Heat up at the Après-Snow party

February 10, 2014, 8:02 pm

by Tatiana Paganuzzi

The annual Vanier Après-Snow party happens this Saturday, February 15, at the swanky Kavanaugh Showroom on Beechwood Avenue!

Only in its second year, the pop-up party was a tremendous success in 2013, with close to one hundred people gathering at the Fontenelle Restaurant on Montreal Road. As a result of the positive feedback received from last years’ party-goers, this year we’re aiming to make it better and more exciting. A number of local merchants, residents and artists are contributing goods and volunteering their time and effort to continue to make the event entertaining, exciting and successful. Together with generous food and beverage contributions from the Clocktower and Black Irish Pubs, El Meson, Hearty Bakery, ZaZaZa, Gourmet Xpress, Metro, and others, Domicile has graciously offered their Kavanaugh showroom as a venue for this year’s pop-up party. The overwhelming and enthusiastic response we’ve received is indicative of great and growing community spirit that exists in Vanier. This event could not be accomplished without their support, for which we are truly grateful.

To enhance the event from last year, the Vanier Après-Snow party will include local artists, and dancing to the DJs! DJs Hobo and Sweetcheeks, who are regulars at the Kitchen Party in Ottawa, will be spinning music to get you moving in a vibrant immersion of interactive color projections by vj Mathieu Trudel, aka Mawt Trood. Mathieu has collaborated with a number of visual artists and performers from Montreal, Hull and Ottawa in Electric Fields (2013), Fau Mardi, SAW Gallery, and Festival Outaouais Émergents (FOÉ). A child of the 70s, this local resident is interested in the quality of analogue video projections, and combines bold, bright colours with geometric shapes and objects. Inspired by the work of GMUNK (a visual designer for the movie, Tron Legacy), he is currently focusing on structuring thin LED strips into geometric crystalline shapes for art gallery wall spaces. Mawt Trood’s dream is to one day video map the geometric window shapes of the Ottawa Convention Centre. Come see him get started here!

Vanier is one of Darcy Whyte’s old haunts, so the hood is thrilled to have him as well for the Après-snow party! Together with computer scientist Maryam AmiriNezhad, Darcy is producing an interactive site installation comprised of snowflakes that respond to movement and gestures, titled “Dream Walk” A multidisciplinary inventor-artist, Darcy has a background in software and physics, and has been exploring interactive and immersive art and systems which highlight features of social network and being. Sensors and microcontrollers analyse your motion in real time to render pixels of light and color animation. His snowflakes react with color, light, and you, to create a one-of-a kind art installation. Be a part of an immersive art installation; make your own paper snowflake to take home and, also new this year: get your picture taken in Après-snow gear.

So come out of the cold and into Après-snow to heat up and have fun this Saturday February 15, 7 - 11 pm at 84/86 Beechwood Avenue, at the Kavanaugh showroom (between Divisoria and Pink Diamond Affair). The event, part of the Vanier Community Association’s 2014 Winter Carnival, follows daytime events from 10 am – 5 pm at Richelieu Park.

Free entry, cash bar and snacks. Questions? Email the organizers at this address.

click to enlarge for details

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Vanier Valentine’s

February 12, 2014, 7:14 pm

≫ Next: Good Design

≪ Previous: Heat up at the Après-Snow party

By Catherine Brunelle

It’s the season of love in Vanier as we roll up to Valentine’s Day in the neighbourhood. If you haven’t already planned for romance, do not worry! VanierNow is here for you with several local date ideas. So if Vanier be the food of love, read on.

The Fondling Foodie Valentine’s Date:

The question of Valentine’s and Vanier was taken to Twitter, and nearly every response involved the Fraser Cafe. While it’s not strictly in Vanier, it’s just on the other side of Beechwood and is clearly developing a reputation for romance and good food. Unfortunately if you haven’t booked already, you are too late, my friend, since the 14th is full. HOWEVER, this restaurant isn’t going anywhere. As of Wednesday morning they still had a few tables free on Sunday (did someone just say romantic brunch?). And of course there is the savvy eater’s approach to Valentine’s Day where you skip the actual rush and head over the following weekend.

But don’t just stop at the Fraser Cafe, check out the many yummy restaurants in Vanier. From El Meson to El Tucan, you can read VanierNow’s must taste list and get scrambling with that phone for a reservation. (Some places are drop in, so don’t stress out too much.)

The Rockin’ Robin Valentine’s Date:

Grab your poodle skirt and/or hair grease, ‘cause you’re going bowling with pizza to follow! Whether this is your first date or your fiftieth, you cannot go wrong with such a classic date setting. Head over to Vanier’s McArthur Lanes Bowling (you’ll be sharing the space with their league bowling, but as of Wednesday morning, lanes are still available for reservation). When you are thoroughly bowled-out, pop over to the VERY yummy old-style diner at Louis’ Pizza next door, 181 McArthur Avenue. As of Wednesday morning they still have room available for Valentine’s Day. The manager said couples can probably drop in, but groups of five or more should definitely reserve.

The Sexy (?) Surprise Valentine’s Date!

Vanier is full of surprises. Why not kick off your date of unexpected adventure by visiting TAG Zone on 89 Montreal Road? This little gem offers a paint ball experience without ‘pain’. You and your date can battle against roaming packs of hot-shot kids who don’t respect their elders. The fear of attack will either spark some serious date-night chemistry, or get you in big trouble by traumatizing your partner for life.

After that adventure, you can then do something I like to call “Random Vanier” which is to walk around the neighbourhood and enter the shops and side streets you normally pass without notice. Together you and your lover can build your Vanier vocabulary. Maybe you’ll stumble upon the carved tree, or you’ll end up in the Asian market, or maybe you’ll even find yourself in our local comic book stop Myths and Legends, reading about the love triangle of Archie, Betty and Veronica. Anything can happen when you play Random Vanier.

The Community Cuddler Valentine’s Date:

Love this neighbourhood and want to support the community? This Saturday, February 15th is the perfect date setting for you with the Winter Carnival in Richelieu Park followed by Après Snow in the evening at the Kavanaugh showroom. Granted, the Winter Carnival is generally aimed toward families, but why not wake up your inner child? Bond with your sweetheart over turkey curling, skating in the rink, and—drum roll, please—sleigh rides! It can’t get more romantic than sleigh rides, unless you throw in a thermos full of coco.

The evening pop-up party called Après Snow is going to be amazing. Last year I was absolutely delighted with how cool everything was – the vibe, the food, the music, the people. By the sounds of this year’s party, it’s once again going to knock off socks. Bring your sweetie and meet the neighbours, sample food from local restaurants, enjoy the art installations, and dance your heart out!

The First-Date Date:

Bridgehead on Beechwood.

The “This isn’t going to work out” date:

Friend’s Bingo Hall on Montreal.

The Stay-In Date:

Pick up some goodies from Jacobsons and a settle in for a movie on Netflix.

