NDT Issue 7 2020 December 16

Spirit Of Giving - Reverse Advent Calendar &

Toy Drive

Help Us Refill The Foodbank and Make Someone’s Christmas!

Dec 18 Can of Fruit & Jar of Apple Sauce

Dessert & Can of Fruit

Dec 19 Box of Rice & Jar of Spaghetti Sauce

Give

Dec 17 Granola Bars

Buying food isn’t your thing, but buying fun things is?- No problem! We are also collecting New, Unwrapped Toys for our Community Members!

Dry Hydrant: New Reliable Water Source for Mountain

by Joselyn Morley

Without a water tanker full of water, a rural fire service is in deep trouble!

A new dry hydrant in South Mountain will ensure a reliable water source for fighting fires. The new dry hydrant was inaugurated on December 12, 2020.

For the last few years, the Mountain Fire Station has struggled to get enough water to fill its tanker truck. With no hydrants in rural areas, the tanker truck is essential. The Fire Service needs to have a reliable water supply.

Previously, the Fire Department has drawn water

from the dry hydrant in town, at the South Nation River that runs through South Mountain. The river has changed greatly over the last few years. Changes in usage, as well as climate change, have meant that there have been summers that the river runs almost dry. When there was enough water, the amount of sludge made using the water almost impossible. The Fire Department has been looking for a new, reliable water source for the last ten years. There is no cost-effective way to drill a well in the area to get water for fire fighting. Without a reliable water supply, property and lives are

in danger, and homeowner insurance rates are higher.

The new dry hydrant is on the site of an old quarry. In the last ten years, the quarry has never run dry. There will always be enough water. Both Mountain Fire Department and the nearby South Dundas Fire department will have access to the new dry hydrant. The $11,000 cost was shared by North Dundas and South Dundas. The owner of the land where the old quarry was is happy to offer the use of the quarry for the fire services. He was impressed by the work done by Havekes Land Improvement that installed the culverts, piping, and the

turn-around. The dry hydrant consists of a 5 inch pipe, 12 feet down, and 15 feet back. The pipe doesn't look like much in the photo, but it represents a huge improvement for the Fire Service, and their access to a reliable water supply. Our volunteer fire fighters put their lives on the line for the residents of North Dundas. It's good to know that they have a reliable source of water!

In the picture, you can see, the pipe beside the Mountain Fire Chief, Ray Sherrer.

L-R: Al Armstrong, Deputy Mayor; Ray Sherrer, Fire Chief, Mountain Station; Parker Havekes, Havekes Land Improvements; Don Levere, Deputy Fire Chief, Mountain Station, Dean Keyes, landowner

Ontario’s small businesses are essential to our economy, our communities and our way of life

Let’s give the gift of shopping local this holiday

‘Tis the season to support local business

by David

As we come to the busiest shopping period of the year, both provincial and municipal governments are encouraging people to support local business. This season is an important and critical time for small businesses, and shopping locally, whether in-store or online, can have tremendous impact in securing the futures of these businesses.

Shanahan keep our local businesses in business by choosing to spend our dollars in our communities, purchasing creative and unique gifts from local artisans, ordering takeout from our favourite restaurants, buying gift cards and supporting our local markets. Supporting local business today, means we’re helping them to see a brighter tomorrow.”

The Ontario government have issued a statement urging residents to use this Christmas season to put their money into their community by shopping locally.

“Ontario’s small businesses are essential to our economy, our communities and our way of life,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction.

“This has been a year unlike any other, but we can help

Many businesses may not survive the pandemic, but they deserve all the help we can give them. Owners have taken steps to continue operating in spite of restrictions, some by placing more emphasis on on-line opportunities for customers, and others by establishing safe and distanced set-ups in their stores. It is also worth remembering, when it comes to choosing your holiday gifts, that local stores and businesses can often offer the kind of locally-made products not

easily available elsewhere. These can make special, often unique, gifts for family and friends at home and away.

“Now more than ever in Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, it’s important to shop locally and support the businesses that work so hard to serve our communities,” said Jim McDonell, MPP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry. “Let’s give the gift of shopping local this holiday and make wishes come true for small businesses this holiday season and into the New Year.”

There is also opportunity to support their community restaurants and bars by ordering takeout and purchasing gift cards. Last month, Ontario introduced the Supporting Local Restaurants Act, 2020 that will temporarily reduce fees charged by food delivery companies in areas where indoor dining is pro-

Cup of Jo's & Restaurants in the Pandemic

Jo's Family Meal Kits offer substantial meals. You get all the ingredients, and a recipe, delivered to your door. Ordering is online, and delivery is contact-free.

Jo-Ann is offering a Christmas Morning Breakfast Kit. You can also order a Breakfast Kit for the Community Foodshare. She has Holiday Deserts and Pies, and Christmas Baskets. Everything is ordered online. https://jos-family-meal-boxes.myshopify.com/

December 8th, calling for a "coordinated national action to support the hardest hit sector," namely, restaurants. They maintain that currently 80% of restaurants are loosing money, or just barely making it. 65% are operating at a loss. 19% are just breaking even.

hibited to help more small and independent restaurants stay in business.

The Township of North Dundas places great value and pride in our local businesses.

Township CAO, Angela Rutley, informed the Times of some of the initiatives to support local entrepreneurs: “We have been reaching out to them and trying to help them through this unprecedented time.

Our Economic Development and Communications Officer, Stephen Mann, made hundreds of calls to local businesses to find out how they were doing and if they were experiencing any challenges. He provided resource and government funding information to them to assist with challenges as appropriate. And he regularly emailed businesses as funding updates and additional resources became available

to help connect them with available resources.”

The Township also created a COVID page on their website, with information and resources available to businesses and residents.

Mayor Fraser posted videos on the Township website and Facebook page, updating residents during the pandemic and stressing the importance of supporting our local businesses.

These are just a few of the steps taken by North Dundas to create a positive economic

environment. The rest is up to us. We can choose where to shop, how much support to give the businesses that are the backbone of the local economy, and a sector which the voluntary organisations often depend upon for sponsorship and donations.

This year, we can make a real and dramatic difference in simple ways, and perhaps save some of our friends and neighbours from having to close their doors permanently in 2021.

by Joselyn Morley

Jo-Ann Houle is the owner and operator of Cup of Jo's on Main Street in the centre of Winchester. She prides herself on her Madeto-Order wholesome food. Her menu features coffees, sandwiches & wraps, desserts, soups, breakfasts, eggs & omelets, and crepes. She makes cakes and appetizers, caters lunches and parties, and welcomed people into her darling stone house. She closed her doors to eatin customers because the layout and size of the building would allow only three tables. Maybe.

Small business owners are ever-creative. Jo-Ann shifted her business to Family Meal Kits. Unlike some meal kits where your 18 year old could polish off all four portions as an appetizer,

Catering is a totally different beast in a pandemic! Think back to office parties, or lunches, or school gatherings. The ubiquitous cookie tray at Christmas, holidays, or work gatherings, doesn't look the same during Covid-19. Everything must be wrapped separately, and it must remain individualised. In other words, it's not enough just to wrap up each item on the tray; each person's food must be separate. A caterer needs to know what individual people want, and package it accordingly. It's possible, but it adds a great deal of time, organization, and ultimately cost. The price of your cookie tray just exploded exponentially.

Restaurants Canada, formerly Canadian Restaurant Association founded in 1944, maintains the same purpose now as it did then: to help foodservice businesses grow and prosper. It held a virtual press conference on

In the next six months, 48% of single-unit restaurateurs say they will close permanently unless something changes drastically. That is almost half of all restaurants owned by families, or individuals, that hold our towns together. The big chains, although suffering, are experiencing things a bit differently. The saying goes lately that: We may all be in the same storm, but we're not all in the same boat!

Restaurants cannot hang on to inventory, or return it to a supplier. You cannot leave a head of lettuce on the shelf until next season, or return the eggs to the supplier. Restaurants operate on an extremely small margin at the best of times. According to Restaurants Canada, the average restaurant only keeps 50 cents on every 10 dollars spent on a restaurant meal.

Many small businesses are not eligible for any federal pandemic relief. Most small business relief is intended for businesses employing from 15 people to 50. Many owners of small businesses don't draw a sal-

ary per-se, and therefore were not eligible for CERB when their doors were shut. When you are shopping this holiday, please remember the small businesses. Your custom makes a huge difference. Maybe ask yourself if the person you are buying for would appreciate a gift from a big box store, or a local merchant. Furthermore, remember, if you cannot support a local business financially, you can still help them: Like, share, and comment on their social media posts; tell friends and family about them; tag a friend who might enjoy their products; sign up for their newsletters, leave a review; and when you can, buy from them for yourself or as a gift.

