Issue 45 2022 November 17 NG Times

10 YEARS 10 YEARS

The long and winding road

had been operating for eight years before 2012, which makes it almost twenty years that I’ve had this forum to meet and chat with friends and neighbours. Not all of them were friendly friends, I must say, and especially over the past year some of them have been most unfriendly, but they are a tiny minority: the people of NG are not nearly as bitter and angry as some keyboard crusaders.

by

David Shanahan Hard as it may be to believe, but this issue marks the ten years of the North Grenville Times, an anniversary that will bring, perhaps, a mixed reaction among the residents of the municipality.

I must say, I find it hard to credit too, there have been

times (many, many times!) when I doubted we would ever reach such a landmark. But here we are, thanks to you, the readers, and thanks to the many advertisers who have kept faith with us over the decade, and the writers of letters, articles, and op-ed pieces in which the people

of North Grenville have had their say on numerous issues, both humble and grand.

To be accurate, this is the tenth anniversary for the Times, but it was built on the foundation of the NG Community Newsletter, a monthly publication that

In the very first Editorial, way back in November, 2012, I wrote about our vision for this paper: “There is room in the Times for reporting, for opinion, for analysis, for information, for news and for fun. You don’t have to agree with everything you read in these pages. It has to reflect so many aspects of North Grenville life that it will be impossible to keep everyone happy all the time. But that is the great potential of an independent voice: you can join in. If you don’t like something, write about it. If you love something, if you want to publicise something, write about it. You will be published because you are part of this community and deserve to be heard. We have no party political bias. We want to see all shades of opinion free to speak through these pages, and leave it to the people of this community to make up their own minds.”

I hope, and believe, we have lived up to this vision

The first issue of the North Grenville Times, published on November 21, 2012

over the last ten years. And it has not always been appreciated. Some have complained that “there’s no place for religion in a newspaper!”, or others have argued against allowing members of Council to have a platform here. My favourite complaint is that: “It’s not really a newspaper”. The fact that we are members of the Ontario Community Newspapers Association, that we have received funding from the Canadian Government as a newspaper, and that the Times has won awards for articles and its website, (not to mention the ten years thing) may be relevant here. But there are those who will find fault regardless, so what can you do?

We have reached an interesting point now: an anniversary, a re-elected mayor and council, a feeling that we have ended one era and are heading into a new, perhaps less secure, one. It seems to me to be a good time for me to step away from the Times at last and let fresh minds and younger people deal with the future ahead. I think I must have written well over 400 Editorials since 2012, each one with its own song title attached. And, no doubt, I’ll be back in the future to rant about something, or to add a history article, or a Christian one, to the mix.

But before I go, I have to thank all of you who have supported the Times in its first decade. Whether you agreed or disagreed with what you found here, you have made the paper possible and vibrant. You have made the vision expressed in that first Editorial come about. It has been a genuine honour to get to know this community and its wonderful people. My style, if you can call it that, is a very Irish or European one: it is not the modern style of Canadian journalism, and that has sometimes been offensive to some. But I always believed that honesty is valued by the majority, so long as it is respectful and open to response. And you have

responded! Perhaps one sign of the success of the paper has been the loud condemnation that has been heard from people who enjoy abusing us personally and in very nasty terms. They have accepted that we have allowed all sides to have their say, even them. Now, however, when their attacks have become so bitter, we have stopped allowing comments on some articles. Censorship! We should continue to allow them to lie and misrepresent. Well, they have the Letters pages, if they want to go public and display their character there.

The Times is not, and never has been, a paper that followed normal rules of behaviour. We trust readers to think for themselves and make up their own minds, and so we give them the full story. That will continue.

I thank Rob Lunan for getting us started on this path in 2012. Thanks to Gord Logan, Peter Peers, Hilary Thomson, Rachel EverettFry, Shannon Lever, and all those who have contributed to making this the Voice of North Grenville. To Jim and Judy, and all of the faithful advertisers without whom no paper would be possible. To all of you who have written letters, op-eds, articles, emails and texts: you make the vision happen every week.

And to all the people who work on the Times now and ever, Pat, Christine, Melissa, Ashley, and Brandon: it has been a pleasure and a challenge for all of us, and I deeply appreciate it. Best wishes to Brandon as he takes on the Editor role: it may be a bumpy ride, but what fun it is too! To Maggie, who designed the Times, who makes it the vibrant and readable thing that it is, my partner in crime.

What a long, strange trip it’s been.

Beth Donovan Hospice to be part of St Mike’s Christmas Sale

This year, Beth Donovan Hospice will be a vendor at the Christmas Sale taking place on Saturday, November 26 from 9:30 – 3:30 pm. Among an array of wonderful Christmas crafts and baking will be the hospice’s signature traditional Christmas puddings. These puddings are steamed and handmade ready for you to enjoy! The puddings are available at the sale, and also at the hospice. You may reserve ahead by calling 613-258-9611 ext 0 and pick up at the sale, or at the Hospice at 1107 French Settlement Rd. We hope to see you all there and are excited about being a part of this wonderful tradition.

Kemptville Santa Claus Parade

Saturday, November 19th at 4:30 pm.

"Imagine" a world without poverty and hunger, a world of peace and love.

-Watch for walking participants collecting to support needs in our community:

-NG Fire Service collecting cash donations for local food banks.

-Rotary Club collecting non-perishable donations for local food banks (can also drop off at Rotary Park).

-Royal Lepage Realty collecting toy donations for local families (can also drop off at Royal Lepage office at 139 Prescott Street).

-Visit the "North Pole" at the North Grenville Public Library from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and enjoy Christmas themed activities and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus. You are welcome to take your own photos with Santa during his visit.

-Drop off your letters to Santa in the mailbox at the Library or at Howard Wilson Motors on parade day.

A Death Café: Can we talk…..about death and dying?

Have you ever heard of a Death Cafe? Have you ever attended one? The premise is simple: people gather, drink tea, eat cake and discuss death, not to be morbid, but rather to raise awareness and to help people make the most of their lives. There is an emphasis on listening and sharing, and the focus is that life is finite and we want to talk about that. We all have interests and concerns about bereavement, loss, grief or dying. Let’s have those conversations.

A Death Cafe is a social franchise where guests are invited to talk about death over food and drink, usually tea and cake. The goal of these non- profit gatherings is to educate and help others become more familiar with the end of life. The idea originates with the Swiss sociologist and anthropologist Dr. Bernard Crettaz (fr], who organized the first café mortel in 2004. Jon Underwood, a UK web developer, was inspired by Crettaz's work and developed the Death Cafe model in 2011. He was instrumental in the spread of the idea. They have since been held in 66 Countries.

It is important to note that Death Cafes are open to all, and are conducted in a respectful manner that prioritizes confidentiality. There is no set agenda, no objective or theme. It is not a grief support group nor a counseling session. There is no intention by the organizers to lead participants to any conclusions or take any course of action.

Our goal at the Beth Donovan Hospice is to normalize discussions about death and dying so that we all feel a little more comfortable doing so while we are alive. We invite you to join us at Bubba and Bugs (146 Prescott Street, Kemptville) for a Death Cafe on Sunday Nov. 20 at 2 pm.

To reserve your spot at the Death Cafe, and for more information, please contact the Beth Donovan Hospice at 613258-9611 x6, or email counselling@bethdonovanhospice.ca

JAVA FOR YUKES COFFEE HOUSE

BURRITT’S RAPIDS COMMUNITY HALL 23 GRENVILLE ST. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022 7:00 TO 9:30 PM / DOORS OPEN 6:45PM

Come and enjoy the mellow sounds and lively banter of local musicians W. J. Chris Morgan & Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Peter Johnson & Herb Cloutier while you enjoy complimentary a beverage and tasty treats. Tickets available at the library or from a member of the Friends of NGPL Executive. $20.00 includes entry and refreshments. Cash only please.

FRIENDS

of

NORTH

Presented by the Rotary Club of Kemptville in partnership with the Municipality of North Grenville

Remembrance Day 11th November

Gathered at the Kemptville Cenotaph on a beautiful, sunny and windless November 11th day, The representatives of all the various religions encouraged us, to remember our Lord and to pray, The marchers had stopped their marching and the musicians had put their instruments to rest, When a flock of pigeons rose up into the sky, as if, on their own peaceful quest.

Their wings flapped in unison, and, above the scene below, hardly made a sound, As the trumpeter blew “The Last Post” loudly, and it echoed all around!

Heads were bowed in silence, as we remembered those who, in all the wars, had died, And for many it was a short time to think about what had taken place, - their own thoughts deep inside. These were soon dispersed, as “The Reveille” roused them and they awoke, But not, as many of those, who they were remembering did; to guns, noise and smoke!

For us the sun was still shining, for the laying of the wreathes and right until the last, When the bands re-formed, and the parade made its final salute and “March-Past”, It was only when the crowd had almost departed and dispersed, That the flock of pigeons re-appeared, as if they had rehearsed!

And, as one, came in to land, with wings outstretched, down on to the ground, To their own little part of Kemptville, where, now, thanks to the sacrifice of others, peace does abound. We will remember them!

John Baldwin

What is happening with social media?

by Brandon Mayer

Does anyone need their air ducts cleaned? Seriously, anyone? Homeowners in our local area are exceedingly lucky in that we have somewhere in the neighborhood of 300-400 high quality local businesses dedicated solely to air duct cleaning. Wow! I jest of course. One of the many flaws of social media is that it is a free and easy platform for scammers to use, and nearly all of the local social media groups have been seeing fake posts regarding air duct cleaning services lately. By my own estimate, I would say there is an average of at least one

post per day per group, and those are only the ones that are not quashed by group admins before publication. Yikes!

I am not going to pretend that I am not a social media user. I have a Facebook account as do most people, but I am by no means a social media addict, and I do have many qualms about the state of things online. Besides the obvious issues with social media toxicity (An environment where everyone can be anonymously nasty while hiding away at home? What could go wrong!), the quality of the online environment has been declining recently

in my opinion. What used to be a space to catch up on world happenings in “raw” format has been plagued with videos and photos that are so painfully fake, that they are embarrassing to watch. It is no surprise that people are taking advantage of the financial benefits of so-called “viral” content, but at what cost when a significant portion of the content is fake and untrustworthy?

META, which is the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, has recently made headlines for laying off employees. META is not the only tech company axing jobs recently – Micro-

soft, Netflix and others have been doing the same. While I’m sure there are countless valid financial reasons for these job cuts, including a looming recession, I can’t help but wonder if people are simply starting to notice the significant recent decline in online content quality. Social media sites such as Facebook are financially powered by advertising revenue. When fewer people watch videos (and thus ads) out of a recognition that the content is low quality or fake, revenue will naturally go down. It would appear that fake news and fake content both have significant

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financial downsides in addition to the obvious harm that comes from the spread of false information.

