ND Times Issue 5 2023 March 09

A marathon, not a sprint

by Renee Moores Interim Executive Director & Shelter Manager

Naomi’s Family Resource Centre

International Women’s Day is March 8, 2023 and after the covid hiatus, Naomi’s Family Resource Centre is delighted to return to hosting a luncheon to celebrate women in our beloved community.

Sisters, Stacey and Wendy Weagant, agreed to be the guest speakers at this year’s luncheon held at St. Clare’s Anglican Church. While at the time of this article submission the event had not taken place, we are fortunate to have such remarkable women share their perspectives as women rooted in our

rural community who are smart, funny, and successful in their personal and professional endeavours, and to share their experiences on the topic of unconventional motherhood.

In keeping with the history theme highlighted in last month’s edition of the North Dundas Times, I suspect the early settlers in North Dundas like the Armstrong and Hemmell families (to name a few, but there are many more) and their subsequent successes were enhanced by the women who contributed by means of domestic labour. A theme that still holds true for many women today.

As time has progressed, so have women and their

circumstances. We would be remiss if we did not take this opportunity to mention a sampling of female trailblazers…such as in 1792, Mary Wollstonecraft in her advocacy efforts and book release for women’s right to education equality; in 1932, Marlene Dietrich for the ‘pant suit’; in 1949, Simone de Beauvoir for her protest in the name of feminism; in the 1970’s, Gloria Steinem for the Women’s Liberation Movement; and in 2006, Tarana Burke who started the #MeTooMovement. The dedication and energy expended on ‘the good fights’ for ‘the good reasons’ are commendable and inspiring and lend momentum to raising awareness of women’s

issues today.

Women’s leadership is evolving and progressing in dynamic ways in: paid professions, caregiving (both young and old), household affairs, educational programs, community groups and volunteering, and in outdoor/leisure activities. While this important progress is happening, its results are women organizing their work in different ways. The inception of cooperative daycares in 1916 by University of Chicago faculty wives so they could arrange child raising responsibilities to perform volunteer work is one example of many.

The leadership experi-

Blanchard*, Kim Monkhouse*, Melissa Cooper*

“Ev y woman’s succe should be an i p ation to ano . We’re ronge when we ch r each o on.” S en W iams

International Women’s Day to all the incredible women in our community. May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them!

Women of The Oldford

"Don't set yourself on fire trying to keep others warm."

-Penny Reid, Author

photo courtesy : Johanna Ziegler, Merrick Preparatory School

ences of the above mentioned and many more successful women can be found by asking the ladies working at the Winchester Branch of the SDG Library. I would like to believe that over 200 years later, Wollstonecraft would be delighted by this.

It was through the library’s book club recommendations that I stumbled across a new found favourite author, Penny Reid, who writes “Don’t

set yourself on fire trying to keep others warm.” For myself, this message of self preservation is a reminder that my successes as a woman will come in a marathon format, not a sprint. I believe that many women, of all ages, can relate to this and perhaps have some wisdom to share on the matter.

We take March 8 to recognize that many of these successes would not oc-

cur without relationships, which women are stellar at organizing with a starting seed of good will. Relationships grow to communities. Communities grow to villages. Villages in which to raise…not just children, but everyone.

Naomi’s Family Resource Centre is a nine bed emergency shelter for women ages 16 and older (with or without children) who are

Role of women in farming and food production is changing

by Tracey Arts Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Women have long played a very pivotal although often unseen role in Canadian agriculture. Traditionally, that role has been one of support, from doing the farm books and helping with chores, to raising the family, managing the household and whatever else was needed behind the scenes to keep things running.

It was less common to see women actively running or managing farm businesses or participating in leadership roles with farm and agricultural organizations, but that’s something that has been increasingly changing –and the latest Census of Agriculture numbers back that up.

For the first time since 1991, when the Census of Agriculture first started collecting data on this topic, the number of female farmers in Canada has increased, rising to 30.4% of the farm population. And interestingly, that growth is attributed entirely to an increase in what Statistics Canada calls “one-operator farms” – that is, women who farm by themselves. The data also shows that more women are now running large farm businesses than ever before too.

As we mark International Women’s Day this week, it’s interesting for me to reflect on this evolution in our industry. I farm together with my husband and our children in Oxford County and I’m also a director on the board of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), the largest farm organization in the province.

I grew up on farm and completed schooling as a veterinary technician, so agriculture has always been a part of my life. When you’re in a life like farming, which is a 365day a year job, it’s important to love what you do and I’ve always enjoyed being around animals and working outside. And it’s rewarding when you can raise healthy livestock, grow a good crop or have a high yielding harvest.

When I was growing up, sales and service people coming to our farm wouldn’t be interested in speaking to my mother about issues related to the farm even though she did the books, paid the bills and spent her fair share of time on a tractor cropping or baling hay.

On our farm today, our suppliers and service providers understand that I’m an involved partner in our family business and speak to both of us equally. I know that is not yet every woman in agriculture’s experience, but the industry has definitely come a long way in accepting women in leadership and management roles.

Things have also been evolving at the farm organization level. The OFA, for example, currently has both a female president and a female general manager, and I share the board table with both female and male directors.

There is still room for more change, though, when it comes to women being accepted as equals across many different aspects of life. Society in general views men who stand up for their opinions as strong leaders, whereas women in a similar capac-

fleeing domestic violence. If you, or someone you know, is considering help, please call our 24/7 crisis line at 613.774.2838 or email staff@naomiscentre.com for information and help. Our operations are funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, and the generous donations received by the community are used to directly support the residents who stay here.

House of Lazarus

thrift store property burglarized

ity are sometimes called difficult – a scenario that is experienced by women in many sectors, not just agriculture, and still needs to change.

That being said, my advice to girls and women considering a career in agriculture or taking on a leadership role in a farm business or agricultural organization is to just go for it if that’s something you’re interested in.

It’s not always an easy road, so finding a mentor, a good group of friends or other supports is helpful. Taking leadership training is also valuable as it helps you learn new skills, build a professional network and give you the confidence to speak up with conviction. I’m just completing the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program and have found it to be extremely useful to help me further my skills, grow my network, and build my confidence.

Women have always been in the background of agriculture, but we’ve proven that we’re very capable to be at the forefront of farming too.

by Brandon Mayer

A local charitable organization has been victimized, and it turns out it’s not the first time. The House of Lazarus is a local not-for-profit organization based in Mountain which runs a thrift store in that town, a food bank in South Mountain, and a satellite thrift store and food bank location in Ingleside. The organization also runs over two dozen programs all dedicated to providing human compassion at a time when people need it the most. During the overnight hours between March 1 and March 2, the donation area of HOL’s main headquarters was burglarized and vandalised.

“To the visitors that destroyed and vandalized our donation area over night, you are not only stealing from us, but

those in our community that rely on our support,” reads a social media post made by a member of the HOL team. “This is very disheartening to our staff and volunteers who work so hard day in and day out, to start their day off cleaning up ripped bags and boxes from others that disrespect our property. We see you, this needs to stop. We are working closely with the OPP to end this.”

Vicki Cane of HOL provided some insight regarding what happened at the property. She ex-

plained that a vehicle showed up, and the perpetrators ripped open bags and boxes and left most of what they rummaged through in a mess. The perpetrators did make off with a few items, but only what they could carry in their arms. The license plate of the vehicle that was used in committing the crime is not known, but the Ontario Provincial Police is currently conducting an investigation.

