glebe Community Centre. Randal Marlin is an adjunct professor in philosophy at Carleton University and a dedicated member of Celtic Slow Jam.

Glebe Report February 9, 2024 25

FILM & THEATRE

It Had To Be You

A zany comedy by new Ottawa theatre company By Sarah Hegger

Written by real-life partners Joseph Bologna and Renee Taylor, It Had To Be You hits the Gladstone Theatre in Ottawa in time for Valentine’s Day. A zany, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy, It Had To Be You is a mustsee for theatre lovers and a perfect winter warmer. With a performance on February 14, it’s the ideal way to level-up Valentine’s date night. The play sees Theda Blau, a failed actress, health food nut and would-be playwright, gambling it all to win love and success. Her would-be partner is Vito Pignoli, a successful TV commercial director and a man who has traded in his dreams for financial success. The production is directed by Greg Hancock, a veteran of productions from Toronto to Yellowknife, including an award-winning production of Halfway There for the Ottawa Little Theatre. Hancock says of It Had To Be You: “It is the characters that drew me to wanting to direct it. They are both such strong, contrary characters, who in some ways are completely honest with themselves and in others have been fooling themselves for years.” The two-handed cast is comprised of Jarrod Chambers and me. Chambers takes to the stage as Vito, breathing life, warmth and vitality into the role and creating the perfect foil for eccentric Theda. He says of Vito: “Initially he seems like this stereotypical, one-dimensional TV producer, but over the course of the play, that façade crumbles and you get to see all the vulnerability and insecurity he’s been trying to hide.” A former South African professional actress and now fulltime romance novelist, I am no stranger to romantic comedy. I relished the challenge of Theda because she is first and foremost a survivor. No matter what life throws at her, Theda lives to fight another day. The production premiered in Almonte in December to rave reviews from our audiences. “A must see for all. Brilliantly done, laughter throughout the entire show.” It Had To Be You marks the debut play for The Bent Sisters, a new collective theatre production company in Ottawa. Its mission is to produce uplifting and empowering theatre that centres around women. The play runs from February 7 to 17 at the Gladstone Theatre, 910 Gladstone Avenue, including a matinee Sunday, February 11. Tickets can be purchased online: https://www.thegladstone.ca/it-had-to-be-you/ or by telephone 613-233-4523. Sarah Hegger, an actress and romance novelist, plays the role of Theda in It Had To Be You.

It Had To Be You, a romantic comedy, plays the Gladstone Theatre from February 7 to 17 PHOTO: COURTESY OF BENT SISTERS

Severance tackles “the hard problem” in surprising ways Severance TV show (US, 2022) Review by Iva Apostolova Severance is what one might call a concept show. Although it stars Adam Scott (Big Little Lies), Patricia Arquette, John Turturro and, none other than the living legend, mobster-extraordinaire, Christopher Walken, what makes Severance one of the best shows of 2022, really, is the originality of the plot. The show taps into the classic sci-fi theme of what philosophers have labeled as “the hard problem.” The hard problem is, in fact, a cluster of problems that have to do with the relationship between the mind and the body: where does the mind begin and the body/brain end? How are they connected? Is there a “ghost in the machine” or are we just a large mass of cells? What makes Severance exciting, however, is the surprising angle from which the hard problem is examined. Mark (Adam Scott) is one of five tech workers in a company that owns the patent of a new technology, allowing it to implant a small device in the brains of its employees that essentially splits, permanently at that, their self into two different selves, each of which is unaware of the other: the at-work self, and the at-home self. When I say “unaware,” I mean that they have no conscious memory of the other: upon leaving work, the memories are erased (which happens in the company’s elevator). Otherwise, the at-work self is capable of conceptualizing and rationalizing the fact that the at-home-self lives a separate, and perhaps very different, life than what the work-self might imagine. And vice versa. Unlike what happens in many dystopian sci-fi narratives, though, here, the “severed” employees are not coerced in any shape or form (at least, that’s what it seems) to undergo the procedure. On the contrary, many of them have, in fact, welcomed it (Mark, for example, suffers from an incurable grief over his dead wife). But of course human nature, being what it is, eventually rebels against the status quo and plots ways to do the seemingly impossible: unite the severed selves and be one again. Whether you take the show to be a metaphor and a criticism of our inane and oftentimes vapid efforts to maintain an artificially created life-work balance, or rather an exploration of the human condition, you will not be left indifferent, that is guaranteed. On the contrary, after each episode you will be abuzz with questions about the nature of autonomy, the architecture of the self (in other words, is it my experience that makes me me, or is it something innate?), the role of memory in personal identity, the list goes on. The good news is, there is a confirmed second season coming later in 2024!

My only gripe is with the title of the show. If a former student hadn’t recommended it to me, it would have flown under my radar, as I would have thought it was a legal or procedural drama (not that there is anything wrong with legal dramas!). But as the saying goes, never judge a show by its title!

1 season, 9 episodes Available on Apple TV and Prime Video Iva Apostolova is associate professor and vice-rector, research and academic, at Saint Paul University and a regular Glebe Report contributor on films and TV.

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26 Glebe Report February 9, 2024

POETRY QUARTER The world keeps us warm

Bare Trees Grey bare trees on a misty freezing night, appear to him now as if they’ve never seen light silently standing a skeletal height. Those same trees in summer such a beautiful sight but in this dead cold they seem to look for a fight, so none go near them on this frost bitten night. David Rockburn

Awake under Eiderdown duck feathers that flew in from Scandinavia, we pause before Tip toeing to set up espressos in a tarnished stovetop Bialetti Get back to our room and slip on the red woolen socks knitted from the wool of Angora goats currently grazing on a slope of the Himalayas. We slide on synthetic spandex leggings made from recycled American pop bottles; one arm at a time into long sleeved merino wool thermals bought at the best outfitter in town from a guy with a Māori accent. The dog reminds us of our now ready coffee, and we alternatively sip and slide into our perfect mukluks and thick parkas, the muskrat fringe tickles your temple.

Winter Thoughts

The frozen air slices into our noses but the dog is happy, so we laugh, stomping together in the fresh sparkling snow.

Imagine a world without cold Always sunny Always cheery

Yes, perhaps this year I’ll love winter a bit more with your help.

Wouldn’t life be dull?

After all it was a friend from Benin who told me: “The sun is often brightest on the coldest day.”

