Manotick Messenger March 22, 2024

Clark McEachran, 13, of Manotick, was the winner of the Ottawa Senators Air Canada Fan Flight Contest. Clark was chosen as the winner for his work and volunteerism in the community, which includes offering free skate sharpening for veterans, and volunteering at the Manotick Legion. Clark, his father, his uncle and cousin were given a trip to Nashville and tickets to a Senators-Predators game, as well as a send-off at the airport from Sparty. For the full story, see page 4.

March is a time for celebrations and the arrival of spring

I would like to thank everyone who joined us on March 8 for my annual International Women’s Day Breakfast. It was a great way to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of women in all walks of life in the Carleton riding. I also want to give a special thanks to Debbie and her amazing staff at Danby’s Roadhouse in Richmond for hosting the event.

International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Each year, this day serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made toward gender equality. It also serves to remind us of the work that still needs to be done.

Happy Nowruz

Sometimes I like to share a bit of my Persian culture with everyone, and the next couple of weeks are special as there will be celebrations around the world for Nowruz. March is Persian Heritage Month in Ontario, so I thought it

would be good to share this with you.

The spelling of Nowruz has always been a bit of a pet peeve of mine, as the holiday is pronounced “no-rooz”. I don’t know why they put a W in the spelling.

Nowruz, which means “new day”, falls on the spring equinox each year. It is based on the Iranian solar Hijri calendar, and it marks the Persian New Year. Its origins are in the Iranian religion of Zoroastrianism. It has been celebrated for 3,000 years, making it one of the oldest festivals still celebrated in human history.

On Nowruz, millions of Iranians from around the world and all walks of life, irrespective of religion, age, language, gender, race, ethnicity, or social status, gather together with family, friends and loved ones to celebrate the

new year. The celebration marks the rebirth of nature, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. Nowruz represents much of what Iranian character, history and culture is all about.

We eat traditional food, including a fish and rice dish called “sabzi polo ba mahi.” We give gifts—or “eydis,” as we call them— to children.

More than 300 million people around the world celebrate Nowruz. And it is no small celebration. Imagine Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Canada Day rolled into one monthlong holiday, and then add delicious food, street dances, fire shows, and a lot of loud banging on pots.

To everyone celebrating Nowruz in Carleton, I wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.

Governments Helping Boost Production of Ontario Maple Syrup

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing more than $1 million through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustain-

able CAP) to support the productivity and growth of businesses in the province’s maple syrup sector.

The Maple Production Improvement Initiative is supporting 77 maple syrup producers with cost-shared funding to support a range of activities to enhance their operations. The initiative supports the purchase and installation of upgraded equipment for eligible syrup producers, that will increase productivity, efficiency, and growth, such as reverse osmosis or remote monitoring systems. It also provides funding to cover a portion of woodlot management activities, including tree marking and the development of a forest plan, to assist the operation of eligible businesses.

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

Initiative, up to $25 million through the Agri-tech Innovation Initiative and more than $68 million through the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Initiative.

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

The Ontario government calculations suggest over 1,000 jobs and close to $42 million in gross domestic product (GDP) were attributed to the maple industry value chain (farm, processing, and retail), in 2022. Ontario is Canada’s third-largest maple syrup producing province, behind Quebec and New Brunswick. In 2022, it pro-

duced 4.5 per cent of Canada’s maple syrup or about 2.68 million litres of syrup. Maple Weekend is April 6-7, in Ontario. Consider visiting a participating maple producer to check out the festivities.

Ontario Investing

Nearly $1.3 Billion to Stabilize Colleges and Universities

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

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

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

including $903 million over three years through the new Postsecondary Education Sustainability Fund starting in 202425. This amount includes $203 million in funding for top-ups for institutions with greater financial need. Also included is an additional $167.4 million over three years in additional funding for capital repairs and equipment.

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

costs in a course syllabus.

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

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

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

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

To help more students find jobs, the province intends to allow colleges to offer applied master’s degrees in areas of study that will help students

graduate with in-demand skills, expertise, and credentials. This approach will also provide employers access to more industry-ready employees that meet labour market needs in specialized fields such as advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and animation.

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

With these invest-

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

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

Manotick teen wins Ottawa Senators trip of a lifetime to Nashville

For Clark McEachran of Manotick, it was the trip of a lifetime.

The 13-year-old St. Mark student was selected as the Ottawa Senators’ winner of the Air Canada Fan Flight contest. He, his father Ryan, his cousin and his uncle won Air Canada flights to Nashville, hotel accommodations, and tickets to an Ottawa Senators gave against the Nashville Predators.

The Air Canada Fan Flight program runs across Canada in NHL cities and in some CHL cities. The airline rolled out the program to reward passionate young and deserving sports fans who have done something positive in the community. Clark’s father entered him in the contest.

“I had no idea that my dad had entered me in it,”

Clark said of the contest.

Clark, who plays hockey in the Osgoode Rideau Senators U15 program, has a skate sharpening enterprise called On the Edge. He offers free skate sharpening to seniors and veterans in the community.

In addition to his involvement in hockey and skating, Clark also volunteers at the Manotick Legion. He helped out at December’s Breakfast with Santa, working on set-up, table setting and serving.

Clark was selected as the winner for “his resilience and positivity in the face of adversity.” In addition to the airfare, accommodation, and tickets to the game in Nashville, they also got a special gate departure sendoff with Ottawa Senators mascot Spartacat, priority boarding, ground trans-

portation, city passes, a meet and greet with special guests, and gifts.

Ryan told Clark that he was one of the finalists in the contests, and that they had to go for a video shoot with the club to promote the contest. What Clark didn’t know was at the end of the video shoot, they told him he was the winner.

“He kept it a total secret from me,” Clark said of his father. “He didn’t want me to find out.”

Clark was totally caught off guard when Ottawa Senators in-game host Lauren Fine told him he was heading to Nashville.

“After the interview, they told me I was going to go,” he said. “I was very excited, very happy, and very proud.”

It was an early start to the day on Sun., Feb. 25 when they departed, as they left Manotick for Macdonald-Cartier Airport at 2 a.m.

“We had a full day there Sunday, and on Monday we did what we want,” Clark said. We went downtown and looked around a lot. We went into some great places to eat. I listen to country music so it was really cool to be there. We went to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

One of the people Clark got to meet was Ottawa Senators head coach Jacques Martin. Clark also came home with a special souvenir.

“We went to ice level before the game and Mathieu Joseph of the Sens tossed me a puck,” Clark said.

Clark also said he

enjoyed the experience of watching a hockey game in a different market. “Smashville” is known for having a loud and passionate fanbase.”

“It was a lot of fun and a great place to watch a game,” he said. “We were wearing our Sens jerseys and we really stood out because the crowd was all yellow with their Predators jerseys.”

Even though he is only 13, Clark is looking ahead at his future.

“I am looking into kinesiology,” he said. “I’m very interested in how the body works.”

His dream, which is even more vivid after his trip to Nashville, is to someday be a physiotherapist for the Ottawa Senators.

Clark McEachran got a pre-game puck from Mathieu Joseph at ice level in Nashville.

Clark McEachran gets ready for his road trip to Nashville with his father, cousin and Sparty.

The McEachran clan was among the group of contest winners from Ottawa in Nashville.

ARAC hears about ongoing road safety efforts in

The Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee received a presentation about improving road safety in rural areas, one of the main areas of focus for the City’s Road Safety Action Plan.

The presentation highlighted that more fatal injury collisions happen on Ottawa’s rural roads than anywhere else in the city.

Over the last reported fiveyear period, 23 per cent of

all fatal and major injury collisions in Ottawa occurred in rural areas. That figure rises to 38 per cent when considering only fatal injury collisions.

About one quarter of the $20.5-million Road Safety Action Plan budget for 2024 is focused on improving safety in rural areas, and the Committee heard about engineered solutions, education and enforcement efforts undertaken in 2023

and planned this year. Engineered solutions for 2024 include:

- Continuing design work for the intersection of Dunrobin and Constance Bay roads

- Redesigning two rural skewed intersections, including one at Leitrim and Russell roads and another at Canon Smith Drive and Fitzroy Street

- Implementing safety edges and rumble strips on

rural roads as part of resurfacing

- Upgrading gravel shoulders

- Identifying up to 10 rural stop locations for enhanced signage and pavement marking

Additional work in 2024 includes conducting awareness programs in schools about the safe operation of motorized recreational vehicles and studying the use of automated speed enforcement cameras in Ottawa’s rural villages.

The Committee also heard about road safety projects recently completed in the rural area under the Safety Improvement Program, including fully protected left-turn phasing at Albion and Mitch Owens roads, all way stops at 8th Line and Parkway roads, and road safety reviews

The committee approved site-specific amendments to the Official Plan and secondary plans to facilitate active development proposals that were affected when the previous Official Plan was repealed, and the current one adopted in 2022. In each case, there were unforeseen and unintended effects of implementing the new OP.

The proposed amendments either re-establish relevant policies of the former plans or add sitespecific policies to realign current OP policies for the affected properties. The Planning and Housing Committee will also consider this matter on Wednesday, March 27 before it rises to Council on Wednesday, April 3.

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The presentation also offered information about the warrant criteria used to assess the need for traffic control signals, intersection pedestrian signals, and allway stop control measures.