It wasn’t just the property’s donation area that was targeted. A relatively new shed that serves as an electronics recycling shed was also broken into. Although nothing was taken from the shed, the door was badly damaged which is unfortunate because HOL paid to have the shed built just last summer.

This is not the first time that the House of Lazarus property has been victimized. Vandalism and minor thefts have happened periodically in recent years, though nothing has happened to date that was quite as bold as what happened last week. Vicki explained that many people likely see HOL as an easy target, but given

The House of Lazarus donation area at the Mountain location, shown on March 2 after being vandalized.

Misener, Sandra Carolyn (Baker)

Sandra was born January 6th, 1947, passed away at the Ottawa Heart Institute on February 22, 2023. Survived by beloved husband Ron Misener, cherished grandson Drew Sargent. Also survived by step-daughter Katharine Maloley (spouse Dan Maloley) and grandchildren Gordon, Jacob and Sarah. Sandra was a proud Aunt to many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and greatgreat nieces and nephews. Also survived by sister-in law Helen Baker. Sandra was predeceased by her parents Jacob Baker and Clara Baker (Shay), siblings Edith (Edie) Chambers, John (Joe), Marlene Stewart and infant son Thomas. Predeceased by much loved daughter Tracey. Sandra served the community as owner of Muriel’s Flowers for 35 years and served on many committees in the town of Winchester, Ontario. On February 26th at 1pm, a Celebration of Life was held at the Winchester Lion’s Hall. A graveside service will follow in the spring. Memorial donations can be made to the Winchester District Memorial Hospital or a local charity of your choice in her memory. Condolences/Tributes/Donations

Hulse, Playfair & McGarry

www.hpmcgarry.ca

613-774-1117

Tid Bit Musings

by Elva Patterson Rutters RSSW

Focusing on women is synonymous with focusing on men. Be it roles, fashion, physical attributes, personalities, temperaments, habits, interests, passions and so on, the element of definition is in fact comparison and the resulting justification or refuting. Ironically, much doesn't compute with being sensible or practical. When there is equal focus on men and on women, true respect and equality has blossomed. Where does your mindset rest or perhaps fluctuate?

Our upbringing sets an example for our reactions and perhaps normalizes acceptance of indicators others find objectionable. To develop your understanding, start by defining an expectation and explore why you have that opinion. For starters, why should the woman be the one making breakfast? Perhaps in your background that is what your parents did. If on a farm, the man went out to check the livestock prior to coming in to the kitchen for a breakfast made by his "fraa" (wife). But in today’s world, both can work together to make breakfast or brunch, or take turns. If the wife is sick, had surgery, gave birth, is nursing the child, changing diapers, why does she have to get up to make the breakfast when the male can easily put toast in the toaster or make porridge?

Times do change, as do the roles of women and men. Women need to be respected and treated with dignity, as do everyone else. Behaviors are the objective component. Variance of physique, hair length, dress styles, sexual orientation, ritual, etc, all are as different as the day is long. Ask yourself if it is morally threatening or life threatening for your situation and react accordingly.

Unfortunately, males physically have the equipment to force sex onto the spouse but that is sexual abuse. To force your wife into non-consensual sex is RAPE!!! Sexual assaults of female children is higher than females raping little boys or even boys being sexually abused by males but that is only by reports. Reports are more difficult by males (young or adult) unfortunately. For too many years women were sexual objects with no regard for feelings or respect. The tide has turned. Sadly, the institutionalized abuse is being highlighted and all we can do is change our levels of acceptance AND our own behaviors. Your behavior, attitude and beliefs will be the catalyst for change. As Nike says - JUST DO IT!

Periods –What’s Normal?

submitted by Andrea Empey

Like so many other teenage girls, I had no idea what to expect with my first period. I also did what so many other teenage girls do - I asked the women in my life. While this may seem like a good idea, it isn't! If they don't know what a "normal period" is, how can they actually answer this question?!

When I complained to my family doctor about cramps, I was given very strong painkillers. When I complained that the flow was too heavy, I was put on B12 supplements, told I was anemic and given the option of taking birth control pills (a nightmare story for another day). For the longest time, I accepted this as my lot in life. I didn’t know there was another option.

When I was first told what a "normal" period and cycle were, my jaw dropped. It shocked me to learned that my period and cycle was the furthest thing from "normal", that it had never been "normal". What a normal cycle and period should be:

A normal menstrual cycle should be approximately 28 days, plus or minus a day here or there. A normal period should be 4-5 days long. It should start, peak and then taper off. It should be slightly darker than if you'd cut yourself and not too heavy or too light.

That's it.

What an abnormal cycle and period might be:

For every woman, your cycle may a little different based on the symptoms you’re experiencing. Your period can also shift and change throughout your life as well.

An abnormal period and cycle might include symptoms like:

- early, late or irregular periods

- long periods (5+ days)

- heavy periods

- cramps

- clots

- PMS

- depression, sadness, moodiness

- migraines

- acne

- night sweats

- insomnia

- bloating

- and more.

In short - a monthly nightmare for some, a pain in the butt for others and almost tolerable for a few. The good news - you don't have to live with the symptoms you've struggled with! There are treatment options.

Timing

The timing of your cycle overall can be a challenge, especially when it's irregular! One of my first suggestions is to track it. There are a ton of apps these days that can help with this. Also, pay attention to what your body is telling you throughout the month (not only during your period).

How long is your period?

Anything shorter than 4 days is likely too short, especially if you’re trying to conceive. Anything over 5-6 days is too long. Ideally, you’re also not experiencing any spotting with your period.

This is a bit of a Goldilocks situation. Too long can lead to too much blood loss and too short can lead to either poor shedding of the uterine lining or insufficient blood creating the lining. Is your period heavy?

Given the number of period products available these days, it's hard to tell what a normal volume of blood loss actually is. If you're relying on both tampons and pads on your heaviest day, you should get at least 5+ hours. If you're changing more frequently, then you may have a heavy to extremely heavy period.

Period cups are a great way to tell exactly how much blood you're losing month to month as they usually hold a specific volume of blood that can be tracked.

Is your period painful?

Cramping and clots tend to coincide. Depending on the size of the clots, there may or may not be increased pain or cramping. This typically shows up as lower abdominal pain but can also be lower back pain. Ultimately, periods should be entirely pain free. This isn't limited to cramps but also includes things like breast tenderness, pain and/or distension.

For easing clots, using a menstrual cup or pads only may help. I know that the idea of only using pads isn't a very popular one; however, it's the best option for reducing period pain and clots as much as possible before working on additional reasons why the pain and clots to be present.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

PMS is often associated more with emotions like anger, irritability, depression, sadness, anxiety and mood swings. PMS is occasionally associated with physical symptoms like fatigue, acne, migraines, breast tenderness, abdominal distension (bloating), insomnia, cravings, appetite changes, weight gain (3+ pounds) and more.

These are typically symptoms that start prior to your period and end the day before your period starts or on day one of your period. It’s important to know that these symptoms may start at early at 14 days prior to your period. This is why tracking through the entire month is important!

Things you can do

There are a number of things you can do at home to help your period and your cycle. This starts with tracking your cycle so you know what’s happening.

