Issue 6 2025 February 20 NG Times by The North Grenville & North Dundas Times

CSE Consulting Annual Job Fair & Training Expo

Join us for an exciting opportunity to enhance your Earning, Learning & Living in North Grenville! CSE Consulting, Grenville County’s Employment Ontario Service Provider, is excited to announce its 9th Annual Spring Job Fair in North Grenville, taking place on Tuesday, March 4, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the North Grenville Municipal Centre. The event is organized in partnership with the North Grenville Municipality and will feature more than 25 of the region’s top employers, along with 6 service agencies and a variety of training providers to provide additional resources

at this year’s event.

“If you are looking for a job or considering a career change, this is a must-attend event,” says Tracy McDonald, Job Developer with CSE Consulting in North Grenville. “Jobseekers will have the chance to meet recruiters from companies from a wide range of sectors for in-demand careers.”

The job fair is a unique opportunity for job seekers of all ages and backgrounds to interact directly with local employers, showcase their skills and qualifications, and explore potential employment opportunities and career paths. Job seekers are encouraged to bring

multiple copies of their resumes, dress professionally, and be prepared for on-the-spot interviews. CSE Consulting also oﬀers free resume assistance and job fair preparation workshops for interested candidates. The next workshop will be held on Thursday, February 27 , from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the CSE oﬃce.

Are you ready to take the next step in your career?

Discover incredible opportunities at the North Grenville Job Fair & Training Expo. Whether you’re looking to earn more, learn new skills or get to know your community, this event is for you! Call now to learn more

or register as an employer! 613-258-6576 or visit www. cseconsulting.com.

CSE Consulting has been serving the communities of Grenville County for over 30 years, providing a variety of employment services and programs for both job seekers and employers. CSE’s mission is to help individuals achieve their employment goals and to support local businesses in ﬁnding and retaining qualified staff. CSE is funded by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY LUNCHEON

Saturday, March 8, Catered Aﬀairs, Kemptville Campus

No Agenda, other than to celebrate women from all walks of life, here in North Grenville and area.

For more information contact: ngcommunityforum@gmail.com

Genealogical Society Presentation

Join us on Monday, March 3, at 7:00 pm via Zoom for a presentation on A History of Brockville Photography Studios by Alice McMurtry from the Brockville Museum.

This presentation will shed a light on some of the leading names in photography’s early days in Brockville. We will explore how

photographic technology has changed over time, and look at photography’s impact on the development of tourism in Brockville. This talk will be highlighted by photographs from the Brockville Museum collection. Do you have family photos taken by a Brockville photographer? Learn more about the photographers who took them, and the studios they operated. It may even help you to identify “mystery photo”

sitters!

Alice McMurtry is the Community Program Coordinator at the Brockville Museum, where she develops public and educational programming for a range of audiences. She has extensive museum experience, having worked at the Royal Ontario Museum, the Ontario Heritage Trust, the City of Toronto History Museums, the Bata Shoe Museum, Black Creek Pioneer Village, and

other cultural institutions across the province. She holds a Master’s in Museum Studies and an Honours BA in History and English Literature from the University of Toronto.

To register for this presentation, visit our Branch website leedsandgrenville. ogs.on.ca for more details.

Seedy Sunday

Join us Sunday, March 2, from 10am - 2pm at the Kemptville Campus Greenhouses for the oﬃcial start to gardening season! Seedy Sunday Kemptville is a seed swap, local vendors market, learning experience and social gathering all in one!

This year's event will feature talks from expert gardeners, local vendors oﬀering delicious food, farm and garden products, and of course so many seeds. Buy from small-scale seed producers and participate in our community seed swap. Free Admission.

Knitting Hope: making a global impact, one doll at a time

by Talia Hreljac

It’s not every day you come across a story that makes you think – this would make the perfect Hallmark movie. But folks, today’s the day. The NG Times was recently contacted by Kemptville Retirement Living with a heartwarming story about a group of women who’ve been working tirelessly to bring joy to children around the world, one “Izzy” doll at a time.

For a bit of background, the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum runs an “Izzy Doll Drive” every November, with a goal of collecting 1,000 dolls to be distributed to children in disaster zones by military and healthcare professionals. This initiative was started by the mother of Canadian Peacekeeper Master Corporal Mark Isfeld, and it continues to bring hope, comfort, and joy to kids when they need it the most.

After hearing about this wonderful cause from one of the residents’ granddaughters, Ollie Simpson, Noella Cleroux, Marilyn Henderson, and volunteer Lisa St. Jean decided to dive in and make a diﬀerence. These ladies, who gather weekly for their knitting club at Kemptville Retirement Living, have been hard at work crafting these beautiful dolls. Initially, their goal was to ﬁll just one bin with dolls – but they’re already well on their way to surpassing that, and they’re excited to see how much more they can contribute.

Here’s where we all come in: as a community, we have the chance to join in and show our support. If you’d like to be a part of this incredible story, you’re more than welcome to create your own Izzy Dolls and drop them off at the retirement home, which has now been dubbed the official “Doll Drop Off” spot. Or, if you’re feeling extra inspired, why not join these fantastic ladies for their knitting club on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am and help work on the dolls? The more, the merrier they say!

And if knitting isn’t exactly your forte but you still want to pitch in, they’re also looking for yarn and stuﬃng donations to help make these dolls as special as possible.

In a world where it often feels like we’re powerless to help children aﬀected by war, this is a chance to make a meaningful impact. Together, we can truly make a diﬀerence in their lives and show them that there is still so much good in the world.

PS. The pattern for the Izzy Doll can be found on The NG Times website.

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culverts

Ollie Simpson and Lisa St.Jean (our volunteer).

Changes

by David Shanahan

You’ve probably heard the saying, or a variation of it, that goes, “the only constant in life is change”. Nothing stays the same for long. We change, grow old, sometimes wiser, often not. The familiar is comfortable and comforting, and change is challenging and disruptive. We try to structure our lives around stability, security in some form or other, whether that be financial, social, or in our family and friends. But it can be hard work resisting the inevitable changes that life throws at us.

The past months, and especially the last couple of weeks, has show us very clearly how quickly and fundamentally things can change in life. The political stability we took for granted is suddenly undermined by a few sentences spoken by

OPP Report

a few unpleasant individuals who happen to have the power and inﬂuence to change the world at their whim. Not a pleasant place to be. It now seems that the whole world is being reorganised around us, and not in ways we would have wanted, or even imagined.

I have written here before that the relative stability of the last decades has been an unusual phenomenon in history. The post-war international order based on accepted rules and laws was never truly real. It affected what we used to call “the West”, and never really touched the rest of the world, still living with uncertainty and insecurity, often with tyranny and repression. The idea that the United States was a beacon of civilisation, the world’s policeman, guardian of the Good and the Decent, was always a chimera. That country was also the

Second individual arrested in connection with school threats

The Grenville Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has arrested a second teenager in connection with multiple threats of violence against schools.

The anonymous telephone threats, to commit violent acts at St. Michael Catholic High School, began September 12, 2024, and continued until October 18, 2024.

An extensive investigation by members of the Grenville OPP Crime Unit, assisted by the OPP Cyber Investigations Team, OPP Regional Support Team, OPP Provincial AntiTerrorism Section, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Bridgewater Nova Scotia Police, Bethlehem Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation resulted in charges being laid in October 2024 against a 14-year-old male from Bridgewater.

Today (February 11, 2025), as a result of the continuing investigation, members of the Grenville County OPP, including the Crime Unit and the East Region Community Street Crime Unit, with the assistance from the OPP Cyber Investigations Team, Forensic Identiﬁcation Services, members of the SD&G Detachment and OPP Emergency Response Team executed a search warrant at a home in South Dundas Township.

One person was arrested.

A 14-year-old male, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has been charged with:

Uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm - three counts

Indecent communications - three counts

Mischief - interfere with lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property-over $5000 - two counts

Public mischief - three counts

These charges relate to incidents in Kemptville, Iroquois and New York State.

The accused appeared for a bail hearing before the Ontario Court of Justice in Brockville on Tuesday, February 11. Public safety is paramount in any threat investigation and such incidents must be treated as serious and legitimate until proven otherwise.

While charges have been laid, the investigation is continuing in conjunction with the OPP Cyber Investigations Team, police in multiple jurisdictions, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigations in the United States. The OPP also continues to look into potential connections to any similar incidents.

If you have any information on these incidents, contact the Grenville Detachment at 1-888-310-1122. If you want to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

home of racism, violence, inequality, and self-interest. Militarily, it intervened in other countries whenever it fel it was in its own interests to do so. It also exercised an economic domination, a commercial imperialism, over much of the world. What has been termed the Coca-Colinisation of the world’s economies.

So, what we’ve seen since January is simply the US administration throwing oﬀ the mask and being open and clear about how it sees itself in relation to everyone else. They will help those who accept their rule, and destroy those who don’t. Trump’s “policies” regarding Panama, Greenland, and, of course, our own country, are no diﬀerent from those of Putin in regard to Ukraine or any former Soviet Republic. As every empire in history has claimed: Might is Right.

The other major shift in

perception instigated by recent events is in how Europe and Canada see themselves. No longer basking in their “special relationship” with the US, they are suddenly faced with the fact of their deep dependence on that country’s good will and economic support. Whether this will actually lead to a shift in actual relationships within Europe, and between Europe and Canada, and on a wider stage, is impossible to predict at the moment. It may be that this change of perspective will be as ﬂeeting as the one that accompanied the arrival of the pandemic, when we all believed that life would never be the same after COVID, and that we would change how we lived and related to each other. It need not be the same this time. Here in Ontario, we’re facing an election next week, and there’s a good chance there’ll be a

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I find all the business with Mr. Trump very threatening and frightening. Last time around we had Sir Winston Churchill for one great strategist against Hitler. Who do we have now? If anyone thinks there is something good about this aggression, think again. I’m pretty sure he does not have our interests in mind. It didn’t matter to Hitler about whose land he wished to possess. The occupants had no importance to him. He just extinguished those who got in his way. How can we possibly thank those who went to war and so many, too many, lost their lives to save the rest of us.