The Museopark Date:

Put on your winter boots and explore Richelieu Park. You can follow the Writer’s Way, and then go for some pancakes and beans at the Sugar Shack. And then once your belly is full, check out a steamy romance novel from our local library set against the forest of the park.

The Choose-for-yourself Date:

**This is where you tell us your favourite Vanier Date post. Leave it in the comments, or tweet it out @VanierNow.

Wishing you all a very happy Vanier Valentine’s Day!

Special thanks for the inspiration to @LeFranckster @sylviehill @RussellEva @green_grrl @kirstenduke @misscatboivin @mikebulthuis @MathieuFleury @oTownSparkles and @ACVanierCA

Photo: Catherine Brunelle

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Good Design

February 20, 2014, 5:57 pm

≫ Next: An old atlas rediscovered at the Ottawa Room

≪ Previous: Vanier Valentine’s

The image shown here depicts the clean modern lines of the carport and main entrance of the Motel de Ville (now known as the Concord Motel). Located at 333 Montreal Road, the motel was designed by Eastview/Ottawa architect Roger Thibault and opened with 40 air-conditioned rooms and a heated pool in the early 1960s.

Images Source: Hotel de Ville matchbook; Eddy Match Company Limited, Toronto (click here to view full image)

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An old atlas rediscovered at the Ottawa Room

February 25, 2014, 6:59 pm

≫ Next: Handmade signs in Vanier: A window into the lives of local residents

≪ Previous: Good Design

Junction Gore (detail) as part of Gloucester Township

By Rachel Muston

The Carleton County Atlas from 1879 is one of many that were produced across Ontario that year. More than what we now consider an atlas to be, each of these books contain a detailed history of the area, beautiful sketches of local farms, businesses and people of stature, as well as maps for each township and village with the names of who owned the larger land parcels.

It is fascinating to read through some of the history. Take Water Works for example; due primarily to a need for water for fire-fighting, many proposals were made to establish a water system in Ottawa. From the first in 1859, which included a ‘reservoir site on Parliament Hill and water power at Chaudière Falls to supply it’ (1), to another in 1868 which recommended

One of the many homesteads depicted in the 1879 atlas

a ‘steam pumping engine at Bay to fill fire trucks and give a low pressure intermittent service for household purposes every other day’, to the final proposal which was agreed upon in 1872, and resulted in a system which was capable of supplying ‘10,000,000 gallons of water every 24 hours’. I couldn’t help but chuckle when reading that the final plan was agreed upon after 12 years of ‘ventilation and agitation’. Some things don’t change!


Janeville and Clandeboye (now Vanier) and Gloucester (now New Edinburgh)

While Vanier did not exist in 1879, the atlas does give us a small picture of life in the area. What is now Vanier was a small section within Junction Gore in Gloucester Township. Junction Gore was quite large and was ‘bounded by the Ottawa River on the north, the Rideau River on the northwest, St. Laurent Blvd on the east and Walkley Road on the south’ (2). Within Junction Gore, three main villages made up what we now know as Vanier: Clandeboye, Janeville and Clarkstown. In the description of Gloucester, Janeville is mentioned briefly as being ‘the most flourishing village in the township and an important suburb of the capital’. The map of Janeville gives more information including street names (while Hannah St., Montreal Road and McArthur Ave have kept their names over the years, all the other street names in this area have changed). It is also interesting to see how some streets were named. For example, McArthur Avenue is bordered by a very large piece of land owned by a Mrs. D McArthur. Sadly, other than the village map, there is no mention of Clandeboye in the atlas. Clarkstown was not settled until several years later.

To supplement the information in the atlas, the Vanier Museopark website has some great information on how Vanier came to be. But If you want to have a flip through the atlas, you can find it at the Main Branch of the Ottawa Public Library (in the Ottawa Room), at Library and Archives Canada (in the Genealogy area on the 3rd floor), and at the library of the Ottawa City Archives. There is also a digitized version on Internet Archive.

(1) Illustrated Historical Atlas of Carleton County, H. Belden & Co., 1879
(2) http://www.gloucesterhistory.com/
Images: Illustrated Historical Atlas of Carleton County, H. Belden & Co., 1879

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Handmade signs in Vanier: A window into the lives of local residents

March 2, 2014, 6:51 pm

≫ Next: The Un_official Guide to Vanier

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Photos: Chris Cline, 2014 (click any image to enlarge)

By Chris Cline

Lately, I've been struck by Vanier's relationship with its own public spaces. Taking a walk through Vanier can be an interesting experience. More than any neighbourhood I've ever lived in, some Vanier residents have a tendency to post hand-written signs on telephone poles and chain-link fences to express their opinions, sell things and communicate with each other. Here are some of my favourite examples.

Please pick up your dog shit (see below, click on image to enlarge): I love this sign both for its passive-aggressive tone and for the fact that it's bilingual. This person really knows their audience. What use would a unilingual anti-dog shit sign be in Vanier? Not much use, obviously.

Clearly this person meant business, and rightly so. The surrounding area is littered with the above-mentioned dog shit. As much as it makes me chuckle, I have to admit the sign makes me a bit uncomfortable when I walk by with my dog. My four-legged friend and I are not the culprits, I swear! I have the requisite doggy-waste-bag dispenser attached to the leash to prove it. Surely, serial not-picker-uppers would never go to such lengths.

Cowboy (see below): Nothing much to see in this picture, except for the fact that this sign's creator insists on referring to himself as Cowboy. I'm not sure how I would feel about purchasing a major home appliance from someone whose very name conjures up images of spurs, gun duels and phrases like "Well hello there, little lady." But I do know that this one detail makes the sign feel very much at home in Vanier, despite the fact that we're thousands of kilometres from the nearest dude ranch.

Jam session (main image above): This has to be the crème de la crème of handmade signs in Vanier. I'm dying to find out if Sebastian ever made it to the jam-session with Mike the busker. And did he ever figure out how to use his phone? Will Mike ever break out of the busking scene to become Vanier's first international megastar? There's a whole story here just waiting to be told!

As funny as they are, these signs say something about the neighbourhood. In Vanier, more than most neighbourhoods in Ottawa, I find that residents see public space as civic space. Perhaps it's the mix of demographics, in which only pockets of the population are versed enough in social media and net culture to express their opinions and communicate online. Vanier seems to be something of a low-tech neighbourhood, and there's something to be said for that. There's also a certain lack of social conformity in Vanier, which might prevent residents of other neighbourhoods from posting personal details on the street in plain view.

Or maybe it's something else entirely. Either way, I hope that signs like these keep appearing around the 'hood. Otherwise, my daily dog walks would be much less interesting.

