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