Community Forum gives United Way a voice
by Marguerite Boyer
The North Grenville Community Forum is making a difference. It feels like spring, when the first buds appear on the trees, and you slowly watch their growth. It sometimes seems like a slow process and that summer will never come, but then – boom, it’s here, and we really haven’t paid attention to that one bud’s growth. The Forum is like that. It was created after seeing a need in this community to bring non-profit groups together, to work towards a common cause: and that cause is unity, where all the branches are working along with the many leaves that make up the branch. And this is how I came to meet Hailie Jack, Execu-
tive Director of the Leeds and Grenville United Way. Hailie heard about our group via Emily Farrell, who works at the North Grenville Public Library and also sits on the allocations committee for United Way with Hailie. She met with Brian McKee, who is part of the Secretariat for the Forum, and is on the board of directors for the Kemptville Campus. Hailie is working to give United Way more of a presence in North Grenville, where much of the funding they raise here goes back into our community.
United Way get their funding largely from individuals, as well as large companies. Among the most influential people to effect change in Leeds &
Grenville are the generous donors who contribute at the Leadership level, giving $1,200 or more annually. Companies will match dollar for dollar all funds raised by staff, and this money raised for United Way goes back into the Leeds and Grenville district, including North Grenville. There is a list of ways in which UW supports our community, about which many of us are not aware.
Some of the funds go to our Kemptville Youth Centre [KYC], and Hailie is quite impressed with how it is run. The United Way gives funding to KYC for their various programs, to Family and Children’s services, and to Connect Youth, who have been giving free cooking classes at
St. Johns United Church in Kemptville with the support of House of Lazarus, after connections were made through the Community Forum.
Funding also goes to Big Brothers/Sisters for their mentoring program, Senior Support Services, Girls Inc, Kemptville and District Home Support, Addiction and Mental Health Services, and LGL Interval House. These are just some of the many groups supported here in North Grenville.
This September, United Way launches its campaign at their 3M Harvest Lunch event. Following the launch on September 12 at Loaves and Fishes in Brockville, they will begin traveling around Leeds and Grenville through to October 3, with stops in North Grenville, offering free lunches to persons in need. You can help by buying a meal for $10. More details will be available shortly.
There are many ways of donating to the work of the United Way in Leeds & Grenville, so take a look at the options at: www.uwlg. org/take-action
The Community Forum is really working. It may seem invisible, but groups are making connections with each other, and we now have a master list for all groups, along with their emails. Those spring buds are growing.
Spencerville Fair Royalty Competition information night
Calling all participants! Are you interested in running for the Little Sir, Little Miss, Junior Ambassador and Ambassador program? Do you have questions about the roles, prize money, or overall show? Come out to the Royalty Competition Information Night.
This session will take place at 22 Ryan Street in Spencerville on Tuesday, August 20 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm.
Age Requirements
- Little Sir & Little Miss: 6-9 years old
- Junior Ambassador: 11-16 years old
- Ambassador: 18-26 years old
Tag and share this with someone who you think should be our next Royalty. If you are unable to attend but are still interested, please email SPENCERVILLEFAIRAMBASSADOR@gmail.com
You can register today on our website!
https://www.spencervillefair.ca/spencerville-royalty
Registration closes on August 31.
THOMAS M. BYRNE
Great bargains on books!
You should plan to attend the Kemptville Youth Centre Book Sale coming up soon! There will be thousands of books on cooking, gardening, sports, hobbies, fiction, science, cars, decorating, self-help, reference, and just about any topic you can think of!
Thanks to a very generous donation from an avid collector, there will be hundreds of hard cover books in pristine condition – come early to grab these bargains!
Ferguson Forest Centre, Hwy 44 just north of the Arena:
- Friday August 16, 8am to 7pm.
- Saturday August 17, 8am to 5pm.
- Sunday August 18, 8am to 12 noon.
The sale is organized and run by volunteers with all money raised going to support our community Youth Centre programs. We hope to see you there!
The perfect fall road trip to MMM’s Fall Outdoor Artisan Market
Get ready to enjoy an Eastern Ontario afternoon in the country where you can immerse yourself in the abundant creativity found at Merrickville’s Makers Market. Set against the picturesque backdrop of small town Ontario, the market serves as a testament to Merrickville’s rich cultural heritage and its thriving arts scene.
Merrickville’s Makers Market’s Fall Event takes place on Saturday, September 7 from 10 am to 4 pm outdoors at the Merrickville Fairgrounds. Attendees can anticipate an array of handcrafted treasures, from unique jewelry and pottery, to stunning textiles and fabulous food items. With over 60 local artisans showcasing their talents, there will be something to captivate everyone.
“Merrickville’s Makers Market is more than just a marketplace; it’s an opportunity to connect with our community, support local talent, and discover the beauty of handcrafted goods,” remarked Margaret Armour, Merrickville’s Makers Markets convenor. “We’re thrilled to invite everyone to join us for a day of exploration, inspiration, and celebration.”
Come and experience the magic of Merrickville in the fall. Admission to Merrickville’s Makers Market is free and open to all. For more information, including a list of participating artisans, please visit us on Facebook and Instagram.
Gavin Clothier, a youth from North Grenville, recently embarked on a transformative journey through Rotary's Short Term Exchange Program (STEP), spending three weeks immersed in the picturesque landscapes of Switzerland. In turn, his Swiss counterpart, Aaron, discovered life in Eastern Ontario.
Gavin's selection for the program was a culmination of diligent preparation by both himself and his family, who engaged in weekend sessions to ready themselves for the adventure ahead. Upon Aaron's arrival just in time for Canada Day, he was greeted with the unexpected heat and flat terrain of his new surroundings, which remained unchanged throughout his stay.
During Aaron's visit, Gavin's family warmly embraced him into their summer activities, ensuring he experienced the best of Canadian hospitality. A highlight of their itinerary was a memorable road trip encompassing Niagara Falls, Muskoka, and the enchanting 1000 Islands. In Kemptville and Ottawa, the boys undertook a spirited treasure hunt, delving into local culture, sites and history. Of course, there was also time for swimming, fishing and canoeing.
The exchange was reciprocal, as Gavin accompanied Aaron back to Switzerland this long weekend, eager to explore a new country and its rich cultural tapestry. As Gavin prepares to return home just in time for school, anticipation brews to hear about his enriching experiences abroad and the enduring bonds forged through Rotary's global exchange initiative.
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Aaron Windisch and Gavin Clothier
Time to speak out
by Brian McKee
I’m worried about another virus that’s spreading rapidly across western Europe and North America. I’m worried that it has already reached Canada, and I’m concerned we have not become fully aware of the danger of this virus. It has, I fear, even spread in our own community.
