Remembrance Day 2020 – Virtual Ceremonies and How to Show Your Support

Remembrance Day may look a little different this year, but there are still many ways we can show our support and appreciation for Canada’s veterans.

The Poppy Store

Why not show your support all year long with the many commemorative items, clothing, jewellry and more at https://www.poppystore.ca.

Virtual Poppy Drop

This visual display of Remembrance features over 100,000 poppies, one for each of Canada’s Fallen, as they cascade down Centre Block on Parliament Hill; on now, each evening from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. until November 11th at midnight.

The National Ceremony

For the first time, the Royal Canadian Legion is asking the public to pay their respects virtually instead of in person for The National Remembrance Day Ceremony that takes place every year in downtown Ottawa. The ceremony will start at 10:45 am and you can watch Live on Facebook.

You should also keep your eyes on the sky! In partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada, The Royal Canadian Legion has arranged a fly-past of three heritage planes that were essential aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during the Second World War.

For more information on the complete National Ceremony, please visit https://www.legion.ca/remembrance/remembrance-day/the-national-ceremony.

Virtual Wall of Honour

Canadians have been “building” this virtual wall of photographs of Veterans who have now passed. It is a way for all Canadians to pay tribute to their service. For more information, visit https://www.legion.ca/remembrance/promoting-remembrance/virtual-wall-of-honour.

Beechwood Cemetery

The 2020 Beechwood’s Remembrance Day Ceremony will be conducted live at the National Military Cemetery on the 11th November 2020. Beechwood will be broadcasting the ceremony live on facebook.com/NMCBeechwood starting at 10:45 AM. For more information, please visit http://www.beechwoodottawa.ca/en/foundation/events/virtual-annual-remembrance-day-service.

Kanata

A short ceremony will be held at the Cenotaph, Village Green Memorial Park, Colchester Square to honour the Veterans and their sacrifices. It is requested there be no spectators and that they watch the National Ceremony from home. To pre-purchase a wreath please contact George at 613-836-2530 or treasurer.rclbr638@gmail.com and it will be prepositioned before the ceremony. For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/Kanata-Legion-748442661918774.

Navan

In lieu of a ceremony, you can view a virtual Remembrance Day Service from Navan, Ontarioa at https://youtu.be/0rMTGkfNlGI.

Orleans

Royal Canadian Legion, Orleans 632 will be holding a ceremony this year to be covered by Rogers. For more information, please visit https://www.rcl632.ca/remembrance-activities.

Stittsville

There will be no ceremony in Stittsville this year. You can make a donation to help them continue to serve veterans you can do so by looking for the Poppy Campaign boxes. You may also donate directly via Poppyfund618@rogers.com.

Richmond Legion

With Remembrance Day approaching, you may have noticed that there are white crosses at certain graves within the cemeteries of Richmond, Munster Hamlet and Dwyer Hill. These crosses are placed by members of the Richmond and District Royal Canadian Legion Branch #625 to mark veterans graves. These veterans served in the War of 1812, the Fenian Raids, the First and Second World Wars, Peacekeeping operations, the Cold War, or served with the Canadian Armed Forces. To learn more, please visit http://www.richmondlegion.ca.

A theory on how to help colicky babies

Photo of a crying baby with the words “A theory on colic”

Marie Shinmoto from MAP Physiotherapy is my go to person for pain for myself and for my family. She and I were recently chatting about babies and colic and how much I would have loved to stop the hours of crying every night that all three of my babies went through in their youngest months. I asked her if she could share some of her story of working with babies with colic in the hope it would help some of your babies (and you too!) ~ Lara

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If you’ve ever had, or know someone who has had a baby with colic you know the look. Everyone in the household is exhausted, stressed, and pretty much always on the verge of tears. There is no suffering quite like watching a child in pain and feeling helpless to do something about it. Colic is a unique kind of torture for everyone involved.

Despite it being around forever, how is it that there is still little out there for treatment other than gripe water, which parents of colicky children know doesn’t work. In order to develop effective treatment of any condition, you first have to have an understanding or at least a theory about what causes it. Right then, what causes colic? We don’t know.

That is what you’ll find is out there – a whole lot of shoulder shrugging and “poor you” looks.

Personally, I don’t accept “we don’t know” as an answer to any condition in the human body. I don’t believe things just happen out of the blue for no particular reason. If there is something going on that we can’t explain then it is our responsibility as health care practitioners to keep digging, keep asking questions, and keep testing theories until something pans out.  

