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Algonquin College lease with Ottawa Police Service may end in 2026

Students are concerned they may lose access to important role models and learning tools as OPS exit draws near

Nathalia Lencioni

Photos: Nathalia Lencioni

December 5, 2024
Revised: December 5, 2024 9:17pm

Photo: Nathalia Lencioni

Police and Public Safety Institute sign located in P-building, where OPS currently has its training facility

A non-renewal notice has been sent to Ottawa Police Services for the use of the P-building. The future of the shooting range in the building remains uncertain, with potential changes likely, according to a report for the Board of Governors released ahead of its Dec. 9 meeting.

Algonquin College’s police foundations students, whose program is known for its collaboration with the Ottawa Police Service, are bracing for a significant disruption as the termination of the lease agreement, set to take effect in 2026, will not only impact OPS but also limit valuable learning opportunities for students.

Elise Nizio, a Level 2 student in the police foundations program, said students are already having a difficult time accessing the OPS-run simulation lab, which exposes them to hands-on scenarios before going into the field.

“I’ve found the sim lab to be very helpful. It’s given me a good feel of what to expect in standard situations, but high stress situations as well,” said Nizio. “Without the sim lab, I’d probably be uncertain on whether or not I would want to be a police officer, as I would not know what to expect.”

Nizio added that being in the same building as OPS officers was important to her as a student.

“Having done the program thus far, I’ve been able to see the new officers train and use it as motivation,” she said. “The idea that I would be in their shoes eventually almost felt like motivation, and having that disappear might cause future students not to take the program as seriously.”

The Ottawa Police Service has relied on the college’s professional development centre for over 20 years. The facility has been an essential hub for police recruits and officers, featuring classrooms, a firing range, a defensive tactics studio and a simulation lab. OPS uses the space for everything from firearms training to critical use-of-force qualifications for its officers.

Olivia Fuoco, a program alumna, said she wasn’t aware of the change and regrets that future students won’t be able to have the same opportunities.

“I had not heard about them leaving,” said Fuoco. “We got a few pretty awesome experiences. We got to meet officers and have them speak at our classes. We practiced mock interviews with them as well to help prepare us for our actual interviews. We also got to experience how to do our fitness testing with officers who were still on the force, which was awesome.”

Jill Reeves, program coordinator for the Police and Public Safety Institute at Algonquin College, provided a statement about the program’s view on the change.

“The Police Foundations program has been independent and strong since its beginnings. We foresee that it will continue to be valuable and recognized. No further comments at this time,” said Reeves.

Deputy Chief Steve Bell expressed surprise at the college’s decision in an interview with CBC, stating that the OPS has relied heavily on the facility for the past two decades.

“This is a very big focal point for the Ottawa Police Service,” Bell said in the CBC interview. “We heavily rely on that area.”

While OPS officials are currently negotiating with the college to secure continued access to the firing range beyond 2026, the future of the entire training facility remains in flux. One of the more immediate concerns is the lack of suitable alternatives for the OPS’s specialized training needs. According to Bell in his interview with CBC, other ranges around the city could not meet the high demand of OPS recruits and officers.

Bruce Hickey, the college’s communications manager, said the college has no comment at this time.

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Nathalia Lencioni

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Monkey Buziness Productions shakes up Ottawa’s indie film scene

Four visionary filmmakers are redefining Ottawa’s indie film landscape by creating space for voices often unheard and inspiring the next generation of creatives

Agrani Tiwari

Photos: Agrani Tiwari

December 5, 2024
Revised: December 5, 2024 4:08pm

Photo: Agrani Tiwari

Tom Peters (front left), Christian Guerin (front right), Gigi Packer (back left) and Tchahyé. B (back right), the masterminds behind the Monkey Buizness Productions.

Two Algonquin College graduates are part of a collective hoping to shake up Ottawa’s filmmaking scene. Monkey Buziness Productions is a group of passionate indie filmmakers committed to making authentic and boundary-pushing cinema.

Made up of four creatives, Tom Peters, Christian Guerin, Tchahyé. B and Gigi Packer, they represent a mix of experiences, backgrounds and talents that have come together to push Ottawa’s indie scene forward.

Peters and Guerin are graduates of Algonquin College’s film and media program and have honed their skills through Algonquin’s hands-on training. Tchahyé has experience in videography while Packer comes from a theatre background.