- Movement is the next thing that can be very helpful. Getting out and moving gently daily for three weeks of your cycle is optimal. Be gentle with yourself when you’re on your period. If you’re experiencing pain, getting up and moving may help even if it’s the last thing you want to do.

- Eating magnesium, zinc and B6 rich foods all month can also help to alleviate pain. If you’re looking to improve your flow, eating iron and B12 rich foods may help.

- Talking to your healthcare provider or seeing someone who works specifically with those who are struggling with their periods or cycles.

If you’re still struggling and want help figuring out your next steps, please contact me at Hello@DancingWillowWellness.com.

Women’s Day message

by Nanda Wubs-Huizenga

“This current chapter of my life is called my turn, and I’m unapologetic about it.” This quote resonates with me.

As a Wife, Mother, Business Owner and Community Volunteer, I’ve spent my entire adult life meeting the needs of those around me. Somewhere along the way, I lost myself and it took special people to nurture me back to where I needed to be. How about you?

Do you give yourself space to be you? Do you have people who nurture you? If not, do you nurture yourself? International Women’s Day is a good day to start reflecting on you!

Last summer was a time of personal reflection and I realized that while meeting the

needs of others motivated and inspired me, there was something missing. I forgot to listen to what I needed to be happy and settled far too often. Life was ‘good enough’ and I was blessed with the love of family, goodwill in the community and business success. Yet, I was hurting.

Hurt has a way of disconnecting you. Pain can be so deep that your heart can’t bear to feel anything. When I lost my son to cancer in 2019, grief made me numb. So… I filled my time with more giving. The loss of a child is a pain so unbearable that many cannot overcome it, but I chose to overcome. Today and everyday, I look for things that bring me joy. I do things for myself that nurture my own heart and don’t rely solely on others to do that.

As women, we grieve for many reasons; relationships that are not healthy, loved ones who are suffering, children who are

OpEd- Unstoppable

by Nancy Peckford

My maternal grandmother was a remarkable woman. Born into an impoverished fishing family on the southwest coast of Newfoundland, she had seen her fair share of hunger.

Very occasionally, she would tell us about times when her family had absolutely nothing to eat, sometimes for days. Despite living in a close knit community, they would endure that hunger in silence, out of shame.

It wouldn’t take long, however, for a neighbour to notice and my grandmother described the relief they felt as kids with the delivery of baked bread, some beans and cod fish from families who were not much better off.

At the age of 12, my grandmother realized that she would need to leave school and, ultimately, her village to have a brighter future. She began working as a full-time domestic servant for another family nearby. Despite her long hours and very hard work, she was treated horribly.

making bad choices, even our aging appearance. I am my own worst critic. As a young mom, I was frustrated and angry a lot, raising four busy boys. The grief and guilt of not living up to my own standard of motherhood took years to overcome. Eventually though, I learned to forgive myself. We can be so understanding with others, but can we be that to ourselves?

Counselling has been an important part of my healing journey. Recently, my therapist asked me to put my hand on my chest and tell myself loving things. “It’s going to be okay; you’ve endured so much…” I didn’t expect the response I had. My chest was warm with emotions and tears poured from my eyes. Often, we bury our emotions just to cope with the busyness and stresses of life. This lesson taught me how important it is to be a friend to myself and not just others.

A short time ago, I felt

inspired to post this on Facebook. “Who needs a friend today? I’ll bring you a cup of coffee or some flowers or a beer. You pick! I know we all have times where we need a friend. Just want to put it out there.” One Facebook friend said she needed flowers. Her husband had been battling cancer for a few years and life was hard. Bringing her a beautiful, large bouquet of flowers brought joy to both of us. Do you need someone to bring you flowers? Maybe you just need to take time to smell the roses. Give yourself that pleasure and buy some!

My friend’s life is still hard, but a moment of joy broke through her hardship. I don’t know what hardships you’re going through. We aren’t always who we want to be when we go through these times. Sometimes we disappoint ourselves. Regret can weigh heavy on our hearts. Sometimes deciding who we are is deciding who we will never be again.

When our hearts are troubled, it affects every part of our life. We can shut down and avoid life, just to cope. Many of us stop caring about our looks, for this reason. As a mom, my focus was not on my looks or well-being, but on how to be a mom. When I became a business owner, work ruled my time, so I didn’t do things for myself. I realize now that those decisions were based on the needs and expectations of others.

Now that I’m healing and nurturing myself, I look after my skin, my health and my fitness, as well as my looks. Joining a gym last summer has had a huge impact on my healing journey. Putting 100% effort into a recent wall-sit completion, I was able to place second out of all participating men and women. What a feeling that was! Visiting a naturopath gave me insight into the type of diet I should eat and the vitamins I should take. Even getting my nails done every

six weeks makes me feel good about myself and reminds me that I’m worth it.

Do you know what you need to feel good? Are you taking time to look after yourself? There’s no need to pause your life until you are healed, so listen to your heart. Discern what makes you happy and what doesn’t. I chose to dance in the puddle of my tears and not drown in them. I chose to love myself and stop living to please others. We can “remove the ‘I want you to like me’ sticker from your forehead and place it on the mirror where it belongs,” says Psychologist Susan Jeffers.

Let’s make today - International Women’s Day 2023 - about being kind to each other and most especially to ourselves. So, on this day set aside for WOMEN, go ahead… buy the shoes (or the flowers), give yourself grace, be beaYOUtiful.

So, after a few months, she bravely made the decision to travel to a neighboring village up the coast and find work there. She proved her worth to a different family who treated her better.

Before long, my grandmother made her way to larger communities, leaving NFLD in her late teens to work as a full-time domestic servant in Sydney NS, Halifax and, ultimately, Toronto where she was employed by a Jewish family who adored her. She travelled long distances and cared for other people’s children’s while being almost completely illiterate.

I wish I could say that the story ended there, but it doesn’t. My grandmother had crossed paths with a charismatic Newfoundlander and member of the navy who was helping stop German Uboats in the North Atlantic. After he was discharged owing to an injury, my grandmother left her life in Toronto, got married and relocated to Port Aux Basques, NFLD to start a family at the end of WWII. But all was not well. Her husband, my grandfather, was deeply

troubled, and became an increasingly volatile alcoholic as a husband and father.

Despite this, with my grandmother’s considerable support, they were running a successful general Store while raising their growing family, ultimately having 12 kids. My grandfather was very well regarded as a generous and kind businessman in the community - but behind the walls of their home, he was hostile, erratic, and violent.

On a couple of occasions, my grandmother temporarily relocated her large family to get away from the chaos and aggression. Ultimately, however, she returned fearing that she would have no capacity to support her family in the long term, or maybe she thought he would change once and for all.

My grandmother was incredibly resilient and instilled the values of hard work, education, and supporting one another. The darkness of their home life was not something she talked about a lot. Like her early experiences of hunger, the abuse was rarely acknowl-

edged.

Once her kids left home, multiple valiant attempts were made to get my grandmother to leave her husband. One of my uncles repeatedly offered to build her a house of her own. But perhaps out of pride, fear of not being able to support herself, or something else entirely, she could not do it.

My grandfather passed away a few years before my grandmother did. Many of us were relieved that my grandmother would finally have a few years of peace. In a quiet moment after the funeral, my grandmother turned to me and said something that shocked me, “All those years I wasted waiting for someone to change who never did.” Her face was filled with sadness, and then she carried on.

