November 17, 2022

Church

Gerber Observer Staff

THERE IS A COLLECTIVE

SIGH of relief in Elmira. After months of being closed for construction, Church Street East opened again last week to cheers from residents, businesses and commuters alike.

Getting around the closed

section of Church Street East was something of a pain, as drivers had to navigate narrow roads and heavy traffic includ ing 18-wheelers, gravel trucks, horse-drawn buggies, farm equipment, motorcycles and anything else on the road.

Businesses in the closed section of Church Street also had trouble as customers couldn’t

access their storefronts easily.

Brendan Davidson owns Green Valley Health and Herbs, which faces Church Street. “Having the street closed has impacted sales but not to the extent we were expecting. We are lucky to have really dedicated customers that went through the hassle of getting to us the whole time the street was closed. We were also

fortunate to have a back door. We had to build a wall to make sure no one would fall down the basement stairs, but it gave customers a way to access us while sidewalks were closed,” he said.

Davidson says he plans to hold a sale on December 1 to “say thank you to everyone who took the time to find their way here

the last five months.”

Residents on nearby streets such as Riverside Drive or Duke Street also had a tough time as more people used their road as a through-way.

Kathy Beisel lives on Duke Street and says her household was negatively impacted by the closure of Church Street East.

Leah

The driver of a pickup truck suffered only minor injuries in a collision Tuesday around 7:20 a.m. at the round about near St. Jacobs. The southbound lanes of Arthur Street were closed at Scotch Line Road until just after 11 a.m. Waterloo Regional Police say the investigation is ongoing. Joe Merlihan

News tips are always welcome.

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Labour woes continue From the archives

The union representing 55,000 Ontario education workers on Wednesday gave the required five days’ notice that strike action is possible. The move comes after the province repealed Bill 28 and CUPE members stopped the striking made illegal by the act. New strike action could come as early as Monday.

Displaced by the pending light rail transit scheme, the Waterloo Central Rail¬way will get $150,000 from the regional government to help reorganize the operation of its popular tourist train based in St. Jacobs. WCR will use the money to establish a new location on Northfield Drive, near the Conestogo Parkway. From the Nov. 16, 2013 edition of The Observer

Greenbelt supporters protest at MPP’s office

Gerber Observer Staff

Two weeks ago it was education workers picketing outside the Elmira office of MPP Mike Harris. On Wednesday, the people gathered out in front were protesting the Ford government’s plans to alter the Greenbelt.

Some 30 people rallied at the location to air concerns about recent government proposals to allow development in the Greenbelt, the protected area of green space, farms, forests and other land surrounding the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Other groups of protestors were scheduled to gather at the same time in Fergus and Brantford as well.

“Local citizens and community groups are outraged at the provincial government for announcing Bill 23 with its many troubling provisions such as taking away public notice, public meetings, the right to appeal, etc.,” said Kevin Thomason, a spokesperson for the Greenbelt West Coalition and local environmental advocate.

“It is undemocratic and

not reflective of Canadian values. Additionally, we are enraged at the government opening up the Greenbelt and taking away planning authority from upper tier municipalities. All of our environmental protections, source water protections and sustainability plans for the future are under threat by this attack on regional official plans.”

Alba Moore, 11, joined the protest. “I feel bad for all the animals whose homes he (Doug Ford) is destroying to make homes for people,” she said.

Corina McDonald was with Moore. “I’m incredibly disappointed with the conservative government and these bills that are coming out that are destroying the future of our communities without allowing us to speak to them,” she said.

Dorothy Wilson also came to the protest. “I am so upset about Bill 23 and the province’s plan to take away land from the Greenbelt,” she said. “I feel it’s going to seriously compromise the future for my grandchildren.”

The province’s justification for removing areas

of the Greenbelt includes a previous proposal to expand the greenbelt into the Paris Galt Moraine area.

However, volunteers with local advocate group the Greenbelt West Coalition say they’ve crunched the numbers and that if allowed, the proposal would result in a net loss of more than 400 acres to the Greenbelt. This is because they say the urban river valleys included in the government’s proposal to add to the Greenbelt are already protected spaces.

The stipulations of the proposal include that the landowners of these pieces of former Greenbelt land would need to have significant progress on housing developments by 2031, otherwise, “If these conditions are not met, the government will begin the process to return the properties back to the Greenbelt,” according to provincial announcements.

Bill 23 is far-reaching, having an impact on many pieces of legislation at once, and takes authority away from upper-tier municipalities in deci-

Elmira Maple Syrup Festival to return to full, in-person event

A HARBINGER OF SPRING DISRUPTED by the pandemic for its last three outings, the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival will return to in-person activities when April rolls around.

“We’re planning to resume back to our original festival, the way

it would be presented before the pandemic, and we’re optimistic that we will be able to do that because there have been other similar festivals and events that have been taking place in the last six [to] eight months that would indicate we’d be able to do the same,” said Matt Jessop with the EMSF organizing committee, which met last week.

Festival day has been set for April 1.

“We’re, of course, very excited to get back to in-person events. I think that people have been really missing that opportunity. It’s one of the hallmarks of spring, and not being able to host the festival for the community has been missed,” Jessop said.

The event was

cancelled in 2020, while the 2021 edition was 100 per cent virtual. The 2022 festival was a modified in-person event, put on in conjunction with Rural Roots Brewing. Not being able to have a full event has impacted the support the festival provides to organizations in the community, including donations.

“Bringing the festi-

val back in person is finally a chance for us to continue to do that. We have been able to support our stakeholders and donate money throughout the pandemic with huge support from our sponsors. However, we’re hoping that we can do more of that now that we can have the festival back,” he said.

The committee is also

looking for more volunteers, Jessop added.

“We have had a hard time retaining committee members because we’re an organization that’s here to host the maple syrup festival. In the last few years we haven’t been able to actually host the festival, therefore we’ve had a little bit of difficulty retaining committee

If it matters to you. It matters to us.

Bill Atwood Observer Staff

Leah

→ GREENBELT 4

Opponents of Bill 23 brought their message, including support for the Greenbelt, to Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris’ Elmira constituency office on Wednesday morning. Leah Gerber

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sion-making, among other major changes such as what conservation authorities are allowed to protect, and the legal plan ning process for decisions about where development can go.

Thomason says the government’s propos als will have a drastic impact on everyday life in Ontario.

“This is going to dramat ically increase taxes, reduce efficiency, pit municipalities against each other, and have developers deciding our future instead of our elected officials. Forcing such massive amounts of urban sprawl while gutting our conservation author ities even further will completely destroy any hope we have of meeting climate change targets.”

The proposal summary for the government’s Greenbelt expansion says that Ontario is expected to grow by more than two million people by 2031.

“To accommodate that growth and support the building of more homes, our government is propos ing to remove or redes ignate 15 areas of land totaling approximately 7,400 acres from the edge of the Greenbelt Area that are serviced or adjacent to services and will be used to build housing in the near term,” the govern ment said in a release.

“If this proposal is adopted, it would result in the construction of approximately 50,000 or more new homes in the Greater Golden Horse shoe.”

CHURCH STREET: Next year’s work on road should be less disruptive

“Our lives were disrupted in a major way. The noise from the increased traffic was overwhelming at certain times of the day and the rest of the day and evening there was a steady stream of cars, trucks, motorcycles and farm implements. A lot of the trucks used their engine brakes and quite a few of the motorcycles and cars have very loud exhaust systems on their vehicles. Add to that the construction equipment. The noise was so loud, sometimes we couldn’t have a conversation outside. There was a lot of dirt collecting on our house and cars from the traffic on Duke Street. We have been residents of Elmira for 70 years and I haven’t felt so disrespected as citizens of this town.

“Now, they are telling us that next year they will be working on the other section of Church Street East and Duke Street will probably be done after that. How much do they think we can take? The

truck route [bypass] should be put in first and we hope that council will push the region to start working on this immediately,” she said.

Nicholas Bauman lives on Riverside Drive, another road used by motorists to avoid the Church street construct and access Arthur Street.

“I have noticed a signif icant decrease in the level of traffic since the reopen ing. It’s been a nice change versus during construc tion,” he said.

The first stage of the reconstruction project was completed between the township and the region.

The township handled new sanitary, cellar drain and watermain replace ment. The region recon structed the full road, replaced the storm sewers, curb and sidewalk. New westbound and eastbound turn lanes were also added where Church Street inter sects with Arthur Street.

The road is open, but there are still a few final details to be completed, says Boris Latkovic, the

project manager for the region’s portion of the project.

“Work planned for this year has almost been completed. Minor boulevard work and cleanup activities remain but we expect this to be completed in late Novem ber or early December.

The road was opened on November 9. Generally, the project is on schedule and will be completed within the planned timeframe,” he said.

Once these last details are complete, it will mark the end of the first phase of work on Church Street.

However, next summer more work is planned for the road.

“It is anticipated that the second phase of Church Street East from Duke Street to the Settlement Boundary will occur in 2023, pending council approvals. This is to be confirmed by the Region of Waterloo,” said Jared Puppe, the township’s director of infrastructure services. He added that the remaining work will not

require a road closure. The total tendered cost of the Church Street East project is approximately $2.6 million, said Latkovic. He said the township’s share is approximately 53 per cent.

Other upcoming nearby construction projects include the Duke Street reconstruction and Barn swallow Drive reconstruc tion, which will be led by the township.

The region will be leading Arthur Street reconstruction and Church street West reconstruction.

Latkovic says at this time, Arthur Street from South Street to Kenning Place is scheduled for 2023-24 and Church Street West from Arthur Street to Weigel Avenue is scheduled for 2025. However, “the proposed timing of these two projects is likely to change to better align with upcoming regional and township projects in the area. We will have updates available on the proposed timing once the 2023 trans portation capital program is approved by council.”

Councillors’ plan for lifetime benefits comes under fire

Kannon Observer Staff

A BID TO EXTEND LIFETIME benefits to outgoing Region of Water loo councillors seems destined to have a short lifespan of its own.

Coun. Michael Harris says he plans to push for council to reverse last week’s decision that provides current benefits – life insurance, health, dental and out of prov ince expenses – to elected officials who’ve served at least four years. The coverage would kick in at age 55.

On his Twitter feed, Harris said “voting for this was a mistake and the motion should have failed,” indicating he’d be issuing a notice of motion to rescind the plan. Wellesley Mayor Joe Nowak said he would second the motion.

Harris and Nowak are the two returning members of regional council who voted in favour of the plan Novem ber 8. Both have since changed their stances.