“We each bring something unique to the table,” Packer said. “This diversity in experience helps us look at filmmaking from multiple angles. It makes our work that much richer and more dynamic.”

Individual projects to collective vision

Before coming together as Monkey Buziness Productions, the members had already been working on projects.

“We realized there was a void in Ottawa for truly independent, art-first filmmaking,” said Peters. “The city has opportunities, but a lot of them lean towards corporate or commercial projects. We wanted to create a space for bold, authentic storytelling.”

This comes with a name that indeed has attached to it both their playfulness as creators and respect for film heritage. “There’s a black-and-white film from the 1930s called Monkey Business that I saw as a kid,” said Peters. “It made me think about the longevity of cinema and what kind of legacy we want to leave behind.”

Breaking barriers in independent art

The mission of the group is clear: to create groundbreaking films and give a voice to the voiceless. The themes of their projects often delve into social issues, identity and diversity.

“For me, it’s about showcasing stories that are rarely told,” said Tchahyé. “I feel like as a filmmaker, what I really want to do is also showcase or highlight queer people and also people of colour.”

Coming up are Daddy’s Boy directed by Peters and Velvet Dream by Tchahyé, both premiering at the on Dec. 7, at DigiFilm60 Filmmakers’ Festival. Then there is Waiting for Love, a film directed by Guerin, which will screen at the Mayfair Theatre on Dec. 15 with other independent films.

Algonquin College’s role

Not all of the members are Algonquin graduates, but for Peters and Guerin, the college was a pivotal part of their filmmaking journey. Both credit Algonquin’s film and media program for giving them some pretty unbeatable connections, hands-on training and industry-standard equipment.

“Algonquin gave us a solid foundation,” said Guerin. “The program’s hands-on approach, mixed with its internship opportunities, really opened so many doors for me.”

Peters agreed but emphasized that taking initiative is key: “You pay to learn filmmaking, so make movies while you’re there. Use the gear, connect with classmates and build something you’re proud of.”

Collaboration and creative problem-solving

At the core of Monkey Buziness Productions is their dedication to collaboration. The team takes a democratic approach to dividing tasks, ensuring everyone has a voice in the decision-making process.

“We all have areas we’re more comfortable in,” said Packer. “For example, those two (Guerin and Tchahyé) are more on the DOP side, [which is] director of photography, working with the camera and such. We all have some directing experience… Tom and I fall into more often these scanning and producing roles,” she said.

This collaborative approach helps them overcome the inevitable challenges that come with independent filmmaking. Whether it’s finding affordable locations or managing complex shots, the group works together to solve problems creatively.

“Every project is like a puzzle,” said Peters. “With the right prep and support, you can piece it together.”

Building Ottawa’s film future

While the creation of films stands at the centre of their focus, Monkey Buziness Productions is also keen to see Ottawa’s indie scene grow.

“What we’re really trying to do is produce independent art,” said Peters. “We want to be able to have full autonomy on our stuff. We write, we direct, we produce from the ground up completely so that we’re going to be able to have a big enough portfolio to apply for bigger grants like Telefilm, talk to kind of funders and be able to essentially grow independently.”

John Palaganas (left) director of photography with Gigi Packer (middle) and Tom Peters (right) on the sets of Road Trip, the movie to be premiered in Jan, 2025. — John Palaganas (left) director of photography with Gigi Packer (middle) and Tom Peters (right) on the sets of Road Trip, the movie to be premiered in January 2025. Photo credit: Monkey Buizness

They hope to lead by example and be a supportive force for other filmmakers desiring to make honest, independent film projects.

“Also I think in the future there is a bit of like a talk of providing that sort of support to other artists as well,” said Peters.

Advice for aspiring filmmakers

For anyone who would like to enter the movie industry, the Monkey Buziness team has plain and simple advice: just do it.

“Write your script, take a camera and make your first project,” said Guerin. “Your first work won’t be perfect, but at least it’s a step in the right direction.”

“Stay humble and respect your team. Filmmaking is a collaborative art, and the relationships you build can make or break your career,” said Packer.

What’s next for Monkey Buziness?

As the group prepares for their December premieres, they’re already looking toward the future. In 2025, they plan to expand their collective and bring on other filmmakers to diversify their storytelling further.

