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The Voice of North Dundas
Vol 5, No 1
January 11, 2024
First baby of 2024 arrives at 20:24!
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good fortune in his life, if you believe in such things, that is! Jane Adams, the An annual tradition of announcing the WDMH CommunicaW.A. Pakeman Winchester District Me- tions Lead, was happy & Associates Ltd. morial Hospital’s first to share the news of Life Insurance this unique twist on this You protect your home & car baby of the year got -why not protect your even more special this year’s first baby. Disability Insurance family & business? “Everett Noort didn’t year due to a neat cowant anyone to forget his incidence. This year’s Insurance CriticalLife Illness Insurance “first baby” was born big debut, so he made Disability Insurance at precisely 8:24pm, or sure the time was memoGroup Benefits Critical Ilness Insurance “20:24” on the 24 hour rable – arriving at 20:24 Group Benefits on January 1st, 2024!” clock! Group RRSP Group RRSP The winner of this Jane wrote in a press reyear ’s “first baby” lease. “Everett is the first Contact us today for a Contact us today for a honour was Everett baby born at Winchester no obligation quote! Fax: 613-475-5331 • Tel:1-800-339-5662 • 613-475-2927 no obligation quote! Noort. Surely such an District Memorial Hos613.925.0731 opportune and “happy pital (WDMH) in 2024. PROOF 613-925-0731 nickc@pakeman.ca chance” birth minute His parents Marissa and : Ault and Ault admin@pakeman.ca : Liz nickc@pakeman.ca will bring the lucky boy Ben – and big sister Eloadmin@pakeman.ca Size:much Half : 07/06/2020 Acct: 21529 happiness and ise - couldn’t be happier! by Brandon Mayer
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“The Noorts have strong roots in the area. They live in Winchester in the house that Ben grew up in. Now they are making new memories with their daughter and son.” Marissa says Eloise is very excited about the new arrival: “She didn’t want to have her afternoon nap without her baby brother in the same room.” “Thank you to all the staff, nurses and Dr. Rivington,” Ben added. “We forget some of the names, but everyone was great!” The WDMH birthing unit is well known throughout the region
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and beyond for its excellence. In 2012, a survey report from NRC Picker Canada and the Ontario Hospital Association named WDMH as the Province’s top performer in maternity care. In that study, it was reported that 89.5% of moms who gave birth in Winchester would recommend the hospital to family and friends. Over a decade later, our local hospital continues to boast a stellar reputation, with many expecting parents choosing to give birth in Winchester even when another hospital is closer. There were an astounding 796 babies delivered in the WDMH maternity ward in 2021, a number so high that it made Ottawa headlines. The Times offers its congratulations to the Noort family, and its well wishes to the wonderful staff at the Winchester District Memorial Hospital. Jane Adams invites anyone who would like to provide comments or suggestions about hospital services to please contact Cholly Boland, President and CEO at 613.774.1049 or by email at cboland@wdmh.on.ca.
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The North Dundas Times
Travel Specialist & Registered Ontario Officiant
ANNOUNCEMENT! WE ARE MOVING!
We are extremely EXCITED to announce that as of december we will be officially moved into our new space located at: 91 main St., Morrisburg We will be sharing space with South Dundas Chamber of Commerce
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The South Nation River at Bridge Street in South Mountain. A low hanging sun hides behind a tree and threatens to set much too early, even for a Canadian winter. and some snow flurries gave us a renewed reminder of winter, though it was more of a tease than anything. The photo that accompanies this article tells the story of January 4, when the water of the South Nation River flowed as fast as ever through South Mountain despite a biting cold wind in temperatures
by Brandon Mayer Christmas was not totally green this year, but there was certainly much less snow than many people were surely hoping for. Since the summer, Ontario has been dealing with the somewhat less predictable weather patterns brought on by El Nino – a weather phenomenon that occurs once every few years due to higher than average sea surface temperatures in parts of the Pacific Ocean. This is our first experience of El Nino since 2016, and the current onset of the phenomenon has been used to partially explain the weather patterns we have been seeing since last summer. A dumping of snow in early December left us with some hope for a beautiful, fluffy white Christmas, and also gave school kids their first and only snow day before the Christmas break. But it was predicted that a warm start to winter would extinguish the beauty of the snow, and it sure did! In the week following Christmas, heavy rains soaked our area for several days in a row. Any sign of winter was literally washed away by the rains, which – as if the elimination of our winter wonderland wasn’t bad enough – left mud puddles everywhere! By last week, a cold snap
far below zero. The scene painted a picture of a false chill, with warm days preceding it, and an uncanny feeling that warm weather was once again on the horizon in the days that followed. It wasn’t until last weekend that we finally got a dumping of snow to give us the feeling of winter back,
and quite a dumping it was! Despite this healthy helping of the white fluffy stuff, El Nino is surely not done with us yet, and if last month’s weather was any indication of the effects of this phenomenon, Ontarians may have to start calling it… El Nosnow!
Thank You! Loralee Carruthers, Dan Pettigrew and our amazing Community
Giving is not just about making a donation. It is about making a difference. Kathy Calvin 2
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Editorial
The Voice of North Dundas
The North Dundas Times
Misery loves January by Brandon Mayer The joy that I hope it brings you to be reading a fresh new copy of the North Dundas Times in this new year is perhaps matched only by the joy I get from writing it for you. In prior years, I became accustomed to being asked (by those who noticed the absence of a printed paper during the Christmas season) whether the Times had ceased to exist. No one asked this year, which I can only imagine is because we are becoming a more familiar presence in local homes, and residents of this amazing Township are getting used to our muchneeded holiday break. As with previous years, getting back into the spirit of writing feels much like reconnecting with old friends, even if it only has been three weeks since I put pen to paper for the North Dundas Times. It’s a treat to be able to communicate with thousands of my neighbours all at once. I have been a part of the North Dundas community for nearly eight years now, but it feels like a lifetime of connection.
