host picture

September 2012 Archives

Weekender

Planning to head out to a restaurant and order off the menu? How quaint. Robyn pulls up to the table with our Weekender looks at how the weird, wacky and unexpected seem to rule dining out today.

 

Listen

Happiness Expert

 That pair of shoes you didn't need...that lunch out after just buying groceries. Canadians are spending thousands on impulsive purchases, to make them feel better. But does it? Robyn asked Happiness expert, John Zelenski.
Listen

Lansdowne Development

Lansdown.jpgAn Ottawa destination or a development dud? We've heard the critics -- now we hear from the one of the people behind the re-development of Lansdowne Park, Roger Greenberg.

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Meg's Music Picks

Another weekend chock full of music festivals is coming your way..... and our columnist Meg Wilcox gives you a roadmap.

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Landsdowne examined: city staff report released

hi-ott0730-lansdowne852-4col.jpgA last look at Lansdowne? City staff unveiled its recommendations for the controversial redevelopment of the downtown stadium. David Chernushenko, the councillor for Capital Ward, and Ian Lee, with the group Friends of Lansdowne both spoke with Robyn about what they saw in the lengthy document.

Listen

Ottawa's casino gamble: lessons from Windsor

wdr-620-caesars.jpgCould Ottawa hit the jackpot by building a casino? Twenty years ago, Windsor asked itself the same question. Chris Vander Doelen, the first casino reporter for The Windsor Star, talks to Robyn about what a casino has done for that city, and what Ottawa should think about.

Listen

Mayor on Casinos

casino.jpg Mayor Watson is putting his money down on a casino in Ottawa.  We hear why.

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Digital Billboards

Digital signs.jpgThe city is poised to flick the switch on digital billboards. We hear both sides of this electrifying debate. 

Download Flash Player to view this content.

World in One City -- Phillippines

WIOC Phillipines.JPGArnie Cayetano arrived in Ottawa from the Philippines in 1989. He was 16-years-old. His family came here after his father died and his mother saw an opportunity for a better life in Canada.

And one thing Arnie became known for is his love for food. Robyn paid Arnie a visit for our weekly food series World In One City. They met at his home in Nepean.


Download Flash Player to view this content.

 For the recipe click below

Read more »

Life after the public service

Leaving the public service and starting a new life. Robyn speaks with three people who each had their "Oprah moment" and chose to follow their dreams outside of government.

 

Download Flash Player to view this content.

 

Public Servant's widow speaks

clarissa-pservant300.jpgAn Ottawa widow is speaking out about her husband's suicide.
Eric - whose last name we've agreed not to reveal - was a lawyer at Justice Canada.
His wife describes him as a star employee.
But he had received an 'affected notice' as part of on-going public service layoffs.
That meant he had to compete to try to keep his job. 
 And at the same time, he was also struggling with a mental illness.
This past July, Eric took his own life.
His wife Clarissa, whose last name we're also withholding, told his story to our colleagues at Radio-Canada. We hear from her and then we follow up with  Dr. Simon Hatcher. He's a professor of psychiatry at the University of Ottawa, and at the Royal.

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Butterflies begin their journey in a grade 7 classroom

monarch-butterfly-cp-3649958.jpgThese little critters may be smaller than a teacup, but they're about to embark on a journey across the continent.
It's migration time for Monarch butterflies.
And for some Ottawa students, that means letting go of their classroom pets.
Grade Seven students at Glen Cairn Public School have been raising nine Monarch butterflies since school began earlier this month.
Today, they're releasing them to the wild.  Shelley MacWhirter is the teacher in charge of the project.
 

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Katsura Sunshine brightens up the studio

KatsuraSunshine 002.jpgIt's a 400-year-old tradition in Japan.
But it was very new to Katsura Sunshine -- that's the Rakugo name given to Toronto-born actor Greg Robic who became the first foreigner to learn the ancient art of comic storytelling.
Katsura Sunshine - as he prefers to be called - performs today at the University of Ottawa.
Download Flash Player to view this content.

Meg's music picks for this weekend

Thumbnail image for Megphones.jpgThe weekend's almost here.......you can almost taste it.
It also means it's time to find out about what's going on in town for music.
Perfect time for Meg Wilcox, the host of Bandwidth, to stop by..