About the topic of religion, I do be.lieve in a “spirit” world for good reason. Why do ‘white’ people or non-native people believe they have it right? Everyone is entitled to their beliefs, but shouldn’t try to influence others. We are surely entitled to believe as we wish if we don’t do harm to others or try to force our beliefs on them.

At least the “native’ people honour the “Mother Earth”, which most of us haven’t done much of as of late. “God” is beyond anything I could ever imagine. How could anyone? The Universe is beyond anything anyone can really compre-

federal election next month. Will recent events change how we see elections? Will it result in a greater number of citizens voting and being involved in what comes after? The reality is that Ontario only exists in a rather artiﬁcial way. It is the people of Ontario that really decide what the province is all about. It is the change that takes place in us that determines the socio-political future of our community: how much we take control of whatever we can, how much we have our say, make our feelings known, who we decide to elect on every level of government.

instead of FPTP, to provide a healthjier and more eﬀective democratic role for all citizens? Do we have the imagination, the courage, the vision, to see things differently? The new reality put before us by Trump, Putin, and all like them, make this the perfect time to do so. Can we? Will we?

hend. We are trying. I think if I had been in a concentration camp at the mercy of the Nazis, who had no mercy for their victims, I think faith would be greatly challenged. I deﬁnitely agree with David’s important article, “New World in the Morning”. It is all a lot more than frightening. “Billionaires and Republican politicians lining up right behind Elon Musk and his Nazi salute, the far-right German party, the AfD, and the Reform Party in the UK.”

Also, commenting on the letter by Heather Popazzi: from what I understood from the letter, she was responding to, it sounded like the volunteer firefighter was driving dangerously which cannot be a good thing ever to endanger someone else’s life.

Sincerely,

Kath Piché

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Change is challenging, but it doesn’t have to be for the worse. Yes, it is a little naive (more than a little, perhaps?) To think tat we will fundamentally change how we relate to the world around us. I believe this is a fallen world, one that is broken at a fundamental level. It shows everywhere. We are killing the planet, but either deny it, or refuse to do anything about it in any real way. We look at the food banks serving an increasing number of families, and we waste food and money on ourselves. It is our nature, and that is hard to change, perhaps impossible.

Some things have changed: the old distinction between Right and Left is less and less a reﬂection of the real political situation in the world. Traditional political party loyalties are being questioned, here in Ontario, as well as elsewhere. Is it good enough, responsible even, to coninue to support a party just because you always have? Should we be rethinking allegiances, and even structures, in the face of these new realities? Is it time, or past time, to adopt new systems of election, PR

Reporter Talia Hreljac Talia@ngtimes.ca

Editor David Shanahan editor@ngtimes.ca 613-215-0735 Marketing/Sales marketing@ngtimes.ca 613 215-0735

Production production@ngtimes.ca 613-215-0735

Classiﬁeds

classiﬁeds @ngtimes.ca

Op-Ed We won't get fooled again

by Peter Johnson, Upper Oxford Mills

"Back in the year 2004 I was honoured to receive the Arts and Letters Award from the Canadian Club of New York. In my acceptance speech I talked about that emotion and that friendship which together have lasted centuries." After, he reﬂected on, "just how lucky I was, but how lucky we are as Canadians to have such great friends." (Peter Mansbridge) He goes on...

"But that was 2004 and this is 2025 and while you can’t erase history, these are very diﬀerent times for our relationship. Canadians are upset and angry in a way I’ve never seen before. Will we get over it? Of course we will, but it may take a while and it sure isn’t over yet." (The Buzz...a weekly newsletter by Peter Mansbridge).

Also, on his Friday podcast, the panel discussed whether the recent events in the United States had just removed the possibility of a Conservative majority win in the upcoming Spring election. It was interesting to note that for the past two years, Mr. Poilievre's comments could be boiled down to, 'All of the country's problems are the fault of Justin Trudeau—he is a very bad man.' No solutions, just criticism.

Greetings North Gremlins. It's mid-February. Our days are getting longer, the sun's rays are getting warmer, the Spring Equinox is a mere 5 weeks hence. So...chin up! One astute reader asked me recently, 'Do you hate all politicians?' I replied, 'Not really—but I am no fan of the ones who do not put the people ﬁrst.' How does this pertain to the leader of the Conservative Party? It's been all about him for how long now? Years? Around him, there is a vacuum. Can the average Canadian name any members of the shadow cabinet?

So where does this leave the little man from Calgary, who now represents Carleton? Does he have enough tact, savy, smarts, acumen, integrity to pull oﬀ this oneman show? (1st synonym alert!) A short while ago, he had a huge lead in the polls. That is dwindling faster than the Maple Leafs in the play-oﬀs. He has now had to take a pro-Canada stance to distance himself from being to close to the Republicans.

As that other Peter...Mr. Mansbridge pointed out, "Canadians are upset and angry in a way I’ve never seen before." Mr. Mansbridge has been around. He has interviewed many politicians. He has a deeper knowledge than the rest of us. And yes, we are upset. We have been united by the 'worst case scenario' that presently occupies the White House, and also by the betrayal by a country that seems to be incapable of demonstrating appreciation, understanding, awareness, acknowledgement, consideration, let along loyalty to another country. (2nd synonym alert) 'Loyalty to another country'? That's a foreign to them as having enough geographical knowledge to know where Greenland/Canada or Mexico is without having to go to war with them ﬁrst?

Is this a turning point? An epiphany? When the ridiculous tariﬀ threat is removed, we will not forget. Things will never go back to the way that they were before. These neighbours are not our friends. Perhaps they never were. Since before our confederation, they have shown themselves to be opportunists. Greed has long been their creed. We were just a convenient way to get cheap raw materials. From now on, like them, we should put ourselves ﬁrst.

Were we sleeping? Were we naive? Perhaps. But 'We Won't Get Fool Again.'

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Local Youth Film Festival celebrating 10 Years!

MyView Youth Film Festival is ready to launch its 10th Anniversary for 2025! Kemptville’s McGahey Insurance and Grenville Mutual Insurance have again teamed up to provide the $1000 grand prize. In addition to the grand prize, there is also a $750 “I Love My Community” prize sponsored by EXIT Realty Eastern Ontario, a $500 YMCA of Eastern Ontario prize and a $500 prize for best original song and music video sponsored by Jamming Around Man Productions. New this year is a “Best of the Fest” prize chosen by the public from the grand prize winning ﬁlms of the nine previous MyView festivals. This creative filmmaking contest is open to all youth ages 10-24 that live, work or play in eastern Ontario (see www.myviewﬁlmfest.ca for list of eligible counties). MyView is eager to collaborate again with the YMCA of Eastern Ontario in the planning, promotion and sponsorship of this great community engagement initiative. Also new is a partnership with the Ontario Youth Film Festival. Winners and nominees in the 14-17 year old age category can move forward to compete

in that exiting provincial festival that takes place in the fall.

Young people are encouraged to pick up their phones or cameras and make a short video that celebrates something in their life or community; shows a solution to a problem or showcases their opinion! Thanks to McGahey Insurance, Grenville Mutual Insurance, Exit Realty, YMCA of Eastern Ontario, J.A.M. Productions and YourTV for donating great prizes to the winners in the following categories:

Best Overall Video$1000 I Love My Community - $750

Best Original Song & Music Video - $500 YMCA Award - $500

Age Category Prizes (10-13; 14-17; 18-24)

*Best of the Fest* 10 Year Anniversary Award

The deadline for video submission is May 1 and youth can submit multiple ﬁlms individually or as a group. Encourage young people you know to get out into their communities to look for inspiration. There is no shortage of interesting topics to explore. Past winners have addressed a variety of topics from mental wellbeing and body image to the cost of post-secondary education and everything in between. Wendy Embleton from Exit Realty had this to say about the I Love My Community category: “Parents may get to choose their home town, but it is wonderful

when young people highlight how they appreciate their community. We look forward to seeing the entries for 2025!” Judging criteria heavily favours the content of the videos over the production elements, in hopes of encouraging all eligible youth, regardless of their level of experience in film-making and production, to participate and share their stories. For more information on contest rules or judging criteria, or to see past year’s submissions and winners, visit our socials @myviewfilmfest, check out www.myviewfilmfest.ca, or email info@ myviewfilmfest.ca

Lions Club draw winner

made the draw, and

announced the winner of the Lions Club Draw for this month. The winner was Annie Hua of Kemptville, who won a trip for two to Orlando, Florida. The prize includes:

- Round-trip ﬂights from Ottawa to Orlando for 2 adults

- 5-night stay at Disney All Star Movies Resort

VOLUNTEERING IS THE OF OUR COMMUNITY Heartbeat

How you can support Ontario by buying local

by Ethan Wallace, Vice President, OFA

Buying local has always been an important part of our agriculture and food production system. Consumer interest in particular in shopping closer to home for their food products has been on the rise over the last two decades or so – and that interest has been particularly strong in recent years.

We are particularly lucky here in Ontario. Our climate and our soils let us grow and raise more than 200 different food and farm products on the nearly 50,000 farms in our province. From fruits, vegetables, honey, plants and ﬂowers to meat, dairy, eggs, ﬁsh and grains – and whether fresh, frozen, processed, pickled or canned, we are proud of what we can grow right here at home.

My family and I farm just outside of the small town of Seaforth, near Lake Huron. Every local food or farm product Ontarians buy supports farms and families like ours, as well as small businesses and rural communities right across our province.

