The Orleans Star March 5, 2026

Orléans Olympians successfully defend speed skating gold

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star

It is rare indeed for Olympic athletes to win a gold medal. It is rarer still for Olympic athletes to repeat their gold medal winning performance four years later.

Orléans Olympians Isabelle Weidemann and Ivanie Blondin accomplished just that at the recent Winter Olympics in MilanoCortina, Italy, where they and teammate Valerie Maltais won the women’s team pursuit event, successfully defending the gold medal they won in Beijing in 2022.

The trio went into the final against the cofavourites from the Netherlands after easily defeating the United States by over four seconds in the semi-finals.

The Netherlands had a tougher time of it in their semi-final, besting the team from Japan by

just a tenth of a second.

In the gold medal showdown, Canada trailed the Netherlands for the first seven laps of the 12 lap race. They made their move on the eighth lap and never looked back, crossing the finish line by nearly a second ahead of the Dutch.

This will likely be the final Olympics for the 35-year-old Blondin, who also won a silver medal in the mass start, giving four Olympic medals in total.

At age 30, Weidemann could conceivably compete in the 2030 Olympics, which will take place in the French Alps, but that was the furthest thing from her mind as she celebrated her gold medal with her teammates.

“I’m so proud of all the work that the three of us have done over the last four years,” said Weidemann. “We’re a very different team, I

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Your waste collection day may change starting March 30

OTTAWA – Starting Monday, March 30, your waste collection day may change due to the City’s new curbside collection contract. The new schedule will impact about half of the households in Ottawa, while the collection dates for the other half of the households in the city will remain as they are now. To see if the new schedule impacts you, view your collection calendar online or in the Ottawa Waste Collection Calendar app. If you are affected by this change, you will see your updated collection day on the week of Monday, March 30 and beyond. There will be no curbside collection on Good Friday, April 3, or Easter Monday, April 6; pick-up will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week. As a result, your collection day for the week following Easter Monday may not be your new collection day going forward. If you are signed up for weekly collection reminders, you can continue to rely on them. The frequency of garbage, green bin, leaf and yard waste, and recycling collection is not changing. A letter will be sent to all residents who receive curbside collection to let them know about the change.

Ottawa School of Theatre launches Susan M. Fleming Playwrite Awards

ORLÉANS – The Ottawa School of Theatre (OST) has launched a playwriting contest for aspiring writers in the National Capital Region and named the awards after former OST teacher and writer Susan Fleming who was also the founder and past president of the historical theatre Vintage Stock Theatre. The awards have been made possible thanks to an anonymous $5,000 donation from a community member in honour of Ms. Flemming. Winners in the 12-14 and 15-18 age categories will have the chance to see their plays performed on stage by OST students. Winners will also receive a $150 cash prize, along with a $200 gift certificate to OST classes and camps. An adult category is also being added to the playwriting contest. OST is looking for submissions of one-act plays of 30-60 minutes in length, from any adult in the National Capital Region (excluding OST staff and board members). As a bilingual theatre school, the OSA welcomes submissions in both English or French. The deadline to submit is Friday, May 1. For more information contact marketing@ost-eto.ca or megan@ost-eto.ca.

Orléans Olympians repeat gold medal performance

Continued from page 1 think, than in Beijing. We’ve overcome a lot. I’m just so proud.”

“It means the world,” Blondin said about winning a second straight gold medal in the event. “I wouldn’t want to be standing here with anyone else. I think that the trust that we have with this team is what made that happen.”

After their win, the gold medal trio got to video chat with Prime Minister Mark Carney during which he congratulated them on their accomplishment.

“To win is obviously incredible. To repeat. You get nervous when the race is coming up and uh, you nailed it. Felicitations,” said an elated Prime Minister.

Weidemann and Blondin are both products of the Gloucester Speed Skating Club which is based out of the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Centre.

Blondin began skating as a youth almost 25 years ago. Despite experiencing early success competing in short track she missed out on making the 2010 Olympic team. As a result of that and internal politics, she

switched to long track in 2011 and has never looked back.