Life is a weather report Changing minute by minute

Paige Raymond

up Temperatures go and down The arctic deep freeze and blizzards of emotions envelop us when we least expect it Leaving behind vaporous clouds of gloominess and unease

Winter Plea

POETRY QUARTER

However we can still find euphoria wherever we look The headless snowperson just down the street The kids laughing during the colossal snowball fight And ending up with a warm cup of creamy, minty, velvety hot chocolate When the snow comes, It’s up to us to see beyond the storm And discover the elation And memories That will follow Maia Nourozi (Grade 6, Glashan Public School)

As Sunlight Tilts on Its Axis Morning welcomes winter and a solstice air so cold, frost flowers

The Dead of Winter

Evening News: Gaza and. . . I. Wounded baby squirrel, who threw you over there onto that garbage heap? Sharp ice, broken . . . II. Child of mine, button up, I tell you. Tuque, coat, scarf . . . scarf, mittens, boots. . . Stay safe. Hear me. Grow up. III. No. No. I don’t believe you know what is winter’s hard, wind chill cold, keen-edged. . . are you with me? IV. Survive tsunamis? How? On /off. Power grids. . Old crossing points, old maps. . . who’s in charge here, man? V. Family lost, these kids are what’s left. Who knows how, what particulars, when, where . . why. Only it’s them Maureen Korp The above poem is a cinquain that takes each letter of the acronym WCNSF (the new UN category “Wounded Child, No Surviving Family”) as the first letter of the first word in each section.

hidden beneath blankets. Today sunlight tilts in a certain way, glances the grey stubble of your unshaved beard, silver speckles in the furrows of your changing face, older now but still my love. This season swallows your desire, blurs days into listless gloom. Your passion lies fallow. I cup any hint of light to share. In a while I will wake you, bring black coffee and news of this day. Together we will rejoice in the gleam on tufts of fresh snow and with whispered voices wish winter well while hoping for the quick return of daylight and warmth. Susan Atkinson

seduced into security by cunning weather from balm to withering winter they wrinkle, brittle and fall turning into friable fragments

For this Glebe Report Poetry Quarter, we asked poets to weigh in with their thoughts and feelings on “the dead of winter,” the coldest days of the year – often a time of reckoning and reflection. Here are their ruminations of the mind and heart on the dead of winter, in the form of poetry.

cacophony of birds in the bush sprightly cheep cheeping no see-ems but a rustle as they flit through ever greens, ever shelter

Let’s get neighbourly

mounds of snow along the roadsides grey, dirty, cratered with grit dormant volcanoes, decorated with frozen yellow lava flows

bloom inside the room. There is no birdsong today. Perhaps they sleep long into the morning, as you do,

crinkled leaves cling, trembling in the cutting wind unwilling to succumb to imminent danger

The theme for the Glebe Report’s May 2024 Poetry Quarter is “neighbours.” What does it mean to be a neighbour? What makes a good neighbour – simply someone who lives close to you, or does it go deeper? What about a country close to your borders? What do you want and what do others value in you as a neighbour? As your neighbourhood newspaper, we are asking you to consider these questions – poetically – and if the idea inspires, we want to hear from you! As usual, poems should be: • Original and unpublished in any medium (no poems submitted elsewhere, please); • No more than 30 lines each; • On any aspect of the theme within the bounds of public discourse; and • Submitted on or before Monday, April 22, 2024. Poets in the National Capital Region of all ages welcome (school-age poets, please indicate your grade and school). Please send your entries (up to five poems that meet the criteria) to editor@ glebereport.ca. Remember to send us your contact information and your grade and school if you are in school. Deadline: Monday, April 22, 2024

uncanny quiet covers the landscape the Glebe, carpeted and serene while across the globe conflicts blister can snow cover the pain? Tina Bates

Winter Walk Wiser eyes might have glanced through the window and stayed in the warm, but with upturned collar against the wind, hands stuffed deep in my pockets, I start down Murphy Street. While the wind whips my face with razor pellets frosting my eyelashes white, the snow wetting my skin like teardrops, I trudge through the unplowed streets, an unanchored soul trying not to be lost to the storm. Just a few more blocks to Echo Lane, then a right turn onto Quinn, I blink as the street lights illuminate the dancing flakes and marvel as they float around me like a party in the air. I am chilled to the core, yet at the same time, feel an inner warmth, knowing that you are waiting at the little coffee shop on Jackson Street, hands already cradling a steaming cup, anticipating my arrival. My footsteps quicken. Louise Chivers

Glebe Report February 9, 2024 27

MP & MPP REPORTS

Joel Harden

MPP, Ottawa Centre N 613-722-6414 E JHarden-CO@ndp.on.ca

A hospital crisis hits close to home

MP, Ottawa Centre N 613-946-8682 E yasir.naqvi@parl.gc.ca

Downtown Ottawa Revitalization Task Force Final Report released! After a year of dedicated effort, I am thrilled to announce that the Downtown Ottawa Revitalization Task Force has released its comprehensive report with recommendations to reimagine our downtown to become a vibrant and people-first space. The task force’s comprehensive report is a testament to the power of community engagement and collaboration. Ottawa residents have spoken and their input is woven into the fabric of these recommendations. I look forward to advocating for the implementation of these proposals at the federal level, ensuring our downtown becomes a place where everyone is excited to live, work and visit. The task force, which is composed of affordable housing advocates, not-for-profit and for-profit housing developers, Indigenous leaders, sustainability advocates, tourism and economic development stakeholders, and local business improvement area representatives has meticulously crafted a vision for a renewed downtown based on extensive feedback and input from Ottawa residents and stakeholders. The task force report, “Envisioning a Great Downtown,” presents a comprehensive suite of recommendations that tackle the challenges faced by Ottawa’s downtown communities. The report recommends various

short-, medium- and long-term solutions to our community’s challenges within the themes of Living, Shaping, Playing and Doing Business that can be implemented by each order of government. Additionally, the report outlines possible solutions to known challenges downtown, such as the lack of affordable housing, tackling the chronic homelessness challenge, reinvigorating local businesses in a hybrid work environment by encouraging the return of residents and tourists, providing ideas for a more sustainable urban environment, and creating more inclusive community spaces that promote Indigenous reconciliation. Finally, the task force report also looks into three transformative projects that our community should seriously explore. These projects include a revitalization and redevelopment of the Jackson Building, the old Ottawa Public Library and l’Esplanade Laurier. The task force spent the last year actively seeking feedback from a variety of external actors, including Ottawa residents through a largescale online public consultation where hundreds made their voices heard. Additionally, the task force held workshop discussions with interested groups of stakeholders throughout the report development process. Moving forward, the task force is committed to utilizing the report as a powerful advocacy tool, fueling joint and individual efforts at all levels of government and within the community, with the goal of ensuring that recommendations are not only acknowledged but also implemented to bring about positive, long-lasting change. To read the full report, visit YasirNaqviMP.ca. If you would like a printed copy mailed to you, give my office a call and let us know!

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The Downtown Ottawa Revitalization Task Force issued its final report on how to make the downtown a vibrant space.