The colicky baby that came to stay with us

My journey into treating colic came about rather by accident. We had a friend whose extremely colicky baby landed in our care overnight once. His mother had warned us that we weren’t going to get any sleep, but we had no children of our own at the time so the possibility of being zombies the next day was no big deal.

When I changed his diaper in the afternoon I noticed something odd about how he was moving. I couldn’t help it - physiotherapists can never turn off their observation skills. When he kicked his right leg everything looked fine, but when he kicked his left leg the left side of his lower abdomen twisted up. My jaw dropped. The difference from one side to the other couldn’t have been more obvious. A theory about the cause of colic seemed to be looking right at me.

Pretty much all very young babies do when they’re awake is lie there and move their little limbs. If every time a baby kicks a leg his abdomen twists up, then surely that could affect digestion. After clearing it with mom, I decided to treat this little person. When I got my hands on him it became glaringly obvious that he had tightness through the whole left side of his body, but particularly through the front of the left hip and into the abdomen. Using very gentle techniques to release this area first and then the entire left side, I worked on him for about 20 minutes. At one point his little face screwed up and I was sure he was going to scream, but instead he took this great shuddering breath and let it out in a huge sigh. At that point I figured I had better quit before I woke the monster.  

We carried on with our day, and as the afternoon went by I realized that we had passed the hour when mom said he always started to scream. Dumb luck I thought. The true litmus test would be overnight. 

We gave him a last bottle at around 11:00 that night and went to bed with little expectation of sleeping. I woke with a start at 6:00 feeling guilty that I had in fact slept and afraid I had missed something. There he was sleeping peacefully.

It couldn’t be that easy. It just couldn’t. When mom picked him up later that morning she was already apologizing for him having kept us up all night before I even got the door fully open. When I told her he had slept for seven hours she was incredulous. He went home and never suffered from colic again.

More colicky babies

Needless to say I had to further test my theory. After that first experience I treated other babies with colic and always found the same thing – tightness in the front of the left hip and into the abdomen. Releasing the left side consistently resulted in the end of the horrific colic experience for the family, often with just one treatment.

So why don’t I have babies lined up out my door? I believe it is because this just sounds too good to be true. When everyone is saying that we don’t know what causes colic and there is no treatment for it, why would anyone believe me? I can’t say I blame people for the skepticism, but I know at the same time people really want to believe this can be fixed.

What to look for

So if that’s the case, then try this. Next time you are changing the diaper of your colicky baby, look very carefully at what is happening when they kick their legs. Look especially for twisting of the left side of the abdomen when they kick the left leg. If that is happening then what have you got to lose in coming in to get that addressed? Even if you don’t believe it will improve the colic, you surely would want to address something that isn’t moving as it should in your baby’s body anyway.  

Help me test my theory further and come and see me if you find something. I am always curious to learn more.

You can find Marie and book an appointment from her web site, or check out her Facebook page.

Surviving a pandemic winter as a parent

The anxiety is building. Winter is coming, and with it, the snow, ice, wind and darkness. But what makes this winter even harder is the fact that we’re living through a pandemic, which doesn’t show signs of disappearing anytime soon.

No group is approaching this winter with more dread than us parents. We’ve already lived through a hellish number of months working from home while supporting our kids’ distance learning, and while some of us made the decision to send our kids back to in-person school, the threat of outbreaks and school closures looms.

Within this diverse group of parents are many different realities. Some may be living in cramped apartments, while others have access to large yards and lots of space. Some have faced financial hardships, while others have found their savings accounts growing due to the lack of spending. Some are battling mental health issues, physical disabilities or health challenges. Whatever your situation, the winter may take its toll.

So what’s a parent to do? Check out some of the suggestions below:

Adopt a winter mindset

One strategy may be to adopt a positive mindset towards winter, which research tells us can improve emotional and physical health during the long, cold months. This involves getting outside in all kinds of weather, making sure you have appropriate clothing to keep yourself warm and comfortable, and maybe even challenging yourself by taking on a new winter sport (hiking, snowshoeing, skiing or skating are all popular options.)

Of course, this type of positive psychology only works if your current situation is manageable. For those facing severe mental illness or physical health challenges, it’s not going to do much good to suggest you just “buck up” and put on a happy face. In these situations, support from professionals and help outside the home is essential - Ottawa Public Health has some good resources to check out.

