ND Times Issue 8 2023 April 20

by Brandon Mayer

Last week, we witnessed what could possibly be described as the worst ice storm since 1998. That is not meant to suggest that the April 5 storm was as bad as the infamous Ice Storm of 1998, but it’s tough to think of any storms since then that have packed the same punch as last week’s storm.

Power was knocked out for hundreds of thousands of people in Ontario, some for many days. The Hydro One outage map showed a sea of dozens of outages across Eastern Ontario, even several days after the storm.

When zoomed out, the outage map almost resembled a scatterplot. When zoomed in,

huge outage areas became visible. Some people – myself included – only lost power days after the storm, which is evidence of the complexity of the damage done to the electricity transmission system. It would appear that in restoring hydro for some customers, it had to be temporarily knocked out for others.

For those who were safely nestled indoors and didn’t look outside, or those who were away on vacation during the storm, allow me to describe it. This was essentially a “thunderstorm that froze”. In my experience, thunderstorms in the summer come and go. You can hear the storm coming, it puts on a show, and then it crawls away. But for

much of the day on April 5 – the early morning straight through to the late afternoon – lightning and thunder provided a steady reminder of the mayhem outside, even for those not looking out the window.

School buses were unsurprisingly cancelled for students in the area on April 5, but they were cancelled again on April 6 due to continued hazardous roads conditions, probably due as much to fallen branches as it was to slippery roads. Some schools also had to be closed completely on April 6 due to a loss of power. Winchester Public School was one such school – though it still had power, there was a downed power line that necessitated closing a section of Clarence

Street adjacent to the school property, which board officials likely believed would either pose a safety hazard for students, or would result in the power being cut off during the repairs.

Speaking of fallen branches and trees, declaring that they were “everywhere” in the days following the storm is not an exaggeration. One would have been hard pressed to drive a kilometre anywhere in the Township without seeing at least one heavy tree that had been taken down by the weight of ice accumulation. It’s likely that we will bear witness to some of these fallen trees for several more weeks, since some property owners are better

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The rising sun glistens off ice covered trees outside of Mountain on April 6.

equipped for yard cleanup than others. Falling trees invariably take power lines down with them, of course, which is where most people felt the greatest impact from the storm. In South Mountain, a section of Main Street had to be blocked off by the local fire crew due to a damaged hydro pole. Power outages were so widespread that crews from Hydro Toronto and other utility companies drove down to lend a hand.

Utility companies from different areas coming together in a time of need is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the kindness and generosity that this storm brought out in so many people. Power outages and torrential rains don’t mix. Countless residents’

basements flooded or were at risk of flooding. The number of locals offering to lend a spare sump pump or a spare generator to their neighbour was truly amazing. This is so much more than knocking on a neighbour’s door and asking to borrow a cup of sugar. These are expensive, finnicky pieces of equipment being lent to strangers in many cases, for no other reason than the propagation of human kindness. Maybe its because neighbours in North Dundas are never really “strangers”.

The kindness did not stop with offers to lend generators and pumps. Residents who had power or backup power were offering the use of their homes as a place to warm up, take a

All we can say is –WOW!

shower, and cook a meal. Yet another acknowledgement is needed for the fire department and the OPP, who responded quickly to calls of trees blocking roads, and emergencies involving downed power lines so that these areas could be blocked off pending repair. It would seem that in a time of tragedy, everyone came together like a well-oiled machine, some fulfilling their duties honourably, and others providing help that they were in no way dutybound to provide. Hydro workers have already been mentioned, but they deserve another shout out – thank you. Their job is dangerous on a normal day, but the hard work and dedication that went into restoring power

for hundreds of thousands of customers – much of it happening during a gruelling storm, I might add – will not be forgotten.

What have we learned from the “Ice Storm of 2023”? Dare I say… nothing? By this I mean that the storm simply showed us what we already know – the people of North Dundas take care of each other. The small community feel of our beloved Township is here to stay, and is not something we should ever take for granted. In times of need, we selflessly make sure that everyone has the necessities and comforts of life. Move aside, cup of sugar. North Dundas means business.

submitted by Jane Adams, WDMH

Because of our generous donors, two new WOWs have been purchased for the Family Birthing Unit. The total cost: $17,666.69!

What is a WOW? WOWs are “workstations on wheels” which allow staff to bring them all over the units and directly to the patient’s bedside. “They are so handy in allowing us to provide excellent bedside care and document in a timely fashion without having to leave the patient’s side,” explains Clinical Manager Shannon Horsburgh. “Since we went live with Epic, all our documentation is now taking place electronically. So we require access to computers to ensure everyone who is part of each patient’s healthcare journey can be up to date with what’s taking place.”

Before these WOWs were purchased, there were only two in the department, with multiple nurses, midwives and physicians needing to use them. The two new WOWS allow for more flexibility for the team to care for our patients without having to leave their side.

“We are so grateful to the generous donors who donated funds for this specialized equipment,” adds Managing Director Kristen Casselman. Some may recall the Charlee’s Run Kemptville event which took place in 2022. A portion of the funds raised at the event were used to help fund the two new WOWs. “Thank you for helping to make these purchases possible and allowing our staff to have the proper equipment they need to better take care of our littlest patients.”

The Charlee’s Run team is at it again this year with another event called Charlee’s Hero WOD. It takes place on May 13th at Crossfit Kemptville. Funds raised at this event will be directed to the Family Birthing Unit Fund. For details, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/12182 66245787263/?ref=newsfeed.

howing off the WOWs are Family Birthing Unit Team Leader Jennifer Merkley (left) and Midwife Melissa St. Cyr (right).

Ice-covered trees in the yard of Nationview Public School, totally bent over from the weight of the ice

Editorial

Keeping up with no one

by Brandon Mayer

The world is everchanging. Sometimes this is for the better, and sometimes it is not. But whether we love the world we currently live in, or have a nostalgic yearning for a simpler era, we cannot deny that the world of today is vastly different from the world 50 years ago, or even 20 years ago.

One of the most fascinating advances in technology is the internet. All things being relative, the internet is still “new” to many people. Some may not even fully understand what it is. Simply put, the internet is a “network of networks” that connects computers and devices all around the world. Many scientists, programmers, and engineers worked to “invent” the internet, which officially came to be on January 1, 1983. However, it wasn’t until 1993 that the internet because a tool for the public. This is when “web browsers” (what we know today as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, etc.) became available to access the

so-called “World Wide Web”, meaning content on websites could be accessed and edited. The fact that 1993 was only 30 years ago shows just how quickly the internet has grown.

The internet existed when I was a child, but it was nothing like the powerful and pervasive tool that it is today. Most people around my age will share humorous memories of “dial up” internet, which essentially meant that your computer had to make a call via your phone line to connect to the internet. It took a while, and once you were online, your parents seemed obsessed with getting you off as soon as possible. This is because bandwidth limits existed, and were very tiny. Using too much internet really was a thing, and so screen time limits for kids were not so much about protecting brains as they were about protecting parents’ finances – a bandwidth overage could get very expensive. Some home internet plans still have bandwidth limits (which are reasonably large anyway), but most plans are now unlimited. A bandwidth limit is the

Tid bit musings

by Elva Patterson Rutters

RSSW

Have you ever commandeered or been commandeered? Usually, the first reflection is on pirate ships commandeering the merchant ships on the high seas. However, commandeering is still occurring today in many facets of life. Those being commandeered may or may not know they are in a submissive situation, either by acting subconsciously or simply by feeling helpless to change the dynamics.

