CJRO News March 13 to March 19, 2023
Hello, bonjour, and welcome to CJRO News on CJRO Radio. I’m Candice Vetter, reporting from Embrun.
A rally to stop the Taggart/Tewin clear cutting was held at Ludger Landry Park on Piperville Road in Carlsbad Springs on Sunday, March 12th. Close to 100 people attended the event, which had been planned a few days prior. The organizers and speakers included representatives from Ecology Ottawa, Horizon Ottawa, Greenspace Alliance of Canada’s Capital, Peoples’ Official Plan Coalition, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, Citizens’ Environmental Stewardship Association – East of Ottawa, Community Associations for Environmental Sustainability (CAFES), Carlsbad Springs Community Engagement Group, and local residents. The environmental spokespersons expressed disappointment and concern about the way the City of Ottawa has allowed an exemption to the City’s tree bylaw. When first asked Michelle Taggart of the Taggart Group said the clear cutting was in response to last May’s derecho, but later said it was because the land would be used for farming. Several speakers at the rally said that did not constitute an existing farm operation as the bylaw states. Drone videos have shown that waterways have been fouled by debris from the cutting. Paul Johanis of the Greenspace Alliance compared the holes in the bylaw to Swiss cheese. Laurie McCannell described her experiences with opposing Taggarts’ plans, including the proposed landfill at Quarry Lake in Russell and the proposed landfill at Boundary Road. She said she has learned that bylaws are written to favour developers and it is the laws which must be changed. The clear cutting seems particularly egregious considering the Tewin project is touted as being sustainable and in harmony with One Planet One Living principles.
CJRO asked the City for copies of the documents outlining farming plans, but was told the City will not release documents other than the memos which were already made public, and cannot do an interview. The email chain is on our website under News.
Algonquin First Nation of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Elder Verna McGregor and her son Sheldon McGregor spoke of the opinion of many Algonquins that the Algonquins of Ontario is not a legitimate group and does not represent the majority of Anishinabeg. That has been a long-standing disagreement since the government of Ontario started the land claims process with the AOO in 1991. The McGregors said that by agreeing to the deal which includes various parcels of land in the province and millions of dollars ($300 million) the perpetual rights of those Algonquin on the reserve west of Ottawa will be extinguished.
When asked after the rally how it was that provincially owned land was sold without going to public tender former Acting Mayor and Councillor Doug Thompson said the lands were acquired under the First Nations’ right of first refusal. That does not explain how the Taggart Group of Companies acquired about two-thirds of the land. Recently Chief Wendy Jocko has expressed indignation when asked about ownership, saying that questioning the AOO is disrespectful.
The Taggart Group of Companies has since announced it is setting up a Tewin Community Advisory Committee. Councillor Shawn Menard, who chairs the environment and climate change committee has requested a standalone discussion of this issue on March 21st. Speakers at the rally intend to be at that meeting and encourage the public to attend. A petition to stop the clear cutting is available at Ecologyottawa.ca. To hear the speakers’ full comments check out our podcasts on CJROradio.com/podcast.
The Ottawa Police Services Arson Unit is asking for the public’s help to locate the two tankless water heaters that were stolen from Blossom Pass Terrace and caused the explosion in Orleans on February 13th. The appliances may have been damaged during the theft and might be dangerous if installed. Anyone in possession of these appliances may not know that they are stolen. In these circumstances, the Ottawa Police Service will not pursue criminal charges relating to their possession. The tankless water heaters are made by Rinnai, the model number is RU 160-182106. The specific serial numbers for the stolen and possibly damaged units are 21PE.BA-095999 and 21PE.BA-096017. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Criminal Investigations Unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 5625 or email mcm@ottawapolice.ca. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppers.ca.
City of Ottawa residents have until this Thursday, March 16th to submit their Vacant Unit Tax declarations. If a declaration is not filed it will be deemed vacant and the VUT will be applied. To submit online go to ottawa.ca/vut, click Submit Declaration, and input the roll number and access code found on your VUT information notice or last year’s property tax bill.
