Vol. 2 No. 12
YOUR LOCAL, INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER - SMITHS FALLS, PERTH & REGION
DECEMBER 2015
Perth & District Children’s Santa Claus Parade put on a great visual and musical display of floats lit with christmas lights, children carolling and of course, jolly old Saint Nicholas!
Smiths Falls Police Services Board budget passes without increase Smiths falls-Sally Smith
The Smiths Falls Police Service Board accepted and passed its $4.7 million budget for 2016 at a meeting early December. Chief Robert Dowdall said this was $175,000 under budget but he expected that to change in the last month of the year. Board members scrutinized the budget line by line; councillor Chris Cummings, council appointed member of the PSB, asked for clarification in some of the line items. He noticed, and commented on with approval, a “reduction in the salary line of a few thousand dollars.” Part of the budget includes an increase in costs for criminal record checks, ac-
cording to Chief Dowdall. As of Jan. 1, the fee will rise to $35 from $27, If fingerprints are required, that will cost $35, up $10 from the previous cost. He asked about new cruisers; the Chief explained that two new vehicles would be required in the next couple of years as two of the present cars are “eight- to nineyears-old.” The Chief added that police vehicles are “specialty vehicles” because of the way they have to be driven. Cummings asked about $21,000 for pistols. The Chief said “we need pistols. Ours are 22- to 23-yearsold,” indicating they were beyond the date they should have been replaced. The $21,000 cost was slightly offset by a reduction of $3,500 in firearms training (so, in
fact, the $21,000 becomes $17,500). The Chief noted there was no give-and-take on the building costs, like interest, principal, hydro, gas and water; those costs are set and there could be no reduction there. As such, a further reduction in the 2016 budget is “probably not possible.” Mayor Shawn Pankow touched on the overtime costs which had dropped from $100,000 to $75,000; the Chief cautioned that that number could “go out the window” if there was a major disaster in town. Tom Ariss, vice-chair and provincial appointee to the board, applauded the work and due diligence done. Cummings commented the Chief had “really pared down the budget” to the point that every item in the
budget would be required to keep the current level of service, implying there was no fat in the budget. “It took a lot of playing around to get to 0 percent. “If we can do this year what we did last year with a zero percent increase, it’s pretty impressive.” In early November, the Chief and his staff presented a zero percent draft budget to the Board. The Police Services Board is an autonomous body, which, among other criterion looks at presenting Smiths Falls’ residents with efficient and cost-effective policing free from the influence of politics. At that time a suggestion was made to the Chief to bring estimates to the table of what a 10 percent reduction of the zero percent draft
budget would look like. As 88 percent of the $4.7 million police budget is benefits and salaries, asking to cut by 10 percent is asking to cut staff or services. If staff is on the line, discussions would include the Police Association which represents uniformed officers. The police budget will go to council in mid-January and be included as part of the regular town budget discussions. Once all departments have made their presentations, then council will consider the budget as a whole in a series of meetings. Watch the town website for dates. However, if council for some reason sends the police budget back to the Chief and the Police Services Board and asks for more trimming, they can say ‘yes, we’ll try’ or
smiths falls
perth
Carleton Place
Kindergarten children from Chimo Elementary School write letters to Santa
Perth Woman in the running for Canada’s Worst Driver
Giving the Carleton Place Arena a Facelift
PAGE 10-11
PAGE 3
PAGE 7
‘no, that’s the best we can do.’ If there is an impasse, the budget then goes to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission. “Nobody wants to go that route,” says Chief Dowdall, adding he’s “confident it shouldn’t happen this year. “It’s a responsible budget.” One of the Commission’s tasks is to “adjudicate disputes between municipal councils and police service boards involving budget matters.” That takes time and costs money. At the Dec. 10 PSB meeting, board members discussed how to present the budget to the public before it’s included in the overall town budget.
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DECEMBER 2015
2
Page Two Community Events Smiths Falls Dec. 21
-Santa at the County Fair Mall, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m -Legion Jamboree - Smiths Falls Canadian Legion Branch 95, 1:00 - 6:30 p.m. -Movie & Skate - Smiths Falls Youth Arena, 4:50 - 8:00 p.m.
per person
Dec. 22
-Tim Horton’s Free Skate, Youth Arena, 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 24, 25 & 26 -Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day :)
DEC. 25
Dec 20
-Free community Christmas Dinner @ 11:30-2:30 p.m. at Hanley Hall
BOREE – Smiths Falls Royal Canadian Legion Branch 95, 7 Main St. E. - $14
-Tim Horton’s Holiday Free Skate, Youth Arena, 1:00 p.m.
Carleton Place
DEC. 25
Dec. 24, 25 & 26
Jan. 15
-1:00 – 6:30pm – OPEN STAGE JAM- jan. 2
- Christmas Eve, Christmas Day,
-Free community Christmas Dinner @ 3 p.m. at the Carleton Place Royal Canadian Legion
-Learning Expo 2016 @ 10 a.m.
Boxing Day :)
Perth
dec. 31
DEC. 19
jan. 1
• The Ringing of the Church Bells to welcom the New Year and the 200th anniversary of the Town of Perth.
-Town of Perth is hosting a FREE SKATE at the Community Centre this Saturday from 7:00 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. as part of Holiday on the Tay!
• The Annual Polar Bear Plunge at 10 a.m. beside the Perth Royal Canadian Legion.
DEC. 19
-Tim Horton’s Holiday Free Skate, Perth and District Community Centre, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
-Sean McCann’s You Know I Love You at the Full Circle Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 or $30 at the door.
Dec. 24, 25 & 26
-Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day :)
pdg media
jan. 2 jan. 8
- Historical Mapping Project for the 200th anniversary of Perth.
Publisher
EditoRIAL
Reporters:
photographers:
Email: pmkrotki@pdgmedia.ca
Email: editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Sally Smith Kathy Botham Dianne Pinder-Moss
Jason Code
jan. 8
PDG Media - 48 Maple Ave Smiths Falls, ON. K7A 2A5 Phone: (613) 206-0708
• Brock Jeman and Blair Hogan at O’Reilly’s Pub @ 9 a.m
- Perth Blue Wings vs. the Stittsville Royals @ 7 p.m. at the Perth and District Community Cenre.
dec. 31
jan. 11
2016 Perth Annual Polar Bear Plunge
dec. 30
• Civitan Club Dance Party with Eddy and the Stingrays frm 9 p.m. until 1 a.m.
- January Blood Donor clinic all day in Perth.
Smiths Falls Ongoing PUBLIC SWIMMING FOR ALL AGES AT THE HUB 361 Queen St. in the Gallipeau Centre Mondays - 6-7 p.m.; Tuesdays - 6-7 p.m.; Fridays 6-7 p.m.; Saturdays - 2-3:30 p.m. Cost: Drop In Pricing or Membership Fee apply
Sunday ladies dart league Every Sunday - 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. - RCAFA Hall
MONDAY DUPLICATE BRIDGE Held at the Royal Canadian Legion every Monday evening at 7:00 p.m.
MONDAY BID EUCHRE Held at the Royal Canadian Legion every Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Canadian Room.
TUESDAY NIGHT BINGO Smiths Falls Civitan Hall, Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Bingo starts at 7:00 p.m.
THURSDAY NIGHT BINGO Smiths Falls Legion in the Lancaster Hall, 7:00 p.m.
FRIDAY NIGHT BINGO Rotary Collegiate Hall, 2 Gould St. 7:00 p.m.
WALKING CONCOURSE Smiths Falls Memorial Center open 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. 7 days a week
MIXED DARTS Every Thursday from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the RCAFA Hall on Abbott St. New Players welcome.
Mr. and Mrs. Claus were at the Crystal Palace in Perth today, and Polar Bear Pete was able to join in the fun. Dont forget to come and see Pete at the Perth Annual Polar Bear Plunge on Friday, January 1st! Registration kicks off at 8:00 a.m. Pick up your pledge forms at the Foundation Office; Perth Legion; Perth Beer Store; and the Perth Museum. If jumping is not for you we have a keen member of our staff that is reaching out for pledges so stop by show your support for the Intensive Care Unit at the GWM site of the PSFDH.
DECEMBER 2015
3
community Build a Mountain of Food wraps up campaign, donations still needed By Sally Smith Enthusiastic volunteers have collected more than 52,000 pounds of food and nearly $13,000 for Build a Mountain of Food during a drive at grocery stores across Smiths Falls. The Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute Junior RedHawks basketball team raised 13,600 pounds of food at its Hoops For Food Event, and through RE/ MAX’s door-to-door collection. In Country Chrysler’s Build a Mountain of Food’s first year in 2007, donors rallied 3,200 pounds of food and $1,400 in cash for the food bank in Perth. Today, Build a Mountain of Food campaigns in 11 communities in six weeks; Almonte, Ath-
Cheryl Stoddard fills a van with donations for local foodbanks during the Build A Mountain of Food campain. PHOTO CREDIT
ens, Carleton Place, Delta, Elgin, Lanark, Merrickville, Perth, Portland, Smiths Falls, and Westport. So far this year, nearly 414,000 pounds. of food and almost $193,000 have been donated. All of the donations stay in the community in which they’re donated. If food is collected in a village, it stays in that village. More than 52,000 lbs of food and
almost $13,000 collected in Smiths Falls on Nov. 21 will stay there. Area food banks play a big role in keeping hunger at bay; the hungry include seniors, single parents, the working poor and children. Build A Mountain of Food volunteers also collected for the Westport Food Bank and Elgin Foodbank at Kudrinko’s and at Go-
rdanier Feshmart respectively, at the Portland Food Market in Portland, Merrickville Food Market in Merrickville, and at Athens Freshmart in Athens all during the first half of December. The volunteers called on the crowds at the Santa Claus Parades in Carleton Place and perth and the CP Holiday Train’s stop in Perth. Food banks are still looking for foods for the holidays and beyond, including cereal, peanut butter, pasta and pasta sauce, children’s pasta, canned fruits and vegetables Hygiene products are also needed including toothbrushes and toothpaste. For information about Build a Mountain of Food, contact Hugh Colton at hcolton@townandcountrychrysler.com.