Cup of Jo's and Community Foodshare are teaming up to try to help make sure that everyone's Christmas morning is special. You can order a Christmas Morning Breakfast Box on Cup of Jo's website, and they will deliver it to Community Foodshare for distribution to their clients. A Christmas Morning Breakfast Box includes: a dozen eggs, 6 muffins, 1 loaf of bread, homefries, 12 pieces of each peameal bacon, bacon, & sausage, and jam packets. To order https://jos-family-meal-boxes. myshopify.com/

A Message from Mayor Tony Fraser

meal kits. We have just come through a big weekend. What we have known for 23 years as the North Dundas Parade of Lights, this year was renamed the North Dundas Display of Lights. While it would have been easy to cancel the event due to our unusual circumstances, we are lucky that we have a group that was able to navigate their way through many roadblocks.

Hello again, It’s amazing to think that we’re almost at the end of 2020 – and as we hear from so many, thank goodness!

We’ve always had mileposts throughout a year to give us perspective of the passing of time as well as to prepare us for upcoming events. This year we have had one overbearing marker of time that has been the main topic of all of our conversations, as well as all TV and news coverage. While we’ve all had our own personal experiences, inconveniences, and

losses during this pandemic, we have to keep in mind the modifications businesses have had to make in order to keep providing us what we need and to keep them afloat.

I want to take this opportunity to highlight some of the efforts made in our community by residents, volunteers, businesses, and Township staff to bring some comfort and joy to our lives.

I am impressed by the creativity of our food service providers, with the variety of options for pre-made, pickup, or make at home

Our small but mighty parade committee of Sandy Burns, Brianne Scott and Matthew Roy were able to work closely with the Eastern Ontario Health Unit to put on a fantastic event that was enjoyed by families from all over our area. The generosity of Hunter McQaig and his staff at Rideau Auctions made their vision of a safe drive by event come true. It will be interesting to see what next year brings when we will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the North Dundas Parade of Lights – the brainchild of a forward thinker and leader in our community, Joel Steele. He would be very proud that the group was able to keep it going!

Township of North Dundas Council Meeting

by Joselyn Morley projections for budget items for next year. The Council meetings move along quickly. A few items of note include a couple of new casual hires for the winter months. The introduction of an Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) in North Dundas, starting with parking tickets. This is intended to save time and money following up parking tickets in the courts. You may be familiar with the system in some bigger cities, which provides an opportunity to appeal for a reduction in the fine of a ticket. It keeps parking tickets out of court, which saves money and time.

The Council met on December 8. Awards were presented to two township employees for customer service, and innovation, sustainability & leadership. Mayor Fraser praised staff saying recently there has been more teamwork, more support, and symbiotic working between departments. In presenting an award to Laurie Gibson, Mayor Fraser said she "doesn't know the word no."He praised her ability to transition from one task to another seamlessly. Another award was presented to Mike Sharkey, who has worked with the Township of North Dundas, and before that the Town of Chesterville, for 38 years.

The end of the year brings with it a lot of business. There are end-of-year reports, and

A new pound is in the planning stages, to serve North and South Dundas, and North and South Stormont. Angela Rutledge, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), outlined two possible sources of funding for Investing in Can-

A more recent addition to the parade day is Fries for Charity. Once again, the fries were awesome! Another small but well organized group of volunteers makes this happen each year. Kudos to the Winchester Downtown Revitalization Committee, they collected donations in exchange for a box of fries. This year, it was decided that the funds would go to the two young ladies who were recently burned in a tragic incident.

We certainly hope that you have noticed the lights at various buildings and venues throughout our Township. The Township Staff has been busy putting up 100’s of strings of lights to bring some holiday cheer to our community. As an initiative to encourage residents

and businesses to join in on the cheer, we have created a Light Up North Dundas Holiday Tour event. The Tour aims to celebrate the holiday season by encouraging homes, businesses, and organizations to create a display of lights and register as a participating location on the road map. Registered sites will be judged and prizes will be awarded. We are especially excited about the Community Choice Award, which is a gift basket of donations from local businesses, as organized by Cheryl Beasley of Simply Baked in Winchester. Whether you have a major light display, or a couple of strings up that make you smile, share it with us! For detailed information, please visit the North Dundas Face-

book page or website. As we near the end of 2020, and most certainly look forward to a better year ahead, I reflect on the strength of our community and the frequent examples of how we support each other. This is one of the most challenging times for so many of us and, while we may tire of hearing that we’re in this together, the fact is that we are. Please make the best of this holiday season; I recognize that it will be very different, but let’s all do our best to enjoy the simpler things in life, whether it be virtual hugs, Christmas cheer via Zoom, or a simple phone call to wish someone health and happiness for 2021. Merry Christmas and take care!

Mayor Tony Fraser

ada during Covid-19, a grants opportunity that has strict timing parameters. Reports and updates were accepted by Council. Updates on the 2021 budget were given. Updates regarding policy development were submitted.

In short, there is no way to sum up the content from 147 pages of the meeting package. The important thing to remember is that it is your council. Virtually all the documents of all the meetings are available online, on the Township of North Dundas website. Leading up to the meetings the agendas are posted. The entire meeting package, complete with every document that will be discussed, is available online.

The next meeting of the Township Council is a special meeting to be held on December 15 at 7 pm.

Who knows where the time goes?

by David Shanahan

Time plays strange tricks on us. Last week, without warning, it struck me that it has been forty years since John Lennon was murdered. How can it be that long since we lost such an amazing and complicated individual? It also means that he would be 80 years old today, had he lived so long. That may seem hard to imagine, but think: the other surviving Beatles are also up there. Ringo is 80, Paul is 78, and George, the youngest, would have been 77. That may not mean a lot to anyone born in the last three or four decades, but, believe me, your time will come too.

One day, you’ll suddenly realise that, no matter what your head says about how old you feel, your body does not agree.

But that’s another story. Today, with the insight, hindsight, and out of sight age brings, I have to look back and see what a really odd

Dear Editor,

I was shocked to hear a doctor treating Covid say on the CBC national news that she was looking forward to getting the vaccine so she would not have to worry any longer about taking the virus home to her family.

According to the Moderna Chief Medical Officer Tal Zaks, there is no evidence that the currently approved vaccines prevent one getting or transmitting Covid. It is possible that the Oxford vaccine will do so, but it is not approved yet and is not the vaccine we are getting at this point. The current vaccines will reduce or eliminate the illness symptoms caused by Covid, but may not eliminate Covid. They will leave you asymptomatic but you may still have and transmit the virus. At present, a vaccinated person may be no different than a currently asymptomatic spreader of the virus. Until there is evidence that vaccines will prevent transmission, it will be essential to continue all current public health precautions (masks, distancing, washing hands etc) even after vaccination.

time it’s been, long before covid and Brexit and Trump.

In my lifetime, to choose just a few at random, I’ve seen the murders of John Kennedy, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, and Bobby Kennedy; and that was just the Sixties. Imagine that.

On December 6, we marked the 31st anniversary of the massacre of women at the École Polytechnique in Montreal, where 14 students were murdered because they were women. The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women is marked on that date each year, and, each year, there are yet more deaths to remember and mourn. This pandemic has only increased the number of acts of violence against women and children. Imagine that.

It is simply astounding that we have become used to hearing about mass shootings, murder-suicides, massacres of ethnic or religious groups. But, hopefully, we

have not become immune to the shock and the horror and the rejection of such things. It can be hard to know how to respond to such barbarity. It can seem impossible for us to do anything about them. But there are things we can do. Imagine that.

Although they were complex, imperfect people, it is an odd thing that the victims of the most famous murders, people like Lennon, King, the Kennedys, and others, were people who inspired. They may not have been perfectly consistent in living their vision, but they tried to break down barriers, to teach a better way for us to live together. The women of École Polytechnique were breaking down barriers too: as women moving into professions and workplaces traditionally closed to them. Ironically, for all of these individuals, it was that very attempt to give a different vision of what life could be that provoked others to kill. Imagine that.

We can learn from this. It can be complicated, and it can sometimes be simple. I often think that the man who wrote the most wonderfully poetic Strawberry Fields Forever, could also put vital lessons in such simple words: All we are saying is Give Peace a Chance. What would that mean, I wonder? I think, in this world, there are those whose work is to share a vision, no matter how impractical or impossible it may seem. The work of the rest of us is to find ways to bring the vision to pass. Think of the numerous women who worked for decades to bring some form of political and social equality to their gender. Think of the generations of Blacks who believed in freedom and equality and civil rights, were beaten, attacked by dogs, and murdered, by what seemed to be all-powerful forces working against them. And things changed and continue to change as the struggle goes on. Imagine that.