“The motion that Mike’s putting forward is very straightforward. There are no ifs, buts,

ands or whereas about it. It’s just ‘let’s cancel this report and move forward,’ basically,” said Nowak in an interview this week.

“The process has always been to have a citizen-type committee coming back to coun cil with some sort of a recommendation with regard to benefits and remuneration. We haven’t done that.”

The plan would see taxpayers continue to foot the bill – currently $2,400 per year for a single person up to $6,720 for a family plan – for the lifetime of departing councillors.

News of the last-min ute decision – the topic wasn’t part of the original agenda for the November 8 meeting, but added to a later revision – prompted a public backlash. The parting gift for council lors passed 9-7, with most of the support coming from outgoing members of council. Returning members such as Chair Karen Redman and Wool wich Mayor Sandy Shantz voted against the plan.

“The process, it wasn’t really handled in terms of how we normally would do things for remuner

ation of councils,” said Shantz of voting against the plan, noting the lack of public input.

“I’m not sure if my deci sion would be different, but I would think about it differently had a citizens’ committee come back to us and said ‘we think you guys should provide this for retiring councillors.’ It would have been a whole different perspective.”

Despite bypassing the usual public process, the majority of councillors nonetheless voted for the extension of benefits, offering up a range of justifications.

Sean Strickland, a departing regional coun cillor representing Water loo, led the charge, noting that other municipalities have similar arrange ments and pointing to the options for provincial and federal politicians.

“This isn’t something that’s outside of the norm when it comes to elected officials, the continuation of benefits,” he said at the November 8 meeting.

Strickland argued the lame-duck provisions that prevents the outgo ing council from making spending decisions over $50,000 appear to be

something of a grey area in this instance.

He also cited pay raises nearby Guelph council lors gave themselves as a mitigating factor.

“I’d also like to point out when we’re doing this kind of environmental scan that our colleagues in Guelph just recently voted themselves a 25 per cent pay increase. That’s not something that we’re considering. We’re considering putting something into place to look after the health and welfare of our fellow councillors past their service time, past the age of 55.”

Outgoing Cambridge Mayor Kathryn McGarry stressed the demands put on public officials, noting she’s paid much less than the municipal staffers with whom she works.

“I think it’s time that we properly remunerate our politicians, that we give them some dignity at the end of their career and look to what they’ve given up in order to step forward to do a life of public service,” she argued in support of the benefits plan.

While acknowledg

Steve

GREENBELT: Opponents see many pitfalls ahead if changes persist

Pushing for removal of hotspots along creek

Gerber Observer Staff

Having Lanxess clean up contamination hotspots along the Cana gagigue Creek remains a pressing issue for Wool wich’s Technical Advi sory Group, which again stressed its desire at a meeting last week.

TAG members also agreed to push for the Elmira chemical plant operator to create a moni toring program to see if hotspots re-collect in the creek after they’ve been removed.

The Technical Advisory Group is a body of experts formed to review the remediation process of Lanxess and offer advice to township council.

The hotspots are areas of extraordinarily high levels of contamination in the creek.

“TAG has already requested ‘hotspot’ removal in our comments on the draft human health and environmental risk

assessment, this is not new based on last night’s discussion,” said Tiffany Svensson, the group’s chair, following the November 10 meeting.

“What we said last night was that we will continue to pursue this request. We also said that whatever additional remedial steps may be completed by Lanxess, TAG agrees that ongoing monitoring needs to remain in place.”

Susan Bryant, a long time environmental advocate and member of TAG, has been involved with monitoring the cleanup as a citizen since a plume of contamination in an aquifer under Elmira – formerly the source of the town’s drinking water – was first discovered in 1989. She says removing the hotspots is a very important target that continues to be ignored.

“I just don’t get it. That you can have hotspots that are orders of magnitude higher than any regulated standard… how can you

just leave them there?” she said.

“When there are so few of them, when they are accessible, they’re in

Kiwanis Club of Elmira collecting donations for food bank this weekend

WITH THE HOLIDAY

SEASON GETTING into higher gear, it’s that time when the Kiwanis Club of Elmira is again raising funds for the Woolwich Community Services food bank.

Known for the last two years as the Non-food Food Drive, the annual fundraiser has been rebranded as the Commu nity Food Fund Drive this time around.

Tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday will see Kiwanis members team up with other clubs in Woolwich to run donation-receiving tables at several locations in the community.

The club made a switch away from the traditional collecting of non-perish able food items during the pandemic, discovering the monetary donations turned out to be a better option, said member Wayne Vanwyck.

“In the past we collected 30,000 pounds of food plus donations, but because of the COVID pandemic and people being more concerned about being in contact with others, it was decided that there must be a better way. Actually, it’s worked out really well because the other thing that happened in the past is people would give food that was stale dated and sometimes you would get food that was

three or four years past the best before date,” he explained

“Everything had to be searched through to make sure that it was safe to be used, and a lot of stuff ended up getting thrown out. So this is actually much better,” said Vanwyck.

Last year saw the Kiwanis drive collect more than $37,500, which helped support some 500 people in 180 families. This year they are aiming to raise $40,000.

The donation drive is all about neighbours helping neighbours, which is even more important given today’s inflationary pres sures, Vanwyck added.

“With all the new people

in the community…. I know that there are people out there that are hurting – and those are the ones we want to help – but there are a lot of people who are doing very well, so we can tap into that as well. The price of groceries has gone sky high.”

Donation tables will be set up at locations such as Foodland, Food Basics, Kitchen Kuttings, Shoppers Drug Mart, the Home Hardware locations in Elmira and St. Jacobs and Harvest Moon in St. Jacobs. The club will also be collecting during the Sugar Kings’ home game on Sunday (November 20). A tax receipt will be provided for any donation over $10.

ment, which has been submitted to Ministry of Environment, Conser vation and Parks, and is undergoing the review

process, indicates that there are no unaccept able human-health risks, including from so-called hotspots. However, as the company has stated previously, Lanxess will clean-up any and all areas identified as posing an unacceptable risk,” said Michael Mackin, a spokesperson for the company, in an email to The Observer.

Bryant says a monitor ing program is critical because the contaminated soil will continue to erode into the creek indefinitely.

“Everybody knows that there’s going to be ongo ing deposition of DDTs and dioxins downstream of the plant. That’s never going to stop,” she said.

“I think we need a better estimate of how much is coming off, and how fast it’s coming off. I think that’s hard to get, but we haven’t got any informa tion on that. And closely look at the source areas.”

Then, Bryant says moni

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members.

“Now that we’re back, we really are hoping and seeking out a couple very motivated and commu nity-minded individuals that would join us and we hope that what we will be able to do is come back with the maple syrup festival this year in-per son better than ever,” Jessop added.

Those interested in volunteering can visit www.elmiramaplesyrup. com, where a list of the volunteer positions will be posted at a later date.

“There are 2,000 volun teers that have in some way something to do with the festival so it’s a big combined effort that’s sure,” Jessop said of the work that is put into plan ning the one-day event.

Leah

TAG member Susan Bryant says Lanxess must address hotspots in the Canagagigue Creek. File photo

shallow water or bank soil so that’s not hard to get to. That doesn’t compute for me at all.”

“The draft risk assess

Sandra Kendall and Janet Morlock during the Kiwanis Club’s 2021 Non-Food Food Drive. Submitted

Bill Atwood

Observer Staff

EMSF: Looking to get back on track

Holiday season means it’s time for a RIDE

With the holiday season comes the annual “Festive RIDE” program, which kicked off this week and runs through Jan. 2. Drivers can expect to encounter stops.

In a release, police remind motorists that officers regularly

NOVEMBER 10

5 : 00 PM | Emergency responders converged on the scene of a fatal farm accident involving a tractor at an address on Perth Line 43 in the Township of Perth East. The investigation found that an individual was working on a tractor when another tractor rolled back against the other. As a result, an 88-yearold man suffered serious life-threatening injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Perth County OPP are continuing to investigate the incident. The ministry of Labour was also notified.

NOVEMBER 11

7 : 50 AM | Waterloo Regional Police were contacted regarding theft of items from a vehicle in Elmira. At around 2 a.m. that day, an unknown suspect broke into a vehicle parked at a business on First Street East, smashing the rear side passenger window and stealing property. The suspect is described as wearing a grey toque, grey jacket and blue pants, and was seen riding a bicycle. Anyone with information is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.

conduct mandatory alcohol screening (MAS) with drivers who are lawfully pulled over and they will be ramping up that investigative measure, including RIDE stops, throughout the campaign. Heading into the fifth year under the

9 : 48 PM | Police received a report of a vehicle being driven dangerously in a parking lot on Snyders Flats Road in Bloomingdale. The complainant also thought they heard what may have been gunshots or the vehicle backfiring exhaust. The vehicle was gone upon arrival of police and no evidence of gunshots was located. Anyone with information is encouraged to call police or Crime Stoppers.

NOVEMBER 12

9 : 23 AM | Police received a report of a theft from a vehicle in Heidelberg. Sometime between 6 : 30 p.m. on Nov. 11 and 8 a.m. on Nov. 12, an unknown suspect(s) entered an unlocked vehicle parked in a driveway on Venus Crescent and stole personal property. Anyone with information is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.

9 : 32 AM | Police were notified of a theft from a vehicle in New Hamburg. Sometime in the previous day, an unknown suspect(s) smashed the front driver’s side window of a vehicle parked in a driveway on Hostetler Road and

MAS law, an officer with an approved alcohol screening device can demand a breath sample from any driver without having a reasonable suspicion that they have alcohol in their body.

Under impaired driving laws, the police can also

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

9 : 54 AM | Police received a report of a break and enter to a garage in Wellesley Township. Sometime between 10 p.m. on Nov. 11 and 9 a.m. on Nov. 12, an unknown suspect(s) entered an unlocked vehicle parked in a residential driveway on Lobsinger Line and stole personal property, including a garage door opener. The suspect(s) then used the opener to open the garage door to a home, but no property was taken. Anyone with information is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.

10 : 56 AM | Police received another report of a theft from a vehicle parked on Hostetler Road in New Hamburg. Sometime between 2 : 30 a.m. and the time of the report, an unknown suspect(s) smashed a passenger side window of a vehicle parked in a driveway on Hostetler Road and stole personal property. Anyone with information is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.

demand that a driver submit to a standardized field sobriety test (SFST) and a drug recognition expert (DRE) evaluation.

SFST- trained officers and DREs have the expertise to detect impairment by alcohol, drugs, or both in a driver.