Perth woman in the Uphill climb ahead for new Lanark Animal Welfare Society Board of Directors running for ‘Canada’s cializing and some cleaning.” Worst Driver’ As well, “we’re hoping to Kathy Hoyland says de- keep the wages down, we SMITHS FALLS- Sally Smith
PERTH-TERRANCE O`HEARN
A Perth woman has crashed her way to fame on the successful reality television show Canada’s Worst Driver, as one of “nine of the most appalling drivers from across the country [who] fuel up and make their way to the Canada’s Worst Driver Rehabilitation Centre,” according to a press release from the Discovery Network. Pauline Sargeant, 61, was nominated by her son-in-law, Jeff. The show airs Mondays at 10 p.m. and Sargeant has recently appeared in promotional advertisements leading up to the December 7 segment of the current series. She has been identified only as “Polly” from Perth,
Ontario. The press release goes on to say that the drivers nominated all have “a penchant for unruly driving practices . . . [and] have been pulled over from the fast lane as the program tackles one of the leading causes of death on Canadian roads: excessive speed.” The program is said to be Discovery’s mostwatched series, Canadian or otherwise, among adults age 25-54. The show follows nine drivers, each nominated by a friend or family member, as they attempt to prove they possess the necessary skills to graduate from rehab and escape the unfortunate title of “Canada’s Worst Driver.” The participants are each evaluated by a panel of driving experts as they test their skills. The format of the show is that for each of the nine weeks, one driver will graduate and “merge back on to the open road”. The final episode sees the last three drivers facing the ultimate showdown, before one is ultimately crowned Season 11’s “Worst Driver.”
spite all the upheaval at the Lanark Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) in the last year, she remains “optimistic” the shelter can continue to move forward. Her optimism is offered with some hesitancy. For instance, she says, as she scans through the auditor’s report presented at the May 31 Annual General Meeting, last year’s asset of cash on hand and in the bank of $126,000 is a far cry from this year’s $33,000. Last year at the end of May, cash and cash equivalents were $90,000. This year the society owes close to$72,000 on its line of credit. And finally, last year the society’s budget including estates and in Memoriams expected a profit of $18,000. This year the budget indicates close to a $200,000 loss the majority of that being wages. Adding to that number is the $20,000 LAWS recently paid in legal fees. Hoyland points out that in a seven year comparison “this is the worst year we have information for.” But the newly elected president of the LAWS board still smiles. First, “we’re trying to get all the volunteers back who left. Only one stayed.” Volunteers are usually in their late 30s and older. “We have cat and dog volunteers. Both do essentially the same thing - walking, so-
want to do as much fundraising as possible, and we need to move animals through our system more quickly.” She hopes the shelter is on the road to recovery under this new board; she knows it can be done because just a year ago “we were almost breaking even every month. “But last year everything went downhill.”
At the moment, LAWS has a full time staff of five employees, 15 volunteer directors and 320 members; the Executive Director, Rhonda Fleming, is on unpaid sick leave (with no benefits package), and her assistant resigned; those two positions alone drew close to $100,000 from the annual budget. Hoyland says the board wants to go ahead and hire a co-ordinator who will look after the day-to-day operation; she adds it will be more hands-on work for the board but is confident the board will handle the responsibility. Board members include: Kristy Bailey, Ashley Davis, Rachael Desjardins, Louise Forbes, Christina Givens, Cheryl Griffen, Kathy Hoyland, Dave Lindstedt, Laura and Marty Lowson, Scott Marshall, Roz Phelps, Catherine and Liz Taylor, and Robert Wilkes. The executive is made up of Hoyland as president, Forbes
as vice-president, Griffen will take the treasurer position and Lindstedt as secretary. “As an independent charity and No-Kill shelter, LAWS does not euthanize for population control, age, breed or after a set amount of time has passed. Euthanasia is reserved only for those cases where an animal is ill or aggressive to the point that quality of life is impacted. All animals in the shelter’s care will be cared for until a suitable home, permanent or foster, is found. LAWS provides food, shelter, veterinary care and love from our dedicated staff and volunteers. We also try to work with other rescues to optimize the adoption of our animals.” Winter is coming and Hoyland shivers a bit as she sits in the upstairs drafty meeting room. “We have $10,000 to move ahead,” she says stoically, “and this place is horrible to heat. “We need to pay our oil and
furnace,” and we have to buy food - she is hoping to get back the Hill Science diet contract which was allowed to lapse - and she wants to include special foods for obese and diabetic animals. One of the large items on her to-do list is to “re-think and rejuvenate” the business plan. Hoyland started on a plan in 2014. One of the items was to hire an Executive Director, which, in hindsight she now says was a “bad plan.” Rhonda Fleming, the executive director of LAWS, has been charged with failing to stop or remain at the scene of an accident, and obstructing a police officer; she is also charged, under the Highway Traffic Act, of driving a motor vehicle without an interlock device. None of these charges has been proven. A closed, judicial pre-trial date has been asked to be set for Dec. 18 in Perth. Hoyland has declined to comment. Hoyland says LAWS could do with some help from volunters and donations.
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DECEMBER 2015
community
Ontario’s first biofuel facility coming to Smiths Falls in 2017 SMITHS FALLS- Sally Smith What’s cleaner than a wood stove and quieter than a tractor? Justin Ferrabee, partner in C3 Acquisition Inc. and proponent of the proposed biofuel project slated to take up 8,000 sq. ft. of the old Hershey Factory, can tell you. It’s the generator that will be fueled with cleaned fats, oil and grease that could potentially provide about 110 homes with electricity. There will be two generators, four 20,000-litre feedstock tanks to hold the oils, a control system, switchgear and a step-up transformer. The maximum volume of feedstock received at the facility at any one time will be about 80,000 litres, once a month. That’s enough to fill a small above-ground swimming pool. The fats, oils and feedstock will be kept in four storage tanks that are heated, to keep the biofuel from gelling. The feedstock, which provides fuel to operate the generators, will be piped into both generators simultaneously. The power generated will be fed into the local electricity grid. There are no additives or water mixed with the feedstock and no waste generated by
the process. Ferrabee discussed the project at an Open House at the Smiths Falls Curling Club Nov. 21, with Terri Riley, Environmental Scientist, and Chris Rahm with bioEnvironmental Consulting Corp. Just over a dozen people read the nine panels set up on easels around the room describing how the process would work, what C3 Acquisition Inc. has to do before the project can begin, and what it still has to do. At the moment, the project is in the development phase. The site is chosen, feasibility studies are done and a draft design has been selected. They’re now looking for public and agency input before the final project plan is completed. Another Open House is expected in March or April after all the technical studies have been completed and compiled. Installation of the tanks is to start in 2017. No construction activities have been proposed for the site and any components of the proposal, like holding tanks, generators and pumps, will be installed within an existing building. The site will be emissions and odour-controlled and
monitored to Ministry of Environment standards No chemicals or explosives will be stored on site. (Attribution.) Still to be done… As many as 17 technical studies for the Renewable Energy Approval Process have yet to be completed to assess potential environmental and/or social impacts. Once these are done, and the final design selected, a second public open house is scheduled. Ferrabee says this stage of the project could take 18 months. Ferrabee points out that this is a very small ‘green’ operation in the broad spectrum of green power, like windmill or solar, but even so, Riley says if the Ontario government says ‘no’ to a technical report, the process will have to be done again until the Ontario Government gives the go-ahead. “We have to go through the same process, the same rigour as a huge development.” This includes environmental and cultural studies, technical reports, consultation activities and provincial authorizations. Why Smiths Falls? There are at least three reasons, if not more, according
to Ferrabee. One, he knows the owner of Tweed Marijuana Inc., and has leased about 750 square metres from him; second, Smiths Falls has a 20-year grid capacity, and third, and perhaps most of all, Ferrabee invests in and is an advisor for early stage renewable energy companies (www. linkedin.com). Open House Those attending the Open House Saturday morning were curious, knowledgeable and skeptical. The residents of Smiths Falls, alerted to the possibility of a biofuel plant by an earlier HomeTown News story, wanted to know the risks, the safety precautions, the process, how it would work, and when it would start. Suzanne Page was not sold on the facility and questioned the ultimate impact to the environment. One opinion was that the feedstock for the generators “should be given”, not bought. “The cost should be to the industry that produced it.” Riley agreed that the overall cost was more in the long run, but “we’re not polluting the air, and we’re not damaging the environment.”
Terri Riley answering Maureen Page’s questions at the November 21 OpenHouse on the proposed biofuel facility at the old Hershey plant.
Smiths Falls’ new economic development manager sees a town of opportunity
Cyril Cooper, the new economic development manager in his office at Smiths Falls town hall is both approachable and knowledgeable. Only three weeks on the job, he’s learning fast and already devising strategies to capitalize of the town’s multitude of opportunities.
SMITHS FALLS-Howaida Sorour-Roberts
Knowledge, experience, energy, and a collaborative mindset are all attributes Cyril Cooper, the town’s newly engaged Economic Development manager says he possesses. “I’ve been in economic development for the past 20 years,” says Cooper. “I’ve worked with a number of companies and municipalities in investment attraction, and more importantly in business retention and expansion.” The latter is key, Cooper says, because he believes it’s paramount for the town to ensure that it’s taking good care of existing local businesses. “I see Smiths Falls as an untapped opportunity for investors and local businesses,” he says, citing the
town’s proximity to Ottawa, its natural features and availability of land and vacant buildings, all of which he sees as positive attributes for attracting investment. ”I look at the opportunity with the old water treatment plant and it’s location and there is so much opportunity to improve the downtown and I’m sure it will happen in time.” Barely three weeks into the job and Cooper is working on creating the foundations for an economic development and tourism plan. An innovative entrepreneur in his own right, Cooper is credited with starting up the first for-sale-by-owner real estate venture in Canada. “I like to think outside the box, and look for new opportunities,” says Cooper. Besides economic development, this busy family
man, also manages to run a house-building company in Alberta where he grew up and spent the bulk of his career. Still getting to know the many facets of the town, Cooper sees communications as one of the most pressing economic development priorities. “We need to go after the low hanging fruit out there and have our information up to date, so I’m working on updating the information and creating a new website to reflect our land and vacancies information and investment opportunities,” he says. Immediately made aware of the town’s fiscal challenges, Cooper has already begun work on leveraging funding dollars. “We’re working on an application for funding through the Investment Canada Communities Initiative,” he says. The complex application is due this January and is intended to attract foreign investment but has to be tied to specific initiatives. Cooper says sees Smiths Falls as an untapped tourist destination on the brink of development. He’s been leveraging some of his contacts in the tourism arena to see what he can shake out for Smiths Falls. “My focus is going to be on target markets and creating a tourist experience,” he said. “I want to bring the knowledge tourists here
and give them the experience they’re seeking whether it’s the railway or Parks Canada’s gate-building workshop.” He says he’s got his eye on Ottawa and Kanata in particular, which he points out is a large market that’s only a half-hour away. While it sounds like he has an awful lot of irons in the fire, he brings with him a high level of energy. A former soccer and basketball player, he gave both up after dislocating a knee. Then following surgery ran a marathon to get back in shape, now he mostly indulges in extreme skiing. In the midst of all these activities Cooper manages to stay close to his family and three children and can talk about them with the ease and pride of an involved father. While he acknowledges economic development is a big job with no guarantees, he says he likes the challenge and so far his experience of Smiths Falls has been very positive. “Council has been so receptive and so welcoming and I’m impressed that the current council is so behind economic development, it makes my job easier.” “Council has been so receptive and so welcoming and I’m impressed that the current council is so behind economic development, it makes my job easier.”
