Issue 41 2022 October 20 NG Times

Voting is now open! Vote online, by telephone, or in-person at the Municipal Centre. See your Voter Information Letter for details or call the Voter Help Line at 1-833-VOTENG1.

Time to have your say

For more information, visit: NGvotes.ca

Voting in this municipal election has already begun. As of last Monday, October 17, residents have been able to vote online or by phone, with in-person voting taking place between October 20 and 21 at the Municipal Centre between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. The final day of voting will be Monday, October 24 between the same hours.

Voters should have received their PIN notice by now, which allows them to vote. If you have not received yours yet, you can call 1-833-868-3641, or check the website ngvotes. ca for help. Emails may be sent to ngvotes@northgrenville.on.ca.

Residents have a choice of two candidates for Mayor, Colleen Lynas and Nancy Peckford. There are nine candidates running for

a place on Council, and residents may vote for up to four of them. You may cast your vote for one, two, three, or four candidates, as you choose.

Depending on which School Board you are registered with, the situation varies. The district Trustee for the English Catholic School Board, French Public School Board, and French Catholic School Board have been acclaimed, as there were no candidates registered to challenge them. As for the English Public School Board, North Grenville in Ward 6 (Grenville County) of the Upper Canada District School Board has John Palmer and Heidi Piper-Ward challenging three-term trustee Lisa Swan. They are running for one seat amongst 10 elected trustees, one First Nations trustee, and one student trustee.

As was pointed out in last week’s Times by Michael Whittaker, Trustees in the Upper Canada District represent the concerns of students, parents, and taxpayers in the counties of Leeds-Grenville, Lanark, Stormont-DundasGlengarry, and PrescottRussell: 27,000 students; 4,200 staff; and 78 schools. They have responsibility for a $403-million operating budget, and $65 million for planned capital

Voting is now open! Vote online, by telephone, or in-person at the Municipal Centre. See your Voter Information Letter for details or Voter Help Line at 1-833-VOTENG1.

projects. By comparison, the budget for the Municipality of North Grenville is $26,022,550, about 5.5 per cent of the school district’s funds.

To be eligible to vote in the municipal election or for school board trustees, you must be at least 18 years old on election day, be a Canadian citizen, and you or your spouse live, rent, or own property in North Grenville.

Candidates will be elected to serve for the next four years. This election is your chance to have your say on who makes decisions on the future direction of our community over that period. There has rarely been a more contested and divisive campaign in the history of North Grenville, and your participation matters. Voting levels in these elections are usually very low, even when compared with federal or provincial contests, so every vote does literally count. Make sure yours does too.

For more information, visit: NGvotes.ca

Voting is now open! Vote online, by telephone, or in-person at the Municipal Centre. See your Voter Information Letter for details or call the

Help Line at 1-833-VOTENG1.

more

David Shanahan

Make a Lantern on October 24th at the Library for the Twilux Lantern Parade!

• Council liaison with Parks, Recreation and Culture

• Council member of the NG Active Transportation Advisory Committee, Accessibility Advisory Committee and the Arts and Culture Advisory committee

• Council member of the North Grenville Public Library Board

• Council member of the Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation Board

• Director member of the International Plowing Match (IPM) Local Board

• Semi-retired Reg. Nurse with experience in primary care, health promotion, advocacy, risk management, quality and safety

• An active volunteer with the IPM2022, NG Curling Club, Primary Care Nurses of Ontario, Forest Creek Community and Holy Cross Parish

• University of Ottawa - BSc Nursing

• St FX University- Diploma in Adult Education

• Resident of Kemptville, married, mother and grandmother

• Strong family roots in North Grenville

Over the past four years I have been honoured to serve as your municipal councillor. I believe that I have been worthy of your trust. I have been engaged, hard working, and willing to do whatever needs to be done, from administering Covid vaccinations to promoting new sidewalks and multi use pathways.

I believe that I bring principled decision making and am guided by evidence, common sense and the Golden Rule.

Habitat for Humanity Thousand Islands and the Rotary Club of Kemptville announce community BBQ on October 29

submitted by Sarah Silvester

It’s official, Habitat for Humanity Thousand Islands and the Kemptville Rotary Club are hosting a community BBQ at 3 Industrial Road from 11 am to 2 pm on Saturday, October 29.

The usual fare of hot dogs, veggie dogs, and hamburgers, courtesy of Jonsson’s Your Independent Grocer, sauces from Ben’s BS, and beverages courtesy of Brewed Awakenings will be served. There will be music, raffles, and plenty of family activities to entertain.

“It’s our first opportunity

to celebrate the hard work of our volunteers throughout the pandemic and we want the community to share in the festivities,” said Sarah Silvester, manager of the Habitat for Humanity Thousand Islands Kemptville ReStore. “While they’re here, they can drop off any donations or browse the ReStore for great bargains. The best part is that all proceeds from the BBQ and ReStore sales will go towards the 15-unit townhouse complex that Habitat for Humanity Thousand Islands is building in conjunction with Habitat Greater Ottawa, right here in

Computereyestrain GETTINGYOU It’sDOWN? Dr.timetosee Eamon

Kemptville.”

Habitat for Humanity Thousand Islands has been serving Leeds & Grenville since 1998. During that time, 19 families have benefited as partners in their affordable home ownership program.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity Thousand Islands contact: admin[@] habitat1000islands[.]org 3039 County Rd. 29 Brockville, ON K6V 5T4 Phone (613) 342-3521 or Fax (613) 6369

submitted by Susanne Larner

The Twilux Lantern Parade is returning to Oxford Mills on Saturday, November, and we can’t wait for the magic to begin. Want to light up the night with us but don’t have a lantern? No problem! Come to the North Grenville Public Library in Kemptville on Monday, October 24 from 12:30 to 4:30 pm for a lantern making workshop, all ages and abilities welcome, $5 a lantern or PWYC (pay what you can).

October 24 is a PA Day for local schools, so bring the kids and let’s create together! If you are unable to attend on Monday, we are offering a second workshop on Sunday, November 6, check the FB Twilux Lantern Parade page or event for details.

You may be wondering…

These are NOT sky lanterns lit by candles that float freely in the air or on the water and are banned in many countries. Twilux lanterns are made for LED tealights and carried by hand or suspended on a bamboo stake.

…and what’s a Twilux Lantern Parade? It’s a freeto-attend homemade lantern festival that takes place in Oxford Mills. The festivities start at 5:45 pm,

with a parade from Crozier Park to Maplewood Park, where participants may show off their costumes and lanterns and enjoy live music, vibrant performances, incredible light installations, and hot chocolate served by the Oxford Mills Community Association.

As winter draws in across the Northern Hemi-

sphere and nights grow longer, light festivals provide a glowing beacon to guide us through the darkening days ahead, bringing light to the lives of all who participate.

The Twilux Lantern Parade is brought to you by community artist Susanne Larner with the help of Lisa Poushinsky/Voyageur Art & Music School, the Oxford Mills Community Association, the Municipality of North Grenville, and RTO 9. Questions? Want to volunteer? We’d love to hear from you, contact Twilux through our Facebook page, Instagram, or Susanne or Lisa directly for information at susannelarner@gmail.com or lisa. poushinsky@gmail.com. Looking forward to seeing you at the workshop and the lantern parade too!

Voting is now open! Vote by telephone, or in-person at Municipal Centre. See your Information Letter for details Voter Help Line at 1-833-VOTENG1. For more information, NGvotes.ca

The Voice of North Grenville

The

"We are open for your convenience during these troubled times"

- Friday

Council Candidate Deb Wilson

Due to an error last week, Ms. Wilson’s article was not published correctly. We apologise for the mistake.

What are your top three priorities for the coming four years of Council? How do they diff er from the last four years?

The Community and Strategic Plan will help balance a strong rate of growth and preserve a high quality of life that many of us have come to enjoy.

During my seven months as an appointed councillor, I have witnessed how effective this is with senior management and staff at the municipality. In the four years of current council and the four years prior, I have been a member of the Economic Development Advisory Committee, now the Community and Economic Development Advisory Committee. I was selected in 2019 to be the recipient of the Bill Thake Memorial Award for Economic Development Leadership in Leeds Grenville.

What do you bring to Council that hasn’t been there previously?

Economic Development is paramount, we need to provide the conditions to provide serviced land to attract shovel ready industries and businesses to help sustain a consistent tax base. This means we need to make these investments as a municipality. Kemptville has been known as a bedroom community commuter town. We have to be able to keep our residents living and working here.

We can champion many events that we currently have to bring tourists to

North Grenville. Recently, the International Plowing Match was held here. Although businesses may not have seen an uptick during the event, I hope that in the future the people who attended will come back to North Grenville. The Kemptville College Campus was obtained by North Grenville after the closure by the University of Guelph. This is being successfully run by a board at arms length from the Municipality. There is more to come for the Campus.

Social media has become toxic locally, especially over the past year. Do you think Council has a role in creating a more civil atmosphere generally? If so, how would you go about it?

I like to think that engaging with the public face to face or by phone conversations is more effective than sitting behind a keyboard on social media. It is very easy to get caught up in the negativity, bullying, and hate on social media, there is no place for it. Social media is your own to manage, we can choose not to engage and ignore. The people who really know me, know that I’m compassionate, giving and bring people up.

Do you think more can be done to involve the community in the affairs of Council and being part of the decision-making process?

The municipality is launching a new website in November, 2022, with more information and easier to navigate. Council meetings are recorded, with agendas and material available prior to the meeting. All meetings are public, including the many Advisory Committee meetings. The BIA minutes are available also, as this is a committee of Council.

Each advisory committee is staffed, the Mayor and a councillor sit on each

committee, or at least two concillors. Each councillor is appointed to sit on other community committees, and boards,to act in a liaison capacity.

The municipality’s transparency has been extremely good, given the conditions of what we went through in the past two and a half years.

How do you think the future development in North Grenville - infrastructure, economic, environmental - should be directed? What new initiatives need to be undertaken in those areas?

Looking to the future, the CR43 upgrade is behind schedule, but happening, and the County will be working with businesses to mitigate the impact of loss of of business due to construction.

The wastewater treatment plant is on schedule to be upgraded, this will enable North Grenville to expand and sustain growth, through housing and industry. Riverside Park upgrades have started, a project that has been needed for many years.

Roads need to be upgraded. As many are county roads, we need to be cognizant of the fact that we as a municipality can only control our roads, and need the county to do their part. Broadband in the area is being expanded and updated. North Grenville is very secure in its finances, with reserves.

As a councillor I am/ will be fully committed to understanding and seeking information regarding the proposed Correctional Facility to share to the public when available, and legally premitted.

I bring to council the experience of owning and operating a successful small business that has been part of the history of Kemptville since 1885.

DEB

• 2019 Bill Thake Memorial Award Recipient for Economic Development Leadership

• Past Chair of the North Grenville Community and Economic Development Advisory Committee

• Provincial appointee to the North Grenville Police Services Board

• Sitting member of the Tourism Advisory Committee

• Past Chair of the Old Town Kemptville BIA

• Co-Chair of the Kemptville and District Sports Hall of Fame

• Youth skating and hockey coach while actively participating

• Resident of Kemptville / North Grenville for over 60 years

• Co-owner of Grahame’s Bakery - Canada’s Oldest Bakery

• Married with 2 children and 3 grandchildren

As a dynamic community leader who was born and raised in Kemptville, and who chose to return in the 1990s to raise my own family here, I bring a depth of understanding to the needs of North Grenville.

Brought up by parents who ran a successful family business, Grahame's Bakery, I have learned a tremendous amount about the value of hard work, determination, and adapting to changing circumstances.

If elected to Council, I will be a compassionate, knowledgeable, and fiscally prudent voice for our growing community. I am extremely proud of our community, and was honoured to be appointed to Council this past

My Priorities:

• Advocate for businesses to stay and grow in North Grenville

• Promote collaboration among community groups to facilitate community cohesion and create a place for all to enjoy

• Keep current property tax increases to a minimum

• Promote and maintain North Grenville’s rural and urban blend

• Ensure roads are well maintained, while safely accommodating pedestrians, cyclists and motorists

• Make continuous investments in North Grenville’s infrastructure and protecting current and future water sources

• Keep this a safe, healthy and caring place to live, work and play

”Last name on the Ballot, first In your mind when you vote " Between October 17-24, 2022 For transportation to vote in person, call 613-220-3526

The

The

Grenville

Council Candidate Chelsea McIntyre

Do you think Council has a role in creating a more civil atmosphere generally? If so, how would you go about it?

environmental - should be directed? What new initiatives need to be undertaken in those areas?

What are your top three priorities for the coming four years of Council? How do they differ from the last four years?

Firstly, I would like to apply my expertise in securing funds and partnerships for the whole of the municipality’s benefit. Working together with the Funding & Grants Research Analyst to obtain and report on granted funds would allow me to support others through my extensive experience and international certification as a fundraiser.

Secondly, I’m a passionate advocate for the implementation of the four IDEA principles: inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in everything the municipality does. This should begin with mandatory training for all elected and employed municipal representatives. Therefore, I look forward to being involved, on or off council, learning about how we can create safer, more inclusive environments for all residents of North Grenville.

