Kitchissippi Times September 2023

West End Studio Tour returns to Kitchissippi this September

BY SIMON HOPKINS

The West End Studio Tour showcasing artists from across Ottawa returns this month.

Fifteen studios featuring 18 artists will be open to the public to explore and view beautiful pieces. You can visit the creators in their studios the last two weekends of September, and walkers, drivers, or bikers are encouraged to attend.

The group of artists has worked together for 29 years to support art in the West Ottawa community.

“It is very special to have cultivated such a unique and close-knit group of artists to support each other,” said Margaret Chwialkowska, an artist from Carlingwood.

Each year’s tour allows the artists to expand their network and grow their exposure. Neighbours who might not know about a local art studio can see what’s being created locally in their community. It builds

connections which help support the artists’ businesses.

“Visitors feel like they get to know us and our work on a personal level because they’re coming into our houses,” said Chwialkowska. She added the West End Studio Tour is her favourite of all the shows she participates in. The collection of contributing artists varies in age, with some participants showing art for the first time and others who have participated for over two decades.

This year's new artists are painter Alexander Zoubek and texture artist Andrea Elena. Alexander is the grandson of Paula Zoubek, a founding tour member. Though inspired by his grandmother, Alexander has his own distinct style focusing on interior spaces.

“Even though we have the same last name on the tour, people will be able to see the difference,” he said. Alexander’s art will be shown alongside Paula’s at her Champlain Park studio.

A warm reception: New mural welcomes visitors to Hintonburg

BY CHARLIE SENACK

Anew black and white mural welcoming visitors to Hintonburg has been painted on the side of Urban Art Collective, a home for urban street artists.

The gallery, which first opened its doors in December 2022, held a “Disrupt” street art festival over two weekends in May and June of this year.

“The festival aimed to celebrate the beauty and diversity of different street art styles and techniques within our community and around the world,” said Urban Art Collective co-founder Lindsay Machinski on their website. “The exciting event brought together [over] 20 talented local artists from various

backgrounds to create a unique [and] collaborative street art project.”

Since its opening, Urban Art Collective has hosted galleries for many local artists in its space, and it has launched the Hintonburg Night Market held in its parking lot from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. every Thursday until Oct. 5.

The purpose of Disrupt was also to give more opportunities to street artists who are often overlooked in the traditional art scene.

“The event itself is an incredible opportunity for me,” said Brennan Bovam, an animator for the last 13 years who is now experimenting with street art. “What I like about it and think is cool is that they are inviting people into the

scene who don’t know as much about it.”

Elmira Solo, who has been painting for three years and was part of the mural project, said she would like to see more artists collaborating together on larger projects.

“Meeting other artists was amazing. It’s starting to feel like a community,” she

The 2023 show will also recognize the long-time contribution of founding member David W. Jones who is retiring. Pieces of his work will be shown at each of the studios. The show runs between Sept. 16-17 and 2324, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The studios are located between Parkdale and Woodroffe Avenues, north of the Queensway.

Details can be found on the tour’s new website: westendstudiotour.com

said. “It’s really fun. It’s exactly what I want.”

Urban Art Collective can be found at 1088 Somerset St. W. They also sell paintings infused with graffiti aesthetics alongside objects like reclaimed and redecorated vinyl records, skateboards, and rocking horses.

The West End Studio Tour will run between Sept. 16-17 and 23-24. PROVIDED PHOTOS.

A new black and white Hintonburg mural has been painted on the side of Urban Art Collective. PHOTOS BY CHARLIE SENACK .

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES

Great River Media Inc

GIVING KITCHISSIPPI LOCALS A VOICE

OPINIONS OF KITCHISSIPPI

BY SIMON HOPKINS

Ottawa’s electric scooters arrived in 2020.

The battery-powered scooters zip around the city, maxing out at 20 kilometers per hour. These publicly available vehicles are part of a five-year program in Ontario which allows cities to hire the scooter service providers. The experiences of the cities will inform the province’s decision as to whether these types of sharable vehicles will be permitted on Ontario roads.

Some view the scooters as an alternative to city bikes. The e-scooters sit parked on sidewalks around the city, unable to move because of their self-locking wheels and extreme weight. Users activate the vehicles using the service provider’s app. Once activated, the scooter becomes usable with a throttle on the handlebar. Riders are charged at a perminute rate.

THIS MONTH: Are electric scooters a danger to pedestrians

The first year of the program in Ottawa was rocky. Scooter use became notoriously reckless, posing a danger to pedestrians and drivers. Parked and tipped-over scooters littered the streets, but since then, the city has refined the regulations of the scooters.

Companies must now use GPS to prevent scooters from running on sidewalks. They also emit a beeping noise to alert pedestrians of their presence. Initially, the scooters were confined to a small area downtown, but their area of operation has since expanded.

This year, two service providers have made scooters available throughout Kitchissippi. Company trucks pick up scooters at night to recharge their batteries, leaving charged scooters in rows at intersections across the city.

As Ottawa continues to review the merits of the e-scooters, we asked folks in Kitchissippi for their thoughts:

"They’re

The

PO Box 91585

Ottawa ON K1W 1K0

Kitchissippi, meaning “the Grand River,” is the former Algonquin name for the Ottawa River. The name now identifies the urban community to the west of downtown Ottawa.

EDITOR

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

CONTRIBUTORS

Daria Maystruk, Simon Hopkins, Grace Bestard, Gabrielle Huston, Dave Allston and Ellen Bond.

PROOFREADER

Susan Rothery

ADVERTISING SALES

Eric Dupuis 613-696-9485 eric@kitchissippi.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Tanya Connolly-Holmes creative@greatriver.ca

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Celine Paquette celine@greatriver.ca

Deborah Ekuma deborah@obj.ca

FINANCE

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

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

Distribution

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

info@kitchissippi.com

The Kitchissippi Times is published by

FOUNDER PUBLISHER

Mark Sutcliffe Michael Curran

and drivers?

"I don’t use them; my kids use them. They leave their car [at home] so it’s less traffic - as long as they’re paying attention - and it’s good for the environment."

-ELENA DAWIT

"They’re a good idea. They give freedom to move from point A to point B. They should keep them around, but the city needs to give more companies the opportunity to compete for the service."

-ANDREAS

"Enough people use them to justify keeping them around, but stay off the sidewalks and respect traffic."

-DAVID

problematic when they’re driven irresponsibly. I think they should follow the traffic laws.

GPS [stopping the scooter on sidewalks] is a good trick."

-BRIAN K. STEWART

"I think they should be regulated in some way. Young people shouldn’t be allowed [to use them], but people with mobility difficulties should be allowed."

-CASSEY

Celebrate with us! KT turns 20

BY CHARLIE SENACK

Happy September, Kitchissippi!

It is hard to believe we are already three quarters through 2023. Kids are about to start a new semester of school and I am excited to be entering my second year at Carleton University.

At the end of August, I had the pleasure of marching in this year’s record-breaking Pride parade. Organizers suspect at least 10,000 people attended this year. It was a beautiful day to celebrate love, diversity, acceptance and inclusion. For me, Pride is a reminder that everyone be themselves regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation. It was also great to run into KT contributors Ellen Bond and Mykyta Budnyk!

The Kitchissippi Times team is hard at work on our special anniversary issue coming out in November! We will be sharing more details next month, but it has been fun to dig through the archives and see how much the community has changed over the last 20 years. It is no small achievement that we have made it this far during a very turbulent time for community journalism. It’s thanks to our fabulous team, business leaders, and you, the reader.

What do you think our biggest stories have been in Kitchissippi over the last two decades? What does the Kitchissippi Times mean to you? Please write to us and let us know! We are also looking for advertising. If you’re interested in supporting our 20th anniversary issue, please contact Eric Dupuis at eric@kitchissippi.com.

For the month of September, we have decided to devote a large part of this issue to celebrating the Arts. Kitchissippi is a

very creative community and there is no shortage of local talent.

I had the chance to stop by the Orange Art Gallery which is at risk of closing after its landlords decided not to renew their lease. Community support has been strong, and the city is fighting for the building to receive heritage designation.

Simon Hopkins had the chance to sit down with the organizers of the West End Studio tour which is returning to the neighborhood later this month.

Gabrielle Huston checked in with the Gladstone Theatre which has launched a “diverse, thoughtprovoking, and hugely entertaining lineup” for their 2023-2024 season.

In your latest Barbie news, Daria Maystruk found out how Kitchissippi residents are embracing the hit new movie which has earned over $1.84 billion at the worldwide box office.

Grace Bestard introduces us to 16-year-old Kai Hussey who has turned his artistic passion into a business. The Glebe high school student sells individualized drawings of people’s houses.

In other news, a controversial Carling Ave residential development is heading back to the planning committee after it was determined two key organizations did not receive proper notice of the meeting. There are also concerns the proposal could put the future of the Central Experimental Farm at risk.

And Sharpfle Waffle is back in business after being forced to close in April due to an exclusivity clause.

That’s all the news that fits into print this month.

Enjoy the start of pumpkin spice latte season!

