Kitchissippi Times October 2025 by Great River Media inc.

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES

You can support local and independent journalism

BY CHARLIE SENACK

Kitchissippi Times might be free to read, but it’s not free to produce.

It costs a lot of money to keep a newspaper going. Printers. Distributors. Team members. Promotions. The list goes on... But there is something special about feeling a physical copy of the paper in your hands.

We cover the stories that matter most to you. We report the news that impacts your neighbourhood. We help you discover the people and culture of this unique area. We

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When you become a member of Kitchissippi Times, you not only support local journalism, but you ensure that the stories that matter most to residents continue to be told … stories often overlooked by larger media outlets.

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KITCHISSIPPI TIMES

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

David Cummings, Bradley Turcotte, Keito Newman, Christopher Smith, Anita Murray and Patrick Langston

PROOFREADERS

Susan Rothery

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

FINANCE

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

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DISTRIBUTION

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

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The Kitchissippi Times is published by

FOUNDER PUBLISHER

Mark Sutcliffe Michael Curran

AROUND TOWN

October events happening throughout Ottawa

BY DAVID CUMMINGS

With summer firmly in the rearview mirror, there’s plenty of fall activities to look forward to, ranging from the cozy to the spooky. This time of year is a great excuse to rediscover your love for a fuzzy sweater, a hot cup of apple cider or the comfort of a thick pile of rusty leaves. But don’t get too comfortable, the city still has so much excitement to offer Ottawans this month. Take a step outside and find out why autumn is widely considered the most underrated season of the year.

BLACK HISTORY OF OTTAWA STREETS

What: Take a dive into Canada’s rich Black History on a tour of Ottawa’s landmarks.

When: Oct. 1, 4, 8, 11 and 18

Where: Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave W www.blackhistoryottawa.org

PARKDALE NIGHT MARKET

What: Tackle hump day at a golden hour market as you shop local meals and handcrafted goods from local vendors. With free entry, nothing’s stopping you from checking out the Parkdale Night Market each Wednesday for the first two weeks of October.

When: Oct. 1 and Oct. 8, 5:00p.m. to 9:00p.m.

Where: Parkdale Public Market, 366 Parkdale Avenue parkdalepublicmarket.ca

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM MEETS ALL HALLOW’S EVE

What: Head to the Gladstone Theatre for an appropriately spooky mashup where one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays meets a Halloween twist. This show is free, but don’t forget to wear a costume.

When: Oct. 2-4 at 7:00p.m. and Oct. 4 at 2:00p.m.

Where: Gladstone Theatre, 910 Gladstone Avenue Ottawa thegladstone.ca

METCALFE FAIR

What: Take a short trip out of town to visit one of Ontario’s oldest agricultural fairs, held every year since 1856. This fall fair is a great excuse to get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown to experience a rural tradition.

When: Oct. 2-5

Where: 2821 8th Line Rd, Metcalfe metcalfefair.com

CAPITAL POP-UP CINEMA

What: Kick off the spookiest month of the year with a one-of-a-kind cinema experience at the Beechwood Cemetery. Mickey Mouse and the Haunted House set to a live score performed by Orchidae will first screen at 7:00p.m., followed by the featured screening of the 1925 Phantom of the Opera at 7:30p.m.

When: Oct. 4 at 7:00p.m.

Where: Beechwood Cemetery, 280 Beechwood Ave capitalpopupcinema.com

WESTBORO FARMER’S MARKET

What: Peruse local fruits, veggies, meats, dairy and more all produced within 100km of Ottawa. Stroll beautiful Byron Linear Park while you get your fill of the freshest goods Ottawa has to offer.

When: Oct. 4, 11 and 18

Where: Byron Linear Park, 579 Byron Ave ottawafarmersmarket.ca

613FLEA

What: Take a short trip to Lansdowne for the famous 613Flea market for a sustainable shopping experience. Hosting booths from makers to bakers, you never know what you might find.

When: Oct. 4 and 18

Where: Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park, 1000 Exhibition Way 613flea.ca

Top: The annual Day of the Dead Festival is taking place from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.

Middle: Throughout October, a Black History of Ottawa tour is taking place downtown.

Above: Wickedly Westboro will take over Richmond Rd on Oct. 25.

URBAN ART COLLECTIVE

HINTONBURG

NIGHT MARKET

What: Interested in cool finds from art to clothing? Tap into Urban Art Collective’s themed night markets in Hintonburg for a curbside shopping event that will leave you feeling fresher than ever. Markets will be fall themed on Oct. 4 and Halloween themed on Oct. 25.

When: Oct. 4 and Oct. 25

Where: Urban Art Collective parking lot, 1088 Somerset St. W. urbanartcollective.ca

OTTAWA FLOWER MARKET

What: Local farmer-florists are bringing the Ottawa Valley’s best blossoms right to the heart of Kitchissippi at the Parkdale Public Market. Bring home a beautifully curated bouquet or make it your way at the build-your-own-bouquet bar.

When: Oct. 11, from 9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m.

Where: Parkdale Public Market, 366 Parkdale Ave ottawafloermarket.ca

FRESH MEAT FEST

What: Don’t let the name mislead you, this festival has nothing to do with meat! Fresh Meat is one of the most innovative theatre festivals in town. Ranging in genre, every performance is a fresh world premier and a guaranteed memorable experience. Don’t miss out!

When: Oct. 15-18

Where: Arts Court, 2 Daly Ave freshmeatfest.com

BYTOWN OKTOBERFEST

What: Enjoy live music, sip beer from a stein and fill your belly with a traditional Bavarian menu at the inaugural Bytown Oktoberfest event! Don’t miss the free pretzel that comes with every ticket. Tickets $10 in advance, $12 at the door, $5 for kids.

When: Oct. 18, 12:00p.m. to 6:00p.m.

Where: Westboro Masonic Hall, 430 Churchill Ave westborovillage.com

VEGANS WHO SNACK FOOD & ART FESTIVAL

What: Vegan or not, tasty plant-based grub is a good time for everyone! But there’s more than just food on the menu: shop goodies ranging from art to eats, all from local vendors!

When: October 25, 1:00 to 4:00p.m.

Where: Parkdale Public Market, 366 Parkdale Ave

WICKEDLY WESTBORO TRICK-OR-TREATING

What: Here’s a great excuse to get a little extra use out of your Halloween costume and collect goodies at this annual community trick or treating event. Don’t forget to bring your own bag.

When: Oct. 25, 1:00 to 4:00p.m. Where: Along Richmond Rd westborovillage.com

ANTIQUARIAN BOOK FAIR

What: Browse and shop rare and antique books at St. Paul’s University at this dive into the past. You can also look through exciting historical documents like paper ephemera and maps at this unique book fair. Tickets are $10 per person.

When: Oct. 25-26

Where: St. Paul University, 223 Main St ottawabookfair.ca

ABRAHAM LINCOLN GOES TO THE THEATRE

What: French Canadian playwright Larry Tremblay’s dark comedy is a puzzle full of twists and turns that blurs the lines between reality and theatre and confronts the true face of America.

When: Oct. 28-Nov. 9, Tuesday-Friday at 7:30p.m., Saturday at 2:00p.m. and 7:30p.m., Sunday at 2:00p.m.

Where: Great Canadian Theatre Company, 1233 Wellington Street West gctc.ca

NATURE NOCTURNE

What: Is there any activity more appropriate on Halloween than a night at the museum? Dance your way through four floors full of exhibitions at the Canadian Museum of Nature and don’t forget to rub shoulders with the artists themselves at this exciting nighttime social!

When: Oct. 31

Where: Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod St nature.ca

DAY OF THE DEAD FESTIVAL

What: Celebrate Mexican culture and the tradition of Dia de los Muertos through a vibrant family-friendly festival of art, music, dance and more. Join in activities for all ages and taste unforgettable Mexican cuisine from on-location vendors and food stalls.

When: Oct. 31-Nov. 2

Where: 55 ByWard Market Square dayofthedeadfestival.ca

OCTOBER UPDATES

FALL PROGRAMS ARE UNDERWAY

It’s not too late. Sign up for fitness, arts, sports and more for your best fall ever!

REGISTRATION FOR FALL 2 SWIM LESSONS

Group, small group, and private lessons will be available for registration at 8:00AM starting October 14th at www.dovercourt.org. Check our website on October 8 to view all the classes. The session runs Nov. 3 – Dec. 21.

SPECIALTY & AQUAFITNESS CLASSES

Commit to your health with a registered fitness class. There’s so much to choose from including Hatha Yoga, Couples On Weights, Spinning, Pilates, Zumba, Pre and Postnatal Fitness, TRX, Barre Fit, Aqua Zumba and Aqua Arthritis just to name a few!

