Perth artist finds simplicity in pen and ink line drawing
Perth - Laurie Weir editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Where some may sit idly scrolling on their cell phones, a Perth self-taught artist pulls out her tools of the trade and sketches what she sees around her.
Peggy Schenk finds simplicity in pen and ink line drawing, often sitting on a patio in downtown Perth or a park bench. No matter where she goes, her pens, watercolours and sketchbooks are at the ready. And they don’t take up much space – a little
carry-on handbag works well as an art caddy, complete with a stool, sketchbooks, pens, pencils, and even a waterbrush.
Born in Sault St. Marie, she moved to Kelowna B.C. and lived there for 37 years. Her father retired and her parents wanted to live in a milder climate, she said.
Most recently from Wasaga Beach, she and her husband moved to Perth five years ago.
“We travelled through here when we were on vacation and I just really like
the old heritage buildings of Perth,” she said. “Because my favourite thing to sketch is architecture so this attracted me to it.”
A retired bank teller, Schenk found a love of pen and ink seven years ago after folk-art style acrylic painting for some 30 years.
“I got tired of it,” she said. “I wanted to streamline it. I wanted to have less stuff — to purge all of the acrylic paint and these big boards. I didn’t want that anymore.”
Schenk learned to sketch with pen and ink on the internet. She then learned the technique of adding watercolour.
“I really liked that – I like the style, simplicity, freedom, and the wonkiness of it.”
She has no formal training, but she’s taken online winter classes.
“I prefer to be outside to sketch on location,” she said. “When winter comes, it’s tough for me. I don’t like winter – the cold and the snow.”
Schenk sells a lot of her work on postcards. She has an Etsy shop for them, they are in many of the shops in Perth.
“I do a lot of commissions of house and storefront portraits. They make wonderful gifts,” she said. Sometimes, when she is sketching in town, she will post the finished piece on her Facebook page and someone will reach out to enquire about it, and often make a purchase.
Schenk’s work comes in 5x7-inch and 8x10-inch sizes. She has 2025 calendars available now with sketches of Perth. They are available at Pharmasave, The Book Nook and at Matheson House Museum gift shop.
One of her commissioned pieces was gifted to a store owner, who created appointment cards with the image. It all evolved organically, and she can work with clients on their personalized pieces. She says she’s spontaneous in her work, and if the sun is shining, she’ll go for a walk around town, bike ride or drive. But walking or biking is best “because that’s how I find my locations. You don't see anything if you’re sitting in a car.”
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Carleton Place faces overhousing crisis, calls for more diverse housing options
Carleton Place - HEDDY SOROUR
editorial@pdgmedia.ca
The town has completed a Community Housing Needs assessment report in an effort to gain insight into the town’s housing requirements as Carleton Place prepares to apply for a grant under the second intake of the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) program administered by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
If the town’s applica-
tion is successful it could receive up to two million dollars towards infrastructure that supports increased housing stock such as roads, bridges, sidewalks, fire halls and more.
The report is comprehensive and draws on multiple sources in an effort to capture a more accurate picture of the housing continuum within the town, and it’s yielded an unexpected result.
“I was shocked that the number of over housed
dwelling was quite as staggering as it was. I expected it to be high but I didn’t expect it to be that high,” said Niki Dwyer, director of Development Services, Carleton Place and the report’s author.
Over housing refers to people living in a home that is too large with more bedrooms than people explains Dwyer. This usually happens when a household’s composition changes, as when adult children move out but the remaining residents are unable or
unwilling to downsize.
“The report shows that we’re sitting in the same boat as everyone else, we have a housing crisis, when 30 percent of existing homes have empty bedrooms. People want to stay in the community and if there aren’t any options they’re going to stay in the big house with the empty bedrooms,” said Carleton Place Councillor Jeff Atkinson.
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Local pen and ink artist Peggy Schenk has been sketching throughout Perth for the past five years. She has 2025 calendars available now at Pharmasave, The Book Nook and at Matheson House Museum gift shop. Inside you will find sketches of Perth. Photo credit: Peggy Schenk
Perth’s Peggy Schenk enjoys pen and ink line drawing. Many people have probably seen her on location as she sketches a scene before her. Her work can be seen on her Facebook page, and she also has an Etsy shop where she sells postcards of her work. Photo credit: Laurie Weir
Page Two
Publisher: Patricia Krotki pmkrotki@pdgmedia . ca
Editor: Janelle Labelle
AGH welcomes Dr. Kayode Fadare to its medical team
Regional - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca
The Mississippi River Health Alliance (MRHA) is proud to announce the addition of Dr. Kayode Fadare, a globally experienced Obstetrician-Gynecologist, to the medical staff at Almonte General Hospital (AGH). Dr. Fadare brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise, having practiced obstetrics on three continents and most recently serving as a key member of the professional staff at Pembroke Regional Hospital for over the past six years.