 

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Sleep away the pounds..

insomnia-for-web.jpgSleeping in is something we early birds here on Ottawa Morning only dream of.
Turns out, not only is sleep enjoyable and healthy... but it can help you lose weight, too.
That's according to a new editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal... which recommends we lose weight not only by measuring calories in and energy out... but snooze time, too.
It was co-authored by Ottawa obesity expert Jean-Phillippe Chaput - who's also a professor at the University of Ottawa's school of human kinetics.
Download Flash Player to view this content.

A high school team comes back from the brink

We heard yesterday that 11 Ottawa high-schools will have no sports teams this fall.
It's the fallout of teachers protesting the Province's new "anti-strike" legislation.
Nepean was one of the high schools who announced they would be fielding no teams --- at least for the fall season.
Including, its girls Field Hockey team.
But it turns out, even that decision was in flux.
Stu Mills brought us the story and two school trustess give their reaction.

 

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Teachers take "a pause" that could last all year for some students

Jaedie and Danielle.jpgNearly half of Ottawa high schools will have NO extra-curricular sports teams this fall.
That's according to numbers released yesterday by the Ottawa Carleton District School Board.
Yesterday was the deadline for schools to register their sports teams.
But teachers have been asked by their unions to take a "pause" from after school activities.
So where does this leave students?
Danielle Saunders is in grade 11 at Ridgemont High School.
Jaedie (JAY-dee) Sansom is also in grade 11 at Longsfields Davidson Heights Secondary School.  They talk to Robyn about their experience.  And then our education columnists Joel Westheimer looks at the value of extra-curricula activities.

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Thoughts on the lockout from the Sensplex locker room

Senators.jpgDie-hard hockey fans might need to invest in some classic NHL games on DVD.
There's no telling when the lockout will end.  But it's not looking good.
Neither the league nor the NHL players association has committed to face-to-face negotiations to end the labor unrest.
Despite all this: a practice took place at the SensPlex yesterday.
Stu Mills dropped by to find out what PLAYERS think about the lockout.
Download Flash Player to view this content.

World in One City - New Zealand

In our weekly food series, The World In One City, Robyn has shared a meal with people from 21 countries.
 Austria, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, Czech, Greece, India, Italy, Jamaica, Morocco, Mike and picklets.JPGNigeria, Norway, Peru, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.
 The one region she hasn't hit is the South Pacific.
 So Robyn thought it was time to fix that.
 This week, her host for a meal is a fella called Kiwi Mike.
 He's from Auckland..
 And no he did not light up a Barbie and slap on some lamb, he opted for a breakfast dish that is popular in New Zealand, but not that well known outside it.
 But before he got to that...Mike started with something he and Robyn have in common - and are totally lost without in the morning.


Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

1 egg

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup milk

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

25g or 1oz butter (optional)

Jam

Whipping cream

Directions

Beat the egg and sugar until thick and add the milk to the sifted flour, salt and baking powder. Lastly add melted butter. Mix until smooth and cook in spoonfuls on a hot greased griddle.

Serve with plenty of jam and whipped cream. Fold in half. Don't use utensils. Do make a mess.

Listen

McGuinty Mondays begins

Mcguinty.jpgIt's not the best reason to have a weekday named after you.
But at elementary schools across Ontario, teachers are observing the first "McGuinty Monday."  It's the latest stand in their fight against new legislation from the province.
The legislation imposes wage freezes, pay cuts and benefit reductions for teachers and prevents them from striking for two years.
But that's not stopping teachers from fighting back.  Today is their first McGuinty Monday.
Stephen Skoutajan (SKO-tie-ann) is a teacher at Devonshire Public School -- and Rachel Inch teaches at Broadview Public School.

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Parents of Eric Leighton call for inquiry into thier son's death

li-ottawa-school-explosion-.jpgThe explosion happened in May of last year.
Eric Leighton - a high school student at Mother Theresa in Barrhaven - was making a bbq in shop class.
A spark caught... and he died later from his injuries.
Since then, the Ottawa Catholic School board was ordered to pay a fine.
But yesterday, Eric Leighton's parents spoke out saying - that's not enough.
They want a coroner's inquest into his death... to make sure safety regulations are in place to protect others.