Perhaps that comes from being born in Winchester and having a childhood feeling that I would one day return and have my own family in North Dundas, a stone’s throw away from where I grew up. The North Dundas Times turns four years old later this year. The very first issue was published on November 4, 2020. It showed up in local mailboxes as though it had already existed for years, with a front page headline reading “Legion begins Poppy Drive 2020”. Nothing about that front page suggested that the Times was a new paper. Its sister paper – the North Grenville Times – had been operating since 2012, so there were already many experienced hands on deck. Besides a pleasant welcome message from editor David Shanahan, that first issue of the North Dundas Times also included a congratulatory article from Mayor Tony Fraser, who celebrated the addition of another newspaper to the North Dundas community after the loss of the Winchester Press. In his message, the Mayor
stated his satisfaction at having another paper on the landscape to complement the work of the Chesterville Record. He also stated happiness at having another platform by which to reach North Dundas residents in his capacity as Mayor. In 2024, we invite all members of Council to share their voice in the Times. This is an invitation that has always been on the table, though seldom if ever accepted by those in office. It would be wonderful to see that change in 2024. Speaking of change, the Times experienced many exciting changes in 2024. One change that is purely anecdotal but nevertheless brings me joy is that North Dundas residents seem to be familiar with our paper in ever increasing numbers. In 2023, we got more news tips, press releases, and letters to the editor than in prior years, and it seems that residents are becoming increasingly aware of our presence when there is something they want to share that is “newsworthy”. There have been other changes as well that were
much more tangible and not just the overjoyed observations of a small town newspaper editor. We hired Nanda Wubs Huizenga as our marketing consultant, and she has been a great source of help for business owners looking to fill their advertising needs. Her involvement with the North Dundas Chamber of Commerce, as well as her status as practically a household North Dundas name has certainly made the paper feel more connected with the community that it calls home. We also gave ourselves a physical location in Winchester at the North Dundas Business Centre where we can meet community members and watch the happenings of our Township’s largest town right outside of our own windows. It’s satisfying for me to know that much of what our readers see in the Times was written in the Times’ own office, which despite being staffed by only me still feels like a hub of community information and connectedness. It’s a different feeling than when I work from home in South
Mountain, though working anywhere within this great community is a privilege. Last fall, two photographers showed up in the entranceway to the Times office to take photographs to put on a real estate website. One of the photographers exclaimed “wow, a newspaper office!” with genuine excitement when he saw me plugging away at my computer with the North Dundas Times banner behind me. I may not have agreed with his joke about me being Peter Parker (he was the guy with a camera after all; if anyone, I would be Jonah Jameson), but I loved his enthusiasm all the same. I think the photographers were from the city, and it was cool to be able to represent the existence of local news in the small community of North Dundas – my community. I have been astounded lately at the wealth of resources I have seen coaching people on how to get rid of their so-called “holiday hangovers”. Such “hangovers” refer not just to the after effects of a couple of weeks of poor alcohol and food choices, but also (pri-
marily) to the mental state in which people tend to find themselves in January. December is probably the most joyous month of the year, filled with generosity, kindness, good food and drink, and the love of family and friends. It’s understandable that people have a hard time with January. It is often said that misery loves company – well misery loves January too! This month, I encourage everyone to shake off the January blues and dive into a brand new year filled with the same loving people and awesome things that made the Christmas season so special. I also invite everyone to remember that the Times is the “Voice of Your Community”. We would love to print your letters to the editor and hear your ideas for stories. We also look forward to continuing to help local businesses spread the word about their amazing goods and services. Happy 2024, everyone! The fun is just beginning.
Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, On behalf of the North Dundas Parade of Lights Committee, I would like to thank everyone who helped make the return of our beloved parade such a huge success. Thank you to all the businesses and community organizations which participated in the Vendor and Trade Show and in the Parade. Thanks to Ron Porteous for doing a great job of emceeing the parade from the main corner. As always, we are grateful to the community organizations and businesses which offer dinners and refreshments on Parade Day, those who opened their doors and parking lots to spectators during the Parade, the Legion for hosting its annual after party, and to the North Dundas Fire Department for arranging a ride in the Parade for Santa. Thank you also
to the volunteers who lent a hand on Parade Day. Of course, none of this would be possible without our sponsors, and for them we are truly grateful. We are always amazed at the effort and creativity that goes into the floats every year, and this year was no exception. We had 53 floats, and choosing winners for our float contest is never an easy task, but it’s one our Planning Committee takes seriously. Floats are judged on a number of criteria, including creativity, originality, effort, detail and audience interaction. Here are this year’s float category winners: - Best Overall Float: OT Scrap Removal - Como Firewood/OT Scrap Removal - Best Business Float: Winchester BMR – Winchester Building Supplies - Best Non-Profit Float: Mini Rig Express - Morewood Recreation Association
- Best Agricultural Float: Terra-Gator - Agri-Partners Crop Centre - Most Lights: Ginger Land Delight – White Tail Construction - People's Choice: EC Carruthers & Sons Sleigh - EC Carruthers and Sons Float winners receive a gift basket with local products. Congratulations to all of our winners. I am very grateful for the dedication and hard work of my fellow Parade Committee members, Brianne Scott, Matthew Roy, Mayor Tony Fraser, and Cheryl Beasley. Of course, what’s a Christmas parade without Santa? Thank you, Santa, for taking time from your busy schedule to take part in our event. We can’t wait to see everyone again at the next Parade! Sandy Burns,Chair, North Dundas Parade of Lights Committee
culverts
ISSN 2291-0301 www.ndtimes.ca
The North Dundas Times is published bi-weekly by North Grenville Times Inc.
Nanda Wubs Huizenga Marketing Consultant nanda@ndtimes.ca 613.223.9765 January 11, 2024
OFFICE 613-215-0735 Editor Brandon Mayer editor@ndtimes.ca 613-215-0735
Accounting Pat Jessop cfo@ngtimes.ca
Production production@ndtimes.ca 613-215-0735
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Mailing Address P.O. Box 1854 Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0
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The North Dundas Times
Council update by Brandon Mayer Due to the restrictions imposed by printing deadlines, there was a regularly scheduled meeting of North Dundas Council that occurred mid December which had yet to be covered in the Times’ regular Council updates. The twohour meeting took place on December 11, opening with a presentation from Bill Smirle providing a budget and general update from South Nation Conservation Authority. Next, representatives from BDO provided an update on an audit of the Township’s finances. The presentation confirmed that the Township’s finances are “clean” and fall within the guidelines of the Public Sector Accounting Standards. Another report on finances followed immediately after, focusing on the technical particulars of a surplus in the budget and differences in how it was tracked in the auditor’s report vs by the Township’s own accounting department. Council members were then pleased to discuss a proposal for a blanket insurance policy to cover public events in the Township, thereby making these events easier to organize. Council members gave comments of support, and then approved the concept, with a final amended policy set to be ratified with a vote in the coming months. Routine business came next, including an update on the Township’s MultiYear Accessibility Plan, and updates to the Winter Maintenance and Salt Management policy. Council then jumped into a consideration of a proposal first made in early 2023 by Sevita International, a company with a local facility whose management was
House of Lazarus to requesting exceptions to half interim roles – Director of a Junior Firefighter Program hold an online auction load restrictions on some Transportation and Director to generate interest in firebackroads between South Mountain and Winchester. The document prepared by staff for Council’s consideration seemed to be leaning against granting the exception for Sevita, stating several times throughout the document that other businesses have made this request before and that if granted, other businesses will surely come forward and make the same request. The report also stresses that full loads during spring months can “result in muddy, rutted roads”. Following the presentation of the report, Mayor Tony Fraser spoke up and stated that as a Township supported largely by the agriculture industry, support should be shown for agriculture (he also lamented that the Province often does not show such support). The Mayor then moved a vote on option 2 – which permits Sevita an exception on a permit basis with a recommended fee of $20,000 annually to help cover road repairs – and this option was passed unanimously. Routine business followed once again. Finances were moved around to account for a shortfall on the Cayer Road bridge project and the upcoming Nation Valley Road bridge replacement. The proposed amendment to the Dog Control By-law discussed in the previous meeting was confirmed. This by-law includes the elimination of the dog tag requirement in the Township. Council then approved two requests to delay the payment of development charges to help spread costs for developers over time. The next item of business was the confirmation of Preston Stronach as the new Chief Building Official and Supervisor of By-law Services for the Township. In addition, two positions which had previously been
fighting in youth who may be willing to join the Department when they turn 18. Next, when the Township’s Director of Recreation and Culture, Meaghan Meerburg provided an update on proposed increases to the rental rates for Township facilities, Mayor Fraser suggested that it may make more sense to maintain the status quo on base rates, but incorporate insurance costs into the rental rates. A motion will come back to Council on this issue in the near future. Council members then discussed how to moderate comments on the Township’s new online community platform (https://letsconnect.northdundas.com/), followed by the approval of routine consent agenda items. Some informal discussions of committee business and December events followed before the meeting adjourned. There has been only one Council meeting in 2024 so far. It was a special meeting lasting just over 5 minutes on January 4 to discuss one item – a petition for drainage works by a property owner. It was explained by staff that Council simply needs to approve the petition, with costs then covered by the property owner. The motion was quickly approved, and the special meeting was adjourned. The next Council meeting will take place on January 18 and will be covered in the next issue of the Times.