Dr. Fadare’s arrival at AGH marks a significant milestone for the hospital and the broader community, reinforcing its commitment to providing top-tier healthcare services. His distinguished career includes leadership roles and hands-on experience in high-risk pregnancies, advanced gynecological procedures, and comprehensive women’s health services. Prior to joining AGH, Dr. Fadare was a key member of the professional staff at Pembroke Regional Hospital, where he was instrumental in delivering high-quality maternity care in a region with approximately 700 births annually.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Kayode Fadare to our team,” said Brad Harrington, President & CEO of MRHA. “His international experience, coupled with his long-standing service in Pembroke, makes him an invaluable addition to our hospital. We are confident that Dr. Fadare will enhance the level of care we provide and help us continue to meet the needs of our growing community.”
Dr. Fadare is eager to bring his expertise to Almonte General Hospital
and serve the residents of Lanark County. “Joining AGH is an exciting new chapter in my career,” said Dr. Fadare. “I look forward to working with the dedicated team here and to providing exceptional care to the families in this community.”
The addition of Dr. Fadare to the AGH team is part of the hospital’s ongoing efforts to expand its services and ensure that patients have access to comprehensive obstetric and gynecologic care close to home.
Photography: Kathy Botham
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Perth artist finds simplicity in pen and ink line drawing
Perth - Laurie Weir editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Continued from page 1
Schenk said she is not one to go find the prettiest garden or sexiest shoreline. She likes the power lines, recycling bins, and the cars in her sketches, because “it’s part of our life and I have to introduce them into my artwork,” she said. “I want to portray the everyday things that are around us.”
She will pick a portion of a building – like the Lou-
vre in France – where she will choose a corner of the building to sketch, then add watercolour, sometimes on location.
“To do the whole building, it can be overwhelming,” she said.
The people she sketches don’t always play a prominent role. She likes the ghost figures sometimes, or those without colour, while the blackboards of a coffee shop will take centre stage.
“I use minimalist colour because I focus on my line
work, my pen and ink. I do not call myself a watercolour painter. I just add watercolour to what I’m focusing on.”
Schenk’s art captures the essence of everyday life, seen through her eyes as something worth pausing for — a shadow on a brick wall, or the curve of a forgotten alleyway. Her work invites us to look beyond the obvious and find beauty in the simple, unassuming corners of our world. “I’ve been sketching with pen and ink for seven years,” she said. “The only way to get good at it is to practise, practise, practise.”
Schenk's choice of this medium highlights her desire to strip away the unnecessary and focus on the purity of her subjects.
This simplicity can be incredibly powerful, demonstrating that art doesn’t need to be complex or heavily adorned to be meaningful and impactful. Her work stands out because it finds beauty in the everyday, something many people can connect with and appreciate. As she continues to roam the streets of Perth with her pens and sketchbook in hand, Schenk reminds us all to slow down, observe, and appreciate the quieter moments that often go unnoticed.
Cartoon by Patrick Labelle. Reporters:
Photo credit: Peggy Schenk
Photo credit: Laurie Weir
Photo credit: Submitted.
Seniors for Climate to celebrate National Seniors Day
Perth - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca
October 1, 2024 is National Seniors Day in Canada, and also the United Nations International Day of Older Persons.
Climate Network Lanark is enthusiastically joining Seniors for Climate for a day of action, to bring attention to the worsening climate emer-
gency. Seniors and other members of the greater Perth and Lanark County community are invited to gather together along Hwy 7 at Wilson Street in Perth, on Tuesday, October 1, from 11:45 am to 1:15 pm. If you are planning to drive, please park away from the site.
Canada’s seniors know that the number one existential threat to life on
Earth is climate change. This threat is not being addressed with the necessary speed and urgent attention that the crisis demands. On October 1, seniors will hold over 50 climate events across Canada, to call on governments of all levels to take climate action now. Later is too late!
In recent times in eastern Ontario we have ex -
perienced ticks and Lyme disease, increasingly hot summers and mild, rainy winters, droughts and floods, intense smoke from raging wildfires, and disasters like tornadoes and the deadly derecho. The list goes on. The cause of all of this is global heating, caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
Seniors for Climate is a Canadian coalition of
six climate groups mobilizing to bring attention to the worsening climate emergency.
→ We’re in the race of our lives. We need to act NOW. Later Is Too Late!
→ We want faster and deeper action on climate by all levels of government.
→ We must phase out the burning of fossil fuels.
→ We need to speed up the transition to renewable
power and clean energy.
→ We must move the financial sector away from its support of fossil fuels.
→ We need climate action that is broad-based and preserves a livable future for our grandchildren. For more information please contact: seniorsforclimateperth@gmail.com
Doug Norman or Anita Payne De Gaia, co-chairs.
Carleton Place faces overhousing crisis, calls for more diverse housing options
Carleton Place - HEDDY SOROUR
editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Conitued from page 1
“I can say that Carleton Place has in the past faced the same housing issues as almost everywhere else in Ontario,” said Andrew Murphy Sales Representative, Century 21 Synergy Realty. He goes onto add “Currently there are a number of new rental apartment buildings being built in town but they won't be completed for another 18months to two years.”
