Issue 42 November 6 2025

We will remember all of them

by David Shanahan

Perhaps the most important aspect of Remembrance Day each year is that we remember them. Them, not the various battles and wars and incidents, but them, the ones who went from here and the ones who did not return again. This puts the responsibility on each generation to remember, to ensure that their community can remember clearly and accurately what and who have gone before.

That is why, each year, the Times has published a special issue for Remembrance Day. By bringing to mind individuals, their stories, their pictures and their individuality, we can understand better what they did and why. For decades,

Remembrance Day was centred on emotional things, like the often-used poem, “In Flanders Fields”, with its threat that “If ye break faith with us who die, We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields”. Perhaps their sleep will be most peaceful if we can remember them and decide never to repeat their experiences again.

Today, we remember the humanity of those who served, understanding, possibly better than ever before, the real cost to all who put their lives on the line. That is why they should be remembered: because they were just like us, came from our communities, knew our streets and country roads. Whether you agree, or disagree, with their going out to fight, we must remember

them.

This year, given the fact that we are faced with the reality of war and death in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and too many other places, we thought it might be worth changing the focus slightly. Wars affect people, not only on the front lines, but also on the home front: wives, parents, children, siblings, all those who live every day wondering if their loved one will be coming home. For some women, excluded from military life in days gone by, there was the option of serving in other capacities. And the most immediate service they could provide was as nurses, taking care of the wounded, both physically and mentally scarred by the experience of horror and death.

In this issue, we look at

some of the women, at home and abroad, who adapted their lives to the reality of war. Not all were from our community, but they represent Canadians and need to be remembered for what they gave, some of whom gave all.

There are not too many occasions in the course of the year when history is brought home to so many of us; when our past can come alive and we honour and acknowledge out heritage. Remembrance Day is one of those times. This year, then, we remember them, the individuals who followed the way as they saw it before them, regardless of the cost. We will remember all of them.

Highway 43 Car Club donates to Community Food Banks

by Luc Bisaillon

The Highway 43 Car Club was busy last week visiting local food banks. First stop was at the House of Lazarus in Mountain, where we presented a cheque for $500.00 to help out with the important work that this organization performs for our local communities.

Second stop was at the Community Food Share facility in Winchester, where we presented a cheque for $500.00 to help fill their Food Bank shelves. The Community Food Share have locations in Winchester, Morrisburg and Finch.

Third stop was at the Salvation Army Kemptville Food Bank where we presented Calvin Wong with a cheque for $500.00, which brought our final cash total for the Kemptville Food Bank to over $1,400.00 for 2025, plus we delivered several hundreds of pounds of non-perishable food items that was collected throughout our Kemptville Cruise Night season at Food Basics.

A big Thank You to all of our volunteers, sponsors and to everyone who donated during our very successful 2025 Season!

North Grenville invites applications for 2026 Community Grants

The Municipality of North Grenville is once again inviting organizations to apply for funding through the 2026 Community Grant Program, an initiative that helps bring community-driven ideas to life.

“The Community Grant Program continues to assist local groups undertake meaningful initiatives that enrich life in North Grenville,” said Mayor Nancy Peckford. “Whether it’s a volunteer-driven program, an event, or a project that improves local spaces and/or the quality of life of residents, these grants aid community organizations do what they do best by bringing people together and making North Grenville a more vibrant and connected place to live.”

The Community Grant Program endeavours to provide financial support for events, programs, and projects that enhance life in North Grenville, from cultural celebrations and heritage initiatives to recreation, environmental, educational, and local economic activities.

Applications for the 2026 Community Grant Program are open now and must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 15, 2025.

Organizations interested in applying can learn more and access the application form at www.northgrenville.ca/communitygrants.

For questions or assistance, contact the Manager of Community and Leisure Services at recprograms@northgrenville.on.ca or 613-258-9569 ext. 123.

Kemptville Legion launches annual Poppy Campaign

by Talia Hreljac

As October comes to a close, a familiar and meaningful tradition returns to our community. The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 212 has once again launched its annual Poppy Campaign, marking the beginning of our collective month of remembrance.

This year’s campaign officially began on October 30, with members and volunteers coming together for the local pinning ceremony that symbolizes the start of this important initiative. From now until November 11, you’ll see volunteers throughout North Grenville offering poppies in exchange for donations to the Poppy Fund.

The act of accepting and wearing a poppy is simple, but it carries deep significance. Each poppy represents remembrance, gratitude, and respect for those who have served and continue to serve our country. The funds raised through the campaign go directly toward supporting veterans and their families, including those who have returned from service with injuries, trauma, or who simply need a helping hand.

Our local Legion plays a vital role in ensuring that support reaches those who need it most. Branch 212 is built on dedication, compassion, and community spirit. The volunteers who give their time each year do so out of love and respect for our veterans, and their efforts remind us what service and sacrifice truly mean.

As we head into Remembrance Day, take a moment to pause, to reflect, and to wear your poppy proudly. Each donation, each pin, and each conversation helps keep the stories and sacrifices of our veterans alive in the heart of North Grenville.

Last Repair Café of 2025

by Tricia Habberjam

The next Kemptville Repair Café will take place in the NG Library on 22nd November 11am-2pm. This will be the last one of 2025, thus if you have repairs that need our help bring them along. Electrical, sewing, woodworking etc. are all welcome. This bunch of volunteers, with various skills, will try and figure out what is wrong and how to fix it, all while showing you how it is done.

We are not always successful but we usually find out why it isn't working and give advice accordingly.

If you need more information please email me Tricia Habberjam pmjh@snowie.ca or call 613 258 3683.

Hiring Event

Kemptville LTC is growing, and we’re looking for compassionate professionals to join our team:

Christmas on Campus Returns

The 6th Annual Outdoor Christmas Market is returning to Kemptville Campus on Saturday, November 15 and Sunday, November 16, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., bringing with it all the festive charm that has made it one of North Grenville’s most anticipated holiday traditions.

This year’s market will feature over 70 local vendors each day, with a mix of returning favourites and exciting new additions, meaning there’s something new to discover all weekend long.

From handmade gifts and home décor to tasty holiday treats, visitors can shop, sip, and stroll through a winter wonderland of local creativity and community spirit.

Back by popular demand, the giant snow globe will once again be set up for families and friends to snap a magical photo, and yes, Santa Claus himself will be there both days for photos and a little chat. Visitors can also enjoy face painting, balloon twisting, live music from local performers including Keeley Brown, roaming holiday characters, greenhouse tours, and

even a special Cactus House tour for a touch of tropical warmth amid the holiday sparkle.

The festivities don’t end there. On Saturday evening, guests can head from the market straight to downtown Kemptville for the Rotary Christmas Parade, making it a full day of family fun. Meanwhile, during the weekend, the Wonderfall Art Show and Sale will be taking place as part of the Christmas on campus weekend, offering even more opportunities to support local creators and find that perfect one-of-a-kind gift.

Admission to Christmas on Campus is free, though donations in support of Beth Donovan Hospice are gratefully accepted throughout the event.

“This market began during the pandemic as a way to safely bring people together,” says Darlene Collin, Outreach Coordinator at Beth Donovan Hospice and organizer from My Local Markets. “At first, we thought it would be a temporary solution to the gathering restrictions, just a way to stay connected in a difficult

time. But it grew into more, something lasting.”

For Darlene, raising funds for Beth Donovan Hospice through the market is deeply personal. “The hospice holds a very special place in my heart,” she shares. “Supporting families through end-of-life transitions, caregiving, and grief means so much to me. These are experiences we are all faced with at some point in our lives, but no one should have to go through them alone.”

Whether you come for the shopping, the music, the food, or the sense of community, Christmas on Campus promises to fill hearts with warmth and holiday cheer. Bundle up, bring your loved ones, and experience the magic for yourself.

Event Details: Christmas on Campus –Outdoor Christmas Market Kemptville Campus, 75 Campus Drive, Kemptville Saturday, November 15 & Sunday, November 16, 2025 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Free admission; donations in support of Beth Donovan Hospice welcome.

