Issue 44 Nov 4 2020 ngtimes

80

%

OFF

select frames*

We are OPEN by appointment only

please call or email us Kemptville Eye Exam Clinic to book your personalize VISIT US AT a food bank se Theappointment Knights of today Columbus in Kemptville offers www.laurieropticalkemptville.com info@laurieropticalkemptville.com to those in need in the community of North Grenville

Food Bank

Malland dry good We a selectionKemptville of canned, packaged *see inprovide store for details 613.258.2700 For more information please call Dave at 613 258 3683 Pick up at Holy Cross Church hall preferred – delivery can be arranged if required

This service is supported the community of North Grenvi Offersby a FOOD BANK

Reaching by direct mail 9,000 homes and businesses in North Grenville and Merrickville/Wolford

service to those in need in the community of North Grenville Call Dave at 613 258 3683

The Voice of North Grenville

Vol 8, NO 44

November 4, 2020

Susan Smith leaves the Seniors Community Services

24-Hour Emergency Service Here to help when you need us.

613.258.7173 SauveHeating.ca

by David Shanahan Sad news for the seniors of our community, with the news that Susan Smith is leaving her position as Executive Director for Seniors’ Community Services {SCS], formerly known as Kemptville and District Home Support Inc. Susan has taken a wonderful organisation, founded by Cheryl Brown almost 30 years ago, and made it a core service centre for seniors around the region.

Readers of the NG Times will know Susan from her regular “Let’s Connect” columns, in which she shared thoughts, wisdom, and insights

SHOP ONLINE

Looking back over the time heading the activities at the Centre, Susan could take real pleasure and pride in what has been accomplished.

“It's been great. And to see the growth in the programs and now, instead of three full time staff, there's four of us; and we've needed that, because of the different services and activities that are going on.”

The range of services and activities has expanded greatly, and more and more people are being helped, are finding companionship, friendship, and a sense of belonging that would surely be missing if they were isolated at home.

Susan gives a great deal of

credit to the many volunteers who make the centre work so smoothly and so well.

“And even now during Covid, we still have volunteers because our site is still locked, but they feel safe coming to answer the phones and help, putting out some of the information, and the calls are going out. People are stepping up saying, what can I do to help?”

The real magic is that the people feel comfortable, can be themselves, and feel they are in a safe and caring environment when they come to the centre. As Susan points out: “Because for me, it's always about the people. It's about that, you know, people

visit us at kemptvilleinteriors.ca

Free Local Delivery

who need services, about people just stopping in for information, people wanting to volunteer. And whether or not it's a fit for us, you try to find them someplace else in the community. Or just when somebody calls, you take that few minutes to stop and chat with them. And I think the fact that people feel open to talk with each other when they come into the centre, and that it's a safe place, that whether it's volunteers that talk with each other, or staff and clients and volunteers, or that we're all chatting.

But to know that whatever you're saying isn't going to cont'd on page 3

Thank you to We're our front line OPEN workers

Tues . to Sat. 11:30am to 9pm Tuesday - Saturday

TAKE OUT ONLY

4:00 pm to 8:00 pm www.nakhonthai.ca to view take out menu

The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

Jac’s Boutique pivots to meet needs of community

Jackie Taylor in Jac's Boutique to keep both her customers Local Journalism Initiative Reporter and staff safe. As a business owner, she felt torn between Jac’s Boutique is focused wanting to stay open as long on pivoting their business to as possible, but also knowing meet the needs of the North that it was safer for everyone if they closed. “We just felt, Grenville community.

Owner, Jackie Taylor, morally, that shutting down made the difficult decision to was the best thing to do,” shut the store a bit earlier in she says.

Thankfully, Jac’s BouMarch than was mandated,

by Hilary Thomson

tique has a street entrance, so they were allowed to open when the province moved into Stage 2 in June. Even then, Jackie was nervous about opening the store again. “It was kind of nerve wracking, because we were like: Is this going to be safe? And is this the right thing to do? But we knew we had to open.”

Jackie has put all the necessary protocols in place so that she can welcome customers into her store safely. They already had doors on their change rooms, and they built a bar top on their front counter with a plexiglass shield to create a barrier between staff and customers. They wipe down all the surfaces regularly, and steam all the clothing between customers to ensure they remain virus-free.

“We felt more comfortable steaming the clothes than we did setting them aside, because, when you set clothes aside, there is always a chance that it’s going to get touched by something else. So we thought, well, if we steam everything, we know that it’s clean right away.”

Jackie found that the most difficult part of running a

predominantly clothing store during a pandemic is not being able to predict the future.

They usually predict consumer spending by season; but with the pandemic, this has gone completely out the window. When they closed in March, they had a store full of Spring/Summer wear and they had already ordered all their Fall inventory. “We have to be able to move our Spring/ Summer, so that we can pay for the Fall/Winter coming in,” she says. “So that was a little scary.”

To help with this, they created an online store, which was relatively successful. “It definitely wasn’t like when we were open. It was just getting the word out that we did have an online store.

Normally, it takes years to build an online store. But, you know, our customers did rally around us and definitely helped us out.” Although they definitely took a financial hit because of the pandemic, the dedication of their customers has helped the business survive. “We’ve been lucky, because since we’ve been open, our customers have been very supportive.”

With all the things that they had to do to adapt to COVID-19, Jackie has not had a day off since the start of the pandemic. “It’s been nonstop,” she says. It has been a roller coaster trying to predict when they will be busy and ensuring that all their customers know they are taking every precaution to ensure that their experience in the store is safe. “It’s our job to get them to feel that we are cleaning and keeping the store as safe as we know it to be.”

Jac’s Boutique not only sells clothing, from size XS to XXL, they also have lots of other gift-type items, like jewelry, accessories, and even gourmet pop and gummy bears. Jackie also tries to source as much locally as she can, so they can support other small businesses. “Our store is definitely worthwhile coming into quite often, because we are always bringing in new things. Customers are telling us about products we should get. So, I would say we’re not just a clothing store. We’ve got a little bit of everything.”

Jac’s Boutique is not only adapting to running a store

in a pandemic, they are also bringing in different products that might help their customers survive the long winters at home. They have already brought in candle making and embroidery kits, and they are thinking about putting together a movie gift package, with items like gourmet pop, candy, and a nice smelling candle. “I think you have to make your business bend to the climate of what it is,” Jackie says. “You have to adapt to it.”

According to Jackie, the best thing that people can do to support them is to continue to shop local, especially going into the holiday season.

“We’ve just got to really promote shopping local. I think that’s really important.”

Jac’s Boutique is located at 2727 County Road 43 and is open Monday-Wednesday 9:30am-5:00pm, ThursdayFriday 9:30am-5:30pm and Saturday 9:30am-5:00pm.

You can also visit them online at www.jacsboutique.com.

and setting the pace is its remarkably accomplished Commanding Officer, Lieutenant (N) Jay Tousaw. “Accomplished” is a well-chosen word.

Mr. Tousaw’s volunteer work has been extraordinarily layered and multifaceted over thirty years since 1990. He served as President of the Bishop's Mills Community Recreation Association from 1990 to 2005, with many significant community achievements. In 2006, the association merged with the Community Hall Association to form the Bishop's Mills Community Association, of which he served as Vice-President for an additional two years - eighteen years of highly accomplished service.

Mr. Tousaw served Freemason Movement in Brockville in 1996 for

thirteen years with Sussex Lodge#5 AF&AM GRC, Brockville, and served as the Lodge Master for two years in 2005 - 2006. He served as a Beaver Leader in Oxford Mills from 1996-2000, and shifted in 2000 to Kemptville, where he was a Cub Leader for ten years, from 2000 to 2010. In 2009 - 2010 he volunteered with RCSCC Defiant Cadets. This subsequently translated into ten years of outstanding uniform service from 2010 to 2020.

His volunteer leadership in community involvement does not stop there. Support of the Kemptville Youth Centre in organizing their annual

Book Sale, annual assistance in food drives on behalf of the House of Lazarus and the Salvation Army in the Kemptville area, and his support of community Christmas events every year in Kemptville and in Morrisburg, are further examples, as are his service to the Legion as Poppy Chair for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 campaigns for this critical annual funding drive supporting the Legion’s charitable program.

It only remains to say that your Kemptville children are clearly in the very best of hands!

Meet Lieutenant (N) Jay Tousaw

by Retired Navy Captain Peter Milsom, President, Kemptville Navy League There are many reasons for the success of the cadet programs in the Navy League of Canada: the financial backing of the Royal Canadian Navy, the management, By-Laws

and oversight of the distinguished National Board and its provincial Division Boards of the Navy League of Canada, (founded in 1895 and now celebrating its 125th anniversary), Naval Reserve Divisions, and Liaison support groups all serve the needs of the ca-

dets. Naval League Branch Boards, especially where there are no local supporting defence facilities, and their volunteer Board Members, such as we have in excellence in Kemptville, are equally key partners in the success of the program.

This week’s article, however, speaks to the “coal face” of this huge program for 11,000 – 12,000 young people in Canada – the direct, responsible, and critical interface of officers and volunteers that keep the young people safe, and guides and assists them through a creative, challenging, and hugely rewarding program of personal growth and development.

In Kemptville, for the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps RCSCC DEFIANT, leading the charge

services

Joe Gauthier Master Electrician

613.802.4608

joe@oldschool-electric.ca

"No Job Too Small" November 4 , 2020

2

General Practice Corporate / Commercial Family Law Estates Real Estate Wills & Powers of Attorney tom@tmblaw.ca 613.258.1277 222 Prescott St., Kemptville

THOMAS M. BYRNE Barrister and Solicitor

www.ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times cont'd from front page go anywhere else, that you can feel supported; or, if you need other information, where can you take your issues to?

And just connecting people.

It's just, that's what makes it so amazing.”

That comes down to Susan’s leadership. It takes someone special to create that kind of atmosphere; where people are comfortable and feel that they have something to contribute and they will be allowed to contribute without being slapped down. Susan brought that with her when she arrived seven years ago.

In her last position, she had over 600 volunteers and over 100 staff. That approach has served the SCS well, as Susan describes it: “I always say that we're all colleagues, whether or not I was the boss, or the supervisor, or whatever; that it's an organization for the people, and it's not my organization. So I've always taken

that stance, that I'm here just to look after it for the moment, and then to pass it on to somebody else.”

Another important secret to the success Susan has had in building SCS to the level it has reached is a proper perspective on herself and those she works with. As she has said: “You have to be able to laugh. You have to have some fun. There are definitely stressful times, sad moments; but to laugh at ourselves as well. Like, my goodness, sometimes I think of anybody walking by my office while I'm talking to myself and laughing at myself!”

She loves people with a genuineness that is based on knowing the value of each interaction, each conversation. “The number of people that come through our lives really shape us. I truly believe they shape us, whether or not we want to be like them, or

not like them. It does move us toward, hopefully, a better us. And making a difference for other people, because it's not about us. It's about the seniors, or the adults with physical disabilities.

People tell me, ‘I couldn't have got to my appointment without those volunteers’, or the Meals on Wheels going out, even during Covid.

They are just so grateful to see another person, to have a quick chat on the porch. So it's providing a great service.

And our volunteers are calling people on the telephone.

At the beginning of Covid, it was maybe just a check and a couple of times a week, then it was more. Now it's almost daily for a lot of people.”

Sad to be leaving SCS after her time there, Susan’s departure will cause much sadness among those she has touched through her years of service. In a perfect world, the SCS Board should be tearing down trees and doing what-

ever is necessary to keep a treasure like this. Susan Smith has built well on the foundations that were laid before, and this community can only hope and pray that someone is found to continue her work.