Inclusion starts with representation. Getting more voices asking critical questions is a priority for me. I would explore how to create more liaison relationships, not only for transparency and engagement in decision-making processes, but also for succession planning.

What do you bring to Council that hasn’t been there previously?

I’m proud of my 12 years of experience as a professional fundraiser. It has gifted me with the opportunity to hone my skills as a motivator, facilitator, and communicator. All of these will support my work as a Councillor. While I can’t speak for whether anyone has had similar experience on North Grenville Council in the past, I know that asking critical questions, listening, and facilitating creative solutions will aid in supporting North Grenville’s reputation as a caring community that gets things done.

Social media has become toxic locally, especially over the past year.

I do feel that the Municipality should play a role in moderating a select few Social Media channels. Without a ‘go-to’ moderator, assumptions become belief very quickly, especially when emotions and integrity are at play. This arena is one that would greatly benefit from the IDEA framework I noted previously. I have noted the toxicity in several regional Facebook groups. At the time, I chose to mute or leave those groups. It’s my hope that in future, those who want to engage with the municipality on any of its channels find what they want, engage how they want, and leave the (online) space with a good feeling.

Do you think more can be done to involve the community in the affairs of Council and being part of the decision-making process?

Social Media Ambassadors (volunteers) would be an incredible addition to our wonderful municipal communications staff. I do understand that training and monitoring volunteers can be stressful and an extra burden, but without engaging those interested in helping to increase awareness of our programs, services, and announcements, we will only be able to reach those of our residents who are on Facebook, read the paper, or visit the NG website. I would like to explore a multi-level, accessible communications plan that includes options for folks to ‘opt-in’ for text message notifications for a variety of topics, such as natural disaster warnings, swimming program registration, council meeting agenda topics, and more. This would provide for more ways for our communities to engage with staff and Council.

How do you think the future development in North Grenville - infrastructure, economic,

Infrastructure: Affordable housing needs to stay a priority, as is the work of Council in making alternative housing solutions possible, including becoming a tiny home destination for builders and homeowners. In order for this to be encouraged and sustainable, the infrastructure needs to exist to make it easy for developers to invest here. Having an economic development plan ready for when the County Road 43 project is complete would give us a better chance to successfully create and maintain a rural, yet commercial business-friendly boulevard which will be essential to the sustainable growth and tourism in our beautiful municipality.

Economic Development: We need to be a destination for investment by job-creating companies that also support tourism to our quaint downtown cores full of interesting products, services, and restaurants. I also want to support existing local businesses who need help with making their location or online services as accessible as possible.

Environmental Sustainability: Emergency preparedness, generator loan programs, municipal building codes, and respite or financial relief to those affected should all be considered to help prevent personal disaster when mother nature has other plans. On the topic of prevention, there is much more we can do as a municipality to reduce our carbon footprint. I would like to see collaborative solutions like a community compost pile - or several! This would help dramatically with yard waste being diverted from the landfill, as it can serve another whole purpose to feed our gardens.

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The

Conflicts clarified

by David Shanahan

At the mayoral candidates meeting held at the Municipal Centre on October 8, two allegations of conflict of interest were raised which were not adequately dealt with at the time. After a little research, the Times has clarified the two situations and this is what we have found.

Deb Wilson:

The first allegation was made by mayoral candidate, Colleen Lynas, who named Councillor Deb Wilson as being in a conflict because she retained her seat on the Board of the Kemptville and District Community Association [KDCA] after being appointed to council. The conflict, she suggested, was because council sometimes votes funds to the Association for events, or debates issues relating to the KDCA.

However, it transpires that the Municipality and the KDCA discussed the possible conflict at the time Deb Wilson joined the council, and an agreement was reached that she would recuse herself from any discussion or vote of council with reference to the Association. Wendy Embleton, Chair of the KDCA Board stated the position, that at Council meetings, “There is always a conflict of interest acknowledgment, and in the case of the KDCA, Debbie Wilson recuses herself from all financial decisions and at times any other decisions where there is a conflict”.

This procedure is common in all areas of municipal governance, especially in a small community like North Grenville, where so many residents are involved in more than one local association, service club, or committee. It would be almost inevitable that a member of council would have a past or current affiliation with such a body, and, therefore, recusing oneself as a member of council from any discussion or vote relating to that affiliation would be essential.

Having raised the issue of Deb Wilson’s potential conflict, it has no doubt occurred to Colleen Lynas that, should she be successful in her bid to become Mayor of North Grenville, she would likewise have to recuse herself from any discussion or vote relating to any past affiliation she

may have. This may mean that, as Mayor, she would not be able to take part in any discussion or vote relating to the proposed prison, as she is a founding member and spokesperson for an anti-jail group, CAPP. Likewise, the Province may not be willing to negotiate with her as Mayor on the future use of lands not required for the prison.

It has been stated by sources close to the campaigns that an appearance of conflict can be just as damaging as an actual conflict, and so all steps need to be taken to avoid even such an appearance. As Ms. Lynas herself put it: “Even the perception of a conflict of interest can erode the public’s trust in their elected officials”.

Nancy Peckford:

The second allegation of conflict of interest was made by a member of the public in a question to Nancy Peckford, followed up by a few press releases from the Colleen Lynas campaign. They pointed out that Ms. Peckford has taken up contract work for government departments, and suggested that one of her projects involved an agency representing prison officers or other similar officials, the Union of Safety and Justice Employees (USJE). There was no real answer to that from Ms. Peckford on the night, and so the Times has looked into the allegation. It did not take long to clarify the situation.

Ms. Peckford told the Times that her contract work was with the federal, not the provincial government, and so there was no conflict regarding the prison, which is a provincial jurisdiction. “I have worked from time to time with federal public service associations as a way to supplement my wages - while with Equal Voice and subsequently as Mayor. There is absolutely no conflict of interest, pecuniary or otherwise, with respect to the part time consulting work I do with federal public service associations - under the umbrella of the Public Service Alliance of Canada - serving employees with 18 federal departments and agencies, with a major emphasis on occupational stress injuries...However, the reality is that the focus of my part time public service contract work has and will remain overwhelmingly federal.”

In order to make the situation as clear as possible, Ms. Peckford referred the matter to the Integrity Commissioner, who has issued a written report. Ms. Peckford stated: “I have consulted the Municipality of North Grenville’s integrity Commissioner Tony Fleming who has confirmed that there is no conflict.”

The Integrity Commissioner’s report was very clear. It reads, in part:

“There is no financial interest, however remote, with your professional relationship with the entities you work for and the proposed Provincial prison. As such, there is no pecuniary interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. There is also no actual or perceived conflict under your Code of Conduct. The test for a perceived conflict of interest is whether a reasonable person, apprised of all of the facts, would consider that you could not make impartial decisions related to the prosed prison (to the extent that there are any decisions for the Municipality to make). A reasonable person who was advised that you have no professional relationship with the Provincial prison system would not consider any decision you are involved in (or were involved in) on Council as a potential conflict of interest.”

The Lynas campaign issued a press release raising the matter, but it also raised some questions. To quote Ms. Peckford’s statement: “This allegation has been made by Colleen Lynas on her Colleen Lynas for Mayor Facebook Page where she states “I only learned about this connection on the day of the debate.” Colleen Lynas, a former volunteer for my Mayoral campaign in 2018, has been aware of the details of my federal public service contract work for years.”

These allegations of conflict of interest were quite easily clarified, and found to be without foundation in both cases. The timing and nature of the accusations, coming at the end of an election campaign, raised serious questions about both the accused and accusers, and it was important that the allegations were addressed before voting had advanced too far. The matters have been resolved.

Compassion. Understanding. Courage. Healing. These four words best describe The Lighthouse - Le Phare Counselling, Psychotherapy and Neurofeedback’s approach to providing mental health care.

Over the past 5 years, we have helped many members in our community find their path to mental well-being.

We take pride in our North Grenville roots and serving our community by increasing access to quality mental health services. We have grown and established our practice as a leader in providing evidence-based care with a reputation of excellence and developed a quality internship program to train our next-generation clinicians.

Our journey started in 2017 with owner Natalie Carrière opening a solo private practice. At that time, North Grenville was underserved regarding mental health services. By 2018, the practice was thriving, and Natalie could not alone meet the needs of the community and two more therapists were added to the practice. By late 2019, as we continued to grow, it was clear that the practice was filling a considerable need in the area.

Despite pandemic restrictions through 2021, the practice grew once again with the expansion of the existing suite of counselling and psychotherapy services, to include neurofeedback, art therapy, and an internship program for training new clinicians. The Lighthouse – Le Phare currently employs five clinicians, two counselling interns, a neurofeedback technician, and a client care coordinator.

Our internship program, in partnership with the University of Ottawa M.Ed., Athabasca's Masters of Counselling, and Yorkville University’s Masters of Counselling Psychology, provides opportunities for the community to take advantage of reduced-rate, accessible mental health services under the supervision of a registered psychotherapist.

Responding to the increasing need for mental health services, along with a reduced stigma environment, our practice is dedicated to providing a safe and warm atmosphere that welcomes those in need of mental health services to find comfort and healing. New clients are always welcome.

Visit www.thelighthouse-lephare.ca today to learn how we can help you.

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Melissa!

Consultant

Closing time

by David Shanahan

I will be so glad when this election is over. I have never experienced a more poisonous, sleazy, and dishonest campaign by just a few of the candidates in almost twenty years of covering local politics. The online abuse that has been hurled at various candidates, the Times, and me personally has been surprisingly nasty, with accusations thrown around, lies spreading through Facebook, and all without any basis in fact. One or two candidates have been pandering to special interest groups, spreading hate and lies in order to win their votes. And the sad thing is that the lies are being believed, even by those who really do know better, those who know the people who work on this newspaper and are aware that we have never spread hate or discrimination through the pages of the Times. I still

wait for examples to show we have.

In spite of ten years of service to the community, opening these pages to all points of view, no matter how much they disagreed with us, we have been referred to as “that rag”, my “personal blog”, and less positive terms, by people who just don’t like the idea that a free press exists to allow public and open debate. There have been those who claim we are not inclusive, by which they mean we include the wrong people. It is disheartening on one level, that this community includes intolerant and mean-spirited people. On the other hand, it’s encouraging to know that they are a bitter minority.

I have been criticised for “attacking” one particular candidate: Chris Wilson. I will say, quite openly, that his behaviour has shown him to be completely unqualified to represent the people of North Grenville. The Times has never endorsed a candi-

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor

"I have been very fortunate to have Andre Rancourt as the Corporation's Financial Officer through a period of significant challenges at the Ferguson Tree Nursery with the cancellation of the 50 million tree program, the mentoring of a new management team and the myriad of challenges that come with the running of a business dependant on weather in a period of climate change. As a member of the Board's Executive Committee, I have trusted his sage advice based on extensive business knowledge and experience in the formulation of policy for the operation of the nursery. His wealth of financial knowledge allowed him to revamp a dysfunctional financial system allowing the Nursery to move forward in an ever changing environment made much more difficult in a Covid world. Andre was pivotal in the purchase of a house to accommodate our new foreign workers who are critical to the operation of the nursery moving forward. I have never met anyone more committed to volunteerism in his community. Andre is a good human being who never puts himself first; he always places the concerns of others before his own. Andre is

happily married and is fully supported by his lovely wife Carol. As a resident of North Grenville myself, I will vote for this intelligent, dedicated and hardworking individual for Councillor for I know that the municipality will be well served.. You can count on the big man in the little car."

Carl Doucette, President Ferguson Forest Centre Corporation

date before, but the manner in which Mr. Wilson has lied, disparaged, made fun of so many leaves him unfit to be a member of council. When one woman suggested he be less negative in his posts, he replied: “You’re very childish for an old person”.

He accused the Times of “dirty tricks” because his article wasn’t in last week’s issue, even though he knew the arrangement was that his and others would be in this week. He also knew that an independent third party had decided the order in which articles from candidates would be published. When I pointed out his mischief, he replied with a Simpson’s cartoon entitled: “Old man shouts at cloud”. He seems to have a problem with older people, and the truth.

He complained to the Integrity Commissioner about a candidate, claiming that they had posted anonymous posts about him on Facebook. He had no evidence

for the claim, and it was based entirely on personal pique. But, because the complaint cannot be heard before the election, he has told people that the other person “is being investigated”.

Of course, there will always be some who believe someone who appears nice and talks openly about his own “impeccable reputation”. And, no doubt, some will vote for him simply because I speak against him. That’s democracy.

But he is not the only one that has failed to enhance their reputation in this campaign. I have discussed various accusations of conflict of interest elsewhere in this issue, and there is something unpleasant about the nature and timing of the accusations, especially when, once again, there was an easy way to clarify the issues without going public with them. But that is the way some people in this campaign have used politics.

I acknowledge that it

is usually best not to give oxygen to those lacking a sense of integrity or ethics, but this situation is different. Voters may go on believing the dishonesty, and these characters may be elected to council. At least I can try and indicate that there’s more to the story than is apparent. But I would hate to live in a community where people who use tactics like this, who defame and abuse without cause or evidence, sit in council. If that is how they act to gain power, what will they do when they get it? If their policy is to sow division and discord through innuendo and character assassination without foundation, what will they do to North Grenville when they have some power to persecute those with whom they disagree?

