Niagara This Week, Niagara-on-the-Lake Advance_December 2021

COOKING FOR THE PEOPLE

MEALS DONATED TO FOOD BANKS SEEING BIG DEMAND DURING PANDEMIC

ZAHRAA HMOOD zhmood@metroland.com

The COVID-19 pandemic is heaving financial pressures onto many people, with more worrying where they're going to get their next meal. One professional chef decided to do something about it, trading his time cooking at white-tablecloth restaurants for struggling students and food banks.

Niagara College's Canadian Food and Wine Institute, led by professor chef Olaf Mertens,

See MANY,page 6

Olaf Mertens, a professional chef and professor at Niagara College's Canadian Food and Wine Institute, is the leader of the Feed the Community project. He says the initiative is about fulfilling his primary goal as a chef: cooking for all people.

Olaf Mertens photo

MANY CANADIANS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY

Continued from page 3

launched an initiative this year called "Feed the Community," enlisting help from its culinary students to cook and package over 3,000 meals this fall to donate to students and Niagara residents experiencing food insecurity.

"We're just cooking for people that need to eat and are hungry and maybe don't have a meal," he said.

Mertens began his philanthropic cooking efforts after attending a food festival in Newfoundland a few years ago, where he was touched by the graciousness of the attendees who enjoyed his food.

"I kind of sat back and reflected and said, 'You know what? I kind of just want to cook for people,'" he said. "Not (just for) people who live in Niagaraon-the-Lake that have extra means and go to fancy restaurants."

He gained experience cooking for the less fortunate after working at a kitchen in Wellington Square United Church in Burlington for two years, where people would come

for a free, hot meal.

"I used to bring some students to Burlington back in the day, and when they were done, I would ask them to get a meal and sit with the 400, 500, 600 people who were there, and notice that they look like you and me," he said.

After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he approached Gary Torraville, the Canadian Food and Wine Institute's then-associate dean, with the idea of cooking meals for regional food banks and students on campus.

In a Statistics Canada

survey conducted May 2020, one in seven Canadians indicated they lived in ahousehold experiencing food insecurity, meaning their food was not lasting until they had money to buy more.

"It was bad enough then, and obviously CO-

VID made it more impactful," Mertens said on food insecurity.

Throughout this year's fall term at Niagara College, Mertens worked with his team of volunteer students every week, for 10 weeks, making 100 meals for students at each campus, and 200 meals they delivered to organizations in the community, like Project SHARE in Niagara Falls and Start Me Up Niagara in St. Catharines.

Laura Dumas, executive director at Start Me Up Niagara, said they've received approximately 200 meals from the school's program, which they give out through their resource centre's lunch program.

"Any help that we can get from anyone is great, and very much appreciated," she said.

Dumas said more people are turning to food banks for their next meal —the demand for their lunch program has doubled, she said.

"We're seeing new faces at the door of people we've never seen before," she said. "With the rising cost

of everything, it's hard for alot of people to make ends meet."

Joe Abbruscato, who's graduating from the culinary management program in 2022, volunteered with Mertens to not only cook, but lead one of the volunteer teams, develop their menu and take on other tasks in the process.

"I really enjoyed it, just being able to help out the community," he said. "I'm from Niagara, born and raised here, so just knowing I could give back to those around me, was something very important to me."

Feed the Community's work will continue this holiday season, as they plan to donate 250 Christmas meals and cakes, and into the new year, as Mertens brings on a new team of volunteers to cook.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: With Christmas around the corner, our reporter wanted to cover a story of generosity and community organizing at atime of significant financial hardship for many.

ST. DAVIDS LIONS CLUB RAISING $30,000 FOR CHARITIES

ZAHRAA HMOOD zhmood@metroland.com

The St. Davids and District Lions Club hopes to put their money where their mouth is, with a pledge to raise $30,000 to support charitable efforts in Canada, including disaster relief for the flooding in British Columbia, and more.

According to a media release from Bradd Anderson, the Lions Clubs International Foundation's coordinator, the club unanimously endorsed a commitment to raise an additional $30,000 for the foundation, and is asking club members and community members for their support.

This money will provide grant funding for the club's projects, including disaster relief for British Columbia, which was subjected to an unprecedented series of floods and landslides in November,

displacing thousands of people in southern B.C. and damaging homes, bridges and highways.

The $30,000 will also go toward tree-planting efforts, Lions dog guides, a future project with a food hub tackling hunger in Simcoe, and for the McMaster Cancer Clinic's Teen Zone Project, fighting childhood cancer.

"St. Davids Lions have a long-standing history of community support leading the way to support needs of our community," said Anderson in the media release. He described re-

cent club projects, including the purchase of two eye surgery microscopes for Niagara Health's hospital in Welland, worth $200,000 each.

Anderson asks people to support the foundation's efforts by contributing directly to it or by participating in one of its fundraisers. The club puts 100 per cent of donations toward its charitable efforts. Those interested in donating are asked to contact Anderson and visit the foundation's website for more information: www.lcif.org.

The St. Davids and District Lions Club is asking club and community members to help raise $30,000 for disaster relief following unprecedented flooding in British Columbia this fall, among other projects..

Metroland file photo

100 PER CENT OF DONATIONS WILL GO TOWARD CHARITABLE EFFORTS, CLUB SAYS

Students at Niagara College's culinary management program who volunteered with the Feed the Community initiative. From left: Taha Motiwala, Arkapratim Roy, Omkar Pawar, Floyd Lobo, Joe Abbruscato, Rohit Paradkar, and Jerry Brice-Bennett.

Niagara College photo

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE GIVES THUMBS UP TO REGIONAL TRANSIT

who worked tirelessly with the other CAOs across the region, to come forward with this system that's in front of us now that is fair and equitable to everybody across the region," said Lord Mayor Betty Disero at the meeting.

meeting.

"I'm fully supportive of this program," said Coun. Wendy Cheropita. "The reaction we've had from residents in Niagara-on-theLake has been extremely positive. There is a lot of support out there from the residents and different community organizations."

Niagara-on-the-Lake is the region's latest municipality to support combining local transit systems into one, inter-regional system, making Niagara only one step away from making the regional transit system happen.

On Monday night, Niagara-on-the-Lake council unanimously voted in favour of amalgamating local transit systems, making it the sixth municipality in the region to do so, as all municipalities vote on the matter this fall and winter.

"I want to thank our CAO (chief administrative officer), Marnie Cluckie,

Niagara-on-the-Lake joins Port Colborne, Fort Erie, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, and Grimsby as the municipalities in favour of the single transit system. In order for the region to move forward with creating the consolidated system, they will need one more vote from one more municipality to meet their triple-majority threshold.

Thorold's council was set to cast its vote on Dec. 21, after press deadlines. If they approve the new transit system, the region will have met the criteria for the triple-majority. Lincoln, Pelham, Wainfleet and West Lincoln's councils will be voting in January, with no set dates yet. Welland council voted to stall endorsing the plan at its Dec. 9

Right now, Niagara-onthe-Lake doesn't have a traditional scheduled bus transit system, but operates an NRT OnDemand system, where riders book and schedule their rides through their app or over the phone. They suspended their traditional transit service April 2020 after ridership went down during the COVID-19 pandemic. Niagara-on-the-Lake expanded their NRT OnDemand system to cover the whole town in early November.

If the region moves ahead with consolidation, the Niagara municipalities would transfer their current transit buildings and assets to a new commission run by a Niagara Region board.

If successful, Niagara's new amalgamated transit system would begin Jan. 2023.

SIXTH MUNICIPALITY TO SAY YES TO NEW TRANSIT SYSTEM: ONE VOTE LEFT NEEDED TO BEGIN AMALGAMATION

SCAN THIS CODE for the latest on Niagara's transit decision.

CHRISTMAS TRACTOR PARADE LIGHTS UP THE NIGHT

ORGANIZERS HOPE TO RETURN NEXT YEAR: 'THIS IS WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT'

ZAHRAA HMOOD zhmood@metroland.com

The streets of Virgil had more than their fair share of holiday cheer recently, as residents gathered outside to watch a special procession of tractors, harvesters and trucks lit up with Christmas decorations.

The Dec. 16 Christmas tractor parade featured around 20 vehicles driven by members of Niagaraon-the-Lake's farming community, who drove through the village, starting and ending at the Meridian Credit Union Arena.

Dorothy Soo Wiens, member of the Niagaraon-the-Lake Lions Club, conceived and put together the parade in a little over two weeks. After the parade, she said she was feeling "ecstatic" and "emotional."

"This is what Christmas is all about," she said. "I just wanted to do something where families could come together, and they could just have fun."

Families did, in fact, gather on the road along the parade route to watch the tractors go by, escorted by volunteer firefighters leading the way in their trucks, blasting their sirens as they drove through town.

"We just heard all the sirens and we figured we'd have a look," said Herb Graf, who watched the parade with Sonja Graf. "I think it's great. It's beautiful down here. This time of year, for Christmas, it's great to see all the people out and about."

The parade took off from the Virgil arena at 6 p.m., heading up Four Mile

Creek Road and crossing Hwy. 55 to drive by Pleasant Manor Retirement Vil-

lage on Pleasant Lane, giving the retirement home's residents a chance to enjoy

the parade from their windows and balconies. From there, they continued to

Eldon Road, Line 1 Road, Concession 4 Road, Line 2 Road, then back to Four Mile Creek Road before returning to the arena.

Many of the farmers who drove in the parade were area grape growers. Aaron and Michael Oppenlaender, from Huebel Grapes Estates, drove a New Holland grape harvester and tractor.

"My brother and I always drive in parades for our old high school, so we were all over this," said Aaron about their reaction when Soo Wiens asked them to participate. "It was great ... a lot of fun."

"It's something we should always do," added Michael. "It's nice for the community to get together, like the farmers and all that, to do something like this for the town of Virgil."

They weren't the only ones hoping to see the parade come back next Christmas.

"(Farmers) are already coming up and saying, 'OK, next year, it's going to be bigger. We're going to have more tractors,'" Soo Wiens said. She said she's hoping they will host one in 2022.

Clockwise from top left: A Gregoire GL7 grape harvester; Steffanie Bjorgan, executive director of Red Roof Retreat in Niagara-on-the-Lake, with a decorated truck, and goat, named Gogera, from Red Roof Retreat's local ranch. "(With) the way the last two years have been, this has been one of the happiest days," says Bjorgan; Any Christmas parade wouldn't be complete without Santa Claus, seen here sitting on the combine harvester; A Case IH tractor and loader decked out in lights outside the Virgil arena; A large truck decorated like everyone's favourite reindeer Rudolph - complete with a shiny, red nose; The New Holland grape harvester and tractor from Huebel Grapes Estate, driven by Aaron and Michael Oppenlaender in the Christmas tractor parade.

Zahraa Hmood/Metroland

CHRYSTIA FREELAND'S CAUTION IS EXACTLY WHAT CANADA NEEDS

If the federal government's fall economic statement could be summed up in a word, it would be "unexpected."

It was a surprise to hear Chrystia Freeland earmark tens of billions of dollars in new spending that until recently had not even been on the public radar. More amazing still, Canada's Finance Minister made no mention whatsoever of the $78-billion-worth of new goodies the Liberals had promised Canadians during the federal election less than three months ago.

Somehow, all the new big-ticket programs and initiatives that had supposedly justified Justin Trudeau's election call had vanished into thin air. And that omission was downright unexpected.

But if you're looking for an explanation, go no further than something else that was unexpected and that Freeland absolutely had to confront in the days leading up to the economic update. It's called Omicron.

The global emergence of this new and highly transmissible variant of COVID-19 means that many earlier bets are, for the moment at least, off. Today no one, not the epidemiologists, not the public health officers and certainly not our politicians, knows how far Omicron will spread, how many it will infect or kill and what it will do to our overburdened health care system as well as our recovering economy.

To pile on another challenge facing Freeland, Ottawa reported recently that Canada's inflation rate for November hit 4.72 per cent — a 30-year high.

That brings us to the second word that applies to this economic update: "caution." No one knows what Canada will look like three or four months from now when the government unveils its next federal budget. Until then, it's simply wise and responsible management for the Liberals to keep their fiscal powder dry.

That's not to overlook the pricey new commitments Freeland made.

Among them is the $30 billion for recent and future pandemic measures, including $4.5 billion set aside to cover any new measures that are needed to tackle the Omicron variant. Who can complain here? The Liberals have had to respond to a situation beyond their control.

Even so, while Canadians should give the Liberals the benefit of the doubt in the face of a highly doubtful near-future, Freeland should have at least said something about how this government eventually plans to bring spending under control. How will it chip away at a federal debt that has for the first time topped $1 trillion? It was just over 30 per cent of Canada's gross domestic product in 2019 but has since ballooned to 51.2 per cent.

That vital information should have been expected.

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LETTERS & COMMENTARY

ERS IN BAD NEED OF ATTENTION

Re. St. Catharines Family Looking for Answers, Dec. 14:

My deepest sympathy to the family. This is a horrible situation that should never have happened.

With no disrespect to anyone, I do not believe this problem is directly related to any specific race.

Our ERs are a mess and it is not only the fault of the doctors and nurses. They are understaffed (always have been) and the system has yet to catch up with the 21st century.

Reporting to family doctors is minimal and incomplete, when they can read the handwritten notes. Why is this not computerized?

The waits are ridiculously long and have been since way before the pandemic. No one in pain or very ill should have to sit for many hours waiting for a doctor to see them.

I understand that we forfeit some benefits with public health, but this sys-

tem needs to be fixed. We don't need a new highway in Toronto; we need our hospitals fixed.

MICHELLE DOEPPING, FORT ERIE

CELEBRATE OUR VARIOUS FAITHS TOGETHER

Re: Nativity scene nixed from St. Catharines city hall, Dec. 10

The decision to not erect the nativity scene at St. Catharines city hall stinks an awful lot like Quebec secularism laws.

To truly be respectful of all faiths is to allow space for those faiths to be celebrated, not hide them all away in fear of unequal representation.

Whatever the reasoning, the message received is Christianity on its own is offensive.

Removal of the scene is offensive to many, and regardless of justification, it is also a suppression of religious expression.

Groups offended by the presence of the nativity scene at city hall should be

invited to set up their own holiday displays. Let us acknowledge our common humanity and celebrate our faiths together.

HILARY ADAMS, ST. CATHARINES

CARELESS DISPOSAL OF POT ROACHES THREATENS PETS

People who smoke cannabis need to be more considerate of the impact a tossed roach has on pets.

Twice recently, in the Cedar Park Drive area of Welland, our dog has digested traces of cannabis from roaches tossed away on boulevards or lawns and almost died.

To see your pet with its head bobbing, uncontrollably urinating, falling down, completely lethargic and passed out on the floor is not a sight any pet owner wants, let alone the emergency trips to vets.

I don't care if you smoke, but think about this before you recklessly toss the roach away while walking.

DOUG MORRIS, WELLAND

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Returning from a walk on the footbridge between Port Dalhousie and Jaycee Park, the skies opened up and the rains came. The wood on the bridge glistened. Photographer: Peter Jurmain, St. Catharines. Niagara this Week and the Niagara Region promote residents' photography skills. Please visit www.niagararegion.ca for information about submissions.

Peter Jurmain photo

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS OPINION NOT EVERYTHING WAS TERRIBLE AND PANDEMIC'Y

THIS YEAR, WRITES JAMES CULIC

As superintendent of Buffalo's public school system, Kriner Cash is required to live in Buffalo. But does he?

When asked where exactly he lives by a reporter this year, Cash replied by saying, "I live everywhere. I'm ubiquitous."

This was my absolute favourite quote from the year 2021. It was a breathtakingly audacious response to such a simple question. The level of absurdity achieved by this quote was unmatched by anything in

LETTERS & COMMENTARY

WHAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE?

Re. Niagara politicians falling hard for the integrity scam, Column, Dec. 1: I agreed with most of what he said in regards to integrity commissioner reports. They are costly and often baseless. In a perfect world, all public servants and elected officials would behave professionally, showing decorum and respect to their colleagues,

JAMES CULIC Column

any other story I read this year. It did the full 360 cycle and went all the way around past embarrassingly bad, and back to being hilarious and good.

