Kitchissippi Times May 2026

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES

Wellness in bloom

BY CHARLIE SENACK

A few days ago, I went for my first run of the season — which admittedly was also my first run in a few years. I did surprisingly well for someone who packed on a few extra pounds over the winter, and somewhere on the Rideau Canal between Dow’s Lake and Carleton University, I started to understand why so many people get hooked on it.

As I ran, I could feel my body loosening up again after months spent mostly indoors. Cyclists zipped past, joggers waved hello, and the pathways were once again filled with people eager to shake off what felt like half a year of snow and cold. There’s something about spring in Ottawa that makes the city feel like it’s waking up all at once.

May has always been one of my favourite months. It’s when the trees

finally start filling back in with leaves, tulips brighten neighbourhood streets, and ducks and geese return to local rivers and ponds. The air feels lighter, patios begin reopening, and community spaces start buzzing again after the long winter stretch.

It’s also the time of year when many of our favourite neighbourhood traditions return. The Parkdale Market begins another busy season, festivals start popping up across the city, and people head back outdoors in search of ways to stay active and connected.

That spirit of movement and renewal inspired us to expand this issue’s Active Living and Wellness section. Inside, you’ll find stories on bike safety for the season ahead, a local wellness pharmacy

celebrating 45 years in business, and fitness programs helping seniors stay strong and engaged.

Elsewhere in the paper, we’re covering the latest in Ottawa’s arts and culture scene, sharing the story of a Westboro-raised carpenter searching for a living liver donor, and looking at new development proposals shaping Little Italy and the Gladstone area.

As the city comes back to life, plenty is happening close to home.

If you support our work, please consider donating through the QR code or on Kitchissippi.com

While our news is free to read, it is not free to produce.

CONTENTS 30

KITCHISSIPPI TIMES

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The Kitchissippi Times is an award-winning newspaper that has serviced Westboro, Wellington West, and surrounding communities for the last 20 years. The word Kitchissippi, meaning “great river” in Algonquin, is the former Indigenous name for the Ottawa River.

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AROUND

Mark your calendar: Ottawa events to see this May

BY CHARLIE SENACK

May marks the unofficial start of festival season in Ottawa. Tulips are blooming along the Rideau Canal, neighbourhood markets are reopening for the year, and community spaces are filling once again with music, food and outdoor celebrations.

If you’re looking to make the most of the warmer weather, here’s a roundup of events happening across urban Ottawa this month.

OTTAWA CLAY FESTIVAL

MAY 1-3 Horticulture Building at Lansdowne, 1525 Princess Patricia Way

Explore handcrafted ceramics from local makers, watch live demonstrations and browse a juried exhibition featuring work from across the region. The festival also includes a pottery throwdown competition and a hands-on clay area for kids. Admission is free.

ottawaguildofpotters.ca/events-ottawaclay-festival/

OTTAWA POUTINEFEST AND MAC MY CHEESE

MAY 1-3 RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Dr. More than 30 vendors serve up creative takes on Canada’s

signature comfort food, alongside mac and cheese favourites and other festival treats.

facebook.com/OttawaPoutinefest/

OTTAWA INTERNATIONAL WRITERS FESTIVAL

MAY 1-4

Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St.

This celebrated festival brings together leading Canadian authors and international literary voices for readings, discussions and book signings. Ticket prices vary. writersfestival.org/

ONTARIO BUTTER TART FESTIVAL & COMPETITION

MAY 2-3 Centrum Plaza, 255 Centrum Blvd.

Sample classic and creative takes on one of Canada’s favourite desserts while browsing local vendors and voting for your favourite butter tarts.

HINTONBURG FABRIC FLEA MARKET

MAY 2 Fisher Park Community Centre, 250 Holland Ave.

9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Browse bargain finds for sewing and quilting enthusiasts, including fabrics, buttons, notions, patterns and tools. facebook.com/ events/1429543325460865/

CINCO

DE MAYO FIESTA

MAY 3 ByWard Market Square

12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Celebrate Mexican culture with live music, traditional dance, food vendors and colourful folkloric art displays in the heart of the ByWard Market. facebook.com/ events/1392852805391145/

SINGLES MINGLE FEST

MAY 3 Overflow Brewing Company, 2477 Kaladar Ave.

1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Meet new people in a relaxed social setting featuring music, comedy, games and structured activities designed to help Ottawa singles connect. Tickets are $33. eventbrite.ca/e/singles-mingle-festtickets-1984510835330

URBAN ART COLLECTIVE HINTONBURG NIGHT MARKET

MAY 7, 14, 21, 28

Urban Art Collective, 1088 Somerset St. W 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Browse handmade goods, sample local treats and enjoy live performances from musicians and buskers at this weekly evening market featuring rotating vendors.

urbanartcollective.ca/pages/urbanmarkets

CANADIAN TULIP FESTIVAL

MAY 8-18

Dow’s Lake and Commissioners Park

Celebrate Ottawa’s signature spring event with colourful garden displays, historical exhibits highlighting the Dutch-Canadian tulip legacy, family activity zones, artisan vendors and evening light installations, including the popular blacklight boardwalk experience. tulipfestival.ca

FRIENDS OF THE FARM PLANT SALE

MAY 10 Central Experimental Farm, 960 Carling Ave.

8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Shop a wide selection of plants from regional growers and nursery vendors while getting gardening advice from the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton. Refreshments will also be available. friendsofthefarm.ca/event/2025-friendsof-the-farm-plant-sale-2/?instance_ id=511

MOTHER’S DAY FLOWER FUN RUN

MAY 10 Dow’s Lake, 1001 Queen Elizabeth Driveway 12 p.m.

Walk or run either a one-kilometre children’s route or a five-kilometre course past thousands of blooming tulips along the Rideau Canal and Dow’s Lake while supporting the Canadian Tulip Legacy. somersault.ca/event/mothers-dayflower-fun-run

FUN HOME

MAY 14-23

Gladstone Theatre, 910 Gladstone Ave.

This Tony Award-winning musical follows graphic novelist Alison as she reflects on her childhood and complicated relationship with her father while coming to understand her own identity. Ticket prices vary. gladstone.ca/shows/fun-home/

CANGAMES

MAY 15-17

Rideau Curling Club, 715 Cooper St.

One of Canada’s largest gaming conventions returns with hundreds of miniatures, role-playing and board games across multiple time slots, plus a vendor marketplace, bar and on-site meal service. cangames.ca/

WESTBORO FARMERS’ MARKET

MAY 16, 23, 30 Byron Linear Park, 579 Byron Ave.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

More than 60 local vendors return for the season, offering fresh produce, baked goods, prepared foods, crafts, meat and dairy products beneath the trees along Byron Linear Park. ottawafarmersmarket.ca/westboromarket/

OTTAWA POLISH FEST

MAY 16 ByWard Market neighbourhood

Enjoy Polish food, folk dancing, live performances and family activities throughout the afternoon, followed by an evening dance party featuring guest performers from across the region.

phfweb.ca/ottawa-polish-fest

URINETOWN, THE MUSICAL

MAY 20-24

Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe, 101 Centrepointe Dr.

Set in a dystopian city facing a decadeslong drought, this satirical musical follows citizens fighting back after private toilets are outlawed and public facilities are controlled by a powerful corporation. Ticket prices vary. meridiancentrepointe.com/en/ urinetown-musical

OTTAWA CIRCUS FESTIVAL

MAY 22-24 Arts Court, 2 Daly Ave. This annual festival showcases contemporary circus arts through performances, competitions and workshops celebrating creativity, technical skill and artistic collaboration. ottawacircusfestival.com/

JESSICA KIRSON

MAY 22 The Bronson Music Theatre, 211 Bronson Ave. 7 p.m.

Comedian Jessica Kirson brings her highenergy stand-up show to Ottawa, known for bold characters, quick improvisation and candid storytelling. Ticket prices vary. admitone.com/events/ottawa/ pro/other/the-bronson-musictheatre/jessica-kirson/jessicakirson/696e552017f8e7c6afed744d

BUNNYPALOOZA

MAY 23 Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre, 102 Greenview Ave.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Meet local rescues and vendors while learning more about rabbit care at this annual event promoting responsible pet ownership. ottawabunnypalooza.com/

GREAT GLEBE GARAGE SALE

MAY 23 Throughout the Glebe Residents sell items from their front lawns, driveways and porches while local businesses host

sidewalk sales, creating one of Ottawa’s largest annual neighbourhood shopping events.

TAMARACK OTTAWA RACE WEEKEND

MAY 23-24

110 Laurier Ave. W

Canada’s largest multi-day running event welcomes nearly 50,000 participants across several races, including the country’s biggest marathon, along scenic downtown routes. runottawa.ca/

OTTAWA RIBFEST ON SPARKS STREET

MAY 27-31

Sparks Street

Enjoy ribs, BBQ chicken and other grilled favourites from visiting pitmasters during this popular downtown food festival. hellodowntown.ca/events/ottawa-ribfest/

OTTAWA CHINATOWN NIGHT MARKET

MAY 29-31

Somerset St. W., between Bronson Ave. and Bell St. N

Sample traditional and fusion cuisine while enjoying cultural performances, including lion dances and martial arts demonstrations. ottawachinatown.ca/nightmarket/

OTTAWA ASIAN FESTIVAL NIGHT MARKET

MAY 29-31

LeBreton Flats

This three-day festival features street food vendors, live music, dance performances and cultural programming that celebrates Asian communities from across the region. facebook.com/ottawaasianfest/posts/ pfbid02LACP4N2FtScgwXQwxgycpn8Qu97QJ2jwRcYoY4yWrvDChfHehwMZrcRZ1Mg6uvX5l

MAY UPDATES

OPEN FOR REGISTRATION:

• Register for Spring 2 swim lessons until May 15 (session runs Apr 25 – Jun 26)

• Spring recreation: dance, sports, art, culinary and more

• May recreation workshops include Mario Kart Racing Mini Tournament, acrylic & water colour painting, cake-making, Robotics, Date Night, and Shadow Play Theater

• Summer Camps & summer swim lessons

• Spring fitness registered programs (specialty & aquafitness)

• Afterschool program for 2026-2027

• Summer Leadership courses are open for registration

UPCOMING REGISTRATIONS:

• Tue. May 5 - Summer recreation programs

• Tue. June 2 - Summer Fitness programs

• Tue. June 16 - Fall Swim Lessons

SUMMER CAMP & SWIM LESSONS

Summer Camps are getting closer! We’ve got exciting new and returning Camps. Summer Swim lessons are available once a week on Saturdays or 5 days in a row.