of Environmental Services – were made into permanent positions within the Township. The two staff members who were filling the interim roles will continue in their positions permanently. Following a short break, Council jumped back into business and discussed a timeline for the 2024 budget presentation and approval, which is anticipated for February. An update on the proposed expansion of the Boyne Road Landfill (to ensure that it can continue to meet the Township’s waste needs) was also given. The Mayor commented that this expansion has been many years in the making, and he stated that he was happy that it will likely soon go ahead. The agenda for the evening provided an update on the status of current water and sewer projects, though these projects were not discussed besides a confirmation that they are “on budget”. Projects include a Winchester sewage pumping station upgrade, an upgrade to the Chesterville reservoir and filtration system, and the building of the pumphouse for the new Lafleur road wells, which is anticipated to be complete in 2025, adding 800 additional water units to the Township. Fire Chief Kreg Raistrick spoke to Council next, giving an update from the Fire Department, including recent training given to firefighters. The Chief also reported that the average age of firefighters locally is increasing, so the Department will be implementing
When a transport truck rolls in with a special donation, you know that great things are about to happen. House of Lazarus was delighted to receive a truck load of staging items donated by Stage Fright Staging & Decorating Inc.. The items include bedding, throw pillows, accessory tables, dining tables, artwork, chairs and much more! All items are in great condition. Peter and Helen Ross and the staff of Peter Ross Auction Services Ltd have graciously donated their time to organize a special online auction of these furnishings for HOL. “This auction comes at a time when housing insecurity is at an all time high,” stated Cathy Ashby, Executive Director of House of Lazarus, “Revenue raised through the online auction will go towards our housing programs.” House of Lazarus offers several housing programs: Handyman Heroes provides urgent housing repairs; Heat for the Holidays provides wood to heat homes; Places for People provides affordable housing units; South Dundas Community Hub and Warming Centre offers resources locally and provides beds, showers and warm meals to those unhoused; Hope Bags contain essential items that are handed out by the OPP to people who are experienc-
ing homelessness, and The Last Resort Program offers resources to keep people housed or to house people. “Unfortunately, there are people in our community who are experiencing homelessness or at great risk of becoming unhoused. The funds raised through this auction will help us to continue to offer support and resources to those with housing needs. We are grateful that we live in a community that is supportive to the needs of others,” said Cathy. The online auction will open on January 12, 2024 at 12:00 noon and close on Thursday, January 18, at 6:00 pm (staggered soft close). To access the auction, visit www.peterrossauction. hibid.com. House of Lazarus has food banks in Mountain and Ingleside and offers many outreach programs. For more information about HOL programming and resources, visit: https://hol. community.
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Farmers appreciate consumer trust in food system
by Ethan Wallace, OFA Canadian consumers continue to have a high level of trust in our food system and many of their key concerns mirror those of the farming community. That’s according to the results of the 2023 Public Trust Research Report into Canada’s food system that was released recently by the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity. Unsurprisingly, this year’s study continues to place food affordability at the top of the list of issues Canadians think about when it comes to our food supply, with 54% indicating that the cost of food is their primary concern. This is followed by inflation, healthcare and housing – all issues that are also concerns for Ontario’s farmers and their families. At the same time, consumers overall continue to be supportive of the food and agriculture sector’s ability to innovate and grow. Two key indicators have stayed
steady over the last year: public trust and the proportion of Canadians who feel that the food system is headed in the right direction. More than half of respondents noted that they feel Canadian agriculture overall is trustworthy or very trustworthy. Farmers are the most trusted group of Canadian food system stakeholders – 65% of respondents believe farmers to be trustworthy or very trustworthy – followed by scientists and university researchers. That is certainly good news for those of us in the farming community. I’m the fifth generation of my family to farm in Ontario; my wife, children and I are dairy farmers near Seaforth on a farm we recently took over from my parents. We love what we do, but we wouldn’t be able to do any of it without the support of consumers, their trust in what we do, and their willingness to buy the products we grow, raise and produce. How we do that has
changed dramatically in recent decades as science continues to evolve and we adapt our practices. On our farm, for example, we now milk our cows with robots in a large new barn with sand bedding that offers our livestock the latest in comfort and welfare. The fields we used to plow every year before planting our crops are now 100% no-till, which means that we don’t disturb the soil at planting. This boosts soil health and structure, making the soil and our crops more resilient to extreme weather conditions like drought or too much rain. It’s part of what we do to ensure we’re producing food sustainably and responsibly and to ensure our children will have the opportunity to
farm should they choose to do so. Our farm’s story of innovation, growth and commitment to continuous improvement is not unique though; it’s one that is common to so many family farms across Ontario. That’s why the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) welcomed the provincial government’s recent announcement that it is modernizing the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO) Act, which governs provincial agricultural research. ARIO is a provincial agency that owns Ontario’s 14 research station properties that support agriculture research ranging from livestock and field crops to greenhouse and horticulture. This modernization
will bring the research farmers rely on to be innovative into the 21st century and beyond, focusing not just on agricultural production but also topics like environment, climate change, water and processing. Updated legislation will make it easier to evaluate and adapt new techniques, tools and technologies on our farms and in our food processing facilities which ultimately could have significant impacts on our provincial economy and our food security. We appreciate that the government sees value in building the farming sector and supporting future innovation that will let us strengthen our ability to not just feed ourselves but also the world.
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NHL Alumni Hockey Night raises $84,000 for new equipment at WDMH
submitted by Jane Adams From the ceremonial puck drop to the final minute of play, the WDMH Foundation’s first-ever NHL Alumni Hockey Game was a fun night for former NHL players, local hockey players who played alongside them and families who came to watch the game. And when it was over, $84,169.75 was raised for the WDMH Foundation’s General Equipment Fund. What a night! “They laced up and hit the ice – and everyone had fun,” noted Justine Plummer, Manager of Direct Mail and Events. “Thank you to the players who raised funds, our sponsors and volunteers, and everyone who came to the game.” “Many people are surprised to learn that the provincial government does not fund the purchase of medical equipment for Ontario hospitals. That’s where the WDMH Foundation and our generous donors come in,” added Managing Director Kristen Casselman. “Events like these help us to help the WDMH team deliver the very best care!”