Some cults operate totally by making the "members" adhere to strict, unexplained behavior, thoughts or beliefs. One always needs to know the "why" of

equivalent of today’s cellphone data limits.

With dial up internet, once we were done playing our game or chatting with our friends using a program like “MSN Messenger”, we would have to log out of the internet. This was both to prevent phantom bandwidth usage, and because the home phone didn’t work when someone was on the internet. Even though many people still get their internet via phone lines, it is thankfully possible to use both the internet and the phone at the same time in today’s world.

Why the reminiscing about the old days of the internet? I think it’s a really powerful and important tool and it’s important that we don’t take it for granted. When I was growing up, long distance communication was a process that required “life hacks”. For example, when driving home in bad weather following a visit to my grandparents’ house 15 minutes from our house, we would have to “ring them twice” when we got home. This meant that we would call their house phone, let it ring twice, and then hang up.

This would signal that we made it home okay. The short distance between our houses was still considered a “long distance” telephone call that would have been added on to our next bill, but as a rule, if the call recipient didn’t answer, there would be no charge for the long distance call attempt. So “ring me twice” was a free way to send a quick message. Today, I can pick up my cellphone in the middle of a corn field and have a high definition video chat with someone on the other side of the globe for no additional cost beyond my existing cellular rate plan. What a huge difference in only 20 years.

Circling around to my actual point: internet users, and in particular, social media users, are not lazy or antisocial, and most are not simply “keyboard warriors”. I have heard many complaints over the past couple of years that local discourse should not be taking place online. I have heard that communities are not as strong when the internet is involved, because it discourages people from talking face-to-face. I have heard that anything

found online is simply not valid or not valuable. I disagree.

First, don’t tell me that just because Bob told you the latest gossip at the grocery store, it is automatically more accurate than information disseminated in Sally’s social media post. Second, there is no way that by-chance in-person interactions and small planned social gatherings spread information as effectively as the literal “information highway” that we know as the internet. Why any active member of the community or local government official wouldn’t value the internet and social media as valuable ways to assess the pulse of the community and receive a multitude of local perspectives is beyond me. It’s like telling your employer that you are going to attend a meeting via telegraph machine when you own a device capable of video chatting. It’s irresponsible not to value the connection between members of the community, and between the community and policymakers, that social media allows. It’s easy to accuse avid internet users of simply trying to “keep

up with the Joneses”, but all this does is out you as a person who values keeping up with no one in an era where the internet is a powerful place for the exchange of really cool, local ideas.

I have great phone skills which I eagerly put to use every day as both a newspaper editor and an education worker. I also meet frequently for in-person interviews over a tried-and-true cup of coffee. But at the end of the day, I value email as well. Nothing gets lost in email translation, and it allows people working on different schedules to communicate effectively. I also value local online community groups, and their ability to keep us all connected. Face-to-face interactions and printed news will always have more value in terms of accuracy than social media, but to ignore the world we live in, and the powerful communication tools we have worked so hard to create, is a pointless waste. Forget the Joneses – let’s keep up with everyone.

actions and beliefs to make an informed decision. Following on blind commands breeds codependency and feelings of insecurity. If your connections dictate how, where and when in all fields or your life, one needs to take stock of the fundamental core beliefs. Unfortunately, some domains include religious or political foundations. The likes of kidnappings/ concentration camps or any form of isolation by enforcement, breeds helplessness through abuse and deprivation. Some relationships operate on the same premise.

Even today, some people commandeer other people's children to fulfil their own insecurities

and their need to continue a phantom world. The parent who has a deceased child or severely handicapped child may try to compensate for their perceived "void" by "taking over" the assumed parenting of a child/teen/ young adult they perceive as vulnerable. Money does talk, so they offer the less fortunate child every opportunity, rather than nurturing independence. This then fosters a type of hero worship in return by the child. That codependency pattern is difficult to break. After all, if every wish is granted, who would want to walk the path of earning? This is unhealthy and detrimental in the long run. You can't change

someone else's behaviour: just your own. Try your best to communicate your concerns with an "I feel..." statement. Recognize your own self worth and be cognizant of your own thoughts and behaviors. If you are being commandeered by someone – reach out for help to break the cycle. You are special and worth-while just because you exist!!!

2023 North Dundas local Business Expo

Council update – two meetings

by Brandon Mayer

Come on out and explore all that North Dundas has to offer!

Save the date for Saturday, April 29th from 9:00am-3:00pm

Admission is free. There will be multiple door prizes. The first 500 in attendance will receive a seedling and a bag to pick up the swag being offered at the event.

Join us for the North Dundas Local Business Expo at the Joel Steele Community Centre, 577 Main Street, Winchester. There will be a variety of businesses attending from the area. Landscapers and garden gurus, beauty and fitness services, artists and

photographers, automotive sales and repair, home renovation specialists, and much more; there is something for everyone at the North Dundas Local Business Expo. The number of businesses attending this year's Expo continues to grow everyday. Check out the running list of vendors online: https://northdundas. com/expo. Have a business you want to promote? There are still booths available for any business that serves North Dundas. Register online at https://www.northdundas.com/2023expo.

We are excited to announce that Lynn Spence, of Cityline fame, will be in attendance. Known as one of "Canada's Top Style Makers, Lynn will present a keynote fashion show starting at 11:00am, featuring clothing from Main Street Clothing. Don't miss seeing the new fashion trends for spring and summer!

Brought to you by the Township of North Dundas and the North Dundas Chamber of Commerce.

at the ND Business Expo

take place at the Joel Steele Community Centre in Winchester. Among the many local businesses in attendance will be the North Dundas Times. Admission is free.

Two regularly scheduled Council meetings have taken place since the last Council update, one evening meeting two weeks ago on April 4, and one daytime meeting last week on April 12. As usual, the meetings covered significant ground in a relatively short period of time.

First on the agenda for the April 4 meeting was a presentation from the Counties on an anticipated rehabilitation of the County Road 43 bridge over the South Nation River in Chesterville. Mike Jans from the Counties presented the plan to Council. Mike explained that it has been 26 years since any work has been done on this bridge. Motorists are usually accustomed to using one half of a bridge while the other half is prepared, but such a setup will not be possible for the Chesterville bride, as it does not have the width and strength required to support traffic and construction simultaneously. Detour routes will bring traffic off of County Road 43 and through the village of Chesterville during construction.

a part time Fire Chief for North Dundas, with current Fire Chiefs at each station set to receive the new title of Station Chief of each of their respective stations. It was mutually agreed that this was an important move, and the motion carried after minimal discussion.

Routine business followed, including applications for Art on the Waterfront and the South Mountain Fair to be designated as “municipally significant events” so that they can sell alcohol, and consideration of zoning amendment requests.

Next, a continuation of a discussion from the March 21 session occurred, specifically related to a request from Sevita International to eliminate half load restrictions on certain roads. A resolution was passed to allow for testing on the roads in question to better inform the financials of a permit system that would allow permit holders to run with full loads on these roads.

what exactly the Township’s insurance covers, on which Mayor Fraser asked for clarification. The end goal is a special events policy that shifts liability during events from the Township onto the event organizer.

