“But provincially, we are still responsible for housing, homelessness, transit, and climate issues — things that really matter to municipalities.”
Much of McKenney’s first year at Queen’s Park has been spent opposing what they described as “poor legislation” introduced by the Doug Ford–led Progressive Conservatives, including Bill 60 — the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act — which makes it easier for landlords to evict tenants.
They also pointed to Bill 9, the Municipal Accountability Act, which would give municipalities the power to remove councillors found guilty of wrongdoing. The bill was partly inspired by the multiple misconduct allegations made against former College Ward Coun. Rick Chiarelli.
work, that vote would fail. After that, there is no second choice. You can’t withdraw pay or penalize in any way.”
McKenney also continues to push forward a private member’s bill that would cap maximum apartment temperatures at 26°C. Ontario landlords are currently not required to provide air conditioning, although Bill 97 — still awaiting passage — would require landlords to allow tenants to install their own units.
Heading into 2026, McKenney says their focus will turn to addressing the toxic drug crisis and related social-service pressures affecting the Chinatown neighbourhood. They hope Ontario will approve the use of Injectable Opioid Agonist Treatment (IOAT), a therapy already used in other provinces.
CATHERINE MCKENNEY
- MPP FOR OTTAWA CENTRE
It was little surprise to Kitchissippi voters when Catherine McKenney won the 2025 Ontario Provincial Election. With two terms as a city councillor and a mayoral bid behind them, McKenney secured 55 per cent of the vote to become the area’s new MPP. Adjusting from municipal concerns to the
more rigid world of provincial politics has been an ongoing learning curve, McKenney said, but the priority remains clear: improving the lives of residents in Ottawa Centre.
“I'm not involved in looking at new park spaces or things like determining where development goes in a community or where recreation centres are built,” said McKenney.
While McKenney supports the concept, they argue the bill’s design makes removal nearly impossible.
“Let's say, you've got 23 councillors and a mayor sitting around the table. The councillor in question is removed from that. But you would need every single one of those other councillors to vote in favour, but also to attend,” said McKenney. “If one got up to go to the washroom, if one decided they had a cold that day and couldn't come in to
“What it does is it provides an alternative to fentanyl, to the strong opioids that people are addicted to. It provides a strong enough alternative that they're able to take it as a treatment,” said McKenney. “It's injected on site, so it takes away the diversion that we're seeing in the community, which is causing a lot of concern for people and rightfully so.”
WINTER STAY
Left: Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi tour a new community housing build near Preston. PROVIDED PHOTO.
Above: Politicians on hand for the opening of the Hintonburg Pump House on Oct. 2, 2025. PHOTO BY KEITO NEWMAN.
‘No longer enough’: Kitchissippi food banks brace for another difficult winter
BY RYAN CLARK
No matter the time of year, the Parkdale Food Centre is always humming with activity. Staff are shuttling boxes, volunteers greet familiar faces, and neighbours pad through the door in search of what’s become increasingly scarce: enough food to get through the month.
For those who work here, the steady stream of visitors has long been a warning sign of tough economic times. So, when the Ottawa Food Bank released its 2025 Hunger Report, "Food Insecurity in a Broken System," its findings landed with a quiet lack of surprise.
“Every time a report comes out, we already kind of know what it’s gonna say: that food insecurity is increasing,” said Alissa Campbell, director of operations at the Parkdale Food Centre. “Everyone is painting the same picture, and it becomes not surprising.”
That familiarity, Campbell says, is unsettling.
“The trouble is that it starts to feel normal; there’s no longer any shock value or surprise,” she said. “That’s troubling because it can lead to complacency or a lack of action on the things that will make a difference.”
“When we start to think of it as inevitable, there’s less drive for solutions,” she continued.
In 2024, over one-quarter of Ottawa households experienced food insecurity. Visits to food programs supported by the Ottawa Food Bank reached 588,866, more than double the number recorded in 2019.
At Parkdale, Campbell sees the effects daily.
“As things get harder for folks, the services that they’re able to access increasingly become not enough,” she said. “Everyone in Ottawa can access the food bank in their catchment area once per month, but it’s no longer enough, and
increasingly people are looking for more support, whether that’s trying to come back to the food bank a second time or trying to go to a food bank outside their catchment.”
The Hunger Report calls for action at every level of government, urging policies that can reduce food insecurity rather than respond to it. It asks the federal government to “set a national target to reduce food insecurity,” the province to “protect citizens from losing benefits too soon,” and the City of Ottawa to expand eligibility and funding for its Sustainability Fund. Currently, only 20 of 71 member food bank branches receive sustainability support.
CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS
The Westboro Region Food Bank, another community anchor, is also seeing growing crowds—and faces that are new to the system entirely.
Martine Dore, the food bank’s coordinator, says the challenge is balancing limited resources with rapidly growing needs.
“We try to greet every food bank neighbour who comes in like they’re an old friend and treat them with dignity, even while we’re trying to balance meeting the needs of a growing number of
folks coming in,” Dore said.
According to the Hunger Report, more two-parent families are turning to food banks as rising costs outpace wages and eligibility thresholds for benefits. Seniors, who make up a 90 per cent increase since 2019, are visiting food banks nearly twice as often as they did then. They are expected to make up one in five Ottawa residents by 2030.
Newcomers are also arriving in significant numbers, often with almost no support network. Many have fled conflict in Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Every single week, we’re registering one, two or more families or individuals who have just arrived in Canada from war-torn countries,” Dore said. “People will sometimes end up at the food bank two days after getting here.”
PROVIDING WRAP-AROUND SUPPORTS
Both the Westboro and Parkdale food centres are increasingly doing far more than distributing food. They’re acting as frontline support hubs for people navigating housing crises, income gaps and the complexities of settling in a new country.
“When people come to a food bank, food insecurity is only one of the challenges they are dealing with,” Dore said. “They often come with other challenges and needs.”
Westboro partners with the Ottawa Food Bank and the Carlington Community Health Centre to bring a support worker into the food bank every Monday morning.
“We have people come in because they’re being evicted as their rent has gone up,” Dore said. “We’ve had newcomers to the city who don’t know how to navigate school systems or how to get winter clothes for their kids.”
At Parkdale, the Support Spot offers similar assistance, dedicating staff time to helping individuals and families navigate the city’s often daunting systems.
As winter approaches, public attention inevitably turns to food banks. Campbell says the Parkdale Food Centre typically receives around 60 per cent of its annual donations in the final three months of the year. But she stresses that the need is not seasonal.
“There’s a lot of attention to food banks at this time of year,” Campbell said. “The need doesn’t go up in November and December; the need is always there.”
For those hoping to help, Dore says donations of high-protein foods and culturally diverse items are especially appreciated. Feminine hygiene products are also in continual short supply.
The Parkdale Food Centre has seen record demand for service this year. PROVIDED PHOTOS.
COMMUNITY
Five Ottawa charities in need of support this holiday season
BY AMANDA MCLEOD
The holiday season is often spent sharing meals, giving gifts and enjoying a bit of downtime with family and friends. But it’s also a time for offering extra support to our communities.
Ottawa, like many major centres, has seen an increase in the need for community care and support services. Many charities are reporting higher-thanaverage requests for assistance across all demographics.
With both winter and the season of giving upon us, the Kitchissippi Times has put together a non-exhaustive list of local charities and organizations that offer opportunities to support communities, individuals and even furry family members throughout the giving season.
CHRISTMAS SMILES FOR SENIORS
Christmas Smiles For Seniors is a local, volunteer run organization with the goal “to bring a smile to lonely seniors by remembering them at the most festive time of year.”
