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The Voice of North Dundas

Vol 2, No 30

October 20, 2021

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Baked for $25 each, proudly Local Journalism Initiative Reporter identify the wearer as a “Bagel Club” member on the Two local businesses are front, with a quip on the back teaming up to raise money that says “On Thursday, we for the local Community Food eat bagels.” The t-shirts are sold at Share. Simply Baked Catering and Samantha’s Emporium, cost, with $5 from every sale both small businesses based in being donated. Currently, the Winchester, started the initia- plan is for the campaign to tive to do their part to ensure run until Christmas. Cheryl that those in the area who are revealed that she likes partfalling on hard times still have nering with many local businesses, not just Samantha’s food to eat. The Times spoke with Emporium. She provided Cheryl Beasley, co-owner of Planted Arrow and Iron Forge Simply Baked Catering, to as examples of two other get more information on the Winchester businesses with initiative. Cheryl said that the whom she has partnered. When asked why the funt-shirts are tied to a promotion oﬀered by Simply Baked draiser is important to her, which oﬀers fresh bagels sold Cheryl answered that she has in batches of six every Thurs- always seen local food banks day. The t-shirts, which are as important, having previmade by Samantha’s Empo- ously run the farmer’s market rium and are sold by Simply in Chesterville. “There are by Brandon Mayer

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people that really need help, especially now with COVID,” Cheryl told me. “It’s not easy. There are a lot of working poor around. We want to make sure that everybody gets help that needs help.” The Community Food Share is a local charity serving the counties of Stormont and Dundas through four locations in Winchester, Morrisburg, Willamsburg and Finch. The organization primarily operates food banks, but also has other services available to support those in need, such as tax preparation assistance, community advocacy, and the North Dundas Christmas fund, the latter of which is the target of the t-shirt fundraiser. The Community Food Share operates primarily from local donations, as well as donations

from corporate sponsors. With the costs of both housing and food continually on the rise in recent months, there has perhaps never been a greater need for the support of food banks. “The food bank is very important. These people need help,” said Cheryl. Anyone wishing to purchase a bagel club t-shirt can do so on the Simply Baked Catering website at www.simplybakedcatering. com/shop/bagel-thursday/ bagel-club-t-shirt-fundraiserfor-community-food-share. Those wishing to learn more about the Community Food Share, or to make a donation directly, can do so online at www.communityfoodshare. ca.

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The North Dundas Times

Capture North Dundas photo contest launches

Sunﬂowers competition winner

A dandelion gone to seed in a ﬁeld just outside of Chesterville. (Photo credit: Supplied by the Township of North Dundas) It’s time to get candid! The Township of North Dundas is launching a new photo contest. Capture North Dundas has started and runs for two weeks, ending October 29 at 10am. What’s up for grabs? A $100 gift certificate to a North Dundas business of your choice and seeing your photo featured on the Township’s website. “Our goal is to showcase the natural beauty of North Dundas and encourage people to get out and enjoy what our

Christine and her 13-foot sunflower. Our competition to see who could grow the tallest sunflower has been won by Christine Nigelsky of Richardson Road. Christine had to use a ladder to measure her entry which turned out to be a massive 13 feet tall! She explained how the winner came to be: “Every year, I plant sunflower seeds for hubby because he just loves sunflowers. I plant and he waters, so we make a pretty great team. This is the first year we planted giants, and with all the sun and hot weather, they performed a show for us. We also planted around an acre of regular sized sunflowers which we shared with friends and family.” Congratulations to Christine (and hubby) and she will be getting a gift certificate for $30 for a store of her choice.

Send in your letters, stories, events to editor@ ndtimes.ca

community has to oﬀer,” says Mayor Tony Fraser. “The residents of North Dundas are talented, and this is a great way to highlight their skills while promoting our community through captivating images.” The contest is open to anyone and everyone within the community, including kids. Each person can only submit one photo for the contest, and all images must feature nature within North Dundas. “It could be anything – a

sunset, landscape, the fall colours – anything beautiful that you stumble across while exploring North Dundas,” notes Mayor Fraser. Voting will be done by members of the community. All eligible photos submitted for the contest will be posted to the Township of North Dundas Facebook page on Monday, November 1. Voting commences when the post goes up, and wraps on Thursday, November 4 at 10am. Each member of the community can only cast one vote, and if someone casts multiple votes, only the ﬁrst one will be counted. To submit a photo for the contest, send an email with the image attached and brief description to jwestendorp@ northdundas.com. Anyone with questions about the contest can contact Jennifer Westendorp, Communications Officer directly by calling 613-774-2105. By submitting a photo for the contest, you acknowledge that the Township has permission to use that image for future initiatives, and that the photo is your intellectual property and does not violate any copyright laws.

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The North Dundas Times

North Dundas Council Report by Joselyn Morley The Council of the Township of North Dundas held its regular meeting on October 12. The meeting began with a 37-minute closed session, based on “personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employee.” (Section 239 (2) of The Municipal Act, 2001) Council approved additional expenditures of $56,500 for Building Condition Assessments. Building Condition Assessments are required under the Asset Management Legislation. The tender for the assessments of 20 buildings has been awarded to Roth IAMS Ltd., but 31 buildings remain to be assessed. Staff have sought out grants to ﬁnance this work, but there are none. Previously, the buildings had been assessed as a whole, but going forward, they must be assessed by components such as electrical, plumbing, roof, foundation, etc., to allow staﬀ and Council to plan and prioritize repairs, replacements, and upgrades. In addition, consideration of life cycles, risk assessments, cost estimates, and 15-year repair schedules are required to be compliant with the legislation. All of the Township’s facili-

ties must undergo assessment. Economic Development and Communications Director Stephen Mann presented Council with funding requests for expenditures under the Township’s Community Improvement Plan (CIP). Upon approval of a speciﬁc project, the CIP can cover up to 50% of an improvement expenditure. Walters Financial was granted a $1,749 Façade Grant for gooseneck style lights above its branded awning on Main Street in Winchester. Illume Physiotherapy, a brand new business in town, was granted $375 towards signage for its new premises at 512 Main Street in Winchester. Flora Physiotherapy was also granted $388 towards signage. It sub-leases space from Illume Physiotherapy. These expenditures are budgeted for under the 2021 CIP. In September, Council approved awarding various parts of the water and sewer infrastructure expansion and upgrades to J L Richardson & Associates Limited for $985,130. An additional $17,870 is required now, with an additional $453,000 to be included in the 2022 budget in order to cover the total cost of $1,003,000. Doug Froats, Director of Waste Management, recom-

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

mended replacing a parttime truck driver/labourer with a full-time truck driver/ labourer to help support the expansion of waste management programs. This will help alleviate the need for current employees to work overtime in order to offer programs such as hazardous waste collection and leaf and yard waste collection. It also will allow hazardous waste to be routinely accepted at the Waste Facility, not just on speciﬁc Saturdays. Each year, the Township awards up to ﬁve Community Grants of $400. Deadlines for applications are April 1 and September 1 of each year. Following the September 2021 applications, the Department of Recreation and Culture recommended that the Boys & Girls Club and the Winchester branch of the Ontario Early Years Centre each be awarded a $400 Community Grant. As the Winchester Lions Club Hall is still being used as a COVID-19 Screening Centre, the Winchester Lions Club has been granted free use of the Joel Steele Community Hall for December 14 and 15 so that they can run their annual Christmas gift and food hamper program. The Chesterville Arena is open, and the Sam Ault Arena

(Winchester) will open on October 23. Council approved the hiring of 7 additional winter rink attendants and call-in facility operators. As per Ontario legislation concerning the opening of public venues, individuals must now provide proof of identification and double vaccination when entering any indoor event spaces and facilities used for sports and recreation. The Township therefore must screen, ensure physical distancing and the use of PPE, and maintain a log of contact information for anyone entering Township facilities. Such compliance requires additional staﬀ. Clerk Jo-Anne McCasslin is set to retire at the end of 2021. The position was advertised for four weeks, and four candidates were interviewed by the hiring committee. The position has been awarded to the current Deputy Clerk, Nancy Johnston. She begins as Clerk on November 15 to shadow Ms McCasslin until the end of December to ensure a smooth transition. The Township and Lactalis will share the $10K cost for cantilevered street signs for the Ault Way portion of Main Street, Winchester. $20K had previously been budgeted for the Ault Legacy Project, funded equally by Lactalis and the Township. Prior to the Ault Way street signs, and the revisions to 100 Club Park signs, $18K had been spent including the mural, the unveiling of the mural, and the Sam Ault Arena sign. Lactalis has agreed to increase the budget by $5K, and the Township will match that from the surplus reserve funds. Council also approved the cost of$47K + HST for the replacement of the HVAC system at the Old Town Hall. Six bids were received, and the tender was awarded to ATEL Air. Upon recommendation from the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), the Township is in the ﬁnal stages of implementing a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. The next meeting of Council will be held at 7 pm on October 26. Meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month in the Council Chambers. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Barring any technological glitches, meetings are also broadcast on the Township’s YouTube channel. Agendas are available on the Township website prior to the meeting. Minutes of past meetings are also posted on the website.

