Controversy over the proposed expansion of Metcalfe Street is heating up, but the national campaign of a new opposition coalition is misleading and premature, say Ottawa Centre MP Mac Harb and the National Capital Commission. Stop the Metcalfe Nonsense, a coalition of city and regional politicians, heritage experts and the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation, is asking all Canadians to petition their MPs in defiance of the NCC’s vision for downtown Ottawa. It's a plan that could destroy 17 city blocks and cost Canadian taxpayers an estimated $5 billion. But that’s only one option, says Harb, who adds the coalition has mislabeled the NCC’s vision for Metcalfe Street. Options range from a square on Wellington Street directly across from Parliament Hill to a narrower tree-lined boulevard. On June 8, the NCC’s 50-year vision for Ottawa grabbed headlines with its idea of a sweeping grand boulevard lined with trees all the way from McLeod Street to Parliament Hill. City and regional politicians scoffed at the notion of turning Metcalfe Street into Ottawa’s version of Pennsylvania Avenue, but that was four months ago, and what was once nervous laughter is now outright fear. “This is an idea, not a plan,” says Harb. “For someone to oppose the plan — it is misleading. It only becomes a plan if the community says yes.” But members of STEMN say he is ignoring the issue. Harb disagrees. He held a town hall meeting in late July and just commissioned a two-week public interest survey on the NCC’s proposals. “I’m bypassing all of the bureaucratic nonsense to go to the people and get to the heart of the matter,” says Harb. “We have to strike a balance between local interests and national interests.” STEMN members say the NCC’s vision undermines the city and region’s own revitalization plans. Coun. Elisabeth Arnold says the idea of tearing down homes, businesses and heritage buildings is a serious threat to the city. Ottawa city council voted unanimously against the NCC’s vision earlier this summer and she says the NCC’s lack of consultation and respect for the city’s plan is outrageous. “To be asked to wait until after consultation — I hope as a result of the press conference, the NCC will change their tune and look at things that will enhance the capital rather than destroy the city and the tax base.” A city draft response to the proposal will be submitted to Ottawa's planning committee, wich Arnold Chairs, Tuesday. According to published reports, the report is said to be a harsh condemnation of the pproposal. It objects to the destruction of significan heritage buildings and the decimation of of commercial, office and residential buildings. Arnold was echoed by Regional Coun. Clive Doucet, who says the NCC’s vision helps no one. “Ottawa is your capital. This is not good for us — it is not good for you.” The expansion is a federal initiative and should be of concern to all Canadian taxpayers, says Walter Robinson, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation. “This is a public plan to destroy private property and Canadian taxpayers across the country are going to pay,” he says. “It’s not a constructive use of federal dollars.” Federal dollars that could total $5 billion, estimates Robinson. Such premature estimates are unfounded, says Luc Begin, media relations director for the NCC. “This is a long-term vision,” he says. “The decision won’t be made overnight.” Begin says the public has had adequate time to reflect since the NCC’s proposals were made public on June 8 and he hopes STEMN will make its views known by the Sept. 28 deadline.
Three Centretown elementary schools could be among 15 in Ottawa-Carleton facing possible closure as a result of provincial funding changes. McNabb Park School, on Percy Street, Centennial School, on Gloucester, and Elgin Street School fit the profile of schools that may be closed as the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board wrestles with reducing what the province considers excess classroom space. Currently, provincial funding is based on a ratio of 100 square feet for each elementary student and 130 square feet for every secondary student. School board figures indicate Centennial has about 190 students, McNabb Park 170 and Elgin Street 215. Arthur Lewis, acting chair of McNabb Park School Council, says his school, as well as Elgin and Centennial, could be headed for closures. However, he’s not overly worried because decisions have not yet been made. Lewis says it would be difficult for the board to close the school because it’s attached to a community centre owned by the city. “It makes no sense to close that building.” Bill Filleter, co-chair of the Elgin Street Public School Council, agrees his school, along with McNabb, may be in danger of closure, but thinks Centennial may be saved. Though he believes no formal list exists, Filleter says it’s not too difficult to determine those schools who face the likelihood of such a fate. “Elgin is among those threatened. We’re a small school of about 300 members. The board minimum for small schools is about 400,” says Filleter. “You can start stroking some schools off. You can then go down the list and see what’s left over.” In its 1998-99 budget, the board opted against shutdowns, and currently operates several schools for which it receives no funding. Mike Carson, the board’s manager of physical planning, says no one should infer that certain schools have been overtly earmarked. “It’s important people don’t get the impression that some schools are funded and some are not,” says Carson. “Obviously, there is excess space, but no lists for closure were ever produced.” He says the board operates in terms of space, not individual school buildings. Peter Frayne, the board’s communications director, says revived speculation snowballed after five board trustees asked the province to extend the Dec. 31, 1998 deadline. Albert Chambers, one of the trustees who proposed the motion, wants the deadline pushed to late April because the government has not followed its own guidelines, he says. “We’ve been operating on the assumption that the province would live up to its end of the deal,” says Chambers. “We don’t have a clear statement from the province on how many schools should be accommodated. “The province asked the boards in Ontario to provide detailed drawings of schools. Every school in Centretown had to send in detailed diagrams about schools, the dimensions of each room and what each class was used for,” says Chambers. So far the government has not contacted the boards about a possible adjustment to the formula. These calculations suggest “there’s 1.7 million square feet of excess space,” says Frayne. The onus is now on the boards to dispose of what amounts to 15-25 schools -- depending on the elementary-secondary composition -- to qualify for funding of from the Ministry of Education. Chambers accuses the province of attempting to force the boards’ hand through ultimatum: close spaces in older established areas to qualify for money toward building new schools. Arthur Lewis, acting-chair of McNabb Park School Council, calls Bob Griffiths, the school’s principal, hopes McNabb is spared, adding that trustees are required to look at the district as opposed to just Centretown.
