Maria Yzerman Wins 1st & 2nd Place at Grand Prix Event

Maria Yzerman placed 1st and 2nd in the $15,000 Grand Prix event at Wesley Clover Parks on Saturday. 

She faced off with fellow competitor David Arcand, the only other rider to qualify for the jump-off. 

Both riders qualified two horses for the final round but it was Yzerman who came out on top with clean rides on both horses.

 It’s official. Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has bent the knee and kissed the ring of Donald Trump. 

India’s The Sunday Guardian reports Harper views ‘The rise of strongman politics, exemplified by Trump, as a necessary but temporary correction and emphasized that the world still needs a strong yet idealistic America.’

What could Trump possibly be 'correcting' in the eyes of Stephen Harper? A world in which allies don’t turn on each other? Where trading partners don’t suddenly break negotiated trade agreement and impose tariffs with no reasonable explanation? One where the US President ambushes a democratic ally, in the White House, in service to a Russian dictator?

And what ideals does Harper view as “Idealistic”. I suspect we may differ on the definition.

I guess we shouldn’t be surprised. After all, Stephen Harper is the Chairman of the ‘International Democracy Union’ (IDU) a group of right wing political parties from around the world, including Trump’s Republican Party.

Their goal is to help each other and elect right-wing governments around the world. Keep in mind, these are the same people who talk about a global conspiracy of the left to take over the world. 

Stephen Harper works with Trump’s Republicans to help them get elected. Let that sink in. Apparently, Harper thinks the election of Donald Trump is a good thing.

One of the people invited to speak to the IDU was the founder of conservative shit-posting site Ontario Proud, none other than Jeff Ballingall. Ballingall is now employed by the Pierre Poilievre team. There sure are a lot of connections between the Conservative Party of Canada and foreign state actors. One could be forgiven for thinking they are supporting foreign interference in Canada.

Sadly, this wasn’t the only troubling thing Harper said to The Sunday Guardian.  While Donald Trump is promoting the idea of dumping Canada from the ‘Five eyes’ security partnership, Harper is promoting the addition of India. 

Composed of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, this organization is tasked with the gathering and sharing of sensitive intelligence information.

While the addition of India might be a goal worth pursuing at some point, it isn’t feasible in the current geopolitical climate, a climate in which India’s drift away from democratic principles toward religious nationalism meant Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJJ party was quietly dropped from Harper's own IDU.

In the article, Harper “Lamented” the decline of the relationship between Canada and India, implying that Canada (Trudeau) was at fault for any problems.

Of course, this overlooks the fact that the Indian state security apparatus was allegedly responsible for the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil. A killing that may have been facilitated by intelligence gathered from the Russian Embassy in Canada. 

More importantly, Harper overlooks the fact that the intelligence about India’s involvement in the assassination was provided by five-eyes partner, the United States, intelligence that was gathered in relation to an assassination plot by India on American soil. 

In what world does Harper think promoting India as a member of the five eyes at this time, is a good idea? 

In what world did he think helping Donald Trump get elected was a good thing?

The Turcotte Family Fundraiser is back this Christmas season and it's bigger than ever. It features not one, not two, but three themes and houses this year.

The annual CHEO fundraiser will feature Christmas lights and displays from The Grinch, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and Die Hard. Yes, like sensible folk, the Turcotte's consider Die Hard a Christmas movie.

Please enjoy the preview photos we took (In the gallery). The photos do not include most of the Die Hard theme however as the Turcotte's are still working on their vast display and will officially open it on Sunday December the 1st.

According to their fundraising page, they have helped raise more than $175,000 for CHEO and the Stittsville Foodbank. 

Their home is located at 18 Cypress Gardens in Stittsville and the lights will be turned on December 1st. Come by and see their display and if possible make a donation to CHEO. You may scan the QR code sign and donate directly to our CHEO fundraiser page or make a cash donation.🎄 

Truth and Reconciliation Week 2024 is a transformative five-day journey for students (grades 1-12), educators, and the broader community to engage with the poignant history and enduring spirit of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. 