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5
DECEMBER 2015
community
Cataraqui Trail: Improvements Free Christmas dinner returns completed outside Smiths Falls to Carleton Place on Dec 25th SMITHS FALLS- Sally Smith
Jason Hynes knows better than most if you want to get something done, do it as a team. On November 19, Hynes, a lands planner with the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority, hosted an announcement at the South Elmsley Municipal Complex on Hwy. 15 at the OPP station south-west of Smiths Falls. The Authority received the last increment of a $25,000 grant that had been allocated for a “just under 5 km” portion of the trail running between Golf Club Road and the trail’s beginning at Ferrara Drive. This part of the 104 km multi-use trail (which runs from Smiths Falls to Strathcona near Napanee) needed improvements to make the trail more attractive and entice new users and supporters. Users of the trail include hikers, cyclers, horseback riders, cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. The $25,000 grant from the National Trails Coalition was matched with $34,000 worth of contributions raised lo-
cally in the Township of Rideau Lakes. The Town of Smiths Falls came through with a $2,500 value of in-kind materials, and the Cataraqui Trail Management Board contributed up to $9,000 to cover any remaining expenses - “the extra bits and pieces,” explains Hynes. Teamwork with neighbouring municipalities “is the key to getting these projects done,” he adds. Work and maintenance on the trail is all done by volunteers. “It’s a daunting task from year to year for basic maintenance and on-going improvements.” Hynes is delighted the work (which started August 31) is now complete; work finished October
16. The bulk of the work was done under contract with Campbell’s Trucking Ltd. A grader, compactor, high-hoe excavator with cutting tool and other large equipment were all used to complete the job; during the six week work period, brush was removed, ditches cleaned, a culvert replaced, grading/ compaction done, reshaping of the former rail bed, as well as the supply and placement of new surface material. For information about the Cataraqui Trail, visit www.cataraquitrail.ca; for information about the National Trails Coalition, go to www.ntc-canada.ca.
Cataraqui Trail Access Points Newburgh -98.7 km
Maple Leaf Road 58.8 km
Sydenham 71.7 km
Yarker - 87.5 km
Chaffeys Lock Road 37.6 km Indian Lake Road 43.1 km
Perth Road Village - 60.7km
Harrowsmith - 78.2 km
Camden East -95.0 km
Otter Lake - 17.8 km
Forfar - 29.6 km
Highway 15 - 34.5 km
Portland - 24.8 km
Smith Falls - 0 km
Lombardy 9.1 km To Perth
Lower Rideau Lake 1
Upper Rideau Lake
Lombardy
To Highway #7 and Sharbot Lake 27
To Toronto
Strathcona
100 100
4
Napanee
Yarker
90 90
80 80
15
Harrowsmith 75 75
Eel Bay
19
50 65
70 5
Sydenham Lake
45
55
60
40
Chaffeys Lock
42
Legend
38
To Brockville 15
10
15
County Road or Highway Cataraqui Trail
35
401
To Montreal
Kilometres
Village 10
N
Kingston Lake Ontario
5
20
25
35
Opinicon Lake
Perth Road Village
10
0
Portland
Forfar 30
Sydenham 401
Smith Falls
5
10
15
Frontenac Provincial Park
6
85 85
Otter Lake Newboro Lake
38
95 95
Newburgh Camden East
To Ottawa 0
Big Rideau Lake
Westport
Distance in Kilometres
Prepared by: CRCA GIS Services Section R. Gerritsen - November 2001
The Free Community Christmas Dinner Returns to the Carleton Place legion. Founder and organizer, Kory Earle had a vision to give people hope on Christmas when he came up with idea of hosting a Free Christmas Dinner in Carleton Place nine years ago. His vision has flourished over the years and is now more than just about feeding the hungry. It has become an event that welcomes any citizen wanting to spend the holidays among friends and neighbours. With the help of over 30 volunteers, countless private donors and business sponsors, this annual event has welcomed over 1,000 people since 2006. More people come out to the event each year, more volunteers become involved and donations double with
the demand. This year Earle established a sub-committee to plan the event that includes community members and members of the organization, People’s First (of which Earle is the National President). He asked the board of the local People’s First chapter to take the lead on the event and they jumped at the opportunity to get involved in the community in such a big way. Visitors of all ages can come to the Carleton Place Legion (177 George Street) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or they can order a meal to be delivered free to their home. Local company, Bud’s Taxi is also providing free transportation in town to and from the Legion. This year’s dinner will feature a main course of turkey and stuffing or ham, with all the trimmings as well
as dessert and non-alcoholic drinks. The hall will be decked with festive décor and there will be a visit from Jolly Old Saint Nick at 3pm with toys for the children and mittens for the adults. The talented, Arlene Quinn will be performing live from 2 tp 3 p.m. and Deputy Mayor, Jerry Flynn will be stopping by at noon. The committee is still looking for contributions to the event and is welcoming cash donations or the donation of potatoes, dinner rolls, butter, gravy, ham or gifts for the children. People wishing to arrange a donation can email Kory at koryearle@ hotmail.com or call 613451-0051 prior to Dec. 18. — Submitted by the Carleton Place Legion
Perth Community Christmas Day Dinner December 25, 2015
Perth Community Christmas Day Dinner December 25, 2015 Code’s Mill Banquet Hall, 17 Wilson Street Perth Appetizers 11:30am Dinner 12:30pm Come and enjoy Christmas Day Dinner with our community. Everyone is welcome to share turkey and the trimmings and dessert with us. There is no charge for the meal. We are
also available to give you a ride to and from the dinner if you are not able to get to Code’s Mill by yourself. The hall is wheelchair accessible and we will have wheelchair transportation. For those who cannot make it, we also offer a delivery service. If you are coming for dinner and have no special requests for pickups or deliveries, please come directly to Code’s Mill – we do not need you to register or get a ticket. Please click on the “Ride needed“ or “Dinner deliveries“ buttons above to let us know that you need
a ride or a delivery. Please provide your full address and phone number as well as any special comments (please note that we are not able to make specific meals – all meals include turkey and all the trimmings). If you would like to help us with preparing, serving or delivering the meal, please click on the “Volunteer Registration“ button above. We will contact you to explain the tasks in more detail. Volunteers are encouraged to stay for dinner. If you are unable to register online, please contact us at 613 326 8365.
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DECEMBER 2015
community
Symphony brings Memory Care to Carleton Place seniors
CARLETON PLACE - Sally Smith “Do you see who’s in this picture?” “It’s probably you. Is it?” “That’s me. Those are my two brothers, big, strapping guys, and that’s my sister. I don’t know where she is now…” Jack’s voice becomes plaintive, dropping off, his sentences less assertive; he walks into his room and closes the door. Jack lives in a Memory Care suite at Carleton Place Terrace; there are 20 units dedicated to seniors who live with Alzheimer’s disease.
Outside each room is a shadow box with pictures and small mementoes belonging to the resident. This is the box Jack was pointing to as he asked the question. Some of the pictures are black and white taken many years ago; some are of residents in their youth, some of residents with their children and grandchildren. Each of the boxes tells of a life’s moment. A second of Jack’s pictures shows an elegant old wooden inboard boat tied to a dock with other boats. A third is
of two dogs standing outside a screen door waiting to be let in. In late November, Carleton Place Terrace, a three-storey retirement home, opened its newest ‘Moments’ Memory Care Neighbourhood. Symphony Senior Living, managers of Carleton Place Terrace, is a leader in the field of memory care (Alzheimer’s and other dementias); the memory care neigh-bourhood provides a comfortable, secure, home-like environment with design features and cues specifically intended to support residents with Alz-heimer’s or other dementias to live as independently as possible. The Neighbourhoods are small, calm and homelike; residents feel at ease and the intimacy helps improve morale and increase comfort. In order to make the accommodations as homelike as possible, the Terrace includes a couple of dogs on staff - Maggie
May and Buddy. Buddy roams the Memory units at will, flaking out on the floor, soaking up a spot of sun. And both dogs bring comfort and a sense of familiarity to residents. Care and support of residents is tailored to each individual based on their experiences, existing abilities, preferences and needs. Programs are de-signed to promote dignity and self-esteem through activities that are famil-iar and comfortable. But most of all, Moments is a philosophy emphasizing the importance of communication and the value of creating meaningful ‘moments’. Staff live residents’ moments with them, supporting their thoughts and emotions. Alzheimer’s is an irreversible progressive mental disorder that can occur in middle or old age; it is the most common form of dementia. It slowly de-stroys memory and thinking skills. Today in Canada, 500,000
people (1.5 percent) have Alzheimer’s or a relat-ed dementia; by 2038, that will rise to 2.8 percent or 1.12 million people at a cost of $153 billion. An outstanding feature of the Moments Neighbourhood is the Momentum Location System. Each resident wears a momentum badge which allows staff at any time to ‘see’ where residents are via the wireless location sys-tem. Life skills, so much a part of Alzheimer patients’ past lives, become every-day activities again with the use of Life Skill stations - work, hobbies or pastimes, such as knitting, cooking, typing. There is also a pet corner with a dog brush, an old-fashioned vanity with jewelry, and an old coat stand with elegant dresses, coats and hats draped over it. Residents use these nooks freely and spontaneously. Raised gardens will be available for use in the spring. In keeping with the
home-like atmosphere, the Moments’ unit has a com-fortable lounge, a kitchen area, a washer and dryer and a dining table; resi-dents are encouraged to leave their rooms and utilize these other rooms. On the other side of the building, opposite the locked Memory units, are 87 assisted living units; there are 109 individuals living at Carleton Place Ter-race. Jack opens the door to his suite as we walk by. “I thought I heard footsteps,” he says stepping out into the hall. He looks, nods and then backs into his room and shuts the door. For more information about the Moments Memory Care Neighbourhood, or assisted living at Carleton Place Terrace, contact Liz Taylor at 613-668-0545 or through email at crccarleton@ symphonyseniorliving. com .
Moments like this...
are what make a true home. Discover the Memory and Alzheimer’s Care option that’s the ideal answer for both you and your loved one.
At Carleton Place Terrace, our Moments® Memory Care Neighbourhood looks like – and is – a true home. Relationships are less like resident and staff member and more like family. The cozy environment is designed exclusively to accommodate the unique needs of seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other memory impairments. Call today to learn more about our sensitive and engaging approach to memory loss.
Call Liz Taylor at (613) 253-7360
6 Arthur Street, Carleton Place
Renovations Now Complete Visit us and see for yourself how we can help you and your family.
