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Vol. 8
No. 4
YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER - LANARK, NORTH LEEDS & GRENVILLE
APRIL 2021
UCDSB to provide feminine hygiene product dispensers
A Period Policy: Smiths Falls - Shannon McLellan editorial@pdgmedia.ca
It’s time to rethink menstrual education in schools and destigmatize periods, encourage young women to seek help, and place access to period products for all on the agenda; which in part is what occurred during the March 24 board meeting at the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB). During the March 24 board meeting, student trustees Tain Hughes and Jordan Evans, through trustee Corina Parisien, put forth a motion for UCDSB trustees to refer the issue of accessibility of menstrual hygiene products in UCDSB schools to the policy committee for consideration and report back to the board by the April 28 meeting. Following two motions at the meeting, the UCDSB is set to get a policy mandating the free supply of feminine hygiene products in all schools now and into the future, as well as immediate installation of dispensers in female washrooms in all UCDSB schools. Gender neutral washrooms are to be included in the policy to include dispensers as well. In an interview with student trustee Tain Hughes, Hughes said she didn’t realize that there was an accessibility issue for period products until she and
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RIGHT: Hughes, Student Trustee and Chair of Student Senate Meetings. Photo credit: Shannon McLellan. LEFT: This photo was taken on October 21st by my mother. It was “wear skirts against toxic masculinity” day across Canada and she had gifted it to me after I had posted about it on social media: I had noticed many of the boys in my school who had worn skirts against toxic masculinity were the ones who used homophobic slurs, objectified/ sexualized female students, and perpetuated rape culture. Women's bodies are often talked about as though they belong to men, as if men have the right to comment on them, touch them, or use them as a political playground. “Teach girls to be somebodies instead of somebody’s” responds to the fact that women are taught from a young age that we matter if we belong to someone or something. Often when a woman is a victim of a violent, sexual, or abusive crime we discuss it with sentences like “she was somebody’s wife” or “she was a mother”; as if her relationships or status in this world should have any impact on the crime itself. Women deserve to be respected as they are, not because of relational or social status, but rather because we are people. Women are somebodies. - Hughes. Photo submitted.
fellow student trustee Jordan Evans began to investigate. Following further discussion with Hughes, it was clear that even though most schools already offer free feminine hygiene products, they are not easily accessible and many require the student in need to approach the main office or guidance office to make the request. Most students are too ashamed or shy to ask for the product they need. Quantity is not the issue, accessibility is. Hughes commented, “this isn’t just a motion for a policy to be set in place
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like other rules and regulations in the board, it’s an issue of freedom rights and necessity”. Hughes stated that she’s happy and proud of the board for being so progressive. As a society we need to be transformational going forward. The path to provide free feminine hygiene products in school restrooms is lighting up across the province. A recent open letter was put out by a group including all four of Ontario’s main teachers’ unions urging the provincial government to offer free menstrual products in all
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publicly funded schools. The group was led by the Toronto Youth Cabinet, who made the call in an open letter to Education Minister Stephen Lecce in March. There are a multitude of social and cultural reasons why menstrual products may not be easily accessible, many of which are linked with the stifling stigma that persists around menstruation. Let’s begin a broader discussion about women’s health and menstruation. Together, we can end period poverty.