Don’t get me wrong: I do not believe that humanity can be perfected and that we can enter an age of universal peace and love. I am a child of the Sixties, and I know our limitations. But we try.

As we approach Christmas, we can think about another who preached peace and love, equality and dignity for all. The one verse of Scripture everyone knows at this time of year is: “Peace on Earth; goodwill towards men”. [It is enlightening to see the actual verse] This is a time when we are, in theory at least, inspired by Jesus’ birth to consider others more. We give presents, we donate to food banks, we smile and wish each other good things. We look hopefully to a new year and promise ourselves to be better next time.

Of course, it has become more of a secular excuse for indulgence and excess, but, at its core, we remember the original intent and inspiration. Someone who preached love

and forgiveness, whose coming was a promise of a better world and better people. And they killed him too.

But, some of us believe that this is not the end of the story. There was death, but there was resurrection too. But this is Christmas, and it is a time of giving and sharing and caring for others in a way we don’t usually do at other times of the year.

The food banks really need your help. The homeless need shelter. The isolated need contact and care. In this Time of Covid, all of this is more so than in any other time. We can do things to make a difference. Now is the time, so that the results can reach people before its too late. In the words of that lost leader: And so this is Christmas; and what have you done?

Ontario begins rollout of COVID-19 Vaccine

Yes, vaccines are a big leap forward in fighting Covid and will save tens of thousands of lives, but the misconception that they are proven to stop transmission may also cost tens of thousands of lives, if it leads to a false sense of security and a premature abandonment of precautions. Public health officials , doctors, and politicians need to get on this issue right now, but its scary to think there are doctors who themselves don’t understand the potential limits of vaccination. Politicians may want us to think the end of the problem is at hand, but they need to take leadership in sounding the appropriate note of caution until we know if vaccines will prevent transmission.

William Vanveen Kemptville

The Ontario government has developed a three-phase implementation plan to receive, store and administer COVID-19 vaccines to Ontarians as soon as they are received. Phase One began on Tuesday, December 15, with a pilot project in Toronto and Ottawa which will include the vaccination of over 2,500 health care workers with the Health Canada approved Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

"We are ready to receive these vaccines as soon as they become available thanks to the excellent work of our health care officials and General Hillier and the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force," said Premier Ford. "We have one of the most robust and comprehensive plans in the country and I am confident that all the necessary security measures and the advanced logistics systems are in place. The progress we are making is a welcome sign, but we must continue to be vigilant and follow the public health guidelines until vaccines are widely available."

As part of Phase One, Ontario will be participating in a COVID-19 vaccine readiness pilot in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada and Pfizer-BioNTech. Two pilot sites at University Health Network in Toronto and The Ottawa Hospital will receive doses of the Pfizer vaccine to be administered to health care workers who are providing care in hospitals and long-term care homes.

This pilot will help inform the province's preparedness plan to receive larger vaccine quantities as it moves forward in Phase One, providing the opportunity to test the logistics of delivery, reconstitution of the vaccine, clinic management, and post-vaccine surveillance. The pilot also affords the opportunity to learn from the experiences of those being immunized so lessons learned can be shared with sites that will receive the vaccine in the coming weeks and months.

The two locations were selected for the pilot because this will test the travel logistics in two different regions

of the province. In addition, these sites already have the equipment necessary to safely store the Pfizer vaccine at -70 degrees and the trained staff to handle the vaccine. Since this vaccine cannot be transferred beyond the initial delivery location at this time, vaccinations will be administered to health care workers in high-risk areas such as long-term care and critical care units in the Toronto and Ottawa regions.

"Keeping everyone safe is our top priority and this vaccine is Health Canada approved and ready to be administered," said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. "By vaccinating and protecting people who provide essential care in hospitals and long-term care homes, we will decrease the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks in these settings. As we continue to receive more doses, we will ensure that every person who wants a vaccine will receive one."

The province’s decision to identify key populations to receive the vaccine first is

based on the advice of medical experts and ethicists, recommended by the Ministers’ COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force and aligned with the National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s recommendations.

Phase One will continue with the following key milestones:

Based on per capita allocations, an expected 90,000 Pfizer-BioNTech doses received from the federal government will be delivered to up to 14 hospital sites in Grey-Lockdown and RedControl zones in December, to vaccinate health care workers in hospitals, long-term care homes, retirement homes and other congregate settings caring for seniors.

Deliveries of an expected 35,000 to 85,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine, once approved, will enable vaccinations to be expanded to long-term care homes in the Grey-Lockdown areas.

In early 2021, expansion of additional hospital sites providing the PfizerBioNTech vaccine in GreyLockdown and Red-Control zones, with continued vaccination provided to health care workers and, with the appropriate safety protocols, to long-term care home and retirement home residents.

Earliest pioneers of “Me Too” Movement were American women of colour struggling with effects of sexual harassment in the workplace

by Anne-Marie Langan

I recently discovered that the MeToo Movement was pioneered by American women of colour well over a decade before we began hearing about the #MeToo movement on the news.

Tarana Burke, a survivor of multiple incidents of sexual harassment and assault, wanted to support other black women who had similar experiences to share their stories. She started support groups for women of colour that were actually called “Me Too” groups. Ms. Burke also pioneered Just Be Inc. in 2006, an organization that seeks to empower young women of colour to “take root, grow, and blossom”, thereby lessening the chances that they will be targeted by sexual predators.

One of the first activists to advocate against sexual harassment in the workplace (SHIW) as early as 1975 was Carmita Wood, a black woman who worked at Cornell University. She quit her job when she was refused a transfer after complaining about

Vaccine

Continued from page 4

It is anticipated that by end of January over 20 hospitals across the province will be administering the Pfizer vaccine.

An expansion of the number of locations to administer the Moderna vaccine would include long-term care homes, retirement homes, public heath units, other congregate care settings for seniors, and adults in First Nations, Métis and Indigenous populations.

When an increased stockpile of vaccines becomes available to Ontario, the province will shift to Phase Two of its vaccination implementation plan, which is expected to begin later in the winter of 2021. During Phase Two, vaccinations will be administered

having been repeatedly sexually harassed and assaulted by her boss. She was denied employment benefits because she was deemed to have quit for “personal reasons”. She went on to help found Working Women United, a group that successfully advocated for an anti-sexual harassment clause to be included in the affirmative action amendments that lead to the US’s Employment Opportunity Commission.

In addition, one of the US Supreme Court’s seminal cases about sexual harassment in the workplace, Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57 (1986), was brought by a black bank teller who had been repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted by the bank manager, along with several of her co-workers. In this case, the court set out guidelines for determining whether certain behaviours constitute sexual harassment, and recognized that SHIW can create a “hostile work environment” and is an infringement of an employee’s civil rights. The principles outlined

by the US Supreme Court in this case closely mirror those applied by our provincial and federal human rights tribunals and the Canadian courts.

These courageous women, who were facing many obstacles other than the SHIW they experienced, including economic barriers, racism, and other forms of sexism, deserve our gratitude for taking leadership on this issue and creating the ground work for the complaint mechanisms that we have in place today.

This article was provided by The Legal Clinic as part of a public legal education

campaign sponsored by The Justice Department of the Government of Canada. As part of this project, The Legal Clinic is offering free workshops about SHIW for employers, employees, and students, and free legal advice and assistance to victims of SHIW. For more information about this project, please visit our website at www.tlcshiwproject.com, or contact the project coordinator, AnneMarie Langan at langana@ lao.on.ca, or 613-264-7153.

Holiday Closures and Changes

The Boyne Road Landfill will be CLOSED

Friday, December 25, Monday, December 28 and Friday, January 1

Route changes are as follows:

Friday, December 25: regular pick up will be December 24

Thursday, December 24: regular pick up will be December 23

All other Routes remain unchanged.

Any questions contact: Doug Froats, 613 229 4233

Nearly two-thirds of Canadians in debt

by Community Wire

Email:

to health care workers, as well as to residents in long-term care homes and retirement homes, to home care patients with chronic conditions.

Ontario will enter Phase Three when vaccines are available for every Ontarian who wishes to be immunized. While vaccines will not be mandated, during Phase Three, people will be strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.

As the province prepares to rollout its phased vaccination program and head into the holiday season, it remains critically important that all Ontarians continue following public health advice to protect our communities and most vulnerable populations, and to stop the spread of the virus.