Tracing back to 2000, CSFS began when Major Darren Steele was posted to Ottawa. Away from his family and friends, he began thinking of others who might also be alone during the holidays, particularly seniors. He decided to visit a local retirement home to see if he could bring gifts for the residents, and the following year some co-workers in the Canadian Armed Forces joined him.
Steele died in 2006, but the program has continued to grow in the years since, with others in both the CAF and the civilian community pitching in to support seniors in Ottawa.
Chantal Langevin, a local elf and
coordinator of the Kitchissippi region within the program, says they serve a variety of locations throughout Ottawa, with drop-off points and a team of elves in most wards across the city.
“We serve residences, organizations, OCH buildings, resource and community centres, and hospitals. These include those who are stuck on hospital floors, in retirement homes, living independently, those with disabilities, and we’re currently connecting with a residence that serves the unhoused population.”
Langevin is currently in need of items to fill gifts that didn’t show up, to top up gifts that feel a little light, and last minute requests. For specifics, there is an Amazon Wish List available.
For more information on Christmas Smiles For Seniors, visit their website reach out to Chantal directly at chantal. smilesforseniors@gmail.com.
CARING AND SHARING CHRISTMAS EXCHANGE PROGRAM
The Caring and Sharing Christmas Exchange Program is another Ottawa-based initiative, originating in 1915 as a response to families affected by the First World War. Acting as a master list for Christmas aid, the exchange program allowed local charity groups to coordinate and share efforts to ensure families in need received support, while also checking for duplications.
Director Zuzanna Kucharki described the organization as offering two main types of assistance.
“There's the food hamper program where families or individuals receive a full hamper
of food that they can prepare their holiday meals with.”
“Then there's the redeemable voucher program. We work with Giant Tiger to receive a great discount with themfamilies receive vouchers to Giant Tiger that are redeemable across the different locations in the city of Ottawa to be able to purchase their holiday meals.”
Kucharski says the charity has noticed a significant shift in need this year. Rather than specific communities requiring assistance, such as refugees fleeing wars in particular parts of the world, this year they’re seeing requests across all demographics.
“Many people are struggling in some kind of form, across Ottawa. But the great thing about our program is that we work with 200 community organizations that know their community. There’s so many agencies involved - supporting Indigenous communities, supporting newcomers and they know their clients best.”
Once registered, recipients are either delivered Christmas hampers shortly before Christmas Day, or receive vouchers in the mail.
Kucharski says their biggest current need is monetary donations. Many of their regular donors send cheques through the mail, but due to the Canada Post strike in November, that wasn’t possible this year.
Another way to participate include the Running On Empties campaign this year, held on Dec. 20. You simply need to return your bottles and cans to any Beer Store location, making sure to let them know you wish to donate the proceeds towards Caring For Sharing.
For more information on how to donate, please visit the Caring and Sharing Christmas Exchange Program page on the charity's website
OTTAWA SHOEBOX HOLIDAY DRIVE
The Shoebox Project was founded in 2011 by 4 sisters from Toronto who noticed many opportunities to give to children throughout the winter holiday season, but nothing specific for their female caregivers.
Their initial goal that first season was to fill 156 shoeboxes - enough to serve women staying in one of the local shelters.
They wound up receiving 400 shoeboxes, and have continued the tradition, growing across the country every
The Ottawa branch, coordinated by Mary Ann Fitzsimmons and Marci Morris, has 10 drop-off locations throughout the region. These locations hold shoeboxes for weekly pick-ups by volunteer drivers, who transport them to the staging area at Zibi in Gatineau.
An ideal shoebox donation consists of approximately fifty-dollars worth of gifts and essentials for women, with many
donations including a message of support or holiday greeting.
To learn how to make a shoebox, how to donate or how to volunteer, visit their website. A list of city-wide drop off locations can also be found there.
OTTAWA PAW PANTRY
Looking for a way to support our furry friends this giving season?
Volunteer run and a non-profit registered charity, the Ottawa Paw Pantry operates as a food bank - but for pets. They rely on community donations to support low-income pet owners in times of need.
Bowlful of Heart is the organization’s annual holiday pet food drive and runs throughout December. Its goal is to support pet owners who may be struggling to choose between feeding themselves or their pets. The holiday season is often a time when shelters see an increase in pet surrenders — the Ottawa Paw Pantry aims to help families avoid having to make that choice.
The Ottawa Paw Pantry accepts unopened, unexpired food at a variety of locations throughout the city. You can also sign up to support through monetary donations or to volunteer
REFUGEE 613
Born as a response to the Syrian refugee crisis in the mid-2010s, Refugee 613 is a grassroots initiative that welcomes refugee newcomers by providing information and connections to help them navigate their new surroundings.
Depending on how and why people had to leave their previous home, moving to a new community can be exhausting, stressful, and at times traumatizing.
Refugee 613 aims to support people with a wraparound approach, offering advice and services for every facet of their new lives.
A variety of stakeholders from a
wide cross-section of Ottawa agencies participate by providing settlement services, private sponsorships, mental health support, contacts with local schools, municipal government support, refugee shelters, and many more.
Refugee 613 welcomes monetary donations, noting that “financial contributions are the most effective way to support refugee settlement and integration…By donating money, you give local agencies the flexibility to direct your donation exactly where it is needed most.”
To donate to Refugee 613, visit the donations page through the organization's website
How Ottawa’s Christmas decor has evolved through time
BY DAVE ALLSTON
Every December, Kitchissippi transforms into a glittering tapestry of holiday cheer.
From classic evergreens decked in red and gold to modern marvels like laser shows, pre-lit artificial trees, and 3D characters, the neighbourhood sparkles with the season’s joy. Each fall, stores unveil new innovations: LED lights that shimmer in impossible patterns, solar-powered decorations, and trees that glow in every imaginable colour. But behind the sparkle lies a story that stretches back more than two centuries—a story of technology, tradition, and the occasional fire hazard.
It’s almost unimaginable now that there was a time when families brought home real pine trees, placing them in tubs or sand-filled boxes, and illuminating them with tiny wax candles. In 19th-century North America, the holiday season could be as perilous as it was festive. Newspapers frequently reported fires caused by Christmas trees.
Dried-out pines ignited easily, and the wood-frame homes of the era offered little resistance. One notorious incident in 1885 saw a Chicago hospital fire, started by candles on a massive tree, injuring over one hundred people, mostly children.
Ottawa and Kitchissippi were not immune. Firemen were often hired to attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve at Catholic churches, standing ready in case of disaster.
Fire Chiefs would make annual pleas to the public for caution in its use of candles and flammable decorations, and to not place trees near window curtains where draughts could blow draperies on to lights. Many decorations were even made of tissue paper, cotton and even dangerous celluloid. It was even recommended that
Santa Claus costumes be dipped in a solution of phosphate of ammonia and water, as Santa would be in close proximity to the tree branches, pulling gifts and talking to children.
“A house of merriment is better than a house of mourning” trumpeted one early campaign.
sweetmeats, and oranges—were tucked into the foliage rather than left beneath. Some trees were rigged to revolve, creating a mini spectacle of light and shadow. When the candles burned out, children would rush the tree to collect their presents. Trees were often perched in sand-filled tubs or boxes, occasionally draped with green felt for a touch of festive decor.
The rise of electricity in the late 19th century brought the first major innovations to the Christmas tree. The tradition of cutting trees for decoration had gained traction in North America during the 1860s and 1870s, tracing its roots to 16th-century Germany. By the early 1880s, towering trees—sometimes 30 feet tall—appeared in churches and schools, while smaller trees sold in grocery stores for fifty cents to a few dollars. Critics sometimes decried the wastefulness of cutting down trees for decoration, though supporters argued that the joy of children was worth the small cost.