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The Un_official Guide to Vanier

March 10, 2014, 6:18 pm

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≪ Previous: Handmade signs in Vanier: A window into the lives of local residents

By Eva Russell

With its affordable housing, close proximity to downtown and surrounding rivers and parks, Vanier is an attractive choice to call home. Vanier is undergoing a community-driven change and is supported by new developments that are planned for Montreal Road and Beechwood Avenue. Talk to any Vanier resident who has lived here for 20 years or 2 years, and you will see the strong sense of neighbourhood pride which is contributing to this change. So if you’re new to the neighbourhood or thinking about calling it home, Vanier has a variety of hidden gems and businesses that are worth checking out. Here is a selection of what makes Vanier stand out:

Food Markets & Community Gardens– Vanier has a diverse collection of multicultural grocery stores and markets that are a reflection of our diverse community. Mercado Latino (67 Montreal Rd.), Green Fresh (Asian) Supermarket (29 Selkerk Street), the All Africa Market (411 McArthur Ave) and the Kabul Food Market (355 Montreal Rd.) all offer cultural food treasures. For the avid gardener that is in need of a plot of land, Vanier has it’s own community garden at Richelieu Park (300 des Pères Blancs) with 36 plots. Contact the Vanier Community Garden for more information.

Housewares/ Furniture– If you are in need of some new furniture and accessories to decorate that new space, look no further than the Zuffa Home showroom (81 Montreal Rd.) specializing in mid-century reproductions of furniture and lighting. If it is vintage modern you are looking for, Vanier Moderns has an impressive, ever changing collection of vintage lights, beautifully restored sofas, and teak dining room sets. Follow them on Facebook or email them.

Takeout - You may not know this but Vanier has some of the best takeout in Ottawa. If it’s an authentic cheesy, homemade pizza you are craving, check out Louis Pizza (181 McArthur Avenue). If it’s a Saturday night curry you’re in the mood for, Host India is the place for delicious butter chicken and other Indian specialties, and now offers delivery. If it’s Charcoal BBQ Chicken that is your fancy, then Pili Pili Grilled Chicken (355 Montreal Road) and YKO Charcoal BBQ Chicken (375 McArthur) offer spicy, juicy BBQ chicken and golden plantains. For all your poutine needs Vanier Snack Shack (200 Deschamps Ave) will satisfy your cravings – make sure you get the large and don’t plan on sharing!

Weekend Brunch – Vanier has some of the best greasy spoon breakfast stops in town for very reasonable prices. Bobby’s table (255 Montreal Road) is a neighbourhood favorite and offers a $3.95 breakfast that will please any foodie. The Fontenelle Restaurant (55 Montreal Road) opens early at 4am and it’s mid-century décor is the perfect backdrop for a late night/ early morning breakfast with a side of bologna.

Winter Activities – If you are looking for skating and outdoor hockey venues, Vanier has 4 outdoor rinks at Optimiste Park, Richelieu Park, St Paul’s Park and St. Ambroise Park.Richelieu Park can be a winter oasis with trails for snowshoeing/ cross country skiing and North America’s only urban Sugar Shack. The sugar shack is open from December to Mid-may and the Maple Sugar Fest runs from March 31 – April 6th.

Summer Activities– If you are interested in exploring Vanier by bike, Vélo Vanier (290 Dupuis Street) offers free loaner bikes to anyone with a K1L postal code. They also offer free workshops during the summer on bike tune-ups held in the parking lot of the Centre Francophone (270 Marier Avenue). The bike sharing program Right Bike is also coming to Vanier in 2014, so keep an eye out for the signature purple bikes. Cool down after a day’s riding in one of Vanier’s splash pads and pools at Nault Park or Optimiste Park, or if you can find it, Sand Pitts Lake (The Pond) is an urban oasis with swimming hours from 8am – 2pm daily (just north of Beechwood).

Community Centres & Gyms– After tasting all of Vanier’s food gems listed above you may be looking for a place to work it off. The St Laurent Complex (525 Côté Street) offers a variety of fitness and sport activities at the fitness centre, pool and skating arena. A Goodlife Women’s Club is located at the Vanier Market Loblaws (100 McArthur Ave.) and for the yogis Kalyana Yoga (375 St. Laurent Blvd) offers a variety of classes and special events. For the Martial Arts enthusiasts, check out Therien Jiu-Jitsu and Kickboxing School (21 Selkirk Street) with classes for all ages.

Opportunities to get Involved– Now that you are settled in and know the local favorites and hot spots, it’s time to get involved with The Vanier Community Association (VCA) and meet other fellow residents. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month at the Richelieu Vanier Community Centre and are open to anyone to attend. The VCA has various committees that focus on Sustainable Development, Cycling, and Parks and Recreation and are always looking for volunteers to help at events or put up posters for events. Like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter and submit an application to be on the email distribution list for community events.

All images: Eva Russell

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Puddle Trouble

March 20, 2014, 5:29 pm

≫ Next: Voix Visuelle delivers two engaging exhibitions

≪ Previous: The Un_official Guide to Vanier

by Catherine Boivin

Editor's Note: We're pleased to introduce local writer, Catherine Boivin, to VanierNow (and pleased that spring appears to have returned... or is at least near).

I’ll bet you something: I bet if you went out recently and walked around the neighbourhood, you probably slipped, maybe you even fell, I bet you cursed, and if you weren’t wearing rain boots, you definitely got your feet wet.

It’s almost spring in Ottawa, and the streets of Vanier look something like the islands and swamps of the Bayou. My rain boots may be two sizes too big for me, but when there are puddles at every intersection and your winter boots have holes (guilty!), you make do with oversized rain boots. And with an extra insole and two pairs of wooly socks, I’m good to traipse the sidewalks in my knee-high yellow boots. If everyone around me walks gingerly on ice and snow to avoid the puddles, I crash right through them.

Until, that is, I once came home on a Friday evening to find the mother of all puddles. Here in front of our house near the sugar shack was stretched a puddle from the end of our driveway to the middle of our street.

I stared at the puddle. I stared at our front door. I stared back at the puddle. Would my boots make it? Were they tall enough? I stepped in, stepped again, further still; I made it across, the water reaching just a couple inches below the top of my boots.

Friday evening. It should’ve been time for a martini and a little R and R with my beloved, but not that February Friday. I felt I had to prove to my neighbours of Vanier that I appreciated them; that I was proud to live among them. We moved in just last fall, and we couldn’t be happier with our 1950s house and its view on the maple wood, but it’s the neighbours across the street who are the cherry on our Vanier sundae.

When the snows started back in December, we started shoveling. We don’t have a car, but we figured the neighbours who share our driveway might appreciate it. I suppose the elderly couple across the street took pity on us, because after every snowfall since the New Year, he’s been coming with his snow blower and clearing our driveway.

Smiles and waves never seemed enough thanks, so when I saw Lake Vanier outside our home, I decided I’d get rid of it. Maybe then we’d be worthy of the kindness Mr. and Mrs. Across-the-street have shown us.

So with a broomstick and a shovel, I went hunting for a drain in the puddle. I poked, I hacked, I shoveled water (a useless enterprise), I even dragged my feet along the road, trying to tell pavement from metal drain. All in vain.

It was Mrs. Across-the-street who came out first, calling to me from her front porch.

“I called the city.” She had an accent, vaguely Eastern European. “The yellow mark.” She pointed to a painted ‘T’ on the street. “There is the drain.”

