December 1, 2022

Grant will help local effort to house refugees

families to host Ukrainian refugees in Waterloo Region.

MORE HELP FOR UKRAINIAN REFUGEES

is on its way.

The Waterloo Region Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis (WRGR) just received a grant to help support

The grant came from the Fund for Immigrant Economic Wellbeing, an initiative of Immigration Waterloo Region.

WRGR received $32,000 from the fund. The money will be used to offer a

subsidy to families who take in Ukrainian refu gee families, says Steph Goertz, the main contact for the Waterloo Region Grassroots Response. The subsidy they are able to give will be approxi mately $200 to $350 per month, depending on the size of the family being

supported and the finan cial needs of the host.

WRGR is currently look ing for about 15 places for Ukrainian families to live for up to three months.

“Sadly, we are not find ing nearly enough hosts to support all of the families needing our help,” said Goertz.

“It

a heavy heart for all those who do need our help with connecting with hosts that we aren’t able to help.”

The organization is asking hosts to be able to sign up for a minimum of three months, though some hosts state they can

only help for a few days or weeks in emergency or transitional situations.

So far, about 85 fami lies in the region have opened up their homes to Ukrainian guests through WRGR, said Goertz. The Hillside Residence, a former retirement home

Woolwich’s new council made it official Monday night at a swearing-in ceremo ny at the WMC. The new class includes Evan Burgess, Nathan Cadeau, Bonnie Bryant, Sandy Shantz, Kayla Grant and Eric Schwindt. Steve Kannon

Leah Gerber

Observer Staff

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Carol sing at the bridge

The annual carol sing at the West Montrose covered bridge goes Monday (Dec. 5) at 7 p.m. and promises to truly kick off the holiday season. Organized by the BridgeKeepers, the event features some old-fashioned community spirit at the historic bridge. People will be gathering at the north end of the span. Warming refreshments will be served, but dress for the weather.

From the archives

The Ontario Municipal Board this week gave the go-ahead to the Jigs Hollow gravel pit. Board member Mary-Anne Sills rendered her decision just moments after Monday’s hearing in which residents made a last-ditch plea to keep the valley intact. The township signed off on a deal approving the application by Kuntz Topsoil, Sand and Gravel. From the Dec. 1, 2012 edition of The Observer

Municipal review remains something of a mystery to officials

Bill Atwood Observer Staff

OFFICIALS

Act. The province’s intentions remain unknown, with one local expert raising concerns.

“The core part I think that I’m certainly distressed about and that’s the word I would use, is that under this

legislation, the head of council….could have a bylaw passed if more than a third of the members vote in favour of it and not instead of the widely understood and never been challenged before idea that any piece of

action by a council requires a majority vote,” said University of Waterloo political science professor emeritus Robert Williams.

“It’s distressing that somehow a practice that’s hundreds of years

old can just be set aside to meet what are called prescribed provincial priorities,” said Williams.

In September the province passed the Strong Mayors, Building More Homes Act, which gave the mayors of Ottawa → BILL 39 4

and Toronto veto powers to override bylaws that conflict with provincial priorities, including those dealing with housing. Councils can only override the veto if they have a two-thirds majority.

Increased demand for Christmas Goodwill program

Atwood Observer Staff

DUE TO RISING FOOD

PRICES or otherwise, Woolwich Community Services’ Christmas Goodwill program is seeing a high demand this year. The program provides

families in need in Woolwich and north Wellesley with toys and clothing for kids, along with household items and gift cards for either Foodland or Food Basics and will be collecting donations until December 9. Although community

support services coordinator Tina Reed said that it’s hard to tell if inflation is driving up demand, as of Monday WCS has already seen 160 families sign up for the program compared to the 180 total it supported in both 2020 and 2021.

“I think we’ll have over 200 families this year,” Reed said.

Families interested in receiving a hamper are asked to contact WCS at 519-669-5139. Hampers will be available for pickup on December 15. Although there are certain income

thresholds for qualification depending on the number of people in a household, individual circumstances will be taken into account, said Reed.

we like to hope that people will contact us to see if they qualify. Many people think they may not qualify because they’re working, but they might.

“People can call in and we will hear people’s stories to see where they’re

“It’s very difficult for people to ask for help at any time of the year. But → GOODWILL 5

If it matters to you. It matters to us.

Bill

WCS’ Tina Reed with some of the items that will make their way into the Christmas Goodwill hampers. Bill Atwood

On November 16 the ministry announced that it would look to expand the strong mayors provi sion in other municipal ities, including Waterloo Region. The government will name provincial ly-appointed facilita tors who will assess the regional governments in Durham, Halton, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York. If it passes, the legislation would also give the minis ter of Municipal Affairs the authority to appoint the regional chairs in Niagara, Peel and York.

“[The facilitators] will be tasked with deter mining the best mix of roles and responsibilities between the upper and lower-tier municipal ities in those regions, and ensuring they are equipped to deliver on the government’s commit ment to… address the housing supply crisis,” the provincial govern ment said in a release.

While he did express concern over the legisla tion, Williams does not

see changes happening to Waterloo Region anytime soon.

“It’s really more or less looking outward to what might happen in the short-term in Niagara, Peel and York, and what might happen to Waterloo and other places later on,” he said.

As a review of dozens of municipalities already occurred in 2019, Williams said “all we can do is speculate” about why the facilitators will be appointed.

“What’s different in two years time, three years? As far as I know, nothing, except there’s this fixa tion with more housing. And that somehow the idea is that it’s the munic ipalities that are getting in the way of that. There’s been no evidence that it’s the municipalities that are blocking it all,” Williams added.

The 2019 review was overseen by advisors Michael Fenn and former Waterloo Region chair Ken Seiling. It examined 82 upper and lower-tier

municipalities. However the report done by Seil ing and Fen was never released, despite repeated calls, including from Seiling, for the ministry to release it.

“We think it would be helpful to have it released. But that’s the government’s decision to make. I think that a lot of time and effort went into it. I think it was a well researched report and [included] a lot of sugges tions and recommenda tions. However, it’s in the government’s hands and they will have to do with it what they want,” Seiling said in an interview this week.

The study by Seiling and Fenn, who were required to sign non-dis closure agreements, cost a reported $120,000. It remains exempt from public access under cabi net secrecy provisions legislated by the province.

Seiling was undecided if he would join another review if asked again.

“We’ve done it once and told them our opinions

and it’s up to them how they want to proceed. So I guess I just would say I don’t know that we will be asked and I would have to consider at the time what the government was looking for,” he said.

Others like Woolwich Mayor Sandy Shantz question if another review is going to be beneficial to the region and township.

“Our politicians have worked collaboratively, and especially through COVID, that has really solidified that working relationship. I think that it’s not perfect, nothing ever is, but I think as a whole we don’t mind reviewing ourselves and looking at how we can do things better. I don’t think that’s an issue. I think the issue is if we’re going to be dictated to,” Shantz said of her concerns about the prov ince’s intentions.

“If it’s truly looking at efficiencies and how we can do things better, I think we’re all for doing things better and more

efficiently and more cost effectively. That’s not a problem. I think there’s just a fear of coming in and sort of dictating solutions… or creating solutions to the wrong problem,” she said.

Wellesley Mayor Joe Nowak said that it is too early to make a judgment call on the appointment of facilita tor, adding the township has a great relationship with the region. In that, there’s the spectre of amalgamation, which has been discussed on and off for decades now.

“I know that there are obviously some individuals that feel a different setup of a single tier might be more beneficial, but nobody’s ever come up with the metrics that would identify that as a serious option,” he said.

Wellesley has also been given more say in planning, Nowak explained, as the province has moved to reduce the planning oversight at the regional

level.

“I know that we still have a good solid work ing relationship with the region. The rural mayors, for example, are constantly working together to see how we can all benefit each other when it comes to purchasing and that sort of thing.”

Wellesley has not asked for another provincial assessment process, Nowak added.

“I can’t speak for other municipalities, but our municipality hasn’t been looking for another review, that’s for sure.”

The fact that Premier Doug Ford and his govern ment were only recently re-elected might have played a role in the timing of this announcement, Williams added.

“If he wants to come in and do all kinds of changes of all sorts. He’s got a bit of time to ride it out politically. It’s relatively early in the term – he can go around and beat up all kinds of municipalities and not face political pres sure,” he said.

BILL

Municipalities still waiting to hear more about terms of review, with follows a similar exercise done in 2019

Wellesley Township council held its inaugural meeting Nov. 22. Sworn in for the four-year term were Shelley Wagner, Derek Brick, Joe Nowak, Claude Hergott and Lori Sebben. Nowak was bestowed with the mayor’s chain of office by municipal clerk Grace Kosch. Leah Gerber

Paradise Lions set for Tree of Light event on Saturday

Bill Atwood Observer Staff

THE PARADISE AND DISTRICT LIONS Club in St. Clements is getting set for its annual Tree of Light event, now in its 15th year. This year proceeds from the event will go towards the installation of a monument honouring those who have served in Canada’s military.

Once built the monu ment will become the location of the commu nity’s Remembrance Day ceremonies.

“We want to honor and remember our members who have served in Canada’s armed forces. We haven’t done anything for them.… Every small

town or at least almost every small town has a memorial monument. We have wanted to begin and complete this project for many years. It was finally the right time,” said Lions Club president Janet Pfaffinger.

The monument will be located on land donated by the Diocese of Hamil ton, north of the library.

The Lions club raised just over $10,000 in the month of November alone, however the final cost is unknown at this time.

“It’s quite impressive for a small town and one month. We are very proud of all our supporters,” Pfaffinger added.

The tree lighting event take place behind the library Saturday (Decem

ber 3) beginning at 5:15 p.m. with a visit from Santa, who’ll be joined by children’s entertainer Erick Traplin at 5:35. The tree will be lit up at 6 p.m.

The ceremony will give residents an opportunity to honour friends and family who have died, as anyone that makes a donation to the campaign can have loved ones’ names read at the event. For those wanting to make a contribution, a light bulb on the tree is $5, while a string of lights is $50.

Anything over $50 will go towards the lighting of the star. Cheques payable to “The Paradise and District Lions Club – Tree of Light” can be mailed to 12 Expo Dr., St. Clements, N0B 2M0. A tax receipt will be

provided for any donation over $25.

Several businesses in the community are also contributing to the campaign with mint smoothies and bulbs being sold through tomorrow (December 2) at several locations, including Creative Hair Works, Exotic Wings and Pet Things, inSeason Home + Garden, Kate’s Hair Den and Styles by Lori. Smoothies are also being sold at Coffee & T, IDA Pharmacy, Le Village Hair Salon and Dr. Erin Walker’s dental office.

More information on the event or donating to the Lions Club is available by contacting 519-6995963 or jennypf@rogers. com.

GRANT: Organization is looking for volunteers to act as hosts for refugees

in Maryhill, has opened up to receive guests, as well as the former Jakob stettel Inn in St. Jacobs.

The fund was estab lished this year to support the employment, entrepreneurship and economic wellbeing of immigrants in the region, says Tara Bedard, the executive director of Immigration Partnership with the Region of Water loo.