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April 2021
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Smiths Falls busiest blocks off Beckwith
Cartoon by Patrick Labelle
Vacant County housing property lawsuit settled Regional - Brian Turner editorial@pdgmedia.ca A series of boarded-up former social housing buildings in Carleton Place is now up for sale. The units on Edwards Drive near the intersection of Townline Road East and Joseph Street sit on a parcel of land that was the subject of prolonged litigation that was recently settled, according to Lanark County’s Director of Social Services, Emily Hollington. The action, initiated by the county (the property’s owner), was a result of soil contamination from a nearby decommissioned retail fuel station (the site currently occupied by a Mac’s Milk outlet). The underground fuel tanks were removed in 1990 and after monitoring the site, contamination
was discovered. In 2006 the property owner began ground-water remediation. In 2015 Lanark County’s housing corporation determined the houses had reached the end of their useful life and the site would be redeveloped. As tenants moved from their homes the units remained vacant. In 2016 the county discovered the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons on the site. Indoor air quality tests were completed. The county launched a court action against the fuel station’s owners to seek compensation for damages and to order the stop of any further migration of contaminants onto their property. The indoor air monitoring of the county’s homes as well as several private
residences in the neighbourhood showed no risk to occupants according to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in 2018. In a statement to Hometown News, Hollington wrote that “Lanark County Housing Corporation (LCHC) has reached a settlement with the defendants to its action concerning the Joseph Edward Pattie site. The property has been listed for sale in cooperation with Circle K. The details of the settlement are confidential and as result will not be shared. LCHC is committed to reinvesting any proceeds it may receive from the settlement and sale into the development of new community housing in Lanark County.” Circle K is the owner of the Mac’s Milk site.
opinion: Am I the only one?
Carrie Wynne
This week we thought we would show you a look back at one of the Town's busiest blocks off Beckwith Street, between Church & Gladstone. Currently the home of Tim Horton's and Burger King this area across from Town Hall was once the home to three private residences (including the Shields family to the South) with board sidewalks out front for foot traffic. Some residents will remember the service station (where Tim Horton's is today) and the IGA grocery store / Clark & Lewis (where Burger King stands today). Photo credit: Photo and description from The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum Facebook page.
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friendship
A good friend is like a four-leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have. There is mutual trust that builds up in lifelong friends. William Shakespeare wrote, “a friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become and still, gently allows you to grow.” I also believe that friendship is the secret sauce to a lasting marriage. There are many obligations in life and friendship should not be one of them. Friends aren’t there to live up to our expec-
tations. If you put too much pressure on a friendship it will fizzle away. Friendships evolve as people do. If we don’t see each other in a while we can pick up where we left off. Sometimes we must forgive our friends because friendship is more important than a grudge. I have friendship requirements, but it doesn’t matter what your status is. You have to be a fairly positive person and a decent human being. No haters and no victims. You must accept me for who I am and try to be, and have my back most of the time. You don’t have to practice the same religion or be clean and sober. You don’t have to have it all together or agree with my politics. We make time for friends
because we enjoy their company. Jane Fonda said “women’s friendships are like a renewable source of power” to which I can attest. They help you find important things when you have lost them, things like your smile, your hope and your courage. Friends are like bumpers in the bowling lane to prevent gutter balls. We need interventions like that sometimes. I’ve learned that to have a friend you must be a friend and that we don’t always have to agree to stay in each other’s corners. Am I the only one? The opinions stated in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hometown News’ management, staff or writers.
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April 2021
community Province hits emergency brake: How this affects LGL Regional - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Last week the government of Ontario announced that the entire province will be going into a province-wide emergency brake shut down as of Saturday, April 3rd, 2021. This regulation will be in effect for 4 weeks. The province wide emergency brake puts in place time-limited public health and workplace safety measures to help to stop the rapid transmission of COVID-19 variants in communities, protect hospital capacity and save lives. Measures include, but are not limited to: Prohibiting indoor organized public events and social gatherings and limiting the capacity for outdoor organized public events or social gatherings to a 5-person maximum, except for gatherings with members of the
same household (the people you live with) or gatherings of members of one household and one other person from another household who lives alone. Restricting in-person shopping in all retail settings, including a 50 per cent capacity limit for supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, indoor farmers' markets, other stores that primarily sell food and pharmacies, and 25 per cent for all other retail including big box stores, along with other public health and workplace safety measures; Prohibiting personal care services; Prohibiting indoor and outdoor dining. Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments will be permitted to operate by take-out, drive-through, and delivery only; Prohibiting the use of facilities for indoor or outdoor