NOVEMBER 14

10:19 AM | Police were notified of an attempted theft from a vehicle in Conestogo. Sometime during the week of Nov. 7, an unknown suspect(s) entered a vehicle parked in a driveway on Golf Course Road. No items were stolen. Anyone with information is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.

11 : 43 PM | Police received a report of a single-vehicle collision in Woolwich Township. A grey Dodge was travelling north on Arthur Street South near Sawmill Road when a deer ran across the road and was struck by the vehicle.

NOVEMBER 15

10:07 AM | A barricaded incident in Milverton eventually ended peacefully, with a suspect in custody facing criminal charges. Members of the Perth County OPP, along with the assistance of West Region OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT), West Region Canine, West Region Tactics & Rescue Unit (TRU) and crisis negotiators attended the scene on Pacific Avenue, which remained closed until the issue was resolved about 3:30 p.m.

ing the plan would be boon for herself and other councillors, North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton said it would be hard to justify the taxpayer expense.

“How many [people] get benefits for life? How do I justify it for me when I can’t justify it for the public?” she asked her colleagues before ultimately voting against it.

Harris’ motion to reconsider could be presented as early as November 23, the inaugural session of the new council.

“That’ll hopefully be the end of that discussion for a while, anyway,” said Nowak. “The new council may want to look into it with a citizens’ committee – I don’t know whether that’ll happen, but it might be a wise idea at some point. It doesn’t have to be right away, but at some point.

Shantz had much the same sentiment.

“I would like to see the whole idea of council compensation go to the citizens’ committee, as it should, then come back to council and then address it.”

toring is needed to keep track of the contaminated sediment to see “where this stuff lodges itself as it goes downstream.”

“Lanxess conducts significant ongoing monitoring related to the legacy environmental issues. The company will meet all MECP monitoring requirements, as well as any monitoring efforts deemed necessary based on the outcome of the risk assessment,” Mackin said.

The determination of whether or not the hotspots will be cleaned up is part of the risk

assessment process for the Canagagigue Creek that Lanxess is undertaking.

Once finished, the document will be the final agreement between Lanxess and the provincial government, with input from experts on behalf of 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.

The province has not issued a control order to Lanxess to conduct the risk assessment.

LANXESS: Risk assessment will help determine if hotspots will be tackled

BENEFITS: New council expected to reverse course on controversial vote

Photo Stand outside Toy Soup

Santa is visiting St. Jacobs!

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New regional council must quickly reverse benefits grab

It was an unjustifiable move under any circumstance, but regional councillors looking to give themselves the parting gift of lifetime benefits also took the cake for brazen disregard of the public.

The attempt to extend current benefits – life insurance, healthcare coverage, dental and out of province expenses –for life to outgoing councillors was wrong in tone, timing and transparency.

The effort is likely to be reversed, but the true colours of some of them has already been exposed.

While serving on regional council, elected officials are extended benefits paid for entirely by taxpayers to the tune of $2,400 per year for a single person to $6,720 for a family plan. As with employees, they have the option of continuing the plan after leaving council, though at their own expense.

The paid-for benefits are a perquisite that already outstrips what many private-sector workers enjoy. Many have no benefits at all, and most of those with workplace plans pay part of the premiums themselves, as employer contributions can be as little as 25 per cent.

The plan would be available to any councillor having served at least one four-year term at 55 years of age.

In a late addition to a November 8 meeting agenda, the idea of extending those taxpayer-funded benefits for life was quickly embraced by the majority of councillors. The vote was 9-7, and two of those who voted for it have since changed their minds. It shouldn’t be lost on the public that the biggest push came from council members who aren’t returning to the next session.

That the move was made without even an attempt at transparency was an immediate red flag. Typically, councillors angling for a pay raise, for instance, go through a public process with a citizen-led committee that provides at least the veneer of accountability. Moreover, the increases are usually applied to the next term of council, giving the public a chance to literally vote on the matter: excessive raises could be overturned by electing someone else to occupy the chair.

That format means that current councillors aren’t necessarily going to benefit from the changes, as they may not seek re-election or may not win during the next trip to the polls.

With the sudden generosity after October’s election and before the end of term, councillors were giving themselves a nice sendoff. That was particularly true of those who won’t be returning in the next session. Not surprisingly, they were among the most vocal in support of the idea.

Last week’s meeting was also eye-opening in its tone, as supporters of ongoing support from taxpayers painted themselves as underappreciated, overworked and underpaid. Entitlement is the word that comes to mind. It’s a word that does not suggest public service and sacrifice for the general good. Rather, it evokes images of royalty and privilege, people who seem to feel they’re owed something by everybody else.

In real terms, the money paid to councillors is a small portion of the overall budget. Nor are they massively overpaid for what they do. The money they receive is essentially an honourarium. Theirs is not a job per se – it is supposed to be a public calling for which they receive a stipend. Still, they have to lead by example, and that will mean freezes or very modest increases in line with what we’ve seen in the private sector.

That some councillors were angling for more from the public at a time when the region is floating trial balloons about double-digit tax increases due to inflation makes the timing even worse.

At a time when regional council needs to be pushing for internal spending cuts to keep tax increases minimal, councillors looking out for their own interests lose credibility. There’s no moral high ground at the trough.

What’s the next step for Ukraine?

The recovery of the city of Kherson is the third big victory for the Ukrainian armed forces in three months: first, the re-conquest of all of Kharkiv Oblast (province) in September, then the partial destruction of the Kerch Strait bridge linking Crimea with Russia in October, and now the liberation of Kherson. So where next?

The decisive factor in shaping this war has been the relatively small numbers of troops engaged on either side. When the Nazi and Soviet armies were waging their titanic battles back and forth across Ukraine in 1941-43, there were several million soldiers fighting on each side, with tanks, planes and artillery to match.

Once a breakthrough occurred, in those conditions, the front could move hundreds of kilometres before it settled down again. Many cities changed hands not once or twice but four times. This time around, it’s very different: the armies have got small again.

The Russians invaded last February with fewer than 200,000 men. Even now, after considerable reinforcements but also large losses, their army in Ukraine is 250,000 at most. Ukraine’s army has grown at least as fast, but from a much lower starting point, and probably now has about the same

number at the front.

The problem is that the ‘front,’ the line of contact between Ukrainian and Russian troops, is about one thousand kilometres long. That means that each side has an average of only 250 soldiers per kilometre, or one for every four metres.

In reality, more than half these soldiers will be behind the front manning artillery, driving trucks with supplies, staffing field hospitals and so on, so the men at the actual line of contact are spread out to around one every ten metres.

Allowing for the fact that the Ukrainian front was actually much shorter for most of the Second World War – it was usually a relatively straight line, not drawn out in a great U-shaped curve like the current line of contact – we can safely say that the density of manpower per kilometre of front was ten times higher then than it is now.

This has major implications for the way the current war is fought. The front is manned so sparsely that it is fairly easy to get a breakthrough – but the attacking forces are also much smaller, so they can only hope

to hold the new ground they have gained if they stop their advance fairly soon.

We saw this factor in play in the Ukrainian northern offensive in September. They managed to lure a lot of Russian troops away by feigning a major offensive on Kherson (then still Russian-occupied) in the south, and their attack in the north took the Russians completely by surprise.

The Ukrainians quickly advanced about 75 kilometres on a broad front – and then they stopped, although the Russian troops in front of them were still fleeing. They were spreading themselves too thin, and making themselves too vulnerable to even a modest Russian counter-attack.

The great offensives of 1941-43 advanced hundreds of kilometres before they stopped, but those were different days. The Ukrainian army has the upper hand, but its offensives will continue to take modest bites out of the Russian positions rather than concluding in some dramatic and sweeping move that ends the Russian occupation.

So where will they attack next? Certainly not from newly liberated Kherson across the Dnipro river: it would cost too many lives to cross under fire.

...

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

“Wearing a mask is one of the most effective things you can do to protect yourself and the people around you. We strongly recommend people wear masks in public indoor spaces, especially when they are with children, the elderly or other vulnerable people.” Ontario Medical Association president Dr. Rose Zacharias joins in the call for a return to mask-wearing practices.

Some 49% of Canadians think Ottawa’s immigration plan will admit too many immigrants to Canada; 75% of Canadians are concerned the immigration plan will result in excessive demand for housing and health and social services.

Leger poll

ANALYSIS OF CURRENT WORLD EVENTS

GWYNNE DYER Global Outlook on World Affairs

Feeling a little less happy as time goes on? You’re not alone

If your house burns down, the costs involved in rebuilding it boost GDP, but you wouldn’t call it a positive experience.

The same is true, on a larger scale, of disas ters, both natural and manmade. Plenty of economic activity follows, but we’d rather it didn’t.

Still, the gross domestic product increases. And we’re told that’s a good indicator of growth and progress. Clearly, that’s not the whole picture, however, as studies about wellbeing and happiness demonstrate.

Such studies uncover troubling truths about the connection between our well-being and the econ omy, and beg the question: Are our governments truly responding to the needs and values of everyday Canadians? Clearly not.

Reports from the Cana dian Index of Wellbeing compiled at the University of Waterloo have found a growing gap, noting that in the 20-year period between 1994 and 2014, for instance, GDP grew by 38 per cent but our wellbeing rose by just 9.9 per cent.

Despite years of pros perity, our economic growth has not translated into similarly significant gains in our overall quality of life. Even more concern ing is the considerable backslide Canadians have experienced since the Great Recession of 2008.

“When Canadians go to bed at night, they are not worried about GDP. They are worried about stringing together enough hours of part-time jobs, rising tuition fees, and affordable housing. They are thinking about the last time they got together with friends or the next time they can take a vaca tion. Maybe that’s why we are getting less sleep than 21 years ago,” the CIW national report notes.

Such findings jibe with the likes of the Gallup survey of happiness and wellbeing, the latest of which found anger, stress, worry and sadness reached record highs in 2021.

Unhappiness has been increasing globally for a decade, according to Gallup, which notes the trend has been missed by almost every world leader. That's because while leaders pay close attention to measures like GDP or unemployment, almost none of them track their citizens’ wellbeing.

The implications of this blind spot are significant and far-reaching, says Gallup, noting leaders missed the citizen unhap piness that triggered events ranging from the

Arab uprisings to Brexit to the election of Donald Trump.

“We conventionally use GDP and other material measures to evaluate how nations are doing. But these are often deeply flawed measures of how actual people are experi encing their lives,” writes New York Times columnist David Brooks in a recent column looking at wellbe ing issues.

