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BARRHAVEN

Year 30 • issue 14

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FRIDAY • July 10 • 2020

With no Canada Day celebrations to attend this year, many small groups got together and did their own thing. Among the socially responsible and safe celebrations in the community was this one, as a group of friends from St. Mother Teresa High School’s graduating class got together. From left to right are Justin Rivada, Ryan Klein, Steven Kemp, Jaden Brown and Ryan Dyke.

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Page 2 FRIDAY, July 10, 2020

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Amazon to build fulfillment centre in Barrhaven New 450,000 square-foot facility will create more than 1,000 full-time jobs

Amazon.com, Inc. has announced plans to open its second Ottawa facility, which will be located within the CitiGate Corporate Business Park in Barrhaven. The new fulfillment centre, which is anticipated to open in 2021, will create more than 1,000 new, fulltime jobs starting at $16 an hour with comprehensive benefits and opportunities in an industry-leading workplace. This will be Amazon’s eighth facility in Ontario and its 14th fulfillment centre in Canada. “We’re thrilled to be opening a second fulfillment centre in the nation’s capital to better serve communities across Ontario,” said Sumegha Kumar, Director, Canadian Customer Fulfillment Operations, Amazon Canada. “We appreciate the strong support from local, provincial, and federal

leaders. We look forward to creating over 1,000 full-time jobs while providing the Barrhaven community with great opportunities that have competitive pay and benefits starting on day one.” At this new fulfillment centre, employees will work alongside Amazon robotics to pick, pack and ship small items to customers such as books, electronics and toys. This will be Amazon’s newest robotics fulfillment centre in Canada. “‘I’m thrilled that this advanced robotics fulfillment centre is coming to Citigate to create over 1,000 jobs in Barrhaven, helping us diversify our community’s employment base,” said Jan Harder, Councillor, Barrhaven Ward. “I want to thank Amazon for going ahead with this project, and I look forward to attending the official opening.”

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson echoed Harder’s statements. “I’m pleased that Amazon has once again chosen to invest in Ottawa,” said Watson. “This facility will create more than 1,000 jobs for our residents when it opens in 2021, and it will help keep employment strong in our city.” Broccolini, who built the first Amazon facility at Highway 417 and Boundary Road, has broken ground on the new facility with an anticipated 14-month construction deadline. Broccolini will hire technical experts from a wide range of fields to ensure timely project delivery, creating over 700 jobs at construction launch. “We are excited to once again partner with Amazon and begin construction of a new, technologicallyadvanced fulfillment centre.

The new Amazon facility will be located at CitiGate Business Park in Barrhaven.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve trained our employees and set new protocols to ensure workers can do their jobs safely while respecting the latest health guidelines,” said James

Beach, Director of Real Estate and Development at Broccolini in Ottawa. “Amazon will benefit from our considerable and diversified expertise to coordinate all development and construc-

tion aspects from the outset through to delivery, as well as our management experience that comes with our impressive portfolio of properties.”

amazon continues on page 3

Reporting incidents to the police is important and provides us with the information needed to identify crime patterns. Please encourage all of your neighbours to report any crimes in progress, suspicious activity and all crimes to the police to assist us in addressing crime in the community

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911 is for crimes in progress and emergencies. 613-236-1222 ext. 7300 to reporting crimes not in progress. 613-236-1222 for Community Police Centres, non-emergencies and all other enquiries. TTY 613-760-8100 services for the Deaf, Deafened and Hard of Hearing Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-8477

FRIDAY, July 10, 2020 Page 3

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT amazon continues from page 2

As more businesses and services reopen,

Construction has begun on the new Amazon.com facility in Barrhaven.

This project is Broccolini’s fourth partnership with Amazon, reflecting the company’s expertise in real estate and its leadership in the design and construction of fulfillment centres. It adds to other prestigious projects led by Broccolini, such as the New Maison de Radio-Canada in Montreal and some of the city’s largest high-rise buildings. “Broccolini continues to demonstrate its excellence in building state-of-the-art construction projects. We are uniquely positioned to develop and deliver large-scale projects such as the newest Amazon fulfillment centre, which help the Canadian economy as it reopens for business,” added Mr. Beach. Once completed, Broccolini will act as landlord and property manager for the new fulfillment centre. “During these unprecedented times, companies like Amazon are going the extra mile to protect employees and customers, while adapting to the new environment we face,” said Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario. “We welcome today’s exciting announcement of Amazon bringing another 1,000 jobs to the Ottawa area. Now more than ever, we must all work together to reopen our economy safely, get more people back to work, and chart a path to a strong recovery for our province.” Amazon is also planning five new delivery stations across Ontario in Whitby, Oakville, Cambridge, Brampton, and Scarborough,

with the sites anticipated to launch in 2020. Delivery stations power the last mile of Amazon’s order fulfillment process. Packages are transported to delivery stations from Amazon fulfillment and sortation centers, and then loaded into vehicles for delivery to customers. They will create hundreds of permanent, full-time and part-time jobs, in addition to offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to build their own small business delivering Amazon packages, and independent contractors the flexibility to be their own boss and create their own schedule delivering for Amazon Flex. To learn more, visit www.logistics. amazon.com and https:// flex.amazon.com. Full-time employees at Amazon receive competitive hourly wages, including medical, vision and dental coverage, a group RRSP plan, stock awards, and performance-based bonuses starting on day one. Amazon also offers employees access to innovative programs like Career Choice, where it will pay up to 95 per cent of tuition for courses related to in-demand fields, regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a career at Amazon. Since the program’s launch, more than 25,000 employees across the globe have pursued degrees in game design and visual communications, nursing, IT programming and radiology, to name a few. Amazon is proud to call Canada home. In total,

