ND Times Issue 16 August 10 2023

Sending Sunshine: A simple, important idea

sends holiday cards to seniors, the above stories from my mom flooded into my mind immediately. A holiday card may not be the same as a visit, but it’s certainly something. The charity has a goal of dramatically increasing its output of holiday cards this year. See their message below:

“Did you know that the winter holidays are the loneliest time for seniors? While it is generally a time to gather with loved ones, there are many seniors who have no family or friends to celebrate with. This makes the holiday season an especially lonely time for our most vulnerable.

by Brandon Mayer

Some stories in life truly stick with you. My mom worked for over a decade as a Personal Support Worker. She was itinerant, and therefore worked both in people’s homes, and in retirement homes and long term care homes. As is common for PSWs, she had to work every second Christmas and got roped into working most other holidays.

Of course, being a PSW takes an emotional toll for many reasons, but one thing that my mom had to deal with was seeing senior citi-

zens excitedly get dressed up for no one. I’m sure that many readers currently have elderly relatives in long term care. Their loneliness knows no bounds. Long term care facilities are great at planning activities and providing amazing care, but there is no substitute for the family that an elderly person raised and loved their whole life.

When my mom invariably worked a split day on Christmas, early morning and then a couple of hours late afternoon or early evening, what she saw was often heartbreaking. Seniors who hadn’t seen their families in months would automati-

cally assume that today was the day. It’s Christmas, of course my family will visit, right? My mom would be asked to dress them in their best clothes and make sure they looked nice. When she would return later that same day, many would still be waiting for relatives who were never going to show up. If the mental picture of that doesn’t have you choking back tears, I don’t know what would. Truly heartbreaking.

Sending Sunshine

When the Times received a submission from a Canadian charity called “Sending Sunshine”, which

Sending Sunshine is on a mission to help raise the spirits of our seniors this holiday season in a BIG way. Last year, we delivered cards to 200 facilities across the country during the holidays. This year, our goal is to send cards to all 669 (and counting) of our partnered facilities!

In order to make this goal a reality, we have launched our "Holiday Cheer Throughout the Year" campaign to raise the funds necessary to cover the shipping cost of these cards. Last year, we spent $3,000 to send 200 packages of cards, and so we are hoping to raise $10,000 to cover the cost of shipping cards to more than triple the number of facilities as last year.

To help out a great cause, visit https://www.sendingsunshine.ca/.”

Awesome repairs, silly signs

County Road 9 coming from South Mountain. It’s out of the way. It is more efficient to go through Chesterville, even with the 40km/h speed limit. I would estimate that 90% of the cars I see approaching the road closure sign west of town go around it. Chesterville is a vibrant town with plenty of amenities and a solid economy. It is not surprising that so many people are driving TO it, not AROUND it.

by Brandon Mayer

We take a lot of things for granted in our day-today lives. When was the last time you were worried, while driving, that a bridge might collapse underneath you? Never? Same with me. It’s easy to criticize white collar workers like engineers and government officials, but the work they do is just as important as the grunt work that keeps society moving. I have no interest in tracking the age and safety of every bridge I drive over, so I appreciate the fact that experts do it for me.

The County Road 43 bridge over the South Nation River in Chesterville is currently under rehabilitation. I could easily add in some kind of arrogant quip

like “it’s about time!”, but that would be misleading. I had no idea the bridge needed rehabilitation until the proposed rehabilitation was announced. I suspect the same can be said for most motorists. Thanks, pencil pushers!

I greatly appreciate the repairs, and the cost savings to taxpayers from the fact that Council opted to have the bridge entirely closed during the work, rather than opening one lane at a time. One thing that leaves something to be desired, however, is the placement of the road closure signs when entering Chesterville via County Road 43 from the west or east.

These signs were placed by the Counties to direct traffic onto alternative county roads for a detour route. This makes sense – the Counties

generally only use their own roads for detour routes. However, anyone with any knowledge of Chesterville at all is not going to use the Counties detour route to get around the village. The route uses County Roads 7 and 9. It is much faster to go right through town. This applies most for those with a living and working situation that requires commuting between Winchester and Chesterville. People with local geographical knowledge are not about to drive out of their way because a sign says to do so.

My oldest son has soccer in Chesterville. The infinitely more efficient route to get there requires us to consider ourselves “local traffic” and drive around the road closure sign. My parents live in Avonmore –to get there, I refuse to use

The placement of the road closure signs in the middle of the traffic lanes at both ends of town is – in a word – silly. It requires a significant number of cars to enter the oncoming traffic lane in order to proceed. Easily more than half, and potentially even most of the cars approaching town, go around the sign. It’s an accident waiting to happen. I have even observed a car recently passing the sign on the right to avoid an oncoming car. The dust made me think, for a brief moment, that he took the ditch. Motorists are not giving themselves enough reaction time, because they are not used to yielding to oncoming traffic on a busy highway without some kind of control, or at least a yield sign. The signs should be moved to the side of the road. Chesterville is open for business, and County Road 43 is much more than just a bypass route.

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by Brandon Mayer

All that glitters UCDSB trustee allegedly violates code of conduct twice

“Asteroid that could make everyone on Earth a billionaire confirmed to be exploded this year.” Sometimes, reading something stupid online makes one want to simply mentally extinguish it and move on. Other times, the stupidity is so intense that it warrants picking apart.

The post above was one I came across on a social media page of very little consequence. “Clickbait”, as they call it – something eye-catching and outrageous enough to encourage clicking on a worthless article that seems like hard-hitting journalism, so that online advertising revenue can be sucked out of the world’s most daft beings.

While I stand by the assertion that the post I saw was intended as “clickbait”, the real problem is that reputable news sources have picked it up. What exactly is the story here? An asteroid called “16 Psyche” has been identified in the area between Mars and Jupiter. It is believed to be the “metallic heart of a dead planet” containing so much iron, nickel, and gold that in Earth value today, it would be worth somewhere in the ballpark of $10,000,000,000,000,000,000. (No, that is not a made up exaggeration, it is the actual calculated number).