“Misery influences politics. James Carville famously said, ‘It’s the economy, stupid.’ But that’s too narrow. Often it’s human flourishing, stupid, including community cohesion, a sense of being respected, social connec tion. George Ward of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has argued that subjective measures of wellbeing are more predictive of some election outcomes than economic measures. Measures of

wellbeing dropped in Tunisia and Egypt before the Arab uprisings. Well being dropped in Britain before the Brexit vote. Counties in the United States that saw the largest gain in voting Republican for president between the 2012 election and Donald Trump’s election in 2016 were also the counties where people rated their lives the worst.”

Studies increasingly find that rising GDP doesn’t necessarily correlate with a better quality of life. Of course, GDP was not intended to be a measure of well-be ing. It doesn’t pick up on issues that are vitally important to the qual ity of our lives such as a clean environment, social cohesion or even how happy people are. It is not in itself a sufficient guide for modern policy making that covers social and environmental objectives.

This becomes a problem when GDP is used as a yardstick for progress.

GDP is the best known macro-economic measure of the performance of the market economy of a nation. Although by design and purpose it is not a welfare measure, it has also come to be regarded as a proxy indi cator for overall devel opment and progress in general. GDP does not, however, measure envi ronmental sustainability or social inclusion, and we’re coming to realize those limitations need to be taken into account if our economies are going to be organized to benefit the many instead of the few.

Being a monetary value measure, GDP therefore represents the part of the population's well-being that comes from consump tion of goods and services sold on established markets, but we know

now – or should know –that there’s more to a good society than is captured in that measure.

Even people who don’t bother with the numbers know how they feel about the conditions under which they live. And they’re generally less happy.

Those findings are in keeping with a growing number of reports show ing an erosion of our standard of living due to a longstanding attack on the middle class. The words fairness and equality are no longer applicable to what we consider the Canadian way of life.

Such feelings are in fact a global phenomenon, as seen in the Gallup survey that covers some 140 countries.

“Gallup asks people in this survey to rate their lives on a scale from zero to 10, with zero meaning you’re living your worst possible life and 10 mean ing you’re living your best. Sixteen years ago, only 1.6 per cent of people world wide rated their life as a zero. As of last year, the share of people reporting the worst possible lives has more than quadrupled. The unhappiest people are even unhappier. In 2006, the bottom fifth of the population gave themselves an average score of 2.5. Fifteen years later, that average score in the bottom quintile had dropped to 1.2,” says Brooks in his piece.

If misery levels keep rising, we can expect more civil unrest and associated populism, in the most negative way, he notes.

Brooks points to the fact that the Global Peace Index shows that civic discontent – riots, strikes, anti-government demon strations – increased by 244 per cent from 2011 to 2019.

→KANNON 10

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STEVE KANNON Editor's Point of View

Regional council is already reconsidering the "retirement" gift of free benefits for life ... and for good reason.

ↆ LAST WEEK:

Truth: President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11th as Veterans Day in 1954. In 1947 a WWII vet organized a National Veterans Day, which inspired a Kansas congressman to introduce a bill to change the name.

Truth: The Canadian Legion does stipulate this at legion.ca adding that a poppy should be stored or disposed of respectfully. Some place their poppy on the cenotaphy or a wreath as a sign of respect.

Lie: There are suggested ways to wear a poppy by the Canadian Legion but is ultimately a personal choice. There is debate about poppy etiquette among veterans, but the best way to wear it is “simply with pride.”

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.

→ FROM 9

“We live in a world of widening emotional inequality. The top 20 per cent of the world is experiencing the highest level of happiness and well-being since Gallup

began measuring these things. The bottom 20 per cent is experiencing the worst. It’s a fundamentally unjust and unstable situation. The emotional health of the world is shattering.”

→ FROM 8

The Russians have been adding fortifications on the eastern front in Donetsk and Luhansk for almost a decade, and an offensive there would also be a slow and painful business.

There may soon be a significant further Ukrainian advance in the far north of the line, building on the success of the September offensive, but that would probably be mainly an attempt to draw Russian forces north.

The next real strategic target for Ukraine will almost certainly be a drive from the region of Zaporizhzhiye south to the Black Sea coast. That would leave all the Russian forces in what’s left of Kherson province and Crimea totally dependent on supplies coming across

the badly damaged Kerch Strait Bridge from Russia. Starve them out, and Ukraine will have recovered almost all of its pre-February territory. That’s the point at which negotiations would finally become possible. Many different peace deals would then be available.

If the Russian army actually collapses – unlikely, but certainly imaginable – then the borders all go back to the pre-2014 map. If it’s still standing, then maybe Ukraine gives up the Donbas in return for recovering Crimea, or the other way around, or perhaps it has to accept merely to a return to the pre-February 2022 status quo.

The course of the fighting will decide which option actually materializes.

A low-fat diet will prevent heart disease.

Two Australians wanted to bring back into fashion the mustache which led to Movember.

Consuming 1 drinks or more per week doubles risk of type 2 diabetes in men.

DYER: State of any negotiations will depend on battlefront successes

KANNON: Growing level of misery is likely to foment much more unrest

News that hits home. Local people in action.

Sports tips are always welcome.

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com Team Scores: observerxtra.com/scores

Hard work paying off for EDSS tennis player

Bill Atwood Observer Staff

WITH THE PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS TO

look forward to, EDSS Grade 11 student Izzy Speiran can revel in two more milestones in her tennis career.

With her tournament win on October 17, she became the school’s first senior WCSSAA champion since 1997. October 28 saw Speiran win the regional championship, where she was crowned the top senior’s girl player in the Central Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association (CWOSSA).

“Pretty much anybody can go to WCSSAA, which is kind of nice, because you get a big range of experience and talent. And then CWOSSA… you’re getting the winners from all the different areas. That’s a little bit more challenging,” said Speiran

For Speiran, the two wins are the latest in a long line of success on the

court, including a junior WCSAA championship in Grade 10. She got into the sport when she was just three years old.

“I played at the Southampton Tennis Club when I was little. My dad wanted me to get into tennis, as well as my brother so we played a lot of sports growing up. I put a lot of work in, we were at the courts usually four or five days a week for practice. Especially over the summers, I play a lot of tennis,” she said.

The seniors division is much more difficult than the junior, Speiran stated.

“[It’s] pretty exciting, honestly. I’m looking forward to having a banner in the gym.”

While the CWOSSA final saw her defeat a friend from Preston High School who she has played twice before, Speiran is not using it as bragging rights.

EDSS teacher Dave Gartshore has coached Speiran for two seasons. He quickly saw the talent

→TENNIS 12

Now that the cold weather has finally arrived, new deer hunters might need a reminder on how to shiver correctly. As any veteran deer hunter can attest, this is one of the most important skills a hunter can have during the rifle hunt in November and later in the archery season as well.

If your shivering is off or sub-standard, it could ruin

Toronto FC fellowship

Toronto FC and BMO this week announced a Women in Soccer Fellowship. The fellowship will provide women unique on-the-job experience at Toronto FC, including coaching, scouting, player development, team services and medical, creating a pathway to increase the number of women in sport. Submissions for the eight-month fellowship are open from Nov. 15-29 at www.tfcwomeninsoccer.com.

B-ball streak ends at finals

After a perfect 10-0 season, the EDSS senior girls’ basketball team fell in the WCSSAA finals Tuesday afternoon to Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School. The game, hosted in Elmira, saw a final score of 42-33.

Lancers claim first WCSSAA junior football title for EDSS

Bill Atwood Observer Staff

THE EDSS JUNIOR FOOTBALL TEAM captured its first-ever WCSSAA championship November 11 with a 17-7 win over the Jacob Hespeler Hawks. The win ended a streak for the Hawks, who were the

six-time defending champions.

“They’re a phenomenal team, an absolutely incredible team. To beat them, that’s what makes it so great. When you beat a great team and you can kind of make the plays you know your guys can make,” said coach Alex Derma of the experience.

The Lancers, who finished the season 6-0, were ready to meet the challenge of playing the Hawks for the Waterloo County Secondary School Athletic Association title, he added.

“We were more prepared for this game than we thought we could be. By Wednesday, we said ‘we’re

The benefits of learning how to shiver correctly

the chance of a lifetime.

Like anything else related to hunting or fishing, the shiverer needs to learn and utilize proper form. I know, some of us think we are naturally good at shivering, but the truth is even the naturally gifted shiverer could use a few pointers.

Don’t despair though. As relative southerners, we take to shivering well

STEVE GALEA Not-So-Great Outdoorsman

and can be easily taught. Some of the worst shiverers I know are from Baffin Island.

Not to brag, but I can tell if a hunter is not utilizing good shivering form from at least 200 metres away. Usually, the dead giveaway

is the sound of teeth chattering or what looks like a cyclone of leaves or snow in the distance.

When I started late-season hunting many years ago, I thought I knew how to shiver. But, frankly, when I look back on it, my initial forays, it was embarrassing. I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

For instance, I kept my knees too far apart so

that when my kneecaps knocked, they took on the cadence of an ivory-billed woodpecker, which is believed to be extinct and was never native to Ontario in the first place. As you might imagine, deer pick up on that immediately. Ideally, you want your knees to sound like the commonly found downy woodpecker. To do that, you need to place them

ready to play right now.’ We were ready for these guys, for sure.”

The achievement follows a season that was full of work to get there, Derma noted.

“When we knew we had so many guys returning. Right away, we got in the weight room and we had →

12

FOOTBALL

closer together.

Later, as I progressed in skill, I realized that if I padded the knees of my hunting pants, when I shivered I could also sound like a drumming grouse once I got cold enough.

Also, when I first started, I never used to bring along beef jerky or anything else that stopped my teeth from doing a passable imita-

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The EDSS junior football team celebrates its WCSSAA championship following a 17-7 win over JHSS Nov. 11. Bill Atwood

Kings take two of three last weekend

Steve Kannon Observer Staff

THE ELMIRA SUGAR KINGS JUMPED a couple of spots in the GOJHL Midwestern Conference standings by taking two of three games they played last weekend.

On the road Friday night, the Kings pasted the Caledon Bombers 9-1. Facing the first-place KW Siskins the following night in Elmira, they came out on the wrong end of a 3-0 score, but bounced back Sunday night to defeat the visiting Listowel Cyclones 3-1.

“It was a good weekend. I think even the Water loo game, even though we didn’t get the win, we played really hard. They’re a good team and I think

they wanted it a little bit extra after we’d won the weekend before,” said Scott McMillan, now head coach as the Kings this week named Joe Amlinger to McMillan’s former post as director of hockey opera tions.

The weekend got off to a great start November 11, which was one to remem ber for the Kings, especially for a power play that went 5-8 in racking up nine goals.

