Glebe Report

More documents

Recommendations

Info

LETTERS LE'TTERS TO THE EDITOR Thank you Sandy MacDonell Editor, Glebe Report: A letter dated January 10, 1986, from the Honorable Ed Fulton, Minister of Transportation and Communications, states that yes, sound barriers will go up along the Queensway from Bronson Avenue to the Kent Street offramp. When the news was received, Glebe residents who were directly or indirectly affected by the noise and air polution from the Queensway were ecstatic. For this writer, ten long years of waiting for sound barriers were over. The credit for this amazing turnabout by the provincial government goes not to the Glebe Community Association, not to past or present M.P.s M.P.P.s or aldermen, but to a Glendale Avenue resident, Mr. Sanford Mac- Donell or "Sandy" as he is known to his neighbours. Over the years he wrote countless letters, attended countless meetings and often received little encouragement or support from those he sought assistance from. Other individuals had from Editor, Glebe Report: Re: Sobriety House article, Glebe Report, May 9, 1986 edition. It seems that no matter what happens, your "rag" is determined to cast the objectors to the building extension at Sobriety House in the role of the "red-necks" of Second Avenue. After over an hour on the telephone to your reporter, Inez Berg, the other night, two statements were attributed to me which certainly do not reflect my views on the matter. The first statement: "What was a residence in character and function will now become an institution with all the new space for counselling and extra staff." Sobriety House planned to accommodate 20 inmates, 9 staff, offices, counselling and parking for families, friends and significant others in a two-storey house on an undersized residential lot. The zoning bylaws per- time to time pursued this issue without success. Sandy persevered because he believed that the Glebe should be protected against the adverse affects of the Queensway. The reasons why this was such a difficult task and why it had been decided and and accepted that the westend sound barriers should stop at Bronson are now history. The construction of the barriers will be a personal victory for Sandy and a superb legacy for one person to leave *behind for his neighbours. Sandy and Mary MacDonell are leaving the Glebe after residing here for eighteen years. With their fond memories of Glebe life, I would like Sandy to take with him our recognition of his contribution to the welfare of our neighbourhood. We would like to publicly thank Sandy and bid a fond farewell to our Glendale Avenue hero. Lynn Smyth on behalf of the Glebe Residents for Sound Barriers Resident feels remarks taken out of context mit a maximum of 8 persons unrelated by blood, marriage or adoption to co-habit a full-sized residential lot in an R-4 zone in all residential properties other than group homes. The zoning bylaw does not limit the number of occupants permitted in a group home located in a residential zone. To permit an extension on such a property therefore allows an unreasonable accommodation burden on a residential lot. We objected to the extension on those grounds, amongst others. The second statement: "Middle-aged alcoholics pose less of a threat to our children than adolescent drug addicts." Treatment of inmates by Sobriety House has changed in recent years. Instead of the average inmate being a 45-year-old rehabilitant alcoholic, the current average is a 22-year-old rehabilitant drug addict. In fact the threshold age for treatment of young male drug addicts at Sobriety House is 16. For a 16-year-old to require treatment, he has to have had a problem for some time. I questioned the rationale for locating such a facility bang opposite the First Avenue Elementary School. It was in that context that my statement was made. Several other appropriate Mr. Davies' opening remark about the Glebe Report indicates that he is perhaps unaware that news and views appearing in the GCA and Alderman's columns are not synonymous with editorial opinion of the Glebe Report. I would add they do not influence the reporting of news either. Statements 'attributed' to John Davies were made by him, not once but several times during our interview. There was not sufficient space to quote all he had to say on Sobriety House. In my article I preceded the second quote "Middle aged alcoholics..." with "As John Davies says,". This was because that comment summed up feelings of doubt expressed by other residents as well. Edited, the copy read "John Davies said 'Middle aged alcoholics...' This may have made his comment appear slightly less relevant than I intended. However, within the substance and context of the entire story I certainly did not use this or anything he said to sensationalize a sensitive community issue. I declined to report several of his comments in order to avoid the very journalistic climate he accuses me of creating. In reading his letter it seems to me it supports even more fully than my article More letters page 6 and relevant issues were