Weidemann also took up speed skating at an early age and was always a long track specialist.

Both Blondin and Weidemann have now won four Olympic medals, equaling the total won by fellow Ottawa speed skater Kristina Groves in the 2006 and 2010 Olympics. The only difference is that Groves never won gold.

Navan waste facility extension little more than status quo

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star

Efforts to extend the operation of the Waste Connections of Canada waste recycling and disposal facility amount to little more than extending the current status quo for another 10 to 15 years, says a spokesman for the company.

“Operations would simply continue as they are today, providing essential waste diversion and disposal services that local residents and businesses, including the City of Ottawa, depend on,” explains Chris Visser, regional director of technical services for Waste Connections of Canada.

“The site has been operating for decades and will continue to be managed with a focus on safety, environmental protection, and community well-being.”

Addressing a full house of mostly concerned local residents at a recent open house, Visser outlined that very little would change from the site’s current operation.

It would continue to act as a waste collection and recycling site for household items from the surrounding area as well as industrial, commercial and institutional waste from companies and businesses

operating in Ottawa. It would continue to reject organic waste in any form. And it would continue to contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Friends of the Mer Bleue Community Fund, which supports dozens of local community initiatives and organizations.

The facility also actively promotes diversion, and in 2024 approximately 32% of the waste tonnage received was diverted through “last chance harvest” activities.

And perhaps most importantly of all, extending the operation of the facility does not mean the footprint of the site is being expanded. It will be just be made higher. When the facility is eventually mothballed, all that will remain is a grassand tree-covered hill.

The biggest argument for extending the facility’s operations is the lack of other options. It is the only facility in Ottawa that currently accepts industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) waste.

The municipal waste reduction and collection facility on Trail Road banned ICI waste several years ago in an effort to extend it’s life expectancy. It did so knowing that the Navan Road site would be able to accept the city’s ICI waste.

If the Navan Road facility isn’t able to extend it’s operation past 2027, the city’s ICI waste would have to be trucked outside of the city at a significant extra cost.

The City recently bough a landfill site on Boundary Road near Carlsbad Springs, but it will be at least two to three years before it’s operational.

Despite assurances from Waste Connections Canada (WCC) that extending the operation of the facility would amount to little more than extending the current status quo, area residents are still upset

that WCC is going against the agreement the company made the last time it applied for an extension in 2008.

“Residents who bought homes in the area after the agreement was signed in 2008 acquired them thinking the landfill would soon reach the end of it’s lifespan,” says Heather Buchanan who is a member of the nearby Bradley Estates Community Association. “They are now facing another 12 to 15 years of operation. They feel betrayed by the breach of an agreement made in good faith.”

Giving the PM his due

Okay, I will say it. Thank goodness for Mark Carney. Whether you’re a cheerleading Liberal or the most ardent Conservative, you have to give Carney his due for a job well done when it comes to navigating the geopolitics he’s been thrown into since getting elected one year ago.

He’s not only stood up to Donald Trump, he’s bested him at nearly every turn. His speech at the World Economic Form in Davos, Switzerland in January has been heralded as one of the strongest statements against America’s aggressive foreign policy uttered on an international podium.

While Trump uses tariffs as a billy club in trying to get other countries (including Canada) to fall in line with his world view, Carney has gone out and negotiated 12 new economic and security accords with countries including China, Korea and Mexico. As I write this editorial, he is in India hoping to negotiate a trade deal with that country. And he is also seeking a trade deal with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the South American trade bloc Mercosur.

The man has brought new meaning to the word “pro-active”.

I can’t think of a better person to be leading this country during these turbulent times. As the saying goes, “He is the right person at the right time in history”.

As the former Governor of the Bank of Canada (2008 to 2013) and the former Governor of the Bank of England (2013 to 2020) he commands respect in the company of other world leaders because he knows of hat he speaks.

