Just ask Clarita Robinson, who says she expects to compete on March 28.  Despite her success in Toastmasters so far, she says she had the wrong idea of what “Toastmasters” was at her first meeting.

“My mother belonged to a wine tasting organization, and when I heard ‘Toastmasters,’ I thought I was coming to some kind of wine tasting,” she says with a laugh.

“And I said, ‘So when are we going to toast?’ and [my colleague] says, ‘No, no, no.  In this particular club, we do it differently.’  And then I realized that, ‘Oh, no, there was no toast!’  It was actually a speaking thing.  And when I was asked to speak, I was caught so unaware that I didn’t even know what to do.”

Toastmasters International is an organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills.  The non-profit organization has thousands of clubs teaching workshops in 113 countries, including Sandy Hill, according to their website.  A typical meeting encourages everyone there to practice public speaking while others evaluate their performances and give feedback.

Yet in the face of the confusion, Robinson says she decided to continue with Toastmasters.  She began working on an “Advanced Communication” manual, which consists of five public speaking projects.  Robinson says she had been working on the manual called “Storytelling” when she met a project that required her to do what’s called a “touching story.”

The “touching story” asks for a six- to eight-minute speech.  The manual says the objective is “to understand the techniques available to arouse emotion [and] to become skilled in arousing emotions while telling a story.”

Robinson says she chose to talk about her mother’s current battle with Alzheimer’s, which she says has been “very, very difficult.”

A member gives a speech at a Sandy Hill Toastmasters Club meeting.

“POSITIVE AND INSPIRING”

Toastmasters International hosts several competitions a year to showcase a variety of speaking styles, and Robinson had heard the topic for one of the events featured “positive and inspiring” stories, she says.  That’s when she decided to talk about her mother’s Alzheimer’s with a touch of humour.

Called “In the Wrong Lane,” the speech is a first-person account showing how Robinson has witnessed her once strong and capable mother decline into memory loss and confusion.  The title is a reference to how Robinson’s mother instructs her to change lanes during her frequent “backseat driving,” even when she doesn’t understand where she’s going.

Robinson’s story of grief is peppered with anecdotes about her mother’s innocent enthusiasm to everyday life.  In one story, she jokes her mother could write a cookbook with the new recipes she comes up with, such as dumping butter in her coffee or other drinks into her cereal.  Still, she says her mother beams when she finishes preparing her food, and Robinson says it’s this excitement which she finds positive and inspiring for herself.

With this speech, she competed at the club level against about six clubs and won.  Then, she continued to the area level, where she won again.  Now she says she’s looking forward to the divisional competition this month, and has been practicing by using the local Sandy Hill meetings where says she has eagerly asked for feedback.

If all goes well, maybe Robinson can earn that wine tasting after all – as long as her mother doesn’t prepare her drink.

Wednesdays were hell.

From witnessing a stabbing to crack addicts smoking up on their front steps, residents living near Cumberland St. and Daly Ave. saw it all when a homeless drop-in centre used to operate at St. Paul’s-Eastern United church.

“It was on Wednesdays, once a week, for five or six years,” said Paula Dunn, who’s lived in the neighbourhood for almost 10 years.

The centre was shut down by the church a few years ago after residents and businesses videotaped clients buying and selling drugs, having sex and stealing, among other things, and screened it for senior members of the congregation.

Some of those residents are speaking out against a different homeless drop-in program, Centre 454, relocating to St. Alban’s Church barely a block away.

Residents fear history will repeat itself.

“It’s not the homelessness, it’s not the hunger. It’s the behaviour,” said Dunn.

“The issue is increasing the drug traffic and trade.” It was so rampant, she said, she once surprised a guy shooting heroin outside her front door.

“He got mad at us for interrupting and said ‘good timing,’” she said.

It isn’t just drug users she’s concerned about.

“The dealers are violent,” she said.

An Ottawa Police crime trends report for Rideau-Vanier in 2008-2009 lists “presence of drugs/drug dealers” as the top ward concern.

“(Residents) certainly are exposed to street-level drug use,” said Staff Sgt. Murray Knowles.

“That’s something we would be attuned to.”

A pilot project in 2008 has led to a permanent street crime unit dealing with drug-related issues.

“We go where our crime analysis tells us there’s problems,” Knowles said.

Dunn runs the Gold Door Inn out of her home.

Her clients range from students to doctors.

“They’re turned off by the neighbourhood,” she said.

“One of my guests saw two people having sex on the steps of the church.”

The concentration of support services in the downtown core has raised concerns about its effect on tourism.

“We have a relatively good reputation as a clean and desirable city,” said Ottawa Tourism president and CEO Noel Buckley. “Obviously, it would be more pleasant if there were no homeless, no crime, no panhandling. But it’s not realistic in any major North American city.”

