Life in the Village of Carp

Fair in the air...

2010-09-22T05:47:00.000-07:00

Click play to watch the years at the fair roll by.

No those aren't rain clouds, are they? C'mon weather, we have a fair to go to!

A trip up Carp Road or down Langstaff these days will have you walking by some straggling carnies in search of coffee, navigating tractor trailers and 5th wheel campers as hundreds of staff, exhibitors, volunteers and a busy board of directors converge on the Carp Fairgrounds, and stopping to stare at the massive work-in-progress that intimates that there is only 1 more sleep until the fair.

Yes, Carp Fair is in the air.

The children are racing to put final touches on their farm dioramas and fur-dos for their calves and such.

Horses are having their fetlocks groomed.

Teens are debating over which rides didn't make it back and whether or not the new ones are going to be better or worse - and of course who's parents are going to tolerate the sleepovers.

The Clydesdales, Morgans, Percherons and such are being tirelessly groomed.

Jams, pies, cakes, breads and such are madly being finessed in country kitchens across the land.

And somewhere on a tour bus, Colin James is putting some new strings on that guitar of his while all the other bands are winding their way through the Ottawa Valley towards the shows. If you're really feeling the love for Colin and some Canadian blues, there are still a few $200 VIP passes that get you backstage, free bar and front row seating for that particular show.

Full entertainment lineup is here.

Yes, Carp Fair is in the air. See you there September 23-26.

Updated Carp Statistics

2010-03-14T11:34:00.001-07:00

From Ottawa Neighbourhood Study, which began in April 2006, where the team created maps and profiles for all of the populated 97 Ottawa neighbourhoods that would then be useful in helping to highlight health and planning needs and the policies that communities need in order to develop to address these. The study goal is that these profiles will help us to better understand the social and physical pathways through which neighbourhoods affect health. The project brings together the University of Ottawa, the City of Ottawa, local Community Health Centres, Arts Ottawa East, United Way/Centraide Ottawa, Just Food, and other community-based partners.

See the whole project here.

History and Description

Carp is bounded by Thomas A. Dolan Parkway to the north, March Road to the south, Upper Dwyer Hill Road to the east and the Ottawa River to the west. Carp, a village to the west of Ottawa, was named after the Carp River that runs through the majority of the area. The neighbourhood was amalgamated into the City of Ottawa in 2001.

The People

As of the 2006 census, Carp had 8,982 residents. The population consists mainly of young and middle aged adults, which is consistent with most neighbourhoods in the city of Ottawa. The distribution across age groups was as follows: 13% were children under 9 years of age, 16% were youth aged 10 to 19, 20% were young adults aged 20 to 39, 45% were middle aged adults aged 40 to 69, and 5% were seniors aged 70 to 89.

In terms of knowledge of official languages, 70% of Carp residents reported that they could speak or understand English only (Ottawa average: 60%), less than 1% reported that they could speak or understand French only, 28% reported that they could speak or understand both English and French, and less than 1% reported that they knew neither. This neighbourhood is not particularly diverse: 7.3% of the residents reported that they represent a visible minority (Ottawa average: 20%). 1% of residents identified as Aboriginal (First Nations, Inuit or Métis). 36% of the population were immigrants who came to Canada between 1996 and 2006, and 11% were recent immigrants (i.e. came to Canada between 2001 and 2006). 18% of residents aged 15 and over were first generation immigrants, 17% were second generation immigrants, and 64% were third generation or higher. Among the immigrants, 28% were from Asia or the Middle East, 3.7% were from Africa, 1.8% was from the Caribbean, 6.6% were from the United States, 57% were from Europe, and 2.3% were from South or Central America.

In 2006, the average individual income in Carp was $55,131 (above the Ottawa average of $34,844), and average household income was $123,301 (well above the Ottawa average $86,848). The percent of people below the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO, which is an important poverty benchmark) was 2%: this is much lower than the city average of 14.1%, but it has increased from 1% in 2001. Less than 1% of the children (Ottawa average: 17%) and seniors (Ottawa average: 6.9%) in the Carp area were living below the Low Income Cut-Off. Of residents living in families, just 7% were in lone parent families (Ottawa average: 16%). 7% of Carp’s seniors were living alone (Ottawa average: 27%).