The virus is racism. A horrible, vicious, pernicious intruder that seeps into all corners of society. It breeds on the blame game. I didn't, or don't succeed, not because I didn't try or don't have the intellectual capacity to succeed, but rather because some immigrant, some refugee, stole my opportunity, my job, and my house. It doesn't matter if you dropped out of high school with no qualifications, have accomplished nothing, and contributed in no way to your community – that foreigner who is a solid community activist with a medical degree and years of experience took away your chance to live the good life.
In the recent UK elections, the Labour Party
won a massive majority. However, they gained slightly less than 34% of the vote. The extreme right wing, anti immigrant Reform Party came third overall, and won just over 14% of the vote beating the Liberal Democrats. Since then, they have launched a campaign with other extremists to destabilize the UK, harassing businesses owned by non-whites and burning down accommodations for refugees and immigrants.
In France, while Mme LePen’s party, the National Rally Alliance with a similar anti-immigrant, ultra right manifesto won almost one quarter of the vote. A last minute coalition thwarted their chance at power, but only just. LePen is on record saying that in a year or two, they will take over as the governing party. Lo and behold, riots, anti immigrant attacks, and typical fascist tactics are fueling the fires, keeping the pot boiling.
Germany, Poland, Hungary, Netherlands, and Denmark have all seen similar upsurges in right wing extremism.
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Ireland has been witness to battles in the street in Dublin as refugee hostels go up in flames. In Belfast, my native city, an unholy alliance of ultra nationalist republicans (I hate to call them that) and right wing loyalists have raised memories of the pogroms of the 1970s, but this time targeting immigrant businesses in west Belfast. These riots are clearly influenced by the UK racists.
In the US, the rhetoric of the Republican Party, led by the ‘strongman’ Trump, is increasingly isolationist, misogynistic, homophobic, and racist. When politics descends to the level of debating whether a candidate is black or brown, then you have to worry about the system and the country. In the wings, armed militia are ready to usurp the will of the majority, should Trump not win, they tried before... remember?
Which takes us to that group of people who hijacked our national capi-
tal a few short years ago, because their ‘freedoms’ were being infringed by having to wear a mask. Clearly that was one small aspect of their discontent. These people are anti everything that we hold dear in Canada and take pride in. We are a country that has welcomed peoples from around the world, they are against immigration and immigrants. I should qualify that by saying they oppose immigrants of colour, not Paddies from Ireland like myself. We are an open society where people are free to live their lives as they see fit, to have control of their bodies. They are opposed to women accessing necessary medical procedures, and people seeking surgeries so that they can live in a body that reflects who and what they are. They oppose supporting the poor and needy by providing social services and programmes designed to lift them up. Unfortunately, if you
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
I have come across yet another thorough debunking of the misleading campaign “Axe the Tax” posited by Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party, this time by the Canadians For Tax Fairness. They have just released an information piece suggesting this “Axe the Tax” campaign has hit a wall. Earlier this month, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) released a report revealing that, in terms of fuel costs, the real driver of inflation is the volatility of international fuel prices, not the carbon tax. Their findings suggest that of the $0.73 per litre increase in gas prices over a year, only $0.03 was due to the carbon tax, with the bulk attributed to fluctuations in the global market.
Added to this, last year corporate Canada raked in hundreds of billions in pre-tax profits, averaging over 12 percent during the pandemic, and remaining high in 2023, well above the pre-pandemic level of about 8 percent.
Corporate profits aren’t necessarily bad if they are used as a catalyst for economic growth, and stronger wages for workers. How-
follow local Facebook pages, you can all too often see these ‘idiots’, or as Ms Harris calls them, ‘weirdos’, raising their ugly heads. They blame Trudeau and the Liberals for everything from LCBO strikes, to municipal delays in building permits, and I’m sure to the leaky faucet in their bathroom. You can’t be nice to these people. You can’t allow them to continue to pollute our community and our country. Silence is at best acquiescence, at worst acceptance. Time to speak out.
ever, recent analysis shows that investment has stagnated, and instead, corporate Canada has repeatedly chosen to prioritize stock buybacks and dividend payments, activities known to worsen economic inequality. In 2023, non-financial corporations spent over two thirds of their profits on these activities, enriching their already wealthy owners, and deepening inequality.
This same research also indicated that the oil and gas industry profit margins were 17.6% in 2023, and grocery stores, traditionally a lowmargin industry, doubled their profit margins from 2.0% pre-pandemic, to 4.1% in 2023. You must wonder why the Federal government is so reluctant to tax these excess profits.
The “Axe the Tax” campaign also operates on the false notion that shifting monies pegged to tackle climate change would positively affect the economy. Even conservative estimates forecast a $100 billion annual reduction in Canada’s national income by 2055 due to the most predictable costs of climate change. Just recently, Canada’s largest city experienced historic rainfall
As Pastor Martin Niemöller once said: “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out – Because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out – Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me – And there was no one left to speak for me.”
Weekly, Bi-Weekly, or One-time Cleans Servicing North Grenville and surrounding areas.
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and flooding that brought the city to a halt. Damages to power systems, highways and subway systems are now estimated to cost the city of Toronto over $1 billion.
Canada’s price on carbon needs to be strengthened, not abandoned. It’s time to drop the slogans and lead with policies that tackle inequality and the climate crisis together. Unfortunately, when you remember the source of the slogan in question, it cannot be a surprise considering their undying support of the oil and gas industry, and corporate Canada in general. All at the expense of the rest of us.
Colin Creasey Kemptville
Dear Editor, Top marks from me to Lynn Kennedy for the op-ed “The fight is not over”. The “buck-a-beer” and alcoholeverywhere platform in the last election, as she states – how does that improve everyone’s lives?
The LCBO makes much more sense to me.
I am also very concerned about the hospital ER closures, the huge lack of healthcare practitioners, and less nurses and doctors
to be seen.
Mr. Ford also cares nothing about the environment, which is crucial at this point in time. Ms. Kennedy states: “His agenda is to keep us all drunk, stupid, and poor”.
“How can you tell he’s lying? His lips are moving.” That was my late husband’s favourite motto about politicians.
Kath Piché
Cheers to solidarity
by Jeff Brownlee
As a frequent customer of a number of LCBOs in the region, I feel compelled to comment on a recent oped about the LCBO strike, and share some MORE facts about alcohol modernization in the province.
I’m not surprised, yet happy that the author of the piece has found a new sense of solidarity with her 10,000 union brothers and sisters after walking out on the job, leaving Ontarians definitely not “stupid, drunk and poor,” but high and dry for two weeks, during the peak of summer – all in the name of trying to protect the monopoly on ready-to-drink beverages.
Congratulations. And good luck on your continued fight – whatever that is.
