Barrhaven Independent March 15, 2024

A makeshift memorial at

rhaven is the worst mass killing incident in Ottawa history, and left residents of Barrhaven in shock.

Early, wet spring bad for flooding but good for maple syrup

We are usually coming out of a deep freeze this time of year, but we got an early start on spring after a mild winter.

Although the weather has been mild, it has also been wet over the past few weeks. For farmers or for those of you who live near the Rideau River or any of its tributaries like the Jock River, the potential of flooding is something we keep a close eye on.

For up-to-date information on flood waters in the area, visit www.rvca. ca.

Governments

Helping Boost

Production of Ontario Maple Syrup

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing more than $1 million through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to support the productivity and growth of businesses in the province’s maple syrup sector.

The Maple Production Improvement Initiative is supporting 77 maple syrup producers

with cost-shared funding to support a range of activities to enhance their operations. The initiative supports the purchase and installation of upgraded equipment for eligible syrup producers, that will increase productivity, efficiency and growth, such as reverse osmosis or remote monitoring systems. It also provides funding to cover a portion of woodlot management activities, including tree marking and the development of a forest plan, to assist the operation of eligible businesses.

This initiative was developed following discussions with sector businesses. It builds on other actions the government has taken to support the overall growth of the agriculture and food industry, such as recent investments of up to $12 million through the Grow Ontario Market Initiative, up to $25 million through

the Agri-tech Innovation Initiative and more than $68 million through the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Initiative.

Sustainable CAP is a $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri-food and agribased products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/ territorially for programs designed and delivered by the provinces and territories.

The Ontario government calculations suggest over 1,000 jobs and close to $42 million in gross domestic product (GDP) were attributed to the maple industry value chain (farm, processing and retail), in 2022. Ontario is Canada’s thirdlargest maple syrup producing province, behind Quebec and New Brunswick. In 2022, it produced 4.5 per cent of Canada’s maple syrup or about 2.68

million litres of syrup.

Maple Weekend is April 6-7, in Ontario. Consider visiting a participating maple producer to check out the festivities.

Ontario Investing

Nearly $1.3 Billion to Stabilize Colleges and Universities

The Ontario government introduced a suite of measures to stabilize the province’s colleges and universities, including nearly $1.3 billion in new funding, while maintaining the tuition fee freeze to keep costs down for Ontario students and parents. The province is also introducing legislation that would, if passed, support student mental health, safe and inclusive campuses and allow for increased transparency of fees. This suite of measures also includes initiatives that will help connect students to rewarding careers to help build Ontario’s skilled workforce.

To support students and their families, Ontario is extending the tuition fee freeze for publicly assisted colleges and universi-

ties for at least three more years. Institutions will be able to increase tuition by up to five per cent for out-of-province domestic students. At the time the freeze was first introduced and accompanied by a 10 per cent reduction in fees, Ontario had the highest university tuition rates in the country. Since then, students and parents have saved an estimated $1,600 per year on average for university and an estimated $350 per year on average for college, compared to what they would have paid under the previous policy that allowed three per cent increases each year.

To stabilize postsecondary institutions, the Ontario government is investing nearly $1.3 billion over three years, including:

- $903 million over three years through the new Postsecondary Education Sustainability Fund starting in 2024-25, including $203 million in funding for top-ups for institutions with greater financial need.

- $167.4 million over three years in additional

funding for capital repairs and equipment.

- $10 million in additional one-time funding through the Small, Northern and Rural Grant for colleges and Northern Ontario Grant for Universities in 2024-25. This funding will support financially vulnerable institutions while the government works with them on efficiency initiatives.

- $15 million over three years beginning in 202425 through the Efficiency and Accountability Fund to support third-party reviews that will identify actions institutions can take to drive long-term cost savings and positive outcomes for students and communities. These reviews will target structural issues as well as operational policies in order to improve sustainability and student experiences.

- $100 million in 202324 to support STEM program costs at publicly assisted colleges and universities with enrolments above currently funded levels.

goldie continues from page 2

- $65.4 million to support research and innovation, including $47.4 million for the infrastructure refresh of Ontario’s Advanced Research Computing systems and $18 million for their ongoing operations and maintenance.

- $23 million to enhance mental health supports, including $8 million for the Postsecondary Mental Health Action Plan over the three years.

The province is also introducing the Strengthening Accountability and Student Supports Act, 2024 that would, if passed, authorize the Minister to issue directives requiring colleges and universities to provide information about ancillary fees and other students costs, including costs for textbooks or other learning materials. This could include ensuring that fees are published by institutions in a consistent manner – for instance, by pub-

lishing costs in a course syllabus.

In order to provide additional transparency as it relates to tuition, the province will also engage with colleges and universities to create tuition fee transparency to help students and their families better understand how tuition fees are used.

The Strengthening Accountability and Student Supports Act, 2024 would also, if passed, require colleges and universities to have policies in place relating to mental health and wellness supports and services and require colleges and universities to have policies in place to combat racism and hate, including but not limited to antisemitism and Islamophobia.

The province is also introducing measures to protect students and improve the integrity of career colleges. The province will better integrate enforcement ef-

forts across ministries to strengthen oversight of career colleges and will ensure timely responses to concerns and complaints by improving data management, documentation processes and the efficacy of compliance investigations. As recommended by the blue-ribbon panel, the government will be working with colleges and universities to establish certain core competencies for board members, including financial literacy and risk management.

