July 18, 2019

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Recognizing his years of environmental action People. Places. Pictures. Profiles. Perspectives.

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JULY 18, 2019

WELLESLEY COUNCIL

Wellesley to focus on westside growth Future growth in village part of township's latest boundary plan BY VERONICA REINER vreiner@woolwichobserver.com

Future growth in the Village of Wellesley will be to the west under a redrawing of the settlement boundaries approved last week by township council. Years in the making, the so-called boundary rationalization process has the township looking at shortand long-term growth patterns, removing areas currently within the urban boundary and assigning it elsewhere. The current iteration removes from the settlement area 10.36 hectares (25.6 acres) of land in the north part of the village in favour of assigning development potential on the west side. The process is literally redrawing the map, deciding which pieces of land are brought inside the borders and which are cut loose to await a future decision on development potential. That means there are some property

w

owners unhappy to be on the outside looking in, development plans for their land on hold until the maps are redrawn to their liking. For now, the township can only shift lines, as for every acre brought into the fold, another has to be dropped somewhere as part of the one-time procedure. Under the direction of the Region of Waterloo, the exercise requires no net increases in the total size of settlement areas in the township. For Wellesley village, the new boundaries would see new residential development on a parcel of land fronting on Gerber Road, west of Lawrence Street. The township sees that area as readily developable, with extending municipal services being easy to service. There is plenty of capacity in the water and wastewater systems to accommodate development there, says planner RATIONALIZATION | 05

Dying ash trees are at the root of culling underway at Elmira woodlot.

[JOE MERLIHAN / THE OBSERVER]

Things aren't as bad as they look in Elmira woodlot, says township BY STEVE KANNON skannon@woolwichobserver.com

Resembling a miniature logging operation, work at an Elmira woodlot isn’t what it seems, says Woolwich’s environmental coordinator. It may look messy, but the project visible from Whippoorwill Drive is simply an expanded version of clearing out deadwood, particularly ash trees, said Ann Roberts.

While the township usually employs a cut-anddrop approach, leaving the trees to decompose on the forest floor, there are too many trees in this case, she explained. The contractor is taking the cut trees for lumber or firewood, paying the township for the usable wood, which will offset some of the costs involved. While it looks “pretty messy” out there just now, she said, new growth is expected to take hold in a

year or two, according to an assessment provided by Region of Waterloo forester and planner Albert Hovingh, who’s been assisting the township with the project. “It will allow new growth to come in,” said Roberts, noting the contractor is doing the work slowly to minimize the impact on the woodlot. “It is being done in a very careful way.” Along with natural regrowth, the township will

look at doing some planting in the newly cleared areas along the roadway, introducing more diversity into the mix. In the interior of the woodlot, nature will be left to take its course, said Hovingh. “We’ll just leave that – you’d be surprised by how quickly that will fill in. That will come in pretty thick.” The arrangement with

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O BS E RV E R X TR A. C O M | THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 | 03

FROM THE ARCHIVES

GUILTY VERDICT Creating community connections starts and ends with our readers. News tips are always welcome.

PAGE THREE

Phone: 519-669-5790 ext 103

Glenn Bauman, 46, was found guilty last week of two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Linda Daniel, 48, and her daughter Cheyenne, 13, on July 16, 2011 at the home they shared near St. Clements. A jury determined that after killing the two women, Bauman burned their bodies in the backyard of the home at 3670 Hessen Strasse.

A fire that tore through a hardwood manufacturer north of Elmira this week left behind $1.25 million in damage and exhausted firefighters from four Woolwich stations. For hours the firefighters, working in short shifts, battled the inferno that had engulfed the Elbru Distributors woodworking manufacturing operation. From the July 21, 2012 edition of The Observer

Online: observerxtra.com/tips

WELLESLEY COUNCIL

Council approves zone change to permit sawmill Controversial plan for property near Linwood sees smooth sailing this time BY VERONICA REINER vreiner@woolwichobserver.com

Sophia Ryan and Owen Harth were among those enjoying a free hot dog last Thursday at Woolwich Community Services in Elmira.

[VERONICA REINER]

Hot dog! Summer bring plenty of extra offerings from WCS “We received some funding through Woolwich 100 Women Who Care, and it was to support the connecting of people in the community,” explained WCS executive director Kelly Christie. “So we decided we would have hot dog Thursdays and invite everyone in the community to come and meet each other and stay connected.” In case you miss out on the hot dogs, there’s an alternative food option in the form of public access to a community garden where fresh produce grows. “Last year we received a grant from RBC here in

BY VERONICA REINER vreiner@woolwichobserver.com

From free hot dog Thursdays to a community garden ripe for picking, Woolwich Community Services has plenty on offer for just about anyone in the community throughout the summer months. Every week on Thursdays throughout July and August (except August 8), a free hot dog lunch will be offered to anyone interested at 5 Memorial Ave. from 12-1 p.m. There are meat and vegetarian options available, along with a drink.

The smiles, like the hot dogs, are free at WCS on Thursdays.

town, and we purchased some gardening pots outside,” said Christie. “If you’re out for a walk and see a ripe cherry tomato,

you’re welcome to help yourself. It’s for anyone who would enjoy it.” The organization did receive funding from several other organizations, using the funds toward specific causes. A grant from the KW Community Foundation allowed WCS to hire a new support position for the community. “We were able to hire a staff person for 15 hours a week – the connection partner – and she actually will meet with adults either here at the office or wherever is best suited and help them get reconnected in SUMMER FUN | 07

A contentious issue last time it was discussed, a Linwood sawmill won quick approval from Wellesley councillors meeting July 9. Where neighbours were abuzz when the proposal was aired in April, there was little ado last week, paving the way for the operation of a sawmill on a 93-acre agricultural property at 5055 Ament Line, adjacent to the Linwood settlement area. Due to early input, however, the township did highlight dust and noise issues in assessing the application for a zoning change submitted by Wayne Sauder. Because the noise was the most common complaint expressed by delegations, a noise assessment was prepared. The assessment not only reflected the traditional measure of sound level in decibels but also took tonality into account. Friedman Street properties that back onto the site, where neighbours are affected, showed 42 - 45 dBA; the provincial limit is 50 dBA. The Region of Waterloo reviewed the updated noise study and found it complies with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks noise limit during daytime hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There are clear mini-

mum setback uses outlined, including provisions that the mill will be 305 metres away from commercial or custom grain handling and storage facilities, as well as any former and active waste sites. Addressing another common complaint, a report from township planner Geoff Vaanderbaren noted that any potential impact on property values isn’t part of the process. “The courts and the OMB/LPAT have noted consistently that property values are not a land use planning concern,” the report notes. Furthermore, the township does not determine land values, as that function lies with the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation. The application was somewhat complicated by the fact that Sauder does not own or farm the property, but instead rents it. Residents earlier raised concerns that granting him a zone change would set a precedent. But Vaanderbaren’s report downplayed that prospect: “each situation is considered on its own merits and approval of this application should not be considered setting precedence.” None of the assessing agencies, such as the region and Grand River Conservation Authority, raised any concerns about the zoning bylaw amendment.

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C O M MUN IT Y N E WS | 05

S O M E ST I L L I N C L A S S

Summer school means charitable lunches are still in demand BY VERONICA REINER vreiner@woolwichobserver.com

With school out and much more free time available, summer is generally thought of as a leisurely time for students and teachers. But not everybody’s on holidays, as summer school means there’s a smattering of both kids and educators still at it. Likewise, there’s still work to be done for the folks at Nutrition for Learning, an Ayr-based charity that provides healthy lunches at no cost to those who need them. “Obviously summer school is great; some of it is by choice, some of it’s not by choice,” said Brian

Banks, interim executive director at the organization. “But it’s still summer, and we want to make sure everyone has the same firm grounding in there. So whether you call that a snack or a full meal, we want to make sure that nobody goes hungry and everybody has something to keep them going.” The meals provided are all healthy – the likes of cheese, apples, juice, granola bars, and hard-boiled eggs – and are served at 10 Waterloo Region schools offering summer classes. Nearly 3,000 students are being served in July. “All those different schools have different needs, and I would say volumes as well. Some of

them are very large; some of them are up to 1,400 students,” explained Banks. “Then we have some that are 700, but we also have schools with 50 attending at some of the elementary [schools],” added Tania Moser, program support and development at Nutrition for Learning. They can continue providing this service with the help of a $5,000 grant from the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation. That arrangement has been going on for about three years, said Banks. “This isn’t something we get funding from the Ontario ministry to support,” he explained. “So we normally seek out grants and funders to help us deal

with it.” Generally, it provides a sense of relief to students. The organization aims to ensure no student goes hungry regardless of socioeconomic background. “You’d be surprised how quickly they enjoy it,” said Banks. “You can just see they’re happy, they know it’s there, they grab it: cheese, hard-boiled eggs, apples, granola bars, juice laid out there for them. Surprisingly enough, the hard-boiled eggs are enjoyed. It’s also reassuring knowing that it’s there.” Students may attend summer school at both the elementary and secondary level for a variety of reasons. EDSS, for instance, offers both credit recovery

along with new credit inschool courses and new credit blended learning courses. The latter involves a flexible learning environment where students use a variety of online resources. A summer school co-op is also available for EDSS students, suitable for those who cannot fit the co-op into their day-school schedules, or to those dedicated to getting experience before applying to college or university. “When you think of

WOODLOT: Larger number of trees means they have to be carted away

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FROM 01

the contractor seems to be working well, added Roberts. “It will reduce the costs and make good use of the wood.” “We’ve done this in a number of other places as well, and it really works out,” said Hovingh. Roberts said the cleanup is likely to be finished by summer’s end, with the contractor taking “time and care” to get the job done right. The final numbers will be tallied up at completion. Other projects are also in the works. “We’re hoping to do similar work in Maryhill Park,” she said, noting the cleanup efforts should get un-

summer school you think ‘oh, failed a credit, have to make it up’ or ‘want to get out of high school sooner.’ We support those as well,” said Moser. There are plenty of credit courses available for students looking to get ahead for grades 10 through 12, such as math functions, law, English, biology, and civics. Students complete 110 hours of teacher-delivered in-class instruction for their chosen topic and can take a maximum of one credit per session.

July 17 - 31

derway this week or next. The township has been dealing with the removal of ash trees for years, most visibly in downtown Elmi-

ra, due to the invasion of the emerald ash borer. In this instance, the ash trees that appear healthy are being left in the woodlot.

Basics Beauty & Beyond

Some of the trees will be used for lumber, providing revenue that will offset some of the township's costs related to the project. [JOE MERLIHAN]

519-669-0237

RATIONALIZATION: Determing new boundaries is an ongoing process FROM 01

Geoff VanderBaaren in his report to council. Latest figures from the Region of Waterloo indicate there’s enough water supply for an additional 6,024 people and enough capacity at the wastewater treatment plant for 869 persons. “The increased land area to be included within the Village of Wellesley settlement area should not cause undue financial hardship on the public services. No additional expansion to the existing sewage treatment facility is required,” he wrote. In the longer term, the township is looking at reallocating some 28 acres of land currently in the rural settlement areas of Bamberg, Crosshill, Linwood and St. Clements to the township urban area, namely Wellesley village. The proposed changes

were the subject of another round of discussions, the latest in the multi-year review, July 9. Steve Wever, a planner with the GSP Group representing Greenwood Hill Drive property owner James Flynn, pushed for his client’s property to be included in the development mix. “The key question for council tonight is: what is the right location for that boundary, recognizing you can only add 1.36 hectares to that boundary as part of this rationalization process? It’s a very limiting number, and hard to set a long-term boundary using that small number,” said Wever. “But it is an important decision to make because that could be a decision that you and future councils would have to live with for a very long time under

the regional official plan in terms of the ultimate limits of growth in Wellesley.” Each property was reviewed to determine whether it should be included or removed from the urban area designation. A separate 4.54 hectare property along Greenwood Hill Road was removed, for instance, due to lands being primarily floodplain. Debates about where to draw the line has been ongoing since early 2017. Council made a number of decisions on boundary rationalization back in May of 2018, but the process was put on hold pending a similar review in neighbouring Wilmot Township. While the new boundaries have been widely discussed and many tweaks proposed, none of the changes has been formally approved at this point. “We actually haven’t

implemented anything at this point. So right now, the Linwood and St. Clements are exactly the same as what they were before,” said VanderBaaren. The issue was further complicated when Wilmot reached a resolution, the province issued amendments to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe that are already in effect. The provincial plan contains policies that significantly alter how Wellesley proceeds with the rationalization process. Both the region and township must be in compliance with these new policies, which states that municipalities can only adjust settlement area boundaries outside of a comprehensive municipal review under certain conditions. The process remains ongoing.