“This is just the beginning,” said Packer. “We’re excited to keep growing, experimenting and contributing to Ottawa’s film culture.”

For now, Monkey Buziness Productions is focused on making films that challenge conventions and leave a lasting legacy.

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Agrani Tiwari

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First person: I changed career directions – and found a different side of myself

Once, I attended university in Spain, in pursuit of becoming a full-time artist. I had my life all mapped out. When it stopped feeling right, however, I let go of my plan and set out to discover a new path

Nathalia Lencioni

Photos: Itel Sapozhnikov

December 5, 2024
Revised: December 5, 2024 3:37pm

Photo: Itel Sapozhnikov

"Words were another lifelong passion that refused to fade," writes the author, "but I was so focused on becoming an artist, I overlooked it."

From the very first term writing for the Algonquin Times, I watched it happen: my ever-present need to excel academically began turning into a genuine passion for stories. Journalism had somehow captured my heart.

J-school moves a million miles a minute, and at first I resented it a little. Moving forward meant not looking back at what I used to love, or who I used to be. And it meant facing my fear of not knowing where I might end up.

Now, a journalism work placement is right around the corner, and I’ve realized that letting go of one dream has led me to unexpected places.

Just a few years ago, my life looked very different. I was on a beautiful courtyard at the University of Barcelona, hurriedly reading a book about Spanish art history in preparation for the test that would get me into the fine arts program. Everything in my pursuit of becoming a full-time artist had led to that moment.

But while studying art was an incredible, unforgettable experience, I had to confront the fact that something in me had changed. I still loved creating, but putting a price tag on something that I had built my life around made the experience dreadful. So, instead of plodding ahead with a career that no longer felt right, I decided to move to a new country on my own to rediscover what I wanted.

I grew up surrounded by remarkably stubborn, brilliant and creative people who never gave me any idea I couldn’t be whoever I wanted to be and do whatever I wanted to do. Like most people, I spent most of my life planning for someday, and until very recently I was certain I had it all mapped out.

I was aware of the ways my parents had given up parts of what they wanted for stability – my mother fell in love with painting a lifetime before I did, but by the time I was born, she was a judge. My dad is a scientist with an unmistakable talent for observation and research, but he also worked in law for as long as I remember.

The concept of a day job to allow for a hobby is one I was never sheltered from, and yet, my plans were far from pragmatic – I wanted to be an artist.

I had always been a very quiet, bookish kid, and I fell in love with this living, wordless language. With its rules and unruliness, with Rubens and Singer-Sargent. From the first time I got my hands in one of my grandfather’s many gouache paint cases, throughout courses taught by unbelievable professors and decades of learning from my own mistakes, that passion never wavered.

Over constant change, doubt, loss and learning, I understood deeply that art is not only a luxury, but sustenance. It serves as witness to our experiences, our lives in their individuality within the human experience. How many of us are only present now in a portrait or an inscription on the first page of a favourite book?

Creating stayed the same. It moved from journals and sketchbooks to bigger canvases and different mediums, but the feeling stayed. So I built my life around this old friend, under the light of a drawing desk. It wasn’t until I was nearly 23 years old that I revisited that plan. It happened when I was accepted to an amazing art program in the northwestern coast of Spain, and something that would’ve brought me nothing but joy, filled me with uncertainty.

I found myself thinking about a Sylvia Plath quote a lot: “I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked,” she said.

It was the first time that my future felt completely foreign, the first time I really noticed parts of what I wanted had changed over the years, and furthermore, parts of me changed.

As much as I wanted that to still feel like art was the only path forward, it couldn’t be anymore. Somewhere along the road, I became someone who needed something else.

Rich Lauzon, the program coordinator of Algonquin College’s drawing foundations for animation and illustration program, has worked in the visual arts field since the 1990s but his original plan was different. He wanted to work with music. But he believes people’s interests make their way back into their lives, one way or another.

“You just don’t know how things are going to land, and things throughout your life get discarded and picked back up. And you can’t really see it in a five-year span, or even a 10-year span,” said Lauzon. “But over time, things resurface that you really like. It could be science, it could be reading, it could be writing, it doesn’t matter where it is, it finds a way back into your life.”

Marie Pier Caron, an alumna of the illustration program, said it’s been disappointing trying to fit into the art industry.