The population has an above average education: 14% of residents did not complete high school, 22% completed at least high school, 6% completed an apprenticeship or trades certificate, 20% completed college or CEGEP and 38% completed a bachelor’s degree.

The neighbourhood socio-economic index is based on average income, percent below the LICO, the unemployment rate, the percent of people with less than a high school education, and the percent of families that are lone parent. Based on this index, neighbourhoods were divided into quintiles, with 1 representing most advantage and 5 representing the least advantage. Carp is in the 1st socio-economic quintile.

Employment

74% of Carp’s residents participated in the labour force. The unemployment was rate 5.6% (similar to the Ottawa neighbourhood average of 5.9%), and youth unemployment was 13% (also similar to the Ottawa neighbourhood average of 13.8 %.) Of those who were employed, 56% worked full-time, 37% worked part-time, and 6.8% did not work in the year before the census. 53% of residents did unpaid work, including housework and unpaid care to seniors or children.

Transportation to Work

Among those who worked, 85% drove a car, truck, or van to work, 7.3% rode in a car, truck, or van as a passenger, 5.4% used public transit, none walked to work, less than 1% bicycled to work, and less than 1% used other methods of transportation to work.

Housing

Carp has experienced steady growth in terms of housing and is a relatively new neighbourhood. Only 7% of dwellings were constructed before 1946, 11% were built between 1946 and 1970, 17% were built between 1971 and 1980, 22% were built between 1981 and 1990, 21% were built between 1991 and 2000, and 20% were built between 2001 and 2006.

In 2006, Carp had 2,940 dwellings: 95% were single detached, 1.2% were semi-detached, 3.9% were row houses, less than 1% were apartments with more than 5 stories and less than 5 stories. The great majority (94%) of residents owned their homes and 6% rented. Housing is affordable for most residents in the neighbourhood: 13% of residents (unchanged from 13% in 2001) pay more than 30% of their income on shelter (below the city average of 24%). 5% of the dwellings were reported to be in need of major repairs (near the city average of 6.4%). The number of people per room, a measure of crowding, was .36.

Civic Engagement and Responsibility

Carp residents are engaged in the political process, with 54% of eligible voters voted for mayor in the last municipal election (Fall 2006): this is higher than the city average of 48%. 63% (± 11.5% of the residents) felt a sense of belonging to their community. The neighbourhood is fairly stable, with 7.2% of residents moving within the last year: this is much lower than the city average of 14%. Sixty-six percent (65.7% ± 10.9%) felt a sense of belonging to the neighbourhood; this is above, but not significantly different than the city average or the average for the 1st SES quintile neighbourhoods. In 2006, the property crime rate was 16.6 crimes per thousand people, a lower rate than the city average of 42.7 per thousand people. Personal crime rates were also lower than the city average of 6.5 per thousand, at 1.8 per thousand people.

Carp has 5 religious organizations within its borders, with a ratio of .56 religious organizations per thousand people.

Neighbourhood Resources for Health

(Note that the food data is up to date as of September, 2008, while the other data was updated in September, 2007)

Food

Carp has poor access to both specialty food stores and grocery stores. It also has low access to unhealthier food outlets (fast food outlets, convenience stores).

This neighbourhood has no grocery stores and 1 specialty food store (.11 per thousand people). The closest grocery store and specialty store are 10.7 kilometres away and 10.59 kilometres away, respectively, from the population weighted center.

Carp has 2 convenience stores (.22 per thousand people) and 3 fast food outlets, or .33 for every thousand people. The closest convenience store is 838 metres (a 13.8 minute walk1 ) away from the population center and the closest fast food outlet is 854 meters (a 14 minute walk). One (33.3%) of West Centre Town’s 3 schools is within 500 metres (or 8 minutes) of a fast food outlet.

Carp also has five sit-down restaurants, or .55 per thousand people, and the average distance to the four closest restaurants is 4,401 metres from the population center.