To help more students find jobs, the province intends to allow colleges to offer applied masters degrees in areas of study that will help students graduate with in-demand skills, expertise and credentials. This approach will also provide employers access to more industry-ready employees that meet labour market needs in specialized fields such as advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence

and animation.

The province will also launch a career portal to help students understand labour market needs and make informed decisions on postsecondary education. This will consolidate various sources of information to help students and newcomers access education and careers in Ontario.

With these investments and suite of measures, Ontario is taking a responsible approach to allow flexibility amid a challenging financial climate, while protecting students and parents from the additional costs.

Quick Facts

- In addition to the tuition freeze for domestic

BARRHAVEN

stitutions will have the flexibility to increase tuition fees for domestic out-of-province students by no more than five per cent in 2024-25.

- Given the federal government’s introduction of a hard cap on the number of international students allowed in Canada, the province is working closely with the postsecondary sector to achieve a fair allocation of the available study permits.

- The government is continuing to evaluate the blue-ribbon panel’s advice and is working with postsecondary sector partners to create the right conditions to help students access and succeed in postsecondary education.

- In 2023-24, Ontario invested $32.6 million in

mental health supports for postsecondary students. These funds help bolster mental health supports at institutions by supporting a range of initiatives, including the Mental Health Services Grant, Mental Health Worker Grant and the Indigenous Institutes Mental Health Grant.

Office Notice: My office is open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm. If you require assistance on any matter, please contact me at any time. My staff and I will be happy to assist. Even if it’s not a provincial issue, I’ll make sure to connect you with the proper office.

Goldie Your voice at www.barrhavenindependent.ca

A layer of innocence in our community has been peeled away by one of the most horrific mass killings in Canadian history.

A typically quiet Barrhaven street was the scene of Ottawa’s worst mass killing in recent history. On March 7, the bodies of six Sri Lankan newcomers to Canada were pulled out of a home on Berrigan Drive.

Ottawa Police received two calls shortly before 11:00 p.m. on March 6 reporting a “suspicious incident”. Neighbors reported a man could be heard yelling for help outside. Upon arrival, the lifeless bodies of four children and two adults were discovered inside the home by horrified members of the Ottawa

allegedly carried out by 19-year-old Ferbio DeZoysa, a Sri Lankan foreign exchange student who was staying with the family. He was arrested on scene without altercation and has been charged with six counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs said the incident has left the community in shock and sadness. Investigators don’t believe the homicide involved intimate partner violence.

“This was the largest murder in Ottawa’s history in recent memory,” he said. “This was a senseless act of violence perpetrated on innocent people.”

While the incident was first labeled as a mass shooting, those reports turned out to be false.

A recent family photo shows the family at a birthday party.

the father, left, survived the March 6 late night attack.

KILLING SPREE continues from page 4

“Our deepest sympathies and sincerest condolences go to the families and loved ones of the victims during this incredibly challenging time,” Nicoletti wrote in a statement. “We cannot imagine the pain and sorrow they must be experiencing.”

The board said grief counselors and crisis support teams would be on hand for students.

Shocking violence

Soon after news of the brutal killings started to circulate, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe wrote on the platform X, formally known as Twitter, that he was devastated and shocked to learn about one of “the most shocking incidents of violence in our city’s history.”

Speaking at a police press conference, Sutcliffe reiterated there is no further threat to public safety.

“It’s particularly troubling for me as a parent to hear of the loss of four children at very young ages. It’s very difficult to think about; very difficult to process,” he said. “When I say that Barrhaven is a wonderful and rapidly growing community full of warm and welcoming families and neighbors, it’s hard to believe something like this could happen there or anywhere else in our city.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also chimed in and said his first reactions were of “shock and sadness.”

“We are expecting that the

community reaches out to support family and friends as Canadians always do,” said Trudeau.

While Ottawa is no stranger to homicides, the magnitude of this one is unmatched to any ever reported before. In early September, two people were killed during a shooting at a wedding being held at the Infinity Convention Centre in the city’s south end. Nearby in December 2016, two sisters were stabbed and killed at their residence on McCarthy Road. Ottawa was also home to Canada’s second-ever school shooting when then 18-year-old Robert Poulin shot up his class at St. Pius X High School. Including himself, three people were killed.

In Barrhaven, the community reeled over the death of 18-year-old Jennifer Teague, who was raped and murdered by Kevin Davis in September 2005. In 2010, Barrhaven teen Michael Swan was killed, execution style, at the home he and friends were renting on Moodie Drive near the Trail Road waste facility. Then in January 2015, Jagtar Gill was found murdered. Former Barrhaven lovers, neighbours, and OC Transpo drivers, Bhupinderpal Gill and Gurpreet Ronald, were found guilty for her death. And in November 2021, 64-year-old Linda Frederick was murdered by her son Conor Donnelly. Former Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly called it

a “house of horrors” at the time.

In this case, Berrigan Drive residents said incidents like this only take place in the movies; they never expected to experience it in their sleepy suburb. They learned of the dark acts which occurred inside the home as dawn broke.

Neighbours who the Barrhaven Independent spoke with said they didn’t know the family, but always called

it a safe neighborhood “where you could leave your doors unlocked.” One resident said she saw the police cars speeding to the scene and officers running down the street.

