Manotick Messenger February 23, 2024

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MANOTICK, ONTARIO

www.manotickmessenger.ca

Friday February 23, 2024

You Can Lead A Horse To Snow...

Manotick’s Shiverfest was once again a success as milder weather made for more enjoyable sleigh rides at Centennial Park. The twoday event, hosted by the Manotick Village Community Association with support from the Manotick Kiwanis and Manotick BIA, was a big success this year.

Greg Newton photo

Manotick

“Thank you for supporting your community-minded, locally-owned hardware store. It is your support that Open: allows us to give back THE MEWS OF MANOTICK Monday - Saturday 8-6 to the community.”

Sunday 9-5

613-692-3591

Page 2 FRIDAY, February 23, 2024

MANOTICK MESSENGER

You’re invited to Carleton Farmers’ Appreciation Breakfast Sat., Feb. 24 I hope you can set aside Saturday, February 24th on your calendars for my annual Carleton Farmers Appreciation Breakfast. The event is from 8:30am-10:30am at St. Philip’s Parish Hall, 127 Burke Street in Richmond.

Come on out and enjoy a great breakfast, learn about our local agricultural industry and the importance it has in the Carleton riding, and most importantly, have a great time, see old friends, and make new ones. It is open to the public, free and everyone is welcome!

Here are some facts about farming in Ontario:

Did you know…

- Ontario’s agri-food sector supports more than 750,000 jobs, which is more than 10 per cent of Ontario’s work force.

- Ontario’s agri-food sector also generate more than $47 billion in GDP annually.

- Agriculture and agrifood in Ontario account for approximately 30 per cent of the total GDP generated by the sector throughout Canada.

- There are nearly 50,000 farms in Ontario, more than any other Canadian province.

- There are roughly 3,500 family-run dairy farms found across the province of Ontario.

- More than 1/2 of Canada’s highest quality farmland known as “class one” farmland is in Ontario.

- The average farm in Ontario is 243 acres.

- There is approximately 11.7 million acres of farmland in Ontario.

- Ontario farmers grow

more than 200 different commodities, including over 125 different fruit and vegetable crops are grown on 245,000 acres of farmland in Ontario.

- In 2021, 65 per cent of the food produced in Ontario was consumed within the province.

- Ontario is Canada’s largest producer, processor, and consumer of chicken.

- Approximately 1,100 of Canada’s 2,800 dedicated chicken farmers live in Ontario, producing more than 200 million chickens every year and 325 million kilograms of chicken meat annually.

- In 2020, half of Canada’s mushroom production was in Ontario.

- As of 2021, there were 1,064 pork-producing farms in Ontario supplying both domestic and international markets with a wide variety of pork products.

- The Ontario cattle in-

dustry is home to more than 19,000 beef farmers.

- In 2020, Ontario produced 467,000 gallons of maple syrup across an estimated 391 sugarbushes.

- Ontario farmers grow 63 per cent of our nation’s grain corn on average per year.

- Ontario farms house the most sheep in Canada, with more than 267,000 in the province.

- Ontario’s food and beverage manufacturing sector is the third largest in North America - Ontario’s greenhouse vegetable sector leads Canada, with a 37.6 per cent share of the nation’s greenhouses.

- As of 2019, Ontario had the greatest number of sod farms in Canada, with 65.

- Ontario’s agriculture sector has the most Christmas tree farms in Canada.

- Ontario’s agriculture industry has the second most beekeepers in Canada, with

2,506 as of 2019.

- More than 1,100 farms sell their produce and goods at farmers markets.

- More than 5,200 farms sell directly to consumers, either at stands or pick-yourown.

- Ontario exports nearly $20 billion in agri-food products annually.

- 17.5% of Ontario farms generate renewable energy, including solar, bioenergy and wind power.

- 31% of farm operators are female.

- Nearly 60% of all Ontario farmers are small farms (less than $100K in revenue).

Year of the Dragon

I want to thank the Fo Guang Shan Temple of Ottawa in Richmond and the Buddha’s Light International Association of Ottawa for inviting me to take part in their celebrations for the Chinese New Year on Sun., Feb. 11.

The entire community was invited to this celebration, which featured children and youth from Fo Guang Shan Temple of Ottawa singing, dancing, and drumming to entertain the capacity crowd in the temple.

This year will mark the Year of the Dragon in the 12year cycle of the Chinese zodiac signs.

Since its opening on Franktown Road just west of the village, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Ottawa has been a wonderful and generous partner in the community. They open their doors to everyone for events like their Chinese New Year celebration and their annual Veg Run in the summer. They have taken pride in sharing their culture and welcoming people from all religious backgrounds to join them for their events and celebrations.

goldie

continues on page 3

YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US AT OUR UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENT. IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, FREE & EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

FARMERS APPRECIATION BREAKFAST SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2024 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM

ST. PHILIP’S PARISH HALL 127 BURKE STREET, RICHMOND ON K0A 2Z0 30-6179 Perth Street, Richmond, ON, KOA 2Z0

613-838-4425 goldie.ghamari@pc.ola.org

FRIDAY, February 23, 2024 Page 3

MANOTICK MESSENGER goldie continues from page 2 The Carleton riding has a make-up of rural, suburban, and urban areas. We are a much more diverse riding than people realize or imagine.

We have Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, agnostics, atheists, and non-religious people all living within Carleton. This dynamic is very special, particularly for our children and young people, as it allows all of us to learn about and celebrate different cultures and religions from around the world.

Every single religious and cultural group we have in our riding offers something we can all learn from to become better people. The Fo Guang Shan Temple of Ottawa has become a leader in sharing their love for the planet and love for all creatures at these events.

I was born in the Year of the Ox, and I was able to learn about what that means.

People born in the Years of the Ox are known for being diligent and tenacious with a strong sense of responsibility. We are capable of great courage when it is time to step up, especially when no one else will. We are driven to overcome any difficulty.

While the next Year of the Ox will not be until 2033, I am already looking forward to next year’s celebration at Fo Guang Shan as will usher in the Year of the Snake.

Growing Ontario’s Agriculture and Food Export Markets

One of the things I will likely be talking to people about at my Farmers’ Appreciation Breakfast Feb. 24 is the commitment made to help Ontario’s farms and food producers develop new markets.

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing an additional $6 million in the Grow Ontario Market Initiative to help agri-food businesses and industry organizations expand their sales and grow their markets. The increase brings the total funding for the Initiative through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural

Partnership to $12 million.

The Grow Ontario Market Initiative was launched in 2023 to provide primary producers, food processors and industry organizations with cost-share funding to help them increase sales in domestic and foreign markets through market analysis and planning, new product development and marketing.

In addition to the new funding for the Grow Ontario Market Initiative, the Ontario government has been promoting the province’s agriculture and food products outside our borders, most recently during a successful trade mission to Mexico to promote grain and bakery products.

The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs led a delegation of agri-food businesses and organizations to meet with Mexican government, trade representatives and leading food companies. The meetings provided opportunities to promote the range and quality of Ontario bakery and grain products available to Mexican buyers, and to learn more about companies’ operations and needs.

Sustainable CAP is a fiveyear $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based 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.

Quick Facts

- The Grow Ontario Market Initiative is delivered by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Application information can be obtained by calling 1-877-424-1300 or visiting their website at www.ontario.ca/page/growontario-market-initiativeguidelines - Sustainable CAP will help enable the goals out-

lined in Ontario’s Grow Ontario Strategy, which include increasing the production of food by 30 per cent over the next 10 years and growing agriculture and food exports by eight per cent annually.

- Ontario’s agri-food industry contributes $48.8 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the prov-

incial economy (6.4 per cent of total Ontario GDP).

- The Ontario delegation to Mexico included Grain Farmers of Ontario, which represents 28,000 grain farmers: Baxter’s Bakery Inc., DG Global Inc., Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority, King’s Pastry, London Agricultural Commodities

(LAC), and Parrish & Heimbecker.

- In 2022, Ontario-Mexico agri-food two-way trade was $2.8 billion Canadian dollars. Mexico was Ontario’s sixth largest agri-food export market in 2022.

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 Queen’s Park

Page 4 FRIDAY, February 23, 2024

MANOTICK MESSENGER

Manotick Messenger a finalist for provincial newspaper awards The Manotick Messenger is up for a number of provincial newspaper awards.

The Ontario Community Newspaper Association announced the three finalists in more than 50 categories in its 2023 Better Newspaper Awards competition.

Entries were submitted in late 2023, and they were judged by some of the most experienced and reputable journalists in Canada. The top three in each category were announced Feb. 15.

Reporter Charlie Senack is one of the finalists for the Stephen Shaw Reporter of the Year Award. Senack, who writes for the Manotick Messenger and its sister publication, the Barrhaven Independent, was nominated for the award by both local papers as well as by the Kitchissippi Times. Although his nomination is officially listed as with the Kitchissippi Times, this marks the fifth time in the last 15 years that a reporter from the Messenger has been a finalist for the award. Jeff Morris was a winner of the award multiple times.

Most recently, Senack was on the scene for the Messenger covering the

December tragedy near Nichols Island when a group of teenagers fell through the ice and two male high school students lost their lives. That story will be eligible for next year’s OCNA awards.

Other finalists for the Stephen Shaw Award are Mile Balsom of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Local and Jason Stenyk of Cornwall Seaway News.

Senack’s work has been integral for the success of the Messenger in the last few years, as he took on a much larger role with the newspaper while still in journalism school as Morris stepped back from the newspapers to focus on his ongoing cancer treatments.

In the feature writing category, the Messenger and the Barrhaven Independent have two of the three finalist spots.

The Messenger’s feature story on Manotick LCBO employee Lynn Roy is one of the stories that was recognized for feature writing. Roy’s story was a heartfelt account of how she helped found a school for children in the Philippines whose families live in the San Pedro dumpsite near Manila. Roy donates her entire paycheck every month to the operation

of the school, and takes a one-month leave of absence each year to travel to the Philippines and work at the school as a volunteer and administrator.

The feature representing the Barrhaven Independent also ran in the Messenger because of the many local ties. Hannah Otto, the older sister of Maddy Otto, shared her memories and feelings in the passing of her younger sister from an inoperable brain tumour. Maddy’s Gala has become a marquee fundraising event that has led the way for the Otto family to raise more than $1 million for Roger Neilson House, the children’s hospice located next to CHEO. The other finalist for the award is Warren Schlote of the Manitoulin Expositor.

The Best News Series finalists include the coverage of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board’s controversial meetings regarding the use of girls washrooms by boys identifying as girls in the board’s schools.