The April 12 meeting began with a closed session. There are a limited number of reasons why closed sessions can take place. On April 12, such a session took place due to the pending acquisition or disposition of land that is subject to solicitor-client privilege.

explained that although property tax increases are difficult for everyone, the increase was reasonable this year given the pressures that the Township is under. Councillor Gary Annable spoke up with a note of agreement as well.

On April 29 from 9am3pm, the North Dundas Local Business Expo will

On site to meet you and answer any questions will be Marketing Manager Melissa Ottenhof, Media Specialist Christine Boyer, and Times co-owner Marguerite Boyer. Times Editor Brandon Mayer will also be on site from 9am-12pm.

Mike explained that some concerns from the public have been received regarding the anticipated project. The fire department has raised concerns about impacts on response times as a result of the temporary bridge closure. In addition, Chesterville residents worry about the addition of traffic and possibly speeding vehicles in town. However, Mike reported that a majority of Chesterville residents agreed that closing the bridge during construction is the best option, particularly considering that it will greatly reduce the costs of the rehabilitation. It is proposed that there will be a temporary Community Safety Zone in Chesterville while the detour is in place, to combat speeding. Council moved to approve the recommended detour route.

The next important discussion on April 4 was for the addition of

Another familiar agenda item was next up. A slightly amended concept plan was presented for the upcoming play park planned in Hallville. Council had the option to keep the previously approved plans for the Hallville Community Park, or approve the new plans. Council’s decision was the latter. Other matters included presentations on the upcoming Business Expo and the Fire Prevention Committee’s “After the Fire Guide”.

Finally, the hot button local issue of municipal insurance took centre stage. In particular, the conditions that must be applied when accepting Township volunteers for municipal events in order for them to be covered under insurance were discussed. A recommendation was made that low risk events – such as Remembrance Day – be exempted from the insurance requirements. The Township would accept the liability for such events. Council members agreed that this makes sense. A further proposal that performers at public events be similarly considered “low risk” was discussed and agreed upon. There was some confusion about

When open session resumed, a few key items were discussed. Michelle Dorie, the Township’s Deputy Treasurer, presented Council with information on a change to the draft 2023 budget. She explained that there were a couple of small project requests from Directors which were accounted for in the new budget version without affecting the “bottom line”. In other words, funds for these projects were reallocated or earmarked from the reserve account.

Deputy Mayor Theresa Bergeron took the opportunity to provide some thoughts on the 2023 budget. She noted that there are a lot of things in the budget that are beyond Council’s control, giving the example of rising insurance costs that are hitting all area municipalities. She therefore

Next, the changes to the municipal event’s policy which were discussed at the previous meeting were recapped before being formally passed by Council. Minutes later, Council passed the 2023 budget, putting final approval behind a project that takes significant work on the part of Township staff every year. “In trying times, we have stepped up as a group and put forward a budget that serves the community well,” added Mayor Fraser. “It will serve the future of North Dundas well, and those efforts have been appreciated by Council.”

The last item addressed at the April 12 meeting was a motion to have more bylaws being enforced locally through the Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS), instead of only using the system to enforce parking tickets. This will save money and increase convenience for residents by eliminating the need to go through the court system when challenging a fine. The motion was passed.

One more Council meeting will take place this month, on April 25 at 10:30am.

During this Volunteer Week. Community Food Share is pleased to recognize all the volunteers who enable our organization to provide healthy and nutritious food for our clients.

From our front-line workers, our volunteer board of directors and drivers to community gardeners, grow-a-row partners, fund-raising participants and the many churches, service clubs, schools and community groups -- we could not do what we do without your generous donation of time and talents

Lynn Spence

“Meet the Times team”

Farmers face unintended consequences of new federal housing tax

ments, and its penalties. The paperwork is onerous and time consuming, and the information available on government websites is not terribly detailed or easy to understand.

farmers buy farmland, and the unintended consequences this legislation now has for the farming community.

unintentionally find themselves with multiple dwellings through the purchase of additional farmland.

by Crispin Colvin, Vice President Ontario

Federation of Agriculture

Canada is in the midst of a housing crisis, and different levels of government are introducing various measures to try to ease the pressure. For the federal government, one of those measures is the Underused Housing Tax Act that became law last year.

It is a one percent tax on the value of vacant or underused housing, and the new federal legislation requires that individuals who aren’t Canadian citizens or permanent residents, as well as private corporations and partnerships – which includes farms – who own residential housing must file an Underused Housing Tax return even if they don’t have to pay any tax.

The legislation was designed to address urban homes, condominiums and apartments that have been purchased for investment purposes, often by foreign buyers, and are now unused or not used to their full extent. Farmers don’t play a meaningful role in

Canada’s rental housing market, but they’re now forced to deal with the unintended consequences of these new rules.

That’s because many farmers do in fact own more than one residence, but not because they’re keen to be landlords or residential investors. Rather, their interest lies in the land, and they’ve bought additional farmland over the years to expand their business or, for example, make it possible for a son or daughter to become part of the farm.

Much of that farmland often includes a farmhouse and as those older, smaller farms are absorbed into larger ones, farmers inadvertently become the owners of multiple residences. And regardless of whether those homes are subject to the new tax or not, the new legislation requires that farmers must now file a return under the Underused Housing Tax Act.

A separate return has to be filed every year by April 30 for each property a farm corporation owns, and if that return isn’t filed, the penalties are substantial –

up to $10,000 or more.

As farmers, we are in the business of farming, not real estate, and although most of us are exempt from paying the actual tax, many may still be unaware of the new legislation, its require-

That’s why the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), along with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and other farm organizations, has been actively advocating for the federal government to exempt farmers from having to file an Underused Housing Tax return.

We’ve been raising awareness and meeting with elected officials and government staff to explain the issue of multiple dwellings in rural areas when

OR

Late last month, the federal government announced it is delaying any fees or penalties until October 31, giving affected property owners an extra six months to file their first return under the new act. Although this is a welcome reprieve to give us more time to make sense of the legislation, it doesn’t address the greater long-term impact and burden it places on farm businesses.

Farmers are caught in the middle of governments trying to find housing solutions and the unique realities of farm businesses who

OFA and our partner organizations will continue to advocate strongly for a filing exemption for farmers, but while we do, we encourage all farmers to make sure they file their Underused Housing Tax return in order to avoid the substantial penalties, and to contact their accountants with any questions.

There are also resources available on the OFA website, including a webinar we hosted last month in partnership with BDO to give background and answer questions on the issue.

Real Estate Needs Call us to help you weather your home selling or buying needs.

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North Dundas Senior Rockets win EOSHL Championship

by Murray Link

For the second year in a row, the North Dundas Senior Rockets Hockey team has won the Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League (EOSHL) Championships.

The Rockets capped off the best of five series with a 9-4 victory over the Gananoque Islanders on Sun, April 2.

The Rockets were heavy favorites to repeat as league champs as they had an impressive regular season record of 18 wins and only 2 losses. This year’s playoffs consisted of 3 rounds to make it to the finals, all playoff series consisting of the best of 5 games…..ultimately 9 wins to take it all.

