Carleton Place - Brian Turner editorial@pdgmedia.ca Carleton Place’s Riverside Park was ablaze with rainbow colours as the community celebrated an inclusive Pride Festival on Satur day July 30. Vendors, a DJ dance party, a BBQ, and a Kids and Crafts zone kept everyone in the festive spirit. Even the Carleton Place Fire Department joined in the celebration with activities and a tour of one of their im pressive trucks. Thanks go out to CP resident Byron Wilson for spearheading a great communi ty-building time!
Vol. 9 No. 8 YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER - LANARK, NORTH LEEDS & GRENVILLE AUGUST 2022 Owned & Operated By: 24/7 Service Local & Long Distance Lockouts Boosts Ogilvie's Telephone: 613 283 7444 613 284 3465 A.C. Towing FIND US ONLINE Facebook/HometownnewsPertH Facebook/HometownnewscarletonPlace Facebook/HometownnewssmitHsFalls www.Hometownnews ca
On July 16, Carleton Place resident Ian Parker forwarded an open letter to town coun cil calling for a review of how property developments are re viewed and approved with the goal of more public participa tion in the process. Writing on behalf of concerned residents of McLaren, High, Water and Moffat Streets (surrounding the Findlay Foundry lands on High St), Parker stated that when the town’s council moved to a Com mittee of the Whole (CoW) structure and eliminated their standing development commit tee, it effectively reduced public discussion on land-use applica tions. He pointed to the Septem ber 2018 public meeting on the proposal to build a multi-storey residential building on Allan Street as an example of the pre vious standing committee pro cess. In those types of meetings members of the public could openly question staff, coun cil, and the developer and offer their views in what Parker called a transparent process that led to council decisions supported by theHepublic.continued to explain that with the current CoW structure, agenda topics such as develop ment applications are generally not advertised separately but require interested parties to re view upcoming meeting agenda documents online regularly to determine if they wish to speak on a certain topic. Those agen das come out only a few business days before the meeting, leaving the public little time to register as a delegation to make their views known. He feels that town-hall staff has put application efficien cy over public consultation. A development proposal for the Findlay Foundry lands on the north side of the river in the town’s central core has raised concerns from Parker and a number of residents liv ing around the Foundry lands among others. The plans would see two apartment blocks con structed; one five-storey unit and one seven-storey unit, plus a two-storey commercial build ing. In addition there would be two levels of underground parking. The total number of residential units in the devel opment would be just over 200. Town hall accepted public comments on the proposal up to their June 30th deadline. The only variance required in this plan is to reduce the number of required parking spaces. Carleton Place Mayor Doug Black issued a detailed written response to Parker’s concerns on July 27. He defended the move away from multiple stand ing committees to replace them with the single Committee of the Whole, stating it hadn’t re duced public participation. He also expressed his opinion that any comparison between the Findlay lands proposal and that of Allan Street from 2018 were unfair due to the large number of major variance approvals the Allen Street project required. He pointed out that the Official Plan and Development Permit Bylaw were reviewed in 2015 with public participation and input before amendments were approved by council. Black considered it unfair to change the rules of application reviews after the proposal process had already begun. As for the density of the proj ect, Black wrote, “It has been established that the high densi ty and seven-storey restriction is consistent with our develop ment Permit for strategic prop erties and their development was deemed compatible with the existing neighbourhood in Council’s 2015 decision. Coun cil’s decision was deemed in the best interest of the overall com munity and not just the devel oper’s.” Black also noted in his response that he couldn’t com mit to a timeline as the re-sub mission of drafts is dependent on the schedule of the developer, but was confident that a final de cision will not be reached on this file until well into 2023. He also committed to continue to engage with the developer to explore ad ditional avenues towards public engagement and awareness.
Photo credit: Brian Turner.
Carleton Place inclusive pride festival
Carleton Place - Brian Turner editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Proposed development for former Findlay Foundry site in Carleton Place. Photo credit: Carleton Place town hall rendering.