“Getting into the industry has been disappointing,” said Caron. “ We were warned about the challenges ahead, but the reality has been tougher than expected.”

When the opportunity of going into journalism appeared through a friend’s recommendation, it seemed entirely obvious. How could it have never occurred to me? Throughout my entire life I had journals, scribbled at the edge of book pages and went through books at a vicious rate. Words were another lifelong passion that refused to fade, but I was so focused on becoming an artist, I overlooked it.

I still love painting, keep art supplies at hand and create as often as possible. But working in journalism, even as a student reporter, has also been extremely fulfilling. Using my words to amplify someone’s voice and tell their story is an enormous privilege.

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First Person: Running against myself

Running is hard and I don't always like it. But it's now my lesson for life in general. Running isn't always about the outcome - it’s about pushing through self-doubt and, no matter what, not stopping

Sahlym Florestal

Photos: Yuye Jiang

December 5, 2024
Revised: December 5, 2024 2:52pm

Photo: Yuye Jiang

"Every step is a decision that I have to continuously make and argue with myself about stopping or slowing down," writes the author.

I didn’t start running because I loved it. On the contrary, I hated how hard it was. But on a cold September morning in Ottawa, I found myself at the start line of my first half-marathon, chasing the version of myself I wanted to become.

On Sept. 21, 2024, I ran my first official half-marathon and by the end of the race, I felt weak. I trained for months to get where I was and I was ashamed of my performance that day. Running is physically hard, but for me, the real challenge is mental.

Every step is a decision that I have to continuously make and argue with myself about stopping or slowing down. On that day, I lost the argument. I slowed down and stopped so many times that the distance itself did not feel like an accomplishment. But I am learning to accept that it was.

When I started running, I was only doing it because the version of myself I’m aiming to be is doing it. I’ve always looked like I was in great shape. I have solid muscle definition from years of gym training since I was 17 and from playing sports for many years. But looks don’t translate to endurance. I was ready to scratch a half-marathon off my bucket list.

Since I was 17, every year I wrote down that I wanted to run a marathon. But it always felt out of reach. This year, I decided to take it seriously. I signed up for the Army Run’s Commander Challenge: a 5K followed by a half-marathon, with only an hour’s break in between. My friend Michel Akpro, an Algonquin College alumni and ex-track runner, agreed to do it with me. We made it a competition: racing the 5K and running the half-marathon together.

I loved running with Akpro because he was better than me. It was like chasing something I thought was unattainable, which kept me motivated.

In June 2024, I met Farah Fino at my local gym. Fino is a veteran runner with many marathons under his shoes. He loves running so much that he introduced me to his routine so I could train with him. After training with him once a week, my 5K time dropped from 27 minutes to 22:51. Fino, at 44, runs a sub-18-minute 5K, which would have felt impossible to my past self. What blew me away was when his wife gave birth in August, despite being up all night with their newborn, he still ran a sub-18-minute 5K on Thursday.

In my case, a month before the race, I got sick after hitting my best 5K time. For three weeks, the most I could run was 200 metres, and even that didn’t feel easy. One day, I forced myself out of the house despite feeling terrible, telling myself I could handle a short run. But 100 metres in, I felt like I might pass out. I could barely walk, and I thought, If I pass out here, who’s going to find me?

Race day came, and I was ready but not fully recovered. I raced the 5K with everything I had, but Akpro still beat me by 18 seconds. I finished at 23:58, just under a minute slower than my best time. Then, the half-marathon started, and I could feel the toll from the 5K. I told my friend to go ahead without me because I didn’t feel strong enough to keep up.

I finished the half-marathon in 2:34, much slower than my training runs. I crossed the finish line but felt empty. All the hard work felt like it hadn’t paid off. So, I told myself I would do it again on my birthday.

When I told Fino how I felt about my time, he said, “You’re always faster than the version of you who didn’t start.” It sounds corny, I know. He took it from a book, but lately, whenever I go for a run, I repeat those words to myself.

For my 21st birthday, I decided to run a 21K to mark 21 years. This time, I finished in 2:08. I was proud of my improvement, but a part of me still wanted more. Running taught me that it’s not always about the outcome. It’s about pushing through the mental challenges, the self-doubt, and, no matter what, not stopping.