The Credit Counselling Society (CCS), Canada’s leading accredited non-profit credit counselling service, today announces the release of their 2020 Consumer Debt Report. The report, conducted by CCS among members of the Angus Reid Forum, illustrates the impact COVID-19 has had on the personal finances of Canadians, and highlights the attitudes, perceptions and behaviours around savings, debt and personal finance management that Canadians hold.

“Through the COVID-19 pandemic we’ve seen, firsthand, that this year has been a financial wake up call for Canadians and many are feeling anxious about their financial situation,” said Scott Hannah, President and CEO of The Credit Counselling Society. “We’ve been supporting Canadians with debt management strategies for over two decades but, through this report, we can confidently confirm that it’s never been more important to proactively tackle your debt than it is right now.”

The Credit Counselling Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping consumers manage their money and debt better. CCS provides free, confidential credit counselling, debt repayment options, budgeting assistance and financial education.

The 2020 Consumer Debt Report, conducted by CCS among members of the Angus Reid Forum, found that Canadians have an inflated perception of their financial management skills with only 17% saying they need help with their finances, but 27% saying their personal finances make them feel anxious and 86% of Canadians think they can improve on one or more aspect of financial planning.

These are the findings of a survey conducted by the Credit Counselling Society from November 9 to November 12, 2020 with a representative sample of 1,805online Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French.These are the findings of a survey conducted by the Credit Counselling Society from November

9 to November 12, 2020 with a representative sample of 1,805online Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French.

The survey also found that 64% of Canadians are carrying non-mortgage debt. 31% of Canadians are having trouble paying down their debt (making only the minimum payment or less) and this number is even higher for those living in Alberta (40%). 44% of Canadians have 1-month or less of emergency savings. One quarter of Canadians with non-mortgage debt have leveraged government supports (27%) and/or tapped into personal savings (26%) during COVID-19. 95% of Canadians under 55 feel they could improve on one or more aspects of financial planning.

The report also revealed how COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted Canadians under the age of 55, including those in lower income brackets (under $50,000 per year), and those experiencing employment change due to the pandemic.

The Credit Counselling Society conducted this 2020 Consumer Debt Survey to obtain a deeper understanding of how Canadians are doing when it comes to their money. The findings, based on a survey of nearly 2,000 people, provide important insights into the debt, perceptions, feelings, financial management skills, future outlook for Canadians. This information will guide how the non-profit credit counsellors, advisors and educators provide services and resources to their clients.

For more information about CCS or to learn more about the free services, visit www.nomoredebts.org.

BACKYARD ASTRONOMY A Great Conjunction

tion of two planets.

Holiday Spirit Week at ND

by Gary Boyle -

The Backyard Astronomer

2020 will be a year that will never be forgotten. For the past months, the entire world has suffered a high level of stress and anxiety from this pandemic. Normal routines of going to work, school, restaurants, concerts, sporting events, and movies came to a screaming halt. Other than reading, playing games, or binge-watching TV, people began looking skyward, some for the first time. And why not? Astronomy is the oldest of the allied sciences, and the night sky has been the place of deep relaxation for thousands of years. We also have the means of learning science as it plays out in the cosmos.

This year, we desperately needed a distraction, and then came Comet Neowise. It had put on a fantastic show throughout July, as it was seen

with the naked eye even in the moonlight. This allowed millions of people around the world to observe and photograph this interstellar visitor. Neowise is now on its way back to the icy depths of space, only to return about 6,800 years from now.

The first week of October saw Mars at its closest approach to Earth since 2003. Our two worlds swing close to each other every 26 months, but every seventh return is deemed the closest. Mars is still seen overhead for most of the night, appearing high overhead as a bright orange object. Over the weeks and months, Mars dims ever so slowly as our distance increases with each passing day. We now end the year with two more celestial events that will entice people to look up once again – a grand meteor shower and a great conjunc-

Like ping pong balls on a table, the planets lie on the plane of the solar system with the Sun at the centre. Over months and years, the planets revolve around the Sun at different speeds. On occasion, two planets will optically come close to each other in the sky, called a conjunction. Brilliant Jupiter (887 million km away) and Saturn (1.6 billion km away to the upper left) are now visible low in the southwestern sky, will appear extremely close on the night of December 21, which also happens to be the Winter Solstice. A typical Jupiter-Saturn conjunction occurs every 20 years or so, but this year, they will appear as a double planet with a separation equal to 1/5 the width of the full moon. This will give telescope owners a rare treat of seeing these gas giants and their moons in the same field of view. This extreme close approach plays out every 397 years.

Many are associating this to the Star of the Magi, which was the close conjunction of the two brightest planets, namely Venus and Jupiter. On the night of June 17, 2 BC, they appeared to touch each other, which was deemed a sign. This is the closest astronomical event at the time,

as Halley’s Comet was seen ten years prior in 12 BC, as recorded by the Chinese.

A week before the December 21 grand conjunction, the Geminid meteor shower will peak on the night of December 13/14, producing 120 slow-moving meteors per hour. There will be a few fireballs that can light up the ground. This is one of the best showers of the year and moonlight will not interfere.

Till next time, clear skies.

Known as “The Backyard Astronomer”, Gary Boyle is an astronomy educator, guest speaker and monthly columnist for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. He has been interviewed on more than 50 Canadian radio stations and local Ottawa TV. In recognition of his public outreach in astronomy, the International Astronomical Union has honoured him with the naming of Asteroid (22406) Garyboyle. Follow him on Twitter: @astroeducator or his website: www. wondersofastronomy.com.

North Dundas District High School NEWS

by Jamie Wilson

North Dundas is celebrating the last week of school before the break with a fun and festive Spirit Week. We started the week off on Monday with Red and Green Day, Tuesday was Tacky Christmas Day, Wednesday is Toques and Flannel, Thursday is Semi-Formal Day, and we will end the week with Pajama day on Friday. This is a great opportunity to spread some Holiday cheer, and for students to earn participation points for their grade. The Student Council wants to know which grade has the best Holiday spirit!

Friday, December 18, is the day that everyone at North Dundas has been waiting for. The school will finally get to watch the Holiday show that the grade 12 students have been working on. The show is filled with singing, dancing, and funny skits, featuring everything from the teachers as high school students, to the elves delivering gifts after Santa gets Covid-19. We hope that everyone will have as much fun watching it as the grade 12s did making it.

We would like to thank everyone who made this show possible, despite the challenges of the pandemic. Thank you to the Student Council, who took the lead on the project, to everyone who wrote scripts, choreographed dances, and shared their talents, and to the people who took on small responsibilities that made a huge difference. Thank you to the teachers who stayed late after school to supervise, and thank you to everyone else who made this possible.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from our big North Dundas family to yours!

Donate old electronics to help addiction and mental health services

Between now and March 31, 2021, The Phoenix Centre for Children and Families, in partnership with the Champlain Mental Health & Addictions COVID-19 Task Group, which is focused on creating a virtual care service delivery system which has the knowledge, equipment and support to provide effective and efficient services to vulnerable populations in response to COVID-19, are making a call for donations of any unused or surplus electronic devices that you may have at home or in the office.

During this difficult time of COVID-19, The Phoenix Centre and the Champlain MH&A COVID-19 Task Group are working with agencies throughout the Champlain region to make mental health and addiction services accessible to individuals or families needing help through virtual platforms. Unfortunately, not everyone in our various communities has access to mobile phones tablets, laptops, or even reliable internet that is compatible

with virtual platforms. Your donation of a device that still works, but is no longer being used, will be put into the hands of a person who is needing mental health and/or addictions support during this challenging time.

This project covers children, youth, adults, and seniors in the Champlain Region (which includes Leeds & Grenville, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ottawa, Prescott Russell, Renfrew County).

At this time, to make sure the devices will be able to assist in the virtual care program in the best way possible, we are asking that your devices meet the following requirements:

- Power On

- Have a Charging Cord

- Be Unlocked (if applicable)

- Not Be Blacklisted

- Have a functional screen (minor, non function limiting scratches are fine)

- Functional Headphone jack

- Operating Systems (Not Applicable for non-Smart

Phones):

a. Smart Phones and Tablets:

- iOS 8.0 or newer

- iPad OS 13 or newer

- Android 5.0x or newer

b. Laptops:

- macOS X with macOS 10.9 or newer

- Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10 Home, Pro or Enterprise

If you have any questions or are unsure that your donation will meet our requirements, please contact Jessica Rowsell by phone at 1-613-735-9565, or by email at jrowsell@phoenixctr.com and it will be verified for you.