As it turns out, this would theoretically be enough money to make everyone on Earth a billionaire. The keyword is “theoretically”, as in – solely as a math problem. My concern is that reputable news sources seem to be missing the “theoretically” part. NASA is reportedly going to be exploring the asteroid, and news sources are suggesting that we are all going to be rich. The Economic Times, a division of the India Times, has a headline reading “NASA mission 'Psyche' can make everyone a billionaire”. A headline from NDTV reads “This rare asteroid may make everyone a billionaire on this Earth”. The first line of an article on iHeart. com – a popular radio and news website – reads “NASA has announced a mission that could make every single person on Earth a billionaire.”

Have we seriously lost any trace of common sense?

I understand the interest created by the “theory” of how much Earth money this asteroid would be worth, but are the people writing these articles honestly believing that this totally worthless asteroid is the solution to all of the world’s problems? The belief that money is some magic outside force that can make goods and services appear out of thin air has to be one of the most brainless things I have ever read. And last week, I was reading about it on the websites of news agencies that really ought to know better.

Money is nothing more than a standardized barter system. If you were stranded alone on an island with no hope of rescue anytime soon, would you rather have a box of food or a box of $100 bills? Anyone with common sense would choose the food. The money has no value beyond what someone else is willing to give you for it. When there is no one around to barter with, the money may as well be firewood, and it won’t burn for long. Take the food!

Capitalism is great. Why? Because it encourages hard work and contribution to society through the promise of reward. But we can’t lose sight of what money is supposed to represent. In its purest form, money represents what a person has done for society and for others. If I work 8 hours in a meat processing plant (as I used to every day, many years ago), then I receive a certain amount of money that puts a value on that contribution to others’ nutrition. I can then put my money toward shelter, a variety of food for myself, other necessities, and more. The money I pay to others acknowledges the work they’ve done for me, and they can get necessities as well. And so on.

What would someone do for you in exchange for $1 billion of iron, nickel and gold, if they also had $1 billion worth of iron, nickel and gold? Absolutely nothing, except perhaps an act of kindness. The monetary value that we place on goods and services depends on the usefulness those goods and services bring for those who receive them. Starving people don’t care whether or not all that glitters is gold. They care about where their next meal is going to come from.

Instead of worrying about get rich quick schemes – and the embarrassing articles from clickbait news agencies that promote these ridiculous ideas – worry about what you can do for society, both today and in general with your gift of life. A fortune not earned is nothing to be proud of.

by Brandon Mayer

In late June, trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board voted to find their colleague, Trustee Curtis Jordan, guilty of a Code of Conduct violation. The details of the violation were kept confidential, as is generally required by policy.

As a result of the vote, which Trustee Jordan was not allowed to take part in, he was immediately handed a six month suspension from attending Board of Trustees meetings. Following the vote, he was asked to sign out of the meeting to begin his suspension, and was told that he could rejoin as a spectator using the YouTube link available to the public. During the suspension, Trustee Jordan keeps his position – elected in 2022 to represent Ward 9 (Stormont and Glengarry). However, he will not be able to attend meetings or vote on the issues brought before

the board.

Trustee Jordan accepted his suspension and logged off, but remained anything but quiet about it after the fact. He spoke to the Recorder and Times – a Brockville Newspaper – and made big claims about the reasons for his suspension.

“These allegations were very petty in nature,” said Trustee Jordan to the Recorder and Times. “I’ll admit I’ve made some mistakes. One of the mistakes I made was I wore blue jeans to a Board meeting.” He also claims that he was not always following parliamentary procedure in meetings because it was a learning experience. He is open about the fact that he is autistic, and believes that he is the only elected autistic official in Canada. “I was elected to have a voice at that table regardless of whether or not I’m communicating in perfect parliamentary procedure, and regardless of what

I am wearing to that Board table,” he added.

The comments made to the Recorder and Times were picked up by many news agencies, a story seemingly painting the UCDSB as unduly harsh at best, and discriminatory at worst. In a twist to the story, the interview landed Trustee Jordan in even more hot water.

The Chair of the Board for the UCDSB, John McAllister, sent out a press release reading:

“The Board of Trustees for the Upper Canada District School Board strenuously objects to Trustee Curtis Jordan’s false statements to the Recorder and Times, as reported on July 14, 2023, which were shared across many media properties.

It is untrue that Trustee Jordan was disciplined for wearing blue jeans to a Board meeting, or for failing to observe parliamentary procedure.

Following an investiga-

tion, the Board of Trustees found that Trustee Jordan breached the Trustee Code of Conduct as a result of comments he made in response to a caution about the need to ensure that his expense claims comply with the Board’s Expense Reimbursement Policy. Trustee Jordan declined all of the opportunities he was offered to participate in the investigation and did not offer any response to the complaint made against him.

A second Code of Conduct complaint has now been filed against Trustee Jordan, alleging that he knowingly misrepresented the reasons for the sanctions imposed by the Board on June 21st, 2023.”

The new allegations against Trustee Jordan have not yet been investigated or put to a vote. It is unclear what sanctions he may receive if found guilty of a second offence during his suspension.

Township staff and Council raising funds for Dundas Manor

by Brandon Mayer

Members of North Dundas Council as well as Township staff are participating in a familyfriendly fundraiser walk next month to raise money for Dundas Manor. The event – called “The Grand Parade” – aims to support local charities and organizations that support Canada’s aging population. Dundas Manor was a fitting beneficiary for the local team.

A national event, The Grand Parade involves 2.5km long predetermined looped routes which can be walked once or twice to make it a 5km walk. The event features a walker checkin, send-off ceremonies, signed routes, rest stops, and helpful volunteers along the way. The event

will take place next month on September 16.

Winchester’s very own event has a route that begins at the Community Care Building on Fred Street, and loops through the subdivision and up through the downtown core before returning. It’s not too late to register your own team!

Participants must register ahead of time by visiting https://thegrandparade.org/register. There is no registration fee to participate in The Grand Parade, but the organization encourages all participants to fundraise. As a goal, most walkers raise around $250, sometimes much more!

The Township’s team is called “North Dundas Township Trekkers”. A note on the team’s fundraising page reads, “In Canada, growing older

can often rob people of status, a sense of being valued, and even selfrespect. On September 16, 2023, we're walking and fundraising to publicly honour and support aging friends and family and to raise funds for the much-needed new Dundas Manor. Please give generously to our campaign.”