Jeff Morris photos

Amazon employs more than 13,500 full-time employees at the company’s fulfillment centres, corporate offices, development centres, and other facilities in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Since 2010, Amazon has invested more than $7.5 billion in Canada through its customer fulfillment and cloud infrastructure and employee compensation. Amazon estimates that its Canadian investments have created an additional 14,000 indirect jobs on top of the company’s direct hires. Recently, Amazon Canada committed a $3 million donation to support those who are most affected by the COVID-19 crisis in Canada. Funds are dedicated to supporting local organizations in the communities where employees live and work, including the Canadian Red Cross, United Way Centraide Canada, and numerous food banks. The Ottawa Food Bank is among the recipients. Amazon’s worldwide fulfillment network supports millions of businesses of all sizes through its Fulfillment by Amazon offering, and many of those local businesses are based in Canada. There are more than 30,000 authors, small and mediumsized businesses, and developers in Canada growing their companies and reaching new customers with Amazon products and services. To learn more about working at an Amazon fulfillment centre, visit www. amazondelivers.jobs.

and with social gatherings increased to 10 people, we all must continue our efforts to protect each other.

Practice physical distancing, stay two metres apart.

Wear a face covering when physical distancing is a challenge.

Continue to wash hands frequently.

Get tested if you are worried you may have COVID-19, or have been exposed to the virus.

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Page 4 FRIDAY, July 10, 2020

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Gradual re-opening of swimming pools begins this week

Holy heatwave, what a crazy run of stinking humid weather! I know some people love it. I just don’t happen to be one of them. I would enjoy a happy medium where every couple of days cooler air would move in with a nice shower that the farmer’s fields will desperately need. It’s near impossible to keep an eye on the kiddos of all ages but I remind you again that swimming in quarries or jumping off bridges while bring cooling relief are extremely dangerous. Take care everyone, keep your distance, drink lots of water and check in on an older neighbour as you can. Message from Ottawa Public Health (Dr. Vera Etches)

Private gatherings

Gatherings of more than 10 people are legally prohibited by the Province. Should residents have concerns about a gathering taking place at a private residence with more than 10 people present, the concern can be reported to 3-1-1, and By-law and Regulatory Services (BLRS) will follow-up on the complaint.

Restaurants and patios

As many businesses and restaurants are beginning to reopen, the priority continues to be on awareness and education of physical distancing rules. OPH is providing additional guidance to

LET’S TALK

BARRHAVEN by Jan Harder

food premises related to COVID-19 measures during inspections. Should residents have concerns about a restaurant or patio that is offering dine-in options to its customers, they should call 3-1-1 to report their concerns. BLRS will investigate the complaint and enforce as required. OPH Public Health Inspectors will follow-up with additional information and education to help the business become compliant.

Isolation of those arriving/returning to Canada

The Ottawa Police Service is responsible for the enforcement of requests regarding the Quarantine Act upon a traveller’s arrival on Canadian soil. Unless specifically exempted, any person entering Canada must isolate or quarantine (self-isolate) themselves for 14 days and monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Residents who have concerns about travellers not adhering to the Act should file a non-emergency report with the Ottawa Police Service. Message from the City of Ottawa The City is now planning for a phased-ap-

The Minto Rec Swimming Pool in Barrhaven was named one of the top 10 pools in Canada by Chatelaine Magazine.

City of Ottawa photo

proach to opening wading pools and a gradual opening of indoor and outdoor swimming pool facilities – with COVID-19 prevention measures.

Wading pools

Wading pools across the city will open in a phased approach, with the first group of pools opening on July 6 and a second group on July 13, as indicated on ottawa.ca. Wading pool attendants will be present at the pool to provide safety supervision. Admission numbers will be reduced to allow for physical distancing.

Indoor and outdoor swimming pools

The indoor and outdoor swimming pool facilities will open in a phased approach beginning the week of July 6, with additional pools opening the following week and the

remaining pools opening at later dates. The number of swimmers will be significantly reduced for both public and lane swims to ensure physical distancing can be maintained. In order to accommodate as many swimmers as possible, swims will be scheduled in one-hour sessions with fifteen-minute blocks between sessions to allow staff to manage numbers entering and exiting the facility, and to perform additional cleaning. In the initial phase of the pool reopenings, the City recommends that people over the age of 65 and those who are immunocompromised or have underlying health issues do not participate in any swimming program. Message from Ottawa Police Service The Ottawa Police Ser-

vice is happy to announce that we will begin to reopen our buildings to the public in a staggered approach. We are still encouraging people to visit us for services available online at ottawapolice. ca, such as filing a report or applying for a records check (only available at 2670 Queensview). June 29: Front Desk Services at 211 Huntmar Drive and 3343 St. Joseph Blvd. will resume. July 13: Front Desk Services at 474 Elgin Street will resume. Front Desk Services: Take reports on criminal acts including: mischief/damage to property, breaking and entering, and fraud; Redirect reports for sexual assault and domestic abuse to a sworn offi-

cer; Assist clients who are required to attend and sign in to meet conditions of release; and, Take collision reports. Please do not bring evidence or found items to our Front Desks. Instead, call us at 613-236-1222.