FIT PASS

The best value and most fun! 55+/ week classes including group fit, spin, and aquafit classes, fitness centre, pool access and pickleball. Starting at $48/ month.

PD DAYS & DATE NIGHT

Register for PD Days: Jun 5 & Jun 19 Friday Date nights: Fri. May 15, 6-9pm, course #33158

COMMUNITY

• The Wild Westboro Garage Sale, presented by the WCA, is Sat. June 6, 8am-12pm at Dovercourt. Sellers, book your tables now.

• The Wild Cards are back at Dovercourt for a live music dance on Sat. May 30, 1:30-4:30pm

• Inclusion Dance at Dovercourt: Sat. April 18, 7-9pm

• Climate Fresk workshops: Tue. May 19, 5:30-8:30, #33014

VICTORIA DAY WEEKEND SCHEDULE

See our holiday schedule for May 16-18. We’re closed May 18.

Residents rally to protect Civic Hospital’s historic buildings before 2027 deadline

BY AMANDA MCLEOD

As construction moves ahead on The Ottawa Hospital’s new Civic campus at Dow’s Lake, the future of the original 1924 Civic Hospital building on Carling Avenue and the former nurses’ residence — now home to the Parkdale Clinic — remains uncertain.

Community members are now urging the city to formally designate both buildings under the Ontario Heritage Act before a provincial deadline in 2027 removes them from Ottawa’s heritage register.

Members of the Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association say the designation would help ensure the buildings can be protected and thoughtfully integrated into whatever replaces the aging hospital campus.

Matt Lemay, chair of history and heritage for the neighbourhood association, has been helping lead the push as changes introduced through Bill 23 — the More Homes Built Faster Act — reshape how municipalities manage heritage properties across Ontario.

“What this amendment to the Ontario Heritage Act did through Bill 23 was that if you had no intent to designate buildings on municipal heritage registries by Jan. 1, 2027, they’d have to be removed and they cannot be re-listed on the registry for five years,” Lemay told KT

To help spark public discussion about what could come next for the site, the Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association hosted an information session April 20 at Kitchissippi United Church focused on the conservation and future reuse of the original Civic Hospital building and the former nurses’ residence.

The evening also explored how heritage designation could help ensure the buildings are protected and thoughtfully integrated into any future redevelopment of the campus while continuing to support healthcare uses.

Top right: Memorabilia, including former nursing outfits, were on display.

Right: from left to right: Marilyn Leney, Lynne Delorme, Jean MacAllister, Joan Fletcher. ALL PHOTOS BY AMANDA MCLEOD.

The event highlighted the legacy of the Ottawa Civic School of Nursing, which operated from 1925 to 1974 and trained more than 4,000 nurses who went on to work at the Civic and across the globe.

Lynne Delorme was one of those graduates, completing her three-year training program in 1965. She says the Civic shaped her career and credits the program’s high standards with opening opportunities she otherwise may not have had access to.

“It made us very strong people, to be able to deal with all kinds of adversity because we ran the hospital from day one [of the training]. It was an amazing responsibility – we were in charge of our units from the middle of our second year,” she said.

After her training, Delorme spent a year in the north of Ontario and later practised in Europe and South Africa.

“I think it would be a shame if they just destroy the buildings. They have to be used for something, they’re still good buildings – and the history is there. You can’t just dismiss it all,” said Delorme.

Lemay echoed that view, saying, “I wanted to look at the history, the value and the potential conservation of buildings on that property – and look at whether these important cultural heritage resources could be retained, protected and integrated into any future development on the site.”

Students from Carleton University’s Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism also presented proposals showing how the buildings could be adapted for future healthcare-related uses.

Lilly Zegerius, a third-year student in the Bachelor of Architecture program, said she and her classmates designed several projects to demonstrate ways the buildings could be repurposed while honouring the campus’ original intentions.

“From the floor plans we had, it made a lot of sense to turn it into a long-term care home, post-acute care and a hospice in the Parkdale clinic,” she said. “And then also bring back all the historic gardens that were originally on the site.”

“The orientation of the buildings was

specifically done so you get sunlight in the buildings. There were all these really in-depth thoughts and decisions originally made to prioritize views of the experimental farm and gardens all around the site,” Zegerius continued.

Lemay is careful to point out the neighbourhood association isn’t seeking heritage status for its own sake.

“Healthcare should always be the main priority and conservation efforts for the buildings should not get in the way,” he said. “But we owe it to ourselves to look at how we can integrate these buildings – or parts of them – into a re-imaged site that acknowledges how they’ve shaped our city and have been there for countless residents for so many years.”

Going forward, Lemay said the group will continue engaging with the community and the city.

“At this point, it’s about telling people ‘we’re thinking about this, here are some proposals that have been put forward’ – and then see what people think,’” he said.

Join

Our Walking Club

Spring is here—who’s ready to get their steps in, soak up the sunshine and make some new friends?

Join the Amica Westboro Park walking club.

Running weekly in May, we’ll walk through different parts of the surrounding neighbourhood each week. When we return to the residence, you’ll be offered a water bottle, refreshments, and a chance to win prizes!

WEDNESDAYS: May 6 – May 27 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Please RSVP 5 days before your preferred weeks to Mandy or Tait at 613-728-9274. SCAN

We look forward to welcoming you.

Mixed-use development at 299 Carling in Little Italy could include medical offices, grocery store

BY MIA JENSEN

Developer Turn Group plans to include various types of residential units, medical offices, and a grocery store in its new project at 299 Carling Ave. near Dow’s Lake.

Turn Group, which has offices in Ottawa and Calgary, is proposing a fourtower mixed-use development on the three-acre parcel east of Preston Street

that’s currently occupied by a parking lot.

Ranging from 13 to 30 storeys, the towers would include 750 residential units and 600,000 square feet of mixed-use space that would include commercial and retail uses, including a grocery store.

With an influx of development in the area, Turn Group CEO Ash Mahmoud said he wanted to set the project apart by designating space for private medical facilities and offices.

“It’s a very common, known model, when you have a hospital,” he said. “You can have things like X-ray specialists and other specialized doctors. They have to be close to the hospital, either because they work there or they have clients there.”

The three-acre parcel was previously owned by Canada Lands Company (CLC), a Crown corporation specializing in real estate and development. Under its ownership, the site was approved for a

three-tower redevelopment project that would have featured approximately 600 residential units.

According to Mahmoud, the project came to Turn Group’s attention while the firm was in the bidding process for a separate CLC development. Mahmoud said it was a “quick decision” to take over ownership, but he felt he could draft a new plan to better suit Little Italy’s evolving landscape.

“The concept that was approved, it didn’t make sense for us,” he said. “The initial plan was to do rental apartments. But when we looked at the development, we found that it’s pretty close to the new (Ottawa Hospital) Civic campus. We are 600 metres away, so we thought, this is something we need to capitalize on.”

In addition to designating space for private medical facilities, Mahmoud said the development will include a more diverse tenant mix that will benefit from the project’s amenities and location.

While most units will be designated for typical rental housing, about onequarter will be dedicated to independent senior living. The project also maintains a previously established agreement with the

Gladstone development to proceed after agreement reached with city over fees

Amulti-tower development in Little Italy that was potentially going to be scuttled due to provincial bylaw changes is back on track after a decision from city council.

Ottawa developer CLV Group is planning to build three mixed-use highrises on a one-hectare property at 951 Gladstone Ave. and 145 Loretta Ave. N., near Preston Street and the Little Italy neighbourhood.

The towers, ranging from 34 to 40 storeys, would contain a total of 930 residential units.

Earlier this year, a provincial policy change put the development at risk. Permissions for the project had been approved at the city level under section 37 of the Planning Act, which has since been replaced by the Community Benefits Charge (CBC) bylaw.

The provincial levy, which funds services and supports capital projects, applies to high-density residential developments of at least five storeys and 10 residential units.

As a result of the change, CLV raised concerns that it would be paying more in fees than it would under the new regulations. On Wednesday, city council addressed those concerns by approving a motion to reduce the development’s CBC costs.

Jenn Morrison, vice-president of planning and land development for CLV Group, said the developer is “relieved” by the city’s decision, adding that she hadn’t seen a situation quite like it in her 26 years in the industry.

“Most people haven’t seen this in their career,” she said. “This is probably the most unusual time we’ve worked through.

But I think (the city) is recognizing that we need to work together as partners to help get these developments (built). We’re very encouraged to see the mindset shifting. For many years, it was very us versus them. But times have changed in the economic climate we have, and they’ve really stepped up.”

Not all city councillors were on board with the decision.

The planning and housing committee passed the motion on April 1, with Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper and West Carleton-March Coun. Clarke Kelly dissenting. Other councillors expressed concerns but ultimately gave their approval.

Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster said she was reassured by the time limit and stipulations that the fee relief wouldn’t apply unless construction went ahead.

But she added that the situation was “deeply frustrating” for the communities involved.

“I understand the financial environment, I understand that we’re providing some financial incentives and some fee relief. But it is frustrating to see the clock turned back on agreements that were negotiated in good faith with the community,” she said.

Algonquins of Ontario to create a certain number of affordable units.

Altogether, Mahmoud said the project’s commercial and tenant mix will tap into several demographics where demand is high.