People want transparency: but they’ll condemn those who throw light on things. This is a strange election: on the one hand, there is a strong list of candidates,

which promises good things for our shared future. But, on the other hand, there are one or two who are, without doubt, the worst candidates I have ever seen, mean, dishonest, ambitious, divisive and deceitful.

Am I being honest? Do I lie, or exaggerate about them? Let them produce evidence against me, and I’ll present mine too. Not baseless allegations, but actual words, on-the-record statements. The Times includes all points of view, even those with which we disagree. Everyone has a voice in these pages. It has been that way for nearly ten years. What does it say about these critics that our inclusiveness is the thing they most condemn and attack? But, what was once said: “Democracy is the worst possible political system - except for all the others”, and, whatever the results of this election, we will live with it. Let’s hope (and vote) for the best.

Marketing/Sales

Melissa Ottenhof marketing@ngtimes.ca

Dear Editor, Steve Gabell is a Canadian citizen I presume, as he is the president of the local Green Party of Ontario. Does he realize that in 2019 Canada contributed 1.5% to global greenhouse gasses, down from 1.8% in 2005 or a 17% reduction (GofC stats). This while China has increased its emissions from 18.7% to 26.4% of global emissions in the same time period. When examining the various countries, it is the under developed countries that produce increasing % share of greenhouse gases, whereas the industrialized western nations are reducing theirs in global terms, while the overall global CO2 rises. The Greens, like the Liberals, would increase taxes (carbon and other taxes)

on petroleum products, in order to “save the planet”, while destroying the income stability of every citizen, while Canada contributes 1.5% of global emissions. I could imagine that the left has great joy that OPEC+ have reduced oil production by 2 million barrels a day in order to boost world prices and hopefully reduce consumption and reduce CO2 levels. And now the Liberals would force a 30% reduction in agricultural fertilizer use by 2030, making Canadian farmers less productive and so less profitable, reducing world food supplies and increasing Canadian and world food prices. Similar to the Dutch government seeking to reduce Dutch farmers productivity by even greater amounts. Look at Sri Lanka where the government in its “environmental wisdom” banned fertilizers and the nation starved the following year when crops declined. Has the left paid no attention to the world shortage of grains and increasing food prices? Having Ukraine food production and exports interrupted has affected the exported global food supply that much of the less productive nations depend on. Just imagine if every nation reduced its food production (by fertilizer reduction) by Mr. Trudeau’s ideal of

30%, how many people worldwide will starve? As Mr. Gabell wrote in his last article “our very existence is dependent on having a habitable biosphere”. True enough, but before that day would come millions may freeze or starve to death as the left wing “saviours” ride to our CO2 rescue. Just as Europe is bracing for a cold, dark expensive winter due to a lack of CO2 emitting natural gas! And Germany cannot “save itself” after a 2 trillion dollar “green energy” investment.

Let’s take a look at Germany as its government cast its weight behind “green energy”. According to Peter Zeihan “Electricity in Transition” Germany generates 10% of its peak demand energy by renewables after a 2 trillion dollar investment in “green energy” yet according to installed nameplate ratings, these facilities should be generating 200% of peak demand. Germany’s southern border is near the latitude of Thunder Bay. However, German peak demand is in winter at night when solar is “off”. Green energy is neither a “saviour” nor is it cost effective in many of the areas of the globe, including areas of the northern hemisphere, like Germany (Canada, Russia etc). Geography matters! This policy direc-

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Editor editor@ngtimes.ca 613-215-0735

Accounting

Pat Jessop cfo@ngtimes.ca 613-258-4671

OFFICE 613-215-0735

Staff Reporter Brandon Mayer brandon@ndtimes.ca

tion (and electrical taxes to pay for green energy) in Germany rocketed it to the 2nd highest global cost of electricity while they shut down nuclear and coal and increased reliance on Russian gas.

Perhaps the Greens and Liberals would salivate at following the European model and increase taxes on electricity, as it does on petrol. Europeans are “electricity poor”. As my cousin from Holland told me this summer, he washes his body by the sink as he cannot afford a shower as he prepares for a dark, cold winter.

That is our future under the “crisis” of the left. If CO2 does not kill us all, perhaps their preferred method of cold, hunger and darkness will get us first. Just as Stalin’s communists, the left only considers its idealistic intentions and not how those intentions are playing out in the real world.

Willem Van Dam

Dear Editor, As a recent retiree of the Ontario Provincial Police, for the first time in my life I am publicly endorsing a Mayoral candidate.

I have lived and worked in North Grenville since 1999. I was a police officer for 30 years

Mailing Address P.O. Box 1854 Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0

with the later part of my career as the Community Services Officer.

My decision to go public was based on evidence. I am actively canvassing with Mayor Nancy Peckford. I am seeing first hand an individual who has served our community with dedication and commitment.

One of my first memories of the newly elected Mayor Peckford was hearing her on CBC Radio. I was impressed with how well she represented herself as our new Mayor and her enthusiasm for North Grenville.

One of Mayor Peckford's many achievements was her ability and willingness to keep North Grenville updated during the uncertainty of Covid while at the same time leading the community to first place in the National Participaction Competition.

Mayor Peckford is a well informed, progressive and dedicated member of North Grenville.

I vote to re-elect Mayor Nancy Peckford.

Cathy Lindsey

Production production@ngtimes.ca 613-215-0735

www.ngtimes.ca

Dear Editor,

I don't want to prolong the agony for readers and will try to keep this short, but if Steve Gabell continues to attack me and my views on climate change - I applaud his tenacity - then I will continue responding in a civil and friendly fashion, letting our readers decide who has the more balanced position. In his Oct. 13 Times letter, Mr. Gabell seems unable to conceive that perhaps his position is overstated and that there may be a reasonable middle position between denial and alarmism when it comes to climate change.

Mr. Gabell downplays failed alarmist predictions and doubtful model projections and instead focuses on additional recent weather events, as if there had been no bad hurricanes, heat waves, floods and droughts in previous decades and centuries. Yet even the IPCC says there is "low confidence" in attributing tropical cyclones to human causes. Indeed, the number and strength of hurricanes has not changed in any significant way over the past century. Simply attributing every new extreme weather event to "climate change" is bad science and shoddy journalism.

Just to reiterate my position: yes the climate is changing - as it always has done; yes the global temperature has increased about one degree since the coldest period of the last 2500 years ended in the 19th century; yes some of that (the IPCC suggests at least 50%) is probably due to human causes, including but not limited to fossil fuel burning; and yes that will have some negative consequences (more hot days, for example) for people in some parts of the globe; but there are some benefits as well (the ongoing greening of the planet, for example).

It is foolish to expect that the climate we got used to in the mid 20th century should remain unchanging into the 21st, especially given that "climate and weather are highly complex, non-linear systems" as Mr. Gabell correctly notes - systems imperfectly understood and inadequately modelled, I might add. The assumption that CO2 in the atmosphere is the planet's thermostat is overly simplistic, and the idea that Canada can affect the planet's climate by sharply cutting back our fossil fuel usage is absurd, especially when China, for example, continues to build coal-fired power plants.

All of the worst-case alarmist climate projections are highly improbable and the future risks have been vastly overstated. So please, let's stop frightening children with fatuous predictions, and deal with any actual climate shifts in a mature and regionally-sensible manner.

Ed Norman, Kemptville.

Dear Editor,

John Barclay is an unusual and very special kind of person - truly empathetic, both passionate about the environment, and patient enough to work within government. I have often asked his advice in situations where the environment and local government seem to be opposed, making me frustrated and uncertain about how to proceed. John has never failed to make time to meet - to take time for an in-depth conversation.

John’s dream as videographer for the non-profit organization Triune has been to film our Fragile Inheritance expeditions into the wilderness. Starting closer to home, he has donated time and equipment to produce three videos to show how Fred and I combine Art and Science in conservation action. One of these we used successfully as a fundraiser for our trans Canada “Fragile Crossings Expedition” in 2014 as we surveyed each river crossing along the proposed route of the Energy East Pipeline.

John’s understanding of and experience with environmental concerns and the machinations of government is invaluable. His clear vision and wise advice has helped me to see the options - and usually the reasons for patience - as “government wheels turn slow.”

I hope that John is re-elected to Municipal Council, and remains on the Environmental Committee as well.

Sincerely, Aleta Karstad, Fragile Inheritance Bishops Mills

Dear Editor,

My record as mayor representing all of you in the past, regardless of belief or affiliation, has convinced me to support Colleen Lynas for mayor. Colleen will give you the same strong dedication and honest government. My 9 years as mayor and 10 years additional years on council have convinced me that Colleen Lynas is the inclusive person North Grenville needs now. Will the prison devalue your homes? Colleen Lynas supports open, transparent and accountable governance. Colleen supports open, transparent and accountable financial stewardship, not endless underfunded promises. Colleen understands the diverse needs of urban and rural. Please encourage all to exercise their franchise on election day, Monday, October 24, age eighteen to one hundred plus.

Ralph Raina

Dear Editor,

I’m so impressed with the letter written in the September 29 issue by Nadia Gray. If only she was in power. I too was so shocked when I heard by way of ‘radio’ that ‘they’ were planning to put a prison in Kemptville.

I will use some quotes from her letter:

“But it means to act not just

accept”. She says it was shocking to her. Likewise to me.

“I cannot reconcile the imposition for such a multimillion prison built despite the Kemptville site not meeting the placement criteria set by Ontario.” Also, “the number of coffees and gas fill ups to be bought by prison staff going to and fro over the years”.

“At the doorstep of our Downtown, the impact of 170 acres are visually arresting? Is the prison the view you want?”

So well said, and I can’t thank you enough Ms Gray!

Also in a September 15 issue of the NG Times, most impressive was a letter by former Mayor Bill Gooch, also making excellent points. Thank you Mr. Gooch. Much appreciated.

Kathy Piché

Dear Editor,

As the former Deputy Mayor of North Grenville, it was my pleasure to work closely with Counsellor Doreen O'Sullivan for the 3.5 years of my service.

Doreen participates on several advisory committees, boards of directors, volunteer groups and charities. I found Doreen to be an engaged contributor who leads with integrity and enthusiasm.

Of note, Doreen is genuinely interested in urban and rural community building. She values a healthy and vibrant community. Her active lifestyle and background in the health sector influence her perspective at the council table.

I encourage voters to support her for another term.

Jim McManaman

Former Deputy Mayor Municipality of North Grenville

Dear Editor,

I met Doreen just prior to the last election and we have worked on many projects together since then, most recently on the IPM. She has always been fair, equal, and friendly in all that we have worked on together. She is dedicated to her work whatever it may be, her family and friends. It is this loyalty that gives me the confidence to know she will be an excellent choice as councillor for a second term.

Cathy Sheppard

Dear Editor,

I have had the privilege of working with Doreen O'Sullivan for several years in her role as Registered Nurse at my medical office in Kemtpville. She has always had tremendous energy and enthusiasm which she brings to every endeavor that she participates in. The North Grenville Curling Club, the International Plowing Match and the Municipality

MUNICIPAL OFFICE HOURS

UPDATE

The Municipal office is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Visit our events calendar to find out what’s happening in the community: www.northgrenville.ca/events-calendar

2022 MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION – KEY DATES

• Voter Instruction Letters have been mailed October 4, 2022

• Internet and Telephone Voting will begin October 17, 2022 – available 24 hours

• Advance Polls will take place on October 20 and 21, 2022 – 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the North Grenville Municipal Centre

• Election Day is October 24, 2022 – 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the North Grenville Municipal Centre

To ensure that you are on the Voters’ List, please contact the Clerk at 613-258-9569 ext. 171. Please note that any changes to the information on the Voters’ List will require an appointment and identification must be provided.

Visit NGvotes.ca for Election updates and the list of Candidates.

VOLUNTEER AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Waste Transfer Station Attendant (part-time/Casual)

The Municipality of North Grenville is seeking to fill a casual position of Waste Transfer Station Attendant. The salary for this position currently pays $16.83 to $18.92 per hour. Interested applicants may submit a cover letter and resume outlining qualifications in confidence to Human Resources at hr@northgrenville.on.ca by 4:00 p.m., October 28, 2022.

Building Inspector

The Municipality of North Grenville is seeking to fill the full-time position of Building Inspector. Interested applicants may submit a cover letter and resume outlining qualifications in confidence to Human Resources at hr@northgrenville.on.ca. Please note that this posting will remain open until a suitable pool of applicants have been received.

Please visit northgrenville.ca/careers for information and updates on volunteer and employment opportunities.

The Municipality of North Grenville 285 County Rd. 44, PO Box 130 , Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 Tel: 613-258-9569 Fax: 613-258-9620 general@northgrenville.on.ca www.NorthGrenville.ca Building: 613-258-9569 x130 Fax: 613-258-1441 Fire Services Info: 613-258-9569 x201 Fax: 613-258-1031

By-Law Services: email: bylawinquiries@northgrenville.on.ca 613-258-9569 x211 Police Administration: 613-258-3441 Animal Control: 613-862-9002

of North Grenville have all recently benefited from her dedication and commitment.