The concerns of residents are being heard.

“We’ve been very responsive to issues that have been brought up over the years,” Centre 454 executive director Mary-Martha Hale recently told the Sun.

“We would welcome people to come and talk to us and get to know us, and there’s lots of time for that to happen. And I really look forward to being a part of the neighbourhood.”

kelly.roche@sunmedia.ca

About Centre 454:

“They were not constructive to moving the dialogue forward,” the Very Rev. Shane Parker wrote in a letter to the Sun’s editor Wednesday afternoon.

At a meeting Monday night, things took an ugly turn when residents spoke harshly against relocating a homeless centre to their Sandy Hill neighbourhood.

During an interview with the Sun Tuesday, Archdeacon David Selzer said he was “appalled” by those comments.

“There was a huge degradation of people using Centre 454 as human beings,” Selzer said Tuesday. “People were saying we ought to get rid of these people, carted away. It sounded like Nazi Germany.”

The diocese also apologized to residents in person during another meeting Wednesday night. That seemed to smooth ruffled feathers.

“I was happy to see that he started with it and no one had to ask,” said Dave Bagler of Action Sandy Hill. “It seemed like a very sincere apology.”

In the letter, Parker said the diocese is “determined to handle the move responsibly, working with the residents through constructive dialogue.”

“The diocese has a long history of working with the poor and homeless, and with the help of our neighbours we can make a big difference in the lives of many,” Parker wrote.

The diocese is meeting with Coun. Mathieu Fleury Monday.

kelly.roche@sunmedia.ca

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2011/03/03/17478571.html

After a heated meeting with area residents Monday night, archdeacon David Selzer is “appalled” by comments describing the homeless.

“There was a huge degradation of people using Centre 454 as human beings,” said Selzer.

“People were saying we ought to get rid of these people, carted away. It sounded like Nazi Germany.”

Centre 454 — currently at 216 Murray St. — serves 250 people daily and operates during the day.

Many downtown residents are opposing its move to St. Alban’s Church at 454 King Edward Ave — where it operated from 1976 to 1999. In 2000, the centre moved to its current spot, but that lease expires at the end of January 2012.

Those opposed to the centre were quick to react to the Archdeacon’s comments.

“The church is attempting to muddy the waters by these outrageous statements,” said Bruce Baker, condo board president at 200 Besserer St. “They serve no useful purpose in trying to come to some agreement and understanding of the community.”

But the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa says it won’t cave to residents.

“It’s coming home,” said Selzer.

The move to St. Alban’s wouldn’t happen until Christmas.

“I totally agree with having these centres but I would prefer to not live right beside one,” said resident Lisa Mouchet.

The area councillor says he’s been kept out of the loop.

“I wasn’t consulted,” said Coun. Mathieu Fleury. “If the Centre wanted to do it properly, they should have come to me.”

That flies in the face of what Mary-Martha Hale, Centre 454’s executive director, told the Sun last week.

“We have engaged with the city councillor,” she said.

Hale switched gears Tuesday.

“We haven’t yet had a discussion but I look forward to meeting the councillor,” she said.

Phoenix Homes is building a condo across the street from St. Alban’s.

“It’s virtually sold out,” said vice-president Rahul Kochar, adding he’s concerned about how buyers will react to the centre since it wasn’t there when the sale was made.

“That doesn’t make me look very presentable as an owner,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fleury said he’s left in a bad situation.

“I can’t prevent it from happening, based on previous bylaws,” he said.

Another meeting to discuss Centre 454’s move is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Sandy Hill community centre.

kelly.roche@sunmedia.ca

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2011/03/01/17455931.html

Spring Roll King
508 Rideau Street, Ottawa

Last night was Oscar night. I normally don’t watch awards shows, but I liked a lot of the movies this year, so I kind of wanted to see what happened. I HAD planned to make a very nutritionally sound dinner, but my sister’s boyfriend ended up coming over, and he didn’t like what we were planning on eating. So, I told him, that meant HE could buy us all Chinese food for dinner. And he did – he knows my weakness for food.

Since I’ve spent the last five years, before I moved to Vanier, living in Sandy Hill. Spring Roll King was always the “go-to” for the nights we ordered in. And, since they deliver here and it’s still close, we continue to order from them. Not only is it close and familiar, it’s totally delicious.

We all ordered a combo last night – the number 6. For 8.50 (according to the website, but prices may have increased a bit) you get an egg roll, chicken fried rice, garlic spare ribs and general tao’s chicken, as seen above. Although we normally get orders for pick-up, last night we decided on delivery, since I was without a vehicle. The food arrived quickly, within a half hour, and was still relatively hot. The egg roll was awesome, it had great flavour and crunchy texture. The general tao’s never disappoints either, and you can get it as spicy as you like it, which is great for someone who likes her food hot.

