Issue 48 2022 December 8 NG Times

Oxford Mills United Church slated to close

years. The letter appeared to be at least in part aimed at increasing community support for the church, though with the closure announcement, it is clear that the financial situation has not improved enough to keep the doors open.

According to a study completed earlier this year, over half of all Canadians report never attending church, and only 23% report attending church at least monthly. This is a significant change from decades past, when attending church every Sunday was an unwavering tradition for most households.

The only remaining operational church in Oxford Mills will be closing at the end of the month. It was announced via social media that the Oxford Mills United Church will cease operations as of December 31 of this year.

Whether or not the church would be closed was first discussed several months ago. In September, a meeting took place at the church for the purposes

of discussing whether it was viable for it to stay open. Prior to the meeting, the church shared some statistics on the financial difficulties it was facing.

The yearly operating costs of keeping the Oxford Mills United Church open range from $18,000 to $19,000. Considering that this figure includes both the physical operating costs for the building and property, as well as the part time salary of the Minister who is shared by other churches, the cost is

relatively low. However, in recent years, a shrinking congregation has only been able to provide donations of about $5,000 annually in the collection tray.

The letter, which was sent to members of the church in August, notes that while the COVID-19 pandemic had some effect on the dwindling congregation and donations, the fact is that the number of people attending services at the church has been slowly subsiding for

As of the time of the closure announcement, only two more services were expected to be held at the Oxford Mills United Church. One of these services has already passed, on December 4. This service was a “decommissioning service”, given by a guest minister and featuring musical performances. Coffee and desserts were also provided following this last regularly scheduled service. One more service will take place on Christmas Eve, December 24, and the church has made it very clear that all are welcome to attend. For many, this will be the last opportunity to set foot inside the historic local church.

by Brandon Mayer

Oxford Mills United Church

Proceeds from new poetry book to be donated to Beth Donovan Hospice

as everything does on our planet.

May we heal and resolve all barriers to the cycles of life, including those that feel heavy, bring pain or death, even to those that require the dams in our hearts to burst open and the floods to reign.

May the cycles of our grief wash away and bring healing to humanity’s pain through our willingness to be rained down upon and flooded.

Simmering Family to match up to $5,000 for conservation lands

working with the Foundation because he believed in the goal of local, natural areas for all and the opportunity to reconnect with nature through inexpensive family recreation and exercise.

A local resident has experienced firsthand the help and compassion of the Beth Donovan Hospice, and has decided that it is time to give back. Bradlee Zrudlo lost her mom a few years ago, and that’s when her journey with the Hospice began.

“I felt so lost and broken,” said Bradlee. “I had read positive stories about the Beth Donovan Hospice in the Times for several years, so I decided to contact them about grief counseling. They were incredibly helpful, supportive and caring at one of the most vulnerable times in my life.”

Bradlee loved going to the Hospice. She shared more information on her experiences. “It was a safe and comfortable place for me when I was feeling very delicate,” she said. “I felt nurtured by all the staff and volunteers, especially by the grief counselors. During my sessions, I learned about grief and how to feel it instead of avoiding it. I learned how to nurture my hurting heart and to put into words what I was feeling. It was an incredibly healing time for me, and I really want to help others know about this tremendous resource in our community.”

What better way to thank an organization that has provided much needed help then to raise funds so they can help other people in similar situations? That was Bradlee’s plan. “As a way to thank them, I have written a book of poems to support people going through times of grief, loss and transition, and I will donate the proceeds to the hospice,” Bradlee said.

Below is one of the poems in the book, which has been read by the Hospice at some of their events, and they have received very positive feedback about it: Grief Flows Like A River Grief is like a river that flows through me.

I feel it within me, around me and throughout our humanly existence.

Like the cycle of water on our planet, grief cycles as well.

It pours down and overflows from my heart, breaking the banks of its usual resting place.

It evaporates and leaves me feeling more healed, whole and healthy, only to form clouds of heaviness and sorrow before it rains down again.

Our emotions and our grief come in cycles, just

May we rejoice in the bright sun that shines on our planet and with-in our hearts after the rains of grief, pain and sorrow have completed their current cycle.

May we put our hands on our hearts and honour the miraculous nature of who we are as humans, as gentle, fragile and delicate as the smallest bird and yet as thunderous, powerful and strong as the biggest waterfalls.

May we thank the cycles of all things, as they remind us that to feel is to be human and does not make us weak or any less than lovely.

Sales of the poetry book are already underway. Copies are $15 each, and are available for purchase from B&H and at the Beth Donovan Hospice. Bradlee also has copies available for direct sale, and she is reachable on Facebook under the name "Bradlee Zrudlo."

The Simmering Family has renewed its commitment to conservation with a generous matching pledge in support of the Steve Simmering Conservation Land Endowment Fund..

Up to $5,000 in donations will be doubled between Giving Tuesday (Nov. 29) and Tuesday, Dec. 6.

The Simmering Endowment provides a vital source of annual funds to support more than 1,600 acres of local conservation lands owned by the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation (RVCF).

These wetlands and forests in turn support healthy communities by cleaning our air and water, storing carbon and reducing flood and drought risks. They also provide a critical antidote to the daily grind by providing

outdoor recreation opportunities for all.

“The Simmering Family has been a long-standing supporter of our watershed’s critical natural infrastructure,” said RVCF executive director Diane Downey. “This generous matching pledge will go a long way to protect the Rideau Valley for generations to come.”

The fund is named for Steve Simmering, a wellrespected businessman in the Ottawa area and long-time Vice Chair of the RVCF. He was instrumental in the acquisition of some of the Rideau Valley’s best-loved conservation areas, such as Chapman Mills.

Before Mr. Simmering passed away in 2009, he was an active outdoorsman who loved walking and hiking in the open air. He enjoyed

Donations to the Steve Simmering Conservation Lands Endowment Fund help cover annual ownership costs such as property taxes, trail maintenance, signage and fencing. Donations also give us the security to accept more land donations in the future, knowing we have the funds to maintain them.

Only the annual interest from the fund is withdrawn, while the principal remains invested year after year to produce a steady source of funding.

This giving season, you can double your impact thanks to the Simmering family – and help keep our watershed green forever.

Visit www.canadahelps. org/en/dn/63940 to donate right now, or visit www. rvcf.ca/ways-to-give to learn more.

Bradlee Zrudlo holding her new poetry book

Nature For All breaks ground on accessible Baxter bridge

The dream of turning Baxter Conservation Area into an accessible nature haven for people of all abilities is finally coming true. After three years of planning and fundraising, work has begun to replace the park’s defunct marshland bridge with a new state-of-the-art span that embraces the gold standards of accessible design. This includes an extra-wide deck, appropriate sight-lines for people in wheelchairs and strollers, and a large education platform to help students of all abilities get up close and personal with the natural world.

“The outdoors should be accessible to anyone who wants to enjoy it: plain and simple,” said Dan Cooper, co-chair of the Nature For All committee and Director of Conservation Lands at the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA).

“We’ve done the work to ensure this bridge serves visitors of all ages and abilities.”

The bridge construction was made possible thanks to tireless fundraising efforts by RVCA’s charitable partner the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation, which garnered more than $800,000 in support from individual donors, community organizations, government grants and corporate sponsorships.

“We are thrilled and humbled by the community support for this project,” said

Foundation director Diane Downey. “It really shows how much our visitors and partners value inclusivity at our parks.”

Construction will continue throughout the winter and will not result in any new trail closures.

Inclusive Infrastructure Being in nature is good for body and soul, but people with disabilities are disproportionately excluded from outdoor spaces because they’re inaccessible, unsafe or both. The people behind Baxter Conservation Area are trying to change this. The conservation area is slowly but surely becoming Eastern Ontario’s most accessible wilderness haven, with gold-standard accessibility features added each year throughout the park.

Baxter has already invested in accessible equipment such as wheelchairfriendly picnic tables, a beach mat down to the water and wheelchair-accessible sleds for the winter months.

Outhouses and change huts have been made more accessible, and this winter, new accessible washrooms will be installed at the interpretive centre thanks to the federal Enabling Accessibility Fund.

The Nature For All committee also plans to upgrade the park’s five kilometres of trails to include wider, more

comfortable boardwalks and more wheelchair-friendly graded stone-dust paths. These upgrades will allow us to welcome people of all ages and abilities safely and comfortably to our park. These groups include (but are not limited to):

• People with physical or intellectual disabilities;

• Seniors with mobility concerns;

• Students and special education classes;

• Groups from local day programs, assisted living facilities and long-term care homes.

“Nature and wilderness should be for everybody. That’s where you begin to find yourself,” said Mike Nemesvary, founder of Nature For All and long-time accessibility advocate.