Speaking of things that ran the cycle through embarrassingly bad and occasionally good: the year 2021. It's almost over. It started pretty bad, then it got kinda good, and now it's back to being bad. Things were starting to feel good then Omicron showed up to

end the year on a sour note. But let's look past that and try to focus on the good. Let's look for the silver lining and have a trip down the 2021 memory lane. So, here they are: my favourite things from the past year.

Aside from the story about the Buffalo school superintendent who lives "everywhere" my favourite story this year was about the Bridgeburg Family Restaurant here in Fort Erie. I wrote a story earlier this summer about how they had done the now-infamous "pandemic pivot" and repurposed their business. Amid the pandemic restrictions which devastated the restaurant industry, the Niagara Boulevard restaurant owners switched gears and

morphed into a hybrid restaurant/corner store/ fresh produce vendor.

I liked this story because I like stories of people finding clever ways to overcome the obstacles that life throws at them, and this was that at its finest.

It was a clever move to pivot to a business model that wasn't constantly being upended by the neverending restaurant rule changes, and it was an even more clever move to keep a handful of tables inside the store so that I can continue to go there and get the best breakfast in Niagara.

On the food theme, the best meal I had this year was corn on the cob that I got from this little hut at the side of the road out in Pelham. The roadside hut doesn't have a name or regular hours, but if you happen to be on Webber Road

next summer and see a sign that says 'sweet corn', do yourself a favour and pull over and buy a bundle because it is bonkers delicious.

Crazy good corn wasn't the only local hidden gem I stumbled across in 2021 though. I also accidentally found myself walking down the Kinsmen Park Trail out in Beamsville, and wow, why did nobody tell me about this place? I always thought Beamsville was just farms and cows, but turns out it also has some really nice hiking paths.

As for the entertainment side, even though most of us didn't go to a movie theatre, concert or a stage play this year, there was still plenty of awesome stuff to keep us happy.

Rapid fire hot takes: my favourite album was 'Donda' by Kanye West, my fa-

vourite book was 'Warrior of the Altaii' by Robert Jordan, my favourite video game was 'Resident Evil Village', my favourite movie was 'Becky', my favourite TV show was 'Midnight Mass', and my favourite TV show moment was when 'Cowboy Bebop' got cancelled, because hot damn that thing was bad. And there you have it, despite the inherent badness of 2021, there were some bright spots amid the grey. Including my absolute favourite moment of the year, which came June 1 at 10:45 p.m. when my daughter was born. That was pretty cool. I'd do that again.

James Culic is Niagara

This Week's columnist and he wants a second ... cat. Email him at jculic@niagarathisweek.com or holler on Twitter @jamesculic.

their positions and ultimately to themselves. However, there are those who through personal philosophy, ignorance or plain stupidity are incapable of respecting others, different opinions, established protocols, work place rules or sometimes, even the law. What then?

As I recently learned, we don't have a mechanism here to remove elected officials who are repeatedly out of line. They can't be fired or impeached. The only real way for those unruly officials to receive any type

of consequence or punishment is through the integrity commissioner process. Sadly, this can be time consuming, incredibly frustrating and very expensive.

So yes, I agree in principle. The present system stinks and frankly, I resent seeing my tax money being used in this way, especially at this time of year. But in the absence of some kind of impeachment process, what is the alternative?

Allow inappropriate, harassing, disrespecting or potentially illegal activities to go unrecognized or

unpunished?

SILVANA LAGROTTERIA, THOROLD

POLITICIANS STAND IN WAY OF TRANSIT EFFICIENCIES

Re: 'Outstanding issues' stall Welland's vote in support of inter-regional transit, Dec. 10: At a Nov. 25 council meeting Niagara Region council made a move to improve and modernize public transit, voting in favour of combining all Niagara's existing services into one integrated transit commis-

sion. This is a great and long overdue concept. This is only the first step in the triple majority process needed to transfer responsibility for public

Several municipalities have lent their support, but Welland city council would not agree with the plan unless certain conditions were attached. This is another example of how local municipalities work in silos and are more concerned about their municipality versus what is best for the entire region.

Requiring this triple majority process demon-

strates the challenges local politicians face in facilitating change in Niagara. It is important to note transit is only one example of duplication that exists between the upper and lower tier governments.

Ibelieve the main issue with moving Niagara forward is Niagara has 139 political positions. This paired with the requirement for a triple majority creates this cumbersome bureaucratic process to create any service efficiencies.

ALLEN MCKAY,, ST. CATHARINES

LAST MONTH WAS STRANGER THAN LIPS ON A WOODPECKER!

in armed vehicles who thanked him and handed him a bottle of water. The mind boggles, freezes a bit and then shivers.

This last stretch of strange began when I was scanning the weekend New York Times Book Review and spotted a just-released bestseller titled "Is Superman Circumcised?" If it's a question, I'm guessing "yes" and quite likely a jackhammer and a hatchet were involved because he's like the world's toughest guy. Forget New Year's Eve with Anderson and Andy, try to score an invitation to that bar mitzvah!

Then, at the opposite end of the scale of strength, a babyfaced, dumbass 17-year-old kid named Kyle Rittenhouse, not old enough to buy a rifle, took an AR-15 across state lines, killed two people and wounded athird in Wisconsin and a judge and jury could not find him guilty of a single crime, including jay walking, which he was doing as he ran down the middle of the street waving to police

Somewhere between the Man of Steel and Pudge comes that domestic terrorist in Haiti, an ex-cop who managed to amalgamate nine vicious street gangs and take 17 American and Canadian missionaries hostage and is now controlling the country's supply chain and demanding the PM step down ... and his name is Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier. Right now he's the most powerful man in Haiti. Fast forward to next year when, "Today at the United Nations. Haitian Prime Minister 'Jimmy The Barbecue' addressed the assembly of 193 sovereign states, urging them to marinate their meat in the fridge overnight and keep a clean and wellgreased grill."

Then things really went off the rails when a news leak revealed Wiarton Willie faked his own death. Actually, Willie's handlers, including the mayor of Wiarton, faked the poor thing's life. Using a big brown last-minute substitute in to perform the annual Feb. 2 "shadow ceremony," nobody made mention that the albino prognosticator had died of an abscessed tooth months before. The new groundhog, unable to see his shadow, predicted that there was not enough evidence to lay charges.

Then a pack of 14 Eurasian wild boars were spotted ripping up the countryside north of Pickering in a section of the On-

tario Greenbelt, which prompted a startled Premier Doug Ford to say: "Wait! What? There's still some Greenbelt I haven't paved?!?"

Apparently these aggressive and invasive porkers are resistant to everything, including bullets. A boar's coat is so wiry, hunters need to shoot three times to finish one off. But as the trappers in the Greenbelt discovered, they cannot resist "fluffernutter," a mash up of marshmallows and peanut butter.

Then, in a stormwater pond in Ancaster, Fisheries and Oceans Canada scientists discovered Chunks, an obese, orange goldfish that weighs an ungodly four pounds and is shaped like a football. Chunks is the only remaining fish in that pond that was once the home to as many as 40,000 other fish. Their collective nickname was "Snacks."

Then the anti-vaxxers took the stage of strange when, after attacking and intimidating doctors, nurses, nursing home workers and disrupting a Remembrance Day ceremony for our veterans — they went after ice cream?!?

After the iconic Chapman's ice cream company offered a pay raise for vaccinated employees, the truth-deniers and pro-diseasers trashed Chapman's online and called for a boycott of their product. Please, buy all the Chapman's you can as they come up with new flavours like "Pistachio For Droolers" and "Clotted COVID Cream

To Die For."

Two years into the worst plague since the Spanish Flu of 1918 and we're still begging and bribing citizens to complete a simple task that could save lives, theirs and ours. Incroyable.

Then suddenly the new COVID mutation, "Bubblehead-18" popped up in Saudi Arabia, where despite pleas from the widow of Jamal Khashoggi, murdered by the head of state Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Justin Bieber performed a pop concert.

By appearing in a country that put 184 people, mostly dissidents, to death in 2019, Bieber stole the "Worst Commercial Decision of 2021" away from Tim Hortons, which crawled into corporate bed with him just last month.

By subtracting The Bieb's personal wealth of $285 million from what it will be after the Saudi Arabian gig, we will be able to establish what it costs to sell your soul in today's market. The Bieb gets his peaches down in Georgia and personal advice from Kanye West. 'Ye', he does.

As 2021 comes to a close (loud applause here!), the world gets stranger than a meme without a window or even a wall.

For a comment or a signed copy of humour columnist William Thomas's The Dog Rules — Damn Near Everything email: williamjthomas@gmail.com

OF COURSE THIS TURBULENT YEAR HAD TO END ON A BIZARRE NOTE, WILLIAM THOMAS WRITES

WILLIAM THOMAS Column

NIAGARA REGION APPROVES 2.87 PER CENT TAX HIKE FOR 2022

BILL SAWCHUK

Niagara regional council has approved a 2.87 per cent tax increase for 2022, but not before a last-ditch budget-trimming effort at the final meeting of the year.

Niagara Falls Coun.

Bob Gale implored his fellow councillors to find further savings at last Thursday night's full council meeting, held to give final approval. The rate had been set Dec. 9 with a vote of the budget committee of the whole.

"I cannot support a budget with a 2.87 per cent levy increase and further the

increases to water rates," Gale said.

"We raised taxes 4.8 per cent in 2019, six per cent in 2020, 2.9 per cent in 2021, and now we're proposing a 2.87 per cent increase in 2022," he said. "Also, in each year of this council term we have raised water rates.

"We cannot blame these tax increases on previous councils, not when we have in the bank millions of dollars in reserves, specifically the taxpayer relief reserve and the water rate stabilization reserve (funds)."

Gale said council builds reserves for years like this,

with an ongoing public health emergency. He proposed that to provide taxpayer relief from the pandemic's impact, council lower the property tax increase and water rates to "under two per cent."

The Region's treasurer and commissioner of corporate services, Todd Harrison, told council during budget deliberations that all the Region's departments came in at or under budget guidance this year, which was set at two per cent. Therefore, any savings would likely entail cuts to services.

Council had already agreed to use $6 million in

reserves to offset the increase and lower the rate from about 4.35 to 2.87 per cent, on a regional operating budget of $250 million.

The overall operating budget includes an additional $177 million for outside agencies, boards and commissions, including Niagara Regional Police and Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.

Further budget-cutting would likely require a bigger draw on the primary reserve fund designated for emergencies or major unforeseen one-time costs that might cause the tax rate to soar.

Niagara-on-the-Lake

Coun. Gary Zalepa, who again chaired the budget committee, said the idea of using reserves for operating expenses was not good stewardship.

About $10.5 million of the levy budget increase goes mainly to collectively bargained police salaries, which make up more than 90 per cent of the Niagara Regional Police budget and are difficult to mitigate.

"If the department budgets were problematic and we're looking at one-time items, then I'm comfortable with using a reserve to do that. But using reserves to fund ongoing op-

erating is a recipe for financial disaster and mistakes," Zalepa said.

Since provincial legislation doesn't allow municipalities to run deficits, council will have to replenish the reserves. Zalepa said a request to draw further on reserves would bring more budget pain next year.

"So in my simple math, that's a 1.4 per cent increase to 2022 we have already saddled the next council with," Zalepa said. "I think that's just poor money management on all levels. I can't support that use of reserves and discuss further use of reserves to back up behind the goal line even further.

"We directed staff to a process that got us a really strong departmental budget guidance. We came in on all levels with that, but we have some pressure with the boards and agencies, and I don't see why we

See ABOUT,page 46

NIAGARA BRACES FOR MASSIVE WAVE OF OMICRON VARIANT

PAUL FORSYTH

Niagara is about to see a tsunami of new COVID-19 cases driven by the new Omicron variant that all other peaks of previous waves will pale in comparison to, says the region's acting medical officer of health.

Dr. Mustafa Hirji said Monday it's imperative that Niagara residents already beaten down by 21 months of lockdowns and cancelled family get-togethers avoid any big gatherings over Christmas this weekend, with new data showing even double-vaccinated people have substantially less protection against infection from the Omicron virus.

"Cases are going to explode to a level we haven't seen before," he said in a briefing with reporters.

Data is showing a person infected with Omicron can spread it to 3.5 other people, meaning growth in Omicron cases will be exponential, said Hirji. Even if Omicron symptoms turn out to be somewhat less severe — something Hirji said the jury is still out on — the sheer number of cases compared to Delta variant mean our hospital system could quickly become overwhelmed with sick people, he said.

"We're getting close to hitting the peaks of the second and third waves," Hirji said of new cases, showing charts projecting caseloads skyrocketing. "I imagine we'll be well above those peaks by the middle of this week," he said.

"By Christmas Day, we'll set an alltime new high in the province.

"We are going to see a big increase in hospitalizations."

Hirji said data out of South Africa shows protection against infection with two doses of vaccine that was about 87 per cent for Delta only appears to be about 33 per cent for Omicron, although it might be a little higher in Canada due to the way doses were spaced out here. But data also shows a booster shot can push protection against Omicron infection up to

about 75 per cent, he said.

"Those booster doses are going to be really important going forward," said Hirji.

But with the province opening up boosters to anyone age 18 and over, he said it will be as long as six weeks or more before all those doses can be given, even if the number of shots being given in Niagara ramps up to 6,000 or 7,000 per day.

"This is going to be many weeks and we all need to understand that," he said.

Hirji said new restrictions imposed by the province such as capacity limits at restaurants and stadiums won't be enough to stop the spread of Omicron. "It's not nearly strong enough," he said.

That will make masking, avoiding crowds, physical distancing and staying home if you have symptoms crucial to trying to slow the spread down, said Hirji.

This weekend could see things go sideways fast if people opt to have big family and social gatherings, he warned.

"People who are having holiday gatherings at this weekend are going to be at a lot of risk that somebody is going to be bringing infection to those gatherings," he said.

"That is going to give the virus a lot of help spreading.

"We need to limit our social contacts, we need to keep our holiday gatherings small," said Hirji. "We need to dig deep to deal with the difficult situation we're in. I don't think it's the way anybody wanted to celebrate these holidays, but unfortunately I think it's what we're going to need to do to keep our communities safe."

Hirji stressed the importance of keeping Niagara's schools open

if at all possible after the holidays as Omicron sweeps across the region, even as the number of kids aged five to 11 whose families opted to get them vaccinated with first shots remains at a disappointing level of only about onethird — despite that age group being the one most at risk of infection.

"There's huge social benefits from kids being in school," said Hirji. "I think kids really suffer when they're not in school."

NIAGARA'S ACTING MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH PLEADS FOR PEOPLE TO AVOID SOCIAL GATHERINGS OVER CHRISTMAS WEEKEND

Acting medical officer of health Dr. Mustafa Hirji said Niagara is about to see an explosion of new COVID-19 cases driven by the highly infectious omicron variant. He's pleading with residents to avoid big social gatherings over Christmas this weekend.

Metroland file photo

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO?

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POINSETTIA SHOW This year’s Poinsettia Show features traditional holiday landscapes with modern touches of brilliant colours and lights that will leave you feeling energized. Step into the holiday season with this spectacular display. Nov 20 2021 to jan 9 2022. Floral Showhouse, 7145 Niagara Pky, Niagara Falls.

OPG WINTER FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Canada’s largest FREE outdoor light festival. Experience the spectacular displays with 3 million lights along the Niagara Parkway, Dufferin Islands and across Niagara Falls. Nov 13, 2021 - Feb. 21, 2022.

BUTTER TART THURSDAYS Delicious butter tarts available. Plain, raisin or pecan $2/1, $10 for 6 or $20 for 12. To order in advance, please call 289-686-8624 Scottlea Presbyterian Church, 515 Scott St., St. Catharines.

BALL'S FALLS HOLIDAY TRAIL The NPCA welcomes the community to the 2nd annual Ball’s Falls holiday trail this winter season, open now until Jan. 9, 5-10 p.m. The Holiday Trail is an evening trail walk experience featuring a 1.5 km (round trip) illuminated path. Ball's Falls Conservation Area, 3292 Sixth Ave, Lincoln.