In the first round, which started on Feb 25, the Rockets easily beat out the South Grenville Rangers in 3 straight games…outscoring their opponents 21-11 over the three game span. The second round for the Rockets was a much closer affair. Facing the South Stormont

Mustangs, who had a regular season record of 15-2-2-2… ..finishing only 3 points out of first place. Although the series only lasted 3 games, the scores were much closer with the Rockets outscoring the Mustangs 15-10.

The third and final series was a re-match of last years championship vs the Gananoque Islanders. Game 1 took place on Saturday, March 25, in front of a capacity crowd in Chesterville. The Rockets took a commanding lead and never looked back winning 9-2. The first star of the game was Rockets goalie Matt Jenkins with a 34 save performance. Game 2 took place in Gananoque the following day, with over 200 local fans making the trek west. Game 2 was a much closer affair with the score only 1-0 over halfway through until the Rockets broke open the scoring in the 3rd and overtook the Islanders 7-3.

The stage was set back

in Chesterville on Saturday, April 1st. Once again, in front of a capacity crowd in the “Barn” – as locals love to call their beloved rink – an April fools joke of epic proportions took place with Gananoque blowing out the Rockets 10-2 in a high scoring affair. Rockets head coach Rob Sadler suggested that the loss in the third game was the result of over confidence on the part of the Rockets and the Islanders were able to take advantage of that. As a result, the Rockets and their devoted fans travelled on Sunday, April 2 to Gananoque to try and win the EOSHL Cup on the opponent team’s ice. Game 4, which was less than 24 hours after a huge loss for the Rockets seemed to be a completely opposite affair. Sadler suggested his team was “definitely hungry and wanted to end the series today”. With North Dundas leading 2-0 after the first and 6-3 after the second,

there was no question that they were going to win with a final score of 9-4. Mike Macnamee, the teams assistant captain, was named most valuable player of the game, tallying 3 goals and 2 assists.

Coach Sadler mentioned that winning back-to-back championships was special but another historic note about the game was the return of 50-year-old Chesterville native and veteran hockey player Todd Marcellus. Marcellus (last year’s captain) was nominated to accept the EOSHL cup as this year’s captain Derek Froats was unable to play the final game after blocking a shot a day earlier and suffering a severe groin injury.

ND United Soccer Club 2023 season is fast approaching

getting ready to kick off our 2023 season.

submitted by Julian Whittam, NDUSC President

North Dundas United Soccer club is a volunteer-run organization that offers soccer programs to youth and adults at the soccer fields in Chesterville and Mountain. We're

Our youth programs are for children aged 2 to 16. Schedules and registration information can be found at www.ndusc. ca, but most age groups have one game a week and one practice a week. The season starts at the end of May and runs until August with end of year fun-days or tournaments for all age groups. We are an Ontario Soccer certified organization. General questions can be directed to secretary@ ndusc.ca

We're expecting close to 400 participants this year, and are particularly keen to offer more programs for older children aged 11 to 16.

Our adult programs have men's and women's teams competing in the Ottawa Carleton Soccer league. New players are welcome, particularly for the women's team. If adults are interested in playing, they can contact president@ndusc.ca .

We count on parent volunteers to help offer the programs that we run and are always looking

for volunteers to help on the field or behind the scenes. We are an Ontario Soccer accredited organization and offer instruction and support for new coaches and parents interested in getting involved. Head-coaches at both the Chesterville and Mountain fields are available to help new coaches or volunteers get familiar with things. People can also get involved behind the scenes to help with organizing the season and running the club, including things that don't need any soccer experience.

Registration is still open on our website for children and adults, but will close soon.

L alee Carruthers

Veteran hockey player Todd Marcellus accepts the EOSHL cup

Hike for Hospice to be held in South Mountain

port, bereavement services, respite services, caregiver support, and complementary therapies. This scope of services would not be possible without donations. Catherine explained that the Hospice is currently facing challenges such as rising costs, a declining volunteer base, and a low awareness of the services offered. Events like Hike for Hospice can help to address these challenges.

can be accessed by visiting DundasCountyHospice.ca and scrolling to the Pledge Forms link. The Hike will take place on Sunday, May 7th. Registration takes place at 12pm, with the Hike starting at 1pm.

by Brandon Mayer

The Dundas County Hospice is once again holding their popular Hike for Hospice fundraising event this year. The event took place in Chesterville last year, and this year it will be held in South Mountain. Funds raised from the event support programs run by the Hospice to help clients in North and South Dundas.

Hospice Volunteer Coordinator, Catherine Clement, explained what the Hike looks like for those who participate. “It's a 5km hike through the town of South Mountain,” she said. “We will start at the Rick Cauvier Memorial Park, and do a circle through the town to end there. We have a warmup/speech before the Hike, and will have BBQ and Cake after. This year is special as

we will also have a cheque presentation from the Williamsburg I.O.O.F from their Surf & Turf dinner.”

Hike for Hospice is a national fundraising event created by CHCPA (The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association). Catherine explained that Hospices across Canada are walking to raise funds for the people in their community. Dundas County Hospice has been participating in the Hike for Hospice event for 10 years now. “Each year, we try to choose a different town in Dundas County to show our support for both North and South Dundas,” Catherine added. “This event is both to raise funds for the Hospice, as well as to spread awareness of the Hospice in the community.”

Why fundraise? The Hospice provides free services such as end-of-life sup-

The Hike for Hospice fundraising event would not be possible without the generous and enthusiastic support of the community, and there is no shortage of generosity or enthusiasm in Dundas County. “The community is amazing at supporting our fundraising events. No matter what town we’re in, we will have people show up from both North and South Dundas to walk with us and support us,” said Catherine, who was eager to add an extra word of thanks to the business sponsorships received from businesses throughout the community.

Catherine explained that for those wanting to participate in the Hike, there is no sign-up needed. Those interested can get a pledge form on the Dundas County Hospice website, and show up on the day at 12pm to register. The pledge form

Correction notice

Please note that the artist featured in last issue’s Art in the Branches, submitted by the North Dundas Art Council, was Shaw Knlesen. His surname was incorrectly spelled as “Knelson” in the release. The Times apologizes for the error.

Baldwin's Birds

that's what life is all about, isn't it!?

With having fairly large windows in our living room, we get to see more than just the immediate garden birds! Recently, we have been treated to the sight of a flock of Turkey Vultures, who rise above the tree-line to the southeast of us and soar round and around until they disappear from sight. This tends to happen later in the day, but is still quite the display. Sometimes their presence is accompanied by some flocks of Canada Geese, who are either leaving or dropping into the creek in that same direction.

The Bluebirds are back!

Hoping that this fine sunny day finds you in a lot happier situation than a lot of you were in a few days ago, and not still now, as a few of my friends are, still having to fight the good fight against the horrible water damage done in their houses. Every one of you has my deepest sympathy, if you are still in this situation. Good luck!

