BARRHAVEN
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BARRHAVEN
Year 30 • issue 24
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FRIDAY • November 27 • 2020
Barrhaven BIA promoting shopping locally for holiday season By Jeff Morris While Black Friday and the holiday shopping season are going to be different than any we have seen before, the Barrhaven BIA is putting its best foot forward and encouraging to shop locally. The BIA held a virtual event with Santa Claus on Sun., Nov. 15. The BIA has a 15-minute video on its Facebook page that it produced to promote Christmas in Barrhaven. Local media personality and former CFL star Ken Evraire serves as the MC for the video. The video features Santa pushing a button at the corner of Greenbank Road and Strandherd Drive to light up Barrhaven’s busiest commercial corner. Barrhaven BIA Executive Director Andrea Steenb-
akkers said the BIA doubled its budget for lighting at the corner for 2020. Not only are all four parts of the corner lit, but the lighting will extend beyond Christmas. “We have decided to extend the lights to February 15th because of COVID-19,” Steenbakkers said. In addition to the lights and the messaging to shop locally, the BIA is also giving away a prize from a Barrhaven business worth $100 every day leading up to Christmas. “We’re getting people into the spirit of the holiday season,” Steenbakkers said. “We are doing this through the Barrhaven BIA Facebook page. We did the same thing at Valentine’s Day and it was well received.”
Shopping continues on page 4
Happy Retirement, Kelly Ross 613-843-9413
Thank you Barrhaven for 18 greaT years
3777 strandherd Drive
Page 2 FRIDAY, November 27, 2020 BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Our businesses need your support more than ever this year Can you believe it? Not a heavy snowfall yet in November (knock on wood) and it hasn’t stopped Barrhaven’s Christmas spirit. About two weeks ago, as you are reading this now, the Barrhaven BIA put on a fantastic virtual Christmas light show where you can see it on their Facebook page. Sadly, as there is no Barrhaven Christmas Parade this year, the BBIA has managed to bring some light and cheer to our community. Be sure to see the Christmas lights along Greenbank and Strandherd roads while shopping locally for the holidays. I can’t say this enough, but our local businesses need your help. As you’re out and about, starting your Christmas shopping, this year, more important than ever, stop by a coffee shop and have a tea or coffee, at a restaurant and pick up a meal or a gift certificate or at any of the many stores that we have right here in our community. As Christmas is around the corner, please continue to be COVIDwise and wear your mask as I’m sure family gatherings will be happening this coming holiday.
LET’S TALK
BARRHAVEN by Jan Harder
The City Wants to Hear from You! – Winter Operations Department 223.5 cm (or just over 7 feet for those who still use imperial measurements)! That’s the normal snowfall for the season in Ottawa. When that 223.5 cm starts to fall and accumulate, the City’s winter maintenance quality standards (WMQS) dictate when staff and equipment are mobilized to begin clearing the streets and sidewalks to keep drivers, pedestrians and cyclists safe. The City’s current WMQS were adopted in 2003 and a great deal has changed since then. City policies and plans have evolved, and we have many new and improved transportation options, from the LRT to cycle tracks and more sidewalks on local streets. The result is a shift away from single drivers in vehicles to increased use of public and active trans-
portation (walking, biking, roller blading, etc.). The WMQS Project Team is also reviewing how the City can progressively plan the winter maintenance quality standards to accommodate for climate change; according to a recent study commissioned by the City and the National Capital Commission, winters could be four weeks shorter by the 2030s with far more freeze-thaw cycles between December and February, and fewer “deep freeze” events. This would have an impact on ice build-up, particularly on residential roadways, sidewalks and bike lanes. Accessibility, diversity, sustainability, safety and healthy living will also be reviewed as these weren’t considered when the current standards were drafted. Between now and early 2021, the WMQS Project Team will be reviewing and developing new options for winter maintenance and they want to hear from you! For more information on the WMQS Review Project and ways to get involved please visit engage.ottawa.ca/wmqs. It’s also interesting to note that the Canadian Farmers’ Almanac is call-
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ing for “snowier-than-normal conditions” this season, so I suspect there’s probably going to be a lot to talk about! Looking forward to hearing what you think!
Ottawa Public Health is Seeking Community Feedback Ottawa Public Health, in collaboration with the City of Ottawa, are continuing to explore how best to support residents and businesses as provincial and local COVID-19 restrictions are modified, while aligning with the Province of Ontario’s Response Framework to Help Keep the Province Safe and Open.
NEW survey for members of our community Phase 4 of our engagement strategy launches today (November 19th) and includes a new survey and forum questions available on Engage Ottawa in English or Participons Ottawa in French: https://engage. ottawa.ca/covid19.