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Wilson Law Partners is an anchor institution in Manotick. Sydney Bowles has worked as a summer student for the last four years. In May 2023 she starting articling.and was called to the bar in February 2024. Now licensed as a lawyer she chooses to remain in Manotick. because of her love of the village. Wilson Law Partners is a perfect fit as they exemplify community. Sydney was born and raised in Manotick (grand-daughter of Dr. Pickett, the longtime veterinarian in town). She has friends who have moved on to Toronto and other urban centres for far greater remuneration however she chooses community. Pictured L to R: Matt Frye, Michelle Perry, Sydney Bowles, Andrew Willson. P

Eric and Val Lister

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Eric and Val Lister. After celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary on December 20, 2023, Val passed away peacefully on January 14, 2024; Eric passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 5, 2024. Eric and Val came to Manotick area in 1974 and were long-time residents of the Carleton Golf Club. She was a teacher at the Winchester District High School, and he worked for Transport Canada. Val was an avid collector of antique oil lamps and a student of history. She was a founding member of the Historical Lighting Society. When she retired from teaching, she obtained her Master of Arts Degree in Canadian Studies.

Eric had a degree in Engineering. He was a passionate car enthusiast and was well-known by other automobile enthusiasts everywhere. He loved everything about cars and owned quite a few over the years. The only thing that held a candle to cars (besides Val) were dogs. They will be sorely missed by many, many friends. Gifts to the SPCA or to the Cancer Society can be made on their behalf.

MESSENGER EditoRial

It was just unthinkable

It was a tragedy that impacted everyone who heard the news, not just locally, but nationally.

A mother, four young children, and a family friend were brutally stabbed to death in Barrhaven, the neighbouring suburb just a few minutes away, The student living in their basement was charged with six counts of murder and another count of attempted murder. He appeared in court last Thursday. The husband and father was allegedly attacked when he arrived home. He survived the attack, ran outside, and yelled for someone to call 9-1-1.

Messenger Editorial

Sadly and inexplicably, he was their friend.

Are you more Canadian than a fifth grader?

With Canada Day approaching next week, it is a good time for us all to reflect on what it means to be Canadian.

Do we take being Canadian for granted?

Trendy words slip in and out of our everyday language.

Metrosexual.

Do you remember that one? I don’t really fit that description. In fact, I used to joke that I was ruralsexual.

Our COmmunity

But on Saturday, I found myself at ground zero of Metrosexual-topia.

Lululemon.

The act was unthinkable, and the heartbreak and outpouring of emotion in the area parallels what we saw when six people were killed only a kilometre away from the crime scene when an OC Transpo bus collided with a VIA train, killing six people.

Better yet, how do new Canadians feel about being Canadian? Some of us look upon immigrants and refugees as opportunists, not wanting to give but very willing to take. Perhaps, for some people, that is true, but when you attend a celebration for new Canadians, such as the one hosted by NepeanCarleton MP Pierre Poilievre at Mother Teresa High School in Barrhaven last month, you can see the excitement and the thankfulness in the eyes of every new Canadian.

The tragedy hit the Sri Lankan community across the city and across the country particularly hard. It was not the first time that a tragedy had hit that community. Back in 1994, a family from Sri Lanka who had recently moved to the area went through their own tragedy. Shaffiq Vissram was a 19-year-old student attending classes at South Carleton High School. He never came home from school one day, and his backpack was found by a creek at Prince of Wales and Bankfield.

They understand, perhaps better than all of us, what it means to be Canadian.

So how can the rest of us have that feeling?

The Conservative government has a solid idea.

Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism and Andrew Cohen, President of the Historica-Dominion Institute, are challenging middle and high school students to take the citizenship test.

In 2016, his remains were unearthed at Prince of Wales and Second Line when a family was building a deck on their new home. But 30 years later, the case is still cold.

The Canadian Citizenship Challenge, funded in part by CIC and run by the Historica-Dominion Institute, will see students study Discover Canada: the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship and then take a mock citizenship test.

Not just any Lululemon. The Westboro Lululemon. I was in a store I don’t belong in, in a part of the city I don’t belong in.

So while the Diva tried on the latest in designer yogawear, I stood there, like the Mayor of Awkwardville, in the epicentre of metrosexuality. My role on Team Diva during shopping outings is to hold things. I held her purse while she tried things on. I had a David’s Tea bag filled with David’s Tea containers for the next stop in a world I don’t fit into.

At the school’s 50th Anniversary Party, Manotick Co-operative Nursery School honoured its longest-serving teacher/volunteer with a memorial garden bench, which will be installed with a plaque in the school’s playground. Left to right, MCNS Director Sandy Erler and June Hodge celebrate June’s 29 years as a supply teacher, teacher and volunteer.

I prayed to God that I wouldn’t run into anyone I knew.

“Do you want to look at the men’s clothing, babes?” she asked.

Sometimes it’s best just to say nil

accountant-chic. He was wearing skin tight charcoal men’s yoga pants and a long sleeve skin tight charcoal top. I wanted to make a comment to Keisha’s boyfriend, but I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. Don was one small logo on his chest away from being on the crew of the Starship Enterprise. Or maybe Don was auditioning for that new Vegas act, the Charcoal Grey Man Group.

Sarcasm had put Embarrassment in check in the chess game on the beach. They were playing for my soul.

At that point the Diva emerged from her Luluroom. She looked amazing in her new Lululemon swag.

You can’t blame anyone for wanting to go and mourn, and attend the memorial at Palmadeo Park.

“This will be a fun way for students to learn about Canada and feel proud of our shared history and accomplishments,” said Minister Kenney. “As we learn about our past and the people and events that made Canada what it is today, we become more proud to be Canadian. We are inspired to see how we can defend our rights and live up to our responsibilities and we feel much more strongly how valuable it is to be a citizen of Canada.”

With the Mayor and the city councillors there, doing a very difficult civic duty at the event, someone from the city decided it would be a great opportunity to send a bylaw officer to the scene.

I’m finding myself at one of those bizarre crossroads where everything I love about sports is about to collide with a large swatch of the population working diligently to grate my nerves.

My plummeting self-esteem rendered my voice useless. I nodded ‘no.’

It’s this whole World Cup thing. Don’t you find that people are just a little too into it?

wonder about things like how come “underneath” is a word but no one ever says “overneath” when the discussion pulled me back into soccer.

“Our schools need to be training our young people to become the citizens of tomorrow. Citizenship is not only about new Canadians, it’s about all Canadians, young and old,” said Andrew Cohen. “The Canadian Citizenship Challenge will encourage students to learn more about what it means to be Canadian and then put that knowledge to the test.”

There is no parking lot at Palmadeo Park. There is enough parking on the street for less than a dozen cars. So while more than a hundred were praying, weeping and paying their respects, some returned to their cars to find $90 parking tickets on their windshields.

Starting this summer, the Historica-Dominion Institute will be encouraging more than 5,000 middle and high school teachers to register their classrooms for the Challenge. Each classroom will receive a set of the new citizenship guide, along with specially designed learning activities. The teacher will also receive copies of a mock citizenship exam. Students will take the citizenship exam as a class and the teachers will return the completed exams to the Dominion Institute for grading.

I found myself in line in front of two nouveau soccer fan moms at Your Independent Grocer the other day.

The people on Facebook, an angry mob at the best of times, were furious.

Couldn’t the bylaw officers have just taken a knee on this one, or maybe looked the other way for an hour or two given what was going on?

FROM

I know that Lululemon has a men’s sportswear line. I even know that when I am hanging out at Canadian Tire Centre a few hours before Sens games, some of the guys wear Lululemon. I know that NHL players are supposed to be trendsetters, but those rich and misguided 20-something-year-olds have no idea how much damage they are doing to guys like me.

“Chelsea is learning so much by watching the World Cup,” said the mom wearing Crocs. “We are studying each country before the game. She has really become a fan of Arr-hayne-TEE-na, and she even wants us to go there on our vacation next year. Perhaps we can even go to Brrra-seeel.”

That caught my attention.

Arr-hayne-TEE-na?

Are you kidding me?

We wonder if the Mayor and Councillors were given tickets. Was MPP MacLeod given a ticket?

Results will be announced by the Dominion Institute on Flag Day (February 15) each year for the next three years. For more information about the Challenge please visit the Historica-Dominion Institute website at www.historica-dominion.ca.

CIC’s multiculturalism grants and contributions program will be investing $525,171 in this 32 month project which promotes civic memory, civic pride and integration.

I was kind of in my own little mental world in the checkout line, scanning the tabloid and magazine covers and wondering what Justin Bieber’s first major scandal would be. I was just about to reenter the world after some quality time on Planet Jeff and launch into my weekly way-to-reward-your-customers-bycharging-us-five-cents-per-bag-and-claiming-it’sto-save-the-environment rant when I unexpectedly locked in on the conversation behind me.

Perhaps there is a quota shortage because we did not get much snow this winter, and they did not have the opportunity to ticket enough cars throughout the city that were parked on the street during plowing time.

“I wish some of the stores would carry the vuvuzela horns so that we could bring them to Chelsea’s games,” said the mom who was wearing Crocs.

Regardless of the reason for this happening, it shouldn’t have.

The other mom – the one with the Birkenstocks – piped in. “They are a wonderful football nation,” she said. “My husband, of course, wears the azure and cheers for Italia, but Zachary’s favourite team has been MAY-heee-co.

The over-bubbly change room girl wrote the Diva’s name on the board outside Room 2 with an erasable marker. I looked at the names on the board. Kali, Kaitlin and Kayleigh. Then another woman appeared and her name was written on the board. Keisha.

“Oh, I know,” said the one wearing Birkenstocks. “Zachary has a tournament next weekend and it would have been so in the spirit of the World Cup to have all of us blowing our vuvuzela horns. They lost two-nil and then three-nil. They need all of the support they can get.”

Nil? Who says nil? Really.

They did a school project on MAY-heee-co last year and he has even insisted that we go to out to eat and watch the games when they are playing.”