Carleton Place residents call for development approval revamp
2August 2022 Smiths Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca If you can’t see the sign clearly driving down Wil liam St. in Smiths Falls, this is what it says: Guess What Is Happening Au gustThere’s14? a hint at the bottom.Thework will probably go on all day. It will change the face of the small build ing beside the huge iconic Assemblies of God church. Owner Julie says there will probably be a party. Keep reading the paper for updates… Publisher Patricia Krotki pmkrotki@pdgmedia.ca Editorial editorial@pdgmedia.ca Reporters Kathy Botham Sally ShannonBrianJanelleChrisSmithMustLabelleTurnerMcLellan Photography Kathy Botham Sales & Advertising advertising@pdgmedia.ca Community engagement johnnyfive@pdgmedia.cashannon@pdgmedia.ca Submit an Event events@pdgmedia.ca Contact hometownnews@pdgmedia.ca613-284-9826Home to wn ne ws ORCOERSCOVDITHEOFRTPAMMUNTIYNETWK Page Two Cartoon by Patrick Labelle gerbos steak house - 1968 Gerbos Steak House Smiths Falls circa 1968. Photo credit: Vintage Smiths Falls & Perth Facebook page. A mystery on William Street Photo credits: Sally Smith. Hometown News is available at Your Independent Grocers across the region. Pick up your copy at: Andress' (Smiths Falls) • Barnabe's (Perth) Mitchell's (Carleton Place) • Patrice's (Almonte) PLEASE SUPPORT THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES.
Smiths Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca Robert looked over at me and said “I have a headline for your “Okay,”story.”Isaid, a bit amused. He was a big CBC guy and I’m just a commu nity newspaper reporter. For the past 10 or 15 minutes our whole boxing exercise group had been bending and squatting, hands covered in bags, picking up goose poop. This year, at the basin in Smiths Falls, there were many, many geese and gos lings — probably 50 or so babies. We watched the el der geese, and when the ba bies came along, we watched them. They grow quick ly, these babes, and soon enough there were goose flotillas on the water and goose platoons off the water. So when we went to our classes, we had to be wary of where we threw our mats when we were told to get our mats out. Instructor Kim came prepared with wipes should we miscalculate. Today it wasn’t windy. Le Boat lined the other side, there was a yellow skim of pollen on the water, some early morning boaters were leaving and others, having locked through the Smiths Falls detached lock were heading for the com bined lock. We were enjoying the weather, and the camarade rie, before the start of class and the afternoon rain. “Keep those feet moving,” Kim said, and we did, care fully watching where we put our Sometimes,feet. although I never tell anybody and it’s early in the morning, I let the dog off leash and he has a great time chas ing the geese. They’re not afraid, though and he of ten gets quite close before they splash into the water. None of them has ever turned on him. I’m waiting for that day! He’ll high-tail it back to me with papa goose waddling behind… “So what’s the head line,” I asked. Blue eyes glinting, white hair blowing, he said: “Pick ing up poop for Pankow.”
Photo credit: Submitted.
Regional - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca
SuperWalk heading back to ConlonPickingFarmup poop for Pankow
Al Potvin, his great granddaughter peeking over his shoulder, contemplates his life during an interview at Orchard View by the Mississippi in Almonte. Photo credit: Sally Smith.
