ND Times Issue 4 2023 February 23

Spotlight on heritage: Kemner Hall

What better way to commemorate Heritage Week than by exploring the rich history of one of North Dundas' historic buildings? North Dundas has many homes and other buildings with stories that date back more than a century. For this year's heritage issue of the Times, we put the spotlight on our past, including the history of Kemner Hall, the elegant white building on St. Lawrence Street in Winchester that now houses two local businesses - EcoShire - your planted friendly store, and The Planted Arrow Flowers & Gifts.

Records indicate that Kemner Hall was likely constructed around 1870. Its design is an example of Second Empire architecture, which reached the height of its popularity in that era. By the early 1900s, it had become one of Winchester's original private banks, owned by Daniel F. Sutherland, who also used it as his residence.

Sutherland passed away suddenly in 1913, and his wife, Sadie Angus Smith, then took over running the bank, something very unusual for women of that era. Daniel is buried in the Maple Ridge cemetery between Winchester and Chesterville.

In the 1930s, the

building became a "tourist home", at which time it got the name "Kemner Hall". People would stop on their way through Winchester to visit the famous Dr. Mahlon W. Locke at his clinic in Williamsburg.

"This house was built based on a replica of the Governor of California’s home, and was considered the party house while Mr. Sutherland was alive," said Kelly, citing information she has received from locals over the years, as well as from the Angus family, who formerly owned the building. "Sutherland would hire all the horses and buggies in town to pick up his friends on Friday at the train station,

and trotted them back on Sunday."

Daniel's daughter, Piney, is also said to have become the active manager of the 25 Canadian banks bequeathed to her upon her father's death. "Using her wealth, Piney organized recreation centres for Canadian soldiers on furlough," Kelly added.

The original bank vault door is intact to this day in what is now the lower level bathroom of the building. An original bank note is also preserved in the Hall, a reminder of the days when the building was a bank.

A sketch of Kemner Hall. The real thing can be viewed at 535 St. Lawrence Street in Winchester by Brandon Mayer

Fire destroys barn in Chesterville

A fire has destroyed a barn at a local farm just outside of Chesterville. On the morning of February 8, local fire departments were called to assist at the farm in the area of County Road

9, west of County Road

7. Pictures taken from the road show that the barn was totally engulfed in flames. Luckily, no one was hurt in the fire, and all of the livestock was saved as well.

Robert Smith is the owner of the farm that suffered the fire. He is eager to extend his thanks not only to all of the firefighters that came to help on the day of the fire, but also to all of the neighbours that came to help and even bring food donations to provide some comfort on a day of tragedy. The gestures made

Robert and his family feel supported, and really drove home for him the benefits of living in a great small town. Neighbours don’t have to bring food or provide help in times of need, after all, but his neighbours did it anyway.

The response from the fire department was strong as well. Robert estimates that about 40 local firefighters responded to the call, and he believes that four different fire stations were on the scene. The fire department responded to the initial fire call within minutes.

When tragedy strikes, it can be hard to move on. It is fortunate that no one was hurt in the fire on February 8, and Robert is thankful for that silver lining. “I would like to thank the fire department and the neighbours for all their help,” he said. “I think that is as important as

anything.”

Fire safety remains as important as ever. Knowing what to do when a fire happens can be critical in saving lives and minimizing property damage. The most important thing to do during a fire is to get out safely and quickly, and help children and those with mobility is-

sues escape as well, if it is safe to do so. From there, it’s important to step back and let the fire department do its job. Never hesitate to call 9-1-1 to report a fire emergency. Thanks to firefighters for all that you do.

Paulette passed away January 30th. She was a valuable member of the Winchester Community and willing to help anyone who asked. She volunteered at WDMH; Red Cross; Hospice; and Carefor/Nor Dun.

She was a Friend; Mother; Sister; Grandmother and Great Grandmother.

We will miss her.

Mrs. Paulette Poulin

A photo taken from County Road 9 shows the barn fire in progress on February 8. Photo by Kayla O’Neil by Brandon Mayer

The Weather with Connor

Q: Can you walk us through the models that you use?

Henry and Cora VanDenBroek's 65th Wedding Anniversary

Featuring Connor Mockett

Hello, everyone! Welcome to this week's “The Weather with Connor” column. This time, I thought I’d switch it up a little bit. Instead of doing weather recaps like I had been doing, this week I’m going to do a Q&A. On Facebook, I asked if anyone had any questions, and that I’d answer them in the column. I’ll be picking a few and answering them down below:

Q: What’s the closest you’ve been to a tornado?

A: I’ve only ever seen one tornado. It was the weak EF-0 tornado that impacted some properties on Franktown Road, just west of the town of Richmond, Ontario in southwest Ottawa. It tore up some trees and hit a golf course, damaging the main building. I saw it from a good distance away, about 5km away, and didn’t even have enough time to get my camera out to take a photo of it. I look forward to the

time where I see a tornado I can actually take a photo of.

Q: With how warm this winter has been, can you predict a stormy summer ahead?

A: Sometimes when we have winters that have been this snowy, it can result in a good (for chasing) summer stormwise. That’s because as the snow melts, it puts moisture into the ground, which gives more moisture for the storms and environment to work with in the storm season. But, can I specifically predict a stormy summer? No, not really. That’s too far away, and it’s basically impossible to know that far out.

Q: How old were you when you first became so interested in weather?

A: About 9 years old! I used to watch a show on Discovery Channel called Storm Chasers every morning before hopping on the school bus. That show is the main reason I love to do what I do.

A: There’s many different weather models. I regularly rely on 4 out of the 8 usual models, which are the GFS (Global Forecast System), the ECMWF (the European version), the HRRR (High Resolution Rapid Refresh), and the NAM (North American Model). I find these to be the most accurate around this area. All of them have different computer algorithms as to how they’re put together and how they think the weather will happen, which is why a lot of times I’ll mention “the models aren’t agreeing with each other today”. There’s also many different websites to view these, but I use WeatherBELL, as it has much better zoomed in maps on the Eastern Ontario area, rather than maps that are too far out and include the US Northeast states, which confuses many people. The other 4 models, which I don’t use all that often, are usually less accurate and unreliable.

Q: Will the train wreck in East Palestine, Ohio affect our air or water?

A: Really, it’s impossible to know. Information about it has been locked tight by everyone involved. There’s no way to know and/ or predict how bad this will be for the environment for areas as far away as we are in Eastern Ontario, which is about 800km.

