February 12, 2010 Vol. 40 No. 2 Serving the Glebe community since 1973 FREE OTT P PHOTO: WENDY PHIL Say ‘yes’ to winter Squeak-squinch, squeak-squinch – call the chorus of snowflakes, so roughly delight in the litany of personal winter stories that speak to our capacity to dislodged by winter boots that pass overhead in a rhythmic stride. Without a overcome obstacles in our daily lives. So, as the daylight hours grow longer care for centigrade or Fahrenheit measures, they announce to all who listen and the sun sneaks higher in the sky, seize the moment and head outside, sens- that the air today will feel crisp to the cheek and if that wind picks up, biting ibly dressed of course, to skate, ski, snowboard, snowshoe or just to take an to the nose. They paint our vistas white with a flurry of activity and then settle invigorating walk in the fresh air. down to reshape our landscape. They evoke memories as unique as their own Be an active witness to the wonders of winter by joining in Winterlude fes- crystalline structures and inspire us to think privately, or more openly, to re- tivities happening in the Glebe area and downtown Ottawa during the next assure our neighbours, “No, it’s not so cold. It’s Canada.” It’s a gentle reminder two weekends. And in between, head indoors to the thrill of seeing the winter – celebrate winter, celebrate ourselves. We are Canadians, after all. We revel Olympics, even from afar and share the emotional roller coaster of “sport lived in the beauty of the season; we adapt to the rigours it imposes and we secretly on the edge” with friends and family – that should generate some heat! WHAT’S INSIDE Mark your calendars February 5-21 Winterlude Abbotsford . .16 Good Old Days . 12-13 www.canadascapital.gc.ca February 11-14 BIA hosts Choc Oh La! Art . 22 Grapevine . 38-39 www.chocohla.ca February 15 Family Day Books........... 33-35 Letters . 6 February 20 Great Glebe Fire Fundraiser Concert Business . 14-15 MP’s Report..........9 7 p.m., GCC February 22 Deadline for student summer Councillor’s Report . 10 MPP’s Report . .11 employment at city of Ottawa www.ottawa.ca Editorial .............4 Music ..............23 February 23 GCA meeting, 7:30 p.m., GCC All are welcome. Entertainment .......24 Religion ......... 36-37 March 2-8 GNAG online registration, 11 p.m. GCA . 8 Schools . 25-29 Mar. 2: Dance, Mar. 3: Preschool Mar. 4: Other spring programs GNAG..............17 Sports . .31 Mar. 8: Summer programs www.gnag.ca March 15-19 March Break NEXT DEADLINE: FOR THE MARCH 12 ISSUE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 2 Glebe Report February 12, 2010 GLEBE AVENUE FIRE OULE CEZER H PHOTO: JULIE In the early afternoon of January 18, 2010, a multi-alarm fire erupted in the three-story apartment building at 114 Glebe Avenue, shooting flames and bil- lowing smoke high into the sky. Fortunately, no residents were physically hurt in the blaze although all were left homeless and without basic necessities. Firefighters were able to rescue almost all the family pets. Helping People Walk in Faith, Hope and Love www.fourthavebaptist.ca Minister: Rev. Clarke Dixon [email protected] Corner of Fourth & Bank 109A Fourth Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 2L3 613-236-1804 Worship Service RUDY FEGANRUDY Sunday Mornings at 11:00 a.m. T Sunday School for ages 3-15 during the service. PHOTO: Nursery for 0-2 year olds. Despite the efforts of more than 70 firefighters from multiple fire stations, the fire burned until early the next morning, leaving no hope of repairing the PLEASE JOIN US EVERYONE WELCOME structure. Acorn Early Learning Centre NOW OPEN! Quality care for children ages 14 months to 6 years. Full-day, morning and afternoon half day programs available. 600 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON Tel: 613-216-7668 Email: [email protected] For more information, visit our web site at www.acornelc.com COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING Glebe Report February 12, 2010 3 Glebe fire fundraisers BY LESLIE FUlton Our community cares! Glebites have opened their hearts and wallets to as- sist their neighbours who lost everything in the blaze that destroyed 114 Glebe Avenue. From donating clothes and toiletries to offering leads on apartments and raising cash, our community has been very generous. But, here are some ways you can still help out: GREAT GLEBE FIRE DANCE-tacular! Have you got happy feet? Dust off your dancing shoes (or running shoes) and join us on Saturday, February 13 at the Glebe Community Centre from 1-4 p.m. for three power hours of Zumba, hip hop, retro disco and yoga stretch. Tickets are $25 each for adults, $15 for teens, payable at the door. This will be a fun event with Dance with Alana Hock and her