He has been visiting Baxter in his power wheelchair for 20 years, after a training accident in his 20s left him paralyzed on his path to becoming a world champion freestyle skier.

“Baxter Conservation (will be) a model of accessibility for other conservation areas. People from all across Canada can come here and see how much effort and time was put into the planning, and that the planning has really paid off.”

To learn more or donate to the Nature For All project, visit www.rvcf.ca/ways-togive/nature-for-all-project.

Photos courtesy of Craig Stevenson

Shots of the holiday train passing through Stormont and Dundas yesterday. Would have been nice to see it under sunnier conditions but the lighting on the train made up for the gloomy day.

Cheques can be sent toRotary club of kemptville box 274. Kemptville ont K0G 1J0 e-Transfers can be sent to ArnpriorRotary@gmail.com Password hint U**e

The spirit of giving up

by Brandon Mayer

One hallmark of the Christmas season is the number of campaigns that get underway to feed the hungry and help the homeless. I can’t imagine how horrible it must be to live without a home, or to have too little money to buy food. I am privileged to live close to a food bank, so I trust that my neighbours have enough food, though realistically many who struggle with food insecurity probably avoid accessing food banks because of the stigma involved. Homelessness has its own stigmas as well, and for that we only have our own societal norms to blame. Perhaps it is time to start looking at homelessness and hunger in entirely different ways. Maybe it needs to be everyone’s problem.

It has been over 18 months since Kerry-Lynne Wilson wrote a despicable article in the Ottawa Citizen in which she argues that downtown Ottawa will simply not be attractive to tourists until the homeless

are cleaned up. Describing herself as the “ideal” Ottawa resident, she shared complaints about being accosted by the “mentally ill,” judged the clothing choices of the homeless people she encountered, and even smugly described leaving a young boy shivering in a bush since a few dollars would not have made a difference. It can really hurt a person’s sense of faith in the human race to know that people like Kerry-Lynne not only hold the views that they do, but rise to positions where they have the ability to share their views with millions of people. I can think of a few politicians who have similar attitudes, holding themselves on pedestals and giving themselves raises while legislating their constituents into poverty. One can only hope that 18 months worth of dissenting opinions have helped Kerry-Lynne see the error of her attitudes toward those in need.

One important way that we can all contribute to helping those who need it is by making small gestures year round. Things such as “care package” campaigns

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I was born in 1929 at the start of the Great Depression and, although my parents struggled financially, I was fortunate because we always had enough to eat. But I do remember the out of work men who came to our back door to ask for food in return for labour. I heard from my parents, and have read the many stories of the poverty that existed, the work camps, and the harsh treatment of workers who had no employment standards act to protect them. I know that hunting and fishing were not sports but essential sources of food .

But this is the 21st century, and 90 plus years have gone by. We live in one of the richest countries in the world, and we have an increasing number of people who have to rely on food banks to feed their families and themselves. Surely there

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is a solution to this third world type of problem. You could begin by establishing a basic income to ensure that no Canadian income is below the poverty line. You could raise the income level at which federal income tax must be paid to recognize the impact of rising prices.

We seem to be increasingly dependent upon volunteer organizations like foodbanks which, although worthwhile and important, should not have become essential for so many Canadians to have an adequate diet.

I am shocked. I am dismayed. I am angry.

I am reading that another recession is forecast by economists. If we have experienced a 60% increase in food bank demand during a time of low unemployment, it is apparent that we are grossly unprepared for a recession.

Shirley Price

are important in the sense that they give those in need something to look forward to, and remind them that the “spirit of giving”, which is the hallmark of the holiday season, also applies to them. The problem is what happens after the holiday season, a month or two later when the items from the care packages have been used up, and everyone has returned to the daily grind, and many won’t give the homeless and the hungry a second thought until the next Christmas season. To the less fortunate, this period probably makes it feel as though even the kindhearted people of the world have been infected with the spirit of giving up.

I believe that those of us who have the means to be able to give have the obligation to do so. Many may not agree, as is their right. When I say “obligation”, I simply mean giving something, anything, but not any kind of amount that would make us financially uncomfortable. My favourite way to donate is when I am asked by a cashier in a store. These donations usually benefit local people in need, and they

are in small increments. In many cases, the ask is for a flat rate of $2 to a local food bank. Frankly, if I am in the checkout line at the LCBO with $50 worth of merchandise, it is hard to find an excuse not to donate that $2 to someone who doesn’t have food or shelter.

For five consecutive years in my younger days, I canvassed door-to-door for the Canadian Cancer Society. The Cancer Society was always one of the few organizations that did canvassing. When was the last time you remember a food bank representative knocking on your door? Truth is, my firsthand experience as a canvasser taught me that many people actually wait for that opportunity to give at the door each year. They would budget for one donation every year, and refuse all other requests for donations, citing the fact that they were waiting for the yearly canvassing. For places such as food banks and homeless shelters, it may therefore be necessary for them to partner with local stores to solicit donations, as annoying as it can sometimes be.

My grandfather once told me that he does not like to donate when asked in a store, because he has noticed on his receipts in the past that sales tax has been charged, and it is not clear where that extra money is going. That is a valid reason to be hesitant about donating in stores, but it is still important to find other ways to donate when a certain method makes you uncomfortable.

Unfortunately for many charitable organizations, funds are simply not available for advertising and campaigning. My workplace currently has food lining one of the hallways, which is an obvious indicator of a food drive, though I don’t remember hearing about it before seeing the food donations start to pile up. Even certain aspects of smart donating can be hard for food banks and other charities to communicate to large numbers of people. For example, years ago I was told that food banks prefer monetary donations to donations of actual food. This is because they can stretch a dollar further than the average consumer, meaning your dona-

tion of money ends up being “bigger” than an equivalent donation of food. Another thing to keep in mind is that certain food items are in demand at certain times, and often that information is not well advertised – big-hearted people must go searching for it.

In any case, giving to worthy causes and helping those in need is something that can be quite easy, and often make only a small dent in the finances of an average household. We live in a very generous community, and we take care of our own.

Like all positive initiatives, it can never hurt to do more.

For starters, let’s make sure that we don’t give up on those is need when Christmas has come and gone. Cheers to a spirit of giving that lasts 365 days a year!

Dear Editor, I read part of the Green and Growing? article by Fred Schueler. I got to the point where he recommended that we be more sensitive to our environment. That's when I received several Black Friday Sale notices. The deals were too good to refuse and I was distracted from reading the rest of the article. It sounded like Fred Schueler had some good ideas and I hope somebody does something about this climate crisis.

Marc Nadeau (A concerned citizen)

Dear Editor, I see Steve Gabell had a couple of letters published, trying to scare the beJesus out of everyone.

Stop blowing facts out of proportion. Climate change is a given. Nothing that we will do will totally stop it. We are coming out of an ice age and the climate will warm even if we do nothing. Should we stop cutting back on fossil fuels? No. But there are things that will average out as the climate warms. Most of the world's population lives in the Northern Hemisphere. A warmer climate means burning less coal/wood/gas to heat our homes. Will water levels rise and weather patterns change? Of course they will, but maybe for the better. Maybe deserts will sprout foliage. Yes we should be doing more to stop climate change, but enough of the doomsday scenarios.

On the political side, Conservative means con-

servative, and Liberal means liberal. Have you forgotten Kathleen Wynn? Scrapping renewable energy projects that are prohibitively expensive is good business. $2.2 billion in licence plate sticker renewals is $150.00 for every man woman and child in Ontario. Seems a little high. As far as education is concerned, if the government got out of that business, the money saved could put every child in Ontario through a private school. They are already putting way too much into a very inefficient education system. Just throw money at it is a Liberal platform and I guess the Green Party also. Let's get rid of fossil fuels and get everyone into an electric car. The power grid would collapse in a second.

Let's do all these things, but in a safe and methodical manner.

Bob Swaren

the north grenville

Ashley Sloan Reporter at large 613-215-0735

Accounting Pat Jessop cfo@ngtimes.ca

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OFFICE 613-215-0735

Editor Brandon Mayer editor@ngtimes.ca 613-215-0735

Mailing Address

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

Dear Editor:

I too would like to wrap up these exchanges about climate change, but in his last letter, Steve Gabell asks Mr. Van Dam and myself a question, "what if you're wrong?" He then goes on to paint an impossibly utopian picture of what we'll have if we do everything the climate alarmists demand of us, followed by a dystopian image of a world continuing to use fossil fuels, once again admitting no reasonable middle ground. Moreover, his utopian canvas and dystopian brush go well beyond any likely effects of carbon dioxide in the air, to include: clean water, children's health, liveable cities, energy cost, warfare, and in true alarmist form, our civilization itself.

