Kitchissippi Times March 2026 by Great River Media inc.

KITCHISSIPPI

TIMES

Award-winning journalism

BY CHARLIE SENACK

Community newspapers are only as strong as the neighbourhoods they serve.

One thing I’ve always admired about the Kitchissippi catchment is how deeply people here care about their communities.

From Britannia Beach to Chinatown, this is one of the most active and engaged parts of the city. There are street festivals, farmers’ markets, outdoor activities and countless community events. Westboro and Wellington West are home to vibrant shops, cafés and restaurants. Little Italy brings flavours from around the globe, all with an Italian flair.

they’re headed next. As we continue to grow and evolve, we want to hear from you. What kinds of stories are you most interested in reading?

Do you care about new shops and businesses opening in your neighbourhood?

Updates from city hall and development files?

A window into the past through our history columns? Or something else entirely? Send us an email and let us know.

Ad Idea and Best Creative Ad. The equally amazing Tanya Connolly-Holmes won for Best In-House Promotion. I was honoured to once again receive the Stephen Shaw Reporter of the Year Award, along with recognition for Best Heritage Story.

We’ll find out in late April who takes home first, second and third place.

If you value the journalism we do here at KT, please consider scanning the QR code to make a donation. Every dollar goes directly toward supporting local journalism in your community.

Great River Media Inc PO Box 91585

Ottawa ON K1W 1K0

The Kitchissippi Times is an award-winning newspaper that has serviced Westboro, Wellington West, and surrounding communities for the last 20 years. The word Kitchissippi, meaning “great river” in Algonquin, is the former Indigenous name for the Ottawa River.

STORY IDEA? editor@kitchissippi.com twitter.com/kitchissippi

EDITOR

Charlie Senack charlie@kitchissippi.com twitter.com/charlie_senack

CONTRIBUTORS

Amanda McLeod, Keito Newman, Dave Allston, Anita Grace, Anita Murray, Patrick Langston, and Mia Jensen

PROOFREADERS

Susan Rothery

The Kitchissippi Times has been around since 2003, and in that time we’ve told thousands of stories. We’ve served as a kind of time capsule — documenting where our communities began and where

The Kitchissippi Times is also proud to share that we’ve won eight more Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OCNA) Awards. Reporter Amanda McLeod earned recognition for Best Environment Story. Photographer Ellen Bond took home an award for Best Grip and Grin Photo. Our stellar graphic designer Céline Hache-Paquette received awards for Best Use of Colour, Original

And with that, let’s get to the March issue!

If you support our work, please consider donating through the QR code or on Kitchissippi.com While our news is free to read, it is not free to produce.

ADVERTISING SALES

Jennifer Tackaberry 613-696-9482 jennifer@kitchissippi.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tanya Connolly-Holmes creative@greatriver.ca

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Celine Paquette celine@greatriver.ca

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Cheryl Schunk, 613-696-9490 cheryl@greatriver.ca

All other enquiries 613-696-9494 info@kitchissippi.com

DISTRIBUTION

A minimum of 16,000 copies are distributed throughout the Kitchissippi area, from the Ottawa River to Carling Avenue, spanning the Britannia and Preston Street communities. Most residents in this area receive the Kitchissippi Times delivered directly to their door. Copies are also available at the Dovercourt Recreation Centre, Hintonburg Community Centre, Produce Depot and dozens of other convenient pickup locations. If you would like to become a distribution point, please contact us.

DISTRIBUTOR Comet 2000

info@kitchissippi.com

The Kitchissippi Times is published by

FOUNDER PUBLISHER Mark Sutcliffe Michael Curran

Open House Cherry Blossom Celebration

at Wellington West Retirement Community

MARCH 24TH, 2026

Spring is arriving and so is something truly special.

Join us for an elegant Cherry Blossom themed Open House and experience a community where connection, comfort, and vibrant living come beautifully together.

Soft pink blossoms, warm hospitality, and meaningful conversation set the tone for a memorable visit. Enjoy a captivating live performance by acclaimed vocalist Mary-Ellen Shennan, accompanied by the exquisite sounds of the harp a musical experience designed to uplift and inspire.

During your visit, you will:

• Tour our beautifully appointed suites

• Discover inviting lounges and refined dining spaces

• Learn about our independent and assisted living options

• Meet the dedicated team who make every day exceptional

Whether you are planning ahead, supporting a loved one, or simply curious about vibrant senior living in the heart of Hintonburg, this is the perfect moment to explore what the next chapter could look like.

Celebrate spring with us. Celebrate new beginnings. Celebrate living well.

AROUND TOWN

What to do in Ottawa this March

BY CHARLIE SENACK

Spring is almost here and Ottawa is reawakening with activities after a long winter. From St. Patrick’s Day activities to Easter celebrations, here is a list of things you can do around the city over the next couple of weeks.

BLOOD RELATIONS

MAR 4-14 Gladstone Theatre, 910 Gladstone Ave.

This riveting psychological murder mystery is based on the true story of Lizzie Borden, who may or may not have killed her own blood relations in Fall River, Mass., in 1893. The murder remains unsolved. Regular tickets are $42. thegladstone.ca/shows/blood-relations/

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

MAR 7 Downtown Ottawa

Celebrate Irish pride in Ottawa with the 2026 St. Patrick’s Day Parade, transforming downtown into a vibrant sea of shamrocks, music and community spirit. Families, performers and local groups come together for an unforgettable afternoon of pageantry, marching from the Supreme Court of Canada along Wellington Street, up Sussex Drive and concluding in the lively ByWard Market.

BYWARD BEERFEST

MAR 6-7 Lowertown Brewery, 73 York St

Join in the fun at the Lowertown Brewery, located in the vibrant ByWard Market, for a night of beer-filled fun and excitement. Get ready to indulge in a variety of craft beers, delicious food and live entertainment! Each ticket includes four five-ounce samples of our Rotating Taps. Tickets are $6.66. eventbrite.ca/e/byward-beerfest2026-tickets-1982832926660

MAMMOTH

MAR 7 Hard Rock Ottawa Hotel & Casino, 4837 Albion Rd.

GRAMMY Award-nominated musician Wolfgang Van Halen brings his solo project Mammoth to the stage with unmatched energy and musical mastery. Known for his proficiency across drums, bass, keys and guitar, Van Halen delivers arena-size hooks and powerful vocals that set Mammoth apart in today’s rock scene. Audiences can expect a commanding performance showcasing his skill, creativity and distinctive sound. Tickets are $68. ticketmaster.ca/mammoth-the-endtour-ottawa-ontario-03-07-2026/ event/3100637BD06F9FA2

A STREET PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES

MAR 7 National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sussex Dr., and SPAO, 77 Pamilla St.

Explore the art of street photography in a dynamic three-part series inspired by the exhibition Camera and the City. Presented with the SPAO: Photographic Arts Centre, the series offers a tour of the exhibition, a ByWard Market photo walk and a photo critique session. Attend one, two or all

urban landscape. A unique opportunity for photography enthusiasts of all levels. gallery.ca/whats-on/calendar/a-streetphotography-series

SEEDY SATURDAY OTTAWA

MAR 7 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Emmanuel United Church, 691 Smyth Rd.

Swap seeds, shop local vendors and get expert gardening tips. Enjoy talks on water management, bird-friendly yards and more. Meet fellow green thumbs, support local artisans and savour local bites. Free admission and parking. justfood.ca/community-gardeningnetwork/seed-saving-projects-andevents/seedysaturdayottawa/

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OF OTTAWA

MAR 11-22

Canadian Film Institute, 2 Daly Ave.

This year’s Festival provides cinephiles with an eclectic mix of films that have won awards and made waves in the international film circuit over the past year. In IFFO’s Official Selection, programmers curated 22 Canadian and international feature films and select a new Canadian short film to accompany each feature screening. Other film programs in the Festival include the established CFI series Canadian Masters, getting in-depth discussions with some of Canada’s greatest and most prolific filmmakers, and IFFO series The Gaze, which brings the audience into the discussion about diverse representation on screen.

mid-level film professionals at Screen Summit and examine issues of preservation, restoration, distribution and exhibition at SAVE AS.

iffo.ca/

GREAT BOWLS OF FIRE

MAR 14 4 to 6 p.m.

Glebe Community Centre, 175 Third Ave.

Select a beautiful hand-crafted pottery bowl, then choose your favourite soup and breads from some of Ottawa’s best restaurants and bakeries for a delicious take-home meal. Tickets are $58.

ottawaguildofpotters.ca/events-greatbowls-of-fire/

EAST COAST EXPERIENCE

MAR 14 7 p.m.

Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Ave.

Get ready for one of Ottawa’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day concerts. East Coast Experience takes over the Bronson Centre for a high-energy night of Celtic and East Coast tunes. This 19+ event promises an unforgettable night of music and celebration. Tickets are $30 and up. bronsoncentremusictheatre.com/ events/event/east-coast-experience-2/

OTTAWA NOSTALGIA & COLLECTIBLE SHOW

MAR 15 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Ave.

IFFO’s industry conferences address emerging and

More than 50 top dealers exhibit on over 100 tables packed with interesting, hardto-find memorabilia. Dealers include Ed Locke, former appraiser from the Antique Roadshow, Ken Aubrey filmed with his store on Canadian Pickers and Doug Stroud filmed on Pawnathon Canada. antique-shows.ca/nostalgia.HTML

BL_NK

MAR 17-29

Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC), 1233 Wellington St. W

For years, Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour was unable to leave his country, so he developed a stagecraft that allowed his plays to travel without him. Each night a new performer will take on his play full of blanks, opening a script they’ve never seen before. Their performance transforms the script into a story machine to share the life of the playwright, the performer and an audience member. Soleimanpour’s show

invites us to experience how we shape our ideas about people through the stories we tell. Shout, laugh, gasp and collaborate with fellow audience members to write a story that is unique to the people assembled and will never be repeated.

gctc.ca/shows/blnk

OTTAWA HOME AND GARDEN SHOW

MAR 19-22 EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Dr.