Next year, I’m doing the Army Run again, aiming for a sub-20-minute 5K. Every race, every run, is part of my journey. It’s a reminder that I’m not just chasing a finish line. I’m chasing the person I want to become.

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First Person: The similarities between land surveying and journalism

Quantity is great, but if you sacrifice quality of work for it, problems start to pop up. Besides, putting in the extra effort can be extremely satisfying

Ben Fleguel

Photos: Ethan Macleod

December 5, 2024
Revised: December 5, 2024 2:47pm

Photo: Ethan Macleod

"Like a complicated survey job, sometimes the right option is to take an extra day and lose some profit to make sure you're doing the job properly," writes the author.

It was 30 degrees outside, and I was trudging through the bush, fighting off mosquitoes and flies, dressed in blue jeans, a t-shirt and steel-toed work boots. Jeremy Fleguel, my dad, and I were just north of Apsley, Ont. land surveying on a project that could not have gone worse.

Surveying is a lot like journalism. It’s a new story every day, often a new puzzle to solve and the quality of your work is of utmost importance. Someone who isn’t a practicing surveyor likely has no idea what they do and only sees the finished product. Much like in the news world.

Everything is about evidence as a surveyor. Theoretically, there are physical iron bars at nearly every corner or bend in property in the country.

Those bars often go missing. Most people don’t even know they exist, yet a surveyor’s day is doomed to be ruined when one disappears.

After traversing 1000-feet deep into the property, my dad and I arrived at the corner we had been searching for. But there was no iron bar.

Surveying isn’t as simple as walking to a destination. Surveyors use instruments that measure distance using reflective surfaces, and the instrument must know where it is.

Ideally, surveyors start the job with at least one known point, normally an iron bar identified on a survey plan. The instrument is set up on another point, which is usually a nail set by the surveyor and the distance between the two points is measured.

The surveyor will repeat this process throughout the property, setting points ahead and measuring the angle and distance.

That day, we had just done that for most of the day. We were exhausted from carrying equipment and having our blood drained by the various insects of early summer in Ontario. When we found no evidence on the northeast back corner, my dad let off a string of expletives.

“It never goes the way you think it’s going to go. Something always goes wrong,” said my dad. “If you’ve had a perfect day, you probably missed something.”

We had two options. We could calculate the bar’s location based on sketchy evidence we collected, or we could go a thousand feet further down the line to make our calculation tighter.

Some surveyors will choose the easy option because it saves time and money. If you calculate the bar and set it as is, you can cool off and move on to another job.

However, that solution pushes the problem further down the line. When the next surveyor finds a discrepancy, they have to decide whether to lose money or keep the property fabric tight.

Decisions are increasingly favouring expediency over quality, especially at larger companies.

This goes entirely against what my dad and I were taught. He learned from my late grandfather, Jack Fleguel.

“Don’t become a surveyor if you’re trying to get rich,” my grandfather often said.

He did well with his business, but he did not focus on his profit margins for one day.

Survey companies are usually owned by surveyors, but newspapers are often owned by wealthy business people. This leads them to run a newspaper like they would any other company.

Like a complicated survey job, sometimes the right option is to take an extra day and lose some profit to make sure you’re doing the job properly.

When that nightmare job in Apsley was over in done with, we felt great about ourselves as we sat exhausted and sweaty back in the light grey Tacoma work truck. Putting in the extra effort can be extremely satisfying.

I get the same feeling while reporting, spending extra time on one great story and doing a thorough job feels better than pumping out four stories in a week.

Deadlines and timelines are important, but so is enjoying the piece you write.

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Algonquin College community decks the halls of the Student Commons

Students, staff, faculty and their families gathered in the Student Commons for the 13th annual tree lighting ceremony

Ben Seabrook

Photos: Ben Seabrook

December 5, 2024
Revised: December 6, 2024 12:04pm

Photo: Ben Seabrook

The Algonquin Students’ Association Board of Directors gets in on the action, being the first to get their photos taken with Santa Claus.

The AC Hub and the Students’ Association teamed up to kick off the holiday season for the Algonquin College community on Dec. 2 with the 13th annual tree lighting ceremony.

Students, staff, faculty and their families joined together in the Student Commons to celebrate the holidays with holly jolly activities.

