October 2008 Photo: Tick Tock Tom Lumière 2008 dazzled festival-goers with lights, costumes, music and dance. Even a bit of www.newedinburgh.ca rain could not dampen the spirit of all those in attendance. More photos on pages 22-23. Fashion Central at 50 Sussex Drive By Jane Heintzman er. In collaboration with the of 50 Sussex this summer, it’s Many readers may have taken Ottawa-Gatineau Film and TV entirely possible you caught note that 50 Sussex Drive, Development Corporation, the the crew in the midst of one of former home of the defunct NCC arranged an 11 week ten- next spring’s episodes. Canada and the World Pavilion, ancy in the building for Insight Needless to say, before rent- was inhabited this summer. In Production Company, produc- ing the building, the NCC and fact, if you were hoping for a ers of the show, who spent PWGSC had satisfied them- sylvan stroll in Rideau Falls the summer months from early selves that the mould and water Park to admire the Falls and July to mid-September here problems identified last spring the spectacular view across in our midst, taping the 2009 had been dealt with sufficiently the river, you were instead Project Runway Canada series, to make it safely habitable. The confronted by a labyrinth of with its glamorous host, fash- search for a long term occu- barriers and a massive trailer ion icon Iman. pant of the former Pavilion positioned across the front For those (myself included) continues, and NECA contin- of the building obscuring the who are not familiar with the ues to track developments on view to the hills. series, each episode features a this front, having reiterated last The mysterious tenant of competition among the young spring its position that public the ill-fated building, whose designers who take on some access to Rideau Falls Park identity had been shrouded in form of design challenge, must be preserved under any secrecy until early September, ranging from the creation of new arrangement. In the mean- was ultimately revealed to be an outfit in 30 minutes using time, we look forward to the Global TV’s reality TV series a limited supply of materials, removal of the jumble of bar- Project Runway Canada, a to concocting a cocktail dress riers and the giant trailer that Canadian adaptation of the from the fabric in a bunch of have created an aura more sug- original American series, broken umbrellas (just two of gestive of an armed camp than which features 14 youthful challenges in the 2007 series). a sylvan lookout throughout designers vying for the title of If you happened to spot some the summer. Canada’s top fashion design- puzzling antics in the vicinity Mission Impossible: 132 Stanley Avenue By Tony Roth formally educated or trained, the heritage area; consult with Stage 1: Crisis and doing so in a short period and retain a lawyer; start the An emergency is an unfore- of time. It is an even greater search for planners and heri- seen set of circumstances, shock to realize that the people tage experts (most of whom requiring immediate response. one would expect as allies in prefer to work for wealthy and This is precisely what the pro- the face of such a proposal, successful developers, and/or posed development at 132, first such as city planners in the the City of Ottawa, rather than unveiled to us in December, heritage department and a dis- residents or community associ- 2007, created for the immedi- tinguished heritage architect, ations); get to know the people ate neighbours, for NECA, and are actually lined up against of like mind with whom one for the community at large: you. Life is disrupted, but will need to work in a com- an emergency that took eight there is nothing practical to do pletely cooperative and mutu- months of continuous effort to except rise to the occasion to ally supportive way; become address. the best of one’s abilities. aware of those opposed to one’s It is a shock to realize that Stage 2: Action efforts – their motives and per- the desire of a few individuals And so, to action: hit the books spectives; and mount a coher- to pursue a lucrative project and internet; get educated on ent and coordinated presenta- is going to require colossal the issues, the laws and rules, tion for the upcoming LACAC quantities of time, energy and the process and the precedents; hearing. And do it cheerfully, money if it is to be opposed. It hit the streets, with information avoiding futile pessimism and is intimidating to feel that one and petitions; organize meet- defeatism at all times! must mount a strategy in the ings within the community; Stage 3: Disaster midst of a process with which enlist local councilors for sup- LACAC voted 8-0 against the one is unfamiliar, concerning