I could delve into each of the aspects Mr. Gabell raises, but since he provided no details for them, and as he has not addressed most

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of my previous points, then in the spirit of wrapping up, I will not do that. Neither will I respond to his naive assertions about energy, sustainability, green jobs, renewables, the supposed consensus, and so on. We have clearly reached the point of talking past each other, to no one's further benefit.

I'll just end by reiterating that it is simplistic to reduce all environmental concerns to "climate change", and then base all solutions on the ending of fossil fuel usage. The "existential crisis" Mr. Gabell and like-minded alarmists believe in is based on long-term projections by flawed climate models which exaggerate the effects of CO2. There are more urgent and worrisome problems in our world today, and reducing CO2 in the air, even if it were technologically and politically feasible, would not stop the climate from changing.

Ed Norman, Kemptville

Dear Editor,

I would like to comment on Premier Doug Ford's sales pitch during the election and after, where he states he is "For the People." At election time, I wondered which people? Obviously, after Bill 23 being put forward, he is for the big developers and really couldn't be bothered by too many other people or anything else. I saw on the news where Bill 23 allows a developer to develop land without the neighbouring landowners being notified. The notification allows them to say how the development would affect them, and not giving them this opportunity certainly squashes the landowners’ rights. For example, part of our property consists of the protected wetlands that are southeast of Kemptville, and there are many other people who own lands in these protected wetlands. I could have a neighbour who decides to sell their wetlands to a developer, who then drains the wetlands to build a housing development. There goes the beavers, muskrats, otters, mink, weasels, fishers, snapping turtles, painted turtles, blanding's turtles, the frog species, at least three that I know of, there are probably more, the great blue herons, the green backed herons, the american bitterns, soras, common moorhens,

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wood ducks, mallards, canada geese, yellow warblers, common yellowthroats, northern waterthrush, tree swallows, swamp sparrows, alder flycatchers, marsh wrens, black-billed cuckoos, mourning doves, red-winged blackbirds, the stickleback fish, the leeches, the water insects, plus the transients who stop over on their migrations, swans, ring-necked ducks, hooded mergansers, lesser yellowlegs, least sandpipers. All of these are what we have seen on our part of the wetlands, and there are probably more I have forgotten. We also have some forested areas that include my Forest Songbird Monitoring stations. The forest would eventually die, displacing those birds, many more species to name, the deer would leave, the coyotes, foxes, porcupines, snowshoe hares, toads, snakes and salamanders. We would be left with people's dogs running on our property, which happens now. I guess the saying "everything is going to the dogs" really does apply. It seems Doug Ford doesn't care about much, except for the big developers.

And who does he think he is criticizing Jim Watson for not being transparent with his council, when Doug Ford and Steve Clark have not been transparent with the

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MUNICIPAL OFFICE HOURS

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

Please note: the Municipal office will be closed as of Friday, December 23, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. and will re-open on January 3, 2023 at 8:30 a.m.

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

• Council Meeting (Open) – Council Chambers – Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.

VOLUNTEER AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Waste Transfer Station Attendant

The Municipality of North Grenville is seeking to fill a casual position of Waste Transfer Station Attendant. The salary for this position currently pays $16.83 to $18.92 per hour. Interested applicants may submit a cover letter and resume outlining qualifications in confidence to Human Resources 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. The deadline has been extended. Applications will be received up to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 9, 2022. Visit www. northgrenville.ca for details and to apply.

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

Health Unit concerned by recent local area drug poisonings (overdoses)

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit is reporting multiple drug poisonings (overdoses) over the last 4 days, across Leeds, Grenville and Lanark. Some of these incidents have been fatal. This spike has been identified through the Overdose Early Warning System that collects drug poisoning (overdose) information through the online overdose reporting tool.

The Health Unit along with community partners are cautioning the community regarding the dangerously toxic substance supply. In Leeds Grenville and Lanark, the number of opioid related deaths has declined relative

to 2021 but remain higher than in 2019 (before the COVID Pandemic).

Naloxone is effective in helping to reduce an overdose from opioids but may not be as effective in reversing overdoses due to the contamination of substances with other drugs such a benzodiazepines (e.g., Xannax). All overdoses are a medical emergency and calling 911 remains the most important step in saving someone’s life. Anyone who suspects or witnesses an overdose should call 9-1-1. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides some legal protection against simple drug possession charges for

anyone who experiences, witnesses or responds to an overdose and calls 9-1-1.

The risk of an overdose can be reduced by following safer use practices;

- Call 911 in the event of an overdose

- Carry a naloxone kit

- Avoid mixing substances

- Use a small test dose first

- Do not use alone (maintain COVID – 19 precautions)

- If you have no other choice than to use alone, call the Overdose Prevention Hotline 1-888-6886677 (National Overdose Response Service)

The Health Unit, along with the Opioid Team (pro-

vided through Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health) continue to provide in-person services to people who use substances at Change Health Care in Brockville, Smiths Falls and Carleton Place. Harm reduction services (single use equipment, free naloxone kits and drug checking test strips etc.) are provided by the Smart Works program and are available at multiple locations across the LGL. Naloxone kits are also available at participating pharmacies. For more information, visit: https://healthunit.org/ health-information/druguse-harm-reduction/ .

Municipality and the people of North Grenville about choosing Kemptville for a new Correctional Centre? What a Hypocrite! Lynn Paibomesai Lynn Paibomesai

October child exploitation numbers shared by 27 police services

Hundreds of charges have been laid across Ontario, a snapshot of the work done by investigators and analysts that make up the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet (Provincial Strategy).

The results of the investigations completed in October, named Project MAVERICK, were announced in a video release showcasing members of the Provincial Strategy. During the month, the 27 policing partners conducted 255 investigations, completed 168 search warrants and seized 1,032 devices. In total, 428 charges were laid against 107 people. During the investigations,

61 victims were identified and referred to appropriate community-based resources for assistance, while an additional 60 children were safeguarded. There are 175 ongoing investigations where additional charges may be laid.

The Provincial Strategy includes two ministries (Attorney General and Solicitor General) and 27 participating police agencies: Barrie, Belleville, Brantford, Chatham-Kent, Cornwall, Durham, Greater Sudbury, Guelph, Halton, Hamilton, Kingston, London, Niagara, North Bay, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Ottawa, Peel, Peterborough, Sarnia, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder

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Bay, Timmins, Toronto, Waterloo, Windsor, Woodstock and York.

Additional partners that participated in these investigations included OPP Digital Forensics, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canada Border Services Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security. The BOOST Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, the Children's Aid Society and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection provided victims' support and education.

Since the Provincial Strategy began in 2006, it has completed 65,564 investigations and laid 24,608 charges against 6,540 people. A total

of 3,470 victims have been identified worldwide.

The video outlining the investigation is available on Twitter (@OPP_News), Facebook (@ontarioprovincialpolice) and youtu. be/S7SzSSlRmLk. A full list of charges for Project MAVERICK is included in the Addendum of Charged Persons that can be found on opp.ca/news/#/mediakit.

The investigations continue and anyone with information on these or any child exploitation investigations are asked to contact their local police. Report any instances of online child abuse to police or cybertip.ca. If a child is being harmed, call 9-1-1.

Highlights from UCDSB Board of Trustees meeting

Trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) met on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022, for their first official meeting of the 2022-2026 term. Some of the items discussed in the public session are as follows.

We All Belong Student Survey Update

Superintendent of Schools Marsha McNair, Principal of Equity and Inclusion Dan McRae, and Research Officer Dr. Kathleen Moss presented an update on the UCDSB We all Belong Student Survey. The survey, which launched on Nov. 14, is open for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students.

McNair explained that the survey results will help the school district better understand the needs of its students, allowing for the UCDSB to allocate resources and enhance programs in different ways to increase student success and more students feeling safe and accepted at school. This survey connects directly to the Director’s Work Plan for student culture and the Board Improvement and Equity Plan.

Moss shared that the survey is well underway and that it will close Dec. 12. After the survey closes, the data will be cleaned, validated and analyzed. A final report will then be presented in the spring.

Student Enrollment Update

Superintendent of Schools Bill Loshaw presented to the Board an update on student enrolment. Preliminary data in the spring initially showed an increase of approximately 584 students - 468 elementary students and 116 secondary students. Loshaw shared that the UCDSB takes a conservative approach when calculating student projections and as such the actual headcount is an increase of 714.

Loshaw also shared with trustees that for this school year, 3,245 students have been registered to attend a UCDSB school for the first time. This total represents students from all grades. Of that number, 1,683 are Junior Kindergarten students, representing the highest number of Junior Kindergarten students reported since 2017.

The elementary first-time UCDSB students, apart from Junior Kindergarten, have either moved and are now part of the UCDSB geographical area or have switched local school boards.

For secondary, it can be attributed to students coming from other countries as international students, refugees, having moved geographical areas, or having switched local school boards.