The 2021 Census revealed that more than a third of bedrooms in Carleton place are unoccupied - that works out to more than 5000 unoccupied bedrooms in town.
“Many seniors simply cannot afford to downsize. High home and rental prices make downsizing to more suitable housing, such as a small
bungalow or apartment, unaffordable for many seniors,” wrote Dwyer in the report.
A lack of apartments, duplexes, and stacked townhomes or what is referred to as the ‘middle housing types’, exacerbate the situation. More than 65 percent of dwellings in Carleton Place are single or semi detached houses, while only about 15 percent are townhomes or multiple units and the remaining 20 percent fall into apartment style dwellings.
“We need the province to give us the tools, whether it’s through regulations or ways to help incentivize a certain type of housing - that middle housing; instead of going over our heads so we can’t work with developers,” continued Atkinson.
As Dwyer points out, Carleton Place is one of the few fully serviced commu-
nities in the county and that means the town is expected to see an influx of seniors wishing to move closer to full services from rural areas, and that dynamic is going to add more pressure for that ‘middle housing’ in the years to come.
“This report is going to be a useful metric to measure the appropriateness of housing on new development applications that we are receiving,” said Dwyer.
Already the town’s building department requires developers to submit their own housing needs assessments and demonstrate how their proposals conform to the demonstrated needs of the community, so this document gives the town a tool to better evaluate applications.
“I think [this report] just confirmed a lot of suspicions and a lot of trends that are occurring across the region and Canada,” concluded Dwyer.
carleton place community housing needs assessment report findings
The full report is available on the town’s website under Council for August 27. While the main finding of the report was the surprisingly high number of empty bedrooms in town here are some of the reports other findings.
• Population of Town of Carleton Place up 17 percent between 2016 and 2021, dwellings increased by 10 percent in same time period.
• County projects 2.5 percent annual growth for the town with population expected to reach 21,500 residents by 2044.
• Town’s median age in 2021 was 41.6 slightly lower than County median age of 48.8, but steadily increasing.
• Total median household income in 2021 in Carleton Place was $89,000, slightly higher than county median of $88,000 but below Provincial average of $91,000.
• Median total income of one-person households in town, representing 28 percent of total households reported at $46,800.
• 7.3 percent of town’s pop-
ulation falls under ‘low income status”, lower than Provincial average of 10.1 percent, and highest among residents 65 years of age and children under 17.
• 2023 statistics indicated that 29.9 percent of households in town are renters up from 29.5 in 2016.
• A county survey of town residents shows that about 88 percent of respondents said the top concern with rental housing is affordability.
• Almost 50 percent of renters in Carleton Place spend more than 30 percent of gross income on housing costs.
• Average wait time for subsidized housing in Carleton Place is seven years - the highest in the County.
• Affordable housing in Lanark County based on average income was $526,000 in 2023, or 10 percent below the average resale price.
• 21.8 percent of households in town are living below housing affordability threshold - 46 percent are renters.
• Household incomes in-
creased 21.6 percent between 2016 and 2021; shelter costs jumped 22.1 percent.
• In 2021 the town had 5,341 individual dwellings; 65 percents single or semi detached, 15 percent multiple units, and 20 percent apartment style, showing a three percent drop in single detached dwelling from 2016.
• 10 percent of dwelling in town do not have enough bedrooms for occupants needs.
• In 2021, 13.6 percent of households were found to be inadequate based on the need for major house repairs.
• 50 percent of town’s private dwelling are maintained by homeowners aged 55 plus.
• Town has been adding approximately 250 new dwelling units per year over past five years.
• Town’s housing supply among newest housing supply in the County.
• New housing in town is trending more to townhomes and multi-unit dwellings - i.e the ‘missing Middle Housing’.
Photo credits: Submitted
Ontario's alcohol license expansion: At a convenience store near you
agco approves 4,121 licenses for sale of beer, cider, wine, ready-to-drink options
Regional - Laurie weir editorial@pdgmedia.ca
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has approved 4,121 alcohol licenses for convenience stores across the province, including many in Lanark County and surrounding municipalities.
As of September 5, 2024, eligible convenience stores are selling beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages. On Oct. 31, grocery stores will have the same option.
This means, according to the Government of Ontario that consumers will be able to purchase local, domestic and international alcohol products in a safe and responsible manner.
By the end of October 2024, every convenience, grocery and big-box store in Ontario will be able to sell beer, cider, wine and readyto-drink alcoholic beverages if they choose to do so.
After October 31, 2024, all eligible grocery and bigbox stores will be able to sell beer, cider, wine and readyto-drink beverages, including in large pack sizes.
Over time, this new, more open marketplace will introduce up to 8,500 new stores where consumers can purchase these products, the largest expansion of consum-
er choice and convenience since the end of prohibition almost 100 years ago.
The Beer Store and LCBO will continue to play a significant role in the future marketplace, with The Beer Store continuing to be active in distribution, recycling and as a retailer. The Beer Store will continue to run the effective and efficient provincewide recycling program for alcoholic beverage containers until at least 2031, which helps keep costs down for producers and consumers while helping to protect the environment by diverting significant amounts of waste from landfills.