A vibrant marketplace where you can shop for home-related products and services, experience stunning displays to help inspire your next home project, connect with industry experts and enjoy informative presentations from renowned local and international home professionals. Tickets are $11 for seniors or children and $12 for adults.

ottawahomeshow.com/

ART OF MURDER

APR 4 MAR 26 to

Gladstone Theatre, 910 Gladstone Ave.

Set in the secluded home of eccentric painters Jack and Annie Brooks, Art of Murder weaves a twisting tale of deception, ambition and betrayal. When their art dealer pays a visit one fateful evening, plans are set in motion that lead to shocking revelations and a wickedly entertaining game of cat and mouse. Filled with razor-sharp dialogue, unexpected turns and a deliciously macabre sense of humour, Art of Murder promises a theatrical experience you won’t forget. Regular tickets are $42.

thegladstone.ca/shows/art-of-murder/

MARCH UPDATES

• Summer Camps and swim lessons

• March Break Camps Mar. 16-20

• Spring Recreation programs (programs begin in April)

• Aquatic leadership and first aid programs

UPCOMING REGISTRATIONS

EASTER ACTIVITIES

EASTER EGG HUNT AT STANLEY’S OLDE MAPLE LANE FARM

MAR 28-29

Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm, 2452 Yorks Corners Rd., Edwards, Ont.

The Easter Bunny’s Helpers need YOUR help! They were having too much fun tasting the sweet maple sap and lost all of their eggs! Hop aboard the tractor-drawn wagon for a ride out to the sugarbush where you will hunt through the bush in search of the lost eggs. If you find any, make sure to add them to your basket. Once you have returned the eggs to the bunnies, they will reward you for your help!

stanleysfarm.com/family-fun/easteregg-hunt/

EASTER EGG HUNT AT VALLEYVIEW LITTLE ANIMAL FARM

APR 3-6 Valleyview Little Animal Farm, 4750 Fallowfield Rd.

Partake in this annual Easter Egg Hunt while enjoying the company of a wide variety of animals and birds up close, such as alpacas to zebus, goats to geese. valleyviewlittleanimalfarm.com/

EASTER MARKET

APR 4 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Carp Fairgrounds, 3790 Carp Rd.

Celebrate spring at the Carp Farmers’ Market’s Easter Market! Free parking and admission make it a day of fun for the whole family!

carpfarmersmarket.ca/markets/ easter-market-april-4/

METCALFE FARMERS’ EASTER MARKET

APR 4 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Metcalfe Community Centre and Larry Robinson Arena, 2785 8th Line Rd.

Enjoy free entry and parking as you explore over 45 local producers. Browse fresh veggies, fruits, honey, maple syrup, oils, hot sauces, home décor, preserves, baked goods and prepared foods. Don’t miss out on beautiful jewelry, soaps and candles. metcalfefm.com/

• Mar 31: registration for Spring II swim and Spring Fitness

MARCH BREAK CAMPS MARCH 16-20

It’s almost here — and there’s still space available! Camp options include:

• Grade 2–5 Theme & Sports Camps - Includes an Ottawa 67s hockey game on Wednesday!

• NEW: Junior NBA & WNBA Basketball jersey included

• Circus Performers with Bill Chong Sports

• Magic Camp with Michael Bourada

SUMMER CAMP & SWIM LESSONS

Get ready for another summer of fun, friendship and all ‘round awesomeness! Choose from a wide range of camps at Dovercourt, as well as select camps at Accora Village, a convenient location for those coming from the west end. Summer Swim lessons are available once a week or 5 days in a row.

REC PROGRAMS FOR EVERYONE

Spring session begins in April; arts, pottery, sports, robotics, dance and more. Look forward to our new NFL Flag Football partnership for spring and summer programs!

Also, be sure to check out our monthly one-session workshops!

FIT PASS

The best value and most fun! 55+/ week classes including group fit, spin, and aquafit classes, fitness centre, pool access and pickleball. Starting at $48/ month.

AFTER SCHOOL

Registration for 2025-2026 After school program for new members will be available on Tuesday April 6 at 8am.

CLIMATE FRESK WORKSHOP

Upcoming workshops at Dovercourt: March 25, April 13, May 13, and June 10

PD Days

Discover exceptional Senior Living

We could tell you what makes Amica Westboro Park different from other residences.

But we’d rather show you.

Explore all that we have to offer, from our premium suites and well-appointed amenities to chef-prepared meals, meaningful activities and professional, personalized care

Reserve a complimentary lunch and residence tour at 613-728-9274.

491 RICHMOND ROAD, OTTAWA AMICA.CA/WESTBOROPARK

Project of Heart

The Hintonburg educator who helped reshape reconciliation in schools

BY AMANDA MCLEOD

Long before Project of Heart was adopted by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and classrooms across the country, it began in a small alternative high school in Ottawa — with a teacher determined to make history matter.

Sylvia Smith, a retired educator with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, spent 35 years teaching students across subjects and grade levels. But it was at Elizabeth Wyn Wood Secondary Alternate School on Rossland Ave. in City View where her work took its most transformative shape.

“Elizabeth Wyn was where I did

Education from the University of Saskatchewan in 1979, Smith began her career in Whitehorse, Yukon — an experience that would later shape her understanding of Canada’s North and Indigenous communities. A few years later, she set off overseas, travelling through Greece, India and Japan while continuing to reflect on the kind of educator she wanted to become.

In Japan, she trained in selfdefence and earned a black belt — an experience that led her to develop a sexual assault prevention course. When she returned to Ottawa and resumed teaching, the school board adopted the program into its curriculum for female students, an early example of Smith’s commitment to education that extended beyond textbooks and into real-world empowerment.

Smith’s time in Whitehorse stayed with her, and she continued to advocate for deeper recognition of the generational effects of the residential school system.

Never one to sit still, Smith went on to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Regina, combining her studies with a growing national focus on reconciliation.

It was during this time that Smith and her students created and developed what would become known as Project of Heart (POH).

Described as “an inquirybased, hands-on, collaborative, intergenerational, artistic journey of seeking truth about the history of Aboriginal people in Canada” on the site’s main web page, POH began from Smith’s realization that many schools did not teach accurate history about the country’s troubling past with Indigenous peoples.

The process of building the curriculum wasn’t without challenges.

most of my growing and most of my learning. I knew very little of the personal circumstances of most of my learners, but one thing that I learned fairly quickly was that if I didn’t make their curriculum relevant, they would be lost,” Smith told KT.

Her path to that classroom was anything but linear.

After earning her Bachelor of

“It was always a balancing line between dealing interpersonally with the students and their difficulties and their challenges, and trying to educate for empowerment, given our boundaries and the curriculum that has to be covered,” she said.

Smith credits the unique environment at Elizabeth Wyn Wood Secondary for the project’s success.

A significant portion of students who attend an alternate school program in the OCDSB come from complex

Sylvia Smith poses for a portrait in front of Devonshire Community Public School in Ottawa, on Feb. 24, 2026.

PHOTO BY KEITO NEWMAN.

backgrounds of trauma and abuse, and the board’s standardized curriculum is often not equipped to support them.

Many would label such students as “troublesome” or “problematic,” but Smith saw things differently.

“I can’t tell you how important this is if you’re ever called upon for teaching subversively or teaching for action or teaching for justice — and that’s what I was all about toward the latter part of my career. It was one thing that was really fundamentally important to me,” she said.

“We’re impacted through injustice, and [the kids] hold those experiences that they had in high school really close to their hearts. And teachers have to deal with, you know, 40 kids in a class, and you know, a lot of them got lost. They were unjustly treated, and they held on to those things in a way that wasn’t healthy.”

Smith said her work often meant supporting students who were carrying deep personal struggles while also recognizing their capacity to learn, grow and make meaningful contributions.

She believes the alternative school setting was essential to that success, as it allowed her to work closely with the same students for extended periods — six weeks at a time, for several hours each day. The structure also made it possible to integrate multiple subjects and use group-based, interdisciplinary approaches rooted in anti-colonial education, helping students connect their learning across courses and engage more deeply with the material.

POH was born from her students’ understanding of injustice, as many had

their own experiences of being treated unfairly, said Smith.

“I was so lucky because until Project of Heart became known in a wider context than our board, I flew under the radar with our kids. We would go to Parliament Hill and we would be up with the Native Women’s Association of Canada holding up posters of missing and murdered Indigenous women,” she recalled.

Smith received a Governor General’s Award in 2011 for her social justice work, and Project of Heart has not been under the radar since.

A scroll through its website shows schools listed from 11 of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories, as well as links to post-secondary institutions and organizations focused on truth and reconciliation.

Project of Heart was later incorporated into the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s educational programming. The commission adopted it as one of the learning initiatives featured at its national events, alongside exercises such as the KAIROS Blanket Exercise, helping broaden its reach as part of a larger effort to educate Canadians about the history and legacy of residential schools.

“It’s where they take the history of Canada; 500 years of history — not 150 years of history,” said Smith. “While they were doing work specifically around getting witnesses and survivor history of residential schools and getting compensation, they were also very keen to recognize that that was just one part of the whole of this 500 years.”

While Smith is still involved in maintaining the POH website and connecting with people who want to learn more, she says the ideal is for Indigenous and settler communities to build from the curriculum to make meaningful changes and connections in their own unique settings.