The garlic spareribs and the chicken fried rice are also great, really good examples of classic Canadian-Chinese done right. All in all, a great meal at a great price. And, to top it off, Colin Firth won the best actor oscar! Swoon!

There aren’t many cars driving around Sandy Hill at any given time, but when there are, they’ve been unusually patient with me, hesitating to move until I make up my mind.

A Sandy Hill resident keeps her dog close to her on the sidewalk.

Driving speeds are crawling at their fastest; cars actually stop at stop signs and red lights; and drivers put on their turn signals just to pull into their own driveways.

And it’s not just the drivers who have been courteous.  Though they probably don’t need to, pedestrians are actually willing to walk the extra 10 metres to cross the street between the lines of a crosswalk.

Having very little traffic around Sandy Hill probably helps the abnormally prevalent driver/pedestrian etiquette.  Still, as someone who lives on the campus at Carleton University, where stop signs are mild suggestions and taxis push pedestrians and challenge them to walk faster, it’s a refreshing change of pace.

Tucked behind the Sandy Hill Community Centre is a small outdoor rink, caged in by the thin, grayish-brown pieces of wood separated by cheap wooden planks.

Any time I’ve been to Sandy Hill, this meagre rink has been alive with excited shouts from local hockey players — usually 20-something males — and the slick sounds of blades carving ice.

But why this rink?  After all, an  indoor rink boasts the perks of heated seating and more space.  And it’s not as though Sandy Hill can only offer the outdoor rink; Sandy Hill Arena is an eight-minute walk from Sandy Hill Park’s outdoor rink.

Maybe it’s because Sandy Hill Arena already juggles multiple hockey leagues, mostly for a younger set of boys whose parents sip hot chocolate in the stands while watching the game.

Maybe it’s because it’s easier to throw together a pick-up game outside than it is to reserve ice, speaking to the community feel of Sandy Hill.

Whatever the reason, Sandy Hill wouldn’t be complete without a puck, two nets, and a group of players armed with hockey sticks.

That’s because the old-fashioned houses peppering the Hill are mostly filled with students, says Jed Burgelis.  Burgelis is a student at the university himself, and he says he likes living there because of the proximity to the campus and a nearby market.

For these reasons, residents say mostly students have been populating Sandy Hill for as long as they can remember.

But students aren’t the only ones living here.  Trudging up the hill past the bus stops are couples pushing strollers, accompanied by small children in colourful snowsuits trotting alongside to keep up.

“I see a lot of families,” says Burgelis.  And if the neighbourhood’s multiple playgrounds and child care centre are any indication, he’s not the only one.

Yet despite the different demographics, Burgelis says everyone gets along.

“I don’t see [many] problems, if any,” he says.

With only the voices of quiet conversations, a few birds, and a slowly moving car heard every so often, it sounds like the neighbourhood agrees.

1) Rideau Canal - It is freezing outside but that just means that the world’s largest skating rink is going to be open. A recent UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a great spot for a skate and some beaver tails

2) The Giggling Jerks - Great new restaurant that just opened on Wilbrod and Friel that offers amazing breakfast and just recently got their liquor license! Nothing can go wrong with their “Scholar Special” which is just 4 bucks!!! Great after a hard night in the market.

3) CANADA DAY – Parliament Hill – What more can I say? The best party across the country! Mark July 1st on your calender because this is a not miss event. Here is a video of last years Canada Day

4) Strathcona Park – A great place if you want to run/bike/rollerblade/bbq/play anything at any time of the year. It links in with Ottawa’s over 175km of bike paths throughout the city. Here is a link to the website of the National Capital Commission (NCC) who can give you a map of all bike paths in Ottawa/Gatineau.

http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/bins/ncc_web_content_page.asp?cid=16297-16299-9970-9971&lang=1

More to come…..

Are you used to paying an arm-n-leg for your university text books?

Are you used to getting $20 back for a book you paid $150 for the new book just because the edition changed?

Why not buy a used text book for half the price? Plus if you sell them, you get $$$ back in return.

Here is a place where you can post your textbook for other students to buy. You should post:

• Title of the book
• Course Code
• Authors
• Edition
• Price

Another great place to look is a Facebook page that students have already set up. Here is the link:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=2227467163

I mentor many students as part of a peer mentoring program at the University of Ottawa and many of their questions are simply: where do you purchase used books? where can I get an apartment? where can I get involved?….etc. Please comment and you can help out other University of Ottawa students. If you are like me at all, you have a lot of text books lying around your apartment. Just post them here and get some $$$ back in return.

I hope the videos below will give you some motivation.

Thanks for helping out your fellow student!

