The School of Dance presents HEROES
HEROES was a project of The School of Dance in Ottawa, focusing on creativity and community celebrating memories, strengths and contributions.
The School of Dance presents HEROES
The Pond
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We were talking about how sometimes a community can be a hero, and Marthanne Robson had an idea for a play. So, following her scenario, we improvised some dialogue and turned it into a play.
With the participation of Kathryn Holst, Gaye Szeszycki, Marthanne Robson, plus Kathy MacLellan and John Nolan.
HEROES was a project of The School of Dance, Artistic Director Merrilee Hodgins, in Ottawa, focusing on creativity and community, celebrating memories, strengths, and contributions.
HEROES podcast is hosted by Kathy MacLellan and John Nolan, with original piano music by Elena Ilin.
This project was funded in part by the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program.
Heroes, a project of the School of Dance. Hello, I'm Kathy MacLellan.
John NolanAnd I'm John Nolan.
Kathy MacLellanWe're seniors. And we talked to some other seniors about their take on heroes.
John NolanYeah, now we seniors haven't seen everything, but we have seen a lot.
Kathy MacLellanWe were talking about how sometimes a community can be a hero, and Marthanne Robson had an idea for a play.
John NolanSo following her scenario, we improvised some dialogue and turned it into a script, and here it is.
Kathy MacLellanWith the participation of Kathryn Holst, Gaye Szeszycki, Marthanne Robson, and Kathy and I.
John NolanThe Pond.
Kathy MacLellanScene one at the Pond.
Marthanne RobsonHey Charlie, nice to see you. And nice to see this, isn't it gorgeous?
John NolanWell yeah, Rachel, it's pretty good, but you know. Winter's coming.
Marthanne RobsonLet's just enjoy this beautiful October day. So warm. And it's great to be here swimming in the pond. Look at all those beautiful leaves.
John NolanYeah, that's just nature's way of tricking us into thinking that fall is okay. Make us forget that winter's coming.
Marthanne RobsonLet's not talk about winter.
John NolanUgh, those stupid bureaucrats. You know what they're gonna do? Yes. They're gonna barricade the pond so we can't go in anymore. Well, I don't see why we can't go over the barricade and just swim anyway.
Marthanne RobsonWell, we can, but then we'd have all those neighbors yelling and complaining that we're not following the rules. Oh, people can be so annoying. When I think of how great it is to swim, don't you feel like you could just push them all in and get them to join us? Look who's coming.
John NolanWell, I know you. Aren't you uh uh Boleyn uh something, the coach of the woman's rugby team?
Kathryn HolstYou got that right. Welcome to the party. Is this your first time here? It is. It's absolutely gorgeous. I mean, look at the color of the leaves, look at the reflection in the lake. Yeah, it's pretty great.
John NolanSad to think we're gonna get kicked out soon. What do you mean, kicked out? Uh, you know, it's winter and would love to keep swimming all winter, but there's rules and laws. When the ice comes in, the city barricades the pond. Can you believe it?
Gaye SzeszyckiExcuse me, did you say they barricade this place?
Marthanne RobsonWell, yeah, the city's worried about liability.
Gaye SzeszyckiWhy would they do that? It's a beautiful, beautiful spot.
Marthanne RobsonBecause somebody could fall through the ice.
Gaye SzeszyckiThey could just have a sign. You know, people have to take responsibility for things. In Norway, we would find this a perfect opportunity to have a sauna.
Kathryn HolstOh my god, that would be amazing. Why would you waste a place like this? Put up barricades in winter? Come on.
John NolanOh yeah, but this is Canada, we're a bit behind the times.
Gaye SzeszyckiWell, I think in Canada, you would be used to winter by now. You might as well enjoy it. I mean, I don't mean to tell you how to live in your country, but Well, how does it work in Norway?
Marthanne RobsonDo you have to sign up for a club or get special permission?
Kathryn HolstSign up to have a sauna? It's just a basic right. And then you could do a cold plunge. Because that's what we do in Ireland. It's cool, of course, but you want to cool down. You don't want to go about the rest of the day just sweating from the sauna. Is there anyone you could talk to about that?
Marthanne RobsonWell, you know, maybe we should contact the city with a sauna idea. Maybe we could convince them of that. I'm gonna call.
John NolanIt never does any good, though, you know. You'll never be able to get anybody on the phone.
Marthanne RobsonWell, I think it's worth a try.
Kathryn HolstOkay, on that note, let's jump in. One, two, three.