Ice at Winchester arena delayed

Break (December 20 - 30), Local Journalism Initiative Reporter and one PA day on November 26. Both arenas will open for Wi n c h e s t e r ’s n e w l y the public skating season on named Sam Ault Arena does October 23. Several North Dundas not yet have a prepared ice surface, resulting in events communities have recently at the arena running weeks been plagued with concerns behind their usual schedule. over a lack of recreational opThe Times confirmed with the portunities and amenities for Township that the ice surface both youth and adults. Some will be ready by this Saturday, Chesterville and Winchester locals blamed a lack of things October 23. A social media post from to do for a few recent acts the Winchester Skating Club of graffiti vandalism in the identified the cause of the towns. Many recreation prodelay as “further issues with grams, some of them perhaps the installation of the part required for the chiller.” The little-known, are advertised delay is impacting several of on the Township website. the club’s programs, includ- Included in the mix are proing its CanSkate and PreStar grams including an all-terrain vehicle club, a soccer club, programs. The Township offers pub- jiu-jitsu and kickboxing prolic skating at both the Sam grams, a shuffleboard club, Ault Arena and the Chester- and more. The Winchester ville Arena. The schedule for Curling Club is now operaboth arenas can be found on tional as well, with options the Township’s website. A for both adult and youth regular schedule is kept, with membership. The Times corresponded separate expanded schedules to account for school breaks, with Brandon Cousineau, the including March Break Township’s Recreation Co(March 14 – 18), Christmas ordinator, regarding options by Brandon Mayer

October 20, 2021

for local recreation. Brandon conﬁrmed that the most upto-date place to find information about local events and recreation programs is the Township website www. northdundas.com/community-recreation, or its Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ NorthDundas. What about those wanting to start their own recreation programs or clubs? While not necessarily common, North Dundas residents with ideas for new programs can propose their ideas to the Township in the hopes of creating a Township-sponsored program. Since community members are those who stand to beneﬁt from recreational programs, it makes sense that locals will know best what kinds of recreation are needed to improve North Dundas’ list of “things to do.” Brandon invited anyone with ideas for a new club or program to contact him directly by phone at 613-7742105 ext. 223, or by email at bcousineau@northdundas. com. 3

Waste Department – Truck Driver/Labourer

We are seeking a motivated individual to drive the waste management truck, assist with curbside pick-up of waste/recyclables and other related duties. Applicants must possess a valid DZ driver’s license or willing to obtain. Individual must have a clean driver’s abstract. For a full position description, visit Job Opportunities at www. northdundas.com. To apply to become part of our team, please submit your resume and cover letter, clearly indicating the position you are applying for by 2pm on Friday, October 29, 2021 to: Doug Froats, Director of Waste Management Township of North Dundas 636 St. Lawrence St., PO Box 489, Winchester, ON, K0C 2K0 Fax: 613-774-5699 Email: careers@northdundas.com

Executive Assistant/Deputy Clerk

The position will provide support to the CAO and/or other Department Heads, including completing special projects like assisting with the implementation of an electronic filing system, drafting and reviewing correspondence, reports and tender documents, coordination of meetings and responding to inquiries. Our ideal candidate will also have the skills to manage office technology including cell phones and printers and trouble shooting minor computer and network issues. This position is also an opportunity to provide support to our Clerk in the 2022 municipal election. Applicants must have a post-secondary diploma or degree in Business Administration or a related discipline and at least three (3) years’ experience in an administrative role, preferably in a municipal environment. For a full position description, visit Job Opportunities at www. northdundas.com. To apply to become part of our team, please submit your resume and cover letter, clearly indicating the position you are applying for, by 1pm on Monday, October 25th, 2021 to: Township of North Dundas 636 St. Lawrence St., PO Box 489, Winchester, ON, K0C 2K0 Fax: 613-774-5699 Email: careers@northdundas.com The Township of North Dundas wishes to thank all applicants who apply, however, only those being selected for an interview will be contacted. The Township of North Dundas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Township will endeavour to accommodate qualified candidates in all parts of the hiring process. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance. Personal information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used for employment assessment purposes only.

Leaf and Yard Waste Collection Fall collection for leaf and yard waste will be happening in the following areas: October 25th, 2021: Villages of Winchester and Chesterville, Thompson subdivision All leaf and yard waste must be placed in a compostable bag and placed at the curb by 7:30am on the above dates. Any questions concerning pickup, please contact Landfill at 613-774-5157.

The Canadian Club of Morrisburg & District

Speaker/Dinners are back!

Canadian Clubs are groups of people in various communities who meet regularly for a meal and to hear a distinguished Canadian or a visitor from another country speak on issues of local interest, national or international importance. Join us on November 17, at the Morrisburg Legion, when we meet and greet at 6:30 p.m., enjoy a delicious dinner at 7 p.m., followed by speaker Ron Beaupre, who will present “The Shipwreck Eastcliﬀe Hall of the St. Lawrence.” Ron Beaupre of Iroquois has made the ships of the Great Lakes and the St Lawrence Seaway a lifetime hobby. He is on the executive of the Toronto Marine Historical Society and won the Detroit Marine Historical Society’s “Marine Historian of the Year” Award in 1996. COVID protocols will be in place, and you MUST be double vaccinated,with ID, to attend. The Club is also looking for new members and anyone interested in joining the Board of Directors. Contact Clara Edwardson at 613-774-2407 for membership, or Steven Caza 1-613-989-5348 or Muriel Carruthers 343-543-2564 to RSVP by November 12 to reserve your spot for November 17. www.ndtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times

Editorial

Another brick in the wall by David Shanahan I can remember the shivers that ran up and down my spine when I was growing up, every time the number “1984" came up in the media. I knew the book, watched the movies, and it seemed that 1984 held the threat of terrible times to come. It is odd to think about that now, so many years after that fateful year came and went. But the name still lingers as an image of menace, of dark times, industrial scenes of political oppression and fear. It was always assumed, thanks to George Orwell, that future loss of freedom, a growing inability to tell truth from lies, bondage, and the twisting of language to mean the opposite of what it should, all that would come about through the manipulations of a political leader. Some strong ﬁgure would arise and, gradually, almost unnoticed, basic civil rights would be subsumed into a fascistic state where people were told what

to think, what to believe, what to read, and what not to think. Ironically, all of those dangers have come to pass, to one extent or another, but not at all in the way Orwell expected. The strange fact is we’ve done it to ourselves. We have willingly embraced a form of bondage, we have accepted that others will direct our thinking, our reading, our beliefs even. How have we committed this social suicide? Technology via social media platforms. Does that sound a little oﬀ the wall? Is this just another conspiracy theory that I have adopted? Perhaps just a bit. But the recent revelations of Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, a former data scientist at Facebook, as well as the testimony of Sophie Zhang, a second former Facebook data scientist, have conﬁrmed what so many have suspected for a long time. Facebook, and presumably other platforms owned by the same corporation, have

been deliberately controlling what users see and share on their servers. More than that, Facebook has prioritized content that it knows will spread fear, alarm, even hatred, all in order to make money. The truth about the use and abuse of the algorithms designed to present speciﬁc content to users has been widely known for some time. But the strategic use of such material to prey on the prejudices, fears and paranoia of people goes much further than imagined. Democracy has become a toy to play with by these corporate fascists, and the problem is that they are too powerful to stop easily. Take this newspaper, for example. We could simply cease having a Facebook page, or an Instagram account; but that would now deprive many people of the means to contact us, to freely comment on the content of the Times, or even to suggest stories that we could cover. That may not be a major problem;