Silversea invites you to explore the world in unparalleled luxury and comfort. With intimate ships sailing to over 900 destinations across all seven continents—from the Arctic to Antarctica—Silversea offers both Classic and Expedition voyages. Discover iconic cities and secluded treasures that larger ships simply can’t reach, all while enjoying personalized service and all-inclusive elegance.

Every Silversea voyage is all-inclusive, ensuring your experience is as seamless as it is indulgent. Enjoy gourmet cuisine, free-flowing premium wines and spirits, in-suite dining, and 24-hour butler service in every suite.

With a nearly 1:1 staff-to-guest ratio, personalized service is not just a promise—it’s a way of life onboard.

Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or cultural enrichment, Silversea delivers a cruising experience that’s truly unforgettable.

KDH Foundation thanks Canadian Tire

Thank You, Canadian Tire Kemptville! We are so grateful to Rick and Janice Johnson, owners of Canadian Tire Kemptville, for their generous $25,000 donation to the KDH Foundation. Their support will help to bring a new X-Ray machine to KDH, helping reduce wait times and providing faster, clearer diagnostic results for our patients.

In addition to this incredible gift, we want to thank Canadian Tire Kemptville for everything they do for our community. Their ongoing dedication, generosity, and local support make a real difference in the lives of so many.

In the picture: Margret Norenberg, KDH Foundation Board Chair; Rick Johnson, owner of Canadian Tire Kemptville; and Cindy Smith, KDH Foundation Executive Director.

Businesswoman Lifetime Achievement Award 2026

from Leeds Grenville Economic Development Office

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a woman who has owned and operated a business in the Leeds and Grenville Small Business territory for 15 or more years and who has made a lasting impact through her leadership, innovation, and community involvement.

Presented as part of the International Women’s Day celebration, this award honours a woman whose entrepreneurial journey reflects perseverance, creativity, and significant contributions to the economic and social well-being of her community. She serves as an inspiration and role model to others, especially women in business.

The citizens of Leeds Grenville are our ambassadors throughout the world. It is important we celebrate and recognize the many achievements that build and sustain our communities through their work in economic development.

Individuals, organizations, business leaders, elected officials, counties and municipal staff can nominate a volunteer.

Eligibility:

• Be a woman (self-identified)

• Own and actively operate a legally registered business (sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation)

• Have been in business for 15 or more years

• Operate within the Leeds and Grenville Small Business territory

• Demonstrate innovation and creativity in her business

• Have made a significant and impactful contribution to her community (e.g., through philanthropy, mentorship, leadership, volunteering, or participation in business support programs)

Information required:

• A detailed profile of the nominee with a list of his or her contributions to economic development.

• Contact information for the nominee and any additional reference persons (including an email address and phone number).

• Nominations are evaluated on business success and growth, employment contribution to the community, community impact, professional development, and character.

Award Presentation: The award winner will be announced prior to the International Women’s Day event on March 5, 2026 and will be officially honoured at the event.

Deadline for nominations: Friday, December 5, 2025, at 4pm

Submit your application to:

Carol Hardy, Small Business Development Officer

Leeds Grenville Economic Development Office

32 Wall Street, Suite 300, Brockville, ON K6V 4R9

E-mail: carol.hardy@uclg.on.ca or Tel: 613-342-3840 ext. 5367.

Op-ed Elbows Up or US nuclear power?

by Colin Creasey

So Prime Minister Carney is going to invest $2 billion of taxpayer money into Doug Ford's (a.k.a Captain Canada) plan to buy four small nuclear reactors from the U.S., which can only be run on fuel supplied also by the U.S. Never mind that the technology is unproven, and that it will probably take a decade to build, and, if other nuclear projects are anything to go by, we will also have to deal with massive cost overruns.

So what happened to "Elbows Up?" I thought that Canada was trying to diversify its purchasing away from the U.S. We need clean, reliable energy to tackle climate change, strengthen energy security, and provide power for a resilient Canadian economy. Green energy will do that far cheaper, and it can be up and running in 6 to 24 months, and not the decade required for nuclear.

But, under the Ford/Carney plan, we will continue to ramp up the output of our polluting gas plants while we wait for the new U.S.

nuclear reactors to be built. The paradox is inescapable: Ontario is adding more fossil generation to manage more nuclear generation. A province that could have achieved the same reliability through cheaper renewables is choosing to make its grid dirtier and more expensive. Then, to add insult to injury, more than 70% of the gas that we are burning, while we wait for these reactors, is imported from the US.

According to Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator, wind and solar, combined with battery storage, can meet at least 99.5% of our electricity needs at a lower cost than new U.S. nuclear reactors.

The Independent Electricity System Operator is investing in services to provide the flexibility needed, expanding natural gas plants, procuring battery storage, and reforming market structures to balance an inflexible supply chain, but Ontario gas plants will still emit millions of tons of carbon dioxide each year while we wait for nuclear.

The economics of that choice are stark. Wind and solar already deliver electricity at around $60 to $100 per MWh in Ontario. The cost of energy for small modular reactors is expected to range between $160 and $370 dollars per MWh, well above the publicly stated $106 to $146 per MWh. Ontario could triple its renewable generation and build large-scale storage for less than the cost of one firstof-a-kind SMR project, but instead, it is locking itself into decades of higher prices and higher emissions.

American reactors are subject to U.S. export controls and governed by U.S. intellectual property law. Canada is currently a preferred destination for nuclear technology, but that is a policy choice, not a treaty right. Washington could alter the rules with little warning. Fuel supply is similarly exposed. The United States has banned imports of Russian low-enriched uranium, tightening global supply. Ontario's SMRs will depend on that same market. The

result is a future in which Canada's nuclear program relies on the stability of U.S. politics and fuel markets - an uncomfortable position for a country seeking energy sovereignty.

High-cost nuclear is on decline world-wide. It's time for Ontario and Canada to join the rest of the world and invest in the options which will lower our electricity bills, build Canada strong and protect our climate. Given the above, you could be forgiven for wondering just whose interests both our provincial and federal governments are looking after.

Collision on 416 leads to impaired charges for driver

A crash which temporarily closed part of Highway 416 has resulted in impaired driving charges.

Officers with the Grenville Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a collision shortly after 9:00 p.m. on Monday, October 27, 2025, on the southbound lanes of the highway, just south of the Rideau River.

A pick-up truck had collided with a parked construction site "crash truck". North Grenville firefighters and LeedsGrenville Paramedics were also called to the location.

The driver of the pick-up was transported to hospital as a precaution and the paramedics also checked on the operator of the crash truck, but no serious injuries were reported. As a result of the investigation, a male, age 24, of Iroquois has been charged with:

Dangerous operation

Operation while impaired - alcohol

Operation while impaired-blood concentration (80 plus)

Driving a vehicle with liquor readily available

Driving a vehicle with an open container of liquor

The accused has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Brockville on November 14, 2025. The individual's driver's licence has been suspended for 90 days, and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.

REPAIRS

Let the heartaches begin

by David Shanahan

In an editorial last week, I predicted that individuals would start to appear in this year before the next municipal election whose aim was to create for themselves a public profile based on criticising the current council. And, sure enough, that same week an email arrived in our mailbox doing that very thing. Sent to the CAO, the Times, and, for some reason, the Kemptville Advance, Heather South-Popazzi questioned the propriety of holding a closed session of municipal council in a bar on a Friday afternoon.

“Quite right”, you’ll say, “what were they thinking?” As Ms. SouthPopazzi put it in her missive: “holding a Closed Council meeting in a bar on a Friday afternoon just doesn’t sit right. It doesn’t line up with the

rules meant to keep things above board, transparent and it smacks of hubris”.

Hubris, as defined, is “excessive pride or self-confidence”. The accusation, apparently, is that this council is so arrogant, they decided it was acceptable to hold a closed meeting in a public space, on a Friday afternoon, no less. More than that, it was an illegal gathering under the relevant legislation.

It was, the writer says, more than pride on the part of council, it was insulting to residents: “A closed-door meeting in a private, licensed establishment feels like an oxymoron and, frankly, an insult to residents’ intelligence. The optics are terrible. A meeting like that runs completely against the good governance residents expect from their Council”.