Our avian friends are, no doubt, as relieved as we are to be back into more acceptable weather conditions, as spring slowly dries out all their feeding grounds and makes them think of building either new nests, or refurbishing some used last year. Robins are

hopping across the lawn, stopping now and again to listen for the slightest hint of grubs being just under the surface for them to get and eat. Other birds are now very evident such as the Cowbirds, the male of the species strutting about impressively with wing feathers raised as a display, for the females who are supposed to be impressed! The female Rock Pigeons are supposed to be impressed too by the puffed up and strutting males, in their clan, as they try to woo them. Many of the other birds don't just have food on their minds either, when they make their approaches to a female of the same breed as themselves, but then again,

Today, our special bird treat is that of seeing our first Bluebirds of the year. Yes! They are back in their beautiful bright blue suits with red bibs and white lower chest colors all shown off to perfection in the brilliant sunlight. Great! They are not the only ones who show up better in the sun than some of the darker birds, but the male Goldfinches are rapidly changing into their brilliant yellow plumage as well. If you have had some of them with you all winter in their duller coats, start looking now and watch the transformation almost happening before your eyes and enjoy. Look after yourselves and stay safe.

Cheers, John Baldwin

This year’s Hike for Hospice will begin at Rick Cauvier Memorial Park.

Century 21 on Main Street

The Weather with Connor

with April 5, which will now be forever known in my head as The Ice Storm of 2023. Everything happened right on schedule. An early morning arrival into the Ottawa Valley, and then a mid morning arrival for the rest of the Eastern Ontario region.

poured for the entire time, and the ice ended up accumulating 10mm more onto the tree branches, for a grand total of 25mm of ice at my home in Winchester.

Hello, everyone! Welcome back to another week of The Weather with Connor. This week, I just wanted to talk about one thing. That big destructive ice storm back in the first week of April that wreaked havoc across the region. I’d like to talk about that ice storm on April 5 and the days leading up to it, knowing it was coming as a forecaster.

This storm was absolutely spectacular, I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. For basically the entire ice portion of the storm, which was the morning and a little bit of the early afternoon, it was a continuous thunderstorm. Thunder-ice, actually. I have never heard a thunderstorm during a major freezing rain event like that. I was totally astounded.

It’s always nice to see a new business open up and to be able to attend their open house. This past weekend, Loralee Carruthers opened her office doors at 490 Main Street, in Winchester. She had a grand opening, and invited friends, businesses, acquaintances, and family. To welcome her into town, Dan Pettigrew of Foodland donated a lovely cake for the event. Thank you Dan, as always, for your generosity.

Loralee offers a full service office, providing all the contacts needed to help you make your sale, or purchase of a home, go as smoothly as possible.

Drop in and visit her, you will always be greeted with a warm smile and, of course, her dog, Sophia, will also be there to provide some dog cuddling for all you animal lovers.

For at least five days ahead of that storm, most (if not all) weather models had that ice storm happening. At the time, I didn’t think anything of it, mostly because it’s not uncommon whatsoever for models to show a big ice event multiple days in advance, only for it to not happen at all. Besides that, though, everyone involved in the weather knew a storm was coming that week, even if it was just going to be regular rain.

April 3 then comes around. That’s a Monday, and two days from the ice storm arriving. At this point, models are still locked and loaded, showing a major ice storm impacting the region before a switch to rain. For models to be showing the same outputs and timing for ice, I started to sound the alarm in my brain that this is probably going to happen. It was at this time I started making Facebook posts well in advance of the storm, so people could prepare themselves for later in the week.

Tuesday, April 4, was the day before the ice storm would come in. This was the day I posted my big forecast for the event, stating that a damaging ice storm is on the way. I knew this wouldn’t be a fun storm for a lot of people, and that tree damage and power outages were all but guaranteed. Fun fact, that forecast eventually was seen by just shy of 45,000 people.

And so here we go

Of course, during a thunderstorm, precipitation is coming down at an extremely heavy rate. Usually it’d be rain, but in this cause it was the ice, which made the ice accumulate on trees incredibly fast. That’s another thing I’ve never seen in my life, how fast that ice accretion happened. In only three hours, from 8:30am-11:30am, there was already about 15mm of ice on tree branches. 15mm in itself would be a bad ice storm, but this only happened in three hours, with multiple hours left in the storm.

Around the Winchester area, freezing rain lasted until 3:00 or 3:30pm that afternoon. It

From about 1:30pm onward into the evening, all you could hear outside around town was trees snapping. There were full trees, big tree branches, really just any branches on trees coming down from the heavy weight of the ice. My backyard of trees looked like it had been hit by a tornado. Also, Winchester was very lucky not to lose power during this whole situation, which many of us were thankful for because of sump pump reasons.

Make no mistake, this was absolutely the worst ice storm in Eastern Ontario since the Ice Storm of 1998. I’m not comparing the two, 1998 was obviously worse with 100mm of freezing rain in a lot of the region, I’m just saying this was the worst ice storm since. It’s definitely the worst one of my life, being that I wasn’t even born yet in 1998..

An incredible late season event. And what happened the week after? It was summer outside. 30 degrees on Thursday, April 13. Funny how that works, isn’t it? Spring can be wild sometimes!

Loralee with granddaughter Jayda and grandson Deklan

The Food Corner

By Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

Ok, so I think I’m on a dessert spree : must be the spring weather. We put four tables out on our Salamanders patio since the weather started being nice and we have folks waiting in line for them. This week’s recipe is Baked Bananas à l’Orange, a fancy name for a very simple recipe. It’s also an easy way to get some potassium into your system.

Baked Bananas à l’Orange

Ingredients

1 banana for each serving, so let’s go with 6 for this recipe

¼ cup of orange juice

¼ cup of Triple Sec or Cointreau (orange liqueur)

1 cup of 35% cream

5 tablespoons of sugar

Another three tablespoons of orange liqueur

1/8 cup grated orange peel

Preparation

1. Heat your oven to 350F and spray a glass pan lightly with canola oil

2. Peel the bananas, slice them lengthwise and place them in the pan

3. Drizzle with the orange juice and orange liqueur

4. Cover with foil and place in the oven for 15 minutes or until the bananas soften

5. Meanwhile, beat the cream until stiff with the sugar and additional liqueur and refrigerate

6. When ready to serve, place one warm banana (2 halves) per serving on a dessert plate

7. Drizzle any leftover juice over them, top with the whipped cream and trim with orange peel

A scoop of vanilla ice cream also works well with this recipe and dark coffee or some Earl Grey tea would highlight the flavours. Mind you, sipping more of the orange liqueur is ok too…Enjoy! Cheers from pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

Supporting Cancer Care at WDMH Happy Birthday to Us!

submitted by Jane Adams

ACROSS

At the cheque presentation are (l-r): WDMH Manager of Direct Mail and Events, Justine Plummer, Doug Nugent, Vice Chair, Prostate Cancer Support Ottawa, Tom Clapp from Dare to Flash a ‘Stache and Al Carl, Chair, Prostate Cancer Support Ottawa.

submitted by Jane Adams

The latest donation from the amazing Dare to Flash a ‘Stache (DTFAS) team is in. Recently, Tom Clapp from the DTFAS team and Doug Nugent and Al Carr from Prostate Cancer Support Ottawa stopped by Winchester District Memorial Hospital to present a cheque for $5,000 to the WDMH Foundation. The money will be used to support the Cancer Care Navigator Fund. WDMH’s Cancer Care Navigator, Sarah, works with patients to identify their needs and to help them develop a plan to meet their specific goals. She can answer questions about care, provide education, and link to local community

Funds were donated to the DTFAS team from the Prostate Cancer Support Ottawa. The team also presented a cheque for $10,000 to The Ottawa Hospital to support cancer research.