I don’t talk about my family very much, but a recent event has given me an exception to that rule. Andrea, my sister, had a 37-hour ordeal at a local hospital emergency room (ER), and her experience offers a cautionary tale about where we’re at with health care in Ontario. She said I could share her story to push for urgent change. On the advice of her family doctor, Andrea was admitted to the ER with acute appendicitis, and scheduled for an urgent surgery. After an agonizing wait, the surgery finally happened. But as Andrea waited, she saw many things. She saw exhausted staff run off their feet with skeleton crews. She heard two Code Whites called (that’s the signal for a serious physical assault on hospital personnel). She saw rooms that were dirty with accumulated mess. She saw Ottawa Police Service members waiting for hours as people they helped admit to the ER with serious mental health crises were treated for their needs. She slept overnight in a reclining chair, in significant pain, in a hallway. Her surgery kept getting bumped when major trauma incidents came through the ER. Of course, getting bumped through the process of ER triage is a normal practice. But waiting for 37 hours for an urgent surgery is alarming, and it’s not normal to have the current levels of violence, staff fatigue and acute conditions Andrea saw in our hospitals. That sentiment is shared by health care staff. They’ve been warning us,

but political decision makers are not responding to their concerns. Instead, Ontario’s ERs have been temporarily closed due to staff shortages – 867 times in 2023 alone (the highest rate ever). The Ontario Coalition of Hospital Unions polled their members and found almost half of them in the Ottawa area dread going to work. Nursing leaders are saying the same thing. Family doctors in Ottawa have threatened job action given underfunding, and massive demand from people without access to primary care (a nurse practitioner or family doctor). Some 2.2 million Ontarians are in this situation, and the consequences for hospitals are serious. Ontario’s Auditor General notes that 23 per cent of ER admissions were low acuity in 2022-23, and could be resolved by access to primary care. But there is no serious provincial strategy for this; a paltry $30 million (or 2 bucks per Ontarian) was allocated last year for “primary care innovation,” and even these meager funds went unspent. The government claims it’s increased health care spending and is working on a “health human resources strategy.” It has opened up opportunities that let for-profit, investor-driven clinics operate in public hospitals, or to be paid from OHIP funds. But this strategy has failed. Hospitals are losing staff (notably nurses), and often hiring them back from employment agencies that charge double or triple normal compensation. That drives up costs, leading some hospitals to seek exemptions to run deficits, or take out bank loans. The experiment with for-profit health care has not reduced surgical wait times. We are headed in the wrong direction on health care, and that has to change. Ontario’s Official Opposition has called for the immediate resumption of the House. We have health care solutions to offer the government − we are hopeful they will listen.

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28 Glebe Report February 9, 2024

REMEMBERING

Remembering the Hall Brothers: Alfred Henry Benbow and Clement William By Kevan Pipe The following is part of a continuing series of profiles of servicemen from the Glebe and St. Matthew’s Anglican Church who gave their lives to Canada and the pursuit of peace in the Second World War. We commemorate and remember their passing, 80 years ago. If there was one family from St. Matthew’s Anglican Church who suffered the most from the Second World War, it had to be the Hall family. Alfred and Clement, sons of Clement Alfred (a veteran of the First World War) and Effie Dean Hall, were residents of nearby Westboro. Both sons were named after their father. The family lived on Royal Avenue and both boys went to Hillson Public School. Circa 1928, the family moved to 420 Hinton Avenue near the Civic Hospital, with Clement attending Glebe Collegiate and Alfred off to Ottawa Technical High School, both being members of St. Matthew’s along with older sisters Violet and Elizabeth. Clement was the youngest of four children, born March 13, 1915. An avid sportsman, he played rugby, baseball and hockey, and had summer jobs at both McKeen’s and Loblaw groceries. He was a scholar as well, entering University of Ottawa in 1937 in the Bachelor of Commerce program and continuing his athletic pursuits as a member of the university’s football team. He gained the nickname “Tubby,” which stuck with him into his future. It was during his fourth year at university, on October 23, 1940, that he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Following seven months of extensive training in Dauphin, Manitoba, he earned his pilot’s wings in July 1941. Given the importance of the bombing campaign then in full force over occupied territories, he was deployed from Halifax to England the following month. Warrant Office ll Hall was assigned to Royal Air Force #12 Operational Training Unit (OTU) flying out of RAF Station Chipping Warden in Northamptonshire. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant and served as a bombardier in the Wellington medium bomber. Following a year of bombing

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Crew of Handley Page Halifax bomber from RCAF No. 420 (Snowy Owl) Squadron getting a ‘thumbs-up’ in January 1945. PHOTO: LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA / DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE

runs and with 12 OTU now operating as an RCAF squadron, on September 16, 1942, 12 OTU was assigned to a nighttime bombing mission over Essen, in the heavily defended Ruhr Valley in the industrial heartland of Germany. This was one of the most feared missions due to the heavy concentration of German defensive measures in that area. Nicknamed “Happy Valley,” this area was under constant haze due to heavy industrial emissions from the manufacturing plants as well as heavy anti-aircraft fire protecting these precious facilities. On that late summer evening, a massive armada of 369 bombers departed their bases across England for this bombing mission targeting German heavy industry and were scheduled to be over their assigned zone in under two hours. The bombing raid proved to be a major success with significant damage caused by this action; however, a heavy price was paid by Bomber Command that fateful night. Of the hundreds of planes sent over, 39 aircraft, more than 10 per cent, failed to return to base, including RCAF Wellington bomber BJ730, piloted by Flight Sergeant Clement Hall. It was assumed that he was shot down by anti-aircraft fire. Local German forces recovered his body and those of his four crew mates at the crash site. Flight Sergeant Hall was buried in a war cemetery near Cologne. Initially declared “status unknown” by the RCAF, it took another six months

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before he was formally declared “killed in action”. Three years after the end of the war, in 1948, his body was re-interred at the Rheinberg War Cemetery where it rests today, alongside more than 3,000 other Allied servicemen. Clement Hall was one of 60 University of Ottawa students killed in action in the Second World War, of the more than 1,100 from this institution who served in the war. Clement’s older brother, Alfred, was born June 1, 1913. Trained as a draftsman/estimator, he graduated in 1932 from Ottawa Technical High School and was then employed at the Independent Coal and Lumber Company. Like his brother, Alfred was an avid hockey player as well as a member of the Ottawa Flying Club. He married Chrissie Hay on May 3, 1937, and they were blessed with two daughters, Jo Anne (1937) and Beverly (1938). They lived at 38 Highland Avenue in Westboro and attended St. Matthew’s Church. Alfred enlisted in the RCAF on June 10, 1940, followed later that year by Clement. Awarded his air gunners badge in 1941, Warrant Officer ll Alfred Hall was assigned to 420 RCAF Squadron flying a 4-engine Halifax heavy bomber from RAF Station Tholthorpe in Yorkshire. He took part in multiple bombing missions over Germany, including dangerous assignments to Essen, Hamburg, Mannheim and Dusseldorf. On April 30, 1944, as part of the buildup towards D Day (which eventually took place just five weeks later on June 6), 420 Squadron was ordered to bomb the rail yards at Somain in northwest France, not far from Vimy Ridge, the historic Canadian battle site in the First World War. Although Flight Officer Hall had already completed his second and final tour of operations (60 missions in total), he volunteered to go with his crew mates on this mission to help them complete their military tour of duty, known as their “ops.” This usually amounted to 30 missions, not exceeding 200 actual flying hours. During the war, serving in Bomber Command was the most dangerous of any of the services. Fifty-one per cent of crew members were killed during operations while an additional 12 per cent were wounded or killed in non-operational accidents such as training flights. An additional 13 per cent were shot down over enemy territory and became POWs (prisoners of war). Just one in four crew members survived