I bit my tongue. In an effort to keep my blood pressure down, I looked out the big window at the big parking lot and scoped it out, looking for a puppy or a bird or anything that would pry my mind out of the shackles that these two soccer moms had put me in with their conversation.

‘Oh, for Krist’s sake,’ I thought to myself, giggling. I had to wipe the smirk off my face before I drew attention to myself.

“Oh, I know,” said the mom wearing Crocs. “The horns are such a beautiful part of the South African culture.”

Not that I already had.

A busload of seniors from a nearby retirement home had pulled up and passengers were getting off. I was trying to, in my head, name all of their walkers as an escape.

Unfortunately, they pulled me back in.

Keisha’s boyfriend parked himself beside me outside the change rooms.

I wanted to jump in and say something, but I refrained. I couldn’t do it. If you are unfamiliar with the vuvuzela horn, then you have not tuned into CBC over the past two weeks. If you stumble across a World Cup soccer game on CBC, you will hear what sounds like 50,000 bees swarming the field. They are not bees. They are people blowing on cheap, plastic, gimmicky horns.

“My cousin lives in Australia, and he was devastated when Germany beat them 4-nil,” said the mom wearing Crocs.

We didn’t speak, but we bonded. We made eye contact. Like me, he had that ‘OMG I hope I don’t see anyone I know’ look on his face.

At this point, I couldn’t take it anymore. Mount Patience erupted and out came sarcasm lava.

“I saw that match,” I said. “I can’t believe AusTRY-lier looked so insipid against Deutschland.”

The mom with the crocs was not impressed. The mom with Birkenstock’s wasn’t either, but she did acknowledge me with a response.

As she went to the cashier, I looked around and did some more investigative journalism to reaffirm how out of place I was. The yoga people all had this look to them. It was hard to put a finger on it. I see the same sort of look when I walk into Starbucks, which, even though I lived in Seattle for five years, is another place I don’t fit into. As I saw myself in a full length mirror, I noticed my Adidas hoodie under my Adidas winter jacket and I was wearing my Adidas hat. I love Adidas, and even being in Lululemon, I felt that I was violating my strong brand loyalty to my favourite athletic clothing company. My Adidas logo was being overshadowed by the Lululemon logo. By the way, I did learn while there that the Lululemon logo is a stylized “A” that stands for “Athletically hip,” which was one of the names founder Chip Wilson was considering when he named his company.

How can you be hip when your name is Chip? Hey Chip, give my best to Buffy.

Finally, the Diva’s transaction was completed. I was handed more bags to carry because, hey, that’s my job, and off we went to David’s Tea to sample Toasted Walnut Tea and Berry Hibiscus Tea and to look at all the different designer teas. We left with a container full of White Chocolate Frost.

News and Editorial: manotickmessenger@gmail.com

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Website: www.manotickmessenger.ca

Staff/Contributors: Kelly Belair, David Brown, Gary Coulombe, Larry Ellis, Skyler Fraser, Goldie Ghamari, Melissa MacIsaac, Jeffrey Morris, Greg Newton, Irene Staron, Ralph Tweedie.

The funny thing about these horns is that they have become what has defined the 2010 World Cup. People who have been following the World Cup and people who have only seen 20 minutes of it in passing have commented on these annoying yet relentless horns. Ironically, while the world has learned to adapt these horns as the one thing they now know about South African culture, the horns aren’t really a part of their everyday lives. South African sports enthusiasts have commented that they had never seen nor heard a vuvuzela horn at a sporting event, and that the South African people find the noise just as annoying as the rest of the world does. Apparently, some now wealthy marketing genius came up with the idea to mass produce and market these horns as a World Cup novelty. The plan worked, and now the rest of the world must endure the shrilling sounds of his quick buck.

The Manotick Messenger is published every other FRIDAY in Manotick, Ontario. Letters will be edited for length, clarity and libellous statements. Display rates are available on request. The Manotick Messenger is not responsible for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other material used for publication purposes.

“We have some chairs over there if you would like to sit down,” said the bubbly girl with the marker and the eraser.

“Who is your team?” she quipped, condescendingly. I did the only thing I could do, shouting as loud as I could.

“USA! USA! USA!”

They turned their heads in disgust. The next 45 seconds were incredibly silent and awkward.

At that point, it was my turn. The cashier scanned my Diet Coke and V-8 Fusion, and I was all set.

“I’m good,” he said. “I’m just waiting here, holding things and getting ready to carry more things.” I could tell by the look in his eyes he would be more comfortable in the store if there was a Lululemon Shoresy Collection.

“Would you like plastic bags?”

“Yes please,” I replied. I had never been so happy to pay five cents for a plastic bag just to get the hell out there.

At that moment, we noticed a man emerging from one of the change rooms. It was Don. I’m guessing he was in his 50s and had a haircut and look that screamed

I was just about to drift back into ADD world and

Jeffrey Morris was the 2008 OCNA Columnist of the Year. His book, From the Other Skide, is available at Manotick Office Pro, Barrhaven UPS Store, and Pages in Prescott.

We decided to stop for lunch in the Corner Bar and Grill, which I found as a safe enclave as a Metro-free zone within the confines of Westboro. I craved for the most ruralsexual meal I could find, which was a cheeseburger. The Diva, who was dripping with Westboroness by this point, had a beet salad that she called one of the best salads she had ever had.

Finally, we got out of Westboro and headed home. The Lululemon bags and our David’s Tea was securely snuggled into the back seat.

“Well that was a great little outing,” she said, excitedly.

I looked at her and smiled.

Men are from Prescott, women are from Westboro.

Easter in our town is a lovely time – church bells chime, listen to them, they are telling the story of the empty tomb; Christ is Risen. Churches are filled with people in new clothes, listen to the choirs singing, snowy white lilies, smiling faces everywhere, Eastertime is Springtime!

THis week, THIS MONTH

by Larry Ellis

Easter is celebrated in various ways in different countries in the world. In France church bells do not ring from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. In some parts of Germany, eggs are coloured green for good luck and carried by people to church on Maundy Thursday. In Jerusalem the bishops and priests, representing

the 12 disciples take part in a public foot washing ceremony and in Romania on Easter Eve, churchgoers carry lighted candles home after midnight mass. This is the time of the year when anyone who will look and listen can’t avoid the fact that something is happening around us. Spring is not really a lesson; nature is not in the teaching business, nature is change and growth and all kinds of life going its own way, grass grows,

trees flourish, birds nest and animals give birth. Do you know what else happens in springtime – why love is in the air, everywhere, look for it, you’ll find it!

Try and fill your life with pleasant things, the kind of peace that comes from daily living; the love of nature, watching each phase from spring’s shy dawn right through to the cold, wintry days. Friendships increase through the years, new ones are made and old ones cul-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

tivated. Share the hopes and fears of others, be happy for someone’s triumphs and feel the pain of another’s trouble or problem.

The colors most often used in Easter decorations – white, gold or yellow, 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 colour, and in the language of religious symbols, it stands for mourning.

The orator, Cicero, who lived between AD43 and AD106, said these great lines - “the life given us by nature is short; but the memories of a life well spent are eternal.”

Braid responds to letter in last issue regarding criticism of Ford The Easter Holiday is celebrated in many different ways around the world

The Editor, I must admit, I found last week’s letter from frequent contributor Cindy Ferguson highly entertaining, primarily because her suggestion that anyone would ever have to “rack his brain” to come up with a criticism of the Ford government is downright laughable. When I consider all the files his government has botched— besides Healthcare and Education, there’s Hydro One, the White Pines wind farm, highway 413, selling

off the greenbelt for development—the list seems endless. And let’s not forget that Doug Ford violated the constitution in his attempt to effectively cut wages for nurses through bill 124, which is largely responsible for the nursing crisis in this province. And, it was Doug Ford who stuck us with the Carbon Tax when he foolishly cancelled the Cap and Trade system that had exempted us from it. So, coming up with a criticism of Ford’s profoundly inept

government is actually very simple—it’s trying to think of something he’s done that’s worthy of praise that would have anyone racking his brain, I would respectfully submit.

Ferguson’s letter devotes a lot of ink to the Education file, but even she—a diehard Doug Ford supporter—has to admit the picture is not all that rosy. After almost six years of successive Doug Ford majority governments, she describes the state of our

education system this way, “our young people have the lowest rates of reading, writing and math proficiency since these things began being tested and measured.”

I agree, it’s appalling what has happened to the education system under Ford! And I’m not alone in thinking that, because the newlyelected federal Conservative member for Durham, Jamil Jivani, actually took a potshot at the Ford government during his victory speech, stating, ”and when I say

‘liberal elites’ I am talking about Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party — but not just them… I am also talking about the liberal elites who run the Ontario Ministry of Education in this province.” Jivani’s criticism of Ontario’s education system goes back years, as shown by the following post he made on X dated June 24, 2022:

“Education is one of the most important government offices in Ontario. Yet, it continues to be led by an

incompetent minister, Stephen Lecce, who refuses to adequately acknowledge the harmful impact of his decisions on the most vulnerable children.

Ontario deserves better”

Cindy Ferguson may be 100% supportive of the “liberal elites” currently running the Ministry of Education in this province but I find myself siding with the federal Tories on this one. Ontario does deserve better.

Andy Braid

Who’s the donkey responsible for the traffic light on Perth Street?

The Editor, I never anticipated the biggest challenge of living in Richmond after moving into the village from a rural area a few years ago.

The challenge I am talking about is turning left onto Perth Street from Shea.