For the sake of protecting locals from one of the more prominent scams, I feel the need to share some tips. Taking the air duct cleaning scam as an example, there are some common sense signs that you can look for when deciding if a post such as this is real or fake. First, if you recognize text that is more or less a perfect match to wording you have seen in a previous post about air duct cleaning (or whatever service is being offered), there is a good chance it is a scam – our community is hardly big enough to sustain dozens of air duct cleaning businesses! Second, if you

are unsure about the wording of a post, check out the profile of the user who posted it. If the profile was created recently, has little to no friends, or just joined the social media group a few days ago, there is a good chance that the profile is fake and the post is a scam. Finally, if you are truly interested in a service which you suspect is being offered by a legitimate business, proceed with caution and use common sense. Never send or give money before a good or service is rendered to your satisfaction, and never do business solely online. If something is too good to be true, it probably is!

The party we’re not invited to

by Brandon Mayer

If I am not mistaken, somewhere in the time frame of grades 5-7, school students in Ontario begin to learn about the systems of government we use in this country. Students learn about the different levels of government – federal, provincial, and municipal –and what their roles are and some basics of how they operate. I would wager that students this young, when asked what the role of an MP or an MPP is, would state that these individuals are there to serve and represent us. In other words, a person does not have to be old and wise to know that the very foundation of the democracy in which we live is having representatives to share our wants, needs, and concerns with the leaders who make the decisions.

A democratic system is ideal in concept, but recent events have shown that sometimes, party politics can turn our beloved political system into what feels like a party we were not invited to. We (generally) elect candidates from certain

parties as a show of support for particular values and ways of thinking. This is an efficient system, but is prone to error when it comes to the critical end goal of having a country that is governed by the people.

The recent situation with the CUPE education workers’ labour dispute and Bill 28 (yes, I am bringing this up again!) is the specific example to which I will refer. At the risk of letting my personal feelings be known – though my opinion should come as no surprise since I am a CUPE member – Doug Ford and Stephen Lecce made an unacceptable and dare-I-say, tyrannical blunder. When faced with the prospect of not getting their way in labour negotiations with CUPE, Premier Ford and Education Minister Lecce pushed Bill 28 to make strike action by CUPE illegal, and imposed a contract without fair bargaining. These actions were openly unconstitutional, but Ford and Lecce didn’t care. They even proudly shared their intention to use the Notwithstanding Clause of the Constitution to quash any legal challenge to their

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

It’s taken me a little while to find the right words to respond to the letters of Mr. Van Dam and Mr. Norman as their arguments are just so utterly wrong. The idea that because Canada accounts for 1.5% of emissions so we don’t need to take any action is an egregious misrepresentation of statistics. Canada makes up 0.5% of the world's population, we are one of the highest per capita emitters, and we are the tenth largest emitter globally. All nations need to take action to reduce emissions and tackle the climate crisis, just like we all need to pay our taxes. (And just for the record, I’m soon to be a Canadian citizen).

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has played havoc with the supply of methane (so called “natural gas”) to Germany and has caused

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significantly increased prices. Germany’s particular issues are a result of misguided decisions to close nuclear plants after Fukushima (despite being nowhere near any tectonic faults), and to be highly dependent on importing methane from Russia. Their situation would have been even worse if they had not already been investing in renewable energy. Renewables are the solution to high fossil fuel costs as they offer near zero marginal cost energy.

Mr. Norman says that he agrees that our climate is a highly complex, nonlinear system, but his blasé attitude shows that he fails to understand the implications of this. Non-linear systems can suddenly flip from one state to another, so if a vital non-linear system is in a safe, stable state, the safest, most sensible approach is

Bill. Their actions are reminiscent of a stressed parent who creates a strict rule and enforces it with quips of “because I said so!” Should Premiers and Ministers really act in such a crass and undemocratic way? Sorry Ford and Lecce, but stress comes with the job, and the only thing you proved was that you can’t handle it.

Bill 28 was, of course, repealed in its entirety by the very government who passed it, just four days after it came into effect. Why? Oh my, where to begin! I’ll begin with the humorous fact that CUPE members ignored Bill 28 entirely and walked off the job anyway, which had to embarrass Ford and Lecce! Approximately 3 million union members were set to hold a press conference on the same day that Bill 28 was quashed. Was there going to be a general strike called? It certainly was not out of the question. The Notwithstanding Clause exists for emergencies, not to help lazy government officials get out of doing their jobs. Ford and Lecce using it to quash fundamental labour rights did not sit well with any union, because what

the government imposes on one union could be imposed on all. Even putting the law and union business aside, support for CUPE members from the public has been astounding. Not everyone agrees with education worker strikes and I respect that, but an independent poll conducted earlier this month showed that over 70% of people blame the government and not the union for what happened, and approximately the same number felt the use of the Notwithstanding Clause was wrong. Remember that this is not about greed. As of the time of writing, frontline school support staff make less than what many factory general labourers make. Let me clarify why this is important – such factory jobs that offer more hours and better pay are becoming very high in demand, and school support staff are leaving their positions for better pay in a difficult economy! The pay for support staff positions has not kept up with inflation in the slightest, and in the current economy, there are simply too many higher paying options out there. Schools can no longer hire

and retain the support staff they need at wage levels that made sense 10 years ago.

So how does representation fit into this? Simply put, we weren’t represented the way we should have been by our newly elected MPP, Nolan Quinn. Quinn is a Progressive Conservative, belonging to the same party as Ford and Lecce which holds a majority in the Ontario legislature. Being new to his role, he is not likely to oppose his leader any time soon. A local resident emailed me last week to tell me that after emailing Quinn hoping he would do something about Bill 28, she found out he was one of the ones that voted to pass it. Of course he was – that is how party politics works. Few MPPs or MPs are willing to oppose their own party, for all the usual reasons. Such opposition burns bridges for things such as Minister appointments and other distinguishing career highlights. The problem is that when 70% of Ontarians disagree with a Bill, voting for it because Ford and Lecce said so is not representation at all. We need representatives who have the backbone to

say “no” when proposed legislation simply does not make sense, especially when almost three quarters of constituents are asserting as much. A party system makes sense to organize values so that every decision does not have to be informed by a referendum, but listening to one’s constituents over one’s party should not be taboo. We expect Ford to run a provincial government, not a chapter of the Freemasons.

I have to wonder how Quinn explained to his wife, who is a teacher, that he would be voting to impose illegal and shameful legislation on her CUPE colleagues. Teachers have shown overwhelming support of the CUPE job action. Quinn was even the butt of many online jokes last week, as he appeared to be “missing in action” and was neglecting to answer constituents’ calls and emails. Not the kind of representation we should expect. Welcome to the party! Oh wait, we weren’t invited.

to leave it well alone, not to keep meddling with it. Even though it is a rarely used medicine now, I always remember that phenytoin has non-linear pharmacokinetics – a small dose increase from 300mg a day to 400mg a day can lead to blood levels increasing from 10mg/L to 40mg/L, so doses are increased slowly and monitored closely. Mr. Norman seemingly wants to keep his fingers crossed that increasing CO2 levels are not going to cause the climate to flip to an inhospitable state.

It is not simplistic to view CO2 (and other greenhouse gases) as our planet’s thermostat. Simple high school experiments can demonstrate the heat trapping properties of CO2, and looking at the Moon and Venus shows the effects of having either no atmosphere or an atmosphere

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made up almost entirely of CO2. There is also a large amount of evidence from a number of scientific fields showing how geological eras with higher CO2 levels had higher temperatures and conversely periods with lower CO2 levels had lower temperatures.

It is worrisome that some on the right have decided to make the climate crisis a partisan issue, with Mr. Van Dam ludicrously trying to draw parallels between Stalin and “the left”. The climate crisis should be a non-partisan issue as the effects of it will affect everyone in one way or another. Unfortunately, some people seem to have taken the film “Don’t Look Up” as an instructional video rather than as the satire it is. Humans have no inherent right to live on Earth. We are not separate from the Earth, rather we are

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completely dependent on it for absolutely everything. We should be taking every measure to safeguard the only habitable biosphere we have now, not gambling recklessly with it. Ontario Greens have a plan to reach net zero and build the new climate economy.

Steve Gabell

Dear Editor, Steve Gabell’s Op Ed “Health and Education” in the NGT Nov 10/22 observes that “we all rely on our public health and education systems” and then decries the Ford (Conservative) government for being miserly and oppressive. As the Greens only make emotional and “righteous” outbursts, it seemed appropriate to look at some facts. Total budget expenses for Ontario (2021-22) for Health (including COVID time lim-

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ited funding of 6.7 billion) was 76.6 billion, Education 42 billion, Children and Social Services 17.8 billion, debt servicing 13.1 billion. As can be seen, the priorities in dollar terms, is health and then education. Gabell also contends (without data) that Ontario is a wealthy province, insinuating that there is lots of money to spend. However, when looking at the GDP per capita (2021) Ontario is $64,602 with all provinces east of Ontario, except Newfoundland/Labrador, less than us and Manitoba to the west. All other western provinces, Newfoundland and the NWT and the northern regions (Yukon, Nunavut) are substantially above Ontario. Ontario is below the Canadian average. So how wealthy are we really?

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Statement from Mayor Nancy Peckford on Indigenous Veterans Day

Nancy Peckford issued the following statement on behalf of Council for Indigenous Veterans Day:

On behalf of the Municipality of North Grenville and Members of Council, I would like to take this opportunity to honour the contributions and sacrifices made by First Nations, Inuit and Metis in service to Canada.

On Indigenous Veterans Day, we remember those who fought for freedom, those who were wounded, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Today, there are over 2,700 Indigenous members in our military forces. We thank the thousands of First Nations, Inuit and Métis who have played a critical role in Canada's military and continue to make Canada proud through their service at home and abroad.

Recognizing Indigenous Veterans Day on November 8 allows us to better understand and commemorate the many accomplishments and sacrifices of Indigenous Peoples in war and peacekeeping.

We thank the thousands of First Nations, Inuit and Métis who have played a critical role in Canada's military and continue to make Canada proud through their service at home and abroad.

As we move towards reconciliation in Canada, let us acknowledge the significant contributions Indigenous Peoples have made to our nation’s war effort.

In honour of Indigenous Veterans Day, representatives from Municipal Council, The Royal Canadian Legion, and the local Indigenous community gathered for a flag ceremony, where Municipal Flags were lowered to half-mast.