From the top: NOTL Community Palliative Care held a Christmas event last Saturday at the NOTL Community Centre. From left: Brock Ashley, Don Dworet, Taylor Ashley and Karen Ashley; Just ahead of Christmas, Santa made a quick stop in to the Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre last Saturday as part of an event hosted by NOTL Community Palliative Care and the Town.

Luke Edwards/Metroland

AFTER 35 YEARS OF MAKING HIS MARK, RODNEY READY TO RETIRE

An MP was recruiting young men to be seasonal farmworkers in Canada, an opportunity Smith nearly missed. When his mother went to see the person receiving applications, the woman was already moving on to the next town.

Wherever he went, he wanted to leave a mark.

From Montego Bay, Jamaica to Niagara-on-the-Lake, Rodney Smith has done just that.

On Dec. 23, the 66-year-old will work his final day at Pillitteri Estates Winery. He'll be retiring, ending a 35-year partnership between him, the winery, and Pillitteri's winemaker Jamie Slingerland, who helped Smith immigrate to Canada.

"I wanted to make sure. Everywhere I put my feet, whether it be under the sun, on the cement or on a rock, I have to leave a mark," he said.

On the eve of his retirement, Smith's story provides a glimpse into the challenges seasonal farmworkers face in becoming permanent Canadian citizens.

"The deck is kind of stacked against seasonal farm workers. To come into the country because of the point system is much more difficult, especially at that time," Slingerland said.

Smith's story is also a prime example of how hard work and taking a chance on someone can pay off.

EARLY ARRIVAL

At 17, Smith left his parents' home to go to Montego Bay to find ajob.

"And after a month I found out Iwas homeless. So, I was homeless from age 17 to age 20," he said.

Not to be deterred, she wrote her son's name on a piece of paper, gave it to the gardener, who took off to find the recruiters and add Smith to the list.

Somehow, he ended up being selected. Smith first came to Canada in 1975, working for three months, making $1.90 an hour (about $9.10 in 2021 dollars).

"Well, it was one of the most exciting days in my life," he said.

He wasn't about to rest of his laurels, and never did. Smith's work ethic is unparalleled. If the other workers could get through five trees in an hour, Smith would make sure he could do six. If the workday started at 6:30 a.m., he arrived at 5:30.

AMAD DASH

After two brief meetings, Smith asked Slingerland for help immigrating.

His first Niagara job was with adifferent farmer. Though they had a great relationship, the farmer declined to help Smith immigrate. So, he spent the next three years researching, asking questions, and learning what he could.

To earn extra money, Smith started working on the Pillitteri farm on Sundays. On the first and second Sunday, he and Slingerland spoke only briefly.

On the third Sunday, he told Slingerland he wanted to have a conversation.

"And I asked him, will you help me to come to Canada?" Smith

said.

Slingerland agreed to sponsor him. Slingerland was young and perhaps naive to the bureaucratic quagmire that lay ahead.

Smith was in Jamaica in late 1985 when he got a letter from Slingerland telling him he had been accepted as a permanent resident.

However, Smith's file got sent to Buffalo.

On May 13, 1986 Smith and Slingerland drove to Toronto. Smith needed a visitor visa to cross the U.S. border to take care of the paperwork. In typical Smith fashion they were the first people at the office in Toronto — except, they were at the wrong door.

They ended up waiting for hours to get the paperwork and now had to drive down to Buffalo. It again took hours, but eventually they got everything sorted out.

"And so I started working for

Jamie on the 14th of May, 1986," Smith said.

BECOMING FAMILY

The Pillitteris didn't know it, but when Slingerland agreed to help Smith, they gained a new family member.

Smith said he approached the job as if he was part owner or a family member. Slingerland called Smith his eyes and ears, and the two would strategize and plan every day.

"It's interesting that you can develop a trust with a person based upon sometimes first impressions and then your trust continues on," Slingerland said.

As a self-declared member of the family, Smith would share in the successes and challenges.

He was there to pick up the pieces after two major hailstorms wiped out virtually every grape crop in NOTL.

And when it was time to har-

vest the icewine grapes, Smith was out in the cold working nonstop night and day to get the job done. Smith said he always chose the carrot instead of the stick. He'd buy workers treats or bring them coffee and encourage them to work hard.

The Pillitteris were there to help Smith, too. When banks wouldn't help him buy a house, Slingerland's father-in-law, Gary

Luke Edwards/Metroland

Above: Rodney Smith is retiring from Pillitteri Estates Winery after 35 years. He and winemaker Jamie Slingerland shared a special relationship after Slingerland helped him immigrate. Right: The letter Jamie Slingerland and Rodney Smith received in 1987 informing Smith he and his family had been accepted for permanent residency.

RODNEY SMITH IS READY FOR A REST

Jamie Slingerland photo

Pillitteri provided Smith financial support.

ALASTING COMMITMENT

Over the years, Smith became well known within NOTL's agricultural community. Known around town simply as Rodney, he's been a fixture in NOTL. Several times he was offered better wages elsewhere.

However, when Slingerland agreed to help him immigrate, Smith made a commitment: He would only work for Slingerland.

"I think once Rodney was here, Iwas probably the greater beneficiary," Slingerland said.

The winemaker — a strong supporter of immigration in general — understands not every immigrant is going to be like Smith. However, he believes it's worth taking the chance.

"There's got to be a certain percentage of incredibly talented, intelligent, hardworking, loyal, dedicated people," he said. Finding them will only enrich Canada.

The impact is exponential. Five of Smith's six children have graduated from college or univer-

sity and gone on to have successful careers. For a man who left his family home at 17 looking for work and ended up homeless for three years, seeing his children succeed means his drive to become a Canadian was worth the struggle.

"I don't know the right word...there's a word that I should put together for what Canada has done for me," he said.

His wife works in long-term care, deferring her retirement a year when COVID-19 hit to help deal with the added challenges and staff shortages.

Several years ago, his sixth child had a serious head injury and requires special care. Often Smith brought his child to work when they had no other options.

Part of why he's retiring is so he can focus on his son's care.

Smith also plans to take some time for himself, and tour a bit when possible. After 35 years of dedication, few would argue that he's earned it.

"I am proud to say, I'm happy with myself that 35 years later, I can sit here to say that I have fulfilled my commitment. You know, Ikept my word."

Rodney Smith and Jamie Slingerland in the vineyards at Pillitteri. Right: The letter Jamie Slingerland and Rodney Smith received in 1987 informing Smith he and his family had been accepted for permanent residency.

Jeff Letvenuk photo

'AN INCREDIBLE HELP': FAMILY WOWED BY SUPPORT

If he could have, Devon Botbyl would likely have fist bumped every single person who took part in the Candlelight Stroll.

In the end, it was just several repeat fist bumps with members of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce, organizers of the stroll that raised $13,000 for the Botbyl family.

"Oh, come on guys," Devon said as he opened the cheque.

The entire family was blown away by the support they received, both the emotional support on the night of the stroll and the financial aid that will go a long way toward making their home more accessible for Devon.

"It's going to be an incredible help," said Devon's mom, Dani. "The proceeds from the stroll was more than we had expected."

Devon, 18, has a rare chromosome condition that causes global delays

and leads to autistic tendencies. He was also recently in hospital for cancer treatments. Up until a few years ago Devon was mobile, but now needs help to get around.

The family began looking at ways to make the home more accessible, namely installing an elevator to help Devon get from

floor to floor. Dani said they want Devon to be able to get around just as he could before.

Proceeds from candle sales at the stroll were donated to the family. Dani said they don't have a full quote for the elevator installation, but said the donation will go a long way to helping pay the bill.

Eduardo Lafforgue, president and CEO of the NOTL chamber, said the $13,000 cheque might not be all, either. They're currently working on another possible major donation for the family.

The Botbyls weren't the only recipients. Continuing a recent tradition, the chamber also donated

$1,000 to the Farmworker Hub based out of Virgil. The hub provides a variety of supports to the migrant farm workers in NOTL, including clothing, household items, masks, sanitizing items and food.

"This actually pays a month's rent for us," said Julia Buxton-Cox. "This season, we were only open

to the public for four and a half months. We served 1,961 farm workers. So this gift makes a huge difference and allows us to stay open."

This year's stroll returned in person after going virtual last year as a result of COVID-19. Organizers dubbed it a great success.

Continuing a recent tradition, $1,000 in proceeds from the Candlelight Stroll was donated to the Farmworker Hub. From left: Nicole Cripps, Julia Buxton-Cox, Jane Andres, Eduardo Lafforgue, Petrice Custance and Ryan Gosnell.

Luke Edwards/Metroland

LUKE EDWARDS ledwards@niagara thisweek.com

BOTBYL FAMILY RECEIVES CHEQUE FOR $13,000, WHICH WILL HELP MAKE HOME MORE ACCESSIBLE

PROVIDING WARM MEALS TO THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY

LUKE EDWARDS

ledwards@niagarathis week.com

There were about 55 full bellies Saturday evening thanks to Person Centered Care of Niagara.

Volunteers with the Jarvis Street organization handed out Christmas meals to community members.

It came on the heels of a similar event held over Thanksgiving.

"It's just a way to give back for people that don't have much. We've been a

company for almost six years, so we've always been in Fort Erie and I feel like it's really nice to give back to your community," said MaryJo Rider, program coordinator. "I grew up here, so I know the struggles of individuals."

Rider posted flyers on social media and throughout town, asking people to register. Her soon-to-be husband, and chef, Matt Vassair, helped cook the supper, which included turkey and gravy, mixed veggies, potatoes, stuffing, cranberries and buns.

All told about 10 volunteers helped put everything together. A few local businesses, including Autopits and Chuck's Roadhouse, made donations to support the effort.

Rider said it felt nice to give people something a little special heading into Christmas and that even if only five registered it still would have been worth it.

"It's been a really great day. We have haven't been here long, but everybody's hungry, it seems, because (the food's) all basically gone," she said.

Person Centered Care Niagara handed out Christmas meals to those in need. In the photo, back from left: Tom Francey, Chris Librock, Selena Carlson, Dan Librock, MaryJo Rider, Logan Taylor, Jan Librock and Corinna Carlson. Kneeling in front: Matt and Cash Vassair.

Luke Edwards/Metroland

HOW CHRISTMAS HAS CHANGED THROUGH TIME

CHRISTMAS HAS BEEN CELEBRATED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THROUGH HISTORY

NICK FEARNS nfearns@niagara thisweek.com

Christmas isn't the same as when you were kid. But it always wasn't the same Christmas as was celebrated in the past.

Depending on how far back you look, Christmas becomes less recognizable to our modern eyes.

Jim Hill, senior manager of heritage for Niagara Parks, said the original European inhabitants in what was then called Upper Canada didn't celebrate the holidays much at all.

"The whole province, particularly going back to what it was, Upper Canada was seen as a very English Protestant place and holidays weren't celebrated," said Hill. "We know this coming from people visiting from England or travelling to live here and passing through Quebec during the holidays."

He said Quebec had "parties and amazing religious services and fun and food," which was not present in Canada at the time.

He said things became more familiar to a modern person in the Victorian era when different cultural celebrations spread across the province.

Beth Labrie is a museum interpreter at the Lincoln Museum and Cultural Centre.

Around the holidays the museum offers a twist on their "strict but nice" historic school program. Kids get to decorate a tree and plan out the Christmas pageant that would one of the events of the year.

She was guiding children through what Christ-

mas celebrations would have been like in 1908.

The setting was the museum's one-room schoolhouse, which Labrie noted along with the church, "the heart of the village."

Although they had a Christmas tree, the decorations would look a little unusual compared to a modern example. The tree was lots of Union Jack flags, and it decorated with more natural motifs including birds, nuts and fruit.

Labrie explained how a Christmas tree had more German origins. Queen Victoria's husband, she said, was from Germany and shared many of his traditions.

"The cool thing about being in Upper Canada back then is you did start seeing these different groups of people having an influence," said Hill. "Indigenous people certainly had festive events not related to Christianity, but around their own calendar, which again followed the calendar of the seasons."

While it seems like winter might put a damper on celebrations, Hill said it was actually one of the easier times of the year to party.

Most farmers had more time off. Rivers and creeks would breeze and allow for easy transportation in horse-pulled sleighs.

"Travel is a joy in the winter compared to travel in the summertime and in early Canada," noted Hill.

"Food and health celebrations changed as different groups of people have come to Canada. I think that's still happening today. I think our celebrations get more interesting and more diverse and tastier."

Dan Laroche, visitor experience team leader for Fort George National Historic Site, said during the war of 1812 people may have gotten the day off, they rarely did so with pay.

"The holiday tradition of providing a decent meal for the troops on Christmas Day did exist in some regiments but it was provided at the soldier's own expense! " said Laroche.

"Officers would socialize with the genteel and wealthy families in town and gather for balls and fêtes all winter long, including the holiday season. Trinkets would have been given to prominent young ladies.

“Skating on the ponds around Fort George and on the inlets of Lake Ontario, as well as snowshoeing, were also popular activities among the officers as they could afford to purchase the equipment needed."

If you lived in Niagaraon-the-Lake during the war, it would have been extremely tough times. Laroche said during there first year of the war, there were "food shortages for the military and civilian population," as goods were

restricted.

In 1813, the entire population of Niagara-on-theLake displaced after the entire town was burnt to the

ground by American forces and turncoat Canadian volunteers as they retreated back across the border to Fort Niagara.

Top: McFarland House in Niagara-on-the-Lake, featuring historic decorations inside. Above: Alana, Victoria and Tiffany stringing together popcorn to decorate the Christmas tree at the Lincoln Museum and Cultural Centre's one-room schoolhouse.

Nick Fearns/Metroland

Niagara College photo

Niagara Parks photo

Niagara Parks photo

FIVE HOLIDAY MOVIES FILMED IN NIAGARA

Seeing a local landmark on the on the silver screen or your little screen at home doesn't happen every day.

Nick NEWS

Fortunately, Niagara has been lucky to be featured in several big pictures over the years.

CHRISTMAS INHERITANCE

This film from sees Niagara-on-the-Lake's Old Town transformed into the town of Snow Falls. One local landmark that is prominent in this movie is the Grand Victorian bed and breakfast on the Niagara Parkway.

The seasonal romance sees Eliza Taylor star as the ambitious heiress Ellen Langford, who, before she can inherit her father's gift business, must deliver a special Christmas card to her dad's former partner in Snow Falls, the hometown

she never knew. When a snowstorm strands her at the town inn, she's forced to work for her keep, and in the process, she finds ro-

mance and discovers the true gift of Christmas.

THE HOLIDAY CALENDAR

This movie has a num-

ber of locales familiar to Niagara-on-the-Lake locals. It features ice skating in Simcoe Park, coffee at Balzac's Café, dinner at the

Brown appears as her childhood friend and Ethan Peck is a potential love interest.

A CHRISTMAS STORY

This classic is very well known. In the movie, Raphie attends Warren G. Harding Elementary School. The school used for the filming of the movie was Victoria School in St Catharines.

Around 120 students from the school were featured in the movie.

The school is now the site of Gillian's Place.

THE REF

Fearns/Metroland

Prince of Wales Hotel.

This film tells the story of a photographer who inherits an antique holiday advent calendar with a special twist: its contents seem to predict the future.

Kat Graham, best known for her role on The Vampire Diaries, stars as the photographer Abby, while Ron Cephas Jones from This Is Us plays her grandfather, simply known as Gramps. Quincy

Released in 1994, this movie stars Denis Leary, Judy Davis and Kevin Spacey.

Leary plays an unfortunate cat burglar who is abandoned by his partner in the middle of a heist and is forced to take an irritating Connecticut couple, played by Spacey and Davis, hostage.

Parts of the film showcase Queen Street.

TRAPPED IN PARADISE

This movie stars Nicolas Cage, Jon Lovitz and Dana Carvey as three brothers who plan to rob a bank on Christmas Eve.

Scenes for that movie were shot on Queen Street and at what was then Niagara District Secondary School.

NICK FEARNS nfearns@niagara thisweek.com

WATCH THESE MOVIES CLOSELY TO SPOT SOME LOCAL LANDMARKS

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Should you be concerned about your indoor air?

On average, people spend about 90 per cent of their time indoors. Indoor air can contain all kinds of particles, including dust, pet dander, and chemical pollutants and smoke entering from outside, or produced indoors by using incense, smoking or cooking. A portable air cleaner, more commonly referred to as an air purifier, is one way to help improve indoor air quality in your space.