“In Brantford, at the residential school there, they’ve got beautiful Project of Heart murals — that’s one of the few standing schools; it’s a museum now. And there is a school up in Sault Ste. Marie where they’ve done beautiful tiled reconciliation tables where, if they’re having conflict, this is where we’re going to talk about our feelings. And they take this table very seriously,” she said.

Patti Brown Broker

Susan Chell Broker

Sarah Toll Broker

The west end’s doughnut wars

Ottawa played a surprising role in shaping

obsession

Canada’s deep-fried

BY DAVE ALLSTON

From hockey rinks to highway rest stops, few foods are as closely tied to Canada’s identity as the doughnut. Canadians consume more than one billion doughnuts each year — more per capita than any other country on Earth. There’s roughly one Tim Hortons for every 11,000 people nationwide, and in Ottawa, you can scarcely drive a minute without passing a doughnut shop. But this deep-fried staple wasn’t always so ubiquitous. Its rise — from homemade fall treat to franchised fast-food empire — mirrors the story of the automobile, suburban growth, and changing eating habits in postwar Canada.

Like many fast foods, the doughnut’s commercial boom followed the postSecond World War explosion of car culture. It was one of the first foods to be widely franchised, and for good reason: doughnuts were popular, inexpensive to make, and immensely profitable.

In truth, doughnut wars have always existed. While Tim Hortons in Canada and Dunkin’ Donuts in the United States dominate today’s market — each controlling roughly two-thirds of doughnut shop sales in their respective countries — competition has evolved over more than a century. Early milling companies battled for customers, followed by small local bakeries, grocery store chains, and eventually the franchise shops we recognize today. Much of that battle played out in Ottawa — particularly in the city’s west end.

FROM HOMEMADE TREAT TO DEPRESSION-ERA STAPLE

Turning back the clock to the early 1900s, doughnuts were already widely enjoyed, though almost exclusively as a homemade treat. Milling companies competed for shelf space in local markets, promoting flour, yeast, and lard to households eager to make what was then considered a traditionally German delicacy. In Ottawa, only a

handful of bakeries produced doughnuts — still spelled “doughnuts” at the time. The simplified “donut” would emerge later as a more Americanized and accessible term.

There was even a kind of culinary rivalry in newspaper recipe pages, as writers and readers submitted competing versions of the increasingly popular treat. One flour company advertised its product alongside a recipe promoting how “wholesome, appetizing and economical” doughnuts could be.

In the early 20th century, doughnuts were largely considered a fall indulgence, especially around Halloween, with advertisers insisting no party was complete without them.

Over time, local bakeries began competing for doughnut sales in Ottawa. Small coffee shops might offer them alongside breakfast pastries, though they remained something of a niche item. A small chain of coffee shops known as F. Rogers may have been among the first to

Tom

actively market them, advertising “Rogers’ Doughnuts and Coffee for Sunday Breakfast.” Warnock’s on Sussex Drive was another early promoter, offering its own “nice, clean, crisp doughnuts” — 12 for 10 cents.

Making doughnuts at home was not without risk. Many recipes required frying in deep fat, which occasionally led to house fires. Eventually, new tools made the process safer and easier. In 1949, the A.J. Freiman department store advertised an “Eject-Donut Maker” that “eliminates chilling, rolling and cutting.”

The Great Depression saw doughnut popularity skyrocket, as they became an affordable, mass-produced comfort food. The Salvation Army distributed doughnuts and coffee to those in need, cementing their reputation as a symbol of warmth during difficult times.

Department stores began devoting more space to pastries, selling pies, cakes, cookies, and doughnuts alongside candy and soda bars. Ottawa’s Freiman’s reportedly sold

1,000 dozen a day in 1933, priced at two dozen for 15 cents — with a Wednesday night special of five cents per dozen.

Doughnuts even found their way into popular culture. Eddie Cantor starred as a doughnut baker in Palmy Days, Shirley Temple appeared in Dora’s Dunking Doughnuts, and Clark Gable famously taught Claudette Colbert the proper way to dunk a doughnut in It Happened One Night.

A 1933 Ottawa Citizen editorial estimated that 2.5 billion doughnuts were eaten annually in North America, calling them “among the most indigestible of foods.” Yet a Yale University study found “no untoward effects on the health of men when they consumed as many as six doughnuts a day for six consecutive days.”

Bakeries and department stores were selling doughnuts in staggering quantities. Gideon Knechtel, proprietor of Knechtel’s Bakery on Nepean Street, dubbed himself “the Doughnut Man,” while Preston Street resident Albert “Chappy” Carmanico earned the title of Ottawa’s “Doughnut King” thanks to his prodigious appetite.

THE DRIVE-IN REVOLUTION ARRIVES

Local bakers Morrison-Lamothe joined the doughnut craze in the 1930s, offering “PanDandy Doughnuts,” “cooked electrically in pure vegetable shortening, untouched by hand from start to finish.” They boasted their machines could “stamp, cook and deliver 960 perfect doughnuts every hour — each one identical in shape, texture and digestibility.”

In 1949, Canada followed the United States in launching its first “National Donut Week,” beginning April 25. Its purpose was

“to promote cheer and good fellowship through dunking.”

The world changed after the war, and so did the way people shopped for groceries and prepared meals. Large-scale grocery chains opened, many installing in-house bakeries selling pre-packaged and freshly made doughnuts. The grocery store doughnut market quickly became competitive, with brands such as Jane Parker, Excel, Clover Farms, and Valley Queen.

Another fast-growing local favourite was Tiny Tom’s mini-doughnuts at the summertime Ottawa Ex.

However, the biggest innovation in doughnut-making in Canada was about to launch — in Ottawa’s west end.

In April 1963, fast-food restaurants were just beginning to take hold in Canada, many operating as drive-in establishments where customers parked their cars and waitresses delivered orders directly to their windows.

Bruce MacDonald Ltd. soon opened the Royal Donut Drive-In at 943 Richmond Road — Ottawa’s first true doughnut shop — offering more than 50 varieties in a 10,000-square-foot building surrounded by approximately 60 parking spaces.

THE WEST END DOUGHNUT WARS

Within a few years, other chains arrived, sparking a full-scale doughnut war in Ottawa’s west end that would span the 1960s through the end of the century.

Westboro residents may best remember Lady Jane Donuts, which opened at the corner of Broadview and Carling in March 1968. Just months later, Mister Donut launched at 2200 Carling Avenue

1. Mister Donut at Billing’s Bridge. CREDIT: DA GIBBS ON FACEBOOk.

2. An Ottawa Citizen clipping from Oct. 30, 1963 promoting Royal Donut at Richmond and Woodroffe.

3. Mister Donut on Carling.

CREDIT: GERALD MCCOOEYE ON OLD OTTAWA FACEBOOK GROUP.

— becoming Canada’s largest chain in the early 1970s.

Dunkin’ Donuts entered Ontario in August 1970 with a Merivale Road location opposite CJOH. Though Tim Hortons opened its first location in Hamilton in 1964, it did not arrive in Ottawa until November 1979, when a shop opened at 2038 Robertson Road.

Doughnut shops continued to evolve through the 1980s and 1990s as drive-ins faded and drive-thrus became the norm. Several final chains attempted to capture a share of the market during this transitional era, including Tommy’s Donuts, Mister C’s Donuts, Robin’s Donuts, Country Style, and Baker’s Dozen.

Today, most of those chains have disappeared. Tim Hortons maintains a dominant hold on the Canadian market, operating nearly 4,000 locations nationwide. Thankfully, a new generation of small artisan bakeries — such as SuzyQ and Mavericks — has revived the tradition of handmade doughnuts, ushering in yet another chapter in the ever-evolving story of Ottawa’s favourite treat.

Carleton Tavern to be demolished and rebuilt as part of high-rise development on Parkdale Ave.

BY CHARLIE SENACK

For nearly a century, the Carleton Tavern has been more than just a neighbourhood bar. It’s been a landmark at the corner of Parkdale Avenue and Armstrong Street where people have watched sports games, eaten Christmas dinner, and shared stories over a pint or two.

Now, that chapter may be coming to an end.

The City of Ottawa has received an Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application from Taggart Realty Management to build a 38-storey mixed-use building next to the historic watering hole that would house 465 residential units. It features a six-storey L-shaped podium that would be built around the tavern.

The bar would also come down due to its “age, structural deterioration, and required site remediation,” said a city report. In its place, a “reimagined” Tavern building would be erected “using highquality stone and masonry to restore its familiar presence.”

“The new Tavern will re-establish the prominent corner façade, while the northern portion, originally a simple stucco volume with limited openings, will be reimagined as a contemporary extension,” read the report. “This allows for improved activation, increased transparency, and opportunities for public art consistent with the artistic expression historically found on the block.”

The news has been unsettling in the community, with some social media users commenting on how the historic block adds character to the neighborhood; it houses a bike shop, café, fitness centre,

and the Mino’Wessini branch of the Parkdale Food Centre.

Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper says he has tried over the years to have the Carleton Tavern designated a heritage property but never had any luck. He said it’s one of the last remaining original taverns from Ottawa’s past, which includes the Prescott in Little Italy and the Lafayette in the ByWard Market.

Despite being a storied landmark in the neighbourhood, Leiper told KT the developer is within its rights to bulldoze the building. During pre-application consultation, city heritage staff confirmed they would not recommend that city council add the Carleton Tavern to the city’s Heritage Register or designate it as a heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act.

“By demolishing it, we’re going to be able to deal across the entire site with the groundwater contamination issue that residents have probably heard a lot about over the past many years,” said Leiper. “There has been a very slow effort undertaken by Honeywell to slowly filter the pollutants out, but by completely excavating the whole thing, they’ll be able to finally eliminate the groundwater contamination. That is a big factor to consider when considering whether or not to support this proposal.”

