NEED WINTER TIRES? WE’VE GOT YOUR TIRES!
35 Howard Avenue, ELMIRA, ON
519-669-3232 AT PARTICIPATING STORES
01 | 03 | 2015 VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 01
Grant to help Idol winner cut an album the arts PAGE 15
COMMENT PAGE 8
After the christmas rush, the bills start coming in
www.OBSERVERXTRA.com
Former Wellesley councillor Jim Olender dies at 70 Scott Barber Former Wellesley councillor Jim Olender passed away December 26 at Grand River Hospital. He was 70. Olender, a two-term councillor for Ward 3 (2006-2014), is remembered fondly by his former colleagues from around the council table. “He was one of the most dedicated guys I have ever known,” Ward 2 Coun. Herb Neher said. “He thoroughly enJim Olender joyed his job as a councillor. He was so into it, he wanted to attend all of the different functions and he was on all kinds of committees. … This was his calling; he took his job very seriously and he was in it for the right reasons.” A long-time manager at the Waterloo Region District School Board, Olender was a passionate supporter of youth sports and activities. olender | 3
Elmira’s Trinity United Church is undergoing a refocusing period along with all United Churches across Canada, something Rev. Dave Jagger and Peter Kupfer see happening every five years.
[whittney neilson / the observer]
Elmira’s Trinity United ponders its future
Seniors’ housing an option at prime Arthur St location as church undergoes refocusing process Whitney Neilson As we enter into a new year, Elmira’s Trinity United Church finds itself in the final year of its refocusing process. In 2012, the United Church of Canada launched a comprehensive review task group to examine from 2012 to 2015 how United Churches across the country could best serve their congregations and communities. Reverend Dave Jagger says that five years from now the Elmira
church could look a whole lot like it does today. But, they’re also considering alternatives to how the church building and its services can be of use. “It seems that about every five years we need to pause and refocus ourselves. Who are we, what are we about, how do we engage the community around us? We’re in one of those five-year periods right now,” Jagger said. Trinity United Church as we know it on Arthur Street has existed since the 1960s. Before that
there was Wesley United Church on First Street and Arthur. That has since changed to Emmanuel Evangelical Missionary Church. Prior to that, Wesley United Church was approximately where Liquidation King is now. “Where we are right now, this property belongs to Zion EUB (Evangelical United Brethren) and in 1968 the whole EUB denomination in Canada joined with the United Church of Canada,” Jagger said. “So for three years there were two United
Churches in Elmira, Wesley and Zion. And in 1971 they amalgamated.” The refocusing of United Churches involves looking at their missions and how they can live those out to their best ability. It also examines how the physical space of their churches may be used for opportunities other than just providing church services. “We haven’t made any decisions around this but one of the trinity | 2
7 Arthur St. S., Elmira | 519-669-3349 Est. 1940
Hours: Mon.-Wed. 9-6 | Thurs. & Fri. 9-8 | Sat. 9-5