Discover Smiths Falls - Hometown News April 2015

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inside: the wedding edition

FREE VOL.2 NO.4

Y O U R LO C A L , I N D E P E N D E N T N E W S PA P E R - S M I T H S FA L L S

APRIL 2015

It was a long and hard-fought season for the Junior A Bears with all the roster shake ups and injuries, but the team managed to keep the organization above .500, with a season record of (28-26-3-5) and sat 7th overall in the standings. The Bears ended the regular season against their rival team Brockville Braves on the road. The two teams have played against each other in the last game of the season for the past couple of years, and they always put up an entertaining game. For the full story, see Jason Code’s exclusive on the end of the Bears season, along with photos, on page 9.

COMMUNITY FOOD+DRINK Tiny Angels: A story about a local woman using her love of sewing as a unique way to give back to CHEO. Read Anjie Valgardson’s story inside.

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The owners of 4 Degrees Brewing Company, Andrew Howard and Nicholas Ritchie, have a plan, and that plan - as most truly excellent plans do - involves beer.

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CULTURE

COMMUNITY

Local author, Michael Lockett, published his first novel, The Hangman’s Demise, a psychological horror novel guaranteed to keep reader’s hearts racing. You can get it at the Smiths Falls Public Library,

A local athlete hits the big time: Smiths Falls cheerleader Alyscha Taylor is now officially a member of the Ottawa Redblacks Cheer Team.

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Community Events apr. 4 apr. 17 • Easter Bunny Dec. 19visits the County Fair •a Agatha Dec.Christie 22 – Love from Stranger. Station Theatre, 7:30

Mall.• Dollar Tree. 11Community a.m. - 1 p.m.Christ- • Tim Horton’s Free Skate, Youth 2nd Annual p.m. Arena, 1:00 p.m. mas Run - Leaving from Coffee Culture, 6:00 p.m. • Tammy’s Nail Salon presents the • Agatha Christie – Love from Holiday Movie NightRise 5th •Annual Purse Event in support • Holly Days Children a Stranger. Station Theatre,Workshop. 7:30 of the Guardians Smiths Falls of local charities 1 pm - 4 p.m. p.m.Heritage House Museum. 1:00 – Civitan Club, 7:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. • Jewel’s Gently Used Clothing • Tim Horton’s Free Skate, Youth • SFDCI is hosting first annual • Agatha – Love from Arena,Christie 1:00 p.m. Bag Sale. 18 William St. E. Spring Craft Show. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. a Stranger. Station Theatre, 7:30 • Trivia Night. Lombardy p.m. Agricultural Hall. 7 p.m. • Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, • Santa at the County Fair Mall, Boxing Day :) 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. • Trinity’s Indoor MEGA Sale • Agatha Christie – Love from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. a Stranger. Station Theatre, 7:30 • Sounds Scotland. Smiths • Tim of Horton’s Free Skate,Falls Youth p.m.• Santa at the County Fair Mall, Civitan Club, 7:30 Arena, 1:00 p.m. • Agatha Christie – Love from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m • Legion Jamboree - Smiths Falls a Stranger. Station Theatre, 7:30 • Spring Fling Running Thing. Canadian Legion Branch 95, 1:00 p.m. In support of the Smiths Falls - 6:30 p.m. • Taoist Tai Chi Open House Hospital Foundation • Movie & Skate - Smiths Falls Week at the Seniors Activity Cen• Agatha Christie – Love from a • Agatha Christie – Love from a Youth Arena, 4:50 - 8:00 p.m. tre, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Stranger. Station Theatre, 2 p.m. Stranger. Station Theatre, 2 p.m.

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Dec. 20 apr. 16 Dec. 21

Dec. 24, 25 & 26 apr. 25 jan. 2, 2015

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ONGOING PUBLIC SKATING Monday 11:00am – noon – Community Center - $2, 3:30pm – 5:00pm – Youth Arena - $2 Tuesday 11:00am – noon – Community Center - $2 Wednesday 11:00am – noon – Community Center - $2 3:30pm – 5:00pm – Youth Arena - $2 Thursday 11:00am – noon – Community Center - $2 Friday 11:00am – noon – Community Center - $2 3:30pm – 4:30pm – Youth Arena - $2 Saturday 12:00 noon – 2:00pm – Youth Arena - $2 Sunday 11:30am – 12:50pm – Community Center - $2 Gerry Lowe Memorial Sens Rink - Open all day, every day - weather permitting. NOTE: Skating is cancelled during special events.

pdg media Publisher

Editor

Reporters:

photographers:

Patricia Krotki Email: pmkrotki@pdgmedia.ca

Sabrina Bedford Email: sabrina@pdgmedia.ca

Amy Hogue

Jason Code

target: Scenes from a near-empty mall

PUBLIC SWIMMING FOR ALL AGES AT THE HUB 361 Queen St. in the Gallipeau Centre Mondays - 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays - 6-7 p.m. Fridays 6-7 p.m. Saturdays - 2-3:30 p.m. Cost: Drop In Pricing or Membership Fee apply

WALKING CONCOURSE Smiths Falls Memorial Center open 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. 7 days a week

Sunday ladies dart league Every Sunday - 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. - RCAFA Hall

MONDAY DUPLICATE BRIDGE Held at the Royal Canadian Legion every Monday evening at 7:00 p.m.

MONDAY BID EUCHRE Held at the Royal Canadian Legion every Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Canadian Room.

TUESDAY NIGHT BINGO Smiths Falls Civitan Hall, Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Bingo starts at 7:00 p.m.

THURSDAY NIGHT BINGO Smiths Falls Legion in the Lancaster Hall, 7:00 p.m.

FRIDAY NIGHT BINGO Rotary Collegiate Hall, 2 Gould St. 7:00 p.m.

MIXED DARTS Every Thursday from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the RCAFA Hall on Abbott St. New Players welcome.

JASON CODE/PHOTO The Smiths Falls Target location was among the first round of stores to close across the country, final day was on Sunday, March 22 at 4 p.m. Target announced in January that it was closing all of its Canadian stores, putting more than 17,000 workers out of a job. In the same weekend, one of the County Fair Mall’s other flagship stores also closed its doors. Staples, a store that occupied the mall since 2008, made the announcement of their closure not long after Target. Over 100 people lost their jobs between the two stores.


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community Local athlete takes cheerleading to the next level with the Ottawa REDBLACKS AMY HOGUE

SUBMITTED/PHOTO Local cheerleader Alyscha Taylor recently competed for, and earned a spot on the Ottawa Redblacks Cheer Team. She’s also involved as head coach of Breathe Dance Company’s Breathe Elite Spirit Team (BEST) cheerleading team (See page 10 for our story).

After two days of tryouts and a lifetime of preparation, Alyscha Taylor is now taking cheerleading to the next level, and is officially a member of the Ottawa Redblacks Cheer Team. Tryouts for the Ottawa Redblacks cheer team were held in Ottawa on March 14 and 15, where candidates were carefully screened to be sure they were a good match for the Spirit Program. Tryouts were held for two spirit teams, a Cheerleading Team and a Dance Team, with 25 dancers on each team. According to the Ottawa Redblacks website, the Spirit Program involves game day cheering and dancing, half time performances,

Essential repairs on Stone Arch Bridge to be completed without provincial funding AMY HOGUE Repairs to the North abutment of the Stone Arch Bridge will move forward, Mayor Shawn Pankow said, despite the recent news there will be no provincial funding coming from the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF). A 2013 report from Greer Galloway Group Engineers and Planners identified the North abutment of the bridge as needing immediate repair. In 2014 the town applied for OCIF funding to offset that cost, Stormceptor repairs, and other Stone Arch Bridge repairs. The report stated that the repairs should be completed immediately, noting that “for an arch structure like the Stone Arch Bridge, undermining of the footing can have a significant impact on the stability of the bridge.” The bridge repair is expected to cost $2.1 million, and OCIF had been expected to cover 90 per cent of those costs, leaving a contribution of only $210,000 from the municipality. Pankow said the $210,000 that is currently earmarked for the project in the 2015 draft budget should be sufficient to complete the essential work, if not the full rehabilitation of the bridge. “Right now the money we have allotted in the 2015 budget should be sufficient

to do the absolute priority work, which is the footing under the abutment in the North wall,” Pankow explained, adding that the repairs “will buy us some time without any risk to public safety.” According to Pankow, the money that has been allocated for the project should also be sufficient to complete some repair work around the Stormceptor and to improve accessibility at the Chamber St. depression. “The frustrating part is the actual work is probably only half of the amount of the repair,” Pankow said. “It’s the dewatering process that will cost around $90,000, and if we need to do more work in the future, we will have to pay the dewatering amount again.” Pankow said feedback from the province was that they had allotted a certain amount of money towards bridges in the province and there were other requests in communities where the bridges were deemed to be in worse condition than in Smiths Falls. OCIF provides $100 million per year in funding for critical road, bridge, water and wastewater projects, $50 million which is dispersed through formula based funding, and $50 million dispersed through application based funding. According to the break-

down of distribution of funds on the OCIF website, there will be no funding distributed to any municipalities within Lanark County. The province approved 78 funding requests received through the application based component of OCIF. The village of Westport is among the recipients; they will be receiving $1,980,000 for the rehabilitation of their sewage treatment facility. Smiths Falls is also awaiting word of a funding request from the Building Canada Fund for the reconstruction of Foster Avenue. Pankow said he expects they will hear word of that request near the end of March, but that the Foster Avenue work “needs to be done.” Although the municipality can apply in the future for another OCIF grant for more complete Stone Arch Bridge repairs, Pankow said that once the abutment repairs are completed he expects there will be other priority items that will move to the forefront for council. “We know that we have a number of infrastructure related issues that really need to be addressed,” Pankow said, pointing to the Confederation Bridge as another project that needs attention. “After we do the remedial work on this there will be other priority issues that will rise to the top.”