Many people think that women who don’t leave abusive relationships are weak. Nothing could be further from the truth. My grandmother was such a strong woman - and persisted and persevered in very difficult circumstances. She had to stay very vigilant in order to protect her kids from my

grandfather, and instill in them a sense of worth no matter his behaviour.

As my grandmother, she made the best moose stew, grew a beautiful garden, played a mean hand of cards, loved arguing about politics, and insisted we all get an education. But she carried an enormous amount of grief. When I think about International Women’s Day, I think of women like my grandmother. It’s not so much a happy day for me, but a day to reflect on what all women need to truly thrive.

We have come a long way, but there are still many who suffer in silence in abusive relationships. In our area, there are safe ways to explore options where your confidentiality and privacy will be respected, and where you will not be judged or shamed but, instead, supported and equipped to make informed decisions.

Research demonstrates that women (or anyone) living in an abusive situation can experience a kind of PTSD that is nearly debilitating. The effects of

the abuse can linger for generations, but so can taking a positive step to find a way out.

In our community, it is possible to confidentially and slowly explore a new way forward that offers safety, and a better future.

Shortly after moving to Ottawa from Newfoundland, I had the chance to briefly work with women who had left abusive situations. They were in their 30s, 40s and 50s, sometimes older. They had in the midst of some of their darkest moments, found a way to make a call, finally tell a friend, or ask for help as a first step to a different life. It wasn’t easy by any stretch, but once they began down the road, they were unstoppable. Here are some folks that are eager to help if you are living with violence: Assaulted Women’s Helpline (Ontario) 1-866-863-0511 / www.awhl.org

Naomi House 613-774-2838 / https://naomiscentre.ca

Embracing equity in the workplace

express one’s authentic gender identity.

by Jennifer Friesen-Gow

This year, women are giving themselves a “hug”. No, it’s not about loving ourselves, although we should, and it’s not about self-care, although it is about care. Women are embracing equity. The goal is to get people talking about why equal opportunities aren’t enough!

So what’s the difference between equality and equity? Equality emphasises same treatment. It’s about giving everyone the same resources or opportunities to reach outcomes. While that may seem fair, people don’t start from the same places in life. Equity recognizes individual differences and allocates the resources and opportunities required to reach the same outcomes.

The goal is equality, and International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate what has been achieved. In Canada, first wave feminists like Nelly McClung won women the right to vote and to own property, but vocational choices were limited, and motherhood was still considered their main role. In the 1960’s and 70’s, second-wave feminists, feeling constrained by the limited choices available to them, asserted their rights for equal opportunities in education, work and politics. Arguably, this wave was initiated primarily by and for white middle class women. Although it drew inspiration from the civil rights movement, it did not necessarily benefit women of colour as much.

If the first and second waves were concerned with equality and levelling the playing field through legal rights and protections, the third wave regarded issues of race, social class and transgender rights as central. Areas of focus were how society shapes gender identity, especially through the media, and freedom to

Both equality and equity are important. The assumption underlying equal opportunity is that individuals or groups given the same information, access, and resources will achieve the same outcomes. However, we all know that some people have advantages by virtue of their background, education, socio-economic status etc. that others do not have. Those at a disadvantage are therefore much less likely to achieve the same outcomes. A little girl who is hungry cannot perform as well in school as the girl who had a nourishing breakfast.

In fact, same or equal treatment may unfairly disadvantage a group. Traditional hiring practices, for example, can be exclusionary. According to a recent study of companies in the United States, more than 80% of job postings include a four-year degree requirement. That automatically excludes 76% of Black Americans and 83% of Latinx workers. What about women who are economically disadvantaged? This reality makes it difficult for otherwise qualified Blacks and Latinx workers to gain access to meaningful work and significantly reduces an employer’s ability to build a diverse workforce. An equitable alternative is to focus on skills-based hiring practices. Identify the competencies actually required for the job, the ones that a four-year degree is assumed to provide, and determine where training can be provided.

A study in 2003 showed that applicants with “white sounding” names received 50% more call-backs for interviews than applicants with “Black-sounding” names. An equitable practice is to use blind resumes. This means removing information such as name, address and gender that might unconsciously bias the interviewer. Since many large employers use sophisticated applicant tracking software, this task is not so difficult to do. Equity recognizes that people are naturally unique, and may require

different resources or opportunities according to their particular needs and circumstances. One size does not fit all. Creating spaces where women can come together for coaching in small groups across roles and levels, to mentor, connect and support each other, and build leadership skills is another way to build an inclusive workplace. Other ideas include:

- Provide opportunities where people can learn about common types of biases that women face at work – including race, sexual orientation, disability, or other aspects of their identity. Most people who were raised in the “inside” group are unaware of the advantages that they enjoy by virtue of their circumstances. Simply listening to understand may help uncover an unintentional bias and possibly generate solutions to challenge it.

- Flexible work schedules – the ability to rearrange one’s schedule around responsibilities for child care can been a huge advantage for working parents, and caregivers who incidentally are most often women.

- Ensure that the language used in job descriptions, emails, policies, during interviews and in day-to-day communications is gender neutral and avoid gendering inanimate objects is another example of an equity initiative.

These are just a few ideas for creating workplaces where women, and indeed all people, can thrive. You might start by asking yourself, what are the advantages, gifts and benefits that I have that I might use or leverage to help others? If you are employed, inquire about your company’s recruitment, parental leave, and pay equity policies. If you are retired or not seeking work, support womenowned businesses and leadership programs for girls and young women. We can create workplaces that are fair, just and equitable for all.

Jennifer Friesen-Gow is a retired human resources and organizational development professional.

Environmental and health impacts of feminine hygiene products

By Kelly Windle EcoShire, Winchester

- Your planet friendly retail store

Menstruation is a natural and healthy bodily process occurring for approximately 26% of the global population. That’s about 800 million people menstruating each day. Adequate menstrual hygiene education and products are an essential reproductive health right.

Are you surprised to learn that feminine care products—like tampons, pads, douche, wipes, and sprays—can contain hazardous chemicals? Unregulated toxic chemicals may result in serious health problems, like increased risk of breast can-

cer, reproductive problems, asthma, and allergic reactions. Chemicals of concern commonly used in feminine care products include carcinogens, reproductive toxins, endocrine disruptors, and allergens. Because of the lack of government oversight, toxic chemicals can legally be used in all kinds of personal care products without pre-market safety testing. This makes it difficult for women to avoid these potentially harmful chemicals because companies are not legally required to disclose ingredients in tampons and pads.

Lack of awareness concerning the environmental impacts of disposable menstrual products is another important barrier. A recent study found a rela-

tively low awareness on the part of individuals about the environmental impact of menstrual products. Interestingly, authors found people with a higher environmental awareness of menstrual products were more likely to choose more eco-friendly products, such as the menstrual cup. If you were given more information about environmental impacts, would you choose to try reusable products, or choose disposables without applicators or products made from natural fibers?

Another important benefit to reusable products is overall cost. Depending on the product you choose to use, disposable items can cost upwards of $20 per month whereas reusable items have a one-time cost of $30 which could/should last anywhere from 3 years plus. In addition to being more cost-effective over time, reusable menstrual pads, underwear, and cups may also be part of the solution for product distribution challenges, and waste management challenges.