sports and recreational fitness (e.g., gyms) with very limited exceptions; Requiring day camps to close; and, Limiting capacity at weddings, funerals, and religious services, rites or ceremonies to 15 per cent occupancy per room indoors, and to the number of individuals that can maintain two metres of physical distance outdoors. This does not include social gatherings associated with these services such as receptions, which are not permitted indoors and are limited to five people outdoors. On the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, all Ontarians are asked to limit trips outside the home to necessities such as food, medication, medical appointments, supporting vulnerable community members, or exercising outdoors with members of their household. Employers in all
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industries should make every effort to allow employees to work from home. In line with the decrease in the number of new infections in the Perth Smiths Falls area, the Section 22 Order for these communities is rescinded effective today. The Section 22 Order reduced opportunities for people to gather and have close, unprotected contact with others outside their household in public and private facilities and cases have reduced in these communities. “It is important for everyone to follow public health
measures over this April long-weekend, and beyond, to keep children in schools and the community safe,” says Dr. Paula Stewart, Medical Officer of Health for the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit. “Please avoid travel to other regions and avoid having family or friends travel to see you. Be COVID-SMART” S - Self-isolate if you have symptoms of COVID-19. Consider getting tested M - Mask/face covering on properly when in enclosed public spaces and when physical distancing is
a challenge outdoors. A - Avoid touching your face. R - Remain 2 metres/6 feet apart from people not part of your household – avoid play dates, and other close social contact. Social gatherings with anyone you don’t live with are strongly discouraged. T - Twenty (20) seconds for regular hand hygiene. Cover your coughs and sneezes. For more information about COVID-19, visit: https://healthunit.org/health-information/covid-19/business-re-opening/framework/ or call 1-800-660-5853.
Homelessness and Housing: Time for talk or time for action? Regional - Brian Turner editorial@pdgmedia.ca
The current pandemic can be blamed for a lot, but creating a lack of affordable housing and an increase in homelessness isn’t on that list. Those issues in Lanark go back much further than the start of the Covid-19 spread, but that virus has focused a lot of attention on these social safety-net holes and spurred some visible movements on the part of politicians at every level from Parliament Hill to local town-halls. Recently Lanark County council’s community services committee set aside 3 meetings this spring to address the issues and their responses. The first was held virtually on March 24 and provided an overview of the county’s current assistance programs, their costs, and
available funding. The next session on April 14 will tackle what local municipalities can do to improve the affordable housing stock. What Covid-19 has done is bring the issue home to a greater number of residents. The economic downturn has put a substantial number of people at risk of losing their homes or rental units. Now housing insecurity is something that can affect almost any of us. The fact that political candidates at all levels have been promising to do something about this for decades adds credence to the statement that this is not a new issue. Hometown News connected with Terrilee Kelford, board chair of Cornerstone Landing, (a charitable organization in existence for the last 20 years providing assistance to teens and young adults experiencing, or at
risk of, homelessness), to get a realistic opinion on what can be done to solve these problems. Hometown News asked what she would do if she were the county and if she were a local municipality. The first thing Kelford suggests is cutting the county’s timeframe of their 10 year social housing plan in half to 5 years. The County adopted its current plan in 2018. This year will see the completion of 20 rent-geared-to-income and affordable units in Carleton Place (a municipality with the longest wait list in the county at between 7 and 8 years). It also calls for the construction of an additional 50 units between now and 2028. She notes that private landlords can’t necessarily be counted on to provide more affordable units in the current rental market. A major side effect of Covid-19 has
been an increase in local property values, as people are flocking to smaller rural communities from large urban centers, thus driving former social-housing private partners to the open market. She also suggests more training for county staff to be able to prioritize needs and to put the ‘housing first’ model in everyone’s mindset. ‘Housing First’ is a widely accepted model of providing assistance to those in need by ensuring they have access to safe and affordable housing first. In countries around the globe that have adopted this process, the needs for related healthcare, addictions and mental health treatments, and emergency shelter costs have seen a drastic decrease when housing individuals at risk is the first order of the day. It always brings a net benefit to social assis-
tance budgets, proving it’s an investment, not a liability. Lanark County will see a major boost to its $10.8M housing services budget this year as the three phases of the province’s Social Services Relief Fund will add another $4.5M. The county has committed to creating a Homelessness Prevention Officer position from this funding among other things. For individual municipalities, Kelford suggests they look at their own bylaws to ease restrictions on creating new forms of housing such as secondary suites and tiny-homes. Perth has already adopted a policy on secondary suites which allows homeowners to create an additional housing structure on their property. The biggest beneficiaries of this policy are seniors who can age-in-place with fami-
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ly care close by. Town councils can also support the county’s efforts and those of non-profit groups as well as lobbying provincial and federal governments for more assistance. Overall, Kelford states it’s a matter of choice. In her words, “Homelessness is not about choice it is about a lack of choice! Just because you offer someone a service doesn’t mean they want to or have to take it. It also doesn’t mean they are refusing services. They are just refusing what you are offering.” A good number of stakeholders attended the county’s first virtual session on this issue in March and councilors around the table were engaged and full of questions and ideas. Their next two sessions will reveal whether it’s more talk or more action.