The LCBO will remain a public asset and will continue to operate as a wholesaler and a retailer. A full complement of beverages like vodka, gin and whisky will continue to be sold exclusively through the LCBO network.
As part of this expansion, consumers will also benefit from competitive retail pricing across all new points of sale and The Beer Store.
Here is a list of local stores where you can purchase beer, cider, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages this fall.
SMITHS FALLS
ESSO Convenience Store, 96 Lombard St.
Heritage Convenience, 230 Gore St. Ultramar, 89 Dufferin St. Canadian Tire, 45 Dufferin St.
CARLETON PLACE
Queen St. Convenience, 104 Queen St. Quickie Smiths Falls, 110 Beckwith St. Mobil Waypoint, 12 Union St. Circle K, 45 Main St. Circle K, 201 Brockville St. Scott’s Corner Store, 99 Beckwith St. PERTH
Circle K, 139 Gore St. Circle K, 100 Dufferin St. Circle K, 32 Wilson St.
MacEwen Gas Station, 322 Townline Rd. E. Anderson’s Your Independent Grocer, 455 McNeely Ave. ESSO, 324 Coleman St. Circle K/ESSO, 10483 Highway 7 Mac’s Convenience Store, 163 Townline Rd. W Circle K, 355 Franktown Rd. WESTPORT Circle K/ESSO, 73 Con -
cession St.
MERRICKVILLE
MacEwen, 305 St. Lawrence St.
KEMPTVILLE Centex Petroleum, 712 North Rideau St. Circle K/ESSO, 421 Rideau St. W.O. Stinson & Son Ltd, 2955 Highway 43
Turcotte’s General Store, 251 South Gower Dr. Jonsson’s Your Independent Grocer, 240 Highway 43 Ultramar Kemptville Gas Station (ON THE RUN), 2780 County Rd. 43
Parkinson's Network offers up to $500 for respite care
Regional - submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca
The Parkinson’s Community Network (PCN) was created in 2023 to raise funds and improve services in our local community.
In Lanark-North Leeds where the average age is one of the highest in the province and diagnosis of Parkinson’s is delayed, aging partners are having to provide care without the support they need.
Respite Services are meant to give care partners a break from the daily responsibility and care of a loved one so that they can take care of their own emotional and physical needs, doctor’s appts, getting a haircut, reading a book or even a trip to the grocery store.
People with Parkinson’s can apply for $500 to help cover the cost of respite services by filling out a simple application through the PEP-Seniors Therapeutic Centre. This application can
be found on the PEP website at https://morepep.ca/parkinsons-community-respite-care/ or the PCN website at https://parkinsonscommunitynetwork.org/respite-care.
Samantha Itz of Smiths Falls was happy to find a six pack of Busch beer at a local convenience store on Thursday, Sept. 5, as beer and wine and mixed alcoholic beverages are now on sale at convenience stores across the province as of Sept. 5 with select grocery stores to follow on Oct. 31. Itz said she loved the convenience of not having to make a trip across town for it. Photo credit: Laurie Weir.
Photo credit: Laurie Weir.
Photo
Food & Drink
In keeping with my title, The Travelling Sommelier, this month I will tell the saga of sailing for 3 weeks from Boston up the New England coast and Newfoundland and Labrador, over to Greenland and onwards to Iceland, trying various local brews along the voyage.
In Newfoundland, I tried
several beers from the largest producer on the Rock, Quidi Vidi out of St. John’s. The brewery is set on a very picturesque bay near town and it also has a retail store for their merch as tourism has picked up since COVID. Iceberg Lager at 4.5% abv and $5.99 for 473ml can is brewed with pure 20,000 year-old iceberg water har-
vested straight from their shores. This crisp and clean lager is a true taste of Newfoundland and Labrador. 1892 Traditional Ale at 5%abv and $3.52 for 355ml can is a long-standing amber ale from the Rock with creamy notes of cereal and malt and a clean touch of mineral on the finish. In St Anthony’s at the northern end of the Rock, I visited Ragnarok Brewery, named after the old Norse term for their cyclical apocalypse or the end of the world. Near the Viking site of L’Anse aux Meadows, it is fittingly near the end of the world! Their Surt's Flaming Sabre, 4.3 %abv, a cherry kettle sour. Surt is a fire-giant from the hot southern realm, bearer of the flaming sabre that razes the world during ragnarök. This rosy beer has lovely tropical aromas which opens on the palate with a blast of tart cherries and ends in a clean, bright
The Travelling Sommelier
sour. Beautifully crafted! In Greenland, we stopped at Qaquortok and had Brewery Immiaq IPA made in Ilulissat, one of only two breweries I am aware of there. It was a surprisingly decent IPA and one of the most expensive beers I've ever bought...but with a nice golden look and clean fruitiness. Prices are quite high on everything in Greenland and Iceland so drinking in moderation was not at all difficult. On the wharf, we stopped to see the fishermen cutting up a Meinke whale and, sashimi–style, tasted the bright red meat which resembled beef with the same consistency and texture, but with a faint, fresh fish aroma in the mouth. Then it was a piece of raw blubber/ skin which was too rubbery and thin to have any real flavour. I wonder what seal might have been like?