Menstruators around the world need affordable, consistent access to their choice of menstrual products. To ensure that individuals truly have an informed choice, they require access to unbiased information and education about all the potential menstrual products available as well as increased awareness about their health and environmental impacts.

We opened the EcoShire - your planet friendly store in Winchester Oct 2022 making products available to the public that can help people make educated healthy decisions for their body and the environment. Offering not only ecofriendly feminine products but also many chemical free personal and home cleaning options such as toothpaste, deodorant, makeup and so much more. You can find us online at www.ecoshirewinchester.com or at 535 St Lawrence St. We are passionate about our personal choices to create less waste and make more environmentally conscious purchases, and want to share that passion with our community.

Peavey Industries opens applications for 2023 Community Agriculture grant for innovative projects

submitted by Peavey Industries LP

Peavey Industries LP is proud to announce that applications are now being accepted for its 2023 Community Agriculture Grant. First launched in 2013, the grant has already awarded $800,000 in support to community groups across Canada through various agriculturally-based initiatives. The grant aims to fund innovative communitybuilding and agriculturally focused projects that will help strengthen local areas, towns, or cities.

The Community Agriculture Grant awards up to $100,000 annually to registered non-profit organizations or groups of individuals who have identified a need and developed a strategy to achieve their vision. The grant supports projects such as community gardens and green spaces, agricultural programs, recreational spaces, and rural enhancements.

HAIKU submitted by Katie Nolan Female scientist/ Gets ignored Her Whole career/ Whoops! Her work's the cure.

Baldwin's Birds

"Each of us has a community, and most of us have ideas about how our community can be helped to be stronger and better," said Doug Anderson, CEO of Peavey Industries LP.

"The Peavey Industries Community Agricultural Grant exists to nourish the entrepreneurial spirit of the people and organizations within our communities with a focus on agriculture. We have been proudly serving Canadian communities since 1966, and most of these communities have a long, rich agricultural heritage. The Peavey Industries Community Agricultural Grant is one more way that we can connect with the land and help realize tangible benefits for all."

Jest Sidloski, Vice President of Marketing at Peavey Industries LP, stated, "The grant is open to community groups across Canada, from food security to ag societies, community spaces, conservation learning programs,

youth in agriculture, indigenous programs, and more. Applicants must operate within 350km of a Peavey Mart location and must demonstrate a clear understanding of how their project will positively impact their community. We encourage your group to apply.’

Applications for the 2023 Community Agriculture Grant are now open and will close on May 31, 2023. Winners will be an-

Widow they wash her body for his soul to rest

shackled in rituals long past their time wrap her with punitive measures bind her cut her locks smudge her makeup no one must talk to her she is an outcast even after his death she must serve she is evil they wash her body for his soul to rest

nounced in August 2023, and the grant funds will be distributed in September 2023. Peavey Industries is proud to support Canadian communities and help bring their innovative agricultural projects to life. For more information on the Community Agriculture Grant and how to apply, please visit our website at peaveymart. com.

Hairy, But Not Scary!

On this miserable snowbound day, which isn't at all cheery at the moment, but as the day is drawing to an end, it is starting to look a bit more like things are starting to look up! At least I can do that now without getting an eyeful of snow and so can the birds, as they continue to come in to my feeders, or to gather the seed scattered on the ground. I am still getting quite a variety of them including a couple of Crows and some Starlings, with their iridescent plumage still in evidence. Of course, these birds, being of a larger variety are not able to use the suspended feeders, so gravitate to ground feeding or using my larger feeders, as do the Pigeons, Doves, Bluejays and Cardinals, who feed at either place depending on what appears to be available for them to eat. Our timid Redwing Blackbird partakes when it plucks up enough courage, but never lingers in one place for very long, as opposed to our two types of Woodpecker, the "diminutive" Downy and the 'huge" Hairy, who enjoy their feeding suspended above the rest and are never in too much of a rush! Both types seem to relish their visits and, at times, seem almost to be asleep, as they cling to whatever hanging feeder they are on, and remain motionless for quite long intervals. Of course, I don't think that they actually drift off to sleep ,but are keeping a vigilant look out for any unwanted intruders wishing to do them and the other birds harm. Fortunately this is a very, very occasional occurrence, so is a very safe spot for them all.

Nari shakti (woman power)

Celebrate the woman here she comes dragging her feet across the wet fields beaten, ten times, maybe more

Celebrate the woman who may cry often but never let you know what is hurting her

Celebrate the woman who wants to conquer the world but is not allowed stopped at each juncture she wants to cross all boundaries

Celebrate the woman the overachiever, the nari shakti inside her, a raging fire within lifts her spirits burns to aspire leap across greater heights

If you are wondering about my cryptic title for this article I am referring to my picture of a Hairy Male (Aren't we all!?) Woodpecker, giving a close-up view of its face, which, if the paper's version is clear enough, shows how the feathers surrounding the base of the beak look to be quite hair-like in looks and structure. These fine facial feathers, however, do not give it its name, which comes from the long thread-like white feathers that run down the middle of its black back. This fact I have just "Googled" so it must be true, mustn't it?! (tongue in cheek!). It is certainly something I shall be looking out for the next chance that I get. Perhaps you may be lucky enough to see it too, if you haven't done so already. Stay safe and well.

Cheers, John Baldwin

submitted by Jagjeet (Guddi) Sharma

How times have changed

either became a secretary (you took the commercial high school course with typing and shorthand), a nurse, a primary school teacher (not high school), or a nun. And you were expected to be married in your late teens or early twenties. Any single woman beyond that age was labelled an old maid.

by Theresa Bergeron

For international women’s day, I thought I would enlighten the younger generation on how times have changed in my lifetime.

I was born in 1951, making me 71 today. Through the 50’s, women were expected to be housewives and mothers and obey their husbands. They were referred to as Mrs John Smith, not Mrs Marie, as women were still considered chattels to men. The roles were very well defined. Well into the 60’s, career choices for women were very limited. I was raised in a French Canadian Catholic family. Women were not expected to go beyond grade 12 for education. After that, you

My father kept the strict roles that were set for men and women at the time. He was the “breadwinner” and my mother, upon getting married, quit her teaching job to become a housewife. Note that in those days when a woman “showed” that she was pregnant, she lost her teaching job, with no compensation. Heaven forbid that a child would question that bump on her abdomen. But then my father had six girls and contrary to his beliefs for his generation, he put us all through post secondary education so, as he said, that we could all have a career and not depend on a man for a living! He was ahead of his time. But even then,

in the late 60’s, university education was limited to women based on “quotas”. There were quotas for those who wanted to be doctors, dentists, veterinarians and engineers. At Queen’s university, the quota for pre-med was 5 out of 65 students. High school boys got in with averages as low as 65, the girls, 92. When I inquired with a professor, he mentioned that the board of governors thought it was a waste of taxpayers’ money to educate women in these careers as they would probably end up as “housewives”. By the early 70’s, this was found to be sexual discrimination and today, the medical careers have more women than men. Also in those days, people thought that girls only went to university to catch a husband.

My parents’ generation had well defined roles. My generation had confused roles. Women were having careers, getting married and having children. Men took a while to adapt. They still hung on to women

managing the house and children, but enjoyed the added bonus of a wife contributing financially to the family. Now we were double worked and burning out. And there was lots of strife and many divorces.