Last time I checked, OPSEU LCBO members ratified a “sweet deal” agreement that includes decent wage hikes along with no retail store closures as a result of alcohol expansion. So, maybe the fight is to keep the LCBO as the main retailer of beverage alcohol? Well, that’s not a fight, it’s a reality and won’t change anytime soon.
Maybe the fight is to better serve the public? Oh wait, not once did the union ever mention the word consumer during the walkout.
So begs the question, why fight something that Ontarians want? It’s unfortunate that alcohol modernization has turned into a massive political football for all sides to kick around and distort the facts. Regardless of the motives, and regardless of political affiliation, the stark reality is that modernizing Ontario’s antiquated beverage alcohol system is long overdue, will
benefit the province and give Ontarians enhanced choice and convenience not only that we deserve, but have been craving for decades.
And despite what skeptics think, it’s a fact that tinkering around the edges with the current retail model for alcohol will also generate money for both the provincial and federal governments – more than $200 million per year – and it will create jobs.
Speaking of jobs, in the private sector, governments don’t create jobs. Nor do businesses and definitely not unions. Consumers create jobs. And if the LCBO wants to be in the retail space, continuing to serve the public, it needs to embrace that fact. Bottom line.
The LCBO is a vital Crown Corporation that generates billions annually for the provincial government because it is the exclusive wholesaler of alcoholic products for retail, bars and restaurants. Yes, you read that correctly – it has a monopoly. That means that it ensures that it makes money on every bottle, can or box that is sold in the province, regardless of what establishment sells it. Despite the union hyperbole, no government (regardless of political stripes) would drastically change a system that generates billions for public coffers.
During the strike, the biggest complaint by the union was that it was worried about jobs because it doesn’t want the status quo to change, namely it doesn’t want ANY competition with the sale of ready-to-drink beverages in other retail outlets.
How it can be afraid of a “little competition” when it has a massive competitive
advantage in the industry is literally beyond comprehension.
Ready-to-drink coolers, beer and wine in convenience and grocery outlets will not drastically impact traffic at LCBO outlets. Nor will it result in a huge loss of revenue at the LCBO, especially as the union decried, “Lining the pockets of CEOs instead of going to government programs.”
The modernization of alcohol in the province will enable LCBO retail stores to sell 12 and 24-packs of beer. Yet, that’s a fact that strangely enough wasn’t promoted by the union or in the media during the strike. Or ever.
Here’s some food for thought. Instead of fighting change and being afraid of it, why not embrace it and figure out how to better serve the customer – ensure you are the gold-standard when it comes to the retail sales of alcohol. You are public servants after all. The CEO of the LCBO agrees: “There are many points of sale today that the LCBO is competing with, and that’s music to my ears. Competition will ultimately challenge my people to raise the bar,” he told the Toronto Star earlier this year. Raising the bar – why is that so wrong?
Imagine though if LCBO workers embraced the words of the CEO, welcomed a little competition, and committed to improving the retail experience for Ontarians, raising that proverbial bar, instead of “keeping up the fight” to hold onto to the status quo while pointing the finger at the government of the day. More consumers would come in droves. And more jobs would follow. And that translates into
more money for government programs. The LCBO will continue to ensure it gets its share on every product sold, regardless of where they are retailed.
If LCBO retail outlets can’t compete with grocery and convenience despite their huge competitive advantages, there’s something drastically wrong with the retail model and they either fix it or get out of the retail business altogether. Regardless, the Crown Corporation would still generate billions for the government.
Despite the talking points of the union, why not accept that convenience and grocery stores are professionals at selling agerestricted products already. They’ve been selling tobacco and lottery here in Ontario, and beer as well as wine in Quebec for years. Apparently, it’s easier to complain and keep on fighting the good fight with your brothers and sisters which would keep Ontario in a more monopolistic, prohibition-era alcohol regime that even our grandfathers complained about.
Cheers to solidarity.
NOTICE: The Municipality is updating the Water and Sewer Master Plan as per Approach 1 of a Master Plan under the Ontario Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process. Details and updates available at:
Long weekend results in road / off-road deaths
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers in East Region responded to four road fatalities and one off-road vehicle death during what the OPP had hoped would be a safe Civic Day long weekend for everyone.
The OPP conducted a province-wide traffic safety campaign throughout the weekend, keeping an eye out for drivers who were aggressive, distracted, impaired and unbuckled (including passengers). These behaviours account for a significant number of preventable deaths every year. Officers also conducted enforcement and education around Ontario's Move Over Law.
The OPP in East Region laid a total of 1397 charges associated with various traffic, marine and off-road vehicle laws between Friday afternoon and Monday night (August 2-5, 2024).
Among the traffic charges:
Speeding: 822
Racing/stunt driving: 23
Impaired driving: 57
Distracted driving: 8
No seatbelt: 91
Move Over Law: 20
The OPP reminds the motoring public about the central role they play in reducing the number of lives lost on roads, waterways and trails by being safe, responsible drivers (and passengers) with a shared goal of making it to and from every destination safely.
Howell Electric has established a leading business in general electrical contracting proudly serving
and the surrounding area. No matter what size the project – Howell Electric can provide you with any type of
Folk Club, FREE Sound Engineering Workshop, and Secret Picnic
The Street Piano welcomes back the Kemptville Folk Club! With a membership of over 30 ‘folks’, the club was formed 9 years ago to foster the growth and development of musical talent in North Grenville. Experience the fun at 1pm on Saturday August 17, rain or shine, at the North Grenville Public Library terrace and who knows, maybe you’ll become one of the folks too!
Then on Saturday August 24, the Street Piano partners with Brockville’s Youth Opportunities in the Arts to present a FREE Introduction to Sound Engineering workshop with sound technician/D.J. Mikayla Gordon. We’ll start the day with an hour-long workshop, then set up equipment for a concert by award-winning blues artist Jesse Greene, job shadow Mikayla during the show, and help with the breakdown. For youth only (35 and under), registration required – email kemptville.street.piano@gmail.com for details.
And on Sunday August 25, it’s a secret all-ages Art Happening Picnic featuring Jesse Greene with local artists, writers, and creatives of all stripes. Bring your lunch and join us in a beautiful outdoor location for two hours of improvised art, audience participation encouraged! The secret North Grenville location will be revealed at Jesse’s Greene’s Street Piano show on Saturday.
Check the Kemptville Street Piano FB page for more and see you at the Street Piano!