2670 Queensview by appointment only— specific visitors ONLY at this time

Our Queensview location will remain closed until a backlog of applications is cleared. There are many people who applied for records checks in the last several weeks that now need to visit our 2670 Queensview location for fingerprints or to provide in-person identification to complete their application already in progress. For more information, visit us at ottawapolice.ca.

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FRIDAY, July 10, 2020 Page 5

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

City working on fenced-in dog run at Beryl Gaffney Park To mask or not to mask may no longer be a question in Ottawa. Our City is among a growing number of municipalities in Ontario that is moving towards making face masks mandatory in indoor public spaces. For those like me, who chooses to wear a mask, the mandatory rule comes as a relief. Mask wearers have been protecting you from possible infection from a virulent disease; now, we will be asking everyone to do their part. We are living in a pandemic. The Coronavirus is unlike anything we have seen before. It kills, and it has shown it will flex its muscle when allowed even a small opportunity. Ottawa is seeing fewer new cases and deaths, but that’s only because so many of us did all the right things. We socially isolated, stayed at home, closed up businesses. We sacrificed. Now that the

Beryl Gaffney Dog Run Park Consultaton

City is slowly opening up and we can’t throw away all of that effort. Face masks work, that’s why Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health is recommending they be mandatory. It won’t be easy or welcomed by some. We’ve had to adjust to many changes since COVID-19 arrived, now this. I am encouraging you to jump on the mandatory facemask team, to be part of the solution that will enable Ottawa to move to the next stage of re-opening. Remember, we are all in this together.

When COVID-19 forced city parks to close this spring, many of you have discovered Beryl Gaffney Park. Its walking trails along the Rideau and Jock Rivers have been busier than at any time in the Park History. While that is wonderful, we are experiencing too many near collisions caused cyclists who seem to think they’re in the Tour de France. Please slow down and share the path with walkers. Increased use also means increased garbage, not just in the cans in the parking lot but along the trails and water edge. I am imploring everyone who walks or bikes the trail to take their garbage home. Leave the area as you would like to find it clean and natural. City Park officials are

now working on a fenced-in DOG RUN at Beryl Gaffney. It will be located on the south side of the parking lot on Rideau Valley Drive. It’s welcome news for dog owners who will be temporarily displaced when David Bartlett Park is closed for construction. The design, which includes a gazebo, picnic tables and interpretive signs will soon be posted on Engage Ottawa on the City’s website. You are invited to comment. Please remember that the Beryl Gaffney Park experience is meant to be different than other city parks. The focus is on its natural beauty and trails. Let’s keep it that way. Watch for information on my ward website too. Carolannemeehan.com

Roundabout Update

After my office raised concerns about the narrow lanes being constructed on

the roundabout at Longfields and Golflinks, City staff conducted a review. Among the findings: The original design criteria were met but are incredibly tight for articulated trucks and other large vehicles, which results in encroachments on curbs, boulevards and signs. However, the report also notes the roundabout was not designed to allow them. The roundabout was also not designed to allow very large vehicles to turn onto Golflinks. Snowploughs can navigate through but must have the side blade in the up position. The review also noted the way construction was staged created traffic challenges, especially for large vehicles. Staff recommend that we complete construction, and post signs to prohibit overdimensional vehicles from turning onto GolfLinks and Stanhope.

Prohibit oversized vehicles from getting permits to travel in the location. While I appreciate staff attention to this issue, I am left questioning why the City of Ottawa is so keen on roundabouts. Inhibiting large vehicle traffic in what will be a construction zone for more than a year is very short-sighted.

Budget Survey

Last week at Council, the City Manager and Treasurer released an update that shows the City is on track to finish the year with a $192 million deficit. The City Manager has asked for input from Councillors on where we may be able to find savings, and I need your help. If you visit my website carolannemeehan.com, you can fill in a short survey which will help me bring some suggestions and community input to the Mayor and City Manager.

Throughout July and August, many City services will resume in new or different ways. Find out how to access services safely at ottawa.ca/reopening

Through its first four weekends, the Barrhaven Farmers’ Market at the Nepean Log Farm, 670 Cedarview Road, is seeing the positive results of the Shop Local trend. Last week, the market had 17 vendors offering everything from strawberries and peas, starter plants for your own garden, all kinds of baked goods and your BBQ supplies from beef, pork lamb and many kinds of sausages and we even had fruit wines to go with it. The large space allows for social distancing and many of the vendors offer a pre-order options and will have your order ready for pickup.

Page 6 FRIDAY, July 10, 2020

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

INDEPENDENT Editorial

Inappropriate conduct triggers chain reaction In the 30 years since we launched the Barrhaven Independent, we have had some difficult and challenging stories to cover. This week, we were presented with a difficult and very delicate story to write involving local public school board trustee Donna Blackburn and the complex accusations of racism she is facing. Our job, as a newspaper, is to lay out facts and present both sides, or in this case many sides, of a story. We do not take sides, but Blackburn has the right to tell her tell her side of the story. Blackburn was out of line for her actions at Neill Nesbitt Park when she was trying to get 17-year-old Styles LePage to leave the basketball court during the pandemic. She is a school board trustee, not a by-law officer. She should have just called by-law and let them deal with the situation, and she should not have made an example of him on Facebook. Styles should have left, but how is he to know that the city had just shut down the park or who Donna Blackburn is? I was Styles’ football coach for years. He is a good kid – a great kid – from a great family. This incident makes him look disrespectful, and in my years on the football field with him, that is the last word I would use to describe him. Should his father have said his son was singled out based on race? Probably not, but put yourself in his shoes. You stand up for your kids. Would you not think and do the same thing? It was the only way his voice could be heard. And let’s bring the school board into this. While many board trustees are polished and professional, Blackburn is a rough-around-the-edges lesbian single mom of an African-American daughter who was sexually abused as a high school student and overcame more obstacles than most of her colleagues could imagine. That doesn’t give her a hall pass or make what she did right – it wasn’t right and she deserved to be reprimanded by the board. But did the political grandstanding by some trustees go too far? The voice of reason in this story came from Richard Sharpe, an advocate for 613-819 Black Hub. He acknowledged that what Blackburn did not intend to be racist, but her actions were. He congratulated the school board and community for standing up against a racist act. We hope our community can move forward, together. Personally, I hope Styles can put this incident behind him and continue to be an exemplary young man. JM