Today, we are not shamed and pointed at for being single. And if we do couple up, married or not, we can choose not to have children. And men finally see families as a shared responsibility. They step up to the plate to cook, change diapers, wash dishes, and do the laundry. In my day, we had six weeks of maternity leave. Now it’s a year or more with shared leave between the parents.

And there was a time, I think into the 80’s, when if a woman wanted to have a tubal ligation, she had to have written permission from her husband. And when a woman wanted to get a bank loan, lets say to start a business, she was required to have a spouse co-sign. Thank God, those days are over. Yes, we can manage very

well on our own. Yes, times have changed for the better. I’ve lived it and I’m glad to see it!

To all the Women Past

Present

To goat, or not to goat

by Lindsay Diehl

This wife and mother loves animals. Her homestead included three horses, seven chickens and six guineas. What more could she want? Goats! A Pygmy or Nigerian Dwarf goat would be a great addition to the farm. They can herd with horses…or can they? The search began and ended quickly, finding the perfect little buckling we called Gunner. Upon the decision to purchase him when he was weaned, we were asked - Do you have another? You cannot just have one goat! A small detail I may have missed in my researching goat habitats, personality, and health needs. Goats are herd animals, this detail is an important one. The search began again and ended with a little doe, Winter.

Winter arrived home, we settled her into her indoor stall – with bunk beds because goats love to climb. We let her roam her new pen equipped with a homemade feeder, climbing apparatus and a four-foot fence. We were ecstatic to have her

home. Gunner would join us the following week, until then we would help her feel at home.

Three hours following her arrival, we came home from the gym and went to tuck Winter into her stall for the night…but Winter was gone! It was now dark, rain imminent. Goats do not like rain and getting wet. The search was on! Four kids, two parents, and flashlights. We searched the nearby neighbors and our property, nothing! We searched for hours. My son and I headed to the bush behind our property. I know the paths, we were safe, my son an avid orienteer. A way into the bush my phone rang, my man asking if there was any sign of her, none. We planned where to meet and told him we were fine. I hung up and continued. My cell battery changed to red, low battery – this was my flashlight, panic! My immediate thought? This is how people die in the wilderness. The rain began…we had to give up and head home.

Distraught and defeated,

I invested in asking a friend for help the following day. This young gal went to social media to post photos and notice of a lost goat. Shortly after, friends arrived and shouted, “get in the truck, your goat has been found!”. Off I went to search a nearby county road into a field where she was seen, no luck. Storm clouds were closing in, more rain. We continued down the road to the golf course. I swallowed my pride, walked into the clubhouse and asked “have you seen my goat?”, well yes! ‘Elvis’ they called her had been treated like a queen and had taken up residence in their mini golf course! I cried with delight.

We spent the next week of holidays building the fence to six feet that Winter can still easily soar over. The day Gunner arrived home, the escape artist stopped jumping the fence. A partnership created.

The goat chronicles continue to this day! The moral to the story, you cannot just have one goat.

I moved to Kemptville in 1997, best decision ever! I am foremost a daughter, a mother, and a spouse. I transitioned from a career in food service to law in 2000, became a lawyer in 2010 and opened my own office in 2014. Within my practice I employ five fantastic women who help me provide excellent legal services to this community. In my

North Grenville.

The Food Corner

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

How can such an ugly tuber as a sweet potato taste so good! Some folks coming to our restaurant always order the Sweet Potato Fries. Sweet potatoes are a staple in lots of cultures and our family particularly appreciates them as easy to make, flavourful and also very versatile: they can go with practically anything. Today’s recipe tarts up the homely plant with orange and ginger, hence Orange Ginger Sweet Potatoes.

Orange Ginger Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

• 2 kgs or 4 ½ pounds of sweet potatoes (available practically everywhere)

• 5 tablespoons of butter

• ½ cup of half and half cream

• 1 tablespoon of orange juice concentrate

• 1 teaspoon of ground ginger

• 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper

Preparation

• Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into pieces for cooking

• Cover them with water in a sauce pan, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer

• Let the sweet potatoes cook till tender for a half hour or so, then drain

• Place the cooked and tender tubers in a blender or food processor

• Add the butter, cream, orange juice concentrate, ginger and pepper

• Blend till smooth and pour the mixture into a baking dish (glass preferred)

• Bake at 350F for a half hour or so and serve while hot

To add eye appeal, you can swirl 2 or 3 tablespoons of sour cream or plain yoghurt into the top half inch of your dish. You can actually serve Orange Ginger Sweet Potatoes as a soup, they are that good! Or, have them accompany a leg of lamb or a pork roast. Vegetarians can serve this recipe with pastas or grain dishes.

All the best from pcormier@ranaprocess.com. Please think kindly of our colleagues at Mr. Mozzarella, who are recovering from a fire. Despite the material damage, we are all thankful that there was no loss of life or injuries; we are also impressed by and grateful for our devoted municipal firefighters, as always.

Slow internet in 2023 is outrageous

by Brandon Mayer

There is no doubt that much of our world is now lived online – work, socializing, and communicating all often make use of the internet. For many people, entertainment is also delivered via the internet in the form of music streaming services, and content streaming services such as Netflix. The internet is an ingenious invention. While nothing can ever replace the value of face-to-face socializing, things such as working from home are made possible only because of the internet. This also does wonders for the planet, seeing as people who work from home don’t need to pollute by driving into work.

Lately, I have been hearing from locals that we need faster internet and better internet coverage areas. I could not agree more. The internet is “new” when looking at all of human history, but it is far from new for most people reading this. We had internet at home when I was a young child. Yes, it was dial up, meaning that we had to formally connect and disconnect each time we had to use it, but we had internet. Yes, it was so slow that by the time my basic online computer game loaded, my parents were already making me get off so that we didn’t exceed the bandwidth limit, but we had internet. Yes we would have to log off in order for someone to make a phone call because it was impossible to use the house phone and the gigantic, slow, Windows 95 computer at the same time, but we had internet.

More than 20 years later, why on Earth are we having to fight for decent internet service? Because of all that we expect the internet to do for us, in terms of streaming services, online gaming, smart home products, and working from home which often includes video conferencing, it is now recommended that every household has a minimum internet download speed of 50 mbps. Keep this number in mind.

When my wife and I bought our house, there was only one provider that could offer us 50 mbps. It was a wireless internet provider that I shall not name, but suffice to say that many people know them for their horrible reputation. I called with genuine concerns that if I signed up, we would not get the speeds we pay for despite it being a very expensive monthly plan. The salesperson was a smooth talker and he reeled me in. Long story short, the internet from this provider was garbage. We could barely stream one video, let alone work from home or use several different devices simultaneously. I used a website to check our download speed – we were getting 0.9 mbps on the day that I checked. We had waited too long to cancel and had no recourse but to cancel the service with a $200 fee. Could we go after them for not delivering what they said they would? No, because the fine print says that the plan is for a 50 mbps maximum speed, not a guaranteed speed.

We ended up switching to Bell, who I will name because even though the phone lines on our street will only support a maximum speed of 25 mbps, we have been happy with the service and have had no problems since switching.

It is no secret that upgrades and advances come to small towns and rural areas very late compared to when these advantages hit big cities. Part of that is the reason why city living is so expensive compared to country living – the cost is for the conveniences and the amenities. But internet is no longer a luxury or a cool new thing. It is intertwined with every bit of our lives, from work to communication to play. It is essential for rural residents just as much as city dwellers, and it is time for governments to step up and make infrastructure upgrades a priority. We deserve at least the minimum recommended speed of 50 mbps in all areas of the Municipality, as does everyone else in Canada. It’s time for governments to stop dragging their feet and get to work!