Lest we forget.

Let’s take a look at Ontario’s historical debt growth. The “left ( Liberal / NDP) have been the longest in office since 1985 under David Peterson. Peterson and Bob Rae (10 yrs) added 70.4 Billion to the debt or 7.04B per annum, The Conservatives under Harris and Ernie Eves (8 years) 30.8B or 3.85B per annum, Liberals (15 years) under McGuinty/Wynne 191.5 B or 12.8B per annum, and Conservatives under Ford (5 years) 41.9 B or 8.38 per annum while dealing with the COVID crisis. If the COVID crisis cost of 6.7B is taken out the budget the Conservative debt was 35.2 Billion or 7.04 per annum. When Bob Rae, a NDP union backed government, came to power he took on the teachers unions. You probably remember the “Rae Days”. It should be noted that the Conservatives, under Harris/ Eves promoted the “common sense revolution” to try reign in the exploding provincial debt, especially that created under Bob Rae. They took on the Ontario public sector unions and Ontario faced massive strike actions. When McGuinty came to power, he promised labor peace and he delivered, but that contributed to the massive debt accumulation of the McGuinty/ Wynne years. During the McGuinty/ Wynne years Hydro One was sold off to reduce the provincial debt and hydro one rates exploded until public outcry forced the Liberals to give rate support for users. In summary, Ontario debt in

1986-87 fiscal year was 31.5 B, 2021-2022 is 380.4 B.

For the tax payer of Ontario, it would seem the conservatives are the best option financially, the left, the worst financial option. As the Greens have historically accused me of “thinking only of money”, it appears to me that the Greens ignore Ontario’s financial health. One can only wonder when the Ontario government will hit the “financial wall” and must deal with real financial issues and borrowing more money is not a feasible option as indicated by the Financial Accountability Office report (2021) that warned of impending credit downgrades. The report indicates that “Ontario is the most indebted sub national unit in the entire world”.

Willem Van Dam

Dear Editor,

There were a couple of interesting letters in the NGT recently, one from Peter Johnson berating the current provincial government, and in particular, our very own MPP, Steve Clark, for their total failure to represent the voters of Ontario, and, in Steve Clark’s case, the people of his own riding. Mr. Johnson was right on the money. It is shameful the degree of arrogance shown by members of the current provincial government, in that they feel free to spread false information without care, and to try and ride roughshod over the laws of the land and the rights of working people.

This is what our current voting system gets you; a government with no moral compass, and because of voter apathy and a rigged election system, they can do this with less than 18% of eligible voters. It is beyond time for a new electoral system, and that system is Proportional Representation, where nearly every vote will count, instead of a system where a vast majority of voters elect no one. Not that I expect that will happen anytime soon, not while we keep on electing the 2 main Parties, for whom this First Past The Post system works well. though maybe not this last election, where the Liberals and NDP got the same percentage of votes, yet the NDP get 31 seats, and the Liberals just 8 seats.

The other letter was from Paul Calder, referring to an article by Jim McManaman offering an opinion on the suitability of a candidate running for Council in the last election. I can only assume that this refers to a letter was published in this newspaper, as I didn’t actually see it there, but I did see a letter from the same Mr. McManaman printed in the NGT in support of a current Council member. I then began to wonder if this newspaper was no longer an unbiased observer, particularly when it also published chapter and verse on disagreements with at least 2 candidates in the election. Whether those candidates were right or wrong is not the issue. Publishing those disagreements before voting

MUNICIPAL OFFICE HOURS

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

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

SANTA CLAUS PARADE

Kemptville Santa Claus Parade presented by the Rotary Club of Kemptville will take place on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. For more information visit northgrenviile. on.ca/events-calendar

UPCOMING MEETINGS

COUNCIL MEETINGS

Council meetings will be held in Council Chambers and will be live streamed on YouTube at: youtube.com/user/NorthGrenville/featured and on the Municipality’s website at: 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 two hours prior to the start of the meeting to clerk@ northgrenville.on.ca.

Council agendas are available at: northgrenville.ca/govern/governance/agendas-andminutes.

• Council Meeting (Open) – Council Chambers – Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.

VOLUNTEER AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Public Library Board

The Municipality of North Grenville is seeking applications from individuals interested in being appointed to the Public Library Board. The Public Library Board shall be composed of at least five members appointed by the Municipal Council. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, Canadian Citizen, North Grenville resident and not employed by the Municipality or County. Visit www.northgrenville.ca for details and to apply.

Accessibility Advisory Committee

The Municipality of North Grenville is seeking applications from individuals interested in being appointed to the Accessibility Advisory Committee. Candidates must be 18 years or older, a Canadian citizen and a resident of North Grenville. Visit www.northgrenville.ca for details and to apply.

WINTER PARKING

Overnight parking restrictions begin November 15, 2022 through April 15, 2023 from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Further winter parking restrictions can be found by reviewing By-Law 14-12 at www.northgrenville.ca

OLD TOWN KEMPTVILLE BIA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Old Town Kemptville BIA is hosting their Annual General Meeting and General Election at the North Grenville Municipal Centre in Suite B at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 21, 2022.

For those who wish to attend or for any further questions, please email bia@northgrenville.on.ca by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 18, 2022.

The Municipality of North Grenville

285 County Rd. 44, PO Box 130 , Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0 Tel: 613-258-9569 Fax: 613-258-9620 general@northgrenville.on.ca www.NorthGrenville.ca Building: 613-258-9569 x130 Fax: 613-258-1441

Fire Services Info: 613-258-9569 x201 Fax: 613-258-1031

By-Law Services: email: bylawinquiries@northgrenville.on.ca 613-258-9569 x211

Police Administration: 613-258-3441

Animal Control: 613-862-9002

has started is likely to sway the opinion of some voters, thereby having an effect on the outcome of the election. While I support the idea of keeping the public informed, I cannot help but feel that a line has been crossed.

Colin Creasey, Kemptville

Dear Editor, Bravo to Brenda Ward and her contributors for the stunning poppy display at Rotary Park. It stops you in your tracks and moves your heart to thankfulness. Her poppy rug seems to grow yearly and, indeed, may soon result in a whole field of poppies. A beautiful tribute

M. Leblanc

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to those who sacrificed for us.

Council o cially sworn in

by Brandon Mayer

North Grenville’s newbut-not-new Council was officially sworn into office at a ceremony taking place in the Council chambers on November 7. The ceremony allowed each Council member to take the oath of office, and as such, make a commitment to serve the Municipality honourably over the course of the next four years.

With two mayoral candidates and nine councillor candidates having run for just one and four available seats, respectively, this elec-

tion produced interesting results in that the existing Council was re-elected in its entirety. For Mayor Nancy Peckford and Councillors John Barclay and Doreen O’Sullivan, the recent election victory is now their second, as they all won their seats in the 2018 election. For Councillors Kristin Strackerjan and Deb Wilson, last month’s election win was their first, since they were both appointed to replace departing Councillors during the last term.

Having an entire Council re-elected does not forego any of the formalities, such as the swearing in ceremony,

since the oaths of office are taken for each term served. Municipal Councils must always have a minimum of five members. In North Grenville, one Mayor and four Councillors are elected. The Councillor who receives the highest number of votes – in this case John Barclay –is often des,nated as Deputy Mayor, though it is unclear if a Deputy Mayor will be designated this term or who it would be.

The Mayor is considered the head of Council, but only for purposes of directing Council meetings efficiently, and acting as a representative of the Municipality on

CUPE returns to bargaining table after repeal of Bill 28

by Brandon Mayer

Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) may finally end up seeing sought-after wage increases after a recent scare involving government legislation which imposed a contract on them. Bill 28 – a product of Doug Ford’s progressive conservative government – was passed in the Ontario legislature quite easily, owing to the Ford government’s majority. The Bill has since been repealed in its entirety.

Bill 28 came about after months of talks between the CUPE union and the government did not achieve a result on which both parties could agree. The union, which represents lower paid education workers such as custodians, educational assistants, and early childhood educators, had been pushing for annual wage increases of

about 11% over the course of a three year contract. While quite high compared to wage increase demands from other unions, CUPE has argued that this level of wage increase is necessary after years of its members’ wages not keeping up with inflation, which has effectively resulted in a wage cut in today’s economy. When it was clear that the government was done negotiating, the union gave a mandatory five-day strike notice for a strike set to begin on November 4.

Citing years of school interruptions owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, Premier Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce promised parents that students would remain in class no matter what. On November 3, Bill 28 was passed. The Bill imposed a contract on CUPE workers with much lower wage increases of approximately 2% annually, and also made strike action

illegal, with fines as high as $4,000 for members not showing up to work. Forbidding collective bargaining and strike action violates the Constitution, but Ford and Lecce vowed to use the Notwithstanding Clause as a workaround to quash any court challenges to the Bill.

Despite Bill 28, CUPE education workers didn’t show up for work on November 4 or November 7, causing a full shutdown of schools across the province on those days. With mounting pressure from an alliance of unions across Canada, as well as members of the public in the wake of the Constitutional violation, it was announced on November 7 that Bill 28 would be fully repealed by the same government that enacted it.

As part of the deal for the repeal of Bill 28, the CUPE union ended the strike action, with members returning to work and strike action ending on November

a broader scale. The Mayor does not have any greater power when it comes to decision making than any other member of Council –all receive an equal vote for each decision.

North Grenville operates within a two-tier governing system, with an upper-tier Council (County Council of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville), and a lower-tier Council (the Mayor and Council specific to the Municipality of North Grenville). County Council is made up of the Mayors from the various municipalities throughout the Counties, headed by a Warden that is elected by the Council members themselves.

Council business is strictly governed by the Municipal Act of 2001, which is a piece of provincial legislation that outlines the roles and responsibilities of those who serve on municipal councils, including the procedures that must be followed. The tenets of the Municipal Act can often be a steep learning curve for those serving as Councillors for the first time. However, it is safe to say that the “new” Council sworn in this month will already be well versed!

Beat the Fall rush, call for a quote

THOMAS M. BYRNE

Barrister and Solicitor

General Practice Corporate / Commercial Family Law Estates Real Estate Wills & Powers of Attorney

tom@tmblaw.ca 613.258.1277

222 Prescott St., Kemptville

The qualification round of the North Grenville Women's Fall Classic 2022. Held October 27-30th, 2022 at the North Grenville Curling Club. The eventual winner was Team Ladouceur. Photo by Brian MacGillivray. 8. The bargaining for a new contract thus resumed, with CUPE members retaining the legal right to strike again if a deal is not reached that satisfies both parties. Another five-day strike notice would need to be served before any new strike action begins.