Doreen has proven to be an excellent councillor during the current four year term. It is a pleasure to give my full support for her re-election as councillor for our Municipality.

Respectfully, Greg Leonard MD

the north grenville TIMES

MELISSA OTTENHOF Marketing Consultant

Phone:613 329 0209 Email: melissa@ngtimes.ca www.ngtimes.ca

Career Opportunities

Township of North Dundas 636 St. Lawrence Street, P.O. Box 489, Winchester, ON, K0C 2K0 www.northdundas.com

We’re Hiring!

Seasonal Plow Truck Drivers (Day Shifts & Afternoon Shifts)

Seasonal Labourers (Day Shift)

full position descriptions and details, visit Career Opportunities on our website.

deadline is September 30, 2022.Application deadline is October 31, 2022

The Voice of North Grenville

The

I care deeply about this community and I want to continue making a positive contribution to North Grenville as your Councillor. Led by Mayor Nancy Peckford, I want to continue the progress this high functioning and progressive Council has made in the areas of civic engagement, affordable housing, environmental stewardship, improved recreational amenities, client-driven service delivery, smart growth through development design guidelines, built heritage preservation and support for the arts. With my Council colleagues, we’ve accomplished a lot during our term, including keeping residential property taxes under 2% each and every year!

As Council Liaison to Public Works, I oversaw the implementation of the Green Bin Program among other initiatives. I will continue to provide oversight during the construction phase of County Road 43, the expansion of the Water Pollution Control Plant and the Eastern Ontario Correctional Centre (EOCC). My disappointment with the lack of specificity in answers from the Solicitor General regarding the EOCC is part of the public record. I’ll continue to insist on excellent communications with the United Counties and the Province.

As a member of the Environmental Action and the Agriculture/Rural Affairs Advisory Committees, I ensured that waste management and drainage issues were priorities. As a member of the Heritage and the Arts & Culture Advisory Committees, I made sure that preserving our built heritage, celebrating our unique history, and developing policies to support local artists and local events were also priorities.

North Grenville, much has been accomplished over the past four years but there’s more to be done. I want to continue as your Councillor and I’m asking for your vote. www.johnbarclay.ca ; 613-322-8132

Council declares Waste Reduction Week October 17 – 23, 2022

Council has declared Waste Reduction Week in the Municipality of North Grenville, which runs October 17 – 23, 2022.

Celebrating over 20 years of success, Waste Reduction Week in Canada raises awareness on the benefits of sustainable practices, resource efficiency and waste reduction. In North Grenville, it gives us the chance to reflect on reducing waste, conserving resources and promoting sustainable living.

“On behalf of Council, I want to thank North Grenville for embracing opportunities to divert waste from the landfill. We have come a long way with not just our well-established, comprehensive recycling program, but the implementation of the municipality’s curbside organics collection program. This newest program has reduced waste to landfills and has given residents and some businesses more op-

tions when it comes to waste management,” said Mayor Nancy Peckford.

“North Grenville was designated as a Blue Community in April of this year. We continue to encourage residents, businesses and event planners to choose potable water over bottled water in an effort to reduce the amount of plastic in our waste management system.

Residents are encouraged to find ways to minimize the amount of waste that they produce by following the 5 Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot. This can be as simple as bringing a reusable bag to the store or composting your organic waste,” highlighted Councillor Kristin Strackerjan.

Throughout the week, the Municipality will convey tips and messages on its social media channels on ways to reduce waste and reuse items. A variety of themes will be addressed including circular economy, textiles,

e-waste, plastics, food waste and swap and repair.

“Whether you are at home, school, or work, think about how you can reduce, reuse or recycle. All of us have an important role to play in reducing waste,” added Mayor Peckford.

Curbside Giveaway Weekend – October 22- 23, 2022

As part of Waste Reduction Week, the Municipality will be hosting a Curbside Giveaway Weekend on Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23.

Residents are invited to place items to be given away at the curb and marked “FREE”. Residents are responsible for removing any unclaimed items left by dusk on Sunday.

For more information visit https://wrwcanada.com and follow the Municipality’s social media channels for daily tips to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Urbanization of North Grenville

submitted by Michael Whittaker

A number of people have voiced concerns regarding the urbanization of North Grenville, particularly surrounding Kemptville. The natural inclination of some is to place responsibility on the current council. Development does not happen with such rapidity.

According to the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, in Ontario any type of planning application takes seven months or more, and can exceed 30 months for approval. Planning approvals include a combination of a municipal plan amendment, zoning by-law amendment, site plan approval, plan of subdivision and/or development permit.

Although the following projects had shovels in the ground within the last four years, approvals for them date to 2018 or earlier.

The approval process for the River Run development ran from Feb. 2013 to Sept. 2018. These one-acre lots are in proximity to Victoria Park Village off the west end of Concession Street. The Tempo development, north of Food Basics and west of the municipal centre, began in 2018.

Urbandale’s 27-acre development of 190 townhomes, two-storey singles, and bungalows between Kemptville Creek and Rideau River Road was announced in Jan. 2022. The Ottawa Citizen reported the project was launched in Nov. 2021.

Approval for the more than160-acre Oxford Village project on the north side of County Road 43 was granted by a previous council. The request by the current council, now running for re-election, to preserve a greater portion of woodland and wetlands fell on deaf ears. Nonetheless, the developer claims online to have protected 50 acres of recreational and natural beauty.

Construction began there Oct. 12, 2021 on a well and water-treatment plant to be owned by the municipality. Almost 400 new homes in the first phase will be served, and water supplied to the existing service for Kemptville.

This year, after consultation with residents and the development community, council approved the Development Design Guidelines. The document details how North Grenville wants to develop, provides consistency, and sets goals for mixed and affordable housing.

Information regarding developments in the municipality and the guidelines are available online or by contacting the North Grenville Planning and Development Department.

The

The Voice of

Grenville

"MUCH DONE; MORE TO DORE-ELECT JOHN BARCLAY"

Photo: JEMMAN Photography

Get your COVID-19 Fall Booster

submitted by Katie Lamb Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit

Fall Booster (bivalent vaccine) is available for those ages 18 and over and for persons 12-17 who are immunocompromised. Moderna bivalent is available at all Health Unit clinics.

Pfizer bivalent has been approved by Health Canada for ages 12+ and will be arriving at our clinics in the coming weeks pending provincial announcement and vaccine arrival.

The addition of Omicron protection in the bivalent vaccine provides a more robust protection against Omicron 1, 4 and 5, as well as the original strain versus the original mRNA vaccines.

Eligible Ontarians need to have completed their primary series (two doses, or three if immunocompromised) to receive it. Eligibility and booking for booster doses are no longer based on the number of doses you have received, but on the interval since your last dose.

The recommended interval is 6 months from your last booster dose/ primary series. Three months is the minimum interval but 6 months is best. Vulnerable individuals, such as individuals aged 65 and over, and moderately-to-severely immunocompromised individuals aged 12 and over are strongly recommended to receive their bivalent booster as soon as they can (i.e., at 84 days since previous dose), upon discussion with their health care provider

If you have had a COVID infection it is recommended you wait three months (84 days) before receiving a booster dose; however, a six-month (168 days) interval may provide better immune response.

At this time, there is no evidence to suggest any meaningful difference in protection between the BA.1 and BA.4/BA.5 bivalent vaccines

The best dose is the one available to you now. We encourage you to get the vaccine when you are eligible and can get an appointment.

For infants and children who have had a recent COVID-19 infection, it is recommended to wait between one month and 90 days after the start of COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test before continuing the primary series. Parents and caregivers should discuss the best timing for vaccination after a recent COVID-19 infection with their health care provider.

Individuals aged five and over may receive a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as, or at any time before or after non-COVID-19 vaccines, including the influenza vaccine. Anyone under five should wait 14 days between their COVID vaccines and other vaccines.

Two vaccine brands are available for the six-month to four years old age group: Infant Pfizer (three-dose series) or Pediatric Moderna (two-dose series). These vaccine brands are not interchangeable for this age group and mixing products for your infant or child’s primary series doses is not recommended. Your child should receive the same product for all their primary series doses, whether it is Pfizer or Moderna.

For Infant Pfizer, there are three doses with a recommended interval of 8 weeks between doses 1, 2 and 3. For Pediatric Moderna, two doses for this age group with a recommended interval of 8 weeks between doses 1 and 2 for optimal protection.

It’s important that children get vaccinated as soon as possible because the benefits of getting vaccinated and being protected against COVID-19 far outweigh the risks of any side effects from the vaccine. COVID-19 infection may cause longerlasting symptoms and

health problems for some children. Infants must be at least six months or older at the time of their appointment in order to receive the paediatric COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccination Booking Reminders

A list of upcoming clinics is available on our website. Clinic dates and locations are posted through to December.

Walk-in appointments will be accepted at Health Unit clinics dependent on capacity for persons five years and over, including fall boosters (bivalent vaccine) for those 18+, and immunocompromised individuals 12-17

Also continue to check with a participating pharmacy or your health care provider.

Vaccine appointments for six months to five years of age MUST be made by calling the Vaccine Call Centre at 1-844369-1234 Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:00pm (NOT through the online booking system or the Provincial system).

For questions about vaccinating your child, we encourage residents to speak with their health care provider or contact the COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service at sickkids.ca/vaccineconsult or 1-888-304-6558 to book a confidential phone appointment with a SickKids’ Registered Nurse.

For more information on COVID-19 vaccines, visit the COVID-19 Protection and Vaccines section of our website.

613-345-5685 x 2285 / katie.lamb@healthunit. org

Find us on social @ LGLHealthunit

Council Candidate Andre Rancourt

dollar contracts. Repeatedly I have started new ventures with no direct experience and have progressed to a high level of competency in that field.

the north grenville TIMES

MELISSA OTTENHOF Marketing Consultant Phone:613 329 0209 Email: melissa@ngtimes.ca www.ngtimes.ca

What are your top three priorities for the coming four years of Council? How do they diff er from the last four years?

Control North Grenville’s growth. As the community grows, so does the need for infrastructure such as public transportation, hotels, and water treatment facilities. We will ensure that the values and goals of our strategic plan are respected. For example, when developers ask to build a new subdivision, their documented building plans must align with our long-term objectives, and they must be held accountable to follow those plans.

Maintain a small-town feel. Build bridges over gaps resulting from contentious issues. We want a community where it’s safe to clearly and respectfully express views and concerns.

Increase health care. As the population grows and ages, the need for increased health care providers is essential. We must attract health-care providers and their families to North Grenville. Working together with upper levels of government, we need to create an environment that is welcoming.

What do you bring to Council that hasn’t been there previously?

I bring more than 40 years of experience as a chartered accountant, reviewing and administering budget processes and controls. I analyze financial statements to spot potential issues and to identify positive actions to pursue.

When recruited in the high tech industry, I was identified as someone who had been “around the block” a few times, bringing my diverse experience to the table. One example of this is my eventually becoming CFO of March Networks, leading a team of experts and negotiating million

Another example, of which I am proud is my award-winning leadership of Lowe Martin Printing, having begun my journey there knowing nothing about printing. It was my ability to listen, learn and lead industry experts that enabled us to be named one of Canada’s 50 top managed companies.

Social media has become toxic locally, especially over the past year. Do you think Council has a role in creating a more civil atmosphere generally? If so, how would you go about it?

Council has a role in creating a positive atmosphere in the community, discouraging toxic comments online and in person. Criticism is useful when accompanied by logical, feasible alternatives and solutions. We can work together, despite differences of opinion, in a safe, respectful atmosphere where we build a better community for all.

Do you think more can be done to involve the community in the affairs of Council and being part of the decision-making process?

Council has been excellent at transparency and open communication, but I would love to see more involvement from the community. The public can access Council meetings in person or online. I encourage anyone who wants their voice heard to come forward and make a presentation in order to further improve North Grenville.

The biggest challenge of public consultation is that, because people have different opinions, some inevitably will feel disappointed when the process is over. I think we should aim to find common ground so that everyone feels heard and respected even if they don’t get 100% of what they were asking.

How do you think the future development in North Grenville - infrastructure, economic, environmental - should be directed? What new initiatives need to be undertaken in those areas?

It’s important that future development aligns with the 10-year strategic plan

that was created through a combination of senior management workshops, a community survey, public consultation and discussions with community focus groups. I’d work diligently to ensure that North Grenville grows while respecting the environment and budget and keeps the feel of a small town.

Infrastructure: We need to encourage developers to provide open recreational space for prospective homeowners. Our community should continue growing with appropriate amenities such as sidewalks, bicycle paths and playgrounds.

From a commercial perspective, we must also have the infrastructure that encourages businesses to come to NG, for example, public transportation, water treatment facilities

Economic: By maintaining and improving the quality of life in North Grenville, we encourage businesses to expand into our area, creating better paying jobs, full-time employment and a more stable tax base. For example, the board of directors of the Kemptville Campus is researching the possibility of developing a medical research facility. Attracting different industries, such as high-tech, also will contribute to our economic growth.

