ND Times Issue 18 2021 March 12

613.774.2633

HOURS: Mon - Fri. 9am -6pm; Sat. 9am - 4pm; Sun. Closed

507 Main Street, Winchester, ON

Easy Prescription Transfers ~ All Drugs Plans Accepted Check Out Our Specials & Everyday Low Prices

FREE DELIVERY

Reaching by direct mail to over 5,500 homes and businesses in Winchester and area

The Voice of North Dundas

Vol 2, No 18

Mas 12, 2021

Remembering Andy Parent the Gatekeeper of Big Sky Ranch

Lannin

Serving you since 1945 Lannin @xplornet.com Colourmatch computer in store

2682 Highway 31 South, Winchester,

613. 774.2830

www.homehardware.ca

AUTO CENTER INC.

Visit our website for a list of our used vehicles

Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Automotive Sales & Service Quality Used Vehicles Tire Sales

12034 Cty Rd 3 (Main St.), Winchester

613.774.2000 www.rtauto.ca

Julia Zipfel, summer camp attendee, counsellor and long time Big Sky Ranch volunteer, presenting Andy with a painting of one of the Sanctuary's llamas, Diesel.

Photo provided by Big Sky Ranch Animal Sanctuary

by Hilary Thomson Last week the community and surrounding area lost a caring man who had dedicated his life to giving unwanted and abused animals a place to call home.

Andy Parent first established Big Sky Ranch in 2002 as a hobby farm.

Originally from Ottawa, he wanted to give his two young sons the opportunity to connect with the land and be around animals. At first, Andy and his family continued to live in Ottawa, visiting the farm at 810 Pelton Road, near Heckston in the evenings and weekends, however they soon moved out to the farm permanently looking for a quieter life. On their very first night they were all outside marveling at the expansiveness of the

starry sky. The possibilities of their new home seemed endless. It was then when Andy said the farm should be called Big Sky Ranch.

The very first animal that came to Andy was from a friend who had a dog named Bear. Bear was half dog and half wolf and although he was a very loving, at 125 lbs he was too much for his friend to handle. Andy gladly took him in, and Bear became his first furry companion at the Ranch, setting in motion a chain of events that would lead him to house and provide homes to thousands of animals over the next almost two decades.

To date Big Sky Ranch has helped over 3500 domestic animals of all kinds and sizes achieve a happy outcome through their rehabilitation and adoption

programs. They currently house about 125 abused and unwanted animals including horses, cows, goats, donkeys, llamas, sheep, cats, dogs, rabbits, pot bellied pigs, emus, peacocks and a variety of domestic fowl.

Through his dedication and hard work, and with the support he inspired in so many people, Andy has grown the Ranch into not only a haven for animals, but for people too. Over the years he has welcomed hundreds of volunteers and visitors to the Ranch of all different backgrounds and abilities "The Sanctuary was established to help animals in need; but Andy soon realized that the animals rescued people right back," says Pauline Lafleur, Office Manager and long-time volunteer

at the Ranch. "It was very important for him, for instance, never to charge admission because he wanted the Sanctuary to be barrier free and accessible to everybody. He wanted no restrictions on people who came to volunteer. The only thing that you needed to walk through the door was love for the animals and the desire to help them."

Andy worked as the animal control officer for many years, in Kemptville. He loved his job and found great joy in reuniting families with their pets, and relocating those who were truly lost. Pauline says Andy always felt that this journey had been guided by something bigger than himself and felt that coming to this area was an amazing gift. His gratitude to the local community for welcoming and supporting the animals over the years was profound, just as he also marveled that supporters would come from all over Ontario and Canada to visit and help. Although the Sanctuary has taken in animals from all over, most of the ones that have been adopted have stayed locally in Eastern Ontario. "People have good hearts and Andy saw the good in everyone," Pauline says. To many, the animal sanctuary has been invaluable for Eastern Ontario. cont'd on page 3

Honest, Easy, Auto Parts Come see Mike for old-school service, product knowledge & competitive pricing.

613-822-6226 12024 Dawley Drive Winchester

www.nolimitsautoparts.ca

"Proudly serving our Community" Dan Pettigrew Owner & friendly neighbour T: 613.774.1958 Dan.Pettigrew@sobeys.com foodland.ca 12015 Main Street Winchester, ON

The North Dundas Times

The Vanishing People

Freshly baked goods

Homemade frozen meals Pizza & subs LCBO/Beer Store convenience outlet

613-989-1323

Hours: Mon-Fri 6am-7pm Sat&Sun 7am-7pm 1738 County Rd 1, Mountain Ontario

HELP WANTED - 4 days a week

Berube Poultry Berube Poultry in Mountain is seeking labourers beginning in May. No experience necessary. Will train.

Serious inquiries only please @

613-989-2020

AL'S WINTER-SPRING CLEAN UP

Property - Home - Clean - Up (Interior - Exterior) Carpentry - Fencing - Roofs - Basements

DUMP RUNS: everything goes FULLY INSURED

C: 613.295.0300

May 12, 2021

tario. These were, as far as we know, the first inhabitants of Dundas County, although their settlements are to be found all along the north shore of the St. Lawrence.

At least three of those sites are in Dundas County, and one in Grenville. The Steward site is located west of Morrisburg, in Williamsburg Township.

Archaeological work at the site indicates that it was occupied by St. Lawrence Iroquoian peoples for a period of about 500 years, ending at around 1600 A.D.. It was probably occupied on a seasonal basis, in the Spring and Autumn, and that it served primarily as a fishing station. Another site, the Driver's Site, lies east of Johnstown. Reports also show that the main village sites, “such as are represented by the Beckstead site, were typically located in less exposed situations at some distance inland, most commonly on the South National River or its tributaries”.

by David Shanahan In Canadian history, there is a fascinating period between the immediate pre-contact period and the arrival of the first Europeans. Archaeology can tell us much about the people who were here before, and indigenous oral tradition fills in a great deal of information about their ancestors. But there is a people who have left us a mystery, people who were known by the first explorers, and who later vanished, literally.

These people are known to archaeologists and anthropologists as the Saint Lawrence Iroquoians, though there is a great deal of uncertainty about how closely the various communities were part of a single people. But linguistic similarities and artifacts found on their sites indicate that there was a common link between them, from the area around Quebec City as far west as Grenville County in On-

2

In Grenville County, another settlement has been identified at Roebuck, where a site has been excavated showing the presence of around 40 longhouses, each about 100-120 feet long by 30 wide and 23 feet high. The population of Roebuck is estimated at between 1,500 and 2,000 people, who grew corn, squash, beans, sunflowers and tobacco.

When Jacques Cartier sailed up the Saint Lawrence River, he came across a series of large settlements along the north bank of the river. Two major settlements were at Hochelaga and Stadacona, the sites of present day Montreal and Quebec City. Cartier first visited the two settlements in October, 1535, and described the longhouses in which the people lived at Hochelaga, as well as recording phonetically many of their words and phrases.

There seems to have been some differences in the language spoken at the two settlements, and much remains unsure about the relationship between them and other sites further upriver.

Cartier learned the word used by the inhabitants for their type of village: “kanata”. From there, Cartier drew the assumption that the entire country was called that, and so Canada became the name for the new lands on the St. Lawrence. Cartier made three voyages to the St. Lawrence between 1534 and 1541, and it was not until Samuel de Champlain arrived there in 1603 that we have any further information about the St. Lawrence Iroquoian settlements. And the news was dramatic. All of the settlements, from Stadacona west to the Roebuck site, were deserted, abandoned by their inhabitants. To this day, there is no agreement among

historians, archaeologists or anthropologists as to what exactly happened to them and where they might have gone.

They may have been exterminated, or assimilated, or pushed out by the Huron, or Iroquois. The lands on what is now the Ontario side of the Ottawa River were taken over by the Algonquin, who had already been the dominant presence in the Ottawa Valley and almost as far south as the St. Lawrence. The Onotchataroon, or Weskarini Algonquin occupied the lands on the South Nation watershed, where some of the settlements had been in the time of Cartier’s visit.

In 1603, the area was a no man’s land between the Algonquin and the Mohawks south of the St. Lawrence.

Champlain thought perhaps a war had started around 1570, and it was continuing during his first visit to the region.

There have been many other theories about what might have happened to the St. Lawrence Iroquoian.

Some think they moved south of the river and became the Tuscarora, part of the Six Nations Confederacy. Others believe they split into various refugee groups, some going east to be absorbed into the Abenaki. It may be that some were taken in by the Onotchataroon Algonquin who came to occupy their traditional territory.

Or were they wiped out entirely by Mohawk war parties during the wars between the Algonquin and Haudenosaunee.

Whatever happened to these people, they were gone from the territory that, according to archaeological evidence, they had inhabited for a period of about 500 years, ending suddenly and dramatically around 1600.

www.ndtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times

Family reaches out to community

have similar disabilities to Ben," says Jessica.

She hopes to see Ben walking one day but until then, Ben has been fitted for a wheelchair for school this year. Having a wheelchair means Ben's family requires a larger vehicle that can be made wheelchair accessible.

The vehicle needs to be used to transport Ben to and from appointments, especially as far as Toronto. The government helps with particular things but not everything is covered.

COVID-19 has had a negative impact on Ben and his family of five. Because of restrictions, developmental therapy appointments have been cut back. Jessica says it is especially difficult as Ben hasn't been able to socialize with other children during all of this.

Private physio, intensive physio and occupational therapy are all very expensive.

Ben's family has a GoFundMe page which allows people to donate money to help Ben and all of his expenses.

"We are so appreciative of every donation. Every little bit helps us get closer to our goal!" says Jessica. To donate, please visit https://gofund. me/242d4981

by Stephanie Seaver This past weekend was Mother's Day and mom, Jessica Brown, celebrated it with her son Ben and family.

Four year old Ben is a happy, social, outgoing little boy who loves to talk to everyone.