Now, would I be speaking this glowingly of Mark Carney if Donald Trump wasn’t president of the United States? Probably not. But Trump is president and Carney is the perfect foil to defend Canada and its interests against the deranged megalomaniac who seriously thinks that most Canadians want Canada to become the 51st state.

Ironically, if it wasn’t for Trump, Justin Trudeau would never have stepped down and Carney would never have become Prime Minister. Pierre Poilievre would have that title. But as another saying goes, “Everything happens for a reason”.

On the economic front, Canada’s GDP rose by 1.7% in 2025 despite the impact of Trump’s tariffs. The central bank interest rate is still at 2.25%. But all that means little to federal public servants facing layoffs, or young people who have little to no hope of ever owning their own home unless they receive a sizable inheritance or win the lottery.

Our dollar is still at a six-year low when compared to the Euro and it’s at a near 13-year low when compared to the U.S. dollar. But you can’t blame Carney for that. He’s only been on the job for 12 months. Let’s see where we stand in another 12 months and cast judgement then. In the meantime let’s appreciate what he’s achieved.

– Fred Sherwin

Replacing student grants with loans will result in crippling student debt

For years, I have met students and parents in Orléans who share the same concern: Can we actually afford post-secondary education?

Whether it’s a Grade 12 student at BéatriceDesloges, Cairine Wilson or St. Peter, or a parent working two jobs to help their child attend university or college, the question is no longer about ambition. It’s about affordability.

That is why the Ford government’s recent changes to OSAP are so troubling.

Beginning in 2026–27, the structure of student assistance will shift dramatically. Under the previous model, grants made up the clear majority of support, in some cases covering roughly 85% of assistance, with loans representing the smaller share. That approach reduced upfront financial pressure and limited the long-term debt burden students carried after graduation. In a stunningly callous decision, the Ford government is restructuring OSAP so that loans will make up at least 75% of support while grants are slashed to just 25%, knowingly forcing thousands of students deeper into debt.

more than the last.

Ontario once led the country in making postsecondary education more accessible. Today, we sit near the bottom in per-student funding. That is not the standard families in Orléans expect. We should be leading the country, not trailing behind it. Investing in students is an investment in our economy. We are told this shift is about “sustainability.” But when the Premier suggests students are spending OSAP on extravagances and tells young people to simply look harder for work while youth unemployment in Ontario sits around 16%, it sends a clear message – their struggles are being dismissed.

Students are already telling us what this means for them: increased financial stress, tougher choices about whether to study full-time and in some cases, reconsidering whether to attend at all.

Jody Maffett Editor The Orléans Star

Fred Sherwin Owner and publisher fsherwin@orleansstar.ca

Jean-Marc Pacelli Editor L’Orléanais

The Orléans Star is a bi-weekly publication distributed to over 40,000 residences in Blackburn Hamlet, Orléans and Navan. The newspaper is locally owned and operated by Sherwin Publishing Inc., 745 Farmbrook Cres., Orléans, ON. Inquiries and delivery issues should be sent to info@orleansstar.ca.

In plain language: higher monthly payments and years of worrying about how to pay it back.

This is not a minor adjustment. It is potentially lifealtering. Student debt affects when young people can buy a home, start a family or get ahead in a province where each generation is already being asked to carry

In Orléans, we believe in hard work. We believe in opportunity. And we believe that if you earn your place in college or university, the door should stay open. Fixing OSAP does not mean writing blank cheques. It means restoring balance so grants, not loans, are available for students who need it most.

If we are serious about building a stronger Ontario economy then it must begin with investing in the students who will power it. It’s time to fix OSAP. ASAP.

Disappointing Winter Olympics still has its share of bright spots

The recent Winter Olympic in MilanoCortina, Italy, were not the best of times for Team Canada. Our total haul of 21 medals is the lowest since Salt Lake City in 2002. Keep in mind that we had 50 fewer athletes back then and there were far fewer sports.

Eight years ago in Pyeongchang, we won 29 medals including 11 gold. We won just five gold medals this year.

