Halifax and Ottawa

While watching CBC's The National last night I was reminded of our fall trip to Halifax. They ran a story about the opening weekend of the new Halifax Central library. This is truly an amazing building and it was great to see so many there and to hear people of all ages so enthusiastic  about their new library.

This September's visit was just our second trip to Halifax. What a lovely city! While walking around, I couldn’t help but make a few comparisons to Ottawa. The construction of a spectacular downtown library is a case in point. The fact is they have beaten us. It's already open. Bruce Gorman, director of central library and regional services at Halifax Public Libraries, stated yesterday, "It'll be an icon, a beacon for our city, like the Eiffel Tower is for Paris."

Meanwhile, back in the nation's capital, Ottawa mayor Jim Watson announced during the summer election campaign  he's now for a public-private partnership to fund a new downtown library here. Get this--there was even talk of a new round of discussions about possible plans for a new main branch of our library! There have been talks before and many ideas have been floated and shot down over the years. The fact remains that we are now at the end of 2014, and we're not even at the drawing board yet. It takes years before anything is ever decided in Ottawa.

This summer saw the re-opening of Ottawa’s Lansdowne Park and the rejuvenation of professional football  as well. The new stadium is not called Frank Clair stadium anymore. (He was Ottawa’s best known coach.) No, of course, it's called TD Place. As my mother often says, "It's all about the almighty dollar." The former football  team was the Rough Riders. I agree it was kind of silly to have two teams with the same name (Regina) but really, Redblacks is the best they could come up with?! Ah, but I digress.

The wrangling over the re-development of Lansdowne Park went on for years. In the beginning there was going to be an international design competition but in the end, a private group of sports and developer types got control of the whole thing. A couple of months ago we walked around during an open house event. I did go in with an open mind. I was prepared to be positive, so yes, there are some green areas and there are a lot of benches and trees. The new stadium is impressive. I can see it would be a fun place to attend a concert or sports event.

However, there was no moment when I went “Oh wow!” If I had never seen the Cattle Castle (Aberdeen Pavillion) before, then that would have been my “Oh wow “ moment. It is a remarkable building and thank goodness it was restored several years ago. Another building that was saved and restored is the Horticultural Building. What simply does not easily blend with these architectural gems are the new buildings: the condos, the stores and the movie theatres. None of these were necessary        (unless you’re a developer looking to make money) but I could have accepted them if they were more attractive. So, we now have Whole Foods (often called whole pay cheque) and a movie complex which will take customers away from existing businesses along neighbouring Bank Street. The new public skating rink is a real asset but did we need a new Winners store there as well?

Over the years we have been lucky to visit many outstanding city parks: Central Park in New York, Balboa Park in San Diego, Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, and Stanley Park in Vancouver. It’s hard to enjoy those parks and not think about what could have been, on that magnificent site along the Rideau Canal in Ottawa. There are no condos, grocery stores or movie theatres in those other world famous parks.

Which brings me back to Halifax. That city is blessed with many parks, among them the Halifax Commons, Point Pleasant Park and the Halifax Public Gardens. Point Pleasant Park is an immense park with many paths.

While walking along the water you turn a corner and suddenly there is this beautiful gazebo - just one of the many visual treats along the way.

A gazebo..what a gift to a city!

The Halifax Public Gardens are a real treat.The actual gardens are stunning but it is not just the flowers. There is a huge pond, fountains,

stone bridges, walking paths and plenty of seating.  While there we had the good fortune to enjoy one of their free afternoon concerts.

It was a marvellous summer day. Hundreds of people were there, many of them getting an ice cream cone in the old Horticultural Hall  before sitting down to listen to the music. It was a perfect way to spend a summer afternoon.

Yes, our nations' capital could take a few lessons from this Maritime city. They know how to provide wonderful gathering places for their citizens. The Halifax Central Library is just another "Oh wow" place to add to their already impressive list.

Possessions

In case you think I disappeared into a frenzy of Chicken Soup book signings, it is much more mundane matters that have been keeping me busy lately. One of my sisters recently proclaimed me as a member of the club sandwich generation. This, after I recounted some of our recent time spent with our children, grandchildren and parents. However, I am not complaining. We are grateful to have this time to spend with our loved ones. As I think about Christmas gifts and shopping lists, perhaps time is the most precious gift of all.

Last weekend we helped Pat's family move his mother into another retirement home. The previous home was just fine and the staff members were very helpful. However this new place is closer to friends and family, so visits will be easier for them. This is Rita's fourth move, since leaving the original family home about a dozen years ago. Through these moves her belongings have steadily dwindled. It really makes you think about how much we accumulate and how much we really need.

Now I am not advocating a life with few possessions. We all derive pleasure from many of our things and that's great. I remember thirty and forty years ago, how much Rita enjoyed her belongings. She worked in a china shop and would put items on a layaway plan until she could afford them. When we visited, she was eager to show off her new figurines, china and pictures.

