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Kelsey Black’s Red Carpet Gala returns
Our team is often asked about the new
interprovincial crossing study.
The National Capital Commission (NCC)
recently announced the preferred corridor
for the new interprovincial crossing at
Kettle Island, near the Aviation Parkway.
Communities and elected representatives from
areas around the selected corridor, on both
sides of the Ottawa River, have highlighted
serious concerns about what a truck route
would mean for their community.
Our community, which includes the
Lowertown, Sandy Hill and Vanier
neighbourhoods, is home to the designated
interprovincial truck route on King Edward
Avenue and on other downtown Ottawa streets.
The presence of the truck route through our
downtown neighbourhoods has had a number
of negative effects on the community. These
impacts include serious safety concerns for
pedestrians and cyclists, obstacles to the
efficiency and functionality of the transit
network, increased noise and pollution,
and limits on the potential commercial and
residential renewal in the area.
The City of Ottawa wants residents to live
downtown. The City is expanding transit
services into light rail, renewing and
rejuvenating main streets, and encouraging
urban lifestyles; however, this revitalization
will not be realized until the chronic issue of
the downtown truck route is addressed and
resolved.
Our priority is the removal of interprovincial
trucks from our downtown core. We recognize
that the Kettle Island corridor, as chosen by
the NCC, would move the issue to another
community. Nevertheless, maintaining the
status quo is not an option. We are now left
to work together, as the communities that
make up our city, to compromise and find
the solution that will remove interprovincial
trucks from our downtown once and for all.
The removal of the downtown truck route
designation will greatly improve the quality of
life for all residents, as not only will all road
users be able to safely navigate through our
core, but our downtown will also be a vital
destination for residents from all parts of
Ottawa. Downtown is the heart of Ottawa. We
are proud of our urban neighbourhoods and we
support measures that will revitalize and make
our urban core even more welcoming for all
residents.
Mathieu
City Councillor
613-580-2482
R0012124305
Steph Willems
steph.willems@metroland.com
EMC news - Few families
remain untouched by heart disease,
and no one knows that better
than eight-year-old Kelsey
Black of Orléans.
Kelsey lost her grandfathers
to heart disease and has
a teenage brother, Diego, who
is awaiting surgery for a heart
condition. Her father, Bill, once
suffered a minor heart attack.
Kelsey also once called paramedics
when her mother, Maria,
passed out, an action that won
her a 9-1-1 Childrenʼs Achievement
Award at the age of six.
Kelsey took the fear and sadness
she felt as a result of her
familyʼs misfortune and turned
it into a positive thing, vowing
to do her part to make heart disease
a rarer occurrence than it
currently is.
So began The Red Carpet
Gala, a modest fundraiser she
started last year that brought
friends and community members
together for dancing and
fun, helping to raise funds for
the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
The gala is returning this year
on June 2, this time to be held
at the Jack Purcell Community
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Maria and Kelsey Black are busy these days, putting the finishing touches on Kelsey’s June 2
Red Carpet Gala in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Kelsey, seen here with her
9-1-1 Children’s Achievement Award, started the event last year as a response to a family
history of heart disease.
Centre in Centretown. Kelsey
sent invitations to dignitaries
ranging from Ottawa Mayor
Jim Watson to the prime minister
and even the Queen, from
whom she received a reply.
“She wrote to thank me for
inviting her, but she canʼt attend
as sheʼs too busy,” said Kelsey.
Belleville/Trenton Area
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(888) 284-7777
An Ottawa paramedic by the
name of Patrick, whom Kelsey
met during her 911 call and
views as her “favourite paramedic”,
is also invited, and was
asked to “bring the rest of the
gang.”
Cumberland Coun. Stephen
Blais, who suffered a severe
R0012063570
heart attack last year, has also
been invited. Maria Black instantly
supported her daughterʼs
efforts to raise funds for the very
worthy cause, but made her wait
until she turned seven first.
“When she was six I felt she
was too little,” said Black, who
expects an even bigger turnout
for this yearʼs event.
“We want people to know
what happened to us can happen
to anyone.”
Blackʼs son was a patient
at CHEO as a youth. Now 18,
he has to wait until he turns 21
for surgery to repair his heart.
Black, like Kelsey, hopes that
science progresses to the point
where surgery would become
unnecessary, or at least less intrusive.
Both recognize that medical
advances in this field canʼt occur
without adequate funding,
which is the catalyst behind
the gala itself. Black said she
has received support from local
businesses during the eventʼs
preparation.
Mother and daughter are
making a traditional piñata to
bring to the gala, and are soliciting
donations of candy to fill it
with.
While organizing the gala is
a lot of work, the Blacks know
itʼs worth it. They envision a future
where children arenʼt missing
parents or grandparents due
to heart disease.
“Itʼs a lot of work but we do
whatever we can do, and we are
happy to do it.” said Black.
Doors to The Red Carpet
Gala open at 1 p.m. on June 2.
The cost is $5 in advance or $7
at the door, and includes entry
and a ticket for the door prize.
All proceeds go to the Heart and
Stroke Foundation.
For more information, or to
order tickets, contact kelseyblackheartandstroke@yahoo.
ca.
16 Ottawa East News EMC - Thursday, May 30, 2013