NG is ideally located. We are located on a 4-lane expressway and are in proximity to an international airport, and a huge economic market across the border.

Environmental: We need to support projects that encourage environmental sustainability. For example, an educational centre for future forestation at the Ferguson Forest will develop a model forest of the future including trees and natural resources that survive in our environment. Also, the Council has been working with Kemptville College to accommodate training for trades that are required in environmental industries.

Voting is now open! Vote online, by telephone, or in-person at Municipal Centre. See your Information Letter for details

The

Ontario Festival of Small Halls announces Holiday series lineup, ‘Deck the Small Halls’

Ontario Festival of Small Halls organizers announced that they will be welcoming music fans back to beloved rural venues across Eastern Ontario this holiday season to share the joy of big music in small, festive places.

The festival will feature a variety of Canadian artists at numerous rural venues, including several awe-inspiring acts, such as: Hawksley Workman; Skydiggers; and The Devin Cuddy Band.

“It’s an eclectic festival, with some remarkable acts,” says Ontario Festival of Small Halls executive and artistic director, Mark Monahan. “The intrinsic beauty of a Small Halls show is in seeing your favourite act in a unique and intimate community setting that allows you to connect with the music and the artist. Some acts will be featuring their own original material, while others will include some memorable holiday fare.”

What: ‘Deck the Small Halls’ Who, when, and where in this area:

Skydiggers / Friday, November 25 / 7:30 p.m. / Merrickville United Church

Devin Cuddy Band / Saturday, December 3 / 7:30 p.m. / Burritts Rapids Community Hall

How: Tickets for individual events go on sale online only, any time after 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 13 at: https://ontariosmallhalls.com/ .

The Ontario Festival of Small Halls takes showcasing cherished community venues to heart and puts the halls front and centre. For more information and a complete list of venues, please visit the website, any time after 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 13 and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Voting is now open! Vote online, by telephone, or in-person at the Municipal Centre. See your Voter Information Letter for details or call the Voter Help Line at 1-833-VOTENG1. For more information, visit:

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The North Grenville Photagraphy Club

The

The

Grenville

At a recent North Grenville Photography club meeting, members enjoyed a macro shoot including this HO miniature display taken by member Crystal Walt. The Photoclub meets the first Wednesday of the month and welcomes new members all year round.

Mayoral Candidate Nancy Peckford

logue, and have secured the province’s financial commitment to assume all costs for their water and sewer needs, and are vigorously advocating for surplus farm-side lands (up to 100 acres) - and no impact to the Municipality’s policing budget.

How do you see the role of Mayor in relation to: a. Council colleagues, b. the wider community, c. the United Counties, and d. the Provincial government?

I believe that my primary role as Mayor is to be accountable to the community I serve - including residents and local business owners. Consequently, I must foster strong relationships with Council colleagues and municipal staff where we respect each other and our shared efforts to make improvements and strategic investments in the community.

While Council can disagree, ultimately we need to establish some common ground, or we risk spinning our wheels or turning on each other. This not productive for anyone. If re-elected, renewing our Council Workplan and ensuring Council receives appropriate training and support is my fi rst priority so we can serve the community well, and with fairness and respect.

At Counties Council, my job is to effectively represent North Grenville's priorities while having the best interests of the United Counties at heart, given competing priorities and limited resources. On matters including road safety, the CR 43 expansion, housing, victim's services and supporting our paramedics, I have brought a strong voice, and offered effective leadership for the Counties as a whole.

Provincially, my goal has also been to capitalize on priorities for rural broadband, parks and recreation, municipal modernization, the pandemic response as well as the expansion CR 43. Obviously, the unexpected news of the provincial correctional facility has presented some challenges. However, we have kept an open dia-

Ultimately, I am proud of our ability to work with the province and Counties during difficult times. This helped us achieve the highest vaccination rates in Ontario, get the CR 43 expansion underway, and some unprecedented investments in affordable housing.

How would go about establishing a more inclusive community of tolerance for all, regardless of differences of belief, identity, or opinion?

North Grenville is changing, and it is imperative that businesses and residents are treated equally and with respect. The Municipality is in the process of developing training and education for staff, municipal partners and community groups, and formulating funding guidelines. If re-elected, Council will receive comprehensive training on diversity, training and equity. Ultimately, the Municipality must uphold the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Human Rights Code of Ontario, and not infringe on the rights of some in a manner that gives an advantage to others.

The role of Mayor is increasingly time- and energy-demanding as the population grows and the issues at play become more complex. How would you, as Mayor, deal with the situation and would you be able to “download” responsibilities to Council?

Generally, I do not support the downloading of Mayoral responsibilities. I have often said I am a 24/7 Mayor, which means being highly ac-

cessible and responding to developments in realtime. However, Council colleagues can provide significant leadership. I appointed Jim McManaman Deputy Mayor as a very seasoned community and business leader to shape some important conversations. Through the ten advisory committees that Council established, plus one for youth , Council colleagues have taken the lead on policy proposals, new initiatives -and regularly liaise with various departments.

How do you see the working relationship and balance of powers between Council and Municipal Staff?

This Council has built some excellent relationships with senior staff. Ultimately, staff are held accountable through the Chief Administrative Officer. Only the CAO is hired and supervised by Mayor and Council. When the relationship between the Mayor, a cohesive Council and the CAO is working well, there will be strong alignment and the ability to deliver well on community priorities. This has been my number one objective so the Municipality can advance our community's priorities.

The renewal of North Grenville’s Community strategic plan in 2021 was undertaken to provide clear and strong direction to staff on where the municipality must improve levels of service, invest strategically in roads and sidewalks, traffic calming, fire protection, policing, parks and recreation, water and sewer, and our business community in order to manage growth in a sustainable and fiscally responsible way, while also improving quality of life. Keeping property taxes low and having more housing and rental units that accommodates all stages of life is crucial.

Mayoral Candidate Colleen Lynas

municipal government. Can you tell us how, with your experience, you would work with municipal staff, councillors, and other levels of government?

sations need to take place.

the north grenville TIMES

MELISSA OTTENHOF Marketing Consultant Phone:613 329 0209 Email: melissa@ngtimes.ca www.ngtimes.ca

How do you see the role of Mayor in relation to: a. Council colleagues, b. the wider community, c. the United Counties, and d. the Provincial government?

I consider myself very fortunate to live in beautiful North Grenville with its combination of deep rural roots and small-town charm. I chose to retire here in 2018 after working in the healthcare field throughout my career. Having acquired a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto and a diploma in Human Resources Management from McMaster University, I enjoyed a rewarding career in clinical social work, and later within the hospital system in labour relations, risk management, patient experience and clinical management. Locally, I co-chaired the Mayor’s Task Force on Affordable Housing and sat on the board of Seniors’ Community Services and the Country Walk Community Association. I am a founding member of the local grassroots group, the Coalition Against the Proposed Prison.

Through these experiences, I developed the strategic, planning and leadership skills that you can depend on as we continue to build a healthy and thriving community. I am confident in my ability to lead a council that can bring increased transparency and evidencebased decision-making to its work on behalf of its constituents.

Should I be chosen as your mayor, my top priorities will include transparent and accountable governance, financial stewardship, environmental stewardship, building a healthy, economically strong, and thriving community, and addressing the very real financial and resource pressures our community will face should the Eastern Ontario Correctional Complex be built.

There are many key actors in the running of

Your mayor is head of council and the Chief Executive Officer of the municipality. That person’s leadership style is an important consideration. I will value and foster independence of thought. When decisions come before council, I will ensure an open-minded review and analysis of the facts and encourage healthy debate. My natural style is to work collaboratively and consult widely, and to foster those skills in the people around me. Each member of council has an equal vote in making decisions at the table, which means those collaborative conditions are critical in enabling all members to make the best decisions possible.

Your municipal council is the governance body of the municipality. The Chief Administrative Officer and other senior staff are responsible for the operations and implementing council decisions. With my background in management and human resources, I am well versed in the role governance bodies can play in creating a healthy workplace culture, an ingredient which is critical to developing a highperforming organization. Both talking the talk, and walking the walk, are the first order of business.

Your mayor also represents the municipality on the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Council, which includes the local municipalities within its jurisdiction, and engages with representatives of provincial and federal levels of government, as circumstances require. I have experience and expertise in working with and navigating across multiple stakeholders, advocating, and negotiating, and will be comfortable at the tables where those conver-

How would go about establishing a more inclusive community of tolerance for all, regardless of differences of belief, identity, or opinion?

I will passionately work toward building a healthy and inclusive North Grenville. Our community is becoming increasingly diverse, and I believe the municipal government should be seen as a leader in our community in the areas of diversity and inclusion. We need to set the bar high in ensuring that our clients experience equitable and respectful service and that our staff can thrive in a workplace environment that is healthy and inclusive.

Given that many communities are experiencing growing inequities in access to services and resources, municipal governments are increasingly stepping up to meet the challenge. As your mayor, I will proudly commit to providing leadership, along with my council colleagues, in this important challenge. It is important that those experiencing social inequities – for example, people with disabilities, people living in poverty, seniors, newcomers, LGBTQ2S+ communities, and racialized and Indigenous people – see their municipal council as recognizing the challenges they face, while we seek to improve their access to services and engagement in our community. I will fully support the development of a municipal policy focused on diversity and inclusion. The issue, however, requires a broader scope. Utilizing an equity and inclusion lens when reviewing and developing policies and practices, and when planning services, programs and events is an important approach, as is engaging and consulting with those residents and communities facing barriers and, in some cases, discrimination.

Beat the Fall rush, call for a quote

Excited for another year of growth and progress!

The Food Corner

By Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere! I sure hope you are taking full advantage of their potential. Apart from pumpkin pie with a mince-meat bottom and pumpkin bread, our family does garlic and Cajun spiced pumpkin seeds every year. Maybe your family does too; if not, get the kids or grand-kids going on this. The little people enjoy “gutting” the pumpkin as part of the carving process. You just need to control the sharp instruments, the spicing and the roasting of the seeds. Roasted Pumpkin seeds are a real treat for this time of year. If your family has a special pumpkin seed recipe, maybe using different spices, please take the time to share it with me.

Roasted Pumpkins Seeds Ingredients

One good-size healthy pumpkin yields a batch of seeds, so several batches mean more pumpkins

Vegetable oil spray

1/8 cup of olive oil

Garlic powder or Cajun spice

Sea salt

Preparation

submitted by Johanna, Justin and Kristina

The students and staff here at Merrick Preparatory School have been busy bees, and we wanted to share some updates with you. We all are so excited to be back on campus and we've already accomplished so much in just our first month!

From Classroom to Rapids:

We kicked off the new school year with river rafting in Ottawa – definitely a highlight for everyone involved! It was so much fun being out on the water and enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Nation’s capital. Not only was the rafting trip a great opportunity for the kids to get to know each other better, but it was also a chance to challenge themselves and push their boundaries. They learned a lot about working together as a team, and had so much fun in the process.

Exploring the Jewels of the St. Lawrence River:

Not less exciting was our cruise on the St. Lawrence River where we boated along the scenic shores of one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse regions in North America. A wonderful occasion for our students to learn more about the area, the history of the St. Lawrence River, its ecosystem and importance to the region – all while enjoying time outdoors in the fresh air and soaking up the autumn sun.

Connecting with others at the IPM 2022:

Merrick Prep's Admissions Team was thrilled to be a part of the International Plowing Match & Rural Expo 2022 in Kemptville. The event was a fantastic opportunity for us to introduce Merrick Prep to potential students and their families. We received a lot of amazing feedback from the crowd - especially for our raffle gift basket which was filled with selected goodies from Merrickville stores.

Our next event:

Don’t miss our Open House on November 15. It will be a great opportunity to see what our school has to offer and learn more about the uniquely tailored educational experience that we guarantee to our local day and international boarding students.

We are so grateful for being part of Merrickville’s wonderful community and thank you for making our first month back on campus such a success!

Your ongoing support is truly appreciated and we can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store for us.

TR Leger Kemptville expands Adult Training & Apprenticeship Programming

Due to the positive response and demand within the community, the TR Leger School of Adult, Alternative and Continuing Education at Kemptville Campus will now be offering its newly launched adult training in heavy machinery in the evenings and on weekends.

Adults looking to become a Truck and Coach Technician, an Agricultural Equipment Technician (425A), a Heavy Equipment Technician (421A), or who want to upskill in these industries can now take specific micro-credential courses that interest them, or take all the courses in a particular specialty to complete the in-class portion of the Level 1 Commercial Vehicle Apprenticeship Certification.

“This really is a great opportunity for adults who are looking to get into a trade, or who want to get more training in an industry they are already in,” explains Shelley Riddell, Principal of TR Leger. “All of these programs are fully funded by the government, so there is no cost to enroll. For those that were interested in our daytime offering but couldn’t commit to one or two days in person, this is a great alternative. We have a number of community partners that are looking to fill positions with people who have this type of training.”