Bingo. I walked from the yellow mark to the edge of the sidewalk and started hacking again. And poking. Prodding. Stomping. Nothing.

Mr. Across-the-street came out next, iron rod and hammer in hand.

“Called the city four times,” he said. “Never came.”

He put his hammer to his rod, started pounding, and didn’t speak again.

I joined him with my broomstick, and eventually, by some miracle, his rod sank deep into the puddle, down below the street level. It took more prodding, more hacking; eventually an eddy formed, vanished, formed again, as though Moses had come to part the great Vanier Sea; a sucking whirlpool formed, and in less than 15 seconds, the puddle had vanished.

“You have salt?”

I nodded.

He was looking down into the drain, which was full of ice except where he’d pierced his hole. “Then put salt. It help with this.”

So I put my salt, I smiled, I thanked him warmly, and he left, back across the street, silent as ever.

I looked down at the drain, then up to our house, where my beloved was waving at me from the window. As I stepped into our home, I caught sight of our neighbour returning to the drain with a hammer and chisel. Here was Ahab and his Moby Dick. I smiled to myself, and shut the door.

Martini in hand, I sat comfortably on our couch and watched the news. This was the Friday of the great 12-meter sinkhole in downtown Ottawa. Suddenly our puddle seemed pretty insignificant in the big scheme of municipal affairs. And for that, I was grateful: the city couldn’t come, but I came, and my neighbour came, and together we made our little corner of the universe that much better.

So tonight as I write this I raise my martini to you all in Vanier, and say, “Cheers!” Cheers to great neighbours, and a great neighbourhood.

Photos: VanierNow (2014)

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Voix Visuelle delivers two engaging exhibitions

March 25, 2014, 6:56 pm

≫ Next: AnierNow? Vanier to Drop its V

≪ Previous: Puddle Trouble

By Rachel Muston

Le Centre d’artistes Voix Visuelle, situated on Vanier's northern edge, qualifies as a Vanier institution. Located on Beechwood, the art centre featuring francophone artists and their contemporary space has been around for almost five years. The centre focuses primarily on “imagery art (digital art, photography, video) and three-dimensional works (sculpture, installation)” but also dedicates their space to art education projects.

Their current exhibitions are worth checking out:

Weather Report by Andrzej Maciejewski is a fascinating set of 24 photographs of a rural landscape taken over the course of a one-year period. Using a camera obscura, with the image printed as a circle, you feel as if you are inside the camera looking out. Make sure to look for the ones that were taken at night but appear like daylight. Taken with an hour-long exposure, the only way to tell that they were shot at night are the streaks of stars in the seemingly sunny sky.

A large set of black and white photographs and a video installation complete Stéphanie Morissette’s Vide? exhibition. The photos and video show a young woman dragging large metal hooks along a beach and through the water in search of natural resources. The images are stark and create a thought provoking visualization of the depletion of our raw materials.

Weather Report and Vide? are on display at Le Centre d’artistes Voix Visuelle until April 8, 2014.

Le Centre d’artistes Voix Visuelle is located at 67 Beechwood Avenue (2nd floor - above Clothes Encounters of a Second Kind). The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday.

Images: (top) Andrzej Maciejewski - photo - Weather Report; (right) Stéphanie Morissette - photo - Vide?

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AnierNow? Vanier to Drop its V

April 1, 2014, 2:04 am

≫ Next: Guess Where?

≪ Previous: Voix Visuelle delivers two engaging exhibitions

VanierNow Collective

As of this morning, the now infamous community petition Rebuilding K1L: Dropping the “V” in Vanier has reached over 8,000 signatures. Organizers reported the news to VanierNow at far too early a time this morning with an excited phone call. Apparently many folks in the neighbourhood find the V to be highly offensive, and it looks like rebranding is in the air for our little East-End community.

This isn’t the first time Vanier has had a change in name. As many of our posts have highlighted, this area was once called Eastview and was not only separate from Ottawa, but fiercely proud of being one of the biggest little cities outside of the City of Ottawa. Look further back, and you’ll find references to Janeville, where farming and country homes mixed with staple streets such as Hannah and Montreal, and was considered “the most flourishing village in the township.”

According to Jean-Pierre Dubois, the spearheading advocate of the K1L campaign, there was some debate over whether Vanier should be changed back to one of its older identities such as Eastview or Janeville. “We want to show we are changing,” says Jean-Pierre. “But you don’t want to go backwards, eh? We are looking for change, but forward changes.”

Further debate was held over adding a suffix to the Vanier neighbour brand, related Jean-Pierre. Apparently the petition was originally meant to be both a change-maker and a poll to survey neighbour preferences towards an alternative. “For a while, we played with names like Vanierburg, or Vanierborough, you know, like other break-out neighbourhoods . . . but they felt too homogenous, and then we lose the Francophone heritage,” relates Jean-Pierre around the project.

So how did they come to decide that the V should be dropped? And how on earth were over 8,000 signatures amassed within a mere three days of the campaign kick-off?

Apparently, the Vanier (Anier?) Neighbourhood Organization (VNO) felt that dropping the V was a reasonable way to shake off the troubled stain that hangs over our part of town, and embrace the better aspects that are continuously developing around us. “Everyone knows V is a dangerous letter, Vandals, Vampires, Vegans. We are a budding community, not a bunch of rebels and outsiders,” added Jean-Pierre when we questioned him on the usefulness of dropping a single letter. “A on the other hand is really friendly, you know, “Ahh” – it just sounds better.”

And the 8,000 signatures? In the days when social media and electronic campaigns seem to rule, Vanier has proven itself to be a community of more tangible means. Jean-Pierre Dubois and the members of the VNO utilized the old-fashioned signature collection approach with a door-to-door, neighbour-to-neighbour method. From early AM to late PM the VNO members were out knocking on doors and collecting signatures, building momentum Anier-style.

What was days ago only an idea, has sparked like a wild fire and spread across Anier/Vanier like a flame. As for our little blog, Jean-Pierre was keen for us to become AnierNow in solidarity with the campaign, but we believe in chronicling both the past and the present of our developing neighbourhood. If Anier is the new wave, or Anierburg, or Anierville, we’re proud to honour the story of Vanier where this movement of change has started.

What comes next for Anier? The VNO will be taking their pages upon pages of signatures to Councillor Mathieu Fleury, and campaigning for a change of name. With such an overwhelmingly positive response to the idea, it wouldn’t be any surprise to see the new name ushered in quickly.

What do you think about the drop of V from Vanier? Does it represent the positive development we’ve all seen over these past years in the neighbourhood?

Image: Muséoparc and VanierNow (2014)

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Guess Where?

April 13, 2014, 3:18 pm

≫ Next: A story of a gravestone (in a basement)

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Can you guess where this photo was taken?

Photo: Ottawa Citizen, 1960s

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A story of a gravestone (in a basement)

May 16, 2014, 12:31 am

≫ Next: Nominations and Frustrations: Tapping into your Local Community Association

≪ Previous: Guess Where?