Learn about Mikayla Gordon here: https://www.instagram.com/seiiizi?igsh=MTBldXd2M3c4ODk0NA== (AKA Seiizi Symphonic)
And Jesse Greene here: https://www.thejessegreeneband.com/
And the Secret Art Happening Picnic here: https://www. facebook.com/KemptvilleStreetPiano
Alien purple unleashed
Fred Schueler & Aleta Karstad – Fragile Inheritance Natural History
Through the 1980s and 1990s, Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) was the poster child of the threat of invasive alien plants, growing up to two metres tall with hundreds of thousands of blooms on a single plant, completely dominating entire fields and wetlands. The study of biological control of Loosestrife began in 1985, and after exhaustive study, European leaf-eating beetles, Galerucella calmariensis and G. pusilla, were introduced, and in 2005 these control beetles exploded across eastern Ontario, leaving many fields grey with the dead stems of Loosestrife. The stunted growth continued until 2010, when many insect herbivores seemed not to have done well, and again in 2017, when, after a dry spring when the beetles had been abundant, a rainy summer seemed to wash the larvae off the plants, unleashing them to grow tall and bloom, and leading many people to remark on the invasiveness of the species.
This spring, like 2017, started out dry, but the series of heavy rain systems through June and July again seems to have swept the beetles and larvae off the plants. In places where beetle damage was conspicuous in May, there are now dense stands of unchewed Loosestrife along roadsides and streams, and all the way through some fields.
Some of these plants are a metre tall, but they’re not the two-metre plants of earlier decades. This means that while the Loosestrife is “under control”, it’s now an “abundant naturalized wildflower.” The roots are persistent even when the plants are chewed down, so Loosestrife will be conspicuous for the foreseeable future, as beetle populations fluctuate from year to year and between different areas and habitats.
PERKINS DECKS
Custom
Red
Native creekside purple
Fred Schueler – Fragile Inheritance Natural History
If you see massive mounds of pearly purple bloom along a creek or ditch, you’re seeing Eutrochium maculatum or Spotted Joe-Pye Weed. This is a common native species, a metre or more in height, which seems to be doing exceptionally well this year, and there are stories behind both the scientific and English names.
The generic name is Greek for "truly wheel-like," referring to the whorls of leaves along the stem, and "maculatum" is from purple spots on the stem. The genus was initially delimited by Franco-American naturalist Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1838, but until recent analysis of the DNA of the chloroplasts, it was included in the much broader genus Eupatorium (Boneset, a similar white-flowered species with leaves fused across its stem, remains in Eupatorium).
All the Eutrochium species are called “Joe-Pye Weed,” a name derived from stories about Joseph Pye or Schauquethqueat, a Mohican sachem who lived in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in the 18th century. By 1818 “Joe-Pye weed” was being used for a Eutrochium species, and stories grew up that Joe Pye had used medicine from the plant to cure local settlers of typhus and other diseases. A recent study has found that while Joe Pye was welldocumented as a respected member of the community, there’s no contemporary account of a healing event, and it’s supposed that the name came from settler neighbours seeing him use the herb. This lack of documentation triggered an explosion of stories until, a century later, there were accounts of Joe Pye as a travelling “Indian medicine man” who had whooped the healing properties of his herb across the northeastern states. This proliferation of fake news led to the formulation of “Joe Pye’s Law” that “a story, with or without a basis in fact, originally told about one notable person may, over time, become associated with other individuals with comparable positions in history.”
The Joe-Pye Weed species are cultivated as ornamental landscape plants, with many varieties, and some of the species have spread as potentially invasive in Europe and New Zealand. It is used in herbalist treatment of kidney conditions, but is not generally considered safe, since it contains compounds that can cause liver damage, vomiting, cancer, and birth defects.
You can see both Spotted Joe-Pye Weed and its white relative, Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), along the wall below the parking lot beside the dam in Oxford Mills.
by Paul Vickers, Vice President, OFA
As an advocacy organization for farmers, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) takes action to ensure the concerns of its members come to the attention of decision-makers.
Our priority areas as an organization are driven by the actions and policies of all three levels of government, by our strategic plan, and by our membership in the form of resolutions they bring forward. These govern our activities for the year, and annually, it’s our job to report back to members on what we’ve accomplished during that time.
Any OFA member –individual, federation or member organization –can put a resolution forward to our provincial
board of directors at any point in the year. Most commonly, though, they are presented, debated and voted on at our annual general meeting in November.
All resolutions submitted are reviewed by the OFA resolutions committee, which I’m chairing this year. We don’t accept or reject resolutions; our role is simply to make sure each resolution is complete, clearly stated and focuses on an issue that hasn’t already been addressed.
The real work begins once a resolution is passed. The provincial board reviews each resolution and carefully considers how each resolution fits with our organization’s mandate and priorities and what implications it may have on our
human and financial resources. This results in an action plan of next steps that may involve board members, staff and other stakeholders, depending on the issue.
We communicate that action plan back to whoever originally submitted the resolution. Once a year, in the lead up to the annual meeting, a full professional Resolutions Activity Report is provided to all members where the OFA addresses in detail all resolutions passed in the last year and every decision and action that were taken to address each one, including copies of any correspondence that was sent.
This information is also available on an ongoing basis through an online members-only database on the OFA website,
and by contacting OFA’s member service representatives, provincial directors, or the OFA office in Guelph. Our goal is to ensure that all members, not just the submitting person or organization, can find out what happened to every resolution.
To me, resolutions are one of the most important building blocks of the democratic process that governs our organization. They help give a voice to the grassroots membership by helping us understand member wants and needs, and by voting on each resolution, members let us know the issues they want us to focus on.
Sometimes they are regional in nature – railway crossings on private lands are a significant issue in Eastern Ontario for example. Other
times, they’re provincial in nature, such as land use planning issues that impact all regions of Ontario, but they can also address federal issues that have impacts on farmers, like taxation changes or tariffs on fertilizer imports.
And they don’t always just address farm business issues. We regularly see resolutions about rural health care, farmer mental wellness, rural high speed internet and cellular connectivity challenges, and more.
As a board and as an organization, we value the engagement of our members and the directions and priorities they set, and we work hard at making sure we represent their needs by taking action on each and every resolution.
Purple Loosestrife in a field along Branch Road, North Augusta, August 2024.
Photo: A. Karstad
Joe Pie Weed closeup, and growing with Purple Loosestrife downstream of the dam in Oxford Mills, July 27, 2024. Photo: A. Karstad.
Please be advised that Fetherston Park, located at 850 County Rd. 44 south of Kemptville, is a Non Profit Corporation that is under new management. Any sales or purchases of Units must be approved by the Board of Directors. If you are considering purchasing a Unit make sure there are no arrears owing on it. Any arrears owing must be paid by either the seller or purchaser before the Board will approve the sale. If you would like more information on Fetherston Park and it's future development plans please feel free to contact us at fmpakemptville@gmail. com or the Chair: Brent Keating at bkeating1@ xplornet.ca".