What We Heard reports
At the beginning of May, we launched a public engagement strategy to gather feedback from the public on their experiences during the pandemic. Since then, we have completed three separate public surveys. The full reports are available here: Phase 1 https://engage. ottawa.ca/covid19/news_ feed/what-we-heardphase-1 Phase 2 https://engage. ottawa.ca/covid19/news_ feed/what-we-heardphase-2 Phase 3 http://engage. ottawa.ca/covid19/news_ feed/what-we-heardphase-3 This feedback is incredibly valuable to us and will help us meet the needs and expectations of our community. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Safety Tips for Making Private Sales – Barrhaven’s Community Police Officer Our
Robbery
Unit
has noticed an increase in personal robberies for items such as clothing and phones from prearranged meetings made as a result of social media or other website ads. It is important to consider that most of the robberies we are seeing take place when the ‘buyer’ sees the seller enter a parking lot or establishment and intercepts them before they reach the agreed upon location to exchange items and funds. This isolates the victim and making it easier not to draw attention to the ongoing robbery. While police look into these robberies, we want the public to be aware of the risks associated with conducting private sales, especially in advance of holiday season. Make your personal safety a priority and consider the following tips before making arrangements to meet someone: 1. When buying or selling items online, make arrangements to meet in a public place with many people around, ideally during daylight hours and at a location that is under video surveillance;
Harder continues on page 3
FRIDAY, November 27, 2020 Page 3
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT Shopping continues from page 1 2. Don’t go alone, bring a friend; 3. Take something with you that makes a loud noise, such as a personal alarm or whistle; 4. Speak with the potential buyer/seller over the phone ahead of the meet up. If something seems suspicious, walk/ drive away; 5. At the meeting, write down the license plate of the other party’s vehicle; 6. Thoroughly inspect the product and then exchange funds; and, 7. If you are purchasing a cell phone, ensure you get the IMEI https://www.devicecheck.ca/consumers/ number and call any service provider to verify that it is not lost/
stolen. Once you have the phone, make sure the IMEI # is the same as the one you pre-checked. Anyone with information about personal robberies is asked to call the Ottawa Police Service Robbery Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5116. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800222-8477 or at crimestoppers. ca
Tree of Life Virtual Memorial Event
On Sunday, December 6, 2020, from 3-4 pm, the Ottawa community will gather by video conferencing to remember and honour our loved ones at BFO Ottawa’s
annual Tree of Life Memorial Event, which will be broadcast from Beechwood, Canada’s National Cemetery. The ceremony will take place inside Beechwood’s Sacred Space, where we will hang ornaments with personalized messages on our tree, hold a candlelight ceremony and listen to Alana Kainz as our distinguished guest speaker. Ms. Kainz will speak about the grief she experienced after the loss of her husband Brian Smith, local celebrity, sportscaster and hockey player, who died tragically 25 years ago. Everyone who donates $50 or more to BFO Ottawa from September 1 to December 4, or is a member of our
monthly giving program, will receive an electronic invitation to join the event. If you’d like someone else to attend the event on your behalf, please add their name in the section “Message for BFO Ottawa” on the donation form. When you receive your welcome letter, please remember to submit a personalized message of gratitude to your loved one, along with their full name. During the event you may want to have a candle ready to light at home for our minute of silence. It is in this way that on Sunday, December 6 we will honour and remember our loved ones together, before the holidays begin.
The Minto Recreation Centre walking track is indeed open! Here are the rules: • Walking track participants must register online for an above time slot at https:// reservation.frontdesksuite.ca/ rcfs/mintobarrhaven • Spots can be reserved at 6pm 2 days prior to the booking ( ie. Monday bookings become available on Saturday at 6pm) • There are 8 reserved spots and 1 walk-in spot available. Walk-in spots may only be reserved day of 30min before the session • Clients can arrive 15min
prior to their session, however, if Para Transpo scheduling creates a conflict we can be flexible • Clients can only book for one time slot, as the max time in the facility at one time is 90min • We ask that clients come dressed and ready for their workout, however, with the seasons changing there are coat racks and boot trays for clients to use • Clients must wear a mask at all times and maintain a 2m distance from other participants • Clients will be greeted in the lobby and will need to answer COVID-19 screening questions, sign a waiver and sanitize their hands.
Looking forward to the Holidays?
While many look forward to the gettogethers and catch up sessions that the Holidays have to offer, for some of us the experience can be quite frustrating and disheartening. With even a slight hearing loss, conversations can be difficult. What once were cherished interactions have become onerous and exhausting tasks. The good news is that alleviating some of the difficulties is possible. The key is implementing a customized hearing solution. Customization is most important because although the negative impact of untreated or improperly treated hearing loss is universal, the details of your hearing abilities and your hearing needs are unique to you. Consequently, overcoming your hearing loss is best achieved if the solution selected is just as distinctive as you are. To realize this, all products available need to be considered and discussed. Fortunately, at Hearing Freedom, this level of personalized detail is held paramount. Locally owned, grown and operated, this Manotick clinic adopts a unique and refresh-
ing approach to patient care which drastically differs with that of retail settings, larger clinics and manufacturer owned chains. In 2001, as a newly graduated Audiologist, Rosanne McNamee, Doctor of Audiology, had many interviews for positions at local dispensaries. At each establishment she was disappointed to find the same thing; the interviews had nothing to do with her knowledge and skills, they instead focused on the number of hearing aid units she was expected to sell and the company’s affiliation to a given Manufacturer. “That was not my idea of proper hearing health care,” says McNamee. “The product cannot be determined before the patient
is seen. The patient must be assessed and the needs determined first, then, everything available must be considered, not just the product lines providing the employer the biggest profit margins.” And so she decided to set up her own business, doing it her way and putting patients first, offering true Hearing Freedom. Now, nearly 20 years later, she continues to help patients stay young, active and socially connected due to their truly customized care. To further ensure top quality care, all consultations are with a bilingual Audiologist. There are no Hearing Instrument Practitioners or Hearing Instrument Specialists on staff. Hearing Freedom patients are rather
seen by regulated health professionals, with a Master’s or Doctoral degree in hearing healthcare, qualified to service both children and adults, whether they are private pay or third party supported (WSIB, VAC, etc.). “Hearing is complex and so are today’s hearing aids,” McNamee explains. “Dealing with the most qualified health care professional, in the most independent setting, is crucial. Customization is the only way to ensure the right solution is found for each unique individual. ” At Hearing Freedom you will never worry whether or not you have chosen the best place to trust with your hearing needs. So, if you believe in your right to the best, fullest and most customized service available, make sure you go to Hearing Freedom in Manotick. You won’t regret the short drive! Parking is free. Home visits optional. Wheelchair friendly. For more information visit www.hearingfreedom.com.
Your customized hearing care experience awaits! Call now to learn more.