FIT PASS

Enjoy exclusive access to 52+ weekly group fit, spin and aquafit classes, the Fitness Centre, pickleball and even access to drop-in swims with your monthly Fit Pass.

PD DAYS & DATE NIGHT

PD day camp programs offer a full day of activities with caring, energetic leaders. Book now for Sep. 29, Oct. 10, Nov. 7, 24 & 28; December 5. See our PD Day webpage for details. Date Night: Friday Oct 17, 6-9pm, ages 4-12yrs, course #28992

SPECIAL EVENTS:

• Holiday schedule for Thanksgiving Weekend - Oct. 11-13

• Spooktacular event Saturday Oct 25 (details to come)

• Costume exchange: Friday Oct. 17 (drop offs begin Oct. 1)

• Holiday Camp Registration opens on Tuesday, October 7th at 8:00 AM

One month in: tracing the paid parking debate in Westboro and Wellington West

BY DAVID CUMMINGS

After years of deliberating, the City of Ottawa finally activated parking meters along the streets of Wellington West and Westboro on Sept. 2. The city aims to use the program to relieve parking congestion and consistently free up space for customers. But many are left unsatisfied.

The idea of installing these parking meters has long drawn pushback from members of the Westboro and Wellington West communities. Now that they have been switched on for a month, many customers and business owners are hitting road blocks operating with the new rules.

“I don't work in an office where I can sneak out for 10 minutes and call it a break,” said Morgan Gould, general manager of Fratelli on Richmond Rd. “If there's customers waiting in the dining room, I'm going nowhere.”

The machines’ two-hour limit has already proven to be a hiccup for local workers parking nearby.

“A lot of my staff are now getting tickets nonstop,” Gould said.

The dissatisfaction extends to customers as well, which in many situations just adds another headache for workers tasked with fielding their patrons’ frustrations, according to Judy Lincoln, the executive director of the Westboro Village BIA.

“Many small business owners and their staff are feeling the burden of explaining it to customers, and taking the brunt of the

frustration from customers,” Lincoln told KT in an email. “It is hard. This decision was not the businesses’ or the BIA's, but the City of Ottawa.”

Aron Slipacoff, executive director of Wellington West’s BIA, said businesses in his neighbourhood also share an overall concern with how the new paid parking is affecting businesses.

“In general, the feeling is that the paid parking is going to drive away foot traffic and drive away business and people will not stop to do their 15 minute shops, they’ll just keep going and they’ll park in the parking lot down the road,” Slipacoff said.

While other popular neighbourhoods across Ottawa, like the Glebe, have had paid parking for years, they don’t lack reliable access to public transit the way Ottawans in Westboro and Wellington West do. The O-Train’s Confederation line won’t extend to a station in Westboro until the rail’s west extension is complete.

The sentiment had the support of Kitchissippi ward councillor Jeff Leiper who, in June 2024, attempted to hold off paid parking in Westboro and Wellington West until the train’s extension improved the neighbourhood’s transit situation. The motion ultimately failed as the city made another step towards activating meters this September.

"Getting to Westboro today is more difficult than it will be when stage two LRT comes into effect,” Leiper said. “But hopefully, by the end of 2026/early 2027, the train is up and running and that will

transform the transit trip to Westboro.”

For Leiper, it’s no surprise paid parking is so unpopular.

“No one wants to pay for parking,” he said. “But in general, people will.”

So it begs the question: what purpose is paid parking supposed to serve for Wellington West and Westboro?

“The paid parking is intended to manage the very high demand for parking that's in Westboro in Wellington West,” Leiper said. “For years I have heard from merchants the frustrations they express on behalf of their customers that parking is difficult to find.”

And over the past decade, the area has become more and more popular to the point where parking now comes at a premium. In a July press release, the city said its decision to implement paid parking in the area was based on data collected from a 2023 study on parking in Kitchissippi. The study found parking occupancy in Wellington West and Westboro had been steadily increasing since 2014. In many places, that often exceeded the agreed upon practical capacity of 85 per cent.

Put simply, parking in Westboro and Wellington West has been in short supply, so paid parking is intended to open spaces so new customers can park.

“If the neighbourhood gets a reputation for one in which parking is hard to find, that's a drag on business,” Leiper said. “So the advantage of having paid parking is to try to encourage parking turnover and the availability of spots so that when people want to visit our neighborhoods, they are reasonably assured that they'll be able to find

Reaction has been mixed after paid parking was implemented along Richmond Rd and Wellington St. W.

PHOTO BY KEITO NEWMAN.

a parking spot that's convenient to where they want to go.

“It is a worthwhile goal to try to ensure that parking is available to support our local businesses and this is a key tool in doing that.”

It’s a positive impact Gould has already noticed in the area, with an asterisk or two.

“It has opened up a lot more parking for people who want to just jump in and make a quick stop,” Gould said. “On the other hand, the machines never seem to work.”

Gould said the meters’ two-hour time limit also risks discouraging customers from dining and shopping freely around the neighbourhood.

“As a restaurant, people want to come to Westboro to go for lunch and to go shopping and now we're finding people who are telling us they can only do one or the other,” Gould said.

In general, the feeling is that the paid parking is going to drive away foot traffic and drive away business. — ARON SLIPACOFF

New housing rules would allow for three-storey builds in most Ottawa neighbourhoods

Local communities impacted include the Civic Hospital and Champlain Park

BY CHARLIE SENACK

If you walk through Champlain Park or the Civic Hospital neighbourhood, no two houses look the same. There is a sense of charm that comes from older builds. The properties were built on large lots with plenty of space for gardens and trees.

But residents in those two communities are concerned over new zoning rules that would allow such houses to be torn down to make way for three-storey residential builds. The latest draft of Ottawa’s comprehensive zoning bylaw would allow heights upwards of 11 metres in almost all parts of the city – particularly impacting the “bungalow belt” which refers to older neighbourhoods

which are full of single storey homes.

Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper, who also chairs the city's planning and housing committee, said the changes are coming because Ottawa is growing and needs to act fast to keep pace with its housing targets. The city is forecasted to reach a population of 1.6 million by 2046, which will require 320,755 additional households to be built by then.

“There is absolutely some discomfort we've seen from community members about the changes. They're concerned about what that would mean from both a visual perspective and from a new depth density perspective,” Leiper admitted. “What I would suggest is we are facing a housing crisis. And right across the city, intensification is our key response if we're

going to ensure that housing is available for people who are looking for it, and two, to ensure that the long-term sustainability of the city is considered.”

Communities such as Nepean or Gloucester will be most impacted, said Leiper, but also noted parts of Island Park, Wellington Village, and much of neighbouring Bay Ward would be hit with the new zoning.

Matt Lemay, chair of the Civic Hospital Community Association’s History and Heritage Committee, said he feels the density could go too far.

The Civic Hospital area was built in the 1930s and still uses much of the same aging infrastructure today. While in support of intensification, Lemay says it should be done with “consideration

Left: Under new rules, single-family homes can be torn down and replaced with three-storey homes.

Right: Matt Lemay is chair of the Civic Hospital Community Associations History and Heritage Committee. PHOTOS BY KEITO NEWMAN.

We worry that builders and homeowners will simply use the permissions to tear down homes in our community to build larger, more expensive single family homes. — MATT LEMAY

and purpose.” Instead, he feels the city is taking a “one size fits all” approach.

“It would be one thing if the zoning bylaws set conditions that require developers to add units in exchange for more generous height limits, but there's no rules,” he told KT. “We worry that builders and homeowners will simply use the permissions to tear down homes in our community to build larger, more expensive single family homes.”

Lemay believes eight and a half metre height requirements would be sufficient since they would allow for basementtype units. He said the 11 metres “almost encourages houses to be torn down for new development.”

That is a concern also shared by Heather Pearl, who is planning, zoning and environmental policies chair for the Champlain Park Community Association. She moved into the neighbourhood in the 1970s because of its close proximity to stores, services and greenspace.

Now a senior citizen, Pearl said she loves the diversity of ages and backgrounds on her street. There are kids who kick around the soccer ball, LGBTQ+ couples, and people from different ethnicities who have enriched the west end community with their culture.

Pearl worries all of that could be lost, given its prime waterfront location and the soaring cost of land.

“We can see what's happening in Toronto and even here now, where all of those condos were built for investors, but nobody can sell them because they're too small. They're not for families,” she said.

In a memo to members of the planning and housing committee, Derrick Moodie, director of Planning Services, Planning, Development and Building Services Department, said the new building heights would help “support the construction of “larger, family-sized dwelling units in fourto six-unit buildings.”

But what about protecting greenspace and the tree canopy? Pearl said taller buildings could impact trees and said it could be more difficult for freshly planted greenery to survive.