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April 2021
lifestyle SCHUR’S Tips to put the spring in your vehicle cleaning
Regional - Brian Turner editorial@pdgmedia.ca
While we have driven much fewer kilometers thanks to our current Covid-19 pandemic, winter still seems to take its toll on our vehicles, especially when it comes to their appearance. Pulling out the garden hose and bucket for a sunny Saturday tradition of sprucing up our rides can give us all an instant dose of accomplishment, while improving the safety and function of our personal transportation source. Here are a few tips to make things easier and to improve the outcome. Use the correct soap/detergent. Household liquid soaps or detergents, such as dish liquids should never be used on automotive painted surfaces. Their harsh grease-cutters can shorten the lifespan of the clear coat and any rubber weather-seals, as well as leaving unsightly splotches. Stick with trusted brands such as Turtle, Mothers, Meguiars. If you’re not a big fan of waxing your vehicle after washing it, consider the car wash soap/ wax combos which can leave an acceptable shine without the extra elbow grease. Spend as much time
pre-rinsing the exterior as you do washing it. Removing as much of the road grit as possible is key to avoiding scratches. Use an extendable hose wand to get as much undercarriage build-up off as possible. Be careful if using a pressure washer as there can be a host of fragile and water-sensitive components under most modern vehicles. In fact, when you consider how lightweight the majority of vehicles are today in terms of exterior body panels and trim items, leaving the pressure washer in the shed (or using it very carefully) is a good way to avoid damage. Clean the outside first. This might seem counter-intuitive, but it’s much easier to clean up the small areas on the outside that might get some light dirt on them by leaving the inside until last, but this will be much easier to touch up than doing it the other way. On the subject of cleaning glass, about the only way to get a streak-free shine is to do it twice. Make sure you use a soft absorbent paper-towel or microfiber cloth, especially on the inside of the front windshield. Many automakers apply a plastic film on the inside as a safety measure to keep glass shards/fragments from coming into contact
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with passengers. This material can scratch very easily. When dealing with salt stains on floor carpeting, be conservative with the use of water or moisture. A lot of electronics live under that carpet and none of them like getting soaking wet. So rather than using a home steamwand cleaner, try a cleaning liquid specially formulated to dissolve salt deposits such as Simoniz Salt Remover spray. If you’re a real detail nut, nothing will bring a smile like a properly cleaned engine bay. No matter what you’ve seen others do, do not take some engine shampoo and a garden hose to the engine bay. First there’s the issue of damaging some expensive electronics and, just as important, (if not more so), is the environmental risk of rinsing oily water into the ground or down the driveway and into a municipal storm water basin. If your engine does need a little clean up, use a proper degreaser and some absorbent shop-towels and dispose of them properly. An easy way to make any rubber or plastic parts under the hood shine is an application of lubricating silicone spray. It also helps protect those items from weather-cracking.