“The way we look at it is to diversify the product, make it less risky,” Mahmoud said.

“The medical industry is very stable, so it’s not an area where businesses go up and down. All of us need to go to the doctor. And, of course, senior housing is its own kind of stability, and (there is a shortage of) affordable housing. So we have components of all typical market rentals in this project.”

Design • Transform • Enjoy

As the city comes together for Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, May 23–24, your generosity helps shape the future of care at The Ottawa Hospital.

Building landscapes in Ottawa since 1989

• landscape consultation • interlock

• garden installation  • retaining walls

• mulching • decking and pergola

• property maintenance • planting

Taste of Italy shows diversity of Preston Street

BY CHARLIE SENACK

Over the last century, Preston Street has had many identities. In the early 1900s, many Italian families began moving to the area, drawn by affordable housing, nearby railway jobs and its closeness to downtown employment. Over time,

A staple in Ottawa’s Italian food scene, Italfoods is a locally owned, family-run business known for supplying authentic Italian products across the city. At Taste of Little Italy, they served gnocchi and cannoli with buttercream filling.

Crowd view of Taste of Little Italy held at Preston Event Centre on March 24, 2026.

BIA.

they built a tight-knit community and opened shops, bakeries and restaurants that helped shape what is now known as Ottawa’s Little Italy.

But the neighbourhood has continued to evolve.

Today, the strip is home to more than pasta restaurants and bakeries selling cannoli. Middle Eastern, South Asian and Asian restaurants now sit alongside longtime Italian establishments. While the area still celebrates its roots through Italian Week each June and the murals and plaques that tell its story, it also embraces new influences.

That mix was on display recently during the sold-out Taste of Little Italy event, where more than 500 guests sampled dishes from more than 15 Preston Street restaurants in a single evening celebrating the corridor’s evolving food scene.

“Taste of Little Italy is all about celebrating the business community we have here on Preston Street,” said Lindsay Childerhose, executive director of the Preston Street BIA. “It’s a chance for people to experience so many of our local restaurants in one night, to revisit longtime favourites and discover their new go-to spot. The energy in the room last night really showed how much people value that experience.”

The Kitchissippi Times caught up with three participating businesses to hear how they are adapting as Little Italy continues to change.

At Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana, located at 200 Preston St., the story stretches back nearly half a century. When pastry chef Joe Calabro opened the shop in 1979, gelato was still unfamiliar to many Ottawa residents.

“We’re a small family business, and basically we were the first ones in the city bringing gelato to Ottawa,” he said. “So we are the original ones.”

Since then, the bakery has become a staple of the neighbourhood, producing traditional Italian pastries, cakes, cookies, tortes and homemade gelato made fresh in-house using European techniques. Over the years, the business expanded beyond desserts to include breakfast and lunch service, hotel partnerships and a large wedding-cake operation that once produced between 60 and 70 cakes annually.

“All the chocolate you see here is made on the premises from scratch,” Calabro said.

Keeping customers returning over decades, he said, means balancing tradition with change.

“You’ve got to have the classics and the trends,” he said. “So there are three different things. You’ve got to always be on trend, you’ve got to have the basics, and then you can play around.”

Like many long-running small businesses, staffing remains one of the biggest challenges.

“Having the right staff — you have to train them and make sure they are on the same page as you,” he said. “Once they are comfortable, it takes a lot of training. Even a basic cappuccino takes three months.”

Calabro said the changing makeup of Little Italy has helped bring new customers through the doors.

“Most of my customers, I call it the United Nations,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where you come from.”

Just steps away from Preston Street at 939 Somerset St. W., Dolci Sapori reflects another chapter of Little Italy’s story — one shaped by immigration that is still happening today.

The pastry shop traces its roots back roughly 50 years to founder Roberto Bellantone’s family bakery in southern Italy. About a decade ago, he and his wife Francesca moved to Ottawa with their three young children and reopened the business here, bringing recipes from Calabria with them.

“The dream was to move to Canada,” said Francesca Bellantone. “So we moved with three little boys. Now they are teenagers — one in university and two in high school.”

Dolci Sapori specializes in traditional Calabrian pastries such as babà, peachshaped pastries and cannoli — still its best-selling item — alongside more modern European desserts like mousse

cakes and fruit-shaped pastries made with raspberry and mango.

“We started making traditional pastries from Calabria, like peach pastries, babà and cannoli,” she said. “The main best-seller is the cannoli. But Roberto also specializes in modern pastry — fruit shapes, mousse, raspberry and mango are very popular in the showcase.”

Customers often tell Bellantone the bakery reminds them of home.

“They say they can feel Italy,” she said. “Some people tell me, ‘I just came back from Italy and I feel like I’m still there.’”

She said the growing mix of restaurants along the Preston Street corridor has helped attract new visitors to the neighbourhood.

“It’s good,” she said. “It brings more people. Now they can choose.”

That shift is perhaps most visible in newer arrivals like Karahi Boys, located at 345 Preston St., which opened in December and specializes in authentic Pakistani cuisine prepared using traditional cooking techniques and imported servingware.

“We specialize in authentic Pakistani food,” said manager Asheer Khan. “Everything is brought from Pakistan — even the utensils we cook and serve in. We want people to feel like they are eating the same way they would in Pakistan.”

Among the restaurant’s signature items is its karahi, served in traditional cookware, along with its oversized family-style naan presentation that has quickly become a talking point among customers.

“We have the Karahi Boys family naan — the big hanging naan,” Khan said. “That’s the unique one.”

Desserts also reflect traditional preparation methods, including khoya kheer served in clay pots that enhance flavour and presentation.

Though still new to the street, Khan said participating in Taste of Little Italy helped introduce the restaurant to many residents who might not otherwise have tried Pakistani cuisine.

“There was a whole line that wasn’t stopping,” he said. “We had to refill the food three or four times. Everybody was talking about Karahi Boys. That made us proud.”

As

The Hintonburg boy who went to war

George Dudley slipped past recruiters, served in France and later returned home after his age was discovered

BY DAVE ALLSTON

Google the question “Who was Canada’s youngest soldier in the First World War?” and you’ll find several names of 14- and 15-year-old boys who enlisted and went overseas.

But Google seems to have forgotten a local Hintonburg teen who strapped on his brother’s trousers, lied about his age, slipped past a recruitment officer eager to meet his quota, and ended up on the battlefield in France before his ruse was discovered and he was sent home.

George Dudley was one of Canada’s youngest soldiers — and may well have been Ottawa’s youngest. His story, from more than a century ago, is a fascinating one.

In the early days of the First World War, many teenagers felt a strong sense of duty to enlist, even if it meant lying about their age. It is estimated that between 15,000 and 20,000 underage Canadian kids enlisted using false birth dates to go overseas. This wasn’t an era of databases and ID cards. Whatever you wrote on your enlistment papers was often taken as fact.

Teenagers enlisted out of duty or patriotism. In some cases, it was to escape hard farm work — or no work at all. Others signed up for the adventure, a chance to see the world and visit places they might never otherwise have imagined.

The minimum enlistment age was

initially 18. It was later raised to 20, and eventually lowered again to 19. As the war continued and casualties mounted, recruiters increasingly “turned a blind eye” to applicants who appeared much younger. After only a short period of training, it could be a matter of months before a new recruit was sent overseas. (In fact, until the fall of 1915, even men of age were required to have parental consent, and married men needed to prove they had their wife’s approval.)

Some parents had no idea their teenage children had enlisted. They simply disappeared. Others later learned through newspaper reports or word from friends and relatives that their child was overseas and taking part in major battles on the front lines. Mothers contacted military authorities demanding their return. Some boys were sent home — only to run away and re-enlist. A few even made it overseas a third time.

A HINTONBURG BOY GOES TO WAR

At the recruiting office in the Russell House hotel at the corner of Sparks and Elgin streets on Sept. 28, 1915, 14-year-old George Dudley walked in and approached the duty recruitment officer. Standing just four feet six inches tall, weighing 126 pounds and wearing short pants, he could hardly have looked his 14 years.

“The officer in charge told me to go home and feed up a little before I could join,” Dudley later recalled in an interview.

But Dudley had another idea.

Undaunted, he returned home to 106 Sherbrooke Ave. in Hintonburg and asked his parents to sign a note of approval. They eventually relented, not believing the recruiting officer would accept him anyway. Dudley then put on a pair of his brother’s trousers and returned to the recruiting office the same day.

On his enlistment form, he listed his birth date as Jan. 2, 1897 (his actual birth date was Jan. 1, 1901), making him nearly 19 years old. He listed his occupation as “box maker.”

Not only did Dudley pass the recruiter, but the examining doctor also signed off on his form, declaring him “fit for trumpeter.”

He was officially enlisted with the 32nd Battery.

What inspired Dudley to join? It may have been his older brother James, who had enlisted a month earlier and was training at Barriefield military camp in Kingston. It may also have been the strong recruitment push that summer, including a major

military display at Lansdowne Park during September’s Central Canada Exhibition. The display proved effective, with one recruit later saying “the sight of the trenches, the masked artillery gun, and the uniformed guards from the Canadian Engineers was too great an inducement.” (Training trenches had been constructed through the grove behind the Horticulture Hall.)

Regardless, Dudley left behind his parents, James and Maggie Dudley, and his four siblings. He departed for Barriefield on the morning of Oct. 7 under the command of Capt. J.H. Stothers and Sgt. O’Leary as part of a group of 20 recruits. They were soon divided between the artillery unit and the 2nd Brigade Mounted Rifles.

He spent the winter training before travelling to Saint John, N.B., where he departed on March 11, 1916 aboard the S.S. Metagama, bound for Liverpool, England.

On July 14, he entered the “theatre of war” in France near the front lines. During his service he worked as a trumpeter, a truck driver delivering ammunition and in other

3. His attestation paper showing the corrected date of birth from 1897 to 1901 2 3

support roles. Early on he was transferred to the 3rd Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column.