The dispute between the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation and the Ontario government has some teachers cancelling activities and students sitting on the sidelines. Lisgar Collegiate, like other schools across Ontario, has prevented all extracurricular activities from beginning. Class trips and activities required as part of a course are being continued. Ivo Entchev, a Grade 12 student at Lisgar, says the teachers’ refusal to participate in activities is sending a mixed message to students. “Ever since I’ve been at Lisgar, teachers have always told us to get involved in extracurricular activities because it would add to life at Lisgar and it seems now they’re being hypocritical by not participating,” says Entchev. Caitlin Jenkins, an OAC student at Lisgar, understands the teachers' position, but says the situation is only hurting students in the long run. If the school year continues without sports activities, Jenkins says it could hurt students’ chances of playing at the university level.
“For tournaments we go to different universities to play and the university coaches see you and talk to you,” Jenkins says. “But if we don’t get to play obviously we won’t get that opportunity.” The dispute between the OSSTF and the Ontario government centres around instructional time and its definition. The Ottawa-Carleton school board is asking for six and a half periods out of eight while the expired contract only required six. Jenkins’ assertion that school is more than academics is why the union has suspended voluntary activities, says Larry Capstick, local president of the OSSTF. "Unfortunately, the Minister of Education feels that extracurricular activities are nice, but not necessary and not necessarily instructional.” Capstick says he applauds the efforts of students to raise the issue since teachers are specifically trained to volunteer for the positions. He says the Ontario government is not recognizing the time teachers put in outside of the classroom. Lisgar Collegiate principal, Angie Spence, says she understands how frustrated students are. “I completely understand that the informal learning that goes on outside of the classroom is a huge part of growing up and it’s unfortunate that these activities are being cancelled but hopefully the situation will be short lived.” Although negotiations with the school board have resumed, Capstick says the current situation may continue until the workload issue is resolved.
A future light rail system is still far from a sure thing, despite numerous published news reports. Regional council voted on Sept. 9 to initiate the second phase of the pilot project. Successful negotiations with the Canadian Pacific Railway Company and approval from the Ministry of Environment are now the main concerns if the region wants to have commuter rail in place for the year 2000. “The difficulty (with CP Rail negotiations) is that we will not have completed the environmental assessment by then,” says Nick Tunnacliffe, a member of the light rail steering committee. The assessment is required by the province to determine the impact of light rail along the existing CP Rail route from South Keys to Centretown. Tunnacliffe says there is no way the study will be completed in time for orders to be placed (through CP Rail) for the construction of rail cars. “There’s an 18-month lead-time on building the rail cars,” he says. “So we have to order them by December of this year (if they’re going to be ready for 2000).” If the Ministry of Environment doesn’t approve the environmental assessment, the region could be stuck with six cars and no track to put them on. “We hope there will be a cancellation clause (with CP Rail) so if this thing goes belly-up for some reason, we’ll be able to get out of it,” says Tunnacliffe. Greg Percy, manager of passenger and commuter services for CP Rail says a termination clause will be worked out, but specifics haven’t been discussed. “It will be a key part of the negotiations, but it’s one piece of a very large puzzle,” says Percy. “The clause has to be structured so everyone can protect their interests. We’re not anticipating a problem — the main goal is to get the project up and running.” The environmental assessment will consider issues like noise pollution from a light rail system running along the eight kilometre CP Rail line. “The agencies that are responsible for noise would outline that there’s a problem and would determine if it wasn’t acceptable,” says Tim Sharp, a senior planner for the ministry’s environmental assessment branch in Toronto. Conflicts have to be resolved in a satisfactory manner before the environment minister will approve the assessment. Light rail cannot proceed without the ministerial go-ahead. Centretown residents close to the rail line seem ambivalent about a train that could run past their homes every 15 minutes during rush-hour periods. It would take about 11 minutes for the train to travel its route. “Well, I imagine the noise is gonna bother people — they should get the magnetic (train),” laughs John Frigo, a business owner on Larch Street. He’s referring to expensive speed trains in Japan and Germany that use magnetic fields as a power source. According to Tunnacliffe, the region will order diesel-powered carriages – called Diesel Multiple Units. The trains will have similar noise levels to an average bus. Model specifications have yet to be determined and will be one of the main topics of negotiation with CP Rail. “It can’t be any worse than the Queensway,” says Diane Valente, whose house on Loretta Avenue North is nestled between Hwy. 417 and the proposed location of a light rail station on Gladstone Avenue.