Air purifiers work by removing very small particles in the air. Designed to clean a single room, air purifiers remove particles by pulling the air through a filter.

If you’re considering purchasing a unit, follow these tips for choosing the best one:

-Look for a unit tested by Consumer Reports or certified by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM).

TERENCE DAVIDS

-Check the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR). As a general guideline, the smoke CADR should be equal at least two-thirds of the room’s area. If your room has higher

than 8-foot ceilings, or if the outdoor conditions are extreme (from wildfire smoke, for example), consider a higher CADR.

-Consider an air purifier

with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which can trap smaller particles than a non-HEPA filter can. Some devices also include an activated carbon or other

absorbent filter to remove gases such as volatile organic compounds.

-Follow manufacturer instructions for placement and operation to ensure good air-

flow. Generally, higher fan speeds and longer run times will increase the amount of air filtered.

-Consider selecting a unit with a lower noise rating.

-Avoid air purifiers that produce ozone, such as electrostatic precipitators and ionizers, as ozone can impact your health. Air purifiers that use UV light or photocatalytic oxidation also produce ozone and are not effective at removing harmful particles from the air. If you choose an electronic air purifier, make sure it is tested and produces low levels of ozone. The California Air Regulatory Board lists units that have passed testing for ozone emissions.

Don’t forget to clean or replace the filter as recommended by the manufacturer. Find more information on keeping a healthy home at canada.ca/healthy-home.

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'SHE LOVED EVERYTHING'

HEATHER

WINTERSTEIN WAS SENT HOME WITH TYLENOL ON INITIAL VISIT, FRANCINE SHIMIZU SAYS

RICHARD HUTTON

rhutton@niagarathisweek.com

A St. Catharines family is left with more questions than answers after their daughter Heather Winterstein collapsed in a hospital waiting room and died not too long after.

"She loved everything. She loved animals. She had a dog she took everywhere," said her mother, Francine Shimizu. "She had her dog, a cat, rabbits ... it was like a zoo when she was living with me."

Heather, 24, went to the St. Catharines site of Niagara Health on Dec. 9 complaining of severe back pain. Her family said her concerns were brushed aside; she was given Tylenol and sent home.

The next day, after waking up with more intense pain, her father called an ambulance to take her to the hospital. Her family said she collapsed in the waiting room and never regained consciousness.

"They (called and) told me I needed to get there. It wasn't looking very good," said Shimizu.

When she arrived, doctors in the intensive care unit were doing chest compressions in an attempt to revive Heather.

It was only after her daughter, who Francine described as an Anishnawbe Kwe (girl), died that she had learned it was the second trip to the emergency room in two days. She also learned her daughter's death was caused by a

strep A infection.

"They just made a pre-judgement about her and sent her on her way," Shimizu said, noting her daughter had struggled with addiction in the past but had been working on kicking a heroin addiction.

"She had worked at beating it. She hadn't used it for three months," she said.

In an emailed statement to Niagara this Week, Niagara Health president and CEO Lynn Guerriero said she was "deeply troubled to learn of concerns raised yesterday by family members and leaders within the local Indigenous community related to the death last Friday of a patient in our care."

The incident is not being ignored, she said.

"An internal quality care review is underway to fully understand the patient's experience, and the family will be involved in this process," Guerriero said in the statement, adding that she plans to meet with Heather's family and Indigenous leaders in Niagara to suggest the health system and Indigenous leaders work together with an external thirdparty review.

According to Heather's father, Mark Winterstein, some of his concerns over Heather's conditions were allayed after her first visit to the ER on Dec. 9.

"They sent her home to me. At first, I thought she might be OK, as she had gone to the hospital," Mark said. "But she was still in bed with pain."

When things got worse the following day, Mark called for an ambulance. Upon arrival, Heather was left in the ER. Within hours, she died.

"They should have taken it more seriously," Mark said.

While he stopped short of saying he believes the fact Heather was an Indigenous person played a role in her treatment at the hospital, Francine's sister and

Heather's aunt, Jill Lunn, had no such qualms. She has been in a similar position when she has had to deal with the health-care system for either herself or her children.

"It doesn't work to everybody's advantage," Lunn said. "You get sub-acceptable care based on misconceptions."

But how she said Heather was treated goes far beyond that.

"The severity of her case was so much more," she said. "Had they done a proper assessment they would have seen something was wrong with her. She needed a doctor."

Likewise, Wendy Sturgeon, executive director of the Niagara Chapter Native Women, said Heather's death is the latest in a series of incidents involving Indigenous people running into

problems within the health-care system.

One of them, she said, was Brent Sky, who was sent home from a Kenora, Ont. hospital after being given ibuprofen for pain last October. He was found dead in his home 24 hours later.

"This is not new," she said. "Heather is only the most recent victim of it. When we start to put those pieces together, for us, it's an underhanded way of the genocide (of Indigenous people) continuing."

In the Niagara Health statement, Guerriero said the hospital takes these concerns seriously and plans on taking a more holistic review of the issue.

"I will also be suggesting that this independent review look more broadly at the health-care experiences of Indigenous pa-

tients and their concerns," she said.

She added that diversity and inclusion are priorities for Niagara Health making a commitment across the organization to denounce racism and discrimination in all forms.

"Since then, we have done a lot of work together to create a more culturally safe environment for our patients and their families, and for our teams."

Shimizu is seeking advice from a lawyer on what steps the family may take next. The family is also contacting departments at various levels of government, including Indigenous Affairs and the provincial Ministry of Health. In the meantime, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay for lawyers and funeral costs.

Heather Winterstein died Dec. 10 at the St. Catharines site of Niagara Health. Her family says the fact she is Indigenous affected the care she received in the emergency department during two visits on Dec. 9 and later on the day she died.

Francine Shimizu photo

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER?

THESE RECIPES CAN ADD MULTICULTURAL FLAIR TO YOUR HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

RICHARD HUTTON

rhutton@niagara thisweek.com

It's Christmas, and for many people that means a traditional holiday dinner of turkey and all the trimmings.

But that is not necessarily the case for everyone. Different cultures have different traditions and their own selection of holiday favourites. With the assistance of the Niagara Folk Arts Centre in St. Catharines, Niagara this Week has put together some examples of holiday fare enjoyed in other parts of the world.

For example, a big part of the holiday meal of the holiday meal in Venezuela is Pan de Jamon (ham bread).

Often served alongside pork, salad and a dish called Hallacas. Originally made with ham as a filling, other ingredients such as olives and raisins have been added over the years.

"It's usually served at Christmas," said Sarah DeLorza, who came to Canada three years ago with her family. Her father, Jose, was a chef back in Venezuela and the bread is a specialty.

Hallacas, meanwhile, are traditional Venezuelan tamales and is a complex dish in its own right.

"The family will come together to make it," DeLorza said. "It brings us together, that's for sure."

Heading to the Middle East, Palestinian people will something like enjoy Kidreh Khalilia, a dish served most often at both Christmas and Easter.

"It's a famous food from Hebron," said Rose Karbo-

rani. "A lot of people will take all the ingredients to a bakery where it is made in a special pot. It needs a lot of time."

It's a dish that can be made with either beef or lamb. The latter is the traditional meat for the dish, she said.

PAN DE JAMON (VENEZUELAN HAM BREAD)

By Chef José de Jesús De Lorza

INGREDIENTS DOUGH

• 250 grams of flour (2 ½)

• grams of instant yeast (1 tsp, approximately)

• 80 grams of butter, unsalted or margarine (1 .5 TBSP)

• 10 grams of lard or crisco (optional) 1 tsp

• 5 grams of salt- (1 tsp)

• 40 grams of brown sugar (2 TBS)

• 30 millilitres of vegetable oil (1/8 cup)

• 150 millilitres of water (1/2 cup)

• 1 egg (beaten) FILLING

• 300 grams of ham (Smoked Ham) or any other cold meat of your choice (chicken or turkey breast slices could be used as well)

• 150 grams of sliced bacon

• 12 to 15 green olives filled with red pepper

• Half a cup of raisins (to taste).

PREPARATION

Dough: On a flat surface, pour flour and open a whole in the centre. In the centre, add the yeast, brown sugar, butter, egg, oil, warm water, and the lard. The salt can be sprinkled on the flour.

Slowly mix the flour with the ingredients in the middle until the dough can be handled on the surface. Kneed the dough for six to 10 minutes until it has a soft consistency.

Grease your hands with a little bit of oil and cover

the dough. Set the dough inside a bowl and cover with a cloth and let it rest on a warm area in the kitchen until the dough doubles in size (approximately one to two hours, depending on the temperature of your kitchen).

Assembling the Ham Bread: Once the dough has risen, lightly dust your counter with flour and roll the dough out into a rectangle, roughly a half-centimetre thick. Layer the ham, bacon and rows of olives. Sprinkle raisins on top as desired. Once the fillings have been layered over the dough, tightly roll the dough up from the long edge. Tuck the edges under the roll and place it, seam side down on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Let the bread rise, uncovered, in a warm, draft free place for 20 minutes.

With the oven preheated at 180 C, bake for 20 minutes, Brush the loaf with an egg beaten, and bake for

another 20 minutes until golden. Remove from the oven and quickly brush the top with some butter. Serve warm.

KIDREH KHALILIA

Courtesy Rose Karborani

INGREDIENTS

• Kidreh Rice

• 10 cups rice: 5 basmati and 5 Long Grain

• 2 1/2 tablespoons Kidreh Spices

• ½ Cup peeled garlic

• Cardamom, 20 pieces

• Bay leaves, around 10 pieces

• 4 tablespoons salt

• Butter, 6 to 8 tablespoons

KIDREH MEAT

• 6 pounds of bottom round beef or lamb (traditionally with lamb)

• Cupper Kidreh Pot (small)

PREPARATION

Put meat in the Kidreh pot. Cover the meat with

cold water. Add the bay leaf and cardamom in pot. Heat a wood-fired brick oven or brick oven to 500 F. Cook the meat in the Kidreh pot for two-and-a-half hours until the meat becomes soft.

When meat is tender take it out of the oven. Remove the meat in a tray. Pour the soup in a large container.

Put the uncooked rice in the pot. Start pouring the soup by measuring. You need a total of 17 half-cups, so add the remaining quantity with hot water. Now add the salt and the kidreh spice to the pot and stir well. Return the meat to the pot and add the peeled garlic.

Put back in the oven for 30 to 45 minutes. Every 10 minutes, shake the pot but do not stir the rice to keep the rice from stocking. Remove and let it rest for 15 minutes.

Serve after garnishing it with roasted pine seeds and almonds.

Christmas dinner can mean different meals for different cultures. Jose DeLorza, middle, with daughter, Sarah, left, and Rose Karborani share some holiday favourites from South America and the Middle East.

Richard Hutton/Metroland

DISTILLERS OFFER HOLIDAY COCKTAIL RECIPES

Niagara may be wine country, but its burgeoning distillery scene can help get anyone into the spirit over the holidays.

Unsure of what to make or looking for something different to enjoy while you have some time to relax?

Here are two cocktail recipes to try, from Beamsville's Dillon's Small Batch Distillers and Niagara-onthe-Lake's Spirit in Niagara Distillery.

THE WINTER SIDECAR

Courtesy of Dillon's Small Batch Distillers. Makes one cocktail.

Ingredients

For the rosemary honey syrup:

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup liquid honey

1 fresh rosemary sprig

For the cocktail:

1 1/2 ounces Dillon's Pear Brandy

3/4 ounce Cointreau or

orange liqueur of choice

3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice

3/4 ounce rosemary honey syrup

2 dashes Dillon's Ginger Bitters

Handful of ice cubes

Dehydrated lemon wheel, for garnish

Instructions

1. Make the rosemary

honey syrup. Combine the water, honey and rosemary in a small pot and bring to a

simmer, stirring until the honey has dissolved. Remove the pot from the heat and let cool to room temperature.

2. Remove the rosemary sprig and transfer the syrup to an airtight container. The syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

3. Place a coupe glass in

DILLON'S SMALL BATCH DISTILLERS

Address: 4833 Tufford Rd., Beamsville

Telephone: 905-563-3030

Website: www.dillons.ca

SPIRIT IN NIAGARA DISTILLERY

Address: 458 Lakeshore Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake

Telephone: 905-934-1300

Website: www.spiritinniagara.com

THE CHRISTMAS COSMO

Courtesy of Spirit in Niagara Distillery. Makes one cocktail.

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounce SiN Juiced

the freezer to chill at least one hour before you plan to serve the cocktail.

4. Make the cocktail. Add the brandy, Cointreau, lemon juice and syrup to a cocktail shaker. Add the ice and shake for 10 to 15 seconds.

5. Strain the cocktail into the chilled coupe glass and garnish with a dehydrated lemon wheel.

Up vodka

1/2 ounce Cointreau

1/2 ounce lime juice

1 ounce cranberry juice

Instructions

1. Put all ingredients into a cocktail shaker or jar. Shake well to combine.

2. Strain into a glass of your choice.

3. Enjoy!

Virgil,Ontario

Spirit in Niagara Distillery photo

Dillon's Small Batch Distillers photo

From left: Spirit in Niagara Distillery has taken one of the more popular cocktails out there, the cosmopolitan, and put a Christmas spin on it; Dillon's Small Batch Distillers has whipped up a winter sidecar for your holiday get-togethers.

SANTAS OUTRUN OMICRON RESTRICTIONS

After months of planning and preparation to bring the Santa 5K Race to Niagara-on-the-Lake, organizer Kelly Arnott was holding back tears when she learned about new COVID-19 restrictions.

It was a sold-out event and the first time in a decade the race of people dressed in Santa Claus costumes was being held in the region, but the new restrictions capping outdoor gatherings at 25 people came into effect at midnight on Sunday, hours before the race was slated to begin.

It seemed like the event held to benefit Niagara Furniture Bank would be cancelled.

"We worked so hard for this race in a short period of time, with such great sponsors to put this together," said Arnott, owner of Burlington-based VP Pro Inc

But the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake stepped in.

Arnott said Lord Mayor Betty Disero called a special meeting of town staff "to make sure this happened."

"It was so wonderful," Arnott said. "We had so much support from the town."

After full detailed regulations were released Saturday, Disero said, town staff interpreted them as giving the race a green light.

"It wasn't classified as a social gathering, it was classified as an event because that's what it was," she said. "If it was a social gathering the outdoor limit is 25, so it would not have been able to happen, but as an event the outdoor limits are different."

Disero told Arnott to make sure all participants wore masks when not running, and kept a distance from each other. All were

fully vaccinated. Although Disero said Niagara Region Public Health was not consulted

on allowing the race to proceed, she said town staff throughout the pandemic have been advised to inter-

pret regulations "in the most cautious way you can."

"That's what we did."

Arnott said the race in NOTL was capped at 250 people due to concerns about the virus. But in

days leading up to it, about half or registered participants opted out due to concerns about the Omicron variant.

"Some people didn't show up, which was fine, and some people just wanted to run in their own little group. We gave them all their Santa suits, and they ran on their own," she said.

"It was really good considering the whole COVID thing."

Arnott is planning to show her gratitude for the support the event received.

"Our goal is to come back next year with 2,000 Santas, and do it in November at a time when all the stores, hotels and restaurants could really use the business," she said. "It'll brighten up the whole town."

More than 100 people participated in a fund raising event in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Sunday, running through the streets of the town dressed in Santa Claus costumes.

Allan Benner/Torstar

ALLAN BENNER

NIAGARA'S BORDER MAYORS NOT SURPRISED BY TRAVEL TEST EXEMPTION ROLLBACK

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR YOUR CHILD IN 2022

when the market is doing well. Then, when the markets go down in value and you have lost money, many investors sell.

The problem is expectations. If you don't fully understand and expect that some years stock values will decline, then when that happens, it is very easy to panic and sell.

It's all about managing expectations.

PAUL FORSYTH pforsyth@niagarathis week.com

The decision by the federal government on Friday to reintroduce a rule that fully vaccinated Canadians who travel abroad for under 72 hours must undergo molecular testing before returning to Canada was met with understanding by Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati and Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop.