Explore interactive workshops, witness the profound “Mino-pimatisiwin – The Good Life” youth empowerment gathering, engage in meaningful dialogues, and contribute to our collective path toward reconciliation. 

Please visit the National Truth and Reconciliation website for more information.

You can register for Lunch and Learns here.

Sami people in Russia are being forced to hide their identity and live “outside the law” for fear of imprisonment and persecution, leading figures from the community have warned, after the government labelled dozens of Indigenous organisations terrorists and extremists.

In July, Russia’s ministry of justice added 55 Indigenous organisations to a list of terrorists and extremists, meaning that representatives of the groups – and anyone who takes part, cooperates or communicates with them – risk being sentenced to years in prison.

It is the latest in a long line of legislation restricting the rights of Indigenous people in Russia, including the introduction of a “register” of Indigenous people.

Please read the full article on The Guardian website.

Update from OPS:

 "On Friday at approximately 11:15am, Ottawa Police were called to the 200 block of Charlotte St. for a suspicious package. The OPS Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) attended and deemed the package non-suspicious. The investigation into the incident remains under investigation by the Central Criminal Investigations Section. " 

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The Ottawa Police bomb squad was called to the Russian Embassy shortly before noon on Friday after staff reported a suspicious package left inside the gate.  

Ottawa police were able to safely remove a small item that may have been a cellphone.  Regular pro-Ukraine protestors were moved across the street upon their arrival. They were still able to make their presence felt.

Police report there was no threat to public safety.

More information (And our photos) available on the CBC.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/bomb-disposal-unit-called-to-russian-embassy-1.7329966 

Elizabeth Bates was the winner of the Grand Prix event of the Ottawa National equestrian event at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa on Saturday (September 14, 2024).

On a hot day, Bates bested 6 other horses in the jump-off, going clean with a best time of 42.37 seconds on her mount Heartbeat W.

Mackenzey Nadeau finished in second on HHS Fairy Fort in 44.59 seconds, Stephanie Bourassa was third on Guss de Kergane.

Rounding out the jump-off field was Virginie Bonnie who received the 4th, 5th and 6th place ribbons, qualifying 3 horses. Jade Lalonde had a clear first round and finished 7th in the final on Kaptial Creation Z.

Events, free to the public, continue on Sunday.

Russian-Canadian Filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova’s claims that she didn't ask for permission to embed and film a Russian battalion have been proven false...by her own Russian language interview in the Baikal Journal.

The interview was first brought to our attention by Ukrainian clothing maker Saint Javelin on their X page.

https://x.com/saintjavelin/status/1832483982111363394/photo/1

Trofimova was even given a Russian military uniform so she would not be shot by "Her own people."

It turns out Trofimova can tell a good story. It's just not the one she wanted us to hear.

For anyone who wants to read the original Russian interview, here is the link.

https://baikal-journal.ru/2024/09/05/esli-vy-vybiraete-storonu-vy-za-vojnu/

Russian-Canadian Filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova’s documentary Russians at War will make its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10th.

The film tells the story of a battalion of Russian soldiers involved in the brutal invasion of Ukraine. 

Not to worry though, Trofimova says she never saw any evidence of war crimes in the 7 months she was there or even a “strong desire to kill.” When asked about the Bucha Massacre at a press conference for the Venice Film Festival she simply ignored that part of the reporter’s question.

Trofimova claims she filmed without the approval of the Ministry of Defense. The only way her film might have even the slightest bit of legitimacy is if it was filmed covertly without Putin’s approval. 

Otherwise, it’s just Putin-approved propaganda.

In a press conference at the Venice Film Festival, Trofimova said “I got the chance to pretty much go anywhere and everywhere.” 

What are the chances that a Russian-Canadian woman could remain embedded in a Russian battalion near the front lines of the war in Ukraine for 7 months, while filming a 2 hour documentary, without the Kremlin knowing and approving? 