Over a decade ago, the Ontario Land Tribunal approved an 18-storey development for the property, which would have excluded the Carleton Tavern. While he has heard some concerns over the increased tower height since then, he argues it won’t make a

large difference at street level.

Under Ottawa’s Official Plan, the Scott-Parkdale-Wellington-Holland area is identified as a hub intended to accommodate significant height and density due to its proximity to the light rail transit network.

In the design brief, the applicants said the surrounding neighbourhood is “highly walkable” and “transit-supported,” adding that the project would “meaningfully contribute to Ottawa’s housing supply by introducing a substantial number of new units in a range of sizes suited to diverse household needs.”

“It’s not something that I’m pushing back at,” noted Leiper, who’s also chair of the city’s planning committee.

“I think overall, the proposal is one that certainly meets with our vision for how hubs close to transit are going to develop,” Leiper added. “And while I know it’s going to be controversial, you know, I anticipate that I will be supporting it.”

The Kitchissippi councillor also sees it as an opportunity to close a section of Armstrong between Parkdale and Hamilton to “blend in” with the Parkdale Market next door.

As part of the plans, “approximately 848 square metres of Privately-Owned Public-Use space (POPs) is also proposed at grade in the form of a central courtyard and breezeway pedestrian paths, providing a mid-block connection,” the report said.

But whether or not the Carleton Tavern itself returns remains an open question.

“I think everyone would like to see that the Carleton Tavern is able to move back in,” Leiper said. “And one of the concerns I have is just to make sure that Taggart is reasonable in their lease expectations so that it has the ability to move in.”

Under the current plans the Carleton Tavern building would be demolished and rebuilt. CHARLIE SENACK.

A brazen robbery at the Carleton

The Carleton Tavern made headlines on Aug. 15, 1970, after a late-night armed robbery where $1,500 in cash was stolen.

According to a report in the Ottawa Citizen, a masked man entered the Carleton Tavern at 223 Armstrong St. around midnight by climbing a rear fire escape. He cut through a screen and smashed a window to gain entry, confronting veteran waiter Eddie Blair with a snub-nosed revolver as cash boxes containing the day’s receipts were being taken upstairs.

The bandit — whom the Citizen described as having “the

daring and cool of James Bond” — began to tie up Blair with rope. That was until 28-year-old tenant Dionysius Williams was awakened by a sound. He opened the door, wearing only his shorts, and was met with a revolver in his face. Williams then jumped 20 feet from the window to alert proprietor Harold Starr.

Officers later located the suspect near the adjoining Carleton Steak House at 229 Armstrong St., where the stolen money was recovered. George Sinn, a 23-year-old bartender, was charged with robbery using an offensive weapon.

History of the Carleton Tavern

BY DAVE ALLSTON

The Carleton Tavern didn’t begin as a tavern.

Long before regulars claimed their favourite tables, the building at Parkdale and Armstrong was part of a lumberman’s growing enterprise in what was then a developing west-end village.

Archival records show that portions of today’s Carleton date back to the summer of 1896, when 31-year-old entrepreneur James William Burnett purchased several lots on both sides of James Street — now Armstrong Street — west of Queen Street, today’s Parkdale Avenue.

Burnett, an established figure in Ottawa’s lumber trade, opened a wood planing and shingle mill on the south side of James Street, roughly where the Parkdale Market now stands. Across from it, he built a modest twostorey brick-veneered house on the corner. Though expanded and altered over the decades, that original home still forms the southeastern portion of the Carleton Tavern.

The upstairs was rented to tenants, while the ground floor operated as a small general store serving a neighbourhood shaped by mills, industry and working families.

The Morans converted the house back into a grocery store, with Thomas Moran and his family living upstairs while various shopkeepers operated the store below. In 1922, the family built a new house next door at 229 Armstrong (now the site of Holland’s Cake and Shake) and moved the grocery store there in 1927. The original building at 223 Armstrong later housed fruit dealers and butchers.

Between 1899 and 1900, Burnett sold his mill to James Lunny, who continued operating wholesale and retail lumber from the future Parkdale Market site. Lunny later partnered with James Gordon Maclaren, grandson of lumber baron James Maclaren. Lunny and his large family lived in the brick home on Armstrong. In 1904, Lunny sold his interest in the mill to Maclaren, who converted the house into a lumber office on the main floor, with a residential rental unit upstairs.

Maclaren operated the mill until 1909. It passed through several owners before closing in 1916, as Ottawa’s economy shifted during the First World War. Almost immediately, the site was proposed as a much-needed westend playground. The mill buildings were demolished, and by 1924 the property had become the new West End Market. Meanwhile, the house on the north side of Armstrong continued to evolve. Burnett had sold the property in 1906, and it passed to new owners, including James Soutar, a Scottish immigrant who had spent much of his life at sea. The building remained a rental property until 1911, when it was purchased by the Moran family, who would shape its future for the next three decades.

In 1930, Thomas Moran opened his own confectionery in the building. Five years later, in 1935, the 75-year-old extensively renovated the property and reopened it as the Carleton Hotel. At that time, the business still operated largely within the walls of the original brick house.

On Feb. 26, 1941, Moran sold the Carleton Hotel to Harold Starr and Harry Viau for $10,500. Starr was a well-known Ottawa sportsman who had played for both the Rough Riders and the original Ottawa Senators in the NHL. Viau, a former barber, came from a hotelkeeping family.

The new owners quickly secured a $6,000 building permit through local contractor F.E. Cummings to significantly expand the property, nearly tripling its original size.

With Starr and Viau’s strong social connections, the Carleton became a popular gathering spot for Ottawa’s sports crowd, including former NHL players. By the late 1940s, the hotel component was phased out. In 1947, the Carleton Hotel became the Carleton House, and in 1951, it was renamed the Carleton Tavern.

For years, the establishment maintained separate “ladies” and “gents” sides, with women restricted from certain areas.

Drawings show what the new 38-storey tower would look like.

CREDIT: CITY OF OTTAWA.

Next door, 229 Armstrong became Sadaka’s Ice Cream Bar in the mid-1940s. In 1948, Starr and Viau purchased the building from the Moran family. Just two days later, it was destroyed by fire. They rebuilt and reopened it as Carleton Sweets, and in 1955 it became the Carleton Steak House, which operated for the next 50 years.

On Nov. 1, 1973, Starr and Viau retired and sold both the Tavern and Steak House to a syndicate of lawyers. In 1989, the bar was sold to the Saikaley family, who had operated the Steak House since 1964.

Comedian Jessica Kirson brings viral crowd work to the Bronson Centre

BY CHARLIE SENACK

The lights are low inside New York’s Comedy Cellar, the brick walls close enough to feel like they’re leaning in on the joke. A man in the front row shifts in his seat as Jessica Kirson steps up to the mic, squints into the crowd and locks onto him..

“How are you?” she asks, tilting her head. “You look uncomfortable.”

The room tightens. The man laughs nervously. Kirson doesn’t let him off the hook. Within seconds, she’s diagnosing his denial, playfully unravelling whatever energy he walked in with. Then she pivots — zeroing in on another cluster of guests.

“Are you a couple?” she asks. It’s one of her regular introductory lines. She starts interrogating them on how they met, what they do for a living, and their sex life.

For Kirson, the stage isn’t a platform for rehearsed monologues — it’s a live wire. She has built a career on crowd work, mining the audience for material. She also regularly pokes fun at herself — her Jewish upbringing, her sexuality as a lesbian, and her mental health.

In May, that unpredictable energy is

headed north when she brings her razorsharp improvisation to Ottawa’s Bronson Centre — and if her New York sets are any indication, the capital’s front row might want to brace itself.

“I do the kind of comedy where people are entertained the whole time. They don’t have to think too much. It’s very fast-paced. I do a lot of characters, I do audience stuff, and talk to them a lot,” Kirson told the Kitchissippi Times.

The description is understated.

Kirson has amassed hundreds of millions of views across social media

therapist who treated clients in the family’s New Jersey home, meaning Kirson grew up around conversations about behaviour and vulnerability — skills that now serve her well on stage.

“I wasn’t really happy doing that, because it was very hard for me to see what was happening to people and hear about it. I was always sad,” said Kirson. “My grandmother told me that I should do stand-up, because she was telling me how I have always made poop people laugh.”

The rest is history.

Early days were hard. She performed in small clubs, often late at night, sharpening her timing in rooms that could turn cold in seconds. She pulled inspiration from her comedic role models such as Robin Williams.

“I used to watch him, and I was always amazed at what he did because so much of it was improv and on the spot. That’s a lot harder,” she said.

That elasticity — the ability to shapeshift mid-sentence — became her signature. She regularly goes through people’s bags on stage, once performed a “gay gospel song,” and will ask any question that comes to mind. Comedy isn’t meant to be a sensitive topic, she said. But there are still some areas off limits.

platforms. Long before algorithms amplified her reach, she had already established herself as a staple of the New York comedy circuit, performing regularly at the Comedy Cellar and touring nationally. She has appeared on The Tonight Show with both Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon, been a guest on The View, and is a contributor on the Howard Stern Show.

Despite always knowing she could make people laugh, Kirson began in a much more serious profession: social work. It was a fitting start: her mother was a

“I don’t talk about politics because I don’t think it’s funny. There are also certain things I don’t talk about because it would just be at the expense of other people or other groups of people. I know how far I can go. It comes from experience and also just reading the crowd,” she said.

Kirson performs at the Bronson Centre at 7:00 p.m. on May 22.