As for Susan, she looks back on seven years with real happiness and gratitude to her staff, to the volunteers, and to the seniors who have taught her and shared with her so much. She thinks of Bev Nye, “who was such an important part of everything that I did during my first five years until she retired. And it's phenomenal what you learn from some in a short period of time because you've paused, and you're fully attentive to that person on the phone or in front of you. They're a person who has feelings and emotions, and whatever it is they're dealing with. So you spend enough time, and then you can find that connection and you can help support that person, and you grow

RIDEAU GLEN GOLF CLUB CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE

We will be closed Nov. 2nd and 3rd Re-opening November 4th, 8 am to 4pm COME OUT AND ENJOY THE NICE WEATHER WITH SOME FALL GOLF Look forward to seeing you on the course!

Contact us at 613-258-4404 or therideauglen@gmail.com

613 867 3838

KemptvilleHeating.com

100% locally owned and operated

Tests show radon levels in North Grenville homes

by Take Action on Radon Twenty-four percent of North Grenville residents who tested their home for radon as part of the 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge, learned their homes were above Health Canada’s safe radon level. A further 27 percent of homeowners learned their houses had radon gas levels that were close to exceeding the recommended safe zone — a clear warning for residents to take action on radon.

Take Action on Radon is a national initiative, funded

by Health Canada, to bring together radon stakeholders and raise awareness on radon across Canada. The current advisory team is made up of the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (CARST), CAREX Canada, and the Canadian Cancer Society.

The success of this initiative hinges on the participation and dedication of hundreds of radon stakeholders coast to coast. From radon professionals and community champions to radon researchers, public health officials, and programs at the municiNovember 4, 2020

pal, provincial, and federal levels: radon awareness is a team effort.

The newly released Take Action on Radon North Grenville Community Report studied 90 residents who tested their home for radon during the winter of 2019 as part of the 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge.

North Grenville was one of 15 communities that participated in the initiative and collected important information about radon levels across the country. Now in its third year, the 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge has spurred more than 2,000 Canadians to test their homes for radon.

“Radon is a bit like COVID-19. The only way to know if you have it is by testing,” says Pierre Dubois who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. “My wife and I thought we were safe in our quiet neighbourhood, but we weren’t. After testing, we discovered very high levels of radon in our home.

I wish I had known the risks 10 years ago when we bought the house. Now, my only hope is that my wife’s health hasn’t

The Voice of North Grenville from that as well in yourself, you learn a lot of patience.

And that's why it's been so wonderful here. To be able to be myself, I think, has been so valuable. I think everybody that has come through the door, called, or any of the sponsors, everything has made a difference in my life.

It's been so phenomenal that it's really, really enriched my life. So, it's been such a such a wonderful journey these past seven years. So from the bottom of my heart, I thank everyone.”

When was your last eye exam?

Furnaces Air Conditioners Heat Pumps Water Heaters Boilers Gas Piping and more....

Book online at www.Pixeleyecare.ca OR by phone

Direct Insurance Billing Available

613-258-7878

Come in today and visualize your dreams!

been compromised as well.”

The 2019 Radon Community Reports show that radon levels can vary considerably within communities.

Radon is a naturally occurring and radioactive gas.

It is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. It is present in the air and can accumulate in high concentrations in homes. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon leads to an increased risk of lung cancer. Because radon levels can vary between houses, the only way for

homeowners to determine their home’s radon level is to test for it.

Canadians wishing to learn more about radon and how to protect their health are encouraged to visit www.

TakeActiononRadon.ca, and attend an interactive webinar with radon experts on November 19 at 1 pm EST. To submit your questions and register, go to: https:// takeactiononradon.ca/radonaction-month.

115 Sanders St, Kemptville www.pixeleyecare.ca

Help Support Your Local Businesses

SHOP LOCAL 3

www.ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times

Municipality Matters:

Councillor John Barclay on new Waste Management Program

The Times sat down with John Barclay, North Grenville Councillor, to talk about the recently announced Waste Management Program that will be bringing in a green bin system, as well as new measures for handling garden waste and bulky items, beginning on February 1. I began by noting that the new program had to vie with the prison and covid for the attention of residents.

John Barclay: Yes, everything at the end of your driveway is changing. But not until February next year.

The only thing that's going to change in the meantime is the look of the trucks that show up.

NG Times: And the price of bag tags and the range of bag tags.

John Barclay: Yes. Well, you won't really need any of those bulky item bag tags, or leaf and yard waste bag tags, other than, I think we're planning on April and October. There'll be a week of yard waste, followed by a week of bulky item pickup, followed by a second week

of yard waste and second week of bulky items. So you only have to keep track of a month in the Spring and a month in the Fall.

Otherwise, it's regular bag tags, different price. And there'll be some transition.

But you'll need half as many bag tags if you get with the program.

NGTimes: I think it is good to point out again that this is very much a proactive step when it comes to the organics because of provincial changes, and what they've announced.

That this is something that is going to have to happen.

And I think this council is trying to get there before they have to.

John Barclay: Yes, I think that that's been the dominant theme. But there's going to be bigger changes in the recycling sector, though. Those changes are really big, but they're not really going to affect the way we do business with recycling. Those changes are going to be implemented between 2023 and 2025, when it's not going to be our responsibility, the municipality’s responsibility, any longer to pick up and process recycling. Now it'll become the producer's responsibility. All the Coca Cola's and Johnson & Johnsons and all these, they're going to have to act together and have a consortia that will be responsible for that.

There's two things that can

domly picks up garbage bags, and puts it on the table and goes, well, this is what's in it. And approximately half of what's in people's garbage, the average person's garbage bag, can be diverted to organic processing. So, theoretically, bag tags go up a buck, but you're going to use half as many.

By my maths, you save 75 ¢. My garbage is different because I compost. That's a whole other issue.

NG Times: Right, that’s one people like to talk about.

I already compost, so, why do I need a green bin?

John Barclay: Well, you need a green bin for coffee grounds, filters, teabags, egg shells, food leftovers. That goes in my garden compost. But paper towels, tissues, soiled pizza boxes, sugar and potato, paper bags, cold fireplace ash, and kitty litter, dog waste meat, fish, scrap, bones.

NG Times: But there's two things I'm interested in getting clarification on, though. First, over the last few years one of the biggest problems when it came to recycling, was the kind of plastics that could be recycled. People with horses, or on farms, couldn't recycle the heavy plastic feed bags, and so on. Are they covered in this?

John Barclay: No. Well, it has to go somewhere. And if there's no place for it to go, unfortunately we're stuck, for the time being. We're lucky that our processor is Cascades, and they're in the recycling business. So all that pulp and paper, I mean, I work at the grocery store and a lot of the cardboard boxes are made by Cascades. So the pulp and paper, the fibre, is immediately dealt with by them. It's the end use. You have to have a market for it, otherwise it's very, very expensive to deal with. Nobody's paying for the agricultural grain wraps, or whatever. As soon as the market opens for it, absolutely. And as soon that's available, I'm sure we'll be all over it. Staff is dealing with issues of waste management daily, and they're up to speed on what's going on. They'll tell us, probably, before anybody else, when there's a place for this stuff.

The entire interview can be heard on our Conversations with... podcast on our website: www.ngtimes.ca.

happen. We can just wash our hands of it, and watch the new trucks that pick up and take the recycling away, or the producers can actually contract with the municipality and pay us to do that, to do the job.

Certainly banning organics from the landfill is going to be a big change.

But the government hasn't signaled exactly when that is going happen. But, as you know, the sooner that happens, the better. At the rate we're going, they predicted we'd have to open up 15 new landfill sites in the province of Ontario, unless we change. So, we're adopting this change early with this new contract.

That's why we're here in November with a brand new five year contract. And those five years are going to bridge us into the end of that whole recycling change. So, by 2025, the plan is that the municipality will no longer be financially responsible, or practically responsible, for recycling.

North Grenville's got four landfill sites. We've closed two and we've mothballed the other two. And we're shipping, at a cost, all our waste to Moose Creek.

Well, it's going to be full too. Moose Creek is going to say: no, thank you. China has said no, thank you, sir.

We've got to be responsible for the garbage we create.

We do waste audits. We've got staff that goes and ran-

Municipality grant students access to internet for school-related activities Beginning Monday, November 2, the Municipality of North Grenville now welcomes students into the North Grenville Municipal Centre (South arena entrance) to access free internet for school related activities.

“Council has heard from so many families who do not have access to reliable, rural broadband, especially during this time of the pandemic where there is so much pressure on the system,” said Mayor Peckford. “With more people working and learning from home, high speed internet access has been a real challenge for many people in the community.”

There will be space for four students during each hour block from 8:30 am – 11:30 am, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Students must November 4 , 2020

reserve timeslots in advance, on a first-come, first-served basis, by emailing thurlbert@ northgrenville.on.ca or calling 613-258-9569 ext. 123.

Where demand is low, students may request back to back timeslots.

Students will be asked to follow the safety protocols: Masks must be worn at all times and physical distancing respected.

Students are to enter at the South arena entrance and will be screened upon arrival and must provide contact tracing information.

Students will be allowed access to the facility only during their reserved time slot and must efficiently exit the facility at the end of their reservation.

Students are asked to work independently at as-

signed workstations and be respectful of the shared space (headphones recommended).

Students must bring their own devices and supplies.

The North Grenville Public Library and the Kemptville Youth Centre also provide opportunities for students to access internet for schoolwork.

The Municipality launched a rural broadband online survey (www.surveymonkey.com/r/92JLPWX) in August to better understand the challenges many residents face, and help gather information about where to make improvements.

Residents and businesses are also asked to take a quick internet performance test (https://performance.cira. ca/northgrenville) to gather information about broadband speeds in real time.

4

The Voice of North Grenville

the north grenville

TIMES Gord Logan

Marketing Consultant Phone 613 258 6402 Email: gord@ngtimes.ca

UPDATE UPDATE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

The Municipality has created a dedicated webpage for updates related to COVID-19 (www.northgrenville.ca/coronavirus)

UPCOMING MEETINGS COUNCIL MEETING

November 12, 2020 at 6:30 pm While members of the public are invited to attend the meeting, seating has been arranged to facilitate physical distancing and accordingly is limited. Pre-registration at clerk@northgrenville.on.ca is required. Persons arriving without pre-registering will be accommodated where there is sufficient seating capacity to permit attendance while complying with safety protocols. All attendees will be required to self-screen and masks must be worn when physical distancing cannot be maintained.

If you require accommodation, please advise the Clerk when pre-registering so that we may best assist you.

This meeting will be live streamed at https://www.northgrenville.ca/govern/governance/agendas-and-minutes.

To make a deputation in relation to an item on the agenda, please provide your comments no later than 2 hours prior to the start of the meeting to clerk@northgrenville.on.ca

ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Heritage Advisory Committee – Thursday, November 5 at 4:30 pm Health, Wellness and Fitness Advisory Committee – Monday, November 9 at 4:00 pm **NOTE: Committee Meetings are being conducted electronically via Microsoft Teams. Should you wish to participate in the meeting or have any questions, please contact the Committee Clerk (jworkman@northgrenville.on.ca) by 2:00 pm the day of the meeting for instructions to access the meeting. Any deputations can be e-mailed and will be read aloud to the Committee and will be made part of the public record.

NORTH GRENVILLE MUNICIPAL OFFICE HOURS

The Municipal Office is open to the public between the hours of 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Residents and businesses can continue to access Municipal services by phone, email and online.

For more information visit www.northgrenville.ca/coronavirus.

GARBAGE & RECYCLING

Please be advised that the new Garbage and Recycling Calendar between November 2020 to January 2021 is available for download at www.ngrecycles.ca

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITUES

Deputy Chief Building Official The Municipality of North Grenville is accepting resumes for interested and qualified candidates for the position of Deputy Chief Building Official. The closing date to receive applications is 4:00 pm Wednesday, November 18, 2020. Additional information is available at www.northgrenville.ca/careers

CIVIC AWARDS

North Grenville’s Council is seeking nominations for the 2020 Civic Awards. For details visit www.northgrenville.ca

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 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

www.NorthGrenville.ca www.ngtimes.ca

Editorial

The North Grenville Times

Winter is coming

into winter, I find myself struggling more with the Local Journalism Initiative Reporter realities of the pandemic.