Or maybe you just hate winter…and that’s A-OK. Even if you have no interest in happily playing in the snow, you can still work on developing an appreciation of all winter has to offer - including the opportunity to sit in front of a window while sipping on coffee and Bailey’s and watching the beautiful snow fall outside your window.

Break it up

Remember that winter is not one loooong period of sameness. There’s the winter lead-up (November and December) when the days are shortest and many individuals struggle with low mood. Then holidays arrive and people perk up a bit (or maybe it’s all the sugar and booze). Finally, days start to get longer and longer, and a taste of spring is upon us.

If you can’t face the next 6 months, take it one week or one month at a time. Focus on what you can do in that shorter timeframe that will help you make it through!

Plan, plan, plan

This is probably not the time to “wing it.” As we’ve seen throughout this entire pandemic, everyone is thinking up ways to cope. People are taking on new hobbies and purchasing equipment for their homes. So two months from now, when you realize you should have bought that set of skis you saw on sale last month, they’re sold out. If you have the financial means to purchase warm clothing and winter sports equipment, the time to start shopping is now.

Planning also means purposefully carving out time for activities that will boost your mood this winter. Maybe this is a weekly Zoom potluck/brunch with friends, or outdoor activities that are safe to do at a distance. It doesn’t even have to be an activity that takes any effort - maybe you decide to “Zoom in” with a loved one once per week while you both just read or eat a meal. This way there’s no pressure to stare at the screen and talk, but you get the sense that someone is in the room with you - cutting through that loneliness you may be experiencing.

Meaningful social connection

If you’re tiring of Zoom wine nights or online seminars, it’s time to start building more meaningful social connection. The reality is that we ARE stuck in this pandemic a while longer, and many options for socializing are unavailable to us right now. Meaningful connection nourishes your soul. For individuls who are really struggling, this may involve meeting with someone in person (safely, wearing masks or at a distance).

This could also mean using your own stregnths to reach out to vulnerable people. Writing letters or having your kids draw pictures for local nursing homes; baking cookies for an elderly neighbour; or offering to take someone out for a walk who may need help navigating the snow/ice. Not only are these activities boosting THEIR mood, but they’re also boosting yours. When we feel like we’re part of a community, we feel a sense of belonging - this is essential to well-being.

Embracing the suckiness

Sometimes life is just hard, and no amount of strategizing will ease the burden. We tend think that embracing negative emotions, like depression, anxiety and anger, will make them worse - but research tells us otherwise. The power these emotions have over us will ease when we learn to live with them.

If it’s a bad day, admit that it’s a bad day - if you can, call in sick, crawl under the covers and take a mental health break. This is a really important lesson for our kids as well, as they learn to navigate difficult emotions and survive in a world that upholds happiness as the pinnacle.

What are some of the ways you’re planning to cope with winter?

Deadwood Ottawa: A Drive Through Halloween Experience

KITC would like to welcome back, guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel.  During the summer, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival.  During the winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.  

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It goes without saying this is not your typical Halloween season. Our family still loves to have a good fright so I searched the internet for a scary experience. 

I found the group who put on a drive-in and concerts at Wesley Clover Parks this past summer and fall were offering a Halloween themed attraction. Entitled, Deadwood Ottawa, the trailer on the internet was sufficiently spooky that we wanted to check it out. 

Deadwood Ottawa is a drive through experience and takes place at Wesley Clover Parks. We arrived on-site and were greeted by staff who were always masked and followed safety protocols. All the masked staff added to the Halloween feeling. 

When purchasing a ticket online it gives you access to a timed entry. This is a smart idea as it prevents huge traffic jams. 

We waited about ten minutes before our ticket was scanned and entering the site. We immediately saw illuminated pumpkins and a smoking fire pit. It was beginning to feel a lot more like Halloween. Soon enough, we were approached by an array of zombies, ghouls and other creatures of the night. 

I was impressed by the visual effects and the set design Deadwood were able to pull off. I do not want to give anything away but let’s just say we were sufficiently scared to have a good time. 

Perhaps more than anything, the event gave back some normalcy in what has been an extremely abnormal time. It felt like we were engaging in a scary Halloween activity the same as any other year. 

I also appreciated that we could enjoy the event from the security and comfort of our car. Upon entry, the attendant did say we could open the window a crack to hear the music, zombies, etc but we would have to wear a mask inside the car. Some of the ghouls do get quite close to your car so we opted to keep our windows closed and masks off. 