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Charlie Senack

Orange Art Gallery at risk of closing after landlord won’t renew its lease

BY CHARLIE SENACK

Hintonburg’s Orange Art Gallery is at risk of closing forever after the building's landlord said their lease won’t be renewed when it expires in December.

Co-owner Ingrid Hollander said she was “caught off guard” by the news. Orange Art Gallery has occupied the old CN Rail building at City Centre for the last 10 years and was hoping to renew the lease in advance to help with future event planning.

“I was a little in disbelief at the beginning,” she said. “The landlord's initial response was they wanted to keep their options open. We went back and forth a little bit and it looked like they maybe had a change of heart, but then I got word they would rather just leave the building empty. I asked if somebody else was going to be coming in here and they said no.”

That has led Hollander to question what the long-term plans for the building are. She fears it could be torn down to make way for future residential developments. Not only would that leave the art gallery without a home, but also the loss of Ottawa’s history.

The CNN railroad bank building is 123-years-old and was once owned by Canadian lumber tycoon and railroad baron John Rudolphus (JR) Booth. His lumber complex at one time was the biggest in the world, and the timberlands under his control occupied an area bigger than France.

The building still has some of its original features, including its footprint and Bank vault in the main room.

“I’m not against development. I totally understand that. But I don't see any reason why this building needs to come down,”

said Hollander. “It’s a very unique building. Ottawa doesn’t have much of this kind of old industrial feel.”

When Hollander took over the space with her husband, Matthew Jeffrey, and brother, Jim Hollander, in 2014, they put lots of time, effort, and money into restoring the building's features. The large archway at the front was exposed, new hardwood flooring was installed, and windows were replaced.

To help potentially save the building, the gallery has asked the city to get heritage designation for the site. The matter could

go before Council this fall. If approved, it would stop the building from ever being demolished.

A growing petition has also been started which has garnered hundreds of signatures.

Hollander said multiple weddings that have been hosted in the building recently encouraged their guests to sign it in a last-ditch fight for a lease renewal.

Hollander is remaining optimistic that the landlord will consider the pushback from the community and grant a one or two year lease extension. That would allow artists more time to find

The local art gallery used for many functions and events is located in a century-old CN Rail building. Insert: Co-owner Ingrid Hollander said she isn’t prepared to start a new lease elsewhere.

The Orange Art Gallery located in City Centre is being forced to vacate their space after the landlords decided not to renew the lease.

alternative venues and would give Orange Art Gallery some breathing room to find a new space.

The gallery first opened its doors near the Parkdale Market in April 2010 and moved to their current location in 2014 after they had to vacate their original space. With the same scenario playing out again, Hollander said she doesn’t feel comfortable leasing another property.

“I’m keeping my eyes open but I’d rather purchase a building,” she said. “We put a lot of work into this building to make it what it is. I’m not sure if I’m prepared to do that again with another leased property.”

Orange Art Gallery represents about 25 artists, about half of whom live in the Kitchissippi neighborhood. They have held at least 1,000 events over the past decade and host weddings, receptions and art classes. Recently, an upcoming Hallmark movie called ‘Head Over Heels’ rented the space to pose as a New York art gallery.

“I love creating an atmosphere where people have fun. It’s a really positive business,” said Hollander. “It’s fun to sell art. It makes people happy. Everything we do in this business is to enrich people’s lives.”

While art is the focus of the business model, the crossover between rental venues, classes, and art sales is what makes it work. With a changing art scene in Ottawa, Hollander said just one of these components couldn’t be sustained alone.

When Orange Art Gallery was first introduced to Kitchissippi, Hollander said there were about seven galleries in the Hintonburg area. A first Thursday art walk which promoted the galleries was very popular, she said, and attended by over 100 people monthly. That has all stopped as art sales switched to online. Cube Gallery closed their doors in 2019, and Westboro’s Wall Space Gallery is moving to Old Ottawa South later this month.

“One by one they have all shut down. Artists need a gallery to show their works to the public,” Hollander said. “A lot of people have gone online, trying to sell art on their own but it’s not easy. There is nothing like seeing artwork in person. It's a bit of a pity.”

Orange Art Gallery will be open until at least December. They can be found at 290 City Centre Ave. A petition encouraging the landlords to change their mind about the lease renewal can be found in the building's basement.

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A growing petition has been started encouraging the landlord to change their minds and grant a one or two year lease extension. ALL PHOTOS BY CHARLIE SENACK.

Gladstone Theatre launches full lineup for upcoming season

BY GABRIELLE HUSTON

On an independent theatre stage, art lovers get the chance to see some of the best and brightest local stars. With almost eight billion people on the planet, the odds suggest there are a lot more talented people than Hollywood can fit on the big screens or that Broadway can fill its stages with.

It’s that dedication and passion which characterizes the Gladstone Theatre’s 20232024 season.

Theatre manager Robin Guy described the Gladstone as an “artist-run rental house.” It offers productions a space in which to perform and supports it with box offices services and marketing.

“I am completely in love with this theatre, and in love with indie theatre, particularly

these fantastic, creative, scrappy people,” Guy said. “It’s theatre produced without big infrastructure. So what you’ve got are … all these brave, scrappy, creative people working on a shoestring, getting things done.”

In 2023-2024, the Gladstone will showcase work from five resident companies and four visiting companies.

Some of the upcoming shows are familiar, like God of Carnage. It’s a well-known play, originally written in French, about two sets of parents who try to reconcile a schoolyard incident between their children. The Phoenix Players will be putting it on at the Gladstone from November 17 to 25.

“It’s a show that also has a moral, in terms of how you treat other people and how you expect them to treat you,” said director

Andre Dimitrijevic. “You could take the exact same situation and do it very politely … but the author decides to emphasize the human frailties and the human weaknesses that take people to places that are quite over the top. I think there is value in introducing humour because it underlines how inconsequential some of these things are that these people are getting so upset about.”

The Children will also be familiar to avid theatre fans. Director Eleanor Crowder warned that spoilers can ruin the experience, so suffice to say that it follows an accident at a nuclear plant. Bear & Co, an indie theatre collective, will put it on from May 1 to 18.

“These are professional theatre people in Ottawa who have worked long careers,”

Crowder said of her cast. “They are at the absolute peak stage of their careers and have been doing a variety of things. So to see Rachel [Eugster] and Hugh [Neilson] and Bev[erly Wolfe] together on stage is a serious treat.”

Just Say The Word, a feminist retelling of The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen, was written by J.P Chartier and will be put on by the Artbeat Theatre Company from January 31 to February 3.

“The biggest takeaway that I have from presenting Just Say The Word is girl power,” Chartier said. “Most of the main characters in this show are females or they could be here, and it just highlights the unimportance of gender. And it is important now because you look at musicals historically and there’s always the leading man.”

Guy took over as theatre manager at the Gladstone in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatre managed to put on a few shows for brief periods during that time when COVID restrictions eased.

Now restrictions have fully loosened and a full season can be presented without interruption. Guy acknowledged the ways that times have changed because of COVID, and how theatre has changed too.

“Across the country, producers are trying to get audiences back,” she said. “What you’re seeing right now is a lot of popular shows, shows you’ve heard of, shows that we’re hoping are strong draws to get people into seats. People’s habits have

The Gladstone Theatre has launched a “diverse, thought-provoking, and hugely entertaining lineup” for their 2023-2024 season. PHOTOS BY CHARLIE SENACK.

changed, financially speaking. People are being a lot more choosy. And the way that is impacting artists’ choices is we may be choosing more commercial shows than we might normally do.”

Wide Awake Hearts was the first show of this season, put on by WOW Factor from August 23 to September 3. It was written by Canadian actor, writer, and producer Brendan Gall, and was first staged in 2010 at the Tarragon Theatre, Toronto.

Burns and her co-founder, David Whiteley, both of whom star in the show, thought it was a timely story to tell in a post-pandemic world. It follows a group of four friends who are working on a movie and struggling to navigate their own messy relationships with one another.

“We’ve been through these very hard few years, these very topical few years,” Whiteley said. “I think it’s no coincidence

that in this highly sensitive time of the pandemic, we also had George Floyd’s death and Black Lives Matter and all this sensitivity to diversity, equity, inclusion. All of that is really important, but it puts heavy demands on us to reflect on what we do feel right now about our values, how we need to perhaps change our values, change our attitudes based on new information. After several years of being in that mode of constantly being topical, being sensitive, examining every facet of how we learn our lives, we’re asking ‘Can we just be entertained? Can we just talk about some timeless subject that matters to us?’”

“It isn’t just entertaining, though,” Burns added, “because I don’t think we can go back to the time of just fluff. Because that just doesn’t stay with you. [Wide Awake Hearts]

is entertaining, but in a provocative, thoughtful way. There is humor there, but it’s dark humor. It seems apropos in a post-pandemic theatre world. Yes, the story of relationships and love are always going to be timeless, but there’s also this sense of awakening, that these four characters are waking up out of some sort of illusion, and I think that speaks to us. There’s this sense of questioning everything we thought, dismantling systems that we thought were secure. And that’s exhausting work, but it’s also really healthy.”