It seems that in Iceland, half the country is into beer mania, with new microbreweries and labels emerging all the time. Beer has only been legal in Iceland since 1989 after being banned in 1915 which saw pohibition on all alcoholic beverages. But in two decades, wine and spirits were again legalized. They still thought beer fed loutish, anti-social behavior and much casual drinking, so it remained banned for decades more.
I tried several brands on shore excursions in Isafjordur and Djupivogur.
Einstock produces Kaldi Blonde, 5%abv, which is the most popular bottled beer in Iceland. Brewed in the Pilsner tradition and inspired by Czech lager, it is a coppery, golden color with a smooth texture and tantalizing, bitter taste from the roasted malt. The first beer produced by the brewery Bruggsmiðjan Kaldi, which was formed in 2006, is notable in that it does not add any sugar or preservatives to any of its beers. Then there was Einstock Olgerd ‘Wee Heavy’, 8%abv, brewed with locally farmed and smoked barley, spiced with native Angelica, considered a sacred plant by Vikings past. It grows hearty, strong and cold-resistant. Legend says a 17th century English monk during the plague was visited by an angel telling him that angelica would relieve the people from suffering. When Vikings started trade expeditions to England, they brought dried angelica as their currency. Key ingredients: smoked Icelandic barley, pale ale malt, crystal malt, chocolate malt, Bavarian hops, Icelandic angelica root.
In Djupivogur, the Faktor Brewery produces several really good beers including Beljandi pale ale, 5%abv at 1.500 Danish Krone about $14CAD which is more like a Bitters with sweet notes of caramel, a really refreshing and easy-going beer. I also tried their new Blackberry
beer which was the perfect blend of blackberry to the cereal malt with a touch of cleansing bitterness.
Needless to say, the sights and tours were fantastic and several sites such as Akureyri have remote salmon fishing rivers frequented by such stars as Eric Clapton and Tom Cruise. I turned down the opportunity to scuba dive along the two continental plates because at $380USD it was too expensive – the Asian plate and the North American plate, form deep cliffs opposite one another with the crystal clear freezing water providing great visibility at depth. I did, however, walk the mile long fissure with cliffs on both sides that was the site filmed for ‘The Game of Thrones serving as Winterfell after they used CGI to make it very tall and frozen!
On board, I even found a great deal in the 19 Year Old Glenmorangie for only $14USD, and a couple of well priced wines too. With regards to air travel, don’t take Air Canada if you can get Porter Airlines which has better ‘on-time rates’, no charge for carry-on bag, real food, and drinks included! Once again, aircraft problems with Air Canada meant we made our air connection in Montreal but our luggage only caught up with us 3 days later on board in Sydney, Nova Scotia! Until next month, Cheers!
Faktor Brewery in Djupivogur, Iceland. Photo credit: Brian Preston.
Photo credit: Brian Preston.
Stafford-Wilson’s fall release, ‘Lanark County Classrooms: Remembering Our School Days’
REGIONAL - Laurie weir
editorial@pdgmedia.ca
For many Baby Boomers who grew up in rural Ontario, the memory of oneroom schoolhouses evokes a unique blend of nostalgia and discipline, from the old wood stoves that needed stoking before class began to the blackboards filled with chalk dust, and the dreaded strap for misbehaving students.
In her latest book, Lanark County Classrooms, Remembering Our School Days, local author and historian Arlene Stafford-Wilson captures the essence of this bygone era through a collection of interviews with former students, teachers and custodians.
“I thought it was important to capture those stories as we are among the last generations to attend school before the dawn of technology in the classroom,” she shared with this publication.
One of her earliest memories of school was participating in the “duck and cover drill.” Her teacher blew a whistle and they had to crawl under their desks as quickly as possible.
“Those were the days when Cold War anxiety
was not uncommon and the threat of atomic bombs was a frequent theme on the nightly news,” Stafford-Wilson writes in the preface of the book.
She remembers a government-sponsored fitness program, and it was introduced in the schools during the 1967 Centennial celebrations. They were graded on their fitness levels — running and jumping and doing sit-ups. She said their scores must have been off the charts, as they were all local farm kids and that was a way of life.
“Although those first years were spent in oneroom schoolhouses with no indoor plumbing, not even a telephone, none of us seemed any worse for the wear,” she writes. “If anything, it toughened us up.”
Wilson’s book paints a vivid picture of school life from the 1940s to the 1970s, when one teacher often juggled the education of eight grades in a single room, each row representing a different class.
With class sizes ranging from 12 to 30 children, these small, close-knit communities were united by the shared learning experience in these modest but memorable settings.