January 11, 2024
The Voice of North Dundas
Tom Clapp’s bucket list – check that off!
submitted by Jane Adams W h e n To m C l a p p turned 80, he had a plan. As a 10-year plus cancer survivor, Tom wanted to give back to his community. So he created Tom’s Bucket Run, gathered a team and participated in the 5K Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. Along the way, they raised funds for the WDMH Foundation’s Cancer Care Navigator Fund. The team included Dawn Erikson, Libby Pelkey, Marie Schelp, Jennifer Taksma, Debra King,
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Murray Link, Jonas Fossitt and Cholly Boland. On December 5th, Tom presented a cheque for $12,875.63 to the WDMH Foundation. “It was a blast and we had a great team,” noted Tom. “This is a cause near to my heart.” Winchester District Memorial Hospital’s Cancer Care Navigator works with patients to identify their needs and to help them develop a plan to meet their specific goals. She can answer questions
about care, provide education, and link to local community resources. On his fundraising page, Tom shared why he created his very own
bucket list: “Life is a gift, so we need to live every day to the fullest, Live well, Laugh often, Love much (our family motto). … Thanks to early detection and treatment, I can live my life to the fullest, enjoying my family and community. So please support us and let’s fight cancer!” “Thank you to Tom and his team for this incredible donation and for his commitment to supporting cancer care and raising awareness in our community,” summed up Justine Plummer, Manager of Direct Mail and Events at the WDMH Foundation. “Tom’s enthusiasm is definitely contagious and we are so grateful for his energetic support!”
New Year’s Resolutions - Nutrition by Danielle Labonte, RD, MPH, MAN, Public Health Nutritionist Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark District Health Unit The New Year is here and this often comes along with resolutions focused on changing our eating habits. There are certainly times when changing our eating habits can be helpful and improve our health; for example, increasing our vegetable and fruit intake or drinking more water are excellent goals to set. However, in our society it is often normalized to talk and think about food in a way that can lead to people having a negative relationship with it and with our bodies. It is common for weight and food to be linked together, specifically when we think about “dieting” as a way to change our bodies. This can lead to disordered eating and eating disorders, among other negative outcomes. Disordered eating is a term that includes a wide range of harmful eating behaviours that may not lead to an eating disorder diagnosis, and eating disorders are illnesses with specific and narrow criteria that health care practitioners would use to diagnose individuals. When we are looking for information on changing our eating habits, red flags to keep in mind include recommendations that: - suggest cutting out an entire food group (i.e., vegetables and fruit, whole grains, and protein foods), - can lead to ignoring our hunger cues (e.g., through intermittent fasting, calorie restriction), and - villainize certain foods (e.g., labeling them as good or bad, healthy or unhealthy, calling certain foods “junk” food). These are all signs that this messaging could be leading you down the wrong path. To combat this, it is helpful to be mindful of these red flags. Consider the words used around food and strive for neutral language. Call foods by their actual names; for example, cookie, apple, chips, broccoli, etc. Check in with your self-talk related to your own body image and relationship with food, and avoid judging yourself based on what you eat. This can be challenging to get used to, but the more often you are able to reflect on this, the easier it becomes. It is also helpful to be aware of the mindset of those around you and surround yourself with those who will support you through the process. You may need to set boundaries with individuals – certain topics might be “off limits”, or you might delay seeing them until you are in a better place. For more information, visit our Health Unit website at healthunit.org, follow us on Facebook and X, or give us a call at 1-800-660-5853. www.ndtimes.ca
The Voice of North Dundas
The North Dundas Times
Garden Villa management offers reassurance after entering receivership
by Brandon Mayer Following the release of some publicly available financial records, a local retirement home is putting any fears and rumours to rest before they have a chance to materialize. In the fall of last year, the Garden Villa Retirement Residence in Chesterville became the subject of a court appointed “receivership” with a creditor due to outstanding debts. The residence’s management is reassuring the public that everything is under control, and nothing is likely to change, except for the better. The receivership is a matter of public record. On October 26, 2023, Meridian Credit Union Limited filed the motion against Garden Villa, and the receivership was endorsed by Justice C. Hackland. The receivership order grants BDO Canada Limited – a debt solutions
company – control of the Garden Villa’s operations and assets, but this is up to the discretion of BDO. BDO’s Notice of Receivership – also a document of public record – lists the assets and debts of the Garden Villa, and states “the Receiver [BDO] intends to monitor the retirement home operations until it conducts a sales process and realizes on the assets of Garden Villa.” While this situation may seem dire for the Garden Villa, it can actually be part of the financial restructuring of any business, and does not necessarily bode poorly for the retirement home. Garden Villa management was contacted to request clarification on the situation. “Garden Villa has not declared bankruptcy and continues to operate while under court supervision,” said Kyle Simourd of Better Group, which manages the retirement home.
purposes, it is business as usual at Garden Villa. This is evidenced by the fact that the only changes at Garden Villa since the receivership began in October have been ones that would be deemed positive.” On the practical side of things, Garden Villa management has a plan in place to help beautify the retirement home and increase residency. “It is important to note that Garden Villa is renovating empty rooms as needed to attract new residents and a comprehensive roof replacement is underway, as approved by the Receiver and Garden Villa’s primary financial stakeholder,” Kyle added. The Garden Villa is a two storey, bustling and vibrant retirement residence in downtown Chesterville. It features a full service dining room, a fireside lounge, a garden and paved walking trails, an activity room, a library, a beauty salon, and more. The residence has 87 suites, and opened over a decade ago.
“The Receiver has financial oversight of the business and is working to restructure the financial affairs of the business,” Kyle added. “A key objective of the restructuring has been and continues to be to ensure that residents and staff do not experience any negative changes, including in care and quality of living at Garden Villa. Day-to-day operations and resident services continue to be managed by Darlene Sherrer, Executive Director, and Better Retirement Living Inc, the management company.” Management is intent on making sure that the receivership order is correctly interpreted as a step in financial restructuring, rather than a sign of future troubles for Garden Villa. “All trade payables and accounts are current, and it is entirely anticipated that there will be no interruptions on this front,” Kyle explained. “For all intents and
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Register for Kindergarten today!
Justine White, Shelter Manager, Loralee Carruthers and Dan Pettigrew To Dan at Foodland, Justine at Naomi House, & our Incredible Community for making the Angel Trees a success! Huge gratitude to Naomi House for ensuring the Angel Tree with Angels stayed vibrant this year. Your generosity has made a real difference. Without the help of our Great Community, the Angel Tree would not have been the Success it was this year.