The UCDSB currently sits at 27,095 students.

by Ashley Sloan

The Salvation Army's 2022 fill a bag campaign has reported another great year with the support of the community. Organizer Pat Dunbar says: “There were roughly 50 teams of volunteers to deliver the bags to all of North Grenville, and then picking them up the following Sunday, bringing in over 2500 bags of donated items”. This will allow the food bank to help an estimated 150 families with a Christmas hamper, as well as restocking the shelves to provide food to anyone in need.

There were several organizations that came out to give a hand unloading the bags from the cars, such as

the Girl Guides of Canada, The Boy Scouts, and the Navy League Sea cadets. Pat was overwhelmed and gob smacked at such a great turn out. “The youth in the community who came out were very respectful and did such a great job!”.

There are many people to thank for making this campaign successful: the Food bank volunteers and

community volunteers who are sorting and checking the expiry dates of every item, the community for their support donating non-perishables items and dropping off any missed bags, and a special thank you to Rig Mac for coming in to pick up bags on a few routes that were short on volunteers.

Photo by Bob Prendergast.

If you give a little, they will get a lot

The 2022 donations for the The Fill a Bag campaign at the Salvation Army Food Bank photo credit Pat Dunbar

Numbers

A beauty star in our midst

Lazarus, and the Special Olympics (through St. Michaels). “After graduation, I followed up with schooling for child youth counselling in Kingston,” said Lauren. “Ultimately, I fell deep into a passion for children’s mental health. I was named the student representative, and went on to graduating with honours.” Lauren’s final goal is to become a child psychotherapist after completing her Master’s degree.

official delegate for Miss World Canada 2022! I just competed and returned actually, and I was top five in all speaking challenges and top five in fitness/strength overall, and won a few of the specific fitness challenges!”

by Brandon Mayer

Something that many of us don’t expect with small town living is finding out what big names live among us. Last week, the Times shared the story of GIF star Robert E. Blackmon. Now it’s time to put the spotlight on a different kind of star –beauty star and Miss Ottawa winner Lauren Pederson.

Being a beauty star is about both brains and beauty, and for Lauren, the allure of the idea came from the realization of how it could help her do even more good things in her career in

children’s mental health. Lauren is a Child and Youth Counsellor in a psychiatric ward, in addition to being a Children’s Aid Society volunteer, a Unicef child rights advocate, a Bachelor of Social Work student, a mental health activist, and the creator and founder of Legendary Wellness.

Growing up in Osgoode, Lauren moved to the Mountain/North Grenville area at the beginning of high school, and enrolled at St. Michaels. Throughout high school, Lauren volunteered at many places that support those in need, including the Salvation Army, House of

Lauren’s journey as a beauty star started in Kingston. “While in Kingston, I was modeling, and the photographer and I were having an open conversation about mental health and my dreams for our country,” Lauren said. “She posed the idea of Canadian Pageants (Miss World Canada to be exact!). What resonated, was that the top five contestants get funding and coverage for their ‘beauty with a purpose’ project.” Lauren’s goal for the project, which has not changed, is a free children’s mental health website that would bridge multiple gaps youth are facing today when it comes to accessing resources.

“I had no idea what I was doing, however I kept focusing on my goal of helping the children I’ve counselled over the years, and I ended up in the top 10,” Lauren said. “Which meant, I won the title of Miss Ottawa for one year, and was now an

Lauren truly enjoyed competing in the pageants. “It was an incredible experience, and I felt so empowered by the kindness and drive from the women competing with me,” she said. “I walked on the stage and remained true to myself and my vision.” Although Lauren did not get a crown for the top five, she does not feel as though she lost. “I feel like I gained,” Lauren said. “I feel like I’ve become the most self aware, attentive, and best version of myself these last months. I am so grateful for what is to come from this as well.”

True to her vision and goals, Lauren has been very present in the Ottawa area since winning the Miss Ottawa title, which is plain to see from her social media platforms, and from TV, parades, and interviews. “I will continue to connect with my community through mental health activism, charitable events, and more,” Lauren added. “I will continue being a mentor for any youth suffering out there.” Lauren can be found on social media at https://www.facebook.com/ laurenzo.pederson.

the north grenville TIMES

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

Local resident Lauren Pedersen combines brains and beauty to further mental health causes that are important to her

MELISSA OTTENHOF Marketing Consultant

Welcome Home

Baldwin's Birds

built means that over 200 staff, who are eager to make their residents feel at home, have the newest equipment to facilitate the care of their residents. The spa room was built with room for a lift chair to assist residents in and out of the tub.

by Ashley Sloan

At some point in your life, you or your family will make a decision on whether it is time to move to a retirement living lifestyle. Some of the benefits of this lifestyle are knowing that if anything were to happen, there is always someone around to check on you, always someone around for good company, and weekly activities to keep you young at heart.

Southbridge Kemptville’s newly build long term care facility opened its doors on November 3 to welcome 45 residents into their new home.

From the moment you pull into the parking lot, it feels like a warm welcoming at a 5 star resort. Entering through the front door, you walk into a spacious, bright entrance where you are greeted by the health screening team and the amazing front desk receptionist Lori Ann, who is ready and willing to get you connected with who you are there to see.

I had the great pleasure of a tour led by Executive Director Gerry Miller and Director of Care Jane Johnson through the three story long term care home, that when at full capacity, will have 160 residents. Both Gerry and Jane explained that it is very important that residents feel at home during this transition. Around the corner, I could hear a live music performance by Chris and Ian playing their guitars and singing great classic tunes. Their performance had several residents up and dancing, with the biggest smiles on their faces.

The common areas on the two floors that are currently occupied were bustling with residents watching TV, or having a great chat with their new neighbours.

Along the way, Gerry and Jane were able to greet each and every one of the new residents by name. It was heartwarming.

The three story building contains five residential home areas (RHA). Each RHA has its own nursing station, common area, and spa, and has been named after a flower. When asked how that came about, Gerry replied that a contest was held and residents, staff and families were asked to choose from villages, streets, or flowers; and apparently flowers were a huge hit. The areas are now named Sunflower, Dahlia, Poppy, Iris, or Carnation.

A lot of care and attention was placed in the design of the facility. The residence has 96 private rooms and 32 double occupancy rooms. Residents can either enjoy a view of the forest, or if they enjoy people watching, a view of people coming in and out of the building. The rooms have a sliding door to enter the washroom, providing easier access and more living space. They also encourage residents to bring their personal belongings to make it feel like home.

Having a new facility

Each RHA has a dining area with a beautiful southern view, and is spacious enough to accommodate all mobility devices. Residents can enjoy a meal on their floor without having to change levels. The back of the building also has a balcony overlooking a beautiful yard that offers a walking path for anyone wanting to take a little stroll in a well secured area.

This new building also means a lot to local residents who will be able to visit their loved ones more often, without the worry of a long drive in the winter or after dark.

Since the opening, 79 residents now call Southbridge their home. Over 45 of those residents moved over from Bayfield Manor, and the other residents have come from various other locations. Gerry explained that this process is managed through a third party resource who review the intakes and place them in the home that best suits their needs.

I was really pleased to hear about a reunification which happened with a couple who had been separated, one residing in a hospital and the other in a long term care facility. Next week, another couple will also be moving in and happily together again.

This long term care home has made the lives of many residents easier and safer, and they are excited to be here in North Grenville.

Bring the Lights to Southbridge

On Saturday, December 10, Southbridge Long Term Care Home is inviting the community to a “Parade of Lights” for residents of the new building on George St W. Anyone interested in joining in the fun can meet up at the B&H parking lot at 5 pm. The parade will start at 5:30 pm and head down George Street, looping around the Southbridge parking lot for the residents to see. Participants can decorate their vehicle, a oat, themselves, and even their furry friends.

Late November Birds November,with its ever changing weather affecting the birds, as well as ourselves, has come and gone. This morning whilst getting my garbage bin to the curb, I was treated to the honking of four or five skeins of Canada Geese wending their way across the sky, seemingly in no particular rush to depart the area. In fact, they were heading back up to the Rideau River, whose still unfrozen waters must still be offering them some form of nourishment and relaxation for the day ahead. I haven't been over to the waterside to see what might be there, so have just confined my bird viewing to the immediate vicinity of my garden, where my usual bird friends are not disappointing, and are still competing with the red, grey and black squirrels for my feeder food! I am not sure who is win-

ning, but I’m glad the squirrels cannot reach the feeders hanging in my windows, due to their height and inaccessibility. The Goldfinches, Chickadees, Woodpeckers and Nuthatches are very much in favor of this arrangement and don't have to compete for food, except with each other, but usually on a fairly amicable basis.

