December 2015 Embassy Photo: Sam Garcia Unity and solidarity: People gathered at the Embassy of France on Sussex Dr. to share their grief and www.newedinburgh.ca support in the wake of the November 13 attacks in Paris. See page 9 for details. Two of three retail spaces booked at Minto site, but tenants still top secret By Jane Heintzman of the ground floor slab of of the project has also been A good selection of units on question. Perhaps we should Behind the hoarding at Minto Beechwood was slated resolved, and a special light all floors and in all price raise a glass to this one? Beechwood and MacKay, to begin in the second week feature is expected to be ranges is still available, and If you happen to observe Minto’s construction crew is of November and wrap up operational as the building a new five percent deposit construction activity on beavering away and it won’t about two weeks later. The takes shape in 2016. Kevin structure for smaller units the roof of the pharmacy be long before the building ground floor is the most com- promises more detail early in (below 1,000 square feet) has this winter, it may well be structure begins to emerge plicated of all the levels in the the New Year, and hopes to been introduced as an incen- Minto, not the owners of from the ground later this building, and once it’s com- organize a community event tive to firsttime buyers. the pharmacy building, who fall. High Rise Development pleted, the subsequent floors sometime in late summer to Yet again, we’re obliged are undertaking this minor Manager Kevin Harper is will be constructed at a rate launch the light installation to report that the identity of structural upgrade. City by- happy to report that work of roughly one every 10 days. (Lumière weekend comes to the retail occupants at Minto laws require that the owner is slightly ahead of sched- If all goes as planned, it’s mind). Beechwood remains shroud- of a large building located ule, creating some welcome hoped that the structure will After a predictably quiet ed in mystery, but it appears in close proximity to a much flexibility to accommodate be topped off by the end of summer, condo sales have that two of the three available smaller one is responsible for weather-related delays dur- February. reportedly rebounded this spaces are now locked down, the structural integrity of the ing the winter. He is particu- The cladding and colour fall, fuelled by Minto’s major while negotiations continue roof of the lower building larly pleased that the Record scheme of the building have Condomania event on Oct. to finalize the third. The only in the event of snow and ice of Site Condition recently been finalized in the last few 24 when hundreds of pro- tantalizing hint we were able spillover from the high rise. filed with the City and the weeks, and Kevin is confident spective buyers turned out to extract from Kevin is that Minto has already altered the Province reported a spot- that the materials will blend to investigate the options. one of the new businesses rooftop design of their build- lessly clean building site, an well with the streetscape and Half a dozen condos in Minto will be especially welcome, ing to minimize the problem, enviable record which is far age beautifully. The thorny Beechwood were sold that as it will “save residents a trip but is still planning to under- from the norm. question of how to add inter- weekend alone, the majority out of the neighbourhood” to take some minor reinforce- Kevin reports that pouring est to the blank west wall of them with two-bedrooms. secure the mystery item(s) in ment of the pharmacy roof. Help St. Bart’s bring a Syrian refugee family to Ottawa By Gina Watson are now asking is what can sponsor a Syrian refugee response so far has been very brother has been a parishio- The photo of Alan Kurdi they do to help Syrian refu- family,” says David Clunie, positive. Funds towards the ner at St. Aidan’s. Over the washed up on the beach, gees—the largest refugee Rector at St. Bartholomew’s $30,000 target are flowing in course of several years, the which circled through the movement since the Second Church on MacKay St. and people are volunteering people of St. Aidan’s have media this past summer, is World War. In September, Parish to do everything from filling come to know the extended seared into memory. “The St. Bartholomew’s Council and concerned out the forms to finding the family and understand their The question many people Anglican Church is taking parishioners gathered to learn family housing,” he said. plight. action. We are planning to about the situation in Syria “St Bart’s will bring the This is not the first time and the plight of one par- family to Canada under that St. Bart’s has sponsored ticular family, forced to flee the Private Sponsorship of a refugee family. Previously, Syria and living precariously Refugees program offered by families have been brought in Lebanon. the Canadian government. to Canada from Sudan and They are a family of five: We must provide financial Rwanda. father, mother and three chil- and other support to the fam- “There is renewed energy dren. The father worked as a ily for at least one year after around the issue of refugees. dental technician in Syria and they arrive in Canada,” he People in the parish and in the mother is an art teacher. said. “And we hope that the the community are stepping The father was kidnapped family will arrive within the forward to offer assistance” in Syria and the family had year.” says Clunie. “We welcome to pay a significant ransom The family that St. Bart’s anyone from the community to secure his release. They plans to sponsor would also who wants to get involved.” fled from Syria and cannot have the support of a relat- If you would like to con- go back. ed family that St. Aidan’s tribute to this initiative please “In order to bring this fam- Anglican Church in Ottawa is contact David Clunie at St ily to Canada we need to raise sponsoring. The mothers of Bartholomew’s at Stbarts@ $30,000,” said Clunie. “The both families are sisters. Their bellnet.ca. Page 2 NEW EDINBURGH NEWS December 2015 Strong support for exciting possibilities in New Edinburgh tion with present program- would have to be addressed. report on the Forum that can ming arrangements. They Residents suggested that be shared with the commu- thought the Fieldhouse in there would be a need for nity, and to consider what that Stanley Park could expand a sound business plan and to do more, and their view of a clear governance structure, pathway might look like and New Edinburgh House as a and raised questions about how it can be navigated. Tim Plumptre centre for NECTAR activities the relationship of such a Look for more information NECA President was that, while it provides structure to the three exist- on the New Edinburgh web- lots of programming, its room ing community organizations. site and in this publication as sizes, space constraints and In addition, issues related to we move ahead. access issues are significant noise, traffic, security, design A New Edinburgh Community at the same time. Through disadvantages that a new cen- – and of course funding – Forum co-hosted by the small group discussions at tre might overcome. would all require consider- Crichton Community Council tables spread about the room, Asked what kinds of pro- ation. Participants looked for- (CCCs), NECTAR and the participants were invited to gramming they’d like to have ward to a process that would New Edinburgh Community address the following issues: available, the groups were be open and transparent, and Alliance (NECA) has yielded satisfaction with current com- not short of ideas: music, provide further opportunities strong endorsement for pur- munity programming, the child care, fitness, visual arts, for community involvement suing the idea of a new com- desirability of moving for- community events and rental as plans evolve. munity centre for our neigh- ward with a possible new spaces were all mentioned, as The path sketched by the Deadline bourhood. community facility, the needs well as some possible com- forum participants promises Over 50 residents gathered such a facility might address, mercial aspects such as kaya- to be a long one, but the pos- for the next issue of the at St. Bartholomew’s church and the challenges involved king on the Rideau or a café sibilities for New Edinburgh New Edinburgh News hall on Oct. 29, 2015, to take in establishing such a facility. where residents could get are exciting. Representatives part in this forum and also With regard to the first together. of the co-hosting organiza- JAN 10 to participate in NECA’s question, participants Along the pathway to such tions expect to meet shortly [email protected] annual general meeting, held expressed some dissatisfac- facility, a lot of challenges to review a more detailed NECA MEETINGS All Welcome The NECA board meets nine times a year, normally on the third Tuesday of each month at 8:00 pm. No meetings in July, August, or December. During October, NECA holds its annual gen- eral meeting (AGM) and a regular board meeting. Meetings will be held at the NECTAR Centre, 255 MacKay Street. Meetings are open to all New Edinburgh residents.