Entrepreneurs were quick to experiment with artificial trees—safer, reusable, and perfect for embracing new technology. In 1878, the first patent for an artificial tree was filed in New York City. John George Wolf’s design pumped gas through the tree’s stem to small burners on ten branches, intended for shop windows and homes alike. The gas tree never caught on, but by 1882, a company in Troy, New York, was producing artificial Christmas trees,
That same year, electric lights made their first appearance on a Christmas tree. Thomas Edison had only recently perfected a practical bulb, and Edward Johnson, vice president of the Edison Electric Light Company, lit his tree in New York City with 80 red, white, and blue bulbs, attracting crowds to his front window. Wealthy households followed suit, though each bulb required an expensive electrician to wire it—and remain on call for emergencies. The trend reached the national stage when U.S. President Grover Cleveland installed the first electrically lit tree in the White House in 1895.
In those early days, Christmas trees were often petite, tabletop versions. Candles were nestled among the branches, sometimes hidden behind paper decorations.
Strings of popcorn and cranberries wound their way around the tree, while small gifts—boxes of candy, nuts,
Ottawa embraced the new technology quickly. The city’s first known electric tree appeared in 1898 at the Anglesea Square Anglican Mission Hall, delighting over 100 children. But the use of electricity in holiday displays predated that: in 1891, St. Patrick’s Church on Kent Street arranged electric lights in the shape of an asterisk, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem. By 1894, the church had decorated its altar with 300 lights for midnight mass.
Businesses also seized on the possibilities of electric lighting. In 1895, Olmsted and Hurdman on Sparks Street boasted “judicious arrangements of electric lights” inside their store, and Bryson, Graham Ltd. reportedly hung a row of colored bulbs along their building in 1909. Community trees began to emerge,
1.
CREDIT: CITY OF OTTAWA ARCHIVES
2. Santa Claus arrives in Ottawa on Dec. 24, 1896.
CREDIT: BYTOWN MUSEUM
3. A Toronto Star clipping from Dec. 11, 1919, promoting Christmas lights on trees over candles.
too. In 1918, the Rotary Club erected a massive tree on the Plaza between the Chateau Laurier and Union Station. It contained “chains of little electric lights threaded through its branches” and “surmounted by a large electrically-lighted star”.
Santa himself took advantage of the
technological advances, and starting in 1896 began touring the city on Christmas Eve, distributing thousands of oranges to children, in what was to become the first ever Ottawa Christmas parade. The parade reached as far west as near Preston and Albert Streets, where the streetcar looped into LeBreton Flats. Two years later, in 1898, Christmas lights were used to decorate Santa’s streetcar, “312 tiny lamps, giving it the appearance of a moving ball of fire”, reported the Citizen.
Not surprisingly, Ahearn & Soper, founders of the Ottawa Electric Railway, were the first to advertise electric Christmas tree decorations in Ottawa, promoting “miniature electric lamps for window and Christmas tree” in 1903.
There were also sold at the time, “fireproof sparklers” which could be “twisted on the branches without trouble and can be replenished many times a day”. (Though they turned out to be not quite so fireproof).
The electrification of Christmas even prompted Popular Electricity magazine to run a poem on the topic on the back cover of its November 1908 issue.
During WWI, six major manufacturers came to an agreement to standardize wall plug designs, and thus the widespread use of the two-pronged plug came soon after. Older homes installed these simple wall sockets, while all new homes of the 1920s would have them. This enabled mass production of easy-plug light sets, and other electric decorations, which were increasingly affordable. Electric tree light sets were available under $2 in shops in
Ottawa and the west end by 1925, and less than a dollar by 1931.
Christmas tree lights and electric decorations exploded in popularity during this period, and continued to grow particularly after WWII.
Artificial trees, however, remained uncommon until wartime restrictions encouraged their adoption. During WWII, Ontario limited the transport of live trees, prompting predictions that artificial trees would outnumber real ones for Christmas 1943. After the war, convenience kept artificial trees in many homes, even as Canada’s tree industry thrived. By 1946, the country exported 18 million trees, valued at $1.3 million—equivalent to $22 million today.
Meanwhile, companies such as NOMA (originally the National Outfit Manufacturers Association) pioneered innovations in holiday lighting. Interconnectable strings, rubber cords, and the iconic Bubble Lites transformed both indoor and outdoor displays. Other decorations evolved too: tinsel shifted from hazardous lead foil to safe plastic, ornaments became more durable, Christmas villages gained popularity in the 1970s, and LEDs enabled intricate automated displays.
Through all these changes, tradition persisted. Many families still delight in cutting down a fresh tree or arranging handmade ornaments, yet the embrace of new technology has long been part of the Christmas spirit—a holiday trait that, as history shows, is nearly as old as the celebration itself.
The Robert Haldane Cram family at their Bank Street home in 1890.
In that same news release, HART Hubs are described as offering a range of services—just not safe consumption, safe supply, or clean needle supply.
Inside Somerset West’s new HART Hub
The realities behind Ontario’s new addiction treatment model
BY AMANDA MCLEOD
On a rainy, cold November afternoon, people gather outside the Somerset West Community Health Centre to use illicit drugs — a direct result of the supervised consumption site’s closure. Those who stay on the property do so because nurses inside can respond to overdoses with naloxone, unlike incidents that happen across the street or throughout Chinatown, where paramedics take over.
Somerset West is one of more than two dozen clinics across Ontario forced to pivot from supervised consumption to the province’s new HART Hub (Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment)
model — part of a sweeping legislative shift that is reshaping how drug use, harm reduction, and recovery are handled on the ground.
The change came after the Ontario government passed the Community Care and Recovery Act, part of the larger Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act, known as Bill 223.
The legislation bans supervised consumption sites within 200 metres of schools or child-care facilities, restricts municipalities from establishing or supporting SCSs, and prevents them from seeking federal drug possession exemptions without provincial approval.
Shawna Thibodeau, a local Ottawa community support worker, says that since the closure of the SCS at Somerset West there’s been a noticeable difference in the neighbourhood.
“You didn't always see the people who were using. If they were inside, you didn't
see them using—you saw the after-effects. You saw them outside afterward, but you didn't see them using as much,” she said.
“I fear for their safety. The overdose thing, the dirty drugs—I fear that if they're not in a safe consumption area, that more and more regular people are going to start seeing what [SCSs] used to hide. I've got friends on the inside who talk about the overdoses and the body bags.”
INCREASED POLICING
Her concerns are unfolding at the same time as the neighbourhood is absorbing other pressures, such as increased police activity in neighbouring parts of the city.
In June 2024, Ottawa Police opened the Neighbourhood Operations Centre (NOC) at 50 Rideau Street, part of the force’s Community Outreach, Response and Engagement (CORE) strategy. The new unit focuses on deterring and preventing crime in areas facing persistent safety concerns. A year later, in July 2025, police announced an expanded summer presence in the ByWard Market and Downtown Rideau, targeting crime and what they called “social disorder.”
The initiative drew praise from the ByWard Market District Authority (BMDA). Vice-Chair Suzanne Valiquet told City Council on June 25, 2025, that both businesses and residents felt safer with a stronger police presence in the district.
But what was welcomed downtown has created a cascade of unintended consequences just a few blocks west, say residents.
“The City of Ottawa last year identified eight hotspots in the ByWard and Sandy
Hill area,” said Garvin Snider, who lives in the Chinatown area. “So they increased the police presence there and put the satellite police office in the Rideau Centre. Some of the unintended consequences were that it pushed people down this way.”