pre-game shows, game day promotions, community events, and corporate appearances. The team will also be represented at the CFL Cheerleading Extravaganza. Taylor said she had hoped to try out for the team last year, but a hip replacement had put a crimp in her plans. After a year struggling to get back into top cheerleading form, Taylor has managed to achieve a goal she’s been working towards since she was eight years old. Taylor said she has been involved in cheerleading for most of her life, having been a member of the Chimo Elementary School cheerleading team, before going on to coach the same team as a teenager. Taylor is now the head coach of the Breathe Elite Spirit Team (BEST), which trains in the

Gallipeau Centre in Smiths Falls. “It’s going to be an amazing experience,” Taylor said of being part of the Redblacks team, and pointed out that her new position will be of benefit to the BEST cheer team as well . “I can’t wait to bring my knowledge back to these girls.” A Redblack cheerleader and dancer must be available for community, charitable and corporate events during the CFL season. Tryouts involved four hour long practices that included choreography, a physical assessment, an interview and public trial. “You can’t just be talented, and you can’t just be pretty, you’ve got to be the whole package,” Taylor explained . “They want people who are going to give back.”

www.discoversmithsfalls.ca

Smiths Falls Pharmacy Remedy’sRx is NOW OPEN Visit our locally owned pharmacy, located in the County Fair Mall. We are dedicated to friendly customer service and personalized health care. Along with prescriptions, we offer: • No-Fee Compliance Packaging • No-Fee Medication Reviews • Custom Compounding

• Immunizations • Home Healthcare Supplies • FREE Prescription Delivery

275 Brockville Street, ON K7A 4Z6 (613) 283-2626 Weekdays 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Saturdays 10:00 am - 3:00 pm


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Susan Shirley program offers full circle support for young mothers, branches out into youth homelessness AMY HOGUE For every young mother the Susan Shirley Program assists, there are two lives impacted; the mother’s and her child’s, executive director Nichole Anderson told Smiths Falls council at a Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting on Mar. 9 . At the meeting, Anderson updated council on the great strides the Susan Shirley Program has taken since its formation in 2011, and its exciting plans for the future. The Susan Shirley Program is a residential maternity home and parent training centre in Smiths Falls for young pregnant or newly delivered mothers who are experiencing other risk factors. The program offers 24-hour access to health and social workers, and provides parenting and life skills training. It also supports young mothers as they struggle to complete their high school education, develop financial stability and connect with community resources.

According to Anderson, the Susan Shirley Program is the only residential home of its kind between the east end of Ottawa and Ajax, and they receive calls from people throughout the region looking to take part in the program. Anderson pointed out that the 24-hour service is especially important for young mothers, as managing night time issues can be especially challenging for any new parent. Since 2011, when the Susan Shirley Program opened its first facility on Elmsley Street North , a five bedroom home, they have also opened a second location, called Grace’s Haven, on Russell Street in 2014, which provides young mothers and their babies with an apartment as the next step in the process. Since the opening in 2011, Anderson said, the Susan Shirley Program has served 31 young women from the community. “That’s 31 babies whose lives will be changed because their mothers will

Smiths Falls Police Watch TWO YOUTHS CHARGED AFTER DISPUTE On the 11th of March 2015 at about 12:25 p.m. officers responded to a residence for a family dispute. It is alleged that the accused was threatening family members with a baseball bat taped with nails. Further investigation revealed that since the accused moved back home he had made several threats to family members and caused damaged to the home after losing his temper during arguments. A 17 year old Smiths Falls male youth was arrested and charged with four counts of Utter Threats (Bodily Harm x2, Burn Property and Damage Property), Mischief Under $5000 and four counts of Breach Probation (Weapons, Association, Discipline and Keep Peace). During the investigation the accused was found to be in communication with a female youth. Both of whom are on conditions not to be in contact with each other. As a result of this information a 17 year old Smiths Falls female youth was also arrested. The accused was charged with Breach Recognizance. Both accused were held for bail. The allegations have not been proven in court.

POLICE UNCOVER LONG HISTORY OF SEXUAL ABUSE On the 4th of March 2015 police began an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse. A 36-year-old Smiths Falls man was arrested and charged with four counts of Exposure to a person under the age of 16 years, four counts of Indecent Acts and nine counts of Sexual Exploitation.

MAN FACING 9 BREACH CHARGES AFTER ONE VISIT On the 13th of March 2015 at about 11:00pm it is alleged that the accused breached several of his release conditions. The accused attended a residence he was not allowed to go to where there were several persons he is not allowed to be near or have contact with. A 28 year old Smiths Falls man was arrested and charged with seven counts of Breach Recognizance and two counts of Breach Peace Bond. The accused was held for bail. The allegations have not been proven in court. Source: Smiths Falls Police Service

be better prepared to care for them,” Anderson told council, pointing out that by adding the second residence, and apartments for young mothers, they have been able to “increase the length of time and impact” of their support. Because the Susan Shirley Program receives no base funding and are reliant on fundraising and donations, Anderson said the next step the organization tackled was to locate a source of sustainable income. This resulted in the November 2014 opening of the Duchess Boutique, located on Main Street . in Smiths Falls. The Duchess Boutique sells unique giftware items and brings much needed revenue to the program, but just as importantly, it also provides young mothers with employment training, and the potential to earn high school credits through co-operative education. Young ladies working at the boutique can assist in shipping, receiving orders,

working the cash, and upcycling used furniture, all of which add to their skill base they can use for other employment, Anderson said. Young mothers are even able to bring their babies to work with them, which eliminates child care issues. “It’s really a full circle program,” Anderson told council. Anderson pointed to the two major fundraisers for the organization, an annual “Golf 4 Our Girls” golf tournament, held in May, and an annual gala held in September, and asked council to support the organization by attending their events. “When you come out to events and people see you supporting us, it makes a big difference,” Anderson stressed. After receiving a grant from the county to combat youth homelessness, Anderson said their next project will be to provide a bedroom and services to a young woman who is homeless or at risk of be-

SUBMITTED/PHOTO The Susan Shirley Program is a residential maternity home and parent training centre in Smiths Falls, located on Elmsley Street North

ing homeless. Once operational, the Susan Shirley Program’s bed for homeless youth will be the “first actual bricks and mortar bed” for that purpose. “In 2015, that’s what we’re looking at,” Anderson said. Councillor Dawn Quinn asked Anderson if there was such demand for its services, if the organization was planning on opening any other facilities in the area. Anderson answered that when the

Susan Shirley program set up the organization, they kept an eye to the future and made sure they would be able to incorporate both provincially and federally. “We can produce another Susan Shirley style program anywhere in the country,” Anderson said. Council agreed to make plans for a future site visit to get a more detailed look at the Susan Shirley Program.

Council Briefs: Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting on march 9 Reported and Written by Amy Hogue 1) Councillor Maloney raises issue of lack of quorum on council Councillor John Maloney raised the issue of councillor absences at a COW meeting on March 9, pointing out that in the three and a half months since council was sworn in, meetings have had to be cancelled on three separate occasions due to a lack of quorum. “I’m not pointing any fingers,” Maloney said. “But any jobs I just started I haven’t taken a vacation for at least a year.” Maloney pointed out that missing meetings is harder on staff and makes it difficult to complete the town’s business. He suggested the possibility of a courtesy vacation planner to ensure schedules are coordinated for future meetings. Deputy Clerk, Nadine Bennett, suggested that council catch up on missed meetings by utilizing the fifth Monday in March, which would normally be left unscheduled for meetings. According to the Municipal Act, a councillor’s position would be considered vacant only if the councillor is absent for three successive months without authorization from council.

2) Chief Building Official and By-Law Enforcement positions to be combined The fourth draft of the 2015 budget saw a number of changes, which included the combination of the chief building official and bylaw enforcement positions. The combination of these two positions would see a reduction of $48,027 in payroll costs. Manager of planning and sustainable growth, Lynda McKimm, brought the matter forward as an option for council, explaining that prior to 2011 the bylaw enforcement position was handled by the chief building official. McKimm proposed the town go back to that arrangement, which would positively impact the budget. The position of Chief Building Official is currently vacant, and contract services are being utilized on a temporary basis. Similarly, the position of bylaw enforcement officer is also vacant and being filled by contract to Frontenac Bylaw Enforcement. “After an analysis of workloads, we feel there is a synergy that could be combined with both roles,” McKimm explained, but did qualify that in the event of seasonal fluctuations of workload, the need for contracted service providers could arise.