But one Fort Erie town councillor who has been critical of some border testing rules said it's causing severe anxiety among people with relatives across the border.

The federal government announced last month that fully vaccinated Canadians would no longer need proof of a negative test before returning to Canada on trips of less than 72 hours.

But with the new omicron variant of COVID-19 spreading like wildfire around the world, federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos on Friday rolled that exemption back, saying that as of Dec. 21 pre-arrival testing taken from outside Canada will apply to all trips abroad, even shorter trips.

Redekop and Diodati both said they weren't surprised, given how rapidly the highly infectious omicron variant is spreading, that the exemption has been scrapped for now.

"The federal government has put public safety as a primary motivator in border decisions," Redekop said.

He noted Fort Erie's numbers of active CO-

VID-19 cases have been around the worst in Niagara for some time.

"Our numbers have not been good and it's been getting progressively worse," he said. "Erie County is a mess, it's extremely bad. Why anyone would be willing to cross the border unless it's absolutely necessary, I don't know why.

"If the projections are even remotely accurate, we need to take measures to make sure we have a viable health-care system."

Diodati said he hopes it will be a short-term rollback to give Canada time to ramp up booster shots that can help protect against omicron.

"It's better to be prepared for it rather than trying to be reactive," he said.

But the timing couldn't be worse, coming at one of the busiest travel time of the year, said Diodati.

Both mayors sympathized with the impact on families with loved ones across the river, heading into the holiday season.

"It's exhausting to try to stay ahead of it: it's a labyrinth of constantly changing rules and regulation (so) it just gets more frustrating," said Diodati.

Fort Erie Coun. Nick Dubanow was less agreeable to the change, saying

It's a new year — well, almost — so why not give your children a gift they really deserve?

vestment statements should also be given to your child.

That is your gift as a parent to your children.

some of the decisions seem to be based more on "antiAmerican hatred" rather than science.

"I've been dealing with families all morning who have already been put through the ringer, now in tears because their first Christmas together is in jeopardy."

He said many residents feel "gut-punched" by the decision.

Niagara Falls Tourism president and executive director Janice Thomson said the change impacts only Canadians, not foreign tourists, entering Canada.

She said "it's a public health matter and it's up to public health experts to determine the best methods" for testing at the border.

The health minister also announced his government was ending a ban on flights from 10 African countries.

"While we recognize the controversial nature of such a prohibition, we believe it was a necessary measure to slow the arrival of Omicron in Canada and buy us some time," said Duclos in his prepared remarks.

"Given the current situation, this measure has served its purpose and is no longer necessary."

The gift: a mutual fund that invests in a broadly diversified portfolio of stocks around the world. Why is this important? It is not about the money, but rather the educational experience of owning an investment.

The key is allowing your child to watch their investment fluctuate in value. In-

The most important opportunity to learn is when the value of their investment declines.

They need to understand that some years of losing are just part of the game. This knowledge will be helpful when they are an adult.

One of the most significant risks of investing is human behaviour. People are thrilled to buy investments

Peter Watson is registered with Aligned Capital Partners Inc. (ACPI) to provide investment advice. Investment products are provided by ACPI. ACPI is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of ACPI. Watson provides wealth management services through Watson Investments. He can be reached at www.watsoninvestments.com.

THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE OF OWNING A MUTUAL FUND IS INVALUABLE, WRITES PETER WATSON

PETER WATSON Column

The federal government announced Friday that it's rolling back an exemption to testing for Canadians who travel abroad for less than 72 hours. The Peace Bridge in Fort Erie is seen here.

Metroland file photo

'GUT PUNCH' TO PEOPLE WITH LOVED ONES ACROSS THE RIVER, SAYS FORT ERIE COUNCILLOR

'LIFE CHANGING': LONELY SENIORS FEEL LOVE OF STRANGERS

she said. "It's so much; it's overwhelming."

Miranda Morrison expects she'll be seeing her share of tears leading up to Christmas when she visits the homes of vulnerable and lonely older adults across Niagara, but they won't be tears of sadness.

"I feel like a kid in a candy store," the outreach worker with the region's seniors outreach program said as she and fellow members of that department's Supporting Independent Living team spent hours at the Home Instead offices in Niagara Falls, organizing and wrapping hundreds of presents bound for older adults.

The outreach workers visit upwards of 1,000 vulnerable older adults across the region throughout the year to help them remain safe at home, and leading up to Christmas, they'll be lugging armfuls of presents to their front doors.

The gifts are all donated through Home Instead's Be a Santa to a Senior program by Niagara residents who picked up paper "ornaments" hung on trees at various businesses across the region, listing particular gifts needed such as men's or women's coats, boots, toiletries and more.

"I know the majority will be grateful, overwhelmed," said Morrison. "I can already see my clients crying.

"This will make a huge difference, a big impact,"

Denielle Cuoco, owner and managing director of Home Instead in Niagara Falls, said people picked up 450 of the paper tags and purchased the goods listed. Many of the tags listed multiple gifts, which the outreach workers identify as needed.

The Home Instead offices were filled with hundreds of items including coats, boots, tables full of toiletries, toasters and toaster ovens, pillows, pet food, bedding, crock pots and games and puzzles.

"The response was great," said Cuoco. "Everyone is going to receive a great package because of this."

Jennifer Butera, program manager with the outreach program, was helping to package the presents in large gift bags. She said there are many lonely older adults, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made that problem far worse after activities and clubs that seniors belonged to had to be closed down during lockdowns.

"A lot of the seniors we support are socially isolated," she said. "(They're) feeling pretty lonely over the holidays."

But having outreach workers hand them gifts from total strangers can change all that, said Butera.

"It gives them that feeling of connection: somebody has thought about them, they're not alone,"

she said. "It gives them at least some contact with that Christmas spirit."

For older adults already struggling to make ends meet on a low income and many facing housing insecurity, having gifts donated

gives them a serious psychological lift, said Butera.

"We've had lots of times when there's clients in tears and they're so thankful," she said, as Dean Martin's version of "Let it Snow" played in the back-

ground. "It can be very emotional for both the clients and the staff."

Kyle Foster, a mental health case worker with the team who has participated in the gifts program for years, said many of the

clients have little money to buy necessities many of us take for granted on a daily basis.

"Our clients are so often just trying to survive," he said. "This might be the first new items they've had in years."

Butera said the impact of the clients being able to get a fresh set of clean, dry pyjamas, boots or hygiene products can't be overestimated.

"It's life-changing, really," she said.

PAUL FORSYTH pforsyth@niagara thisweek.com

From the top: Outreach worker Miranda Morrison and program manager Jennifer Butera at the Home Instead location in Niagara Falls with some of the Christmas presents that Butera's staff will be delivering to vulnerable older adults across Niagara. Staff with the outreach program were on hand to help pack many of the gifts in gift bags; Jennifer Butera and Denielle Cuoco, owner and managing director of the Home Instead.

Paul Forsyth/Metroland

PITY THIS POOR KITTY: SHOT IN THE FACE BUT NOW RECOVERING

A cat that was shot in the face with a BB gun is recovering at the humane society after surgery and could soon be on his way to a new, caring home.

Curtis, as the cat has been named by staff at the Lincoln County Humane Society, was taken in Dec. 1.

The shelter said a resident in Grimsby noticed a stray cat limping, contacted staff and dropped him off.

X-rays found a .177 calibre pellet lodged behind his eye. The pellet had to be surgically removed, along with his eye.

Since his surgery, he has became an affectionate cat, the humane society said.

"He thrives on staff attention and is amazingly resilient after surviving a cruel and harrowing

ordeal" said executive director Kevin Strooband.

If his original owner cannot be found, he will be put up for adoption.

As the surgery cost more than $2,000, the shelter is asking the public for help covering the costs.

Donations can be online at www.lchs.ca, emailed to donations@lchs.ca, mailed, or

dropped off at the shelter's St. Catharines location.

The animal cruelty case is

$25 25**

SUBSCRIBEONLINE: scoffers.ca/deal/CNSCGIFT

ORCALL: 866-318-5061 andquotecode CNSCGIFT

with the Niagara Regional Police Service and anyone with information is encouraged to call

NRPS at 905-688-4111 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) (Incident Number: 21-137552).

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

TheTownofNiagara-on-the-Lake’sCommunityandDevelopmentdepartmentis currentlyrecruitingforthefollowing:

SCHOOLCROSSINGGUARDS

TheSchoolCrossingGuard,underthedirectionoftheSupervisorof Enforcement,willprimarilyberesponsibleforpreservingthesafetyof schoolchildren.

SchoolCrossingGuardsmust:bereliableandhavegoodcharacter disposition;possessgoodhearingandvisualskills;havetheabilitytocontrol students;assesstrafficflowandreactquickly;bephysicallyfitandableto standandwalkcontinuously.Thispositionisrequiredtoworkoutsidein allweatherconditions.

CandidatesaretobeavailableMondaytoFridaytoworkonschooldays for3.75hoursperdayincludingbeforeschool,duringlunchandafter school.MustpossessaVulnerableSectorpoliceclearancecertificateandbe availableformandatorytraining.

TheTownofNiagara-on-the-Lakeisanequalopportunityemployer. Accommodationsforjobapplicantswithdisabilitiesareavailableon request.Pleasesubmityourresumetosarah.stevens@notl.comnolater thanJanuary3,2022. www.notl.com

Curtis was dropped off at the Lincoln County Humane Society after a Grimsby resident noticed the stray limping. X-ray shows the BB gun pellet lodged behind the cat's eye.

LCHS photo

EDUCATION IS KEY FOR ECONOMIC 'SHE-COVERY': NIAGARA NURSE

Rosa once again donned her scrubs and took a job at a Hamilton hospital to support her family, while Bon stayed at home with the kids.

This put her education plans on pause.

Lea Dela Rosa spent the past year and a half in a non-stop juggling act.

She became the family breadwinner during the COVID-19 pandemic, working as a nurse at a retirement home while also attending Niagara College and raising five kids.

"It's very stressful," Dela Rosa said. "We constantly have to worry about money."

Dela Rosa, from Niagara Falls, is among thousands of women in the country confronting the pandemic's financial straits: women in Ontario are looking at a level of unemployment so low, it matches what it was 30 years ago.

According to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce's report on the gendered economic impacts of COVID-19, published this year, this is partly because the sectors hit with the most severe layoffs during the pandemic predominately employ women.

"The pandemic story that we've seen is largely one of women being the first called or pushed out of the labour market," said Kate Bezanson, a sociology associate professor at Brock University. The concern she and others say they have is that women will be the last ones called back in.

Even now, as the labour market tries to recover from the pandemic's earliest shutdowns and layoffs,

researchers say women are re-entering the workforce at a slower rate than men.

"Decades of progress toward gender equality are at stake," read the chamber's report.

When it comes to reviving the economy, the cham-

ber and other leaders in business, economics and more are calling attention to strategies that are part of what Canadian economist Armine Yalnizyan calls the "she-covery": empowering working women, providing access to affordable child care and encouraging female entrepreneurship.

Dela Rosa said she believes pursuing higher education for a new career, or adding skills and training on top of current ones, will allow women to achieve economic stability during the pandemic.

"It's beneficial for us," she said. "When we're successful, we will be able to

contribute better to society."

She's not alone. The Ontario chamber's report and the Women in Niagara Council's 2021 Hackathon report both discuss education and "re-skilling," the process of learning new skills for a new job or career, as one of several endeavours the province should take on to raise female employment numbers.

This education boost might look like achieving micro-credentials, considering a second career or switching career paths altogether.

"I always think going to school is a good idea," Be-

After a year of full-time work, Dela Rosa said she saved up enough money to rejoin the culinary management program in May, while working part-time at a retirement home. She completed the program this December and is looking for a new nursing job.

"It was very tough," she said about balancing her education and work. "It took a toll on my body."

Dela Rosa said the government should be doing more to encourage women, particularly mothers, to pursue higher education. The province's Second Career program, which can provide up to $28,000 in funding for things like tuition, books, transportation and a basic living allowance, helped her go back to school.

zanson said.

"For a lot of people, it is an important way to maybe move out of an area where they may be feeling some burnout."

Pre-pandemic, Dela Rosa was working full-time as a registered practical nurse with Niagara Region Public Health. In late 2019, she resigned to go back to school full-time, enrolling in Niagara College's culinary management program.

"My plan is to have a coffee shop," she said. "It's something I've enjoyed a lot, cooking and baking."

Then the pandemic hit, and her husband Bon was laid off from his job. Dela

"Women out there, they're either intimidated (or) hesitant, because of finances (or) daycare," she said. "The government should say, 'We have all these resources for you, we have something.'"

She said she helped encourage four friends to enrol at Niagara College for more education, one of whom she said has almost completed the personal support worker program.

"It's never too late go to out there and do something," she said.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Niagara this Week will be taking a deeper look at the gendered economic impacts of COVID-19 as part of a series of stories on the She-Covery. Anyone interested in sharing their story can email zhmood@niagarathisweek.com.

WOMEN'S UNEMPLOYMENT IN ONTARIO IS AT ITS LOWEST LEVEL IN 30 YEARS

Lea Dela Rosa is part-time registered practical nurse, a culinary management student at Niagara College and a mother to five children, living in Niagara Falls. She says one of the keys for women to improve their economic situation during the pandemic is pursuing higher education to further their careers.

Zahraa Hmood/Metroland

"When we're successful, we will be able to contribute better to society."

- Lea Dela Rosa

ABOUT $10.5M OF LEVY INCREASE GOES TO POLICE SALARIES

Continued from page 13

would use regional reserves to manage that. I didn't support the budget (at committee) because of the use of reserves. I still don't think that's a good idea."

Welland Coun. Pat Chiocchio and Mayor Frank Campion echoed Gale's concern.

"I'm with Coun. Gale in looking at this increase," Chiocchio said. "I think we could bring it down to below two per cent, especially with the times that we're going through right now with COVID, and as Coun. Gale stated this isn't over. "I worry about the businesses. I worry about the people that are struggling today. So I am not in favour

of what we're seeing here tonight."

Campion said he made his position clear during the budget committee debate, and he didn't want to belabour the point but said council needed to get the final number closer to two per cent.

Fort Erie Coun. Tom Insinna was unhappy about the 11th-hour suggestion to

reduce the budget, likely by drawing on reserves.

"Where was all this talk about slashing and burning when it came to $17.8 million that we are going to give to developers and businesses?" Insinna said. "This conversation should happen six months ago. So I'm a bit ticked because now, at the last minute, we're going to want to try

and justify how we're going to change things when we had the opportune time to do that, but nobody wanted to do that then.

"So now we're going to nickel and dime everything. I'm not going to pick on the police or any other agency, but there are ways that we could have done this and not at the last minute.

"We've been presented with a budget I think is fair ... It's got to be realistic. It's going up 2.87 per cent, which is in line with inflation."

FINDING THE JOY

SETTING

families of people with dementia face is adjusting to the new reality, she said. For instance, perhaps grandma has always made the holiday meal for the whole family, but can no longer handle the stressful afternoon in the kitchen. Or maybe going to multiple family functions is too much.

The holidays can be stressful for anyone, but even more so for people living with dementia and their caregivers.

Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to make sure your family get together is still the meaningful day it's supposed to be. Sarah Putman, director of education at the Alzheimer Society of Niagara, said a lot of it comes down to some simple adjustments and setting realistic expectations.

"In order to enjoy your holiday visits and your interactions, you do need to really think about taking a step back and really looking at what your expectation is and knowing that not everything's going to work out exactly how the expectation is set out," she said. "And that's OK. We can let go of those little things, and we can find the joy in in the holiday and what's happening."

Some of the challenges

If that's the case, Putman encourages families and caregivers to adapt while still being inclusive. Maybe someone else cooks the turkey and grandma helps do some prep work so she still feels involved. Perhaps a caregiver decides to only put up a few decorations, enough to feel festive but not so much to be overwhelmed.

It's also important to set expectations for other family members, Putman said, especially those who may not visit regularly. If they can go into the holidays understanding a person's limitations, and how their losses might affect things, it can go a long way to helping the day go smoothly.

Putman also said it's important to remember the losses associated with Alzheimer's and dementia. Most people think of memory loss, but there can be other issues too, with language or attention. Making sure everyone understands those going into the holidays is a good first step.