And even though we’re in the midst of winter, there is a wide range of locally produced food available. Apples, carrots, potatoes and root vegetables, for example, are kept fresh through innovative storage technologies so we can enjoy them all winter long.

There is a plethora of Ontario meat and poultry in our grocery stores, butcher shops, farmers’ markets and independent retailers, as well as a wide variety of eggs, and milk,

cheese, cream, butter, yogurt and ice cream made from 100% Canadian milk.

Ontario’s indoor produce sector provides produce like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and strawberries; and vertical farms produce leafy greens, microgreens and baby greens. Many frozen vegetables and fruit are also grown in Ontario, and many wineries, breweries, distilleries and cideries use locally grown ingredients like grapes, hops, grains and apples.

So, what’s the best way to buy local – and how can we know whether what we’re buying is an Ontario or a Canadian product?

Our food system isn’t always the easiest to navigate in this regard, but here are a few ways you can ﬁnd local products.

Shop at local stores, on-farm markets and farmers’ markets and ask the employees there if you’re not sure. Many Ontario agricultural organizations, like Ontario Sheep Farmers, have product locators on their websites to identify shops, markets, farmers and even home delivery companies that carry local products.

Other examples include Farmers’ Markets Ontario’s online market locator and Pick Ontario’s florist finder to help you find locally grown flowers – great idea for Valentine’s Day!

There are also a variety of logos that you can look out for when you’re shopping that will help identify locally grown or made food and farm products. Fresh produce, dairy, meat and other Ontario foods of-

ten carry the iconic green and white Foodland Ontario logo. A blue cow logo certifies 100% Canadian dairy. Look for the VQA medallion to ensure the wine is made entirely from Ontario-grown grapes or a product of Ontario or Canada designation on fruit wines. You’ll find Ontario or Canada Beef logos on locally produced beef, or the Ontario Corn Fed Beef logo at restaurants and Loblaws stores. Ontario-raised pork will often carry an Ontario Pork logo or the logo of Ontario-based meat processors like Conestoga Meats or Sofina. Egg cartons will display a red maple leaf or the Egg Quality Assurance logo, and you’ll find an Ontario Turkey logo on some of those retail products. When it comes to flowers and floral products, look for a Pick Ontario logo or the words “Grown in Canada” on a container or tag.

On processed foods, “Product of Canada” means made in Canada with Canadian ingredients, and “Made in Canada” means final processing took place in Canada –sometimes with local ingredients and sometimes with a mix of domestic and imported ingredients. Ontario farmers are strong believers in encouraging everyone to buy local, Ontario products. When you do, you’re not just buying what we produce, you’re also supporting communities, families, and jobs right here at home – and we appreciate it.

Natalie

Catered Aﬀairs

Lion Gail Osborne

Lions David Doyle and Bill Neil, Natalie of Catered Aﬀairs, and Lion Gail Osborne.

The Calm before the Storm

PhotoArt by local artist Jane Rutter

U13 B2 Kemptville Royals tournament winners

The Kemptville Royals celebrate their win

Head Coach, Doni Robinson, of the U13 B2 Kemptville Royals led his team to a championship victory at a tournament in Long Sault over the weekend. But it wasn’t just any victory, this was the first annual Mike Craig Memorial U13 tournament. As soon as the tournament was announced, Doni quickly asked his team manager to register them. This tournament was a must.

Mike Craig was a former teammate, both in minor hockey and later in their Spencerville Bull Devil’s Men’s league for many years.

When he moved to Cornwall, he was as involved in his local hockey clubs and was also a scout for an OHL team. His involvement in the sport he loved would continue until he lost a battle with cancer in 2023. Doni

thought that playing in the tournament would be a great way to honour his long-time hockey legacy.

The tournament was not easily won by the Royals team. They had to battle hard against South Stormont to take the win in the ﬁrst game, won handily in the second, but when it came to the third game, they lost 3-2 to the Clarence Castors. Heading into the semi-ﬁnals

73’s take one of two home stands

#3 : oﬀ to the races...Ottawa Junior Senators Jack Masukubo in pursuit of Emile Trottier with his afterburners ignited after he undressed his oﬀender for SHG empty netter for 2 to zip win Sunday evening.

G.J. the sports guy

Friday night was a devastating aﬀair as the Navan Grads schooled the hometown boys with a 6 to 1 loss witnessed by a home crowd. The armchair coaches surmised it was due to incompetence of oﬃcials, poor defensive decisions, lack of stopper strength, failure of recognition to pull compromised goalie, poor choice of lineup, etc.. Excuses unwarranted, for the outcome of just one of those times that a team has a bad game. Plain and simple. even the pros have games they want to forget. When the young warriors of both teams lace on their skates they accept the challenge of this vicarious game called Hockey and all give their best, not always successfully.

Navan struck first from Brown with Bellfoy to Ian Ramsey driving hard to steamroll Trenten Bennett over at 5:13. Emile Trottier perched

on the doorstep after McDonald and Shaw held the line to slam it through Kian Hodgins to knot it up at 1:44 to start the second frame. Navan's game winner from combination from Brown to Louie Marcellino at 1:53 opened the floodgates. Louie Marcellino with Kimmerly found the target for his second and insurance for the Grads at 2:25. Kiki Brown combined with Marcellino to chase Trenten Bennett out at 17:30.

Rylan Donnovan in the ﬁnal twenty held oﬀ the onslaught of Navan until 16:13 when Wake Purdy PPG power play sniped it home to dig the hole deeper for the 73’s for 6 to 1 loss. Kemptville out mustered Navan 31 to 29.

Coach thought his troop gave a good effort, but, unfortunately, were outmatched with all the injuries they had. Navan capitalized on their op-

the next day, the team was pumped to stay alive.

They beat the Embrun Panthers, moving on to the finals, only to face the Clarence Castors again. They were nervous, and it was a 0-0 game for almost the first half. The team played with energy, grit, and a whole lot of heart and took the win 4-2. Doni hadn’t mentioned the history of Mike Craig until after the final victory, when he emotionally shared with the team in the dressing room how proud Mike would have been to know that a team from his childhood hockey club, the Kemptville Royals, won a tournament in his memory.

The trophy will be displayed with pride in the trophy case at the Municipal Centre, not just to celebrate this U13 Royals team eﬀort, but to honour a Kemptville community member who loved the game.

portunities and their goalie was on his game.

Sunday evening was a better result, as the homies scratched a 2 zip win over the Ottawa Junior Senators. Rylan Donovan recorded his second SO with Emile Trottier sealing the deal with a SHG ENG in a teeter-totter affair. The initial twenty came and went scoreless with each combatant having opportunities. Kemptville drew first blood in the second when Mathieu Fehr put it top shelf by Noah Paddock at 6:58 for the game winner. End to end action in the third for both squads until 17:38 when the 73’s rode the pine and when Junior Senators pulled their tender for a 6 on 4 scenario. Kemptville PK fully engaged when Emile Trottier stripped down an offender, up the wall off to the races with afterburners ignited for SHG and ENG insurance at 18:14. Navan relieved their stopper without avail at 18:33 and the damage had been done to allot Kemptville a 2-zip victory. Kemptville outshot Ottawa by 26 to 25 with both having 0/1 PP.

On the bus into Brockville to face the Braves, Friday night was greeted with 3 to 1 victory. Brockville lit the lamp in the initial frame for Max Treppo to put it past Rylan Donovan. McDougall connected with Bennett found Aidan Stubblings in the slot to slam it by Trey Caracciolo to even it up. Last twenty, Kemptville's game winner from Trottier with Fehr to Dylan McDougall in the lane for tie breaker at :35. The

Braves pulled their goalie at 18:25 for push with an extra attacker. Emile Trottier ENG cap the insurance from Redmond and McDonald into an open net for an ENG at 19:15. Brockville relieved their stopper for ﬁnal launch without result to give the 73's 3 to 1 victory. Kemptville outshot Brockville 25 to 20 with 0/1 PP to 0/4 PP.

On the road to Hawkesbury Hawks for Friday night challenge as Kemptville fell 3 to 1. Home team on the sheet in the initial period placed it behind Rylan Donovan from William Brown in the lane at 4:15. Theodore Jette for the Hawks’ game winner at 6:18 of the middle frame. Shaw turned the advantage around as he caught the blistering speedy Emile Trottier SHG flying up the wall to pull the trigger through Jabe Breitzke to put Kemptville behind by one.

The 73’s pulled their stopper at 18:47 for extra man in the final frame without consequence as Charbonneau and Skoczylas found FernandOlivier Perron ENG into open space for Hawksbury insurance to make it a 3 to 1 win. Kemptville outgunned Hawkesbury 40 to 35 with 0/2 PP to 0/3PP.

Kemptville at home with Monday matinee Family Day with the Navan Grads, with Carleton Place and Pembroke in house for Wednesday at 7 and 7:30 Friday evening. On the road to meet Rockland for Saturday night raunch.

Hockey with EDGE…see you around the wall.

Summer party in February!?

Saturday February 22, from 11 – 4, at Kemptville’s ReStore, we’re cranking up the heat and pretending that it’s summer for the day! There’ll be summery music, food, games, prizes, discounts, and a silent auction – all to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity to build aﬀordable homes in our community. Plus, any customer who wears something summery to the party, gets 30% oﬀ store-wide.

“You don’t have to wear ﬂip ﬂops, you can wear your winter boots with jeans and a sun dress, or a Hawaiian shirt, whatever layers you need – just so long as it’s summery!” says ReStore Manager, Vicki Simzer.

“I ﬁrst started throwing Summer Parties in February back in 1999. It had been snowing for 21 days, no sun. My BFF had SAD. I had to do something. And so the Summer Party in February was born,” says event co-organizer, Elizabeth MacKenzie. “It was so incredibly therapeutic, like a oneday vacation. I just had to keep throwing Summer Parties every winter, but this is the ﬁrst time I’ve ever thrown one at a store, and as a fundraiser too!”