The Food Corner
Cabbage has often received a bad rap. There are still memories of a house filled with the odour of boiling cabbage and its relationship to lean times, such as the Great Depression. However, there are very few people who don’t care for cabbage rolls, sauerkraut and coleslaw. One great use of cabbage is a fresh salad. Today’s recipe, a Cabbage and Spinach Salad, mixes cabbage with spinach to produce a real treat. It can be lunch on its own or accompany robust BBQ fare.
Cabbage and Spinach Salad
Ingredients
• 2 cups of fresh spinach leaves
• 2 cups of finely sliced red cabbage
• 1 red onion shaved into thin slices
• ¼ cup of Feta cheese
• ¼ cup of pecans
• ¼ cup of maple syrup
• ¼ cup of red wine
• ½ cup of Balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
• ¼ cup of olive oil
• ¼ cup of buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon of black pepper (to taste)
• 1 teaspoon dill (to taste)
• ¼ cup of crumbled Feta cheese
• 2 hardboiled eggs, sliced
Preparation
• Preheat your oven to 400F
• Mix the pecans with the maple syrup and scatter on a greased cookie sheet
• Roast the pecans for 10 minutes and set aside to cool
• Combine the spinach and red cabbage in your favourite salad bowl
• Place the shaved onion on top and crumble the Feta cheese over top
• Finish by scattering the roast pecans and egg slices over the salad
• Mix the red wine, Balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, olive oil and buttermilk in a blender
• Season your dressing with black pepper and dill to your taste buds
Serve this salad with the dressing on the side. Enjoy with your favourite Grahame’s Bakery loaf. If you would like a wine with this great salad, you might try a cold Gewürztraminer. Enjoy the summer from pcormier@ranaprocess.com.
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of using a
travel agent to book corporate travel
In an era where online booking platforms and travel apps are widely accessible, the value of utilizing a travel agent for corporate travel can sometimes be underestimated. However, the benefits of employing a professional travel agent for managing corporate travel are manifold, particularly for businesses seeking efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and personalized service.
Firstly, travel agents offer a level of expertise and experience that is hard to match. They are well-versed in the intricacies of the travel industry, including the best routes, most reliable airlines, and most suitable accommodations. This expertise translates into more efficient travel planning, saving companies time that would otherwise be spent navigating the complexities of booking flights, hotels, and ground transportation. Travel agents also stay abreast of industry trends and changes, ensuring that corporate travelers benefit from the latest and most advantageous options available.
Secondly, cost savings are a significant benefit of using a travel agent. While there might be a perception that travel agents add to the overall expense, they often have access to exclusive deals and discounts that are not available to the general public. They can negotiate better rates with airlines, hotels, and car rental companies, leveraging their relationships and volume of business to secure the best possible prices. Additionally, travel agents are adept at finding cost-saving opportunities, such as suggesting alternative airports or offpeak travel times, which can result in substantial savings for the company.
Another critical advantage is the personalized service that travel agents provide. Corporate travel often involves unique requirements and preferences, from specific flight schedules to particular hotel amenities. A travel agent takes the time to understand these needs and tailors travel arrangements accordingly. This personalized approach ensures that travelers have a seamless and comfortable experience, which can be particularly
beneficial for employees who frequently travel for business.
Travel agents also provide invaluable support in the event of travel disruptions. Whether it’s a flight cancellation, a change in schedule, or an unexpected issue with accommodation, having a travel agent means there is someone to handle these problems swiftly and efficiently. This 24/7 support can significantly reduce the stress and inconvenience associated with travel disruptions, allowing employees to focus on their work rather than dealing with logistical challenges.
Many travel agents will offer companies the option of Travel Gift Certificates that can be used as incentive for employees who reach their goals, or can make a wonderful gift for their corporate clients at holiday times. In summary, the benefits of using a travel agent for corporate travel extend far beyond the convenience of booking flights and hotels. For businesses looking to optimize their travel arrangements, reduce costs, and ensure a positive travel experience for their employees, partnering with a professional travel agent is a smart and strategic choice. Visit www.gravitate. travel and click on the “Let’s Talk” icon to schedule a time to talk, or drop by our offices to chat about how we can help you with your corporate travel.
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Modern Prairie (MP)
Modern Prairie (MP)
The Salvation Army Invades
by David Shanahan
January, 1888 was a remarkable month in the history of North Grenville. It marked the arrival in the community of the Salvation Army, at the time still a revivalist group, dedicated to preaching the Gospel and seeing the people saved and sanctified. Those today who think they know the Salvation Army would have got quite a shock in 1888 to see this small group of young men and women marching through the centre of Kemptville, playing loud music, singing loud songs, and dressed in a distinctly military style that marked them out from everyone else around them.
On Saturday, January 14, Adjutant Marshall Joshua Spooner and three young men left Ottawa to
begin a planned campaign in Kemptville that was to launch a new congregation, or “corps” of the Army in North Grenville. They had arranged with the Village Council to hire the Town Hall for a few days, but when they got off the train from Ottawa, they found that the local Methodist congregation had already taken over the Town Hall, and the Army were without a venue for their crusade. This was by no means an attempt by the Methodists to keep the Army out of Kemptville. In fact, the Methodists had a great deal in common with the Army, and were to prove true friends of the new enterprise. But in January, 1888, the Methodists had their own troubles to contend with.
After the Army had booked the Town Hall, but before they could arrive, the Methodist Church
building was burned down by an angry mob of North Grenville citizens. It seems the Methodists were at the forefront of an attempt to bring prohibition to North Grenville. In 1878, the Ontario Government had passed a Bill, called the Scott Bill after its main proponent, allowing local municipalities to introduce bye-laws banning the sale of alcohol in their own jurisdiction. Temperance organisations were quite active in Ontario in those days, and the Methodists were strong supporters of the Scott Bill.
The fact remained that the newly-arrived Salvation Army had nowhere to meet, nor to lay their heads. Since this gave them something else in common with Jesus, they decided to follow his example further, as Spooner remarked: “So we had to follow our leader. Not to be
beat, we made friends with the publicans and leased a large billiard room for one year”. In fact, it was an old store that had once been a billiard hall, which they rented from a local hotel-keeper. In spite of the set-back with the Town Hall, and the late hour by the time the hall was found, Spooner did not waste any more time. That very evening, the Army started the work in Kemptville. Spooner recorded the event briefly: “It was then about five o’clock, so we threw off our coats and went to work, and took the counters out, got a stove up, and got some lumber and fixed up some seats; borrowed some lamps, and out we go for a march, had an open air. The whole town was astir; the crowd followed us to the hall and crowded the building. We had a good time, considering, of course, they
Municipality seeks feedback on Official Plan
by Brandon Mayer
The Municipality of North Grenville has officially begun the process of updating its Official Plan, and public input is being sought during the process.
“Your feedback is crucial in shaping the future of North Grenville and ensuring it meets the evolving needs of our thriving community,” The Municipality posted online.