Sadly, Ben was born at 25 weeks with a brain bleed on each side of his brain which resulted in hydrocephalus.

"Hydrocephalus is a build up of fluid on the brain, so Ben had to have two shunts put in that help drain the fluid from his brain into his belly to be absorbed. He spent the first six months of life in hospital, most of it at Sick Kids in Toronto, and has been in and out since. He has undergone eleven brain surgeries, all in his first year of life, along with two feeding tube surgeries last year. The damage to his brain caused cerebral palsy, which affects the right side of Ben's body limiting his mobility and ability to walk.

He fully depends on us. His physio, OT and speech are very important. He only gets physio covered every two weeks and it honestly isn't the best sometimes, so we try our best to be able to afford to pay for private physio along with an intensive physio in Toronto that helps kids that

cont'd from front page

May 12, 2021

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the May 15th Hazardous Waste Day has been cancelled.

The next scheduled day will be June 12th.

Any questions, please contact: Doug Froats, 613-774-5157

Funding to promote youth working in agriculture

Big Sky Ranch

Although Andy will always be known and loved as the founder of Big Sky Ranch, Pauline says that over the past few years he started referring to himself as the gatekeeper instead.

"When asked what made Big Sky Ranch what it is, Andy felt that, first of all, the animals are the soul of Big Sky Ranch, the volunteers are the heart of Big Sky Ranch, and everybody who supports it in all the other ways are the lifeblood of Big Sky Ranch, and that it is almost a living thing."

Having struggled with his health for several years, Andy was focused on ensuring that the Sanctuary would continue long after he was gone. "For quite some time his focus was on making sure that, without a shadow of a doubt, Big Sky Ranch, its mission, its purpose, its heart would continue, because the work was not finished even if Andy's work came to an end," Pauline says. "He put people in place over time to ensure his legacy would continue."

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY CANCELLED

After many years of illness and a short battle with lung cancer, Andy passed away on April 29, at the age of 62. Pauline says that despite the pandemic, Andy's last year was a happy one, with a lot of time spent with the animals at Big Sky Ranch, his family, and a small group of volunteers and friends at his side. "That was maybe one of the unintended blessings of COVID," Pauline says. "On the one hand, he missed having people here so much- especially the children- but on the other hand it gave him time to simply be with the animals which is exactly how his journey began."

Due to the pandemic restrictions, there was no public funeral. Big Sky Ranch will re-open once again to visitors when able to safely do so, so that people can spend time with the animals. Donations to the animals of Big Sky Ranch are gratefully appreciated. To donate visit www.bigskyranch.ca.

MP Francis Drouin, for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, and Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, hosted a virtual event to announce an investment of up to $21.4 million to enhance the Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) and fund about 2,000 jobs for youth in the agriculture sector. They were joined by Chair of the Canadian Young Farmers’ Forum Justin Williams, and representatives from three past program participants: Delta, British Columbia’s Cropthorne Farm Ltd.; Coaldale, Alberta’s Kasko Cattle Co.; and St-Eugène, Ontario’s Les Fruits du Poirier.

The YESP aims to support agri-food employers and provide young Canadians between the ages of 15 and 30 with job experience in agriculture that could lead to a career working in the sector.

In 2020, the Government of Canada invested $9.2 million for the YESP, to fund nearly 1,000 jobs.

Yo u n g p e o p l e w e r e among the hardest and fastest hit when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, experienc-

ing more job losses than any other age demographic.

Meanwhile, the agriculture sector has been facing increased difficulty accessing labour since the beginning of the pandemic. By promoting youth employment in the agriculture sector, the Government of Canada is ensuring a resilient food supply chain and keeping the sector strong.

“Now more than ever, young Canadians need sup-

port to launch their careers.

Through the Youth Employment and Skills Program, the Government of Canada is helping more youth discover the limitless potential of careers in agriculture, while also enhancing the sector, which is vitally important to rural communities across Canada,” said MP Drouin.

Eligible applicants include producers, agri-businesses, industry associations,

provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous organizations and research facilities.

Support can cover the period from April 15, 2021 to March 31, 2022. Applications for the YESP are now being accepted and forms are available through the webpage.

For more information, please contact aafc.yesp-pecj.aac@ canada.ca, or call: 1-866452-5558.

St. Lawrence Parks Commission Available Employment Opportunity Loucks Farm Historical Interpreter

For more details visit:

Parks.on.ca 3

www.ndtimes.ca

Editorial

The North Dundas Times

Are we really sheep?

by Lorraine Rekmans Remember when we used to travel? So many times, at the airport, I was removed from the lineup up at the security gate for a "random" search. It happened so often that I began to question the randomness of it.

The airport authority would run their hands over my person, or direct me to the x-ray machine so they could examine my internal organs. It was a personal violation that I reluctantly subjected myself to because I saw the sign at the airport which said something to the effect, "you

have a right to refuse this search and we have a right to deny you entry."

The staff would open my luggage and rummage through it, and then make me take off my shoes.

How many times did we all corral together at the luggage belt in various stages of undress, hopping on one foot while we put our shoes back on, trying to put ourselves back together, find our coat, our watch and other personal effects that rolled along on that conveyor belt in plain view of all strangers?

There are so many examples of how we, as citizens, relinquish our personal freedoms and allow our privacy to be violated, in exchange for some benefit. Think of that latest iPhone or Android app that you just downloaded and the 8000- page Terms of Agreement that you just scrolled through to click

does not harm others: thus, the exercise of the natural rights of each man has only those borders which assure other members of the society the fruition of these same rights. These borders can be determined only by the law." It also includes the statement that, "The law has the right to forbid only actions harmful to society."

At present across this country, we are having discussions and conflict about collective versus personal rights, freedoms and liberties. On one hand, we have groups arguing that the state has no right to infringe on their personal freedoms. They invoke, among others, the principle of private property being an inviolable and sacred right and that "no one can be deprived of private usage." This includes their right to make a living. On the other hand,

on the "Agree" button, so you could start using your app. Think about Google Maps, tracking your daily journey. We are pervaded by violations of our privacy, on a daily basis, and we have conceded to this, in exchange for what we believe to be some benefit.

If our foot is a little too heavy on the gas pedal, we get stopped by the police, who interfere with our right of mobility. But we have conceded to this, collectively, for the benefit and safety of ourselves and others.

The rules by which we live have been developed collectively, over thousands of years. Some of our social contracts stem from documents such as the Rights of Man (which excluded women in 1789).

Articles in the Rights of Man included such statements as, "Liberty consists of doing anything which

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, This letter is a call to action for your readers, especially those in Eastern Ontario who have poor or unreliable access to broadband.

Recently, both the governments of Canada and Ontario brought down their budgets. Combined, they dedicated $7 billion for broadband expansion.

We applaud both levels of government for taking this step, but there is much more to be done.

The Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) has been working for several years on a project to bring high speed, reliable and affordable broadband to eastern Ontario. EORN’s proposed Gig Project will reach not only the urban centres, but also the many rural and remote areas of our region where broadband is limited or nonexistent.

EORN is requesting $200 million each from the federal and provincial governments. This represents 5.7 per cent of the total funds the governments of Canada and Ontario have committed to broadband expansion. Given that recent analysis shows rural eastern Ontario accounts for about 30 per cent of all under-served households in Ontario, the project offers tremendous value.

May 12, 2021

We have not received an answer to our request for funding and time is running out. Our MPs and MPPs need to know that you want broadband improvements that serve your needs, not just today but into the future. The Gig Project that delivers up to 1,000 Megabits of speed will do just that. Let us fix the problem once and for all.

Access to broadband is not a luxury but a necessity, as we have all witnessed during this pandemic. Children are expected to learn online, but how does one’s child or children do that when broadband connections are sporadic.

Our health-care system has had to pivot to virtual care. While much of this care is occurring over the phone, the ability of physicians to see patients virtually means more people can receive care without having to leave their homes or take time off work. The Gig Project will make this a reality. It

Email: production@ndtimes.ca 613 215 0735

we have determined to do it together, as a collective.

We have put our individual needs on the back burner, in the interest of our neighbours, and our community.

It is a conscious choice we have made to live in the spirit of our social contract with each other. We have weighed our personal needs, and rights, against the needs and rights of others to make an informed choice about what rights we are willing to give up.

We do this with the knowledge that our rights are sacred and inalienable, and that these rights were hard earned. We are all expressing the general will, in the spirit of a contract that was largely developed during a revolution to overthrow authoritarian or totalitarian rulers. That is why I find it ironic when people call us sheep.

Climate Change Accountability Act passes to committee

is a comprehensive solution critical to our region’s economic recovery and future growth.

We are writing to ask you to call and email your local MP and MPP and ask them to put their support behind the EORN submission. Contact your municipal councillors and ask them to advocate for the project and join our lobbying efforts.

The federal and provincial governments are committed to broadband expansion, now is the time to let them know that residents support a regional approach where no one is left behind.

Working together is our strength.

J. Murray Jones, Chair EORN Debbie Robinson, Chair EOWC Diane Therrien, Chair EOMC

by Lorraine Rekmans On a rare occasion in the House of Commons, the Conservative Party of (CPC) and the Green Party of Canada (GPC) both voted “no”, on a Liberal climate change bill. Bill C-12, the Climate Accountability Act, passed with a vote of 210 in favour and 122 opposed. It will be sent to committee for further review.

The GPC called the bill a profoundly flawed piece of legislation, and said it did not contain credible targets that would enable Canada to meet its international obligations on cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. If this Bill is passed, it would require Canada to begin in 2030 to set rolling 5-year targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions, ending in 2050.

“Bill C-12 is a pro-

The North Dundas Times is published weekly by North Grenville Times Inc.

Production

we have groups conceding to state-wide lockdowns and business closures, and have relinquished our right of freedom of mobility, agreeing not to travel, not to hug each other, and not to visit our elderly.