Dundas Manor is a well-regarded long term care home in the heart of Winchester. It opened in 1978, and in 2020, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care approved a plan to build a new and improved facility, right next door to the existing one. The current expectation is for “shovels to be in the ground”

this fall.

There are different ways to show support for Dundas Manor through The Grand Parade, including registering to participate or donating to a local team. You can donate to the North Dundas Township Trekkers by visiting https://secure. e2rm.com/registrant/ TeamFundraisingPage. aspx?teamID=1001706. You can also donate to a specific member of the Township team by clicking on their name after visiting the team link above.

Good ol’ Maslow

by Brandon Mayer

“Won’t somebody please think of the children!?” Such a classic line never gets old, and I would say it aptly summarizes probably about 95% of reasoning used by climate change activists in furthering their cause. Future generations will have to suffer for current bad choices, there is little doubt about that, but people are driven by the immediate necessities of life, not doomsday lectures.

Early last week, I stepped outside one morning to discover that everything smelled really good. I couldn’t put my finger on it. It was almost like “nostalgia”. I quickly realized it must be that the air just finally smelled like “air” instead of smoke. Wildfires –and resulting transcontinental smoke – have definitely given us a reminder that the world is getting hotter and drier.

Childhood was simpler when Smokey the Bear made solutions to big problems seem easy. “Only YOU can prevent wildfires.” Unfortunately, Smokey lied. Long gone are the days when people just had to be more

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, It would appear to me that the column “Tid bit musings” by Elva Patterson Rutters RSSW aligns with my thoughts. I applaud ND Times for including Ms. Patterson Rutters’ column for her insight, including common sense, at times overlooked. “Tid Bit Musings” offers a person something to think about while including a bit of humour in the mix.

Josephine Herman

Dear Editor,

RE: "Housing Services asks Township to set aside vacant land" (July 27, 2023), I did a double-take and then sat in mild shock as I read about Housing Services Manager, Lisa Smith, from the Cornwall SD&G Human Services Department asking

careful with their campfires to quash the problem of wildfires. Now, the planet is becoming so hot and dry that over half of all wildfires are caused by lightning strikes.

I’m sure that many readers also remember when recycling was a status symbol. Plenty of recycling bins still have the simple phrase “We Recycle” written on the side, meant to be a statement of pride when seen by neighbours driving by. This is no longer a brag. Everyone recycles. For most households, recycling is a practical necessity regardless of personal feelings toward the environment, due in part to garbage limits that restrict us to a couple of bags per week.

Ever drive behind an old car lately? I’m not talking “Model T” old, but any car from the 70s or 80s (maybe even some from the 90s). Even with the windows up, and the air conditioning on recirculate, it only takes a few seconds for the overwhelming smell of exhaust to reach your own car. Hey, I’m not complaining – I love seeing people ride around in their nostalgic old toys – but that smell certainly serves as a reminder that vehicle emission standards have

tightened considerably in the last few decades. Yet here we are, still facing “doom”. Progress made has not been progress enough. Psychologically, that is bound to make people give up. They need signs that we are going in the right direction, not just apocalyptic tales.

A Merrickville pharmacist (who also happens to be the President of the Ontario Green Party chapter in Leeds and Grenville) posted on social media a couple of weeks ago lamenting that municipalities aren’t doing enough to stop climate change. Is anyone doing enough, though? Does anyone really ever get an A+ from the Green Party?

People are potentially seeing real signs of climate change for themselves for the first time, with intensifying storms, wildfires and smoke, and rising average temperatures (though the chilly weather last week definitely threw a wrench in that mix!). What people aren’t seeing is hope. Fingers pointed at them? Yes, lots of those. But they’re not seeing changes on the big scale that can actually make a difference. It’s just a “blame the little guy/gal”

game. Any readers who have studied psychology may know of Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist who is most famous for his “Hierarchy of Needs”. It’s a handy tool resembling a pyramid that can be useful in therapy because it reminds clients that they can’t expect to tackle all of their problems at once. There are certain basic needs that must be met before we can expect our bodies and minds to give us the necessary energy to tackle our more intricate needs or others’ needs.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs starts with physiological needs, such as food, shelter, and sleep. Second is safety needs, third is love and belonging, fourth is esteem, and fifth – which Maslow proposed not everyone reaches in their lifetime – is self-actualization. Where might we put “saving the planet” on Maslow’s pyramid? I would say it should either go on the second level, safety needs, since “resources” and “health” are listed as two needs in that category, or otherwise it could go all the way to the top, to the self-actualization level. That top level is “the

desire to be the most that one can be”, and for the average person, it’s necessary to at least meet personal needs before attempting to single handedly conquer a problem created by almost 8 billion people.

Think of how many people you know who can’t meet their needs at the bottom of the pyramid. They may be struggling to eat, struggling to secure and pay for housing, and struggling to get sleep on account of working 16 hours a day to make ends meet. Now take those same people and try to pressure them into buying an electric car using a mix of guilt and carbon taxes. That’s a very small-minded “solution” that helps absolutely no one. Our economy is in a sad state right now. Fewer basic needs are being met, and less energy is available to give a single care toward the environment.

Two things need to happen to “save the planet”. One is that governments need to prioritize basic human needs again – stop the extravagant spending, build some affordable housing, and cut out the taxes that drive the prices of fuel, food, and other necessities up.

The second requirement is the development of global solutions that only governments can implement. Work on electrical grids that can actually handle electric cars that aren’t powered by the same fossil fuels that we are trying to eliminate. Mandate packaging that doesn’t make people feel like idiots when stuffing 10 pounds of plastic packaging into their reusable shopping bag. Invest in better wildfire fighting technology. Make environmentally friendly products and technology affordable by normalizing it, rather than punishing poor people for being poor.

We stopped letting our campfires turn into wildfires. We recycle. We drive vehicles with tight emissions standards. We eat – oops, I mean “we use” – paper straws and pack groceries in reusable shopping bags. We try and try and try. Good ol’ Maslow. Who knew a dead psychologist would one day tackle climate change? Meet people’s basic needs first, and then sit back and see what they are capable of. We might all be surprised.