after all, society had managed to get by without social media in previous eras. But without Facebook, and other platforms, families would be prevented from staying in touch so easily. During the past eighteen months, social media has been vital in keeping people in touch with each other and with necessary information. The answer, it seems, is not to try and go back in time and pretend Facebook never existed. But can we find a way to wrest control away from the Zuckerbergs of the world. Strange, isn’t it, that all the time we were fearful of a powerful political ﬁgure taking over the world and restricting our freedom, it was a clever “geek”, with a genius and a vision for technology who has had the most impact. We didn’t see that coming, so we weren’t prepared. So, in our innocent delight, we happily adopted smart phones, social media, internet access, all the

time believing that we were discovering a technological revolution that would free us from third-party influence. We could ﬁnd out for ourselves, educate ourselves in whatever area of life we found interesting. Those with a conspiratorial bent would be able to see past the fake news and establishment propaganda, and know the truth. Ironic that it was this very revolution that allowed us to coin terms like Fake News. I know, this sounds like the ranting conspiracies of a Luddite, one who has never trusted the Web and everything in it. That’s not at all the case. I really appreciate the advantages in research and learning the Web brings. But, after all, it is called a World Wide Web, and webs can be very hard to escape. We need to learn to think, to evaluate, to recognize that far too often we are being manipulated, directed to certain news items, particular points of view. And whenever you start

west Passage has accelerated, the narwhal has lived without threat. The narwhal is uniquely gifted and now in jeopardy from ship traﬃc transporting goods and tourists. Growing numbers of ships plying the waters emit noise that impacts the narwhals. Most of the world’s 100,000 narwhals summer in these northern waters. The waters and the land are under pressures from climate change and human resource exploitation. But if we think in a broader lens to include all the animals, lands and people in the whole North of our country or the world, what would we realize? What could be done? The article appeared in the October 7, 2021 Maclean’s authored by Bill Donahue titled, “The Sound of Too Much Noise”. “Suddenly, narwhals are, like so many patrons in a noisy bar, tasked with communicating amid clamour—and they’re struggling.” But like the narwhals; don’t you feel like that on the 401 into Toronto and then to

Niagara? Or in looking at clustered high rises going up? Don’t you feel that way when green fields are gone without a trace? The narwhal struck a resonating chord in me. It is striking that the needed changes for all such situations are in the power of the people who are corporate and government officials, politicians, manufacturers, etc. They have to add caring to their values and we, as consumers with buying power, have to say that change is required urgently for more innovative + do no harm solutions. Replace the profit lens with the do no harm lens married to the best practices lens. But could this also be a profit opportunity? This is beyond climate change and carbon emissions! It is about caring enough to transition in a careful, logical way. The challenge is to think and plan. Targets set without a planning base are without vision and a constitute a knee jerk approach. Magical achievement of such targets is not possible. There are many species,

landscapes, waters, plants, trees, land, air, space, even iconic Mount Everest, under threat of man’s insatiable activities. Think of all the unrepeatable abilities disappearing from our world as whole species cease to be! Our human species was given the ability to think, to use our minds to achieve inventions like ﬁre, the wheel, electricity, computers, GPS! Wow!.... But...narwhales, whales, dolphins, birds, insects, and elephants came fully equipped with their skills, even special GPS. Best wishes, Nadia Gray

to think that we’re still free of such technological conditioning, think about what you see on public transport, or in a coﬀee shop, or in a meeting, or so many other scenarios. Look around, and what do you see? People chatting, or reading a book or newspaper? Not usually, and not as much as in previous times. No, now you see almost everyone sitting down and taking out a “device” of some kind, and staring at a screen, thumbing the keyboard or screen, and entering into a world that is quite separate and apart from everyone else around them. Is that really a sign of a healthy, free-thinking and independent society. Am I exaggerating? Well, you can ﬁnd out. Just Google it. “All in all, it’s just another brick in the wall. All in all, you're just another brick in the wall.”

Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, I really appreciated your editorial on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as well as your words at the Municipal Centre on September 30. I often ﬁnd myself nodding and agreeing with your well written editorials and it was a pleasure to hear you speak in such a passionate and clear way as well. I also wanted to share a few of my reﬂections. I have read about comparisons being made between the death of Indigenous children at residential schools, the number of children lost to abortions, mandatory vaccinations, and the Holocaust. I understand that comparisons may help us as we try to make sense of our rapidly changing world but I feel it creates greater division through a lack of respect and understanding of the depth of suffering brought about through those circumstances. Instead, what if we were to nurture our pain or confusion about what we are learning about and witnessing in the world? Or to conduct research

to better understand an issue before we unknowingly make a hurtful comparison? My wish and hope for humanity is that we use these turbulent times as a way to honour and respect ourselves and others more deeply than ever before. May our collective and individual wounds be healed with each moment of reﬂection and research, and may we seek to understand each other’s respective journeys and stories with the goal of helping each other to heal instead of staying divided. Thank you as always for all you do for our community. Bradlee Zrudlo

Dear Editor, Did you know: “the Arctic Narwhal is threatened by a new enemy: the clamour of passing ships”? The Maclean’s article about the plight of narwhals that are being bombarded by “The Sound of Too Much Noise” was sad to read. For all but recent years, when ship traﬃc in the North-

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Email: production@ndtimes.ca 613 215 0735

October 20, 2021

Hayley Bedford

Marketing Consultant

Phone: 343-777-2702 Email: hayley@ndtimes.ca www.ndtimes.ca

The Voice of Our Community

ISSN 2291-0301 www.ngtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times is published weekly by North Grenville Times Inc.

OFFICE 613-215-0735 Editor editor@ndtimes.ca 613-215-0735

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Staﬀ Reporter Brandon Mayer brandon@ndtimes.ca

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The North Dundas Times

Meet Your Neighbour:

Shirley Fawcett, adventurous world traveller, fountain of knowledge

Shirley Fawcett holds up a photo of her father’s family that was taken 100 years ago after they travelled from Yorkshire, England to Canada by ship. submitted by Jennifer Westendorp If you need to know something about Winchester, go ask Shirley Fawcett. Her historical prowess is unrivalled, having lived in the community for 88 years. Shirley was born at home in Winchester back in 1933 though she doesn’t look a day over 60. “I grew up here” she explains. “My dad was the town police oﬃcer and ﬁre chief.” Shirley says growing up in Winchester was a wonderful experience at a time when the whole town was your playground. “We didn’t have any rich friends back then. We did a lot of pretending, and you knew when the streetlights came on,

it was time to go home.” She says they used to have movies once a week at the Old Town Hall, and when they built the theatre, which used to be across from where the old high school was, she got hired to run the candy bar and watched movies for free. “Growing up, there wasn’t a whole lot going on in town. When we turned 13 or so, we’d go from house to house and have little parties where we learned to dance¼nothing but music.” The melodies of Bing Crosby were popular amongst Winchester youth of the late ‘40s. After ﬁnishing school, she went to work for Bell as a telephone operator. Somewhere along the way, Shirley

fell in love with a watchmaker named Roy. The pair were married 67 years and had four children together, a daughter and three sons. “I’ve had a wonderful life,” she smiles. “I lost Roy three-and-a-half years ago, just before his 90th birthday. I miss him a lot. He never told me there was anything I couldn’t do. When he passed away, we asked for donations for the Winchester Hospital in lieu of flowers and 77 people donated.” Roy owned a jewellery store for 60 years in the same location where Shirley now runs ‘Embracing the Arts’. Roy also sold organs and pianos. and the couple travelled to China to see the factories where the parts were coming from to make sure that the workers were being treated fairly. Shirley shows off a photo of her atop a camel when they visited The Great Wall. “I saw the camel, and I just had to give it a try,” she laughs. “We travelled all over the world together. I was very lucky to find someone like Roy.” Roy built their house at Horse Corner in Winchester (unofficial address), which she has called home for 53 years. The biggest event that

she can recall ever happening in Winchester was the Town’s centennial in 1988. “We had eight days of celebrations. It was so much fun¼there were dances and dinners. A lot of it was getting people together, especially those who hadn’t seen each other in a long time.” Shirley explains that one thing people may not know about Winchester is that the train conductors who used to come through town called it the ‘Holy City.’ “Because we had ﬁve churches,” she explains. She also remembers when the Old Town Hall was the fire hall. and they used to hang the hoses from the tower so they could dry. “Living in a small town, you have more friends than you know,” she smiles. “People help each other here. Once in a while, I get a new person that comes in to my store and I tell them to come see me if they have any questions about where to go for certain things. That’s what we’re here for.”