Now, no-one would disagree with Ms. SouthPopazzi, if her accusa -

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Mr. Ford, Mr. Legault, Ms Smith: A lesson in leadership and democracy for you.

Do what is right and respect the citizens of Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. Follow Manitoba's example. Wab Kinew's government just tabled bill 50 in Manitoba. This Bill will not allow any future provincial government to use the notwithstanding clause for provincial legislation without that legislation going through the courts first. This is what a true leader does for his constituents.

All provincial governments need to rethink how they use their power, especially in cases where they enjoy a majority (minority governments are held to more scrutiny than majorities...just look at Ontario.)

Peter Johnson, Oxford Mills

Dear Editor,

On Prescott Street, between Concession Road and Van Buren, there have lately been many school children walking by in groups. Great to see them, but, for me, it’s a bit scary because sometimes they’re wrestling and play-

tions were warranted. But were they? A simple call asking for information might have saved her, and all of us, from a rather overwrought email accusing mayor and council of possibly illegal behaviour. The Times simply talked to someone present at the venue, the Kemptville Brewery, on that Friday afternoon to discover that the said meeting did not take place in the public bar, but in a closed and private room, with restaurant staff, or anyone else, prohibited from entering while the meeting was in session.

Furthermore, the decision to hold the meeting at the Kemptville Brewery was taken as part of an initiative by council to support local businesses by providing them with municipal custom. Karen Dunlop, CAO of North Grenville, provided the

information to the complainant to soothe her concerns: “Kemptville Brewing Company operates as a brewery, tasting room, and restaurant, and offers a private, fully equipped conference space suitable for confidential meetings (‘the Silo'). The Closed Session remained secure, no alcohol was consumed, and Municipal procurement policies prohibit alcohol purchases. All municipal spending is conducted in accordance with approved procedures.”

Mayor Peckford also replied to Ms. South-Popazzi’s pointed email in a very clear manner: “The suggestion that Council was irresponsible by meeting at a reputable local business (omitting the key detail that this business has the appropriate conference facilities exactly for meetings of

this sort) is a distortion of the facts and is intended to unnecessarily disparage Council without basis”.

I think that may well be the motivation behind the original email: not a concern for propriety and rule-of-law, but an attempt by an aspiring municipal candidate to blacken the reputation of the Mayor, Council, and municipal staff alike. The actual situation could have been ascertained in a less heated email without alerting the media to what was alleged without evidence. This is not the first time Ms. South-Popazzi had attempted to cast aspersions on the current council.

A few months ago, she submitted an article to the Times concerning allegations made against Deputy Mayor John Barclay. The article was not published because the issue had already been exhaustive-

ly covered in the paper previously, and because there was a serious error of fact in it. Ms. Popazzi then took the article to the Brockville Recorder, which published it with the serious factual error included.

Anyone is free to run for public office. But it is important that they learn to tell the truth, find out the facts before accusing anyone of potential illegality, and show some sense of balance in their approach to political matters. We’ve had enough councils in the past who lacked those qualities. We don’t need any more. But, no doubt, we’ll be hearing and seeing more of Ms. Heather South-Popazzi in the coming months. It’s going to be a long year ahead.

ing, and, of course, that’s what kids do.

The problem is that the traffic goes by so fast from stop sign to stop sign. It seems to be faster than the 40kph limit. I’m quite sure many are going faster.

When I think of the horrible accident in Ottawa with the small child on his bike, hit and killed by a dump truck, it reminds me that things can happen very quickly and unexpectedly.

They also come in groups from the various schools on Concession and cross the highway to the convenience store close to me. Again, great, except for the people who speed and are in a hurry from stop sign to stop sign.

Some of these vehicles are huge, as in fully loaded dump trucks, some huge things with trailers with heavy ‘caterpillar”-type equipment. They can’t possibly stop quickly.

Why can’t we have the warning lights for speeding in this section before something terrible happens?

Kath Piché

We Remember. We Honour.

Nursing Sisters from Oxford Mills

by David Shanahan

Looking at a plaque commemorating people from the Oxford Mills area who served during World War I, it takes a moment to realise that two of the names engraved there are women.

Amelia served with the Nursing Sisters with the Canadian Army Medical Corps during the First World War. Florence served with the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade overseas section in England. The Greers were a prominent family in the Oxford Mills area, farming on lot 19, concession 5. Amelia was 36 when she enlisted in 1917, Florence was four years older.

Just over 3,100 Canadian women served as Nursing Sisters between 1914 and 1918, more than 2,500 of them overseas. They nursed in France, Belgium, Gallipoli and Egypt, as well as in English hospitals. They earned the nickname “bluebirds” because of their blue uniforms and white veils, as well as “Sisters of Mercy”. Canada’s Nursing Sisters saved lives by assisting

with medical operations and by caring for convalescing soldiers.

Fifty-three of these women were killed during the war, from enemy fire, illness, or when a German U-Boat torpedoed and sank the Canadian hospital ship, the Llandovery Castle, in June of 1918. All 14 nurses on board were killed. Twice, also in 1918, Canadian hospitals were hit by aerial bombardment. In one of these attacks, on the 1st Canadian General Hospital in Étaples, three Nursing Sisters were killed. A special memorial to the CAMC nurses was unveiled in 1926, and it is located in the Centre Block on Parliament Hill.

Amelia served in England and France during the Great War between September, 1917, and June, 1919, when she was invalided back to Canada suffering from Chronic Pneumonia. Her military record notes that her “Disabililty due to service”. She was one of the fortunate ones who survived that great Spanish Flu pandemic that took millions of lives

worldwide. Amelia achieved the rank of Lieutenant in the Canadian Medical Corps. As a field nurse, the daily pay was $2, with an extra $1 Field Allowance. Florence was sent to England in 1918 and worked in the Alexandra Hospital until she was discharged in 1919.

Both Amelia and Florence died the same year, Amelia in June of 1954, and Florence just shortly after, and they are commemorated in interesting ways. The family tombstone lists their parents and sister on one side, but the two sisters have their names and dates engraved together on the reverse side of the stone. A second, small stone lies beside the family monument. On it is engraved the inscription: Amelia J. Seeley served as Amelia J. Greer Nursing Sister C.A.M.C. C.E.F.

29 June 1954 Age 82 That, it seems, is how Amelia wanted to be remembered.

On behalf of North Grenville’s Council

LEST WE FORGET

Lest We Forget Crosswalk

A new Lest We Forget Pedestrian Crosswalk is being installed at Prescott Street and Reuben Crescent South in honour of our Veterans and as a further means to recognize their service to King, Queen and Country. The crosswalk will be equipped with signage and flashing amber lights similar to the one located at Prescott Street and Asa Street, only this one is a designated Veteran’s crosswalk with red and white bars, two soldier silhouettes and Lest We Forget stenciled on the pavement at each end of the crosswalk.

Veterans and members of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 212 Kemptville are cordially invited to join Mayor Nancy Peckford, North Grenville Council, and members of our community at the ceremonial dedication of the Lest We Forget Crosswalk on Sunday, November 9, 2025 commencing at 2:00 p.m.

A Veterans contingent is to form up at 1:45 p.m. on the east sidewalk of Prescott Street at Reuben Crescent South in preparation for a Veterans Walk across the Remembrance themed pedestrian crosswalk. The Veterans will then proceed along the west sidewalk of Prescott Street to the Kemptville Cenotaph site where the official ceremony will be held.

Dignitaries, Legionnaires, family, friends and members of the general public attending this special event are to gather on the grounds of the Kemptville Cenotaph to await the arrival of the Veterans contingent and the commencement of the official ceremony.

The requested dress of the day for Veterans and Legion members is Military or Legion uniforms with medals. Legion members who do not have a Legion uniform, and the general public, are encouraged to wear red as a solemn and visual tribute in recognition and support of our Veterans and their Legacy of Freedom and Democracy.

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held on Monday, November 10, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.

Canadian volunteers

Between the beginning of the war in 1914, and June 30, 1917 when conscription was being debated in the House of Commons, 42,456 Canadians had volunteered to enlist. Of that number, around 320,000 had actually gone overseas. The total of these that had been killed, were missing, died of other causes, and captured was 32,000. In July, 1917, casualties had totalled 3,637 and the number of new recruits enlisted that month was just 4,257.