Gravestone, as found in basement on Laval *

By Rachel Muston

You never know what you’ll find in the basement when you take possession of a house. We found all the usual things when we moved into our house on Laval Street: old cans of paint, spare bathroom tiles, gardening pots. We also found one thing we weren’t expecting. A gravestone. We didn’t notice it at first, but one day I saw two jars of pickled beans sitting in a corner of the basement, and when I lifted them up, I discovered that the solid piece of stone they were standing on was a grave stone. The inscription read:

R. Larabie
1935-1960

So, I did what any normal person would do. I put the pickles back in their place, backed away slowly and left it alone.

It has been 10 years since we moved in and the stone is still there. Recently, we had to do some renovations in the basement, so we removed the pickles but the stone is still in its place. This is partly because of the stone's weight, and partly because it seems unlucky to move it! But lately, feeling more and more curious as to who R. Larabie was and how this gravestone ended up in our basement, I decided to do some research.

What I know for sure is that there were no Larabies living in my house during the period that R. Larabie died. In fact I have not found a single Larabie that ever lived at my house. I did however find out that during the period of 1956-61, Hector Paquette operated the Paquette School of Driving out of my house!

While there weren’t any Larabies living in my house, there were certainly a number of Larabies living in Vanier area in the late 1950s-early 60s. There were even a few R. Larabies: brothers Roland and Romeo Larabie, plastering contracters who lived on Monfort, Raymond who was also a plasterer, and lived on Mona, Roger who lived on Carillon and Robert E Larabie who worked as a truck driver lived on King George (just south of Vanier).

However, none of them seem to have any connection to my house and while I wasn’t able to find birth and/or death dates for all those R. Larabies, those that I did find, did not match the dates on my gravestone.

Along the way I learned of some tragic stories about R. Larabies (because, of course, the tragedies are what end up in the newspaper).

First is Robert Donald Earl Larabie. Robert was born in Ottawa to Paul Larabie and Christina Mulligan on May 16, 1920. He was in the navy as a young man and his 1947 shore leave card indicates that at that time he was living at 432 Lyon Street in Ottawa. By the late 1950s, Robert was a driver for Maverty Films of Toronto and living at 347 King George Street, in Overbrook (just below what was then Eastview). Tragically, on the morning of December 21 1961, Robert’s truck was involved in an accident just outside Brockville. Robert passed away and left behind his wife Muriel and six children between the ages of 2-19 (Carol, Bob, Myra, Russell, Ellen and Cory). Robert is buried at Beechwood Cemetery.

Next, I learned about young Rose Larabie. She was also born in 1920 and was living at 43 St. Joseph Street at the time of her untimely death in 1929. On the evening of March 31, she was attempting to light an oil heater with gasoline when her clothing caught fire. She ran out into the street (to the intersection of St. Patrick and St. Joseph) where a passerby put out the flames with his overcoat. Sadly she passed away at the Ottawa Hospital after ‘gallant attempts to save her life’ were made.

Feeling a bit stumped, I put down the research for a bit. But I came back to it lately and began searching through gravemarker galleries such as the excellent Rootsweb.ancestry.com, and Canadianheadstones.com.

In doing so I found a number of R. Larabies buried in Ottawa, and low and behold, one who just might fit the bill! Rhéal Larabie was born in 1935 and died in 1960. He was the husband of Claire Maheux (1939- blank), and the brother-in-law to Rita Maheux (1920-1995) who was married to Herman Hart 1917-1997. However I haven’t been able to find any connection from Rhéal, Claire, Rita or Herman, to my house on Laval, or any more details about Rhéal who obviously died much too young at the age of 25. Rhéal is buried in the Notre Dame Cemetery in Vanier, although interestingly I did not see his name when searching through the city directories looking for R. Larabie’s in Vanier.

Of course if it is Rheal’s gravestone in my basement, it still doesn’t explain why it is there. Was it made and then decided that a bigger stone would be more appropriate? Was it done by a stone mason testing his skills on a small stone before working on a larger stone? Or was it inscribed incorrectly and the stone mason or a family member took the stone home?

There is still a lot I don’t know. But what I do know is that for now, the gravestone is staying just where it is at the bottom of the stairs in the basement on Laval Street.

* The gravestone shows signs of deterioration due to vinegar. Lesson learned: Don't leave pickled beans on a gravestone (Photo: Rachel Muston)

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Nominations and Frustrations: Tapping into your Local Community Association

May 21, 2014, 8:02 pm

≫ Next: Beechwood gets a Market!

≪ Previous: A story of a gravestone (in a basement)

Photos: Left - Site Plan, 67-71 Marquette (Christopher Simmonds Architect)
Right: May VCA Meeting (Catherine Brunelle, 2014)

By Catherine Brunelle

Kirsten Duke learned of the Vanier Community Association (VCA) when a friend told her about a meeting that would take place – where local dog parks were to be discussed. She had not heard of the VCA before, but she did own dogs and the topic of a dog park felt important. Wanting to learn more, Kirsten decided to go to the Richelieu-Vanier Community Centre (RVCC) where this tiny community board met in one of the basement rooms. Two years later, the VCA has grown. Not only is Kirsten still attending meetings, but she sits on the board, and can walk down the streets of Vanier pointing out many of the VCA’s contributions through parks, signs, murals and more.

Did you know that the VCA (for a few more days) is now accepting nominations for board members, in advance of their June 16 Annual General Meeting? Have you heard of the VCA before this post? Are you a member of the association?

I’m asking these questions for a couple of different reasons. Let me explain why with this very quick story about what happened last week when I dropped into the May 13 VCA meeting . . .

I had decided to pop along to the monthly Vanier Community Association meeting to get a little inspiration for VanierNow. Apparently, according to the agenda that arrived in my inbox the week before, there would be discussions on upcoming board nomination opportunities for Vanier residents to join. That’s a big deal, as the VCA is meant to represent Vanier resident voices. So, I wanted to cover that and will be giving more details on the nomination process within this post. If you want to skip the story and learn about nomination deadline and process, just scroll down and get to the bit where this post explains how to sign up.

The quick story:
Arriving at the Centre (regular board meetings still occur at the RVCC), the room where the meeting was to take place was jammed. I recognized Kristina Sparkes, who does communications work for the VCA, and was able to snag a seat next to her. Very kindly on her part, she let me know why so many people were in the room that evening. Apparently there was a hot topic on the table for discussion: an apartment development on Marquette Street.

(Story Side Note: This is not a post about the Marquette Street development; you can read more about that in the May 22 edition of Ottawa Community News. This is a post about why it’s useful to pay attention to your local community association, and also about the upcoming nomination process that local residents can get in on if they have the passion and commitment to share.)

At the meeting the residents attending had a chance to voice their concerns. Councillor Mathieu Fleury, also in attendance, shared what he knows so far and proposed that a second meeting with the developer be held. The conversation was expertly facilitated by the evening’s acting chair, a board member and dog-lover, Kirsten Duke.