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Garden Matters:
Submitted
It’s all about companions and bees
No doubt about it, one of the benefits of our current health pandemic has been a substantial increase in home gardening. Whether due to an excess of free time or an interest in sustainability or a desire for better taste and nutrition from our food, seed sales have grown exponentially since the beginning of our lockdowns. But, like gardeners, not all gardens are the same. Soil conditions, watering schedules, amount of sunlight and shade can have a major effect on yield and quality. So too can the use of pesticides, but many home-gardeners shun their applications in the interest of a more natural, safe product to put on their tables. There are alternatives to chemical control of weeds and pests
Photo credit: Submitted.
and one of the most popular methods is the use of companion plants. Companion planting can attract the right insects to your garden beds while putting out a ‘Not Welcome’ sign to those that would eat seedlings and destroy all your hard work. They can also protect plants in their fragile stages from harsh winds and too much sun. And in some cases they can actually improve the taste of the veggies you’re trying to protect. For example, agastache, or giant hyssop is very attractive to bees and can help lure away cabbage moths when planted one row away, but don’t plant it near radishes. Alyssum is also very attractive to pollinators and can provide a good looking ground cover to help control weeds. Asparagus is one of the champs of companions as it repels nematodes that can decimate tomato plants. And just to be thankful, tomato plants repel asparagus beetles. And just as tomatoes and basil go together in so many recipes, basil will help strengthen tomato plants while improving their flavour when planted side by side. Basil also helps repel aphids, asparagus beetles, mites, flies, mosquitoes, and tomato horn worms. Companion plants can also help improve soil conditions. Broad, bush,
and pole beans for example can help fix nitrogen in the soil thus helping Brassicas (cabbage family), carrots, celery, chard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, peas, potatoes, radish, and strawberries. But avoid planting them near chives, garlic, leeks, and onions. Pole beans and beets stunt each other’s growth. Borage, also known as star-flower, is an excellent all around companion plant. It deters tomato hornworm and cabbage moth caterpillars, and is particularly good planted near tomatoes and strawberries. Borage is very attractive to pollinators, so plant it around squash, melons, and cucumbers for improved pollination. It's also excellent for the soil and compost. Borage is also deer-proof. Catnip can attract more than just cats. It also brings in pollinators while repelling aphids, asparagus beetles, Colorado potato beetles, and squash bugs. Peas can be a superb companion for beans, carrots, celery, corn, cucumber, eggplant, parsley, peppers, potatoes, radish, spinach, strawberries and turnips but avoid planting peas near onions. Your local nursery can provide more tips and examples of how to make your garden produce its best while repelling the worst without the use of chemicals.
Everything you need to make your garden come to life!
April 2021
6
Food & Drink
Beer, Wine and Spirits Let's Eat Rocky River at the Falls; Brian Preston
Ontario coolers and beers
The Travelling Sommelier
free and 5%abv, this refreshing beverage is an easy choice for any occasion. Their entire line has just the perfect amount of fruit flavour, not overpowering. A light and refreshing 'go to' summer drink. Cottage Springs Raspberry Lime Vodka Water 355 mL can | LCBO#: 14493 $2.50 5%abv Made with pure sparkling spring water (non carbonated) and premium gluten-free vodka, using natural flavours. Simply refreshing and satisfying. With no added sweeteners, no carbohydrates and gluten free. Enjoy the fresh hints and smooth taste of raspberry blended with zesty lime. Serve chilled or over ice in a tall frosty glass on its own as a summer sipper. Georgian Bay Vodka Smash 473 mL can | LCBO#: 491183 $2.85 5%abv Vodka Smash is refreshing with bountiful fresh citrus (lemon, lime, grapefruit and mint) with refreshing carbonation and not too sweet, unlike some other brands. Georgian Bay Raspberry Rhubarb Vodka Smash 473 mL can | LCBO#: 14525 $3.05 5%abv A blend of all-natural ingredients and premium Georgian Bay vodka. Its clear and sparkling appearance leads to aromas and flavours of fresh raspberry and rhubarb with citrus notes. The palate is dry and crisp with refreshing bubbles and a tangy red berry and rhubarb finish. Whitewater Brewing Co. Farmer's Daughter 473 mL can | LCBO#: 450239 $3.25 Cobden Ontario's Whitewater Brewing Co. is located near the shores