The Home Front

One of the major consequences of the war on the home front in North Grenville was a scarcity of fuel. On October 18, 1917, the following appeared in the Weekly Advance: Fuel Scarce

The fuel situation in Kemptville and vicinity still remains acute, neither dealer having received any coal for a month. Anderson & Langstaff received a couple of cars this week, mostly for their own use, what they did cell brought eleven dollars a ton. At Oxford Mills no coal at all has arrived the season. Would it is scarce owing to the deep snow in the woods last winter but little was cut, and those who have it for

sale won’t part with it yet for fear they may sell it for less than they could get should they hold it. Should the coming winter be a severe one the outlook for hardship and suffering is to be expected.

Emergency War Classes for women at Kemptville School

In 1941, women in the area were encouraged to apply for special Emergency War Classes being offered by the Kemptville Board of Education. But, unlike many classes offered to women at the time, these were not in domestic subjects. The young women were being trained in the use of precision instruments and gun inspection procedures. These involved learning to use Vernier and Micrometer Calipers, capable of measuring to the 10,000ths of an inch. The women studied blueprints, Math and Physics, and were assigned to various locations across the country after graduation.

The classes too place in the Science lab at the Kemptville Composite School (later the High School), and were presented by two school staff members, Mr. Briggs and Mr. McKay, who had themselves received instruction at the War Arsenal during their Christmas vacation. The war was bringing many changes to the role of women in Kemptville.

Lestweforget.

Pilot Officer William Lysle Buchanan

by Owen Fitz'Gerald

William Lysle Buchanan, fondly remembered by all that knew him as "Billie", was born on December 6, 1919. He grew up on the family farm in the Kemptville area and attended both the SS #10 Mills School and Kemptville High School. Billie was well known for his sense of humour. A prime example of that was the fact that he had a pet skunk. He could be seen walking his skunk along the sidewalk on a leash or had it simply perched upon his shoulder. That was the ultimate of Scottish humour. It was rumored that the skunk died

of a broken heart when Billie joined the Air Force.

In December 1940, one year after his graduation from the Kemptville Agricultural School, Billie enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He trained at Picton, St. Thomas, Malton and finally Brantford, where he earned his "wings." Three weeks later, he was assigned to 418 Squadron and sent overseas, where he joined a Bomber Unit attached to the Royal Air Force.

Billie's overseas duty was hectic. On August 19, 1942, his plane was shot down and forced into the sea during a Dieppe

Raid bombing mission. The plane broke in two, leaving Billie wounded and trapped inside. He was rescued by a Sergeant Clarence G. Scott of Tisdale, Saskatchewan, who was also wounded during the crash. Sergeant Scott later received the Distinguished Flying Medal for this courageous act by His Majesty, the King, with Billie present as an invited guest to view the Investiture.

After several weeks in hospital, Billie was fit for duty and went on to participate in a number of aerial missions and sweeps over occupied territory. On a further mission to France during the night time hours of November 8, 1942, his plane went missing over enemy territory and he was presumed dead on November 11, 1942. Billie Buchanan is Remembered with Honour at the PoixDe-Picardie Churchyard, Somme, France and is commemorated on the former Bradwell Bay Royal Air Force Station Memorial in England; a bronze plaque and memorial tree placed along Veterans Way at the Ferguson Forest Centre; and the south shaft of the Kemptville Cenotaph located in front of the High School he attended.

North Grenville Historical Society Meeting

by Ken Mews

Life next door to a great power like the U.S. has not always been easy. We have tried to be a good neighbour, but this is not the first time that emotions and aggressiveness have spilled over our southern border. Dr. David Shanahan, our Historian Emeritus, will trace our current unstable relationship back through numerous times of tension to the War of 1812-14 and perhaps its most humiliating episode for the U.S., when the

British burned the White House and the Capitol Building in Washington in retaliation for the burning of York (Toronto) and Newark (Niagara-on-theLake) as shown on the poster. Meeting begins at 7:00 pm, doors open at 6:30 pm, Refreshments. All welcome.

First World War

Funeral of Nursing Sister Gladys Wake May 1918

Over 3,100 Canadian nurses volunteered for service in the Great War to end all wars. Like the soldiers they cared for, they joined up for adventure and travel and to do their duty, fearing it would all be over before they got there.

Like the soldiers,

they soon learned what war really means serving in over 30 different military hospitals and casualty clearing stations in France, Belgium, Greece, Malta and the Eastern Mediterranean. They did their job of caring for the sick and wounded un -

der the harshest of living and working conditions, and in constant danger.

Forty-six Nursing Sisters died in the performance of their duty. Eighteen died of disease overseas and seven died later at home in Canada. Six were killed or mortally wounded on

Canadian Army Medical Corp Nursing Sister Gladys Maude Mary Wake, of Esquimalt, who died 21 May 1918 of wounds received 2 days earlier during the air raid on No.1 Canadian General Hospital at Etaples, France.

land, three of whom were killed in the deliberate bombing of the military hospital in Etaples, France. Fifteen died in the torpedoing by a German submarine of the Canadian hospital ship, Llandovery Castle.

Kemptville Advance, November, 1941

1914 - 1918

We Remember. We Honour.

North Grenville’s Fallen (Age in brackets)

Major Horace Hutchins 1917

Captain John McDiarmid (40) 1916

Lt. Charles Elwood Oakes (26) 1916

Sgt James Arnold Dillane (20) 1918

Sgt Robert Jay Bennett (26) 1918

Sgt. Robert Percy Barr, DCM (19) 1917

Pte G. Grey No information

Pte Edmund Roy Mackey (24) 1918

Pte Harry Johnson Carson (23) 1917

Pte Harold Melvyn Maxwell (19) 1918

Pte Nelson Bazil Laplante 1918

Pte Cyril Douglas O’Leary (23) 1918

Pte Ambrose Arcand (23) 1918

Pte Thomas Augustus Arcand (29) 1918

Pte H. Andrews (22) 1917

Pte John Edgar Arcand (24) 1918

Pte William Algy Stewart

Pte Charles Acey Hurlbert (20) 1917

Pte Martin Leo Carlin (20) 1917

Pte John Moran (19) 1918

Pte Thomas James Beckett (22) 1918

Pte Alfred Caley (31) 1918

Pte Ernest Rupert Davie (18) 1917

Pte George Gordon Howey (33) 1918

Pte John Edward McCrum (24) 1917

Pte Harvey Milburn McCrum (31) 1917

Pte E. Hastings No information

Pte A. Irvine No information

Pte S. Hudson No information

Pte Walter Copping (23) 1916

Pte John Arthur Jeffrey (18) 1918

Pte Jesse Humphrey (25) 1917

Pte Archibald McDiarmid (33) 1916

Pte Albert Edward Worles (20) 1915

Pte A. Scott No information

Pte Isaac Cooper (35) 1916

Pte John Allan Stewart 21) 1918

1939 - 1945

Lance Bombardier Henry W. Cowie (21) 1944

Gunner Arthur Stewart Robinson (24) 1944

Pte Donald Lee Crawford 1944

Leading Aircraftman Byard B. Black (47) 1943

Trooper George Joseph Wagner (23) 1944

Pte J. Shearer No information

Pilot Officer William Lysle Buchanan 1942

Flight Sgt Harry Lyle Brown (20) 1943

Flight Sgt Guy James M. McElroy (21) 1942

Flight Sgt D. D. Taylor (19) 1941

Sgt Patrick Redmond Roach (19) 1941

Corp. William Harold Edgar Leach (24) 1941

Pte Blake Williamson (23) Afghanistan 2006

Evelyn Ann Scott-Lorimer

Nursing Sister in WWII by Linda Scott & the Lorimer Family World War 2 began in 1939, and by the end of the war, 4,480 Nursing Sisters had enlisted in all branches of the military. The number of Canadian nurses volunteering was so high that the military had to freeze enlistment only ten days after the initial call.