Memory Care • Assisted Living • Respite • Trial Stays
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DECEMBER 2015
community
Nipping problems in the bud with the Lanark County Situation Table Perth-Sally Smith With certainty - and visible eagerness - Stephanie Gray, part-time coordinator of the Lanark County Situation Table project says she is optimistic the first referrals to the Table will take place in December. Her enthusiasm is contagious. Her knowledge of the project is enormous and she barely contains her passion while describing how the Situation Table came to be, what’s happening now, and what the future holds. The core is in the ‘clients’ - who they are, how to find them, and what the Situation Table can do to help them. Situation Table A key component of the project is the “situation table” which brings together front-line agencies that are already delivering acute care services across many sectors - education, health/mental health, social services, housing, justice (including police and probation), the private sector and local government. These services will communicate and collaborate with each other following strict privacy legislation guidelines provided by the Privacy Commissioner. The services will work together to identify situations involving individuals before the individuals reach a crisis point. If a point is reached when a “situation” could tip over into crisis, a team will be compiled to provide rapid, wrap-around assistance and support ensuring it is appropriate to the circumstances and respectful of privacy legislation. Gray explains that this model is based upon principles and strategies developed in other communities and supported by research of the “Ontario Working
Group on Collaborative, Risk-Driven Community Safety.” The Grant In March this year the Lanark Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police and the Perth Police Services Board applied for a $59,962 grant from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. The money was a Proceeds of Crime Front-Line Policing Grant along the theme of “Building a Safer Ontario through Stronger Communities and Well-being Planning.” In August the grant was approved for the Lanark County Situation Table Project. The total budget of the project is $92,862. The $32,900 difference between the total budget and the grant received will be made up by in-kind support i.e. office space, utilities, stakeholder/partner staff time, including contract administration, photocopying and postage. In addition to establishing a Situation Table, part of the project is to proactively address the root causes of crime; it intends to do this by identifying risk factors in the communities and towns of Lanark County and Smiths Falls, and then developing plans to make these risks less severe in the future. Gray says this will be accomplished by working with front-line agencies in the community (including Smiths Falls Police as a partnering agency), and using their knowledge to identify and lessen the gravity of these risks. Statistics show the risks Broad issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, poverty, mental health and negative parenting contribute to behaviours linked to criminal activity in both Lanark County and Smiths Falls. Within
these large categories are risks and vulnerable populations such as addiction, socio-economic conditions, lack of public transportation, social isolation, an increasing number of elderly, and the clientele who use social services and social housing. Poor socio-economic conditions lead to crises in the ability to find and keep jobs, and to retain suitable and affordable housing; poor, or no, public transportation networks greatly affect the ability to find and retain jobs or get to classes; social isolation often leads to addiction, youth homelessness, violence and bullying; with increasing numbers of elderly comes more incidences of abuse and neglect; and hoarding often becomes a costly side-effect of the changing nature of those who use social services and social housing. Long Term Benefits A major goal of the project, says Gray, is to have the Situation Table model become an integral part of community safety - endorsed by local police services boards and municipal councils - in Lanark County and Smiths Falls. This, in turn, she adds, would help reduce both the number of crises and the calls for service in the communities. Next Steps Training is on-going for acute care agencies who will take part in the Situation Table; the intent, as stated earlier, is to start meetings before the end of the year. As the project proceeds, more agencies will be contacted, and the framework for community safety planning will be established. A key component in these next steps is to ensure long-term success of the Situation Table by sustainability planning.
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Big plans for 4th Annual Carleton Place Winter Carnival
We are proud to announce, Luxart Homes as the 4th Annual Carleton Place Winter Carnival presenting sponsor! This year’s carnival, “Chilly’s Circus” will take place at Riverside Park with free indoor and outdoor activities. Visitors will enjoy continuous activities from 10am to 4pm. “I am extremely excited for this year’s winter carnival. We are hard at work planning a bunch of FREE, fun winter activities” Says, Shannon O’Neill, Marketing Lead “This year we are planning some fun outdoor activities, as well as
indoor ones to keep you warm and enjoying the fun all day long! The carnival wouldn’t be made possible if it weren’t in part for our sponsor, Luxart Homes! They care about our community as much as we do and we are thrilled to have them put their faith in us for yet another year!” Outline of events -Merchant Market (CPHS Gymnasium) -Chili Lunch provided by the CPHS Band (CPHS Cafetorium) -Musical Performances (main stage – CP Canoe Club Parking Lot)
-Bingo / Game Show (CPHS Cafetorium) -Sports Zone including broomball & shoot the puck (CPHS Side Parking Lot) -Old Fashioned Carnival -Games -Carnival Game and Concession Midway -Free Play Zone -Winter Pavilion including Circus School, Face painting, Balloon Twisting and more (CP Canoe Club) Strolling Performers, Horse Drawn Trolley Rides, Dog Sledding, Log Carving plus lots more!
From our family to yours, wishing you the best for the New Year Councillor Lorraine Allen It has been a privilege to provide employment services to Smiths Falls & area for the past year. Wishing everyone all the best in 2016 from the staff at
From us all at
Smiths Falls Transmission Service (613) 284-2200 149 Lombard Street, Smiths Falls, ON.
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s y a d i l o H y Happ
2016
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DECEMBER 2015
lifestyle Smiths Falls and Perth Gearing up for arrival of refugees It’s hard to pin Amber Coville down, but that’s because Coville finds it hard to pin specific information down on when, or whether, Syrian refugees are coming to Smiths Falls. She says the information is coming so fast and in such great amounts that “everyone is just reacting, and going with what we know as we find out.” Coville, Communications and Community Engagement Co-ordinator with the Economic Development Office and is also part of the Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) in Smiths Falls. LIP helps with integration of newcomers to the community. “We help them connect with social services, Welcome Wagon, ESL services; we’re the social side, like integration, acceptance and whether they’ll stay.” Coville also gave a rundown on some of the other activities her group is involved with i.e. conversation circles where new arrivals get a chance to practice English, and the Newcomers Guide which gives information on things like when to put the garbage out, and what Canadian currency is like. But she, like Anne Munroe of the Community Alliance for Refugee Resettlement (CARR)
in Perth, has not heard anything to precipitate quick action, so both are still waiting. Munroe, co-chair of CARR with John Shideler, says the two or three families they want to come to Perth won’t be among the first wave who land because “we still have paper work to do.” CARR is working with the Anglican Diocese in Ottawa who undertakes the process through the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Department. “Once they approve, everything moves forward,” explains Munroe. “At this moment we haven’t identified any families… but it could be soon. We have an exceptional group here, motivated and hard working, but it’s all still uncharted territory. We even have a gentleman who was involved with the Vietnamese boat people back in the 70s and 80s working with us.” She also says there are several Arabic speakers in the community. “Everyday another surprise.” Although the first group of refugees has arrived, the timeline for CARR is January or February, Munroe says, with a bit of excitement in her voice. CARR draws from the geographic area of Perth,
Column:
The holidays seem to bring with them an endless list of “things that just got to get done” from the cooking to the shopping to the attending events and gatherings. It is almost as if we enter survival mode to get through the holidays and while some may thrive on this blitz of activity, many of us become exhausted and stressed out at trying to do so much in a short period of time. This year I have taken a different perspective on the holidays-I want to thrive during the holidays and not feel as if I merely survived them.
Tay Valley, Drummond North Elmsley, Lanark Highlands and Smiths Falls and Montague, “but we welcome support from anyone. We bring together people of all faiths, and no faith. We find the work challenging, intense and inspiring.” Their goal is to raise $100,000 to sponsor three families. As of December 14, “we are now over 50 percent towards our goal,” Munroe says with delight. Gord Munroe explains that while some teams have their work done before the refugees arrive, others will have work to do after they get here. And he adds that it’s been their experience that in six to eight weeks, a sponsoring group can go “from paper to go”. For information how to donate or volunteer, go to theCARR.ca. Syrian Refugee Information Meeting The room wasn’t large enough to hold all who arrived. Organizers were expecting a few; they got well over 60 - maybe more. And the excitement and anticipation were visible. Louisa Taylor from Refugee 613 commented shortly into the session “just this room alone could bring in two or three families and form
a nucleus of support.” She spoke of all the different ways to sponsor Syrian families; these were outlined in a PowerPoint presentation. Go to the Refugee 613 website www.refugee613. ca for full information. Some of the particulars she imparted include: This subject brings people out. People want to be part of this movement. We’re not getting as many as we thought in this part of the country. Fewer than 200 will be arriving in Ottawa by the end of December. “It’s kind of disappointing,” she shrugs. More and more the smaller communities are stepping up. The ‘demand’ for refugees far outstrips the bodies available. Helping other refugees is just as important i.e. Eritreans, Congolese or Sri Lankans. The first thing to consider when forming a sponsoring group is to develop a philosophy; the basis should be a balance between advice and empowerment. Sponsoring a family of four will cost (at a minimum) as much as $27,000; a family of six up to $32,500. This can be reduced by in-kind donations. Something to consider
How to thrive the holidays
When I reviewed previous Christmas holidays I saw a trend of taking on too much, some of this a result of being overly influenced by Pinterest ideas of decorating or cookbooks and cooking shows. I am not a person who does crafts, so I don’t know why I thought I could design my own mantelpiece decoration from fresh branches of several type of evergreen, then weave berries; fresh sugared fruit and whatever else into it. After 6 hours of fighting with branches and sticking to everything from the glue gun, I gave up and hauled out the fading handmade decorations the kids did years ago. The cooking? Really when you need to Google an ingredient as you’ve never heard of it and the only place you can get it is an hour drive and at a specialty store, you need to ask yourself “ why?.” In trying to cram every possible moment with this “stuff ’ that i just had to do, the activities I normally engage
in went out the window. I was exhausted and none too excited about the holidays. How do we thrive through the holidays? There are numerous ways from practicing gratitude daily; to taking time for yourself; to creating new traditions; and the list goes on. These are my ways of thriving during the holidays and I’d like to share them with you: 1. Stopping to enjoy a cup of tea. Growing up in the east coast, tea was an integral part of the culture, normally orange pekoe blend, sweetened with sugar and canned milk (not condensed). As I travelled, I began to take on an appreciation for different teas and their benefits. No matter what country I was travelling in, tea was always there. Each culture had different traditions for the preparation and serving of tea, but the one thing they all had in common was how people came together to drink tea and how
for your family: when the year is up can they still afford to live where they were first located? Sponsoring is like raising a family - encourage them to grow but allow them independence. Sponsoring is a daunting project because of the paperwork. It’s not easy. Refugees have experienced loss, maybe depression, PTSD, poverty, language barriers, culture shock, anxiety… But mostly remember that refugees are survivors. We are giving them a bridge. At the end of her presentation, one questioner asked about orphans. Taylor said not much is known about this part of the population. Answers from the floor included thoughts that “most don’t survive” and they are often “taken in by other families.” Ruth Noordegraaf, coordinator with the Kingston Immigration Partnership, took her turn speaking to those assembled about her city’s sponsoring efforts. She noted first, when talking to groups, make sure key individuals in the community and city are invited i.e. school, health, resettlement, recreation, Rotary. She said Kingston’s
school boards have limited English as a Second Language training, their mental health units have “almost no expertise in PTSD”, nor does it have many, or any, certified interpreters. She added and suggested this was an important action to take on the part of any sponsoring committee - “we are aware we don’t have them. We’re trying to get organized to get them.” She also commented that often people who gave donations, like clothing, were sometimes hurt that their donations were not immediately put to use. We get a lot, she added grinning, like shoes and cookies and knitting. “It’s important to manage the expectations of the community. Who is doing what? What are the roles and responsibilities? How can we help them become self-sufficient?” Shortly after 8 p.m. Jacques Pelletier, Chair of the Board of Directors of Rideau Community Health Services observed that all the presenters are “people who have done it. It just takes idealism, plus heart, plus organization, plus rolling up our sleeves.” For information: Jacques Pelletier jacquespelletier@me.com, Amber Coville 613-283-4124 ext. 1164, Anne and
By: Darlene MacLachlan
calming a cup of tea was. 2. Giving and Receiving. As a yoga teacher I discuss this frequently from the perspective that life is about balance. We like to give a lot of ourselves-our time, our energy, our love, but we are often hesitant to receive and to be in balance, both giving and receiving are necessary. The reality is, the time we spend with family and friends throughout the holidays opens the door to receiving the love, joy and friendship we share and a sense of togetherness. This is the greatest gift of all and no gifts or shiny decorations can provide this. 3. Keeping your routines. When we deviate from our routines, we get stressed. If you like walking daily find the time to continue to do so, It’s important for your physical and mental health. 4. Instead of becoming stressed out, practice smiling and feel less stressed.
