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Elmira, Ontario, Canada | observerxtra.com | Volume 27 | Issue 20

Strong response to Elmira urban design survey

Girls can fly Event at Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre aims to get more women at the controls

Some 800 respondents give Woolwich a lot to focus on in downtown Elmira Leah Gerber Observer Staff

Yumna Hafeji, Yusra Hafeji, Eusha Hafeji and Amena Muhammad take time for a photo and some ice cream at the Girls Can Fly event at the airport in Breslau last weekend. Leah Gerber

Also at the event were airport operations assistant Rucha Shah. Anna Spehr, a first officer with Bearskin Airlines, and Clarissa Harder, Leah Gerber/Bill Atwood HR coordinator for Perimeter Aviation. Kaylin Woods gets ready to take off.

Emese Fabry with her daughter, Olivia Fabry-Porumb, and Paul Cleve of the Waterloo Warbirds. Anishika Arora is a volunteer with Bill Atwood/Leah Gerber Northern Lights Aero Foundation. Alise Stoller, 10, waited more than an hour for her flight.

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WHAT SHOULD DOWNTOWN ELMIRA LOOK like? Woolwich Township staff have heard back about what residents are looking for, and the results are conflicting. The Elmira urban design streetscape study revealed what survey respondents want when it comes to planning in the core. “I think there’s a mixed message of different types of things people want,” said Deanne Friess, Woolwich’s director of development services. “Some people wanted more easy access and parking. Some people want easier walkability. Some people want easier bike access.” The survey included the responses from almost 800 respondents. “That’s a big, big number for a township of this size,” said Friess. “So people are interested. That’s what that tells us.” According to the survey results, the top three priorities of the respondents are ease of driving

through town, outdoor patios, and trees and other landscapes. Other issues in the survey included the possibility of a new town square, raising the height of some buildings, creating mixed use buildings with business and residential units, making the area more pedestrian friendly, adding more parks, dedicated cycling routes and horse and buggy parking. Friess said there are some aspects of the revitalization that will be automatically integrated in the redesign including more accessibility, greenery and trees so the area is attractive through every season, as well as upgraded street furniture like garbage cans, benches and bike racks. Truck traffic is an acknowledged issue. “An absolute must is that we need to eventually get the truck traffic off of the road and onto the bypass route. That’s currently under review. We know it’s a long term process, but it’s one that that this plan will consider →ELMIRA CORE 4

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Page Three

If it matters to you. It matters to us. News tips are always welcome. Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com Online: observerxtra.com/tips

Road-closure season

From the archives

The region is looking to start the reconstruction of Church Street East in Elmira, with plans to close the stretch between Arthur and Duke streets starting May 20. The work is slated to run through the end of September. That stretch of road was closed last month for utility relocates in advanced of the major construction work.

A new community centre in Maryhill will be the first of $15 million in recreation facilities planned for Woolwich over the next three years. With the community having secured its one-third contribution, the project will move to the design stage next month. The township has budgeted $350,000. From the May 20, 2006 edition of The Observer

Coach sees plenty of positives in Kings’ season

Community group calls for cleanup of hotspots in creek

Elmira’s season ends after third-round playoff loss to Cambridge

Leah Gerber

Steve Kannon

Observer Staff

A STRONG SEASON THAT INCLUDED finishing atop the Midwestern Conference came to an end May 12 when the Elmira Sugar Kings lost 4-1 to the Cambridge Redhawks, the same tally as the best-of-seven series. The Kings swept through the Brantford Bandits in the first round of the GOJHL playoffs, then defeated the Stratford Warriors in six games. But after winning the first game of the Cambridge series, the Kings lost the next four. “The better team won that series,” said head coach Rob Collins. “They made some good adjustments – I let the [Cambridge] coach know that too. They were well prepared, and they earned it. They were the better team that series, no doubt about it.” Still, it was a good year for the Kings, who finished first in the conference with a record of 35-11-1-1, three points ahead of the Redhawks. “I think we were, in preseason, picked to finish fourth or fifth, somewhere in there,” said Collins. “So for them to accomplish a regular-season championship and make it to the finals, not to mention setting a lot of franchise records along the way, it was a successful year. “There were a lot of

Coach Rob Collins

positives to draw from it, that’s for certain. We obviously came up short of the ultimate goal, but I would say it was successful.” There are some exit interviews and a banquet ahead to wrap up this season, but Collins already has an eye on next year. The regular season and playoffs were great experience for those players who’ll be returning for 2022-23, he notes. What that roster will look like remains a big unknown at this point, of course. The Kings already know they’ll be saying goodbye to Kurtis Goodwin, Nathaniel Mott and Jack Tos, who’ve now aged out of Junior B hockey. Experience tells them some of the guys they’re expecting to see will opt for other choices. “There’ll be someone not coming back, unforeseen. That seems to be a common theme every summer that someone you’re expecting to come back decided not to come back or to go elsewhere,” said Collins. “And then there’ll be someone who → KINGS 4

Dustin Good was selected by the Greyhoods 15th overall in the OHL draft.

Submitted

Conestogo’s Dustin Good goes to the Soo in first round Coach sites Good’s skills and work ethic in OHL draft result Bill Atwood Observer Staff

THE SUMMERY WEATHER IS COMING in, but Conestogo native Dustin Good has his focus on hockey. The 6’, 160-pound forward was taken 15th overall by the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds earlier this month at the OHL’s Under-18 Priority Selection Draft. It was an exciting day for the Waterloo Wolves U18 player. “I was just watching the

draft on my phone and all of a sudden I got a message from my friend who got drafted to the Soo last year. He said ‘congrats.’ I was kind of confused at first, but then my name was called and I got a call from the GM right after,” said Good. “He [Greyhounds manager Kyle Raftis] just said he’s excited to get me down to camp and he’s just happy to have me on a team and he’s looking forward to the future,” explained Good.

After the disappointment of not getting drafted as a 16-year-old, getting drafted a year later was a confidence booster for Good. “It was just a good feeling. I worked hard to get to that point.” Waterloo Wolves coach Brian Burnley said Good is a very skilled player and has some offensive weapons at his disposal. “He’s a kid who sees the ice well and makes some good passes when there’s need to, but also has a → OHL DRAFT 4

AS LANXESS MOVES CLOSER TO finalizing its assessment of the Canagagigue Creek, local experts are requesting that more be done. The Technical Advisory Group (TAG), a group of experts that keeps tabs on the progress of the Elmira cleanup, last week reviewed the document provided by the chemical company, the Canagagigue Creek Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment. Once finished, the document will be the final agreement between Lanxess, the provincial government and the citizens of Woolwich on how much risk chemicals in the creek potentially pose to people and the environment, and the agreed-upon actions the company will undertake to address that risk. Meeting last week, the committee decided on a few requests to be included in the document. Notably, multiple members of the committee expressed a desire to ensure all the hotspots – areas of increased amounts of harmful chemicals – were found and removed from the creek, even though this was not included in the draft document presented by Lanxess. “We have one request that is not explicitly stated in the document, and that →CREEK CLEANUP 5

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, May 19, 2022

4 | COMMUNITY NEWS

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING

Community Living Month ON MAY 27TH!

The township received a great deal of input in seeking ideas for the Elmira core.

Leah Gerber

ELMIRA CORE: Range of opinions, some of them conflicting, mean revitalization process will take work → FROM 1

now so that we can plan for when those trucks will be gone,” she said. The Planning Partnership, the firm that completed the study, is now working on drafting a final revitalization plan. This will include a short term streetscaping costing plan and a long term development plan which will guide the types

of uses and allowable development of the area. Friess anticipates it will be sent to township staff in the next few weeks. Once it is reviewed, it will be released to the public. Friess anticipates the town’s revitalization may be a bumpy ride because of the differences in opinion. “Not everybody is going to be happy with every recommendation because

there are those conflicts. Some people want to see it really geared towards pedestrians. Others want to see it really geared towards the ease of access and parking. So those are completely conflicting interests.” The survey results are available via the ‘Ongoing Planning Items’ tab on the township’s website, www. woolwich.ca.

OHL DRAFT: Waterloo coach sees Good things ahead → FROM 3

Local participating businesses will be offering a Community Living Day product for sale in recognition of the people who live and work at Elmira District Community Living. Come out on the 27th to show your support and don’t forget to wear your green and blue!

fantastic shot and can kind of manoeuvre himself into good scoring opportunities,” Burnely said. “He likes to work his way through traffic and take on challenges in the open ice so he is a guy who likes to see open ice and see how everything unfolds out in the open,” Burnley added. Good said that he needs to gain weight and put some muscle on his frame. “I’m probably going to be in the gym a lot [over the summer],” he said. “Goody needs to put on some pounds, for sure. I’m not saying he’s slight, but he could benefit from 10 to 15 pounds, for sure, just to be able to maintain control of the puck in the corners and on the half wall and on the boards,” added Burnley. Burnley said Good is a well-rounded athlete

Dustin Good in action with the Waterloo Wolves. Submitted

excelling in multiple sports, including football and basketball. “He definitely can have a good work ethic. I mean, he’s like any 17-year-old athlete or 16-year-old athlete that has ups and downs, but there are no issues at all.” While next season is still several months away, Good is hoping to play at the highest level he can. “Whether it’s the OHL or Junior A or Junior B, I

just want to get that junior feeling,” Good said. Good is going to be an impact player regardless of what level that is, Burnley predicted. “Sadly it won’t be with our team. He is certainly beyond the minor hockey realm, but I think that if he does end up in the OHL this year, or the next year, I think he’ll certainly be an impact player offensively. He could play an all-around game,” he said.

KINGS: Team already has an eye on next season → FROM 3

surprises at training camp that might earn themselves a spot.” In that vein, the team had plenty of opportunities to check out potential future additions in the form of local minor hockey players – the Kings had many call-ups this season due to injuries and other factors. “We liked all the guys we called up – they all did a great job. There was a lot

of them, though, that’s for sure,” said Collins. The coach is looking forward to some reflection on the season that was, and then moving ahead with plans for the next one. The success of the hockey team is just part of the equation, he adds, stressing the importance of helping the players develop not only their hockey skills but themselves as people. “I originally got into

this to pay it forward, so I’m going to stay that way. If I can help kids and be a springboard for them just to become better versions of themselves, whether it be as a person or a hockey player, then that’s what I’m in it for. “For me personally, just to see growth in them, to recognize the growth in themselves and to know that I had a little part of that, that’s the gratification I’m looking for.”

Thursday, May 19, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

COMMUNITY NEWS | 5

Youth want to be heard, experts say in reporting survey results to local councils Leah Gerber Observer Staff

THERE IS WORK TO BE done when it comes to the wellbeing of youth in the townships and the region overall, say experts. Allison Pearson, the manager of the Children and Youth Planning Table of Waterloo Region, and two colleagues presented to the township of Wellesley council last week and again Monday night at Woolwich council to look closer at the data of self-reported wellbeing by youth in the townships. The survey was carried out between April and June 2021, and released in December. Last month the organization released the survey results analyzed according to the location of the respondents. The survey included 1,074 youth ages 9 to 18. Geographically, the data is broken down into respondents from Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and the townships, including North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich. Though the townships’ youth reported overall

Children and Youth Planning Table provided a snapshot of local young people. Leah Gerber

better levels of wellbeing than their urban counterparts in many areas, there are still issues to consider, said Pearson. At last week’s meeting, Adan Imran, a paid youth connector who worked for the organization, presented a closer look at the survey results. About one in three

youth in the townships described their overall mental health negatively. While this was better than their urban counterparts, Pearson and Imran emphasized that youth mental health overall in the region has declined significantly in the last year since the previous survey in 2020.

Another troubling statistic presented was that almost four percent of township respondents reported they had experienced hidden homelesseness. Hidden homelessness is defined as being forced to live somewhere temporarily such as in a car or at a friend’s house because they have

nowhere else to go. “The [township respondents] who happened to be part of the survey, we know about one in 25 of them have experienced hidden homelessness,” said Pearson. “In a group of 25 young people, perhaps similar to a classroom, we could expect or we could imagine that there would be one that experienced hidden homelessness.” As well, one in three township youth said they do not feel there are recreation and cultural facilities available that are easy to get to, said Imran. Pearson says the next best steps to take are to have deeper conversations with young people. “We’ve learned from both years [surveys 2020 and 2021] how much our young people want to talk to us about their well being,” she said. “We’ve received numerous thank-yous from young people and appreciation that someone is asking about their well being, is not making assumptions about their well being and are actually invested in the

answers that young people share,” said Pearson. “As a community, it’s important to ask our young people [how they are doing]. It doesn’t have to wait to be a survey like this. Anytime that we can ask our young people and genuinely listen to how they’re doing, will serve our community well. “Some folks have found these survey results are a great conversation starter. So in sharing, you know, ‘hey, I noticed some young people in this survey responded like this, what do you think about that?’ That can sometimes open up some space for young people to share,” she said. The Children and Youth Planning Table just finished hosting 18 sense-making conversations with young people to better understand the survey results and ask youth themselves about what meaningful action would look like. The results from these sessions will be released later this year, said Pearson. The next survey is being planned for 2023.

CREEK CLEANUP: Environmental watchdog wants company to take action on chemical hotspots → FROM 3

is that hotspots, those areas where we know the samples have exceeded the standard for the contaminants of concern. In those areas where we know they exist, whether they’ve been identified as statistically significant or at risk, we would like to see them cleaned up,” said Tiffany Svensson, the chair of the committee. Besides wanting to ensure the known hotspots are cleaned up, the group will also ask that Stantec, Lanxess’s environmental consultant, review how the original testing for the hotspots was completed and offer a professional opinion on whether this testing was precise enough to catch all the hotspots, or if it is likely more hotspots exist that have not been detected. Overall, the group felt

Lanxess’ assumption that the creek’s human use would always stay the same (agricultural and industrial) was not a good assumption. This is because Waterloo Region is one of the fastest growing areas in the country and future increased human recreational pressure on the creek is possible, and “very reasonable,” said Linda Dickson, who sits on the committee and brings her expertise in planning. The group will submit these comments on the risk assessment within the next week, said Svensson. Questioned earlier about the status of the hotspots, Lanxess spokesperson Michael Mackin responded via email, “If the sampling of soil/sediment and/or organisms determine that there is

an unacceptable risk to receptors (any part of the ecosystem or humans that could be potentially harmed by the chemicals), then consideration will be given to cleanup,” he said. “However, in some cases, cleanup can cause additional unintended consequences and further negative impacts than if the area were left alone; as a result, in some cases the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks has recommended that clean up need not or should not occur.” Mackin said that further testing is scheduled this year to understand more about potential risk to animal health in two sections of the creek. He also reiterated that Lanxess testing results found there is no risk to human health from the creek.