The lack of gold medals was amplified by the heartbreak of seeing both our men’s and women’s hockey teams lose to the Americans. The loss to Team USA in overtime on the final day of the competition by the men’s team was especially hard to take.

But there were some bright spots. Sure Rachel Homan lost in the semi-finals of the women’s curling event, but her win in the bronze medal game as sweet redemption for a hometown hero (she went to Cairine Wilson Secondary School), who was trying to wipe out the memory of a disastrous campaign in 2018 in which she went 3-5 and missed out on the medal round.

One of my favourite Olympic moments this year did not come from the competition, but from Team Homan’s Facebook page and the pictures they posted celebrating their bronze medal with their family and friends.

Mikaël Kingsbury’s win in the men’s dual moguls as his partner and their young son

Fred Sherwin Up Front

looked on was another highlight.

Kingsbury last won gold in the moguls in 2018, but suffered disappointment as the pre-event favourite in 2022.

Since this is likely the 33-year-old Kingsbury’s last Olympics, or certainly his last shot at gold, getting back on the top of the podium was especially sweet.

Megan Oldman is at the other end of the age spectrum. The 21-year-old on gold in the Big Air event and bronze in slopestyle competing in just her second Olympics. In 2022, she just missed out on a medal after placing fourth in Big Air as a 17-year-old.

I’m sure we’ll she more of her again in 2030 when the Olympics will take place in the French Alps.

Skating in his prime, Steven Dubois won a gold medal in the 500-metre event in short track speed skating. He also won a silver medal in the mixed 2,000-metre relay and was given the honour of being Canada’s co-

flag bearer along with triple medalist Valerie Maltais.

Which brings me to the women’s speed skating team of Maltais, Ivanie Blondin and Isabelle Weidemann. Both Blondin and Weidemann are from Orléans. Seeing them win the women’s team pursuit gold medal was the highlight of the games for me, which was made even more special by their post-gold medal reels on Facebook and Instagram.

It was especially heart-warming to see Blondin end her Olympic career on such a high note winning both the team gold and an individual silver in the mass start. Not bad for a 35-year-old who is allegedly past her prime.

I began writing about Ivanie when she was 12 years old and was winning provincial medals by the truck load. To think that was 23 years ago is mind-boggling.

I was also super proud of Rachel Homan, who bounced back from a heart-breaking loss in the semi-finals of women’s curling to win the bronze medal. Afterwards, she celebrated with her teammates and family members as if it was an actual gold medal.

I photographed Blondin and Homan together in my front yard after they both won gold medals at the 2007 Canada Winter Games. They were both 17.

The performance of the women’s speedskating team saved the Olympics for me.

But what made these Olympics extra special for me was the presence of American figure skater Alysa Liu and Chinese-American freestyle skier Eileen Gu.

As long as I am alive I will never forget the support Liu gave to her fellow competitors. Despite already securing the gold medal, she was genuinely more excited for her fellow skaters than herself. If you haven’t seen it yet, you should search for Alysa Liu on YouTube and watch it for yourself. It will not only restore your faith in humanity, it ill restore your faith in Americans who didn’t vote for Trump.

Eileen Gu won the gold medal competing for China in freestyle skiing, but it is away from the slopes that she has truly excelled as both a student and professional model.

After graduating from high school a year early in 2022, she was accepted into Stanford University where she is studying quantum physics and philosophy.

To say that she is smart is a massive understatement. Her response to a question asking to compare two silver medals won to two gold medals lost, is epic as is her response to a question asking how her brain works. It is a lesson in self-empowerment that every young woman should watch.

NEIGHBOURHOOD UPDATE

Egg-stravaganza

The weather is getting warmer, and the days are getting longer! That can only mean one thing: my Spring Egg-stravaganza and Easter Egg Hunt is just around the corner!

True to tradition, the festivities will be taking place on Sunday, March 29 at the Orléans Fruit Farm, with the egg hunt kicking off at 10 am. Join me and our incredible hosts for a morning filled with refreshments, a special guest, and loads of fun!