The purpose of an
Official Plan is to provide set guidelines and policies for how land in a given municipality –whether lower tier, upper tier, or single tier – will be used. For example, it provides guidance on which areas of the community are appropriate for farming, which areas are best suited to retail shops, and which areas would best support housing.
The Municipality of North Grenville is a lower tier municipality which falls under the broader
jurisdiction of the upper tier United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. Both upper and lower tier municipalities have Official Plans, and they need to be updated from time to time in response to growth and change in communities.
The Ontario government guidelines stipulate that Official Plans should address issues such as:
- Where new housing, industry, offices and shops will be located
- What services like
roads, watermains, sewers, parks and schools will be needed
- When, and in what order, parts of the community will grow
- Community improvement initiatives
The Municipality of North Grenville is focusing on 3 key themes during the consultation process:
- Living in North Grenville
- Working in North Grenville
- Playing in North Grenville
Providing feedback during Official Plan update consultations may feel like an exercise in futility. Some residents may be inclined to think “Council already has its mind made up – will my lone opinion really
they could catch any [Holy Spirit] fire to catch it and bring it with them, and if they could leave any to do so”. Even the local Reeve and Magistrate offered the Army any help they needed.
had never seen the Army before”.
A large group of Army members arrived from Brockville that night, and remained in Kemptville for the next couple of days, as more open air meetings were held on Sunday morning, afternoon and evening. Each meeting retired to the Hall, and so great were the crowds that the landlord, the hotelkeeper, ended up acting as doorman (or bouncer).
On Monday, the Army had acquired lumber from Ambrose Clothier’s mill with which they made extra seats, and a platform to hold about twenty Soldiers. The seats were supported by soap boxes. The Methodist Minister had encouraged his flock to attend the Army meetings, after their own was finished, and help the newcomers in any way they could. He told them “if
change anything?” The short answer to this is –yes! One person’s opinion is seldom not shared with others. Similar to voting in an election, it is never one opinion or one voice that decides the outcome. Rather, the end result is decided by the will of the majority. Each and every voice matters, so don’t hesitate to let yours be heard.
“Dates and times for additional opportunities to provide input will be posted as the Project progresses - stay tuned!” writes the Municipality online.
Those wishing to provide feedback can pick up a hard copy survey at the North Grenville Municipal Centre, or the North Grenville Public Library. Additional feedback can
By Wednesday morning, the work had been properly launched, and Spooner and the men from Ottawa and Brockville left Kemptville in the willing hands of Captain Grace McKenna and Lieutenant Hannah McMullen. The meetings would continue through the years, and the “outpost” of Oxford Mills would be added to the work within a few weeks of the Army’s arrival in Kemptville. The fruit of those first meetings would be seen too, as the years passed. One young man who attended the very first meeting, Harry Banks, would drop by after school and help build a permanent home for the Army Corps on Water Street across the road from the Town Hall, later used as the Sears store. Banks would become an officer of the Army and for the rest of his more than 100 years would work at preaching the Gospel in Canada and the United States. And to the end of his days, he loved telling people about the winter day in 1888 when the first strange and energetic people in uniform came marching through Kemptville with their loud music and joyful noise.
be directed to Director Amy Martin at amartin@ northgrenville.on.ca or 613-258-9569 ext.118. The survey can also be filled out online at https:// ow.ly/oBRz50SU5eO Does your business go further than North Grenville?
Advertise in our sister paper The North Dundas Times!
Contact Nanda! Marketing Consultant Email: nanda@ndtimes.ca
Ellen Burley and the Army Band in the old Hall soon after it was built.
For almost 80 years, this was the Salvation Army Hall, later the Sears store on Water Street.
OASIS PAINTING
COMMUNITY EVENTS
RECURRING EVENTS
Monthly Suppers prepared by Knights of Columbus at Holy Cross Church Hall at 503 Clothier St W. Suppers will be held on the last Thursday of the month. Cost $10 per adult, $5 for children under 12 and $25 for families.
PROBUS: Fellowship, Fun and inFormed presenters are part of the PROBUS gathering on the third Wednesday of each month at St Paul's Presbyterian Church Hall at 9:30AM. For more information contact at n.g.probus97@ gmail.com
Kemptville Legion: Fridays 3-9. Free Pool and Darts. Everyone Welcome
BINGO, Kemptville Legion, Bingos run from the beginning of September until the end of June on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays.
NG Duplicate Bridge Club, Masonic Lodge 311 Van Buren Kemptville, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 12:15. All Levels of bridge players are welcome. Info call 613-795-7155
KLUB 67 EUCHRE Join us for fun, social euchre games taking place every 2nd and 4th Wednesday monthly at 1pm, September to May. Location: Kemptville Legion, 100 Reuben Cres, Kemptville. Everyone welcome, $5. To play, cash prizes
Friendship Lunch has shifted into summer mode. A lunch will be served on AUGUST 2ND and AUGUST 16TH. Regular weekly lunches will resume on SEPTEMBER 6TH. Lunches are served at St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. and begin at 11:30. There is no charge. A free will offering is appreciated. Everyone is welcome. Spencerville Agricultural Society planning general meetings. If you are interested in joining our committee, please email info@spencervillefair.ca to receive all of the meeting details. Oct 21, Nov 11. The Drummond Building, 22 Ryan Street, Spencerville Ontario BID EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners (aka the Marlborough Community Centre) at 3048 Pierce Road on Tuesday, August 27, September 10, 24. Registration from 6:30 p.m., play from 7:00 p.m. Contact Debi at debiar@ymail.com
EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners (aka the Marlborough Community Centre) at 3048 Pierce Road on Tuesday, August 20, September 3, 17. Registration starts at 6:30 p.m., play starts at 7:00 p.m. Contact Debi at debiar@ymail.com
Kemptville Farmers' Market: Many local farmers, producers and makers. Every Sunday from noon til 4pm, May 12 - October 27. Located at 301 Rideau St, Kemptville, across the lot from B&H Grocers
Kemptville Street Piano Concert, Saturday afternoons at 1pm to mid-September at the North Grenville Public Library. https://www.facebook.com/KemptvilleStreetPiano/ South Branch Serenade at Rotary Park, every Thursday night throughout July and August, between 5:30 – 7:00pm.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Play On! Hosted by the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival . A Shakespeare Inspired Mixtape A witty, entertaining, cabaret of pop music and Shakespearean text. AUG 13 to AUG 17
South Mountain Fair August 15 -18.