their ops. It was also documented that the most dangerous missions for air crew were the first five missions, and the final five. Flight Officer Alfred Hall was on mission number 61. On that fateful night of April 30, Halifax Bomber LW476-PJ took off from RAF Station Tholthorpe and proceeded over the English Channel to the assigned target in northwestern France, at approximately 8,000 feet altitude. After completing their bombing run and en route back to base late that night, likely less than an hour from safety, LW476-PJ crashed into the North Sea off the coast of France. Of the six crew members, only two bodies, including Flight Officer Hall, were recovered, having washed ashore days later near St. Valery in France. Flight Officer Alfred Hall was buried in St. Valery sur Somme Communal Cemetery, where he rests today, alongside 14 other allied servicemen from the U.K., many from the original Battle of France in May 1940. Due to the fog of war, the Hall family had hopes that perhaps he was missing in action or even a POW. RCAF Air Commodore (Personnel) D.E. MacKell finally had to formally notify the family of the confirmed killed-in-action status of their son on March 23, 1945, almost 11 months after his death. It was the second such deadly notification the family received. Alfred, upon hearing of his younger brother’s death in 1942, and prior to his own demise, wrote his mother a letter: “We are proud and very glad that we had a mother and father who taught us unselfishly to risk our lives to maintain what we were always taught to believe… We know [the risk], but we still fly and always will.” It was likely this strong belief in duty and his dedication to his comrades that caused Alfred to unselfishly volunteer for that fateful mission number 61, from which he never returned. The Hall family lost both their sons in this global conflict, with Alfred leaving behind a wife and two young daughters. Eighty years later, both Clement and Alfred Hall are remembered forever at St. Matthew’s and at the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, Alberta. Kevan Pipe is a Glebe resident and member of St. Matthew’s, The Anglican Church in The Glebe.

Glebe Report February 9, 2024 29

HERITAGE

Heritage Ottawa online auction Heritage Ottawa, the national capital’s foremost non-governmental voice for understanding and conserving built heritage and landscapes, will be holding its first ever online auction from February 11 to 17, 2024. There really will be something for everyone, including works of art, walking tours, restaurant meals, hotels, income tax preparation, a heritage-inspired garden shed, a week at a secluded Gatineau cottage, theatre passes, and rare books on Ottawa’s built heritage and history. Funds raised will be used to continue providing sought-after expert advice and maintaining our stellar record of delivering quality educational programs and activities like walking tours, workshops and public lectures, and to offer a range of publications that reach, inform and influence thousands. Visit www.heritageottawa.org for more information and check our website heritageottawa.org. as of February 4 to view the selection of items available. And get your e-paddles ready!

Glebe Montessori School elementary students enjoyed getting into character for their production of Alex in Wonderland held in December 2023.

Review of City’s Heritage Register

Help identify priority heritage buildings in Glebe-Dow’s Lake By William Price

In response to the Ontario government’s recent approval of Bill 23 (More Homes Built Faster Act), the City of Ottawa is implementing its approved strategy to deal with the bill’s heritage implications. The first phase is to identify properties on the Heritage Register that should be studied on a priority basis for possible individual heritage designation. A new city survey is now live and open until March 15 (engage.ottawa. ca/reviewing-heritage-register). This survey invites residents, community associations and heritage organizations to identify undesignated buildings on the Heritage Register that they think should be studied first for possible heritage designation, and to provide any information or research they may have to inform such a study. The Glebe Community Association (GCA) Heritage Committee is working with city heritage staff on this current initiative, and as well on the longer-term identification of new potential Heritage Conservation Districts in the Glebe-Dow’s Lake neighbourhoods. We

would be interested in receiving a copy of your recommended list of properties or groups of properties to be studied for possible heritage designation. You can send this information to the GCA Heritage Committee at heritage@glebeca.ca or to me at william.price5456@gmail. com and we will also answer any questions you may have on this matter. Please also let us know if you have any information or photos relating to the history of your own home and its occupants over the years that would better inform our ongoing heritage designation, celebration and education initiatives. Let us know if you are interested in learning how to research the history of your home or if you would like to explore joining our committee to help with our work. All that is needed is an appreciation of the wonderful built heritage streetscapes and landscapes of the Glebe and Dow’s Lake neighbourhoods. Bill Price is chair of the Glebe Community Association’s Heritage Committee. He can be reached at heritage@glebeca.ca or william. price5456@gmail.com.

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30 Glebe Report February 9, 2024

GLEBOUS & COMICUS

The Glebe according to Zeus

A GUINEA PIG’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE GLEBE

This year’s Glebe Spree winners Barbara Steele and Andrew Balfour with Stephane Sauvé (middle) of Glebe Meat Market where the ballot was entered. PHOTO: CHLOE PARK

This year’s Glebe Spree winners! By Chloe Park Long-time Glebe residents Andrew Balfour and Barbara Steele, winners of the 2023 Glebe Spree, are set to embark on a spectacular $10,000 shopping spree in the heart of the Glebe. As dedicated supporters of local businesses, the couple is excited and grateful for this unexpected win. “It’s a great community initiative and a wonderful surprise to win. Thank you to all the merchants and the BIA,” says Andrew. Glebe Spree has become a holiday staple in the community, encouraging local residents to support local businesses during December. For every $150 spent in the Glebe, participants can submit one ballot. In 2022, Glebe Spree saw 23,000 ballot entries, an equivalent of $3.4 million spent at Glebe businesses! Although the official ballot count for 2023 is not yet available, it is expected to be even bigger this year. This year’s winning ballot was drawn at the Glebe Meat Market, a business Andrew and Barbara have patronized for decades. Andrew expressed his admiration for the personal service and high-quality, locally sourced meat provided by Steph and the staff. “When we host family or friends for dinner, the meat is always a highlight,” he added. The Glebe, often described as a small town within a big city, holds a special place in the

couple’s hearts. They know many of their neighbours as well as the merchants in the area. From Dan at Metro Music to Tori at The Rowan, Caren at Von’s Bistro to Nabil at PC Perfect, Andrew and Barbara have made connections with the local businesses that make the Glebe a true community. “Really, everything we need and want is pretty much here,” says Andrew. For Andrew, the winnings mean more opportunities to enjoy barbecues with quality meat from Glebe Meat Market and perhaps some extra shopping at Glebe Trotters, Top of the World or Stomping Ground. Barbara, on the other hand, has her eye on new glasses from Eyes in The Glebe and, of course, groceries to accompany the anticipated barbecues. Darrell Cox, the Glebe BIA executive director, highlighted the impact of the Glebe Spree on the local business community. “Since its inception in 2011, the Glebe Spree has generated over $43 million in spending, a huge economic boost to our retailers and restaurants,” he stated. The local couple’s win exemplifies the contest’s success in fostering community engagement and supporting local businesses. Many thanks to our Glebe Spree title sponsor, McKeen Metro Glebe, and all our participating merchants. Chloe Park is programs and events manager at the Glebe BIA (Business Improvement Area).