Through her interviews, Stafford-Wilson delves into the day-to-day realities of these rural schoolhouses, where the sound of the teacher’s bell marked the start of a day filled with recitations, arithmetic, and scribblers filled with lessons. It was a simpler time,
Quinton Burns signs first NHL contract with St. Louis Blues
Smiths Falls - Laurie weir editorial@pdgmedia.ca
It was a year ago that Quinton Burns was selected in the third round by the St. Louis Blues in the NHL draft.
He had just graduated from high school – Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute, and was the 74th draft pick overall.
This week, Burns signed his first contract with the Blues. It’s a three-year, entry level contract for the towering defenseman.
“Very excited to sign my first NHL contract with the St. Louis Blues,” he stated on Instagram. “Thanks to everyone that’s helped me get to this point!”
St. Louis Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced the news on Aug. 23. Burns, 19, has spent the past three seasons with OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs.
In 2023-24, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound defenseman appeared in 58 regular-season games. He tallied 35 points (6 goals, 29 helpers) and accumulated 120 penalty minutes, which led Kingston and was tied for sixth overall in the OHL.
Burns has appeared in 154 regular-season games with Kingston, posting 68 points (8 goals, 60 assists) and 285 penalty minutes.
Burns also played in three games with Team Canada
at the 2023 U-18 World Junior Championship, where he earned a bronze medal.
Burns had only played one year as a novice in the Smiths Falls Minor Hockey League before moving to the St. Lawrence Kings. He then moved on to the triple-A Upper Canada Cyclones until he was picked up by the Frontenacs.
Burns’ well-wishers on social media had similar messages: “Let’s go dude!” and, “Congratulations, Q! Can’t wait to see you in the NHL!”
Casey Lloyd is Quinton’s mom.
“His father Joey Burns and I, are extremely proud of Quinton,” she told the Hometown News. “He has always lived and breathed hockey. He has put in the hard work and dedication. Signing an NHL Entry Level Contract is another dream come true for Quinton. We are very thankful for all the support from our family, friends and his teammates and coaches.”
yet one not without its challenges—particularly for the teachers who managed to teach various curriculum needs and adapted to many learning paces.
Shirley Armstrong (Barrie) remembers the long walk to school so she accepted a ride from “two old men in a pickup truck.” This was despite her mother’s warning to never get in a vehicle with strangers.
Stafford-Wilson, known for her ability to bring local history to life, has once again succeeded in preserving the voices of those who experienced these unique educational environments firsthand. The stories shared in Lanark County Classrooms highlight both the trials and the triumphs of rural school life, from the camaraderie among students to the often-strict discipline that left lasting impressions — and welts.
David Bromley recalls getting into trouble for some classroom shenanigans. Ask him about the rubber worm. His teacher made him sit under his
desk for the remainder of the class. “I still remember the tears dropping on my brand new two-tone blue suede shoes,” he writes.
One of the more striking aspects of the book is its ability to connect readers with the broader changes in education and community life over the decades. As the population grew and transportation improved, many of these one-room schoolhouses were eventually closed, replaced by larger, more modern facilities. But as Stafford-Wilson’s book clarifies, the lessons learned and the bonds formed in those small classrooms continue to resonate with those who lived it.
In Lanark County Classrooms, Stafford-Wilson not only documents the past but also invites readers to reflect on the broader themes of resilience, community, and the enduring value of education. The book is a testament to the power of memory and sto-
rytelling in preserving our collective history.
For those interested in local history, education, or simply a walk down memory lane, Arlene Stafford Wilson’s Lanark County Classrooms offers a richly detailed, heartwarming look at the school days of yesteryear. It’s a reminder of how much has changed—and how much remains the same—in the pursuit of learning.
As readers turn the pages, they may find themselves reminiscing about their own school days, and perhaps even gaining a newfound appreciation for the simplicity and challenges of the one-room schoolhouse era. Visit https://staffordwilson.com/ to order a copy, or check out the book launch on Saturday, Sept. 21 at The Book Nook, 12 noon to 3 p.m. at 60 Gore St. E. in Perth. Alternatively, you can call 613-267-2350 to reserve a signed copy.
Author Arlene Stafford-Wilson. Photo credit: Submitted.
Arlene Stafford-Wilson’s new book, “Lanark County Classrooms: Remembering Our School Days” is available now in stores and on her website. Photo credit: Laurie Weir.
Quinton Burns of Smiths Falls signed an entry-level contract for three years as a defenseman with the St. Louis Blues, as announced by the team on Aug. 23. Photo credit: Submitted.
Carleton Place Jr. Canadians welcome new assistant coach
busy young mother of three finds gym time helps keep her on track
Carleton Place - Laurie weir
editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Sami Holmes has recently joined the Carleton Place Jr. Canadians hockey team as their assistant coach and director of player development. It was a “no-brainer” to add her to the team, said the EOJHL team’s owner Brent Sullivan. She will be assisting head coach Cole Burton and the rest of the staff, “but her main focus will be on individual player development – whether that be on-ice or off-ice.”
