CANADA DAY 2023 Oxford Mills

The Hamlet of Oxford Mills is preparing to once again host Canada Day revelers from near and far starting at 11:30 at Maplewood Park. This year the festivities will commence with the Legion Pipe Band leading everyone to the flagpole for the raising of our national flag and the singing of O Canada. All are encouraged to bring a lawn chair to make themselves comfortable under the maple trees while being entertained by an excellent lineup of local musicians. In order of performances, there will be Birds of a Feather, The Front Porch Sitters and Tyler Comeau and Highway 10.

There will be a variety of food available including the Lion’s Club BBQ, Sunset Sweets Ice Cream and Erick Le Pors’ delicious crepes. Best of all, free Canada Day cupcakes will be served in the afternoon. For the more active members of the community, there will also be a Sword fighting demonstration, a Kids Craft Tent, old-fashioned games and free face painting.

This is a free event with street parking except for accessible parking.

Come and join us at the best venue for celebrating Canada Day in the region.

Submitted by the Oxford Mills Community Association

11:45 - 12:10: Legion Pipe Band and flag raising

12:20 - 1:05: Band 1 - Birds of a Feather

1:25 - 2:25: Band 2 - The Front Porch Sitters

2:45 - 3:45: Band 3 - Tyler Comeau & Highway 10

1303 Kingdom Rd., Kemptville 613.258.6607

Health Unit Beach Testing Program starts next week

submitted by Susan Healey

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit will be starting this year’s weekly water sampling of 23 public bathing beaches around the Leeds Grenville and Lanark area. The results of the testing will appear on our website and social media starting on Friday, June 30, 2023 and be posted weekly until September 1st.

The public beaches that are being tested in the north area are: Almonte Beach on the Mississippi; Centennial Beach in Carleton Place on the Mississippi, Riverside Beach in Carleton Place on the Mississippi, Pakenham Beach on the Mississippi, Dalhousie Lake Beach Lanark Highlands (McDonalds Corners), Roberston Lake Beach in Lanark Highlands (Lavant), Lanark Village Beach, Rideau Ferry Yacht Club, Smiths Falls Junior and Senior beaches, and Merrickville Beach (Rideau Canal) .

The public beaches that are being tested in the south area are: Bellamy Park Beach in Toledo, Foley Mountain Beach in Westport, Joel Stone Beach in Gananoque, Kelly’s Beach in Prescott, Kendrick’s Park Beach in Lyndhurst, Lower Beverly Lake beach in Delta, Lyn Valley Park beach in Lyn, Campbell Street Beach in Portland, Sandy Bay beach in Charleston Lake, Sand Lake Beach in Westport, South Crosby Beach, and St. Lawrence Park Beach in Brockville.

Beaches are sampled once a week and monitored for E. Coli. Research has shown that when people are swimming or in the water (bathing) at beaches where the water has a high E. Coli level (above the standard of 200), there is a direct relationship with an increase in ear, eye, nose and throat infections in swimmers. Therefore, when samples exceed 200, the beach is posted with a warning sign “unsafe for bathing”. The bathing beach will remain posted until test results indicate that the water quality meets the bathing beach water standard. To help you to better understand “Why Beaches are Posted”, check out the Health Unit website Beaches page.

Testing the water for bacteria is one factor used to determine water quality. The quality of surface water is changeable, so the health unit advises bathers to consider other issues that may affect the quality and safety of the water, such as heavy rain within 24 hours and water fowl droppings in the water or on the beach as these may contribute to high bacteria levels. Beach goers should also be on the lookout for the presence of harmful algal blooms and signs of accidental spills that may pollute the water.

It’s important to remember that the samples the Health Unit takes are only the results for that specific moment in time. It can take days to get results from that sample. Water quality can change day to day or even within a few hours. Beach testing is only one small piece of information you can use to determine whether you’re comfortable with swimming, and it’s always important to examine the beach and water before you swim.