Evelyn Ann Scott vol -

unteered to serve; she met the age requirements; she was single. So, who was she? Evelyn was the only child of Byron and Amelia Scott, born January 10, 1910 in Lot 4, Concession 3, Township of South Gower, Grenville County. Age 22, Evelyn would lose both her parents in 1932, as well as her grandparents, Edward and Annie Scott, in the same

year. With a strong desire for nursing, Evelyn graduated from the Royal Victorian Hospital School of Nursing in Montreal.

On June 27, 1940, Evelyn formed part of the delegation of 3,656 Nursing Sisters who enlisted in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. Nursing Sisters trained n Canada before crossing the Atlantic aboard hospital ships as past of a large convoy, facing the risk of German submarine attacks. Arriving in Britain, they served in the Canadian and English medical corps. Training was given in gas warfare, casualty evacuation, map reading, security protocols, and military law.

Evelyn wore the military uniform with the traditional white veil, joining her Nursing Sisters at No. 1 Neurological Hospital and District Depot M.D. 3 attached to the 23rd Field Ambulance, R.C.A.M.C. She was 30 years old.

Within weeks of her arrival, she and her colleagues became part of the Battle of Britain, from July 10 to October 31, 1940. Luftwaffe attacks resulted in 422 military and RAF, and more than 32,000 civilian wounded. Canvas tents were erected as hospital sites before moving to bombed out buildings. Working in such settings, nurses faced many challenges to provide medical care in danger zones.

Serving in field hospitals, Nursing Sisters were incredibly significant in ministering vital support to Canadian soldiers, allied forces, and other casualties of war. They faced harsh conditions, but earned the highest respect and reputation from troops. When the war moved on to the continent, Evelyn also became part of the medical corps providing critical care to wounded soldiers being transported from the front lines to hospitals. Whether it was caring for casualties at the Neurological Hospital, from a canvas tent, or on board an Ambulance Train, Nursing Sisters faced bombing and shelling attacks the same as the soldiers, always protected, in theory, by the internationally-recognised Red Cross markings on medical transports. It would be those trains that triggered memories when Evelyn recalled her role in the war. Trains marked a special milestone in her life.

Evelyn returned to Canada in 1941, receiving an Honourable Discharge and was presented with the Defense Medal and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal. In that same year, Evelyn married John Douglas Latimer in Montreal and together would have two children, Judy and Bob. Moving their family to Toronto, Evelyn continued nursing at the Women’s College Hospital,

raising her two children after the death of her husband, aged only 40.

A serious health issue challenged Evelyn, but she never wavered. On recovering, she resumed her nursing career as the Plant Nurse at the Weston Bakery facility. That job was not the full extent of her nursing career. Dealing with many immigrant families to Canada after the war, she gave guidance, healthcare advice, family counselling, and even dealt with language barriers, learning a few phrases to communicate. In the late 1970's, Evelyn retired from nursing, and continued to live in Toronto until her death.

To commemorate the contribution of nurses in Canada during war-time, the Canadian Nursing Sisters Memorial is located in the Hall of Honour, Centre Block, Parliament Hill in Ottawa to remember the Nursing Sisters for their courage, dedication, bravery, and sacrifice.

Evelyn Ann ScottLorimer died September 27, 2002, aged 92. Loved, Respected, and Remembered.

Time passages 4

Gas, glory and highways

by David Shanahan

The Battle of Ypres, which dragged out through April and May, 1915, began a slow, but very significant change in the way the people of what is now North Grenville understood what was happening in France and Belgium. Ypres was the first time local men had faced a large-scale battle, for many it was the first time they heard guns fired in anger. Until May, 1915, the people of North Grenville has thought of the war as a kind of romantic adventure: an example of the might, bravery and righteousness of the British Empire at its finest.

Aside from occasional major events, such as the declaration of war itself, World War I rarely made the front pages of the local newspaper, or, at least, not directly. There were many articles about the fund-raising concerts and plays and patriotic evenings at Leslie Hall. The theme of all of these was the glory of war, the important part being played by Canada in the larger sphere of Empire. The Red Cross and Women’s Institute branches had regular activities that brought the community together in a show of solidarity with the larger British community worldwide.

The really important topics being played out in the papers were of more local and provincial import. One of more immediate concern locally was the debate over building new provincial highways, one of the first of which would pass through Kemptville. The Ontario Government had set up a commission to investigate the need for trunk roads in the province,

and it had recommended two highways to begin with: one between Toronto and Hamilton, and the other from Ottawa to Prescott. Between March and May, 1915, the municipalities along the Ottawa-Prescott route were invited to a meeting in Ottawa to discuss the project. The initiative had come from the City of Ottawa, where the business and political leaders felt the lack of fast and reliable roads linking the capital with the main transportation route running from Montreal to Toronto, as well as the St. Lawrence shipping route.

In fact, so important did the Ottawa city council consider the highway, that they were prepared to cover 30% of the total cost of $600,000, or $10,000 per mile. Ontario would cover another 40%, and each municipality would be asked to pay the remaining 30% for the section passing through their jurisdiction. The Village of Kemptville were unhappy with this, because they had just spent $4,000 on Rideau and Prescott Streets, and wanted that to be credited to their share of the new highway costs. This debate would continue for months, and it was not until 1919, after the war ended that the Province of Ontario finally began the process of creating a provincial highway system, which would include Highway 16.

But with the news of significant Canadian losses at Ypres, and especially the casualties among local men, the war was suddenly back in the headlines. The wounding of T. A. Kidd was a major story, and the prevailing attitude was shown in the press coverage, as the newspaper commented: “...we all hope

he may eventually return home covered with honor and glory, to receive the warm and heartfelt welcome that awaits him”.

The same view was expressed in accounts of the Ypres battle itself, where, as the papers noted: “The glory of the combat has gone to the Canadian troops”, who were specifically praised by the King after the battle. People in North Grenville were able to ready relatively accurate reports of the battle within hours or days of the events, though the coverage continued to emphasise German losses and the strength of Allied resistance. What is clear is that there was a lack of appreciation of the significant change that the use of poison gas had brought to the war. This was not the romantic and chivalrous war the people at home had

been led to believe. It broke agreements regarding the use of chemical weapons that had been signed less than a decade before. Then came word that London was being bombed from the air by Zeppelins, bringing the war home to civilians. To underline the change to modern technological warfare came the news in mid-May that the liner, Lusitania, had been torpedoed and sunk with huge loss of civilian life. Perhaps the people of North Grenville might have found some comfort in thinking that this was all the work of the nasty “Hun”, but that illusion was shattered when the Imperial Government announced that it, too, would

begin using poison gas on the Western Front at the urging of the Secretary of War, Earl Kitchener.

The war was changing, and it would, in turn, change the lives and thinking of the people of North Grenville.

Leeds Grenville Economic Development Summit agenda

The 17th Annual Summit promises very engaging sessions that celebrate regional success and prepare us for the future. Adding to previously announced keynote speakers the Hon. Nina Tangri, Ontario’s Associate Minister of Small Business and Brock Dickinson, entrepreneur and strategist with Stonebridge Solutions, LP, are a dynamic lineup of presenters.

Parks Canada’s David Britton will lead a session on the Rideau Canal’s evolution as it approaches its 200th anniversary, highlighting its role as a national treasure and economic driver.

As Eastern Ontario communities grow, so does the demand for energy. Kennan Ip and Brian Gordon, representatives from the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) will present on how municipalities can shape electricity planning and infrastructure.

A lively panel titled

“Bottle & Barrel Adventures – Behind the Brews” will feature local craft beverage entrepreneurs from Windmill Brewery, Kemptville Brewing Company, and Hall’s Apple Market.

In the afternoon, Jesse Mitchell of Strader-Ferris International will provide a cross-border customs update, helping to navigate Deminimis and tariff changes.

The day will wrap up with the annual update from Ann Weir, Economic Development Manager for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, covering the Regional Economic Development through Immigration program, tourism initiatives, and the Counties 2026-2029 Strategic Areas of Focus.

Hosted by the Leeds Grenville Economic Development Office, in partnership with Michael Barrett, M.P., Steve Clark, M.P.P., the 1000 Islands CDC, CF Grenville, Valley Heart -

land CFDC, and the Eastern Workforce Innovation Board, this is the region’s top annual Economic Development event.