A pink line along Bank Street and Laurier Avenue West won’t be removed despite a promise it would disappear within three weeks. The line marked the parade route for about 10,000 people who took part in Ottawa gay pride festivities in early July. Yvon Vaillant, a chief organizer of the parade, was quoted as saying the paint had a vegetable oil base and would disappear in about three weeks, depending on weather and traffic conditions. The Ottawa Pride week committee requested the region pay for the painting of the line and contracted a private firm to do so. Diane Holmes, Regional Councillor for Somerset ward, supported the request on the grounds the painted line would disappear over a short period of time. But the line hasn’t disappeared, and might not disappear for some time. The painted line isn’t vegetable oil based, according to the private contractor who undertook the work, but is strictly a latex-based paint, diluted with 50 per-cent water. Jake Dickson, owner of Jake’s Lawncare in Stittsville, admits his company was inexperienced with the application of the paint. “I’m not an expert with the application of paint to pavement . . . I’ve never done it before.” Jake’s Lawncare uses latex-based paints to trace temporary lines on sports fields. Despite the error, the line will not be removed by the region nor the Ottawa Pride Week Committee. “The line would have to be a transportation hazard in order for the region to remove it,” says Holmes. “The line doesn’t constitute such a hazard, so it won’t be removed.” The estimated cost to remove the line is $5,000 according to the region’s transportation department, but Vaillant says the economic spin-off from the line far outweighs any such expenditure. “The pink line has cost the region only $300 to bring publicity to a festival that brought in $1.2 million into the local community,” says Vaillant. “The line was a worthy investment by regional council . . . let’s just wait for it to disappear.” This is also the sentiment of local businesses on Bank Street. “The intention was not for a line to be indelibly etched on Bank Street,” says Gerry LaPage, executive director of the Bank Street Promenade, a business improvement organization. “The line is not a nuisance to the shops.” But the line has been a nuisance to the region’s transportation department, who had expected it to be gone within weeks. “We are disappointed that the paint has not disappeared,” says Doug Brousseau, director of mobility services for Ottawa-Carleton. “We are quite confident however that it will disappear in the winter because of the salt.” According to Brousseau, the line is not an environmental hazard. A pink line has been used in the gay parades in New York City and Toronto. This was the first time that a line has appeared in the Ottawa parade.
The region just improved its postering bylaw, and now Centretown residents want their councillors to improve the way it’s enforced. Last month, Ottawa-Carleton plugged a loophole in its signs bylaw because it was open for abuse. The original bylaw allowed only one poster advertising “the same information” per utility pole. Some businesses used different colours and wording to get around the rule. Despite the improvement, residents are doubtful that businesses will stop over-postering because the city and region are not enforcing their bylaws. “Unfortunately city and regional councillors pass these bylaws but don’t give their officials the tools to deal with them,” says Centretown resident David Blackman. Blackman is part of what he calls a “silent army” of citizens who tear down outdated posters that build up and become an eyesore for residents. “Bank Street has become a real rundown drag,” Blackman says. The city and the region have similar postering bylaws requiring advertisers to remove posters within 21 days of being posted, or within 48 hours of the event’s completion, which ever comes first. Both bylaws carry a fine of $5,000. But Centretown Coun. Elisabeth Arnold says enforcement is on a complaint basis only and fines are a last resort after warnings. She says the city bylaw can’t be enforced because offenders have to be caught in the act. “The bottom line is we need an enforceable bylaw,” Arnold says. “If you can’t enforce it, it might as well not be there.” Diane Holmes, regional councillor for Somerset Ward, says the regional bylaw is as hard to enforce because of the lack of money available for issuing fines and removing posters. “Ultimately, there has to be money for these two programs and at the moment there isn’t,” says Holmes. Earlier this year, despite Holmes’ support, regional council rejected a $60,000 request for road maintenance. Some of that would have gone to covering the costs of removing tattered posters from utility poles. One alternative being studied by the City of Ottawa is increasing the number of poster collars. The designated poster areas have already been placed in the Byward Market. The city is expecting a report this fall on whether more poster areas would keep advertising off utility poles. But if previous court decisions are any indication, Ottawa would have to set up several dozen poster areas to justify banning utility pole advertising. Traditionally, courts have ruled in favour of advertisers because a 1993 Supreme Court of Canada decision describes postering as “a historically and politically significant.” An anti-postering bylaw was upheld in Vancouver in June, but only because the city had set up 85 poster kiosks as a reasonable alternative to utility poles. Holmes says following Vancouver’s lead would be too costly, but Arnold says the idea is at least worth evaluating.