Council was receptive to the prospect of saving the town $48,000 annually, and the matter will be brought back for a formal resolution at the council meeting on March 23. 3) Cost sharing to be pursued with neighbouring municipalities Councillor John Maloney brought up the issue of cost sharing with neighbouring municipalities explaining that while at a recent conference with Mayor Shawn Pankow, and while in conversation with representatives from neighbouring municipalities he determined there was “a general interest in cost sharing.” Maloney proposed the municipality could share costs of services such as economic development, policing and fire, and that he would like to see representatives from council meet with other councils and come back with more information. “These things don’t happen overnight,” Maloney stressed . “I’d like to start the ball rolling.” Councillor Dawn Quinn called the move “positive and going in the right direction.” “If there is support to pursue it, I suggest you cast your net further and get everyone together at the same

time,” CAO Malcolm Morris suggested. Maloney had a differing opinion, stating that “it would be quicker if you just get four people together, Montague would be a good place to start.” Quinn took exception to starting with only one municipality, and perhaps offending others. “Don’t say start with Montague, we don’t want to put one before the other,” Quinn warned. Maloney clarified that Montague is “just the first step,” explaining that “the initial meeting would be to just talk about things we might share and the group would come together.” It was agreed at council that Maloney and Councillor Gallipeau would initiate meetings with other representatives. Following the meeting, Gallipeau withdrew due to scheduling conflicts and Quinn stepped into the role. 4) OMB hearing reminder Senior planner Niki McKernan reminded council of the scheduled Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing set for April 15, 2015, in council chambers, beginning at 9 a.m. All OMB meetings are open for the public to view, but participation in discussion is limited to the parties involved.


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Local seamstress handcrafts, donates bereavement gowns to CHEO NICU SABRINA BEDFORD A local woman has found a unique way to give back to the hospital that’s taken care of her six-yearold foster daughter since birth. Anjie Valgardson, a foster mother and nurse from Merrickville, satiates a need in the world you probably didn’t even know existed. Valgardson hand-crafts and donates bereavement gowns to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), and they’re made from donated wedding dresses. Baby bereavement gowns are

worn by young babies who passed away before, during or after birth. She makes the gown sets in three sizes, and they can fit babies as small as one pound and as big as nine pounds. This is a time in a person’s life that nobody can anticipate, she noted. When parents find themselves in that situation, the last thing on their minds is shopping for a bereavement dress – so that’s where Valgardson comes in. “I have always loved to sew and started sewing when I was about [my foster daughter’s] age while sitting on my grandmother’s knee at the sewing machine,” she said. “I

wanted a way to give back to the hospital that has done so much for our little one as well as our own grown boys when they were young.” She said that about a year ago, she became a foster mother to a sixyear-old girl who had been “followed at CHEO pretty much since birth.” She was always grateful to the hospital, but seeing their hard work and dedication first hand inspired her to give back somehow. She was unable to donate her time volunteering, so when her cousin told her about a similar story in the States, she knew this was the way for her to help.

She said the hospital was in need of this specific item, adding they occasionally received donated christening gowns but they were always too large for the tiny preemies. “The hospital was quite happy to receive the sets as there was a need,” she said. The bereavement gown sets she makes are all oneof-a-kind, and all sets come with a bonnet, booties and two bracelets. One bracelet is a keepsake for the parents. The gowns are made from of recycled wedding dresses, and Valgardson relies completely on donations from the public. She posted an ad on Kijiji for wedding dresses to see if anybody would like to donate to the cause, and she had an overwhelming response from women all across Canada “I had to take the ad down after a day or two,” she said. “I received 11 wedding gowns from all over Canada even though I had only posted on Ottawa Kijiji.” She also said that some of the donated gowns were from other women who had babies in the neo-

SUBMITTED/PHOTO One of the handcrafted bereavement gowns made out of a recycled wedding dress. Valgardson donates the dresses directly to the nurses and staff of CHEO’s neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU).

natal intensive-care unit (NICU). However, there’s more involved in making the gowns than just the wedding dresses themselves. “Right now I am only one seamstress with a limited amount of spare time,” she said, adding the way the public can help out the most is by donating crafting supplies. “There is a need for other items to be

donated other than just the wedding gowns. I have a great need for ribbon, beads, tissue paper, clothing boxes, and thread.” She said if anyone is willing to donate to the cause, gift cards to Michael’s or fabric stores would be most appreciated. To get in contact with Valgardson, you can contact her at agardenfairy@gmail.com.

Specialized training and road trip to Colorado for Smiths Falls firefighters AMY HOGUE

SUBMITTED/PHOTO Anjie Valgardson sits at her sewing machine where she handcrafts bereavement gowns out of recycled wedding dresses for babies who pass away before, during or after birth.

Three members of the Smiths Falls Fire Department, including fire chief Normand Beauchamp, embarked on a trip to Pueblo, Colorado on March 16 to 18, receiving specialized training in Crude by Rail, provided by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). Beauchamp made the request for approval for himself, fire prevention officer Normandin, and firefighter Smith, to embark on the CPR training while at a Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting on March 9. Beauchamp explained to council there are more than 72,000 rail cars containing hazardous materials crossing Smiths Falls quarterly, and that Smiths Falls is located in one of the most important rail corridors in Canada. “It’s important that the Smiths Falls Fire Department is equipped, trained and prepared for any eventualities,” Beauchamp said,

pointing out that there have been two Northern Ontario train accidents within recent weeks. Beauchamp pointed out that in the event of a train derailment, hazardous materials can cause damages to life and property, bringing up the devastating accident that took place in Lac Megantic in 2013. According to Beauchamp, the railway corridor crossing Lac Megantic “was not as important as the one which passes through Smiths Falls.” Beauchamp said a CPR grant application was applied for in November 2014, and although a grant requesting funding for equipment is still pending, the grant for specialized training was approved. All costs related to travel to Colorado, including flights, accommodations, meals and courses have been assumed by CP Rail, totalling approximately $9,000. A selection process was in place to determine which firefighters would take the course, requiring interest-

ed parties to complete an application explaining why they wanted to take the course and what the benefits would be for the fire department. Councillor John Maloney mentioned that CP Rail employs HAZMAT specialists to deal with derailments, and could be relief on in the event of a derailment in Smiths Falls. Beauchamp replied that “CP Rail is not a first responder,” making training essential in Smiths Falls. Mayor Shawn Pankow expressed council’s appreciation for the opportunity to better prepare Smiths Falls for any eventuality. “It’s a great opportunity for the three of you to be trained and prepped,” Pankow said, before asking if Beauchamp plans on bringing back knowledge to be applied in training with the remainder of the fire department. Beauchamp confirmed the intent was to bring back information for further training for firefighters.


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community

National day of Mourning

Around the community: swim-a-thon

FOR WORKERS KILLED AND INJURED ON THE JOB

SABRINA BEDFORD April 28 marks the National Day of Mourning for Workers Killed and Injured on the Job in Canada. According to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) website, this is the day when unions, workers, and organizations in over 100 countries remember workers who have died, were injured or made ill from workplace causes. In 2012, the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board reported 292 workplace fatalities – almost one per day. In Can-

ada as whole, a worker is injured every nine seconds. More serious accidents resulting in time away from work occur every 19 seconds. Finally, every day in Canada three workers die from workplace accidents and diseases. OPSEU urges all locals to mark April 28 as the National Day of Mourning, to remember workers who have died, and to renew the fight for the living. The Smiths Falls service is being held on April 28 at Centennial Park at 7 p.m. Source: OPSEU

please respect the planet

KATHY BOTHAM/PHOTO The hub held its 2nd Annual Swimathon on Saturday, March 7 at the Gallipeau Centre. This is their major fundraiser and following last year’s total of $11,000.00 at this event, their target this year is $15,000.00, which they announced the same day they were able to achieve. Members from five teams took turns swimming on Saturday from noon until midnight. The Aquafitters,The Fun Team, SFDCI RedHawk Swim Team, The Wing Nuts and Bonnie’s Geezers filled the five lanes for 12 hours. A day long bake sale also helped to achieve this year’s goal.

recycle this paper


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community

Human Library returns to Smiths Falls Top honours for PSFDH SABRINA BEDFORD The Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital (PSFDH) has been recognized in a nation-wide study for its performance in Overall Care. The National Research Corporation Canada (NRCC) released its annual study entitled the Patient Experience Percentile Report. The purpose of the report series is “to highlight hospitals in Ontario that have received excellent performance ratings, based on patient perceptions,” according to the NRCC website. In the ‘Acute Care Inpatient - Community Hospitals’ category, the Smiths Falls branch of PSFDH was listed as the Top Performing hospital for patient rating of overall care. In addition to this honour, both of the PSFDH campuses are

in the 90th percentile for Overall Care. PSFDH was named one of the top performing hospitals in Ontario for the “overall care” item in acute inpatient care for community hospitals. This ranking is based on surveys completed by patients between Apr.1, 2013 and Mar. 31, 2014. The specific questions asked were: “Overall, how would you rate the care you received at the hospital?” and “Would you recommend this hospital to your family or friends?” The survey results were organized into four reporting categories: overall, teaching, community and small hospitals. They were then broken down further into three categories: - Acute Inpatient Care; - Emergency Department; and - Maternity Care. Source: National Research Corporation Canada