Image indicates some of the hotspots for contaminants along the Canagagigue Creek.

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, May 19, 2022

6 | COMMUNITY NEWS

FORM 2 EXPROPRIATIONS ACT NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL TO EXPROPRIATE LAND

IN THE MATTER OF an application by THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF WATERLOO for approval to expropriate land, which is required for improvements at the intersection of Line 86 (Regional Road No. 86) and Floradale Road (Regional Road No. 10), Woolwich Township, in The Regional Municipality of Waterloo. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that application has been made for approval to expropriate the land described as follows: Fee Simple Partial Taking: 1. Part of Lot 104, German Company Tract, being Part 1 on 58R-21350, (Part of PIN 22211-0422 (LT)), Township of Woolwich, Regional Municipality of Waterloo (1525 Floradale Road / 300 Line 86, Woolwich); 2. Part Lot 105, German Company Tract, being Parts 3, 4 & 6 on 58R-21350, (Part of PIN 22233-0839 (LT)), Township of Woolwich, Regional Municipality of Waterloo (275 Church Street West, Woolwich); 3. Part of Lot 112, German Company Tract, being Part 7 on 58R-21350, (Part of PIN 22159-0006 (LT)), Township of Woolwich, Regional Municipality of Waterloo (southwest quadrant of the intersection of Line 86 and Floradale Road, Woolwich); 4. Part of Lot 113, German Company Tract, being Part 8 on 58R-21350, (Part of PIN 22211-0411 (LT)), Township of Woolwich, Regional Municipality of Waterloo (6805 Line 86, Woolwich); being in the Township of Woolwich, Regional Municipality of Waterloo

Permanent Easement - Drainage: The right and easement, being an easement in gross, for itself, its successors and assigns and anyone authorized by it, in perpetuity to, at any time enter upon the following properties for purposes of constructing, installing, maintaining, inspecting, altering, moving, replacing, reconstructing, enlarging and repairing, as applicable, pipes, catch basins, swales, ditches and other works and appurtenances thereto for the purpose of the transfer or transmission and management of storm water, both above and below the ground and for every such purpose and for all purposes necessary or incidental to the exercise of the rights hereby created, through, over, upon, along and across the lands, and for all such purposes together with the free, unimpeded and unobstructed access for itself, its successors and assigns, servants, agents, contractors, workers and anyone authorized by it, and vehicles, supplies and equipment at all times and for all purposes and things necessary for or incidental to the exercise and enjoyment of the right and easement: 5. Part Lot 105, German Company Tract, being Parts 2 & 5 on 58R-21350, (Part of PIN 22233-0839 (LT)), Township of Woolwich, Regional Municipality of Waterloo (275 Church Street West, Woolwich); being in the Township of Woolwich, Regional Municipality of Waterloo Any owner of lands in respect of which notice is given who desires an inquiry into whether the taking of such land is fair, sound and reasonably necessary in the achievement of the objectives of the expropriating authority shall so notify the approving authority in writing, (a) in the case of a registered owner, served Appendix “A” personally or by registered mail within thirty days after the registered owner is served with the notice, or, when the registered owner is served by publication, within thirty days after the first publication of the notice; (b) in the case of an owner who is not a registered owner, within thirty days after the first publication of the notice. The approving authority is: The Council of The Regional Municipality of Waterloo c/o Regional Solicitor, Legal Services 150 Frederick Street, 8th Floor, Kitchener, Ontario N2G 4J3 THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF Note: General location only – not to scale. See WATERLOO (EXPROPRIATING AUTHORITY) Reference Plan 58R-21350 for detail Jeff Schelling, *****For clarity, please see the full details of this notice available on our Public Notices webpage at Regional Solicitor This notice first published on the 3rd day of May, 2022.

www.regionofwaterloo.ca/Modules/News/ Search.aspx?feedId=d190b4c1d9d7-4cb8-bc36-f10bb4423ef7****

Public Consultation Centre #2 Scheifele Bridge Replacement Township of Woolwich We want your feedback Join the Public Consultation Centre (PCC) #2 by sharing your comments with us as we plan to replace the Sheifele Bridge that crosses over the Conestogo River in the Township of Woolwich. This virtual public consultation is open from May 18 to June 8, 2022 at EngageWR.ca/scheifele- bridge-superstructure-replacement

What to expect At this virtual PCC, the project team will post a presentation that includes a preferred alternative design that meets the improvement needs of Scheifele Bridge. We will share the findings of the Environmental Assessment (EA) in terms of the improvement needs, what other solutions were considered, how we evaluated all alternative solutions to reach a preferred alternative, and ask you to comment on the preferred alternative.

Public consultation Visit our Scheifele Bridge project page at EngageWR.ca/scheifele-bridge-superstructure- replacement and complete the online survey by June 8 and include any other comments you would like to share with the project team. Project documents, including frequently asked questions, are also available. If you have any additional questions about the project, please email garry.leveck@stantec.com or kbrisbois@regionofwaterloo.ca.

Project background The Region of Waterloo has conducted a Schedule C Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) for the Scheifele Bridge Replacement on Regional Road 22 (Northfield Drive at Conestogo River), in the Township of Woolwich. The structure replacement will address deteriorating infrastructure needs as well as provide opportunity an opportunity to provide enhanced pedestrian, cycling, and buggy facilities. All interested parties are invited to complete the online survey and add any comments at the Region’s EngageWR project page by June 8, 2022, or by email to either of the contacts listed. If you would like further information on the project please contact: Ken Brisbois, C. Tech. Region Project Manager Region of Waterloo 150 Frederick Street, 6th Floor Kitchener, ON N2G 4J3 Telephone: 519-575-4606 Fax: 519-575-4430 kbrisbois@regionofwaterloo.ca

Garry E. Leveck, P.Eng. Consultant Project Manager Stantec Consulting Ltd. 100-300 Hagey Boulevard Waterloo, ON N2L 0A4 Telephone: 519-585-7316 Fax: 519-579-6733 garry.leveck@stantec.com

All comments and information received from individuals, stakeholder groups, and agencies regarding this project are collected to assist the Region of Waterloo in making a decision. Under the “Municipal Act”, personal information such as name, address, telephone number and property location that may be included in a submission becomes part of the public record.

Thursday, May 19, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

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Nicola Thomas has outfitted a van for a road trip that will take her to significant sites of Black history.

Leah Gerber

Queen’s Bush part of a tour of Ontario’s Black history Woman plans to spend a few months this summer visiting sites and gathering information about Black history in southern Ontario Leah Gerber Observer Staff

NICOLA THOMAS EMBARKS NEXT MONTH on a journey to rediscover the sites of Black history in southern Ontario. One of her stops will be in Wellesley Township. The tour is called Sankofa 100 Miles to Freedom. Sankofa is an African word, said Thomas. It means, “to go back and fetch the knowledge that was left behind,” she said. “A lot of African diaspora are using this name.” Thomas said she believes southern Ontario’s Black history is largely hidden, and because of this, Black knowledge and contributions to history and society are largely forgotten and taken for granted. “I grew up in Oakville,” said Thomas. “It wasn’t in my history books. It’s in nobody else’s history books. And it’s not to say that people don’t want to know, because there are museums all across Ontario. They’re not well known.” She says there are cemeteries of early Black settlers in Wellesley. “When you go, they look abandoned. Like, they’re falling apart, but that’s our history.” On the tour, Thomas plans to rediscover the spaces of Black history in southern Ontario, with a focus on women’s stories. She plans to visit as many

of these sites as she can to uncover Black stories and knowledge and raise awareness about them. She will follow a loosely defined route beginning in Point Pelee where refugees escaping slavery would have landed. From there, she will make her way north into the province as the refugees would have done, visiting places like the historical Uncle Tom’s Cabin site. This was the settlement of Josiah Henson, who inspired the main character of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Henson was a pastor and industrialist who, with his wife and two youngest children, escaped slavery in Washington, D.C. and walked some 965 kilometres to Canada. He went on to set up the Dawn establishment in Dresden, Ontario where those escaping slavery could work and begin new lives. Other likely tour stops include Amherstberg, Hamilton, Owen Sound, Peterborough, Toronto and Kingston, among others. Thomas’s 10-yearold daughter,Tula-Wren

Thomas, will join her for the journey. In Wellesley Township, she will be visiting sites of the Queen’s Bush Settlement. In the early 1800s, the Queen’s Bush was the name for the large area of land between Waterloo County and Lake Huron, and this is where Black settlers who escaped slavery formed small communities – notably in Hawkesville, along the Peel and Wellesley township border, Glen Allan, and Wallenstein. They cleared and farmed land with little help or tools, said Thomas. In the 1840s, the government surveyed the area, and most of the Black settlers could not afford to pay the government’s price for the land they had worked so hard to clear and farm. By 1850 the Black residents were being moved out and scattered. “Connecting with and sharing those stories of resilience that we shared together, is our history. So it’s not Black history. It’s Ontario history. It’s Canadian history, regardless,”

said Thomas. Thomas raised funds to buy an insulated van outfitted with a wood stove that she and her daughter will live and drive in while they complete the tour. Thomas plans to leave plenty of space on the tour for serendipity. “The tour isn’t really structured around specific sites, but as most people know, when you go on a road trip, the best part of the trip is all the parts that you didn’t plan, those wonderful moments of serendipity, of coincidence, of sheer luck and, you know, that’s where the richness is,” she said. The purpose of the tour is to rediscover sites of history, and rediscover the knowledge of those people, especially women, now largely forgotten. She says she hopes to put together a cookbook made of the local recipes passed down from those original Black refugee settlers. The tour begins in June and will go until September. Thomas invites interested people to join her during any leg of the journey, and people can follow along online at Thomas’s permaculture consulting website Grandriverfoodforestry.com or at @grandriverfoodforestry on Instagram and Facebook. Donations for the journey can be directed to the Gofundme page: www. gofundme.com/f/Sankofa-100-miles-to-freedomtour-HerStory.

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, May 19, 2022

8 | COMMUNITY NEWS

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THE ELMIRA AND DISTRICT HOCKEY Referees Association (EDHRA) recently held its annual general meeting to hand out its end of season awards and appoint a new president. There were four awards presented to officials: The most improved official award was presented to Ryan Elliott, and the most promising official award went to Keenan Martin. The most dedicated official award went to Matt Hoggarth (who refereed 172 games) while the Richard Rank most deserving official award was given to Kurt Wilke. Wilke was also appointed EDHRA’s new president to replace outgoing president Alex Martin. “It definitely wasn’t a normal season, just sort of month to month. We weren’t sure what was going to happen, ... if there’s going to be hockey. Everyone was sort of watching what the numbers were like and everything, and obviously then we got shut down for the whole month of January. So it definitely wasn’t an easy season,” Wilke noted of the lingering impacts of the pandemic. “That being said, we have a lot of dedicated officials in our association. They’re very involved with

The EDHRA award recipients included Matt Hoggarth, Kurt Wilkie and Ryan Elliott

our association and they’re quick to react to situations that we have. To make something on the fly or if something changes within the hour. We have a lot of dedicated people that are right in there to jump in and make sure we don’t miss the game.” Wilke highlighted the importance of the most dedicated award, the recipient of which has usually officiated some 200 games in a normal season. “It is a lot of games. Matt probably would have done more if we weren’t shut down in January. He probably would have been, I would say, very close to

200 if not over 200. And that to me is dedication right there. Referees do get paid, but no one makes a living doing this – everyone has a day job. To skate that many games, Matt doing that, is a lot of games,” he said. Wilke thanked Martin for the work he did during his three-year term which due to the pandemic lasted a year longer than the president’s term normally does. “Alex did a great job with everything that’s gone on in the last few years. It’s not easy to run an association where we’re heavily involved, we do meet a

Submitted

lot. We’re a social thing. It’s hard to be social when we’re not supposed to be social,” he noted. Wilke said it was an honour to be named president. “We have a great group of officials and I just want to keep it going. There are a few things I want to do this year, especially during tournaments [because] that’s when we have a lot of people that take time off work and come to tournament games,” he explained. “Other than that, just try to do my best for the next person that takes over for me in a couple of years.”

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ↆ P O L ICE

COMMUNITY NEWS | 9

R E PO R T

Waterloo Regional Police Service boosting enforcement during Canada Road Safety Week The Waterloo Regional Police Service is pleased to participate in Canada Road Safety Week runs May 17 to 23, a national enforcement campaign targeting behaviours that put drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users at risk, say police. “Road safety is a key priority of the police service. When you get behind the wheel, the

decisions you make not only affect you, but the lives of everyone you share the road with,” said Waterloo Regional Police Chief Bryan Larkin in a release. “It is vital that we all work together to keep our roads as safe as possible so we can save lives and reduce injuries.” This year’s theme, Safer You. Safer Me., emphasizes that the decisions drivers make not only

affect them, but also their passengers, other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. During the week, Waterloo Regional Police officers will be taking part in several enforcement efforts surrounding road safety initiatives. Provincially, the OPP report poor and careless driving behaviours have contributed to the majority of the 107 fatalities

Emergency crews responded to a minor collision May 13 at the St. Jacobs roundabout.

MAY 10 1:37 PM | Waterloo

Regional Police responded to a report of an assault at a business on Arthur Street North in Woolwich Township. As a result of the investigation, a 29-year-old Kitchener man was charged with ‘assault’ and ‘uttering threats to cause bodily harm or death.’ The accused was released with a court date in June.