BARRHAVEN

P.O. Box 567 Manotick, Ontario Tel: 613-692-6000 www.barrhavenindependent.on.ca

The Barrhaven Independent is published by Manotick Messenger Inc. biweekly at P.O. Box 567 in Manotick, Ontario. The Barrhaven Independent is not responsible for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts, photos, or other material used for publication purposes. Letters will be edited for length, clarity and libellous statements. Display, National and Classified rates are available on request.

Publisher: Jeff Morris Managing Editor: Jeff Morris Advertising and Marketing: Gary Coulombe Photographer: Greg Newton

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The big Nigerian-Canadian kid at the airport It was a late night at the Pearson Airport in society.” While Iginla did not deal with many onToronto in 1998. My flight from Dallas had been delayed, and I was trying to get a rental ice racial encounters, there were incidents in car to head home to Prescott to see my par- the stands. As a youth playing minor hockey, ents for a day before a round of meetings and there was a situation where the parents from events which included the NHL Awards Night his team had to stand up to parents from another team who were and the NHL Draft. tossing racial slurs at As I sat in the waiting him. Throughout his pro area, there was one other career, there were also a person sitting there. I recog- FROM THE OTHER number of racial taunts nized him. The company I aimed at him in opposworked for, Pinnacle, made ing arenas. NHL hockey cards. I was Jeffrey Morris Iginla said the NHL the hockey brand manager, has taken a lot of steps in so I was used to seeing his 20 years, but there is still face come across my desk more to do to make players aware. He said almost daily. I walked over and introduced myself to the leaders of the game are doing a great job him. We chatted briefly. He was a really nice in stepping up to address anything that is said guy. And over the next decade, I interviewed racially. Like in the NHL, Iginla said one of him a few more times as a writer. Sometimes the most powerful messages during the Black COUNCIL Lives Matter protests is that it’s not just black it was a quick one-on-one. Sometimes it was on a media conference call. Sometimes it was people talking and protesting. CORNER “In Boston, where my family and I are in a scrum. He was always the same as when Mayor Suzanne Dodge I ran into him at the airport. He was just a living, you look in the papers you see white pure, raw, honest guy who always had a smile people and black people together, and you see all races,” he told TSN’s Rishaug. “I on his face. That’s who Jarome Iginla was, and that’s think it’s powerful that everyone is together, and I think that it’s powerful in hockey. You who he is today. And now, more than 20 years after that see Crosby and McDavid – they are speaknight at the airport, Jarome Iginla is headed THE ing NOTup SOalong with Evander Kane and Subban. for the Hockey Hall of Fame. In a time when Together, they can help make a difference NEW GUY the world is standing together to stand against and make the culture more aware and imRuhnke it, and more inviting for black players racism, a feel good story from what some Timprove people call the whitest of sports has emerged. and minorities.” Many in hockey have said that racism in Jarome Iginla, whose father was a lawyer who moved to Canada from Nigeria, was one the sport must be addressed long before playof the six 2020 inductees announced by the ers reach the NHL. Former NHL enforcer Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto Wednesday. Georges Laraque spoke out in Canada last Iginla will become the third black player to month about how racism in minor hockey is be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in still a problem. Laraque was born in MontWALKER HOUSE November. The other two are goalie Grant real and grew up there as the son of Haitian Fuhr, and the first black player in NHL his- immigrants. He and his cousin, Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, both played in the NHL. tory, Willie O’Ree. Susan Vallom Iginla is involved in the game at the grass “When I started playing hockey, Grant Fuhr was my favourite player so I wanted to roots level now, coaching his son’s minor be a goalie,” Iginla told me during an inter- hockey team. His aim is to have his players view while he was with the Flames. “I played embrace the many cultures and races they in goal for my first two years before moving come across at the rink. “We’re not all the same and that’s a great out of the net and becoming a forward.” thing,” Iginla told TSN. “Coaching with my As he prepared for the day he was going BLAKE’S kids, I try to get that message across to the to inducted into the Hall of Fame, Iginla has TAKES kidsMcKim – to be a good team player and to pick been watching the aftermath of the deaths of Blake George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery. He re- each other up. Look for the differences in each flected on racism in an interview with TSN’s other and embrace them and enjoy them.” I think back to the first time I met a young Ryan Rishaug recently. “It’s been very difficult, very hard to Jarome Iginla and chatted with him at Pearson watch,” Iginla said. “The protests are huge. Airport. And I keep coming to the same conclusion. To me they are very, very important and they Jarome Iginla going into the Hockey Hall are very powerful, and I hope they do continue peacefully and the message doesn’t get of Fame is exactly what the world needs right lost and is translated into real change in our now.