port and advice, approach pro- Continued on Page 39 topics on which one is not vincial and federal players in Page 2 NEW EDINBURGH NEWS October 2008 Office (rumoured to have a also worked tirelessly, plan- management hand in the build- ning and making presentations similar situation: No sooner NECA ing). The NCC subsequently against the proposed develop- has one unwelcome develop- leased the site temporarily to ment—all on a volunteer basis, ment plan been defeated than President Global TV for filming and pro- as part of NECA’s service to another one looms, much larg- duction. Many residents were the community. er and potentially more damag- irked when Global immediate- ing—Kettle Island bridge. David Sacks Heritage a thing of the past? In early September an NCC- ly erected tall barricades that Insofar as the 132 Stanley fight blocked the building’s lookout! sponsored study chose Kettle raised serious general questions Island, near the Aviation Reports Global and its barricades have about the purpose and effec- since gone, but we’re counting Museum, as the proposed tiveness of New Edinburgh’s site for a new Ottawa River on a lot better from any long- Heritage Conservation District Summer was an eventful time the NECA post. The first fruit term occupant. bridge to Quebec. While all for NECA, as highlighted by a designation—which city staff residents are of course entitled of Sarah’s chairmanship will be No townhouses this time had seemed to devalue or major success for the commu- the Oct. 15 screening and dis- to make up their own minds nity. But first things first… The sky above Gatineau wasn’t ignore in granting permissions here, NECA’s first reaction is cussion of the environmental- the only place for fireworks to the developer’s plan—it was Two new members were message film Be the Change, that Kettle Island is simply welcomed to the board by this summer. By far the most decided in the aftermath of 132 a terrible choice for a bridge co-sponsored by NECA: See explosive community news Stanley to host a public forum vote last June: Sarah Anson- the announcement on page 1. site, as it would bring new Cartwright at our annual was the abrupt defeat of Larco and discussion on the ques- traffic flooding through the Karen meanwhile has gotten Homes’ proposed construc- tion of how Ottawa’s heritage general meeting and Roslyn energetically to work in renew- city’s eastern core, to and from Butler at our final seasonal tion of six townhouses on the protections stack up against Route 417 and downtown. ing NECA’s contacts with City 132 Stanley Avenue lot (as city planners’ mandate to board meeting. Sarah and Hall, the police, and local Observers are predicting it Roslyn fill seats vacated by detailed in NECA’s Heritage intensify. This forum was the will have dreadful effects on Neighbourhood Watch (headed & Development Committee brainchild of Joan Mason and outgoing members Andrew by Michael Histed), regard- traffic on Beechwood, Sussex, Kerr and Madelien Lang. report on page 7 of this edi- was sponsored by NECA and the Rockcliffe and Aviation ing forestry maintenance, lit- tion). supported by the Federation (Andrew has kindly agreed to ter cleanup, and crime-safety Parkways, and Montreal Road, stay on temporarily as web- This happy outcome—which of Citizens’ Associations of while also failing to lighten issues in the park. In coming frankly seemed unlikely as Ottawa-Carleton. master of NECA’s website, months, we hope to develop truck traffic on King Edward while Madelien’s horticul- of the previous issue of this Under the title “Is Heritage (which is supposed to be one a more effective community- newspaper—came as the result a Thing of the Past? The tural expertise regarding New wide partnership in maintain- reason to build a new bridge Edinburgh Park will be sorely of a tense and dramatic hear- Intensification Crisis in in the first place). Furthermore ing our beautiful park: Watch ing in July before the City’s Ottawa”, the forum took place missed on the board.) We are for news. it will surely ruin the natu- most grateful to Sarah and Committee of Adjustment, Sept. 10 at the Fieldhouse ral beauty around the Aviation Roslyn for stepping forward to Fences at Canada and the where New Ed residents Joan before a capacity crowd of over Museum. World Mason, Tony Roth, Julia 100. People came from as far as help the neighbourhood. The In taking an initial stand board thus remains at 11 mem- The fate of the former Canada Wayand, and Peter Boehm, the Glebe and Westboro Beach and the World Pavilion con- with a lawyer and planning to hear an expert panel talk against a Kettle Island bridge, bers, as in prior months; 12 NECA joins such influential would be the maximum.