By the time we moved her out of her apartment last January, her tune had drastically changed. Her treasured things now seemed like a confusing burden to her. "They're only things.  What am I going to do with all this stuff?  Where did that come from?  Take what you want.  Please." She does not have a kitchenette in this new room so there is no need for dishes. However, it is me, not her, who is having a harder time adjusting. It is hard to imagine that a person who collected and enjoyed dishes so much can be reduced to none. I simply could not leave her without dishes. On a bookshelf we left, among other things, six salad plates, decorated with shamrocks, just in case. The  china we took home will always serve as a reminder of her and her love of china and all things Irish.

It is amazing how much stuff we all have. If there is a lesson in all of this, it is that we should continually evaluate our possessions and ask if we really need to keep them. I shudder to think of our kids having to deal with the amount of stuff that is currently living in our basement.

Memo to self: For 2015, for every new item brought into the house, discard at least two.

The ups and downs of Chicken Soup

Well, it looks like my fifteen minutes of fame has stretched to sixteen. Our local community paper, The Kitchissippi Times, did a piece on the book. That has helped with our fundraising campaign. Together with my parish of St Josephs, we are selling one hundred books, with proceeds going to the St Joes Supper Table. Sales are going well and it feels good to be able to help out in this way.

On the harsh reality side, I visited a couple of Chapters stores. I was curious to see how they had displayed the book. I expected a table, piled high with various Christmas books. After the rah rah book launch in Toronto, it was a downer to have a salesperson tell me that Chicken Soup does not really sell well anymore. They had a whole two copies in that store. Now I knew it was not a contender for a Giller, but two copies? In the next store, they could only find one beaten up copy, in their interior design/arts and crafts section. In the last store I ventured into, it was on a table they have labeled, "For the Old Soul." Yikes! What am I? Ninety-five?

Oh well, all that matters to me right now is that we have sold almost all the copies I ordered for the supper table and people seem to be appreciating them as Christmas gifts.

Chicken Soup for the Soul !

Well, here I am, lapping up my 15 minutes of fame!

In a year that has been super busy, with many family events, and little time for writing, I am pleased to say that a piece I submitted to Chicken Soup for the Soul, was accepted for publication in their new Christmas in Canada book, which went on sale last month.

Having a book launch for my own (unfinished) book is still a far off dream, so I decided to take part in the  Chicken Soup for the Soul book launch in Toronto last week.

Thirty-four of the ninety-six contributing authors were present at the event. 

 

We signed a lot of books.

That task was enjoyable as I got to know fellow contributors Crystal Thieringer from Ottawa (left) and Judi Peers from Peterborough (right).

I've known about my story making it into this book for a while now and although pleased with the news, I've been downplaying it. After all, this means that I have written only 1% of a book. (There are 101 stories in every Chicken Soup book.) However, now that the book is in the stores and I have been to the launch, I am more excited about the whole venture. 

At the launch, Canadian editor Janet Matthews spoke about the constant barrage of depressing, negative, often violent stories in the media.  Chicken Soup books are a little helping of something positive, something cheerful, a gentle reprieve. If you have been reading my blog, you know that I am sometimes negative myself, often grouching about local or federal politics. So I am pleased to have  a bit of my more cheery writing included in this inspiring book of Christmas stories. 

My story is simply a tale about our three fun-loving kids. There are other, more dramatic stories in the book. I'm not finished it yet, but many of the stories that I have read so far, are really heart-warming. Positive stories are welcome at any time of year but maybe especially now. In these short dark days, as we approach Christmas, in the aftermath of so many disturbing events, it simply makes me feel better, to read these stories that celebrate the goodness of people.

As I said, it's in bookstores now. If you pick it up, I hope you enjoy reading it.

Leiper Win in Kitchissippi

What an exciting win for Jeff Leiper! Usually it is tough to unseat an incumbent but he did it handily last Monday with 7557 votes to Katherine Hobbs' 4197. Although his group ran a great campaign, they did not expect such a lopsided win. My involvement in his campaign was minimal. We had a meet and greet here for our neighbours and we worked as scrutineers on the day of the election, for those last crucial hours of 4 to 8 pm. Still, it was enough to make us feel that we were a part of the effort to bring a new face to city council. It was fun to go to his victory party and see a lot of neighbours there, who were just as happy as we were.

Big provincial and federal campaigns are largely fought in the media, with so much money for TV ads. It seems that municipal campaigns are a lot more work at the grassroots level. Voters get involved because they are concerned about local issues. Even such a simple gesture as having a lawn sign means that you talk to your neighbours more, because they may not have heard of your candidate. That's why door to door visits are so important; to put a face to a name. Jeff estimates that he knocked on about 16 000 doors over the past nine months and dropped over twenty pounds in the process. (I should get out and walk.) 

On election day I was impressed with the steady stream of voters, many who waited in lineups to cast their ballots. Sad to say, but the turnout across the city was a very pathetic 39.9%, probably because there was no real threat to Mayor Jim Watson. Here in Kitchissippi ward, the turnout was the best in the city, with 48.3%. That's still awful.