“This is like an end-of-year tradition that we’ve done, and it encapsulates our relationship that we have with the SA,” said Samantha Therrien, event programmer for the AC Hub. “It’s just a nice way to kick off the holidays.”

Therrien sees the tree lighting ceremony as a way to celebrate the holidays where everyone can feel included.

“We’re trying to be non-denominational and welcoming to everyone of all faiths and religions and those who celebrate different holidays at this time of year, so the tree symbolizes the holiday season as a whole,” she said.

Shortly after the tree was lit, Santa Claus arrived. People of all ages lined up to get pictures taken with him in front of the tree wearing Christmas hats. Presents, stuffed animals and nutcrackers were behind Santa.

The tree is lit as the holiday season approaches. Photo credit: Ben Seabrook

Santa Claus wished Algonquin students good health, happiness and a successful graduation, hoping they finding jobs quickly. He said most students are on his nice list.

“A few are naughty, but I can’t give out coal anymore because it’s not eco-friendly,” Santa Claus said, joking, “so they have to pass gas.”

Following the ceremony, the AC Hub and SA held a Home Alone marathon in the Algonquin Commons Theatre. Students got to watch Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York on the big screen for free, with popcorn supplied.

According to Therrien, this edition of the event started earlier than previous years in hopes of higher attendance as students often leave campus around 5 p.m. or sooner.

“We wanted to get the students who are already on campus, and we wanted kids to be able to come before dinner,” she said.

Organizers supplied free food and hot chocolate and they organized a craft station where students and their children made gingerbread cookies.

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First Person: Growing up with coyotes

I'm not sure what the true effects of living near the coyotes was for me as a young person. They were an invisible presence. I was grateful to walk in the woods, but there were many nights when I feared what lived there

James Gray

Photos: Steven Dalloo

December 5, 2024
Revised: December 5, 2024 2:34pm

Photo: Steven Dalloo

"Today, when I think of the 'forest,' I think of a place that's nice to visit, but also a spot that houses creatures who hate human lives in a primeval way," writes the author.

Just four years ago, three Ottawa residents were attacked by coyotes in Riverside South. “It was definitely the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me,” said one woman, who had to fight off a coyote that lunged at her on the ground, and only escaped by fleeing in a car.

And the sightings have not stopped in the region. Almost every year, there’s calls for a cull or other action.

It’s something I’m familiar with from my own youth, growing up in Barrie. And yet living here in Ottawa attending Algonquin College, when I learned of this story, I realize how much worse it could’ve been.

Today, when I think of the “forest,” I think of a place that’s nice to visit, but also a spot that houses creatures who hate human lives in a primeval way.

I recall being six years old, and seeing a “Lost Cat” sign while on a walk. I pointed it out to my mom, and said, “We need to look out for her!”

Mom seemed concerned. “Yes, keep an eye out.”

As I got older, the signs kept appearing — ” Lost Cat,” “Lost Dog” — five or more times a year just in the neighbourhood. And I kept pointing them out. My parents, however, grew more and more noncommittal, often not even promising to keep an eye out unless I, in my childishness focus, kept badgering them.

When I was about ten, they finally explained it.

“There are coyotes in the woods. If the dog isn’t found quickly, he’s probably gone.”

I remember being sad, but also thinking that coyotes are cool. So I wasn’t too sad.

I asked Dad, “Have you ever seen a coyote?”

“No. Hopefully we never do.”

Around that time, a classmate at school also had her cat go missing. We were all sad for her, but, being kids, quickly went back to talking about NHL.

By the time I was 14, I’d affected a cynicism at the whole thing. I thought it was people’s own faults for letting their cats go outside, or their dogs wander off. Don’t they see the signs? Don’t they know what happened to the last outdoor cat?

And yet, when I walked our own dog some quiet evenings, I feared a howling pack would emerge from the woods and devour us both. Once, after a rainy night, I found paw-prints near the playground.

In 2022, during one coyote-caused hubbub in Ottawa, CBC quoted a resident who said he was “depressed for a week” after his cat was killed and that “it’s impossible to keep a pet home who is used to going outside.”

I had always felt smug for first not owning a family pet, and then when we got one, keeping a very close eye on him. Were these feelings merely a way to avoid acknowledging the reality of coyote danger? A smugness to ward off sadness, and blame the victims of the attack?