discussed during our long telephone conversation, far more relevant than the last statement, but for "journalistic" reasons my statements were obviously more pragmatic than sensational and consequently, it seems, did not merit a report. Reporter responds John G. Davies that statements attributed to him do indeed reflect his views on the matter. Mr. Davies letter makes it clear he is sensitive to the possibility of himself and other residents being stereotyped or "cast" in a "role". In view of that I ask him to consider his use of the term "inmate" to describe Sobriety House residents. Webster's dictionary defines inmate as "one of a family or group occupying a single residence, esp: a person confined to an asylum, prison or poorhouse." I feel it fair to say modern usage and interpretation is more depictive of an individual requiring incarceration or forcible confinement. At no time in my interview with Sobriety House Director, Ken Duffy and his staff or anywhere in the printed materials by and about Sobriety House were those living there described as inmates. The word used is "fesident". During my interview with John Davies he objected strongly to the description of the residents as "chemically dependent" declaring the term was "merely a euphimism for drug addict". I trust he will understand it is in keeping with his sensitivity to the subtlety of word usage that I have drawn attention to this. By INEZ BERG ANNUAL WAREHOUSE SALE -1)-RADING COMFORTABLE COTTON CLOTHING Men 's and Women's Sportswear *GREAT PRICES* Wholesale Plus 10% On All New Stock Imper fects And Old Stock At Bargain Prices Wednesday to Saturday July 9-12, 1986 HOURS: 12:00noon to 8:00p.m. each day except Saturday 'till 6:00 p.m. only 218 City Centre 880 Wellington St Ottawa, Canada K1R 6K7 June 6, 1986, GLEBE REPORT -5
LETTERS Saddened and embittered by Health Act Editor, GZebe Report: This is a difficult letter to write for I must suppress my sorrow and anger in order to explain clearly, without lashing out, why I am about to "opt-out" of my community. My husband and I are a team. He is a medical specialist in private practice who elected not to become a member of OHIP at its inception. I am a registered nurse and have always had an active part in running my husband's office; as the unpaid office nurse during the early years when we could not afford to hire help (and when the government would not allow doctors to pay their working spouses), and now as office manager and comptroller. Over the years, singly or together, my husband and I have contributed voluntarily and winingiy, of our time and money to community needs and projects. Our involvement and/or financial support have included: the Administration-Medical Committee, the Medical Records Committee, the Coffee Shop and Cancer Clinic of the Ottawa Civic Hospital, the Admission and Discharge Committee and the Departmental Steering Committee of the Riverside Hospital, 9 years of ex-officio membership on all departmental committees as Chief of Department, the Ambulatory Care Committee, the Administration-Medical Committee, the Medical Records Committee, the Quality Control Committee, the Abortion Committee, the Infection Control Committee, the Laser Committee, the Admission and Discharge Committee and the Library Committee of the Salvation Army Grace Hospital ; the Queen's Alumni; the founding and development of the original Wellington Club; the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve; the Gyro Club; the Glebe Community Association; the Lansdowne Park Advisory-Committee; the Glebe Neighbourhood Study's Social Needs Committee; the Glebe Report; the Glebe Traffic Plan; the Glebe Development Plan; the Dow's Lake Residents' Association; the Mutchmor Home and School Association; the Canterbury High School Parents' Advisory Committee; the Ottawa Board of Education; Dominion-Chalmers United Church; Maycourt Club committees; the Ottawa-Carleton Regional June 6, 1986, GLEBE REPORT -6 Health Unit (Board of Health); the Task Force on the Regionalization of the Health Unit; the Winterlude Joint Planning Committee; the Canadian Red Cross Society; the Canadian Cancer Society; the Heart Fund; the Kidney Foundation; the Boys' and Girls' Club of Ottawa; the Christie Lake Boys' Camp; the United Way; disabled athletes; municipal, provincial and federal election campaigns; loyal support for the political party of our choice. In spite of the incredible shambles which the practice of obstetrics made to our household routine, we have each continued our professional education, with my husband developing recognized expertise in three subspecialties... on our own time and at our own expense. My husband has provided countless hours of professional education through seminars, classes and clinics for students of Ottawa University and Algonquin College and for the medical community...on his own time and at his own expense. We have combined our medical skills with a love of wilderness canoeing to become medical overseers of a wilderness learning centre; travelling long distances to set up a hospital