of Muskrat Lake, in Renfrew County. Their Farmer's Daughter Blonde Ale uses pale malt and locally farmed hops to create a crisp ale with well-defined flavours. Apple and citrus notes lead to a clean and mildly bitter finish. If you like crisp and clear, this is the one for you. Maintains a nice head while you are enjoying the aftertaste. Whitewater Brewing Co. Peanut Butter Shake 473 mL can | LCBO#: 643106 $3.75 A stout that is reminiscent of a peanut butter shake. In the glass, it shows upfront aromas and flavours of roasted peanuts, chocolate and vanilla with notes of herb, cream and caramel. The palate is medium bodied and sweet with a long rich and smooth but balanced finish. The peanut butter taste is detectable, but not overwhelming, just perfectly balanced with otherwise great stout flavour. The peanut hits you on the nose and has a sweet aftertaste. Really good beer. Whitewater Brewing Co. Jacked Rabbit 473 mL can | $3.10 This is a rare breed, a hoppy creature with boundless energy thanks to its diet of fine espresso and citrus hops. This Espresso IPA is a strong beer with notes of crisp citrus and smooth coffee 7.2 % abv Strong beer with IBU 92. I hope you enjoyed this brief introduction to coolers and local beers, and if you have any ideas on topics you want me to cover in the world of alcoholic beverages, or if you have any questions, feel free to contact me at my email provided above. Until next time, Cheers!
Photo credit: https://lcbo.com/
Spring and summer fast approach, so it is time to look at the increasing number of Ontario coolers and beers now available. I have focused on two producers this time: Cottage Springs and Georgian Bay (both based) in Toronto producing coolers, and Whitewater Brewing producing beers at Foresters Falls. Cottage Springs is included for those who want a low-cal, no sugar added, no carb drink that is also gluten free. While one is a carbonated soda, the other is a still-water style. The sheer variety of flavours and styles in Ontario producers alone is impressive, but there are many others and some of them I featured last year. Cottage Springs Ontario Peach Vodka Soda 355 mL can | LCBO#: 553537 $2.70 5%abv Cottage Springs combines premium vodka with subtle flavours of sweet ripe peaches. With only 99 calories, sugar and sweetener
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Brian Turner
smiths falls’ newest and best reason to skip cooking at home
Photo credit: Brian Turner
Bitterballen. Photo credit: Submitted.
When partners Keith Saba and Brian Karl decided to open a Smiths Falls version of their popular Perth café last year, they didn’t let the prospect of pandemic restrictions slow them down. They, among other entrepreneurs, recognized that Smiths Falls’ growing market was a great place to invest and when their location at 6 Russell Street East became available they jumped at the chance even though they weren’t ready to immediately open the doors. Earlier this spring they had a soft opening and haven’t looked back since. I stopped in recently for lunch and simply asked for the most popular item on the menu; that turned out to be the Rocky Burger. I was pleasantly surprised to discover it was smashcooked on a flat-top. This process involves taking a lightly seasoned ball of fresh (never frozen) ground beef and smashing it down on the cooking surface with a heavy spatula or press. Why more restaurants don’t use
this method, I’ll never know. Once you try it, you’ll never go back to any other method. It produces a patty that’s got some crisp to it without any greasy texture and gives you the true flavour of the beef. It also makes the generous serving from the Rocky River much easier to handle (and yes you’ll need both hands). It was served on a bakery-fresh roll with lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles and came with a heaping pile of their famous double-fried french fries that come perfectly seasoned, so hold the ketchup until you try them. Keith and Brian opened Perth’s Rocky River in 2016 after trying things out in Deep River in 2012. Keith admits he didn’t come from a food service background and perfected all the dishes at home before bringing them to the restaurant. Fortunately he is of Dutch heritage and brought a regional favourite, Bitterballen, to our area. It’s a Dutch beef croquette appetizer and has drawn in diners from all
around Eastern Ontario. The menu at Rocky River is best described as comfort food, but with a unique twist like their crispy fried calamari served with an orange reduction or onion rings topped with maple syrup. For those looking to dine on the green side, no worries, there’s a great selection of hand selected fresh veg served with house made dressings. And don’t forget scratch made soup! This is truly comfort food done with flair and care. Rocky River at the Falls offers on-street parking and it’s located just off Smiths Falls’ recently revitalized pedestrian/cyclist-friendly downtown shopping area. There’s one small step to the door. You can reach them for reservations or take-out at 613-205-1050 or email to rockyrivercafe@gmail.com. They’re currently open for lunch only Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm but expect those hours to expand as the warm weather season approaches.