The visitors opened the scoring on a power play at 4:17, Logan Crans’ eighth of the year coming with the help of Jayden Lammel and Austin Mumby. Twenty-six seconds later, it was 2-0 for the Kings when Austen Pomerleau scored, assisted by Tanner McDonald and Keegan Metcalf.

Just past the halfway point of the period, Luke Della Croce (Mumby, Brock Reinhart) gave his team a 3-0 to take into intermis sion.

The Bombers got one back in the middle frame, but that would be it for their night. A power-play goal by Brady Schwindt (Taylor Bothwell, Jack son Heron) restored a three-goal lead that would only expand from there. Chris Black’s goal at 12:19, assisted by Crans and Mumby, made it a 5-1 game after 40 minutes.

The Kings added four more in the third period. Schwindt, from Bothwell and McDonald, got things rolling at 2:31. Less than three minutes later, it was Della Croce (Crans,

she has.

“Literally when I coached her in Grade 10, the second she came out and after three seconds of hitting, you can already tell that somebody’s got a lot of experience and a lot of talent – the technique and everything else was very refined. She’s got a great attitude about it and she puts a ton of effort into practice,” Gartshore said.

Beyond the accolades, coach Natalie Biancolin highlighted the sports manship Speiran brings.

“[In] high school sports, you’re going to get varying ability levels. And Izzy has always been really helpful with those who are still trying to learn. She’ll compliment them and even if it’s a really simple shot that they should have got, [she’ll say] ‘it’s OK. Good try, move on. Let’s

keep going.’ So it’s just a testament to her charac ter,” Biancolin said.

Gartshore concurred, noting that Speiran has taken a leadership role on the EDSS team.

“A lot of the time, we could just say, ‘OK, you’re going to be the coach for these people’ and Izzy would run servers with them for a while,” he said.

She has brought that added effot to her games, Gartshore added.

“I think she’s a wonder ful sports person to play against…every time no matter how bad she’s crushing somebody, she is very gracious, very nice to them after, always complimenting their play, regardless of how much she destroyed them.”

Because the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) provincial cham pionship is not until June, Speiran, a multisport athlete who also competes in swimming, will put tennis on the backburner for the time being.

“I’m planning on just keeping up with my skills over the wintertime. I play at Waterloo tennis clubs, so I’m hoping to just hit semi often. But at this point, swimming is my priority until OFSAA comes around for tennis,” Speiran said.

WOOLWICH WILDCATS

■ Atom U10 A Nov/11/2022 vs Oakville Rangers Blue

HOME: 6 VISITOR: 1

GOALS: Keegan Bakker (2), Daxton Habermehl (2), Mason Roadknight, Jack Frey

ASSISTS: Matteo Abate (2), Braxten Wideman, Alexander Mielke, Jack Frey, Brayden Clemmer

■ Atom U10 A Nov/12/2022 vs Milton Winterhawks

HOME: 14 VISITOR: 2

GOALS: Brayden Clemmer (4), Matteo Abate (2), Devin Vogel (2), Mason Roadknight, Benjamin Collison, Daxton Habermehl, Spencer Martin, Alexander Mielke, Keegan Bakker

ASSISTS: Jack Frey (3), Matvii Kamyshnyi (2), Mason Roadknight (2), Daxton Habermehl (2), Keegan Bakker, Benjamin Collison, Alexander Mielke, Brayden Clemmer

■ Atom U10 A Nov/14/2022 vs New Hamburg Huskies

HOME: 3 VISITOR: 2 GOALS: Brayden Clemmer (2), Matteo Abate ASSISTS: Matteo Abate

■ Atom U11A Nov/13/2022 vs Brampton 45s

HOME: 6 VISITOR: 0

GOALS: Reid Denbok (2), Jack Frede, Connor Gillies, Hayden Hunter, Presley McFadden

ASSISTS: Colton Cooney, Connor Gillies, Julia Hallman, Presley McFadden, Ryker Rozema (2)

Shutouts: Will Manchur

■ Bantam U15BB Nov/11/2022 vs Temiskaming Shores Puckhounds

HOME: 1 VISITOR: 2 GOALS: Mac Zettel

ASSISTS: William Krubally, Alex Veitch

■ Bantam U15BB Nov/11/2022 vs Oshawa Generals

HOME: 3 VISITOR: 1 GOALS: Cohen Clemmer (2), Adam Bloch

ASSISTS: Charlie Balser, Luke Forbes (2), William Krubally, Cohen Clemmer

■ Bantam U15BB Nov/12/2022 vs Milton Winterhawks Blue

HOME: 2 VISITOR: 0 GOALS: Luke Forbes, Grant Rintoul

ASSISTS: Shutouts: Mason Maurice

Bantam U15BB Nov/12/2022 vs Guelph Gryphons

HOME: 0 VISITOR: 4

WOOLWICH WILD

■ Atom U11 LL-1

Nov/12/2022 vs Kitchener Lady Rangers U11 - Blue

HOME: 0 VISITOR: 4

■ Atom U11A Nov/13/2022 vs Owen Sound Ice Hawks

HOME: 3 VISITOR: 0 GOALS: McKenna Mackenzie-Taylor(2), Abbey Versteeg

ASSISTS: Emma Forwell, Haylee Zinken Shutouts: Kenzie Gunn

■ PeeWee U13B

Nov/12/2022 vs Walkerton Capitals

HOME: 1 VISITOR: 1 GOALS: Leah Frede

ASSISTS: Kylnee Nelson

■ PeeWee U13B

Nov/13/2022 vs Woolwich Wild

HOME: 0 VISITOR: 4

GOALS: Allie Desbarres, Madison Gofton, Alexis Bowden, MacKenzie Smith

ASSISTS: Emily Brubacher, Alexis Bowden, Vienna Conney, Olivia Bright, Allie Desbarres

Shutouts: Kailey Hardman

→ FROM 11

tion of an old typewriter. I thought I could stop that unnatural noise by merely placing my tongue between my upper and lower teeth. It worked too. You could not hear the chattering over the whim pering. Yet, it was not ideal.

Improper shivering also affects your marksman ship, but only if you are not quick at pulling the trigger the millisecond your sight bounces like a jackhammer over the intended target.

The way to counter this is to hold your sights on the vitals of the animal until your arms are frozen in place – which should not take long in good shivering weather. Then you pull the trigger.

Expert shiverers can also cause their upper and lower body parts to shiver in opposite amplitudes in order to cancel both move ments out. But that takes years of practice.

I know what you are thinking. Why shiver at all?

Why not add a few more layers so that you are warm enough to sit comfortably in your stand without shivering? Ha! Spoken like a person who has never had to answer nature’s call – and quick.

No, it’s far better to shiver than face the Hercu lean task of undoing 26 layers with frigid fingers once the coffee kicks in.

Take it from me, the best way is to learn to control your shivering. Until then, stay frosty, my friends.

guys lifting and kept the team together to try to build that camaraderie – I think you can see it from the game on the field. They just had that cama raderie [and] the team feel and the buzz to go win it, and they did. They did everything they needed to do, which is awesome.”

Three interceptions helped pace the Lancers to the win, along with two rushing touchdowns from Sam Lageer. Karsten Smith added two extra points and a field goal to round out the scoring.

“It was a very close, tight game. They were able to beat us on a trick play, and then we were able to come back and tie it up.… Overall I think everybody

played to the best [we could],” said Smith, who also played fullback and middle linebacker in the game.

This was the second time the Lancers beat the Hawks this year, he said.

“It feels really good, especially to beat a very, very strong team.”

Being a part of the first WCSSAA championship “feels great,” Smith added.

Derma said he hopes the players realize the impor tance of the history the team made.

“Never mind who you beat to win your first junior football champi onship – that’s something that no one can ever take away from you and it’s always on the banner. So you’ve always got that

in your pocket as well as memories that can’t ever be taken away from that,” he added.

The win gives the program confidence going forward, said Derma.

“The whole point is junior [and senior football] work together and build a football program they can be proud of going up. With these guys going up, we’re trying to create that culture where this toughness and that skill and that discipline and the perseverance to show up to practice in bad weather and to play through a game like that goes forward. And then we got possibly two, three years to build on that again,” he said.

“Let’s make Elmira a football town.”

EDSS student Izzy Speiran found plenty of success on the tennis court this season,

Enjoy the taste of the hoilday season while you wander through our three buildings full of talented artisans and live music

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Affordability worries Consumer spending

A Habitat for Humanity Canada survey finds affordable housing as the third most important issue facing Canada today, behind inflation and healthcare. Some 96% said their cost of living has increased this past year and 78% are worried about having to spend less on food, savings, transportation costs, and/or debt payments to continue to afford their current housing.

Consumers are certainly feeling the pinch leading into Black Friday according to new survey data from Equifax Canada. Some 60% say financial pressures due to inflation mean they will be spending less on gifts this holiday season, and 41% say they will limit their holiday spending because they are already carrying too much debt, up from 36% last year.

Agriculture and food are matters of national security

Signs are emerging on both sides of the Canada-US border that governments are finally considering agriculture and food a matter of national security. You’d think that would have happened long ago, but efforts last week suggest otherwise.

’Tis the season ... for an extended market

Bill Atwood Observer Staff

NEW FEDERAL FUNDING WILL HELP the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market extend their season beyond the prime summer months.

A $100,000 grant from Ottawa’s tourism relief fund was used to purchase four shipping containers that will act as shelter for up to eight vendors during the winter months that see a drop in the number of visitors to the market.

The project was lauded at a presentation November 10 by Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis.

“Tourism was one of the most deeply affected

sectors during the COVID pandemic.…The farmers’ market is a resilient and much-loved landmark in the region that dates back to the 1950s. … The St. Jacobs market is more than a place where the sweet aroma of baked goods welcome you. It’s a place where people come from near and far. It’s a place where tourism, hospitality and the arts all exist harmoniously. It’s a place where you build a team of community. So I’m very proud to bring this investment to St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market,” Louis said.

“It will allow our incredible farmers, artisans and vendors to serve Waterloo Region during off-season months, and remain a

pillar in our community all year round.”

Federal grant helps the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market provide space for vendors beyond the prime summer months; shipping containers being put to use containers are going to allow us to develop our offerings in the shoulder seasons. They will be used to house up to eight food and artisan vendors yearround, providing them much-needed protection from the elements,” Loebach said.

According to market general manager Joanna Loebach, of the 40,000 people that attend the market weekly during the summer, 10 per cent come from outside of Canada and 11 per cent from outside of the province. Some 31 per cent came from points more than an hour away.