3:44 PM | Police received

a report of a two-vehicle collision on Floradale Road near Reid Woods Drive in Woolwich Township. A Ram van was travelling north on Floradale Road when it was struck from behind by a Jeep. The driver of the van, a 19-year-old from Puslinch, was charged with ‘careless driving.’ There were no injuries reported.

MAY 11 9:18 AM Police received

a report of property damage at a church located on Hutchison Road in Wellesley Township. Sometime between 9 a.m. on May 9 and the time of the report, unknown suspects damaged a window of the church.

mation is encouraged to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

6:28 PM | A two-vehicle collision occurred on Line 86 near Floradale Road west of Elmira. A Volkswagen turned east onto Line 86 from a private drive, into the path of a Suzuki motorcycle travelling west on Line 86. The driver of the motorcycle attempted to brake and was ejected from the motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. As a result of the collision investigation, a 29-year-old Clifford man was charged with ‘fail to yield from private drive.’

MAY 14

4:12 AM | P o l i c e

responded to a report of a theft in progress as a business in the area of King Street North and Weber Street north in Woolwich Township. Three unknown male suspects attended the business and stole property. Officers, including a canine team, conducted a search of the area but were not successful in locating the suspects. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with infor-

over this time last year, with the loss of 25 lives to date. There were 14 such deaths last year at this time. Alcohol/ drug-related fatalities are also up, with the 15 people killed marking a 36 per cent increase over last year’s 11 deaths at this time. Twenty-seven speed-related fatalities are not far off last year’s mark and continue to take the greatest toll among the poor driving behaviours, say the OPP. With 15 seat belt-related

deaths marking a slight increase over last year, unsafe drivers as well as passengers (and drivers) who don’t buckle up are setting the stage for an exceptionally tragic year. Canada Road Safety Week is sponsored by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and Transport Canada. This initiative is part of Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2025, which has a goal of making Canada’s roads the safest in the world by 2025.

Bill Atwood

Anyone with information is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.

MAY 12

on OPP-patrolled roads so far this year. That’s a fatality rate the OPP has not seen in 10 years. Not since 2012 has the number of people killed in road collisions reached the 100 mark by the second week of May. Two driving behaviours stand out in this year’s preventable road deaths, they report. Fatalities linked to driver inattention are up 79 per cent

10:50 AM | A collision

occurred at the roundabout located at Arthur Street South and Sawmill Road near St. Jacobs. The driver of a motorcycle swerved to avoid a tractor trailer in the intersection and struck another motorcycle. There were no physical injuries reported. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has dashcam footage, is asked to contact police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477.

12:32 PM | Waterloo

Regional Police made an arrest following a report of an in-progress break-in at a commercial property in the area of Mill Street and Charles Street in Baden. Employees at the business observed three males and a female stealing wire from one of the buildings at the business. One of the suspects was restrained by the employees until police arrived. The others fled in a silver Dodge pickup truck. As a result of the investiga-

tion, a 44-year-old Kitchener man was arrested and charged with ‘break and enter’ and ‘assault.’ The accused was held in police custody for a bail hearing. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at www.waterloocrimestoppers.com.

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County OPP responded to a serious collision involving a single vehicle at MacDonald Square, Elora. Initial reports indicated that a white sedan had lost control and struck a pedestrian before coming to rest against a building. The pedestrian, a 67-year-old Elora womana, was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver, an 84-year-old Elora woman, was transported to a local hospital as a precaution. The cause of the collision is being investigated. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this collision to call 1-888310-1122.

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, May 19, 2022 | 10

Opinion

When local news matters ... ... it matters where you get your local news.

Verbatim

The Monitor

“We will continue to exhaust all options to uphold freedom and democracy, hold Russia accountable, and support Ukraine.”

Changing external factors like the pandemic, economic uncertainty and inflation have prompted Canadians aged 55-75 to shift when they plan to retire. One-third of recently retired Canadians say they retired sooner than planned, while 30% pre-retirees intend to change their retirement date because of the pandemic.

Federal Minister of Public Safety Marco E.L. Mendicino on the banning of Putin associates from the country.

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OBSERVER EDITORIAL

Even post-pandemic, we’ll be stuck at home due to costs

he Victoria Day long weekend, which marks the unofficial start of summer, will provide yet more sticker shock to drivers filling up for an excursion. Predictions are we’ll be travelling less this summer simply due to the cost. While that may warm the hearts of the environmentally conscious, it puts a damper on efforts to return to some kind of normal after two years of pandemic restrictions. The hospitality and tourism sectors will continue to struggle. Beyond recreational downtime, soaring gasoline prices have led the way on massive inflationary pressures people face today. Across the board, rising costs are outstripping most people’s incomes. While the oil industry puts the blame on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, supply chain problems and related issues, record profits belie such claims. They’re not simply passing on their own increased costs. Large producers are simply raking it in just now, with 28 of the largest reporting profits of US$93.3 billion in the first quarter of the year alone. In Canada, Imperial Oil posted first-quarter profits of almost $1.2 billion, the most in some 30 years. Suncor’s $2.95 billion was up tremendously over $800 million a year earlier. Cenovus saw an even larger jump, to $1.6 billion from $220 million in the same quarter of 2021. Canadian Natural’s profits more than doubled to $3.1 billion. Governments have done little to ease the burden. Ontario has moved to cut gasoline taxes, though with no guarantee that will help. The federal government is under pressure to rollback carbon taxes that are of dubious benefit, other than to its coffers, of course. We’ve seen nothing here of US President Joe Biden’s call for prices to better reflect reality rather than profits, nor for proposals of a windfall tax on oil companies. There’s been talk, but little action. Still, we like the idea of real downward pressure on prices. Real decreases would not involve, for instance, borrowing heavily to give people price cuts today in order to pass on the costs, plus interest, years down the line, as in the case of the former provincial government’s hydro-rate ploy. Along with increasing the cost of filling up, there are indirect extra costs that ripple through the economy, starting with transportation costs. Therein, of course, lies a longstanding issue in discussions about how we’ve routinely been pumped by the oil industry. The grief extends beyond those of us with cars – those heating their homes with oil have been experiencing price shocks in the vein of those suffered by electricity customers. But more than that, we all suffer when the price of gasoline skyrockets: virtually all of the goods we purchase rely on fuel-powered transportation, at the very least, to get them to the stores. Ultimately, the cost of gasoline has everything to do with the price of bread when you go shopping. And that is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Increased fuel costs have a ripple effect through the economy, touching us in a variety of ways. While oil companies argue the ups and downs (mostly ups these days) of gasoline prices are purely market driven, they offer little evidence. Hikes are, in essence, supposed to be revenue neutral. But experience has shown that rising prices correspond to increased profits, as we’re seeing again now. When gasoline prices go up, oil companies blame a host of reasons, some of them clear and others highly dubious, but always maintain that their margins are slim. They never reveal the extra profits tied to price hikes. At the beginning of the manufacturing chain, the price of crude oil – those daily reports of fluctuations the world market, measured in US dollars per barrel – does matter. Most of the crude oil destined for our gas tanks costs no more to produce today than it did when gasoline was 30, 40, 50 cents a litre cheaper. You don’t have to do much math to see how that translates into fat profits.

ANALYSIS OF CURRENT WORLD EVENTS

Sweden and Finland bid farewell to neutrality

t’s easy to imagine Vladimir Putin coming into the shop marked ‘Sweden,’ breaking some fine china accidentally on purpose, and growling: ‘Nice little shop you’ve got here. It would be a pity if something happened to it.’ But Sweden is not a pottery shop, Putin is not a Mafia capo, and what’s going on in the Baltic now is not a protection racket. The Russian president has stampeded both Finland and Sweden, two neutral countries of long standing (almost 80 years for Finland, more than 200 for Sweden), into joining the NATO alliance, the very ‘threat’ that Putin claimed he was trying to drive away from Russia’s borders. Finland has a 1,300-km. border with northern Russia. The Swedish and Finnish response to his invasion of Ukraine would have surprised Putin. He would see no connection between his invasion of Ukraine, a former Russian imperial possession that needed to be whipped back into line, and two independent countries that have not been in Russia’s sphere of influence for over a century. They, on the other hand, did see a connection. A neigh-

GWYNNE DYER

Global Outlook on World Affairs

bour they previously rated as dangerous but rational had suddenly revealed himself to be an aggressive and probably irrational gambler. No fully sane and competent Russian ruler would have attacked Ukraine with the inadequate forces and haphazard, overconfident strategy that Putin employed. You might think that Putin’s sheer incompetence would be reassuring to the Swedes and the Finns, but it was not. On the contrary, it frightens them, because they are very much in the same position as Ukraine militarily: relatively small countries (Sweden has 10 million people, Finland five million) with very good military forces. I can vouch for this personally, because in the course of making a documentary film about neutrality I spent time at sea in the Baltic with Swedish fast attack boats out of Karlskrona, and with Finnish reservists on exercises between Lappeenranta and the Russian border. With a little practice and

close-up access you can tell which militaries are the real deal and which are just chocolate soldiers. These were people who knew what they were doing and did it with quiet efficiency. They would give a very good account of themselves if their countries were ever invaded. They might even be able to stop the Russians dead (and nobody else is in a position to invade them). That’s why the Swedes chose neutrality: they reckoned they were safer that way. If there were a general war, they were not a strategically vital place and they would be very costly to invade, so maybe the major combatants would just leave them alone. The Finns had neutrality thrust upon them by the Soviet Union after the Second World War. They lost a lot of territory to the Russians, but they fought hard enough that Moscow let them be neutral rather than reducing them to satellite status. So why have both countries now decided to join NATO? They are still such tough nuts to crack that they could probably stop the Russians by themselves if Moscow was also engaged in a war with →DYER 12

Thursday, May 19, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

O P I N I O N | 11

Neither killings or racist motive for Buffalo shooting is anything new

he shooting that killed 10 and wounded three at a Buffalo supermarket was an altogether commonplace occurrence in the US. While the deadliest mass shooting of the year thus far, the horrendous occurrence last weekend was the 198th such incident of 2022. That means the US sees about 10 such shootings each week, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines mass shootings as attacks in which four or more people are shot, excluding the perpetrator. Also not uncommon was the racial motivation behind the incident. The suspect arrested by police, an 18-year-old White man, is said to have posted a 180-page manifesto addressing the “great replacement theory” that argues officials are deliberating looking to replace White Americans with non-White immigrants. His screed also references other racially motivated shootings, including the 2015 murder of nine Black parishioners in South Carolina and the killing of 23 people at a Walmart in Texas in 2019. The shooting has sparked another round of the endless gun control debate there. It’s all rather academic, as nothing is going to change. If the gunning down of six-year-old children at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut a decade ago wasn’t enough to prompt change, nothing will. The US has only become more polarized since that time. There’s been an outpouring of public comments, as you’d expect. Many calls for gun control and a whole bunch of comments from the gun-lobby-fuelled Second Amendment types.

STEVE KANNON

Editor's Point of View

The National Rifle Association has already made the situation worse, tweeting that “Disarming law-abiding citizens and making good people helpless will not make bad people harmless.” That in apparent response to renewed calls for gun control. Politicians clearly in the thrall of the gun lobby are trotting out the usual pabulum about how it’s time to mourn – is there anything more useless and disingenuous than “thoughts and prayers”? – rather than talk about gun control. The goings on demonstrate yet again one of the major points of difference between our country and that to the south. Guns are a big part of the culture in

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a murderer on a shooting rampage. A study by two New York City cardiologists found that the U.S. has 88 guns per 100 people and 10 gun-related deaths per 100,000 people – more than any of the other 27 developed countries they studied. Japan, on the other hand, had only 0.6 guns per 100 people and 0.06 gun-related deaths per 100,000 people, making it the country with both the fewest guns per capita and the fewest gun-related deaths. Canada’s numbers were 30.8 and 2.4. respectively. There are some 390 million guns owned by civilians in the U.S., and about 40 per cent of Americans own a gun or live in a household with one. Not coincidentally, the U.S. has the highest rate of murder or manslaughter by firearm in the developed

world – that translated to 11,000 deaths in 2017 alone. While Canada and the U.S. have comparable rates of homicides without guns (1.79 per 100,000 versus 1.35), the American firearm homicide rate is five times Canada’s (3.8 versus. 0.69 per 100.000); the U.S. handgun homicide rate is seven times Canada’s (2.83 versus 0.39 per 100,000). The U.S. also has 5.8 times the rates per 100,000 of robberies committed with firearms even though rates of robberies without guns are comparable. Those kind of statistics depict a major difference between our neighbouring cultures. Not, of course, that we’re immune from such tragedies. Still, we operate under a different mindset than do those in the States, where politicians must

Stuck at home for the past two years, people now have massive inflation to thank for staying put. Founded in 1996.

JOE MERLIHAN

the US. Here, that’s not the case. A seemingly endless stream of mass shootings have done nothing to boost gun control measures. With every incident, some people call for further restrictions on gun ownership. On the other side of the argument, gun advocates argue for greater access to guns, saying armed civilians could have gunned down such criminals before their killing sprees continued. The latter arguments are commonplace in the US, where Second Amendment – the right to keep and bear arms – issues abound. In Canada, the notion seems ridiculous: having more guns at hand increases the risk. It would be far more likely for someone to see red, snap and use a readily available gun than it would be for someone to be faced with

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be pro-gun, or at least not come out in favour of gun control. That kind of thinking would not fly here: even the gun registry debate was more about waste, graft and rightwing ideology than about the guns themselves. US ownership accounts for almost a third of all the guns in the world. American guns don’t just kill Americans – they fuel the illegal gun trade and gun violence worldwide. At least half of the illegal handguns recovered in Canada and 80 per cent of crime guns in Mexico had their origin in the US. Despite some past concerns about the suspect’s mental health, his acquisition of guns didn’t set off any bells – access is too easy and perhaps uncoordinated to track. He didn’t have any flags attached to his name when buying guns legally. No one did anything wrong ... up until the shooter opened fire on the crowd simply out buying groceries. And therein lies the rub with making guns readily available to the typical law-abiding citizen/ hobbyist/enthusiast of NRA lore – every criminal is just a law-abiding citizen until the first time he or she is not. For these kind of mass shootings, that first time comes with consequences to innocent people. Reversing course on the US gun culture is going to take more than some tightened restrictions on firearms sales, however. In the grips of crumbling military empire and a growing police state, Americans have violence at the core of much of what they do. A climate of fear and loathing does not encourage disarming. Mass shootings are a daily occurrence with no end in sight.

