APRIL 16, 2021 VOL. 26 NO. 4 THE CENTRETOWN BUZZ 2021Ottawa Women’s March is distanced, 8 Downtown mural will return, 10 FoodWorks gives chef new direction Jack Hanna training for youth. And now, Stock says he ou would expect won’t be looking back. “I ab- FoodWorks, a non- solutely love it. I don’t think Yprofit business teach- I will ever go back to restau- ing job skills to youth, to rants.” change the lives of street kids. FoodWorks, an offshoot After all, that’s the whole point. of Operation Come Home, But the Centretown so- has been imparting job skills cial enterprise has also given to at-risk teenagers for half a senior Ottawa chef a new a decade, operating as a ca- direction in life. tering service for corporate Before COVID-19, Tim lunches and conferences. A Stock had a good – and con- year ago, FoodWorks shut ventional – career as execu- down because of COVID-19. tive chef at Thyme and Again, When it reopened last a top-flight takeout and cater- month, there was no demand ing service in Ottawa. Then for catering, so FoodWorks the pandemic hit and he was pivoted to providing frozen laid off. takeout meals. Within months, he landed Customers order online Chef Tim Stock and assistant Thaden Coltess preparing meals in the FoodWorks kitchen. at Operation Come Home, at the FoodWorks website which provides a variety and pick up frozen meals at PHOTO COURTESY FOODWORKS of services in Centretown the takeout window of the for at-risk youth. Initially, FoodWorks kitchen at 571 Stock prepared breakfasts at Gladstone Avenue, just east Centretowner on the wrong side of the the youth drop-in centre on of the McNabb Arena. The Gloucester Street between most popular items are la- Ottawa Public Library’s digital divide Bank and O’Connor. How- sagna, turkey and vegetar- Alayne McGregor ing, Bassett has limited WiFi enter branches to use public ever, last month his role ex- ian pot pies and biryana, a he pandemic has access, she said, but it’s un- computers is a hardship for panded and he relaunched chicken curry. exposed a “digital stable and insecure. Library them.” FoodWorks, a takeout and cont on p 7 “FoodWorks” T divide” among Ot- computers also have more cont on p 11 “Library” catering service providing tawa Public Library (OPL) diverse software available patrons. Those who regu- than she has on her 12-year- Cambridge Street Public School larly use library comput- old refurbished laptop, which ers have been locked out, is on its last legs. And most making it difficult for them of all, she needs to use the li- needs to find more students to do many everyday tasks brary printers, scanners, and including making appoint- photocopiers – services she ments or learning about doesn’t have at home. Com- government programs. mercial services are simply As of April 8, library pa- outside her budget: she esti- trons are again no longer al- mated that it would cost her lowed in branches, with only $18/hour to use a computer curbside returns and hold at Staples, for example. pickups available. The OPL The 61-year-old con- said this decision was to keep sultant researcher primar- customers and staff safe, and ily uses the Main branch in was in response to the recent Centretown and occasionally provincial emergency and the Rideau and Sunnyside stay-at-home order. branches. She does research However, that order does for seniors without Internet not require libraries to keep access. “The library is my The Centretown school only has 55 in-person students, and 18 online. BRETT DELMAGE/THE BUZZ patrons out of branches. Al- lifeline.” Alayne McGregor grades. In its catchment area, up from 40 percent in 1998. though the province forbids Especially in the last ith the increased 166 students are going to The solution, says local browsing the shelves, it does year, she said, she has met preference of other schools. OCDSB school trustee Justine allow entering branches to many other people who also W parents for Two other public elemen- Bell, is a dual track school, with “facilitate the contactless depend on library computer French immersion, a Cen- tary schools serving Cen- both an English and a French drop-off and pick-up or ac- services, who either have no tretown elementary school tretown – Elgin Street and immersion program. She points cess computers, photocopi- computer or no printer. “It’s is losing students and could Devonshire – are at or over out that other Ottawa public ers or similar services.” not just older people. It’s a be in danger of closing – de- capacity. Centennial is at schools offer both programs. The OPL decision has wide range.” spite the fact more students 75 percent capacity, and is a Either early or middle French left Centretown resident and When The BUZZ asked are likely to move nearby in hub for special