PAINTING BY DONNA EDWARDS ebe , Februaryre 15, 2008 Vol. 38 No. 2 Serving the Glebe community since 1973 FREE 1- Glebe Business Improvement Area advances with city council approval The Glebe Business Group (GBG) has just passed a major milestone in its and initiatives using funds collected through a special levy on commercially efforts to designate a Glebe Business Improvement Area (BIA) with city coun- assessed properties within a designated area. cil's approval of the designation on Jan. 23. Members of the voluntary Glebe Business Group (GBG) that have The Glebe BIA will include all commercial properties along the Glebe's addressed business matters on an ad-hoc basis in recent years struck a Glebe ttrimary east-west and north-south commercial corridors: from Lyon Street BIA Formation Steering Committee and hired a consultant to help establish a along Chamberlain Avenue, Isabella Street and Pretoria Avenue to Queen Eliz- BIA. The steering committee and consultant have been communicating and abeth Driveway; and from the Queensway along Bank Street to the Bank meeting with commercial property and business owners over the past year to Street Bridge, including properties on intersecting streets and Lansdowne affirm their support for establishing and investing in the Glebe BIA. Park. "We're delighted with the positive response from the Glebe business com- Most business districts throughout the city of Ottawa already have a BIA in munity and city council," says GBG chair Liam McGahern of Patrick McGa- place (there are 13 existing and a 14th being formed). Designated under the hem Books. "We urgently need an official BIA to represent. our interests. As Municipal Act, BIAs allow commercial property owners and tenants to estab- volunteers with our own businesses to run, we can't provide the dedicated lish a board of management and hire staff to address priority business issues leadership this area needs." continued on page 3 Mark your calendars WHAT'S INSIDE February 16, 17 Winderlude continues February 18 Family Day holiday Abbotsford 2 Councillor's Report 12 February 21 - 24 Ottawa Boat Sportsmen's & Cottage Show Lansdowne Park Editorial 4 Business 16-17 February 25 GCA Board Meeting. 7:30 p.m. GCC All are welcome Letters 5 Taste in the Glebe . .6, 24 February 26 Facilitated public workshop Lansdowne Park, Salons A & B, 6:30 p.m. GNAG 6 At the movies 26 (Pre-register: [email protected]) March 3 Glebe Co-op Nursery registration GCA 7 Schools 27-32 2008-2009 school year, www.glebepreschool.com March 5,6 GNAG spring program registration begins Lansdowne Park 7-9 Books 33-35 March 6 City of Ottawa Registration for summer camps, www.ottawa.ca Good Old Days 10 Religion 36, 37 March 8-9 National Women's Show Ottawa Congress Centre Glebe Questions . .. .11 Grapevine 38, 39 March 10-14 March Break March 18 GNAG soccer registration online, 11 p.m. NEXT DEADLINE: FOR THE MARCH 14 ISSUE www.gnag.ca FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2008 2 Glebe Report February 15, 2008 N EWS The many faces Come, listen and learn of volunteers at Glebe Centre at Abbotsford For many, from students to retirees, volunteering has become a way of life. Volunteers provide assistance that is both useful and rewarding. Organizations BY JULIE IRETON are dependent on the commitment and contribution of volunteers and the gen- Some Abbotsford members erosity of spirit that allows for an individual to give back to their community. were able to put a face to a very It is a win-win situation and the benefits for all are endless. familiar voice recently. "Everyone Volunteers are an essential part of our Glebe Centre community. Volunteers was very pleased to hear Rob supplement and enrich the day-to-day operation of programs and services, Clipperton. They miss the voice thereby enhancing the quality of life for our residents. Whether it is a student on CBC Radio," noted Abbots- completing a forty hour commitment, a co-op placement, or retiree who has ford's Pat Goyeche. "There were a time to share, the skills and talents of each and every volunteer can contribute lot of CBC Radio listeners in the so much in making a difference in the lives of our seniors. room, so it's nice to hear the sto- Students will often continue and mentor new students, or family members ries." will volunteer after a loved one has moved into the facility. Whether you are Abbotsford's Learn and volunteering in our "day away" program, pastoral care, art therapy activities Explore speaker's series recently or through friendly visits, you quickly become part of the Glebe Centre fami- kicked off a new season. Broad- ly and our volunteer community. caster Rob Clipperton spoke to the Grow, learn, give, nurture, smile. BE A VOLUNTEER! We hope you will crowd on Jan. 30. join us! For further information on how you can volunteer at The Glebe Cen- Clipperton, an Old Ottawa tre, please contact LoneIle Butler at 613-238-2727, ext. 353 or send an email u South resident, spent 28 years at to us at [email protected]. 