When Manotick resident Nick Morabito wanted to make a presentation about the concerns he had over his 12-year-old daughter having to share a changeroom with 14-year-old biological males, he was shut down by acting board chair Nili Kalan-Myrth and called transphobic less than a minute into his presentation. Police were called in to control the crowd in both that meeting and the following OCDSB meeting.

Other finalists in that category are the Fort Frances Times and the Uxbridge Cosmos.

The Messenger also received an honourable mention in some categories, which is the equivalent of placing fourth in the province in those particular categories. One of them was for the best editorial. The Messenger’s editorial nominated for the award focused on the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, and how some of the trustees vote for the purpose of padding their political resumes for their next provincial election campaigns rather

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than focusing on what the parents in their zone want and need.

There was also an honourable mention for fourth place in the Education Writing category, for the coverage of the OCDSB backpedalling on its decision to not allow a female police officer to attend her daughter’s first grade class career day in uniform. The career day was designed for people who had jobs who helped the community. The board, led by former chair Lyra Evans, voted to ban police in uniforms from schools.

Evans, an NDP provincial candidate in the last Ontario election, has been outspoken with her stance on defunding the police, which is in line with NDP policy.

After comments from

Premier Doug Ford and from Ontario Minister of Education Stephen Lecce criticizing the OCDSB for being disrespectful to the police and to the female officer, the board allowed the woman to attend the Grade 1 career day in uniform.

Another honorable mention for fourth place was in the Investigative News Story category, which was an indepth piece on the 10th anniversary of the Barrhaven bus-train crash that killed six people in Sept. 2013.

Details of the crash, the investigation that followed and the aftermath of the crash and its impact on the community were included.

Winners for the awards will be announced by the OCNA in the spring.

Manotick hOuRs Of OpeRaTiON:

Monday-Saturday 8aM-6pM Sunday 9aM-5pM 1166 Beaverwood Rd, Manotick, ON

The Mews Of MaNOTick

(613) 692-3591 proudly serving Manotick & surrounding area since 1964

FRIDAY, February 23, 2024 Page 5

MANOTICK MESSENGER

St. Philip fire in steeple quickly contained by local firefighters

Ottawa Fire services firefighters from the Richmond Fire Station worked quickly and effectively to contain a blaze at St. Philip Church Wed., Feb. 14.

The fire occurred in the steeple at St. Philip Parish and St. Clare Mission Church on Burke Street in Richmond. A 9-1-1- call was made at 9:18 p.m. reporting flames coming from the steeple of the more than 150-year building. Firefighters arrived within three minutes of being dispatched.

Since there are no fire hydrants on the street in that part of Richmond, tanker trucks were used by the firefighters to relay water in from a nearly source.

“Firefighters began a fast attack and began hitting the fire with handlines from the outside,” said Ottawa Fire Services. “Firefighters confirmed there were no occupants inside the Church.

The risk of the steeple/Cross collapsing created a hazard on scene for crews. Our crews re-positioned trucks and firefighters away from the collapse zone. The cross

did eventually collapse but no firefighters were injured.

Aerial ladders were used to attack the fire and to work from the top using saws to open up areas of the steeple to check for any fire extensions. Firefighters opened up multiple parts of the tin roof to fully expose the interior supports of the steeple which were all heavily charred.”

The fire was declared under control at 11:02 p.m.

Firefighters performed salvage operations inside using tarps to protect the church from water damage.

Mass and events at St. Philip will not be disrupted at the church.

“Ironically, yesterday was Ash Wednesday, and an hour earlier we had just been receiving ashes on our foreheads during Mass at the church!” wrote Father Bob Poole the day after the fire.

The noticeable casualty in the village was the neon cross that glows at night, visible in many parts of Richmond.

fire

continues on page 11

The St. Philip Catholic Church Steeple caught fire Wed., Feb. 14.

Scott Stilborn photos/Ottawa Fire Services

Page 6 FRIDAY, February 23, 2024

MANOTICK MESSENGER

MESSENGER Editorial

Not all freezes on food prices benefit consumers

There is nothing wrong with your windows

“From me?”

The phone rang.

It’s never for me. from“Yes Colonel Walnut.”

This is getting really good.

Ever. the other “That’s horrible,” I said. “My wife, Diva Walnut, I looked around. No one else was home. does a lot of shopping online. This ‘Okay,’ I thought. ‘I’ll get this.’

Page 6, Manotick Messenger, Wednesday, June 23, 2010 will devastate her. Do I need a new I hit the pause button on the game. computer?”

“Hello?”

Consumers often assume that price freezes are always in their favour. However, it’s im“No Colonel Walnut,” he reSilence on the other end for about portant to recognize that not all price freezes are equal, especially when it comes to products plied, confidently and comforting10 seconds.

Then, a voice obviously further up the supply chain. Every year, between Nov. 1 and Feb. 1, grocers request suppliOursomewhere COmmunity ly. “We have the ability to fix your in New Delhi replied. ers not to increase prices for undisclosed reasons. computer remotely. All you have to “Hello?”

This unspokenMessenger agreement between grocers and suppliers, which likely started decades Editorial do is allow me to have access to your desktop and I I tried again. ago, may not ultimately benefit consumers. In October, as suppliers renegotiate contracts can remove the virus.”

“Hello?” with grocers, prices are often adjusted,Canadian and many increase just before the three-month price Wow, that sounds legitimate.

He replied.

Are you more freeze.

I decided to ask a question.

“Hello?” a fifth grader?

While highthan food inflation is certainly a concern for consumers, price volatility can be “So, um, what happens if I give you access to my I replied back. even more and that’s exactly periods bring to the market.

With detrimental, Canada Day approaching next week, it is what a good these time forblackout us all to computer desktop, and then you put a trojan on my “Hello?” reflect on what it means to be Canadian.

Sudden spikes in food prices can surprise consumers and force them to temporarily abandon computer? Is that the part where you sell me a proNo wonder tennis is so popular in India.

Do we take being Canadian for granted?

Better yet, how do new often Canadians feel about being Canadian?

Some of leading us certain food categories, including healthier options, to nutritional compromgram for $200 per year to remove the trojan from my Finally, the man on the other end spoke. look upon immigrants and refugees as opportunists, not wanting to give but ises. Once consumers perceive a food category asbutfinancially “I am calling from Windows. Who am I speaking screen?” very willing to take. Perhaps, for some people, that is true, when you out of reach, it takes them a a celebration for new Canadians, such as the one hosted by Nepeanwhile attend to return.

“No Colonel Walnut, it is nothing like that.” to?”

Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre at Mother Teresa High School in Barrhaven last According to Statistics Canada, the last month, you can see the excitement and theover thankfulness in the15 eyesyears, of everysome of the highest month-to“Oh, so then after you have access to my com“Umm, Seechy,” I replied, finally finding a posiCanadian. puter and you plant the trojan, and I refuse to pay, is tive use for my imaginary friend who ditched me monthnew food price increases have occurred either in November or February.

They understand, perhaps better than all of us, what it means to be Canadian. my computer going to be extremely messed up for the Coincidentally, these three months, January, February, and November, have experienced when I turned five. “Seechy Walnut.”

So how can the rest of us have that feeling?

Bev McRae photo rest of my life?”

“Hello Mr. Walnut. How are you today?” the highest month-to-month price increases in the last 30 years, except for May. The Conservative governmentfood has a solid idea.

At the school’s 50th Anniversary Party, Manotick Co-operative Nursery School honoured its longest-servJason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism “No Colonel Walnut, that is not how it works at “Um, it’s Colonel Walnut.”

Since these blackout periods are industry-wide, one could argue that this practice could ing teacher/volunteer with a memorial garden bench, which will be installed with a plaque in the school’s and Andrew Cohen, President of the Historica-Dominion Institute, are chalplayground.

Left to right, MCNS Director Sandy Erler and June Hodge celebrate June’s 29 years as a supall.”

“Ok Colonel Walnut.

I am calling from Winlenging middle and high school students take the citizenship test.co-ordination among competitors. Albe considered anti-competitive andtomay lead to price ply teacher, teacher and volunteer.

The Canadian Citizenship Challenge, funded in part by CIC and run by the Actually, it is. thoughHistorica-Dominion we still don’tInstitute, know will thesee precise behind pasttheprice-fixing scandals, blackout dows.” studentsreasons study Discover Canada: “And then even if I do pay you $200 per year for I knew about this scam, so I decided to have some andindicate Responsibilities of Citizenship and then take a mock citizenship periodsRights may a broader culture of price-fixing in the industry, to the detriment of test.

Sometimes it’s best just to say nil the rest of my life, you are still going to record every fun with my new friend. consumers.

“This will be a fun way for students to learn about Canada and feel proud I’m finding myself at one of those bizarre crossabout things how come “underneath” is looking single key I press on my keyboard here and sell the “Mywonder windows arelikefine,” I said.

“I am of our shared history and accomplishments,” said Minister Kenney. “As we This issue blackout periods.

Recently, Loblaw informed its suppliers that roads where everything I love about sports is about a word but no one ever says “overneath” when the learn about goes our pastbeyond and the people and events that made Canada what it is data to some big company who sells data of people’s out into my back yard right now.

Do you clean Winto collide with a large swatch of the population workdiscussion pulled me back into soccer. today,will we become more once proud toagain. be Canadian.

We agri-food are inspired tosector, see how we their fees increase In the suppliers must pay grocers to do ing diligently to grate my nerves. can defend our rights and live up to our responsibilities and we feel much online habits?” dows?” “Chelsea is learning so much by watching the business them.

Distribution charges 1.22 It’spercent this wholeto World Cuppercent, thing. Don’t you find World Cup,” said the mom wearing Crocs. “We are morewith strongly how valuable it is to be centre a citizen of Canada.”will rise from 1.17 There was silence on the other end.

“No studying Mr. Walnut.

I ambefore calling from that people are just a little too into it? each country the game.

Shethe has company, “Our schools need to be training our young people to become the citizens and direct-to-store delivery (DSD) charges will increase from 0.36I found percent myselftoin0.38 line inpercent. front of two Windows.” nouveau really become a fan of Arr-hayne-TEE-na, and she of tomorrow. Citizenship is not only about new Canadians, it’s about all “Because I am Colonel Walnut of the Eastern Onfan moms at Your of even wants us to go there on our youngseem and old,” saidminor Andrew changes Cohen. “Theto Canadian WhileCanadians, these may like most Citizenship of us, they soccer can amount to millions tario Special Ops Fraud unit,” I said, thinking that “It’s Colonel Walnut,” I said.