He never did meet up with his brother James in France — who had already been there since the previous fall and, apart from a brief illness, had “always been within the sound of the guns.” They did come close, however. A fall 1916 newspaper reported “the nearest they have been to each other since reaching the firing line was a distance of five miles.”

They also had a cousin, Pte. William Dudley, who had been captured in June 1916 and was a prisoner of war in Germany.

1. Photo of George Dudley from the website Great War Album

2. George's birth certificate

to hospital in Boulogne, France with shrapnel injuries. Ironically, on Oct. 5, Mrs. Dudley received a certificate from the postmaster general recognizing James’s competency and ability during his two years working for the post office. Later that same day she received a second telegram with news of his wounding. He survived.

On Dec. 22, 1916, the boys’ eight-yearold sister Dorothy (Lottie) wrote a letter to Santa that was published in the Ottawa Journal:

“Dear Santa. I am a little girl 8 years old and I want to tell you what I want for Xmas… Now Dear Santa, I don’t want a baby sister, but I do want my two dear brothers home… My little brother Georgie, age 15, is a trumpeter in the 3rd C.D.A.C. somewhere in France…”

SENT HOME — BUT NOT FINISHED SERVING

the Canadian Discharge Depot in Quebec City on June 13. His papers noted he had grown to five feet seven inches — more than a foot taller than when he enlisted just 21 months earlier — and described his military character as “good.”

He received a Class A War Service Badge and a cheque for $100.10 covering his final three months’ pay.

Dudley was one of the lucky underage soldiers who returned home. It is estimated that 2,000 underage Canadians were killed in action.

He later fulfilled his wish to serve again, joining the Canadian Army during the Second World War. He served overseas in Europe from 1941 to 1945.

In recent years, his nephew Jeff Mason told a researcher: “The only hurt he would have to show for both of his military adventures would be the end of his thumb cut off when it was slammed in a jeep door.”

James wrote to his sister Elsie on Sept. 1, 1916:

“We are on the hottest part of the firing line just now; are forcing ‘Fritz’ back all the time. German prisoners are marching past us all the day, and I think that peace will be declared this winter. It is worth while witnessing what is taking place, and when I get home, I will have some great stories to tell.”

He wrote this letter during the Battle of the Somme, a major and costly engagement for Canadian soldiers. After nearly a year on the front lines, James was wounded just days later and admitted

In early February 1917, Dudley’s superiors received reports that he was underage. Despite the urgent need for manpower — particularly with preparations underway for the Battle of Vimy Ridge — the army took the discovery seriously. It’s possible Lottie’s published letter exposed his true age. Another report suggested his brother alerted authorities.

Whatever the reason, Dudley was sent to Shorncliffe, England in late February, where he performed office work before being returned home from Liverpool in May with the “disability” listed as “underage (16 ¼).” He was discharged at

Between the wars — and for the rest of his life — Dudley remained in Hintonburg. He married but never had children. He worked as a waiter at the Carleton Tavern when it opened in 1936, then returned after the Second World War and remained there into the 1960s. He often shared his story and kept his discharge papers and birth certificate handy to prove it to anyone who doubted him.

Upon retiring from the Carleton, he was presented with his serving tray, which remains in the family today. Dudley died in 1972.

We hope people see this as an opportunity to reconnect to music and community. — MATÍAS MUÑOZ

Hooked on Fono

Matías Muñoz opens multipurpose listening lounge and music venue in Centretown

BY BRADLEY TURCOTTE

Matías Muñoz has transformed the 100-year-old former ReCycles building at 473 Bronson Avenue into Fono, a multi-faceted music venue and bar he hopes will become “Centretown’s living room.”

Inspired by Japanese vinyl listening venues known as kissa, where the focus is on deep appreciation of music in a comfortable social setting, Fono is equipped with high-fidelity systems custom built by Montreal’s Automatic Audio. The system is “calibrated for an optimized audio experience,” Muñoz says, and has the capability to deliver superior sound from both vinyl and digital sources.

“They did a great job at building the speakers from scratch and putting together a system that is perfectly tuned for the room,” said Muñoz. “We want people to really feel the music all around them. No matter where you sit or stand in the hifi lounge it is an amazing experience. Even when it is a full house you can still hear the music crisply. But you can also talk to the person next to you.”

Listening-bar style venues like Fono are still relatively rare in Ottawa but have been growing in popularity across North America as audiences look for more intentional music experiences that sit somewhere between a concert hall and a neighbourhood bar.

In addition to the main lounge, Fono has a separate ballroom designed to host a wide range of events, from weddings and private dinners to concerts and DJ nights. Muñoz notes the sound delivery between the lounge and ballroom can operate individually or uniformly depending on the event.

Originally from London, Ontario, Muñoz founded the music blog Ottawa Showbox, where he reviewed and promoted local shows. His DIY music venue Cinqhole unfortunately closed shortly after opening due to the pandemic. Muñoz currently heads Green Room Rehearsal Studios, and says with Fono he hopes to provide an “elevated experience” building on “lessons learned.”

That vision also includes experimenting with new ways to support performers. Muñoz has previously

Top: Matías Muñoz is the brains behind Fomo at 473 Bronson Ave. Left: The listening lounge's focus is on deep appreciation of music in a comfortable social setting. ALL PHOTOS BY KEITO NEWMAN.

explored revenue-sharing approaches with artists and hopes the venue can help strengthen Ottawa’s independent music ecosystem at a time when several smaller performance spaces have disappeared or shifted formats in recent years.

The evolving menu by chef Pat Muir consists of small-plate sharables designed to encourage conversation and connection.

“We are trying to rely as much as we can on local produce, along with different treats from local dessert makers,” Muñoz said. Fono will also be open during the day with coffee and sandwiches.

The “simple but refined” cocktail list by Claire Murphy features drinks named after defunct Ottawa music clubs like Zaphod Beeblebrox.

“Venues that are gone but not forgotten,” Muñoz explained. “We want to pay homage to those places that for some of us were very close to our hearts.”

Opening night on April 10 was a “beautiful” full house, Muñoz recalled.

Ming Wu, founder of Ottawa music blog photogmusic.com, attended and praised Fono’s sound system.

“The space is very modern, spacious

and comfortable with cool furniture too,” Wu said.

Long before it became a music venue, the Bronson Avenue building was well known to many cyclists across Ottawa’s west end as the longtime home of ReCycles, the volunteer-run community

bike shop that helped generations of riders repair and rebuild bikes. Its transformation into a listening lounge marks a new chapter for a space that has long supported grassroots culture in the city.

Even earlier, the building housed a

handmade gravestone business. Many heavy epitaphs still haunt the basement, although Muñoz paid to physically exorcise some of the stones.

“There is a whole portion of the basement that is closed off and full of gravestones,” Muñoz said, joking he could start a haunted tour. “There is a creepy feeling down there.”

Upstairs, Muñoz hopes to create a vibrant community atmosphere. The majority of Fono’s staff live in Centretown, and Muñoz himself has called the neighbourhood home for nearly half his life. He sees the venue as part of a broader effort to rebuild social connections through shared cultural spaces — something that resonates across Ottawa neighbourhoods still rebuilding post-pandemic gathering habits.

“We hope people see this as an opportunity to reconnect to music and community,” said Muñoz. “Community has enriched my life in so many ways. Coming out of the pandemic a lot of people forgot how important connection is for our mental health and our overall community health.”

PIE

A storyteller finds her stage in Hintonburg

From apartheid-era South Africa to Ottawa’s Origin

Arts & Community Centre, Jacqui du Toit is building spaces where stories can grow

BY CHARLIE SENACK

When Jacqui du Toit is asked to describe herself, she doesn’t start with theatre, directing or the long list of projects she’s helped bring to life across Ottawa’s arts scene.

“I am a storyteller,” she simply says. It’s the answer she returns to again and again — not because it’s the easiest description, but because it’s the most accurate.

Storytelling, for du Toit, isn’t just performance. It’s memory, identity, healing

and community. It’s the thread connecting her childhood in South Africa, her journey to Canada with a travelling circus, and the creative life she’s built today as co-owner of the Origin Arts & Community Centre in Hintonburg.

Du Toit grew up in South Africa during the

final years of apartheid, part of a richly mixed heritage that includes indigenous Khoisan ancestry alongside Indian, Malaysian, Irish, Jewish and German roots. She remembers watching the country shift around her as barriers began to fall and schools opened to students of different racial backgrounds.

“It changed the way I saw community, cultures, people bringing people together,” she said. “I was interested in people’s stories. I wanted to know — how did you live your life?”

A teacher noticed her curiosity before she fully understood it herself. One afternoon in a classroom filled with art supplies, something clicked.

“It absolutely blew my mind,” she recalled. “It was like me stepping into a palace of gold. I was sitting in the corner sketching and painting, and my teacher just kept giving me materials and showing me different ways to work. She looked at me and said, ‘You have a gift.’”

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• Bring your items to sell (no baked goods).

• We have limited tables. We are not able to assign tables, so it will be first-come, first-served on June 6.

for details.

A storyteller finds her stage in Hintonburg

Continues from page 20

Not long afterward, she stepped onto a stage for the first time.

Du Toit had auditioned to play Peter Pan. Instead, she was cast as Captain Hook — a role she initially resisted until she realized it came with most of the lines.

“That was the first time I really fell in love with theatre and character development,” she said.

That passion eventually led her to the University of Cape Town, where she studied theatre and performance before joining a travelling circus company that brought African and Canadian performers together on tour. Around 2011, the troupe arrived in Canada — and then abruptly folded.

Du Toit stayed anyway.

“We had a one-year visa,” she said, laughing. “And honestly, I just wanted to come for the snow.”

Instead of leaving, she built a life in Ottawa.

The transition wasn’t easy. As a performer navigating auditions in Canada, she found herself repeatedly told she didn’t fit the expectations casting directors had in mind.