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, May 19, 2022

12 | O P I N I O N

Hope floats ... for an extra $4.99, that is

N May Day is also called Worker’s Day or Labour Day here in Canada and always celebrated on May 1st. Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo found inspiration by writing names in the sand for the song 5 Days in May. Mother’s Day in Canada started 4 years after President Woodrow Wilson declared it an official holiday in the US. It started with help from Wanamaker’s Department store. ↆ LAST WEEK: Truth: This fictional TV character was born May 12, 1956 in Springfield, USA. The Winnipeg honour bestowed to Homer in May was made to recognize the show’s creator’s roots to the city. Truth: A t-shirt reading “I’m Bart Simpson. Who the hell are you?” and another with Bart aiming a slingshot at the word “underachiever” were particularly galling for school trustee leading to the “Great Bart Simpson T-Shirt School Ban of the 1990s.” Lie: The Simpsons accolades are long and include 34 Emmys, 34 Annies, 9 environment awards, 12 Writers Guilds, 6 Genesis, 8 People’s Choice, 3 British comedy awards among other - no Oscar award earned for the movie. Full list at simpsons.fandom.com You can play online by reading any online post at www.observerxtra. com. Vote for the lie and be notified if you are correct immediately.

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ow that fishing season is here, I have been out a few times and caught some brook trout, but mostly, I have started the season doing what I always do: toying with a new technique. Every trout season I try to add something new to my fly-fishing repertoire. And, this year, it is strike indicator fishing. For those who are not fly anglers, a strike indicator is what spin fisherman would call a bobber. But only because they don’t know the difference. The major difference is we associate bobbers with unsophisticated kids who don’t have the slightest clue why they are catching all those fish. A strike indicator, on the other hand, is used by fly anglers who know enough to leave the minute a kid with a bobber shows up. A description detailing the design differences might also be in order. A bobber is brightly

STEVE GALEA

Not-So-Great Outdoorsman

coloured so you can see it, very buoyant, and round or tapered. Meanwhile, a strike indicator is, brightly coloured so you can see it, very buoyant, and tapered or round. Most importantly, however, it has a much more technical name, which clearly makes them a far more sophisticated angling tool. Despite this, when asked, “What is the difference between a strike indicator and a bobber?” most fly fishermen will steer clear of the explanation I just gave and instead offer the standard answer. That being, “The difference between a bobber and a strike indicator is $4.99.” And this is why I have avoided strike indicators for more than 40 years of fly fishing. You see,if you go to a fly-fishing shop and spend an extra $4.99

→ FROM 10

NATO. And why would the Russians attack only them alone? Stay neutral, and even in the worst case the Russians will probably pass you by. That remained a valid assessment until February 24, 2022, and then it suddenly wasn’t. Putin invaded Ukraine, probably to the astonishment even of his own entourage, and from the start began issu-

ing veiled warnings about resorting to nuclear weapons if he was thwarted. The Russian attack in Ukraine bogged down almost at once, as it was bound to do unless the Ukrainian army was utterly useless. Too few Russian troops, too many lines of attack. And the hints from Moscow about resorting to nuclear weapons to compensate for a conventional defeat

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multiplied. This is crazy stuff, and all military skills and hardware the Baltic countries could bring to bear in a conventional war would be irrelevant if they were faced with similar Russian nuclear threats themselves. The only effective counter to a nuclear threat is a credible promise of nuclear retaliation. Sweden and Finland have no nuclear weapons, and the only way they can have their security guaranteed by a nuclear deterrent is to join NATO. So that is what they are doing. The Swedes still don’t

like nuclear weapons, and Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson emphasised that Sweden will not allow foreign troops or nuclear weapons to be based in the country, but the deal is done. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is demanding that the two Baltic countries expel some anti-Turkish Kurdish activists as a reward for not vetoing this NATO expansion, but this problem will be finessed. It will take months to do the legal work, but in practice the two Baltic countries are already covered by NATO’s nuclear guarantee.

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remainder of the day. In any case, I took someone new to fly fishing out for brookies on Saturday. It was getting late in our outing, and we had caught some fish when I paddled the canoe into a place that looked perfect for fishing a strike indicator rig. So, I set one up, handed the rod to her and she cast it by an old, downed tree that was laying in a shady spot beside a freshet that flowed into the lake. And, wouldn’t you know it, a fish rocketed up from the depths, ignored the fly hanging below, and smacked the strike indicator hard. And then, confused I imagine, it left, never to be seen or heard from again. The new angler looked at me and said, “I thought you said these strike indicator rigs were effective.” I was at a loss for words – I mean, who would have thought a reputable fly shop would sell you bobbers?

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on what the untrained eye could easily mistake for a bobber, you are letting the sales staff know they’ve got a live wire. And then they are on to you like sharks on blood. Heck, I heard a story of one fellow who walked into a fly-fishing shop with the intent of buying a single strike indicator. He left with a new rod, reel, waders, three fly lines, two full fly boxes, and a drift boat and trailer ... and a strike indicator. Having said that, I ordered a few strike indicators online this winter and thankfully that did not happen to me. Mostly because Jenn looked over my shoulder just in time to remove the new rod, reel, waders, three fly lines, two full fly boxes and a drift boat and trailer from my cart. She also said, “Those are expensive. Why can’t you just use a bobber like all the other anglers?” We did not talk for the

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, May 19, 2022 | 13

Business

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Support for Ukraine

Tar with a side of chips

Faithlife Financial hosted a fundraiser with the Region of Waterloo Immigration Partnership between April 18 and May 16 to raise funds to support Ukrainian refugees looking for safety in the Waterloo Region. Faithlife Financial vowed to match donations up to $15,000. Community members raised $18,410 and FaithLife Financial was able to bring the total donation to $36,820.

Woolwich council this week awarded a $180,000 contract to Duncor Enterprises to carry out surface treatment work on township roads. Slated for application this year are Woolwich-Guelph Townline, Lerch Road and Fife Road, which require a second tar-and-chip application. Bo-De Lane will receive a single surface treatment.

Mixed residential-commercial project proposed for Elmira Approval needed for higher density on vacant parcel at Church Street and Barnswallow Drive Leah Gerber Observer Staff

THE CORNER OF CHURCH STREET West and Barnswallow Drive in Elmira could be the site of 51 new residential buildings as well as commercial space. The Township of Woolwich has received a planning application from Patterson Planning Consultants Inc. on behalf of Nomadiq Elmira Towns Limited to build a commercial and residential development at the empty lot. The developer is proposing to build a two-storey commercial building with commercial space on the bottom and six residential units above on the 1.5-acre property. On the remainder of the property, the developer is proposing to build 45 more residential units in the form of three rows of stacked townhouses. The plan also includes relevant landscaping and amenities needed for the residential

units. To do this, the developer is asking the township to amend the official plan to increase the allowed residential density in the area to 81 from 60 units per hectare, and to change the zoning to allow stand alone residential buildings on the site. This would amount to approximately 36 additional residents living on the site than would currently be allowed, says David Gundrum, a planner with the township. At this point, it is not determined if the residential units would be rental or condominium units, or if any will be designated as affordable housing, said Gundrum. The density level of this proposal is less than other developments in the township. “For comparison, the Lunor subdivision surrounding Riverside Public School to the northeast of the site permits up to 120 residential units per hectare,” he explained.

Artistic rendering of the the development proposed for the Elmira site.

“Existing density policies for the community of Breslau also allow for up to 120 units per hectare with respect to townhouses and mixed-use residential buildings similar to what is proposed for 15 Barnswallow Drive.” He also mentioned the Cameo Court Apartment site located at 30 Church St. W. has a permitted

density of up to 105 units per hectare. Stacked townhouses are becoming a more and more popular form of development across the province, said Gundrum. So far none have been built in the township, but there are some proposals in Breslau. According to Nomadiq’s application, the previous

Submitted

owner of the site had aimed to build a commercial building on the entire site, but had not been able to secure enough tenants to make it viable. “It is expected that further changes to the global retail market as a result of the global pandemic will further exacerbate this situation and that it will not be tena-

ble to ever achieve a convenience commercial project across all of the lands,” said the proposal. Nomadiq’s proposal includes removing the sidewalk along Barnswallow Drive which the developer says the township mistakenly installed. “The township does have plans to reconstruct Barnswallow Drive in 2023 adjacent to the proposed development,” said Gundrum. “The township would seek to ensure that pedestrian infrastructure (eg. sidewalk or multi-use trail) is provided and re-located should any adjustments be needed for the existing infrastructure.” Gundrum said residents are welcome to attend the public meeting scheduled for May 30 at 7 p.m. to give feedback on the proposal, or contact the planning department ahead of time to discuss it. The developer’s planning consultant, Patterson Planning, did not respond to The Observer for comment by press time.

Big farms – and small farms – are growing OWEN ROBERTS

Food For Thought

operation that produced at least one agricultural product intended for sale. Now, a “farm” or “agricultural building” is a “unit” that produces agricultural products and reports revenues and expenses for tax purposes. And although this makes comparisons to the past questionable, it does point to trends.

For example, overall farm numbers have dropped again, this time by about 3,500 farms in five years. Canada is down to just under 190,000 farms of all types. But big farms – the ones that do indeed report revenues and expenses – are still growing. Statistics Canada says in the past five years, 130 more of these units came to be, for a total of 9,120 farms. In Ottawa, a “big” farm is one with 3,520 acres

or more. In reality, that’s small to mid-sized on the prairies, where it’s normal for grain farms to exceed the 10,000-acre range. For the census, the entire range of 3,520-acre farms is lumped together, while much smaller units are viewed in lesser increments. I’m sure this is historical, back to the days when a 1,000-acre farm was a whopper. But that’s no longer the case and needs another look by Statistics Canada for the 2026 census.

Anyway, farms from 3,500 acres and under, all the way down to 130 acres, continue on a slow decline. But if you believe the figures – and given Statistics Canada’s caveat, there’s reason for doubt – small farms are bucking the trend. The smallest, under 10 acres, grew by a little more than 400 farms, to 13,607. The next biggest, 10-70 acres, held their own at →ROBERTS 15

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Statistics Canada tried to explain that farms had become increasingly sophisticated businesses and had grown to scale. Then last week, results of the 2021 agricultural census were released. Immediately, we were warned by the department that “comparisons with earlier census results should be interpreted with caution,” because it redefined what constitutes a farm. Before 2021, a farm was considered an agricultural

r St

gricultural census watchers have seen farm numbers dwindle ever since the 1940s. They fell from almost 247,000 in 2001 to about 193,500 in 2016, when the last census was taken (it’s taken every five years). It was alarming to see the country lose more than 50,000 farms in just 15 years. Meanwhile, big farms were growing. Their numbers escalated from 6,155 farms in 2001 to almost 9,100 in 2016.

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B U S I N E S S | 15

Fundraising golf tournaments look to get back to pre-pandemic form Bill Atwood Observer Staff

THE GOLF SEASON IN FULL swing, a pair of local groups is preparing for fundraising tournaments this summer. First off the mark is the KW Zonta Club’s annual Betty Thompson Golf classic on June 9 at the Merry-Hill Golf Club in Breslau. The tournament, named after a founding member of the KW chapter, is in its 30th year and has raised more than $1 million supporting women’s health initiatives in Waterloo Region. “We’re very proud of the event. And we think women’s health is very important and the funds are spread throughout the region, to hospitals, HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre and University of Waterloo – there’s a variety of beneficiaries. We just try to do the best we can. We try to be very wise with our grants after the tournament so that we can get the best benefit for the women in Waterloo Region,” said club member Connie Deckert. The tournament will host twosomes playing 18 holes in the morning and nine holes in the afternoon. Registration is $120 or $90 respectively, with lunch provided for both. This year will see the use of tee times instead of the usual shotgun start.

Leigh-Anne Quinn and WCS will be holding a tournament File Photo in August.

“When we were planning the tournament we didn’t know what the situation with COVID would be in June,” Deckert said. The club is hoping to

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raise $30,000. For more information, visit zontakw. org. The second charity tournament will be hosted by Woolwich Community Services on August 18 at the Ariss Valley Golf Course. The 28th annual Jeanne Renault Golf Classic is a fundraiser for the organization’s family violence prevention program. “The program provides both education in school for children and youth to learn about identifying healthy and abusive relationships. The program also supports victims of family violence, so through the program they successfully lessen the impact of violence and work towards changing the view of violence and relationships,” said community

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ROBERTS: Census data will bear watching to measure shifts in farming → FROM 13

engagement coordinator Leigh-Anne Quinn. The program provides individual and group support to both women and men who have experienced abusive relationships, Quinn said. The cost of the tournament is $125 for 18 holes and dinner. WCS is hoping to raise $10,000. Payments can be made to: Woolwich Community Services 5 Memorial Ave Elmira N3B 2P8. “We’re really looking for foursomes to come out to share in golf. This year, we’re hoping to get back to a full tournament, so that means golfers would come to us at one o’clock, and then everyone would gather for a dinner afterwards with a prize table, silent auction and things of that nature,” she said.

about 32,000 farms. And farms 70-130 acres saw the biggest increase of all, with nearly 1,000 more units. Those are definitely what you’d call small farms, and there’s little doubt the operators are working off farm to complement their in-farm income. But what they’re growing could well be the local food we’re buying at farmers’ markets and at select retailers, the ones that don’t operate on volume.