All device donations will be wiped to the highest data security standards and uploaded with all the required platforms and applications to support the recipient. If you include your name and email address, a tax receipt for your donation will be sent to you if the value is assessed over $20.00. When you are ready to make your donation, reach out to Jessica Rowsell by phone or email to locate your nearest drop off location or to make arrangements for

Winchester Lions Thrift Store

pick up.

By being able to offer more services virtually, and providing the necessary equipment to those who need it, The Phoenix Centre and their partners will be able to offer a sustainable service to all who need it, when they need it.

The Phoenix Centre and the Champlain Mental Health & Addictions COVID-19

Task Group would like to thank the United Way East Ontario and their Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) for being able to provide financial aid in order to support the Champlain Region during this difficult time.

Help Support Your Local Businesses

by Joselyn Morley

The Winchester Lions Thrift Store has run in to some more delays in the process of opening their thrift store at the new location in the old St Matthias Anglican Church, 541 St Lawrence Street in Winchester. They had hoped to be open before Christmas, but they are currently working on getting the building up to code. They are in the process of looking for qualified contractors in order to bring the location up to requirements. This is a challenge because currently contractors are very busy with prior commitments, and there are shortages of some supplies. Furthermore, as a not for profit organisation, they try to keep costs as low as possible. Hopefully they are in a position to announce a grand re-opening very soon!

The WDMH Foundation presents The Judy Lannin Christmas Wish Tree

It’s a wonderful Christmas tradition! We invite you to make a donation to the WDMH Foundation in memory, or in honour, of someone who has touched your life in a special way or is near and dear to your heart – a parent, spouse, sibling, veteran, volunteer, doctor, nurse, or neighbour. Donations will go to the Family Care Fund to support compassionate, excellent health care close to home.

Simply fill out and send the donation card below, visit https://bit.ly/Xmas2020NDT to donate online, or call the Foundation Office at 613-774-2422 ext. 6162. Tax receipts will be provided. We will proudly place an ornament on the Christmas Wish Tree with the name(s) noted on your donation form.

And please join us online for the virtual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, December 19th at 5:00 pm. It will be live-streamed on the Foundation Facebook page. Enjoy some wonderful music, celebrate the season, and watch the tree lighting from the comfort of your own home. (Please note there will be no on-site participation. This event may be cancelled should COVID-19 restrictions increase).

Donation Card ■ Yes, I want to make a gift in memory or in honour of someone special.

■ In memory of _____________________________________ ■ In honour of ______________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

■ Please add an ornament to the tree with these names.

*Donor Name (person who paid for donation) ____________________________________________________________________

*Address ________________________________________________ *City_____________________*Prov ___________________

*Postal Code __________ *Telephone ________________________ Email ____________________________________________

For more information, call the WDMH Foundation at 613-774-2422 x 6162

WDMH Foundation

566 Louise Street

Winchester, ON K0C 2K0

Visit us online: wdmh.on.ca/foundation

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/ wdmhfoundation

Charitable Registration

# 89282 4368 RR0001

■ Yes, I would like to receive occasional email updates about the Foundation and have provided my email address.

* Please complete these fields so that we may issue you an official income tax receipt for your gift.

I would like to give the amount listed below:

■ $105 ■ $80 ■ $55 ■ $30

■ ________ is the best donation amount for me.

■ Enclosed is a cheque made payable to the WDMH Foundation. Please bill my ■ Visa ■ Mastercard

Card Number ______________________________________

CVV ________ Expiry Date _____ /______

Name on Card _____________________________________

Cardholder Signature ________________________________

■ This is a corporate credit card

Thank you for your support. Please stay safe and well.

How would you treat your own mother?

they will help end this nightmare. But, in the meantime, loved ones will die.

So, prevention must be practiced, including refraining from gatherings, wearing face masks, and complying with social distancing rules. There’s no guarantee to evade the virus, but these steps will decrease risk.

where are the common-sense messages about good oldfashioned prevention and protection that come naturally from our immune systems?

In fact, you can find the ingredients for a strong immune system if you go looking. But there are no megamillion-dollar budgets to push this information to you on the nightly news or in commercial advertising.

COVID-19 is caused by a viral infection. So, look at the research on the prevention of viral infections for guidance on how to care for your loved ones.

they should be a priority in treatment. Two, research by these scientists, including published clinical trials, continues to prove the efficacy of natural supplements for both the prevention and treatment of disease.

milligrams (mg) daily also beefs up immunity and eases inflammation. Magnesium at 400 mg daily eases the constriction of arteries caused by viral infections.

It was 1949 and I was making rounds at the Massachusetts General Hospital with Professor Edward D. Churchill, an original thinker who taught medical school students and residents the importance of science in surgical practice. The X-ray showed a small mass in one lung in a very frail elderly lady. If it was a benign lesion, an operation might kill her. If it was malignancy and we did not operate, it might end her

life. After much discussion, Professor Churchill asked a question I’ve never forgotten, “How would you treat your own mother?”

I told this story to Diana while discussing the number of people dying in seniors’ homes due to COVID. What treatment would we want for our family members?

It’s reasonable to expect more infections in seniors’ homes this winter. Vaccines are on the way and, hopefully,

Yet, for loved ones in these group residences, this is not enough. In addition to these structural defences, we should help them ensure that their natural biological defences are as robust as possible. Unfortunately, this first line of defence has not received due attention.

There’s an avalanche of information about fighting the virus from pharmaceutical companies, institutes of health, university-based labs, and expert researchers around the world. We are counting on these groups to make breakthroughs in medicine that will cure diseases and protect us from future pandemics. But

Governments helping Ontario Agri-Food Businesses increase online sales

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing over $3.5 million to help more than 700 businesses in the Ontario agri-food sector establish or expand their online presence. This initiative will provide consumers with more local food choices when shopping from home during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, food producers, farmers markets, retailers, garden centres, greenhouses, nurseries, and agricultural associations are developing or expanding ecommerce ventures this year. By focusing more resources online, Ontario agri-food businesses are broadening their marketing channels, increasing online sales and providing consumers with greater access to a wide variety of food and agriculture products.

"COVID-19 has been a major disruptor and has accelerated change to the way we do business in agriculture," said the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. "This funding an-

nouncement today is helping our farm and food businesses to adapt to the new reality and take their sales online to different e-commerce platforms. Not only will these investments support the trend towards buying local, but it has the potential to support more direct-to-consumer sales for our farmers and food businesses."

"This support is helping many Ontario agri-food businesses better and more quickly adapt to the retail challenges of this unprecedented time and to modernize their operations for the future," said the Hon. Ernie Hardeman, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "COVID-19 has changed the way we shop, and our investment in e-business will go a long way to safely connect more retailers with more consumers."

The Agri-Food Open for E-Business initiative featured two streams of funding. One provided grants of up to $5,000 for eligible applicants to establish an online and marketing presence.

A list of approved and

Doctors of orthomolecular medicine specialize in nutritional supplementation to maintain health. They deserve attention for two reasons. One, natural remedies don’t kill people, and if these approaches show results, then

So, how do we protect our loved ones? Dr. Damien Downing, a British allergist, has written on vitamin D deficiency in relation to viral infections. He recommends 4,000 international units (IU) daily for three months, and then 3,000 IU daily, in order to reduce risks of contracting viral infections and to prevent disease from becoming severe, leading to death. This is because vitamin D enhances immunity, decreases inflammatory responses, and acts as an antioxidant.

Other research shows that the addition of zinc 30

Tid-Bit Musings

by Elva Patterson Rutters

RSSW

Expectations. Expectations galore reign at this time of year. Sometimes it has reached the point of requiring one to be super human to fulfil the expectations surrounding each of us. The need to put things into perspective fluctuates with familial support, professional duties, memories of old, and the constant advertising. Have you taken a moment to sit back and really examine what is feasible for you?

out and the joy of Christmas is diminished.

Traditions spiral us into a quandary. The sadness when a child rips open gift after gift, tosses it aside and opens another, cuts deep. There is so much they can't comprehend, each one. It is a pack race to open them all. All your time selecting and wrapping is negated in a second. Now is the time to institute change.

Finally, don’t forget vitamin C, 1,000 mg three times a day. Split the dose, because vitamin C is water soluble and some is lost in the urine. It has been shown for decades to be a potent antiviral agent.

So, for our loved ones, we would insist that these four safe, inexpensive vitamins and minerals be given. After all, you can’t replace your mother.

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

contracted projects for these grants is available at: http:// www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/cap/ebusiness-stream1. htm.