7
April 2021
culture That was so cool, Marc-André kept saying Perth - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca Perth resident Lou McCann moved from Quebec to Perth in 2016, ending an eventful career as the Director of Urban Wildlife and Cruelty Investigations with the Canadian SPCA. His stories are touching, sometimes tearful, often funny. Here’s one of them… By Lou McCann Sam was a 15-month-old male jaguar, with a full set of teeth, weighing about 135 pounds. His story took second place only to the volatile situation that was capturing the attention of most Canadians at that time — the Oka crisis. Over the next two-and-ahalf months the crisis played out. The land dispute between a group of Mohawks and the town of Oka began on July 11, 1990, and lasted 78 days until September 26, 1990. To prevent further conflict escalation, the Sûreté du Québec set up a series of roadblocks throughout the region, essentially controlling all traffic in and around the town of Oka. Residents had to go through these checkpoints, their vehicles searched by the military. Other reserves joined the conflict in solidarity with
their fellow Mohawks, creating their own barricades that literally crippled many South shore routes going into the island of Montreal. One of the citizens affected by this was Sam’s owner. He ran a business that was not too fond of law enforcement. To get to Sam (who was kept in Oka), he had to go through one of these checkpoints and have his vehicle searched. That was not an option for him. Early into the conflict, I received a call from Sam’s owner asking for help. He wanted me to go to his home and look after Sam. The next day, accompanied by a veterinarian who specialized in exotic pets, I arrived at the roadblock where I explained the situation to the officer in charge. After some heated conversation, we were allowed to proceed. We arrived at our destination and found Sam in his enclosure, sleeping. We assessed his condition (environment, physical and mental state) and agreed that the situation was under control and needed no further intervention. Hopefully, we thought, this conflict would end soon. In the meantime, and over the next few weeks, I maintained contact with Sam’s owner. One day I received a frantic call from Sam’s owner’s
wife. Her husband had overdosed. In his will he had given ownership of Sam to his 18-month-old daughter. So… just like that, Sam was surrendered to me and I could go back to Oka and get him. The rescue I assembled my crew and went back to Oka. With the help of our veterinarian, Sam was sedated and placed in a transport crate. Extreme caution was warranted. He was dangerous and could not be underestimated. We arrived at the shelter, left the cat in the truck while we made sure his new enclosure was secure and ready. When I got back to the truck, Sam was awake, no longer in his transport carrier and sitting in the driver’s seat of the truck looking straight at us. From the state of the mangled seat, he was not pleased. Good thing I had removed the keys from the ignition! We removed him from the truck using a catch pole and got him settled for the night. The next morning, I arranged for a visit with the veterinarian. Large cats are extremely powerful and the minute you disrespect them they’ll hurt you. After a couple of days, we took Sam to a veterinary
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clinic on the South shore of Montreal. Accompanied by my employee, Marc-André Fortin, manager of the SPCA wildlife department, we brought Sam in and secured him to the exam table. Sam was sedated and properly restrained…or so I thought. Without warning, Sam lifted his head and grabbed Marc-André’s forearm. His powerful canines went through his arm like a hot knife through butter. Sam suddenly released his grip, dropped his head, and passed out. We stood there stupefied. What had just happened? In shock, Marc-André kept saying how cool this was. The bite had gone through Marc-André’s forearm, missing the vital parts…no serious harm done. The same cannot be said of the veterinarian, who turned a few shades of gray and abruptly sat down. We got the cat back to the
shelter and had Marc-André checked out at the hospital. He was super excited, repeating how cool all of this was. A story to tell the grandchildren! I shared many adventures with Marc-André. As for Sam, he remained a guest of the Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Canadian SPCA) for a few months until a place was secured at Popcorn Park Zoo in New York State, an established sanctuary for exotic
cats and other surrendered exotic pets. He lived there for the remainder of his life. As a student Lou McCann worked part-time and in the summer at the Canadian SPCA in Montreal from 1976 to 1983 while finishing his studies. In 1983 he became the first Director of the Urban Wildlife Department there, and at the end of his tenure held the title of Director, Urban Wildlife and Cruelty Investigations.