A dispute between the Bronson Centre and residents of an adjacent townhouse development has been overblown, says Maureen Moloughney, director of the centre. “We exist quietly here in the neighbourhood,” Moloughney said. “We are working together with the city to resolve any concerns.” Earlier published reports in Capital City, an Ottawa alternative weekly newspaper, indicated that a problem over drainage from the centre’s parking lot was part of a campaign to have the centre closed down. The Bronson Centre was opened two years ago by the Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. It has been renovated at a cost of $400,000, with all financial support coming from the Grey Sisters. The centre provides space at cost for community groups to teach classes and run workshops. It took a while to catch on. When it first opened, it was used by only seven groups. But the centre is now home to 26 groups, with 400 people using the centre every day. This has put a demand on available parking. “Parking is essential for us,” Moloughney said. In order to finance restorations, some of the surrounding land was sold off. This included the old parking lot which was used for a new townhouse development. The new Bronson Centre parking lot sits several feet higher than the backyards of the townhouses, causing drainage problems. The Bronson Centre has hired an engineer to draw up plans for the new parking lot. John Houseman, secretary of the newly formed Residents Committee of Academy Mews, says the Bronson Centre has been responsive and the current drainage problem was caused by the centre “erroneously” putting in fill. “This was a very minor technical dispute, over very minor technical issues,” Houseman said. “It was turned into an issue by Capital City using an unnamed tenant in their story who said we were out to close the centre.” But some tenants still feel they are not well liked. Ron Castonguay, a tenant of the Bronson Centre, said it’s a good little place to live. “It’s quiet and safe,” Castonguay said. “They give you a chance.” But he still says he thinks residents’ complaints are part of a campaign of harassment. Houseman says the whole incident is one of miscommunication. Now both sides are trying to set it right. “We as the owners committee have a responsibility to keep others informed, just as Maureen (Moloughney) has a responsibility to keep the people who use the centre informed,” he said.
Newly settled U.S. companies are brewing competition in one of the most ignored banking spheres — the affinity card market — and are making Canadian banks fear for their plastic. Projected bank mergers could mean more affinity card business for our neighbours. Affinity cards are usually personalized credit cards that can carry a corporate or institutional logo such as GM cards, or university credit cards. The Bank of Montreal and the Royal Bank, who plan to merge their institutions, sell MasterCard and Visa credit cards respectively. Canadian credit card associations only allow banks to sell one of these two credit cards. That means one of the two credit card giants could be brushed aside. Imagine the Bank of Montreal giving up its 6.7 million MasterCard cards under circulation simply because it has to convert to Visa or vice versa in the Royal Bank’s case. Millions of credit card owners across Canada might be confused if card company rules don’t change. Moreover, merged banks might have to issue new cards with their new logos, and this will involve expenses. Our southern friends could profit from the situation and gather important customer segments. But don’t complain about a southern invasion because U.S. credit card companies are bringing jobs to Ottawa. MBNA Bank Canada, a U.S. affiliate based in Gloucester, plans to increase its share of employees by 100 people, up from its present 220 worker staff. And Bank One International, the second largest affinity card dealer in the U.S. is opening its doors in the capital region within the next month and expects to have 600 employees on its payroll within the next five years. At least 90 employees should be working by December. MBNA Bank Canada and First Bank International could be employing almost as many people in Ottawa as the Bank of Montreal employs in its Toronto credit card division within the next five years. For now Canadian banks are rolling patriotic drums and warning us that Uncle Sam’s companies are not going to invest in Canadian technology and will only hire minor representatives. While Visa and MasterCard issuers have $14 billion US in loans and outstanding assets in Canada according to a reliable source, Bank One International quadruples the Canadian market at $57 billion US. Last year Bank One International mailed over 780 million card offers across the U.S. and had a $375-million US marketing budget. Stiffer competition for our banks means more local employment.
During a guided tour, visitors to Sparks Street Mall can now hear about the life and shooting-death of D’Arcy McGee, a father of confederation, — as it happened on that street in 1868. The tour is a way of promoting Ottawa’s history, while at the same time attracting locals to the commercial district. “We have thousands of workers in this area that are on the mall every day at lunch hour. This is what keeps the businesses going, but we want the locals to come down and shop here on the weekends, so Saturdays we’re having the tours,” says mall manager Peter Harris. As part of the Sparks Street Heritage Program, the tour began on Sept.5, and will continue every Saturday at 2 p.m. until the end of October. Along the way, tour-goers meet up with D’Arcy McGee, as played by local actor, Eric Paul Parent, and Nicholas Sparks, played by Jordan Hancey, who provide an account of Canada and the Ottawa region in their infancy, and the contribution each made to the growth of the nation. “People say there’s nothing going on on Sparks Street. Maybe not after five o’clock— although I’m trying to change that — but from nine to five, Monday to Friday, there’s more going on on Sparks Street than anywhere else in the city,” says Harris. A description is given of 30 or so buildings along Sparks Street, such as the Bank of Montreal at 144 Wellington St., once part of Banker’s Row. The Montreal Telegraph building at 83 Sparks St. is also featured and dates back to 1870. In addition to learning the dates of such buildings, visitors of the tour will hear about the buildings’ historical significance, and also about the architects who designed them. The tour comes subsequent to a study of the 30 buildings by the City of Ottawa. The $46,000 Central Area West Heritage Study, which began two years ago, includes the first three blocks of Sparks Street from Elgin to Bank, as well as the entire central area west. As of yet, Sparks Street is not classified as a heritage district. However, one of the preliminary recommendations of the study is that Sparks Street from Elgin to Bank should be awarded this distinction. The final report is not due out before December. Heritage Ottawa has provided wording for signs outside the stores, which will allow people to learn the dates of the buildings, the architects, and the original building names as part of a self-guided tour. “We support what [Harris] is doing primarily because it’s focusing in on the unique heritage aspect of a very important street in Ottawa and in the process of doing that is increasing the public’s awareness of those heritage attributes,” Carolyn Quinn of Heritage Ottawa says. As part of this marketing strategy, information pamphlets will also be available to promote businesses and the history of the street. Harris estimates the cost of the heritage program in its beginning stages will amount to between $15,000 and $20,000, paid for by the mall. Albert Gabbay, owner of Albert Opticians and chair of the ad and promotion committee, says the tour is only one part of what the mall is doing to drum up more business. He wants to see more activity during the winter months that will attract locals to the street. A traditional Christmas setting is on the agenda with 7.5-metre decorated trees at each intersection, as well as a choir on Dec. 12 and 19. “We are really looking to add a lot of excitement and certainly make it more accessible to families especially,” says Gabbay.