The retail and the hospitality sectors of the economy continue to suffer because of staff shortages, not just in this part of Ontario, but across the country. A recent study by Statistics Canada on the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in retail trade for the third quarter of 2021 showed that around one-third of retail businesses expect that finding skilled workers, and a general shortage of labour, will be major obstacles in the coming three months. As a result, business growth will be slower than expected, in spite of the opening up of the economy and the easing of almost all restrictions by the end of October. The Stats Can study reported that only about 20% of businesses in the retail sector expect their profitability to increase in that period. The study showed that “the number of job vacancies in food services and hospitality increased by nearly 15% between the second quarters of 2019 and 2021, reaching an all-time high of 89,100.” Job vacancies in general increased by 24% in Ontario, with even hospitals finding

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October 20, 2021

that there is an incredible community right outside our doorstep that we can safely explore and reconnect with.” The new fall campaign, running from October 4 to November 14, 2021, is the second of three 2021-22 campaigns launched in cinema and on radio, digital, print and social media. The campaign promotes tourism activities in Ontario this fall and includes links to itineraries, articles and points of interest. People can follow the campaign on social media with the #RediscoverON hashtag. “This campaign is a compelling reminder of our province’s rich and unique tourism offerings and will give a much-needed boost to a sector that has been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and

by John Baldwin I am trusting that everyone is feeling a lot better about the present situation, COVID-wise, having taken all the necessary precautions to protect themselves and everyone else they have to come in contact with. We are far from being out of the woods yet, but things are looking better, seemingly, which is a good thing. Talking of woods, what beautiful scenes greet us every day, as the trees perform their autumnal transformation into their brilliant colours. I enjoyed them the other day as I ventured out from my usual garden scenario and sought to ﬁnd some diﬀerent birds to take pictures of so that I could do my weekly article for you to enjoy. Well, having not taken my camera with me

the day before, and missing the chance of pictures of a flock of about twenty Turkey Vultures riding the thermals skywards along the road I was on, I returned home very disappointed. But hope was not lost and, it being such a sunny warm day, I opted to go and sit on one of my benches near our waterfall feature to try my luck there and was not disappointed. Our Japanese Willow tree attracted the attention of a Goldfinch, and I was able to enjoy watching it for a few minutes as it swayed there gently on the breeze before it flew away. Of course, it was not the only bird in the garden, but this was the back garden and not the front where my feeders are located, so the birds are not so noticeable, being able to conceal themselves in the colourful leaves. I hope you get to spot some of the birds too and get to enjoy the majestic fall colours before the leaves end up being blown by a wind, or just gently swirling down to form a lovely carpet on the ground. Stay safe and well, Cheers, John Baldwin

Staﬀ shortages continue to hurt business by David Shanahan

The Ontario Government is investing $6 million in a campaign to help support the recovery of the local tourism sector. The campaign, designed by Destination Ontario, an agency of the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, encourages Ontarians to safely rediscover the diversity of attractions and experiences that demonstrate what Ontario has to oﬀer the world in one province. “Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry is home to many tourism attractions, offerings and experiences which provide important contributions to our communities, creating local jobs and boosting the local economy,” said Jim McDonell, MPP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry. “That’s why this new marketing campaign is so important – it reminds us

Baldwin’s birds

Culture Industries. “With its diverse experiences, natural beauty, vibrant arts and cultural scene and international cuisine, Ontario truly is the world in one province. I encourage everyone to plan their fall and winter getaways safely, adhering to COVID-19 protocols and take advantage of the abundant local travel possibilities and rediscover the world of Ontario.” Tourism plays a critical role in the Ontario economy. Prior to the pandemic, tourism generated more than $36 billion in economic activity and supported hundreds of thousands of jobs in Ontario. According to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey, tourism related industries experienced a loss of 94,000 jobs between August 2019 and August 2021.

recruitment of skilled staff difficult, leaving nurses, doctors and support staff feeling the stress of longer shifts and more patients per nurse, in addition to the ongoing stress of dealing with a pandemic. Deloitte Canada is reporting that an estimated 30% of businesses in Canada are reporting staff shortages, and the most affected industries are hospitality, food service, and healthcare. This situation is expected to ease gradually into next year, but shortages in staff “will remain significant for some time” in part because government financial support programs pay more than many jobs in the retail and food sectors, but also due to more and more workers in those areas shifting to different kinds of jobs. It seems that long days confined to home and away from work has encouraged many Canadians to rethink their careers, and many have opted to return to education as the way forward. The Economist has noted that “most of the growth in Canadian employment in the last decade has occurred in knowledge-based sectors”. While this bodes well for

an educated workforce in the future, it also signals a problem for retail and food industry jobs. In many sectors of the economy, particularly those paying minimum wage, or slightly higher, the challenge will be to compete for a shrinking pool of workers. Many of the businesses affected by this change are restaurants, stores, and other labour intensive enterprises. As these very often are areas with a small profit margin as it is, paying workers higher wages will require higher prices for the service these businesses provide to the public. The pandemic has had a serious impact on society in many ways, but its effect on the economy is only now beginning to be felt. The ramifications are far-reaching and still largely unknown. So when you find that service in a restaurant is a bit slower than usual, be patient and get used to it. Fewer workers means longer waits in many places, and, as with so much of life today, we need to get used to an entirely new normal.

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Wedding Planning Guide 2021 Wedding vendors are preparing for an influx of bookings in 2022 as couples reschedule cancelled or postponed events from 2020 and 2021. Local vendors are often a go-to choice when couples are planning their wedding ceremonies and receptions. As the “shop local” movement grows in popularity, weddings present a prime opportunity to embrace this movement. They will be familiar with the area and possibly even the location where the wedding will be held. By hiring local vendors, they are more likely to source their materials from other local businesses, reducing their carbon footprints along the way. For example, local caterers may rely on local farmers for their foods, affording couples the chance to host eco-friendly or even farm-to-table weddings. Working with local vendors often translates into getting more personalized service and attention than mass retailers or merchants can provide. Going local when choosing wedding vendors is an increasingly popular choice among couples about to tie the knot. Some tips on how to plan your wedding If you are on a tight budget, look at bridesmaid’s dresses. You can order them in white and they are much less expensive. Support local small businesses, you will be surprised at the service, costs and helpful assistance you will receive. Pay It Forward: Let one vendor lead you to another. Your wedding photographer can tell you which florist's blooms really pop, and your reception manager should know which band packs the dance floor. Your wedding vendors should be your goto, most-trusted experts during the planning process.

It’s perfectly normal for couples to book their chosen wedding venue 12-18 months before their wedding date, giving them plenty of time to plan their perfect day. You may feel pressured to conform to traditional customs, but remember, make it your day Discuss your budget and plan accordingly Develop a theme: this will facilitate choosing a location, style of décor, food, favors, etc

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Nominations for Francophonie Awards should go. ABOP intends to in 3 hours, in 3-part harmony, now open seek the help of the House of and to perform it the same

Local not-for-proﬁt supports both arts and community

Photo: A Bunch of People onstage by Brandon Mayer

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Lunenburg not-forproﬁt organization is doing its part both to spread the joy of the arts, and to give back to local communities. A Bunch of People Arts and Events, known simply as ABOP, is run by Amanda Burge who started the organization after gathering several friends who were interested in performing How the Grinch Stole Christmas in 2018. In a press release sent to the Times, Amanda jokes about how the organization

got its name. “I said to my husband, what am I supposed to call this? We’re just a bunch of people. And the name was born.” ABOP was founded with the intention of giving money to those in need. For example, in its ﬁrst year of operation, ABOP was able to provide $300 to a single mother who was subsequently able to travel farther for work and get a new job as a result. The following year, the organization raised $600 and relied on the House of Lazarus when deciding to whom the money

day. That was fun!” The most recent event held by ABOP was called True Stories. The event, which took place on October 16 at the Winchester United Church, featured ten local authors sharing their stories with accompaniment provided by ﬁve local musicians. The organization described the endeavour as “an evening of powerful, inspiring, and humorous stories” that highlighted the talent of local people, making it “a true community event.” Local residents wanting to support ABOP can do so and take in wholesome, locally produced entertainment at the same time by participating in the organization’s events. Those who wish to learn more or get involved with the organization can visit its website at: https://abunchofpeopleartsandevents.business.site, or get in touch with Amanda Burger directly by phone at 613-346-5064, or by email at abunchofpeopleartsandevents@gmail.com.