When human beings began asserting their rights as collectives and as individuals, they created a contract to live together, and did agree that the law is the expression of the general will. We agreed to select representatives that would design laws to express the general will of the people.

We have agreed to suspend those laws, for a period of time for the collective benefit of society.

We agree that the collective has become more important than the individual at this time, because we are faced with a viral threat in COVID-19. As we face this catastrophe,

foundly flawed piece of legislation,” said GPC Leader Annamie Paul.

“Despite the urgent need for climate action, and the recent leadership of international partners like the U.S., the United Kingdom and the EU, the federal government has failed to deliver the targets needed to get us to net-zero by 2050.

Insufficient targets and timelines are one reason Greens cannot support Bill C-12, but there are other deficiencies, including the premature appointment of a Net-Zero Advisory Body before Bill C-12 has even arrived in committee.

The Greens are calling for an advisory group that is arm’s-length from the

ISSN 2291-0301 www.ngtimes.ca

Mailing Address P.O. Box 1854 Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0

Accounting Pat Jessop cfo@ngtimes.ca 613-258-4671

Staff Reporter joselyn@ndtimes.ca

OFFICE 613-215-0735 Marketing/Sales

Editor editor@ndtimes.ca 613-215-0735

Email: hayley@ndtimes.ca 343 777 2702

4

government, and one that reports directly to Parliament.

The Conservatives voted against the bill and also took issue with the 14 member advisory body.

The CPC criticized the advisory panel and stated that there could be potential influence from climate activists who could hurt the fossil fuel industry.

The New Democrats, as well as the Liberals, voted in support of the bill. Three GPC MPs were amongst the 122 opposed.

www.ndtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times

Companion Planting

by Joselyn Morley Companion planting is the practice of putting different plants together in the garden to benefit one or both of them.

It can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. Some of the charts listing plants that should be together are so complicated that they scare people.

The idea is that some plants repel pests, attract beneficial insects, or alter the soil in some ways. Some plants just don’t like to grow next to each other. Growing different plants in the same space can maximize the available space. It can also limit pest damage to your crop if your crop is spaced out throughout the garden. You have less chance of all your crop being destroyed. Sometimes one plant can protect another from harsh weather. Some crops like cooler, shadier growing conditions, so they can be planted at the base of something taller. Sometimes planting a sacrificial crop that is particularly tasty to a nasty

pest, can keep that pest away from your plants.

The Three Sisters is a popular example of a system intended to benefit all three plants. The system is commonly attributed to Indigenous agricultural practices being developed before contact. Corn is planted with pole beans and squash, the idea being that the corn provides support for the climbing beans.

Beans also fix nitrogen in the soil. The squash plants provide ground cover, protecting the roots from moisture loss, and sun, while also keeping weeds at bay. The squash are said to keep raccoons away from the corn and beans, because the raccoons do not like the prickly squash vines on their feet. In my experience, it takes a lot more than a few prickly squash plants to deter raccoons, but the rest of the plan is sound.

The first companion plant that most people discover is the marigold. There are many different kinds, colours, and sizes. Marigolds attract bees, pollinators, and other beneficial insects such as la-

Canadian tech company age is excellent for attracting launches a wellness app pollinators, so plant it next to squash or cucumbers, and it for social media repels tomato hornworm and cabbage moths. Catnip attracts pollinators and parasitic wasps. It also repels aphids and squash bugs. Oregano and Marjoram repels cabbage moths. Radishes grow fast, and are good companions for beans, beets, cucumbers, peas, and tomatoes. Try planting a few radishes around where you are going to plant squash. Let them grow and bloom. Most of the herbs provide some protection in your garden and attract beneficial insects. Most flowers will also attract beneficial insects and pollinators.

Biodiversity is always a goal in our gardens. Learning what plants can be planted together to maximize your space and yield is just another way to appreciate the diversity, and to use each of the plants to its potential. Even if companion planting seems daunting, and honestly, it does to most gardeners I think, just shake things up a bit.

Stick some herbs or flowers between groups of vegetables.

Don’t be afraid of interspersing one thing with another.

dybugs, parasitic wasps, and hoverflies. These beneficial insects attack nasties, such as aphids. Parasitic wasps destroy tomato hornworms by laying their eggs in the body of the hornworm. Marigolds can be a trap crop for some things, such as slugs, and can repel some insects such as squash bugs.

Some plants, although very beneficial in many ways, just don’t do well with other things. Fennel is a good example. It will stunt the growth of some things planted near it, such as bush beans or tomatoes. But, it is a food for the swallowtail butterfly, and it attracts hoverflies, ladybugs, parasitic wasps, and tachnid flies. Those are all beneficial insects, so plant lots of fennel on the edge of your garden, just not right beside your vegetables! Basil goes hand and hand with tomatoes. It improves their flavour, and helps repel tomato hornworm. All beans fix nitrogen in the soil, so plant them with carrots, cucumbers, peas, brassicas, and eggplant. Pole beans and beets stunt each other. Bor-

A new social media wellness app launched by the Canadian tech company Gravvity, has made waves in a crowd-funding campaign, achieving over 80% of their overall goal in just one day. The social app, now available for preorder for iOS and Android devices, raised $600,000 of its $750,000 goal last week, and has currently achieved 84% of its overall goal.

The crowd-funding campaign gives investors the opportunity to contribute to the company's mission and be a part of a social media movement to achieve a healthier social media experience.

The structure of the app is unique in the sense that for every ad that a user sees in their feed, Gravvity shares 50% of the ad profits with the user. With Gravvity, users are finally able to benefit from the value of their data and attention, and be rewarded for seeing ads they're interested in.

The new social media

wellness app was designed by a diverse team during the pandemic who are looking to disrupt the social media landscape.

Gravvity wants to help modern-day social media users enjoy their experience online again, while keeping their mental health as a priority. By eliminating social validation features such as likes, unlimited scroll, ads, and follower counts from users profiles, users experience social media for its intended purpose, to engage with content and make genuine connections. The app's waitlist that launched earlier this year currently has over 20,000 people from over 25 countries.

Send in your letters, stories, events to editor@ ndtimes.ca

No service call fee for broken down A/C – guaranteed

Baldwin's Birds A/C Tune-up with guarantee $15 monthly plus tax

Has Winter Gone Yet? April departed from us with a rather wet and windy, stinging blow, Ensuring that the first day of May arrived in a cold flourish and a covering of snow!

What a surprise, for us, and many of the birds, who have already come back, to their summer retreat.

How do they cope with the sudden cold, and the harder finding of something to eat?

Hopefully, there are still left showing some of the fresh growing new shoots, On the trees and the plants, which are already established and are not planting new roots.

As well, there are those of us, who, being bird lovers, keep seed in our feeders, And that, probably, includes many of you North Grenville Times readers.

So all is not lost for all of our fine feathered friends, Who struggle on to survive, the strange weather and its wintry trends.

What they cannot find on their own, to make them contented, If we have done our jobs right, then their food supply will be sufficiently supplemented.

Then they can happily carry on with their lives like the rest, And get back to doing what they came here for,- to mate and to nest.

So what is the question that we all the correct answer want to get?

Although, the sun is shining now, has the Winter gone yet!?

John Baldwin May 12, 2021

If you get an A/C tune-up and follow-up with all recommendations by our certified technicians we will guarantee no breakdowns this summer.

If there is a breakdown the service call fee will be waived.

Call or email us today!

888-535-2720

info@atelair.ca www.atelair.ca Williamsburg, ON 5

Jimmie Thom

Second Generation Owner

www.ndtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times

Sustainability -The importance of wetlands

by Joselyn Morley Wetlands are diverse, but generally a wetland is land that has been saturated with water long enough that aquatic plants can grow. They are transitional areas between rivers or lakes, and more arid land of higher elevation.

Some wetlands are permanently covered in water, and some flood only in spring or at times of extreme weather. We have four basic types of wetlands in Ontario. A bog is an area of peat, which is long-decaying plants. They are very acidic, and covered in mosses, with occasional stunted black spruce trees. There are more wetlands in northern Ontario than there are here, although most people are familiar with Mer Bleu Bog east of Ottawa.

A fen is also a wetland that accumulates peat. These are areas where groundwater discharges to the surface.

They are less acidic and soil

has more nutrients. There are grasses, reeds, tamaracks and cedar. Marshes are periodically or permanently flooded, with a variety of marsh vegetation such as cattails, reeds, rushes, and grasses. There is also water plants such as water lilies. They are often found around bigger areas of water like lakes or rivers.

Swamps are wetlands in the woods, where flooding is usually for a portion of the year. They support a variety of coniferous and deciduous trees, including willow, cedar, and dogwood. They are extremely diverse.

Our wetlands are being depleted at an alarming rate. They are some of the most bio-diverse areas of our landscape, yet we do not value "swamp" land. Some areas of Canada have lost over 90% of our wetlands.

Wetlands reduce flooding and drought by regulating moisture. They are sponges that capture and slowly re-

variety of different species: plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, microbes, and mammals. They are many of the most bio-productive places on our planet. As climate change leads to more and more volatile and extreme weather events, we need the moderating and mitigating effects of wetlands all the more, at a time when they are increasingly under attack from development and agriculture. Mitigating climate change requires a multifaceted approach. It is not enough to try to reduce emissions.

There has to be other actions. Nature-based solutions provide one such approach.

Nature-based solutions involve protecting, enhancing, restoring, and sustainably managing ecosystems that can play a role in reducing the effects of climate change.

Nature-based solutions can help alleviate some of the disastrous effects of many extreme climate emergencies.

In Ontario, there are programs for the landowner to encourage protection of wetlands. There is the Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program (CLTIP), which can provide a 100 percent property tax exemption on eligible conservation lands. The Managed Forest Tax Incentive (MFTI) can help to support a landowner in maintaining and managing woodlands, which can include wetlands.

