Stila Cosmetics Now available at Shoppers Drug Mart 1000 Islands Mall Location! Stila is a carefree, whimsical cosmetics brand that is as fun as fantasy, as individual as a signature and as inspiring as a dream. Every day is a day to create a new story and put your best face forward. You are your own artist. Celebrate your individual style. Stila cosmetics offer a large selection of eye shadows, eye liners, mascara and brows. Foundations, primers, powders, CC and BB
creams just to mention a few. They also offer blush, bronzers and beautiful lip gloss and lip sticks. They provide women with effortless, easy-to-use professional make-up products, made from the highest quality ingredients, and designed to help them embrace their individuality, create their own unique style, and have fun doing it. Los Angeles based Stila Cosmetics was created in 1994 by a top celebrity makeup artist and is known for its modern, sophisticated, non-intimidating approach to beauty. The brand’s innovative formulas, eco-friendly packaging, and fashion-forward colors have contributed to its popularity. The prestige color brand is a regular on the pages of fashion magazines, and frequents the runways of top designers during NY and London Fashion Weeks. Stila’s goal is to help every woman celebrate their own unique beauty, to look and feel like the best version of you! Stop by our Cosmetic Department 1000 Islands Mall Location and let us introduce you to this wonderful new makeup line. Sherry Chaput Cosmetic Manager Makeup your own rules! All info sourced from the Stila web site.
Shoppers Drug Mart in the 1000 Islands Mall would like to let you know that the flu shot is now available at the pharmacy. There are 2 ways you can get your shot, the first is by making an appointment by calling the pharmacy at (613)342-6701 or they also accept walk-in patients as well. Mark Leslie Pharmacist/Owner
From Our Publisher
As a small business owner I take on many tasks that you our reader never see. Tasks that corporately owned or franchised local publications have done at head offices in large Canadian cities.
In a previous edition of KnowBrockville we mistakenly gave credit for the above photo to the wrong photographer. We should have given credit to Taylor McElroy. Our sincere apologies to both photographers.
One of these tasks is the graphic design of my publications. Each month a spend a week putting together both of my newspapers on my own. I actually sit down at my desk and design all of the terrific ads that you see each month in KnowBrockville and since I have launched my second newspaper this workload has doubled. There are other publications throughout the Brockville area however I guarantee that not one of their owners actually sit down and put together their own newspaper like myself. These publications simply send artwork to a corporate office and have someone else do it. These individuals put on the mask like they do the hard work that it takes to put together a publication, but until they actually sit down and do the designing they cannot say their publication is created locally. I am always stressing the fact that your KnowBrockville is the only Brockville locally owned newspaper and this is one aspect that sets this true. I am the owner, publisher, graphic designer, creative mind and even photographer of my own newspaper. My newspaper that is fully owned and operated in Brockville so KnowBrockville is truly owned and operated. Other local publications claim they are 1000% locally owned but when you do your research their creative work is done in some office in Toronto or Newmarket.
Once again this Christmas your KnowBrockville is holding their mitten and boot drive. This is a time we collectnew or nearly new mittens and boots to be donated to children in need. It is our mission to make sure all children in Brockville are just a little warmer this winter. This year we have arranged for our drop off location to be at the new Box Office Entertainment location at 163 Ormond Street in Brockville. We ask that our readers give generously to our mitten drive and help us keep local children warm.
A locally owned business means that business has a local owner/operator, all of their business is performed in our community, and they employ locally and their revenues stay in our community as well. When you piick up your copy of KnowBrockville you know that we are truly owned and operated and we are not dishonest in stating this. I encourage you to always consider supporting a locally owned business first whenever possible. Sincerely Timothy Sharpe President KnowMedia Publishing
A coffee house was held at TISS on November 5th. The Radical Equity Movement (REM) at TISS raised $155 to be split between the Alzheimer’s Association and the BCI-TISS Musical, Little Shop of Horrors. Photo by Rob Rubino.
The 870 Vampire Squadron raised $557.05 during their tag day at Walmart and Brockville Walmart matched the funds and presented a cheque on October 31st to the Squadron in the amount of $1,114.10. Captain Jeff Swan was on hand to accept the cheque. Photo by KnowBrockville Photographer Martha Moon.