Trees! Trees! Trees!

Last fall, I hosted our first community tree planting on the former convent grounds, and thanks to more than 100 incredible volunteers, we planted over 1,000 new trees together. It was an inspiring morning, and I am so excited that it is time to put shovels in the ground again for the next 1,000.

I would love for you to join me on the morning of Saturday, May 2, 9 am at 1754 St. Joseph Blvd. (weather permitting) as we continue this important greening project. These plantings help us enhance this new greenspace so that everyone in our community can enjoy it for years to come.

Bring your friends, your family, and a shovel if you have one. If you are a young person looking to earn community volunteer hours, this is a perfect opportunity. It is a wonderful way to help our community grow one tree at a time.

I will share the final details on my social media and e-newsletters as we get closer to the date, so stay tuned for updates. I hope to see you there!

Community Connections

I am grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had to connect with many of you out in the neighbourhood whether at my summer pop-up series, community events or at your door. I always appreciate hearing from you about your priorities and ideas on what can be done to make our community the best place to live.

Never hesitate to reach out to me, I am just a phone call or email away at Laura.Dudas@Ottawa.ca

Stay in the Loop!

More Room to Move

For decades, the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex - Orléans has been more than just a building; from our first glide across the Elizabeth Manley Figure Skating Arena to taking an aquafit class in the therapeutic pool, this facility has seen generations of our families grow. However, as our community has expanded, our infrastructure has struggled to keep pace. For years, the absence of a modern, multi-sport gymnasium at this site has been a glaring gap in our local recreational landscape.

Since I first took office, my mission has been to bridge that gap. I have heard from parents looking for local basketball courts, seniors seeking pickleball space, and community groups needing a home for their programs. I have carried those voices into every budget meeting and advocacy session.

I am proud to share that our collective persistence has reached a historic turning point: funding for the gym expansion is now officially secured.

Securing a project of this scale requires more than just local will; it requires strategic alignment across levels of government. I am thrilled to confirm that, following my extensive advocacy and collaboration with our federal partners, this expansion was explicitly identified as a major project included in the 2025 Federal Budget.

This is a monumental win for Orléans. By securing this federal commitment, we have moved this project from a “long-term vision” to a “funded reality.” With the City of Ottawa and the Government of Canada now actively collaborating on the technical next steps, we are no longer asking if this will happen, but when.

This project is about more than just bricks and mortar. By adding a state-of-the-art gymnasium, we are creating a community hub where residents of all ages can stay healthy and connected.

This expansion will:

• Increase Capacity: Providing much-needed relief for over-programmed gyms across the east end.

• Support Youth Development: Giving our local athletes a high-quality space to train and compete close to home.

• Enhance Accessibility: Ensuring that our recreational programming remains inclusive and accessible to everyone in our growing community.

I want to thank every resident who shared their vision and feedback over the years. Your support provided the mandate I needed to fight for this investment.

As your Councillor, I will continue to provide updates as we move through the funding, design, and tendering phases. This expansion is a testament to what we can achieve when we are persistent, vocal, and united in our vision for a stronger Orléans. We have worked for years to get this project off the ground, and I look forward to the day, coming soon, when we finally break ground on the future of recreation in our community.

This gym upgrade is just one of the many exciting improvements happening in our community this year. We have a record number of residential streets getting renewed, new parks and public spaces, with a river outlook taking shape along the Ottawa River, thousands of new trees and disc golf facilities at the former convent, and a third new greenspace coming with the new Roger Montpetit Park off Champlain St. I can’t wait to bump into everyone out enjoying these new places we’re building together.

Outdoor rink volunteers deserve community’s thanks March is Brain Health Month in Canada: Let’s talk about it

March is recognized as Brain Health Awareness Month in Canada; an important reminder that brain health matters at every stage of life.

In our community, we often talk about physical health: recreation, walkable streets, parks, and active living. But brain health is just as critical. It shapes how we think, connect, remember and live independently.