Marthanne RobsonWhat's the truth? So you're pretty sure they're out of time. No, no, even definitely. Okay, so I'm guessing I'm not getting a call back anytime soon. How about the second level person in charge? Or better yet, that person's boss. What? They just hung up on me.
Kathy MacLellanScene three, at the pond.
Marthanne RobsonOh my god, Charlie. I called the city and tried to find out who we could talk to about not barricading the pond, and I got such a runaround, and then they just hung up on me.
John NolanUh, typical, typical bureaucracy.
Marthanne RobsonI am beyond frustrated. I just want to I don't want to say anything violent, but that's what I'm feeling.
John NolanYou know that person who was talking to us the other day about Norway?
Marthanne RobsonI think that's the ambassador. I wonder if she could help us out. She certainly seemed to have some good ideas.
John NolanAnd she was so surprised that, you know, the pond gets barricaded.
Marthanne RobsonMaybe, maybe we could get her to help. Why not? How can we get her phone number? Do you think it's listed? Hey, you know, I know where she lives.
John NolanThat White House. You know, when you go to Rito Hall, that big entrance, uh, when you're on your way to the skating rink, just across from there, that there's a big house. Oh, the one with the TARDIS in front. Yes, uh British phone box for some reason. Not a TARDIS, sadly. But that's where they live. How about you just knock on her door? I think that's a great idea. She seems super friendly.
Marthanne RobsonShe seemed friendly that day.
John NolanAlthough maybe she was just in a good mood.
Marthanne RobsonHi, remember me? I'm Rachel. We met at the pond.
Gaye SzeszyckiOh, yes. That's when you were talking about the barricades. Right, and you had such a great idea. Well, not really.
Marthanne RobsonIt was just sort of obvious. I was trying to get a hold of the city, and they literally hung up on me. So I was thinking maybe you could help. Oh, hello. Oh, that's my son Ro. Hello, I'm Rachel. So teenagers. So I was thinking, because you're an ambassador, maybe you could help us set up a meeting with one of the city counselors or something.
Gaye SzeszyckiWell, maybe I could. I would like to help. I could suggest that it be a cultural exchange.
Marthanne RobsonThat sounds very diplomatic.
Kathy MacLellanScene 5. A phone call from the ambassador.
Gaye SzeszyckiHello?
Kathy MacLellanOh, hello?
Gaye SzeszyckiIt's Astra Tonnes calling from the Norwegian Embassy. Hi, I'm afraid I've run into a bit of a problem.
Marthanne RobsonNot you, too.
Gaye SzeszyckiYes, my staff has told me that to approach the municipal officials would be stepping on too many toes. My enthusiasm got a little bit ahead of me. And in fact, I can't be involved in this matter myself. I'm very sorry to say that.
Marthanne RobsonAlright. Okay, well, thanks so much.
Kathy MacLellanScene six at the pond.
Kathryn HolstOh my god, it's wonderful. How much longer are you able to do this?
John NolanWell, it's usually about the beginning of December when they lock things down.
Gaye SzeszyckiI'm very sorry I wasn't able to help.
Marthanne RobsonI appreciate it. But surely there's someone we can talk to. I mean, who could we call?
John NolanWell, what about the NCC?
Gaye SzeszyckiThe NCC? I can't do that. I've been told I can't. But there is something coming up at the river house. Right.
John NolanThey're having a receptor.
Gaye SzeszyckiThey're honoring the architect who did the rebuild or something like that. And I was invited. Oh, do you think you could get us in? I can. There's a plus one. I could say I didn't read correctly. I thought it was a three plus one.
John NolanIsn't the head of the NCC like a super rugby fan?
Kathryn HolstAnd I'm a rugby coach. Put my name down. So Lynn would you come as my guest?
Kathy MacLellanScene seven at the river house. Oh wow!
Marthanne RobsonI've never been inside here. Pretty amazing, isn't it? Gorgeous! It was super nice of Astrid to get us in here.
John NolanSee that person over there? That's the head of the NCC.
Marthanne RobsonOkay, Lynn, I'm gonna take you over and introduce you because she's a super rugby fan. Hi, I'm Rachel. Did you know that Lynn here is the coach of the women's national rugby team? Oh my goodness.
Kathy MacLellanI'm very pleased to meet you, Lynn. Pleased to meet you. We are big fans of rugby in our family. In fact, my daughter is obsessed. And maybe you could meet her. Would you be interested in having a coffee with her sometime and perhaps giving her some tips?