And in recent years, the aggression seems to have grown. This January, a coyote grabbed a dog that was right next its owner in Barrie. In Ottawa in 2022, there was a season which saw a dog killed, a cat killed, a coyote in a public park and one in a school yard. I never heard of anything like that growing up. Was I just lucky to live in a more peaceful time?

I’m not sure what the true effects of living near the coyotes was for me as a young person. I was grateful to walk in the woods, but there were many nights when I feared what lived there.

Today, I’m still quick to judge pet owners, yet I also grumble about those in urban areas without greenspace. Perhaps those who actually lost a pet to coyotes, or were attacked, feel this even more strongly. Or perhaps I’m just a grump and a paranoiac.

I do wish, honestly, that our school team here at Algonquin wasn’t called “Wolves.”

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James Gray

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Genre-hopping local author advises newbie writers to try it all

In a talk to the Media Club of Ottawa on Nov. 19, Catina Nobel, advised writers to push fear aside: "People said I had to stick to one genre. I was like, 'no, I'm just going to do whatever I want'"

Kaitlyn Lemay

Photos: Kaitlyn Lemay

December 5, 2024
Revised: December 5, 2024 1:50pm

Photo: Kaitlyn Lemay

June Cox (left) the president of the Media Club of Ottawa and Catine Noble (right).

Catina Noble, an Ottawa-based author, persevered through the challenges in her life to pursue her love of writing. She now has over 200 publications including books, short stories, poetry and articles.

At the Media Club of Ottawa meeting at the Lord Elgin Hotel on Nov. 19, Noble told aspiring authors they just need to put themselves out there and try everything to get the ball rolling.

Her newest book, Boxing Day, a romance novelette, was released on Nov. 16, just in time for the holidays.

The Media Club of Ottawa allows writers from all backgrounds of experience and ages to come together and use community to push each other forward. Denise Anne Boissoneau, a recent addition to the club, attended Noble’s presentation and has felt the support of the community in her journey into the writing world.

“It was the first time I had heard Ottawa described as a village,” Boissoneau said. She had only started to be able to call Ottawa home once she found herself within her writing and in the Media Club.

Noble is an Algonquin College social services worker graduate and currently enrolled in the addictions and mental health program, as well as the creative writing certificate program. She uses her Algonquin College diploma and a BA in psychology from Carleton University in her career working in halfway houses in Ottawa.

Since she was young, Noble always wanted to be a writer but found herself a single mother of four at 23 years old. She didn’t know how or if she would ever be able to pursue her dream.

She’s always kept journals, filling the pages everyday with her life story and fictional stories. But her writing never saw the light of day.

“I kept writing because it just, it gave me a reason to get up in the morning,” said Noble during her talk. “It just helped me stay focused and life was always better for me when I was actually writing.”

The fear of never getting published, and therefore wasting her time writing, lingered in her mind until 2013. Then she received notice that one of her poems, You Can’t See Me, had been shortlisted in a poetry contest in Ottawa. It eventually went on to win first place.

From that point on, the fear of rejection was pushed aside and Noble propelled forward, diving into her writing.

“I just wrote everything,” she said. “People said I had to stick to one genre. I was like, no, I’m just going to do whatever I want, and that’s what I did.”

Noble allows her life to bleed into her writing. Her eclectic collection ranges from having a story published in an edition of Chicken Soup for the Soul to non-fiction about booking a Black Friday deal to Mount Everest Base camp and going on the trip without any prior training.

While some writers want to live off their creativity, it may not be financially responsible for most people. Many authors, like her, have to work full time and write on the side.

“I remember thinking, there’s got to be more to life than just paying your bills,” said Noble. “I just, I cried so hard. And I was like, it stops here. We’re going to make changes. And I did.”

Public lending rights are a great way Noble suggested independent authors try and get paid for their work.

Public libraries can accept small authors and offer their books for lending in the library and authors can collect royalties. The process is done through the Canada Council for the Arts to see if the books qualify. The maximum they paid out per individual between 2023 and 2024 was $4,500, according to Noble.

Noble found connections through the Ottawa Media Club that have greatly helped her writing and the exposure necessary to propel her success. Having people in the same field supporting and sharing each other’s projects has had a huge impact in Noble’s marketing strategy.

“You meet different people and everybody’s at a different place,” said Noble. “They have a lot of experience… it’s just interesting to hear the different takes because everybody has a different approach.”