Greenspace

Carp has some greenspace, with 1.2 km² of greenspace available, or .13 km² of greenspace per thousand people: this is below the city average of .26 km² per thousand people.

Parks and Recreation

Carp has many opportunities for recreation. In total, it has 54 recreation sites, or 6.0 sites per thousand people. Specifically, it has three sites for winter recreation (.33 for every 1000 people), 47 sites for summer recreation (5.2 for every 1000 people), and four indoor recreation facilities (.45 for every 1000 people). In 2007, 62% of this neighbourhood’s residents reported using a recreational facility (source: RRFSS). The neighbourhood also has 5.9 km of bike/walking paths, or .65 metres of bike/walking paths for every resident. In 2007, 93% of the residents reported being aware of walking, biking, or nature trails in Ottawa, while 51% reported using walking, biking, or nature trails (source: RRFSS). Carp has 58.7 m² for every resident: this is well above the City average of 34.4 m² per person. With a recreation index score (combines all recreation per thousand, bike paths, and parks) of 55, Carp has above average opportunities for recreation (city average = 50).

Education and Culture

Carp has three schools. The closest City of Ottawa library branch is located 1,950 metres from the population center: this is near the city average of 2733.7 metres.

Financial services

This neighbourhood has one bank, with a ratio of .11 banks per thousand people. This is below average for the Ottawa area. It has no ‘less healthy financial outlets’ (check cashing, pawn shop, or payday loan outlet). This is also below the city average.

Health services

Compared to other neighbourhoods in Ottawa, Carp has a below average number of pharmacies, with .11 per thousand people. The mean distance to the four closest physicians from the population center is 1,535 metres; this is below the average distance for the Ottawa area. Data from the 2001 to 2007 Canadian Community Health Surveys show that the proportion of residents who have a regular medical doctor is 94.2% (± 4.9%): this is significantly higher than the City average (88.3% ± 1.0%), but not significantly different from the 1st SES Quintile average (92.6% ± 1.6%). The proportion of residents who have ever had a flu shot was 60.7% (± 11%); this is near the Ottawa average (62.0% ± 1.5%) and the average for the 1st quintile (62.4% ± 3.2%).

The proportion of residents who visited a dentist in the past year (83.6% ± 8.1%) is near the 1st SES quintile average (80.8% ± 2.6%) and significantly higher than the City average of 73.4% (± 1.5%).

Neighbourhood Health Outcomes

*Please note that the results from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) represent combined data from the 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007 cycles. Results from the Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS) represent combined data from 2003 to 2007 for self-rated health, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity.

The health of Carp residents is mixed compared to other residents in the Ottawa area. Sixty-five percent (65% ± 9.3%) of residents rated their overall health as excellent or very good in the years 2003 to 2007. This is similar to the Ottawa average of 64.5% (± 1.2%).

In terms of reproductive health, the rate of low birth weight single births in the years of 2002 to 2007 was 4.7 per hundred births: this is slightly higher than the city average of 4.3 per hundred births. The rate of preterm births of 7.4 per hundred was higher than both the Ottawa average (6.4%) and the average for the 1st socio-economic quintile (6.6%). The rate of teen births was 0.7 per hundred; this is lower than the Ottawa average of 2.3 per hundred and similar to the 1st quintile average of 0.8 per hundred.

The rate of hospitalization for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cellulitis, angina, and hypertension) between 2003 and 2007 was 1,897.2 (± 339.3) per hundred thousand people; this is significantly higher than the city average (976.1 ± 21.2) and the average for the 1st socio-economic quintile (868.0 ± 46.3). The rate of emergency room visits for the same conditions between 2003 and 2007 was 13,171.9 (± 742.0) per hundred thousand people; this is significantly higher than both the City average of 5,806.1 (± 50.3) and the average for the first socio-economic quintile (5,369.04 ± 105.8). Hospitalization rates for unintentional injuries between 2003 and 2007 were 967.3 per hundred thousand people (± 244.4); this is sigificantly higher than both the Ottawa average of 472.2 (± 15.0) and the 1st quintile average of 497.7 (± 35.1). The rate of ER visits for unintentional injuries of 24,750.6 (± 928.1) per hundred thousand people was significantly higher than that for the Ottawa area (8,765.6 ± 61.5) as well as that of the rate for neighbourhoods in the 1st socioeconomic quintile (10,865.7 ± 149.0).