“You are calling Independent Grocer the other day. vacation next year.

Perhaps we Challenge will encourage students to learn more about what it means to be FROM dollarsCanadian for suppliers.

I was kind of in my own little can even go tothe Brrra-seeel.” and then put that knowledge to the test.” sounded intimidating. “And I will personally track from the company that makes windows?”

THE mentaleffect world inon the Apr. checkout That caught my attention.

Starting this summer, the Historica-Dominion Institute will encouraging These yearly unilateral increases, imposed by beLoblaw, will take 28line, with“No, Windows, your computer program. I am this call using my Level 9 government clearance scanning the tabloid and maga- OTHER Arr-hayne-TEE-na? more than 5,000 middle and high school teachers to register their classrooms covers andMondelez, wondering whatLac- SIDE Are you kidding me? out any orEach negotiation.

While PepsiCo, fordialogue the Challenge. classroom will receivemajor a set of multinationals the new citizenship likezine codes and I will hunt down anyone messing with my calling from Windows.”

Justin Bieber’s first major scandal The other mom – the one with guide, along with specially designed learning activities. The teacher will also talis, Kraft-Heinz, and Kellogg may adjust their prices to offset higher fees from grocers, By Jeffrey would be. I was just about to rethe Birkenstocks – piped in. is a computlaptop like squirrels searching for acorns on a crisp “That’s strange,” replied.

“Windows receive copies of a mock citizenship exam. Students will take the citizenship enter the and world even after some quality “They are a wonderful football as a Canadian class and the food teachersmanufacturers will return the completed exams to the many exam smaller may struggle financially exit the in- erMorris fall afternoon…” program, not a company.

How can you be calling time on Planet Jeff and launch nation,” she said.

“My husband, Dominion Institute for grading. dustry. This higherbyprices and reduced which is counterproductive into my weekly way-to-reward-your-customers-byof course, wears the azure and cheers for Italia, but Resultsresults will be in announced the Dominion Institute competition, on Flag Day There was still silence on the other end. from Windows?” charging-us-five-cents-per-bag-and-claiming-it’s- Zachary’s favourite team has been MAY-heee-co.

(February 15) each year for the next three years. For more information about for consumers.

“But I am glad I can trust you,” I said. “I would “We have detected a problem with Windows on to-save-the-environment rant when I unexpectedly They did a school project on MAY-heee-co last year the Challenge please visit the Historica-Dominion Institute website at locked in on the conversation behind me. your computer.” and he has even insisted that we go to out to eat and To www.historica-dominion.ca. address these issues, we need more discipline and oversight, including the implemenhate to fall victim to a computer scam from some ran“I wish some of the stores would carry the watch the games when they are playing.” multiculturalism grants and contributions program will be investing tation $525,171 ofCIC’s a mandatory code of conduct to ensure fair practices the industry. looking out my windows right now into the dom guy in India.” horns so that we could bring them“I’m to I bit my tongue. in this 32 month project which promotes civic memory, civic pride in vuvuzela Chelsea’s games,” said the mom who wasback wearingyard.

In It’s an effort to keep my blood down, I integration.

“Okay,” he said. “The first thing I need you to do a beautiful day,pressure but my windows are It’sand time to put an end to this insanity.

Crocs. looked out the big window at the big parking lot a little bit dirty.itDo you have someone that can do is to turn on your computer and go online.”

“Oh, I know,” said the wearing Birkenstocks. and scoped out, looking for a puppy or a bird or Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a one professor “Zachary has a tournament next weekend and it anything that would pry my mind out of the shack“On the line?” spring cleaning?” in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University. would have been so in the spirit of the World Cup to les that these two soccer moms had put me in with have all of us blowing our vuvuzela horns. They Silence. lost their conversation.

“Yes, go online.” © Troy Media two-nil and then three-nil. They need all of the supA busload of seniors from a nearby retirement “You mean I go on the line?”

I figured I would engage. port they can get.” home had pulled up and passengers were getting Nil? Who says nil? Really. mycricket head, name all of their “Yes.” “So, off. um,I was aretrying youto,a inbig fan?”

“Oh, I know,” said the mom wearing Crocs. “The walkers as an escape.

1165 Beaverwood Rd., P.O. Box 567, Manotick, Ontario K4M 1A5 “Hold on,” I said. “I need to insert a floppy disk He waited for a second. horns are such a beautiful part of the South African Unfortunately, they pulled me back in. www.manotickmessenger.on.ca culture.”

“My cousin lives in Australia, and he was devasbefore I turn it on.”

“Cricket?”

The Manotick Messenger is published every Wednesday in Manotick, Ontario. The Manotick I wanted to jump in and say something, but I tated when Germany beat them 4-nil,” said the Messenger is mailed to bona fide subscribers in Rideau and Osgoode Townships for $36. The “What kind of computer do you have?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“Are you a big fan?” refrained. I couldn’t do it. mom wearing Crocs. publication is available by carrier for $36 or at newsstands for $1.00 per copy. Letters will be edited for length, clarity and libellous statements. Display, National and Classified rates are available on If you are unfamiliar with the vuvuzela horn, then At this point, Isaid. couldn’t take it anymore. Mount “Um, let me check,” give me a second.

“Of course,” he request. The Manotick Messenger is not responsible for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or you have not tuned into CBC over the past two Patience erupted and out came sarcasm lava. other material used for publication purposes.

I went downstairs to grab a Diet Coke. I rabbit “That’s“I saw great,” I said.

“The of the Indiaweeks. If you stumble across a World Cup soccer that match,” I said.

“I can’treplay believe Ausgame on CBC, you will hear what sounds like TRY-lier looked soon insipid against Deutschland.”

Publisher: Jeffrey Morris holed my friend about how much I loved Diet Coke Pakistan match was TV here in Canada last night.

50,000 bees swarming the field. They are not bees.

The mom with the crocs was not impressed.

Managing Editor: Jeffrey Morris more than Coke Zero.

That be a pretty big deal there when They are people blowing on cheap, plastic, gim-mustThe mom with Birkenstock’s wasn’t either, but you guys Reporters: McRae Publisher: Bev Jeffrey Morris Phone: 613-692-6000 5567 Managing Manotick Main St., P.O. Box 567, Manotick, Ontario K4M 1A5 EsauMorris micky horns. she did acknowledge me with a response.

Editor: Jeff Jeffrey “What kind of computer do you have?” play Pakistan.”

Fax: 613-692-3758 Reporters: Bev McRaemanotickmessenger@gmail.com News and Editorial: The thing about these horns is that they “Who is your team?” she quipped, condescendThefunny Manotick Messenger Marketing Mgr: Gord Logan Jeff Esau have become what has defined the 2010 World Cup. ingly. my friend lit up with excitement.

“Commodore 64,” I replied.

Suddenly, email: is published Advertising and Marketing: garyhcoulombe@gmail.com People who have been every followingother the World Cup and I did the only thing I could do, shouting as loud Office: Marketing Mgr:Angie GordDinardo Logan Advertising: advert@bellnet.ca “I have to get into your Windows.”

“It is,” he said excitedly.

“Pakistan is our biggest people who have only seen 20 minutes of it in passas I could.

FRIDAY in Manotick, OnPhotographer: Mike www.manotickmessenger.ca Carroccetto Editor: newsfile@bellnet.ca Website: ing have commented on these annoying yet relent- When “USA! USA!” “Um, this computer is MS-DOS.” rival. weUSA! play cricket against them, it is very Office: Angie Dinardo tario.

Letters will be edited News/ Sports: newsfile@bellnet.ca horns. Ironically, while the world has learned to They turned their heads in disgust. The next 45 Photographer: Mike Carroccetto Staff/Contributors: Kelly Belair, David Brown, Gary Coulombe, less “You mean you don’t have Windows?” bigknow here.” forthese length, and libeladapt hornsclarity as the one thing they now seconds were incredibly silent and awkward.

Larry Ellis, Skyler Fraser, Goldie Ghamari, Melissa McIsaac, about South African culture, the horns aren’t really At thatWe point, it was myor turn.

Theexchanges cashier “I do, and they are dirty. Can you send someone I had him. were one two away lous statements. Display acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada a part of their everyday lives. South African sports scanned my Diet Coke and V-8 Fusion, and I was Jeffrey Morris, We Greg Newton, IreneFund Staron, Tweedie. through the Canada Periodical (CPF) for Ralph our publishing activities. rates are over?” from enthusiasts haveavailable commented on that rethey had neverbeing all set.Facebook BFFs. Advertising deadlines: DISPLAY, Mondayprior 3 p.m.; Monday 4 p.m.

Advertising deadlines: DISPLAY Thursday 10CLASSIFIED; am. All layouts and composition seen nor heard a vuvuzela horn Mesat a sporting event, suddenly, “Would you he like realized plastic bags?” quest.

The Manotick He hung up. that I was trying to disAll layouts and composition of advertisements produced by Messenger employees of Manotick Messenger of advertising produced by employees of Manotick Inc. are protected by and that the South African people find the noise But, just “Yes please,” I replied.

Inc. are protected by copyright invested in the publishers of the Manotick Messenger. senger is not responsible tract copyright invested in the publishers of the Manotick Messenger A few minutes later, the phone rang again. hisbeen scam, er, to“job.” as annoying as the rest of the world does.him from I had never so happy pay five cents for a Member, Ontario Community Newspaper Association for the some loss now of unsolicited Apparently, wealthy marketing genius plastic bag just to get the hell out there.

“Hello? Hello?”

He told me the shocking news.

Canadian Community Newspaper Association came up with the idea to mass produce manuscripts, photos or and market these horns as a World Cup novelty. The plan Jeffreybeen Morrisreceiving was the 2008error OCNAcodes Columnist of you and “Hello. I am calling from the duct cleaning ser“We have from otherandmaterial for must endure the Year. His book, From the Other Skide, is availworked, now the rest used of the world vice. Who am I speaking to?” we believe there is aOffice virus your computer.” thepublication shrilling soundspurposes. of his quick buck. able at Manotick Pro,affecting Barrhaven UPS Store,

side

OPINION PAGE

CONTROLLED

I was just about to drift back into ADD world and

and Pages in Prescott.

Letters to the editor welcome — email newsfile@bellnet. ca or fax 692-3758

FRIDAY, February 23, 2024 Page 7

MANOTICK MESSENGER

Letters to the Editor welcome at LETTERS TO THE EDITOR manotickmessenger@gmail.com Reader applauds Nick Morabito for standing up to public school board The Editor, Congratulations to Nick Morabito for standing up for parents’ concerns about the issue of boys using girls’ bathrooms in schools when a neutral bathroom was available.