A Player Development Coach focuses on enhancing individual players’ skills, performance, and overall understanding of the game. They work closely with athletes to improve fundamental techniques like skating, shooting, and positional play, often through personalized coaching and tailored training plans. Utilizing video analysis, they provide feedback on players’ on-ice decisions and positioning while collaborating with strength coaches to ensure optimal physical conditioning. Beyond physical skills, they also support players’ mental development, helping them build confidence, focus, and decision-making abilities. By continuously tracking progress and adjusting development strategies, Player Development Coaches play a crucial role in guiding players to reach their full potential and contribute effectively to their team.
Catching up with Holmes was a little like trying to herd cats. She’s everywhere, all the time, but one place she goes to keep her
focus, is the gym.
“Balancing family, business, and personal life is a lot,” she shared with this publication. “Building a business while raising a young family is not a small feat. I am very fortunate to have extremely helpful family members who are generous with their time. They see my passion for my business and help out whenever they are able. Scheduling gym sessions into my daily routine is nonnegotiable — I am a better parent, spouse, and skills coach when I go to the gym.”
On a personal note, she said, “I’m eagerly watching my kids grow up. They’re at such fun ages (5, 3, and 3). My oldest is currently playing hockey and is having a blast on the ice. Should they decide to continue with the sport, I hope hockey will bring them as many positive experiences as it has brought me.”
She’s no stranger to hockey. She played minor hockey with the Carleton Place Kings when girls’ hockey was still in its infancy and only available in the city. Once the Cyclones came to Carleton Place, Holmes joined the team for a season.
“I met a great group of girls from all over eastern Ontario who had the same aspirations that I did and we created a competitive team with the same core of players in a few different towns throughout three seasons (Smiths Falls, Ottawa, and Perth),” she said. “For grades 11 and 12, I headed down to prep school in New Hampshire and continued from there to play NCAA hockey at Utica College (now Utica University) in Upstate
New York. I have worked as a mentor and skills coach since I graduated from university.”
When asked about her mentor, she mentioned two people who have helped her along the way.
“As a hockey player, Brian Hart. I found my grit, passion and desire to be better while playing for him. My journey to prep school and college hockey would have been entirely different without the support and influence of the Hart family. I am deeply grateful for the relationship we have,” she said.
“Brian was instrumental in the growth of the girls’ side of the game
in the 1990s/2000s and continues to work in the game today,” Holmes said.
In her professional life, it’s Mike Pilon, the owner of Endeavour Sport Group, a mentoring company where Holmes is employed.
“He is so knowledgeable about the game and stays humble every day,” she said. “When we first met, I could tell that our vision and perception of the game aligned perfectly. We have been working together for 11 years now and have travelled the world because of the game of hockey.”
Perhaps a mentor herself to young females, Holmes said, “The cool
Anne Fergusson and Team Canada take bronze medal at Paralympics in Paris
Carleton Place - Laurie weir editorial@pdgmedia.ca
In three straight sets, Team Canada, including Anne Fergusson of Carleton Place, won the bronze medal in sitting volleyball on Sept. 7 in Paris during the 2024 Paralympics. It’s the first medal the team has won in this sport, and the second time Fergusson had competed at the Paralympics – her first was in Tokyo where Team Canada placed fourth in the competition.
According to the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Fergusson has been a key player on Canada's Women's National Sitting Volleyball team since 2013. Born without her right hand, Fergusson discovered sitting volleyball through a Canadian coach and quickly grew passionate about the sport. Since then, she has played a vital role in the team, contributing to numerous achievements and milestones.
Fergusson was instrumental in Canada’s bronze medal wins at the Parapan American Games in 2015 and 2019. She was also part of the historic Rio 2016 Paralympic Games team, marking the first time a Canadian sitting volleyball team competed at the Paralympics. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Fergusson and her team earned an impressive fourthplace finish. A standout mo-
ment in her career came at the 2022 World Championships, where the Canadian team captured a silver medal, further solidifying her impact on the sport.
Beyond her athletic achievements, Fergusson is an advocate for the War Amps Child Amputee Program. She graduated from Queen’s University in 2017 with a degree in mechanical engineering and is currently studying law at the University of Ottawa, Common Law Section. Her professional experience includes work in oceanography and medical devices, highlighting her diverse talents and dedication both in and out of sports.
Fergusson attended Carleton Place High School where she played standing volleyball, and it was during her high school years when she learned about sitting volleyball.
thing about the hockey world that we live in now is that a female can continue to be involved in the game as long as she wants - be that playing, coaching, the managerial side, as an entrepreneur, etc.”
When she was growing up there was no visibility of women in the game, she said, and staying involved wasn't an option.
“I am happy that I don't have to have the same conversation with my daughter and female clients that my parents had to have with me when I told them that I was going to play in the NHL when I grew up.”
The Jr. Canadians kicked off their EOJHL pre-sea-
son on Sept. 10 in Ottawa, with their first home game against the Ottawa Canadians on Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, they’re in Athens to take on the Aeros in an afternoon match up starting at 2:30 p.m.