Snider also expressed concerns about a shortage in available services since Somerset West transitioned from an SCS to a HART Hub.
“You can go there and get a sandwich, you can get a little cup of water, but you can only have a shower there if there's enough staff—and most of the time there's not enough staff.”
AN INCREASE IN FUNDING
Ontario’s provincial government has promised $529 million for the creation of 27 HART Hubs across the province, with Somerset West being one of the first to receive approval from the Ministry of Health confirming their required Business Transition Plan had been approved.
In a Jan. 2, 2025, news release, the province stated: “These hubs will be eligible, on average, to receive up to four times more funding to support treatment and recovery under the model than they receive from the province as a consumption site. To assist with transitioning, the sites will also receive one-time funding for start-up costs.”
Alongside that commitment, under the province’s Roadmap to Wellness, is a further $3.8 billion over 10 years to go towards creating new services and programs for mental health and addictions care.
“HART Hubs, similar to existing hub models in Ontario that have successfully provided people with care, will reflect regional priorities by connecting people with complex needs to comprehensive treatment and preventative services. These include a range of services to meet local needs such as primary care, mental health services including addiction care and support, social services, and employment support.”
Part of the goal of a HART Hub is to provide addiction and recovery beds and supportive housing units, with the long-term goal of transitioning people into independent, stable housing.
USING THE WRAPAROUND CARE MODEL
While each HART Hub will operate a bit differently depending on the specific needs of their clients, Derrick St. John, Director of Supportive Housing and Substance Use Health at Somerset West, says its supports are based on the wraparound care model.
“Community health clinics are so well positioned, because this is the kind of work that CHCs have always been doing—that hub-and-spoke model. A community health center is the hub, and we try to do as much as we can internally, and then point people in the right direction,” said St. John.
“We’re open 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., six days a week, and we open at noon on Thursdays. And literally, someone comes to the back door, they ring the doorbell and ‘Hey, I’m here for HART Hub,’ they walk in, and we ask ‘How can I help you?’ ‘Oh, I just want a sandwich and a shower.’ ‘Okay, have a seat here. We'll have our person get that for you.’”
If a client needs to see a counsellor, a nurse, someone to help with housing intake, or even help with their taxes, it’s all offered on-site, says St. John.
“The nurse sees the patient and asks, ‘Do you have a family doctor?’ and if not, we could provide you with one if you identify as having mental health or
substance-abuse issues.”
“If we need a psychiatrist, we have to outsource that. But if we need a family doctor, well, our clinic is nurse practitioner–based and we have that inhouse. We have our counselors in-house, we have systems navigators, and a housing case manager on-site.”
St. John acknowledges it’s still not a perfect model and the complexities of addiction make it difficult at times to quantify what success looks like.
“We're seeing people in terms of [addiction] where their substance-use gauge is buried, right? Substance abuse is really the main thing in their life. So if we can work with people and take that gauge and move it [to the middle]—and it’s not necessarily based on abstinence, knowing that recovery looks different to everyone— if it’s at a level where that person is able to establish goals, ‘I’m talking to a friend, I saw my kid’... that’s success, right?”
The question of abstinence is one that critics of the province’s move to HART Hubs have also levelled, with some concerned that funding of the new model is tied to clinics using abstinence-only programming.
St. John clarified: “Currently we’re not hearing anything about abstinence or mandatory treatment, but I don’t know what the future is.”
For now, says St. John, Somerset West is determined to deliver the full range of care available under the mandate they’ve been given by the province.
“We don’t have all the answers. But we truly need people to be invested in this at all levels and to support what's happening to the workforce, for housing, addiction, mental health, social services. And we also need that long-term investment in families and health and healthy communities so that people are not isolated.”
Theresa Kavanagh
Ottawa City Councillor
Bay Ward
110 Laurier Ave. West
Ottawa ON K1P 1J1
Tel: 613-580-2477
bayward@ottawa.ca
3-1-1 for City Services
Overdose calls are up in Somerset
While the Ontario government closed safe consumption sites near schools and daycares to keep illegal drug use away from children, data from the City of Ottawa shows overdose calls to paramedics in the Somerset area are actually up 19 per cent.
Between March 1 and Sept. 30, 2024, there were 89 overdose calls to paramedics. During the same period this year, that number sits at 106 calls.
The data includes Anderson Street to Somerset Street West, Eccles Street from Booth Street to LeBreton Street North, LeBreton Street North from Somerset Street West to Eccles Street, and Somerset Street West from Booth Street to LeBreton Street North.
Top: The Somerset West Community Health Centre was forced to close their safe consumption site and open a HART Hub in April.
Beyond overdoses, area Coun. Ariel Troster has said the safe consumption site closure has led to “an explosion” of opioid use throughout the Chinatown community. She said examples have included a mother finding needles in her child’s stroller and a business owner being pricked with a needle while gardening outside his business.
Conseillère municipale d’Ottawa Quartier Baie
110 av. Laurier Ouest
Ottawa ON K1P 1J1
Tél: 613-580-2477
bayward@ottawa.ca
3-1-1 pour services municipaux
Wishing you all the best this Holiday season
Nous vous souhaitons un merveilleux temps des fêtes
Insert: Derrick St. John is Director of Supportive Housing and Substance Use Health at the Somerset West Community Health Centre.
PHOTO BY AMANDA MCLEOD.
PHOTO BY KEITO NEWMAN.
The centre provides support through the wraparound care mode. PHOTO BY AMANDA MCLEOD.
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The Booksellers’ List is Canada’s newest way to discover must-read books, chosen by the people who know them best—independent booksellers. Scan QR code to see the entire list.
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Close to Home Black in Blues Vanished Beyond the Map
we see the most may well be the ones we know the least.
A meditation on the color blue and its fascinating role in Black history and culture, tracing both blue and Blackness from their earliest roots to their embodimentsmany of contemporary culture.
to the second annual Spaniel’s Tale Holiday Gift Guide! Like last year, we’ve searched long and hard for the books we think will make the best holiday gifts for your friends, family, and colleagues. In this guide, you will find 161 titles, all published this year, many of which you won’t find in any other gift guide. Well over 50% of the titles we’ve chosen are written by Canadian authors, and over 40% are published by Canadian publishers. We hope these thoughtful choices will help you find the perfect gifts. From all of us at The Spaniel’s Tale Bookstore, we wish you a wonderful holiday season and a joyous new year!
Sunrise on the Reaping
Royal Heirs Academy Buffalo Hunter Hunter
The Witch of Willow Sound
Alchemised
Robot Island
Puzzling Murder One Golden Summer The Retirement Plan
Suzanne Collins
Lindsey Duga Stephen Graham Jones
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This highly anticipated follow-up to The Will of the Many follows Vis as he grapples with a dangerous secret that could unravel history across alternate dimensions.
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FOOD AND DRINK
Wellington West chef wins Kitchen Party 2025
Jason
Sawision will now go on to the the 2026
Canadian Culinary Championship in January
BY CHARLIE SENACK
Wellington West chef Jason Sawision, co-owner of Stofa, is preparing for one of the biggest moments of his career after capturing gold at the Ottawa edition of Canada’s Great Kitchen Party this fall.
The victory, awarded at a competition at Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine on Sept. 22, also earned him the People’s Choice Award and a spot at the Canadian Culinary Championship in January. The four other chefs he was up against included: Simon Beaudry from Les Fougères, Michael Hauschild from InHaus Cooking, Mitch Lacombe from Gitanes, and Simon Laroche from Restaurant Caméline.
Sawision has become a familiar face in Ottawa’s dining scene, but the roots of his culinary life stretch back to his early years.