“We already know that there's a ton of documentation and studies that show that people who live near trees have less heart disease, diabetes, and asthma. Birth outcomes are better, and are less fraught because of all of these things. And we know what the impact is on human health of removing all those trees and replacing it with buildings and hardscaping,” said Pearl. “I want the future to be better for the kids that I will eventually leave behind.”

Lemay also expects the new rules to impact the Civic Hospital neighbourhood’s tree canopy.

“In a lot of cases, we have utility services, such as hydro, cable, and telephone poles and wires that run across the backyard. These have easements for maintenance and repair, and they have specific distances that must be kept clear,” he said. “They will have restrictions in terms of the type of trees you can plant there because you need so much setback.”

The third draft of the new zoning bylaw also introduces a major change that would allow high-rise buildings to be taller and closer to low-rise structures. Specifically, the maximum height for high-rises would increase from 27 to 30 storeys, while the required setback between the tower portion of a high-rise and adjacent low-rise buildings would be reduced from 30 metres to 25 metres. In a suburban area, the height of a highrise building will be limited to 18 storeys when located farther than 600 metres from a transit station. Leiper said he thinks it will make little difference.

The final plan will be debated by City Council on Dec. 17.

OPEN HOUSE

At SPU, we don’t just break the mold we empower you to shape it.

Explore programs in Counselling, Ethics, Conflict Studies, Social Innovation, and

here November 8, 2025 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

What to do with the transitway once light rail opens

The land will be converted back to greenspace

BY CHARLIE SENACK

For years, Woodpark residents have lived with the dust, detours and noise of light rail construction happening in their backyard. But once the trains start travelling from Tunney’s Pasture to Baseline Station in 2027, the concrete transitway that cuts through their neighbourhood will be decommissioned and replaced by new stretches of greenspace.

That is welcome news to Sue Milburn, president of the Woodpark Community Association. But she hopes the space will be used wisely – especially after parkland was temporarily removed during light rail construction.

“We did have access to NCC green space between the transitway and our neighbourhood. There was also a small city parkette at the end of Lawn Avenue on the entrance to the transitway but that has all been disturbed because of light rail,” said Milburn.

The area currently hosts a community garden and a multi-use path which connects Lawn Avenue to Carling. But it is overgrown with many invasive species, says Milburn. She would like to see it cleaned up and have playground equipment on the south side.

“It will be recreated, but that's an area to walk through. Maybe there will be a park bench. You couldn't put a place structure or anything like that and we already have a significant deficit with respect to community facilities and places for kids to play,” she added.

Long before it was the residential neighbourhood we know today, the Woodpark community was cottage country. The area was unplanned which, as

a result, has led to narrow streets, ditches, odd-sized lots, and a lack of parkland, said Milburn.

New Orchard Park is the only small patch of community outdoor land available. It has a children’s play structure, but is too small for an outdoor skating rink in the winter or even a splash pad for summer. The community association needs to hold its meetings in the library because it has no access to a community building.

With the opportunity to now utilize the transitway land, city documents provide little information as to how it will be used for outdoor community space. Landscaping will begin in phases after the decommissioning of the transitway, with topsoil and sod being put down.

Bay Ward Coun. Theresa Kavanagh said the land is owned by the National Capital Commission. She has spoken with the organization recently and hopes it can be utilized for something innovative.

“Are we going to make it a great big skateboard park? It is going to be empty and goes all the way up to Iris. There are no plans at this time but it's coming soon. We are only a few years away now,” she said.

Kavanagh would also like to explore what to do with the Pinecrest Creek which runs linear to the transitway.

Hundreds of years ago, the subwatershed ran through a deciduous forest. In the 1800s, that land was then converted into farm use. As neighbourhoods were built, smaller streams that flowed into the Pinecrest Creek were filled in, buried or moved. The lower 1.5km of the creek now flows through a large underground pipe.

“I would like for the NCC to daylight the creek, which they have not agreed to,” said

transitway will be decommissioned once light rail opens and turned into green space.

Many people have jobs that aren't easily accessible by transit. Those cars are going to go somewhere. — SUE MILBURN

Kavanagh. “This is the perfect opportunity to expand some trail networks or put in some interesting, funky features. But things seem to take a long time to do anything in Ottawa. When there's no plan, it feels like this is a way distant opportunity when it maybe doesn't need to be.”

There is also the possibility of some affordable housing being built on some land parcels in the area. That includes at the intersection where a large ramp takes

vehicles from Carling Avenue to the Kichi Zibi Mikan Parkway. Plans include the possibility of making that a 'T intersection' instead, which would take up less space than the current configuration.

KEEPING UP WITH INTENSIFICATION

The communities around Woodpark are set to see massive development over the coming decades as the city pushes to build

The

PHOTO BY KEITO NEWMAN.

upward in areas around transit hubs. Both the Lincoln Fields and New Orchard light rail stations are situated in the community.

Most in the neighbourhood are excited to see the arrival of light rail, Lemay says, but worries about how the community's infrastructure can keep up with population growth. The biggest changes will be seen in areas off the busy roads where three-storey homes with upwards of six units can now be built on single lots.

Lemay, who is from Toronto, questions where all those additional cars are going to be parked and said it's unrealistic to think everyone won't drive and just take public transit.

“Many people have jobs that aren't easily accessible by transit. Those cars are going to go somewhere. We'd really like some help from the city to design the appropriate parking restrictions. Right now, we have a complete dog's breakfast of parking restrictions,” she said.

“For example the street next to mine changed their rules to have no parking so that a garbage truck could get into a condo development to get the garbage out. Then all of a sudden, those cars now are parking on our street,” Lemay added. “If we have

no parking or restrictions, those cars will just move to another street and create problems there instead. We need a holistic approach.”

There is also the concern over greenspace. More residents should mean more space for outdoor activity, she says.

The Current Lincoln Fields Secondary Plan – which the Woodpark Community largely opposes – will shape development at the former shopping mall plaza next door. Highrises, a new main street, and parkland are all part of the plan.

But Lemay feels it is not enough to help residents on her side of the transitway. She said that since the Woodpark area has had to suffer more than other parts of the city with intensification, a greater emphasis should be put on creating new infrastructure and amenity space there.

“The added greenspace we will see with the removal of the transitway will be largely for bicycles and walkers.There is NCC space that I think the city should be going after buying and making a park. But they say it's too expensive and they can't pay market value. I am pretty sure a deal can be reached,” concluded Lemay.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4TH, 2025

YOU’RE INVITED TO OUR OCTOBER EVENTS

The possibilities are endless at Amica Westboro Park this month! We hope you’ll join us at our senior lifestyles residence for three exciting events.

FRIENDSHIP SOCIAL

Wednesday, October 15 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Register by October 11

SENIOR ART EXHIBITION

Wednesday, October 22 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Register by October 18

CHEF’S TABLE EVENT

Tuesday, October 28 | 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Register by October 24

Please RSVP for your preferred event(s) to Michele or Christopher at 613-728-9274.

We look forward to seeing you.

491 RICHMOND ROAD, OTTAWA AMICA.CA/WESTBOROPARK

The history of Henry McCormick

BY DAVE ALLSTON

McCormick Park is a quirky little park in the heart of Hintonburg that boasts trees, benches, a playground and covered seating. It’s a meeting place for local residents. And likewise, McCormick Street is a quirky little street that surely must hold the record in Ottawa for being the thinnest two-way street with parking allowed.

Henry McCormick was born on Eden Island, Ireland, in 1818, and came to Canada with his parents and young siblings sometime in the mid-to-late 1820s. Before long, the McCormick family had found themselves in what was then just the small settlement of Bytown amidst construction of the Rideau Canal. His father, Alex McCormick, was a general labourer who may have helped build the canal, and Henry would have been as young as 10 years of age on arriving in the primitive village.

Henry McCormick grew up alongside Bytown. He took an interest in baking, and by his early 20s, was operating a successful bakery in Lowertown on Dalhousie Street, commencing sometime in the early 1840s. In fact, his bakery at 210 Dalhousie Street remains preserved today as one of Ottawa’s most important heritage structures as well as one of its first commercial stone buildings.

According to a profile in the Lowertown Echo: “The bakery specialized in shanty biscuits that were long lasting and could be carried into the woods with the workers. It also delivered bread using two-wheeled carts that could navigate the muddy streets.”

Henry married Eliza Jane Best in 1845, with whom he had two children, Alex (1848) and Letitia (1850). He occasionally hired his brother-in-law Francis Best to operate his thriving bakery for him, particularly after he opened a flour mill

in the late 1850s. For a time, Henry also operated a tavern.

Henry was a witness to Bytown’s growth, and was present at the Stony Monday Riot, which took place on September 17, 1949, giving testimony at the ensuing trial.