As of the time of writing, negotiations were still ongoing.

Back row l-r: Councillors John Barclay, Deb Wilson, and Doreen O’Sullivan

Front row l-r: Councillor Kristin Strackerjan and Mayor Nancy Peckford

MELISSA OTTENHOF

Local innovation with new insect based skincare line

A local Mechanical Engineer is showing the world just what Kemptville people are capable of with his company’s new insect based skincare line, Insekt.

Thomas Clark is the owner of Altrene, which has been responsible for developing the Insekt line of products. Thomas’ wife Michelle has also been by his side throughout the journey, and the couple have a baby son, Hendrik.

Originally from the city, Thomas and Michelle moved to Kemptville to enjoy a small town lifestyle. A few years ago, Thomas heard of a company taking food waste from grocery stores and farmers and using it to raise black soldier flies, in order to create a product of high-protein, high-fat biomass. These insects are primarily used as feed for poultry and fish, though other uses are possible as well. Thomas quickly became interested in an oil by-product that has a fatty acid profile similar to many plant-based ingredients used in skincare applications.

Last year, Thomas and Michelle began preparing to create their own soldier

fly farm, partnered with local coffee shop Brewed Awakenings. Using leftover coffee grinds, fruits, and vegetables from the coffee shop, they had a “proof of concept” farm set up in their garage, but they were unable to secure investors to help expand the idea.

The couple quickly moved on to developing skincare products using the oil by-product, beginning with a hand cream and moving onto a face cream. In true entrepreneurial fashion, these products were first designed and tested right in the couple’s kitchen!

As anyone in business knows, these endeavors take a lot of time and patience. Thomas and Michelle worked hard over an extend-

ed period of time to continue developing and perfecting products. Finally, they are beginning to see their hard work pay off as they are expecting the first official production batches of their products to be ready for sale early next month. They are expecting to receive their first shipment of product from the Pickering-based manufacturing facility in the coming days, giving them some time to focus on marketing before online sales open up.

“It’s funny… without any sales I feel like I have put all this effort into this and there is nothing to show for it,” Thomas joked. “But these things take time. Patience and perseverance are important for a business to be successful.”

Thomas is hopeful that his innovations when it comes to insect based skincare will end up changing the industry for the better. Plant based skincare products often require a lot of water, energy, and land to produce, while likewise, insect based products are driven by agricultural waste. The goal is for Altrene to be a trendsetter during the years ahead.

Thomas and Melissa of Altrene, along with their baby, Hendrik.

North Grenville Tree Brand turns 25

submitted by Tom Graham, RGD Emeritus

In 1998, when the newly amalgamated Township of North Grenville was formed, our design company, TD Graham + Associates had already been around for nine years, and had developed a reputation as an awardwinning marketing communications firm. The new township needed a logo – a brand to display on letterhead, business cards and signage. Our company offered to design a new brand pro bono – for free – an offer which was readily accepted.

Organizations (and municipalities) need a visual identity – a brand; a logo. One that reflects the ‘personality’ of the area, its characteristics. Its image. In those days, most towns and townships had crests as their ‘logo’ of sorts. These usually involved shields, silhouettes of castles, sheaves of wheat, flowing rivers, bee hives –all kinds of allegorical imagery attempting to represent the community’s past. As romantic and emotional as these crests were, they don’t read well at a glance – they don’t reproduce well, and they certainly don’t come across well on a web site –which most municipalities were starting to realize the need for.

During its first few months in existence, the new township faced the challenges of the Ice Storm of ’98, but by the end of that year, the new council was ready to think about a brand for our community. In November, I met with new CAO Carl Cannon, along with North Grenville’s first Mayor, Don Cameron, plus councilors Owen Fitz’Gerald, David Delaney, Patrick EsmondeWhite and Judy Armstrong. I listened as they discussed their hopes and goals for the new township. They were all keen to make sure the histories of Kemptville, Oxfordon-Rideau and South Gower were represented in the new

logo design.

Each brought forward their ideas for imagery to represent the new community: rivers and streams, nature, agriculture, history, small town, hamlets and more. They asked, “How are you going to blend all this together to ensure everyone’s essence is portrayed?”

Discussion ensued about how to reduce the number of items on the list – to simplify and find a common element that would unite the three communities and present one unique image to suit this new entity called North Grenville.

After further discussion, I said, “It’s too bad we couldn’t just go with a stylized, abstract tree to represent a modern amalgamated municipality”, and with a fat marker I drew the tree swoosh and the words ‘North Grenville’ on the flip chart. I let them look at it for a moment, then added, “But you’d probably never agree to that,” and flipped the page. They all went, “Wait! Let’s see that again…”

They loved it. It was simple, yet elegant. (Once we got the OK, it actually took our design team hours of drawing hundreds of tree swooshes by hand to arrive at the perfect one, and then re-creating the graphic in vector art form so it would reproduce accurately in different sizes.)

So, why the tree? Isn’t there more to North Grenville than trees? We wrote in the design rationale to Council, “The tree was chosen for North Grenville simply because it’s a symbol of na-

ture and a symbol of growth – two things we have plenty of.” Think Ferguson Forest Centre, Limerick Forest, Kemptville Campus. And perhaps a counterpoint to development.

“The design of the logo is such that the energetic, free-form style of the tree is balanced and anchored solidly by the strong, bold, business-like style of the letters making up the name ‘North Grenville’,” stated the rationale.

“Logos are never intended to tell the whole story; they’re simply meant to represent part of the story. The story is actually told in many other ways – such as how people experience our community. People will form their impressions of our community by our amenities and attractions, our policies and programs – not our logo. The experience gives meaning to the logo; the logo does not give meaning to the municipality.”

Has it worked? It seems to have. Over the last 25 years, under this brand, thousands of residents have come to recognize this logo as representing their home. Economic development efforts have been launched to attract commercial investment – and hundreds of new businesses and thousands of new jobs have been created. Tourism efforts have been initiated, and visitors and residents alike enjoy our trails, our waterways, our parks.

And, oh yes, our trees.

Another thrilling play from TNIM

Anyone looking for an evening of hilarious and devious entertainment will want to take in the Theatre Night in Merrickville (TNIM) production of Deathtrap, by Ira Levin, this November. This two-act play will keep audiences riveted and on the edge of their seats with suspenseful revelations and moments of burst out laughter.

Deathtrap opens in a comfortable writing studio inside a Connecticut home where Sidney Bruhl, a previously celebrated playwright, is plagued by a “dry” spell that has resulted in a string of creative failures and financial woes. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel when Sidney acquires a script from a student in a workshop he’s been conducting at the local collage. The script, it seems, is a surefire winner – a thriller that could put Sidney back on top – maybe even on Broadway! His wife, Myra, wants him to collaborate with the student, but greedy Sidney wants the play and its success all for himself. Or does he really?

The play’s creator, Ira Levin, had success with three iconic horror novels: Rosemary’s Baby, The Stepford Wives, and The Boys from Brazil, before penning Deathtrap in 1978. To date, the play still holds the record as the longest-running comedic-thriller on Broadway. The appeal of Deathtrap is that it’s intriguingly clever and ferociously funny. The ongoing plot-twists and turns in this “play within a play” keep the audience guessing and gasping right up to the final curtain.

This TNIM production is directed by Vicki Graham who says “This is not a whodunnit…but a who did what!? There’s murder, deceit, plot reversal - something for everyone, with a few hearty laughs thrown in for good measure.”

the north grenville TIMES

OTTENHOF Marketing Consultant

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

TNIM is grateful to Scott Fleming from the Rideau Home Hardware Building Centre in Smiths Falls for their sponsorship of Deathtrap. Performances will take place at the Merrickville Community Centre, 106 Read Street on November 24, 25, 26 at 7:30 pm, and on November 27 at 2 pm. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at merrickvilletheatre. org or at the door. Any inquiries can be directed to mail@merrickvilletheatre.org.

On a final note, this production of Deathtrap will be entered in the Eastern Ontario Drama Leagues Full Act Festival, and will be adjudicated (judged) at one of the performances. Keep an eye on the TNIM Facebook page to find out which performance will be adjudicated.

Heritage style fencing, photo submitted by Nick Brooks

MELISSA

New Community Pavilion being built in Eastons Corners

The Village of Merrickville-Wolford is pleased to announce the addition of a new community gathering place in Eastons Corners … the “Eastons Corners (EC) Pavilion”.

The Pavilion is being constructed at the north side of Centennial Hall in Wolford Ward to create a new vibrant, multi-purpose outdoor facility and community gathering space, generating synergies with the community centre and other existing facilities. It will enhance this vital community hub for family and group activities and events, further cultivating positive relationships and community well-being, both critical social needs as we recover from the protracted isolation and confinement of the pandemic.

The Pavilion will have electrical outlets and LED lighting to expand its po-

tential uses during the day and evening for a wide variety of community-driven outdoor inclusive programming. Uses may include farmers and flea markets, makers markets, seasonal community celebrations, community BBQs, family reunions, fundraisers, small bands, live theatre, visual arts displays, workshops/ courses, book reviews/presentations, and other creative activities sought by local arts and crafts groups, non-profit organizations and agriculture representatives.

Placing the Pavilion adjacent to Centennial Hall and amidst the tennis courts, skating rink, baseball diamonds and playground will create a complementary outdoor facility, optimizing existing facilities and further enhancing this community hub of activities, all of which can be organized by, and for, the community.

“I am really excited about this initiative,” said Merrickville-Wolford Mayor Doug Struthers. “The new EC Pavilion will be a resource for community organizations, cultivating our social wellness and rejuvenating a sense of community as we put the pandemic behind us,” he noted.

“The Pavilion will create a safe, vibrant multi-purpose outdoor facility and community gathering space that will generate both social and economic benefits for our community, revitalizing our social fabric and bringing people together,” said Mayor-Elect Mike Cameron.

“Creating a safe, inviting outdoor space for families, artists and the agriculture community drove my interest in pursuing the project,” commented Village CAO Doug Robertson. “I’m hoping it will create a new, community-driven channel

for showcasing local produce, talents and products, bringing together our small businesses like restaurants, not-for-profits, families and local farmers, and providing a source of nutritious, fresh local produce and products for those who want to shop locally,” he added.

After pursuing grant opportunities over a span of years, staff were excited to finally secure a grant that covers the majority of the $200,000+ cost of the Pavilion, with the remaining balance approved by Village Council. Pandemic supply chain delays have put the project under tight time constraints to spend the funds and start construction before the frost arrives, so residents may have already noticed construction activity at the site.