“We see this firmly aligned with our mission of creating the conditions for all immigrants to reach their full potential and

contributing to a thriving community for everyone,” she said.

“We need everyone to ask their friends and family and neighbours if they have space in their homes. You would be surprised who has space and would be open to being a host if they know they will be working with our organization,” Goertz said.

“We are also looking for businesses that can donate housing and personal items such as pillows, blankets, and towels at a discounted rate.”

As well the organiza tion is fundraising to help cover the cost for families to stay in the Hillside Residence.

Besides housing, employment is another important and urgent factor, said Goertz.

“We need more compa nies working with us who are willing to hire a number of Ukraini ans that may not have strong English skills. The Ukrainians coming into Waterloo Region have many diverse professions and skill sets but they are setting this all aside to take on any job… so that

they can start providing for their family.”

Goertz reiterated that Ukrainians coming into Canada do not receive the same supports as other refugees as they are not coming under tradi tional refugee programs. The bulk of the support received by incoming Ukrainians is a benefit of $3,000 per adult and $1,400 per child.

The volunteer-led group has an application process that refugee Ukrainians in Europe can complete if they want to come to Waterloo Region.

at, and see if we can still help them if they’re really tight.”

WCS has provided several different ways for people who want to support the program to do so. This includes “Wish Trees” at Home Hardware Stores in Elmira, Linwood, and St. Jacobs as well as Living Waters Bookstore and the Elmira Canadian Tire.

“Those are trees that people can go in and pick off a wish star – it has a common toy that most kids ask for throughout the years. They can buy that toy and then either bring it back to those locations or bring it back to our agency,” explained Reed.

Popular toys this year include Squishmallows stuffed animals as well as traditional toys such as Barbies, baby dolls, cars and trucks, remote control cars and trucks, and food for kitchenettes.

WCS is also accepting cash donations through their Elmira office or on

their website through Canada Helps.

Donors will also have the option to sponsor a family to match their Christmas giving budget. Donors will be informed of the number of people in their sponsored family, what their needs and wants are and clothing sizes and ages. If shopping online, donors are asked to allow enough time for delivery.

The Goodwill program is still seeing strong support from the community this year, Reed said.

“We have a lot of companies and businesses collecting toys for us and we have had many dona tions come in from the community already.”

Many hockey teams are also providing support, Reed added.

“That gets [kids] started in supporting the commu nity when they’re young, understanding that there are families struggling and that they can help in even just a little way of buying a toy.”

The Paradise and District Lions Club hosts the Tree of Light event Saturday in St. Clements. Submitted

GOODWILL: WCS has seen strong community support for the program

Police investigating suspicious-vehicle incidents in Wellesley Township

Observer Staff

WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING three suspicious-vehicle incidents in Wellesley Township, the latest in Wellesley village on the afternoon of November 18.

“Police received a report of a suspicious vehicle in the area of Lawrence Street and Berdux Place in Wellesley Township,” said Cst. Bradley Hickey, a spokesperson for

the Waterloo Regional Police, in an email to The Observer.

“The driver approached children that were outside and attempted to engage in conversation with them, and then left the area. The vehicle was described as a black Mercedes Benz.”

Two other incidents involving suspicious vehicles were reported earlier in the month.

On November 6 at 5 p.m., there was a report of a suspicious vehicle believed to have been

following a female youth in the area of Schummer Line and Lichty Line. The vehicle was described as a smaller black, four-door car, and possibly an older model. Neither the driver nor the passenger spoke to or approached the girl.

On November 15, between 8:40 a.m. and 9 a.m. at Hutchison Road and Ayrshire Lane, a black van was observed parked near a group of kids waiting for the bus. The driver did not speak to or approach the kids, and left

once the bus arrived.

It is not known if the third incident is associated with the first two.

“There is no information at this time to believe that this suspicious vehicle incident [in Wellesley village] is connected to the [other] incidents,” said Hickey.

“Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police at 519-5709777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online,” he said.

Wellesley Lions ready to light it up for Christmas Tyme

Gerber Observer Staff

THE CHRISTMAS TYME IN WELLESLEY Parade and Tree of Lights campaign kickoff are taking place in Wellesley on December 9.

The day includes a host of events, including a live nativity by the pond at 6:30 and 7:20 p.m. The parade will be leaving Wellesley Public School at 6:45 p.m. along a route starting on Nafziger Road, left onto Maple Leaf Street and ending at the community centre.

The Tree of Lights ceremony and caroling will take place at 7:30 p.m. by the pond, with free cookies and hot apple cider presented by the Wellesley and District Lions Club. The event will also include a meet-andgreet with Santa. As well, there’ll be a makers craft market taking place at the community centre on December 8 and 9 from 4- 9 p.m.

This year the funds

people in the Christmas season. We often forget that there are a lot of people right in our community and families in need right in

our village,” said Blair Cressman, president of the Wellesley and District Lions Club.

And with the increased cost of living, “it’s even more important that we can help those in need this year,” he added.

The Wellesley Family Resource Fund helps cover basic needs for families in need, and Meals on Wheels is an organization that works to deliver hot meals to seniors and other people who need them.

Both of these programs are managed by Community Care Concepts.

People can donate to the campaign directly at CIBC, Pyms, Esso, Home Hardware and Wellesley Apple Products. There is also an e-transfer option, with the email wellionstreeoflight@gmail.com.

Tax receipts are being issued for donations over $10, said Cressman, noting the Tree of Lights campaign has been ongoing for decades in the community.

Leah Gerber

Leah

raised with the Tree of Lights campaign will go toward Meals on Wheels and the Wellesley Family Outreach Fund.

“We support a lot of

newsmart.ca

Province provides police with funding for technology upgrade

The Ontario govern ment is providing Water loo Regional Police Service with $1,794,329 to help fight crime, includ ing auto theft, Kitchen er-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris announced last week.

Police will use the fund ing to enhance automated licence plate recognition (ALPR) technology, a system that consists of cameras that automati cally scan licence plates. The system is installed in or on police cruisers and alerts officers to stolen or expired plates, or plates registered to suspended drivers. The system can also notify officers of missing and wanted persons and vehicles associated with amber alerts.

“Our government continues to make community safety a prior ity in Waterloo Region,” said Harris in a release. “The nearly $1.8 million in grant funding will allow the Waterloo Regional Police Service to imple ment ALPR technology which will greatly improve the ability of our officers to safely and effectively perform their duties on the streets of our town ships and cities.”

The Automated Licence

Plate Recognition Tech nology Grant is a one-time grant to help police services strengthen roadside law enforcement efforts and improve public safety across the prov ince.

“We are grateful for the funding announced today, which will allow WRPS to expand our use of ALPR technology to more of our frontline resources, supporting their efforts in traffic and public safety,” said WRPS Chief Mark Crowell. “This investment will further our service’s commitment to continued modernization and opera tional excellence.”

ALPR technology is a system of cameras and supporting software that captures licence plate information and imme diately compares plate numbers to a Ministry of Transportation (MTO) database with vehicle and vehicle owner infor mation. It also has the capability of capturing vehicles of interest (e.g., amber alerts, stolen vehi cles, suspended driver(s), etc.).

The technology does not detect moving viola tions such as speeding, going through a red light or stop sign, and distracted driving.

NOVEMBER 23

11:17 AM | Police were contacted regarding a theft of license plates from a vehicle in Breslau. Sometime during the overnight hours, an unknown suspect removed the front and rear plates from a truck parked in a lot in the area of Woolwich Street South and Shallow Creek Road. Anyone with information is asked to call contact police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Anon ymous tips can also be submitted at www.water loocrimestoppers.com.

3:04 PM | A two-vehicle collision brought police to a location north of Elmira. A tractor was heading north on Arthur Street North and was making left turn onto Cedar Spring Road when a black Ford, also traveling north on Arthur, pulled out to pass the tractor, result ing in a collision in the intersection. The driver of the Ford, a 43-yearold Wellington County woman, was charged with ‘careless driving.’

5 : 47 PM | Emergency services responded to Line 86 west of Macton for reports of a collision. Police determined that a Dodge Caravan was travelling west on Line 86 towards Listowel when it

was struck by a Chevro let pickup truck travelling east towards Macton that had crossed the center line. The resulting colli sion caused both vehi cles to spin and come to rest off of the highway. The driver of the Dodge, a 76-year-old Bruce County woman, was transported by air ambu lance to an out-of-region hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Chevrolet, a 20-year-old Wellesley Township man, was also transported to an out-of-region hospi tal by Region of Water loo Paramedic Services with non-life-threaten ing injuries. The investi gation is ongoing by the Traffic Services Unit and charges are anticipated. Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or may have dash camera video footage is asked to call the Waterloo Regional Police Service’s Traffic Unit at 519-570-9777, ext. 8856.

NOVEMBER 25

1 : 20 AM | Wellington County OPP responded to a report of a theft from a business on St. David Street North in Fergus. A suspect cut into a change machine, causing exten sive damages, and stole a quantity of change. Damage to the equip ment was estimated at

$30,000. Any person with information is asked to contact the Wellington County OPP at 1-888310-1122. Should you wish to remain anony mous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477 (TIPS) or submit a tip online at www.csgw. tips. You may be eligible for a reward from Crime Stoppers of up to $2,000.

6:27 AM | Police were dispatched to the Region of Waterloo International Airport in response to an aircraft overrunning the runway.

NOVEMBER 26

10 : 11 AM | Police received a report that a theft took place a busi ness on Farmers Market Road in Woolwich Town ship. The suspect was described as a white male, 35-40 years, 5’10” tall, with a thin build. The male was wearing a black jacket, black baseball hat, white t-shirt and brown boots. Anyone with information is encour aged to contact police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at www.waterloocrimestop pers.com.

10 : 00 PM | A Perth County OPP officer conducting general patrol came across a vehicle in

the ditch on Perth Line 72 in the Township of Perth East. During the investi gation, the officer noted that the driver had been drinking alcohol. A road side screening device was administered. The driver was arrested and transported to a local operations center for further testing. A 30-year-old Waterloo man was subsequently charged with ‘operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus).’ His driver’s license was suspended for 90 days and his vehicle impounded for a week. The accused has been released and is sched uled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date to answer to the charges.

NOVEMBER 27

12 : 09 AM | Police received a report of a break and enter that took place on Burlwood Drive in Elmira. Some time between 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 26 and the time of the report, unknown suspect(s) gained entry into a residence and stole personal property. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Anon ymous tips can also be submitted at www.water loocrimestoppers.com.

Emergency crews responded to Arthur Street and Cedar Spring Road north of Elmira Nov. 23 when an SUV collided with a farm tractor. The driver of the black Ford was charged with ‘careless driving.’

Leah Gerber

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‘Tis the season ... for putting a stop to gender violence

December’s arrival has moved the yuletide season into high gear. The time of happiness and goodwill will be intruded on Tuesday, however, for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

It may not be the ideal season for such thoughts – really, when is? – but the timing was dictated by Marc Lépine, who on Dec. 6, 1989 murdered 14 young women at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal simply because of their gender.