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Century 21 River's Edge Ltd
January 11, 2024
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Redmond, Mildred Jean
The Weather with Connor
Thank You
(Nee MacIntosh)
Peacefully at the Winchester District Memorial Hospital on Sunday December 17, 2023. Mildred Redmond in her 95th year of Winchester. Beloved wife of the late Lyle Redmond. Loving Mom of Steve (Debbie), Barry (Janet) and Mark (Tammy). Cherished Grandma of Casey (Stephanie), Angela, Christina (Rob) Barber; Phillip, Christopher and great- grandchildren Owen, Cassidy, Kingston, Haven, Sydney and Addison. Predeceased by her parents Mabel and Thaddeus MacIntosh and her brothers Donald (the late Joan) MacIntosh & Ian (the late Glenna) MacIntosh. By Mildred’s request Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Mountain Township Agricultural Hall 2967 Lough Road, South Mountain on Saturday January 20, 2024 from 1 to 4 p.m. By family request donations may be made in Memory of Mildred to the Winchester District Memorial Hospital Foundation –for the new Dundas Manor. Arrangements entrusted to the Byers Funeral Home, South Mountain (613-989-3836).Online condolences may be made at www.byersfuneralhomeinc.com
The Family of the late Pauline Sharkey would like to express our heartfelt thanks to family relatives and friends for their love, support and hugs. Donations and flowers were truly appreciated. Special thanks to Reverend Dr Anne Quick, Judy Hilson and Ben Vreman. Thanks to the Anglican Parish Church ladies for the luncheon and Hulse, Playfair and McGarry funeral homes for their support
Hello, everyone! Welcome back to another week of The Weather with Connor. This week's column won’t have much weather in it at all, this is more of a talking about my life column, as I’ve got some news for you (if you don’t already know about it). So, just a bit of a backstory for you. My Fiance, Zoé, is currently going to school to become a sleep lab tech. It’s a two year program and she has completed a year and a half. This semester coming up in January is the last semester of school for her. The difference, though, is that this semester isn’t done in the school, it’s done with a co-op placement elsewhere. Zoé’s co-op placement had a few locations as possibilities. It started off with Kingston, Ottawa, and North Bay being the options. As time went on, it was realized that those options couldn’t happen as other people had gotten them first. So, she started looking for other options. Alberta was actually a very real possibility for a while, but she decided to not make a 4 day drive (in the winter) across the
Bob, Debbie, Donna, and families
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January 11, 2024
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very bittersweet day for me personally. I love that store, I grew up inside that store essentially. Aside from that, Zoé’s co-op itself is only 4 months long, the same length as a regular semester of school would be. It’s entirely possible that we will return to Eastern Ontario after four months, where she would then find the job that she went to school for around our region somewhere. Or, the other possibility is that she gets a job in Moncton if they offer her the position, and we’d stay for a little bit longer. If that happens, we don’t know what the future holds, but I promise that you’ll know when we do. I’ll still be doing all my regular forecasting on Facebook as well, so there’s no need to worry about me quitting any of that. I could never do that even if I wanted to, it’s my life passion, and I won’t let that falter. Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.
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country. The decision was made around the end of October that the location for the co-op would be Moncton, New Brunswick. And yes, I will be going with her. In other words, Zoé and I are moving to Moncton! The move comes quickly, we’re already starting the packing process. We leave Ontario on January 6th, for a 12 or 13 hour day of driving to our Air BnB in east Moncton. While I’ll be in a different province, I will not be stopping doing The Weather with Connor columns. I’m sure I will have plenty and plenty of stories to tell you from the packing process, the drive, and just life over there in general. Realistically, I’d never stop writing these columns because I love writing too much. I know a lot of you who read these columns recognize me at Foodland here in Winchester. Obviously, I can’t drive 12 hours a day to come to work, so I’ll have to leave there as well. My last day is Saturday, December 30th, which will be a
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An active lifestyle is the right resolution
One week into the New Year, and how are you doing on your resolutions? Most people make ambitious plans at the end of December and by this point can’t remember what they were. A few people overdo it, like those who commit to running a marathon before they’ve had success with a daily walk. If you are constantly worrying about how to strike the perfect balance, that’s also a waste of your time and no help for your heart. The best habits for health are regular moderate exercise, a healthy diet, good sleep, and an upbeat outlook. First thing in the morning, every morning, is a natural time to check in with yourself. Step on a scale and make sure the number you see never goes above your set healthy weight. If it does, use intermittent fasting and moderate activity to get back in your zone. Take a moment to plan the good health elements of your day, making them enjoyable pursuits. People often set their goals too high. The clas-
January 11, 2024
sic examples are patients who have been told by their doctors that they have blocked coronary arteries. Anyone having experienced and survived the crushing pain of a heart attack will know how living with the threat of impending doom drives a commitment to action. A myocardial infarction becomes an “ego infarction” and they simply overdo it. Too much, too suddenly is risky business. Regrettably, some patients become cardiac basket cases. Take the story of the doctor diagnosed with heart disease who lay in bed for hours on end listening with a stethoscope to the beat of the heart. No sane doctor would advise this, nor that patients take up marathons. A common funny line goes, “Whenever I feel like exercising, I lie down until the feeling passes.” Good marks for humour, but not the right approach. Being inactive is the same as being in decline. Muscles atrophy. Bones lose mass. Circulation weakens and less oxygen reaches vital organs.
The Voice of North Dundas
Op-ed 2023 problem: Meet 2024
Mood is dampened. Social connections dissipate. Unless you are lying around outside in the sun, a vitamin D deficiency is probably involved. The list goes on. So yes, go out and buy a new pair of running shoes to carry you through the year ahead. But you might consider calling them walking shoes. There are a multitude of studies on how exercise impacts the human body, including those that compare intensive training with more moderate efforts. The findings show that you don’t need to push it with strenuous exercise. A study at Guelph University found that moderate exercise five days a week had better results in terms of reduced body fat and improved blood pressure than shorter periods of more intense exercise three days a week. Regular moderate exercise is also known to help control blood sugar levels. Aerobic activities like going for a brisk walk will lower glucose levels, while weightlifting, for example, and other high intensity activities can have the opposite effect. Getting outdoors for exercise has other benefits. Researchers have found changes in brain chemistry from a walk in the woods. People suffering from depression report it’s a do-it-yourself form of therapy. The cost of a pair of shoes and some time out of your day are far better investments in well-being than resorting to pharmaceutical drugs designed to treat one problem or another. Here's a challenge for the new year. Ask your doctor to tell you their preferred approach to fighting heart disease or depression. If they start to list the latest drugs, then walk, don’t run, for the woods! Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@ docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_ jones.
Louise St S., looking south.