Later in the season, from May 21 to 25, the original production Whale Fall will feature on the Gladstone stage. It was created by the Same Boat Theatre company, based in Hamilton, written by Stephen Near and directed by Aaron Joel Craig.

Whale Fall grapples with the ravages of climate change on the Canadian environment. Near said he was inspired by his daughter’s fascination with orcas. He began to work on it before the pandemic hit, but wrote the bulk of it during the lockdowns.

“It’s a show that’s very rooted in my own personal story, but it’s also a cautionary tale about reality,” Near said. “I don’t know that I could have come back from COVID with any piece other than this. I couldn’t have come back with a sort of ‘COVID play,’ which takes place in, you know, the living room of some domestic drama where the husband and wife are wrestling with being in lockdown.”

The Gladstone Theatre’s 2023-2024 season will run from August 23, 2023, to June 22, 2024. You can find a full list of the productions at www.thegladstone.ca.

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Success Dragon Lion DanceTroupe performs at 2pmand will have aluckydrawfor agift.

TheChinese Lion Danceisa3000-year-old Chinese tradition thatsymbolizes prosperity,luck, and happiness. Taiyaki-style desserts and refreshments will be served.

Come on, Barbie , let’s go party! Orange Art Gallery celebrates hit movie

BY DARIA MAYSTRUK

Apink aura emanated from a vinecovered, orange brick house on Aug. 10. But this wasn’t a Barbie dream house — it was the Orange Art Gallery hosting an exhibit launch party.

Pink balloons, curtains and party snacks filled the venue, all paying homage to the recent release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie.

Based on the plastic doll manufactured by the Mattel toy company since the 1950s, the new film follows Margot Robbie’s “stereotypical Barbie” as she embarks on a journey to the real world. There, she must face the harsh realities of living in a patriarchal society that break her illusion of perfection from the “Barbie world.”

Since its release, the film has made more than $1 billion in global box office ticket sales, according to Warner Bros Pictures.

On the local level, fans from around Ottawa are welcoming the whimsical nature of the film with open arms.

Orange Art Gallery co-owner Ingrid Hollander said the idea for a Barbie party and exhibit sprang to her upon watching

“Everybody was dressed up, everyone was taking pictures, and it was just nice to see everybody having so much fun,” Hollander said. “I grew up with Barbie but I think it’s for all ages … I think people right now are just in the mood to have a bit of fun with all the bad news elsewhere, and I think that's one of the reasons why it's doing so well.”

She said she quickly asked artists to create Barbie-inspired paintings for the exhibit, which are showcased in the main room of the gallery.

“I did a little brainstorming with my sister and my mother and I said, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to have a Barbie party at the gallery?’,” Hollander said. “So the main room is where the exhibition is, and then I went around the gallery and I chose other pieces that fit the theme.”

A few weeks after inspiration struck, the exhibit launch party proved to be a successful family affair. In addition to Hollander’s own family, a diverse

range of supporters joined in on the fun, embodying the bright fashions of the movie by wearing their best pink attire.

Jessica Ruano attended the event with her daughter, Joy, and said they both enjoyed the party as much as they enjoyed the film.

“There was somebody [at the movie theatre] dressed as Barbie so [Joy] feels like she met Barbie … [And] it hit all the right notes for a certain progressive feminist audience, which I appreciated,” Ruano said. “It was basically a big ad for Mattel, but otherwise it was a very enjoyable experience.”

In addition to using the party as “an excuse to dress up,” Ruano said she also attended the event to support the gallery. The business is seeking heritage status after learning its lease won’t be renewed at the end of this year.

The Barbie movie fandom has hit Kitchissippi. A pink-themed event was held at the Orange Art Gallery on Aug. 10. ALL PHOTOS BY DARIA MAYSTRUK.

“I got the newsletter about the Orange Art Gallery possibly closing and I thought that was a travesty,” Ruano said. “It's a wonderful gallery and not only does it display works by local artists, it also hosts workshops and events … I would be very sad to see this place go.”

Other visitors were quick to add their names to the petition boards posted in a room near one of the gallery entrances. Another longtime supporter of the gallery and party attendee, Evangeline Moskos, said she enjoyed how Barbie reminded her of nostalgic memories and said her husband wanted to see the movie twice.

“There are a lot of memories from when I was a young girl playing with my Barbie in the campervan,” Moskos said. “It was just lovely. I went with my husband and

ended up buying him a lovely Ken shirt.” Moskos said she encourages others to visit the free exhibit while they can to “lift [their] spirits.”

“I think art can instill a sense of awe in you which is really important for mental health and happiness … especially if someone has children they want to expose to art. I think they should come and take a look.”

The Orange Art Gallery is just one of the businesses around Ottawa who have adopted the pink party theme this summer.

Zak’s Diner also introduced a limitedtime Barbie milkshake to its menu in late July, as well as pink branding on its social media pages.

Moviegoers can still view Barbie in movie theatres as of the end of August.

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•

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Indigenous Circle: Ajashki Learning Centre tackles climate change and food insecurity through education

BY DARIA MAYSTRUK

It’s lunch time on a mid-August afternoon and members of the Ajashki Food Security and Climate Change Learning Centre gather at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa.

They share stories about their pets while eating fresh pizza made from ingredients grown just a few steps away. The couches are pushed along the blackboard-lined walls, forming a circle. There is Inuktitut

and Algonquin vocabulary posted around the room and a sprawling to-do list written in chalk.

Some of the tasks for the day include sweeping, installing a mural, watering the plants and anything else the staff thinks of. Throughout the rest of the day, the staff work together on the Ajashki Garden Project. Ajashki — the term for “soil” in the Algonquin language — employs urban Indigenous youth to give them

agency in food security and climate change education.

The staff tend to the outdoor gardens every Tuesday and Thursday in the summer. In the winter, they continue to work once a week thanks to hydroponic gardens in the upper level of the church.

The Ajashki Food Security and Climate Change Learning Centre was formed as a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action. According

to one of the founders, Sharen Bowen, the idea came from Kitigan Zibi Elder Verna McGregor during a sharing circle in 2020.

“It was like she conceived the idea, it was born and then we picked it up,” Bowen said.

In the beginning, they employed three “future food warriors,” a term for the centre’s employees coined by the project’s lead educator, Kayoki Whiteduck. This year, there are 11 youth employees —

Top left: Ajashki Food Security and Climate Change Learning Centre employees Elizabeth Slippery and Matteo Greyeyes-Brant installing a mural on Aug. 18 PHOTO BY DARIA MAYSTRUK.

Top right: Lead educator Kayoki Whiteduck in the Ajashki garden. PHOTO PROVIDED BY LYNN-KOFMEL PRESTON.

Insert: The Ajashki staff and volunteers have planted 215 marigolds in honour of the 215 children killed at the Kamloops Residential School in B.C. PHOTO BY DARIA MAYSTRUK.

Bottom left: Hydroponic gardens allow the Ajashki staff and volunteers to grow greens throughout the winter.

PHOTO BY DARIA MAYSTRUK.

Bottom right: Part of the Ajashki Food Security and Climate Change Learning Centre mural on Aug. 18. PHOTO BY DARIA MAYSTRUK.

mostly Inuit and First Nations — in addition to 13 volunteers who make up the “Circle of Support.”

Rhe Blanco, a youth member who has worked at the centre since its conception, said their favourite part about the centre is the variety of activities they do.

“When I first came here, I knew that we were going to be learning about culture and climate change and doing gardening, but there’s all these other things that we’re doing,” Blanco said. “We do a lot of workshops about beading and woodwork and there’s also documentaries that we watch about climate change and food security, so there’s a lot of learning parts to it that are fun.”

Whiteduck, also an Algonquin Anishinaabe horticulturalist from Kitigan Zibi, said he likes to structure hands-on lessons. He briefly discusses one or two topics a day before jumping into the work.

“I find that's the best way to learn and I think a lot [of the youth] feel the same,” Whiteduck said. “Some of them have shorter attention spans, so watching an hour long video about a subject isn't always the greatest way to learn for them.”

Experienced Future Food Warriors also help teach the new members, he added.

As for Whiteduck, the topic of food security around the greater Ottawa area has been one of the most important lessons he has learned as the lead educator of the project.

“Even in the last three years of COVID

… the food centres now have more people and more mouths to feed than ever,“ he said. “I'm a farmer and I believe food is a human right. We shouldn't have to go to bed hungry.”

The centre has recently introduced a food cupboard program for members of the community. Lisa Sharp, former president of the board, said it was “a chance to learn about some members in our community, including some of our staff, who have food insecurity issues.”

“A lot of the young people coming to this program, they weren't eating for days … we would feed them breakfast and lunch, [but] twice a week isn't enough,” she said.

With the food cupboard, the group is able to provide adequate access to ingredients while accommodating varying housing situations, Sharp explained.

With each aspect of the centre, Bowen said they hope to also improve the mental health of the participants.

Michael Mathewsi, who joined the team in June, said the food and the people have been the most impactful parts of his involvement with the centre so far.