Sincerely,

SandyHillStudent

• Have you ever lived in an apartment in Sandy Hill (Ottawa)? Where is Sandy Hill? –
  http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&q=Sandy+Hill+Ottawa&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Sandy+Hill,+Ottawa,+Ottawa+Division,+Ontario&z=14
  
• Have you ever had a terrible experience with a landlord/apartment/neighbours/insects/heat/price/community event that you want to warn other people about before they sign a lease in the area?
• Have you ever lived in a great place for parties/awesome landlord/great apartment for great value/cheap place to live/ great place to eat that you want to share with people?

WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT!

Your voice could save other students an agonizing year in an apartment that if they knew about it before, would not have moved there. Your voice could also help many people looking for a new apartment. Kijiji and craigslist are a good starting point but Sandy Hill Studs and Duds provides the truth about apartments, the community, and student life from the horses mouth – THE STUDENTS.

Post your apartment details (rent/location/good or bad experience)……Lets help each other out!

Here is a great first video of some apartments around Ottawa.

Charlie McCowen – Nationals

Phone 0438 057 287
Fax
Email charlie.mccowen@nationals.org.au
Website
http://nsw.nationals.org.au/The-Nationals-Team/charlie-mccowen.html

Facebook
Twitter
Wikipedia

Sarah Frazier – Labor

Phone
Fax
Email
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Wikipedia
You Tube

(No info found)

Pat Schultz – Greens

Phone 02 6772 5852
Fax
Email northerntablelands@nsw.greens.org.au
Website
http://nsw.greens.org.au/people/pat-schultz

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/Pat4NorthTab

Twitter
Wikipedia
You Tube

Isabel Strutt – Christian Democrats

Phone 0424 299 604
Fax
Email isabel_strutt@yahoo.com.au
Website
http://www.cdp.org.au/nsw-candidates/northern-tablelands.html

Facebook
Twitter
Wikipedia
You Tube

Richard Torbay – Independent

Current Member of Parliament, Recontesting
Phone 02 6772 5552
Fax 02 6772 5026
Email northerntablelands@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Website
http://www.richardtorbay.com.au/

Facebook
Twitter
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Torbay

Current Member
Richard Torbay, Independent

Postcodes
2347, 2350, 2351, 2352, 2353, 2354, 2355, 2358, 2359, 2360, 2361, 2365, 2369, 2370, 2371, 2372, 2390, 2399, 2400, 2401, 2402, 2403, 2404, 2408, 2409, 2410, 2411, 2440, 2453, 2469, 4383, 4385

Suburbs
Aberfoyle, Armidale, Ashford, Backwater, Bald Nob, Bannockburn, Ben Lomond, Bingara, Black Mountain, Black Swamp, Boonoo Boonoo, Brackendale, Bukkulla, Bundarra, Bungulla, Brushgrove, Caroda, Cherry Tree Hill, Cobbadah, Coolatai, Corner Camp, Crooble, Croppa Creek, Deepwater, Delungra, Dinoga, Dinton Vale, Dumaresq, Dundee, Ebor, Elsmore, Emmaville, Enmore, Furracabac, Gilgai, Glencoe, Glen Elgin, Glen Innes, Glen Morrison, Gravesend, Graman, Guyra, Hillgrove, Inverell, Jeogla, Keera, Kentucky, Kentucky South, Kingstown, Koloona, Leechs Gully, Little Plain, Llangothlin, Matheson, Mount Russell, Mungle, North Star, Nowendoc, Nullamanna, Oakwood, Red Range, Rocky River, Saddle Camp, Sandy Flat, Sapphire, Shannon Vale, Stanborough, Stannifer, Stannum, Steinbrook, Stonehenge, Strathbogie, Sunnyside, Tenterfield, Tent Hill, Tia, Tilbuster, Tingha, Torrington, Upper Bingara, Upper Horton, Uralla, Walcha, Walcha Road, Wallangra, Wandera, Wandsworth, Wards Mistake, Warialda, Wellingrove, Wollun, Woolbrook, Wollomombi, Yagobe, Yarrowitch, Yarrowyck, Yetman

His mother Donna Joseph was escorted to the lectern, where, voice shaking, she praised her “bright son.”

“In my heart, I believe you are seated beside grandpa,” she said, referring to her father Desmond who died Dec.2.

During her second funeral in three weeks, she remembered her son as bright, caring and full of life.

Oli’s father, Obi Okoye, wearing a long black African robe, proclaimed his son “was a man at nine-years-old.”

Tears flowed in abundance as Oli’s four-year-old sister Adora walked alone past the casket.

In a grey and pink dress, tights, white socks and black mary janes, she took tiny steps.

Adora placed her beloved brother’s favourite book on a table alongside a basketball, his karate uniform, medal and ribbon, a Beyblade toy, and Oli’s baptismal candle.