Q: What are those long lines we keep seeing on the radar?

A: It’s just interference.

I’ve been told it’s the 5G cell phone towers that have created problems for the new radars that Environment Canada has installed, and they’re trying to come up with a solution to fix the problem. There’s nothing wacky or wild going on, it’s just simply interference spikes.

Q: Do you feel pressure when it comes to posting information about snowdays?

A: Not at all. I started mentioning them in my forecasts because there were many people asking about the possibilities, and I’ve included them ever since.

Q: Where is an area that you want to go to chase, but you’ve never been there before?

A: Definitely Tornado Alley in the US, like Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, etc. I’ve always wanted to go.

Q: Do you do seasonal forecasts?

A: I do forecasts for everything! I do not stop in the spring, summer, or fall. I post just as many forecasts in the summer as I would in the winter.

Aside from the questions, the end of the month is looking quite cold, with a couple of opportunities for a storm or two. Winter is, without a doubt, not over whatsoever. We've still got weeks to go.

Thank you for all the questions! I will talk to you all in a couple weeks.

100 Women Who Care returns to North Dundas this May!

Event Aims to Repeat

Past Success of Raising

$20,000 in One Hour

submitted by Eric Duncan, MP

After a three-year hiatus of their annual events that ‘sell out’ in mere hours, volunteers with the North Dundas chapter of the 100 Women Who Care initiative are expecting the same uptake for their 2023 edition. Registration kicked off online this week at www.100NorthDundas. com. The fundraising pitch is simple: 200 women bring $100 each to a one-hour event to raise $20,000, all of which will go to local

charities, voted on by the participants. There are thousands of chapters of the “100 Who Care” movement, including ones in South Dundas and Kemptville. There is also a successful men’s chapter in North Dundas, which restarted their annual event back in November.

“We have been overwhelmed with the positive and eager support for our local 100 Women Who Care chapter. We should not be surprised though, as our community always steps up to get involved to help our local charities,”

said 100 Women Who Care North Dundas Chair Diane

Crummy. “Everyone loves the concept as it is a simple, creative way to get a group of women together for a night with 100% of the proceeds going to local causes in our community.”

The $100 donation is not required at the time of online registration, but rather participants bring a cheque or cash with them to the event, which has already been set for Thursday, May 11 at the Joel Steele Community Centre. All participants will receive a $100 tax receipt for their donation.

“We have a lot of worthwhile causes to support, so we’re excited to get going

Friends, family and neighbours are invited to an Open House in honour of Henry and Cora VanDenBroek's 65th Wedding Anniversary. Tuesday, February 28 from 7 - 9 pm at the Gathering House, 2 Water St, Chesterville. Best wishes only.

Are you looking for part-time or full- time employment?

Do you love golf? Or the outdoors? Or Doing something a little different each day?

Cloverdale Links is hiring for the upcoming golf season!

We are looking for punctual, flexible, leaders to fill our Proshop, Backshop, Players Assistances and Beverage Cart positions! Please send your resume to proshop@cloverdalelinks.com

again and make a difference right here at home in 2023.”

Sponsors cover the venue and light snacks are served. A cash bar will be available during the social hour before the one-hour meeting where women learn about the charities and select the recipients of funds. Information for charities on how to apply to participate can be found on the website, and regular email updates will be provided to the enrolled women in advance of the event.

For more information, please contact: Diane Crummy, (613) 795-7197

It’s the old things in life

by Brandon Mayer

It is human nature to look toward the future. We worry about progress, sustainability, and growth. In fact, most municipalities are obsessed with sustainable growth, and our area is no different. It almost feels as though local governments see the number of people choosing to live here as a report card – growth means A+, but people moving away must surely mean an F. This mentality is so strong that many area municipalities have slogans which emphasize the value of moving to them.

This week – the third week of February – is unique in that it is not dedicated to progress and moving forward. It’s Heritage Week, as designated by the Government of Ontario since 1985. This means that we take this week to look back on our local history, which can be just as important for progress as new ideas. Why? Because learning and growing is based on comparison.

OpEd

Think of a spider that builds a small, simple web, but then next time, builds on previous skills and builds a larger, more intricate web. The skills needed to build the simpler web are not abandoned, but rather built upon.

It is fascinating to think of human history as a spider web, growing and adapting. Each obstacle we have overcome as a species has been built on improving how we do things. An easy example is the environment. We don’t suddenly want to worry about air pollution “just because”, we worry about it because we look back on decades of global temperature trends and realize that we can’t keep up the same habits forever and maintain our celestial home. Another example is justice reform. Policymakers don’t suddenly wake up with brain reboots that direct them to be more sensitive to the causes of crime and the need to reform rather than punish. Instead, we look back on years of degrading, inhumane treatment of criminals and realize that while justice

must certainly be served, we also must never lose our humanity in how we treat offenders. Take a tour of an old jail to see what I mean.

These two admittedly random examples would be only two of thousands in a list that would be impossible to make exhaustive. They illustrate a simple concept – we change and grow as a society because we learn from the past. This is one of the very important reasons for schoolchildren to study history. Past events such as the Holocaust help remind us of what can happen when we let hate and division warp our sound judgement. It is not just for “interest”; we study history because in studying our past, the path to a better future becomes clearer.

Studying and honouring heritage at the local level can have a different but equally important purpose. Particularly in small communities, it can aid in a sense of belonging and connectedness to the community. We are “locals”, and with that comes a comforting sense

Methane and Renewables

submitted by Steve Gabell

Many people will have recently experienced a nasty surprise thanks to their Enbridge bills for methane (aka “natural gas”) being significantly higher than in previous years. In some cases, bills have more than doubled. The war in Ukraine has had an effect on the cost of methane and other fossil fuels. While Russia’s invasion may not have been predictable, an extractive industry limited to a relatively small number of sites is always going to be vulnerable to external events disrupting supplies.

Yet rather than working to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, our Progressive Conservative provincial government is working to make us more dependent on them. In 2021, they announced an expansion of methane connections for a number of communities

across the province where people are currently reliant on heating oil or propane, including parts of Merrickville. This expansion comes at an eye-watering financial cost - $2.46 million for 67 homes and businesses in Merrickville alone, or over $36,000 for each connection, not including costs property owners will incur with the need for new furnaces or ducting.

Doug Ford is also working to increase dependence on fossil fuels across the province for generating electricity. Not content with recklessly cancelling hundreds of renewable energy contracts and successful energy efficiency programs, he is planning on ramping up expensive and polluting methane power plants.