The Land Stewardship and Habitat Restoration Program (LSHRP) can provide up to $20 000 in matching funds to support a project that benefits or maintains a variety of habitat.

lease water throughout the watershed or floodplain. They prevent water runoff and erosion. They reduce the damage done by storm surges. They clean and filter our water to replenish underground aquifers. They sequester carbon, reducing greenhouse gasses, and help protect us from climate change.

Wetlands have been drained by successive generations of Canadians. Draining wetlands has been allowed in order to expand farmland, or increase land for development, but at what cost?

Wetlands are an extremely diverse and complex ecosystem. Once gone, they do not come back. Some wetlands are given special designation as "provincially significant wetland," but the majority of wetlands do not have such a designation, and as such are subjected to draining or filling without consideration of the consequence.

Wetlands host a huge

Ontario hiring 89 new correctional officers The Ontario government is hiring 89 new correctional officers to join the frontlines and help reinforce public safety in communities across the province. As part of Ontario's commitment to invest more than $500 million over five years to transform correctional services, these recent graduates are the second group of recruits to receive compensation from the province while undergoing training to help remove barriers to employment.

"This newest complement of 89 correctional officers, including 11 for our region of Eastern Ontario, will no doubt have a positive impact on the operations in our region," said May 12, 2021

Jim McDonell, MPP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry.

Graduates completed eight-weeks of in-person and virtual training, which included job-specific case studies and scenario-based learning with a focus on de-escalation and communications skills. This approach builds critical thinking, decision-making and problem-solving skills, so graduates are better equipped to quickly respond to real life situations. The program also provides ongoing sensitivity training on Indigenous cultural, anti-Black racism and inmate management techniques.

Correctional officer graduates are being as-

signed to 17 institutions across Ontario near their home regions to help ensure they reflect the communities they serve: 11 graduates will support the Eastern Region at the Central East Correctional Centre, OttawaCarleton Detention Centre and Quinte Detention Centre.

17 will support the Western Region at the Central North Correctional Centre, Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre, Sarnia Jail and Stratford Jail.

17 graduates will work in the Northern Region at the Brockville Jail/St. Lawrence Valley Treatment Centre, Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre, North Bay Jail and

Sudbury Jail.

17 will work in the Toronto Region at Toronto East Detention Centre and Toronto South Detention Centre.

27 will support the Central Region at the Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre, Maplehurst Correctional Complex, Niagara Detention Centre and Vanier Centre for Women.

Send in your letters, stories, events to editor@ ndtimes.ca 6

Grand Opening

Inside Secure monitored building, climate controlled Secured outside storage Please see our wesite at info@ebstorage.com Or phone 613.774-6161 12054 Main Street, Winchester

Celebrating National Physician Appreciation Day Meet Dr. Adam JonesDelcorde

As we celebrate National Physician Appreciation Day, we want to thank WDMH physicians for their expert knowledge and ongoing commitment to the patients we serve. Our doctors are leaders at WDMH and in local communities - particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is hard to pick just one, but today we are shining a light on Dr. Adam Jones-Delcorde. He has worked as an attending physician at WDMH since 2018, and brings special expertise to the Emergency Department.

Dr. Jones-Delcorde's is a former City of Ottawa lifeguard and says his time on the pool deck helped shape his medical career. "It was my first experience helping sick and injured people. I pursued medicine because I wanted to continue to help people. Work in the ER requires a lot of quick thinking, and life-guarding taught me how to stay calm and focused under pressure."

After completing his medical degree, as well as residencies in family medicine and emergency medicine, Dr. Jones-Delcorde did a year-long fellowship in point-of-care ultrasound.

He says he chose WDMH for three reasons.

"I like the rural community hospital feel. It's quite different from larger, city hospitals. I also like the role that family physicians play at WDMH, and I wanted that type of experience.

And I love the teaching that happens at WDMH. It elevates everyone's quality of care and keeps us on our toes."

In the Emergency Department, the recent arrival of a new ultrasound machine takes Dr. JonesDelcorde's skills to a new level. "It's the best I've seen - a Cadillac," he says.

"It produces images that are much clearer and more detailed, resulting in faster diagnosis. For example, when a patient in the ER is critically ill, we can see the cause such as a collapsed lung or a ruptured aortic aneurysm. Or I can use the machine to find gallstones, kidney stones, or blood clots. From there, our colleagues in radiology and cardiology can do further investigation."

Dr. Jones-Delcorde is just one of the many skilled physicians working in the WDMH Emergency Department. "We have an amazing team with a lot of expertise," he sums up.

"If you are ill and need help, we are here. Stringent precautions are in place to keep everyone safe."

If you would like to provide comments or suggestions about hospital services, please contact Cholly Boland, President and CEO, Winchester District Memorial Hospital at 613-774-1049 or by email at cboland@wdmh.on.ca.

www.ndtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times

Welcome to May Makers Month!

E S OR Y ST RDA M RM TU 2 P FA N SA M E A OP 10

Wool dryer balls, beeswax wraps, honey, goat’s milk soap, and many locally produced products!

@louckspastures www.louckspastures.com

Loucks Pastures is a small farm on the outskirts of Chesterville, Ontario, run by the Baynham family. We produce pastured meats and eggs, handmade wool dryer balls, beeswax wraps and our own goat’s milk soap. All of our animals are free-range, out on pasture as much as possible, and are raised without the use of unnecessary antibiotics and never any growth hormones. Our goal is to produce and offer our community and neighbours high-quality, local and affordable products from healthy and happy animals.

With that goal in mind, we have recently expanded from selling farm-gate and online to opening an on-site farm store. Here you can purchase our handmade items, meats and many, many more locally produced food items and crafts. Our store is open Saturday’s from 10 am-2pm and is located at 13683 Loucks Road, just North of Chesterville. Our website www.LoucksPastures.com is open 24/7 for online orders.

Dawna Marquette Jewelry Handcrafted sterling silver jewelry, proudly made in Winchester, Ontario www.dawnamarquette.com info@dawnamarquette.com

How it all started

gilmer clayworks to shop online

www.gilmer-clayworks.square.site

10% off all in-stock items picked up at the shop.

Curbside pickup by appointment.

10104 Nation River Rd. South Mountain

Our vision started small but has grown ten-fold. Back in 2013, we were expecting our first child and wanted a more affordable way to feed our little family high-quality meat and eggs.

As a result, on only two acres, we purchased our first ewe sheep, two lambs and six laying hens. Now, only seven years later, we have expanded to a larger homestead with twenty plus breeding ewes, fifty laying hens, beehives and a handful of goats and guinea fowl.

We recently built a brand-new barn to house all the critters, projects and the farm store.

Even though we are a small, family-run farm, we work hard to grow, raise and cultivate top-of-the-line food and handcrafted items for you and your family.

We hope to continue to grow as farmers, producers and neigh-

bours, to help serve our community better!

Chair Todd Lalonde elected OCSTA Regional Director

Trustees from the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario attended the 91st Annual Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association (OCSTA) Annual General Meeting, which was held virtually on Saturday, May 1.

Attended by delegates from across the province, the event provides a forum for the election of regional representatives to the provincial board, and to acknowledge and honour the service and commitment of Ontario's Catholic school trustees.

At the meeting, Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario Chair Todd Lalonde was elected to a fourth term as the OCSTA Regional Director for Region 10, which includes the CDSBEO, the Algonquin and Lakeshore CDSB, and the Renfrew County CDSB. Chair Lalonde will serve in this position for a two-year term.

"I have served in the role of Region 10 Director on the OCSTA Board of Directors for three consecutive terms, and I look forward to servMay 12, 2021

ing for a fourth term. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to represent trustees and students across Eastern Ontario, and I am extremely grateful for the support that has been provided to me.

Being part of the OCSTA team has been an enriching opportunity, and I graciously look forward to continuing to serve in this role."

Chair Lalonde is currently serving his fifteenth year as Catholic School Board Trustee with the CDSBEO. “I am pleased to acknowledge with gratitude all the candidates who stepped forward to serve the mission of Catholic education at the provincial level as an OCSTA Regional Director. The newly acclaimed and elected trustees take on a responsibility to serve the best interests of students and the priorities of Ontario's publicly funded Catholic schools. We welcome their commitment and support for the important work we do as part of Ontario's successful education system," said OCSTA President Patrick Daly.

Established 91 years ago to unify and advocate on behalf of Catholic families and all supporters of Catholic education, OCSTA continues to fulfill its mandate to promote and protect Catholic education.

65 Main St., Morewood www.smirlholmfarmshoney.ca

613.371.0962

The Butterflyway Project has two local Ambassadors businesses, municipalities, and others to create small pollinator patches, which will help build a pathway for pollinators such as insects, bees, butterflies, bats, and hummingbirds. They also encourage working together to replace vital habitat lost through urban development, clearcutting, roadside cutting, herbicides, and climate change.

The Ambassadors wrote a letter to Mayor and Council asking that the township help create a Township Pollinator Patch in North Dundas. They explain that a pollinator patch can be any size or dimension, un-bordered or within a container (such as an old canoe, water trough, or wheelbarrow), with at least 50% native plants. They included a list of native flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees that are native to SDG within their letter. They are making Butterflyway signage available for a small fee to participants to help identify Butterflyway pollinator patches. Signage will help raise awareness about the initiative.

They also ask that the Mayor and Council challenge ten businesses within the township to create pollinator patches of their own, and to let residents of North Dundas know about this project, and share the fact that North Dundas is participating.

At the end of the summer, the Ambassadors will be preparing a detailed report for

by Joselyn Morley The Butterflyway Project is a volunteer-led movement that is taking concrete action to encourage the inclusion of butterfly-friendly plants throughout Canada. It is an initiative of the David Suzuki Foundation. Started in five Canadian cities in 2017, Butterflyway Rangers were recruited to plant native wildflowers in yards, schools, parks, and along roadways, with the goal to establish Butterflyways by planting at least a dozen pollinator-friendly plant patches in each of the communities.