They’re not huge producers, but they’re targeted. And according to the census, they’re growing. So there’s some good news: big and small productive farms are on the upswing. Those in the middle are productive too. But they’re getting hammered by the high costs of running a farm, and don’t have the volume to cover it. We’ll see what happens to them in the next five years, when we have a reliable comparison.

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, May 19, 2022 | 16

Arts

Staging the great Dane

Bono in print

Local stories that inspire.

A royal family crisis unfolds on stage at the Stratford Festival’s Festival Theatre as the production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet began its run this week. Making history is Amaka Umeh, the first Black actor to play Hamlet at Stratford.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com

www.stratfordfestival.ca

Bono – artist, activist and the lead singer of Irish rock band U2 – has written a memoir, Surrender, that will be published by Penguin Random House on Nov. 1. Surrender will be published in hardcover, ebook and audio, with the audiobook narrated by Bono. The book will be released simultaneously around the world and will be published in 15 territories.

Read a local best seller every week. Tips: observerxtra.com/tips

Marking the return of the Sunday Night Concert Series Popularity of the free country music shows means a move to Elmira’s Gibson Park this summer Leah Gerber Observer Staff

LANCE RUSSWURM IS LOOKING FORWARD to spending his Sunday summer evenings with the community. He’s imagining hundreds of people spread out in lawn chairs under the shade of old trees listening to the sound of authentic country music. The Sunday Night Concert Series will be back up and running this summer after a hiatus during the pandemic. Every Sunday night in June, July and August, there will be an old-time country music concert free to attend or by donation starting June 5. While traditionally the concert is held at Gore Park off of Arthur Street in Elmira, Russwurm says the concert has outgrown the space, especially in order to maintain distancing. Before the pandemic he says the series became so popular, every concert attracted 600 to 800 attendees, and sometimes as many as 1,000. He and the Township of Woolwich worked together to find another place in Elmira suitable to host the event. They landed on Gibson Park, off of First Street. Gibson Park has, “brand spanking new, actual washrooms,” said Russwurm, which will be an upgrade from the one or

two port-a-potties usually in place, he said. Plenty of parking is available two blocks away at the Woolwich Memorial Centre, and, of course, lots of space for lawn chairs, shaded by large, mature trees. There is only one hitch – the covered picnic area where the bands will play has an uneven dirt bottom, and Russwurm says the musicians need a solid bottom. Township staff, after some deliberation, eventually decided to install a concrete slab at the site, though it won’t be done in time for the first concert in June. “So, the first concert or two will be at Gore Park like usual, but then the event will move over to Gibson Park once the concrete slab is in place,” said Russwurm. When the pandemic hit, it was a shame to have to cancel the entire 2020 lineup, he said – “We had a really nice lineup for that year.” While he enjoyed having his summer Sundays back to himself, and liked not having to agonize about the weather every weekend, he says the concert serves a need that isn’t met elsewhere. “The seniors really missed these shows,” he said. In the ’70s, every bar had country. Today there’s really nowhere for people to go to hear this music – the bars that do still play

Lance Russwurm is preparing for the relaunch of the Sunday Night Concert Series.

it are closing down or very small, adding that the modern country music played on the radio “is not really country.” For people who appreciate old-time country, “There’s nowhere they can go to get what they want,” he said. Russwurm grew up play-

ing country music with his dad, Lynn Russwurm. “I thought I hated country music at the time,” he said. The late Lynn Russwurm was a musician, songwriter and enthusiastic advocate for traditional country music well known and beloved in the industry. He wrote hundreds of

songs, performed in many bands, recorded many albums and collected and sold tens of thousands of records. “He’d play anywhere, any time,” Russwurm said. “He would think of that, ‘Hey, it’s a perfectly good gazebo here with a nice park, I can do concerts

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here, people will come.’ And it slowly grew.” Lynn Russwurm started the free concert series in 2006. His son said the first concerts might have attracted 20 people or so. “Now that it’s going, I can’t bear to let it lapse,” Lance Russwurm said. “It’s what he was most proud of.” The concerts will take place every Sunday night in June, July and August from 7 to 9 p.m. Attendees will be asked to wear a mask when not at their seat and do their best to distance. The concert is free to attend, though musicians are paid directly by the day’s donations. “Come on out,” said Russwurm. “If you want country music, you’ve got to come out and support it.” Sunday Night Concert Series lineup June 5: Southbound June 12: Switchback Road June 19: Randy Satchell June 26: Naomi Bristow July 3: T'was Now (Mike & Diana Erb) July 10: Darin Parise and the Maple Sugar Sweethearts (with special guest - Al Widmeyer) July 17: Aaron Muir July 24: Lance Russwurm July 31: Gerald Davidson August 7: Wendy Lynn Snider August 14: The Chaparrals Aug 21: Fred Lewis and Riding High Aug 28: Dianne and The Cavaliers

Perennials Ornamental Shrubs Roses & Clematis Mini Gardens Concrete Decor Shepherds Hooks Trellis

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, May 19, 2022 | 17

Classifieds

Seven days. One paper.

Placing a classified ad

Please call or email for display advertising quotes for Help Wanted, Auctions, Real Estate, Public Notices, Service Pro Directory and Obituaries.

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

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A bestseller every week.

Family Album Notices: Order and pay for family announcement notices online at: observerxtra.com/order-family-album.

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

Help Wanted

Advertising

Help Wanted EQUIPMENT OPERATOR HELP WANTED for custom farming fleet, full time and part time. Some conditions may apply. Contact Paul at 519-897-9471.

For Sale LAWN FERTILIZER AND LAWN SEED Call George Haffner Tr u c k i n g , 5 19- 5 74 - 4141 o r 519-669-2045.

For Sale MACHING EQUIPMENT FOR SALE. Milling machine, lathe and tooling. Complete machining package. Contact Paul at 519-897-9471.

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Community Support Worker & Administrative Assistant

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Kitchen Cabinet Installer to join our team. In this position you would be working with one of our install teams installing high quality custom kitchens and stairs. In this position you would be reporting to our Install manager.

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The Community Support Worker will work collaboratively with clients, caregivers, community partners and the staff team to identify and assess client needs related to the Meals on Wheels program and to develop, implement and monitor plans that address the identified needs. Responsibility for the administrative coordination of the Meals on Wheels program, including, but not limited to, working with meal suppliers and coordinating the scheduling of volunteers and staff to fulfill daily Meals on Wheels routes, will be included in this role. The ideal Community Support Worker candidate will possess a diploma or degree in the Social Sciences, Health or a related discipline accompanied by experience working with older persons or adults with disabilities. The position requires a well-developed knowledge base of local communities, community resources and service systems and a knowledge of the needs of the client base. The Administrative Assistant will perform administrative and clerical tasks in a busy office environment. Duties include providing exceptional customer service, maintaining client accounts and client service records, maintaining donation records and issuing charitable receipts, accounts payable and receivable and providing support with the organization’s finance, human resource, IT, facility, program and administrative needs. The ideal Administrative Assistant candidate will possess a diploma or degree in administrative services accompanied by 3-5 years of experience working in an administrative role. Strong administrative, word processing and data entry skills are essential. The position also requires a general understanding and aptitude for accounting principles. Both positions require exceptional customer service skills, computer proficiency as well as strong program administration skills, strong oral and written communication skills, an ability to work independently and strong problem-solving skills. A valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle are also required. A mandatory vaccination policy is in place within the organization. Qualified candidates, are invited to submit a resume and cover letter no later than 4 pm on Friday May 27, 2022 to: Cathy Harrington Executive Director Community Care Concepts 929 Arthur Street South Elmira, Ontario N3B 2Z2 cathyh@communitycareconcepts.ca

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THE OBSERVER | Thursday, May 19, 2022

18 | C L A S S I F I E D S

Continued from page 17

For Sale

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GARAGE SALE - 33 CRANE CRS., ELMIRA. May 27, 12 - 5, May 28, 8-3. Furniture, antiques, lots of household items and toys.

SAT. MAY 21, 7AM, 35 M U S C OV E Y D R , ELMIRA. Boys/girls clothing, toys, household, electrical items/ tools.

COMMERCIAL ROOM FOR RENT. 69 AND 73 Arthur St S. Elmira. Contact the Clock Tower Wellness Centre. 519-669-4425. M U LT I FA M I LY GARAGE SALE. SAT. Trades & May 21, 8 a.m. - 2 Services p.m. 22 Muscovey Dr., Elmira. Sports equipC U S T O M L AW N ment, home decor, OVERSEEDING AND dishes, Tupperware, lawn seeding. Call hockey trees, crocks, 519-503-5641. canners, books etc.

Garage Sales

M U LT I FA M I LY GARAGE SALE MAY 21, 8-12. 52 Riverside Dr. W. Elmira. Rain date May 28.

M U LT I FA M I LY GARAGE SALE. 5 Bluejay road Elmira Friday afternoon May 20 and Saturday 21. Woodworking equipment, tools, household items and lot's more.

Help Wanted

SEASONAL HELP WANTED Lorentz Farms Ltd.

Help Wanted

Mill operators and night shift loader tractor driver/general labourer needed. Some equipment operation required. Call 519-575-8441 or 519-577-2889

HOMESTEAD WOODWORKS continues to be an innovative leader in architectural wood design & finishing within Waterloo Region and beyond. We have immediate full-time openings for the following positions.

Installers Required Cabinets and Millwork

Auction

AUCTION SALE Of Farmall tractor, small implements, JD riding lawn mower, tools, collectibles, household goods, etc. To be held at 4561 Line 61 Perth East Twp. (1 mile southeast of Milverton, east off Rd 131), For Bud and Ruth Gerber, on

FRIDAY, MAY 27TH AT 5:30 P.M.

INCLUDING: Farmall 340 row crop tractor,

• Other woodworking tasks

gas, painted, 2ph with 3ph adaptor and “carryall”, restored in the 80’s. JD GT235 riding lawn mower, hydrostatic, 48in. cut, 820 hours. JD 10P lawn & garden type dump trailer (plastic box). Kongskilde 8ft. 3ph cultivator, “S” tines. Hardi 200 litre 3ph sprayer, 14ft. booms, hand wand with 50ft. hose, like new. 6ft. 3ph finish mower. Rhino 5ft. 3pg scraper blade. Douglas Mfg. 5ft. 3ph garden tiller. 4ft. pull type lawn roller (holds water). JD 6.75 hp mower with bagger and accessories (self-propelled). Honda rear tine tiller. Mark 1 Series 10ft. aluminum brake. Beaver 16in. band saw. Delta 6in. jointer. Rockwell 10in. table saw. Delta 12in. radial arm saw. Stihl TS 350AV cutoff saw. 2in. water pump with hose. Air nailers. 20 ton hyd. jack. Step and ext. ladders. Hand & power tools. Compound bow, plus a wagonload of farm & shop related items. Also, home furnishings, collectibles, etc.

• Some heavy lifting involved

NOTE – See www.gerberauctions.net for

• Valid Ontario Drivers License and clean drivers abstract required

TERMS – Cash, debit or cheque with I.D. 5% buyer’s premium.

• Some experience is necessary

SALE ORDER – Wagonload, household, larger items. Lunch booth.

Your duties would include: • Onsite cabinet building & installation and/or install high-end trim packages, beams & exterior entrance systems and stair cases • Assembly of kitchens & cabinetry and/or millwork projects

The successful candidates will be motivated, enthusiastic, courteous, and friendly. We are looking for dependable, respectful team players with a strong work ethic and good communication skills. The company offers excellent wage, benefits, and bonus programs. For more details or to submit a resume, please contact tony@hsww.ca.

Exclusive gear

for newspaper readers

photos & complete list.

PROPRIETORS – Bud and Ruth Gerber

519-595-8177

Auction

LIVE CLEARING AUCTION SALE of

Classic Car, Trailer, Lawn and Garden, Woodworking tools, Household and Misc for John and Liz Service to be held on site 27 Lunor Court Tavistock, Hyway 59 south, left on Bauer, then left on wettlauffer, right on lunor on

SAT MAY 28 AT 10 AM CAR - 1955 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan, 4 door, V 8, automatic, 103375 miles, stainless dual exhaust, 2 tone blue, Nice, Rare, selling as is; TRAILER - Stirling Galvanized 4ft x 6ft w/ fold down ramp, like new; LAWN & GARDEN - JD LA135 22hp 48 in cut, hydrostatic, 210 hrs; JD 10P 2 wheel dump trailer; Troy Bilt Walk behind power drive mower; 28” Ariens walk behind snow blower 14.5hp deluxe, electric start; Troy Bilt 8hp rear tine roto tiller w/ plow attachment, electric start; 21” walk behind 4 cycle snow thrower; 2 wheel wheelbarrow w/ dump; hoes, rakes, shovels etc; cement flower bed and garden ornaments; rabbit and live animal traps; TOOLS - Kipor 6000 watt, gas powered, silent runner, variable rate, electric start stand by generator; Mastercraft table saw; 2 - 12 volt tickle chargers; Makita cordless drills; air tools; portable air compressor; 50’ & 100’ air hoses; Makita 1/2” hammerdrill; mastercraft 59 1/2” band saw; 1 ton chain hoist; 6” & 8” bench grinders on stands; H D vice; delta cut off mitre saw; laminating clamps; simonez power washer; 2 - H D floor jacks; car stands; Makita sander; Pascal framing and trim air nailers; Dremil multimax tools; Grease guns and Caulking guns; car polisher; Metal shelving; storage Lockers from J M Schneiders; 20 & 36 ft aluminum extension ladders; 5 & 7ft aluminum step ladders; Quantity of hand tools wrench sets etc; Router and bits, drill bits etc; MISC - Quantity of Fishing Lures; 2 fishing poles in cases; Hunting Knives; Pocket Knives; Bam air rifle w/ scope; Approx 60 birdhouses of different sizes; HOUSEHOLD & COLLECTABLES - 4

Pocket Watches; Oak round table w/ 20” leaf, 6 chairs and corner cupboard/china cabinet; 12 cubic ft fridgeadaire chest freezer; Wurlitzer piano and bench; 4 piece coffee, end and parlor table set; Solid wood mennonite made grandfather clock; 4&5 piece bedroom sets, solid wood, queen sized beds, dressers, chest of drawers, end tables; LG 55” flat screen TV; Pine roll top desk; 3 metal breakfast bar stools; floor lamps; 2 wooden baby/ doll cradles; Oak wall mirror and shelf; 12lb scale new, roasting pans; Pictures and wall hangings; 8’ x 11’ and 4’ x 5’ area rugs; some dishes and glassware; Weslo step bike; Pro form treadmill; Leather by Mann white sofa w/ reclining ends; Floor lamps, table Lamps; mexican screen; 55 & 56 ford and chev collectable cars, monkee tin climber toy; Schneinders juicy jumbos 1/64 tractor trailer; Perfect Attendance schneiders deck of cards; Schneiders key fob; Crokinoe board w/cues and buttons; coal oil lamps; Vase centre piece; etc etc;

NOTE - Plan to Attend as John and Liz

AUCTIONEERS:

Gerber Auctions Ltd. 519-699-4451

2827 Hutchison Rd., RR#1 Millbank (Crosshill)

Support your local newspaper. Shop online today! newsmart.ca

have sold their house and moving to an appartment; they have been excellent caretakers and it shows in this exceptional offering; No buyers premium; Cash or check day of sale; food booth; Go to Theauctionhunt for pictures. PROPREITORS - JOHN AND LIZ SERVICE 519-655-9916

AUCTIONEERHEI-VIEW AUCTIONS 519-292-6808

Thursday, May 19, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

ↆ R E A L

C L A S S I F I E D S | 19

E SAT E

ↆ PUZZLE SOLUTIONS Solutions for this week's puzzles.