community
3August 2022
Al Potvin knows how to prepare for an interview. Now 87, it was ten years ago, at 77, that he was diag nosed with Parkinson’s Dis ease. The disease has pro gressed to the point where it’s easier to have others do theHistalking.voice is soft, and his speech hard to understand now, so instead of speaking for himself, he asked his family to do it for him. At his request his chil dren (and step-children), as well as several of his best friends, and his wife sent letters or emails describing how Parkinson’s has affected him over the past years. The letters are similar in their stories of his decline and a brilliant description of how devastating the disease is. His speech is slurred and slow, but his eyes tell a sto ry — bright, clear, knowl edgeable. Al’s son, Chris, describes it like this: “Dad’s speech has changed from strong and clear to weak ened and very faint…” Al ‘knows’ Parkinson's Disease inside and out hav ing collected a wealth of in formation which he keeps at his fingertips. His movements are slow er. His son Paul says he “… requires a high level of con centration to move his legs andButfeet…”Paul also points out his sense of humour hasn’t changed: “Dad likes to re mind us that ‘It sucks get ting old!’ or if he’s strug gling with something like standing up he’ll quip with a smile and a chuckle — ‘This is going to be you in 20 or 30 years!’” When eating or swallow ing he chokes, coughs a bit — but stops until it passes. What hasn’t changed are his positive attitude, his sense of humour (wick ed, with a glint in his eye and a grin), his awareness of what’s going on in the world, his memory, his de sire to learn and his delight in meeting people. His wife Shirley Ful ton-Deugo writes frankly and powerfully: “As a hus band he is loving, support ive and realizes this is not an easy transition for ei ther one of us! The altered body has not changed the kind-hearted gentle man that I married.” Al’s aware his life has taken a turn. Even so, he moves forward and has most recently established the Al Potvin Family Foun dation by donating $1 mil lion of his estate to support Mississippi Mills youth. On September 10, Al expects to be out walking (or rolling) with hundreds of others supporting the Parkinson Canada Super Walk in Perth. The first walk was in 2017 and it’s back again at Con lon Farm after a long Covid interruption.“TheLanark North Leeds SuperWalk has attracted hundreds of people who, with the generous sup port of local sponsors and donors, have raised over $300,000 for support ser vices, research, education and advocacy efforts.” Co-chairs of the Perth SuperWalk, Pat Evans and Gayle Truman, urge walk ers to come out for a good cause, greet familiar faces, walk for 2 km, and enjoy a snack and some good mu sic before heading home. • Register for the walk, or to make a donation online at gayle@aol.comGayleans.patn@gmail.comcontactstartsSmith10,askcallca/Lanark-NorthLeeds.http://donate.parkinson.Or,1(800)565-3000andforSuperWalk•Saturday,SeptemberConlonFarm,109Dr.,Perth.Check-inat9:30.FormoreinformationPatEvansatevorTrumanattruman
This month my family and I are heading up north to the South Magnetawan river to spend a week reliv ing our fondest childhood memories and celebrating the life of our late brother, Paul, who passed away in February, six weeks after we lost our mother. We will rent a boat at the marina once we get there. I always thought my brother would have loved working at the marina. He loved up north. Paul, commonly known as ‘Dib,’ lived a simple yet hard life. He chain-smoked cigarettes and drank beer every day of his life. We called him the cat with nine lives. He never answered the door or the phone and rarely called anyone. If he did pick up it was a code call from our mother. He probably sensed our sheer horror at his slow demise and mostly just wanted to be left alone. Alcohol con trolled his life for as far back as I can remember. It hurt Mom to say it out loud, so we rarely did but it was always the elephant in the room. That’s the part that hurts the most. That he was broken, and no one could fix him. I final ly understood the mental illness part of addiction when I was summoned by my sister who did most of the caretaking to go up and clean his apartment. He was coming home from the hospital after being there for 3 months. They removed the tracheotomy reluctantly and arranged home care and oncology visits to assess him. He was relieved and he made it work. He never slept in his bed. Maybe it felt less lonely on the couch. As I cleaned the grime and the inch-thick dust around his apartment, I noticed that he had kept very few things. He couldn’t care less what his surroundings looked like. He was doing the only thing he knew how to do to survive. His whole life was set up in that little room on the fourteenth floor which he referred to as Hotel California. He taught me that our dreams for others are sometimes bigger than the dreams they have for them selves. The love I had for my brother far outweighed any grievance I ever had for him. I’ll always remember him not as a disappoint ment, but as someone who desperately tried to be nor mal but couldn’t quite get there. He could make a cat laugh with his wit which was my favourite thing about him. All we have now are the lasting memo ries and his final words, ‘I love you. I always have and I always will.’ He found a little piece of heaven fish ing along the shores of the Magnetawan river where my sisters and father and I will lay our big brother to rest in peace. He taught me that when you see a log sticking out of the water, you pull up slowly, cut the motor and drop your line. The opinions stated in this article are those of the author and do not neces sarily reflect the opinions of Hometown News’ man agement, staff or writers.