SIDE

NEWS

FRIDAY, July 10, 2020 Page 7

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Barrhaven Independent 30 years, 30 people: Rebecca Noelle As we celebrate our 30th Anniversary, the Barrhaven Independent will be featuring 30 people who have played a prominent role in building and shaping our community from the time we were a sleepy little suburb in 1990 to the thriving city of more than 100,000 we are now. In this issue, we are featuring Canadian jazz singer and songwriter Rebecca Noelle. Last month, the girl from Barrhaven who was a 2002 Canadian Idol contestant as Becky Abbott received the Ottawa Arts Council’s Peter Honeywell Mid-Career Artist Award. By Jeff Morris Barrhaven is known for having a strong musical community. It is a community rich with talented people, not only performers, but also studio musicians and producers. One of the first shining stars to rise up through the community and inspire a generation of others to follow is Canadian recording artist Rebecca Noelle. While she was already known locally as a talented vocalist through her high

school years, Becky Abbott burst onto the national scene as a top 30 finalist on Season 2 of Canadian Idol in 2002. That audition was a springboard for her to launch B.A.B.E., the Becky Abbott Blues Ensemble. Born into a musical family, Becky Abbott seemed destined to be a performer from the moment she drew her first breath. Her mother, aunt and grandfather were all singers and musicians and some of Becky’s earliest, and fondest, childhood memories are of rehearsals, auditions, family singalongs and jam sessions. Blessed with a searing three-octave vocal range, Becky has had the privilege and versatility to try almost every musical style she wanted to over the years. As her career progressed, Becky Abbott soon became sultry jazz singer Rebecca Noelle. It’s her natural affinity for jazz

that has set her apart. With a sultry voice that is simply unforgettable, Noelle brings to mind some of the artists of whom she has been influenced by over the years – Etta James, Norah Jones and k.d. Lang. Noelle also has a playful charisma and confidence as she struts around onstage that bring to mind performers like Tina Turner and Prince. Beginning as a pianist, her disciplines have since broadened to include vocal performance, percussion, composition and production. With a foundation in jazz, Rebecca’s sound has evolved from soul to folk to electronic, grazing everything in between. In addition to her solo career, Rebecca has spent years artistically collaborating with pop-art troupe The PepTides, composing and performing for soul bigband The Commotions, and debuting as a producer, singer-songwriter in her electronic duo The Stellasonic. With a career spanning 15 years, she’s shared bills with artists such as B.B. King, Johnny Winter, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Buddy Guy, Norah Jones and Bonnie Raitt. She’s graced stages across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Asia, Europe & even the

Rebecca Noelle inspired a generation of young Barrhaven singers and musicians when she was Canadian Idol Season 2 contestant Becky Abbott. Tina Picard photo

North Pole. At the beginning of her career, Rebecca Noelle was the backing vocalist for Canadian blues vet, David Gogo. After some years as a support musician, Rebecca recorded her debut solo album; “Rebecca Noelle: A Night at Maggie’s” - a classic jazz collaboration with her grandfather and mentor, renowned pianist John Noubarian. As a composer, Rebecca’s first publicized writing stint was a collaboration between her band The PepTides, and Canadian lit-

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erary hero Stuart McLean, on an album for CBC’s The Vinyl Café. Rebecca then went on to write her second solo album: “Soulstice”. After making waves among 3-million viewers as the 1st runner-up on The Voice : Canada, Rebecca was featured as a guest vocalist by The Jacksons on their soldout Canadian tour. That year, she also performed alongside UK’s: Birdy, USA’s: Florida Georgia Line, Canadian hero Patsy Gallant, and French-Canadian Stalwarts Marc Dupre and Roch Voisine. In

2019 Rebecca’s touring circuit broadened to include dates in Africa and the Middle East, entertaining ally troops stationed at various UN outposts. Rebecca is currently recording her 3rd solo album, tours the regional anglophone and francophone festival circuits as a solo act, and hopes to continue entertaining jazz, blues and R&B audiences abroad. In April, Rebecca Noelle was presented with the Ottawa Arts Council’s Peter Honeywell Mid-Career Artist Award.

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Page 8 FRIDAY, July 10, 2020

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Barrhaven Legion dealing with COVID-19 challenges By Charlie Senack. Last week The Royal Canadian Legion said they about 124 of their 1,381 branches across Canada are likely to close permanently this year in the fallout of COVID-19, while another 357 are facing financial hardship. But the Barrhaven Legion says they are thankfully in a better financial situation and can keep operating out of their operational budget until at least September. “We are in very good shape compared to a lot of other legions,” said Stephane Guy, President of Barrhaven Legion, Branch 641. “Before this closure we had collected a lot of money — about five months worth without going into our reserve fund.” If closures go beyond September, the legion will have to use funds which are set aside to build a new legion clubhouse in the future. Guy says while plans are currently on hold, the project is still alive. At this point it’s still unclear when the legion can reopen. It won’t be until indoor dining services can resume and it’s expected that won’t happen in Ontario until the province enters phase three of its recovery plan. Some states in the United States were supposed to enter phase three this week, however have put a hold on reopening due to a sudden jump of coronavirus cases