Lazarus when deciding how to allocate this year’s funds as well, which are expected to easily surpass $600. Support for the arts is not as strong as it once was. Events that were once a staple of evening and weekend entertainment, such as orchestral symphonies and stage plays, often simply don’t bring in the audience sizes needed for sustained survival, except in major urban centres. Organizations such as ABOP which operate in rural areas, must come up with unique ideas to draw the interest of people from all walks of life. Describing two of ABOP’s events, the group says, “We had a writing contest, ‘Writing in 150’, where participants have 2.5 hours to write a piece based on a prompt word. Winners of that competition are published in a book by Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Publishing. We also had a Sing It event, based on Toronto’s ‘Choir, Choir, Choir,’ where people came together to learn a Queen song

The Government of Ontario is inviting nominations for the 2022 Ontario Francophonie Awards. The awards celebrate outstanding contributions to the social, economic, and cultural life of Ontario's francophone community. They recognize the best of Ontario’s French-speaking community, including thought-leaders, entrepreneurs, volunteers, community workers, and changemakers. “In recent months especially, we’ve seen the importance of people's dedication to the wellbeing and vitality of their communities”, said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Francophone Aﬀairs. “Previous award winners have featured cultural, educational, legal, and youth advocates. This year, the Ontario Francophonie Awards will again pay tribute to exceptional Ontarians making a diﬀerence and propelling our society forward.” Three awards will be given during Francophonie Month in March 2022: one in the Francophone category, one in the Francophile category, and one to a Francophone or Francophile aged 25 or under. The deadline for nominations is November 26, 2021 at 5 p.m. Award ceremony details will be announced in early 2022. Ontario Francophonie Awards were created in 2006 to mark the 20th anniversary of the French Language Services Act. More than 1.5 million Ontarians speak French: the largest French-speaking population in Canada outside of Quebec.

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Cory M. Coons releases a new single

For the past 30 years, North Dundas singer-songwriter, Cory M. Coons, has been performing and recording his signature blend of rootsy rock. His brand of melodic, guitar-driven music and often introspective lyrics have brought favorable comparisons to icons like Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp, Tom Petty, and even Keith Urban. Cory has amassed over 170,000 Spotify streams, and he has racked up both a Top 20 iTunes Canada single, and a #2 international iTunes single. This kind of popularity has

also made the industry stand up and take notice: Cory has been nominated for multiple Josie Music Awards, and the International Singer Songwriter Association Awards, and he's won the prestigious Producer's Choice Honors for his work with legendary rock producer, Ron Nevison (Heart, Bad Company, Damn Yankees, Survivor, Styx, Night Ranger.) Since 2004, Cory has released four full-length albums and three EPs. He released "The Long Road Home" LP in 2018, produced by Ron

in the world. Cory wants his audience to realize that they should be brave and stand up for their beliefs. He believes that asking God for strength, and ﬁnding common ground, is our way to redemption. "I feel the song talks about never taking freedom and the simple things in life for granted in these current difficult times we are faced with," explains Cory. "It also covers the loss of innocence and asking God for healing from above on our journey of faith.” "Freedom Road" was written by Cory, and it features the talents of Marc D. Muir on guitars and Chris Golden (son of Oak Ridge Boys' William Lee Golden) on drums and keys. Cory also produced the track with Muir, who also mixed and mastered. Watch the video for "Freedom Road", created by Mike Swain and Gary LaBarr of Walker's Cay, at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=EJA6sVE8_Nk.

Nevison, along with fellow band mate and guitarist/engineer Marc D. Muir. The album was nominated in 2019 for "Male Album of The Year" at the Josie Music Awards, one of the biggest Independent award shows in North America. He also received four nominations at the 2020 JMA's, and three more at the 2021 JMA's. Cory also earned a nomination at the 2021 International Singer Songwriter Association (ISSA) Awards in 2021 for International Male Vocalist of the Year. Two CMC songs have also been selected to appear on the soundtrack of the new Dream Cinema Productions Sci-Fi ﬁlm, "Night Mistress", currently in post- production in Los Angeles. On October 1, Cory released the latest chapter in his storied career. His single, "Freedom Road" (MTS Records), paints an accurate picture of the current situation at home and abroad that has built up much frustration, anger, and confusion

We’re still in shock...$300,095.53! by Jane Adams, WDMH The suspense just kept building and building at the official Catch the Ace Gala hosted by the Kin Club of Russell on September 29. Supporters and sponsors were thanked, and each of the five charities which benefitted from the 22-month fundraiser were called up to receive their donation. And then came the WDMH Foundation! Managing Director, Kristen Casselman, former Manager of Direct Mail & Events, Cindy Ault Peters, WDMH Clinical Manager, Katie Robertson, and WDMH CEO, Cholly Boland, were all amazed when the final number was announced - $300,095.53! “All I can say is wow – we are overwhelmed by this generosity,” said Cholly Boland. “We are so thankful to everyone for supporting your hospital and all the patients and communities we serve.” Kristen Casselman explained that the donation will be used to help purchase much-needed medical equipment. “The first $255,000 will help us purchase a new X-ray machine. And the rest of the donation will be directed to the Digital Mammography Fund. The combined total of these two pieces of equipment is estimated at $973,000.” “These two pieces of October 20, 2021

Shown at the presentation are (l-r): Kin Club member Cindy Anthony, Managing Director Kristen Casselman, WDMH Clinical Manager Katie Robertson, former Manager of Direct Mail & Events Cindy Ault Peters, and WDMH CEO Cholly Boland.

equipment are used daily to make life-saving diagnoses. On behalf of the Diagnostic Imaging Department and all the patients and families you will touch with this donation, thank you so much,” added Katie Robertson. “Thank you to the Kin Club of Russell and everyone who purchased a Catch the Ace ticket,” summed up Cindy Peters. “A special thank you to our fabulous retail partners, who, with their staﬀ, took the time to sell tickets throughout this raﬄe: Winchester Foodland, the Brinston General Store, and Loughlin's Country Store.” In all, $1.1 million was raised. To learn more about the impact of Catch the Ace, watch the event video at https://www.facebook. com/388050434576352/videos/861822354471417.

Dingwall, Carol Ann

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Carol Dingwall (Countryman) who died peacefully in the presence of her family at the age of 80 at the Ottawa Hospital. The mother of Kurt Dingwall and Jeannie Phillips (Dingwall), and the mother-in-law of Kellie Dingwall (Skinkle) and Nathan Phillips. Loving Grandmother to Lana, Myles, Mason Dingwall and Quinn, Sam and Caleb Phillips. Predeceased by her parents Gordon Countryman and Jean Countryman (Ouderkirk) Carol spent her early years growing up on a century farm in Morewood,Ontario. She became a school teacher and taught with both the Ottawa and North Dundas School Boards. She spent many years watching over her ﬂock of Grandchildren when they were young, often taking them out on excursions in and around town and enjoyed watching them grow. She was an avid sports fan who took great pleasure in watching her grandkids play their various sporting passions of hockey, basketball, rugby, volleyball and soccer. With her ‘go right through them’ attitude she may have occasionally been heard shouting at the referees, like any good grandmother would. Family was very important to Carol, and she loved them all. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends. A private family service was held. Interment was in the Morewood United Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, donations to the charity of your choice would be appreciated. Condolences/Tributes/Donations Hulse, Playfair & McGarry www.hpmcgarry.ca 613-774-1117

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Mythunderstandings-An irregular column