Even if we ignore the environmental impact of increasing methane use, it simply does not make sense

of belonging, but countless people were locals before us. They too had stories, just like many of the buildings that we use for one purpose today had far different uses decades ago.

One of the reasons I enjoy small town living is the small stuff. Sure, I have never known any other type of living, being a lifelong resident of this area, but there are many facets of small town life that I could never give up. Old adages usually ring true, and in this case, “it’s the small things in life” is a perfect expression. It is exemplified in the simple wave to the dozen people you know in the grocery store, and in the familiarity of the same streets and the same quaint businesses day after day, and maybe even in sitting in a quiet home on a quiet street and reading a wholesome community newspaper (shameless plug!).

This week, we get to enjoy something else. During Heritage Week, it’s the old things in life that give us peace and joy. We reflect on

our past and how far we’ve come, and reminisce about the fact that life decades ago in our quaint little community could have somehow been even more simple than it is today. I love it! There is a reason we read history books, have entire television channels and movies dedicated to historical events, and have tourist attractions like Upper Canada Village to visit and explore. It’s because our past is interesting and provides an amazing opportunity for learning and growth.

How can one go about learning the history of their own community? Historical societies are a great place to start. Area societies include the North Grenville Historical Society, the Chesterville and District Historical Society, and the Historical Society of South Dundas. These organizations are not-for-profit, volunteer run and are vital in preserving local history. Crossing borders is to be encouraged when it comes to digging into local history, since our

Dear Editor,

entire area, and not just our own municipality, is rich in history. Take the flooding of the St. Lawrence Seaway, for example. The Seaway is a short drive of 20 minutes or less away for most of us, and its story is so remarkable that it is almost unbelievable. Not just the fact that such a gigantic project was successfully undertaken, but also the personal impacts it had on many people whose homes and entire histories were submerged in water. Whatever interests you – roads and infrastructure, old railways, historical local businesses and government buildings, former “famous” residents, etc. – don’t be afraid to get out and learn about the history of your own backyard. It doesn’t even need to be Heritage Week. You don’t need an excuse to let your curiosity travel back in time!

from a financial perspective to invest in expensive energy sources when there are far cheaper alternatives available. Expanding use of methane for heating and electricity generation not only has significant capital costs, it also has ongoing running costs that are vulnerable to the whims of global markets and to world events.

There is a different path open to us. One that would reduce our energy costs over both the short term and the long term, one that would reduce our vulnerability to extreme weather, market forces and global events. Renewable energy offers near zero marginal cost energy, which can be generated in virtually any location. Even RBC, a major funder of fossil fuel projects, report that wind or solar projects are significantly cheaper than methane, at

US$40 per MWh compared to US$60 per MWh, and a report from Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator stated that Ontario can avoid the need for new methane plants and lower its electricity costs by up to $290 billion by investing in zero-carbon options.

Countries around the world are in a race to decarbonize their economies, creating new industries and economic opportunities in the process. As Mike Schreiner, Ontario Greens leader and Guelph MPP says, “Low-cost renewable energy projects and ambitious efficiency programs will drive progress on climate and help people and business save money by saving energy. A clean grid will attract new industries, create tens of thousand of jobs and give Ontario a strong foothold in the booming climate economy.”

The Board of Directors of Community Food Share would like to thank all those who participated in our fund-raising event “Empty Bowls” on February 11. Thanks as well to the many businesses and individuals who donated food, beverages, silent auction items and most importantly, your time. That list includes our amazing potters who created and donated the bowls for the event: Debbie Gilmer, M.C. Mackay, Diane Sullivan and Heidi Blokland. Thanks to our soup makers, bread and dessert bakers, bottled water donor, those who sold our tickets in their place of business, our entertainer, and our hosts --the Williamsburg Christian Reformed Church. .

Because of your support, one hundred percent of each meal's proceeds is devoted to the operation of Community Food Share. At the event, we launched our Spring fundraising raffle – a calendar draw with a cash prize every day during May. Watch for tickets on sale soon.

Dan Gasser Community Food Share

The right people The right products The right services

Fertilizer - Seed - Crop Protection

OFA calls for government investments in food, farming and rural communities

by Peggy Brekveld, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

It’s that time of year again when many of us turn our attention to numbers and columns. For the Ontario government, it means turning its focus to the next provincial budget. As part of that process, they hold consultations to find out what Ontarians feel is important and to get input into where and how different groups and sectors of the economy think budget funding should be allocated.

As President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), I had the chance to give a presentation to the finance and economic affairs committee earlier this month on behalf of the 38,000 farm businesses our organization represents across this province.

There’s no denying that our sector is an economic powerhouse. We produce more than 200 different farm, food and floral products, generate nearly 750,000 jobs, and contribute more than $47 billion annually to the provincial economy. The vast majority of this activity happens in rural areas of the province, which gives us some unique perspectives, opportunities and challenges.

In fact, this past fall, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson, announced the Grow Ontario Strategy where she challenged our sector to increase the production,

consumption and manufacturing of Ontario food as well as boost our annual agri-food exports.

The agri-food industry is a major asset to Ontario and it’s one that can be maximized with strategic investment – in other words, we’re up to the challenge, but support from the provincial government is needed in some very key areas to help us get there.

One of those key areas is physical and social infrastructure, a perennial budget topic.

In rural Ontario, the greatest needs are investments to maintain rural roads, bridges and drainage systems, expanding reliable and affordable broadband internet, upgrading and improving the rural energy grid to enable access to affordable energy, and expanding social infrastructure like local schools and health care. All of these are essential to attracting and keeping people and businesses in rural communities.

We appreciate the provincial government’s commitment to 100% internet coverage in Ontario by 2025, and the ongoing investments that are being made to reach this goal. We also encourage the government to continue its expansion of natural gas lines in rural, northern and remote community across Ontario to ensure all residents have access to affordable and reliable energy.

One of the greatest investments made this past year by government is the

Farmer Wellness Initiative, a mental health support program designed specifically for farmers and their families that is making a positive difference for those in need. This is an investment we would like to see continue, and we believe that it would benefit all to expand it to farm employees as well.

Beyond that, we recommend a continued robust strategy to tackle human resource issues in health care. This means leveraging technology and health innovations, supporting the next generation of health care professionals and continuing to address immediate workforce shortages, including through innovative scope of practice and patient care approaches.