Since 2017, the Butterflyway Project has recruited and trained more than 1000 Butterflyway Rangers hailing from over 100 communities.

Their goal is to connect with neighbours, schools, city agencies, businesses, and community groups. So far, these Butterflyway Rangers have helped plant 54,000 butterfly-friendly wildflowers, create over 1000 pollinator patches, and establish official Butterflyways in 15 communities.

This year, Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry has two Butterflyway Rangers!

Christina Enright of Williamsburg, and Carole Fiddler of Ingleside, have been selected by the David Suzuki Foundation to lead the 2021 Butterflyway Project in SDG. Their volunteer role consists of recruiting individuals, 7

the David Suzuki Foundation, including the number of active Butterflyway Project participants in SD&G in 2021, the number and location of pollinator patches added, and the number and varieties of plants, flowers, bushes, and trees planted.

The letter regarding the Butterflyway Project of SDG from the Ambassadors of the project, Christina Enright and Carole Fiddler, to the Mayor and Councilors of North Dundas, was accepted without discussion, to be received and filed, as part of the Consent MAY 31 AUTOMOTIVE

Agenda at the regular Council meeting of the Township on April 27. Prior to passing the Consent Agenda regarding the Butterflyway Project, Mayor Fraser said: "I am looking forward to council supporting the project when it comes forward. It's a project that again...[is] about pollinators and roadside beautification...protecting and ensuring that trees are looked after... that we continue doing the best we can with that. I'm sure we will have more discussion on the butterfly project in the near future."

MAY 31 JUNE 7 - JULY 30 CONSTRUCTION COOKING & CATERING

FREE TRAINING & JOBS 613.932.0210 EASTERN ONTARIO TRAINING BOARD

JUNE 28 - JULY 30 MANUFACTURING

JULY 5 DZ TRAINING

AUGUST 9 - 20 RETAIL

www.ndtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times

North Dundas Council Meeting-

Maintaining support for roadside tree plant program

by Joselyn Morley The North Dundas Council held its regular meeting on April 27. The meeting was held virtually and broadcast over Facebook to adhere to pandemic protocol.

Tim Simpson and Ben de Haan from the United Counties Stormont, Dundas, Glengary (SDG) presented an update of County business to the North Dundas Council.

Based on population, North Dundas' Proportion of Taxable Assessment for 2021 stands at 19.2%, up from 19.1%. Tara Kirkpatrick was recently hired as the new Manager of Economic Development for SDG, and Peter Young as a new Director of Planning.

SDG allocated $250K in grant money for 2021 towards the Regional Incentives Program, for July 2021. This program has seen $600K invested in local business since 2018. SDG has identified six priorities for the next 2 to 3 years, including: continued advocacy in areas such as broadband access, and natural gas expansion; enhancing

available digital tools such as social media; enhancing Regional Incentives Program; regional investment growth; strengthening the SDG Brand (Where Ontario Began); and attracting and investing in small business and producers, such as remote workers.

SDG's big project for this year on North Dundas' roadways is County Road 13 west of Morewood, costing almost $1.4 million. Ben De Haan emphasized that the quality of the work that SDG is getting is much better now than in the past. This 6.5 kms is the second biggest length that SDG is paving this year, and they are employing an asphalt paving recycling project, whereby the asphalt is chewed up, an emulsion is added, and the amalgam becomes new asphalt to create a strong base, which is then capped with new asphalt.

SDG will replace a drain at the same time, which is a $200K project.

The other major SDG project in North Dundas this year is the CP Overpass on SDG 31, which will cost approximately $1.45 million.

that trees are a concern for many, and so is ensuring that the trees remain. He is looking forward to discussing the roadside tree planting program at both the North Dundas Council level, and the United Counties SDG Council (Deputy Mayor Armstrong, and Mayor Fraser both represent North Dundas at the United Counties SDG Council).

The Council resolved to

SDG is also doing culvert work in preparation for the development, Wellings of Winchester. SDG has also undertaken a Regional Waste Management Plan, winter maintenance innovations, investments in patrol yards, CCTV program for storm sewers, repair program for culverts and bridges. SDG is finishing their Natural Heritage Study this year, continuing to work through the Official Plan Appeal alongside North Dundas' own Plan Appeal, undertaking a growth and population study to look at how they can expand urban areas to consider the 20 year growth horizon within the SDG. SDG maintains a roadside tree planting program to reduce drifting snow in the winter, alongside managing and acquiring forest areas. In thanking Ben de Haan for his presentation, Mayor Fraser specifically mentioned the roadside tree planting program, saying that he "wants us in North Dundas to be proactive," and that "supporting roadside tree planting is very important." He stated

May 12, 2021

tective measures they have taken. They will also be asked to give finger prick blood samples to establish whether they have had COVID-19 and how well they respond to vaccines. They will be told their test results. Participation is anonymous and no personal information will be shared outside the study.

"Finger prick blood tests are easy to do and an important part of our study," explains Dr. Brenda Coleman, PhD, researcher at Sinai Health System and assistant professor at the University of Toronto. "They allow us to determine how many participants have already been exposed to the virus, how many become exposed during the study, and how well and for how long antibodies last after vaccination."

"The pandemic has also imposed enormous stress on school personnel. Examples include feeling anxiety about the potential risk of SARSCoV-2 infection, being responsible for ensuring compliance with infection control measures, and experiencing the disruption that the pandemic has had on their work and their workplace," explains Dr. Robert Maunder, Head of Psychiatric Research at Sinai

Lion's Club both provided letters in support. The Site Plan Control Agreement between Sevita International and the Township was accepted, as the required work shared by the Township and Sevita to improve Sandy Row has been undertaken.

Annual Reports from both the Chesterville and District Historical Society, and the Dundas County Archives, were accepted by Council.

Mayors, Reeves, Wardens call on Federal and Provincial Governments for support

Ontario COVID-19 Study seeks input from Teachers and Education Workers The study asks what are the effects of the pandemic on teachers' and education workers' health?

As Ontario experiences a third wave of COVID-19, teachers and education workers are, once again, at the front lines of this pandemic.

The Government of Canada, through the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, is supporting a study to explore how Ontario's teachers and education workers are being impacted by COVID -19. This study is being led by researchers from Sinai Health System and the University of Toronto.

It will help inform decisionmaking around prevention strategies in elementary and secondary schools across Canada and the world. The study will also help evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines in this group of essential workers who will continue to be exposed to unvaccinated children. Finally, the study will evaluate the effects of the pandemic on education workers' stress levels.

The Ontario study aims to enroll 7,000 education workers and will follow participants for 12 months.

Participants will complete questionnaires about the risks they have faced and the pro-

re-name the park in South Mountain to the Rick Cauvier Memorial Park, and that signage will reflect this change. Rick Cauvier owned and operated Rick's Gas Bar in South Mountain for many years. Rick passed away last year. His wife Sherry Mowat has requested that the park in South Mountain be renamed.

Mountain Township Agricultural Society and the Mountain Township and District

Health and professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.

"To provide a full picture of the impact of COVID-19 on our education workers, we need participants from across the province, including those working in small rural schools as well as large urban ones," says Dr. Allison McGeer, senior scientist at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, infectious disease physician at Sinai Health System, and professor at the University of Toronto.

"We have over 2000 people taking part in the study now and hope to have the other 5000 by the end of May so we can provide preliminary results before schools open again in September", she adds.

Everyone working in Ontario's public and private elementary and secondary schools, including both teachers and all other education workers (e.g., consultants, teaching assistants, administrative staff, early childhood education workers, bus drivers, janitors, and principals) are welcome to join the study.

To find out more, visit http:// www.tibdn.ca/covid-19/education 8

Representatives from 59 Councils from across eastern Ontario gathered for a virtual meeting and voiced overwhelming support for the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) Gig Project, which aims to connect homes and businesses across the region with ultra-fast internet speeds.

These municipal leaders are joining the Chairs of EORN, the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) and the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus (EOMC) in urging the federal and provincial governments to fund the region-wide Gig Project.

The project would expand fibre optic lines to homes and businesses to deliver internet speeds up to 1 Gig (1,000 Megabits per second).

EORN has been seeking federal and provincial support for the public-private partnership valued at up to $1.6 billion. It would include investments by the federal and provincial governments, and the private sector.

EORN is requesting $200 million each from the federal and provincial governments.

This is about six per cent of the total funds the governments of Canada and Ontario have committed to broadband expansion. Recent analysis shows rural eastern Ontario accounts for about 30% of all under-served households in Ontario.

The EORN Gig Project offers a comprehensive solution that ensures the region can keep pace with rising demand for connectivity over the long-term. It is critical for the region’s economic recovery from the pandemic and will support future economic growth and improved quality of life.

Debbie Robinson, Chari of EOWC, and Warden of Renfrew County stated that there is an essential need for this investment. “The assembled heads of Council

were loud and clear in saying they will urge both the federal and provincial governments to commit to funding this essential broadband project.

This is what the people we represent need and deserve.

The EORN model, which pools resources and planning at a regional scale, is proven to be efficient and effective. It is straightforward for the telecommunications industry and preferred by local governments, which have limited capacity to manage such projects on their own,” she said.

J. Murray Jones, Chair of EORN and Warden of Peterborough County also urges a government response and said, “This level of support is truly remarkable. It was so encouraging to have 59 mayors, reeves and wardens join our virtual meeting on short notice. To then hear their keen interest in supporting the EORN Gig project really speaks to their desire to do something truly gamechanging for our citizens and businesses. We got a huge vote of confidence from them and for that we are extremely grateful.”

Mayor Diane Therrien of the City of Peterborough, and Chair of EOMC, said, “Like my colleagues at the EOWC, the mayors of eastern Ontario’s cities and towns including my city, Peterborough, along with Quinte West, Belleville and Prescott, to name just a few, see the incredible economic and social benefits the Gig Project would bring to our communities. Creating jobs, helping our children learn online, and improving access to healthcare services are benefits that as mayors, we endorse wholeheartedly.”