In terms of physical activity, 36.4%* (± 13.2%) of the residents were inactive in their leisure time (CCHS 2001 to 2007); this is not significantly different than either the Ottawa average or the average for the 1st socio-economic quintile. Seventy-nine percent of residents (± 8.2%) were moderately or highly physically active across all daily activities during the years 2003 to 2007; this is near both the Ottawa average (78.5% ± 1.1%) and the average for the 1st socio-economic quintile (81.6% ± 2.2%). Fifty-four percent (± 9.8%) of the residents aged 18 years and older reported overweight or obese BMIs (RRFSS; years 2003 to 2007); this is not significantly different from the averages for either the Ottawa area or for the 1st socio-economic quintile. Forty percent (40% ± 11.4%) of residents consumed 5 to 10 servings of fruit and vegetable servings per day in the years 2001 to 2007. This is not significantly different than the Ottawa average or the average for the 1st socio-economic quintile.

80.9% of residents (± 8.0%) lived in smoke-free homes during the years 2003 to 2007 (RRFSS); this is not significantly different than the Ottawa average or the average for the 1st socio-economic quintile.

School Readiness

The Early Development Instrument (EDI) measures the school readiness of kindergarten children on five major domains; physical health and well-being, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive development, and communication skills and general knowledge. If a child scores below 90% of other Ottawa children on a domain, he or she is considered ‘vulnerable’ on that domain. Importantly, 22.7% (± 5.8%) of kindergarten children residing in the Carp neighbourhood were rated as vulnerable on the Early Development Instrument (EDI) in Year 2006, while the city average is 29.3% (± 1.0%). Additionally, 12.3% (± 4.5%) of neighbourhood children were vulnerable on TWO or more domains of school readiness (City average = 15.8% ± 0.8%).

Neighbourhood Strengths and Challenges

The Carp-Hardwood Plains neighbourhood has a number of strengths, including an affluent and well-educated populace, many of whom are engaged in the political process. A high proportion of residents also feel a strong sense of belonging to the community. Unemployment, poverty and crime rates are all low. Most homes were built after 1980, are predominantly single detached houses, owned, affordable and well maintained. Kindergarten-aged children are generally well prepared to succeed at school. Residents have a number of opportunities for recreation, and ample opportunities to enjoy nature. They also have good access to a City of Ottawa Library branch. However, there is no grocery store within the boundaries of this neighbourhood. While most residents have a regular doctor, on average the health of Carp residents is a concern. Although self-rated health is near average, reproductive health is an issue, as is the fact that this area has the highest rate of ER visits for ACS conditions. Hospitalizations for these same conditions are also high. Moreover, Carp residents have the highest rate of ER visits and hospitalizations for injuries in the Ottawa area.

1 Based on an average walking speed of 1.1 metres per second (http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/publicat/pdf/PedComp/pedintro.pdf)

* Interpret with caution - high sampling variability

All Carp Fairground events now updated...

2009-04-29T16:55:00.000-07:00

Below are all the events taking place at the Carp Fairgrounds that we know of currently.

Summer Events

Carp Farmers Market
Opens May 9th
MORE INFO

Huntley Centennial Art Show
May 8th and 9th

Easter Ontario
Quarter Horse Events
May 29-31
June 12-14
MORE INFO

Lawn Tractor pull on Friday, July 10th at 7:00 pm

Car Show on Saturday, July 11th - Registration 8:00 a.m.

Bingos - July 8, 15, 22 & 29

Garlic Festival
August 8th

Drive-In Movies
August 12th and 26th
Sponsored by
Scotiabank
Your Local Mortgage Specialist
MORE INFO

Carp Fair
September 24-27, 2009

West Carleton Art Show
October 9th-11th

Ottawa Valley Hereford Sale
October 12th

Christmas Market
December 4th and 5th

Carp Santa Claus Parade
December 12th

Spring is in the air

2009-04-29T14:35:00.001-07:00

I love spring in Carp.