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TH E O BS E RV E R | THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019

06 | C O MMUNIT Y NE WS

Delving into roof woes that have closed the Wellesley arena W E L L E S L E Y TOW N S H I P

Township looking at short-term solutions, while working with the community with an eye towards a new facility BY FAISAL ALI fali@woolwichobserver.com

For 42 years, the Wellesley arena has stood, but last month’s decision to close its doors for the 2019-20 season may mean the end for the township facility. The suddenness of the decision came as a surprise for many who attended last week’s council meeting to discuss the next steps for the township, now one arena short. The problem originated with the arena’s roof, which had been leaking water into the ceiling’s insulation. The added weight of the waterlogged insulation, combined with a heavy snowfall would put portions of the ceiling at risk of falling through, according to an engineer’s report that prompted the closure. “We’re talking about the roof sheeting, we’re not talking about the girders or the purlins which are the structure of the building,” explained director of recreation Danny Roth. “The concern is it’s continuing to get worse. So another snow-load, it’s going to just continue to get worse, there’s going to be more leaking, that insulation gets wet. That’s where a portion of that can come down. It’s not the steel structure that’s going to fall.” Ceiling leaks have been an ongoing problem for the arena for years, since at least 2002 when the problem was first detected. At the time, the solution was to apply a laminate coating onto the roof that would keep the water out. The purpose of the coating is to protect the interior structure of the building from the elements, such as water and UV light. The township was advised to check on the coating again after about 10 years, so in 2013, the township hired engineer-

ing firm AECOM to inspect the building again. By this time, the coating was cracking and peeling, and the roof was again leaking in places. “So in 2013 it was looked at again. They recommended another coating to be put on to cover up some of these leaks,” said Roth. In 2014, a second coating was installed overtop the original. “That coating is the one that’s failing now. And by it failing, it’s delaminating, so it’s peeling off, basically, and there’s cracks in it. So there’s now water getting through the coating that was put on in 2013 ... and it’s getting through the roof and saturating the insulation in the building.” “There have been two recent reports of roof leaks through the high roof,” noted the engineer’s report from 2013, which then goes on to recommend: “Upon review, it was noted that the rood screws were coated with a caulking product. The roof coating system used is now tending to delaminate about each localized caulked area. This condition should be monitored for further deterioration, and if necessary, re-coat at least over the caulked areas.” In 2014, the entire roof was re-coated. The 2013 report also recommended the township inspect the arena again in five years. Roth took over the position of director of recreation in January of 2019. Noticing that the five-year period had elapsed, he ordered the inspection, which was completed in the spring of this year. Between 2013 and 2019, more repair work was done on the arena’s ceiling as leaks appeared and problems emerged. “There has been fixes done in 2014, 2016 and 2018 on that roof,” said Roth. “There had been

fixes done over the years.” However, the fixes proved only temporary for the aging structure. In 2014, the township also began to lease out roof space on the arena to a solar panel company, receiving an extra revenue stream to pay for arena costs. The engineer’s reports verified, however, that the solar panels were installed to the building’s structure, and had no impact on the roof sheeting. By the spring of 2019, another inspection was commissioned. The report, also by AECOM, took a much more dire tone. A second opinion was sought from WitzelDyce Engineering, which mostly agreed with AECOM’s assessment. “The breakdown of the roof coating is serious and needs immediate attention. The integrity of the roof sheeting system is uncertain as the extent of the corrosion is unknown,” reads the 2019 AECOM report. “Due to the sheeting system structurally failing in the past, it is imperative that action is taken immediately. There is also uncertainty regarding how much roof leak moisture is trapped in the existing insulation, increasing the weight on the roof.” The report cautions that the sheeting on the roof could fail due to excessive water saturation of the arena’s insulation. Coupled with a heavy snowfall, the load could cause part of the roof to fall. It goes on to recommend repair work be completed before the next snowfall in November. “The existing roofing system needs to be replaced with a new system. This would include roof liner, the roof insulation, and the exterior roof sheeting. This should be done before this winter before snow falls,” says the report.

Unlike last time, a simple reapplication of the laminate coating would not be enough. “The coating that was put on there in 2014, it is not recommended to do that a third time because the coating on there is delaminating,” explained Roth. “So if you put another coating such as the one that was put on, it’s adhering to the coating that’s on there. And if it’s already failing, it’s not going to solve your issue. It’s already peeling.” The stark condition of the roof came as a surprise to many, including Roth himself, who had just recently stepped into the role of director of recreation. “I was [surprised] too,” he said. “I didn’t think it was going to be as dire of a situation as it was. I knew the roof leaked. I didn’t know that that report was going to come across my desk. But when a report like that comes across your desk, and you have a supportive council, which we do here, they took it very seriously, and public safety was put at the forefront over and over again.” A copy of the report also went across the desk of the Waterloo Region’s combined insurance pool, which advised of serious liabilities if the arena roof was not secured. The township is now searching for ways to prolong the use of the arena for at least one more winter. Though the Wellesley council decided to close the arena for 2019-20, the decision could be overturned if a compelling short-term solution is found. Roth has met with roofing companies to see what can be done, but he cautions nothing has been settled on yet. “Until we get the actual quotes, I shouldn’t really

comment too much because we don’t know what kind of warranty they’re going to offer. We don’t even know if their system is going to work; that’s what they’re trying to figure out,” he said. “We’re looking at those options. We’re looking at short-term options right now as they come in. A decision had to be made in June because of the time constraints we had at the time. We didn’t feel it was going to be fair to our user groups to make this decision in August.” While short-term fixes are are being sought at the existing arena, the township is also fielding ideas for a brand new arena from the public. A committee is being formed of user-groups, such as the numerous hockey and skating organization in the township, and public partners like the Lions Clubs, to design an arena for Wellesley’s future. Provincial and federal funding is also potentially in the offing to aid in the costs of the new arena, though the township will have to act fast to qualify. Up to two-thirds of the cost of a new arena facility could be covered through government grants, if the township can be “shovel-ready” by the fall. The committee’s chair, Chris Martin, said he was excited to see what would come of the project to build a new arena. “I think it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make improvements to our community, and provide opportunities that don’t exist right now,” said Martin. “We’re looking ahead over the next 50 years. The failure of the arena has given us to do an opportunity to do something that we may not have thought of doing up until

now. So yes, very exciting.” Martin is the past-president of the Twin Centre Hericanes Girls Hockey, a long-time hockey referee, with three children who have passed through the township’s hockey programs. He notes that even if the Wellesley arena had not been in its current condition, the township would still eventually have to look at building a new arena regardless to replace the aging structure. The committee is meeting later today (July 18) to decide what they will be hoping to accomplish. Besides coming up with a plan for a new arena, the committee may also look into what other facilities may be added to the arena. That could include the likes of a pool or gymnasium, Martin suggests, though adds the scope of the committee’s work has yet to be worked out. Residents of the township interested in offering their ideas and input are encouraged to reach out to their appropriate user-group to pitch their ideas. The user-groups will then contribute what they would like to see in the new facility, and what their priorities might be. The current list of user-groups attached to the committee: Wellesley Fall Fair, Agricultural Society, Wellesley Rec Service Board, Community Care Concepts, Wilmot Family Resource Centre, Wellesley Township Community Health Centre, Wellesley Youth Council, Apple Butter & Cheese Festival, Lions Club, Christmas Tyme in Wellesley, Wellesley Jr. C Applejacks, Wellesley Skating Club, Women’s Rec Hockey, Men’s Rec Hockey, Twin Centre Stars Hockey, Twin Centre Hericanes Girls Hockey and the Wellesley Curling Club.

Wellesley seeking public input on its new strategic plan BY VERONICA REINER vreiner@woolwichobserver.com

Wellesley officials are looking for feedback as to how to improve the township’s strategic plan, which will guide the municipality for the next four years. The survey collects gen-

eral information on the participant’s demographic profile, then asks to rate community well-being questions on a scale from 1-4. Wellesley residents can voice their opinions on a number of topics in the township, such as housing options, recre-

ation services, parks and trails, quality of Internet access, opportunity to take educational courses, job security, and overall sense of well-being. Residents are also asked to select their top two issues facing the township from among five broad

focus areas: thriving economy, sustainable transportation, environment and sustainable growth, healthy, safe and inclusive communities, and responsive and engaging government services. The official 2019-2023 strategic plan is expected

to be finalized in the fall, with clearly defined strategies and objectives in these focus areas. There will also be a quarterly implementation plan and annual progress review. A public workshop is to be held in August, another opportunity for residents

to have their say. The official date has yet to be announced, however. The online survey can be accessed on the township website; those interested in keeping up with the planning process can visit www.wellesley.ca/ strategicplan.


THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 | THE O BSE RVE R

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SUMMER FUN: Woolwich Youth Centre has extended summer hours, new computers and more programming FROM 03

their community and get supported by meeting other adults,” said Christie. “If they need some assistance in joining different activities she can go with them and join in with them.” Funding received by the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation is going towards youth programming as part of the Rural Child Wellbeing project. The youth program is aimed towards children ages 6-10 and fun themed events take place on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays throughout

July and August, except for holiday Mondays. The offering this week, for instance, was outer space: those participating got the opportunity to learn about outer space and craft a planet using paper mâché. Next week’s theme is bugs and butterflies, where youth will go on a quest to find both, along with a creative drawing in the mix. Another grant through Canada Summer Jobs has allowed WCS to make some internal changes as well and give an employment

opportunity to youth. “We received three summer grants for summer students through Summer Jobs Canada,” said Christie. “So we have a young lady working at the thrift shop this summer, we have youth centre staff, and then we have an event planner here as well that’s helping with hot dog Thursdays.” The group also coordinated with the Elmira lawn bowling program, and are encouraging adults of all ages to try a free night of lawn bowling. It will take place on July 26 starting at

6:30 p.m. and give everyone an opportunity to meet their neighbours. “We’re just having refreshments, everyone can come out and try lawn bowling and learn about it,” said Christie. The Woolwich Youth Centre at the WMC is also making changes: the organization has extended its hours throughout the summer; instead of 3 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., the centre will be open from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. “We received funding and just purchased two Apple computers at the youth

WCS is offering free hot dog lunches on Thursdays in July and August.

centre, so they’re going to be doing a lot of unique programming with that,” said Christie. “There’s just so much happening

POLICE REPORT

at Woolwich Community Services.” For more information, visit www.woolwichcommunityservices.org.

GOSPEL ECHOES TEAM

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Sunday, July 28, 2:30pm

SNIDER PARK, ST. JACOBS, ON (RAIN LOCATION: CALVARY UNITED CHURCH)

CROSS CONNECTION Emergency personnel responded to a collision in Maryhill at Victoria Street and Guelph Townline Road on July 10 around 3:30 p.m.

[VERONICA REINER]

Bring Your Own Lawn Chairs There will be a free-will offering for Prison Ministry

Latest use of amber alert sparks public backlash As with previous amber alerts that went out widely to mobile phones across the province, police received numerous complaints about an alert sounded last week. Calling it an important tool in helping to locate missing children, the Ontario Provincial Police maintains it has no reason to apologize for using the service widely, even in the middle of the night. “The OPP recognizes the

JULY 9 ■■2:30 AM | Perth County OPP stopped a sedan on Perth Road 30. While speaking with the driver, officer’s observed a small child seated on a 30can case of beer. The driver was using the case of beer as a substitution for the twoyear-old child’s booster-seat. The 22-year-old driver from Wellington North was charged with ‘fail to ensure toddler properly secured.’ A proper child seat was brought to the location and Family & Children’s Services was notified. Police note that any child in a

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inconvenience the Alert may have caused, but will not apologize for using all of the tools available to help locate a child,” the organization said in a release. The decision to utilize the Ontario amber alert system is based on established criteria, and is not taken lightly, police maintain. In 2019, there have been five such alerts activated. As a direct result of these alerts, four assisted in the safe return of the

child/children and one with the apprehension of a suspect, they report. Police also issued a reminder that it’s not appropriate to call 911 or any emergency service communication centre to complain about the use of amber alerts. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) mandated the broadcasting industry to distribute emergency alert

messages, which includes amber alerts. As of April 2018, compatible wireless networks (wireless public alerting) were included in this mandate. The only option to not receive these alerts to a mobile device is to have your device turned off. However, if your device is turned off you will be unable to receive any emergency alert that may contain information of imminent danger in your area, police note.

passenger vehicle that has not reached 8 years of age or 80 lbs or 4’9” must be secured in some form of booster-seat or child-seat. Those under 40 lbs will require a child-seat and those under 22lbs will require a rear facing child-seat.

his handler, Const. Marissa Zuliani.

testing. The 21-year-old Perth East man was charged with ‘young driver - Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) above zero’ and ‘driver – fail to properly wear seatbelt. He was issued a three-day licence suspension and the motor vehicle was towed from the scene. Police note that drivers age 21 or under and novice drivers of any age (with G1, G2, M1, or M2 licenses) must not have any presence of alcohol in their blood when behind the wheel. This is commonly referred to as the “zero BAC” or “zero tolerance” rule.

■■11:45 AM | A three-yearold girl lost in a cornfield near Elmira was found with the help of a Waterloo Regional Police dog. The K9 unit was called in after the girl was reported missing in the area of Wittick Road. She was found about two hours later thanks to the efforts of the dog, Grim, and

JULY 14 ■■1:30 AM | A Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) check in Milverton resulted in the locating of a young driver not in compliance with provincial statutes. The driver was stopped by a member of the OPP who subsequently determined that the driver had consumed alcohol. He failed a road side test and was arrested and transported to the Sebringville OPP detachment for further

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O BS E RV E R X TR A. C O M | THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 | 8

THE MONITOR

VERBATIM Keep the conversation alive on topics of relevance to the community; write a letter to the Editor. Deadline: Tuesdays 4pm Online: observerxtra.com/write-a-letter/

“The proposed regulations will in most cases require travellers to file a claim with an airline to receive compensation. We encourage passengers to file a claim to ensure they receive what the new regime says they are owed.” Jeff Walker, chief strategy officer at CAA, on the new passenger bill of rights in effect this week, with compensation up to $2,400 if bumped.