“Thank you to the amazing DTFAS team for your commitment to supporting the Cancer Care Navigator Fund,” says Justine Plummer, Manager of Direct Mail & Events at the WDMH Foundation. “Your support over so many years is so appreciated.”

Forty-five years from April 5, Dundas Manor opened its doors. The Manor was established, owned, and operated by the Alguire family for more than 32 years. In a special section of the paper, the Winchester Press reported that the new home would “bring the county to the forefront in nursing care for the elderly”, noting that “the $1 million complex offers the best in patient care, with ultra-modern kitchen and laundry facilities, and spacious living, activities and craft rooms”.

The official opening ceremony was held on June 23rd (so the weather was nicer!). Osie Villeneuve, MPP for Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, led the official party, along with the Hon. Douglas Wiseman and dignitaries from the Ontario Nursing Home Association, Winchester Chamber of Commerce, and others. Public tours were also held.

“It must have been an exciting day in Winchester!” notes Administrator Susan Poirier. “Every day since, we've worked hard to make each day special at Dundas Manor, inspiring happiness and joy for our residents. Now, we can’t wait to share the news of the official opening of the new Dundas Manor! We are getting closer with the start of construction this fall. What a great way to celebrate our birthday!”

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

Fish Oil: Superhero of Supplements

You may be forgiven if you are unfamiliar with Aquaman, a superhero who breathes underwater, communicates with sea creatures, and possesses superhuman strength and agility. But revisit past columns if you haven’t learned that fish are the real superheroes. Why? Because when mere mortals consume fish, their bodies gain extraordinary powers to fight the arch-nemesis of illness.

Studies have repeatedly shown that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil have remarkable health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, improving cognitive function, and reducing inflammation throughout the body.

To gain these benefits, eating enough fatty fish, like salmon and mackerel, isn’t easy, especially with high food prices. For a fraction of the cost, fish oil supplements are a nobrainer.

What’s preventing some people from taking this superhero of supplements?

Some people suffer from "fish burps". It’s what happens when your digestive system lets out a little aquatic airfare, and a pungent reminder of your fish oil supplement.

The prevalence of burping or other gastrointestinal side effects when taking omega-3 fish oil supplements can vary depending on the individual. Some studies report that 30% of

Op-ed Positively 4th Street

by Peter Johnson

individuals may experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as burping, heartburn, or diarrhea. Most people experience no effects at all.

Why do people burp from fish oil? The main reason is that fish oil is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can be difficult for the body to digest, leading to the release of gas, which causes burping.

For those who are affected by burping, taking fish oil supplements can be a real problem. Not only is the burping unpleasant and embarrassing, but it can dissuade people from taking fish oil altogether, leaving them without the health benefits.

The likelihood of experiencing burping or other gastrointestinal side effects may also depend on the dose and formulation of the supplement being used.

And that’s where there is a good solution to the burping problem. Look for a fish oil supplement that offers a form more readily accepted by the stomach. One example to be found at health food stores is Certified Naturals Omega3X fish oil containing MaxSimil, which is pre-digested with enzymes, leading to better absorption and making it much less likely to cause burps.

To explain, omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat that are often found in the form of triglycerides. Triglycerides

are the main form of fat in the human body and in the food we eat. They consist of a glycerol molecule and three fatty acids. In consuming omega-3 fatty acids, the role of the digestive system is to capture them for use as energy.

But our bodies contain a lot of water, and these oily triglycerides therefore can pass right through the body’s digestive system and out the other end, all benefits missed. The purpose of using enzymes is to convert the fats from a triglyceride to a monoglyceride. Monoglycerides are the form of fat that our body must convert fish oils into, so having it pre-digested into a monoglyceride makes it easier for our system to absorb, and thus less burping.

In another approach to reduce burping, some supplements involve gelcaps that are enteric-coated for delayed release, but these can contain undesirable plasticizers.

For some, no matter how good the supplement, burping can remain a problem. Try refrigerating the capsules and taking them with food. Remember, accepting a little burp is better than forgoing the benefits.

If persistent or severe burping persists, talk to your healthcare provider, as these symptoms may indicate an underlying health condition or allergy.

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

Good nutrition for babies, children, and teens

submitted by Saman Shaikh, RD., M.Sc.

Good nutrition is vital through the life cycle. For infants, breastmilk is the only food or drink they need for the first 6 months of life, as well as vitamin D supplement while breastfeeding.

At 6 months, it is time to begin adding solid foods. Iron is an important nutrient at this age, so start with iron rich foods, including red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, beans and lentils, and iron-fortified infant cereal. There is no need to delay starting common allergen foods, such as nuts or eggs. Introduce them one at a time and wait two days before

introducing another one.

Offer your baby a range of nutritious, texture-appropriate foods from your family meals that they can eat using their hands, and let them explore. Always supervise your baby while they’re eating, and pay attention to their hunger cues.

Once solid foods are established at around 12 months of age, offer a variety of foods from the Canada’s Food Guide, including vegetables and fruit, protein foods, and whole grains. Establish a schedule of regular meals and snacks. Children can also start homogenized milk starting around 9 – 12

My parents had the bad luck of being born in 1921. They experienced, firsthand, the 20's and the dirty 30's. My brothers and I had a much better childhood than they. The eldest was born during the war, my younger brother and I, a few years after it. My mother's version of ‘Planned Parenthood': put five years between each child. That way, each of us got her undivided attention until it was time to get swallowed up by the very strict, extremely regimented Ottawa Board of Education.

Both my mother's and my father's parents came to Canada from other countries: my parental grandparents from Norway, my maternal grandparents from Scotland, via Ireland. Both of these generations knew hardships - hardships far beyond anything that my brothers and I ever experienced. My Norwegian grandfather, Rikard, at the tender age of 15, headed north to the Arctic Circle and worked in a gold mine. 15! He saved enough money to book passage to Canada: not the United States - Canada.

A characteristic of many Norwegians, most Highland Scots, and the tide of Irish immigrants to this country, when faced with adversity, was to put their heads down and plow ahead. Complaining was not in their nature, as a rule. That was viewed as a character flaw, or a weakness. They most certainly never bleated,‘That offends me'.

Back to 1921: people born in that year reached the age of majority in 1939. In September of that year, Canada declared war on

Germany after it had invaded Poland. My father no sooner graduated from Ottawa Tech, than he took the train to Toronto and enlisted in the RCAF. He was all of 18. I found a letter he wrote to my mother on very old RCAF stationary. He didn't think he was doing anything heroic; he was just doing what he thought he had to do.

The basketball team at his high school, which graduated the year before, signed up together, were tail-gunners in RAF bombers, and were all dead before the year was out. (check out ‘The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner', by W.H. Auden for a grissly bit of poetry).

It was a very different time. We can read about it, but only they knew the horror of what life was like for them... and they had barely reached voting age. There was no bragging, no horror stories, only silence as those who returned kept their awful memories to themselves. Most impressively, there was no whining, no complaining about how life had treated them so poorly. It is quite a contrast to what we are seeing today.

