Serving the Glebe community since 1973 April 12, 2024 www.glebereport.ca EDQ@glebereport ISSN 0702-7796 Vol. 52 No. 3 Issue no. 563
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Bank Street fire closes Glebe Apothecary
y of the Proposed Projects
By John Crump, with Glebe Report files
Police cars, lights flashing, blocked intersections on Bank Street as fire trucks from around the city responded to a three-alarm fire at the Glebe Apothecary on the cold Sunday morning of March 24. Smoke billowed from a large hole cut by firefighters attacking the blaze from the roof of the building. A thick beige hose snaked from a fire hydrant in front of the city parking garage and up a ladder that extended from a fire truck where it was aimed into the attic where the fire had taken hold. Out on Bank Street, smoke swirled Active transportation.....................................Page 18 into the bright blue sky from the second-floor office windows above Mark Your Calendars the Apothecary. Said bystander Bhagwant Sandu, “I could smell the smoke GCA BOARD MEETING.................................................... APRIL 23, 7 P.M, GCC from as far north as Patterson and as Final draft OTTAWA GRASSROOTS FESTIVAL....................... APRIL 25 – 28 far south as Holmwood.” IRENE’S PUB & FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH Three ladders were raised to the COFFEEHOUSE ON SUSTAINABILITY........................APRIL 27 9:30–11:30 A.M., GCC upper storey windows, one of which GIL’S HOOTENANNY.............................................................MAY 1 had been broken to allow crews to 7 P.M., FIRST UNITARIAN CONGREGATION, 30 CLEARY AVE. enter. From the street, it was possible COMMUNITY SAFETY FORUM....................................... MAY 2 7 P.M., GCC to see firefighters at work in the damSPRING CLEANING THE CAPITAL..................................MAY4 aged office, their oxygen tanks reflect10 A.M., VARIOUS GLEBE PARKS ing the early morning light. COFFEEHOUSE ON SUSTAINABILITY.......................... MAY 5 9:30–11:30 A.M., GCC People watched the action from SEVENTEEN VOYCES..........................................................MAY 10 across the street, among them several 7:30 P.M., ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH employees of McKeen Metro who were JAZZ & TAPAS FUNDRAISER...........................................MAY 11 4–6 P.M., ST. MATTHEW’S CHURCH driven from the grocery store by the GNAG ART SHOW OPENING........................................... MAY 15 smoke from the fire next door. Watcher 6-7 P.M., GCC Randal Marlin commented, “Around 9 a.m., there was an incredible number Index of emergency vehicles, lights flashACTIVE TRANSPORTATION..............................18 ing on Bank Street starting from about ARTS...........................................................33, 34 Glebe Avenue down to about Fourth BIRDS................................................................14 BOOKS........................................................22, 23 Avenue. Considering how the damage BUSINESS.....................................................3, 37 was localized, it is a wonder that so COMMUNITY WELL-BEING................................6 many vehicles and manpower were EDITORIAL..........................................................4 required. Maybe it was for training, or ENVIRONMENT.................................................12 for extra security. The result was cerFILM..................................................................17 tainly welcome: a very orderly, conFOOD...........................................................20, 21 trolled, fire-containing action, without GARAGE SALE.....................................................8 the impediment of traffic passing along GLEBE HISTORY...............................................31 Bank Street.” And Chris McNaught GLEBOUS & COMICUS.....................................30 reflected that “such an incident and all HEALTH.............................................................32 the gathered observers accentuates how LETTERS.............................................................5 MUSIC......................................................... 24-30 special and valued local services are.” OPINION............................................................19 McKeen Metro was closed the day PARKS...............................................................13 of the fire, but reopened the next day, REPS & ORGS............................................7, 9-11 albeit with deli and in-store bakery SENIORS...........................................................16 closed temporarily. The Glebe ComSCHOOLS..........................................................35 munity Association issued an email update about Metro reopening, as it is NEXT ISSUE: Friday, May 10, 2024 a key community amenity. EDITORIAL DEADLINE: Monday, April 22, 2024 The pharmacy will be closed for an ADVERTISING ARTWORK DEADLINE*: unspecified period. Clients needing Wednesday, April 24, 2024 GMSBannerAdGRFinal.pdf 1 2019-01-24 8:43 PM prescriptions can pick them up at the *Book ads well in advance to ensure space availability. House of Targ..................................................Page 3
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A three-alarm fire on March 24 has closed the Glebe Apothecary indefinitely. Clients may pick up prescriptions at the nearby Shoppers Drug Mart at Bank and Glebe Avenue. PHOTO: RANDAL MARLIN
Shoppers Drug Mart on the corner of Bank and Glebe Avenue. According to media reports, the fire caused approximately $700,000 in damage. The Glebe Report contacted the Ottawa Police Service about the suspected cause and was told there is no comment while the fire is being investigated. Media reports have posited possible arson. The manager of the Glebe Apothecary, Zenah Surani, was instructed to redirect inquiries to the Loblaws PR department. Loblaws owns Shoppers Drug Mart, which owns the affected
pharmacy. The Glebe Report submitted a list of questions to the PR department, including about plans for reopening the store and what is happening to the Apothecary staff – are they being transferred to other locations or being laid off? And are there indications of possible arson? No response was received by press time. (More photos on page 2) John Crump is a former journalist and public servant and also serves as president of the Glebe Community Association. He witnessed the fire.
Forty years of the Glebe Apothecary By Claudia McKeen When I sold my pharmacy to Shoppers Drug Mart in 2011, I was so delighted that they would carry it on as the Glebe Apothecary.
In my early 20s, right out of University of Toronto Pharmacy Faculty, I began preparing myself to start a new business of my own. Since I was 17, I had known I wanted to be a pharmacist Article continued on page 2