C.K. Kelly Martin's Blog, page 3

Ottawa Occupied

Trump 2024 flag carried on horseback in Ottawa's occupation.

Things are deteriorating even further in occupied downtown Ottawa. The city councillors and MPPs doing safe community walks downtown three times a day to make people feel more secure announced they had to stop them today because of extremists in the area looking to commit violence.

Here are some links to video footage and photos documenting the local situation. 

 

The convoy chasing off Ottawa police in downtown Ottawa last night:

https://twitter.com/Gray_Mackenzie/status/1489964859450134528

A Trump 2024 flag being carried along a downtown Ottawa street by a man on horseback:

https://twitter.com/hsinskip/status/1489989417477496834

CTV news photos from the command centre the convoy has set up at the RCTG baseball field (which is also near the Tremblay LRT stop for the train station):

https://twitter.com/JCharronCTV/status/1489984829143891973

And this is from a few days ago, a Carleton Professor’s twitter thread with photos showing the extent of the convoy's organization and infrastructure installed downtown:

https://twitter.com/alexmcclelland/status/1489690231745953794
 

Yesterday evening I was on an Ottawa townhall Zoom session held by an Ottawa Centre MPP to discuss community safety and support needs. Near the beginning a racist a-hole jumped on the chat and entered a horrible racist message a dozen times while a black resident and activist was speaking. The entire chat feature had to be shut down. During the chat news also emerged of another downtown business that is shutting until at least next week (many of them including the entire Rideau Centre Mall and numerous restaurants have been closed for a week now because of similar issues) due to, "One of our staff was physically assaulted on their way to work today, blocked on the sidewalk by two men and shoved to the ground for wearing a mask."

Finally, on top of the horns the convoy have been honking all through the day and night as psychological torture for residents (you can hear it here https://twitter.com/glen_mcgregor/status/1488905393199890432), last night they added air ride sirens.

There is no sign of this ending yet. The building the convoy erected in Confederation Park (a makeshift kitchen to feed convoy members) across from City Hall on Thursday hasn't even been taken down yet. It's unbelievable. 

 

The convoy wants a coup d'état, their demands call for the Senate, Governor General, and convoy organizers to take control of our democratically elected government. There is no protest here in Ottawa. It's occupation, extortion, and attempted treason by white supremacists.

 

Ottawa residents demanding an end to the hostile occupation of their city. 

Canada's Capital City is Under Siege

For the third day in a row Ottawa City is being held hostage by a convoy of white supremacist fascists (and their sympathizers) seeking to oust a democratically elected government. The convoy "accomplishment" list (by https://twitter.com/lrt_and) itemizes some of the abuse. The latest to add to this is confirmation protesters in a truck that was part of the convoy hurled rocks at an ambulance over the weekend. "When the paramedic got out to check for damage, protesters began to yell racial slurs at him, said Jocelyne Marciano, operations commander for the Ottawa Paramedic Service." 

Police are continuing to ask city residents and workers to avoid going downtown. The Rideau mall will remain closed today out of concern for workers as will a downtown school. Many other inner core businesses will also remain closed for the same reason as there have been countless incidents of convoy members threatening retail and restaurant workers. This means a hit to the pocketbook for already challenged businesses. 

I'm including a selection of tweets from Ottawa residents and workers so that everyone can see what the capital has been dealing with. If you want to know more here's an informative thread from an Ottawa teacher: https://twitter.com/Haligowan/status/1487782431570731018. And invaluable info from investigative reporter Justin Ling about the treasonous, racist roots of this convoy https://twitter.com/Justin_Ling/status/1487112260636053509.

 If you want to help counter hate and harassment in Canada please consider financial support for the following noble causes, institutions & symbols of which have been abused & attacked by the convoy this weekend: Ottawa shelter Shepherds of Good Hope https://www.sghottawa.com; nationally the Terry Fox Foundation https://terryfox.org/, the Royal Canadian Legion https://www.legion.ca/, and last but not least, independent and nonpartisan nonprofit Canadian Anti-Hate Network https://www.antihate.ca/.

 

 

November 3rd

Dear Universe/On Hiatus

I'm massively behind on the WIP so it's time for a social media hiatus, except perhaps for the odd photo on Instagram (undoubtedly rare as I won't be doing much except taking a Carleton U course and writing). Please stay safe out there and by the time I return in a couple of months' time we'll be that much closer to a vaccine and will be able to say "President Biden and VP Harris" and it'll be a reality and not just a fervent wish so many of us are sending out into the universe! 

 

 

 

Ottawa Book Awards 2020

If there's one time of year you want to lose yourself in a book that will make you shiver, it's October, when the light is fading and the spirits raise their voices loud enough that we can hear them. 

It's also the month that I was thrilled and honoured to be a finalist for the Ottawa Book Awards in the English fiction category for my YA horror, Shantallow. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists in the event which happened on Zoom and was aired on Facebook live this past Wednesday!  Award night jitters in my apartment before signing in!