Fast forward to the present. It must be very confusing for the people who came here from Ukraine to see what little things can upset some Canadians. Another story: when I was teaching in Merrickville, a brother and sister showed up in my class one Monday morning. Their family had fled communist Poland. Their parents, both university professors, were targeted by the regime. They fled with their children to the safety of Canada. The

younger sibling, an extremely bright young girl of about 12 or 13 years, told me a story, once she had developed some impressive English skills.

In her school in Poland, a large middle-school, the students had an expression that they used to describe a very good day for them: "Like a day in Canada". That stopped me in my tracks. To this day, more than 40 years later, I can visualize her telling me this. In other countries around the world, Canada is looked upon as a safe haven, a sort of 'paradise'. A place where every day must surely be simply wonderful.

Back to the Ukrainians who have found refuge here: they must find it strange that we can get all worked up over the smallest things; getting angry because one has perceived that they have been slighted. Why bother? How much is your time worth to you? Do you not have better things to do with your time and creativity/productivity? Is that all that you have to contribute to society... to your community?

We have so much to be thankful for...but that sounds trite. In 'Positively 4th Street', Bob Dylan summed it up this way:

"I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes

And just for that one moment I could be you

Yes, I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes

You'd know what a drag it is to see you."

We don't want to be that person, do we?

months of age.

Picky eating can be quite common in children. Remember, caregivers are responsible for what, where and when to offer food, and kids are responsible for how much or whether they will eat. Be patient. It can take up to 1015 exposures before a child may accept a food. Involve children in meal planning and preparation, have meals together whenever possible, be a positive role model, and offer a variety of foods without pressure, keeping mealtimes pleasant and free from distractions.

Nutrition is also important for youth and teens,

because they need nutrients and energy as they grow. It can also help them feel good and have more energy, and perform better at activities, such as sports, school, other hobbies, and extracurricular activities. As well, they can learn skills that are important in later life, such as planning, shopping and preparing nutritious foods. This can help them learn cooking skills, make foods they enjoy, and become more independent.

As a youth or teen, you can develop healthy eating habits by:

- Choosing a variety of vegetables and fruit, whole grain foods, and protein foods

that you enjoy

- Getting involved in planning and preparing meals at home. Try helping with meal planning and making a grocery list, going grocery shopping, and preparing meals and snacks

- Eating meals with others if possible. This can give you a chance to connect with family and friends, and learn about your food culture and traditions

- Eating without distractions. Turn off the TV, put away the phone, and enjoy the food you are eating mindfully, as well as enjoying the company of who you’re eating with

- Making healthy drink choices. Make water your drink of choice. Other options for healthy drinks can include unsweetened lower fat milk, or plant-based fortified beverages

Remember that every body is different, and healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes. Eat a variety and balance of foods, and focus on overall health rather than body size.

For more information, visit our website at healthunit. org, call us at 1-800-6605853, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. Also visit Canada’s Food Guide at Canada.ca/foodguide.

Homeowners' guide to Savings Accounts: Exploring your options

By Andrew Goetz Financial Advisor, O’Farrell Wealth & Estate Planning | Assante Capital Management Ltd.

As we’ve discussed in a prior article (See https://www.ofarrellwealth.com/post/taxfree-first-time-homesavings-account), the Canadian Government has created an innovative way to save money for first time home buyers. It's called the First Home Savings Account (FHSA) and you are eligible if:

- You are between 18 and 71 years of age

- Are a current tax resident of Canada

- Have not lived in a home you or your partner have owned for the past 4 calendar years

- The objective for opening the account must be to save for a qualifying home in Canada

Individuals can contribute to these accounts to the tune of $8,000 dollars per year and $40,000 over a lifetime. FHSA can be a huge advantage for the average person looking to buy a home. This fund sees “the best of both worlds” meaning that contributions to the FHSA are deductible from your yearly income tax and investment growth within the account is also tax free.

How does this compare to TFSAs and RRSPs?

Well, it's pretty inter-

Intersectionality

esting. Wealth inside your TFSA grows tax free to a maximum contribution of $88,000 lifetime (as of 2023). The problem is you cannot deduct TFSA contributions from your income tax.

From an RRSP perspective, any contributions up to your personal yearly limit can be deducted from your income tax. However, any growth inside the account will be taxed upon withdrawal.

That’s where we get the idea of the newly introduced FHSA being the ideal combination of both worlds. It combines the benefits of a TFSA and an RRSP into one account. Of course, a tool this powerful has drawbacks— the contribution stipulations and limits discussed earlier in the article.

So, the question is, where does one put their money?

These three accounts are designed to work together to provide you with more contribution room, more tax savings, and more opportunities for investment growth. However, the answer is that each person's situation needs to be assessed accordingly.

Are you planning to buy your first home or haven’t owned one in 4 years? You’ll want to reap the benefits of the FHSA. Unfortunately, if you already own a home, you won't be eligible for

the FHSA. In that case, an investment strategy that fits your income, risk tolerance, and time frame should be implemented in your RRSP and TFSA accounts.

Investing in a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to fi gure out which path is right for you. That's why it's important to work with a financial advisor who can help you navigate the complex world of home buying and investing. They can help you decide which options are right for your unique financial situation and long-term wealth goals.

We welcome questions so please reach out!

See our ad in this week’s North Dundas Times and follow us on Facebook @ OFarrellWealth.

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

by Zara Zrudlo

Intersectionality is a term that has become more common in the past five or so years. It was coined even before that by scholar, writer and activist Kimberlé Crenshaw. While the term is common, there are a lot of conflicting definitions. So, what exactly was Intersectionality intended to mean?

Intersectionality is a way to bring people’s overlapping identities into the light. A person can have multiple identity factors that influence how they experience life based on their race, socioeconomic status, gender, Indigeneity, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, religion, disability, etc. We can use intersectionality to design better policies and social systems that take into account the entirety of people’s identities. For instance, policies that promote women’s rights are very important; however, they may not help a gay, Japanese woman with a disability. That policy would only address the female part of a person’s identity, it wouldn’t combat the ableism, homophobia and asiaphobia that person experiences. Therefore, the policy wouldn’t reach and aid them as much.

Let’s use a Black wom-

an applying for a job as an example. She doesn’t receive the job even though she has twice the qualifications that the other applicants do. She asks the company about it, wanting to know why. They simply tell her that she isn’t qualified enough, which doesn’t make sense. While she is there, talking to the company, she gets a look at the employees. There are a ton of white women, and a few people of color who are men. However, there are no women of color. The company is too big for it to be a coincidence. She tells the company this, but they tell her that she doesn’t make any sense. There are people of color working there, and there are women. But there are no women of color, no people with those two overlapping identity factors.

Creating policies that combat transphobia or policies that combat racism won’t be as effective as creating policies that combat transphobia and racism together! Otherwise, people who are trans and Latinx won’t feel the positive impact of the policies.

Looking at someone’s gender and race as things that can overlap rather than two completely separate things is the root of intersectionality. For instance, in the media, when you see people who are 2SLGBTQIA+ most often, they will be white. Taking intersectionality into consideration in hiring practices, and in the way we act around other people, is really important. Especially if we want to live in an aware, equitable and safe world.