KYC Annual Book Fair. Friday 16th August 8 AM - 7 PM Saturday 17th August 8 AM - 5 PM Sunday 18th August 8 AM - 12 PM.. Ferguson Forest Centre, 275 County Road 44, Kemptville
Friendship Café is open to the community on August 20 from 10 to noon. All are welcome to stop by, have a hot beverage, a sweet treat and some conversation all at no cost St. John’s United Church Kemptville Stash It! A Fibre & Textile Event AUGUST 24 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. 48 Shearer St, Kemptville Campus Harvest Days Demonstrations. AUGUST 24 & 25 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. 5877 County Rd 18 Roebuck, ON
Sundance Artisan Show The event will be open all 3 days of the Labour Day long weekend (Aug 31, Sept 1,2). Hours: Sat. & Sun. 10am-5pm; Mon. 10am-2pm.
Sundance is located at 126 Maberly Elphin Rd, Maberly, ON (at the intersection of HWY 7 and beautiful County Rd 36).
FOR SALE
Electric fully-enclosed 4-wheeled scooter, lightly used, good price, 613-269-2432.
Mixed hardwood firewood. $120 per face cord. Call or text Jon 613-227-3650.
4X4 round bales and small squares of hay, suitable for horses. Call or text Jon 613227-3650.
Thule 4 bike rack with 2" receiver for 2 hole hitch. Plus two bike cross bars. $200. 613 258 3512
MISCELANEOUS
Looking to rent farmland in North Grenville & surrounding areas. Call or text Mitch @ 613-2621204.
GARAGE SALES
Downsizing sale. Decor, tools, coins, etc. Aug.16th & 17th at 755 CR 44 from 9 to 3.
Garage sale on Saturday August 17th. 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Kids' items such as toys, sports equipment and clothes. 104 Maplestone Drive
FOR RENT
Beautiful 1400 sq.ft. Apartment for Rent in Chesterville. 2+1 bedrooms in a triplex. Bright kitchen with Laurysen cabinets, fridge, stove, laundry on site. Tenant controls energy efficient utilities. Lots of parking with snow removal. Large backyard with lawn mowed. References. First and last. $2000.00 monthly. 613-448-2350 GET NOTICED. ADVERTISE HERE! Contact Melissa at melissa @ngtimes.ca
ACROSS
1. Away from the wind
5. Rock
10. Urge (on)
14. Partiality
15. Fool
16. Cut back
17. Teetotallers
19. Colored part of the eye
20. C
21. Highly favored
22. Legislate
23. Melded
25. A group of concubines
27. Jerk
28. Arguers
31. Utilizers
34. Impales
35. Faucet
36. Colloids
37. Lack of innocence
38. French for "Head"
39. Fifth sign of the zodiac
40. Shrewd
41. Dismissed
42. Spiking
44. Observe
45. Black
46. Apparitions
50. Steamy
52. Beauty parlor
54. Lass
55. Mimicked
56. Lively Italian dance
58. Sharpen
59. Sugarcoating
60. Defeat decisively
61. Picnic insects
62. Glide over ice
63. Thorny flower
DOWN
1. Manila hemp
2. Besmirch
3. Artist's stand
4. Estimated (abbrev.)
5. Grins
Solutions to last week’s Sudoku
6. In shape
7. Minerals
8. Towards the arctic
9. N N N
10. Small piano
11. Measurable factor
12. Acid related to gout
13. Repose
18. Chasm
22. Ages
24. Paddles
26. Assist illegally
28. Accomplishing
29. Assess
30. Didn't dillydally
31. Type of fruit
32. Appear to be
33. Running away
34. Big bag
37. Acquire
38. Stratum
40. Dolt
41. False move
43. Tolerates
44. Mooch
46. Bias
47. Snow house
48. Anklebone
49. A type of writing tablet
50. Laugh
51. On top of
53. Diva's solo 56. Poetic contraction 57. Be mistaken
A new sighting
Yesterday, I returned home following my "Breakfast with the Boys" to find my wife beaming all over her face for what she had managed to capture, with my camera! She had every reason to be, since she had just seen a young Red Headed Woodpecker, something neither of us had ever seen before in our garden, or in this area! Wow! She wasn't really sure what it was, at first, until I had downloaded my camera onto my computer and could look more closely at it. Being a bit of a "techy" in this respect, she took a photo of it and, with an "app", soon identified it for us both, more conclusively, than we had by just looking at its salient features and doing it the hard "old fashioned" way! You know: head colour brown, back and wing feathers black and white, claws big for gripping, eye colour and beak shape and colour. I had worked out in my mind that it was a Woodpecker, but was thinking more of a Downy, but the colours didn't quite jive with this initial guess! Anyway, we got it correct in the end I think, so we were very pleased at what she had seen. A good 'Birding" friend of ours confirmed our conclusion too, so great stuff!
Having downloaded my camera, I was able to follow-up on trying to identify another young bird from a couple of days ago. This one had really distinct orangey colouring around its face, not like any of the other birds we have been seeing. Its wing feathers were very Sparrowish, but its size was not quite that of a Sparrow and it was slightly bigger than them or the Finches. My thoughts turned to some of our other "regulars" like the Cowbirds, Grackles, and of course, a Redwing Blackbird. No it couldn't be that, could it!? Well, it was, and when we looked it up and could see other pictures of a very young Red Winged Blackbird, it confirmed this fact for us, despite it not having any sign of a red epaulette in its wing feathers! My "Birding" friend also did the same for me, so I ended up this week feeling very satisfied indeed at what Mother Nature had, quite literally, "Flown my way"! I hope that you too are having success in watching and identifying the birds in your own "neck of the woods". Enjoy and stay safe and well.
Cheers, John Baldwin
The many ways you can VOLUNTEER in North Grenville VOLUNTEERING
KD Hospital
Andre Rancourt andrerancourt16@gmail.com
SKBP Venturers
skbp.venturers@gmail.com
Girl Guides
theleangs@gmail.com
NG Art Challenge jayne.couch@yahoo.com
NG Art Guild
northgrenvilleartsguild@gmail.com
Beth Donovan Hospice amy.tibben@bethdonovanhospice.ca
Oxford Mills Community Association susannelarner@gmail.com
Kemptville Youth Centre brucewehlau@hotmail.com
Friend of the NG Library blrousseau26@gmail.com
NG Historical Society karenrepta@gmail.com
Rotary corabeking54@gmail.com
Christian Reformed Church sidypma@gmail.com
United Church gowjb5@gmail.com
House of Lazarus cashby@houseoflazarus.com
Youth Alliance: ng.rainbowyouth@gmail.com
Seniors' Community Services jill.woodley@seniorscs.ca
Shalom Small Homes shalomsmallhomeskemptville.org
The NG Library sjones@ngpl.ca
Friends of the Forestry Centre ldpaibomesai@gmail.com
Kemptville & District Community Assn. wdembleton@gmail.com
BIA shelleybmitchell@gmail.com
Pride chair@ngpride.ca Lions Club mikeamirault@hotmail.com
Knights of Columbus, Council 5333 Leeds Grenville Big Brothers Big Sisters Vanessa.martin@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca
Canadian Guide Dog Assoc Info@guidedogs.ca Jags kemptvillejags@gmail.com
Pentacostal Church kohls.s.m@gmail.com
United way Ed@uwlg.org
North Grenville Giving Garden michelleroussellemcevoy@gmail.com
Kemptville Farmers' Market kfmmanager1@gmail.com
Kemptville Restore kemptvillerestore@habitat1000islands.org
Should the other breast be removed after cancer surgery?