York Street looking east. by Brandon Mayer One of the two photos you’ll see appended to this article may look very familiar to you. The shot of York Street in Winchester looking east from the Hospital is one that appeared in the Times – though on a much snowier occasion – in February of 2022, nearly two years ago. A close up of one of the red and white “do not enter” signs also appeared in a somewhat more sarcastic update on the same issue in July of last year. The issue of course, is the fact that two streets in Winchester are dedicated as “oneway” streets, but they are travelled the wrong way perhaps a dozen or more times a day! I wanted to bring attention to the issue when I wrote the news article two years ago. I spend at least 6 hours a day at Winchester Public School, often more, and wanted to bring my own observations to the table. Fast forward nearly a year and a half to last summer and I was disheartened that the problem was still nearly just as bad! I have actually had to step into the middle of the street and help guide drivers to pass each other safely when one is going the wrong way! Here we are now – the new year has come, and a 2022 problem that 9
became a 2023 problem is now a 2023 problem that became a 2024 problem. Will it ever end? For safety reasons, I suggest that it needs to end… and quickly. A car travelling east on York Street between Louise and St. Lawrence (i.e. the wrong way) does not see adequate signage for the very busy crosswalk, does not actually have room to proceed if a car comes quickly around the corner onto York Street from St. Lawrence, and does not have a stop sign to command them to stop at (very busy) St. Lawrence Street. With my estimate of 6-12 vehicles going the wrong way on York Street or Louise Street daily, it’s a miracle no one has been hurt yet. My hope with previous articles was to spread information. The problem is, the Times is only delivered in North Dundas. It is doubtless that at least some ND residents still don’t know that the streets are one-way, because old habits don’t die easily in small towns, but surely the 5,500 households who receive the Times are not the only ones who use Winchester District Memorial Hospital, traffic in and out of which I assume is the biggest source of the problem. It’s likely out-of-town hospital visitors who either find themselves turning south onto Louise Street (wrong way!) to get
to the Hospital, perhaps to bring a family member a snack from Circle K, or they end up proceeding straight (east) down York Street when exiting the Hospital (also… wrong way!). I have said it before and I will say it again: a red circle with a white horizontal bar means “do not enter” in the driver’s handbook. Driver’s have 100% responsibility for knowing the rules, signals, and signs of the road. Nothing can excuse a driver driving past two of these signs. These drivers should be taking a mandatory driving refresher course, if you ask me. However, with the problem now going on as long as it has, I’m ready to take a new angle: Council needs to act. New signs were just purchased and installed to mark the bus lane and parking spaces surrounding the school (don’t even get me started about how some of this official signage uses the word “daycare” rather than “childcare”, the former of which is considered derogatory by many in the childcare industry). How much would it have cost to add in four new signs, one to be posted below each of the existing signs, reading either “DO NOT ENTER” or “WRONG WAY”? Even better, for each of the two streets, one sign could have one phrase, and the other could have the second phrase. I am all for holding drivers accountable for their behaviour. A red circle with a white horizontal bar means “do not enter”, and drivers should know that. But particularly considering that these streets surround a school, and any victims of wrong way traffic are therefore more likely to be children, I would rather concede and provide written signs, rather than sticking it out with the current signage to prove a point. How long does a problem need to fester before we do something about it? I may not know much about traffic control, but I do know that two years of danger is already far too long.
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CROSSWORD
NDDHS update submitted by Shealyn Elliott North Dundas High School had a flurry of events and fundraisers during the month of December. The first major event of December was our Angel Tree fundraiser. It was concluded on December 15, and there were plenty of gifts addressed to children of all ages and genders that were donated to our local BMR. We thank all the staff and students who helped donate to our Angel Tree fundraiser, as you helped bring joy to disadvantaged families across the North Dundas area. The second major fundraiser of last month was the ND Closet in the Cafeteria. We had an enormous amount of do-
nations, from clothing to school supplies to canned goods, to help support our students. Thank you to all of the volunteers who spent their time rejuvenating this space and organizing the donations. On December 20, North Dundas High School hosted an ND Christmas Band Concert for our talented student body to show off their immense talent. We thank our ND band for creating a wonderful night of Christmas songs and holiday joy. Following the Band Concert, the North Dundas Student Council ran the annual Gingerbread Contest. Since there was a great amount of creativity and passion put into these houses, it was a difficult decision to settle on a definite winner. In
Tid bit musings by Elva Patterson Rutters, RSSW C O N G R AT U L A TIONS!! It is the time to celebrate before focusing immediately on new goals that are SMART: S-Specific, M-measurable, A- attainable, R- Relevant, T-time allotted. Knowing how much you want to lose in specific ounces or pounds/kg is more measurable than just "lose weight" But before you enter the new endeavours, what are you celebrating? The key priority is to celebrate that you are still on the green side of the grass. So many, it seems, lost their life to death from illness or accident or just aging gracefully. You also survived those losses in your life. Grief is the loneliest, most individual journey to navigate and you are doing it!! Kudos to you for plotting a different path in other areas of life. Perhaps your health, physical or mental, has taken a toll on your daily walk, but you are progressing by taking one step at a
time. That is all you can do - just put one foot in front of the other to accommodate those baby steps. For others, finances or geographical relocation has impeded our sense of belonging. Perhaps you accessed resources you contributed to before - food bank, thrift stores, or just communicating your woes to someone. That defines you as a survivor! For others, interpersonal relationships have been upside down with respect to expectations. You survived the alienation from friends and/or family. Their abandonment/estrangement is more about them than you. Their actions may qualify as abusive. It takes awareness/ resiliency and maturity to work through issues. Walking away without conversation is being cowardly. Reconciliation and forgiveness are not synonymous. Why would you want to reconnect with a rapist or murder or abusive person? You made it through one of the most sentimental times of the year.
Nanda Wubs Huizenga Marketing Consultant nanda@ndtimes.ca 613.223.9785 ww.ndtimes.ca
January 11, 2024
the end, Chelsey’s group won for the intermediates, and there was a tie for first place for Emmalyn Hutchinson's group and Connor England’s group for secondary. Thank you to all of the participants and good luck next Christmas! For the final event of December, the NDDHS Student Council ran our Student vs. Staff volleyball game. We were so excited to see the two teams compete on December 22. We, the North Dundas Student Council, hope that everyone had a happy holiday and wish everyone a great new year. Students are now back in school to end our busy semester with exams and to get prepared for the exciting events of January and beyond.