“I think I was always surrounded by cooking when I was a young kid and loved helping out in the kitchen,” he told KT.
As he grew older and found his way into professional kitchens, he discovered he thrived there. “I liked the closeness of which the entire team works together. The fast pace… I really enjoy a bit of a high pressure situation during service.”
Originally from the Toronto area, Sawision moved to Ottawa when his wife began her master’s degree here nearly two decades ago.
Working at Atelier for seven years
Jason Sawision, who is the co-owner of the Stofa Restaurant on Wellington Street W, will compete at the Canadian Culinary Championship in January. PROVIDED PHOTOS.
offer food that was imaginative without formality.
helped deepen his creative instincts and sharpen the idea of what his own restaurant could be. When an appealing space opened in Wellington West about eight years ago, he decided to take the plunge.
“Wellington West has got a large grouping of really, really good restaurants, maybe some of the best in the city… It feels like a neighbourhood, so that was also very attractive.”
Stofa emerged from Sawision’s desire to
“We call it contemporary Canadian and I guess fine dining,” he said. “Modern décor, high-end service, but fun and creative food.”
There’s no single cuisine guiding the menu. Instead, he draws on flavours that interest him and on the places he’s worked. “It’s a bit of a mixed bag of flavours, but we’ve seemed to find a style that kind of represents this place and represents what we wanted to show.”
That spirit was at the heart of the dish that brought him to the top of the podium this year. Judges from across the national culinary community praised his plate of
seared scallops with almond pudding, green tomato and mango salsa, poblano pepper sauce and a tortilla tuile, paired with a Fumé Blanc from Niagara.
“There were some really, really exceptional dishes in Ottawa tonight,” said National Head Judge Chris Johns, according to a press release. “It’s as good a competition as I have ever seen in this city.”
Sawision is now turning his attention toward the national championships, which take place in Ottawa on Jan. 30 and 31.
“I’ve competed at the national event before, so I know that it’s a really well received event and it’s a lot of fun and brings a lot of, you know, really excellent chefs together,” he said. “We’re really excited to represent Ottawa.”
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When our family ar rived in Canada two years ago, we car ried more than luggage we car ried a vision We didn’t just want to start over; we wanted to create something meaningful for the community that welcomed us. With long nights in the kitchen, countless recipes per fected from scratch, and the support of our neighbours, we opened L avender Pastr y & Café just one year after ar riving. This month, we proudly celebrated our first anniversar y.
At L avender Pastr y, we blend Persian-inspired flavors with a light, fresh approach to pastr y-making, using local ingredients and handmade techniques We believe food can connect cultures, spark conversations, and bring people closer
Like many newcomers, our jour ney came with challenges: lear ning a new culture, navigating regulations, and building a business from the ground up. But rather than focusing on obstacles, we chose creativity, resilience, and contribution
Thank you, Canada, for embracing us with such war mth. We’re honored to be part of this community and e xcited for what comes ne xt.
L avender pastr y family
Kitchissippi experts offer tips to thriving this holiday season
BY ANITA GRACE
December is a busy month. Holiday parties, school concerts, family get-togethers… it can all become a little much.
“Women especially really burn themselves out during the holidays trying to make everything perfect for everyone else,” notes Kate Laird, owner and founder of Love Your BodyFitness.
To help offset some of the holiday season stress, KitchissippiTimes reached out to local experts in the community for some advice on home decorating, gift giving, and personal well-being.
DECORATING
When it comes to decorating for the holidays, Lisa Silfwerbrand, owner of Recreated Designs in Hintonburg, encourages people to make use of what they already have.
“Sometimes the most charming displays come from the simplest things,” she says, “like turning a vintage teacup into a tiny winter scene.”
Silfwerbrand adds that decorating doesn’t have to cost a lot to feel special. “With a little creativity and imagination, you can transform everyday items into beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces that make your home feel cozy, personal, and full of holiday magic.”
MAKE GIVING MEANINGFUL
Gift giving is a big part of the holiday season for many people. Gareth Davies, owner of Maker House, encourages people to be intentional about the gifts they buy. “A gift that has a story you’re proud to tell makes the holidays more fun and meaningful for everyone,” he says.
Maker House offers gifts that support local artisans and give back to the community. Not only are you buying Canadian, two percent of all sales go back into community organizations, supporting
the local economy and local makers.
“We try to carry functional items,” Davies adds, “things that will be used for years to come.”
Davies also suggests finding winter activities you can enjoy whether indoors or outside. “We carry lots of DIY craft kids that are awesome activities, or puzzles or games,” noting they have both solitary games and activities to do with friends and family.
Cole Davidson, owner of The Spaniel’s Tale bookstore, says his best advice is to shop early, especially if there is something specific you have in mind. But if you’re not sure exactly what to buy, he is still confident that there is a book for everyone. Booksellers are very used to helping people find the right gift (see their recommended titles in the Kitchissippi Holiday Gift Guide on pages 21-28).
For last-minute shoppers, gift cards are always an option. But Davidson recommends book subscriptions, which are more personal and unique. The Spaniel’s Tale has options for the recipient to receive staff-selected books every three, six, or 12 months. Audio book subscriptions can also make great gifts since there is a large variety of titles available.
But if you’re truly stumped for gift ideas, Dave Adams, founder of the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail, offers a wise reminder. “The best gift you can give anyone is your time,” he says. “It’s not the material things.”
Of course, Adams adds the gift of time can include a shared outing on the Winter Trail. “You don’t have to have special equipment,” he notes. “Just get out there.”
PRIORITIZE YOUR WELL-BEING
In her sunny Westboro gym, Kaite Laird echoes the advice to keep active during the holidays. She acknowledges that with kids off school, holiday travel, and outof-town guests, finding time to exercise can be a challenge. So she encourages her clients to identify what’s essential for their well-being and make room for that in their schedule. This could mean asking for help with the kids or booking travel accommodations in a place with a gym or accessible activities.
Laird also encourages people to pay attention to nutrition. During the holidays, it is so easy to overindulge. There is the added risk that you think you’ve ruined all your nutritional goals and there is no point in doing anything about it until January.
“I recommend another approach,” Laird says. “Avoid the all or nothing mentality. It’s okay to have some treats.
But keep up with your nutrition the rest of the time.”
Over the course of a year, Laid notes, you may be aiming for about 80 percent good food and about 20 percent fun treats. During December there is usually more going into the funbucket, and in January a little more in the healthy bucket. Keeping a broader perspective on your goals can help avoid the fear that you’ve blown it all after a few holiday celebrations.
If you know you’re going to a party in the evening, Laird advises, prioritize
a healthy breakfast, lunch and snack. "Having protein during the day can help reduce sugar cravings and absorb alcohol.” She adds that it is important to pay attention to how alcohol impacts your body and your sleep. Too often people come out of the holidays more sleep-deprived than when they started. Taking steps to prioritize sleep can really help avoid post-holiday exhaustion.
Finally, she adds, remember to say no to things so you can prioritize your time the way you need in order to leave the
2. Gareth Davies is owner of Maker House in Wellington West. PROVIDED PHOTO.
3. The Spaniels Tale has many book options. PROVIDED PHOTO.
4. Dave Adams is Groomer of the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail. PHOTO BY CHARLIE SENACK.
5. Kate Laird is owner of Westboro’s Love Your Body Fitness. PHOTO BY ANITA GRACE.
1. Recreated Designs is located in Hintonburg. PHOTO BY ANITA GRACE.
Shakesphere comes to Wellington West Parkdale
Orchestra
gears up for next performance in January
BY CHARLIE SENACK
It’s a chilly evening just after rush hour on Wellington Street West, and musicians begin slipping through the side doors of Parkdale United Church.