After a successful launch last spring, the libraries in Lanark County, in partnership with United Way Lanark County, announced the return of the Human Library. On Saturday, Apr. 18, all five libraries – the Perth Union Library, Smiths Falls Library, Carleton Place Library, Mississippi Mills Library (both Almonte & Pakenham branches) and Lanark Highlands Library – are offering the opportunity to “check out” a human book and learn about that person’s life. During regular Saturday hours, anyone can reserve a half-hour session and have an open chat with one of the many “books”. “The Human Library Project has been a great way for the Lanark libraries to come together and work collaboratively,” said Tammy Langstaff, librarian at the Pakenham Public Library. “Last year was so much fun that we’re excited to participate again this year. We have a great variety of books – there’s definitively something for everyone.” Interested “readers” can reserve a half-hour time slot with a book of their

choice starting on April 6th by visiting www.humanlibrary.webs.com. Starting Mar. 20, the website will also provide an overview of the books at the various libraries and bios – be sure to check back often, as other “titles” are added. Last year’s human books included a master gardener, a film maker, a retired spy, a glass blower, a dairy farmer, a nurse, a WWII codebreaker, an entrepreneur, an adoption researcher, a forensic detective and more. This year’s Human Library Project will feature a mix of returning ‘best sellers’ from last spring and ‘new releases’. The newcomers include a former federal deputy minister and Order of Canada recipient, Kundalini yoga instructor, a micro brewer, a non-profit housing guru, a therapy dog owner, a children’s book illustrator, an equality advocate, an award-winning puppeteer, an adventure racer, an Ojibwe lawyer and others. Originating in Denmark, The Human Library has grown into an internationally-recognized event, being held in communities across

the globe. The concept is simple: encourage dialogue between people who may not otherwise come into contact, breaking down social barriers and promoting diversity. Anyone with a story is encouraged to participate as a human book. The libraries will host the conversations, as open and respectful spaces within the community where people can listen to stories that help to challenge prejudices and discrimination and promote empathy and understanding. “There is such a wealth of knowledge right here in our community and we are so thankful for those

who shared their time and talent last year,” said Fraser Scantlebury, executive director of United Way Lanark County. “We are happy to be involved once again as we thank the community for their support in our 2014 Campaign. Come out on Apr. 18 and meet your neighbours.” For more information, you can go to www.humanlibrary.webs.com, contact the United Way Lanark County at 613-253-9074, or contact your local library in Smiths Falls, Perth, Carleton Place, Lanark Highlands or Mississippi Mills. Source: Lanark United Way

Don’t miss the opportunity to reach your customers through the Hometown News and Discover Smiths Falls! Advertising deadline April 22nd, 2015

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JASON CODE/PHOTOS A collection action photos of the final weeks of the Bears season.

Bears season comes to an end JASON CODE It was a long and hard-fought season for the Junior A Bears. With all the roster shake ups and injuries, the Bears keep the organization above .500, with a season record of (28-26-3-5) and sit 7th overall in the standings. The Smiths Falls team participated in the preliminary round of playoffs against the Nepean Raiders but fell short in the best-of-three game series (2-1). Bears top-graduating goalie Michael Pinios (94) put up some great numbers, with a goals-against-average of 2.29 and .921 save percentage in the three playoff games. In his two seasons with the organization, Pinios has an impressive 4928-6 record with 2 shutouts, 2.88 GAA, .908 save percentage (regular season). Other

graduating players also include Bears captain Taylor Henry, defenseman Ryan Duhaime, defenseman Daniel Lombardi and forward Chris King. The Smiths Falls Bears ended the regular season against their rival team Brockville Braves on the road. They have played the Braves in their last game of the season for the past couple of years, and these two teams always put up an entertaining last game. This year the Bears lost a nail-biter in overtime (3-2), a similar close game to last season’s finale (4-3). The club struggled in the last month of the season with a (37-1-1) record, seven of those games were on the road. This past season’s team was one of the youngest squads the Bears have iced in recent years, with 15 players aged between 17-18 makes for a promising next season with many players

returning. Young rookies/players such as Josh Leblanc, Nick Coates, Brody Brunet, Cole Busschaert and Jared Henry will have bigger roles in the coming season. Bear Tracks Fourth-year forward Karson McCartney left the organization in late January for a school and work opportunity in western Ontario. McCartney played in 243 regular season/ playoff games with 58 goals and 122 points total. He was the longest-serving player on the roster. Bears forward Brett Garvey will be moving on to Clarkson University of the NCAA Division 1 for the upcoming 201516 season. Garvey (96) was acquired from the Carleton Place Canadians half-way through the season. The young defenseman had 3 goals and 9 assists in 39 contest with the Bears.

JASON CODE/PHOTO


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spotlight on business: NATATIA’S ONE-ON-ONE It may not feel like summer is just around the corner, but it will be here sooner than you think. Natatia’s One-on-One fitness is ready to help get you in top shape for swimsuit season, and is offering an eight-week spring group training session, beginning April 7. Natatia Gemmell, personal trainer and group instructor, encourages every participant to work at their own fitness level to achieve personal goals. Group sessions include training with a number of different piece of equipment, including free weights, TRX, barbells, steps, medicine and exercise balls, battle ropes, slam balls, and body bars. Gemmell’s training can be ideal for a beginner or a more experienced athlete. “Exercises in the personal training programs are always modified to each individual’s ability,” she said. The eight-week group training session will be Gemmell’s third group fitness program and has been a big hit with participants in the past. The program requires a commitment of an hour long session, and three sessions a week,

and for a total of 24 sessions, but Gemmell said the impact is well worth the effort. “It’s impacted me hugely,” said client Angie Van Wingerden, who is on her second group fitness program. “I can feel the difference in my energy levels, weight loss, strength as well as my mental well-being. I would definitely do another session.” Gemmell provides a full assessment of each participant as they sign up, and ensures each member is getting the most out of their workout, so every group member is challenged to push themselves. “It’s a lot of fun, but it’s harder because I have to make sure I challenge each individual at their level while making sure everyone is doing each technique correctly,” said Gemmell. Early bird registrants will get a 20 per cent discount on the program plus a week’s worth of free sessions. For more information visit www.natatia.com or call 613913-5435. Best of all the program ends with a half day boot-camp followed by a BBQ. Submitted by Natatia’s One-onOne Fitness.

SUBMITTED/PHOTO Register soon for Natatia’s One-on-One fitness group program and get 24 personalized sessions to get you in shape for summer. The program starts April 7 so register before March 15 to get your 20 per cent early bird registration discount!

Fundraising run planned at Good Life Vibrations SARAH PATTERSON We all have choices in our lives. We have all had people in our lives who have been diagnosed with cancer. We have said what we would do if it was us. Some would give up, others might give in, only a chosen few would give it all they got and put up the biggest fight of their lives. This is the Story of Yarrow Viets. Yarrow Viets is a 33 year old mother of four year old twin boys and Registered Nurse and Wellness Coach who has made her choice in life to fight and give it all she’s got. Yarrow is an avid athlete, with a demonstrated love for health and fitness. In September 2014 Yarrow’s fight changed when she was diagnosed with Metastatic Colon Cancer, which has already spread to her liver. Here is a young family facing many hard days and months ahead. Yarrow has had to quit work and now they only have one income. Everyone knows

how hard it is these days to pay the everyday bills mortgage, hydro, groceries, etc. I am Sarah Patterson, a personal trainer at Good Life Vibrations. I have never personally met Yarrow. We share a similar passion in health and fitness which has brought us together via Facebook and have conversed back and forth. When I see Yarrow’s Facebook posts, I find her an inspiration; a light of life in the deepest darkest places. I would like to share a Facebook message from Yarrow that has truly inspired and motivated me. Yarrow is such a kind soul, through her own struggles she is able to find the strength to encourage and support others. From Yarrow- “This is so challenging for me both mentally and physically. The majority of the time it’s a real mental battle to try and find a way to actual live with cancer. It’s a weird feeling to try and embrace and accept something so terrible. It’s been a true

lesson in life though to focus on the things that truly matter and leave the little things behind. I watch your posts and love what you are doing with fitness... I have always been so passionate about fitness, health and helping people reach all kinds of goals through fitness. I truly admire you for your passion towards the same thing and I thank you for everything you do to help people to essentially a better life. Never give up on that Xo.” One night over dinner I shared Yarrow’s story with my boyfriend, Jordan Yolkowskie, and I remember saying “I wish there was something we could do to help.” We have decided to utilize our passion for health & fitness, and create a community event in an effort to help Yarrow. We Care Yarr -Fight like A Girl --5km & 10km Race May 16th 2015 Race Start Time 11:00 am Starting Location- Good Vibrations Gym, Lorne Street, Smiths Falls Ontario The race registration fee

is $20 per runner. BBQ & refreshments following the race $5 charge 100% of money raised is going directly to Yarrow & her family. Our goal is to raise $5000 for Yarrow and her family. In Yarrows words “You have to Believe, I hope by sharing my fight and my journey that I will help and inspire you in your darkest moments to continue on when you just don’t think you can put that other foot forward” If you would like to volunteer the day of race or donate - please feel free to contact me https://www. facebook.com/sarah.patterson Donations can also be dropped off at Smiths Falls Family Chiropractic, on William St. W. Together as a community we can pull together to make a difference in the life of this young woman and her family. Thank you in advance - Sarah Patterson & Jordan Yolkowskie.