The story of Rotary Park’s famous poppies

made in different shades of red and with different materials. “It’s just growing every year,” said Brenda. Recently, Brenda received a box of 220 knitted poppies from Australia, which were a surplus from a similar initiative there. All but one of these donated poppies from Australia were placed on the hedges surrounding the cenotaph. “My thinking behind that is that Australia has embraced our veterans even though we are a hemisphere apart,” said Brenda. The remaining poppy from Australia was put on display at Rotary Park.

the future, she would like to see poppies come in from every province. This year, she received poppies from Newfoundland. Now that she has received poppies from Australia, she would like to see if people from other countries would send poppies along as well.

With Remembrance Day having come and gone, some locals may be wondering about the story behind what has become an annual tradition in North Grenville – the knitted and crocheted poppies at Rotary Park. Brenda Ward is the name behind this initiative, and she is very proud of what this simple idea has become four years after it was first conceived.

The idea for the knitted and crocheted poppies came about to help young people remember the true reason for Remembrance Day, and what the day means. The knitting pattern from which the poppies are created was

borrowed from an Australian organization called 5000 Poppies. Wanting to keep the initiative local, Brenda enlisted the help of the local knitting group to make poppies and drop them off at Grahame’s Bakery. Brenda was able to get permission from the Municipality for the poppies to be hung off the clock at Rotary Park.

As the years went on, the initiative quickly grew. The partnership with Grahame’s Bakery has held strong, with completed poppies still able to be dropped off there. Another option is to mail completed poppies directly to Brenda.

There are many different variations of the poppies that are created, including those

There is a diminishing understanding of the true meaning of Remembrance Day, particularly since the population of aging veterans is shrinking. Brenda believes it is important to rectify this lack of understanding. She has noticed the positive impact that her initiative has made. In one case, a young boy wanted to contribute a poppy but he did not know how to knit or crochet. Brenda encouraged him to simply colour a paper poppy, which he did. She then laminated this poppy, and she returns it to the display every year as a reminder of what a big impact a small gesture can make.

As time goes on, Brenda sees even more growth for her symbolic initiative. In

Brenda insists that she will never sell the knitted and crocheted poppies, as she feels this would take away support from the Legions’ own fundraising poppy campaign. When people want to contribute to the campaign financially, Brenda suggests that they donate some yarn. One of her favourite things to do on Remembrance Day is to sit somewhere anonymously at Rotary Park and take in the reactions of passersby as they observe the beauty of the poppy display.

Brenda is reminding locals (and those abroad) that making poppies for the poppy display is not limited to a certain time of year. They can be dropped of at Grahame’s Bakery or mailed to her year round at Leeds Grenville Fibre Extravaganza, 779 County Road 44, Kemptville, Ontario, K0G 1J0. Anyone seeking more information can get in touch by email at lgfe2018@ gmail.com.

by Brandon Mayer

Food insecurity in Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark and the Nutritious Food Basket Costing

submitted by Danielle Labonte, Registered Dietitian and Public Health Nutritionist

Each year, with the exception of 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit conducts Nutritious Food Basket costing. This means we look at the cost of a variety of nutritious foods across several grocery stores in Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark, and determine the average cost of eating a balanced diet for those living in the tri-county. This includes foods found on Canada's food guide such as milk, fortified soy beverage, cheese, yogurt, hummus, canned beans, dried lentils, ground turkey, pork chops, a variety of fresh, canned, and frozen vegetables and fruit, whole wheat pita, oats, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, and peanut butter. The results show that individuals and households living with food insecurity struggle to buy enough nutritious food after paying rent, bills, and other living expenses

Household and individual food insecurity means not having enough money to buy healthy food. Really, it is an income issue, not a food issue - when money is tight there can be less money in the food budget. This can lead to skipped meals, poor mental, physical & oral health as well as put individuals at a greater risk of developing chronic disease. People who cannot afford healthy food are more

likely to become ill and need more health services. Living with food insecurity means not getting enough of the vitamins, minerals and food energy needed for healthy growth and development and to maintain overall, mental and immune health. Food insecurity is a serious public health problem because individuals' health and well-being are tightly linked to their household food security. Evidence shows a nutritious food intake plays a positive role for healthy pregnancies and birth outcomes, healthy growth and development, and a risk reduction for chronic diseases later in life.

Addressing food insecurity will likely also decrease use of the health care system.

Nutritious Food Basket Findings for Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark

We found that the average monthly cost of a nutritious food basket in LGL for a family of four consisting of two adults (1 male and 1 female each between 31 and 50 years), a female aged 4-8, and a male aged 14-18 was $1109 in June of 2022. For a household with a monthly income of $2760, minus their rent, which is an average of $1561 in LGL, they have $1199 for everything else, before accounting for the cost of food. After subtracting the average cost of food, which is $1109, they are left with $90 for all other expenses, including hydro, transportation, insurance, basic phone and internet, childcare, clothing and footwear, household

supplies, toiletries, and overthe-counter medications, extracurricular activities for children, minimal recreation and entertainment, and school supplies.

Donating Safe and Healthy Food

We acknowledge that there is an immediate need to assist those unable to afford food, so we should consider both good nutrition and food safety when donating food for a shortterm solution. Longer-term solutions require critical conversations with family, friends, colleagues, communities and policy makers to get at the root problems of food insecurity. While alone these solutions may not be sufficient to eliminate poverty, together, they can help:

- Support and expand tax filing initiatives targeted at low-income households

- Ensure access to safe, affordable housing, childcare and transportation

- Implement basic minimum employment standards to reduce precarious employment

- Increase opportunities for education

- Encourage local businesses and agencies to become Living Wage employers

- Ensure social assistance rates provide for the basic costs of living

When donating foods, choose nutritious food. Try using the % Daily Value (% DV) found on the Nutrition Facts Table to compare products. Look for products that have 5% DV or less of

sodium and total fat and 15% DV or more of fibre, potassium, calcium, and iron. If you choose to donate food, contact a food bank in your community to learn what products they need and what equipment they have to safely store fresh or frozen food

Food banks must follow food safety legislation and cannot accept the following food products:

• food with missing identifying labels

• severely dented cans

• foods damaged in floods or fires

• food that has been partially consumed or has signs of spoilage or contamination

• home canned food products (because of the risk of botulism from improper processing)

• wild game or uninspected meat

• unpasteurized milk products and juices

• food prepared at home or in uninspected kitchens

It is also important to note that expiry dates and best before dates are not the same. Expired foods cannot be accepted, but foods past their best before date can be as long as they are not more than one year past their best before date.

For more information, visit our health unit website at healthunit.org, give us a call at 1-800-660-5853, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Poor sleep can lead to inflammatory problems

An old Irish proverb says, “A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.” But research suggests it would be wiser to think of good sleep as an ingredient of wellbeing – a starting point for health, not a fixer-upper.

Sleep is an essential building block of good health, along with quality nutrition, moderate exercise, socioeconomic connectivity, mindfulness, and ample good luck.

Guidelines recommend “7 to 9 hours of good-quality sleep for adults aged 18 to 64, on a regular basis, with consistent sleep and wake times for health benefits.” For adults aged 65 and older, a slightly modified “7 to 8 hours of sleep” is advised.

But sleep is too often neglected – insufficient in both quantity and quality.

According to a global sleep survey, 62% of adults worldwide feel they don’t sleep well when they go to bed. Surveys show that North Americans, on average, sleep just under 7 hours a night. Some are getting more – and good for them. Some are getting less – with serious consequences.

Poor quality sleep has harmful implications for insomniacs. The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute reports, “Sleep deficiency is linked to many chronic health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression.”

But drowsy people have negative implications for other people too. Lack of sleep is a major factor in deadly car accidents and other transportation tragedies. Both the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster and the Exxon Valdez oil spill involved workers affected by sleep deprivation.

Although people commonly try to “catch up” on sleep during the weekend, studies have found this to be a losing strategy. For one thing, less weekday sleep equates to later nights, awake and snacking, which leads to weight gain and involves challenges in managing diabetes, for example.

It may be disappointing to learn more bad news. Research now shows that even long periods of sufficient sleep don’t make up for sleep deficits. Not getting good sleep? The damage is done.

Scientists are starting to unpack exactly what kind of problems develop from lack of good sleep. One study founds that consistently losing an hour and a half of sleep a night can increase the risk of inflammatory disorders and cardiovascular disease. The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, showed that sleep disruptions in both humans and mice led to the same loss in the protective effects of their immune systems “actually making infections worse”. In effect, poor sleep causes trouble in blood cell production, leading to overproduction of white blood cells that normally fight infections, but the overabundance instead results in inflammation.

The early arrival of the flu, a resurgence in respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and the continued spread of COVID-19 have created a challenging ‘viral season’.

In an effort to help manage this challenge, The North Grenville Covid-19 Assessment Centre (NGCAC) has expanded its hours to Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm.

The NGCAC is offering 30 appointments per day for patients over three months of age presenting with Febrile Respiratory Illness (FRI) symptoms who are seeking a physician assessment.

FRI symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, headache, runny nose, nausea, and vomiting.

Patients will require an appointment for physician assessment; bookings can be made online after 5 pm the day before at www.ngcac.ca. To check for availability by phone, call 613-258-3192 between 9 am and 5 pm.

“In light of the huge pressures on all components of our health system, we are pleased to be able to provide another option for people with FRI symptoms,” said Dr. Suzanne Rutherford, Medical Director of the NGCAC. “The other options for people are to get an appointment with their family doctor or go to the emergency department.”

Dr. Rutherford credited Lisa Kirkham and Sara Paquin, the NGCAC managers, for locating the staff needed to execute this change.

Please note, physician assessment visits will not include a covid-19 test unless testing eligibility is met (as set out by the provincial guidelines.) The NGCAC also offers COVID-19 tests as a ‘Do It Yourself’ Testing Centre. For more information see www.ngcac.ca

The NGCAC’s expanded hours took effect on November 8. About the North Grenville COVID-19 Assessment Centre

The North Grenville COVID-19 Assessment Centre is a community-based collaboration of five partners: Rideau Crossing Family Health Centre; the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit; the Municipality of North Grenville; Leeds Grenville Paramedic Service; and Kemptville District Hospital. The Assessment Centre is located at 15 Campus Drive (Bell Hall on the Kemptville Campus) in Kemptville, Ontario. The Centre is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm beginning October 5, 2020. The partners designed the centre to be as efficient as possible, to minimize wait times for patients and families, and to minimize disruption on the Kemptville Campus, which is home to several schools and other organizations.