At 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, less than 24 hours after the killings, an echo of silence spread though Palmadeo Park as the community gath-

ered for a vigil to honor the lives lost. Over 100 people, many of them children, placed flowers, stuffed animals and a raddle on a picnic table with a message reading “our hearts are shattered.”

A separate vigil was scheduled for the local politicians and the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka on Saturday. At Queen’s Park, a

moment of silence was held. Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod shared her condolences on the platform X.

“My community has woken up to shock, grief and tragedy today,” said MacLeod. “There are no words for the heartbreak me and my neighbours feel for the surviving family, friends and playmates of the deceased.”

Berrigan Drive residents woke up to see a crime scene at a usually quiet townhouse

Candles were lit the evening of March 7 for the victims at Palmadeo Park, near the home. Charlie SenaC k P h oto S

o ttawa Police were at the Berrigan Drive home minutes after receiving the 9-1-1 call. they walked into one of the most horrific scenes in Canadian history.

INDEPENDENT EDITorIal

Tragedy always brings out the best in Barrhaven

Here we are again.

We are back to that dark place of shock after a horrific tragedy. We are left asking questions, and looking for answers that either don’t exist or are not good enough.

The day of Wed., March 6 was filled with record warmth and sunshine. Shockingly, the day turned into the darkest, coldest night Barrhaven has ever seen.

Over the last 20 years, the tragedies that this community has absorbed is inconceivable.

We go back to September 2004, when Jennifer Teague was abducted and murdered after working her shift at Wendy’s. The teenage girl took a bus to a convenience store at Jockvale and Tartan and met her friends for a late night dart before walking home along a path to her home on Kennevale. She was abducted and eventually killed.

Michael Swan, a popular kid with an infectious smile, was executed in his home in 2010. A friend of his helped set the robbery up, knowing that Swan, a former Double-A hockey player, had some cash and a bag of weed in the house he was renting with friends. Swan did not co-operate with the robbers. He was shot and killed.

In 2015, the community was again horrified when Jagtar Gill was violently killed in her home while she rested on the family couch recovering from abdominal surgery. Gill’s husband, Bhupinderpal Gill, and his alleged lover, Gurpreet Ronald, were both charged with murder. The court found that Gill and Ronald, both OC Transpo employers, planned the killing.

In 2021, Conor Donnelly was charged with killing his mother, Linda Frederick, in Barrhaven.

In between the murders, there were tragic accidents. St. Mother Teresa student Cisco Williams was killed in a street racing crash on Beatrice Drive just hours after writing his last high school exam. Eric Leighton died in an explosion in shop class at St. Mother Teresa High School. In 2013, an OC Transpo bus and a VIA train crashed in Barrhaven, leaving six dead.

Those are some of the fatal accidents the community has mourned through. There have been several more. We mourned them all.

The name Wickramasinghe will forever be remembered in our community. We need to ask ourselves, what will that name mean to us?

The name Wickramasinghe should remind us to hug your kids, and hug your spouse. Dhashuni Wickramasinghe lost his wife and four children, as well as a close friend in the attack. He will have physical scars from surviving the attack, but the emotional scars will never heal. He would give anything to jug his family just one more time.

Although we may not know him, now is the time for us to step up in the community and show love and compassion to a neighbour who has lost everything important in his life.

It’s what communities do, especially Barrhaven.

BARRHAVEN

5567 Manotick Main St., P.O. Box 567, Manotick, Ontario K4M 1A5

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Staff/Contributors: Gary Coulombe, Larry Ellis, Skyler Fraser, Goldie Ghamari, Wilson Lo, Jeffrey Morris, Greg Newton.

Why did they take so long?

I remember where I was when man walked on the moon.

I remember where I was when Paul Henderson scored.

I remember where I was when I heard that Elvis died, and when John Lennon was shot and killed.

from the other side

Using Mandigo’s techniques, McDonald’s developed the McRib patty using small flakes of pork shoulder meat.

The Barrhaven Independent is published every other FRIDAY in Manotick, Ontario. Letters will be edited for length, clarity and libellous statements. Display rates are available on request. The Barrhaven Independent is not responsible for the loss of

I remember where I was when I heard the McRib was coming back.

I was watching TV and I saw the commercial. As soon as the narrator said “the four greatest words in the English language”, I knew what he was talking abut.

The. McRib. Is. Back.

Yes, the McRib came back for a limited time. I stopped what I was doing, staring at the huge McRib on my giant screen in some sort of Pavlov’s Dog-like trans. I salivated. On cue, my stomach growled.

‘I have to get one,’ I thought. ‘I’ve got to drive to McDonald’s. It’s 12 minutes away, and it’s in Walmart. That’s not far. It might be my last one ever. What am I thinking? I’m hungry. I’m getting two.’

I got to McDonald’s, ordered on the big giant employee-replacing tablet, and waited anxiously like a kid at the front of the line at the mall when Santa decides to take a pee break just before it’s his turn.

But a McRib. This was better than Christmas. This is the sandwich that I grew to love through my teenage years and beyond. It was perfect. As I would say when I was at Carleton, it was sandwich adroitness bordering on superfluity. I spent a lot of money to go to school there just to learn words like that. If only I knew then that I would only use expensive words when the McRib was back.

The McRib was developed by McDonald’s executive chef Rene Arend in 1981. He is from Luxembourg. Arend also invented the Chicken McNugget. He may be the most influencial creator in quick service restaurant history.