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BEST cheerleading team heads to nationals in April AMY HOGUE Breathe Dance Company’s Breathe Elite Spirit Team (BEST) are heading off this April for yet another cheerleading competition – this time to a national competition held in Toronto. Head coach, Alyscha Taylor, said the Smiths Falls cheerleading team is excited about the upcoming event, and determined to walk away with the prize. The upcoming national competition will complete a stellar competitive season in 2015, where the BEST team competed in the Winterlude Regional Cheerleading Competition, placing first in the Senior Pom Dance as well as first in the Junior Level 3 Stunt Group and Junior Level 5 Stunt Group. At a Provincial cheerleading competition in Brampton, they again placed first in the Senior Pom Dance and first in the Junior Level 5 Stunt Group. One of the team members, Mya Clark, won sixth place in the Junior Level 3 Solo and Tessa Gilligan won second place in the Senior Level 3 Solo. “We have the best stunt group in the province,” Taylor said. The BEST team is comprised of 16 members between the ages of 8 and 18, and trains at the Gallipeau Centre for four hours each Monday. Of those four hours of training there is one hour of conditioning and a 15-minute break for supper. Members are re-

quired to continue practicing at home throughout the week on their own. Taylor explained that cheerleading is often mislabelled as not being a serious sport but in reality is “one of the most dangerous sports a young woman can do.” Taylor said she loves it when football players come by to watch practice and gain an appreciation for the amount of work that goes into the sport. “People think we dance around with pompoms and short skirts, but these girls are athletes, they train every day,” Taylor said, adding that cheerleading is “like gymnastics only with being thrown 18 feet into the air.” Taylor went on to explain that cheerleading is far more supportive than other, similar sports such as gymnastics or dance, because it is a team sport. With 16 members on the team, 10 competitive and six recreational, the team is a tight knit group, one that Taylor says by the end of the season is “a family.” “My favourite saying is that cheerleaders don’t compete against friends, they compete with friends.” Taylor said, “In team sports you’re only as good as the person next to you.” As head coach for the team, and a new member of the Ottawa REDBLACKS cheer team, Taylor believes strongly in giving back to the community and encourages her girls to take part in demonstrations and work as role models in the community. She said she

believes strongly in encouraging girls to keep busy with positive activities and sports, and feels cheerleading is a good way of keeping girls on track. “A lot of what I do is non-profit, but I’m happy to do it, it keeps girls busy,” Taylor said. “I want to make sure young ladies have more to do with their time.” The group takes part in three competitions each year, and has embarked on a variety of fundraising events like bottle drives and bake sales to offset costs for participating in the events. One of the items Taylor said she would like to see purchased in the future is floor mats. Having mats on the floor would not only protect team members from a fall, but would also put them on a more even footing with other teams at competitions. Competitions are held on a spring floor, which the BEST team only experiences while performing at the competition, putting them at a disadvantage. An investment in mats is expected to cost several thousand dollars, and Taylor said they are hoping to do a fundraiser for the purchase this summer. “I don’t want to ask for money, I want the kids to learn to work for it,” Taylor said.

Around the community: GYM STARS

KATHY BOTHAM/PHOTO Gym Star Eleanor Hall focuses on the balance beam at the 9th Annual Come Shine With Us Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015 at Gym Stars in Smiths Falls.

AMY HOGUE/PHOTO

The Breathe Elite Spirit Team (BEST) will soon be heading off for a national cheerleading competition in Toronto. Front row: Victoria Dorion; second row (from left to right): Emma Dinsey, Makenna Cleaver and Tessa Gilligan; back row: Assistant Coach, Taylor Brown, Kaylee Tones, Kayla Dinsey, Allyson Smyth and Head Coach Alyscha Taylor; top of pyramid: Kayla Peters. Missing: Mya Clark.


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Special Feature: Wedding Edition Bring your floral vision to life with Autumn’s Fine Flowers AMY HOGUE It’s all about the flowers for local florist and owner of Autumn’s Fine Flowers, Lindsey McFadden. As a wedding florist, McFadden’s passion naturally lies with the floral details of a wedding, and her goal is to ensure that her creations are completely unique and a true reflection of the bride’s vision for her special day. “I usually go through the bouquets with the bride and see what they like and don’t like, get a feeling for what they want on their special day,” McFadden explained. “I like every bouquet to be different, I don’t want to make the same bouquet twice.” McFadden has been working with flowers for many years, spending five years at Rowat’s before moving on to work in several floral boutiques in Ottawa. Now, McFadden is looking to focus full time on her floral business in Smiths Falls, offering her services for special events throughout the region. For McFadden, working with flowers is an ideal occupation for her, because it allows her to unleash her creativity to benefit her clients. “I think it’s the artistic nature of it…the best moment for me is when I see the bride’s face when she sees her bouquet, and she’s crying because she loves it so much. That’s the reason I do it.”

She explained that what makes working on weddings so satisfying is working with a bride to try and draw out their vision and create something that embodies what they want in their bouquet. “They’ve dreamed of that day for their whole lives, you want everything to be perfect,” McFadden said. She uses her extensive knowledge gleaned from her years in the floral industry in order to give her clients the best products and design services possible. Because of her experience working with different florists, McFadden knows the strengths and characteristics of every flower, and how to find the best wholesalers, and at the best prices. To provide the freshest and highest quality flowers possible, McFadden sources her flower’s wholesalers as far away as Montreal and Toronto, who in turn source their flowers from exotic locations like Columbia or Ecuador. By seeking out larger suppliers, McFadden said she’s able to provide clients with a broader selection, including rare and harder to find flowers. This is one of the areas where is able to use her experience to her client’s benefit. “You have to talk the flower lingo and you have to be firm with your wholesalers,” McFadden stressed, “You’ve gotta be very picky, you really have to source them out.”

McFadden said floral trends for this year are already being seen in the bridal world, and that there has already been a response in growers to the demand. “This year there’s a lot of peach and pale pink, soft coral, they’re really popular,” McFadden said. “They’re coming out with new rose varieties all the time in that colour scheme.” Baby’s breath is also another popular favourite, McFadden noted, as are hydrangeas and calla lilies and roses, which she said never go out of style. No matter what colour scheme or flower a bride chooses, McFadden will be there every step of the way to make sure the floral component of their wedding day goes off without a hitch. With 20 weddings already booked in 2015, McFadden must be doing something right. Although she said she was part of the Smiths Falls Bridal Show, she hasn’t done a lot of other advertising. In fact, she said, most of her business has come from referrals from satisfied brides. “It’s mostly word of mouth, my brides are amazing,” McFadden said. “My brides are telling everyone, so it’s working out really well.” For more information about Autumn’s Fine Flowers contact Lindsey McFadden at autumnsfineflowers@outlook.com or visit her Facebook page under Autumn’s Fine Flowers.

AMY HOGUE/PHOTO

Lindsey McFadden, owner of Autumn’s Fine Flowers, poses with one of her bridal bouquets. McFadden has been in the floral industry for years, and her recently-opened business has already expanded by word-of-mouth referrals alone. She has over 20 weddings booked already this year.

Preserve your wedding day memories with Just Love Wedding Photography AMY HOGUE For professional photographer, Jason Code, capturing the moment on film is where it’s at. With a long history in photography that includes extensive training and experience, there are no limits to what he can do with a camera. This is part of the reason why he turned to wedding photography as a natural off-shoot of his photography business, but the other part is the opportunity to truly capture the depth of emotions that accompany every wedding. “Our vision is to use all the visual elements of photography to tell a bride and groom’s story through images,” Code explained. “Capturing the memorable moments of an event while also portraying the depth of feeling and emotion that accompanies it, that’s our goal.”

The name Code and his partner, Liam Doherty, chose for their business says it all: Just Love Wedding Photography. Just Love Wedding Photography focuses on providing stunning images that will preserve the special moments from a wedding, and they also offer engagement photos to preserve the budding excitement of an upcoming union. Not just about weddings, Code also has a strong background in sports photography. Code is the official photographer for the Smiths Falls Bears, but has also photographed the Ottawa 67’s. Code was also sought out by the Ottawa Senators and today is one of their official photographers for home games. In addition to hockey, Code also specializes in photographing extreme sports like wake sports and

skateboarding. The skills he’s gained from sports photography has given him the flexibility to successfully shoot in any environment and lighting situation, without compromising quality. With more than five years’ experience photographing weddings, Just Love Wedding Photography offers comprehensive event packages, allowing brides and grooms to choose the package that best suits their needs, and budget. Brides and grooms can choose between having both Code and Doherty on site, or just one, and between full or partial reception coverage. For more information about Just Love Wedding Photography or for a closer look at their wedding packages, visit their website at www.justloveweddingphotography.com.