“My relationship with people has been getting better. I'm coming from a spot of a couple years of homelessness … I was surrounded by negative influences, but there was a positive side of it [and] some life experiences,” he said. “[Here] I get to learn a lot more about the people here and the staff that work here. It's amazing.”

The centre also donates their extra food items to others in the greater Ottawa community such as the Parkdale Food Centre. This reciprocal aspect of the project has become one of their core values.

“We try to support activities so that anyone, whether they're Indigenous or non-Indigenous, can come together and become friends. And it's working,” Bowen said.

Looking to the future, Bowen and Sharp said the centre is hoping to expand their reach through ongoing partnerships in the community. Bowen said anyone is welcome to join their Circle of Support and she encourages donations, whether monetary or by food donation.

“We have to understand how to work with Indigenous peoples, so this is teaching us a lot about how to figure out what we can do together,” Bowen said. “And that's the whole point around reconciliation … non-Indigenous people have to do the work because it's learning about, accepting and supporting each other.”

”We try to support activities so that anyone, whether they're Indigenous or non-Indigenous, can come together and become friends. And it's working.” – Sharen Bowen

COMMUNITY NEWS

Protecting the farm: Controversial Carling development goes back to planning committee

BY CHARLIE SENACK

Acontroversial Carling redevelopment proposal will go back to the planning committee on Sept. 20 after two key agencies said they weren’t given proper notice ahead of time.

Taggart Realty Management is looking to build two towers at 1081 Carling Ave, where an eight-storey medical building currently stands. The proposed 16- and 27-storey residential units are aimed at helping Ottawa’s housing crisis, with 340 rental apartments as part of the plan.

While a large part of the community is in support of more housing coming to the site, there have been longtime concerns over the height of the two proposed buildings. The plans, which initially started with towers of 22 and 28 storeys, were submitted to the city twice and are now lower than originally planned.

At a recent virtual public consultation, over 160 residents attended the meeting. Pushback has now been heightened by fears it could impact research at the Central Experimental Farm located across the street.

In April, two key officials from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) wrote a letter to the city, saying shadows from the buildings would cast deep into the farm toward sunset, therefore interfering with flowering and photosynthesis.

“The shadowing is a significant risk for AAFC as it impacts our research and jeopardizes our agricultural science and integrity,” part of the letter read. “AAFC has done an internal assessment of the proposed towers’ development and the impacts/risks to the CEF.”

A detailed study referenced in the letter said the roughly 28 hectares of land in question would lose about 70 days of sunlight per year. A greenhouse located near the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Building would also lose light because of the shadows.

The impacted fields grow special varieties of wheat, soybeans, barley, corn and oats. The research conducted helps scientists better understand the risks of climate change and the effects drought has on crops. It’s not easy to just move the crops elsewhere, say officials, due to varying soil compositions located around the 427 hectare farm.

Karen Wright, president of the Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association, already had concerns over how the design of the

towers would fit in with the neighborhood. After reading the letter penned by the AAFC, she’s also now concerned about the farm's future.

“The Central Experimental Farm is two things: an important, long-term research facility for some important work… but it’s also a cultural heritage location,” Wright said in an interview with Kitchissippi Times. “Why would you take this jewel, this great city asset which is one of the city's defining features of Ottawa, and destroy it?”

Wright said the size and location of farmland is almost the same as what was proposed for the new future Civic Hospital location. After much pushback, it was decided the new hospital would be built across from Dow’s Lake where the Sir John Carling building once stood.

On Aug. 16, the matter went before Ottawa’s planning committee and was approved 8-2 following a five-hour debate with 14 delegations. The green light also approved a zoning bylaw amendment to add highrise apartments as a permitted land use, while also allowing for additional building height. Current rules had a roughly nine-storey limit.

The news was disappointing but not surprising for Wright who felt more time should have been taken to address the farm’s concerns. River ward councillor Riley Brockington brought forward a motion asking for a two-month delay, giving time for more research to be conducted.

“I was disappointed in the micro decision-making that was going on. It was an opportunity for the councilors to step back and think about what is needed as a city and to meet their requirements to protect heritage properties like the Central

A controversial development at 1081 Carling is going back to planning committee. Insert: Karen Wright from the Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association said they are concerned the proposed building shadows could impact research at the Central Experimental Farm. ALL PHOTOS BY CHARLIE SENACK.

Experimental Farm,” Wright said. “A short delay would not have slowed down this project one bit. It’s already been two years in the making and development isn’t expected for another five years.”

Kitchissippi ward councillor Jeff Leiper, who also chairs the city's planning and housing and development committee, voted in favor of the development despite his community's pushback. He said even if the height of the towers were reduced further, its shadows would still have a similar impact on the farm.

“I don’t consider that it’s unacceptable and I don't consider that it’s going to inevitably lead to the loss of the farm, even as a research facility in Ottawa,” he told Kitchissippi Times. “The challenge for city council is that we don't approve development, we approve rezoning. The lens through which we look when we consider approving rezoning is our official plan.”

Leiper said he suspected the matter was far from over as the Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association or AAFC could file an appeal with the Ontario Land Tribunal.

The matter headed to city council on Aug. 23 for final approval, which was expected to be given. But then a surprising twist happened: it was revealed AAFC. alongside the National Capital Commission (NCC), did not receive proper notice of the planning committee meeting.

"To ensure the integrity of the process, City Council are being asked to pass a motion to have the item return to the Planning and Housing Committee along with the provision of a new Notice and publication of the staff report to ensure that proper notification takes place in accordance with the Planning Act,” wrote Don Herweyer, the city's Interim General Manager of Planning.

During the Aug. 16 meeting, some councillors questioned why AAFC

representatives were not at the table. When the matter goes back to the planning committee, it will also include a revised Cultural Heritage Impact Statement which will provide an updated analysis on potential impacts the development could have on the farm.

EARLY DAYS

From landfill to usable land: How the Ottawa River shoreline was built using garbage

BY DAVE ALLSTON

The waterfront along the Ottawa River in the west end of Ottawa is an everevolving story that continues to be written.

In early days, the river was a major transportation route for First Nations traveling to the western interior, and the Algonquin people used its banks for hunting, gathering, farming, trapping and fishing. Later, early Colonists arrived at Richmond Landing and the Honeywells near Woodroffe, leading to the development of cottage communities and eventually residential neighbourhoods.

Some readers may already be aware that the shoreline was artificially built up in the 1960s, creating an abundance of new land extending from downtown all the way to Mechanicsville. This was land for which the city and NCC had grand designs.

It all began in the late 1950s when a series of City and NCC projects all intertwined following the commencement of the NCC’s implementation of the Greber Plan. The railways, around which our neighbourhoods were initially built, were to be torn up and relocated to the east end of town. Sewers were to be installed to provide much-needed infrastructure to the expanding city. The parkway and Queensway were being planned to handle the exploding traffic problem.

Land reclamation was a popular concept in the mid-20th century, as cities sought to convert wasteland into usable space. Garbage was used to create it. Waste could be simply dumped into the water, creating new land in a prime location.

At the time, Montreal was building Notre Dame Island using the rock from the

creation of the subway system. The Toronto waterfront was quickly being expanded using excavation and construction waste from subways, office towers and other large projects. Many cities throughout the U.S. were using similar landfill schemes to build up their central areas.

Between Mechanicsville and downtown Ottawa existed three significant bays: Lazy Bay just north of Laroche Park; Bayview Bay between the Lemieux Island Bridge and the now Chief William Commanda Bridge; and Nepean Bay, the north end of LeBreton Flats. Soon all three would become a part of a grand NCC plan.

Nepean Bay was the deepest bay of the three. Located in close proximity to downtown and the Chaudiere Falls, it presented the largest opportunity for development. The Federal District Commission (FDC) had been actively acquiring land along the water for planned parkways, and were particularly enthusiastic to acquire the land alongside Nepean Bay, which they did in early 1957. They immediately announced lofty but vague plans to establish large sandy beaches and recreational spaces there.

By 1959, the city garbage dumps in the east and west ends were reaching capacity. The city had spent years attempting to find other options but found none suitable within the city limits. They began to consider sites in Gloucester and Nepean, but no easy solution could be found.

In a letter to the Board of Control in February 1959, Ottawa Works Commissioner Frank Ayers suggested that a site could be established in the heart of the city — right in Nepean Bay along the Ottawa River waterfront. It would require approval from the freshly-renamed National Capital Commission. Ayers detailed a plan that required a causeway to be built to retain the garbage, which would also allow access for trucks to dump the garbage. Filling in the bay would create 50 acres of land.

The Board of Control asked Ayers to go to the NCC and pitch the proposal. The CPR tracks, roundhouse and railway infrastructure at LeBreton and Bayview were already scheduled to come down as part of the $20M National Capital Railway Relocation program.

Top: A 1968 photo shows the causeway under construction. CITY OF OTTAWA ARCHIVES - CA-8684. Above: A 1927 oblique photo showing how far south Lazy Bay used to come. That's Burnside Avenue along the bottom above Laroche Park.