Access the Summit agenda for full details on the event. Reserve your seat by visiting the Counties webpage, or by clicking the button below. There are less than 50 tickets left.

When: Friday, November 21, 2025

Time: Registration opens at 8:15 a.m. | Event runs 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Where: North Grenville Municipal Centre, 285 County Road 44, Kemptville Cost: $58 (Advanced Registration Required). Includes Light breakfast, snacks, and lunch.

Register: invest.leedsgrenville.com/summit2025

Deadline: Friday, November 14, 2025 at 3 p.m.

Contact: joanne.poll@ uclg.on.ca | 613-342-3840

Ontario’s other economic engine: agriculture and food

by Drew Spoelstra, President, OFA

There’s been a lot of attention lately on the challenges facing Ontario’s auto industry. As trade tensions rise and ongoing tariffs threaten jobs and investment, the impacts on one of our province’s largest manufacturing sectors are being closely watched by government, industry and the public alike. That’s understandable: the auto sector is a longtime symbol of Ontario’s industrial strength and innovation. But while cars and trucks have long rolled off our assembly lines, another powerful economic engine has been steadily driving Ontario forward, too: our agriculture, agri-food and agri-business sectors.

As a farmer and president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, it’s an industry I’m more than familiar with, but it’s time more Ontarians, and Canadians, recognized the scale, sophistication and economic importance of this sector. Agriculture, agri-food and agri-business are every bit as vital to the province’s prosperity as the automotive industry, and we can’t afford to overlook it or take it for granted. Ontario’s agrifood system, from farms and greenhouses to processors, distributors, retailers and foodservice, contributed approximately $51.4 billion to the provincial economy in 2024. That makes it one of Ontario’s top economic drivers, powering both rural and urban communities.

At the heart of that system is food and beverage processing, the industrial engine that transforms Ontario-grown crops, livestock and ingredients into finished food products.

In 2023, this subsector

alone contributed $14.8 billion to the provincial economy, accounting for more than 15% of Ontario’s total manufacturing gross domestic product. That’s just behind motor vehicles at 16.4%, and well ahead of other major manufacturing sectors like chemicals or fabricated metals. In other words: food processing is Ontario’s second-largest manufacturing industry, and one of its most stable and resilient.

From food plants in the Greater Toronto Area to bakeries, dairies and processors in small towns across the province, Ontario’s food manufacturing sector employed 116,700 people in 2023, about 14% of all manufacturing jobs in Ontario. And when you take in the entire agri-food system, from farming to retail to restaurants, more than 867,000 Ontarians or about 10% of the labour force are connected to the food value chain.

Ontario also leads the country in agri-food exports, shipping $28 billion worth of products to markets around the world in 2024. Our top customer is the United States, followed by the European Union and Asia, and major export categories range from primary agricultural commodities to processed products like baked goods and prepared foods.

This is a sector that thrives on innovation, entrepreneurship and global competitiveness, just like auto manufacturing. The difference is that its impact is felt in every region of Ontario, not just a few industrial hubs. As a sector, agriculture, agri-food and food processing offer economic balance and resilience. This

is a sector grounded in local production but globally engaged; rooted in small businesses yet capable of scaling to export markets.

Research shows that every dollar of economic activity created in food processing supports an additional $2.46 elsewhere in Ontario’s economy, through farming, packaging, transportation, logistics and retail. That’s a powerful multiplier effect, one that strengthens local economies and keeps rural Ontario vibrant.

The current trade and tariff challenges around the auto sector, as well as steel, aluminum and others, remind us that economies evolve, and that governments need to plan for stability and diversity. Ontario’s agri-food and food processing sector offers exactly that: a homegrown, high-value industry with global reach and long-term potential. To fully unlock that potential, we need the same kind of attention and investment that the auto, energy, mining, steel and aluminum sectors receive. That means support for modern processing facilities, infrastructure that connects rural producers to markets, policies that encourage farm business growth and domestic valueadded manufacturing, and a commitment to keeping farmland productive and protected.

Agriculture and food are not just part of Ontario’s heritage - they’re the foundation of our future prosperity. As we navigate global uncertainty, let’s remember that Ontario’s ability to feed itself and the world is one of its greatest strengths. When we invest in farming and food, we’re investing in jobs, innovation, and a more resilient Ontario economy.

Hydro generation rates rise by 29%

by David Shanahan

You may not have noticed yet, but once your next hydro bill arrives you’ll find that hydro costs are changing. On November 1st, electricity generation costs for residential consumers, small businesses, and farms in the province rose by 29%. According to the Ontario Energy Board [OEB], which just approved this increase, “Factors contributing to the change in RPP pricing include higher than expected generation costs and higher than forecast conservation program costs”.

The various price plans available to customers, Time-of-Use

(TOU), Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) and Tiered prices for residential and small business customers under the OEB’s Regulated Price Plan (RPP) will change. Winter TOU hours and the change in threshold for residential customers on Tiered pricing will take effect, and the Ontario government’s Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) will also change.

The OEB statement on the increases notes that: “Residential, small business and farm customers can choose their price plan - TOU, ULO or Tiered. With TOU and ULO pricing, the price depends on when customers use electricity. This means customers can help manage their

electricity costs by shifting their usage to different times and lower price periods, when possible. Customers who do not want to change their price plan do not need to do anything. They will stay on their current price plan. If a customer wishes to switch, they must notify their utility by completing and submitting an election form. Customers can contact their utility or visit their utility’s website for an election form.”

The Ontario Government is attempting to mitigate some of the increase costs by increasing the taxpayer-financed Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) from 13.1% to 23.5%. This added burden on tax revenue

We’re locally owned, locally operated, and committed

will help to mask the actual cost of increased energy generation. As discussed in an Op-ed by Colin Creasey in this issue, the Ford government is planning to spend more than $20 billion on new U.S. nuclear reactors that will produce power costing 2 to 8

times more than solar and wind power. While we await the construction of these facilities, Ontario will continue to use fossil fuels to generate our electricity.

So, your next hydro bill may, or may not, provide a frisson of fear or joy, depending on how

the government’s rebate works out, and how well your RPP plan is affected. Somewhere in all of the alphabet salad of RPP’s, TOU’s, OEB’s, etc., the real costs and long-term implications of all of this is hidden for future reveal at some point.

ACROSS 1. Hauls 5. Declines 9. Ledger entry

14. French for "State" 15. Breezy 16. Genus of heath 17. Showroom

19. Subsequently 20. Ending in a piercing point

21. Chitchats

23. Expose to radiation

25. Puts on

28. Half of two 29. Superior limb

32. Scheme

33. Greek letter

34. Double-reed woodwind

35. "Darn!"

36. Beginning

38. Show sullenness

39. Easter flower 40. Animal doctor 41. Ascribe 43. Type of tree 44. Label

45. Two-wheeler

46. Predestination believers

48. Newsletter

50. River horse 54. Radium discoverer

55. Consumption

57. Extraterrestrial 58. V V V 59. Otherwise

60. Explosion 61. Makes a mistake 62. Adjusts DOWN

1. Not more 2. Mormon state 3. Big bash

4. Infertility

5. Hearing organ

6. Methane from plant matter

7. Vast

8. Symbiotic organism

9. Erase

10. Eliminate 11. Ship post 12. Frosts, as a cake

13. Driveway surface

18. Bit of parsley

22. Enthusiasts

24. Refurbish

25. Confuse

26. Danger

27. Sacred hymn

29. Give or take

30. Itinerary

31. Metric unit of length

33. Estimated (abbrev.)

34. Antonyms

37. Not positive

42. Wool eaters

44. Ability

45. Balladeer

46. Travels by plane

47. Protective covering 48. Male cow 49. Murres

51. Heap

52. Hitching place 53. 1 1 1 1

54. Taxi 56. S

COMMUNITY EVENTS production@ngtimes.ca

RECURRING EVENTS

Knights of Columbus Monthly Supper at Holy Cross Church Hall 503 Clothier Street West. Suppers are held at 5:30 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month, September to November and January to May. Cost $10 per person, $5 for a child under 12 and $25 for a family.