Enormous thanks to the Ottawa Book Awards and the Ottawa Public Library for including me! Here's the jury statement for Shantallow: "With its sparring prose, inclusive cast and difficult themes, Cara Martin’s Shantallow  is crackling YA. It addresses themes of revenge porn, abuse, drugs and sex, but at its heart is a message all young people should hear: there’s life after transgression, and while it may not include forgiveness, personal amends can be made, behaviour changed and community rediscovered."

Masking Up and Health Issues, *updated July 11th

While happy for mandatory mask orders that take effect in Ottawa tomorrow to limit coronavirus spread, I really wish Public Health had included a face shield as an allowable option. Asthma gives me big trouble after about fifteen minutes masked. Although my asthma is generally mild unless we add serious ragweed (a problem that goes on for months in Ontario), multiple antibiotic, cat and various other environmental allergies into the mix, I first discovered how the humid air of a face mask triggers my asthma in a doctor's waiting room about fifteen years ago, while masked. I can wear a surgical mask or cloth equivalent for a short time, but the clock runs down on that pretty quickly and then I'm gasping for breath, running for the door so I can rip off the dang thing and breathe.

There are, of course, some health exemptions for the new public health orders but I worry how people will react if I'm wearing a face shield rather than a mask as I've been doing anytime up to now that I had to be indoors in public longer than a few minutes. An atmosphere of intolerance is developing in reaction to people who simply don't want to wear a mask or, bizarrely, seem to see it as some challenge to their civil liberties, and the nuance of certain people not being capable of wearing a mask without considerable risk or harm to themselves seems to be getting lost in the clash between the mask-up and anti-mask sides. Unfortunately, some folks can be pretty militant and inflexible. Even some people with asthma have belligerently told me they tolerate the masks just fine, which hey, terrific for you if that's the case! But I don't understand why anyone would automatically think that means everyone with asthma would be all right in one, let alone for longer durations of time.

In fact, humidity and cold air are both common asthma triggers. As Asthma Canada president and CEO Vanessa Foran has pointed out, simply wearing a mask can create risk of an asthma attack. "Wearing masks means breathing hot and humid air, so that can trigger asthma symptoms." She also mentions people with severe allergies might find wearing a mask difficult at this time of year too (75% of asthmatics have allergies).

I know there are folks who suffer from anxiety disorders or claustrophobia as well as other medical conditions who will also be unable to wear a mask and I ask for understanding and consideration for all of us. People say, "Just wear a mask dammit", like it's easy. But in reality, that's not always the case. Be aware before you confront someone about not wearing a mask or looking daggers at them from across the supermarket aisle, they may have good reasons for it. There are more than two angles to this mask issue.

* Studies have linked nasal congestion with severe asthma.

Update, July 11
Sadly, new mask regulations are already proving an issue for people unable to wear masks. Two hospitals in Ottawa, the General campus of the Ottawa Hospital and Queensway Carleton Hospital both refused entry to a woman in need of medical attention who is unable to wear a mask due to a combination of health issues including COPD, asthma, anxiety and claustrophobia. If a hospital, of all places, doesn't readily understand and recognize medical exemptions for mask-wearing, it doesn't bode well for acceptance by the larger community.  The health officials and governments who have imposed these rules need to do a much better job of communicating the fact that there are legitimate exceptions to mandatory mask orders, otherwise this lamentable incident will just be the first of many for a segment of the population already concerned about the hostility and disapproval they face while out in public.

Masking Up (or not), *updated July 11th

While happy for mandatory mask orders that take effect in Ottawa tomorrow to limit coronavirus spread, I really wish Public Health had included a face shield as an allowable option. Asthma gives me big trouble after about fifteen minutes masked. Although my asthma is generally mild unless we add serious ragweed (a problem that goes on for months in Ontario), multiple  antibiotic, cat and various other environmental allergies into the mix, I first discovered how the humid air of a face mask triggers my asthma in a doctor's waiting room about fifteen years ago, while masked. I can wear a surgical mask or cloth equivalent for a short time, but the clock runs down on that pretty quickly and then I'm gasping for breath, running for the door so I can rip off the dang thing and breathe.

There are, of course, some health exemptions for the new public health orders but I worry how people will react if I'm wearing a face shield rather than a mask as I've been doing anytime up to now that I had to be indoors in public longer than a few minutes. An atmosphere of intolerance is developing in reaction to people who simply don't want to wear a mask or, bizarrely, seem to see it as some challenge to their civil liberties, and the nuance of certain people not being capable of wearing a mask without considerable risk or harm to themselves seems to be getting lost in the clash between the mask-up and anti-mask sides. Unfortunately, some folks can be pretty militant and inflexible. Even some people with asthma have belligerently told me they tolerate the masks just fine, which hey, terrific for you if that's the case! But I don't understand why anyone would automatically think that means everyone with asthma would be all right in one, let alone for longer durations of time.