EORN, is a non-profit created by the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC). It works with governments and community organizations to improve and leverage broadband access to fuel economic

development and growth.

EORN is currently working on a $213 million project, funded by public and private sector partners, to improve and expand cellular services across the region. Building on that project is beginning in 2021.

From 2010 to 2014, EORN helped to improve broadband access to nearly 90 per cent of eastern Ontario through a $175 million public-private partnership.

The network was funded by federal, provincial and municipal governments and private sector service providers. As a result of the project, 423,000 homes and businesses are now able to access services of up to 10 Mbps download. It also spurred more than $100 million in additional private sector investment in the region, over and above their initial commitments.

Since its inception, the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus (EOWC) has worked to support and advocate on behalf of the 750,000 property taxpayers across rural eastern Ontario. The EOWC covers an area of 45,000 square kilometres from Cobourg to the Quebec border, and includes 13 upper-tier and singletier municipalities as well as 90 local municipalities.

All members work together as a team, striving to ensure that conditions are in place to make Eastern Ontario the greatest place in the world to reside and do business.

The Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus (EOMC) is made up of the Mayors of the 11 urban municipalities (separated, single tier) of Eastern Ontario. The committee meets quarterly as a group with the municipal Chief Administrative Officers in attendance, to discuss common issues relevant to municipalities in eastern Ontario. www.ndtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times

Old Age Security increase targets older and decisions related to their and there is no coordinated medical professions) could be seniors' higher risks care," said Joël Rivero, Presi- plan in place by Federal and a difference-maker.

Medical laboratory professionals concerned with ongoing state of laboratories in Canada Submitted by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) is outlining serious concerns about the need for government action to address inadequacies across Canada's medical laboratory network. While many of these challenges were significant issues before the pandemic, COVID-19 has exacerbated the human resources shortages and highlighted the gaps in infrastructure.

"As many Canadians have learned for the first time during COVID-19, Medical Laboratory Technologists and Assistants (MLTs and MLAs) perform a key role in our health care system that directly support patients

dent of the CSMLS Board of Directors. "As demands increase on laboratory testing, and now with the addition of COVID-19, medical laboratory professionals and their labs are facing unprecedented challenges across many parts of Canada."

Prior to COVID-19, Canada's lab professionals were processing over 440 million tests a year in Canada.

The addition of hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 tests daily, as well as the growing number of other tests coupled with an aging population, only continue to increase the annual demands on the laboratory system.

"Over the coming years, about half of all MLTs in Canada will be eligible to retire,

Provincial governments to address this issue," explains Christine Nielsen, CEO of the CSMLS. "Make no mistake; we are seeing these shortages in many regions now, and this will only become more problematic with time. We need to increase clinical placements and domestic training programs immediately, and work to create long-term programs for international, foreign-trained MLTs to join our workforce."

Rural and remote Canada is feeling the impacts of these shortages already more acutely than elsewhere, and many communities have posted jobs that remain unfilled for long periods of time. Incentives to attract new graduates to these regions (as is offered in other

"It's also clear that laboratory infrastructure needs more than a patchwork fix to address ongoing issues. Outdated equipment and confined working conditions are lowering the efficiency of labs and potentially delaying the return of test results," concluded Nielsen. "A dedicated laboratory infrastructure upgrade program would allow labs and lab professionals to overhaul current conditions."

The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science is the national voice and certifying body of Medical Laboratory Technologists and Assistants (MLT/MLAs).

Founded in 1937, CSMLS represents over 14,000 members across Canada.

Long term care residents may begin interacting again Ontario is responding to high levels of COVID-19 vaccination in many longterm care homes by making changes that will help homes safely resume communal dining and social activities.

These changes are expected to improve the residents' quality of life while keeping homes safe. "Our government puts the safety and well-being of long-term care residents at the heart of everything we do," said Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long-Term Care.

Based on advice from public health experts and in direct response to residents and their families, an updated Directive #3 for Long-Term Care Homes from the Chief Medical Officer of Health was released, along with a guidance document for long-term care homes. The updated Directive sets out that long-term care homes can now safely resume activities such as communal dining and indoor events and gatherings, with precautions.

Additionally, residents and their caregivers who are fully immunized may choose to have close physical contact beyond what is required for care and supervision, such as hugging.

Once the current provincewide Stay-at-Home order is lifted, further direction allowing social and temporary outings for fully immunized residents will be issued. Under the new rules, all residents, regardless of their immunization status, May 12, 2021

can leave their homes on an essential absence, which includes outdoor exercise, buying groceries, or visiting the pharmacy, while the Stayat-Home order is in place.

Essential absences are not permitted when a resident is symptomatic, has been identified as a COVID-19 case or a contact, or as directed by local public health. Homes must provide residents with a medical mask for outings and remind them to maintain appropriate physical distancing and hand hygiene while away from the home.

The province continues to actively monitor COVID-19 activity, particularly in this vulnerable sector, and ensure that the health and safety of residents and staff in this sector remains a top priority.

QUICK FACTS The guidance document identifies extra precautions should be taken to support activities in homes that do not meet a threshold of 85 per cent of residents and 70 per cent of staff fully immunized.

All Ontarians, including all staff, visitors, and residents in long-term care homes, must continue to practice public health measures including masking, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and staying at home when they are sick.

While COVID-19 immunizations have been demonstrated to be very effective, it is important for Ontarians to not let their guard down during this crucial period in the ongoing

Send in your letters, stories, events to editor@ ndtimes.ca

fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of May 4, 2021, across Ontario, 95 per cent of longterm care residents are fully immunized and more than 85 per cent of staff have received at least their first dose.

A statement from the Family Councils of Ontario and Ontario Association of Residents' Councils indicated they were pleased with the province's response to their recommendations.

"Family Councils of Ontario and the Ontario Association of Residents' Councils have shared with government the concerns, ideas, and recommendations of residents and caregivers throughout the pandemic. The updates to this directive are a result of the government hearing their concerns and acting upon them. We are grateful to longterm care team/staff members, residents and caregivers who have received a vaccine. The door out of this pandemic and the easing of restrictions swings on maximizing vaccine uptake to optimize safety for all. The updates to Directive #3 are welcomed next steps recognizing outings, absences, connection to community and loved ones, and other social activities are critical to the wellbeing of residents and families."

by Deb Schulte, Canada's Minister of Seniors Budget 2021 has helped to strengthen the financial security of Canadians later in life.

It announced two important measures. In August 2021, the government will issue a one-time $500 payment directly to seniors aged 75+ as of June 2022.

Then in July 2022, there will be a permanent increase to the Old Age Security pension by 10 per cent for seniors aged 75+. That's worth $766 over the first year to pensioners receiving the full benefit and helps 3.3 million seniors.

This measure is targeted for older seniors who are more financially challenged and who are worried about outliving their savings.

As they age, seniors face more health issues. Their healthcare expenses rise due to illness or disability: on average, out-of-pocket health expenses of those aged 80+ are over $700 a year higher than those aged 65-74. At the same time, most older seniors can no longer supplement their income with paid work.

Few seniors work beyond age 75, and those that do have median earnings of only $720 a year.

The passing of spouses adds to the pressure. Among seniors, almost twice as many over age 75 are widows. And with women, on average living longer than men, it's no wonder many senior women slip into poverty after the hardship of losing their life partners.

To help secure older seniors' finances, the government of Canada is making the first permanent increase to Old Age Security since 1973, other than adjustments due to inflation.

For the youngest seniors, the age of eligibility for OAS is moved back to age 65. It was increased to age 67, under the government of Prime Minister Harper. Canada Pension Plan revisions have been made for future retirees, increasing the Guaranteed Income Supplement for single seniors.

The latest data shows that 11% fewer seniors live in poverty than in 2015.

How to kick start your enthusiasm

by Daren Givoque I want to talk to you about enthusiasm.

In today's world, with everything going on with COVID-19, so many people are at home in their pajama pants worrying about things they can't control. Especially in these strange times when so many of us are working remotely, it is easy to get into a comfortable routine that doesn't excite you but gets you through your day in one piece. You start counting down the days until Friday, and dreaming longingly about retirement. You are essentially wishing your life away.

I think this is a problem.

Especially for entrepreneurs and businesspeople. Enthusiasm about life and what you do is what fuels creativity and in turn your business. When you wake up every day with enthusiasm for what you are going to accomplish, it drives you towards success both personally and professionally.

I know, I know. This is easier said than done. It's not as simple as just jumping out of bed every morning and deciding you are going to be excited about the day to come.

However, it is something you can cultivate if you work at it.

9

Here are my top three tips for finding your enthusiasm so you can fuel your creativity and find success in business and life.

Have a game plan Start by identifying where your enthusiasm comes from.

What are you passionate about and what do you want to get out of your days? Write a list of short and long term goals that you want to accomplish. I love sticky notes because you can post them anywhere; on your bathroom mirror, notebook or even your lunchbox. Anywhere that you will be able to see them on a regular a basis, so they remain front and centre in your mind throughout your day. Nothing creates enthusiasm more than when you can cross one of your goals off your list.

Talk to people Once you have identified your goals, make sure you share them with as many people as you can. Externalizing your goals by talking to other people about them will help them become more real and will fuel your drive towards accomplishing them. Whether it be your partner, family, friends or colleagues, having people share their insight and give you encouragement can

do wonders for building your own enthusiasm for realizing your goals.

Focus on your strengths No one enjoys or is good at every aspect of their job. As an entrepreneur or businessperson, it is important for you to focus on your strengths and acknowledge your weaknesses. If you can, delegate your weaknesses to someone who can do the tasks better than you. If that's not a possibility, be creative. Maybe you don't enjoy making cold calls. Can you send well-written and engaging emails instead? Don't get bogged down by the parts of your job you don't like as much. There are always ways to accomplish your goals while using your strengths and delegating or working around your weaknesses.

