May 13, 2005 - Glebe Report

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31 Glebe Report May 13, 2005 CONTEST Congratulations to our Essay Contest winners JUDGE'S COMMENTS I picked two winners. These two essays, MR. TRUDEAU and the untitled essay, were very well written, heartfelt and memorable. I suggested a title of A PLEA FOR COMPASSION for the untitled one. UNTITLED quietly but effectively connects the wretched and the beautiful. In understated, heartfelt prose, the public horrors of genocide in Rwanda are linked to a moment of poignant compassion when a small girl hugs a homeless person. This essay needs some tinkering with punctuation in the middle of the fourth paragraph. I also think the title of Romeo Dallaire's book should be used, as well as the title of the Lonely Planet book about the kindness of strangers. The last paragraph needs some attention to the semicolons, etc. MR.TRUDEAU is a sincere homage, perhaps one might say, a passionate defence of a great man. This essay eloquently reacquaints us with the kind of man we could use in the current unsettled weather of our political climate. In this essay, the last third of the first paragraph might need a bit of work to give it clarity of meaning. UNTITLED (A PLEA FOR COMPASSION) BY COLLEEN SLOAN Earlier this year I read Romeo Dallaire's book describing the genocide in Rwanda. It contains many horrific images and is an account that makes you want to cry or scream, to rage against something or someone or maybe just hide in a hole and never come out. Earlier today I read an article online about a 9-year-old girl who was speaking to a group of business people and about her response to the homeless. Her message seems simple enoughbe nice to them. According to the article, her message moved several people to tears. These two events are seemingly distant and disconnected from each other, and yet I have a strong sense that they are not as disconnected as they seem. In my mind they converge and I am slowly realizing that they are all part of a bigger picture. The picture of humanity. Romeo Dallaire describing the systematic annihilation of nearly a million people, and the world's lackadaisical response (or lack of response) to the horror and this small girl talking about giving a hug to a homeless man are both just telling us what it means to be human. Since the publication of LGen Dallaire's book many people in the world have vowed never to let this kind of thing to happen again. Canada has just changed its foreign policy in part with the idea in mind of preventing the Icinds of atrocities that happened in Rwanda, but I have to admit I'm a little skeptical. It was less than a year ago that I was in Guatemala reading about their 36- It's All year-long civil war; about the decimation of the indigenous population, about babies having their fingernails pulled out and their genitals cut off or their heads smashed against stones, about women being raped, tortured and killed, about entire villages being wiped out in a single afternoon. It got to the point where if I saw a baby on the bus with intact fingernails I would secretly rejoice at the wonder. My friend finally brought me the Lonely Planet book on the kindness of strangers, stories of people who had been unexpectedly kind and caring and demonstrated unusual grace, and suggested I might try reading that instead. Which brings us back to the small girl. Everywhere in the world, we see this juxtaposition between the wretched and the beautiful, the things that we almost can't bear to look and those that we want to grab hold of and keep close to our hearts. I think we are touched by both because if we really look deep down in our own hearts we recognize that within each one of us lies both the capacity to be wretched and the capacity to be beautiful. We can at times be indifferent to suffering, and at other times reach out and give all we have to remind someone else of their own beauty. This one small girl is reaching out and reminding homeless people; those who might be depressed, mentally ill, smelly, dirty, and marginalized that they are human too. A striking reminder to us all that we are at our most human when someone sees both the wretched and the beautiful in us and hugs us anyway. Amethyst Women's Addiction Centre 488 Wilbrod Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 6M8 Tel: (613) 563-0363 Fax: (613) 566-2175 Web site: www.amethyst-ottawa.org E-mail: amethyst @ amethyst-ottawa.org Writer Rick Taylor teaches writing at Carleton University. He will be giving a Writers in the Community workshop at the GCCShaping