Globally, since 2010, vaccination coverage with three doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP3) and one dose of the measles vaccine has stalled at around 86%. That meet the target of 95% coverage needed to protect against outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. In 2018, almost 350,000 measles cases were reported globally, more than doubling from 2017. UNICEF Canada

O U R V I E W | E D I TO R I A L

A

Examing real leadership on Nelson Mandela Day tion; race relations; promotion and protection of human rights; reconciliation; gender equality and the rights of children and other vulnerable groups; the fight against poverty; and the promotion of social justice. The resolution recognized the Nobel Peace Prize laureate's contribution to resolving conflicts and promoting race relations, human rights and reconciliation. Mandela did indeed strive to peace and reconciliation in a post-apartheid South Africa. Despite being persecuted from birth for the colour of his skin and subsequently spending 27 years in prison, he remained statesman-like in his tenure as head of the African National Congress party and president in the decade following his release in 1990 right through to his

nointed a saint by many even in his lifetime, Nelson Mandela took great pains to assert he was as much a flawed human as the next man. But there’s no denying the legacy he left behind and the enduring image of a man embracing peace and his enemies. The late South African president embodies many of the qualities of a true leader, qualities that are in short supply in the kind of populist-cum-fascist leaders making headlines these days, particularly the current occupant of the White House. It’s been 10 years since the UN General Assembly declared July 18 as "Nelson Mandela International Day,” the date corresponding to his birthday in 1918. The day recognizes Mandela’s values and his dedication to the service of humanity in conflict resoluG LO B A L O U T LO O K

death in 2013 at the age of 95. That’s a legacy worth celebrating today. And that ideal is what comes to mind when we hear Mandela’s name mentioned. But he had no interest in being deified, noting his failed marriages, his less-than-stellar job as a father and his own history in the battle to end apartheid, the proximate cause of his imprisonment. Therein lies a valuable lesson: a flawed human can still do the right thing as a leader. And a real leader must rise above his or her own flaws, shortcomings and prejudices to work on behalf of the people, the public good. The democratic and representative ideals espoused by Mandela are today trampled on by ersatz leaders from the usual freedom-devoid and abusive dictatorial states – North Ko-

rea, China, Russia, much of the Middle East and Africa – to the downward-sliding examples of Turkey, Hungary, Poland and, most notably, the United States. We’re seeing attacks on democracy, human rights and basic civility in a host of ostensibly or previously democratic countries. With the rise of authoritarian/ fascist movements – often a reaction to economic failures and demographic changes – the very nature of democracy is at risk, in large part due to our own ignorance and lack of vigilance. Even as things backslide, people in such democratic countries still vote – turnout isn’t always what it should be – but it’s increasingly just a veneer of democracy and choice. The ultimate goal of leaders of divided Western countries is to subvert the system. It’s the ap-

pearance of democracy without the actual bother of fair elections and accountability. The risks are real and efforts to bypass democracy are at work, even here. Our disconnection from the process makes it easier. We don’t trust politicians and bureaucrats. We don’t trust them with our money. We don’t trust them to be ethical. We don’t trust them to do what’s right for us. South Africa seemed full of promise 25 years ago when Mandela was elected president, but the country is in dire straits today, largely due to corruption and failed leadership, the kind that is often associated with the continent. On Nelson Mandela Day, his country of birth and pretty much everywhere else could benefit from the ideal of leadership he advocated.

T H E V I E W F R O M H E R E | S C OT T A R N O L D

Real refugee problem still ahead

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very once in a while a photograph of a migrant’s tragic death (usually that of a child) catches the public’s imagination. The image of three-yearold Alan Kurdi, fleeing from the Syrian civil war, dead face down in the surf on a Turkish beach in 2015, triggered a wave of sympathy that ended with Germany opening its borders to 900,000 refugees that year – and Hungary building a border fence to keep them out. Here we go again. A picture of 23-month-old Valeria Martinez, tucked into her father Oscar’s T-shirt, both dead face down on the banks of the Rio Grande, has unleashed a similar wave of sympathy in the

GWYNNE DYER GLOBAL AFFAIRS

United States, although it certainly hasn’t reached the White House. And once again most of the migrants are claiming to be refugees. In fact, few of the migrants fit the legal definition of refugees in either case. The Arabs and Afghans trying to get into Europe had fled genuine wars, but they were already in Turkey, which is quite safe. They just wanted to move on to somewhere with better job opportuni-

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DYER | 09

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THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 | THE O BSE RVE R

C O M M E NT & O P IN IO N | 9

LO C A L V I E W P O I N T

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Bombardier looking for more help to get back on track

hat Waterloo Region’s LRT trains are collision magnets was predictable – and predicted – but blame lies with the layout, not Bombardier. The train maker, however, deserves much of the blame for the delays and cost overruns of the unloved project. Delays and the many technical glitches for the handful of trains in the region are the least of Bombardier’s worries, however. Embroiled in bribery, corruption and pay scandals, the company is the poster child for corporate welfare. It’s beset with financial woes across its divisions, including the train-building plant in Thunder Bay, the one involved in the very problems that hit the region and the much larger Metrolinx order, the coattails of which the Ion rode. Bombardier plans to lay off half of the 1,100 workers at its Thunder Bay operation because it’s been unable to secure any new contracts from the province or municipalities. Current contracts with Metrolinx for GO Transit train cars and Toronto Transit Commission streetcars are set to expire later this year. That has the union representing workers there petitioning the province to spend more with Bombardier. “I am urging all levels of government to step up and make adequate investments in transit,” says Unifor national president Jerry Dias in a recent statement. “Any GTA transit rider will tell you, increasing TTC streetcars and Go Trains is a dire need for Toronto’s transit system. Also, a lack of investment would hurt Thunder Bay. The plant is the largest private sector employer in the city, and a lack of work would force highly skilled workers to find jobs elsewhere.” The plea isn’t surprising given the union’s role in protecting workers’ jobs. But Bombardier’s history works against such calls. Governments have plied the company with money and put

up with a plethora of problems: at some point, enough has to be enough. There is a need for trains – well, not always, as Waterloo Region amply demonstrates, so let’s say there’s a demand for trains – so some company will step up to do the work. The problem is politicians will be more interested in the potential blowback from harm befalling a Quebec company, not to mention the potential job losses. They’d rather keep fuelling the gravy train. Moreover, there’s no guarantee the company to get work formerly going to Bombardier would be Canadian, and sending money and jobs overseas has a nasty to ring to it, especially for those seeking re-election. Still, the amount of corporate welfare the company has received in the past five decades – some $4 billion in bailouts alone, not to mention $11 billion in Ex-

To the Editor, I read that Wellesley is getting a new arena. The writing was on the wall the minute they said the arena needed extensive repairs. Coun. Shelley Wagner argued that the arena might not be necessary due to the functional arena in St. Clements. She, along with St. Clements Coun. Carl Smit, subsequently voted against it. You can rest assured that once the new arena is up and running, the St. Clements arena, which is also

EDITOR'S MUSINGS

port Development Canada (EDC) loans – should be reason to give everyone pause. Another round of bailouts/ handouts would be particularly galling given Bombardier’s long history as one of the country’s largest corporate welfare bums. Governments, federal and provincial, have poured billions into the company in the form of grants, subsidies and “loans” (if you don’t have to pay it back, it’s not actually a loan), yet Bombardier continues to struggle even with orders in hand. And it still has its other hand out for hand-

L E F C O U RT L A N D | JAC K L E F C O U R T

L E T T E R TO T H E E D I TO R

■■ Be mindful of St. Clements in arena plans

STEVE KANNON

outs. The company’s greatest success has been vacuuming in large quantities of taxpayer money. Would new orders help Bombardier keep the Thunder Bay plant going? Sure, but at what cost and with what guarantees? Can they improve the product and deliver it on time? History says no, but that should be the minimum starting point in talks about new orders. Purchasing aside, there will be calls for yet more bailouts. More questions – and guarantees – would have to be discussed in that context, too. Will the money ever come with airtight guarantees for long-term employment, investment and eventual full return to tax coffers? Expecting governments to ask such questions is almost unthinkable; getting such guarantees is well beyond the pale. Instead, it would be just another cash-grab in the

quite old, will be targeted as too old for repairs, but in this case, a new arena will not be forthcoming. The Paradise & District Lions Club host a very successful weekly bingo at the St. Clements arena. Proceeds from these bingos are returned to the community. Is the township prepared to “cut off” the hand that helps feed them? Annette Kuhn, St. Clements

never-ending cycle of privatized profits and socialized costs, the real modus operandi of corporatism. What would make this and other welfare payments more palatable is a realistic cost-benefit analysis: if an investment makes sense – i.e. pays back every dollar to the taxpayers directly, and then some – then it should be considered. If not, then take a pass. Such common sense measures are never employed by governments. In almost every case, the decisions are bad ones, aka business as usual. There’s reason to be optimistic Bombardier may be able to help itself in this case, however, argues Toronto Star business columnist David Olive. He notes the company has been the victim of its own poor work, but Bombardier has now taken steps to improve its railcar business, which has been a fixture in the Northern Ontario city since 1912. “The blame in Thunder Bay lies chiefly with about a decade of mismanagement at Bombardier Transportation. As Toronto public-transit users know better than most, the company has come close to destroying its reputation for prompt delivery of defect-free equipment,” he writes in a July 10 piece. “The nadir came last year, when New York City, a flagship Bombardier Transportation customer, became so disgusted by the company’s chronic delivery delays and faulty equipment that it banned it from even bidding on its latest contract for new equipment.” But things are looking up for the company, he suggests, with improvements being made and international orders on the books. The layoffs could be temporary, with an expanded workforce the end result. Ideally, that happens without a dime in handouts, and government contracts that guarantee quality and costs ... for real.

DYER: There's a specific definition of what makes someone a refugee FROM 8

ties and a higher standard of living. That’s understandable, but it doesn’t give you right of asylum as a refugee. The same applies to the migrants crossing the Mediterranean from Africa to Europe, even though thousands of them are drowning in the attempt. They are fleeing poverty, or dictatorial regimes, or even climate change, but they are not fleeing war. Neither do they have a “well-founded fear” of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. That is the

language of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951, so they don’t qualify as refugees. You may feel sorry for them, but there is no legal duty to let them in. The Refugee Convention was incorporated into U.S. law in the Refugee Act of 1980, so few of the people now seeking entry at the Mexican border qualify either. This matters, because while twenty years ago 98 per cent of the people crossing the border were Mexican young men seeking work, more than half are now entire families from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras – and most of them claim to be

refugees. They are not, and that (not Donald Trump) is why U.S. courts are rejecting at least three-quarters of the applications for refugee status. You may wish that the law took a more generous and humanitarian view, but it does not. And if you think things are bad now, they will be ten times worse in twenty years’ time. Global heating is starting to bite. We’re still on the learner slopes, but the droughts and the floods, and the crop failures they cause, are multiplying, especially in the tropics and the sub-tropics where temperatures are already high.

In the worst-hit areas (which include the ‘northern triangle’ of Central America) family farms are failing, some people are going hungry, and the number of people on the move is starting to soar. This is precisely what unpublished, in-house government studies were predicting twenty years ago in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. Now it’s here. As the number of migrants goes up, the willingness of host populations to receive them will inevitably go down. A new population of five per cent in a decade will DYER | 16


O BS E RV E R X TR A. C O M | THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 | 10

SLUGGING IT OUT

ATHLETES TO LIMA Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, will attend the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. The games take place from July 26 to Aug. 11; the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games will take place from Aug. 23 to Sept. 1, 2019. Canada will be represented by approximately 486 athletes at the Pan Am Games and 105 at the Parapan American Games.

We're keeping score about local kids in sport in our communities. Submit your team results and photos online. Online: www.observerxtra.com/score

As of midweek, the Elmira Expos were tied for first place in the South Perth Men’s Fastball League with a record of 4-1, the same stats as the Shakespeare Falcons. The Nith River Monsters were in second at 3-1, followed by the Ponsonby Sting (1-4), the Mitchell Mets (0-1) and St. Paul’s Generals (0-4). The Expos host Ponsonby tonight (July 18) in Elmira.

Deadline: Tuesdays by 4pm

Elmira brings the Heat to softball tournament U10 team overpowers all comers en route to capturing gold last weekend in Innerkip BY VERONICA REINER vreiner@woolwichobserver.com

The Elmira Heat U10 team clobbered the competition last weekend to take top spot at the Ontario Amateur Softball Association West Qualifier tournament. During the provincial tournament held in Innerkip July 12-14, the Heat first took on Wilmot, emerging victorious by a score of 11-0. The next game was against the Tara Twins, which they won 12-2. Next, they took their semi-final game against the PDP Lightning (Drumbo) 10-0, and the final match was playing Norwich, resulting in a 12-2 win for Elmira. The stretch of victories earned a gold medal for the Heat thanks to an overall score differential of 45-4 throughout the tournament. The silver went to Norwich, and the Tara Twins snagged the bronze. The team is in first place with a record of 22-1-1. “They’re very determined, very easy to coach. And they push each other – they want to do well, so they take everything we’ve talked to them about ... they take it all in and put it to work,” said coach Mike Brito. “Very hungry, athletically gifted group of kids that all enjoy competing, so it makes it a lot of fun to watch them go out and play.” The team’s success came in part from its swift run-

The Elmira Heat U10 squad took gold at the OASA qualifiers held July 12-14 in Innerkip. The team is also in first place in league play. Front row: Austin Dietrich, Max Krasovec, Zack Forwell, Colton Brito, Matt Kochut. Middle row: Jack Woods, Zack Wiseman, Colton Sinclair, Reese Martin, Cohen Patterson, Liam Straus. Back row: coaches Mike Brito, Adam Snider, Scott Dietrich. Missing: Cameron Fisher. [SUBMITTED]

ners, who put pressure on the opposing team’s defence, along with a wellhoned bunting technique, he said. The Elmira Heat began training around the beginning of May, with the season officially starting in the middle of the month and running through to the Springbrook provincial tournament in mid-August. The team practices are

not set in stone, having around three formal practices so far. Often, they show up to their home games 45 minutes before to perfect baseball techniques before the competition gets there. “We take that time to make sure we’re really working on some hitting techniques. We’ll work a lot on ground balls and fielding flyballs,” said Brito.

“More about not just being happy with fielding the groundball but the proper technique of fielding it, getting your body in front of it. “Getting your glove down on the ground and bringing it in. Catching the flyball, making sure that we’ve got two hands; just working on stuff like that ... we take advantage of our HEAT | 11

N OT- S O - G R E AT O U T D O O R S M A N

A man struggles when he’s got worms

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here are times when a person must put aside all thoughts of self and do their best to help others, even if those others have strange beliefs that do not align with yours. That’s why, on Sunday night at 5:32, I bravely walked into the gas station and uttered the historic words, “Where do you keep your worms?” It would have been easy had I walked into a gas station in a far off town where the staff did not know me. But, alas, this was my home town gas station, where the owners had years of experience with my gas and knew other personal tidbits like the fact that I am a confirmed fly fisherman who had not picked up a spinning rod except to ice fish in at least 20 years. “Worms?” he said, as he shook his head. “Finally, realizing the futility of fly fishing?” I then looked him straight in the eyes and said, “It’s for a friend.” “Sure,” he replied. Of course, he had reason to be suspicious. I had waited until the local sporting good shop that I normally go to was closed. I wore dark glasses, a ball cap and waited until the station had no other customers. In a more urban environment, they might have been expecting to be robbed. In a rural place such as this, it was a sure sign that a fly fisherman was about to purchase worms.