Arts & Entertainment

Kaitlyn Lemay

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Kaitlyn Lemay

Holiday Market showcases student creativity and community connections

More than a holiday shopping destination, the event celebrated creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and the connections within the campus community

Zhiqi Zhou

Photos:

December 5, 2024
Revised: December 5, 2024 12:26pm

Miguel Fausto stands behind his booth selling his products on a table with already printed Christmas decorations and a working 3D printer.

The Holiday Market returned to the Student Commons in the E-building on Nov. 29 for its third year, with many students like Miguel Fausto honing their business skills at the event.

After the Students’ Association released the dates for the event, a number of vendors began signing up, including some of Algonquin College’s students. For many students, the market was a stepping stone into the world of entrepreneurship.

Fausto is a Level 3 engineering automation and robotics student. When he heard about the event, he immediately applied for a booth, trying to use the 3D printing technology he had learned in class to generate revenue.

“I decided to sell these Christmas ornament products to make some profits from something I love such as 3D printing,” Fausto said. “I design it myself and send it to the printer, which I call profiting from it.”

Many graduates joined the holiday market, including Amanda Rogocki, who graduated from the animation program at Algonquin College, and her sister, Erin Wiles, who brought their own printed and hand-knitted items to sell.

“I found out about this market when I was a student here, and it’s like a nice local market,” Rogocki said.

Wiles came to the event for the first time with her sister and her booth setup was not an easy task.

“It could be very intimidating during the first set up,” Wiles said. “There’s a lot of things to consider such as how to make the product and also how to do the payment.”

Rogocki has been doing this kind of activity for a long time and she’s hoping her business will expand outside of Ontario.

“I may attend more events outside of Ontario. Right now I go to Toronto and also Montreal. But I’m also hoping to do some shows in Calgary and Vancouver,” Rogocki said.

Dory Tran and Annie Le, Level 3 supply chain students at Algonquin College, love the market.

“In the mall, people there are crazy,” Tran said. “But here you have the time to walk around and ask how they made it and I think it’s more fun.”

Le said such events could be publicized more in the future.

“I didn’t know the event was happening today, I wish there could have been some notice and more advertisement,” Le said.

Arts & Entertainment

Zhiqi Zhou

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Zhiqi Zhou

Bedroom fire on Viewmount Drive leaves bungalow scorched

Repairs were underway after a fire ripped through a one-storey bungalow near Algonquin College

Ben Fleguel

Photos: Ben Fleguel

December 5, 2024
Revised: December 5, 2024 12:04pm

Photo: Ben Fleguel

The scene left over from the blaze that displaced eight people living in the bungalow.

A fire that started in a bedroom of a one-storey bungalow on Viewmount Drive has left the dwelling needing serious repairs.

Ottawa Fire Services said it received multiple calls on Nov. 27 reporting flames and smoke coming out of the structure at approximately 8:55 p.m.

According to Ottawa Fire Services, eight students were displaced by the fire. However, the owner of the bungalow, who spoke with the Algonquin Times, said they were not students but a part of the workforce. The occupants were not home during the blaze and no injuries were reported.

Workers had repairs underway two days after the fire on Friday morning. At the rear of the house, all but one window in the basement had been boarded up after the windows were ruined in the fire.

The facia and soffit on the front and northeast sides of the house were scorched beyond repair and had to be ripped out.

Workers are about to begin work on the northeast side of the house. Photo credit: Ben Fleguel

The damage the fire caused was still visible at the rear, with the fire burning the soffit jet black above the windows.

The fire started in the bedroom behind the top left window. The violent scorch marks are still slightly visible below. Photo credit: Ben Fleguel

Firefighters arrived on the scene Wednesday night four minutes after being dispatched.

The owner told the firefighters that no occupants were inside the home when they arrived.

According to OFS, the firefighters initiated a “fast attack” and advanced a hose line on the structure.

Firefighters had the blaze under control nine minutes after arriving at the dwelling. They then ventilated the building using high-pressure fans strategically placed inside the home.

The cause of the fire was still unknown, but an Ottawa fire investigator was been dispatched to determine the source.

Victim assistance was called to the scene of the fire to help the eight displaced tenant, according to OFS.

News

Ben Fleguel

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Ben Fleguel

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