“The local business owners of Kemptville have been incredible – so generous with their donations and we’re all so excited about the event,” says event co-organizer, Clara Phillippe, adding, “The mayor is coming!”

February 22 at the Kemptville ReStore, Kemptville Mall ReStores throughout the world exist to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity, a registered charity.

Kemptville’s ReStore - Great Cause. Great Deals - No Tax – EVER!

Meet the Candidates

The Times talked to the candidates in the provincial election about their policies, platforms and visions for the future. Complete transcripts of the interviews can be found on our website: www.ngtimes.ca.

Fiona Jager interview

NG Times: What do you see as the main issues facing our riding?

Fiona Jager: I think the major issues that I'm hearing as I go door to door and I talk to constituents is health care. I'm hearing over and over again that people don't have family doctors, and that they want and they need to have a family doctor. And we do have an integrated plan to address exactly that issue, and it involves bringing 3,500 more family doctors into Ontario through a combination of increasing medical school spots and residency opportunities for internationally trained doctors.

Education is really strongly on people's minds right now. Under Ford, there's been billions of dollars cut from education, equal to $1,500 per student. We'd be

putting that directly back into schools. And also postsecondary education is very close to my heart, because I work in that sector right now. I don't know the degree to which people realize that Ontario colleges and universities are the least funded in all of Canada and really, really require an infusion of funding in order to be able to survive. There's Grade 12 students right now who have been accepted into university programs, who are now ﬁnding out that those programs have been canceled. So that's something that we would be changing the funding model for, as well to ensure that we were providing opportunities for our young people to train in our communities.

NG Times: I was wondering whether you think that this election has been overshadowed by the whole Trump and tariﬀs issue. And how does that aﬀect your campaign?

Fiona Jager: I agree that big issue that, of course, is maybe turning people's attention from the long-standing issues that Ontario has been experiencing. And we can't let fear mongering keep us from acknowledging and working on the big issues

in terms of health care and education and equity in our province.

We do need a sense of safety and security in order to thrive. And that is one of the roles of government. And Canada this year is at its most unequal than it's ever been previously. So there's a bigger gap between rich and poor than there's ever been before, and Ontario is actually the highest of all provinces in terms of that gap. So we're all happier and healthier and feel safer and have lower rates of mental health issues and addiction, and a myriad number of other social problems, when we're in societies that are more equal, more caring and more fair.

The whole focus of our campaign, but it really has relevance for this riding and the local level, is on equity and it's on fairness. And that's speciﬁcally around meeting the needs of average people, and people who are who are struggling at the way the world is now, and who are not getting a fair deal in the way that income is currently distributed. So our campaign is focused on making sure that housing is accessible to more people, so creating more breaks for first time home

homeowners, so that people can enter the housing market. And making sure we're taxing people who are buying second and third homes. Also our taxation strategies to pay for the programs that we're looking at, is to increase taxes for the wealthiest Ontarians, and lower taxes for people in the lowest tax bracket.

NG Times: To what extent can the provincial government and the Green Party speciﬁcally help or support municipal governments?

Fiona Jager: It does seem like more and more responsibility is being downloaded onto municipalities without any real way for them to even meet those responsibilities from a fiscal perspective. So the Green Party has been very committed, from day one, to working closely with municipalities. We believe fundamentally in sort of a bottom up structure with diffused power. And so, we're committed to working with municipalities to make sure that common people's needs are met. I think there's some things that require input from the province. So, for example, we need the province to be helping out with things like supportive housing more actively, so that we have supportive housing where we need it in the province. And then there's other areas where we really need things to be community driven, so that we maintain small businesses, local culture, a sense of culture and pride in the areas that we come from and where we live. The Green Party is very supportive of small businesses, supporting walkable communities.

300 acres of farmland are paved over in Ontario every day. But, at the same time, we do have a plan to build 200,000 more homes in Ontario. And it's all about building homes within existing urban boundaries, so incentivizing, and removing barriers that currently exist. We would have special tax breaks for homes that were 2,000ft² or under within urban areas. Those homes are also much easier and cheaper to service. We would encourage the building of 4-plexes and low rises, where people could live within urban spaces, but still have their needs met. So aﬀordable homes for people that were also in walkable, livable communities. So that means working with co-ops and not for profit housing providers that already exist that know how to do this, and making sure that they have the funding infrastructure to continue doing it.

LJ Edmonds interview

NG Times: You've got such a strong academic background and record. What made you switch to provincial politics, or how do you feel that the academic background works into that?

LJ Edmonds: Well, that's a very good question. I actually have a very strong academic and practitioner background. I worked in health care. I worked in education. I have had that experience of knowing that permanent housing is what we need and to look at how we deal with the shortfalls that have been created through Doug Ford’s leadership of the last seven years, which is really terrible.

You know, what's really galling is that it is middle class, hard working people who are now going to the food banks. There are many people working who are homeless. And, as rural Ontario, we need to brace ourselves for these 25% tariﬀs, because if you look at Doug Ford's past practice and his history, and even our current incumbent’s, very little has come to rural Ontario. And he does not have the experience. He doesn't, and he hasn't shown that he cares about health care, education and housing. He doesn't care about people who are homeless. He doesn't care about the elderly. It's really, really shocking. And I care. And not only do I care, I'm very capable.

You know, under Doug Ford's leadership, he's just made our municipal infrastructure weaker, our health care infrastructure weaker, our education system, housing infrastructure. And so now we're facing these tariﬀs. We're in a crisis. We're in a pandemic tariﬀ situation if these go through, and we're ill prepared for it. And Ford calling an election, choosing to call an election is really, really self-serving and we don't need it. And we are, I think, more vulnerable than ever because of it. It's just really disturbing. And I think people are anxious.

NG Times: How do you manage to overcome that?

LJ Edmonds: I'm in politics because I know I can make a difference. I have the experience and I care about rural Ontario. The reason I came into this riding is because I think this is the Mecca of possibilities. And I think we've been shortchanged in a significant way. If you look at Bonnie Crombie, all of her policies and programs, they support rural Ontario. She's a different person than Doug Ford because she is a true leader, a true political leader with the savviness of working in business and in community affairs and in politics.

And when our Minister of Housing represented us in Toronto, he did very little for rural Ontario. He did a lot for developers. And none of it was agricultural or environmentally assessed. So, if he thinks he's a supporter of our farmers and our environmental community, take note, because he missed the memo in a major way. And it's not often that Ontario has a rural representative in a senior position. I think he let us down. And what did he do for our riding in those years? What did he do for rural Ontario during the four years that he had an opportunity to raise our proﬁle like nobody else could, and he didn't.

You know, the nurse-patient ratios are at a horrible level. And we know from research, if you invest in nurses, and if you have a sound nursing-patient ratio, lives are saved. We have to have a community infrastructure. And he had this unique opportunity in the last seven years to mobilize all of these services for us. And, instead, he took all those resources and moved them for his own self-serving agenda.

So I really hope our riding takes note, because they have a chance to bring in sound leadership who will care for them and who will negotiate hard for us to have a strong, vibrant rural agenda. The three topics health care, aﬀordability, and housing, those are our topics. I want us all to beneﬁt. Ford made a $800 per student, or per capita, reduction in education when the number of students has increased exponentially because of immigration. The housing supports are way down. The education is way down. The health care is way down. We can't change the past, but we can change the future. And our riding needs to be bold and give me a chance, but at the same time, I need to be bold and get rid of Doug Ford and bring somebody in like Bonnie who knows how to do that. She is a very capable person. And anybody who underestimates her is misguided, because she is a powerhouse. You just have to look at our policies. They're well thought through, and they're not being doled out today, they were done months ago and they're real. And the thing that I really like about them, they serve rural Ontario because we had a voice, a major voice. Bonnie even set up a rural and northern commission as part of our Ontario Liberal Party. She sees that our future needs to build outside of Toronto, build up so that we can absorb the growing population and the growing demand for businesses and industry to invest in Ontario. And one other message: Get out to vote. I think people feel that the PC’s have so much control over the riding that they don't vote. So tell them: you have a voice. You need to get out to vote, everybody.

NG Times: One of the big questions is: why are we having an election now, when we've got over a year to go before the next mandated one? And if it's just about dealing with Trump, do we not have a mandate of government as it stands?

Steve Clark: I do believe that the Premier has it right when he says that we need a strong, stable four year mandate that will both outlive and outlast the Trump administration. I do think it is unprecedented, but it's vitally important for us, whether it's a tariﬀ discussion today or something else tomorrow. Trump's threats are not going to go away, they're going to continue. So having that four year term that overlaps is a real priority, in my opinion.

NG Times: What do you see, then, is the role of the Ontario government in dealing with these issues of tariﬀs and things as a provincial government?

Steve Clark: There's a number of things that the government to do. I do think the Team Canada approach is the only way to go. Coming out of this, you're going to see a lot more inter-provincial trade between our provinces as we look for new markets. We're going to need to work with other provinces, and look at our own province, to be able to retool, to be able to have new opportunities that emerge, to not just protect jobs, but also grow jobs and grow the economy. So it is going to be a very important time in Ontario history to have a government solely focused on ensuring that we have a good ﬁscal plan and we have a good path. NG Times: Do you think that kind of unity will last? That it will actually bring about things like lowering interprovincial trade barriers, changing the focus of our economy.

Steve Clark: I think we are going to need to have that Team Canada approach moving forward. I think it's great for us in Ontario, and the fact that the Premier is the Chair of the Council of the Federation, that's very advantageous for us, because he's the one that's going to bring us all together. And he's been very visible, extolling the virtues

of Canada to our American counterparts. And I've said very, very clearly, when we look at trade and we look at Ontario singularly, we're the third largest trading partner for the United States. There are millions of Americans who wake up every day with a job because of products that are shipped to Canada and that are part of the Canadian-American supply chain.