Courses that are being offered are as follows: Hydraulics-Fluid Power Systems Electrical Theory / Practical Engines

Fuel Systems Theory / Practical Wheel End Assemblies & Brake Systems Theory/Practical Drive Train Systems Theory / Practical Trade Practices Theory

Registration is open, with some courses starting on October 19. Get full details about the courses being offered, timing and registration information on the TR Leger School of Adult, Alternative and Continuing Education website.

1. Heat your oven to 350F

2. Remove the seeds from your pumpkin, separate them from the pulp and place in a large bowl

3. Pour the olive oil over the seeds and mix to coat them

4. Sprinkle with garlic powder and mix again; (you usually need a fair amount of garlic powder)

5. Or, sprinkle with Cajun spice but be a bit more conservative (Cajun spice is fairly strong)

6. Spread evenly on a cookie sheet that you have sprayed with vegetable oil

7. Pop in the oven and bake; every ten minutes or so, move the seeds around the cookie sheet

Watch your seeds carefully: there is a critical point where the seeds are still too soft to be palatable or they have become burnt. It depends on the breed of pumpkin. Feel free to taste as you move along (just don’t burn your tongue). When you are satisfied that your seeds are nicely done, sprinkle them with sea salt to suit your taste (as always, don’t overdo the salt).

When enjoying Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, you need to remember that it has a high nutrient profile. In other words, they are fattening; so, if you are on a calorie-restricted diet, you may want to control your intake. You can check nutritional values for pumpkin seeds on line.

Wishing you the very best for Pumpkin season, from Paul at pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

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Classifieds

KLUB 67 Euchre – Fun, social card playing every 2nd and 4th Wednesday monthly at 1PM, September to May. Location: Kemptville Legion, 100 Reuben Cres, Kemptville.

BREAKFAST, Kemptville Legion! Every 3rd Saturday from 8-10am - $8 for adults, $6 for children 10 and under. Euchre will be held following breakfast, registration starts at 11:30 am. BINGO, Kemptville Legion, 1st and

at noon

Found on trail at Ferguson Forest Centre on October 15, a pair of prescription ladies glasses. If you think these belong to you please call 613324-5451.

Classifieds

FOR SALE

WHEELCHAIR FOR SALE, LIKE NEW ONLY SIX MONTH OLD. PAID OVER 4000.00, ASKING 2,000.00 BUT WILLING TO NEGOTIATE. PLEASE CALL 613-296-8778

WALKER WITH SEAT; ELECTRIC ACTIVE CYCLE (PEDAL ONLY TYPE), MANUAL EXERCISE CYCLE. CALL 613-5678533

BLACK WALNUT PLANKS AND DISKS MERRICKVILLE JGHARRIS@SYMPATICO.CA

SETS OF WINTER TIRES 195-60R 15"; 1 SET ON GM 4 BOLT RIMS; $120 PER SET. CALL 613-282-1836, LEAVE A MESSAGE

WOMEN'S WINTER COAT, ROSE COLOURED, HANDMADE, LARGE. $40. HANGING POOL TABLE LIGHT $20. CONTACT NADFUDT@ GMAIL.COM

RED PICNIC TABLE, CUSTOM BUILT, 4 SEATER. 4'8" X 4'X10". $45. STERLING BBQ, CLEAN, SELDOM USED, HIGH TOP, 10,000BTU, MODEL 1701-4. $45. CONTACT NADFUDT@GMAIL.COM

STEALTH 300 MOTORGUIDE ELECTRIC BOAT MOTOR, 30LBS, THRUST 2 POPS. $75. CONTACT NADFUDT@GMAIL.COM

HAY AND STRAW FOR SALE 4X4 ROUND BALES, STORED INSIDE. CALL JON 613-2273650

NORCO CITY COMMUTER BIKE. MINT CONDITION $300. NICK 613 890 3512

40" DYNAMAX TV. IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION. $75. NICK 613 890 3512

HELP WANTED

MOUNTAIN DAIRY FARM REQUIRES MALE/FEMALE OR STUDENT FOR CHORE DUTIES DURING MILKING TIMES, 5-8 AM/4-7 PM. SCHEDULE NEGOTIABLE. CALL 613 989 5204 OR 613 227 6026.

HELP WANTED

PERSON WITH GENERAL LANDSCAPING AND HORTICULTURE KNOWLEDGE. NOT AFRAID TO GET HANDS DIRTY. CONTACT ANDRELSIMARD@GMAIL.COM

MISCELLANIOUS

HUNTER EDUCATION COURSE ON SEPTEMBER17TH AND CANADIAN FIREARMS COURSE ON OCTOBER 22 AND 23 IN BURRITTS RAPIDS. PLEASE CONTACT KERRY COLEMAN AT 613-791-7515 OR KERRYCOLEMAN@XPLORNET. COM

WANTED

Looking to rent winter parking near Asa St. Contact 613-545-5420.

KEMPTVILLE AREA ROOM. MATURE STUDENT, STUDYING AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR IN KEMPTVILLE, NEEDS A QUIET ROOM WITH BATHROOM FACILITIES FROM SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER AND FROM FEBRUARY TO APRIL. WEEKDAYS ONLY. HAS SMALL FRIDGE, KITCHEN NOT REQUIRED. NEEDS RELIABLE INTERNET ACCESS. CALL CHRIS 613200-7016.

ACROSS

SERVICES

RETIRED CARPENTER Renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, additions, decks, home repair. Call George at 613 462 7637

HANDYMAN SERVICES Call Bill 613 774 2922

Hedge Trimming Small or Tall Call Rob 613-795-1845'

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

Easy Medium Hard

The Voice of North Grenville

The North Grenville

Solution to last week’s Crossword

73’s record a point with true grit

the sports guy

Monday matinee was the final chance for the 73’s to post a mark in the win column as they faced the Ottawa Junior Senators. Unfortunately, the Junior Senators foiled their attempt as they squeezed a 3 to 2 victory.

Ottawa counted first with a PPG from Massimo Gentile, assisted from Velocci and Sorensen to beat Conor Blackwood at 6:00. Kemptville outshot Ottawa 8 to 6 to trail their opponent by one.

73’s Lammi combined with Logue to find Ty Whyte in the slot to put it behind Connor Shipley at 19:40 to tie it at one all.

Kemptville continued to outgun Ottawa by 17 to 7. In the early final twenty, Emile Villiard with helpers from Gentile and Utoro to direct it past 73’s replacement Jacob Biron at

1:13 for tiebreaker. Emile Trottier with a solo effort to give Kemptville a tie at 3:44. Junior Senators bounced back with Velocci to Anton Sorensen to award them a 3 to 2 win. Ottawa posted 16 to 12 SOG, with one PPG on three attempts and Kemptville getting blanked with five opportunities.

Kemptville back home to meet the Renfrew Wolves on Friday night was met with another loss as they clawed back to force OT and 6 to 5 defeat.

The 73’s found themselves in the sin bin for 8 minutes of the initial frame falling behind the Wolves by two. Elvis Slack assisted from Waivada and Tomasini to find five hole of Jacob Biron at 10:07 to put Renfrew on the board. The Wolves with second from Noah Vom Scheidt assisted from Grainger and

Hylands at 10:54 to end the first. Renfrew recorded 14 to 10 SOG to put Kemptville in a hole.

The Wolves opened the second at :19 when Slack and Waivada found Tyson Tomasini to make it a 3 zip lead. Chase Lammi with Trottier off the wall, over to Brazier to spoil Ian Michelone SO attempt at 6:41, Grainger to Jamie Hylands at 9:51 to dig a 4 to 1 hole for Kemptville. The 73’s clawed back when Kelly worked the trenches to feather to Warner reversed to Patrick Haughian on the line with quick snap at 14:06 to close the second 4 - 2. Renfrew on top with 14 to 8 SOG.

Kemptville made a big push in the third with man advantage when Fennell held the line over to Campeau so Grady Logue PPG could pump it in at

3:12. Joey Kennelly assisted from Choueiri and Hylands for the Wolves at 4:23. Houle up the half boards to Benjamin Campeau to move the 73’s within one at 13:23. Kemptville pulled their stopper for extra attacker when the spark plug Hunter Brazier back in the lineup after a D combination from Yakubowski with Houle forced OT at 19:58. Kemptville forced the play by out gunning Renfrew 16 to 6 to climb out of a hole.

The OT was short lived as the Wolves capitalized when Noah Vom Scheidt with helpers from Grainger and Slack found the back of the net at 1:43 to squeak a 6 to 5 win. Kemptville never engaged the net with Renfrew having two SOG.

The 73’s next home game will be on Friday, October 21 at 7:30 when the Rockland Nationals are here for the

time this year.

Hockey with EDGE… see you around the wall.

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The Voice of North Grenville

Tic - tac - toe - in…..Emile Trottier combined with Hunter Brazier for Chase Lammi marker during Friday night contest against Renfrew Wolves

Kemptville

Klub celebrates 350+ years of volunteering

Wednesday, October 12 was a special event for the Kemptville Snowmobile Klub. Not only was it our first meeting of the fall, but we kicked off the season with a celebration of volunteering. The Upper Canada Snowmobile Region funded a program which recognized all volunteers in the snowmobile clubs of Eastern Ontario who had 25 or more years of continuous volun-

teer service. This elite group of volunteers are now known as the TRAILBLAZERS because they have been working for organized snowmobiling since the early years when they were trailblazing our trail system across the province. Each recipient was presented with a jacket with the TRAILBLAZER logo on the back, along with the Upper Canada Snowmobile Region logo. On the chest is

the name of the local club to which the volunteer belongs, and on the sleeve is the first name of the volunteer.

Across the region, there were 99 qualified volunteers and 14 of them happen to belong to the Kemptville club (see photo). That amounts to over 350 years of volunteer service in our club alone.

The fact that there are 14 long service volunteers in Kemptville shows the club’s

commitment to volunteer retention. It is hard enough to recruit new volunteers, but harder still to keep them coming back year after year. Volunteers, along with landowners, are the backbone of the Ontario snowmobile trail system, with over 30,000 kilometers of groomed trails. North Grenville and Wolford-Merrickville enjoy 225 kilometers thanks to these dedicated people who make it happen. The Kemptville Snowmobile Klub has many other valuable volunteers who have under 25 years service, and it is the aim of the club to keep all of our volunteers happy and returning year after year to keep our club strong. We would like to thank the Upper Canada Snowmobile Region for funding this program, and a big thank you to the volunteers who give their time and talents so that our community has safe, well groomed trails on which to operate their snowmobiles. We invite you to come out and get involved with this great group of people. Look us up on Facebook.

Ontario fires up gas while turning its back on Quebec waterpower

Angela Bischoff, Director, Ontario Clean Air Alliance

Hard on the heels of claiming that the province has no choice but to build more climate-wrecking gas plants, the Ontario government has pulled the plug on its seven-year Ontario-Quebec Electricity Trade Agreement to import low-cost waterpower from Quebec.

The contract signed by the previous Wynne government allowed Ontario to import up to 500 megawatts of power on a guaranteed basis from Quebec. That’s just a tiny fraction of the power Quebec has available, but it was a start on breaking down the largely political barriers that have kept us from realizing the full potential of cooperation with our energy-rich neighbours.

The decision to not renew the contract speaks volumes about the current government’s willingness to go to great lengths to protect the fossil gas and nuclear

industries. They know these sources cannot compete with power from Hydro Quebec, which exported clean waterpower at an average price of just 5.3 cents per kWh last year – that is half the price of electricity from the Pickering Nuclear Station.

It seems our political leaders would much rather protect our high-cost nuclear industry than build a modern integrated system that would lower ratepayers’ bills.

Now Energy Minister Todd Smith says Quebec is welcome to participate in upcoming competitive procurement opportunities. Why then is there no competitive process when it comes to building an unproven new nuclear reactor in the GTA, or for rebuilding the ancient Pickering Nuclear Station?

If the Ontario government really does get serious about creating a level playing field for all energy options – which we would

fully support – we will see a very different outcome than sweetheart sole-source deals for nuclear projects and continued expansion of fossil gas. But don’t hold your breath. We have seen again and again how our energy planners are willing to stack the deck to get the solutions they favour.

And once again Energy Minister Todd Smith makes pie in the sky claims that Quebec will run out of power soon. This will come as news to a province that has signed mega export deals with its American neighbours but can’t deliver the power due to opposition to building transmission lines (ON and QC already have the transmission lines!)

In addition, QC could free up more of its heritage waterpower for export to Ontario by investing in energy efficiency, low-cost solar and wind power. It is also embracing its role of using its massive reservoir

system as a giant battery for solar and wind power, something Ontario should be taking advantage of instead of ignoring.

More closely integrating the Ontario and Quebec power systems makes all kinds of sense, and the federal government has put money on the table for increasing transmission linkages. It's time for Ontario to pull its head out of the sand and look east to see the future rising.

It is time for the federal government to step in with strong regulations to require a zero carbon electricity grid and not let Ontario slip massive gas plants through regulatory loopholes.

Please tell federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault he needs to quickly create a strong Clean Electricity Standard and stop Ontario’s terrible plan.