Cellists cradle their cases, woodwind players warm reeds between their palms, and violinists flex their bows. Soon, the sound of rich, resonant music begins to drift from the church basement and spill onto the street outside.
For oboist Yvo De Jong, who lives only a few blocks away, this weekly ritual has been part of his life for more than two decades. Originally from the Netherlands, De Jong moved to Ottawa when a good job in radio propagation science brought him to the city. The Parkdale Orchestra, he says, is woven into the rhythm of his neighbourhood.
“First of all, the social aspect—I like seeing my friends on a weekly basis and actually doing an enjoyable activity
interpretations of Shakespeare: Prokofiev’s fiery Romeo and Juliet, Mendelssohn’s whimsical A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Dvořák’s sweeping Othello overture. Across the evening, listeners drift from balcony scenes to enchanted forests to the shadowed intensity of Venetian tragedy— without ever leaving the church pews.
Music Director John Kraus said audiences can expect a journey through contrasting moods and textures: Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet pulses with dramatic tension, capturing the skirmishes and secret rendezvous of the star-crossed lovers; Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream sparkles with light, whimsical melodies that conjure fairies and enchanted forests; and Dvořák’s Othellooverture swells with dark, romantic intensity, immersing listeners in the emotional storms of Venetian tragedy.
“We’re going to be presenting Prokofiev’s second suite from Romeo and Juliet… We’re also going to be presenting incidental music from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. And then a concert overture by Dvořák—the Othello concert overture,” said Kraus.
Kraus, now in his fourth season with Parkdale, has helped shape the orchestra’s upward momentum since returning from the long pause of the pandemic—something De Jong has witnessed firsthand.
“We have improved quite a bit since 20 years ago… and under John Kraus, our new music director, I think we’re continuing that upward trajectory,” said De Jong. “Since we’re all back together, that upward trajectory is back and we’re better than ever, I think.”
with these people. It’s very collaborative, playing in an orchestra,” said De Jong. “And being able to play some of the music you love yourself is just very satisfying.”
That collective spirit is at the heart of the orchestra’s next major performance, Shakespeare in Music, set for January 31.
It’s a program that moves boldly through three distinct musical
Kraus brings a curious, exploratory approach to programming, often blending classic repertoire with works by Canadian and contemporary composers—a philosophy De Jong quickly noticed.
“John likes to play Canadian composers… female composers… Indigenous and world music. So these are things that are probably different under him,” said De Jong.
That blend of tradition and discovery will retake centre stage in the spring. The orchestra’s May concert, titled Water, will feature local composer Christine Donkin’s evocative work Canoe Legends, paired with
Parkdale Orchestra rehearses in Tape Hall at Parkdale United Church in Ottawa on Tuesday, Oct. 14 2025. ALL PHOTOS BY KEITO NEWMAN.
I like seeing my friends on a weekly basis and actually doing an enjoyable activity with these people.
— YVO DE JONG
Dvořák’s The Water Goblin and Debussy’s La Mer. For Kraus, Donkin’s music represents the kind of Canadian storytelling he wants to bring forward more often.
“The piece Canoe Legends hasn’t been played since. It’s a real shame because it’s a beautiful work… My mantra would be we’ve got to look from within and find local things, find current things and put that together with some of the chestnuts,” said Kraus.
Despite the orchestra’s ambition, both musicians stress that Parkdale remains a welcoming, volunteer-driven ensemble—
one that offers space for players to grow, connect, and even rediscover their musical identities.
For De Jong, who plays the oboe—the instrument responsible for giving the tuning note before each concert—it’s a rare place where he can step outside his normally introverted self.
“In normal life, I’m slightly introverted, but as an oboist, you get to play solos where you can shine and express yourself. That’s different from my normal life,” he said, laughing.
Kraus, a longtime educator, sees that transformation in many of his players.
“My mantra was to give opportunities to people to experience something that I have a passion for. Being able to share good music with people—I hope they will appreciate and treasure it and maybe go on and share it with somebody else,” he said.
And while the orchestra has grown stronger in recent years, one thing hasn’t changed: its openness. Kraus said new musicians of all levels are always welcome.
“We are always looking for musicians… I would encourage people to find an artistic outlet… it will change you as an individual as well,” said Kraus.
Grassroots seed library grows movement for native plant gardening in Ottawa
BY AMANDA MCLEOD
On a chilly Sunday in late October, a group of about 20 volunteers gathered at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden for an afternoon of cleaning and packing native species seeds.
Organized and hosted by the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library (OWSL), the gathering was part of a series of events taking place during the fall harvest season. A local grassroots organization, OWSL is dedicated to the promotion of native plant gardening.
In October 2020, Mélanie Ouellette, chairperson and founder of OWSL, found herself moved towards social action after watching a YouTube lecture by botanist and author Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer.
At the end of the lecture, an audience member asked Kimmerer how people could help in a time when “the world is on fire.”
Kimmerer answered: “List your talents and follow your passions.”
Ouellette had been searching for ways to volunteer in her local community in a way that aligned with issues she felt passionate about.
“So, that night, that’s basically what I did. I had planted my first native plants in May, and it brought me so much joy to see the impact it was having on the ecosystem. And I wanted to do something for Indigenous reconciliation, and I wanted to work with women and help get them into roles of leadership. I was thinking about all that and had listed the stuff I had done in the past - my background in International Development and an MBA.”
While mulling over these factors, Ouellette came up with the idea of a seed library composed of native wildflower species. While seed libraries are not a new
concept, Ouellette hadn’t come across any dedicated exclusively to native species, particularly with a focus on Indigenous practices of matrilineal leadership and environmental stewardship.
After sketching out a plan of action, Ouellette created a Facebook group and webpage in order to share educational resources, then began her search for native species seeds.
“I went on Facebook to gather people that were my early adopters to give me seeds for free. And then I learned how to pack envelopes. Because it was COVID, I mailed them for free to people - like 200 people.
“That's kind of how I got started. And then as the years progressed, we're getting more and more people involved, and a lot of people pay it forward. So it keeps growing and growing and growing every year,” she said.
Ouellette said she’s been fortunate to have a friend of Métis heritage advising her on how to observe Indigenous practices of seed harvesting and community.
“He’s been helping me to set up Indigenous principles. And he told me that for Indigenous people, plants and animals are called relatives. All relatives include plants, include animals, and an elder is somebody that knows all the relatives. Our [OWLS’s] education has expanded to include the whole ecosystem so that people know their relatives and know why we need native plants.”
Ouellette also stresses the importance of working with local Indigenous groups.
“We’ve been helping the Kichi Zibi Nation to have native plants and we’ve done winter sowing workshops with them. And we’re also working with them to rename the plants - they have an elder committee that is looking at renaming the plants because the [Indigenous] names have been lost. We’re really trying to foster a local [relationship] because we are living and working on their territory.”
In its fifth anniversary year, OWSL has grown into a thriving network of volunteers, including Lindsay Kuch, who speaks to the value of the community.
“I had recently moved to Ottawa and wanted more plants. As someone living in an urban setting, we don't always have enough space for all the plants we'd like. So I thought, OK, I'll get into outside
Left: Volunteers sort through the seeds. Right: Seed packs ready to be distributed. Insert: OWSL secretary Margaret Unger. ALL PHOTOS BY AMANDA MCLEOD.
plants, and I showed up to one of their native seed giveaways at Tom Brown Arena last year - November sometime. And it was the most welcoming, supportive community event I think I'd ever been to. Everyone was so warm and friendly and knowledgeable.”