“I kind of got this thing like I wasn’t Black enough. They couldn’t put me in a box. My accent was weird,” she said.

It was instead storytelling that shifted her path forward.

“I remember telling my first story to an audience and feeling something so different compared to acting a script,” she says.

“Storytelling is more than just telling a story. It’s healing. It’s shifting. It’s changing the course of your life.”

It also became a way to stay connected to home while raising her child far from South Africa.

Storytelling and wellness are closely linked in Du Toit’s practice — something that traces back to her own childhood. During apartheid, she recalls her mother being prescribed yoga by a doctor as a way to cope during a difficult time. Because classes were held in a whites-only area, she had to carry written permission just to attend.

“She would come back home, and then she’d teach me the yoga,” du Toit said.

Through her company Eighth

Generation Storytelling, she began sharing African oral storytelling traditions in schools, seniors’ homes and community spaces across Canada and internationally.

Earlier this year, she completed a

residency teaching storytelling at the American International School in Bangladesh, and she plans to return to South Africa later this year for additional workshops and training. In Ottawa, she has also worked with the National Arts Centre, providing live audio description for theatre productions, helping make performances accessible to audiences who are blind or partially sighted.

CREATING COMMUNITY IN HINTONBURG

The building that now houses the Origin Arts & Community Centre at 57 Lyndale Ave. once served as the original headquarters of Happy Goat Coffee Co., where du Toit worked as one of the first baristas. Even then, the space functioned as something more than a café.

“I remember bagging beans, and the community would come by, and we’d sing songs and have a cup of coffee,” she said.

Years later, she saw the possibility of transforming it into something Ottawa

I wanted to know — how did you live your life? — JACQUI DU TOIT

didn’t quite have. In this intimate arts space, people could rehearse, perform, experiment and gather without needing permission from larger institutions.

Together with collaborators, including poet Jamal Jackson and his brother, Captain Jackson, she helped create what is now a multidisciplinary community arts hub that continues to host performances, workshops, and youth programming. Today, Origin Arts & Community Centre is also recognized as the only Black-owned and operated performing arts venue in Ottawa — something du Toit sees as both meaningful and necessary in a city where independent cultural spaces can be difficult to sustain.

“The door has opened up to so many people from around the world,” said du Toit. “It’s just incredible to be part of that.”

The work she creates there often reflects the same themes that shaped her earliest experiences with art. Her one-woman production, The Hottentot Venus Untold, originally developed a decade ago and recently remounted at Origin, explores identity, ancestry and the legacy of Sarah Baartman through a deeply personal theatrical lens.

“It was a huge ancestral healing production that I created,” she said. “And this time around the story was received in such a different way.”

Plans are underway to tour the production to Halifax, Philadelphia and South Africa.

Since du Toit arrived in Ottawa, she’s seen the city’s arts community grow. It was the community she found here that ultimately made her stay.

“My kid is here. Her dad’s family is here. And Ottawa has been so kind to me in welcoming me, making me feel at home, making me feel safe and allowing me to express myself in whatever shape or form that comes,” she said.

A second chance for Michael

Westboro-raised carpenter searching for living liver donor as community rallies around him

BY CHARLIE SENACK

For much of his life, Michael Holst was the kind of person who showed up for others.

The Westboro-raised carpenter spent years helping older adults with snow shovelling and household repairs, supporting clients at the Good Companions Seniors’ Centre as they learned to use carpentry tools safely, and volunteering at Ottawa Bluesfest and the Army Run.

Now, the 34-year-old Central Park resident is living with autoimmune liver disease and waiting for a transplant. His family is hoping the community he once supported might help him in return.

“I worry about, of course, dying, but I also worry about not being able to look after my younger brother and my two-yearold dog,” Holst said in an interview with KT. “I want to be around for them. I feel like I’m almost letting them down in a way.”

Doctors at Toronto’s liver transplant clinic have told him his best chance at survival is finding a living donor, since the wait for a deceased donor liver can take years. Last fall, specialists warned his life expectancy could be as little as two years.

A DIAGNOSIS THAT RESHAPED HIS LIFE

Holst, who graduated from Nepean High School, first learned something might be wrong after blood work following a 2009 car accident revealed unusual results. Doctors continued monitoring his condition, and two years later — at age 18 — he was diagnosed with liver disease. For several years after his diagnosis, the condition remained relatively stable. More recently, however, his health has

declined more rapidly.

Today, his liver is heavily scarred and no longer functioning properly. He is living with complications including portal hypertension, an enlarged spleen and a blood clot in his liver — all signs of advanced liver disease.

“In the last 30 days, I’ve had four procedures,” he said. “It’s been really hard just managing the trauma of that lately.”

At one point, fluid built up in his abdomen and moved into his chest cavity, affecting his ability to breathe and requiring emergency treatment, including a blood transfusion and oxygen support.

Another complication he experiences is hepatic encephalopathy, which happens when the liver cannot properly remove toxins such as ammonia from the bloodstream. The condition can be severe enough that someone may not know where they are or what day it is.

As the disease progressed, Holst began experiencing increasing fatigue, muscle loss and chronic pain. He stopped working as a carpenter in July 2025 and now depends on family members to help with groceries, cleaning, and even walking his two-year-old schnauzer-cockapoo mix, Sam, when he doesn’t have the energy.

Despite those challenges, he has worked hard to slow the progression of his illness. He stopped drinking in 2019 and made significant dietary changes, cutting back heavily on salt and fat and focusing on high-fibre foods and vegetables. Along with medical treatment, those changes appear to have helped stabilize his condition somewhat.

“When I feel good, I try to do as much as I can,” he said. “I’m attempting to go to the gym more and get out of the house more.”

volunteering.

I worry about, of course, dying, but I also worry about not being able to look after my younger brother and my two-year-old dog — MICHAEL HOLST

Holst is eligible for both a deceased donor liver and a living donor transplant, but specialists say finding a living donor is his best chance.

Across Canada, the need for organs remains significant. At the end of 2024, 609 people were waiting for a liver transplant, and 89 died that year before receiving one. Overall, roughly 250 Canadians die each year while waiting for an organ transplant.

Only about 18 per cent of organ transplants in Canada involve living donors, which is why transplant specialists often encourage patients who are eligible to search for one.

A healthy donor between the ages of 16 and 60 with blood types A-, A+, O- or O+ may be eligible to donate part of their liver through the living donor program at Toronto General Hospital, one of the leading transplant centres in the world.

More than 1,000 living liver donor transplants have been performed at Toronto General Hospital, and the donor survival rate on the operating table is 100 per cent. The liver is also one of the few organs capable of regenerating itself, typically within eight to 12 weeks for both donor and recipient.

“They need to be the epitome of health themselves, essentially,” Holst said. “It is a major surgery… but the person who is the donor would be able to completely get back to their life as they left it.”

If he receives a living donor transplant, he would also be removed from the deceased donor waitlist, opening a spot for someone else still waiting.

Until then, his life remains largely on hold.

“I don’t know how to plan for my life,” he said. “I don’t know whether I should even bother going back to work

or planning for anything because I don’t know how long I have.”

Still, he continues to look ahead to the future — travelling again, gardening and starting a family.

Holst understands not everyone will be in a position to donate, but sharing his story could still make a difference.

“If they could spread the word themselves, I’d be really happy with that,” he said. “That would be super helpful. However, if they themselves were to offer me a liver donation, then I’d be over the moon. You can go through the whole process, the checkups, and everything, and you don’t need to follow through. You can back out at any time. So there’s no 100 per cent obligation.”

Potential donors can begin the process through Toronto General Hospital’s living donor program by completing a health history form and submitting proof of blood type. Financial support is available through the Trillium Gift of Life Network, which reimburses eligible expenses such as travel, accommodation, food and some lost income during the donor screening process.

Matthew Perry name dropped from Royal Ottawa supportive housing project

BY CHARLIE SENACK

Afuture supportive housing community planned on the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre campus for people with substance use disorder will proceed as planned, but will no longer bear the name of late Friends actor Matthew Perry.

The news was announced in a joint statement posted by the Royal and the Matthew Perry House Foundation.

“Through constructive discussions, Ottawa Community Housing, Salus, The Royal, and Matthew Perry House mutually agreed that the partnership would not continue in its original form. This decision was made amicably, with shared respect for each organization’s mission and priorities,” it read.

The project, first announced as Matthew Perry House, is planned for the

Royal’s campus along Carling Avenue and is expected to include roughly 160 supportive housing units along with wraparound recovery services, including career training, apprenticeship services, mental health supports, financial management planning and art therapy.

The vision behind the development was shaped in part by Perry’s own experiences navigating addiction treatment systems that often focused on short stays rather than long-term stability. The actor who was raised in Ottawa died on Oct. 23, 2024, at the age of 54 after an overdose of ketamine.

The model is designed to support people who have already completed initial addiction treatment but still need stable housing and community-based support to maintain their recovery. Unlike traditional programs that often last only a few months, residents could stay for years if needed

Britannia residents brace for flooding

BY CHARLIE SENACK

Sandbagging efforts are underway in Britannia and Belltown areas as residents fear flooding is possible as water levels along the Ottawa River continue to rise.

On April 20, the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority upgraded its earlier flood watch to a flood warning for low-lying areas along the Ottawa River from Arnprior to Hawkesbury, including the west-end shoreline.

Near Britannia, current projections suggest additional increases of roughly

10 to 15 centimetres in the short term, with impacts expected primarily in low-lying yards, parkland and shoreline areas. A small number of properties could see water approach residential structures.

The Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board reported water levels at Lake Deschênes near Britannia reached about 60.15 metres above sea level on April 20, with peak levels around 60.30 metres expected within a week.

Belltown Community Association president Alex Cullen said in a social media post the Ottawa River has not yet

It remains unclear why the partnership ended and what future plans hold for the Matthew Perry House Foundation.