Flowers already blooming.

Kids laughing and playing.

The distant thunk-thunk of skateboarders. ;-)

The Sweet Potato re-opening with the promise of sweet fries.

Green grass. Trees budding. Everywhere people laughing and smiling.

It is spring in Carp. Excellent...

The Carp Farmer's Market nears the end of another season

2008-10-12T07:26:00.001-07:00

The Carp Farmers Market takes place every Saturday in the village of Carp at the Carp Fairgrounds. While the market is full of interesting things to do and see all year round (except for when it is closed in the winter) my favourite time to visit the market is in the fall.

Something about getting ready for Thanksgiving and poring over fall crops to bring to the table really brings the whole issue of local food home for me. There really is a bounty of goodness that grows in the surrounding areas, and you can bring it to your house just by taking a bit of time to visit the market.

Yesterday was truly a glorious fall day and the market was bustling. Check out the pictures by clicking on Bear and Oliver below.

You can always make new friends at the Carp Farmers Market.

Carp Fair 2008

2008-09-29T07:18:00.000-07:00

Thoughts from a fall fair.

Strands of tickets for rides.

Screams.

Laughter.

Running children.

Yummy snacks.

Coffee with a little sumpin sumpin.

Games. Prizes!!

Crafts.

T-shirts and ball caps - rocker styles.

Teenager gangs.

4-H people.

Sheep and cows.

Fancy chickens.

Model trains.

Reptile show - massive snake!

Grandstands.

Huge horses.

Ribbons and trophies.

Lumberjacks.

Seniors.

Long, long ride lineups.

More screaming!

Bumper cars.

Roller coaster.

Round and round.

Green...

8-horse hitch.

120 heavy horses in the ring.

Champions.

Winners.

Happy families.

flickr and I are still processing the pictures and videos that will make up this story.

The Carp Fair was an amazing event this year - you can read what took place here - http://www.carpfair.ca

Stay tuned for the full story

Carp Fair Mural

2008-09-21T07:54:00.000-07:00

The Carp Agricultural Society has unveiled a new mural near the main gates of the Carp Fair - to celebrate the 145th anniversary and the through the generations theme. Many local people, long time supporters of the fair, and local icons are contained in the mural. Take a look to see who you recognize.

The Sweet Potato is A Cut Above!

2008-08-02T12:55:00.000-07:00

Andrea Bruce and Joey Yagminas have a sweet dream.

As every good entrepreneur knows when you have a dream, you simply lay out your goals and objectives and start knocking down your list. Theirs goes like this - open one Sweet Potato chip stand in Carp (completed April 2008), then open a few more Sweet Potato franchised chip stands (planning now) around the Ottawa area, and eventually open their own restaurant.

When they do open that restaurant we should all get reservations on opening night, because I just had some of the best side dishes and starters I have had in a while. The Sweet Potato namesake is the literally one of the best plates of fries I have had in a long time. Their particular flavour of sweet bright orange goodness is big on flavour, short on the bad fats, and their homemade chipotle mayo dip is good enough that you kind of want to clean out the little bowl with your finger when you're done.

And they make some berry healthy choices at the Sweet Potato. My blackberry, goat cheese and raspberry vinagrette salad was very tasty - and you have to admit that there aren't very many (none) chip trucks that serve you up a gourmet salad. Also on the menu are smoked meat sandwiches and a few other tasty unexpected treats.

I had a chance to talk to them about the Sweet Potato on video. Watch it below. Special thanks to Sawyer Watson, my most excellent cameraman, checking his new camera out for this interview and who thinks the Sweet Potato fries are the "best in the world".

After you are done watching the Overlay.TV video and clicking on the links you will want to stroll, drive, bike, horseback or stroller down to 405 Donald B Munro Drive in Carp and get your hands on a Sweet Potato fry. Or you can contact them at 613.266.2634 or by email to thesweetpotato (at) sympatico (dot) ca .

