Wellington Oracle

The figures are in from the 8th annual Christmas dinner event at the Carleton Tavern, and according to the Hintonburg Economic Development Committee (HEDC), 650 meals were served by a 140-strong team of community volunteers that also saw to gift-wrapping, set-up, and cleaning up afterwards.

The transit strike didn’t affect the number of meals served, according to Cheryl Parrott of the HEDC, “but along with the icy sidewalks it likely did add to our delivered meals – we delivered 60 meals to residences this year, up from 20 last year”

23 turkeys, 6 big hams, 35 tortieres, several tubs of baked beans, and “many van loads” of baked goods went into the preparations. The Loeb at Island Park contributed 633 dollars raised over the course of one fund-raising week.

Continued Parrott, “it was really successful – people had a great time. The whole emphasis we try to give is don’t be alone at Christmas” – that need is far greated than any other – it is a really lonely day to be by yourself.”

The social aspect of the dinner was enhanced by Midnight Mike and the Open Stage Revue – 13 musicians in all played through the afternoon.

Click the image above for a slideshow of the event, and listen below to hear mother-and-son volunteer team Kyle Callwood and Crystal Venoit talk about why the event means so much to them.

 

 Volunteers Kyle and Crystal: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Connaught School Principal Irene Cameron didn’t hold anything back when she was asked to assess the importance of the Rosemount Library to its community. We caught up with her at the library’s 90th birthday party this past Saturday and like the memories that were flooding in from other friends and neighbours at the event, it was stories like hers that made the day so special.

Click on the image to see a short slide show of images captured on the day and don’t miss long-time borrower Joan Neville tell us about her first visit (in 1933!) and Champlain Park mother Leanne Scott reminiscing about what the library has meant to her and her daughter Sarah.

The Sierra Club of Ottawa and Ecology Ottawa have just released their joint “council watch report card” for 2008 and while it doesn’t make the best of reading for Kitchissippi councilor Christine Leadman, who sees her grades drop significantly from her 2007 “A” score, the watchdog group does make it clear that Leadman’s contributions to environmental sustainabilty aren’t always reflected in her voting record.

Leadman is now down to a C thanks to “not channeling her energy beyond the context of transit issues” throughout 2008, according the report’s authors. It is a passing grade but advocates for the environment think she could be doing more on issues like solid waste and bucking the “car-first” planning mentality so prevalent on council. Click on the arrow below to hear Lori Waller from Ecology Ottawa deconstruct Leadman’s environmental record for 2008.

 

 Ecology Ottawa grades Councilor Leadman: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download