People with dementia often do better in one-on-

one situations and when there are fewer distractions. They also may need a quiet place to rest or get away from the activity.

Putman also reminds people that there are often feelings of guilt or frustration on the part of people with dementia or their caregivers, and that's normal.

"It's not malice. It's just

regular to feel those types of emotions up and down with regards to the changes and losses that come with dementia," she said. Family members can also come armed with things to talk about that can get the person with dementia engaged. Reminiscing, old photo albums or long time favourite Christmas songs

and movies are often topics that will resonate, Putman said.

While dementia can be a challenge, Putman reminds people that there can still be good times after a diagnosis.

"At any stage of the dementia, whether it's the early, middle or late, that there are moments of joy

and happiness and people can live really well," she said. "We can change a lot in the way we communicate and the environment around people to really support people who are living with dementia and allow them to continue to participate in the activities of the holidays and to find a lot of meaning in that."

Holiday celebrations may need to be adjusted when a family member has dementia. However, with some preparation. families can still have a great get-together.

Pexels photo

LUKE EDWARDS ledwards@niagara thisweek.com

EXPECTATIONS AND ADAPTING YOUR PLANS ARE KEY TO MAKING GET-TOGETHERS SUCCESSFUL

OBITUARIES | REMEMBERING THE LIVES OF THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY

Age18Age95

RICHARDS,JohnEdward

ItiswithgreatsadnessandanguishthatIreportthatJohnEdwardRichards,bornJune6,1923diedMonday, June21,2021,atGreaterNiagaraGeneralHospitalafterafallandstroke.Hewas98yearsold. JohnwasborninIpotestiRomaniaunderthenameJohnRechenucandemigratedtoWindsorCanadaat theageofthreeyearsoldandworkedhardgrowingupsupportinghisparentsfarmingduringtheGreat Depression.InhisearlyteenshealsoworkedforCanadaPackersandhadapassionforbaseball.Hehad apromisingbuddingprofessionalbaseballcareerthatwasdivertedearlywhenheenlistedintheRoyal CanadianAirForceattheageof18in1941.

DuringhisbasictrainingJohnorganizedabaseballleaguemadeupofAlliedcountrymenfromAustralia, England,Canadaandothercountries.ThisearnedhimcommissionasaFirstOfficer,andnavigatorinthe RCAFtransportcommand.

Johnwasteamedwithvariouscrewsandaircraft(Dakota’s,PBY’s)inWWIIandflewineverymajorbattlein theEuropeantheatredroppingsuppliesandparatroopersunderfire.HewasshotdownoverArnhemin1943 aspartof437Squadronandwasoneoftwosurvivors.HewassecretlyreturnedtoBritishforcesescorted frombehindenemylinestotheBritishundergroundbyaseven-year-oldDutchgirlviaculvertsanddrainage tunnels.JohnhasbeenrecognizedbytheRCAFandprimeministerandhasbeeninterviewedandvideotaped bytheCanadianGovernmentabouthismanymilitaryexperiencesasamatterofhistoricrecord.Hewasa foundingmemberof437HuskiesSquadronwhichtodayfliesCanadianArmedForcesaroundtheworld. AfterthewarJohndevelopedabusinessacumenworkingforDunnandBradstreet,andlatersellingInsurance andfurniture.

JohnmetandmarriedAdeleHipgrave(died2008)in1945whoworkedforDunnandBradtsreet,andchanged theirnamestoRichardsshortlythereafterbecausehedidnotwanthiswifeorchildrenteasedashewasin hisyouthoverthepronunciationofhisname.Theyhadthreechildren;JoanBeverlyRichards;PatriciaEmily (nowPiche);andMichaelJohnRichards.Johnissurvivedbyallofhischildrenandhisgrandchildren,Paula andMatthewPiche;Stephanie(nowLemay,Martyson-in-lawandgreat-grandchildrenBrielleandJohn)and JaimeRichards,andsonanddaughterin-lawDonPicheandLouiseRichards.

JohnisalsosurvivedbyCousinVickie(andhusbandDavid)WolfeandRosemaryScottonhisfamilysideand werehisonlyconnectionstohismotherandfatheranddistantrelativesinRomania.

JohnlovedboatingandfishingnotablylivinginNorthBayOntario,withacottageontheSouthShoreand familyonAdele’ssidenotfarawayinCallandarandMuskokaOntario.HefoundedTheNorthBayCarpetCentre andTheInteriorShoppeinthe70’saswellashelpedpioneerorganizationofmodernhumanetreatmentand developmentofmentallyhandicappedpeoplewiththeassistanceoftheGovernmentofOntario.Hewas PresidentandsupportedtheearlycreationoftheAssociationfortheMentallyRetardedinNorthBaywhich nowhasgrownandisknownastheOntarioAssociationforCommunityLiving.

JohnmovedtoMississaugainthemid1970’swithwifeAdeleandsonMichael,thenafter2014asawidower eventuallymovedtoNiagaraFallswherehemetVeraHarrisandbegantogodancingtogetherattheRoyal CanadianLegion.ItquicklybecameclearthatVeraandJohnweresoulmatesandtheirrelationshiptogether becameveryimportanttothem.VeraandherfamilystoodwithJohntohisfinaldays,andafterwards supportinghisneeds.VeraandtheHarrisfamilyoftheNiagaraRegionassuredthatDadwaswelltakencare ofandassuredthatJohnleftthisworldknowinghewasloved.Toallwhohaveexpressedsuchbraveactsof loveandkindnesstoJohn,weoweeachotherareciprocaldebtofrespectandgratitude.

JohnRichardswasamanthatnoteveryonegotcloseenoughtoknowandunderstandwell.Butthosewho didgettoknowhimlovedhisintegrity,dignity,self-deprecatingsenseofhumour,generosity,kindnessand heartfeltconcernforothers.Hewasagreatmanwithadeeploveoffamilyandfriends;agreatCanadianand wasmyFatherandmybestfriend.GodBlessyouDad;youhaveearnedyourpeace.Youwillbelovedforever. MichaelJohnRichards.

A sweet little flower, nipped in the bud, no grief or sorrow knew; just came to earth to win our love and then to Heaven withdrew. No stain was on your little heart, sin had not entered there; and innocence slept sweetly on that pale white brow so fair. You were too pure for this cold earth, too beautiful to stay, and so God’s holy angel bore our darling one away.

CROSS,StanleyRoy

Itiswithdeepsorrowand muchlovethatwemournthe passingofStanleyRoyCross onMay3,2021attheageof 89withfamilybyhissidein DouglasMemorialHospital. Hewillbelovingremembered byhiswifeEvelynof71 years,hissonLarry,andhis daughtersLynne(Alan)and Kelly(Gregory).ProudgrandfatherofAmy(Matthew), Krista(Keyr),Robert(Ashleigh) Brooke(Jordan),Casey (Taylor)andgreat-grandfather toAlexa,Kylie,Wyatt,Haley, JosieandPaxton. Heisalsosurvivedbyhis brotherArthur(Gerry)Cross andmanyniecesand nephews.HissisterMarlene Schneiderhassincepassed andhewaspredeceasedby hissisterJoanandbrother William.

StanwasborninHamilton andmovedtoCrystalBeach wherehebecameamanof manytalents.Heworkedat BuffaloForgeinBuffaloand FleetIndustriesinFortErie. Hethendecidedtobranchout onhisown,aspartownerof theRidgewayBowlingAlley, PlaymoreAmusementsand otherventures.Inretirement, heworkedinsecurityatthe FortErieRaceTrackforafew yearswhilebuildinghisdream home.

Stanlovedtoplayandwatch sports;baseballandgolfwere hisfavourites.Butmostofall helikedtospendtimewithhis family

ThankyoutoDr.Scher, thenursesofPalliativeCare andthenursesatDouglas Memorial.

Aprivateservicewasheldby thefamilyonOctober15, 2021.Memorialdonations maybemadeinStan'sname totheCanadianCancer SocietyortheOntarioRhett SyndromeAssociation.

Itiswithheavyheartsthatwe announcethepassingofAnna BrewsteronDecember19, 2021,attheageof68. Predeceasedbyherloving husbandJack,theirsonJJas wellasherparentsMatthew andKrystynaZarek. Sheissurvivedbyherloving daughterJennifer(Richard) Wilkinsonanddaughter-in-law Nicole.Hermemorywilllive onthroughheradoringgrandchildrenJake,Biancaand Luke.Sadlymissedbyher sistersMargaretBarrettand Izabel(David)Flowers,nieces andnephewsBradley, Michelle,Kyle,Andrewand Kittaswellasmembersofthe Brewsterfamilyandherlarge circleoffriends.Annaloved hermusic.Shecompleted level8forpianoatTheRoyal ConservatoryofMusic.Anna graduatedfromtheToronto InstituteofMedicalTechnologyasaMedicalLaboratoryTechnologist.She workedatMountSinai HospitalinTorontoand DouglasMemorialHospitalin FortErie.Sheretiredin2013. Thefamilyextendstheir thankstothecompassionate staffofDouglasMemorial Hospital.

AMassatSt.George'sRoman CatholicChurchwillbeheld onWednesdayDecember29, 2021,at11a.m.,withinterment tofollowatRidgeway MemorialCemetery.Covid19 protocolswillbeinplace, includingmandatorymask, socialdistancingandcapacity limits.

WilliamsFuneralServices, 722RidgeRdN,Ridgeway, entrustedwitharrangements.

ABRAMS,Dorothy

DorothyAbramswasaloving mother,grandmother,and sister.Shelefttheworld peacefullyFridaymorning, December17,2021.Shewas borntoJohnandEsterCain onApril15,1945.Shewas lovedbyherlatehusband StewAbrams;sonsStewart (Sussie)andMark; grandchildrenJoel,Amanda, andJacob;sisterClaira Brownlow(Sam).Predeceased byherbrothersJack,Tom, Albert,andsistersEsther, Margret,Violet,Smokie.Sadly missedbyseveralniecesand nephews.Dorothyenjoyed hercareeratGeneralMotors, pursuedtimeasanalderman forSmithville,andalsoreal estate.Sheenjoyedbeing outdoorsandtravelinginher RVacrossthecountry.Agreat cardplayer,shewouldplay herfellowtravelersforthe choreofwashingdishes.She enjoyedthepeacefulcountry living.VisitationatMerritt FuneralHome,287Station Street,SmithvilleonTuesday, December21from2-4and7-9 p.m.MassofChristianBurial willbeheldWednesday, December22,at10a.m.atSt. MartinofToursCatholic Church,176WestStreet (RegionalRd20),Smithville, withlimitedcapacity.Masks andsocialdistancingrequired. IntermentMerrittSettlement Cemetery,Smithville.If desired,memorialdonations toAlzheimer'sSocietywould beappreciatedbythefamily. merritt-fh.com

Time may heal the broken-hearted, time may make the wound less sore; but time will never stop the longing for the loved one gone before. Pleasant in

BREWSTER,Anna 1953-2021

MATHESON,Mary(neeElton) May25,1941toDecember13,2021

mademanylife-longfriends. ShethenstudiedMathematics, PhysicalEducationandFrench atTrinityCollege,Universityof Torontograduatingin1964 fromOISE.

HEPBURN,JunePhyllis

Itiswithdeepsorrowthatwe mournthepassingofour

MotherJunePhyllisHepburn neeWhiteonDecember13, 2021inher96thyearather homeinGarrisonPlace, surroundedbyherfamily.

Predeceasedbyherhusband

Alan"Mitch"Buchanan

HepburnandherbrotherJohn "Jack"CurtisWhite.Lovingly rememberedbyherdaughter

Deborah(David)andsons

Scott(Suzanne),Gregory (Kelly).ProudGrandmotherof Amy(Jason),Matthew(Laura), Spencer,Brooke(Jordan), Casey(Taylor)andhermany niecesandnephews.June wasborninSt.Catharinesand latermovedtoRidgeway.She wasamedicalsecretaryfor DoctorsinRidgewayandFort Erieuntilretiringin1991.June wasveryactiveinthe GeneologySocietyofNiagara. Shelovedhergarden, especiallyherroses.Her favouritecolourwasred.She alsospentmanyhoursinher kitchenbakingwonderfulpies andcookiesforherfamily. Shewasanavidseamstress, makingmanybeloveditems forherchildrenand grandchildren.Herfavourite momentswerespentwith family.Momwillremaininour heartsforever.Thankyouto Dr.Scher,Elizabethandother nursesofPalliativeCare,and allofthewonderfulnurses andstaffofGarrisonPlace.A privateservicewasheldby thefamilyonDecember17, 2021atRidgewayMemorial Cemetery.Memorialdonations maybemadetotheDiabetes FoundationofCanada.

CLARK,Frances"Fran"

Passedawaypeacefullyat homeafteralongbattlewitha braintumoronSaturday, December11,2021inher

72ndyear.BorninMontreal onNovember8,1950and movedwithherparentsDavid andGwenClarktowellandin themid1960's,whereshe attendedCentennialHigh School.Fransawemployment withSmithsStationeryand A&PFoodStore.Herlast employmentwaswiththe OntarioCoronersofficeinSt. Catharines.Sheleavesbehind herpartnerof25yearsFrank Jones.Shewillbemissedby herchildrenAmandaand Chad(Allison).Franadored hergrandchildrenPeyton, Alexander,andSawyer.She willberememberedbyher siblingsPatty(Robert),Lynne (Serge),Bruce(Karen)and Lindsey(Norma).Shewas predeceasedbyherparents DavidandGwenalsoher brotherRoss.Franleaves behindherbelovedShihTzu Sammyandlong-timefriends SylviaandGaryPeters.A CelebrationofFranslifewill takeplaceatalaterdate, pleasecheckbacktothe websiteforupdates.

Ifdesired,memorial donationstoWestLincoln MemorialHospitalcanbe madethroughthefuneral home,merritt-fh.com

Itiswithgreatsadnessthatwe announcethepassingofMary Matheson(neeElton)on MondayDecember13,2021at theageof80.Shewillbe greatlymissedbyherchildren; CatherineMcLellan(Troy),Ian, Ross(Jennifer)andPaulalong withherStep-Grandchildren Dylan,Charlie,Rowanand Kaede.Predeceasedbyher husbandof51years,John. Shewillbemissedbyher sisterJaneOlvet(Sid)and brothersJohnElton(Sharon) andPeterElton(Valerie)along withhersisters-in-lawPeggy Matheson,JanetMcBride (Tom)andViMathesonalong withmanyniecesand nephewsandhergoodfriend HelenHenderson.

MarygrewupinLongBranch, whereherloveofcardsand sportbegan.Shegraduated fromNewTorontoSecondary Schoolin1959thenwenton tocompleteGrade13at NeuchatelJuniorCollegein Switzerland,whereshe venturedalloverEuropeand

Marybeganherteaching careerin1964atJarvis Collegiate(TDSB)andretired fromeducationin1999at WestParkSecondarySchool (DSBN).Maryvolunteeredwith theRedCrossSociety becomingBranchPresident. ShewasaBeaverLeader (Sunny),coachedbaseballand soccerandtaughtSunday School.Inretirement,she volunteeredatSt.Andrew's AnglicanChurchandthe GrimsbyPublicArtGallery. Shewasamemberofthe GrimsbyGardenClub,the GrimsbyTennisClubandthe HistoricalSociety.Marywasan avidtennisplayer,lovedto playbridgewithherfriends andspendtimeinhergarden. Marylovedtocook,bakeand can(famousforherchopped pickle).HerfavoriteMealto hostwasSundayDinnerandif youwerefortunateenoughto getinvitedyouleftwithafull stomachandafullheart. Mary'sfamilywouldliketo thankthestaffattheUnited MennoniteHomewhotook suchgoodcareofherwhile shestruggledwithDementia. Inlieuofflowersdonations canbemadetoMcNally HouseortheUnited MennoniteHome.

Always so good, unselfish and kind, none on this earth your equal I’ll find. Honourable and true in all your ways, loving and faithful to the end of your days, honest and liberal, ever upright, just in your judgment, always right; loved by your friends and all whom you knew, one in a million, that person was you. One year has passed, our hearts still sore, as time rolls on we miss you more; a loving person, tender and kind, what beautiful memories you left behind.