Mayor Watson cited a few issues the next day, things that he thinks folks are concerned about, like garbage and transit. What I am hoping is that new councillor Jeff Lieper will be able to pass along the message that he was elected because of concerns about developers. Many of us in this ward are sick and tired of developers in our city running the show and transforming our communities without consideration for established neighbourhoods. Go Jeff!

Ottawa, again

Well, they have started picking up the flowers and gifts from all around the National War Memorial. It's time to prepare the site for Remembrance Day ceremonies. Last Sunday, a few days after the incident, we visited there. I have never seen the War Memorial scattered with so many flowers. Not since Pierre Trudeau's death has Ottawa seen such a spontaneous outpouring of people and flowers.

No doubt the aftermath of this terrible incident will be felt in many places, for a long time.  Places of government in many countries have now adopted tighter security measures, as a result of our tragedy. The ongoing debate now is whether or not this really was an act of terrorism. 

I appreciated the comment I read in The Ottawa Citizen editorial of Oct 30th: "So while the shootings may fit into a broad definition of "terrorism", it's also important to remember that Zehaf-Bibeau's spiral

was a societal failure that needs to be discussed alongside any attempt to boost anti-terrorism legislation. In the end, it may be that getting help to vulnerable people before ISIL trolls on the internet ensnare them, would prevent many more potential strikes that weakening judicial oversight of police activities would."

As I said in an earlier post, we have spent millions on security around Parliament Hill over the past decade. It sure didn't seem to help that day. What about the Citizen's idea of getting help to vulnerable people?

While there are no guarantees, better funding for young families can only help Canadian society. Better access to childcare, improved access to affordable housing, increased funding for mental health facilities and drug treatment programs, increased funding for special education, more psychiatrists and psychologists; all of these measures would go a long way towards improving the lives of so many of our young people.

Right now the wait for subsidized housing in Ottawa is many years. It is almost impossible to get in to see a psychiatrist. If your child has learning issues and you cannot afford to pay for a private psychological assessment, you could wait years for your school to have one done. Poverty, untreated academic and mental health issues do not build model citizens.

This week I heard an interview with a refugee, speaking about the federal government's new legislation, which would restrict social assistance for refugee claimants. In the words of this refugee, "Canada should not accept refugees if they are not going to provide for them. It is like inviting someone to stay at your house and not giving them a meal or a bed." If the new measures pass, he predicted that many more refugee claimants will end up in homeless shelters.

So yes, we do need to have a good look at security on the Hill and find out what failed on Oct 22nd. However, guns in the hands of our guards and more bollards are not going to solve the problems facing our troubled families and young people.

Ottawa's Tragic Day

Centre Block during the Mosaika show

Ottawa. After Wednesday’s events, the very name will have a different connotation. Along with images of Mounties, Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal, we must add terrorism.

I’ve lived in Ottawa for most of my life. Years ago, we always made a point of driving any of our out of town visitors around Parliament Hill. Now I don’t mean driving them along Wellington Street. No, I mean driving through the main gates, right up to the Centre Block, under the arch of the Peace Tower, and around to the back of the building where the library faces the Ottawa River.

9/11 changed all that. It has been a long time now since we were able to drive on Parliament Hill. Security has become much more evident in recent years. Some gates have simply been closed off. There is now a security station near the Hill, retractable bollards at all the entrances, and new fences. This past summer we took visiting relatives for a tour of Centre Block and were amazed at the new security measures. It was like going through an airport; we had to take off our shoes and send our belongings through a scanner. At one point I asked to remain in the room while they frisked my eighty-nine year old mother-in-law. The person in charge spoke to me very sharply and insisted I could not stay to explain things to her. I have often wondered how much all this heightened security has cost all of us.

So, how could Wednesday’s events happen? How did all these new plans fail? Ottawa will never be the same. No doubt, the security measures that I thought were way over the top, are going to be increased dramatically.

I was not in Ottawa on Wednesday. I was in Toronto.  Here in Ottawa, Pat and Aaron both ended up in lockdown situations for part of the day.  Traffic in my parents’ neighbourhood was closely monitored, as police thought a shooter might be along the Ottawa River.

I watched some of the coverage on TV, in Toronto, before catching an evening train home. As I got off the subway at the Yonge/Bloor interchange, it seemed that every corner of the globe was represented in the masses of people walking, talking, and moving all around me. People from every walk of life, every colour, every age and stage of life were going somewhere. That saying, “We’re all in this together”, came to mind.

I found myself at the bottom of a long staircase. I stood there for a few seconds thinking,  ”Really? I have to carry my backpack and suitcase all that way?” I must have looked pretty perplexed because a couple of women came over to me. They offered to help me carry my load and then helped me to find an elevator. While on the elevator, we got chatting and I asked one of the women about her t-shirt, Grandmothers Advocacy Network. There, in the midst of one of Canada’s busiest transit stops, they outlined the admirable goals of their organization. They work for changes in Canadian policies to improve the quality of life for grandmothers in sub Saharan Africa who are caring for millions of AIDS orphaned children. These women were supposed to be attending the Malala Yousufzai Canadian Citizenship event that afternoon with Stephen Harper, but it was cancelled because of the attack in Ottawa. How horribly ironic that Malala, a shooting victim herself, came to our supposedly peaceful country and her event was cancelled due to a random act of violence here.

