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371 Arthur St. S., ELMIRA, ON | 519-669-3232 Ontario's #1 Weekly Community Newspaper
JULY 3, 2025
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Elmira, Ontario, Canada | observerxtra.com | Volume 30 | Issue 27
300
Elmira’s Brady Martin selected 5th in NHL draft
School board passes budget with cuts, increased staff spending
Nashville Predators GM noted Martin’s demeanour was as impressive as his on-ice performance
Julian Gavaghan Observer Staff
WATERLOO REGION’S PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD’S budget for next year will fall by 2.5 per cent after trustees voted for some spending cuts while allowing salary costs to continue soaring. The total budget of $966.25 million – $24.75 million less than last year – was passed shortly before the province took over four more education authorities accused of mismanaging taxpayers’ money. The new budget includes $864 million in operational and $89.5 million in capital spending. It is the first balanced budget that the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) has passed in four years, having previously run deficits since 2022/23. This was partially achieved by extracting $6.5 million from its reserve fund, which currently stands at $55 million. Funding earmarked specifically for facilities will also be reduced → BOARD BUDGET 4
Julian Gavaghan Observer Staff
Brady Martin with his parents, Sheryl and Terry, the morning after being picked fifth in the NHL draft. The Soo Greyhounds centre, who represented the OHL in last season’s all-star game (inset), was joined by 100 people at his family’s farm last Friday as they Julian Gavaghan/submitted watched him achieve his dream.
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ELMIRA’S BRADY MARTIN REVEALED HE was “pumped” to be selected by the Nashville Predators as the No. 5 pick in the 2025 NHL entry draft. The 18-year-old centre, who learned of his fate at an outdoor viewing party with around 100 other people at his family farm, said he was “shocked but excited” when his name was called out so early on in the proceedings. “I was hoping to be picked somewhere in that top-10 area, but I was shocked to get taken at five. I’m really glad they did,” he told The Observer. Martin, whose physicality led to him being described as an “on-ice wrecking ball” by one expert, is considered an ideal fit for a Predators team built around a relentless forechecking approach. The teenager, whose ability to lay siege to defences is as well regarded as his ability to shape games with big-moment goals, said Nashville would also be a great place for one other reason. “It’s definitely a perfect fit for me,” said Martin last Saturday, while loading his bags ahead of
his journey to the airport. “It’s the home of country music, they love country music, and so do I, so it’ll be perfect,” continued the six-foot, 187lb, right-handed forward who just finished his second OHL season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. His parents, Terry and Sheryl Martin, both said they were “very proud” of what their second child had achieved. His mother also said she was grateful for all the support the young draftee had received locally, adding: “It’s important to give back to the community, to share this moment and let them see a bit of what it’s like for him.” Evan Passmore, a fellow Elmiran and Martin’s former teammate at the Waterloo Wolves, was also drafted. The Barrie Colts defenceman was selected 171st overall as the New York Rangers’ sixth-round pick. Woolwich Minor Hockey, where both began playing before moving to Waterloo’s AAA program, praised their accomplishments. Draft weekend was a very farm-centric affair for Martin, who scored 33 goals → NHL DRAFT 4
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