What right did Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth have to shut him down after one minute with the comment, “his presentation was transphobic”. It’s so easy to label people with words to justify their opinion. We

hear it often from our political opinions. Stop it!

It is our right and our freedom of speech to have our views heard without someone shutting us down with their opinion without any discussion.

Dr. Kaplan-Myrth was disrespectful to parents at this meeting and should not be allowed at future meetings.

Why not try small group discussions with a consensus of all opinions at the

end of these meetings?

Maybe parents should have girls at these meetings to share their views. The world is tough enough for young people. The trustees at these meetings might learn something from them!

Parents – Stand up for rights and concerns. In my day as a parent, we had our own parent meetings and solved our problems with discussion groups with good results.

P. Allen

The Editor, The provincial, the municipal and the federal governments have no solution for

the housing shortage.

Well I do.

Cut the immigration numbers and stop the refu-

gee flow. Wake up as the way things stand, they will only get worse and housing numbers don’t get solved

overnight. It takes years.

Why are we being so compassionate for the immigrants? Take care of our own

first.

The governments have neglected the homeless for years, but now we are at a

crisis with all the asylum refugees piling in.

This needs to stop.

G. Searl

The Editor, Bravo to Gwyn Morgan and the Messenger for the remarkable, accurate and in-

formative Jan. 12 editorial which defines Canada as selfinflicted in the continuing housing, healthcare and eco-

nomic crisis.

They are a reflection of the much larger immediate global problem of too many people

consuming too much of the finite resources of our planet.

Politicians, industrialist and others are, as ever,

intent on increasing their power, reputation, respect and legacies through unlimited growth. Worldwide free con-

traceptives and one-child families are unthinkable to them.

David Simpson

The Editor, We’ve often heard Pierre Poilievre say, “everything in Canada is broken,” and while that may sound like a bit of an exaggeration, he actually does have a point. Certainly nothing is more “broken” than the state of healthcare in Ontario, where it was recently

revealed that 2.3 million Ontarians are without a family doctor—a number which is expected to nearly double over the next two years, according to the Ontario Medical Association. That’s 2.3 million Ontarians today without access to frontline healthcare, which constitutes a

healthcare crisis the likes of which we’ve never seen.

Interestingly, family doctors are blaming their desire to leave the profession on the excess paperwork imposed by the gatekeepers in the Ford government.

Meanwhile, what is our MPP for Carleton, Goldie Ghamari, focused on?

Well, apparently her government has introduced a new, “back to basics” Kindergarten Curriculum, according to her most recent column in the Messenger. Talk about fiddling while Rome burns! Oh, and if you’re not particularly impressed with their wonderful new direction

for teaching four-and-fiveyear-olds, Premier Doug is also happy to inform Ontarians that they no longer have to ever think about renewing their license stickers, because that will now become automatic!

So for Ontarians, that’s what life in a “broken” Canada looks like. Thanks

to the Ford government, no longer does anyone have to fear that they’re driving with an expired license sticker, but instead they now have to fear succumbing to an undiagnosed cancer.

That is the opposite of progress.

Andy Braid

The Editor, I’m not sure if Nepean backbencher MP Chandra Arya and other Liberal MPs are looking over their shoulders more and more as time ticks toward the next election, but they should be.

It’s not because of anything Arya has or has not done since being elected to represent his riding nine years ago.

It has more to do with Arya getting elected while perched high on the crest of the Trudeau wave of popularity, and now

Trudeau and his political ally Jagmeet Singh are hanging MPs like Arya out to dry in the wind.

The deal breaker for me happened last week when Singh and Trudeau attacked MP Scott Reid because his family owns Giant Tiger.

Apparently, all grocers are evil, at least if you listen to the ruling federal government and the messages they have been feeding the Toronto Star, the CBC, and any other little socialist beaks in the nest reaching up for

some worms from their momma bird.

Team Trudeau is in serious back pedal mode, and if this is the latest scandal or ethical faux pas they are trying to pin on Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives, well that was a slapshot that whiffed and missed the puck completely.

The Reid family is not the Weston family.

Loblaw is a massive grocery chain that has proven that their model for profit comes more from sources other than food than on

gouging struggling families. They make money off things like clothing and household items which are also available at their stores.

Giant Tiger, which started as a small family business and has grown to a chain of more than 250 stores nationally, is hardly screwing Canadians. Our family makes a trek to the GT Boutique at least once or twice a month. No one is getting rich off the purchases we and other families are making.

Singh called out Reid on X and tried to turn it into an ethics commissioner scandal, but then it was revealed that it was Reid who disclosed his family ties to GT to the ethics commissioner and then complied with excusing himself from a vote on Singh’s bill to lower grocery prices.

It’s clear that Singh has likely never stepped foot in a Giant Tiger store. It’s also likely that the silver spoon that was in the mouth of our prime minister when he was

born has never touched a microwave ramen noodle, a staple for my kids and for many other area families.

The bottom line is that this has brought attention that with so many Barrhaven and Riverside South people shopping at GT in Manotick, Barrhaven clearly needs a Giant Tiger. With Arya’s business background, maybe he can get a franchise if he loses the next election and goes back into the private sector.

Cindy Ferguson

We can’t bring in more immigrants when they have nowhere to live here

Reader gives kudos to Messenger, Gwyn Morgan for January 12 editorial Ford should focus on family doctors instead of kindergarten and license plates

Misguided conspiracy theory exposes Liberal and NDP ignorant perception of Giant Tiger

Stay up to date on our website! www.manotickmessenger.ca

www.manotickmessenger.ca

To read each issue online, search Manotick Messenger on www.issuu.com Also find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/manotickmessenger

Activities/Interests:

Name: Melita Wyche

Grade: 12

Age: 17

Page 8 FRIDAY, February 23, 2024

volleyball, a difference in my and school,touch foot-

by Phillinside Potter “Both and outside andball. to getIa also different per- traveling enjoy

of school, I enjoy partici- spective on all aspects of learning about different lem solving. con- theand pating Since in severalthe different school.

I was a cheerYOUTH locations andbutcultures.

I’ve Parents: sports. include socSchool: Osgoode Heather Township and Denfor 10 years, I cepts are notThese broad, and leader cer, futsal, volleyball, coed could High no longer to continue travelled many places nis Wyche there isn’t much interpretavolleyball, and touch foot- due to concussions, so I

by Phill Potter andto Icoaching. find Itithasvery intertion to be it’straveling more turned ball. done, I also enjoy Grade: 12 esting how every culture Sisters: April (20), and learning about different me an opportunity to problem solving, which given lemOTHS, solving. Sincejust the conand cultures. I’ve continue Parents: and Den- ceptsViolet the sport,traditions even are not broad, and locations has inunique and UNBHeather Fredericton. is what makes me enjoy nis Wyche I can no longer parthere isn’t much interpreta- travelled to many places though subcultures.

My favourite (20), Canterbury (vocals), those classes the most.” and I find it very interticipate in it.”

Volunteer Firefighters which en/health-and-public-safety/ ruary 12 and partial closure of tion to be done, it’s more place is Norway, because Carleton University.

Ivysolving, esting how every Keep culture Sisters: April OTHS, problem ottawa-fire-services/jobs-otrunswhich to March 31st.

Hilltop Park(20), east side just planned hasisunique traditions and UNB Fredericton.

Violet Career Goals: “After beautiful is what makes me enjoy there is such (22), St. Mark, Algonquin What your Greatest eyes on their social media high tawa-fire-services/volunteerfor 2024.(vocals), For further in- theyour subcultures.

My favourite (20),April Canterbury school I hope to go to those classes most.” placessomewhere all overnearthe country College.about Ivy “Earnplace is Norway, because university Carleton University. firefighter-recruitment more updates and details formation this project, forAccomplishment? amazing The thereofOpen isStudent such Houses. beautiful (22), St. contact Mark, Algonquin east coast; hopefully hiking. in the title Coun- theand What is your Greatest oning upcoming please the City Project places all over the country College.Pets: Two dogs, kinesiology.

My top choice Accomplishment?

“Earnnext location I wish to travEwok cil President at my school. SolidareWaste https://www.facebook.com/ Manager Julie Lyons,ingP.Eng. Engagement University of Coun- and amazing hiking. The schools el From to is Iceland, because it’s and Two Pixie, andInfrastructure a cat. the title of Student process was not toeasy, next location I wish trav- New Brunswick Pets: Engineer, dogs, Ewok in St. John,7th to March Firefighting Senior February cil President at ottfireincendie. myThe school. a very open country, el to is Iceland, because it’s and Pixie, and a cat. and Dalhousie in Halifax. but I persevered and made it The process was not easy, Projects, City of Ottawa, Tel.: isn’t all about fighting fires, 7th, Ottawa residents arewith invery open country,there with After that,kind I hope citizens, to pursue and lots very Part-time Work: “CheerI persevered and made it a even though it through, also includes public andedu613-580-2424, ext. but 13343, to either shareathletic their thoughts very kind citizens, lots a vited Part-time Work: “Cheercareer in through, even though there to the see.” leading and tumbling coach were and the therapy, to see.” getting along involved julie.lyons@ottawa.ca. leading and tumbling coach were setbacks cation or City’s education.” on draft Solid Waste along the setbacks Kemptville in at at Kemptville Infinity in Infinity way.

It has also been a very way. It has also with been a very community events. For Master Plan. This will likely Why did you get inKemptville.)

Why you get opinKemptville.) rewarding accomplishment, rewarding accomplishment, more information on what it be suffering Volunteer Firefighters the lastdid engagement numerous as I’ve gained so many op- volved in what you do? After volved in what you do? as I’ve gained so many opconcussions, Melita Wyche takes to be an Ottawa Volun“I got involved in Student Favourite Subjects: portunity before Council conRecruitment Campaign portunities, and gotten to “I got involved in Student Favourite to coaching.

Counciland because saw to it turned “Math and Chemistry.

I Subjects: portunities, gotten network with other youth teer Firefighter and to Iapply, sideration in June.

Some of the Ottawa Fire has initiated PHILL POTTER PHOTO I saw it aswith an opportunity toyouth make enjoy doing labsand and probCouncil because “Math Chemistry. like myself.”I network other its annual recruit campaign for please visit https://ottawa.ca/ waste disposal solutions outas an opportunity to make enjoy doing labs and prob- like myself.”

FOCUS ON

due to concussions, so I turned to coaching. It has given me an opportunity to continue in the sport, even MANOTICK though I can noMESSENGER longer participate in it.”