opinion: a cat with nine lives Carrie Wynne Regional - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca It takes time… and moreThentime.— super quality bikes and shoes. Then, of course, money. The first event — the swim — is brutal. Both Robin Hull and Kim years,fityearsandaforheragoback47)oneequitythewillcourse),erwisesamecompletesameIronman.petethetobeforeduringelbowed,swumPlacid,IronmancompetingSchryburt-BrownintheJuly24triathlonatLakerememberbeingover,pushedunder,andscratchedthe3.8kmswim—eventouchingshoregettothesecondevent,180kmbikeride.Womenandmencomside-by-sideattheTheyrunthedistance,havetoeacheventintheamountoftime(othyou’rehauledofftheandneedgritandpowertogetthroughgruellingday-longrace.AsKimsays:“Intermsofandequality,everyistreatedthesame.”Thetwowomen(43andarerunnersfromway—RobinfromaslongasherDadchallengingtoruntothecornerstoreanewspaperwhenshewaskid(14seconds,hesaid),Kimforaboutthelast10whenitwaseither“getorgoonmedication.”Thetwo,friendsformanyeggeachotheron(al though Kim says it’s Robin pushing her, not the other way“Wearound.)calleach other the ‘bad influencers,’” they say together, grinning. But why triathlons? Both found just running brought injuries, while cross-train ing, like triathlons, eased the injuries and brought more challenges. “As a triathlete, we don’t see them (the three events) as different things. They go “Eachtogether.discipline affects the other. When a triath lete swims, we don’t kick a heck of a lot because we’re saving our legs for the bik ing and “Whenrunning.webike, our bikes are set up so that we use dif ferent muscles than we do running. A triathlon bike is not the same as a road/ mountain bike. They’re de signed to take the athlete through each discipline.”
Ironman Triathlon a great equalizer
4August 2022 lifestyle
Am I the only one?
Registration is about $1,000.2200 started and 1800 finished.Wet-suit strippers — “Lifeguards help strip and take down top part of suit, and then… these lovely people rip the wet suit right off you — which is wonder ful, because, if not, it takes a couple of minutes to get it off,” Robin says. Running with a partner is like a weekly therapy session. Have to be 18 to enter; oldest one at this run was 81. What’s a good time? Be fore they close the finish line. There’s a phenomenal triathlon community in this area.
Robin Hull and Kim Schryburt-Brown finished the Lake Placid Ironman on July 24. Photo credit: Sally Smith.
This particular day in July was a hot one with the hu midex at 33 (one of the hot ter race days in Lake Placid Ironman history). It started at 6:45 a.m. for Kim and 6:50 for Robin with a rolling swim. “Everyone goes in by their anticipated time and everyone has the same mid night cut off,” Kim explains. “For instance, if you don’t finish the swim in two hours and 20 minutes, the race is over. You can’t go on to the next part, because the roads are closed.” The clock starts ticking immediately and contes tants have 17 long hours to finish the day, running into dusk and even dark. Kim finished 15 hours 13 minutes later, Robin at 16 hours and 24 minutes, after 11 o’clock at night. There was a time Robin questioned if she could see it through: “It was hot. I had to slow down on the second loop and was coming back around to finish the bike when I was hit with 40 km winds going uphill. “That slowed me down even more so by the time I got off the bike my body was pretty much saying ‘Ya. I’m done, we’re not going to do this anymore.’ I had to swallow my pride and walk and think of a strategy to get through the run. She re-thought the goal time she’d set for herself to “I have to get to this point by this time so they don’t take me off the course… and kept Bananasgoing.”and Gatorade were her fallback after her year-long nutrition plan went amok. “I ate a lot of bananas on the run. I don’t want to ever see a banana again,” she says with firm conviction. There was no moment of hesitation for Kim during the race but there was a mo ment “at the end of the first lap of the marathon when I knew there was something wrong with my foot. “I took off my shoe and sock and looked, and it looked fine (obviously wasn’t).” But she knew she had tons of time even if she had to walk the rest of the way. “I had five hours to walk 21 km. To me that’s no big deal, just figure out how to keepDuringwalking.”training her coach had cautioned her that the 20 to 30 km point was going to be her “tough est spot. He told me to ded