For the smaller ground feeders, like the Juncos, they still have to compete with the bigger birds such as the Rock Pigeons, Mourning Doves, Blue Jays and even a couple of Crows, but they seem to make-out OK, so all in their bird world seems to be OK. Hopefully it stays that way, and they get enough food to be able to survive.

As I write this, and not having seen this week's edition of the NGT yet, I am not sure as to whether or not I should be apologiz-

ing for the submission I made concerning the Swans and Cygnet that I saw and photographed near Burritts Rapids. I was so worried about making a wrong decision about their identity, that I did, in fact, make one. I wrongly concluded that they were Tundra Swans, when they were Trumpeter Swans! I made the mistake, despite my own pictorial evidence, of creating, in my mind false, arguments as to what they were. The adults were obviously the Trumpeter breed, but I went with looking at the cygnet’s beak colorings, (do we ever listen to teenagers!?), for the final answer, and have since been enlightened to my error. A bird enthusiast reader and a bit more of an expert than I am put me right, after he had seen, on a different day in the same area, three adult Trumpeter Swans. He also had a Bald Eagle fly over him, and he spotted a Ring Billed Gull too, so he had had a great bird day, as well! Hopefully you are also spotting and recognising more of our feathered friends and are getting enjoyment from doing so, but make sure that, whilst doing so, you stay safe and well.

Cheers, John Baldwin

Residents enjoying live music performed by Ian and Chris

Photo Credit Ashley Sloan

Construction begins on HFH Kemptville Korners project

On a dedicated Facebook page created to follow the build, photos of various community volunteer groups working on the build have already been posted. Kemptville Korners is being built as a partnership between the Habitat for Humanity Thousand Islands and Greater Ottawa chapters, with a division of units agreed upon as such.

by Brandon Mayer

Earlier this year, it was announced that land across from the Kemptville District Hospital, donated by the Municipality of North Grenville, would be the construction site of a 15 unit townhome project spearheaded by the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. As anticipated, the construction has now begun on the project, with an estimated completion in 2024. The units will all be 2-bedroom accessible homes or 3 or 4-bedroom standard homes

that will all include parking, and either a rear yard or a balcony.

Kemptville Korners is the largest Habitat for Humanity project ever to be undertaken in North Grenville, made possible by sponsors including Grenville Mutual Insurance and eQ Homes. Earlier this year, a fully loaded shed was raffled off in a fundraising effort to help support the project. As construction is progressing, more sponsors and fundraising efforts will be sought to make sure that the project is a success. Volunteers will also be needed to help with the build.

Habitat for Humanity homes are built in conjunction with community partners, typically requiring the intended purchaser of a home to donate volunteer hours in lieu of a down payment, and then pay off the cost of the home with an interest-free mortgage, the payments of which are geared toward income.

The cost of buying a home or even renting a place to live has become unbearable for many in recent years. High inflation rates have meant that a larger portion of household income must be dedicated to bills, food, fuel, and other expenses, leaving less money available for mortgage payments or rent. The cost of houses and rent rates have both also skyrocketed in recent years,

far beyond the rate of inflation. This is due in large part to supply and demand – with more people seeking a place to live but not enough new homes being built, homes that are available are selling or renting for unprecedented prices, with some bringing in more than asking price. Housing projects such as Kemptville Korners are a positive step toward stable housing for all.

Anyone interested in volunteering with Habitat for Humanity should visit https://habitatgo.ca/get-involved/.

NG Art Challenge

A collaborative environment to learn, engage and most importantly draw. Where budding artists learn the basics and the more advanced can refine skills in accuracy and blending. Fun with a Pencil. Weekly drawing lessons at the NG Public Library. Saturday 11 am – noon

FREE to all NG residents 12 yrs. & up

Support North Grenville Public Library

North Grenville Community Grant for 2022

The Municipality of North Grenville volunteer team at the Kemptville Korners build site

The right to be respected and safe

community

by Ashley Sloan

On November 28, the Regional Tourism Office for Southeastern Ontario hosted a workshop on welcoming the LGBTQ2AI+ community. This workshop was developed to aid local business owners recognize inclusiveness for staff and customers, and how to make them feel safe, appreciated and accepted in local businesses. Many local business owners attended this workshop, with open minds and open hearts, to educate themselves on how they can become a safe space.

Learning proper terms and needs of the LGBTQ2A1+ community was just the first step. There were great questions asked, and everyone was engaged in answering with their own personal experiences. Representatives from the NG Pride organization were on hand, and indicated they are working hard on setting up training and resources with anticipated funding. Jeff, from the Tourism Office, hosted the workshop and was really impressed with the various steps North Grenville has taken to welcome this community, while also opening our eyes regarding areas that still need work.

Gratitude

by Peter Johnson

I would like to take a break from being in Grinch Mode and switch over to something a bit more appreciative.

It has frequently been stated how lucky we are to live in this community. It is said so often, it might run the risk of sometimes sounding trite; but for me, recently, it has really hit home.

There is an overabundance of people in our lives who give so much of themselves, not just at this time of year: the service clubs exist for this purpose, and various church groups are the same. People who serve as volunteer advisors on municipal committees (now there is dedication--it might be true, as the Romans felt, that the greatest hindrance to the development of civilization is the committee). There are those who give of their time working directly towards the betterment of our community, like the Business Improvement Committee (led tirelessly by Deron Johnston) and The Kemptville District Community Association---headed up

by the ever-industrious Wendy Embleton--these people, and those they work with, never get enough credit.

On Saturday I attended the 'Santa's Breakfast' at Maplewood School, put on by the Oxford Mills Community Association. I know many of these people well...I have worked with them...they are hardworking, dedicated members of their community. Whether it's organizing events for Hallowe'en, or

Christmas, or just beautifying the village in the Spring, they are constantly looking for ways to do more for others.

And so, I want to take the time to let all of these people--not just in Oxford Mills, but throughout North Grenville, know how much I admire them; they improve the lives of the people in their communities. They don't do it for the praise...but they surely deserve it. Thank you very much.

by Ashley Sloan

On Saturday December 3, the Oxford Mills Community Association held their annual Christmas Breakfast. Pancakes and beans, as well sausages donated by Erik Lepors from Dial a Chef, were enjoyed by all. Santa was so glad to see some pretty grown up faces, and met several new ones who shared their wishes for this Christmas. The breakfast was free, but a monetary donation or canned good item was accepted. This breakfast raised over $320 and brought in a large amount of non-perishable items to be donated to the Salvation Army food bank.

The Oxford Mills Community Association would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday, as well as thank all the volunteers who came out to help; and of course, the amazing community members who came to enjoy the breakfast.

Photo's courtesy of Peter Johnson

Pixel Eye Care celebrates new location

On November 27, 2022, the Pixel team, along with some special guests, celebrated the grand opening of their new location. The new space is warm and welcoming; filled with the latest styles of eyewear and cutting-edge diagnostic tools. The Pixel team would like to thank all who attended the grand opening, “Our doctors and team members are humbled with all the love and support we are given," said. Dr. Youssef Neema, "Our mission is to enhance our community health through continuous hard work, education, and prevention. We are only at the beginning, I invite everyone to follow us as we move into a new era of eye care. The future is very bright with Pixel”. The Pixel team looks forward to serving you at their new location at 3000 County Road 43 Unit B3.

Ford

The Ford government has now moved to dismiss a Judicial Review contesting their decision to place a prison in Kemptville, saying that too much provincial money has already been spent on the controversial prison plan. Two Kemptville residents applied for the Judicial Review in August 2020 and are raising money to pay for associated legal fees because the prison plan was announced without consulting the municipality or its residents, ignored the town’s Official Plan and violated the Planning Act.

The Ford government announced in August 2020 that they planned to build a new provincial prison on farmland of the former Kemptville Agricultural College, catching the town’s council and its residents by surprise, and generating an

outcry and significant opposition from many who live in and around Kemptville. The judicial review is seeking a legal decision of the actions of the province and a prohibition order to stop the project, based on the fact that according to Stéphane Émard-Chabot, the lawyer for the two applicants, the province “broke the law by not abiding by its own Provincial Policy Statement and the town’s local Official Plan, as it is obliged to do under the Planning Act”.

Rather than responding to the questions raised in the judicial review application, the provincial government instead filed a motion to dismiss the application claiming that the case filed by Lachance and Albert would cause undue hardship in the form of project delays and that too much has already been spent on the planned prison for it to be stopped

now. “The province is sidestepping the main issue. Was the decision to select the Kemptville site for the proposed prison illegal or not?” says Émard-Chabot.

“The real undue hardship on display during this whole escapade is the hardship experienced by Kemptville residents who are seeking answers to their questions, who have been met with spin and silence for more than two years, and who now have to raise thousands more in funds just to get an answer on the legality of the proposed prison from the courts” says Lachance. “The Ford government clearly doesn’t want the legality question answered because, like the failed attempt to use Elections Ontario to silence dissent in Kemptville, they know they’ve erred.”