Our riding is critical, because we've got two international bridges, at Prescott and at Thousand Islands. We have a relationship with our American counterparts. And to put a ﬁner point on your question, I do think for the next four years there will be that spirit of cooperation that will continue with all provinces and territories. I have to just control what I can control. And what we're doing right now is getting out and talking, talking to voters, engaging with voters, as I've done my entire political career, and ensuring that I do what I can to help Leeds Grenville grow, so that we have a good style of life and we've got jobs and opportunities. And moving forward, that's my focus for the next four years. NG Times: What is it, specifically, that North Grenville has gained from your time as MPP? And

Mayor Cameron reprimanded by Integrity Commissioner

by David Shanahan

Mayor Michael Cameron of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford was on the receiving end of a rebuke from the Integrity Commissioner last month following an incident which had occurred at a Municipal Counil meeting in October of last year. The incident occurred less than a minute into a ﬁve minute break at the end of the open session of the regular Council meeting held October 15, 2024. According to the Commissioner’s report, the mayor “entered the hallway and said to the Councillor that the break was to use the washroom, not to talk with residents...

The Mayor berated Councillor Margaret Gural loudly”. This may seem a rather strange thing to do, but witnesses to the incident testiﬁed that the mayor’s tone was “scolding”, although Mayor Cameron claimed “that his tone was respectful and he was not raising his voice”.

Commissioner Tony Fleming found that Mayor Cameron was in breech of the relevant Code of Conduct, which states that:

“In Committee and Council meetings, the Member shall treat the Chair, other Members, staﬀ and delegates from the public with courtesy and respect and good faith.”

The Commissioner’s report concluded, referring to the Mayor as “the Member”:

“We ﬁnd that the Member's actions in telling a member of Council that they should stop talking with a member of the public as the break was to use the washroom to be condescending and demeaning to the member of Council. How a member of Council uses their 5 minute break is up to the member of Council. We also note that at the time of the incident only approximately 1 minute of the 5 minute break had elapsed – had it been at the 5 minute mark a gentle reminder to return would have been less oﬀensive. We also note that the Member spent the remainder of the break talking with members of the public inside Council chambers. The Member did not treat the member of Council with the courtesy and respect required by the Code of Conduct.”

It was recommended that Council order the Mayor to publicly apologize to the member of Council and that Council issue a reprimand to the Mayor to reinforce that this type of behaviour is not condoned by Council. To add to his lack of respect for his Council colleagues, Mayor Cameron failed to attend the meeting at which the reprimand was approved by Council. No explanation was forthcoming for his absence.

This is the second time Mayor Cameron has been found to have breached the Code of Conduct, the ﬁrst occasion occurring in 2024.

then, what are your plans concerning North Grenville for the coming term?

Steve Clark: I think there's lots of things that we've been able to accomplish, collaboratively, for North Grenville. We've got the largest infrastructure project under way, rural and northern stream in Ontario, going on right now on County Road 43, which I promised and I delivered right after we became a government. I was happy that my third Seniors Active Living Centre in the riding was announced as Kemptville Home Support. Kemptville Campus: you know the history. It was in 2014 when Kathleen Wynne and the government shuttered the campus. We've been able to rebuild, both with the four school boards, but also those skilled trades programs that had been there and weren’t going to continue under the Liberal government.

And the big commitment that I made last election was in regards to the treatment plant, the fact that I said that the Correctional Complex was going to add some pressure to the municipality in that project. So I made a promise that whatever our portion should be, that we would pay for it. So that was the $22 million that we made a little while ago,

just before the project was tendered.

And then ﬁnally, I made a commitment to Beth Donovan, who passed away shortly after my election in 2010, and I’m really proud that we were able to deliver those hospice beds. It was something that I've worked on a lot and was very glad that we were able to deliver it. So there's lots of projects: all the transit dollars that we've been able to give the municipality; support that we were able to give the hospital as well, both for capital and for operating.

I'm proud of what I've been able to deliver to the people of North Grenville and area. Every time North Grenville has advocated for

the province, whether it be a ROMA conference or an AMO conference, or just when a minister has been in town, I've always been beside them. I just want people to know that I'm out, just like my ﬁrst election in 2010, which was March 4, so it was a February campaign. I'm out this February knocking on doors and working hard, and I'm going to continue to do it right up to Election Day. And I hope on February 27 they let me have the opportunity to continue that work.

AL'S CLEAN UP SERVICES

25 Years of Sweetness: Sweetheart Brunch shines bright

by Talia Hreljac

The 25th North Grenville Sweetheart Brunch took place last Sunday, and, once again, it showcased the incredible spirit of this community when they come together. Proudly presented by the Knights of Columbus, Holy Cross Council, the event was a resounding success, thanks, in large part, to the many volunteers, including the hardworking scouts who were busy clearing tables throughout the morning.

Hundreds of local residents came out to support the event, and as you looked around the room, you were met with smiles and laughter. It was an opportunity for friends and families to gather, celebrate love and kindness, and connect with their community. Even those who came as strangers, with no one to talk to, were welcomed with open arms. Everyone was encouraged to find a seat, strike up a conversation, and become part of the warm, welcoming

atmosphere.

What made this year's brunch even more special was the musical talent that filled the room. Four different musical groups performed, providing the perfect soundtrack to start a relaxing Sunday. Of course, once the Superbowl began later in the day, emotions were bound to shift in all directions.

This year’s Sweetheart Brunch supported ten local charities, with an impressive $20,000 distributed between

the ten. In total, the Knights of Columbus have contributed over $300,000 to various organizations over the years, a remarkable achievement that has made an incredible diﬀerence in the community.

Opening of the Pathways Supportive Cabins Program

The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, in partnership with the John Howard Society of Kingston and District, is proud to announce the opening of the Pathways Supportive Cabins Program. This initiative aims to provide a stable and secure environment for individuals experiencing homelessness, offering comprehensive support to help them transition to long-term housing.

The program, utilizing the Ontario Homelessness Prevention Program, along with additional capital investment from the United Counties, represents a signiﬁcant step forward in addressing homelessness in the region. The Pathways Supportive Cabins Program is designed with controlled, invitation-only access managed by the John Howard Society, ensuring that those on the By Name List receive the support they need in a safe and structured environment.

UCDSB Board of Trustees meeting

Corinna SmithGatcke, Warden of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, welcomed the initiative:

“This program represents an important step in our broader strategy to support those who are unhoused in our region. We are committed to continuing our eﬀorts and exploring additional initiatives to address this critical issue. We are optimistic about the positive impact this program will have on our community and look forward to seeing the beneﬁts it brings. This collaborative approach will help us build a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone.”

“We want to make

The opening event included a tour of the facilities and remarks from elected officials from Leeds and Grenville, and the John Howard Society, highlighting the collaborative eﬀorts that made this program a reality. The program's success is attributed to the dedicated partnership between the John Howard Society's team and the Counties staﬀ, as well as continuous collaboration with emergency services to ensure site safety.

sure this population is not static and ensure we have successes from this program”, said Brant Burrow, Chair of the Joint Services Committee of Leeds and Grenville. “I have a great deal of conﬁdence in the John Howard Society’s ability to work in partnership with other agencies in the community to really deliver success stories.”

The Pathways Supportive Cabins Program is just the beginning of a broader strategy to support those who are unhoused in the region. The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville is committed to continuing its eﬀorts and exploring additional initiatives to address this critical issue. By working together, the community can create meaningful and lasting change in the lives of many individuals, building a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone.

Trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) met on Wednesday, February 12. Key items discussed in the public session are as follows.

Updates on PIC’s Disbursement of PRO Grants:

Superintendent of Schools Casey Nelson presented an update on the 20242025 Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grant initiatives. The Ministry of Education allocated $49,000 in funding to support projects that focus on improving access and opportunities for parents/guardians to engage fully in their children's learning.

Members of the UCDSB Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) reviewed and approved requests for funding, many of which align with the Director’s Workplan priorities. Examples of approved initiatives include:

Building a Welcoming and Inclusive School Environment – Focused on equity, diversity, and mental health support.

Family Literacy Nights – Supporting literacy skill-building and reading at home.

EQAO Math Nights – Providing tools and activities to help students succeed in math.

Family of Schools Collaboration – Sharing resources on the Ontario Curriculum with parents/guardians.

Screenagers – Exploring screen time's impact on youth, including topics like screen addiction and social media.

Physical Activity and Mindfulness

– Promoting physical activity as a strategy for managing stress and emotions.

2025-2026 School Year Calendar:

Trustees approved the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar for submission to the Ministry of Education by March 1, 2025. Superintendent of Schools Marsha McNair outlined the consultation process, which included input from the UCDSB Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), the UCDSB PIC, the UCDSB Indigenous Advisory Circle, and union partners.

Key features of the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar include:

First Day of School: September 2, 2025 (students start September 3) Last Day of School for Students: June 25, 2026

Winter Holiday Break: December 22, 2025 – January 2, 2026

March Break: March 16–20, 2026

These could house: Aging parents, grown children starting out, or rental tenants. Find out if an ARU is right for you at our first Open House! Additional Residential Unit (ARU)

Thanks to the Housing Accelerator Fund, the Municipality has incentives for eligible property owners in North Grenville to build Additional Residential Units (ARUs) on their property.

ARU Open House

Monday, February 24, 2025 5:00 - 7:00 pm at the North Grenville Municipal Centre

CLASSIFIEDS

FOR SALE

Sigma telephoto lens

Nikon D Mount. Doug 613 258-4573. $190.00

Corner lot, Kemptville, 83.5 ft by 84.5 ft, natural gas, water and sewer on site. Contact Kemptvillelot@outlook. com.