cabin, teach and manage first aid and serve a scheduled term of residence each summer at a youth camp ...on our own unpaid precious holiday time and at our own expense. I don't mean to imply that these activities are in any way unique; most medical families have a similar record of service. My husband and I are saddened, insulted and embittered by the Canada Health Act and Bill 94: two demeaning and vindictive pieces of legislation. Through all the years of working for the community we had no thought of reward...it was the natural extension of a caring profession...but it is terribly disappointing to realize that our years of helping others have no weight on the scales of public opinion So disappointing that I no longer feel the need to respond to the needs of the community. When Bill 94 is passed I will discontinue all volunteer work and will resign from the Winterlude Joint Planning Committee, the newly-developing Public Events Traffic Committee, the Council of Women of Ottawa and Area, the Ottawa- Carleton Regional Health Unit (Board of Health), the Glebe Report contributing team, the Glebe Residents' Association and the Presidency of the Dow's Lake Residents' Association. Diana M. Paterson Lawn parking still an issue Editor, Glebe Report: My husband was reading through the May issue of the Giebe Report when he came across the letter on page 5 concerning enforcing lawn parking. I read it and I promptly got very angry. The gentleman (?) who wrote this letter should check on his information a little better. I, for one, feel that parking on lawns should be left alone if the people do it in an organized and wellsupervised fashion. For the last 18 years my husband and myself have parked cars for the Ex. We get the cars back on our lawns off the road as fast and as organized as possible, never blocking sidewalks and not holding up traffic. This is the first year we have been bothered by the city and when I asked if there were any complaints I was told there were none. I have also asked my neighbours if there are any complaints to tell us. So far there have been none. In fact one neighbour said she enjoys watching us park cars. No cars are blocked and we stay with the cars until they have all left. I also got a petition going this year which said the following: "We, the following people, have parked at residential homes in the Glebe and have found area residential parking service the best. We are for parking the way it has gone on for the past years. The residents in the Glebe are providing a service for the people and should continue to do so." From the list I got 182 names of people from cars we parked that were of age to vote. Some of their comments were: "Supplied needed useful parking for the community"; "Should allow freedom of choice". This was given to the alderman (September 9, 1985) but as far as I can see nothing was done. There was also a meeting on August 27, 1985, where there was a vote taken. 57 people attended, 41 for parking and 16 against. Does this mean nothing? As a resident of the Glebe who has parked cars and put up with the Ex, I feel we should be allowed to park cars. There are a lot of other events that hold up traffic. Why can't we be left alone? When is a vote effective? How can you fight a picture for proof in court? J.A. Mason Objections to garage sale Editor, Glebe Report: I object to the one-day all-Glebe Garage Sale, not only because I object to garage sales but because I fear it's becoming an annual event. The one-day sale does not preclude the possibility of garage sales on other days of the year. It assures increased traffic all day along all the streets while shoppers look from cars to see if a sale warrants stopping. It gives the impression that our neighbourhood honours the Carnival Syndrome inherent in garage sales. It is a peculiar or perverse contrast to the protest that has built up in the last 15 years by many Glebe residents to Lansdowne Park, which is set off from our streets, that now welcomes a kind of second-hand recycled type of commerce in our front yards. As for the charitable aspect of the event, it says that our fun and profit come before a consideration to giving useful clothing and household goods to the needy of the city. Established charitable organizations are begging for clothing and furnishings. Ruth Grace
Page 1 and 2: THE GLEBE REPORT 4A;ett.
Page 3 and 4: N EWS from page 1 New directors for
Page 5: EDITORIAL NOTES No July Glebe Repor
Page 9 and 10: N EWS Glebe Centre gives away mattr
Page 11 and 12: N EWS Glebe Scouts spend weekend at
Page 13 and 14: N EWS New service to mind your home
Page 15 and 16: CAPITAL COLUMN New structure for co
Page 17 and 18: GBG First annual banquet and dinner
Page 19 and 20: GNAG BAG / ri/I Alb.\ S- IETtnr*'-
Page 21 and 22: FOCUS Oak Bay and the Glebe village
Page 23 and 24: PEOPLE Anniversary greetings to Mum
Page 25 and 26: Take a doser look at june Beaches O
Page 27 and 28: CHURCH NEWS Apartheid contrary to G
Page 29: 7- ilk Volt fik expos ATTENTION YOU

Glebe Report

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?