He also took an interest in the development of Bytown, lobbying Town Council for a plank side walk on Dalhousie Street in 1851 (he lost). But a few months later, a bylaw indicates that Henry himself was paid 282 pounds for “making improvements on the streets of Bytown.”

He also operated a flour, feed and grain business on Sparks Street for over 30 years, and was located in the building next door to where D’Arcy McGee was assassinated in April 1868.

In the early 1860s, he opened a new bakery on the corner of Queen and O’Connor, where he was producing “forty to fifty barrels of loaf-bread baked weekly, and two waggons [sic] employed constantly” to deliver it.

When McCormick listed his bakery for sale in 1865, he advertised it as a

“potential government bakery,” as the public service had begun to expand in Ottawa, and the holding of Parliament here was to begin the following year.

He seemingly struggled with the idea of having to sell his bakery, but his booming mill business simply required too much of his time.

His mill, called Hull Flour Mills, located – not surprisingly – in Hull, was grinding 70,000 bushels of wheat per year through the 1850s and 1860s.

Throughout this period, Henry was also involved in many other facets of public life. He was an Alderman for Wellington Ward on City Council; an Ensign in the local militia (the Seventh Battalion, Carleton) during the era of the Fenian raids; a school trustee; president of the Building Society; treasurer of the Irish Protestant Benevolent Association; treasurer of a Loyal Orange District Lodge; Chairman of the Temporal Committee of Knox Church; a director of the Ottawa Auxiliary Bible Society; and director at Beechwood Cemetery.

In August of 1872, it was announced that Henry was going into partnership

1. A photo of the McCormick family taken in 1970.

2. An Ottawa Citizen clipping from October 9, 1865.

3. New Orpington Lodge / St. George’s home as seen in the early 1900s.

4. St. George’s Home for Boys at 1153 Wellington in Aug. 1998.

with his 24-year old son Alexander George, and that the firm would become known as H. McCormick & Son.

A tragic event occurred in January 1875 when Henry’s daughter Letitia’s 24-year old husband John James Little passed away in Toronto, leaving Letitia a pregnant widow with two other young children.

Letitia returned to Ottawa to live with her parents, and Henry surely must have felt a larger, more peaceful homestead was needed versus living on an upper floor of

a Sparks Street commercial building.

He found it, in a large country villa on a sprawling 4-acre property in a growing settlement that would not be named Hintonburg for another four years.

James Fitzgibbon, an engineer on Colonel By’s staff, had built the first frame house in Bytown. But 40 years later, in 1865, he decided to build a stately home on Richmond Road to spend his retirement years. Sadly, he was only able to enjoy the home for three years before he passed away in December of 1868. His widow Maria remained in the home for a few years, but in 1875, she made the decision to move into the city and rent out her home.

The McCormick family leased it from Maria. Henry and Eliza, Letitia and her three children, and Alex all moved in. This home too still stands today, as the interior portion of the Holy Rosary Church at 1153 Wellington Street West. (Two years later, Letitia purchased the house and property, with 100% of the $2,857 price mortgaged).

They called their home “Maple Villa.”

Over the next few years, Henry and Alex would suffer through some difficult times with the business. Their firm was declared insolvent in August of 1878, and after getting through that, their Hull

mill was destroyed by a major fire in November 1882.

But they survived and continued their milling and flour business on Sparks Street.

in June of 1883, the McCormicks acquired 2 additional acres from Fitzgibbon adjoining their house to the east, and brought a new industry to Hintonburg. In the summer of 1885, they opened a “large and capacious” grain elevator (now the site of the RBC bank). The building was 3 ½ stories high, and 40 feet by 40 feet in dimension. The bottom storey was built of stone and the others of heavy timber faced with brick. The machinery was driven by a twelve horse-power engine.

Grain elevators were typically very tall structures which were used to receive, store and ship large quantities of grain. Storage was important during periods of major market fluctuations, where it was advantageous to store grain until market conditions improved.

The McCormicks became popular with the farmers of the district, as they would purchase their grain directly from Nepean farms.

They also soon erected a large warehouse on Broad Street in LeBreton Flats.

Henry McCormick, now in his late 60s, became involved in bettering Hintonburg as well, serving as a trustee on the early Hintonburg School Board. He also advocated for smaller milling firms at the federal Railway Commission in 1886, arguing that the government should intervene on the issue of some Canadian companies receiving special freight rates over others.

Henry died suddenly at his Richmond Road home on April 6, 1888, of a ruptured blood vessel. The day before, he had seemed in perfect health, conducting business in the city as usual.

Things then changed quickly. Alex moved their offices on Sparks Street to the Broad Street warehouse, but in October of 1889, he announced he was moving to Chicago to work in the lumber business. All of the H. McCormick & Son assets were put up for rent, including the property in Hintonburg.

In December of 1889, Alex and his sister Letitia saw the popularity of land in Hintonburg exploding, so they filed a small subdivision of most of their property (Carleton County Plan 109). The plan laid out 17 new building lots, and created McCormick Street on the eastern edge, and two small streets in behind called 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue (later simply incorporated as part of Grant Street and Armstrong Street).

On April 22, 1890, a large estate auction was held at Maple Villa with a long list of items for sale, including five bedroom sets, a piano and a buggy express wagon.

That same month, Alex sold the grain elevator on the property to fellow grain dealer Robert Mason. Within two years, Mason would default on the mortgage, and ownership would return to the McCormicks. In 1909, James Forward would acquire the mill, build an enormous hay and feed warehouse addition, and operate a mill here until 1942. The building was repurposed as the West End Tire and Vulcanizing Shop and a Builders Supply warehouse before being demolished between 1956-1957 to make way for a gas station, and later an A&W drive-in.

Maple Villa, meanwhile, would be rented out by the McCormicks, with its large lawns, stable and coachhouse, until purchased in 1896 to become a receiving and distributing home for Roman Catholic children immigrating from the UK. Originally known as New Orpington Lodge, it is better remembered as St. George’s Home. The Holy Rosary parish took over in 1947, and retained the old Victorian home within its structure.

Alex McCormick did not last long in Chicago, and returned to Ottawa where he would go on to manage the local branch of the Lake of the Woods Milling Company until his death from a heart attack in 1913.

Although the McCormicks’ time in Hintonburg is in the distant past, it’s fitting that some traces still remain of a man and his family who had front row seats to some of the biggest events in early Ottawa history, and who brought new industry and employment to Hintonburg during its earliest years.

Rocky Horror loud and proud fifty years later

Non-binary actor fills Frank’s heels in Toto Too’s revival

BY BRADLEY TURCOTTE

More than five decades after Richard O’Brien first staged his subversive musical, Toto Too (TT) resurrects The Rocky Horror Show at The Gladstone Oct 23 – Nov 1, further updating its transgressive message with a cast that includes many non-binary performers.

When it debuted in London in 1973, Rocky Horror brought explicit sexuality, queerness, and gender non-conforming identities to the stage, eventually spawning the cult 1975 film that still screens in theatres around the world.

Director Stefania Wheelhouse acknowledges that the script includes some outdated ideas about gender expression and consent. Written when counterculture pushed back against the prudish norms of the ‘50s and ’60s, the show “was breaking free of what was allowed to be felt,” she says. At its core, she adds, Rocky Horror is “sex positive.”

Modern LGBTQ+ audiences continue to embrace its rebellious spirit, and in this production, Jarrett Stoll, a non-binary performer, takes on the show’s iconic lead.

Originally from Midland, Ontario, Stoll began performing in musical theatre as a child, playing Augustus Gloop twice, and went on to direct Into the Woods in college. They’re also a regular at the monthly cabaret open mic Broadway Nights, and have performed with Oh Canada Eh? Dinner Theatre.

As a “queer, small-town” kid, Stoll says the film oﬀered both an escape and a revelation.

“This movie was the way I could see myself and my community represented,” Stoll explained. “It wasn’t just important for me to see myself but also to see people across the LGBTQ+ spectrum being their full selves, unapologetically.” Stoll arrived at the audition in stilettos and their “best Frank-N-Furter cosplay,” ready to shatter heteronormative ideals. Frank, Stoll says, is “truly and fully themselves in every sense of the word. It has been so exciting and playful. In the story, they’re aliens, so to embrace all the things others might deem alien, and fully live in that, has been such a freeing experience. Especially in rehearsal, with such an accepting, queer, trans cast.”

Ian McLeod, who plays Riﬀ Raﬀ, puts it frankly; if a Rocky Horror run doesn’t have a killer doctor, there is no show.