One of the greatest problems facing agriculture right now is the critical shortage of veterinarians – particularly those who specialize in large animals – in rural and northern Ontario. The provincial government has already made some positive investments to address the issue and we encourage continued support for the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in Rural and Northern Community Practice Program, the Livestock Veterinary Innovation Initiative, and the Veterinary Assistance Program. Financial incentives for veterinary students and practitioners to practice in rural and remote areas and financial support for clinics would also be of value and help make a difference.

As well, the agri-food sector currently faces unprecedented levels of risk and uncertainty, from inflation and trade and supply chain disruptions to pandemic-related challenges and extreme weather events. The Risk Management Program is a shared premium insurance program between government and industry and increasing the annual investment from $150 million to $250 million would help manage

that risk, strengthen food security and support growth in the sector.

And finally, not every way to support the sector involves new spending by government. It’s great to see the government’s recognition of the economic benefits of increasing made-in-Ontario food consumption, and we see a lot of untapped potential in this area. A 10% Ontario grown food procurement policy for government and

Attention farmers: You could win cash

the broader public sector wouldn’t increase the budget, but would add positive economic impact across the food chain.

Investments such as these will grow Ontario, while moving us towards Farms and Food Forever.

Read OFA’s full prebudget submission outlining priorities and recommendations for Ontario’s agriculture industry online.

by Brandon Mayer

Everyone knows that farming is a grueling lifestyle, filled with long hours, back breaking work, and financial risk.

In celebration of Agriculture Day, the Guelph based organization Farm

& Food Care is launching a Canada-wide photo contest for the next edition of The Real Dirt on Farming, a publication that answers common questions about food and farming practices in Canada.

Not only may winning

photos be used in the next edition of The Real Dirt on Farming, but there is also cash up for grabs, with $4,000 in cash prizes available for winners in six categories: Canadian Farm Scenes; Faces Behind Food & Farming; All about Animals; Farm Innovation; Crazy about Crops; and Farm to Plate.

To answer the obvious question – yes, this contest is open to farmers from our area as well. Why not submit a photo? With entries accepted until July 1, there is plenty of time to wait until the “perfect shot” reveals itself!

Full contest guidelines are available on the FFCO website at: https:// www.farmfoodcareon. org/photo-contest/

A photo taken by local farmer Carrie Paquin

Eye on activism The Importance of Fair Trade items

for granted, and sometimes even complain about, such as chores and school. However, often their family relies on the salary that they bring in, which is almost always less than one dollar per day.

submitted by Zara Zrudlo

In recent times, the quality of certain objects that we buy, eat, enjoy, and rely on every day has downgraded. Something that you could have bought for fifty dollars ten years ago is more expensive and less reliable now! But sometimes it can be worth it to buy things that are more expensive and you know will be better quality because of inequities. Chocolate is a good example of that. Most of the chocolate that you buy in the store was made with pesticides, and in ways that violate human, and environmental laws. Children as young as four might be working to harvest the cacao beans and turn them into the tasty treat that most people enjoy on a daily basis. Most of the kids and teenagers there would love to have some of the things in life that we take

In most cases, the work that people are doing to harvest cacao cannot be called slave labour, they are paid, but they are only paid meager amounts for long hours of work, much longer than the shifts that most people work, sometimes fourteen to eighteen hours. These people are far below the poverty line and some are even starving, physically, verbally and sexually abused by their bosses. It can be really hard to hear about these terrible conditions that people are working, and it isn’t just chocolate that is made by human labor either!

It is estimated that 75% percent of clothes are made in sweatshops, factories that use child labour and have terrible working conditions. People are paid about an average around one cent per hour, which equals about twenty cents per day.

These places that grow food and create clothes are often really bad for the en-

Tid bit musings

submitted by Elva Patterson Rutters RSSW

What exactly is parental love? What are the parameters? Does everyone have parental love to give? Certainly in a day and age where love manifests itself in many forms, even dominates the hallmark marketing world, the definition of love is often ambiguous both spiritually or secularly.

Fundamentally, love is an intense feeling of affection characterized by a deliberate choice to act in the best interest of another person. This incorporates agape love, passionate love, or compassionate love. God demonstrated the ultimate form of love by sending His son to die on the cross, for each of us to gain eternal life. (note- you need to believe that, plus he rose again to gain heaven's entry, it is not automatic entry, John 3:16.) Sex is a by product of love or just plain lust. Rape is a form of power abuse not connected to love at all.

Not every parent is capable of delivering love to their child, mainly due

vironment as well, using lots of pesticides which all end up in the water and earth, or using dyes and chemicals that are bad for the environment and people who work with them. Most people know that sweatshops and unfair labor conditions exist, but sometimes it’s hard to fathom how bad it really is when we don’t experience it every day. But this is something really important, people are suffering world wide, we need to do something!

Buying clothes from consignment and thrift stores is a cheaper option, and then the clothes don’t come directly from sweatshops. The less new clothes people buy, the less need there will be for sweatshops. Or buying clothes from brands that are certified for having good labour conditions is a great first step! Sometimes businesses that have good labour conditions still buy fabric harvested by people who are working long hours and aren’t paid fairly, but it can be really hard to find out where fabric comes from.

For chocolate, buying from companies that are Fair Trade Certified, UTZ

Certified or other fair trade companies is the best way to go! Hershey has committed to transitioning to fair trade chocolate, being eco friendly, and honoring their workers, by 2030, so that could be a good company to support as well.

It’s important to invest in fair trade foods, for the environment and for the workers. My hope is that if we all invest where we are financially able, then eventually companies that treat their workers horribly will be forced into fair trade agreements.

Zara Zrudlo is a homeschooled, fourteen year old resident of Kemtpville. They love writing, art, acting, reading and anything to do with music. Ever since they were little, they’ve cared a lot about activism and social justice, and hoped to make a difference in the world. Zara has written two and a half novels, and ran a newspaper for their friends and family for three years. They love hanging out with their dogs and chickens and spending time imagining having dinner with various book characters.

Celebrating Heritage Week

February Council update

by Brandon Mayer

Township of North Dundas Council has had two Council meetings this month – one regularly scheduled meeting on February 7, and one special meeting which took place on February 13. During the regularly scheduled meeting, normal business such as the discussion of by-law amendment requests was mixed with a happy occasion – the presentation of staff recognition awards. Awards were given out for the categories of great customer service, efforts to ensure safe work practices, and “innovation, sustainability, and leadership”.