AMY HOGUE/PHOTO Wedding photographer Jason Code poses with one of his cameras. Code also has a strong background in sports photography. He is the official photographer for the Smiths Falls Bears, but has also photographed the Ottawa 67’s. Code was also sought out by the Ottawa Senators and today is one of their official photographers for home games.


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culture Local author’s FIrst book on bookshelves at public library, Indigo and Chapters Local author, Michael Lockett, has published his first novel, The Hangman’s Demise, a psychological horror novel guaranteed to keep reader’s hearts racing. The Hangman’s Demise is currently available in the Smiths Falls Public Library, at Joanne and Sherry’s Custom Cuts and at The Rideau Candy Shoppe, in addition to Indigo and Chapters. The Hangman’s Demise is the culmination of ten years of labour, fifteen novels and 136 rejections from places like New York City, London, Toronto, England and Sweden. The first in a two-book series, the second book is scheduled for release in late summer or early fall. As a full-time writer, Michael said he writes for approximately eight hours a day and has written other material professionally, including an episode of The Simpsons in season 22, episode 16, called

Midsummer’s Nice Dream,” as well as children’s books. Michael said that he often spends his time “sitting and staring at the four walls, waiting for inspiration to strike.” And inspiration definitely struck with the creation of The Hangman’s Demise, a book Michael’s wife, Joanne Lockett, said has “a good balance of humour and scary stuff.” “You know how some books are creepy from the time you open it,” Joanne said . “Well, not this one.” Michael stressed his book isn’t just scary, it has a moral, and it not all doom and gloom. “It deals with addictions, and the darker things in life,” Michael said, pointing to a number of suicides that he says have taken place in the region over the past 20 plus years. “Nobody talks about it, it’s just pushed under.” Michael’s message to fellow writers after such a long struggle before publication is simple: “Don’t give up.”

AMY HOGUE/PHOTO Local author, Michael Lockett, poses with his wife, Joanne, and his first novel, The Hangman’s Demise, a psychological horror novel guaranteed to keep reader’s hearts racing. Michael has also written an episode of The Simpsons in season 22, episode 16, called Midsummer’s Nice Dream,”

my crazy life BECKIE BROWN I cannot count the number of times that someone has told me they think I am super mom (I am not) or how I am not crazy (I might be) but what I can say is that laughter really is the best medicine. I don’t always remember to laugh. It isn’t always my first initial reaction… but it’s usually the one that is the most important. With three boys, I find my life is in a constant state of chaos. I rush to work, I rush home, I rush through supper and the bedtime routine just to go to bed and do it all over again the next day. Every night is full of those little moments

that make me want to break down, and at times I do, but then I remind myself: I am going to miss this. Someday my boys will be men and I am going to miss this. Someday I will not have to wipe up spilt milk at every meal. Someday I won’t wake up with crackers in my bed and a tub of melted ice cream against my leg. Someday little people won’t run around my house screaming ‘I am a dinosaur’ while they growl and claw at the walls. Someday I won’t have to hide the bar stools to stop little boys from climbing the counter tops looking for food, or throw away yet another apple that lay forgotten

on the floor. For now I will continue to wash artwork off my walls and windows. I will clean up spots of unknown substances off every surface in my home. Think back to those days gone by when you were a child spilling milk and climbing the walls. The most memorable moments that we have are the little ones. They are the moments that made us who we are today. They are the moments that will make our children who they will be. So I laugh as much as I can. I write down all those little seemingly unimportant moments because they are the important ones.

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food & drink ‘Explore the Northern Lifestyle’ with True North of 7 Beer AMY HOGUE The owners of 4 Degrees Brewing Company, Andrew Howard and Nicholas Ritchie, have a plan, and that plan - as most truly excellent plans do involves beer. The two business partners have created a new craft beer, one that embraces the northern lifestyle, called True North of 7. Brewed by Jason Cooke, owner of the District Brewing Company in Saskatchewan and creator of Bud Light Lime, True North of 7 is described by Ritchie as a smooth-bodied American ale, with no additives or preservatives. The plan is for Cooke to continue brewing the beer on a contract basis until a local market has been established for the beer, at which point Ritchie and Howard will look at brewing locally. Branding of True North of 7 will focus on things relating to a northern lifestyle, Ritchie explained, pointing to experiences typical for this region such as drinking beer while ice fishing or at a hunt camp. The partners have asked people to send them photos of their True North of 7 pint glasses in uniquely northern environments, such as in a canoe, bringing home their slogan of “Explore the Northern Lifestyle.” Ritchie said their plan is to sell True North of 7 beer at local restaurants and bars, and have even purchased 50 taps, in the shape of a shotgun handle, to dispense their beer. While waiting for their permit from the province, they have been selling True North of 7 paraphernalia such as beer glasses and t-shirts and giving away samples of the beer. Ritchie said so far the support has been good, telling them there is a market for their product. “Beer is one of those things not going to go out of fashion,” Ritchie explained . “You don’t have to convince people to buy beer, you just have to convince them to buy yours.” Ritchie said he sees the growing number of craft breweries in the Ottawa Valley as a positive sign, seeing others in the same industry as a communi-

ty, instead of competition. Ritchie foresees an opportunity for economic development from a local brewery, envisioning tourism-related activities and visits to local breweries, similar to tourists visiting vineyards. According to Ritchie, although the beer will be brewed by contract to begin with, the plan is to move it locally as quickly as possible. Ritchie said the real purpose of the brewing company was jobs creation, and the only way he can see to do that is to open a brewery. “You’re not going to get jobs creation traction unless you open a brewery,” Ritchie pointed out, adding that a brewery would have a tasting room, an on-site store that would employ people in addition to those employed for the actual brewing. “Our goal is to employ 30 people.” Part of the partners’ plan is to allocate a portion of sales to be contributed to community-based projects. “That way people can improve their town by drinking beer,” Ritchie laughed. Ritchie explained the variables in beer brewing are the equipment, the water and the ingredients, most of which can be controlled, except the water. Whoever is hired to brew the beer locally will be

sent to work with Cooke to learn the recipe and they will purchase the right equipment, but Ritchie said the water will remain a challenge. “Whatever location we select we will need to test the water,” Ritchie said. Bottoms Up keg dispenser While waiting for their liquor permit to sell True North of 7 locally, Howard and Ritchie haven’t been sitting on their hands, but have remained invested in the beer world. The partners have invested in a cutting edge keg dispenser, called Bottoms Up, which is sure to garner attention at local events this summer. According to Ritchie, at one point their dispenser was one of only a handful in Canada, putting Smiths Falls on the map. Other dispensers can be found at such illustrious locations as the Skydome, Labatt Centre, TD Place, Air Canada Centre. Ritchie said he believes 4 Degrees Brewing Company’s dispenser is the only mobile unit in Canada. The technology is deceptively simple. Using special cups and a magnet, the cups are placed on the dispenser and filled from the bottom. When they are removed, the magnet which sits at the bottom of the cup, reseals the bottom. Not only fascinating to watch, the tech-

AMY HOGUE/PHOTO 4 Degrees Brewing Company co-owner, Nick Ritchie, stands with his Bottoms Up mobile keg dispenser in Rob Roys in Smiths Falls. Their dispenser was recently used in Rob Roys for their annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

nology is also of benefit to those who use it, by lessening waste and speeding up the filling process. “You get 95 per cent out of a keg versus the 75 per cent from the traditional dispensers,” Ritchie explained, noting that there is also the potential for revenue from advertising on the magnets that are used to seal the cups, which customers can keep when they’ve finished their beer. The Bottoms Up dispenser fills cups nine times

faster than those filled traditionally, but more importantly, because the beer is dispensed in pre-portioned units, a bartender can begin filling a cup and leave to do other tasks, only returning to remove the cup and serve it to the customer. Customers love it because they get more beer in a cup, and less head, not to mention a fun magnet. So far the 4 Degrees Brewing Company has rented their mobile dispenser to special events in the area,

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and will be expanding into the wedding market. The cart is also available for rent for golf tournaments, corporate events, birthday parties, or even a backyard barbecue. For more information about the Four Degrees Brewing Company, please visit their Facebook page at 4 Degrees Brewing Company or their website at www. north-of-7.ca or by emailing them at 4degreesbrewing@ gmail.com.

