Letters to the Editor Opinions & Arguments

Letters to the editor, March-April 2023

By Manor Park Chronicle April 2, 2023

This photo of Joanne Curran as a child on the rink in Manor Park was taken in 1956, likely by her husband Jacques Robichon. Both are the parents of resident Meaghan Sullivan, who submitted the photo the Chronicle. Houses along Eastbourne Ave. are visible in the background. Photo submitted by Meaghan Sullivan

1950s flashback

Manor Park resident, and Chronicle reader, Meaghan Sullivan sent us this photo of her mom, Joanne Curran, which was likely taken by her father, Jacques Robichon.

“We purchased our home [on Lonsdale Rd.] from my late grandmother’s estate after she passed away in December 2015. My grandparents, Jacques and Marion Robichon, had owned this house on Lonsdale for 68 years. I came across a photo of my mom (who grew up in my current home) skating at the Manor Park rink in 1956. I thought I’d send along the picture as many of the houses on Eastbourne Ave. look the same to this day!”

Lighthouse clarification

Thank you for the Lighthouse Program article in the January-February issue of the Chronicle.

The Lighthouse Program was a new approach that provided structured programming by paid experienced instructors and staff. They were not volunteer positions.

The Lighthouse Program was an Ottawa Board of Education (OBE) program in several OBE schools. In each school there was a community education officer paid by the OBE. The program instructors were paid by the local community school council.

Each week as many as 500 adults, teens, and children were involved in Lighthouse programs. Each school had a Lighthouse Community School Council that was responsible for the programs at their school.

It is true that Carol Burrows and Carol Clarke were both chairs of the Lighthouse Program at Manor Park (no pay), but later we were both hired by the OBE as community education officers and paid by the OBE. Carol Burrows was the first. When she resigned, Carol Clarke was

hired as the community education officer.

Carol Clarke

Remembering Norma Young

Norma Young, 76, of Ottawa, passed away on December 23, 2022, having lived with cancer for one year.

She is survived by her sons, Calvin, Ryan (Marion); and her granddaughter, Iris. Born on July 26, 1946, in Montreal, to the late Sarah “Sadie” Samms and Frederick Young of Codroy, Newfoundland, Norma attended Thistletown Regional Centre (Child care counselling program) and St. Paul’s University (certificate in ethics, summa cum laude).

After raising her sons, Norma continued working as a child care specialist until her cancer diagnosis. She will be remembered as a loyal friend and passionate storyteller. Private interment took place at Beechwood Cemetery.

In keeping with Norma’s studies and work, donations can be made in her honour to Children’s Mental Health Ontario.

This is in lieu of donations to Thistletown Regional Centre, which was closed by the Government of Ontario, thereby displacing over 400 children, youth, and families receiving services and support for complex mental health, behavioural, and developmental challenges.

Family of Norma Young