The following StormontDundas-Glengarry businesses received grants: Against the Farms of Winchester Inc, Avonmore Berry Farm, Barkleyvale Farms Ontario Maple Products, Cornerstone Organics, Fieldless Farms Inc., Frank Sugar Shack, Ganden Gardens Ltd., Glengarry Maple, Jamink Farm, Kirkview Farms, Mi Cocina, On The Bend Sugar Shack, Paperboat Farms, Pickle Patch Farm, Rijke’s Produce Farm, Stonehouse Vineyard, and The Glengarry Market.

“I am happy to see so many area businesses upgrading their online presence, as it is a very important way to market their products, especially during these challenging times when many consumers are shopping from home,” said Jim McDonell, MPP for Stormont-DundasSouth Glengarry.

The second stream allows eligible organizations, businesses and collaborations to

Do the cookies need to be homemade, does the tree have to be color co-ordinated, does the outside display need to resonate Hollywood? The upsweep into all the bells and whistles is easy and happens almost unknowingly to us. Only when exhaustion hits, do we stop to explore our motivation. You can and do burn

apply for cost-share funding to implement high-impact e-business projects. Projects funded under this category include $75,000 for Farmers' Markets Ontario to develop an online platform, protocols for logistics of online orders and distribution, as well as marketing and training activities for Ontario's farmers markets.

A list of approved and contracted projects for this cost-shared funding is available at: http://www.omafra. gov.on.ca/english/cap/ebusiness-stream2.htm.

"Being accessible and connecting to customers in new ways has become more important than ever. Both governments are coming

Change is enforced by Covid for sure, but what can you do yourself? Perhaps this is the time to set a budget, so you are not paying til Spring the following year. If you don't have the money, the responsible choice is not to spend it. The adage: "It is the thought that counts", must permeate your choices. Giving everything with no boundaries, or budget, to a child is a dangerous practice. Yes, dangerous. It sets the youth

together to support Ontario's agri-food sector, helping it thrive while ensuring customers can shop safely," said Neil Ellis, Parliamentary Secretary to the federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

"Agribusinesses are a major part of growing Ontario's economy, and have been key to keeping hardworking families fed throughout this pandemic," said Prabmeet

up to have no concept of accountability or responsibility. Eventually, we all need to learn budgeting skills, so start young. Perhaps only one gift of their desires. Now without the Sears Wish book, knowing their selection is more difficult, but taking the time to listen, is most important. Be innovative. The child who likes to bake, buy them the ingredients for those brownies and select a date to bake. The sky is the limit. Whatever you choose will be filled with love and appreciation. Take a moment and verbalize your appreciation to those you love.

Christmas is in your heart. Not a tangible item to see. May the peace and contentment of love, surprises, and appreciation radiate through your heart.

Sarkaria, Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction. "This period has been extremely hard on the sector. We're helping agribusiness weather the storm by linking them to new opportunities to grow their businesses, and sell and advertise online."

Phone 613.791.8317

shannonlever@ndtimes.ca

Professor Edward D. Churchill

Little things make a big difference

of 93%. For WDMH’s maternity program, 100% of the respondents said they would recommend this service; higher than the provincial average of 97%. Likewise, 98% of Day Surgery patients would recommend WDMH’s service, where the provincial average was 97%. And on the Medical/Surgical Unit, it’s 94%, above the provincial average of 93%. The data is collected by National Research Corporation Canada (NRCC), an independent research institute.

by Jane Adams

When Lisa Vaters came to the Emergency Department at Winchester District Memorial Hospital in November, she was anxious. “Everyone is nervous going into a hospital on a good day, let alone during a pandemic,” says Lisa. “But I couldn’t ignore what was going on.”

Lisa says her fears quickly subsided. “Everyone was fantastic. There was someone right at the door explaining what to do. From there, a nurse listened to my con-

cerns, tests were ordered, and I was provided with good care. Everyone was kind, respectful and supportive.”

Lisa says that it was the little things that meant a lot. “The doctor actually sat down to talk to me. Someone brought me a warm blanket. And even listening to the staff working so well together on the other side of the curtain was comforting. It was music to my ears.”

“Every day, staff and physicians at WDMH work hard to make each patient and

family experience the best it can be,” explains Cholly Boland, CEO. “We are very proud of the most recent patient satisfaction survey results, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The quarterly surveys ask patients about their overall care and if they would recommend the hospital to their family and friends. For surveys conducted from April to June 2020, 96% of patients would recommend the Emergency Department to family, above the provincial average

Lisa Vaters says that based on her experience, she is not surprised to hear these results. “I actually started to cry – but in a good way,” she smiles. “I knew I was in the right place.”

“It’s a team effort,” sums up Cholly Boland. “Patient satisfaction is a result of the patient’s entire experience and involves every person the patient had contact with - from our COVID-19 screeners at the front door to support staff that work behind the scenes.”

Conservation authorities have vital role in protecting land and water

by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Ontario’s conservation authorities provide a watershed level planning perspective that transcends municipal borders, one that the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) supports and one that deserves support, not only from the province but also from municipalities.

“Agriculture and conservation authorities have a vested interest in the health and sustainability of our land and our waterways,” said Peggy Brekveld, OFA President. “Ensuring conservation authorities can adequately fulfill their roles and responsibilities is important in enabling farmers and landowners to be able to protect our most vital land and water resources.”

This is about the longterm planning for protecting and preserving our productive land and water resources.

The proposed amendments to Schedule 6 will

negatively impact a conservation authority’s role in watershed level planning as well as their role in keeping development out of hazardous areas, such as flood plains, erodible beaches, etc.

That watershed level planning perspective transcends not only municipal boundaries, but also the boundaries of unique features, such as the Oak Ridges Moraine, as well as protected spaces like the Greenbelt Plan area. Development activities occurring outside the Greenbelt will have negative impacts to protected spaces in the Greenbelt Plan area.

OFA strongly supports plans for an agricultural representative to have a voice and seat at the board table of the conservation authorities. We believe those on the board should have a vested interest in the conservation authority area they’re representing.

However, the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs has proposed a new section to Sched-

ule 6 which would require a conservation authority to issue a permit when the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing issues a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO), which can override a conservation authority’s watershed-based decision. The new section requires the conservation authority to issue the permit even if the application does not meet their criteria for issuing a permit and/or contravenes provincial policies and plans. OFA opposes the government’s abuse of its MZO powers.

As an organization, we understand the importance of conservation authorities to be able to implement stop work orders when things are not going well or as planned. In those situations, prompt action is vital.

OFA also agrees that conservation authorities have a role and responsibility in development related to natural hazards and the conservation and management of lands, the ability to appeal planning

decisions is appropriate.

OFA emphasizes that there is only one Ontario landscape, meaning that the full range of land uses found across Ontario; urban, rural, agricultural, natural heritage, cultural heritage and mineral extraction, must share that landscape. Our agricultural areas not only provide us with food, fibre and fuel, but also a broad range of environmental and ecological goods and services that benefit all Ontarians. Ontario’s conservation authorities play a vital role in fulfilling that perspective through their role in watershed level planning.

It is evident that more time and consultation is needed to develop workable solutions for all stakeholders.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is the largest general farm organization in Ontario, representing 38,000 farm families across the province. As a dynamic farmer-led organization based in Guelph, the OFA works to represent and champion the

interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations and more. OFA is the leading advocate for Ontario’s farmers and is Ontario’s voice of the farmer. For more information, visit ofa.on.ca.

Part of the ER team includes (l-r): Resident Alex, Registered Nurse Chelsey, Unit Clerk Kim, Physician Mary, and Registered Nurse Emily.

FOR SALE

FOR SALE 45 original Bosson Heads, mint condition, asking $600. for all, call 613-215-0884

4 Goodyear Nordic P195/70R14 Winter Tires on 5 bolt pattern Rims for Sale. Asking $130.00. Contact Rob 613-265-7596

4 Snow tires 195/65P15 no rims. good condition $50 . Call 613713-3347.

HOMEMADE GARDEN TRAILER, GRILL AT FRONT,OPEN SIDED $ 125.00 12 HP KOHLER

ENGINE,ELECT START,FROM

A GENERATOR $ 250.00 CALL JOHN 613-269-3113 MERRICKVILLE

FREE: 2 JBL speakers, approx. 22x14x12 inches in teak cabinets. Also, asstd. 3-ring bind-

ers all in good condition. Call Bill 613 258 6544.