Every sports fan has seen replays of Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire slamming his 62nd home run, breaking the record for home runs in a single season. While most fans have celebrated the tremendous record, some sports critics suggest McGwire’s accomplishment is tarnished because he uses androstenedione, a performance-enhancing supplement that raises testosterone. Critics say McGwire didn’t play fair by using the substance, which is illegal to buy in Canada and banned by the NFL, the International Olympic Committee, and American college sports. McGwire did play fair though. Androstenedione, or andro, is not a banned substance in Major League Baseball. It is available over-the-counter in the United States. McGwire hasn’t broken a single rule by using the supplement. Even if he had, it’s debatable whether andro would help him hit any home runs at all. Size and strength don’t hurt a home run hitter. Hitting a ball 350 feet or more requires strength. But timing and anticipation is essential. Being able to hit a baseball that is hurtling towards you at speeds over 90 mph requires a good eye and quick reflexes. If the swing doesn’t connect just right, a ball destined for the left-field bleachers becomes a harmless pop fly. Andro might add a few extra feet to McGwire’s home-runs, but it’s not as if he’s just barely hitting them out to begin with. One of the benefits of andro is it helps athletes recover from injury faster. Maybe McGwire would have been plagued by injuries if he didn’t use andro, as he was a few years ago. But it is impossible to say exactly what effect andro would have on recovery time, or whether McGwire would experience any major injury troubles at all. But does it really matter, considering all he’s done for the game of baseball? McGwire is a legitimate sports hero who single-handedly brought baseball back into the national and international spotlight. He is the Michael Jordan of his sport, healing old wounds from a players strike and giving fans something to cheer about. This is a man who respects his teammates, opponents, history of the game, and most importantly, the fans. Who can forget the high-fives as he trotted around the bases, the hug for his closest rival, Sammy Sosa, and the embrace he gave the Maris family following his record-breaking swing? Let McGwire have his record. With or without andro, he’s earned it.
According to legend, the game of darts was created by medieval soldiers. Bored between battles, lonely for their distant families, these men of the Middle Ages entertained themselves by aiming throwing spears at the bottoms of barrels. By 1530, the game had become so popular that King Henry VIII was presented with a jewel-encrusted set by his wife Anne Boleyn. The Duke of Somerset pub may not be the court of England, but every Tuesday night it is a haven for dart lovers. The pub has summer and fall leagues, for both novice and expert dart players. The season starts on Sept. 29, but dart aficionados have been honing their skills in anticipation. “You can play darts every night of the week in Ottawa,” says Otim Harris, a Carleton University student, who plays at least three times a week. He took up the sport about two years ago, after his arrival from his native Uganda. He says it has been a great way to make friends and meet different people. Peter Baskeyfield agrees. “You can walk into a new bar where you’ve never been before, play a friendly game of darts and meet loads of nice people,” he says. Baskeyfield is the one behind the league at the Duke. A player for 22 years, he started the league 15 years ago, shortly after his own emigration to Canada from England. “Anybody can play darts,” Baskeyfield says. “You can be the prime minister of Canada, or a person on welfare, a millionaire, a lawyer or a labourer. It’s a good night’s fun and a cheap form of entertainment.” The league at the Duke costs $3 per player a week. The season runs until early spring and consists of 12 teams of three players each. Baskeyfield is a genuine dart fan — the immaculate flights of his darts have his name printed in gold. Tuesday is his fun night. Thursdays are a greater challenge. That’s when players in the National Capital Superdart League convene at St. Anthony’s Italia Soccer Club on Preston Street. Teams in the superdart league have two players maximum, as opposed to the usual three or four. The league looks to attract Ottawa’s best players, to improve participants’ skills by pitting them against worthy opponents. The highest-scoring team can win $1,000 at season’s end. Harris is here tonight, and has brought as his partner Zdravko Zutkovic, an emigrant from Serbia. He says the skill level of the superdart league’s players doesn’t intimidate him. “We can make it,” he says, “maybe not right away, but eventually.” Though winning is on everyone’s mind, the basic reason why players come out every week is clear. “It’s meeting different people all the time. I’ve met people from all across Canada playing darts,” says Baskeyfield. “It’s the people.”