CROSSWORD

5. Stomach muscles, for short

all

tool

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

Easy Medium Hard

Solution to last week’s Crossword

What are we teaching our children?

by Marguerite Boyer

I have been thinking a lot about social media and how people use it. For myself, I use it to keep in touch with friends and family around the world. Being in the newspaper business, I know for a fact that everything we put in print had better be backed up with evidence before it goes to print, otherwise we could be sued.

But it seems social media is different. From what I have seen over these past few years, you can post anything, and have people believe it, whether it is true or not.

I have seen parents and

grandparents posting things that I am shocked by. Nasty comments about individuals and businesses here in our community, comments with no substance, etc.

Sometimes we get letters attacking individuals, or businesses, and most of the time these letters are anonymous, or the writer asks us not to print their name. We don’t print these letters, mainly because we don’t know the entire story of what actually happened, nor do we have the means at times to investigate. There is one thing I dislike more than anything else though, and

EYE ON ACTIVISM

Micro-Aggressions

that is anonymous posts. We had two placed last year on our web site during the Provincial Elections, and those two posts caused a lot of trouble in the months to come. Was that the aim of those posts? We quickly took them down once we were notified. Whoever posted them, I would call a coward.

As a parent and grandparent, I would be shocked if any one of my own children posted anything like some of the comments I have seen on Facebook. Regardless of how they felt towards that individual that they

are bashing on social media, there is no excuse for being rude or nasty. I may not have been the best mother, but one thing I hope I have taught my children are morals. Right from wrong. I may not like you as an individual, but I have no right to bash you on social media, just because I really don’t like you.

This all leads me to wondering what we are teaching our children? If you can stoop as low as name calling on social media, a platform that our children have access to, is this what you are teaching your child? That it is okay

to bully and call people nasty names, something the school has been trying to teach the students not to do because of the hurt it can cause? During the Trump reign, I have seen that man use nicknames for many of his foes - nasty ones - and his audience taking pleasure in this. It is like we are going backwards instead of forwards.

I have no idea what drives a person to be so nasty on social media. Perhaps they have so much pain and anger themselves, that this is

how they release it? I don’t know, I am not a psychologist, I don’t have the answers. I sometimes get angry at a person, and in my head call them all kinds of names; but I know it is morally wrong to post my thoughts, so why don’t others know as well? There is a code of conduct we were raised by: bullying and name calling is just not acceptable. And remember, our children and their children have access to this.

So what are we teaching our children?

by Zara Zrudlo

Micro-aggressions, as defined by Miriam Webster, are “a comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group (such as a racial minority).”

For instance, the assumptions that we make about a person’s gender or pronouns when we talk to them briefly at the store don’t seem like a super big deal but can be really hurtful. As a non-binary person who uses the they/ them pronouns, I get misgendered A LOT and it can be really hurtful even when it’s an accident. Another example could be seeing a woman, or a person with female gender expression, and assuming that they can’t carry something heavy, or aren’t as strong as a man, or a person who was assigned male at birth. These things may not seem like a big deal to the person who is committing them, or they may be totally unaware that they are doing it, but things like that can really build up, especially for people in minority communities who face things like that multiple times a

day, every day. It can be hard to break a habit we are unaware of, and researching offensive terms, or learning more about marginalized communities can help with that. If we know more about the groups of people that micro-aggressions are often directed towards, we will be so much more likely to catch ourselves if we say something offensive. Or if someone tells you that something you are saying is hurtful, thank them and do some more research on the subject to be more prepared next time!

I saw an example online about the stereotype of the Angry Black Woman. In the media, Black women are often portrayed as angry, or more violent than other women, which can lead to even more distrust and fear of Black people. In this example it compared microaggressions to mosquito bites. People in minority communities, especially visible minorities, receive multiple mosquito bites every day, but people who are more privileged, only receive one a week, then it will build up a lot more for people from marginalized communities. Imagine you were so much itchier than everyone else, you had way more mosquito bites, then the more you had, the bigger each one would feel. You would have so many more reasons to be angry. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve cried, or had to clench my fists behind my back when someone has

mis-gendered me for the fifth time that day, because the more it happens, the worse and worse it feels.

Now imagine having to deal with that from a really young age, especially when you’re a kid and you don’t really understand why people are making fun of you for your ethnicity, or religion. Ways you can can help are by being more aware, asking what people’s pronouns are when you first meet them and sharing your own, not assuming that a person of colour is on drugs, not assuming that a woman can’t change her own tires, not assuming that just because someone is LGBTQ2SIA+ that they are a pedophile, etc. These are just small things that you can do in order to help people feel more accepted and welcomed.

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.

Lenten Lunch Dates

Enjoy a lunch, dessert and Lenten message at the following Churches for the month of March.

Time: 12pm

Cost: Free will offering

March 15 - St. Clare's Anglican (2530 Falcone Ln, Winchester)

March 22 - Christ United Chesterville (5 Casselman St, Chesterville)

March 29 - Winchester United Church (519 St. Lawrence, Winchester)

The Weather with Connor Featuring Connor Mockett

Hello, everyone! Welcome back to The Weather with Connor. This week’s column will be a little bit different, I’m going to talk about my Top 3 favourite storm chases that I’ve ever been on. There were lots to choose from over the years, but I think I’ve made my mind up!

Number 3: September 5th, 2021.

This day was a complete surprise. I was expecting storms this day, but nothing quite as photogenic as what I ended up seeing. I actually didn’t even prepare for a chase day, because after looking at models, I wasn’t all convinced anything cool was going to happen. Boy, was I wrong.

I was sitting at home, periodically checking radar for most of the afternoon and early evening. Around 5:00pm, I started to get intrigued by a storm over by Casselman, mostly because I could see the crisp updraft in the distance from Winchester, and it was showing some minor rotation on radar. Because of those things, I quickly prepared my car and cameras for an emergency chase.

I ended up catching up to the storm around Moose

Creek. It was a relatively slow moving storm, which is not common around here. Right off the bat, I saw a minor funnel cloud pretty much directly over Casselman, but the storm visually looked like it was dying. I kept with it, though. From Moose Creek, I followed it all the way to just east of Alexandria, and during that drive, it progressively got prettier and prettier, and then I was in shock at what I was seeing.

I stopped the car near Glen Robertson, Ontario, right at the Quebec border. I hopped out of the car, and saw a big beautiful shelf cloud, with the sun from behind the storm shooting directly through it, making the underneath of the storm a bright orange. A gorgeous sight.

Number 2: June 27th, 2022.

This was one of my Alberta chases from my Chasecation last summer. This was one of those days where the Alberta Foothills are playing games with you for a little bit, until storms really pop off. Supercells were expected to fire up off the foothills in the late afternoon and early evening around Calgary.

Right around dinner time, the first storm of the day fired up, but it was a weird one. It was moving straight north, following the edge of the foothills, and was never able to come off the mountains to tap into a better environment. It was also moving about 100km/h, which is very difficult to chase, especially in rush hour in Cochrane, Alberta. I tried my best to follow that storm, but I got stuck in traffic, and the storm later died. I was frustrated, that’s for sure, so I went and parked at a gas station just north of Cochrane, thinking the day was a bust…until it wasn’t.