The funding was also used to expand outside overhead lighting at the market.

“This however, is contrasted with the five to six months of the year when tourism slows down. Most of our farmers pack up for the year. And as a result, our local guests come less frequently.  That’s specifically what this grant is doing for the market: These shipping → TO MARKET 28

“This is part of our longer-term strategy to provide more reasons for locals as well as people from outside of the area to come to the farmers market outside of that peak growing season,” Loebach said.

The funding will help

To begin with, US President Joe Biden torqued up the all-encompassing National Security Memorandum that directs Washington to prioritize resources to deal with the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk to agriculture and food. Find the money to prevent them, protect against them, mitigate them, respond to them and recover from them, he said.

The president told the no-nonsense Department of Homeland Security to produce a comprehensive risk assessment for the food and agriculture sector. The department is supposed to liaise on this effort with all departments and agencies that could be affected by risk to the food and agriculture sector.

And as part of that effort, redefine chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats to the food and agriculture sector, Biden said. It’s not just about how disasters could affect people; consider crops and livestock as well, our primary food sources.

How timely that these efforts would be getting underway at the same time the COP27 Climate

Conference was taking place, a meeting where countries of all stripes are supposed to work together to manage climate change. The US considers climate change – along with the COVID19 pandemic, increased ransomware attacks, the avian flu outbreak – to be one of the most immediate threats to agriculture and food.

And how ironic that Biden would batten down the hatches just a week before he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The gesture of tolerance between them made the entire world (expect perhaps Russia) breathe a sigh of relief. But it was also noted that as countries, they are the planet’s biggest polluters, and we know prolonged environmental assault on food systems has perilous results.

Canada has neither the resources nor the will to dissect its agriculture and food safeguards like the US is doing. Neither does Mexico. The free trade agreement with the US was supposed to bring a North American lens to food systems. The US lead on food security would be a good place to start.

That’s sounds like a scary proposition. And each country would surely claim domain over its own domestic food security, if →

Comfort & Candlelight: A Seasonal Service to Acknowledge Loss

Sunday, November 27, 2022 at 7 p.m. at Elmira Mennonite Church, 58 Church St. West

For many people, this season is a di cult time of year because of a loss – the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, the loss of health, an unhealed relationship, or past or present hurts. This is a special invitation to the community to attend a quiet, re ective service which o ers comfort and hope.

Sponsored by the Elmira and District Ministerial Association and Dreisinger Funeral Home

St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market general manager Joanna Loebach, Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis and Vaughn Bender, vice president of real estate and land development for Schlegel Urban Developments, at the Nov. 10 event marking the federal grant. Bill Atwood

OWEN ROBERTS

Food For Thought

The Addams get musical MTSPACE fundraiser

KW Musical Productions returns with The Addams Family, the New Musical, Dec. 1-10 at the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts in Kitchener. The ensemble cast features Gus Adam as Gomez, Vikki Hastings as Morticia, Ruth Guerraa as Wednesday and Caleigh De Vito as Pugsley. www.kwmp.ca

MT Space will present a fundraising dinner and performance of The Last 15 Seconds Dec. 1 at the Registry Theatre in Kitchener. The goal is to create a bursary fund in honour of the late Majdi Bou-Matar, the organization’s founder. www.mtspace.ca

The sounds of the season ... and

Bill Atwood Observer Staff

IN ADVANCE OF ITS 50TH anniversary next month, the Waterloo Regional Police Chorus recently recorded its first Christmas album at Gale Presbyterian Church in Elmira. They’ll be returning there later this month for a holiday concert.

“It’s kind of special to us. When we made our CD, we did a lot of work with famous tenor John McDermott and John has given us two of his songs to add to our CD this year. We hope that will help us with the sales for the Christmas CD,” said chorus manager Bob Brown.

While the CD is all traditional Christmas songs it does have a unique take on the classic carol O Holy Night, which is not an

easy song to do, Brown noted.

“We did it kind of in a gospel fashion as well, so that was a bit of a change, but it sounds, quite great. It’s just the way we perform it is more [upbeat] as opposed to traditional. It’s gospel, so it’s kind of a more peppy [version],” he said.

“It’s a little more zip to it but kind of keeps everybody awake a little more, just gets you involved.”

The police chorus will also be performing a concert at Gale featuring songs from the new album. The chorus has a great relationship with Gale, Brown said.

“Gale church is like home to us. We get treated royally when we’re there.”

Proceeds from the concert will be donated to the St. Mary’s

Hospital Foundation to help with the purchase of the new MRI machine for the hospital.

“Our goal is to support our community in any way we can. When we do concerts, they’re always geared toward our community and those in need. In particular, an MRI machine is something that is in high demand in the region,” Brown said.

Foundation president Susan Dusick says the new device is a high-priority for the hospital.

“There are about 2,500 outpatients right now that are waiting up to six months for an elective MRI scan. At St. Mary’s in particular, the reason it’s so important is that our cardiac patients who often need specialized MRI do not have access to that here at St. Mary’s, which means we have

to transport those folks either to Cambridge Memorial or to Grand River [Hospital],” Dusick explained.

“We’re the only cardiac centre in the province of Ontario that doesn’t have an MRI machine, so we’re looking at getting our firstever and Grand River is getting a second machine,” she said.

The total cost for the machine as well as its installation is $7.6 million, with the foundation having raised $6.9 million so far.

“We’re very honored to be the recipients of this [concert], and we’re grateful that something that’s so joyful will be supporting St. Mary’s. We’ll be supporting access to care because anytime we can provide additional access for folks to get care, that is a very joyful time. It’s kind of like a nice synergy

between the two things,” Dusick added.

Gale church member Marilyn Coupal said it is important for the church to support efforts such as the MRI project.

“We feel our church needs to do things in our community and in our province and our country and internationally too. So this time it was chosen because of the dire need of an MRI machine at St. Mary’s,” she said.

The chorus concert is set for November 25 at 7 p.m. at the church on Barnswallow Drive. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, and can be purchased by contacting the church office at 519-669-2852 or office@galepresbyterian.com.

Extra donations are welcome, made payable to the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation.

Members of the Waterloo Regional Police Chorus recording their first ever Christmas album at Gale Presbyterian Church in Elmira. Submitted

The Waterloo Regional Police Chorus will perform Nov. 25 at Elmira church in fundraiser for St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation

experienced cabinetmakers and installers to join our team.

Quali cations include: Relevant experience, clean driving record, good work habits, and ability to work as part of a team. email

For Sale

MISKA LANDSCAPER TRAILER - 16 FEET long, 80" wide, 7,600 lb, double axle, 7 pin electric brakes connection. Four brand new tires. 519-664-2444.

Farm Services

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

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

Farm Services

ICE SALT & ICE MELT - ICE SALT COMES IN 20kg, Ice melt comes in 20kg bags. Call George Haffner Trucking, 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

KILN DRIED CORN & CORN SCREENING Delivered by Einwechter. Minimum 15 ton lots. Call George Haffner Trucking 519-574-4141 or 519-669-2045.

Wanted

WANTED - DIE CAST REPLICAS OF FARM equipment, industrial equipment and transport trucks. Any scale, any complete condition. Small or large lots. Call Dwayne 519-669-5500.

Rentals

EXECUTIVE APARTMENT - FULLY furnished, all inclusive. Single occupancy, mature, quiet, employed. $1600/ mth. In the village of Wallenstein. Call 519-778-5007.

Help Wanted

Coming Events

KARATE! IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL CLASSES AVAILABLE SCHWEITZER'S MARTIAL ARTS. Self-defense, Self-discipline, Self-confidence. GROUP CLASSES FOR AGES 4 TO ADULT Taught by Renshi Becky Schweitzer, 4th Degree Black Belt and 12X World Karate Champion. Location St. Peters Lutheran Church - 2925 Lobsinger Line, Heidelberg. 10 week session $125+HST. Uniform extra. Call 519-5801418 or e-mail becky_ schweitzer@hotmail. com www.schweitzersmartialarts.com

Auction

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KINGS: Winning weekend sees team jump in standings

Lammel) giving the visi tors a 7-1 lead. Two more power-play goals awaited the final buzzer: Liam Eveleigh, from Lammel and Adam Grein, at 14:13 and Pomerleau (Reinhart, Della Croce) at 16:09.

Shots were 40-17 in favour of Elmira, indict ing the flow of the game. Where the Kings scored five times with the man advantage, Caledon was 0-9. Goaltender Hayden Sabourin stopped 16 shots for the win.

Despite the blowout, the players stuck to the game plan, not trying to do anything fancy that might have altered the outcome. The game was also a good boost for the players, said McMillan.

“Chris Black got his first of the year. Brady Schwindt had two – he hasn’t had a lot of goals in his rookie season, so it was nice to see him get a couple. Austen Pomerleau was back from an injury and he got a couple. So, yeah, it was nice to see some guys get a little confidence coming out of that game.”

Those hot sticks went cold the following night, however, as the Kings returned to the WMC to face the Siskins.

In fact, neither team was able to find the twine early on, playing two scoreless periods before Waterloo broke through with a power-play goal in the third. A second goal followed before the midway point of the period, and the third came with the Elmira net empty.

Shots were just 20-17 in the visitors’ favour. Daniel Botelho stopped 14 in the losing cause.

Sunday saw the Kings bounce back, posting a 3-1 win over the visiting Cyclones. Special teams were key, as the Elmira penalty killers held Listowel to just one goal on nine power-play chances. The Kings also picked up a goal while up a man.

After a scoreless first period, Listowel broke the stalemate less than a minute into the second. The visitor’s lone goal gave them the lead until Lammel scored at 10:27 to tie it up. Assists went to Jackson Heron and Della Croce.

The 1-1 score held until 8:37 of the third period when Lammel (Metcalf, McDonald) put the Kings ahead for good. Lammel completed the natural hat trick at 16:49 to round out the scoring, a power-play

goal assisted by Reinhart and Eveleigh.

“The guys worked really hard. The one power-play goal they got was a five-onthree, and we killed the five on three for about 30 or 40 seconds, and just weren’t able to get a clear that would have got us the rest of the time. That’s a credit to their guys working hard on the power play, but it was a really good night for our guys on the PK,” said McMillan.

Coming off three games in as many nights last weekend, the Kings (12-9) have a slightly easier time of it, travelling to Strat ford (15-6) Friday night and then having a day off before welcoming the Ayr Centennials (11-9-0-1) on Sunday. Game time at the WMC is 7 p.m., with specta tors asked to bring dona tions of hats and mittens, to be tossed onto the ice when the Kings score their first goal.