Zeus takes fitness to the next level with Free Food Fitness Personal trainer and manager of Free Form Fitness, Daniel Moses, has launched a controversial experiment with guinea pigs to test an innovative fitness routine. If successful, the new exercise program – dubbed Free Food Fitness – could lead the next wave of health trends. “Some people think it’s wrong to experiment on guinea pigs – but it was Zeus himself from GiddyPigs.com that contracted me to design the new program for his staff, whose sedentary nature was affecting his bottom line,” explained Moses. Indeed, Zeus approached Moses in January to shake up his lacklustre workforce. “Unfortunately, all the robo-pigs I hired left to work for the government, and I had to take back Floof and many other lollygaggers. As expected, productivity plummeted,” complained Zeus. “I was a bit skeptical at first,” explained Moses, who admitted he had worked with hamsters, but not guinea pigs. “Hamsters love fitness wheels, but the guinea pigs outright refused, citing back problems. I decided to study the staff at Giddypigs. com to understand what drives them. I noticed Petey really perked up – even had a little jaunt in his gait – when he went to the fridge for food. From there, I developed the prototype using Petey’s favourite food, broccoli. We weren’t sure it would work and, I have to say, more than one staff member shed a tear when Petey completed a full three minutes on the elliptical!” When asked about results, Moses and Zeus had different views. “It’s astonishing,” exclaimed Moses, who reported that the guinea pigs’ BMI went from 38 to 15. “Each weighs in at two pounds of pure muscle!” Zeus lamented that the cost of the daily vegetables cancelled out the increase in productivity, but added that he is in negotiations to sell the now-patented Free Food Fitness system to Health Canada to make up the difference.

The Ottawa “Alert” Professional Women’s Hockey League team won their first home game at Lansdowne on January 23, defeating Toronto 3 – 1. PHOTO: DEVON BOWERS-KRISHNAN

Christmas Eve at Brown’s Inlet PHOTO: BEN CAMPBELL-ROSSER

Glebe Report February 9, 2024 31

HEALTH

Meniscal tears in the knee By Sue Reive

stress on the knee such as prolonged squatting or climbing too many stairs or Many people suffer from knee injura slip on the ice can cause the meniscus ies. One common injury is a tear of the to tear. meniscus, often referred to as torn cartiSymptoms of meniscal tears include lage. Indeed, meniscal injuries account swelling, limited mobility, pain with for 15 per cent of all sports injuries. walking, squatting and twisting, and The normal mechanism of injury a feeling of locking and clicking. Treatinvolves torsion and compression of ment depends on the size and type of tear. the knee; it occurs when a person is Assessment includes specific stress testweight bearing on a slightly bent knee ing and measuring range-of-knee-motion and then turns, twisting the knee. This and strength. As well, imaging such as movement occurs in numerous sports an ultrasound or MRI is often done to visincluding racket sports, football, ultimualize the menisci and see the extent of ate and hockey. Moreover, the menisinjury. An X-ray is beneficial to see if there cus can be injured if one slips and falls is any osteoarthritis in the knee. Minor while walking. Minor tears are usually tears in the outer third of the meniscus IMAGE FROM WWW.ORTHOINFO.AAOS.ORG successfully treated with physiothercan heal with physiotherapy. Larger apy while major tears often require arthroscopic surgery foltears will often require surgery to remove the torn flap of lowed by extensive physiotherapy. the meniscus. In some cases, the meniscus can be sutured. The meniscus is a soft tissue that sits between the bones Physiotherapy treatment includes exercises to improve of the knee (the femur and tibia). There are two cresmobility and strength in the knee and hip, balance and agilcent-shaped menisci in the knee: medial (inside of knee) ity drills, and a gradual return to sport. Modalities can aid and lateral (outside of knee). The menisci attach to the tibia in the healing process by enhancing blood flow to the knee. and femur by ligaments and to the capsule of the knee joint, Manual therapy also helps regain mobility. the soft tissue that holds the bones of the knee joint together. Unfortunately, surgical meniscectomy often leads to The meniscus acts as a cushion which absorbs shock and increased wear and tear on the joint. Studies have shown transfers the load. Moreover, it improves joint stability and that when the meniscus is removed, the peak contact presaids in lubrication. The outer third of the meniscus has a sure between the tibia and femur increases by two or three blood and nerve supply while the inner two thirds do not. times. Moreover, a review of many studies found that on This is important because if there is a tear where there is no average 53.5 per cent of patients developed osteoarthritis blood supply, the meniscus cannot heal. in the surgical knee five years post-operatively, hence the Meniscal tears can be classified as acute traumatic or reason to try to preserve as much of the meniscus as possible. chronic degenerative. They can also be classified by the size When patients still suffer pain and disability after a menisof the tear: partial or full thickness. Further, they are catcectomy (total or partial), a meniscal allograft transplantaegorized by the shape of the tear: around the periphery of tion is a possible option. This involves taking a meniscus the meniscus (rim lesion) or in the centre, causing a flap in from a young cadaver and transplanting it into the patient. the meniscus (a bucket-handle tear), which can cause the Patients must meet specific criteria, including being under knee to lock. 50 to 55 years and suffering a lot of pain and disability post Individuals older than 50 are more likely to have some meniscectomy. degenerative changes in the meniscus and possibly some osteoarthritis in their knee as well; in these people, a normal Susan Reive is the owner of Kilborn Physiotherapy Clinic.

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32 Glebe Report February 9, 2024

SCHOOLS

Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth OCDSB Trustee, Zone 9

A chronicle of struggle and a call for change

At Glebe Coop Nursery School kids paint snow with eyedroppers! PHOTO: JULIE LEBLANC

Winter fun at Glebe Cooperative Nursery School By Julie LeBlanc Snowy days make for happy kids! The arrival of winter has brought many new activities and learning opportunities for the toddlers and preschoolers at Glebe Cooperative Nursery School (GCNS). The children love starting their mornings outside on the playground. Snow means sled rides, shovelling, building, digging, hiding, making tracks and so much more. The educators at GCNS also find creative ways to enjoy winter activities indoors. As the children returned from the holiday break, they were so excited to find a huge container of snow in their classroom. They each had a turn filling a tray with fresh snow and painting the snow different colours using

eyedroppers. The children followed up their art projects with some science by observing and timing how long it took the snow to melt away with warm water. Such a fun and creative sensory activity for little learners to experiment with! There are so many ways to enjoy the season and keep the little ones busy this winter. Skate, ski, snowshoe, sled, shovel or get out for a nature walk! Children can build a snowman, hunt for animal tracks in the snow, play in a snow fort, search for buried treasures, make a bird feeder or go on a scavenger hunt. And of course, don’t forget the hot chocolate! Julie LeBlanc is responsible for communications at Glebe Coop Nursery School.

