April 16, 2010 - Glebe Report

NEWS
Glebe fires: déjà vu
by Julie
Houle Cezer
As the girl in the
black jacket approached
the corner of Monk and
Fifth, she continued to
pick up the pace until…
she rounded the corner.
Suddenly, as if hit by
a physical blow to her
core, her knees buckled
and her body folded
into a Z; instinctively,
her arms reached for the
ground as the vision of
loss registered: all the
memories and the refuge
that were her home
lay in rubble. Fortunately,
her descent was
broken by the strong
arms of neighbours and
friends who were there
to console her as the
tears flowed. Needless
to say, I stopped taking
photographs. The
shock and devastation
moved from person to person, and continuing to document the intimacy of
these moments seemed like a violation.
Though the weather was chilly but clear that day, acrid
smoke had been filling the skies since early that Saturday
morning when the seemingly controllable fire had begun
on one of the upper decks. By 2 p.m. on March 27, the
sixplex at 5 and 7 Monk St. was nothing but a large snack
for the jaws of the monster excavator that munched and
crunched on bricks and hot spots. Although the building
came down much faster and the number of apartments
If you see Morris, and people involved were fewer, the scene was a déjà
call Meaghan at vu of the January fire on Glebe Avenue. Happily, as in
613-299-9357 the previous incident, there was no loss of human life,
although a family cat named Morris is still missing in action
(see picture). However, the material loss to both tenants and the owner of
the building has been almost total. In addition, there has also been considerable
collateral damage (flooding) to nearby businesses such as Glebe Fitness
and Dance with Alana and the neighbouring sixplex.
Then last Friday night, April 9, the fire trucks were out again in force at
11 p.m. for a triplex fire at 242 Fifth Avenue that left six people homeless.
In between March 27 and
April 9, the Glebe Community
Association had
already made arrangements
to keep the fire account
#00116-1012954
at the Royal Bank at First
Avenue open for donations.
Further, they are
looking to host some
public education meetings
on fire safety, smoke
detectors, fire exit plans
and insurance. Simultaneously,
with the impetus
and organizational efforts
coming from Glebe resident Tina Dennis and strategic supports from GNAG,
a Rockin’ Benefit fundraiser for the survivors of the neighbourhood fires
is being planned for Friday, April 30 at the Glebe Community Centre at
6:30 p.m. It will feature local bands that have recently won a spot at CISCO
Bluesfest this summer: Full Tipped Sleeve, T42, Bird on a Wire, Contrast,
Guitar Pics & Drum Sticks and Another Round. Call 613-233-8713 or 613-
564-1058 for info and tickets: adults $10, students $5, under 12 years free.
Photo: Andrew Elliot
Photo: Teena Hendelman
LocaLLy Produced
Fruit, Vegetables, Meats,
Baking, arts and crafts
Glebe Report April 16, 2010 7
Sunday May 9th to November 21st
Hours 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every Sunday (Open Rain or Shine)
Food Court open for our customer’s convenience and enjoyment
Horse and wagon rides every Sunday (weather permitting).
Saturday Market November 6th, 13th, 20th
Hours 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every Saturday (Open Rain or Shine)
Food Court open for our customer’s convenience and enjoyment
Horse and wagon rides every Saturday (weather permitting).
FREE PaRkiNg
Present your parking ticket to the info tent at the Market
and you will receive the equivalent amount in “Market Bucks”
to spend at any of our market vendors.
LaNSdowNE PaRk, 1015 BaNk St., ottawa
613-986-2770
www.ottawafarmersmarket.ca
Photo: Karin Mahoney
The Ottawa Farmers’ Market is a Producer ONLY (No Reselling) Market!
Slick & Sassy
613-236-2662
Same Friendly Service -
Different location
91 Main Street
In Ting Beauty Shop
Offering Hair and Sewing Services
Will pick up and deliver sewing jobs