The Tim Horton’s located on the corner of Jefferson Drive and Stewart Boulivard recently went through some renovations and held their official re-grand opening on October 22nd. The crew were joined by local dignitaries and radio personalities at the event. If you have not already been in the renovated location you should check it out it looks fantastic. Photos By KnowBrockville Photographer Martha Moon
Over 300 students attended the Upper Canada District School Board’s (UCDSB) second annual Equity and Inclusion Network forum entitled “We All Belong: See My Voice and Why It Matters,” at the North Grenville Municipal Centre on October 9. The full-day event included keynote speaker Rima Dib from the Harmony Movement, a student panel, and four workshops: #SeeMyVoice: What does equity mean to you and why is it important? Presented by Dib with Susan Edwards, Superintendent of Education, & Lori Taylor, vice-principal of program and event coordinator. Truths & Myths about the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Communities presented by Bill Montgomery, elementary program resource teacher Exploring Equity through the Arts presented by Calvin Neufeld, with Jamie Campbell, secondary vice-principal & Dave Balfour, elementary principal What to Do with Your GSA presented by the PRIDE Alliance of Russell High School “You have a tremendous opportunity to further your desire to make a difference in your community and school,” said Director of Education Charlotte Patterson to students in attendance.
On October 30th, Leeds Grenville Interval House unveiled their beautiful new Youth Room, to which a number of community groups so generously contributed since the project began back in 2011. The room has games for youth that are staying at the shelter to play and entertain themselves. Interval House thanks the many donors that made this room possible. Photos by KnowBrockville Photographer Martha Moon.
“Today is about taking a stand with your voices,” said Edwards. “We want your voices to be seen and heard. ‘We Belong’ is about getting to the heart of students’ voices so we can build on your learning. Your voice matters.” Taylor said the event was created to provide an opportunity for UCDSB students to share their voice, and experience first-hand the power of community and shared experiences. “It truly was an event where the phrase, ‘All Means All’ took on a powerful life,” she said.
Brockville Rotarians collected and sorted over 21,400 lbs of food donated by generous Brockville residents. In addition, just over $16,000 in cash donations has also been collected. Scotiabank Parkedale location will be matching donations until the end of October up to $5,000 so there is still time to donate and double your donation! The amount collected will provide the Brockville and Area Food Bank with a 3-month supply of food. The success of this year’s Rotary Fall Food Drive is thanks to our very generous community. A very Special thanks goes to the following: RBC Royal Bank who supported the collection bags as well as a cash donation The Recorder and Times for distributing 16,500 bags to residents JR-FM and BOB-FM who held 12 hour remote radio-thons at Brett’s Value Mart and the Superstore to promote donations The Rotary Club of Brockville and the Rotary Club of the Thousand Island who organized the food drive, donated their time to collect and sort all of the donations. Rotarians Catherine Deplaedt and Michelle Peters co-chaired the Fall Food Drive. All of the local elementary and high schools who participated and donated to the food drive, Kriska for donating the collection and sorting trailer Our Retail partners who sold pre-packaged bags at their stores including, Superstore, Brett’s Value Mart, Metro, Giant Tiger, Canadian Tire and Home Hardware, Shoppers and our many area businesses that acted as collection sites
Kelly Vincent, Kristie Mastin and Rhonda Marshall of RBC King St. Brockville present Tanya Noyes (Financial Services Manager of United Way Leeds & Grenville) a cheque for $4000.00 from the RBC Foundation. The cheque represents a donation on behalf of all RBC branches in Leeds & Grenville. In photo l-r Kelly, Kristie, Tanya, Rhonda.
Eye on Politics with Leigh Bursey
Earlier this year when our local council decided to discuss the implementation of development fees and how they should operate, I was eager to borrow a page from former Toronto Mayoral candidate, Olivia Chow. In her hotly contested race in Canada’s largest municipality, one of her signature campaign platforms included the development of 15,000 new non profit and affordable housing units. In this province there is currently a wait list of over 165,000 (a record), with the lion share of those waiting living in the Greater Toronto Area. Olivia’s plan included eliminating development charges for would-be investors, developers and home builders who chose to earmark a certain percentage of their housing units as non profit. Keeping in mind, these permit fees are remarkably higher currently than anything that Brockville has now or intends to implement in the future. That said, the policy made sense. Rewarding companies that invest in people so that they may have greater access to community services and afford to live a healthy life is something that I believe is worth investing in.