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada was established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada. As well as commemorating those women who have died as a result of gender-based violence, the day is seen as the federal government’s Status of Women organization as a time to work on concrete actions to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

We’re currently in the midst of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence that began on November 25 with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and ends on December 10 with International Human Rights Day. It also includes the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

Locally, people will gather Tuesday at the Volgelsang Green in Kitchener at noon to remember the 14 murdered women, and the legacy left behind as women continue to experience the life-altering consequences of misogyny and gender-based violence.

The 16 Days of Activism are an opportunity to come together to call out, speak up and renew society’s commitment to end gender-based violence. It’s also a prime time for reflecting on gun-control issues.

At the École Polytechnique, 14 young women were gunned down and 13 others were injured with a legally acquired firearm. Student groups launched a petition in 1989 instigating a national movement for gun control.

Mass shootings are most often associated with the US. In recent weeks, we’ve seen the likes of the massacre at a Walmart in Virginia, where six people died, the followed on the heels of a shooting rampage that left five people dead at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado. There have already been more than 600 mass shootings in the United States this year. That list includes the May shooting in Uvalde, Texas that left 19 students and two teachers dead. (School shootings figure prominently in gun violence, despite the assertions things should and would change following the slaughter of young children at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut in December 2012.)

But even here in Canada there have been numerous school shootings since the tragedy in 1989. With every incident, some people call for further restrictions on gun ownership.

On the other side of the argument, gun advocates make excuses and argue for greater access to guns, saying armed civilians could have gunned down such criminals before their killing sprees continued.

The latter arguments are commonplace in the U.S., where Second Amendment – the right to keep and bear arms – issues abound. In Canada, the notion seems ridiculous: having more guns at hand increases the risk. It would be far more likely for someone to see red, snap and use a readily available gun than it would be for someone to be faced with a murderer on a shooting rampage.

While not immune here, we operate under a different mindset than do those in the States, where politicians must be pro-gun, or at least not come out in favour of gun control. That kind of thinking would not fly here: even the gun registry debate was more about waste, graft and rightwing ideology than about the guns themselves.

Gun-control advocates, arguing that more guns equals more violence, want us all to think about the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in that light.

Nearly 600,000 people accessed emergency food support last year, visiting more than 4.3 million times, an increase of 15% and 42% respectively over pre-pandemic numbers from 2019, and the sixth consecutive year that food bank use has risen.

Feed Ontario’s 2022 Hunger Report

ANALYSIS OF CURRENT WORLD EVENTS

Malaysia: change at last?

If Anwar Ibrahim had become prime minister of Malaysia in the late 1990s, when he was in his early 50s, instead of being jailed on trumped-up sodomy and corruption charges, Malaysia might now be a very different place. He’s finally getting his chance – he was sworn in on Friday – but now he’s 75. Is it too late for the kind of Malaysia he promised?

From the start Anwar promised to fight corruption and “rid this country of racism and religious bigotry.” Corruption is certainly rampant – former prime minister Najib Razak was jailed early this year for looting billions of dollars from government funds – but what really distinguishes Anwar Ibrahim is his stand against ethnic and religious favouritism.

Malaysia is a complicated country. It was one of the Asian ‘Tigers,’ and it has a much higher per capita GDP ($12,900 per annum) than any other big country in South or South-East Asia. But one particular ethnic and religious group is quite poor: the Malays, the overwhelming majority of whom are Muslims.

This may seem counterintuitive, because the great majority of the country’s powerful politicians have always been Malays, as are quite a lot of the richest people. (In fact, they are

often the same people.) These discrepancies are mostly due to British imperial history.

When Britain first gained control of Malaya two centuries ago, almost everybody living there was Malay, but most of them were peasant farmers. London therefore encouraged immigration from the Indian subcontinent, and later from China as well, to provide labour for the tin mines, rubber plantations and other rich resources of the peninsula.

At independence in 1957, therefore, the new country was almost exactly half non-Malay. This was understandably seen as a catastrophe by the Malays.

The Malays managed to improve that ratio by expelling overwhelmingly Chinese Singapore from the new country and by declaring the indigenous peoples of North Borneo to be honorary Malays. This created a two-thirds majority of ‘bumiputras’ (Malay or Malay-adjacent ‘sons of the soil’) in the new and quite unstable country called ‘Malaysia.’

A kind of stability arrived after the ‘13 May Incident’ of 1969, when Malays massacred

at least 200 Chinese and other non-Malay people in the capital, Kuala Lumpur. Thereafter ‘bumiputras’ were granted a de facto monopoly of political power, while Chinese citizens (25 per cent of the population) and Indian Malaysians (seven per cent) were left free to make money.

There was also a commitment to raise the standing of the mostly rural and impoverished bumiputras, but this was to be done by increasing the collective Malay share of the national GDP, not by raising the income and status of the broad majority of individual Malays.

Ethnic Malays got some real advantages, like priority in university entrance and access to government jobs (which created resentment among non-Malays). Other Malays got very rich by serving as bumiputra ‘partners’ or figureheads in non-Malay businesses (which met the ‘collective Malay share of GDP’ requirement). But most Malays stayed poor.

This has been the system in Malaysia for more than 50 years now – and Anwar Ibrahim has struggled to change it all his life. He is Malay and Muslim himself, but he can see that it does not serve the interests of ordinary Malays – nor of ordinary Chinese or Indian Malay-

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“We are losing productive farmland at an alarming rate in Ontario. The path we are currently on is not sustainable. We cannot continue to sacrifice the lands where we grow and raise our food in the name of growth.”

Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Peggy Brekveld notes more than 50,000 people have signed on to show support of OFA’s Home Grown campaign.

GWYNNE DYER

Global Outlook on World Affairs

Ford’s Greenbelt reversal raises a host of issues, none of them good

Ontario Premier Doug Ford didn’t really mean it when he said he wouldn’t touch the Green belt.

That’s par for the course, as politicians always lie, especially on the campaign trail. Perhaps not as egre giously as Ford in this instance, but they always go that route, well-inten tioned or otherwise.

Prior to first being elected in 2018, Ford pledged to protect the Greenbelt after a video surfaced in which he said he’d open up the protected land to develop ment.

“There have been a lot of voices saying that they don’t want to touch the Greenbelt. I govern through the people, I don’t govern through government. The people have spoken – we won’t touch the Greenbelt,” he said in response to the initial criticism, a pledge he reiterated at times. That stance changed completely with his argument development is needed to deal with the housing crisis, one that will be worsened by Ottawa’s plan for massive increases in immigration levels.

Some people have taken umbrage at Ford’s lie. The bigger issue is Ford’s willingness to push aside democratic practices to speed up the develop ment of more housing. More troubling still is the impression his actions are of benefit primarily to developers, most nota bly those with ties to the party.

That some developers bought Greenbelt land on speculation and now find the land being withdrawn from the protected areas does raise an eyebrow or two.

“Since Ontario Premier Doug Ford was first

elected four years ago, developers have paid tens of millions of dollars for a number of properties that include protected lands the province is now proposing to carve out of the Greenbelt,” the Globe and Mail reports this week.

“Among those proper ties is a substantial piece of land lying largely in the Greenbelt that sold for $80-million in Septem ber, just weeks before the government revealed its new plan.”

That’s a serious concern that warrants an investi gation.

Also troubling is the fact the fast-tracking measures of Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, are unlikely to deal with the housing afford

ability crisis.

The government says Bill 23 will foster condi tions to build 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years. In that span, Ontario is expected to grow by more than two million people, with approximately 70 per cent of this growth taking place in the Greater Golden Horseshoe area.

There’s nothing in the act that says the housing created will be afford able. Given that growth is expected to outstrip new housing development, prices aren’t likely to moderate.

Now, current infla tion-fighting measures – i.e. interest rate hikes – are already having a dampening effect on housing sales. Construc tion was already curtailed by both a shortage of materials and lack of labour, issues unad dressed by Bill 23. Even

provided carte blanche to build, build, build, developers already face constraints unrelated to the proverbial red tape the province is looking to cut.

Critics have in fact suggested Bill 23 will actually prove counter productive.

“Its provisions to require high-rise zoning and increase develop ment profitability will contribute to rising land prices, which makes affordable and/or missing middle housing impossi ble due to high land costs. In addition, high-rise builds are expensive housing—two-and-a-half times as costly per square foot as low-rise builds. This is just one example of how the bill will exacer bate unaffordability in housing,” writes Dr. Dawn Parker, a professor in the School of Planning at the University of Waterloo.

“It may not increase housing supply. With a cascade of current construction project cancellations due to rising construction costs and interest rates, increas ing financing costs, and decreased demand for units from investors, small increases to devel opment profitability may have minimal impact on housing supply.”

Locally, groups such as the Grand River Environ mental Network, Water Watchers, the Nith Valley Ecoboosters and APT Environment have been protesting Bill 23.

“We are very concerned about the ongoing actions by the provincial government pandering to a handful of develop ers while acting totally against the best public interest” said Kevin Thomason of the Green belt West Coalition.

The provincial goal for 1.5 million new homes means an average of 150,000 per year, but its own projections are going the other way, to fewer than 80,000 annually for at least the next couple of years.

Likewise, government efforts to provide afford able rental housing do little to help. While small amounts of new housing can be of benefit to the most-vulnerable resi dents – those with special needs, the homeless or a segment of the senior population, for instance – such projects have no impact on the market rates paid by the vast majority of Canadians.

The numbers are simply too small. Building afford able housing on a scale large enough to impact the private sector would require resources well beyond the conceivable.

At current growth rates, we simply can’t build our way out of the housing deficit, where demand outstrips supply and drives up prices. That’s true of the market as a whole, public and private.

Suggestions from developers that increased supply – the result of cutting red tape and planning restrictions, for instance – would ease rising prices are clearly unrealistic. There’s simply no capacity to match population growth, particularly in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Still, there are some in govern ment willing to listen, as we’re seeing from Queen’s Park.

What Ford govern ment calls streamlining is seen as bypassing local controls, including removing some munici pal planning functions, eliminating conservation authorities from part of the equation and muting

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STEVE KANNON Editor's Point of View

The latest regional review is unlikely to generate anything in the way of such efficiency.

Boiled peanuts are considered a delicacy.

AST WEEK:

Truth: There are vegans that rely on solely eating processed food according to “What is Veganism, and What Do Vegans Eat? By Petre, Alina.

Truth: These all involve some form of an animal product. There are products that are created strictly vegan that have a likeness to the originals.

Lie: 74.3% of articles published online were negatively reviewed of the diet while 20.2% were neutral and only 5.5% positive according to The Vegan Studies Project, 2015.

You can play online by reading any online post at www. observerxtra.com. Vote for the lie and be notified if you are correct immediately.

KANNON: No way to build our way out of crisis

→ FROM 9

the appeals process … for the public, though not developers.

Likewise, the province has taken aim at munici pal development charges. While that can be seen as a positive given the rapid increase in such fees, adding tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of a new home, runaway municipal spending means the money will simply be added to all property tax bills. Cutting fees doesn’t mean munici palities will make the cuts necessary to reduce the financial burden on resi dents. Quite the opposite, if history is any guide.

