October 06, 1995 - Glebe Report

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Glebe Questions Spying the spiders By Clyde Sanger Take heart, all ye who have waded through Jacques Parizeau's mockpoetic Preamble and cunningly ambiguous Question! Here, from the brain (in the age of coputers one cannot say 'pen' any more) of Boyce Richardson, on Second Avenue, comes a pure and clear Question, or set of questions, and a quite beautiful Preamble to it. You may think I am ducking out of answers, as Jean Chrétien has been doing, by quoting Boyce at length. I promise you, and him, that the answers will come in due time. But in the meanwhile let me give you the elegant words of this early morning walker and budding naturalist. "Dear Clyde: Having wrestled the ducks to the ground with such effortless authority [see the Glebe Report of November 4, 1994], you will no doubt be chomping at the bit to take on the spiders. Viz: "One of the unheralded glories of the Glebe is the network of spiders' webs that is constructed along the length and breadth of the canal railings in the summer. On a dull day one can walk by without noticing them. But, if one takes a walk on a sunny early morning, as I usually do, when they are backlit (as they say in the movie business) by the rising sun, they present an absolutely glorious spectacle. They seem to be at their peak about mid- August, but have declined noticeably in the last ten days or so as colder weather, wind and rain have taken their toll, and apparently sent your fair-weather spider scurrying for warmer cover. "There are literally thousands of these webs, of all shapes and sizes, strung along the railings. Many of them extend from the top of the pillars to the ground, a distance of about four feet, and halfway along to the next pillar, so that their total extent could be as much as 12 square feet or so. Others are bunched in tight, cylindrical shapes that look impenetrable. Some have a whole space to themselves, others are grouped in layers of two or three webs about a couple of inches apart. "They appear to have been built in response to a business opportunity presented by the clouds of small white insects (whose exis- tence is no doubt familiar to every cyclist and walker) that gather along the recreation paths. Tens of thousands of these hapless creatures end their lives in these webs. "My question is, what kind of spiders are these, and what are these little insects? Why do the insects accumulate in clouds close to the water? They seem to like the water so much that you can avoid most of them by simply walking in the lane furthest from the water. Why do spiders make such a variety of differently-shaped webs? Is this done by different species of spider, or what? "You will observe that I am working from a very profound ignorance of spiders and insects, but you can't help wondering. I am confident you'll come up with some mind-blowing information to equal your amazing revelation [see the Glebe Report of February 10, 1995) that black and grey squirrels come from the same nests. Who would have thought it?" Isn't it great to get letters like that? There's more to Boyce's letter, mainly about canal ducklings. (There was an annual convention of mallards, with some 50 delegates foregathering in the Arboretum creek in mid-September, which I am sorry he missed.) But let's stick to spiders. Of course they deserve a whole column of answers. After all, there are 30,000 species of them worldwide, divided into some 105 families. They get very precise at the Canadian Museum of Nature, and tell you there are exactly 1,256 species in Canada, in 33 families (of which only 12 are really worth noting). And they add that "spiders were already well established and diversified in the Carboniferous period, about 300 million years ago." As Boyce would say, who would have thought it? Anyway, with those numbers and those aeons of evolution, there will be plenty of tales to spin. Which we'll do next issue, with the help of Robert Leuenberger at the museum. But, Boyce, to stir your anticipation I should add that spiders are not related to insects (or, for that matter, to squirrels). Their closest relatives are - scorpions. NEWS Bring Your Summer Spirit to Fall with Momentum Athletics! Membership Package - Regular - Family/Couple - Seniors - Business/Corporate - S tudents - Wellness Package Self Defense Nutrition Seminar : Kundalini Yoga : MomentuM ATHLETICS Discover