icate every km to a different person. That’s what I did. “I met a fellow from New York who was in way worse shape than I was. He want ed a fast walking partner. So we chatted and the next thing we knew we were at the 30 km mark.” For wannabe triathloners, she says: “Coke. I drank a lot of coke…and I don’t drink coke. It’s like rocket fuel. It just propels you along.” A thought from Robin about the experience: The pomp and circumstance at sign-up is invigorating and inclusive but the reality of getting into training is “very humbling.” That’s when you realize, she says “how big a thing this is and the amount of work and stress you’re putting yourself through.” And thinking back on her training, Kim adds a cautionary note to drivers: Be courteous to cyclists along the road. “I have a 7-pound bike; you have a ton of steel — it’s not much of a Wouldcontest.”they do it again? A strong ‘No’ and headshakes from both but only a millisecond later — “… maybe a few half-Iron mans,” they say, looking at each other, ingbecheeringHusbandsImpressionsquestioning.oftheday:andchildrenandencouraging.Atleastsixmonths(mayclosertonine)ofbuildandtraining.
Beat inflationary prices!
Brian Preston The Travelling brianpreston@hotmail.comSommelierBeer, Wine and Spirits
Wayne Gretzky Red nal Price $35.95 Save $4.00 – from Niagara, Ontario A blend produced from locally sourced grains and finished in red wine casks from the winery which impart a pale amber co lour. Expect a smooth and refined flavour profile that includes notes of marzi pan, light citrus, vanilla, oak and spice; the finish is long, warming and bal anced. I tasted this on a trip through Niagara vine yards, breweries and dis tilleries in May, and there is no burn, no aftertaste. It has a simple flavor to begin, and finishes with a hint of red wine, very sim ple, but effective. Not going to be for everyone, but in my opinion, a solid choice.
VINTAGE RELEASE: AUGUST 13, 2022 Henry of Pelham Baco Noir 2021 | VQA On tario $15.95 (270926) 13.0% alcohol Aromas of charred toast, black licorice and tarry notes with a palate taste of black currant, black ripe juicy cherry and bramble berry. Baco Noir is a special ty of Henry of Pelham and a few other Niagara wineries. It’s medium-full bodied and fruit driven with good tex ture and structure. In the world of Beer, try some of these on sale: Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale $2.80 Original Price $3.00 Save $0.20 –from Canada Pale gold colour; light fruit and malt aroma; & finish, from ol’ man Oland’s brewery in Nova Scotia. I discovered and loved this beer during my years on P.E.I in the 1980’s. My scuba diving buddies preferred heavi er Ten Penny Ale but by the time we moved back to Ontario, Keith’s had about 5% market share on the island. Amsterdam Blonde Lager $2.85 Original Price $3.10 Save $0.25 – from Canada This one from Toronto is a pale amber colour with light toasty and malty notes on the nose, a creamy tex ture and a balanced, hoppy finish. This brewery produc es quality and creative beers. This paired at a tasting with big pretzels half dipped in dark chocolate – marriage of sweet and salty with the raspberry fruit flavor! Grolsch Premium Pil sner $2.65 Original Price $2.90 Save $0.25 – from the Netherlands Medium gold colour; rich grain and hop aromas with hints of spice, smooth and balanced with refresh ing hoppy character. Guinness Draught $3.15 Original Price $3.40 Save $0.25 – from Ireland This iconic beer is de velvety character. Mahog any brown in colour with a creamy white head load ed with aromas of coffee, toasted malt and hops; full and bold on the pal ate with rich flavours with a delicate touch of bit terness adding a pleasing balance to the finish. Peroni Nastro Azzurro $3.10 Original Price $3.35 Save $0.25 – from Italy Clear pale gold colour with fine head and pleasant aromas of crisp apple, cit rus pith and freshly baked bread with floral hops. On the palate,medium bodied and moderately carbonat ed, with flavours of apple, toasted grains and light notes of citrus, grass and caramel on a refreshingly bitterAndfinish.inthe world of Spir its on sale: Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum $55.20 Original Price $60.20 Save $5.00 – from Venezuela Blended to perfection, this exclusive, multi-awardwinning, 12-year-old dark rum from Venezuela is rich and complex. It's the quint essential sipping rum. I love this one and it is now at a great price!