STEVE GALEA NOT-SO-GREAT-OUTDOORSMAN

“It actually is for a friend,” I said. “I’m going over and he is running low and asked me to get some for him since I am passing through town anyhow.” This time he looked at me more sympathetically. “The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem,” he whispered. Then he patted me on the back. “They are for a friend,” I said. “I fly fish. Why would I buy worms?” “OK,” he replied. “You’ll admit it when you are ready, I suppose.” For those who do not dabble in the dark angling arts, allow me to explain the danger of worms. Worm use is the easiest and most basic way to catch a fish – literally any fish. You simply put one on a hook, add enough weight to get it down to where it needs to be, cast it out, wait, and then when a fish takes it, set the hook and reel in. As such, they have been the ruin of many an angler. You see, once you begin to use worms, even recreationally, people begin to notice. Worst still, your spouse begins to notice – often because you kept GALEA | 11

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THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 | THE O BSE RVE R

LO C AL S P O RTS | 11

LAWNS, BOWLS AND KIDS COME TOGETHER

Participants in the Woolwich Summer Camp tried their hand at lawn bowling as part of last week's slate of activities.

[FAISAL ALI / THE OBSERVER]

GALEA: Having worms isn't a good thing for someone who's an avid fly fisher, especially if others find out FROM 10

them in the fridge and forgot to shut the lid. After a while, even the most disinterested partner will say, “All you ever use is a worm, hook, split shot and bobber. Why do you need all these expensive lures and tackle boxes?” Of course, there is no good answer. I knew this, so I looked over at the gas station owner, pulled out my wallet and said, “What’s it going to take to keep this between us?”

He pointed to a rack of pepperettes that had been on the shelf since about 1983. Minutes later, I walked out of there with 18 night crawlers, 12 pepperettes and my dignity intact.

When I got to my friend’s place, I handed him the worms. Then, he said, “That wasn’t so bad, right?” “Not at all,” I said. And then I offered him a pepperette.

HEAT: Team was firing on all cylinders at Innerkip tourney, putting up a 45-4 run differential en route to gold FROM 10

warm-up time before the game.” Brito is also the president of the KW Umpires Association, with his coaching career dating back to the late ‘90s. He began coaching the Elmira Heat last year, along with Scott Dietrich and Adam Snider. The majority of players are based locally, with kids from Elmira, Heidelberg, St. Jacobs, West Montrose, Maryhill and St. Clements. “The teamwork that they put together on the

diamond is incredible. The things that they are doing is far advanced of what they should be doing at this age,” said Brito. “They really do enjoy playing with each other but also enjoy pushing one another in a positive way. They want to be the best, that’s really what it boils down to.” To that end, the players focus on the overall team success rather than individual accomplishments, he notes. “The one thing that’s good about our team is

that everybody is contributing. So you might not have a great game today – hitting wise you might not go out there and hit all the hits we need, but you might go out there defensively and play really well,” said Brito. “Not every game is going to be their best game, but it’s to understand there’s other things they can do to contribute to your team’s success.” Anyone interested in registering or for more information can email Brito at mikebrito@wsfeeds.ca

South Woolwich Minor Baseball would like to thank our 2019 Season Sponsors who made this season possible! Cowie's Custom Granite Elmira Pet Valu Gerald Bowman Auctions Grandridge Carriers Harvey's Elmira Hollis Wealth Home-Pro Electric Josslin Insurance Kraemer Woodcraft Ltd. Northside Trophies & Awards PIB RWAM Insurance

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We would also like to thank all our coaches who volunteered and made the season a success!


TH E O BS E RV E R | THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019

12 | LO C AL S P ORTS

WCS drives for something new with golf tournament Jeanne Renault Golf Classic marks its 25th anniversary as fundraiser for the family violence prevention program BY VERONICA REINER vreiner@woolwichobserver.com

Teeing things up for the 25th time, WCS has a few additions to its annual Jeanne Renault Golf Classic fundraiser, set this year for August 15. Woolwich Community Services’ 25th anniversary tournament will take place at the Ariss Golf and Country Club, differing from its usual location of the Conestoga Golf and Conference Centre. The agency’s LeighAnne Quinn said the decision stemmed from a desire to switch it up for the anniversary since it has taken place in Conestogo for some two decades. “With it being our 25th year, we’ve added a fun little twist,” said Quinn. “We’re asking people to dress in their brightest – they can wear a bright golf shirt, hat, full outfit, whatever works for them.” Funds raised from the day on the links go towards WCS’ family violence prevention program, which supports families dealing with domestic violence, along with offering a public education component.

Many of those who took part in last year's Jeanne Renault Golf Classic are expected to return for this year's outing on August 15.

The program supported 136 people in the last year, as well as educating some 4,000 students on how to reduce violence in their lives. The direct supports include referrals to other community services, including housing, financial, therapeutic counselling, and legal aid. Through the program,

WCS staff support men, women and children in the community dealing with violence. To promote prevention, an educator visits schools in the townships to bring an age-appropriate message to kids in kindergarten up to high school. “The memorial tournament was named after

Jeanne Renault, an Elmira resident who was the driving force behind starting the family violence prevention program,” said Quinn. “The tournament is actually dedicated to her life and work in the area of family violence prevention. So through her leadership and support, she did a lot of work for

[FILE PHOTO]

the program.” WCS serves Woolwich and the northern half of Wellesley Township. On average, 100 people make it out to the tournament and raise some $10,000 in support of the program each year. Golfers get access to contests and the opportunity to participate in a silent auction.

The event will include lunch, followed by a steak dinner and buffet after the golfing is done. The atmosphere is not overly competitive, with fun being the goal of the best-ball format, said Quinn, noting the day is very much suited for casual and even first-time golfers. While many people come out every year, the group always welcomes newcomers. “It’s harder to get new golfers each year. So we’re actively seeking new golfers,” said Quinn. “We’d love to get some new foursomes out. You know, maybe that would introduce some new people to the program, and to what it does for the community. “The other thing, too, we would urge is local businesses to send employees. So do an employee draw and allow four of your staff members to come out and golf for a day.” Every new golfer will get a prize for participating. Tee-off begins at 12:55 p.m. on August 15 at the Ariss Golf and Country Club. Those interested in signing up can call 519669-5139.

KICKING IT UP A NOTCH

With the karate season coming to a close for the summer, many of Heidelberg's Schweitzer's Martial Arts students were ready to grade after months of hard work. Zachary Brubacher and Levi Brubacher achieved their yellow stripes. Sadie Bauman, Christopher Lavigne and Shelby Bauman achieved their yellow belts; Nate Bulgin for earning his orange stripe, and Jodi Koebel and Logan Davidson for achieving their green stripes. Left to right, Zachary Brubacher, Levi Brubacher, Jodi Koebel, Logan Davidson, Nate Bulgin, Sadie Bauman, Christopher Lavigne, Shelby Bauman. [SUBMITTED]

GOT SCORES?

GET IT IN THE

We’d love to share them in the next sports section. Submit them online. observerxtra.com/score


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O BS E RV E R X TR A. C O M | THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 | 14

MORTGAGE TRENDS

BUSINESS VENTURES

F

or national leadership, all eyes usually – and understandably – turn towards Ottawa. But to me, it’s the 2020 gathering the federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) agriculture ministers’ meeting in Guelph that has the potential for agriculture to once again unite the country like no other sector can. And a big reason it’s coming together that way is because of the leadership

Let's keep the local economic engines firing? We want to shine a light on new local enterprises. Online: observerxtra.com/enterprise

Recent mortgage regulations, rising interest rates and a softening Canadian housing market contributed to a general slowing of the mortgage market in 2018 while the uninsured mortgage market grew, according to a new report from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). In 2018, mortgage originations declined due to new regulations, rising rates and softening housing markets resulting in the slowest year-over-year growth rate of outstanding mortgages in more than 25 years.

SAFER WORKPLACES The federal government has released new funding through Employment and Social Development Canada's Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Fund. The Canadian Women's Foundation, in collaboration with AfterMeToo and the APTN, received $2,786,696 in funding for a new project, Roadmap to Future Workplaces.

National ag leadership starts right here being shown by Ontario Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Ernie Hardeman. I saw him step up to the plate twice last week, in very laudable ways. First, he had a huge group of leaders join him Wednesday afternoon in Guelph to announce the city would be the site of the 2020 FPT meeting, which his ministry will host. He’s brought these leaders together earlier in the

OWEN ROBERTS FOOD FOR THOUGHT

day to discuss Ontario’s priorities heading into this week’s annual FPT meeting, being held in Quebec. Then he took the opportunity to show unity

among the sector by inviting them all to the podium to join him for the 2020 announcement. It was huge group, three deep in some places and 20 people across. It was way too wide for a photo op … because it wasn’t. Rather, it seemed like a genuine coming together from the sector’s members. They were behind the minister’s efforts, they wanted to show it, and they know Guelph has become

renowned for its amazing advances in agriculture in Canada. Further, in the provincial news release that followed about the 2020 FPT meeting, the first quote in the piece came from Hardeman’s federal counterpart, Agriculture and Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau. “As a world class hub of agri-food innovation and a winner of the Smart Cities Challenge for their Circular Food Economy proposal,

Guelph is a perfect venue for the annual conference of federal-provincial-territorial ministers of agriculture,” she said. That is a classy move by Hardeman, as federal-provincial relations go. Try to imagine other instances where the federal minister would be quoted first in a provincial government’s news release. And I don’t sense any less passion for making ROBERTS | 16

Pork a pawn in battle with China

Industries seek technical solution to China’s ban on pork, beef imports amid political tensions BY FAISAL ALI fali@woolwichobserver.com

Canadian producers are hoping for a swift resolution to the country’s latest trade dispute with China after a ban was imposed on all pork and beef from Canada. Though the ban comes amidst wider political and trade disputes between the two nations, producers are keen not to see their livelihoods dragged into the morass. “China is an important market, so obviously anytime we have some sort of market interruption, it’s unsettling and concerning,” said Eric Schwindt, chairperson of Ontario Pork. “From what I’ve heard so far, it looks to be more of a technical issue and something that both sides, I mean the Chinese and Canadian governments, are working hard to get resolved. So we’re encouraged by that,” he said. “As China has grown to become a larger and larger market for us, it’s important that we get this fixed quickly.” With China pulling up the rampart, Canadian exporters are looking for other markets to offload their products. China is the second largest recipient of Canada’s pork exports, and the fifth largest of its beef. “So we have to change the customers we’re dealing with, find those new markets. And it’s a switch: so we’ll be going after markets in say Vietnam or some other country.”

“The initial reaction is a lot of concern as we learn more and we hear both governments are actively working to resolve this. We’re feeling more optimistic that this will get fixed in the near-term versus something that’s going to go on for years and years. I think there’s cautious optimism that while this is a blip and a significant blip, it’s not going to be a longterm thing,” said Schwindt, who operates a farm north of Elmira. The dispute erupted over

export certificates that the Chinese government claimed were forged. The certificates are meant to clear products being exported as satisfying the requirements of their recipient country. In this case, China contends export certificates incorrectly labeled pork exports free of a feed additive, ractopamine. “Recently, the Chinese customs authorities have inspected ractopamine residues in a batch of pork products exported from Canada to China,” reads

a statement from the Chinese embassy in Canada. “Therefore, the Chinese side has immediately suspended the import of pork products from the relevant enterprises and required the Canadian side to carry out investigation.” An investigation by the Chinese authorities claimed up to 188 such “counterfeit” certificates were forged. The Chinese regulatory authorities requested the Canadian government stop issuing export certificates for beef and pork on June 25.

“We hope the Canadian side would attach great importance to this incident, complete the investigation as soon as possible and take effective measures to ensure the safety of food exported to China in a more responsible manner,” said the statement, attributed to an embassy spokesperson. Schwindt sees this as a technical issue rather than a political one, and sees a solution following along similar lines. “At this point, the pork

industry is working very hard to deal with the technical issue in terms of those export certificates. That’s the extent of our involvement. And we’re optimistic that we, or the government, can get that technical issue resolved quickly and trade will resume,” he said. The federal government, for its part, says it is working with Canadian and Chinese bodies to quickly restore trade back to normal. “We are working closely with farmers, industry, provinces and exporters to restore market access to China as quickly as possible. We know that Canada’s food safety system is recognized as one of the best in the world and we will continue to stand-up for Canada’s entire agricultural sector,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, in a statement. Whether a solution is readily in the offing, or whether Canada’s beef and pork industries will become the latest collateral in a titfor-tat squabble between the two governments remains to be seen. Tensions have flared between the two countries after the arrest of a prominent Chinese executive, Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, by Canadian authorities acting at the behest of U.S. officials. China has since retaliated with the arrests of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, whom the Chinese government has accused of spying.


THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 | THE O BSE RVE R

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YOU’VE HEARD THE STORIES, NOW HOW ABOUT

THE FACTS The government’s first year has been a tremendous success for the people of Waterloo Region. We are happy to share that Ontario is moving forward with a 5 year budget deficit reduction plan that respects taxpayers while providing real and sustainable relief for individuals and families.

HEALTHCARE

The province has increased spending on our world-class health system by $1.3B from last year. This includes investments in our region such as 147 new long term care beds at Saint Lukes Place and Schlegel Villages-The Village of Winston Park, $2.1M for the Gies Family Centre Hospice, greenlighting an Electrophysiology Lab at St. Mary’s, and $1.2M in additional funding for midwifery services. Above all, $90M will be provided for Dental Care for Low-Income Seniors across Ontario.

ECONOMIC GROWTH

The government is creating a climate for economic growth by reducing regulation and cutting red tape 25% by 2020. As a result, the business community has created nearly 190,000 net new jobs. Locally, we have enabled fair and open tendering for regional projects and natural gas and broadband expansion in rural areas.

EDUCATION

Education is a priority for the government. Funding is increasing for our students and educators by $700M over the next three years. Spending is up for special needs and transportation services locally, while a $1.6B attrition protection fund is being used by school boards to ensure that

no teachers are laid off from the transition to e-learning and bringing high school class sizes to national levels. New initiatives to improve math testing, improve financial literary, target STEM, and ban cell-phones in class reflected the province’s largest ever consultation with parents and educators.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Child autism funding is nearly doubling to $600M. The government is also undertaking an extensive consultation towards the implementation of a needs-based model. Locally, $18.5M for Community Housing and $1.5M for Mental Health and Addictions has been invested in Waterloo Region.

TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Transportation and infrastructure connects people and communities that’s why in year one GO Train Service from our region increased by 25% towards Two-Way, All-Day GO. The province also announced up to $467M in shared funding for Waterloo Region public transit initiatives, while the Glasgow St. S. Bridge in Woolwich and Holland Mills Bridge in Wilmot have received a provincial greenlight for rehabilitation.

AFFORDABILITY

The government is providing real relief for Ontarians through the CARE Childcare Tax Credit and the Low-Income Individuals and Families Tax Credit (LIFT). Also, Drive Clean is scrapped and most Driver Licence fees are frozen again this year. Overall, $26B will be provided to Ontario families, individuals, and businesses in six years.

Please feel free to reach out to my office for additional information or any assistance that you require.

CONSTITUENCY OFFICE

63 Arthur St S, Elmira, ON N3B 2M6 mikeharrismpp.ca


TH E O BS E RV E R | THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019

16 | BUS I N E S S V E NT URE S

 ROBERTS: With all that's going on, leadership is needed FROM 14

IS MOVING! Thoman Tire would like to thank our customers from the past 86 years for their patronage and trust in our family operated, small-town shop. Thoman Tire started in 1933, as a small shop on the comer of Cedar and King St in Kitchener, ON. It operated at this location until 1973, when there was an unfortunate fire that destroyed the building. It was at this time that Thoman Tire re-located to its present location on King Street in St. Jacobs. With many changes over the past 86 years, in the world in which we live, and subsequently the industry, adaptation to change is how we have been able to continue the Thoman Tire legacy for over eight decades. As an adaptation to the changing tire industry, we have decided change will be required of Thoman Tire once again. For the past several years, Thoman Tire has chosen not to make too many changes to the business, in order to remain focused on our small-town persona and experience, while also prioritizing quality workmanship. However, with much consideration and planning, we have decided the best way to modernize and shape ourselves with the current industry climate, while remaining true to our core values, is to relocate to a new up-to-date facility in Hawkesville. Here, we will be partnering with Auto Fleet Services, where we will offer all of our current services (tire sales, seasonal tire change, tire repair etc.) while also being able to offer full service automotive repairs that you may require. We will continue to operate our small-town business with the same core values as we have for the past 86 years of business and we will provide the same quality workmanship. We will be moving locations throughout the month of July, but are open at our new facility, located at 3533 Broadway Street in Hawkesville, beside the Hawkesville Community Center and just behind FKS Electric. If you currently have your tires stored with us, we will be moving them to our new facility, in which has the capacity for even more tire storage, with the same low price of $30.00 a season. Feel free to contact us if you would like seasonal storage or have any questions regarding your current tire storage.

We thank you for your patronage with us and look forward to welcoming you at our new location!

sure Ontario’s concerns are heard at this week’s FPT meeting. For example, last Friday, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, which joined Hardeman at the 2020 announcement, publicly provided the minister with the issues it would like to see discussed there: rural infrastructure, mental health, food policy, farm labour and farm business risk management. This is hardly lightweight stuff. The other effort I witnessed by the minister to transcend FPT politics occurred Friday with the Foodland Ontario pork and beef

campaign announcement. In that announcement, the province declared its support for beef and pork “in response to China’s current trade restrictions.” The campaign is timely. It’s BBQ season, and the beef and pork sectors each account for $2.9 billion in GDP. But the announcement was more than a buy-Ontario parochial move. “I stand with our farmers in the province and those across the country,” said Hardeman, “and I support the federal government’s efforts to resolve this situation.” Supporting farmers

across the country? Supporting federal initiatives to resolve global issues? That’s leadership, exactly the kind of agricultural leadership Ontario needs. Some segments of the industry might lean towards a more antagonist, we-versus-they partisan approach. And that’s to be expected, as political lines are unavoidably drawn with the federal election approaching. In agriculture, though, that’s not how things get done. The minister is showing great leadership, moving ahead for the betterment of the entire sector, coast to coast to coast.

 DYER: Desperate times will prompt tough reactions FROM 09

feel disruptive to some people, especially if there are big cultural differences between the old population and the immigrants, but most people will accept and adapt to it. Ten per cent in a decade is definitely pushing it, even though it’s only one per cent a year. And 20 per cent new population in a decade would generate a huge political backlash in almost any country on Earth. That’s human nature. You may deplore it, but it’s

not going to change. And behind uncomfortable considerations of what the politics will permit lies the even starker reality that they can’t all come. Twenty years from now there will be far more people who desperately want to move than the destination countries could possibly accommodate. So the borders will start slamming shut in the countries, mostly in the temperate zone of the planet, where the climate is still tolerable and there

is still enough food to eat. And don’t believe the myth that you cannot really shut a border. You can do so quite easily if you are willing to kill the people who try to cross it illegally, and the governments of the destination countries will probably end up doing just that. Their military and their civil servants, if not their politicians, were already having grim internal debates about it fifteen years ago. Sorry to spoil your day.

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O BS E RV E R X TR A. C O M | THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 | 17

KEEPING IT CASUAL Unwrap Theatre presents Dancing Under a Blanket this weekend (July 19-21) at The Registry Theatre in Kitchener. The play tells the story of Jamie, who's always been the guy that falls too hard, too fast. So when he meets Alice, he thinks he has found his future wife. The only problem is, Alice doesn’t see it that way. So Jamie does what any other guy would do in this situation: he tries again. And again.

Your local hub for our creative communities. Let us know when inspiration strikes. Online: observerxtra.com/showtime

www.unwraptheatre.ca

FLAMENCO TIME International flamenco music and dance ensemble Fin de Fiesta Flamenco brings their new production, “Sempiterno,” to theatres and festivals across France and Canada this summer, including a stop July 24 at The Registry Theatre. “Sempiterno” tells the story of the magnetic pull of the flamenco art form, a pull that has drawn Fin de Fiesta Flamenco’s members away from the countries where they were born, and to Spain, the cradle of flamenco. www.registrytheatre.com

Extra, extra, read all about it! O N STAG E

See and hear all about it, actually, as Drayton Entertainment stages the inspirational musical story of Newsies

Drawing on the newspaper strike of 1899, Newsies has an entertaining message that still resonates today. It's now on stage at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse. [SUBMITTED]

ic person, but rather an amalgamation of several historical figures. McLellan said that while she watched other interpretations of Plumber, she did not focus too much on them, preferring instead to bring more of herself to the role. “She’s this incredible person that’s grown up with immense privilege and would have gone to private school with a really

rich family, but somehow she found this streak for social justice inside herself – she’s a feminist and hard-willed,” said McLellan, describing Plumber. There is a large ensemble cast to accurately portray the scale of the newsboy strike, which effectively brought Brooklyn Bridge traffic to a standstill, and affected news distribution for many New England cities. The two-

week strike caused Pulitzer’s New York World to decrease its daily circulation from 360,000 papers down to 125,000. Along with the ensemble cast, there are thrilling dance numbers and a sensational score by Alan Menken. Award-winning choreographer Marc Kimelman will help to bring these astonishing dance numbers to life, featuring hit songs including

ELMIRA

Drayton Entertainment’s Newsies will be making headlines this week in Woolwich, telling the classic David-and-Goliath tale loosely based on the newspaper strike of 1899. The inspiring Broadway musical brings to the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse stage a tale of the working conditions of a band of street kids who sell newspapers in New York City. When Joseph Pulitzer and other titans of the publishing world raise their distribution prices without sufficiently compensating the newsboys, charismatic leader Jack Kelly (Kale Penny) rallies the workers across the city to strike against the unfair conditions. Soon, the strike becomes bigger than anyone ever could have imagined and affects areas all across New York City. With the help of smart and savvy reporter Katherine Plumber (Julia McLellan), all of the city begins to recognize the plight of the newsboys, resulting in a change that resonated through the ages. “The main message is that if a group of inspired and active young people get together, they can change the world,” said McLellan. “It doesn’t matter how small you are or how insignificant you feel. You can make a change if you put your foot forward and try to make it happen. So I think that’s the really inspiring message of this.” The role of Plumber is not based on one specif-

“Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “Santa Fe.” David Connolly directs this Disney dynamo, whose previous directing roles include Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Mamma Mia!, Hairspray, and Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto. “Newsies is an incredibly entertaining show bursting with impressive choreography, and fun,

catchy songs – we’re very excited to bring this new Disney hit to the stage in Waterloo Region,” said artistic director Alex Mustakas. “Along with its dazzling dancing and memorable music, Newsies’ inspirational underdog story reminds all of us how young people have the power to change the world.” “The great thing is the NEWSIES | 18

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TH E O BS E RV E R | THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019

18 | C RE ATIV E A RTS

NEWSIES: A splashy Broadway musical, but with added heart FROM 17

script is written by Harvey Fierstein, and what he brings to his scripts is a lot of truth, a lot of grit, and a lot of heart. It’s in the same vein as most of the big, splashy Broadway shows that you’ve seen but with a ton more heart and a lot more to cling to,” added McLellan. “When audiences come to see Newsies, rest assured you’re going to see

THE MUSIC BRINGS 'EM OUT IN ELMIRA

absolutely everything that you want to see in a huge Broadway musical. It’s fun for every single age.” Newsies runs to August 3 at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse. Tickets are $48 for adults and $29 for youth under 20, available in person at any Drayton Entertainment box office, by calling 1-855-372-9866 or online at www.draytonentertainment.com.

Julia McLellan and Kale Penny in the Drayton Entertainment production of Newsies. [SUBMITTED]

Doug Dietrich & Sunrise provided the music as people gathered at Elmira's Gore Park July 14 for the Sunday Night Concert Series.

[FAISAL ALI]

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25TH Anniversary edition loaded with options including heated front and second row leather seats,,Navigation,20 inch wheel package,Apple Car Play,Android Auto,power sunroof,back-up camera,remote start,blind spot and rear cross path detection and much more. Finished in velvet red.Only 27,400 kilometers.$42,995.

Nice one owner trade-in. RT model with V6 engine, all-wheel drive, heated leather seats, Navigation, rear back-up camera, remote start and much more. Finished in white. Has 85,700 kilometers. $18,995.

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Sporty performance sedan yet fuel efficient with 3.6 liter V6 Pentastar engine and 8 speed automatic transmission. Has SXT Plus package with 8.4 inch Uconnect media,blind spot and cross path detection,back-up camera,remote start,power sunroof,heated seats,Bluetooth and much more.Previous daily rental . Finished in black.Only 20,500 kilometers.$30,995.

2016 RAM 1500 LARAMIE CREW 4X4

In immaculate condition.Loaded with options including Navigation,heated and ventilated leather seats,power sunroof,heated steering wheel,trailer brake control,remote start,rear backup camera.Also loaded with accessories including hard folding tonneau cover,side steps and much more. Finished in pearl white.Only 84,300 kilometers.$36,995.

2019 JEEP CHEROKEE TRAILHAWK ELITE 4X4

Very capable 4 wheel drive with awesome Trailhawk package including Jeep Active drive 11. Nicely equipped with 3.2 liter V6 engine , heated and ventilated leather seats, panoramic sunroof, power liftgate, heated steering wheel, Apple Car Play, Android Auto,remote start and more. Previous daily rental. Finished in black.Has only 22,900 kilometers. $35,995.

2018 DODGE DURANGO RT AWD

Awesome performance with 5.7 liter V8 Hemi engine, 8-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive, 7 passenger seating, sport performance hood, Navigation, heated leather seats, 20 inch granite steel wheels, power sunroof, dual exhaust, power liftgate and much more. Previous daily rental. Finished in Billett metalic. Has 54,900 kilometers. $42,995.

CALL ONE OF OUR PROFESSIONAL SALES REPS TODAY: RAY FREDERICK, COLIN KROPF, JEFF JOHNSON. All sale prices exclude H.S.T, and License Fee. Fixed rates, based on bi-weekly payments O.A.C. Finance rates are only good for date of publication.

361 ARTHUR STREET SOUTH, ELMIRA • www.voisinchrysler.com

519-669-2831


O BS E RV E R X TR A. C O M | THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 | 19

Classified Ads, Auctions, Real Estate, Public Notices, Obituaries and Family Album Announcements Office: Phone: Fax: Email:

20B Arthur St. N., Elmira 519-669-5790 Ext. 104 519-669-5753 ads@woolwichobserver.com

Placing Classified Advertising

Residential: $9.00 per 20 words (extra words: 20¢ per word) Commercial: $15.00 per 20 words (extra words: 30¢ per word)

Classified advertising will be accepted in person, email, phone or fax during regular office hours. All classified advertising are prepaid. Ask about the Service Directory, Real Estate and Family Album advertising.

Classified Ad - Display Ads

Observer advertising rates, policies and specifications are available at: www.observerxtra.com/media-kit

Please call Donna for a quote.

Deadline: Wednesdays by 10am

HELP WANTED

Classified Ad - Text Ads

Phone: 519-669-5790 Ext. 104

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

INVENTORY CONTROL Oral Health Peer Worker Required Job #19OHPW07

Contract Part-time (one year-renewable, upon confirmation of funding) 15 hours per week In partnership with Woolwich Community Health Centre (WCHC) staff and the Region of Waterloo Public Health Dental staff, the Oral Health Peer Worker will provide outreach, linkages and information specific to oral health in the communities of Woolwich and Wellesley Townships. The Peer Worker will promote the Healthy Smiles Ontario program specifically, and the Region of Waterloo Public Health Dental program generally. Interested applicants are invited to contact WCHC at recruitment@wchc.on.ca for position specific duties, qualifications and application process details. Please use subject line Oral Health Recruitment package. Applications are requested by end of day on Friday, August 2, 2019. HELP WANTED

We’re looking to add an individual with the following skills & leadership qualities to our Inventory Team. Prior experience in an inventory related position. Supervisory experience an asset. Experience with inventory control computer programs and Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Word. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to manage and build a motivated team. Ability to work cohesively with employees and managers as part of a team. Ability to meet timelines and deadlines and able to use time effectively and efficiently. Ability to work efficiently and effectively under pressure with simultaneous deadlines. Demonstrates the ability to frequently take initiative. Assists others and takes action. Strong aptitude for working with numbers with a high level of accuracy. Tasks require moderate physical demand, including lifting, walking, and standing. Some occasional light to moderate lifting required. This is a diversified position, great for the person who enjoys a fast paced environment. If you’re the One, email your resume to: info@conestogoagri.ca

Nieuwland Feeds Elora has an opening for a

Full Time Truck Driver

We require a valid DZ license. We offer competitive wages, benefits and Monday to Friday schedule.