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explore How to use Twitter to build relationships and grow your business SHERRY CRUMMY Many business owners are still confused about Twitter and how they can use it to grow their business. Twitter is really like an online networking event, cocktail party, even like a backyard barbecue, depending how you use it. Most importantly, it’s a social gathering. It’s people getting to know each other and having conversations. Embrace this concept and just keep it in mind with everything that you do. Then you will be a success in how you find new relationships that will help you boost your brand and build your business through Twitter. If we want to use Twitter to grow our network we really need to be intentional about how we’re using it so that it can refer business. That’s really the end goal. If you want to use it, it has to be part of your social media strategy. Who is your audience, what content will you share, what are your goals and objectives to using this social media tool? Just as you need to analyze each

social media tool, or even any marketing tool. What is my goal? How will I measure its success? There’s a very big misconception for newer social media users that if you join one or two or three platforms, you can pretty much do the same type of thing on all of them, and it will be effective. Obviously, they’re not seeing results from that. That’s because you really do need to treat each social media platform differently. There are 3 main golden rules in Twitter that you really need to follow for each tweet you create: 1. Be human. Everybody says be human, humanize your brand, but that’s real life. If you are on Twitter and people are on Twitter. It’s about conversations and relationships. There are no robotics that are going to be acceptable here. You need to be really human. 2. Be relevant. Twitter is a news stream. People go there to find out what’s going on. Being relevant is so important on this platform. It’s literally the reason why it’s still around today. 3. Be giving. You need to

SUBMITTED/PHOTO A snapshot of the @CrummyMedia Twitter page. Crummy said there’s a very big misconception for newer social media users that if you join one or two or three platforms, you can pretty much do the same type of thing on all of them, and it will be effective. That’s simply not true - you need to treat each social media platform differently. Read her three Twitter golden rules.

give and give and give and don’t stop. This is what people want when they come to you on a platform like Twitter. They’re expecting a lot of value in return for their follow. Think about what you want to be known for, and share that. It’s really, really important that you keep this in mind. Playing the connector card is huge in life. It’s a great way to show people that you are on the pulse of information, and who people need to know. Think about the advice that you could possibly provide or just look into the resources that might help you come up with these pieces of advice. Find ways to come up with your little 100-140 character tweets with quick tips. I say less than 140 because you want room for a hashtag or two. Conversations are tremendous. Listen and talk to people. This will show your interest in others and build your community. Share value often. Even if you have

nothing to tweet, just go out and find the conversations and talk with people. Don’t expect conversations to come to you. They will in due time, but remember give and give, and then

you’ll get something back. The key is to be consistent with it and to add your own unique voice. It takes time to build up your followers. The key is to keep on tweeting, to engage with others

that resonate with you. Like any social media, it takes commitment and patience to become proficient at it. Send me a tweet at www. twitter.com/crummymedia.

SUBMITTED/PHOTO


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Larger benefit payments for families, but larger tax liabilities STEVE BENNETT

Senior Tax Professional H&R Block Smiths Falls There are several important tax changes for families in 2015: the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) will be enhanced and the Amount for Children will be eliminated. These changes may not grab as many headlines as the new Family Tax Cut, but they can have some significant implications for parents. The UCCB is a monthly benefit paid out for each eligible child. Since it was implemented in 2006, the payments have been $100 for each child under six years of age. With the new $4.4 billion enhancement to the UCCB, parents will receive monthly payments of $160 for each child under six and $60 for each child age 6 through 17. The first payment for the enhanced UCCB will be July 2015, but the benefit will apply retroactively to January 2015. For example, a family with two toddlers will receive $200 per month for the first six months of the year. In July, they will receive $1,040 – consisting of their new monthly payment of $320 and a catch-up lump sum of $720. The UCCB is paid to parents, as long as they have applied, regardless of income. There is no threshold to receive the payments, but any payments received are taxable income. With these larger payments, parents should expect to have a smaller refund unless they take preemptive action – such as having more tax deducted at source. Back to our family of four, they will have taxable UCCB payments of $3,840 this year compared to $2,400 last year. Depending on the family income and situation, this could reduce their refund by hundreds of dollars. Un-

fortunately, the bad news does not end there. A less-highly promoted tax change is the upcoming elimination of the Amount for Children beginning in the 2015 tax year. This non-refundable credit equates to approximately $350 per child, assuming one of the parents’ taxable income is high enough to make the claim. For most families, this will mean a smaller refund at tax time. With a federal election looming this fall, a more skeptical writer might point out of the convenient timing of a large lumpsum payment just prior to an election, whereas the tax liability and eliminated credit won’t be felt until afterwards. Of course, I will steer clear of any such insinuations. Though some of the repercussions of the upcoming changes may seem discouraging, it’s important to point out that all parents will end up with more money in their pocket at the end of the year. Even with the increased tax liability and eliminated credit, families will benefit from the enhancements. It’s just important to keep the tax consequences in mind, so there are no unpleasant surprises during next tax season. This article provides only an overview of the regulations in force at the date of publication, and no action should be taken without consulting the detailed legislation or seeking professional advice. Therefore, no responsibility for loss occasioned by any person acting or refraining from action as a result of the material contained in this bulletin can be accepted by Steve Bennett or H&R Block Canada, Inc.

DARLENE MACLACHLAN

OPINION: Overcoming Obstacles: Part 2

Ob·sta·cle (noun): a thing that blocks one’s way or prevents or hinders progress. Last month’s column looked at how obstacles can be internal or external and their impact on attaining our goals. Sometimes the obstacles are obvious and sometimes we may be oblivious to their existence. While in Newfoundland, I fell in love with the community I was living in and decided to give back by volunteering as a firefighter. It was something I had always wanted to do and given my background in emergency preparedness, thought this would be a no-brainer. I thought my background was exactly what they needed and I would soon find myself doing something I had wanted to do. It was a perfect fit – or at least I thought it was. I soon found out that I had not accounted for some pretty big obstacles, one being a woman and joining a department in this small town and overcoming preconceived perceptions. I also didn’t know how to drive a standard. Unfortunately they had a pretty nice truck from the 1950’s – of course it was a standard. For me, it was pretty obvious. To become a member

of this department, it meant I had to identify, understand, and figure out how to overcome these obstacles. Henry Ford has been quoted as saying “Obstacles are those frightful things when you take your eyes off your goal.” Most of us would probably agree that when we face an obstacle to a goal, we either decide to give up or figure out how to overcome it and move towards success. I don’t mind obstacles – I see them as opportunities. They have taught me much about myself and what I can do – and what I can’t. How do we overcome obstacles that may present themselves before or during our journey towards our goal? Self-help books, YouTube videos, and informative articles will give you a lot of ideas on overcoming obstacles. Identifying that you have an obstacle is the first step in overcoming it. If you don’t see it or are aware of it, how are you going to deal with it? It will continue to exist and persist, interfering with reaching your goal. Once you are aware of and have identified the obstacle, write it out. Maybe it’s not as big as you think it is, and maybe it’s bigger. This will also cause you to identify the type of obstacle, are if they real or imagined. We often create obstacles for ourselves based upon preconceptions. These often turn out to be not

as big as we thought or actually don’t exist. Rate the obstacles on a scale: those within your control (internal) and those outside your control (external). How significant is each obstacle within the group on a scale of 1 to 10? Last month we talked about a goal of traveling the world. Money and health are two of the most prominent requirements to do this – are these obstacles to you? If you determine they are not, bon voyage! If they are, what do you need to do to overcome them? Work longer hours? Sell your home? Verbalize the obstacles and be honest about it, with someone whose feedback you value. We often get caught up in our perception of the impact of an obstacle, so having someone else provide feedback may bring a different perspective. Is the time appropriate for the size of the obstacle? You want to lose 100 pounds in 4 months, there are only 24 hours in a day and during this time we need to eat, sleep, work, spend time with loved ones and of course exercise. If time is the obstacle in reaching the goal of losing 100 pounds in 4 months, then the time does not seem appropriate for this goal. To overcome this obstacle, increase the time frame. Finally, what are the benefits in staying with the status quo versus reaching the goal and

overcoming any obstacles? In writing down the benefits and costs, we often begin to see the magnitude of obstacles and the whether there is value in the goal. I spent a wonderful four and a half years as a volunteer firefighter in Newfoundland. I worked hard to demonstrate I was more than capable of doing the job and learned how to drive that stick shift and do it well. I understood the scope of the obstacles and saw where there were opportunities. My background in emergency preparedness meant I was more than comfortable taking the medical calls, which were often outside the comfort level of the others in the department. I taught aircraft accident survival and emergency procedures, including firefighting – both of which gave me skills and knowledge the department used to improve their response procedures. I also used my years of running and judo to demonstrate that I was more than physically able to lift hoses, ladders and drag people from vehicles and houses when I needed to. Finally, prior to my arrival in the department, the ladies auxiliary members received the standard bottle of wine at the Christmas party. I changed that! The men were happy to have someone else take on the selection of gifts.