Fantini Wines Casa le Vecchio ‘Lot Twenty Three – Certified Organic’ 2019 | DOC Montepulcia no d’Abruzzo, Italy $9.95 (612788) 13.5% alcohol Medium-ruby red in the glass, with aromas of mixed spice and dark; palate of juicy cherry/berry fruit with balanced fresh acidity with notes of black bramble and red cherry tang. Adesso Chardonnay d’Italy 2020 | Product of Italy $8.45 (572461) 12.0% alcohol Fresh, crisp aromas of citrusy notes and white flowers dominate the nose; tang-infused pizzazz and a refreshing finish. Adesso Merlot d’Italy 2021 | Product of Italy $8.45 (572453) 12.0% alcohol Light ruby in the glass with mixed herbs and spice aromas on the nose along with red cherry/berry fruit; fresh acidity expressed as pie cherry and tropi cal fruit. Aerate for two to three hours to soften the wine and bring the tannin and acidity into balance.
Wayne Gretzky Red Cask Whisky. Photo credit: lcbo.com
Food & Drink
5August 2022 New in the LCBO portfo lio: Four wines under $10.00 Fantini Wines ‘Nume ro uno’ Primitivo 2020 | IGT Puglia, Italy $9.95 (442491) 14.0% alcohol Primitivo is also known as Zinfandel, as they are the same grape with two popular names with one grown in throughthewine;ofpiebramblemasinZinfandel—andCalifornia—theotherItaly—Primitivo.Aroofdarkcurrantswithberryandracycherryonthenosethiswell-pricedredbalancedacidityonpalatethatcarriesthefinish.
6August 2022 For a change, this month’s column is dedicat ed to all the talented, ded icated, and tireless farmers who bring delicious, nu tritious food to our tables. Many of the restaurants, diners, and cafes I’ve re viewed over the years source most of their ingre dients for their signature dishes from local farmers. In our region we are bless ed with an abundance of farmers’ markets support ed by legions of loyal cus tomers. Here’s what those foodies have discovered that you should know. Taste real flavours not long-distance travel The produce you buy at the farmers market are the freshest and tastiest avail able. They are allowed to ripen fully in the fields and gardens and are brought directly to the market without long-distance shipping. The produce doesn’t sit for weeks in storage. This food is as real as it gets; fresh from the farm. Warning; just a few tastes of organics burst ing with flavour found at farmers’ markets will ruin the appeal of traditional supermarket produce. Let your table enjoy the varieties of each season The food you buy at the farmers market is seasonal. It is fresh and delicious and has the best flavors. Shop ping and cooking from the farmers market helps you to reconnect with the cycles of nature in our region. As you look forward to has kaps in spring, or sweet corn in summer, or pump kins for baking in autumn, you reconnect with the earth, the weather, and the turning of the year. Family farms need our support Family farmers need your support. Inflation and labour shortages have substantially affected their economy. Small family farms have a hard time competing against large commercial chains. Buy ing directly from farmers gives them a better return for their produce. Their continuation is crucial to our own survival. Help our environment In 2005 the Region of Waterloo (Ontario) Public Health released some so bering statistics about the ‘food miles’ that indicate the real cost to the planet of moving our food from farm to market. Their stud ies found that the 58 com monly eaten foods travel an average of 4,497 km (2,794 mi) to Waterloo Re gion, accounting for over 50K tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, con tributing to climate change and air quality, which both have an effect on human health. Farmers’ market food is transported shorter distances and is generally grown using methods that minimize the impact on the environment. Know what goes into your food and body Much food found in grocery stores is highly processed with the use of pesticides, hormones, an tibiotics, and genetic mod ification. In contrast, most food found at the farmers market is minimally pro cessed, and many of our