Dunrobin still rebuilding 1 year after tornado

When Leo Muldooncelebrated his 79th birthday this week, it was extra special.

Last year, Muldoon was making repairs to the roofof his barnwhen a tornado tore a path of destruction throughDunrobin in Ottawa's rural west end. Muldoon was thrown to the ground, fracturing his limbs and collapsing his lungs. His family didn't think he'd make it through the night.

"When I came up and saw him lying on the ground first, it was very frightening," recalled his wife, Adele Muldoon.

"Buthe continued to amaze us with his recovery. He just never complained, got better and stronger each day."

'There's a lot of emotion around it'

5 years ago

Duration 1:17

Dunrobin resident Emily Glossop says there's still lots to do before the community can recover physically and emotionally after last year's tornado.

"You deal with it, and get over it and carry on," Leo Muldoontold CBC.

"It takes more than a gust of wind to keep this guy down," read the slogan on his green T-shirt.

Dunrobin rebuilds

Sept. 21, 2019, marks one year since the EF-3 tornado devastated this tight-knit community. Even now, those who lived through it continue to recover both physically and emotionally from what was for many a life-altering event.

• Ottawa residents survey damage from devastating tornado
• Dunrobin families credit emergency warning system for saving lives

A year later, construction equipment and mounds of dirt line Porcupine Trail, where homes are in different stages of reconstruction.

Emily Glossop's family is now in their fourth temporary home as construction on their new place continues. Glossop and her husband,former ParalympianTodd Nicholson, sayfinding an accessible place to stay has been a challenge.

They had hoped to be in their new home by now, but Glossop now realizes that wasunrealistic.

"That is not happening, and there's many people who are nowhere near back in," Glossop said.

"We are really fortunate. We have a foundation, we have walls and we have a roof ... but just across the street there is still a lot that doesn't even have any work being done on it yet."

Tears of gratitude

Tears still well up in Glossop's eyesas she recalls the night of the storm, hurdlingover live wires and downed trees.

"I don't remember seeing the destruction around me," she said. "I was only seeing people's faces, my neighbours' faces, friends."

Those are the same people who have helped her family immensely over the past year, Glossop said.

"We have always said from the beginning of this journey that most of our tears are due to gratitude, and I would say that 365 days later it's still the truth."

Events to mark anniversary

The community is planningseparate events to mark the one-year anniversary on Saturday:

• West Carleton Disaster Relief is hosting a community commemoration at the Dunrobin Community Centre Hockey Rink starting at 2 p.m. Speakers will includeCoun. Eli El-Chantiry, Mayor Jim Watson and Liberal candidate Karen McCrimmon.
• Heart and Soul Cafe will then host a barbecueand party at the corner of Dunrobin Road and Thomas A. Dolan Parkway, from 3:30 to 7:00 p.m.
• Victims for Victims will also host a benefit concert from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Pinhey's Point Historic Site. The event is a fundraiser to help flood victims in a gesture of paying it forward.