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In Ontario in May 2022, prior to the provincial election − before I decided to run as a school board trustee − I wrote an article in the Ottawa Citizen, urging Ottawans to vote for candidates who care about the health and well-being of children, seniors, people with disabilities, women, marginalized populations. I was subsequently encouraged by community members in the Glebe and Old Ottawa South to run as a school board trustee on a platform of the same advocacy. From the moment that I put my name on the ballot, threats and harassment increased steeply. Vile anti-Jew hate, organized campaigns calling for my resignation, unrelenting anti-vaccine/mask rhetoric, anti-2SLGBTQ bigotry and misogyny. As you know, I was accused in February 2023 of a breach of the Code of Conduct for sending one text message to a colleague, in November 2022, calling on her and other trustees to pass a motion to temporarily reinstate masks in schools to help vulnerable populations, and pointing out the well-established link (following the Ottawa convoy) between white supremacy and the anti-vaxx/mask movement. Do I regret that I sent that text message? Yes. I apologized sincerely, explained it was a mistake to say that the other trustees did not care, and I asked for mediation. Mediation was denied. On September 11, 2023, the motion accusing me of a Code of Conduct violation was dismissed. At that hearing, I was referred to as a “white woman attacking a Black woman.” I unmuted myself to object to this mischaracterization. For those who do not know, references to Jews as “white” is a deeply antisemitic trope that rejects our status as an equity-seeking group and dismisses our experiences of discrimination. After that hearing, I was accused of a new Code of Conduct violation for unmuting myself, for speaking with the media, for questioning the toxicity of the pattern at OCDSB, as well as for commenting on OCDSB sharing emails about my safety plan with Rebel News. On December 19, 2023, the trustees voted that I was guilty of those new Code of Conduct violations. In effect, I was punished for calling out hate and questioning bureaucratic dysfunction, and constituents lost their representation. On January 8, 2024, I submitted my appeal of the OCDSB’s decision. That appeal is based on the errors, omissions and double standards within the Integrity Commissioner’s Report, the weaponization of the Code of Conduct process, and

my central complaint that the Board has not taken seriously my concerns about antisemitism or its impact on my safety. The letter of appeal is available to read in full. I am disheartened but not surprised that none of the grounds of my appeal were even mentioned at the January 16, 2024 hearing of the OCDSB. It is Orwellian, but inevitable that they upheld their original decisions. Do I regret that I commented publicly that silence is complicity? No. Just as I have stood up as an ally with others, so too do I expect colleagues and community to stand with me in the face of antisemitic hate. Do I regret that I criticized the OCDSB for sharing emails about my safety plan with Rebel News? No. I submitted a complaint to the office of the Privacy Commissioner of Ontario about their failure to protect me. They agree that OCDSB failed to protect me. The responsibility for that failure, and the requirement to respond to the Privacy Commissioner, falls on the OCDSB. Do I regret that I have questioned a pattern of abuse/weaponization of the Code of Conduct process at the OCDSB? No. It is a problem at other school boards across Ontario also. I have submitted a complaint to the office of the Ontario Ombudsman, asking them to investigate the pattern of abuse/weaponization of the Code of Conduct processes. Do I regret stepping into politics? No and yes. I do not regret taking on a role to ask questions, to challenge the status quo, to advocate for all children to get the most out of publicly funded education. I do, however, regret my naiveté, my optimism that it would be safe to work in a bureaucracy that has a history of toxicity, and my belief that I could rely on champions of equity and diversity to show up as allies against antisemitism. At the end of the day, will I resign? No. However, I will not return to an environment that is physically or psychologically unsafe or procedurally dysfunctional. I have submitted a complaint to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, asking for review of the entrenched antisemitism at the OCDSB. I also wrote to the Minister of Education to ask for a leave of absence while the issues of safety are addressed. The OCDSB can and must do better. Democracy can only thrive when its institutions, policies and practices are equitable, just and the political arena is truly safe for everyone. Dr Nili Kaplan-Myrth is a family physician and OCDSB Trustee for Capital and Alta Vista.

Glebe Report February 9, 2024 33

GLEBE HISTORY

30 Years Ago in the Glebe Report

Seedy Saturday will take place this year on March 2 at Emmanuel United Church on Smyth Road. PHOTO: COURTESY OF ALTA VISTA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Seedy Saturday coming March 2 Already thinking of spring planting? Great news – an old Ottawa favourite lives on! This year, the Alta Vista Community Association Local Food Committee, in collaboration with Just Food and Seeds of Diversity, is proud to be hosting Ottawa’s Seedy Saturday event. Seedy Saturday spring events have been held in various locations across the city. This year’s event will take place on March 2 at Emmanuel United Church, 691 Smyth Road, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Attend workshops on seed starting, composting, invasive species and native bee habits and habitats • Explore seed vendor offerings • Exchange seeds • Support local artisans • Meet community gardeners interested in Ottawa’s food security • Sample local cuisine There’s no admission charge and parking is free. Local bus route #55 serves Emmanuel

United Church and the site is accessible. Bring your own reusable bags and, if you have some, your seeds for the free seed exchange table. Spend what’s left of the winter anticipating the coming spring and join us in celebrating this seminal event! For more information, contact us at altavistaseeds@gmail.com. Just Food is a local, non-profit, community-based organization that works on both rural and urban food and farming issues in Ottawa and the surrounding region. It is an information and resource-sharing network supporting the sustainable development of its Community Gardening Network. Consult justfood.ca for more information. Seeds of Diversity is a Canadian organization dedicated to preserving, perpetuating, studying and encouraging the cultivation of heirloom and endangered food crop varieties. Its backbone is seed savers who protect Canada’s seed biodiversity by growing it themselves and sharing it with others. With over 1,000 members across Canada, it’s a vibrant and visible part of the gardening and food security scene. Go to seeds.ca for more.

Where the Canadian Tire used to be By James Gilbert From Bonavista to Vancouver Island, it’s Canada’s small towns that give this country its character. As I travel from coast to coast, it’s the small towns that hold my interest. Fall fairs smelling of French fries and cattle manure, local events put on by a bevy of committed volunteers, places where you know police officers by name and curl with them on weekends. Places where everyone knows where everything is (or was at one time). Problems arise as landmarks often have their own colloquial names, known only to residents, and often serve as places to turn at or to look out for. “It’s next to where the Canadian Tire used to be” is a personal favourite of mine, as is “next to the Orange Lodge,” which sets you off searching for an orange-coloured building. For anyone new to Canada, the name Canadian Tire must really be baffling. What is the Canadian Tire? Is it like the big nickel in Sudbury? Why do so many Canadians need new tires? While visiting friends in a town near Toronto, I mentioned that there had been rioting on Queen Street during the G20 summit. “What? Rioting on Queen Street?” They thought I was talking about Queen Street in their town, and I was guilty of thinking “city-centrically.” Outside St. John’s, Newfoundland, I asked where the nearest grocery store was. “CBS” was the answer. When I inquired about the meaning of CBS, I was told, like I was missing brain cells, “Conception Bay South”. If you ask for directions in Guelph, you’re likely to be directed up or down “The Hanlon.”

Volume 22, Number 2, February 11, 1994 (36 pages)

by Ian McKercher

WHITTON AWARDS

Capital Ward residents turned out to honour friends and neighbours at the second annual Whitton Awards Ceremony held February 3. The Whitton Awards, named after Charlotte Whitton, Ottawa’s first woman mayor and former alderman for Capital Ward, honoured volunteers who improve quality of life in the community. Ten of 21 awards went to Glebe residents. Mary Kovacs was honoured for converting a vacant weed-covered lot at Fifth and O’Connor into Lionel Britton Park. Ilse Kyssa was recognized for her deep commitment to the environment as well as her high standards as a business person. Gordon Cullingham, past president of the Council of Heritage Organizations in Ottawa, received kudos for his commitment to preserving and protecting heritage properties. Ottawa Police Constable Gary “Skate” Schuiteboer received an honorary award for his success at community policing as the “beat cop” in the Glebe area.