Chicken McNuggets became so popular that other QSR chains quickly rolled out their own versions. As a result, there was a chicken shortage in the food supply chain. The McRib was an alternative. Arend said the sandwich would have been cheaper and easier to produce if it was a round patty on a hamburger bun. But he is an executive chef. He wanted the McRib patty to look like a rack of ribs on a bun. It even had ridges. I wonder if anyone ever thought they would think there were bones in the sandwich and that they would chip their teeth? I guess when people say, ‘there is no such thing as a stupid question,’ we just blew up that theory.

The McRib patty is made from restructured ground pork shoulder. Meat restructuring was a process developed by the US Army to deliver low-cost meet to its troops in the field. The process was not patented, and McDonald’s used the work of meat scientist Roger Mandigo, who had been funded by the National Pork Producers Council.

The McRib has come and gone, and come and gone again. Rarely does it appear in Canada. We waited for a decade. When it goes away, I don’t think I can wait another decade.

They make Shamrock

Shakes an annual thing.

Why can’t they make the McRib an annual thing?

After my McRib sandwiches, I went back home. When I got in the car, I adjusted the mirror. I noticed I had McRib sauce smeared all over my face. I looked at my hands. They were covered in McRib sauce. It was under my finger nails. It was on my wrists. It was everywhere.

I was at Walmart. Why didn’t I get a shower curtain and rubber boots to wear while I was eating?

I took a deep breath through my nose. I may have had McRib sauce up my nose too.

‘I’m basically wearing McRib cologne,’ I thought to myself. ‘Why don’t they have that? What if Old Spice made McRib Body Wash?

That one was absolutely not a stupid question.

When I got home, I knew what I was in for.

“Look at yourself!” the Diva said, in disbelief yet not in disbelief. “Seriously. Just lookatcha. Of course you would come home covered with McRib sauce. I will do a laundry, and I want you to go have a shower because you’re not going to bed smelling like a McRib.”

So much for the cologne idea.

As I was in the shower, my mind wandered. Why don’t they call it Canadian rib like they call the ham on an Egg McMuffin Canadian bacon? More people would want it.

I thought to myself some more. My favourite food at McDonald’s, besides the McRib, is the McGriddle breakfast sandwich.

Has anyone at McDonald’s ever thought how incredible it would be to have little round McRib patties smeared in McRib sauce and put them in a maple McGridlle sandwich bun?

That would be incredible.

In the meantime, I will be at Home Depot looking at freezers.

“Blah blah blah,” the salesman will say.

“That’s nice,” I would reply. “So how many frozen McRib sandwiches will it hold?”

Unfortunately, the McRib promotion is over. I am heartbroken. I never did get my freezer full of sandwiches. When will it be back? I can’t deal with this. Why did they take it away from me?

Those cruel McBastards.

By the way, did you hear that Tim’s brought back the blueberry fritter?!?

Barrhaven killer had no issues with family before stabbing, says local monk

By Charlie SenaCk

The man arrested after Ottawa’s worst massacre ever reportedly dropped out of college and had thoughts of suicide, says an Ottawa monk who knew the family.

In an interview with the Canadian Press, Bhante Suneetha said he visited with the surviving father in hospital Thursday afternoon, just hours after the incident occurred.

Dhanushka Wickramasinghe was taken to hospital in stable condition, but his family wasn’t so lucky.

On Wednesday night, six bodies were found. They included: wife and mother Darshani Ekanyake, 35, their seven-year-old son, Inuka Wickramasinghe, and three daughters: Ashwini, 4, Rinyana, 2, and Kelly, aged two-and-a-half months. Forty-year-old Amarakoo-

nmubiayansela Ge Gemini Amarakoon, an acquaintance of the family, was also stabbed to death.

Ottawa Police have charged 19-year-old Febrio De-Zoysa, for the alleged murders.

The local monk said De-Zoysa moved into the family’s basement a month or two ago. All seemed normal and they threw a birthday party for the Sri Lankan native just days before the killing spree. Balloons were seen in the Berrigan Drive home’s backyard as police searched the property.

Algonquin College has confirmed that De-Zoysa was an international student in one of their programs. He was last enrolled during the winter 2023 semester.

In a statement, Claude Brulé, the president of Algonquin College, said they were mourning alongside the

community.

“This news is shocking to us all, and is a tragic loss to our city and community,” Brulé wrote. “Let us honour the memory of the two adults and four children who lost their lives, as well as share our deepest sympathies to the surviving family, friends, and loved ones.”

Piecing the puzzle together

Ottawa Police are continuing to remain tight-lipped about what happened inside the cookie-cutter townhouse on Berrigan Drive, saying they are still piecing together what happened. But the Canadian Press has reported the father came home from a cleaning job when the incident occurred.

It’s unclear if his family were already killed by that point or not. Suneetha said Wickramasinghe resisted

and asked if his wife and children were hurt, to which the accused killer allegedly said ‘no’.

Police did confirm the father could be heard screaming outside for help, which was corroborated by neighbours who said they heard chanting just before 11:00 p.m. that night. Splatters of blood could be seen on the door of the neighbouring home and surrounding sidewalk. It was cleared by City of Ottawa crews Thursday evening.

killer continues on page 11

Febrio De-Zoysa, a foreign student from Sri Lanka who came to Ottawa to go to Algonquin College, was arrested by Ottawa Police after six people, including four small children, were found dead.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Sometimes

The Editor,

Once again, letter writer extraordinaire Andy Braid has racked his brain to come up with a spin to criticize any and all things and people Conservative.

