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The North Grenville Times
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ngtimes.bsky.social March 20, 2025
Vol. 15 No. 10
Ralph Raina turns 100 on March 24! Building, and then to the old movie theatre, presently the site of the Post Office. Success followed with every move, and Ralph built the building that we know Raina’s Family Store, on Sanders Street. The store had clothes for the entire family, and a very wellknown fabric store in the basement. This building burned down in 1990, and was rebuilt to what it is today, the Raina Mall. Ralph entered politics at this time and ended up serving on our
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Town of Kemptville Council 1986 to 1988
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It is time to celebrate this amazing milestone birthday for Ralph Raina known to many in Kemptville and area for decades of service to this town. Ralph’s journey has been long, sometimes difficult, and ultimately successful in local politics and commerce. Ralph was born in Alberta on March 24, 1925. At a young age, his family moved to northern Quebec and then to Ottawa in the 1930s where TB struck the family. Ralph spent many years in the Ottawa Sanatorium, as did as his sister, Clara, who spent thirteen years there. Her journey has been well chronicled in Anne Raina’s book
‘Clara’s Rib’. Ralph finally left the San with seven ribs out, a limited education, and even less money. But everyone who knows Ralph knows what a fighter he is. He borrowed a car, borrowed some money, and got a peddler’s licence. Many reading this article today will remember Ralph coming to their houses in the country and bringing clothes to the farmers and also for the women and children. He was soon able to rent a small building on Prescott St., and we still have the wooden Raina sign that Bill Kilfoyle’s father made to go above the store. Ralph then moved to the Finnerty
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local Kemptville Council as Mayor, Reeve, and Councillor for nineteen years. He also served on the Police Service’s Board for six years. And now, as he approaches his 100th birthday he still has many interests and is up to date on all the world events - and has firm opinions on them all! With no wheelchair, and only one prescription pill, Ralph has prevailed through it all! Happy 100th birthday Ralph.
Seated: (left to right): Reeve Pat Maloney, Mayor Ralph Raina, Deputy Reeve Howard Wilson. Standing: (left to right): Councillor Ken Finnerty, Councillor Gary Tysik, Councillor Harry Van Allen, Councillor Ambrose Etmanskie, Clerk Mel McIntyre
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Raina’s Mall in 1974
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