THE BUZZ Bronson Ave. rebuild starting soon, page 5 The Gouda Life presents: Banoffee parfaits, page 7 MARCH 16, 2012 VOL. 17 NO. 3 At the heart of Ottawa since 1995 CENTRETOWNBUZZ.COM UZZ B Judith Gustafsson / The BUZZ Two kids got into the Irish spirit as Ottawa’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade moved through the city on March 10. Mixed reactions to butt ban Patio ban could hurt pubs, but hard to argue health benefits extend to all bar and restaurant pa- sure to second-hand smoke for chil- from how we can’t just drink beer JEFF CARSON tios. dren and non-smokers. anywhere.” Somerset Ward Coun. Diane For some the ban will re- As someone who was a daily The new smoking regulations Holmes chairs the city’s Board of duce the temptation to smoke. smoker for years, Lawson acknowl- passed by council on Feb. 22 are Health. Holmes voted in favour of Jessica Lawson, 26, lives and edges the summer would have tested drawing mixed reactions from Cen- the new regulations, which only two works in Centretown and recently her resolve. tretown residents and businesses, councillors opposed. quit smoking. “When [my friends and I] go out especially as people start to think “The renewed regulations are part “My initial reaction, oddly socially to a patio or to a park it is about the upcoming summer season. of a larger strategy adopted by the enough, was negative,” said Law- second nature to, say, have a pint and Smoking will be banned from all Board of Health that will make Ot- son. “I do not really believe it is the a cigarette,” said Lawson. “So, in a municipal property, including parks, tawa a healthier city for all,” said prerogative of city councillors to way, the ban is a relief.” beaches, playgrounds, sports fields Holmes. impede on a person’s life like that. and outdoor fruit and vegetable mar- The goal of this strategy is to re- But the more I thought about it I re- Smoking, kets as of April 2. The ban will also duce smoking rates and lessen expo- alized the bylaw isn’t that different see page 3 Community to brainstorm a High grad rates for revamped Dundonald Park Ontario, Centretown DORIAN PANCHYSON der-performing parks into Lyon, Dundonald Park has CHRISTOPHER HOFLEY least five months before their more vibrant centres for the long been a hub for the Cen- projected graduation date,” Centretown's Dundon- neighbourhood. tretown community. Centretown’s Lisgar Col- said Steve Spidell, head of ald Park has been selected Organized by 8-80 Cities It offers a tree-lined legiate Institute will see 96 student services at Lisgar to participate in a program – a Toronto-based non-prof- splash of greenspace in the per cent of its eligible stu- Collegiate. that offers underused urban it organization in partner- heart of downtown and fea- dents graduate in June this The provincial numbers spaces a facelift, and local ship with the Centretown tures paved paths that weave year, a significantly higher are also very good, with 82 residents are being asked to Community Health Centre through grassy spaces and number than the recently re- per cent of high school se- contribute to the planning (CHC) – the Active Places, raised perennial beds. The leased provincial average. niors having graduated last process. Healthy People project park also boasts an enclosed And, while nearly all stu- year. That represents a 14 Chosen from over 30 ap- educates and empowers area for children, perma- dents successfully complete per cent increase over the ENTRETOWN plications submitted from communities to transform nent chess tables, and plays high school at Lisgar, a num- province’s graduation rate in across the province, Dun- public parks as a means to host to Centretown Movies, ber of them will also graduate 2003-2004. donald Park will take part in promote social interaction, the outdoor movie festival ahead of schedule. This is the seventh year in the Active Places, Healthy health and community co- held throughout the warmer “This year, 15 per cent a row the graduation rate has People initiative, a program hesion. summer months. of our grade 12 students increased in the province, ac- that works with community Running along Somer- Park, earned their Ontario Sec- cording to a release from the C members to transform un- set Street between Bay and see page 3 ondary School Diploma at Ontario Liberal party. 2 CENTRETOWNBUZZ.COM MARCH 16, 2012 MARCH 16, 2012 — Vol. 17, No. 3 Letters CENTRETOWN Seniors: speak up and use your voice To the editor: but we are determined and The sad thing is, many of Having so much time to strong. Perhaps not physi- us fall through the cracks of think about life through all BUZZ My name is Joanne. I am cally for some but mentally life and time. No need for my treatments, I was sad- in my 68th year and a senior for all. that to happen, either. dened by my lack of under- At the heart of Ottawa since 1995. in our beautiful Centretown. After all my fears and un- We have many beautiful standing towards others as I Like many of you, I just certainties, I realized that things at our disposal, many was so busy with life in gen- 101-210 Gloucester St. finished 18 months of radia- we seniors have a voice but folks who are working for us eral. tion and chemotherapy; and some keep their voices silent. on a daily basis. Let us ap- I may not sing well, but I Ottawa, ON look, I’m still here to talk There’s no need. We were preciate them and say thank will sing. I may not be as ag- K2P 2K4 about it. children once and our voices you. ile but I will dance and move Two years ago I had an were heard; no reason for that Our community is pretty about. Most importantly, I Phone: 613-565-6012 emergency double bypass at not to continue. and I, for one, love to walk will listen to those who need the Heart Institute. Not bad, I’ve learned that we are about and enjoy my neigh- an ear and hold those who www.centretownbuzz.com huh? sometimes frail and reluctant bours. As seniors, we have need to cry. twitter.com/centretownbuzz What I’m trying to relay in voicing our displeasures the time now to stop and do is this: we may be seniors and how we feel. whatever motivates us. Joanne D. Samson Centretown Buzz Staff Managing editor Christopher Hofley | [email protected] Associate editor Eleanor Sawyer City editor David Gladstone | [email protected] Distribution managers Archie Campbell & David Seaborn [email protected] Advertising The Buzz is proud to offer an effective advertising medium that reaches 10,000 Centretown homes and businesses each month. Our competitive advertising rates are as low as $28 per issue. 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To join our distribution team, please call 613-565-6012 or email [email protected] The Centretown BUZZ is published by the Centretown Buzz Advertise with the Buzz Board of Directors, a group consisting of community View our rate card at centretownbuzz.com members representing all residents of Centretown. Rates as low as $28 per issue The Centretown BUZZ operates under the guidelines of the Canadian Copyright Act. Distributed monthly to 10,000 homes and © 2012 Centretown Buzz businesses across Centretown MARCH 16, 2012 CENTRETOWNBUZZ.COM 3 Park needs help reaching its potential From page 1 volunteer contributions from the community. However, while Dundon- Either way, Thibault and ald Park certainly has a lot the Centretown CHC are op- to offer the community, the timistic about the project’s space often suffers from the future. social ills that tend to plague “There is a lot of energy other urban spaces, notably around the project,” said after-hours alcohol and drug Thibault. “The response from use. the community has been Residents often bemoan amazing.” the lack of adequate night- The project has received time lighting, an element that the blessing of the Friends of many believe makes the park Dundonald Park, a volunteer difficult to navigate and pa- organization that serves as trol after dark. guardians for the space. But Dundonald was not “I personally hope that selected for the 8-80 Cities the (8-80 Cities) project will project because it was seen awaken Centretown at-large as derelict or branded a prob- to the amazing opportunity lem park. Rather it was cho- for community collaboration sen because of its immense and interaction in this histor- amount of unrealized poten- ic greenspace” said Suzanne tial.