613-692-7375 • 5528 Ann Street, Manotick • HearingFreedom.com
Page 4 FRIDAY, November 27, 2020 BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
MacLeod announces small business tax reductions By Charlie Senack
For small business owners, the year 2020 is something they could have never planned for. Unplanned expenses, coloured and restrictions have been weighing on them for nine months, as the COVID-19 pandemic grips all parts of the nation. Now some relief might be on the way. On Tuesday, November 10, Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod, who is also the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, announced the province has proposed a plan where they would extend municipal tax reductions. That could mean a savings of $385 million for small business owners. “We are proposing to empower municipalities with a new tool, to provide property tax reduction for their small businesses,” MacLeod
said in a virtual press conference over Zoom. “If Ottawa decides to proceed with a 30 per cent discount, the owner would receive $5000 in municipal tax relief and $4000 from the province - that’s $9000 in total.” While it might sound like a step in the right direction, Mayor Jim Watson says it’s a much more complex issue. Municipalities are prohibited from running deficits by provincial law,” the Mayor said in a statement. “Therefore, another group – such as residential taxpayers – would have to make up for the difference in revenue.” The city plans to continue working with community stakeholders as a means of supporting small, local business, focusing on areas like waiving patio fees for this year and next, and closing down streets to expand patios. This summer alone the
Property Tax Hardship Deferral Program helped over 1,300 businesses manage their cash flow. “These initiatives have all received the support of our economic development stakeholders, who are members of the Mayor’s Economic Partners Task Force,” Watson said. Mark Kaluski, Chair of the Ottawa Coalition of BIAs, said he appreciated the government’s support for brick-and-mortar business, calling this movement an important first step. “Our members all share the same concerns of trying to cover fixed costs with decreased revenues,” says Kaluski. “Finding fairness in the property tax system, increasing the Employer Health Tax exemption, and providing grant funding will help most of our businesses in meaningful ways through
been going above and beyond to ensure the safety of their customers,” Steenbakkers said. “A lot of businesses in Barrhaven have pre-ordering and curbside pick-up available.” Shopping locally has been a consistent message for the Barrhaven BIA. “It has been a big part of our messaging,” Steenbakkers said. “We want
to stress the importance of supporting local small businesses and provide a platform that they do have virtual services available, such as items ready for pick-up, curbside pick-up or delivery to the car.” For more information, visit the Barrhaven BIA Facebook page. You can also find the Barrhaven Holiday Gift Guide at barrhavenbia.ca.
the long period of uncertainty, and well into our recovery.” According to a study produced by the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses in July, one in seven local businesses are expected to close because of a lack of business caused by the pandemic. Only 26 per cent of businesses are making normal sales, with only 37 per cent at normal staffing levels. They predict 158,000 small businesses will be forced to close permanently because of COVID-19, making up about 14 per cent of the country’s small businesses. That number could be as high as 218,000 — or 19 per cent if nothing is done. MacLeod said she believes her government’s tax break for small businesses will help keep them afloat, and in return will also help
Minister Lisa MacLeod made her small business announcement via Zoom.
the province’s tourism industry, something she is also a part of. “Ottawa’s third-largest industry is tourism, and we have suffered as a result of COVID-19,” the Nepean MPP says. “This announcement offers heritage, sport, tourism and culture operators relief at a time when we need to focus on recovery, rebuilding and eventually re-emerging as a global leader.” In Ottawa, COVID-19
cases are finally starting to decrease after seeing a month of new daily cases in the triple digits. The province of Ontario however is reporting roughly 1,500 new cases a day, most of them coming from the Toronto, Peel and Windsor regions. Ottawa’s top Doctor Vera Etches says the city’s residents’ positive actions are related to our numbers being low, but adds we can’t get complacent and let our guard down.
Shopping continues from page 1 With Black Friday this week and extending into December for many businesses, Steenbakkers said that one of the BIA’s priorities is to assure Barrhaven residents that retailers in the community are doing everything they can to assure the safety of their customers and to provide a positive shopping experience. “Every business has
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Page 6 FRIDAY, November 27, 2020 BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
INDEPENDENT Editorial
Here comes McPlant
When McDonald’s Restaurants recently announced its new McPlant products will be rolled out in 2021, Beyond Meat, which had been working with the fast-food chain, wasn’t even mentioned. Beyond Meat insists it’s still working with McDonald’s but few seem to know what its role is. It seems McDonald’s broke up with Beyond Meat but forgot to tell the plant-based giant. In September 2019, McDonald’s international leaders chose to run a pilot with its P.L.T. in more than 40 restaurants in southern Ontario. P.L.T. (plant, lettuce, tomatoes) was co-designed with Beyond Meat. The pilot was extended to April 2020 but once it ended, there was no announcement, no tweet, nothing. Not one drop of news – until last week. McDonald’s has a massive network of over 38,000 restaurants, much too big for Beyond Meat to supply. McPlant will require supply chain alignment and changes in how outlets operate. For example, to do it right, regular patties can’t be cooked alongside McPlant patties. This is an unacceptable setup for vegans. McDonald’s won’t make the same mistake other chains have. Beyond Meat has been around for more than a decade but only got global attention a couple of years ago. As a dominant player in the field, Beyond Meat already has a past. Many will link the plant-based movement (some would call it the fake meat phenomenon) to Beyond Meat. Its “better than beef” rhetoric has hurt the brand and the category. The reality is most Canadians still enjoy traditional animal proteins. It’s very much part of our heritage. Expecting Canadians to replace one with the other is unreasonable. McDonald’s is now fully committed to offering plant-based foods. As other chains have done, the company is making its menu more inclusive. Consuming vegetable proteins is much more socially normalized now and the pandemic hasn’t really changed anything. New statistics on plant-based diets show strong numbers. Not offering plant-based options could lead many to pass on McDonald’s. So dietary inclusiveness is the way to go and that’s a good call by McDonald’s. For McDonald’s Canada, specifically, it will be interesting how the scenario unfolds. The company has always been one of Canada’s most formidable champions of agriculture. McPlant could be seen as a betrayal, especially for beef producers. So don’t be surprised if you see more McDonald’s ads promoting sustainable Canadian beef. It’s all about playing nice with farmers and there’s nothing wrong with that. But it’s clear Beyond Meat no longer has McDonald’s as an ally. So it may need to refine its value proposition to consumers. Plant-based menus are about more choice, not about undermining the hard work of farmers who have provided us with quality meat products for decades. Troy Media – Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University.