PROBUS: Fellowship, Fun and inFormed presenters are part of the PROBUS gathering on the third Wednesday of each month at St Paul's Presbyterian Church Hall at 9:30AM. For more information contact at n.g.probus97@gmail.com

Kemptville Legion: Fridays 3-9. Free Pool and Darts. Everyone Welcome BINGO at the Kemptville Legion every 1st and 3rd Wednesday from SeptJune. Doors open at noon, Bingo starts at 1pm..

LEGION EUCHRE will be held at 100 Reuben St., the 3rd Saturday of each month. Registration starts at 12:30, with Euchre starting at 1:00. Cost is $5 to play - cash prizes.

NG Duplicate Bridge Club Masonic Lodge 311 Van Buren Kemptivlle, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 12:15.

All Levels of bridge players are welcome. Info call 613-795-7155

Friendship Lunches are offered to everyone every Friday. Please join us in our lower hall by 11:30 for a free meal, companionship and fellowship at St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. and begin at 11:30. There is no charge. A free will offering is appreciated. Everyone is welcome. Friendship Café is open to the community Tuesday's from 10 to noon. All are welcome to stop by, enjoy a hot beverage, a sweet treat and some friendly conversation all at no cost. At St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St.

Tuesday Community Hub hosted by the House of Lazarus All are welcome to drop in. Advocacy, “make a meal, take a meal” cooking opportunities, community services assistance are just a few of the weekly programs. Stop by and visit or contact House of Lazarus directly at 613-989-3830 for more details. “Building Community, Sharing Hope”. Upstairs at St. John's United Church at 400 Prescott St.

Modern Square Dancing in Kemptville with the Grenville Gremlins Square Dance Club. Monday Evenings 7:30 - 9:30pm. North Grenville Municipal Center County Road 44 For more info call Debbie at 613-795-3032 or Google "Kemptville Square Dancing"

Saturday Art Social every Saturday morning at the NG Public Library! 10 am - 11:30 am at the NG Public Library. Free with basic materials provided BID EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners (aka the Marlborough Community Centre) at 3048 Pierce Road on Tuesday, September 23. Registration starts at 6:30 p.m., play starts at 7:00 p.m. Contact Debi at debiar@ymail.com

EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners (aka the Marlborough Community Centre) at 3048 Pierce Road on Tuesday, September 16 and 30. Registration starts at 6:30 p.m., play starts at 7:00 p.m. Contact Debi at debiar@ymail.com

KLUB 67 invites all euchre players to join us every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month for a fun social game of euchre. Location: Kemptville Legion, 100 Reuben St. Registration starts at 12.30, play starts at 1pm. Cost is $5 to play – cash prizes given. No membership required.

North Grenville Men’s Shed

A men’s shed provides a safe and friendly environment for men to socialize and/or do projects.

Contact: Peter Ivay 343 598-1174 or website ngmensshed.com for scheduled meetings on the calendar and additional information.

Malala Women’s Choir

Invites you to explore uplifting music for treble voices. Rehearsals: Wednesday evenings 7:00 – 9:00 pm, March 5– May 28, 2025. At St. Andrew’s Knox Presbyterian Church, 23 Bennett St., Spencerville. To register: contact Sheila at 613-658-5290 or sheilafawcett92@gmail.com No previous choral experience required.

Membership fee: $35

Kemptville Horticultural Society - meetings are held monthly, except July, August & December. The are held the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm at the Kemptville Pentecostal Church.

NG Pride: 2SLGBTQAI+ Seniors and allies meet 2 - 4pm the first and third Sunday of each month at the NG Library. Join us for coffee, chat, cards and shenanigans.

Common Sense Health

by Diana Gifford-Jones

I have been sorting through unpublished Gifford-Jones columns. Among them, I found a dusty clipping from a Reader’s Digest article by Robert A. Siegel and a rough draft of this week’s column. In it, we find a glimpse into a lecture hall at Harvard Medical School 75 years ago, and the teachings of Dr. Henry Beecher, the Harvard anesthetist who challenged the medical establishment’s views about truth and healing.

Beecher had stunned his class of medical students when he asked, “Is it ethical for doctors to prescribe a dummy pill – a pill that does no harm, never causes addiction, and yet often cures the patient?” He was speaking of a placebo. The lecture shocked his students who’d been taught that honesty was an unshakeable tenet of medical ethics. And yet Beecher showed that sometimes, deception can be powerful medicine.

Siegel’s Reader’s Digest

story echoed this point. He described meeting Dr. John Kelley, a psychology professor at Endicott College who studies the placebo effect at Harvard. Curious, Siegel asked whether a “phony pill” might help him overcome his chronic writer’s block, insomnia, and panic attacks. Kelley obliged with a prescription: 100 gold capsules, Siegel’s favourite colour, costing $405. Each one contained nothing but cellulose. And yet, Siegel found that the more expensive they seemed, the better they worked. The gold capsules helped him focus and stay calm. Even when drowsy, another capsule kept him writing.

Beecher published his groundbreaking paper “The Powerful Placebo” in 1955. He argued that all new drugs should be tested in doubleblind trials so neither doctor nor patient knows who receives the real drug. The results were unsettling. Hundreds of supposedly effective drugs were found to be

little more than expensive illusions. Many were pulled from the market.

Placebo therapy itself is ancient. And there’s proof that belief predates biochemistry. In the medical lore, we’re told doctors once prescribed crocodile dung or powdered donkey hoof, and sometimes they worked! Later, physicians injected sterile water to relieve pain, and to their surprise, many patients improved.

One study in 1959 found that when surgeons tied off an artery to increase blood supply as a treatment for angina, some patients reported relief. But when surgeons merely made a skin incision and did nothing else, the results were just as good. Ethics boards today would never allow such sham surgeries, yet they taught medicine an unforgettable lesson. The mind can profoundly influence the body.

Even more astonishing was later research at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Placebo pills improved urinary flow in men with enlarged prostates. Some of these same men also developed side effects so real that they had to stop taking the dummy pills altogether.

There is a popular account of a 26-year-old man who swallowed many capsules thinking they were antidepressants. But he was actually in the placebo arm

of a trial. His blood pressure plummeted, his heart rate soared, but he stabilized when told the pills were placebos.

How do placebos work? The colour of the capsule, the cost, the trust in the physician, all play a role. Our expectations can spark real physiological change, from heart rate to pain relief.

Beecher’s lecture appalled some medical trainees. Others were intrigued. But all got the lesson. The placebo didn’t deceive patients; it revealed the selfdeception of medicine itself.

Of course, no placebo will mend a ruptured appendix or stop internal bleeding. But in an era when so many unnecessary prescriptions are written, perhaps it’s time to remember the wisdom of Voltaire, who wrote, “The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.”

This column offers opinions on health and wellness, not personal medical advice. Visit www.docgiff.com to learn more. For comments: diana@docgiff.com. Follow on Instagram: @diana_gifford_jones

North Grenville Community Forum to discuss Youth issues

by Diane Lapierre

The North Grenville Community Forum has announced that its next meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the First Christian Reformed Church.

The Community Forum was created to bring together all sectors of North Grenville society to facilitate collaboration and coordination of resources and facilities for those engaged in community support and development. Over the past year, the Forum has served as a valuable hub for discussion among non-profit and charitable organizations, along with other community members, to address local issues such as affordable housing, food insecurity, and to inform participants of important resources such as the Ontario 211 service.

This month’s meeting will center around a topic relevant to every household—the youths of North Grenville. The goal is to hear different perspectives, explore challenges, and talk about ways to better support young people in our area. In addition, representatives from the municipality will deliver a short presentation of the North Grenville Official Plan, highlighting key updates and municipal priorities.

While invitations are being extended to non-profit and charitable organizations registered with the NG Community Forum, all North Grenville residents are invited and encouraged to attend.