Our community has The inability to travel to been dealing with the reali- see my family, the realties of COVID-19 for eight ity of a Christmas spent months now. In March, hunkered down at home none of us could have pre- instead of seeing friends dicted how long the pan- and attending holiday demic would last and how gatherings, a cold, dark deeply it would affect all winter with the threat of our lives. From lost jobs, to COVID-19 hanging over juggling childcare, masks us like a black cloud. It e v e ry wher e, chapped almost feels like we are hands due to handwashing, headed into a long dark and, of course, the threat tunnel, and there is no of a deadly virus weighing stopping the train. heavy on all our minds.

According to a reFor me, summer flew cent CBC article, a new by. The warm weather ar- study from the Public rived just in time for Stage Health Agency of Canada 2, when we were all able to (PHAC) has found that the go out and enjoy a drink pandemic is having seriat our favourite outdoor ous mental health effects patio. I found solace in tak- on the Canadian populaing my dog to the park and tion. People are concerned socially distanced visits about feeling isolated and in my in-law’s backyard. the effect that social disBeing out in the warm tancing measures are havsummer air did wonders ing on their friendships for my mental health and and familial relationships. my overall anxiety about Parents are worried about the pandemic. It brought a their children’s lonelitiny bit of normalcy back ness and social isolation. into my life, which was a According to Statistics nice respite after months Canada data, only 48% of of what felt like walking Canadians 15 and older reon eggshells. ported having good mental However, as we head health in May, 2020, down

by Hilary Thomson

Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, I agree completely with the writer about the construction debacle that is being allowed to happen on 44.

No information can be found anywhere as to timelines, progress to completion, etc.

Six months of dust, debris, rocks, potholes ... and the list goes on. For an entire week in mid-September, nothing happened. At the very least, this could have seen a thin skim of asphalt. I’ve also been in the highway construction business, and I can tell you this is a complete failure on the part of whoever is doing the work. Come on Municipality ... how about an explanation for what’s happened ?

John Stanley Dear Editor, I feel compelled to send a big shout-out to Tina of Sigma Computer Systems on Sanders Street. As I was giving up hope of regenerating lost information, lost email connection and an overload The North Grenville Times is published weekly by North Grenville Times Inc. Marketing Gord J. Logan gord@ngtimes.ca 613-258-6402 November 4, 2020

of blocked/reset password requests, Tina came to the rescue. Not only did she spend over an hour on the phone with me, she was very professional, courteous, patient and kind as she solved my dilemma. Thank you, Tina this town is lucky to have you.

Heather Stewart Dear Editor, Mayor Peckford has expressed concern in the past, about the need to limit or stop urban sprawl. The construction of a new jail will result in the total destruction of 300 acres of farmer’s fields, greenspace, and forests. The United Nations has called for the protection of natural areas to ensure dwindling wildlife and insect species are not put at further risk. By UN estimates, 1.5 million square kilometers of greenspace are destroyed each year by the building of infrastructure projects and new structures.

This jail is our contribution

The Voice of North Grenville

from 54% in late March/ early April, and 68% in 2018. As the CBC article states, Canadians used to be among the world’s happiest people; but perhaps not anymore.

One of the reasons for this that is outlined in the article is the lack of options for physical and social activities, which can become an increasing issue in the winter months. The article outlined that, with many gyms throughout the province closed and recreational activities on pause, many people report being less active. More than 60% of Canadians reported spending more time using the internet and watching TV during the pandemic in early April.

I’ve been speaking a lot to local business owners about how they are surviving the pandemic. Both Rebecca Cronk from Get Cronk’d Fitness Studio, and Nancy Morgan of The Workshop Dance Studio, highlighted the benefits of staying active and being social, especially in this difficult time. Nancy has several clients who have told her that her dance

classes provide them with the escape they need from their own mental health struggles. Rebecca also said that, when her studio was closed, she had many people contacting her, saying how much they needed their fitness routine for both their mental and physical health.

I’m the type of person who turns into a bit of a hermit in the winter months. I don’t really like winter sports (ask my husband about taking me skiing in Tremblant), and I am definitely not a fan of the cold. However, I know I need to push myself and stay social during the winter, especially in times like these. Looking on the bright side, there may be even more ways to stay active this winter, considering lots of yoga teachers, dance teachers, and fitness trainers are offering classes online. We are also lucky in North Grenville that most of our recreational activities have not been shut down. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been as thankful to live outside of a big city than I am right now.

Staying active and engaged in life will be the torch we need to get us through the dark abyss that is the coming winter months. While staying physically active is important, the most important part is remaining connected to our friends, family, and community.

When we engage with activities and people that we enjoy, it combats feelings of loneliness, and that can do wonders to improving our mental health.

We don’t know what is going to happen day to day with the pandemic; but our first job is to take control our own actions by physical distancing, wearing masks, and washing our hands. Our next job is to make sure our mental and physical health stays intact as we collectively fight off this strange, invisible threat. Winter is coming, but we shall prevail together.

to this destruction.

The aging Innes Road detention centre in Ottawa has ample, unused acreage suitable for the construction of the new jail. There has been a glaring lack of public consultation on this proposed project. There seems to be a ‘back room deal” feel to the whole project.

Let the people decide on the merits of building a new jail.

John Gagnon, Kemptville

Dear Editor, I am at a loss to understand why, all of a sudden, my garbage is “too heavy”. The garbage can I use is the same one I have been using since the garbage pick-up started.

For the last 7-8 years, I put my garbage can at the road for pick up, maybe every 2-3 weeks, as I compost and recycle, and only one person.

About three months ago, I got a notice on my garbage can that it exceeded 50 lbs.

When I called the Municipality about this, I was told the “new guy” was particularly picky. What is he, a 100 lb weakling? Does he have a scale on the truck?

Once again, a few weeks ago, same notice, but this time indicating that the next time they would not collect the garbage.

I’m over 60, can lift the garbage can and take it to the road. Last week, I proceeded to take my luggage hand held scale, attach it to each kitchen garbage bag, and transfer it

to another can to see total weight. Can you image!!! ... and no way it totaled over 50 lbs for a full can. I’m thinking now that I will have to buy plastic garbage bags instead, not so environmentally friendly, and just weigh one bag.

Name withheld upon request

Dear Editor, Re October 28, 2020 issue.

One Letter to the Editor complains about the low bidder doing the work on Highway 43, another Letter to the Editor complains about the high bidder doing the work for Burritts Rapids, and the Editorial emphasises the role of NGT to encourage discussions of different points of view.

NGT really is "the Voice of North Grenville".

David Eastwood, Kemptville

the north grenville

ISSN 2291-0301 www.ngtimes.ca

TIMES

Editor Marketing David Shanahan Shannon Lever shannon@ngtimes.ca david@ngtimes.ca 613-215-0735

OFFICE 613-215-0735 Accounting Pat Jessop cfo@ngtimes.ca 613-258-4671

Copy Editor editor@ngtimes.ca 613-258-4671

5

Dear Editor, I find many letters and online posts regarding the proposed correctional facility notable for their suppositions and assumptions regarding the institution. Innuendo, insinuations, and accusations have targeted Mayor Peckford and Deputy Mayor McManaman, suggesting they and Council are doing nothing, or, at worst, are in league with the provincial government to foist the jail upon the community. The paucity of facts and credible references feature in many opinions. Propounders of the misinformation are lauded by their supporters, and their

Help Support Your Local Businesses

SHOP LOCAL misrepresentations repeated.

There are legitimate public concerns. Let us not have them debased by distressing nimbyism. Cite the pertinent facts. Do not comingle the realities of for-profit American jails with Ontario’s provincially managed facilities, which, granted, are less than perfect. Bring evidence to the arguments. One would think there is a conspiracy afoot, given the writings of fear mongers alleging lies and wrongdoing. Is distrust of our elected municipal representatives and the spreading of dubious details endemic in North Grenville?

Our MPP Steve Clark said in an interview in this newspaper, the proposed jail will go ahead, and expressed the coming consultation will be such in name only. Let us hope venting our disappointments will have some positive impacts beyond cathartic release.

Michael Whittaker

Mailing Address P.O. Box 1854 Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 Staff Reporter Hilary Thomson hilary@ngtimes.ca

www.ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

A Moveable Feast:

community support in a time of Covid . Now more than ever!

Please Preorder the day before for next day pick up.

STORE HOURS Monday to Friday 8:00am to 7:00pm

Saturday

8:00am to 6:00pm

Sunday

9:00am to 6:00pm

Meals are available Tuesday through Friday The delivery time in the Ottawa will be early afternoon, in the Kemptville area, mid afternoon.

The cost of a meal is $23.50, delivery is $5.00 per drop. HST extra Order at the latest, the previous day.

Tuesday November 10

613.258.3014 the north grenville

TIMES

613-324-3136

$37.50 Complete Meal for 2 + HST $70.00 Complete Meal for 4 + HST All Family meals include Chef's choice of Soup OR salad, Appropriate Side Dishes & Dessert.

Chicken Korma

Tender boneless chicken in curry coconut sauce, Basmati rice, Samosas & tamarind sauce 1 per person, Flatbread & Curried lentil soup

Whole Roasted Chicken DInner

1- Turkey scallopini, white wine lemon sauce, egg noodles and vegetables.

2- Potato gnocchi, mushroom white wine sauce, side salad.

Whole Garlic & herb marinated chicken (cut into 8), Pan gravy, Corn bread, Roasted baby potatoes & vegetables

1- Braised lamb shoulder in red wine, carrots, onions and potatoes.

2- Tofu cooked in red wine, with carrots, onions and potatoes.

Sesame vegetables, Eggrolls (1per person), plum sauce & Wonton soup

Wednesday November 11

Thursday November 12

1- House smoked pork hock, red braised cabbage, steamed potatoes.

2- Red cabbage with apple and cumin, smoky pinto beans.

Friday November 13

301 Rideau Street, Kemptville

Order & Pay online www.cateredaffairs.ca

1- Mussels, calamari & shrimps in a saffron and vegetable rice, paella style.

2-Peppers, artichoke and chick peas in a saffron and vegetable rice, paella style.

All meals will come with the appropriate side (potatoes, rice, couscous, vegetables, side salad, etc‌) In house cooking demonstration available to you.

BOOK NOW, if you want to learn some professional cooking secrets.

Covid-19 second wave, stay home and have Dial A chef deliver your dinner.

Shannon Lever

Shanghai Noodle Stir Fry with Hoisin Glazed Pork Loin Shepherds Pie

Gravy rich ground beef, peas & corn topped with Roasted garlic whipped potatoes, Market vegetables & Greenhouse salad

Pulled Beef Enchiladas

Melting beef with Enchilada sauce, Soft flour tortillas,Pico de Gallo (chunky salsa), Sour cream, cheddar, rice & beans, House fried Corn Tortilla Chips Greenhouse greens & cabbage salad with vinaigrette Miso Glazed Salmon or Tofu Bowl (G/F) Marinated Salmon FIlet or tofu, 3 grain rice, avocado, cucumber, cabbage, peppers & Edamame, Vietnamese rice paper rolls with sweet chili sauce 2 per person, Asian green salad with carrot/ginger vinaigrette.

Gift your family & staff a complete meal this Christmas so you can get together virtually and dine.

Contact us for our Festive menu.

Catered Affairs has a beautiful venue space & creative ways to keep friends, family & staff socially distanced & safe‌ contact us for availability. info@cateredaffairs.ca 613-324-3136

Marketing Consultant Phone 613.791.8317 Email: shannon@ngtimes.ca

November 4 , 2020

6

www.ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

What’s happening at the post office?

by David Shanahan You may have noticed a lot of new faces at the Kemptville Post Office over the last few months. Staff have left, staff have arrived, and things seem to be taking a long time to settle down again. The Times have heard from quite a number of readers who have not had their newspaper delivered for a week, or two, or longer. Inquiries at the Post Office haven’t produced any results, and faithful readers have wondered if we here are cutting back somehow.