Futon bed/couch, blue & white, very good condition. 100$. call 613-258=6108 MISCELANEOUS

Looking to rent farmland in North Grenville & surrounding areas. Call or text Mitch @ 613-262-1204.

HELP WANTED

Looking to harvest cedar trees for cedar hedges from land owner. Joanne (613)799-0958

The Rideau Glen Golf Club is looking for club house staﬀ & outside workers for the 2025 season. Smart Serve required for club house staﬀ and experience with equipment preferred for outside workers .

Students considered with right qualiﬁcations

Send resume to therideauglen@gmail.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

February 25

Merrickville and District Historical Society

Starting at 7:00 pm

The Merrickville and District Historical Society invites you to the ﬁrst lecture of the 2025 Lecture Series . “The Rideau Correctional Treatment Centre 1947-2004” with Jim Empey.. At the Merrickville Legion.

February 26

Budget 2025

Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Public Budget Consultation #1 - in-person

North Grenville Municipal Centre Council Chambers / Urbandale Theatre, 285 CR44, Kemptville

March 2

Seedy Sunday. Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Seed swap, seed vendor market, learning experience and social gathering Kemptvile greenhouse 75 Campus Drive

March 4

Job Fair. Time: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm JOB FAIR & TRAINING EXPO 2025 613-258-6576 tracy@cseconsulting.com 285 County Road 44

Shrove Tuesday Dinner Time: 6:00 pm

1 Seating at 6:00 pm OR Take Out. Fundraiser for Bishops Oxford United Church, Bishops Mills Advance Tickets ONLY - $15.00 each Order tickets before February 26, 2025 by calling 613-258-4695

March 5

Budget 2025 Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Public Budget Consultation #2 - virtual Email clerk@northgrenville.on.ca to register and receive link. March 20

MAYOR'S ADDRESS. Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

The annual Mayor’s Address. Admission is free for this event, but registration is required. Light refreshments and beverages will be provided. https://www. eventbrite.ca/e/2025-mayors-address-tickets-1218009843229?aﬀ=oddtdtcreator North Grenville Municipal Centre 285 County Rd #44 Kemptville

Specializing in Residential House Beautification

ACROSS

1. In weaving, warp and

5. Dull pain

9. In the center of 13. Smell

14. Circular 16. Fashion 17. Beast

18. To the point

19. Midday

20. Regards

22. In an intoxicated manner

24. Coyote

26. Aﬃrmatives

27. Battle call 30. Boil

33. Landing ﬁeld

35. Mendacious

37. Prohibit

38. Shad

41. Hog's home

42. Contemptuous look

45. Column

48. Snakes 51. Mend

52. Notions 54. Box

55. Human nose

59. Strike

62. Noble

63. Sea eagles

65. Computer symbol

66. River to the North Sea

67. Rips

68. Aromatic ointment

69. Not more

70. Eat sparingly

71. Countertenor DOWN

1. Comes from trees

2. Border 3. Anticipated 4. Quivers or quakes

5. Paintings

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

6. Open to all 7. Go quickly

8. Comes after 9. Oﬃcial forgiveness

10. Natural satellite

11. False god

12. Declare untrue

15. Thick

21. Narrow opening 23. Longitudinal ship beam

25. Ancient marketplaces

27. Taxis

28. Tropical vine

29. Zero

31. Belonging to the past

32. Go inside

34. Music genre

36. Circular course

39. Mister

40. Anagram of "Sale"

43. Comestibles

44. Overhaul

46. Cobras

47. Endurance

49. Adjust again

50. Holy

53. Red Sea peninsula

55. Rind

56. Rattling breath

57. Spheres

58. Arid

60. Legal wrong

61. Preﬁx meaning "Within"

64. Supersonic transport

Jennie Childs Owner, CEO 613.314.6866 brightshinyspaces@gmail.com

Weekly, Bi-Weekly, or One-time Cleans Servicing North Grenville and surrounding areas. @BrightShinySpaces

Notice of the 133rd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

TAKE NOTICE that the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Members of Grenville Mutual Insurance Company will be held at the oﬃce of Grenville Mutual Insurance, 380 Colonnade Drive, Kemptville, Ontario on the 17th day of March 2025 at 1:00pm, for the purposes of:

1. Receiving and approving the Minutes of the 2024 Annual General Meeting.

2. Receiving the 2024 Annual Reports.

3. Electing three Directors for a three-year term. The three Directors whose terms will expire are Paul Henderson, Greg Beach and Bonnie Barkley, each of whom are eligible to be re-elected and have been nominated for reelection in accordance with the company’s By-laws.

4. Appointing auditors for the year 2025.

The meeting will be held in person. Members wishing to attend the meeting are asked to contact the oﬃce by March 10th, 2025, to preregister with a valid policy number. Please contact agm@grenvillemutual.com or call the company at 613-258-9988 during oﬃce hours to provide the required registration information.

The company’s 2024 Annual Statement will be made available on the company’s website and a copy may be obtained by sending a written request to the company’s head oﬃce at least 14 days before the meeting.

Pam Marson President/CEO

Thank you to our amazing donors! From the Restore

43 Autoworks Garage

Amplifon Clinic

Anytime Fitness

Artist E.V. Mackenzie

B&H Grocers

Brewed Awakenings

Brewing Oasis

Bubba and Bugs Coﬀee Bar

Capilano Pizzeria

City Electric Supply & Milwaukee

Coba Studios & Print Shop

Country Treasures

Crossﬁt Kemptville

The Crusty Baker

Fast Eddie’s Diner

Gibson Brothers Detailing

Good Night Bed Company

Hardstones

Helen’s Sewing Room

Home Hardware Building

Centre

Jac’s Boutique and Gifts

Jada Spa

JJ's Shawarma

Jonsson’s Independent

Grocers

Kemptville Bowling

Kemptville Campus Greenhouse

Kemptville Nail and Spa

Kemptville Naturopathic

Clinic Dr. Shawn Yakimovich

Kemptville Rotary Club

Kemptville Windows and

Kitchens

The Food Corner

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

If you haven’t tried a Swiss Fondue yet, with lovely cheeses from that country and crusty bread, then you haven’t lived. Our family has a complete Creuset fondue set including a special pot for chocolate that we collected years ago. Today’s recipe is a diﬀerent take on the old standard: it’s called a Seafood Fondue. I wish to apologize to all those who are allergic to seafood and invite those that aren’t to give this a whirl.

Seafood Fondue

Ingredients

1 large clove of garlic, cut in half

1 container of low salt beef or chicken broth (usually 1 litre in a cardboard container)

½ cup of white wine, maybe a Chardonnay you have kicking around

½ cup of chopped tomatoes (canned)

1 bay leaf

1 teaspoon of crushed oregano

A sprinkle of thyme

A dash of Lee and Perrins

1 pound of raw scallops

1 pound of raw shrimp (peeled and deveined)

1 or 2 baguettes, depending on your number of guests

A shaker of Parmesan cheese

Preparation

Rub the inside of your fondue pot with the garlic clove

Add the broth, wine, tomatoes, bay leaf, oregano, thyme and Lee and Perrins

Bring the mixture to a low boil on the stove, then transfer to a fondue ﬂame holder

The correct procedure for any fondue is to dip your colour coded fork with its contents into the fondue pot. In this case, you will be dipping your scallops and shrimp individually to “quick cook” them in the boiling broth. It is “bad form” to steal someone else’s fork but it sure livens up the party (no violence, please). Fondues are great for family get-togethers where conversation and good fun are the prime entertainment. They are not for watching a football or hockey game in front of a TV set (that is more “bad form”).

So, you dip your seafood in the broth, let it cook (but not overcook) and munch slowly and happily, while accompanying it all with slices of baguette sprinkled with some Parmesan. You can even “wet your bread” by dipping it lightly into the broth, then dipping into the cheese. For this dish, you can either provide a nicely chilled white Chablis or even a red wine such as a Merlot. If the kids are partaking (and I encourage that greatly), chilled cranberry juice is lovely.

Facts and myths about kidney stones

Margaret Thatcher, the resolute British Prime Minister known as the "Iron Lady", famously said, “You may have to ﬁght a battle more than once to win it." But for the millions who endure the excruciating torture of passing a kidney stone, just once is enough. About 50% of those who form one stone will feel the pain again within ﬁve years. Those who develop two or more stones will form others on an average of every 2.5 years.

Kidney stones are crystals that develop on the inside lining of the kidney. The chronic irritation of these crystals may cause blood to appear in the urine. But major trouble begins when the accumulated deposit, the "stone", breaks loose. If big enough, it becomes trapped in the ureter, the small tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. Renal colic is the term used to describe the sudden, acute pain that occurs when the stone blocks the urinary tract and the muscles of the ureter contract in an attempt to move it along. Heredity plays a major role in the formation of kidney stones. The vast majority are composed of calcium salts. These are necessary for normal body metabolism and must be ﬂushed out in the urine every day. Due to heredity, some people absorb more calcium from food, causing a high concentration of urinary calcium and the potential for stone formation. But calcium consumption is not generally the problem. Rather, high salt intake is more frequently associated with increased stone formation. Obesity, diabetes, and recurrent urinary tract infections are also risk factors.

Treatment of kidney stones depends on the type. The less common stones of uric acid are, as stones go, rather friendly. The crystals are so soluble that even a big stone can be dissolved with oral bicarbonate (main ingredient of baking soda) and drinking plenty of water. No other stone is so cooperative, and an attack of great pain is the unwelcome onset of a crisis.