While she packs seeds in the room filled with other volunteers, Kuch describes the changes she’s noticed in herself as a result of her involvement with the group.
“It's really opened up the world of appreciating nature and biodiversity for me. Because of this I've gotten into birding, and now I'm ID’ing a whole bunch of plants and birds. I went back home to see my parents this summer and I’m a completely different person - suddenly I'm into ecology, you know?”
“Appreciation for one species turns into appreciation for many, and you learn about the various bugs and birds that benefit from some of these keystone species,” Kuch said.
Kuch’s experience is reflected in the three pillars, or core values, that the OWSL has laid out as its guideposts.
Listed on the organization’s website they offer a simple yet engaging mandate: to provide free access to seeds, to teach people about gardening responsibly, and to ask seed recipients to reciprocate the gift of nature.
In addition to the pillars, the website details the many offerings that OWSL provides - from seed giveaways to volunteering opportunities, and from instructions on setting up a garden to how to deal with invasive species, the organization shares both education resources and opportunities for involvement.
Every autumn, the OWSL hosts seed giveaways of plants located across the Ottawa region where members of the public can pick up free seed packets filled with a variety of native species - wild bergamot, dense blazing-star, hairy beardtongue and many more.
The species are all detailed in the OWSL’s newly launched seed catalogue. Composed entirely of plants native to Ontario, the seed catalogue adheres to the Database of Vascular Plants of Canada (VASCAN).
Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library Plant Catalogue
At these giveaways, as well at other events throughout the year, OWSL ensures that members are on hand to answer questions and help educate attendees.
“At every seed event we have a wonderful scientist showing you the very easy process of seeds into a pot outside, into the snowbanks of the winter. They’re not for sowing, sprinkling haphazardly, and not for spraying either - putting them into pots over the winter gets you the highest germination,” says board member Bonnie Seguin.
When gathering seeds, OWSL encourages a policy more akin to spot harvesting rather than clearcutting.
“We have ethical guidelines on how to harvest in the wild. Not more than 10 per cent, don’t take the first or the last one, and [only] harvest when the population is more than 25. These are based on Indigenous principles of honourable harvesting,” says Ouellette.
OWSL also adheres to a policy of using fully native plants, as opposed to cultivars - species that have been bred to enhance or reduce certain traits.
Margate Unger, OWSL Secretary and board member, explains: “Cultivars are when the horticultural industry takes a plant and finds some attribute of it to make it more likeable to humans. There are cultivars that may focus on bringing out a specific colour of the leaves, or they might make a tall plant short.”
“Sometimes insects don’t even recognize (spelling) the plants. Or the double blooms, [the insects] can’t even get into the nectar, into the pollen, because it’s too crowded with petals,” says Unger.
“Or because you focused on particular genetics, that particular set has, maybe, 50 per cent less
nectar. And you’re just repeating that, and so you end up with a plant that is completely useless to the beneficial insects that evolved with the plant.”
Experts say maintaining a diverse environment is key to sustainability.
Renate Sangier-Regier, a professor in the University of Ottawa’s Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, emphasizes the importance of biodiversity, particularly in environments that are experiencing increasing extremes.
“Native plants tend to have a deep root system, so they can survive dry periods without much help - especially if they get established. There was a study that looked at many different ecosystems to determine which plants are the most important. And they realized that all plants play roles. There are plants that are very common…and then there are other plants that are perhaps not as common. So one might think that they're not as important, but they play essential roles when it's really dry or when it's really wet. So everybody has a role to play.”
The similarities between OWSL’s mandate and nature’s architecture are clear in everything Ouellette shares about the organization, demonstrating that the work the organization does is about both community and plants.
“When I have seed packing events or envelope making events, that’s what I like to see almost as much as packing all those seeds - seeing people meet the stranger and talking with them. And everybody’s very gentle with each other, so meeting the stranger is kind of nice. And I’m proud that we offer those kinds of opportunities.”
Run Like a Girl: Catherine McKenna on politics, harassment, and making change
BY CHARLIE SENACK
Catherine McKenna is someone who entered federal politics in 2015 for all the right reasons. She wanted to change the world, leave a greener planet for future generations, and empower young women to stand up and make a difference. Little did she know that activism would lead to Barbie dolls sent by strangers and sexist comments from opposition MPs.
McKenna recently penned her new memoir, Run Like a Girl It discusses the toxicity she faced on Parliament Hill and her desire to create more change outside of politics—her goal is to spark something in others.
“I decided to write a book to inspire women and young people because we really need folks to step up and tackle big issues, whether it’s climate change or human rights and democracy,” McKenna said in a recent interview with KT.
Rather than a traditional political memoir, Run Like a Girl is built like a scrapbook. McKenna’s chapters weave together objects and images — a gifted Barbie, a flyer from the House of TARG in Ottawa (a place she went to dance with friends when needing a breather), family photos and campaign posters.
Unlike most books, readers don’t have to follow a strict chronological order. They can jump in where they like, flipping between
PHOTO BY KEITO NEWMAN.
her early days and the frontlines of her climate work,
McKenna doesn’t shy away from the darker chapters of her political life. She candidly recounts the organized campaign of online abuse she endured — misogynistic attacks amplified by what she describes as “rage-farming” outlets. She was “Climate Barbie,” she says, in a coordinated effort to diminish her both as a woman and as a politician.
“They named me ‘Climate Barbie’ to make me look like I was some kind of
bimbo … and then they layered on climate denial,” said McKenna.
She recalls one night in New York, returning late from a United Nations meeting, only to find her Twitter feed exploding with insults. The attack was led by Conservative MP Gerry Ritz, who called McKenna the term following a report about targets set out in the Paris climate-change accord not being met by major industrialized nations.
“It was really strange, and I did not expect it. I was trying to do a job. My team was very
protective of me… they said to not call this out,” recalled McKenna.“I just looked at my team, and I said, ‘Sorry, folks, I'm just going to have to answer.’ And I did.”
McKenna responded by tweeting: “Do you use that sexist language about your daughter, mother, sister? We need more women in politics. Your sexist comments won't stop us.”
Her response drew public support. McKenna said fathers would stop her in the street and say thanks for showing kids how to stand up to bullies.
But the threats didn’t stop there. She describes receiving harassing messages, weird parcels in the mail, and even having people yell profanities at her while walking down the street with her kids.
McKenna writes that after significant policy moments, online attacks would escalate, sometimes spilling into real life. She recounts returning home to see a derogatory word used to describe female genitalia scribbled on her campaign office. Men would stand outside her Ottawa Centre home, take selfies, and post them online as trophies. On Twitter, a meme circulated of a Barbie doll being crushed by a sledgehammer. Another one had the message, ‘Tick Tock, Barbie Bitch.’
When the incidents first began, McKenna said she was first denied security protection. Despite having a risk assessment done, she was denied the opportunity to read it.
McKenna says she thought long and hard about including all of this in her book. She insists it’s not for sympathy. Instead, it’s a call for change — not just in politics, but in how we treat public servants, especially women.
“I think there’s a bunch of things we can do … we need to protect politicians. … We need these social media companies … and
Catherine McKenna has written a book about her experiences in politics and fighting climate change.
Mingling of fact and fiction defines who we are
BY BLAINE MARCHAND
There is a popular saying that every family has a story. And for this we should be thankful that Ottawa writer (and a former long-term resident of Kitchissippi), Barbara Sibbald, skillfully recaptures for us her maternal family’s tale in AlmostEnglish, published this autumn by Calgary’s Bayeux Arts. Not surprising, given that she is an accomplished and award-winning journalist and author, it is a captivating and fascinating read.