farmers go to great lengths to grow the most nutri tious produce possible by using sustainable tech niques, picking produce right before the market, and growing heirloom va rieties. Did you know there are over 10K varieties of tomatoes, for example, but only a few are offered in grocery stores. Variety rules at farmers’ markets At the farmers market you find an amazing ar ray of produce that you don’t see in your average supermarket: purple or red carrots, a rainbow of heirloom tomatoes, purple cauliflower, black radishes, garlic scapes, and the list goes on. It’s a great oppor tunity to savour our land’s biodiversity. Support the humane treatment of animals At farmers’ markets, you can find meats, cheeses, and eggs from animals that have been raised without hormones or antibiotics, who have grazed on green grass and eaten natural diets, and who have been spared the cramped and unnatural living conditions of feed lots and cages that are typ ical of big agribusiness. Become a new cook and family meal-time hero Few grocery store em ployees will give you tips on how to cook the ingre dients you buy, but farm ers, growers and bio-arti sans at farmers’ markets are often passionate cooks with plenty of free ad vice about how to cook the foods they are selling. Some even offer handy recipe cards. Community connections grow at farmers’ markets Wouldn’t you rather stroll amidst outdoor stalls of fresh produce on a sun ny day than roll your cart around a grocery store with artificial lights and piped in music? Coming to farmers’ markets makes shopping a pleasure rather than a chore. Farmers’ markets are community hubs; places to meet up with your friends, bring your children, or just to savour the tastes of small-town life. You can find thriving, bustling farmers’ markets in almost every community in our region or within a short drive. Check locations and details at sontario.com.farmersmarketLet’seat! Let's Eat Let's celebrate the harvest! Photo credit: Brian Turner. Brian Turner JULY 1 - OCTOBER 1, 2022 FRIDAYS: 7:30PM • SATURDAYS: 2PM & 7:30PM SMITHS FALLS STATION THEATRE TICKETS $28.20 | OUTERBRIDGE.EVENTBRITE.COM613-430-4626 Advantage Real Estate (+ HST EVENTBRITEANDFEES) FORSCAN SHOWTIMES food & drink
7August 2022 culture
On April 12, 1882, John Bourchier Briggs (1882-1938) was born into an affluent and influ ential family in St. Pan cras, London. His father, William Edward Briggs (1847-1903) was a Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons and regularly graced the pages of The Illustrated London News. William’s firm, J. and W. E. Briggs operat ed the Rose Hill Mill in Blackburn, England. William and his wife Mary Ann Susannah Vicars (1847-1882) had five children. John was the youngest, followed by William Arthur (18791958), Margaret Isabel (1877-?), Mary Louise (1876-1859), and Ethel Maude (1873-1923). They all eventually relocated to Canada except for Ethel Maude, who remained in England. In 1906, follow ing the death of his par ents, twenty-four-yearold John Briggs boarded an ocean liner in London bound for New York. Upon his arrival in Canada, John Briggs became one of the first Royal Canadian Navy personnel, and he served aboard the HMCS Niobe for over a year. The vessel returned to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1915 and served as a depot ship. The 1917 Halifax Explosion, which was the largest manmade, nonnuclear explo sion in history, damaged the ship so severely that it was broken up and sold for scrap in the 1920s. John served in WWI, where he was wound ed by shrapnel at Vimy Ridge on April 17, 1917. On September 19 of that same year, John boarded the HMHS Llandovery Castle in Liverpool and returned to Canada. Less than a year later, this Ca nadian hospital ship was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat. The horrific and controversial incident resulted in the submarine’s officers being charged with war crimes. Following the war, 35-year-old Briggs mar ried 25-year-old Alice Jane Peters (1893-1986). At the time, Alice was a law clerk