KrisAlis Inc. Glass Specialists

Mama's Cheeky Co. Boutique

Mayor Nancy Peckford

Miller’s Motorsports

Moose FM 97.5

Motor Trendz

Mr. Mozzarella

Mucho Burrito

Myers Kemptville

Mythic Jiu-Jitsu & Kickboxing

O'Farrell Financial Services

OPS Airsoft and Tactical Gear

Orchid Medi Spa

Outer Creations Landscaping

R. Rose Automotive Repair

The RCMP

Remedy RX Kemptville Drug

Mart

Richardson Hair Design

RPM Automotive

Salamanders

Sam's Pizza

Shoeless Joe’s

Spa Jada

Sport Clips Hair Salon

Straight Arrow Cornhole

Sugold Jewelers and Giftware

Sunshine Aerial Fitness

T&T Dogs Unleashed

The History Hub

Tim Horton’s (2600)

TriWolf Shanti Healing

Vinyl Destination

Workshop Dance Studio

Z'Amoré

As always, enjoy and let me know how things turned out at pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

Prevention of Heart Disease

by Dana Douglas, MScFN, RD

South East Health Unit (formerly Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit)

Prevention is key when it comes to heart and cardiovascular disease. Behaviours like eating a variety of foods, being physically active, limiting highly processed foods, not smoking, drinking less alcohol, getting better sleep and managing stress can all help reduce the risk of heart disease. Healthy lifestyle behaviours combined with early detection and management of medical conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes can help lower the risk of heart disease.

One strategy to lower risk is to move more and sit less, which means including regular physical activity and reducing sedentary time. Health Canada recommends 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a week, such as a brisk walk, hiking, jogging, biking or swimming along with at least two days of strength-based activities a week. Managing stress and managing your health can also help lower heart disease risk. This could include exploring activities that help manage stress like mindfulness, yoga or connecting with others, and also managing health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, and checking in regularly with your health care team. Drinking less alcohol and quitting smoking can also help lower the risk of heart disease.

For more information, visit the Health Unit’s website at healthunit.org, connect with us on Facebook or X @ LGLHealthUnit, or call 1-800-660-5853.

People suﬀering from renal colic usually require hospital treatment. With medical assistance most stones are eventually passed in the urine. Trapped stones are located by an optical instrument called the cystoscope which is inserted into the bladder. A basket-like device is then threaded up the ureter to grab the stone. If this fails surgery is required.

What else is to be avoided? It’s the use of antibiotics for longer than three weeks. This may cause an overgrowth of bacteria that possess a special enzyme, urease. This enzyme makes the urine very alkaline and may trigger the formation of struvite stones. This type of stone can ﬁll the entire kidney causing severe renal damage.

There’s been an ongoing myth for years that large doses of vitamin C cause kidney stones. It’s hard to know how these falsehoods get started. But the very opposite is true. The fact is that vitamin C increases urine ﬂow, results in a slightly acidic urine, and prevents calcium from binding to oxalate causing calcium oxalate stones, the most common type of kidney stone.

Experts in nutrition may know this interesting ﬁnding. In 1946, Dr. William McCormick wrote, “I have observed that a cloudy urine is generally associated with a low vitamin C status. But as soon as vitamin C is given (500 to 2,000 milligrams) the urine sediment clears in a matter of hours.”

Because of this myth some people are missing out on the other beneﬁts of vitamin C.

Benjamin Disraeli, another former charismatic Prime Minister, once remarked, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” There should be a fourth: “myths”.

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

ROCK MY HOUSE

Joanne Lynn (Westmaas)

LOOKING FOR A GUITAR TEACHER

SOME MUSIC SUPPLIES AVAILABLE

Welcome to our multifaceted music center, where we're dedicated to taking your musical journey to the next level. Our comprehensive facility features a rehearsal studio, event room, store, and school, offering lessons in drums, vocals, fiddle, piano, and more. Benefit from the expertise of our talented team, who are committed to guiding everyone towards their musical goals.

ROCKIN' TOTS

Saturdays 10:30am-11:30am Ages 1-5

Parent/Toddler rhythm play for all. No appointment needed!

Learnforalifetime!

Kevin Eamon, proprietor and educator 699 South Gower Drive, Kemptville ON (613)258-5656 kevin@rockmyhousemc.com rockmyhousemc.com

Music Lessons

Monday to Friday 3:00P.M.- 9P.M

Contact Rock My House for details.

let's make music together!

Joanne was born in Georgetown, British Guiana on September 9, 1964. She left us January 22, 2025. Joanne was a loving and devoted mother to Brenna and Morgan Pappas, and an amazing, loving wife to her husband Steven. Words cannot express how much she was adored and loved by her family. Joanne loved nothing more than hearing about Brenna and Morgan’s day, with Morgan often cuddling in her arms, just talking. She is survived by her daughters Brenna and Morgan, her husband Steven, and her brother Johann Lee Westmaas. Her brother loved her very much. Predeceased by her mother Patricia Westmaas and her father Rupert Westmaas.

Joanne loved spending time with her cousins and their children. Nothing made her happier than being around family and talking about life’s goings on. Joanne loved life and loved to laugh. She took great pleasure in life’s simple joys like sitting in the sun with a good book. She loved sitting outdoors, gardening, birding, reading, crafting, knitting, crocheting, crossword puzzles, listening to all types of music, and spending time chatting with her many friends in the many local clubs she’d joined. She loved spending a sunny summer afternoon under a big tree by the creek, chatting with friends. She loved trying new things like taking Art classes, making amazing pieces of art. Joanne was involved in her church community. It meant so much for her to attend St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church on Sundays, often with her children. A dedicated hockey mom to both Brenna and Morgan, on weekends you could ﬁnd her in an arena, sitting by the boards, cheering on her daughters. Joanne will be deeply missed by friends, relatives, and her family. Know that we love you, we miss you, we will never forget you, and you will always be in our hearts. Visitation will be held at the Kemptville Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry 805 Prescott Street in Kemptville on Saturday July, 5, 2025 From 12:30 pm until Service time in the Chapel at 1:30 pm followed by a private Interment at a later date. In lieu of ﬂowers, the family asks for donations to Beth Donovan Hospice,North Grenville Public Library or Kemptville District Hospital .

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CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Bonnie (Thorpe) Hall, RN, BScN, MScN Jan 11, 1947 - Dec 15, 2024

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Bonnie (Thorpe) Hall, RN, BScN, MScN Jan 11, 1947 - Dec 15, 2024

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CELEBRATIONOFLIFE

Bonnie(Thorpe)Hall, RN,BScN,MScN Jan11,1947-Dec15,2024

TobeheldonMarch8thfrom1pm-4pm attheOttawaConvention&Event Centre,Room106H,200CoventryRd, Ottawa.Fordetailsregardingparking anddirections,ortoleaveamessageof condolenceormemoryofBonnie contactcelebrate.bhall@gmail.com

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To be held on March 8th from 1pm-4pm at the Ottawa Convention & Event Centre, Room 106H, 200 Coventry Rd, Ottawa. For details regarding parking and directions, or to leave a message of condolence or memory of Bonnie contact celebrate.bhall@ gmail.com

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To be held on March 8th from 1pm-4pm at the Ottawa Convention & Event Centre, Room 106H, 200 Coventry Rd, Ottawa. For details regarding parking and directions, or to leave a message of condolence or memory of Bonnie contact celebrate. bhall@gmail.com

CELEBRATIONOFLIFE

Bonnie(Thorpe)Hall, RN,BScN,MScN Jan11,1947-Dec15,2024

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The Voice of North Grenville

The North Grenville Times

My Cancer Experience Part 2 – Preparation for Radiation Therapy

by Paul H. J. Cormier

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Baldwin’s Birds

Feeding in twos, but not always pairs

As I write, the snow is falling and we are brought back to the reality of the winter season and the hardships that it brings, not only for us, but also for our wildlife friends. Yesterday, having cleared a way to my bird feeders, I was restocking them when a little Chickadee, not satisﬁed with the speed I was going at, just helped itself from my food container which I had put down momentarily whilst I opened up a feeder! What a lovely surprise, as they don’t usually get too close to me when I am doing this, as a rule, so I feel rather privileged that it trusted me enough to do it. It was probably more hungry than wise at that particular moment in time, I suspect!

Whilst remembering what had transpired with the Chickadee, I was trying hard to think of a suitable topic to write about this week and, when looking at my downloaded pictures for the past couple of days, I could see a pattern of activity, not just of single birds, but that of pairs of them. Somewhat ”Biblically”, they seem to feed in pairs, whether they are of the same breed, or seemingly related, or not. A lesson to be learned by us all as far as tolerance for each other goes, no doubt!

The birds seem to be able to achieve this quite amicably, as opposed to their competitors, the Red, Black, and Grey Squirrels, wicho are constantly chasing each other away from any food source that they might discover. Fortunately, they only chase and don’t end up with any vicious, physical violent contact with each other, so I am thankful for that. Well, the snow is still falling, so I guess some cleaning up has to be done. Please take care if you have to do any. Stay safe and well, Cheers, John Baldwin

In Part 1 of this series of articles, I walked you through the Diagnosis of my prostate cancer. Part 2 explains the careful preparation that I was to undergo as part of the treatment process. It was very much like training for a major athletic event and I certainly chose to treat it that way. I received a call from the oncology ofﬁce of Dr. Gordon Locke and we arranged time and place for our ﬁrst meeting at the Irving Greenberg Family Cancer Centre at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital in the East end of Ottawa.

My grandson Ayden was kind enough to drive me to the Centre. This involved a short trip up highway 416 to the Holly Acres exit and a few simple turns to access the Centre. It is an extremely impressive building with easy parking and a short walk to the entrance door. There we were greeted by

volunteers. A few words about the volunteers won’t do justice to their importance in making people feel more comfortable walking into a building dedicated to the care of cancer patients and their families.