crew. Great tunes, great UM H moves, great vibe! All ages welcome and no dance experience required. Spon- sored by Dance With Alana, the Glebe Community Association (GCA) and the Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group (GNAG). PHOTO: SOO GREAT GLEBE FIRE Fundraiser Concert Join us Saturday, February 20 at the Glebe Community Centre for an even- Musicians connect ing of music featuring the very popular Brothers Chaffey and Fiftymen ... BY JULIE HOULE CEZER and special guests. Tickets are $20 each for adults and can be purchased at Compact Music (both locations) and the GCC. Doors open at 7 p.m. There will Less than 24 hours after the fire alarm had sounded, members of the Glebe also be a silent auction of fabulous goods and services donated by Glebe BIA Community Association (GCA) were already beginning to work with other businesses. Sponsored by the GCA, the Glebe BIA and GNAG. This is going community organizations such as the Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group to be a hot double bill – both acts are wonderful! (GNAG) and the Business Improvement Area (BIA) to develop a viable plan Since 2004, Brothers Chaffey has performed their brand of roots music to provide longer term support for the former residents of 114 Glebe Avenue. combining rock, country, and soul all across the country. Led by brothers Mat- In turn, members of the community responded to their requests for donations thew and Curtis Chaffey, their sound is a combination of genres, most notably with characteristic generosity. Some private individuals even went the extra the R&B of Matthew’s vocals and the country rock in Curtis’ telecaster twang. mile. They mounted their own fundraiser on January 29 both to raise money They write contemporary rock n’ roll songs that lean heavily on melody. The and keep awareness of the plight of the fire victims front and centre in the vitality and intensity of their music have earned Brothers Chaffey a reputation minds of their Glebe neighbours. for up-tempo, dancehall, rock n’ roll shows. Motivated by sympathy and empathy for their fellow Glebites, Meghan Mar- Fiftymen play straight-up hardcore country, through and through – a world shall of Compact Music, Ben Welland of the band Sadie Hell and Luke Banks, of killing tunes and whiskey blues, trampled hearts and unsettled scores after manager of the Royal Oak in the Glebe joined forces to put together a fundrais- nightfall. Breakneck and brokenhearted, the sturdy five-piece band churns out er, on very short notice, headlining Sadie Hell as well as the Watters Brothers a hard luck parade of full-blooded hurtin’ tunes that walk the line between jeal- and Murder Plans. Donating their time, promotional and organizational skills, ousy, revenge, faith, guilt and redemption. It boasts two guitars, bass, drums, a not to mention their musical talents, they attracted more than 200 people over voice and menacing Marshalls: pure, honest roots music steeped in traditional the course of an evening and collected just over $700 in donations, all of which country and gut level punk. was deposited to the RBC Bank Account set up by the GCA. Donations While Sadie Hell has certainly played other fundraising gigs for worthwhile A special GCA bank account at the Royal Bank (Bank and First) has been causes, Ben notes that “this fire along with the fire on Cobourg, the earthquake opened. All proceeds are earmarked for those who lost their homes in the fire. in Haiti and the recent deaths (of relatives who were close to me) have col- Donations can be made at any RBC branch or online if you have an RBC ac- oured my perception of the winter of 2009/2010 and are the inspiration for a count. The account number is 00116-1012954. Cheques are also accepted and new song that I’m currently half-finished writing called ‘hoarfrost’which will should be made out to the Glebe Community Association with the account appear on a compilation album of exclusive acoustic songs by local musicians number written in the memo portion of the cheque. The GCA board will work to raise funds for the people affected by the earthquake in Haiti.” with the Red Cross and the residents affected to determine how to distribute As a sequel to the fundraiser, he has created a Paypal account: glebefirefund- the funds. [email protected] for those who may not be able to get to the RBC to do- nate in person, and he will personally transfer the funds into the RBC. Should See page 26 for fundraising efforts of the children at Acorn Early Learning you have any questions, you may contact him at [email protected]. Centre. 20th anniversary of the Strathcona fire BY Pina DownEY February 22, 2010 will mark the 20th anniversary of the Glebe fire at my childhood home on Strathcona Avenue.