“I really hope that people come to let go for an hour and a half and just laugh and not think about difficult things they are going through and what’s going on in the world,” she said.

Jessica Kirson is performing at the Bronson Centre on May 22.

PHOTO BY JOHN CAFARO.

BREAKING NEWS

They carried the

They carried the torch. They sang O Canada. And for a moment, Wellington West Retirement Community felt like a stadium!

There were flags. There were cheers. There were medals. There was even strategy, teamwork, and the kind of competitive spirit you only get when people really care.

This winter, Wellington West Retirement Community hosted its own Internal Olympics a week of events designed for fun, movement, and connection. Residents competed (and laughed) through a full schedule including Opening Ceremony, Canadian Trivia, Curling Toss, Pool Shooting, Walker Slalom, an Olympic Password challenge, and a heartfelt Closing Ceremony.

But here’s what surprised us most: It wasn’t about who “won.” It was about watching neighbours become teammates.

Seeing someone who’s been quiet for weeks suddenly lead a cheer. Watching pride return, one small victory at a time.

A heartfelt thank you to Frank De La Salle and to every organizer, volunteer, and participant who helped bring our Internal Olympics to life. Your energy, creativity, and dedication transformed a simple idea into something truly unforgettable. This community is special not because of the building but because of the people who show up for one another.

Scan to book a personal tour!

Experience Vibrant Seniors Living

Vinyl revival keeps Ottawa record stores spinning

Despite streaming dominance, local shops see steady demand for physical media

BY BRADLEY TURCOTTE

Despite the dominance of streaming platforms, Ottawa’s independent record stores continue to see steady demand for vinyl, CDs and other physical media formats.

Vinyl record sales reached an all-time low in 2006, selling less than one million units. A revival began in 2007, and by 2023, vinyl sales totalled 49.6 million in the U.S., according to Luminate, surpassing CD sales for the first time since the ‘80s.

The Record Centre’s (TRC) John Thompson, 65, grew up in a household

where records were ubiquitous. His first music purchases were 45s.

“It was always vinyl, and I was always obsessed with it,” Thompson said. “I have always loved vinyl.”

Thompson combined his passion with business when he started selling records out of his house and sourcing stock through penny-saver ads. When the vinyl resurgence exploded, he was selling on eBay as VinylCanuck but always wanted a brick-andmortar store.

In 2011, Thompson linked up with a friend who was selling records out of the back of a video store at 1097 Wellington Street

West. When the hair salon at 1099 Wellington Street West folded in 2014, Thompson kept the early twentieth-century tin ceilings and moved in.

In response to the pandemic, Thompson created TRC Too at 1112 Wellington Street West to act as an online store. Originally conceived as a temporary venture, the virtual retailer now draws close to one million hits annually, Thompson said.

There are over 400k records in Thompson’s empire, with 80k listed online and 5k in-store. TRC hosts live performances and releases recordings on its own micro-label.

In March 2026, TRC Records will release a limited vinyl of John Greer’s music, with plans for a live performance by the American octogenarian. As for the appeal of physical media, Thompson said rather than having your music “on a hard drive somewhere,” with vinyl, it’s about ownership. This is about having something you can hold.”

“It is the original listening to music. You know, really listening to music. You take the record out, and you lower the needle, you listen to it,” Thompson said. “That is a lot different than background music on your phone. It is owning music and collecting music. The internet still plays a role, but people still want to own and hold it.”

Owner of Legend Records, Mike Roy, echoed Thompson’s assertion.

“They like to own what they like. They want the format,” Roy said. “Digital has its place, but there’s a big market that still wants

Left: Jim Casterton flips through records at The Record Centre on Wellington st. W in Ottawa, on Feb. 23, 2026.

Right: Chris Laundry also searches for new vinyl at Wellington West’s Record Centre. PHOTOS BY KEITO NEWMAN.

physical media. If they get bored of what they don’t like anymore, they can switch it up and swap it out.”

Located on the third floor of 383 Winona Avenue, Legend Records is an eclectic store that has served Ottawa’s physical media market for nearly 50 years. The store has relocated several times, from Westboro to Merivale Road, and has been at its current location for three years. Legend also operates a sister store in Hazeldean Mall.

You can find every media format at Legend, from VHS to 8-tracks and even LaserDiscs.

“I just bought one hundred [LaserDiscs] off somebody,” Roy divulged.

CDs are making a comeback with budgetconscious Gen Z physical media consumers, Roy observed.

“New vinyl releases can cost between 50 and 70 bucks. Sometimes you can buy the CD for 20 or 25. A used CD is between six and ten. This gives them a chance to build their own collection at an affordable price,” Roy said. “Same with cassettes. They’re buying cassettes again.”

The younger generation is buying CDs at Centretown’s The Turning Point (TP) in greater volume than boomers. Owner Nick

That is a lot different than background music on your phone. It is owning music and collecting music. The internet still plays a role, but people still want to own and hold it.. — JOHN THOMPSON

Beaton said it’s a combination of the desire to own physical media and the extreme cost of living.

When you listen via physical media, you are not being tracked and monetized online. Beaton said the tangible method of consuming media from a generation ago is resonating with the new cohort of consumers.

“It’s surprising to me. They’re in here all the time buying VHS, CDs and records,” Beaton said. “It’s hard for kids with food costs and bills. I don’t want to get political, but it is reality. We’re living it.”

Beaton purchased the store from his

father-in-law in 2018. Located initially at 494.5 Somerset Street West, TP moved to 411 Cooper Street in the ‘90s. In a full-circle moment, Beaton recently posted a photo to Instagram of a Les Dudek vinyl with the store’s former address stamped on the sleeve.

New vinyl pressings are expensive, and Beaton prefers to source his stock directly from individuals. This sets TP apart from other stores, as the majority of their stock is older, used, and at lower prices.

Beaton said streaming services are not comprehensive.

“There are two dozen streaming sites, but a lot of them don’t have some of the deep

Built on Local Trust.

cuts or the boutique choices that aficionados want,” Beaton said.

“I didn’t grow up in the 60s, but a lot of the messaging is still relevant,” Beaton continued. “They wrote songs 50 years ago that stand tall today in terms of what’s going on in the world.”

A sound engineer and musician, Beaton has a new EP on Spotify with plans to release a physical version. He opens for Desert Stranger at Live on Elgin on March 21. Beaton said he’d like TP to regularly host live music in the future.

Thompson, Roy, and Beaton agree that the vinyl resurgence has recently dipped. Beaton said his store persists thanks to pockets of the population who enjoy the “tactile” music listening experience.

Beaton compared streaming media to scrolling through Netflix for hours without settling on a choice, a kind of decision paralysis. Choosing physical media, he said, is more deliberate, paralleling Thompson’s sentiment.

“When you put on a record, even if you’re not really, truly into it, you listen,” Beaton said. “It helps you stay engaged. It’s a good way to disconnect from the world for a little bit.”

Jennifer Stewart, Broker. Ami Jarvis and Fiona Morrison, Sales Representatives. Engel & Völkers Ottawa Central, Brokerage.

ARTS

Robo Lounge strikes a new chord in Ottawa’s

Glebe

Annex

BY CHARLIE SENACK

By day, it’s a coffee bar with carefully laminated croissants and a steady hum of conversation. By night, the lights dim, cocktails replace cappuccinos, and a grand piano takes centre stage.

That deliberate shift is what defines Robo Lounge, a new all-day café and music venue inside the Clemow building in Ottawa’s Glebe Annex.

“The Robo Lounge harkens back to our original Bar Robo location, which is in Chinatown, and it is a gourmet coffee shop and pastries and bakery that transitions over the course of the day into a cool lunch spot with soup and a cool salad and great sandwiches,” said owner Scott May.

The concept doesn’t stop there. As the hours pass, so does the mood.

“It further transitions at night, starting at happy hour at 5 p.m., and then again at 7:00 p.m. into one of the chillest music venues in town,” said May. “We’re available all day, every day, seven days a week, and there’s usually something fun and interesting going on here.”

Despite being new, the venue has already found an audience — particularly among residents of the 50-plus lifestyle building where it’s located.

Robo Lounge is the latest iteration of Bar Robo, which began as a 40-seat venue in Chinatown in 2016 and closed in 2020. That original space became known as a small but busy cultural hub.

Over four years, May said they hosted more than 1,000 shows. But sustaining it long term proved difficult. In 2019, a second Bar Robo — also known as the Q Bar —

began operating out of Queen Street Fare. It’s still thriving despite setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the truckers' convoy, said May.

The idea to move into the current Glebe-area location came about after May and his wife, Ali Fuentes, were considering a move to the Clemow. Unsure whether to rent or buy, they wanted to get a feel for the neighbourhood before putting down roots.

That’s proven to be a fantastic experience, he said, and with it came the vision to open up a more lounge-like environment for the older crowd in the building.

The new space accommodates about 140 guests and features a dedicated stage and a six-foot Bösendorfer grand piano, anchoring a calendar that leans heavily into jazz and intimate performances.

The name “robo” is meant to dispel the notion that Ottawa is a boringly robotic city, said May. And in a town often labelled as staid, he believes spaces like this matter.

“In my opinion, arts and culture are very important to a city’s vibrancy,” he said.

But an old tagline still lingers.

“That Ottawa is a place that fun forgot… that quote is like 60 years old now, but it’s still repeated,” he said. “So the idea that we can create interesting places where people can meet and connect and have fun and listen to music and enjoy culture is critical for us.”

Ottawa’s live music scene has weathered significant losses in recent years. Zaphod Beeblebrox closed in the ByWard Market in 2017 after 26 years. The Mercury Lounge, known for its intimate jazz atmosphere

and diverse programming, closed in 2022. Earlier this year, the Brass Monkey on Greenbank Road also closed due to skyrocketing costs.