If you are finding yourself in a rut right now, don't be afraid to shake things up to find your enthusiasm again.

It may be a bit challenging in today's work environment, but it is possible to create that fire in your belly that will have you looking forward to your days, and excited about your life!

www.ndtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times

CROSSWORD

Diary of a Pandemic Parent...Day 5004

by Hayley Bedford Parenting has to be the most wonderful, difficult, hilarious and challenging job on the planet.

Ensuring our small humans thrive and survive is paramount to everything.

BUT, being in the same house as said small humans for a hyper extended period of time has, occasionally, made me question a couple of life decisions we made as husband and wife a few years ago.

For example; 6.30 am: "Mom can I have some of the cake we made?"

Me -"Erm? Sure! We'll call it Breakfast Cake," and so, Cake for breakfast is now a thing.

Is anyone else finding themselves at the point of almost anything is acceptable, as long as it keeps the kids happy and stops them from hitting each other in the face? Another one of these LCQO's (life choice questioning occasion) followed shortly after with this joyous exchange …

7.30 am: 4 year old - "Mom I'm hungry, can I have some chewing gum?"

Me- "No darling, you shouldn't really be having chewing gum, let alone at 7.30 am" 7.45 am: 4 year old - 'Mom, now can I have some chewing gum?

Me -"No." 7.48 am: 4 year old - "NOWWW, can I have some chewing gum?"

Me - "No." 7.50 am: 6 year old - "Mom, my sister said you won't let her have any chewing gum?"

Me - "That's right, it's too early!"

7.53 am: 4 year old - "Mommy, I waaant some chewing gum!

Me - (silent stare of death towards child) 7.58 am: 4 year old - "Pleassssse can I have some chewing gum?"

Me - "Oh for Pete's sake, fine! Have a piece! Yes, take one for your brother too! Now just watch TV for half an hour while Mommy does the washing up, there's a good girl."

8.02 am: 4 year old - "Mommmmmm, can I play on your phone?"

Me - (Eye roll at the sink) And so starts another day with a pre 8.30 am shout at kids /giving in to kids/ parenting fail. But, Hey ho! The day will improve. The kids are happy and healthy (minus the cake and chewing gum) and there is always wine (for me, not the kids) …. WE SHALL OVERCOME! I hope this makes you chuckle and as they say in my native England, "Keep Calm & Carry On."

Community Food Share advocates for support to Playhouse campaign Community Food Share, commonly referred to as the Food Bank, is usually asking for the public's assistance by donating money or food to help feed the hungry in our communities.

Now the tables are turned. One of the Community Food Share's supporters needs some help, and the organization is asking its donors to consider helping Upper Canada Playhouse in their "get on with the show" fundraising campaign.

Over the years, the Playhouse has offered their venue for community events and have held food drives for Community Food Share. In fact, artistic director Donnie Bowes has been a dedicated volunteer at our Morrisburg location for close to ten years.

The Playhouse has been dark for well over a year and with little or no government funding, they are hurting financially. It's up to our community to help. Community Food Share is asking its supporters to consider making a donation so that this vital part of South Dundas can continue to provide world-class entertainment when life is allowed to return to "normal".

Please click on the Playhouse link: www.uppercanadaplayhouse.com to view their video & donation information. Or call 613-543-3713/1-877-550-3650 to support the campaign

ACROSS 1. Crack 6. Fail to win 10. Bog 14. Burdened 15. Hotels 16. 1 1 1 1 17. Ancient Greek marketplace 18. 2 2 2 2 19. Central points 20. Bleed 22. Urine component 23. Lascivious look 24. To wit 26. Coral barrier 30. Terminate 31. French for "Summer" 32. Egg-shaped 33. Sleeveless garment 35. Beginning 39. As well

41. Ecstasy 43. Vestibule 44. Fraud 46. Dogfish 47. Faucet 49. Card with one symbol 50. Misplaced 51. Dependable 54. Canvas dwelling 56. Droop 57. Excessively dramatic 63. Decorative case 64. Parsley or sage 65. Idolize 66. Countertenor 67. By mouth 68. Killed 69. Adolescent 70. Not a single one 71. Sextuplet

DOWN 1. Ho-hum 2. Anger 3. Anagram of "Dome" 4. Relating to aircraft 5. Archaic form of Gnarl 6. Suppleness 7. Forward 8. Kiss 9. Ancient ascetic 10. Significant 11. Accustom 12. Renegade 13. An analytic literary composition 21. Female ruff 25. At the peak of 26. Gown 27. Not odd 28. Where the sun rises 29. Dalliance 34. Trackable 36. Japanese wrestling 37. Twin sister of Ares 38. Nipple 40. Twosome 42. Cattail 45. Scottish Highland robber 48. Boa 51. Perspiration 52. Name of a book 53. Wash out with a solvent 55. Garbage 58. Protagonist 59. Doing nothing 60. Cajole 61. Operatic solo 62. Extend credit

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

Easy

Medium

Hard

Solution to last week’s Crossword

New online gardening group for youth There is a new gardening club in Dundas called “Here We Grow”. It has started meeting virtually in time for growing season. They are beginning with the basics of gardening. Members have been offering advice and tips about what to plant and how to plant it. They are also discussing the benefits of composting, different flowers and vegetables.

The club holds its meetings over Zoom. The club leaders are Melissa Dow and Heather McDiarmid. There are 9 members in the club aged 9-15. You can become a part of the club by signing up online at 4Hontario.ca under Dundas 4h club.

SERVICES email classifieds@ndtimes.ca HANDYMAN RETIRED CARPENTER Renovations, kitchens, SERVICES bathrooms, additions, Painting, Demolition, decks, home repair.

Drywall, Call George at Carpentry, etc 613 462 7637 Bill at 613-774-2922 May 12, 2021

email classifieds@ ngtimes.ca for pricing 10

www.ndtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times

May 8 to 15 is Woodlands Appreciation Week

The Ontario Woodlot Association: Connecting people in support of good stewardship What does the Ontario Woodlot Association (OWA) stand for? Healthy, productive woodlots, sustainable management of Ontario's forests, and a united provincial voice for woodland owners.

This grassroots organization brings together people who appreciate the value of our forests and the opportunity to learn and share ideas about good forestry.

OWA member, Neil Dunning says, "Being part of the

Ontario Woodlot Association has given me a whole new avenue of learning as I rub shoulders with amazing members, many of whom have decades and even centuries of family experience in the forest."

The OWA has an active network of 20 regional chapters spanning rural and urban communities. Members have access to expertise, research on forest health, and best management practices.

Chapter events can include sustainable forestry, wildlife habitat, conservation, foraging, recreation, forest prod-

Winchester Lions Line

by Bob Porteous When an airplane “stalls”, it doesn’t mean that the engine has stopped running. Stalling an airplane means slowing down to a point where the flow of air over the wings no longer provides sufficient lift to support the weight. As a result, the plane noses over and starts to fall.

It is the same with a service club. If a club slows down to the point where the flow of work and the interest in what the club does deteriorates, the club will start to fall. Just like too much work, too little work can cause a club to fade and struggle to continue to exist. This COVID-19 thing is very difficult on Service Clubs, and we here in Winchester are no different.

We miss our two meetings per month where the requests for donations, the problems of the community, the needs of individuals, the ideas of members, the reports on completed actions and the

many other things that would or could be raised and pondered over. These meetings are the life line of a service club, otherwise interest wanes and members slip quietly into the night.

The past few years, as times have changed, we have found it increasingly difficult to attract new members. Frequently, prospective members say they don’t want to attend meetings, they don’t want to be formal members, but they will help out if we ask them. Normally, if we have a prospective member, we encourage them to attend two or three meetings before making up their mind or whether they wish to become a LION. By attending our meetings, they get the chance to see and hear about the things that we are doing, they have the opportunity to ask questions, and develop an understanding of the organization of Lions International in Canada and the USA. There are many advantages to being a service club

uct industry, environmental stewardship, and woodlot activities for kids.

Private landowners play a key role in preserving Ontario's sustainably managed forests. Helping woodland owners succeed with their valuable stewardship goals is a leading priority of the OWA. May 8 to 15 is Woodlands Appreciation Week; an excellent opportunity to get out and explore our woodlands, while keeping current covid safety regulations in mind. The OWA encourages families to savour the experience of the forest and to celebrate good

stewardship of this essential natural resource.

To help enhance this experience, the OWA has set up three fun activities on each of the five weekdays during Woodlands Appreciation Week, that allow everyone to experience the woods using their five senses, by delving into a "sense of the day." A full list of these activities is posted at https://www.ontariowoodlot.com/events. For more information, including how to become a member of the Ontario Woodlot Association, please visit www. ontariowoodlot.com.

member. You will be expected to participate in the decisions of the Club by expressing your opinion. You will be given the opportunity in planning, participating in, and probably, leading initiatives at some point. Granted that this sounds like work and who needs work?

But, you will also benefit.

You will lose your aversion to standing up in front of people to express you opinion or explain your ideas. You will learn how to keep track of expenses, income and budgeting, and that has never hurt anyone. It is this writer’s opinion that the rewards to the individual can serve the individual in many other aspects of their life. And besides, they’ll have something to be proud of.

We wish to welcome Elva Patterson Rutters to our “fellowship”. Elva is joining us, and if she likes us and what we do,we will induct her into the the Lions Club of Winchester, Inc. when we can have a regular meeting

with everyone in attendance.

Elva has been a volunteer at our Thrift Store for some time now, so she knows of some of the good work that Lions do for our community. Welcome Elva, we hope to have you as a full flegded Lions member in the near future.

We wish to congratulate each new Club Officer.