As more and more people move into the west end of the village, and as more and

more people from Ashton, Munster, Carleton Place, and wherever get to the city or the 416 via Richmond, Perth Street has become increasingly busy in the past few years. I think back to the preCOVID days, when things were “normal” and everyone seemed to be heading downtown and no one was working from home. The traffic

now seems heavy, faster and more aggressive.

The biggest need in Richmond is a traffic light at Perth and Shea.

Instead, as one of the previous councillor’s parting gifts, or maybe a parting gift from a municipal worker who has never had the joy of driving in Richmond, we have an absolutely useless

traffic light on Perth Street a few metres west. The traffic light pretty much connects nothing to nothing, while a 10 second walk away there are cars backed up coming out the McEwen Station or the shopping plaza or just coming out of the neighbourhood they live in.

Who is the donkey that thought putting the traffic

light in front of the old motel was a good idea?

Unfortunately, Councillor Brown inherited the brand spanking new traffic light. After the city spend Lord knows what to put that albatross in the ground and get it working, I doubt very much that they would be willing to pony up and move the light a few feet over to

where it actually needs to be. We keep hearing about the upcoming rural summit and the recognition that things can’t operate in the rural area the way they do in the city.

In Richmond, the city only botched a traffic light. Thank goodness there is no light rail out here to mess up.

S. Reid

nis Wyche

Grade: 12

Sisters: April (20), OTHS, UNB Fredericton. Violet (20), Canterbury (vocals), Carleton University. Ivy (22), St. Mark, Algonquin College.

Parents: Heather and Dennis Wyche

Pets: Two dogs, Ewok and Pixie, and a cat.

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

Message from Your President

Our call for volunteers is working! We are pleased to announce that since our last newsletter, we’ve received assistance from a number of volunteers who have successfully helped us obtain expressions of interest from a number of volunteer members for Board positions. All are exceptionally qualified with Executive Board experience. Names of our nominees will be made public after our April 9 MVCA Board meeting.

In the meantime, as one nominee is currently a member of our Governance Committee and interested in taking the lead on Events once Theresa Roberts steps down, we are now looking for their replacement on the Governance Committee.

If you or someone you know is interested in helping the MVCA develop operating policies and procedures to support the work of our association, please contact president@manotickvca.org

Our thanks to all our members for your continued support and feedback!

MVCA Annual Meeting

- May 29, 2024 - 7 pm

The Board of the MVCA extends an invitation to all our members, residents and community partners to join us at our Annual Meeting May 29 being held in-person at the Kiwanis Hall, 2nd floor of the Manotick Arena and on-line, for the convenience of our members.

The MVCA President will provide a recap of the MVCA’s 2023 activities, present 2023 YE financials, and share strategic priorities for the year ahead. With a number of Board members stepping down, members will have the opportunity to vote in their new Board.

Not a member? This

meeting will offer the opportunity to attend as an observer to learn about the work the MVCA is doing on behalf of your community related to traffic and community well-being, planning and development, and organizing community events. While questions will only be taken from members, the experience gained from attending and seeing the MVCA in action could convince you that being a member does make a difference in our community!

ARAC - Improving Road Safety

On March 7, the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee (ARAC) received a presentation about improving road safety in rural areas, one of the main areas of focus for the City’s Road Safety Action Plan. Statistics reported over the past five years show that 23% of all fatal and major injury collisions in Ottawa occurred in rural areas, more than anywhere else in the City. That figure rises to 38% when considering only fatal injury collisions.

Approximately one-quarter of the $20.5-million 2024 Road Safety Action Plan budget is focused on improving safety in rural areas. Efforts undertaken in 2023 and planned for 2024 include engineered solutions, education and enforcement. Engineered solutions for 2024 include implementing safety edges and rumble strips on rural roads as part of resurfacing, upgrading gravel shoulders, and identifying up to 10 rural stop locations for enhanced signage and pavement marking. Additional work in 2024 includes conducting awareness programs in schools about the safe operation of motorized recreational vehicles and studying the use of automated speed enforcement cameras in Ottawa’s rural villages.

Part-time Work: “Cheerleading and tumbling coach at Kemptville Infinity in Kemptville.)

ARAC approved sitespecific amendments to the Official Plan and secondary plans to facilitate active development proposals that were affected when the pre-

Sisters: April (20), OTHS, UNB Fredericton. Violet (20), Canterbury (vocals), Carleton University. Ivy (22), St. Mark, Algonquin College.

by Phill Potter

Information about the warrant criteria used to assess the need for traffic control signals, intersection pedestrian signals, and all-way stop control measures was also presented.

Favourite Subjects: “Math and Chemistry. I enjoy doing labs and probthere isn’t much interpretation to be done, it’s more just problem solving, which is what makes me enjoy those classes the most.”

Pets: Two dogs, Ewok and Pixie, and a cat.

What is your Greatest Accomplishment? “Earning the title of Student Council President at my school. The process was not easy, but I persevered and made it through, even though there were setbacks along the way. It has also been a very rewarding accomplishment, as I’ve gained so many opportunities, and gotten to network with other youth like myself.”

though I can no longer participate in it.”

Career Goals: “After high school I hope to go to university somewhere near the east coast; hopefully in kinesiology. My top choice schools are University of New Brunswick

Part-time Work: “Cheerleading and tumbling coach at Kemptville Infinity in Kemptville.)

lem solving. Since the concepts are not broad, and there isn’t much interpretation to be done, it’s more just problem solving, which is what makes me enjoy those classes the most.”

travelled to many places and I find it very interesting how every culture has unique traditions and subcultures. My favourite place is Norway, because there is such beautiful places all over the country and amazing hiking. The next location I wish to travel to is Iceland, because it’s a very open country, with very kind citizens, and lots to see.”

vious Official Plan (“OP”) was repealed, and the current one adopted in 2022. In each case, there were unforeseen and unintended effects of implementing the new OP.

due to concussions, so I turned to coaching. It has given me an opportunity to continue in the sport, even though I can no longer participate in it.”

Manotick answers call for volunteers, ARAC looks at rural road safety

Why did you get involved in what you do? “I got involved in Student Council because I saw it as an opportunity to make

Favourite Subjects: “Math and Chemistry. I enjoy doing labs and prob-

What is your Greatest Accomplishment? “Earning the title of Student Council President at my school. The process was not easy, but I persevered and made it through, even though there were setbacks along the way. It has also been a very rewarding accomplishment, as I’ve gained so many opportunities, and gotten to network with other youth like myself.”

volleyball, and touch football. I also enjoy traveling and learning about different locations and cultures. I’ve travelled to many places and I find it very interesting how every culture has unique traditions and subcultures. My favourite place is Norway, because there is such beautiful places all over the country and amazing hiking. The next location I wish to travel to is Iceland, because it’s a very open country, with very kind citizens, and lots to see.”

Community Calendar

March 22nd - History Book Club - Members Lounge, Manotick Legion (5550 Ann St) - 3:30pm-5:00pm. Calling all military history book enthusiasts! Every fourth Friday of the month. For details contact Terry Hunter at peilighthorse@ hotmail.com

• Ottawa Futsal Club entering their 29th season indoor soccer. Youth boys & girls, women, men & coed. Players / teams wanted. All skill levels. League starts October ends April 2020. Please go online at www.futsalottawa.com.

Early bird ends September 21st

• Ottawa Newcomers Club - For women who have recently moved to this area; (and those who have experienced a significant life change), and would like to meet new people of similar interests by joining our many group activities. More information at: ottawanewcomersclub.ca or by contacting newcomersclubottawa@gmail.com.

Why did you get involved in what you do?

“I got involved in Student Council because I saw it as an opportunity to make

• Old Time Fiddle Music & Dance - East Osgoode Greely Assoc, First Friday of each month, invites & welcome all Musicians, Dancers & Listeners. Greely Community Centre, 1448 Meadow Drive, Greely. For additional info call 613 489-2697.

April 20 - Manotick Spring Fling - The Manotick BIA in partnership with the Manotick Art Association is hosting a special ‘performance art themed’ event and ‘Inspiration Art Show’ in the Village. Details are being finalized and will be available at the end of March at https://manotickvillage.com/

April 20 - Crimson Heart Market for Mom - Manotick Legion (5550 Ann St) - 9am - 2pm. Featuring 20+ various vendors. Food and drink by Mike’s Monkey Dogs. Vendor inquiries welcome, $35 per table. For details contact amy_ mombo@hotmail.com

Manotick Walking Club – Winter Session – 10-10:30 am Monday & Friday mornings - ongoing to April 21, Community Hall, 2nd floor Manotick Arena. Hosted by the Manotick Culture, Parks and Recreation Association (MCPRA) and led by a certified senior fitness instructor. $45 for 20 sessions. To register and more information go to https://www.mcpra.org/.

990 River Road (across from Tim Hortons)

These cards accepted Monday-Friday: 9am-8pm Saturday: 9am-5pm Sunday: 10am-4pm Paul’s Pharmacy

613-692-0015

Transferring a prescription is easy to do

The proposed amendments either re-establish relevant policies of the former plans or add site-specific policies to re-align current OP policies for the affected properties. The Planning and Housing Committee will also consider this matter on Wednesday, March 27th before it rises to Council on Wednesday, April 3rd.

• Thursday Fun Night for adults and children. An optional supper at 5:45 pm. Indoor soccer/games, crafts, or nursery for ages 0-11. Parenting course, Alpha course, or Growing in Faith/Hearing God course for adults, 6:30 - 7:30 pm. To try it out contact, discipleship@trinitybiblechurch.ca

• Ottawa Futsal Club entering their 29th season indoor soccer. Youth boys & girls, women, men & coed. Players / teams wanted. All skill levels. League starts October ends April 2020. Please go online at www.futsalottawa.com. Early bird ends September 21st

• Ottawa Newcomers Club - For women who have recently moved to this area; (and those who have experienced a significant life change), and would like to meet new people of similar interests by joining our many group activities. More information at: ottawanewcomersclub.ca or by contacting newcomersclubottawa@gmail.com.