“We played six games in 14 days. We had a busy two weeks and were able to win four out of those six, and the two losses were to Strat ford and Waterloo, the top two teams . It was a good stretch of games for us, and hopefully we can we can take some momentum from that,” said the coach.

LEAF DISPOSAL

Please

LEAF DISPOSAL ALTERNATIVES

NATURAL CHOICES

Mulching and composting are the most economical and environmentally beneficial ways to deal with your leaves.

• Instead of disposing of your leaves, save them, mulch them with your lawnmower and gradually add them to your home composter. They will break down into a useful organic material that can be added to flower and vegetable gardens.

• Rather than raking your leaves, why not mulch them on your lawn or into your garden? When the leaves are dry, mow your lawn more frequently. The mulched leaves will soon disappear into your lawn or garden as fertilizer.

CURBSIDE LEAF COLLECTION PROGRAM

Bagged Leaf Collection

• Bag leaves using only paper yard waste bags or returnable containers marked with a Region of Waterloo Yard Waste sticker.

• Place out with yard waste materials on yard waste collection days separately from your garbage containers.

• For more information call the Region of Waterloo at 519-575-4400.

Sell it in the Observer

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

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

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Please call or email Donna Rudy: 519-669-5790 ext 104 donna@woolwichobserver.com

In Memory of

Karen Pond

(1946-2020)

God saw you getting tired When a cure was not to be.

He closed his arms around you and whispered “Come to Me” In tears we saw you

Sinking, we watched you fade away, Our hearts were almost Broken, you fought so hard to stay.

Obituary Obituary

Martin, ShirleyAnn

Died suddenly on Monday, November 7, 2022 at the age of 21 months. Beloved daughter of Harvey and Lorna Martin of RR 1, Elmira. Sister of Dennis and Kristine at home. Remembered by grandparents Murray and Naomi Martin, Eli and Ada Martin, as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Predeceased by one cousin. Visitation was held on Friday, November 11, 2022 from 12–5 p.m. at the family home, 777 Sandy Hills Drive, RR 1, Elmira. A family service took place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, November 12, 2022 then to North Woolwich Mennonite Meeting House for burial and public service.

❖ www.dreisingerfuneralhome.com

Obituary

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

Single: $28 per insertion

Double: $38 per insertion Triple: $48 per insertion

Please call or email Donna Rudy: 519-669-5790 ext 104 donna@woolwichobserver.com

So keep your arms around her Lord,and give her special care Make up for all she suffered, and all that seemed unfair. So treasure her Lord in your Garden of Rest For here on Earth

She was one of the best. Until we meet again

Love Mom and Family

Martin, Nancy

Snider

January 13, 1939November 16, 1997

Our hearts still ache with sadness, Our secret tears still flow, For what it meant to lose you, No one will ever know. We hold you close within our hearts, And there you will remain, To walk with us throughout our lives, Until we meet again.

Passed away on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at her home in West Montrose at the age of 83 years. Mother of Paul and Erma Martin of RR 2, West Montrose, Edna and Samuel Martin of RR 1, Mount Forest, Elsie and Elo Martin of RR 2, Mount Forest, and Amy Martin of RR 1, Elmira. Grandmother of 23 grand children and 10 great-grandchildren. Sister of Elvina and Orvie Wideman, Aden and MaryAnn Martin, Salema Martin, Cleason and Esther Martin, Ivan and Elsie Martin. Predeceased by her parents Henry and Leavea (Horst) Martin, her husband Israel Martin, son-in-law Paul Martin, sister Selinda (Harvey) Brubacher, and brother-inlaw Ervin Martin. Visitation was held on Thursday, November 10, 2022 from 1–4:30 and 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the family home, 1170 Country Lane, RR 2, West Montrose. A family service took place at 9 a.m. on Friday, November 11, 2022, then to Winterbourne Mennonite Meeting House for burial and public service.

❖ www.dreisingerfuneralhome.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

Bates, Ron

Passed way peacefully after a lengthy battle with cancer, surrounded by his loving family in the comfort of his own home on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at the age of 70. Loving husband of Darlene (Dellaire) Bates for 32 years. Beloved father of Michael (Neola Doyle) Bates, Cody (Krista) Bates and Dylan Bates. Proud papa of Olivia, Brooke, Liam and Evan. Dear brother of Dianne and Laverne Lichty of Elmira and Dorothy and Allan Cherrey of Drayton. Dear brother in law of Ron and Barb Dellaire of Milton, Mannix and Donna Dellaire of Delhi, Bruce Dellaire, Rona Dellaire and Tim Buchan, Rory Dellaire and Neva Shaw all of Windsor. He will be greatly missed by his many nieces and nephews. Ron will be greatly missed by his special extended family Paula Ferreira, Rick and Cecilia Brouwer, Justin Brouwer and Michelle Mc Ginn and Rebecca Williams. Predeceased by his parents George and Jean (Whale) Bates and parents-in-law Ronald and Carole (Robinson) Dellaire.

Ron was a 45 year employee for Home Hardware Stores Ltd. Proud member of the Royal Canadian Legion Elmira Branch 469. He enjoyed classic country music and his beloved classic ’57 Chevy Bel Air convertible. He enjoyed spending time at the “last resort” with his camping family, and his coffee “church” group at Tim Hortons. At the Elmira Bowl he was a long time member of “His and Hers” mixed Friday night bowling team.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the Palliative care team. Special thank-you to Dr Keleher, Dr Dai, nurse Jane, nurse Erin PSW Tammy and the whole team at Care Partners who helped support Ron’s wishes to remain in his home during this very difficult time.

Special thank-you to all our friends and family for your love and support.

To honour Ron’s wishes cremation has taken place. A private Family service will be held at Heritage Funeral Homes Drayton.

In Lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy donations may be made to the Royal Canadian Legion Elmira Branch 469 Restoration Fund.

❖ www.heritagefuneralhomes.ca

Sadly missed and Lovingly remembered by your family.

In Loving Memory of a beloved Husband, Father and Grandfather who left us 25 years ago.

Edward (Eddie)

Living Here

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

Email: newsroom@woolwichobserver.com

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Chronicling a life-changing event that still resonates two decades later

Mother and daughter hope their book can help others cope with traumatic events

TINDALL AND HER MOTHER Brenda are ready to launch their book about their journey of living through traumatic brain injury and recovery, from their perspectives as the injured person and also the caregiver.

The launch will take place at 2 p.m. on December 11 at St. Jacobs Calvary United Church, 48 Hawkesville Rd.

Their book, “The Way I See Things,” was 20 years in the making. Since her daughter’s accident, Brenda always knew it needed to be written.

In August 2000, Ashley Tindall’s life changed dramatically after a collision. At 17-years-old, she

was a backseat passenger in a car that was being driven by a distracted driver who swerved into the wrong lane on a bridge and into a loaded dump truck. Ashley’s side of the car took most of the damage.

Ashley was airlifted to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, and was in a coma for 12 days. That initial stay in the hospital lasted 80 days, and she had many surgeries following that.

Brenda was Ashley’s caregiver while she continued working as a bookkeeper for the family electrical business, and filled her role as mother of their family.

“When Ashley was in the hospital, I longed to read a book about how

someone else got through a trauma like we were dealing with, and I couldn’t find any books like that to use as a resource,” said Brenda.  “We wanted to show others that you can get through trauma and become stronger because of it.”

Today, Ashley lives with the injuries she sustained, including brain injury, vision reduced by about 75 to 80 per cent, fatigue, she no longer has a sense of smell, a shattered right elbow, an injured pituitary gland, diabetes insipidus (meaning her body cannot regulate fluids on its own), and a chronic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak due to multiple broken bones in her head. This leak puts her at risk of meningitis, which she has had twice.

Ashley developed coping strategies to handle her injuries and continues to live her life. For example, she is easily fatigued, so she does any needed work in the morning, and has patience with herself when it takes her longer to accomplish things.

Along with the accident came a new personality, and that was a challenge, Ashley recalls.

Before the accident she was an athlete, which centered her identity,  and was also quite shy. After the accident, she could no longer play sports like she had. She also now has something called verbosity, which is a tendency to speak profusely.

“It’s a frontal lobe problem,” said Brenda. “So she

Clubfoot is among the most common birth abnormalities

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 24 weeks pregnant and underwent an ultrasound that discovered that my child has a clubfoot. I am worried about my child’s life and function with this diagnosis. What is the condition, and are there any new treatment advances that my baby can benefit from?

ANSWER: First, congratulations on having a baby. It is certainly an exciting time, but, understandably, it can be stressful when you hear that your child has something that might make him or her different.

Clubfoot is a common diagnosis that occurs in 1 in 1,000 births, making it among the most common birth abnormalities. The biggest fear for parents is that the quality of life for their child born with a clubfoot will be limited. They worry if their child will be able to run, jump and play like their peers.

With the correct treatment, your child could have normal quality of life. Doctors at Mayo Clinic, for instance, are able to treat children with clubfoot regularly without surgery.

Children who are born with a clubfoot may have other family members who also were born with one. Mostly, these children only have a clubfoot, and no other problems with their bones, joints or muscles. However, there are a few genetic syndromes that also have clubfoot associated with them, such as arthrogryposis and spina bifida.

At Mayo Clinic, these other diagnoses are explored with the help of medical geneticists to offer a comprehensive genetic evaluation and determine if additional challenges may be in your child’s future.

While clubfoot can affect both feet, it is more common on one side of the body. Having clubfoot may cause your child’s foot to be slightly less flexible –and a different shoe size than the unaffected foot – but over time, your child should be able to walk normally with appropriate care. Surgical and nonsurgical options are available to treat children. As your child grows, a gait analysis may be performed to assess future surgical needs to maximize function.

Left untreated, clubfoot causes more serious problems, including arthritis and other orthopedic issues related to an awkward gait.

The primary method used to correct clubfeet in children is known as the Ponseti method. This is a series of long-legged casts that are changed weekly. It is important to seek out an orthopedic specialist knowledgeable in this condition, as well as a cast technician skilled at placing and removing casts weekly, to get the correction required.

It's about all of us.

The Salvation Army has launched the 132nd annual Christmas Kettle Campaign, its largest public fundraiser of the year supporting 2.6 million vulnerable people in 400 communities across Canada. The Salvation Army has seen a 30% increase in families with children who need our help and are concerned this need will continue to increase over the winter months.

Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis last week announced that The New Hamburg Waterwheel received $300,000 under the federal tourism relief fund. Through a partnership with the University of Guelph engineering students, the project will replace the current wooden waterwheel with a new waterwheel that will retain its historical look.