Allan Haan Manotick Soap Box Derby in question for 2024 Bringing events to our community is large part of MVCA’s focus. But without a dedicated volunteer prepared to take the lead in organizing our events, the Allan Haan Manotick Soap Box Derby is at risk of not taking place in 2024. With the successful completion of Shiverfest, our VP Events Theresa Roberts will be retiring from the MVCA Board at the end of May after seven dedicated years serving our community with passion and energy. Who will take her place? If you are an MVCA member who would like to see our events continue, we want to hear from you. Not a member? We invite you to join! Go to https://www.manotickvca.org/. In the coming weeks we’ll be reaching out through social media and our website, calling on interested parties who want to get more involved in their community.

Last year’s derby participants are telling us they’re already starting to plan for this year’s event. If you want to be part of bringing the derby back to Manotick in 2024, please write us at president@manotickvca. org .

Shiverfest 2024 Poll

What were your experiences of Shiverfest 2024? We invite you to submit your comments, suggestions and feedback to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VQFZ3FV

Kindergarten Registration

If your child was born in 2020 it is time to register for the 2024/2025 school year. For the Ottawa Catholic School Board Simply complete the online registration form found on their website. If you have questions, please email their Admissions Team at admissions@ ocsb.ca, and they will be happy to help. For more information go to https://www.ocsb.ca/ourschools/register/. OCSB also offers virtual 3D tours of their Kindergarten classrooms. To view go to their website https:// www.ocsb.ca/. For Ottawa Carleton District School Board registrations visit their website.

If you need any help you can always email the Admissions Department at boundaries@ ocdsb.ca or give them a call at 613-596-8731. Both school

VILLAGE

VOICE

by Irene Staron, President, Manotick Village and Community Association (MVCA)

boards are offering Kindergarten Information Nights. Check out the in-person sessions for both the OSCB and OCDSB on their websites to help you decide which school is the best fit for you and your child.

Age Friendly Housing Survey

The Council on Aging of Ottawa (COA) wants to hear from you! Older adults are the fastest-growing age demographic in Ottawa. Many older adults live on fixed incomes and will need to consider changing health, accessibility and housing needs as they age. Your feedback will help them understand the housing needs of older adults aged 50+ living in Ottawa and will help shape policies, partnerships and advocacy actions being developed by the COA over the next year. If you are 50 years of age or older, to take the survey go to https://forms.office. com/Pages/ResponsePage. aspx?id=sdof1BV-_Uy1-nI A5U3ra4BM3hSZa_1HrJc 9DgvD4E1URE9HU0tHV kdJTUhVNlpHV1BNODc5 ME1DMi4u&wdLOR=cF4 52224A-FB59-4998-A326B17E8D6B6535. This survey will take about 15 minutes to complete and is open until March 2024.

Manotick Watermain Project Update & Road Closures

In mid-November 2023, the City of Ottawa began pre-construction work on Long Island in advance of the construction of the new water mains as part of the Manotick Watermain Link (Phase 2) project. Residents in the proposed areas of work have received a notice to advise the community of the planned park closures required to complete the work. More information about this project can be found at ottawa.ca/manotickphase2. Closures include full closure of Barney McCarney Landing planned for Feb-

Career Goals: “After high I hope to include go to lined school in the draft plan university somewhere near options for waste-to-energy the east coast; hopefully in incineration and mixed waste kinesiology.

My top choice processing, which would be schools aretoUniversity of big changes the current way New Brunswick in St. John, that we dispose of garbage: and Dalhousie in Halifax.in landfills.

Your engagement After that, I hope to pursue this survey is important ahead aof career either athletic Councilin consideration of the therapy, or education.” final staff recommendations, and if you want to participate in the survey, go to https:// After suffering numerous engage.ottawa.ca/solid-wasteconcussions, Melita Wyche master-plan?tool=survey_ turned to coaching. tool#tool_tab PHILL POTTER PHOTO

Community Calendar

Community Cale Announcement

chanted Garden Gala in May 2024 Manotick Family Skate Night - Every Sunday 4-6pm until Tickets are on sale now. For more information and to purchase the end of February, the Manotick Culture, Parks, & Recreation • Ottawa Futsal Club entering their 29th season indoor • Old Time Fiddle Music & Dance - East Osgoode Greely • Friday Night Country Music & Dance Club The Greely Legion tickets go to https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/chic-time-in-the-tickAssociation is hosting family-friendly skates (weather permitsoccer. Youth boys & girls, women, men & coed. Players / Assoc, First Friday of each month, invites & welcome the fourth Friday of each month. Bring along an instrument to presents-an-enchanted-garden-gala-tickets-718834522407 ting) at Centennial Park. For regular updates goalltoMusicians, https://www. teams wanted. All skill levels. League starts October ends play, or come in to sing, listen and dance. Admission is FREE. Dancers & Listeners. Greely Community facebook.com/events/3649349838680239?ref=newsfeed April 2020. Please go online at www.futsalottawa.com.

Centre, 1448 Meadow Drive, Greely. For additional info Greely Legion, 8021 Mitch Owens Road, ON. Information: Youth of Manotick Association is a registered not-for Early bird ends September 21st call 613season 489-2697.indoor 613-822-1451 or 613-826-6128.

• Ottawa Futsal Club entering their 29th • Old Time Fiddle Music Dance - East Osgoode Greely • Frid profit organization offering&safe, social, inclusive programs Save the date! Friday, May 10, 6 pm-11 pm - Chick Time soccer.

Youth boys & girls, women, men & coed.

Players / the f Assoc, First Friday of each month, invites & welcome and activities for youth in our community.

Friday nights in the Tic presents a Night in an Enchanted Garden Gala at the • Ottawa Newcomers Club - For women who have recently • Thursday Fun Night for adults and children. An optional • Tuesday Dance Party The Greely Legion hosts live music on Pre-Teen Program for youth Grades 4-6Greely 6:30from - 8:00 Manotick Curling Centre, South River The teams All who skill5519 levels.

League starts ends all Musicians, Dancers Listeners.

Community play, the 1st and&3rdin Tuesday of each month 1:00 pm pm - 4:00 moved to this wanted. area; (and those have experienced a Drive. supper atOctober 5:45 longpm. Indoor soccer/games, crafts, or nursery /course, Youthor Drop-In forpm.youth age 7:30 to - 9:00 awaited return of a popular fundraising event for Bring along12-17 an instrument play,additional orpm. comeSee in to info sing, significant life2020. change), and would like to meetat newwww.futsalottawa.com. forour ages community 0-11. Parenting course, Alpha GrowingMeadow April Please go online Centre, 1448 Drive, Greely.

For Gree for more https://www.yoma.ca through the Manotick and Recreation Associalisteninformation and dance. Admission is FREE. Greely Legion, 8021 people of similar interests by Culture, joining ourParks many group in Faith/Hearing God course for adults, the 6:30 website - 7:30 pm. To Early bird ends 21stdinner &trydancing. call 613 489-2697.Mitch Owens Road, ON. Information: 613-822-1451 or 613613tion (MCPRA). $95September /person - buffet Great activities.

More information at: ottawanewcomersclub.ca it out contact, discipleship@trinitybiblechurch.ca The Manotick and826-6128.

Area Centre for Arts & Wellness focuses out fornewcomersclubottawa@gmail.com. the ladies! For tickets and more information go to ornight by contacting on intergenerational connections for seniors through arts and Tickets sell out quickly - buy yours today!

•www.mcpra.org.

Ottawa Newcomers Club - For women who have recently • Thursday Fun Night for adults and children. An optional • Tuesd wellness.

This includes a multitude of activities such as Tai Chi, Formoved free to advertising for those yourwho not-for-profit community events email editor@prescottjournal.com this area; (and have experienced a supper at 5:45 pm.

Indoor soccer/games, crafts, ordances. nursery the 1 yoga, art, music, and dance classes as well as community NEW! Buddy Check Coffee -10am - Manotick Legion Thanks to all the volunteers and sponsors who make these events possible Their popular seriescourse, focusesAlpha on ourcourse, local singers and at 5550 Ann St. welcome!

Now running significant lifeEveryone change), and would like toevery meet new for ages 0-11.concert Parenting or Growing pm.

For more info to https://www.manotickmacaw.com second Wednesday every month.

For moreour informa~ Western Cedar people of similar ofinterests by joining many groupRed musicians. in ~Faith/Hearing Godgocourse for adults, 6:30 - 7:30 pm. To liste tion contact: Terry Hunter at peilighthorse@hotmail.com STEVENS STEVENS CREEK CREEK activities. More information at: ottawanewcomersclub.ca try it outWhere contact, discipleship@trinitybiblechurch.ca Mitc Ottawa Branch Quality Cedar Public Library - Manotick SHUTTER CO Paul’s Pharmacy or Progressive by contacting newcomersclubottawa@gmail.com.

826Is a Family The Manotick Library has many activities for chilEuchre Tournament - First Saturday of the Tradition 990 River dren and adults, including an Adult French Conversation We have temporarily month at theRoad Legion- Register at 12:30 pm; play at 1 pm. (across from Tim Hortons) contact: danspitzig@gmail.com SHADES Group, Family Literacy Day on Januarysuspended 27th, andoperations story anddue For more information, For Your Home Renovations to COVID19 SHUTTERS For free advertising for your not-for-profit community events email e 613-692-0015 craft programs. To discover all the events happening at the ___________________ ______ 613-489-3735 Transferring a prescription is easy to do DRAPERY ERY DRtoAP https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/ Chic Time in the Tick Returns with The En- North Gower (right at the lights)Manotick branch go more more SAFE & Thanks to all the volunteers and&sponsors whoSTAY make these events pos These cards accepted Monday-Friday: 9am-8pm Monday-Friday 7:30 am-5:30 pm; Saturday 7:30 am-1:00 pm 613-706-1250 Saturday: 9am-5pm Free shop-at-home 613-706-1250 SHOP LOCAL MANOTICK Sunday: 10am-4pm www.pharmasave.com stevenscreekshutterco.ca service www.perkinslumber.ca

Announcem

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, most community events have been postposed or cancelled. For updates in the community, please visit the Manotick Messenger Facebook Duepage to the COVID-19 Pandemic, most com and the RichmondHub.ca website.

have been postposed or cancelled. For u community, please visit the Manotick Messe page and the RichmondHub.ca w stevenscreekshutterco.ca ~ Western Red Cedar ~

Where Quality Cedar Is a Family Tradition

Paul’s Pharmacy 990 River Road

(across from Tim Hortons) 613-692-0015

Transferring a prescription is easy to do These cards accepted Monday-Friday: 9am-8pm Saturday: 9am-5pm Sunday: 10am-4pm www.pharmasave.com

M.O.T. CONSTRUCTION

RENOS / REPAIRS RESIDENTIAL /COMMERCIAL 613-749-0209 www.motconstruction.com

For Your Home Renovations

613-489-3735

North Gower (right at the lights) Monday-Friday 7:30 am-5:30 pm; Saturday 7:30 am-1:00 pm

www.perkinslumber.ca

Your ad can be here in print and in our online version!