Is it worth thinking about truth? by David Shanahan When a case is tried in a courtroom, witnesses give testimony and evidence is produced for and against the defendant. The more serious the charge, the more emphasis is placed on the reliability of the testimony and the evidence. Witnesses are required to swear or aﬃrm that what they will testify to is “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”. There is no one, at that point, claiming that truth is relative, that all we can know is “what is true for you, but not necessarily true for everyone”. The issues are too important for that kind of indulgent philosophy. The thing is, the fact is, that we know that some things are true, and that others are not true. The Law of Noncontradiction states that A is not non-A, or if something is black, it is not white, if something is hard, it is not soft, etc. We live that way in our everyday lives. In that

sense, we are intolerant of opposing opinions. Accepting of all claims, no matter how mutually contradictory, is not really a rational or intelligent way of living in the real world. It can be a matter of life or death. However, we freely indulge in that kind of thinking in other areas of life, where we are quite happy to accept contradictory opinions as being equally valid. We think of it as being open-minded, or accepting, or we don’t think about it at all. But, and this is most important, we can only choose between opposing ideas and beliefs if we have carefully examined the claims of each side. Possibly even worse than believing every idea is valid, no matter how lacking in evidence or foundation, is the option many take of taking a stand on one particular viewpoint or ideology without having attempted any examination of the evidence or rationality of that position.

As a society, there is a prevailing social viewpoint which people seem to assume by a form of osmosis. One day, a particular behaviour or opinion is socially unacceptable, and the next it is completely accepted as rational, obvious, and the right thing to believe. This is really a gradual process, and depends more on people being told what is right, and not on their own personal examination of the issue. Just as in a court case, the need for a proper examination of the case, a careful weighing of the evidence, and the credibility of the witness become vastly important. Too often, none of that takes place. We are simply told, bit by bit, that such and such a position is the only right and proper one for reasonable people to take. That, in itself, is a mythology upon which society is built. The myth that our generation is more enlightened, more understanding, and more tolerant than previous

ones, and that what we have decided is right and true is obviously so. Those who believe or think otherwise are intolerant, ignorant, obscurant and narrow-minded. This is fed by the rather odd idea that society is constantly progressing, that today’s philosophy and ideology are more progressive and more advanced than those of enlightened and uninformed generations of the past. We know better. As a historian, I ﬁnd this way of thinking remarkably uninformed, displaying an ignorance of the past and of other societies. And it is that ignorance that allows our thinking to be directed in certain directions, whether by the media, by social platform algorithms, or by an educational system that seems intent on perpetuating the myths. The sudden awakening of our society to the facts of Indigenous history in Canada is a prime example of this failure to know the facts and the truth on which our

country is based. In the same way, as a Christian, the same lack of analysis, the same ignorance of the evidence, has led society to make blanket statements about “religion”, which are based on received wisdom, not actual evidence, facts, or consideration of the evidence available. One of the main reasons this column was started was not, as some correspondents seem to believe, to somehow “convert” people to Christianity. That, I believe, is not the job of the Christian. That is the job Jesus assigned to the Spirit: “he will guide you into all the truth”. Of course, it helps if you believe all of that in the ﬁrst place. The point is that what these articles try to do is to show that there is a rational and historical foundation for the claims of Christianity; that so much of what is generally assumed about what the Bible teaches, what Jesus claimed, and what Christians actually

believe, is not what is often understood. There is no contradiction between “religion” and “science” however they are defined (often inaccurately). The importance of “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” is well understood in courts, particularly when the charges being laid are serious and weighty. But let me ask this: isn’t it extremely serious and weighty to know if God does exist, if there is more to this life than a mere wander through 70 or 80 years before entering the void? Don’t you want to know “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”, whatever that may prove to be? Isn’t it worth at least thinking about, looking into, with a somewhat open mind, rather than simply accepting what others, including people like me, say about it all?”

Celebrate beyond this Ontario Agriculture Week by Larry Davis, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Since 1998, our province has recognized Ontario Agriculture Week as the opportune time to celebrate our dynamic industry and the millions of acres tended by our farmers, the abundance of food produced by the agri-food sector, the Ontarians our industry employs, the rural communities we support and the economic engine we fuel. As we steer towards the heart of harvest, it is the perfect time to reﬂect, acknowledge and give thanks to our province’s farming families. We dedicate our livelihoods to driving the economy forward and work in acres not hours, 365 days a year to provide Ontarians with safe, fresh, high-quality products. Thank you for your hard work, passion and dedication to the agri-food supply chain. This year, Ontario Agriculture Week ran October 4-10. Strategically, the commemoration falls close to Thanksgiving, as it is intended to celebrate the fruits of another growing season, a bountiful harvest and encourage consumers to October 20, 2021

source local ingredients for their holiday meals. At the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, we work hard to increase the proﬁle and awareness of agriculture year-round. Our industry is a powerhouse of possibilities, and for it to fully ﬂourish, the agri-food sector needs to continue to garner consumer support and entice employees to join the workforce. To help our sector further connect with consumers, the Always in Season Project was launched in 2020. The project aims to increase consumer awareness and support for Ontario agriculture, local food and local beverage processors through its “I © Local Social Media Planning Kit”. The kit includes user-friendly templates and makes it easy for municipalities and organizations to promote agriculture awareness events, encourage Agri-tourism and increase knowledge of the year-round availability of local foods. OFA’s food literacy initiative, Six by Sixteen, is geared towards the next generation of consumers with the goal of teaching youth how to locally source and prepare six meals before they reach the age of sixteen.

nual GDP, generates over 860,000 jobs, and supports more than $8.1 billion in annual wages and salaries, with the potential to grow exponentially. The Feeding Your Future initiative was created to ensure that the sector continues to attract and retain labour. Through webinars, agri-training opportunities and virtual career fairs, the initiative provides candidates with the resources to learn more about agriculture, enter the workforce feeling prepared and bridges the gap between new employers and job vacancies. This year, Feeding Your Future conducted 6 virtual career fairs across the Province to match job seekers with agriculture sector employers. Even beyond this Ontario Agriculture Week, I encourage everyone in the sector to celebrate the bounty that our sector provides to the Province, country and world. Fill your plates with Ontario dairy products, meats, preserves, grains and produce. This week, take a bite out of Ontario-grown foods to celebrate another year of agriculture’s immense economic contribution, innovation and success.

This year, we partnered with Bell Media for a provincewide food literacy radio and television campaign that encouraged families to have fun in the kitchen together while learning how to cook, make healthy food choices and ﬁnd local food. Due to pandemic restrictions, our physical participation at ag-education events such as Bite of Brant, Grown in Grey, and other youth events has been limited. To ensure that agriculture’s voice is still being represented we developed three ag-education videos: Moo’s Thirsty, Farmer & the Fish, and Local Food. The recently completed local food video showcases the range of food products grown in Ontario and encourages consumers to source locally by shopping at the farmers’ market, farm gate sale or looking for the Foodland Ontario logo at the grocery store. The video also emphasizes that local foods such as meat, dairy and preserves are available year-round, along with produce, thanks to processing, canning and freezing. Our agri-food sector contributes more than $47 billion to Ontario’s an9

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CROSSWORD

The Food Corner by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville As we harvest the last bits from our garden, a great treat is cauliflower. It’s crunchy texture and lovely flavour makes it one of the kings of vegetables, whether cooked with a nice cheddar cheese sauce, or in a salad. Today, let’s freshen our palates with a Cauliflower and Lemon Salad. It pairs nicely with a well-chilled unoaked Chardonnay, some nice baguette, and leads the way into something more substantial, maybe a roast leg of lamb.