Council passed a motion to purchase an easement that will allow a secondary water main to be looped from the existing water main at Wellings of Winchester into the Christine Lane subdivision. This will provide an additional water supply should there ever be a water main disruption on Main Street.

to psychological challenges or a lack of role modelling. Every parent tries their best, but many children/adults will say love was lacking. Be sure to question why such a comment is being made. Why is one saying that? Financial restraints on accessibility to events is not the result of a lack of love. This is also not to confuse parental discipline as a lack of love! Parents need to effectively impose limitations and consequences on their children mainly for safety and general well-being. Without learning boundaries and choices, the youth has no safety net and will lack the knowledge to adjust to adult lifestyles. This is often referred to as 'tough love’ when a parent needs to impart the consequences from a negative choice the child made. It is not exceedingly punitive/abusive in nature but sets the adaptive development required for any of society's situations. Perhaps many of the behavioral problems in school today are the result of a lack of discipline. The pendulum

swung from strict structure to a free flowing circus. Definitely there are psychological factors, from genetics to the effects of substances abuse (alcohol, pot, etc), to undetermined causes that complicate the ability to comply.

Withholding affection/ love and connection from a child (minus abusive behavioral situations) is parental abuse. This is often a result of a real or perceived infraction of the parent by the child, including adult children. Love is to be reciprocal in the adult form. It is vital you separate the feeling from the action- "I love you, but this behavior is unacceptable."

Take today as the moment to express your love

to your offspring, regardless of age! L-O-V-E is a four letter word that some find so difficult to say. Knowing someone loves you lightens the load you carry everyday!

Council also passed a motion to purchase the property for a new municipal well to be drilled. The property will cost $495,000, taken from water system user fees. The reason for the seemingly high cost of the land is that the landowner will need to give up his aggregate resource license for the property as a condition of the purchase. The well will be drilled along Lafleur Road, along the existing pipeline coming from well field #7 on Thompson Road. The well is expected to add 822 water unit allocations, and depending on approvals, will be completed in approximately three years.

Since 20 water unit allocations were returned to Council at the previous meeting, Council heard requests for a number of specific new water allocations. Council members appeared to approve the requests in theory, so a plan was made for an appropriate by-law to be drafted for passing. It was a busy meeting for matters related to environmental services, with other matters being discussed on this topic as well.

Another item of routine business at the February 7 meeting was the discussion of remuneration for members of Council, other Township staff, and members of the Fire Department. Remuneration for Council will be adjusted annually by an inflation factor, and normal adjustments to wages and expenses were discussed for Township full time staff as well. A similar motion was passed to increase compensation for the Township’s firefighters – Councillor Lennox abstained from this discussion and vote due to pecuniary interest, being a firefighter himself.

The amount of business covered in the February 7 meeting was significant, with Council going through most motions with little discussion and a high degree of efficiency.

On February 13, Council met again for a special session, specifically for a closed discussion related to the Municipal Act. Council met in closed session for well over an hour, due to the fact that the discussion topic contained matters that were subject to solicitor-client privilege. Members of the public are not privy to the specifics that are discussed in closed session meetings, which are only allowed to take place in specifically prescribed circumstances.

The next formally scheduled meeting of North Dundas Council will take place on March 7.

It’s better to be late Stop for the school bus!

ally work toward getting all school buses in the province fitted with stop sign cameras. These cameras are mounted on the arm which swings the stop sign out when the bus is making a pick up or a drop off. They can capture the license plate of anyone failing to yield to the bus, and act as proof of the offense in court without the bus driver having to miss a day of work to testify. Fitting all of the province’s buses is a gradual process that is not yet complete, but it cannot come soon enough.

NDFS to hold Rooftop Campout for Muscular Dystrophy Canada

been underway to potentially have a team or two stop by. “I’m working on getting Sparky the fire dog to make an appearance as well,” added Sean.

by Brandon Mayer

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the green flashing lights that volunteer firefighters use when they are responding to a call. It has always boggled my mind that some people don’t know what they are used for, perhaps due in part to the fact that my dad was a volunteer firefighter for 11 years of my childhood, and he had a green light on his dash even back then. By odd coincidence, a colleague told me a few days after my article was printed (an no, she didn’t read it) that she inadvertently blocked the path of a firefighter with a green flashing light on her way into work, oblivious to the meaning of the light. As a local fire chief told me recently, we will never be able to educate everyone.

Another driving issue that has been going on far too long to make any sense is failing to stop for a school bus that is loading or unloading students – even with the obvious flashing red lights and a large red stop sign mounted to its side. Stopping for a school bus that is loading or unloading passengers

should not be new to any driver, and it is a very clear procedure outlined in the driving manual. We are talking about many decades of buses having the flashing lights and stop signs – it is probably safe to say that no one on the road today obtained their driver’s license before stopping for a stopped school bus was the law.

During recreational internet surfing last week, I came across a website for an organization called “Let’s Remember Adam”. It was set up in memory of Adam Ranger, a five year old Ontario boy who was struck and killed by a driver who failed to stop while he was getting off the school bus at his home in February of 2000. Over 23 years ago now, and I can guarantee that his family is still grieving, and that they still miss him every single day. All for what?

Distractedness? Ignorance?

Rebellion? If the person who killed Adam has any moral decency, then living with what they did ought to be a much harsher sanction than any prison sentence they received.

In 2019, the Ontario government announced plans to increase funding and gradu-

No one reading this is a perfect driver. Whether it be occasional speeding (even if just a few kilometres over the limit), or rolling a stop sign, or forgetting to signal, we all break traffic laws. We have to keep in mind, however, that some laws are simply inexcusable to break. If you didn’t know you had to stop for a school bus with flashing lights and an extended stop sign, you shouldn’t be driving. If you didn’t see the bus, you were not paying attention and shouldn’t be driving. And don’t dare pull the “I was late for work” card, because kids like Adam never grew old enough to get a job. Respect road rules – you may very well save a life.

by Brandon Mayer

This weekend, three members of the North Dundas Fire Service will put their safety and comfort on the line in a way far different from usual, all in the name of raising money for Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

From Saturday, February 25 to Sunday, February 26, the three members will be conducting a Rooftop Campout to collect donations in support of the charity.

The members will spend 24 hours at the Winchester Foodland, which includes an overnight campout on the roof. They will be on site from approximately 10 am on Saturday, and end at 10 am on Sunday. The members will be on the ground collecting donations via the traditional “fill the boot” method during the store’s open hours, and will spend Saturday night

camped out on the roof!

The firefighters will still remain available for emergency calls, with one fire department vehicle stationed with them for the entire time. Being a firefighter is a 24/7 commitment after all, and one that members of the NDFS are known to serve honourably.