Smiling is contagious; boosts our mood and activates the brain’s reward mechanism; and when you smile you look and feel great and others will smile and feel great as well. 5. Eating to nourish. Y’all know the sayings “you are what you eat” or “Garbage in, garbage out” when it comes to the effect of food on the body and mind. Trying to eat balanced meals and eat at regular times can be a challenge when there is so much happening and its often easier to grab whatever may be most convenient, even if it’s not nourishing and instead just fills the gap. Eat mindfully-Let’s face it, holidays + food=great business for gyms in the New Year. As we go about preparing and consuming these great meals we ultimately end up feeling not happy towards ourselves once the holidays are over. It doesn’t necessarily have to be that way. Great food and great company should leave us
feeling happy and grateful not wracked with guilt and a sense of dread towards the holidays because of food. Eating is the natural way of satisfying hunger. Mindful eating involves paying full attention to the experience of eating and drinking. 6. Stop focusing on what needs to be done for the day, the week and instead focus on what you are doing now and savour it. Thinking about everything that needs to be done is stressful-thinking about what you didn’t accomplish yesterday is stressful. If it gets done, great! If it doesn’t, so what? So my mantle looked like a kindergarten project rather than a Martha Stewart magazine cover of the holiday edition. I loved it and it made me smile. Most importantly, to thrive is to flourish and when we flourish we become healthier-physically and emotionally. Merry Christmas and wishing you a Happy New Year.
DECEMBER 2015
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lifestyle
Historical mapping project set to launch Jan. 8 The Perth Military Settlement will launch its bicentennial celebration in 2016 by bringing our community’s history to life in a digital format. The Historical Mapping Project is a years-long project initiated by Barrie Crampton, and will be made public for the first time on Friday, Jan, 8 at the Perth Civitan Club. The project is an online, searchable database and map of the original settlement and the people who settled here, making it a genealogical tool for the public to learn more about our Lanark County ancestors. Crampton resurrected original maps of the survey of 1815, and used those to digitally outline the settlement of the soldiers and settlers by individual lot, concession, names of the original and subsequent families and telling their stories for a lasting online legacy on the history of the current municipalities. “The historical records obtained in this project are a way of understanding of how the Perth Military Settlement was established,” he explains. “We now know who they were, their country of origin and the number of family members who travelled with them.” As he worked through the 2,000 plots of land, Crampton unveiled stories from that era, and has confirmed that about 20 of those settlement plots are still owned by the original family today. “We can now also see that a lot of the young soldiers didn’t stay,” he says. “They got their land grant in 1816, and there’s no record of them ever after. A lot of them got their land and didn’t perform their settlement duties. We can then see who took that land over after they left.”
Crampton worked alongside Algonquin College’s Ann MacPhail and CGIS, who both helped with the historical research and mapping technology. The project’s completion received support from the Military Settlement’s four municipalities – Beckwith Township, Drummond/North Elmsley Township, the Town of Perth and Tay Valley Township – making the project launch an ideal way to begin 200th anniversary celebrations. “We’re thrilled to launch this project, and we couldn’t even count the number of volunteer hours put into turning this idea into reality,” says Lanark County Warden and Drummond/ North Elmsley Deputy Reeve Gail Code, who also chairs the township’s 200th anniversary committee. “By showcasing our original story in a user-friendly platform, we’re giving the public access to 200 years of history. It’s hard to express our gratitude to Barrie,
Ann, CGIS and all who contributed to this legacy project.” The Historical Mapping Project will officially go live on Friday, Jan. 8, 2016 with an official celebration at the Perth Civitan Club from 1-4 p.m. With a meet and greet beginning at 1 p.m., the afternoon will officially begin at 2 p.m. with the four municipal representatives speaking about their respective anniversary plans for 2016. Crampton will then present the project and have it go live for the first time. Following his presentation, guests will have the opportunity to try out the project and ask any questions. The event is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend. For more information about the Perth Military Settlement’s 200th anniversary, please visit http://200thanniversary. lanarkcountytourism. com.
DECEMBER 2015
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Bruin
Watts
Addison
Marley Griffith
Reid
Leah
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Ella Law
O’Prey
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Austin Ingl
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Bullis
Oliver Krotki
Allyson Johnston Shema
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Vand Maeva
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Saidev Nandhak
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CP Holiday Train makes its way though Lanark County
The CP Rail Holiday Train made stops in Perth and Smiths Falls in November featuring performances from Jim Cuddy, Devin Cuddy, and Kelly Prescott. Volunteers were on hand collecting non-perishable food items for Build A Mountain of Food and local food banks.
DECEMBER 2015
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Students from Mme. Hedderson & Mrs. Backs kindergarden class at Chimo Elementary School in Smiths Falls share thier letters to Santa Clause. Hometown News will be sure to send a copy of the newspaper to the North Pole for Santa to read while he drinks his hot cocoa!
Kienan Tenny
Adriauna Addis-Villeneuve
Anthony Purcell
Andreas Swett or
on Bed
Jacks
sbrough
Rivir Wan
Maizy Crawford Nash Storie
Nora Manley
Madis
Tucker Stanzel
on Lu
Zoe Brown
msden
Emily
Peters
DECEMBER 2015
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lifestyle
Giving the Carleton Place Arena a Facelift
Carleton PlaceSarah Cavanaugh
Carleton Place, like many of the small towns dotting Eastern Ontario, is a hockey town. Since becoming a Junior A team in the spring of 2009 the Canadians have become one of the best teams in the country and are currently first place in their division. The team’s owner and head coach, Jason Clarke has been very vocal about his desire for the Carleton Place arena to become a sports destination in the area. With the average weekend sports tournament bringing upwards of $300,000 in revenue to a community, he is not alone. The World Broomball Championships held in 2012 in Carleton Place, Almonte, Beckwith, Pakenham and Arnprior welcomed nearly 1000 players from all over the world and was a glimpse of the kind of events Carleton Place could aim to host.
Located at 75 Neelin Street, the arena is home to two ice surfaces, tw halls, a boardroom and a number of offices. The exterior boosts four tennis courts, a playground, four little league baseball diamonds, a batting cage, a small skate/bike park and a playground. It is the epitome of small town community rink. Many of us have celebrated our wedding receptions, birthdays and anniversaries in the Upper Hall; we’ve played bingo with the Civitan, watched our children learn to skate, sung songs with Issie at Playgroup and attended the Mom 2 Mom sale or Annual Home Show. The arena was been built in 1969 and updated in 1981 to add the 2nd Ice surface and it is clear that it is starting to show it’s age. The town recently announced plans to make upgrades to the arena. These changes were posted online via
a video on youtube and shared on the town’s website and Facebook page. An open house for the community to discuss the upgrades was hosted on November 23rd and an open survey was conducted online (closing Nov 30th). The purpose of these discussions was the order of the changes (to occur over the course of the next 5-6yrs). The proposal included: 4 new change rooms and office (1,000,000) Relocation and expansion of Tennis Courts (300,000) An outdoor rink and skateboard park (400,000) An expansion of 250 arena seats (1,000,000) Relocation of the playground (50,000) New Parking (100,000) The announcement of the upgrades to the facility has been met with great enthusiasm but has raised many questions about the economic benefits of the upgrades. Is
Perth churches ring in the New Year for 200th Anniversary
When the clock strikes midnight on January 1, 2016, the Perth Church community will honour the Perth Military Settlement’s 200th anniversary in a very special way: by ringing the Church bells. A beautiful medley of the church bells will ring across the town’s landscape as several local churches plan to ring its bells at midnight on January 1, for 200 seconds to commemorate the area’s bicentennial.
But before that takes place, three religious establishments will host gatherings on New Year’s Eve. “Singing in the New Year!” is a musical event that will take place across town and include musical selections – both sacred and secular – to bring people together in anticipation of the Perth Military Settlement’s bicentennial. The first is a concert in St. John the Baptist
Catholic Church, 40 Wilson St. E. starting at 7 p.m. The second begins at 8 p.m. in the nearby St. James the Apostle Anglican Church at 12 Harvey St. and is described as “a sing-along of English wassails.” Individuals and families are invited to enjoy the beauty of these historic churches, which will splendidly decorated for the Christmas Season, and listen to, and join in, a rich variety of music and song. There is no admission charge. Everyone is also invited to partake of music and light refreshments at “His House,” the Perth Hub Drop-In Centre at 40 North Street, from 9 pm. That event will close with prayer at midnight. Then – the bells will ring. That 200 seconds of playtime is a way for the churches to honour the 200th, especially since each of these establishments have played such a vital role in the community’s history. To learn more about the Perth 200th anniversary celebrations, please visit perth200.ca.
spending 3-4 million on a facility that will still not compete as a sports event destination and will very likely require more work in another 5-10yrs a sound decision? George Brown, a well-known leader in the Broomball community and a key organizer of the 2012 World Broomball Championships, believes that raising the ceiling height and making Ice surface1 regulation size should take priority. He admits though, even with this update the arena will never compete with Arnprior or Smiths Falls in hosting large scale sports tournaments. If your championship Jr A team can never host
an RBC or Fred Page cup then perhaps it is time to think about a new facility all together. In addition to ice sports, we have 4 little league diamonds that are too small to host adult league hard ball or fastball and that see very little use throughout the year. A new Community arena facility could include 2 larger diamonds instead, opening up the possibility of hosting large scale summer sport events or hosting the many local adult softball leagues that currently compete for time on the one diamond at Carleton Place High School. Perhaps the question posed to the com-
munity should have been – Do you want to spend the money for a community facility that can be of economic benefit to a growing town or patch up a dated small town community rink to continue to use for public skating and local-level sporting. There is nothing wrong with a small town rink but when we start talking millions of dollars maybe it’s time to think even bigger? Whatever your opinion, there is no doubt that the rink holds a special place in this town’s heart.