Meta will soon prevent Canadians from accessing news content

form.

Council about using Township land along the railroad tracks in Chesterville for a new affordable housing build.

The negative short and long-term effects on the human mind and body from living along railroad tracks have been well documented: increased rates of cancer, asthma, pollution, 24-hour noise pollution, stress, insomnia, increased heart disease and diabetes, risk to wandering children - not to mention being a far distance walk to school, and, God forbid, the risk of derailment and hazardous waste catastrophes, to name a few.

I wonder if anyone on Council or at Cornwall's Housing Services Department would want to live in a home situated close

to railroad tracks? Haven't the poor and marginalized suffered enough already? Surely they deserve far better than this.

Ann Brady

Dear Editor,

I wanted to write in about the new roundabout on 43 at South Gower Dr. I use it often as I live close by, and I love it! I feel so much safer and I usually catch myself both sighing with relief and smiling because it is such a great change! I know there are people who live close by to it who were concerned about it, and I sincerely hope it is working out for them.

Bradlee Zrudlo

submitted by News Media Canada

Meta announced earlier this week that it will soon begin blocking all news access on its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, in protest of the recent passing of Bill C-18, the

Online News Act, by the federal government.

In comments provided to The Canadian Press, News Media Canada president and CEO Paul Deegan said this “intemperate” action will harm user experience and devalue the Facebook plat-

“Without access to real fact-based news created by real journalists, Facebook will become far less attractive to users and advertisers,” Deegan said in a statement. “We expect more and more advertisers and their agencies will begin pulling advertising from the platform in response to this unilateral, undemocratic, and unreasonable move.”

Pascale St-Onge, Canada’s new Minister of Canadian Heritage, called the decision “irresponsible” and said she intends to “stand up for Canadians against tech giants.”

A Legacy of care starts with our community

Those touched by the care provided to them, or a loved one, are often inspired to give. Their hope is that their gift will show their gratitude and help ensure that this care will continue for their family, friends, and communitynow and in the future. Many of these donors want to say ‘thank you’ and wish they could do more.

Some do not realize that there are different ways to give and that there is a way to complete their vision of giving. A gift in a person’s Will or through their estate – often referred to as a legacy gift - is a way to accomplish that goal. Legacy giving can include a gift in your Will or listing the WDMH Foundation as a beneficiary to your RRSP, RRIF, TFSA, or Life Insurance Policy. After loved ones are cared for, this is a wonderful way to support excellent health care in your community and leave

a lasting impact. Along with feeling fulfilled and knowing the special legacy you are leaving, legacy giving has incredible tax benefits – meaning your loved ones could receive more.

Many people believe that the size of the gift they could make would not be significant enough. All gifts, no matter the size, are important and leave an impact for our community.

No matter the reason for giving, whether it be for personal fulfillment, a way to say ‘thank you’, or for the charitable tax benefits, a legacy gift will help to ensure our community has excellent care available for everyone close to home.

To learn more about legacy giving to support Winchester District Memorial Hospital and/or Dundas Manor Long-Term Care Home, please contact fellow legacy donor, Erin Kapcala – Manager of Major and Planned Giving for the

WDMH Foundation at 613292-7468 or ekapcala@ wdmh.on.ca

Community. Care. Close to Home.

The information and opinions are obtained from various sources believed to be reliable, but their accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

The WDMH Foundation and its employees and agents assume no responsibility for errors or omissions or for damages arising from the use of the published information and opinions. Readers are cautioned to consult their own professional advisors to determine the applicability of information and opinions in any particular circumstances.

a.m. Dundas County 4-H Beef Achievement Day

12:00 p.m. Meet the Keepers Rescue Animal Stage Presentation (Children’s Entertainment Tent)

12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Beer Garden Open (Entertainment Tent)

12:30 p.m. Dino Walk-about

12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Rodeo Bar Open

1:00 p.m. Simmental and Angus Beef Cattle Show

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Hillbilly Highway (Entertainment Tent) (All Ages Welcome)

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Black Creek Rodeo presents the Kubota South Mountain Rodeo (Western Horse Ring)

2:00 p.m. Meet the Keepers Rescue Animal Stage Presentation (Children’s Entertainment Tent)

2:30 p.m. Dino Walk-about

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Gail Gavan (Entertainment Tent) (All Ages Welcome)

3:30 p.m. Grand Prize Draw (Entertainment Tent)

4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. George Canyon (Entertainment Tent) (All Ages Welcome)

6:00 p.m. Fair Closes

Fertilizer - Seed - Crop Protection

are possible.

careers.

Super corn borer resistant to Bt corn could infect Eastern Ontario first

by Peggy Brekveld, President, OFA

Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture get together once a year to discuss issues that are important to our sector across the country. Their most recent meeting just took place in New Brunswick, immediately following the summer Board meeting of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), which brought together farm leaders from across Canada, including the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA).

This was also an opportunity for the CFA to host its annual federal-provincialterritorial agriculture ministers’ roundtable to provide ministers with farmer perspectives on issues like the proposed national Sustainable Agriculture Strategy, the financial health of farm businesses and the industryled Grocery Sector Code of Conduct.

As farmers, we know that one of the key pieces of any sustainability strategy for agriculture means making sure that we’re talking about more than just the environment. The economic and social pillars of sustainability are just as important – critical, in fact, to making sure that the investments needed for environmental sustainability

Economically, we need business risk management programs to provide the support we need to address the risks that naturally come with farming, and a regulatory environment that is responsive, representative of the modern needs of our sector and doesn’t place our farmers at a competitive disadvantage compared to their international counterparts.

We also want to see that markets are fair, whether through our international trade agreements or in our domestic markets through the new Grocery Sector Code of Conduct that is currently in development and slated for implementation by the end of the year.

Socially, we need our rural communities to be healthy. Farmer mental wellness matters as that’s the key to our sector’s future – simply put, we can’t farm without farmers. Social sustainability also means protecting and strengthening our food security to ensure that Canadians continue to have access to affordable, high-quality food and that we protect our ability to grow, raise and produce as many different farm products as possible right here at home.