Recently, I connected with the Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County to learn more about their work supporting individuals and families impacted by dementia.

One important takeaway is this: dementia is not a single disease. It is an umbrella term that includes Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and other conditions, and no two people experience it the same way.

Behind every diagnosis is a person, a family, and a network of caregivers navigating change together. That’s why awareness matters.

Tim Tierney

Protecting brain health doesn’t start later in life. Research shows that staying physically active, socially connected, eating well, challenging your mind and managing heart health all help reduce risk and support long-term cognitive function.

We’re fortunate to have organizations and volunteers who support residents living with dementia and the care-givers who stand beside them every day. Their work reminds us this isn’t just a health issue, it’s a community issue.

Brain health is about dignity, independence and ensuring people feel supported and understood. This March, take a moment to reflect on your own brain health and check in on those around you. Start a conversation. Learn the signs. Reach out for information. Support the organizations doing this important work.

Healthy communities are built not just on strong infrastructure, but on strong minds and strong connections and that’s something worth investing in.

There is something uniquely special about winter in Ottawa, and nothing captures that spirit quite like coming together on the ice.

Last week my Family Skate was held at the Lois Kemp Arena, and it was wonderful to see so many come out and enjoy the evening.

Events like these also highlight how important our recreation spaces are. Our arenas, parks, and community centres are where families gather, grow and make memories, which is why I am always focused on keeping them strong for future generations.

visits give me the chance to thank the incredible volunteers who make these rinks possible.

Their work is often done late at night, in freezing temperatures, and without any fanfare. Yet they continue to show up, creating beautiful sheets of ice only steps from our front doors.

After the Lois Kemp Arena expansion, I heard from so many residents about how much the new space has meant to them. Building on that momentum, I am pushing forward on plans for a new gym addition at Bob MacQuarrie to give our community even more space to stay active.

Speaking of skating, I have also been visiting many of our community’s outdoor rinks over the past several weeks. These

We owe these volunteers so much, and it was a real pleasure to celebrate them at the City’s Annual Outdoor Rink Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast this past weekend. The breakfast is only a small token of thanks, especially compared to the dedication they show all season long.

Next time you are at your local rink and see someone clearing snow or flooding the ice, I hope you’ll take a moment to say thanks. Their dedication keeps our rinks, and our winter spirit, alive.

I also want to remind everyone about my annual Egg-Stravaganza Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, March 29th. It’s always a fabulous, fun event and I hope you can join me.

We’re building the first small modular reactors in the G7 and first large scale nuclear facilities in 30 years.

That’s how we protect Ontario.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY IS MARCH 8

International Women’s Day 2026 theme is ‘Give To Gain’

Special to the Orleans Star International Women’s Day

The theme of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026 is Give To Gain which aims to encourage a mindset of generosity and collaboration

Give To Gain emphasizes the power of reciprocity and support. When people, organizations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase. Giving is not a subtraction, it’s intentional multiplication. When women thrive, we all rise.

Whether through donations, knowledge, resources, infrastructure, visibility, advocacy, education, training, mentoring, or time, contributing to women’s advancement helps create a more supportive and interconnected world.

We can all give our support to gain advancement for women and girls.

As individuals, giving support means calling out stereotypes, challenging discrimination, questioning bias, celebrating women’s success, and more.

A key way to help support gender equality is through participating in IWD Giving.

Non-profits worldwide are delivering critical work advancing women and girls.

Significant barriers to gender equality persist, yet with dedicated resources and support, positive progress can be made.

Let’s actively support the supporters and elevate the visibility of their impact.

Join the call-to-action for all IWD Events to incorporate an element of women-focused fundraising. IWD Events provide a useful opportunity for organizations in the IWD Giving ecosystem to raise awareness, showcase impact, and call for donations.

IWD Event Managers are encouraged to invite nonprofit speakers and guests, exhibit nonprofit displays, distribute nonprofit resources, and establish ongoing giving.