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Clinic Location: McMartin House 125 Gore St. E Perth
DECEMBER 2015
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lifestyle
HEALTHY CHOICES Chiropractic model of Health The chiropractic model of health is based on the fact that the human body has the innate capacity to self regulate and heal. In other words, nature
doesn’t need help, just no interference. So what interferes with your body’s ability to stay healthy? Today, more than ever, research shows us that
STRESS is the main cause of disease. Dr. Bruce Lipton, a highly renowned and respected cell biologist, published that stress is the cause of at least 95% of illness and disease. Even the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), says on it’s website that 90% of all illness and disease is related to stress. Harvard Medical School says on their website; “Too much stress for too long creates what is known as ‘chronic stress’ which has been linked to heart disease, stroke, and may also influence cancer and chronic respiratory diseases. And illness is just the tip of the iceberg.” I teach my clients that there are three main sources of stress; physical, chemical, and mental/emotional. Everything we experience in life we experience through our nervous system. So when we sit for hours at a computer, expose ourselves to chemicals in our food, or worry about our finances we create stress in our nervous system. Here is the secret, the body does not know how to tell the difference as it reacts to all stressors the same
way, via our sympathetic nervous system. The origin of stress is a protective mechanism designed for survival. If a saber toothed tiger jumped out in front of you your body would experience an acute stress response or ‘fight or flight’. This sympathetic nervous system response immediately dumps adrenaline and cortisol into your bloodstream effectively changing your physiology so that your heart rate and breathing quicken, your muscles tighten and your pupils dilate to get you ready to either fight for survival or run for your life. To put this in perspective, we had client who observed his car roll backwards to where his children were playing. In a moment of superhuman strength he lifted his car off of his children saving them from serious injury or death. That moment of acute stress (fight or flight) gave him massive physical abilities, so much so that he actually broke his neck from the weight of the lift! Stress is a positive response that can help you in acute situations,
however, it will destroy the body chronically. A prolonged stress response will increase your nervous system’s sympathetic tone causing sustained elevation of stress hormones known as catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline) and decreases in relaxing hormones such as serotonin and relaxin. From decreased immunity and digestion to shutting down fertility, focus, attention, and energy..... this state of physiology is not what any healthy human should experience for any sustained period of time. So what does this all have to do with chiropractic? Most people think that chiropractic is for pain, however, there is significant research that shows that a chiropractic adjustment actually shuts down the stress response in the brain! Neurophysiologist, Dr. Irvin Korr, did extensive research in the 1970’s that proved that any restriction in spinal movement patterns created increased sympathetic tone in the nervous system directly contributing to stress
Massage Therapy HRV - Heart Rate Variability Surface Electromygraphy - muscle and tone Thermography - organ and gland control
hormones in the brain. Nobel Prize winner for brain research, Roger Sperry, stated, “90% of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by movement of the spine”. For clarity, 90% of the neurological connections to the brain come from the spine rather than from the organs. If you compromise the motion of the spine you compromise the stimulation of the brain. In 2011, a team of 8 PhD’s and one chiropractor studied the effect of a spinal adjustment on brain activity using neuronal imaging by a PET scan. Through use of radioactive markers they could actually measure metabolic brain activity. What they found was remarkable. Immediately after a spinal adjustment was performed they found regional changes in metabolic brain activity, decreased sympathetic tone (fight or flight) of the nervous system, and reduced pain and muscle tone. This landmark study proved that restoring motion to the spine directly reduced nervous system stress! I was once asked by a haemotologist what chiropractic did that made various “nebulous” symptoms with her cancer patients improve. Chiropractic adjustments are proven to reduce stress on the nervous system. This is why many people under chiropractic care often experience significant health changes. Remember, the CDC reports that 90% of all illness and disease is from stress. Perhaps it’s time to think about visiting a chiropractor! Submitted by Smiths Falls Family Chiropractic
DECEMBER 2015
14
culture
Perth inside out:
Izzy Dolls
In the centre, Major Jay Feyko, Soldier On Afghanistan Relay organizer, is presented with an Izzy Doll by Shirley O'Connell. On the left is Perth Legion member Bill McKenzie.
Perth-Terrance O’Hearn
dents were knocking at her door at 8:30 the following morning, and a CBC News live interview took place the day after that. Izzy Dolls have been distributed by the Canadian Armed Forces, the International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering (ICROSS) Canada, and others, for the past two decades. The dolls are given to orphans and children of the needy, and often the dolls are the only toys these children will ever see. The dolls are usua
Shirley O’Connell recently faced down an email inbox containing more than 600 queries, following an article published in the Ottawa Citizen on the Izzy Doll Project. With the assistance of her grandson Seth Johnson, a grade 11 PDCI student, she was able to complete the task in a relatively short time using advanced marketing technology. After working into the late hours taking care of the correspondence, three Carleton University journalism stu- lly boys, with a United
by Terry O’Hearn
Nations peacekeep- they are handed a doll ers’ blue beret, or girls as soon as they arrive. with a She has seen before what this little token Tilley style hat. They of love can mean to a are approximately six desperate people. inches tall, and must Anticipating the be kept light for ease need to shift to a of carrying. About higher gear in the 200 dolls fit easily into production and disa clear plastic garbage tribution of the dolls, bag, and O’Connell O’Connell is seeking estimates they average assistance through the about three hours each Perth Branch 244 of to make. the Royal Canadian The recent story by Legion, and hopefully the Citizen’s Paula Mc- Legions across CanaCooey, which helped da. A working infratrigger the new flur- structure is needed to ry of activity, noted get the dolls from the that “Local organizer knitters to recipients. Shirley O’Connell says The dolls, which the dolls help to put cannot be bought a smile on children’s or sold for profit, faces during difficult were inspired by and times, so she’s appeal- named after Master ing to the public to Cpl. Mark Isfeld, of help get the these dolls No. 1 Combat Engiinto the hands of the neer Regiment, who thousands of Syrian was serving on peacerefugee children ex- keeping missions in pected to resettle in Kuwait and Croatia in Canada by the end of the early 1990s. There, the year.” he often came across O’Connell is also children with no toys the Canadian coordi- or personal possesnator for the project, sions, so his mother, and has been thinking Carol Isfeld, knitted ahead of the curve so little woolen dolls that that she can see a smile he could give away to on the faces of the ref- the kids he met. Isfeld ugee children when was killed in Croatia
in 1994 while neutralizing landmines and his mother has since died, but the legacy of the Izzy dolls lives on. Mark Isfeld is buried in Little Mountain Royal Canadian Legion Cemetery, Chilliwack, BC. Although O’Connell and the lovable dolls have been familiar to many Perth residents for several years, the project came to the forefront locally on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, when the “Soldier On Afghanistan Relay” stopped overnight in Perth. Following the official ceremony at the Crystal Palace, O’Connell was at the Legion hall to present each member of the team with an Izzy Doll. O’Connell said at the time “It was one of the most moving events that I have ever attended.” She discovered that two of the relay team members had given Izzy Dolls to children in Afghanistan and Haiti. Each soldier received an Izzy Doll with a green beret for themselves,
and they were also able to select additional Izzy Dolls for their family. Canadian Armed Forces members and health care workers have given out more than 1.3 million dolls over a period of more than 20 years to children in war-torn countries, and areas where natural disasters have occurred. It is expected the few children and their families who are fortunate to have a new home in the Perth area will soon be getting a warm welcome here, thanks in part to a small knitted doll. Some updates may be published on our Discover Perth Facebook page. Knitters can contact O’Connell by email at soconn37@ gmail.com, and information on the patterns and instructions can be found on the website ravelry.ca . The memorial website for Mark Isfeld is izzydoll. ca.
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DECEMBER 2015
culture
Hunger in Leeds, Grenville & Lanark, 2015 Submitted by the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit The findings released by the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit’s 2015 Nutritious Food Basket Survey showed the cost of feeding a family of four (two parents with two children) is $845 per month. This is a 20 per cent increase from 2010. For many families in LGL, this increase may mean having to choose between paying bills and buying food. Since there are consequences to not paying other bills, food is often what is sacrificed. When individuals and families are unable to access enough healthy food to eat in a way that makes them feel good about themselves, it is called “food insecurity” or “hunger”. The root cause of hunger is a lack of money or income to meet basic needs. It affects how much and what kind of food a person eats and may stop someone from getting the all the vitamins, minerals and food energy they need to
be healthy today and in the future. Research shows us that income has an important effect on health. How much money we have to spend influences our health because we need that money for quality food and safe shelter. When we don’t have enough money for these basic needs, we are at a higher risk for many health conditions, like diabetes, cancer, mental illnesses, and respiratory or heart diseases. Our income affects our living conditions, overall quality of life and general well-being. If everyone in Leeds Grenville and Lanark counties has a chance for fair wages, safe working conditions, and affordable housing, daycare and public transportation, everyone will be better able to afford and access safe and nutritious food, and get the nutrients they need to be healthy. Improving these living conditions for everyone is an action known as working upstream – changing the causes of poor health before
they affect our lives and the health of our communities. What can you do to help? ∙ Visit: http://www.healthunit.org/healthequity/ o To learn more about the cost of healthy eating: see the infographic: http://www.healthunit.org/nutrition/foodsecurity/Nutritious_Food_Basket.pdf o Learn more about the root causes of hunger and talk to your neighbours, coworkers, elected officials and community groups: Watch the “Let’s Start Conversation About Health” Video ∙ Learn about and become involved in community programs that support healthy eating for all, like the Good Food Box, Student Nutrition Programs and community gardens. ∙ When you are asked to donate to food banks and hot meal programs donate the healthiest food possible: http://www.healthunit.org/ nutrition/resources/Healthy_ Food_Donation_List.pdf
Hunger in Leeds, Grenville & Lanark, 2015 What does it mean to be food insecure? Food insecurity = when people cannot get enough healthy food
For a family of 4 on Ontario Works
$845
$2196
of monthly income towards FOOD
$976 of monthly income towards RENT
$375
left for basic needs:
When money is tight..... money for food
meals are skipped
birth weights, nutritional health, learning and productivity
risk of disease
What can YOU do? Learn more about the root causes of hunger Talk to your neighbours, coworkers, elected officials and community groups about the root causes of hunger
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Monument honours murdered Lanark women
Support healthy eating through programs like the Good Food Box, Student Nutrition Programs and community gardens
For more information, contact the Health ACTION Line at 1-800-660-5853 or visit www.healthunit.org
In this photo, Linda Bates of Perth admires a new monument, which was created to honour and respect the women murdered in Lanark County since 1994 due to violence. The monument is located in the Tay Basin, adjacent to the Little Tay River. As a survivor of violence myself, says Kat Watson, I wanted to create a public space for other survivors to come and reflect, to show inclusion,
and to make this a public issue. Thousands of women accessed Lanark County Interval House last year and the numbers are climbing. Kat, along with other survivors of abuse, agencies, and local businesses worked together to create the first women's monument in Lanark County.