Here’s what became clear to me during that discussion: The VCA, while certainly making considerable impact in our Vanier community, is not necessarily a consciously recognized group by many in our neighbourhood. One, maybe two, of the Marquette residents were members of the VCA. Of those two, one of them was following the VCA Twitter account, and another was signed up for emails. Most of the others didn’t appear to realize that the VCA existed until that very evening when a neighbour had slipped a paper notice of the meeting into their mailbox. (Maybe this is a sign of communication method gaps – but do keep in mind that for every VCA Annual General Meeting, this voluntary group attempts to flyer widely).

Essentially, the Marquette residents felt left out of the very important conversation that will impact their street and their homes. That’s understandably a reason to be concerned. Though, interestingly, the developer had actually already given a presentation to the VCA Sustainable Development committee. Anyone can join that committee, much like anyone can become a member of the VCA – meaning you get an email of the agenda each month, and you can help vote in the VCA board at its AGM. But the residents of Marquette didn’t have any idea of these opportunities to be present and heard until that evening’s meeting.

Let’s jump back to Kirsten sharing her story about how she learned about the VCA. Why did I lead with that in this post? Because quite understandably, we often don’t pay attention to things until they really, really concern us. Kirsten started attending because she cared about the dog parks, and she kept attending because she has a passion that includes caring about Vanier. Point being: you might be grabbed by the crisis, but you hopefully stay for the community.

So, if you want to become a champion for Vanier and join the VCA board, here’s some information you’re going to want to notice and note.

How to join the Vanier Community Association Board:
Over a cup of ice tea, Kirsten, who is a member of the VCA Board Nominations Committee, broke down the steps involved in seeking to join the VCA board.

1) Nominate: Forward your nomination by email to vca.acv@gmail.com by May 25.

The Committee requests that you include your name, email, phone number, the street that you live on and a short paragraph detailing any expertise or relevant experience you may have and why you would like to serve the community through the VCA. You can also nominate another Vanier resident, with their permission, and the Committee will follow-up.

Expectations of a board member include attending the monthly Board meeting and chairing or being an active member of at least one of the committees. These activities generally require a commitment of at least 5-10 hours per month.

2) Information Presented: The Nominations Committee will translate the personal write-ups of nominees into a very attractive presentation for members to learn more about your passion to support Vanier. This will help them know who they are voting for at the Annual General Meeting. In the past, no one has needed to campaign for a place on the VCA board, as the number of nominees fits the number of needed spots on the board. This year, there is still room for additional nominees – with the membership casting the final vote at the AGM.

Who should apply to be on the VCA board?

Folks who are passionate, with time to commit and who have ideas they want to contribute. Currently the board has a 60/40 split(ish) between home owners and renters, with a mix of professional types and both new and long-time established residents. Diversity is crucial – and can be improved.

3) Voting: Voting takes place at the Annual General Meeting, which will be held on June 16, 2014. It’s a chance to recap the work that has been done already, as well as vote in the board members who will serve the community.

4) Role Assignment: A serving-term for the VCA is two years long when you are voted in at the AGM. You aren't actually voted into any specific role. Instead, board members are elected, and then the board decides on who is willing and able to play specific roles. I’d imagined this conversation would include feats of strength and wit in a remote wilderness location, but apparently, Kirsten relates, it really takes place at an open board meeting. Fair enough. All matters of business are taken care of in settings open to the membership.

And there you go. Nominations are now open. If you want to be informed about what the VCA is up to, but don’t want the responsibilities of being a board member, just “become a member” and you’ll be added to their electronic mailing list. Simple. They might ask you to volunteer some of your awesome skills, but whether you do or do not, you can still be on that all important email list.

Plus, they have a website, and Twitter and facebook accounts, too. Check it out and consider getting involved.

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Beechwood gets a Market!

June 8, 2014, 2:11 pm

≫ Next: The Garden Variety

≪ Previous: Nominations and Frustrations: Tapping into your Local Community Association

By Chris Cline

It's been a rough couple of years for farmers' markets in Ottawa. We've experienced a spate of market closures, the most recent being the highly publicized Sparks Street market cancellation. But local market goers should take heart in Beechwood's new market, which is great news for those of us in Vanier and other east-end neighbourhoods.

East-enders were left in the lurch in 2013 when the lone farmers' market in the area was cancelled abruptly. The cancellation was controversial. Several longstanding market vendors made their unhappiness known, especially with regard to the loss of revenue and the timing of the decision.

But all of that's in the past. And those of us in the east end can finally rejoice over the announcement of a new famers' market, set to open in early July on Beechwood Avenue.

The new market is the brainchild of Chris Penton, one of the people behind the original Vanier market and the Preston Farmers' Market. He saw the closure of Vanier's market as an opportunity. And when a space in the parking lot of the former Desjardins at 99 Beechwood became available, he approached owner Claridge Homes about establishing a new venture for local farmers and vendors.

"I can't think of a neighbourhood that could support a market as well as Beechwood," said Penton. "There seems to be a lingering hangover; people are still complaining about the lack of a market, and they really liked having one around."

The market has already attracted a strong host of vendors, from stalwart Vanier produce sellers Foster Family Farm and Rock'n'Root (currently outside Jacobsons on Saturdays) to newcomers like Top Shelf Preserves and The Salty Don. Beechwood will also be the first Ottawa market to sell VQA approved wines, with Prince Edward County's Sandbanks Winery already on board.

"Beechwood is in search of itself, probably for the last decade or so, and especially since the fire. I think the neighbourhood needs a feel-good story and this certainly falls into that category."

The market's website is currently in development, but you can sign up for an e-newsletter at www.beechwoodmarket.ca. Things kick off on July 5 and continue each Saturday until October 11.

Credit: Logo and image (top right): beechwoodmarket.ca || Other images: VanierNow

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The Garden Variety

June 15, 2014, 7:47 am

≫ Next: Update on 89-97 Beechwood (the former Desjardins)

≪ Previous: Beechwood gets a Market!

by Eva Russell

If you happen to wander behind the Vanier Community Centre in the Richelieu Park you will find the Vanier Community Garden and probably a few gardeners weeding and caring for their 4’ x 8’ cultivated plots. Started in 2010 by a group of Vanier residents and supported by the Vanier Community Service Centre and the City of Ottawa, 36 plots are aligned in the corner of the park and contain everything from okra to edible flowers. For the fee of $20 for the season, Vanier residents can plant a plot and commit to volunteer for at least 10 hours volunteering with watering, mowing the lawn and other tasks to help support the garden.

The garden provides Vanier residents access to affordable, fresh local produce that is grown sustainably without the use of pesticides. Residents like myself who would otherwise not have access to an area to grow vegetables are able to cultivate a manageable area and benefit from locally grown food. Rain barrels are used to collect water and composters are available for the leftover plants in the fall, all contributing to the sustainable nature of the garden. A plot is dedicated to Partage Vanier (the neighbourhood food bank) as well as a community plot for anyone who may want to sample some of the vegetables without sampling from the other plots.