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Canada needs a 2021 Grey Cup Party I love Canada. The last one was the best. Tony Gabriel I love to celebrate Canada. of the Rough Riders caught the famous A lot of that love for Canada was game-winning touchdown pass from Tom drilled into me by my father. On Tuesday Clements in 1976, and the house erupted. nights, we would watch Wayne and Shus- That moment, that play, to this day, reter together. Looking back, they weren’t mains one of the happiest moments of my really that funny, but they had their mo- life. ments. Most importantly, though, they The first Grey Cup I got to attend was were Canadian. the next year in Montreal. Olympic StaThen we would watch Front Page Chal- dium was fresh and new, and a crowd of lenge. It wasn’t funny. 68,318 packed the staEvery week I dreaded dium to see the Montreal Front Page Challenge, Alouettes beat the Edbut inevitably, I would FROM THE OTHER monton Eskimos 41-6. get into it. Winter came early that After football and year and it was cold and 60 Minutes on Sunsnowy. The field was froJeffrey Morris days, we watched the zen solid. Tony ProudBeachcombers togethfoot of the Alouettes was er. That was really the difference maker for Canadian. I think my dad always thought the Alouettes. He found a construction of himself as some sort of Bruno Gerussi staple gun and punched staples in the botcharacter, while Dangerous Walter next toms of everyone’s shoes. Montreal playdoor was kind of like Relic. ers had traction on the ice, while the EdAnd then there was the Friendly Giant. monton players did not. If my Dad wasn’t thinking he was Bruno I was in awe of the atmosphere. I was COUNCIL Gerussi, he was totally into thinking he old enough to realize that a lot of the CORNER was the Friendly Giant. Remember him? people there were drunk, but they were “Look up, wayyyyy up…” happy drunk. They were there to celebrate Mayor Suzanne Dodge Life seemed simpler in a world where football and to celebrate Canada. Footwe only got three TV channels. And it was ball fans from across Canada showed up. easier to be more Canadiany than we are Everyone loved to meet fellow fans, espetoday. Canadiany is a new word, by the cially if they had travelled to Montreal for way. the spectacle. My parents loved to have parties and I have been to 10 Grey Cups through entertain. And with all the parties THE theyNOTthe SO years. I have been to games in Ottawa, held, none was bigger and none was more Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton, Calgary and Canadian than their annual GreyNEW Cup GUY Vancouver. And even though the CFL is Tim Ruhnke party. long removed from its golden era of the As a kid, it was exciting when my par- 1970s, it is still the biggest annual Canents had parties. I had to be a little bit on adian love fest in the country. You meet the periphery, but the Grey Cup Party was people at various Grey Cup parties and different. I got to take part in the decor- events leading up to the game. Everyating and getting the line-ups out of TV one is friendly, welcoming, and wanting Guide. to share both friendship and their love of The one thing I will always remember Canada. Grey Cup is a weeklong party and about that weekend is that it was the first HOUSE a celebration of Canada like no other. WALKER time I had ever heard of the FLQ. There In 2016, we road tripped to Toronto to were bomb and terrorist threats before the see the Redblacks play the Calgary StamSusan Vallom game, and a lot of talk was about whether peders. It had been 40 years since Ottawa the game would even be played. For the had won a Grey Cup. That was Tony Gabfirst time, the game was moved to Sun- riel’s catch. The Redblacks pulled off the day instead of Saturday. That was done to upset as Henry Burris led the Redblacks lessen the likelihood of any trouble from past the Calgary Stampeders in a thriller. the FLQ at the Autostade in Montreal. I was like other Redblacks fans – crying Ottawa won that game 29-11 over Sas- and hugging strangers. It was a moment BLAKE’S katchewan, and Russ Jackson would throw that Ottawa’s football fans and Grey Cup TAKES four TD passes in his last game. lovers will never forget. Through the years, the Grey Cup parBlake McKimOn the way home the next day, the boys ties flourished. We had big crowds at and I stopped off at the Blue Church cemthe house to see Leon McQuay’s famous etery along the St. Lawrence River befumble that cost the Toronto Argonauts tween Prescott and Brockville to visit my the Grey Cup as Calgary won in 1971. dad’s grave. We cheered as rookie Chuck Ealey led the He had to be a part of this. Hamilton Tiger-Cats past Saskatchewan Someday, we will all be vaccinated and in 1972. My parents went to the game in the ‘Rona will be long in the rearview mir1973 to see Rick Cassata lead Ottawa past ror. Edmonton, so there was no party that year. And when it is, I can’t wait to go to the But there sure were the next three years. Grey Cup and all of the parties again.
SIDE
NEWS
FRIDAY, November 27, 2020 Page 7
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
OC Transpo budget brings surprises, disappointment When it comes to budgeting at the City of Ottawa, the OC Transpo budget provides the most surprises and disappointments, especially for someone like me, a Small C fiscal conservative city councillor. Less service for more of your tax dollars, and higher fares for those who can least afford it, those whose only transportation choice is public transit. In a nutshell, this is what Council is going to approve for 2021. In the middle of a pandemic when ridership has fallen to 28 percent of the regular volume, OC Transpo Management plans to spend $672.9 million to provide transit in our City.
This cost does not account for LRT’s capital costs, but that argument is for another time. CEO John Manconi calls it the most challenging of times when fiscal responsibility must be balanced without stranding those who rely on public transit. As a councillor who was elected to ensure public services are provided to those who pay for them in the most productive and efficient manner possible, I have many concerns with
613-738-0330 grand.ca
the way OC Transpo operates. My concerns are not limited to the pandemic. Last year I voted against the Transit budget. Each year property taxes are increased to support transit, fares get more expensive, to the point where I’m told Ottawa has one of the costliest public transit services in Canada. Transit costs in the City account for over 16 percent of total City spending in 2020. That percentage will increase in 2021. My office receives hundreds of complaints from riders about the system’s inefficiency and personal cost. Yes, the pandemic has wreaked havoc on many of our services, but the bean counters at City Hall have been fortunate. Ottawa re-
ceived $124 million in bailout funds and has applied for more. Financially, the City has done well throughout the pandemic, which I believe has led to creating a draft budget for transit that does not reflect reality. I am a proponent of public transit and have advocated for the many benefits it brings, but I’m not blind to the many challenges we face with our transit network either. We need a major reset in the way public transit is delivered. OC Transpo survives because it holds a monopoly within Ottawa. Taxpayers have no choice but to support transit, and the city can charge the fares necessary to survive. What other transportation service
can claim the same? Case and point within our City is waste collection. The taxpayer has an in-house service that looks after the weekly collection needs of one part of the City, while a private company looks after the other. During the bidding process, the City-owned division competed and won fair and square for the one contract, while private industry won the other two. Why can City Hall provide one essential service, competing in the open market, yet we protect OC Transpo’s iron grip on another essential service? Why couldn’t private providers offer excellent service to our transit users? If we level the playing field and force the public sector
to compete in an open and fair process to provide affordable transit service that meets the needs of our residents, who can lose? This pandemic has provided politicians and career public servants with the opportunity to re-evaluate how we as the Public Service operates. All I have seen is bureaucrats clinging to what has always been in the desperate hope that we can go back to the way things were. Now is not the time to hold fast to old and outdated thinking. Now is the time to tackle our challenges headon with an open mind and a desire to improve them for the better. After all, we are supposed to be here for those we serve.