An old Newspaper ad from the Citizen dated March 8 1963 announcing that the dump at Nepean Bay is open and everyone

Within a week, the NCC formally approved of the plan in principle, with one NCC executive stating that the city’s plan to fill the bay with garbage “fit very well into development plans.” The NCC had been wondering how they would create the promised beach and park, as the bottom of the bay was covered with “many feet of waterrotted sawdust” from the lumbering era. Meanwhile, another major City project was just getting underway – tunnel drilling for the Ottawa Interceptor and Outfall Sewer project, a key piece of the $20,650,000 Ottawa Sewage Disposal Project. Millions of tons of rock were to be excavated in building the tunnels from Booth Street under Wellington past the Chateau Laurier and east through to the new sewage disposal plant being built at Green’s Creek. This provided the perfect opportunity to acquire the massive quantities of rock required to build the causeway.

The plan quickly fell into place. The Causeway would be built quickly as it was estimated the water in the Bay was only four or five feet deep. Then the water on the inland side would be pumped out, and garbage would be brought in over an expected two-year period to fill the horseshoe. A thick layer of soil would be added and then tons of sand at the water’s edge to make the beach, creating what the NCC predicted would become “one of the finest waterside parks in Eastern Ontario.”

In December of 1959, the Board of Control approved the construction of the causeway from Nepean Bay all the way west to Mechanicsville’s Lazy Bay.

time, raw sewage was dumped into the river from a variety of outlets all along the River. It was said that 25 million gallons of raw sewage a day poured into the river from 18 outlets along the shore and an additional 21 outlets on Victoria, Chaudiere, Albert and Amelia Islands.

In February 1961, the City heard that the Riverside Drive dump had only 14 months left until it hit capacity. The rush was on to speed up construction of the causeway, which began over the winter months of early 1962.

Around this time, the plan for long sandy beaches was discarded in favour of creating the eastern entrance to the River Parkway overtop the new causeway.

With the causeway completed, the first garbage began to be dumped in the Bay the week of Monday March 4, 1963. Meanwhile, public disposal ended at Riverside Drive dump on March 9.

The NCC also found it handy to

have a dump in close proximity to the neighbourhood of housing it had begun expropriating in 1962 – LeBreton Flats. Demolition of the houses was originally slated to begin in the spring of 1964, but as families began moving out in late 1962 and early 1963, the houses left behind were targets for arsonists and squatters. Homes were vacated gradually and in no particular groupings, so inhabited houses stood sideby-side with the abandoned.

The NCC quickly began pulling down the houses, and placing them in the Bay. Many of the original LeBreton Flats houses still exist today – buried deep below the Parkway.

This hastened the filling of the dump, which hit capacity and was closed on February 1, 1964, more than a year earlier than planned. Lazy Bay and Nepean Bay were now full.

In the October issue of KT, Dave Allston will explore how the transition was made from dump to usable space.

Manual Dexterity: Keeping it up as you age

As you age, it is not uncommon for your manual dexterity to decline. Older hands and fingers are especially prone to arthritis, which results in pain, swelling, joint deformities, restricted ranges of motion and the ability to grip and hold objects. There are various exercises, activities and hobbies that can help you to maintain your manual dexterity as you age.

Exercises

NCC officials immediately called the garbage dump plan “quite interesting,” and noted that the Greber Plan had suggested some land reclamation in this area. The National Capital Plan had always planned for Nepean Bay to be developed for recreation. The horseshoe-shaped bay had notionally been targeted by the NCC for landscaping with trees, shrubs, flower beds, lawns, a massive sandy beach and a large playground.

As it would solve the garbage dump problem only temporarily, the NCC at the same time stated that they would not oppose the use of Green Belt lands for future garbage dumps. But that was a problem to solve at a later date.

The bay at Lazy Bay continues to exist today, though at a vastly reduced size. Originally, the Bay came up to Burnside Avenue and Laroche Park. In fact, Stonehurst used to continue through Burnside, running as a short lane for 40-50 feet directly into the water. More than a few stolen cars ended up in Lazy Bay via this little lane.

Until the 1960s, there were also houses on Carruthers and Hinchey north of Burnside, with a couple of the Carruthers houses sitting on Lazy Bay’s edge like a cottages.

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Give the ‘OK’ sign: Begin with your hand up and fingers straight. Create an ‘O’ shape by connecting your thumb to each finger one by one. Rest, and repeat on each hand. Perform wrist stretches: Extend each arm in front of you with your palm facing the floor. Bend your wrist down towards the floor. With your opposite hand, gently continue to bend your wrist until you feel a mild to moderate

stretch in your forearm. Hold for up to 30 seconds, rest, and repeat with other side.

Activities

Work on a puzzle: The repetitive motions of flipping up the pieces and connecting them will help to maintain and strengthen manual dexterity.

Hobbies

Pottery: It can strengthen your hands, wrists, and arms with repetitive movements. Additionally, for those with arthritis, pottery can be helpful as it promotes dexterity and joint movement.

Sewing: Sewing by hand incorporates very intricate and precise movements while maneuvering and grasping small items.

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”Waste could be simply dumped into the water, creating new land in a prime location.”

should come bring their garbage.

Sharpfle Waffle reopens in Hintonburg after dispute on Wellington St. West

BY CHARLIE SENACK

Sharpfle Waffle is back in business after closing up shop on Wellington Street West and relocating to a new spot in Hintonburg.

The waffle and coffee shop was forced to close its doors on Wellington West in April due to an exclusivity clause a neighbouring business had with the building’s landlord. Sharpfle Waffle reopened at 173 Hinchey Ave. on July 15.

Owner James Choi said community support made all the difference.

“It’s what’s been driving us to work that extra mile,” he said. “I was very much surprised. We weren’t expecting so much care and love for what we did. I think it’s a once-in-a-business opportunity where you get to experience that kind of passion and admiration for what we do.”

The new space is bigger than the former location, allowing Sharpfle Waffle to offer indoor and outdoor seating. Kitchen space is also larger in size, allowing for better equipment.

“The setup we have here means we can do much better,” said Choi. “We are very happy that we now have some space to invite people into a more cozy and relaxing environment.”

While circumstances worked out for the better, it took months to achieve.

Sharpfle Waffle first opened their doors on Wellington West in December 2021. In April of this year, they announced their lease agreement would be terminated after Stella Luna, a gelato cafe located just a few doors

down, enforced an exclusivity clause they had in place with the landlords, Tamarack Homes.

In order to remain neighbours, Sharpfle Waffle would have needed to cut specialty coffee from their menu, but drip coffee and steeped or brewed tea could still be served. The restaurants dining area, which only sat eight, would also have needed to close, offering only takeout services. It wouldn’t have been a sustainable business model, said Choi.

At the time, Stella Luna co-owner Zachary Giuliani said they believed allowing Sharpfle Waffle to operate out of the same plaza was a breach of their landlord agreement.

A statement of claim filed in Ontario’s Supreme Court by Stella Luna said they were “suffering irreparable harm” and faced a “real risk that the business will not prosper or even survive in the presence of direct competition.” It also claimed the gelato shop paid a premium for the exclusivity rights.

Choi said he’s unsure where the legal fight stands but is trying to move on from the situation.

“It’s not been easy,” he said. “I do not intend to blame anyone, but the situation itself was very difficult. I think there were moments where I felt like giving up would be easier.”

Exclusivity clauses in business are common, said Ian Lee, an associate professor of strategic management at Carleton’s Sprott School of Business. He said they are designed to prevent competition and are widely used in the retail and restaurant industries.

“I don't like them because I feel more competition is better than less competition,”

he told Kitchissippi Times in an interview. “I wish they were prohibited but they aren’t. It’s legal and we are a rule of law country. Stella Luna is perfectly in their right to enforce that.”

Lee compared exclusivity clauses to other types of legally binding agreements such as life insurance policies, job contracts and mortgages.

Sharpfle Waffle specializes in croffles,

which are Korean waffles made out of croissants. They offer a non-traditional approach with both sweet or savory options.

“We are still working on ways to improve what we have and to understand the surrounding community better,” Choi said. “When the time is right we are hoping to expand our menu and to offer more exciting things.”

Hintonburg’s Sharpfle Waffle has reopened at 173 Hinchey Ave. Owner James Choi said he was overwhelmed by the community support. PHOTOS BY CHARLIE SENACK.

A FOOD FESTIVAL

Games!

Live Music!

VENDORS

Bridgehead

Wellington Butchery

Yuzumi

Momo Spot

The Hollander

Paradise Poke

Shawarma Al Mouna Motif!

Flamino

Ottawa Bagelshop

Little Jo Berry’s

The Third

Holly’s Hot Chicken

Tooth and Nail

Hintonburg Public House

BahnMiYes

Stella Luna Cafe

Blueprint Home

Victiore

Wild Willy’s Plants and Flowers

Hello Dolly Pastries

U-Rock Cafe

Recreated Designs

Maker House Co.

Suzy Q Donuts

Blumenstudios

Les Moulins

La Fayette

The Cake Shop

And more!

LIVE MUSIC

11:00

12:30

2:00

3:00

DUHAMEL ST

Every household in our community has felt the pinch with the steady increase in the cost of living. For those who were just getting by, that pinch has put them and their families in situations never imagined. Parkdale Food Centre is seeing an unprecedented increase in the number of neighbours (and beyond) in need of food support. For this reason, Parkdale Food Centre is in need of OUR SUPPORT.