Equally, our environment needs to continue to be healthy. More than most people, farmers depend on the weather and on healthy soils and clean water for their livelihoods. We’ve long been committed to reducing our environmental footprint and working to leave our farms to the next generation of farmers in better condition than when we took them over at the start of our farming

There are, of course, many more ways that agriculture can continue to make its environmental footprint even better, from precision farming technologies that reduce our fertilizer use, and plant breeding that produces more disease resistant and drought tolerant crops to smart irrigation systems and automated tools and equipment that can help reduce the labour shortage on our farms.

Governments of all levels can support the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the farming sector by helping to fund initiatives and programs of all kinds that are broader and more costly than individual farmers can afford to pay for on their own.

Some of these are already being addressed through the newest federal-provincial agricultural policy framework, the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. In Ontario, for example, the federal and provincial governments just recently announced funding for three programs under the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Initiative that will help farm businesses be more productive and resilient.

Here in Ontario and nationally, there will also continue to be conversations around other important issues like animal health and biosecurity, international trade and emissions reductions and it’s important for farmers to continue to be included in those discussions so that new strategies, policies and legislation will work for all involved and help ensure a sustainable future for the sector.

by Nelson Zandbergen courtesy of Farmers Forum

European corn borer is becoming resistant to the Bt corn varieties that have effectively repelled the pest for 25 years, and Eastern Ontario producers are likely to see it munching on their crop first before it attacks anywhere else in the Province, attendees were told at the 2023 Eastern Ontario Crop Diagnostic Day at OMAFRA’s Winchester research station.

While the corn borer larvae and moth was first discovered in Canada about 100 years ago, the Bt corn resistant borer, which first turned up in a Nova Scotia cornfield in 2018, has since been found in New Brunswick and in the Montreal area, according to presenters Tracey Baute, an OMAFRA entomologist, and Jocelyn Smith, entomology research scientist at the University of Guelph. It’s the corn borer larvae that bore into the corn stalk and cause rotting.

“Here in this region in particular, we’re extra concerned,” Baute said, noting

that wind events can carry the European corn borer moth beyond its regular 40km range after it pupates and emerges from corn stubble. “You guys are just close to any wind events carrying things in. If it’s going to happen in Ontario, it’ll be in this region first.”

A GMO success story, Bt corn handed producers revolutionary protection when it arrived in the marketplace 25 years ago. “If we lose Bt corn, it’ll be back to some old-school thinking or more expensive options,” Baute warned. “The reason why everyone moved to Bt is because spraying an insecticide is really difficult to do effectively and get the timing right to get those larvae when they hatch.”

Producers need to go back to scouting for corn borer, she said, an uncommon practice for decades. The small, cream coloured egg masses are laid on the underside corn leaves. The larvae get into the stalk and eat the plant from within, leaving holes.

Bt corn has done such a good job through the years

that researchers, until recently, have had a tough time collecting corn borer specimens in the field. This year, however, an unprecedented number of egg masses turned up in a corn plot at the Winchester Research station. That doesn’t indicate Bt resistance, just that the species appears to be more prevalent in the environment this season.

“I’ve found more corn borer egg masses in this plot right here than I’ve ever seen in my life,” Smith said.

Veteran agronomist Gilles Quesnel similarly observed that it was his first time ever seeing corn borer egg masses.

The most advanced Bt corn contains four proteins that are toxic to the corn borer, and the latest tests on resistant corn borer at a site in Truro, Nova Scotia, showed that those larvae survived exposure to three of those proteins. Smith said that a new protein aimed at corn borer needs to be incorporated into Bt corn, but she estimated that this will take another eight years.

Call

Elevator: 613-774-4246

Home: 613-774-3305

• Cell: 613-229-2142

12650 Ormond Road, Winchester, Ontario

There’s more to agricultural sustainability than the environment

Attendees at the 2023 Eastern Ontario Crop Diagnostic Day near Winchester look for corn borer egg masses. Photo by Nelson Zandbergen.

Train at Upper Canada Village closed indefinitely

Aug 12/13 Perseid Meteor Shower

"I've seen it rainin’ fire in the sky

The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullaby”.

The 8% waning crescent moon will rise at around 3 am and will not interfere with viewing the faint meteors.

by Gary Boyle The Backyard Astronomer

13 from 9 pm to 10:45 pm eastern.

Phillip Blancher Local Journalism Initiative

Reporter

Morrisburg Leader

Out of service for over a year, the miniature train ride at Upper Canada Village will remain closed indefinitely.

The ride, which has been shuttered since heat-related track damage caused a derailment on July 22, 2022, was to return to service this summer.

At the opening of season, the St. Lawrence Parks Commission –which operates the popular train ride – indicated that repairs to the original loop between Crysler Beach and the village would allow it to reopen this year. The extension loop to Crysler Park Marina was to remain closed this year as additional work is needed to address areas where the track

roadbed has heaved significantly.

According to the SLPC, two tenders were issued by the agency: one to repair the track on the original loop and the other for ongoing maintenance of the line. No bids were received by the end of June deadline for either tender.

“As a result, work will not begin this summer as previously anticipated,” said SLPC spokesperson Katie Forrester. “The team is determining next steps.”

The SLPC’s threeyear business plan has $200,000 budgeted in 2023-24 for the miniature train equipment, and $250,000 in 2023-24 and 2024-25 for the miniature train track.

The miniature train has been a visitor favourite for decades at Upper Canada Village.

In June, Geoff Waycik, Director of Historic Sites with the SLPC told The Leader that the agency was planning to rebuild the Crysler Beach station stop, and add a new station stop near the Battle of Crysler’s Farm Memorial while repairs to the amusement ride were made.

The train, known as the Moccasin after the local steam train milk-run that ran between Brockville and Cornwall into the 1950s, last had significant work completed in 2009-10.

At that time, an extension loop was added to Crysler Park Marina. That extension has not been used since 2019.

The amusement ride was originally built in the early 1960s with the opening of UCV.