on that side of the border. Ontario Premier Doug says they are taking a slow approach to ensure cases continue to decrease in the province. Guy says once the legion is able to re-open, they will be ready with safety protocols already in place. “We have put a plexiglass wall over the bar area (and) we already have a map of how we are going to but the tables and chairs to respect social distancing,” he said. “We have a path customers will have to follow to avoid walking past customers.” “We have thought quite a bit about how we are going to reopen and we are ready to go,” Guy adds. But even once legiongoers can sit down to socialize again, events likely won’t be able to take place until a vaccine is found. That means Friday night meals and dart nights will be a thing of the past — at least for now. “Unfortunately the dart league has no way to keep social distancing, so I don’t see it restarting until we have all restrictions lifted,” states Guy. “We were thinking of possibly offering Friday night meals without having the dancing. That is the attraction so we are not sure how that is going to go.” Guy says it’s upsetting to see so many Canadians at risk of closure due to COVID-19. It’s more than a social gathering spot, he

says, adding they do a lot to give back to the community. For the past two years the Barrhaven Legion has donated $100,000 to the community every year. However due to this year’s pandemic, that won’t be happening. The legion is known to be the heart of many communities, and acts as a gathering spot for birthday parties, celebrations, ceremonies and events. It’s also responsible for putting on most Remembrance Day Ceremonies which honour our veterans. “The legions that are closing are also a community hub,” says Guy. “If the legions have to close, the community will suffer because the legions want to be there to help when they need support. It’s going to do something which will affect many people.” Once the Barrhaven Legion opens, Guy says the community can support them by dropping by for a socially distanced visit.

Barrhaven Legion President Stephane Guy said safety protocols will be in place when the Barrhaven Legion reopens. Jeff Morris photo

“As soon as we open everyone is welcome to visit our branch so we cha possibly see some revenue that

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ister Justin Trudeau twice asking for federal support. They have yet to receive a response.

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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Virtual Ceremony installs Barrhaven Lions Club new officers A virtual installation ceremony was held on June 22, 2020 for incoming officers of the Barrhaven Lions Club. Gerry Langevin, who has been an active Lion for over thirty years, was elected as the Club President for 2020-2021. According to incoming Club President Gerry Langevin, “This is going to be a demanding year for the Barrhaven Lions Club. We will implement the task before us and succeed in helping our community”. The other members of the 2020-2021 Executive are Ameet Bhalla as the new Club Secretary, and Karen Doyle as Club Treasurer. The Barrhaven Lions Club encourages those who are looking to help to

Like us on Facebook Barrhaven Independent Follow us on Twitter @BarrhavenIndy Listen to our podcast on SoundCloud Barrhaven Independent BARRHAVEN Gerry Langevin will be the Barrhaven Lions Club President for 2020-21.

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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Community rallies to support mom paralyzed from stroke GoFundMe page set up to support family of 35-year-old Sophie Leblond Robert

By Charlie Senack A 35-year-old Barrhaven mom is fighting to regain mobility after suffering a debilitating stroke on June 15. Now complete strangers in the community are rallying together to help her family. When Sophie Leblond Robert suffered from a stroke in mid-June, friends of the family say they weren’t sure if she’d make it. She was paralyzed from the neck down. The mom of two has since been diagnosed with Locked-In Syndrome — a condition which means she’s aware of her surroundings but cannot move or communicate because the muscles in her body are paralyzed. An MRI showed she has serious damage at the

brain stem — which is at the back of the brain — a sign she may never fully recover. However in recent days she’s showing strong progress. In a statement sent to CTV Ottawa, her husband Martin Robert said “We’re waiting on new MRI results … but only time and her willingness to fight will tell how things go in the future.” Francine Boily told the Independent she’s been a friend of the family for the past six years after she began looking after Leblond Robert’s two young girls. The two instantly clicked and became like sisters. Boily said a day after Leblond Robert suffered from the stroke, they were preparing for the worst with the possibility of the young Barrhaven mom not recovering.

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“Her mom was kind enough to FaceTime with her a day after the incident happened and it was initially to say goodbye and that was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” said Boily. But 24 hours later things started looking up. Boily said it started with Leblond Robert’s showing movement in her facial features, including moving the intubation tube with her tongue. “All of a sudden she was getting motion in her foot and she was able to squeeze a hand,” she said. “She’s weeks ahead of what the doctors said might not be a positive recovery.” The road will still be long and there are many more hurdles ahead.

support

continues on page 11

Barrhaven mom Sophie Leblond Robert, 35, suffered a stroke that paralyzed her from the neck down. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with their medical needs and challenges.

FRIDAY, July 10, 2020 Page 11

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT support continues from page 10 Less than a week after the incident occurred, Boily decided to set up a GoFundMe page for her friend. Leblond Robert’s was the breadwinner in the family, she said, and bills still need to be paid. “She will most likely be in a wheelchair for a long time so they will need to do some renovations to the house like ramps before she can come home,” states Boily. “She won’t be able to go upstairs anymore so they will have to create a bedroom in their dining room for her. It’s also going to help pay for any medical stuff and to pay for day-

to-day bills.” Since being launched only two weeks ago, the GoFundMe page has already raised over $81,500 — $20,000 of which was donated by Leblond Robert’s employer. “We never thought it would get that high,” she said. “When I made the goal of $250,000 I thought why not shoot for the stars and it looks like we are going there.” Boily says she strongly believes the thoughts and prayers coming from complete strangers is what’s helping with the recovery, calling it nothing short of a miracle.