When we parted, I made my way to Union Station. If you have been to Union Station in the past year you will remember the construction going on there. There is an outdoor staircase with no elevator. As I adjusted my suitcase to carry it up the stairs, a young man, with two kids in tow, stepped forward to carry it for me.

The train trip went smoothly. Across the aisle, a couple of young men met and enjoyed a very animated conversation. One of them had forgotten his phone charger. He walked along the train car and returned a minute later, having borrowed one from a fellow passenger. Behind me, an elderly gentleman asked the young man across the aisle from him about a baseball score. He really wanted to know who was ahead in the Kansas City/San Francisco game. The young man explained that he would be unable to get the game live, but that he could go to a sports site and check the score. A few minutes later, I heard him report that it was 7-2 for Kansas. The elderly gentleman was pleased with that news.

The events of last Wednesday have shocked all of us. I feel especially saddened by the fact that my grandchildren are growing up in a world with the possibility of random acts of violence. While terrorists are changing our world, they are a tiny minority. My train trip from Toronto to Ottawa on that tragic Wednesday confirmed my belief that most people are good.

When I got home I watched the news for a while and learned that Toronto Police Chief Blair had increased security on the TTC and had advised all passengers to be extra vigilant. I’m glad I didn’t hear that advice. It would only have added stress to my journey. As it was, I encountered nothing but helpfulness, friendliness and much concern for others, both those in front of us and those as far away as Africa.

Jack Layton’s famous letter to Canadians ended with “Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic.” If someone like Malala Yousufzai can spread that same kind of message, then maybe we can as well.

Thanks for democracy

It almost goes without saying that Thanksgiving finds me extremely grateful for my family. We have just enjoyed a weekend with our kids and grandchildren around. It is a rare luxury to spend weekends like this one together.

Last week I found myself thinking about one of our most precious gifts; democracy. Our ability to change our governments is often take for granted in Canada. Meanwhile, we are constantly inundated with images of war and instability in many areas of the world. Students in Hong Kong have been bravely demonstrating, in hopes of maintaining some shred of democracy.

It is municipal election season in Ontario, with municipal and school board elections taking place on October 27th. It has been noted that while municipal issues effect us the most closely, turnout in these elections is usually far lower than in provincial and federal contests.

Perhaps that is why I felt encouraged last week when we attended an all candidates meeting for city councillor in our ward of Kitchissippi. What a crowd! There were seats for 180 set up in a church basement. They were quickly filled and as the meeting got underway people were standing three deep across the back of the room.

What this photo does not convey is just how packed it was. The windows faced the parking lot. As the room heated up with all the folks inside, the overflow crowd stood outside, pressed against the open windows, to hear the candidates' remarks. That's how keen they were to really know these candidates. That is democracy in action! It was wonderful to see.

We went into that meeting with our minds made up. We are backing Jeff Leiper, who is trying to unseat our current councillor. In June we held a meet and greet event at our place; a chance for our neighbours to get to know Jeff and his policies.

 Even though our involvement in his campaign has been limited, it feels good to be a part of the political process. One of the things that impressed us about Jeff, is that right from the start, he vowed not to accept any campaign donations from developers. If elected, he does not want to feel beholden to them in any way. 

Many of the questions and concerns voiced at the meeting were about developers and how they are shaping our neighbourhoods and our city, both in the big projects and the infill housing on all our streets. People want to see some accountability and responsibility from  these people who are making such huge financial profits as they transform Ottawa.

So good luck to Jeff. Here's hoping for a good turnout in our ward, in Ottawa and across the province. Imagine how all those Hong Kong students would feel about us, if we did not bother to get out and exercise this wonderful gift of democracy. 

Baby Eliza

52 weeks in a year, times 61 years, plus 4 months…That means I have enjoyed 3189 weeks of life thus far!  Of all those weeks, this past one was one that I will always remember.

Last Monday Norah gave birth to an adorable little girl, Eliza. It is such a cliche but bears repeating. Life really is a miracle. To hold such a tiny bundle and see those tiny fingers and toes, those little eyes peering around, trying to make sense of their new surroundings, really stops you in your tracks. Such a tiny, fragile package to love and hold!

Pat and I were fortunate to be in Toronto for her birth. The four grandparents had their first meeting with the new little one, just a couple of hours after delivery. We have been here off and on since then. For the uninitiated, life with a newborn is like no other. The main challenge is, of course, for the mother, recovering from surgery while nursing around the clock. It's impossible to do that and take care of a two year old and a household so that's where friends and family come in. As our neighbour told us "This is work you love to do." She's right. We are more than happy to be here at this special time.

However I did go home to Ottawa on the weekend, to attend my father's 90th birthday celebrations. It was another momentous occasion. He and our entire family enjoyed the gathering. As I listened to him speak to the partygoers, around ten o'clock that night and tell a story from his early childhood, about riding a train in Saskatchewan, I was again struck by his incredible memory. As I said that night, we really lucked out in the dad department.