Do you think she would have the freedom to “Go anywhere and everywhere” while independent journalists are persecuted and reporters like Evan Gershkovich are sentenced to 16 years in prison in sham trials?

I don’t.

If you do, my name is George Parker and I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

The Canadian Media Fund has no business supporting Russian propaganda. TIFF has no business screening this film. Taxpayers shouldn’t be subsidizing it.

Shame on TIFF and the Canadian Media Fund.

(The Polish Ambassador to Canada, His Excellency Witold Dzielski attending the 2024 Black Ribbon Day ceremony outside the Russian Embassy in Ottawa)  

This is a National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Communism and Nazism in Europe.

This day coincides with the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact by the totalitarian regimes of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, 85 years ago. This pact set the stage for the invasion and occupation of sovereign states across Central and Eastern Europe, paving the way for the Second World War.

Read the Prime Minister's official statement here:

https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/statements/2024/08/23/statement-prime-minister-black-ribbon-day 

Conservative MPP Goldie Ghamari faces an uncertain future after being kicked out of the Progressive Conservative Caucus on Friday.

According to a report in the Globe and Mail, Ford's deputy chief of staff said:

"The Premier made his decision after seeing the explanation Ghamari offered for the meeting.

“Her subsequent statement claiming she wasn’t aware of Mr. Robinson’s history prior to their meeting speaks volumes about her judgment and honesty,” Ms. Yelich wrote."

A statement from Ford's office said:

"This decision follows repeated instances of serious lapses in judgement and a failure to collaborate constructively with caucus leadership and as a team member.

While this decision did not come easily, it has become clear that MPP Ghamari can no longer continue in her role within our caucus."

Ms. Ghamari will now sit as an independent in the legislature. If she chooses to run in the next election, she will face an uphill battle as her Carleton riding is considered a safe Progressive Conservative seat and she would have to face a candidate with the approval of Doug Ford and the party.

On her X feed, Ghamari wrote " When one door closes, another one opens." 

She did not elaborate on what that open door was. 

Conservative MPP Goldie Ghamari just called “Notorious UK Islamophobe” Tommy Robinsonan “Ally” and thanked him for meeting with her online. This, even after he was arrested in Canada.

According to Anti-Hate.ca:

“Arguably Britain’s most infamous Islamophobic activist – whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon-Robinson gained attention in 2009 when he launched the anti-Muslim English Defence League. The group help “often-violent demonstrations in towns and cities with visible Muslim communities,” according to UK-based anti-hate organization Hope Not Hate.

Ghamari has since removed a Facebook post she made showing the interview but an X post from Tommy Robinson remains online showing Ghamari praise Robinson, saying:

“Thank-you for speaking out against the terrorist Islamic Regime in Iran and being an ally!”

Among the lowlights in Robinson’s past: Corresponding with the convicted terrorist in the Finsbury Park mosque attack, and a criminal record for violent offences, financial and immigration frauds, drug possession and public order offences.

We have reached out to Ghamari for comment. 

 A Russian sympathizer was arrested near the Russian Embassy in Ottawa for vandalizing a pro-Ukraine protest sign on May 9th. 

Protestors warned the man that police were nearby and he should not touch the sign but he ignored warnings and ended up in handcuffs as a result of his actions.

More information to come as it becomes available.

Nasha Canada has been a thorn in the side of Vladimir Putin since it began their Russian language publication in 2001. Despite their long history of mocking Putin, they recently came under fire from Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR) and the Ukrainian World Council (UWC).

They accused them of including an insert in their March print edition on behalf of the FSB, one of the Russian counter-intelligence agencies created when the KGB was dissolved in 1994. The problem for both the GUR and UWC, is there was no insert in the March edition of Nasha Canada and they have not provided a copy of the alleged document.