May said he understands why many venues struggle to survive, though he also points to success stories such as Red Bird in Old Ottawa South and Live on Elgin downtown. The challenge, he added, is competing in a market where major festivals dominate the summer calendar — and consumer spending.

“To get someone out for a $10 show versus a $300 Bluesfest bracelet is a struggle,” May said. “It is a struggle.”

Instead of casting a wide net, Robo Lounge is focusing on curated, smaller-scale experiences. The venue has already hosted private birthday parties, a memorial-style

event, trivia nights, and its first burlesque brunch. There’s also a partnership with Carleton University music students on Monday nights.

“You can microtarget 50 or 60 people with a specific interest — they’re way more likely to come out than casting a net for 6,000 people,” May said.

One of the more popular experiments has been an early dance party. It begins at 7:00 p.m. and ends at 10:00 p.m.—an opportunity to change their plans, but not their bedtime.

“It’s a great place to come and have a coffee in the morning and sit, chill. It’s a beautiful, beautiful space,” said May. “If you want, you can stay here all day and have lunch, have a drink at happy hour and see a live show. There aren’t so many other places that you can say that’s the case.”

Scott May opened the Robo Lounge located in the Glebe Annex about two months ago. ALL PHOTOS BY KEITO NEWMAN

Snow much fun!

On Feb. 15, the Britannia community came together for Harbour Fest — an annual ice fishing derby that brings neighbours out onto the frozen Ottawa River in support of local charities.

That same day, families gathered at Lion’s Park Rink in Westboro for the rink’s Winter Party, where people of all ages took part in skating, sledding, and snowshoeing during a day of outdoor fun.

KT photographer Keito Newman stopped by both events to capture the community spirit in action.

As Canada stares down economic uncertainty, we’re ready with a plan to protect Ontario. Diversifying our trade will connect our province to new markets.

That’s how we protect Ontario.

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HOMES & RENOVATIONS

Come Live The Obasan Experience

Every Obasan mattress and bedding accessory is fully customized to your unique needs and handcrafted in Ottawa using 100% organic materials. Complete your bedroom with products designed for lasting comfort, deep rest, and total peace of mind.

Curve appeal

A time-honoured classic design detail is making a strong comeback

By Anita Murray

Curves are having a moment in Ottawa homes. Whether it’s archways, fluted details, rounded cabinets and furniture or sweeping staircases, injecting the softness that curves suggest into our spaces is both trendy and timeless.

They certainly aren’t new, but curves are a response to several years of linear design and architecture, bringing a softness that speaks to our desire since the pandemic for welcoming, nurturing homes.

“There is a new-found nostalgia for time-honoured, hand-made, classical elements,” notes designer Tanya Collins. “Curves inject a sense of history and character when used in an architectural context. They also add softness to otherwise angular spaces, finishes and furnishings.”

And they are a simple and timeless way to add movement to a space, adds Sascha Lafleur of West of Main. “They draw the eye and create a sense of flow. You can incorporate them in so many different ways, too — architecturally, in lighting, furniture and other accents.”

We are naturally attracted to these forms because nature is organic, adds architect Jay Lim of 25:8 Architecture + Urban Design. “When curves are used thoughtfully, they can draw attention to key details we would never have seen.”

Multiple examples of curves have been showing up locally for some time now, starting with the 2022 grand prize dream home in the CHEO Dream of a Lifetime lottery (with interiors designed by Collins) and continuing for the past few years in Ottawa’s Housing Design Awards, which celebrates excellence in Ottawa’s housing industry.

Curves inject a sense of history and character when used in an architectural context. They also add softness to otherwise angular spaces, finishes and furnishings.

The go-to application for curves is door archways, but they’re also popping up in other design elements like nooks and niches, windows and a renewed curvature of stairways. And we’re seeing them in much more temporary accents like mirrors, light fixtures and furniture.

We like them because curves have a much more embracing effect than sharp angles. Plus, “the use of curves is a subtle way to incorporate biophilic design (or design that connects to nature) in our homes,” says Melissa Boudreau of Urbandale Construction.

“Rounded edges of furniture, lighting and accessories echo organic

forms and introduce a sense of fluidity and calmness, making the hard edges of many modern spaces feel less rigid.”

Collins, who eschews trends, notes that in design, “the pendulum always swings… The key is not to get caught up in it all and stay true to your own personal style. There is always an element of timelessness in every ‘trend.’ It is more about how you create harmony and balance with the mix in your interior while making it authentic to you.”

Here are several examples of curves in Ottawa homes.

Continues on page 26

HOMES

Continues from page 25

Photos 1 and 3 : A sculptural staircase adds elegance to this Glebe home renovation by Shean Architects. NANNE SPRINGER

Photos 2 : A rounded staircase with a white oak railing and thin black spindles becomes a focal point in the centre of this home by Gordon Weima Design Builder.

GORDON KING PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo 4 : Le Rêve is full of curves. The home, by Tanya Collins Design and Minto Communities, was the 2022 Minto Dream Home in the CHEO Dream of a Lifetime lottery.

GORDON KING PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo 5 : A curved peninsula designed with vertical beadboard panels that give a fluted effect provides a sculptural element that softens this kitchen by Laurysen Kitchens. METROPOLIS STUDIO

Photo 6 : Blending classic charm with modern sophistication, the timeless touch of curves is woven into this renovation by Grassroots Design and Build. JVLPHOTO.COM

Photo 7 : Curved elements such as the standalone tub, the chandelier and the arched mirrors add a softness to the primary ensuite of Tamarack Homes’ Kensington model, which was decorated by Sonya Kinkade Design. JVLPHOTO.COM

Photo 8 : Round vessel sinks and curved mirrors balance linear elements in this contemporary bathroom by Linebox Studio and Sanchez Homes. KEVIN BELANGER PHOTOGRAPHY

Masterful Masonry from L.A. Sicoli

- Education, Quality and Warranty

When a master takes up his tools, the result is a work of art, says Luciano Sicoli, owner of L.A. Sicoli Masonry, who was taught by his father, Antonio Sicoli, a certified master mason. Through long years of tutelage and careful practice, the two have honed their craft to become the best of the best.

Luciano believes that customers should be involved in the masonry process. Restoring or replacing a piece of masonry can be a long and complicated job, and an uninvolved customer leads to an unsatisfied customer. If they don’t know what the issue is and what their options are, how can they make an informed decision?

When a customer calls to replace flaking concrete or chipped bricks under a window, they should receive three options: new bricks, manufactured sills or a custom single piece stone. Too many companies

simply hand over a quotation for one of these, usually the most expensive and are told to call when they’re ready to do the job.

“Some companies don’t even return a

phone call” said Luciano. “I have had many clients tell me that no one called them back and some did not even show up when they said that they were going to show up. Some

spent very little time informing them of what needed to be done”

L.A. Sicoli Masonry believes in educating their customers so that they can make the best decision possible for their situation. They want their customers to be be happy not just with the price but with the finished product. Afterall it is their home. One job can be costly but redoing it can be ruinous.

Luciano stands behind his work and treats his customers as competent partners in whatever job he is hired to do. That is why L.A. Sicoli Masonry offers longer warranties than their competitors.

“Customers pay good money to have our services, they should also be given the quality that comes with the work” Luciano said “If a mason stands behind their work, they should have no issue with giving a customer more than a one year warrantly”

L.A. Sicoli Masonry is available for all your masonry needs. Customers can call 613-859-4684 or email l.a.sicoli_masonry@bell.net

New 24-storey high-rise proposed on Edgeworth near

Lincoln Fields

By Charlie Senack

A 24-storey tower could be built in a residential neighbourhood near the Lincoln Fields light rail station after Antilia Homes submitted an application to the city.

The 262 units would be built at 500 and 508 Edgeworth Ave. in the Woodpark community. The land is currently home to multiple low-rise residential dwellings that would be demolished to make way for the new building.

The design includes a four-storey podium that rises to nine storeys on the west side, allowing a transition in height from the surrounding low-rise neighbourhood.

Also adjacent to the property is an 11-storey apartment to the south, with a low-rise commercial plaza across the street. Directly behind the site to the west is greenspace and a multiuse pathway owned by the National Capital Commission.

“A primary element of the design is the integration of a 3-metre-wide Multi-Use Pathway (MUP) along the northern edge of the site, providing a crucial public connection between Edgeworth Avenue and the NCC lands to the west,” the design brief said. “Ground-level walk-up townhouse units front onto this pathway, contributing to a more animated and pedestrian-friendly edge.”

The pathway would run along the northern edge of the site and connect Edgeworth and the NCC pathway,

while also providing residents access to the transit station.

The plans have faced criticism from nearby residents who are worried about infrastructure keeping up with the intensification.

“The city needs to think about safety and sidewalks, speed bumps and stop signs, and there are schools around there and kids,” said Trevor Proulx from the Mud Lake Community Association. “If you put a big building like that in, it should be off a main road like Richmond. I think it will be a little chaotic.”

Sue Milburn, president of the Woodpark Community Association, agrees. She said the neighbourhood is narrow, with ditches on both sides and aging plumbing underneath. Her concerns are how intensification could impact traffic on Carling Avenue, which is accessed by residents in her community constantly.

“It’s already a huge area for traffic for people that live in the neighbourhood because it’s the only place where you can actually have a left-hand green light to turn into the neighbourhood,” she said.

“People don’t want massive development. But if it’s going to happen, then you’ve got to do it right and you’ve got to invest in the neighbourhoods. Make sure we have the appropriate drinking water, we have sewage, we have runoff. We already have drainage problems,” Milburn added.