President: Lion Tammy Cinnamon 1st Vice Present: Lion Rob Sadler Secretary; Lion Doris Baker Treasurer: Lion Shawn Doolan Past President: Lion Guy Belliveau Two Year Director: Lion Suzanne Belliveau Two Year Director: Lion Doug Padbury One Year Director: Lion Marlane Fraser One Year Director: Lion John Cinnamon

May 12, 2021

among students and the community. During the rest of the school year, we plan to have environmental challenges for students to participate in, so stay tuned! We hope this will encourage students to be mindful of climate change's effects on our lives, learn about what we can do, and get outside to appreciate nature.

If any students are interested in participating in climate action within the school, potentially getting involved with a team or club next year, please contact Jamie Wilson or Taryn Cooper, or send a message on the Student Council Instagram.

Loralee Carruthers Move in Ready! This Beautiful 2 storey home has beautifully update kitchen with granite countertops, dining area with patio door to the deck/pool area, main floor laundry/ powder room, Gorgeous living room with Gas fireplace and French doors to the foyer, ceramic and hardwood flooring throughout $775,000

HEAPHYS CLEANING SERVICE

Off (613) 918-0321 C. (613) 407-8869 loralee.carruthers

@century21.ca

ALL NATURAL PRODUCTS

WEEKLY, BI-WEEKLY AND MONTHLY CLEANS AVAILABLE 3 Bedrooms: Dusting baseboards, window sills, surfaces; vacuum floors 2 Bathrooms: Shower/bathtub combo, toilet, sink, mirror, countertop, front of vanity, window sills, light switches and mop floors Kitchen: Cupboards, stove top, counters, sink, window sills, front of appliances wiped and polished, and floors mopped Living room: Dusting, baseboards, vacuuming and mopping Dining room: Dusting baseboards, surfaces, vacuuming and mopping Entryway: Dusting, baseboards, vaccuming and mopping $105 + HST *Add-ons available

613.206.7279

heaphyscleaningservice@gmail.com

Hayley Bedford

Marketing Consultant

Phone: 343-777-2702 Email: hayley@ndtimes.ca www.ndtimes.ca

The Voice of Our Community

The Food Corner

Students at North Dundas are getting environmentally active

by Jamie Wilson Last week, Taryn Cooper and I along with our staff supporter, Mrs. Durant, attended the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Youth Climate Summit. It was a two-day virtual event filled with engaging guest speakers and a presentation on creating a climate action plan for your school. We discussed everything from Climate 101 to the effect of climate change on Canada's north. We are very excited to bring our new knowledge back to the school, continue improving the school's ecological footprint, and increase awareness of climate issues

546 Henderson Cres, Winchester

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville I am a fan of strong tasting cheese (and they often have a strong smell to boot). At one time, our family got to enjoy blue cheese while visiting the South of France. So, this week's recipe uses blue cheese to create a kind of appetizer biscuit. So here we go with Blue Cheese and Waltnut wafers.

Blue Cheese and Walnut Wafers Ingredients ¼ pound of Blue Cheese at room temperature 9 tablespoons of butter also at room temperature 1 ½ cup of all-purpose flour ½ cup walnuts, finely chopped Preparation 1. Combine the cheese, butter and flour and form into a ball.

2. Stir in a third of a cup of walnut pieces 3. Divide in half and make a roll an inch in diameter.

4. Chill until firm.

5. Cut into ¼ inch slices and top with additional walnut pieces.

6. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet until golden, about 12-15 minutes at 350F. As mentioned in previous recipes, if you have a "bubble" of folks over, just double or triple the recipe. By the way, you might try these with a dab of hummus or tzatziki. Yummy!

Please note that there was an omission in our Nova Scotia Brown Bread Recipe. Please add 4 to 5 cups of all-purpose flour to the ingredients list (my bad and thanks to readers for setting me straight…). If you prefer, just mail me and I will send you the complete recipe. My mail, as always, is pcormier@ranaprocess.com. See you next week…

This week is National Nursing Week. Nurses have a critical role in patients' healthcare journeys. The pandemic has brought to light how much these people do for our communities. Since the beginning, they have been on the frontline, working long hours to combat the virus and care for those suffering from it. We want to thank all the nurses, especially those in our community and at the Winchester District Memorial Hospital, for all they do. We would not be able to fight this virus without their hard work and dedication.

11

www.ndtimes.ca

The North Dundas Times

School Board urging self care COLLISION CENTER Phil Carkner, Owner

613.774.2733

www.dscollision.com

admin@dscollisioncenter.com 12029 Dawley Drive, Winchester, ON Certified collision center.

Insurance approved.

Lifetime warranty on repairs.

24 Hour Towing Assitance 1.800.663.9264

It ’s your choice , choose local

The ND Chamber of Commerce will host its AGM on May 26 We want to encourage and support all businesses of North Dundas to dust themselves off, stand up and carry on through the global pandemic and beyond. It is the hope of the North Dundas Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors that we regenerate the spirits of those that are the backbone of the local economy, our SME owners. Regeneration goes beyond resilience or sustainability. Our goal is to continue to support and execute win-win-win solutions and collaborative networks to serve the business community.

Registration details to follow. Stay Tuned! Save The Date! www.northdundaschamber.com

Kids Corner

Get your creative juices flowing!

It's contest time!

The North Dundas Times wants your drawing for our daily weather repost on Facebook!

Email your drawings to: production@ndtimes.ca and we will post them on facebook. Best weather drawing will win a gift from a local business of their choice!

Contest will run until the end of June

District School Board.

As staff, students and families continue to navigate through the pandemic, Inglis reminds us that pandemic fatigue brings with it a lot of uncomfortable or difficult emotions for many people.

"Understandably so, difficult emotions may be expected or reasonable given the circumstances, but they are still draining. This is why it's important to understand how to be kind to ourselves and make wellness a priority," she says.

Establishing or maintaining self-care practices will help to weather difficult or uncomfortable emotions and protect overall well-being.

Whether it's happy, sad, anger or surprised, The Upper Canada District School Board is exploring more ways to #GetReal. The campaign was launched in recognition of Canadian Mental Health Week which is celebrated the first week of May. The theme is focused on mental health awareness.

"Recognizing what influences our emotions, discovering how our emotions affect the way we think or act, and what to do when our emotional responses overwhelm us, are things we teach in our schools every day," says Dr. Alison Inglis, Chief Psychologist with the Upper Canada

Inglis adds that while selfcare is important, it's vital to know and accept it's okay to feel worried, irritable, fearful, or to have less focus some days. These are normal reactions to challenging times.

She adds that it's also okay to reach out for help from community agencies if you're experiencing significant distress for long periods that interferes with your ability to function. Everyone needs a little help from time to time, so reach out if you need to.

We offer information about mental health and community supports, online and through social media," says Inglis.

"You can also reach out to your local school."

Information about student well-being and community supports for UCDSB families can be found on the UCDSB website and in our Mental Health & Wellness Virtual Library.

Learn more about mental health from the Canadian Mental Health Association, Children's Mental Health Ontario, and School Mental Health Ontario websites.

Children and youth can also visit the Kids Help Phone.

A Tree Planting record of 230,000 trees this Spring

Find 5 differences

May 12, 2021

With that, she states, each individual defines self-care in different ways and it's important to understand what selfcare means for each person.

"Self-care essentially means doing things that fill your cup, and knowing what empties it. So, self-care for one person may mean going for a run while it may mean coffee and a video call with a friend for another," she explains, adding that listing out your self-care practices is key. "Identifying your selfcare strategies is an effective way to understand what's important to you, it helps you commit, and makes mental health a priority in your life."

Here are some ideas for self-care: Create and maintain a daily routine. Having regular and predictable activities in place helps maintain a sense of normalcy; Get enough sleep each night; Make a meal plan for the week to ensure you eat healthy foods; Identify what exercise you like doing and integrate active movement into your daily routine; and Give yourself a set time to shut down your phone each night.

12

South Nation Conservation (SNC) is helping to plant more than 230,000 native trees and shrubs throughout its watershed jurisdiction this spring.

This will mark the most trees planted by SNC in a year; the previous record dates to 1993 when 193,000 trees were planted by the Conservation Authority, and the average amount of trees typically planted annually by SNC is about 150,000.

Public interest in conserving forest cover, along with people spending more time at home and outdoors during the Pandemic, may have helped contribute to record tree orders.

Tree planting services have been deemed essential and will continue to go ahead as planned this spring with the appropriate health and safety precautions in place.

Tree seedlings are a perishable, agricultural product that need to be planted within a limited season to ensure that the seedlings can survive being lifted from nurseries and planted in their new homes, in idle fields, windrows on

farms, along watercourses and within managed forests to maintain a global supply of forest products.

Most of the Authority's trees will be planted on private properties thanks to subsidies available to property owners to create windbreaks, control erosion, and for small to large reforestation projects.

Through these programs, seedlings can be sourced and planted by SNC for as little as $0.25/conifer or $0.55/ deciduous tree.

Trees will also be planted on public properties, along County Roads, in Larose Forest in Prescott and Russell, and in public natural spaces such as Conservation Areas.

"We couldn't be more excited to plant a record-breaking number of native trees this spring to increase local forest cover, and work on behalf of our member municipalities and residents to deliver essential environmental services throughout the Pandemic," said Caroline Goulet, one of SNC's Foresters.

This spring, SNC will also be distributing 10,000 free tree seedlings to residents

throughout Eastern Ontario thanks to fundraising initiatives and in partnership with member municipalities and the Raisin Region Conservation Authority. Residents who registered for a chance to receive a bundle of free seedlings will be contacted to pick up their trees at a municipal curbside location in May. SNC's record-breaking tree planting season comes on the heels of one of the Conservation Authority's busiest years on record, despite the Pandemic. In 2020, over 140,000 people visited Conservation Areas, and SNC planning staff processed a record number of development files that required environmental reviews to protect people and property from natural hazards and support sustainable development activities.

www.ndtimes.ca