A Canadian Mosaic:
Carleton Place celebrates its multicultural community Carleton Place - Shannon McLellan editorial@pdgmedia.ca Canada prides itself at home and abroad as a country made up of a cultural mosaic rather than a cultural melting pot. Sharing culture through food, music and conversation is a cherished pastime for Canadians. Jessica Hansen, Community Programmer for the Town of Carleton Place’s Recreation & Culture Department, alongside Algonquin College student, Doroty Davis-Payne who is completing her placement at the Town of Carleton Place, have been getting creative behind the scenes in effort to put forth innovative ways to weave together every strand of their community. They are seeking to give residents an opportunity to share their own personal story and celebrate each other’s individuality and culture just in time for Canada Day. In a recent interview, Davis-Payne stated, “Canada is a mosaic. Even in a little
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Sam. Photo credit: Submitted.
PO Box 1057, RPO Lakeshore West, Oakville, ON L6K 0B2
Photo credit: Submitted by Jessica Hansen.
town like Carleton Place so many people have incredible stories that need to be heard.” Throughout the month of April, Carleton Place residents are invited to submit a story outlining their own personal journey of what brought them to Carleton Place. These stories can be shared in two ways, either in written form or as a video recording. The stories will be shared via the Recreation & Culture Department’s Facebook page in the weeks leading up to Canada Day. High school students are encouraged to submit their story as a way to gain their mandatory community volunteer hours. The Carleton Place community has various cultures from the far reaches of the Earth, and the community is made up of people who have endured journeys that are vastly different. This initiative is an opportunity for community members to create human connection and comfort by sharing their voice and story during a time in the world when physical connection is a challenge due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic has accelerated the acceptance of modern technology, but has not diminished the value of in-person events. Carleton
Place is known for its outstanding Canada Day events, and even though it will look much different this year, Community Programmer Jessica Hansen has tentative plans for a children’s event, as well as Celebration Kits that can be enjoyed while respecting and following Covid-19 guidelines and regulations. Confirmation of details will be determined at a later date. Through this project, organized by Carleton Place Recreation & Culture Department, you are invited to come and share your experience of moving to Carleton Place from wherever you are from. We want to know about the journey that brought you here to this moment; the memories you brought with you. We hope that through this initiative we are able to bring the community together and grow stronger relationships amongst the town while celebrating our unique adventures and walks of life. If you would like to share your story and the path that lead you to join our mosaic, we invite you to submit a written text about your journey (pictures are welcome) or arrange a time to record your story. Please contact Jessica Hansen, from the Carleton Place Recreation Centre at jhansen@carletonplace.ca or call (613) 257-1690.
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April 2021
CENTENNIAL PARK SMITHS FALLS
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! RETURNING FOR A SECOND YEAR .
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JULY 2ND - AUGUST 27TH Thanks to you all, with the amazing turnout that we had last year we will be back again! With great food from The Pickled Pig by the Basin, live music and the beer garden. *SOCIAL DISTANCING AND COVID PROTOCOL WILL BE IN PLACE
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