E-Mail Gary at garyhcoulombe@gmail.com

S SH D

Free 61

steven

FRIDAY, February 23, 2024 Page 9

MANOTICK MESSENGER

Changing urban attitudes toward rural Ottawa is challenging

By David Brown, Rideau-Jock Councillor Almost 18 months ago, I was elected to represent Ward 21. Our ward, which comprises the majority of the old townships of Goulbourn and Rideau and the rural part of the City of Nepean, is approximately 720 square kilometres in size.

To put that into perspective, our ward is larger than the City of Toronto at 630 square kilometres or larger than all of urban Ottawa, from Stittsville to the far side of Orleans, and from Parliament Hill to the south side of Barrhaven.

Our ward has more than 18 communities and villages and will soon be home to 40,000 residents.

Since coming to office, the single largest challenge that I have faced is changing the mentality of my urban colleagues and public servants as to the different needs of a rural resident.

For example, infrastructure is always a major

Rideau-Jock Report David Brown, Councillor , Ward 21

issue. Predominantly in Richmond and Manotick, which are the fastest growing villages in Ottawa, we are seeing major delays with new infrastructure coming online to serve these new communities.

Roads, sidewalks, parks, and pathways are integral to supporting this growth, and like the many residents who reach out to me, I am just as frustrated with the time it takes to build this infrastructure and the rate at which existing infrastructure is maintained.

Changing how and when we build and upgrade infrastructure is something I am looking at improving in order to meet our needs.

The second challenge is balancing the needs of our growing villages while maintaining the sense of community that exists.

Residents who have lived in the village of Ashton for 30 years have different issues, ideas, and expectations than new residents 40 kilometres away in Manotick. Our ward is vast, and so too is the range of different needs of residents who live in villages and more rurally.

This balancing act requires an approach from the municipal government that recognizes that one size does not fit all. I will aim to highlight this reality during the Rural Summit.

Our communities have much more in common with the smaller townships around us than we do with urban Ottawa. We don’t have the same level of access to many programs and services in rural Ottawa that urban residents have.

In fact, there are many services that rural residents don’t need and others that we need more of.

Repairs to our roads, higher levels of policing, investments into village infrastructure to manage the high levels of growth are all basic priorities. Ac-

(613) 407-1687 (613) 859-1687 lawnandorderottawa.ca

*Walk-ins accepted

West End *By appointment only

613-236-9101

meeting that will be held in November with the goal of presenting our ideas to City Council in December. Once the dates for our workshop meeting and the rural summit are finalized, I will share them with the community.

Any ideas that you have can be emailed directly to ruralsummit@ottawa.ca or to me at ward21@ottawa. ca.

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Church Directory *All churches wheelchair accessible*

ACCESSIBLE The Catholic Communities of St. John the Evangelist 2540 Stagecoach Road, Osgoode and

We welcome all, who with God’s help, work to build a better world.

St. Brigid 2015 River Road, Manotick

Sunday Worship at 10 am Office hours are: Wed 9a.m.-4:30p.m. Thurs-Fri 1p.m.-4:30p.m.

Pastor: Rev. Michael Wright ST. JOHN: MASS TIME Saturdays 4 p.m., Sundays 9 a.m.

ST. BRIGID: MASS TIME Sundays 10:30 a.m.

Telephone: (613) 821-0761 Email: stbrigid.stjohn@gmail.com Office Hours: Tuesday–Thursday 9am–3pm Friday. 9am-12pm

Rev. Paul Whynacht

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270 MacLaren St. Ottawa, ON

300 March Rd., Suite 201 Kanata, ON

5567 Manotick Main Street, Manotick, Ontario, K4M 1A5

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complishing these priorities requires a recognition that, for rural Ottawa to be successful, we must tailor how the City delivers the programs and services we pay for to the rural context in which they are delivered.

Each rural ward will host a Rural Summit Workshop in early April. All the feedback received will inform the Rural Summit

admin@manotickunitedchurch.com www.manotickunited.com 613-692-4576

ST. JAMES’ ANGLICAN CHURCH 1138 Bridge Street, Manotick –Serving South Barrhaven, riverSide South and Manotick–

Sunday Services Holy Eucharist at 8:15 & 10 a.m.

“A Christian community joyfully serving & growing in God’s love”

(Elevator Access Provided)

Church Office 613-692-2082 Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 9-4 The Reverend Kerri Brennan e-mail office@stjames-manotick.ca Web site: www.stjames-manotick.ca

ST. LEONARD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 5332 Long Island Road, Manotick

Pastor: Rev. GeRaRd Plant

Mass tiMes

Saturday 4:30p.m., Sunday 9a.m. 11a.m Weekdays Wed., Thu. 9a.m., Fri. 9:30a.m.

Office: 692-4254 www.stleonardsparish.ca Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

EMAIL: office@stleonardsparish.ca

Page 10 FRIDAY, February 23, 2024

MANOTICK MESSENGER

Manotck Kiwanis Club makes $10k donation to Kemptville District Hospital

By Ralph Tweedie Manotick Kiwanis Club Are you aware how convenient the Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) is? The KDH catchment area runs from the St. Lawrence River to parts of Barrhaven. Manotick is just 22 minutes from KDH. It’s closer than the Ottawa General campus, about the same time to the Civic, and a little farther than the Queensway Carleton but with less traffic problems and possibly quicker access to emergency services. In fact, the Manotick area is the 3rd largest user of emergency services at KDH. KDH has been a community hospital since 1960, the same year the Kiwanis Club of Manotick was chartered. For some of the nurses it’s a family affair. Their mothers were nurses at the KDH before them. Over the years, KDH developed many clinics to deal with specific health problems, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Plastic surgery and Derma-

Kiwanis News Ralph Tweedie tology. Regional programs have grown to include Total Joint Replacement, specialist clinical programs, outpatient surgery, etc. The most recent is the Heart Stress Test Clinic which opened 1 ½ years ago. They also provide an expanding list of education and wellness programs for the community. The KDH is an integrated health services organization focused on meeting the diverse needs of the community.

They do have an urgent need however. The Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. As the shortage of family physicians for primary care becomes more acute, communities turn to hospital ERs and clinics for basic medical needs and referrals. As a result, the problems presented to an ER de-

partment can be much more complex than in the past and often multiple issues are in play.

The requirement is for swift, accurate and detailed analysis of the health issues.

The solution: computed topography scans (CT scans).

CT scans are much more accurate than x-rays and have revolutionized how doctors approach cases. They are particularly useful in emergency situations where time is of the essence.

Currently, if a patient at the KDH requires a CT scan he is taken to an Ottawa hospital ER. This ties up ambulances which can be urgently required elsewhere as well as reducing the time advantage. A modern ER cannot function efficiently and as effectively without a CT scanner.

The KDH has taken steps to acquire a CT scanner. Funds have been secured to build the needed infrastructure and construction is scheduled to begin in March, 2024. The KDH Foundation has launched

From left to right, Robert Lauder, LG of Division 13, Dean Usher and Margret Norenberg from the KDF Foundation, and Gary Coulombe, co-president of Manotick Kiwanis.

The Crossroads Campaign to raise $2.2 million dollars to acquire a CT Scanner. It has already collected over $800,000.

In the past 20 years the Kiwanis Club of Manotick has donated a total of $4,600 to the KDH. This year we are very proud to announce

a donation of $10,000 to The Crossroads Campaign. KDH has made a $250,000 down payment and the scanner is on order.

We are not alone in our local support of the Kemptville hospital. Half of all donors to the hospital are from outside Kemptville. Of

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those, more than 60% are from Manotick, Osgoode, and the surrounding area, surely proof of how important this hospital is to our community health.

For more information, or to make a donation go to www.kdhfoundation.ca or call 613 408 0086.

FRIDAY, February 23, 2024 Page 11

MANOTICK MESSENGER

Lent is now being observed by many Christian churches

Lent is the religious season observed in the early spring by Christian churches. It begins on Ash Wednesday, 40 days before Easter, excluding Sundays, and ends on Easter Sunday. The term Lent comes from the old English word lencten, which meant springtime. The word used in church liturgy is Quadragesima. Lent is part of the regular church year of Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant churches. Many churches hold special services or meetings during the Lenten season.

Many Christians observe Lent by fasting, performing penance, abstaining from certain everyday pleasures and

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making special donations. The season originated as one of spiritual preparation for Easter in remembrance of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, it also symbolized the mourning of the Church. The length of time for observing Lent varied through the ages.

For many years, it was considered a 36-day period of fast, and during the AD 800s, four days were added, making 40.

This was done as a reminder of the 40 days Christ fasted in the wilderness.

The colors most often used in Easter decorations – white, yellow, or gold, and the delicate shades of green and purple – are the colors of springtime, too. They are the colors of new leaves and grass, spring flowers, flowering shrubs and trees. White stands for purity, light, and joy; we see it in the Easter candles and in the fragrant Easter lily. Yellow stands for sunlight and radiance; green stands for nature and for hope of eternal life. Purple is a royal color too, and in the language of religious symbols, it stands for mourning.

fire continues from page 5 “The good news is that no-one was injured, the church was empty and locked up after the 7 p.m.

Mass had ended. Also, the early raising of the alarm by someone passing by the church who noticed the fire breaking out, and the prompt action on the part of the fire crews, meant that the fire damage was contained to the bell tower. Unfortunately, the neon cross on the top of the tower fell down, and other debris had to be cleared from the tower as a result of the fire, but the main body of the church was undamaged apart from some water falling down onto the balcony and into the lobby from the tower,”

Poole said.

While an official cause of the fire is under investigation, Poole suspects it was caused by a wiring malfunction.

“At the moment, we are concentrating on cleaning up the debris from the blaze,” said Poole. “My thanks to the Knights for volunteering their service to help with the cleanup, and to all those who reached out to express their loving concern and promise of prayers and offers of help. Thanks also to St Philip School for the offer of the use of their premises for our liturgies. Also, to the ministers of the Richmond ministerial group for reaching out to us.