Nasha Canada deputy-editor Zhana Levin addressed these accusations in a National Post article on April 19, 2024. She says "There was no leaflet and that the Ukrainians likely confused an old, satirical article by the newspaper about FSB recruitment tactics as an actual advertisement by Moscow. "

Nasha founder Vladimir Turovsky, who hails from Western Ukraine, addressed the accusation directly in response to our questions. 

He says "Nasha Canada has never published leaflets from the FSB and that there is no other content, whether online or in print, that aligns with the allegations in the Ukrainian news release. Nasha Canada is unequivocally pro-democracy, pro-Ukraine, and staunchly anti-Putin."

He added "We hope was just an honest mistake on the part of the GUR ."

National Post columnist Tom Blackwell reached out to the GUR for comment. We reached out to the UWC and the Ukrainian Embassy to Canada for comment. Neither of us received responses.

Several hundred Armenian-Canadians and their supporters gathered in Ottawa's MacDonald Gardens Park in Lowertown, across from the Turkish Embassy, to remember victims of the Armenian genocide. 

Across from them were a small group of Turkish counter-protestors. The two groups were separated by about 20 metres and metal barricades to ensure the safety of participants. There was also a large police presence.

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day is marked each year on April 24th by Armenians and the diaspora in Canada, France, Argentina, and the State of California. It commemorates the victims of the 1915 Armenian genocide in which up to 1.5 million Armenians died in a series of attacks and through starvation at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. 

According to a report on Radio Free Europe, Turkey objects to the characterization of events as a genocide saying that "Armenians died in much smaller numbers and because of civil strife rather than a planned Ottoman government effort to annihilate the Christian minority. "

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister's office released an official statement. In it, the PM said:

 “Armenian Genocide Memorial Day is a time for reflection and remembrance. As we observe this solemn day, I encourage all Canadians to learn about the events that led to this senseless loss of humanity. Let’s build a society where everyone feels safe from discrimination and violence.” 

For more on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, please visit our photo gallery. 

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Chief of Police Eric Stubbs have refused to provide basic information about vacancies within the Ottawa Police Service (OPS). 

Spokespeople for both men insisted the only way we might be able to obtain this information is through a freedom of information request.

A media relations person with OPS stated “The detailed staffing data you are seeking, broken down by Section or presented in an Org Chart), is not readily available. As such, you will have to make a request to our Freedom of Information (FOI) team.”

Gatekeepers and red tape are not the way to build the community’s trust.

This basic information is required for planning and hiring decisions. If they don’t have this information, they are completely incompetent and should resign immediately. 

I think what they meant to say is, ‘We don’t want to provide you with this information.’ 

That is a statement we would believe because it could be politically embarrassing to the mayor and chief. 

Hiring is an issue that pre-dates the current mayor and police chief, so they only deserve part of the blame for any vacancies. 

Where they do deserve blame is for a lack of transparency and accountability to Ottawa residents. 

Policing continues to get more difficult each year. It requires a community effort from politicians, the chief, frontline officers and the public. 

The only way we can contribute to the process if by having up-to-date, accurate information. 

Instead of hiding behind “Freedom of Information,” Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs need to provide us the information we require to participate.

Then, we can all start working to make Ottawa a safer city. 

The Trans community is being victimized by conservative politicians like Pierre Poilievre and Danielle Smith in a cynical attempt to win votes. Civil liberties expert John A. Powell calls this process “Othering.” 

Powell says “Othering is not about liking or disliking someone. It is based on the conscious or unconscious assumption that a certain identified group poses a threat to the favored group. It is largely driven by politicians and the media, as opposed to personal contact. Overwhelmingly, people don’t “know” those that they are Othering.”

Politicians are playing up fears people have of the Transgender community for political gain. The Harper government used othering with their “Barbaric Cultural Practices Hotline” in 2015. They use “Othering” when they demonize refugees or immigrants. Othering is a popular practice of Ontario Proud and Canada Proud. Just look at their slogan: ”For The Many, Not The Few”. 

They stoke the fears of “The Many” at the expense of “The Few.” This is nothing more than a cynical attempt to win votes by stoking division within Canadian society. 