**We offer competitive wages, benefits and an RRSP program**

HELP WANTED

Email your resume to:

info@nieuwlandfeeds.com or apply in person to Cliff at:

7460 County Road 21, Elora HELP WANTED

VACANCY

CAMEO COURT APARTMENTS 30 Church St. W., ELMIRA Rare Premium Downtown Elmira, spacious one Bedroom open-layout Apartment becoming AVAILABLE in modern (2012) Apartment Building complete with Elevator, Main floor Common Room, individual Central Heating / Air Conditioning in each Apt., as well as 5 appliances (washer/dryer in each Apt.)

Floradale Feed Mill Limited is an independent, family owned and operated feed company serving livestock and poultry producers in Ontario. We currently have an opening for:

Production Worker

This fulltime position will involve shift work week days (Monday to Friday) with an occasional Saturday shift. Responsibilities will include warehouse duties, pelleting/batching and receiving. The successful applicant will have • Strong oral and written communication skills • Ability to develop effective work relationships with co-workers, and • Ability to represent the Company positively with customers. At Floradale Feed Mill Limited we take pride in providing the finest in quality feeds and service to our customers in the livestock and poultry industries. Therefore, a background in agriculture is considered an asset. Benefits We offer a competitive wage, pension plan and group insurance benefits.

CONTACT: (519) 525-2222 or (226) 989-4627 (After 4PM) OR: evans@hurontel.on.ca

#1

NEWS SOURCE IN THE REGION

To apply, forward your resume and three references to: Human Resources Floradale Feed Mill Limited 2131 Floradale Road, Floradale, ON N0B 1V0 Or e-mail: ffmjobs@ffmltd.com We appreciate all who apply but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Need a gig that pays? Check out our help wanted ads! ER SERV HE OB K IN T WOR D IN F

FASHIONS

Fashion store in St. Jacobs requires sales associates for part-time positions. Must have retail background. Some weekend work involved. No late nights.

Please email resume and availability to dara_lizzyr@gmail.com HELP WANTED

Cabinet Installer Join a young, dynamic team that keeps growing! Woodland Horizon Ltd designs, manufacturers, finishes and installs high quality custom cabinetry and solid wood stairs. Our shop and showroom are located in the town of Drayton. At Woodland, one of our core values is Respect. Respect for our team members and respect for our customers. Continuous improvement is also a big part of who we are. We are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to make our team members jobs easier and more efficient. We are looking for a Cabinet and Stair Installer to add to our team. Reporting to our install manager you would be travelling mostly in a team of 2 people, and would be responsible to uphold the high moral and ethical standards of Woodland as you interact with customers.

Required skills • Respectful • Ability to read blueprints • Capable of lifting 50 to 75 pounds • Motivated and enthusiastic • Courteous and friendly • Dependable • No post secondary education required • Previous wood working, trim carpenter and install experience will be an asset This position is full time, with benefits after probationary period. If you are interested in joining a vibrant and growing company, please send your resume to laverne@woodlandhorizon.com or call 519.638.5961 ext 4 Only those receiving an interview will be contacted.

HELP WANTED

NURSERY WORKERS NEEDED SEASONAL fulltime. Pay rate $14.00/ hour. Working hours 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., 6 days per week. Work includes field potting, weeding in field and containers, truck loading, digging etc. Must be willing to work in all weather conditions and weekends. No education , no experience required. Own transportation required. Please send resume to: West Montrose Farms Ltd., 1614 Halm Road, West Montrose, ON. N0B 2V0.

FOR SALE

LAWN FERTILIZER AND LAWN SEED - CALL George Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141 or 519669-2045. MATTRESS AND BOX SPRING, NEW, NEVER used, still in sealed bag. Sacrifice $195. Delivery available $35. 519-6358737.

FOR SALE

OVEN READY ROASTERS READY FOR PICK up July 9. $2.30/lb, buy 10 get one free. 519-6691762.

WALLENSTEIN GENERAL STORE INC. SPEcial $3.99 reg $5.99 Ending July 27, Chapman's Premium Ice Cream. Also Yukon Bars and Sandwiches, Super Cones, Frostys and Sandwiches. MOTOR HOME - 1988 7278 Line 86 /PH 519ROYAL. ASKING 669-2231. $5000. Call 519-5023073, 1 - 7 p.m.

AUCTIONS

WED. JULY 24 AT 7:00 PM - PROPERTY AUCtion of a brick bungalow, approx 2600 sq ft of living space; 3 plus bedrooms; double car garage; finished basement and much more. 4010 North Hill Dr. Shakespeare. Jantzi Auctions Ltd. 519 656 3555 www.jantziauctions.com LISTINGS CONTINUE ON PAGE 20

100% LOCAL


TH E O BS E RV E R | THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019

20 | C LAS S IF IE D NOTIC E S

HELP WANTED

AUCTIONS

M & G Millwrights has designed, manufactured and installed custom process & material handling equipment for the food, animal feed, aggregate and automotive industries since 1967. Dedicated to providing exceptional service and support to our employees and clients; we are currently seeking one individual to join our growing team.

MECHANICAL DESIGNER/DRAFTER Responsibilities

• Production of detail drawing and bills of material for fabricated equipment • Liaise with in-house estimating, technical and shop staff • Assist fabricators and installers in solving problems

Requirements

• Must have throrough knowledge of drafting principles • Must have the ability to use 3D modeling software • Experience with Solidworks an asset • Successful applicant will posses strong organizational • skills and attention to detail.

Qualifications:

• Graduate drafting apprentice/technologist or equivalent with related experience • Experience in a millwrighting and metal fabrication environment an asset Please forward resume to:

M&G MILLWRIGHTS LIMITED P.O. Box 247 Elmira, ON N3B 2Z6 Attention: Human Resources or Fax: 519-669-1450 or Email: bob@mgmill.com

We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those considered will be contacted.

WELCOME TO YOUR WEEKLY HOME FOR AREA-WIDE AUCTIONS. GET THE LATEST SALE DATES EVERY WEEK.

MON. AUG 5TH ONLINE AUCTION opening at 7:00 PM (closed August 12 at 7:00PM): to include banks; First Gear; CAT; Spec Cast tractor trailers; Auto World cars and other collectable cars and much much more. www.jantziauction.com for more info. Jantzi Auctions Ltd. 519 656 3555

WANTED

ROLEX, TUDOR, OMEGA, BREITLING, I.W.C. etc. Pocket watches, silver and gold coins, jewellry, scrap. Call Terry 519-242-6900 or gallamore@golden.net TRADES & SERVICES

ACCOUNTING TAXATION SERVICES 25 years experience for your business and perFARM sonal 519-721-1895 or SERVICES lewisecommercesoluBAGGED PINE SHAV- tions@gmail.com INGS AGRICULTURAL Spray Lime, 22.5kg. bag; RON'S DRYWALL AND feed grade lime, 25kg. RENOVATIONS. OVER Delivered. Call George 35 years experience. Haffner Trucking, 519- Please call 519574-4141 or 519-669- 496-7539 or email 2045. ron.spncr@gmail.com KILN DRIED CORN & CORN SCREENING Delivered by Einwechter. Minimum 15 ton lots. Call George Haffner Trucking 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

SMALL ADS, BIG IMPACT.

COMING EVENTS

BENEFIT DINNER AND DANCE FOR MURRAY Frey. Do You Like Blue Grass? .. and roast beef? All Are Welcome For a fun filled evening September 7th @ Elmira Lions Hall.

THE OBSERVER CLASSIFIED ADS

Two live bands, roast beef dinner, silent auction, door prizes & cash bar. Blue Grass Band "Maple Sugar Sweethearts" 5-8pm, Roast Beef Dinner 6pm Tickets must be pre-purchased (by August 29) for bluegrass and dinner venue - $50. Local Country Band "Moonshine" 8:30pm. Tickets for Moonshine only - $25. For tickets or to make a donation please contact: Bonnie Brubacher, 519-669-3148, Kim Frey 519-501-0628 or Melodie Martin 519-807-4570. COMING EVENTS

SUMMER KARATE CAMP! AUGUST 19TH 23RD. Heidelberg Community Centre 2915 Lobsinger Line SCHWEITZER'S MARTIAL ARTS Self-confidence, Self-defense, Character building, Have fun! BEGINNERS WELCOME! Ages 4 to adult Taught by Renshi Becky Schweitzer, 4th Degree Black Belt & World Karate Champion $125+HST/week Family rates & half day camps available. 519-580-1418 becky_schweitzer@hotmail.com

AUCTIONS

DAVID CARSON FARMS & AUCTION SERVICES LTD. FRI. JULY 26TH – 6:30 PM – Beef Cow & Calf

Sale. Offering cows, breeder bulls, and cow/ calf pairs. Cull cows at 6:30 P.M. followed by Stocker sale. Consignments Accepted!

SAT. JULY 27TH – 9:30 A.M. – Farm Property & Machinery Sale for Peter & Cornelia Thiesen of Meaford. Sale will be held at the farm located at 085213 Sideroad 8, Meaford. Farm Property offers 232.2 Acres including approx. 165 acres workable. Machinery offers a large selection of organic tillage equipment as well as haying and harvesting equipment. See website for full sales listing. FRI. AUGUST 2ND – 9:30 A.M. - Machinery

Consignment Sale. On offer will be tractors, haying & harvesting, tillage & seeding equipment and misc. items. Call for advertising by July 22nd. All Items must be in yard by July 30th.

WED. AUGUST 14TH – 11:30 A.M. – Dairy Sale. Offering registered and grade, fresh and springing young Holstein cows and heifers. Open & Bred heifers will start at 11:30 A.M. prior to the Dairy Sale. Consignments Welcome!

Carson’s Auction Service R.R.#3 Listowel, ON N4W 3G8

Tel: 519-291-2049 | Fax: 519-291-5065 Website: www.davidcarson.on.ca | Email: info@davidcarson.on.ca

#1 NEWS SOURCE IN THE REGION

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THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 | THE O BSE RVE R

C L AS S IF IE D N OTIC E S | 21

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES

THOMPSON’S

Auto Tech Inc. Providing the latest technology to repair your vehicle with accuracy and confidence.

519-669-4400 30 ORIOLE PKWY. E., ELMIRA www.thompsonsauto.ca

GENERAL SERVICES

CALL TO BOOK! TODAY.

TIRE

WHERE TIRES

VAN AND MINIBUS TRANSPORTATION “Specializing in small group charters”

Farm • Auto • Truck Industrial On-The-Farm Service

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519-669-3232

Residential / Agricultural / Commercial / Industrial / Pole Lines

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Various sizes & rates

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100 SOUTH FIELD DRIVE, ELMIRA

GENERAL SERVICES

HOME IMPROVEMENT

SLJ Electric Ltd.

THIS SPACE IS FOR RENT

ARE A

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MarCrest Backhoe

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• Store Fronts • Thermopanes • Mirrors • Screen Repair • Replacement Windows • Shower Enclosures • Sash Repair TEL:

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TH E O BS E RV E R | THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019

22 | C LAS S IF IE D NOTIC E S

R E A L E STAT E S E RV I C E S

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519-577-6248 allibauman17@gmail.com

suefrom17@gmail.com

Solid Gold Realty (II) Ltd., Brokerage ELMIRA - Time to downsize? Built in 2016, this 1210 sq.ft. bungalow has all you need. 2 bedrms, 2 full baths, open concept layout, laundry only a few steps down & an oversized single garage. Featuring quartz counter tops & a breakfast bar, soft close cabinetry, step in shower in ensuite bathrm, central air, HRV system, water softener & more. A perfect sized composite deck for relaxing & watching the sunrise. The wide-open unfinished basement with one egress window allows many future layout options. Walking distance to schools, walking trails, golf course, & downtown area.

3 Arthur St. S., Elmira | 519-669-5426

R.W. THUR REAL ESTATE LTD. Office:

Independently Owned and Operated

$499,900

BROKERAGE

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

519-669-2772 45 Arthur St. S., Elmira www.thurrealestate.com

BRAD MARTIN Broker of Record, MVA Residential Res: 519.669.1068

ONLY ONE UNIT left in this phase. No condo fees! This two bdrm. townhome offers an open concept living area w/9’ ceilings, lots of kitchen cabinetry w/island & granite countertop. Gas fireplace & w/o from liv. room w/oversized window. ‘King sized’ master bdrm. w/walkin closet & ensuite. Open staircase. 14’ wide garage (w/10’door). The model home is still avail. to view. MLS

SELLING? CALL US FOR A FREE MARKET EVALUATION.

Bert Be Martin Re/max Solid Gold Realty (II) Ltd., R

CALL FOR YOUR

BROKER

Independently Owned and Operated

Luke Shantz

REAL ESTATE BROKER

Brokerage

Independently Owned and Operated

luke.shantz@outlook.com

Broker

Cell: 519.588.7562

LET OUR 60+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORK FOR YOU!

$509,900 Solid Gold Realty (II) Ltd., Brokerage

JULIE HECKENDORN

FREE MARKET EVALUATION

DIRECT: 519-572-2669 3 Arthur St. S. Elmira DIREC

3 Arthur St. S., Elmira | 519.669.5426 | Direct 519.584.4400

OFFICE: 519-669-5426

www.remaxsolidgold.biz

EMAIL: bert@remaxsolidgold.biz

NEW LISTING

Thinking of Selling?