Vote for your favourite movies for Carp Fair Drive-In Movies

2008-07-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

You can now vote for which movies you want to see in the Carp Fair Drive-In Movie night. Vote here - http://www.carpfair.ca/fairinformation/driveinmovies.htm - for your favourite movies from the following list:
- HappyFeet
- ET
- Open Season
- Over the Hedge
- Dreamer
- Charlottes Web
- Jaws
- Superman 3

The winning movies will be announced here and will appear at the Carp Fair Drive-In Movie Nights on August 13 and 27.

Carp Fair Website Up To Date!

2008-07-18T06:58:00.000-07:00

The Carp Fair website is all locked and loaded. Registration, entertainment, concessions and more are now update. Take a browse to start dreaming about or planning your trip to the fair. Leave comments here if you want to see something different or more!

http://www.carpfair.ca

Feels like summer in Carp

2008-05-24T04:49:00.000-07:00

The flowers are up, the river is down, the kids are playing in the creek and the dog is sleeping on the grass - I know its almost a month away but it definitely feels like summer to me.

Last weekend we had a huge breakthrough (literally). For a couple years now we have been attempting to navigate from the east to the west across the Carp Ridge on mountain bikes, ATVs and other wheeled devices - we have been turned around, gotten lost, gotten stuck, gotten wet and never actually made it through at all.

Well - it appears if you hang a left at the big rock, navigate down the small cliff over the dead trees, then wade or spin your way through the abandoned beaver dam at the halfway point, that you can actually make it through. Bring a winch though, because I got buried past the fenders and it took about half an hour to get it out.

The only disappointing thing is that when you finally get around Hidden Lake you run smack into a big construction site that poses it's own unique challenges for navigation. But, we love it here, so it follows that more and more people would want to live in Carp, so we don't really mind having to hop, skip and jump through the rock and dirt piles. :-)

Carp Fair - That's A Wrap!!!

2007-09-25T08:33:00.001-07:00

Awesome weekend of sun and fun at the Carp Fair in Carp, Ontario...we all had a blast and it was packed with events, music, rides, games, shows, exhibits, and more. I think everyone who attended would agree that the saddest thing is having to wait a whole year before we can do it all again! Pictures and more posted online at www.carpfair.ca

The Carp Fair is X sleeps away...

2007-08-27T06:21:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that the Carp Fair website is finally finished, and that there are some pretty big changes from the site you knew in previous years. In addition to creating a very easy-to-use and logical navigation for the site, we also added a ton of new features, including:

Forms for registration in all fair classes, including heavy horse, light horse, sheep, cattle, homecraft and more.
Forms for sponsorship and concession booths
Slideshows from previous years and special events
A newsletter subscription offering to get regular updates from the fair
Revised fair calendar, maps, directions and more to find the fair

Take a look at the new Carp Fa ir site, and let me know what you think.

Maybe we have to really BUY the Village Green...

2007-07-24T21:13:00.000-07:00

So it would appear that our work to "Buy the Village Green" as part of a non-profit, user-driven, consortium of loosely coupled villagers may not actually work out.

The Honeywell family, well within their right to do so, are proceeding with the rezoning for at least the first part of the land.

I have a suggestion that I am going to throw out there. What if, rather than doing it through fundraising, non-profit style, we actually create a coop and come together and actually buy some of the rezoned land and maintain it. Here are some proposed uses for the land under this scenario:
- public gardens - thanks Jake Hunt, for your awesome suggestion to have a space where we could start public gardens. A small plot for each of the coop members used as a public garden would allow the villagers to really "go local" on things like produce etc..
- economuseum - yes this was in the original plan for the Village Green but it was pretty cloudy as to who that would be and what would happen and when or if it would ever happen
- park space - I would be more than happy to donate part of my coop share for public use. I think this brings up insurance and liability issues - probably all of this does - but I am sure that these are not insurmountable.

It really is too bad that no big donors other than the Carp Agricultural Society tipped in over the 5 figure mark. That could have made all the difference, and would definitely have been a great investment in a lasting legacy for the "green investor". But seriously considering the coop model, I am wondering if I am not actually on to a better investment scenario. If you decided to leave the village or lost interest in your share, or didnt keep it up properly, then it could be sold.