In fact, we’ve been expanding, and Canada Post is being paid week after week to deliver the paper to the homes of North Grenville and Merrickville-Wolford. What

exactly the problem is, we’re not sure; but the areas around Townline Road and County Road 44 near Oxford Station Road seem to be particularly affected.

But it isn’t just the Times that has reason to wonder about what’s happening at the Post Office. Some customers there have found the doors locked when they should be open. Others aren’t sure when they can get their mail. One customer tried to get mail and their mailbox key didn’t work. When they inquired at the desk, they were told that no record existed of them ever having that mailbox. They were then informed that the box was likely closed because they hadn’t renewed it. But no renewal notice had been given to them. They eventually

Kemptville Jail

by Willem Van Dam The Ontario Government is planning, without local consultation, to build an adult correctional facility on the edge of Kemptville. At present there are 25 such jails in Ontario, with six jails built after the year 2000, Kemptville Jail will be the seventh.

Two jails have been built near the edge of the small towns of Lindsay (pop. 20,713, built 2002), and Penetanquishene (pop. 8,962, built 2001), and one in a rural area east of Windsor (built 2013). Kemptville (pop. 3,911), scheduled next, will be the smallest town thus far selected.

The claim is for better jobs, more business, and growth from the new jail complex. But are these claims substantiated? Not as far as

the independent research report “Economic Impact of Prisons in Rural Areas” by Dexter Whitfield, and “Prison Impacts: a Review of the Research” by Katherine A Carlson of Peninsula College.

“The building of prisons in rural towns was claimed to provide a ‘significant economic boost’ because they were a ‘recession-proof form of economic development’.

It was widely believed that prisons had positive effects on local economies, with no negative effects on property values, public safety, or the quality of life.

A study of prison towns in California revealed that the average commuting distance driven by prison staff was twice the average commuter range. On average, less than

were given a new mailbox, but had to pay to have their mail forwarded from the old one!

When they asked where the mail from the closed mailbox was put, they were told it had been returned to sender, and that they should inform all senders of their new address. The problem was, they didn’t know who had sent them letters in the first place, so couldn’t be sure of reaching all those who got their letters returned.

A few customers found registered letters in their mailboxes, even though it stated on the envelope that the letter had to be signed for. One customer was surprised, as the registered envelope contained their new passport, and that is a high security document

that definitely needs to be signed for. At the same time, other customers are expected to produce photo id if they want to pick up parcels. Some consistency is needed here.

Most of the counter staff at the Post Office are friendly and helpful. Others, not so much, as you might expect from people generally. Canada Post is meant to be a service industry and the public should have their interests seen to, and not left wondering where their mail or newspaper has gone. Perhaps all this is a result of living in the Time of Covid, and normal service will be restored when we return to whatever normal will be in the future.

20% of prison jobs go to current residents of a town with new prisons. In Minnesota, only 23 of Rush City’s prison 220 employees live in the town, with 137 living within a 30 mile radius. Fremont campaigned for a Federal prison to be located in the town and raised US$123,000 to purchase a site which was donated to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. By 1998, the prison had 2,500 prisoners.

Very few local people were recruited to the 1,105 jobs, and all supervisory posts were recruited from other federal prisons. 72% of staff lived outside the county (Housing Assistance Council, 2000). In Oregon, 15% of prison staff at the Two Rivers Correctional Institute at Umatilla live locally, and at the Snake River

Prison, 58% live in Idaho. (comment mine: even prison staff do not wish to live close to the prison at which they are employed) The recruitment of minority staff to create a diverse workforce has been another driver for recruiting prison staff from outside rural areas. “Minority staff have to be recruited from outside the immediate area, often from other institutions, and because of the hostility of the local white population, most choose to commute as much as two hours each way rather than move” (Carroll, 2004).

Le CECCE se munit de 120 boîtes TerraCycle Le Conseil des écoles catholiques du CentreEst (CECCE) est heureux d’annoncer qu’il mettra à la disposition de sa communauté scolaire, 120 boîtes TerraCycle qui permettront de recycler les masques et les gants de protection jetables dans les écoles et au Centre éducatif. Cette initiative permettra au CECCE de réduire son empreinte écologique, tout en se rapprochant de son objectif de réduction de 20 % des déchets envoyés aux sites d'enfouissement en 2022. « Les équipements de protection individuelle sont nécessaires pour le bien-être et la sécurité de tout un chacun, et le CECCE se fait un devoir de prôner les mesures de protection November 4, 2020

et d’hygiène prescrites par les autorités en santé dans ses établissements. Toutefois, les masques et les gants jetables représentent également une autre source de pollution. Un masque chirurgical peut d’ailleurs prendre jusqu’à 500 ans pour se décomposer. Bien que le CECCE encourage le port du masque réutilisable, il se devait de trouver une solution éco responsable pour celles et ceux qui préfèrent ou qui doivent adopter des équipements à usage unique. Le fait de munir les écoles de boîtes TerraCycle s’inscrit donc dans la volonté du Conseil de réduire son empreinte écologique », indique la présidente du CECCE, Johanne Lacombe.

et Rachel Vigneault, sont également très fières que le CECCE entame cette étape importante de réduction des déchets en cette période de pandémie. « L’environnement et la protection de notre planète, c’est l’affaire de toutes et de tous et nous sommes très heureuses de voir que même durant cette crise sanitaire, le CECCE poursuit ses efforts afin de diminuer les effets néfastes de cette pandémie. Et surtout, nous aimerions rappeler à toutes et à tous de réutiliser les masques en tissu si vous le pouvez, et de les recycler sinon!»

L’entreprise TerraCycle, auprès de laquelle le Conseil a collaboré pour l’achat des boîtes de recyclage, tra-

« Le Conseil vise une fois de plus à offrir ce qu’il y a de mieux pour sa communauté scolaire, en valorisant les meilleurs environnements d’apprentissage possibles. De plus, ce sont des actions concrètes et significatives comme celleci qui montrent l’exemple aux futures citoyennes et aux futurs citoyens du monde, et qui leur permettent de développer leur pensée critique, en plus de forger leur caractère écocitoyen, pour un monde plus juste, plus vert et plus solidaire », ajoute monsieur Réjean Sirois, directeur de l’éducation.

Les deux élèves ambassadrices des changements climatiques du CECCE, Janessa Sabourin 7

vaille à l’élimination de la notion de « déchet » en recyclant le « non recyclable », ce qui fait de l’entreprise un leader mondial de la collecte et de la réutilisation des déchets non recyclables post-consommation.

En tout, 120 boîtes TerraCycle ont été distribuées au Centre éducatif et dans

toutes les écoles du Conseil, soit une boîte par petite école et deux boîtes pour les grandes écoles afin de recycler les masques et les gants. Une boîte peut contenir jusqu’à 3 260 unités.

Cette initiative permettra au CECCE de recycler environ 392 200 masques et gants.

FAMILY LAW CIVIL LITIGATION WILLS & ESTATES 613 713 3371

info@pburgerlaw.com

pburgerlaw.com

216B PRESCOTT ST PO BOX 423 KEMPTVILLE, ON K0G 1J0

www.ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

Geronimo Coffee House Tuesday to Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm Sat.-Sun. 9:00am to 2:00pm.

CLOSED MONDAYS

Orders can also be placed by phone at 613-258-2782.

46 Prescott St, Kemptville

Help Support Your Local Businesses

SHOP LOCAL

New digital service team member for BIA

Julie DeBoer, BIA’d new Digital Squad Team member. footprint is Julie DeBoer.

Julie comes from a print magazine ad sales background, where she also managed their local Facebook and Instagram platforms by providing photo and content creation. Always a supporter of shopping local, she became an even bigger supporter with the onset of COVID, realizing just how many local retail and services were readily available and in need of support, promoting them as often as possible. The small town inhabitant and people-person

by Deron Johnston, Executive Director, Old Town Kemptville BIA The Board of Management of the Old Town Kemptville Business Improvement Area (BIA) is pleased to announce that they have successfully partnered with the Municipality of North Grenville to receive funding from the Digital Main Street program in order to create another Digital Service Squad.

This year’s Squad team member who has been assigned to support businesses in the BIA

"Celebrating 60 years in business"

November 4 , 2020

believes that this project is right up her alley. “I love working with people to help them grow their business, and I enjoy shopping at small local businesses just as much, so it seemed like a match made in heaven for me to become involved with.”

“In these challenging times, it has become even more important for a small business to have a significant online presence. Many of our small businesses have not qualified for government funding programs, which has left them vulnerable to permanently closing their doors. This program will help to level the playing field for our small business community here in Downtown Kemptville. I have no doubt that it could be even more successful this year, now that more businesses are aware of the program and see the value of it”, said Debbie Wilson, Old Town Kemptville BIA Board Chair.

BIA to hold a virtual AGM but will not be able to attend the meeting, please email your comment or question to bia@northgrenville.on.ca by 5pm on Tuesday, November 17 and the board will respond during the “Period for Questions From Public and Media” section of the meeting agenda.

“It’s been a very challenging year, not just our business community, but, obviously, for many residents as well.

This is an opportunity to hear about what the BIA has been doing during the pandemic to support both its members and the greater community. We’ll also give you a taste of some of the exciting things that we’re planning for 2021.” – Debbie Wilson – OTK BIA Board of Management Chair.

This year is a big one for BIAs. 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the legislation that created BIAs, a made-

by Deron Johnston, Executive Director, Old Town Kemptville BIA The Board of Management of the Old Town Kemptville Business Improvement Area (OTK BIA) would like to advise its members, stakeholders and residents of the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) which will be held virtually on November 18 at 6pm. To register to participate in this virtual meeting, please email bia@ northgrenville.on.ca by Tuesday November 17 at 5pm.

The AGM will primarily focus on presenting the proposed 2021 Budget, the 2020 Financial Report, and the Annual Report for 2020.

There will also be a guest speaker making an informative deputation at the beginning of the meeting.

If you would like to ask a question or make a comment,

8

in-Ontario initiative that has become one of our greatest exports. The legislation has inspired Downtown Revitalization around the world with DBIAs, BIDs, BIAs, and BIZs in many countries, including the US, Great Britain, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Singapore, India, and China.

A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is a “made-in-Ontario” innovation that allows local business people and commercial property owners and tenants to join together and, with the support of the municipality, to organize, finance, and carry out physical improvements and promote economic development in their district.

Local businesses, working collectively as a BIA, become catalysts for improving the local business environment and quality of

Digital Service Squads are fundamental to Digital Main Street’s design and success, with trained specialists who meet with small businesses, at no cost, to help them improve their online presence. The squads assist with a number of activities, including developing a Google My Business profile, enhancing their social media presence, and providing support for basic website and e-commerce set-up. Squads will also assist qualified small businesses through the application process for a $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant, which includes an online assessment, online training modules, and the development of a Digital Transformation Plan (DTP).

To learn more about the Digital Main Street program, and to see if you qualify for the Digital Transformation Grant funding, visit their website at www.digitalmainstreet.ca.

life of the community. As a legal organization mandated by the Municipal Act 2001, BIAs are able to create and manage a budget and, through the municipality, collect a levy from businesses in the area to raise the necessary funds for that budget.

A BIA is run by a volunteer Board of Management elected from its members.

The Board is nominated at an Annual General Meeting and, once approved by municipal council, serves a four-year term concurrent with the term of Council. The Board works on behalf of its members and meets monthly to develop budgets, set priorities, implement & encourage beautification efforts, plan events, oversee day-to-day operations of the organization and promote its member businesses. www.ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

Historic home gets a new lease on life

home. The need for small turn key offices grew and grew.