His St. Brigid classmates sat in the choir section, neatly dressed in uniform.

They sang like angels.

Nine-year-old Oli drowned Dec. 21 in the swift and frigid Rideau River at Strathcona Park — just a few blocks from his family’s Sandy Hill apartment.

The boy and a friend were playing along the edge of the river when Oli somehow fell into the water. Roughly 16 minutes later, his body was pulled out about 800 metres downstream. Despite desperate attempts by firefighters and paramedics to save him, he was declared dead at CHEO less than two hours later.

At the celebration of his life, ushers handed out brightly coloured foam butterflies and hearts. Mourners wrote prayers and loving messages, which were collected in offering baskets.

Large butterflies mounted on wooden sticks Ñ created by Oli’s peers — were the focal point of the sombre ceremony.

St. Brigid’s prinicipal, Martine Mitton, was given seeds to plant at the school in Oli’s memory.

Oli’s grandma left the church using a walker.

She looked devastated.

Edmund Burke, Joseph’s cousin, travelled from Montreal to attend.

He delivered the eulogy at Oli’s grandfather’s funeral about two weeks ago.

“What a tragedy,” he said. “I didn’t want to come back to Ottawa under these circumstances. It’s surreal.”

Family friend Michaela Onwuachi, 10, said she’ll miss playing video games with Oli.

“He was shy,” she said.

“I wish them peace,” said her mom Antoinette.

kelly.roche@sunmedia.ca

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2010/12/29/16700626.html

Nadine Thornhill

Nadine Thornhill is an award-winning playwright, actor and spoken word poet.  She honed her theatre  skills amongst the freaks and geeks at the University of Waterloo.  Upon graduating, she moved to Canada’s capital where she has been living, loving and working ever since.   By day, she is the program coordinator for Planned Parenthood’s Insight Theatre. In her spare time, Nadine enjoys running, an occasional triathlon, and the antics of her husband and son.

Where did your passion for theatre begin?

When I was four or five, living in Toronto, a local designer asked my mom if I could model part of her upcoming collection for a fashion show.   I was a pathologically timid child, so I’m not sure why she thought I could handle the runway.  But my mom said yes and not long after, I was strutting my little stuff in front of a crowd.  And even though I could barely say two words to most people, as a model, my relationship to other people was different.  On the runway, I knew exactly what I was supposed to do.   And I knew exactly how the audience was going to respond.  The social interactions were all prescribed, which put me very much at ease.  I quickly developed a strong association between being on stage and feeling secure.

I sought out experience to perform and be on stage throughout my childhood, but it didn’t develop into a driving passion until I was twelve.  My parents took me to see Les Miserables. The first notes of music sounded through the theatre and within five minutes, I was head-over-heels with the conviction that I wanted to be on that stage.  Now that I’m an adult, my interests have expanded, but I can’t imagine that I’ll ever stop loving the theatre.

As a playwright and actor, how would you describe Ottawa’s performing arts scene?

I think Ottawa’s theatre scene is coming-of-age, so to speak.  The talent, intelligence, desire and resources required to be a strong presence in Ottawa’s art community all exist, but we’re still in the process of discovering and developing a unique, authentic identity.  In the eleven years I’ve lived in this city, I’ve seen incredible growth in Ottawa’s theatre scene.  It has grown, matured, and I have every confidence that it will continue to do so.

Meanwhile, I think Ottawa’s spoken word community has really come in to its own. This past October, Ottawa’s spoken word team won the national title for the second consecutive year, and  the world slam champion is an Ottawa poet.  Every spoken word event I attend is packed.  Every open mic seems to reveal a brilliant new artist.   Spoken word in this city was strong when I first got involved five years ago, but the work Ottawa poets are producing today is incomparable.

As an actor, how would you describe the Ottawa audiences you perform in front of?

I find Ottawa audience very generous.  Literally.  This past February I was the spoken word feature at Voices of Venus. It is a monthly event that takes place at Umi Cafe, and during my set, I mentioned how much I love Umi’s Nanaimo bars.  When I finished performing, three different people offered to buy me a bar.  It is possible I accepted all three…

But that experience is typical of the audience members I meet.  They’re very friendly.  And I think they appreciate that a lot of Ottawa performers are local people who live in their communities.  What better way to get to know your neighbour than over a rich, chocolately sweet, post-performance dessert?

Where do you find inspiration for your writing?

I’m self-centered, I’m opinionated and I’ve been through a LOT of therapy.  My poetry and plays are either thinly veiled autobiography; pontificating on various social issues; pseudo-psychoanalysis of an emotional problem I’m having; or some combination of the three.

Nadine Thornhill performing in “Oreo”

Why do you think it is important for Ottawa to have a vibrant arts community?