Send in your letters, stories, events to editor@ngtimes.ca

The

L-R: Marty and Carol Lavigne, Heather and Dave Burns, Ross Beatty, Bruce and Liz Robinson, Penny Lennox , Dale Walt, Tim Lennox, Ron Bates. Missing from the photo were Doug and Willy Gordon and Gary Moffitt

Candidate for Council Chris Wilson

whether visible or unseen. I am also a successful business person. I have worked in the financial services industry, specifi cally risk management, for over 15 years. I understand deeply how to create economic value and I am a highly skilled professional negotiator.

environmental - should be directed? What new initiatives need to be undertaken in those areas?

Kindness is free

by Brandon Mayer

What are your top three priorities for the coming four years of Council? How do they differ from the last four years?

Control spending to prevent tax increases or depletion of our reserve fund. It is a tough economic climate, the municipality needs to be very careful not to overstep our capabilities. Using taxpayer funds to hire consultants is waste. Council should consult the public themselves.

Work to attract more doctors, nurses, and PSW’s to our area. Current council is considering offering financial incentives to achieve this, I would work to expedite this and implement other initiatives before we are too late and everyone is doing the same.

Work to bring our community together. We could benefit from coworking spaces, business start-up community, and spaces for our volunteer groups to meet, share resources, and strategize projects that will improve our social development and economic development in North Grenville.

Our current council is dividing our community by welcoming religion into political decisions.

What do you bring to Council that hasn’t been there previously?

I bring a wide arrange of unique perspectives to council that are not currently represented. I am a millennial, who understands the significant challenges that younger generations are facing.

I have lived through decades of chronic illness, along with my late wife, Rachel. This experience helps me understand the issues facing people who rely on our healthcare system to be able to function. Also, I understand the challenges facing people living with disabilities,

Most importantly, living through severe illness, and losing my wife has given me a very strong sense of moral character. I do the right thing, always, even when it is the most difficult. My entire life has been lived in the public eye. I am an open book, approachable, relatable, and a hardworking, competent person.

Social media has become toxic locally, especially over the past year. Do you think Council has a role in creating a more civil atmosphere generally? If so, how would you go about it?

I do not think social media has become toxic locally. I think our community group pages are some of the nicest and respectful group pages that exist on the internet. It can be difficult to effectively communicate and debate ideas online, but I think if you are direct, truthful, and careful with your language, social media can be an effective place to engage in community dialogue. As a councillor, I would continue to engage respectfully with the community, and encourage others to be respectful and careful in choosing their words.

Do you think more can be done to involve the community in the affairs of Council and being part of the decision-making process?

I think council could host community engagement sessions, instead of hiring consultants from outside of our community, when there are important issues to discuss. Maybe even consider hosting online sessions in conjunction to assist our residents with accessibility issues. These sessions should include real, back and forth, engagement with council.

Actually listening to the community and implementing their ideas would encourage more people to get involved.

How do you think the future development in North Grenville - infrastructure, economic,

Economic development needs to expand beyond hosting events. Events are great from a social and cultural perspective, and they should continue for these reasons, but North Grenville has had difficulty translating the events into economic benefit to our local businesses. Some additional economic development steps I would focus on are:

1) Creating a co-working/start-up community where local entrepreneurs can access resources and professional advice to help them start new businesses in North Grenville.

2) Proactively attend chamber of commerce events, business networking events and trade shows in surrounding communities to try and attract businesses to move to North Grenville.

3) Ensure any future initiatives, such as; The NG Green card or NG Bucks are not complete failures and waste of taxpayer resources.

Infrastructure and the environment go hand in hand. I would focus our roads and pathways to be bike and pedestrian friendly. I would work to ensure any new or replacement infrastructure is engineered to withstand the new normal when it comes to wind speeds and ice loads. I would work with our environmental committee members to find an appropriate balance of environmental protections and costs associated with them. This would be done with long term finances as the main factor in decision making. I will govern with a sustainable long term budget in mind.

Many local retail and food service workers are struggling with a simple problem – they just want some kindness. Anyone who has ever worked in one of these jobs knows that it can be thankless. It’s a low paid, customer-isalways-right world where criticism is served up in far higher quantities than basic manners. Of course, poor service is the bane of the business world because it drives customers away, but what lurks beneath poor service is often a foundation of employee mistreatment, abuse from customers, and poverty-level pay that makes it difficult for any well-meaning employee to get it right every single time. With costs of living rising significantly and minimum wage jobs simply not paying the bills anymore, it is a wonder that many employees stay in these jobs where taking daily verbal abuse seems to be increasingly part of the job description.

A local resident with firsthand experience chose to share her story anonymously. “When I was 1720 years old, I was working in a big retail store in a small department,” she said. “My department manager was completely inappropriate and did not manage at all. From day one, as a young teenage girl, my 30-something department manager would constantly talk about her sex life, tinder dates, abortions, issues with her kids etc. She also said various subtly racist comments to me such as, ‘You're using chopsticks for lunch. That's so cute. You know, because you're Asian’.” The resident confirmed that the business in question is located in Kemptville, and that she also experienced much harassment from male customers of the establishment in addition to issues with management.

Another local got in touch to share his thoughts on the matter. As a business owner, he has seen firsthand the hostility with which customers sometimes treat staff, a problem that has become worse in recent years. He has a no tolerance policy for such behaviour toward his staff, and pointed out that it is

already difficult to keep staff in the current labour market without throwing verbal abuse from customers into the mix.

A server at a local restaurant also weighed in. Speaking of the pandemic, she said “There were rules we had to follow (mask wearing, contact tracing, vaccine passport) that people didn't agree with and would let us know quite loudly about. It's pretty disconcerting to see an adult arguing with a 16-year-old hostess about a rule that the government enacted. I had an incident where I had to call the police. A man who wasn't vaccinated was refusing to leave when we would not let him in. He started yelling at our staff and other customers.” Pandemic rules have not been the only issue.

“More recently it seems like people have lost their filter,” the server continued.

“I'm not sure if it’s because they were hiding out online for two years, but it’s been pretty shocking some of the behaviours I have seen. I've seen grown men ogling and taking pictures of our clearly underage hostesses. I had a man last night that I wasn't sure if he wanted to date me or murder me. Definitely limited eye contact with that one. Everyone is complaining about prices, or that their favourite beer isn't available. True complaints I take seriously and will work my hardest to rectify them, it’s the ones that are out of my control that wear on me. It is well known that staffing issues and supply shortages have been happening across all industries. What the solution is, I don't know. I think people need to take a step back before speaking and think ‘Is this something that this employee can change or is it beyond their control?’ It is exhausting to have someone take their frustration out on you for something that is beyond your control and something that is equally frustrating to yourself.”

For those who have forgotten the lessons their parents taught them in childhood, two key things to remember are that times are changing, and kindness is free. Take McDonalds as an example. The original McDonalds commercials boasted of the fast food chain’s speedy service.

One of the founding ideas behind McDonalds was to take the “assembly line” concept popularized by Henry Ford and apply it to food service for revolutionary speed. I have heard many older folks argue that teens and young adults working at McDonalds in the present day are slow and lazy compared to decades ago, leading to service that is now slow and riddled with mistakes. Before judging these workers, consider this: The original McDonalds menu had just three food items – hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and fries – and a few beverage options. The current menu has a whopping 83 individual food items, in addition to regular drinks and an assortment of complicated café style beverages sold under the McCafe brand. There is no comparison between learning the original menu and learning the current menu, and mistakes are bound to happen. To assume it is a work-ethic problem is simply unfair.

Service workers deserve patience, understanding, and respect. Weren’t we all taught to treat other people the way we want to be treated? Surely we don’t want to be treated like trash, so at what awful point in history did we stop thinking of food service and retail workers as people? It is never a bad time to turn over a new leaf. When a service worker makes a mistake, simply let it be or point it out politely. These industries are struggling, and if we don’t all learn to abide by the “golden rule” of kindness, there may soon be no service employees left to serve us. Be kind!

the north grenville

MELISSA OTTENHOF Marketing Consultant

Phone:613 329 0209 Email: melissa@ngtimes.ca www.ngtimes.ca

The

The

Baldwin's Birds

New credit card transaction fees now allowed

by Brandon Mayer

A recent court decision has led to rule changes now allowing merchants to charge transactions fees for customers who pay by credit card. The decision in the class action lawsuit pursued by merchants came on October 7. Merchants initiated the lawsuit after years spent paying transaction fees as high as 2.4% per transaction to credit card companies, a fee which can make a hurtful impact on the bottom line of any business.

Here's hoping that you all had a very happy and enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend and that you were all able to take advantage of the very warm sunshine that blessed us once again. On an equally sunny Tuesday, after my weekly breakfast with friends, I asked my wife if she would like a drive out to see all the Autumn (Fall) leaves at their very best. Receiving a positive reply, we "hit the road" south and then west with a view to ending up in the village of Westport. What a beautiful drive that was too, with plenty of opportunities to stop and take pictures of the brilliant red, yellow and orange leaves. Arriving in Westport just after noon, we went to our favourite restaurant there, to partake of some refreshment, at which stage my bird watching activities for the day commenced.

Initially I just left my wife at the table to take a few scenic shots, but then my eyes got drawn to the water and the half dozen or so Canada Geese who were waggling their white posteriors in the air, as they dove for the tastier tid-bits on the bottom of the lagoon. They were near to an area of reeds out of which appeared our first Great Blue Heron of the day, to join them! It was quite the pleasant surprise and it occupied my time, while we waited for our meal.

Sufficiently sated by our meal, we decided to head up past the Foley Mountain and then onwards to take The Narrows Lock Road on the start to the "back-home" route. Once off the main road this road is very twisty, but the colours were magnificent and a few stops were made to capture them for later.

On arriving at The Narrows, we were still in "bright leaf colours" mode until we spotted a long slim form running alongside the shore. Well what could it be!?

Our first thought was "Otter", but a passing motorcyclist gave us his very firm opinion that it was a Mink! Having looked at some of the expert advice on Google, I am inclined to agree with him, but could be wrong! It wasn't the only one, as we got to see two of them at once, and there seemed to be some competition over quite a large fish that they, or one of them, was trying to drag through the undergrowth to its den. They didn't seem to be overly concerned with our presence and didn't seem too perturbed at the cars passing close by. I was able to get some close up pictures of one of them, so was quite pleased with myself, as was my wife who also got some.

Having wearied ourselves of trying to get better views of it, we decided to journey on and almost immediately spotted another Great Blue Heron in the water with a beautiful background of Fall colors. Then a few more meters down the road, a Turkey Vulture did a circuit above us and then was gone. Since time was getting late we ‘called it a day' and headed back home, after a very satisfying and beautiful Fall day's participation in what Nature had to offer us, and that was plenty! Hopefully you are able to get your share of it too, but remember to stay safe and well.

Cheers, John Baldwin

What the new rules mean for consumers is that some transactions made at stores, service providers, and even online will be subject to additional transaction fees intended to reimburse merchants for the fees that credit card companies charge them. As an example, an average fee of 1.4% would result in an additional charge of 70 cents on a $50 transaction.

The reason credit card companies charge fees is often to cover the cost of

the reward programs they offer. Customers receive a certain amount of “points” or “credits” for every dollar they spend using their credit card, and can then use these incentives for free rewards such as dining, fuel discounts, movie theatre tickets, and airline tickets. Nothing is truly free, and for years, merchants have been covering the mandatory fees which pay for these rewards, leaving credit card companies on the hook for none of it. For example, a credit card company may offer a 1% cash back option for use of their card, while charging merchants 1.4% per transaction. Some larger chain retailers negotiate for lower fees due to the high number of transactions which they process.

The new rules apply across Canada, with the exception of Quebec which has its own Consumer Protection regulations that prohibit fees from being passed to customers. Locally, it will be up to individual businesses

Isn't it about time North Dundas hosted a little bit of “Pride”?

Friday, October 21 at the Old Town Hall, Winchester, OPSEU and the Rainbow Union Dundas Grenville will be hosting a double feature LGBTQ+ inspired movie screening at 5:30 and 8 pm. First, Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, & John Leguizamo in soon to be your new favourite feature, To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar. Last but not least, a solidarity inspiring piece that combines the breaking down of social barriers for LGBTQ people and the harsh beginnings that necessitated the workers rights movement, "Pride", a UK produced diamond in the rough will end the night. This is a free/donation only event courtesy of The Ontario Public Service Employee Union's,\ Rainbow Alliance Arc-en-ciel and RUDG.

A Google search of North Dundas Pride offered some very disappointing and non-existent results. After many years of representing the Eastern Ontario region on OPSEUS provincial Rainbow Alliance committee, local resident Tina Ouellette knew it was time to hone in on those resources for her community. Born and raised in North Dundas, the 18 year developmental services worker and rainbow activist wanted to bring a little pride to our community. Twenty years ago, Tina and a group of friends collaborated to start North Dundas District High School’s first Gay-Straight Alliance. They created a banner and marched in the Ottawa pride parade for the first time on behalf of their school.

"My hope is that this event can bring about a shared safe space for folks living in this rural community even if for just one night", says Tina. "I love that my union values equity and social justice and gives back to the communities who's members it serves."