0 CBC in Ottawa. He retired last H fall, leaving on a high note as his program, "In Town and Out" is the highest rated Saturday morning show in Canada. He had a lot of Rob Clipperton great stories to relate to the audi- ence at Abbotsford. For more than two decades, Clipperton says he enjoyed walking into work through the stately lobby of the Chateau Laurier. The radio station was housed on the seventh floor of the hotel for many years. He described how the first offices he worked in were simply converted hotel rooms, with marble floors and full bathrooms. Clipperton explained that he started at about the same time as another popular broadcaster, Shelagh Rogers. He says they had a lot of fun in those "good old days," with some memorable pranks, including com- peting to get the other laughing on air. Over the years, Clipperton hosted a number of shows and events in Ottawa and the Valley. "People often ask me what was my favorite interview...I've interviewed authors, entertainers, politicians. But my favorite interviews are just regular folks. Everyone has a story to tell and often it can be very compelling," said Clipperton. Clipperton took questions from the audience after his talk. Former city of Ottawa councilor for Capital Ward, Inez Berg stood up to thank Rob for his McNeish, Tracy Lay, Sarah Gravel Left to right: Tatiana Rother, John work during the ice storm of 1998. She said it was one time in particular peo- ple really relied on radio. She said his famous voice will now be missed by lis- teners. Abbotsford's Learn and Explore speaker's series brings in different speak- ers each Wednesday. "The quality of speakers is amazing," says Abbotsford member Bill Robertson. He and his wife Maxine try to come each week. "They bring in authors, topical speakers, people who've traveled, broadcasters it's quite impressive," notes Robertson. Some of the future speakers on the schedule include Helene Viel, long dis- tance walker and author of My Canada, Every Step of the Way. Viel and her husband walked from Tuktoyaktuk to St. John's in 2000. She'll speak at Abbotsford on Feb. 20. following week, on Feb. 27, Sandra Garland from Fletcher Wildlife STEVE MARRINOLCOM The Garden will be along to share her knowledge of the gardens and wildlife. And on March 12, AbbOtsford welcomes one of its own members to the podium. Madeleine Honeyman will share her anecdotes and show some footage of a documentary about Canada during the first world war. Honeyman and other Ottawa women were interviewed for the film. Abbotsford's Learn and Explore speaker's series continues each Wednesday from 1:00-2:30 p.m. The cost is just $2.00 and it includes tea or coffee and home-made treats! Abbotsford House is at 950 Bank Street. Robert Keene REALTOR SAS ROIN1114111Q 613-241-5123 76 Murray St. Doors @ 9 p jahm. Tel. (613) 725.1171 Fax: (613) 725-3323 Toll. 800-307-1545 [email protected] THE NEIGHBOURHOOD SPECIALISTS" IN RENOVATIONS tr; ROYAL LEPAGE CELEBRATING OVER 10 YEARS OF QUALITY AND SERVICE 1111111111111111111 Team Realty 83 2 -1717 ledtp.ortly U*nue. 8,0 Covratod. 1.1orav BBB www.sandy-hill.on.ca 35C AvoC1w 1614 Committed to Excellence NEWS Glebe Report February 15, 2008 3 Glebe Business Improvement Area Calling all emerging continued from page 1 BIA Formation Steering Committee chair Greg Best owns three businesses Glebe poets over 18 in the Glebe (Bank Street Framing, Pom Pom and The Sassy Bead Company) and additional businesses in other parts of Ottawa where BIAs are in place. "A Glebe Report Poetry Contest Glebe BIA will give us the resources and competitive advantage we need to look out for our interests and to retain and attract new businesses, clients and Theme: "Life in the Glebe" customers," says Best. A key reason for forming the Glebe BIA now is the major reconstruction of Deadline Extended Bank Street in the Glebe scheduled to start in 2009. "We know how difficult and even devastating construction can be for business, as it was during con- to March 17, 2008 W 2, 2' AMOROSO MM.?, V, struction on Bank Street downtown and in Old Ottawa South," says Best. "We need to be well organized and represented to mitigate the impacts construction How to enter will have in the Glebe and to. promote our newly improved business area after- wards." Guidelines Long-time property and business owner of the Loeb Glebe, Jim McKeen, is The contest is open to all Glebe residents 18 and older who have anxious to see the BIA formed.