Sometimes, his hammer hits the nail. In the last issue, however, his hammer missed the nail completely and whacked his thumb.

We all agree that Ontario’s family doctor shortage is in a critical state. There are 2.3 million Ontarians without a family doctor, and Mr. Braid references an Ontario Medical Association report that indicates that the number of people without a family doctor is expected to double

Braid hits the nail, but in his last letter he hit his thumb

over the next two years.

What Mr. Braid neglected to mention was that the family doctor crisis hit us hard during the McGuintyLiberal Government era, and continued through the Wynne-Liberal Government era. The Ford-Progressive Conservative inherited the mess, so it’s not like this is something that the current government created.

The family doctor crisis is also not just an Ontario problem. It is a problem that is plaguing every single province in the Dominion, including – gasp – provinces not under the tyranny of a Conservative Government.

Another conveniently

omitted fact involves the record level of immigrants and refugees being absorbed by Canada, and more specifically, Ontario. The latest figures estimate that 700,000 people landed in Ontario from other countries last year.

I think we can all agree on that adding that many people, most of whom end up in the GTA, is not realistic. I’m no math genius, but I would estimate that putting 700,000 immigrants and refugees in Ontario would increase the number of Ontarians without a family doctor by approximately 700,000 people.

Where Mr. Braid goes off the rails of common sense, however, is his criticism of

Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari and the Progressive Conservatives for some of the positive things they are doing in other areas. The Progressive Conservative Government has introduced a new back to basics education program for kindergarten students, which he called “fiddling while Rome burns.” He was also critical of the fact that Premier Ford has eliminated the need for people to renew license plate stickers.

Mr. Braid seems to think that just because there is a healthcare crisis, the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Education are not allowed to do their jobs

to make our province a better place to live. I don’t remember a world without having to spend meaningless dollars for a meaningless sticker, but I would think that getting rid of this cash grab is a good thing.

I won’t speak for other parents, but I, for one, welcome the fact that our children will actually be learning when they go to school. Our young people have the lowest rates of reading, writing and math proficiency since these things began being tested and measured.

But are we supposed to tell our teachers not to teach kids how to read or add or subtract because there are not

enough family doctors?

That makes no sense.

MPP Ghamari and Premier Ford, along with the other MPPs and the Cabinet Ministers, are all probably extremely aware of the healthcare crisis in Ontario. It is not an easy nor instant fix.

Despite the family doctor shortage, they still have to do their jobs in other areas, like building more schools, building more roads, improving our education system, and supporting the farming and agricultural community.

To think all of that should stop because we don’t have enough family doctors is absurd.

Cindy Ferguson

LGBTQ+ reader disappointed in letter defending ‘transphobic rant’

The Editor, It really saddens me to see a community where various citizens of all differences can come together and celebrate, has hypocritically not given the same grace to our LGBTQ+ citizens.

I saw in last issue’s Letters to the Editor that there was a transphobic letter that read “Reader Applauds Nick Morabito for standing up to public school board”, where someone defended a transphobic rant about bathrooms

at a school board meeting under the guise of “freedom of speech”.

Boys are not using girl’s restrooms: transgender girls are using them. Transgender girls are not boys. To publish this story days after the

murder of Nex Benedict, a non-binary teenager in Oklahoma who was forced to use the bathroom assigned to their birth sex and was beaten fatally by three non-transgender girls, is sickening.

By giving attention to

transphobic content, we dehumanize our LGBTQ+ citizens and give justification for hate crimes and murders like Benedict’s. As a young member of the LGBTQ+ community who loves Manotick, it breaks my heart knowing

there’s people in town that do not welcome me. I hope the Manotick Messenger highlights more positive LGBTQ+ stories and letters in the future. Stand strong, and in love.

Claire Aimée Spencer

New Cambrian Road transformer station can power 32,000 homes

DaviD Hill, BarrHaven West CounCillor

Sustainable investment continues to surge in and around Barrhaven, helping shape our community’s identity and improving the quality of life. The latest initiative creating buzz is Hydro Ottawa’s Cambrian municipal transformer station, just west of the 416, and a stone’s throw away from Half Moon Bay. This is Hydro Ottawa’s largest municipal transformer station and has major implications for Barrhaven’s grid stability.

It has been a long road to the project’s completion. The initiative was originally proposed in 2008 as a business case, due to rapid suburban growth in the area. Following consultations in 2016 and an environmental risk assessment in 2019, the station was energized in April 2022.

The station’s capacity of 90 megawatts is enough to power 32,000 single homes annually! This capacity was much needed to relieve the stress on existing stations which were operating near capacity. With electricity

Barrhaven West - Report

David Hill, Councillor , Ward 3

needs expected to double in Barrhaven in the next 20 years, this station will be a game-changer for our community.

In fact, the impact of the new station has already been felt. Since the station was energized, Mother Nature has thrown many challenges its way, like the 2022 Derecho, the 2023 Tornados, or the April 2023 freezing-rain storm. During this turbulent period, this power station has cleared the hurdles and is a key reason there were not prolonged, or any, power outages resulting from these extreme weather events.

The site’s service to the community is far from over, as Hydro Ottawa projects the Cambrian station will be operating for 50 years or more!

However, that’s not the only feature. This station’s location was selected to be home to a special pollinator meadow, making it one of the largest pollinator meadows in east-

ern Ontario! This 15-acre meadow contains “carefully curated native plants and wildflowers” for bees, flies, moths, butterflies, beetles, and hummingbirds, according to Hydro Ottawa.