Housing supplies won’t be able to keep pace with unsustainable growth projections. Neither will the healthcare system, for instance, which is already coming apart at the seams with no solution in sight.

Add in the likes of educa tion and transportation and you’ve got the making of a systemic crisis that will make today look like some kind of golden age.

DYER: New PM may be running out of time for change

FROM 8

→

sians either. It just protects the interests of the already rich of all ethnicities.

So Anwar has always had support from Malay sians of all ethnic and reli gious groups who are left behind by this system. He is a genuine threat, which is why he came close to power three times in the past, and was thrice jailed on the same false charges. He has spent 10 of the past 25 years in prison.

Now he is prime minis ter, because the system is breaking down. The poor majority of Muslim

Malays, left in poverty by their own community leaders, have turned in large numbers to a radical Islamic fundamentalist party that demands the imposition of Shariah law.

That would destroy a country where more than 30 per cent of the people are not Muslims, so voters of every community who want to change the system but not destroy the coun try have given Anwar Ibra him his chance at last. His Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) party got more seats than any other in last week’s election.

He still has to win the support of some other parties to form a majority government, but he seems to have the numbers. He has already promised to raise the economic status of the impoverished Malay-Muslim majority, while breaking the corrupt political system that keeps them as a compliant and underprivileged vote bank.

His slogan is still ‘reform,’ not ‘revolution’, and he will certainly try hard. The question is whether he comes to power too old and too late.

„ Bill 23 an attack on Ontarians

To the Editor, Ontario’s provincial government is attack ing on many fronts. The Greenbelt is under threat with the province’s plan to open thousands of acres to development, paving over farmland and protected natural areas.

Bill 23’s plan to address the housing crisis will not help people with limited income since the major ity of new homes will be

developed far away from existing services and will not be affordable.

Included in the bill is a plan to reduce develop ment fees for builders, which will compromise municipalities’ ability to provide essential services and, ultimately, the qual ity of life for residents.

The proposed changes to the Planning Act threaten municipal plans for development that have considered the need to protect water sources and farmland. The fact that the right of appeal will be removed from citi

zens but not developers shows that this govern ment does not care about democratic processes.

On top of all this, the Conservative govern ment, with its shortsighted view, disregards the fact that we are in a climate crisis that requires appropriate action now for the sake of our children and grand children. It’s time for the citizens of Ontario to fight back against this unprovoked attack.

Dorothy Wilson NEW HAMBURG

Peanuts are one of the best nuts that promotes weight loss and other health benefits.

The average person eats almost 3,000 PB&Js in their lifetime.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

KW Titans ownership Lancers back on ice

News that hits home. Local people in action.

Sports tips are always welcome.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com

Team Scores: observerxtra.com/scores

Finding that thing that you needed

A lot of people look forward to the end of deer season because it means that there will hopefully be venison in the freezer, another pile of good memories, and a few days where you don’t feel too guilty about sleeping in or enjoying the warmth of your living room on a frigid, wet day.

I look forward to the end of deer season because I know that’s when I will find that thing I needed during deer season.

This year, that thing happens to be a knife I bought in summer. This knife would have been just the ticket for field dressing and skinning a deer, since it was expertly designed for just that task. That’s why I bought it.

Ever since that day, I had been looking forward to giving this knife a try on the deer I hoped to harvest this year. I was hoping that would work so well that I might be able to retire my old hunting knife.

But, of course, when this year’s buck was down and in need of field dressing, and later skinning, that knife was nowhere to be found. That’s probably because I put it in a place where I would not forget it.

What I failed to remember is that I am 60. And when you are 60, there is no such place.

The good news is, I will almost certainly find that knife this weekend. You see, that’s when I plan to put away all my deer-hunting gear until

STEVE GALEA Not-So-Great Outdoorsman

next deer season. And, if more than 40 years of deer hunting has taught me anything, it is that this is the time when you stumble upon the thing you were looking for all deer season.

It will probably be in the pocket of a jacket I wore all season. Or it might be at the bottom of the storage bin I keep my deer hunting clothes in. It might also be on the desk I am now sitting at, less than an arm’s length away, buried under a stack of papers. But mark my words, by the time I finish putting all my deer hunting stuff away, that new knife will be on top of that pile – ready for me to lose it again next year.

As any outdoorsman or woman can confirm, there is a “that thing I needed” for every season. For me, during last trout season, it was that one box filled with my never-fail, favourite flies. During the turkey season, it was my turkey call chalk. During bass season it was my fly box full of bomber flies. And, as you would expect, the minute each of those seasons ended, I found each “thing that I needed.”

This year, I am still missing my favourite duck hunting face mask. And I can’t yet find my best upland hunting vest. But don’t worry, as soon as both seasons end, I’ll find each of them. They

EDSS senior girls among top eight at provincial basketball tournament

Atwood Observer Staff

MAKING THEIR FIRST EVER APPEARANCE at the OFSAA championship, the EDSS senior girls last week emerged as the eighth-best team in the province.

The Lancers opened the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations tournament with a close 56-46 loss to Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School from London, and bounced back with a 46-35 win over St. John Henry Newman from Hamilton.

“[Game one] was a completely winnable game for the girls. [They] had a couple of bad breaks and ended up losing that one, but then fought back later that night with a good win

against John Henry,” said coach Matt Buckley.

The Lancers season came to an end with a 58-23 defeat to Windsor’s Holy Names High School.

“It was a very tough game and they’re a super good team. At the end of the day – before we went in, we knew we’d be playing the top level of Ontario competition – even though we suffered two losses, the teams we lost to came silver (Holy Names) and bronze (Mother Teresa). So we know we’re kind of right there in terms of Ontario and with our loss in the quarter final, it’s a top-eight finish,” Buckley added.

Getting to be among the top eight schools is an incredible accomplishment, he added.

“You really don’t realize

until you look back down the road at how impressive it is to be able to go to OFSAA. And you can look around the school board at countless schools and coaches that have never had that experience in their lives.”

At start of the season, the Lancers knew they had a good team, with the girls buying into the vision that Buckley and assistant coach Montana Telfer had for them.

“Through the season, it was kind of always knowing that we’re pushing for the playoffs and we’re pushing for CWOSSA. One thing that the girls did is they bought into the idea that defense was what was going to separate us from the other good teams in our region,” said Buckley of the

season

“I think that defensive focus moving into CWOSAA is what allowed us to kind of get the wins against those high-end teams. For the season, our defense was what we wanted to hang our hats on, and the girls worked every day in practice to make sure that by the time we’re getting into the crunch time of WCSSSA, CWOSSA OFSAA, we knew that we could do that at an elite level,” he said.

The Lancers had six graduating players on their team, including Macy Weber, Kaleohana Manalong, Megan Hume, Emily Ferguson, Megan

Realtor David Schooley and his wife Kate are the new owners of the KW Titans basketball club. Under the new not-for-profit ownership structure, the Schooleys will retain 50 per cent of the KW Titans and the remaining 50 per cent will be held by the community.

The EDSS boys’ hockey team opened the season Tuesday with a 5-0 win over Preston High School. The Lancers are back in action today against Galt Collegiate. The girls’ squad, meanwhile, has its home-opener Monday at the WMC.

A strong season saw the EDSS senior girls make their first-ever appearance at the provincials. Leah Gerber

Bill

that landed them in the Central Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association playoffs.

WOOLWICH WILDCATS

■ Atom U10 A Nov/19/2022 vs Orangeville Flyers

HOME: 2 VISITOR: 2

GOALS: Matteo Abate, Devin Vogel

ASSISTS: Devin Vogel, Mason Roadknight

■ Atom U10 A Nov/22/2022 vs Halton Hills Thunder

HOME: 3 VISITOR: 0

GOALS: Jack Frey (3) ASSISTS: Daxton Habermehl, Brayden Clemmer

Shutouts: Chase Futher ■ Atom U11A Nov/20/2022 vs Orangeville Flyers

HOME: 10 VISITOR: 0

GOALS: Colton Cooney, Reid Denbok, Jack Frede, Julia Hallman (3), Hayden Hunter (2), Ryker Rozema, Xaiden Weber

ASSISTS: Dom Blake (2), Colton Cooney, Ben Ellis (2), Presley McFadden, Charlie Smith, Xaiden Weber Shutouts: Will Manchur

■ Bantam U15BB Nov/18/2022 vs Milton Winterhawks White

HOME: 3 VISITOR: 2

GOALS: Adam Bloch, Sam Kruschat, Levi Adams ASSISTS: William Krubally, Alex Veitch, Adam Bloch, Josh Wraight

■ Bantam U15BB Nov/20/2022 vs Guelph Gryphons

HOME: 2 VISITOR: 1 GOALS: Adam Bloch, Carter Weir

ASSISTS: Josh Wraight (2), Carter Weir, Charlie Basler

WOOLWICH WILD

■ Atom U11A Nov/17/2022 vs Guelph Jr Gryphons

HOME: 4 VISITOR: 0 GOALS: Sophie Hahn, Rowan Gelata, Haylee Zinken, Avery Robinson ASSISTS: McKenna Mackenzie-Taylor, Abbey Versteeg, Maggie McAdam Shutouts: Kenzie Gun ■ Atom U11A Nov/19/2022 vs Stratford Aces

HOME: 2 VISITOR: 0 GOALS: Charlie Wilson, Haylee Zinken ASSISTS: Emma Forwell, Samantha Maric Shutouts: Kenzie Gunn ■ PeeWee U13A Nov/05/2022 vs Woodstock Wildcats

HOME: 1 VISITOR: 1 GOALS: Taylor Rayfield ASSISTS: Audrey English ■ PeeWee U13A Nov/12/2022 vs Waterloo Ravens

HOME: 3 VISITOR: 2

GOALS: Addison Gunn, Ellie Clemmer, Taylor Rayfield ASSISTS: Rachel Heckendorn, Seryna Hessels

■ PeeWee U13A Nov/18/2022 vs Sault Ste. Marie

HOME: 5 VISITOR: 1 GOALS: Audrey English, Megan Nixon, Taylor Rayfield (2), Elle Schwindt ASSISTS: Elle Schwindt, Ellie Clemmer, Seryna Hessels, Brynn Berfelz, Addison Gunn, Audrey English (2)

■ PeeWee U13A

Nov/19/2022 vs Nepean Wildcats

HOME: 3 VISITOR: 0 GOALS: Audrey English, Taylor Rayfield, Rachel Heckendorn

ASSISTS: Mackenzie Rank, Rachel Heckendorn, Brynn Berfelz, Seryna Hessels, Taylor Rayfield

Kings scoring again but manage only a split in weekend games

Kannon Observer Staff

THE ELMIRA SUGAR KINGS MANAGED to reverse course on the previous weekend’s paltry offence, scoring 11 goals in two games, but only managed to pick up one win.