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

519-590-0835 • mbeisel@royallepage.ca Sue From

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

Alli Bauman ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Emily Minielly SALES REPRESENTATIVE

226-750-9332 519-669-5426 519-504-6247 emilyminiellyrealestate@gmail.com suefrom17@gmail.com

Melanie Beisel

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

OPEN HOUSE | SATURDAY & SUNDAY 2–4 PM

$849,900 $950,000

55 QUEEN ST ELMIRA

SOLD

WINTERBOURNE -This This charming Quebec-style, custom-built, one-owner home greets you with its beautiful antique wrought iron fence and picturesque curb appeal. Located in a quiet village and nestled amongst mature trees, this property is extremely private and overlooks open fields. Quality built, this home offers a master bedroom retreat with skylights, walk-in closet, an oversized shower, gas fireplace and a private balcony, 2 other bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, original hardwood floors, main floor laundry, main floor wood stove, finished rec-room, wired for a generator, and is meticulously maintained from top to bottom. Situated on a large 100ft x 168ft lot, you can relax and fully appreciate the stunning sunrises in the morning or enjoy some time with family at the fire pit! The outbuildings consist of a spacious 18ft x 26ft workshop with a second floor perfect for gatherings or hobbies, a woodshed, and another shed (ideal for kayaks but can be used for anything). Lots of room to park in the triple wide driveway and insulated double car garage that’s equipped with hydro and gas heat. Get outside and take advantage of the nearby walking trails, snowmobile trails, and steps to the Grand River. This property is a 10-minute drive to KW and a 10-minute drive to Elmira. What a dream come true, don’t wait to see this wonderful home that really has it all!!!

SELLING? CALL US FOR A FREE MARKET EVALUATION.

Priced to sell! Don't miss out on this beautiful spacious bungalow located close to downtown Elmira. 2+bed and 1.5 bath with great large yard. Don't miss out on this one

BROKERAGE

R.W. THUR REAL ESTATE LTD. Oﬃce: 519-669-2772 | Cell: 519-741-6231 45 Arthur St. S., Elmira | www.thurrealestate.com

EASY

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BRAD MARTIN Broker of Record, MVA Residential

35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE YOU CAN RELY ON! NEW LISTING 32 Arthur St. S., Elmira Opportunity knocks! Approx. 4200 sq. ft. commercial space in downtown Elmira. Currently operating as a restaurant on the main floor w/2 dining spaces. Upper flr consists of a former banquet hall. Lots of possibilities! First time offered in more than 40 yrs. NEW MLS $599,900.00

Solid Gold Realty (II) Ltd., Brokerage | Independently Owned and Operated

$795,000

250 Hu�on Street E, Listowel

Welcome to 250 Hu�on Street East, this charming all brick bungalow is perfect for the first �me home owner or anyone wishing to downsize. From the moment you drive up on the concrete double wide driveway you will be impressed. The front porch is perfect for enjoying morning coffee or a�er diner refreshments You are sure to love entertaining in this beau�ful kitchen with island and a dining area! The kitchen offers plenty of cabinet space and a built-in pantry! Walk out from your kitchen to covered deck ... BBQ's rain or shine! Enjoy the addi�onal space in the finished basement - 2 bedrooms, a bathroom and recrea�on room ... lots of space for family and friends!!! Book your appointment today .. this one will not last long! MLS# 40258710

114 Maple St., Drayton Nearly new Semi-detached w/double garage! 1,759 sq. ft. Open concept main flr with kitchen, dining and living space. Lovely cabinetry w/granite counters & island, laminate flooring, 2 pc bath and 9’ ceilings on main flr. Second flr boasts spacious upper family room, 3 bdrms, 4 pc bathroom & laundry closet. Master bdrm with 3 pc ensuite and large closet. Unspoiled basement with rough-in for 2 pc bath. Numerous upgrades at time of building. Backing onto farmland. MLS $689,900.00

ADDRESS: 3 Arthur St. S., ELMIRA | DIRECT: 519-503-2753 EMAIL: leonmartin@remax.net

Stickers, buttons, flip pads, journals, mugs, pens, books, touques, caps & more. Support your local newspaper.

CALL FOR YOUR

FREE MARKET EVALUATION

newsmart.ca

DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE Aside from legal consequences of drinking and driving in the form of a ticket or loss of license, impaired driving can result in property damage, injury or even death. With this in mind, we would like to remind you to be smart when drinking. Drink in moderation and monitor the amount of alcohol you have consumed. Designate a sober driver at the beginning of the night and give that person the keys. If no one is capable of driving, have some money ready for a taxi home. It is better to leave your car behind and come back for it than to have it totaled in a collision. If you are drinking at a friend’s home, ask for a place to sleep until you are sober. By staying at that friend’s house, you will limit their liability should you choose to drive and cause a collision. When you go for your next drink, just remember that you are not the only one that may pay the consequences for your decisions.

DUB-L-E

SANYO CANADIAN MACHINE WORKS INCORPORATED

33 Industrial Dr. • 519-669-1591

• GAS • DIESEL • PROPANE CYLINDER EXCHANGE • TOUCH-FREE CAR WASH

Serving you for over 100 Years

519-669-2015

1145 Printery Rd., St. Jacobs | TEL: 519.664.2263

390 ARTHUR ST. S., ELMIRA (Hwy 86 & Road 21)

ARRIVE

ALIVE

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, May 19, 2022

20 | C L A S S I F I E D S

ↆ LO CA L ↆ

P R O F E S S I O N A L

S E RV I C E S

GENERAL SERVICES

CALL TO BOOK! TODAY.

Septic Installations · Tile Repairs Small Footings · Silo Footings

VAN, MINIBUS & WHEELCHAIR LIFT BUS TRANSPORTATION “Specializing in small group charters”

Maynard Martin

519-669-5557 Visit our website! countrymilebl.com Elmira, ON ↆ

RK COUNTRY BUS LINES

IN-STORE SERVICES

MarCrest Backhoe 2512 Kressler Road RR1 St. Clements, ON N0B 2M0

• Window & Screen Repairs • Glass & Plexi Cutting • Key Cutting • Knife & Scissor Sharpening • Lawnmower Blade Sharpening • Paint Colour Matching • Interior Design Consultation • Bike Repair

519-502-8262 Elmira, ON

Tel. 519-699-0507

GENERAL SERVICES

BOOKING FOR 2022

Visit us online to see our entire rental lineup.

Various sizes & rates

CLEAN • DRY • SECURE Call

WHERE TIRES ARE A

SPECIALTY, NOT A SIDE LINE.

Farm • Auto • Truck Industrial On-The-Farm Service 35 Howard Ave., Elmira

519-669-3232 ↆ

ↆ

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES

TIRE

519-669-0524 www.woolwichrentals.ca 100 Union St, Elmira, Ontario

100 SOUTH FIELD DRIVE, ELMIRA

(ELMIRA)

ↆ

519-669-4964

THOMPSON’S

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

519-669-4400

HOME IMPROVEMENT

John Schaefer Painting FREE ESTIMATES Interior/exterior Painting, Wallpapering & Plaster | drywall Repairs

519-503-6033 (CELL) 519-669-2251

30 ORIOLE PKWY. E., ELMIRA

36 Hampton St., Elmira

- Design and build -

AGRICULTURAL | RESIDENTIAL FRAMING • ROOFING RENOVATIONS • EAVESTROUGHS

www.marwilconcrete.ca

Wayne Martin | 519-504-2016

519-577-0370

darwayconstruction@icloud.com | Alma, ON

HOME IMPROVEMENT COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL

ST. JACOBS

GLASS SYSTEMS INC.

INC

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

Randy Weber

ECRA/ESA Licence # 7000605

www.rwelectricltd.com TEL:

18 Kingfisher Dr., Elmira | 519.669.1462

AMOS R O O F I N G

1553 King St. N., St. Jacobs, ON N0B 2N0

• Residential • Commercial • Industrial

ↆ

Driveways • Sidewalks • Curbs Patios • Finished Floors • Retaining Walls • Steps • Decorative/Stamped and Coloured Concrete

• Specializing in residential re-roofs • Repairs • Churches A Family owned and operated business serving KW, Elmira and surrounding area for over 35 years.

WORKMANSHIP GUARANTEED

CALL JAYME FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE.

519-664-1202 / 519-778-6104 FAX: 519 664-2759 • 24 Hour Emergency Service

519.501.2405 | 519.698.2114 In Business since 1973 • Fully Insured

HOME IMPROVEMENT Since 1998

•Final grading •Lawn repair & complete seeding well equipped for large stoney areas •Spike Aerator/Overseeding •Natural & Interlocking Stone •Retaining Walls, Walks & Patios •Help for Top Water & Drainage issue

Murray & Daniel Shantz

ALMA, ONTARIO | PHONE: 519.846.5427

DESIGN CENTRE

• FLOORING • Custom KITCHENS • BATHROOM VANITIES • SICO Paint • Custom WINDOW BLINDS

KITCHEN, BATH & WINDOW FASHIONS

Blinds, shades, drapery & more • Custom cabinetry made in Canada Free In-home consultations • Our experienced designer will help you work within your personal taste and budget

Call someone you can trust - your local Home Hardware Popular Brands Available

BLANCO, MAAX, MIROLAN, STEEL QUEEN

www.LetUsFloorYou.ca

Hours: M-F 8:00 - 5:00 & Sat 9:00 - 3:00

Evenings By Appointment

1011 Industrial Cres. Unit #2 | TEL: 519.699.5411

Tel:

22 Church St. W., Elmira 519-669-5537 or 1-844-866-5537

STORE HOURS: MON-SAT 8-6, SUN Closed Find and follow us on FB and Instagram

Thursday, May 19, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

C L A S S I F I E D S | 21

ↆ LOCAL SERVICES ↆ

GENERAL SERVICES

Get your

Poultry Pest Management

FREE

quote now!

Thorncreek Farms

Pest control with residual built in

Your Complete Source for Landscaping & Lawn Care  Landscape Build  Interlocking Stone  Retaining Walls & Steps  Water Features  Back Hoe & Skid Steer Services  Sodding & Seeding

ↆ

 Planting, Pruning & Mulching  Rolling & Aerating  Over Seeding  Fertilizing  Weed Management  Chinchbug Control

 Grub Control  Sod Webworm Control

Prepayment Discounts for Lawn Care

519-504-2698

10% OFF

Serving KW and surrounding area

GENERAL SERVICES

BIKE SALES & REPAIRS PROFESSIONAL BIKE MECHANIC ON STAFF SEE US FOR

Poultry Barn Pest Solutions

Window & Screen

REPAIRS 22 Church St. W., Elmira

519-669-5537 STORE HOURS: MON-SAT 8-6, SUN 12-4

You have to start local, to find local.

jobs.observerxtra.com

Start your search with the Observer in print and online  Self-serve online job portal auto posts to social media and maximizes local online reach.

ↆ E L M I R A

B LO O D

D O N O R

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

C L I N I C

SANYO CANADIAN The Quality You Demand, the Service You Deserve. Farm - Auto - Truck - Industrial and we have On-the-farm service

371 Arthur St. S. • 519-669-3232

MACHINE WORKS INCORPORATED

33 Industrial Dr. • 519-669-1591

The Next Elmira Clinic:

at Lion’s Hall, Elmira Friday, May 27 2:00 - 7:00 pm

Experience that Works www.steedandevans.ca

Appointments are required to ensure physical distancing. Book online at blood.ca or by calling 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283)

Bus: 519-698-9930 Res: 519-698-2213

• Fabrics • Men's Wear • Ladies Coats • China • Glass Ware Mon. Closed · Tues.-Fri. 8-6 · Sat. 8-5

RR #2 Wallenstein, Ontario

2192 Floradale Rd. ~ Floradale, On.

(519) 669-1381

your supplier of feeds and pet food

1.800.265.6126 |

Wallenstein General Store Inc. 519-669-2231

UNIQUE ONE STOP SHOPPING

ELECTRICAL WHOLESALE

Groceries • Hardware • Giftware Books • Drygoods • Postal Outlet

ELECTRIC MOTORS | GENERATORS | AUTOMATION CONTROL

7278 LINE 86, WALLENSTEIN, ON

63 Union St., Elmira • 519-669-1842

CLM

MODULAR BUILDINGS MOVING & LEASING

Serving you for over 100 Years

2170 FLORADALE RD., FLORADALE • 519-669-2183

1145 Printery Rd., St. Jacobs | TEL: 519.664.2263

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, May 19, 2022

22 | C L A S S I F I E D S

Elmira Lions Art Woods, Rick Ladd and Richard Beisel prepare Wednesday for a club tree-planting endeavour later that day along the Kissing Bridge Trail.