It became evident that some official zoning changes would need to be made. Hence the rezoning and the need to celebrate its completion!

On October 16, Mayor Nancy Peckford, the owners, and a few tenants were on hand to officially cut the proverbial ribbon and declare the Somerwynde Professional Centre officially open for business.

Geraldine and Peter are grateful for all the support from the Mayor, North Grenville Council, and Municipal Staff who helped them in converting the Somerville Homestead from a residential property to an eight unit office building. This change of use required many interior modifications to make the building compliant with the Ontario Building Code. Geraldine noted that: “The staff at the North Grenville Building Department were extremely helpful and patient throughout the process”.

The name ‘Somerwynde Professional Centre’ was, Geraldine and Peter learned, derived from a nickname used by the Somerville fam-

From R-L: Andrea Empey, tenant, Kemptville Stress relief Centre; Geraldine Taylor, owner of Somerwynde Professional Centre and tenant; Mayor Nancy Peckford; Peter Van Adrichem, owner of the Somerwynde Professional Centre; Debi Allen-Moore, tenant, Country Ways Custom Picture Framing.

Tenants not in the picture: Shulamit Berlevtov; Meagan Cumming; Katie Cassidy, Kemptville Stress relief Centre; and tenant Jennifer C. from Got Your Six - Massage Therapy People who have lived in North Grenville for some years will know the Somerville house which stands on County Road 43 facing the junction with, naturally, Somerville Road in Kemptville. The Somerville family have had a long and important association with North

Grenville, and the Town of Kemptville for generations.

Jean Somerville served as Mayor of Kemptville from 1989 to 1994.

The farm was purchased by the original Somerville’s in 1864, and was in the Somerville Family until Geraldine Taylor and her husband, Peter,

You are not alone

by Tammy Zollinger “1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental health problem, or illness in any given year” - The Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit. Chances are high you, or someone you know, is struggling. So please know, you are far from being alone.

My battle with mental illness has raged for years.

I’m 36 years old, and for over half my life I’ve struggled with depression. In 2015, my fight with anxiety started. I don’t have answers; however, I hope sharing some of my story might help someone.

On May 15, 2020, I suffered a massive nervous breakdown. We had finished planting our crops, and our group of 130 dairy goats had finished giving birth. I had been looking forward to a day off; however, some equipment in the barn had broken, and I was forced to head back up and babysit the wash. I had been relying on alcohol for months to help ease the daily strain of life, so I grabbed a full 1.5L of wine and went to sit in the milk house.

My husband joined me, and what started as a discussion, turned into a disagreement. In that two-hour span, November 4, 2020

the wine had been finished. I snapped. My husband realized something was not right.

He left to get my best friend who lives in our little house on the farm, and she took over trying to calm me down. She told me later on that she had placed her hands on my face and said, “You need to calm down. This is not you.” I have no recollection.

The next few days, my husband and I decided I needed to leave the farm, the barn, and stress of life behind for a bit. The goal was to find an in-patient treatment program; however, everything was closed because of Covid. I moved out on May 17 and spent the night at a friend’s house. The following day, I found a more permanent place to live. A lovely couple who lived right on the St. Lawrence River took me in.

There I spent some days and nights, soaking in the peace, returning almost every day to see my girls, checking in on things, and helping where I could.

I started to realize the extent of my breakdown, but what had happened, I had zero memory of. As my husband told me the details of that night, I was riddled with guilt.

Things were being pieced together. I remembered look-

purchased it in 2011. They lived in the home for a short while, and then Geraldine began to operate her real estate home office and Geraldine’s Art Gallery from the space.

Geraldine was constantly asked by other people if they could rent a room - as a studio, or an office away from

ing for a fight. I had purposely pushed his buttons, hoping he would hit me, I was so enraged, I wanted a fist fight.

I wanted nothing more than to take out years of aggression, rage, and hatred on someone.

Unfortunately, he was my easiest target. He said “I knew something had changed in you, you have never been a nasty person, I wasn’t dealing with my wife.” Looking back, I thank him and God for protecting both of us that evening.

ily. Apparently, the greatgrandchildren always referred to the family farm as the Somerwynde Place, because the farmstead sat high on a small hill and there was always a gentle breeze around the house. Now the old family

homestead has a new lease on life, housing a gathering of local businesses, and getting set for yet more decades of activity.

For further information anyone can call Geraldine Taylor at 613 808 8912

PROFESSIONAL EYE CARE FOR ALL AGES

Dr. C.L. Eamon Optometrist

WE ARE NOW ABLE TO RESUME EYE CARE. Due to Covid, there will be even more procedures to protect our patient, our staff and families. We appreciate that you've been waiting for us to return to work and we've been waiting to see you. We are very grateful for the trust that you place in us for your eye care.

We Put the CARE in Eye Care 212 Van Buren St.

613.258.7438

This is just part of my story, one story of many. Mental illness can affect anyone at any time. It knows no bounds.

I hope, in the months ahead, I can share more of my story, the defeats and victories. I can share help to those who struggle, and those who need more understanding.

I’ll leave you with something my counselor shares with me at every session: “You are good. You are not alone.”

613-258-7800 www.kvrl.ca

Kemptville Retirement Living has been expertly designed to offer a full range of Lifestyle Options:

•Independent Lifestyle •Full Service Lifestyle •Care & Service-By-Design

613-445-5200

www.russellmeadows.com 9

www.ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times

To the Honorable Premier Doug Ford

by Marie-Therese Voutsinos B.Sc. Biol., Agr., M.Sc. Agr. The fate of the Kemptville Agricultural College farm is in crisis. The showcase farm buildings and surrounding hundreds of acres of good arable land are at risk with the decision of the provincial government to build a correctional facility there.

Arable land is a nonrenewable resource that is disappearing at an alarming rate around the world. Here in Ontario, and in the rest of Canada, farmland is becoming increasingly hard to find, with urbanization continually encroaching on it. Chinese corporations have been discreetly buying farmland in eastern Canada and elsewhere in the world, to keep in agricultural production for their own use, according to “La Terre de chez-nous ”, the main agricultural newspaper in Quebec. Who supplies garlic to our grocery stores in winter time? China does, and has for a few years now.

There is no reason we can-

not produce our own garlic in Ontario. We have the knowhow and the climate for it. In addition, we have a growing number of market farmers looking for good land with proximity to large customer bases. This land is rarely affordable enough for starting small farms. Renting land then becomes a viable option.

In Ottawa, the National Capital Commission (NCC) has developed programs that establish market farms on arable land rented within its boundaries. One of these programs is developing a network of farms within 10 minutes of downtown Ottawa, according to the NCC’s website. The farming techniques used in these instances produce little noise, and few to no pesticide sprays, so urban farming without nuisance factors is possible. This model could be used at the Kemtpville College Farm with its hundreds of acres of farmland.

Ontario arable lands near urban areas play an increasingly crucial role in providing

and securing food supplies in these uncertain times of pandemic and climate change.

We have all seen food flying off the shelves in grocery stores this year. Food security is on people’s minds. Construction of new facilities, whether residential, industrial or correctional, should be directed to lands that have little agricultural value, which are plentiful, unlike good farm land. Agricultural lands have been protected in Quebec for almost 40 years now; this is a good time for the province of Ontario to do the same.

A lot of resources have gone into building the barns, state of the art stable, outbuildings, and teaching facilities at the College Farm. It would be an incredible waste to put them to the wrecking ball to make room for non-agricultural facilities of any kind. Instead, the barns could be used for sustainable, low-emission animal production, for which there is increasing demand. Facilities already there would allow

pilot projects, teaching, and establishing of ecologically mixed farms to supply the local meat, vegetable, and value-added product markets.

Such a use of the College Farm would allow the new generation of young farmers a place to start small farm businesses, with peer and technological support. Bringing in such small businesses is good for local employment and sustainable economies, a major advantage during the devastation of COVID-19.

The College Farm could also play a role in improving food security and the availability of healthy foods in North Grenville, both of which are becoming increasingly important. Community gardens are a great way to supply inexpensive fresh produce to anyone who wants to grow their own. Teaching kitchens foster and encourage the use of the healthy foods grown locally, an excellent component of disease prevention, which becomes even more crucial in times

The Voice of North Grenville

of pandemics. The City of Kingston has several well established community gardens and kitchen programs. There is no reason why North Grenville could not have the same, given the amount of good land and kitchen facilities available at the Kemptville Agricultural College.

The part of Kemptville College Farm that has been designated for the correctional facility should be reunited with the part now belonging to the Municipality of North Grenville, as previously requested. Its use should be returned to agriculture, unless we, the residents of Ontario, want to continue buying fresh produce from China, when the farm could be turned into a facility to supply garlic and other fresh vegetables such as squash, year-round. The whole College Farm could also supply an increasing demand for local foods produced sustainably, respectful of soil and water resources.

But first, it would be best to keep all that good, arable

finite land resource out of the real estate market, and away from Chinese corporations, permanently. Husbandry of that exceptional farm is best done by local government and/or agricultural cooperatives, rather than absentee owners who do not have to live with the consequences of what is done there.

The best scenario is to let the Municipality buy the rest of Kemptville College Farm.

The Municipality can then develop sustainable programs such as the NCC is doing in Ottawa, and rent the land to small farmers for local food production. Producing our foods and other essential goods locally is necessary to reduce the risk and impact of pandemics, and to improve our local economy. the north grenville

TIMES Gord Logan Marketing Consultant

Stakeholders’ meeting solidified our opposition to the proposed prison

by Colleen Lynas and Kirk Albert There was important new information arising from the meeting organized by Mayor Peckford with staff from the Ministry of the Solicitor General and Municipalities Minister, Steve Clark, regarding the proposed prison to be built in North Grenville.

More than a dozen community stakeholders participated in the on-line meeting. We were the two residents invited because of our objections to the plan to build in Kemptville. It is now clearer to us that the choice to build here is ill-conceived and a recipe for failure for both Kemptville and the inmates it is meant to serve.

The Stakeholders’ meeting was held on October 30, and was a well-organized event with multiple senior staff members from the Solicitor General’s Office presenting. The two of us were treated respectfully and afforded the opportunity to fully express our opinions and ask questions.

What we learned: The stated intent is that the new Kemptville facility will house all Ottawa and area provincial prisoners sentenced to two years less a day, as well as an undefined number of inmates on remand (awaiting a trial or November 4 , 2020

sentencing hearing). The bulk of remanded individuals will remain at the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre (OCDC).

Once the Kemptville facility is fully operational, the OCDC will see some sections renovated, while others will be shuttered.

The proposed location on the “farm side property” is in the open area currently housing the A.M. Barr Arena and other buildings, and is bounded by College Road, Highway 44, and the Rail Trail. Landscaping is planned, but there was no reference to plantings that would be large enough to shield the prison from view. It will house minimum, medium, and maximum-security men and women inmates, and will be built to maximum security standards. There is no guarantee the prison footprint will not be expanded in the future.

If the facility is built, Kemptville would be the smallest (by population) Ontario town with a provincial prison in its midst, and, to the best of our knowledge, the only one without a public transit system. Transit infrastructure is critical for families visiting inmates and for inmates released from custody. We do have a Probation and Parole Office in town, but the other community supports services required by inmates

and their families, such as homeless shelters and Elizabeth Fry and John Howard Society offices, are not here.

There were vague promises of working with the community to address these infrastructure and service gaps, but nothing concrete.

Concerns regarding the required upgrades to our already taxed water and sewer systems were discussed. The stated goal is to ensure the municipality will not incur additional costs; but, again, there was no clear commitment as to how that would be achieved. Solicitor General staff spoke of “opportunities” for the community, such as public sports fields, greenhouses, and gymnasiums, that could be built on other sections of the provincially owned land.