On November 24, the team was in Ayr, where they fell 5-3 to the Centen nials. On Sunday at the WMC, the floodgates opened in an 8-1 win over the Brantford Bandits. The two points left the Kings in sixth place in the Midwest ern Conference, one back of Listowel and two behind the Centennials. It was a back-and-forth game last week in Ayr. Elmira’s Brady Schwindt scored the lone goal at 2:33 of the opening period, with assists going to Jackson Heron and Chris Black. Early in the second, Ayr made it a 1-1 game,

with the Kings retaking the lead a few minutes later when Logan Crans scored his 10th of the year at 5:54. Assists went to Luke Della Croce and Ryan Forwell.

That lead lasted less than five minutes, however, as the Centen nials responded before the midway point of the period.

In the third, the home side took its first lead early, the 3-2 score holding until 8:25 when Elmira captain Adam Grein scored with help from Brock Reinhart and Jayden Lammel. Less than four minutes later, though, Ayr went ahead for good with a powerplay goal. Another goal later made it 5-3, which is where things stood at the final buzzer.

The Kings outshot the Centennials 28-23 in what was a fairly clean game: just three minors were

doled out, with Elmira 0-1 and Ayr 1-2 with the man advantage.

Elmira netminder Daniel Botelho stopped 18 in the losing effort.

It was a different story Sunday at the WMC, where after giving up the game’s first goal, the Kings buried eight in the Brantford net.

The game was a chippier affair, with Brantford’s lone goal coming on a power play, and the Kings scoring three times with a Bandit in the box.

Brantford took a 1-0 lead at 3:35, but less than three minutes later, Forwell (Della Croce, Crans) got things rolling for Elmira. By 8:01, when Liam Eveleigh scored from Lammel and Reinhart, the Kings were ahead for good.

Returning for the second period with a 2-1 lead, the Kings proceeded to make sure there’d be no doubt about the outcome.

In a ten-minute span starting at 8:27, the hosts scored four times. When the flurry from Reinhart (Joey Martin, Taylor Bothwell), Crans (Lammel, Reinhart), Austen Pomer leau (Heron, Austin Mumby) and Eveleigh (Mumby, Grein) was over, the Kings were up 6-1.

In the third, late goals at 17:15 from Della Croce, assisted by Grein and Forwell, and at 19:30 from Forwell (Martin, Madden MacDougall) made for an 8-1 final score.

Elmira put 28 shots on net, allowing just 11 in return. Goaltender Hayden Sabourin picked up the win.

The Kings (13-2) will be looking for a repeat Saturday night in Brant ford (2-23-1) to build on a tougher match when the second place Stratford Warriors (20-6) roll into the WMC the following night. Game time is 7 p.m.

BASKETBALL: Learning success

→ FROM 11

Stickney and Delaney Cortes. Their achieve ments are exactly what every high school athlete should want, Buckley stated.

“You would see success at the junior level, and you don’t kind of rest on the fact that you are good in Grade 9 or 10 – you work to repeat that success as a senior. For those girls in their last year, not to get the WCSSAA that they had at junior but to be able to win CWOSSA for the first time in all Elmira’s history

and move to OFSAA, I think it’s just a testament to the hard work they put in to be good basketball players.”

Going into next season, Buckley is hoping to build off that success and the “hope that these seniors have given the generations coming forward.”

“In Elmira it’s not necessarily a basketball hotbed, but we have lots of talented athletes and lots of basketball players that can succeed with any other school in Ontario and compete with any other school in Ontario.”

Shutouts: Elle English

■ PeeWee U13A Nov/19/2022 vs Brantford

Ice Cats

HOME: 5 VISITOR: 1

GOALS: Ellie Clemmer, Addison Gunn, Rachel Heckendorn, Elle Schwindt, Audrey English

ASSISTS: Lyla Naughton, Elle Schwindt, Brynn Berfelz, Addison Gunn, McKenzie Rank

■ PeeWee U13A

Nov/20/2022 vs Barrie Sharks

HOME: 2 VISITOR: 1 GOALS: Megan Nixon, Eliie Clemmer (OT) ASSISTS: Audrey English

■ PeeWee U13A Nov/20/2022 vs Sault Ste. Marie

HOME: 3 VISITOR: 2 GOALS: Taylor Rayfield, Addison Gunn, Audrey English

ASSISTS: Lyla Naughton, Brinley Fitzgerald, Elle Schwindt, Stella Grundy, Elle Schwindt

PeeWee U13A Nov/26/2022 vs Guelph Jr Gryphons

HOME: 4 VISITOR: 1 GOALS: Elle Schwindt, Rachel Heckendorn, Megan Nixon (2)

ASSISTS: McKenzie Rank, Addison Gunn, Taylor Rayfield

PeeWee U13A Nov/27/2022 vs Cambridge Roadrunners

HOME: 5 VISITOR: 0 GOALS: Megan Nixon (3), Seryna Hessels (2)

ASSISTS: Sage Balog, Brinley Fitzgerald, Brynn Berfelz (2), Taylor Rayfield (2), Addison Gunn, Rachel Heckendorn, Camryn Dewar

Shutouts: Elle English

→ FROM 11

will probably be sitting in plain sight.

In other years, “that thing I needed” has been a compass, a handheld GPS unit (you’d think these things wouldn’t get lost) or a certain shotgun choke, a sweater, and gloves. Interestingly, I

never lose anything that is camouflaged.

This is not a complaint, so much as a bit of friendly advice to all the new outdoorswomen and men out there. Don’t worry. You’re sure to find the find you needed most. Exactly when you need it least.

The Woolwich Wild U9B played in the Stratford Aces Festival Cup Challenge last weekend. Back row: coaches/trainers Amy Desmeules, Kyle Rank, Tony Roes, Mark Trimble. Middle row: Charlotte Rank, Mia Desmeules, Hazel Weiss, Peyton Robinson, Reese Hinbest, Myla Castle, Everly McCoubrey, Michaela Denbok, Kandis Heckendorn, Harper Trimble, Georgia Roes. Front: Abby Wood, Morgan Mackenzie-Taylor. Absent: Caelen Fitzgerald. Submitted

GALEA: You’ll find it ... eventually

Steve

The Woolwich Sun Rays demonstrated that hockey is open to all when they hit the ice last Sunday at the WMC. Leah Gerber

Grant Allen

Paul Ament

Kelly Atkinson

Jeff Cassel

Paul Edwards Doug Fallis

Jana Fallis (D)

Stephanie Kavanaugh Ken Kennery

Brian Kerr (R)

Pete Kiertscher Andy Klonikowski Tony Krotz Shawn Lavoie Kevin Leis Steve Leith Will Lincoln Ron Logie

Julie Logel-Doll (D) David Ludington Mark Lussier Al MacDonald Dan Marchesan

Jeff Martin

Kevin Martin

Luc Martin (R)

Kevin Mayberry

Brad McBeth

Keith McCluskie

Gary McInnes

Chris McLeod

Doug McNee

Karlene Mears

Ann Metzger

Brian Miller

Randy Miller

Rosanne Moore

Todd Mowbray

Ron Mugford

Paul Near Kathy Neeb

Clarence Nieuwhof

Kim Noonan

Michael Oehring

Mark Pardue

Tim Payne

Nelson Petersen (R)

Lori Pinder Solomon (R)

Robert Poole

Tammy Porter

Audra Prescott

Bernice Reed

Brian Reed

Ed Reitzel

Matt Richardson Randy Riff Peter Roberts Robert Rock Greg Ropp Darwin Rose

Rod Roth Glen Runstedler

Chris Sauer Don Schade

Scott Schalk Bill Scheeringa

Fran Schill

Janine Schill

Darryl Schneider

Dale Schultz

Donna Schultz

Rod Schultz

Quintin Schwartzentruber

Sue Schwartzentruber

Grace Scott

Dave Senek

Bruce Shannon (R)

Paul Sharratt

Linda Shoemaker

Bill Simmermaker (R)

Carrie-Ann Smart

Gerry Smeding

Scott Smibert

Barb Smith

Wayne Smith

James Smithers

Jim Solomon

Sheila Solomon

Brian Stoner

Greg Storey

Ernie Streicher

Rob Thoman

Murray Townsend

Rick Turner (R)

Todd Uhrig

Daniel Verville

Jeff Verwey

Dana Waters

Rob Wallace

HOME HARDWARE STORES LIMITED 34 Henry Street West, St. Jacobs

Bonnie Horst

Lynn Diebold

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Kim Gooding Cathy

Leading the way.

Shining a light on local enterprise, stoking the economic engines.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com

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Issue with going real with a Christmas tree

Gerber Observer Staff

NOTICED

FEWER STORES are selling Christmas trees, it’s because North America is now in its fourth year of shortages, according to the Canadian Christmas Trees Association.

The shortfall is due to a mix of factors, says Shirley Brennan, the executive director of Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario and the Canadian Christmas Trees Association.

“It’s not just a Canadian issue. It is a North American issue. It started about four years ago, and we saw it with Fraser firs,” she said.

From there, she says, things snowballed as the industry saw a large surge in the demand for its products.

“In North America, a Christmas tree farmer, their plan is a 10-year plan, because that’s how long

it takes for a tree to grow. So having that increase in demand over those five years, such an increase

in demand, we certainly could not have forecasted that.”

At the same time, less

land is being used for Christmas tree farming, she said. Between 2011 and 2021, almost 20,000 acres

of Christmas tree farming land was taken out of production across the country.

Finally, the weather has had an impact. In Ontario, for example, there was this summer’s drought, while Western Canada last year saw a heat dome and flooding.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that trees aren’t growing, but it’s taking more time. So, with extreme drought, you may not have seen the growth that you would typically see. That may be a tree that takes two to three years more to grow,” she said.

Peter Grobe started Grobe’s Nursery outside Breslau with his father in the 1960s, and now runs it with his son Perry. He said he could see the shortage coming on for the last few years. He blames drought, lack of planting and the toll taken by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s not the first shortage I’ve seen in my lifetime. But I’ve never seen

Farmland and environmentalists kick back at Greenbelt grab

Predictably, once he was re-elected, Ontario Premier Doug Ford took almost no time to break his Greenbelt preservation promise. Last month he announced plans to open up protected land for development and blamed it on newly transplanted Ontarians and their housing needs, like they were some phenom-

ena he’d never encountered before.

You could see it coming. He walked all over farmers during the most recent provincial election campaign, when he promised new highway development overtop farmland outside Toronto. Again, he said it was necessary to accommodate growth.

And I’m sure he’d

also say the province is bending over backwards to support agriculture. Indeed, this week, on the tail of Ford’s broken Greenbelt promise, Agriculture, Food And

Rural Affairs Minister Lisa Thompson announced a new and comprehensive pro-farming strategy called Grow Ontario. She describes it as a vision for the future of the province’s food supply chain, claiming “we do not take its strength and stability for granted.”

Ford would have had to support it. And at another

given time, Grow Ontario would be a winner. It supports key needs like research, innovation and exports. Some commodity groups quickly lined up to praise it and promote it themselves; after all, it’s pretty progressive and visionary. You can tell someone like Thompson, who understands the agri-food system, had a big

hand in it.