Change rooms and washrooms may not always be open to the public, so come prepared for the beach by changing at home. Remember to bring hand sanitizer so that you can clean your hands frequently, especially before eating.

Information about recreational water safety and beach water testing results for each week are posted by Friday at 9am on our Weekly Beach Results page, @LGLHealthUnit on Facebook and Twitter or by calling 1-800-660-5853.

New Adventures features area bakeries and cafés

light Westport as a wonderful spot to shop.”

Culinary tourism is a rapidly growing sector within the broader tourism industry. It offers a unique way for visitors to immerse themselves in the local culture, connect with the community, and create memorable experiences.

submitted by Deanna Clark

A new “Fresh Baked Adventures” culinary tour featuring 12 area bakeries and 7 cafés is off to a very sweet start. The self-driving Adventures initiative was launched today at the Kemptville Public Library by the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Economic Development Office.

Area bakers, chefs and business owners made it enticing with a selection of signature baked goods and breads for everyone in attendance to sample. “This region has always been known for our breathtaking landscapes, rich history and warm welcome,” Leeds Grenville Warden Nancy Peckford said in welcoming the group to the North Grenville community where she is Mayor.

“With the introduction of signature culinary tourism experiences such as Fresh Baked Adventures, we are adding a new dimension to our tourism offerings, highlighting the tasty treasures that lie within our communities,” Warden Peckford said. On behalf of Counties Council, Warden Peckford also expressed gratitude to the 19 participating businesses for their commitment to making the region “a more delicious place for local citizens and visitors.”

A Counties webpage lists all participants with a map of their locations. See the full itinerary here and visit https://discover. leedsgrenville.com/freshbakedadventures “. We are so excited to launch a brand new tourism experience that will draw people in and help them explore all corners of the Counties,” said Shelbi McFarlane, Business Development Officer with Leeds Grenville.

“By focusing on our bakeries and cafés, we are celebrating an age-old tradition that brings people together, fosters community pride, and reflects the diverse culinary heritage of our region,” Ms. McFarlane said. Each bakery in the Adventures tour offers its own unique flavours and stories, providing a truly authentic experience for our visitors. “What interested us in becoming involved in this program is we love to experience what other bakers are doing and network and grow as a community,” said Daphne Sword, co-owner of Tasty Goodness Bake Shop in Westport.

“We believe as a small business this really is an amazing way to improve tourism and promote the region,” Ms. Sword said. “It will not only create a greater awareness to our small little community, it will also drive increased visitors and high-

The Counties Economic Development Office completed a regional tourism destination strategy last year. It recognized the importance of the region working collaboratively toward the common goal of increasing visitation to Leeds Grenville. As part of the implementation, the United Counties have formally adopted the 1000 Islands Rideau Canal Waterways brand and are evolving existing tourism products and experiences while developing new ones, including Fresh Baked Adventures.

The Fresh Baked Adventures announcement is the second of three, with the first being the Garden Adventures announced last week. The new Foodie Shop Adventures initiative will be launched on July 6th.

Household Hazardous Waste Day

Residents of the United Counties of Leeds & Grenville & the Towns of Prescott and Gananoque can drop off Household Hazardous Waste

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2023

Spencerville Fairgrounds

N. Grenville County Patrol Garage

Goodin Road Entrance 720 County Rd. # 44 (North end of fairgrounds) (South of Kemptville)

8:30 am – 2:00 pm

8:30 am – 2:00 pm

Materials accepted include petroleum products, oil filters, antifreeze, paints & solvents, batteries, propane tanks, fertilizers, pesticides, light bulbs, fluorescent light bulbs/tubes and pharmaceuticals, all of which are “household” in nature. Private/commercial business waste will not be accepted.

Materials not accepted include commercial and/or industrial waste, electronics, appliances, flares, explosives, PCB’s and radioactive materials. Waste from other municipalities including the City of Brockville will not be accepted.

Questions? Call 342-3840 ext. 2413