Call for your FREE Property Evaluation ! EW G N TIN S LI

Beautifully detailed fully renovated Four Level Side Split on quiet street in great location central to schools and all amenities, offers three bedrooms, three bathrooms, remodeled kitchen with a peninsula,dining room with walkout to the gorgeous multilevel deck, hot tub and pool area. The family room also offers access to the outside living area where you can relax in the sun or shade. This is a beautiful home and needs to be seen to be appreciated. The landscaping and lawns are well manicured. MLS. Call Bert to view.

$669,000 ELMIRA

This very unique century home is an Arts and Craft Design remodeled by the original owners. Built in 1913 this home has been completely updated including all windows, electrical, plumbing, hydro service and roofs. Located on a quiet street close to schools, rec centre and a 10 minute walk to down town. Beautiful landscaping with professionally installed patio, interlocking driveway and private back yard with water feature. A cozy sunroom ideal for your morning coffee. MLS. Call Bert to view. Come see this Beautiful Property.

ELMIRA – Beautiful 3 bed, 1.5 bath family home on quiet street. Great room addition overlooks beautiful backyard oasis w/ interlock patio surrounding pool, beautiful Cabana, pool house changeroom and gas BBQ hookup. finished rec room under addition. MLS

100% LOCAL

Office 519-669-1544

Contact us by email: mildred@thefreyteam.com

$779,900 FABULOUS PROPERTY!

$479,000

REALTY LTD., BROKERAGE

Len Frey

INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED

Sales Representative Call or text

www.thefreyteam.com

OPEN HOUSE | SUNDAY 2-4PM $549,900

95 Sugar King, Elmira: Fabulous spacious home, priced to sell. Quality laminate and ceramic floors. Kitchen has a walkout to rear fenced yard, deck and patio. MLS #30738211

$569,000

48 Ann St., Elmira: Lovely home in the town of Elmira. Nice yard with decorative rod iron fence. If interested contact either of us to view. MLS #30734510

Your referrals are appreciated! 519-669-3192

Brubacher

BROKER

$1,389,000

Rozema

BROKER

Roes

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

519-747-2040

519-669-3192

3.5 ACRES

7392 Wellington Rd. 11: Large newer home in the country, with private long lane way to 3.5 acres. Newer home with possibility of 3 units, plus 2& 1/2 car shop and 2 car attached garage. MLS #30734525

$1600/MTH + H & H

Shanna

Monique

Call or text

Cell 519-741-6368 Cell 519-741-6970

Serving the community for 27 years!

Bonnie

Mildred Frey Broker

A portion of each sale commission is donated to The Woolwich Community Services.

HELPING YOU IS WHAT WE DO…

OPEN SAT, JULY 20 • 10AM-12NOON HOUSE 10 SUNSET PLACE, ELMIRA TH

19 Weber St., East Kitchener: Great location for offices related to Court house. Located directly accross the street. Please contact Mildred Frey with 24 hours notice to view. MLS #30751527

$150,000

SALE OF BUSINESS

Elmira Laundromat: Has newer equipment, Heavy duty washers for hockey gear. The rear unit has self serve dog grooming. Could also add take out dry cleaning. MLS #30736450 WALKOUT BASEMENT, RAISED BUNGALOW $549,900 ELMIRA Spacious walk-in foyer, 2 steps up to mainfloor living. Updated Kitchen, with walk out to private deck area. 3 bedrooms, bath, dining and living room. Basement offers walkout great room to a beautiful yard!. Gas stove for those winter nights, updated bath, 2 additional rooms plus storage. MLS

ATTENTION EMPTY NESTERS & SINGLES! $484,000 ELMIRA This beautifully maintained and completely finished 2 bdrm, 3 bath home offers much to be desired. Lovely kitchen with island, granite counter tops, appliances included, walkout off the living room to spacious deck, privacy fence and nicely landscaped grounds. Large recreation room in the finished basement. C/air, electric f/p., c/vac ++++. MLS

FOR LEASE

LOOKING FOR AN ATTRACTIVE COMMERCIAL BUILDING? $439,000 ELMIRA Investment Opportunity! Be your own Landlord with supplemented INCOME. Occupy your own Commercial space of 1095 sq ft available in 2020, and have 3 rental residential apartments for income. MLS

IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT SELLING OR BUYING THIS SUMMER, NOW IS THE TIME TO CONNECT WITH US, YOUR LOCAL REALTOR TO KEEP YOU INFORMED ON MARKET CONDITIONS.

1,821 SQ.FT. $10/SQ.FT.

4-112 Oriole Pwy, Elmira: Large open space will allow for new tenant to make divisions as needed. All shelving has been removed. Owner is obtaining quotes to paint, remove half walls and finish the floor. MLS #30681168

Thinking of Buying or Selling?

Call or email today for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION, OPINON of VALUE!


THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 | THE O BSE RVE R

C L AS S IF IE D N OTIC E S | 23

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OBITUARY

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

OBITUARY

OBITUARY

Bauman, Madeline (nee Horst) Wife of the late Gordon S. Bauman (2012), passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2019 at Hospice Wellington, Guelph, in her 74th year. Loved stepmother of Martha and Abner Bauman of Millbank, Paul and Verna Bauman, Verna and Willard Bowman, and Esther Bauman, all of Drayton, Lena and Edgar Sauder of Mount Forest and Laura and Earl Bowman of Kenilworth. Cherished grandmother of 26 step-grandchildren and 62 step-great-grandchildren. Dear sister of Mary Horst of Elmira, Emma Horst of Elmira, Edna and Abner Martin of Alma, Dorothy Horst of Floradale, Glen and Anna Horst of Elmira, and David and Nancy Horst of Kurtsville. Predeceased by her husband Gordon S. Bauman, with whom she lived in matrimony for 23 years, one step-great-grandson (2018), and her parents Enoch and Sarah Horst. Visitation was held from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, July 15, 2019 and from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at the Dreisinger Funeral Home, 62 Arthur St. S., Elmira. A family service was held in the funeral home chapel at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 then to Goshen Mennonite Meeting House for burial and public service.

Irvine, Bill

Melenbacher, June Mary

Passed away on June 2, 2019 at St Joseph’s Hospice in Sarnia. Howard will be missed by his friends in Kettle Point, Elmira, St. Jacobs and Waterloo. Howard was an avid fast ball pitcher and hockey player in the Elmira and St. Jacobs area. He retired in Kettle Point after a long career in real estate in Kitchener-Waterloo. He enjoyed music and relaxing at his home near Lake Huron. He built his home in Kettle Point, and just completed a huge deck for outdoor living. He was very proud of his children and enjoyed their visits to his home. A Celebration of Life will be held for Howie on Thursday, July 25, 2019 from 5-9 p.m., at the Elmira Legion, 11 First St. E., Elmira.

Passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2019, at his home in Elmira, one day after celebrating his 87th birthday. Beloved husband of his “wee wife� Margaret Irvine for over 58 years. Dear father of Bob Irvine and Leanne Stapley of Waterloo. Survived by sisters Margaret Hardy and Yvonne Ross. Fondly remembered by his nieces and nephews and their families. Predeceased by his parents John and Greta Irvine of Scotland, and brother Jack. At Bill’s request, cremation has taken place. There will be no funeral home visitation or service. As expressions of sympathy donations to the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre would be appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to the Dreisinger Funeral Home, Elmira.

In her 94th year, June past peacefully on Friday July 5, 2019 at Royal Victoria Health Center in Barrie Ontario.

 www.dreisingerfuneralhome.com

www.dreisingerfuneralhome.com

100% LOCAL

www.dreisingerfuneralhome.com

#1

MacDonald, Howard “Howie�

NEWS SOURCE IN THE REGION

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R E A L E STAT E S E RV I C E S

“HELPING YOU IS WHAT WE DO.�

Melanie Shanna Beisel

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

Voisin, Mary (nee: Dietrich) Passed away surrounded by family, on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at Guelph General Hospital, in her 93rd year.

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

OBITUARY

Planning a special event?

Get the word out!

Rozema

BROKER

519-590-0835

519-572-2528

mbeisel@royallepage.ca

shannarozema@royallepage.ca

PRE-SELLING NEXT PHASE OF PARADIGM (ELMIRA) HOMES BUNGALOW TOWN HOMES PRICED FROM $489,900 for interior unit $499,900 for exterior unit. FREEHOLD Executive style living! 5 units available, all offer 1.5 garage, double driveways, custom kitchens, hardwood floors, gas fireplace, central air conditioning, iron spindles. EXCLUSIVE

! ENTS NCEM NNOU UM A Y ALB FAMIL

Beloved wife and best friend of the late Roman “Romie� Voisin (June 10, 2019). Will be deeply missed by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents Eugene and Elizabeth Dietrich, her brothers; Anthony (Lorraine), Albert (Bernetta), Frank (Esther), Leo (Ellen), George (Betty), Charles (Doreen & Rosemary) Harry (Irene) and Fr. Edward Dietrich CR and her sisters; Marcella Dietrich, Agnes Lorentz (Edward), Ann Meyer (Sid) and Sister Mildred Dietrich SSJ. Mary was a member the CWL - St. Boniface R.C. Church and was a Eucharistic Minister. Mary and her husband Romie were the former owners of H & R Voisin Motors, Maryhill, Elmira and St. Clements. Mary’s family will receive relatives and friends from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Friday, July 19, 2019 at the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick Street, Kitchener, 519-749-8467. Prayers will be offered at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Boniface R.C. Church,1354 Maryhill Rd. Maryhill, on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Interment at St. Boniface Cemetery, Maryhill. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Carmel of St. Joseph would be appreciated by the family (cards available at the funeral home).

Visit www.henrywalser.com for Mary’s memorial

Devoted wife to her late husband Ward Braun Melenbacher of 58 Years. Dear mother of Debra Draper of Elmira, Departed son Gregory (Wendy Hallman) of Drayton, Karen Martin (Larry) of St. Jacobs and Mark (Dawn Osborne) of Barrie. Also remembered by her ten grandchildren, Scott, Shawn, Erin, Ryan, Caitlin, Adyn, Quinn, Kevin, Michael, Justin and her 12 great grandchildren. After graduating high school, June worked as a school teacher until the early 1960s. June made the right decision to follow her dream as a piano teacher and church organist which in turn allowed her to help co-found the Kiwanis music festival. June also won many awards as a choral director with the Melenbacher singers of Barrie. June also served with the RCCO, ORMTA National Council, OFTA and RSCM. Moving to Elmira Ontario in 1983, she was awarded a degree with honours in music after attending Wilfrid Laurier University. She then continued working with the church, teaching piano & voice, and contributed to the Elmira Festival before returning to Simcoe County for the past six years. June will be remembered for her many contributions and efforts in the music industry but most of all, to be fortunate enough to have closed your eyes and listen to her perform, you shared in her greatest gift of warming so many hearts with the sounds of music. “God bless and Rest in Peace� A celebration of life announcement will be forth coming in the fall of 2019. Donations on June’s behalf will be greatly appreciated at the Cancer Care Unit at RVH Barrie.

DEATH NOTICES

ADAMS, ERIC GORDON - Passed away at St. Mary’s General Hospital, Kitchener on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at the age of 78 years, of New Hamburg, formerly of Elmira,. BAUMAN, MADELINE (NEE HORST) Wife of the late Gordon S. Bauman (2012), passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2019, at Hospice Wellington, Guelph, in her 74th year. IRVINE, BILL - Passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2019, at his home in Elmira, one day after celebrating his 87th birthday. MERNER, ROBERT “BOBâ€? - Passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2019 at the Freeport Health Centre at the age of 63. PRINGLE, SHIRLEY MAE - Following a year-long battle with cancer, Shirley passed away on Saturday, July 6, 2019 at Chartwell Retirement Residence in Elmira at the age of 83.Â


O BS E RV E R X TR A. C O M | THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 | 24

GOING WITH THE FLOW

FREE PARK-ING Be involved in community activities, events & support local initiatives. Tell us about what's happening and about the people in your neighbourhood.

The Canada Infrastructure Bank, a Crown corporation, has committed up to $20 million in the Township of Mapleton’s water and wastewater project. The township is seeking a consortium to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the municipality’s new and existing water and wastewater infrastructure for up to 20 years. Mapleton will continue to own all existing and new infrastructure assets.

Ontario Parks’ Healthy Parks Healthy People celebration is on again this year. Tomorrow (July 19), all Ontario Parks will be offering free day-use access to promote the health benefits of being outdoors. It's an opportunity for those who have never visited a park before to try them out for a day. www.ontarioparks.com

Online: observerxtra.com/tips

The practicalities of going green VO LU N T E E R I S M I N AC T I O N

Paul Parker receives GCC lifetime achievement award for his years of spearheading environmental action BY STEVE KANNON skannon@woolwichobserver.com

Conestogo’s Paul Parker sets a good example for green living – he was an early adopter of solar panels, long before the technology was as economical as it is today, for instance – but he knows it takes more than individual effort to make a difference. Recently awarded an Environmental Lifetime Achievement Award by Green Communities Canada (GCC) for his decades of leadership in ecological conservation measures, Parker is quick to credit others for running with his early efforts. A professor and associate dean in the University of Waterloo’s School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, Parker was a cofounder in 1999 of the Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP) – today known as Reep Green Solutions – which also won a GCC award last month as Green Community Member of the Year. Without others joining in and expanding on the Reep philosophy, there would be no achievements to recognize, Parker maintains in sharing the credit. “I’m just a local farm boy who just grew up and thought ‘this kinda makes sense,’” he said of his own foray into environmentalism. “Likeminded people made everything else possible.” Parker said his has always been a practical

Long before solar panels were as economical as they are today, Paul Parker had them installed on the roof of his Conestogo home.

approach to environmental issues, looking at ways everybody can take part in the movement. With Reep, the first step was offering home energy audits and suggesting improvements such as upgrades to windows and insulation. Such

steps not only reduced energy loss, but put money back in homeowners’ pockets, the very definition of practical. From the initial energy audits, Reep expanded its environmental offerings over the years, all with

practicality in mind, be it reducing waste, dealing with rainwater runoff, planting trees or reducing greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change. “We’re all about action – practical action that each of us can take in our lives

We would love for you to stop by and check out our new office and landscaping at the Industrial Drive location! We now have an outdoor sitting area that you are welcome to use anytime! A big thanks to Kraemer’s Woodcraft and Earthscape for all your hard work! ~Leroy’s Auto Care

[STEVE KANNON]

and in our communities,” said Mary Jane Patterson, executive director of Reep Green Solutions. “We started with a pretty specific focus – home energy evaluations – and expanded from there,” she added, noting many of the

new services were driven by feedback from the community. “You need to be lean, responsive and strategic, and we try to do all of those things.” Changing technologies and evolving public attitudes have also help expand Reep and other environmental groups, Parker notes. “It’s a more sophisticated population these days – people know things are changing ... that we’re having to worry about things,” he said. “Most people accept that the climate is changing around us.” The public is generally in agreement that mitigation efforts are needed, though such efforts have been limited to date. That being the case, adaptation is now emerging as the next hurdle: we’re seeing more extreme weather, particularly flooding, and we’re going to have to make changes to deal with that, says Parker. Again, there are practical steps that can be taken to help communities to adapt to shifting weather patterns and increased risks of flooding, he suggests, pointing to the likes of Reep’s rainwater management techniques. “Each of us can only do a little, but if more of us do something, it does add up.” It’s an approach he sees being used by many environmental groups, promoting action rather than just advocacy. Green Communities Canada, on whose GREEN | 27

Two locations in Elmira to serve you better

20 Oriole Parkway E. | 47 Industrial Drive

Tel: (519) 669-1082

www.leroysautocare.net

Accredited Test & Repair Facility


THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 | THE O BSE RVE R

L IV IN G H E RE | 25

C H E F ' S TA B L E

Mix things up when enjoying strawberry season up the barbecue for this one, enjoying some outdoor time in the backyard, perhaps.