So, I wonder what is in store for Eliza? Will she have ninety years like Dad? Hopefully she will always be surrounded by the love of family, as Dad has been.

A daughter for Norah and Sean.  If she's anything like her mother, I know how lucky they are.

The Look of Love

What does love look like? I would like to offer my humble suggestion:

What, you might ask, does this used pasta container have to do with love? Well, it was a going away offering from my mother. It says a lot about her and the nature of love. For starters, love is about actions, not just words. When Brendan went to visit my parents, before we left for the east coast, my mom gave him that package, full of cookies. At 86, she is still baking and we sure were glad that she took the time and effort to bake for us. We happily munched on those gems as we drove on and on. 

The container is an example of Mom’s thriftiness. She is the original recycler, a common sense person who does not like to throw out anything that might be re-used. Her lessons on recycling and caring are remembered and practised by all of us in the family. Thanks Mom.

New Beginnings

Well, here we are again, at the start of another school year. In September of  2011, I had a piece in the Ottawa Citizen entitled Education is a long road. It was written as a thank you to all the teachers, relatives and friends who helped us to raise our three children. In it I stated that "this school portion of our journey is over".

Well, it seems that I spoke too soon. Our youngest "child", Brendan, who has been working as a French to English translator for the last 3 years, has changed course. He has quit his office job to go back to the books. On Labour Day he started classes in a journalism degree at King’s College in Halifax. We’re very happy and excited for him.

King's College, Halifax

So we have been busy, helping with his big move. Personally, I think I deserve an award for the sheer amount of stuff I managed to cram into our car for the drive to Nova Scotia. It was an intense week of packing, driving and setting up but it’s all over now. We're back home.

So for Brendan and all students, this is the new year: a fresh start, new surroundings, new classes and new people.  Norah and Sean will also have a new person in their lives soon. Baby number two is due to arrive later this month. We're excited to meet him/her.

Parenthood is a heck of an adventure, with all kinds of unexpected twists and turns. Somewhere I read that it is a job that you gradually ease yourself out of, but really, you’re a parent for the rest of your life. Although we’ve been saying goodbye to Brendan off and on for the past ten years, ever since he went to Guelph, the goodbyes don’t get any easier. Don’t sign up for parenthood if you’re not ready for an emotional ride.

This morning on The Sunday Edition, host Michael Enright spoke about dropping his son off at school. I liked what he said about having kids and starting school being acts of optimism.

So here's to all the students, teachers and young families out there…a very happy new year to all!

Remembering our deceased

In the midst of summer, our family had the opportunity to remember some of those we have lost. On Saturday, August 9th, one of this summer's truly stellar days, about 60 relatives and  friends gathered in Douro, near Peterborough, to bury Pat's brother Matt's remains. We celebrated his funeral mass in Peterborough last December but in true Matt fashion, he was late for his own funeral. His cremated remains did not arrive back from San Fransisco in time for the funeral. We decided to delay his burial until August, when many out of town family members could all gather.

And they gathered; from Dubai, California, Vancouver and all over Ontario. If a burial can be special or lovely, this one was. As we walked over to the cemetery an Irish family friend played a slow and mournful tune on the flute. It was a scene straight from an Irish movie. Matt's musician friend "Washboard" Hank, started things off at the gravesite by strumming his banjo. Many of us joined in, as he sang "That's the Glory of Love".  As on Matt's funeral day, we were blessed to have Fr. Leo Coughlin with us. Near the end, he asked us to make a circle as we said the Lord's Prayer. It was a simple but powerful gesture, to be able to see everyone together; Matt's community. The whole event was sad, moving and peaceful. Leo reminded us that our tears were a means of healing.

After the ceremony we went back to Matt's cabin and enjoyed food and music, courtesy of Matt's friends. The weather made it extra special; a perfect day to be at the Shaughnessy Research Labs, also known as Windswept Meadows. Later on, many of us had a swim in "Lake Shaughnessy", the gravel pit across the road.

In the late afternoon we drove about 10 minutes, to cousin Lori's place. She and her family hosted a Shaughnessy reunion. There were about 180 there. Lori and her family did a great job. Not only did they organize a wonderful party, they also included a ceremony to remember the sick and deceased members of the Shaughnessy family. After a moment of silence and a reading of an Irish blessing, we let helium balloons, in the colours of the Irish flag, rise to the sky. It was another poignant moment as we thought of those we have lost.

Family or school reunions send many people running in the opposite direction. However, as  life seems to be speeding up, I'm happy to take advantage of these opportunities to visit, on a positive occasion, rather than waiting for yet another funeral.

And so we were lucky, to celebrate two special family events on a glorious summer day.

Summer

In some school districts summer vacation has been shortened. They have a "balanced" school year with vacations spread throughout the year. Although research may point to better retention of learning, it will take a lot to convince me that we should shorten our summer holidays. After the long, brutal winter that we experienced here, I am simply relishing every opportunity to enjoy summer. The simple pleasures of sitting and eating outside are a treat.