Unfortunately for Olivia, her campaign was not a great success. A strong contender who was the odds-on favourite to win for so many months, ending up losing by a sizable margin, finishing third. Chow ran a very hopeful campaign, and did her best to keep her social policy on the forefront. John Tory ended up claiming the victory, which many could have predicted. Here’s hoping that his housing policies are as forthcoming and progressive, as inevitably they will help to set the tone for the rest of Ontario. With a provincial government that seems keen to act but slow to move, John Tory is in a unique position to change the language of housing in National Housing Day, and Competing Visions for the Fu- this province. I wonder what role, if any, Olivia might play? (Pictured with Olivia Chow, August 2014 in Toronto.) ture Every year on November 22nd, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation recognizes National Housing Day. With this date firmly placed on calendars across the country, activists and protesters and organizers call on their local, provincial and federal governments to take a pro active approach to poverty reduction, investment in affordable housing, and intergovernmental cooperation. Locally, we also do our part. Each year I have been on council, I have proudly tabled a proclamation to recognize the day, and I have tried to plan events around that time to help educate the public. That said, CMHC and the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville partner on an ongoing basis to talk about new and exciting ways to develop housing, shape policy, and greater serve a growing need. This would happen with or without my involvement, but I am always excited to listen and learn from what other neighbouring municipalities are doing to challenge the housing crunch. Last year, housing providers, municipal politicians, and local non profit board members gathered in Kemptville to learn about the newest trends and happenings in the world of non profit housing, and one of the more meaningful sessions explained how the municipalities that make up North Grenville have been able to effectively leverage their development fees to multiply and maintain their affordable housing stock. Development fees are a hot topic in any municipality, and the shortage of affordable housing is a problem that I spend a lot of my time talking about and researching. That said, there is an economic case to housing development that is often ignored. The need continues to grow, and the desire for low cost housing continues to plague municipalities of all sizes. The subject of this month’s YouthSpeak article is youth homelessness, and the relationship between these problems has never been more clear.
On October 30th O’Farrell Financial Services in Downtown Brockville held an open house to celebrate the expanded Brockville office. There was a wide assortment of goodies to eat and even local dignataries like MP Gord Brown were on hand. The expanded office looks great. Visit O’Farrell Financial for all of your financial advice. Photo by Tim Sharpe.
Operation Harvest Sharing raised $680.00 through a fundraiser held at Walmart and on November 7th Brockville Walmart matched that amount and presented Operation Harvest Sharing with a cheque for $1360.00. Photos by KnowBrockville Photographer Martha Moon.
The Riocan St. Lawrence Kings Minor Peewee raised $738.10 through fundraising and this morning Walmart Brockville matched that amount and presented the Kings a cheque for $1476.20. Photo by KnowBrockville Photographer Martha Moon.
The Brockville Angels Novice House raised 932.50- and on November 7th Walmart Brockville matched that amount and presented the Angels with a cheque for $1865.00. Photo by KnowBrockville Photographer Martha Moon
Brockville’s OutGrow OutPlay sale was held on Otober 18th at the Brockville Memorial Centre. The sale gives parents the opportunity to pick up nearly new gently used clothing, toys and so much more. Photos by KnowBrockville Photographer Martha Moon.
Local artisans Dorothy Belland and Liz Maters had their handmade creations at Fulford Place on November 2nd in time for the holidays. Items included: ornaments, gift and memory boxes, floral-patterned shoes, teacups, wreaths, centrepieces and jewelry. Show visitors also had tasty treats and tea available in the warm setting at Fulford Place Museum. It was a great opportunity to pick up Christmas gifts and help raise funds for Fulford Place at the same time. Photos By Tim Sharpe
On Halloween staff and students at Fulford Academy hosted a haunted house and by all accounts they succeeded in scaring all those that attended. Photos by KnowBrockville Photographer Martha Moon.
I AM ALIVE DOG RESCUE FUNDRAISING SPAGHETTI DINNER
KnowBrockville was invited to MERC Hall for the I Am Alive Dog Rescue Spaghetti Dinner. There were over 80 tickets sold and all funds raised helps them rescue more dogs and cats. Mika Olt, her mother and sister and all of the other volunteers made a delicious spaghetti dinner. They also gave away several door prizes and had a wonderful silent auction on some amazing gift baskets. Photos by Tim Sharpe.
2014 Health and Lifestyle Expo
The 2014 Health and Lifestyle Expo was held at the Brockville Country Club. The event had almost 50 local businesses showcasing and demonstrating their services. The expo gives people a chance to connect with local professionals that can help them live a healthier lifestyle. Photos by KnowBrockville Photographer Martha Moon.
Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Gala
On November 8th Shoppers Drug Mart in the 1000 Islands Mall held a Beauty Gala. Ticket sales were donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Photo By Tim Sharpe
The Brockville Jr. Braves unveiled their a new jersey on October 18th at the Memorial Centre. It was the first viewing of the jersey but it was also a time for fun and games such as the hardest shot contest. The event also had a fundraising bbq. Photos by KnowBrockville Photographer Martha Moon
Subramanya Yoga Centre held the Healing Harvest YogaThon at the Brockville Convention Centre on November 8th. The all day yogathon included meditation, all levels hatha, kdis yoga, hatha flow, as well as an evening salsa lesson with Spencer Moreau. There was also a silent auction and raffles. This event was in support of Loaves and Fishes. Photos by KnowBrockville photographer Martha Moon.
The St. Pauls ACW Bazaar and Luncheon was held November 8th. It was an opportunity to do some early Christmas shopping and pick from a variety of many hand crafted items and delicious baked goods. Photos by KnowBrockville photographer Martha Moon
On November 8th and 9th the United Way of Leeds Grenville held their annual Silent Auction in the East End of the 1000 Islands Mall. There were over 600 items to bid on with all funds going directly to the United Way.
On Saturday November 8th there was a craft and bake sale held in the 1000 Islands Mall. All funds raised go to helping the Red Cross and the programs they offer. There were many handcrafted items for sale and delicious treats as well! The Brockville Artists’ Studio held their Annual Show & Sale on November 7th and 8th at the Brockville Memorial Centre. There were 30 artists displaying their works and were also on hand for meeting and greeting. Photos by KnowBrockville photographer Martha Moon.
The Red Cross offers a number of programs that help the community everyday as well as during a time of crisis.
Youth Speak with Leigh Bursey
Homelessness is a growing concern among most urban centres, but as the issue morphs and changes with current housing trends, mental health needs, and societal priorities, what we are beginning to see that homelessness is no longer strictly a large urban issue. Homelessness in smaller communities may not parallel or look anything like it does in larger cities like Toronto or Vancouver, but this concept is no longer foreign to smaller cities or rural landscapes. Actually, if anything homelessness is becoming a challenge that defies all municipal service borders. In my latest book “More Than A Number,” I speak to this issue with a little more authority, based on the incredible research of the Homeless Hub. “One in five shelter users are youth. More youth are returning home than ever before because of our affordable housing shortage (sometimes to less savory situations). Only one in three youth who are facing homelessness end up not graduating high school. Forty to seventy percent of these youth have diagnosed mental health challenges. All of this data was published in a report called Coming Of Age: Reimagining the Response to Youth Homelessness in Canada, by Dr. Stephen Gaetz. This same report highlighted some other sobering statistics affecting youth, including that from 1981 to 2011, youth returning home to live with their parents rose from twenty-six point nine percent to forty-two point three percent. We are in fact, a generation of youth who are less able to prosper as individuals than those before us, and as the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reported in 2010, eighty percent of those in urban households in core housing need were in the lowest income bracket. Futility has become generational. Now, faced with two hundred thousand housing units at risk of simply not being financially stable, and the viability of our affordable housing sector diminishing as we speak, how can we expect this pandemic to improve? Doing the math, we know that inside of the next decade, there is a very good chance that these units could disappear, their subsidies demolished, and more youth misplaced than ever before. Coming of Age also tells us that twenty-five to forty percent of Canada’s youth homelessness population self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, two-spirited, queer, or questioning. What is more telling is how flawed this statistic really is considering just how many LGBTTQQ youth either lie on their shelter and housing applications or avoid shelters altogether. Out-dated policies and a shortage of staff have not always provided a suitable and safe refuge for transsexual youth, who are at highest risk of physical violence in a traditional male/female shelter setting.”