The highlight of any summer other than camping and going to the cottage is viewing the annual Perseid Meteor Shower. This year, the peak night occurs on the night of August 12 into the morning of the 13th. We should see 60 to 80 meteors (commonly called shooting stars) dashing through the sky at 59 km/second, lighting up the night. This is peak night but the entire shower runs from July 14 to September 1. There could also be a possibility of enhanced activity on the night of Aug

What we are seeing is earth plowing through the dusty debris of Comet 109P/ Swift-Tuttle, a 26 km or 16 mile wide mountain of ice, dust and gravel that last appeared in 1992 in its 133year orbit around the sun. It will return in the year 2125.

In his 1972 song "Rocky Mountain High", American singer-songwriter John Denver refers to his experience watching the Perseid meteor shower during a family camping trip in the mountains near Aspen, Colorado, with the chorus lyric,

Known as “The Backyard Astronomer”, Gary Boyle is an astronomy educator, guest speaker and monthly columnist for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. He has been interviewed on more than 55 Canadian radio stations as well as television across Canada and the U.S. In recognition of his public outreach in astronomy, the International Astronomical Union has honoured him with the naming of Asteroid (22406) Garyboyle. Follow him on Twitter: @astroeducator, Facebook and his website: www.wondersofastronomy.com.

NDDHS art students bring life to Winchester library exhibit

Art Students on the theme of "Who Am I? / Qui suis'je?"

These stunningly original pieces will be on display until the end of August and are a must-see! Also in the works is an NDDHS Arts Fair in early December. Watch for details!

Want to exhibit your works? Contact Ann at northdundasartscouncil@ yahoo.ca for more info on this free service promoting local Artists.

NDAC meetings to resume

The North Dundas Arts Council (NDAC) will be resuming its monthly meetings on Wednesday, August 16 at 7pm at the Winchester Legion, 482 Main Street E., Winchester, ON. If you have the skills, dedication and desire to be part of our board, or have fresh ideas to share, we want to meet you!

‘Art in the Branches’ continues its local art exhibits at Winchester Public Library through the summer with a very exciting new installation! Art teacher

Kathi Poirier, pictured here with some of the artwork on the shelves and beside her, has installed several new pieces created by North Dundas District High School

On the agenda will be the forming of a new board of directors and identifying key goals and special projects for the coming year. Artists of all genres and supporters of the Arts are welcome and refreshments will be served. For more information, visit our Facebook page "North Dundas Arts Council" or contact Ann at northdundasartscouncil@yahoo.ca.

Significant trackbed heaving (left) and debris on the line (right) prompted St. Lawrence Parks Commission operators to stop running its miniature train ride on the expanded route between Upper Canada Village and Crysler Park Marina this season. The attraction operated on the original shorter route until a derailment in July shuttered the popular ride indefinitely. Photo by Phillip Blancher.

The Weather with Connor

CROSSWORD

Hello, everyone! Welcome back to another week of The Weather with Connor. This week’s column will finally be about the final 9 days of my Western Canada chasecation. When I wrote about this a month ago, I last left off at the end of Day 9, which was me taking a day off to relax at our downtown Holiday Inn in Saskatoon after Day 8’s storms. Let me continue…

After Day 8, there actually weren't any storms to chase at all, so we used Day 9 to rest. The rest of the trip was basically the same, an actual vacation to just rest. Day 10, we woke up in Saskatoon and knew we had to be checked out of our hotel by 11:00am that morning. Without any storms to chase, we figured we’d go to another city that we’ve never been in, and stay for a couple of days again. I found a great deal for a hotel right in Downtown Edmonton; it was the Fairmont Macdonald, a beautiful, classic, old school hotel. The place was massive, and had so many things. Thankfully, breakfast was included in the hotel room, because breakfast for Zoe and I came to $77, which is simply unfathomable for two regular plates.

We stayed at the Fairmont, as I said, for two nights, with the second day/ night being Day 11. We just hung around the hotel all day, going down to the pool and spa area for 4 hours, and spending the rest of our time ordering Uber Eats for fun, because why not? We can’t do that in Winchester!

Day 12 was a bit of a travel day, but first we hung around Edmonton for a little bit and went to the West Edmonton Mall. Let me tell you, that place is unexplainably huge. We were there for 3 hours, maybe 4, and barely even touched the place. We found the hockey rink that’s inside the mall (where a minor hockey league game was being played, which was super cool), walked through some stores, and

realized that we hadn’t even found the water park, food court, or anything else. It’s completely insane, and if you want to see the whole place in one day, get there at like 6:00am or something so that you can leave by 9:00pm. Maybe then you’ll see the whole place! After the Mall, we traveled back south on HWY 2 towards Airdrie, where we went to Montana’s for supper, and then just went back to our hotel to relax for the evening and night.

On Day 13, we decided that we’d go to the Calgary Zoo! The zoo was massive. So many areas to visit and sit, with obviously super cool animals. That was a hot day for that much walking though, and I made the mistake of not wearing sunscreen. My face wasn’t too bad, but I burned my scalp which was the itchiest burn I have ever had. Never again please. After the Zoo, we traveled a little further south on HWY 2 to the small town of Nanton about an hour south of Calgary. This town is a cute highway town, one that I actually really like. It also has a completely ridiculous candy store which is impossible to not spend like $70 inside of it per trip. So that’s what I did. And I got ice cream too! After the candy store, we went to Medicine Hat and stayed there at a beautiful brand new Best Western Premier.

Day 14 was a rest day at the Best Western before making the trek home. We spent a lot of the day at the pool, and indulged for supper at Little Caesars for fun.

Day 15 was the first travel day back home. It was a long and at times tiring drive. We went from Medicine Hat, Alberta, to Dryden Ontario. We were in 4 provinces in 1 day. It was about a 15-hour day, which is generally the maximum that I do because I do NOT want to drive in the dark up north in Ontario (I did anyway the next day and broke my own rule).

Day 16 was even longer than Day 15. We woke up at 5:00am in Dryden and were on the road by 5:30, just as the light was coming out, as we were in for a super long day. We went from Dryden to North Bay, which is about 16 hours (maybe a little more with stops for gas and whatnot). We drove in the dark on HWY 11 for an hour before getting to our hotel in North Bay. I told myself that I’d never drive in the dark up north just because of the danger of moose. Thankfully, I didn’t see one, but I did see a deer. I won’t be doing the arriving in the dark thing again, that’s for sure. Once was enough.