“Dan has been fantastic right from the start,” said NDFS member Sean Donovan, speaking of Foodland owner Dan Pettigrew. “He has advised his overnight staff that we will be there so we have access to the bathrooms if needed. He offered to supply us with meals.”

As of the time of writing, ideas were in the works for things to do for the kids/ adults who show up over the weekend. One of the NDFS members is a minor hockey executive, so plans have

Also in the works, though not confirmed as of the time of writing, is a physical challenge involving a weighted boot. “They get pretty heavy when we collect donations, so I thought we could simulate that,” said Sean. “I did a search for an all-terrain wheelchair which comes in at about $20,000. A quick Google search shows that amount of $5 bills will weight approximately 8 pounds, so we would put that weight in a boot and challenge people to hold it up for as long as they can.”

Muscular Dystrophy Canada is the charity of choice for fire departments across Canada. This weekend’s Campout will be the first of its kind in North Dundas to raise money for the organization, though fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy Canada is done by the NDFS regularly. “We have developed an unbreakable bond with this organization,” said Sean. “We would like to encourage all our residents, throughout North Dundas, to lend their support during this event.”

School bus loading zones help keep students safe when they board and disembark at school, but those same students must also board or disembark in the street during pick up or drop off at home or their bus stop

The Food Corner

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

I am a huge fan of eggplant. Whether it is served up as a vegetarian meal or accompanies meat or fish, it is versatile and very flavourful. Today’s recipe is Spicy Eggplant and if you like this fruit (yup, it’s a member of the aubergine family and so it’s really a fruit), you are going to enjoy this recipe.

Spicy Eggplant

Ingredients

1 or 2 small to medium eggplants (depending on how many folks you are feeding)

The white of one large egg

6 teaspoons of cornstarch

A cup of vegetable oil (for deep frying)

Mixed spices: 3 teaspoons of sea salt; 3 teaspoons of chili powder, 3 tablespoons of lemon pepper (or pepper); ½ teaspoon of cumin; 5 teaspoons of garlic powder; 2 teaspoons of ground mustard seed; 2 teaspoons of onion powder and 2 teaspoons of ground cloves. This mixture is sometimes called a Thaï 7-Spice Blend, though a good many other cultures use the same spices.

Preparation-

- Slice the eggplant into ½ to ¼ inch thick rounds (like pucks)

- Make an egg wash by beating the egg white till light and foamy

- Mix the cornstarch and spice mixture and spread onto a large plate

- Bring the oil to frying temperature in a shallow pan

- Dip your eggplant rounds in the egg wash, then coat with the dry mixture

- Deep fry the coated eggplant rounds, in batches, for about 5 minutes or until crispy golden

- As they are done, place the eggplant rounds on paper towels to absorb excess oil

- Serve while hot (warm them up very briefly in the oven if you need to)

You can dish these up as is or with a sour cream, Caesar dressing, salsa or Tzatziki dip. I think olive oil mixed with balsamic vinegar might be a good dip also.

I hope you are enjoying our early spring (at least we hope it’s an early spring). Best from pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

Concerns over Bill 23 loom during Heritage Week

by Brandon Mayer

The dialogue around Ontario’s Bill 23 has quieted down in the last few weeks after countless pieces published about it, both in the Times and elsewhere. The controversial Bill is called the “More Homes Built Faster Act”. It has taken criticism from many different angles. Such criticism has been renewed this week as it relates to Heritage Week, which is an annual celebration that takes place in the third week of February.

Conservation Authorities dislike Bill 23 because it strips them of their powers to prohibit land development where it may cause flooding or the destruction of protected lands. Many members of the public dislike Bill 23 because it limits the input of the public on decisions regarding land-use planning, and has the potential to redesignate needed farmland as residential land. This week in particular, historical

societies are criticizing the Bill because of its effect on heritage properties. Bill 23 will make it more difficult for municipalities to obtain heritage designations, and will also impose a limit of two years for buildings to remain on heritage registers by being identified as having “heritage potential”. Within the next two years, this could potentially result in thousands of old, historically significant buildings losing their protected status. The Bill also removes requirements for additional considerations when a heritage building is recommended for demolition.

The More Homes Built Faster Act was created by Doug Ford’s provincial government to “cut red tape” that impedes housing development. The price of buying or renting a home in Canada has become prohibitive for many people in the last few years, driven by a number of factors including too many people and too few homes. Creating more homes –which is the end goal of Bill

23 – would certainly lower the prices of existing real estate, but opponents of the Bill are keen to point out that it goes too far and is too black and white.

Heritage sites don’t always serve a pragmatic purpose, but they have irreplaceable wisdom and information about the past which has value that is impossible to measure. This week, we are reminded of the importance of learning about our history and learning from it. In the last few years, concerns over past and present relationships with Canada’s Indigenous peoples have also shaped opinions of legislation such as Bill 23, which can negatively impact traditional, unceded territory. First Nations groups in Ontario have spoken out against the Bill.

The Ontario Government is unlikely to backtrack on Bill 23 on its own. Whether the mounting

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

Easy Medium Hard

Solution to last week’s Crossword

Welcome to WMDH’s New Kidney Specialist

Everyone belongs in North Dundas

the core school day as well. In 2019, I chose to finally make the much-anticipated move to Winchester like I knew I always would. It was 20 minutes down the road, but a move nonetheless.

submitted by Jane Adams, Communications Lead

Welcome to Dr. Adam Cohn who has recently joined the Winchester District Memorial Hospital (WDMH) team. Dr. Cohn is a Nephrologist or kidney specialist. His specialties include the evaluation and treatment of diseases of the kidney and high blood pressure.

“My colleagues have shared very good things about WDMH and the excellent service it provides to patients close to home,” says Dr. Cohn. “I’m excited to join the team here.”

Patients are referred to a Nephrologist by their family physician for assessment of symptoms that are not yet diagnosed. Dr. Cohn will work with each patient to come up with a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Dr. Cohn earned his medical degree and postgraduate training in Internal Medicine and Nephrology at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Cohn will be at WDMH once a month to see patients from this area. He also has an established practice in west Ottawa, with 15 years of experience in independent practice.

If you would like to provide comments or suggestions about hospital services, please contact Cholly Boland, President and CEO, Winchester District Memorial Hospital at 613.774.1049 or by email at cboland@wdmh.on.ca.