“All partners recognize the significant and ongoing need for supportive housing

impacted by substance use disorders,” the joint statement read. “There is shared appreciation for the early contributions that helped bring attention to this important work.”

reached the peak of the spring freshet and could rise further depending on upstream snowmelt and rainfall expected later this week.

“This pause in rising water levels … is welcome,” he said, “but we haven’t reached the peak of the spring freshet yet.”

Localized seepage has been reported along sections of the NCC multi-use pathway corridor.According to Cullen, a gate under the pathway near Maplecrest has shown some leakage, though the flow is currently being absorbed by nearby drainage infrastructure and is not considered a major concern at this time.

Similar monitoring is underway near Boyce Avenue and Scrivens Street, where legacy culverts have also been leaking.

“Sand bags have been placed at these spots and it appears that water flowing from these culverts is being easily absorbed by nearby drains,” Cullen said.

A new name will be released at a later date, and planning on the project is continuing as expected, “including the land-lease process and upcoming procurement milestones.”

In May 2025, a small crowd gathered behind the Royal for a ceremonial tree planting to mark the future site of what was then expected to become Matthew Perry House. Perry’s mother, Suzanne Morrison, and his stepfather, Dateline correspondent Keith Morrison, stood alongside city leaders and supporters as a bing cherry tree was planted in his honour — a nod to Perry’s iconic role as Chandler Bing on the sitcom Friends.

Belltown Community Association president Alex Cullen (left) helps fill sandbags near Britannia Beach.

Residents living beside the pathway have also reported that sump pumps are seeing less activity than expected following recent NCC rehabilitation work along the corridor between Maplehurst and Scrivens.

Volunteer Opportunity

Unitarian House of Ottawa is seeking new members to join our Board of Directors in September 2026. We are a charitable organization providing affordable housing for seniors in the Westboro area.

If you have a strong interest in the care provided to seniors, a willingness to share your skills and experience and a desire to make a difference, then this opportunity is for you.

Experience in not-for-profit governance, financial management, civil engineering, or in property and contract management will be considered an asset.

Interested candidates are invited to apply by May 9th, 2026 , including relevant experience and skills, and their vision for contributing to our mission.

Email Jackie Holzman at jholzman@unitarianhouse.org www.unitarianhouse.ca/

living & wellness Active Cycling gains momentum across Ottawa as riding season returns

Local

bike shops say more families, commuters and recreational riders are getting back on the city’s pathways and streets

By Hau Ting Ng

Bike season is finally around the corner. For many Ottawa residents, that means it’s time to dust off helmets, tune up bikes and get back outside after a long winter.

The prime riding season from April to October is every cyclist’s favourite time of year, but early spring does come with a small warning. Road shoulders often still carry remnants of winter sanding operations, including grit and debris left behind after the snow melts. That makes this

one of the most common times of year for flat tires, so riders should stay alert while enjoying the fresh air.

Local bike shops are already seeing riders preparing for the return of warmer weather.

Over at Bushtukah Westboro, bike expert Mike Cote said this time of year, they have a plethora of passionate cyclists.

“We’re also seeing families coming in who are excited about the springtime, want to set up their kids with a bike for school, or get exercise,” Cote said. “Ottawa is an

At Full Cycle Bike Shop on Wellington Street West, owner Matti Pihlainen said cycling participation has shifted over the years but remains strong.

“The pandemic was a fairly large one, but it seems that ridership increased a little during the pandemic,” Pihlainen said, “A lot of people bought bikes, and a lot of those people are still out there riding a lot, and I’ve gotten into the sport.”

One trend he continues to see is growing interest in gravel bikes.

“That’s kind of like a more generalpurpose road bike for the average enthusiast, all road surfaces are really comfortable to ride on,” Pihlainen said.

For people considering getting started this season, he recommends beginning with a conversation at a local shop.

“Just to come in the store, talk to someone, get some information and make good decisions.”

CYCLING CONTINUES TO GROW ACROSS OTTAWA

Cycling activity across Ottawa has increased significantly over the past decade.

About 99,000 cycling trips were made daily in 2022, up from roughly 48,000 in 2011, according to the city’s Transportation Trends Report released in 2024. Cycling now accounts for approximately four per cent of all daily trips that start or end in Ottawa.

amazing city with such green and beautiful places on bike paths.”

Cote said customers come into the shop with a wide range of needs, from everyday commuting and recreational riding to more technical trail cycling. He added that conversations with staff often help people find the right fit.

“I see a lot of people biking. I think it’s a healthy choice and you’re just getting a lot of endorphins,” Cote said, “Some cyclists join the club that could give you exercise and friendships.”

In some central neighbourhoods — including Old Ottawa South, the Civic Hospital area and the Glebe — commuting by bike can reach more than five per cent. Overall cycling mode share has grown from 1.4 per cent in 1995 to about 3.9 per cent in 2022.

Dave Robertson from Bike Ottawa said he’s noticed growing interest in cycling across the city, something reflected in how busy Ottawa’s pathway network has become. He said many residents first took up riding during the pandemic and have continued with it since.

“Ottawa is an incredibly cycling friendly place,” said Robertson. “I

see more and more parents out with their kids, teaching them how to navigate the streets. That’s a new trend I’ve been noticing.”

That growing popularity also helped inspire the launch of a cycling guide app by Bike Ottawa last summer.

“My perception of getting around the city has totally changed since I started using the app,” said Robertson. “I had my route that I would regularly take to get to work. It might not have been the most direct, but I always want it to be comfortable and enjoyable. I punched in my route on the map and realized there was a whole route I never knew existed – and it was even faster than what I had been taking.”

Ottawa’s cycling network now includes more than 800 kilometres of routes across the city, including laneways, pathways and rural connections. That includes roughly 325 kilometres of multi-use pathways and about 340 kilometres of on-road bike lanes, according to Bike Ottawa. Across the river, Gatineau Park adds another 90 kilometres of mountain-bike trails.

Ottawa’s extensive cycling network is one of the reasons the sport remains so popular locally. Every summer, more than 50 kilometres of scenic parkways — including the Kichi Zībī Mīkan — are closed to vehicles during certain periods as part of the National Capital Commission’s Weekend Bikedays program.

Kichi Zībī Mīkan is a scenic 9.4-kilometre route along the south shore of the Ottawa River. It passes popular destinations including Remic Rapids Park, Bate Island, Westboro Beach and Mud Lake, making it one of the most accessible and scenic spring rides in the city.

Since the Chief William Commanda Bridge opened as a multi-use pathway, it has also become a popular connection between Ottawa and Gatineau, averaging about 1,500 crossings a day — roughly 60 per cent of them by cyclists.

With files by Charlie Senack

How to stay safe on Ottawa’s bike routes and protecting your ride from theft

One of the many reasons people choose to live in Ottawa’s urban core is its access to bike paths. Whether it’s along the Ottawa River Pathway to Westboro Beach, through the Central Experimental Farm, or on the Trillium Pathway that runs alongside the O-Train line, there are many ways to move around the community by bike.

But with more riders on the road comes an important reminder: knowing how to keep both yourself and your bike safe is key when commuting around town.

Wear a helmet and stay visible: A properly fitted helmet significantly reduces the risk of serious injury. Bright clothing and lights — even during the day — help drivers see you earlier.

Ride predictably:

Signal turns, obey traffic lights and stop signs, and avoid weaving between parked cars where drivers may not expect cyclists.

Watch intersections closely: Most serious cycling collisions

happen at intersections. Slow down, make eye contact with drivers where possible and assume you may not be seen.

Use separated routes when available:

Infrastructure like the Ottawa River Pathway, Byron Linear Park corridor and other cycling links across the west end provide safer alternatives to busy streets whenever possible.

Check your bike regularly: Brakes, tires and lights should be inspected before longer rides — especially early in the season after winter storage.

Bike theft remains a concern in central neighbourhoods

Despite statistics from Ottawa Police showing bike theft across the city is trending downward, several communities in and around Kitchissippi remain among the areas most affected.

There were 1,191 bicycles reported stolen last year, down from 1,407 in 2024 and 1,321 in 2023. About 20 per cent of stolen bikes were eventually recovered, representing roughly $947,000 in

The downtown core remained the biggest hotspot for bike theft last year, with 206 bicycles reported stolen in Centretown and another 85 in West Centretown. Hintonburg–Mechanicsville ranked eighth on the list with 40 bikes stolen, while Westboro ranked ninth with 31 and Island Park placed 10th overall.

How to reduce the risk of

Even locked bikes can be targeted, but a few steps can dramatically

Use a high-quality U-lock: Cable locks alone are easy to cut. A solid U-lock around the frame — and ideally one wheel — is far more secure.

Lock to something permanent:

Choose racks bolted into the ground or sturdy street furniture. Avoid temporary structures or removable posts.

Remove accessories: Lights, bags and quick-release seats are easy targets if left unattended.

Register your bike:

Ottawa police encourage riders to register bikes through the free 529 Garage system, which helps track and recover stolen property.

Choose visible locations: Park in busy, well-lit areas rather than isolated side streets or behind buildings.

PranaShanti Education Centre Moves to Wellington West:

All Your Wellness Learning Under One Roof

Wellness in Ottawa just got a little more accessible—and a lot more convenient. PranaShanti Education Centre has officially moved upstairs into 950 Gladstone Avenue in Wellington West, joining the beloved PranaShanti Yoga Centre and bringing classes, workshops, and trainings all under one roof.

For 18+ years, PranaShanti has been known for its yoga classes, meditation sessions, and holistic programs that nurture body, mind, and spirit. Now, with the Education Centre above the studio, students can flow from a yoga class directly into a workshop, training, or seminar without ever leaving the building. “It’s about creating a seamless experience for our community,” says Devinder Kaur, Owner and Director of PranaShanti Education Centre.

“Let’s have wellness and learning integrated into everyday life.”