By Bonnie Van Toen
Football could be coming back to Ottawa...again. Since the Rough Riders left in 1996, several attempts have been made to try and bring them back. Now, the Ottawa Football Union (OFU) has begun another campaign to resurrect the team by the year 2000. But first it needs $4 million to convince the CFL that there is support for a team in Ottawa. So the OFU has a plan based in community ownership. About $1.4 million is expected to come from the business community, with the rest from individual supporters. “Every dollar we gain in corporate support we can deduct from public support,” says Micky Green, head of the OFU. Although Green would not say which businesses are on board, he says there has been interest. One reason is that businesses in Centretown stand to profit if football comes back to Ottawa. It’s not the roaring crowds in the stadium that excite retailers and restauranteurs but where those crowds could go before and after the games. “I think the business community recognizes the financial benefits of professional sports,” says Peter Harris, manager of the Sparks Street Mall. “When you have 20,000 people coming downtown and they’re buying things like food and gas.” Gerry LePage, executive director of the Bank Street Promenade, agrees. LePage figures there could be “hundreds of thousands of dollars in economic spin-offs” per game. Despite the potential boom times the CFL could bring, neither group has officially given their support to the bid. “I think the word on the street is wait and see,” said LePage. “You have leaders and you have laggards. And most of us are going to wait and see where the wind blows.” Green expected the guarded reaction. “I can tell you at this point we’ve had a lot of discussion with people in the business community,” says Green. “I’m sure you can appreciate that it’s a snowball effect.” Green says businesses want to know how the public feels before making a move. “When you purchase a membership as an individual, you are granted a degree of anonymity. When you are a business, you don’t have that luxury.” Supporters are being asked to buy $200 memberships to support the campaign. Those memberships give them the chance to vote, run for the board and jump to the head of the line for season and Grey Cup tickets. Green says the goal is to sell at least 6,500 memberships this year. Green expects that businesses will cough up the cash as more and more people are seen supporting the cause. The critical moment, says Green, will be the public rally planned for Oct. 3. Some businesses have given their support in other ways. CFRA has made and played commercials without charge. “The bottom line is we have had people step up, [but] we’re not where we need to be yet.” says Green. “They’re comfortable with the plan, they’re comfortable with our goals.” “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” says LePage. “I’m a firm believer in that.”
Team - St. Anthony’s Under-14 Soccer Club Position - Centre/Midfield School - Grade 9 at Immaculata High School Age - 14 years Hobbies - Basketball, volleyball and soccer; president of the Student Athletic Association. Hero - Alessandro Del Piero, soccer player for Juventus, Italian Soccer League Future Goals - “I’d like a scholarship to play soccer at a Canadian or American university. One day I want to be a professional soccer player in Europe.”
Until a few years ago, Ottawa had a reputation for being a backwater town, as far as the arts were concerned. The common misconception was a conservative city full of tight-collared civil servants whose cultural experiences were limited to going to the National Arts Centre for an evening performance of CATS. But Ottawa is not a cultural void. The problem lies in a lack of visibility, not talent. Although some prefer the lack of attention, many local artists feel as though they’re working under the shadow of places like the National Art Gallery, whose large exhibits overshadow their own. A shortage of affordable venues for up-and-coming artists also contributed to their invisibility as a group on the cultural map of Canada. But things are beginning to change. With non-profit groups like the Enriched Bread Artists, Ottawa is beginning to show some colour. This growing group of 24 artists, who occupy two floors of the old Standard Bread factory building on Gladstone Avenue, have gained quite a bit of notoriety for their contemporary and edgy art. The EBA’s annual open house, cited by some critics as the local arts event of the season, invites the public to the factory to view the works by wandering through each individual artist’s studio. The sixth annual open house begins Oct. 22 and ends Nov. 1. The event — a very laid-back affair with the artists providing snacks and sometimes a bit of wine — has attracted hundreds of people over the past five years. A large part of its success is due to the small venue combined with an intimate atmosphere and great talent, an experience which remains unique to local arts groups. You definitely won’t get this kind of reception in the New York scene. A few of the group’s artists have also gained national attention. Last year’s open-house star was Eliza Griffiths, whose work earned her a profile in Saturday Night magazine as one of the “next Group of Seven.” The EBA is only one of the many local groups which is trying to promote local talent, like Gallery 101 and the Lookout. There are many who need the attention of their communities to continue growing. There is certainly no lack of talent. We just need to show our artists they don’t need to go to Montreal or New York to be appreciated. They can stay right here and put Ottawa on the map.