There are thousands of examples of things like this working.

For the record, I am COMPLETELY supportive of the Buy The Village Green model, and I spent a lot of hours trying to make this work. Now I am worried that the opportunity will slip through our collective fingers. There is $40K there already and that could be allocated towards the "public portion" of the coop. The rest would be up to the best of Carp...I mean you.

Comment. I will push this forward if I get more than two positive responses.

Carp Fair Website Gets a Facelift

2007-07-17T16:50:00.000-07:00

The Carp Fair has been trying to get their website updated for a long time. They wanted to let all the exhibitors, vendors and sponsors register online. They wanted a calendar of all the things going on at the fair, and at the fairgrounds, and they wanted a site that could easily be updated and they wanted to provide one consistent way to get around the site.

Well, we've done it! Check out the new Carp Fair website at http://www.carpfair.ca

One thing to watch out for. The old site which was located at http://www.carpfair.on.ca will still work for a while but eventually all traffic will be directed to the new Carp Fair website.

More Carp History

2007-04-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

Carp is a small village west of Ottawa, Ontario, in beautiful Canada, where James Paul, an Irish shoemaker, about 24 years of age, purchased some land to make shoes way back in history - actually around the 3rd of August, 1844. James bought this half an acre near the present Swan Pub (mmmm...Swan Pub), and on that site began to operate his shoemaker business. This is the first proven non-agricultural business on a site in what is now referred to as Carp.

Three years later, in 1847, James Paul moved his shoemaker business to Pembroke - possibly since all of the locals now had quality shoes. The reality is that the actual origin of the name Carp has never been established - yet.

Early pioneers told me that there never were carp in the river, but that there were thousands upon thousands of suckers and mud pout in the river. For the people who live by or near the banks of Carp River in the 1860's and even right up until last fall, the suckers were literally "meat on the table".

Another account, The Carleton Saga, written by Harry and Olive Walker, gives the following conjecture (p.422):

"When the writer researched the origin of the name Carp as it applied to the river and the village, a student of nomenclature in Montreal, Herman J. Rolland, wrote the following possible explanation: 'The French word for sucker is "carpe", and it would seem to me that coureurs de bois may have given the name "Carpe" to the river, as they must have known of its fishing conditions, and later on the village possible adopted the name of the river.'"

How will we ever know if there were ever carpe in Carp?

Carpology

If you take a day in Carp (or seize it) should it be Carpe Diem?
If we share rides in Carp, would we Carp-ool?
If you need something built, do you call a Carp-enter?
Should you park in a Carp-ort?

These and more important issues when we return...

You are going to have to buy the Village Green

2007-04-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

Hello Carp.

If you don't buy the Village Green, about 100 other people will buy it, and they will build small houses on it, and move in.

Then they will overcrowd the school.

There will be no bananas left at Faith's Foodliner.

The good videos will be gone at Carp Video.

Your order from Carp Valley Chinese Food will be late.

The Carp Fair will have no parking.

Might seem minor, mostly because I chose minor issues to make it seem minor. What would be better is if none of the above happened, and we had the central area of Carp preserved forever as a park, museum, school expansion, etc...for all the residents of Carp who bought a square foot of the Village Green, to save it forever, in their name.

Start buying it up so that you can't move there now!

http://www.buythevillagegreen.com

Please?

No Water. Flooding rampant.

2007-04-23T19:40:00.000-07:00

Interesting that in a year with so little precipitation we are seeing the kinds of floods that we are in the plains along the Carp River.

The mighty plains...the might river. Hah!

Who needs mighty...in our own little way this beautiful river, currently home to thousands of returning Canada Geese, has spread its own wings out across the neighbouring fields, trails and driveways and is gathering up a force of flotsam and jetsam bound for Kanata.

What is odd about this is that we can already see signs of the lack of water. A typical spring would have all of the ground spongy and muck would abound. But no, dry hard ground bites back at my struggling shovel, dust prevails from the top of the mounds beside the homes of future flower greatness.