Given this manufactured political fear, we thought we should look into the numbers. They paint a picture of why we shouldn’t be afraid. Here is what we found:

According to Correctional Service Canada, of approximately 14,000 offenders between 2017 and 2020, there were only 99 gender diverse offenders representing 0.4% of the offender population. The total is comprised of 61 trans-women, 21 trans-men and 17 other gender diverse individuals.[1] 

This is in line with Census data from Statistics Canada that about 0.33% of the population said they were gender diverse. This means gender diverse individuals are not any more likely to be convicted of a crime than the non-gender diverse population. 

Of the 99 Trans offenders, only 33 had ever committed a sexual offence. Of this number, 27 were trans-women and 6 were “other.” This means there were 0 instances of sexual offences committed by trans-men. 

Of the sexual offences committed by the 27 trans-women, 94% were committed while they were living “As their biological sex.” In other words, out of all offenders tracked by Correctional Service Canada, there are only 2 trans-women who committed a sexual offence during or post-transition. 

Some perspective: A Sex Offender Census conducted by Correctional Service Canada showed that 14.9% of the offender population had committed a sexual offence. So, of approximately 14,000 offenders between 2017 and 2020, there were approximately 2,086 sexual offenders. Transgender sexual offenders made up 1.6% of the total sexual offender population (33/2,086*100). 0.1% of the sexual offender population was transitioning or post-transition women (2/2,086*100).  

If you are a victim of crime, the chances you were victimized by a Trans person is somewhere around 0.4% based on the proportion of offenders. 

Politicians like Pierre Poilievre want you to be afraid of the gender diverse community to win your vote. You shouldn’t be afraid. Only 0.4% of offenders are trangender while 99.6% of offenders are not. Put in whole numbers, there are 141 cisgender offenders for every 1 transgender offender. 

You should never live your life in fear, but if you do, it’s not the Transgender community you should be afraid of. 

[1] The “other” group includes: gender fluid, gender non-conforming/non-binary, intersex, two-spirited, or unspecified

 On the 21st of every month, activists meet in downtown Ottawa to write letters to political prisoners in Russia.

The effort is part of a global initiative called “Letters Across Borders” to bring hope to those caught up in Vladimir’s Putin’s war on dissent. According to website ovdinfo.org, “Letters help prisoners to maintain hope and resilience in hopeless situations.”

Ottawa resident Maria Kartasheva has been writing letters for about a year and a half. She says the letters bring more than hope. They let prison staff know people on the outside care about the inmates and she believes they receive better treatment as a result. It’s more difficult to mistreat detainees if people are paying attention.

Kartasheva has written to about 20 inmates and is in regular contact with “Less than 10.” She is modest when speaking about her efforts so when she says less than 10, I expect the number is 9. Kartasheva usually spends about 2 hours writing letters on the 21st of each month but also writes on other days, particularly if she receives responses to her messages.

Letters are sent through the website OVDINFO.ORG. They are a human rights monitoring and advocacy group. Currently, the site lists 870 individuals being prosecuted for anti-war activism and 241 individuals in pre-trial detention, prisons or in custodial medical treatment facilities. 

The website has the detainees categorized by their alleged crime, health conditions, torture, nationality and other characteristics. Some of the detainees wish to remain anonymous while others give their names and some biographical information. Writers can select who they want to write based on the profiles.

Writers can also choose to remain anonymous if they wish and it’s not necessary to speak Russian or Ukrainian. All of the letters are sent through a form on the website. Letters are translated and sent free of charge. You can even add a small photo or sketch. 

The website lists guidelines and best practices for letter writers to avoid any potential pitfalls. Kartasheva says there are censors at the prison who will read the letters but, if you follow the guidelines, there shouldn’t be many issues.

If you want to write to a political prisoner, please visit the website OVDINFO.ORG. If you are interested in participating in the group writing sessions on the 21st of each month, please contact Russian Resistance Ottawa through their Instagram page.