To find out more about how you can help #GiveToGain, visit the International Women’s Day website at www.internationalwomensday.com/Theme.

At work, at home, and in the community, there are many ways to overtly advance

Key ways to #GiveToGain

By Jody Maffett

The Orléans Star

Across the world, there are many reputable gender equality-focused nonprofits working tirelessly to support and advance women.

IWD GIVING is a worldwide call-to-action for individuals, groups, and organizations to support women-focused charities on International Women’s Day (IWD).

From large-scale global philanthropic entities to grassroots groups, their gender equality work can be highly impactful.

IWD as a pivotal moment to support women-focused charities

Anyone, anywhere, can help elevate visibility of women-focused charities and support them in much-needed fundraising.

While charities appreciate financial donations, the giving of time, resources, and professional services is also valued. Even distributing a charity’s information and resources to encourage engagement can help raise awareness about their existence and work.

Together, we can ‘Support the Supporters’

Supporting the supporters is a core ethos of IWD, evidenced by the vast range of useful information and collaborative resources made available to support IWD planning and activities.

Anyone can help support the work and success of women-focused charities, or charities that maintain a gender focus within their wider remit.

IWD is a movement. Historically, the day has existed since 1911, and with it’s long history, continues to provide an important opportunity for collective action by gender equality advocates worldwide.

Everyone, everywhere can participate in IWD and that’s what makes it so inclusive – not exclusive. Individuals are encouraged to donate financially to a women-focused registered charity directly. Or if you are unable to make a donation financially, you can volunteer your services to your favorite women-focused charity

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2026

Providing compassionate, patient-centered dental care is at the heart of everything we do. Our dedicated team is known for a gentle approach that helps patients feel comfortable, respected and genuinely cared for at every visit.

Under the leadership of Dr. Chantal Plant – a passionate supporter of women in business – Blackburn Shoppes Dental Centre has proudly served the community since 2003, building lasting relationships grounded in trust, professionalism, and exceptional care.

Today is about celebrating the trailblazing women who have paved the way toward greater equality, and supporting those who have yet to carve their own inspiring path.

Happy Women’s Day!

La journée d’aujourd’hui sert à célébrer les pionnières qui ont ouvert la voie à une plus grande égalité et à soutenir celles qui n’ont pas encore tracé leur propre chemin. Bonne journée de la femme !

Orléans West-Innes

Orléans-Ouest-Innes 613-580-2472

laura.dudas@ottawa.ca www.LauraDudas.ca

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

A tribute to all women

Since 1977, the United Nations has called on countries around the world to highlight the importance of gender equality and to fight for women’s advancement.

International Women’s Day is a day to honour all women who have fought for recognition of their rights to education, participation in political life, access to the workforce, pay equity and work-family balance. It is a day to celebrate the extra-ordinary achievements of all the women who have helped in the fight for gender equality and contributed to writing the history of women’s rights.

This special day is also an opportunity for men and women to look to the future. It is a time to stop and think about ways to improve the status of women in developed and developing countries. It is an invitation to think about how to end the discrimination, inequality, abuse and violence of which they are still victims in many places around the world, including here at home.

March 8 is the perfect time to celebrate women, irrespective of their nationality, religion, language, economic status or political convictions.

March is a busy month at the Shenkman Arts Centre

By Jody Maffett The Orléans Star

The Shenkman Arts Centre is playing host to a number of great shows this month with something to offer everyone including live music, theatre and children’s entertainment.

The month kicks off with a performance by Bedouin Soundclash, who bring their unique mix of reggae, ska and rock to the Harold Shenkman Hall on Friday, March 6. Ticket prices range from $20 to $62.

On Wednesday, March 11, the Matinée Café will feature the Angelique Francis Quartet at 2 p.m. in the Richcraft Theatre.