 

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Sens fans on locking out the Sens..and every other NHL player

ScotiaBank_Place_Inside_empty_2006.jpgWith the possibility of a NHL lockout looming, we turned to our Sens panel to see how fans are feeling.
Shaila Anwar is an Ottawa Senators season ticket holder, and Graeme Nichols writes for the 6th Sens blog.  

 [ccType=audioclip

id=2279119584&mediaid=2279119268&category=AudioMobile/Ottawa_Morning]

Municipal Panel: Sinkholes, sewers and simmering questions

Highway 174.jpgWhile traffic is now moving along one eastbound lane of highway 174 ... the road isn't slated to fully re-open until next week.  And questions are swirling about how this could have happened... and how much money has been sunk into the repairs.  Good questions for our municipal panel.

 

 

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Students push back as teachers take a 'pause'

Merivale.jpgDalton McGuinty is calling on teachers not to pull out of extracurricular activities because they're angry with the government. This came after teacher's unions called on their members to "take a pause" from extracurricula activities. Well, students at several Ottawa high schools have responded with their own "labour action."
Yesterday, senior students at Merivale High School wore school jerseys and school colours to show support for their school and its extracurricular activities.
Stu Mills visited Merivale to find out more

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Father pushes military for answers about his son's death

li-langridge.jpgIn Ottawa today, military officials are pouring over the details of Corporal Stuart Langridge's death.
He was a Canadian solider who served in Bosnia and Afghanistan.
But in March of 2008, he hanged himself.
His family claims he was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder --- a disorder they say the military ignored.
The Military Police Complaints Commisssion resumed hearings last week into his death. 
And yesterday, a psychologist from the Department of National Defence who examined Langridge testified that yes, he likely was suffering from PTSD.
Shaun Fynes is Stuart's step-father.
He's also one of the people testifying. 

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Tom McSorley reviews "The Words"

220px-The_Words_2012_Film_Poster.jpg"The Words" is the story of a writer who discovers an old manuscript and publishes it as his own book.   Things go well until the original author turns up to confront the perpetrator of this literary hoax.  It stars Bradley Cooper and Jeremy Irons and Ottawa Morning's film critic Tom McSorley has seen it.

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Taking back the tips

Tips.bmpWhen you leave a tip at a restaurant, you probably assume the money goes to the person who served you.
But, as the rules currently stand, bar and restaurant owners can take a portion of that money too.
An NDP private members bill at Queen's Park is trying to put an end to that.
Michael Vorobej certainly hopes that it does.
He's an Ottawa server and member of the Ottawa Banquet Servers Association.
He's traveling to Queens Park to meet with the Minister of Labour tomorrow.  He spoke to Robyn this morning.


 

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Barefoot Running

Barefoot running.jpgThousands of runners will be pounding the pavement during the Army Run this month.
And while most will be sporting traditional running shoes, some won't have much separating their feet from the asphalt.
It's part of the growing trend of "barefoot running."
Carly Warnock is trying to keep up with the stripped-down jogging style.
She is a masters student in medical anthropology at the University of Ottawa. 
And she's starting a study of the culture of barefoot running.

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Got Ginch

 Thumbnail image for Got Ginch.jpg                                                    Regular listeners of this program will know Stu Mills well.
He's our morning news reader.
And a man of many hats.
This week, he's our roving reporter here on Ottawa Morning.
And this morning, he stood next to something called the
Got Ginch R-V.

 

 

Download Flash Player to view this content.

World In One City serves up Sweden

Sweden guest.JPGWhat would you say Sweden is most known for?
IKEA?
ABBA?
Meatballs?
Well, when Robyn met Ingela Stromberg for this week's edition of our food series the World In One City - she put that to her.

 

Download Flash Player to view this content.

 

Read more »

Weekender slams the lid on canning

Canning.jpgIt's the time of year when people are getting into peaches. And pickles. And chutneys and jams.
Canning is an end-of summer ritual.
And home-canning has been making a comeback.
Our Weekender Denise Fung decided to roll up her sleeves for it as well.

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Reason for the sinkhole and why it could happen again

sinkhole2.jpgIt now looks like it could be more than a week before the sinkhole on Highway 174 is repaired.
But the question remains...how did it happen?
Gerry Mulhern has a theory.
He's an engineer, and the executive director of the Ontario Concrete Pipe Association.
We reached him in Toronto.