But the elephant in the room – that is, Ford’s reversal on Greenbelt protection and farmland preservation – is just too big to ignore, or to spin. So pro-Greenbelt and pro-farmland groups are pushing back.

For example, last week a year-old initiative called

→ ROBERTS 17

Mark Fam has been named the new president of St. Mary’s General Hospital. He’ll be joining the hospital and St. Joseph’s Health System on Feb. 6. He comes to St. Mary’s from Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto, where he is currently the vice president of clinical programs. Prior to that, he was vice president of corporate services at Health Quality Ontario.

Grand River Hospital (GRH) and UW-spinoff company KA Imaging are partnering on a commercialization project supported by the Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network. GRH is adding a device that is designed to produce higher-resolution images for improved patient monitoring and faster, more accurate diagnosis to its intensive care unit (ICU).

St. Mary’s new president GRH partnership

Leah

The 1st Elmira Scouts are again selling Christmas trees this year from the usual location at the Gore Park bandstand in Elmira. Sales are so far so good, says Phillippe Bertrand, the group commissioner. Leah Gerber

Rising demand, adverse weather conditions and shrinking acreage among factors in four-year shortage of supplies

OWEN ROBERTS Food For Thought

December Hours

Tuesday 10:00 – 5:00

Wednesday 10:00 – 5:00

Thursday 10:00 – 5:00

Friday 10:00 – 5:00

Saturday 9:30 – 2:30 Evening appointments available

→ FROM 15 to the cost of diesel fuel to run equipment.

it to a point where there wasn’t any,” he said of his 60 years in the business.

He says the trees avail able are of lesser quality, or just not available at all. Premium-grade just doesn’t exist anymore, he says.

Phillippe Bertrand is the group commissioner for the 1st Elmira Scouts, who sell Christmas trees to help offset costs for the likes of camping trips and supplies.

“There are less types of trees [available] because we still have the tree planting shortage that took place many years ago,” said Bertrand.

All together it means that trees are getting more expensive.

“Across Canada, trees are up about 10 per cent this year,” said Brennan, noting rising prices are due not only to the shortage, but the fact input prices for farming are becoming more and more expensive as well. That includes everything from insurance

→ FROM 15

Home Grown, led by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, torqued up its efforts to get Ontarians to join a save-the-farmland crusade. Even the most conservative farmers flinch when they hear the federation’s claim, based

on 2021 Census of Agri culture data, that almost 320 acres of farmland are being lost daily in Ontario to development.

Politically, this is a tough position for Ontario’s main general farm organization to be in, given that farmers overwhelmingly vote

Conservative. But that underlines the gravity of the matter. Farmers know that the province’s plans for a productive agri-food sector are no more than lip service if farmland loss is not halted. They also know their farms could be next. So, despite the potential

political fallout, they’re standing up to Ford anyway.

Some of them have joined an even bigger and more militant coalition that is screaming at the top of its lungs about broken Greenbelt promises.

This group, including

environmentalists and housing advocates, says Ford’s housing develop ment plan doesn’t address the need for affordable housing. Most newcomers to Ontario can hardly shell out single-family GTA home prices, they say. So why pick on the Greenbelt?

The shortage also means that farmers and sellers are adapting their open ing and closing dates for their seasons. And when it comes to filling wholesale orders, Brennan says that companies might order more trees, having sold out last year, “and we aren’t able to fill those additional numbers.”

“So we see that farms are closing the gates earlier, we’re seeing that they may have adjusted their open ing weekend,” she added. And how is the industry preparing for the future?

Brennan says that besides planting more trees, the Canadian Christ mas Tree Association is also focusing on attracting more people to become Christmas tree farmers. It takes less land than people might think, she said, adding Christmas tree farming is something of a labour of love because the trees take ten years before they can be sold.

Even Doug Ford knows Ontario’s allure includes its green space and its farm land. And agriculture is one of the province’s biggest income sources. How about investing in urban renewal instead of destroying a big part of what makes Ontario such a gem?

ROBERTS: Province’s Greenbelt plan does nothing for those looking to fight the rapid loss of prime farmland

TREE SHORTAGE: Local producers and customers are seeing the same trends playing out nationally

Claire Legere, 9, a Cub with 1st Elmira Scouts, Troy Dittenhoffer, 14, a Venturer, and Damien Stark, 13, a Scout, were out in the cold rain Sunday helping to sell Christmas trees. Leah Gerber

Arts

Read a local best seller every week.

Local stories that inspire.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com

Tips: observerxtra.com/tips

The show goes on

When the Wellington Winds perform their Sounds of the Season concert Dec. 11 in Waterloo, they’ll be doing so after scrambling to replace instruments stolen Nov. 8, when a trailer parked at a Conestogo address was taken. The financial hit was valued at some $50,000. The group, a registered charity, is taking donations. www.wellingtonwindsymphony.ca

An Osmond for Christmas

December now here, some holiday cheer is definitely on the agenda tonight (Thursday) when Marie Osmond takes to the stage at the Centre In The Square. Her “A Symphonic Christmas” show will include a long list of festive favourites, as well as the chart-topping singles from her five-decade career. Show time is 8 p.m. www.centreinthesquare.com

Giving voice to the spirit of the season

Observer Staff

THE HOLIDAY SEASON

NOW IN top gear, the Elmira District Ministerial Association will join in the festivities by hosting its annual Christmas Choirs and Carols evening on Sunday night.

The event takes place December 4 at 7 p.m. at Gale Presbyterian Church in Elmira. Freewill offerings will be accepted in support of the Woolwich Counselling Centre (WCC).

The event, hosted by the association for more than a decade now, will see four local choirs take the stage.

As they get back on track after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, organizers have scaled back the event somewhat, said Richard McFadden, the music director at Gale Presbyterian.

“Not quite the extravaganza it has been in the past, but it is community. It is Christmas, and funds are going to the Woolwich Counselling Centre,” he said. This year they decided not to include the usual mass choir as a precaution related to ongoing concerns about COVID-19.

“The mass choir is of course the highlight with everyone singing together, but no, not this year.”

That said, McFadden is looking forward to the churches coming together under one roof to share their musical pieces and unite.

The funds raised are going to the Woolwich Counselling Centre, which supports the community through its main office

centre.

WCC executive director Amanda Wood-Atkinson says this year she and her staff have seen increased demand and people accessing their services. The funds raised at Sunday’s event will go toward subsidizing counselling sessions so they are affordable to everyone of all income levels, as well as paying for the free-toaccess community education workshops.

“We always want to make sure that cost is not a barrier for anyone coming to the centre, so this

allows us to do that,” said Wood-Atkinson.

So far this year the centre has provided 1,360 child and youth therapy sessions, 1,950 individual therapy sessions, 290 senior therapy sessions and 160 family and couple therapy sessions.

The centre offers workshops for children, families, parents, seniors, and individuals. Especially popular are the parenting workshops such as learning how to help children strengthen their emotion regulation skills.

Since 2019, the amount of service hours provided by the centre, including

counselling sessions, groups, workshops and outreach activities, has grown significantly from 3,024 in 2019 to 5,095 in 2022.

“We have seen more people recognize the importance of maintaining mental emotional wellness, so many more people are reaching out,” said Beth Mason, the centre’s program director, adding that people have been recognizing the impact of COVID.

“I think it rattled people to go, ‘well, we need to take better care of our mental, emotional wellness.’ So, definitely seeing people wanting to take a bit more of a proactive approach.”

Shweta Satyan, the awareness and engagement coordinator, says she believes COVID has also impacted the awareness of mental health in the community.

“From a fundraising perspective, we’re seeing our community is a lot more enthusiastic about coming together to raise funds for mental health. We’ve had several community-generated fundraisers where we haven’t done the asking, with a group together to raise money for us,” she said.

The trio encourages everyone to come out to Sunday’s event.

“Come and enjoy the music. It’s a gift to our community, and to also recognize the importance of connecting with others in mental wellness,” said Wood-Atkinson.

Gale Presbyterian is located at 10 Barnswallow Dr.

Leah Gerber

in Elmira and satellite location at the Wellesley health

Amanda Wood-Atkinson and Beth Mason of the Woolwich Counselling Centre are happy the organization will be the recipient of funds raised at Sunday’s Choirs and Carols event. Leah Gerber

The Elmira District Ministerial Association presents Christmas Choirs and Carols event Sunday night at Gale Presbyterian

Advertising Placing a classified ad

Classifieds

For Sale

CHRISTMAS SALE AT HILLCREST HOME Baking. Dec. 6 to 13, 2022. Ph # 519-6691381. Tues. Dec. 13 and Wed. Dec. 14 Free coffee and Long Johns. 10% off throughout the store excluding grocer-

Help Wanted

ies, coats, homemade shirts, pants & hats.

Christmas Hours: Closed Mondays & Sundays. Closed Dec. 25, 26 & 27. Closed Jan 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. We will close at 4:00 on Dec. 24 & 31.

Bakery will be closed Jan. 1 to 27.

Seven days. One paper.

A bestseller every week.

Phone: 519-669-5790 ext 104 Email: ads@woolwichobserver.com Job Listings: jobs.observerxtra.com

For Sale

DOWNSIZINGGARDEN TILLER, lawn mower, scroll saw, Boston rocker, outdoor (porch) wicker type love seat and chairs with cushions. 519-669-5078.

For Sale

PIANO, 2002 KAWAI CN270 AMAZING digital, rosewood w/ bench. 5-star rating, 88 keys, 55 " long. Excellent condition. Paid $1,825. Asking $900. Call 519-822-2080.

Help Wanted

Family

Farm Services

BAGGED PINE SHAVINGS AGRICULTURAL Spray Lime, 22.5kg. bag; feed grade lime, 25kg. Delivered. Call George Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

Farm Services

FERTILIZER AND SEED GRAIN - AT COMPETItive pricing. Call George Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141.

All classified advertising is prepaid. Ads will be accepted in person, email, or phone during regular office hours. Deadline is Wednesdays by 10am. Order and pay online at: observerxtra.com/classifieds

Residential: $9 per 20 words (20¢ per extra word)

Commercial: $15 per 20 words (30¢ per extra word)

Help Wanted

CARSTAR ELMIRA

CARSTAR Elmira is looking to hire a general employee, who can take direction and that works well with others. Hours are Monday-Friday. Must have valid drivers license.

REAL ESTATE LAW CLERK

Pay: $40,000-$48,000 (experience dependent).

Hours: Monday-Friday, 35 hour work week, plus overtime after 40 hours, IN OFFICE (Not virtual).

Benefits: Extended health care, vision care, paid holidays, life insurance, RRSP matching after permanent hire.

WATERS,

HASTINGS & GRAINGER PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION

is a very busy small town law firm seeking the right individual to complement and expand our team. We are a full service, stable, growing, long standing, hard working and client centered business which includes a thriving real estate and corporate practice.

The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills, high integrity and a work ethic which distinguishes the individual from the rest of the pack.

Help Wanted

Youth is no barrier, providing you bring maturity, pride in your work and a willingness to learn. You are ready to demonstrate high concern for the needs of the client and an unfailing commitment to organization and accuracy in your work. Loyalty to the firm and concern for other team members is important.