Another study involving more than 7,000 men and women at the ages of 50, 60 and 70, found that people at age 50 getting five hours of sleep or less were “20% more likely to have been diagnosed with a chronic disease and 40% more likely to be diagnosed with two or more chronic diseases over 25 years, compared to people who slept for up to seven hours.”

Those are big differences! Those two more hours of sleep gives the body enough time to complete one full sleep cycle, allowing brain and body to recuperate and immune systems to function effectively.

What are some tips for healthy sleep? Get natural daylight exposure. Limit alcohol before bed. Eliminate noise and light disruptions. And at bedtime, allow into the mind those things that sooth the soul. These days, that means turning off the evening news and turning instead to a good book.

Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly enewsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

North Grenville COVID-19 Assessment Centre increasing hours to help manage challenging viral season

Dance for Ukraine

by Brandon Mayer

With the heartbreaking war continuing to rage on in Ukraine as it suffers attacks from Russia, many locals are probably wondering what they can do to help. Coming later this month will be an opportunity to do just that. A fundraiser being spearheaded by the Knights of Columbus will allow locals to show solidarity for Ukraine simply by coming out to dance and have a good time.

The dance fundraiser will take place on November 26 at the North Grenville Municipal Centre, from 7pm to 12am. With admission set at just $20 per person, the evening will feature local DJ Skinny, as well as free snacks, a 50/50 draw, and a door prize. There will also be free water bottles available, with pop for sale for $2, and alcoholic drinks just $6 each. The dance will be a “casual dress” affair.

Event organizer Richard Savoy of the Knights of Columbus feels a strong duty to support Ukraine in its fight. “Ukraine was invaded by Russia over 8 months ago and the Ukrainian people find themselves in an unwanted war, needing to defend their homeland and living daily with loss of life and devastation all around,” said Richard. “The upcoming winter is going to be particularly difficult as people try to survive a cold winter without windows and with limited energy to

produce heat. Add to that the need for food, shelter, clothing, and other basics and one can appreciate that any funds we can put toward supporting this humanitarian cause will be helpful.”

Of course, organizing a fundraising event of this magnitude is a lot of work, but it is more than worth it for Richard and the other Knights. “Honestly, this project to help Ukraine is a labour of love,” said Richard. “We are trying to support Ukraine in any way we can with hopes of bringing some relief to the region.”

The Dance for Ukraine event provides a two-fold opportunity to do something both for a struggling ally country, and for local residents as well. Richard explains, “Through the pandemic, there haven't been too many opportunities for events to bring the community together to enjoy the company of friends with some good music and dancing in a friendly small town atmosphere. This event will feature Kemptville's own DJ Skinny and the music will be geared toward a young adult crowd, though adults of all ages are encouraged to attend.”

For Knights of Columbus, this event is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fundraising for worthy causes. As a worldwide organization, the Knights have contributed over 19 million dollars in 2022 through the Ukraine Solidarity Fund to provide temporary shelter, food, medical supplies,

clothing and other humanitarian needs. Locally, the Knights raise funds through various community events like the Sweetheart Brunch, a Golf Tournament, and monthly community suppers. Most of the funds raised are distributed to local organizations.

“As the need arises the Knights of Columbus like to help out in whatever way we can,” said Richard. “The idea for this Community Dance for Ukraine has arisen out of such a need. Personally, I have been involved in several local fundraising efforts. Examples include the Sweetheart Brunch, fundraising for the Kemptville Youth Centre, volunteering at Hey Day to raise funds for the Kemptville Hospital, as well as volunteering locally at many different events. I truly enjoy volunteer work and supporting our local community.”

Of course, fundraising efforts rely on community support to accomplish their goals. Richard is happy to report that the North Grenville community has been very supportive of Knights of Columbus fundraising efforts. “Attendance has always been great at the Sweetheart Brunch, our golf tournament, and our monthly suppers,” Richard added. “We are hopeful that this community dance will also be well attended in support of Ukraine.”

Come out for a fun night and support a worthy cause!

TNIM Presents

November 24, 25, 26 & 27, 2022

Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 2:00 p.m

The Merrickville Community Centre, 106 Read Street, Merrickville Tickets $15

Available online at www.merrickvilletheatre.org, OR at the door For more information please email- mail@merrickvilletheatre.org

Ontario Finance Minister, Chief Economist Headline Summit

Responding to the new realities of today’s economy, workforce and digital marketplace are the hot topics at the 14th annual Leeds Grenville Economic Development Summit on Friday, November 18 at the North Grenville Municipal Centre.

The Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario’s Minister of Finance, will deliver the first keynote address on the progress of the government’s “Plan to Build” as it also navigates emerging economic challenges.

Pierre Cléroux, Vice President, Research and Chief Economist at BDC, is the second keynote providing an overview of the economic situation here and abroad, from inflation to labour shortages, supply chain issues and the rise of interest rates.

“Businesses confronted the pandemic head on, and for many they have adjusted and created new opportunities that have resulted in growth,” said Ann Weir, Manager of the Leeds Grenville Economic Development Office, who will be sharing the results of the 2022 Fall Business Survey.

The event, being held for in person for the first time since 2019, is hosted by the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Economic Development Office in partnership with Michael Barrett, M.P., the Hon. Steve Clark, M.P.P., the Eastern Workforce Innovation Board and the 1000 Islands, Grenville and Valley Hartland Community Futures Development Corporations.

The Bill Thake Memorial Economic Development Leadership Award will be presented at the Summit. Nominees include JoAnne Sytsma, Township of Athens, Derek Ouellet, Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands, Dermid O’Farrell, Municipality of North Grenville, and Susan Warren, Township of Rideau Lakes. The winner will be announced by Warden Roger Haley, who will be joined by Bill’s widow, Marlene Thake.

A highlight will be a session on “Going Digital,” as the pandemic has brought to light the importance of having your business online, and the successes of the Digital Main Street program for small businesses. There will be a panel discussion on “Welcoming a Diversified Workforce” and how companies leverage programs to build and fulfill their staffing needs.

Additional highlights include special presentations by:

• Clayton Jones, President and CEO of Johnstown’s CREWS – Canadian Rail Equipment Works and Services Inc.

• Bonnie Ruddock, Executive Director of Region 9 Regional Tourism Organization

• Ann Weir, Manager of the Leeds Grenville Economic Development Office

Date: Friday, November 18, 2022

Time: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Registration: $50. Advance payment is required. https://invest.leedsgrenville.com/ summit2022

Deadline to Register: Monday, November 14 at 12 noon.-30-

“If you want to assassinate yourself with laughter, try Deathtrap!”

The Spirit of Giving Toy and Food Drive on November 12 was a huge success. Photo by Ashley Sloan.

KLUB 67 Euchre – Fun, social card playing every 2nd and 4th Wednesday monthly at 1PM, September to May. Location: Kemptville Legion, 100 Reuben Cres, Kemptville. Everyone welcome $5., cash prizes.

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

NEW – Artisan and Vendors’ Market

Admission Free .Monetary donation to Kemptville Salvation Army Food Bank is appreciated. eQuinelle Residents’ Club, 140 eQuinelle Dr. Kemptville, Ont. Saturday, November 26, 10am – 4 pm

Classifieds

FOR SALE

FREE Male & female

AKC Registered EnglishBulldogs puppies Free to a good home. If interested contact for more Comforter Queen 7 pieces rusts creams browns new condition $30 afoxbrown@outlook.com

Wheelchair for sale, like new only six month old. Paid over 4000.00, asking 2,000.00 but willing to negotiate. Please call 613-296-8778

Walker with seat; electric active cycle (pedal only type), manual exercise cycle. Call 613-567-8533

Black walnut planks and disks Merrickville jgharris@sympatico.ca

2 sets of winter tires 19560R 15"; 1 set on GM 4 bolt rims; $120 per set. Call 613-282-1836, leave a message

Dry firewood for sale $110 a cord plus delivery fee. Call or text Jon 613-2273650

Small square bales of hay and straw for sale. Call or text Jon 613-227-3650

Hay and straw for sale 4x4 round bales, stored inside. Call Jon 613-227-3650

Floating pool lounge chair, webbing good condition $20. Contact nadfudt@ gmail.com

Handmade hooded rose coloured spring & fall woman's coat, large. $40. Contact nadfudt@gmail.com

Winter Tires on Rims. Size 225/65/R17. 2 winters only, little use (613)258-6631

$375 OBO

MISCELLANIOUS

HISTORIC HALL AVAILABLE FOR RENTALS in Beautiful Burritts Rapids! Start a book club in time for cooler weather in a hamlet near walking trails and parkettes. Our hall is well equipped for any gathering or celebration, and we offer very competitive rates. http://burrittsrapids.com/

WANTED

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

Kemptville Area Room. Mature student, studying automotive repair in Kemptville, needs a quiet room with bathroom facilities from September to November and from February to April. Weekdays only. Has small fridge, Kitchen not required.Needs reliable internet access. Call Chris 613-200-7016.

FOR RENT

RETIRED CARPENTER Renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, additions, decks, home repair. Call

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

HANDYMAN SERVICES Painting,

Demolition,

the north grenville TIMES Easy Medium Hard

MELISSA OTTENHOF Marketing Consultant

to last week’s

BINGO, Kemptville Legion, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, doors open at noon

The Food Corner

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

I confess to a real love of fish and seafood. At Salamanders, we have some Coconut Shrimp that folks are raving over. As the weather gets colder, a nice seafood and fish pasta really hits the spot.There’s just a bit of preparation work involved in today’s dish, but I’m sure you are up to it and will love the results.

Creamy Shrimp, Scallops and Fish Pasta Ingredients

12 large shrimp, shelled and cut into four pieces

12 large scallops cut in half

½ pound of white fish (e.g. haddock) cut into chunks

¼ pound of smoked salmon cut into small strips

3 tablespoons of butter

1 chopped medium sized onion1 cup of white wine

1 cup of water

¼ cup of 35% cream (at room temperature)

1 tablespoon of dried parsley (and a bit for topping)

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

1 package of linguini noodles cooked al dente

Preparation

1. Sauté the onion in the butter, add the wine and water and bring to a boil

2. Add the shrimp, scallops, salmon and fish; simmer till just tender (don’t overcook)

3. Remove the fish from the pan and boil the liquid down by a third

4.Lower the heat, cool the mixture a bit and slowly incorporate the cream

5. Place the fish right back in the pan, along with the parsley and lemon juice

Once warmed up a bit, serve right away over your linguini pasta that has been cooking all along. You might also wish to top with a bit more parsley. Accompany with some of your favourite Grahame’s Bakery bread.