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Municipal panel on that sinking feeling at City Hall

sinkhole.jpgIt happened in the blink of an eye.
One minute, Juan Pedro Unger was driving on Highway 174, just before the Jeanne D'Arc exit, the next, he was peering up from a massive hole that had completely swallowed his car.
Turns out city crews had inspected the site, and a contractor had actually started work that day.
But that's where the answers end ---- and there are alot more questions still floating around city hall.  Which is why this was a good time for our municipal panel.
David Reevely is a city hall reporter with the Ottawa Citizen. He filled in for Joanne Chianello this morning.  And Alistair Steele is a CBC reporter who regularly covers City Hall.

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Completing the Mongol Rally..mostly in tact.

Mongol Rally.jpgIf thought you took an epic road trip this summer, it probably didn't compare to the Five Crew Canoe.  That's the name of an Ottawa team that took part in a race called the Mongol Rally.
They started in the UK.
And 16 hundred kilometres later...over mountains, through deserts, military checkpoints and with one bout of chicken pox...they finished in Mongolia. Two of its members stopped by the studio this morning.  Here's Robyn's conversation with Amy Morris and Brad Prouse.

 

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Swallowed by a sinkhole!

mi-ott-sinkhole-300.jpgIt was a hellish rush hour in the east end yesterday.  But it was much, much worse for the driver of a silver car that fell into a sinkhole on highway 174 at the Jeanne D'arc exit in Orleans.
The driver managed to climb out without major injuries.
His name is Juan-Pedro Unger and he's a 48-year-old public servant.
The CBC reached him a few hours after it happened to hear the tale. Hear that and then listen to Bob Monette the city councillor for Orleans talking about how the transport committee intends to deal with this.

 

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Quebec Election voters panel returns to Ottawa Morning

Quebec election.jpgThey listened, they weighed their options... and yesterday, they voted.
We've reassembled our voters panel to get their thoughts on how the night unfolded.
Rick Henderson is a retired school teacher from Aylmer.
Isabelle Hétu is a student at the University of Ottawa, living in Hull.
And Richard Ledbetter is a farmer in Pontiac.
Good morning all of you.

 

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Tough times for teachers might mean tense times in the classroom

Joel.jpgFor many students across Ottawa, today is the first day back to class.
And for teachers, it could be the beginning of a long battle.
That's in part because of legislation introduced last week at Queen's Park that will freeze teachers wages, and ban strikes for two years.  
At an annual labour day parade yesterday, in Ottawa, some teachers, expressed their concerns about what they might face heading back to work, and back into the classroom.
So will labour strife seep it's way into the classroom in the coming months?
Our education columnist Joel Westheimer has been thinking it over --- he's a professor in the faculty of education at the University of Ottawa and joins me know.
Download Flash Player to view this content.

RCMP tells union plane carrying anti-Harper message to land

si-harperlplane-300.gifIf you looked up into the skies above Ottawa at just the right moment on Saturday you may have spotted it.
A small yellow plane... carrying a banner, in French saying StephenHarperNousDetest dot ca.
The translation: "Stephen Harper Hates Us."
The public service union - PSAC - chartered the plane.
But the R-C-M-P ordered the plane to land.
PSAC says it was because of the message attached. 
Larry Rousseau is the union's Regional Executive Vice President for this area. He spoke to Robyn this morning.

 

Download Flash Player to view this content.

Read more »

The World in One City: Paul and Ayse pour their hearts into a bowl of soup

Heinbecker.JPGLast week we had Paul Heinbecker on the show - talking about the situation in Syria.
Paul is the former Canadian ambassador to the UN.
He emailed to invite me over to cook a World In One City dish with his wife Ayse.
She's from Turkey and they met when Paul was a young diplomat on his first foreign posting.
And if it's possible to fall in love over a soup...they did.
Here's their story:

Download Flash Player to view this content.

 

Read more »

Healthy fod that students make...and eat!

Screaming avocado.JPGThe Food Revolution that Jamie Oliver is pushing may just have reached one Ontario school.
In Stratford, Ontario, they've set up a program called The Screaming Avocado.
The kitchen-based-course is being touted as a healthy eating model for other schools.
Paul Finkelstein is the man behind the program, and is also a contributor to Best Health  Magazine.
I asked him to describe the Screaming Avocado Program.

Download Flash Player to view this content.