There are many topics to write about but I have simply been too busy enjoying our summer visitors and times at cottages. In the fall I will devote more time to these ramblings. In the meantime, here's a quick peek at our little guy.

What fun to see a boy in his first car!

or playing with his first frog!

Canada Day in the Capital

Well, Pat has taken down the flag on our house and I've put my red and white T-shirt away until next year. Canada Day is long over. If you have never experienced Canada Day in Ottawa, you really might want to put it on your bucket list.

Most years we head downtown by bike, along the beautiful Ottawa River Parkway. (I refuse to call it by its new Harper name; the Sir John A. MacDonald Parkway.) There are always lots of folks biking along beside the river, towards Parliament Hill. This year the skies looked threatening so we took the free bus option instead. By 9:30 am buses were already packed with people of all ages.

People watching is one of the main events. Pretty well everyone wears red and white. Some people wear great outfits.

Over the years we have established a bit of a routine. About five years ago we started attending the free Unisong concert in the National Arts Centre. This year there were five Ottawa choirs who were joined by six choirs from across the country. Unisong was created in 1997 to foster understanding and patriotism.             

This year's show was great. The program consisted of pieces representing various regions of the country. Especially moving was a piece by James Wright, entitled To Young Canadians. It was the first time that we have heard this piece, that sets to music the final speech/letter of Jack Layton.

After Unisong we usually head to the Hill and listen to some of the noon hour concert and O Canada. It's alway a thrill to be anywhere downtown when the Snowbirds fly over the Peace Tower. Then we head over to Major's Hill Park for the Canadian Chicken Farmers bbq chicken sandwich.
When our kids were young we would walk across the bridge to Jacques Cartier Park in Gatineau, Quebec. This year it was too windy for the Sky Hawk parachute team which usually  lands there.

The Skyhawks..always fun to watch!

Later on in the afternoon when our feet are fading, we often attend an afternoon concert in Confederation Park. However this year we went back into the NAC. One of the best things about Canada Day is that we always bump into someone we know. This year was no exception. While watching a concert by a group called The Peptides, my gaze went from the singers at the front of the stage to the young drummer at the back. Was he one of my former students? After they finished I went over to speak to him and yes, he was Alex, a student from my Holy Trinity days. It was fun to meet up with him again.

We were walking out of the building after that encounter when  a young woman came up to Pat, enquiring, "Mr Shaughnessy?" Again, a former student, Brittany. She had recognized her kindergarten teacher and just wanted to say hi. It was a pleasure to meet the grown up version of these former students.

Canada Day Tips:
Do not attempt to walk your bike around downtown. Lock it up and walk to the various parks. The stupidest thing we saw this year was a family on bikes. The mom was walking her bike through a throng of people. She had a toddler on a bikeseat and was having a hard time keeping up with her husband. He was attempting to push his way up the hill on Rideau Street with a tandem bike. He did not have just one kid bike attached to his own. No, he had two kids, on their own bikes, attached to his!

Don't go downtown if you hate walking in crowds.

If you think you might make a special effort to attend Canada Day just one year, do not come in a year when royalty is in town, unless you're really into the Royal Family.

Because of the extra security, barricades are put up all along Mackenzie Avenue, which runs beside Major's Hills Park. The barricades continue around the corner, onto Rideau Street to Parliament Hill and you can get totally trapped on one side of the street. The year that Kate and Will were here, we ended up standing in the sun for half an hour, virtually unable to move, in a crush of people, while we waited for the RCMP to let us cross the street into the park. And that was after the carriages had already passed by!

Even without royalty, the Governor General and the Prime Minister always drive along Mackenzie in horse drawn carriages, so after they pass, watch where you walk.

Drop in to The Chateau Laurier Hotel. The air conditioning provides welcome relief on a hot day, the chairs in the lobby are comfy and the washrooms are definitely a step up from the porta-potties outside. The National Gallery and The Museum of History (Also recently renamed by Harper…..for twenty years it was the Museum of Civilization) are also great indoor spaces to escape either heat or rain. All the museums are free on Canada Day.

Enjoy the music.

There are all kinds of free concerts in the parks as well as musicians and entertainers on many corners. Many years ago, on Canada Day, we saw Al Simmons for the first time. He is my absolute favourite family entertainer. For pure, goofy fun he cannot be beat.

On the Sparks Street Mall

This year we came across these fencers! 

During the day, downtown is full of families. The evening is a different matter.We used to go back downtown to see the show on Parliament Hill and watch the fireworks but lately we find that in the evening, the young drinkers are out. Now, if we choose to watch the fireworks we go to a spot far away from the Hill. There are plenty of locations along the river  where you can see them. It's a great way to end the day.

So thanks to my fellow Canadian taxpayers. Every year Canada Day gives us many reasons to be glad we're here.

Rafting on the Ottawa River

Somehow it is already July 1st! Happy Canada Day! Instead of a long list of excuses for my absence, I offer the following...just one of the many activities that have kept us busy these past few weeks.