Page 8 FRIDAY, November 27, 2020 BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Barrhaven Legion marks Remembrance Day with small ceremony By Charlie Senack Remembrance Day ceremonies in Barrhaven looked different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a normal year, thousands gather outside of the community’s war memorial located outside John McCrae High School to remember the sacrifice many Canadians have put on the line to keep us all safe. But this year because of restrictions in schools, the ceremony had to be moved. Capital Funeral Homes located on Prince of Wales Drive allowed the Barrhaven Legion to conduct this year’s ceremony at their memorial, however due to new restrictions brought on by the second wave of the pandemic, only 25 people were allowed to attend. Barrhaven Legion President Stephan Guy says while the ceremony this year was simple, November 11th couldn’t pass by as just another normal day on the calendar. “We had some restrictions on the number of people who could come, so we ended up having the executive members of the branch represent the branch itself,” said Guy. “Our Member of Parliament was there to represent Canada, someone represented the Province of Ontario, and we had a city councillor with us as well.” As a way of keeping the ceremony short and contact to a minimum there were no readings or speeches. Guy says the Legion takes pride in educating Canadians on the role of the military, particularly for children and teens who will be the ones to keep the tradition of Remembrance Day alive. Barrhaven Legion branch 641 works closely with
groups like the cadets, and holds an annual Remembrance Day poster contest every winter with local youth in the community. “The sacrifice that our military people and RCMP have done in the past must be kept alive, especially for the veterans that fought in the wars,” says Guy. “That sacrifice cannot be silenced; it has to be kept alive.” In March, Legions all across Canada were forced to close temporarily as a way to stop the spread of COVID-19. For some, they were closed for months, now facing tough financial restraints. Legions in Ontario recently had to close again along with all bars and restaurants as the province scaled back to a modified stage two approach with cases rising. They were able to reopen their doors again on November 6, just days before Remembrance Day.
ceremony
continues on page 9
A small ceremony was held involving local veterans young and old for Barrhaven’s 2020 Remembrance Day. Nina Guy photos
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BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT ceremony continues from page 8 The threat of a third lockdown is now looming, and many legions are facing an uncertain future ahead. Guy says the Barrhaven Legion is currently in an ok place financially, but they are still counting in support from the community to ensure they are around for generations to come. “It has meant our revenues are down. We are not in an emergency situation yet,” he said. “This is thanks to our landlord participating in the rent assistance program — something we really appreciate. That means we are able to continue for a while.” The Barrhaven Legion is looking for donations to help cover their day to day costs, and to help with the decrease in funds they raised from this year’s poppy campaign. Those who wish to donate can do so on the Barrhaven Legions website and can choose from two categories. The first
is to help monthly bills like heat and hydro, and the second is to help support the poppy fund which is used to provide comfort to veterans and their families. Guy says the poppy campaign has been a tradition of the Royal Canadian Legion since it was first founded in 1925. “I think because the poppy campaign was definitely not as good as in previous years, they would definitely benefit from donations,” he said. While the Barrhaven Legion is not currently renting out their hall, they have opened again to the public. Guy says as restrictions are eased and COVID cases go down, they hope to start up their Friday night meals and dart league again soon. Until then it’s all about keeping their members safe, many of whom are in the older, more vulnerable category.
By Jim Watson, Mayor, City of Ottawa
an emergency food bank program every month – and that number is rising rapidly in 2020. The 36th annual OC Transpo/Loblaw Christmas Food Drive is the Ottawa Food Bank’s largest singleday food drive every year – and it helps thousands of individuals and families ensure they have enough to eat when demand is at its highest. On Saturday, December 19 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., over 600 OC Transpo and City of Ottawa volunteers will be collecting non-perishable food items and donations for the Ottawa Food Bank at participating grocery stores.
Holidays in the Capital – a reminder to think of others
The Holiday Season is an occasion to reflect on the year past, take a sincere appreciation for our blessings, and find opportunities to help those less fortunate than us. But it can also be a hard time for those living in poverty, in temporary housing and shelters, or even on our streets, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March. Many families are struggling to make ends meet and to put food on the table, particularly during the holidays. In Ottawa alone, more than 39,000 people visit
Visit www.OCTranspo.com for a full list of participating stores. Together, let’s try to make this the most successful and impactful campaign to date. Every donation, whether big or small, goes a long way in helping the most vulnerable in our community. I’d also like to remind residents to think of our local small businesses, which have given so much back to the community over the years. They support our local charities, they sponsor our youth sports teams, they employ students and neighbours. This year, I urge you all to consider supporting these local shops, services and res-
taurants by purchasing items or gift cards for your loved ones. Your help through the holidays will be greatly appreciated and helps these businesses make it through the winter. Finally, while this time of year is typically spent with family and friends, we must remain COVIDwise and do things a little bit differently this year, as we continue to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community. I encourage everyone to celebrate responsibly by hosting virtual calls or by meeting for a walk in our many beautiful parks across the city. A full list of winter
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Page 10 FRIDAY, November 27, 2020 BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Pandemic brings out the best in students at local Key Clubs By Elaine Emond Service Leadership Dir. Kiwanis Manotick
School Kiwanis Keyclub worked together with other students to raise almost $4,000 for the Relay for Life COVID 19 has hit us all for cancer research. This was hard this year, but in some done in honour of a fellow emove a Person_Ad copy 2020-10-30 1:43 PM Page 1 emove a Person_Ad copy 2020-10-30 1:43 PM Page 1 cases it brings out the best Keyclub member who is in us. Our four Kiwanis Bar- fighting cancer. Well done! rhaven and Manotick KeyThey worked over the clubs are a good example of summer months and created this. an amazing video of Thanks This summer, members to our Frontline workers of the John MacCrae High which also was shown on
CTV. You can view it through YouTube and Twitter. A driving force in this was a young lady, Aayah Mahdi who was co-president with Rosa Li at John MacCrae Keyclub. They are the charter members who started this club. Aayah has dedicated her young life to service for others in her community and abroad. This past year she
Photo Photo Restoration Restoration BEFORE BEFORE
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has been a huge influence to many Keyclub members and has greatly impressed us with her continuing efforts to help others. This year, she has been nominated as the Executive Assistant to Kiwanis Keyclub for ECC, Eastern Canada and the Caribbean. We see great things for her in her future. This fall Longfields Davidson Keyclub has done a local park enviro cleanup and is writing letters to support local seniors. St. Mother Teresa Keyclub is collecting shoes for Souls4Soles.ca and working with BioPed. St. Mark’s Keyclub did a Pay It Forward week and now is collecting blankets for the Manotick Legion, to be donated to Salvation Army. John MacCrae Keyclub is helping with the shoe drive and is working on a project
to visit seniors homes virtually. We’re inspired with their ability to overcome the limitations they have with distancing. School this year has been a challenge for them all
but they still have managed to use their technical skills and find ways to give back and support their community. technical skills and find ways to give back and support their community.