Material For Memoir and Travel Writingon June 11 from 1-3 p.m. He is the author of House Inside the Waves: Domesticity, Art and the Sulfing Life and is now working on an unusual book about swimming called Water and Desire. MR. TRUDEAU BY WALTER JOSEPH MacDONALD Just like the other tens of thousands of people that morning I felt a calling to set aside whatever was happening in my personal life and get myself to Parliament Hill. The line could have been fourteen hours instead of the four that it was, and that would have been quite alright. The spiritual energy that seemed to concentrate itself upon the Mahogany coffin was an experience we will not likely see any time soon. Similar to the winning goal in the final game of the Russian Canadian play off series, and Expo '67, all eyes fell upon the same page: A great unifying experience. On a personal note it was a day like no other. Moved to the point of tears I knew that in almost perfect alignment, give or take a day or two, twenty years prior, Mr. Trudeau had delivered his eloquent eulogy at my father's funeral. The sense of synchronicity in the air for me was uncanny. Even the whether [sic.] was remarkably similar. A man bearing a microphone approached my group fromacross the green; and somehow I knew he was coming toward me. I was very pleased to say a few words. The sense of equanimity and harmony on that hill was really something to behold. I fell in love even. Finally I was at the coffin. Unbeknownst to me my photo was taken and appeared in the paper the following day. I looked just like my dad on a previous occasion long before in a photo that shows him peering quizzically at Mrs. Trudeau. If these are the final words that fall upon my sheaf of paper I can always make the claim that the Right Honourable Pierre Trudeau referred to my writing as eloquent and sincere. It was never a surprise to me that Richard [Gwynn] adopted the word magus in referring to him. As my mother says, aptly and simply, "he was quite a boy". It is a compliment he would enjoy. He was many things that certain critics claimed he was not. 18 and over category Judge Rick Taylor Mr. Trudeau was a deeply emotional man, and he was anything but arrogant. Yes the Jesuits told those boys that they were the leaders, but an arrogant boy that does not make. Pierre Trudeau was a figure who represented the true meaning of humility, and if this comment evokes rage and disbelief in certain readers, then good I say, good; not to put you down, because that is wrong, but rather to enlighten. And if you think now, that I am being arrogant, you are sadly mistaken. Humility is nothing more than a true assessment of one's own strengths and weaknesses; of one's qualities, and in so doing, to enjoy a true appreciation of others. What appeared to be arrogance, was, on the contrary, a person who decided to embrace the light; and in so doing, had a great time dancing and pirouetting across an international stage, showing each and every one of us what was available to us if we chose to embrace our [own] light. Arrogant? No. One of the brightest lights I have ever seen? Absolutely. For a man to stand head and shoulders above everyone else at international gatherings in terms of his ability to consider ideologies and beliefs far different than his own is the antithesis of arrogance. That is humility in action. Ask Nelson Mandela or [Mikhail] Gorbachev what they think about this, and they will agree. There are those too who would say that Mr. Trudeau }mew nothing of self sacrifice. To me he [was] the embodiment of self sacrifice. How could it not be so? How easy it would have been for him to spend a lifetime in coffee shops talking philosophy and literature; something that was a real option for him. If ever there were a human being who understood what discipline and selfsacrifice means, it was Pierre Elliot Trudeau. To become the fascinating human being that he was would require nothing less. Some people strive to be the Prime Minister. Mr. Trudeau strove to be a whole person. An honest man. Someone who did not want to become the Prime Minister. How wonderful! Bran vivt 'w, wf:Menu --..---ov, va i able ree LOcations --cal:--'