But the floods range on along the mighty Carp...we secretly may start diverting the river to our perennials if the skies don't open up.

This marks my first blog about the weather...if I was more vane I would consider this a real technology breakthrough. Currently it's 17 degrees celsius, mostly cloudy, with winds gusting from the NW...ooh, this is fun.

Friends of the Carp River

2007-04-23T19:35:00.001-07:00

The Carp River is a navigable waterway that comes under the jurisdiction of two Federal Acts - the Navigable Rivers Protection Act and the Fisheries Act. The Carp River watershed is located in the former municipalities of West Carleton, Kanata, and Goulbourn. The headwaters of the system are in the Glen Cairn area of Kanata just south of the Scotiabank Place (formerly Corel Centre), where the Carp River flows north into the Ottawa River at Fitzroy Harbour. The entire river is 42 km long, and has the unique distinction of being the only river that flows entirely within the boundaries of the City of Ottawa (since Carp was amalgated into the City of Ottawa a few years ago).

The Friends of the Carp River (FCR) is an action-based group of volunteers working together with landowners, recreational users, government agencies, and businesses to improve the quality of the Carp River. Our goal is to encourage new shoreline management practices, thereby helping to restore the ribbon of life along the river's length for the natural benefit of its human and wildlife communities.

There are lots of ways you can get involved and help out with various projects involving the Carp River.

Welcome to Carp, Ontario

2007-04-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

Carp is a village west of Ottawa, Canada.

The village took its name from the Carp River which runs through the village. I live on the main street, which was formerly a section of the Trans-Canada Highway and carried much of the traffic coming from the west into Ottawa. However the village has now been bypassed with the development of the Highway 417, which means it is still easily accessible but quiet, safe, quaint and a great place to live.

The largest claim to any international fame (infamy really) is that the Diefenbunker, a Cold War museum is located within the village, but it's really all about the Carp Fair, where once a year the village is transformed into a turn of the century farm district fair, replete with heavy horses, all the livestock you can shake a switch at, games, rides and contests until the ribbons come home.

With the amalgamation of municipal governments in the region in 2001, Carp is now governed as part of the new city of Ottawa, which is still a contentious issue depending on whom you ask about it.

Carp is used as a mailing address for large areas of the former West Carleton Township. As such, residents of this large area will identify themselves as living in Carp although they may live large distances from the village proper.

A large farmers' market is held in Carp each Saturday from May to October. The Carp Fair is held in September; the first fair was held in 1880. It is now located at the fairgrounds. The fair attracts people from all over the city every year.

There are three schools in Carp at large: Huntley Centennial Public School, St. Michael's and Venta, a private school. Our children go to Huntley.

The area is surrounded by amazing biking, hiking, walking, mx-ing, and snowmobiling trails, joining into hundreds of miles of trails that lace their way back and forth across the Ottawa valley.

In January 1990, the Carp Farmers' Market became a reality for many residents of Carp and the surrounding communities. Before then, the Market was essentially a concept and a dream in the mind of Hildegarde Anderson, an active resident of Carp. Ms. Anderson had fond memories of the success of farmers' markets in her native province of Saskatchewan. After some discussion with a close friend, Kathy Fischer, she decided that a prairie-style farmers' market would provide the agricultural community and the residents of Carp many kinds of social and economic benefits. With a determined spirit, she pressed ahead to transform her dream into reality. Together with her friend Kathy Fischer and marketing specialist Bob Chorney (and volumes of information from Ministry of Food and Agriculture), she proceeded to develop a written plan and conduct a series of information meetings together with a publicity campaign to convince other members of the community of the need for and potential benefits of a farmers' market.

If it so happens that you are out enjoying the CARP FARMERS' MARKET be sure to visit the:

- Diefenbunker, Canada 's Cold War Museum
- Village Art Gallery
- Historical Cheshire Cat Pub
- Lightplane rides at the Carp Airport
- 7 area golfcourses
- 6 area riding stables
- Stan 's Mini-Putt
- The Swan Pub
- Fitzroy Provincial Park
- Pakenham 's historical 5-span bridge

....plus many more restaurants and services in and around the village of Carp.