“We are intending to resume full services in the church very soon, once we are able. But for now, because of the remaining moisture in the church, and the smell of smoke, we will be holding the Stations of the Cross this Friday, and the Saturday evening and Sunday morning Masses in the church hall, and probably the Monday evening Mass as well. Going forward, it looks as if the usual rhythm of the Lenten season will be able to proceed normally in the church itself. For now, entrance into the hall for Mass this weekend will be through the side door of the church and also the doors leading into the annex.”

Page 12 FRIDAY, February 23, 2024

MANOTICK MESSENGER

2024 Manotick Shiverfest brings community together for winter celebration The Manotick Curling Club was a busy place with curling demonstrations and lessons.

Above, instructors Art and George teach the basics of curling to Chelsea.

photos by Greg Newton

The Manotick Kiwanis culinary team at the pancake breakfast.

Kris and Mike Schulz enjoyed the chili cook-off at the Manotick Legion.

more photos on page 13

FRIDAY, February 23, 2024 Page 13

MANOTICK MESSENGER

Councillor David Brown was among the many who enjoyed the annual chili cook-off.

Frosty said hello to all the guests at the pancake breakfast and at the other Shiverfest events.

The Manotick Village Community Association served up hot chocolate at the Shiverfest bonfire.

Eve was among the many happy customers at the Manotick Kiwanis Shiverfest pancake breakfast.

Local artist Krysia Kurylowicz was busy painting young faces at Shiverfest.

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Page 14 FRIDAY, February 23, 2024

MANOTICK MESSENGER

MPP tells hearing OCDSB school board meetings ‘better than Netflix’

Sometimes there is yelling and screaming.

Sometimes the trustees accuse each other of being racist.

Sometimes a trustee will shut down a parent’s presentation and call him transphobic.

And three times last year, the board had to call in the Ottawa Police to restore order at their public meetings. This, of course, happened after the same board banned the same officers from being at schools while in uniform.

Many parents and other members of the community have discovered the live streaming of the board’s meetings through a link on their website. One of the regular viewers is Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari, who watches the meetings to monitor what is going on with the school board in her riding and throughout Ottawa.

“I tune in to the OCDSB trustee meetings because it’s better than watching a Netflix reality TV show,” Ghamari said during the

Provincial Government’s Pre-Budget Consultation Meeting Held in Ottawa in late January. “It really is. There’s always some sort of drama, there are always some sort of allegations, there are always some sort of accusations.”

The Ottawa Carleton District School Board has been in the news a number of times in the last year.

However, rather than being about education or building new schools, the news has been about disruptions and in-fighting at their board meetings, suspensions, lawsuits, and the thousands of families who have had no school bus transportation for their children to get to school. The majority of those students have been in Ghamari’s Carleton riding.

“In speaking with my constituents and people from all across Ottawa, the one message I get is that they have lost confidence in the school board trustees,” Ghamari told the hearing in response

Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari was highly critical of the OCDSB during the Provincial Government’s Pre-Budget Consultation Meeting Held in Ottawa in late January.

to a presentation made

by OCDSB Trustee and Chari Lynn Scott. “That’s why it’s so important for people to pay more atten-

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Dr.Harold Bobier (613(692-4432 Dr. Jolieann Joseph (613)692-4432 Dr.Donald Young (613)692-4432 Dr.Thomas Proulx (613)692-4432

tion to municipal elections. People think ‘it doesn’t impact me’, but for those of you who have children in the public

education system, your school board trustee is one of the most important politicians in your dayto-day lives. They’re the

ones who directly impact the quality of your children’s education.”

meetings

continues on page 15

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FRIDAY, February 23, 2024 Page 15

MANOTICK MESSENGER meetings continues from page 14 Ghamari was critical of the lack of communication from the OCDSB. Included in that lack of communication is that Zone 10 Trustee, Justine Bell, has been living in Mexico for more than half a year, including several months when she was vice-chair.

Before Ghamari’s questioning of Scott on the issue, the board had never publicly acknowledged that Bell is representing her ward from Mexico. Bell makes no mention of being in Mexico on her website.

“I can only sit back and

imagine if the OCDSB had been more concerned with getting proper updates from Vicky Kyriaco and OSTA, for example, during the summer months, on the plan for how they were going to provide bus routes for students, maybe there wouldn’t have been a fiasco,” Ghamari said.

Ghamari, like many parents in the western and rural areas of the Carleton riding, did not know that OSTA had failed to obtain a contract with a school bus transportation company for the area until just days before the start of

school.

“The only way I heard about the school bus cancellations was on the radio prior to the long weekend before the first day of school,” she told Scott at the hearing. “As a provincial MPP that’s how I found out about the thousands of (students affected by) school bus cancellations which heavily impacted my riding. No one bothered to reach out to me. Not you, anyone.

For me to get the news about the school board trustees from the radio is a little bit shocking,

it shows the disconnect.

Even though I’ve constantly tried reaching out, it’s very frustrating.”

Ghamari ended that part of the hearing by telling Scott that she still wants to work with the board, but added that the board needs to focus on its

priorities.

“I would say the take away here is I am willing to work with you and I’m willing to work with the school board trustees, but what I would like to see is some seriousness, some dedication, maybe not have school trustees in

Mexico for half the year or longer, maybe focus on building schools, maybe have a plan to get those schools built, and maybe focus on re-opening Munster Elementary School and providing a little more quality education to rural schools,” she said.

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OCDSB Chair and local school board trustee Lynn Scott was on the hot seat as she was grilled over the board’s behaviour and antics during the Provincial Government’s PreBudget Consultation Meeting Held in Ottawa in late January.

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Page 16 FRIDAY, February 23, 2024

MANOTICK MESSENGER

Annual ROSSS St. Patrick’s Day fundraising trivia night March 13 It’s been mentioned before, ROSSS relies heavily on the support of our community.

And while that’s true of our upcoming St. Patrick’s Day Trivia fundraiser, we’re very much looking forward to an opportunity to connect with this community.

Events like these reinforce strength of our community and give us all an opportunity to let loose a little, while raising funds which will al-

ROSSS News Melissa MacIsaac low us to continue providing vital programs and services to our community’s most vulnerable seniors and adults with disabilities. We are so deeply grateful for these op-

portunities to connect with this community in such a fun, engaging way.

With all that said, we’re asking you to join us for a lively St. Patrick’s Day Trivia Night on March 13th at the Alfred Taylor Community Centre in North Gower! Tickets are $15, and the evening kicks off at 6:30 with Irish stew, soda bread, and baked goods available for purchase.

Dive into games, a 50/50

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draw, and a silent auction, all in support of vulnerable seniors and adults with disabilities. The trivia, starting at 7, promises a night of laughter and camaraderie for all ages.

We’re thrilled to have City Councillor David Brown as our emcee.

After the success of our Holiday Trivia Night, we recommend securing your tick-

ets early at www.rosss.ca or by visiting our office at 1096 Bridge Street. Don’t miss out on the fun while making a positive impact in your community!

FRIDAY, February 23, 2024 Page 17

MANOTICK MESSENGER

Embracing local flavor: The importance of supporting our small businesses

By Kelly Belair, Manotick BIA In the heart of Manotick lies a vibrant tapestry woven with the threads of small businesses. From cozy cafes to boutique shops, these enterprises are the lifeblood of our community, enriching our lives in ways both tangible and profound. As we navigate through the ever-changing landscape of commerce, it becomes increasingly crucial to recognize and embrace the importance of supporting these local establishments.

Small businesses are more than just economic entities; they are the em-

Manotick BIA

News

Kelly Belair bodiment of the entrepreneurial spirit that fuels our community’s growth and prosperity. Unlike large corporations, which often operate from a distance, small businesses are deeply rooted in the local landscape. They are owned and operated by our neighbors, friends, and family members, who pour their hearts and souls into their enterprises.

By supporting small

businesses, we are not only investing in the products and services they offer but also in the fabric of our community itself.

These businesses create jobs, stimulate economic activity, and contribute to the unique character and charm that make our town a special place to live and visit.

Moreover, small businesses play a pivotal role in fostering a sense of connection and belonging within our community. Unlike faceless corporations, small business owners are accessible and approachable, often forging personal relationships with their custom-

ers. Whether it’s a familiar face behind the counter or a handwritten note of thanks, these gestures of genuine care and appreciation cultivate a sense of camaraderie that transcends mere transactions.

In times of crisis, small businesses serve as pillars of resilience, anchoring our community and providing vital support when we need it most. From weathering economic downturns to navigating the challenges of a global pandemic, small businesses have demonstrated their unwavering commitment to serving our community, adapting their operations to meet evolving needs

and circumstances.

As consumers, we wield tremendous power through our purchasing decisions. By choosing to support small businesses, we are making a conscious choice to invest in the well-being of our community. Every dollar spent at a local business reverberates through the local economy, creating a ripple effect of prosperity that benefits us all.

In a world dominated by impersonal transactions and fleeting interactions, small businesses offer something truly invaluable: a sense of connection, community, and shared purpose. They are

more than just storefronts; they are the heartbeat of our town, pulsating with vitality and vitality. As we navigate the intricate web of commerce, let us remember the importance of supporting small businesses and nurturing the vibrant tapestry that binds us together.

Together, let us celebrate and champion the diverse array of small businesses that enrich our lives and embody the essence of our community. By supporting them, we are not only investing in our local economy but also in the collective spirit that makes our town a place we are proud to call home.

Manotick

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Page 18 FRIDAY, February 23, 2024

MANOTICK MESSENGER

Wollastonite: Improving Ag Productivity and Fighting Climate Change Special to the Messenger Local farmers will be excited to learn about a recently announced business partnership that will be a win-win both for themselves and the planet. Canadian Wollastonite (CW), a mining company based a short distance north of Kingston, has teamed up with UK-based UNDO Carbon to subsidize a lime alternative for spreading on Ontario fields that will help to combat climate change.

The two companies have partnered in a three- year carbon removal demonstration project which is the largest initiative of its kind in North America. Their goal will be to show that Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) is a shovel ready, low cost, geoengineering tool that is a win for both farmers and the planet. ERW captures carbon dioxide by spreading crushed rock on the soil that starts a chemical reaction. The process begins when carbon dioxide is captured by rain and forms carbonic acid.

When the acidic rain reacts with wollastonite it releases calcium, magnesium, and silicon into the soil, while storing carbon in the ground water for thousands of years The successes achieved by the Canadian demonstration project will be used to model, calibrate and scale similar ERW programs around the world. For participating farmers, the CWUNDO initiative will create attractive opportunities to save money and realize important

benefits for their crops.