I think it’s important for Ottawa for exactly the same reasons I think it’s important for any place.  The arts are a mode of communcation and interpretation.   We rely on artistic products to make sense of our world every day.  Even something as routine as a daily commute on the bus, involves an encounter with artistry.  Every ad on a bus was conceived and executed by a creative team.   A graphic designer determined the look and layout of the tickets we use.  Even the maple-leaf motif that identifies the vehicle as being part of the OC Transpo fleet is art.  What we read, what see, the way we speak, even the way we move through our community, is influenced by art and creativity.

It’s a necessary part of life.

You answer sex and relationship questions for our friends at Apartment 613, can you tell us a bit about that?

I LOVE writing Dirty Laundry, my column for Apartment 613.  As I said, I’m opinionated.  I also love talking about sex.  Once a month I get to combine all my loves into one awesome writing assignment.  I’ve had some very interesting, intelligent questions.  I enjoy the challenge of an unexpected letter that really forces me to consider an issue I may not have thought about much before.

You also have your own blog, and you are a pretty active participant in Ottawa’s social networking community – what are your favourite local blogs to read?

Ottawa is bursting with must-read blogs.  Apartment 613 is all excellence all the time.  I also love Spacing Ottawa.  Hello Ottawa is a newer blog that features everyday Ottawans and what they love about this city.  The O-Dot is a hilarious, satirical Onion-esque blog, but with a local focus.  A couple of my friends have launched a new blog, Ottawa Sneezers, a place where people can spread the word about must-see arts events around the city.

I gather from Twitter that you’re an avid jogger – what is your favourite route to run in our city?

There are a lot of great places to run in this city.  The recreation paths along the canal and by the river are beautiful, especially in summer and fall.  But there’s something about running in the city that I absolutely love. I like to start out from my home in Westboro and run out the University of Ottawa – that route takes me through Wellington West, Hintonburg, Little Italy, Chinatown, Centretown, Sandy Hill…some of my favourite neighbourhoods.

You recently performed at Our Unspoken Words, a book launch and fundraiser for the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Ottawa, as well as the Ottawa Storytelling Festival. Can you tell us a bit about those events?

Our Unspoken Words was powerful, but challenging.  The evening began with women reading stories from the book, Our Unspoken Words.  Those performance were challenging – affecting, but brutal and heartbreaking.  I was part of quintet that also included Danielle K.L. Gregoire, Jessica Ruano, Michelle Blackburn and Faye Estrella.   We were all very emotional charged.  After hearing stories of women whose children had been killed, I had a great deal of difficulty performing a piece a wrote about my own son.  At the same time, I knew I had the support of my fellow poets, and the audience was one of the most attentive I’ve experienced.   In the end, I was honoured to have been part of it.

The Ottawa Storytelling Festival was a blast.   I didn’t really perform, but I had the privilege of introducing Ben Haggarty, a world-reknowned professional storyteller.  My favourite part of the evening was sitting backstage before the show.  Mr. Haggarty and a couple other storytellers were chatting – small talk between storytellers is conversation on a level that I have never experienced.  There were metaphors, characterization, and witty rejoinders flying around the room.  I was so riveted, I forgot to be discreet about the fact that I was eavesdropping.

What’s next for you?

I definitely want to do more spoken word in the new year.  I  would love to create a collection of my poems, either as a book or a CD.  I have a really exciting project in the works with Apartment 613.  We’re not quite ready to announce it yet, so I can’t say more, but I think it’s going to be a big hit!  I’m writing a new script which I plan to produce for next summer’s Fringe Festival.  And I’m going to try my hand…erm…feet at a half-marathon in the spring, so I’m learning to embrace the chilly joys of winter running.

What is one thing about Ottawa you think people don’t know that they should?

Did you know that it’s illegal to eat ice cream on Bank Street on a Sunday?  Apparently it’s an old obscure law, that’s never been taken off the books.

Do you want to share more about Ottawa’s theatre scene? Send us a note!

I knew I would eventually get to The Giggling Jerks a new Caribbean style restaurant in my neighborhood opened by brothers Devin and Dylan MacLeod. I was excited about the upcoming Food Network Show, “The Opener” with David Adjey that documents their early days (Adjey=secret crush). I knew I absolutely had to go when I heard they were having difficulty on their street with neighbours petitioning against them having their liquor license between 11am and 5pm (the brothers have requested a license to run between 11am and 11pm). I live in this neighbourhood too, not on their street, but on a street with a corner pub so I think I have a bit of insight. I also think I am within my rights in voicing my concern about restaurant owner’s who feel they are getting pushed out. A recent Ottawa Citizen article explains it well.