“Luckily, we have a lord have mercylevel Frank in Jarrett,” McLeod observed. “The way he is able to inhabit, both the raucous, campy, Vaudevillian elements of the character, as well as the sultry, sexy, sinister side, and intertwine it all so fluidly is, honestly, is such a trip to watch. Bitchy, bawdy, joyous, frightening, volcanic, and vulnerable. It’s all there in fishnets.”These characters cast a long, dark shadow in audiences’ memories, McLeod says, and this ensemble is working to honour that legacy without resorting to mimicry.

McLeod, who starred in the 2022 rock opera Brother 12, says his take on the lurking handyman continues to evolve.

“It’s important to me to show Riﬀ’s brand of stoic, disaﬀected skepticism— alongside these gleeful bursts of chaos.

A lot of those traits already resonate with me pretty deeply. Add the gaunt expression, faraway stare, and rather tragic hairline that Riﬀ and I naturally share, and you could argue I was born for this,” he laughed.

McLeod echoes Stoll’s appreciation for the film, recalling his youth in Edmonton, where he frequently attended screenings—“wasting toilet paper and disparaging poor Susan Sarandon with gusto.”

“Though I didn’t clock it that way at the time, those Rocky screenings were the first identifiably queer spaces my still-closeted, conservative-raised, lil’ gay self ever participated in,” he said. “It feels very full-circle to now be staging it with Ottawa’s LGBTQ+ theatre company.”

A veteran of Ottawa’s stage scene, Wheelhouse says she loves the “wonderful, creative outlet” that community theatre provides.

“TT specifically, I’ve had a wonderful time working with them. It’s a creative, open, forward-thinking company, always striving to be inclusive. I’ve always felt like my creative voice has been heard. It’s a wonderful space to be in.”

Stoll feels privileged to be working with this crew. From the first audition, it was clear TT was something diﬀerent.

“It’s the most accepting theatre company right from the get-go,” Stoll said. “It fosters a sense of community. You can truly be yourself. I can just go for it. There’s a camaraderie I don’t think you’ll find anywhere else.”

Wheelhouse hopes to leave the Halloween season audiences “delighted, titillated, and maybe a little scared. If you are a fan of the film you are going to have an absolute blast.”

“Expect fabulous amounts of sequins and drama,” Stoll adds, laughing maniacally. “With mischief and mayhem from Frank-N-Furter himself.”

The Rocky Horror Show is taking place at the Gladstone Theatre from Oct. 13 to Nov. 1. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STEFANIA WHEELHOUSE.

ARTS

From Plate Tectonics to Taylor Swift and The Simpsons

Ottawa trivia nights spark knowledge and connection

BY BRADLEY TURCOTTE

In bars and restaurants across the city, trivia nights have become more than just games. They’re social rituals, creative outlets, and even the start of love stories.

Paul Paquet’s Ottawa Trivia League (OTL) poses most of the questions. Founded in 1998, OTL stages trivia nights at around 25 bars and restaurants. After a hard fought battle, Paquet’s high school team placed second on the long running television series Reach for the Top in the 1980s, sparking his love of trivia.

Watching himself at 17 on YouTube, Paquet says, is an eerie experience. Now 60, Paquet laughs that writing trivia questions keeps him up on youthful trends like skibidi toilet and Teddy Swims.

OTL avoids overtly political content, although Paquet says creating an inclusive environment “is an implicit political statement.”

shifted from Boomers and Gen X players to Millennials and Gen Z, and with that came a calmer atmosphere. Back in the early aughts, the OTL handbook included sections on what to do if there is a fist fight or the host is groped, Paquet continues, “crowds have become more reserved.”

“We recognize the ills of the world but we’re not out there to harsh your mellow,” Paquet says. Scott Mullin, the Monday night emcee at Queen Street Fare, recalls just two unpleasant moments in years of hosting: a bar patron once passed him a note threatening to egg him, and there was a single instance of passive homophobia. But overall, he says, these are rare exceptions.

Mullin began hosting as a student in Newfoundland after attending as a player.

“I used to love the way the environment was set up. Fun and inclusive, wracking your brain trying to get the answers,” Mullin, who has hosted events for Rainbow Rockers Curling, said.

“It was a fun way to hang out with friends and reconnect with acquaintances after work. I like seeing those intersections happen while I am hosting trivia.”

Anina’s Cafe on Bradley Street hosts a bimonthly trivia night headed by Mullin’s drag alter ego Shea Muah.

In addition to OTL, Paquet runs the Trivia Hall of Fame website and assists in the production of World Trivia Night.

Since OTL’s first organized bar trivia night, Paquet says the demographic has

While society is more accepting and progressive, the crowds at trivia are turned oﬀ by explicitly sexual content, Paquet observed

“It’s very much a generational change. This generation has come up with diﬀerent influences and diﬀerent ways of being. It’s just the way it is.”

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR HOUSE IS

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR

HOUSE

An Aug 18 event for Public Service Pride week saw drag queens lip synching for the music trivia categories, Mullin recounts. “We had a good time highlighting some of the historic and current queer pop culture icons.”

Icons of television are celebrated in show specific trivia nights around the city, with events for prolific programs like Friends, Breaking Bad and The Simpsons.

Host of the bimonthly Simpsons trivia night at the Gilmour, Ben Thomas

IS Keep your dollars in Canada to strengthen communities and support local businesses, including your local newspaper.

Keep your dollars in Canada to strengthen communities and support local businesses, including your local newspaper.

remembers falling in love with the show while watching via rabbit ears in his childhood basement. Over the pandemic, Thomas purchased DVDs and these rewatch binges form the basis of his trivia questions.

“I usually choose a season to base a trivia night around,” Thomas says. “I’ll watch and let it percolate in my brain. A lot of questions come to me the next day as I’m driving to work.”

Attendee Adam Goldberg remembers The Simpsons from its original airing on the Tracy Ullman Show, and has attended Star Wars trivia nights.

“It’s fun, we always reference Simpsons memes. It’s where you get to dump out your useless knowledge. I know this esoteric fact that nobody else does,” Goldberg says. “I have made many friends from Simpsons trivia.”

Jeannie Nikolic hosted Simpsons trivia in Ottawa for over five years and praises Thomas’ creativity.

“He does a good job of making the questions progressively harder and not accepting any half answers for the last few rounds,” Nikolic says. “He has great prizes too.”

Trivia is a great way for people to

come together, Nikolic adds.

“If it’s a show you like and it’s a group of people who also like that show, you have found your people. Everybody’s friendly. You are all laughing at the same jokes. You share something in common. You might not have found these people otherwise.”

There are some OTL attendees who have been playing for over two decades. Paquet oﬃciated two weddings for trivia regulars.“Couples have met, fallen in love over questions about Taylor Swift and plate tectonics, and got married,” Paquet said. “There are at least four human beings who only exist because their parents met playing trivia. When I eventually retire from this, that is something that will be an ongoing legacy. That’s something I am quite proud of.”

Top insert: Paul Paquet’s Ottawa Trivia League has been going strong since 1998.

Below insert: Scott Mullin is the Monday night emcee at Queen Street Fare. PROVIDED PHOTOS.

Right: Ben Thomas is host of the bimonthly Simpsons trivia at the Gilmour.

PHOTO BY BRADLEY TURCOTTE.

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

Blending family, tradition and cultural local artist Yi Chang’s influence on Chinatown’s

BY DAVID CUMMINGS

If you’ve taken a walk, drive or bike through Chinatown at any point this summer, you’ve probably noticed a new, striking historical sculpture depicting an essential yet often understated part of Canada’s history. It’s purposefully hard to ignore.

The bronze in front of 755 Somerset Street W includes two men on either side of a railroad perched on top of a map of Canada, which forms the base of the piece. The shirtless man on the right, symbolizing suffering, is squatting, exhausted during a rare break from his tireless work. Opposite him is another man, symbolizing strength, frozen mid-swing with a sledgehammer as he targets the railway between them. The rail trails back, away from the street, before curving upwards to the artwork’s tallest height of 3.4 metres.

According to the artist behind the work, Yi Chang, the skyward rail serves as an abstract memorial to the 17,000 Chinese workers who risked or lost their lives building the Pacific Railway between 1880 and 1885. Chang and her sister, Shi, completed the sculpture over the span of three months.

Importantly, the shape of the railway forms the Chinese character “人” meaning human.

“We want to say, humans, if we work together, we can win anything, we can build a history, we can do everything,” Chang said.

Erected in June 2025, the same year as the 140th anniversary of the railway’s completion, it’s a testament to an account long left out of textbooks. The sculpture honours those Chinese workers who braved systemic discrimination and treacherous working conditions to complete a railway which reshaped Canada's history.

“They were paid less than other people and they did the hard jobs,” Chang said of the Chinese workers who built the railway. “A lot of people lost their lives.”

“To tell you the truth, when we did the research for that part of history, I couldn’t find much at all because I don’t think Western people want to know that.”