“The Ford government has claimed project costs to date that are in the millions of

dollars however, closer analysis reveals that the claims are inflated. As an example, the province originally highlighted the benefit of selecting the Kemptville site based on it being a pre-existing asset of the province, and therefore no acquisition cost. However, they now list it as an acquisition cost of $2.5 million. It’s critical that expenditure figures provided by the province are accurate and it’s also critical that we get to the intent of the Judicial Review, which their motion to dismiss attempts to avoid," says Kirk Albert. “The Ford government should abandon this diversionary tactic that aims to drown us in costly legalistic red tape, and allow the court to get to the crux of the matter – was the decision to select the site for the prison illegal or not? What are they afraid of?”, adds Lachance. “If they continue

Hudson, Dave Ernest

Dave Ernest Hudson, 79, of Kemptville, Ontario passed away suddenly at Kemptville District Hospital on December 3rd, 2022, with his wife, Leona at his side.

Dave is survived by his wife of 55+ years Leona Carmen Hudson (nee Bertrand), sons Steven David Hudson (Cathy) and Robert John Hudson, grand-daughters Sarah Hudson (London UK) and Megan Hudson (Victoria, BC), brother Ken Hudson (the late Dorothy), and sister Doreen Jackson (the late Louie). Predeceased by his parents, John & Gertrude Hudson, brothers John Junior & Bobby Hudson (Helen), and sister Eileen Cook (the late George). He will also be missed by many loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, cousins abroad, and extended family.

Dave moved to Kemptville when he was six years old. He attended local schools and worked at his father’s autobody shop, Hudson’s Auto Body, where he became a licensed mechanic and auto-body technician. In 1977, he became co-owner and Vice-President of Sentry Precision Sheet Metal Ltd. taking over the position of President in 2000. Sentry Precision enjoys continued success to the present day and makes everything from satellite casings to mailboxes along with serving multiple customers in the high-tech sector. Dave played a variety of sports starting with ‘B’ including broomball in his younger years, baseball during his prime, bowling (Master Bowler for Ontario in 2001), running and coaching the YBC league with his wife for 25 years. He also enjoyed the occasional bingo (begrudgingly) with Leona, where she would usually win and then ‘split’ the earnings.

He spent his free time watching various sports games live and on TV and was a certified ‘John Wayne’ movie aficionado and had the collection to prove it. He was also an expert on anything related to WW1 or WW2, which made him a lethal opponent in Trivial Pursuit. He also had the opportunity to visit the beaches of Normandy in France in 2015 and visit the Canadian and American war cemeteries, a trip that he always cherished. Dave was always there to help others where needed with everything from household projects, to moving, to coaching various sports. Such is his legacy of looking out for others, an exercise in patience, diplomacy,and laughter. Finally, he was extremely proud of his two granddaughters, Sarah & Megan and all of their accomplishments. He lived and breathed every dance routine and gymnastics routine when he saw them perform.

A special thank you to the staff at Kemptville District Hospital for their care and support during his final hours. Also, the family would like to extend their sincerest gratitude towards Hulse, Playfair & McGarry in Kemptville for being very accommodating and understanding during this challenging time.

Friends and family are invited to gather at the Kemptville Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 805 Prescott Street, Kemptville on Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 2pm to 4pm. Final interment will be in Spring 2023. Memorial donations may be made to the Ottawa Humane Society as Dave loved animals and hated to see any creature suffer. Good night, man! Condolences/Tributes

with this tactic, we will need all the support we can get and encourage our fellow Ontarians who believe in fairness and fair play to help fund our David-and-Goliath battle because if we can fight another day, we’re confident we have a very strong case to provide to the court. Why else is the Ford government trying to bully us and add costs to us at this stage?”

R-L: Markou Rizk, McKenzie Vandekemp, Councillor Deb Wilson, Dr. Ghassan Neema, Dr. Youssef Neema, Mayor Nancy Peckford,Dr. Fady Rizk, Councillor Doreen O’Sullivan, Tracey Calvert (at the back) , Dana Abdul Massih and Julia Markle

submitted by Victor Lachance

government wants to block review of controversial Kemptville prison plan, saying too much has already been spent

FOR SALE

Firewood for sale. Cut, split, seasoned, mixed hardwood. $105/face cord. Call Ken 613 323 5503 20230201

Queen size bed, complete with wooden frame, Crown Jewel posturpedic mattress in excellent condition. $150. Jackie 613-8216161

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

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

Rental for winter months. Looking for any truck driver or two who might be looking for accommodations starting the beginning of December. We are located

in Kemptville with large drive way.Please call at 613-258-7778 to visit or for more details.

SERVICES

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

HANDYMAN SERVICES

Painting, Demolition, Dry Wall Call Bill 613 774 2922

Hedge Trimming

Small or Tall Call Rob 613-795-1845'

PART TIME CUSTODIAN WANTED

Chesterville Legion is looking for a part time custodian for the Legion, starting in January 2023. The position is responsible for general cleaning duties inside the Legion, including vacuuming and mopping weekly, setting up/taking down tables and chairs for functions, and other custodial duties as required. The work requires an average of 10 hours per week and the starting salary will be dependent upon experience. Please drop off resumes at the Legion (Wednesday through Saturday afternoons) or email to legion434@ eastlink.ca

The Food Corner

By Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

At least part of the Cormier family loves seafood of any kind. We once posted the recipe for Salamanders Creole Ceviche; as a summer dish, it is wonderful when accompanied by a cold Chardonnay. Come winter though, hot comforting seafood is in order, particularly during the festive season. My grandson Ayden and I enjoyed some fresh pan fried oysters from Costco last week (what a treat!) So today’s recipe is about another favourite of ours, mussels, so tasty and so easy to prepare. Curried Coconut Mussels is a festive dish with loads of flavour and “dipping power” with a warm Grahame’s Bakery loaf of bread.

Curried Coconut Mussels

Ingredients

2 ½ kgs (or about 5 ½ pounds of fresh mussels

A good dollop of olive oil

An onion, finely sliced (red or Vidalia, if possible)

2 tablespoons of curry powder (as fresh as you can get it)

3 or 4 large tomatoes, finely chopped

One 378 ml. can of coconut milk

A couple or three cranks of fresh ground pepper

Some diced shallots or chives

Preparation

Rinse the mussels well and de-beard them (i.e., remove any seaweed fibres)

Throw out any open ones (they have passed on)

Heat the olive oil in a stock pot on medium heat and add the onions

Sweat the onions till soft, stir in the curry powder to coat the onions

Add the tomatoes and the coconut milk and bring to a light boil

Add your mussels and cook them with the lid on the pot long enough so that they open

Throw out any that don’t open (they also have expired)

You generally serve mussels in a deep bowl. You ladle in a serving and top with the juice; for an added touch and flavour enhancement, you can sprinkle each serving with the shallots or chives. Traditionally, you use the first empty mussel shell as a set of pincers to pull out the meat from the others. However, a seafood cocktail fork also works just fine. You should ask Rick or his staff for a “hefty” bread to soak up the juices (which is half the fun of eating these little critters).

Many thanks to those who have sent in comments on how they have modified the recipes in The Food Corner to suit their family’s taste. That’s the ticket! So, just drop me a line at pcormier@ranaprocess.com. Best to all of you as you enter the festive season.

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

Easy Medium Hard

Solution to last week’s Crossword

Reflections on the Canadian Community Mental Health Report

by Brandon Mayer

A new report has been launched on behalf of community-based mental health organizations from across the country. The Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC) is responsible for the Canadian Community Mental Health Organizations Roundtable Report, with findings that can help inform our understanding of mental health treatment in Canada and locally.

The report is based on consultations with 48 community-based mental health organizations. Part of its purpose is to detail the challenges these groups face in their daily work, particularly when it comes to funding and staffing issues. Also included in the report are recommendations intended to address these issues. One such recommendation is for specific funding to be allocated to community mental health organizations to address the core funding issues that most of these organizations face. Other recommendations include integrating these organizations into the broader health system, allowing for more collaboration between mental health professionals and medical professionals.

I have no shame in ad-

mitting that I am unqualified to comment on the merits of this report’s findings. Yes, I have a graduate level education in mental health counselling, but I don’t pretend to know more about the field than the high level professionals whose primary responsibilities involve researching mental health best practices. I do however, have observations as someone who has seen people struggle to access mental health services.

I have known people who, in absolute desperation, visit a local hospital to access mental health services, only to wait days to speak to a crisis team who ultimately blows them off. I have had more people than I can count on two hands and two feet ask me, upon learning of my mental health education, where the best “place to start” is when it comes to accessing mental health services for themselves or a loved one. When I was a student completing my placement as a counsellor, my placement teacher and I felt compelled to call a crisis line for immediate assistance for a suicidal client, only to have him not taken seriously on the phone. We were shocked that as two mental health professionals calling, our client still wasn’t taken seriously. We gave up

and called an ambulance, though it is doubtful that that arrangement helped any more than the crisis line call.