May 10 - 6pm-11pm Chic Time in the Tick, “The Enchanted Garden Gala’ - fundraiser presented through the Manotick Culture, Parks and Recreation Association (MCPRA) at the Manotick Curling Centre. Features a buffet dinner & dancing. Tickets are $95 /person. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.mcpra.org/chic-time-in-thetick

June 7-14 - The Manotick Tennis Club will be hosting

613-692-0015

Career Goals: “After high school I hope to go to university somewhere near the east coast; hopefully in kinesiology. My top choice schools are University of New Brunswick in St. John, and Dalhousie in Halifax. After that, I hope to pursue a career in either athletic therapy, or education.”

After suffering numerous concussions, Melita Wyche turned to coaching.

• Friday Night Country Music & Dance Club The Greely Legion the fourth Friday of each month. Bring along an instrument to play, or come in to sing, listen and dance. Admission is FREE. Greely Legion, 8021 Mitch Owens Road, ON. Information: 613-822-1451 or 613-826-6128.

PHILL POTTER PHOTO

an International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament at the courts in Centennial Park bringing some of the top juniors from North America and further afield to Manotick. Players will compete to earn the ITF ranking points that will propel them toward a tennis scholarship at a US college or directly into the professional ranks. Follow on https://www.manoticktennisclub.com/on to learn how you can support this prestigious event.

Progressive Euchre Tournament - First Saturday of the month at the Legion - Register at 12:30 pm; play at 1 pm. For more information, contact danspitzig@gmail.com.

• Tuesday Dance Party The Greely Legion hosts live music on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Bring along an instrument to play, or come in to sing, listen and dance. Admission is FREE. Greely Legion, 8021 Mitch Owens Road, ON. Information: 613-822-1451 or 613826-6128.

Youth of Manotick Association is a registered not-forprofit organization offering safe, social, inclusive programs and activities for youth in our community. Friday nights PreTeen Program for youth in Grades 4-6 6:30 - 8:00 pm / Youth Drop-In for youth age 12-17 7:30 - 9:00 pm. See the website for more information https://www.yoma.ca

STEVENS CREEK SHUTTER CO

• Old Time Fiddle Music & Dance - East Osgoode Greely Assoc, First Friday of each month, invites & welcome all Musicians, Dancers & Listeners. Greely Community Centre, 1448 Meadow Drive, Greely. For additional info call 613 489-2697.

The Manotick and Area Centre for Arts & Wellness (MACAW) focuses on intergenerational connections for seniors through arts and wellness. This includes a multitude of activities such as Tai Chi, yoga, art, music, and dance classes as well as community dances. Their popular concert series focuses on our local singers and musicians. For more info go to https://www.manotickmacaw.com

SHADES SHUTTERS DRAPERY

& more

Free shop-at-home service

• Thursday Fun Night for adults and children. An optional supper at 5:45 pm. Indoor soccer/games, crafts, or nursery for ages 0-11. Parenting course, Alpha course, or Growing in Faith/Hearing God course for adults, 6:30 - 7:30 pm. To try it out contact, discipleship@trinitybiblechurch.ca

613-706-1250

stevenscreekshutterco.ca

Ottawa Public Library - The Manotick Library has many activities for children and adults, including an Adult French Conversation Group and story and craft programs. To discover all the events happening at the Manotick branch go to https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/

• Friday the fourth play, Greely 613-822-1451

• Tuesday the 1st pm. listen Mitch 826-6128.

SHADES SHUTTERS DRAPERY

Spring

will bring some changes to rural Ottawa communities

By DaviD Brown riDeau-Jock councillor

Spring is here! Maybe, almost… With so many new neighbours in our ward, I wanted to share a few reminders of what it means to live in rural Ottawa and highlight some of the changes are coming to our communities.

We have experienced some wild weather, but at some point soon, residents are going to see farmers in their fields plowing, cultivating, spreading manure and planting crops. It’s one of the busiest times of year for farmers. As planting season starts, please be mindful of the heavy equipment on our roads. Always exercise caution when trying to pass and please ensure you leave yourself some extra time just in case you end up behind a slow-moving piece of equipment.

My office receives several dozen calls each year when the unmistakable aroma of manure begins to circulate through the air. Although sometimes unpleasant, it is a normal farm practice and doesn’t last long.

We are fortunate enough to live in an area that has been feeding cities for more than a century and a half. Most residents in the City are not as fortunate as we are in rural Ottawa to live in communities that grow the food which ends up on our plates. To the farmers that grow our food and feed our cities, thank you!

For those that might not be aware, our villages are served by volunteer firefighters who live, work and volunteer in our communities. Volunteer firefighters are always on call and respond to emergencies when they arise.

Each volunteer firefighter has a flashing green light in their personal vehicle which they turn on when responding to an emergency. If you see this flashing green

Rideau-Jock Report

David Brown, Councillor , Ward 21

light approaching you, please pull off to the right side of the road and allow them to pass by the same way you already pull over when you see flashing emergency lights. Time is critical and these local heroes are on their way to someone in need.

On Saturday, March 30th from 8:30am to noon at the Manotick fire station, our local volunteer firefighters are hosting a Pancake Breakfast for our community. Just one more way they give back to our community.

Many joke that Canada has two seasons: winter and construction. As spring arrives, so too will the hundreds of construction workers as the City continues with its infrastructure work.

Our ward faired very well in the 2024 budget with $42 Million in infrastructure dollars and 23 projects either in the queue or beginning this year. My office will continue to share construction updates with each community through our newsletter or if you have a specific question, please contact my office directly through email at ward21@ottawa.ca or by phone at 613-580-2491.

In addition, this spring residents will see the reinstatement of many traffic calming measures in our communities and the roll out of new measures. Our ward is receiving $75,000 in new traffic calming investments, including speed boards, flexstakes, road markings and more, all designed to slow drivers down and keep our communities safer.

As always, if there is something you believe I can help with, please reach out and ask. My team and I are always here to help.

See you at the Pancake Breakfast on March 30th!

MVCA Food Cupboard Donation

Church Directory

*All churches wheelchair accessible*

Manotick ..United .Church

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

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

Rev. Paul Whynacht

Sunday Worship at 10 am

Office hours are:

Wed 9a.m.-4:30p.m. Thurs-Fri 1p.m.-4:30p.m. 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

The Catholic Communities of St. John the Evangelist

ACCESSIBLE

2540 Stagecoach Road, Osgoode and St. Brigid 2015 River Road, Manotick

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

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

Web site: www.stjames-manotick.ca

The Manotick Village and Community Association recently presented the Manotick Food Cupboard with a $2500 donation, the net proceeds from Shiverfest 2024. The Food Cupboard is a volunteer community organization that provides food assistance to individuals and families in need in the Manotick area. Roxy McCarthy (far left) and Joan Heard (second from left) accepted the cheque on behalf of the Food Cupboard from MVCA President Irene Staron and Shiverfest Committee Chair Grace Thrasher (far right).

Manotick author releases third installment of children’s book series

Jennifer J. Bergin makes a delightful comeback to the literary scene with the launch of “Jungle Jim and Jungle Jen Go Camping” (published by Balboa Press), the third installment in a series of children’s illustrated chapter books.

In this humorous outdoor escapade, readers are welcomed to join Jim, a biologist

specializing in plants and animals, and Jen, a city dweller eager to learn, on their comical journey in the wilderness. As they navigate encounters with various animals, the story unfolds with laughter and valuable lessons about the untamed wonders of nature.

Bergin believes the book’s appeal lies in its combination

of animal fascination, learning, and humor. She envisions it as a means of reconnecting both children and adults with the beauty of nature and the great outdoors.

When asked about the desired takeaway, Bergin emphasizes the joy of creative expression, asserting that writing can be both enjoyable and limitless. Through this book, she hopes to inspire readers to find fun in writing and recognize that the act of creation knows no bounds.

“Jungle Jim and Jungle Jen Go Camping” is available locally at Manotick Office Pro and online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

About the Author

Jennifer J. Bergin is a mother, cartoonist/author, and parttime chiropractor. Residing in the Ottawa area with her family, she shares her home with a cat and a dog. With a background in biology from Carleton University, Bergin not only enjoys exploring the wonders of the great outdoors but also brings her passion for nature into her creative endeavors.

“Jungle Jim and Jungle Jen Go Camping” is available at Manotick Office Pro.

Jennifer Bergin has released the third installment in her series of illustrated chapter books.

Support local students: become a Spring Fair donor

Spring has officially sprung, and that means the Manotick Public School Spring Fair is just around the corner! MPS parent council is seeking sponsors and silent auction donations for the beloved community fundraiser scheduled for Saturday, May 25, 2024.

This fabulous family event promises big fun with entertainers, bouncy castles, demos, games, crafts and treats.

Top sponsors will have their business logos displayed on a Bridge St. banner advertisement, on signs at the event and on the parent council website. They will also receive complementary wristbands to attend the event with their families.

Donations for the hugely popular (and sometimes highly competitive!) silent auction are also welcome

from local businesses, families and community organizations. Previous donations have included museum passes, restaurant gift cards, local art, signed jerseys and more – but council is open to creative donation ideas! Pickup can be arranged or donations can be dropped off at the school.

All support directly benefits students by generating funds for field trips, gym equipment, art supplies and classroom supplies for hands-on math, science and other experiential learning.

Donated merchandise and gift certificates also encourage residents to explore our many wonderful local businesses.