UNDO Carbon, established in 2022, is a global pioneer in the field of carbon removal which is on a mission to permanently remove one billion tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide This will be accomplished through ERW projects both in Canada and various other countries. ERW is designed to accelerate the naturally occurring process of rock weathering by crushing chemically reactive rock into fine silicate powder, thereby exposing more reactive surface area to the elements. ERW is UNDO’s permanent, rapid, and scalable

carbon dioxide removal technology that has the potential to lock away up to four billion tons of carbon dioxide per year. This equates to 40% of global carbon dioxide removal targets. Canadian Wollastonite, located in Seeley’s Bay, was established to develop one of the world’s largest deposits of wollastonite, an environmentally friendly white mineral that has impressive soil enhancing and carbon dioxide sequestering properties. The new joint initiative with UNDO will provide Canadian farmers with crushed wollastonite that can improve crop yields. In

addition to its utility as a natural fertilizer, the wollastonite which is spread on farmers’ fields will make valuable environmental contributions by removing significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The process jointly developed by CW and UNDO Carbon makes it possible for substantial amounts of carbon to be captured quickly, with carbon dioxide molecules being flushed down through soils and waterways leading to their permanent storage for thousands of years. UNDO Carbon provides the technical expertise that is required to accurately measure and document the amount of carbon dioxide that is being captured.

Wollastonite would customarily be sold to the horticultural market for $50 per ton.

However, the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through ERW creates high quality carbon removal credits which are sold on the voluntary carbon market. The revenues that flow from these sales make it possible to subsidize 100% of the cost of the wollastonite itself. The only cost to participating farmers is the trucking cost from the Canadian Wollastonite site in Seeley’s Bay, and the company is presently offering rebates that

will partially offset these costs.

As a result of the way that the CW – UNDO operating model is structured, it offers a compelling economic argument for using wollastonite as a highly effective substitute for lime. The concept has already been enthusiastically embraced by several Ontario farmers, who confirm that the value proposition involved is a powerful one that’s hard to resist.

Exhaustive and rigorous testing of wollastonite has demonstrated that it is a mineral that is ideally suited to agricultural applications. The methodology that has been developed by the two companies has already been shown to demonstrate over 90% carbon efficiency. The plan is to rapidly scale up the rollout of the CW-UNDO partnership, increasing the amount of wollastonite that will be spread on Ontario farms from 10,000 tonnes in 2023 to 100,000 tonnes by the end of 2024. If all goes according to plan, it will result in the removal of one million tonnes of carbon dioxide from Ontario fields over the next seven years.

Wollastonite also has other important advantages that will directly benefit farmers.

The mineral contains valuable plant nutrients such as cal-

cium, magnesium, sulfur, and silicon, which has been proven to be particularly effective in terms of improving stress tolerance, enhancing crop quality, and fortifying plants against pests and diseases. As wollastonite breaks down, it releases vital nutrients into soil that are made available to plants and crops. Independent lab-based studies have shown that application of wollastonite to crops can increase dry mass by 177%, plant height by 59%, and dry biomass weight by 90%.

By substituting wollastonite for traditional lime and expensive lime applications, farmers can save both money and eliminate the significant amounts of carbon dioxide that are released when lime is applied. The arrangement between CW and UNDO Carbon has been structured so as to make it simple and easy for farmers to take advantage of what the two companies can offer.

Farmers interested in exploring this opportunity are encouraged to contact Canadian Wollastonite to discuss how they can participate. For more information, please visit the company’s website www.canadianwollastonite.com or call Harris Ivens, Project Manager, at (613) 387-2734 ext. 100.

FRIDAY, February 23, 2024 Page 19

MANOTICK MESSENGER

Fo Guang Shan Temple hosts community in celebration of Chinese New Year

Love your ears

Fo Guang Shan Temple in Richmond hosted a massive celebration Sun., Feb. 11 as they ushered in the Year of the Dragon. Children from the congregation provided music, dancing and drumming to the delight of the packed temple. Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari and Nepean MP Chandra Arya were among the dignitaries invited to the event, while a message was read from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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MANOTICK MESSENGER

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MANOTICK MESSENGER

What is your child doing this March Break?

March Break is around the corner!

Time to decide what to do with all the spare time. Perhaps a day on the slopes and some time on a rink? It’s also a great time to make sure your kids have what they need to thrive for the rest of the school year. One of the most important tools for learning is often overlooked or forgotten … the child’s hearing ability.

Much like proper vision, adequate hearing is essential to a child’s learning and to their positive school experience. Most children undergo a hearing screening shortly after birth, but few undertake the recommended rechecks every five years. This is unfortunate because 2-in-3 children will suffer at least one episode of ear problems, and 1-in-6 will have six or more episodes.

Due to the illusiveness of hearing loss, many go unnoticed. The loss, even if mild or one-sided, makes it difficult for a child to navigate their little world.

And even when temporary, the difficulties can leave the child frustrated and disengaged long after the loss has resolved, needlessly impacting their ability to achieve their full potential. In addition to academic struggles, children with hearing loss can also experience trouble socially because communication, which requires both verbal and auditory skills, is vital to social interactions and peer relationships.

Consequently, much like your children have a dentist, they should also have an audiologist. The Audiologist, the only healthcare professional qualified to assess children’s hearing abilities, can confirm your child’s hearing levels every five years as well as whenever there is a shift in attention or behaviour. The good news is that your audiologist is also able to assist your child in overcoming hearing loss if need be. Should your child have permanent hearing loss or a temporary episode of hearing loss, there is no need to suffer in the silence. The hearing aids and cochlear implants for those with

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Page 22 FRIDAY, February 23, 2024

CLUES ACROSS 1. River in Tuscany 5. A way to represent 8. Rocker’s guitar 12. Civil Rights group 14. Brew 15. Scratch 16. W. Asian country 18. The Eye Network 19. Clarified butter 20. Part of the Cascade Range 21. Downwind 22. A way to steer 23. Loop 26. Not ingested 30. Swampy coniferous forest 31. Musician 32. Signing 33. Containing iron 34. Part of a theorem or proof 39. Veterans battleground (slang) 42. Of enormous proportions 44. Italian city 46. Come before 47. Balm 49. Undergarments

50. Male parent 51. Ropes 56. Ear part 57. Investment vehicle 58. Dictator 59. Cain and __ 60. A type of code 61. Border river along India and Nepal 62. It’s what’s for dinner 63. Consume 64. Christian __, designers CLUES DOWN 1. Cuckoos 2. Skin issue 3. City in central Japan 4. Sorrels 5. Twinned diamond 6. Canadian province 7. Monetary units 8. Head honcho 9. Goddess of wisdom 10. Part of a play 11. Get rid of 13. Applicant 17. Bowling alleys have many 24. Explosive

MANOTICK MESSENGER

25. “The Say Hey Kid” 26. Ultrahigh frequency 27. No (Scottish) 28. Make a mistake 29. Credit card term 35. Keyboard key 36. Woman (French) 37. In the middle of 38. Score perfectly 40. Coat a metal with an oxide coat 41. Deadly disease 42. A place to dock a boat (abbr.)

43. Belch 44. Member of U.S. Navy 45. “In __”: separate from others 47. Examine extensively 48. Adjust 49. Tattle 52. Actor Pitt 53. Gulls 54. Within 55. Exceptionally talented performer

MANOTICK MESSENGER

FRIDAY, February 23, 2024 Page 23

Fred Giese

90 passed away on January 20, 2024. Lived in Manotick for 35 years.

Was a mason who spealized in chimneys.

All of his work was in Manotick. Will be missed by his children; Joann, Jacquie, Stephen, Kim and Susan.

Grandchildren; Heather, Bryan, Mark, Bryan and Zoey. Also his beautiful and supportive wife Jean Brock.

Donations to head injury association

Norenius, Lt Col Johan Erik, CD, BA

Erik passed away on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, surrounded by love, in his 92nd year. Born in Toronto, Erik graduated from high school in Manotick ON. After a short stint with the Royal Bank of Canada, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1953, where he trained as a navigator and flew CF-100’s with 425 All Weather Squadron in RCAF Station St Hubert near Montreal and CF-101’s in RCAF Station Bagotville QC., Erik served ground tours as Fighter Controller in RCAF Stations St Sylvestre QC and Holberg BC, as commanding officer at Canadian Forces Station Sioux Lookout, and held various staff positions in Air Defence Command HQ, National Defence Headquarters, NORAD Headquarters in Colorado and on the directing staff at Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in Toronto, retiring in 1980 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Moving to Port Hope the same year, he assumed the Bursar position with Trinity College School, retiring fifteen years later. In 1995 he founded Sage Information Services to provide benchmark services to the nation’s top independent schools within the Canadian Association of Independent Schools, before ending that role in 2010.

Erik volunteered as a board member on the Port Hope Friends of Music, the Port Hope Chamber of Commerce and acted as Chair of the Art Gallery of Northumberland and the Capitol Theatre Foundation in Port Hope. Erik and his wife of 65 years, Una Mae (nee Ashley), were charter members of the Probus Club of Port Hope and District. Erik volunteered as a hockey and soft ball coach for his kids’ teams and was instrumental in establishing the Pike’s Peak President’s Day Hockey Tournament in Colorado Springs in 1978, which continues to this day.

Erik’s partner in these adventures was his wife, Una, a teacher whom he met in St. Hubert and with whom he found a kindred spirit, always up for a game of badminton, camping, skiing, dancing, travel and other fun. Erik and Una travelled and RV’d in every province in Canada and every continental state in the United States. Internationally they visited Mexico, several Caribbean islands, England, Scotland and Wales, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, East and West Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Russia and South Africa.

These are the facts of Erik’s life, but they do not tell you why his family and friends mourn his loss. We will miss his grin and the gleam in his eye when he instigated a friendly debate, his sense of adventure and love of family, nature, reading, learning and sports. Erik always looked younger than his chronological age, which we attribute to the fact that he was always young at heart.

Erik leaves daughter Kristine van der Pas-Norenius (Mark van der Pas) of Kingston, daughter Katherine of Toronto, son Peter Nils (Donna Wong) of Toronto, brother Noel Harbeson Norenius, grandchildren Erika van der Pas (Mario Pejic), Niklas Anders Norenius and Tessa Halle Norenius, great granddaughter Mila Pejic and companion Jean Archdeacon.

Erik was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Una Mae.

Page 24 FRIDAY, February 23, 2024

MANOTICK MESSENGER

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