NEWS Providing work for adults with disabilities Herb Westman BY LINDSEY COLE At first glance, Herb Westman is a friendly, warm man who seems like the average person. But he has been through a lot. Having a disabled child is one challenge that separates him from many people in society. Her name is Kristi and she has epilepsy. She is the eldest of three children and Westman says he is very proud of her. She currently lives in a group home in Ottawa, but comes home to the family's Glebe apartment every weekend and for holidays. Westman, who has lived in the Glebe for the past nine years, is a man with many accomplishments. One of his greatest achievements has been helping to lead the Y's Owl Maclure Co-operative Centre for the past two years. Y's Owl Maclure is a centre that was established to provide employment and day-support groups for the developmentally disabled. (It is a non-profit charitable organization, formed by the Y's Men's Club, a service club of Photo: Lindsey Cole the YM/YWCA. The centre is partially funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services.) The centre allows adults with disabilities to work for companies and gain independence, as well as experience. Westman says this is essential: "The impact of receiving money is tremendous. Employees gain significant self-esteem by working and bringing home some money." This revenue helps fund some of the centre's programs and co-op members also get to take some money home. By signing contracts with companies around Ottawa, Y's Owl Maclure gives members the opportunity to see what having a job is like. Not only that, but, as Herb Westman's wife Carole says: "Members of the group regress more quickly if they are not stimulated. The day programs and employment opportunities build confidence." Many members of the group work for companies like Wal-Mart. Their jobs vary from shrink-wrapping to shredding. These contracts are a big part of Y's Owl Maclure, Westman says. "They need as many contracts as possible to help bring in revenue. Funding from the provincial government isn't enough. The centre needs these contracts." Westman says that the centre is currently looking for more work opportunities. Westman stresses the importance of contracts to members: "When they have a chance like this, they become more independent. People with disabilities then feel like they are regular members of society. Some people with developmental disabilities don't have a sense of money, but it's that cheque and getting it like everybody elsethat's a big thing." Y's Owl Maclure is also looking for more board members. The current board members are parents and members of the community. Westman says the job has been very rewarding for him and he wouldn't have changed anything. He is very proud of the centre and wants to see its continued success. The centre has a waiting list of over 200 people. Only more funding and contracts would allow this to change. Glebe Report May 13, 2005 32 SLICK & SASSY 858G Bank Street (at Fifth Avenue) 236-2662 ONE STOP TANNING HAIR HAIR PRODUCTS DRY CLEANING SEWING SEARS CATALOGUE MERCHANT SUE RAVEN PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC Helping You to Recover from: Pain in Muscles, Joints, Neck & Back Fractures; Orthopedic Surgery Sports, Musicians & Work Injuries Stroke; Weakness Balance & Vestibular Problems Motor Vehicle Injuries Full Physio Services, plus: - Acupuncture - Ergonomics - Massage - Hand & Arm Splints 205 - 194 Main St., Ottawa KIS 1C2 Phone: 567-4808 Fax: 567-5261 www.sueravenphysio.com Canada's Capital University @ Carleton Specialty Camps Summer Sports Camps Half-a-Happy Day Camps Ages 4-18 All full-day camps include a cafeteria lunch, a T-shirt, and a recreational swim. Camps are run by caring, experienced, and qualified staff carleton.ca/athletics
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Page 3 and 4: NEWS Glebe Rocking for seniors Hawa
Page 5 and 6: EDITORIAL PAGE Thanks and farewell
Page 7 and 8: GCA MEMBERSHIP Glebe "For nearly 40
Page 9 and 10: NEWS BY JOY McALPINE The City of Ot
Page 11 and 12: NEWS Glebe Report May 13, 2005 10 G
Page 13 and 14: FEATURE Glebe BY MAGGIE NEGODAEFF G
Page 15 and 16: Bells and Whistles Loosely translat
Page 17 and 18: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Rates L
Page 19 and 20: SPORTS Glebe Trevor Dawson (#5) of
Page 21 and 22: CONSTRUCTION Glebe Report May 13, 2
Page 23 and 24: ART Glebe Report May 13, 2005 22 ,M
Page 25 and 26: ART Glebe Ar) a rtIst's (Ifeso far
Page 27 and 28: MUSIC Glebe Baobab youth group in a
Page 29 and 30: N EWS Glebe Taking yoga to Ottawa's
Page 31: CONTEST Glebe Essay Contest winner
Page 35 and 36: TRUSTEE REPORT Glebe Understanding
Page 37 and 38: SCHOOL NEWS Glebe 5th Avenue Court
Page 39 and 40: 2 GCI NEWSLETTER Glebe 6E1 students
Page 41 and 42: BOOKS Book picks for older children
Page 43 and 44: CHURCH Glebe Report May 13, 2005 42
Page 45: GNAG, Committed to the Community Gl

May 13, 2005 - Glebe Report

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