Perhaps the only suggestion I would make to improve the experience would be better signage. We were coming along Corkstown Road and pulled into the Drive In lineup before realizing we were in the wrong lineup. It was about another kilometre along Corkstown Road before we got to the entrance of Deadwood. Once on-site, the signage was very well-marked and the support staff were very helpful. 

Deadwood Ottawa will be running until October 31. The event has proved to be so popular that it is already sold out. You can add your name to a waitlist at www.deadwoodottawa.ca if tickets become available. 

Please note, this is meant for ages 13 and older. I would strongly advise against bringing young kids. 

The Drive-In Experience is also offering up Halloween-themed movies. Check their website for tickets and showtimes.

A Trip to Fairmont Le Château Montebello

I have lived in Ottawa for over ten years, and have never had the opportunity to visit Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello. I was always curious about the resort given its long 90-year history and unique design (it’s the biggest log cabin building in the world!) I’ve had many friends visit, at all different times of the year, and it always seemed to me like a great destination for families.

Recently I was given the opportunity to take my own trip to Montebello, and brought my two girls along for a special “girls weekend.” The extent of my children’s hotel experience includes seedy motels on the drive to Florida and a stay in Calgary for my brother’s wedding (which they don’t remember!) So going to a nice resort was a BIG DEAL!!

When to go

After a really difficult year, we knew it was time for a little staycation, so we chose to go in late September. Although I could see Montebello being beautiful in the summer, there was a lot to be said for the brilliant fall colours and the cozy atmosphere. Fairmont Le Château Montebello is a four season resort, so there is plenty to see and do in all kinds of weather. We can’t wait to return in the winter for snowshoeing, skating, skiing and sleigh rides!

What to do with kids

The question may be “what is there NOT to do with kids?” Even with the restrictions due to covid-19, there was so much to do that we can’t wait to go back and do more! The Resort Experience Fee gives you access to many different types of activities in the summer and winter. Some of our fall faves included:

• Mini-golf

• Outdoor play structure

• Bike rentals

• Hiking trails

• Watercraft rentals (we didn’t get a chance to do this one!)

• Swimming pool

It was also a lovely experience just to sit in front of the big fireplace and people watch. There are many things to do off the resort as well, and we had a fun trip to ChocoMotive, where we got to watch chocolates being made (and bought some to take home, of course.)

One slight disappointment was that the Manoir Papineau National Historic Site was closed (they have been closed since Spring 2019 for some major renovations, and won’t reopen likely until 2021) - another reason for us to return in the future!

What to eat

There are many options for dining at Fairmont Le Château Montebello (although some dining areas are closed at the moment due to covid-19.) Because we were arriving later in the day and wanted time to explore, we opted for in-room dining - which was exactly what the kids wanted to do! I also brought a lot of snacks, and there is a mini fridge in the room in which to store your food.

When I told people we were headed to Montebello, everyone RAVED about the breakfast - I now see why. If there’s one meal my kids love it’s breakfast! We enjoyed crepes, sausages, scrambled eggs, several different kinds of muffins and pastries and freshly made smoothies. Needless to say, we were stuffed by the time we left.

Rooms

We stayed in one of the newly renovated rooms with two double beds. As a notoriously bad sleeper, I fell in love with the supremely comfortable beds. The bathroom was bright, clean and the white subway tile was on point. That said, if we were to return as a family of four, I don’t think we would be comfortable with double beds. My girls are getting big enough that they roll and kick all night, so they need a bit more space. When we return, we’ll likely opt for the Deluxe Room, which has the option for two Queen beds and a sofa bed.

Covid-wise

Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello is doing an amazing job keeping their employees and guests safe during the pandemic. When we arrived at the gate, we were screened and our temperatures were taken. Our temperatures were also taken before we used the swimming pool. Masks are mandatory inside the hotel, except of course in your own room (or while swimming) - the only time I saw people remove their masks was in the dining room for breakfast or while sitting in front of the fireplace. Since the resort is so big, I never felt like we were crowded in any way. Obviously any hotel or trip you take carries some moderate risk, but I felt comfortable taking that risk. See a much more detailed outline of their policies on their website.

In all, the trip was an amazing escape from the reality of the last number of months. My kids were wowed by the entire experience, and we’re already planning our winter vacay!

Disclaimer: We were provided a one night’s stay at Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello (including resort fee and breakfast) in exchange for a review of our experience. All opinions are my own!