Don’t get me wrong I am all about safe neighbourhoods, but I also think that trying to get this stopped is hindering someone’s livelihood and doubting their ability to be responsible to their liquor license privilege before we even get a chance to get to know them. Sandy Hill has a big void when it comes to really great eating establishments, there are only a few, and we are missing out when other neighbourhoods like New Edinburgh, Hintonburg and Westboro are thriving in that department. Good eating establishments add value to neighbourhoods, they normally contribute to the community they are in (Giggling Jerks have already done this in their few short months), they bring people from other neighbourhoods in which allows us to showcase our neighbourhood, and contrary to popular belief they add value to properties (hello have you watched HGTV?).

I am not even going to talk about the students, there is no relation to students here. The students will continue to make loud noise and exist, because we live in the same neighbourhood as a major Canadian university, and please to those of you who do, stop calling it the student ghetto, this area is abundant with families, couples and singles not attending school. ‘Nuff said.

So on to the good stuff. This is a colourful, vibrant space with lots of good music. Let me tell you what I know so far about the food at The Giggling Jerks, it’s good, not just good enough, but really good. I ordered the Cod Fish Fritters with Homemade Mango Chutney and the Jerk Chicken Quesadilla.

The fritters came piping hot with a dark, crispy outer coat (apparently one of Adjey’s ideas… blush). Inside was moist and tender, not at all fishy but just the perfect amount seasoned nicely. The homemade mango chutney was lovely, sweet and full of flavour, it reminded me of biting into a fresh mango. I brought the rest home for toast in the morning.

The quesadilla were nicely grilled, loaded with lots of tender white chicken breast painted in the Giggling Jerks own barbecue sauce, laden with fresh peppers. The homemade salsa was fresh, fresh, fresh and packing some heat!

Other menu items included Coconut Spiked Seafood Ceviche, Island Style Pepperpot Soup, Jerk Chicken and Pork Tenderloin. They also serve all day breakfast.

Devin MacLeod is a nice guy. He is a good neighbour who chose Sandy Hill because it represented to him a similar neighbourhood he once lived in and all the good memories that go with that. He is also an Ottawa boy who grew up in the south and west end. Lets applaud him for having enough wisdom and insight for bringing something fresh to his hometown and providing employment and pleasure for the folks who live here.

The Giggling Jerks
332 Wilbrod St.
Ottawa, ON
613-695-5375

So to finish up the story of the investment property in Sandy hill.

My client and I met up early to discuss what to expect, to review the potential cash and any deviations, how this fit into his portfolio and long term vision, and to discuss our negotiating strategy.

Being an informed investor, we both knew what the market demanded of us to win this property if it met our expectations. We decided to go in at 106% of asking price, with no conditions whatsoever, and a closing date of 2 weeks, just enough time for the lawyers to do their job. As well, I suggested we write a personal letter to the seller. We knew right away there would be multiple offers, so we had to everything we could.

Even with a typical client, asking them to pay MORE than the asking price would raise an eyebrow. How can you buy a property without doing a building inspection? How do you know your financing will go through? Just a couple of the many reasons that working with an agent well in advance of the day you want to purchase your home helps. Preparation is the key word here. The mortgage broker had come through in time for us to guarantee the financing. As for not having a building inspection, my client and I were taking a chance, but were confident in our combined knowledge catch any potential issues.  I had offered to call up a building inspector I routinely work with to join us for the showings, but my client felt it was not necessary for an ordinary rowhouse.

Ordinarily, a pressure situation like this would not sit well for a family looking to buy their principal residence. However sometimes, you just need to do what it takes. If your client doesn’t know first hand about how to approach the market, then you are going to spend more time convincing them which will come off as pushy, as well as submitting offers that no seller will agree to.  I believe it all comes back to being educated on current real estate trends. I am not talking about Canada’s economy and the housing market, but rather knowing the market that surrounds you everyday. Real estate is local. Local in terms of knowing the city, the neighbourhood, and the type of property you are buying. There is another general rule in real estate that I believe in – Do not invest more than 30 minutes away from your home. This is because you just don’t know what the real estate market is like in another city, no matter how great the deal is.

As my client and I drove up to the property, offer in hand, we saw a group of people in the distance, and knew we were here. This property was no secret. Any investor can do the numbers and know what it is worth to them. We could not even find parking on the street!

We must have spent a good hour in the property checking every inch of it, and asking the listing agent every single possible question that came to mind. How old is the roof, furnace, windows? What are the tenants like? When does their lease expire? And so on.

We submitted the offer knowing that we would be up against stiff competition. Three others were already submitted to the listing agent, and they would all be presented at 4pm that evening.

We  discussed increasing the purchase price. However, when discussing the bottom line, we knew it did not make sense to his criteria. Again, I need to mention that each and every investor has their own individual criteria. We decided to stay firm on the offer, even at the possibility of losing it.