The Centre’s mission is simple: to empower people to connect with their inner wisdom, deepen their practice, and cultivate a balanced, vibrant life. Its offerings are as

diverse as they are enriching—ranging from Yoga Teacher Trainings to meditation programs, Ayurveda courses, and workshops on holistic health, stress management, and mindfulness. Whether you’re looking to advance your professional skills or simply explore new ways to support your well-being, PranaShanti has something for everyone.

The move to Wellington West also strengthens the sense of community. With yoga downstairs and education upstairs, students, practitioners, and visitors can gather, learn, and practice in a fully integrated environment. “We’re creating a hub where people can grow, connect, and thrive,” says Devinder.

Upcoming programs include immersive multi-day trainings, beginner-friendly workshops, and specialty

For schedules and registration, visit www.pranashanti.com or drop by 950 Gladstone Avenue to explore the new home of holistic learning in Ottawa.

courses designed to equip participants with practical tools for daily life. Every offering is led by experienced instructors, ensuring authentic guidance and a rich learning experience.

If you’ve been looking for a place to deepen your practice, explore wellness modalities, or simply experience a sense of calm and connection, PranaShanti Yoga Centre and PranaShanti Education Centre in Wellington West are ready to welcome you. Come for a yoga class, stay for a workshop, and discover a space where body, mind, soul and spirit meet.

Stay Strong and Balanced with Integrated Touch Physiotherapy

May is physiotherapy month, a time to care for your muscles, bones, and overall physical health. Integrated Touch Physiotherapy, located at 2148 Carling Ave, is hosting their Strong for Spring promotion to promote strength conditioning, balance assessment and treatments, and fall and injury prevention as people get back to outdoor activities after winter.

Integrated Touch is a fully bilingual, multidisciplinary rehabilitation clinic that offers physiotherapy, massages, naturopathy, pelvic floor physiotherapy, acupuncture, and cupping services. They deliver high quality care using evidence-based, holistic, and personalized approaches in our assessments and treatments. Every session is one-on-one with a fully trained therapist, as they believe in the collaborative approach to help patients achieve their rehab goals and get back to their activities.

Opened in 2019, owner Andria Cellucci started the business to have a positive impact on the lives of the people in her neighborhood. “I wanted to be part of promoting physiotherapy and healthy aging, and I created a space where

everybody is welcome and supported while they work on their health and healing,” she said. “Being a small business owner lets me grow something I believe in and leave a positive impact on the community we are in.”

The goal is to build long-lasting relationships with both individuals and the community, all while helping people return to the standard of health they’re used to. Since opening, they’ve sponsored local athletes, participated in activities such as the Bethany Hope Centre Santa Shuffle and High Tea, and donated to community initiatives such as the Woodpark Community Association Movie In The Park, The Down Syndrome Association National Capital Region, the Ottawa Gay Men’s Choir, and the Twist at The Black Widow Cheer Gym.

“If we met you thank you for your support! If we haven’t met you yet and you have an injury that’s been lingering, or are hesitant about whether physiotherapy can help you, we are here to answer any questions you have about your situation and what you can expect in a session,” said Cellucci.

“We care about you getting better, and we’re here to help you get on track to getting better and staying active. Early intervention is important, and it’s always better to start now. Send us an email or phone call; we want to support you in your recovery.”

We’ve Changed Our Name — Not Our Care

Holland Cross Dental is now Blusky Dental - Holland Cross.

For over 20 years, Dr. McCullough, Dr. Ganske, Dr. Hill and Dr. Cormier have proudly cared for this community — and they’re still here, alongside the same trusted team.

What’s new?

Modern technology designed to make your visits even better.

We’d love to welcome you back call 613-728-1511 or visit www.bluskydental.ca to book your visit today.

Carling Avenue pharmacy marks 45 years serving Ottawa patients

NutriChem’s model focuses on longer consultations and individualized treatment plans

By Hau Ting Ng

For many people, visiting a pharmacy means a quick stop between errands to drop off a prescription, pick up medication and head home.

to be the trusted source of information within the wellness and health sector, especially in the noise surrounding supplements and wellness on social media.”

But when pharmacist Kent MacLeod purchased a struggling west-end pharmacy in 1981, he set out to build something different: a place where patients could receive more time, more explanation and more individualized care than traditional pharmacy models typically allowed.

More than four decades later, that idea has grown into NutriChem, an integrative pharmacy and clinic at 2599 Carling Ave. where pharmacists, nutritionists and naturopathic doctors work together to support patients through longer consultations and personalized treatment plans.

Now approaching its 45th anniversary, the clinic remains a family-run business led by the second generation of the MacLeod family, including CEO and naturopathic doctor Emma PollonMacleod.

“NutriChem plays a thought leader in the alternative space,” Pollon-Macleod said. “We want

As access to family doctors continues to be a challenge across Ottawa, integrative clinics like NutriChem are increasingly becoming one place residents turn for preventative guidance and longer conversations about their health.

Unlike a typical retail pharmacy, NutriChem operates as an integrative health hub where clients can meet with pharmacists, nutritionists and naturopathic doctors in one location. A central part of that model is its naturopathic clinic, where patients can book hour-long consultations that explore medical history, lifestyle and lab testing before developing individualized care plans.

Personalization remains central to how the clinic operates. Staff begin with detailed conversations about lifestyle and health goals before connecting clients with the practitioners best suited to support them.

Unlike many pharmacies that are designed around speed and

volume, NutriChem’s retail space is staffed by nutritionists who provide guidance alongside pharmacists. Patients can also book hour-long consultations with naturopathic doctors — appointments intended to explore how different systems in the body interact rather than focusing on a single symptom.

“Understanding what support someone needs for different stages can be very empowering for someone to feel like they have support, and they’re not just being thrown,” Pollon-Macleod said. “We like to operate where we give advice, not based on bias, but based on what’s going to work for the person.”

From its early years, the clinic also developed expertise in prescription compounding — tailoring medications to individual patients when commercial formulations don’t meet their needs — alongside nutrition guidance and preventative health planning.

Supplements have become increasingly mainstream in recent years, particularly as wellness advice spreads quickly online. Pollon-Macleod said NutriChem’s approach has remained consistent over time, focusing on targeted use rather than trends.

“Everybody doesn’t need every single supplement; more isn’t always better,” Pollon-Macleod emphasizes. “It’s about having a consistent, purposeful plan that’s personalized for you, rather than taking 20 different things without knowing if you actually need them.”

Alongside its clinical services, NutriChem has spent roughly the last two decades developing its own line of Canadian-made supplements designed to meet specific patient needs and sensitivities.

Rachel Macdonald, a customer at NutriChem for around a year, said the products stand out compared with what she has found elsewhere.

“Their quality of their vitamins and their product is top-notch,” Macdonald said. “They are not as

much into pharma, like Big Pharma, as they are into sort of small Pharma.”

Pollon-Macleod said the clinic deliberately focuses on simpler formulations rather than heavily modified products with long ingredient lists.

“I think if people look for a Health Canada-approved product, it says third-party tested, they can not look and see an extra huge, giant list of ingredients with flavours and a bunch of different things, additives that you can’t pronounce.”

For some longtime clients, that consistency is part of the appeal.

Liane Reid, a customer for over a decade, said she continues to travel across the city to visit the clinic.

“They’re very knowledgeable about what they sell, which helps in your overall health,” Reid said.

Women’s health has also been a longstanding focus of NutriChem’s practice. While menopause and hormonal health have become more widely discussed in recent years, Pollon-Macleod said the clinic has been working in this area for more than 25 years, including offering specialized hormone compounding.

Today, she said, demand for evidence-based support is growing as more women seek options beyond simply managing symptoms on their own.

By providing clinical guidance and personalized hormone therapy, the clinic supports patients navigating menopause and perimenopause with clearer information and structured treatment plans.

After more than four decades serving Ottawa residents, PollonMacleod said the clinic’s impact is often measured less in individual appointments than in the longer relationships built with patients over time.

Fitness, Fun, and Community—All Under One Roof

The Soloway JCC has everything to keep you and your family happy, healthy and fit.

SJCC members enjoy a full fitness experience, including an indoor saltwater pool, modern fitness centre, and a gymnasium with basketball and Pickleball. We also offer one-on-one basketball training for those looking to develop their skills in a more focused setting. Certified personal trainers are on hand to help you achieve your fitness goals, including personalized training in the pool for a unique and effective workout experience.

With more than 50 classes on the Group Fitness Schedule, most included in your membership, there are a wide range of ways to keep fit and have fun. Our high energy classes include PowerPump, Yoga Flow, Fusion Fitness, Tai Chi, Pilates and so much more!

Take your workout outside with an invigorating and social walk with Nordic Pole Walking or dip in the pool for one of our popular aquafit classes.

The SJCC is a proud partner of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, offering Heart Wise Fitness classes for those with cardiac disease or for anyone who wants the reassurance of heart-friendly programming.

Looking for personalized support? Our certified personal trainers are here to help you reach your goals with customized fitness plans. Plus, our Body Composition Testing goes beyond the scale to give you a deeper understanding of your health and progress.

Now’s the perfect time to start your membership and enjoy our outdoor pool all summer!

Come in for a free tour and get started today!

21 Nadolny Sachs Private (one block south of Carling off Broadview) (613) 798-9818

“I always value that so much that we could have any sort of impact on someone’s life and health and their ability to show up for their family, for their career,” Pollon-Macleod said.

“The impacts trickle on.”

in

modern fitness

at the

Finding strength at any age: Inside a Westboro fitness class built for seniors

By Brian Dryden

At first glance, the name might be intimidating.

But inside a gym on Laperriere Ave., a small group of older adults is quietly redefining what fitness can look like later in life, one carefully guided movement at a time.

The program, run out of CrossFit 1855, offers a daily strength-training class tailored specifically to older adults. Despite operating under the CrossFit banner, the approach inside is far from the high-intensity stereotype often associated with the brand.