Chang said research was essential to ensure accuracies like the figures’ clothing and their regional backgrounds in China.

“This is part of history,” Chang said. “We have to make sure everything is correct.”

The project is one of several works Chang has contributed throughout Chinatown. Using her art, Chang consistently looks to strengthen the influence of Chinese culture, history and tradition in its own right, but also within the Canadian zeitgeist.

“A lot of people don’t remember what Chinese people did,” Chang said. “So that’s why we want to show this is where Chinese people are a part of Canadian history.”

Chang was born in Changchun in northeastern China within a family of artists. When she was 10 years old, her family moved to Tokyo, Japan to follow the art career of her father, Jue Yuan Chang. In time for high school, her family moved again to Canada. Along with her sister, Chang attended the Ontario College of Art in Toronto before the sisters went to Sheridan College in Hamilton to learn animation. It was there, in her classes, where she met her now husband, Christopher Richard, eventually adding yet another artist to the family.

The program at Sheridan also led both Chang and her sister to a career in animation, notably working in the animation department for Wild Kratts on PBS Kids.

But Chang’s multifaceted approach to art couldn’t limit her to a career in animation. In 2011, she opened an art gallery in Chinatown with her mother, Hang Hu, named Art Flow Gallery. She said her motivation for starting her own gallery was the general lack of Chinese art and artists in Canadian galleries.

While her gallery closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Chang remains heavily involved in Chinatown’s community

today, painting murals and even organizing parade performances during the neighbourhood’s famous annual night market.

One of Chang’s murals is bolted to the side of the popular Mai Mai 2 Beauty Salon. It’s a tall mural showing a traditional Chinese landscape, completed in 2024.

Chang said she made use of strong blues and visible brush strokes to emphasize a traditional Chinese painting style. Importantly, she said the fisherman in the forefront of the mural was intentionally faced toward the business to direct prosperity into the salon. That’s because fish symbolize abundance or good fortune in Chinese culture.

Further West down Somerset Street, Chang’s next work, this time in collaboration with her husband, is on the wall of Mekong, a family restaurant serving Chinese cuisine.

Chang’s longtime friend and owner of Mekong, Winnie Zhang, was looking for a mural to depict a multigenerational Chinese family dinner to match the feel of her own restaurant. So the couple chose to paint a Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner, showing plenty of traditional Chinese imagery and, of course, including lots of fish.

According to Zhang, the mural was exactly what she asked for.

“I love these pictures,” Zhang said. “You can tell it's generation to generation. It’s full of love and full of happiness.”

Since losing her Somerset Street art gallery in the pandemic, Chang has helped turn the Chinatown neighbourhood into a gallery of its own by bringing her works to the street. Still, she hopes one day she can find a new location to reopen her gallery to

Insert: Local artist Yi Chang has had multiple works showcased along Somerset Street in Chinatown.

Above: A mural hangs on the side of a building in Chinatown.

Right: A sculpture in front of 755 Somerset pays tribute to the 17,000 Chinese workers who risked or lost their lives while building the Pacific Railway in the 1880s.

PHOTOS BY KEITO NEWMAN.

spotlight Chinese art and culture.

Today, on a street covered by murals, Chang’s paintings and her new sculpture add to a street beautification effort in a Chinatown working hard to keep its cultural identity alive.

For Chang and her family of artists, that cultural identity is ultimately at the heart of everything she creates.

“I just wish I can use my art skills to do more things for the community, for Chinatown, for more people and just try to show more Chinese culture to this country.”

“I think I’m doing it,” Chang laughed.

cultural identity: Chinatown’s streets

Above: Another mural by Yi Chang depicts a pathway which runs along a river in the mountains.

PHOTO BY DAVID CUMMINGS.

New Tutoring Centre Opens in Westboro

Students everywhere are celebrating as Scholars Education, a Canadian tutoring company with nearly three decades of experience, officially opens its newest location at 358 Richmond Road. The tutoring center offers a scientific, results-driven approach to afterschool tutoring for students from kindergarten through Grade 12 in a variety of subjects.

Every new student begins with a complimentary academic assessment. “It’s like a health check-up for education,” explained CEO Matt Baxter. “Parents receive a detailed report on where their child stands in each subject, and we recommend a personalized plan going forward.”

For Baxter, who grew up in Ottawa, the expansion feels especially meaningful. “This one will make my mom proud, being a retired schoolteacher,” he said. “Ottawa has a special place in my heart, so I take every opportunity to check in on the Ottawa locations and visit my mom and brother.”

Founded in 1999 in Thunder Bay, Scholars

Its proprietary curriculum is overseen by subject-matter experts from Canadian universities, and each new program is carefully designed to build core skills. The newest coding course was designed by Dr. Reiza Rayman, a pioneer in medical biotechnology who was one of two doctors that performed the world’s first robotic beating heart cardiac bypass surgery. “Every subject area is guided by leaders in the field,” says Baxter. “The magic is really in the curriculum.”

For Baxter, tutoring isn’t just about grades; it’s about building confidence. “When school becomes easier, it boosts a child’s selfesteem. That carries over into every part of their life,” he said. “Nothing is more important than the next generation. The skills students learn with us are skills they’ll carry with them into whatever future they choose.”

began as a small private school with just a handful of locations. When Baxter purchased the company eight years ago, he saw an opportunity to take its proven model and expand. Today, Scholars operates almost 90 tutoring centers, with locations in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and even internationally in the United States and Bermuda. Westboro marks the company’s 88th location, with three more Ottawa locations planned for the near future and hopes to surpass 100 by early next year.

“It’s a testament to our franchise model and the need for our services in the community,” said Baxter.

Scholars Ed stands apart with its structured, evidence-based method of improving academic performance. Instead of relying on the traditional “homework help” model, Scholars teaches students how to learn independently. “On average, after 40 hours of tutoring, students improve by one grade level in the subject area they’re enrolled in,” explains Baxter.

What another step forward means for the future of Tunney’s Pasture

BY DAVID CUMMINGS

The redevelopment of Tunney’s Pasture offers to transform its 49 acres of mostly federal office space into a refreshed urban neighbourhood with thousands of new residential units.

The project made headway at the beginning of September when the City of Ottawa received a Plan of Subdivision application. Broadly, the application is a suggested layout for the new neighbourhood.

The plan supports a proposed 7,000 to 9,000 residential units, 93,000 square meters of office space and 8,000 square meters for commercial use as well as five mixed use blocks, four open space blocks, one transit block and eighteen public roads.

It’s a change toward modern urbanization in what has historically been

a one-dimensional federal office centre, according to Kitchissippi Ward Coun. Jeff Leiper.

“You don’t see a lot of office campuses being built anymore,” Leiper said. “The thrust of 21st century planning is towards mixed use.”

Since it was approved by the National Capital Commission in 2014, the Tunney’s Pasture Master Plan has looked to redevelop the area into a vibrant, mixed use neighbourhood. For Leiper it’s a welcome change of direction.

“I think I share a lot of residents’ excitement about the potential to put this campus to good use as a mixeduse dense residential neighbourhood with commercial and office uses that is immediately adjacent to LRT and immediately adjacent to excellent cycling infrastructure and immediately adjacent to

amazing green space,” Leiper said.

The redevelopment plan’s modern vision will be supported by Ottawa’s expanding transit network, which aims to have 77 per cent of Ottawa residents within five kilometers of the O-Train light rail. While Tunney’s Pasture is the end of the line for the LRT’s confederation line today, this means the redeveloped neighbourhood will be far more accessible by public transit.

“By the time there are shovels in the ground on any of the buildings here, the LRT is going to extend to at least Moodie from Trim,” Leiper said.

Today, Tunney’s Pasture is home to around 12,000 federal employees across a vast campus of office buildings, at least from nine to five. Those workers are supported by few businesses throughout the work day, but there’s currently little

need for local goods and services beyond supporting workers on lunch break.

While the number of federal workers will reduce with less office space, the new plan to add thousands of residential units is an opportunity for new businesses to support residents full time. That’s a big addition in a ward of just under 50,000 people and will create a need for businesses, grocery stores and amenities to support a full mixed use neighbourhood.

“I absolutely believe that the development of Tunney’s pasture for thousands of new residences is going to create both economic and cultural vibrancy,” Leiper said. “Adding more people just means more demand for shops and services.”

The City of Ottawa is set to make a decision on the proposed subdivision layout by Oct. 24.

Above: Tunney’s Pasture how it looks today. PHOTO BY AARON REID.

Right top and bottom: Drawings showing what the current office site could look like in the future.

Why earthen vessels is a story worth telling

As people step through the doors the busyness of the outside world falls away to calm and ease, as though the space itself is inviting them to breathe. - visitors often describe it this way.