Well 4pm came around and the offers were presented to the seller. The listing agent called, saying they had narrowed it down to our offer and one other. The offer for a firm deal impressed the seller. However the other offer came in with no conditions as well and with a higher price. The listing agent offered the opportunity for us to go higher in price, and he would present it to the seller. My client refused, and I agreed. We knew our bottom line, and we knew what it was worth to us. We also knew that there would always be another one out there. While it was fairly priced, it was by no means a steal, and overpaying for a property could take a long time to recover from.

We said thank you for the opportunity, but we were going to stay firm on our price.

Later that week, I checked the selling price for this proprety. It finished at 113% of asking price. Wow! I shared this with my client, and we both had a good laugh. It is easy to get caught up in the emotion of a bidding war, and lose sight of what a property is truly worth.

I have no doubt that by next week another great property will come up for sale for my client to get excited about. It is all part of the industry and what makes my profession so much fun.

So today I found a property that met all my criteria. The number one rule is location. Check.

This property is in Sandy Hill, a four bedroom rowhouse on a very popular street for renting out to university students. New furnace, new shingles. I wonder what conditions the windows are in? It could be a party house, and I need to be willing to accept that.

Having good responsible tenants is my number two rule. Even if the place is a mess, and they always have friends over, it should not affect m. Unless the damage begins, and the rent is late.

As an investor, you need to think about how your next property will affect your investment portfolio as well as your time managing it. This property would definitely be a long term hold. The rental market for  a single bedroom in the Sandy Hill area is very defined with a current approximate range of $500-$700. I know if I keep my asking rent in the market range, I will have absolutely no worry renting it out any time of the year. I would rate this as a low to low-medium in the time and experience needed to manage this property in the long run. I can rent it out as 4 individual bedrooms, or a 4 bedroom townhouse. As one client recently pointed out to me, he would rather rent a property individually by bedroom ,because when the tenants don’t know each other too well, they tend to respect the common areas more, and less likely to be “the place to be” for a close group of friends.

The listing description states the property is currently rented out for base rent all utilities. The cap rate is decent, but I KNOW the property is under rented, by about 15%. This provides a great opportunity from an investment point of view.

I know it is the right type of property for me, and I need to ask myself what is it worth to me? How much am I willing to pay? It is worth asking price without a doubt, but how much more is it worth? What else can I do to give me the upper hand against other offers?

This is where a good relationship with a responsive mortgage broker becomes an asset. I have two days before showings and to know I can purchase this without a doubt. To give myself the upper hand, my offer may need to be a firm  – no building inspection, no finance clause, which means no way to back out. She is going to have work quickly for me on this one!

The market is hot, and even hotter for investment properties. This one will be no exception. Showings will only be for one hour, and offers will be presented that evening.

This is a property that will sell the same day, with multiple offers. I have no doubt about that!

Exam season is prime for the urge to escape: three hours in a stuffy 5th floor classroom or a stripped-down fieldhouse that echoes with every dropped pen and pulled chair, while the windows tantalize you with the outside world.

Also distracting is the sense that these are the last few weeks of the year and soon summer vacation (or the holiday break) will be upon you . . . as soon as you can identify and state the significance of terms you won’t be able to remember the next day.

It’s this urge for escape which is behind this song by this former Sandy Hill and current Montreal resident, made all the more relatable when he sings of taking the bridge to Quebec which many Ottawa residents have done.

The reason behind his impulsive move is that the girl he loves has moved on while he hasn’t, and only a change of scenery will be able to help. This is a classic blues theme and it’s presented in a soft, acoustic bluesy style, with a pair of harmonica solos that burst forth along with repeated lines sung in his delicate voice.

It’s the ability to portray feeling that is such a strength for this artist; Vollebekk caresses his guitar strings and forgoes a pick to present an amazingly organic and authentic sound, and also puts his passion into squeezing out the worlds from deep within his soul.

This is probably the most blues-influenced track on his Inlands album, but it is definitely keeping with the theme of introspection and romance. He adds a more full-band sound for “Northernmost Ava Maria”, explores his jazzy side for the sensual “Don’t Go To Klaksvik” and incorporates some French in “You Couldn’t Lie to me in Paris.”

It’s also worth noting that when you see him live as I did in January that he’s as vibrant a personality as his music suggests.

He’s able to appear happy and comfortable on stage in a way that’s as genuine as the feelings in his music, whether it was using an audience member’s guitar when a string on his broke, laughing off the punk show that was happening downstairs, or reflecting the stage lights with his instrument to spotlight the sound man he’d been working with for years.

Here’s to your exam, romantic or whatever blues you may be having now not stopping you from being happy in the end.

Turn up the volume a bit . . .

-30-