With the help of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, the site has a 4-acre reforestation area, with 2,750 trees planted! In addition to providing ecological benefits, this reforestation area will create a wind barrier for the station, mitigating damage from wind-related events.

Hydro Ottawa’s Cambrian transformer station is just the latest example of how we can strike a balance with development, while ensuring that we are going to be safer and stronger when dealing with the reality of increased extreme weather events. I look forward to monitoring the impact of this station and I am eager to look for other ways to continue promoting sustainable development in Barrhaven.

Sign up for my weekly newsletter to get the latest from the community and city!

Davidhillbarrhaven.ca/ subscribe

Stats sourced from Hydro Ottawa.

More trash talk: Technology will play a key role in waste management

By Wilson lo, Barrhaven east CounCillor

The Solid Waste Master Plan (SWMP) is nearing its final stages of development!

The SWMP is Ottawa’s strategy for managing garbage over the next 30 years. While the most consequential item within the plan is the end-of-life plan for the Trail Road Landfill, it includes strategies and technologies we could use to improve waste diversion rates.

The Trail Road Landfill will reach capacity in the mid-2030s. Even if residents further altered their disposal habits to give the landfill extra years, the reality is we need something new. Considering it takes 10 to 15 years from approval to it being operational, we need

East Barrhaven Ward Report

Wilson Lo, Councillor

to decide on our next waste processing facility now.

The two technologies I’m favouring are mixed waste processing and wasteto-energy incineration. The former helps with diversion, while the latter is about the processing of the remaining material.

Mixed waste processing separates recyclables from the waste stream upon arrival at a facility. Historically, it was mostly as a means of capturing waste for energy production, but it is becoming an increasingly popular method of improving waste

diversion rates, especially as technologies like optical sensors continue to evolve and improve.

The technology provides a balance between asking residents to adjust their disposal habits and overburdening residents with all sorts of rules and restrictions. Doing too little and too much may compromise waste diversion objectives, so striking that balance is important and necessary.

After the processing, residual materials can then pass on to an incinerator, where the material is…well, incinerated. Incineration gives our residual garbage extra lives as a fuel, electricity, and even secondary aggregate for construction.

To be fair, early incinerators were dirty, polluting, and harmful factories. As

technology and environmental care improved, they have given way to modern incinerators, which adhere to significantly stricter environmental standards of our time.

Given that Canadians love using Europe as a baseline, several European countries began using waste-to-energy after the European Union banned untreated wastes from landfills around the new millennium.

Whether it’s mixed waste processing, waste-to-energy incineration, or both, it’s undeniable these facilities will require significant capital to build and operate.

Thankfully, both facilities present major revenue opportunities to help offset those costs, mostly through accepting garbage from other sources, but also through the sale of any fuel, electricity,

and secondary aggregate.

Using those technologies is not the lazy way out, though. It does not mean an end to sorting out recyclables and organics from garbage, nor does it mean we should become a more wasteful society. We need to maintain the good habits most people have developed to reduce the amount of new material entering the production cycle.

These exciting opportunities are our future, but we need to be careful as to where we locate these facilities, as neighbours in Half Moon Bay and Quinn’s Pointe will attest.

Given the financial, environmental, and habitual implications of the SWMP, plus the opportunity of a generation to make a major change, it’s important we make the right choice for the

future of waste disposal.

City staff wrapped up the last series of public engagements on the Solid Waste Master Plan earlier in the month. Staff are currently on track to completing the SWMP in time for presentation and vote by Council in June.

The Ottawa Police announces new two-toned cruiser design

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is proud to announce its new two-toned cruiser design.

The cruiser consists of an all-blue vehicle with white vinyl panels installed on the front and rear doors. The Heraldic crest and “police” logo appear across the front and rear doors on both sides, with the “Ottawa” logo on both sides near the back of the vehicle. There are reflective decals on all sides to ensure public and officer safety. The new cruiser decals cost the same as the vehicles we currently have in circulation.

This new two-toned design follows what many other police services across the country have adopted, like York Regional Police, Halton Regional Police and

Toronto Police. Based on recent academic research, two-toned cruisers (e.g., black and white) are more recognizable as police vehicles. The new design’s dark blue colour was selected after research by the project team and to align with the OPS’ branding.

During the OPS’ strategic consultations last year, we heard that Ottawa residents wanted more police visibility in their communities. The new design will increase public recognition and visibility and allow for quick identification of OPS cruisers, helping with public/officer safety.

Within Ottawa, this design will also help differentiate Ottawa Police cruisers from other local policing and municipal

partner vehicles. Until the rollout is complete, the public will see both the new two-tone and white cruisers on the road over the next four to five years.

killer continues from page 7

While Ottawa Paramedics have not given an update on Wickramasinghe’s condition, the spiritual leader said he had two fingers cut off — one that was repaired. The father also allegedly received stab wounds to the chest and back, and has a slash between his nose and eyes.

The family moved to Canada from Sri Lanka for a better, more prosperous life during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two of the children were enrolled in nearby Monsignor Paul Baxter Elementary School, and one of the kids began religious classes only a week ago. It was your typical suburban life.

De-Zoysa had a brief court appearance and will be back in the courtroom next week. He’s been ordered not to communicate with five individuals including the father and some other witnesses. He faces six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

On the Barrhaven Bulletin Board & Community Watch Facebook page, nearby residents shared their disbelief.