I have only ever grown the odd herb or tomato plant on my patio and when I received confirmation that I had a plot this season I immediately started Googling “how to plant a garden”. But with the first meeting, the alumni gardeners offered advice on what compost to add, what plants did well in the garden and what grew best from seeds vs. transplants. I thought “Hey! I got the hang of this!” and proceeded to try and plant every type of seed and transplant that I could find. The result is a jam-packed plot that I am carefully tending to in the hopes that the fruits of my labour pay off. Or at least that the squirrels will leave it alone long enough for things to grow.

A few of the garden plots are using a method of “Square Foot Gardening” with the intention of using all of the available area to cultivate the largest harvest. The effect is a planter box with the appearance of a patchwork quilt with varying shades of green. The alumni gardeners have learned from past years and have plots that are planted with squirrel resistant and low maintenance plants. Built structures dot the garden for climbing beans and peas and add to the organic character of the garden. Many of the gardeners have had their plots for multiple seasons and the garden, like many community gardens around Ottawa, has a waiting list indicating the demand for more areas.

But more than a place to sow some seeds, the garden is a meeting place for residents and provides a community space that otherwise wouldn’t be available. Fellow gardeners share seeds, assist in watering plots and contribute to furthering the sense of place and community. With a push to source local, sustainable and affordable food, community gardens and local markets such as the Beechwood Market will provide access for Vanier residents to healthy fresh produce and ensure food security in the urban area. Thanks to the dedication of a group of Vanier residents, the Vanier Community Garden provides much more than a 4’x 8’ box of soil.

Photos: Eva Russell (2014)

Related: For more on the history of community gardening in Vanier, see:
The Local Harvest: The many spaces for community gardening in Vanier

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Update on 89-97 Beechwood (the former Desjardins)

September 6, 2014, 7:15 am

≫ Next: Keeping it Real

≪ Previous: The Garden Variety

Claridge is moving quickly with development plans after purchasing the Desjardins site on Beechwood last year, and it's good to see that the Parliament Hill viewshed corridor will remain protected. The developer is looking for exemptions on numerous setback requirements, reducing the front setback above the third storey, for example. Is this appropriate for a location that could function as the new heart of Beechwood Village? The full proposal is available here.

Image: Claridge Homes / Chmiel Architects, from the Urban Design Review Panel Formal Submission, 89-97 Beechwood, August 1, 2014.

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Keeping it Real

September 18, 2014, 6:31 pm

≫ Next: Vanier (and Ottawa) Votes 2014

≪ Previous: Update on 89-97 Beechwood (the former Desjardins)

By Catherine Brunelle

Vanier keeps it real. While other neighbourhoods have organic markets, craft shops and entrepreneurism advertised via community boards, crowdfunding, and instagram feeds – the entrepreneurs of Vanier often tackle sales in a far more grassroots fashion. Things like handwritten notes go on fence posts advertising kittens, e-bikes, trailors and more without any website or email listed. (What?!) All you often get is a phone number, and sometimes not even that. Who is Frank, and how much does his trailer cost? I have no idea. But he’s out there, and he’s selling it.

Another instance of Vanier keeping it real, and what I really want to talk about today is our neighbourhood’s version of “The Pop Up Shop.” Pop up shops are well-organized events where online retailers set up a one-day-only brick & mortar shop/tent and sell their stylish bits of handmade goodness. But of course, “Pop Up” is way too trendy for Vanier. What we do have, and the folks here are really good at, is the old fashioned-every-weekend-random-corner-no-announcement-forget-social-media garage sale.

Over the September Labour Day weekend, my husband and I were walking to a friend’s house in Vanier for some BBQ, when everything became sidetracked by one of the loveliest garage sales I’ve ever seen. This sale could have easily competed with any pop up shop taking place on the Shopify parking lot. At first glance it was a mixed collection of random “stuff” – but looking closer, this wasn’t just selling stuff to clear out the apartment. This was craftmenship and entrepreneurism in action.

Of course, the biggest difference being between pop up vs. garage sale, was that Robert & Erica weren’t particularly bothered whether anyone bought stuff or not. It was a sunny day, and they wanted to sit outside with the cats. Robert was organizing his Lego collection. Erica was laughing along.

That’s how they met, actually. Years ago Erica had her garage sales along Marier, and Robert would come along to look. Somehow between selling old kitchen, and knick-knacks from childhood, a friendship had developed. The way these two talk, it’s as if everyone was holding garage sales back then in Vanier. And if I think about it, it seems many people are holding them still. And I don’t mean in a sense of cleaning out the house once a year – but rather as a weekly social occasion to sit with a few old dolls, dishes and books by the side of the road all day long, and talk with friends.

Poking through the bits and bobs of Erica & Robert’s sale, there were wooden tree houses with little log pile & axe details.

There were Erica’s wooden heads.

There were Robert’s brother’s hand-made oversized fishing lures.

There were tin boxes with Mounties and Niagara Falls upon them, dating back to Erica’s childhood. She can remember her father buying them for her, and she’d been keeping them forever.

There were more tins, rather large, of Fishermen’s Friend – Erica had collected them while working in a shop years ago.

There was a table painted with gorillas.

There was random stuff taken out from cluttered drawers.

There were piles and piles of Robert’s knitted slippers.

I personally felt a little frustrated for them; they had all these lovely things, and no one even realized this wonderful little garage sale was happening! But Erica seemed to have a different perspective. It got them outside, she told me, and that was really great. Most of the items would go to the Sally Ann at the end of the day, and many sales or not, it would be a good day.

So maybe that’s my biggest take-away from the Vanier garage sales. Sometimes it’s good to slow down and separate from the buzz. It’s not always about the sales or exposure. Instead, it can be about good weather, laughter and the company of good friends. And that’s just another way that Vanier keeps it real.

Photos: Catherine Brunelle 2014

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Vanier (and Ottawa) Votes 2014

October 23, 2014, 6:18 am

≪ Previous: Keeping it Real

With the approaching Ottawa municipal elections this Monday (October 27), we’ve taken the initiative to round up a few (arguably specific) Vanier-related questions - and one more personal - for the candidates of Ward 12, Rideau-Vanier. What follows is a compilation of responses. All candidates were contacted, and we received replies from three: Marc Aubin, Mathieu Fleury and Catherine Fortin LeFaivre. As the candidates all received identical questions, we have grouped responses from each candidate following each question below.

1. Montreal Road has been struggling. Momentum for its renewal is beginning to build, but there have also been setbacks. What can the City do to turn Montreal Road into the neighbourhood-serving mainstreet that Vanier residents want it to be?

Marc Aubin: The City should not cave-in to developers who pay too much for lots on Montreal Road and then propose tall buildings as the only way to recoup their costs. This is also necessary to prevent these developers from driving up the land price/rents for the kind of neighbourhood-serving businesses we want. We need a program that creates incentives for developers to build the kinds of development we want to see along Montreal Road. For example, for the right kinds of development, the city could consider reducing development charges.