“Sophie always used to love these kinds of heartfelt stories and she was always the first to donate,” Boily says. “The fact that complete strangers are doing the same for her is just absolutely beautiful. It’s really been heartfelt to see how a community has come together to help somebody’s family.” If you want to donate to the Leblond Robert family, you can find the GoFundMe page under “Sophie LeBond Robert Fundraiser” on the GoFundMe website. A link is also posted on the Barrhaven Independent Facebook Page.

Martin Robert said that time and Sophie’s willingness to fight will determine what lies ahead for the young family.

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2020-06-10 11:35 AM

Page 12 FRIDAY, July 10, 2020

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Classic Car Show visits seniors homes on Canada Day By Charlie Senack

This year July 1st seemed like just another day on the calendar with all Canada Day celebrations cancelled due to

COVID-19. But organizers of the Barrhaven Classic Car Show and Canada Day in Barrhaven wanted to find a way to bring some joy to a group which has been

hit hardest by the pandemic. A drive-by classic car show was organized which drove by all six retirement and long-term care homes in the com-

munity. The group of about 20 cars started at Viva Retirement Home before ending at Carleton Lodge. They also made stops at Barrhaven Manor,

Longfields Manor, The Court of Barrhaven, and Prince of Wales Manor. “We wanted to do something for July first because nothing was really happening — but also

at the same time do something for the elderly and let them remember the good ole days when they had cars like this driving around,” said Keith Goebel, organizer of the Barrhaven Classic Car show. “The seniors seemed to be waving and smiling as we drove by — asking us to slow down because they really wanted to check out the cars,” echoed Darrell Bartraw, president of Canada Day in Barrhaven celebrations. “It was an excellent thing and all six seniors’ homes in Barrhaven took part. We were happy to map out a router to go to each of them in the hour we allotted for it.” Goebel said they had big plans for the annual Classic Car Show which was supposed to take over Clarke Fields on August 16. Also this year, a new British Car show was supposed to take place in Barrhaven a month earlier. “That would have been fantastic — especially for Barrhaven to have two car shows in the same year,” he states. “Because of the virus, grouping together was not allowed so we had to cancel both car shows.”

Car show

continues on page 13

FRIDAY, July 10, 2020 Page 13

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT car show continues from page 12 But that is when the idea for this new event was born. Goebel said he couldn’t picture himself sitting at home on Canada’s 153rd birthday. He also wanted to do something for the seniors who have been in isolation for months. “Everyone brought their old cars out and enjoyed the day instead of sitting at home in the garage,” states Goebel. “Just enjoying it I think was the biggest thing for all of us while cruising around.” This was also the year Canada Day in Barrhaven was supposed to celebrate their 40th anniversary. The event has grown in

size in recent years, with new activities and games added every year. Last year new security measures also had to be implemented after a group of teenagers caused havoc at the event in 2018, lighting fireworks in the crowd. Police had to intervene and a number of people were pepper sprayed and arrested. Some equipment from Ottawa Special Events was also stolen. The same safety measures would have been implemented this year and the day was supposed to include a midway, musical performances, a kid zone and a family breakfast in the morning.

Organizer Darrell Bartraw said it was a weird feeling not spending the day at the park. “It’s been very weird but it’s been a weird year,” he said. “Every year I live at Clarke Fields in a trailer for a week and it all comes down to today. It’s sad that we are not having the event but we have to put safety first and because of the pandemic we are going through, it was a smart move.” Plans are already underway for Canada Day celebrations next year. A total of eight events have been cancelled in Barrhaven this summer, but Bartraw is optimis-

tic the annual Barrhaven Santa Claus Parade can take place in November and the Santa Claus breakfast in December. If possible, he also plans to hold an event at Larkin Park this fall as a way to come together as a community. The free community event would feature a breakfast and lunch with games and music. With Canada Day festivities cancelled, it also meant firework shows were cancelled as well. However the sounds of crackling and popping could be heard in the community throughout the night. A group of neighbours

in Old Barrhaven decided to put on their own firework display at Nesbit Park. Nearby residents

came to watch the show while they socially distanced themselves from one another.

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Page 14 FRIDAY, July 10, 2020

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Blackburn says she will not resign as school board trustee ‘If they think destroying my life is good for children, they are sadly mistaken’

By Jeff Morris

Donna Blackburn says she will not resign as the Barrhaven-KnoxdaleMerivale Trustee of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. Last Monday, the Board asked for Blackburn’s resignation for what was described as an “act of antiBlack racism.” The Board also voted unanimously to bar Blackburn from attending ize_Faded 7/1/20 one 11:25meeting AM Page and 1 sitting on any board committees for six months. It is the most severe penalty a board is allowed to impose on a trustee under their code of conduct. The incident in question happened on March 27 at Neill Nesbitt Park on Foxfield Drive in Barrhaven. The city had just announced that playgrounds and parks were off limits to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Blackburn saw from the window of her house that youths were playing basketball, and she went to the park to inform them the park was off limits due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I looked out my window and I saw five or six kids playing basketball in the park,” Blackburn told the Independent. “I went over and I very politely

told them that the park was shut down because of the pandemic and they were not allowed to play basketball. I had also called the Imam on my cell phone to have him ask two boys to leave the park before bylaw arrived so they would not be fined.” One of the boys, 17-year-old Styles LePage, would not leave. A longtime Nepean Eagles football player, LePage had gone to the park by himself to shoot baskets. Blackburn posted a picture of LePage playing basketball at the park on social media and wrote “Apparently I have another title Park Patrol. This kid has been playing for over an hour and won’t leave. I have called by-law and will stand here until they come. I will follow the kid home if I have to. See why you elected me Trustee, I never give up. I will keep my community safe and this kid needs to learn to follow the rules!!” During her exchange with LePage, she told him that if he didn’t follow the rules, he would end up at Innes Road, which meant the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre. Following the incident, LePage’s father, Matthew Kedroe, reacted to Blackburn’s post by implying in