TASTE of Wellington West is much more than a celebration of the amazing restaurants and food merchants in our community, it is an opportunity to ensure there is food available to everyone. Please help us raise funds for an essential service.

A D C

Kai Hussey: Teen artist creates extraordinary custom house portraits

BY GRACE BESTARD

Young artist Kai Hussey has turned his remarkable talent into a unique small business..

The 16-year-old Kitchissippi resident creates meaningful and authentic sketches of local homes. He said home plays a key role in people’s lives. it’s where childhood memories are made, new chapters begin, and family traditions are established within its walls.

The charming artwork is the perfect gift or keepsake and makes an excellent conversation piece, said the Glebe High School student. Each highly detailed image is not only a realistic rendition, but also manages to convey the character of each family home.

Hussey has always had a passion for art. At 13, he transformed his passion into a business and started drawing the homes of those in his community.

He began sketching houses when his family decided to move to Hintonburg in 2020. As a moving gift, Hussey’s former neighbour, Blanche, gifted him and his brother each 20 dollars.

“I wanted to say thank you somehow, so I drew their house.” Hussey said.

Hussey's mother, Sophia Wong, knew it was the beginning of a new ambition.

“It's actually a funny story. We looked at that and we said, Kai, you could sell this for money,” she recalled.

After realizing his talent’s potential, the young entrepreneur found the perfect business idea during the pandemic.

“COVID started, and I couldn't babysit anymore, which was my way of making some money,” Hussey said. “I would just sit in my room all day and draw houses. I liked it, so I

didn't stop when [the pandemic] ended.”

Hussey said his biggest supporters have been his parents and the art teachers at his school, who have pushed him to continue pursuing what he loves. His attention to detail and artistry continues to evolve and improve with each of his portraits.

Each creation is hand-drawn on paper, made uniquely for each home.

“None of it’s online, it's all on paper,” Hussey said. “I really just get a picture in person and I use alcohol-based markers and fine liners. I'll just sketch the house with a fine liner and then colour it in and add some shadows.”

Hussey’s favourite piece that he’s drawn is an image he crafted of his family's cottage.

“I like the way I illustrated it. My techniques for shading and line work have evolved since I last drew it, and it’s nice to look back at my old drawings,” he said. “I have a lot of good memories of spending time there with my family, so it has a lot of meaning.”

Hussey runs 100 per cent of his business through his Instagram account where he displays all of his work. It’s a touching artform that connects those from all around Ottawa to the places they hold dearest to them.

Wong said he is an inspiration not only to his family but the community which has benefitted from his artistic talent.

“We have multiple properties, and he's drawn all of them. But he's drawn them at different times and I feel like each one captures a point in his evolution,” Wong

added. “It almost makes me feel like we'll see these houses again but in different forms. They're all snapshots along a longer journey.”

In addition to his Instagram presence, Hussey plans to launch a website soon.

In the coming years, the Hintonburg teen aspires to combine his love of buildings, math and art. He plans on applying to the architecture program at Carleton in the fall, where he is hoping to continue in the field entering into his adult life.

“I like art and I like math, and architecture is kind of like a combination of the two,” Hussey said.

Hussey can be found on Instagram at @kai_originals, where more of his work and inquiries regarding purchasing a personalized home portrait can be found.

Kai Hussey, 16, has been designing custom house portraits since 2020. DRAWINGS PROVIDED. INSERT PHOTO BY CHARLIE SENACK.

Jessica Deeks captures emotion through photography

The Westboro-based photographer created a community portrait series on display at Urban Art Collective.

BY CHARLIE SENACK

For Jessica Deeks, photography is a way to capture a moment in time.

The Westboro-based commercial and editorial photographer, who specializes in portraits, graduated from Algonquin College in 2010 and hasn’t put her camera down since.

“I just love working with people. I think it’s very interactive. You get to meet people from all walks of life,” Deeks said. “It’s a little bit different than just shooting architecture or products. I like having conversations. It’s always something new. always a different experience.”

On June 17, Deeks unveiled a new community art portrait series at Hintonburg’s Urban Art Collective. She was approached a few months prior by founders Lindsay and Jay Machinski, her former professor, about creating a black and white display.

“The idea I had was to make it interactive. We decided to have people doodle on a piece of paper which I then photographed,” Deeks said. “I took photos of them which I overlayed and merged together in photoshop.”

In all, 101 different community members were photographed. Some of the final results were more serious while

others were playful.

In one image, a woman was photographed with her arms out with a drawing of two cats in the front. In another, a woman can be seen doing a pirouette with an artistic rendering of her younger self.

Each subject had the chance to create their own unique image.

“I wanted it to be a lighthearted, innerkid kind of project,” Deeks said. “I didn’t want it to be too serious. I wanted people to have a lot of creativity with it and show what they wanted in their portraits.”

A large black and white mural created out of the exhibition will be a permanent

display at Urban Art Collective. Deeks said over 100 hours of work went into the final design.

Throughout her career, Deeks has had the opportunity to photograph many prominent individuals including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor General Mary Simon. She’s also captured Olympians with their medals and the Supreme Court at work.

The flexibility to work with a variety of clients and environments is what keeps the job challenging and fun.

“Over time your name gets around and you’re lucky enough to hopefully find some big clients,” she said. “I’m really grateful because any freelance or creative kind of career can be rather competitive. The Ottawa community is really supportive of each other.”

Deeks spent the final part of summer unwinding from a busy few months and is now brainstorming where to point her camera lens next.

“I’m going to take a little break but I’m always working. As far as personal projects go, we will see what the next one is,” she said.

”I just love working with people. I think it’s very interactive. You get to meet people from all walks of life.”

– Jessica Deeks

Jessica Deeks photographed 101 community members. Their portraits are now on display at Urban Art Collective. ALL PHOTOS BY CHARLIE SENACK.

Every month of the harvest season, Ottawa Markets will share what they learned from a farmer vending at the Parkdale Market. This month, the featured farmers are Franco and Gaetan Spagnoli of Osgoode Apple Orchard.

Every Fall for the past fifty years, the Spagnoli family has harvested apples and brought them to market. They grow a variety of apples on a 12-acre orchard in Osgoode, Ontario. In order of availability, the varieties in season this autumn are McIntosh, Spartan, Lobos, Golden Russet, Crabapples, Empire, Ambrosia, and Honey Crisp!

Pick up fresh apples 7 days a week from 8 am – 5 pm at the Parkdale Market. Call (613) 826-0925 to check the availability of apples.

• Apples

• Beans (Green/Yellow)

• Beets

• Bok Choy

• Broccoli

• Cabbage

• Carrots

• Cauliflower

• Celery

• Corn

• Crabapples

• Cucumber

• Currants

• Daikon Radish

• Eggplant

• Garlic

• Gooseberries

• Grapes (Concord)

• Kale

• Leafy greens (assorted)

• Leeks

• Lettuce

• Muskmelons

• Mushrooms

• Nectarines

• Onions

• Parsnips

• Pears

• Peas

• Peppers

• Plums

• Potatoes

• Radishes

• Rutabaga

• Spinach

• Squash

• Sweet Potatoes

• Tomatoes

• Watermelon

• Zucchini

What’s in season at the Parkdale Market

Settling into fall

The summer was enjoyable, but with fall's arrival, we're settling into our routines in Westboro Village. Whether it's school, work, fitness classes, self-care routines, or daily schedules, everyone is back at it. I am new to the Village, and I am eager to explore the autumn season here.

I am excited to explore new fall dishes and drinks while discovering more of Westboro Village's food scene. With the weather getting colder, I plan on browsing through the Village for some fall fashion pieces. During the summer, I got back into my fitness journey at Love Your Body Fitness, and this fall, I am looking forward to trying Pilates and signing up for classes.

I had a great time at the outdoor movie night in August and got to experience a sense of community. Around 300 people showed up, and the popcorn was a big hit. Along with the complimentary popcorn sponsored by our member business Billyard Insurance Group, people also enjoyed the gratis chocolate bar from Strawberry Blonde Bakery, the Vintage Pop-Up 613 vendors, the Wedel Touch of Europe stand, and coupons from Zak's Diner Westboro and Presotea Westboro. I am excited for our final movie night celebrating back to school, depending on who you ask (ha ha), with School of Rock on September 8th.

There are many exciting events on the calendar, including Thursday night music starting on September 7th, Small Business Week in October, and the upcoming Wickedly Westboro. I'm also thrilled about the new businesses opening in the Village soon.

The Ottawa Music Industry Coalition returns with City Sounds at 300 Richmond Road.

• Thursday, September 7th, 6-8 pm – Joe McDonald, Annie Martel and Oddeline co-curated with Sounds Odd Records

• Thursday, September 14th, 6-8 pm – Emma Lamontagne, Erik Johnson, Gabriel Comba co-curated with Sofar Sounds

• Thursday, September 21st, 6-8 pm – Shim Up in Da Cut, Taz Saviour, Friday Skye co-curated with APT613

westborovillage.com/music-in-the-village/

MOVIE NIGHTS

Save the date – Summer Movies in the Village

Join us for the final movie in the Village for the summer of 2023!