And have you gone, forever gone and left us here to weep. Till we are called to follow you, and in the grave to sleep.

Your memory is as dear today, as in the hour you passed away.

And have you gone, forever gone and left us here to weep. Till we are called to follow you, and in the grave to sleep; yet since you could no longer stay to cheer us with your love, we hope to meet with you again in the bright world above.

Passedaway,peacefully,at HamiltonGeneralHospital, surroundedbyherlovedones onFriday,December17,2021 at78yearsofage.Shewillbe greatlymissedbyherfamily andfriends.Lovinghusband WayneLokeofFortErie. Dearlylovedbyherchildren; TinaTetu(St.Catharines), MarkTetu(Toronto),andDawn Small(husbandEd)(FortErie). Shewasadoredandwillbe lovinglyrememberedbyher fivegrandchildren:Amanda andAlexandraColson, KristopherTetu-Baverstock, MichelleTetuandZachary Small.Lovedbyhersiblings; René(Françoise),Claire

Savage,DeniseDubois(late Patrick),Diane(RhéalLavigne), GillesallofSturgeonFalls, Lionel(Rosa)ofKitchener, Daniel(Cathy)ofMilverton andRogerofOttawa. Predeceasedbyherparents, Lucienne(néeSoucy) (February7,2004)and HoraceLegault(September 23,2021)andherbrothers; Marcel(1944)andMarcel (1979).Yvetteenjoyedreading, swimming,photography,art andcooking;shewasa memberofChurchofGod International.Herfamily wouldliketoextendtheir appreciationfortheloving careYvettereceivedfromthe hospitaldoctors,nursesand staff.InhonouringYvette's wishesaprivatefamilyservice hastakenplace.Memorial donationstoChurchofGod InternationalCanadawould beappreciated.Arrangements entrustedtoConsiderate Cremation&BurialServices, 26NihanDrive,St.Catharines (betweenLakeStreet&Scott Street),289-362-1144.

OnlinecondolencesmaybemadeatCCBSCares.ca ALLEN,GregoryJames

GregoryJamesAllenwentto bewithhisLordandSaviour

JesusChristonWednesday, December15,afteracourageous16monthbattlewith mesothelioma.Thankstoour St.Ann'sCommunityChurch familyforwalkingwithus,and lovingussowellaswe journeyedthisroughroad.

ThankyoutoDr.Shannon Smith,Dr.DeniseMarshall, andtheamazingteamat McNallyHouseformakinghis lastdaysoflifeonthisearth socomfortable.

Gregtriedtoliveeverydayto thefullestandevenasthe cancerspreadandhisbreathingandpainworsened,he wasalwaysquickwithasmile andofcourse,alwaysreadyto eatatreat.Henevercomplained,continuingtothank theLordfortheabundanceof blessingshehadreceived duringhis57yearsonearth.

Alongwithotherfamily,Greg leavesbehindtheloveofhis life,hiswifeof31years,Kelly, hiskids,James(wifeRebekah)

andKatie(husbandDane),as wellashiscrazydogCinder. Gregwasoneofakind! Quirky,fun,hardworking, tenacious,loving,anddriven byhisdeepandabidingfaith. Hewasanamazingson, husband,brother,andfather! Wearesothankfulthat becauseofJesus,wewillsee himagainoneday!Oneof Greg'sfavouriteversesfrom theBiblewas,Ephesians2:89,"Godsavedyoubyhisgrace whenyoubelieved.Andyou can'ttakecreditforthis;itisa giftfromGod.Salvationisnot arewardforthegoodthings wehavedone,sononeofus canboastaboutit."Greg understoodthisverse,andput hisfaithinthefinishedworkof Jesusonthecross.Todayhe isathomewithhisLord.Greg wouldoftensay,'WhenIam gone,don'tthinkofmeas dead,forIwillbemorealive thenthanIhaveeverbeen!' ACelebrationofLifeforGreg tookplaceonMonday, December20.

LOKE,YvetteSuzanne (néeLegault)

GOODMAN, ThomasJames

January25,1951December15,2021

ThomasJamesGoodman

passedawayWednesday, December15,2021

surroundedbyfamily. Predeceasedbyparents

MargaretandThomas

Goodman,andbrother GeorgeGoodman.

Hewillbesadlymissedby brothersSandy(Susanne)

Goodman,JosephGoodman, andsisterBrenda.Loving uncletoDarrilyn(Roger)

Burnham,Christopher"Prof"

Goodman,TammyMacDonald, Samantha"Jean,Jeanthe dancingmachine"(Tj)Young, Joshua"tree"(Kathleen)

Goodman,Jamie"James"

Goodman,JessiGoodman,as wellasmanyothers.

"Onedayyou'lllook

ToseeI'vegone Fortomorrowmayrain SoI'llfollowthesun"

I'llFollowtheSunbyThe Beatles

ACelebrationoflifeisbeing plannedforthenewyear.

Surroundedbyhisloving family,onSunday,December 19,2021,atGod'sappointed hour,Hecalledourhusband, father,Opaandgreat-Opato HisEternalHome.Wefindour comfortintheconfessionwe makebeforeeveryworship service:"Ourhelpisinthe NameoftheLord",Psalm121. LeftbehindinourFather's carearehisbelovedwifeof58 yearsJohannaBreukelman (VanIperen),andhisbeloved children:EvelynBreukelman; HenryBreukelman(thelate Marilyn)andchildrenJolene Linde(Lauren,Austin,Isaac, Russell),RandyandSydney Breukelman(Blake,Layla), TracyandKelvinVis(Jordyn, Clarke,Logan,Parker),James andChelseaBreukelman

(Neveya,Carter,Rylee),and DianaBreukelman;Johnand AnitaBreukelmanandchildren

JustinandCherylBreukelman (Tyson),RichardandNatasha Neutal(Lucas),and LeviBreukelman;Jolanda Breukelman;andJanine Breukelman.Lovedbyhistwo brothers,onesister,in-laws, nieces,nephews,andhis manyfriends.Visitationat SmithvilleCanadianReformed Church,330StationStreet, SmithvilleonWednesday, December22from7-9p.m. withmasksandsocialdistancingrequired.Thefuneral servicewillbeheldat SmithvilleCanadianReformed ChurchonThursday, December23at11a.m.with limitedcapacity,masksand socialdistancing.Interment GraceUnitedChurch Cemetery.Specialthanksto thedoctors,nurses,andstaff ofGrimsby,TrilliumandSt. CatharinesGeneralHospitals fortheirdedicatedandcompassionatecare.Ifdesired, memorialcontributionsto JohnCalvinSchoolSmithville wouldbeappreciatedbythe family.

merritt-fh.com

TAYLOR,Lisa(neeMcCarville)

MARTIN,Stephen

Inlovingmemoryofadear son,whopassedaway December23,2000.

Nolengthoftime cantakeaway Ourthoughts ofyoutoday Forasyouwere youwillalwaysbe Treasuredforever inourmemory.

Missingadearsonand rememberingallthegood timessharedwiththefamily, Love,MomandDad

Memorial

Aredmapletree,honouring thelifeofDrBeverly(Reddon) Hattersleywasplantedin DouglasParkonNovember 15th.Aservicewillbeheldin thespringof2022. TheReddonfamilythanksall fortheirkindnessandcaring duringthesedifficulttimes.

Itiswithprofoundsadness thatthefamilyofLisaTaylor (nee.McCarville)announce herpassingintheearly morningofSaturday,December11,2021,peacefullyat homewithherhusbandbyher side.Lisawasdearlylovedby anddevotedtotheloveofher lifeherhusbandMikeTaylor. CherisheddaughterofKevin andPatMcCarville(Heffell)by whomshewillbedeeply missed.Belovedsisterand companiontoSherriHorton andbrother-in-lawMike Horton.Deardaughter-in-law toRobertandFrancesTaylor

andhermother-in-lawMaree JoBrennan.Devotedsister-inlawandbestfriendtoKerri Taylor(Holloway)andbrotherin-lawBillHolloway.Sister-inlawandfriendtoBarband GarrettMantoandLisa Leeson.Lisawasveryproudof andalovingaunttoSophie, Taylor,Morgyn,Sam,Jake,and Grace.Itiswithextreme heartachethatsheleaves behindherbeloveddog Newman.Lisawillbeforever missedbyherentirefamily nearandfar.Lisahadmany friends,touchedmanyhearts, andwillbefondlyrememberedbyall.Ourfamilywould liketoextendaspecialthank youtoDr.MeyersofJuravinski CancerCentreforhissupport andaheartfeltthankyouto MerrittFuneralHome.A celebrationofLisa'slifewillbe heldatalaterdate.Ifdesired, memorialdonationstoThe LincolnCountySPCAcanbe madethroughMerrittFuneral Home(905)957-7031or merritt-fh.com

Lisa, Inlifewelovedyoudearly Indeathweloveyoustill Inourheartsyouholdaplace Noonewilleverfill

Remembering Ou LovedOnes

FrankPiorkowski,Flora Piorkowski,JuliaInnes (Piorkowski)andFrank Piorkowski

Inlovingmemoryofmy parents: Frank(July15,2009)

Flora(December12,1991) mysister,Julia (February23,2011) andmybrotherFrank (Dec28,2020)

Thoseweloveremainwithus Forloveitselfliveson, Andcherishedmemories neverfade Becausealovedoneisgone. Thosewelovecanneverbe Morethanathoughtapart, Foraslongasthereis memory, Theywillliveonintheheart.

Rememberedwithlove, Cathy,OscarandJennifer Ettinger

MASSI Beautifulmemories silentlykept, Ofonesthatwelove andwillneverforget.

BertMassi2020 AlMassi2004

Loveandneverforgotten, Marilynandfamily.

person,

one who was better God never made; a wonderful worker, so loyal and true, one in a million – that person was you. Just in your judgment, always right; honest and liberal, ever upright; loved by your friends and all whom you knew. Our wonderful friend – that person was you.

wonderful

friend and aide,

The rolling stream of life rolls on.

McRAE,Bryan

TolosesomeoneIloved somuchbringspain beyondbelief

Therearenowordstoease mypain,mysadness, andmygrief

I'velostsomeonesoclose,so wonderfulanddear

Ithinkaboutyourspecial waysandwishthatyou werenear

Butalthoughyouhaveleftthis world,you'llstaywithin myheart

Guidinglikeanangeleven thoughweareapart

Forloveiseverlastingandso aremymemoriesYourlegacythat'salways theretolightthewayforme.

MerryChristmas,Bryan. Wemissandloveyou.

Jennifer,Kyle,Lindsay andKathy

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'I PRAY I DON'T NEED AN ER ANY TIME SOON'

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE SHORTCHANGED ON HEALTH CARE: DOCKSTADER

When Jennifer Dockstader learned of Heather Winterstein's death in a hospital emergency room, she was caught up in a tangled web of emotions.

"I am angry. I am hurt. I am tired," the executive director of the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre said. "I pray I don't need an ER any time soon."

Sadly, the 24-year-old St. Catharines woman's death is not at all surprising to her.

"The issues are numerous for our people who are accessing health care in Niagara, where our ERs and urgent care facilities often treat our people who are looking for help as drug seekers," she said.

On Dec. 9, Winterstein had gone to the emergency room at the St. Catharines site of Niagara Health seeking help. In pain, she was sent home with Tylenol. The following day, she was brought back to the hospital via ambulance and collapsed in the waiting room. After the young woman's death, her family was told she had died as the result of a Strep A infection.

In the wake of what happened with Winterstein, Dockstader said Indigenous people needing to access care should exercise caution.

"I would not send anyone of our people to the ER or urgent care without an advocate because of this treatment," she said. "Imagine you are sick and feeling awful and you are mistreated the minute you come in the door with looks, attitude and then

have to fight to be treated. What if you feel so unwell that you can't fight? This is where I believe Heather fell."

Niagara Health president and CEO Lynn Guerriero said the health system was already proceeding with an internal review of the circumstances surrounding Winterstein's death. She also invited her family and Indigenous leaders in Niagara to be a part of a third-party review that would also look more broadly at the health-care experiences and concerns of Indigenous patients.

"A third-party review will help us to deepen our understanding of this patient's experience and the experiences of Indigenous patients and community to further inform our work to provide safe, quality health care to every patient we

serve," Guerriero said.

The Niagara Ontario Health Team Planning Table, meanwhile, supported Niagara Health's decision to look into Winterstein's death.

"This incident is a tragic reminder of the urgent need to work to understand how the legacy of colonization continues to impact health-care systems," said co-lead Carol StewartKirkby. "Our thoughts are focused on supporting the people most directly involved."

Wendy Sturgeon, the executive director of Niagara Chapter — Native Women Inc. (NCNW), said what happened with Winterstein illustrates the need for change and that is time for health care for Indigenous people to be delivered through services tailored to them.

"We can try to keep teaching non-Indigenous health-care providers, caregivers, social workers and justice workers, but we are not seeing any changes in the numbers or outcomes," she said. "Frankly, it turns out to be a waste of our time in many cases, and certainly in this case."

NCNW has been promoting Indigenous cultural safety training opportunities to all non-Indigenous health-care providers both on and off reserve for years, and that makes Winterstein's death all the more tragic and disappointing, Sturgeon added.

Dockstader, meanwhile, says she agrees there is systematic racism being expressed to Indigenous people seeking health care.

"I do believe the system is biased and racist," she said. "The attitude I often

see and experience is one of judgment. Even when I have to attend the ER, I see and feel judged because I am native."

Sturgeon, meanwhile, said NCNW is "heartened" by Niagara Health's intention to conduct a review to involve Winterstein's family and Indigenous leaders.

"We look forward to this process once immediate grieving has subsided a bit and the family feels strong enough to begin the process," she said.

She said the federal government needs to create legislation "with teeth" that would bring about more accountability and consequences for withholding of health care to Indigenous people across the country.

"Reconciliation in health care is also acknowledging and support-

ing, with enhanced resources, our own Indigenous health-care services," she said. "It is time for Canada to give up its guardianship and paternalistic fictional image of itself as our caregivers and overseers."

NDP MPP Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong), Indigenous and treaty relations critic, meanwhile, said the death of Winterstein and Brent Sky, an Indigenous man in northern Ontario who died under similar circumstances, shows the need for the issue of anti-Indigenous systemic racism in health care to be addressed.

"Our hearts go out to the families of Brent Sky and Heather Winterstein. These two young Indigenous people had full, happy lives ahead of them, and I share in the sorrow their loved ones are feeling right now."

Jennifer Dockstader says the "issues are numerous" for Indigenous people when they come into contact with the health-care system.

Richard Hutton/Metroland

'HOME IS THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE FOR WOMEN,' BUT PRIVATE AND PUBLIC VIOLENCE ARE CONNECTED

women and girls, also known as femicide.

The relevance of this fact has been acutely felt since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and continues to be as women and girls are periodically locked down in the very location deemed to be most dangerous for them.

THE THREAT OF PUBLIC VIOLENCE

In 2018, Time Magazine published an article titled "Home Is the 'Most Dangerous Place' for Women Around the World." Since then, its headline has reverberated globally.

It's repeated annually during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which began on Nov. 25. The finding that inspired the headline came from a 2018 study by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime.

It found that 58 per cent of female homicide victims in 2017 were killed by their partners or family members. The emphasis on this crucial finding has obscured an equally troubling fact, that 42 per cent of female homicide victims were killed by other perpetrators, someone they didn't know well, and predominantly men.

Private and public violence complement and reinforce one another. Through their interdependence, these forms of violence maintain the patriarchal social structures that keep women and girls "in place" both in the home and in public.

The fact that the home is the "most dangerous place" for women and girls is vital information. It can inform safety planning as well as the prevention of sex and gender-related killings of

RESOURCES

Sheltersafe.ca connects survivors to the nearest shelter. Assaulted Women's Helpline provides immediate support 24 hours a day and can be accessed online or at 1-866-436-0069.

Talk4Healing offers 24-hour supports in Indigenous languages. Visit www.talk4healing.com.

Research shows that women and girls' fear of crime is more often about the threat of public violence than violence by men they know well.

Women are taught from ayoung age that it is "stranger danger" that must be feared. Therefore, while learning early to ensure their own protection from unknown males, women and girls are increasingly at risk from men they know.