While on my phone looking for potential hotels to stay at for the night, I suddenly look up and see a huge updraft off to my south. A new supercell thunderstorm had just come off the Foothills, and was immediately dangerous. It went to a tornado warning pretty quickly, and did show a couple of funnels as other chasers reported. However, I was far away, and had to catch up to it from Cochrane to Strathmore, Alberta. I ended up catching it, and boy was I happy about that. I got out in front of the storm, took the camera out, and started

taking photos. This photo was in my 2023 Calendar, and is one of my all-time favourites. This was taken near Hussar, Alberta at 10:15pm. Number 1: July 15th, 2021.

This was another emergency chase type of day. On a Thursday morning, I got to looking at the weather models, because severe storms were expected late in the day for Eastern Ontario. Fun fact, this day was the same day and the same system, which caused the Barrie, Ontario EF-2 tornado that afternoon.

I was on the couch going over things in my head. I noticed models had a storm or two Thursday afternoon in the Ottawa Valley, so I started looking at the parameters to see if it was worth giving it a shot. I know the Ottawa Valley terrain and road network very well, so it was (and always is) attractive to chase up there. I really contemplated going or not, so I gave myself a 10 minute period to tell myself if I was going or not. Naturally, my storm chasing brain told me to go, so I did. A non-planned chase into the Valley.

Another fun fact, the CASFT Franktown radar

that Environment Canada has was not up and running yet, as it was still being installed that summer. So I had no radar to look at before or during this chase, it was completely visual chasing. I got into my target area, just northwest of Renfrew, Ontario. As I’m sitting on a dirt back road in the open fields, I notice the cloud cover. I actually almost left because of the clouds. Once again, glad I didn’t!

As I’m sitting there, I see my target storm coming into view. At the time, it was just entering the town of Golden Lake/Eganville, but I could still see it. Immediately, I noticed a lowering, right where it should be for a supercell (the southern part of the storm). It started to

get closer and closer, close enough where I could visually see strong rotation happening in the clouds and wall cloud. I drove further north, about 1.5km, to get to another dirt road. This is where structure was most amazing. You really don’t see this type of supercell structure around here very often at all. I was really seeing rotation, and to this day I still cannot believe this storm didn’t put down a tornado.

This was, and still is, the most beautiful supercell I’ve ever personally laid my eyes on in my Ontario chasing days.

Winchester Fire Department GROWS the WDMH Foundation’s Cancer Care Navigator Fund

Each November, more moustaches and beards appear as Movember participants grow some whiskers and awareness about men’s health. In 2022, the Winchester Fire Department joined in, raising funds for the WDMH Foundation’s Cancer Care Navigator Fund. Recently, part of the team presented a cheque for $2,379, along with this important message: “Unfortunately, everyone is affected by cancer going through life in one way or another. This community is near and dear to our hearts, so choosing to support the Cancer Care Navigator Fund at Winchester District Memorial Hospital and the WDMH Foundation would be the best fit to help families through one of the toughest journeys of their lives.”

“Thank you to the Winchester firefighters,” says WDMH Foundation Managing Director Kristen Casselman. “These men already go above and beyond for our community every day, and we are grateful for their additional efforts to support cancer care at our local hospital.”

submitted by Jane Adams

Photo caption: Shown in the photo are (l-r): David Wilcox, Matt Thibault, Captain Terry Wagner, Bradon Martel and Ryan Bissonnette. Missing are Captain Kreg Raistrick, Jeff Sharpley, Craig Szeifried, Duston Broadfoot, Cory Houle and Drew Anderson.

July 15, 2021

September 5, 2021

June 27, 2022

100th trip around the sun

It never lies.

Triumph in the Rink: Winchester Skating Club Takes Home 11 Medals

People often ask me, what’s my secret to a long and healthy life? This week, I start my 100th trip around the sun. So I must acknowledge that Lady Luck has been on my side. But it’s not just good luck, or good genes.

As a medical doctor, I learned early that the best way to stay healthy is to avoid getting sick. Doctors can occasionally work miracles. But these are rare, and you should not count on them as a strategy for a long and healthy life.

Your physical body is your only vehicle on this journey of life. It’s been said, “If you don’t take care of your body, where are you going to live?”

So take this to heart. Rule #1 for good health and longevity is to follow a sound lifestyle starting early in life. And Rule #2 is, never forget rule #1.

Even so, problems can creep up.

Over many years now, I’ve told readers to be wary of pharmaceutical drugs. When I suffered a heart attack at 74-years of age, I chose a high dose vitamin C regimen to combat build up of plaque in coronary arteries. Twenty-five years later, my ticker and cardiovascular system are still going.

Doctors advised me to take statins. They said

I wouldn’t live 5 years without them.

But I prefer to focus on the fundamentals, not to treat the symptoms. So here are a sample of the common-sense ingredients for good health:

Get regular exercise including aerobic and strength training to maintain physical and mental health.

Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Avoid processed foods, sugar, salt, and excess alcohol.

Manage stress using techniques that ease your mind, whether it be meditation and mindfulness, a workout, or a favourite comedy show.

Sleep well, enabling the body and mind to rest and recharge.

Schedule regular medical check-ups, especially to get access to screening tests that help identify and treat heath issues early on.

I have expressed frustration at times when people fail to do these simple things to protect their health. But I’ve also acknowledged that changing behaviours can be difficult.

So I’ve argued that people should build simple and regular habits that promote good health. One of them is stepping on the bathroom scale everyday.

On matters of another scale, it confounds me greatly that humankind can be so cruel and misguided. War, pollution, and poverty are among the features of our social landscape that will condemn the chances of many people to reach a healthy old age. But I don’t know how to stop the madness.

In light of it all, there’s little chance of a healthy, long life if you are not happy. Enjoyable social connections with family and friends are undervalued among the determinants of health. The effects of laughter on physical and mental health haven’t been studied enough. But a life of laughter is good practice for old age, when for all its benefits, you also need coping mechanisms – and there is none better than a good laugh.

As I journey for my 100th trip around the sun, I would like to thank all my readers for your birthday greetings and especially for the feedback regarding how this column has occasionally been helpful to you. I always aim to write in a way that is both informative and thought-provoking. And I am not done yet!

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By Isabella St-Marseille

The Winchester Skating Club sent thirteen figure skaters to compete in

the Elizabeth Manley Winter Classic from February 1719. Despite the long break from competing due to the

pandemic, the skaters were determined to succeed! The athletes are thankful for the overwhelming support from their coaches, family, and friends that encouraged them and witnessed their victories. The skaters won an impressive total of eleven medals across twelve events, including six gold, three silver, and two bronze medals. They worked hard for months leading up to the competition, and their triumph is a testament to their skill and dedication. The Winchester Skating Club is proud of their athletes' achievements and looks forward to continuing their success in future competitions.

Winchester Skating Club athletes sweeping the podium at Bob MacQuarrie Rink in Orleans. Left to right: Sarah Lewis, Olivia Lewis, Lauren Hardy, Avery Summers, Alicia McNaughton, Chantal Lewis, Shannon Arbuckle, and Alexane Paquette. Skaters not photographed: Dawn Erikson, Emma Larsson, Erin Arbuckle, Erin Wheeler, and Mandy Roach-Swerdfeger.