The Easter Bunny has confirmed that he will visit the children of Carlsbad Springs on Saturday April 1st, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. To receive this visit and a chocolate, you must register your children, aged 11 and under, before March 20th at cluboptimistecarlsbad@gmail.com. Indicate the child’s name, age and address. This activity is open to Carlsbad Springs residents only.
Don’t forget the March it on Out swap meet will be Saturday, March 25th. Items can be donated Friday evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. or Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas High School at 1211 South Russell Road, Russell. Pay once to enter and take away any items you wish.
South Nation Conservation invites residents to attend an in-person open house to view floodplain and erosion hazard maps for areas along the Ottawa River in the townships of Clarence-Rockland and Alfred and Plantagenet. Residents near the river can consult maps specific to their property to better understand the risks in these areas and provide feedback on the mapping. The information session is Wednesday, March 29th, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lucien Delorme Community Center in Wendover.
The Eastern Ontario Agri-Food Network Annual General Meeting will be held March 30th from 4-7 p.m. at the Stonehouse Vineyard in Alexandria. The network will launch its new website, SavorEastON.ca, which will showcase Eastern Ontario's producers and products.
Budding Scientists is a new activity offered by the Optimist Club of Carlsbad Springs and hosted by STEAMpunks Discovery Lab. The free event will take place at the Carlsbad Springs Community Center on Saturday, April 15th. Four sessions are offered: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; 11 a.m. to noon; 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Each session includes two scientific activities. You must register your child BEFORE APRIL 3 by sending the preferred time, the name and age of the child, your email and phone number to cluboptimistecarlsbad@gmail.com. To learn more, see www.steampunks.rocks.
A Country Evening will take place on Saturday, April 15th at 7 p.m. at the Lucien-Delorme Community Center in Wendover. The Alain Brisson Orchestra and Country Source will be performing, featuring Eric Michael Hawks, Andrew Charlebois, Erica Brighthill, Phil Denault and Todd Nolan. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. To reserve tickets contact Sophie Bisson at 613-620-5804.
The Vars Optimist Club Trivia night is back on April 22nd at the St. Guillaume School gym. The event is bilingual, hosted by Vincent Poirier, and includes a bar and DJ. Places are limited so register early. Teams can be up to six players, cost is $10 per person. For information or to register go to varsoptimiste@gmail.com.
The Optimist Club is offering first aid courses given by Ménard Safety Courses for teenagers 15+ and parents on April 22nd and 29th, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Carlsbad Springs Community Centre at 6020 Piperville Road, Carlsbad Springs. This in-person course will be in English and the online module is offered in French and English. For more information see https://menardsafetycourses.ca.
A DJ dance fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis Canada, called Dance for CF, will take place April 29th at 7 p.m. at the Community Centre in Embrun. All proceeds will go to Cystic Fibrosis Canada. It is organized by Christiane Aupry whose son has CF.
It's a particularly bad pothole season. Visit ottawa.ca to report a pothole in the City limits or Russell.ca to report one in Russell Township.
In Sarsfield there is an interest survey from the Sarsfield Pickleball Club asking about interest in joining a beginner's league. The survey is available on the Sarsfield Community Association Facebook page.
The Kin Club of Russell’s Catch the Ace lottery, still the largest Catch the Ace in Ontario, only has 16 envelopes left. The current jackpot is an estimated $450,000.00 and the weekly prize is an estimated $20,000. Purchases can be made at 26 retail locations or online at kinclubofrussell.ca.
If you have News you want included on this weekly report, please let me know by Monday mornings. We have additional content up at CJROradio.com. Check for photos, videos, late News, media releases, News text, email conversations with public officials, and Local First podcasts. It’s all here on CJRO. Tune in at 107.7 or 107.9, follow us on Facebook, listen to our podcasts on cjroradio.com or on the Tune-In and Radio Player Canada apps. I’m Candice Vetter for CJRO News. CJRO, last on the dial, first for local news.