“I feel like we lost a family member, as I feel our community is part of our family,” wrote Cindy Munoz. “We are not safe anymore in the world.”

“This was so heartbreaking to wake up to. Cherish the day and your loved ones while you can. There is so much sickness out there,” echoed Sarah Drummond. “I’m a couple minutes away. I was sitting here last night unknowing. I wish I could have done something, particularly for those kids. All I could do was give mine extra cuddles this morning and tell him how lucky I am to be his mom.”

A growing vigil has been started at nearby Palmadeo Park. Children hugged their parents and cried as they mourned the loss of their friends and classmates. One could be heard saying “why

did this have to happen?”

Another said it doesn’t make sense. Nobody has the answers.

Ottawa Police Service’s newly designed vehicles are intended to increase visibility and public recognition.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Helps little firms

4. Political action committee

7. Allowed

12. Olivia Colman played one

15. Open

16. He had a notable lamp

18. Promotional material

19. Domesticated animal

20. Larry and Curly’s buddy

21. The best ever

24. TV network

27. Checked for

30. Dry or withered

31. Expression of annoyance

33. Dash

34. Fifth note of a major scale

35. A secret clique

37. Partner to cheese

39. __ school: where to learn healing

41. City in ancient Syria

42. Gasteyer and de Armas are two

44. Established practice

47. Thanksgiving

side dish

48. District in Peru

49. It’s becoming more prevalent

50. State in India

52. Measure of illumination

53. Raised platform

56. Japanese warrior

61. R.L. Stevenson novel

63. Transitory

64. Advanced degree

65. Fiddler crabs

CLUES DOWN

1. Baseball managers a1. Prevent from seeing

2. Czech city

3. __ and Andy, TV show

4. A young pig

5. Removed surgically

6. Covered with

7. Chest muscle (slang)

8. Nigerian City

9. Midway between south and east

10. A way to shut

11. Stop playing

12 Marshy places

13. Takes apart

14. Ten cents

17. A gesture of assent

22. Scent

23. Teletypewriter

24. General’s assistant (abbr.)

25. Hillside

26. Taxi driver

28. Semitic Sun god

29. Town in India

32. Traditional rhythmic pattern

36. Fugitives are on the __

38. Type of dance

40. Two letters, one sound

43. Having a strong, pleasant taste

44. Golf score

45. Mayhem

46. Drenched

51. River in northeastern Asia

54. Drug to treat anxiety (abbr.)

55. Part-time employee

56. A very large body of water

57. Aboriginal people of Japan

58. Millisecond

59. Forearm bone

60. Subway dweller

62. Royal Mail

How to find the right fit for summer camp

Many adults fondly recall their days at summer camp. The increase in households with two working parents has made it more important than ever to find a camp to accommodate youngsters who need to remain engaged and entertained throughout over summer vacation. That reality has led to more summer camp options, but it’s not always so easy finding one that’s the right fit for a child.

No two children are the same and kids change quite a bit as they grow up. So a camp that worked for an older child or even one that

accommodated a younger camper may not make the perfect fit this summer. With that in mind, parents can consider these tips to find the right summer camp for their children.

• Ask around. Even if no two campers are the same, it can benefit parents to ask around when shopping for a summer camp. Summer camp spots are limited and it’s not uncommon for competition for available spaces to develop, which can make it more difficult to gather information. However, ask neighbors whose children have outgrown

summer camp if there’s one they might recommend (or would not recommend).

• Pursue a package deal. Though package deals might not result in lower rates, approaching a camp with the parents of your child’s friend or friends may work in your favor. Kids undoubtedly will be more excited about camp if their friends will be there as well. Camp officials may see these quasi-package deals as beneficial and a quick and easy way to fill spots.

camps continues on page 3

Parents can consider these tips to find the right summer camp for their children.

camps continues from page 20

• Ask kids how they want to spend summer. Specialized camps run the gamut from sports camps focusing on a particular sport to general outdoor recreation camps to camps that cater to young musicians. More general camps offer a wide range of activities throughout the summer, and that might appeal to children less interested in specialized camps. Ask youngsters for their input before making a final decision. Involve kids in the search by showing

them websites of prospective camps and asking them what they think of each one. If attending an in-person consultation, bring kids along so they can form their own impression.

• Make sure the camp suits your schedule. Kids’ preferences are not the only opinions to consider. In households with two working parents, moms and dads must find a camp that aligns with their work schedule. Many camps offer halfday sessions and/or full-

day sessions, but some offer just one or the other. If parents need full-day sessions, they might need to begin their search early to ensure they can secure a spot before they fill up.

• Identify what you can afford. Camp costs vary significantly, so parents should identify how much they can afford before they begin their search. Doing so may eliminate various camps right off the bat, saving parents precious time as they try to find a camp for their chil -

dren before spots fill up. Many towns offer local camps at schools, and these may be an affordable option. Parents also should know that many camps allow them to pick certain weeks or days of the week a child will attend rather than insisting kids attend camp for the duration of the summer.

Summer camp season is right around the corner. Parents and children can work together to identify a camp that will ensure this summer is filled with fun.