DECEMBER 2015
16
culture
When corn doesn’t grow Neilson Chocolate will
By Linda Seccaspina
Who doesn't remember Neilson Chocolate bars? Jersey Milk, Mr. Big, Malted Milk, Sweet Marie, Crispy Crunch and PEP were common names from our childhood. So what does this have to do with our local area? If you drive out to the Appleton North Lanark Regional Museum, hang a left at the 3 corners. Just a short distance on your right, well hidden in the distant bushes, lies the farm that the Neilson family once owned. In 1820 a Scottish weaver named John Nilson left his home in Paisley with his wife Agnes to find a new life in Canada. John Nilson at some point changed his name to Neilson for reasons unknown shortly after he arrived in Canada. Just down the road from Almonte he built a stone home and barn on the Appleton Side Road. William Neilson, the third child of the family, was born on that Appleton side road farm in March of 1841. After working in Almonte as a machinist William moved away from the family farm to the United States, and in Rochester, N.Y. he met his future wife, Mary Eva Kaiser. They moved to Brockville and opened a grocery store, but tragedy swept through the family and business after a fire wiped out their home and store, also claiming the lives of their small son and daughter. William's Grandmother sent them money to make a fresh start, so Neilson decided to open a grocery store in Toronto in 1867. Sadly, he didn't have much luck with that store and the business went bankrupt three years later. For a mere $4 a month he placed his family in a rented house on 4 acres while he went to work on his brother's farm in North Dakota. There he sent what he could to financially support his wife and children. Meanwhile back on that 4 acres his wife Mary sold
Photo of Neilson Farm (Yaremko)- donation to North Lanark Regional Museum
milk from the family cow door to door and made mincemeat pies. Neilson finally returned home after the harvest and used every penny the family had saved and invested in 7 cows and some used hand cranked ice cream makers. He decided then and there that his ice cream was going to be the very best. William insisted on using the finest cream and had a personal secret on how to get that churner to turn faster to give it a smooth taste. The result was perfection, and Neilson Ice Cream was a hit in the summer of 1893. The family sold 3,750 gallons and made a profit of over $3000. With that money he built a three-storey home with an attached factory on Gladstone Avenue in Toronto but soon learned business for ice cream was slow in the winter. Neilson always insisted on treating employees like family and nothing less, so he needed to come up with some sort of new concept for the slow months. Because of his concern for his employees and his desire to keep them, that inspired the creation of Neilson chocolate and it became an instant hit. He used dairy products from local farmers in his new factory which was a former cheese factory in Beachville, Ontario. Sadly in 1915 he stumbled on a plank at his factory, was injured, and died of a stroke shortly after. When William Neilson died at the age of 71, the Neilson company
was producing a million pounds of ice cream every year and 500,000 pounds of chocolate. His second son Morden took over the company after his father's death and under his watch became the largest producer of ice cream in the British Commonwealth and the largest manufacturer of chocolates around the world. William’s other two sons were also involved in the business and Charles was vice president and Allan was assistant manager. After Morden’s death in 1947, William Neilson Ltd. was bought by the George Weston firm Neilson purchased the Canadian operations of the Cadbury Confectionery Company, and started producing Dairy Milk, Caramilk and several other brands. Once again, William Neilson Ltd. was the largest candy bar manufacturer in Canada. In 1981, Neilson also got exclusive distribution rights and a manufacturing license to produce Haagen-Dazs premium ice cream. In 1990, William Neilson Ltd. sold its ice cream production business, including the Haagen-Dazs license, to Ault Foods and restructured into two separate companies. Now, each time I drive by that stone farm on the Appleton Side Road I smile. William Neilson knew that all you needed to succeed was a lot of family love and to make sure life was full of ice cream and chocolate.
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DECEMBER 2015
culture
Column: Food for thought-Christmas inBy Berlin Amy Rendby
At the end of November, I had the opportunity to accompany my husband on one of his business trips. Usually he’s flying off to see clients in Michigan or Ohio or Texas but this time, he had been invited to Berlin, Germany. Be still my heart! I had never been to Europe so decided to tag along for this trip, do some sightseeing and – what else – go on a food adventure. There is nothing I love more than diving into local culture by enjoying the local foods.
ditional German fare as I could. And Berlin certainly did not disappoint. Breakfasts were a delightful combination of quark, a dairy product like yogurt, with a granola bar, so you could make your own creation; various fresh cheeses; deli meats; smoked salmon; fruit; and the freshest bread, particularly rye, accompanied by marmalades of every sort. Lunch and dinner were replete with similar choices: bratwurst with potatoes
Traditional German schnitzel
And what better time of year to be in Germany than at Christmas time? In addition to some sightseeing, including a particularly sobering visit to a concentration camp, I sought out as much tra-
and sauerkraut, pasta with a mushroom and cheese sauce and good old weiner schnitzel with a warm potato salad tended to be the stars of most menus. It’s still a toss-up as to whether the paper thin schnitzel
at Borchardt outweighed the traditional sausage with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut at Augustiner de Gendarmenmarkt, a traditional beer house. The pretzels and mustard were also fantastic. A particularly note-worthy dinner was the one my husband enjoyed at Aigner Gendarmenmarkt, a very traditional and quite incredible roast goose that they only put on during the Christmas season. Instead of butter, the restaurant provides roast goose fat to spread on your bread. I discovered it is really, really good. When in Rome, right? I would wager, however, that our most enjoyable food experiences were actually at the traditional outdoor Christmas Market just up the street from our hotel. The WeichnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt was such an experience we returned 3 times. Filled with vendors and their handmade glassware, woodworking and wool spinning, we got all of our Christmas shopping done here. Most enjoyable however were the very traditional foods: sausages roasting on huge grills, crepes, waffles, roasted chestnuts (quite literally roasted on an open fire) and my 2 personal favorites – a flatbread made using fresh
rye bread baked in a wildly hot wood oven and then topped with cream cheese, bacon and green onions eaten as a snack followed by a dessert of shredded pancake topped with black cherries in a red wine sauce. As far as beverages go, beer was the obvious choice. And yes, it was fabulous. Especially with the bratwurst. But a most pleasant surprise was Gluhwein, a hot mulled red wine concoction available almost anywhere – in the Christmas market, at restaurants and surprisingly, at little stalls on the streets where seats and warm blankets were offered up. To say that Berlin impressed would be an understatement. And not just with respect to the food, although it was all stellar. Remarkably absent of the commercialism and consumerism so often found here at home, we had the extraordinary opportunity to simply enjoy the Christmas season. If there’s one thing that Berlin seems to do extraordinarily well, it is embracing and enjoying the spirit of Christmas. The lights, the trees, the decorations, the singing - all of it. And that much better when you can get a Gluhwein to go to ward off the chill and stay out a little longer.
Anniversary committee seeking your input
The Anniversary Programs Committee is seeking your input for the Canada 150th and Carleton Place 200th Anniversary Events! The Canada 150 event will celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017 and the organizers are looking for project ideas and project commitments from various groups. This project will involve a year round effort to promote Carleton Place with special events leading up the July 1, 2017 celebration. The Carleton Place 200 commemorates the 200th Anniversary of the Founding of Carleton Place and will be celebrated in 2019. Both celebrations will require broad community involvement to be a success. Public meetings were held on November 14th (by the Combined Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee)
and December 10th (hosted at the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum) to gauge public interest and brainstorm some ideas. The organizing committee will be holding another informal meeting on January 14 at 7 pm at the museum, at 267 Edmund Street. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to attend to learn about the committee’s initial plans and to help determine what working committees need to be established. Suggestions of any type are welcome, as are any individuals or groups prepared to take on the organizing of any special event. Please contact Jennifer Irwin, Committee Secretary, at the Museum, with any comments or ideas. cpbheritagemuseum@bellnet. ca or 613-253-7013
The Table welcomes survivors of Indian Residential Schools
L-R: Patrick Etherington, Joe Cowen, Shelley Dalgleish, Pam Hart Photo Credit: David Zimmerly
By Allison Graham On Wednesday, November 25th the Table Community Food Center in Perth, welcomed the return of Frances Rose Whiskeychan and Patrick Etherington Sr. They were last there in May of this year enroute to Ottawa, by foot, from
Northern Ontario for the closing ceremonies of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Commission was officially established in 2008. National events were scheduled throughout Canada for survivors of Indian Residential Schools to attend and
give testimonials on their experiences. Patrick Sr. shared some of his stories with the group and reminded us that although the initial mandate of the Commission was completed in 2015, the process of reconciliation must continue.
18
Business Lanark-Sally Smith
spotlight on business: Circa 1894 Day Spa and B&B
Circa 1894 Day Spa and B&B is a fitting reflection of its owner, Donna Dillman. It’s in a church reflecting her spirituality; it’s a business which reflects her professional savvy; it’s charmingly decorated reflecting her creativity, and it’s a massage and Reiki centre, which reflects Dillman’s hands-on vocation. The church came first, then the spa, then the bed and breakfast, but it’s the church that holds everything together. And this is not the first church Dillman has owned; she owns another just up the road in Poland. The Day Spa and B&B is located in Watson’s Corners, rural Lanark, about 20 minutes from Perth, 60 minutes from Ottawa and 75 minutes from Kingston. As a B&B, Dillman provides guests with sleeping accommodations in the old/new church plus breakfast and snacks throughout the day. For her visitors, there are two rooms The Rose Room and The Moon Room; each is different and unique, The Moon Room a little darker and moodi-
Column:
er. Her company so far has come from as far east as Montreal and as far south as Kitchener with several repeat customers. And each leaves with a small bar of soap formulated especially for the church. Dillman serves special meals, if asked, like gluten free or vegan. She grins when she explains there’s no menu. “When you have lunch here, you have what I serve you,” she laughs. Lunch is $15 and afternoon tea is $5 for a “bottomless” cup of tea plus cheese and crackers or a “goody” of some kind. Along with the B&B (for no additional charge) comes the Spa two hot tubs and a cool tub, two FAR infra-red saunas, a Finnish Sauna for a thermo-therapy experience, and finally, to end the day, relaxing in the Quiet Room. The Spa is open to the public - adults only - for bookings by the hour from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dillman practices Reiki on herself and clients, and has three registered massage therapists on call. The church is a unique ‘draw’ in itself. Initially a Church of Zion, it was United when Dillman
and her partner, Cam Allen, bought it. Allen, a Home Inspector with 16 years under his belt, and a residential and commercial builder with 40 years experience, also wrote about the renovation of the church under his third ‘hat’, that of columnist for Sun Media with two columns in the Kingston Whig weekly. The two met in February of 2011; on Allen’s bucket list was building, or renovating a heritage building, so when the church became available the two bought it in 2013 and moved in in September of that year. The two have put their hearts, souls and collective years of experience and knowledge into making the building a place to both see and experience. Allen didn’t just renovate, he renovated with efficiency and vision. He wanted his “old” church to be as air tight as a “new” Energy Star home, and he succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. The Energy Auditor said the house exceeded anything “both old and new” that he had tested in 10 years. Dillman delighted in pointing out the yearly heating cost
calculation before renovations was estimated to be about $10,000; AR (or after renovation) the cost comes in at $700 annually. And Allen being the planner he is, built in a greywater recycling system; this takes used water from showers or baths, filters it and provides 20 flushes for the toilet with one 10-min shower. As Allen was working on the structure, Dillman was putting the insides together. Her watchword is to “live lightly on the planet” and she admitted to some guilt around the “extravagance of purchasing.” So she turned to Kijiji. Most every corner you turn to in the distinctive building is “a Kijiji” - washer and dryer, kitchen sink, soaker tub, shower, propane stove, saunas - point to it and it’s “a Kijii.” Of course, besides “living lightly on the planet” Dillman explains “every penny I saved, Cam got to spend on green technology.” For them it was a win-win situation. One other aspect of renovating was crucial to the pair - as much as possible they used local
Donna Dillman welcomes guests to her newly opened Circa 1894 Spa and B&B in Watson’s Corners north of Perth.