and John had been appointed as Hy droelectric Operator with the Hydro-Elec tric Power Commission of Ontario. They were both Anglicans from England who arrived in Canada in 1906—he from London, and she from Yardley. They had three daughters: Joan Louise, Barbara Lucy, and Catherine. By 1921, the family had relocated to Dalhousie Township in Lanark, Ontario. In 1928, John was pro moted to Field Superin tendent, and the family moved from High Falls to Smiths Falls. A histor ically significant address built by William Simp son and later owned by Jason Gould became their home. The Briggs family embraced their new life in Smiths Falls and were active mem bers of the St. John’s Anglican Church. John became a member of the Tennis Section of the Canadian Pacific Recre ation Club. He held var ious executive offices in town and was a strong supporter of the Cham ber of Commerce. In 1933 the Briggses moved up Brockville Street into the Keyhole House, for which they paid $6,500. 1938 was a year of mas sive change for the Briggs family. 18-year-old Joan married. John died sud denly on the afternoon of Saturday, June 25, 1938, at the age of fifty-six—at the family home at 182 Brock ville Street. His death cer tificate indicates that the immediate cause of death was coronary sclerosis, and that delirium was a contributing factor. The funeral ceremony began at the Keyhole House, continued to St. John’s Anglican Church, and concluded with a burial at Hillcrest Cemetery. Al ice sold the Briggs family home to Carrie and Harry Buchanan for $2,700. This amount was less than half of what she and John had paid for it five years earlier. When Alice died on Jan uary 17, 1986, at the age of 93, she was cremated. Her ashes are buried be side her husband John at Hillcrest Cemetery. Their unmarked graves are sheltered beneath a large, magnificent pine tree. Joan’s marriage to William “Bill” Spinelli on Febru ary 25, 1938, lasted only a few years. She relocated to Sudbury where she died in 2002, at the age of 82. Bar bara married Jan Backer Ulrichsen from Norway, and they had a son and a daughter together. No in formation about Cather ine has rialproducedbutts.withfireplacediscoveredper”Chanteclerered.familybelongingHouse,effortsDuringsurfaced.restorationattheKeyholeseveralartifactstotheBriggshavebeenuncovTwopackagesof“Purericeparollingpaperwerebehindthemantel,alongunfilteredcigaretteThisbrandwasbytheImpeTobaccoCompany of Canada with import ed paper. They bear two cent Canada Revenue Three Leaf Excise Tax stamps from 1934. Since John Briggs owned the house at the time, it is suspected that he was the owner of these artifacts. A Christmas card from Mr. and Mrs. Walter Ged des of Dalhousie Lake was also found in the same lo cation. It was addressed to Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Briggs and family, dated 1937. Walter Geddes was one of six Hydro employees of the Eastern Division who were pallbearers at John’s funer al. Also found next to the Briggs Christmas card and rolling paper was a brittle, curled black and white photograph of a soldier. The jodhpurs and puttees are consistent with a WWI uniform. The artillery cap badge is similar to those worn by soldiers in John Briggs’ original 49th Over seas Depot Battery C.F.A. The soldier in the photo is missing an upper front tooth. John Briggs’s dental certificate from the Mili tary Convalescent Hospital in Surrey indicates that he had “… a number of teeth missing both upper and lower.” All the evidence points in one direction… It is an honour to meet you, Sergeant John Briggs! Ted & Marion Outer bridge are currently re storing a Smiths Falls her itage home built in 1893. They are also being swept away by local history & mystery. You can follow them at on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @ thekeyholehouse or ted@tedouterbridge.com.email
Photo credit: Submitted. Photo credit: Submitted.
Smiths Falls History & Mystery: The man behind the mantel by Ted Outerbridge ted@tedouterbridge.com
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