The entire Lincoln Fields community is set to see massive development over the coming decades. At the former shopping mall site, developer RioCan and RLA Architecture have submitted a concept plan to see upwards of 11 high-rises with mixed-use space built on the 6.5-hectare area. Most would range from nine to 40 storeys, with the tallest reaching 45 storeys.

Next door at 1299 Richmond Rd., there is a proposal to build two towers, 28 and 30 storeys respectively, with 588 units. A few blocks over at 1047 Richmond Rd., a high-rise mixed-use building with parkland has been proposed. And at 100 New Orchard

Ave., there is a pending proposal to permit the development of a 14-storey residential high-rise.

WESTBORO

Leiper opposes proposed 27-storey development on Tubman Funeral Home property

By Charlie Senack

A concept plan has been brought forward by Mastercraft Starwood to build a 27-storey building on the Tubman Funeral Home property, which is three times the currently approved amount.

In 2021, city council approved a nine-storey buildout to be constructed on the site at 403 Richmond Road, near Roosevelt.

Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper, who is also the chair of the city’s planning committee, said if an application does come forward, he will oppose it.

“It’s a walkable traditional street in a streetcar neighbourhood. The vision that the Official Plan has for that is to let it develop at around nine or 10 storeys,” said Leiper. “It’s a more human scale for streets that are intended to be more walkable.”

The developer’s argument is that in order to make the property financially viable, higher density is needed. They also argue that because the property is located close to the Kichi Sibi light rail station, that makes it a candidate for more floors.

Leiper disagrees with that assessment. He said it’s very rare that 20-plus-storey towers are built on traditional main streets such as Westboro or the Glebe.

“If I can grossly oversimplify what the Official Plan says about how we’re going to accommodate the population that we expect over the

LINCOLN FIELDS

WESTBORO

course of the next 25 years, we’re going to put really tall buildings in certain hubs in relatively close proximity to higher-order transit,” said Leiper.

“Our traditional main streets — which are sort of the minor corridors — are going to develop to a more human scale, call it mid-rise level. Then our low-rise neighbourhoods are going to remain low-rise, but they will see significant intensification through infill and more low-rise apartment buildings and things like that.”

According to Mastercraft Starwood’s website, SOHO Westboro would contain 272 units.

Three towers now proposed at former Granite Curling Club site Nearby, at the site of the former Granite Curling Club, a proposal is to reconfigure the plans from two 40-storey towers to three shorter towers.

Drawings show 26- and 36-storey towers to be built closest to Scott Street, each with a Six-storey podium. Behind, a third building would include 18 storeys with a four-storey podium. Combined, there would be about 857 units, the same as in the initial plan.

Because no rezoning is required, no council vote is needed.

Two residential towers are being considered near the future Kichi Zibi LRT station in Westboro. Two residential towers proposed near future Westboro LRT station

The proposal, submitted by Fotenn Planning and Design, calls for 14- and 13-storey buildings at the north end of Winston Avenue, combining five properties into a 77,000-square-metre site. The development would add 312 units, ranging from bachelor to threebedroom apartments, with about one-third designed as family-sized homes.

Planned in partnership with Hobin Architecture and Uniform Urban Developments, the project is pitched as transit-oriented density,

located roughly 200 metres from the new Kichi Zibi station on the Confederation Line extension.

The design features stepped building heights to transition to nearby low- and mid-rise homes, along with underground parking (279 spaces total), 447 bicycle spots, rooftop terraces, shared indoor and outdoor amenity areas, and a small public park covering about 10 per cent of the site.

Residential

building, 28 storeys, proposed for LeBreton Flats across from new central library

By Mia Jensen

A new 28-storey residential building could be built across the street from the Ottawa Public Library’s new central branch at LeBreton Flats, with a proposal for the Laurier Avenue site awaiting city approval.

The $120-million project would consolidate two properties at 593

“There’s no doubt that it’s one of the prime locations in the city,” he said. “It sits by LeBreton Flats and we all know there’s going to be a lot of stuff going on there. It’s also very, very close to the working government buildings. And, of course, there are the parks and all the things that come with the downtown area, without being right smack in the middle of all that huff and puff.”

The property next to the heritage house — which Whissel said his company will be closing on soon — is currently owned by the Dalhousie Housing Co-op and is occupied by two low-rise buildings containing 20 residential units.

and 601 Laurier Ave., creating an irregularly shaped 2,840-squaremetre lot on the corner of Laurier Avenue West and Bronson Avenue, according to Guy Whissel, president of Longwood Building Corp., which is part of the syndicate Heritage Investment, which owns the property. Whissel’s company is also the builder and project manager.

The company currently owns the property at 593 Laurier Ave, which is occupied by a heritage building called the Alexander Fleck House. According to the proposal, the new building will be constructed adjacent to the house.

Whissel said his company is in the process of closing on the neighbouring property at 601 Laurier Ave.

Designed by architect Project1 Studio, the proposed building would include 320 rental units, from bachelors to two-bedrooms, plus three levels of underground parking that include bicycle storage and amenities such as a gym, social room and rooftop terrace, according to Whissel.

Whissel added the proposal was recently resubmitted to the city. If all goes well, he said the existing buildings will be vacated for demolition in April and construction will begin mid-summer. Construction will take 24 to 36 months, he said.

It’s the location that Whissel said will be the selling point.

Although those buildings will be demolished, Whissel said his company is nearing completion on the construction of a new 42-unit building down the road on behalf of the co-op.

WESTGATE

Two more towers proposed for Carling Ave. near former Westgate Shopping Centre

By Mia Jensen

Ottawa real estate firm Ambassador Realty is proposing to build a mixeduse high-rise across from the former Westgate Shopping Centre on Carling Avenue.

In a development application recently filed with the city, the firm says it plans to build two towers connected by a two-storey podium at 1296 and 1300 Carling Ave. The first tower would be 28 storeys and would contain residential units and two at-grade commercial units, while the second, shorter tower would be eight storeys. In total, the two towers would include 323 residential units.

Continues on page 30

LEBRETON FLATS

Continues from page 29

The one-acre site is currently occupied by a pair of three-storey commercial buildings. Planning documents prepared by Novatech Engineering Consultants note that the neighbourhood is seeing a marked uptick in development activity.

In recent years, the stretch along Carling Avenue has seen a flurry of activity, with DCA Architects stating the area has become a focal point for densification and that “an increasing number of infill and high-rise developments have been proposed and approved for this area.”

The city’s 2013 Transportation Master Plan identified the stretch of Carling between the site of the former Lincoln Fields Shopping Centre and the Dow’s Lake LRT station as a “future rail-based transit corridor.”

The updated Transportation Master Plan released earlier this year now recommends Carling become a “median transitway” serviced by buses. Last year, Inside Edge Properties

filed a plan to build a 28-storey highrise with 370 rental units at 1657

HOMES

Carling Ave. and 386 Tillbury Ave. Across the street from that site, RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust plans to build six mixed-use high-rises ranging from 18 to 40 storeys on a five-and-ahalf-acre site at the southeast corner of Carling Avenue and Clyde Avenue North next to a former Canadian Tire store that has been converted into an Altea fitness facility.

City council gave that project the green light in 2024.

Quebec-based Clobracon Construction is building two towers of 16 and 18 storeys that will contain more than 400 rental units at 1655

Carling Ave., while Claridge Homes has filed plans to build six high-rises containing up to 2,000 housing units just south of RioCan’s property at 891 Clyde Ave. between Carling Avenue and the Queensway. Farther west at 1707 Carling Ave., the same developer is building a 22-storey apartment highrise aimed at retirees.

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BEFORE AFTER

Transforming a condo kitchen

sAn outdated country-style space becomes a paragon of style, functionality and connection with the outside world

By Patrick Langston

Style, storage, functionality and a stellar view: what more can a homeowner ask from a kitchen makeover?

Designed and built by Potvin Construction, a new modernthemed penthouse kitchen in a 1970s-era condo in the Glebe met all those expectations and then some.

“The old one was just a galley kitchen,” says the homeowner, who

prefers to remain anonymous. “The cabinets were very high quality, but they were dated and just not my style … I was looking to go modern; country style is not my look.”

“I wanted more light,” she adds. “I’d just moved from a big house and the kitchen here felt enclosed. Also, it wasn’t as functional as I would have liked.”

To top it off, the old design included a solid wall partially separating the kitchen and general living area, limiting the potentially

stunning view of the neighbourhood and beyond.

With that wall now replaced by an island, “I can see Parliament Hill when I’m working at the island… It’s wonderful. I’m aware of the sky now, the clouds. Now nature is part of my day. I look down and can see the (Rideau) Canal. At night, it’s just magical.”

Having decided to make the investment (“I thought, ‘I’m moving in here for the long term, so I want it to be something I’m comfortable

with’”), the homeowner rounded up inspirational photos, including some of the renovated suite on the floor below hers, and checked out a couple of kitchen designers. She ended up working with Pierre Dromaguet, Potvin’s millwork design and sales manager, who designed her new space.

“I told Pierre I wanted a Zen kitchen and dark cupboards,” she recalls. “He picked it up from there.”

SIMPLE INGREDIENTS AND A TRIBUTE TO ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURE

Unlike today’s bright, open, entertainment-ready spaces, Dromaguet says, “Kitchens in the 1970s weren’t ‘happening’ places. It was that tucked-away room that no one paid attention to.”

The new one, by contrast, is integrated into the overall living area, giving the condo a greater expansiveness and cohesion.

Top: The existing kitchen included high-quality but outdated cabinetry.

Above: Pre-renovation, the kitchen was boxed in and the outside view from the main living area limited.