Sleep in comfort in The Rose Room at Circa 1894
contractors and local supplies. If you go for a night, or a day visit, ask Dillman about her 750 km trek along the Camino from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela. In part this was precipitated by a book she read by Shirley Mclean (who experienced a mystical
event while trekking) as well as an inner personal shift to a spiritual growth path. So, as Allen is fulfilling one of his dreams in renovating the church, so is Dillman by giving back to the community. She encourages men to use the facilities as well.
Students and taxes-Understand your options
By Steve Bennett - Se- the number of months nior Tax Professional, in school. No actual H&R Block textbook receipts are required. Tax time can be confusing for post-secTo corroborate their ondary students. It’s claims, students need early in your tax filing to obtain a T2202A endeavours, plus some from their educationof the credits are a lit- al institution. This tle complicated. Let form states the pertime go over the most nent information for important tax credits the aforementioned available to students: claims: how much elithe tuition, education, gible tuition they have and textbook amounts. paid and how many months they have These credits are been in school during available to offset ed- that tax year. In the ucational costs for past these forms were students. The tuition mailed directly to stuamount is based strict- dents, but more and ly on the amount of more educational ineligible tuition paid stitutions are requiring whereas the educa- that students obtain tion and textbook them from an online amounts are based on portal.
By Steve Bennett
Since the tax credit is non-refundable, most students are unable to take advantage of it on their current tax return because it requires taxable income in excess of $12,000 (approximately). Fortunately, there are rules in place to ensure that these credits are not wasted and can be used – either by a supporting person or by the student in a future year. The student can carry the credit forward, which means that they can use it in the future when their income increases. In this case, they still need to calculate it this year on Schedule 11, but no
claim is made. Alternatively, the student may choose to transfer the credit (subject to federal and provincial limits) to a parent or grandparent who can take advantage of the tax break this year.
Let’s look at an example. A student has annual employment income of $7,000, tuition of $3,000, and 8 months of full-time enrolment. The income is below the threshold, so the student is unable to claim any credits this year. If they choose to carry it forward, they calculate the credit this year on Schedule 11 and do not elect to transfer any amount. The federal carry for-
ward amount is $6,720 which will work out to a tax savings of $1,008 when it is used. The alternative option is to transfer the credit to a parent or grandparent (or spouse’s parent or grandparent), subject to the federal limit of $5,000. If the student elected to transfer the maximum, then $5,000 of the credit would be transferred and the balance must be carried forward. This is a common option chosen when relatives are providing financial support with a students’ post-secondary education. There is a corre-
sponding provincial credit, as well, which works in a similar fashion and offsets provincial tax payable. This article provides only an overview of the regulations in force at the date of publication, and no action should be taken without consulting the detailed legislation or seeking professional advice. Therefore, no responsibility for loss occasioned by any person acting or refraining from action as a result of the material contained in this bulletin can be accepted by Steve Bennett or H&R Block Canada, Inc.
19
business
the
VALUE
of advice Shawn Pankow CFP.CLU While most of us are used to the government reaching into our pockets each year for taxes, a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is the rare example of the government reaching out to help disabled members of our community. Christmas is the time of giving, and a contribution to a loved one’s RDSP this season is a gift that will keep on giving for decades to come and can provide a beneficiary with great, long-term income security. Furthermore, if you have made provisions in your estate planning to provide support to a disabled relative, contributing now to a RDSP could enable you to truly maximize the benefit of what you intend to leave behind. Largely misunderstood due to their complexity, when properly used, RDSPs are the most effective method to enable families to build a nest-egg for a disabled beneficiary. If you know someone who is under the age of 50 who is dealing with a disability, you should consider opening a Registered Disability Savings Plan, and take advantage of contributions from the federal government that can help create a more secure financial future. RDSPs were introduced by the Federal Government in 2008 as a vehicle enabling disabled persons or their families to save for their longterm financial needs. These plans provide beneficiaries with tax sheltered, long term growth and the opportunity for federal money from two sources: the Canada Disability Savings Grant
(CDSG), and the Canada Disability Savings Bond (CDSB). Qualification for this program is relatively straightforward. To be eligible for the grant and bond, beneficiaries need to be a resident of Canada under age 50, have a valid social insurance number, and must be eligible for the disability tax credit. He or she must have also filed a tax return in each of the two preceding years and all future years. Income restrictions exist for both the grant and bond. For beneficiaries under age 18, it is based on the family’s income. For adult beneficiaries, it is based on their own income. The maximum annual CDSG grant is $3,500 for family net incomes less than $89,401 and $1,000 for family net incomes above this amount. The maximum annual CDSB of $1,000 is available to families with a net income below $26,201 and smaller amounts are available to families or individuals whose income is between $26,201 and $44,701. Bond and grant payments can be made up to the year in which the beneficiary turns 49. Plans have a maximum lifetime contribution limit of $200,000. The maximum amount the federal government will contribute to a RDSP is $70,000 in grants and $20,000 in bonds. Contributions to the plan are required to receive the grants, but the bond is added to the plan annually once it is opened, even if no other money is added to the plan, assuming the income test is met.
RDSPs provide tax-sheltered growth and a similar range of investment choices as RRSPs. Assuming a beneficiary is over age 18 and has a net income below $26,201, he or she would qualify for the full grant and bond. The grant adds $3 for every $1 contributed on the first $500/ year and $2 for every dollar on the next $1,000. Therefore, a $1,500 contribution annually would receive a $3,500 grant. As of 2011, grant and bond entitlements can be carried forward, retroactive to 2008, for up to a 10 year period. This means a plan could be opened today and a beneficiary could receive eight years of retroactive grant and bond payments. For example, a $12,000 contribution from a beneficiary, or anyone who would like to contribute to the plan, could receive retroactive contributions of $10,500 (limited due to one year maximum) in grant and $8,000 in bond from the government funding. The long term benefits of these plans can be significant. For example, a $1,500 annual contribution, qualifying for the full CESG and CESB, earning 4% growth annually for 20 years would grow to almost $179,000. That amount would rise to $265,000 in another ten years when the beneficiary could start drawing from the plan without impacting bond and grant payments. Neither money accumulating in the plan, nor withdrawals from the plan, will affect a beneficiary’s Ontario Disability Support Program payments or any other “income tested” govern-
ment programs including Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement or GST benefit. Careful planning is required to ensure grants and bonds are not repaid on withdrawals from the plan. Withdrawals can be made in two ways: Lifetime Disability Assistance Payments (LDAPs) – which are recurring annual payments that continue until a beneficiary’s death. Payments can begin at any age but must commence by the end of the year in which the beneficiary turns 60. Disability Assistance Payments (DAPs) – periodic, lump sum payments that can be paid to the beneficiary at any time after the RDSP is established. However, these pay-
ments could be subject to the Assistance Holdback rules which state that once a withdrawal is made, all federal grants and bonds paid into the RDSP in the previous 10 year period have to be repaid to the federal government. However, the plan can retain any income and growth made by these monies while part of the plan. The biggest potential concern with a RDSP is the fact beneficiaries shouldn’t plan to make any withdrawals from the plan until ten years after the last grant or bond are paid to the plan. However, it is a great program that can help provide those suffering from a disability great peace of mind during their retirement years. Furthermore, with
the opportunity to retroactively maximize grant and bond contributions, a lump sum payment now could provide a beneficiary with the opportunity to access funds earlier than age 60 in many cases. Professional planning is required to maximize the benefit of RDSPs. Make sure you speak with an advisor who can provide you with the right advice. Catch the Christmas spirit and help create a legacy gift with tremendous long term benefit. Shawn Pankow is a Certified Financial Planner with Pankow Financial Solutions in Smiths Falls.
Smith Falls CDC Children share their Christmas spirit The students from the Smiths Falls Development Centre at St. James School have been collecting Canadian Tire for a month so they could purchase toys for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree. On Monday December 7th, they walked from their school to Canadian Tire. Not only did they share their Christmas spirit with
21 children in need, they did so with everyone who witnessed these young shoppers picking out toys to put under the Angel Tree. Typically there is a lot of excitement in the toy aisles this time of year. There was an air of seriousness in these 19 young shoppers who knew they may be picking out the only gift another child gets
this Christmas. This has become an annual event for the Smiths Falls Development Centre. Canadian Tire owner Joe Cayen and staff Wilda Mousceau provided these young shoppers with some treats after sharing their generosity to the Angel Tree.
The Learning Expo returns to Carleton Place
The Annual Learning Expo is returning to the Carleton Place on Jan. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the third year. Previously at the Carambeck Community Centre, the event has grown and will be moving to the Carleton Place Arena (75 Neelin Street) upper hall this year. From early childhood development to college prep, this
event brings together industry experts, community programs, education-related businesses and educators in one convenient location. Admission is free and the first 50 visitors will receive a swag bag of freebies and information from participating organizations. The show will feature talks on childhood health/nutrition, car seat safety and more.
There will also be exhibits and vendors from area schools, extracurricular programs, summer camps, youth groups, community programs and services and more are being added daily. Learn about options for enrolling your children in school, child ID programs, health and safety, college prep and student employment services, driver’s ed-
ucation, playgroups and all things children and youth. In previous years visitors enjoyed information sessions on Homeschooling and lunch ideas from “The Brown Bag Café.” A children’s craft area, free play zone and interactive dance and art workshop will entertain youngsters while their caregivers and parents browse.