The features are rated PG13. Tina hopes we can fill the 98 theatre seats on the 21st. "Be there or be square, circle, rhombus, or whatever funky shape you identify with."

to decide whether or not to pass along the transaction fees to customers. Many small businesses are charged fees in the higher range – up to the maximum of 2.4% –because they do not bring in a high enough volume of transactions for credit card companies. Recouping this revenue could significantly help struggling small businesses, but comes with the potential risk of angering customers. This is a costbenefit analysis which the owners of every local business will have to make for themselves.

Customers who continue to shop with credit to earn rewards will have their own cost-benefit analysis to make

as well. Some credit cards with annual fees boast rewards beyond the 2.4% per transaction mark, but when shopping at merchants that pass the fees onto customers, deciding whether the reward is worth the fee will depend on many factors such as the frequency with which the card is used.

Merchants who choose to pass credit card fees onto customers must first give 30 days notice to the credit company handling their transactions. The fees charged to customers cannot exceed the fees incurred by the business. Cash and debit card transactions will remain free from fees.

the north grenville TIMES

MELISSA OTTENHOF Marketing Consultant

Phone:613 329 0209 Email: melissa@ngtimes.ca www.ngtimes.ca

Operation Impact results

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) geared up for its "Operation Impact" campaign over the Thanksgiving Long Weekend, which ran from October 7 to October 10, 2022. Officers were highly visible on the highways looking to prevent the "Fatal 4" (distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving and lack of occupant restraint).

This year, the Grenville County Detachment of the OPP issued a total of 132 charges and conducted 24 RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) programs.

Keeping everyone safe on the road and water is a priority in Grenville County. The message is simple: never text and drive, always buckle up, drive within the speed limit and do not drive any vehicle - car, bicycle, boat or all-terrain vehicle (ATV) - when impaired by alcohol or drugs.

The Grenville County OPP wish to thank members of the public for their patience during this initiative.

A beautiful, sunny Autumn day in the countryside

Council Candidate Rob Bowden

rural regions.

What do you bring to Council that hasn’t been there previously?

What are your top three priorities for the coming four years of Council? How do they diff er from the last four years?

In the next four years, the municipality faces many challenges maintaining our way of life while growing at a remarkable pace. As a new councillor, the main portfolios I would like to champion are ecological and sustainable urban development, infrastructure growth and the expansion of our recreational facilities. With this, we need to balance the needs of urban areas with those of the hamlets and

I bring experience in three areas: 1) Business acumen from working in a corporate environment, running my own companies and my MBA education 2) Worldliness from travelling extensively through Canada, the United States and Europe while having lived in four provinces and 3) Experience from my former community in dealing with a municipal issue similar in nature to the proposed provincial jail construction.

Social media has become toxic locally, especially over the past year. Do you think Council has a role in creating a more civil atmosphere generally? If so, how would you go about it?

The toxic online environment is a modern phenomena which needs to be dealt with at a much higher level. We can contribute to actions by denouncing these actions and support anyone

who has been victimized by such posts. We can support initiatives while encouraging citizens to use their influence to monitor these outcries, identify the posters and petition for the removal of disparaging comments.

Do you think more can be done to involve the community in the affairs of Council and being part of the decision-making process?

Today, online surveys can be used to get feedback on issues directly from the community. We need to involve users of facilities and services in the design of upgrades so they meet needs. Another way to involve the community is to bring council meetings to locations throughout the county and allow time for questions from the floor. This can be extended to town hall meetings with open agendas.

How do you think the future development in North Grenville - infrastructure, economic, environmental - should be directed? What

Have a Little Laugh When Angry

problems.

Dr. Chris Aiken of Wake Forest University School of Medicine is an expert on natural and lifestyle approaches to health promotion. “In the two hours after an angry outburst, the chance of having a heart attack doubles,” he says.

Anger increases the likelihood of stroke. If you are unlucky enough to have aneurysms in the arteries of the brain, it’s best to “keep calm and carry on”. One study found six times higher risk of rupture following an angry outburst.

new initiatives need to be undertaken in those areas?

It has already become obvious that vehicle traffic and especially farm and commercial truck traffic has increased substantially. There is a need now to start planning for ring roads to allow heavy traffic to bypass Kemptville town center. This should take advantage of both the Hwy 416 County Road 19 and Exit 28 off ramps.

The second area which I would like to see expanded is continuous improvements to the recreational capabilities of the south branch waterway both for summer and winter usage.

Next, I would like to see expansion of high speed internet coverage and the upgrade of the telecom matrix, the electricity grid and internet services to be capable of handling extreme weather events.

Terry McGahey

9, 1967 - October 14, 1975

Total lunar eclipse November 8

The iconic Marvin The Martian from Looney Tunes, frustrated by Bugs Bunny in his efforts to blow up Earth, would quickly walk away declaring, “You make me very, very angry.” He offered kids an entertaining lesson in how to handle heated confrontations.

A refresher course for adults would be a good prescription. How people manage anger can make a big difference for personal health and much more.

Anger, itself, is not always a negative thing. Anger can be a natural and useful emotional response to perceived wrongs. For example, getting angry can be highly motivational. Individuals can deploy anger to break a bad habit and groups can work together in the same way.

The #MeToo movement rallied collective anger against injustice to achieve social change.

But poorly managed anger is decidedly not good for one’s health – and probably not good for the well-being of everyone else around.

Teaching children the tools for anger control is not only about hushing up their outbursts. Researchers have found that kids lacking the ability to cope with frustrations tend to have more problem relationships in their adult lives. They also have more physical and mental health issues.

Studies have also shown that people who are chronically angry suffer greater rates of high blood pressure, heart disease, headaches, skin disorders and digestive

Research has also shown that angry people get sick more frequently due to negative impacts of stress on their immune systems.

What can you do when you find yourself furious? First, take a clue from Marvin The Martian and leave the scene. Calming down needs to take precedence. Second, figure out what is causing the anger. Get to the root of the matter. It’s recommended that you talk with someone –a trusted friend or a trained professional – to validate your thinking. Third, develop an action plan that either fixes the issues or builds coping mechanisms.

Incorporating comedy into anger management is a strategy deserving mention. The evidence shows it works. Another children’s program, Sesame Street, was shaped by psychologists intent on applying research to skits

performed by puppeteers. Kermit the Frog had children laughing with his outrageous tirade on Cookie Monster for devouring a happy face.

Kids shows are, by design, intended to be entertaining. But the fact that laughing, happy children learn better than disengaged kids has got others thinking about how to use laughter with adults needing to learn about more serious issues.

Climate change scientists angry by the slow pace of action have adopted comedy as a tactic.

A group of comedians have come together to form the Climate Comedy Cohort. They acknowledge research linking anger with comedy to motivate change. “Comedy is uniquely persuasive and attention-getting when it comes to serious issues like the climate crisis,” they note.

Their work offers audiences levity – in itself a good thing. But their ultimate goal, they say, is “to leverage humor as a strategy to change the climate narrative from doom and gloom to ‘we’ve got this!’—and shift how people see their role in clean energy.”

Next time your anger flares up, it’s good to know you have options.

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

In the early morning hours of November 8, 2022, North America will witness the last total lunar eclipse of the year. This amazing sky show will play out with Eastern, Atlantic and Newfoundland time zones seeing most of the event until moonset. The rest of North America will enjoy the late but spectacular show. This is a very safe event as the full Beaver moon (full moon for November) will pass through the earth’s shadow for a maximum of three hours and forty minutes.

Eclipses do not occur each month, due to the slight tilt of the moon’s orbit around earth. Some months the full or new moon is positioned above or below the earth’s shadow cast into space. There are a few times each year when the Sun, Earth and Moon line up to give us a solar or lunar eclipse. Each can be partially or totally covered. Throughout antiquity, the “Blood Moon” was an omen of the impending doom of war or even demons. Superstition ruled the skies in the early days.

The reddish or brownish-orange tinge of the lunar surface seen during totality is caused by the solar rays refracting through the earth’s atmosphere, much like we see spectacular red sunsets at night. The next lunar eclipse will only be a slight partial of 12% on October 28, 2023, visible from the Atlantic provinces. The next total eclipse which all of North America can witness will be on March 14, 2025.

Eclipse times in this area

Eastern Time

Partial umbral eclipse begins: 4:09 a.m. Moon enters the earth’s shadow.

Total lunar eclipse begins: 5:16 a.m. Moon turns dark orange or red.

Greatest eclipse: 5:59 a.m. Mid-point of the eclipse.

Total lunar eclipse ends: 6:41 a.m. Moon begins to leave the shadow as it sets in the west.

Partial umbral eclipse ends: Moon ready set.

Known as “The Backyard Astronomer”, Gary Boyle is an astronomy educator, guest speaker and monthly columnist for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada as well as a STEM educator. 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

The North Grenville

The Voice of North Grenville

In memory of our son Terry. Terry, you are in our hearts forever. Your life however short, was so precious. Your were and still are so precious.

Love Mom & Dad and your family

(son of Paul & Marian)

submitted by Gary Boyle

October is Healthy Workplace month

submitted by: Saman Shaikh, RD., M.Sc. Registered Dietitian and Public Health Nutritionist Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

Tid Bit Musings MP Barrett appointed Conservative Shadow Minister for Ethics and Accountable Government

by Elva Patterson Rutters RSSW

Who cares? This has become a flippant catch phrase to follow any type of instruction, direction or reprimand by anyone. In fact who does care? How did we get to a society that appears to care less about each other, the environment or even the general state of worldly affairs? For many the phrase simply serves as a detachment mechanism or a minimization of accountability. How are we going to instigate change? Having pride in oneself is not the same as being proud! Haughtiness is not becoming.

Desensitization occurs with repeated exposure to a stimulus without negative repercussions. Videos games may well enhance digital dexterity but the constant war, death or violence displayed also transmits to a callous mind-set because the reality of effects is not apparent, nor an applied reality. Rendering oneself less accountable by immersing oneself in the cell phone produces individuals incapable of person-to-person communication. This self-centeredness effect means said individual doesn't really care. Ironically, they are so paranoid about a missed call, the cell is attached at the hip. Who said we must be available to others 24-7? The lack of defined personal space stems from insecurities around self-worth. Terminology denotes your level of social engagement as well. Cursing and vulgarity reflects on your morals or values and is quickly displayed in your child's demeanor. Watch children at play and you get a true glimpse into the home dynamic.

Do you care enough to instigate change in your world, your circle, your family? It does not need to be catastrophic measures, but each iota of change is important. Care enough about yourself to get dressed in day clothes not pj's when going out to the store, answer the phone with a smile, say thank you, please and your welcome. Start doing something for someone, even holding the door open at a store or wherever regardless of how minute. Karma is a kickback scenario. Look at the volunteers who give to the community. We digressed so badly schools had to instigate 40 hours of volunteer work to graduate to develop a social conscience. Yes, there are those who "fudged" the hours, but the hour of accountability is nigh. Also there are those who are involved just because of the perceived "social status", but to have true progress you need to be genuine. Who cares? Everyone needs to care and it’s best to speak up with an "I care!" response? You do, don't you?

Although we will get 'burned' sometimes by caring too much, remember that the day we stand before the Lord, atonement will be in effect. Think there is no God: well you are in for a huge surprise. Better to believe there is a God than to believe there isn't and find out there is one. But then Who cares???

Michael Barrett, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, was appointed to serve as Conservative Shadow Minister for Ethics and Accountable Government under the leadership of the Hon. Pierre Poilievre.

“I am honoured to continue serving our community as Conservative Shadow Minister for Ethics and Accountable Government and I will fight for all the hardworking, honest Canadians who deserve transparency, respect, and common sense from the Liberal government on how their taxpayer money is spent by ensuring we are holding Prime Minister Trudeau and his government to account,” said Mr.

MP Barrett was named Shadow Minister for Ethics and Accountable Government by the Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, the Hon. Pierre Poilievre on October 12, 2022. MP Barrett has previously served in this role and worked with parliamentarians to expose Prime Minister Trudeau's WE Charity scandal involving taxpayer contracts for political insiders and stopped a half-billion dollars from being unethically paid out. He also worked with MPs to demand accountability for the SNC-Lavalin scandal involving Prime Minister Trudeau's political interference in Canada's justice system.

The Food and Agricultural Organizations of the United Nations has designated October 16, 2022 as World Food Day. They elaborate: “2022 finds us with an ongoing pandemic, conflict, a climate that won’t stop warming, rising prices and international tensions. This is affecting global food security. We need to build a sustainable world where everyone, everywhere has regular access to enough nutritious food. No one should be left behind.” The aim is better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.

As members of a global society, we all have a role to play. As individuals, we can help by keeping informed on global threats to food security and nutrition, and calling on local decision-makers to take action to support the most vulnerable. If you can, donate time, money and resources to relief organizations and causes in your community. Avoid food waste by buying only what you need, proper storage, and creative meal planning. As well, cut down on resource-heavy products such as too much packaging, and eat seasonal produce. Support local by choosing local foods, and shopping at farmers’ markets and local businesses.

For more information on World Food Day 2022 and what you can do, go to fao.org and type “world food day 2022” in the search box.

The

Grenville

Barrett.