Bill Atwood

“PROUDLY REMEMBERING OUR PAST; CONFIDENTLY EMBRACING OUR FUTURE.”

Community Information Page COMMUNITY MEETING ON PROPOSED NOISE BY-LAW You are invited to join Township By-law Enforcement staff for a community meeting regarding proposed updates to the Noise By-law. Township staff will be available to answer questions and hear feedback from the community. The purpose of the meeting is to hear feedback on the proposal and provide an update on further changes requested by Council. Some of the proposed changes include: • Allowing amplified noise at reasonable volume from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm on Sunday – Thursday, and until 11:00 pm on Friday and Saturdays • Allowing construction noise for residential renovations at a reasonable volume on Sundays from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm (does not apply to contractors) • Increased fees for noise exemptions and fine (ticket) amounts The meeting will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at 6 p.m. To register to attend the meeting, please contact: licensing@woolwich.ca or 519-669-1647 ext. 6119 or toll free 1-877-969-0094 ext. 6119 Please share this invitation with other parties who may want to participate. Contact: Robyn Koutrouliotis Jeff Smith Licensing Officer / Administrative Assistant Director of Corporate Services/Clerk 519-669-1647 ext. 6119 519-669-6010 1-877-969-0094 ext. 6119 1-877-969-0094 ext. 6010 licensing@woolwich.ca jsmith@woolwich.ca

P.O. Box 158

24 Church St. W. Elmira, Ontario N3B 2Z6

Phone:

519-669-1647 or 877-969-0094 Fax: 519-669-1820

After Hours Emergency:

519-575-4400 www.woolwich.ca

Regional Official Plan Review and Land Needs Assessment – Woolwich Township Council Meeting Monday, June 6, 2022 - 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting Only

Council of the Township of Woolwich will consider a recommendation report from staff regarding the Regional Official Plan Review, Land Needs Assessment at the above noted meeting. Staff is proposing to forward a report recommending endorsing a growth land needs scenario from the report for Community and Employment Lands as it relates to determining the amount of urban lands the Region requires to accommodate population (Community) and employment lands to the year 2051 as outlined in the Region’s Land Needs Assessment. The report will present a recommendation with regard to the growth scenarios, but also include a preliminary recommendation on which lands that may be included in the urban boundary to match that recommended growth scenario. To participate in the Council Meeting please register with the Clerk’s department on or before 10 am on Monday June 6th : • visit www.woolwich.ca/delegations and complete the online delegation request form; • email CouncilMeetings@woolwich.ca; or • phone 519-669-6004. A copy of the Township staff report will be available on Wednesday, June 1st as follows: • Email planning@woolwich.ca to request a copy by email; • Phone Development Services staff at 519-669-6040 to request a copy by mail; or • Drop by the Township Administration building located at 24 Church Street West, Elmira weekdays between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm to pick up a paper copy. You can view the Council meeting livestream on the Woolwich Township YouTube channel. Deanne Friess, Director of Development Services Email – dfriess@woolwich.ca Phone - 519-669-6028

Thursday, May 19, 2022 | THE OBSERVER

ↆ FA M I LY

C L A S S I F I E D S | 23

Obituary

A L B U M

Birthday

Celebration of Life

Obituary Frey, Mary Ann

SEVENTY CHEERS for SEVENTY YEARS

Happy Birthday ARLENE MARTIN May 18th, 2022 Birthday

Happy Birthday!

Finally we are having a celebration of life for John Harry Gerth on May 29 3:00-6:00 at the Elmira Legion. Friends and family are invited to come and have a drink on John.

Here’s to many more adventures!

Obituary

Passed away peacefully at St. Mary’s Hospital, Kitchener on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at the age of 96 years. Motherin-law of Elizabeth Frey. Grandmother of Maryann and Tilman Bauman, Martin and Lydian, Abraham and Lovina, and 13 great-grandchildren. Survived by siblings Lovisa and Martin Bowman, Melinda Martin, Manoah and Salinda Martin, and brother-inlaw Henry Brubacher. Predeceased by her parents Manoah and Selina Martin, husband Abraham Frey, children Henry and Selina Frey; one brother, five sisters, and five brothers-in-law. Burial and funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at Wellesley Township Mennonite Meeting House. Arrangements entrusted to the Dreisinger Funeral Home, Elmira. ❖ www.dreisingerfuneralhome.com

Obituary

Keith Foerster

Anniversary

Happy 60th Anniversary,

Aden and Aleda Weber!

Passed away at Brantford General Hospital, on Friday April 29, 2022, at the age of 65 years. Keith Foerster, of Elmira, was the father of Becky (Callum), Luke (Lisa) and Mark (Ashley). Loved brother of Elaine McMahon, Tony and Moira, Marilyn Lackner, Kathy and Kieran Kelly, and Rodney, and brother-in-law of Patty. Remembered by his grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents Clarence and Alma (McDonald) Foerster, siblings Shirley (Sonny) Kocher, Donald (Doreen), Bryan, Terrence, and Carol, and brother-in-laws Dennis Lackner and Hughie McMahon. An open house celebration of life will take place Tuesday, May 31 from 6pm-8pm at the Elmira Legion at 11 First Street East, Elmira.

Announce it in the Observer. Family Announcement Advertising: Ads will be accepted in person, email, or phone during regular office hours. Deadline is Wednesdays by 10am. Order online at: observerxtra.com/order-family-album Please call or email Donna Rudy:

With love, your family.

519-669-5790 ext 104 donna@woolwichobserver.com

Peace of mind in Wellesley Why travel to the Big City? The Futher-Franklin Funeral Home in Wellesley can service all your needs in the beautiful surroundings of the country and at a cost less than the “Big City”. A privately owned funeral home providing care and respect to you and your family! Futher-Franklin Funeral Home, 1172 Henry Street, Wellesley. 519-656-2880

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Metzger, Oscar Passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at the age of 72 years. Husband of Elma (Martin) Metzger of Elmira. Father of Mark and Sharon of Newton, Luke and Lydia of Wallenstein, Murray and Esther of New Hamburg, Leroy and Vera of Elmira. Fondly remembered by 21 grandchildren and Emily and Morten Mathiesen. Survived by siblings Leonard and Ruth, Clare and Miriam, Mary and Ernie Weber, Clifford and Hannah, Irene and Abner Bauman, Erla and Enos Eby, Lester and Mary. Brother-in-law of Mrs. Matilda Bauman, Erla and Moses Burkhart; and step-brotherin-law of Harvey and Bonnie Martin, Cleon and Lorene Martin, Elmeda and Clarence Brubacher, Lester and Carolyn Martin. Predeceased by his parents Urias and Luida (Bauman) Metzger, one granddaughter, parentsin-law Freeman and Angeline Martin, step-father-in-law Moses Martin, and brother-in-law Ivan Bauman. Visitation was held at the family home, 3802 Steffler Road, Elmira on Sunday, May 15, 2022 from 2-5 and 6-8 p.m., and on Monday, May 16, 2022 from 1-5 p.m. A family service took place at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 then to Conestoga Mennonite Meeting House for burial and public service. Arrangements entrusted to the Dreisinger Funeral Home, Elmira. ❖ www.dreisingerfuneralhome.com

Hackbart, Edward Aaron Passed away peacefully at Stratford General Hospital on Saturday, May 14, 2022 in his 87th year after a brief illness. Husband to Janet (Koenig) married 62 years, May 30, 1959. Dear father to Judy Hackbart, Donna Rogers (David), David Hackbart (Melanie), and James Hackbart. “Grandpa” and “Poppa” to Melissa Zorn (Rory), Todd Rogers (Courtney), Jennifer Weber (Nate), Stephanie Martin (Tom), Kristyna Whynacht (Alex) , and Tyler Hackbart (Rebecca). Great-grandfather to Sullivan, Wren and Mae Martin, Levi and Ayla Weber, Matylda and Riley Whynacht and Nora Rogers. Survived by his sisters Helen Berg, Gladys Hackbart, Ruby Thompson (Edward) and sister-in-law Margaret Hackbart. Predeceased by his parents Edwin and Hilda Hackbart; siblings Fred, Walter, Arthur, Clayton and Wilfred Hackbart, Vera Fisher, Florence Schmidt and Mildred Lantz; and infant son Bradley. To honour his wishes, cremation has taken place. There will be no visitation. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2022 from 1-4 p.m. at Crosshill Mennonite Church, 2537 Hutchison Road, Millbank. A time of sharing memories will be held at 2:30 p.m. The family would like to extend gratitude to the staff at Stratford General Hospital, and to the various support people from Home Care who cared for Edward in his home. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre or St. Mary’s Hospital Cardiac Care would be appreciated by the family and can be made through the Dreisinger Funeral Home, Elmira. ❖ www.dreisingerfuneralhome.com

Write a letter to the editor and submit it online today. observerxtra.com/letters

Obituary Brubacher, Minerva Passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at her home, in her 75th year. Wife of Aaron Brubacher of RR 2, Elmira. Mother of Naomi Martin of Elmira, Manasseh and Erma of West Montrose, Eva and Thomas Martin of Arthur, Esther and Reuben Martin of Gladstone, MB, Ervin and Elsie of West Montrose, Almeda Brubacher of West Montrose, Elam and Betty of Elmira, Aden and Anna of West Montrose. Survived by 39 grandchildren. Sister of Amsey (Nancy) Bauman of Gladstone, MB, Salome Bauman of Waterloo, Orvie (Naomi) Bauman of Wroxeter, Noah (Mary) Bauman of Holyrood, Alvin (Selinda) Bauman of Gladstone, MB, Enos (Louisa) Bauman of Fisher Branch, MB, and Harvey Sauder of Waterloo. Sister-in-law of Mrs. Melinda Brubacher of Elmira, Daniel (Lydia) Brubacher of Lucknow, Menno (Sarah) Brubacher of Elmira, Mrs. Louisa Brubacher of West Montrose, Mrs. Martha Brubacher of Clifford, Peter (Lydiann) Brubacher of St. Jacobs, Moses (Selina) Brubacher of Wroxeter, Susanna Brubacher of Hawkesville, and Hannah Brubacher of Waterloo. Predeceased by her parents Norman and Maryann (Martin) Bauman, son-in-law Daniel Martin, sister Selinda (Bauman) Sauder, brothersin-law Edwin Brubacher, John Brubacher, and Samuel Brubacher. Visitation was held at her home, 1925 Northfield Dr. E., Elmira, on Monday, May 16, 2022 from 2-6 p.m., and on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 from 1-5 p.m. A private family service was held on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 9 a.m. then to Winterbourne Mennonite Meeting House for burial and public service. Arrangements entrusted to the Dreisinger Funeral Home, Elmira. ❖ www.dreisingerfuneralhome.com

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, May 19, 2022 | 24

Living Here

It's about all of us. Leading the way reporting about the people and places of home. Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com Report it: observerxtra.com/tips

Redman to run again

Food4Kids for five

Karen Redman this week filed nomination papers seeking re-election as regional chair in this fall’s municipal election. She was first elected chair in 2018, having previously served as a member of Parliament. She was CEO of Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region just prior to her election as chair.

Food4Kids Waterloo Region is holding an open house on May 26 from 12-5 p.m. The organization, which helps children in food-insecure homes, is celebrating its fifth anniversary. www.food4kidswr.ca

Vaping and teens DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am a former smoker who began smoking in high school. I quit a few years ago after a lung cancer scare. As a father, I have often shared with my children about the dangers of smoking. Recently, I overheard my son talking to his friends about vaping. Should I be as concerned about vaping as I am about smoking cigarettes?

ANSWER: Vaping is the term often used to describe the act of using an electronic cigarette. E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that heat a liquid solution – usually, but not always, containing nicotine – turning it into a vapour that can be inhaled. If the base nicotine mixture is not palatable, many flavours, such as mint, apple and others, can make vaping attractive, especially to adolescents. Unfortunately, today's teens, and even tweens, often know more about vaping than their parents. First publicized as a safer alternative to smoking tobacco, vaping caught on because it didn't contain the carcinogens or tars found in most smoking tobacco products. Also, vaping was supposed to eliminate the dangers of secondhand smoke to those nearby. It all sounded pretty harmless in theory. However, those theories were wrong. Here are some of the dangers associated with vaping:  No matter the delivery method, nicotine is addictive.  Studies have shown that it may be harder to quit a nicotine addiction than a heroin addiction. Most

▢ Mayo Clinic

Professional Clinical Health Advice

discussions about helping teens stop vaping fail to address that they already may be addicted. In many cases, teens at this phase may need a nicotine replacement product or medications, such as bupropion, to curb the cravings that can be overwhelming.  If you've ever tried to quit smoking, or had a friend or family member try to quit smoking, you know how difficult it can be. Therefore, in certain situations, e-cigarettes are still considered an option for transitioning someone who has smoked tobacco for years to nonsmoking status.  The flavours and stabilizers in e-cigarettes can cause unknown inflammation to delicate lung tissue. Recently when you turn on the national news, you hear about more and more cases where severe – sometimes irreversible – damage to the lungs, and in extreme cases even death, occurred in teens who were vaping. Adolescents often feel that bad things happen to everyone else, but the risks associated with vaping are real. Many teens are taking things a step further, adding cannabis, CBD oils and other dangerous additives to vaping devices. When patients show up to the emergency department in respiratory distress from vaping, it can be challenging for physicians to treat → MAYO CLINIC 27

Tyler Brezynskie has expanded his efforts beyond the EDSS leadership class. Leah Gerber

Making a difference at a very local level Tyler Brezynskie’s efforts to get involved led to outreach program at seniors’ home Leah Gerber Observer Staff

TYLER BREZYNSKIE IS A GRADE 12 student at Elmira District Secondary School. He plays AAA hockey, and intends to go to the University of Guelph to study creative writing. He already plays for the Guelph Jr. Gryphons U-18 AAA team. His goal is to become an author, he says. Last year, for his leadership class, Brezynskie decided to write letters to residents at Barnswallow Place long-term care home in Elmira. While normally the leadership class involves students running high-energy, in-person events like local fundraisers that involve the whole school, or class-to-class challenges, during the pandemic everything was moved online and finding interesting projects

could pose a challenge, Brezynskie said. “It was hard at first, but I saw videos online of how impacted people in the homes were, and I kind of knew right away. “We were encouraged to do something in the community that we thought would benefit others. And I saw everyone was struggling with not being able to see anyone, especially people in the old age home, I saw videos online of visitors having to go up to windows and stuff. Just to see them, that kind of touched me so I decided I’d write letters,” he said. Staff at Barnswallow Place had been wanting to find a way to get in contact with students at the high school and bridge the gap between the old and the young. During the pandemic, “we started reaching out to

the Elmira High School, to see if we could get some of the students interested in meeting with our residents and do some programming with them,” Rukhsana Popat, a social worker at Barnswallow Place and a leader in the intergenerational program, told The Observer previously. “So yeah, it’s been in the works for quite a while but I would have to give credit to Tyler that he kind of broke the ice for us. And the minute he reached out to the home, we just grabbed it and ran with it,” she said. Brezynskie wrote about 10 letters addressed to no one resident in particular, and staff at Barnswallow Place passed them out. He received about six or seven replies. The residents had questions for him and were excited to have someone to talk to, he said.