Starlight synchronized skating team wins national championship

Starlight Intermediate synchronized skating team placed first at the Skate Canada Cup competition, beating out teams from across the country for the top spot. Winning this competition, held in Waterloo from February 2526, represents the first time ever that an Ottawa youth team has taken home the title of national champion. It was also the pinnacle of a perfect season for the Starlight team, who earned gold medals at every competition leading up to the Canada Cup.

The Starlight Synchronized skating club is based out of Ottawa’s west end and features a team figure skating sport where 8-16 skaters skate in unison, performing elements such as blocks, circles, lines, intersections, and spins. The team has a number of skaters from the Barrhaven

Independent coverage area.

The Starlight Intermediate team made a name for itself at the 2023 Canada Cup, held in Calgary, with a second-place finish. Starlight was able to build on this momentum and its reputation for skating to sophisticated and technical programs. It started off the 2023-24 season strong with a gold medal win at the Invitation Synchro Nova St-Hubert in Quebec in December and never looked back.

“This team was special from the very beginning. The skaters trusted the process, put in the practice, and believed in each other – it was a coach’s dream,” said coach Susan Chouinard. “This team surpassed my wildest expectations with an undefeated season.”

The team’s program, with the theme “Overcome”, is

“I

“I swear that’s what I heard my wife say at the restaurant on valentine’s day!” explained a patient of ours as we discussed what motivated him to have his hearing assessed. Though this mistake gave good chuckles, the errors were more often frustrating than fun. Addressing the hearing problem was overdue. He was also motivated by the evidence linking untreated hearing loss to greater risks of dementia, poor mental health, and falls. And, he came to us for the customization – if he was going to do this, he was doing it right.

Hearing is surprisingly complex and individualized. Finding the right solution is not as simple a process as one might think. What works for one may not necessarily work for another. The good news is that there are many manufacturers allowing for a great variety

about overcoming obstacles and is an emotional and powerful program designed to feature the skaters’ strength and flow on the ice. The program also contains technically challenging moves and elements. This blend of artistry and technical difficulty was a winning combination for the team.

In Waterloo, the team earned a season best score of 88.96 for its second skate, and claimed its first place victory with a combined score of 131.90. Nexxice of Burlington finished second with a score of 127.28 and Edge from Oakville took the bronze with 122.87. While Ontario teams dominated the podium, the category was comprised of teams from Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

ces a minimum of 5 hours a

1

loathe your sweet fart.”

of solutions to meet the multitude of unique hearing needs. The key to finding your needle in the haystack is to consult an Audiologist in an independent clinic where all brands are offered. Only then is a truly customized solution possible.

Offering just that are Hearing Freedom clinicians. They will study all of the product lines available to find the one that is most suitable for you, your hearing needs and feature set you want. This approach is unfortunately quite rare in today’s retail settings, larger clinics and manufacturer owned chains. It has therefore set Hearing Freedom apart for over 20 years.

It all started when a young new Audiology Graduate, Rosanne McNamee, interviewed seeking employment. She was left shocked and disheartened. The discussions had little to do

with clinical knowledge and skills. They rather focused on the sales targets, the need to keep consultations short and the requirement to limit prescriptions to one or two “preferred manufactures” for greater profit margins. That was not her idea of proper hearing healthcare. She felt strongly that everyone deserves what is best for them and their unique needs. The assessment being the foundational piece needed to be most thorough.

In addition, she felt it was vital to consider everything available in the market for every single patient. And so, she decided to set up her own business, doing it her way and putting patients first.

At Hearing Freedom, patients are an active part of the whole process and there is no predetermined product or plan. Each and every patient’s intervention plan is as unique as they are. The

experience begins with a 90-minute hearing assessment which is followed by a detailed needs assessment. Then, keeping both the assessment outcomes and the unique individual needs in mind, the Audiologist will take the time to research the market, considering ALL makes and models, so as to select the right product for that specific individual. This is followed by a 90-day trial period. This extensive trial ensures that the right solution is found.

In addition, there are no HISs (Hearing Instrument Specialists) at Hearing Freedom. Patients are rather seen by experienced bilingual Audiologists, University trained and qualified to service both children and adults, whether they are private pay or third party supported (WCB, VAC, etc.).

Not only is hearing complex, so are today’s hearing aids. And,

Experience the Hearing Freedom Difference

manufacturers differ greatly in what they offer. Dealing with the most qualified healthcare professional, in the most independent setting, is crucial to successfully addressing hearing loss. At Hearing Freedom, you can be confident that you have chosen the best place to trust with your hearing needs.

So, if you, like our patient who now hears his wife’s “I love you sweetheart” properly, believe in your right to the best, fullest and most customized service available, make sure you book your appointment with one of our clinicians at Hearing Freedom. You won’t regret your short drive to Manotick!

Parking is free. Home visits & Remote Care are available. Location is wheelchair friendly.

For more information visit www.HearingFreedom.com

Starlight Synchronized Skating is hosted by the March-Kanata and Goul-

bourn Skating Clubs. The Intermediate team has skaters from age 16-19 and practi-

week, 4 hours on ice and

hour off-ice.

The Starlight Intermediate team shows off their Skate Canada Cup gold medals. Front row left to right: Ella Naughton, Cadence James, Rachel Heuchert, Aimee Zhang, Malea Kulkarni, Taylor Glover, Abigail Levac, and Angela Zheng. Back row left to right: Chloe Leclaire, Hayley Smith, Kadynn Morrison, Tess Overvelde, Knox Marshall, Olivia Goldie, Keke Qiu, Emily Qin, and Chloe Wilkes.