"Cruising down the river, on a Sunday afternoon…"

There’s a new show in town. And I’m not talking CFL football. No, it’s rafting down the Ottawa River, right here in the city. For years I have wanted to go on a rafting expedition but simply never got around to organizing a trip out of town to do it.

Now, if rafting is your wish, there is no need to leave Ottawa. Wilderness Tours has recently expanded operations to include their Ottawa City Adventure trips. On a recent sunny Sunday afternoon, nine members of my family celebrated my sister’s 60^th by paddling, sightseeing and talking our way from Brittania Beach, in the west end to Lemieux Island, which is just before the War Museum.

  

Along our way we went through the Deschenes, Champlain and  Remic Rapids. If that sounds dangerous, it isn’t; not when you are in the hands of an experienced paddler like our guide Cameron. It’s true that on that very same day, a family had to be rescued from the Deschenes Rapids. However, that family was not in a large, inflatable raft with a seasoned guide. You have to know and understand the rapids in order to navigate them successfully. Although it was fun to bounce through the rapids, at no point did we feel uneasy. As promised at the outset, this was a gentle introduction to rafting. The only time we got wet was when some of us chose to cool off with a quick swim when we were in a quiet section of the river. Cameron hauled us back in by the straps of our lifejackets. 

Cameron sat up higher than us and steered our craft with a pair of high tech oars. We were all issued paddles and although we contributed to the paddling effort, it was no big deal if you decided to take a break and simply enjoy the passing scenery. Cruising down the river affords you a unique vantage point. In the middle of the river, the sounds of the city disappear as you take in both natural and manmade landmarks on both the Quebec and Ontario sides.

Along the way we passed Westboro Beach where we took swim lessons as kids in the 60’s. Then we passed The Point, and Remic Beach where our mom swam as a youngster. We reminisced about the days when the log booms were still along that stretch of the river. They were huge squared timbers, chained together to keep the logs floating down to the EB Eddy plant from going ashore. As teens, we used to swim out to the booms and see how far we could walk along before falling off. Remnants of those days can still be seen. On our ride we passed an upturned log. That visible end was notched, where a chain once attached it to its place in the boom.

Our journey ended among the tiny islands around the water filtration plant, a very peaceful, picturesque section of the river. Just past the bridge that goes to the plant on Lemieux Island, we went ashore, where a van waited to drive us back to Brittania Beach.

Hopefully before the summer is over we'll go again but this time we will take our mother along. It would be fitting for her to go along this historic river, as her grandfather made that trip many times as a river-man, working on the log drive.     

The Ontario Election

A funny thing happened at our annual block party on Sunday. We got ambushed by a candidate in the provincial election. It raises the question that underlies much of what we hear on the news all the time: Just what is fair in politics? Today both Tim Hudak and Kathleen Wynne were forced to apologize for  recent actions of their parties. Federally, there has been a lot of chatter lately about the mailings that MPs regularly send out.Tonight on the National there's going to be an item about a behind the scenes person who "helped" all kinds of politicians rise to power. Who knows what really goes on behind political doors?

Anyhow, what happened at our place on Sunday does not involve anything remotely illegal. Rather, it was just a questionable move. Every year we host our neighbours at a very informal gathering. All we do is set the date and provide a place to gather. It's our neighbours who bring the food to share. The weather was picture perfect on Sunday and we had over 50 people on the laneway, chatting and eating when a friend of ours came up to me and said, "What do you think? Isn't that tacky? Imagine the nerve!"

I had no idea that the NDP candidate for our riding was working her way through our neighbours, introducing herself. She also had a veteran NDP person with her and at one point he advanced to the barbecue area and asked for a burger. Someone opened the bbq lid and as it happened, it was empty at that point. Tough luck!

Everyone was very polite but I think we all felt the same way. This party was our effort to build community on the street...to give all of us, especially the new young families, a chance to meet each other, so that from now on,  we'll perhaps remember names and have more than "hi" to say to each other. We've never had a politician attend. Usually, the highlight at our block party is the "eat the donut off the string" event.

This was not an open public gathering at a neighbourhood park or town hall. It was a private party. I have nothing against the NDP. I have voted for them many times. However, I think she crossed the line by crashing our party. If I had voted for her in the advance poll I would have been regretting that.

However it was my current MPP, Liberal Yasir Naqvi, who got my vote. Yes, I know all about the gas plant scandals but I am not holding Naqvi or Kathleen Wynne responsible for that. This is a corny thing to say but, on the surface at least, I like both of them. They seem to be good, decent people. That sounds very naive.

I question Horvath's timing in suddenly pulling the plug on the government after they put forth a budget with many NDP features. And Hudak? Please protect us from that man. His plan to cut so many government positions scares me. I admit that I am no expert in economics but I simply do not understand how cutting 100 000 government jobs will create one million jobs.  There have been many pieces written on this but basically it's education that worries me the most. The idea of increasing class sizes and eliminating most of our educational assistants in classrooms is ridiculous and almost unbelievable. Children need more, not less, of adults' time and care. This morning I heard an interview with the parent of a murderer. He spoke of his child's rough time in school. These young, vulnerable children need care, attention, and supervision, besides academic instruction.  One teacher on their own simply cannot attend to the multiple needs of today's classrooms.