“I love to write, and what I want to go to school for is creative writing. And so I figured I’d use my writing skills and my enjoyment of it and put it to good use,” said Brezynskie. Earlier this month, a few more students from the school’s leadership class passed out gift baskets to the residents for which the class had fundraised. Barnswallow Place staff say the event was the launch of an intergenerational program between the high school students and the residents, beginning with a pen pal program and continuing with more in-person events like breakfast, and group discussions about current events, as the pandemic allows. Since writing those initial letters, Brezynskie joined the family council at Barnswallow Place. He says the family council is → VOLUNTEERISM 27

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Thursday, May 19 2022 | THE OBSERVER

L I V I N G H E R E | 25

ↆ C O M M U N I T Y

“A GOOD JOB DONE EVERY TIME”

A drink to cool you off in the heat of summer

gua fresca means "fresh water." It is the name for a variety of drinks that are made by combining fruits, grains, seeds or flowers with sugar and water. Some of the most common agua fresca varieties are horchata (made with rice and nuts), agua de Jamaica (made with hibiscus tea), and any variety of melon. We chose watermelon for our recipe and added lime juice, honey, and just a little salt to bring out the sweet and tart flavours. Serve it in a clear glass to show off that colour! Garnishes can also add

▢ America's Test Kitchen

pieces) seedless watermelon (2 1⁄2 pounds)

▢ 2 cups water ▢ 1⁄4 cup lime juice,

pizzazz to your beverage. Here are a few ideas to get you started:  Add fresh fruit on top, such as slices of lemon or lime or watermelon shapes  Wrap a strip of citrus peel around a chopstick and place the corkscrew peel in the glass for flair.  Boost flavour with the addition of fresh herbs, such as a sprig of mint or rosemary.

serving

▢ 2 tablespoons honey ▢ 1⁄8 teaspoon salt ▢ Ice

squeezed from 2 limes, plus lime wedges

▢ Fresh mint leaves

1. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a pitcher; set aside.

out as much juice as possible. Discard the solids in the strainer.

2. Add half of the chopped watermelon and half of the water to a blender jar. Place lid on top of blender and hold firmly in place with a folded dish towel. Process until smooth, about 30 seconds.

4. Repeat blending and straining in Steps 2 and 3 with the second half of the watermelon and water.

3. Pour mixture into a fine-mesh strainer set over a pitcher. Use a rubber spatula to stir and press on watermelon bits to get

5. Add lime juice, honey and salt to the pitcher. Use a rubber spatula to stir until well combined. 6. To serve, place ice in glasses and pour agua fresca over ice. Add a lime wedge and mint (if using) to each glass.

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

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WOOLWICH RESIDENTS SUPPORT FUND: RESPONDING TO FINANCIAL NEEDS DUE TO COVID-19

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ↆ The Community Events Calendar is reserved for non-profit local events that are offered free to the public. Placement is not guaranteed. Registrations, corporate events, open houses and similar events do not qualify for free advertising. See complete policy online. All submissions are to be made online at observerxtra.com/event-listing/.

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Fund Review Committee: Kelly Christie – Executive Director, Woolwich Community Services Cathy Harrington – Executive Director, Community Care Concepts

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On April 4, 2020, Woolwich Mayor Sandy Shantz launched the Woolwich Residents Support Fund (WRSF) on behalf of Woolwich Township Council. The WRSF will initially address the anticipated unprecedented needs that many Woolwich residents will experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the WRSF will continue to address ongoing needs experienced by Woolwich residents long after the pandemic has ended. In general, the fund will provide one-time financial support to an applicant. However, we realize that no two cases are the same. Unique situations may require further support that otherwise would not be accessible for the ongoing needs of the individual. Prior to an applicant drawing from the WRSF, the Fund Review Committee will access other community services and funds that may be able to support and/or provide for the individual. While eligibility practices and an application process are in place, it should be noted that in unique, complex, crisis and acute circumstances funds may be provided at the discretion of the Fund Review Committee, assuming the core criteria of the fund are met. “What a great example of the barn-raising spirit that has always existed in Woolwich,” said Mayor Shantz about the Fund during her video announcement on what would have been the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival day.

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healthywoolwich.org

Playtime Word of the Week

Find-A-Word

NONPAREIL

& 2 / / , ( 5 8 *

Having no equal

Mini-Word

ACROSS 1. Served in

DOWN 1. Soft tissues 2. Abate 3. Ancient Greek

blazing liquor 7. Multitude 8. Series of islets 9. News office 10. Lean

Sudoku

marketplace 4. Distance runner 5. Gauchos' weapons 6. Arise

EASY

Sudoku

HARD

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, May 19, 2022 | 26

If your company would like to sponsor this page, please contact The Observer at 519-669-5790 ext.104 Or email donna@woolwichobserver.com

6 + ; 3 / $ , . $

7 2 , 2 < 5 $ & +

+ 8 3 + 0 5 & ( %

8 Letters 1 Word

THEME: DOGS

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BANDOG

CORGI

LAIKA

PUG

SPITZ

BOXER

CUR

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PUP

ST. HUBERT

CAIRN

DEMI-WOLF

NUNX

PYRAME

TIKE

CHIHUAHUA

DHOLE

PEKE

RACH

TURNSPIT

CHOW

HOUND

POINTER

RUG

TYKE

COLLIE

HUSKY

POM

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WHELP

SOLUTION:

Figure out the mystery letters to complete this eight-letter word reading clockwise or counterclockwise.

Crossword

commercially 38. Least abundant 42. ___-tzu 43. Shrewd and wary 45. Before, in poetry 46. Bikini, e.g. 48. Humorous law of promotion 52. Lion of God 53. ___ canal 54. Code name 57. Bus. school admissions test 59. "___ fair in love and war" 63. E. M. Forster novel 66. Opening time,

to the French 3. Bed board 4. Thin and slippery 5. Rapper Dr. ___ 6. Small-time dictator 7. "___ does it!" 8. Beat in competition 9. French soul

67. Film 68. Settles 69. Bless 70. Turn bad 71. "Soap" family

way (British slang)

6. Ancient colonnade 10. Pottery 14. Mosaic artist 15. Extremely busy 16. Mideast's Gulf of ___ 17. Sells buildings 20. Like JFK 21. Crumbs 22. Charges 23. Latin pronoun. 25. Normandy city 27. Unfinished 33. Jazz pianist 34. Celestial altar 35. Pro ___ 37. Motor suffix,

2. It means nothing

maybe

ACROSS 1. Behave in a stupid

DOWN 1. Abruzzi bell town

10. City in Oklahoma 11. Cool drinks 12. Regular payment 13. Tolkien creatures 18. Ans. 19. Maple genus 24. Old Irish fort 26. "What ___!" 27. "___ next?"

$'9$1&( 32//6

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AD SPOT - NON PRINTING

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28. Prepare for a

bodybuilding contest 29. Biochemical enzyme, briefly 30. Harder to find 31. Name for Shropshire 32. Drag one's feet 36. Not at all, in Oahu 39. "Frasier" actress Gilpin 40. Bit of keyboard dazzle 41. ___ Bell 44. Nine-time presidential candidate Harold 47. Largest moon of Uranus 49. "___ Tu" (1973 Spanish-language hit song) 50. More incensed 51. The back (Combining form) 54. Staffs 55. Suffix meaning "vision" 56. Doctor Who villainess, with "the" 58. Remote control button 60. Pasta-related term that translates to "to the tooth" 61. Similar 62. Back talk 64. Coolers, briefly 65. Believer's suffix

Thursday, May 19 2022 | THE OBSERVER

L I V I N G H E R E | 27

VOLUNTEERISM: Going beyond the leadership program → FROM 24

a group of volunteers who fundraise, try to create as many opportunities as possible for the residents to do with their families, and to help new residents transition smoothly into the home Brezynskie will graduate this year, but he hopes the intergenerational program and partnership between

Barnswallow Place and Elmira’s high school students will continue and grow stronger. “My hope is that it can last for years and years and years at the high school, and that there’s always a steady flow of students that want to get in, and want to get involved and do something in the community, whether it is

like a pen pal thing like I did, or even if it’s just going in and being a friend with someone in the home. I think it could become some sort of a club.” He encourages the wider community to get active, too. “Get involved, don’t be afraid to get yourself out there and lend a helping hand. Extend your reach.”

MAYO CLINIC: Watch for the warning signs of vaping → MAYO 27

them due to the difficulty in correctly identifying what they inhaled, especially when they are intubated or unconscious. The length of time spent vaping can be much longer than smoking a standard cigarette. While most cigarettes are smoked within two to five minutes, e-cigarettes can last up to 20 minutes, delivering more nicotine and damaging chemicals to the lungs. In addition, some vaping mixtures can contain 20 times the nicotine that a single cigarette contains. Nicotine also can affect concentration and brain development, according to information and data from a new report from the surgeon general. And nico-

tine use in young adults still can lead to other illicit substance use. Talk with your kids about the dangers of vaping and look for warning signs, including:  Changes in emotions.  Trouble sleeping.  Scents of fruity odours on skin, breath and clothes.  Strange cylinders, chargers or batteries lying around. Remember, it's important to have conversations rather than suspicion and accusations. Encourage your teen to look into the warnings and media stories related to vaping, or reach out to his or her primary care provider with questions. Many providers ask their patients about

alcohol, drug use and smoking, yet forget to ask about vaping. Project for Teens is an example of a local outreach program that provides support and education on the dangers of vaping. Similar programs may be available in your area. Resources are available to help teens quit through the American Lung Association and SmokeFreeTeen. It's up to everyone to work together as a community to stop the youngest members of our population from starting or continually using vaping products.

Community Care Concepts of Woolwich, Wellesley and Wilmot

Helping Seniors and Adults with Disabilities to Live Independently in Their Own Home Meals on Wheels • Transportation Day Programs • Homemakers • Maintenance Friendly Visitors • Community Meals • Social Programs Transportation from Hospital to Home FREE Community Exercise and Falls Prevention Classes FREE Short Term Home Support For information, services or support contact Community Care Concepts

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

519-664-1900

1-855-664-1900

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ONLY these plastic bags & outer wrap

Recycle ONLY these plastic bags

Cash and cheque payments only. ATM on site.

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Paper and Plastic Bags

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Open Mon. to Fri. 9am to 7pm Sat. 9am to 6pm • Closed Sundays

28 | T H E B A C K PA G E

Strategies for coping with grief

s the days turn sunnier, the topic of grief may be far from our thoughts. Yet, grief touches all our lives at some point. Grief is a normal and natural reaction to a loss. This loss can take many forms. The death of someone in the family, a friend, or a beloved community member can be particularly devastating. Grief can also stem from loss of health, struggles with work or studies, or coping with new stages of life or changes in life circumstances. A grieving person may find it hard to focus on tasks, may withdraw from family, friends, and social occasions, may have decreased appetite, and may sleep less or more. They may feel sadness, anger, guilt, fear, and a range of emotions in between. Processing grief is often intensely personal. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. There is no defined start or end to this journey. But is also doesn’t mean it has to be debilitating to our lives in the long run – there are ways to cope that will help one adjust to the new reality. Be open to your feelings. Feeling angry, hurt,

▢ Your Mental Wellbeing Woolwich Counselling Centre

confused, sad, guilty, or scared is very uncomfortable. It is understandable that many of us prefer to avoid feeling that way. Bottling up intense feelings can make them worse over time. While it can be painful in the short term, it is healthier to be open to our feelings during a time of mourning. Understanding and acknowledging that a range of feelings are associated with grief is helpful to processing. Feelings of grief come in waves. Grief takes time. Be gentle and patient with yourself. Know that is okay and healthy to laugh. Look for ways to find meaning – individually and together. Taking time to recognize and mark the event can be helpful to the healing process. This can be in the form of a spiritual, religious or community ceremony to celebrate the life of an individual or the impact they had. Doing an activity or having a physical reminder can also be restorative, such as planting a tree or garden, creating artwork, or devel-

oping a memento. Take care of basic needs. Nutritious food, adequate sleep, and fresh air can all go a long way in helping you cope well with overwhelming emotions. Remember that making space for self-care is not selfish. Lean on family, friends, or community support groups. When you are ready, opening up to a select few trusted loved ones can help you feel supported during a difficult time. Support groups, both in person and online, can help you feel less alone and can give you access to helpful mental health resources. This can be particularly helpful during birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and other occasions which can trigger painful emotions. Over time, the once intense feelings will diminish in severity. If you think you may need a little more support, reach out to your family doctor or a mental health professional for guidance. You are not alone.

THE OBSERVER | Thursday, May 19, 2022

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