JUDY RICHARDS

Judy Richards, owner of Davidson’s Jewellers at Bank and Third, received the 1993 Business Women’s Achievement Award, co-sponsored by the Women’s Business Network of Ottawa and the Ottawa Citizen. When her father, Eastman Davidson, retired in 1978 from the business he started in 1939, Judy took over the family store. In 1983, Judy received the DeBeers Diamond Achievement Award as the most knowledgeable jeweller in Canada. It’s actually Highway 6 North, but everyone knows it as The Hanlon. On Vancouver Island, there are two directions, “up island” and “down island.” Life only gets complicated when you’re told “This ferry’s full, you’ll have to catch the next one . . . tomorrow.” I once volunteered to help pack up and move a set from a play held at a small-town theatre. We needed to drop everything off at a storage location described as “underneath where Hanson’s used to be.” I followed the other’s cars. Friends of mine were setting up their new restaurant just as the Shoppers Drug Mart across the street was closing and moving to its new location. I was elated. I could now join in and tell people the restaurant was “across the street from where the Shoppers used to be.” James Gilbert is a travel writer, photographer and lifetime student. He can be found on Instagram at: canadianhikingadventures as well as his blog canadianhikingadventures.net.

GLEBE QUESTIONS

Long-time Glebe resident Clyde Sanger began a regular column researching questions about the history of the Glebe. Mark Migotti of Ella Street wondered whom his street was named for. Courtney Bond, author of The City on the Ottawa, claimed the street was named by the teetotalling Baptist property developer [Alexander Mutchmor] after his daughter Ella.

CANAL SKATING FORECASTS

As a service to skaters on the Rideau Canal, The Weather Channel and Météomédia began broadcasting skating conditions daily from 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. at 28 minutes past the hour. This retrospective is filed bi-monthly by Ian McKercher of the Glebe Historical Society. The society welcomes the donation or loan (for copying) of any item documenting Glebe history (photographs, maps, surveys, news articles, posters, programs, memorabilia, etc.). Contact Ian at 613-235-4863 or ian.s.mckercher@gmail.com. Note: All back issues of the Glebe Report to June 1973 can be viewed on the Glebe Report website at www.glebereport.ca under the PAST ISSUES menu.

34 Glebe Report February 9, 2024

This space is a free community bulletin board for Glebe residents. Send your GRAPEVINE message and your name, email address, street address and phone number to grapevine@glebereport.ca. Messages without complete information will not be accepted. FOR SALE items must be less than $1,000.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS ABBOTSFORD SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTRE (950 Bank St., Tel.: 613-230-5730) Learn & Explore Speaker’s Series, Wednesdays, 1:00 – 2.30 p.m. FEB 14 Pat McGregor is a history and genealogy buff. She will present: The George Gallie Nasmith World War I Letters, A scavenger hunt and a not-sogreat moment in genealogy. We will follow George’s correspondence and tap into a time that many can only imagine. Pat will discuss the adventure of reading and transcribing all the letters, and identifying and researching the letter writers as well as the events and people mentioned in the letters. It will be held LIVE and on ZOOM simultaneously. FEB 21 Join Abbotsford volunteers Deb Hogan and David Yurach for A trek on the Camino. In April of 2023, Deb & Dave fulfilled a dream of walking approximately 300 km along the Camino Portuguese, from Porto, Portugal to Santiago, Spain. Join us as they share their favourite photos of the journey, including the flora, architecture, food and land and seascapes. It will be held LIVE and on ZOOM simultaneously. FEB 28 Benefits, Credits and being Scam Smart, with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) representative Andria Cullen. Andria is a CVITP and Benefits Outreach Officer with CRA and will help educate us on the benefits and credits we could be eligible for and also how to protect ourselves from common CRA scams. She will also provide information on Community Volunteer Income Tax Programs. It will be held LIVE and on ZOOM simultaneously. MAR 13 Abbotsford Seniors Centre Community Support Services short presentation followed by Questions and Answers session with Abbotsford’s own Kirsten O’Brien & Jane Stallabrass. LIVE only. The lectures are free but one must register in advance for a seat or ZOOM link. Tea/coffee and treats available for purchase in the dining room courtesy of your Members Council.

ABBOTSFORD SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTRE (950 Bank) continues to look for books, flea market items and your treasures to sell for fundraising purposes. Accepted at Abbotsford Senior Centre on Mon.- Fri., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., your donations will be supporting the Centre’s Programming and Services. CALLING GLEBE ARTISTS! THE GLEBE ART AND GARDEN TOUR 2024 will be held on July 6 and 7. We are accepting applications from local artists who live, work or have studios in the Glebe and are looking for a variety of high-quality, original artwork from painters, potters, sculptors, photographers. We also have a few spots available for guest artists who may exhibit their work in the garden of a Glebe resident. The deadline for submission is April 30. For information and an application form please contact glebearttour@hotmail.ca or visit our website glebearttour.ca CANADIAN CENTENNIAL CHOIR (ccc-ccc. ca) presents: LOVE, LOVE, LOVE / L’AMOUR, TOUJOURS L’AMOUR. Love: not just the mushy kind! We’ll sing of love of nature and place, spiritual love, lost love and crazy love. The repertoire will span hundreds of years, from Renaissance madrigals to recent pop arrangements. Full choir and small groups. With special guest Kim Farris-Manning, piano. Sun., Mar 3, at 3 p.m., Centretown United Church, 507 Bank St. Tickets for this concert are: Adult: $25; Senior/Student: $20. Available at www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/6144455 CAPITAL WARD CUP 2024 Hockey game Sun, Feb 11, 10 a.m., Brantwood Park. Join us for the annual Capital Ward tradition of a friendly game of shinny for the Capital Ward Cup. The current Capital Ward Cup holder is the Old Ottawa East Hosers, who won it from the then defending champs, the Old Ottawa South Moose. The current champs will be hosting

The City has a plan to change the way we understand and manage garbage, recycling and food waste. To ask questions and share your feedback about the City’s draft Solid Waste Master Plan, you are invited to attend an open-house and take a survey.