haw much fun a healthy lifestyle can be! Programs/Services - 29 Aerobics classes - Strength & Personal Training - Seniors Weight Training - Massage Therapy - Nutrition Counselling - Mother Morning Fitness - Chikl Care/Towel Service - Kundalini Yoga - October Calendar Topic - "Strike, R e-ease I and RUII" October 2 to December 8 Monday & Wednesday, 7:30-8:45 pm. Cost : $69.00(members), $129.00(non-merribers) Topic - "Are you unable to reach your weight loss goals?" October 18, Wednesday, 7:30-8:45 pm. Cost $10.00 per person Complimentary Classes October 3, Tuesday, 7:30-9:00 pm. October 5, Thursday, 7:00-8:30 pm. Regular Classes Tuesday 2:30-4:00 pm & 7:30-9:00 pm. Thursday 2:30-4:00 pm & 7:00-8:30 pm. Cost : $10.00 per individual session $45.00 for 5 sessions $80.00 for 10 sessions (Students and Memben3 Rate Available) For more information, call 237-4747 858 Bank St. at 5th Ave. "Lower Level" Conveniently Located in the Heart of the Glebe , The Humane scow,' \ of OTIowo-Carieton la Societe pfolechice des antma. d'Oflowo.Codelon October 6, 1995 Glebe Report-13
NEWS Regional Councillor report cost but we would be still seeking agreement in the year 2000. The Region has a responsibility to help develop a solid economy for our citizens and this could be an area to augment one of our regional By Regional Councillor Brian McGarry Expo 2005 will not be part of Ottawa-Carleton's future. Gone is the early clean-up of Lebreton Flats, the waterfront islands and lands on both sides of the Ottawa River. Many millions of visitors will be lost to Calgary or Japan. Officials from 'Expo 86' (Vancouver) verified that the resurged economy of British Columbia's lower mainland has never looked back since their World's Fair...yes a deficit on paper but a tourist industry now much expanded and much new investment resulting in part from the focus on the Vancouver Region in 1986. In Ottawa-Carleton we had some Regional Councillors leading a protest against Expo 2005 while the International Panel examining our site were present in Ottawa. I hope the same Councillors will now point the way to a recovered economy in the National Capital Region. A high-tech research park is being discouraged by some ("not in my back-yard"). A casino in the downtown core will be studied to death while Windsor and other cities (i.e. Hull) move forward. Ditto a possible convention-centre to complement and support the Congress Center...attempts are being made to de-rail or postpone a feasibility study until we have all levels of government onside (whenever that might be!). Such negative attitudes prevail and at a time when our federal government is downsizing by 15,000 jobs. When will our 'nay-sayers' turn the corner and come up with solid economic development for Ottawa-Carleton in general and our city centre specifically? There is hope. Private industry (Minto) has agreed to pay one-half of the $250,000 feasibility study for a convention-centre; indeed they offered to pay the whole amount but we can only imagine the cries of conflict of interest, attempt to bribe the study outcome etc. (Minto would build a 21 million dollar hotel as part of the overall 68 million dollar project). The Region will fund the remaining $125,000 portion of the study. Yes...we could have pleaded with the Federal Government, Ontario Provincial Government, Ottawa and on and on to share in the study's October 6, 1995 Globe Report-14 strengths...tourism. On the subject of a casino (part of the convention-centre? part of Le- Breton Flats? part of a revived Sparks Street?) Mayor Holzman recently hosted Dr. Michael Brude and Paul Twigg, two citizens of Windsor, Ontario who were early proponents of that city's casino. In brief, the interim facility (eventually to be expanded into 6 city blocks with 2,500 in-house jobs) will gross $500,000,000 this coming year. This permanent structure will be a $400,000,000 facility which will complement, not compete with, other businesses. The goal from the outset was to revitalize their city centre. Hotel occupancy rates are up by 15-30% and traffic into other businesses downtown has increased too. This isn't to say there are no negatives with such initiatives...compulsive gambling must be recognized as well as the possible attraction of 'undesirables' into the community. On the latter point, Windsor has not experienced an increase in crime except what would be normally expected with 16,000 more visitors per day