Each year, MPS Parent Council is humbled by the community’s wonderful generosity in support of Manotick’s public school

students. Council sincerely thanks those who have supported MPS in the past and hopes our local businesses

will once again consider contributing to our public school community. The school looks forward to

hosting the best Spring Fair yet, and welcomes everyone to join in the fun on May 25!

Contact Colleen at MPSspringfair@gmail.com to learn more and get involved.

This year’s MPS Spring Fling takes place May 25.

KYMTC presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid Splashes April 13 - 28

The Kemptville Youth Musical Theatre Company (KYMTC) will be presenting Disney’s The Little Mermaid April 13-28 at the Urbandale Arts Centre.

This magical underwater adventure celebrates the power of love, finding your true identity, and going after your dreams. Originally written by Hans Christian Anderson and then produced into an Oscar winning animated classic by Disney.

Desperate “to explore the shore above and be where the people are”, tenacious mermaid Ariel makes a perilous pact with the sea witch Ursula to become human for three days. In order to stay human, she must win the heart of the charming Prince Eric or she will belong to Ursula forever. With humour, sacrifice, and determination, Ariel navigates the complexities of love and self-discovery, ultimately

learning the true meaning of love and the importance of staying true to yourself.

Preparations have been underway since the summer of 2023, creating an underwater environment full of colour and movement.

A team of costume makers have been busy outfitting 29 young people in over 130 costumes- many of them truly creative and elaborate.

Members of KYMTC have been rehearsing since October, learning songs, mastering choreography and developing their acting and vocal skills.

KYMTC is also excited to announce that, after receiving some funding through the Arts Development Fund and a Community Grant, they have purchased and installed a cyclorama in the Urbandale Arts Centre. This special curtain will allow them to create some magical lighting effects.

KYMTC is a non-profit

community-based theatre company for young people operating in the Kemptville

area for over 20 years. There is no charge to participate but the Main Show cast must

audition and win their roles. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through

their website www.kymtc.org or at Brewed Awakenings in Kemptville.

Royals sweep Arnprior, will face Carleton Place in EOJHL semi-finals

The Richmond Royals are headed to the Junior B hockey division finals after sweeping the Arnprior Packers.

After a slump that lasted for about two months, the Richmond Royals have found their early season form that saw them sitting in first place in the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Richardson Division for the first half of the season.

After coming back in their opening series to shutout the Renfrew Timberwolves 5-0 in the fifth and deciding game of their series, the Royals beat Arnprior 5-2 Sunday to take the series in four straight games. The Royals now face Carleton Place in a best-ofseven series in the division

final.

The Royals opened the series against Arnprior with a dominant performance, beating the Packers 7-2 in Arnprior March 3. Richmond outshot Arnprior 59-19 in the onesided affair.

Dylan Rorwick, who had five goals in five games in the series against Renfrew, had a hat trick, while linemate Tyler Hames had a pair of unassisted goals and an assist. Jackson Dallaire had a goal and an assist with Cameron Donaldson scoring the other goal. Tyler Branchaud had a pair of assists with Gage Bujold, Sam McElheran and Zac Soifer earning one each.

Sean Ireland and Shelden Lyons scored for Arnprior.

Ethan Dinsdale stopped 17 of the 19 shots he faced in the Richmond net.

Royals win Game 2

The second game of the series was played in Richmond Wednesday night. The goaltenders were centre stage as the Royals picked up a 2-1 win.

Branchaud scored from Hames and Rorwick late in the second period to give the Royals a 1-0 lead, but Jason Ward scored an equalizer for the Packers early in the third. Zac Soifer scored the winner for the Royals at 11:48 of the third from Danny Marsden and Trent Poitras.

Dinsdale made 31 saves and was named the game’s first star. Arnprior goalie Der-

rick Champagne was the second star as he stopped 41 of the 43 shots he faced.

Comeback win

Saturday night in Arnprior, it looked like the Packers were going to get back in the series. However, the Royals scored three unanswered goals in the third period and then knotted the winner in double overtime to win 5-4 and take a commanding 3-0 series lead.

Jacob Ross Signoretti and Jason Ward scored in the first for Arnprior, while Patrick Holmes and Sean Ireland scored in the second. Mayson Sam replied for Richmond in the second with his first of the playoffs from Christian White.

After the fourth Arnprior goal, Sam Nolan replaced

Dinsdale in the Richmond net and played flawless hockey.

In the third period, the Royals got to work.

Christian While scored from drew Russett and Jackson Dallaire 35 seconds into the period, and Sam McElheran added an unassisted power play goal less than a minute later.

With Arnprior holding a one goal lead and on the power play with less than three minutes to play, Jackson Dallaire made one of the biggest plays of the season for Richmond. He corralled a loose puck and beat Champagne for the tying goal with 2:31 left in the period.

After a scoreless first overtime period, the Royals picked

up the win midway through the second when Tyler Branchaud scored from Christian White.

Nolan stopped all 17 shots he faced for the Royals’ win.

On Sunday night March 10 in Richmond, the Royals got a hat trick from Dylan Rorwick for a 5-2 win. Rorwick, who also added an assist, heads into the next round leading the EOJHL with 11 goals. The next closest players have five.

Tyler Branchaud had a goal and two assists and Sam McElheran also scored. Tyler Hames and Christian White each had two assists. Gage Bujold and Parker Stretch also added assists.

Sam Nolan was in goal for the Royals, stopping 33 of 35 shots.

Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari hosted her annual Carleton International Women’s Day Breakfast at Danby’s Roadhouse in Richmond Fri., March 8. International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women

The Jock River Race has been moved to Saturday April 6.

Jock River Race moves date to April 6 due to early spring

The Jock River Race has moved its date up two weeks. The race, originally scheduled for April 20, will now take place Saturday April 6. Registration for the 53-yearold race is open.

The 12.5km race through the Richmond Fen is one of the area’s great springtime adventures.

All paddlers including canoes, kayaks, SUPs, voyageur boats and others are welcome to race. Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or just want to try it out this race is for you. Racing experience is not required, simply a desire to join a fun event and to get an early put-in on the

water.

The start area for this 12.5 km (7.8 mile) section of the Jock River is on the Munster Rd. about 2 km south of the Franktown Rd.

A few minutes downstream there is a shallow rapid followed shortly by an easy chute of fast water. Open fields and the occasional farmhouse mark the next few kms before several sharp bends signal the beginning of the “Richmond Fen”, an interesting and rather eerie wetland. The first appearance of the railway marks the end of the fen, and the river widens considerably.

Shortly after passing the Trans-Canada Pipe-

line a long Class I rapid awakens your adrenaline. The church spires of Richmond now come into view, followed by another long set of class I rapids which require some maneuvering to avoid rocks.

From the end of these rapids the orange buoy marking the finish line at the Jock River Park is a welcome sight.

The Jock River Race saw its beginning in 1971 as a whitewater race on the lower Jock River near Manotick. Starting the first year with modest participation, the race quickly grew into one of the more popular races in the province of Ontario.

In the year 2000, the race had moved to its current

location on the calmer waters of the upper Jock.

In recent years, the number of entries has hovered around 130 canoes and kayaks with over 200 paddlers taking part! The majority of en-

For more information or to register, visit jockriverrace.com.

tries fall into the recreational boat category with a few competitive racing C1s and C2s known to start their season off on the Jock River. Also included are Parent/Child and Family categories to encourage participation of younger racers to help the sport grow within the next generation of paddlers.

Manotick BIA unveils

B y K elly B elair

M anotic K B ia

Spring is in the air! With the new season upon us exciting things are in the works with the Manotick Business Improvement Area.

We are thrilled to launch our new brand for the Manotick BIA. After months of planning, a final concept was presented to the board of directors at the board meeting on March 8th. The board voted and approved the new logo and we are

Manotick BIA News

Kelly Belair

looking forward to rolling out our new brand over the next while.

Our logo needed to be versatile, recognizable and legible when it’s as small as an Instagram profile picture to as large as a billboard. The logo needed to be heritage but with a modern look and feel.

new logo as first step to rebranding

Colours were selected to evoke a heritage feel, a sense of warmth and friendliness. Clean, classic colours that are dynamic in combination.

Our previous logo was designed in the 1990’s, so we are excited and ready for this change!

The m is strong and single-focused, it will become the symbol of Manotick and recognizable from a single glance.

A clean-cut, simple logo is more modern, versatile and will stand the test of time. We can easily

update the background for different events and time of year. In the long term, the font could be updated for future preferences without losing brand recognition.

Stay tuned as we incorporate the new brand, beginning with our first event of the year, Spring Fling on April 20th.

Speaking of Spring Fling, we are also pleased to announce a collaboration with the Manotick

Art Association and their upcoming Inspirations Art Show and Sale. The Inspirations Art Show draws hundreds of visitors to our village every spring and we thought why not combine forces with the MAA and host our Spring Fling event on the same weekend. The Inspirations Show and Sale takes place on Friday, April 19th through to Sunday, April 21st at the Manotick Curling Club.

Spring Fling, Where Inspiration Blooms, will take place on Saturday, April 20th from 10am to 4pm.

Feast your eyes with art, your ears with music and your taste buds with festive spring menu items at our various cafes and restaurants. Partake in instore specials, sampling and giveaways.

For all the details visit www.manotickvillage. com/springfling.

SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY

Shop Local!