Deal 2 Hybrid Adams Irons 5&6, NEW $150 for pair.. Call 613-614-5730

Blue Lazy-boy $45. Tan sofa bed $65. 613-258-3761

Snow tires on rims, Altimax Arctic 225/70 R 16. 5 bolt $500.00 613-258-0589

4 Michelin X ice 215/60/16 on wheels 5X114.3 used one winter $550.00. 613-862-9816

28 inch snowblower, automatic starter, new motor $475.00 613 215 0625

Mixed seasoned firewood for sale, $110 per cord delivered, minimum 3 cord order for delivery, Jon 613-227-3650

2 Bridgestone Tires 16" used one summer $150. Call 613614-5730

HOUSE FOR SALE: At 114 Hagan St Kemptville. Call 613 2582753 or jbleizert@ripnet.com

Hunters Paradise Deer and Turkeys Bow and Bkack Powder Season Call 613.258.3561WMISCELLANEOUS

ANTEDLooking to Rent Farmland for Organic Cash Crops Specifically looking for land that's fallow/overgrown or old hay/pasture. Also interested in conventional cropland to transition to organic. Call or text Mitch @ 613-262-1204

FOR RENT

Indoor and outdoor storage for vehicles, boats and RVs. Call Jon at 613-227-3650.

Blood Donor CLINIC

ACROSS

1. Anagram

Tuesday, December 22 at the Joel Steele Community Center, Winchester from 2:30 to 7 pm. Sponsored by The Morrisburg and District Lions Club. Book appointments at blood.ca or by calling 1 888 2donate

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

Spanish lady

60. Compacted

61. Whip 62. 365 days

DOWN

1. Not that

2. Lease

3. Killer whale

4. Flutes and similar instruments

5. Barley bristle

6. Lifted

7. Moon of Saturn

8. Flurry or blizzard

9. A bone of the lower leg

10. Exclamation expressive of regret

11. A building for skating

12. Felines

13. Anagram of "Cue"

18. Crystal-lined rock

22. Adjoined

24. Figure of speech

25. Habitual practice

26. Vetoes

27. GMan

29. Chimneys

30. Charred

31. Angry

33. It comes from a hen

34. Store clerk

37. Relating to a newborn

42. Choose by voting

44. Hogfish

45. Anagram of "Rustic" 46. List components

47. Aqualung

48. Adorable 49. Shortly

51. Double-reed woodwind

52. Forearm bone 53. Rip

Daddy 56. Greatest possible

Solution to last week’s Crossword

Queen's Park Update

Task Force is anxious to test its newly formed distribution network to deliver these limited supplies to priority groups. On the advice of the National Advisory Committee of Immunization, higher-risk populations and individuals who care for them will receive the vaccine first.

The government also received Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk's annual report. Premier Ford welcomed the audit, stating that it will help the government manage its programs and services more effectively.

by MPP Jim McDonell

The second surge of COVID-19 cases continues to persist throughout the riding. With numbers spiking to new highs, our region will be moving to a more restrictive zone next week. Modelling numbers released a few weeks ago predicted increased numbers of cases as colder weather pushes us to spend more time in confined indoor spaces. Our increased vigilance has helped us avoid those much higher numbers, but only strict adherence to proven best practices of social distancing, wearing a mask, and avoiding crowded indoor spaces will bring down these numbers. Our efforts can make a difference in protecting our families from getting this virus, improving

our quality of life, and allowing our local businesses to stay open. Please visit https:// covid-19.ontario.ca/ for the latest requirements.

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit continues to perform COVID-19 testing for those with symptoms or believe they may have come in contact with the virus. Asymptomatic people can now get tested at the Long Sault Pharmasave Pharmacy by registering online at https:// southstormontpharmacies. com/.

While the pandemic has not loosened its grip, there is positive news on several fronts. Health Canada has approved the Pfizer vaccine for use in Canada, and shipments will start to arrive next week.

The Vaccine Distribution

This week, Attorney General Doug Downey announced new permanent measures to support jobs and workers at local restaurants, bars, breweries, wineries, and distilleries. They will expand alcohol sales opportunities, including making the sale of alcohol with food takeout and delivery orders permanent.

This step will ensure Ontarians have more ways of supporting the province's vibrant hospitality sector during the COVID-19 recovery and beyond. Additional permanent reforms for the hospitality sector will allow the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to set time limits for temporary patio extensions and permit eligible manufacturers to sell spirits and 100 percent Ontario wine at farmers' markets. Local restaurants and bars are essential to community life in Ontario. Our government is delivering permanent changes to help them recover and plan beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our government also announced this week $120 million in social services relief funding to help protect Ontario's vulnerable people during COVID-19. This investment builds upon the second phase of social services relief funding announced this fall. This discretionary funding can be used to add to rent banks, renovate and purchase shelter facilities and better protect shelter staff and residents from COVID-19. Local communities can also use the funding to create longer-term housing solutions, improve the delivery of critical services, and support plans to prepare for potential future outbreaks or emergencies. The City of Cornwall and SD&G's share is $814,600.

As always, I want to remind everyone to stay safe and please follow COVID-19's best practices.

Regards,

Jim McDonell MPP for Stormont-DundasSouth Glengarry

Le Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO) s’engage à lutter contre les inégalités et le racisme. C’est dans cette optique que le CEPEO annonce la nomination de son premier Commissaire en équité et droits de la personne, M. Yves-Gérard Méhou-Loko. Il s'agit d’une première au sein d’un conseil scolaire de langue française en Ontario.

Nous reconnaissons ces enjeux parmi les priorités d’actions de notre nouveau plan stratégique 2020-2025 où le CEPEO s’est engagé à revoir ses structures, ses pratiques et ses attitudes afin de les transformer pour favoriser l’équité, le respect des droits de la personne et le pluralisme dans nos milieux de vie et dans notre communauté riche grâce à sa diversité.

« Nous prenons la voie du pluralisme pour assurer le respect et la valorisation de la diversité humaine et en faire un moteur d’innovation et de bien commun pour notre organisation. Aujourd’hui, nous créons une nouvelle en-

tité neutre au sein du Conseil dont la principale fonction sera de recevoir et d’analyser les plaintes et préoccupations des élèves, du personnel, des parents ou des membres de la communauté, et de faire des recommandations. Le but ultime est que le CEPEO prenne action dans l’amélioration de ses processus et de ses relations dans une approche d’équité, d’anti-oppression et de respect des droits de la personne, en plus de sensibiliser et former ses employés et autres parties prenantes » explique Denis M. Chartrand, président du CEPEO.

« L’expérience de M. Yves-Gérard Méhou-Loko, au sein notamment de l’Unité des services en français dans l’équipe de l’Ombudsman de l’Ontario et au Commissariat aux services en français, démontre son éthique, son expertise et sa connaissance approfondie des législations canadiennes et ontariennes dans le respect des droits de la personne et l’équité » ajoute Sylvie C.R. Tremblay, directrice de l’éducation du

CEPEO. « La nomination d’un commissaire à l’équité et droits de la personne, tout comme la création l’an dernier de notre premier Comité consultatif en équité et droits de la personne, est un autre signe tangible de notre engagement à transformer notre culture organisationnelle avec humilité, lucidité, courage et transparence. C’est en nous appuyant sur la contribution de chacune et chacun d’entre nous que nous bâtirons, ensemble, une société plus équitable. »

« Je suis très heureux de me joindre au CEPEO, une institution qui fait preuve d’audace et de vision en se dotant d’un commissaire à l’équité et aux droits de la

personne. C’est un privilège de me voir confier ce rôle de facilitateur-médiateur auprès des différentes communautés du CEPEO avec lesquelles je compte collaborer proactivement afin de développer et consolider des politiques et processus d’anti-oppression et de respect des droits de la personne dans le but d’accompagner nos élèves sur la voie de la réussite scolaire. » se réjouit M. Yves-Gérard Méhou-Loko.

M. Méhou-Loko aura un rôle de conseiller, médiateur, éducateur et enquêteur auprès de l’ensemble du CEPEO et de ses écoles. Il rejoindra l’équipe du CEPEO à compter du 14 décembre 2020.

Farm 911: The Emily Project

by Joselyn Morley

In 2014, 7 year old Emily Trudeau died when she fell from a tractor on her family's farm near Tweed Ontario. Her death was made all the more tragic by the fact that first responders could not locate the entrance to the field where the accident occurred right away.