Enjoy! From Paul at pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

Reminder to be Tick Smart during Hunting Season

submitted by Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

With the recent mild weather, the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit would like to remind everyone that ticks are still active this fall. Hunters are at a higher risk of exposure to ticks that can cause Lyme disease while out in the forest and in contact with leaf litter where ticks are located.

Enjoy the benefits of being outdoors; but remember to be tick smart. While not all Black legged ticks in our area carry bacteria that cause Lyme disease, a significant number do, and you cannot tell if a tick is positive by looking at it. Taking the following precautions will help to reduce your risk:

Use an insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin. You can apply this to clothing or your skin.

Do a tick check when you return inside. If possible

have someone check you from behind. Check pets for ticks as well.

Put your outdoor clothes in a hot dryer for several minutes to kill ticks.

Take a shower to help remove any unattached ticks.

Speak to your vet about ways to protect your pets.

Lyme disease transmission depends on the length of time the infected tick is attached. Ticks that are removed quickly and have been attached for less than 24 hours are not likely to transfer the bacteria. However, if the tick has been attached for longer than 24 hours you may be at an increased risk and it is recommended that you consult your health care provider.

Check any ticks you remove from your body to determine if they are fat or flat. A fat tick is an indication that it has been feeding for a longer period of time. Tick specimens are not used for diagnosis of disease so they are no longer accepted at the Health Unit. Individuals can submit a photo to the website, eTick for tick identification.

Belway, June

September 29, 2018

Belway, Lyle October

21, 2017

God, grant me the Serenity To accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can, And Wisdom to know the di erence.

Living one day at a time, Enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make all things right If I surrender to His will. That I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Dianne, Shannon, and Eileen

ANIMAL CARE SPECIALIST

12 Month Contract

12 Month Contract

Full Time - Day Shift (6:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. with rotating weekends) Kemptville, Ontario

FULL TIME -DAY SHIFT (6:30 am - 3 pm w/rotating weekends) Kemptville, Ontario

Semex is a dynamic global organization that is committed to developing and delivering innovative genetic solutions. We believe that people truly are the cornerstone of our success, and that our employees are our most important asset.

Semex is a dynamic global organization that is committed to developing and delivering innovative genetic solutions. We believe that people truly are the cornerstone of our success, and that our employees are our most important asset.

We are currently seeking an individual for the role of Animal Care Specialist within the Kemptville production facility. The successful candidate must have a good knowledge of livestock care and be physically capable of handling large bulls. Hay, silage and manure handling are part of the regular job duties.

Lyme disease symptoms can range from a bull’s eye rash around the bite area, to headache, fever and muscle/ joint pain. Symptoms can appear from 3 days to several weeks following a tick bite. Consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE

AGRICULTURAL AREA REVIEW FOR THE UNITED COUNTIES OF LEEDS AND GRENVILLE

The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville invites you to join us at a public open house on Monday, December 12, 2022, starting at 4:00 p.m. with a presentation by our consulting team, PLANSCAPE

LOCATION: 25 Central Avenue West, Brockville, Ontario. This meeting will be in person with a virtual participation option through Microsoft TEAMS. To register for the virtual option, please contact Elaine Mallory, Planner 1, at 613 342 3840, ext. 2422 or by email at elaine.mallory@uclg.on.ca

This position requires working a day shift from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and requires working rotating weekends and statutory holidays as scheduled.

Responsibilities include:

• Semen Collection

We are currently seeking an individual for the role of Animal Care Specialist within the Kemptville production facility. The successful candidate must have a good knowledge of livestock care and be physically capable of handling large bulls. Hay, silage and manure handling are part of the regular job duties. This position requires working a day shift from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and requires working rotating weekends and statutory holidays as scheduled.

• Feeding and caring for bulls

For more information about ticks and Lyme disease: visit our Insect Bites and Diseases section of our website or call 1-800-6605853. You can also e-mail us at contact@heathunit. org or connect with @LGLHealthUnit on Facebook and Twitter or @lglhealthunit.z on Instagram.

PURPOSE OF THE OPEN HOUSE: To inform and educate residents and interested stakeholders of the project, timelines and deliverables of the Agricultural Area Review project being undertaken by the Counties. This project will identify the candidate agricultural lands and ultimately provide a map of the agricultural system consisting of Prime Agricultural lands to be updated on the Counties Official Plan schedule.

Responsibilities include:

• Operating farm equipment

• Seasonal crop work

• Semen Collection

• Mechanical and manual barn cleaning

• Feeding and caring for bulls

Qualifications include, but are not limited to:

• Operating farm equipment

• High School Diploma

• Seasonal crop work

• Strong agricultural experience, including livestock handling & care

• Mechanical and manual barn cleaning

• Ability and experience operating farm equipment; solid mechanical aptitude

Qualifications include, but are not limited to:

• Good communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a team

• High School Diploma

REASON FOR THE STUDY: When the Counties Official Plan was approved, it identified that a comprehensive Land Evaluation and Area Review (LEAR) or equivalent study to assist in identifying and designating prime agricultural areas in the Counties needed to be completed prior to the next OP review (in 2026).

SUBJECT LANDS: All of the lands in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville are included in this project.

• Strong agricultural experience, including livestock handling & care

If you are looking for an organization that invests in its people, is engaging, flexible and striving for betterment, this is the opportunity for you! At Semex, we demand the best of ourselves, our company and what we do for our customers.

• Ability and experience operating farm equipment; solid mechanical aptitude

• Good communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a team

We thank all applicants for applying for this position, but only those considered for an interview will be contacted.

Please send your resumé to Sameer Javed at sjaved@semex.com

If you are looking for an organization that invests in its people, is engaging, flexible and striving for betterment, this is the opportunity for you! At Semex, we demand the best of ourselves, our company and what we do for our customers.

We thank all applicants for applying for this position, but only those considered for an interview will be contacted.

Please send your resumé to Sameer Javed at sjaved@semex.com

PARTICIPATION: All interested persons are invited to attend the open house to learn about the project, the scope, timelines and how you can stay involved. A dedicated webpage has been created to keep you informed of the project progress and encourage your involvement.

TO LEARN MORE: Contact Planning staff or visit our website at: https://www.leedsgrenville.com/agriculture

73’s hosted back to back battle with Lumber Kings to settle for a split win

by the sportsguy

Kemptville 73’s hosted the Pembroke Lumber Kings for back to back weekly battle on home ice, with the first on Tuesday evening in which the Lumber Kings toppled them by 5 - 3.

Pembroke came out hot with aggression that worked as they hammered Kemptville physically to capitalize on three quick markers to open the first frame. Cam Hickman from Urbisci at 1:23 to beat Jacob Biron to draw first blood. Just one minute later with a D decline from the 73’s to give Connor Peet an open slot after assists from Foster with Dinis at 2:23 for Pembroke to lead 2 zip. Lumber Kings still on a tear as Rainey with Hicklin to find Alex Urbisci to mount a 3 goal advantage at 6:37. Kemptville stifled Ben Forget SO with extra man as Merrett held the line so Emile Trottier PPG could rifle a riser at 14:14 to close out the first. Kemptville punished by Pembroke with 10 - 2 SOG and 73’s capitalizing on 1 PP.

Palmer up the wall combined with Warner to catch Matthew Yakubowski gliding downtown to drive a rocket top shelf glove side to put the 73’s within one at 6:04.

SOG tighter as Pembroke outshot Kemptville 13 to 11 with each a PP without results.

Kemptville came out with a different attitude when Pembroke with PP and Trottier knocked down a stretch pass from behind the net that he flipped to Ty Whyte SHG on the doorstep to bang it home at 6:34 to knot it up at three. Man advantage for Lumber Kings when Urbisci with Rainey to set up Cam Hicklin PPG for his second of the game for a tie breaker at 10:26. The 73’s pulled Jacob Biron for extra attacker at 19:03 and Alex Urbisci ENG threw at the net to count his second at 19:33 to cap the contest with Lumber Kings 5 to 3 victory. The 73’s are outgunned by their opponent 15 to 8 without any PPG.

Kemptville 73’s determined to turn the tables on Friday evening after being toppled by Pembroke Lumber Kings 5 - 3 swath on Tuesday. The 73’s received restitution as they iced a fast and furious troop that was ready and willing to match the physicality of the Lumber Kings to squeeze a 4 to 3 win.

Pembroke on PP that Kemptville took advantage of a bad line change.

Blackwood recognized the situation to stretch it out to Merrett up the wing, snipe the net so Ty Whyte SHG could redirect for his 11th goal of the season at 8:39 to open first. Merrett flew through the neutral zone onto the tape of Brazier, across to Chase Lammi above the circle to put it behind Ben Forget at 10:29 to lead by two. Fennell out of the trenches to Henry in the slot and Benjamin Campeau pulled the trigger from the rebound at 17:47 for another 73’s mark. D combination of Merrett with Houle to penetrate the zone and Hunter Brazier pump it between the pegs to make it a 4 zip deficit at 18:39. Kemptville handed Pembroke PPG when Owen Rainey with helpers from Urbisci and Yeager over the pads of Conor Blackwood to blank his SO at 19:01. Kemptville doubled up with 14 to 7 SOG and one PPG on 4 attempts with a SHG recorded. Pembroke counted 1 PPG with three opportunities.

Kemptville started the second down a man for 1:41 which they killed.

Pembroke threw a greasy bouncing rubber for the only marker from Pratt Stetson with assists from Vassallo with Foster at 16:09 in the

second stanza. Kemptville outgunned by 12 to 10 and not able to take advantage of their extra man and Pembroke failing with one attempt.

Final finale showed the disdain for each other as a donnybrook broke out to set up the future sin bin visits. Both teams with end to end action until the 16:11 click to give the Lumber Kings man advantage which they made count when Josh Brady PPG from Urbisci and Hicklin for a one goal difference at 16:48. The 73’s PK were tasked as they had to find another gear as they received an invitation to ride the pine at 19:43 and 19:55 to hold on to a tight 4 - 3 squeaker. Kemptville outshot Pembroke by one 8 - 7 with the Lumber Kings one PP on five attempts to the 73’s one unsuccessful attempt.

The 73’s face the Braves in Brockville on Friday, November 18 and will meet the Ottawa Junior Senators in Ottawa on Saturday, November 19. Next home contest will be on Tuesday, November 22 when the Cornwall Colts trot into the 73’s barn.

Hockey with EDGE… see you around the wall.