Manotick Art Association’s 2024 Inspirations Art Show April 19-21

The Manotick Art Association is thrilled to announce that its annual spring show and sale, “Inspirations”, will be back again this April 19-21. The show will take place at the Curling Club in Manotick, 5519 South River Drive, and will feature the works of 44 area artists. The show runs Friday, 6-9 PM; Saturday, 10-4:00; and Sunday, 10-4:00. Entry is free and there is plenty of parking, as well as an accessible entrance. This year we are also excited to announce that we will be working together with the Manotick BIA who will be hosting their Spring Fling on Saturday, April 20th. It should be a grand weekend in Manotick!

artists to the line-up this year.

The show brings a breath of fresh air into the community after a long winter through a feast of vibrant colours and images. Visitors can enjoy viewing landscapes, abstracts, florals, and wildlife painted in oils, watercolours, acrylics, pastel, batik, and wood. There are also several photographers showing their art. Many of the artists will be familiar to long-time patrons of Inspirations, but we are excited to welcome several new and exciting

The show will also feature live music on two of the days. Scott Voelzing will entertain our guests on Friday evening. Saturday 1-3, will feature Chad Wolfe on fiddle and Sherryl Fitzpatrick on piano. As every year, we will also have door prizes that can be won simply by filling out a ballot.

MAA has always taken pride in supporting charities through the proceeds of our spring show. This year we will be supporting The Manotick Food Cupboard. We will also be collecting cash donations at the door for

this worthy charity. Come out to the spring show! We would love to see you and your family have an enjoyable

time viewing artworks that are beautiful, inspiring, and family friendly. Art, in any of its forms, beautifies and enriches our world. The painting that you fall in love with can bring you peace and joy for many, many years.

Giedre Abromaitis

YOMA providing safe, inclusive programming for youth in Manotick and area

From YomA

Hello. From all of us at YOMA, let us say how excited we are to be a new part of the Manotick Messenger content team.

By way of introduction, Youth of Manotick Association (YOMA) has been a part of the community for over 10 years. YOMA is a provincially incorporated not-for-profit that offers safe, inclusive activities and programs for youth in Manotick and area. There is a Pre-Teen Night on Fridays at 6:30 pm for youth in Grades 4-6 and a free Drop-In on Fridays at 7:30 pm for youth age 12-17. We offer volunteer hours for high school students and sometimes connect students to other volunteer opportunities in the area. We have coordin-

ated a number of different training programs over the years as interest and funding permits. We are active in the community and can often be found participating in some form at many local events.

YOMA is run by a volunteer Board of Directors. We currently have a team of eight paid staff Facilitators who organize and run the programs. YOMA receives no operational funding from any level of government, so we rely on the support of the community and our fundraisers every year. You will find representatives from YOMA participating in a number of rural conversations with different groups to offer our rural youth perspective.

What we intend to share with you here will be just like YOMA itself. It will be

a bit different every time but always with the interests of local youth top of mind. We may want to speak on some topics that we know are of importance but are ones that require us to do some collaboration with accredited professionals or people in whatever the industry is. What we will offer is stories, viewpoints and information that we hope you will find interesting.

We are ending here on a more serious note. We had an idea for our inaugural topic but after recent events we decided to make a change to this. It is hard to find the words for what many of us felt when we heard of the tragic incident in Barrhaven. We do know that each of us processes these things in our own way and it is no different for youth. And just like

adults, it can be surprising sometimes the depth of emotion some might feel about situations of what one event can trigger in us. If at any time the emotions present as something that requires support, please remember that there are resources available 24/7 for youth and families.

Ottawa Distress Line: 613-238-3311

National Suicide Crisis

Helpline: 988 (talk or text)

Kids Help Line: 1-800668-6868

Youth Services Bureau

Crisis Line: 613-260-2360

or www.ysb.ca to chat

For more information about YOMA visit our website at yoma.ca, follow us

on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram or sign up for our newsletter.

YOMA participated in last year’s Dickinson Days Parade.

Hoppy Easter!

Easter eggs in all their pastel glory come to mind when pondering an important holy day on the Christian calendar. Easter eggs are great to hide and fun to find, but when they come in the form of a tasty dessert, celebrations become that much more festive.

“No-Bake Cheesecake Eggs” are a confectionary twist on the chocolate eggs that are popular come Easter. Home chefs can have fun decorating and playing with the flavors of these treats. Try this recipe, courtesy of “Jane’s Patisserie Celebrate!” (Sourcebooks) by Jane Dunn.

No-Bake Cheesecake Eggs Serves 2

Base

1 medium chocolate Easter egg

35 grams unsalted butter

75 grams digestive biscuits

Filling

200 grams full-fat soft cheese (such as cream cheese or neufchâtel), at room temperature

1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons icing sugar

100 milliliters double cream

25 grams cocoa powder

Decoration

50 grams milk chocolate, melted Easter chocolates

Sprinkles

Base

Carefully split the Easter egg into two halves.

Melt the butter in the microwave in short bursts or in a small pan over a medium heat. In a food processor, blitz the biscuits to a fine crumb, add the melted butter and pulse a few times until the mixture is well combined.

Divide the mixture equally between the two halves of the Easter egg, and very gently press down, without breaking the shell.

Filling

In a large bowl, whisk the cheese, vanilla extract and icing

sugar until smooth. Add the double cream and cocoa powder and whisk again until smooth and thickened. Divide the mixture evenly between the two Easter egg halves and smooth over as carefully as possible. Chill in the fridge for an hour or so until set.

Decoration

Drizzle the melted milk chocolate over the two halves and decorate with some Easter chocolates and sprinkles.

Editor’s note: Icing sugar also is known as confectioner’s sugar or powdered sugar. In the United States and Canada, “double cream” may not be readily available. Double cream has a higher butterfat content and is primarily sold in the UK. If double cream is not available, try substituting with heavy cream with the highest fat content you can find, but note that the consistency of the finished product may be slightly different.

Kiwanis Club of Manotick inspired by clubs around the world

B y R alph Tweedie

M ano T ick k iwanis c lu

B

Hola from Spain!

As I write this, my wife and I are traveling in Europe. We try to visit other Kiwanis Clubs while traveling and learn about their programs and accomplishments.

Kiwanis Europe is headquartered in the beautiful city of Gent, Belgium, but the 1st club in Europe was established in Vienna in 1963. Since then, Kiwanis Europe has grown to more than 25,000 members in approximately 1,200 clubs. Each country and each community have different needs. Here are a few examples of the innovative ways Kiwanians impact the lives of children throughout Europe.

In the Waasland region of Flanders, Belgium, the Kiwanis club of Sint-Niklaas Waasland worked with school

Kiwanis News

Ralph Tweedie

associations to reduce the effect of poverty on children. Those most at risk were provided with new clothing, food, educational materials, footwear and more.

In the District of France-Monaco, clubs worked together to help a young girl who suffered from spastic diplegia (a form of cerebral palsy). Thanks to the action of the clubs, she was able to undergo surgery at the Pediatric Hospital of St. Louis, Missouri. She is walking again! To contribute to youth safety, Kiwanis in Iceland and the Faroe Islands provide bicycle helmets and safety reflectors to all 7-year-old children graduating from first grade. The project

started in 2004 and is still on going, with the support of the transportation company Eimskip.

Many clubs from the Kiwanis Germany District have been distributing school bags and supplies to socially disadvantaged children. The action is intended to help level the starting conditions for all children who enter first grade.

In Romania, some teachers noticed children missing school every other day. They discovered that the children had to share their shoes with brothers and sisters. Sponsored by various clubs and the Boissy company from the France-Monaco District, thousands of Romanian school kids now have their own shoes to wear to school.

This year, the Kiwanis Clubs of Europe have joined together to launch the European Social Project KI-E 2023-24 to help

In Kiwanis we believe we are shaping the future of the world by giving our children the opportunity to succeed and grow no matter their environment and circumstances. In the Kiwanis Club of Manotick we are often inspired by the innovative ways Kiwanians around the world help ensure all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

children in Ukraine. The first Kiwanis Europe Children’s Fund project was initially aimed at helping people fleeing the fighting at the start of the conflict. Unfortunately, the war is far from over. Children and families continue to be its innocent victims. This new project aims to help those who are still in Ukraine. Single parent families and orphans are particularly hard hit

by the conflict. Kiwanis Europe is working with SOS Children’s Villages, an organization with strong roots in Ukraine and who have the necessary connections to help where needed most.

Manotick Musicale hits a new note with exciting changes for 2024

By Melissa Macisaac, ROsss

For over two decades, the Manotick Musicale has been a musical spectacle that not only captivates audiences but also serves a noble cause. Organized by the Village Singers and the Manotick Brass, this annual event has been a cornerstone in supporting the Rural Ottawa South Support Services (ROSSS). This musical extravaganza, featuring choreographed musical performances and the dynamic tunes of the Manotick Brass band, has grown in both scale and significance, becoming a key fundraising and community engagement event for ROSSS.

With growth comes change, and this year marks a significant transition for the Manotick Musicale. The decision has been made to move the event from its traditional venue, the Manotick United Church, to the Parkway Church in Greely. This shift was not taken lightly, considering the invaluable support and hospitality extended by the Manotick United Church over the years. Lisa Richards, Office Administrator at Manotick United Church, in particular, has played a pivotal role in making the event a success, and the entire ROSSS family expresses heartfelt gratitude to all those at the Manotick

United Church.

ROSSS News

Melissa MacIsaac

Last year’s success, with both shows sold out, indicated to us the necessity of a larger venue to accommodate the growing audience. This new venue features a significantly increased capacity allowing more people to join in the fun! While bidding farewell to the Manotick United Church is bittersweet, it opens up new possibilities for the Musicale’s continued growth and outreach.

With the change in venue, comes an event name change! While this event will always be The Manotick Musicale in the hearts and minds of those who have always attended, we have opted to change the name to be more inclusive… at present, the event remains nameless but stay tuned for the new name of” THE SHOW”, Formerly

Known as Manotick Musicale!