For 74-year-old Kathy Vallee, the class has become something she hadn’t found anywhere else.

“I’ve been going for almost two years, and I’ve never stuck with a gym this long,” she said. “I feel like I have my own personal trainer.’

Vallee says what sets the program apart is the level of attention participants receive.

Each session begins with a clear explanation and demonstration of every movement, followed by time for participants to practice before the workout begins.

“If you can’t do one movement, (fitness coach) Pete will show you a different one,” she said.

“You really feel seen. In a lot of other gyms, you could be doing something completely wrong and no one corrects you.”

That hands-on approach is

intentional, says instructor Peter Shaw, who co-founded the program with his wife, family Dr. Jennifer Crichton through their health-focused business Petra Health.

“With over a decade in the fitness industry, I’ve always believed in the power of movement to prevent and even reverse chronic illness,” Shaw said.

“Seniors are one of the groups that benefit most from staying active, especially when it comes to maintaining mobility and independence.”

The class runs daily from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., and is structured to be adaptable to a wide range of abilities. Participants move through the program at their own pace, tracking their progress individually, but without the pressure of competition.

“It’s not about who finishes first,” Vallee said. “It’s about doing it right and what works for you.”

That flexibility is key to making the program accessible, Shaw said. After running separate seniorfocused classes prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, he had to rethink how to continue offering them when attendance dropped off. Partnering with CrossFit 1855 allowed him to rebuild the program in a new space while maintaining its personalized approach.

The result is something that falls between traditional group fitness

ACTIVE LIVING & WELLNESS

and one-on-one personal training, what Vallee describes as “the missing middle” of senior fitness.

“There’s a real gap,” she said. “A lot of seniors want to stay strong and healthy, but they don’t feel comfortable in a typical gym environment, and personal training can be expensive.”

The program aims to address both concerns. Classes are offered in a flexible package, $300 for 20 sessions, with participants paying only when they attend. First-time visitors can try a class for free.

Beyond the physical benefits, both Shaw and Vallee point to the social aspect as a key part of the experience.

“There’s a real sense of camaraderie,” Vallee said. “Everyone is supportive. You’re working at your own level, but you’re doing it together.”

That sense of community, combined with a focus on safety

and education, is what keeps participants coming back. Each class includes a structured warmup and a clear explanation of why each movement matters, something Shaw says helps people stay engaged and confident.

For Vallee, the results have been tangible.

“I haven’t felt this strong and fit in years,” she said. “I just wish I had found it sooner.”

As Ottawa’s population continues to age, programs like this may become increasingly important, not just for fitness, but for overall quality of life. Shaw sees it as part of a broader shift in how people think about health.

“Movement is medicine,” he said. “And it’s never too late to start.”

Shaw said those who want to try the class can just show up at the gym when a class is starting, or register through his company's website petrahealth.ca

Hearing Health is a Key Component to Healthy Aging

May is Speech and Hearing Month, a time to pay attention to your hearing at every stage of life.

Treat Hearing, located at 170 Booth Street, is celebrating by inviting the community to take thenext step in their hearing health. Mention this article and receive a free hearing check.

With more than three thousand families helped and consistently excellent customer reviews, Treat Hearing is recognized for providing exceptional hearing care and effective hearing solutions.

Why Hearing Health Matters

Hearing is more than just listening—it’s a vital part of how we experience the world. Even mild hearing loss can make conversations or attending social events frustrating. Over time, avoiding these situations can lead to social isolation and affect your quality of life.

Research shows that hearing loss can negatively affect the brain. Studies led by Dr. Frank Lin indicate that reduced auditory input can reduce neural activity in the auditory cortex and that hearing loss is associated with increased risk of cognitive decline.

Straining to hear can also tax the prefrontal lobe, due to the increased cognitive effort required to listen through a hearing loss.

Early Detection Makes a Difference

With early assessment and proper support, hearing loss can be effectively managed. Detecting changes in your hearing allows you to take action before difficulties affect daily life. A hearing check allows you to:

• Accurately evaluate your hearing levels

• Identify specific challenges affecting your everyday activities

• Understand how hearing solutions can be beneficial

Acting early is crucial—while untreated hearing loss can lead to isolation from family, friends, and the community, The Lancet Medical Journal points out that hearing loss and the #1 “modifiable” risk factor for dementia… the recommendation from the medical community is unambiguous: even mild hearing loss should be treated, if possible.

Take Action Today

To celebrate Speech and Hearing Month, Treat Hearing is offering free hearing checks this month only, while spots are still available.

Call 613-567-3644 or visit treatyourhearing.ca to book your appointment.

You probably know that social and physical activity are key to wellness

Dovercourt, a community hub for innovative and highquality programs, offers exceptional fitness and social opportunities. The Fit Pass and sessional Specialty and Aquafitness classes, are led by a team of experienced instructors, many of whom have decades of experience at the Centre.

The Fit Pass provides excellent value and flexibility. With over 57 classes each week, there’s something for everyone, from favourites like Cardio & Strength Mix, HIIT, Zumba, Body Blast, Flex & Pump, to cutting-edge options like TRX, Barre Fit, Aerial Yoga, Cycle Fit, and Aquafitness. Online classes offer the convenience of working out at home. The pass also includes access to the fitness centre, weight room, recreational swimming, and pickleball. The Cafe and upstairs lobby provide coffee, snacks, Euchre Club, and socializing.

Seniors on the Go classes are part of the Fit Pass schedule. These HeartWise-certified, lighter-intensity classes focus on cardio, functional strength, and mobility. The Fit Pass can be purchased anytime, paused for vacations, and doesn’t have hidden extras like contracts,

initiation fees, or variable pricing. Registration can be completed online, in person, or by phone, and costs $48 per month for ongoing and $58 for a one-month paid-infull.

For those who prefer a regular weekly class, registered specialty classes are offered on a sessional basis, and include a diverse range of options, from dynamic to rehab-focused. Join like-minded individuals for classes such Tai Chi, Pilates, Yoga, Aqua Jogging, Zumba Toning and Small Group Training. Aqua rehab classes, including Arthritis, FM, and Healthy Back, address specific conditions and help you regain strength and mobility. Moms-to-be and moms can find pre- and postnatal options, including Yoga, Strength & Core and Aquafit.

Monthly Wellness Education sessions are open to everyone, featuring informative talks from local physiotherapists and wellness experts. Grab a coffee and a muffin at the Cafe and get ready to learn!

Connect with the warm and welcoming community at Dovercourt!

Skin Health and Wellness

Q&A with Dr. Rebecca Fisher

Why is healthy skin so important?

The skin is the largest organ in the body. An average adult carries approximately 8 pounds of skin that is spread over 22 square feet!

Skin is our barrier to the world around us, providing protection from UV rays, chemicals, bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Our skin can only effectively do its job when it’s healthy and its barrier is intact, keeping us safe from all those harmful environmental aggressors.

Effective skincare not only makes your skin look good, but it also helps you get sick less often, keeps you healthier overall, and helps you live a longer life.

What are three simple things we can do to improve skin health?

Prevention is key!

Skin is the first line of defense against the environment. It is an effective barrier against most things, but anything we can do to add another layer of protection will help. Daily sunscreen and antioxidants will go a long way toward preventing premature damage.

Another important factor is good nutrition. The skin needs energy and protein to maintain and rebuild itself, so maintaining a healthy diet is the foundation of good skin health.

Finally, a good skincare routine will get rid of irritants, aggressors, and pollutants, and provide a good protective barrier. Developing a good skincare routine that fits into your daily routine is the kindest thing you can do for your skin.

Take care of your skin, and it will take care of you!

This long-haul trucker has dramatically worse aging on the left side of his face from prolonged driver’s-seat sun exposure, evidence of the harmful effects of UV rays.

PHOTO

CREDIT NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE

What causes premature aging?

There are several factors to skin aging, and they come from both inside and outside the body. Genetics can’t be changed, but external factors can be modified. The biggest external aggressor is UV rays which in excess cause wrinkles, loss of

collagen, irregular pigment, and even skin cancer. Other modifiable external damaging factors include pollution, smoking, and poor diet.

Anything that will take care of your body’s general health will also be beneficial for the skin.

What are your three favourite skincare products?

The number one most important, and therefore my favorite skincare product will always be sunscreen. Up to 90 percent of premature skin aging is due to UV exposure, so sunscreen is a no-brainer for daily use all year round.

My second favorite product is topical Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid. It’s a potent antioxidant that promotes collagen production, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and protects against UV-induced damage. It also evens out your skin tone by reducing dark spots, sunspots, and hyperpigmentation.

My third favorite skincare product is retinol. It accelerates skin rejuvenation and further promotes collagen production, which means bouncier, more elastic skin!

Do office procedures actually improve skin quality?

They absolutely do!

There is a long list of clinical skin procedures that target a variety of skin concerns. The treatments are adjusted based on your skin type and can relieve many common problems, including acne, wrinkles, loose or thin skin, redness, brown spots, and a variety of medical skin disorders.

What about skincare trends?

I am generally cautious about skincare trends. New ingredients can be innovative, and new treatments are exciting, but it’s important to wait and give the science time to catch up. Unproven treatments are not without risk, so better to wait until effectiveness has been proven before jumping on the bandwagon.

Where can I go for more info?

Come visit the Dermapure Clinic, located at 1272 Wellington Street West. We’re a medical Clinic with dozens of locations across the country, and we’d love to put our collective expertise to work for your skin.

Located in the heart of the Wellington Village, Dr. Hetz, Dr. Viana, and I focus on providing skin care treatments, dermatology consults and Medical Aesthetic treatments. We only use the safest, most effective treatments and techniques available. We also have three excellent medical aestheticians who provide a variety of Energybased services.

our website at www.dermapure.com, or call 613.829.1266 Follow me on instagram @rebeccafishermd.skin for more skin tips and advice to help navigate this ever-changing and evolving space!