Judy Lannin Christmas Wish Tree lights up our hearts

Foundation Managing Director Kristen Casselman. “We are so grateful for your support.”

by Brandon Mayer

North Dundas is a welcoming place. Those of us who call North Dundas home would not have it any other way. However, there is without a doubt a certain heavy amount of pride in this Township that makes us offer strong rebuke to anyone who does not embrace the local customs with every bit of our heart and soul. Is there anything wrong with such pride? Of course not, but we also need to remember that everyone belongs, even if they need time to adjust to North Dundas life.

stand up for you when you are being treated unfairly or the ones that apologize for judging you, will always be the ones who shaped us and made us love this awesome town.”

submitted by Jane Adams, Communications Lead, WDMH Foundation

The final tally is in, and our local communities have once again shown their incredible generosity. More than $65,000 was raised through the 25th annual Judy Lannin Christmas Wish Tree. Donations were made to the WDMH Foundation in honour or memory of family and friends.

Proceeds go to the Family Care Fund “to support families just like yours”, and to help ensure that Winchester District Memorial Hospital (WDMH) can continue to provide

compassionate, excellent health care.

“It is only because of you that we can provide the WDMH team with the right tools needed to care for patients and families – so close to home. The beautiful Christmas Wish tree was adorned with ornaments representing the donations our community has made,” notes WDMH

In the past 25 years, our generous donors have donated more than $1,215,000 through the Wish Tree program –thank you! Thank you as well to our sponsors who help to make the event possible.

Last week, the owner of the Winchester Pioneer gas station, Ben Henry, moved on to the next chapter of his life, allowing new owners to take the reigns. Social media users have been somewhat critical of how things are now being run at the station that will likely always be known as “Ben’s Pioneer”. Yvonne Ghabrial, co-owner of the MacEwen’s gas station in Chesterville, knows how it feels to be a newcomer running a gas station in a small town, and chimed in with a social media post of her own to urge North Dundas residents to provide some slack.

“Helping hands, genuine hearts, caring community; those are some descriptions that come to mind when I hear ‘North Dundas’,” Yvonne told the Times. “Coming from ‘outside’ the community was definitely a challenge to start. But that challenge only came from a niche few.”

Yvonne was eager to share her story, with a message that we all belong. “Chesterville changed my husband’s and my life,” she said. “It showed us the true meaning of a community and what it’s like to have people to always have your back. From the outpouring of love from the team we have, to the customers who pick up a shovel on a snowy day or get under cupboards to help stop leaks, that’s what a small community does. Members of that community who will

For Yvonne, it’s important to focus on the good, rather than the bad. “Although you will always have the few who will never accept you, because of your background, race, or simply because of their own insecurities, those ones will never outshine the good ones,” Yvonne added. “It’s only been 4 years since we moved here, but it has become what we now call ‘home’. So thank you for giving us the opportunity to call you home, Chesterville.”

As a humble newspaper Editor, I have a story of my own to share. I was born in Winchester, and raised in North Stormont. I was never a stranger to Winchester as a child and teen, and came to North Dundas frequently, having family here as well. I could never explain it, but even as a young child, I always knew I would end up living in Winchester one day. After finishing an undergrad degree and while starting a Master’s degree, I worked casually as an educator as a favour to my sister-in-law, who supervised an extended school day program in Ingleside. In 2016, I was offered a permanent position at the Winchester Public School site, which turned into a position with the school during

It was shortly after I moved that I encountered the “duty to adjust”. I took to the internet to vent frustration after my recycling was not picked up. It was back when both types of recyclables were picked up together, every other week. I had diligently separated my recyclables, but put them to the curb one bin on top of the other. This was considered “mixed recyclables”, and I was left with a note and my recycling was not picked up. What I was met with from social media users was a strong message that those we employ to collect our garbage and recyclables are not expected to be my new mommy, and that I should take responsibility and stop complaining. It only took that one time for me to realize that complaining is a delicate art in North Dundas, and one that is best to avoid altogether.

In 2021, I purchased a house in South Mountain with the love of my life, and then married her in the backyard. Together with our two kids and two dogs, we are proud North Dundas people. Now working as the Editor of the Times, and still working at Winchester Public School (my “second favourite place in the world”) as I said, I couldn’t be happier. It is our duty to make sure that everyone feels the same. Love your neighbours, get involved in your local community, and welcome newcomers and the dedicated business owners that work tirelessly to make sure we have much needed goods and services close to home.

Chesterville Record, June 30, 1921-2

Dr. Adam Cohn

If only it was only an email nightmare

managed by mailchimps. Websites and webinars involve hostgators, geekpowers, and something called godaddy.

flash on our website!

This month marks twenty years since the GiffordJones newspaper column became accompanied by a "medical update" sent by email to subscribing readers. In early February 2003, the column printed in newspapers was titled, "My E-Mail Nightmare". It began like this:

My daughter said, "Dad don't do it. You don't need the headaches. Just write your column." My three sons cautioned, "You have no conception of what you're getting into. There will be loads of technical problems. Stick to your column." Well I didn't take their counsel and they were right. Agreeing to provide readers with free medical updates by E-mail has given me E-mailitis. The response was massive, a bloody nightmare. And I keep hearing voices "don't do it."

It's a wrinkle in time to read that column now. And yet, so relatable.

In 2003, we were a 79-year-old medical doctor

and journalist and a 34-yearold World Banker. Back then, we were grappling with the "how to" of email distribution lists. And the youngsters in tech jobs were running circles around us.

The column from 2003 discussed spinal stenosis. The email distribution triggered a flood of responses from readers asking for more information. "It seemed like everyone had spinal stenosis."

Others wanted medical advice on a variety of conditions. More had seen several doctors without getting help and wanted a Gifford-Jones opinion. But no good doctor will diagnose or treat diseases by email.

Today, what has changed? Weren't communication technologies supposed to make our lives easier?

The futurist Arthur C. Clark claimed, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." But we find only more headaches in email

We branched into social media, which is decidedly not for novices. Our efforts at an RSS feed, which stands for "really simple syndication" has been the biggest headache of them all!

Is all this effort to communicate worth it? Were we better off with the limitations of ink on newsprint? One of the most influential thinkers and writers of the 20th century, Gertrude Stein lamented, "Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense."