Graduates in law clerking will be considered, as will individuals with 2 to 10 years experience in real estate law. We are looking for an outstanding candidate, possessing high intelligence, confidence in accurate written and verbal communication, maturity and good character, in addition to educational and experience credentials.

You will augment our excellent real estate staff in completion of real estate purchases, sales, mortgages and other real estate functions from the first quote for the client to completion of closing reports.

You will work closely with the lawyers to whom you report and you will enjoy frequent client contact. We have fun at work, enjoy the people we serve and the team with whom we serve.

Access to a vehicle and the ability to deliver documents to banks and government offices will be an advantage. Your travel expenses will be well compensated, when required.

Your knowledge of the area, and in particular, the rural, small town lifestyles of the townships will serve you well. Your ability to relate to and enjoy communication with a diverse range of individuals in the community will take you far in our office.

This is not a work from home position and we encourage residence within easy driving radius of our office.

This position in real estate clerking will commence in a one year contract. We have lots of work so the right candidate will advance into full-time, permanent employment. Advancement is anticipated and hoped for as our business continues to grow and your skills grow along with us.

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and will be competitive with other firms of our size. We have a benefit package which will be available after 3 months of service. Financial promotion will follow in due course as you attain experience and add value to our firm. We are hoping for an employee who wants to start a career and a long term relationship with Waters, Hastings & Grainger.

Apply to michelle@whglaw.ca and cc kaitlyn@whglaw.ca with resume and short cover letter.

We thank all candidates for their applications. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. If candidate is not local they must be willing to relocate or be committed to commuting.

For more info, please apply in person or email your resume to elmira@carstar.ca

Help Wanted

The Township of Woolwich is hiring

Crossing Guards

for the 2022-2023 School Year.

Crossing Guards make a di erence in our community by determining safe opportunities to cross, assisting children and adults across the intersection, and ensuring tra c remains stopped until all pedestrians have safely crossed the intersection.

Crossing Guards serve the school community for two 30-minute shifts per day. Ideal candidates are at least 18 years old, community-minded, and have reliable transportation or the ability to walk to the school crossing for each shift. They must be able to communicate clearly and e ectively in English using spoken commands and hand signals. They are required to hold the stop paddle (approx. 2 lb.) up with one arm to be seen clearly by motorists for up to 1 minute intermittently over each 30 minute period.

Physical requirements are good vision, hearing, and footing. Must be able to walk and stand for each 30-minute shift and work in all weather conditions including extremes of heat and cold. Must provide a current Police Vulnerable Sector Check satisfactory to the Township if hired. On-the-job training and equipment is provided. This is a paid position.

Interested applicants are invited to submit their resume and cover letter by email to hr@woolwich.ca.

All applicants are thanked for their interest in this position but only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The Township of Woolwich is committed to diversity and inclusion and o ers an accessible workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to meeting the needs of applicants during all phases of the hiring process. This document is available in alternate formats, or with accessible communication supports, upon request.

Waters, Hastings & Grainger

Professional Corporation er

Trades

Coming Events

BOWEN THERAPY

CERTIFICATION

Garage Sales

WELLESLEY

NOTICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WELLESLEY

Budget Consultation Notice

TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Township of Wellesley will be reviewing the DRAFT municipal budget for the year 2023, with the intent to pass a By-law to adopt a budget pursuant to Section 290 of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended. The first public consultation meeting for the 2023 budget will be held on December 7, 2022 starting at 9:00 am and ending at 4:30 pm at the St. Clements Fire Station, 2671 Herrgott Road, St. Clements.

Canadians

world. Champion the truth.

Public Notice

WINTER OVERNIGHT PARKING BAN

This is a reminder the Winter Overnight Parking Ban for snow plowing begins December 1st.

Please note the dates and times as follow:

December 1st to March 31st between 4:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.

No overnight parking is permitted on Township roads during this time to facilitate municipal snow plowing from the streets. THIS BAN APPLIES REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER. Any vehicles in violation of this parking ban may be ticketed.

Please note that the Region of Waterloo has a year-round overnight parking ban on all Regional roads between the hours of 2:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.

For further information please contact the Township of Woolwich at: 519-669-6000 or visit www.woolwich.ca/WinterParking

You can view

by REGISTERING with the Support Specialist on or before 12 noon on Tuesday, December 6th. To register please email lschaefer@woolwich.ca or phone 519-669-1647, ext. 6112. Once you are registered the Support Specialist will forward information on how to connect to the Zoom meeting (i.e. zoom Wi-Fi login or toll-free conference call number).

In Memory of

John Harry Gerth

Aug. 31/49 – Dec. 7/2020 In Memoriam

In Memoriam

Douglas Frederick Jamieson

Can’t believe it has been 2 years since you left, seems like yesterday. Your life was a blessing. Your memory is a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.

Love forever Linda, Chad, Dee and Mike, Trevor and Caroline and your 6 grandchildren

December 31, 1943 – November 29, 2021

Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed and very dear.

From your loving family, Ray; Kent and Carolyn, Krista and Leon, Todd and Nikki; Cody, Chelsey and Hayslie, Ali, Braiden; and all her siblings.

Death Notice

LARSEN, SHIRLEY

Love, Cassandra, Lucy and Binx

1172 Henry Street, Wellesley,Ontario.N0B2T0 519-656-2880 chris@futher-franklinfuneralhome.com www.futher-franklinfuneralhome.com

Reassurance

Martin, Elinor “Ely”

Birthday

Advertisement Obituary Please call or email Donna Rudy: 519-669-5790 ext 104 donna@woolwichobserver.com Family Announcement Advertising: Ads will be accepted in person, email, or phone during regular office hours. Deadline is Wednesdays by 10am. Order online at: observerxtra.com/order-family-album Single: $28 per insertion Double: $38 per insertion Triple: $48 per insertion Announce it in the Observer. Advertisement Looking for work(ers)? Observer Job Board + Print = Maximum Exposure Visit our newly launched full-service self-serve job board aimed to help local businesses connect with local people looking for work. Combine the power of the print and online and we’ll get you in front of our local audience. � Employer dashboard to post & edit listings � Add logo, images, video and links to listing � Online applications or by link or email � Featured listings - added exposure � All listing pushed to social media � 30 day listings � Job notification alerts direct to email � Purchase safely online with credit card

Living Here

It's about all of us.

Leading the way reporting about the people and places of home.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com Report it: observerxtra.com/tips

Busy weekend for Santa Medals for posters

After stopping in Elmira for the parade on Saturday, Santa heads down the road to Wilmot Township the following day. The New Hamburg Santa Claus Parade is set for Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. The route starts from the south entrance of Norm Hill Park.

Among the 384 entries into the Legion’s Remembrance Day poster contest from local schools, there were 55 medals awarded (23 gold, 17 silver, 15 bronze). Eight of the gold entries were forwarded to the next level of competition. Participating schools included St. Boniface, Breslau PS, John Mahood, St. Teresa of Avila, Foundation Christian School, Park Manor and EDSS.

He’s made a career of covering the local environment

Leah Gerber Observer Staff

BOB BURTT KNOWS

A THING or two about water – and the issues surrounding its use and abuse – from his years working as a Waterloo Region Record reporter covering environmental issues.

Water is the subject of this third book, Water, Our Sacred Trust.

“Water, it’s the source of all life, and if it’s abused or ignored, it can also be the cause of death or serious illness,” Burtt said.

Burtt worked in the newspaper industry for 50 years, with much of that time spent at the Waterloo Region Record. He was inspired to write this book after spending years covering water issues in the region, especially in Elmira.

His first book, No Guardians at The Gate, was in fact about the discovery more than 30 years ago that Elmira’s aquifers were full of chemical contaminants, the cleanup of which continues to this day. The second is rare Moments in Time about the work

being done at rare Charitable Research Reserve in Cambridge.

The newest book has three parts. First, he looks at cautionary tales of what happens when water is abused or taken for granted. He covers the stories of the Walkerton and Elmira water crises, among other stories.

In Elmira, “all their wells were contaminated because of lack of over site by government and lack of care by the company,” said Burtt.

Second, the book takes a look at the sources of water available in Waterloo Region, including groundwater, the Grand River and conservation.

Burtt says he considers conservation, that is, using less water, as a third source because, “if you don’t use it, you don’t need to produce it.”

He is also concered about major threats to the region’s water sources, particularly road salt.

“Salt is a real dilemma,” he said. The region is targeted for thousands more people, but “more growth [means] more roads, more salt, and this

Transplant options for patients who are obese

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My kidneys are failing, and my doctor has told me that I need to have a kidney transplant. I am severely overweight, and losing weight has been extremely difficult. Due to my weight, my doctor also said that I would not qualify for a transplant. What options are avail-

able for patients who are overweight and in need of a transplant?

ANSWER: You are not alone in your struggles with weight. More than

40% of adults in the U.S. are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Statistics also show that a growing number of kidney transplant candidates have morbid obesity, meaning they have a body mass index, or BMI, of 35 or higher. BMI is a tool used to

define when a person is overweight or obese based on weight and height. Many transplant centers will not perform kidney transplants on people with a BMI above 35 due to the increased risks of complications.

Some transplant centers will perform surgeries on patients with a BMI of up

Winter in Ontario can cause brutal driving conditions. It’s the season you most definitely don’t want to be inconvenienced with a vehicle breakdown on the side of the road…

to 40.

That still leaves a sizable number of patients who are obese and in need of a transplant who do not qualify. In the past, these patients were often told to lose the necessary weight on their own and return to qualify for a transplant when they had reached their goal

weight.

The good news is transplant patients who need to lose weight to qualify for a transplant now have more options.

Some transplant centers, including Mayo Clinic, have begun offering programs designed to help patients awaiting

20 Oriole Parkway E., Elmira.

Maintaining Your

Car And

▢ Mayo Clinic

Professional Clinical Health Advice

In Water, Our Sacred Trust, Bob Burtt looks at the issues surrounding a resource many of us simply take for granted

→

▢

One recipe you should make for your cookie party

▢

▢

times to make "blackstrap" molasses. You can use light or dark molasses in this recipe, but don't use blackstrap molasses here -- its flavor is too bitter and intense.

1⁄4 cup (3 ounces) molasses

▢

▢ 1⁄8 teaspoon salt

1. HEAT AND LINE: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. WHISK DRY: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt.

3. WHISK WET: In a large bowl, whisk melted butter and brown sugar until smooth. Add molasses, egg yolk, and vanilla and whisk until well combined.

4. MIX: Add flour mixture and use rubber spatula to stir until no dry flour is visible and soft dough forms.

1 large egg yolk

▢

▢

5. ROLL AND COAT: Place sugar in a shallow dish. Use your hands to roll dough into 12 balls (about 1 heaping tablespoon each). Place dough balls in dish and roll to coat with sugar.

6. PRESS: Place sugar-coated dough balls on parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space between them. Gently flatten each ball.