The touted employment opportunities and significant economic spin-offs were simply not in evidence. The project will use a public private partnership (P3) model, overseen by Infrastructure Ontario. Expertise in P3s is found in large corporations with the financing and scope to handle the various stages of a project and the resources to complete complex Request for Qualifications and Request for Proposal processes. We believe local contractors will be disad10

vantaged in this regard, and will also be challenged to be competitive against large established counterparts. The Solicitor General’s representatives were clear that existing OCDC employees will be staffing the Kemptville prison. Opportunities for local developers were described as a “potential positive real estate impact”. Possible ‘buy local’ impacts, such as coffee and restaurant purchases, were noted. It is reasonable to assume that the chain stores and fast-food restaurants in the Colonnade Mall may see some benefit.

There are many questions still to be answered. Over 100 properties were considered before landing on the Kemptville site. Our residents deserve to know the details of the other sites, as well as a full accounting of other available surplus lands. The impacts on our local hospital are unknown, although possible significant pressures, especially on its Emergency Department, were discussed.

Minister Clark stated that there is no intention to issue a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO). As MZOs bypass democratic decision-making at the municipal level, we trust this means that there will be an opportunity for public input. An environmental assessment is planned, but

details are unknown. For those of you feeling guilty about “not in my backyard” accusations, there is no need.

The plan itself is flawed. We need to do what we can as a community to stop it.

Phone 613 258 6402 Email: gord@ngtimes.ca

Municipality launches online survey to help shape future of Road Safety The Municipality of North Grenville is preparing to develop new and update existing transportation policies in response to increasing traffic related concerns raised by residents.

These policies include creating a new Road Safety Strategy, a Goods Movement and Truck Route Policy as well as updating the existing Traffic Calming Policy and Speed Limit Policy.

“My Council colleagues and I are encouraging residents and business leaders to participate in developing and updating these transportation policies, to help advance road safety for everyone in North Grenville, including drivers, cyclists and pedestrians,” said Mayor Nancy Peckford.

“As a high growth community, these policies will be important in developing mea-

sures to respond to concerns about road safety in our community,” added Councillor John Barclay, Public Works Liaison.

Guided by the Municipality of North Grenville’s Transportation Master Plan, completed in 2019, these policies will help to proactively address the Municipality’s desire for an integrated transportation network.

Community members can provide feedback through the online survey or by attending the virtual community meeting at the end of November.

More details will be provided soon.

For more information and to take the online survey please visit: www.northgrenville.ca/roadsafety,

www.ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

The Voice of Merrickville/Wolford

Community rallies around local contractor

Struthers says that, to their knowledge, nothing like this has ever occurred in the municipality before.

“This is not mischievous in the category of soaping windows,” he said at the council meeting of October 26. “This is malicious, targeted, and definitely not in the spirit and the community chemistry that we have known for decades and decades.”

However, in true Merrickville fashion, about a dozen people came out over the weekend to help Jonah clean up the spray paint and support his business, which has been part of the community for the past 12 years.

“It shows the spirit and caring that has always been, and will prevail, in Merrickville-Wolford,” Mayor Struthers says.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Ontario Provincial Police.

photo courtesy of Doug Robertson was hired by the municipality

by Hilary Thomson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter to carry out the redesign of the parkette in Merrickville, The contractor who was funded by the Main Street carrying out the work at the Revitalization Grant that parkette in Merrickville had the municipality received in an unpleasant surprise on Oc- 2018. Construction began tober 17, after his equipment the week after Thanksgiving, and some of his work was with the hope of the entire vandalized overnight. Local project being completed this contractor Jonah Robinson Fall.

Early on October 17, Jonah received a call from a fellow contractor letting him know that his equipment, and a new wall they had just installed, had been vandalized overnight. The message that was written on the equipment was targeted, and clearly directed towards, Jonah and his company. Mayor Doug

Mayor to sit on committee of adjustment Denis Schryburt, and Colin Hurman were appointed to the Local Journalism Initiative Reporter committee of adjustment on July 22, 2019. On September Merrickville-Wolford 9, 2019, Councillor Timothy council passed a resolution Molloy was also appointed at the last council meeting to to the committee. Denis and allow the Mayor to become Colin are no longer on the a voting member on the mu- committee, leaving Lorne and nicipality’s Committee of Councillor Molloy as the only Adjustment. The committee members. is an independent decisionAt the direction of counmaking group, appointed cil, staff put out a call for by council and established volunteers to sit on the Comunder the Planning Act of mittee of Adjustment at the Ontario, to make decisions beginning of October; howregarding variances from any ever, they received no appliof the municipality’s zoning cations as of the October 16 by-laws. According to the deadline. To ensure that the Planning Act, there must committee is able to remain be at least three members active under the Planning Act, sitting on the Committee of staff brought three options to Adjustment. The staff report council. They could appoint outlined that Lorne Walker, two members of council to

by Hilary Thomson

November 4, 2020

the committee; dissolve the committee and establish a bylaw to allow council to take on the responsibilities of the committee; or amend the bylaw to allow the Mayor’s presence at meetings to count towards quorum, and for him to become a voting member of the committee.

After some discussion in an in-camera session, council passed a resolution to amend the Village’s procedural bylaw to allow Mayor Struthers to sit as a voting member of the committee until the end of the year. The bylaw amendment will be in place until the first meeting of council in January 2021. Mayor Struthers says that, although applications for minor variances are rare, they need to

11

have the committee in place, just in case one does pop up.

“This would satisfy that right away,” he says. “Hopefully, between now and then, we will be able to populate it with members of the public.”

The only council member to vote against the motion was Deputy Mayor Michael Cameron, who believes that turning the responsibilities of the Committee of Adjustment over to council, for the time being, would have been the more open and transparent decision. He also said it would make sure that the committee always had quorum, as it would be made up of all of council, instead of just three people.

“The Mayor has been taking more and more con-

Despite the vandalism, the parkette redesign still progressed as scheduled and was completed on Friday. Mayor Struthers also announced at the last council meeting that the County has committed just under $55,000 to improve the strip of pavement leading up Mill Street from St. Lawrence to the swing bridge, to create a boulevard-type feel.

CAO Doug Robertson confirmed that Jonah Robinson will be carrying out the work along Mill Street; however, they are unsure whether they will be able to finish the project this year, or wait until the Spring, when the potential for frost isn’t an issue.

“We’re still in the process of confirming when exactly

Help Support Your Local Businesses

SHOP LOCAL we will start and finish that component,” CAO Robertson said in an email to the Times.

the north grenville

TIMES Gord Logan

Marketing Consultant Phone 613 258 6402 Email: gord@ngtimes.ca

trol, and that’s not the way it should happen,” he said.

If the municipality has not received any applications to fill the vacancy by the end of the year, council will discuss dissolving the committee and having council take on the responsibilities of the Committee of Adjustment until

the end of the current term.

That being said, all council members are hoping that they will be able to recruit volunteers, so that they can have a committee that is populated by the public. “The majority view of council is to have a Committee of Adjustment,” Mayor Struthers noted.

CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT

Robert Walker, CPA, CA Bradley Mehlman CPA Dinah Boal Stephanie Turcotte Crystal Lang T: 613.258.3282 F: 613.258.4391 2 - 4 Industrial Rd, Kemptville, South Gower Business Park

www.ngtimes.ca

RY

on,

e.

com

The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

Municipalities receive infrastructure funding

by Hilary Thomson

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Merrickville-Wolford and North Grenville will be receiving $100,000 each from the province to help support local infrastructure projects. The funding was announced on Thursday by Municipalities Minister and local MPP Steve Clark and is part of $1.4 million that the province has committed to the municipalities in LeedsGrenville-Thousand-Islands and Rideau Lakes through Ontario’s new COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream.

“I’m proud that our government continues to deliver on the commitment we made to support our local municipal partners by providing them with the resources they need to build and repair roads, bridges, water and wastewater systems,” said Minister Clark.

“This critical infrastructure is not only necessary to ensure our communities remain great places to live, it helps us attract new investment and cre-

loss of revenue when it comes to facilities rentals in particular during COVID-19, and Mayor Peckford says it is great to see the province step up to help municipalities do more in terms of supporting their infrastructure than they could have otherwise.

“It is no doubt the case that there remains urgent infrastructure needs in our community, as there would be throughout the counties, and every dollar counts. The $100,000 right now will helps us to address some short and midterm priorities.”

Mayor Peckford says the funding will be considered in the 2021 budget process, which is currently under way. “I expect that the $100,000 will be very much on the table in terms of some of the investment considerations we will be making around infrastructures priorities in the municipality. By the end of our budget process we’ll know exactly where those dollars are going.”

ate jobs as our economy continues to recover from COVID-19.”

Merrickville-Wolford Mayor Doug Struthers says this significant influx of funds is great news for the municipality, which already has a list of possible infrastructure projects that the funding could help with. “[The funding] is extremely important for a municipality like MerrickvilleWolford. We all have aging infrastructure,” Mayor Struthers says.

“It’s a phenomenal opportunity for us to expedite some of them.” One such project is addressing groundwater infiltration into the water/wastewater system, which will help them free up capacity. “It will have an almost immediate positive impact,” he says.

Mayor Nancy Peckford agrees that this funding announcement is great news for North Grenville and all the municipalities in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. Although quite financially stable, North Grenville has experienced some

According to Mayor Peckford, the municipality is also very aware of other potential funding envelopes that may open up at the provincial and federal level, and will be very ambitious in terms of accessing every dollar they can from any level of government.

“The good news about this funding is that we don’t have to apply for it, we don’t have to compete for it, it’s coming to us and we can action those dollars very quickly and that’s great to see. It’s always wonderful news when that happens.”

Municipalities will have to submit their projects to the province to ensure they meet the criteria for the funding. Shovelready projects must be submitted no later than March 31, 2021, and all work must be completed

by December 31, 2021.

613.206.7279

HEAPHY’S WEEKLY, BI-WEEKLYCLEANING AND MONTHLY CLEANS AVAILABLE SERVICES

RETIRED CARPENTER Renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, additions, decks, home repair, ceramic tile.

Call George at 613 462 7637

3 Bedrooms: Dusting baseboards, window sills, surfaces; vacuum floors 2 Bathrooms: Shower/bathtub combo, toilet, sink, mirror, countertop, front of vanity, window sills, light switches and mop floors Kitchen: Cupboards, stove top, counters, sink, window sills, front of appliances wiped and polished, and floors mopped Living room: Dusting, baseboards, vacuuming and mopping Dining room: Dusting baseboards, surfaces, vacuuming and mopping Entryway: Dusting, baseboards, vaccuming and mopping $100 + HST Add-ons available

Chemical free cleaning, plant based products.

Call 613 206 7279 for a free quote ALL NATURAL PRODUCTS

CLASSIFIEDS

November 4 , 2020

FIRST TEN WORDS FREE

CONTACT classifieds@ngtimers.ca

Snow Tires on rims c/w TPMS Senors, only 15K kms FOR SALE 45 original Bosson on tires, 235/70R16 ICEPRO. Heads, mint condition, ask- $500.00 613-269-3301 ing $600. for all, call 613215-0884 Blue Lazy-boy $45. Tan sofa bed $65. 613-258-3761 greenhouses,Large quanity of bedding plant containers Snow tires on rims, Altimax and pots. 613-258 3053 Arctic 225/70 R 16. 5 bolt $500.00 613-258-0589 FOR SALE

GET you READY FORtune-up FALL! Book SPRING

CCHECK A LMarkTODAY! L& Ginette T OStreitD AY UP TODAY

1303 Kingdom Rd., Kemptville

613.258.6607

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND OTHERS In the Estate of Brenda Lynn Ball, deceased.

All claims against the Estate of Brenda Lynn Ball, late of the Village of Spencerville, Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal, County of Grenville, who died on or about the 11th day of July, 2018, must be filed with the undersigned personal representative on or before the 11th day of December, 2020. Thereafter the undersigned will distribute the assets of the estate having regard only to the claims then filed.