As Asthma Canada president and CEO Vanessa Foran has pointed out, simply wearing a mask can create risk of an asthma attack. "Wearing masks means breathing hot and humid air, so that can trigger asthma symptoms." She also mentions people with severe allergies might find wearing a mask difficult at this time of year too.

I know there are folks who suffer from anxiety disorders or claustrophobia as well as other medical conditions who will also be unable to wear a mask and I ask for understanding and consideration for all of us. People say, "Just wear a mask dammit", like it's easy. But in reality, that's not always the case. Be aware before you confront someone about not wearing a mask or looking daggers at them from across the supermarket aisle, they may have good reasons for it. There are more than two angles to this mask issue.

Update, July 11
Sadly new mask regulations are already proving an issue for people unable to wear masks. Two hospitals in Ottawa, the General campus of the Ottawa Hospital and Queensway Carleton Hospital both refused entry to a woman in need of medical attention who is unable to wear a mask due to a combination of health issues including COPD, asthma, anxiety and claustrophobia. If a hospital, of all places, doesn't readily understand and recognize medical exemptions for mask-wearing, it doesn't bode well for acceptance by the larger community.  The health officials and governments who have imposed these rules need to do a much better job of communicating the fact that there are legitimate exceptions to mandatory mask orders, otherwise this lamentable incident will just be the first of many for a segment of the population already concerned about the hostility and disapproval they face while out in public.

Masking Up (or not)

While happy for mandatory mask orders that take effect in Ottawa tomorrow to limit coronavirus spread, I really wish Public Health had included a face shield as an allowable option. Asthma gives me big trouble after about fifteen minutes masked. Although my asthma is generally mild unless we add serious ragweed (a problem that goes on for months in Ontario) and cat allergies into the mix, I first discovered how the humid air of a face mask triggers my asthma in a doctor's waiting room about fifteen years ago, while masked. I can wear a surgical mask or cloth equivalent for a short time, but the clock runs down on that pretty quickly and then I'm gasping for breath, running for the door so I can rip off the dang thing and breathe.

There are, of course, some health exemptions for the new public health orders but I worry how people will react if I'm wearing a face shield rather than a mask as I've been doing anytime up to now that I had to be indoors in public longer than a few minutes. An atmosphere of intolerance is developing in reaction to people who simply don't want to wear a mask or, bizarrely, seem to see it as some challenge to their civil liberties, and the nuance of certain people not being capable of wearing a mask without considerable risk or harm to themselves seems to be getting lost in the clash between the mask-up and anti-mask sides. Unfortunately, some folks can be pretty militant and inflexible. Even some people with asthma have belligerently told me they tolerate the masks just fine, which hey, terrific for you if that's the case! But I don't understand why anyone would automatically think that means everyone with asthma would be all right in one, let alone for longer durations of time.

As Asthma Canada president and CEO Vanessa Foran has pointed out, simply wearing a mask can create risk of an asthma attack. "Wearing masks means breathing hot and humid air, so that can trigger asthma symptoms." She also mentions people with severe allergies might find wearing a mask difficult at this time of year too.

I know there are folks who suffer from anxiety disorders or claustrophobia as well as other medical conditions who will also be unable to wear a mask and I ask for understanding and consideration for all of us. People say, "Just wear a mask dammit", like it's easy. But in reality, that's not always the case. Be aware before you confront someone about not wearing a mask or looking daggers at them from across the supermarket aisle, they may have good reasons for it. There are more than two angles to this mask issue.

Shantallow

I was incredibly thrilled to learn my latest novel, Shantallow (published under the name Cara Martin), has made the longlist for the 2020 Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic! Incidentally, I started reading Karen McBride's debut novel, Crow Winter, nominated in the adult category, the day before hearing the good news and am relishing Hazel's emotional journey. Congratulations to all the nominees!

Chantel Moore

As people across the U.S., Canada and numerous other countries around the world protest racism and police brutality, Chantel Moore, a young Indigenous woman from B. C., was shot dead by a police officer during what has been referred to as a “wellness check” in Edmundston, New Brunswick Thursday. "Nora Martin, Moore’s aunt, told Global News that her niece’s boyfriend called the police because somebody was harassing her and she felt scared."

Chantel was a member of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, on Vancouver Island BC,  living in New Brunswick with her 5 year old daughter and mother. Her mother and daughter are in need of family support during this tragic time and 6 members of her family are planning to travel to New Brunswick to support her and practice traditional Nuu-Chah-Nulth grieving protocols. 

Thousands of Indigenous women and girls have been murdered or disappeared across Canada in recent decades. Twenty-six-year-old Chantel Moore should still be with us today, instead she died alone with the police officer who shot her five times. If you can offer financial support to Chantel's surviving family members, please visit the Go Fund Me for family of Chantel Moore. "The funds are for the family travel, funeral costs, and any remaining funds will be given to her mother and daughter. The family has received authorization to travel to New Brunswick amidst provincial Covid restrictions."


Also please sign the Justice for Chantal Moore petition demanding the city of Edmundston hold this officer accountable for not attempting to deescalate the situation.