The ghosts of writers around the world whose freedom of expression has been smothered by their governments haunted this year’s second annual Ottawa International Writers Festival. Three chairs stood in the reading room of the National Arts Centre, each carrying the name of a writer or journalist who are believed to be imprisoned by their government for exercising their right to freedom of expression. Sean Wilson, the festival’s co-ordinator, says the chairs drew attention to the thousands of writers around the world who could not attend because they are not allowed to leave their country. According to Amnesty International, many have been imprisoned for writing about controversial subjects. The festival is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. “The festival wants to promote the idea that through our stories we can all understand each other and find our common ground,” Wilson says. The writers tackled issues of human rights and freedom of expression in their work. Mary Jo Leddy gave an emotional reading from A Border Called Hope, a book about refugees in Canada. Rabbi Elyse Goldstein talked about the need to re-read the Torah from a female point-of-view in Revisions. And Sharon Helen Venne read about Canada’s aboriginal peoples and their dealings with the United Nations. Of the 64 attending writers, some of the most prominent were Nino Ricci (Where She Has Gone), Tomson Highway (Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing) and Anita Rau Badami (Tamarind Mem). In keeping with the theme of freedom of expression, the festival also hosted the Canadian premiere of a controversial independent film called The Sadness of Sex. Based on writer/actor/performance artist Barry Yourgrau’s collection of short stories of the same name, the screenplay was co-written by the film’s director Rupert Wainright and stars Yourgrau. Wilson says that the festival chose it because it’s considered to be too provocative and too controversial by critics. The film was pulled from its New York debut, but too late to stop the reviews from going to press. One of the more provocative scenes is cut fast, a barrage of sexual images no more than a second or two per frame. The different scenes of a couple having sex in different positions is mixed in with images of Picasso-like women with distorted features. Over these images, Yourgrau narrates how each time they have sex the woman’s body parts get moved around — such as her breasts facing backwards or her lips on her knee — and they continue to have sex so he can try to put her body back together. “We wanted it to be honestly sexy and erotic, but not hardcore,” Yourgrau told the audience after the show. The full house of 130 people, some of them standing by the wall since there were no more chairs, laughed and chuckled throughout the movie. Others sat in silence drinking in the scenes and every word of the movie, unable to respond. “For someone who likes the written word, it’s a treat,” Todd Duckworth, a fan of Yourgrau’s writing said afterwards. Wilson said this year’s festival, which ran from Sept. 10-19, drew an average of 125 people per event. He said by the time it’s finished approximately 4,000 people will have attended — about 1,000 more than last year. “I was astonished by the number of writers who live in Ottawa,” said Shannon Peet, a Centretown resident. “They just seemed to bring such rich histories and lives with them here, that I’ll come to another writers event for sure.” Wilson says next year the festival plans to bring in more of the world’s best writers and to continue to expand its audience.
The Great Canadian Theatre Company’s latest production focuses on a great American outlaw, but was written by a famous Canadian author. The Collected Works of Billy the Kid, which runs at the GCTC until Oct. 10, was written by Michael Ondaatje. Though he has written numerous novels, books of poetry and screenplays, Ondaatje is best known as the author of The English Patient. This novel was later made into an Academy Award-winning film. Ondaatje and director Richard Rose worked together to adapt Billy the Kid to the stage. The two have worked together in the past and Rose welcomed the chance to work with the author again. “He’s a delight to work with,” Rose says. “There’s so much depth and feeling to his language.” Billy the Kid relies on flashbacks to tell the life of the old west outlaw, though not in a traditional way, according to Rose. “The play shows fragments of life,” Rose says. “It’s a bit like a puzzle that comes together by association. It asks the audience to come up with their own interpretation.” Kate Hurman, assistant director of Billy the Kid, is another of Ondaatje’s fans. The chance to work with the famous author drew her to work on this production. “It was really fun to meet him,” Hurman said. “Whenever you get a chance to work with a real live playwright it’s great. You can ask his permission to change things and see if he agrees with the direction you’re taking the play.” The script for this play has been changed many times since its first staging at the Stratford Festival in 1972. “He keeps tuning it and changing it,” Rose said of Ondaatje. “He tried to draw the play back a little bit more to the nature of the book.” The play now follows the style of the book as a collection of stories and scenes. Billy the Kid opened Sept. 15 and marked the opening of the theatre’s new season, entitled “Renegade Heroes.” The new season looks to be a successful one according to Barry Caplan, the box office manager for the GCTC. “Ticket sales are going very well for the season and are starting to pick up for the first show,” Caplan says. He cites a late start in publicity for Billy the Kid as the reason for slower ticket sales. But having a well-known name like Ondaatje’s attached to the production may help bring people to the theatre. “I definitely think it helps, it sure doesn’t hurt.” Last year marked the GCTC’s most successful year with about 86 per cent of its tickets being sold. The Collected Works of Billy the Kid runs through Oct. 10 at the GCTC.
Since Bill 160 reared its ugly head last year, teachers and the province have been sparring over two contentious issues resulting from the legislation: instruction time and, believe it or not, what actually constitutes instruction. But the dirty details of Bill 160 alone aren’t to blame for the current upheaval in Ontario’s classrooms -- and both sides know it. The problem, as Rodney Dangerfield would say, is teachers “don’t get no respect.” The government is forcing teachers to spend more time in the classroom -- four hours and 10 minutes a week. Teachers say hall monitoring and counselling should be considered instruction. The government says not. But who actually cares? Constant criticism from the government and the public has seriously overshadowed the consequences of Bill 160. More and more, the bill has become a battle for control between two sides who are unwilling to compromise. This is a government with a fundamental lack of respect for its teachers. Educators. Role models. Coaches. Counsellors. Friends. Teachers are expected to wear many different hats. And contrary to the government’s assertion, their heads aren’t getting any bigger. Excessive government pressure has spurred public scrutiny and has led to the perception that teachers are to blame for the education system’s woes. Teachers are unfairly maligned. Handling oversized classes and students with various learning disabilities and behaviourial problems are just some pressures facing teachers. On top of that, they are expected to give up their personal time for extra-curricular activities. The purpose of a teacher is to educate students and help them grow into responsible, hard-working people. Why should teachers not expect better working conditions in order to ensure these tasks are met? We say teachers are using students as political pawns in this fight. While they don’t want to exploit students, they don’t have a choice. Concessions are inherent in any negotiations. But the current round between the province and teachers is clearly hindered by animosity. Demands for a reasonable definition of what is instructional time can only lead to a better education for students. After all, isn’t that the point? Let’s ignore politics and just let teachers do their job.