Dated: November 1, 2020 Judy Hough, Executor of the Estate 33 Houlahan Street Nepean, Ontario K2J 3X6

The Food Corner

HEAPHYS CLEANING SERVICE

heaphyscleaningservice@gmail.com

Class A Licensed Mechanics - Repairs to ALL Makes DOT & MTO Safety Inspections Fuel Injection, Electrical & A/C Specialists Eliminate the headaches Complete Brake & Exhaust Service BOOK YOUR WINTER Tires & batteries-Front End & Suspension

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville With Hollowe’en past, we march forward a couple of weeks to Remembrance Day. The planning for both of these events has been severely restricted by the need to protect our children and our veterans from the Covid virus. In Canada at least, we have found that folks hold back on Christmas preparations and decorations till 12 November. That doesn’t mean we can’t start to think ahead to family get-togethers; while these also will have the ghost of Christmas present in the form of the Covid threat in front of us, we will still wish to celebrate the festive season as best we can. The following recipe, Warm Artichoke and Parmesan Dip is one of our family’s favourites for festive season family gatherings.

Warm Artichoke and Parmesan Dip Ingredients: 1 can of artichoke hearts, drained 1 cup grated parmesan cheeseResidential Commercial and ½ cup mayonnaise Over 14 years of experience.

1 teaspoon of lemon rind 1 teaspoon of crushed garlic A pinch of cayenne and black pepper Al Yousef 3 or 4 Kutebah rounds of naan bread Preparation: Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender, except for a tablespoon of the parmesan Blend until smooth Spread in a shallow dish or casserole and sprinkle with the parmesan you reserved Bake in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven for about 20 minutes or until golden Serve with a basket of warm naan bread Please send me your own favourite holiday dips and treats at pcormier@ranaprocess.com. As always, best to all and stay well!

PROFESSIONAL PAINTER

Quality work at reasonable prices 613 276 4583 Kutebah1984@gmail.com

Mixed seasoned firewood for WANTED sale, $110 per cord delivered, minimum 3 cord order for de- Upstanding Citizen to run for MP/ livery, Jon 613-227-3650 MPP in the riding of LEEDS-GRENVILLE. Good communicator, hard 60 Carpet tiles, brand new. 4 Snow tires 195/65P15 no worker. Call CONSENSUS ONTARIO Each 18x18inches, blue/grey rims. good condition $50 . and CONSENSUS CANADA at 519$45. Call Bill @ 613 258 6544 Call 613-713-3347.

851-2041 for more information.

4 Michelin X ice 215/60/16 on wheels 5X114.3 used one winter $550.00. 613-8629816

28 inch snowblower, automatic starter, new motor $475.00 613 215 0625 12

fallow/overgrown or old hay/pasture. Also interested in conventional cropland to transition to organic. Call or text Mitch @ 613-262-1204 FOR RENT

Looking to Rent Farmland for Indoor and outdoor storage Organic Cash Crops Specifi- for vehicles, boats and RVs. cally looking for land that's Call Jon at 613-227-3650. www.ngtimes.ca

C

cust

e

The North Grenville Times

Upper Canada District School Board Report Local Health Units Update Trustees on Health Practices in Schools: Dr. Paula Stewart of the Lanark Leeds and Grenville Public Health Unit and Dr. Paul Roumeliotis of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit outlined the current COVID-19 cases within the communities as well as associated precautions they’re taking to control the spread, specifically within schools. Both Medical Officers of Health applauded UCDSB staff for their responses to any health unit investigation conducted within UCDSB schools. These investigations have determined that all cases are coming from the community and were then contained within the school.

Both Medical Officers of Health agreed that based on the precautions and quickresponses, schools have been successful in maintaining a safe learning environment.

UCDSB Strategizes a Response to School Staffing Shortages: In September, the school district experienced significant challenges securing casual staff to address employee absences at school. The Human Resources Department

has since launched a multistep strategy to address the shortage, including working with the elementary teachers’ union to waive previous requirements needed to stay on the occasional teacher list and increase the number of occasional teachers permitted on the list, reaching out to retired employees, incorporating a pay rate increase for emergency casual staff and pursuing virtual career fairs. School board staff report they have documented lower absences and higher fill-rates in the first two weeks of October.

UCDSB Schools See Decreased Suspension Rate in 2019-2020: Staff provided an annual Safe Schools Report for 20192020 that highlighted discipline rates and measures, staff training and other initiatives to build skills and promote positive characteristics that contribute to a positive school climate. UCDSB staff outlined that in-school suspensions decreased last year by 36 per cent compared to the previous school year, noting that projections indicated that had the COVID-19 school closure not occurred, rates

CROSSWORD

would have been down by only 2 per cent.

Staff Provide Updates on the UCDSB Remote Learning Model: Currently, seven per cent of students are doing synchronous learning, which is when student follows along with the classroom lesson from their home computer, in real time. Digital asynchronous learners, who obtain their lessons online but complete their work outside of the regular school schedule, make up five per cent of the student enrollment. Asynchronous nondigital learners make up nine per cent of students. These students receive a package of bi-weekly printed materials that align with the classroom curriculum. The asynchronous models do not involve live instruction from classroom teachers as these models are forms of self study. Seventy-nine per cent of students are enrolled in the in-person classroom learning model.

The UCDSB has also received several requests to consult with different school districts about its remote learning model.

ACROSS 1. Hoses 6. Thin strip 10. Skilled 14. Coral island 15. A hollow cylindrical shape 16. A splitting tool 17. Hawaiian veranda 18. Where the sun rises 19. Adhesive strip 20. Branched lighting fixture 22. Always 23. L L L L 24. Astraddle 26. Rich soil 30. Nigerian tribesman 31. Crow 32. Data 33. Cans 35. Levelled 39. Steamroll

Legion adapts to covid this year

SUDOKU EASY

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 212 Kemptville hopes that this message finds you all well and safe during these difficult times.

The Poppy Campaign began this year, as always, on the last Friday in October and runs until November 11. We will have Poppy boxes available, some new reduced touch technology, so you can avoid using cash and continue to wear your poppies with pride and respect for our fallen.

This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a very auspicious occasion. However, we are also in the midst of a pandemic, and the second wave of the pandemic. This means that our Remembrance Day this year will look and be very different than other years.

In accordance with Dominion Command of the Royal Canadian Legion direction and Public Health authorities, we will not be holding a parade, and we will not be opening the branch to host guests and the community following the usual ceremony.

The ceremony will be conducted by a limited number of members of the Branch, wearing masks, and appropriately physically / socially distanced. All wreaths will be laid prior to the ceremony to avoid unnecessary contact and avoid potential transmission of COVID19. We encourage everyone to take time to learn about the sacrifices our Veterans have made during the First World War, Second World War, Korean War, Vietnam War, Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Missions, and Afghanistan War. We ask that you be safe, continue to physically / socially distance, wear masks, and avoid gatherings of people larger than recommended by Public Health authorities. And, with this in mind, we are asking that you stay home and watch the National Ceremony on TV, safe with your families, to avoid any further risk of spread of COVID19.

November 4, 2020

The Voice of North Grenville

HARD

13

41. Offense 43. Lofty nest 44. Hoodwink 46. Apothecary's weight 47. Big wine holder 49. Mesh 50. On the left or right 51. African antelope 54. Journey 56. Encircle 57. Declared secret 63. 62 in Roman numerals 64. An indefinite period 65. Jagged 66. Greek liqueur 67. Chilled 68. Anxious 69. Not closed 70. Formally surrender 71. Affirmatives

DOWN 1. After-bath powder 2. A D-Day beach 3. ___ fide 4. Distinctive flair 5. Skid 6. Mesmerize 7. Go-between 8. Church alcove 9. Foursome 10. Subsequently 11. A cry of approval 12. Runs 13. Decorative jugs 21. High society 25. Anagram of "Crab" 26. Vitality 27. Unique 28. Remote 29. Incentive 34. Preempt 36. Indian dress 37. Quaint outburst 38. A territorial unit of Greece 40. Blue-green 42. Anagram of "Smite" 45. Wild 48. Maneuver 51. Snow house 52. Confusion 53. Award 55. Devoutness 58. Bloodsucking insects 59. No charge 60. Charged particles 61. Existence 62. D D D D

MEDIUM

Answer to last weeks crossword

www.ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

The Workshop Dance Studio adapts to offer affordable online classes

Nancy Morgan in The Workshop Studio

by Hilary Thomson

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Like many businesses in North Grenville, the Workshop Dance Studio has had to work hard to adapt to the changing atmosphere

of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Owner, Nancy Morgan, chose to shut down the studio on March 16, a few days before it was officially mandated by the government. Like many people, for the first two weeks she was just trying to wrap her

head around what was happening; but she soon decided to try and start running online classes, to offer at least something to her students. “A store was open,” she remembers.

“I walked in and I got a microphone and a webcam, and

then from there I was able to offer classes online with just those two things.”

Since then, her system has become a lot more intricate, and her husband, Chris Morgan, built her a technology stand to house her multiple monitors, microphones, and webcam. Nancy ran as many classes as she could online from April 1 to August, when she was able to open the studio to in-class students under Ontario’s Stage 3 of re-opening. Getting the studio ready to welcome students back into the physical space was a huge undertaking, as Nancy had to rearrange the entire space to ensure that physical distancing and proper cleaning protocols could be observed.

Surprisingly, dance studios fall under the same category as weddings and funerals, not fitness centres.

This means that students have to keep their masks on throughout the class. “The rules and regulations that Anytime Fitness has to follow are different than what I have to follow,” Nancy says.

“If they were to go to a wedding, or a church function, anything that is in a wedding and funeral environment, they have to wear masks. Same with my studio.”

So far, there has been no push back from any of her students about wearing masks, as they are very happy to be back in the studio again.

However, to help make sure students are comfortable,

Nancy offers free face cages that create structure around the mouth inside the mask to make breathing easier while dancing.

Nancy now offers 20 classes a week, which she runs both in-person and virtually. In-person students must pre-register online and sign in once they get to the studio, for contact tracing purposes.

Under the current regulations, each class allows for ten students, and the room is set up so that participants can be physically distanced while taking the class.

The online platform is run through a website called Patreon, where people can sign up for $20/month and have access to all The Workshop classes. If students aren’t able to make it to the live class, they are also recorded, so they can do it on their own time. Nancy hopes that $20/month is affordable for people who are struggling financially right now due to the pandemic. “You could take a live class, or a recorded class, every day and, even if you only do 15 minutes of it, you’re doing something right.

So, I’m hoping that has been an encouragement for some people.”

Nancy has become used to the heightened cleaning protocols and the physical distancing requirements that are mandatory for her to remain open. She thinks the hardest part about running a dance studio during CO-

VID-19 is the “doomsday” feeling that’s ever present, and not knowing whether she will be shut down again due to a second wave. “I spend a lot of time thanking my clients, because they really have been amazing. None of them have been giving me grief over anything. You get burnt out; but if I wasn’t doing this, I’d be a mess.”

Nancy encourages everyone to make sure they are making physical activity a priority, especially as we head into the winter months. She is a bit worried about some of her students who have not returned to classes, because she knows how important moving your body is for your mental and physical health, whether it be at her studio, or one of the fitness studios in town, or even just going for a walk in the Ferguson Forest Centre. “You’ve got to try and get 30 minutes of something in a day. Turn off the doomsday television, step away from social media as best you can, stop schooling and do something.”

The Workshop Dance Studio currently offers classes six days a week for adults of all ages. To learn more about the studio, or to book a class, visit their website www.theworkshopdancestudio.com.

Ted and Barb Warren remembered KPI Remembers Ted and Barb Warren

This community lost two special people this past few months. Barb and Ted Warren came from Ireland and becamepart of a new community here in North Grenville. Barb died in September, and Ted remained without her for only a few weeks.