Lack of funding is absolutely a huge piece of the puzzle. Mental health education is expensive (mine cost about $60,000), and the professionals who work in the field expect to be paid fairly for their work. However, funding is not the whole story. The mental health field is disorganized and confusing. Some service providers such as psychologists are far more expensive because of their experience and diagnosing abilities, while others such as psychotherapists and counsellors are less costly, but offer a different range of services. Some service providers are covered by private insurance plans, while others are not. Psychiatrists are covered under OHIP, but require a lengthy referral. Crisis lines are often a hit-or-miss in terms of the help provided, and there are many to choose from. Hospitals can provide psychiatric services, but they are understaffed, and many complain about the service provided. The police will respond to a crisis situation if requested, but officers typically lack the proper training to help. These options are utterly confusing for someone already in a

The Road to Amalgamation 4. The rush to unite

by David Shanahan

Amalgamation was the major preoccupation of the municipal councils in Kemptville, Oxford-onRideau and South Gower during 1997. The Province of Ontario had set a series of deadlines that had to be met if amalgamation was to be finalised in time for the municipal elections on November 10. In January, the promise of amalgamation was that it would save money for everyone, municipalities and the Province too. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs told the Tri-Council at a meeting in Oxford Mills that, had the three municipalities amalgamated in 1995, they would have saved over $200,000. The following week, in the same venue, an Open House for Oxfordon-Rideau residents was told by Reeve, Don Cameron,

that the province would save money by downloading services to the new amalgamated municipality.

Not everyone was as optimistic about what the process would bring. The Kemptville Council continued to be wary of the deal, and voted in favour of bringing in a mediator, as they felt the town was not “getting fair treatment in the negotiations” between the three communities. One of the issues concerning them was the fact that the new amalgamated Council would have only five members, elected at large. Kemptville worried that, without a ward system, where councillors were elected to represent a specific part of the municipality, Kemptville could be left without representation on either the new Council or the Police Services Board.

In early February, the

United Counties voted to approve their own plan for restructuring, reducing the number of municipalities in the Counties from twentytwo to fifteen. The United Counties Council itself would be reduced in number from an unwieldy forty-two to just eleven. The proposed restructuring would create a new entity called North Grenville, consisting of the three municipalities, with a Council of five members elected at large. This plan had to be approved by the majority of existing municipalities and then would go to the provincial Ministry for their approval.

The Kemptville Council approved the United Counties plan, as did the other two municipalities, but it was not a unanimous decision. There was still concern about the size of the new council and the lack of a ward system.

difficult mental state!

If I suddenly come down with the symptoms of a heart attack and fear I may have minutes to live, my next move is clear. I have one viable option, which is to pick up a phone and dial 9-1-1. What happens next will also be clear – an ambulance will come, paramedics will provide primary care, and I will be taken to a nearby hospital and triaged with high priority. In a similarly dangerous situation, if I am holding a knife to myself, the options at my disposal are far less clear. In fact, there are precisely seven options in my non-exhaustive list above. Even more worrisome is that countless anecdotal reports suggest that some options may be a gamble, in the sense that the service quality is poor.

When it comes to mental health both locally and nationally, I propose that it is time for the powers that be to organize mental healthcare into a more uniform system. Yes, this will require additional funding, but money is not the only component required. This is a problem that will also require brains. Only time will tell if our politicians are properly equipped.

The family of Adrian LeBlanc (Thomas, Malou, Brian and Alicia) would like to thank all friends, neighbours, acquaintances and locals in the municipality of North Grenville for their generosity in providing us support and comfort as we continue to grieve our 27 year old son Adrian’s passing on November 9, 2022. We are very proud and grateful to be residing in a community surrounded by such supportive and compassionate persons.

bless you all.

Thomas LeBlanc

Kemptville feared they could lose their identity if they had no representatives on the new Council. No arbitrator had been assigned, and some Councillors believed the entire project had been rushed through. But the project was on, and a transition team was set up to manage the amalgamation. One subcommittee was mandated to find a name for the new municipality, and they decided to let the residents decide. A ballot was mailed out containing six options. But the response was not enthusiastic: only 670 votes cast out of a population of almost 12,000.

The name that got most votes was Kemptville-onRideau, second was North Grenville. But it was discovered that many ballots had not been delivered, especially in South Gower, so the Transition team decided

on the name themselves in the end. Thus was born the Township of North Grenville. It would not become the Municipality of North Grenville officially until 2003.

There are still many today who refer to the Township, or even just Kemptville, when they mean North Grenville.

The size of the new Council continued to be a source of dispute. Ralph Raina, ex-Mayor of Kemptville, suggested that a council of seven would be preferable, at least for the first few elections, with a ward system, to make the transition more harmonious. Richard Boal, Councillor in Kemptville, worried that the increased workload which was bound to fall on the new Council, would result in requiring a full-time council in order to handle the work.

But the final arrangement remained a council of five elected at large: the same as we have today.

On May 16, 1997, the Minister of Municipal Affairs approved the amalgamation plan put forward by the United Counties: amalgamation was coming for sure. In July, it was stated that the new scheme would probably not cost staff jobs, though there was some concern noted that the proposed salary of the new Chief Administrative Officer for North Grenville could be as high as $75,000. As the year drew to a close, it was confidently believed that downloading of services from the Province to North Grenville would be revenue neutral. The future looked promising.

Bill 23

or develop any part of it”.

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CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT

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reach

On Dec 7, 2018, Steve Clark tweeted “My commitment to protecting the Greenbelt has not changed. The Greenbelt includes over 2 million acres of land in the GGH, including farmlands, forests, wetlands & watersheds. Our government remains steadfast in protecting it for future generations”.

On Feb 21, 2022, Doug Ford stated that he was “committed to protecting and growing the Greenbelt” and that he “will not consider any proposals to remove

These statements leave no room for doubt or misinterpretation: the Greenbelt was supposed to be safe with Ford and Clark. In total Ford and Clark declared the Greenbelt would be protected at least 20 times since Feb 2018, yet barely 18 months after stating his commitment to protecting the Greenbelt, Doug Ford passed Bill 23 clearing the way to start paving over the Greenbelt and allowing land speculators to cash in.

Politicians develop platforms for the electorate to vote on. Although not every commitment in a platform will always be met, in this case, our government is not just failing to meet a stated

aim, it is doing something that it explicitly promised not to.

Ford and Clark are poisoning the well of Civil Society. Their actions feed voter apathy and the claims that “politicians can’t be trusted”. They should be ashamed of their behaviour. Yet they continue to move forward with their plans as if they are a ‘win’ for the people. Who will hold them accountable?

We need our politicians to be honest and trustworthy, to be people of integrity. People who have demonstrated their integrity in their daily lives, such as Fiona Jager, a professor of nursing who ran as the Green candidate in this riding in

the last election, or Steve Gabell, a pharmacist who is the President of the local Green party Constituency Association.

Greens do politics differently. We are a memberled party, and participatory democracy is a core Green value. All our policies are developed and approved by our members, not by the rich or those with vested interests. If you want peoplepowered change, join the Ontario Greens. Together, we will hold our government accountable.

You can see a doctor

Did you know that if you are experiencing COVID/ cold/flu symptoms you can make an appointment to be assessed by a doctor at the North Grenville COVID 19 Assessment Centre? Bookings can be made online after 5pm at www.ngcac.ca. To check for availability by phone, call 613-258-3192 between 9 am and 5 pm.

73’s with three straight stretch

by the sportguy

Kemptville, seeking to revel with redemption in Cornwall Thursday evening after dropping two to the Colts, were fired up to find satisfaction and post a 4 to 1 victory.

Cornwall drew first blood when Kemptville rode the pine and Kobe Tallman PPG with helpers from Garnier and Gagnon to beat Jacob Biron at 7:45.

Just :30 into the second as Hunter Brazier on an aggressive attack for his seventh of the season put it behind Colts Dax Easter to knot it at one. Bennett on PP sliding up the wall onto the tape of Thomas to reverse to Nathan Merrett PPG on the line at 15:40 for 73’s tiebreaker. Campeau break away combined with Merrett on the point to have Carter Vollett pump in the insurance goal at 17:33.

Cornwall, with man advantage to start the final twenty miler, was shut down by the 73’s and the Colts pulled their stopper at 18:03. Palmer sprung Chase Lammi ENG through the neutral zone to slip into the vacant net for his 11th goal of the season at 19:37.