25 years, confident cooks in the know have relied on America's Test Kitchen for rigourously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks and vetted by 60,000 at-home recipe testers. See more online at www. amercastestkitchen.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

▢

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3

▢ Galaxy of Gifts Craft Show Fundraiser for Kitchener Cat Rescue. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lions Hall, St. Jacobs. Over 30 vendors. Free admission.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4

▢ Elmira Theatre Company Auditions for Tuesdays With Morrie. December 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. Elmira Theatre Company invites you to audition for our spring 2023 production of Tuesdays With Morrie by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom. Cast Requirements: 2 challenging male roles. Morrie Schwarz – 78, college prof. witty, intelligent, lover of life, also dying of ALS. Mitch Albom –37 years old – career-driven sports journalist & Morrie’s former student, now taking Morrie’s last “class” on the meaning of life. Visit www.elmiratheatre.com/upcoming-auditions to learn more, or contact Director Sue Garner at suegarner32@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7

▢ Senior’s Community Dining at Calvary United Church, St. Jacobs. Community Care Concepts invites you to join us for lunch and fellowship. Cost: $12. Must pre-register by December 2 by calling 519-664-1900.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8

▢Senior’s Community Dining at Breslau Community Centre. Community Care Concepts invites you to join us for lunch and fellowship. Cost: $12. Must pre-register by December 2 by calling 519-664-1900.

▢Woodside Evergreen for Seniors at Woodside Church, Elmira. Starts at 10:30 a.m. Christmas Music and Words - piano and cello concert with Anthony and Sam Domzella, Devotional: Pastor Gary Goodkey, Reading: Cairine Domzella, Carol Sing: Beryl Martin, piano and Fred Gingrich, organ. Suggested donation $8 includes hot lunch. Registration required by Sun Dec 4 at www.woodsidechurch.ca/evergreen or 519-6691296.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9

▢ Friday Food at the Elmira Legion. Doors open at 4 p.m., serving at 5:45 p.m. Menu: Sausage on a bun, Parmesan potatoes, coleslaw, dessert $10/plate. Join us in the lounge. All welcome.

▢ Journey to Bethlehem at Floradale Mennonite Church, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. View the Bethlehem display in the basement windows and enjoy hot chocolate under the stars. Sign up for a time slot on the Church website floramc.org or email office@floramc.org.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13

▢ A Concert of Christmas Favourites at the Breslau Community Centre, 7:30 p.m. The Breslau, Bloomingdale, Maryhill Concert Band invites you to A Concert of Christmas Favourites (and sing-a-long.) Santa will also be there so bring the kids.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14

▢ Senior’s Community Dining at Linwood Community Centre. Community Care Concepts invites you to join us for lunch and fellowship. Cost: $12. Must pre-register by December 9 by calling 519-664-1900.

▢ America's Test Kitchen Rigorously tested recipes that work. ↆ FAITH DIRECTORY 58 Church St. W., Elmira • 519-669-5123 Elmira Mennonite Church www.elmiramennonite.ca Advent 2 –Prepare the Way of the Lord 9:30am Jonathan Brubacher Preaching ↆ The Community Events Calendar is reserved for non-profit local events that are offered free to the public. Placement is not guaranteed. Registrations, corporate events, open houses and similar events do not qualify for free advertising. See complete policy online. All submissions are to be made online at observerxtra.com/event-listing/. Kleensweep Rugs and Upholstery Carpet Care COLLEEN “A GOOD JOB DONE EVERY TIME” T. 519.669.2033 Cell: 519.581.7868 •Mattress Cleaning •Residential •Commercial •Personalized Service •Free Estimates West Montrose, ON M&G MILLWRIGHTS LTD. • Design • Installation • Custom Fabrication 519.669.5105 1540 FLORADALE ROAD P.O. BOX 247, ELMIRA www.mgmill.com MATERIAL HANDLING & PROCESSING SYSTEMS TOTAL HOME ENERGY SYSTEMS 24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE R ES IDENT IAL & COMMERC IAL 11 HENRY ST - UNIT 9, ST. JACOBS YOUR OIL, PROPANE, NATURAL GAS AND AIR CONDITIONING EXPERTS 519.664.2008 VERMONT Castings SANYO CANADIAN MACHINE WORKS INCORPORATED 33 Industrial Dr., Elmira 519.669.1591 Quality & Service you can trust. 21 Industrial Dr., Elmira 519.669.2884 | martinselmira.com Individual life insurance, mortgage insurance, business insurance, employee benefits programs, critical illness insurance, disability coverage, Freedom 55 Financial is a division of The Canada Life Assurance Company RRSPs, RESPs, RRIFs, LIFs and Annuities 652 Waterbury Lane, Waterloo NANCY KOEBEL Bus: 519.744.5433 Email: nancy.koebel@f55f.com Truck & Trailer Maintenance Cardlock Fuel Management 24 COMMERCIAL FUEL DEPOT HOUR CARDLOCK 25 Industrial Drive, Elmira Your First Step to Better Hearing 519-669-9919 charlene@bauerhearing.com Education and Treatment Vacuum Sales, Repairs Service 9 C hurch St. E., Elmira All Makes & Models 519-669-8362 Email: e lmir avacuum@gmail.com Se ↆ COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR Woolwich Healthy Communities healthywoolwich.org The place to get involved. • Volunteer Opportunities • Projects & News • Sub-Committee updates SPACE FOR RENT Advertise here for great weekly exposure in Woolwich & Wellesley townships. CALL Donna to book this space today! 519-669-5790 ext. 104

is having a real negative effect on the well water in the region. That’s going to be a real challenge.”

The third part of the book looks at the history of water, beginning all the way back to water-mov ing structures in ancient Roman times, and follow ing this to the installa tion of the first wells in the region, current-day management and plans for the future.

All together, Burtt estimates he wrote the book on and off over three years. Sometimes he needed to take a break to get his focus back, he said.

“I always believed there was a really good story there. I just had to find a way to tell it.”

All his books required a great deal of research, “lots of time in the archives, and lots of reading,” he said. But ulti mately he feels it’s very rewarding work.

“I loved newspaper work, but here you get

a chance with a book to really focus on one thing and learn about it as much as you can,” he said.

Burtt has spent much of his life writing about the Grand River and the region’s groundwater. He speaks about the ups and downs the river has had. At times, it’s been extremely polluted and running nearly dry in summer or flooding reck lessly in the spring or fall.

“We’ve always expected so much of [the Grand],” he says. “We wait for it to break, but it really never has.”

He also spends time speculating about the future of water in Water loo Region and around the world.

“A lot of rivers in the States are just drying up. Aquifers are drying up,” he said. Burtt believes a large percentage of the world is going to be short water in the next 20 or 30 years.

In Waterloo Region, Regional staff are “reasonably confident

that we can go ahead with growth and still protect the river,” he said.

The challenges will include protecting the recharge of the river and groundwater, and ulti mately managing water wisely in order to avoid building a pipeline to one of the Great Lakes for more water if the region’s supply runs out.

“Some of [the book] tends to be dark,” he said, “but I meant this to be a hopeful book.” He hopes the book will engage readers and, “get [them] interested in where their water’s coming from, how it’s protected and where it’s coming from in the future,” he said.

“Be engaged. That would be the simple message, I think.”

The book will be available for purchase by mid-December at Wordsworth Books and Bowman Home Hardware in Preston. Those inter ested can also email Burtt directly at: bobburtt@ gmail.com.

a transplant lose weight. People who participate in these programs may work with a team, including dieticians, endocrinolo gists, psychologists and others to create a detailed weight-loss plan.

While some patients successfully lose the necessary weight to qualify for a transplant through diet and exer cise alone, other people may undergo bariatric surgery to help them lose the weight necessary to qualify for a lifesaving transplant. The two most common types of bariatric surgery are Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy.

The first procedure involves creating a small pouch from the stomach and connecting the newly created pouch directly to the small intestine. In the case of a sleeve gastrec tomy, a surgeon removes about 80% of the stomach, leaving a long, tube-like pouch.

Most bariatric proce dures are performed laparoscopically. This minimally invasive technique shortens

recovery times. As with any surgical procedure, risks are involved, so it is important for patients to discuss the pros and cons of each proce dure with their health care provider. In addition, patients who undergo bariatric surgery need to be willing to make permanent healthy life style changes for the procedure to be successful.

Patients who are obese and in need of an organ transplant often struggle with other chronic condi tions, including obstruc tive sleep apnea and Type 2 diabetes. Losing weight can sometimes cure these ailments, which lowers the risk in undergoing transplant surgery. It also increases the odds for better outcomes post transplant.

Recognizing the need for weight loss and asking for assistance early is the

most important thing patients who are obese can do as they begin navigating kidney transplant

options. Once a patient ends up needing dialysis, losing weight gets harder because the treatment causes fatigue.

While having to lose a large amount of weight to qualify for a transplant may seem overwhelming, remember experts and resources are out there to help with this challenge.

ↆ Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit www. mayoclinic.org.

MAYO CLINIC: Losing weight is typically a prerequisite before obese patients will be considered for a transplant

WATER: Author has spent decades covering environmental issues in and around Waterloo Region

Bob Burtt’s latest book is the upcoming Water, Our Sacred Trust. Leah Gerber

TSB investigating runway-overshoot

THE INVESTIGATION

INTO AN AIRPLANE overshooting the runway at Region of Waterloo International Airport early last Friday morning is still ongoing, according to a spokesperson with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB). Around 6:30 a.m. on November 25, a Boeing 737 operated by Flair Airlines overshot the primary runway by about 490 feet, the TSB said. There were 134 passengers

and six crew members onboard. Both a team of investigators from TSB and emergency services from Waterloo Region responded to the Breslau location shortly after the incident.

Emergency services were able to evacuate the airplane, and damage the aircraft sustained was reported as minor, police said. Waterloo Region paramedics treated one person on scene for minor injuries.

“Flair Airlines F8 501 from Vancouver to Kitch ener-Waterloo exited the

runway at the end of its landing at the Region of Waterloo International Airport. Passengers deplaned the aircraft and were taken to the terminal by bus. The safety and well-being of our passen gers and crew is our top priority,” a Flair Airlines spokesperson said.

Flair did not make anyone available for an interview and said via email that “the airline will not have any additional comment beyond this statement.”

The airplane remained on the 7,003-foot runway for several hours. All commercial flights were cancelled for the rest of the day and the airport did not return to normal operations until 3:30 a.m. the next day.

“All passengers and crew were removed from the aircraft and no injuries were reported. The aircraft has been recovered and the Transportation Safety Board continues to conduct an investigation,” read a Saturday morning statement from the region.

“There was very minor damage to the aircraft but the landing gear did not collapse,” said TSB spokesperson Liam MacDonald. However, as the investigation is ongoing, he was unable to provide further informa tion.

“Depending on how we classify the occurrence, we will be able to disclose more information but at this time we don’t have any findings to be shared,” MacDonald added.

A Flair Airlines flight landing at the Region of Waterloo International Airport Nov. 25 overshot the runway and ended up in a grassy area. One person was treated for a minor injury. Submitted

Bill Atwood

Observer Staff