Some patients you never forget. One woman told me she had a breast cancer on one breast removed. But her surgeon refused to remove the remaining breast. I told her then that her doctor may be right. There was little research or clinical data to help in determining if this was a prudent decision. Her surgeon had said, “I can never sleep again if I keep worrying whether or not the cancer will occur in the other breast.” After repeated medical appointments with her, it became evident the continuing anxiety would affect her overall health. So, was I wrong or right 50 years later?
Dr. Steven Narod of Women's College Hospital in Toronto is also a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Toronto. He and his colleagues, using U.S. data, have reached a conclusion. They say that there is no advantage in having the other breast removed by either a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. In other words, there is no increase in the survival rate.
This study was reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association and involved 661,000 women who had cancer in one breast. What happened to those women who decided to keep their other breast? The chance of cancer occurring in it was seven percent over a
growth reaches a certain size. How long this takes is debatable. But experts report that it generally takes several years. This is when mammography becomes very valuable. But by this time, the cancer has had a chance to spread to the other breast or elsewhere in the body.
What a major difference to the Pap’s test to diagnose cervical malignancy. This test cannot only diagnose cancer cells using high powered microscopes, but it can also diagnose precancerous cells long before they change into cancer cells that can kill.
period of 20 years. But there was one other fact. Women who had a gene variant such as BRAC1 or BRAC2 had increased risk of recurrence. For the 1 in 500 American women who have this gene variant, both breasts should be removed. Nonetheless, it is a difficult fact to accept that removing both breasts is not a sure way to remove the risk of a recurrence of breast cancer in the future.
Why does this dilemma continue and why can’t early diagnosis by routine mammograms solve this puzzle? After all, they say over and over that mammography of the breast detects cancer. But does it?
This column has explained the details, initially many years ago, and again from time to time. But somehow the nuances seem to be lost in what one commonly hears about mammography. Cancers of the breast do not appear all of a sudden. Early malignancies begin as cellular particles that are totally unseen by present day mammography. According to the experts, cancer cannot be diagnosed until the
It is important to repeat that mammography is a “lump diagnosis” and that the Pap’s test is a “microscopic cellular diagnosis”. In other words, it’s the difference between night and day.
What we need is a cellular diagnosis of breast cancer to save more lives. But to date, it doesn’t exist, and women will continue to die of this malignancy.
Saying mammography diagnoses early cancer malignancy is stretching the truth. This has given false hope to women for years.
Some women with breast cancer will still want to have a double mastectomy. From this study, it does not appear to increase the survival rate. But one wonders how the data would look if it factored in mental health considerations and other measures of wellbeing.
Sign-up at www.docgiff. com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @ docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones.
Health Unit school suspension letters delivered last week
The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit conducted immunization record assessments for students in JK/SK, and for students ages 7 and 17 years old during the previous school year. Having up to date immunization records informs the Health Unit of vaccine coverage rates (those that have protection against these diseases), which allows the Health Unit to act swiftly to prevent additional cases should cases of a communicable disease occur in the school setting.
Over 6,000 records assessed in the 2023-24 school year showed missing doses of required vaccines or a complete absence of an immunization record in the provincial immunization system. Letters were mailed to parents/guardians of these students with instructions on how to access immunization appointments, how to upload up to date immunization records securely to the Health Unit, or how to apply for an exemption from the legislation.
As of late July, over 1,300 students still have a complete absence of an immunization record submitted to the Health Unit. Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, Dr. Linna Li has signed an order of suspension for each of these stu-
dents and these orders have been mailed out to families starting in early August.
The suspension from school is for 20 school days, starting on the first day of school (this varies by school board).
The suspension will be rescinded by the Health Unit when one of the following requirements is met by the parent/guardian:
1. Provide a record of immunization using the Health Unit online portal at https://chkmkt.com/StudentVaccineRecords. The Health Unit does not accept submissions from apps such as CAN Immunize, as often there are errors made when the parent transcribes the information. We require a copy of an official immunization record from a Health Care Provider.
2. Provide the Health Unit with a statement of medical exemption to exempt the student from immunization requirements.
3. Provide the Health Unit with a statement of conscience or religious belief affidavit to exempt the student from immunization requirements.
4. Submit proof of a booked immunization appointment to provide the student with the required vaccines by email to ImmunizationNursingSupport@ healthunit.org
Parents/guardians needing assistance with this process are welcome to call 1-800-660-5853 ext. 2313 or send an email to ImmunizationNursingSupport@ healthunit.org
The Health Unit has set up additional evening immunization clinics in late August at five locations. Families who have received a suspension letter are welcome to book into one of these clinics. The link to book an appointment is found on this page https://healthunit.org/ health-information/immunization/school-suspension-process-2024/
With Pertussis cases rising in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark and Measles cases in Ontario, it is important that immunization records are up to date. This proactive measure will allow the Health Unit to quickly respond to cases in the school environment, and help minimize school disruptions for students and staff this coming school year.
For more information on required immunizations for school and childcare attendance, please visit: https://healthunit. org/health-information/ immunization/.
Municipality’s Water Sewer Master Plan
The Municipality has retained JL Richards & Associates to complete an update to the Water and Sewer Master Plan. The Master Plan will identify and assess options to improve the ability of North Grenville’s water and wastewater systems to accommodate the current and future population within the Municipality. This Study is being conducted according to the requirements of Approach 1 of a Master Plan under the Ontario Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process. Updates will be provided during the study on the Municipal website at www.northgrenville.ca/projects.
The Study team will review background information which will be presented at a Public Information Centre. Please see the above link for more information, to contact a member of the Master Plan team, or to provide input on the study.
Water Conservation Tips
With the hot summer weather fully upon us, here are a few simple water conservation tips you can practice in your own home to see savings on your water bill:
- Run a full load of laundry in your washing machine, instead of half loads.
- Run a full load of dishes in your dishwasher, instead of half loads.
- Use a water efficient toilet, washing machine and dishwasher.
- Water plants or lawn during the coolest part of the day.
- Use a broom to clean driveways and walkways instead of a hose.
- Consider reducing the length of showers.
- Use a cup of water when brushing your teeth, instead of letting the water run.
- Turn off the faucet when lathering your hands.