ROCKCLIFFE NEWS

THE ROCKCLIFFE RETIREMENT RESIDENCE RESPONDS TO THE DISASTER IN HAITI

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THE ROCKCLIFFE: A YEAR OF FIRSTS

THE ROCKCLIFFE IS OPEN! We celebrated our first anniversary on July 15th at the weekly buffet, with a very large and scrumptious cake prepared by the chef. Over dinner, a la supper club, we were serenaded by the executive director, a soprano, and the concierge, an up and coming young tenor, both trained musicians. The accompanist was a pianist from the University of Ottawa who has entertained at The Rockcliffe in the past, and is an accomplished master of the grand piano in the dining room. The residents enjoyed as a community, the fact that “their own,” as it were, can contribute to the enhancement of House celebrations.

It has been a year of firsts at The Rockcliffe. The first autumn in September and October/08 the fallen leaves revealed to those of us on the lower floors the full beauty of the surrounding river. The water seen through the trees had a unique beauty, but to see the river everywhere unobstructed was spectacular. The constant influx of new members to our group over the fall and winter was steady and gratifying. People were delighted with the The Rockcliffe, its amenities, and its stunning location.

The first winter was an Ottawa winter, with its usual share of snow and more snow. The river was an icy circle around the island, and its traffic was mainly dog walkers and some cross country skiers. We so appreciated then the comfort of the valet and limousine services. There was no such thing at The Rockcliffe as getting into a cold car with frosty windows. We were snug on our island in the middle of the city. The holiday season was a joyful one, replete with the feasts and celebrations that enabled all to come together as a caring and sharing community. We continued to welcome new members to our community, even in winter, at a steady rate. Visitors simply loved what they saw.

Spring came to The Rockcliffe literally with a bang! The City of Ottawa crews came to the water around the island, dynamite in hand, to “cut the keys.” With our panoramic vantage point in the middle of the river, we fully enjoyed the spectacle even with the accompanying noise, when the ice was blasted in strategic locations to enable the Rideau to flow unencumbered into the Ottawa, over the Rideau Falls near the Prime Minister’s residence. This first harbinger of spring in the east end has announced itself loudly in this way over many years. The residents of The Rockcliffe have reserved seating for the whole show, which takes a week to complete, and includes blasting, boats, and men in orange suits scurrying about.

Soon thereafter the ducks and geese were back, and we spied our resident pair of herons. However we couldn’t locate the nest. We began to see, for the first time, what summer would bring to The Rockcliffe. The grounds became alive and colourful with the plantings that were set in the fall of 2008. We were able to set in the grounds the herbs that a group of gardening residents had so carefully nurtured in the penthouse activities room. The chef was delighted. We realised that we had groundhogs, fat ones, and rabbits that shared our island, and that they were interesting tenants. However, The Rockcliffe’s most interesting creature neighbours were the very large turtles which crawled up the riverbank to lay eggs in our gardens. We decided to protect the nests as best we could from marauders. The immense Linden trees in the patio garden came into full leaf making lovely shady spaces where we could sit and listen to the birds. The outdoor bar was opened and we were able to enjoy dining on the patio, and celebrating events there when we wished.

Come and join us and live surrounded by grand views and natural beauty.