We are celebrating the return to school with the feel-good classic "School of Rock" on Friday, September 8th, in the Churchill Seniors Centre parking lot. Come early to check out the vendors from Vintage PopUp 613 and enjoy free popcorn courtesy of Westboro Village business Team Realty Royal LePage.

The movie starts at dusk, and we can't wait to see you there!

WELCOME

*Kids 10 or under only / civic holidays, school holidays, and long weekends excluded

Mushama Pierre Communications and Operations Coordinator Westboro Village BIA

EXPERIENCE PREMIUM SENIOR LIVING AT

AMICA WESTBORO PARK

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If you or a loved one are interested in senior living, please contact Sarah or Neha at 613-728-9274 to learn more or to book a private tour.

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DEFENSE

HOME CARE

What to check when storms strike your home

By Patrick Langston, All Things Home

Storm damage to our homes and properties is becoming more likely as climate change advances.

Knock on wood we avoid more disasters like the May 2023 derecho, which killed 11 people and caused more than $875 million in insured damages in Ontario, including Ottawa, and Quebec. But more severe thunderstorms like the ones we’ve seen this summer, high winds, tornadoes (more than a dozen have touched down in the Ottawa area since 2000 alone), and crippling ice and snowstorms are a near certainty.

Here’s what you need to know when severe storms do strike.

Checking for damage

Storms can create hazards around your home, from fallen wires to broken tree branches. If you find dangerous situations like this, leave mediation to the professionals. Also, check for damage at a couple of different times of day: changing light levels can reveal problems you may have missed the first time.

Roof, gutters and more

Even a small amount of damage to your roof can lead to big problems from leaks. Using binoculars and from the ground, check for broken, slipped or missing shingles, loose or dented flashing around your chimney and roof vents, and damaged fascia and soffits.

Are your gutters bent or filled with debris from the storm? Free-flowing gutters and drainpipes are critical in directing water away from your home. Again, consider calling in the professionals to handle the ladder work.

Windows and doors

Flying debris and high winds can cause small cracks in the glass, loose panes and frames, and damaged exterior trim,

all leading to water infiltration and other problems. Check each window carefully and make sure they open and close smoothly and can still be locked easily.

Winds in the recent Ottawa storm hit 190 kilometres per hour in some areas, according to Hydro Ottawa. That was strong enough to destroy barns and silos, which means it was also strong enough to damage a weak door or one with rot in the frame. Do all your doors still open, close and lock smoothly? If not, call in the pros.

Trees and other hazards

Storms in Ottawa have caused massive tree damage in some neighbourhoods. Check your trees for cracked or broken limbs, loose branches and partial uprooting (the latter doesn’t always mean the tree is doomed: consult an arborist to see if it can be saved). Don’t try to remove large broken branches or limbs yourself — injury or even death can result — and remember that even a light wind can dislodge broken branches. Rope off the area to keep others safe and hire a reliable tree service to handle the damage.

Once you’ve ensured your trees are safe, check fences, sheds and other outdoor structures for damage.

Signs of interior damage

Hard-driving rain can penetrate exterior walls, especially if the walls, windows or doors are storm-damaged. Watch for water stains on inside walls and call in a professional if you think there may have been permanent cosmetic or structural damage.

Have you checked your basement carefully for water leakage and taken a

careful look in the attic for leaks there? If you had any roof damage, check your attic a few times in the weeks after the storm in case mould is growing on the insulation or elsewhere.

Insurance and repairs

Keeping your home insurance policy up to date will help cover the cost of repairs and replacement in case of storm damage. Learn more about home insurance and disasters at the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Watch out for scammers and incompetent repair businesses. They tend to come out of the woodwork after a disaster. Don’t hire a contractor who can’t produce liability insurance, references and other assurances of legitimacy.

Reducing the potential for future damage

Keeping your home well maintained will help protect it against wind, rain and other natural hazards:

• Caulk windows and doors to prevent

moisture and cold penetration.

• Test your sump pump to ensure it’s ready for high water levels.

• Follow seasonal maintenance routines.

• Have an emergency kit ready to keep your family safe in case of prolonged power outages or other disasters.

• Keep an up-to-date home inventory to make insurance claims easier.

For more on these and other tips to protect and maintain your home, visit AllThingsHome.ca

PatrickLangstonistheco-founderofAllThings HomeInc.Theveteranjournalisthascovered theOttawahousingindustrysince2008.

A recent late July storm left many Kitchissippi homeowners with damage. All photos by Ellen Bond.

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Chell Broker

Toll Broker

Who’s buying million dollar homes in Ottawa?

Realtor John King has had his finger on the pulse of luxury real estate in Ottawa for 30 years, and says the heartbeat of the market is finally settling back into its usual rhythm.

That rhythm, he says, is being driven by a return to typical seasonal fluctuations and buying patterns –where properties sell for more in the spring, and buyers can find a deal in the winter months.

This stability is coming in spite of higher interest rates and inflation. “People are realizing interest rates aren’t going to go down dramatically,” said King. “We’re not going to see two per cent again for a long time.”

While ‘stable’ may not equal ‘perfect’, people are seeing the opportunity.

“The pandemic lasted longer than we all thought,” said King. “But people who need a bigger house or want to downsize are starting to ask themselves, ‘What are we waiting for?’”

Key takeaways from Engel & Völkers’ mid-year report

King says across Canada, the value of homes over $1 million are either growing or maintaining their value.

In Ottawa, emerging trends include homes being viewed as generational assets, baby boomers staying put, land and labour shortages affecting housing stock, and millennials without financial help from family being priced out of the luxury market.

Spring brought the first signs of a more stable Ottawa market for luxury

home buyers, with an increase in listings and price stabilization in April and May.

It was also the beginning of a buyer’s market in the $1 - $3.99 million price range.

Properties priced correctly in this bracket sold within 1-2 weeks, while those priced slightly above their worth tended to languish on the market, forcing sellers to relist at a lower price.

When it comes to sellers, increased activity in Ottawa’s highend rental market indicated they were waiting out the storm by renting out their property, instead of putting it on the market.

But King says these sellers are starting to reconsider now that the market is stabilizing.

Who’s currently buying in Ottawa’s luxury market?

“Luxury is generally defined as the top 10 per cent of your marketplace in terms of sales, so over a million bucks,” said King.

He says the luxury real estate market in Ottawa is consistently stable because there are always people coming and going from Ottawa.

“Ottawa has great sectors here in high-tech, government as well as our professional sports teams,” said King. “That’s what’s fueling us.”

The millennial-ish market: $1 million - $1.5 million

The main demographic in this category are 50-something professionals who have slowly built their equity over their lifetime.

“They’ve bought and sold a few houses over the years, built up their equity, paid down their mortgage and can afford more,” said King.

But people under 50 are breaking into this market too. “They tend to be younger people I call ‘high income earners’,” he added.

That said, millennials (who now range in age from late twenties to early forties) usually need financial help from family to reach the milliondollar market.

That is prompting some buyers to get creative in leveraging their home purchase. For example, King is seeing buyers in their 30s maximize their investment by renting out their house on Airbnb when they’re out of town.

“Despite tighter licensing for Airbnb rentals, I’ve seen a lot of wealth created that way,” said King, adding that it’s not for everyone.

That’s why another common strategy is buying what King calls a “Gladys house” after his Aunt Gladys. “Her wallpaper was floral, she had shag carpet and 70s furniture,” he said.

King says there’s a strong demand for properties like this because they sell for less, are well built and the infrastructure tends to be in good condition due to having just one or two owners.

Renovations are costly, but a lot of people who watch do-it-yourself shows take them on to lower costs, he said. “Rip out the carpet and

you’ve got beautiful hardwood. The bathtub might be pink, but it’s in good condition.”

The business owner market: $2 - $3 million

When you look at the sector between $2 - $3.5 million, the buyers tend to be entrepreneurs who built their wealth through small businesses.

Another demographic in this category are families whose long-term homes have appreciated in value and are now generational assets.

Due to low housing stock at this price point, it’s currently a seller’s market and this trend will likely continue for the rest of the year.

The rare birds: $4 million homes and high-end condos

“There’s only been four out of 11,000 sales over the $4 million mark, which amounts to 0.0003 per cent,” said King, noting that while these sales are common in centers like Vancouver and Toronto, “It’s just not a typical Ottawa number.”

His clients in this segment tend to be CEOs and professional athletes.

High-end condos are another rare bird property in Ottawa, with just 18 being sold this year.

“People who pay more than a million dollars for a condo need a high net worth to afford the carrying costs, which can exceed $2,000 per month,” he said. “They tend to be older couples or people who want something maintenance free.”

“These buyers are choosing condos for their lifestyle,” said King. “Often it’s a second property, so they’re willing to pay the fees for peace of mind when they’re not there.”

Overall, King expects the market to continue to stabilize as buyers and sellers slowly adjust to the newer, more stable conditions.

But for King and the team at Engel & Völkers, helping a client buy or sell a luxury property is always in season.