ACROSS 1. An abandoned calf or lamb 5. Bit of parsley 10. Infant 14. Ends a prayer 15. Sporting venue 16. Component used as fertilizer 17. Carved up 19. Type of duck 20. Estimated (abbrev.) 21. Child 22. Ending in a piercing point 23. Comment at length 25. Thick woolen fabric 27. Ovum 28. More tangled 31. Omit 34. Not here 35. 56 in Roman numerals 36. Workshop gripper
37. Type of flower 38. Sleigh 39. S 40. Lower part of the abdomen 41. Beach 42. Doltishly 44. Life story 45. Archer's bolt 46. Fundamental 50. Craze 52. Of a pelvic bone 54. Color 55. Circle fragments 56. Skin diving 58. Prevaricates 59. Elicit 60. Against 61. Not difficult 62. Aromatic compound 63. Hitching place DOWN 1. Enclosed
For others, your health took a beating this past year but you are here to share the experience. Kudos to you!!! Perhaps your recommendations have created change in the process of medical protocol. Factor in your good Solutions to last week’s Sudoku deeds, both small and large. You put a smile on someone's face just by waving at them. BRAVO to you!!! Celebrate you and your accomplishments regardless of how trivial. Going out for coffee is a challenge when you have social anxiety. Taking time to heal involves self-discipline and Easy acknowledgement of your abilities. That takes intestinal fortitude. Kudos for doing self-care. Take the time to list the successful endeavours that you mastered in 2023 before setting new challenges. Take time to be definitive. What does better mean? How do you achieve the goals? I always pray to win the lottery and am disappointed when it is only $2.00. I must acHard cept that God answered my prayers even if the dollar amount was not specified in my prayer. Take time to thank God for making you you! You are special and worthwhile just because God does not make junk! If you look hard and deep enough, there is good inside everyone. That includes YOU! Rejoice and be glad in what you have done in 2023! 10
2. Entertain 3. Arrears 4. Finish 5. Preserving 6. Publish 7. Overhaul 8. Immobility 9. Roam 10. Unit of dry measure 11. Nocturnal armored mammal 12. Ale or lager 13. Make a raucous noise 18. Picture 22. Arid 24. Yield 26. Cautious 28. Polished 29. Always 30. Fair attraction 31. Nights before 32. Itemize 33. Provisions 34. Breezes from behind 37. Birdbrain 38. Fired a projectile 40. Former Italian currency 41. Subsequently 43. Excessively prim and proper 44. Lab container 46. Sorceress 47. Rhinoceros 48. Parental sisters 49. In accordance with law 50. Not female 51. Diva's solo 53. Boor 56. Observe 57. Once around the track
Medium
Solution to last week’s Crossword
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The Voice of North Dundas
Your Health & Wellness Building strength for daily triumphs
by Craig Pollard, AFitter.Me The benefits of weight training on everyday functionality In the pursuit of a healthier and more fulfilling life, weight training has emerged as a cornerstone for achieving not only physical prowess but also enhanced everyday functionality. Beyond just bulging biceps and chiseled abs, the benefits of weight training extend to improved posture, increased energy levels, and greater overall functionality that can transform the way we navigate our daily routines. One of the key advantages of weight training lies in its ability to enhance muscle strength and endurance. As individuals engage in progressive resistance training, muscles adapt by becoming stronger, leading to better support for the skeletal structure. This, in turn, results in improved posture, reducing the risk of chronic pain and enhancing the body's balance and stability. The functional benefits of weight training extend to the practicalities of daily life. Lifting heavy bags of groceries, carrying a toddler, or even simply maneuvering through crowded spaces becomes easier when one has a solid foundation of strength. Weight training doesn't just build muscles, it builds confidence and independence. The positive impact on mental well-being is equally noteworthy. Engaging in regular weight training sessions triggers the release of endorphins, which are natural mood enhancers. This can help combat stress, anxiety, and depression, allowing individuals to approach daily challenges with a more positive mindset. Incorporating weight training into one's routine need not be an arduous task. Consulting a fitness professional to design a personalized program based on individual goals and abilities is a prudent first step. With dedication and consistency, the rewards of weight training can be experienced by people of all ages and fitness levels. Weight training is not just about sculpting a magazine-worthy physique. It's about fostering strength, resilience, and confidence in our day-to-day lives. By investing in our physical well-being through weight training, we are investing in a future where each day is met with vitality and vigour. Craig is a Certified Personal Trainer and is certified in Nutrition for Sport and Performance. He operates AFitter.Me, a private weight training facility in Kemptville.
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Baldwin's Birds
Rockets win big to remain unbeaten
Red Breasted Nuthatch with nut in beak.
Bluejay surveying the scene.
A Hunter Returns
christmas. I'll leave you to distinguish between fact and fiction by yourself! Looking out of the window, the nearest relation that I can see to any of these birds on this cold winter day is a lovely Mourning Dove which stays with us all year round and doesn't need a "seasonal" excuse to be remembered by us at all! Of course, the hapless Turkey is also remembered, but for the wrong reason. It has a long history associated with it before it became traditional Christmas fare in the mid-eighteenth century, but I'll leave you to pursue that further if you so desire. My title might have been mis-leading during my bird ramblings, but it was refer-
You are, no doubt, reading this as a post seasonal activity, following another Christmas and New Year celebration. Our Avian friends, of course, don't participate actively in such events, but they are remembered and mentioned in many of our traditional songs and the related stories at this time of the year. How would we get through the 12 Days of Christmas without them? Here is some sort of explanation which I have gleaned from you-know-where! The first seven days’ gifts are all birds. That alliterative “partridge in a pear tree” was probably the Red-legged Partridge (Gray Partridge). Day Two’s Turtle January 11, 2024
Doves, Eurasian Collared Doves. The three French Hens were domestic fowl (chickens).The four “calling birds” were originally “colly birds,” or birds as black as coal. This refers to Europe’s Blackbird (European Blackbird), an inky cousin of our familiar robin. Day Five’s “golden rings” were traditionally pictured as gold Ring-necked Pheasants. That leaves six domestic geese and seven waterloving Mute Swans. As a matter of interest, some folks trying to explain the number of birds in this song have actually made it to 13 by their "rational" deductions, Ref: www.discoverwildlife.com/animalfacts/birds/the-13-birds-of-
ring to the fact that my wife got a quick photograph of our Coopers Hawk yesterday, perching in a tree in anticipation of the pigeons; but, being unaware, they remained oblivious and safe as the Hawk was scared off by a car. With my camera still in her hand, my wife took advantage of the situation and got two good shots of the Rose Breasted Nuthatch on a window feeder and the Bluejay a little further away up in a tree. Happy New Year and best wishes to you all. Stay safe and well. Cheers, John Baldwin
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by Murray Link The North Dundas Senior Rockets Hockey Club played their first game of 2024 on Saturday, January 6 at home in Chesterville and put another W in the win column as they beat the Arnprior Rivermen 13-4. The significant win kept the Rockets’ perfect season alive as they have won all 15 games that they have played this season. The Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League is comprised of a 20-game season with 15 teams in Eastern Ontario and the Rockets are 3/4 away from possibly being the first team in EOSHL history to not lose a single game. Not all of the Rockets’ wins have been as lopsided as this past weekend as 4 of their wins were decided by only one goal, including the December 16th 5-4 victory over Alexandra, which needed overtime to solidify the win. In Saturday’s game, the Rockets came out firing right from the get go. After one period of play, the home team had a 5-2 lead and never looked back. With 68 shots recorded, the Rockets had 14 different players make the score sheet with either a goal or an assist. “We had a full line up” mentioned Rob Sadler, the Rockets’ head coach “We had scoring from all four lines, it is easy to see how deep we are both offensively and on the blue line”. Local standout #90 Tanner Williams took home first star of the game with 4 points (2G, 2A). In his second game as a Rocket and first game in Chesterville, #12 Chris Kushneriuk made a splash for his debut, taking the second star of the game with 4 points (1G, 3A). Kushneriuk, who was the captain at Robert Morris University in the NCAA system and played in the ECHL for several years, is a great addition to the blue line as the Rockets push to repeat as League champs again this year. Offence was not the only big story of the day as goaltender #25 Matt Jenkins recorded his 50th career win with the Rockets organization. Jenkins currently leads the EOSHL with 13 wins and is also leading all goaltenders with a 3.00 GAA. The Rockets are on the road this weekend taking on their division rivals, the South Stormont Mustangs, in Long Sault on Saturday, January 13 at 6:30. The next home game is scheduled for January 27 at 2:15 versus the Paugan Falls Rapids. Don’t forget to visit and follow the Rockets on their Facebook page to keep up to date on the schedule, scores and player bios. www.ndtimes.ca
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The North Dundas Times
33 years later: The “almost” Smiths Falls train collision of 1991
by Brandon Mayer Have you ever heard of the near-collision of two trains in Smiths Falls in 1991? The incident may not have a well-known name (like the “Hinton Train Collision” of 1986, for example), but it was undoubtedly a terrifying incident and one that warranted a Transportation Safety Board investigation all the same. The close call is known officially by the TSB as "Canadian Pacific Limited and Via Rail Inc. near collision”, though a boring name certainly doesn’t mean a boring incident. Trains are fascinating. Some people are certainly more obsessed than oth-
ers. In fact, there is a huge population of the world that goes by the name of “railfans”, engaging in an activity called “railfanning” that involves waiting trackside to watch and photograph trains, in addition to learning all there is to know about these massive and historic machines which were critical in connecting and building our country beginning in the early 1800s. Although very safe, trains do get involved in accidents as with any other mode of transportation. Most commonly, this involves trains hitting cars or pedestrians at level crossings, or derailments involving a single train. In a world full of inexpensive video
filming technology (most people carry a smartphone with a camera right in their pocket, and dashcams are increasingly common in vehicles), it’s now possible to go online and see perhaps hundreds of videos of trains hitting vehicles, and even trains derailing suddenly at level crossings. One of the things that makes the Smiths Falls incident of 1991 stand out is that it was filmed during a time when something rare being “caught on tape” was a big deal, being so uncommon and coincidental. I have not been able to find any source to explain why the incident was filmed, but it seems a safe assumption that a “railfan” was in the right place at the right time.