the tournament in Old Ottawa East this year on Sun, Feb. 11 at 10 am at Brantwood Park. You can RSVP to join us as a spectator, get more info or sign up to join a local community team and play hockey for the cup at www.shawnmenard.ca/capwardcup. COFFEE HOUSES ON SUSTAINABILITY are open from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Glebe Community Centre. The topics covered are: Sat., Feb. 24: Reducing Your Carbon Footprint. Sun., Mar. 24: Greenspace & Water Management. Sat., Apr. 27: Transportation. Sun., Mary 5: Responsible Consumption. Sat., June 8: Climate Risk – Basement Flooding (N.B.: this one will be held at the Jim Durrell Recreation Centre, 1265 Walkley Rd.) For more information or to register for those free events, please go to www.eventbrite.com/cc/coffee-houses-on-sustainability-2828129 Valerie and Vanessa London of the LONDON TRIO PLUS will present a workshop on singing Gospel Music. Open to the community...ages 16 to 80...come lend your voice...no experience necessary! Sat., Feb. 10, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Glebe-St. James United Church (650 Lyon St. South). Admission by donation (pay what you can). LONDON TRIO PLUS and friends, under the direction of Valerie London, will present an evening concert of Gospel and Spiritual music. A staple of Ottawa’s music scene for many years, LTP continues to delight audiences with their musical selections and voices in perfect harmony. Sat., Feb. 10, 7 p.m. at Glebe-St. James United Church (650 Lyon St. South). Admission by donation (pay what you can). OLD OTTAWA SOUTH GARDEN CLUB MEETING, Old Ottawa South Community Centre (The Firehall), 260 Sunnyside Ave., Tues., Feb. 13, 7 p.m.: Rain Ready Ottawa is a pilot program that encourages and supports residents to take action on their property to reduce the harmful impacts of rainwater runoff. Connor Renouf, coordinator of the program, will explain the problems associated with buildings, streets, and parking lots that don’t absorb rain like natural areas do and describe the eLearning courses, assessments, advice, and rebates offered under the program. Membership: $25 per year, $40 for a family, drop-in fee $7 per meeting. Info: 613-247-4946.

2024-519

Glebe Report

In addition to free home delivery and at newspaper boxes on Bank Street, you can find copies of the Glebe Report at:

Abbas Grocery Abbotsford House Black Squirrel Bloomfields Flowers Bridgehead 1117 Bank St. Capital Home Hardware Douvris Martial Arts Ernesto’s Barber Shop Escape Clothing Feleena’s Mexican Café Fourth Avenue Wine Bar Glebe Apothecary Glebe Central Pub Glebe Community Centre Glebe Meat Market Glebe Physiotherapy Glebe Tailoring Goldart Jewellery Studio Happy Goat Coffee Hillary's Cleaners Hogan’s Food Store Ichiban Bakery Irene’s Pub Isabella Pizza Kettleman’s Kunstadt Sports Lansdowne Dental Last Train to Delhi LCBO Lansdowne

PROBUS Ottawa is welcoming new members from the Glebe and environs. Join your fellow retirees, near retirees and wantto-be retirees for interesting speakers and discussions, not to mention relaxed socializing. See our website: www.probusoav. ca for more detailed information about the club and its activities as well as contact points, membership information, and meeting location. We will be meeting on Wed., 28 Feb. at 10 a.m. at Gloucester Presbyterian Church, 91 Pike St. a presentation about “Artificial Intelligence”.

Little Victories Coffee

THE GREAT CANADIAN KILT SKATE, 10th annual, will take place on Sun. Feb 18, 1 – 3 pm. at Lansdowne Rink. Organized by the Scottish Society of Ottawa, the skate is a celebration of the Scottish contribution to Canada. But you don’t need to be Scottish to join in! Skaters are invited to wear their kilts and bare their knees! Or maybe just a bit of tartan. Bagpipes, cake and hot chocolate!

Olga’s

FOR SALE

The Flag Shop Ottawa

CARDS AND A VARIETY OF BOOKS celebrating the farm can be purchased from the Friends of the Farm Boutique (friendsofthefarm.ca/boutique/).

Thr33 Company Snack Bar

WANTED

The Works

Looking for NATIVE SPANISH SPEAKER to meet for coffee and conversation once or twice a week for an hour, for 4-6 weeks beginning in mid-February 2024, to practise Spanish in preparation for travel to Argentina. Day and time flexible. $20 per hour. Call or text Leeann: 613-501-8909. Gracias!

Visit ottawa.ca/wasteplan to find out more.

WHERE TO FIND THE

Loblaws Marble Slab Creamery Mayfair Theatre McKeen Metro Glebe Nicastro Oat Couture Octopus Books Old Ottawa South Firehall Quickie RBC/Royal Bank Subway Sunset Grill The Ten Spot TD Bank Lansdowne TD Bank Pretoria Von’s Bistro Wall Space Gallery Whole Health Pharmacy Wild Oat

Glebe Report February 9, 2024 35

For rates on boxed ads appearing on this page, please contact Judy Field at 613-858-4804 or by email: advertising@glebereport.ca

FOR SALE: DJI PHANTOM 4 QUADCOPTER DRONE Gently used with very few hours of flying time, all parts, manual, original carrying case with original box included. Asking $700 obo. Please phone 613 730 2664 and leave a message for Jim.

RUSSELL ADAMS PLUMBER

613-978-5682

FURNISHED 1 BEDROOM RENTAL VICTORIA, BC Available from May to end of August 2024. Newly renovated, spacious, nicely furnished 1 bedroom apartment available in low-rise building. Centrally located, move-in condition. 2K monthly including WIFI and hydro. Maximum 2 tenants. Text 613 853-9478 for details and pictures or email will.youngson@gmail.com. This is a great deal for Victoria!

HOME RENOS AND REPAIR: interior/exterior painting; all types of flooring; drywall repair and installation; plumbing repairs and much more. Please call Jamie Nininger @ 613-852-8511.

Donna Edwards House Portraits 613 233 4775 www.donnaedwards houseportraits.com Facebook: Donna Edwards Art

THE TRUSTED NAME IN REAL ESTATE® SERVICING CENTRAL OTTAWA FOR 35 YEARS

WELCOME 2024 AND THE CHANGES AHEAD! Many are asking what to expect of the housing market for the coming year given the news headlines regarding the Bank of Canada efforts to control inflation through interest rate policy. According to CMHC “prices of homes will start to rise again in 2024 due to the economy and immigration picking up.” Early signs in home sales for 2024 indicate rebounding sales activity compared to 2023. Our agents have encountered competing offers and sales over asking from the start of January indicating the beginning of a strong market for 2024. If you have been delaying a decision to sell or buy, this is a good season to begin planning. Be ready to take advantage of the evolving market conditions to accommodate your needs. Not every neighbourhood matches the Canada wide statistics. Call us for a complimentary consultation to provide an analysis of your local market and help you plan your next move. JEFF HOOPER BROKER

MIKE HOOPER BROKER

P: (613) 233 8080

DEREK HOOPER BROKER

PHIL LAMOTHE SALES REP

E: HELLO@HOOPERREALTY.CA

February 9, 2024

Shinny on Glendale Rink

PHOTO: JENNIFER SHAW

Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group Glebe Community Centre GNAG.ca

175 Third Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 2K2 info@gnag.ca 613-233-8713

Summer Camp 2024

www.ottawa.ca

March Break Camp Spots s4ll available 9 - 4 pm March 11 - 15

Swing into summer with us! Guide available at GNAG.ca Registra4on February 6 at 7 pm

Thanks to our amazing par4cipants, generous sponsors and energe4c volunteers for making this year’s Taste one to remember!

RINK PARTY 🥳🥳 Feb 24, 3:30 - 5:30 pm There will be a BBQ, fun family games, ska6ng, refreshments, and lots of fun. This community winter party is free for everyone. We hope you can make it!

Where: Mutchmor Rink