The interviews by the attending nurse and resident doctor made it clear that, during therapy, you need to leave most of your dignity as a human being at the front door. The preparation interviews deal with all aspects of daily life, including the number of times you pee in a day and at night and how many times a day you poop. It checks on what you eat and drink, what your lifestyle consists of and many other more private aspects of you as a person. I received a booklet to study and plan my therapy: it prescribed what I was to eat and not eat (not a lot of ﬁbre), what I was to drink and not drink (no caﬀeine, no alcohol) and what I was

to expect and not expect.

Then, Dr. Locke literally blew into the room. He is a youthful, dynamic and totally informal physician whom you can’t help but like and respect from the get-go. He probed for any questions or concerns that I might have. He explained that the treatment would consist of 20 days of radiation therapy consisting of one 10-minute session every day of the week, with weekends oﬀ.

Dr. Locke explained the functions of the radiation equipment and the possible side effects. He told me to call on the resident nursing staff if I ran into any rough spots in my therapy; they were on call to help, counsel and treat any side effects that were of concern. There was even a hotline to call to get advice on any issues or concerns. I was given the time of my first appointment and was told that my treatment schedule would be provided to me one

week at a time after my ﬁrst session. I also would meet with Dr. Locke for a consultation early every Wednesday morning throughout the therapy.

After this meeting, I received a phone call from the scheduling nurse to check on the most appropriate times for me to come in for therapy. They would try to accommodate my own timetable as best they could. For example, I had business meetings that I couldn’t (or shouldn’t) change and the scheduling nurse neatly avoided those dates. So now I proceeded to study the booklet, reset my diet, meet with the family to brief them, arrange for transportation to and from the Greenberg Centre and get set to go for the start of therapy.

Part 3 in this series of articles entitled The Process of Radiation Therapy explains what happens during the radiation treatment, including some of the ups and downs.

Starling about to join a pal

Popping for a Purpose:

UCDSB Students Blow Bubbles to Give Back

Talia’s Take

The realities of family travel: Laughing through the chaos

by Talia Hreljac

Travelling has always been one of my greatest passions. Over the years, I’ve explored many beautiful countries, witnessed some breathtaking sunsets and sunrises, and embarked on unforgettable adventures. Through it all, I’ve grown as a person—and that’s a gift I want to pass on to my kids.

Students at South Branch Elementary School joined with those at Maynard Public School, Nationview Public School, and Wellington Elementary School to make a meaningful impact on children and families through a creative fundraising initiative. In honour of International Bubble Gum Day on February 7, students from the four schools joined in the fun by blowing bubbles to support the Upper Canada District School Board’s (UCDSB) Champions for Kids (C4K) Foundation, collectively raising over $1300 towards the cause.

Champions for Kids strives to create equal opportunities for UCDSB students and their families by supporting children in accessing summer camps, sports, dance lessons, and other enriching activities beyond the classroom. The foundation also assists families facing unexpected expenses or needing extra support, providing essentials such as eyeglasses, and warm winter clothing.

Each school put their own spin on the fundraiser in hopes of raising money, and spirits, by chewing their way to victory in friendly competitions to see who in the school could blow the biggest gum bubble.

The event at South Branch ES was organized by Mrs. Matheson’s Power Up Program (PUP) and included various in-class challenges. All students received a piece of bubble gum, and those that brought in a donation earned a special “License to Blow” that allowed them to compete for a chance to move on to the big school-wide bubble blowing contest in the afternoon.

“Supporting causes like C4K is an important part of our school culture,” said South Branch ES Principal Tabitha Valliant. “This event not only encouraged students to give back but also connected with our ongoing commitment to positive school spirit and student engagement. It was fantastic to see the excitement and teamwork as students cheered each other on!”

On top of the big fundraiser, Nationview PS added in some additional learning to the day. Students were wondering where gum comes from, so they took a virtual tour of a gum factory and discovered the ins and outs of making the sticky treat.

“We are incredibly grateful when our schools organize events like this,” said C4K President Laura Oliver. “Not only do they provide a fun and engaging experience for students, but they also help raise awareness of the foundation. Best of all, every donation goes directly toward supporting our students. On behalf of the foundation and the children beneﬁting from these funds, thank you!”

When our oldest was just a year old, we took her to Croatia to show her “the Motherland,” and it was nothing short of magical. A few years later, we took both kids to Greece for an incredible cross-country adventure. The car, stuffed to the brim with baby gear for two little ones, soon resembled a clown car. But we were confident, cocky even, and every time someone remarked that we were brave to travel with two kids, we’d laugh it off, saying, “Oh, travelling with kids isn’t hard—it’s just harder,” before clinking our glasses of sangria, watching the waves crash along the shore.

Then life had a little chuckle of its own. Enter

our third child: beautiful, wild, and the epitome of a hurricane in human form. He’s a COVID baby, a third child, and a boy, which, as any parent of multiple kids can tell you, is a trifecta of chaos. The thought of taking him to Disney, or ﬂying on a plane with him, makes me break out in a cold sweat. But that doesn’t mean we’ve given up on travelling. We’ve done a few road trips close to home, and even ventured out East, where we visited Quebec City, PEI, Halifax, and Cape Breton, where we have a family cottage that holds a special place in my heart.

So, where am I going with all of this? Well, let me tell you: travelling with kids can be challenging, but it’s also one of the most rewarding experiences you can have as a family. And it doesn’t have to be an international adventure! It could be a weekend camping trip, or a series of day outings. The scale doesn’t matter; what matters is the time spent together, building memories and strengthening the bond between family members.

Bucket List Travel Adventures Await!

As we step into 2025, the world continues to oﬀer breathtaking destinations for every type of traveler. From serene landscapes to bustling urban centers, here are some of the best places to explore this year.

Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto remains a perennial favourite for travelers seeking a mix of tradition and modernity. Famous for its ancient temples, tranquil gardens, and iconic geisha districts, Kyoto offers a glimpse into Japan’s rich cultural heritage. Don’t miss the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and the Fushimi Inari Shrine with its thousands of torii gates. Visit in spring to witness the city’s cherry blossoms in full bloom or in autumn for vibrant foliage.

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we often miss the chance to truly connect with our family members. But when you’re stuck in a car for hours, or huddled inside a cottage on a rainy day, playing cards and sharing stories, that’s when you get to know the deeper, more meaningful parts of one another.

That brings me to one of my all-time favourite travel stories—a perfect reminder that while Instagram might paint a picture of ﬂawless, magical family trips, reality is often far from that. The complications are what turn into the best stories, and believe me, you’ll (hopefully) laugh about them later.

Picture this: after hours of driving, we stopped at a lovely restaurant in Antigonish. We were on our way to our table when our daughter suddenly realised she was car sick and, well… threw up. As any parent would, my husband tried to catch it with his bare hands, but it was no use. She ended up vomiting EVERYWHERE on the hardwood ﬂoor, sending splatters in all directions.

At that precise moment, my son decided it was the perfect time for a poop explosion—and, of course, it got everywhere. Meanwhile, our middle child, unaware of the chaos around her, kept yelling, “WHAT’S THE WIFI?!” It was like a slow-motion car accident, the kind where you can’t look away—until the server screams as she rushes over with a garbage can for our daughter. After the initial meltdown, we cleaned up, considered running for the hills, but instead sat down, took a deep breath, and left an incredibly generous tip. In the moment, it was a disaster. But within minutes, we all burst out laughing. What seemed like a catastrophe turned into one of my favourite family memories. We were closer than ever because, well, that’s the kind of chaos that bonds you together. So, while travelling with kids can be tough, it’s also filled with moments like these—moments that are messy, real, and ultimately bring us closer as a family.

National Park in Argentina are must-see spots for hiking, wildlife spotting, and photography.

Marrakech, Morocco

Bhutan

Nestled in the Himalayas, Bhutan is a haven for those seeking peace and spirituality. Known for its Gross National Happiness philosophy, the country offers pristine landscapes, ancient monasteries, and a deep connection to Buddhist traditions. The Tiger’s Nest Monastery is a highlight for any visitor.

Patagonia, Chile and Argentina

For adventure enthusiasts, Patagonia is an unparalleled destination. Spanning the southern regions of Chile and Argentina, this remote wilderness boasts towering peaks, expansive glaciers, and stunning lakes. Torres del Paine National Park in Chile and Los Glaciares

Marrakech enchants visitors with its vibrant markets, intricate architecture, and rich cultural tapestry. The city’s medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a maze of narrow alleyways ﬁlled with bustling souks, offering everything from spices to handcrafted goods. Be sure to visit the Jardin Majorelle and the opulent Bahia Palace.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Iceland’s capital is a gateway to otherworldly landscapes, from volcanic ﬁelds to cascading waterfalls and geothermal lagoons. In Reykjavik, enjoy a thriving art scene and cozy café culture. A short drive from the city, you can witness the Northern Lights or relax in the Blue Lagoon’s warm, mineral-rich waters.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Known as the "Pearl of the Adriatic," Dubrovnik is a seaside gem. Its well-preserved medieval walls, stunning architecture, and azure

waters make it a must-visit. Stroll along the Stradun, the city’s main street, and explore the historic Old Town. Summer visitors can enjoy island-hopping adventures to nearby Elaphiti Islands. Cape Town, South Africa Cape Town offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural diversity. Table Mountain provides panoramic views of the city, while the Cape Winelands feature some of the world’s ﬁnest vineyards. Don’t miss a trip to Robben Island to learn about South Africa’s history.

In 2025, these destinations promise unforgettable experiences. Whether you crave adventure, relaxation, or cultural immersion, the world is yours to explore. Ready to fill up your travel bucket list this year? Visit www.gravitate.travel and click on the “Let’s Talk” icon to schedule a time to talk or drop by our oﬃ ces to chat about your 2025 travel plans.

TICO # 50026003 215 SANDERS STREET, UNIT 201A / KEMPTVILLE, ON K0G 1J0

Grade 2 student Brock Ford blows a giant bubble during the South Branch PS bubble blowing competition.