Years ago we chose to send two of our kids to nursery schools when they were four. The ratio there was eight to one. Today, nursery schools are still governed by the Day Nurseries Act, which stipulates that four year olds must be in an 8:1  setting. However, these same 4 year olds, if in a school, under the Education Act, could be in a classroom with over 30 students. Many of today's full time kindergarten classes have about that many kids, with a teacher and an Early Childhood Educator (ECE). At a nearby school, in a combined JK/SK class there are 31 kids. How can one adult keep up with 15 or 16 four and five year olds? And Hudak wants to eliminate most of the non teaching staff in our schools?!

It is so obvious that it seems silly to say, but really, our future society hinges on the start that we give to all our children. Hopefully Ontario voters will remember that.

Great Glebe Garage Sale

Well, garage sale season is now in full swing. Here in Ottawa, the unofficial opening sale is the Great Glebe Garage Sale.

Every year, on the Saturday after the May long weekend, you will find thousands of people downtown, partaking in the Great Glebe Garage Sale . It's been going on for years. What started as a collection of garage sales has become a real community event. Along with the private garage sales are a good many sales where the money raised goes to various causes. Many of Ottawa's charities…Habitat for Humanity, Ecology Ottawa, Grandmothers to Grandmothers, and so many others, have huge fundraising sales. Along with new and used items they offer crafts, baking and plants.

The Great Glebe is a feast for all your senses. People arrive very early.  Breakfast at home is unnecessary because so many homes offer all kinds of food.  I had lemonade from a young girl raising funds for CHEO (Ottawa's children's hospital) and a peameal bacon sandwich from teens who were raising money for a summer trip to an orphanage in India. Here's a vendor with a sense of humour with her aptly named, breakfast on a stick.

Then there are the smells: all kinds of barbecue offerings plus the fragrance of so many flowering trees. It is possibly the loveliest week to go for a walk because lilacs, crab apples and so many other flowering trees are at their best.

It is a people event. With everyone crowded onto the sidewalks you hear some pretty funny conversations as friends and families try to stay together or find each other . With so many people all over the streets we always bump into someone we know. The highlight of the day for me, at this year's sale was a conversation I had with Clive Doucet. He was a city councillor here in Ottawa for many years and ran for mayor in the last municipal election. He is a fine person, very concerned about the environment. His retirement from civic politics is our loss for sure. What a wonderful mayor he would have made.

Musicians are playing on many corners. My absolute favourite sound from this event is this lively jazz band. Every year they are out there, accepting donations for the Ottawa food bank.

Of course there are all kinds of interesting sights: crowds of happy shoppers of all ages, people walking down streets carrying all sorts of bulky articles and beautifully manicured gardens.

After all is said and done, it is a shopping day. Unlike shopping in a mall where everything is predictable, this is fun, surprising shopping. That's what I like; the unpredictability of it all. You never really know what you will find. The challenge is to buy only what you truly need. If only I could follow my own advice. I didn't exactly need this; my favourite buy from this year's event!

Really, who could resist this Little Tykes slide for $6.00? Not I! While it awaits Avery's next visit, it  has taken up residence in a neighbour's yard.

You may not find what you are looking for at the Great Glebe Garage sale but it is always an entertaining walk on a spring day.

Grandchildren

A few words about my absence. Nothing earth shattering has happened. I simply find myself busy all the time, in spite of being retired. It is a good kind of busy and I am grateful to have our family to keep me on the go. Spending time with our grandson, Avery, is a real treat. I was in Toronto for the better part of a week and I have to admit that Toronto is winning me over. We left Brampton twenty-five years ago because we did not want to live in that huge GTA area. Funny how life changes. We now go there so often that our car pretty well drives itself. I have stopped thinking of Toronto as simply one unruly, gigantic blob but rather as a collection of many interesting neighbourhoods. Now, when I walk along Danforth Avenue or take Avery to one of the many parks, it feels like a community, not a metropolis.

Avery is changing by the day. It is so entertaining to watch him learn new skills like walking, talking, climbing up into a chair, spooning food into his mouth, pointing out people as their names are called, and pointing to people and items in a story book. 

At the same time that we admire his accomplishments, we are journeying with a couple of family members who are living with Alzheimers Disease. Many of the afore mentioned skills that Avery is now mastering are the very ones that are slipping away from our other loved ones. It is sad to witness their decline.

Days with Avery start early but that is a small price to pay for the privilege of reading with a little one in bed.

Here in Ottawa for the Victoria Day weekend, we took Avery to see the tulips at Dow's Lake. Because of the late spring, the tulips were at their peak for the long weekend, which is rare. I don't think he was particularly impressed with the flowers, but it made for some memorable photos.

A couple of weeks ago I met a friend that I had not seen for a long time. When he asked what was keeping us busy these days I told him about Avery and his expected sibling. "Ah," he replied, "Grandchildren..the dessert of life." Amen!