Middle: The new kitchen is bright and open with a mix of dark and light colours.

Top Left: The new stylish and functional kitchen blends black themes with walnut accents and light Dekton countertops and offers views of the city beyond.

Bottom Left: Glass cabinet doors with narrow black aluminum framing, a waterfall island countertop and a strong linear design help define the kitchen’s esthetic and the condo’s greater openness. All above photos:

GORDON KING PHOTOGRAPHY

a minimum, keep the colours to a minimum or it gets busy quickly.”

In the case of this kitchen, he continues, “… the black is a backdrop, the wood becomes a feature and the Dekton is what tied everything together.”

Concealed appliances help maintain the visual cohesion and relaxed, uncluttered esthetic.

Along with the Zen-like vibe and visual connection with the outside world, the new kitchen includes triple the storage space of the old one, builtin cabinetry lighting, a new peninsula with cupboards underneath, and a wine fridge and bar. The project was a finalist in the 2024 Ottawa Housing Design Awards, a high-end annual affair organized by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association.

Being a condo, there was limited room for the makeover, although the new useable space is roughly double the size of what was previously there. Dromaguet kept to a clean design and simple ingredients, including a mix of black and walnut slab doors and panels as well as light, textured countertops made of Dekton, a durable, manmade porcelain product that is increasingly popular.

“It’s not a big space. The more textures, the more colours you have, you lose the essence of what it is quickly,” explains Dromaguet. “If your space is small, keep the lines to a minimum, keep the volumes to

Dromaguet pushed the project a step further when he incorporated the rich walnut slabs as an echo of the wood panelling in the building’s lobby and elsewhere.

“In a project like that, I value the architecture of the building itself. We need to pay homage to what it is… We wanted to give it a feel of the 1970s although still being contemporary.”

The kitchen, says Dromaguet, has integrity. “It’s something that’s going to age well because it’s already got a little bit of the flair of the 1970s but it’s clean, it’s streamlined. And the efficiency — in a small space, you’ll find a lot of efficiency in there.”

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(OCOBIA). She was delegating before the Ottawa Police Service Board in December 2025 to express concerns about the increases in crime that are directly affecting business owners in the downtown core. She told the Board that business owners are experiencing more violence and aggression, and they feel like shoplifters are stealing with impunity.

INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE

OCOBIA was one of several public delegations expressing support for the increased police budget. They asked for a stronger police presence in Chinatown, Centretown, and other areas impacted by the crime and social disorder.

‘It’s very hard

to survive’: Chinatown shops face mounting pressures

BY ANITA GRACE

Saigon Meats and Vegetables on Somerset West is a small store packed with Chinese groceries and products. It was busy in advance of Chinese New Year, but owners Phung Nguyen and Pham Thi Hong, said they’ve been seeing a decline in customer numbers. Nguyen attributes this to factors like increased drug use in the area and theft, as well as to reductions in available parking.

They are far from alone.

Mina Shiraz, owner of the family-run Shiraz Market on Somerset West, agrees that business is down.

“The economy is the number one factor,” she told KT. “It’s very hard to survive.”

With food costs continuing to rise, Shiraz struggles to make a profit while trying to set prices low enough to maintain her customer base. “Prices keep jumping up,” she said, adding that it’s hard for small businesses to compete with big box

stores. She’s also noticed that her regular customers don’t have the money to spend on extra things.

SHOPLIFTING ON THE RISE

In January, the Angus Reid Institute published findings on a series examining crime in Canada. They note that shoplifting, verbal abuse, and physical threats have become the norm for people working in retail. Even while many common crimes have declined, rates of shoplifting are at their highest mark in decades. They attribute this to complex factors like increased financial pressures, mental health and addictions, lower police staffing levels, and an increased focus on theft among organized crime groups.

Nguyen, at Saigon Meats and Vegetables, agrees that there has been more shoplifting. He added there are additional challenges like people injecting drugs and even overdosing in his store.

Meng Lim, owner of Lim Bangkok Grocery on Somerset West, said he sees shoplifting daily. It got worse after the safe

injection site opened in 2018 at Somerset West Community Health Centre(SWCHC). The site was shut down in March 2025, and since then things have gone from bad to worse. Lim had to install steel barricades around his door and entryway to prevent theft and trespassing. The Chinatown BIA installed an exterior security camera, and he has additional security cameras inside.

Over the past year, there have been repeated concerns by residents and business owners in Chinatown about the lack of support for people accessing Safe Supply – prescribed alternatives to street drugs – and concerns that there are fewer services available for vulnerable folks through the HART Hub model.

“We’re helping everybody as much as we can,” said Shiraz. But the current environment is putting a strain on customers and businesses. “Everybody is afraid.”

“When streets feel unsafe, businesses lose customers and workers,” said Michelle Groulx, Chief Advocate for the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas

In response to such appeals, the Ottawa Police Service has increased efforts to address shoplifting. In January, they launched ‘Project Pantry,’ an initiative that focused on reducing shoplifting at a grocery store on the corner of Bank Street and Somerset West. Officers spent multiple shifts over a two-week span, arrested 12 people, and laid 78 charges.

The OPS has also added more officers to downtown neighbourhoods including the ByWard Market, Sandy Hill, and Centretown.

But even if police are increasing their presence, store owners in Centretown may not be turning to them for help.

Both Nguyen and Lim said they prefer not to call the police. Lim explained that “it’s not worth the headache” for a few cans of drinks or packets of sweets. Instead, he will call the Outreach Team if he needs assistance.

Derrick St. John, Director of Supportive Housing and Substance Use Health at SWCHC, said their Peer Outreach Team has people with lived and living experience who can respond to calls from local businesses and residents. If there is an individual being disruptive, members of the Team will engage with that person and help move them along.

“They meet them where they’re at,” explained St. John.

The Team will often bring them back to the HART Hub, connect them with resources, and offer immediate support such as food or medical care.

“The businesses have really liked it,” St. John said. They like that the teams offer both a proactive and a reactive approach, and that they have a direct line to call where “it’s a friendly voice picking up the phone.”

Above: Mina Shiraz, owner of Shiraz Market, has been in Chinatown for 12 years.

Right: Pham Thi Hong and Phung Nguyen, owners of Saigon Meats and Vegetables, said they have been losing a lot of customers recently. PHOTOS BY ANITA GRACE.

Highjinx faces uncertainty after city Issues notice of violation to landlord

BY AMANDA MCLEOD

After more than a decade serving Centretown residents from its Somerset-area storefront, Highjinx says its future is uncertain following enforcement action by the City of Ottawa

In a statement posted to Facebook, the grassroots community hub said it has been informed that the City issued a Notice of Violation to its landlord regarding the building's occupancy and use. Highjinx said the issue began more than a year ago and stems from repeated complaints “from a single source.”

“This enforcement action is not the result of neglect or bad faith,” the organization wrote. “It follows repeated complaints from a single source and now poses a potential threat to an essential service supporting some of our most vulnerable neighbours.”

Highjinx did not respond to multiple requests for comment before publication, and this publication was unable to reach the building’s owner.

Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster said in a phone interview with the Kitchissippi Times that the Notice of Violation was not directed at Highjinx and was not issued as a result of nuisance complaints.

“Before I was elected, there were a series of complaints about Highjinx from the same person. When Catherine McKenney was a councillor, they were constantly intervening to make sure there weren’t vexatious complaints,” said Troster.

“The last time this popped up was a year ago, and they were related to zoning. At that point, I intervened with the bylaw, and we figured that the zoning would be regularized with the new zoning bylaw, so they paused enforcement. There have been no complaints since, and there are no violations on the books,” she continued.

Highjinx is a second-hand store equipped with a community kitchen and drop-in centre. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY HIGHJINX FACEBOOK PAGE.

In its statement, Highjinx said its landlord has “consistently” supported the organization and said some of the complaints “reflect stigma towards unhoused people and people who use substances.”

Troster, however, noted that the issues are related to building code violations, for which the property’s landlord is responsible.

“What is happening is the landlord needs to bring the building up to code. At some point, a building inspector was on site and determined the building was in violation, so it has nothing to do with Highjinx. It has to do with the landlord’s unwillingness to bring the building up to code,” said Troster.

“[The landlord] is refusing to talk to me and has chosen to contest the Notice of Violation of the building code in the courts. My understanding is that he doesn’t believe he’s compliant. This is a dispute between

the landlord and the provincial building code,” she continued.

In a social media post, the owners of Highjinx said they’ve attended “what will be the first of many court dates” and have “not reached good-faith, meaningful discussions” with Troster and have not heard from Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.

Troster said at this point her hands are tied.

“[It’s] something that I cannot make go away politically… The landlord hung up on my staff and refuses to meet with me. I can only help Highjinx with this issue if the building owner agrees to accept my help,” she said.

Highjinx was founded in 2011 by Karen Nielson and Leigh Reid, who were frustrated by social services that consistently left gaps in support for people experiencing deep need. They soon opened the second-hand store, equipped

with a community kitchen, drop-in centre and street-level outreach.

The Somerset councillor noted that she remains supportive of the work it provides and wants to find a way to keep it operating from its Kent Street storefront.

“I don’t want them to be dealing with complaints of a discriminatory nature. I have intervened before, and I would absolutely intervene again. But this is actually a different issue,” she said.

In its Facebook post, Highjinx said it’s seeking “practical solutions” to the problem and will fight to stay open despite the uncertainty.

“What remains clear is our commitment to our neighbours and our belief that community care is not a nuisance — it is essential,” the store wrote. “We will continue to serve for as long as we are able, working in good faith toward a fair and sustainable outcome.”

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES

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

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Theresa Kavanagh

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

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