Cauliﬂower and Lemon Salad

Ingredients: 1 medium head of cauliﬂower 1 lemon, sliced thinly 2 cups of cherry tomatoes sliced in half 1 cup of pitted olives, sliced in half (the stuﬀed ones are ok too) 1 small bunch of green

onions, finely sliced ½ cup of good quality olive oil ¼ cup of white vinegar 2 tablespoons of parsley, chopped 1/8 cup of lemon juice or the juice of one lemon (not the first one that you sliced up) 2 tablespoons of oregano leaves (if you have some from your garden, use fresh) 1 tablespoon of dried mustard or one tablespoon of a good mustard, e.g. Pomméry (grain in) 1 tablespoon of crushed garlic a solid shake of black pepper 1 teaspoon of sugar If you wish, 2 or 3 hardboiled eggs put through your egg slicer or cut in slices Preparation: 1. Pour boiling water over the cauliflower and lemon slices and let stand for 10 minutes. 2. Drain well and place in

your salad bowl with the tomato and olive halves. 3. In a largish Mason jar, give a good shake to the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, sugar, garlic, oregano, parsley and pepper. 4. Pour over the vegetables; cover and marinate for a couple of hours or until dinner is ready. 5. Just before serving, and if you wish, peel your hardboiled eggs, slice ‘em and garnish the top of your masterpiece. You can also add a bit of colour by sprinkling just a smidgeon of ground nutmeg or paprika. A scattering of parsley ﬂakes also works. Keep your ideas coming my way, folks, and don’t hesitate to share a family recipe if you think you would allow it to show up here. Just send them along to pcormier@ ranaprocess.com.

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An Amazing Team 100% Vaccinated! By Jane Adams On October 1, the provincial government announced that all staﬀ in long-term care homes must be vaccinated by November 15, 2021. At Dundas Manor, we are already there! One hundred per cent of the staff have received both COVID-19 vaccinations. Only 5 out of 626 long-term care homes in Ontario are at 100% and Dundas Manor is

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku the only home in eastern Ontario to reach this milestone to date. “I want to thank our exceptional team who has never wavered from the beginning of the pandemic. This is another example of how they have put our residents and each other ﬁrst,” notes Administrator Susan Poirier. “I am so proud to work at Dundas Manor.”

“Our primary goal is to keep our residents and each other safe,” adds CEO Cholly Boland. “Ensuring we are all vaccinated helps us provide the greatest level of protection possible.” For more information about Dundas Manor, please visit www.dundasmanor.ca or https://www.facebook.com/ DundasManorWinchester.

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DOWN 1. A heavy open wagon 2. Dull pain 3. Observed 4. Rules of evidence 5. Black gunk 6. Indolent 7. Concentrate 8. Upriver 9. Relax 10. Open skin infections 11. Cain's brother 12. Happy 13. Startled cry 18. German iris 22. Exchangeable 24. Something transitory 25. Sew together loosely 26. In progress 27. Complain 29. Keen 30. Overcome 31. Oﬀensively curious 33. Directed 34. The philosophy of beauty 37. Maniacs 42. He plays a role 44. Handgrip 45. Testify 46. Stomata 47. Artiﬁcial waterway 48. Ark builder 49. Convenience 51. Corridor 52. Decorative case 53. Tall woody perennial grass 54. Wager 56. What we sleep on

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Landlord-tenant issues run both ways by Brandon Mayer

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Most people know who to call when they have a problem such as faulty wiring or a leaky pipe; but for many landlords who experience issues with bad tenants, and likewise, tenants who are stuck with a bad landlord, the question of where to turn is often not easily answered. The Times has received reports from concerned residents on both sides of the issue. One Kemptville landlord, who wished to remain anonymous, provided the Times with a video walkthrough of a house that he had rented to so-called “destructive tenants.” The video showed extensive property damage and filth. The landlord felt he had been taken advantage of and decided to spread the word to help make sure the same thing does not happen to other property owners. The landlord had to go through a difficult eviction process involving the the Ontario Provincial Police, by which time there had been many things stolen from the property. He also told the Times that a neighbouring property had issues with the same tenants, suggesting that they may be working their way through other Kemptville properties with the same disregard for the owners’ properties. From another perspective, the Times received correspondence from an unhappy Kemptville tenant who went

so far as to accuse the landlord of being a “racist and sexist slumlord.” In that case, a string of simple requests, such as asking the landlord to repair windows that were falling out of their frames, led to a series of worsening sanctions that may ultimately leave the tenant without housing. For the tenant, who is disabled and suffers from severe bouts of depression, the situation highlights the problem of a lack of aﬀordable and decent housing in this region. “Being forced back into Ottawa is a very disheartening and scary thing for us; but, it is seeming like it may be our only option. On the upside, in a year or two, there will be more aﬀordable housing.” It has been suggested that the government needs to put a cap on rent or raise the allowance for disabled, vulnerable women and children. $750.00 for a single parent with one child is not nearly enough for suitable housing. In Ontario, issues between landlords and tenants are heard by a tribunal called the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). Through the LTB, tenants can ask for enforceable rulings if, for example, needed safety and comfort repairs are not made in a timely fashion, or parts of the lease agreement are not being followed by the landlord. Similarly, landlords can contact the LTB if tenants are not paying their rent or are causing property damage. This may seem simple, but

Menstrual product dispensers installed in UCDSB Schools

To continue with its ongoing eﬀorts to bring equitable opportunities to each student, the Upper Canada District School Board has made menstrual products free and accessible in every school across the District and dispensers are now installed in all relevant washrooms. Last spring, former UCDSB student trustee, Tain Hughes, brought forward a motion to the Board of Trustee, requesting that the UCDSB formulate a policy that provides free menstrual products within its schools. The motion was supported unanimously and set the wheels in motion for the UCDSB to implement the policy. Over the summer, the UCDSB completed an inventory check and ordered 337 dispensing units and related products which are now available at all the UCDSB schools. Current UCDSB student trustee, Eshal Ali,

there can be hidden setbacks to seeking help through the LTB. Getting help through the LTB is not a fast process. In May, CBC News reported that the LTB is approximately six months behind in helping landlords whose tenants are not paying their rent. For large landlords, or rental properties owned by corporations, this delay is just part of doing business. However, for smaller landlords, such delays can put their own finances in jeopardy as they struggle to pay utility bills and property taxes without receiving rent payments. For tenants, one major issue is that, with sufficient notice, property owners can force evictions for reasons such as selling their property, or choosing to rent the property to immediate family instead. This can often tip the balance of power against tenants, ultimately giving landlords the final say if concessions are not made. One certainty is that in present times, with the COVID-19 pandemic still looming, and issues of affordability and quality continuing to plague the housing market in a worsening fashion, landlords and tenants need to find common ground. While the LTB can help, it is clear that more expedited options need to find their way into struggling hands – landlords and tenants alike. The Times will be looking at various housing-related issues in coming weeks.

October 20, 2021

prefer a surprise. There also develops a feeling of emptiness formulated from the expectation that nothing good will happen. Hope of a positive outcome is the basis of our existence. Without hope, we become emotionally dead. No doubt, you can identify a number of occasions where surprises did not have a favourable outcome, such as car repairs, dentist’s or doctor's bills, protests/rallies, or family dysfunctions. It hurts to be surprised by negativity. We pride ourselves on having everything under control. When that control slips through our ﬁngers, we experience a myriad of feelings- sadness, hurt. worry, fear, disappointment, or simply being overwhelmed with the entire situation. Evaluate the situation for the here and

able in schools, it was made apparent that we weren’t being consistent across the Board. Now all students will know where to get the products they need when they need them without having to worry,” says UCDSB Chair John McAllister. “We’re also appreciative that the Province has recently added support to this initiative by supplying free products to our schools.” Now attending Queen’s University, Tain says that with the dispensers now in place, she hopes that a clear message has been sent to students and families. “Just knowing that students such as my younger sister can now go to school with no external concerns of safety or judgement due to period products is incredible,” says Tain. “I hope this has left a legacy of care, accommodation, and empathy from the UCDSB, showcasing that they cares and hear the students’ voices.”