NGCF Meeting Agenda:

· Updates on affordable housing and food insecurity

· Presentation on the North Grenville Official Plan

· Discussion panel on issues affecting the youth of North Grenville

by Dana Douglas, Southeast Public Health

Food Insecurity:

Household and individual food insecurity means not having enough money to buy enough nutritious foods to eat. It is a problem of inadequate income, not an issue of food access. When money is tight, there is often less money in the budget for food. People are often forced to cut into their food budget to pay for other non-negotiable expenses, such as rent and utilities. This leads to worrying about running out of food, purchasing cheaper and less nutritious food choices, and missing meals, eating less or going hungry. Individuals experiencing food insecurity are more likely to become ill and need increased health care services.

Living with food insecurity means not getting enough of the vitamins, minerals and energy needed for healthy growth and development, and for maintaining overall health and well-being. This can lead to poor mental, physical and oral health. Evidence shows that a nutritious diet plays a positive role in healthy pregnancies and birth outcomes, healthy growth and development, and reduces the risk for chronic diseases later in life. Food insecurity is a serious public health problem as an individual's health and well-being are tightly linked to their household food insecurity. Addressing food insecurity will likely also decrease use of the health care system.

For more information, visit southeastph.ca, call 1-800-660-5853, or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

Junior Senators quench 73’s stretch and get schooled by the Grads

by G.J. the sportsguy

Kemptville pushed to ke ep their seven game winning streak alive as they faced Ottawa Junior Senators with (8-3-0-1) for Wednesday evening on home turf suffering a 2 to 1 squeaker. This was a teetering contest with

end-to-end excitement in the first frame as Ottawa counted first when Kenney with Lobe crashed the net and Caleb Mead PPG five on four chip in the garbage by Rylan Donovan at 14:15.

Kemptville rebounded at 2:01 the second salvo

when Alexis Beaulieu cycling main street to Jay Zeus Mbarushimana with tic-tac-toe to Owen Redmond on doorstep to snap the rubber over top of Josh Scully. Game winner for Junior Senators with extra attacker Deklyn Campbell PPG

with helpers from St. Pierre and Brady passed it around the stopper diving flyby at 5:38.

Both teams had numerous opportunities to do damage, but goalies held their ground in the final twenty to sustain scoreless with Ottawa

holding onto a 2 to 1 advantage.

The 73’s coach thought that it was a tight game as they played well overall 5 on 5 with the special teams stellar display, that was the difference, as it usually is against better teams. Concentrating on regrouping at practice as we prepare to meet the (8-4-0-1) Navan Grads for a Sunday road matinee. Kemptville outshot Ottawa 35 to 20 with 0/3 PP to 0/7 PP.

Kemptville came out of the gate in full force, dominating Navan Grads in their school house during Sunday matinee, but failed to chalk the board resulting in a scoreless first. After the 73’s tripled the shot count in the initial round the Grads pounced on a powerplay when Matthew D’Urso PPG with helpers from Barlas and Paris by Rylan Donovan within five minutes at 4:07.

The last twenty was plagued with sin bin visits giving the advantage to Navan who capitalized for another marker assisted from D’Urso with Knight to Christopher

Balas for their insurance at 10:17.

Rylan Donovan was pulled for extra attacker at 18:15 and the Grads combination of Kaufman with Brayton Lindsay dumped it into the vacant cage at 18:38 to give them a 3 zip win. Kemptville only outshot Navan 23 to 20 with 0/4 PP to ? PP and Cooper Flemming kept the 73’s off the sheet recording his first SO. Throttling down in the second and third stanza with insufficient execution on the power play negated the opportunity for Kemptville to post a road game victory.

Next Friday evening the first seeded Yzerman Division Rockland Nationals will visit to exhibit their skill and then on the bus for a Sunday matinee to face the Canadians of Carleton Place.

Hockey with EDGE… see you around the wall.

The Food Corner

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville Yay, it’s canning and pickling time! You already know that I’m a huge fan of the humble cranberry. In addition to having cranberry sauce with your turkey this year, you might consider making up a Cranberry Citrus Chutney. Chutneys spiff up all manner of meats and also are a great asset to vegetarian dishes. So, here is Cranberry Citrus Chutney, with thanks to Ellie Topp and Margaret Howard in Put a Lid On It!, printed at Macmillan. I highly recommend this well-laid out book.

Cranberry Citrus Chutney

Ingredients:

½ each large lemon and orange, peel on, finely chopped ½ cup of water

3½ cups of fresh or frozen cranberries

1 medium-sized apple, peeled, cored and chopped

¾ cup of brown sugar, tightly packed

⅓ cup each of candied orange peel, candied mixed fruit and cider vinegar

¼ cup of red wine (drink the rest...)

3 tablespoons of minced ginger

1 ½ teaspoon of mustard seeds

½ teaspoon each of salt, ground allspice and ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon of ground cloves

Preparation:

1. Bring the lemon, orange and water to a boil, then lower heat and cook 15 min

2. Add the rest of the ingredients and boil gently, uncovered

3. Stir your mixture regularly and cook for another 15 min or until it thickens

4. Sterilize your jars (the jars of your choice)

5. Fill your jars to within ½ inch from the rim

6. Cover with sealer lids and place jars in your canner

7. Boil half-pint (250ML) jars for 10 minutes and pint (500 ML jars for 15 min

Rescue the jars, let them cool, then store in your pantry for future use, for example during the upcoming festive season. If you have some favourite pickling recipes, particularly if they are heritage, please don’t hesitate to share them at pcormier@ranaprocess.com. We may want to publish them!

Talia’s Take The hard way I learned to listen to my body

by Talia Hreljac

About ten months ago, I started having pretty intense pains in my side. Naturally, I ignored them and told myself I just needed to eat better. Four months later, the pains hadn’t gone anywhere, so I finally made an appointment. After a few rounds of tests and scans, the verdict was in: some pretty big kidney stones that needed to be dealt with.

Fast forward to this week. Surgery time! I had my first procedure to blast the stones. Yes, I’ll need a second one because I ignored them for so long, they got a little too comfortable. Thus began my unplanned tour of three hospitals in three days.

First stop: Riverside Hospital, where the surgery went well. I left feeling optimistic, maybe a little too optimistic, because the very next day I went to work. By 3 p.m. I felt some pain. By 7, more pain. I took some meds, had a bath, and tried to distract myself with the Jays game.

By 9 p.m. I was violently ill and in the kind of pain where I thought my kidneys might actually explode. And to be clear, although I’ll never admit this to any man, this

pain was worse than labour. Imagine your kidneys being repeatedly stabbed with no reprieve. And at the end, instead of a sweet baby, you get kidney stones in a jar.

So off to Kemptville Hospital I went, unable to stand and definitely not at my most graceful. The nurses and doctor were incredible: compassionate, patient, and determined to make me comfortable. I also got to test out the brandnew CT scanner (shoutout to North Grenville, all that fundraising paid off big time!). As it turns out, there’s a one percent chance that the blasted kidney stones can have a little dance party and block the tube on their way out after the blasting surgery which can cause incredible pain. Guess who won that lottery? Winner winner chicken dinner.

Next stop on the hospital tour: The Civic, where they loaded me up with more medication and helped me finally pass the stones. After a few painful days in the hospital full of tears at the thought I was going to miss Trick or Treating with the kids, they set me free once the stones had passed and I felt ok.

the story: this entire ordeal could have been avoided if I had listened to my body earlier.

And another lesson: when you’re in a medical emergency, work can wait. The entire time I was lying in a hospital bed, I kept thinking about all the things I “needed” to do. For the record, my team was wonderful, checking in and offering to help, so the stress was all self-inflicted. I was the one causing the stress on my body.

Even when I got home, I went to grab my laptop until my husband gently said, “Talia, you literally just spent two days in the hospital. Emails can wait.” He was right. My body was done, physically, mentally,

So, here’s the moral of

and emotionally and needed a second to heal. And guess what? The world didn’t end. So, I finally listened. I took two days to be a total bump on a log. I rested. And moving forward, I’m going to do that more often. There are very few life or death situations, and most times things have a way of working themselves out. So, take yourself out of the rat race, and pay attention to yourself and those around you. I won’t pretend I’m about to treat my body like a temple (your girl still loves a good Mars Bar), but I will start making myself a priority. And I hope you do too.