Cornwall outgunned Kemptville 29 to 26 with 1 of 5 PP’s and the 73’s 1 with 4 PP’s.

A special energized,

exciting, Friday evening with Kemptville Royal LePage Team Realty and Santa Claus present to collect toys for their Mountain of Toys Drive as the Carleton Place Canadians face Kemptville for the second time. A seesaw battle from the drop of the puck as Kemptville dominated Carleton Place, only to be plagued by undisciplined play to have to put it to bed with a 5 - 4 shootout win.

Kemptville came out hot firing on all cylinders with Lammi and Trottier on the fly to Patrick Haughian pinching the crease to rifle it past Jackson Pundyk at 5:33 in the first. Palmer tic tac toe with Thomas to find Tyler Kelly in the lane to make it 2 zip for Kemptville at 6:48. Carleton Place pulled their stopper without results at 19:57.

The 73’s on the attack with the combination of Logue with Vollett dishing it over to Benjamin Campeau to chip it high for a three goal lead at 2:57 to start the second stanza. Canadians spoiled Jacob Biron SO when Matteo Disipio with assists from Colangelo and Hamilton at 15:48. Kemptville with a man advantage when Braziers spinorama from the trenches to keep the play alive, across to Thomas and Nicholas Bennett PPG

to flip it over the stopper's shoulder at 16:10.

The 73’s dug themselves a hole with sin bin visits and the Canadians capitalized with three unanswered markers to open the last twenty. Kemptville misjudged a clearing attempt as Prudhomme stormed the net and Matteo Disipio whacked in his second to launch the comeback for Carleton Place at 1:07. The Canadians had a 5 to 3 advantage when Brandon Walker PPG with helpers from Hamilton and Ryan moved them within one. The Canadians pulled Pudnyk at 18:18 and the 73’s weathered the storm. While on the back end of the PP, Matteo Disipio PPG from Hamilton posted his hat trick after swarming the blue paint to tie it at three and force OT at 19:51. OT closed out scoreless to set up the dreaded shootout to decide this exciting excursion for over three hundred fans. Carleton Place received the honours for the first shooter as Matteo Disipio, Derek Hamilton penetrated the line and Jacob Biron stood tall to stone Caton Ryan. Kemptville with focus as Nicholas Bennett, Emile Trottier and Hunter Brazier lifted it top shelf past Jackson Pundyk to award them a 5 - 4 victory. Carleton Place outshot Kemptville by 41 to 40 with

2 of 6 on PP and Kemptville resulting 1 on 1 PP.

Road trip into Nepean for a Sunday matinee rematch with the Raiders that are suffering two losses from their previous encounters and wanting double redemption. Kemptville would make it a clean sweep of three games with a 2 - 0 win and Jacob Biron recording his second shutout for the season. Initial twenty remained scoreless with 1 unsuccessful PP for either side. Kemptville got on the board in the first minute of the second at :57 when Lammi dropped it back to Thomas through the neutral zone and Khaden Henry buried it behind Gage Stewart. The Raiders on a final push

for the last twenty miler received a four minute penalty at 5:03 that they survived. Then at 14:55 they received a five major that the 73’s pounced on when Thomas walked the line to Hunter Brazier PPG in the rocking chair at 15:56. Kemptville peppered Nepean 43 to 30

Hawkesbury

6 evening

Seventy-threes super sniper secures shootout shutdown..Hunter Brazier snipes his seventh goal of the season top shelf to hold on to a 5 - 4 winner on Friday night challenge against the Carleton Place Canadians in the midst of over 300 fans and Santa Claus.

Friday evening 73's game with Kemptville Royal LePage Team Realty and Santa Claus present to collect toys for their Mountain of Toys Drive

with 1 of 4 PP and Nepean 3 PP without results.

Hawks will land in 73’s barn for a Tuesday, December

contest. Hockey with EDGE…see you around the wall.

Sarcopenia, not Cancer, but a deadly word

not make the mistake of Mickey Mantel and wait too long. Nor is it a good idea to start the wrong type of exercise.

Can you improve muscle mass even as you age? As Mickey Mantle, star player of the New York Yankees, remarked, “If I knew I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself.” Such is my worry in my 99th year.

I was recently having more difficulty getting up from chairs and recalling patients who admitted they could no longer stand up from the toilet seat. They had slowly developed “sarcopenia”, weakened muscles from aging that robs one’s independence.

Sarcopenia begins at about age 45 and causes skeletal muscle mass and strength decline at a rate of about one percent a year. By age 65, people who spend most of their time inac-

tive on the sofa watching television have lost half of their muscle tissue! Losing muscle mass equates to getting weaker.

Deteriorating muscles mean less and less mobility. Moreover, weakened muscles are a risk factor for serious injuries, such as from a fall. The harder collapse can make head injuries more likely, for example. For the elderly, this can sometimes mean death in a matter of days.

Women should take great precaution. Why? Because they tend to start out with and maintain less muscle mass than males. More women also live longer than men, so there’s more time to develop sarcopenia.

What did I decide to do about sarcopenia? Certainly

For instance, there’s no sense in rushing out to purchase running shoes. Research has shown that joggers are not protected from sarcopenia. In fact, people who were runners in their youth can be at greater risk of sarcopenia if they don’t take up exercises that focus on preservation of muscle and bone. Running is not the answer for the aging body.

I am glad to know this as I’ve never seen a happy jogger. Rather, they always appear as they’re about to leave this planet.

The best defence against muscle loss is good nutrition and moderate weight training. For years, I’ve kept small weights on my desk. I’m careful to focus on consistency, not infrequent bouts of lifting too much

weight in a show of strength. Research has shown that through moderate weightlifting, people between 62 and 72 years of age can double their strength in 12 weeks of training.

It’s a problem though when boredom sets in with lifting weights. Yet the growing challenge of getting up from a deep sofa can motivate a new routine. I decided to try another method to fight sarcopenia.

I remembered that years ago Charles Atlas, an expert in bodybuilding, created a following of famous people who swore by his method.

Joe DiMaggio, the New York Yankee baseball player, was a fan. And who would be foolish enough to pick a fight with another follower of Atlas, heavyweight boxing champion, Joe Louis?

Atlas called his technique “Dynamic Therapy” (DT). I decided to find out how it would affect my bi-

Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care honours KDH as one of Canada’s greenest health care organisations

In recognition of its commitment to environmental stewardship and greening its internal health care practices, Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) has won three Green Health Care Awards as top performer in the categories of Leadership, Pollution Prevention, and Waste.

The Green Health Care awards are presented annually by the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care. This year’s awards were based on data submitted to the 2021 Green Hospital Scorecard (GHS) program, which rendered KDH the highest Leadership, Pollution Prevention and Waste scores of all participating hospitals within its peer group. KDH was also awarded an Honourable Mention in the Water Category.

“We are truly honoured

to receive these awards and to be acknowledged among our peers for success in making our hospital more environmentally friendly," said Frank J. Vassallo, KDH’s Chief Executive Officer. "We are very proud to be recognized as a Canadian leader in driving health care's greening agenda."

KDH’s Manager of Building Services and Environmental Program Lead, Tammy Buehlow, attributes the organization’s outstanding results to leadership.

“KDH’s corporate commitment to sustainability through dedicated budgeting and planning, an executive champion, a dedicated staff member, and our KDH Green Team aligns perfectly with our Environmental Mantra, which remains, ‘Our hospital, our responsibility’,” she said.

This is not the first time that KDH has been recognized as a top performer by the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care: the hospital’s sustainability efforts were rewarded in 2020 with five awards in the small hospital peer group including Green Hospital of the Year. KDH was also recognized with awards in 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2015.

“At KDH we recognize that, as a community leader, we have a responsibility to minimize our ecological impact while providing quality health care services in a manner that ensures a safe and healthy environment for our patients, staff, and visitors,” said Brittany Rivard, KDH’s Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Operations. “Our Environmental Mission Statement is a demonstrated commitment

from within to operate in an environmentally responsible manner today, for a better tomorrow.”

The Green Hospital Scorecard is a comprehensive health care benchmarking tool that measures energy and water conservation, waste management and recycling, corporate commitment, and pollution prevention. Participating hospitals report on their environmental and sustainability initiatives through an online questionnaire and the resulting Scorecard summarizes their environmental performance relative to their peers.

The awards were presented by the Coalition's Executive Director, Neil Ritchie, at the Coalition's virtual awards ceremony earlier this fall.

ceps muscles.

The good news is there’s no need to purchase equipment. Very simply, DT, now called isometric exercise, pits individual muscles against each other, again and again. Just clench one fist, then the opposite one, and push against each other for 10 seconds. You can do this simple exercise several times a day. I noticed improved strength in my biceps within one month.

Don’t wait until you can’t get up from a chair. Maintain your strength and enjoy better quality of life.

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

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.

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