Some people interpret

intersectionality as changing the social hierarchy. This is definitely not true. Intersectionality is about removing any social hierarchy so that there is no ‘top’ or ‘bottom’. It can help everyone can feel safe, heard and supported. It doesn’t require the people at the top to sacrifice anything or to be trampled on by others.

Intersectionality simply asks us to be aware of the way that multiple identities can overlap and increase discrimination for people. It asks us to view the world differently and acknowledge our privilege. That can be an uncomfortable journey, and make sure to talk to people or reach out for help if you need. However, just because it’s uncomfortable doesn’t mean we shouldn’t go there. If we leave the problems of discrimination alone, they will only get worse. We have to learn, we have to go to the uncomfortable places. In summary, people who have multiple identities, (such as being 2SLGBTQIA+ and being a part of a racialized group) face discrimination from both of those together. They face more discrimination than someone who is part of a racialized group but is not 2SLGBTQIA+, or someone who is 2SLGBTQIA+ but is white. We need to structure society and build government policies so that those with multiple identity factors are included and not left on the margins.

The sun rises on April 12 (le�) and April 13 (right) near Inkerman

OPP fraud prevention update from Officer

Josh Gluck

South Nation Conservation Authority Annual General Meeting

and protecting our environment,” said Carl Bickerdike, SNC’s Chief Administrative Officer. “We are proud to highlight the Authority’s work in our Annual Report.”

Fraud is on the rise, including in North Dundas, and it is important to be prepared to avoid it. OPP Officer Josh Gluck has seen scams perpetuated from every angle. People are victimized by phone, by social media, email, and even by regular mail. Some frauds lately have even been done through simple text message. “We’re absolutely inundated with them,” said Officer Gluck.

Beginning in October of last year, the OPP in nearby Grenville County assigned a few officers with specialization in online fraud to give focus to the problem. Officer Gluck explained that this job requires some specialized knowledge on the part of the officers involved, since they must be very familiar with technology, and also must be well versed in working with international agencies. These officers take reports of scams and fraud coming in, and decide what they can effectively follow up on.

Sometimes, it is not feasible for charges to be laid in fraud cases. Since the investigation tactic of “follow the money” is often used, the country where the stolen money ends up often makes a big difference in whether the trail can be followed. However, the OPP officers assigned to fraud cases don’t simply give up on someone when

there are no viable avenues of investigation or prosecution. Instead, they focus on treating the victims of fraud as they are – victims of crime who often just need to be heard and understood.

Officer Gluck explained that there is an unfortunate stigma that often incorrectly labels victims of scams as gullible and too trusting for falling for the ruse. However, fraud affects people from all demographics and all levels of tech-savviness.

“A big thrust of the team is to do a better job of treating the victims more like actual victims,” Officer Gluck added.

There are numerous supports available for victims which the OPP can refer out to in fraud cases. Officer Gluck pointed out that even in cases where prosecution and the recovery of lost money are impossible, most of the victims are satisfied with the police response so long as they have the chance to report the crime and tell their story without being judged. However, there are crimes where the money is traceable, and even some frauds that happen face-toface, and the OPP is active in pursuing charges in those cases.

When asked if he has any general fraud prevention tips, Officer Gluck answered that with so many different frauds being perpetuated and changing all the time, there is no specific advice that can be applied to prevent all frauds. However, two pieces of simple advice can be useful to avoid being scammed

in general: slow down, and talk to someone you trust.

When it comes to “slowing down”, this simply means giving yourself enough time to assess whether something feels off about what is happening.

Officer Gluck explained that there are almost always red flags, and that people who report being victimized by fraud have usually noticed the red flags, but ignored them. Having someone else to run the situation by – a family member or friend, for example – can help give an extra set of eyes to spot when something isn’t right.

Another piece of general advice offered by OPP Officer Annie Collins is to share less on social media. She explained that many people either don’t know how to set up private online accounts or don’t bother doing so. The result is that it can be easy for a scammer to go online and learn important personal information about you.

Officer Gluck acknowledges that there can be shame and embarrassment when it comes to reporting frauds. Anyone who is not comfortable talking through these things with family and friends is welcome to speak to a police officer instead. Frauds and scams can be reported via the nonemergency OPP number at 1-888-310-1122.

submitted by Erin Thorne, SNCA

South Nation Conservation (SNC) held its 76th Annual General Meeting at its office in Finch, Ontario on March 16th, 2023. The meeting highlighted key moments of SNC’s 75th anniversary and held the election of the SNC Board Executive for 2023-24. The Board Executive was unanimously re-elected to serve for the 2023-24 term: Pierre Leroux, Mayor of Russell Township, was re-elected as Chair, Steve Densham, Deputy Mayor of North Stormont, was re-elected as ViceChair and George Darouze, Councillor for Osgoode Ward in the City of Ottawa, was confirmed as Past-Chair.

Composed of 11 members appointed by municipalities, SNC’s Board of Directors oversees the Authority’s budget, programs, and services, and works alongside staff to champion local conservation initiatives. Of SNC’s $9.1 million 2023 Budget, approximately 47% comes from municipal levy collected from 16 member municipalities.

“It was an honour to receive the Board’s confidence to serve as Chair during SNC’s 75th year of conservation, and I look forward to building on the successful municipalconservation authority partnerships at work in 2023, which contribute to a living natural legacy for our region,” said re-elected Chair Leroux. “SNC is a valued municipal partner, and they

continue to play a critical role managing the natural resources in our watershed.”

Pierre Leroux was also elected as Vice-Chair of Conservation Ontario’s Board Executive on April 3rd, 2023, at a meeting in Toronto, where he will help lead the agency that represents Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities.

During SNC’s annual meeting, the Board approved its 2022 Annual Report, which showcases program highlights from the preceding year, including community projects, development review, tree planting statistics, Conservation Area upgrades and visitation, and forestry and environmental stewardship initiatives.

“We are committed to working with our member municipalities, supporting the safe and sustainable growth of healthy communities

The Authority’s 5-Year “State of the Nation” Watershed Report Card was also showcased at the meeting and was launched on World Water Day on March 22nd, 2023. The report provides an update on the status of forest and wetland cover, and highlights trends in surface and groundwater quality. Watersheds throughout Ontario are provided with grades from A-Excellent to F-Very Poor for key environmental conditions. Data can be accessed at watershedcheckup.ca.

A digital copy of the Annual Report can be found at www.nation.on.ca/resources/ publications/annual-reports.

A digital copy of the State of the Nation Watershed Report Card can be found at www.nation.on.ca/water/reports/watershed-report-cards. More information on SNC’s Board of Directors including meeting minutes can be found at www.nation.on.ca/ about/board-directors-andcommittees.

Dundas Manor are requesting pre-qualification submissions from interested General Contractors with relevant healthcare/long-term care experience for the construction of the new 128-bed Dundas Manor in Winchester, Ontario

Interested parties can obtain the Request to Pre-Qualify (RFPQ) and any addenda through MERX, the official and sole distributor of the RFPQ. Electronic submissions will be received as noted in the RFPQ until 2:00:00pm EDT on May 15, 2023

Officer Josh Gluck speaks to a group about fraud prevention.

by Brandon Mayer