Engel & Völkers John King tells us what it takes to crack the luxury market

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PEOPLE’S CHOICE Have your say: Vote for your favourite design

The All Things Home People’s Choice Award is among the most coveted trophies at the Ottawa Housing Design Awards

By Anita Murray & Patrick Langston, All Things Home

New homes, renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, housing details and more — voting is now underway for the All Things Home People’s Choice Award.

This award is a prestigious trophy given out at the annual Housing Design Awards — a much-anticipated celebration of the Ottawa housing industry’s finest in design that’s put on by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association. It’s the only one voted on by the public.

Through six weekly preliminary rounds that began Aug. 15, the 285 projects entered in this year’s Housing Design Awards are vying to make it to the final round of voting, where 16 finalists will duke it out Sept. 19 to 24 online and at the Ottawa Fall Home Show.

“We are very excited to invite the public to vote for their favourite designs through our People’s Choice Award,” says Linda

Oliveri Blanchard, who chairs the awards committee. “While winners of the Ottawa Housing Design Awards are selected by judges from across Canada — judges who are top-level professionals in architecture, construction and design — the People’s Choice Award is selected by the public.

“It is always interesting to see what the general public selects as their favourite design because it gives our industry’s designers insight as to what people are looking for when it comes to looks, feel and functionality,” she adds.

“Because of this, many of our finalists see this as the most prestigious trophy of the awards program. We draw thousands of votes from the general public, and we are very excited to see what design the public selects this year as the very best of the best.”

Love design — or just enjoy being an armchair critic? Then check out the entries and have your say. You can vote in this week’s round now at gohbavote.ca.

To whet your appetite, here’s a sampling of past winners.

The 2022 winner of the All Things Home People’s Choice Award was an inviting contemporary kitchen by Potvin Construction. Photo credit: Gordon King Photography An architectural approach to open-concept kitchen design and close client involvement in the project propelled a contemporary kitchen by Potvin Construction into the winner’s circle last year.

The brightly lit space, which features an efficient commercial feel and connects directly with the living room, is part of a custom bungalow. The massive walnut veneer island with its stepped design anchors the space while rounded LED pendant lights and a nearby chandelier help soften the kitchen’s strongly linear design.

Design elements like a soaring, 18-foot cathedral ceiling, three fireplaces and a spa-like ensuite with freestanding soaker tub and heated floor helped net the prize for this open-concept single-family home just west of Tunney’s Pasture.

A modern-themed, multi-area backyard won in 2019, the second time in two years that an outdoor space took the prize. The resort-inspired backyard, which was previously just grass and a patio, boasts a 33-foot pool with a hot tub, a raised dining space with a built-in barbecue, a lounge with a fire feature, an outdoor kitchen, and a three-season pool house with retractable screens.

A four-bedroom, family-oriented home that blends traditional features such as exterior stone columns and gables with a modern elongated fireplace in the great room was the 2015 winner. The home also took top honours in its custom home category.

AnitaMurrayandPatrickLangstonare theco-foundersofAllThingsHome.ca,

Ottawa’sgo-toresourceforhomeowners andhomebuyers.

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CORNER

The end of summer

SUBMITTED BY JEFF LEIPER, KITCHISSIPPI WARD COINCILLOR

Well, summer is finally coming to close in Kitchissippi. Stay connected to your neighbourhood news as we all gear up for back-to-school and the changes a shift in seasons brings. Just because summer is ending doesn’t mean market season is over! The Parkdale Market has some fun events coming up in September. There will be a special edition of the Night Market on Wednesday, September 6, as well as the Ottawa Flower Market on September 16. And remember, the market is still open for business daily until the end of the month, so you can continue to get local produce!

This fall, Kitchissippi’s own Ottawa Trans Library is creating the Ottawa Trans Joy Quilt and they need the input of trans people to finish the project. The Ottawa Trans Joy Quilt project invites all trans people to create a quilt square with a design that reflects their experiences of trans joy; all squares will be sewn together as part of a community quilt to reflect that joy.

Trans folks can make a square from their own fabric stash or pick up a package from the Ottawa Trans Library to create their square. You can also join in a group quilting event at the Library on September 23 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Check out the Ottawa Trans Library’s website for more information about this and many other great events!

If you’re looking for a fun family event to ring in the new school year, head to the Churchill Seniors Centre for a Capital PopUp Cinema screening of School of Rock on September 8! The film starts at 8:30 p.m., but get there early to secure a good spot. You can bring your own seating or rent a chair for $5.00, and there will be some very affordable concessions for everyone to enjoy.

I hope everyone has a smooth start to the fall. As always, you can reach my office at jeff.leiper@ottawa.ca or 6130580-2485. Drop us a line - my amazing staff are always happy to help out!

Kitchissippi ward councillor Jeff Leiper (right) poses for a photograph with Hintonburg artist Daniel Martelock during an event at Urban Art Collective on Aug. 15.

PHOTO BY CHARLIE SENACK

PHOTOS

July storm uproots trees in McKellar Park and Westboro

BY CHARLIE SENACK

Over 6,000 Hydro Ottawa customers in the McKellar Park and Westboro neighborhoods were without power after a hail storm quickly made its way through the capital on July 28.

Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the region just after 3:00 p.m. Wind gusts of up to 90 Km/h were possible alongside heavy rain and hail the size of golfballs.

In Westboro, large pieces of hail blanketed the decks of homes and bounced off of cars.

Former Kitchissippi Times writer Paula

Roy wrote on Twitter: “That was intense! Almost golf ball sized hail for five minutes.”

At Woodroffe Park, a large section of a tree fell on top of the community building. Nearby, many trees and branches were down, including on Keenan Ave, where branches were over hydro wires. Outside the Byron Apartments, a pine tree was completely uprooted from the ground.

The damage also continued along the Kichi Sibi Mikan parkway where fallen trees blocked bike paths.

About an hour after the storm hit, Ottawa Police said they received over a dozen calls about downed trees and wires.

1. Many streets in Westboro were flooded after rain blanketed the community.

2. A large pine tree was uprooted from the ground outside Byron Apartments.

3. A tree is split in two outside of the McKellar Park community building.

4. Knightsbridge Road was turned into a sea of water.

5. Multiple streets near Carlingwood Shopping Centre were closed because of fallen trees blocking roads.

6. A large portion of a tree fell onto the community building at Woodroffe Park.

7. A downed tree blocks Keenan Avenue in McKellar Park.

8. A car sits in a large puddle of water near the Highland Park Lawn Bowling Club on Golden Avenue.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER 10: JAZZ NIGHT IN THE WESTBORO LEGION’S UPSTAIRS LOUNGE: The David Glover Quartet leads off followed by an open jam session from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Tickets: $15 at the upstairs bar, 391 Richmond Rd. or at the door. Students (with ID): $10 at the door only. Cover charge waived.

SEPTEMBER 14: UNITARIAN HOUSE FALL

CLOTHING SALE: From 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. come and join us for a wide selection of women’s clothing, including many donations of brand new clothing from Northern Reflections & Reitmans. If the weather is less than ideal, we will be in The Founders' Room on the 1st floor. All proceeds go to the Unitarian House

Residents' Association and unsold clothes will go to local charities.

SEPTEMBER 16: TOM LIPS IN CONCERT: Tom Lips performs a program of original songs. He’s a gifted Ottawa-born singersongwriter and recording artist, mostly in the folk genre. Tom’s range runs from hilarity to heartbreak, and includes a postmodern lullaby and a polka about the afterlife. Westboro Masonic Hall, 430 Churchill Ave. N. at Byron. Presented by Spirit of Rasputin's, Ottawa's folk music society. Tickets $25 at rasputins.org. Show begins at 8:00 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 27: JAZZ IN THE AFTERNOON AT THE WESTBORO LEGION: The Capital City

KITCHISSIPPI MARKET PLACE

Stompers perform from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Upstairs Lounge, 391 Richmond Rd. Admission is free (donations to the branch welcome).

SEPTEMBER 30: PARKDALE UNITED CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE: Being held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at 429 Parkdale Ave. Use Gladstone Parking lot entrance. Clothing, shoes, books, toys, puzzles, household items, linen, electronics, sports equipment and more. Bring your own cloth bags. Entry may be limited at the start for safety reasons. 613-728-8656. www. parkdaleunitedchurch.ca

OCTOBER 7: CELEBRATE OKTOBERFEST AT THE WESTBORO LEGION: The Downstairs

Hall door and bar open at 5:00 p.m. followed by a traditional dinner and entertainment by the Edelweiss Duo. Tickets ($35) are available now at the upstairs bar, 391 Richmond Rd.

TUESDAYS: NEPEAN CHOIR: Come sing with us! The Nepean Choir is welcoming new members for our 2023-2024 season. We rehearse Tuesdays from 7:30mp.m. To 9:30 p.m. at Woodroffe United Church. Our rehearsals in September are open to prospective new members. We are a lively, friendly, welcoming community choir with members from across Ottawa and surrounding communities. Open rehearsals begin Tuesday, September 12. Come try us out! www.nepeanchoir.ca