Christmas kettles return Big wheel keeps on turnin’

In August 2000, Ashley Tindall (right) suffered severe brain injury as a passenger in a car accident. “The Way I See Things,” is the story

the years of caregiving and recovery told through the perspective of Ashley and her mother Brenda, the caregiver. The pair wrote the book over 20 years and hopes it helps others who find themselves in similar situations of trauma. Leah Gerber

Leah Gerber Observer Staff

ASHLEY

1. In a large saucepan, heat oil over mediumlow heat for 1 minute (oil should be hot but not smoking). Add shallot and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly browned, about 3 minutes.

2. Pour tomatoes and their juice into the saucepan. Stir in broth, bread and sugar. Increase heat to medium- high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occa-

sionally, until bread starts to fall apart, about 5 minutes.

3. Remove pan from heat. Let tomato mixture cool for 5 minutes.

4. Transfer tomato mixture into a blender jar. Place lid on top of blender and hold lid firmly in place with a folded dish towel. Process until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour soup into bowls or mugs and serve.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

▢ Friday Food at the Elmira Legion. Doors open at 4 p.m., serving at 5:45 p.m. Menu: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, veggies, coleslaw and dessert, $10/plate. Join us in the lounge. All welcome.

Join the Mapleton Historical Society at the Drayton United Church 7:30 p.m. for the History of Husky Farm Equipment. Walter Grose will speak about their Mapleton business which evolved as a sideline to the farming operation by his parents Ray and Ruth near Alma. Beginning in 1958 after the purchase of a farm welder he created a snow blower from an old forage blower gradually changing over to a farm equipment repair and manufacturing. Everyone welcome.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19

▢ Praise Junction is being held at Zion Mennonite Fellowship (the Junction), Elmira at 7 pm. Please join us for a time of worship led by our band. There is also time to share our cares followed by a time of prayer. For further details please email zion@gto.net or call 519-669-3153.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

▢ Senior’s Community Dining at Linwood Community Centre. Community Care Concepts invites you to join us for lunch and fellowship. Cost: $12. Must pre-register by November 18 by calling 519-6641900.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 25

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

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

▢ Friday Food at the Elmira Legion. Doors open at 4 p.m., serving at 5:45 p.m. Menu: Octoberfest roller sausage, fries, salad, dessert, $10/plate. Join us in the lounge. All welcome.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3

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

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7

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

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8

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

▢ Woodside Evergreen for Seniors at Woodside Church, Elmira. Starts at 10:30 a.m. Christmas Music and Words - piano and cello concert with Anthony and Sam Domzella, Devotional: Pastor Gary Goodkey, Reading: Cairine Domzella, Carol Sing: Beryl Martin, piano and Fred Gingrich, organ. Suggested donation $8 includes hot lunch. Registration required by Sun Dec 4 at www.woodsidechurch.ca/evergreen or 519 669 1296.

BOOK LAUNCH: Learning to deal with a new reality

→ FROM 24 for the entire family and herself.

didn’t filter. Anything that was on her mind, she had to say. So she pretty much talked all day long.”

“Growing up, I was athletic. I played a lot of sports, like I played competitive soccer,” said Ashley. “And then all of a sudden, because of my brain injury, I can’t do that anymore. So I had to figure out, ‘OK, who am I now?’

“And I realized that before, my identity was largely based on being an athlete, and following the accident, I had a lot of shifts – one day I was a student, the next day, I felt like a daughter, I felt like a good friend. And then I eventually realized, above all else, I’m a child of God.”

Not just Ashley’s life, but the lives of everyone in their family were changed.

At first, Brenda was focused on the tasks at hand, and not the impli cations of the accident

“I tried to not get emotional about all the different changes, because there were changes to our family’s lives, my life. The family unit changed. And I was the one that took care of everything, so I wasn’t allowing myself to get emotional. And then it was about two years after Ashley’s accident, I started addressing all of that.

“I lost a lot of my inde pendence after Ashley’s accident. But would do it all over again – you do that for your kids, you’re there for them.”

In their book, Ashley and Brenda share their inner most personal thoughts and feelings as they take the readers with them on their emotional, physical, mental and spiritual jour ney over years of healing.

“The Way I See Things,” covers the timespan of the day of the accident in

August 2000 until Ashley started university in September 2003. A sequel is due out next winter.

The book started off as Brenda’s project. But Ashley soon joined when they realized the book needed her perspective.

Throughout the book, the perspectives of mother and daughter are both presented. Brenda kept journals throughout the entire process, and relied on them heavily to write her portions.  Ashley wrote hers from memories.

Since Ashley can only work in the morning, they would take two morn ings per week to work on the book together. They would write their pieces separately and then work together in person, over the phone or over Zoom calls to fit them together. They also took two writing retreats each year at a friend’s cottage.

→ VULNERABLE 28

MAYO CLINIC: Treatments can see a return to normal

FROM 17

→

At the end of the casting, many children must undergo a small surgery at the heel to release the tightness at the Achilles tendon. Sometimes this procedure is performed in the cast area itself. Other times, it is done in the operating room.

Any surgery can be scary, but a recent innova tion at Mayo Clinic allows for a pain-free surgery. In partnership with the expert pediatric anesthe sia team, no anesthesia is used, but rather only a block to the nerves of the legs.

This technique is beneficial for two reasons: The child is not exposed to anesthesia and the surgery can be as long as necessary to be as precise as possible. Following the procedure, the child can go home without a hospi tal stay.

After the casting and small Achilles tendon surgery is complete, a foot brace is worn full time for three months followed by part-time wear until the child reaches age 3. Close collaboration with prosthetic and orthotic experts ensures the braces are comfortable.

Unfortunately, even with strict brace adher ence, sometimes the clubfoot returns. At Mayo Clinic, the Gait Analysis Laboratory evaluates a child for the possibility of the condition returning. At the laboratory, the pres sure under your child’s foot is measured, which

creates an imprint that can give an early warning that the clubfoot is returning. This will enable Mayo Clinic to perform less surgery than if a corrective procedure is delayed. This small surgery is successful in allowing children with clubfoot to keep up with their peers.

Looking ahead, your child should be able to have a normal quality of life and range of motion. Finding a provider and expert you are comfortable with to provide careful casting and pain-free

surgery will be important. Also, being committed to treatment and being diligent with follow-up should mean your child with clubfoot will be able to run, jump and play just like his or her peers.

ↆ Todd Milbrandt, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

→ FROM 27

Brenda took a memoir class. “I’m not a writer, I didn’t know how to do this,” she said. But she persevered.

“I was absolutely committed to telling our story. So all my time that I wasn’t doing something else, I was writing.”

Ashley said she didn’t have journals to write from, and worked from memory, noting many of the experiences she had tried to block out as a coping mechanism. Writing the book with her mother had a healing effect for her, as Brenda could fill in some of those blanks. For example, she has no memory of the first month after her coma, so it was helpful to see her mother’s perspective of that period.

Did they ever want to give up and not finish writ ing the book?

“Fortunately, it would happen to us at different times. It’s a good thing that it didn’t happen at the same time, let’s just say that, because it’s taken so long, and so much focus,”

said Brenda.

“Then the other one would step in and remind them why we’re writing the book and the whole point behind it. That would encourage them to keep going,” added Ashley.

How do they feel knowing their innermost thoughts and feelings are now out there in the world?

“We feel very vulnerable. We’re private people,” said Brenda.

“We knew in order for the story to be real, we needed to be real,” said Ashley. “And include those parts that made us uncom fortable, maybe look stupid

at times.

“Not look good, yeah,” added Brenda. “We included those.”

They hope their story will be a guide and help for others who go through trauma. They included some useful tools and strategies they used during their experiences for the reader.

For example, Brenda said she had to learn how to accept help. Ashley had to learn how to count every success and victory, no matter how small, and embrace the new person she became, rather than compare herself to who she had once been.

The pair worked with a company called Innova tive Design and Print to produce the book. They will have copies available for purchase at their book launch. Part of the $25 cost will go toward supporting people with brain injury and low vision, said Ashley.

More information about purchasing the book can be found at their website ashleyandbrendatindall. ca.

TO MARKET: Options to help extend the season

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with the recovery from the pandemic-led economic downturn, noted Vaughn Bender, vice-president of real estate and land devel opment for Schlegel Urban Developments, which owns the market.

“The past number of years have been...tough on our much-valued farmers, market commu nity and the hundreds of small businesses and entrepreneurs who bring high quality local food and local crafts and products to the Woolwich commu nity, regular customers from across the region and visitors from across the province,” he said.

“The district is recover ing well from the past few years thanks to all of your support, and the future is very bright. And today’s

ROBERTS:

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announcement is very much assisting in that exciting future.”

The market will be expanding its night market events, including the first of two Holiday Sip n’ Shop events tomorrow (November 18) from 4-9 p.m.

In an interview follow ing the announcement, Loebach explained the market looked at other shelter options, includ ing a covered pavilion, however the shipping containers were more in line with their long-term plan.

“Our…plan is to connect the farmers’ market property with the property across the street, the St. Jacobs Outlet Mall, where we have a development going on there, where we’re converting it to a

restaurant and a brewery. This is going to be that sort of connecting road, so having the shipping containers on the other side of our dominant market building is really helping to really define that space,” she said.

Vendor Jeremy MacDonald of New Leaf Market Garden said this is the first year he has wanted to sell at the market in November.

“I was worried about the produce freezing, so this shelter would really help make sure things don’t freeze on me…. Last November selling from the farm, I would have things start to freeze in their containers within a couple hours – if it’s below zero, it’s harsh. So this does give a little bit of protection, which is nice,” he said.

Making efforts to prioritize food security

pushed in a common direction.

But here’s an example of food security moving into the North American arena.

Last week, Ottawa announced $2.4 million in support for a Water loo-based company, P&P Optica, to help “build and present” its innovative, Canadian-made food inspection technology system for meat proces sors to Canadian markets.

The system sounds

amazing. According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, this technology analyzes the composition of food, evaluates proper ties like tenderness and freshness, and its protein, water and fat content. It can detect imperfections and eliminate foreign bodies like plastic, bones and rubber – all in real time on the production line.

What a boost for food security.

P&P Optica is a Cana

dian-based technology… but it’s already being used in the US. So with federal support, the company will work to convince Canadian processors they should use it too.

Of course, they should. So should Mexican processors who export to Canada and the US. Too much trade is underway for any country to think its food sector operates independently.

Food security is an inter national matter.