On Day 17, we decided to take a little bit of a detour home. Instead of taking the logical and shorter way home on HWY 17, we went towards Huntsville on HWY 11 and got off there. Then we went east on HWY 60 towards Barry’s Bay and Killaloe, as that area is forever stitched into my heart since I spent every weekend of my childhood there. After Killaloe, we checked out one of my favourite spots on earth, Bonnechere Lodge on Golden Lake. We had a trailer there as a family for many, many years, but also rented cottages there for years before having a trailer. We went back just to see the place as I hadn’t been there in 5 years, and Zoe hasn’t been there at all. It was nice to go back. After that, we got back on HWY 60 and went towards home, which was only 3-ish hours away at that point. We arrived home at about 6:30pm, capping off our trip across Canada.

Day 18 was just a rest and do nothing day before heading back to work the next day.

And that ends the story of our Chasecation turned Vacation! Luckily no car issues, or any issues of any kind this trip. The 3rd straight year driving across our beautiful country of Canada!

Featuring Connor Mockett

Baldwin's Birds

any discomfort or inconvenience so, hopefully, everything will be OK. It certainly didn't stop it hunting for food and, thankfully, feeding the "babes".

Q & ARegistered Education Savings Plans

by Cynthia Batchelor, BCom, Financial Advisor

O’Farrell Wealth & Estate Planning | Assante Capital Management Ltd.

Second Batch Blues

It would seem that our Bluebirds have not given up on trying to bring more of their species into the world and have just about finished with their second brood. Lots of noise from their chicks and rapid disposal of any food coming their way seemed to indicate that they were getting fairly big. At least Mum, or Dad, didn't need to enter the nesting box to feed them, as is demonstrated by the picture of one of

them clutching the woodwork by the entrance!

Yuk! I have just looked at my picture a little bit more closely and noticed that there is a small piece of electrical wire attached to the bird, just above the left leg and the tail feathers (lower right hand side of my picture). Hopefully, it is only caught in its feathers and will come adrift pretty quickly. None of us watching the bird had noticed it experiencing

Our regular evening visitor, one of the Hummingbirds, didn't disappoint last evening, and having fed from our feeder, it flew down and perched in the sunlight amongst the leaves of one of our trees. There are no very bright colours to see, so I suspect that it is an immature one or a female. Of course, it didn't stay for very long before disappearing for the night ahead in its roost, wherever that might be!

Others in our varied avian flock still come to visit, so despite the slowing-down of the nesting activities in our back garden, there is still plenty to keep us interested and occupied at the front of the house, fortunately. I hope the same is happening for you too. Stay safe and well, Cheers, John

Baldwin

60th high school reunion a blast at NDDHS

by Brandon Mayer

A local reunion for former students and staff of North Dundas’ only secondary school took place last weekend, with hundreds of guests in attendance for various festivities.

A key organizer of the event, which was open to students and staff from throughout the past 60 years, was Eric Duncan, former Mayor of North Dundas who is now serving as the Member of Parliament for the local SD&G electoral riding.

MP Duncan gave a breakdown of some of the event’s activities in a conversation with the Times. He explained that opening ceremonies took place at NDDHS on August 4, with 410 paid registrations for the opening reception. The following day, on Saturday, August 5, there was an open house, memory rooms, and a staff lounge, all open to the public free of charge at the school.

The festivities moved to the Winchester Arena later in the day on Saturday, where over 300 people were welcomed for dinner, and more people joined for a dance afterward. In total, MP Duncan

estimates that more than 500600 guests were welcomed in the various events.

It appears that former NDDHS staff and student alumni are well travelled. Guests at the reunion came from such places as Costa Rica, France, Ireland, Georgia, British Columbia, Alberta, and of course many guests from Ontario, Quebec, and New York State.

MP Duncan described the event as “a chance to go on a walk down memory lane.” The organizers learned from events planned in the past that July celebrations don’t always work since they are so close to school graduations. The August

With school just around the corner, you may wonder ‘how do I get funds out of my child’s self-directed RESP for post-secondary education’? One question that often comes up is: does the withdrawal amount need to equal the cost of the school tuition, books etc.? The answer is NO. No one is auditing what the money that is withdrawn is spent on. It can be used for rent, transportation, utilities, tuition, books, or food.

Q: How do I get money out of a self-directed RESP?

A: Once your child has enrolled in post-secondary school (university, college, trade school), they are entitled to withdraw up to $8,000 in Education Assistance Payments (EAP) from the RESP in their first 13 weeks of full-time school. This portion of the payment is from the growth and government grant inside the plan and is taxable to the beneficiary (child). They can also withdraw any amount of Post Secondary Education (PSE) from the plan. This portion of the payment is your capital and is not taxable. After the first semester, there are no restrictions on withdrawals for full time studies. Part time studies (Specialty Courses/Programs) are restricted to $4,000 per program/semester. (Note: the Canadian government recently changed legislation to reflect these increased numbers in 2023.)

Q: What constitutes proof of enrollment?

A: A letter from the Registrar of the school, a copy of your child’s timetable with their name, student number, and school name.

Q: What if a beneficiary does not pursue post-secondary education?

A: There are several options:

You can wait – the plan can remain open for 36 years

You can choose a new beneficiary – in an individual plan, this can be anyone, but if it is not a sibling under 21, the grants must be repaid. In a family plan, the CESG can be allocated to other family plan members; if the amount is over $7,200 then excess grant needs to be repaid.

You can roll the RESP into your RRSP – the grants will be returned to the government, the capital can be withdrawn, and the income can be rolled into your RRSP, so long as you have the room to a maximum of $50,000 per contributor.

You can withdraw contributions anytime from the plan – however when you do so, the grants will be repaid to the government.

You can withdraw earnings and growth – an Accumulated Income Payment (AIP). If all beneficiaries have reached the age of 21 and are not attending post-secondary education, and the RESP has been in existence for at least 10 years, you can make an AIP payment – it is taxable at your marginal tax rate plus a 20% penalty tax.