This was an era where “videotaping” something quite literally meant using tape or film which had to be purchased (a bit of knowledge for younger readers), and filming trains would have been for personal enjoyment only since there was no social media on which to share them. The alternative explanation is that someone approaching the level crossing saw the potential for a collision and happened to have a camera on hand, managing to get it out and filming just in time! What actually happened? It was February 6, 1991, two days before the five year anniversary of the Hinton Train Collision, which was a massive and deadly head-on collision between a Via Rail train and a CN freight train outside Hinton, Alberta on February 8, 1986. In the Smiths Falls incident, Via Rail train 43 was travelling from Ottawa to Toronto on a track owned by CN Railway. Smiths Falls has a large CP Railway yard as well, with a section of CP track that connects with CN track. A three-person CP crew was working to build a “consist” of train cars by moving around small groups of cars on various tracks to build a larger mainline train. At the
critical point, the crew was moving 67 empty flatcars that had a total length of 4,423 feet. In order for the train to clear a switch, the crew needed to “back up” onto the CN line due to the length of their train. They didn’t make a radio call to confirm that the CN track was clear, and a signal that had been installed to protect the area was not yet operational. What happened next happened very quickly but must have felt like a heartstopping eternity for the crews of both trains. Via Rail train 43 was travelling at 93 mph (150 km/h) and had only 1.3 km of warning that the CP train was in its way since it was coming around a blind curve. The Via Rail crew applied the train’s emergency brakes, and then one engineer jumped from the train as it slowed down to avoid being inside the locomotive cab during what must have seemed like an inevitable collision. The CP Rail crew – whose train would have been at a crawling speed during a switching job – managed to stop their train and begin reversing. The extra track room meant that the Via Rail train was able to come to a stop just in time, and no collision
Op-ed Are we beasts?: War, civilian casualties and Hamas by David J. Bercuson courtesy of the Aristotle Foundation There is only one way to avoid civilian casualties by aerial bombardment — don’t start a war in the first place. Early advocates of air power – Hugh Trenchard of the UK and Giulio Douhet of Italy – believed that the chief target of any bombing campaign had to be the morale of the enemy population. They believed that “morale bombing” – later called area bombing, and to some “carpet bombing”, would so undermine a population’s will to fight that victory would soon follow. Their followers in Italy, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom practiced the deadly trade in the wars of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The Japanese inflicted it
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on China. Italy inflicted it on Ethiopia, Germany inflicted it on Warsaw, Rotterdam and London and other British cities. This was deliberate aerial murder, and it inevitably produced its counterstroke when the Allies resorted to the same tactics in bombing Germany and Japan in the Second World War. The Royal and Royal Canadian Air Forces killed some 70,000 German civilians in Hamburg in 1943 and Dresden in 1945. They studied and carried out bombing tactics that produced firestorms. The Americans – using the same tactics – killed some 100,000 people in Tokyo in early March, 1945. They then did the same to almost every other Japanese city ending with the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These attacks prompted Churchill to proclaim in 1943, after seeing
film of German cities being bombed, “Are we beasts?” But of course, he himself was an architect of these bombing campaigns. From the early 1950s, after the 1946 publication of Hiroshima by American writer John Hersey – a book that followed the story of some of the victims of the atomic bombing – public opinion began to change in the west toward efforts to avoid mass civilian casualties in bombing campaigns. In Korea (1950-1953) and Vietnam (1965-1975), the US sought to avoid mass slaughter of civilians (despite Communist propaganda to the contrary), although tens of thousands of civilians were killed anyway – collateral damage. That was also true in Libya, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In these cases, Sherman’s warning came true – it is war and war is horrible and
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can only be described in harsh terms. Any country that attempted strategic bombing of purely military targets in this century – including the US, the UK, Canada, Israel – killed “innocent” civilians. There is no getting around it. When the Royal Canadian Air Force joined the campaign to bomb Serbia and Serbian troops in the Kosovo air war of 1999, representatives of the Judge Advocate General – the chief law enforcement officer of the Canadian Armed Forces – sat at the targeting briefing before Canadian jets went into action to pronounce on the “legality” of each and every target the RCAF intended to hit. Innocent people died anyway. We have precision guided munitions today, guided by lasers or GPS signals, but innocent people still
get killed. There is no bomb invented which can distinguish between a Hamas terrorist and a civilian medical worker. These considerations don’t apply to dictatorships. No one knows – or will ever know – how many Syrians were deliberately murdered by Russian bombers in the early days of the Syrian civil war to dislodge Hafez al Assad from the presidency of Syria. If Hamas had had a real air force, there is no telling how many Israeli civilians would have been killed on October 7 in addition to the1200 who did die. About half of the bombs that the Israel air force is using in Gaza are “dumb” bombs. These are gravity bombs that once released are subject to air pressure, humidity, and winds on their way to the target. They cannot self-adjust as
occurred. The CP train crew was certainly in the wrong for encroaching on the CN track without authorization, but had they not reversed, a collision would have occurred. Another key factor was the season – without leaves on the trees, the Via Rail crew was able to spot the CP train earlier, otherwise the emergency braking may not have been applied in time. The Via Rail engineers did all they could by applying emergency braking. The decision by one engineer to jump was criticized by some, since his passengers did not have the same option. However, being in the cab during a head-on collision is certainly more dangerous than being in a passenger car, and the crew had already exhausted all their options. Regardless of the mistakes and decisions of the day, the only important thing is that the incident was only an “almost” collision. Readers are encouraged to view the video of this fascinating incident of local railroading history at https://churcher. crcml.org/circle/Wreck%20
do precision guided munitions. PGMs were first used in large numbers in the closing years of the Vietnam war but they are still very expensive when compared to “dumb” bombs which are still widely used by most air forces. Dumb bombs will kill more innocent civilians than PGMs, but both cause wide collateral damage. There is really only one way to avoid civilian casualties by aerial bombardment – don’t start a war in the first place. Either Hamas could not figure that out, or they didn’t care. David Bercuson is a Senior Fellow at the Aristotle Foundation and Director Emeritus of the Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary.
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