This is violence they cannot usually avoid by adjusting their daily routines or activities. Women and girls must go home sometime — if they have a home —otherwise their risk of public violence may increase. It is often "better the devil you know then the devil you don't" — a cliché, yes, but reality for many women and girls.

Private violence — in the home and by male intimate partners or family members — is facilitated and maintained by public violence in the form of the ongoing threats and everyday experiences of misogyny, abuse and violence perpetrated against women and girls by men. Experiences that limit their movements and activities, keep them closer to home.

This status quo is reinforced, despite claims of various systems (like governments, police, courts) and individual men that

women and girls will be protected. One need only look at the abuse some of the most public female figures, like politicians and journalists experience online and in person to understand that public violence serves to remind women to stay in their place. Except that their place — the home — is also often rife with abuse and violence.

WOMEN AND GIRLS PROTECTING THEMSELVES

The almost invisible link between public and private violence was starkly highlighted in March of this year with the kidnap, rape and femicide of Sarah Everard in the United Kingdom. She was killed by a London Metropolitan Police officer, who was recently convicted.

In the flurry of coverage that took over media feeds globally, much was made of the fact that this was a

rare event.

It is true that the proportion of women and girls killed by strangers remains low — a fact that is documented in most regions, including Canada. What is largely absent from these discussions is that this "statistical fact" is largely due to the ongoing and ingrained actions taken by women and girls to protect themselves.

Some women and girls can protect themselves from public violence more effectively than others given entrenched inequalities and an inequitable distribution of resources. For example, it is recognized that the use of public transportation can be a risk for women and girls. Some can avoid using it during higher-risk times (like late at night) or do not use it at all (if they own their own vehicle). Sometimes public transportation is not even an option, however, de-

pending on where they live, leaving women and girls dependent on others, often men and even strangers.

Regardless of their social location, most women spend a good proportion of their day and mental resources (whether they realize it or not), adjusting their daily activities, routines and home security measures to avoid victimization. For many women and girls, these efforts fail.

Worse still are the experiences of Black, Indigenous and other racialized women and girls whose experiences with misogynist threats and male violence are compounded by racism.

PRIVATE AND PUBLIC VIOLENCE RELY ON EACH OTHER

All of this is exacerbated by the rise in digital abuse and violence. Online abuse is more of the same

for women and girls, packaged differently and often increasingly difficult to protect themselves from.

It is crucial to not emphasize violence in one sphere over the other because they are intricately connected. Private and public violence (or threats thereof) rely on each other as forces that work together to ensure women and girls stay in their place — the one that patriarchal social structures have prescribed.

Gender equity is still far from a reality. And challenges compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic are threatening what progress has been achieved. Violence in any sphere is felt acutely by women and girls as they seek to remain safe, like everyone else, from COVID-19, but also from male violence in both private and public spaces.

Myrna Dawson, Professor and Research Leadership Chair, Sociology, University of Guelph

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence.

Disclosure statement: Myrna Dawson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Several feminist protesters participate in a protest against gender violence against women in Mexico City, Mexico.

Dreamstime photo

MYRNA DAWSON

THE THREAT OF PUBLIC VIOLENCE, WOMEN AND GIRLS PROTECTING THEMSELVES, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC VIOLENCE RELY ON EACH OTHER

It all adds up.

A lot of little things can add up to big things.

hat s the thinking behind the new save.ca.

Shopping locally is the best way to support our communities. And saving locally makes it even better! Find big deals close to home with save.ca.

Never miss a deal with your shopping list on Save.ca. Selected items are sorted by store, making your dayto-day shopping experience a real money saver.

e made it easier than ever to nd the deals you re looking for. Save.ca s bountiful search results let you comparison shop to get the best buy.

Start saving today at:

DON'T GIVE AWAY THE FARM: PART TWO

LEGAL COLUMNIST PETER LILLICO OFFERS PARENTS IMPORTANT TIPS TO BALANCE GENEROSITY WITH WISDOM

In my last article I shared the story of a senior couple who downsized from their big house to a smaller condominium, and generously shared much of the "surplus" sale proceeds with their children - then came to wonder if they'd done the right thing when their expenses increased and their incomes shrank.

There's nothing wrong with helping out the children while you're still alive.

Often this will be at a

PETER LILLICO Column

time when the children's own financial challenges are peaking, with home purchases, mortgage payments, children's expenses, and trying to save for their own eventual retirement. Getting an unexpected boost at this point can make a big positive impact for sure.

However, parents need to be careful that their own life needs don't make them regret their kindly impulse later, when they are the ones with greater needs.

Here are some impor-

tant tips on how to balance generosity with wisdom:

REMEMBER, THINGS CHANGE

Just because you're comfortable right now, don't assume that nothing will change. Reduced investment returns, increased expenditures related to age, expensive health issues, fixed pensions eroded by cost of living increases, high cost of seniors' residences and nursing homes are a reality of the future. Make reasonable estimates of your own future income and financial needs before thinking about forking over the nest egg.

DON'T ROLL THE DICE

Most of us get by just fine with our own common sense when it comes to finances and financial planning, but how confi-

dent can we be in making projections of income and expenditures in a changing economic environment? Professionals like Certified Financial Planners are well qualified by training and experience to provide solid estimates of our future needs and resources, and how best to ensure our life goals are met. Don't roll the dice with your own future welfare. With professional advice you can analyze existing needs and estimate future increases; review present investment strategies to protect your future; and produce a plan for investment of the real estate proceeds, as part of your overall strategy.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

We all want to help our kids, but remember that they have energy and re-

SHOULD RETIRED CANADIANS LOOK FOR PART-TIME WORK?

ing growth and forcing businesses to delay or refuse new orders.

We are now seeing many employers having to "up the ante" by providing higher wages, along with signing bonuses and employment perks.

sources unavailable to seniors. Few seniors are in a position to hit the workplace for a part time job to make ends meet when times get tough. Few kids want to put their parents' hard earned financial nest egg at risk later in life. Sometimes the right decision is to keep the money invested for the future. After all, if you're not smart enough to spend every penny during your lifetime, the kids will still be your beneficiaries!

BE REALISTIC WITH GIFTS

The cards you have in your hands now are likely the only ones you will have to play for the rest of your lives. This doesn't mean that you can't "share the wealth" with the kids when the real estate proceeds hit your bank account, but balance the wish to be gener-

ous with the need to look after yourselves. Remember that even if you are confident that you can afford to provide children with an "early inheritance", this doesn't need to be done all at once but might be better if in stages. You could them with a portion of the gift this year, then see how things go with them and with you. If a year or two later you find the belt is tightening more than you anticipated, you'll be glad you hedged your bets and saved something for that rainy day. However if you are still comfortable with your finances then you can safely give them a further amount. They will still be grateful at the unexpected help, and you will rest more easily knowing that your nest egg is still intact.

Peter Lillico is a Peterborough-based lawyer. If you have a suggestion for a legal related topic, please share it with him by email at plillico@lbghlaw.com.

Dear Money Lady,

My grandson is now working part-time for a lot more than minimum wage, and I can't believe all the perks he gets at his job. I am thinking of getting a parttime job too. Do you think they would hire a senior?

Jess Dear Jess, Yes I do — you should apply!

Many companies across Canada, mainly in the "gig" and hospitality sectors, face

CHRISTINE IBBOTSON Column

staff shortages as we enter the Christmas season.

According to Stats Canada, the labour shortage across the country is widespread in several different sectors of the economy. They state that the inability to find enough workers is hampering the post-pandemic economic recovery.

According to the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), 55 per cent of small- and mediumsized businesses in Canada are struggling to hire the workers they need, limit-

As of November 2021, there were 875,000 jobs vacant in Canada and onethird of all businesses were reporting a labour shortage. Many economists see this as agreat problem poised to get even worse in 2022.

They predict that over the next three to five years, the last wave of baby boomers will start hitting retirement age and their departure will create approximately 600,000 to 800,000 more vacancies in the job force.

Employers will need to get more creative to attract talent. Increased wage expectations will be one of the incentives, but new employ-

ees are going to want much more post-COVID. Flexible hours and remote work options will be expected, but also greater autonomy in scheduling their work-life balance will be key.

Iknow, there are many of you that have criticized the federal government for providing pandemic income benefits and recovery benefits. While they have helped unemployed Canadians, some people still believe that this has made the labour market worse by discouraging people to come back to work.

We shouldn't be too quick to judge. It is much more complicated than that. Stats Canada states 20 per cent of Canadians who lost their jobs during the pandemic have changed their careers and gone into a different sector.

Many economists now believe that it is more the issues of our aging popula-

tion choosing to exit the workforce during the pandemic, plus our country limiting the number of immigrants allowed into Canada during the pandemic.

Whatever the reason, we can all agree that the Canadian work environment has definitely been jostled. That sounds great to me — and great for all workers in the future!

Honestly, we can't look at this as a bad thing. The new work landscape could be absolutely fabulous for all of us. Finally, good employees have a "little" more power. We can't be micromanaged anymore, and really, why should we?

Graduates can expect to get good jobs and opportunities to build their futures. As our baby boomers retire, more room will be made for the up-and-coming talent of our youth.

For those that want to work part-time: why not?

You now can be well-paid for it and valued in this workforce. Why wouldn't

you consider retiring a little earlier and working part-time for $25 an hour in the retail or hospitality sector?

Employers can get a mature, trustworthy and dependable employee, while the retired professional gets a less stressful, more flexible employment situation where they're valued, they get out in the community helping others, and now, are well paid for it.

Good luck and best wishes,

Money Lady

Christine Ibbotson is the author of the bestselling book "How to Retire Debt Free & Wealthy" and a new book "Don't Panic — How to Manage your Finances and Financial Anxieties During and After the Coronavirus," available at all bookstores across Canada.

If you have a money question, please email on website: www.askthemoneylady.ca. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

FACING STAFF SHORTAGES, COMPANIES ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES, WRITES CHRISTINE IBBOTSON

10 DRINKS TO ENJOY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

THESE LCBO PRODUCTS PROMISE THE PERFECT GIFT FOR THE WINE OR SPIRIT LOVERS ON YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST, WRITES SHARI MOGK-EDWARDS

Together with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season comes peak gifting season.

To simplify shopping for the wine and spirit lovers on your lists, I have a curated collection of 10 products for you to consider and explore.

From Beamsville, Kew Vineyards Blanc de Noirs 2017 is a sophisticated white sparkling wine made from Pinot Noir. It is a superb value for $29.95.

It is charming and balanced with good acidity, soft yeast aromas, and a lingering finish. Kew Vineyards Blanc de Noirs 2017 can be served as an aperitif, with fish dishes or your favourite shortbread.

Suppose you want to impress or are a champagne lover, why not try Taittinger Brut Réserve Champagne? At $63.15, this is one of my favourites, and it never disappoints.

It has soft mineral and citrus aromas and a creamy, toasty lingering finish. You can confidently serve this with most foods. I had the pleasure of touring the Taittinger Cellars, and I highly recommend a visit!

Elgin Vintners Chardonnay 2019 tastes like a very expensive white burgundy at the bargain price of $19.95. Located an hour east of Cape Town, Elgin Vintners is a partnership of farmers in the cool-climate Elgin Valley.

Chardonnay is the world's most popular white grape, and Elgin Vintners Chardonnay 2019 has refreshing tropical aromas and a mild soft oak finish. Serve with anything buttery, roast turkey, mushroom risotto, or a vegan stir-fry.

At $49.95, Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is a classic white from Rutherford in the Napa Valley. Sauvignon Blanc was

the first white grape planted at the winery in 1972, and this wine reminds me of excellent white Bordeaux.

Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2020 has melon aromas with both zesty and rich flavours. Serve with smoked salmon, pasta with cream sauce, or roasted as-

At $24.95, it is a bargain compared to many reds from Bordeaux commanding much higher prices. Clos de los Siete 2018 makes an affordable gift for the red wine lover on your list. Serve with roast beef, leg of lamb, or ratatouille.

You can't go wrong with Brunello. Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2016 is from the breathtaking Banfi Estate in Tuscany, Italy. Try and visit if you are in the area.

The stunning Banfi Castello is featured on the wine label. This classic brunello is 100 per cent Sangiovese and is worth a splurge of $56.95, either for yourself or as a gift.

It has a velvet texture with rich vanilla and floral flavours. Serve Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2016 with roast duck, beef tenderloin, aged cheeses, and baked portobello mushrooms.

The highly rated Burmester 10-Year-Old Tawny Port at $29.95, is a blend of grapes Indigenous to the Douro Valley: 30 per cent Touriga Nacional, 30 per cent Tinta Roriz and 30 per cent Touriga Franca.

Burmester 10-Year-Old Tawny

Port has a forward nose of rich dried fruit, aromas of nuts, and a full and intense finish. Serve with chocolate, crème brûlée, stilton and dried figs.

Kavi Reserve Coffee Blended Canadian Whisky is cold-brewed coffee blended with Canadian Whisky. It has distinct coffee, woody aromas with a smooth texture, and finish.

Kavi Reserve Coffee Blended Canadian Whisky does not have the typical overly sweet syrup characteristics, making it perfect for the coffee lover on your list. It can be served over ice, with cola, or in an old fashioned.

Given the popularity of peanut butter, it is exciting to see a new product called, Nutt Bar

Elgin Vintners Chardonnay 2019 | Elgin, South Africa | 750 mL | alc/vol 13.5% | sugar 2 g/L | cork finish | VINTAGES +21156 | $19.95

Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2020 | Napa Valley, California | 750 mL | alc/vol 14% | sugar 2 g/L | cork finish | VINTAGES +707224 | $49.95

Clos de los Siete 2018 | Mendoza, Argentina | 750 mL | alc/vol 14.5% | sugar 2 g/L | cork finish | VINTAGES + 622571 | $24.95

Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2016 | Tuscany, Italy | 750 mL | alc/vol 14.5% | sugar 2 g/L | cork finish | VINTAGES +378257 | $56.95

Kew Vineyards Blanc de Noirs 2017 | Beamsville, Ontario | 750 mL | alc/vol

12% | sugar 6 g/L | cork finish | VINTAGES +380030 | $29.95

Taittinger Brut Réserve Champagne | Champagne, France | 750 mL | alc/vol

12.5% | sugar 10 g/L | cork finish | VINTAGES +365312 | $63.15

Burmester 10-Year-Old Tawny Port | Douro, Portugal | 750 mL | alc/vol 20% | sugar 116 g/L | cork finish | VINTAGES +223958 | $29.95

Kavi Reserve Coffee Blended Canadian Whisky | Wolfhead Distillery, Amherstburg. Ontario | 750 mL | alc/vol 36.2% | cork top | LCBO +497891 | $31.95

Baileys Almande | R & A Bailey & Co Ltd, Illinois, USA | 750 mL | alc/vol 13% | screw top | LCBO +455428 | $31.45

Nutt Bar Peanut Butter Whisky | H2 Craft Spirits, Ontario | 750 mL | alc/vol 33.2% | cork top | LCBO +25225 | $34.95

paragus.

From a single vineyard in the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina, comes Clos de los Siete 2018. This wine is a blend of malbec, merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and small amounts of petit verdot and cabernet franc, and it is delicious!

Peanut Butter Whisky. It is an inventive blend of Canadian whisky and natural roasted peanut flavours.

It is smooth and luxurious with a kiss of sweetness, despite being sugar free. Serve Nutt Bar

Peanut Butter Whisky straight up, over ice, or with a peanut butter sandwich!

The final selection is a decadent indulgence for the vegan or lactose intolerant on your list. Made with almond milk and Irish whiskey, Baileys Almande is the dairy-free version of the famous Bailey's Irish Cream. Baileys Almande has a lighter texture than the flagship Baileys with nutty and vanilla flavours. Excellent chilled, it is a treat to add to coffee, coconut water, or over ice.

Happy holidays!

As a former vice-president and head buyer at LCBO, Shari Mogk-Edwards has tasted and selected wines and spirits from around the world. She developed Shari's Picks and now runs sharispicks.ca.

A bottle of Kew Vineyards Blanc de Noirs 2017.

Shari Mogk-Edwards photo

SHARI MOGK-EDWARDS