Now we have sophisticated computer programs called chatbots. ChatGPT, released in November 2022, uses written inputs to produce human-like responses. It can write poetry in any style and create original jokes. Educators are alarmed it can write essays with ease. If you are lonely, it can be a companion to talk to. We didn't ask it to write this column, but it could probably offer a good one given all the past columns it can read in a

2023 Resident Council Leadership Team provides valuable input

Services Director. “We want to personally thank the residents who have served on this committee. Each of you brings warmth and enthusiasm to our meetings and discussions, and it’s important to foster this valued relationship in our home.”

By January, ChatGPT had over 100 million users. In another twenty years from now, we wonder what kinds of headaches these advances will cause. Looking on the bright side, maybe there will be a cure for the common headache. But we doubt it.

For now, we continue to write this column the traditional way: once a week, for syndication in newspapers, in print and online. We email it to editors – a technology blessing. For years, Mrs. Gifford-Jones trudged weekly to the post office with a stack of envelops to mail the article to editors. The blessings also to her!

Happy 20th anniversary to our "no nonsense health" e-newsletter, sent out on Tuesdays to those who have signed up on our website. Dare we ask what readers think? Let us know!

We have another monumental benchmark at the end of this month, when one of us will start his 100th trip around the sun.

For comments, contactus@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

Dundas County 4 H AGM notice

The Dundas County 4 H Association will be holding their Annual General Meeting on March 6, 2023 at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Winchester. Doors will open at 7 pm. Welcome to all 4H volunteers and parents .

Don

(back

submitted by Jane Adams, Communications Lead Dundas Manor

A new Leadership Team for the Dundas Manor Residents’ Council has been elected. The Residents’ Council is involved in every aspect of the home, from planning menus to sitting on hiring committees for senior staff. All residents can participate.

“Our Leadership Team

Diana

format ensures everyone has a say,” explains Administrator Susan Poirier. “We spread the responsibility of chairing meetings, sitting on committees, and working with our senior team on various projects. It’s exciting to have this important input.”

“We love having resident involvement and input,” adds Jennifer Hill, Activity Programs and

Dundas Manor was pleased to be recognized and featured in the Ontario Association of Residents’ Council magazine (OARC), profiling our recent Residents’ Council awareness fair. We value OARC as a partner that provides support and education to staff and residents. Currently one of our residents, Joan, sits on a working group with this provincial association.

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Our Sales Representatives

The new Residents’ Council Leadership Team includes (front row l-r): Lynn Smith, Mike Leblanc, Allan Murray,

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row l-r):

MacDonald, Rejeanne Bernier, Darl Tharp and Joan Dunlop.

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Q&A with Sarah and CyndyWhat is my retirement number?

submitted by Sarah Chisholm, Financial Advisor O’Farrell Wealth & Estate Planning | Assante Capital Management Ltd.

At first the concept of a retirement number seems simple enough; a specific sum of money or a ratio of previous income to tell you how much you need for retirement. Unfortunately, there is no universal number or ratio that you can use. Every retirement cashflow is very much unique to the individual and their family.

Take a moment to consider, if you and your spouse went to a local restaurant and ordered dinner, what would the bill be? What if your neighbors went to the same restaurant and ordered dinner? Would their bill be the exact same? That would be extremely unlikely as people have different food and drink preferences.

Baldwin’s Birds

Retirement planning needs to be customized to the individual or family; there are too many variables for a one size fits all number or ratio. Of the many variables, it is important to consider: lifestyle expenses, life expectancy, sources of income and risk tolerance. For lifestyle expenses, consider:

1. What do I currently spend on my lifestyle expenses?

2. What will I do with my free time in retirement? Will I be travelling or investing in a new hobby?

3. Are there legacy goals I would like to achieve while living or in my estate?

4. What impact will inflation have on my cost of living during retirement?

Understanding your projected expenses in retirement helps give you a framework

for your retirement planning. Another major piece is life expectancy:

5. At what age will I retire?

6. Am I currently healthy?

7. Do I have a family history of longevity?

Health can impact both the length of your life and the cost of maintaining your lifestyle. Poor health could result in high long-term care costs, or it could mean a shortened life expectancy. What does retirement look like if you live to age 80 versus if you live to age 95? Will I have health benefits coverage? No one has a crystal ball, but planning around different scenarios will build a buffer into your retirement plan.

Now that you have an idea of your expenses and the length of your retirement. How will you fund your retirement plan?

8. What income will I have in retirement?

9. Am I entitled to any government pensions or social benefits or workplace pension?

10. What investments can I draw on or what assets can I sell?

Analyzing your expected Old Age Security benefits and your Canada Pension Plan income can be a enlightening process. Did you realize that your CPP entitlement is based on your CPP contributions throughout your working career, whereas OAS is a residency-based benefit? What other investments or assets will you have in retirement? Are you contributing to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan or a Tax Free Savings Account for retirement? Will you generate cash flow through rental properties?

The growth in your in-

vestment accounts will depend on your investment approach. What fixed income/equity allocation do you hold and what are the expected returns? What contributions are you currently making to your investments, and do you need to increase those contributions to secure your retirement plan?

Retirement is a period to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Make sure you prioritize planning for your retirement so that you can truly find that peace and serenity. Consider sitting with a trusted financial advisor to track down your retirement “number.”

Sarah Chisholm is a Financial Advisor with Assante Capital Management Ltd. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Assante Capital Management Ltd. Please contact her at 613.258.1997 or visit ofarrellwealth.com to discuss your circumstances prior to acting on the information above. Assante Capital Management Ltd. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.

The sudden change to warm weather has certainly thrown our birds into some confusion, as well as our "hibernating" animal friends. A couple of days ago I saw,- not a Groundhog, but a Chipmunk sitting on one of my garden features, trying to measure his shadow! He was there again today preening himself, (you could just see his tongue as he did this job on his tail), but not making any effort to go anywhere seeking food. He groomed himself as the joyful song of a Cardinal filled the air as it sat in the bare branches of a Maple at the top of our back garden (yard). What a lovely start to the day, which was just as well, as the other familiar visiting birds haven't been so numerous the past few days, so not much for me to talk about. They, no doubt, are taking advantage of the warmth too, as the sun melts the snow from the ground and trees and they can forage once more in their natural habitat and not from my feeders. It doesn't deter the squirrels though, I wish they would follow the example of their feathered friends!

The Mourning Doves and Rock Pigeons are not deterred and are putting in their usual appearance both on the ground and in the feeders. One or two of the male Pigeons are strutting about and puffing up their "display" plumage, as they go in pursuit of one of the females present! It must be the Valentines Day fever!! Let's hope they won't be disappointed if the weather does an about face, as we too would be! Stay safe and well. Cheers,

John Baldwin