Aayah Mahdi has been a driving force at the John McCrae Key Club.
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Patience has been key for student during pandemic
FRIDAY, November 27, 2020 Page 11
Name: Amarah Humayun Age: 17 Address: Barrhaven School: Longfields Davidson-Heights Secondary Grade: 12 Favourite Subjects: “In the first quadmester, I have English and Art, both of which are some of my favourites. I also enjoy Cooking class.” What do you enjoy reading for pleasure? “I enjoy reading graphic novels and self-help books. They really helped with my mental state during quarantine.” Who is your favourite author? “My current favourite author is Mo Gawdat, writer of the book Solve for Happy.” What is your greatest accomplishment? “I believe that my greatest accomplishment is being a person who is constantly learning, growing, improving, and having a large capacity to care for others.” School Activities: “As mentioned previously, I have English and Art in the first quadmester. I’m enjoying English. I love reading Hamlet in class, and having lengthy discussions about The Great Gatsby. Art is also enjoyable, because I’m learning how to loosen up as an artist. However, the compressed schedule allows for little time to think of ideas for assignments.” Other Activities/Interests: “I have a very small polymer clay jewellery business which I hope to turn into an Etsy shop by the end of October. I enjoy baking, spending time with
my family, reading, painting, and a newer leisure activity is writing.” Career Goals: “After I graduate from high school my plan is to go into the baking and pastry field. I want to take a year off to get a part-time job, either at Farm Boy or Strawberry Blonde Bakery. I want to make some money, and also spend some time on my Etsy shop. After that year, I will apply to Algonquin College for their Baking & Pastry program, and hopefully complete it. I will use this education to eventually open up a small cafe here in Barrhaven that I’ll run with the help of my family.” Comment: “Life has been hard due to the pandemic. My mental state, as well as my family’s, has declined significantly during this time. The future was so uncertain. We could barely find things to distract ourselves from the monotony of stay-at-home life. In the weeks following up to the beginning of school, there were many unexpected changes made to my courses, which required a lot of patience to handle with dignity. It was nice once school started again, since I would have a routine again and a distraction from everyday life. It’s comforting knowing that the teachers are enforcing physical distancing and hand sanitization, because I don’t want to lose my routine if someone gets COVID-19. So far, my first quadmester is going well, save for a few issues. English has actually been
Amarah Humayun has a passion for art and for baking. Submitted photo
a more productive class, now that we get to work on it all day. The longer period allows for more time for class discussions, and finishing entire acts of Shakespeare – with help from the teacher. As for Art, the longer amount of class time has also been helpful, since there’s lots of time to get feedback from the teacher. However, the issues with the new schedule are that most of my remote learning days are completely packed with schoolwork. I can’t work on both courses in the same week, and the breaks are very short. I don’t understand why. For example, I can’t work on my painting for Art once I’m done with all of my English work for the day. The ten minute breaks in class aren’t that significant, since I just use it to get a headstart on the next bit of work, I need more than ten minutes to rest my brain from the subject being taught. Despite these issues, I’m content with pressing onwards with this new system, because I have faith that by the beginning of the new year, things will begin to return to normal.”
OTT-AD-4353 Barrhaven Independant-5.125x12-Visions dance in their heads.indd 1
2020-10-22 2:26 PM
Page 12 FRIDAY, November 27, 2020 BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
Mixing mix-up leaves motorists with stalled vehicles By Barrhaven Independent Staff Incorrectly mixed fuel at the Petro Canada station at Fallowfield Road and Greenbank Road last week left a number of local residents fuming and tow-truck drivers in the area working overtime. According to Suncor, incorrectly mixed fuel that contained diesel fuel was put into the regular fuel tanks from Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. to Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. Suncor issued a statement to CTV apologizing for the error. “We are aware of the fuel issue at the Greenbank and Fallowfield location in Ottawa, which occurred overnight on Nov. 16,” said a statement from Suncor to CTV Wednesday afternoon. “Once the issue was identified on Nov. 17, we immediately closed the pump. We are taking it very seriously, working directly with any impacted customers, and we apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. “Diesel was incorrectly put into the wrong tank and mixed with regular fuel, which caused the issue. The regular fuel
pumps (87, 89 and 91) were impacted, and the impacted pumps were immediately closed and flushed out.” Suncor says motorists who feel they may have been impacted are asked to call their customer service team at 1-800-6680220. There were a number of cars stalled at the station last Monday night after getting filled up with the improperly mixed fuel containing diesel. Many more cars reportedly stalled on the way home, or would not start the next morning. Nancy Mallett Whalley commented on CFRA’s Facebook page that she was among the first to have her car break down after filling up at the station. “That garage alone had over 20 cars in a two-hour span,” she wrote. “Going to be a process I’m sure to recoup the $.” Jan Sunderland, meanwhile, commented on the same Facebook thread that her experience in dealing with the issue was positive. “We have been in contact with Petro Can on Greenbank and Fallowfield and Petro Can
A fuel mix-up at the Petro-Canada station at Greenbank and Fallowfield left many cars stalled and in need of repair last week. Staff photo
corporate,” she wrote. “Both have been very helpful (thank you Ivy Engler). While the incident was unfortunate and inconvenient the vehicle
had been repaired. Chalk up another one for 2020.” According to local mechanics, the problem caused by the error in mixing the fuel can take
several hours to fix. The improperly mixed fuel has to be drained from the gas tank, and then refilled with the proper fuel. The spark plugs and oil
also have to be checked. Some local motorists commented on social media that they were out more than $500 because of the mistake.