The Emily Project began as an effort to make sense out of a tragedy, and ensure more people didn't die in rural areas because of the inability of first responders to access an accident scene in a timely manner. Farm 911: The Emily Project, led by her father Scott Trudeau, aims to have all farm fields install signage with the civic addresses clearly displayed. The goal is to ultimately ensure that all farm fields bear their civic address. The goal is to develop a unified system for obtaining signage, and encourage both municipalities to offer signs as a service to their residents, and rural landowners to obtain and display the signs. Landowners and municipalities are urged to work together to ensure that every field and rural property has a usable entrance and signage with the property's civic address. Local businesses are asked to help support the project wherever possible, and partnerships with local agricultural businesses encouraged. Resources are aimed at teaching rural residents how to efficiently and quickly contact emergency services. The ultimate and overarching goal is to "bring ideas, resources, and community partners together to improve emergency services in rural communities."

The first sign of the project was installed in June of 2018 on a Northumberland County farm.

Allan Carruthers, who's farm displayed the first sign, was also a volunteer firefighter in the community, so he knew how vital it is to accurately identify the exact site of a farm or rural accident quickly and clearly.

The first sign in North Dundas was installed on Shaw Road in Mountain in March 2020. The United Counties Stormont, Dundas and Glengary provided a $5000 grant to North Dundas to help fund the signs. The subsidized cost to the landowner came in at $37.50. After the grant runs out, the cost jumps to $75 per sign. The new signs in North Dundas are larger, measuring 8" x 25" rather than the smaller 5" x 20" ones. This new size will be used going forward for signage for both fields and rural properties, as well as residences. Quite simply, they are easier to see.

If you are interested in obtaining a sign with the civic address of your property, contact the offices of the Township of North Dundas at 613-774-2105. Applications can also be found on the Township's website: northdundas.com

Light Up North Dundas Tour

by Joselyn Morley

Drive around and see the lights in North Dundas and vote for the best display!

Visit the Township's Facebook page to find a map of registered houses and businesses. Go and see the neighbourhood lights. Vote for the Community Choice Best Lights by liking the picture on the Facebook page. The picture with the most likes wins. Best Community Choice will receive a Gift Basket from local businesses.

A panel of judges will decide who will win. There are two categories: House, and Business & Community Organization. First place in both categories will receive a $150 gift card. Second place in both categories will receive a $100 gift card. Third place will receive a $50 gift card.

Judges will be traveling around looking at light displays between Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 20 They will be judging on first impression, originality, and design.

Le CEPEO accueille son premier commissaire en équité et droits de la personne

Nation Valley ATV Club

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The Nation Valley ATV Club held their monthly meeting on December 8. It was a good opportunity to sit down with them and find out what the club is all about. There has been a huge upsurge in the number of people driving ATVs during the pandemic. Not everyone jumping on an ATV realizes all the Club does.

Joselyn Morley don't know that the trails or the Club exist. The Club builds and maintains the vast network of trails. A lot of trails are on private property, and the members build and maintain trails on all lands. There is no cost or work associated with a land owner hosting a NVATVC trail. The members are stewards of the land, with the approach that if they don't take care of the land and trails, and be good ambassadors of ATVing, they will not have anywhere to ride. The extensive network of trails can include municipal land, crown land, sides of roadways, and private land. Some municipalities allow ATVs on roads, some want ATVs to stay to the outskirts of the townships. Either way, trails are maintained and well signed.

Nation Valley ATV Club (NVATVC) oversees, builds, and maintains trails in and around Winchester, South Mountain, Kemptville, and Ottawa. The Club is part of the Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicle Clubs (OFATV). You need a OFATV trail permit to be using the OFATV trails, which includes all of the NVATVC trails. ATVs must be registered and insured.

The Club currently has 456 members. Use of ATVs has increased a lot during covid. This has translated into more Club members. The current president is Chase Rodley. Past president and quartermaster is Dave Baker. The volunteer of the month was Shawn Doolan. Many people getting ATVs initially

Wardens patrol the trails, ensuring that people have permits, watching for injuries, break-downs, emergencies, or vehicles on the trails that don't belong.

Educating riders on responsible riding, as well as on rules and regulations is a primary mandate of the club and members. In addition to being stewards of the land, the members represent the

sport. Riding responsibly, and making sure that others do as well, is important to the members. If the public and landowners see ATVing in a positive light, they are more likely to allow trails on their property. The trails are not designed for high-speed, dangerous travel. They are designed to allow people to safely enjoy their ATVs and the land around them, while spending time with friends.

The club raises a great deal of money for charity through rides and events, sponsorship, merchandise, and dues, including for Camp Erin, a weekend bereavement camp that provides support for children from 6 to 17 years old who are grieving the death of someone significant in their lives. This year they have raised $6,100 for North Dundas Christmas Fund and Community Foodshare.

The club is open to helping new members. There is a new moderated Facebook group where people can chat (www.facebook.com/groups/ nvatvctalk). Trail maps are available at the NVATVC website, and at quadon.org. info@nvatvc.org, 613-4656283

Op-Ed by Premier Doug Ford

The COVID-19 pandemic has tested our health-care system in unprecedented ways. The challenges we now face are critical: a backlog of surgeries, growing hallway health care, the need to build 30,000 long-term-care beds after years of neglect, all while providing high-quality care to a growing number of aging Ontarians.

The global pandemic has exposed many of the underlying cracks in a tired and neglected system. Too few nurses and personal support workers, aging hospitals and a growing waitlist for longterm-care beds are all the result of decades of underinvestment.

Ontario families need access to world-class health care. Doing so requires a renewed partnership between the provinces and the federal government.

When medicare was first established, the federal government agreed to cover 50 per cent of health-care costs. Over time, that funding partnership has eroded, leaving the provinces and territories to cover more than

Road Study

by Joselyn Morley

Driving around North Dundas, many of you have noticed cameras mounted high atop stop signs. The Township of North Dundas has hired D. M. Willis to undertake a Road Needs Study. D. M. Willis has subcontracted to a company to count cars and other vehicles on the Township's roads. The company has installed cameras to count the vehicles on a number of roads in the Township. These cameras are intended to only count traffic; there will be no facial recognition software used, or software used to read license plates. Khurram Tunio, Director of Public Works with the Township, points out that "the hardware itself is not sophisticated enough to effectively collect information such as license plates in the first place." In any event, all underlying data will be deleted. The counting was to have been completed this past week, and the cameras removed shortly thereafter. The results of the counting will inform the Road Needs Study, and ultimately be included in the GIS mapping.

Winchester Hawks

three-quarters of all healthcare costs.

The federal contribution to health care is now just 22 per cent across the country. If nothing changes, that number is on track to continue to decline sharply. In fact, if the federal government fails to increase its share of funding, Ontario will face a $40-billion annual funding gap for health care by the year 2040.

That’s why I’ll be joining Canada’s premiers on Thursday at a special first ministers meeting with the prime minister to call on the federal government to increase its funding share from 22 per cent to 35 per cent through the Canada Health Transfer — still well short of the 50 per cent the federal government originally contributed but a strong step in the right direction.

If the federal government were to increase its share by 13 per cent, Ontario would receive an additional $10 billion in health-care funding every year.

Just imagine the possibilities. That’s $10 billion more that could help pay for

seven brand new hospitals, 150 new MRI machines and hospital stays for over 72,200 patients. That’s money that could dramatically expand virtual doctor visits or help improve care for Ontario’s most vulnerable in long-term care homes.

We aren’t asking Ottawa to do anything we are not prepared to do ourselves. Ontario has already stepped up with a commitment of $18 billion over 10 years to build and renovate more hospitals. We are improving quality care for seniors by increasing the hours of direct care for each and every long-term care resident to an average of four hours per day by 2024. Ontario has never invested more in mental health and addictions services.

Ontario stands ready to work with our federal and provincial partners to secure a new funding pact on health care to ensure all Canadians have access to world-class care.

It’s time for the federal government to take this request seriously.

Friday December 11, 2020. Black vs White, sponsored by Winchester Foodland

by Joselyn Morley

Watching the Winchester Hawks play hockey is one of the many things we miss right now during the pandemic.

The Winchester Hawks play in the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League (EOJHL). Right now, although there is no fixed start date on the calendar, the team practices two or three times a week. They are allowed to play controlled developmental scrimmages against one other team in the EOJHL. Currently that team is the Richmond Royals. They also play three-on-three tournaments, and Black vs White intersquad games to keep the players engaged. Although the players miss the league games and competition against the other EOJHL teams, they are committed to the process, and are enjoying playing hockey.

Friday, December 11, the Hawks played their third Black vs White game this season, sponsored by Winchester Foodland.

Next Friday, December 18, the Hawks play a home scrimmage against the Richmond Royals. Sunday will see the Hawks traveling to Richmond for another scrimmage. Covid protocols do not allow any fans in to watch the games.