education. All immersion are possibilities, she passionate library user Diane the OPL about this policy, the next few years. three offer French immersion. said, depending on what’s best Bassett furious and frustrated staff responded that they are Cambridge Street Public The difference: Cambridge for the community. at “yet another demoralizing “aware that many people School currently only has 55 only provides a single track On March 22, Bell held lockdown.” Access to library in our community depend students studying in-person English (with core French) an online community meet- computers, printers, scan- on the public library for ac- and another 18 online, out program for Grades JK-6. In ing about the future of the ners, and photocopiers is, to cess to computers and WiFi of a capacity of 323. It has the Ottawa public school board school, which attracted 51 her, “essential.” for very important needs, several split grade classes, (OCDSB), 72 percent of stu- participants. In her high-rise build- and that not being able to including one with three dents are in French immersion, cont on p 5 “Cambridge” 2 AT THE HEART OF OTTAWA APRIL 16, 2021 The Lighter Side of the Pandemic, by Karen Munro-Caple April 16, 2021 — Vol. 26, No. 4 THE CENTRETOWN BUZZ AT THE HEART OF OTTAWA SINCE 1995. 101-210 Gloucester St. Ottawa, ON K2P 2K4 Phone: 613-565-6012 centretownbuzz.com twitter.com/centretownbuzz facebook.com/centretownbuzz BUZZ Staff Managing editor: Alayne McGregor [email protected] Associate editor: Eleanor Sawyer City Editor: Robert Smythe [email protected] The Good, the Bad, and the Bumpy: Distribution manager: Archie Campbell [email protected] shouldn’t disabled people get priority? Ryan Lythall nations from the start. Their failure to and deaths among people with disabili- ACKNOWLEDGEMENT do so is putting lives at risk, and their ties in the province. (See joelharden.ca) y now, most of us have heard lack of investment in a plan to remove While phase two doesn’t specifi- The Centretown BUZZ is created and distributed about the ongoing issues in any and all obstacles for people with cally state that people with disabilities in Centretown, Ottawa, located on traditional and B trying to book an appointment disabilities trying to access their vacci- are eligible for the vaccine, the list does unceded Algonquin land. to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Al- nation is a serious problem.” include those with specific health con- though I’ve tried, I haven’t yet been This statement has also been sup- ditions. Personally, the following stands able to book an appointment. ported by Ottawa Dr. Melanie Bechard. out for me: “People with neurological NEXT ISSUE As a person who uses a ventilator Dr Bechard produced a new research re- diseases in which respiratory function and has round-the-clock care, I often port on behalf of Harden’s office titled, may be compromised (e.g., motor neu- The next issue of The BUZZ will be published worry about getting COVID-19. I take “Prioritizing People with Disabilities ron disease, myasthenia gravis, multiple May 14. Deadline for ads and submissions: May 3. every precaution that I can, including for COVID-19 Vaccination in Ontario.” sclerosis).” ISSN 1204-1604 wearing a mask and limiting my physi- In it, she notes the following: Based on this description, it appears cal and social interactions. 1. Disability must be recognized as a that I do qualify. I tried to book an ap- I understand about the priority to factor that significantly increases a per- pointment last week, but I was told by ADVERTISING vaccinate the elderly no matter where son’s risk of COVID-19 infection, com- Ottawa Public Health that even though I they live and their caregivers, as well plications, and death. Disability should qualify, they’re not taking bookings for The BUZZ is proud to offer an effective advertising as front-line health care staff. But what be taken into account when decisions those groups yet. I hope to provide an medium that reaches 10,000 Centretown homes and about people with disabilities? Where about COVID-19 vaccine prioritization update in the next edition of The BUZZ. businesses each month. Our competitive advertising rates are are we on the list, if not even as a priori- are being made. I agree that 100 percent of people as low as $31 per issue. tized group? 2. People with disabilities should be with disabilities should be a priority View our rate card and publishing dates at Fortunately, for those living in Cen- explicitly mentioned within Phase 2 of when it comes to the vaccine. For many centretownbuzz.com/advertising. tretown, we have at least one person on the vaccination rollout to ensure consis- persons, their disabilities affect their For more information, email our side.