Funding for Long Term Care homes to increase staﬃng by David Shanahan

Tidbit Musings by Elva Patterson Rutters RSSW Surprises- we usually love them or hate them. Surprises are unexpected events, sometimes preceded by secrecy. Your reaction to a surprise goes back to previous experience, as far back as childhood. Some behaviours are identified as "no surprise there", because of associated prior behaviour. Surprises are, hopefully, generated to elicit excitement, joy, and happiness. Mind you, there are those who like to "surprise' you to "control" you, or to keep you oﬀ balance. Those are unhealthy surprise tactics. Have you ever pondered your reaction to a surprise? For those who have experienced disappointment, hurt, or humiliation as a result of a surprise, the tendency is not to

who attends Seaway District High School in Iroquois, says this initiative correlates with everything the School Board stands for regarding its students. “At all our schools, we want students to feel accepted and understood, and allow for open communication to resolve the issues we face, with a goal to improve ourselves daily,” says Eshal. “This policy is a large step in the right direction, as it helps resolve the issue of economic strain, increase equitability and accessibility, and the awareness of student needs.” The UCDSB’s stance on equality and inclusion outlines a commitment to reducing achievement gaps and allowing for fair treatment and opportunities for all students, regardless of their race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, disability, and other marginalization. “While we have always had menstrual products avail-

now. If abuse is related to your 'surprise', end that chapter and start a new page! You are in the driver's seat. All you can do is to do your best with the information you have as well as the resources you have at the time! When you have a pleasant surprise, accept it as wellmeaning and positive. Your own reaction is all you have control over! NEVER hesitate to reach out for help. No one knows everything except "know it all" persons who do not realize that they really don't know it all, so therefore are not a know-it-alls! You are worth the investment: you will be surprised how you blossom as you grow emotionally!

Long Term Care homes in the Province are to receive additional funding to increase staffing levels by hiring over 4,000 new staff. The new funding of $270 million is part of $4.9 billion promised between now and 2025 to enable LTC homes to hire around 27,000 care staff, which would ensure that residents receive an average of four hours of direct care per day. “We know that more qualified staff means more daily care for residents,” said Rod Phillips, Minister of Long Term Care. “Hiring more staff is part of our government’s plan to fix long term care and to improve the quality of care residents receive and the quality of life they experience.” The Ontario Government intends to legislate the 4-hour per day per patient commitment, and this would increase the daily length of direct care to patients from the current average of two and threequarter hours. Direct care, according to Ministry guidelines, is “hands-on care that includes personal care, such as feeding, bathing and dressing, as well as other important tasks such as helping residents

move, medical/therapeutic treatments, and providing medication”. The increased funding announced by the Minister will increase the daily average to 3 hours per resident per day, by the end of this fiscal year. Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities, pointed out during the funding announcement, that a focus on graduating more qualified care workers is being developed with educational institutions. “By working with our post-secondary education partners, we are training and educating more talent to support the long term care sector in communities across the Province.” The Government has committed to providing funding to enable LTC homes to hire qualified staff over the coming years. The announced

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timetable is for $270 million in 2021-22, $673 million in 2022-23, $1.25 billion in 2023-24, and $1.82 billion in 2024-25. LTC homes will receive specific allocations from the funds for the period up to 2024-25, to assist them in planning future staffing needs to meet the new care requirements. The Province also announced the launch of a $10 million annual fund to support ongoing professional development opportunities in long-term care, through the Supporting Professional Growth Fund. The Fund will support training opportunities for long term care staff to help them stay current on best practices in their field.

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Challenge yourself to better glycemic health

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American philosopher and poet, wrote, “All life is an experiment.” So this week, to conclude our six-part series on the devastating and relentless pandemic of type 2 diabetes, we conclude with a challenge to readers to undertake an experiment. The premise of the experiment is that achieving the “perfect” diet, and carving time for physically active lifestyles, is not always feasible. The evidence is overwhelming that for too many people, losing excessive weight is not easy. In fact, society has become not only complacent about obesity, but accepting of it, and even promoting it.

For “skinny fat people” too – the ones who may not present as overweight, but whose bodies harbour visceral fat around internal organs – there is cause for concern. That fat is like a ticking time bomb strapped to key organs, enabling the forward march of type 2 diabetes and other debilitating conditions like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. But what if readers of this column were to undertake a personal challenge to attempt the same reversal of disease that controlled trials have achieved with as simple an approach as the use of a brown seaweed supplement to control glycemic stress? You can explore any simi-

lar natural ingredients that have been shown to help manage blood glucose swings naturally. These include white kidney beans, cinnamon extract, and coﬀee bean extract. But none have shown the outstanding level of performance in the lab as brown seaweed. A Canadian company, using Canadian sourced ingredients, is making a uniquely Canadian contribution to good health, oﬀering an alternative to consumers who want to halt and reverse the development of diabetes. Found in natural health food stores, Certified Natural’s Glycemic Control contains a concentrated form of brown seaweed called InSea2. The controlled experimental results described last week involved two remarkable six-month trials. One involved pre-diabetic subjects; the other involved individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In both studies, participants took 250 mg of InSea2 30 minutes before each of three meals a day. Results showed a 48% decrease in post-meal blood sugar surge by slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates. This means less insulin is needed to manage blood sugar, effectively reducing demand on the pancreas. Similarly, the research showed a 39% reduction in glycemic stress resulting from sugar digestion. Albert Einstein famously said, “No amount of experimentation can ever prove me

right; a single experiment can prove me wrong.” Thus, in all things, there is a measure of artfulness in determining what combination of factors will be sufficient to convince you of a truth. But there is nothing like personal experience to determine the formula that will work for you. So if you are pre-diabetic or have type 2 diabetes, why not try to replicate the results of these remarkable studies? There are no dead bodies from people trying natural supplements, and while 250 mg of brown seaweed before each meal may not meet Einstein’s test of proof, you can watch for your own results. Maybe like the study participants, you will see improvements in your ability to manage blood sugar levels, and that will be proof enough. Just as Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essays championed individualism in opposition to what he saw as negative societal trends, so this GiffordJones article is an invitation to individual readers to take up a personal challenge. Give it six months of committed effort, and then let us know your results. Sign-up at www.docgiff. com. For comments, contactus@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones.

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STEO Presents Inclement Weather Policy Report: Janet Murray, General Manager and CAO of Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario (STEO), provided trustees with a report on the possibilities, challenges and considerations involved in moving to a zone approach to transportation cancellations and away from the district-wide approach that is currently being followed. This presentation is a follow-up to a motion from trustees in September. Janet outlined the current process, the possible opportunities, challenges and risks with moving to a zone-based model, taking into account safety risk analysis, driver coverage, road maintenance, communication to stakeholders and more. The STEO Board of Directors has agreed to undertake a zonal cancellation model review to be pro-

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October 20, 2021

vided to the STEO Board of Directors by Jan. 31, 2022. If implemented, the new model wouldn’t be set in motion until the 2022-23 school year at the earliest. Update on Student Enrolment: After experiencing higher than predicted enrolment numbers for the 2021-2022 school year, UCDSB staﬀ were asked at a previous Board of Trustees meeting to determine the root causes for the enrolment increases as well as the geographic regions experiencing growth. Staff outlined that for elementary school students – not including kindergarten students beginning their educational journey – the largest reason for the enrolment jump is new students switching from another English public school board to the UCDSB. This accounted for 40% of new elementary registrants. The likely cause is more fami-

lies migrating to the area from another school board region. Meanwhile, 26% of new registrants came from the coterminous Catholic school board. Migration to the area was also the largest reason of increased enrolment for new secondary students as well, including international students. Staﬀ noted that the regions experiencing the most growth include Russell and Rockland as well as the Vankleek Hill, Carleton Place and Rideau Families of Schools. The UCDSB experienced a net positive increase of enrolment of 2% for the 2021-2022 school year. UCDSB Sets Sight on Graduation Success Strategies: UCDSB staﬀ reviewed the projected graduation rate for the 2022 school year and estimated it will be between 84-87%. With a vision for a 90% gradu-

ation rate, the UCDSB has reviewed district-wide data and trends that best help determine possible gaps tied to course completion, pathways, students and teachers, with the goal to turn this information into actionable items. As a result, the UCDSB has re-created its student success vision which encompasses using data and student voice for continued improvement, relying less on credit recovery and focusing on preventative strategies for preventing failures, expanding and standardizing school toolboxes for student success, innovatively revamping courses that are failed regularly, and continuing to develop pathways for students so they have a sense of direction upon graduation. UCDSB Passes Motion for Kindergarten Students to Wear Masks: UCDSB trustees unani12

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mously passed a motion that will require all Kindergarten students to wear masks while at school. During the meeting, Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Chief Medical Officer of Health with the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, indicated that there are no negative health risks for youngest students in this age group to wear masks and that it will provide them with more protection. The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Paula Stewart, has also agreed with this stance. This decision will go into effect at all UCDSB elementary schools on Monday, November 1, 2021.

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