Lions Club collecting donations at Ross’ YIG The Barrhaven Lions Club supports the work that Nelson House is doing to build a life free from violence especially
for women and their children. With the support of Ross’ Independent Grocer, and the Barrhaven BIA, the Lions will be
collecting donations towards this cause in the week of Nov. 22-28, 2020. Be a part of this drive
– visit Ross’ Independent Grocer during the week of Nov. 22-28 and make a donation to assist Nelson House with their work in
making a lasting impact on hundreds of families who turn to them for assistance. Lions volunteers pay
membership fees to cover admin costs which means 100% of funds donated to Lions club goes directly towards the cause.
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Barrhaven Business Advantage thriving throughout pandemic By Barrhaven Independent Staff The past few months have been challenging for everyone, with particular and unique challenges for business owners. Constantly changing rules, openings and closings, restrictions and additional equipment have threatened the livelihoods of many. Businesses that have taken years to get off the ground have plummeted almost overnight. Some may never rebound. Isolation and fear of the unknown have added to the stress of small and independent business owners who have had to make decisions and sometimes dramatic changes with no experience and no backup. For a local group of business and professional people, help and support has come from fellow members of the Barrhaven Business Advantage (BBA,) a networking group which has been meeting for nearly two decades – until the pandemic - weekly at the Broadway on Strandherd. The BBA is an independent, cooperatively-run group of business and professional people who live and/or work in the Barrhaven area. It acts as a sort of board of directors for people who don’t have one, giving advice and assistance in all areas of business. Referrals are also an important part of the group dynamic with members doing business with one another as well as recommending prospective clients to their trusted colleagues. When restaurants closed in March, the BBA decided to try the weekly meetings on Zoom temporarily. The format has been extremely successful and has provided much-needed support as well as “almost” personal contact throughout these difficult and isolating months. Members have been able to share their challenges as well as their coping mechanisms and innovative business ideas. Anu Balla is the owner of Nakota Spa, a home-based medispa which offers Health
Canada licenced skin and hair rejuvenation treatments. Prior to the pandemic, her main services were the OxyGeneo Facial, TriPollar Skin Tightening and e-Dermastamp microneedling, all of which were not permitted and her business was in the first group of closures. “During the first wave, my business was part of the last restrictions that were lifted, resulting in a four-month shutdown from March 12 to July 17. During that time, I offered skin care products for porch pickup or drop off. Finally, as I was starting to get customers to return and experiencing a bit of normalcy, the second wave restrictions have again caused my business to be impacted. I am hoping to pivot back to offering my products and services as I did during the first wave shutdown,” said Balla. She offers advice to other business owners struggling to navigate these rough pandemic waters. “Have an emergency business fund, a back-up plan. Know what you can stop immediately to minimize expenses, or start as required. Diversify your services.” Being creative and able to “go with the flow” has also helped Linda Williams, a broker with Royal LePage Team Realty. Williams and her two sons “The Williams Team” are in a business which traditionally relied on person-to-person contact as well as in-house meetings and showings which, of course, were quickly shut down along with many other aspects of business. Real estate has, however, been classified as an essential business so the challenge was simply HOW to conduct business. “Housing is a basic need and there will always be reasons for buyers to purchase, people to move: Job transfers, family separations, job losses. There will always be reasons requiring people to sell their homes,” said Williams. “My sons very quickly donned PPE to shoot virtual walkthroughs to post on social media and they hosted livestream open houses…we
modified and created ways to make things work. We never said “We can’t do this”; rather, “how can we make this work?” Diane Koven, an advisor with Sun Life Financial, has been busier than ever throughout the pandemic. People are thinking of the very real and frightening possibilities of illness and death and are taking the time to update their plans and ensure that their families have appropriate protection. Koven has been working from home since the first week of March and is very grateful that Sun Life Financial made extremely rapid and massive investments to enable its advisors to service clients remotely. Within days, every advisor in the country was equipped with the technology and processes
to continue to help clients. “I have learned to love Zoom,” said Koven. “Clients seem to love it too. We are able to have face-to-face meetings without anyone having to drive to my office, or me to their home, and without having to set aside several hours after a long day at work. We still see one another and are able to have a chat while doing business. The only difference is that I tell them they have to make their own coffee!” she said. Balla, Williams and Koven are all grateful to the BBA for helping them through these difficult times and they all look forward to the weekly meetings. “Groups such as BBA help to keep small business owners
motivated and seeing individuals on a regular basis helps to boost one’s spirit. We are social animals by nature and as such, we need human contact. Since physical contact at this time is impossible, the next best thing is reaching out to colleagues. As we discussed in our meetings, it is also important to reach out to clients to see how they are doing – not looking for business, but lending support,” said Williams. Balla agrees. “I have benefitted from the sharing of experience with the team members. The honest feedback and suggestions have given me different perspectives and helped to make better business decisions. The sharing of information by the other members and what they do in and
for their customers gets me to think about how I can apply these techniques to my own business. This has been invaluable.” A large number of business referrals has been another positive aspect of the BBA meetings over Zoom. Members of the group know each other well and are very comfortable recommending each other to their clients, family members and friends. There are openings in the BBA for various businesses and professions (only one member per category is permitted) such as health-care practitioners, lawyer, retail, etc. If you are interested in joining the group, visit barrhavenbusinessnetwork.com.