The trouble with the Canadian government is it isn’t Zellers. The fools who run it think the lowest price should be against the law. If you’ve visited the baby-food aisle of your local store lately, you may have noticed prices are higher than just a few months ago and there’s now a jarred baby-food monopoly in Canada — thanks to the Canadian government. The baby-food mess goes like this: Last year, Heinz complained to Revenue Canada that Gerber was dumping baby food. Gerber Canada, which is US-owned, imports its baby food from the United States. Gerber sold the imported food for less in Canada than in the U.S. — the technical definition of dumping. Gerber sold for as low as 33 cents a jar — about 10 cents less than Heinz. While most people rejoice at lower prices, Revenue Canada sees low-priced imports as attempts by foreigners to undermine the Canadian economy. Despite free trade, protectionism thrives. In May, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, the judicial panel that decides dumping cases, told Gerber to raise prices 60 per cent. Gerber says it can’t compete at the new prices, so has abandoned the Canadian market after 49 years, leaving 100 per cent of the jarred baby-food market to rival Heinz. While US-owned, Heinz makes its baby food in Canada, enjoying “domestic” producer protection. Gerber Canada president Martin Lasher says he hasn’t imported a jar of baby food since April. In Ottawa, most stores have cleared their Gerber stock or are down to their last few jars — inevitably the wretched mashed carrots. Now, consumer groups are outraged. Children’s advocates fear price increases may force low-income parents to water down baby food, endangering babies’ health. Under pressure, the tribunal is reconsidering its mashed-peas-for-brains decision. And the bureaucracy bumbles on. In a bizarre twist, the federal government’s competition watchdog, the Competition Bureau, is appealing the anti-dumping decision to a North American Free Trade Agreement panel, set to convene in January. It will be Ottawa versus Ottawa before the international panel, the first time since the establishment of NAFTA in 1994 that one country has gone to war with itself. The Gerber case is a comic extreme. But it illustrates a broader point: protectionism hurts Canadians. In the last five years, the anti-dumping police have forced us to pay more for bicycles, sugar, fresh garlic, home canning lids and jars and even tombstones, among other things. As the tribunal reconsiders its ruling, Canadians should ask: why are we paying people to make things more expensive for us and limit our choices in the first place?
At first glance, the gay and lesbian community appears to be building its own Tower of Babel. There are transexuals and bisexuals. There are sadomasochistic lesbians, homosexual couples with families, and confused teenagers, to name a few. They’re all under the same umbrella, all trying to have their voices heard. This is the environment in which Making Scenes, Ottawa’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered film and video festival, finds itself. It will showcase films and videos from around the world from Sept. 17 to Sept. 26 at the World Exchange Plaza and the National Gallery of Canada. This year for the first time in its seven-year history, it will include transgendered and bisexual subjects as well as films about gays and lesbians. The festival has been extended, from six to eight days, to accommodate these voices. Another type of film that would not have been included a few years ago is Party Monster. It is a dark and sinister documentary about a homosexual man who moves to New York and ends up committing murder. Three years ago, the festival board decided to remove the word “positive” from their mandate, changing it to “providing images of gays and lesbians.” Party Monster, is now equally welcome. “Not everything is nice, beautiful, and perfect. We are human beings and must not try and hide,” says José Sánchez, a member of the screening committee for Making Scenes. “We have a little bit of everything,” says Donna Quince, the festival director. “On opening night, you’ll be laughing so hard your face will hurt. But then later, we have films like Party Monster. There are just so many different types of films being made.” The screening committee viewed hundreds of films this year. Only about 80 of these films will be shown to an anticipated audience of 4,000. The diverse nature of the festival makes it harder to define. Is its purpose to promote gay and lesbian rights, to educate the general public, or should it try and shock its audience to promote acceptance? Quince says the festival should do all these things. “The audience is mostly made up of our community, although we encourage people to bring their straight friends. However, these films are chosen so that we [the gay and lesbian community] can learn about ourselves,” explains Quince. Mainstream television shows and films rarely consider this diversity. There are the Ellens who fit in the mainstream, and the Robin Williams and Nathan Lane type of characters in The Birdcage, preening and fluffing up old stereotypes for a laugh. Independent gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered film makers and much of that community, crave more dynamic images of themselves. “People in this community want to see themselves reflected on the screen, and they can’t anywhere else,” says Laura Marks, a film professor at Carleton University. “As long as people are struggling for identity, this type of festival will exist.” As more voices struggle to be heard, the search for identity within this community is becoming more complex and the need for the festival persists. At the City of Ottawa, a jury decided to give the festival $4,000 this year, 4.8 per cent of the festival’s total budget. Cathy Shepertycki, the cultural consultant at the City of Ottawa, says community impact is the most important criteria for funding a cultural event. Although the amount may be insignificant, the question of community impact is not. The Ottawa community as a whole may be baffled by this festival. A heterosexual audience could feel bombarded by so many different, and at times disturbing images. It might leave with less of an understanding of the gay and lesbian community. But this is not the audience for this festival. The impact on the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered community is more significant. Where it would appear that more voices would simply dilute any sense of a common bond, just the opposite is true for this community that is defined by its heterogeneity. It is a chance to restate their commitment to the celebration of diversity within the community. Like the pride flag, on which all colours of the rainbow are present, this community is marked by its differences.