The vision of earthen vessels emerged from a profound realization I experienced while working alongside indigenous potters in Venezuela in the 90s. In a moment of awareness – amid their laughter and banter – I saw how the iron-rich clay and their weathered hands were fused as one.

We are earthen vessels springing from the Earth.

From that moment, I understood that the true treasure lies in the process – in the way it informs and transforms us –while the finished piece is simply its final expression.

At earthen vessels, we begin, seated in circle with reflections of gratitude, acknowledging that we gather on the unceded, traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people.

Our reflections are often inspired by the writings of Parker J. Palmer, founder of the global Center for Courage and Renewal. In our practice, we emphasize

“A‘FriendshipMugsofLove’ workshopwasprivatelyorganized tobringninefriendstogether tocelebrateoneofthewomen’s completionofcancertreatment.It wasjoyousandmeaningfulwayto recognizethisgreataccomplishment andveryhappyoccasion.The spaceitselfisbring,calmingand inspiring.Michelle,whofacilitated theworkshop,didaskillfuljob leadingtheparticipants,allwith varyingexperienceworkingwith clay,tosuccessfullycompletea beautifulmug.Iwouldlovetodo otherworkshopsofferedbyearthen vessels.Ihighlyrecommend!”

—Anna Ferrabee

— Ginger McCoy, Founder

shaping clay in ways that mirror our inner explorations: listening inwardly, discovering new possibilities, and giving form to fresh expressions.

All are welcome

At earthen vessels, all are welcome: across generations, cultures and beliefs. We come together in clay, honouring the beauty of our diversity and the common ground we share.

As Laura Cohen, a brain injury survivor, has said: “My experience at earthen vessels was very grounding, which is what I had been in search of.

The process of making my bowl, which was a representation of my story and my identity, was a powerful and mindful journey. Each time I look at my bowl, it awakens those things that I chose to define myself. This is for me, a reminder to live soulfully.”

How are we different?

At earthen vessels, we focus on meaning and making – weaving clay, reflection, and mindful presence, trusting that these practices guide us back to our own inner teacher. Our facilitators provide the technical guidance needed to support the creation of each clay piece.

Why now?

The world feels increasingly unsettled, and social media can amplify our anxieties. In unsettled times, it can help to have spaces where we slow down, restore calm, and gather strength for change.

At earthen vessels, we continue to open our doors wider, inviting more voices into our story. In collaboration with our local bookstore, the Spaniel’s Tale, we are preparing to launch a clay and book club this fall.

We also collaborate with other community organizations, like PLEO - Parents Lifeline of Eastern Ontario, the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre, and Soul Space, to name a few.

“The space created at ev is a beautiful complement to the work of Soul Space, as we support frontline workers in their

collective care journey,” says Danielle Rolfe, Director and Co-founder of Soul Space.

“The ev facilitators offer a rare and valuable experience of play and social connection, both vital to Frontline workers’ wellness.”

Our facility offers a variety of options for private events including corporate team events.

Come and check out our studio during our open house and meet our facilitators, try your hand at making ancient old pinch pot to take home!

Open House: Wednesday Oct 1, 2025: 7-9pm

Where to find us: earthen vessels

36 Rosemount Ave Ottawa earthenvessels.ca

COMMUNITY

Missing plane crash piece found in Westboro garden

BY CHARLIE SENACK

The sun was setting over Ottawa on July 31 when a small Grumman AA-5A aircraft with three people onboard crashed into trees near the Ottawa Airport. Residents as far as Westboro heard knocking sounds louder than usual as it passed overhead.

Two people survived the incident, but the pilot, who was later identified as Stéphane Tessier from Gatineau, was killed.

Over two weeks later, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) put out a call on social media asking residents in Westboro, Carlington, Fisher Heights, and

Parkwood Hills neighbourhoods to keep an eye out for any debris that came off the aircraft as it crossed the Capital. It’s believed the plane’s engine failure first started over McKellar Park.

“If you live along the flight path, check your land, pool and gutters for any foreign objects,” TSB said.

Coincidentally, two days after the accident, a Westboro couple found a small camshaft in their garden — a metal rod about 20 centimetres long that was part of the plane’s engine. It was soon picked up by Ottawa Police, who left with it in an evidence bag.

But it never made its way to the TSB —

at least not immediately. That was until multiple inquiries were made and the piece was tracked down.

“We got word a couple days ago that some residents from Westboro had found a part that looked like the aircraft’s camshaft which was brought to the Ottawa Police in the days following the accident, before we made our callout on social media. We have since contacted OPS and retrieved the missing piece,” TSB said in a statement.

It’s unclear if other pieces of the aircraft could still be missing. The TSB was previously also searching for the engine’s crankcase casting, which is about 5/16-inch thick and made of an

Members of the Transportation Safety Board alongside first responders look at the plane a day after it crashed near the Ottawa Airport. PROVIDED PHOTO BY SAM HICKMAN.

aluminum-magnesium alloy.

The TSB says its investigation into what caused the plane to crash should wrap up by March 2026. Its next step is to tear the engine apart and inspect every piece to see what caused the failure. It will look for missing components, the use of incorrect or loose parts, worn-out pieces, and improper lubrication.

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Reno inspiration in your ‘hood

RenoTour Parade of Homes showcases 7

stunning projects

daily living. It’s about more than inspiration; it’s about seeing what’s possible when your home reflects who you are.”

By Anita Murray

It’s inspiration and renovation research all in one — and right at your doorstep. The annual RenoTour Parade of Homes returns Oct. 19, with five of the seven homes to visit all located in the Kitchissippi area.

This is a different take on a house tour. Yes, they are all beautiful homes you can tour to inspire you for your next project, but they are also stunning examples of renovations,

showcasing the creativity and workmanship of several of Ottawa’s top renovators.

“Every home has a story — and this tour lets people step inside one of those stories,” says Jacob Kirst of Lagois Design-Build-Renovate, which is showcasing a kitchen and sunroom remodel in Carlington. “Whether you're dreaming, planning or simply curious, RenoTour gives you the chance to experience how thoughtful design and craftsmanship can elevate

The renovators taking part are all members of RenoMark, which is a national program run by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association that identifies professional contractors who have signed on to a renovators’ code of conduct that protects the homeowner.

This year’s tour includes homes ranging from a compact 500-squarefoot coach house and homes transformed by reimagined floor plans to a gutted bungalow rebuilt to be super energy efficient and an infill

home with spectacular design details.

“Seeing a real renovation up close gives you a better sense of how a space can be transformed and often sparks ideas you might not have considered for your own home,” says Jason Burggraaf, executive director of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA), which is organizing the tour. “If you’re planning a renovation, I encourage you to explore what’s possible when you work with a trusted professional.”

The companies involved will also be on site so you can ask them questions, and many will include before photos so you can see the transformation.

HOMES

1. This Amsted project was the total reinvention of an older Westboro house, bringing in more light, optimizing the layout and embracing bold, contemporary design to make the most of a narrow footprint. CREDIT: GORDON KING PHOTOGRAPHY

2. As one of Ottawa General Contractor’s first coach homes, this 500-square-foot secondary dwelling was designed as a self-contained Airbnb. Located near the company’s latest coach home, it offers visitors a unique chance to see how their approach has grown and compare different layouts and styles side by side.

3. This award-winning home designed by Ha2 Architecture + Design and built by RND Construction showcases exquisite design and features, including a sculptural staircase, elevator, high energy efficiency and cantilevered island counter.

CREDIT: KEVIN BELANGER PHOTOGRAPHY

4. This Lagois project turned a closed-off rear yard into a bright, functional extension of the home, crating a screened porch that connects to a refreshed kitchen layout.

CREDIT: GORDON KING PHOTOGRAPHY

5. This is the first Ottawa coach home approved under Bill 23 (the More Homes Built Faster Act), says Ottawa General Contractors. It is built above a new detached doublecar garage and offers a one-bedroom dwelling complete with full-sized amenities in a compact, efficient footprint.

6. An outdated kitchen was transformed by ARTium and opened to the living room, creating peninsula seating, full-height pantry cabinetry and a built-in storage bench under the window. The living room also saw an update to turn this main floor into a modern, welcoming space. CREDIT: FLEX MEDIA & PHOTOGRAPHY

7. Guided by principles of durability, health and energy efficiency, Revision Built stripped this bungalow to its bones and rebuilt it to exceed modern performance standards while incorporating modern features and finishes in a more functional floor plan.