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FRIDAY, November 27, 2020 Page 15
BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT
30 Years, 30 People: Kielli and Wendy Kraft
By Jeff Morris
As we celebrate our 30th Anniversary, the Barrhaven Independent will be featuring 30 people who have played a prominent role in building, shaping and inspiring 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 Kielli (pronounced Kylie) Kraft and her mother, Wendy. Two years ago, Kielli gave her mother the gift of life as a Christmas present, as she donated a kidney to keep her mother alive. The community responded to their story by donating enough money so that Kielli, who had no benefits or insurance in her retail job, could pay her rent, utilities and groceries so she could rest and recover from her kidney donation. It has been two years since Kielli Kraft made a decision she did not think twice about. Her mom, Wendy, was diagnosed with Goodpasture Syndrome, a rare kidney disease. She was on dialysis and needed a kidney transplant to survive. Kielli stepped up with the ultimate Christmas present for her mother, donating one of her kidneys and saving her mother’s life. Today, their lives are much different than they were just two years ago. Their bond as mother and daughter, however, has never been stronger. “I think for me,” said Wendy, “the most difficult thing was seeing how difficult everything was for Kielli. I was cared for and looked after and my health was improving, but it was not the same for her.” Wendy’s illness became serious in December, 2016. Three months earlier, she had retired from her position at the LCBO. She had worked for 24 years with the LCBO, mostly in the Barrhaven and Manotick locations. She couldn’t make it through Christmas dinner that year. She was fatigued
and had a raging fever, which led her to assume she had the flu. Two days after Christmas in 2016, Wendy’s other daughter, Jill, took her to the emergency room at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, where it was discovered that both of Wendy’s kidneys had failed. She was transferred to the kidney unit at the General, where she was diagnosed with Goodpasture Syndrome, a disease that affects one in every two million people and is almost always fatal if not quickly diagnosed. Wendy went on dialysis immediately. Goodpasture Syndrome is a rare autoimmune disease in which antibodies attack the basement membrane in lungs and kidneys, leading to bleeding from the lungs and kidney failure. It may quickly result in permanent lung and kidney damage, often leading to death. It is treated with medications that suppress the immune system such as corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, and with plasmapheresis, in which the antibodies are removed from the blood. “We didn’t know what this was,” Kielli said. “We didn’t know the severity of it. We didn’t even understand what a kidney did.” For Wendy, the news was devastating. “When the doctor told us, I just started crying,” she said. “I thought I was going to die.” While Wendy would need a transplant, her health had to improve first. She had to continue with dialysis treatments. She did dialysis for eight hours per day at home while in bed. The spare bedroom in her townhouse became a storage room for dialysis equipment and other
medical supplies. Jill and Kielli both started the testing process to see if they were compatible donors. They worked with the Kidney Foundation of Canada Living Donor Program. Kielli decided that she would be the one to step up and donate her kidney to her mother. “Jill was the one who stayed home with her and looked after her,” Kielli said. “She put both her jobs on hold. For me, I was too scared to acknowledge what was going on instead of facing the reality that my mom was going to die. I was so scared I just wanted to avoid it, but Jill was in fight mode for her.” Kielli went through eight months of testing and dozens of medical appointments, as well as mandatory appointments with a psychologist to prepare her for the donation. Her biggest challenge, however, would be one in which the community in Barrhaven would step up and help her. “I worked in a retail lighting store,” she said. “I was paid hourly. I had no sick leave and no benefits. I lived paycheck to paycheck. Donating a kidney would require being off work for four months to recover. The price to save my mom’s life would be not being able to pay my rent, my utilities or buy food.” The Barrhaven Independent published a story on its front page in November, 2018, and it was also shared on the newspaper’s Facebook page. The newspaper helped established a GoFundMe Page for Kielli Kraft. Within a week, the community had stepped up and donated enough money to cover four months of her salary so that her rent, utilities and groceries would be taken care of. “The GoFundMe was a life saver,” Kielli said. “Without it, our situation would have been a lot worse. I am so thankful for everyone who donated to it.” Even with the GoFundMe fundraiser easing the financial pressure, things did not go smoothly for Kielli at work.
Two years ago, a Barrhaven mother and daughter touched the hearts of the community with a story of inspiration and selflessness. Kielli Kraft, standing, saved the life of her mother, Wendy, by donating one of her kidneys.
“I brought a copy of the newspaper with the story in for people to see,” she said. “Later in the day, after my boss had been in the room, I went into the breakroom and the newspaper had been thrown in the garbage. I had worked for the same company in Toronto and my old boss there was very supportive, but here, they did nothing. I didn’t even get a phone call to see how I was doing. In fact, when I was finally ready to go back to work, I was barely getting any hours.” Before long, Kielli found a new job in an office and is in a much better situation. “I wish I had this job before,” she said. “I would have had more support, and I would have had benefits.” After the surgery, Kielli’s recovery was not easy. “I didn’t pee for four days,” she said. “And there was a woman sharing my room. She screamed and
cried day and night so I could not get any rest.” Kielli’s situation was the one thing Wendy had difficulty with. “There was a kidney team who was looking after me, but Kielli was more or less left alone,” Wendy said. “Kielli was in much more pain than I was in.” Despite the difficulties immediately after the surgery, Kielli said it was a positive experience. “The recovery was what I anticipated,” she said. “They told me what to expect.” Kielli has spent time since recovering talking to other potential kidney donors and encouraging them. “Spending time with people and sharing the experience is a lot better than reading a pamphlet,” she said. “For me, it was not as scary as I expected it to be. Looking back, it was a great experience.” Both Kielly and Wendy
still fear that some day, the donated kidney will fail. For Wendy, every infection or virus has been a red flag. Jill moved in with her for more than year and helped take care of her. “My biggest fear is if the kidney fails,” Kielli said. “There is still a chance that could happen. I can’t give her another one. I don’t have another one. If it fails someday, I will be devastated.” Kielli and Wendy share a hug. They don’t say anything, but you know they are both silently encouraging each other that the scenario talked about is not likely to happen. Kielli wipes a tear and smiles. “You know, she didn’t just get my kidney,” Kielli said. They smiled and laughed. “Kielli’s allergic to peanuts,” Wendy said. “After the surgery, because of her kidney, now I’m allergic to peanuts, too.”
Page 16 FRIDAY, November 27, 2020 BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT