The Orleans Star Oct. 8, 2026 by OrléansStar

October 8, 2026 • Volume 40, No. 13

Next edition October 22

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East end students score high marks in province-wide EQAO testing

The sKreamers haunted Hallowe’en attraction is back for another year and so is the Orléans Star’s annual Hallowe’en colouring contest. See pages 8 and 9 for more information.

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star Area students scored high marks in provincewide testing conducted last year by the Education Quality and Accountability Office in the areas of math, reading, writing and literacy. More than 400,000 students across Ontario in grades 3, 6 and 9 took the EQAO tests. Students in grades 3 and 6 took the tests in reading, writing and math, while students in grade 9 took the math and literacy tests. When examining the results on a board-byboard basis, students in the French language Catholic board not only outperformed their peers in the other three school boards in Ottawa, they out-performed their fellow students across the province. Grade 3 students in the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) scored five per cent higher than the provincial average in reading and writing and three per cent higher in math. Meanwhile, CECCE students in grade 6 scored five per cent higher than the provincial average in writing, four per cent higher in read-

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ing and two per cent higher in math. The board’s grade 9 students also surpassed the rest of the province in math assessment testing with 71 per cent, achieving a thorough or good understanding of the subject compared to 66 per cent of grade 9 students province-wide. Students enrolled in the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) also outpaced their provincial counterparts. Grade 3 students in the OCSB scored eight per cent higher than the provincial average among English language schools in writing, six per cent higher in reading and five per cent higher in math. Grade 6 students in the OCSB scored six per cent higher in math, and five per cent higher in both reading and writing. The test results among students in the OttawaCarleton District School Board (OCDSB) were generally on par with the provincial average among English language schools at both the grade 3 and grade 6 levels. Seventy-three per cent of the grade 3 students in the OCSB achieved a thorough or good CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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COMMUNITY BRIEFS Albert Haunted House for CHEO back for another spook-tacular year ORLÉANS – The Albert Haunted House for CHEO is now open for Hallowe’en enthusiasts both young and old. Located on Pintail Terrace in Chatelaine Village, the Albert home has been haunting visitors for over 25 years. The father and son team of Brian and Patrick Albert spend hundreds of hours setting everything up with several rooms and an outdoor maze. Visiting hours are from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. from Wednesday to Sunday until Oct. 31. Visitors are encouraged to make a freewill donation to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. The Alberts managed to raise over $15,000 last year and more than $100,000 in total. The Albert Haunted House was under threat of being closed down after the city received a complaint about the attraction from an area resident, but thanks to the efforts of Orléans East-Cumberland city councillor Matt Luloff and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, it was allowed to remain open for at least one more year. To find out more visit www.facebook.com/cheohauntedhouse.

Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards now accepting nominations

2 • OCTOBER 8, 2026 • VOLUME 40, NO. 13

ORLÉANS – Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards, which recognize the outstanding achievements of youth age five to 18. Unlike other awards that are divided into categories, the Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards are designed to recognize youth who are outstanding in a variety of areas. To nominate an individual simply put together a resume or CV listing the nominee’s various achievements between Oct. 1, 2025 and Sept. 30, 2026 and send it to OYA@orleansstar.ca. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 31. The winners will be notified the week of Nov. 16. Each submission must contain the nominee’s name, address and phone number as well as the name, address and phone number of the nominator. Nominations can be submitted in either English or French by a parent, teacher or coach, or even the individual themselves. A special awards ceremony will be held in early January.

Correction In the Sept. 24 edition of the Orléans Star, it was incorrectly reported that commuters would have to disembark the O-Train at Blair Road and reboard another train to get downtown and vice versa when traveling in the opposite direction. It actually fact, the trains are stopping at Blair Road during the testing phase only. When the East Extension of the O-Train becomes operational, commuters will be able to ride a single train all the way from Trim Road to Tunney’s Pasture. The Orléans Star apologizes for any confusion this misinformation may have caused to our readers, OC Transpo and our local city councillors.

East end students score high marks in province-wide testing Continued from page 1

understanding of the subject material on the writing test, compared to 75 per cent province wide. Sixty-four per cent achieved a thorough or good understanding of the subject material on the reading test compared to 67 per cent province wide. And 62 per cent achieved a thorough or good understanding of the subject material on the math test compared to 65 per cent province wide. The grade 6 students achieved results that were almost identical to the provincial average. Eighty-five per cent achieved a thorough or good understanding of the subject material on both the reading and writing tests and 51 per cent achieved a thorough or good understanding of the subject material on the math test compared to 52 per cent province wide.

As for Orléans, Convent Glen Catholic School achieved the highest results among grade 3 students with 94 per cent achieving a thorough or good understanding of the subject material on both the reading and writing tests, and 80 per cent achieved the same results on the math test, placing them second in that category after Convent Glen Catholic School where 82 per cent of the students who took the test achieved a thorough or good understanding of the subject material. Convent Glen’s grade 6 students also did extremely well on the tests. Ninety-four per cent of them achieved a thorough or good understanding of the subject material in both the reading and writing tests, placing them first in both categories among the English language schools in Orléans, and 70 per cent achieved the same result on the math test.

Orléans East-Cumberland city council race features a crowded field Jean-Marc Pacelli The Orléans Star With the municipal election just two weeks away, the Orléans Star and its French language sister paper the L’Orléanais contacted the candidates running for city council in Orléans-East-Cumberland Ward 1 to find out where their top priorities would be should they get elected. Yvette Ashiri is focusing her campaign on reliable, frequent and accessible public transportation. “When a bus doesn’t arrive, it’s not just a transportation problem: it’s someone being late for work, a student missing a class, Yvette Ashiri or a senior citizen missing an appointment,” says Ashiri. For this reason, her priority is “to guarantee a network that all residents of Orléans-East-Cumberland can rely on.” “Public transportation connects people to their jobs, supports local businesses and re-

duces pollution. When the network works, the entire community moves forward. Investing in mobility means investing in a strong local economy and a sustainable environment: a connected, dynamic community where everyone can progress and thrive together.” For his part, Bob Bell wants to increase transparency at City Hall. “Too often, we are unaware of the issues discussed at city council meetings and the votes of our councillors,” he says. To this end, Bell says he would create Bob Bell a publicly accessible vote-tracking tool. “Citizens could then easily consult the files submitted to Council and the votes of their councillors, which would facilitate councillor accountability, says Bell. The vitality of our democracy requires complete transparency in the decision-making process. This vote-tracking tool would be an important step in the

right direction.” Mazhar Choudhry, meanwhile, wants to improve the quality of life for the residents of Ward 1. “This starts with helping people save time on their commute to work with more reliable public transit and better roads so they can spend more time with Mazhar their families,” says Choudhry Choudry. He also envisions better recreational facilities in Orléans so that people don’t have to leave the community to enjoy them, as well as stronger infrastructure and new business opportunities that bring good jobs and services closer to home. “I will fight to make everyday life in Orléans easier,” says Choudry. For her part, Barbara Daniela Gandolfo believes that Orléans is an exceptional place to live and raise a family. “My husband and I chose to raise our son in Fallingbrook and we are proud to be part of

this community,” she says. “For too long, Orléans-East-Cumberland has not received the investments it deserves. It’s time our community got its fair share. I am ready to be a strong voice at Barbara City Hall to advocate Daniela for our local priorities Gandolfo and our Francophone community. I will work to improve bilingual services, cultural offerings, French-language recreation, and support for Francophone small businesses.” Orléans East-Cumberland Ward 1 incumbent Matt Luloff says that, if re-elected, he will continue to fight for the east end to ensure that it continues to get its fair share when it comes to infrastructure and that it keeps pace with ongoing growth. “Orléans and Cumberland continue to grow rapidly, and we need the roads, public transit, water systems, parks and community CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Orléans East-Cumberland city council race features a crowded field Continued from page 3

4 • OCTOBER 8, 2026 • VOLUME 40, NO. 13

facilities necessary to support that growth,” says Luloff. “(That means) improving the reliability of public transit, advancing critical road projects in South Orléans, and continuing to invest in our existing neighbourhoods. Growth should enhance our quality of Matt Luloff life, not put it under pressure.” If elected, Sherif Rizk wants to make Orléans a community that plans for the future rather than always reacting to problems. “That means reliable public transit and extending light rail to Trim Road, better roads and infrastructure, safer and more walkable neighbourhoods, responsible growth that respects the character of our community and dependable municipal services,” says Rizk. To achieve this, he draws on his professional background: “As a lawyer, I built

my career by identifying problems, finding practical solutions and advocating for people. I want to bring this same approach to the city hall and ensure that Orléans receives the attention and investment it deserves.” Tammie Trellert’s biggest priority would Sherif Rizk be to ensure that Orléans East–Cumberland gets the attention, investment and representation she believes it deserves. “That starts with the basics: safe roads and neighbourhoods, reliable transit, responsible development and infrastructure that keeps pace with our growing community,” Tammie says Trellert. “I want Trellert to be a councillor who is present, accessible and accountable, some-

one residents can reach and trust to advocate for them at City Hall.” “I’ll continue listening directly to residents, identifying the issues that matter most and working to get practical results. Our community is home, and my goal is simple: make sure our home is heard, supported and moving forward.” Here is a breakdown of all six candiates run-ning in Ward 1. - Yvette Ashiri is a public servant, entrepreneur and international trainer and speaker, as well as an advocate for women’s rights and social justice. - Bob Bell is a former business and real-estate lawyer, public transit advocate who wants to use his knowledge and skills to the communities advantage. - Mazhar Choudry is a business leader with 20 plus years in the tech and enterprise fields. He is the founder of both the Cumberland Cricket Club and the Cumberland Canada Day event. - Barbara Daniela Gandolfo is an active member of both the Ontario Liberal Party and

the federal Liberal Party, having served on the executive of both the provincial and federal riding associations. She also coordinated the Fallingbrook Neighbourhood Watch Program and serves as an active member of the East Ottawa Neighbourhood Watch Program Committee. - Sherif Rizk is a community advocate, lawyer and longtime resident of Orléans. Beyond his professional work, he is deeply invested in mentorship and civic engagement. - Tammie Trellert career has spanned the military, defence, government, and private sectors She has maintained a close connection to the military community and is a proud hockey mom to her two sons. - Matt Luloff is a veteran of the Afghan War and the Canadian military. He was first elected to city council in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022 with 74 per cent of the vote. The municipal election will take place on Monday, Oct. 26. To find out where you should cast your ballot, you should consult your voting card, which you should have already received in the mail.

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Trip to Germany crosses another item off the old bucket list

Up Front Fred Sherwin So I already had several options on places to go and friends to stay with. However, It wasn’t until I met my friend Veronika in Mexico last winter, that I started making plans to actually check my Germany/Oktoberfest box off my bucket list. Veronkia was from Berlin and offered to let me stay in her apartment while she moved in with her boyfriend for a few days. So there it was, I had all the bases covered with places to stay in Hamburg, Berlin, Munich and Frieburg. And thanks to my wonderful Aeroplan card, I had the airfare covered too. My first stop was Sven’s hometown of Luneburg, which is about 30 minutes south of Hamburg. Little did I know that my first taste of Germany would be the local Oktoberfest party in Luneburg. It turned out to be quite a night during which I got to meet Sven’s girlfriend Franzi and some of his friends from work, including Marcus. We started out drinking something called Korn mixed with Fanta during a pre-party at Sven’s place which included a meal of pig’s knuckle called Schweinshaxe with sauerkraut and various mixed sausages. After the preparty we went to Oktoberfest where I got to sample several different beers, none of which I was able to remember the next morning.

The next day I ventured to Hamburg to do some sightseeing. I managed to visit all the major landmarks including the Speicherstadt warehouse district, the Maritime Museum, the Elbphilharmonie, St. Michaelis and the St. Nikolai Memorial. I even visited the infamous Reeperbahn, where I visited my friend Anna who I hadn’t seen since we first met in Greece in 2024. My overall impression of Hamburg is that it reminded me of Rotterdam. Both cities were extensively bombed during the Second World War, and both cities managed to rise from the ashes with incredible modern architecture and a visitor-friendly vibe. From Hamburg, I took a train to Berlin where I visited all the usual sights including the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate, Check Point Charlie and the Topography of Terror which is a memorial center located on the former site of the Gestapo and SS headquarters during the war. The memorial is a long display wall with dozens of panels telling the history of the rise and fall of the Nazi Party and the Third Reich. The most poignant aspect of the memorial explain,s in detail, how the Nazi Party and Adolph Hitler came to power, taking advantage of the economic instability and political corruption at the time while gaining the support of a majority of Germans. The parallels between what happened then and what has been happening south of the border under Donald Trump is both startling and alarming. While in Berlin my friend Viktoria graciously let me stay in her apartment. We first met in Mexico last February and made an instant connection. Her boyfriend Daniel was also wonderfully gracious and I wouldn’t

Raising a “Maß” of beer (pronounced mass) in the HackerPschorr tent at Oktoberfest in Munich. FILE PHOTO have made this trip without their generosity. Viktoria is a member of the Die Linke party, which is very much like the NDP. On my next to last day in Berlin the local municipal election was being held. It turned out to be an historical evening as the socialist Die Linke party went from just six per cent support in 2024 to 26 per cent support and won the mayor’s seat in the process for the first time since German reunification in 1990. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Visitors walk past a mural on a section of the Berlln Wall known as Yours truly in front of arguable the most photographed location in Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO the East Side Gallery. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO

5 • OCTOBER 8, 2026 • VOLUME 40, NO. 13

Without a doubt, my favourite aspect about traveling is all the people you meet along the way. Since I started traveling on a regular basis four years ago, I’ve met dozens of people, many of whom I consider to be close friends of mine. In fact, at last count I have friends in 27 countries on five different continents and many of them have offered me open invitations to visit them. I’ve have already taken a few of them up on their offer, and this past month I took advantage of that opportunity to visit Germany. It all started with Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest has been on my bucket list for as long as I’ve had a list. But visiting Germany is not cheep. Even if you stay in hostels, you’re paying a pretty penny for accommodations. For example, when I checked to see how much a bed in a hostel would cost in Munich during Oktoberfest the cheapest place I could find was $200 a night, and no, that’s not a misprint. It was $200 for a bed in a dorm room. Fortunately, during my first trip to Puerto Escondido in 2022, I met Jan, a young man from Munich who was in the process of taking over his family’s small hotel about an hour train ride from the city. He told me that if I visited there, he would give me a good room rate with the catch that I would have to wear lederhosen during my stay. It was super nice of him and I kept his offer in the recesses of brain hoping to one day take him up on it. The following year I met Sven, who is part of my Tomorrowland family, Sven lives near Hamburg and he also invited me to stay at his place, as did several other friends who live in the Freiburg area, situated near the borders of Switzerland and France.

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Due diligence With the municipal election just 18 days away it’s time to start thinking about who you plan to vote for on Oct. 26. That is, of course, if you make the effort to actually go to your assigned polling location and cast your ballot. It’s a sad statement of reality that a significant portion of eligible voters simply don’t bother to do so, at least not in municipal elections. The voter turnout in the last municipal election held in 2022 was just 43.79 per cent, and that was for a contested mayoralty race. In 2018, the voter turnout was just 42.55 per cent and in 2014 it was 39.92 per cent, so I guess you could say we are moving in the right direction. By comparison, 76.9 per cent of eligible voters in Orléans cast a ballot in the 2025 federal election, however, only 48 per cent of eligible voters did so in the 2025 provincial election. The crazy thing is that municipal elections are arguable more important than either their federal or provincial counterparts. The municipal level of government has the greatest impact on our lives. City councillors make decisions regarding public transit, garbage collection, the condition of our streets, the property tax bill and user fees on everything from taking the bus to work, to the cost of a library card. It’s important that you not only vote, but that you make an educated decision on who you vote for. And while some city councillors and even the mayor may support one political party or another in their private lives, there are no party allegiances at City Hall and that’s because there are no parties at City Hall. Municipal councillors are elected independently and make decisions independently based on what’s in the best interests of their residents living in their respective wards, or the city in general. There are 14 people running for the position of mayor including the current incumbent Mark Sutcliffe. Seven people are running for the city councillor’s job in Orléans East-Cumberland including the incumbent Matt Luloff. Three candidates are running in Orléans West-Innes including incumbent Laura Dudas, and two people are running in Orléans SouthNavan including incumbent Catherine Kitts. If you are eligible to vote, you should have received your voting card in the mail by now which tells you what ward you’re in and where you’re supposed to vote based on your address. Once you have the when and where to vote out of the way, the next step is to decide who you’re going to vote. A list of all the candidates, including links to their websites can be found at ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/elections. Take time to do your due diligence, pick a candidate you think reflects your own interests and vote for them. Even if you support one of the incumbents and you think they will win regardless if you vote for them or not, still go and vote and show your support at the ballot box. – Fred Sherwin

Jody Maffett

Editor The Orléans Star

Fred Sherwin

Owner and publisher

fsherwin@orleansstar.ca

Jean-Marc Pacelli Editor L’Orléanais

The Orléans Star is a bi-weekly publication covering the east end communities of Blackburn Hamlet, Orléans and Navan. The newspaper is locally owned and operated by Sherwin Publishing Inc., 745 Farmbrook Cres., Orléans, ON. Inquiries and delivery issues should be sent to info@orleansstar.ca.

Federal government continues to seek additional international trade ties September has given us several moments to reflect on who we are as Canadians, and on the values that bring our communities together. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. I recently made my way to Gander, Newfoundland, a community that became a symbol of compassion and generosity when 38 aircraft were diverted there, bringing approximately 6,600 passengers and crew from around the world. The people of Gander opened their schools, churches, homes and hearts to complete strangers. Standing there 25 years later was a powerful reminder that, in difficult moments, Canadians step forward for one another. It is a story of kindness that continues to inspire. Sept. 25 also gave us another reason to celebrate. I hope Franco-Ontarians and Francophiles across Orléans had the opportunity to celebrate FrancoOntarian Day. I did see many of our residents at the MIFO celebration held at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Since 2010, Sept. 25 has officially recognized the contributions of Ontario’s Francophone community. Our French-language heritage is an important part of Ontario’s identity and our community’s future. There is also important economic news to share. Canada has what the world wants, and global investors are choosing to build here. The first Canada Investment Summit brought together investors from nearly 30 countries representing more than $100 trillion

in assets and resulted in nearly $500 billion in new investment commitments. These commitments include capital from Canadian pension funds, banks and institutional investors, as well as a historic $52.5-billion AI infrastructure investment in Saskatchewan. Canada is also deepening its partnership with the European Union. During his visit to Strasbourg on Sept. 17, Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the European Parliament and proposed a deeper, more integrated Canada-EU partnership, including cooperation in critical minerals, defence, energy, artificial intelligence, financial services and stronger opportunities for people-to-people ties. Closer to home, I also want local small and medium (SMEs) businesses to know about the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI), delivered in southern Ontario by FedDev Ontario. It provides support to tariff-affected businesses facing liquidity pressures or looking to improve productivity, diversify markets and strengthen their growth. Finally, as it is my only column in October, I want to wish everyone in Orléans an early Happy Hallowe’en! Enjoy the costumes, the decorations and the excitement of trick-or-treating but please stay safe, watch for traffic, and look out for one another on our streets on Hallowe’en. **La version française est maintenant disponible sur ma page Facebook**

Good friends and a place to stay makes memorable trip possible Continued from page 5

The after party was off the charts. The next day I had to bid a fond farewell to the city and took another train to Deisen Am Amarsee where my friend Jan has his hotel. Deisen is situated on the west bank of the Lake Amarsee and it’s about a one hour train ride to Munich’s central station The biggest reason I went to Munich was to go to Oktoberfest which this year ran from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4. My hope was that one of my German friends would be able to go with me, but they all had other commitments. I also had several friends who were in Munich around the same I was, but just not on the same dates. Taylor from California was there the day before I arrived, and another friend Mike Lanos, whose from Gloucester was arriving for Oktoberfest two days after I was scheduled to leave. As fate would have it, the only friend who was in Munich at the same time was my friend Maria, who is also from Orléans, and was visiting with her husband Pierre. We weren’t able to go to Oktoberfest together but we did got to lunch together and got caught

up on things after not seeing each in years. Part of my deal for staying at Jan’s hotel was to wear a pair of lederhosen. I had thought about buying a pair on Amazon, but I never had the time to do so. As fate would have it, Jan took me to a small vintage clothing store near his hotel which had one, single pair of authentic leather lederhosen for sale and they turned out to be my size. The price was only 90 euros and shopkeeper threw in a shirt. Now, normally a pair of authentic leather lederhosen can sell for 150 to 200 euros new, so I bought the darn things and was ready for my first taste of Oktoberfest in Munich, and let me tell you it surpassed all my expectations. First of all, the festival is massive and combines 15 beer halls, many of them with seating capacity for more than 4,000 people, and a carnival with dozens of rides, attractions and midway games – plus the food is phenomenal. I visited three of the bigger tents and met tons of new friends. Each tent had live music, which was also much better than expected, and of course beer, the brand of which depended on the tent you were in. The downside of my time at Oktoberfest

was that I heard “Sweet Caroline”, “Country Roads” and “YMCA” more times than any human being should ever be subjected to. That said I think everyone should experience Oktoberfest in Munich at least once in their lives. And if you do decide to go here are a few tips... - Go during the week. It’s much less crowded during the week than on the weekend and its still the same vibe. - Go early. The grounds open at 11 a.m. and if you go early you can check out a number of the tents before deciding where you want to have your first beer. - Bring cash. Oktoberfest is a cash-based festival. Some of the food stalls and the souvenir stands accept credit cards, but none of the beer tents do. And bring 100-200 euros with you. You do not want to rely on the Oktoberfest ATM machines which charge mega exorbitant rates. - Try the food. I recommend the pig knuckle, which is called Schweinshaxen, or the rotisserie chicken, which is called Wiesnhendl. You can’t go wrong either way. After spending a few days in Munich, I took another train to Freiburg where I met

my old friend Kamil, who gave me a quick tour of the city before heading off to Colmar, France, which is known as “Little Venice” due to its many canals. The town dates back to the middle ages and the centre still has many of the original medieval style houses and buildings that are over 1200 years old. From Colmar, we drove to Basel in Switzerland, where I stayed with Kamil and his girlfriend Regina. During my stay there we visited a karaoke bar, went to a roof top party over looking the Rhine River which I floated down the next day. Apparently floating down the Rhine is a popular summer tradition where locals and visitors drift along the fast-flowing current past the historic Old Town. It also happened to be 30 degrees that day. From Basel I took a train back to Munich and then flew back to Canada. All in all my trip to German was amazing, but it would not have been possible without the generosity of all my German friends who opened their homes to me. Thank you to Sven, Fanzi, Marcus, Veronika, Daniel, Jan, Kamil, Regina and Reany. Hopefully we’ll soon meet again somewhere down the road.

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Calling all young artists in Orléans

8 • OCTOBER 8, 2026 • VOLUME 40, NO. 13

We invite kids four to 12 years old to colour the picture below, take a photo of it and have a ghoulish grownup send it to editor@ orleanstar.ca by Thursday, October 17 at noon. Five lucky winners will be chosen by draw at 5 p.m. based on their age group and contacted by e-mail.

The winners in the younger age group will receive passes to the Proulx Farm’s 28th annual pumpkin festival, while the older winners will receive passes to the sKreamers Haunted Barn and Creepy Wagon Ride. Get colouring!

ONLINE AND IN PERSON (cash only) LIMITED QUANTITY

Spook-tacular sKreamers attraction is back (NC) – While many people associate the month of October with fall foliage, Thanksgiving and setting their clocks back an hour, there are a great number of people who associate October with ghosts, goblins and things that go bump in the night, culminating with Hallowe’en. For those people, no October is complete without a trip to sKreamers, Ottawa’s most spooktacular Hallowe’en attraction open every Friday and Saturday night at the Proulx Farm located just east Orléans. sKreamers is the name given

to the two haunted barns and the creepy wagon ride that make up the attraction which has become a major fundraising activity for Kiwanis Eastern Ottawa Est. sKreamers is the brainchild – and some might say the obsession – of Kiwanis member Harley Bloom who first put together a modest Hallowe’en attraction in the Gloucester Centre Mall in 2001. It wasn’t until 2006 while searching for a more permanent location, that the Kiwanis Club made a formal arrangement with the Proulx Farm to convert one of

their barns into a haunted house. The attraction has evolved over the years to include a second barn and a creepy wagon ride involving over 200 volunteer actors, many of them students who use the experience to earn community service hours. Recognized among Canada’s Top 10 scariest attractions, sKreamers has raised over $500,000 for various community initiatives while scar ing the daylights out of people, many of whom continue to come back year after year. To find out more about

What will you find in the woods....?

sKreamers including the attraction’s ticket policy, visit www.skreamers.ca. Admission is $25 per person. Tickets can be prepurchased by visiting the website or you can pay at the gate using cash or credit card. If you have any

questions, you can e-mail them at skreamersottawa@gmail.com The Proulx Farm is located at 1865 O’Toole Rd. which runs off of Innes Road just east of Trim Road.

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613-688-8281 | 110 & 150 Rossignol Dr, Orléans PromenadeSeniorsApartments.ca | PromenadeRetirement.ca

PROMOTION Reference this ad and fill out an entry form at our Open House for a chance to win a $1,000 prepaid gift card!* Mentionnez cette annonce et remplissez un formulaire de participation lors de notre journée portes ouvertes pour tenter de gagner une carte cadeau prépayée d’une valeur de 1,000 $ !* *Term and conditions apply. Des conditions générales s’appliquent.

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Real estate expert combines her two passions into a single career “The idea was to do both real estate and renovations and marry my two passions together and be able to help people,” says Anna. On the sales end of things, Anna can offer her clients advice and the expertise to make minor upgrades to their home before listing it to make it more appealing to potential buyers. For her clients who are in the market to purchase a home, she can be counted on to help make any potential renovations to the property between taking possession and moving in, such as installing new floors, redesigning kitchens, painting and more. As a former single mother, Anna is also uniquely qualified to help clients to find a new affordable residence if they are newly separated or divorced, and if you’re looking for a home in a pet-friendly area of town, Anna can help with that as well. In fact, Petzl, her six-year-old Rough Collie can often be found featured in her marketing materials. To find out more about how Anna can help you call or text 613-875-7842.

Anna Parisien, pictured right and with her dog, Petzl, above, is a real estate agent with Century 21 Synergy and a general contractor. PHOTO SUPPLIED

Real Estate & Renovations Sometimes listing a house isn’t enough Thinking of selling your home, but need some updates? With years of hands-on renovation experience, I bring my practical tradeswoman skills to complement my 15 years as a licensed Realtor.

Call or text me today! (613) 875-7842 ANNA PARISIEN, Sales Representative Century 21 Synergy Realty Inc. Brokerage anna.parisien@c21.ca

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By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star Anna Parisien has two passions in her work life. One is helping people find their ideal home and the other is helping clients upgrade their new home once it’s been purchased, or helping others make a few improvements to help sell an existing home. Anna has been in the real estate business for over 15 years and the home renovation business for nearly 10 years. Originally from Smiths Falls, Anna got her real estate license in 2011 and sold homes in that community until 2019 when she got married and moved to Orléans. She was going to start from scratch in the real estate industry here, but then the COVID-19 pandemic came along, forcing her to put those plans on hold. She reactivated her license in 2022, joining the Century 21 Synergy Realty Brokerage and at the same time continuing to build her tradeswoman skills. In 2025, she started her own company, Parisien Contracting, which specializes in home renovations.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice of Draft Terms of Reference Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Waste Connections of Canada Inc. Navan Waste Recycling and Disposal Facility Landfill Continuation As part of the Environmental Assessment (EA) process for the proposed continuation of the Navan Waste Recycling and Disposal Facility (Navan WRDF or the Site) operations, Waste Connections of Canada Inc. (WCC) is seeking community input on the draft Terms of Reference (ToR). If approved, the ToR will serve as a framework for the preparation and review of the EA for the proposed undertaking.

The Project WCC has initiated the ToR for an EA under the Environmental Assessment Act for a continuation of its Navan WRDF operations. It is estimated that at current disposal rates the Site could reach its approved final contour waste elevation in late 2027. WCC has identified an opportunity to continue providing residual waste disposal capacity for users of the Navan WRDF public dropoff area and Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (IC&I) generators of solid non-hazardous waste by developing additional disposal capacity at the Navan WRDF.

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The Terms of Reference The ToR is the first step in the EA process, establishing the framework for the planning and decision-making process to be followed during the preparation of the EA. The ToR provides a comprehensive overview of the proposed Project, including the purpose and rationale, environmental components considered, high-level description of the existing environmental conditions, work plans and studies to be completed in the EA Phase, and the ToR commitments. The ToR also details the consultation activities completed to date and their outcomes, as well as plans for future engagement throughout the EA process. In addition, the ToR presents the completed evaluation of the alternatives to deal

with residual waste (referred to as “Alternatives To”) that identifies the continuation of operations at the Site as the preferred option. Locations of Copies of the Draft Terms of Reference The draft ToR will be available for public review and comment on the project website (wasteconnections canada.com/ottawa-landfill/ea) and at the following locations starting on October 16, 2026: Ottawa Public Library, Orléans Branch 1705 Orléans Blvd., Orléans ON K1C 4W2 Phone: 613-580-2940 Hours: Monday to Thursday from 10 AM to 8:30 PM; Friday from 1 PM to 6 PM and Saturday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Hours subject to change, For updated hours visit, https://about.biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/ branch/orleans Navan WRDF Administration Office 3354 Navan Road, Ottawa ON, K4B 1H9. Phone: 613-824-7289 Hours: Monday to Friday from 7 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday from 8 AM to 1 PM. Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) Ottawa District Office 2430 Don Reid Drive Unit 103 Ottawa ON K1H 1E1 Phone: 613-521-3450 Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM MECP Environmental Assessment Branch 40 St. Clair Avenue West 11th Floor, Toronto ON M4V 1M2 Phone: 416-314-8001 or 1-800-4616290 Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM. Following the review period, the draft ToR will be updated to address comments received and will be submitted to the Ontario Ministry of the Environ-

ment, Conservation and Parks as the next step in the formal review process. If approved by the Minister, the ToR will provide the final framework and requirements for the preparation of the EA. Members of the public, Indigenous communities, agencies, and other interested persons are encouraged to actively participate in the planning process by reviewing the draft ToR and providing comments by Nov. 13, 2026. Comments may be submitted through the Project website, mail, or email to the individuals listed below: Cathy Smith Government & Community Affairs Manager Waste Connections of Canada Inc. 20262 Erieau Rd., Blenheim ON N0P 1A0. Phone: 519-358-2860 Email: Catherine.Smith@ wasteconnections.com Yannick Marcerou Project Manager WSP Canada Inc. 1931 Robertson Road Ottawa ON K2H 5B7 Phone: 613-592-9600 (FR & EN) Email: Yannick.Marcerou@wsp.com

All personal information included in a submission – such as name, address, telephone number and property location – is collected, maintained, and disclosed by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) for the purpose of transparency and consultation. The information is collected under the authority of the Environmental Assessment Act or is collected and maintained for the purpose of creating a record that is available to the general public as described in section 37 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Personal information you submit will become part of a public record that is available to the general public unless you request that your personal information remain confidential. For more information, contact the MECP Freedom of Information and Privacy Coordinator. October 8, 2026 Veuillez noter qu’il vous est possible de nous communiquer vos commentaires ou vos questions sur le projet en français en les adressant à Yannick Marcerou au 613-592-9600 ou par courriel à Yannick.Marcerou@wsp.com.

Orléans author pens book about forgotten hockey hero Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star Matthew Walthert is both a hockey fan and a history buff. For his first book, he decided to combine both of his passions to write about a former professional hockey player who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the First World War. Scotty Davidson: The Extraordinary Life and Mysterious Death of Canada’s Forgotten Hockey Hero tells the story of a hard-living, hard-punching hockey player who captained the Toronto Hockey Club Blueshirts to the 1914 Stanley Cup in only his second season with the club. After war was declared in July 1914, Davidson volunteered to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force, becoming the first professional hockey player to do so. He was killed in action on June 16, 1915, while fighting in France. A military record reports that he was “killed instantly by a shell which exploded near him in the trench.” Why he was in the trench when the shell struck is a matter of debate. At least one report claims he was killed after single-handedly attacking a German trench with multiple

grenades after several of his comrades had already retreated. According to the account told to a paper back home by a friend and fellow soldier, he was discovered, surrounded and ordered to surrender. Davidson refused and crashed his last hand grenade against the body of a German officer, killing Matthew them both instantly. Walthert “We found Scotty’s body the next morning, riddled with bullets and jabbed with bayonets,” the friend recounted. Another report claimed that he was shot in the back and killed while attempting to carry an injured soldier to safety. Still another version of Davidson’s death, as reported in the August 18, 1915 issue of the Calgary Daily Herald, claimed that he was sitting in the trenches playing cards with four other soldiers when a shell dropped in the midst of the party killing Davidson and his friends.

Which version of Davidson’s death is true has been buried with the passage of time. He was only 24 when he died and was hailed as one of the best all-around players in the old National Hockey Association, which pre-dated the NHL. Davidson’s name can be found on the Vimy Memorial in France and he was posthumously inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1950. Walthert first came across Davidson’s name more than 10 years ago when he was looking for professional hockey players who had served in the First World War for a story that was published in The Athletic and was shortlisted for the Professional Writers Association of Canada’s best feature article award. After the story was published, Walthert continued to dig into Davidson’s life and death and a bigger story began to emerge. Walthert spent the next seven years combing through the various archives and newspaper accounts of Davidson’s playing career, military service and subsequent death, He even managed to track down several grand-nephews and -nieces, one of

Life happens.

whom provided Walthert with a number of old photos that made it into the book. Scotty Davidson: The Extraordinary Life and Mysterious Death of Canada’s Forgotten Hockey Hero is available through Sutherland House Books at sutherlandhousebooks.com.

PLANNING FOR TOMORROW...TODAY.

Learn how planning ahead can be one of the greatest gifts you can give your loved ones. Free, with plenty of time for questions. All are welcome. Jody Maffett is the creator of the It’s Been Nice journals.

Jacob Harper is an estates and business lawyer with Nelligan Law.

Benoît Robert is the Vice President of Heritage Funeral Complex.

Thursday, October 22 from 6:30 to 8pm, Heritage Funeral Complex, 1250 Trim Rd., Orléans Please RSVP by email at jody@maffett.ca by Sunday, October 18.

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Please join us for an open and light-hearted discussion about being prepared for life’s unexpected turns.