Born and raised in Ottawa, Francis is a naturally gifted musician who first garnered attention as a young prodigy. She first took to the stage at age seven and by age 13 she was playing at music festivals across North America opening for a variety of acts such as

Beth Hart, Trooper and Shemekia Copeland. Her talents include playing instruments such as the piano, acoustic guitar, upright bass, electric guitar and electric bass General admission tickets are $20 each.

On Thursday, Feb. 19, Le Théâtre de

l’Oeil puppet theatre presents 176 Steps in both French and English. .

A moving fable about the different faces of anxiety, 176 Steps celebrates first and foremost the transformative power of friendship.

Octave loves music and plays the piano marvelously, but he feels so paralyzed by fear of the unknown that he hardly ever leaves the sumptuous estate where he lives with his mother and his aunt Simone.

For Delphine, it’s just the opposite: she swims, fishes, explores, and works for her fishmonger parents. In her eyes, life is a perpetual adventure…except at school!

One day, Delphine and Octave cross paths, and an unlikely friendship is born. Is Delphine as daring as she appears to be? What conflict in Octave’s past makes him so fearful of the outside world? Will they be

able to help each other live freely at last?

The English presentation will take place at 10 a.m., while the French production will take place at 2 p.m. Both performances will take place in the Harold Shenkman Hall. Ticket prices range from $16-$20.

On Wednesday, March 25, life partners David Suzuki and Tara Cullis present “What You Won’t Do for Love”, a play reflecting on their life and environmental activism.

Honest, warm, and thought-provoking, the pair share captivating stories, powerful insights, and heartfelt moments of humour as they celebrate their love for each other, their love of the planet and love’s capacity to inspire action.

A complete schedule of all the shows coming to the Shenkman Arts Centre is available at shenkmanarts.com where you will also find their online box office.

COMMUNITY BILLBOARD

TUESDAY, MARCH 10

TRIVIA NIGHT from 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday night at the Royal Oak Pub Orléans. Free to play. Prizes for the winning team! The Royal Oak Pub is located at 1981 St. Joseph Blvd. near Jeanne d’Arc. For more info, visit facebook.com/ RoyalOakPubsOrleans..

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11

THE STRAY DOG BREWING COMPANY – Wednesdays are Trivia Night at the Stray Dog Brewing Company from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Reservations are a must to secure your spot. Send your team name and number of people participating to info@straydogbrewing.ca.

OYSTER NIGHT at the Orléans Brewing Co., 4380 Innes Rd. from 6 to10 p.m. Indulge in the finest oysters and unwind with a drink

in hand. We also offer wine and ciders for the non beer lovers!

THURSDAY, MARCH 12

TAP THAT THURSDAYS AT THE ORLEANS BREWING CO. Come try our weekly brew release. A different brew every Thursday. All are welcome to come try a pint of our weekly release beer. The Orléans Brewing Co. is located at 4380 Innes Rd.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14

ST. PRACTICE DAY PARTY from noon to 11 p.m. at the Orléans Brewing Co., 4380 Innes Rd. Entertainment provided by DJ Geoff Paquet and musician Joe Unsupervised For more information, visit orleansbrewing.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 17

ST. PRACTICE DAY PARTY from 2 to 10 p.m. at the Stray Dog

Brewing Company with three lively bands. Redial, Par Nova and the Flying Hibachis. NO COVER. The Stray Dog Brewing Company is located at 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park. For more information, visit straydogbrewing.ca.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARTY at the Royal Oak Orléans, 1981 St. Joseph Blvd. corner of Jeanne d’Arc Blvd. LIVE music starting from 11 a.m. For more info, visit facebook.com/ RoyalOakPubsOrleans.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11

OYSTER NIGHT at the Orléans Brewing Co., 4380 Innes Rd. from 6 to10 p.m. Indulge in the finest oysters and unwind with a drink in hand. We also offer wine and ciders for the non beer lovers!

Robert Miron, 63 Passed away on February 22, 2026 Hélène Charron, 91 Passed away on February 20, 2026 Gisèle Poirier, 82 Passed away on February 19, 2026

BUSINESS DIRECTORY