into their 'downtown.' The Casino (i.e. not the taxpayer) has funded 25 more police officers into the region to ensure a continuation of a safe environment in Windsor. To return for a moment to the feasibility study for a convention centre (which may overlap into a casino facility?), Regional Councillors must, of course, ascertain how any such project affects our neighborhoods. Our downtown area must be a healthy mix of residential and business in order to remain the vibrant city we have known for years. Sandy Hill, Ottawa East, Old Ottawa South, the Glebe, Centretown, Ottawa U Campus etc. can all be adversely affected by decisions which benefit business only. This is not the record as of late however; in fact the opposite is true. More and more business people are moving away from the Region to the U.S. or off-shore as we all (average citizen and entrepreneur alike) experience heavy municipal, provincial and federal taxes. Many elected (and non-elected) officials seem to have forgotten that 75% of jobs throughout Canada are created by small business. Regulations in the extreme discourage new investment and can drive away present. I remain optimistic. In the main we have a well educated understanding constituency in Ottawa Centre. With the Quebec Referendum soon behind us (hopefully with a vote in favour of renewed federalism) we can start to re-build. The Premier of Ontario has delayed his Government's economic statement until after the Referendum and understandably so. A constituent recently wrote to me to say forget Quebec and get on with more important matters. The letter was none too polite but that aside, we all must remain hopeful for a united Canada and do all we can in the remaining weeks to let our Quebec neighbours know how that Canada is still the best country in the world. Please watch for Dialogue Canada's efforts as we approach October 30 and take part if you are so inclined. A positive outcome by November 1 will be a good kick-start to rebuilding our region and country. I welcome your thoughts on any of Tutorial Services____r of Ontario IMPROVE l'OUR GRADES AFFORDABLE RATES the above: Convention Centre, Casino, our Regions economic future following the Referendum etc. On other matters within our constituency: 1) THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12 is the AGM of the Ottawa South Community Association, 7:30pm, at the Old Fire Hall. Among other matters, the reconstruction of Bank Street through " Old Ottawa South" will be discussed. 2)LANDSCAPING plans around the Dunbar Bridge and Bronson Place are moving forward but we await N.C.C. cooperation. 3)The contaminated property at 160 LEES AVENUE in Ottawa East remains a concern. More on these items next month. Ottawa-Carleton, Regional Headquarters, 111 Lisgar Street, Ottawa, K2P 2L7 fax (560-1268). Invest in your future! Many qualified tutors available to come to the home and provide students with assistance in any subject from grade school through university. We provide remediation for Attention Deficit Disorder. Call for information.- 599-8531 SPEECH AND LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION IN YOUR OWN HOME Gene Paul Ouellette (M.Sc.) Speech Language Pathologist, Reg. CASLPO Offering Assessment and Intervention for: eEarly (pre) Reading Skills 'Speech Development 4PLanguage Development eFluency (stuttering) Evening and weekend appointments. All fees are minimum charges, as outlined by OSLA. All inquiries held in strict confidence. PLEASE CALL 567 8729 ci DAVID BRAULT GENERAL CONTRACTING LTD.
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Page 3 and 4: NEWS Playgroup to become Glebe Coop
Page 5 and 6: EDITORIAL NOTES Giving thanks for o
Page 7 and 8: GNAG NEWS Community Centre renovati
Page 9 and 10: GCA GCA represents the views of our
Page 11 and 12: CAPITAL COLUMN Nominate special per
Page 13: SKATE'S BEAT Pistol training course
Page 17 and 18: (31ebe gpothecarg 778 Bank Street (
Page 19 and 20: Recycling for our community PAPER R
Page 21 and 22: ARTS Songs of Experience at A Sourc
Page 23 and 24: SCHOOL NEWS Corpus Christi news BY
Page 25 and 26: SCHOOL NEWS Glebe leaders show thei
Page 27 and 28: OBSERVATION POST John Greer BY COUR
Page 29 and 30: CHURCH NEWS St. Matthew's Anglican
Page 31 and 32: (Octobei. WORDS South Branch Librar
Page 33: .41.1* Ali rOP4' GLEBE FITNESS PROG

October 06, 1995 - Glebe Report

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