The date to mark on your calendar is Saturday, May 4th, 2024 - a day that aligns perfectly with this year’s theme: MOVIES! The organizers couldn’t resist the playful nod to a certain iconic movie franchise, given the event’s date on “May the Fourth.” The Musi-

cale will feature two shows, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., promising a cinematic experience like never before.

Tickets for this exceptional event are priced at $25 each, offering an affordable way for the community to support ROSSS. To make the transition more accessible for attendees, ROSSS is offering transportation services from Manotick to Greely. Those interested in utilizing this service can contact ROSSS at 613-692-4697 or email info@rosss.ca. For those who plan to transport themselves there, Parkway Church has ample parking and features everything on one level for ease of accessibility needs.

The Musicale isn’t just about the performances; it’s an immersive experience that culminates in a reception held in the lobby of Parkway Church. Attendees can enjoy light refreshments, participate in a raffle, and soak in the post-show ambiance.

The dedication of the Village Singers and the Manotick Brass to this event is commendable. Their ongoing support and tireless efforts have been instrumental in making the Manotick Musicale a resounding success each year. This dynamic collaboration has not only entertained but has also contributed significantly to the well-being of the community.

A sincere thank you is extended to the community as well, for its consistent support that has propelled the Musicale to new heights. It is the community’s involvement that allows ROSSS to explore and embrace the growth opportunities that come its way.

Tickets for this year’s Musicale can be purchased through the ROSSS website

www.rosss.ca, where the event poster can be found on the main page. Alternatively, tickets can be obtained by visiting the ROSSS office at 1096 Bridge Street, Manotick.

As the Manotick Musicale embraces change and moves to a larger venue, the essence of the event remains unchanged - a celebration of music, community, and the spirit of giving.

Join us on May 4th, 2024, for another unforgettable chapter in the Manotick Musicale’s journey, and let the magic of movies and music unfold in the heart of Greely. You’re not just purchasing a ticket; your making a contribution to a cause that touches lives of some of our most vulnerable community members in Rural Ottawa South.

The Village Singers have helped make the Manotick Musicale a big success over the years.

Community still mourning and in shock over killing spree that left six dead

By Charlie SenaCk

As the story unfolds and more details emerge about the horrific mass killings last week, which happened only seven kilometres from Manotick’s village core.

Although the incident happened in Barrhaven, it has left families throughout the area in shock. It has also heavily impacted the local Buddhist community. Many local people were in attendance at the memorial held for the victims at Palmadeo Park March 9, including the mayor, members of city council and Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod.

On March 7, the bodies of six Sri Lankan newcomers to Canada were pulled out of a home on Berrigan Drive.

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

Darshani Banbaranayake Gama Walwwe Darshani Dilanthika Ekanyake, age 35, was killed alongside her four children: Inuka Wickramasinghe, 7, Ashwini Wickramasinghe, 4, Rinyana Wickramasinghe, 2, and Kelly Wickramasinghe, who was

only two months old.

An acquaintance to the family, Amarakoonmubiayansela Ge Gamini Amarakoon, 40, was also found dead. He was living in the home, said police. Husband and father Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, 40, survived the attack and is listed in serious but stable condition.

Ferbio De-Zoysa, a 19-year-old Sri Lankan foreign exchange student who was staying with the family, was charged with six counts of first degree murder and another count of attempted murder. He was arrested on scene without altercation.

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

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

While the incident was first labeled as a mass shooting, those reports turned out to be false. Stubbs said an edged weapon like a knife was used in all the attacks. Police aren’t commenting further on what led up to the events.

“Our investigators and forensic teams are working very hard to determine all the facts and ensure justice is done,”

said Stubbs. “The community is going to be greatly impacted, the City of Ottawa, let alone the specific neighbourhood. We’re thinking of them and sending all empathy to those involved. Family, friends and neighbours.”

On Thursday morning (March 7), police held up white tarps as the six bodies were carried out of the home. Police tape blocked off an alleyway connecting the backyards, and blood could be seen on the sidewalk and door of the neighbouring residence.

The Sri Lankan High Commission said support is being given to their community. It is in touch with family members who primarily live in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.

The Ottawa Catholic School Board said two of the victims attended Junior Kindergarten and grade 2 at nearby Monsignor Paul Baxter School. Principal Vincenza Nicoletti said due to the sensitivity of the topic and lack of details, students would not be given much information at this time.

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

The board said grief counselors and crisis support

teams would be on hand for students.

Shocking violence

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

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

“It’s particularly troubling for me as a parent to hear of the loss of four children at very young ages. It’s very difficult to think about; very difficult to

process,” he said. “When I say that Barrhaven is a wonderful and rapidly growing community full of warm and welcoming families and neighbors, it’s hard to believe something like this could happen there or anywhere else in our city.”

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

“We are expecting that the community reaches out to support family and friends as Canadians always do,” said Trudeau.

In Barrhaven, the community reeled over the death of 18-year-old Jennifer Teague, who was raped and murdered by Kevin Davis in September

2005. In 2010, Barrhaven teen Michael Swan was killed, execution style, at the home he and friends were renting on Moodie Drive near the Trail Road waste facility. Then in January 2015, Jagtar Gill was found murdered. Former Barrhaven lovers, neighbours, and OC Transpo drivers, Bhupinderpal Gill and Gurpreet Ronald, were found guilty for her death. And in November 2021, 64-yearold Linda Frederick was murdered by her son Conor Donnelly. Former Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly called it a “house of horrors” at the time.

killing spree continues on page 23

Five members of the Wickramasinghe family were killed, with only the father, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, surviving the attack.

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

Neighbours who the Manotick Messenger spoke with said they didn’t know the family, but always called it a safe neighborhood “where you could leave your doors unlocked.” One resident said she saw the police cars speeding to the scene and officers running down the street.

At 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, less than 24 hours after the killings, an echo of silence spread though Palmadeo Park as the community gathered for a vigil to honor the lives lost. Over 100 people, many of them children, placed flowers, stuffed animals and a raddle on a picnic table with a message reading “our hearts are shattered.”

Hundreds of people stood in the rain at a separate vigil that was also attended by local politicians and the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka on Saturday, March 9. At Queen’s Park, a moment of silence was held. Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod shared her condolences on the platform X.

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

No issues with family Ded-Zoysa reportedly dropped out of college and

had thoughts of suicide, says an Ottawa monk who knew the family.

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

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

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

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

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

Piecing the puzzle together

Ottawa Police are continuing to remain tight-lipped about what happened inside the cookie-cutter townhouse on Berrigan Drive, saying they are still piecing together what happened. But the Canadian Press has reported the

father came home from a cleaning job when the incident occurred.

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

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

De-Zoysa had a brief court appearance and then appeared in court by telephone. He’s been ordered not to communicate with five individuals including the father and some other witnesses. He is being held in protective custody.

The accused’s aunt, Anusha De-Zoysa, spoke to Global News last week, saying her nephew met Wickramasinghe while they were studying at Algonquin College. She said they later became roommates, and that Wickramasinghe was working to bring his family over to Canada. He told DeZoysa he could come and live with them. She also said that her nephew had recently cut off contacts with relatives in Ottawa, and that he also blocked them on social media.

A funeral for the victims was held Sunday, March 17. Febrio De-Zoysa is expected to be in court again March 28.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Councillor Wilson Lo, MPP Lisa MacLeod and MPP David Hill were among those present at the memorial. C H a r L i e SenaC k P H oto

“I loathe your sweet fart.”

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

Hearing is surprisingly complex and individualized. Finding the right solution is not as simple a process as one might think. What works for one may not necessarily work for another. The good news is that there are many manufacturers allowing for a great variety of solutions to meet the multitude of unique hearing needs. The key to finding your needle in the haystack is to consult an Audiologist in an independent clinic where all brands are offered. Only then is a truly customized solution possible.

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

Hearing Freedom apart for over 20 years.

It all started when a young new Audiology Graduate, Rosanne McNamee, interviewed seeking employment. She was left shocked and disheartened. The discussions had little to do with clinical knowledge and skills. They rather focused on the sales targets, the need to keep consultations short and the requirement to limit prescriptions to one or two “preferred manufactures” for greater profit margins. That was not her idea of proper hearing healthcare. She felt strongly that everyone deserves what is best for them and their unique needs. The assessment being the foundational piece needed to be most thorough. In addition, she felt it was vital to consider everything available in the market for every single patient. And so, she decided to set up her own business, doing it her way and putting patients first.

At Hearing Freedom, patients are an active part of the whole process and there is no predetermined product or plan. Each and every patient’s intervention plan is as unique as they are. The experience begins with a 90-minute hearing assessment which is followed by a detailed needs assessment. Then, keeping both the assessment outcomes and the unique individual needs in mind, the Audiologist will take the time to research the market, considering ALL makes and models, so as to select the

the Hearing

right product for that specific individual. This is followed by a 90-day trial period. This extensive trial ensures that the right solution is found.

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

Not only is hearing complex, so are today’s hearing aids. And, manufacturers differ greatly in what they offer. Dealing with the most qualified healthcare professional, in the most independent setting, is crucial to successfully addressing hearing loss. At Hearing Freedom, you can be confident that you have chosen the best place to trust with your hearing needs.

So, if you, like our patient who now hears his wife’s “I

love you sweetheart” properly, believe in your right to the best, fullest and most customized service available, make sure you book your appointment with one of our clinicians at Hearing Freedom. You won’t regret your short drive to Manotick!

Parking is free.

Home visits & Remote Care are available. Location is wheelchair friendly. For more information visit

www.HearingFreedom.com