One

of

Brazier combination with Chase Lammi to put it over the blue paint during Friday evening contest

RVCA responds to Province's More Homes Built Faster Act Claude’s Gardening and Landscaping Forum

Taxpayers, municipalities and our natural systems will bear the costs of the Province's affordable housing legislation released last month. While the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) strongly supports efforts to address the ongoing housing crisis, many of the proposed changes related to conservation authorities (CAs) will have significant impacts and costs while doing little to increase housing supply."Improvements to the system must never be at the expense of protecting people and their properties from flooding, erosion and slope failures, or protecting the very features that reduce these risks such as wetlands," said Sommer Casgrain-Robertson, General Manager of the RVCA.

Proposed changes and their impacts:

·Weakening the regulatory ability of CAs to protect people and property from natural hazards like flooding, erosion and slope failures - leading to greater risk of property damage and public safety;

·Eliminating the CA's ability to address water quality issues through planning and permitting, leading to increased nutrients and sediment in lakes and rivers. We know from the 1990s this causes excessive weed growth and algae blooms that have economic impacts on property values, agriculture, tourism, recreation, fisheries and sources of drinking water for many residents;

·Reducing wetland evaluations and protections, leading to increased flooding, erosion and drought, as well as diminished groundwater, which is the source of drinking water in much of rural Ontario. Studies have shown the loss of wetlands in the Rideau watershed would increase flood levels by 10%;

·Downloading more responsibilities to municipalities, who have indicated will lead to inefficiencies, delays and increased risk and costs;

·Freezing development fees, which will pass development costs to taxpayers instead of growth paying for growth.

"We are calling on the Provincial Government to reconvene their multi-stakeholder Conservation Authorities Working Group to consider the impacts of these proposed changes," said Casgrain-Robertson, who is a sitting member of the working group. "The working group has proven it can provide effective recommendations to government that increase housing supply without jeopardizing public safety, dismissing natural systems or downloading additional responsibilities to municipalities."

The Ontario Association of Municipalities (AMO) shared similar concerns, stating "many of the proposed amendments to the Conservation Authorities Act and the Planning Act in Bill 23 are concerning, as they signal a move away from environmental protection at a time when climate change impacts are being felt more at the local level. Bill 23 proposes sweeping changes to the regulatory responsibilities of Ontario's 36 conservation authorities that, if passed, will undermine the collaborative and productive changes put forward by the Ministry-led Conservation Authority Working Group over the past two years."

It is well understood that water flows across municipal boundaries – and so do the impacts of development. That's why over the past 70 years, municipalities have formed 36 CAs across Ontario to assess and understand the cumulative impact of development within each watershed. At a time when climate change is causing more frequent and intense storm events, the role of CAs has never been more critical.

"CAs have proven they are not a barrier to development, but rather facilitate sound and reasonable growth," said Pieter Leenhouts, Chair of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority. "They have been modernizing policies and procedures, streamlining approvals, reducing timelines, meeting and reporting on service standards and promoting pre-consultation with applicants to provide the best service possible to municipalities, communities, residents and developers."

Not a barrier:

·The Province's "Housing Affordability Task Force Report" introduced 55 recommendations to increase the housing supply in Ontario, and CAs were not named within the report.

·CAs save municipalities and developers time and money, as the cost-efficient CA system allows member municipalities to share the expertise of CA hydrogeologists, biologists and engineering staff to review planning applications instead of each hiring their own – a huge savings for taxpayers.

·CAs also save the Province and taxpayers money by reducing the financial impacts of severe flooding like Eastern Ontario experienced in 2017 and 2019. The province's own Special Advisor on Flooding, Doug McNeil, in his 2019 report found that Ontario's unique CA system remains the fundamental reason why Ontario has not seen the same catastrophic flooding impacts in the billions of dollars as Alberta and BC, which do not have CAs to direct development away from high-risk areas.

"CAs are recognized as a cost-efficient, collaborative partner," said Casgrain-Robertson. "We are committed to helping Ontario meet its housing goals by ensuring safe and sustainable development that balances the needs of people and the environment, the economy, and local ecology."

For more information about the RVCA and CA roles and responsibilities, visit www. rvca.ca.

To learn more, or to provide input on the proposed changes, visit the Environmental Registry of Ontario for these Notices:

·Proposed updates to the regulation of development for the protection of people and property from natural hazards in Ontario (ERO number 019-2927);

·Legislative and regulatory proposals affecting conservation authorities to support the Housing Supply Action Plan 3.0 (ERO number 019-6141).

ERO 019-2927 also includes a Consultation Guide on how to provide your input.

To read Bill 23, visit the Ontario Legislative Assembly web page for Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022

Dear Claude, When is the best time to cut back hydrangeas (Annabelle), now or in spring? Or do you just cut back the old flower heads? Looking forward to your answers.

From Erika

I usually cut my Annabelle hydrangeas in the spring, the reason being the stems act as a snow catcher which in turn will insulate your tender perennials that you might have around them. I also leave any perennials that have a strong stem and cut them back in the spring. It also makes for a good habitat for overwintering insects.

Some other thoughts…

I was thinking about the mild weather we’ve been having this fall and what effect it would have on my gardens over the coming winter. Well first, I need to

check if my evergreens have had enough water to get through the winter. Evergreens still transpire through their leaves when the winter sun warms them up, so it’s important for them to have sufficient water to get them through.

Then there are tender perennials that may need some insulation to protect them from the cold, but that has to wait until the ground freezes. Mice and moles are looking for a comfy spot to live over the winter right now and mulching and covering your tender plants before the ground freezes is

an open invitation for them to settle in and munch on the stems, sometimes causing irreparable damage.

It’s also a good idea to wrap the trunk of fruit trees to avoid these little critters chewing on the tasty bark under the snow.

Hope this helps you with the upcoming cold weather! I’m sure I’ll think of other suggestions before the winter really settles in!

To seek advice from Gardening and Landscaping expert Claude Smith, email your question to editor@ ngtimes.ca.

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The Road to Amalgamation

The push to amalgamate

by David Shanahan

Looking back on almost twenty-five years of amalgamation, it is easy to assume that what we see now is what was always going to be; but that is far from the case. Back in 1996, when it became clear that the Harris government was determined to reduce the number of municipalities in Ontario by almost half, it was very unclear exactly what that would mean in Eastern Ontario. It may have been obvious that Kemptville, surrounded as it was on all sides by the Township of Oxford-on-Rideau, was probably going to join with the rural community. In January of 1996, the Kemptville Council agreed that Mayor Ambrose Etmanskie and Reeve Ken Finnerty should meet with the Reeves and Deputy Reeves of Oxfordon-Rideau and South Gower to “explore the possibility of amalgamation of the three municipalities”. It was emphasised, however, that this did not indicate approval of the project, rather it was simply an exploratory exercise.

This was not an unusual move, as the three councils had been having meetings since the previous municipal election in 1994 to arrange co-operation in a range of areas, such as housing inspections for South Gower and snow ploughing for the Town of Kemptville.

But there was no fixed idea that these three municipalities would unite on their own. Invitations were also issued to Merrickville, Edwardsburgh and Wolford to join in talks on possible amalgamation agreements. The Province was leaving it to the local councils to make their own arrangements about amalgamation, so the possibilities were open.

However, in the absence of any response from the other councils, Kemptville, South Gower and Oxfordon-Rideau went ahead and

formed a Tri-Council New Directions Committee, made up of the two leaders of each council. There was a sense of urgency in the meetings, as pressure was clearly being applied by the Province to try and have amalgamation arrangements in place before the next municipal election, scheduled for November, 1997. The plan was to have the new municipalities hold their first Council meeting in January, 1998.

Pressure was also coming from the United Counties Council, which would obviously be significantly affected by whatever form of amalgamation took place within Leeds and Grenville. That Council consisted of Mayors and Reeves from county municipalities, and as the number of municipalities changed, and as their financial and service requirements changed, the County Council would have to adapt to the new regime.

The Counties Council were working on their own amalgamation plan separately from those of the local municipalities. That the Counties Council was chaired by Judy Armstrong, Deputy Reeve of South Gower, added to the potential confusion. She announced in January that the Counties would present a plan for amalgamation by the end of September.

In fact, it quickly became clear to everyone involved that amalgamation was going to be a very complex, even messy affair, and there didn’t seem to be enough time available to work through the implications

before deals were finalised. The situation was not helped by the traditional rivalries and conflicts which existed between the future partners.

In January, 1996, the Kemptville Council presented South Gower and Oxford with a draft plan, which Mayor Etmanskie assured them was written from a Kemptville point of view but “there was nothing personal in the document”.

Nevertheless, South Gower Reeve, Joan Williams Birch, was “disappointed” that Kemptville had gone ahead with their own plan, when the Tri-Council Committee was meeting regularly, and could have drawn up a plan using input from all three municipalities.

Reeve Birch stated that her council wished to explore other options, not just amalgamation with the other two municipalities. How would the new amalgamated body deal with Kemptville’s debt and high taxes? Would South Gower and Oxford have to help pay for water and sewer services in Kemptville? If the rationale for amalgamation was saving money and cutting staff, would uniting the three communities achieve that, and, if not, what was the point?

Many important questions needed to be answered, but the push to amalgamate, coming from the Province and the Counties, made many in all three communities more than a little anxious about what was coming. The rest of 1996 would see good reason for their concerns.

COVID-19 vaccine status report

Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark District Health Unit Vaccination Statistics

As of November 7, 2022 a total of 505,743 vaccinations have been administered in the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit (LGLDHU) region.

50 % of these were done in the Mass Immunization Clinics – 30% were given in pharmacies – 7% at mobile clinics and 5% in Health care providers offices.

Our vaccination dashboard, available on our website, has all the details and will be updated again next Tuesday, November 15 Vaccination

Booking Reminders

A list of upcoming clinics is available on our website. Clinic dates and locations are posted through to December. More appointments will be added as capacity allows.

Walk-in appointments will be accepted at Health Unit clinics dependent on capacity; clinics tend to be busier during the first 2 hours – not all vaccines will be available for all age groups so check ahead

We encourage you to continue to check with a participating pharmacy or your health care provider.

Vaccine appointments for six months to five years of age MUST be made by calling the Vaccine Call Centre at 1-844-369-1234 Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:00pm (NOT through the online booking system or the Provincial system).

A reminder that while vaccination remains the single most effective measure to reduce your risk of getting or being seriously ill with COVID-19, there are other ways you can increase your personal protection, including:

- Wearing a mask in public spaces (this also protects others)

- Choosing virtual interactions and well-ventilated indoor spaces where possible Flu Vaccination

• Flu vaccinations are not available at COVID-19 vaccine clinics

• Anyone over 2 years of age can get a flu shot at a participating pharmacy or through their health care provider.

• Parents of children 6 month to 2 years can call the Health Unit for assistance in getting their child vaccinated if they do not have a primary care provider (1-800-660-5853)

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