On Thursday, September 3, 2020, Barbara Elizabeth Warren (nee McNeill), passed away peacefully in the company of her family.

Barb was an active member of her community, volunteering and supporting many organizations such as the Kemptville Public Library, November 4 , 2020

the Recreation Committee, the Kemptville District Hospital, and the Altar Guild at St. James. Throughout her life, she developed many deep and enduring friendships and will be sadly missed by many.

Then on Monday, October 19,Edward Jackson Wellesley Warren, "Ted" to the lucky that knew him, passed away peacefully at Dundas Manor in the company of his family. Many know Ted from his extensive efforts in the community with Rotary International, St James Anglican Church, Kemptville Players, Kemptville District Hospital, Kemptville 73's, the hunt

by Lee Gaw The Kemptville Players would like to extend a fond final farewell to Ted and Barb Warren. They were part of the original founding group in the sixties, known then as the St. James Players. They played a vital role in maintaining the cohesiveness of the popular group that Vida Hopson initiated. Always willing to participate in any play, and often kindly volunteering their home for cast parties, kept them actively involved.

Barb always graced the stage with composure when she was acting. She also tried her hand at directing a one act play in 1974. Their son, John, took an acting role in a one act play in 1984. Ted was the “relaxed” actor, and became known for his ad libs on stage, often leaving a fellow actor scrambling for a quick comeback. His countless roles always had a memorable moment or two, and he became a favourite with audiences for

camp, as a judge or from his federal nomination efforts in Leeds Grenville. He also spoke fondly of his memories of his time at St Columba, TCD, and the Stags Head Pub in Dublin.

Barbara and Ted met in Ireland and immigrated to Toronto, then put down strong roots in the Kemptville area.

They were married at Christ Church in Burritts Rapids, Ontario in 1960, and together opened the Edward J W Warren Law Office.

14

his humour and wit.

In 1980, Ted put on his lawyer’s hat, and helped the group become incorporated and known as “Kemptville Players Inc.” (KPI). The group had a large membership, garnering appreciative audiences. It was often a full house at Leslie Hall and the Parish Hall on the Kemptville College grounds. So, incorporation was seen as a safety measure for all concerned.

Although they were not recently actively involved on stage, Ted and Barb continued

to attend our plays and supported the group. They often brought visiting friends to see a play, and showed interest in receiving our monthly newsletter to keep informed.

All who knew Ted and Barb, on or off stage, were always made to feel so comfortable, and we will remember their contribution to our theatre group with sincere thanks and appreciation.

Exit stage left.

Snow Removal - Small Driveways, Walkways & Steps - Decks

www.ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

OPEN FOR DINE IN AND TAKE OUT 613-258-6821

2794 County Rd 43, Kemptville

Canadian . Italian . Chinese

FOR TAKE OUT ONLY

FOR TAKE OUT ONLY

FOR TAKE OUT ONLY

OPEN

SUN to THURS 8 am - 8 pm FRI to SAT 8 am - 9 pm November 4, 2020

15

www.ngtimes.ca

The North Grenville Times

Hope for hi-speed internet for all in North Grenville project, they got back $26 in direct physical investment in Local Journalism Initiative Reporter infrastructure,” EORN colead, Jim Pine, told council.

The Eastern Ontario Re- “So, a really good return on gional Network (EORN) investment, one of the highest made a presentation to coun- actually, for the first project.”

As that first project was cil at the meeting of October coming to an end, members 20, outlining their current of EORN realized that the deinitiatives to bring high speed internet to more homes and mand for high speed internet businesses in Eastern On- was growing exponentially, tario. EORN’s first project, and that their job wasn’t done. which they put in place from This led them to the Cell Proj2010-2015, cost $175 million ect, which they are working and brought 10 megabits per on now, to improve mobile second internet to 94.5% of broadband services throughhomes in the United Coun- out Eastern Ontario. “People ties of Leeds and Grenville. travel into the region, people The county’s investment in travel around the region, and this project was $677,110, people need to be able to use but, with the support from their mobile devices across private investors, they were Eastern Ontario, whether it’s able to invest the equivalent taking calls, or whether it’s of $18 million worth of infra- using it for internet purposes structure to improve access to or browsing,” Jim said.

The Cell Project is fohigh speed internet services in cused on areas where people the county.

“For every dollar that live and travel. Its three main the county invested in the goals are to achieve 99% covby Hilary Thomson

erage in the Eastern Ontario region, so that people can make voice level cell phone calls; 95% coverage with standard definition service level that can support email, web browsing, and social media services; and 85% coverage with high definition service level that can support video conferencing, movie streaming, and other more data intensive applications.

The county has committed to providing $634,490 towards the $213 million project, with the rest coming from other communities in Eastern Ontario, the provincial government, federal government, and private sector partnerships.

Jim says North Grenville could have an important role to play locally, as they may need municipal support to build the cell towers needed to complete the project.

“Building towers is the only way we can fix the cell

gap issue that we have, so there will be lots of towers built across Eastern Ontario to fix the problem. Some of them may be in your community.

We don’t know for sure until the final design is complete.”

EORN is hoping to start breaking ground on the Cell Project in 2021, with the goal of it being completed by 2025.

The last initiative that EORN is currently working on is called the Gig Project, which Mayor Peckford has been very vocal in endorsing. According to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, 90% of Canadians should have access to speeds of at least 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload by 2021.

An EORN 2019 analysis showed that only 63% of Eastern Ontario homes and businesses currently have access to this speed of internet.

Instead of focusing on bringing the minimum standard to more homes and businesses in Eastern Ontario, EORN wants to provide 1 gigabit per second to the Eastern Ontario demand area by installing a fibre or coaxial cable that could deliver quality high speed internet to people’s homes, businesses, and schools. “Fibre has a long lifespan, it’s scalable.

We’re talking 20 years going forward, so we don’t have to keep coming back and doing

United Counties Council meeting highlights Support for Food Hub servicing Eastern Ontario: Leeds Grenville is sending a letter of support to the United Counties of Prescott and Russell for its innovative Food Hub in Eastern Ontario.

The letter of support was recommended by the Committee of the Whole and will help Prescott and Russell obtain federal and provincial support. The $36-million project will service much of eastern Ontario and will create 65 jobs. Prescott and Russell will remain the 51% shareholder in the venture.

The purpose of the project is to meet the demand from the Eastern Ontario agriculture sector to process and market their produce locally, rather than shipping their produce outside of the region for processing and marketing. The project will include a slaughterhouse, food processing, and distribution to meet both regional and national demand.

Research has confirmed retailers and consumers are increasingly interested in buying quality and traceable local products. The food hub will November 4 , 2020

take the lead in the recovery and revival of agri-food in the region, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic. The Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus endorsed and supported this project in September.

Housing Affordability Task Force sets terms of reference: The Joint Services Committee, at its recent meeting, formed a Housing Affordability Task Force and has determined its scope of work.

The terms of reference outline the Task Force's purpose, its responsibilities / scope of work, reporting relationship, support, time frames, and meetings. The Task Force shall bring an interim report to the Joint Services Committee by April 2021 and a final report by October 2021. The final report shall be a summary of the Task Force's work, its findings, and potential options and solutions to increase housing affordability in the region.

The purpose of the Housing Affordability Task Force is to strategically examine housing affordability and needs throughout Leeds and Grenville and recommend pri-

oritized solutions to identify affordable housing and other related and / or associated urban and rural housing needs, that may be implementable by the different municipal levels and by stakeholders.

Paramedic Station option reviewed by council: The Joint Services Committee has reviewed an ApexPro Consulting Inc. report which investigated alternate paramedic station locations in the south / central coverage area.

Following extensive discussion, the committee has directed staff to bring back a report addressing the inequities in ambulance / paramedic response time in Leeds and Grenville, and provide options including, but not limited to, paramedic stations and deployment models by December 2020.

The south / central coverage area is currently served by the existing Brockville South (61 Perth Street) and Brockville North (360 Laurier Boulevard) paramedic stations.

Both are co-locate with the Brockville Fire Department.

Leeds Grenville Paramed-

16

ic Service administration and support services are situated in the United Counties administration building at 25 Central Avenue West. There is no room for service growth at the location. Patient contact volumes are increasing at a rate of over 6.5% a year.

There are four other paramedic stations located throughout the United Counties: Johnstown, Kemptville, Elgin and Gananoque. The Leeds Grenville Paramedic Service employs 146 staff, including 12 management / administrative positions and 134 full-time and part-time paramedics. The fleet consists of 17 ambulances, three Emergency Response Units, two administrative vehicles and an Emergency Support Unit.

Maple View Lodge Administrator earns provincial award: Tracy Jordan, administrator of the Counties longterm care facility in Athens, is the recipient of the AdvantAge Ontario Donna Rubin Administrator Leadership Award.

“I commend and recognize Tracy for this significant achievement. Each year, many

The Voice of North Grenville

Priority Pump Service &

Water Conditioning 613.882.7867 Sales, Service, Installations

FOR ALL YOUR PUMP NEEDS

Well Pumps - Submersible & Jet Pressure Tanks Water Conditioning Sump/ Effluent / Sewage Pumps Heated Water Lines Pump & Electrical Motor Repair Well Extensions and Conversions www.prioritypumpservice.ca

prioritypumps@gmail.com

these additional projects every five to seven years to try to catch up,” Jim said.

The cost of this project is estimated at $1.2 billion to $1.6 billion, and EORN is currently trying to figure out the funding streams to make this project a reality. “We’ve been meeting with our MPs and MPPs, and senior federal and provincial staff, to convince them that this is the thing we need to do for our region,” Jim says. According to member of EORN, Lisa Severson, they already have support from members on both sides of the House of Commons, as well as from provincial political leaders.

They are currently waiting on the federal government to release applications for the Universal Broadband Fund, which could be an important source of funding for the

project.

EORN has recently received two economic analysis studies that show the economic benefits of the Gig Project in Eastern Ontario. “It really is the thing to do to drive our economy and our region forward,” Jim says. “Never mind giving kids better access to online, or hospitals the ability to remotely work with patients or physicians.

It is just the thing that we have to do to make our region the best-connected region in North America, which is our objective as EORN.” Mayor Peckford thanked EORN for their presentation.

“We receive emails nearly every day from residents who are very concerned about the status of their internet and have a huge appetite to see change sooner rather than later,” she said.

current and future Administrators enroll in this program and Tracy, through her commitment and tremendous effort, has been honoured with this award and can be considered one of the top leaders in Ontario – congratulations”, said Andy Brown, Chief Administrative Officer.

Process adjustments for Election of new Warden: Counties Council has passed a motion adjusting how council can vote for a new warden for 2021 /2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes recently made to Council's Procedural By-law.

Counties Council can meet fully electronically, or by using a hybrid solution where some members participate in-person and some electronically. The rules for the election of Warden by secret ballot currently do not consider how a member would vote if they needed to participate electronically at the Inaugural Session. Public health rules may prohibit a member from participating in person. In consultation with other counties, staff have outlined a proposed solution to ensure all members have the capability to vote for Warden.

The current process will be put aside and for Members wishing to put their name forward for the position of Warden, will self nominate themselves at the Tuesday, November 3rd meeting of the Committee of the Whole and be given the opportunity to speak to the Committee regarding their nomination. If only one member puts their name forward, the nominations will be declared closed and the new Warden will be sworn in on Wednesday, December 9.

If more than one member puts their name forward, staff have developed a voting process which will enable members to vote for the new Warden even if they are not able to participate in person.

The Council of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville elects a Warden every two years through the process outlined in its Procedural Bylaw. The election is conducted by secret ballot as allowed by the Municipal Act. The current term for the position of Warden ends when a new Warden is elected at the December 9, 2020 Inaugural Session of Council. www.ngtimes.ca