This year’s participants include:

• Amsted Design-Build: whole-home transformation in Westboro Beach

• ARTium Design Build: reimagined main floor in Kanata

• Lagois Design-Build-Renovate: kitchen and sunroom connection in Carlington

• Ottawa General Contractors: two secondary dwelling units on the same street in Hintonburg

• Revision Built: whole-home transformation in North Gower

• RND Construction: custom infill home in Westboro

There is no charge for the one-day

tour, although donations are being accepted for the Ottawa Food Bank (both food and money). The tour runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19. If you can’t make it to the in-person event, there will be 3D virtual tours available afterwards at RenoTourParadeOfHomes.ca.

For details, visit the website or pick up a brochure at the GOHBA booth at the Ottawa Fall Home Show Oct. 2-5 at the EY Centre.

AnitaMurrayistheco-founderofAllThings HomeInc.Theaward-winningjournalisthas coveredtheOttawahousingindustrysince2011.

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Magnolia Design & Build Offers a Personal Touch

For years, Magnolia Design & Build has been more than a construction and renovation firm – they have been a partner in helping families and businesses bring their dreams to life. With a reputation for quality craftsmanship and thoughtful design, they are proud to be a boutique firm that works closely with our clients to create spaces filled with meaning, beauty, and heart. They offer a wide range of services, from kitchen and bathroom remodels to basement finishes and additions. Every project is approached with care, collaboration, and the goal of making your vision a reality. Beyond the technical expertise, they are here to guide you through every decision—sharing decades of experience to ensure your home is not just well-built, but truly reflects who you are. At Magnolia, their foundation is personal connection. They are not a large corporation;

they are a small, dedicated team that treats each client like family. Owner Joey Peloso believes in standing by every project and every promise, no matter what it takes. As Joey says, “we don’t worry if the warranty is over by a month or two—what matters is that our clients feel cared for.” Inspired by the sacrifices and values of his parents, Joey leads Magnolia with hard work, integrity, and a deep commitment to always give back. Joey says he strives to have even half of the work ethic possessed by his parents, and he runs his business in a way he believed they would have - with dedication and heart. Quality is another cornerstone of their work.

They never compromise on materials or craftsmanship because they believe every investment in your home should last for years to come. They work hard to keep projects on time and on budget, while maintaining open and honest communication so you always feel confident and informed.

But what truly sets Magnolia apart is their commitment to community. Building strong, vibrant neighbourhoods is at the heart of what they do. Through their community outreach program, they’ve had the joy of giving back in many ways - from sponsoring children’s soccer teams with jerseys, to hosting pizza parties, to supporting local events. As Joey puts it best: “Giving back is at the core of who we are. We want to help build stronger communities, one project at a time.”

With Magnolia Design & Build, you’re not just renovating a space—you’re joining a community that values connection, trust, and lasting relationships. Whether you’re refreshing a room or building something brand new, we’re here to create a home you’ll love today, tomorrow, and for years to come.

For more information, visit magnoliaconstruction.ca follow them on Instagram @magnolia.construction, or call 613-617-5157.

Magnolia isn’t a big corporation; they’re a small boutique firm that treats clients as family.

HOMES

Pet hair and dander are among the many contributors to lowered air quality in our homes. Regular vacuuming with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter helps.

PHOTO CREDIT: ANGELA BAKER ON UNSPLASH

7 ways to improve your home’s air quality this winter

By Patrick Langston

Poor indoor air quality — a particular problem as we hunker down for winter — can cause a host of health problems, from a simple dry throat and itchy eyes to more serious ailments like asthma, heart disease, cognitive deficits and even cancer, according to the United States National Institute of Health Sciences.

Cooking, cleaning products, mould, off-gassing from furniture and construction materials, and radon are among the culprits for poor indoor air quality, along with low humidity caused by household heating systems.

We spend a staggering 90 per cent of our time indoors, according

ERV is needed “so we can get the bad air out and bring the fresh air in.… You could open a window, but then you’re pouring the energy outside.”

While older homes don’t have that kind of airtightness — “you get a lot of air exchange naturally,” he says — owners of those homes do need to watch for condensation and mould.

Here are some tips for improving indoor air, even if your home already has an HRV or ERV system.

KITCHEN & BATHROOM FANS

Clean or replace the filter on your range hood as often as your owner’s manual suggests. Clean bathroom ceiling fans at least twice a year, a simple DIY task that will improve their performance and lifespan. Check YouTube if you’re unsure how to maintain filters and fans.

HEATING SYSTEM

Maintaining your furnace, HRV and ERV, including any in-system humidifiers, is essential. That includes an annual furnace inspection and regular replacement of filters. Again, YouTube is a good source for how to do it.

CARPETS & RUGS

to Environment Climate Change Canada, so what can we do to ensure good air quality in our homes?

“That’s where ventilation comes in,” says Roy Nandram, owner of Ottawa’s RND Construction, a multiaward-winning and eco-conscious custom builder and renovation company. “Your house needs to be well ventilated and the most interesting way to ventilate is with an energy recovery ventilator.” An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) and similarly a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) pulls fresh air into the home that is warmed by the old air that’s being expelled. An ERV also extracts humidity in winter to recirculate it or exhausts it in summer.

Nandram notes that new homes today are so airtight that an HRV or

CARBON MONOXIDE & RADON

Often called “the silent killer,” carbon monoxide is a potentially deadly invisible, odourless, colourless gas created when natural gas and other fuels burn incompletely. Ontario law requires that homes with fuelburning appliances like furnaces and fireplaces have detectors near all sleeping areas. The law also applies to residences with attached garages because of the danger from car exhaust. Test both your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms once a month.

Radon, also invisible, odourless and tasteless, is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally and can enter a home through cracks in the foundation, sump pumps and elsewhere. Almost one in 10 Canadian homes have radon levels above the recommended limit, according to Health Canada, which also notes that it is the No. 1 cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.

“You need to get a radon test to know where you are before you decide what to fix,” Nandram says. Check ottawapublichealth.ca for testing information.

AIR PURIFIERS

Like upholstered furniture, carpets and rugs trap dust, pet hairand dander, and other foes of good air quality. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter for best results and occasionally shampoo floor coverings and upholstered furniture.

DRAPES & BEDDING

Wash these items regularly (sheets weekly, pillows every six months, drapes as needed) to control dust and other irritants. Dust- and allergenproof pillow, mattress and box spring coversmay be a wise investment.

HUMIDITY

Daily household routines like showering and cooking can push up humidity levels, encouraging mould during the winter. Adjustments to your ventilation system may solve the problem (check your owner’s manual).

Portable air cleaners can help improve indoor air quality. They are best used in the rooms where you spend a lot of time, like your bedroom. Select one certified by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

More ideas and resources

For more tips on improving the air in your home, visit the federal government’s page on “indoor air quality in your home” at canada.ca.

PatrickLangstonistheco-founder ofAllThingsHomeInc.Theveteran journalisthascoveredtheOttawa housingindustrysince2008.

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Beds, Desk Beds

A La-Z-Boy Living Room Revamp

Brings New Light to an Orleans

When Orleans resident Joyce Perry walked into the La-Z-Boy Hunt Club showroom, she never expected that a simple search for a sofa would turn into a complete living room makeover. With the help of La-Z-Boy interior designer Michelle MacLellan, Joyce found not only the perfect furniture but also the brighter, more welcoming space she had been dreaming of.

Joyce, a retired neonatal ICU nurse and grandmother, wanted her space to feel less gloomy and more uplifting. Her living room felt dark, outdated, and no longer reflected the cheerful atmosphere she hoped for. While a reclining sofa initially caught her attention, she quickly realized she could benefit from professional design support to bring her ideas to life.

Michelle began by reviewing Joyce’s

Home

vision board, which emphasized soft colours and an airy feel. The existing layout included two large sofas and a recliner, which made the long, narrow room feel crowded. Joyce wanted to maintain the same number of seats, but in a way that opened up the space.

The solution included a Colby Duo Reclining Sofa paired with three accent chairs. Two of the chairs were placed near the bay window, allowing natural light to take center stage, while the third created symmetry in the space. To avoid overwhelming the room with colour, Michelle used subtle touches of pink in pillows, a rug, and artwork. A round glass coffee table tied the room together without interfering with the reclining features of the furniture.

Joyce says the design process helped her see the possibilities more clearly. “Michelle brought over fabric samples and even created a 3D room plan. That’s when I knew my room could really change before the furniture arrived.”

Today, the space feels completely renewed. “Before, my living room was somewhere I avoided. Now, it’s my happy place,” Joyce explains. She also noted how her grandchildren often compliment the new design when they visit.

Joyce credits the complimentary

La-Z-Boy design service with making the process stress-free. “The designers take really good care of you. You don’t have to overthink every detail because they guide you through it.”

Stories like Joyce’s highlight how interior design can change the way people feel in their homes. Whether through thoughtful furniture selection, strategic layouts, or careful attention to colour, the end result is more than just a new look. It becomes a space that feels personal, comfortable, and welcoming.