“We were looking to add some support to our Junior B program, and anyone who hangs around the Carleton Place arena lately sees that Sami is here all the time working on player development,” Sullivan said. “I felt with our goal of being the #1 development program in the area, adding a good local hockey person in Sami was an easy decision.”
Sami Holmes joins the Carleton Place Jr. Canadians hockey team as assistant coach. Photo credit: Submitted [Carleton Place Jr. A Canadians]
Anne Fergusson is a Paralympic bronze medalist after her sitting volleyball team defeated Brazil on Sept. 7 in three straight sets. Photo credit: Submitted [MPP John Jordan/Facebook]
‘A perfect fit’: Brooke Henderson signs partnership deal with Ottawa Senators
It’s a match made in heaven – or on the ice in
Long-time Ottawa Senators fan who happens to be Canada’s most winningest golfer, now has a multi-year partnership
with the team, the team an-nounced on Sept. 4.
The club's logo will appear on her towels and water bottles, and she'll
wear the Senators' colours one day during a tournament with her sister/caddy Brittany.
“I’m super excited to partner and team up with the Senators,” Henderson said via video message. “It’s such a cool opportunity. Growing up, I played hockey, I loved hockey, and I always cheered for the Sens. It feels like a perfect fit.”
She said being able to be involved with an organization that has world class athletes who are pursuing their dreams, and pushing themselves daily, “I think it’s really neat to partner up with that and I’m excited to see where it goes.”
Senators owner Michael Andlauer said the team is happy to collaborate with Brooke on this partnership.
“Brooke’s spirit, values and determination embody what our Otta -
culture
wa-Gatineau community is all about.”
In 2017 Henderson turned pro, and shot a video with the Ottawa Sens to make it official.
“I was able to shoot my ‘Turning Pro’ video when I was 17,” Henderson said. “I was able to film it with the Sens and with Mark Borowiecki. He was amazing and so kind to me. It was just a really cool experience.”
For those following CCHL’s Smiths Falls Jr. A Bears hockey, Borowiecki played defense for the team from 2006 to 2008, then went off to Clarkson University. He was selected by the Sens in the fifth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Henderson has logged the 2016 Women’s PGA Championship and the 2022 Evian Championship, but it was fun to watch her capture the 2018 CP Women’s Open in Saskatchewan.
She dedicated the win to the families and friends of victims of the Humboldt hockey team’s bus crash in April that year, where 16 people were killed and 13 were injured when a northbound coach bus struck a westbound semi-trailer truck that blew through a stop sign near Armley, Sask. When she’s home, Henderson tries to attend a game or two.
“I love going to (hockey) games because the atmosphere and the energy is unlike anything else,” Henderson said. “I love the game of hockey and love being in that arena and feeling that. To be at center ice and to have that kind of attention and love was pretty cool,” she said. “…so many special moments, and I can’t wait to create more and attend more games and be able to cheer them on.”
Westporch Festival returns for a fun-filled day in Westport!
Regional - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Saturday, September 21st marks the fourth annual Westporch Festival!
Westporch is a FREE outdoor walking tour of Westport, as front porches become a showcase for regional artists and musicians.
This year’s event will have 14 porches with live music and entertainment.
Providing a soundtrack for the day are the following musical guests: Evan Carlson, Matt Dickson, Exit Us, Jon Jones, Kyla Kane featuring Savannah Shea, Riley Kelly, Kentucky, King of the Swingers, Adam Knapp, Colleen Monaghan, The Nepean Panharmonic Steelband, No Principals, Pond Scum: Mike Cochrane and Fred Pringle, The TOG’s, Doug van der Horden, John Winskell and Tim Rice.
Start your day off at 4 Spring Street (the Black Dog Inn) at 9:30am for “The Dogs’ Breakfast” and music by Tony Stuart.
Arriving in Westport a day early? The Cove Inn will host the official “Kick Off Party” from 8 - 10:30pm featuring Montreal’s Joe Grass Band. For $30 per person, you can experience amazing live music and support Westporch as a portion of these ticket sales will go to help pay for the festival.
Support the event with the purchase of an official Westporch T-Shirt! Available instore or online through Life is Good Westport: https://
Bring all your ‘80s gear and join in on all the fun of getting dressed up and rocking out to none other than 80s Enuff. They will be playing the free afterparty from 7-10pm at 36 Church Street.
lifeisgoodwestport.com/ products/mens-crusher-litetee-westport-2024. A portion of these sales have been graciously donated back to help fund Westporch.
Come on out to “Westporch” for this village-wide, family-friendly day and support local talent and businesses. Tips, donations, and purchases are all welcome.
Don’t forget to post photos on social media and show us your favourite porches. Please tag your images #WestporchFest for all to see!
See you on the porch!
Photo credits: Submitted
Smiths Falls - Laurie weir editorial@pdgmedia.ca
this case.
Brooke Henderson has teamed up with the Ottawa Senators. Look for the connection – the Sens’ logo on her towels and water bottles during tournament action. Photo credit: Submitted [Ottawa Senators photo]