The novel recounts the life of her great grandparents, Stephen and Lily Turner, who lived in what was then the North West Frontier of India during the Raj period of British colonialism, and is now a province of Pakistan. Stephen was one-quarter Indian, or “not 16 annas to a rupee,” as the derogatory British phrase described people of his heritage. Yet Stephen, who came from a prosperous shipping family, had gone “home” for schooling at Hurstpierpoint College in Britain. At 16, the family business failed, so he and his brothers had to return to India to live in Calcutta in diminished circumstances.
Given his education and upbringing, Stephen was a staunch believer in the
British system. He was certain that his lessons abroad and his innate talents would allow him to escape the usual low-paying and junior civil servant jobs deemed by the Raj as appropriate to his mixed heritage.
Lily and her parents had come from Scotland. Her father, Warrant Officer George Grant, a skilled technical expert whose position brought social status, was opposed to the marriage between Stephen and his daughter. He feared their married life, given Stephen’s background, would be one of continual hardship and poverty. Reluctantly, he agreed that they could marry if they still wished to have a life together after a year’s separation. Stephen remained in Quetta, working on the railroad, while Lily moved with her parents to Jullunder. In the end, after that one year, Lily’s father had to consent to the union, admitting Lily had always been “a headstrong girl.”
Originally, the author had intended to write the book as a work of creative non-fiction. This genre uses literary techniques to create vibrant descriptions within a factual narrative structure. She found, however, that this approach failed to capture the range of emotions that the couple must have gone through
during that historical period in the Indian subcontinent. The story failed to come alive. So, putting aside drafts and redrafts, she decided to turn it into a work of fiction.
Thanks to her mother’s extensive genealogical research on her family and after visiting relatives in the United Kingdom and Canada, as well as taking two trips to India, Barbara gained access to a wealth of letters between Stephen and Lily, particularly a treasure trove of correspondence during the nine-months they were separated later in their marriage when he left the family home in Quetta to help demark the Durand Line separating British India and Afghanistan. There were also caches of photographs of the couple at different periods of time, of their seven children and the homes they lived in as Stephen slowly rose in the positions open to Eurasians. Different family members had treasured sketches and watercolours as well as some antique keepsakes.
In addition, Barbara turned to archives, including the British Library, and read historical periodicals, such as the Imperial Gazetteer of India and The Administration Reports of the Baluchistan Agency (1904/05 to 1911/12). In addition, she consulted Moore's Family Medicine and Hygiene for India, a manual Lily herself used throughout her life. The list of non-fiction and fiction works the author read, cited in the book’s bibliography, is impressive.
Woven into the novel are brief chapters
through which the author “breaks the fourth wall." This is a narrative device, often used in theatre, by which a character speaks directly to the audience. It is a way to acknowledge or reinforce the central theme. In this case, these brief interstices allow Barbara to narrate and reveal her personal search for her own place in the world and how she identifies within her family and the community in which she moves.
All of this has enriched her novel. It is a remarkable book and a truly readable one. The nuanced depths the author gives to her characters brings them fully to life through their personalities, their strengths, and their weaknesses. It is a tale of two everyday people and the love that carried them through an era of great upheaval and political and social struggle. They are an attractive, likeable couple who, despite every obstacle they encountered, remained stalwart and positive. This quality reminds us that failures and achievements are a constant part of life, whether past or present.
The book captures a period when racism and privilege were rampant in an attempt by heads of states at all levels to keep people below them in their allotted place. Yet it still resonates deeply today as we witness societies where racism and political power manoeuvres threaten to overwhelm.
The book paints the geography of that region well. Baluchistan has a harsh geography and climate. Its people have always been proud, strong and fiercely independent. Still today, crisscrossing its terrain like ghostly reminders, are many of the railways the British constructed for strategic and economic purposes to build and expand the Empire.
In a similar way, this retracing of Stephen and Lily Turner brings to life the past story of the Raj in a unique way. Mingling truth and fiction, it is a reminder that despite all the adversities, family ties can retain the power to sustain, enrich and define who we are, even from beyond the grave.
Copies of Almost English are available at The Spaniel’s Tale bookstore, 1131 Wellington St. The book is $24.95
Blaine Marchand is a local poet and aid worker who has lived in Wellington West most of his life. He visited Afghanistan and Pakistan from 2001- 2008 and then was posted to Pakistan as a diplomat from 2008-2010, during which he travelled to Baluchistan several times.
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Left: Barbara Sibbald has written her family story. Above: The cover of Sibbald’s book. PROVIDED PHOTOS.
A toast to local journalism in Kitchissippi
On November 5, community leaders, partners, and supporters of local journalism came together at Wellington West’s Braumeister Bierhalle to celebrate the Kitchissippi Times and the vital role community news continues to play in our neighbourhoods.
Thanks to those of you who came!
ALL PHOTOS BY KEITO NEWMAN
United Way East Ontario ensuring seniors feel holiday sparkle
Our communities have more seniors than ever before, and for many who live without connection to family or friends, the holiday season can be tough.
Marsha has lived with a disability her entire life. She’s blind, but that’s never stopped her from living independently. As she’s aged, her health needs have increased, and she’s become surrounded by more people whose job it is to take care of her.
At United Way East Ontario, we understand that, just as critical as that extra level of healthcare is for Marsha, so are meaningful friendships—especially during the holidays.
We also know that when the community comes together to help, we can make a real difference in people’s lives.
Thanks to our partnership with ABLE2: Support for People with Disabilities, Marsha doesn’t have to feel alone this season. Powered by United Way, ABLE2’s Enabling Seniors Through Choice program connects Marsha with someone who wants to spend time with her, not because they have to, but because they care about Marsha’s happiness and want to know how she’s doing.
ABLE2 helped introduce Marsha to Meghan, who is technically a volunteer, but views Marsha as her friend.
Meghan invites Marsha to go bowling, swimming, watch Sens games, and step outside her comfort zone.
“I’m happy with the friendship I made with [Meghan], and I enjoy our outings,” says Marsha. “I don’t like to sit around. It helps me come out of my shell and meet other people.”
Meghan says she’s also gained a friend who never forgets her birthday, sings with her, and has become an integral part of her family.
“I think a lot of us have really busy lives with family and friends,” says Meghan. “And some of us take that for granted—how special it is to have people in your life.”
The team at United Way recognizes that preventing loneliness and isolation is key to seniors’ wellbeing.
According to Statistics Canada, nearly 15 per cent of seniors living alone in Ontario live under the poverty line. And when a senior is vulnerable in more ways than one, the challenges they face are even
I’m happy with the friendship I made with Meghan, and I enjoy our outings
—Marsha
greater. Indigenous seniors, women, newcomers, those who have a disability, or members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community are much more likely to feel isolated or experience poor mental health.
Marsha is just one of many local seniors whose lives have been enriched thanks to the support from our donors.
We work with partners across Prescott-Russell, Ottawa, Lanark County, and Renfrew County to power a network of programs offering positive social connection for seniors, keeping them healthy and active in their homes and communities for longer.
Here’s what that looks like:
• We expand day programs for seniors and caregivers.
• We connect those in rural communities with the transportation they need.
• We improve access to healthy food, basic needs, and mental health supports—things like grief and bereavement care, technology training, counselling, and more.
Ontario’s senior population is growing. These local services are a lifeline for so many as the need for community-based support is becoming increasingly important.
United in hope, we can ensure that more seniors like Marsha have the support and companionship they need to live full, connected lives.
This holiday season, your donation to United Way East Ontario will bring joy to those who need it most in your community.