Strawberries and Brie with Basil

DIERRE ACHESON

1/4 pint washed and sliced strawberries 3 basil leaves 1Tbsp. balsamic 2 Tbsp. olive oil Cracked pepper 1 wheel of brie cheese 1 soaked cedar board

CHEF'S TABLE

B

erry season is here! You can’t go wrong with something like a strawberry pie – it’s a really yummy treat –but saving some berries for a savoury dish can bring you to the dark side. One of our favourite combinations is basil, strawberries and balsamic vinegar. Throw in some brie cheese and it’s heaven! This recipe for Strawberries and Brie with Basil is a great idea for entertaining. You will need a natural cedar plank soaked in water overnight –lightly dry it before use. This board can be used a few times and is a lovely serving platter as well. And the smell will get them talking. Combine it all with some delicious flatbread and you’re all set. Better still, you can fire

COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR

“A GOOD JOB DONE EVERY TIME�

Kleensweep Carpet Care

3. Score the brie about a 1/2� down in an x form. Add the brie to the top of the plank. 4. Mix the basil into the strawberries. Place the strawberry mix on top of the brie. Shut the grill top and allow the cedar to permeate. The brie will get soft removed from the heat before it gets hot. 5. Serve with crackers, baguette or flatbread.

Rugs and Upholstery

•Mattress Cleaning •Residential •Commercial •Personalized Service •Free Estimates

JULY 28 „„ ELMIRA SUNDAY CONCERT SERIES AT GORE PARK. COME join us with Lance Russwurm performing from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and be sure to come early for better seating.

West Montrose, ON

T. 519.669.2033

COLLEEN

Cell: 519.581.7868

Truck & Trailer Maintenance

1. Slice berries and put into a bowl, toss in balsamic, olive oil and cracked pepper. 2. Heat up the BBQ to medium. Once warm, turn the burners off one side of the grill. Place the cedar plank on the side with the burners off.

JULY 21 „„ ELMIRA SUNDAY CONCERT SERIES AT GORE PARK. COME join us Wendy Lynn Snider performing from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and be sure to come early for better seating.

Cardlock Fuel Management

COMMERCIAL 24 CARDLOCK FUEL DEPOT HOUR M&G MILLWRIGHTS LTD.

AUGUST 4 „„ ELMIRA SUNDAY CONCERT SERIES AT GORE PARK. COME join us with Fred Lewis and Ridin High performing from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and be sure to come early for better seating. AUGUST 11 „„ ELMIRA SUNDAY CONCERT SERIES AT GORE PARK. COME join us with The Chaparrals performing from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and be sure to come early for better seating.

AUGUST 25 „„ ELMIRA SUNDAY CONCERT SERIES AT GORE PARK. THE series finale. Come join us with Rick Loucks & Southbound performing from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and be sure to come early for better seating.

519.669.5105

Got a great story lead? n? happe g n i h t me ? See so e inside line h Have t s know! Let u tips

Individual life insurance, mortgage insurance, business insurance, employee benefits programs, critical illness insurance, disability coverage,

RRSPs, RESPs, RRIFs, LIFs and Annuities.

Quality & Service you can trust.

21 Industrial Dr., Elmira 519.669.2884 | martinselmira.com

GET IT IN THE

SANYO CANADIAN

MACHINE WORKS INCORPORATED

33 Industrial Dr., Elmira 519.669.1591

Woolwich Township Ward 1 Councillor

HOME ENERGY SYSTEMS

o

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tra.co x r e v r bse

652 Waterbury Lane, Waterloo

HOW TO PLAY: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once. Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. Numbers are preplaced to get you started.

How can I help you?

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

VERMONT Castings

11 HENRY ST. - UNIT 9, ST. JACOBS

519.664.2008

Saturday, 9am-3pm

charlene@bauerhearing.com 25 Industrial Drive, Elmira

Home: 519.747.4388

YOUR OIL, PROPANE, NATURAL GAS AND AIR CONDITIONING EXPERTS

•

519-669-9919

Bus: 519.744.5433

elmiravacuum@gmail.com

Monday - Friday, 9am-5:30pm

Your First Step to Better Hearing

NANCY KOEBEL

519-669-8362

Education and Treatment

www.mgmill.com

9 Church St. E., Elmira

MATERIAL HANDLING & PROCESSING SYSTEMS

24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE

Service

All Makes & Models

• Design • Installation • Custom Fabrication

P.O. BOX 247, ELMIRA

Repairs

AUGUST 18 „„ ELMIRA SUNDAY CONCERT SERIES AT GORE PARK. COME join us with U-Turn performing from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and be sure to come early for better seating.

1540 FLORADALE ROAD

OBSERVER SUDOKU

Vacuum Sales,

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 www.observerxtra.com/event-list.

New to the Community? Do you have a new Baby? It’s time to call your Welcome Wagon Hostess. Elmira & Surrounding Area

SHARON GINGRICH 519.291.6763 | psgingrich@hotmail.ca

519.514.6051

pmerlihan@woolwich.ca

www.merlihan.com

Woolwich

Healthy Communities healthywoolwich.org

The place to get involved. • Volunteer Opportunities • Projects & News • Sub-Committee updates


TH E O BS E RV E R | THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019

26 | L I VI NG HE RE BRAIN FOOD

A case of putting one's ego out there, writ large Q. It was “one small ego trip for man, one giant frame of reference for mankind,� says Dan Lewis on his “Now I Know� website. What was he referring to? A. The man is Jimmie Luecke of Smithville, Texas, who after making a small fortune in oil speculation, acquired a huge tract of brushland and made a name for himself — literally, Lewis explains. When Luecke had the area cleared, he left standing acres and acres of trees spelling out his name, so that people flying between Houston and Austin could see it from their windows. According to “Atlas Obscura,� it is the world’s largest signature, “with each letter extending thousands of feet, per ‘Conde Nast Traveler,’ and the entire name spans more than 2.5 miles from the L to the second E.� As Google Maps’ satellite view reveals, the name “LUECKE� is also clearly visible from the International Space Station. As NASA noted in 2004, Luecke’s signature helps astronauts evaluate the spatial resolution of their photographs, since “astronauts can use it to ‘estimate the maximum resolution of cameras aboard the Space Shuttle’�: “One giant frame of reference for mankind.� Q. The apostrophe, that little squiggly mark first used to indicate the omission of a letter, can also denote a possessive (queen’s), “except when it doesn’t,� as with “its,� “hers,� “ours,� says Anu

for fiber to make rope, clothing and paper. But when did people discover its psychoactive properties? How do we know?

BILL&RICH SONES STRANGE BUT TRUE

Garg on his “wordsmith. org� website. Can you define these possessives: “child’s play,� “cat’s pajamas,� “Plato’s cave� and “Zeno’s paradox�? A. “Child’s play,� of course, is something trivial or a task easily accomplished, Garg explains. “Cat’s pajamas� dates to the 1920s in the U.S., “when it was fashionable to coin terms on the pattern of “x’s y,� (where x is an animal) to describe something cool or awesome. Other examples are “bee’s knees� and “cat’s meow.� “Plato’s cave� denotes an illusory place or experience, based on the allegory of Plato’s cave “in which people imprisoned there see shadows and assume them to be their reality.� Finally, from Greek philosopher Zeno of Elea (c490430 BCE), comes his bestknown paradox involving a race between Achilles and a tortoise. Since the tortoise has a head start, it is said that Achilles would never catch up “because the tortoise would always be a little ahead, no matter how small the gap.� Hence, “Zeno’s paradox� means “appearing to get closer and closer to a goal but never reaching there.� Q. More than 4,000 years ago, Chinese farmers grew hemp for its oil and

A. Hemp evolved about 28 million years ago on the eastern Tibetan plateau, says Andrew Lawler in “Science� magazine. It still grows wild across central Asia but the wild strains contain little THC – the plant’s most potent psychoactive component. However, a recent study using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry “found unusually high levels of THC� in burnt residue associated with Sogdian tomb artifacts at a Silk Road site in far western China, dating from 2,500 years ago. “The cannabis was apparently burned in an enclosed space, so mourners almost certainly inhaled THC-laced fumes, making this the earliest solid evidence of cannabis use for psychoactive purposes.� It’s not known if the high-THC plants were deliberately bred or occurred naturally, but within a few hundred years of the Sogdian funerals, “the Greek historian Herodotus wrote that the nomadic Scythians made tents and heated rocks in order to inhale hemp vapors that made them ‘shout for joy.’� Concludes Lawler, “The ancient Silk Road trafficked in more than spices, grains, and ideas.� Bill is a journalist, Rich holds a doctorate in physics. Together the brothers bring you “Strange But True.� Send questions to sbtcolumn@gmail.com

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ACROSS 1. Butterfingers 5. Zero. Nothing. Nada. 10. Balls 15. Argive lover of Zeus 16. Foreign band help 18. In front and behind, nautically speaking 20. Party favorite 23. Happy, mindful, grateful - all good advice 24. Sad cartoon movie about a boy scout, a widower and a talking dog. 25. Tidy enough to a pig 26. Slavic nominative suffix 27. Thunder sound 29. Poetically forever 31. "__ (__, __, __, __, __) and them (Them, them, them, them)" -Pink Floyd 32. Digital music protocol 34. Normalcy 37. "__! __! __!" - Teddy-

loid 38. Non-binary gender 40. Caramel is this kind of goodness 42. Pool, road, country 43. Monty Python and this cup 45. Darn bad word to the faithful 48. Dispense justice with out 49. Pamphlet rhyme 50. A hard row to 51. Like a carinet, but smaller reed 52. Classified type 53. Better than be two! 54. Spitfire corps 55. Puts into 56. What they did on the stool 57. Morrow wards 59. Socially awkward 60. Ancient greetings 61. Green to the French 62. Succulent gel 63. First in show 64. "Bill & ___ Excellent Adventure"

DOWN 1. Clansman 2. Check up on someone 3. Thai group 4. Waterproofing metal 6. I only had a brain, a heart, courage 7. Throw, as grenade 8. Fish basket 9. Man, beset by Skeletor 10. Country's whole output 11. Selling these makes the newspaper possible 12. Also hen to the Scots 13. Astern 14. Panache 17. Massive flood, like Noah's for example 19. Halos 21. The chicken stopped here to lay it on the line 22. As pie 28. Strongly odiferous

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30. To cover with gold 31. Secondhand 33. Seeing red 35. Put air into 36. Classic rebuttal to unconvincing argument 39. Loneliest number 41. Exclamatory search! 44. Not close by 46. Half stereo 47. Genuinely can't live without 48. Someone with one of these can manage anything apparently - just ask them. 49. PC gamer party 51. Mining material 52. __ the people, but apparently not those people lately :-( 53. c, b, m all make words with this 58. Food for the frisky 59. Slender 60. "Halt!" to a salt

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GREEN: Award recognizes his years of putting ideas into practical action FROM 24

board he once served, is an umbrella organization that promotes hands-on options, allowing diverse groups to share what works with each other. “It looks at what are the actions that are practical for you and me,” said Parker of GCC. “It’s good to be sharing stories across the country ... so groups are on the same page, rather than reinventing the wheel.” In working with municipalities and larger groups, Reep, too, has become more collaborative. As part of Climate Change WR, the group is working with others to reduce the region’s carbon footprint. Transportation is the biggest single emitter in these parts, but issues such as food waste come into play, says Patterson. Here, too, there are practical steps and commensurate programs such as planting trees, which help reduce the need for air conditioning and retain water, for instance. With that in mind, Reep has a program that assists homeowners in developing a landscape plan for their properties. “It’s a neat opportunity for people to have someone come to your home and

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evaluate what is right for your home,” she said. The new offerings are part of Reep’s evolution over the past 20 years, a milestone that will be celebrated at Fresh Air Fest, an anniversary celebration set for September 14 at Waterloo Park. When Parker cofounded Reep in 1999 – a joint initiative of the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment and the Elora Environment Centre – he didn’t know how it might evolve, but he remains involved and committed to making a difference. “It’s fantastic to have Paul on our board of directors. He still has that passion for sustainability,” said Patterson. The passion remains and there are more likeminded people than ever, but is the pace of change enough to ward off the worse impacts of climate change, for instance? “We are doing some steps in the right direction, but we’re not moving fast enough – our emissions are still going up,” said Parker, noting inertia may be working against us. “These are certainly interesting times,” he added, referencing the old Chinese curse.

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Fire-safety tips, face painting, hopscotch, Touch-A-Truck and live music were all on offer at the Wellesley Township annual backyard barbecue held June 21 at the administrative office. [VERONICA REINER / THE OBSERVER]

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