I was lucky enough recently to attend the National Conference on Ending Homelessness in Vancouver, which has become a mecca-centre for progressive homeless outreach and policy directions. While there, I was surrounded by political leaders, case workers, advocates, researchers, and those sharing lived experiences from across Canada. It is hard not to walk away inspired by the many voices working towards a better tomorrow for our youth, for our communities, and for a sustainable future. However, at many conferences of this nature it can be challenging to apply the knowledge being shared to a city of our size. Listening to Free the Children founder Craig Kielburger deliver an inspiring speech on passionate activism, or lobbying federal Minister of State for Social Development, Candice Bergen definitely made the conference a worthwhile experience, and I am excited to see what comes next from the National Alliance on Ending Homelessness, and I thank them for fueling my fire. What I did take away from this gathering of minds and professionals was that this organization and it’s partners are about to embark on a spectacular undertaking in the 20,000 Homes Campaign, of which I am hoping that Brockville could benefit directly. 20,000 new home builds will go a long way towards housing our most vulnerable, and diminishing our growing statistics (and helping those who aren’t defined by our statistics, and fall through the cracks). In 2012, I published a report of findings on behalf of the Brockville Youth Advisory Committee. In the report, we analysed data based on a questionnaire posed to area youth. 118 youth took part in the project, and when asked if they thought homelessness was an issue in our city, 42.5% said that they either believed it was a growing problem, or were aware of youth who didn’t always have a place to go or couch-surfed. This may not be the homelessness we envision based on preconceived stereotypes, but it is still a potential problem. The issue so many respondents identified (whether they were speaking of first hand experience, or as an outsider looking in) is that they didn’t quite know how to classify the issue, because our traditional definitions of homelessness don’t fit anymore. One homeless youth is one too many. Food for thought, as it gets colder and darker each day. There is still a long way to go before our homeless youth (even locally) are able to properly access the services they need. Having the conversation is the first step, but we can’t stop there. Stay warm, and stay open-minded. (Pictured here with Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development, at the National Conference on Ending Homelessness in November 2014. Leigh’s book “More Than A Number: A Beginners Guide to Housing and Homelessness Advocacy” is available at Cole Bookstore in the 1000 Islands Mall, and both Leeds County Books and the From Here to Infinity book store on King Street.)
STORIES FROM THE STACKS BROCKVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY BY: KATHY COLWELL November 2014 Despite the odd sunny, mild day we are still granted, we are firmly on the path toward winter and all that that entails. This also means that Christmas is just around the corner— less than two months away at time of writing! For many of us who love to craft, part of the preparation for the season is creating a new noel item to display---- even if our storage space is already bursting with yuletide décor. Whether these creations are to be kept or presented to others there is something celebratory in the process of creation. When my children were small it was a Christmas tradition to make tree ornaments together…my husband, definitely a non-crafter, often got involved, generating many warm family memories. I hope you will find some inspiration to create your own special moments in the titles I am about to share. These are just a sampling of what we have on offer at the Brockville Public Library so do come and browse the shelves and book displays as well. FA LA LA LA FELT: 45 handmade holiday decorations, by Amanda Carestio has wonderful projects requiring only simple sewing, there are even no-sew options provided. The garland of tiny birds, little Christmas trees and cheerful matryoshka doll ornaments are just a few of the possibilities for decorating your home or giving as gifts. COUNTRY LIVING MERRY AND BRIGHT: 125 festive ideas for celebrating Christmas is a cute little book overflowing with simple ideas for bringing Christmas alive in your home. You’ll get ideas for incorporating items like antiques, bits of nature, travel memorabilia and much more into festive arrangements, place cards, garlands or gift wrap. It finishes up with a wide assortment of decorative baking to serve to guests or include in a cookie platter gift. CHRISTMAS CRAFTING WITH KIDS: 35 projects for the festive season by Catherine Woram could be your go-to book for planning craft time with the young ones in your life. Have fun potato printing gift wrap, making paper chains or snow shakers, decorating picture frames and much more. This book is complete with clear illustrations and step-by-step instructions. KIDS MAKE CHRISTMAS: over 40 kids’ craft projects for Christmas, by Pia Deges makes use of basic supplies most crafters already have. It will lead you through felting, baking, sewing or sticking decorations for the tree, games, gifts, cookies and even party hats and confetti for New Year’s Eve. Let your creative juices flow! In BEST OF CHRISTMAS IDEAS by Better Homes and Gardens Books, in traditional fashion, will help you personalize your holidays with ideas for themed trees, quick home-made decorations, cards and gift crafts. It will also inspire you with yummy recipes for holiday entertaining. I hope you will find some ideas to give a fresh new twist to your holidays and to enhance your time with friends and family. Happy reading!
Cindy Moore and her daughter Erin Wade were on hand at Captain Georges Fish & Chips on November 9th to take part in a Pie In The Face Challenge. This morning Captain George’s and Cowan’s Staff and owners Surinder and Kuljit Gill accepted the Pie In The Face Challenge and at the same time donated $200 to the Huntington Society of Canada. The Huntington Society aspires to a world free from Huntington disease. Photo by Tim Sharpe
More photos from Remembrance Day in Brockville
In a year when our armed forces have had to endure a lot, the sacrifices they gave will never be forgotten and on Remembrance Day Brockville proved this. Hundreds of Brockville citizens lined the streets of Downtown Brockville to remember our fallen. They were joined by local dignitaries like MPP Steve Clark, MP Gord Brown and senior members of the local legion. There were many memorable moments which brought some in the crowd to tears. Photos By KnowBrockville Photographer Martha Moon.