food for thought VICKIE DICKSON The devil looks like white powder and he is hiding in your cupboards. I’m not talking about cocaine, or any other street drug. What I’m talking about is sugar. AKA white death. Do I have your attention? I hope so. The root cause of most disease is inflammation. Sugar is an inflammatory substance. You may be thinking, “Well, I don’t eat sugar. “ Really? I wouldn’t be so sure. Sugar is hidden in so many packaged foods. Even the so-called “healthy” alternatives are sometimes laden with sugar. When you’re reading the labels (which I hope you’re doing) 4 grams of sugar = 1 tsp. Check your ‘healthy’ cereal. One brand has 12 tsp of sugar per serving! And it’s supposed to be a healthy choice? We’ve been duped. Do you want to get really fired up? Check the “juice” your children are drinking. See? I told you! It’s time for a revolt and it won’t be easy. Removing sugar from the diet causes horrible withdrawal symptoms but it’s worth it. You’ll feel really, really ill for about 3 days. After that, you’ll start to improve. Within 2 weeks, you will feel better than you’ve ever felt in your life. I promise. If you can stick with it, you will be glad you did. Now, I don’t recommend going crazy and removing fruit from your diet. Yes, fruit does contain sugar. The “diet” that I believe in is based on eating whole, natu-

ral foods. This type of food is not packaged and sold in the middle aisles of the grocery store. You’ll find it all around the perimeter. Maybe hit the organic section or the health food store for your nuts and seeds, hearty flours, beans, etc. Speaking of fruit, smoothies have become quite a craze these days – and for good reason. Smoothies are a great way to make a nutrient dense snack on the go. The trouble is that many of us are drinking a fruit smoothie to start our days, which can lead to a sugar rush and crash, all before noon. I encourage my clients to have a veggie-rich smoothie. Focus on getting as many vegetables as you can into the blender and add a bit of fruit to taste. What’s in my smoothie? Any combination of the following: - a raw beet - 1/2 cucumber - 2 handfuls of leafy greens - 2 pitted dates - 1 banana - 1/2 c frozen berries of choice - 1/2 avocado - slice of fresh pineapple - 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds - 1 tbsp nuts of choice (avoid peanuts) - 1 tbsp sunflower seeds My smoothie always contains 1 tbsp of coconut oil and some sea vegetables or spirulina. Now that’s a great start to the day! I challenge you to try this. You will be balancing the effects of the sugar by adding many other nutrients AND you’ll have had about 4 servings of veggies in one

place. You can’t go wrong. Back to sugar. Even if you’re not ready or willing to give it up entirely, simply by reducing it you will really benefit your body. You could eat only whole foods one day and then fall back on your packaged foods every second day. This alone will reduce your consumption by 50%! If you sit down to have a granola bar, eat just half with some veggie sticks or an apple. Voila! You cut it again. You can win this battle – and it is a battle. It’s a battle for your health and for your dollars. Those boxes of packaged foods are not cheap. If you’d like to learn how to make your own granola bars and snacks, follow my blog, where I add new recipes often. A couple hours of preparation can set you on the right track for the entire week. One more thought I’d like to leave you with is this: Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) and behaviour problems are on the rise in our children. Is anyone considering it’s because of what we’re feeding them? In many cases, they go from a sugary breakfast (often unintentionally) to a sugar snack (perhaps a fruit cup – laden with sugar – and a granola bar) to a sugary lunch (Lunchables anyone?) and on and on. How can we fill these little bodies with sugar all day long and expect their brains to function well? It just doesn’t make any sense. It’s Food For Thought. Vickie Dickson is a Holistic Nutrition Student at CSNN Follow her at vickiedickson.com


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Local councillor to defend Smiths Falls’ honour at upcoming wrestling match AMY HOGUE John “the Grape Crusher” Maloney, has a bone to pick with “Platinum” Preston Perry, and that bone will be picked clean on Friday, May 29, when Maloney, in a tag team with Brutus “the Barber” Beefcake, takes on Perry and another wrestler, Sexy Eddy, in the ring. Two dollars from every ticket sold from the event will be donated to the Gerry Lowe Memorial Foundation. According to Maloney, who fought Perry recently in Hawkesbury, the wrestling star spoke poorly of Smiths Falls, triggering the challenge to a fight. “Perry has been dissing our town,” Maloney explained, “I

wasn’t planning on getting back in the ring but I was forced. Those boys are going home with a haircut.” Maloney will join two other Smiths Falls wrestlers, local police officer, Mike “Knine” Gallagher, who will be taking on Patrick Shenzy Naud, and another Smiths Falls native, Bryan Briggs, who will also be taking on a match. In preparation for the event, Gallagher and Maloney have been training in Ottawa at Access MMA for roughly three to four hours a week for the past several months. This event will be Gallagher’s wrestling debut, and his first match in his hometown of Smiths Falls. “I’ve always had visions of be-

AMY HOGUE/PHOTO Smiths Falls councillor, John “the Grape Crusher” Maloney (right), and local police officer Mike “Knine” Gallagher will be defending Smiths Falls’ honour at a May 29th Great North Wrestling event at the Smiths Falls Community Memorial Centre.

ing the next Ultimate Warrior,” Gallagher said, “He (Shenzy) doesn’t stand much of a chance.” The May 29th wrestling event will also feature a Great Northwest Championship Match between Devon “Hannibal” Nicholson (the Canadian Champion) and former Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Star, Alex Silva. A Great Northwest Women’s Championship match will also feature Malicia with Dark Cash versus Eve. The 2015 event is the latest in an annual series of wrestling events featured in Smiths Falls. Devon Nicholson, owner of Great North Wrestling, who will be putting on the event at the Smiths Falls Community Centre, said this will be the company’s fourth visit to Smiths Falls since 2011. “Every time we’ve been there so far we’ve had a bigger and very enthusiastic crowd, we really enjoy coming there and definitely plan to keep making it a yearly stop for the company,” Nicholson explained, adding that this year’s event features three Smiths Falls’ wrestlers. “There’s getting to be more local content as the years go on,” Nicholson said. According to Nicholson, the 2014 event held at the community centre saw approximately 800 people, making it an ideal event for a fundraiser for the Gerry Lowe Memorial Foundation. “In the smaller towns we like

to work with a local charity and this is a pretty good cause,” Nicholson said. Wrestlers participating in the event will be coming from as far away as Florida, New York, Toronto and Ottawa. The star of the event, WWE wrestler, Brutus “the Barber” Beefcake, has partnered with Hulk Hogan in past fights and will travel to the event from Tampa. Nicholson, who wrestles un-

der the name “Hannibal,” will be defending the Canadian Championship title against Alex Silva. Tickets for the event are available at The Rideau Winery and the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre, or online at www.ticketweb.ca. Tickets are $15 for General Admission, $20 Ringside, and $25 Gold Ringside. Two dollars from every ticket will go to the Gerry Lowe Memorial Foundation.

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By 2018, cloud computing will be the norm BRYAN MCKAY Welcome back! Spring is on the horizon and winter is finally winding down. Hopefully you’ve been following along over the past few months. Here’s a brief recap. In the first few issues I’ve focused mainly on identifying the economic forces driving the shift toward Cloud Computing and defining Cloud Computing in such a way that it’s more relevant to small business. In the February issue I provided a concrete example and application of Cloud Computing and also introduced the idea that Cloud Computing differs from the electric utility model in a very important way - while you consume both electricity and computing resources you also store your data in the cloud! Last month I wrote about the ownership and

security of your data in the cloud. This month it’s time to look at what others are doing with the cloud and take a global perspective of current trends. In 2014 Gartner conducted a study of trends and challenges facing CIOs around the world. They surveyed 2,339 CIOs across 77 countries which represent $300B in IT (corp and public sector) spending. The result was a report entitled “Taming the Digital Dragon - The 2014 CIO Agenda.” The study addresses a few key topics in the Cloud computing space that are important to businesses of all sizes. They include: • The rate of adoption of Cloud Computing (specifically the Public Cloud such as Amazon or Microsoft or Google, which is most relevant to small & medium sized businesses - we are on the verge of a fundamental shift just like the shift that

would have occurred when people and businesses stopped making their own power and started buying it from a utility company. While on-premise computing won’t go away, it will no longer be the norm. • The IT landscape will always be a hybrid landscape - many companies don’t expect to put everything the cloud. In fact 23% claim that they will never have more than half of their business in the cloud. These will likely be very large companies or governments with significant intellectual property or personal data to protect. But for the rest of us, including small business, we will be quite happy to have our laptops or mobile devices and the cloud. • The Cloud is hot, innovation and growth are also hot topics but budgets growth is less than 1%. In fact the global weighted average for growth in IT bud-

gets is only +0.2%. That’s not great if you are expecting the IT industry to be the next big thing but it says a lot about IT’s place in business today. IT has grown up and like all aspects of business IT is expected to produce results, and in fact deliver more for less. • The nature if IT solutions is shifting - productivity focused and internal/ employee facing technologies are giving way to ones that enhance interactions with customers and partners and increase collaboration. Not only is technology moving to the cloud, the nature of those solutions is changing and fueling collaboration, innovation, disruption, and growth and therefore allowing IT to do more for less. A Fundamental Shift When I started my career Personal Computers were just being introduced and companies were buying

them as personal productivity tools for employees. That trend launched a new era in computing as companies shifted from Mainframe applications to a new generation of applications called Client Server (for example if you have desktop computers, a network and file servers in your office you have a Client Server system). By the mid- to late-1990s the Internet grew rapidly in popularity and availability, to the point where today we can’t live without it. At that point forward thinking people in the technology business envisioned a new way of delivering computing. That has become cloud computing. But it wasn’t until the last 5 years or so that cloud computing became something that was real. In 2011 Gartner began asking CIOs when they expected to have 50% of their business in the Cloud (pub-

lic, private of hybrid) to measure the rate of adoption. Respondents indicated that would happen by 2015. In 2014 Gartner asked again (this time they were more specific and asked about the Public Cloud) and respondents indicated that would happen by 2018. If we hit that target, in just a few short years a fundamental shift will have taken place - more computing will take place in the public cloud than on-premise in the data centres of corporations and governments. The utility computing model will become the norm. Conclusion - in just a few short years information technology and the way we interact with businesses and governments and even each other will have undergone a fundamental shift.

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