his own social media post that his son was singled out at the park because he was black. “You decided to approach, take unsolicited pictures and speak with my son. Leaving others to walk their dogs, play soccer and play at the park,” Kedroe posted. “I wonder why you might have singled him out? Was it because he was all alone or was it because he was … “ In an April 1 CBC story, Kedroe was asked if he felt Blackburn’s motivations were racially motivated. “Do you believe they were racially motivated?” he replied. “There’s proof that were other people at this park. There were definitely folks walking their dogs, etc. She had no mind for all of them. She specifically singled out one kid and posted his information online without care.” Blackburn, who is the mother of an AfricanAmerican daughter and also a member of the LGBTQ+ community, said that at the end of her confrontation with LePage, she was too frustrated to talk to the two youths playing catch by the softball diamond and figured by-law officers would deal with them when they arrived.

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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT blackburn continues from page 14 “There were two kids playing catch,” she said. “I can’t see the soccer field from my house and I couldn’t see the soccer field from where I was standing because of the big hill, so I have no idea what was going on over there.” The incident led to an investigation, conducted by lawyer and investigator Zaheer Lakhani. After his investigation, Lakhani told the board that, based on the evidence, he did not believe LePage was targeted or singled out based on his race. He told the board, however, that the “comments and actions that were directed to him meet the definition of racial insensitivity,” in reference to the comment about Innes Road. Lakhani also said it was reasonable that LePage did not know the parks were closed, as the city had made the announcement of the closures the same day the incident happened. Blackburn has been the local public school trustee since 2010. While she did admit that the situation at Nesbitt Park should have been handled differently, she said being labelled as a racist in the community is inaccurate, and has taken a hard toll on her. She has been and still is being smeared and targeted on social media as a racist.

“What really hurts about this is that I am the mother of an African-American daughter,” Blackburn said. “I raised her and was fully aware of all the difficulties and challenges and obstacles she faced growing up. People who are attacking me have no idea who I am and they don’t know me.” Blackburn said that on Tuesday, the morning after the school board meeting dealing with her situation, she was outside talking to a neighbour when she was approached by a woman holding that day’s newspaper. “Another neighbour came over with a copy of the paper in her hand and started calling me a racist,” she said. “This is the type of thing I am dealing with.” Trustee Christine Boothby called Blackburn’s actions a “terrible stain on the OCDSB” and made the complaint which led to the code of conduct investigation into the incident. According to the Ottawa Citizen story on the incident, Trustee Justine Bell proposed an amendment that was adopted to add the phrase “and engaged in antiBlack racism” to the motion that condemned Blackburn for “behaviour which was disrespectful which was disrespectful to the individuals directly involved,

disrespectful to the Black community as a whole, and which used language which is known to be offensive.” Bell added that “the fact that we don’t have the ability to ask someone who has committed an act of racism to step down is in fact upholding the systemic racism that we seek to dismantle.” Blackburn pointed out that when Bell, a former NDP candidate in Vancouver, was elected to the board to replace Erica Braunovan as the Kitchissippi-Somerset Ward 10 Trustee, she voted for Debbie OwusuAkyeeah, a black woman, for the position. “I encouraged a black woman to run for the open trustee position and I voted for her,” Blackburn said, adding she encouraged her to run in the next municipal election. “And yet the board passed a motion calling me a racist. The board was under a lot of pressure to make an example of me. But in reality, I have done more in my lifetime for equity than all of those people on that board put together. “If they think destroying my life is good for children, they are sadly mistaken.” Blackburn said she will appeal the decision made by her colleagues on the board. “I will appeal this, I will run again, and I will win,” she said. “The people in

Barrhaven whom I represent know me and the work I have done in the community and what I stand for. Those are the people I represent and who vote for me.” In a CBC story posted on Canada Day, 613-819 Black Hub advocacy group member Richard Sharpe commented that the board was right in standing together to condemn Blackburn’s actions. “I think it was very brave of the trustees to state it in that was because… even though Blackburn did not intend to be racist, through her actions and her statements, the impact of her actions were,” Sharpe told CBC. “I actually think it was a great moment for the school board. They came together and they made the right decision for the community – the community that cried out against this racist act.” The CBC article also said that, according to Blackburn’s lawyer, Brenda Hollingsworth, a notice of libel was sent to Kendroe for posts he made on social media including the claim that Blackburn is racist. Lawrence Greenspon, who represents LePage and his family, told CBC: “In light of the decision of the school board characterizing and sanctioning the conduct

Blackburn admitted that it was inappropriate to single out local 17-year-old athlete Styles LePage on Facebook. An investigation found comments she made to him during their confrontation to be racially insensitive.

of trustee Blackburn, and the damage done to this young person and his family, I trust that the legal action will be discontinued.” Blackburn did not comment on the notice of libel when interviewed by the Independent, but did add regret about how she handled the incident.

“I really wish I would have handled the situation differently,” she said. “I made a mistake. We all make mistakes. But it doesn’t mean I should lose my job, and it does not mean I am a racist. I really regret my actions and am very sorry for what I posted and how I handled this.”

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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

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