You can roll the RESP to an RDSP – if the beneficiary has become disabled, you are able to move the accumulated income to an RDSP on a tax deferred basis with no 20% penalty.

long weekend was therefore chosen, although it is never easy to choose a date that works for everyone.

The reunion was not just a social gathering. It also acted as a fundraiser to aid in the beautification of the school, and to support the next generation of NDDHS students.

Overall, the event packed two days of great fun and memories. Photos from the event, and an update on the fundraising efforts, will be provided in the September 7 issue of the Times.

Charlee’s Hero WOD Raises Awareness and Funds!

munity asked for another event to support our goal this year. After losing our daughter Charlee, we never wanted another family to feel alone. If our story could reach even one family in need then it was worth it,” explains Charlee’s Run organizer Mallory Holmes. “Thank you to my CrossFit Kemptville colleague Aly Johnson for kindly offering the idea and the space for this fundraiser.”

Thinking about planning a healthcare fundraiser? We’ve got you covered!

Hosted Events - contribute significantly to helping to fund medical equipment or support the Foundation’s Cancer Care or Family Birthing Unit Funds.

The Holmes family has done it again – hosting a fun event with special meaning. Charlee’s Hero WOD (Workout of the Day) was held on May 13th. It brought the community together to raise awareness for pregnancy and infant loss, to offer support for those in need, and to provide an outlet for

families to remember the little ones who have been lost too soon.

The proceeds are supporting the Winchester District Memorial Hospital’s Family Birthing Unit Fund and the family recently presented it with a cheque for $2,763.95.

“We hosted Charlee’s Run last year and the com-

“We are so grateful to individuals, families, and community groups who plan fundraising events for our local hospital,” says Justine Plummer, the WDMH Foundation’s Manager of Direct Mail and Events. “Thank you to the Holmes family and everyone who came to work out on May 13th!”

submitted by Jane Adams

At the WDMH Foundation, we often get calls from our community asking about planning fundraising events. Many individuals and groups take it upon themselves to hold fundraising events to benefit WDMH after they are touched by the care they or a loved one received at WDMH. Others are simply passionate about local health care and want to support it.

These events - commonly referred to as Community

Mystery Solved! Wonderful Evening Raises $40,529 for Family Care Fund!

submitted by Jane Adams

The results are in, and the 1920’s Murder Mystery Night in support of the WMDH Foundation has raised $40,529 for the Foundation’s Family Care Fund.

Thank you to the guests, volunteers, auction item donors, sponsors, the band, the theatre group and everyone who was involved in this special evening. It included a cocktail hour and four-course dinner, silent and live auctions, and much more. The highlight was a fun theatre production by Murder on the Funny Side Theatre Productions. Throughout the evening, the audience was kept wondering and some even became part of the plot!

“The Family Care Fund supports families just like yours and mine. Donations are used where needed most - to buy new medical equipment, upgrade existing equipment or meet other urgent needs at WDMH,” explains Managing Director Kristen Casselman. “We are so grateful to everyone who came out to support this evening – and help solve the mystery!”

Thank you to Laurie McRae-Bingley and Murder on the Funny Side Theatre Productions for an amazing performance.

“The team at the Foundation is quite small, so fundraising on our behalf is very much appreciated. All gifts from community hosted events matter and make an impact to care at WDMH,” explains Justine Plummer, Manager of Direct Mail and Events. “Over the years, we’ve benefited from garage sales, bake sales, golf tournaments, craft sales, duck races, and many, many things in between. Some events happen only once, and others have been taking place for more than 20 years!”

Now, the WDMH Foun-

dation has some new tools to help you plan that special event. A new handbook explains the process and provides suggested steps on everything from promotion to sponsorship.

“Planning an event for the first time might be a bit overwhelming, but don’t worry – we are here to support you. Whatever you do, the WDMH Foundation can help you to make the most of your fundraising efforts,” adds Justine.

For all the details, visit https://www.wdmhfoundation.ca/fundraiseforWDMH. Or contact Justine Plummer at 613-774-2422 ext. 6172 or jplummer@wdmh.on.ca to discuss your ideas. We’d love to chat.

Thanks for your support!

Tid bit musings

by Elva Patterson Rutters RSSW

When do you "rest on your laurels?" What does that phrase mean? Is it ever wise to rest on your laurels? What if resting on your laurels results in stagnant development and redundant service quality.

Resting on your laurels infers that you are satisfied with your achievement and basically you stop putting forth an effort to improve, grow or develop in any manner. Retirement is sometimes synonymous with that reference since performance reviews are no longer a milestone of measurement. However, with retirement at earlier ages, and at maximum of one's health, there are many opportunities to apply your skills and attributes in other avenues such as volunteering, sitting on boards, advocating, and maintenance of relationships. With constant advancement of technology there is no time to rest on your laurels.

Having family also means no resting on your laurels as relationships require constant change in understanding, development and growth. Just take a moment to reflect on how often you required a child to "fix" the remote!!! Abandonment of family comes back to bite you. There is no one more special than your family. The word "toxic" is a scapegoat phrase for saying "I can't be bothered." Active abuse is not acceptable so safety is paramount. Don't rest on your laurels, but open up the dialogue. If the other person is closed then that is their issue. Rest on your laurels that when God questions you on judgement day, your response will be, "I tried my best."

Agencies and businesses that celebrate their milestones either go dormant and wither away, or continue to build upon the strengths and opportunities to flourish in progressive in-roads. When the personal touches are negated by use of technology, something vital is lost. Yes hospitals have so much on computers, robotic surgeries, My chart, etc. but when a patient can't get a towel/washcloth to wash their face, did someone simply rest on their laurels? Did the baby get thrown out with the bath water? When personnel hold others hostage by saying that they will report to work if paid three times their salary, is that not similar to gas stations that upped their prices during the ice storm of 98? Are we as a society so self-indulgent that we don't have many laurels to rest on?

May you take a moment to rest on your laurels but continue to grow and develop to stay abreast of today's world but NEVER forget the humanity that makes the community flourish. Your part is vital- don't underestimate your value!

submitted by Jane Adams

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