Kathryn HolstI'd be happy to. Do you know Astrid Tranis, the Norwegian ambassador? What a beautiful spot you've got.
Gaye SzeszyckiThank you. The pride of the NCC. And what are your plans for the winter? Will you be closing down? Of course.
Kathy MacLellanWell, you can get a coffee, but you can't sit inside with your coffee. But what about using the waterway itself? Well, it freezes over.
Gaye SzeszyckiWell, what about a floating sauna? A floating sauna? Um, you have ice fishing around here? Oh, yes. It's more or less the same thing. Except instead of the fish jumping out, you jump in. So you have a lovely sauna, and then you can just jump right into the water.
Kathryn HolstRugby players do it all the time. A hot sauna and then a cold plunge. It's very good for your circulation. You don't say.
Gaye SzeszyckiI'd be very interested to hear about how this works. Why don't you come to Oslo? We'll treat you to a lovely floating sauna.
Kathy MacLellanScene eight at the pond.
John NolanOh my god, Rachel, did you hear that announcement that the NCC just made? Kinda wishy was she wasn't. Yeah. They're maybe going to have a sauna, and maybe it's going to be in the spring, but they're not sure. They're worried about liability. Oh my god. Could they just make a decision? Typical government bureaucracy.
Marthanne RobsonSo do we think it's a step forward?
John NolanOne step forward, two steps back.
Gaye SzeszyckiHello, welcome to All in the Day. I'm Judith Gale sitting in for Alan Neal. Our first story today is about a terrifying scene that unfolded yesterday at the pond in Rockcliffe. Paramedics were called when a teenager fell through the ice and was rescued by passers by, who are with me right now. Rachel and Charlie. Rachel, can you tell us what happened? I gather you and your friends regularly swim in this pond, but right now it's barricaded?
Marthanne RobsonYes, the city doesn't approve of cold water plunging. So what happened? Charlie and I were walking by the pond. And we noticed footprints going up to the fence and right over it. We looked a little further and saw someone in the water, face down, not moving. It was horrible.
John NolanSo we hopped over the fence.
Marthanne RobsonWe knew not to jump in, of course, but we stretched out on the ice with a long branch and a pole, and between us we managed to get him out onto the shore. I called an ambulance. Well, Charlie started resuscitation.
John NolanWell, I just kept going. I I I didn't even know who it was. It was a it was a small person, but it wasn't a child.
Marthanne RobsonIt was a teenager, Ro, the Norwegian ambassador's son. So I called her too, and she and the ambulance arrived at the same time.
Gaye SzeszyckiAnd what do we know about the victim's condition?
John NolanUh uh they're going to make it.
Gaye SzeszyckiThanks to you two. Now tell me more about how you like to swim in that pond all winter.
John NolanYeah. We were upset about the barricades, but uh one of the paramedics approached us with an idea.
Marthanne RobsonHe said, Hey, if you guys want to do cold water dipping, I got some buddies who are ice fishers, and maybe they can set you up. We're meeting with them next week. They think we can use their ice hut. If that works out, it'll be brilliant.
Gaye SzeszyckiWell, folks, it looks like the community has come together to find a solution for these heroes.
Marthanne RobsonScene 10 at the ice fishing hut. Charlie Lynn Astrid, I'd like you to meet Marc Andre.
Gaye SzeszyckiHello. Oh, hi. Oh, nice to meet you.
Marthanne RobsonNice to see you, yeah.
Gaye SzeszyckiThank you so much for inviting us to your ice fishing hut.
John NolanNo problem. You're very welcome. See, there's a wood stove. You just help yourself to the tools, yeah.
Marthanne RobsonWell, everything you need to open the hole. Yeah, yeah, and there's a place to hang your gear there. This is so kind of you.
John NolanAll we ask is you don't plunge until after we've done fishing for the day, you know.
Marthanne RobsonOr or or plunge a day when we're not fishing. Of course, and and we'll keep in touch about that.
Gaye SzeszyckiAnd you're going to maintain the hole? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
John NolanWe think this is awesome. You are bringing the joy of winter to a whole new level. Well, I'm ready. Who's for a plunge?
Kathryn HolstOn my count. One, two, three.
John NolanWell, you fellas are crazy. That's all I can say.
Kathy MacLellanHeroes was a project of the School of Dance in Ottawa, focusing on creativity and community, celebrating memories, strengths, and contributions.
John NolanThe piano music is written and performed by Elena Ellen.
Kathy MacLellanThis project is funded in part by the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors program.