Mathieu Fleury: The first thing that we needed to do on Montreal Road was ensure that the proper zoning was in place to attract the type of businesses we want to make it a thriving main street. We changed that zoning last year through the review of the Montreal Road Secondary Plan. Now we must focus on making Montreal Road a desirable place to be. I will work to bring a streetscaping project to Montreal Road to refresh the sidewalks, street lamps and street furniture. This will give us an opportunity to create the desirable space that our community needs.

Catherine Fortin LeFaivre: Vanier has made great strides. However, serious issues persist in some areas that prevent it from being the highly desirable urban family neighbourhood that it could become. The prevalence of slum landlords, prostitution and drugs must be addressed head on if we are to attract more community-invested residents and the ensuing commercial activity that we seek.

As councillor, I would work closely with the community police officer, the Vanier Community Association and bylaw to tackle problem addresses. I would also work closely with the Vanier Community Services Centre to ensure that all community members have access to the programs and services needed to lead independent and healthy lives.

2. Vanier has three designated heritage properties, but much additional heritage value. In the midst of redevelopment, how will you ensure protection of the existing built heritage?

Mathieu Fleury: Heritage is something that is very important to me. This term, I worked closely with our community to have the St-Charles Church designated. It is important that we as a community have discussions on the heritage value of our community to ensure that we place the proper designations to protect these properties for years to come.

Catherine Fortin LeFaivre: Vanier is in a transition period and the community seems eager to attract development that will spawn additional economic activity and attract more families.

As councillor, I would work closely with Quartier Vanier BIA to create conditions favourable to responsible development. I also recognize the importance of integrating Vanier’s unique character and history in its future. As such, I would champion the safeguarding of existing built heritage by helping the community find new viable uses for such important places.

Marc Aubin: I have been a relentless advocate for our built heritage in Ottawa. Vanier is one of the oldest neighbourhoods and yet it lacks so much designation. I would work with the City's heritage department to add more designated heritage properties in Vanier. I would also ensure that the traditional mainstreets of Vanier (Beechwood, Montreal Road, McArthur) retain their mainstreet character and not be allowed to be turned into canyons of drab condos.

3. As Beechwood Avenue and Montreal Road transform into more healthy, traditional neighbourhood mainstreets, how can we turn the Vanier Parkway into more of a multi-modal, pleasant connector street (and less of a neighbourhood divide?) And, specifically, how might we improve the intersection of Montreal Road and the Vanier Parkway for cyclists and pedestrians?

Catherine Fortin LeFaivre: The Montreal Road and Vanier Parkway intersection should be re-examined with a Complete Streets lens. Longer crosswalk time, traffic calming measures and safer waiting areas for pedestrians and cyclists should be considered (i.e. Montreal uses cement barriers to protect people near high traffic roads).

If we want to encourage residents to reduce their dependency on cars, then we must offer real alternatives. Segregated cycling lanes, as well as wide and maintained sidewalks, are essential to transforming Vanier streets into pleasant and active spaces.

Marc Aubin: The Vanier Parkway divides Vanier. We need to gradually take it back. I want to see more crossings or linkages across it. I would like to see bike lanes. I want to see more trees. I want to do a visioning to explore the idea of turning it into one of our mainstreets with shops facing out along it. As noted in my platform, I want to seek a reduction in the speed limit in our ward to 40km/h and this includes the Vanier Parkway. I also want to see traffic calming measures on the parkway which serve to improve the compliance of cars with the posted speed limit. At the Montreal Road intersection, we need to return this to an urban intersection and away from the "highway" design that is currently there (eliminate pedestrian islands, removing turning lanes, shorten crossing distances). I would want to explore adding right turn on red restrictions and longer crossing times to reduce the stress on pedestrians & cyclists. In the long term, the Vanier Parkway could dip underneath Montreal Road as an underpass if there are no other solutions to urbanize it.

Mathieu Fleury: The Vanier Parkway is a prime location for raised cycling lanes and properly connected sidewalks. The intersection of Montreal Road and the Vanier Parkway needs to be reduced in size and bulb outs and islands for pedestrians need to be installed to greatly increase the safety in the area. Opportunities already exist with the renewal of Montreal Road and the planned resurfacing of the Vanier Parkway in the years to come.

4. Vanier is only indirectly benefiting from light rail - and trips by public transit to downtown are longer than for many arriving downtown from Ottawa's suburbs. How will you enhance Vanier's connection to downtown by public transit?

Marc Aubin: I will focus on redrawing the bus route network in Vanier with new bus routes that can travel on priority corridors to connect residents of Vanier to the nearest LRT station so that they will also benefit from high frequency high speed LRT connections to the downtown. And I will not lose focus on the need for better service on local bus routes connecting destinations within Ward 12 itself. I will also support good protected cycling connections to these new LRT stations so Vanier residents can bike to the LRT.

Mathieu Fleury: Light rail will bring many opportunities to Ottawa. With a reduction in buses downtown, the City will be able to increase the service and capacity for transit in Vanier, including the 5, 12, and 14. I also want to ensure that residents of Vanier are able to access light rail efficiently from our community by improving routes to the major stations.

Catherine Fortin LeFaivre: It is incomprehensible that there is still no quick and efficient way for many Vanier residents to access the downtown via public transit. I believe that Vanier’s ability to provide this service will greatly enhance its attractiveness amongst prospective residents and investors, and will reduce downtown traffic congestion.

As councillor, I would advocate for an express like bus route between Vanier and downtown stops at peak times.

5. What does Vanier mean to you? Can you share any micro stories about how this neighbourhood has impacted you directly?

Mathieu Fleury: In the last four years, I have had the opportunity to see the importance of engaging residents in community building. Vanier has amazing residents that take pride in their community, through many initiatives, including beautification projects and neighbourhood watches. Vanier is always full of friendly faces and passionate individuals who want to make our community a better place to live.

Catherine Fortin LeFaivre: To me, Vanier represents an important hub of Franco-Ontarian culture. As a high school student at De La Salle, I remember performing “Les murs de nos villages” (Jean-Marc Dalpé) at the Centre Francophone de Vanier in recognition of the many Franco-Ontarian struggles that our ancestors throughout Ontario have faced.

I have noticed similarities amongst Vanier residents through the years: you are welcoming, kind and determined. I believe that the strength and pride of the people of Vanier should be its most celebrated aspect—something no amount of money can buy!

Marc Aubin: My mother lived in Vanier at one point in her life. My mother and father worked in Vanier and were married at Assumption church on Olmstead. I feel a personal connection to Vanier as I also do to Sandy Hill and Lowertown. In addition, what I enjoy about Vanier is its unique Franco-Ontarian and small village feel. I enjoy travelling there as an alternative experience to the bustle of the Byward Market, Rideau Street, and the areas around Ottawa U. It is imperative that through ongoing development this atmosphere is preserved.
* * * * * * * * *

Election Day is Monday, October 27, 2014, with voting polls across Vanier open from 10AM-8PM. If you’re uncertain of where your voting station is, check the City of Ottawa guide here. We’d like to extend our thanks to the candidates who engaged with our questions, and took the time to respond.

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